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There has been a consistent tradition in the wrestling business to see generational talent emerge from historic legacies built by their ancestors. While some like The Rock and Roman Reigns have made a mark beyond their family's legacy, many have not been able to replicate that same success. A prevalent name on this list is Curtis Axel.
Curtis Axel, the son of WWE Hall of Famer Mr. Perfect, was once a promising WWE superstar. He was a former Intercontinental Champion and a third-generation wrestler, with a lot of potential. WWE tried to push him with different creative ideas such as pairing him with perhaps, the greatest manager of all time, Paul Heyman, or with Bo Dallas as a part of the B-team, but Axel failed at every point.
His failed WWE stint had a major setback right at the beginning of his career in NXT in 2011 when Axel cut one of the worst promos in WWE history. So let's explore the worst promo delivered by a promising young talent in Curtis Axel.
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Curtis Axel's Worst Promo Came At The Beginning Of His Run In WWE
Curtis Axel debuted in WWE under the name 'Michael McGillicutty' as a part of the second season of WWE NXT in 2011. Back then, the format of the show focused on rookies, being assigned to mentors (known as WWE Pros) going through a series of challenges and matches to become the next WWE Breakout Star. The promo in question took place during the final episode when his fellow competitor Kaval won the season and not Michael McGillicutty. He looked visibly upset and began his tirade in what become the worst promo in the history of WWE.
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The Genesis Of Michael McGillicutty Was One Of The Most Botched Promos In History
The promo started off with show host Matt Striker asking about his state of mind upon hearing about his loss. The future Curtis Axel started off strong berating the WWE Universe for picking Kaval as the winner and the former Low-Key himself for not being worthy of claiming the winner's title. Axel appeared to have completely forgotten his words and was stumbling around a lot during his promo. He also failed to sound intimidating by speaking in a heavy tone, despite his best efforts and ended the promo by proclaiming that despite his loss, the fans would see the 'Genesis of McGillicutty'.
Moreover, Curtis Axel seemed nervous and uncomfortable on the microphone, which made it difficult for the audience to connect with him. His slow pacing and stumbling over his words only added to the awkwardness of the segment. To make matters worse, Curtis Axel's promo was met with a lukewarm response from the crowd. They did not seem to know how to react to what they were hearing, and their lack of enthusiasm only made the segment feel more uncomfortable.
The fallout from the promo was significant in his later years. Axel was never able to recover from that night and found himself on the list of the worst talkers in WWE. Even with his rich family legacy and his accomplishments, he was never able to hold the audience with his words on the mic.
Furthermore, the former WWE Intercontinental champion even responded to the critics regarding his promo skills in an interview with 411 Mania in 2013. “I don’t know where that comes from. I just never really have a chance to talk. Now that I’m shown more on TV, I’ll have more of an opportunity. People say what they want just from one little rumor, so I don’t pay attention to any of that crap, what people say about me. I just do my thing and I know what I can do and I do well, and I don’t let that stuff worry me.”
Despite this setback, Curtis Axel continued to work hard and improve his caliber as a WWE superstar. Although he never reached the heights that many expected of him, he continued to make a name for himself in the industry. While his infamous promo will always be a part of his legacy, it should not overshadow his overall contributions to the wrestling world.
