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The Katz Files
Top 2009 Rookies
The Kingfish Arnie Katz picks his favorite newcomers for 2009.

Pro wrestling depends on fresh faces and young blood to keep fans’ enthusiasm high. We go to the arenas and buy the pay per views to see the marquee stars in the main event matches, but promotions grow stale and predictable without high-profile rookies.

It is axiomatic in wrestling that this year’s hot rookie may be next year’s fan fest participant. Therefore, it’s entirely possible that five years from now, it’ll be obvious that I overlooked someone who became a megastar and touted someone else who washed out along the way.

My Favorite Rookies

Hamada. Language lessons for this Asian competitor would be an excellent investment for TNA. She’s fabulous in the ring and only needs mic skills to complete the package.

Drew McIntyre. The recently crowned Intercontinental Champion has all the ingredients that go into the making of a main event wrestler. He is big, strong, articulate and allied with powerful friends like Triple H.

Sheamus. The World’s Whitens Man has quickly established himself as a significant WWE performer. His victory over Cena shows how much the company thinks of him. He’s a grinder and power wrestler in the ring has not yet received extensive mic time.

Desmond Wolfe. Known as Nigel McGuimess in Ring of Honor, he exploded on the TNA scene as Desmond Wolfe. He can handle the theatric as well as the ring action and should continue to be prominent even after Hogan and Bischoff arrive on January 4th.

I’ll tackle another category tomorrow – and check back on NewYear’s Day for my “Best of the Year” picks.

— Arnie Katz
[email protected]
(12/23/09)