Andy’s Angry: A Retirement, 2 Debuts, and a Second Chance

Kalisto

The night before WrestleMania 28 in Miami, I took my stepdad and our friend Stix to see a Dragon Gate USA show. At first, they only really popped when we walked into Sabu. They got a lot more enthusiastic about the show when a relatively unknown indy worker named Samuray del Sol made his way to the ring. He wowed the crowd that night in Miami, “lu-cha, lu-cha” chants and all.

This week on Raw, Kalisto made his main-roster debut as part of an 8-man tag match. He was hidden at first, treated as something of an afterthought, until he stepped into the spotlight. The crowd was immediately sold.

Why it works: Straight up, Kalisto is incredible. If you don’t believe me, go utilize your monthly investment of $9.99 and watch some of his work in NXT. He does things that few men can do. Simply put, he’s a unique talent, and was showcased as such. Just wait until you see the Lucha Dragons work a series of matches with Kidd and Cesaro, who can both keep up with Kalisto, and serve as a perfect base for his high-flying moves.

Why I’m angry: Honestly, I’m not. If you’re going to shock a crowd, without using a Money in the Bank briefcase, this was the way to do it.

In six months: Pick a smart-mark city. New York, Chicago, Toronto… maybe even an NXT-friendly Orlando. That’s where Kalisto will win his first WWE Tag Team Championship, from Cesaro and Tyson Kidd.

In two years: The Lucha Dragons are history. Kalisto continues to wow crowds, but has no real purpose or direction, due to his size. He may sniff out a few main events and singles title shots, but he winds up being a jobber to the stars who gets a good pop, but not a lot of wins.

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