Welcome back everyone for this, the 16th installment of “Wrestling with Lenny”! When we last met, I was reviewing the insane and Earth-Shattering 2023 WOW Draft. Now, we look at the “Top Ten Stars to Watch” (from our competition, of course) as we head towards the July 3rd, 2023 Monday Night Showdown!
10. Rhea Ripley
AEW’s 3rd Round Draft Pick sent a shockwave through the PWI Women’s Locker Room, but not one which was unanticipated. After PWI management tried to initially exempt Rhea Ripley (until a wrestling media figure pointed out that Rhyno wasn’t exempt), they went in knowing that our annual game of draft chicken (wherein each draft participant dares the other side to waste a valuable pick on their own roster) would backfire and that the incredibly talented Ripley would likely be picked off by WWE or AEW.
Since EWA drafted Rhea in 2021, only for AEW to lose her the next year back to PWI after failing to use her at all, it is clear that Megan has plans for the “Nightmare”. Rhea is tough as nails and I wouldn’t be shocked if we quickly see her ascend into title contention once again as she had in PWI.
9. The Mysterios (Dominik and Rey)
WWE had the option to exempt 10 stars or tag teams in the draft (as well as one stable). Given their small roster, they went in to the draft with only 2 exemptions so as to guarantee that they would be able to participate in as many rounds as possible. One of their two exemptions was none other than the up and coming young talent: Dominik Mysterio.
In the 7th Round, Murrey drafted Dominik’s father Rey, which broke hearts in AEW. Rey has worked for BWM Inc. most of his career and was always exempted from recent drafts until this year. The last time that he worked elsewhere was in HCW, and that was 13 years ago. Rey’s thinned out since then and is arguably in the best shape of his life. His son, though, has turned down a dark path alongside the WWE Champion, Damian Priest.
The 7th Round pick of Rey to WWE shouldn’t have been surprising, as there has been internet buzz about a possible pairing or rivalry ever since Dom debuted this past season. From what we saw this past Monday on Raw, I think we are about to see what’s coming very soon!
8. Ricky Starks
One of the standout performers of the HLW experiment and in WWE has been none other than the bright young prospect in Ricky Starks. Murrey paired him with the legendary Taz and company and Starks looked early on like he was going to have that rocket attached firmly to his back. In fact, I have it on good authority that PWI management was looking to draft Mr. Starks before AEW nabbed him in the 2nd Round.
Starks is a lot like MJF with his incredible charisma, but his in-ring skills may actually supersede Maxwell’s. We would be remiss to ignore the possible path that Starks has in AEW this coming season.
7. Curtis Axel
While undrafted and unexempted, the WWE’s Intercontinental Champion and the offspring of LWF Legend and current PWI Star Mr. Perfect, Curtis Axel is a gem to watch in an out of the ring. Don’t let his undrafted status trick you, though. Mickey wanted Curtis, but there were other priorities which he felt came first, especially as our Women’s and Tag Divisions were ransacked by the competition.
Axel being handed the prestigious Intercontinental Title – rich with history in WWF of old and even in USWA – by Murrey may have seemed like a ridiculous comedy ploy at the time, but it turned out to be a stroke of genius by the WWE Promoter. Axel has been consistent in every way and his sense of entitlement has only made him better to behold.
I am eager to see what’s next for the junior Mr. Perfect!
6. Sasha Banks
Back in 2020, after Sasha spent the opening salvo of her mainstream career in PWI, Mickey traded her for the other upstart talent: Becky Lynch. Sasha’s last match in PWI was taking a loss at the hands of Alexa Bliss at Motivation VII and Alexa hasn’t shut up about it sense. We also saw Alexa appear in the ring and in front of her former foe at Starrcade after Sasha retained over Ember Moon.
So, for now, we’ll put the Sasha/Alexa saga on the backburner as we focus primarily on why Sasha is so valuable. Miss Banks skyrocketed straight to the top of the Knockouts Division in AEW the moment she got the chance, and I have no illusions as to whether she would have done the same in WWE or PWI. Megan knows what she has in Sasha and that is why she protected her as a top priority last year and now.
Sasha has numerous threats going into this season (see Rousey, Chyna, and Ripley…among others), but the Boss won’t be deterred as she parades through this 2nd Season of AEW. In fact, I expect Sasha to survive for the most part as her reign is beginning to feel like it could be the emergence of the Knockouts equivalent to a Metalhead or Dragonfly. Just saying.
5. The War Raiders/Viking Raiders
WWE shocked everyone when they used their first draft pick to pluck the Viking Raiders from PWI’s Ascendant Class whereat they were stuck in a sort of purgatory. After this past Monday on Raw, I can see clearly what is coming for them and why they led the way in WWE’s crusade to build their tag division. Erik and Ivar are great talents with unimaginable skills. We saw them showcase their talents and earn a big win on Monday, and that will be far from all that we will see from them. I see tag team gold in the near future for these brutes!
4. Brock Lesnar
Lesnar being exempted by AEW was no surprise here, as BWM Inc. has desired the services of Lesnar ever since he debuted. He has always worked for Mickey ever since the 2002 UWA Draft which sent him to the then-Southern Division from Murrey’s Northern Division. Lesnar had an impressive run in PWI, picking up numerous titles, including the PWI Title. Then, upon entering AEW, he hit the ground running, and decimated victims left and right.
At Starrcade, Lesnar challenged for the AEW Title and while he fell short, the Beast Incarnate is far from through. You can fully expect the chaos to continue in the season ahead. Just wait and see, Lesnar’s second world title reign is around the corner!
3. The Usos
AEW’s first round draft pick was the first time that a tag team had been picked in the first round (followed almost immediately by WWE also picking a tag team, as noted earlier). AEW signaled their interest in the Usos a couple months ago as they were trying to negotiate a trade for the team. Jimmy and Jey went completely undrafted last year and the makeover they’ve done for themselves definitely caught the eye of the competition…especially as Roman Reigns begins to build his Bloodline-Based Empire.
If there ever was a team outside of the Young Bucks that us wrestling forecasters would say was anointed as the future tag team champions, it would be the Usos. I know for a fact that PWI management had a soft spot in their hearts for the Usos, but they couldn’t be exempted due to higher priorities and their chances at gold were slim due to being in the most stacked tag division in history.
Now, in a much slimmer AEW Tag Division, there should be no surprise if we see Jimmy and Jey becoming the first champions in their family since Umaga and Yokozuna lost to FTR over a year ago.
2. Damian Priest
The ONLY OTHER exemption made by Murrey for WWE in the draft was his world champion, Damian Priest. The former leader of the Final Judgment, Priest stole the show in WWE after it debuted earlier this year. He and Jungle Boy (who was drafted alongside Luchasaurus to AEW) both served as the WWE Co-World Champions before Priest came out on top of a match to crown one true champion at the PPV called “Then. Now. Forever”.
Despite losing his stable to the draft…I mean, *cough* sex video scandal *cough*, Priest stands poised to steer the ship of WWE into this new season with no end in sight. There are definitely contenders for his title (looking at you, WALTER), but Priest is still presently on top of the world!
1. MJF
It should come as no surprise that my number one pick for superstars to watch is THE FUCKING GUY THAT WE SHOULD HAVE NEVER TRA…calm down, Lenny, you said you weren’t going to do this. Breathe.
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Ok, I feel better now.
Anyways, AEW unsurprisingly exempted this megastar alongside his pet Wardlow, and I have no clue how anyone can not see him becoming AEW Champion by the next draft. It’s going to happen, my friends. I’m telling you, and if it doesn’t, I swear to the gods that I will RIOT SO HARD THAT CHRIS HYATTE WILL COWER IN FEAR!!
MJF is simply THE STAR of tomorrow. Yes, Austin Theory (who we traded for a deal that we couldn’t refuse, but I think it was another mistake) is another possible star of the MJF-mold, but there is nothing better than the original.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman has the aura of Dragonfly, the strength of Rhyno, and the skill-set of Kurt Angle. His star shines so brightly that aliens in the Andromeda galaxy can see it from their houses (or huts…do Andromedans live in houses? I need to ask Kris.). In two years time, this will be an era built primarily around his success AND WE FUCKING BOTCHED HOSTING IT HERE!! AHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Ok, I’m done. I will see you all on the next installment of “Wrestling with Lenny”!
World Of Wrestling: Murrey Universe 