By Matthew Klink (@klinkmatt)

November 20, 2018

Handling Lars Sullivan on Monday Night Raw

The list goes on and on and on. Is Lars Sullivan the next NXT call up to disappear on the main roster or will this be a change of course for strategy?

Of course, we’re talking about the list of mishandled NXT superstars, who crumbled after getting the call-up to the main roster. While not everyone can be the face of the company, some have had such a hard and fast fall, you wonder if they ever wanted the call-up to begin with.

The list includes, but is not limited to (in alphabetical order):

• Alexander Wolfe

• Asuka

• Apollo Crews

• Bo Dallas

• Bobby Roode

• Bray Wyatt

• Chad Gable

• Eric Young

• Finn Balor

• Killian Dain

• Ruby Riott

• Rusev

• Sami Zayn

• Samoa Joe

• Shinsuke Nakamura

• Tye Dillinger

• Tyler Breeze

Obviously, this doesn’t include some guys who have already left the company or some who haven’t been around long enough to determine their misuse. Regardless, the evidence of misuse is there.

For Lars Sullivan the struggle to get over might prove to be more difficult. Lars isn’t coming off a long-tenured championship run in NXT. He wasn’t well-known before his stint in NXT. And he plays big on NXT, when being compared to Adam Cole and Ricochet. However, when he gets to the main roster, his 6’3” body won’t impress as much. He’ll measure right up to Lesnar and Reigns, and will be dwarfed by McIntyre and Strowman.

For Lars to be successful, the WWE has to focus on three things: Making him strong, making him intimidating, and making him smart. While the first two are pretty obvious, making him smart will help him stand out from other brutes that have been given a chance on the roster. It’s not the only important element, so lets book ways for the first two items to work.

One Man Wrecking Ball is Introduced on RAW

First thing is first, introductions. If you’ve only ever watched RAW and SmackDown Live, this is all you’ve seen of Lars Sullivan:

But here’s a better video of what Lars can do when paired with Killian Dain:

Even in Lars’ best matches, he just looks like another big guy, without too much in his repertoire to suggest he’ll be more than other guys his size. Hopefully, I can paint a way for Lars to be more relevant, once he makes his way to the main roster.

Making Lars Strong

To tell the story of Lars Sullivan, his defining attributes start by judging the book by its cover. It’s not polite to do…but it’s honest. And especially with a guy like Sullivan, it’s necessary to focus on that man’s frame.

Like I said, the height isn’t impressive. But that man’s wide frame is scary as hell. When watching Sullivan fight a couple times at NXT Live Events, his ability to completely block out the sight of a guy like Johnny Gargano is telling. Lars wouldn’t win easily against Gargano, but that was because Gargano was important too. But the offense that Lars did get in, revolved around his ability to pick Gargano up and toss him like a rag doll.

Lars has to make his presence felt in multiple ways, but his strength is key. I don’t think the WWE will fail, in this capacity. I think they’ll book him to take on some enhancement talent and go on a lengthy winning streak. If he shows up to RAW soon, it’ll be the best way to set him up for the Royal Rumble. Have him go over easily on some guys we’ll never see again. Make sure they’re Gargano sized because Lars’ gifts can’t be questioned.

Speaking of the Royal Rumble. What a great way for Lars to show off his stuff by getting the opportunity to be the big eliminator on the roster. Have Lars get the most eliminations and he’ll (at the very least) become an instant favorite to win it, every year going forward.

Making Lars Intimidating

Like I said, this is obvious. And similar to making Sullivan strong, I don’t think the WWE will fail. Let me correct that…I don’t think they will fail initially.

Lars is in a position where if they book him to win against enhancement talent, its up to that talent to sell fear and pain. They need to fear the impending doom walking down to the ring. And they need to help us feel the pain inflicted by Sullivan.

These enhancement talents will serve well to demonstrate the strength of Sullivan as well as instill fear in the rest of the roster.

Now when I said that the WWE will be successful in both of these elements early, I fear they bring on the losing quickly and swiftly. Lars will lose all credibility when put into the ring against an Apollo Crews or Bobby Roode for a loss.

If we want him to be more than just an “on again/off again” Brute, he’ll need to go over on the likes of Roode and Crews. Only then can the WWE begin to measure the weight he’ll carry with the fans. If the fans want to see him go the main event, it’s at this moment that you’ll see how the fans really feel about him. I don’t need to describe the reaction needed to justify his ascension to the Intercontinental Title picture or higher.

Making Lars Smart

We’ve seen Lars Sullivan a million times in the WWE. Strong, powerful, intimidating…bald…

For Lars to be different. Or for Lars to better than Braun, Big Show, Snitsky, Kane, Mark Henry, Viscera…he can’t only use his power to define him. He has to be smarter.

I don’t think Lars is the chosen one, but I think the goal here (him being the next big call-up from the NXT roster) is for Lars to not disappear or be another “where does he fit” type of talent. There is a lot of great to come from having bigger guys on the roster. the way McIntyre and Braun Strowman manhandle their opponents is something that gets people in the door. But the next step is also making them vulnerable enough to lose.

When that step is taken, guys like Mark Henry (who should never lose a match) become complete morons in the ring. They run head first in the ring posts. They knock down ring barriers, at the benefit of their opponent. They forget to protect their legs. They don’t prepare for double teams. They run over refs.

A big guy who looks out for those things would be new. It would be different. It would give the fans a thing that they won’t find as easy to predict.

While wrestling the likes of Finn Balor, he shakes his head at the notion of being called over. He stays in the ring during count outs. He second guesses a shoulder tackle. He brings a friend to the ring. He keeps his calm and keeps his head tightly screwed on.

In doing so, Lars becomes a stronger competitor, because his power won’t overly fuel his confidence. His studious in-ring reactions will make him intimidating on multiple fronts. And thusly, making Lars the smartest, most prepared, absolutely unique big man.

Lars Certain Future

This whole article spells out how Lars could be booked if the WWE wants him to make a difference. To be honest, I don’t think the WWE has any interest in having him make a difference. I think they want another big guy on the roster for the Rumble and one to keep the little guys on their toes.

Lars will do fine and like all of the other “failed” NXT talents, he’s going to get paid. On top of that, if he leaves for the indie scene, he’ll never struggle to get booked or paid. The hard work, by no means, is done. But Lars should be proud to be named to the main roster, even if he’s there to fill a specific role over becoming the next WWE Champion.

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