Pros and Cons on Mordechai & Suzuki

[Guest Trivia247]

In my humble yet loud mouth opinion there is alot of things needing to be addressed and or dealt with concerning this new crop of WWE newbies.

 

Instead of a simple smarkish Bashfest of wishing the "offending" Wrestler was never born, how about simply weighing the pros and cons of such wrestlers and what they can do to change..

 

Mordechai, the character itself is unique with alot of options as to how to tell the story of this individual.

 

Kenzo Suzuki, a character which is both innovative and classic as a ethnic heel.

 

Generally both men started out the same way, being Monsters who squashes errant Cruiserweights for their first matches. (Why is it that Cruiserweights are the new age jobbers anyway? I thought the WWE had restarted the program of picking up local indi wrestlers to job for WWE wrestlers?)

This practice doesn't do much in terms of benefit for these two wrestlers. Since the Cruiserweights are not permitted to show their own skills, we wouldn't be able to see how these two would be able to combat them. And also its hard to make someone look like a Monster squash machine vs wrestlers of their size if they only been squashing people much smaller than them.

 

Now that aside. on to the pros and cons...

 

Mordechai.

 

Pro: Has a good control of his own creative imagination as to where his character should go. He is a multi year OVW wrestler and has been in the WWE system for that long. He has a decent enough (if albeit long) Intro. The Uniquiness (sp) of his character makes it open for many possibilities as to who he would feud with.

 

Con: His worst failing is his own self imagining. From what I heard of Kevin, He was a decent enough wrestler in OVW to be in the WWE. but once in the big game, He started second and third guessing himself. Too much of the I don't wanna fuck up talk makes him too self concious and therefore cause mistakes to occur. in wrestling Shit happens, from Mis cue moves, to big injuries, all that happens. You can't be in the business if you cannot accept that sometimes one will screw up in the match.

 

Recommendation: He takes his time off in OVW to muster up some self Confidence. From what the rumors suggest he is gonna be this generations next Supernatural Phenom cough cough alla the Undertaker of the 90's. When he comes back he should feud as such, and take on wrestlers his size. Flush out his moveset a bit. Give him a Crucifix Submission Rings of Saturn isn't being used there.

 

Kenzo Suzuki

 

Pro: He has a interesting look. thats about it...

 

con: His wrestling style is still a bit twitchy. If all he does is what we have seen in his squash matches with the cruisers and his match with Billy Gunn then he isn't worth the huge push they are gonna give him. His speaking ability is obviously a hinderance, and the only way it can be used is how it was done last night with someone like Cena trashing him.

 

Recommendation: Kenzo is being really presented as a monster more so than Mordechai. I don't think he can simply disappear really to improve. there maybe another option. Its a bit hokey and overdone, but Kenzo could always take up the Yakuza like Stable with Akio and Sakoda. He would take the time off in the ring himself to train in OVW but still remain on WWE tv as manager and boss of Akio & Sakoda. And if his Wife is indeed his translator, then Put her on the mic to do so. He needs to improve his wrestling performance so it doesn't look so awkward. And then when he is ready go back into a Midcard run.

 

What do you think they should do to improve themselves?

[NoCalMike 0]

Mordecai - No Pros

 

Suzuki - well I haven't even watched Smackdown enough to see him once, so I can't say.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

Kenzo makes Nathan Jones look like a pro.

[algrim 0]

Nothing against Mordecai, but have him beat somebody other than cw's hen he comes back. Have him return with a stable or form a stable during his "campaigns" (ala Raven's Flock). Suzuki needs to adjust to the WWE style.It appears that he is going to have a program with Cena down the line. Have him work with the trainers and team him up w/Akio and Sakoda.

[AlaskanHero 0]

Mordecai

 

Pros: Mordy does have a decent character and could get over as a heel if he actually did something to get heat. Hell, I can think of way he could get into a feud with Rey off the top of my head. He's willing to improve and he's willing to not be a squasher to the cruisers. From what I've seen, he has an all right moveset.

 

Cons: Like Trivia said, the guy has no confidence in himself. Hell, I swear I could see fear in his eyes when he came out on Smackdown. Anywyas, he keeps thinking he's gonna fuck up and he will.

 

 

Kenzo Suzuki

 

Pros: Well, he's Japanese and there are three other Japanese people who are doing nothing he could use. Kenzo's the Shogun and Akio/Sakoda/Funaki become his samurai. As his samurai do battle, Kenzo could sit in his throne at ringside with his wife/valet/geisha and bark orders at them....IN JAPANESE~! Out of the ring, he could be gold. Plus he has an interesting look I guess.

 

Cons: Kenzo should not be wrestling or at least wrestling how he currently is. So far I've seen him do exactly three different moves. Chops, Meng's Tonga Hold thingie, and his STO-like finisher. I'm not good at seeing talent in wrestlers and good wrestling has never been a big selling point for me. You could call me markish, but even I can tell that Kenzo sucks as a wrestler.

[Guest TigerDriver91]

Akio is not Japanese. He is a Korean-American.

[2GOLD 0]

Sending him back to OVW ISN'T going to help him. They will just confirm to him he was a failure and his self confidence will be ruined for good. The guy is full of jitters, it happens and they just have to settle him down. Put him in a match with a veteran his size during a few house shows (dear god not Holly) and allow them to train him. Christ, bring up a trainer from OVW and use him.

 

The kid was decent in OVW and he can be a solid addition if they calm him down. You can say he sucks and you'd be right, since he barely can move without wanting to run to the back and sob.

[AlaskanHero 0]

Akio is not Japanese. He is a Korean-American.

Ok, so Akio isn't Japanese. That doesn't mean they wouldn't make him Japanese if it came to it. He played a Japanese guy in WCW and hung out with Tajiri which made me assume he was Japanese. Besides, most of America considers anyone with Asian heritage either Chinese or Japanese.....with a black belt in martial arts.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

I think the problems with both wrestlers, character-wise, is their motivation. Mord wants to punish the sinners. Why? Kenz wants to punish the Americans. Why? Because they're bad? Why don't they just do that outside the ring? Why do they have to wrestle to do it? That's the problem with gimmicks, they don't explain why they do what they do. Really, the only gimmick they should have is being a wrestler.

 

Now, say Kevin Fertig was just a plain old rookie who kept getting picked on by other wrestlers. He lost a bunch of matches and he wasn't able to cope with the losses and the taunting. He saw the lifestyle of some of the wrestlers and it made him sick. So, he transforms into Mordecai and he sees his purpose in wrestling is to not only to take out those who wronged him, but to destroy the lifestyle itself. In Spiderman, you see Norman Osborne before becoming The Green Goblin so you can see why he's bad. So you understand him. So you know why to boo him. He isn't just "a bad guy", he's a normal guy who makes the wrong choice and can't turn back. He wanted power, and that was his flaw.

 

For Kenzo, its harder because its based on ethnicity. Again, you could have had him come out as a regular Japanese wrestler who carried his flag proudly, but didn't hate America. He loved America. He came to America because he could make a better living. But the American fans booed him anyways (be it because he sucked in the ring, or they could have planted moments to get the fans to boo him), and he wasn't embraced, so he hates Americans now. The same thing happened to The Rock. His turn was logical. He wasn't just "a bad guy". He was a nice, clean cut, "blue chipper" who the fans turned on. So he turned on them.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Mordecai - No Pros

 

Suzuki - well I haven't even watched Smackdown enough to see him once, so I can't say.

You are a grade A idiot, my friend.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Zsasz, you *do* know that your response puts you in the same right, right?

 

Physically, Kenzo is laughable as "the monster" and so is Cole and Tazz's "selling" of him as such (well, for the one match that I saw of him). Acting as if he is this martial arts machine when he does some of the worst kicks and chops imaginable just hurts their credibility rather than hyping Suzuki as a threat. They really need to re-evaluate their feeder and developmental system, because they've been batting well under .500 when it comes to new talent.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Zsasz, you *do* know that your response puts you in the same right, right?

Not really, I was commenting on a bogus claim. Mordecai obviously has some degree of charisma, his promo work IS solid, and his ring work is passable. He's not an upper carder so he doesn't need to be anything more at the moment. He's going through a very difficult career shift from the minors to the majors and it WILL take time to adapt.

 

But it's silly to say he has NO Pro's.

[Guest Dazed]

Mordecai - No Pros

 

Suzuki - well I haven't even watched Smackdown enough to see him once, so I can't say.

 

 

Come on, if you've got nothing to add, then just don't post. Zsasz, easy on the flaming.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Mordecai - No Pros

 

Suzuki - well I haven't even watched Smackdown enough to see him once, so I can't say.

 

 

Come on, if you've got nothing to add, then just don't post. Zsasz, easy on the flaming.

While, I don't really consider that flaming (it's boderline), I will oblige.

 

Sorry about that.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Zsasz, you *do* know that your response puts you in the same right, right?

Not really, I was commenting on a bogus claim. Mordecai obviously has some degree of charisma, his promo work IS solid, and his ring work is passable. He's not an upper carder so he doesn't need to be anything more at the moment. He's going through a very difficult career shift from the minors to the majors and it WILL take time to adapt.

 

But it's silly to say he has NO Pro's.

Now, had you said that before instead of your one-liner, you'd have something to your claim.

 

I mean, I completely disagree and see very little value in the guy, but at least you're explaining your POV. Personally, I think the WWE shouldn't be getting away with "passable", and the only "improvement" I should be seeing in their wrestlers is from "very good" to "great" to "legendary". They should be going from "passable" to "good" to "very good" in OVW, dark matches, and house shows. National Television is the big time, the WWE should act like it.

 

The Mordecai promo from Smackdown in Toronto was bland and boring. I don't like his delivery and I think he physically looks silly. I don't mind the theatrics or the character, but there's nothing _there_. I like some of my wrestling over-the-top, but the WWE never takes it deep enough in terms of motivation, characterization, etc. for me to care. When it comes to Mordecai, they're looking for a comic-book style villain and he isn't even close to it. Wrestling-wise, I am really starting to hate the "WWE style" and see nothing interesting in Mordecai to change that.

 

As for charisma, I don't see it. But then again, I don't have a lot of source material to look from since I see _maybe_ 2 minutes of Smackdown each week. I think a lot of people dig gothic gimmicks and are letting that cloud their perception of the guy.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Zsasz, you *do* know that your response puts you in the same right, right?

Not really, I was commenting on a bogus claim. Mordecai obviously has some degree of charisma, his promo work IS solid, and his ring work is passable. He's not an upper carder so he doesn't need to be anything more at the moment. He's going through a very difficult career shift from the minors to the majors and it WILL take time to adapt.

 

But it's silly to say he has NO Pro's.

Now, had you said that before instead of your one-liner, you'd have something to your claim.

 

I mean, I completely disagree and see very little value in the guy, but at least you're explaining your POV. Personally, I think the WWE shouldn't be getting away with "passable", and the only "improvement" I should be seeing in their wrestlers is from "very good" to "great" to "legendary". They should be going from "passable" to "good" to "very good" in OVW, dark matches, and house shows. National Television is the big time, the WWE should act like it.

 

The Mordecai promo from Smackdown in Toronto was bland and boring. I don't like his delivery and I think he physically looks silly. I don't mind the theatrics or the character, but there's nothing _there_. I like some of my wrestling over-the-top, but the WWE never takes it deep enough in terms of motivation, characterization, etc. for me to care. When it comes to Mordecai, they're looking for a comic-book style villain and he isn't even close to it. Wrestling-wise, I am really starting to hate the "WWE style" and see nothing interesting in Mordecai to change that.

 

As for charisma, I don't see it. But then again, I don't have a lot of source material to look from since I see _maybe_ 2 minutes of Smackdown each week. I think a lot of people dig gothic gimmicks and are letting that cloud their perception of the guy.

I think the claim that a worker has NOTHING AT ALL to offer is inherently ridiculous, and should be backed up by facts. My point wasn't even that Mordecai is that GOOD, just that almost NOBODY is THAT BAD.

 

If I were an idiot for making THAT one line post, then YOU were an idiot for making YOUR one line answer to it, at least until that last post there. So you're a hypocrite as well.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

No, because I followed my "one liner" up with an on-topic post. Had you given me _anything_ to respond to, then I could have said more. But you didn't explain yourself up until your follow-up post, so I responded in-kind.

 

If you think hard enough, Mordecai has something to offer. But what has he done so far? Has he made _any_ impact on Smackdown television? Has any other characters reacted and responded to him in a way that portrays their character and his? He is just _there_. They're too afraid to go over-the-top with him, and too stupid not to realize that dumbing-it-down kills the character. This is a HUGE fundamental problem for the WWE and has been so for a long, long time. They're afraid to go balls-out and it seems so half-hearted. Brock Lesnar was successful because they went full-steam ahead with his push and didn't back down when the crowds got silent. They had an objective, they focused on it, and they went all the way with it. If they put that consistent effort into everything they do, they'd be much better off. Of course, Brock had more assets than Fertig does, and could pay-off a lot more.

 

I don't know if the fault should be put on Fertig or the WWE. Someone like Mordecai, who is supposed to be Supernatural-esque, should be doing things to enforce that aura. Feeding him cruiserweights doesn't do that. However, when Brock first entered the WWE what he did to Spike was really fucking impressive - even if Spike was a lil guy. Then again, they gave Brock free-reign to impress. I dunno if they are holding Fertig back or if he's just incapable of providing anything "cool". It might be a lil bit of both. One thing I do know is that they weren't fully prepared to go where this gimmick needed it to go for it to be successful - and that is in _every_ regard - from the wrestler to the character to the feuds and storylines. Again, something like this needs a lot of effort put in to it, you can't just plant the seeds and expect it to grow without sunlight and water. If they're sending him back to OVW, they should make sure the plan to bring-him-back is in perfect order and that he's able to fully accomodate the gimmick with his physical and verbal skills. Which brings me back to the WWE being "the big time" and how they need to reevaluate their developmental system.

[AndrewTS 0]

Personally, I think the WWE shouldn't be getting away with "passable", and the only "improvement" I should be seeing in their wrestlers is from "very good" to "great" to "legendary". They should be going from "passable" to "good" to "very good" in OVW, dark matches, and house shows. National Television is the big time, the WWE should act like it.

 

This is exactly the way I feel, especially when Goodear keeps saying "so what...he's a developing worker." I don't want to see a "developing worker," especially when WWE gets to a point where they don't bother pushing talent to improve once they get on TV.

 

As for Mordechai...my perfectly honest opinion is that I cannot get past his look. I think he's so freakin' ridiculous-looking that nothing else matters. Obviously his offense is limited although I guess he's supposed to be that way. However, why all white? Why a top that looks like an altered version of the Test logo top? Why the goofy white hair? Why the staff?

 

The Undertaker character only once in a while has the cartooniness pop up. I don't see a use for it today.

 

As for Kenzo:

 

What's this "innovative" aspect to his character the original poster speaks of? His character is "I'm angry, and I'm Japanese." Even freakin' Cena pointed out how uninteresting that is.

 

He's drawn heat based on the evil foreign heel thing...and I guess that's his only upside right now. The little bit of offense he can do looks like crap. His promos are a non-factor since he can't speak English. When they made Hiroko (who allegedly speaks English well) a geisha they pretty much killed the opportunity to make her his mouthpiece. What are his motivations, specific enemies he wishes to target, etc?

 

Spike Dudley and other Cruiserweights? WHO CARES!!??!

 

Basically, in summary Mord could be good but I hate the character, and it limits him as a worker. Plus as mentioned...he has no explanation behind his motivations, and even so what is he actually doing that goes with his character?

 

Kenzo's just a lousy wrestler and the gimmick is the only thing keeping him going, but once that's worn off he's basically useless IMO.

 

The Mordecai promo from Smackdown in Toronto was bland and boring. I don't like his delivery and I think he physically looks silly.

 

Agreed with Rudo, at least on that. He makes me laugh, not hate him.

[haVoc 0]

As for Mordechai...my perfectly honest opinion is that I cannot get past his look. I think he's so freakin' ridiculous-looking that nothing else matters. Obviously his offense is limited although I guess he's supposed to be that way. However, why all white? Why a top that looks like an altered version of the Test logo top? Why the goofy white hair? Why the staff?

I guess we don't have to worry about this now, but they killed him dead with that image.

 

The white hair I had no problem with. Reminded me a little bit of Kevin Sullivan. They should have dressed him in black, though. Always go black when it comes to evil. All white reminds me of a bad Warrent video.

[Guest combat_rock]

Mordecai: They need to put him on Velocity, not send him back to OVW. Allow him one promo against the "sinners", and then a squash over a local guy. It keeps him in the WWE so he won't lose as much confidence, and he will be able to work with Taker, which would be a big help for this character. Maybe they did bring him up too soon, but there can be no going back now. If he just disapears completely, no one will buy him as a credible threat when he comes back.

 

Kenzo Suzuki: Honestly, I just want this guy to leave. Unless he does form a Japanese/Asian faction, I really don't see him being of any use. From what I've heard, he's had a long time to work on his in-ring stuff in Japan, and he's still the most boring thing I've ever seen. And I don't see him having any charisma at all.

[AndrewTS 0]

"Unless he does form a Japanese/Asian faction, I really don't see him being of any use. "

 

A stable of jobbers isn't going to get him anywhere.

[Guest combat_rock]

I didn't say it should get him anywhere, and Akio in particular should not be a jobber by any means. He's too good. I'm just saying that if they did make that faction, Suzuki could be used to add to their ranks. Because I really don't see any other use for him.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

I have nothing against Mordecai. He isn't the greatest wrestler in the world, but I like his gimmick and he's good enough for a midcard slot. If he improves, then let him against guys like Taker.

 

Suzuki isn't good enough to deserve a spot on the roster, even as a jobber. I like the gimmick, but unlike Mordecai, the wrestler himself can be interchanged with any Japanese wrestler. Give Tajiri that gimmick and it'll go over great. Mordecai isn't exactly great in the ring, but Suzuki is only one step above Nathan Jones, and that's only because I like his finisher.

[Guest Trivia247]

It shows a Nasty track record of trying to get people like Jones, Morgan, Suzuki, Mordechai etc over immidiately. They throw them out there with little or no effort to learn about them, and except the crowds to go OOO and ahhh. You can't test Mordechai's metal in the ring on Cruiserweights you stunted by not letting them perform at their peak as it is. Kevin would get over more with a heavyweight feud someone he could play mindgames with and build a rivary with in the name of all that is Holy. However He has stage fright.

 

Like many here say and I have said Suzuki style if you call it that is so Disjointed in the ring. From the lame o chops so telegraphed you can't tell me someone couldn't hook his arm or something, to the kicks also pretty vanilla. He would be better served learning how to perform with more Moves that would get peoples attention and in the meantime stay out of the Smackdown ring. Throw him down into OVW or Velocity. Probably wouldn't hurt him get into a Velocity feud with like Orlando Jordan or someone low key that doesn't effect the main storylines a bit.

[AndrewTS 0]

Suzuki isn't good enough to deserve a spot on the roster, even as a jobber. I like the gimmick, but unlike Mordecai, the wrestler himself can be interchanged with any Japanese wrestler. Give Tajiri that gimmick and it'll go over great.

Tajiri WAS over huge as a face until about the time the Invasion was winding down and they turned him into a jobber. Also, when Tajiri was a face he actually made Torrie Wilson tolerable. That's about the only period of time when I didn't completely loathe her.

 

Then they made him the evil stereotypical Japanese heel, and Torrie was the emotionally abused girlfriend who rebelled by taking off her clothes. That sucked, but Tajiri was drawing good heel heat regardless. Obviously he's no Low Ki, but Tajiri's offense looks waaaay better than Suzuki's.

 

I guess the problem is: Tajiri's short. Of course, he's been on Raw for a while, but I don't remember what they've done with him since that Batista match.

[Guest combat_rock]

Tajiri's been taking time off to be in Japan with his wife and newly born son. Personally, I think Tajiri's offense is such that he could be a good giant killer. I mean, a stiff kick to the head should hurt just as much no matter how big you are...

[Guest Trivia247]

Like most cruiserweights or someone who has seen near mainstream success outside the WWE.. Tajiri has a great arsenal of moves but he can't use most of them, Brainbusters, Dragon suplexes etc etc

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

Tajiri is also very charismatic for a Japanese wrestler in America. Alot moreso than somebody like Ultimo Dragon.

[Masked Man of Mystery 0]

Mordechai seems to be a decent fellow, and he has an interesting gimmick, but as people have said, this angle should've been built up, not just "I'm Mordecai, you are all sinners." Hopefully he comes back because he's a decent wrestler and willing to learn. As for Kenzo, well, I hope he goes into some Japanese garbage fed, because he's not anywhere near good, his gimmick is stupid, and I have a personal hatred of any WWE announcer saying the words "geisha girl" ever since the Tajiri/Torrie incident. Actually, with all the talk of a yakuza thing, I'd MUCH rather they use his wife in the role of leader ala Lucy Liu's character in Kill Bill. The yakuza gimmick, of course should lead to the obvious yakuza vs mafia angle.

[Guest combat_rock]

Yeah, except with the WWE, it'd probably become Gang Warz 2....