Post by Sephiroth on Jul 13, 2014 7:59:41 GMT -5
I've made abundantly clear that I have little taste for the character, mainly because it has been so thoroughly watered down over the years and at this stage it is a blatantly cheesy ripoff of Kane. But I can see where he has his defenders, since he has been a significant part of TNA since the company's earliest beginnings and has contributed so much for so long. So, can Abyss be saved? Can his character be given a makeover that will inject some freshness and perhaps take it back to its monstrous roots? I'd actually say yes, but it would take time.
So, fantasy booking wise, if I were given charge of the character and its direction, the first step would be to take him off television for at least three months. I'd probably do the classic injury angle where he takes a hit from Janice or gets dropped on tacks, as usual, and disappears. During that absence, I would put the man himself in a strict regimen; first, he needs to lose some weight, at least fifteen or twenty pounds, and he also needs to improve his cardio endurance so he won't get easily blown up in the ring. I'd also put an emphasis on his arms and shoulders-since they are always showing in every costume he has worn, I would want his arms to look a bit more muscular and powerful. I'd even try to persuade him to wear a small amount of padding in his boots to add just a little extra height to complete the character's monster makeover.
Next, I'd see about freshening his on screen characterization up. In a recent interview he actually suggested he would like to try to "show the intelligence" of the character, which isn't actually a horrible direction to move in. So with that in mind, I would change his costume, and especially his mask, and move him in a direction less in imitation of Kane and Mankind-and more in a direction inspired by, of all things, the Tom Hardy version of Bane from The Dark Knight Rises. I would change his costume, and especially his mask, to somewhat resemble that image-but not too much so, just enough capture that intimidating image while keeping it more uniquely his own. Once he made his return to the ring, I would de-emphasize the insane, suicide spots he is known for and in its place I would see about getting him to learn some locks and holds to change up his ring performance and show the character as having more skill than he was previously known to. And finally, I would try to show him as a bit more cunning by having him set traps for other wrestlers backstage, attacking when they least expect it, and when opponents are taunting him in the ring I would actually have him refuse to take the bait and instead he would tell them that he's going to take them down at the time and place of his choosing. And, of course, he would have to win matches in very dominant style to set him up as a force to be reckoned with.
Any other suggestions?
So, fantasy booking wise, if I were given charge of the character and its direction, the first step would be to take him off television for at least three months. I'd probably do the classic injury angle where he takes a hit from Janice or gets dropped on tacks, as usual, and disappears. During that absence, I would put the man himself in a strict regimen; first, he needs to lose some weight, at least fifteen or twenty pounds, and he also needs to improve his cardio endurance so he won't get easily blown up in the ring. I'd also put an emphasis on his arms and shoulders-since they are always showing in every costume he has worn, I would want his arms to look a bit more muscular and powerful. I'd even try to persuade him to wear a small amount of padding in his boots to add just a little extra height to complete the character's monster makeover.
Next, I'd see about freshening his on screen characterization up. In a recent interview he actually suggested he would like to try to "show the intelligence" of the character, which isn't actually a horrible direction to move in. So with that in mind, I would change his costume, and especially his mask, and move him in a direction less in imitation of Kane and Mankind-and more in a direction inspired by, of all things, the Tom Hardy version of Bane from The Dark Knight Rises. I would change his costume, and especially his mask, to somewhat resemble that image-but not too much so, just enough capture that intimidating image while keeping it more uniquely his own. Once he made his return to the ring, I would de-emphasize the insane, suicide spots he is known for and in its place I would see about getting him to learn some locks and holds to change up his ring performance and show the character as having more skill than he was previously known to. And finally, I would try to show him as a bit more cunning by having him set traps for other wrestlers backstage, attacking when they least expect it, and when opponents are taunting him in the ring I would actually have him refuse to take the bait and instead he would tell them that he's going to take them down at the time and place of his choosing. And, of course, he would have to win matches in very dominant style to set him up as a force to be reckoned with.
Any other suggestions?