The 2013 Curtis Axel Intercontinental Title/Heyman guy push

[The Rick Jericho]

He won the Intercontinental title father's day 2013. Before that he feuded with Triple H. After the IC title he feuded with CM Punk.

If they were serious and booked him properly, could he have had a World Heavyweight title run? As a spinoff of the Perfect character?

He had Paul Heyman with him too, so clearly there were at least some plans for him.

Was anyone excited of the Curtis Axel push of 2013? Or are we left wanting more?

[Lizuka #BLM]

I remember thinking pretty much every part of it was terrible. Axel definitely had his place but trying to book him as some serious threat just flat out didn't work.

Also there was that stupid as f*** time he beat Cena by count out in a no-DQ match.

[BorneAgain]

Axel felt so consumed by being managed by Heyman that basically lacked an identity and unlike Cesaro that had the same problem, he lacked the in ring/presence to overcome it.

It's telling that I can remember his goofy stuff as part of the Rybaxel pairing far more than anything else he did adjacent to Heyman.

[Deleted]

The only time I ever found Axel entertaining was during the Axelmania stuff, really.

[Legion]

For someone whose dad was so Perfect, Axel just never had it.

[Mozenrath]

I kinda liked Axel, but this wasn't a good use of him. Rybaxel was a surprisingly decent team and he did a lot to complement Ryback and downplay his weaknesses, but the IC title run was very eh.

[BlackoutCreature]

The WWE just kept waiting for Axel to turn into his father, but in the end he just didn't have the same strengths that Curt did. If anything Axel was more similar to his grandfather.

[Hypnosis]

Jun 11, 2022 18:20:44 GMT -5 @dax said:

The only time I ever found Axel entertaining was during the Axelmania stuff, really.

I also liked B-Team Axel.

[Nosnorb]

Jun 11, 2022 18:16:22 GMT -5 The Rick Jericho said:

If they were serious and booked him properly, could he have had a World Heavyweight title run?

Not a chance.

The dude was a midcarder at the very best on his best day. There wasn't anything that really screamed "this dude should be pushed" or "this dude is a must see prospect" and while he did everything okay, there was nothing that he did that 10 - 20 other dudes didn't do better.

He did work well as a goon in The Social Outcasts or as part of The Miztourage, but there is a reason ol' regular Joe Hennig spent about 2 -3 months in the midcard and the rest of his run as some random goon.

[tirtefaa]

It was terrible. It was one of the most blatant "thank you" reigns ever, but he wasn't an interesting character and didn't have any stand out matches. And he had the title for like close to 6 months, right?

I know it's not favored in hindsight, but had they kept Ryback as a face, give him the IC title and have him have a Warrior style run where he's treated as credible. Let this go on for several months instead of what we got.

[Jacy Derangement Syndrome]

They literally shoved Michael McGillicutty out there with a big money entrance and said f*** you this is Curtis now

[rnrk supports BLM]

I remember big hype in the live thread here for who Paul Heyman's mystery new client who'd be the next Lesnar or Punk would be, and the reactions of bafflement/rage/hilarity when McGillicutty's fat face appeared on the Titantron.

[MrElijah]

Jun 11, 2022 20:30:36 GMT -5 Jacy Derangement Syndrome said:

They literally shoved Michael McGillicutty out there with a big money entrance and said f*** you this is Curtis now

IIRC, didn't Johnny Ace tell Axel he had "earn" the name of Joe Henning?

[Andee9001]

I mean the idea was solid. Be was good enough in ring, had the family connection, they trusted him enough to work with The Rock during his return prep. The only thing he lacked was that he couldn't talk so they gave him a mouthpiece.

I had issues with two things. 1. When Heyman was on screen during that time it felt like you were waiting for Punk or Brock to turn back up and 2. They just didn't do enough to build up his credibility. The first night he got mirked on the mic by Triple H and then Triple H walked over during there match before his "concussion". They could have had Axel hold his own in their match or he could have been the guy to further his head injury. They just never made the effort to build his credibility to live up to being Heymans next client.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

I'll never forget his 60 minute Ironman match with Triple H.

[Jacy Derangement Syndrome]

Jun 11, 2022 21:50:50 GMT -5 "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik said:

I'll never forget his 60 minute Ironman match with Triple H.

Triple H: bluh,...bluhghg...i think...im..concussed...

The crowd: dude get up 

Triple H: BLUGHGHAHHHMYHEAD....

[Instant Classic]

Him winning the IC was great. Everything after not so much.

[David-Arquette was in WCW 2000]

I liked the guy but never bought him as a World Title contender. I enjoyed him mostly on NXT Redemption and his feud with Tyson Kidd.

youtu.be/NPNr4fUVmF8

I Was trying to find a particular promo he cut where at the end he puts a cigar in his mouth and rides off into the distance on a quad bike whilst laughing like a mad man. Great stuff. If anyone else can find it I'd love to watch it again!

[Bad Moon]

I guess WWE salivating over Charlotte is easier to understand when the usual expected level of talent drop-off from parent to child is a Curtis Axel or a Ted Dibiase jr.

[pinja]

Curtis Axel had weird hair. That's what kept him below main event status. "I wanna look like emperor Nero, but with shorter hair." That's not a wish any barber should fulfil.