The Katz Files – Arnie Katz</My Weekly ECW Notebook
The Kingfish Arnie Katz discusses issues raised by the most recent episode of ECW on SyFy/.
The Abraham Washington Show
A new, non-wrestling heel character will always stir controversy. In fact, the promotion would probably ax the gimmick if it didn’t kick up a fuss.
I’m not wild about adding yet another character who can’t wrestle to the show. At least Abe W probably won’t actively expose that limitation by trying to get in the ring.
Abraham Washington is definitely annoying and abrasive, but so were Brother Love, Paul Bearer and Vickie Guerrero. Washington is also a lot different than any of the other non-wrestling characters and his “show” is likely to launch a lot of wrestlers into action-oriented storylines.
He also fills a need for a lightning rod type heel figure on ECWQ that Tiffany has not satisfied. The best thing they can do with her at this point is to make her into a babyface and play her against Abraham Washington. If that doesn’t work, it might be time to introduce a new general manager.
Is Shelton Benjamin a Babyface?”
Shelton Benjamin has spent most of his WWE career as a heel, but he has done some stints as a babyface. It looks, from the 8/4 episode looks like they’re going to try him as a fan favorite again.
It’s not such a bad idea. Benjamin, as the announcers never tire of telling us, has as much raw talent as any WWE wrestler. What they don’t emphasize as much is that Shelton simply has not caught fire with any of his gimmicks for at least the last several years.
Maybe the answer will be to make him a “no frills” hero. If so, this could be the start of a pivotal period in Benjamin’s career. It’s hard to know what WWE would, or could, do if this doesn’t stabilize Benjamin as at least an upper mid card performer.
That’s it for today. I’ll be back Monday with another installment of the Internet’s fastest-rising pro wrestling column. I hope you’ll join me then and, please, bring your friends.
— Arnie Katz
Executive Editor
[email protected]
(8/8/09)