Kennedy could bring the next boom period

[What?]

I just read this in another thread.

brentreznor said:

I think it could be this generations answer to Bret Hart-Stone Cold. With Edge being the whiney Canadian heel and Kennedy being the bad ass tweener.

However prior to reading this a few days earlier I was thinking to myself how Kennedy could be the next big thing if his face turn is handled correctly. WWE has tried to ram their creations down our throats for the past few years (Cena, Lashley, Orton) but Kennedy has got over due to his amazing mic work and solid ring work. Much like Stone Cold did ten years ago, he's built himself up excellently by being himself. If WWE allows Kennedy to do his own thing like they did with Austin back in 97, another truely big stars is in WWE's hands.

[Lenny: Smooth like Keith Stone]

I absolutely think Kennedy is a main eventer of tomorrow. No question.

[voiceboxisback]

lenny said:

I absolutely think Kennedy is a main eventer of tomorrow. No question.

Yeah, I think the next generation's big stars are Kennedy, Punk, Burke, and if given the push Cabana...

[Andrew is Good]

As long as he doesn't start saluting the military, putting over his Kennedy Klan, kissing babies and all that nonsense, he'll be huge.

[Rorschach]

lenny said:

I absolutely think Kennedy is a main eventer of tomorrow. No question.

Agreed. The parallels between Austin's rise and Kennedy's are quite striking when you think about it. Heel loner, who needs no one and gets to the top through sheer cussedness and hard work (Not to mention pulling out every dirty trick he knows) is screwed by management into losing his shot at the Main Event.....and thus becomes a HUGELY popular, and sympathetic character.

While the second half hasn't happened to Kennedy YET, it could if his return is handled correctly.

[Arturo Classico]

Yes a future World Champion and main eventer. But causing a boom period? I don't know? I mean I don't know if I see Kennedy and others in the company today causing that. Although it appears as if WWE is slowly going away from the big huge wrestlers to smaller ROH-esque wrestlers. So it appears a new era is starting but are these the guys going to generate huge ratings again? I don't know. Maybe but I'm not sold on that yet just because I wonder if the more mainstream fans will dig WWE going away from people like Cena, Batista and Lashley; they might but I need more time for me to buy thats happening.

[Blindkarevik]

I definitely think Kennedy is custom-made to step into whatever main event position is needed and carry it well for quite some time.

Although, I don't know about him bringing aboard the new boom period. Just because what causes a boom period is something new and fresh... and Kennedy reminds me SO much of The Rock, in his personality and mannerisms, I just don't know if it'd have as much impact as it could.

Of course, with a few character tweaks, an establishing an identity that is entirely his own while borrowing from the greats.... I could very well be wrong about my previous assessment. And if Kennedy DOES bring about a new boom period.. I will GLADLY admit I was wrong.

[Loki]

It's just impossible to predict who'll usher in the new boom, IF a new boom will happen...

Neither Rock nor Austin had the "it" all over themselves in the beginning... it's more like WWF "stumbled" upon them while attempting to do something else.

Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels went from tag-team specialists to quality midcarders to worldwide Superstars (at least in the wrestling world). But I doubt many had pinpointed them as future Legends while they were battling for the Tag Team gold...

And how many "Next Big Things" have failed (from barely to horribly), despite having all the tools needed to succeed?

So, Kennedy may be groomed as future Champion, he may have enough personality and support from both fans and management, but there isn't a way to say he'll be the flagship of the next boom period.

And I'm more about saying no than yes... He's good and everything, but IMO he's still lacking the edge to appeal the mainstream.

[Fortunato]

In general, I agree that Mr. Kennedy could help usher in the next boom period. The minute he debuted with the whole boxing announcer gimmick I was hooked. His parallels with Stone Cold are interesting.

As I mentioned in another thread, the only problem I have with Mr. Kennedy is that he needs to tweak his look. The corn-flax dye job does nothing for me. Also, he needs a new finisher that suits the rest of his more "ground and pound," mat-based offense. Flying around also underscores his smaller stature, relative to the bigger guys on the roster. The senton makes him seem like a cruiserweight, and doesn't have the same impact on the audience as a guy the size of Sean O'haire executing it. Mr. Kennedy needs a devasting finisher he can use on the mat.

[The OP]

I don't think it's a single performer that creates a boom period.

People forget that it wasn't just Hulk Hogan who ushered in a boom period, but also Roddy Piper and (oddly) Cyndi Lauper.

It could happen if Kennedy were to become involved in a very popular storyline, but he can't really do that by himself, and you can't really predict something like that.

[The OP]

fortunato said:

In general, I agree that Mr. Kennedy could help usher in the next boom period. The minute he debuted with the whole boxing announcer gimmick I was hooked. His parallels with Stone Cold are interesting.

As I mentioned in another thread, the only problem I have with Mr. Kennedy is that he needs to tweak his look. The corn-flax dye job does nothing for me. Also, he needs a new finisher that suits the rest of his more "ground and pound," mat-based offense. Flying around also underscores his smaller stature, relative to the bigger guys on the roster. The senton makes him seem like a cruiserweight, and doesn't have the same impact on the audience as a guy the size of Sean O'haire executing it. Mr. Kennedy needs a devasting finisher he can use on the mat.

I respectfully disagree. I think the senton, as well as his occassional use of a missile dropkick, make him seem like a more well-rounded heavyweight, like Edge. People sometimes think of Edge as a high flyer, but the guy is billed at 280 lbs.

I think that if anything, Kennedy might benefit from adding another high flying move or two, but only pull them out when they absolutely make sense and don't make him deviate from his style too much.

I do think your idea about him having a mat-based finisher is a good one though. I think a lot of us really like the "Green Bay Plunge" finisher but they don't seem to let him use it too much, so I think there's definitely room for a third finisher, especially since both of the others involve flying from a turnbuckle.

[x]

Will Kennedy be a long term main eventer? Probably.

Will Kennedy cause wrestling to be mainstream? No. No way. Wrestling isn't going to be popular for a long long time. Look at the time from the Rock N' Wrestling Era to the Attitude Era. It'll be sometime at the end of the decade, just waiting for a new era of fans around 12-13 years old to think it's cool. They'll watch it for a little while, then a bunch of kids will copy them and the cool kids won't think it's cool. Then the copycat kids will realize it's not cool anymore and they'll stop watching. Then wrestling will be back to a New Generation/Invasion level of crap.

[Rocky Van Heineken]

Eh, I don't see anything too special in Kennedy, but that's just me.

[The Ichi]

Why do people compare him to Stone Cold? I see more of The Rock in him.

[What?]

taxcollector said:

I don't think it's a single performer that creates a boom period.

People forget that it wasn't just Hulk Hogan who ushered in a boom period, but also Roddy Piper and (oddly) Cyndi Lauper.

It could happen if Kennedy were to become involved in a very popular storyline, but he can't really do that by himself, and you can't really predict something like that.

Uhm, I mentioned Edge.

[The OP]

Oh yeah. Well, still. If that becomes a popular storyline...right?

*malfunction*

[Big Daddy B]

I agree that guys like Kennedy, Burke, Punk, etc have the potential to be huge, but it doesn't mean WWE will capitalize on that. They've already picked their future stars, Cena and Lashley. It ridiculous how stubborn they are about pushing them despite the fact that half the fans couldn't care less about them, but that's a testimony to how dedicated they are to shoving them down our throats.

WWE has been stupid like that in the past, like during the height of Jericho's popularity in '00 when he beat Triple H for the WWE title, that was the biggest reaction I've ever seen. Jericho could have drawn as champion, but Triple H was WWE's golden boy at the time and they didn't want anyone else challenging him. After the decision was reversed, he was back to midcard status.

Then, over a year later WWE decides to give Y2J the title when his flame wasn't as bright and expected him to draw as champion with guys like Rock, Austin, a returning Triple H, and a debuting nWo overshadowing him. He didn't, so they set him up to be buried by Triple H. Again.

If they're looking for another Rock or another Austin, they should open their eyes to who the fans like, instead of who they like.

I'm talking to you, VINCE!

[robferatu]

I don't doubt that Kennedy is the future of the business, but I don't think him alone can cause the business to boom again. Alot of little things have to fall into place. That's just my opinion though.

[Old School Heel mark4Morishima]

curryman said:

Why do people compare him to Stone Cold? I see more of The Rock in him.

1. This board is full of hopeless Wife-Beater Steve Austin marks.

2. According to one interview I've seen somewhere, Kennedy models some of the stuff he does on Austin - though without all the redneck halfwittedness, it does come off more Rock-like.

3. I've always thought his persona is most like Vincent D'Onofrio on Criminal Intent. It's scary!

[4TheGlory]

hsquat said:

curryman said:

Why do people compare him to Stone Cold? I see more of The Rock in him.

1. This board is full of hopeless Wife-Beater Steve Austin marks.

2. According to one interview I've seen somewhere, Kennedy models some of the stuff he does on Austin - though without all the redneck halfwittedness, it does come off more Rock-like.

3. I've always thought his persona is most like Vincent D'Onofrio on Criminal Intent. It's scary!

*punches GF in the face*