It’s rare for a 6’2”, 245lb man to be underrated in the professional wrestling business. It’s rare when that same man is both incredibly agile and athletic to go with his power. It’s rare when that man was a former NAIW amateur wrestling champion and was on the poster for a WrestleMania. It’s rare when that man is 38 but hasn’t shown a single bit of age in his work in the ring. I haven’t even mentioned his dual-sport experience as a mixed martial artist.
Yet somehow, Bobby Lashley is underrated. He’s underrated and the TNA Heavyweight champion.
To just prove how underrated he is, Lashley was never the original choice to become heavyweight champion but his faction mate MVP was to be. MVP got injured and TNA had to play with some creative booking. This led to Bobby Lashley becoming the champion. Now dubbing himself “The Destroyer”, a name once held by wrestling legend Dick Beyer, Lashley continues to perform at a high level despite being a second thought to many.
Once upon a time in the WWE, Bobby Lashley was overrated. The WWE stuck a rocket to the big man’s back and tried to turn him into a Goldberg/Brock Lesnar hybrid, going through hoss after hoss and being a wrecking ball through the WWE roster. He became ECW champion and faced Umaga at Wrestlemania 23 in the co-main event, supporting act to the storyline between Vince McMahon and Donald Trump. His match with John Cena at the Great American Bash was proof to many that both Cena and Lashley could have a great match on their own and not need carrying or a stronger wrestling opponent. He was injured soon after and released by the WWE.
Lashley has since worked both MMA and worked sporadic appearances in TNA Wrestling, but Lashley was never treated like “The Destroyer” he now calls himself. Despite being the best wrestler billed from Colorado since Vader, Lashley continues to be treated as “just another former WWE guy” by many wrestling fans. Some of this could be because he doesn’t have a lick of microphone ability, today still having MVP and Kenny King carry the majority of his promos. It could be being overrated six years ago in the WWE, and how he was called “Black Lesnar” by smart marks. I hope in 2014 we’re all rolling our eyes at how that was an acceptable thing to call him.
But perception is not reality. Lashley is one of the most impressive specimens in the business. He has the athleticism of Shelton Benjamin, the physique of Brock Lesnar and the intensity of the before mentioned Vader. Lashley is fine in the ring, great execution, great set of moves and certainly knows how to whip a wrestler over his head for a suplex. While he’s another big man using a spear, at least he puts some torque into it. In a business currently full of white world champions (even the IWGP heavyweight champion of New Japan Pro Wrestling is a Caucasian in AJ Styles), Lashley should be standing out far more than he is.
Lashley hasn’t been champ that long in TNA but it still doesn’t feel like he gets the respect he deserves. We’re still talking about their World champion, the guy on top. He can work any opponent, he can hit high spots or take it to the mat, he can sell, he can bump and he can strike. He does everything you want in a wrestler and does it while looking every bit of his nickname: The Destroyer. I don’t know what it will take for people to see the realized potential in Lashley, but this is one thing you can’t really blame TNA Wrestling on. He’s their champ, he’s wrestling fantastic main event matches and that TNA World heavyweight championship looks good around his waist. Put him up against WWE World Heavyweight champion John Cena or ROH World champion Michael Elgin, and Lashley stands toe to toe with either.
If I can see it? You should too.
photo credit: John Jewell via photopin cc
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