The Enduring Appeal of Akira Tozawa and Otis in WWE

WWE fans are undoubtedly familiar with Akira Tozawa and Otis, the men of Alpha Academy. Tozawa started as part of the Cruiserweight division before moving on to 24/7 Championship pursuits. Otis was a part of Heavy Machinery with Tucker, and when the latter got released, he created Alpha Academy with Chad Gable. 

Some fans know that they are capable of being in serious storylines and matches. That’s why a section of fans is frustrated with them. To those fans, what happened on the December 26, 2025, episode of Friday Night SmackDown is a waste.

In Joe Hendry’s segment with the Miz, Tozawa was dressed as an elf, and Otis was dressed as Santa Claus. It may be corny to some people, but they’ve survived many years being those funny guys. For those questioning their relevance, here are some reasons why they continue getting television time every week. 

Jobbers are Essential to Build Up Stars 

Many wrestling fans describe jobbers with a negative connotation. They’re the men and women who lose every single week. It may look like they’re wasting their time in WWE or whatever company people follow. But jobbers have a vital role in professional wrestling.

To help build stars, someone like Carmelo Hayes or Ilja Dragunov has to beat those types of guys to gain credibility. That’s precisely what The Miz’s role is right now. The same can be said about Otis and Tozawa. The last time they won as a team was over a year ago.

They’ve helped build up guys like Gunther, Rusev, Sami Zayn, and others during championship reigns and comebacks. Otis and Tozawa help them improve their title reigns and get them over with the crowd if they’re new or have been out. Wrestlers like them help out popular wrestlers in a colossal way. 

Otis and Tozawa are Both Incredibly Funny 

Some wrestlers take the sport very seriously. Wrestlers like Gunther, Natalya, and Timothy Thatcher show off their vision of wrestling in the ring. Their only goal is to inflict pain on their opponents by any means necessary. But on the other side of the equation, some wrestlers enjoy being silly while entertaining the crowd. 

With the New Day embracing their heel turn, some wrestlers needed to step up to fill the funny people gap. Otis and Tozawa have done that to perfection.

Both have always been funny on the main roster. Tozawa had all his 24/7 hijinks, while Otis has always been the resident comedian. His storyline when he won Money in the Bank in 2020 was hilarious, with his comedy on full display during a dark time. Otis and Tozawa have proved that funny guys are a valuable part of the WWE roster. 

Both are Great Guys to Be Around 

Otis and Tozawa weren’t forced to play silly roles. Tozawa didn’t need to have many run-ins with R-Truth over the years. Otis didn’t have to do the Caterpillar or be Tucker and Gable’s hilarious sidekick. They chose to do that in order to make fans laugh. If someone’s having a bad day or a feud is getting serious, Otis and Tozawa will lighten the mood for fans and wrestlers alike.

Some might think they’re being wasted, but their impact on the program can’t be understated. They are also willing to lose and shine a light on a champion or someone who’s coming back from injury. Jobbers make those guys look good, which is essential to a wrestler’s journey.