Nick Aldis vs Magnus (GFW spoilers)

Nick Aldis a.k.a Magnus became the first ever GFW world champion at their last TV Tapings in Las Vegas. I am personally surprised Aldis became the inaugural GFW champion, however, it does send a clear message that the company is serious about pushing international talent. The question though is whether Aldis will actually become the poster boy for GFW and if they are going to build their main event around him?

If they do then it proves Jeff sees more potential in Aldis than TNA did. Perhaps this was part of Aldis' negotiations to sign for GFW? Either way, GFW have made a big statement. Now it just remains to be seen if Aldis can handle the mantel of poster boy/world champion and whether GFW won't screw his title reign up like TNA did.

Which brings me to my title, how much potential does Aldis have both as a main eventer and as simply Nick Aldis? When Hall and Nash jumped ship for WCW and gave up their WWF character names it was under different circumstances. They were going from the biggest wrestling promotion to the fastest rising wrestling promotion and therefore had mainstream exposure as well as security. It was a calculated risk and one that ultimately paid off.

Aldis has also taken a calculated risk in joining a promotion that is still in its infancy and has yet to secure a TV deal. One could argue he was wise to leave TNA while there was still something of his reputation intact. You could argue he was underrated and under utilised in TNA, evidenced by his condemnation to mid card purgatory after his fateful world title run.

But, was GFW the right choice? Were TNA right in how they booked him? Was there still mileage in his character Magnus and should he have fought for his place in the main event at TNA?

How would you have booked Magnus differently? How would you book Aldis now?

I think your first sentence is right, 'GFW is serious about pushing international talent'.

It is no secret that the UK market is a large one for wrestling. Also, it seemed like one where JJ was close to getting a TV deal, so it makes good business sense IMO to put the title on someone for whom that is a home market and who is recognisable in the US from his TNA run.

Whether he is a long-term solution, I don't know. He has a look. He'd not appear on a list of my favourite wrestlers, but with the right booking he might be able to look a star.

I don't know much about the titles, apart from who holds them. But there seemed some odd stuff going on, like Gallows and Anderson winning their first match and then being replaced. Was this a booking thing or injury? Then it was well reported that Candice La Rea was going to be the women's champ, but no-showed due to being offered an NXT contract.

And the other thing that you have to look at is how many are contracted to GFW and how many of their roster are from other promotions. Because right now you've got ADR going back to WWE while being AAA Megachamp and AAA don't seem to know if and when they will get a booking with him and have already cancelled a show. You've got AJ Styles holding a number of titles around the world and if he fancies a big money move to WWE that could leave a load of promotions a bit up in the air. So, I don't really know what pool of talent JJ could confidently put this title on.

It is November now. To me, GFW is already receding in the rear view mirror. It has kind of gone through 3 stages. Baseball events; taped arena events in Vegas and a limited UK tour. If it's next stage is not a TV deal that is announced by the end of the year, I kind of wonder if anyone will care what happens to Nick Aldis, GFW and

Ive gotta say this: Who else could they pick?

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Ive gotta say this: Who else could they pick?

As I said, who can remember who works full time for them. Their roster doesn't make it clear. And this probably needs some updating as The Young Bucks contract with RoH I'd expect rules out GFW. Not sure what the status of Gargano and Ciampa either, are they on NXT deals now? I suspect if you take out GFW alumni, and those who are primarily employed by other feds there'd not be much left.

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Ive gotta say this: Who else could they pick?

Double J himself?

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Ive gotta say this: Who else could they pick?

Bram, roode,ey

Prometheus wrote:

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Ive gotta say this: Who else could they pick?

As I said, who can remember who works full time for them.  Their roster doesn't make it clear.  And this probably needs some updating as The Young Bucks contract with RoH I'd expect rules out GFW.  Not sure what the status of Gargano and Ciampa either, are they on NXT deals now?  I suspect if you take out GFW alumni, and those who are primarily employed by other feds there'd not be much left.  

My understanding of stuff published is that NJPW thought the Young Bucks were working too much so being ROH and NJPW should stop them appearing everywhere else too.

Looking at the roster and the clear winner is THE BIG BAD BOOTY DADDY, BIG POPPA PUMP

It wasnt really a question of "who do they have?" but "who could they actually credibly pick?" Bram would be a bit of a risk considering most of the wrestling world sees him as an implosion waiting to go to jail. I'm also not sure you start with someone who looks like they are on the way down like EY or Roode.

Magnus was the only choice. Young enough, legitimate name, marketable.

Prometheus wrote:I think your first sentence is right, 'GFW is serious about pushing international talent'.

It is no secret that the UK market is a large one for wrestling.  Also, it seemed like one where JJ was close to getting a TV deal, so it makes good business sense IMO to put the title on someone for whom that is a home market and who is recognisable in the US from his TNA run.

Whether he is a long-term solution, I don't know.  He has a look.  He'd not appear on a list of my favourite wrestlers, but with the right booking he might be able to look a star.  

I don't know much about the titles, apart from who holds them.  But there seemed some odd stuff going on, like Gallows and Anderson winning their first match and then being replaced.  Was this a booking thing or injury?  Then it was well reported that Candice La Rea was going to be the women's champ, but no-showed due to being offered an NXT contract.  

And the other thing that you have to look at is how many are contracted to GFW and how many of their roster are from other promotions.  Because right now you've got ADR going back to WWE while being AAA Megachamp and AAA don't seem to know if and when they will get a booking with him and have already cancelled a show.  You've got AJ Styles holding a number of titles around the world and if he fancies a big money move to WWE that could leave a load of promotions a bit up in the air.  So, I don't really know what pool of talent JJ could confidently put this title on.

It is November now.  To me, GFW is already receding in the rear view mirror.  It has kind of gone through 3 stages.  Baseball events; taped arena events in Vegas and a limited UK tour.  If it's next stage is not a TV deal that is announced by the end of the year, I kind of wonder if anyone will care what happens to Nick Aldis, GFW and

You make an excellent point. I don't know how many wrestlers on the GFW roster have contracts or are just paid per show. If their roster is going comprise mainly of free agents who take bookings with multiple promotions then they could find themselves in a similar situation to TNA and GFW could well just become TNA 2.0.

I think Aldis/Magnus was a victim of TNA mismanagement and creative. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he's on the level of a Rock or Stone Cold in terms of "IT" factor or charisma, but I do think he had all the potential to be a bona fide star in TNA. The storyline they had going with AJ when he won the world title was going really well with the friends of AJ vignettes and him defending the TNA title all around the world, until contract negotiations broke down between TNA and AJ. The storyline had so much potential and even if it was plagiarized from Punk's WWE walk out, TNA were actually managing to do a better job of it at first. Magnus could have been built up as the corporate champion and AJ return to have a champion vs. champion match either at Lockdown or even Slammiversary to see who would become the undisputed world champion. Magnus could have gone over AJ making him a legitimate champion and the start of an impressive title reign.

Instead, TNA screwed up the contract negotiations, AJ came back for one last match on TV in which TNA buried him and unintentionally ruining Magnus in the process. The fact that AJ has never looked back since leaving TNA tells you something of how badly TNA handled the negotiations behind the scenes. Then it looked as if TNA were going to redeem Magnus through pairing him with Bram. I actually thought they did a great job of using their real life friendship and history to introduce Bram into the roster and have him bring out the more brutal & savage part of Magnus again restoring him as a credible heel once more. Then they went and screwed that up too, breaking them up way too early with what felt like a forced face turn for Magnus leaving him in mid card limbo up until his departure.

I really hope GFW utilize Aldis correctly and give him the break he deserves to prove himself as a star and main eventer. He has a great physique and move set. I also think with some more investment he could make a great heel or face, though he will need solid creative material to work with to achieve his full potential. I hope Aldis has made the right decision by joining GFW...