Next: we pick the 10 WWE wrestlers primed for stardom

Wrestling Digest, June, 2003 by Kevin Eck

WITH WORD COMING OUT OF WWE that the company plans to promote eight brand-specific and four combined pay-per-views per year, it would follow that a number of wrestlers will soon have an opportunity to make a more significant impact.

What better time then for our annual look at the WWE wrestlers we feel are ready to make the leap and become main-event superstars. And for a look at last year's picks, turn to the sidebar on page 26.

JOHN CENA

Ever since Cena debuted as Prototype in Ultimate Pro Wrestling three years ago, wrestling insiders knew it was just a matter of time before he made his way to WWE. In UPW and later in Ohio Valley Wrestling, Cena showed that he not only had a great physique and was a decent worker, but that he also had charisma and solid promo skills. WWE tried to establish Cena as a new star as soon as he got there last year--in his first televised match he nearly beat Kurt Angle, and he scored a pinfall over Chris Jericho on the Vengeance pay-per-view. However, WWE did not create much of a character for Cena, his charisma suddenly seemed to be in remission, and his push was abruptly aborted. Then, on a Halloween-themed episode of "Smackdown," in which the wrestlers donned costumes, Cena showed up as Vanilla Ice and his career was back on track. Cena's heel rapper persona--which was initially played for laughs before taking on a more serious tone--has been an entertaining addition to "Smackdown." If he is booked correctly, the 26-year-old Cena has the potential to be a main-event star for years to come.

TENACIOUS Z

If you haven't heard about Tenacious Z yet, you will soon, because he has more potential to attract mainstream publicity for WWE than just about anyone in the company. Tenacious Z, whose real name is Zachary Gowen, is a 19-year-old wrestler who has just one leg. He created a buzz among Internet fans after debuting for NWA/TNA in February, but before the promotion could get his signature on a contract, WWE came in with an offer and he accepted it. What makes

the story of Tenacious Z even more interesting is that he says he decided to become a wrestler after Hulk Hogan visited him while he had cancer in 1991. It seems likely, therefore, that Tenacious Z would be linked in storylines with Hogan, and a young wrestler couldn't possibly ask for a better "rub" than that

NATHAN JONES

Like John Cena, Jones also got his start in UPW and was touted as a future superstar. Unlike Cena, however, Jones' ring and microphone skills still have a ways to go. Obviously, the one thing Jones has going for him is his look. Standing nearly 7'0" and weighing in at 340 pounds of solid muscle, the former "World's Strongest Man" competitor from Australia cuts quite an imposing figure--and freakish size is more impressive to WWE honcho Vince McMahon than any shooting-star press or huracanrana. The vignettes WWE used to introduce Jones, whose real-life background includes being incarcerated for armed robbery, did a tremendous job. of getting him over as a monster before he had even wrestled his first match in the federation. With the company behind him and the fans intrigued by him, it's now up to Jones to prove he can deliver the goods.

MATT HARDY

Remember when the Hardy Boyz first came on the scene and people immediately saw more potential in Jeff as a singles wrestler, even going so far as to compare him to Shawn Michaels? What a difference four years can make. While Jeff has become a shell of his former self in the ring, Matt has transformed himself into one of the most entertaining characters in WWE. The "Mattitude" persona--reminiscent of Chris Jericho's character when he was a cruiserweight in WCW--makes the fans love hating him. If WWE just tweaked the character a bit by making Matt more of a threat and less of a joke, he could be one of the federation's top heels.

SHELTON BENJAMIN A CHARLIE HAAS

Speaking of getting, a "rub," aligning Benjamin and Haas with Kurt Angle as members of Team Angle was a smart move by WWE because it established the newcomers as important players upon arrival. Benjamin and Haas have quickly become the best tag team in the federation, a position the two former collegiate standouts could hold for quite some time. Their success doesn't come as much of a surprise. Haas and his brother Russ seemed destined to be WWE's next great tag team while they were in the Heartland Wrestling Association before Russ died unexpectedly in December 2001. And Benjamin formed half of the successful Minnesota Stretching Crew with fellow University of Minnesota grappler Brock Lesnar when they were in Ohio Valley Wrestling. If and when Benjamin and Haas go their separate ways, both appear to have what it takes to make it as singles wrestlers; especially Benjamin, who not only is technically sound and an innovative aerialist, but also has a past with Lesnar that could be played up in future storylines.

RHYNO

In 2001, Rhyno was gradually making his way up the card before being slowed by a neck injury that required surgery and sidelined him for 16 months. If the reaction he got in his first match back--as Chris Benoit's surprise partner against Matt Hardy and Shannon Moore on "Smackdown" in February--is any indication, the fans are ready to see Rhyno take it to the next level. Few competitors in WWE can rival his intensity, and the former ECW champion's Gore looks every bit as devastating as Goldberg's Spear. Rhyno is just one great angle away from reaching WWE's top tier.