WWE: Elias Drifting Directly into Wrestling Superstardom

Though he may not have been anyone’s first choice for WWE main roster success, “Walking With Elias” has never been cooler.

About 14 months ago, I inexplicably found myself watching a quite bizarre episode of NXT TV. Now I understand that it feels like a decade ago, but rack your brains and attempt to recall that wacky Melbourne house show that randomly appeared on television. Well, whether you remember it or not, try your best to stay with me. A tag team match was coming up and our first participant had arrived, ‘The Drifter’ was him name and singing songs was his game. However, it quickly became clear that, similarly to myself, Australia wasn’t a particularly big fan of the bearded man named Elias.

He stood proudly in centre ring nonetheless, guitar intact, withstanding a whole heap of verbal abuse from this lively NXT crowd. For all my prior reservations, there was certainly something fun about seeing a character that even this crowd wanted to hate. More than that though, there was a certain glint in his eye that suggested there was more to this Elias fellow than I had originally perceived. A rare joy came across his face as these people called him every name imaginable. He really was at absolute ease with the moment.

Now don’t get me wrong, there was nothing here that will revolutionise pro wrestling, but there was something refreshing about the whole thing. Here was a young guy in NXT’s land of revered wrestlers, and he seemingly couldn’t be happier about not being one of them. Instead he was ‘The Drifter,’ a man so despicable that not even Corey Graves could support his antics. In-ring, he punched and kicked, cheating along the way. He was a heel. A simple one, but undeniably effective all the same.

Fleeting as it may have been, that brief Melbourne moment stands out for me – and another one soon followed. After being beaten by Kassius Ohno in a ‘Loser Leaves NXT’ match, Elias’ time in the third brand seemed finished, but he had one trick left up his sleeve. The name of that trick? El Vagabundo. With a mask to conceal his identity, Elias took on Oney Lorcan before losing after his true identity was revealed…all to the shock of no one of course. It was incredibly silly in the best way, just harmless entertainment from a character I had once deemed as uninteresting and flat.

Behind all the comedy though, Elias’ NXT direction suggested his next move, and that’d come to fruition on Apr. 10, as he was seen drifting through Monday Night RAW. In fact, he’d do only that for over a month, until eventually making his in-ring debut against headline act Dean Ambrose. On that night, he’d win by disqualification and would soon enter a feud with the then-slightly-aimless Finn Balor. Though they may be forgotten now, the matches between those two were really quite strong and showed a lot more range in Elias’ in-ring performance.

Slowly but surely, a mix of genuine character brilliance – and highly consistent physical performances – led to a real increase in popularity for the unheralded NXT alumnus. That growing appeal amongst fans resulted in an elevated status, too, and by Christmas day, Elias found himself opposite John Cena live on Monday Night RAW. It was on that night that the WWE’s true meaning – Walk With Elias – was finally revealed. It was an instant hit and Elias continued to thrive alongside the brand’s biggest and brightest stars. Why? Because he was rapidly becoming one of them.

Elias’ issues with Cena weren’t finished yet either, as the relative newcomer shockingly laid out ‘The Franchise Player’ on the 25^th Anniversary of RAW. That indicated how greatly Elias’ stock had risen, and so did his triple threat win over Cena and Braun Strowman just a few weeks later.

A quick glance at Sunday’s Elimination Chamber line-up perfectly highlights his rapid ascension. Sharing the ring with former champions and future legends, Elias has worked hard enough to fit right in, and that’s a testament to his immense hard work in-ring and out.

That’s the real key here, too. Elias hasn’t got this far on athleticism or in-ring thrills, but instead an ability to maximise his character and entertain a crowd with just his guitar in hand. He seems to just have a natural instinct which allows him to thrive in that situation and on today’s roster. That’s quite a pivotal skill to have. It’s the same trait that I briefly saw in his lengthy Melbourne concert – or better yet, his tremendous El Vagabundo portrayal. It’s just a certain passion for interacting with crowds that feels almost foreign nowadays, a throwback to a different kind of performer.

Next: The Top 10 Greatest Moments In Elimination Chamber History

Whilst he may not have been the obvious pick for greatness, in under a year Elias has established himself as a genuine main roster act. There’s surely a lesson to be learned with his success. Perhaps in some ways, what’s old is now new, and regardless of what a gimmick look like on paper, a good performer it can still connect with the mainstream wrestling audience in a very big way. Though it may not be as obvious as with some of his peers, Elias is not so quietly drifting his way into wrestling superstardom, and frankly, it’s been an absolute joy to watch.