The following editorial was written by Dominic DeAngelo and does not reflect the opinions of WrestleZone as a whole. We encourage you all to discuss Dominic’s thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of this post and follow him on Twitter @DominicDeAngelo.
The dead horse of criticizing mainstream professional has been well-beaten. Admittedly, I can be one firmly with switch in hand, but so can every faceless Joe schmo with a social media account. Twitter handles cultivate an over-saturation of people entitled to their opinions (mine included). From an outsider’s perspective, I absolutely understand a wrestler’s aggravation when a potential mouth-breather with prominent neckbeard on display asks Finn Balor for the upteenth millionth time why he isn’t world champion. While that has to paint a horrible picture of today’s wrestling fan, a wrestler and fan-friendly event like Starrcast however further shows the blue bird’s capability of distorting reality as fans and talent went together like a quality PB & J sandwich.
There are smart wrestling fans out there, but being a fan, you cannot hang your hat on the idea that you (or I) completely know the ins-and-outs of the operation, WWE, Ring Of Honor, MLW, New Japan or otherwise. For better or worse, their structural set-ups are all different. Too many fans focus greatly falls on how the product affects their lives rather than consider the devil in the details. However, an outsider’s perspective can always be helpful at piercing the bubble that goes around any work environment, wrestling-related or otherwise and is healthy for the mark to merchant relationship.
Over the past decade or more, WWE has had a strong tendency to underplay the value of their veteran talent or even their legends. Triple H, Undertaker, Kane, Shawn Michaels are the current noteworthy outliers, but returning active talent like Matt Hardy, Shelton Benjamin and Goldust usually find themselves not having their stars shine as bright as they should (or could) be. Even stars like Kurt Angle and Mick Foley served as subservient foil to the spitfire of Stephanie McMahon.
The heel authority figure is a wrestling trope that has been overcooked and overplayed so much that a newer generation of wrestling fans believe it to be apart of the sport’s fabric, when in all actuality it’s only embedded in the carpet.
Goldust is someone who could be extremely revitalized from his time away from the ring. The renaissance man has carved his niche into the main roster as the consummate pro who can still hang with the younger legs. It’s a truly a success story that nearly doesn’t get enough play and Goldust’s true-to-life renaissance could have another, one that puts him in the main event picture and gives the Bizarre One a twist akin to FX’s famous series, Justified.
If you’re not familiar with the series, I’ll take a moment to make acquaintance. Based off the books by late crime fiction novelist, Elmore Leonard, Justified takes place in rural backwoods Kentucky which is swarming with meth heads, white supremacists, con men carpetbaggers and several other ne’er do wells of the degenerate ilk.
The protagonist is Raylan Givens, a Deputy U.S. Marshall who finds himself back in his hometown of Harland County, Kentucky after shooting a criminal point blank at a restaurant table in Miami (“it was justified” according to Givens) and Marshall’s Brass has no option but to relocate Givens. Played by Timothy Olyphant, Givens is cut straight out of the John Ford classic western, an unorthodox gunslinger that isn’t afraid to look down the barrel of anyone who opposes him. Givens is the ultimate babyface, full of piss, vinegar and fighting spirit. He finds himself down on several occasions, but never out.
With Goldust recently being sworn in as a Honorary Sheriff Deputy of Williamson County, Texas, the following fantasy book would very well mirror the man we call Goldust. Coming off of not one, but two knee replacements, the seasoned vet is almost quite literally on his last legs as far as an in-ring run is concerned, but the Bizarre one has surprised everyone before. The following storyline could give Dustin Rhodes a deserved spot atop the WWE card, introduce a few familiar faces and deliver an intriguing arch that stretches across both brands.
Next Page: Booking The Return Of Goldust (with a partner in crime)
