Steve Corino On Vince McMahon's Criticism Of Cesaro, Samoa Joe's WWE Future, Kevin Owens' Success
Recently on the Ross Report, WWE Hall of Famer, Jim Ross, spoke with former ECW World Heavyweight Champion and current ROH color commentator, Steve Corino. The two talked about Cesaro being underutilized in WWE, Kevin Owens WWE success, and Samoa Joe's future with WWE.
During the interview, Ross asked Corino whether Cesaro was as good as he is now while he was at ROH or whether Cesaro has developed over time. Corino stated that he thinks Cesaro was overlooked in the Kings of Wrestling tag team with Chris Hero because Hero was more flamboyant and the talker of the two. Also, Corino and Ross agreed that Cesaro is one of the most underrated and underutilized WWE performers.
"I believe he [has] got all the tools! The guy speaks a few different languages. He's a monster in the ring. He's likable, so if you need him to be a babyface, he's very likable, but he can be smug in the ring, so he can be a heel." Corino added, "when I watched Mr. McMahon on Stone Cold's podcast on the [WWE] Network, and when he said that Cesaro isn't connecting with the fans, I'm like, 'are you serious?' Like, I attended WrestleMania 30. That guy was in the top five of the most popular people that night!"
Corino claimed that Cesaro was 'it' after WrestleMania 30 and he does not know why WWE did not pull the trigger on a push at that time. Ross said that it was likely a case where WWE believed that Cesaro's push is something that the company can always go back to at a later date.
"He's too talented. He's too reliable because you're not going to get problem one out of the guy. None. He's a total pro. He's the kind of guy you look at and you want to have in your organization for years to come."
Corino speculated that Cesaro might be underused because he is too nice of a guy backstage.
"He's the nicest guy ever and that might just be a detriment to him, because he's a company guy too. No matter how dumb the idea might be, and I don't know if [WWE] have given him dumb ideas, [but] he's going to do it and he's going to do it to the best of his ability and he's not going to put up a fight."
As for Kevin Owens, Corino said he could not be more proud of Owens' success in WWE.
"He's like a little brother to me! I've known him for 10 years and we had so many great times in Ring of Honor. I still talk to him every week." Corino continued, "and he's just a great guy, a great guy, and he makes me so proud just because he goes in there and he has just destroyed stereotypes of what a pro wrestler should be and that's his niche. Just like when you brought Mick [Foley] into the WWF in '96, he broke the mold of what normal fans thought a WWE, WWF at the time, wrestler was supposed to be."
When Ross asked Corino whether he thought Samoa Joe would have similar success to Owens in WWE, Corino said that Owens' situation differed from Samoa Joe's insofar as people have higher expectations of Samoa Joe.
"Kevin, I think, was one of those guys that no one expected him to explode this quick, where Joe has been a guy on TNA for 12 years. You know Samoa Joe, but, like, how is he going to be in the big time?" Corino added, "I think he's going to do great, but it's that power of the pencil. Are the writers going to get behind him?"
Ross indicated that he has high hopes for Samoa Joe and suggested that he tried to get Samoa Joe signed to WWE when he was still with the company.
"I have shared my feelings about Samoa Joe with everybody there and I really believe that he's a company man, he's solid, I think he's going to be an asset to the locker room, I think he has the skill set to work with anybody of any skill set whether he be a fan favorite or a villain, so I think Joe's going to do real well there."
In addition to these topics, Corino and Ross discussed John Cena's legacy, CM Punk's chances in UFC, and much more. Click here to check out the entire podcast.
Source: The Ross Report