Column: What Happened To Mr Kennedy?
Once upon a time, some three or four years ago, there was a batch of new talent emerging on the WWE scene. Let me give you some examples: CM Punk, MVP, Bobby Lashley, Elijah Bourke. But none of their stars shone brighter than Mr. Kennedy… Kennedy’s!
Kennedy’s beginnings in professional wrestling included working the independent scene, making some appearances in TNA, and jobbing on WWE television from 2001. It wasn’t until 2005 that Kennedy made the big time, being called up to Ohio Valley Wrestling and, later, the main roster. He made a splash on his first episode of SmackDown when he berated Tony Chimel for his announcing skills, and thus, the “Mr. Kennedy… Kennedy” trademark was born.
With a unique, platinum blonde look, and an even more unique voice, Kennedy was a natural on the mic, in addition to being talented in the ring. His promo style mirrored those of The Rock and John Cena; cheeky, in-your-face attitude that made the audience love to hate him and propelled him to be considered as one of the faces of the next generation of the WWE. Batista, once of the company’s current ambassadors, lauded him as “by leaps and bounds, the most promising young talent” in the March 2007 issue of WWE Magazine.
From there, he went on to feud with The Undertaker and Kane, Chris Benoit, Bobby Lashley, and Batista, whom he challenged at the 2007 Royal Rumble for his World Heavyweight Championship. His successes lead him to win the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at that year’s WrestleMania. However, a title match resulting from that win wasn’t meant to be, as he dropped the briefcase to Edge after sustaining a triceps injury.
Around the time of the Benoit tragedy and Vince McMahon’s ill-advised false death storyline, Kennedy’s star was shining brighter than most. He had been drafted to Raw in that year’s lottery, where he returned to from rehab in August. He was scheduled to be revealed at Mr. McMahon’s illegitimate/ “bastard” son, a move that would no doubt cement his star status. However, that wasn’t meant to be either, as Kennedy was busted for steroid use after an inquiry into Benoit’s doctor named him and ten other (past or present) Superstars, and was suspended for thirty days. Upon his return, he never again rose to those heights.
But, after WrestleMania XXIV, Kennedy began filming Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia. Kennedy took a hiatus from the ring to shoot the ill-fated action sequel. He was gone from the WWE until May 2008, but was injured in a match on SmackDown against Shelton Benjamin, and was sidelined until November. In that month he appeared on WWE TV to plug the movie. His promotional tour failed to get butts in seats however, much like Cena’s hyping of 12 Rounds, and it ultimately went straight to DVD. Unlike Cena though, whose star power saw his other movie, The Marine, become hugely successful as a DVD release as opposed to its mediocre box office figures, Kennedy was unable to draw the numbers the film needed to make a decent profit.
His vain attempt at a starring role aside, Kennedy decided to make a return to the ring and, in April, began training at Florida Championship Wrestling to get back into in-ring shape.
For anyone who watched Mr. Kennedy on his ascent up the WWE ladder back in 2006, it was obvious from his recent sporadic television appearances and weak promos that something wasn’t quite right. While his peers went from strength to strength— CM Punk was drafted to Raw in 2008 and went on to win two consecutive Money in the Bank briefcases and the World Heavyweight Championship; MVP became one of the most well-known faces of SmackDown and is currently engaged in somewhat of a cross-promotional program with The View co-host, Sherrie Shephard— Kennedy floundered. The question of whether his problems were professional or personal was answered on May 29th, when Kennedy was released from his contract after injuring his hand in a 10-man tag team match on Raw four days prior.
I first wondered what had happened to Mr. Kennedy about a month or so ago, after his noticeable absence from WWE programming. While it’s unfortunate he has been let go, now we actually have an answer. Hopefully Kennedy addresses whatever personal demons he has, and if he gets back into good health, there’s no telling when we’ll see him next. Remember, in this business, never say never.
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in my opinion kennedy is 10 times better than MVP
in my opinion kennedy is 10 times better than MVP
…….
you’re entitled to your view, but I myself was never impressed with him.
He didn’t injure his hand, he dumped Orton on his head with a suplex.
I just hope Mr Kennedy (Or What ever he will be called) in TNA can make a real go of it and rise to the top (which is where he belongs).
I to, also see him like a “Rock” style character and he has just as much charisma and mic skills as good ol’ Dwayne had…
WWE buried him for years and I wish him all the best with his new company. “Cross the Line” Kennedy
, you know ya wanna.
Thinks about it guy, he was just a cancer to everything in the WWE.
Makes outlandish remarks after Benoit, then gets caught himself, not only making himself look dumb, but making the WWE look really bad, why would an organization as big as WWE let a guy go around talking about steriods, and how no one there does them, who was on them!!
He then wrestles, and injures not only himself on more then one occasion, but hurts Bobby Lashley shoulder, who never returned to the WWE after that, and tore John Cena’s pec the monday before he defended the WWE title against Orton…
He then comes back, and nearly injures Orton again, and hurts his own wrist. He needed to be let go, simple as that…. I really liked the guy, but ever since that suspension, he’s gone down hill. He was not good in the ring, his promos were suffering, and most improtantly to vince, his body looked bad.
I like mr Kennedy, and I hope he does what Masters did, since he just got resigned (most likey to pic up Kennedy’s storyline from reports)… he should go to Japan, work his ASS off, and maybe in a year or so, he will be back. If he goes to TNA, which I consider the easy way out, he will never be able to be a top star in WWE, atleast not for a long timem.
I dont think this is the last of ken kennedy but if it is politics thats got him out of the wwe then it will be hard to get back i just hope he can make a real impact (pardon the awful pun) in TNA and hit the ground running he has all the attributes to become a real star in the buisness charisma bags of ability and a good physique and very unique look lets hope we see him again
Nemephosis: Actually Kennedy did injure his wrist. You can see him roll out of the ring after an RKO by Randy Orton, and at the end when his team is standing victorious in the ring, you can see him clutching his hand in pain.
Nick: I think the Benoit tragedy was a turning point for almost everyone in the WWE, and the professional wrestling industry as a whole. From about that time Kennedy really went down hill, I agree. His attitude, drug problems and injuries spelled the beginning of the end for him.
It’s sad on what happened to Mr. Kennedy, they should’ve given him a non-wrestling role like the co-general manager of raw or smackdown maybe.
Bad idea about what I said above…i’ve seen his wrestling matches on youtube and he’s not really fit for that non-wrestling roles!
Nick is right, he should go to Japan and work his ass off. My suggestion to Kennedy is to not go to TNA yet…or better yet not go there at all and re-sign with WWE after he’s done with Japan.
it was good to see a lot of “get back Kennedy” signs on Raw on monday.
HE DIDN’T INJURE HIS WRIST. Go on to youtube and type in Mr Kennedy Facebook and you’ll see a video he posted the day after he was fired where he shakes his wrists like mad basically saying “I was never Injured”. I think a main part of it was the fact he was a spoken supporter of steroids as well having heat in the back and injury prone. However he was not injured when fired.
Okay, I saw the video and obviously his hand IS NOT injured. This begs the question, why did he fake it on Raw? Either he was told by WWE officials to fake the injury so he could continue on in a non-wrestling role for awhile, or they came to a mutual decision to part ways and used the “injury” as a cover. But my feeling is that the “screw you” manner the video was filmed in says that he might not have been aware of the “injury” being used as a way to terminate Kennedy from the company.
Kennedy should go to TNA where he’ll have a lighter schedule and wrestlers to face that he’s never faced before. In TNA Kennedy has the potential to be one of the biggest stars in the company due to his mic skills and in ring ability and he could really fill the gap left by the Instant Classic Christian Cage
The only way hes going to better his skills is by going to Japan. Thats the simple truth.
im glad they let kennedy go. his movie sucked, and his is too cocky. i never liked him