Elias Has Thrived In WWE
Elias has been one of the most improved talents since he intially left NXT, really getting a chance to spread his wings and fly. Where he would be lucky to get a few minutes at an NXT taping during his time there, he is now a commonly featured midcard talent. He has even had segments with John Cena at Wrestlemania.
Where he puts his character before in ring talent, he has really connected with fans as either a face or a heel. He has won no major accolades yet, but he hasn’t had to yet. Elias is still getting back into the swing of things since returning from injury, and will likely claim championship gold within the next few years.
Fans have been clamouring to see Elias win Money in the Bank, just for the prospect of him using a guitar case in the place of the normal briefcase. This alone shows why his character focus is so important, it allows him to stand out in the crowded midcard and has fans excited about the potential his character has. You won’t see that with someone like Ricochet or Humberto Carillo, who only have their in ring ability in their favour.
Would He Have Done Well Elsewhere?
While he is locked into WWE for the next few years now, it is always fun to speculate how he could have performed outside of WWE. He absolutely would have thrived in the NWA revival, as his character is classic and would translate perfectly to their format. Shorter matches would have also benefited him, where in ring he is solid but unremarkable. You only notice this when he has longer matches however, so a company who keeps them short would match his skillset perfectly.
Certain fans want to see everyone join AEW, and where they have embraced characters and allowed performers to really have more creative control when it comes to how they’re presented, he would have found a niche fairly quick. He would have to have seriously stepped up his game to hang in the ring with their uppercard talent not named Shawn Spears, but he would have found that next level if pushed.
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