5 Reasons Why Zeb Colter Cuts the Best Promos in WWE Right Now
Posted: Mar 5th 2013 By: mikeiles
For the moment, Zeb Colter's sermon-like speeches are the hottest thing in the WWE.
CM Punk is the better overall orator and The Rock is more entertaining, but Colter's momentum has him thriving in the spotlight, which has suddenly focused on him and Jack Swagger.
Brought in to add a dimension to Swagger's revamped character, Colter has gone beyond that, becoming the vital partner in their pairing.
There are several reasons that Colter is WWE's most interesting character right now, beginning with his capacity for controversy.
Controversy Is Compelling
As Eric Bischoff famously said, "Controversy creates cash."
WWE superstars insult the crowd, abuse announcers and attack their opponents after the bell in order to earn fans' ire. The kind of heat Zeb Colter is generating is far beyond those tactics.
It jabs at a raw nerve. Colter's xenophobic rants provide a stark contrast to the mostly politically correct world.
Suddenly Jack Swagger is getting talked about almost as much as John Cena and The Rock.
That's Coutler's doing no doubt. Glenn Beck and Alex Jones wouldn't be chiming in on the angle if it weren't for Colter. Media outlets like New York Post and International Business Times wouldn't be covering the World title match if it weren't for Colter's promos stirring folks up.
Hypnotizing Delivery
If Jack Swagger were delivering Zeb Colter's message, doling out the same lines, it wouldn't have the same effect.
A good number of WWE superstars deliver lines robotically. They are more athlete than actor in the pro wrestler equation.
Colter sounds like he's truly speaking his mind, a snake charmer, a cult leader, a man sure of himself.
He has seemed to become one with his character. He is smooth and natural when he talks, allowing the audience to focus on the content.
Colter is no Daniel Day Lewis (Who is?) but his acting skills put him a cut above most of his WWE peers.
The Momentum of Novelty
Zeb Colter is not the type of character that will be able to sustain a long life. He is, though, a spark of originality, a welcome novelty.
WWE's bad guys often have the same motivations: to hurt people, to get revenge, to win a title. With all the sadists, sociopaths and monsters WWE has to offer, Colter's character stands out.
Colter's attempt to reclaim America for "real America" is a fresh narrative. It has begun a story that fans want to see play out, to see where this strange tale goes.
Eventually, the newness will wane, but for now, Colter's speeches are hot.
Timeliness
The way Sgt. Slaughter dug at America's heart as an Iraqi sympathizer in the middle of the Gulf War, Zeb Colter is drawing from a timely issue.
Immigration is one of the biggest hot-button issues in politics and in general society.
Random controversial comments have some effect, but topics like this jab at our collective nerves. With such a large percentage of the WWE roster being from other countries, with the Hispanic demographic becoming an increasingly important part of WWE's audience, a xenophobic zealot is the perfect character for this moment.
The Power of the Unexpected
Zeb Colter's promos are so compelling right now in large part because no one saw them coming.
WWE fans are sometimes hard to please as they can grow numb to violence and dramatic storylines. Colter has woken up any fans in a trance.
There is no fence to sit on here. One is either intrigued or disgusted by Colter. Surprises are rare in a world where rumors are dissected on the web, where everyone is a critic.
The unexpected journey Colter has taken us on has been one of 2013's highlights so far.
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Spotlight in History
- 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
- 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
- 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
- 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title
Week of Sun 09-13 to Sat: 09-19
- 09-13 1967 Brute Bernard def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
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- 09-13 1987 Eric Embry became the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Champion
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- 09-15 1969 The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-15 1980 Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-15 1986 Black Bart def. Chris Adams for the WCCW World Title
- 09-15 2007 Sudden Impact (Sudden Impact 1 & Sudden Impact 2) def. Texas, Inc. (Bernard Funk & Tim Rockwell) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
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- 09-15 2018 Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. MVP for the WCR Heavyweight Title
- 09-15 2019 Chaz Sharpe def. James Southard for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 09-15 2023 Jastin Taylor def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Heavyweight Title
- 09-16 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 09-16 1988 Michael Hayes & Steve Cox def. The Samoan SWAT Team (Fatu & Samu) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 09-16 2005 Lily McKenzie def. Chiquita Suzuki for the SRPW Womens Title
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- 09-17 1979 The Spoiler & Mark Lewin def. Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
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- 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCB Heavyweight Champion
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- 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCBW Heavyweight Champion
- 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCBW Dual Kombat Champion
- 09-17 2010 Dane Griffin def. Cody Jones for the NWA-OK Texoma Title
- 09-17 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Montego Seeka) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
- 09-17 2010 Michael Faith def. Dane Griffin for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 09-17 2016 Mr. Nasty def. Brian Breaker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-17 2026 T. J. Spade became the ASP WTF Champion
- 09-18 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-18 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
- 09-18 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
- 09-18 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
- 09-18 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 09-18 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title
- 09-19 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Title
- 09-19 1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 09-19 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 09-19 2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
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- 09-19 2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Title
- 09-19 2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-19 2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
- 09-19 2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
- 09-19 2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
- 09-19 2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Title
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