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Post by abjordans on Dec 19, 2018 13:42:34 GMT -5
He is going to get over. I know the automatic comparison is “why does he get pulled up, but not Neville?” but, I think Ali has something that Neville doesn’t. That “IT” factor. Because Ali has enthusiasm, probably easier to get along with, and happily plyed his craft on 205 until he got "the call". I'd say performance wise he's similar to Neville, but backstage conduct they are miles apart. While I do think this is a good point and probably close to the answer, and I think there is more potential and upside in Ali anyway, I still kind of see why Neville took it differently. Ali was brought in just for the CC, got a shot on 205 and was off to the races. Neville was brought in to be a top guy or close to it, was a long reigning NXT Champion and main evented Takeovers, brought to the main roster with vignettes and pushed, and then demoted. So I understand their difference in attitude. Still, I think those self made Twitter promos in the build up to WM maybe turned some heads and made people go “hmmm what do we have here?”. |
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Post by Susan "Poison" Candy on Dec 19, 2018 15:40:48 GMT -5
He is going to get over. I know the automatic comparison is “why does he get pulled up, but not Neville?” but, I think Ali has something that Neville doesn’t. That “IT” factor.  |
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Dec 19, 2018 16:08:17 GMT -5
He is going to get over. I know the automatic comparison is “why does he get pulled up, but not Neville?” but, I think Ali has something that Neville doesn’t. That “IT” factor. Neville was a victim of his success
He reinvented his look and was putting on quality performances every night in ring and out of it as his character and mic work became damn good
Instead of putting the title on Aries they kept it on Neville. Instead of letting Tozawa have a decent run as he was over with Titus, they took it right back off him. Enzo gets the belt, well let's keep Neville around just in case we decide to make that change again
They were for the foreseeable future just going to put him in that spot because he was reliable there. Somewhat akin to Kushida in NJPW where he is the Junior Ace and they had people in front of him who can hold it down but they always lean back to him (Hiromu was essentially the unofficial Ace this year but the broken neck took him out)
Ali waited in the wings and his in ring work and passion just carried him through. Just seems like someone saw him and finally was like this dude can be money for us in a babyface role. He's got the gear, the in ring work, the look, let's do something with him. Always thought from the CWC, Cedric would be the one to move past the CW division but Ali beat him to it
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Post by xxshoyuweeniexx on Dec 19, 2018 16:16:31 GMT -5
He is going to get over. I know the automatic comparison is “why does he get pulled up, but not Neville?” but, I think Ali has something that Neville doesn’t. That “IT” factor. It is interesting though. I hope any of the reputable news sites shed light on the call to take Ali out of the purple brand. I could guess that... - being a Muslim, he's marketable to them. - fans want change and this is change. - he's earned it. But still. For a while, it seemed like official policy that '205 Live' was its own thing and, reportedly, it led to Neville making his exit. I'm very curious about what this means for other cruiserweights going forward. To be fair, no one had any clue last year if being on 205 Live meant you were stuck there or what. But even if you were “stuck”, I think guys like Ali would be more willing to stick it out and try his hardest for as long as possible. Guys like him and Alexander were barely CWC alternates, no way they were gonna turn down WWE money, even if it was for a smaller WWE show. But for someone like Neville however, who was one of NXT’s big indie signings and one of Raw’s big deals for a while..it makes sense he wouldn’t want to on 205 Live for an indefinite 6 to 12 month period. |
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Shark
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Post by Shark on Dec 19, 2018 16:21:42 GMT -5
He is going to get over. I know the automatic comparison is “why does he get pulled up, but not Neville?” but, I think Ali has something that Neville doesn’t. That “IT” factor. I think something big Ali has over Neville is the crossover ability. I mean Ali can be a positive role model for middle eastern audience WWE seems to be trying to appeal to. Ali isn't the stereotypical WWE heel. He preaches a positive message. He's someone WWE can send on charity events, he's a well spoken man, he's a family man so he's hopefully less likely to do something stupid. He's got everything WWE would want and what's best is I think they actually realize this. It's crazy to think this all has happened because of some guy being unable to get a work visa. |
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Post by Bub (BLM) on Dec 19, 2018 16:50:55 GMT -5
He is going to get over. I know the automatic comparison is “why does he get pulled up, but not Neville?” but, I think Ali has something that Neville doesn’t. That “IT” factor. Seconded. I love Ali, but Neville was incredible. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2018 16:57:58 GMT -5
Seconded. I love Ali, but Neville was incredible. Yeah, Ali's great and I hope for big things but Neville during his 205 Live run for me was the best performer in the whole company. Matches, mic work, character work in general, the guy was on a whole other level. Kills me that he wasn't promoted after the double turn with Enzo. |
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Post by "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay on Dec 19, 2018 17:49:26 GMT -5
I am all in on Ali as a babyface that should get pushed, I said it when I first saw him in the CWC.
His online promos about being a cop and wanting to protect people made me love him even more.
Plus, a Pakistani Muslim babyface being pushed in the biggest wrestling promotion in North America now, and possibly biggest one in all of history?
To be blunt, I think the world, at least the wrestling world, needs Ali to get pushed.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2018 17:54:03 GMT -5
I am all in on Ali as a babyface that should get pushed, I said it when I first saw him in the CWC. His online promos about being a cop and wanting to protect people made me love him even more. Plus, a Pakistani Muslim babyface being pushed in the biggest wrestling promotion in North America now, and possibly biggest one in all of history? To be blunt, I think the world, at least the wrestling world, needs Ali to get pushed. Guy became a cop so he could be the change he wanted to see in the world, how could you not respect the hell out of that? Plus there's that story about him reaching out to (and still checking in on) a suicidal fan. |
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Post by hashtagdaley/JudasDay on Dec 19, 2018 18:04:10 GMT -5
He is going to get over. I know the automatic comparison is “why does he get pulled up, but not Neville?” but, I think Ali has something that Neville doesn’t. That “IT” factor. “Regular” caped goober Neville, agreed Ascended King of the CW Neville had all of the IT. |
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Post by hashtagdaley/JudasDay on Dec 19, 2018 18:05:47 GMT -5
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Post by government mule on Dec 19, 2018 18:22:21 GMT -5
Really happy for Ali. What a great opportunity he now has, especially having such credibility with a pinfall over Bryan. Didn't look out of place in that SD main event at all. Good for him.
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Post by Final Countdown Jones on Dec 19, 2018 18:47:09 GMT -5
I don't know that there's honestly even any measure of weighing positives or traits or differences; Mustafa Ali was called up for what amounts to a whim of "Let's push this guy" more than anything else. Neville had been "promoted" into the place he was by impressing the boss, and now so Is Ali, in the other direction, but it's such a weirdo crapshoot depending on impressinf Vince and him deciding the right step for someone is to go to this place. It's the ultimate insane fate of being in WWE right now.
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Post by Captain Stud Muffin (BLM) on Dec 19, 2018 23:43:57 GMT -5
Missed his match tonight but I hope he brings this gear soon:  Come next Mania he needs to come out in yellow and black gear like Scorpion |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2018 8:58:56 GMT -5
He is going to get over. I know the automatic comparison is “why does he get pulled up, but not Neville?” but, I think Ali has something that Neville doesn’t. That “IT” factor. I disagree. Ali has star value but I think Neville does too, and I think primarily timing is the only reason that Ali is there and Neville isn't. If Neville was still around for WWE's current panic mode I'm sure he'd have a place on the main roster as well. |
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Post by abjordans on Dec 20, 2018 10:42:16 GMT -5
He is going to get over. I know the automatic comparison is “why does he get pulled up, but not Neville?” but, I think Ali has something that Neville doesn’t. That “IT” factor. I disagree. Ali has star value but I think Neville does too, and I think primarily timing is the only reason that Ali is there and Neville isn't. If Neville was still around for WWE's current panic mode I'm sure he'd have a place on the main roster as well. I think Ali has a higher ceiling in my opinion. He has the ability to make more personal connections with the audience. Being a baby face that actually makes a strong personal connection with the audience other than “whoa he does cool moves!” is probably the most valuable commodity in wrestling due to how rare it is these days. |
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Post by kingoftheindies on Dec 20, 2018 10:50:37 GMT -5
On a related note I do kind of find it funny how different the Cruiserweight division has become since it was brought back or more how far TJP has fallen after being the chosen one (granted he was chosen because the top 2 choices declined contracts but still)
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Post by abjordans on Dec 20, 2018 12:14:55 GMT -5
On a related note I do kind of find it funny how different the Cruiserweight division has become since it was brought back or more how far TJP has fallen after being the chosen one (granted he was chosen because the top 2 choices declined contracts but still) Does he even get used on 205 Live anymore? I liked him in ring and stuff, but he is cringey as hell on social media. |
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Post by EoE: Workin On My Night Cheese on Dec 20, 2018 12:16:33 GMT -5
On a related note I do kind of find it funny how different the Cruiserweight division has become since it was brought back or more how far TJP has fallen after being the chosen one (granted he was chosen because the top 2 choices declined contracts but still) Does he even get used on 205 Live anymore? I liked him in ring and stuff, but he is cringey as hell on social media. He’s been paired up with Mike Kanellis of all people, recently losing a feud to Lucha House Party. |
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Post by abjordans on Dec 20, 2018 12:28:51 GMT -5
Does he even get used on 205 Live anymore? I liked him in ring and stuff, but he is cringey as hell on social media. He’s been paired up with Mike Kanellis of all people, recently losing a feud to Lucha House Party. Kanellis weighs under 205?!? |
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