Top 10 Talkers Of 2018
Who cut the best promos this year?
In the digital age, the art of the promo has resurrected.
If you look beyond WWE’s micromanaged, overly-scripted verbiage, you’ll see many promotions that allow and even foster creativity. Even though Impact Wrestling, MLW and Ring of Honor have to adhere to the constraints of television, their talent have the freedom to express themselves. Of course, wrestlers on the indie scene don’t have that luxury of national exposure, so they have to create and distribute their own compelling content in order to build their character and develop a following.
With so much media available for consumption, wrestlers have to think outside-the-box to get people talking. That competition has brought out the best in many talents, especially these top 10 talkers.
10. Killer Kross
Nobody has maximized his minutes better than Killer Kross. A relative newcomer to the industry, The Herald of Doomsday has already perfected the art of the promo. Shot in black and white and interspersed with archive footage of him mauling victims, Kross made a name for himself in House of Hardcore earlier this year. Then he jumped to Impact, putting the entire locker room on notice. The ex-bodyguard has emerged as the most intimidating man in Impact Wrestling, if not the entire wrestling world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7SaQy46Fxs
9. King
Eddie Kingston may be the most underrated signing of the year. He came to Impact Wrestling in April, taking over LAX for the injured Konnan, and doing a swell job of filling his predecessor’s shoes. Then K-Dawg returned and the war of words began. King and Konnan are responsible for fueling Impact’s hottest feud of the year as the heavy duty shit talkers came at each other’s throats on a weekly basis. While the ceasefire between LAX and the OGs was in effect, it was up to King’s mouth to keep fans interested. Mission accomplished.
8. Konnan
Let me speak on this – the legend only gets better with age. By simply being associated with Konnan, the stock of Salina de la Renta and Eddie Kingston has skyrocketed. Of course, that has also put them in his crosshairs, leading to verbal bashings on a weekly basis. K-Dawg is a throwback to the pre-P.C. days, when trash talk had no limits. It’s refreshing to hear the leader of LAX talk shit about King’s lack of cajones, and it separates Impact Wrestling from its family-friendly competition on the USA Network.
7. Alexa Bliss
Although Little Miss Bliss has taken quite a pounding this year, having lost the Women’s Championship twice and being removed from WWE Evolution due to a concussion, she remains five feet of fury on the mic. She has mastered her bratty character, taking it to “high school queen bee” extremes by insulting Nia Jax’s appearance and treating Ronda Rousey like an awkward newcomer to the lunch table. Constantly praising herself while tossing catty insults whenever possible, Alexa Bliss remains a highlight of Raw.
6. Elias
Hello, his name is Elias. And he’s perhaps the most popular man on Raw. After months of bashing every city that he performs, crooning hilarious tunes in the style of The Rock, “The Living Truth” has seemingly joined the good fight, becoming a thorn in Baron Corbin’s side. So far, Elias has maintained his special aura, unlike other cool heels who went vanilla in the past.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcLAan0oHqU
5. Paul Heyman
His promos are legendary, his reputation so strong that he’s routinely sent out to simply talk people into purchasing pay-per-views or subscribe to WWE Network. This was just another year of the most famous advocate promoting his client’s virtues while simultaneously building the aura of his opponents. Although there did appear to be some tension between Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar, that was just a master class in acting, another skill in the creative genius’ arsenal.
4. Becky Lynch
She’s mad as hell and she’s not going to take it anymore! Since Becky Lynch became the number-one contender for the Women’s Championship, she has been granted more time on the microphone, allowing fans to build a stronger connection with the Irish Lass Kicker. Thus, when she finally snapped on Charlotte and became The Man, nearly 99% of the WWE Universe fully supported her. Lynch has become the antithesis of Roman Reigns, someone Vince McMahon wants you to boo so badly, but you just can’t help cheering her. After all, she’s been spitting hot fire since August.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEe243gJLcg
3. Samoa Joe
Since coming to WWE, Samoa Joe has improved his promo skills tenfold. He speaks with conviction, backing up his threats inside the ring. People took notice of his skills last summer during his pursuit of Brock Lesnar. This year, he became the highlight of SmackDown as he nestled in AJ Styles’ head, accusing the champion of being a poor family man – a role that Joe was all too happy to replace him in. Ain’t that right, Wendy?
2. Miz
Paul Heyman hasn’t retired, but The Miz has surpassed him as the best talker in WWE. Year after year he steps up his mic skills, injecting a “shoot style” that separates his storylines from everyone else’s. Whether it’s scolding his guests on Miz TV, incorporating his new role as a father or holding a mock funeral for Team Hell No, Miz has truly become must-see TV.
1. MJF
There are a few veterans on this list who have turned in their finest work this year. They’ve toiled in the territories or the independent scene, cutting promos in the car as they traveled from town to town, picking up song lyrics to sprinkle in their next speech. After crafting those skills, they were promoted to the big leagues, talking millions of people each week into buying tickets, pay-per-views or network subscriptions. They’ve certainly earned top billing on this list.
But as Maxwell Jacob Friedman says, it’s talent over tenure.
This is what a Top Guy looks like.
This is what a Top Guy sounds like.
Take notes and study up Geeks. #Betterthanyou #TalentOverTenure pic.twitter.com/2ahjs6qpNd
— Maxwell Jacob Friedman (@The_MJF) July 20, 2018
The 22-year-old is something of a wrestling prodigy, having already worked for every top indie promotion in the United States. He is the personification of entitled millennial, dressing like a preppy douchebag, espousing his misinformed opinions, shitting all over everybody on social media and somehow, always getting the girl.
MJF is not the cool heel – he draws heat. Old-school, slash his tires, throw a cup of piss, tune-in-to-watch-his-ass-get-kicked heat. He doesn’t care who he rubs the wrong way, as a matter of fact, he enjoys it. Whether he’s a sexist pig to Alicia Atout, a racist prick to luchadors in MLW or a cocky, disrespectful guest to Stone Cold Steve Austin, MJF is never at a loss for words.
He’s better than everyone. And we know it.
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