by Alfonso Colasuonno
The purpose of a squash match in professional wrestling is to signify the dominance of one competitor over the other. Oftentimes, a squash match is used to hype a performer before a major match. One great example of a recent squash match is the Big Show v. Jesse and Festus in a handicap match. Jesse and Festus are on WWE TV nowadays about as often as Halley's Comet comes around. Did The Big Show - a borderline main eventer - dominating these two jobbers really build The Big Show up in any intelligent wrestling fan's eyes? The Big Show is a beast. Festus has size (but no intelligence to go with that) and Jesse, well, poor Jesse doesn't really have much going for him at all. Was the outcome ever really in doubt to anyone when the match was announced?
Surely there has to be a better use for the WWE's undercard than simply being perennial victims to Umaga or The Big Show in two minutes or under matches. That is why I think WWE Superstars can be the perfect outlet to develop some of these underutilized wrestlers. Now, I know Ohio Valley Wrestling has been the training ground to bring in guys like Jack Swagger, Randy Orton, and Batista to the WWE, but what about those performers who get to the WWE, only not to impress the fans or the McMahons, and become the victims in squash matches? Guys like Kizarny - who only wrestled one singles match and a battle royale on WWE TV. Granted a carney face gimmick is pretty lame, but shouldn't he have been given a chance?
WWE Superstars can give these underutilized wrestlers a chance to impress. A lot of people say that is what ECW is meant to do, but I would disagree. ECW has quite a lot of talent in its own right. Jack Swagger is a sensation in terms of wrestling ability and given time will surely improve his mic skills. Mark Henry is a dominant performer. Christian and Finlay still inspire huge pops from crowds. Evan Bourne is to aerial wrestling what Tyson Kidd is to technical wrestling - future kings. ECW is not to be dismissed. I actually find myself enjoying it quite a bit more than Raw or Smackdown on the occasions when they actually book quality matches on it. What WWE Superstars can do is get people to give a damn about Kizarny or Festus or Dolph Ziggler. WWE Superstars can get their angles across so that WWE can develop new stars, or at least new mid-carders a la a Shelton Benjamin or MVP. Not everyone has the potential to be a superstar right off the bat, and this is an opportunity to develop new stars. WWE has a wonderful opportunity here. Let's hope Superstars doesn't just become another hour's recap of the WWE's cash cows. Kizarny needs love too!
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