On March 29, 2009, Ken Anderson then known as cocky loudmouth Mr. Kennedy was released from his WWE Contract. I was disappointed when I heard this news. I was a huge fan of Mr. Kennedy.
Ken Anderson joined WWE in 2005 through its developmental system Ohio Valley Wrestling. 6 months later he was already on his way up to the main roster. His first few months on the main roster he made it very clear to everyone both on the mic and in the ring that his name was Mr. Kennedy and he was here to stay. He was over the top with his antics and bragging. The dropping microphone from the ceiling when he did his own introduction was top notch.
As Ken Kennedy, Anderson went up against established stars including Rey Mysterio, Batista and Matt Hardy and gaining wins against each of them except Hardy. It wouldn't take long before he kicked down the door and defeated Bobby Lashley and Finlay for the United States Championship. He went on to have a short feud with Smackdown GM Theodore Long over his desire to compete on Raw. Long put him in matches with stars he had never faced. He succeeded in defeating the Undertaker by disqualification, but lost to Chris Benoit in a match with Kennedy's United States Championship on the line. He would then team up with MVP and start a feud with the Brothers of Destruction before challenging the Undertaker to a First Blood match at Survivor Series. He would win after an inadvertent chair shot from MVP to Taker. Taker would get his revenge by defeating Kennedy in a Last Ride Match at Armageddon.
In 2007, it seemed as though his luck was turning around. Kennedy won the Beat the Clock Challenge to win a shot at Batista's World Heavyweight Championship at the Royal Rumble. Even though he lost, he would receive a shot at the ECW Championship at No Way Out which he won by DQ, but the title did not change hands.
At Wrestlemania 23, it seemed as though he had finally broke through the glass ceiling when he won the Money in The Bank Ladder Match. His post match rant reminded me why he had the potential to be an all time great. He was on fire. He cut a promo that would make Dusty Rhodes jealous. His words stung like knives as he sent warnings to the world champions. The cockiest star in the Company finally had something to put behind his words.
It didn't last long. After it was believed he was suffering from a serious injury, he dropped the Money in the Bank briefcase to Edge. Although the injury turned out to not be as serious as thought, the damage had already been done. He had a chance to regain momentum first being drafted to Raw. He engaged in a short feud for the Intercontinental Championship, but he failed to win. He was then suspended for his steroid use.
After his suspension, he never regained the momentum he had built up for himself at the start of 2007 and before you knew it he was released. He would go on to TNA and become a 2 time TNA World Heavyweight Championship, achieving the superstardom he was destined for in the WWE. I believed Anderson would be the next top star, but he was never able to get to that level due to injuries and his steroid use in 2007. Anderson was one of the best guys on the roster everywhere he went. He was cocky and brash on the mic. He could talk his ass off and then go in the ring and beat you with his smooth technical style. He's one of those rare guys who can sell a feud by doing all the talking by himself. He was on the wrong end of a lot of feuds and still came out looking like a star because he was so good at what he did.
He seemed unmotivated on his way out as he had stated Randy Orton got him fired for almost hurting him in a match. But I know that isn't him because he had been so great in the ring and his position on the card seemed to finally break him. He was simply too good to be a lower midcarder. I'm very proud of the success that he gained while in TNA, because he turned out to be the star he should have been in WWE. He may not be high up on a lot of people's lists, but Ken Anderson is one of my favorite wrestlers of all time. Regardless of how many titles he won or mistakes he made, when he walked out in front of that arena full of fans there were few who could match his talent in the ring and on the mic.
-Ameen
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