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5 Reasons Why Zeb Colter Cuts the Best Promos in WWE Right Now

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

  • 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
  • 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
  • 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
  • 2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion

Week of Sun 06-21 to Sat: 06-27

  • 06-21 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
  • 06-21 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-21 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
  • 06-21 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 06-21 2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
  • 06-21 2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion
  • 06-22 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-22 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-22 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-22 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-22 2025 Billie the Kiid def. Dan Webber for the ASP Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 06-23 1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-23 1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-23 1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 06-23 2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
  • 06-23 2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-23 2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-23 2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime Title
  • 06-24 1972 Stan Stasiak def. Red Bastien for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-24 1974 Bull Ramos def. Rip Tyler for the TSW North American Title
  • 06-24 1977 John Studd became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-24 1985 The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2000 Great Bolo [2nd] def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 06-24 2000 Ichiban [2nd] became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-24 2005 Spoiler 2000 became the NWA-U Television Champion
  • 06-24 2006 Prophet SteVens became the AACW Television Champion
  • 06-24 2007 Matt Garza became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 06-24 2016 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2016 Seth Angel def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 06-24 2016 Adrian Dell def. Nathan Estrada for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-24 2017 Drake Gallows became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-24 2017 Excellence Personified (Duke Swellington & Dustin Heritage) def. Shawn Hendrix & Aaron Anders (substituting for Anthony Andrews) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2017 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 06-24 2018 Shawn Sanders def. Chaz Sharpe for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 06-24 2018 Canadian Red Devil def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Mid-American Title
  • 06-24 2020 Warren Powers def. Giganto for the BPW 365 Title
  • 06-24 2023 Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) became the BCW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-24 2023 C. M. Burnham def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
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  • 06-25 2011 Sam Stackhouse def. Shane Morbid for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-25 2011 The Sons of Ireland (Devan Scott & Shane Scott) def. The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the BYEW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-25 2011 Chris Chaos became the BYEW Caution Champion
  • 06-25 2011 The Future Hall of Famers (John O'Malley & Brad Michaels) def. Bernie D & Aaron Neil (subbing for Max McGuirk) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-25 2016 Brian Breaker def. Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 06-25 2017 The Cub Scouts (Grizzly Gates & Brock Landers) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 06-26 1961 The Bolos (Great Bolo 1st & Mighty Bolo) became the TSW Southwestern Tag Team Champions
  • 06-26 1987 Frankie Lancaster & Eric Embry def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 06-26 1999 Tarantula def. Original Renegade for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 06-26 2005 Li'l Joe def. Phillip for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-26 2009 Brandon Groom def. The Handsome Spoiler for the TOPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 06-26 2009 Kevin James Sanchez def. Bobby Starr for the BYEW Entertainment Title
  • 06-26 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese) def. Los Loco Moscas (Elijah Sparks & El Greengo Loco) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 06-26 2025 Microman def. Mini Abismo Negro for the EDW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-27 1969 Wahoo McDaniel & Thunderbolt Patterson became the WCCW American Tag Team Champions
  • 06-27 1971 Johnny Valentine def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-27 1976 Jose Lothario def. The Mongolian Stomper for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-27 2009 Randy Price def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-27 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
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