MVP and Mr. Kennedy: Three Years Later

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Although I enjoyed a lot of the 2010 Royal Rumble, one thing that bothered me was how MVP was booked. This bothered me not because it surprised me, but rather for the exact opposite reason. Yes, I have come to expect MVP to be utilized as poorly as possible despite him seeming to give it his all with each performance.

This made me think of his alliance with someone who not only didn't give it his all for each performance, but missed countless performances due to being made of glass. I am of course talking about Mr. Kennedy. Then I thought that though in 2006/2007 they existed on the same place in the card that despite one's dedication and the other's apathy, they both were given just about the same amount of opportunities. In fact Kennedy to an extent was pushed much harded. Given that Kennedy was fired months ago, this really puts the mis-use of MVP in perspective.

I mean just look at some facts about them for a point of comparison...

MR. Kennedy
*Greatest Title He Ever Held was the U.S. Title
*Has never main evented a WWE PPV in a one-on-one match
*Had his own movie, promoted on WWE television
*Former Money in the Bank Winner
*His last heavily promoted feud with a main eventer was with the Undertaker?

MVP
*Greatest Title He Ever Held was the U.S. Title
*Has never main evented a WWE PPV in a one-on-one match
*Can you remember the last time MVP feuded with a main eventer? Me neither.

Not sure, about the main eventing a PPV thing, but pretty sure I'm right about that.

[Tapout]

MVP is an ex-con who did jail time (and a lot of it), and that probably has a lot to do with why he hasn't gotten a push.

Though I personally still say that without JBL to hype him up, his flaws as a performer are really obvious.

[texan]

Booker T was an ex-con who was in prison and he became King 'Bookah!' Mr. Kennedy and MVP were both guys I thought were going to eventually become world champs, but Kennedy got fired and MVP looks to be stuck in mid-card purgatory.

[TheDarkestKnight]

As much as I love MVP him being an ex-con poses a lot of problems for the WWE. If they tour certain countries he cannot enter due to his previous convictions, Japan being one such country.
This makes him somewhat of a P.R liablity if they ever made him WWE Champ. Yes what he did was in the past, but it would still likely be brought up by everyone and their mother if he ever became the WWE's posterboy.

Kennedy was just unfortunate over the timings of his injuries. Plus his big mouth ruined his potential main event push as Vince McMahons son.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Feb 2, 2010 20:15:22 GMT -5 Tapout said:

MVP is an ex-con who did jail time (and a lot of it), and that probably has a lot to do with why he hasn't gotten a push.

Though I personally still say that without JBL to hype him up, his flaws as a performer are really obvious.

Yeah, MVP is definitely not perfect, but I was more trying to emphasize how he at least puts effort into what he does, whereas Kennedy seemed to like going on vacation (and I used to like Kennedy A LOT more than MVP).

As far as the ex-con thing goes, I think that could be a factor, but I really don't think its one of the more significant ones as far as not pushing him. After all guys like John Morrison and Shelton Benjamin are stuck similarly in midcard hell and they have no extensive criminal records.

[EJS]

Feb 2, 2010 20:19:41 GMT -5 TheDarkestKnight said:

As much as I love MVP him being an ex-con poses a lot of problems for the WWE. If they tour certain countries he cannot enter due to his previous convictions, Japan being one such country.
This makes him somewhat of a P.R liablity if they ever made him WWE Champ. Yes what he did was in the past, but it would still likely be brought up by everyone and their mother if he ever became the WWE's posterboy.

Kennedy was just unfortunate over the timings of his injuries. Plus his big mouth ruined his potential main event push as Vince McMahons son.

What I read was the only country that is a problem is Japan.

[Tapout]

Feb 2, 2010 20:20:07 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

Feb 2, 2010 20:15:22 GMT -5 Tapout said:

MVP is an ex-con who did jail time (and a lot of it), and that probably has a lot to do with why he hasn't gotten a push.

Though I personally still say that without JBL to hype him up, his flaws as a performer are really obvious.

Yeah, MVP is definitely not perfect, but I was more trying to emphasize how he at least puts effort into what he does, whereas Kennedy seemed to like going on vacation (and I used to like Kennedy A LOT more than MVP).

As far as the ex-con thing goes, I think that could be a factor, but I really don't think its one of the more significant ones as far as not pushing him. After all guys like John Morrison and Shelton Benjamin are stuck similarly in midcard hell and they have no extensive criminal records.

Disagree, Shelton I think has settled into his career as a lifetime midcarder who's there to help new guys get over. He seems pretty OK with it.

Morrison is a main event waiting to happen. The man has a DVD set out now that doesn't even cover his entire career yet (so the table is set for more DVD sets down the line including the Tough Enough/Johnny Nitro days). Presumably Morrison's push was stalled in favor of WWE's baffling push of McIntyre but you have to believe the company has big things in store for him.

[Jason]

The only place MVP can't enter is Japan, and they rarely go there. Plus, I don't think it would be a big deal if MVP won the world title, his character is that he's a changed man who wants to encourage people not to make the same mistakes as he did. So isn't that a good role model or am I wrong?

They just won't push MVP on Raw, that's all there has to be said. If he was on Smackdown, he would probably be feuding with CM Punk or Chris Jericho right about now.

[CMWaters]

I'm guessing Mr. Kennedy's one on one match with Batista at Royal Rumble 2007 doesn't count?

Yeah I know the Rumble match was the main event but still...

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Feb 2, 2010 20:43:31 GMT -5 Tapout said:

Feb 2, 2010 20:20:07 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

Yeah, MVP is definitely not perfect, but I was more trying to emphasize how he at least puts effort into what he does, whereas Kennedy seemed to like going on vacation (and I used to like Kennedy A LOT more than MVP).

As far as the ex-con thing goes, I think that could be a factor, but I really don't think its one of the more significant ones as far as not pushing him. After all guys like John Morrison and Shelton Benjamin are stuck similarly in midcard hell and they have no extensive criminal records.

Disagree, Shelton I think has settled into his career as a lifetime midcarder who's there to help new guys get over. He seems pretty OK with it.

Morrison is a main event waiting to happen. The man has a DVD set out now that doesn't even cover his entire career yet (so the table is set for more DVD sets down the line including the Tough Enough/Johnny Nitro days). Presumably Morrison's push was stalled in favor of WWE's baffling push of McIntyre but you have to believe the company has big things in store for him.

I see where you are coming from, but I still stand behind my points. Shelton may be happy where he is, but remember this is the same guy who once was leading the pact of potential break out stars. Instead he just simply never broke out.

As far as Morrison goes, he might have a DVD set out, but Ted DiBiase Jr. also has a movie out. How's that going for him?

[Psychoblue]

MVP & Kennedy were two of my absolute favorites in 2006-2007, especially with their uneasy alliance they had throughout their tenure together. I'd always hoped they'd rise to the top together, but I guess it was not to be

[Hawk Hart]

Feb 2, 2010 21:34:29 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

Feb 2, 2010 20:43:31 GMT -5 Tapout said:

Disagree, Shelton I think has settled into his career as a lifetime midcarder who's there to help new guys get over. He seems pretty OK with it.

Morrison is a main event waiting to happen. The man has a DVD set out now that doesn't even cover his entire career yet (so the table is set for more DVD sets down the line including the Tough Enough/Johnny Nitro days). Presumably Morrison's push was stalled in favor of WWE's baffling push of McIntyre but you have to believe the company has big things in store for him.

I see where you are coming from, but I still stand behind my points. Shelton may be happy where he is, but remember this is the same guy who once was leading the pact of potential break out stars. Instead he just simply never broke out.

As far as Morrison goes, he might have a DVD set out, but Ted DiBiase Jr. also has a movie out. How's that going for him?

Comparing Morrison and Ted Jr. is like comparing an orange and spoiled jicama. Morrison has several IC and tag team title reigns under his belt and personality, all Ted has is that one tag title run with CAWdy Rhodes and all the personality of the paint drying on a painting of vanilla ice cream.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Feb 2, 2010 21:51:07 GMT -5 Hawk Hart said:

Feb 2, 2010 21:34:29 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

I see where you are coming from, but I still stand behind my points. Shelton may be happy where he is, but remember this is the same guy who once was leading the pact of potential break out stars. Instead he just simply never broke out.

As far as Morrison goes, he might have a DVD set out, but Ted DiBiase Jr. also has a movie out. How's that going for him?

Comparing Morrison and Ted Jr. is like comparing an orange and spoiled jicama. Morrison has several IC and tag team title reigns under his belt and personality, all Ted has is that one tag title run with CAWdy Rhodes and all the personality of the paint drying on a painting of vanilla ice cream.

I agree, if you were holistically comparing Morrison to Ted Jr., then it would be a ridiculous comparison to call them equal. However, I did not do that. What I did was disagree with Tapout's point that Morrison having a DVD set is evidence that he is ready to be pushed. This was done by stating that things like DVD sets only mean so much, as similarly Ted Jr. has his own DVD out, in movie form.

[jakemcclain]

MVP is awesome on the mic, but I can't stand the guy. Shelton Benjamin should've gotten the MVP gimmick.....he's a far better wrestler and athlete, and he could back up those "free agent" promos with great ring skills.

MVP is so boring in the ring, and he misses spots like Helen Keller mopping a floor. Kennedy has as much charisma, and he's better than MVP.

[arrogantmodel]

Feb 2, 2010 21:31:13 GMT -5 CMWaters said:

I'm guessing Mr. Kennedy's one on one match with Batista at Royal Rumble 2007 doesn't count?

Yeah I know the Rumble match was the main event but still...

And the crowd was behind him. That could and should have been similar to the Lesnar/Cena match.

[italliansausagepat]

Feb 2, 2010 21:51:07 GMT -5 Hawk Hart said:

Feb 2, 2010 21:34:29 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

I see where you are coming from, but I still stand behind my points. Shelton may be happy where he is, but remember this is the same guy who once was leading the pact of potential break out stars. Instead he just simply never broke out.

As far as Morrison goes, he might have a DVD set out, but Ted DiBiase Jr. also has a movie out. How's that going for him?

Comparing Morrison and Ted Jr. is like comparing an orange and spoiled jicama. Morrison has several IC and tag team title reigns under his belt and personality, all Ted has is that one tag title run with CAWdy Rhodes and all the personality of the paint drying on a painting of vanilla ice cream.

I still dontt see anything in this Ted Jr other then I like his finisher, but I think it will look on people like Batista. Also it doesn't help he looks like a young cocky Dan RodimeR/Orton blandness.

[millionurkle]

Feb 2, 2010 22:03:31 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

Feb 2, 2010 21:51:07 GMT -5 Hawk Hart said:

Comparing Morrison and Ted Jr. is like comparing an orange and spoiled jicama. Morrison has several IC and tag team title reigns under his belt and personality, all Ted has is that one tag title run with CAWdy Rhodes and all the personality of the paint drying on a painting of vanilla ice cream.

I agree, if you were holistically comparing Morrison to Ted Jr., then it would be a ridiculous comparison to call them equal. However, I did not do that. What I did was disagree with Tapout's point that Morrison having a DVD set is evidence that he is ready to be pushed. This was done by stating that things like DVD sets only mean so much, as similarly Ted Jr. has his own DVD out, in movie form.

But there is a major difference between Dibiase's and Morrison's DVD's. Dibiase is in a B-movie sequel direct-to-dvd where he plays a character not named Ted Dibiase. Not knocking his movie but still it's not about wrestling.

Morrison,however has been trusted by management through his good matches and promos, to be given his own dvd of wrestling matches and promos. The only people I have seen given these kinds of dvd's are world champions or future world champions, such as Stone Cold and Rock(both before and after they won World Titles), Jeff Hardy, John Cena, Rey Mysterio, etc. My point is WWE only gives these kinds of dvd's to people who have either already made money or who they think will make them money in the future