Santino the Maineventer

[Troy]

Some interesting comments were made in the Royal Rumble Poster Thread. The poster features Santino on the front and members were discussing whether or not Santino could be taken seriously and could become a top star on either RAW or Smackdown.

Last year he did finish second in the RR match but it was still as that comedy character that he has had for years and it never really seemed possible that he would win the match. With his current gimmick he can't really be taken seriously a a top contender because he is essentially a comedy character.

What changes would need to be made for Santino to become a maineventer and how would you go about bringing in those changes?

 

[John McHenry]

I dont recall to many comedic characters getting to Main Event status closest in recent memory was Hurricane he never contended for the belt but he was in matches with Rock HHH Evolution etc. for a time.

It'd be interesting to see a comedic character up their though dunno what story they'd give him he'd have to be just a tad more serious right now things he does are too random.

 

[Kiffy Lube]

Yeah, he'd probably have to become serious to the point where he turns heel and starts getting a massive winning streak then 9 months to a year later he can turn face again with a bit of the comedy he had before. That is what it would take to make him a threat and even that would have to be booked very well.

 

[Troy]

I thought that they missed the trick a couple of years back when he was paired with beth Phoenix. Back then what I would have done was do some backstage segments where Beth decides to train Santino to better prepare him for some big matches. Then during the training Santino could suddenly pull out all the moves and show that he has a much bigger arsenal than what he had before (kind of like what WWE did with Eugene back in the day). They could have gradually added more and more moves and turned his character into a solid wrestler rather than just being a comedic relief.

Without a doubt Santino is very over with the fans and I think that if they calmed down a bit on the over the top antics and gave him a few more moves then fans could eventually consider him as threat. Maybe not as a maineventer but definitely a bit higher up the card compared to where he is now.

Do I think it will happen? Probably not because WWE will want to have some comedic relief on the show and will be content with having Santino and Hornswoggle on the shows.

 

[John McHenry]

That would be a great Idea but you could still use it. Have someone Miz maybe Cena if he really goes full Heel pick on him to the point where someone comes in Taker or HHH would be kinda funny but some super serious dude (Lance Storm for a month of cameos) train him but have the person completely blown away because Santino already has massive skills. It could still work I'd do it.

 

[PHX]

In my opinion he isn't meant to be a main event act. He found his niche which is good however it's just as bad as pure comedy characters just aren't guys who get to the top. Can be a top guy with comedy in your mic work but it can't be what you're character is totally based around and has no serious side. If he were to ever have a chance he had a serious Kozlov type gimmick that he ran in OVW but he just doesn't look like someone who I could take seriously like that but who knows.

 

[Andrew]

To be honest, I actually liked Santino when he was heel with Maria... You could just literally make him 'The Italian Stallion', have him bash on every country and say how Italy's so good and just have him beat guys and look relevant. He could say the Board of Directors wanted him to be a puppet for the people with the comedy and Santino won't take a stand for it, now it's time Santino to be relevant.

 

[The Cork]

Absolutely no chance he can be taken seriously.

The Rock, Christian, Edge, Angle and Austin have played comedic characters while in the main event but they werent comedy jobbers for any stretch of time, whereas Santino has his whole WWE career....

 

[rcoot93]

I think he would need to turn heel like eric young did with world elite, mabie do some shoots were he says about how he was held back and never taking seriously, he is already over with the fans so it would be a shock, perhaps he uses a chair on Cena when tagging together

 

[Dale]

The person I would compare him closest to is Eugene. Both 'special' in slightly different ways on the outside of the ring, but when they get in the ring they have some sort of hidden wrestling talent more so with Eugene than Santino though. I think just giving him a credible looking finisher would go a long way in being able to take the guy seriously even in the midcard division.

 

[Chriss]

Why not but WWE needs to cut of this comedy gimmick. Trought his heel run with Maria he wasn´t bad. He could be just that Italian guy that like to bury America.

 

[Troy]

The person I would compare him closest to is Eugene. Both 'special' in slightly different ways on the outside of the ring, but when they get in the ring they have some sort of hidden wrestling talent more so with Eugene than Santino though. I think just giving him a credible looking finisher would go a long way in being able to take the guy seriously even in the midcard division.

That is the main thing that has to change. His Cobra finisher is a joke and no-one with a finisher like that can be taken seriously.