NoDQ.com > Columns > On the Mat, w/ Matt Henry (How to Make a Star) Posted by Matt Henry on 09/01/2008 at 02:48 PM
Hello everyone. Happy Labor Day to all and I hope you had a good end of Summer blast. Welcome to another installment of "On The Mat". Today I thought I would take some time to talk about some lesser used talent in the WWE and give some thoughts on how they can be used to create some new interest in the wrestling product.
Before I get into all that, I wanted to mention the passing of a true legend, in Walter "Killer" Kowalski. He was a true pioneer in the business and a feared and dangerous heel. After his time in the ring, Kowalski dedicated himself to training some of today's top stars. Most notably Triple H, and former Diva Chyna. Walter was a good man and contributed immensely to the wrestling industry. He will be greatly missed, and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this time.
Now onto the meat and potatoes of the column. Firstly I'd like to talk about Kenny Dykstra. Dykstra is a very talented in ring performer, but he has been hindered by his lack of mic skills and perhaps worst of all the "Spirit Squad" gimmick he came in under. The gimmick got plenty of air time and heat with the live crowds, but we all knew that there was no way any of these guys would go on to become major players. A gimmick like that is just that... A gimmick! It will work for a while, but once the novelty act has run it's course the talent used in the stable has to be repackaged. The 4 other members of the Spirit Squad were all shipped back to OVW for more training and repackaging. Most if not all have since been released from their contracts, but Kenny was called back to the main roster very quickly. This was perhaps the worst thing for Kenny Dykstra.
The fans all still remembered him as the cheesy male cheerleader and that stigma seems to have stayed with him. Had Kenny been taken off of TV for longer than a couple weeks and brought back with a better angle he may have had a better shot. Vince and the WWE were high on his talents because of his youth and athletic ability, but unfortunately those 2 factors do not create a superstar. Dykstra can be a major player, but it's going to take a complete over haul of his character. If I were running the show I would pull him off TV for a couple of months and let him work house shows trying out different spins on his character to see what sticks with the crowds. He has the talent, but he lacks direction. A little time to reinvent himself and I see Kenny becoming a star within the next few years.
Now here is a guy I'm excited about. "The" Brian Kendrick. There really isn't much work this guy needs. He is a hell of a hand between the ropes, and this new gimmick just screams superstar! I love the little dance he does on his way to the ring, I love Big Zeke watching his back and most of all I loved his promo on Smackdown this week. I felt he did a great job of selling himself as a main eventer. Now, I do think it's a little soon to put him in the title mix, but he will really add to the excitement of the match. He is a great cocky heel, very similar to the idea I had for CM Punk if they were to go heel with him. I see a huge future for Brian Kendrick and if he can stay healthy and injury free, the sky is the limit for the former tag team champion. In this character Kendrick is the kind of guy that you want to reach over the guardrail and strangle. That is what makes a superstar!
Next we have Evan "Air" Bourne. Love the name, love the in ring action, love the high flying, but hate him on the mic. Way too late 80's early 90's babyface. Remember Rocky Miavia? People hated his over the top nice guy routine, and that was 10 years ago. People of today are even less patient with the "goody two shoes" type of athlete. Now, you can't give every guy who doesn't speak well a manager to use as a mouth piece. Not every wrestler can work well with a man on the outside. I don't think that would benefit him unless he was placed in a stable with a manager. Bourne can fly like few others, and he has youth on his side. I only hope he sticks around long enough to make a real impact. If Evan Bourne can find a new way to approach his interview pieces then he can break though to the next level. He is a little on the small side, but that really doesn't seem to be an issue in today's WWE. A little more development on his character and Bourne is ready to shoot to the top.
Let's discuss another ECW star in Mike Knox. Knox is a big, tough, raw boned individual. He has the size and the build that always seems to rise to the top of the WWE heap. When he first debuted I was luke warm on him at best, but his program with Finlay has opened up my eyes to this guy a bit. I think growing out the beard was a good step in making himself stand out and giving him something slightly different than every other big guy in black trunks. He is very believable as a heel and has some good facial expressions that make him an intimidating foe to stand across the ring against. I think Knox may be poised to take a step or two up the proverbial ladder. He isn't bringing anything new to the table as far as in ring work goes, but I think he's fairly solid. He won't be involved in any match of the year candidates any time soon, but he can certainly put himself in a higher bracket with this feud with the tough as nails Finlay.
Now let's talk about a personal favorite of mine, Jamie Noble. I love this guy! He cracks me up every time he's on the screen. He is so good at playing the big dog trapped in the little dog's body. He has a great "blue collar" Larry the Cable Guy kind of thing working for him. On the mat he's very well rounded and has good matches with just about everyone. Noble in my mind should be a bigger star than he is. I liked his backstage segments on Raw with Layla, but she lacked the charisma to really make Noble a star. Had he had a better Diva to play off of, perhaps one with a bit more sympathy for him, those segments would have pushed Noble to another level. Jamie can work the mic as well as he works in the ring and that alone should be enough to solidify him as a superstar. I look for big things for this young veteran in the next year or so. I'd love to see him in a real PPV program against someone on the high mid-card. Give the guy a chance, and I believe he can carry the ball.
I think we will leave this alone, and pick the list up another time. Before I go I wanted to say my piece about a particular segment on TNA Impact this past week. Karen Angle's interview with Chris Parks, aka Abyss. Karen does a good job of sitting there looking hot, but Abyss is becoming more and more of a Mankind rip off! When I saw him sit down on the floor and start rocking back and forth, then even use the high pitched voice that Foley use to use in the early stages of Mankind, I wanted to puke! Actually what I wanted to do was reach through the screen and slap him around and remind him who did that gimmick and did it far better! I understand that the wrestling industry has become diluted and not everyone can come up with something fresh and new, but come on! This is so blatant that he should be sued.
News going around is that Mick Foley may sign with TNA as early as today, as his WWE contact expired last night at midnight. I see a possible feud between these two developing, if TNA management is smart enough to capitalize on the obvious similarities between the two characters. Foley obviously would not be allowed to portray Mankind, and could not wear the mask, as I'm sure WWE has the name and likeness copy righted, but he could certainly come out and make light of Abyss stealing his thunder. I have nothing against Abyss as a worker, but a man of his size and athletic ability should have a gimmick all his own. He should not have been given an updated version of a successful past WWE superstar. Abyss may be the guy to give Foley a great program in TNA. I don't really see him making a huge impact with anyone else on the roster. Abyss is a big man with a similar style and the ability to take and give big bumps and work well with weapons and other gimmicks. I think Foley and Parks could really have a very interesting and enjoyable series of matches and interviews. TNA may have bigger things in store for the hardcore legend, but I think anything else would fall short of Foley's drawing potential. A possible one time rematch with Sting could be fun, but it would never work as a long term program. I see no potential in a feud with Angle or Booker T either. Most likely Foley will sign a one year deal or be paid per appearance. Hopefully he will be used properly and help to build TNA into what it could and should be.
Since I mentioned the name Booker T, that reminds me of another beef I have. Is it just me, or has Booker T become King Booker without the crown? I absolutely hated that gimmick in WWE and thought he was beyond irritating and annoying. Just when I thought it could get no worse, it has! His locker room promo Thursday night was painful to listen to. He slipped back and forth between an English accent and a Jamaican accent. What the hell?!? This guy is a legit superstar and highly talented worker. Why does he have to rely on comedy and stupidity? While Brother Ray and Devon were funny in their little back and forth argument Booker and his even more irritating wife made me reach for the remote. It's almost sad to see someone with so much talent make such a fool of himself. For the love of God Booker... BE YOURSELF! Be the Booker T we remember. Leave the wife at home. She brings nothing to the table for TNA. She's horrible on the microphone, and compared to the other TNA Knockouts she's a 5 at best. Angle's wife is at least adding to the show. She's gorgeous and she's great in front of the camera and behind the mic. Booker can really be an asset to TNA, but not in this goofy, over the top, wanna be King gimmick!
Ok, I suppose that's enough ranting and raving for one day. I hope you all enjoyed the read. Have a great Labor Day and be good to each other. As always, thanks for going "On The Mat" with Matt Henry.
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