Are the Ascension heading the right way?

As those of you who have been following this blog know, I have been a huge fan of the NXT. I have been loving their style and am even thinking they may be better than the main WWE roster when it comes to the on air product they put out. So ever since I got the Roku and first Hulu+ and now the WWE network, I have become a faithful follower of NXT, watching it every week as soon as it comes out.  One of my favorite characters since I started watching was Conor O’Brian.

When I first saw Conor and his look my first thought was “damn he looks like someone from the old Highlander movies.”  It was a good look for him and his entrance was suitably gothic and creepy to give him an almost Undertakerish vibe to him. Maybe not the creepy soul chill Taker gives off but certainly the menace of “I’m going to rip your head off and send you straight to hell!” that Taker had. In fact, seeing Conor work I had commented several times between my blog and just personally with my wife that I thought Taker could make a great manager for this young man, sort of pass the supernatural torch to a new kid, maybe start a new ministry? Then Rick Victor came along to help Conor remake the Ascension and it moved even more into the realm of the dark and supernatural.

Look closely at the Ascension. Now known simply as Konnor we have a character who looks like he’s out of Highlander.  Then we have Viktor who ever since he came to the Ascension has reminded me of one of the vampire characters from the Blade movies. Now look at their ring attire, gothic and sporting the Eye of Anubis and for Viktor an egyptian looking illuminati type of symbol on his. They both still look like some goth post apocalyptic type of character but certainly more supernatural or Highlanderish than anything.  What is even more impressive is that this persona works for them.  They have been able to pull it off very well and they became the longest running Tag Team Champions in NXT with this look and this persona.  However lately things have been changing.

During their lead up to losing to the Lucha Dragons for some reason, we lost the Black Light of their entrance and went to normal lighting.  Then they got a more heavy metal sounding music. Now Konnor has lost his cool robe like coat seen in the picture above, and Viktor has lost his coat as well, both of which have been replaced by odd sandwich board style shirts that are just two bibs sewn together basically.

So look at the new vignette that aired on Smackdown and RAW just recently for this pair!

So yeah they still have the eye of Anubis thing going on in their eye paint but what the hell is up with the new shoulder pad stuff?  To me it looks like they are going Legion of Doom on us…or at least trying to.  And now they are growling and being loud as though they are trying to yell without yelling very much in the style of interview LOD also did.  What you just saw is a lot different than what the Ascension started as seen here where Konnor and his original partner do a vignette.

In my opinion, the more ministry type of look works for them and I’m not sure that this Legion of Doom style is going to really cut it with the fans.

Another quick note incase any actual WWE people are reading. Undertaker needs to stay involved in the WWE backstage and it would be great if he had some on air time without having to wrestle.  So bring back a small Ministry of Darkness Stable and have the Ascension be their number one go to for the Tag Team. Have some sort of rite where Taker passes down the power of the Urn to them or something and then find someone who could take Takers place.  We need more in depth characters in the WWE and this would be a perfect way to do that.

So readers what’s your opinion on the looks and Story for the Ascension?

Photo’s Courtesy of:

Old Style Ascension- YouTube.com

Newer Style Ascension look- Dailyddt.com