Humiliated with comedy character, major change in Imperium? - 4 Directions for Giovanni Vinci following WWE SmackDown
WWE Friday Night SmackDown was meant to be a big night for the entire company. It was the final edition of the blue brand on the FOX Network, and beginning next week, it will be on the USA Network.
In the end, the night was indeed a big one for many stars of World Wrestling Entertainment. It was meant to be especially meaningful for Giovanni Vinci, as the Italian star made his return after months away and doing so on his own as a singles performer.
Unfortunately for Vinci, the unthinkable happened. He went one-on-one with Apollo Crews and was so distracted by his own presence by taking off his fancy entrance gear that he was quickly rolled up by the former Intercontinental Champion and lost in a matter of seconds.
This was a shocking defeat, but now the big question becomes: what comes next? Many hoped Vinci was in for a big push, but some believe that may be out the window after such a tough loss. So what might be next for the Italian star?
Below are four directions for Giovanni Vinci following WWE SmackDown.
#4. He could become a comedy character who loses all the time
There is no other way of saying it: Giovanni Vinci's loss on WWE SmackDown was humiliating. He lost in seconds in his much-hyped return and to a superstar in Apollo Crews who hadn't won a singles match on RAW or SmackDown in over three years.
The career corrections made to the likes of LA Knight, Pete Dunne, and Piper Niven prove that anybody can get past bad booking. Fixing those stars was an example of Triple H correcting Vince McMahon's mistakes. In this scenario, WWE purposely booked Giovanni to lose in an embarrassing fashion.
This might mean they're not looking to correct it, and instead, this is how Vinci will be portrayed moving forward. He may be positioned as a comedic bumbling idiot who loses to everybody in quick fashion. While this would be unfortunate for Vinci's career, it may be what happens.
#3. Giovanni Vinci could get revenge on Apollo Crews
Giovanni Vinci being humiliated is unfortunate, but there is a chance that WWE intended for that reaction. Not as a burial to humiliate him, however, but instead to have this Vinci character snap.
Vinci can come across as a self-absorbed egotist, but he may also have a mean streak. That could be explored during this feud with Apollo Crews. Vinci could attack the former tag team partner and brutalize him as revenge for the embarrassing defeat.
There is reason to believe that this might be the case. Giovanni Vinci was seemingly set to be interviewed by Byron Saxton after the show, but he cut off the cameraman as soon as they arrived and indicated he wasn't done with Crews. Could this mean more is to come in this story?
#2. He could try to start anew on WWE NXT
If Triple H and the main roster don't have plans for Giovanni Vinci on WWE SmackDown, there is another option that could be exercised. Vinci could take his talents and return to NXT.
Vinci has had success on the brand before, as he's a two-time WWE NXT Tag Team Champion. He even started his rich Italian snob gimmick while on NXT before moving to the main roster as part of Imperium. Now, he could take it to the top of the brand.
This has been done before. For example, Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews both returned to NXT to refresh themselves and their characters. Cedric Alexander is the latest example of a star doing that, as has Ashante "Thee" Adonis. Could Vinci be next?
#1. Vinci could find his way back to Imperium
Giovanni Vinci's rise in WWE came courtesy of Imperium. Imperium is a faction currently on RAW featuring Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser. At one point, Vinci was part of the group, as was the released Alexander Wolfe.
Vinci was harshly removed from the group many weeks ago on WWE RAW. Ludwig Kaiser, frustrated by their constant defeats, snapped and assaulted Giovanni. Gunther took Ludwig's side, and Vinci was drafted to SmackDown.
After his loss on the blue brand, however, it is clear that Vinci is best off as part of Imperium. Perhaps he could reach out to The Ring General and Ludwig and attempt to reconcile with his former stablemates. From there, he'd need to be traded back over to Monday Night RAW. This may be the direction his career needs most following the embarrassing SmackDown loss.