Can an independent career hamper your WWE one?

[Stopspot]

We on the internet tend to favour the wrestlers who have worked on the independent circuit before coming to the WWE, especially guys who became big fishes in tiny ponds doing so. Guys like Daniel Bryan, CM Punk and Chris Hero (now Kassius Ohno). Guys who became known as some of the absolute best in the world by working in smaller venues and helping to build the smaller companies hoping to steal pieces of the cake that the WWE is munching on. But then they come in with all the hype on the internet/in the wrestling world behind them and what happens? It took CM Punk nearly five years to become a WWE main eventer and it took Daniel Bryan two to become a upper midcarder. This can also be considered paying your dues (which happens in all companies) but can the hype we the fans throw around somehow impair their careers in the E?

Look at Chris Hero now. Up until recently he has not been motivated on NXT at all, instead he has just phoned it in in most of his promos and matches and has only stepped up as we head towards Wrestlemania. Is it Hero's ego from all the praise on the indy's that is partially holding him back? The fact that he feels that he should be higher on the card already and that he possibly doesn't have to pay his dues in his new company? Like the Low Ki situation around 2011, where Low Ki felt he didn't need to go through NXT or FCW because of his career in Japan.
Can how we fans hype up independent stars actually become road blocks for the wrestlers when they make it to the E?

So the questions for this thread:

Can "the hype" sometimes become too much for a new star?

Should wrestlers from the independent scene have to pay their dues in the WWE?

Can the goods of the hype outweigh the bad?

 

[seabs]

Can "the hype" sometimes become too much for a new star? Hero struggled for a while as did Punk, he was decent in ECW but only showed he could become a star during the Hardy feud IMO.

Should wrestlers from the independent scene have to pay their dues in the WWE? Of course, sadly making it in the indies is pretty similar to being FCW / OVW / NXT champion you're still at the bottom of the ladder get your ass back up there.

Can the goods of the hype outweigh the bad? without his hype from the internets there is no way Bryan is rehired IMO, they'd have not gone through the agro if he was a randomer.

 

[Pop Tatari]

Well i think fans of indy wrestling expect too much when certain stars are signed, theses wrestlers are no ones to wwe. I do think wwe have more faith in indy talent now due to the success of Punk and Bryan.

Should they pay their dues on nxt? Well if you have toured the world showcasing your skills then yeah its a bit of a slap in the face.

 

[Leo C]

Yeah, sometimes it's a bit hard. They should pay their dues, yes, like everyone else, and normally I hear people complaining about hot shotting people into the ME so. But I think the goods do end up outweighting the bads.

 

[Irwin R. Schyster]

The problem with big hype sometimes can be that people expect way too much from you when you move up. The WWE tends to not use everyone to their full potential. When Daniel Bryan first came to the WWE, a lot of people were left disappointed and felt he was overrated because they heard so much about his independent career that they expected a lot from him. The WWE didn't really use him that way, imo, and he was basically getting shit on by the IWC left right and centre.

I am not a big fan of his, but, he really is a good wrestler, which he has shown, but, yeah, his WWE beginnings didn't really start out as well because of improper usage. He is a talented guy but, for some reason, the WWE often chooses not to fully display everyone's talents when they make it there....

 

[Cloud]

I think it can be a difficult transition as well from having the freedom to use most moves and use language that isnt PG. Then coming to the WWE and having to tone down characters and movesets to suit the sports entertainment style of the E.

Plus of course some egos get huge being the best of the best on the indy circuit then they arrive at WWE from being a big fish in a small pond to a small fish in a big pond where they have to prove there worth.

 

[Lockard 23]

I don't think it hampers your chances of success at all, it's just that succeeding in WWE is a whole different animal. There is much more focus and emphasis on character and personality than just in-ring skill. And you're on national television and having to tap into the masses which make up a worldwide audience, not just a small crowd of about 200 people or so, a huge difference. Perhaps some indy guys have too much of an ego because of their ability to captivate an audience of about 200-300 people that reality hits them when they realize entertaining thousands (much more counting those at home) is a whole different story and they're just not as great as they think they are (not using anyone specific as an example.)

Just look at the main reason Daniel Bryan is over in the WWE, for example - it's not his in-ring skills, which is an asset that doesn't hurt, but that's not the reason for his popularity. It's somehow getting the fans to chant Yes every time he comes out, either along with him (the loud Yes chants at Extreme Rules last year) or at him to annoy him. Sounds silly, but it's that kind of crowd connection that makes people care about him.

Also, the reason some guys have to go through FCW or NXT before ended up in WWE even after coming off a strong start or career elsewhere is likely to learn how to work "WWE Style."