Next: we pick the 10 WWE wrestlers primed for stardom

WITH WORD COMING OUT OF WWE that the company plans to promote eight brand-specific and four combined pay-per-views per year, it would follow that a number of wrestlers will soon have an opportunity to make a more significant impact.

What better time then for our annual look at the WWE wrestlers we feel are ready to make the leap and become main-event superstars. And for a look at last year's picks, turn to the sidebar on page 26.

JOHN CENA

Ever since Cena debuted as Prototype in Ultimate Pro Wrestling three years ago, wrestling insiders knew it was just a matter of time before he made his way to WWE. In UPW and later in Ohio Valley Wrestling, Cena showed that he not only had a great physique and was a decent worker, but that he also had charisma and solid promo skills. WWE tried to establish Cena as a new star as soon as he got there last year--in his first televised match he nearly beat Kurt Angle, and he scored a pinfall over Chris Jericho on the Vengeance pay-per-view. However, WWE did not create much of a character for Cena, his charisma suddenly seemed to be in remission, and his push was abruptly aborted. Then, on a Halloween-themed episode of "Smackdown," in which the wrestlers donned costumes, Cena showed up as Vanilla Ice and his career was back on track. Cena's heel rapper persona--which was initially played for laughs before taking on a more serious tone--has been an entertaining addition to "Smackdown." If he is booked correctly, the 26-year-old Cena has the potential to be a main-event star for years to come.

TENACIOUS Z

If you haven't heard about Tenacious Z yet, you will soon, because he has more potential to attract mainstream publicity for WWE than just about anyone in the company. Tenacious Z, whose real name is Zachary Gowen, is a 19-year-old wrestler who has just one leg. He created a buzz among Internet fans after debuting for NWA/TNA in February, but before the promotion could get his signature on a contract, WWE came in with an offer and he accepted it. What makes

the story of Tenacious Z even more interesting is that he says he decided to become a wrestler after Hulk Hogan visited him while he had cancer in 1991. It seems likely, therefore, that Tenacious Z would be linked in storylines with Hogan, and a young wrestler couldn't possibly ask for a better "rub" than that

NATHAN JONES

Like John Cena, Jones also got his start in UPW and was touted as a future superstar. Unlike Cena, however, Jones' ring and microphone skills still have a ways to go. Obviously, the one thing Jones has going for him is his look. Standing nearly 7'0" and weighing in at 340 pounds of solid muscle, the former "World's Strongest Man" competitor from Australia cuts quite an imposing figure--and freakish size is more impressive to WWE honcho Vince McMahon than any shooting-star press or huracanrana. The vignettes WWE used to introduce Jones, whose real-life background includes being incarcerated for armed robbery, did a tremendous job. of getting him over as a monster before he had even wrestled his first match in the federation. With the company behind him and the fans intrigued by him, it's now up to Jones to prove he can deliver the goods.

MATT HARDY

Remember when the Hardy Boyz first came on the scene and people immediately saw more potential in Jeff as a singles wrestler, even going so far as to compare him to Shawn Michaels? What a difference four years can make. While Jeff has become a shell of his former self in the ring, Matt has transformed himself into one of the most entertaining characters in WWE. The "Mattitude" persona--reminiscent of Chris Jericho's character when he was a cruiserweight in WCW--makes the fans love hating him. If WWE just tweaked the character a bit by making Matt more of a threat and less of a joke, he could be one of the federation's top heels.

SHELTON BENJAMIN A CHARLIE HAAS

Speaking of getting, a "rub," aligning Benjamin and Haas with Kurt Angle as members of Team Angle was a smart move by WWE because it established the newcomers as important players upon arrival. Benjamin and Haas have quickly become the best tag team in the federation, a position the two former collegiate standouts could hold for quite some time. Their success doesn't come as much of a surprise. Haas and his brother Russ seemed destined to be WWE's next great tag team while they were in the Heartland Wrestling Association before Russ died unexpectedly in December 2001. And Benjamin formed half of the successful Minnesota Stretching Crew with fellow University of Minnesota grappler Brock Lesnar when they were in Ohio Valley Wrestling. If and when Benjamin and Haas go their separate ways, both appear to have what it takes to make it as singles wrestlers; especially Benjamin, who not only is technically sound and an innovative aerialist, but also has a past with Lesnar that could be played up in future storylines.

RHYNO

In 2001, Rhyno was gradually making his way up the card before being slowed by a neck injury that required surgery and sidelined him for 16 months. If the reaction he got in his first match back--as Chris Benoit's surprise partner against Matt Hardy and Shannon Moore on "Smackdown" in February--is any indication, the fans are ready to see Rhyno take it to the next level. Few competitors in WWE can rival his intensity, and the former ECW champion's Gore looks every bit as devastating as Goldberg's Spear. Rhyno is just one great angle away from reaching WWE's top tier.

BATISTA

When he wrestled as Leviathan in Ohio Valley Wrestling, he was the developmental territory's most dominant champion and labeled by many as a can't-miss prospect. The latter still remains to be seen, but the potential is there. Batista's biggest problem in WWE has been the creative team's inability to develop a character suited for his personality. Deacon Batista? Good lord. A makeover, complete with designer clothes, as one of Triple H's henchmen in a Four Horsemen rip-off probably isn't the answer either. Perhaps WWE eventually will realize that he was most effective when he was doing his Leviathan gimmick in OVW, because the only thing standing between Batista and superstardom is the right persona.

JOHN HENNIGAN

While "Tough Enough" alumni Maven, Christopher Nowinski, and Nidia already have made it onto the WWE roster, the participant from the wrestling reality series with the most star potential may be Hennigan, one of the two winners of "Tough Enough III." The "Tough Enough" trainers referred to the 22-year-old Hennigan, who has a background in gymnastics and the martial arts, as a natural in the ring, and he certainly has a marketable look. Also an accomplished break-dancer, he even does a better "spin-a-room" than Booker T, as he proved during his audition for "Tough Enough II." Once Hennigan learns ring psychology and hones his skills on the microphone, he'll be a valuable addition to WWE.

CHRISTOPHER NOWINSKI

The decision to name Maven one of the winners of the first "Tough Enough" was a popular one, but WWE also made a wise move when it subsequently signed Nowinski to a developmental contract. The major difference between the two during "Tough Enough" was that Maven could cut a much better promo, but Nowinski has made great strides in that area since being called up by WWE. In the ring, the Harvard graduate has mastered the basics, although there is plenty of room for improvement. He already has a good gimmick, as WWE has taken the natural heel charisma Nowinski exhibited during "Tough Enough" and exaggerated it. With more seasoning, Nowinski figures to develop into a solid pro, at the least, and perhaps a championship-caliber performer.

Last Year's Picks

HERE'S A LOOK BACK AT THE 10 WWE wrestlers we said were primed for a breakout one year ago in the June 2002 issue and how they've fared over the past year:

ROB VAN DAM

What we said then: "After the ECW invasion angle quickly came to an end, WWE didn't seem to know what to do with Van Dam. There's still time for RVD to regain his momentum, although that window won't be open forever."

Analysis: The window of opportunity for Van Dam is all but closed, at least as far as him becoming a top-tier star. His title program with "Raw" champion Triple H did more harm than good to his career, as RVD was depicted as not being in the same league as "the Game." It appears as if the popular Van Dam is destined to remain a high mid-carder. If only he was the one engaged to the boss' daughter.

TEST

What we said then: "If the WWE creative team invests some time in developing his character, it could have a potential monster heel or badass babyface in Test."

Analysis: Despite a new haircut, new ring attire, and being paired with his real-life girlfriend Stacy Keibler in a storyline, Test hasn't budged from his spot in the pecking order. Then again, it's hard for a wrestler who talks about loving his "Test-icles" to get over.

STACY KEIBLER

What we said then: "She's the dream girl of the young male demographic WWE tries so hard to reach. It's puzzling why WWE hasn't invested the time in her that they did in years past with Sunny and Sable, neither of whom had as much to offer as Keibler."

Analysis: Thankfully, WWE removed Keibler from the creepy angle in which she was supposedly having an affair with Vince McMahon. Putting her with Test actually made fans care a little more about him, but it really hasn't elevated Keibler, who has yet to be put in a storyline that has, uh, legs.

TORRIE WILSON

What we said then: "She certainly fills the bill if WWE is looking for marketable eye candy."

Analysis: With her recent Playboy cover and nude pictorial, Wilson has graduated from Diva to super-Diva. Baring all for Playboy helped Sable and Joanie "Chyna" Laurer become crossover celebrities, although the wrestling business was far more popular then. Even if Wilson doesn't sell as many magazines or receive as much mainstream attention as those two, her appearance in Playboy will surely make her a bigger star in WWE.

LANCE STORM

What we said then: "Storm is a student of the game; he understands ring psychology and is an excellent mat wrestler as well as a high flyer. Quite simply, he's too talented to be a bit player."

Analysis: Apparently, WWE doesn't share our opinion of Storm, because he's still a bit player. He won tag-team titles with both Christian and William Regal, but WWE doesn't appear to have any plans to push Storm as a singles wrestler anytime soon.

HURRICANE HELMS

What we said then: "if and when WWE does revive the cruiserweight division, Helms is one of the wrestlers they should build it around. Helms needs to abandon the comedy role. He has too much upside to be a modern-day Doink the Clown."

Analysis: Helms did become a top cruiserweight, holding the division's title for a month before jumping from "Smackdown" to "Raw," where he briefly held the tag-team title with Kane. After the team split up, Helms showed that his superhero powers include the ability to be invisible (unless you watch "Heat", that is). He resurfaced as an unlikely adversary for the Rock in some of the most entertaining backstage skits in recent memory. As amusing as the superhero shtick is at times, though, we still contend that Helms would be more effective as the "Sugar Shane" character he played during the final months of WCW.

BROCK LESNAR

What we said then: "Lesnar achieving superstar status in WWE is about as close to a sure thing as there is in the federation right now. Lesnar has the potential to make an immediate impact the way Goldberg did in WCW five years ago."

Analysis: Thus far, Lesnar has certainly lived up to his billing as "the Next Big Thing." in fact, the former NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion has accomplished more in one year than many wrestlers have in a career. He amassed a lengthy undefeated streak, pinned the Rock clean to become the youngest WWE champion at 24, put Hulk Hogan on the shelf for six months, won the King of The Ring tournament, defeated The Undertaker in a brutal Hell in a Cell match, and capped it off with a victory over Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania. Lesnar also was the company's top heel for most of last year before morphing into one of its top babyfaces.

RANDY ORTON

What we said then: "Since he doesn't have the size and presence of Lesnar, he probably won't make as much of a splash. But Orton is someone WWE can gradually groom into a major player."

Analysis: It's been a frustrating year for Orton. Right after he turned heel and was starting to get over, he suffered a shoulder injury. To its credit, WWE came up with a clever way to keep Orton on television while he was injured through his RNN (Randy News Network) segments. From there, he and Batista were given the "rub" of joining a heel faction led by Triple H. But almost immediately after returning from his shoulder

injury, Orton suffered a broken foot. Despite these setbacks, Orton still has major star written all over him.

SEAN O'HAIRE

What we said then: "Within months of making his WWE debut, O'Haire was unceremoniously sent down to Ohio Valley Wrestling. If O'Haire can get back on track, he's still a potential superstar."

Analysis: While toiling in OVW, O'Haire seems to have improved his ring work as well as his attitude, both of which reportedly were factors in his demotion. Now back in WWE, O'Haire has been repackaged as an edgy character who questions society's belief system on subjects such as religion, smoking, and paying taxes. The vignettes used to re-introduce O'Haire got people talking, but since they've ended, WWE has yet to do much with him.

MAVEN

What we said then: "Although he has a lot to learn, he's better at this stage of his career than anyone could have predicted. Once he gains more experience, Maven could develop into a bona fide superstar."

Analysis: For a while there, Maven was on quite a roll. Not only was he over with the fans and involved in an entertaining angle with Tajiri, but his on-air love interest was Torrie Wilson. Then he suffered a broken bone in his leg and, just like that, Maven's career came to an abrupt halt. Since returning from the injury, he has failed to regain his momentum. Even a feud with fellow "Tough Enough" competitor Christopher Nowinski, which should have been a natural, fell flat. After the whirlwind of winning "Tough Enough" and getting a push, it looks like Maven will now have to work his way back up from the bottom.

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