My latest column for upgruv.com, a site of all things trending, is about the Kurt Angle and Jason Jordan storyline. Here’s an excerpt:
Generating a rub with actual pedigree in wrestling is always a risky gamble. Those who are legitimately related have had a tough time because of the shadows and expectations cast upon them. See: Curtis Axel, Ted DiBiase Jr., and Cody Rhodes, among others.
Carrying a family name, let alone a family gimmick, sets a performer on an unforgiving path. Nostalgia-crazed fans want characters from the past recreated by a next-generation wrestler. But that formula rarely works out the way fans or management dreamed it up.
How many moments you can remember in the career of David Sammartino?
Dustin Rhodes was a stand out at escaping the peril of being son to a legend. He had the surname and striking resemblance to his iconic father, the inimitable Dusty Rhodes. However, instead of steering into an “American Dream Jr.” gimmick, Dustin took a hard left turn. From appearance to mannerisms and by pushing the envelope with sexuality, his Goldust character (established in 1995) doesn’t get the credit it deserves for helping WWE transition into its big-money Attitude Era.
But Dustin as Goldust is an exception.
Even manufactured family relationships aren’t much better. Most come and go without notice. And it takes a rich story portrayed by special performers to make the audience want to believe then continue believing. The “brothers” Kane and Undertaker are the best example.
It’s key when analyzing stories not to give a verdict too quickly. Let things play out.
But you can grade stories as they go on.
So far, the new bond between Angle and Jordan comes off too vanilla. Too much “one big happy family” pushed too hard, too quick and too borderline-awkward. Here’s to hoping this straight and narrow actually contains a curve of deception lurking ahead.
If Jordan stabs Angle in the back and we find out the entire “long, lost son” stuff was a scheme — now that would be an attention-grabbing development.
CLICK HERE for more on the swerve and who is helping Jordan.
