Book Johnny Curtis

[Troy]

Johnny Curtis won NXT Season 4 and the prize for winning was meant to be a tag team title shot with his pro (R-Truth). That never eventuated and we didn't hear anything from Curtis until a couple of weeks ago on Smackdown. He has been used in backstage promos where he acts out sayings like "chip on my shoulder" "crying over spilt milk" etc. He has yet to wrestle though and I want to know how everyone would book him over the next month or two.

When would you have him start wrestling matches, how much longer would the promos continue for? Who would you have him face local wrestlers or jobbers from WWE? How would you book his character? Would you have him try to find a tag team partner so that he can get his title shot? Would you put him into singles feud?

How would you book Johnny Curtis on Smackdown?

 

[Andrew]

Book him with Yoshi Tatsu (if he's face) or Tyson Kidd (if heel)... Both aren't doing much... One comes to mind is Trent Baretta.

Curtis & Barretta as Tag Teams would be pretty cool, both lack promo wise.

 

[Aniking]

Tatsu & Curtis... Kidd & Curtis... Barreta & Curtis... I don't see any of those teams working or making sense at all.

I wanted Curtis to team with Bateman, but that clearly cannot happen anymore. The two of them had chemistry while in the ring, they were the only two rookies from recent memory that actually looked like they had so much fun together while in the ring. They always had little jokes while not speaking on the mic, not to mention they were FCW Tag Team Champions, so it just works. But it sucks it can't happen, at least not for a while.

Anyway, I wanna see what happens with Curtis before I comment. Either these segments are to build just for an in-ring debut, or there could be something else going for him. Until I see, no comment.

 

[Guano]

Johnny Curtis seems to be getting hyped up for his debut match on Smackdown. His promo's have been interesting to watch and certainly have gotten my attention and has been booked rather well compared to other newcomers that have come into either Raw or Smackdown. The way I would book him is to have the promos continue for another two weeks before making his long awaited debut against somebody that has somewhat established themselves. Somebody like; Yoshi Tatsu, Tyson Kidd or Trent Barreta and then have him win his debut match. Then have Johnny Curtis go on undefeated for three weeks and have him start a singles career for the time being, at least until Derrick Bateman makes his debut on the Smackdown roster.

As Aniking said, "The two of them had chemistry while in the ring, they were the only two rookies from recent memory that actually looked like they had so much fun together while in the ring. They always had little jokes while not speaking on the mic, not to mention they were FCW Tag Team Champions, so it just works."

 

[SpectreVLV]

In NXT, Curtis appeared to me as more of a daring hothead. I would probably book him like this as well. I would cut the promos and let the fans forget about him for a few weeks. Then have him do something daring like take out a bigger heel, or something in that sense. Maybe he can be paired up with Bateman or something, and try to become the dominant tag team on Smackdown, going against Mahal and Khali (with Khali being the big heel). This can later lead to a feud between Curtis and Bateman.

It wouldn't be hard to make the Bateman and Curtis tag believable; they are similar in a sense that they both are rookies coming from NXT, so they can team up to be able to take on the pro's. I know Mahal and Khali are being built as the dominant tag, but Curtis and Bateman don't have to use clean tactics in the feud. Mahal and Khali will be hated enough for the Curtis/Bateman tag to go over.

 

[Troy]

I expect to see another backstage promo or two from him before he makes his Smackdown in-ring debut. I would have him debut against Trent Baretta, better for him to defeat a guy on the roster and Baretta is a face so it would work. Have him win a couple more matches before putting him into a proper feud. I like the idea of him finding a tag team partner to get his title shot. Once NXT is over Derrick Bateman can go to Smackdown and become his tag team partner. Adding another team to the division would be great and they have worked well together in the past.