Paul London signed

[Guest Dillon Likes Bossman]

WWE has signed top indy star Paul London to a contract with the company. London is an incredible talent who has made a name for himself in promotions like Ring of Honor, NWA TNA and Zero One in Japan. This is a strong signing for WWE. From what I was told, London will start out in Ohio Valley Wrestling for WWE.

 

 

www.1wrestling.com

[Guest The Superstar]

Whoa.

 

Let him fight Spanky.

[Guest DawnBTVS]

Yes...I demand London vs Spanky

[Guest Dillon Likes Bossman]

Man, he is a hell of a talent...I just can't remain positive about his future though.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

This is going to be more disapointing than usual.

 

They'll ship him to OVW for a while...then eventually he'll win the cruiser title in a 4 minute match on Smackdown...which will be the higlight of his career immediatly followed by jobbing to A-Train on Velocity.

 

Now...I usually don't care when they do it to everyone else...

 

But Paul London IS GREAT.

 

If we're lucky we'll get one great PPV match somewhere down the road.

[Guest BigPoppaKev]

Awesome Awesome talent in London. Lets hope he doesn't get buried on Velocity by losing to the likes of Albert and Demott. London vs. Spanky, London vs. Rey, London vs. Kidman (Battle of the SSP~!) London vs. Dragon. There are more matches with London that could rule. Lets hope he gets somewhat of a push. I think the guy can get over on ring work alone. Almost like Spanky.

[Guest Dillon Likes Bossman]

I'm with bps on this. I'm just sadened because I know he won't reach his full potential in the WWE.

[Guest ShooterJay]

Man, on one hand I'm sorta sad, because I'll never get to see him live in ROH again and thank him for his great matches.

 

But I'm incredibly happy he's getting his shot in the big time.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

London is so much better than Spanky.

 

On one hand...if I have to watch 4 minute smackdown matches I'm happy its with London.

 

On the other...I've seen what this guy can do...and I'll NEVER see it again.

[Guest Space_Cowboy]

Well, it's a great pickup for the WWE, but i just know they'll waste him. Goodbye Paul London/American Dragon classics, hello OVW and Bill DeMott squashes.

[Guest Dillon Likes Bossman]

On another note, Billy Kidman now has nothing over anyone on the roster as there is someone who executes the SSP properly on the roster.

[Guest Zack Malibu]

Jesus H Christ...

 

Paul London was one of the guys who drew me into Ring of Honor in the first place. Having him appear on TNA (and considered for a prime X Division slot) made me happy, because TNA wouldn't waste him away.

 

My response to this is the same as many of you, like Jay and bps...I dig the guy, so I'm very happy for him. However, you know it won't be the same Paul London from before.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Yeah, it won't be the same London...

 

but the kid has given me enough to be happy for what was obviously his decision in what he wanted.

 

I'll have to catch SD! house shows when he gets called up, that's for sure.

 

London is just one of those guys who outside of the WWE transcends the cruiserweight bias, and from a fan perspective it sucks to know he'll be thrown right back into it.

[rising up out of the back seat-nuh 0]

This could be vital for WWE. This is the first of the new-wave of indy talent they've signed up, and if they bury him, then guys like AJ, Low Ki, Am Drag and Daniels won't go there in a million years. If, however, they do well with him, then that could allow WE to sign up a load of good workers.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

chave just made the best point ever.

[EL DANDY~! 0]

This is such a great thing to hear. He REALLY needs to hook it up with Spanky. I need that match.

 

However, like many of the great signings in the past (Spanky, Ultimo, and now London), it seems as if he'll have to dumb down his moveset in order to be a part of the division, and chances are with him being about the same size as Spanky, that he'll be part of that "You're too small to be worth anything" group, and that he won't get his fair shot. I truly think it's a shame that it's gonna come down to this.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

I've seen what this guy can do...and I'll NEVER see it again.

pretty much sums it up. Good for him, but shitty for everyone else.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Yes.

 

Happy day for London.

 

Sad day for bps, roh and tna (once a month or so anyway) fans everywhere.

[The Dames 0]

The moment I signed on just now, I read the headline and my reaction...

 

"F*CK!"

 

Best wishes to Paul London. I hope they let him break out on PPV's while giving the fans a glimpse of what he can do on SD. That's the best way he'll draw money...but then again, I'm not optimistic.

 

Dames

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

I'll say this...if he can stick it out in the WWE, he'll add 5 years to his career. Most of these indy X guys are going to cripple themselves or bust out never really making enough.

[EL DANDY~! 0]

I still don't get why Vince gets off on cutting the movesets of people. I mean, the people he signs have been TRAINED TO TAKE THE BUMPS THEY TAKE. If they take them out of their natural environment like that, there is actually a better chance that they injure themselves. I mean, if you tell London to tone it down and be careful, you will get a lot more injuries that way.

[Guest Ronixis]

On one hand-

 

This star is going places-

 

On the other-

 

NO! NOT the BRAND as it is! Could he wait until changes are made?

 

I happy for London-- but his move set is gone to the shitter and he will just have a more Cena ThuganomLESS move set- Talk- Jump-SSP- end match.

[Guest bob_barron]

Well HOLY SHIT.

 

I'm the biggest Paul London mark on the boards and it's a sad day that we'll never be able to see London v. Low Ki or London v. Dragon going at it one time.

 

BUT

 

This was Paul London's dream to go to the WWE- and even though I'm very sad to see him go- I'm happy he's getting a chance to live his dream.

 

Congratulations Paul, thanks for the memories and please don't die.

[Guest Zack Malibu]

This is such a great thing to hear. He REALLY needs to hook it up with Spanky. I need that match.

 

However, like many of the great signings in the past (Spanky, Ultimo, and now London), it seems as if he'll have to dumb down his moveset in order to be a part of the division, and chances are with him being about the same size as Spanky, that he'll be part of that "You're too small to be worth anything" group, and that he won't get his fair shot. I truly think it's a shame that it's gonna come down to this.

If/when he hooks up with Spanky, you're going to get a 7 minute spotfest, not a 20 minute ROH classic.

 

Add in the fact that they want Spanky to be Spike Dudley II and that makes the fact even worse.

 

WWE's problem is the capability for great undercard matches is there, but they could give two shits. You have Spanky, London, Funaki, Noble, Moore, Hardy, Mysterio, Dragon, Tajiri, Guerrero, Kidman, all on the same show. Throw in the guys in the midcard-upper mid that can blend well with cruisers (Kanyon, Benoit, Edge) and you could have at least *** in every match on the show, but these guys get cut off at the legs.

[Guest BigPoppaKev]

This could be vital for WWE. This is the first of the new-wave of indy talent they've signed up, and if they bury him, then guys like AJ, Low Ki, Am Drag and Daniels won't go there in a million years. If, however, they do well with him, then that could allow WE to sign up a load of good workers.

I don't really agree with this post. Even if these guys see their peers being misused I still think they would go to the WWE. It is really the only wrestling company in the states that will give them a stable living and garunteed money really. And most people I know are going to work for the people who offer them job security and money.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

It's funny what the WWE does to people.

 

Here we have an almost univeral smark favorite...who we will now get to see more often and for free...

 

and it's bittersweet at best.

[syxx2001 0]

IM PISSED! I dont want him to go to the WWE even if it is his dream. He wont be the same. Good by Holy Shit chants for running shooting star into a clothesline. Hello Holy Shit chants for moonsault dropkick. They better not sign Red or I'm gonna go GTA3 on the WWE headquarters. Why not start a "Who gets signed next?" competition? I say Sabin or Skipper gets signed and shipped to OVW.

[Guest Zack Malibu]

It's funny what the WWE does to people.

 

Here we have an almost univeral smark favorite...who we will now get to see more often and for free...

 

and it's bittersweet at best.

I'm also wondering if this is the latest "we plan on pushing the cruiser division" empty promise being made, or Vince getting spiteful and signing top indy guys away before they can draw any more interest (like what he did to the older territories).

[Guest bob_barron]

It's funny what the WWE does to people.

 

Here we have an almost univeral smark favorite...who we will now get to see more often and for free...

 

and it's bittersweet at best.

To me it's not bittersweet at all.

 

I'm ecstatic that I may get to see Paul London every week for free. I'm ecstatic that I get to see Paul London show everyone that dreams can come true. Sure he never got to win the ROH title but this is what the guy worked for.

 

I hope he can work the 7.19 show but if he can't- That's cool. I'm just glad I got to see Paul London.

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

This could be vital for WWE. This is the first of the new-wave of indy talent they've signed up, and if they bury him, then guys like AJ, Low Ki, Am Drag and Daniels won't go there in a million years. If, however, they do well with him, then that could allow WE to sign up a load of good workers.

I don't really agree with this post. Even if these guys see their peers being misused I still think they would go to the WWE. It is really the only wrestling company in the states that will give them a stable living and garunteed money really. And most people I know are going to work for the people who offer them job security and money.

Let's take 2 reverse cases about top indy talent vs. WWE contracts

 

1. Raven makes twice as much since leaving the job security in WWE working only 3 shows a week since he is a big name.

 

2. AJ Styles had to turn down a WWE developmental deal last year because they offered him all the security of a 500 dollar a week pay check that he blows away working indys.

 

Job security, yes...but indy guys at the level WWE would be taking from (Styles, Daniels, Low Ki) make more than WWE will offer them.

 

I guarantee someone as in demand as London took a pay cut to work more days.