I've always liked Rhino. I might be a little biased though, since he's from the Detroit area. I even saw him at a Tiger's game a few years ago, in the concession area. He was signing autographs for a few fans, but I managed to get him to answer a question. I asked how he liked working for TNA, and his answer was pretty standard. He said that the best part about working for TNA is/was the schedule, and that it was a lot easier than having to deal with working all those dates for the WWE. I'm not sure how long he stayed there with the fans, answering questions and signing autographs (there were only 10 or 15, so I'm sure it wasn't too bad for him that day). I walked away after a few minutes, I didn't want to add to the spectacle. He was obviously at Comerica Park to watch a baseball game; he wasn't there in a professional capacity. Seemed like a great guy though, he definitely could have tried to ignore everyone and walk away. Not every wrestler would be willing to do an impromptu Q&A, and sign (free) autographs while he's supposed to have a relaxing day at the ball park. I don't mean to sound like a mark for Rhino, but again: he seemed like a genuinely nice guy.
I hope this return to TNA for Rhino is a meaningful one. I'm not saying he should win the World Title or anything, but i hope they have something in the cards for him (other than just being EC3's "hired gun"). Hearing "GORE! GORE! GORE!" before his music hit, and he ran down to the ring was a bit of a mark-out moment for me. It was a bit cliché, to have Rhino attack Bully instead of EC3 and/or Spud...but at least he's back. Besides, Spud's reaction(s) to Rhino's surprise appearance was great. Almost all of Spud's facial expressions crack me up, especially when he's acting cowardly. I don't know if Rhino has signed a "real" contract (or if he's on a per-appearance deal), but I hope he sticks around through the Fall. It would be great to see Rhino have a one-on-one match at BFG this year.
It's pretty easy to see where this is leading. EC3 & Rhino (with Spud in tow) will attack Bully again and again, possibly leading to a handicap match at some point. Bully will eventually need a partner to counter-balance their attack(s), so we might see Bully do some recruiting over the next few weeks. Inevitably, this will lead to Devon's return - and a Team 3D reunion. With Team 3D being TNA's 2014 Hall of Fame inductees, is it really that hard to see the writing on the wall?
Again - after Team Dixie is done "paying off" Rhino, I hope The War Machine sticks around for a bit as a singles competitor. Rhino could get involved with Tommy Dreamer's feud with Dixie as well, if they decide to continue that story (Rhino would work well as a heel or face in that angle). At the very least, we should see a decent series of matches over the Summer between Rhino & Bully, and then the inevitable Team 3D reunion. Once it was announced that Team 3D would be this year's HoF inductees, it didn't take a genius to figure out that there will be at least one more tag match with them coming out on top...I just didn't expect that Rhino would be involved. Looking at the big picture, this is a great way to get Team 3D back together. Rhino definitely can look like an "unstoppable brute", and it will be easy for TNA to make it seem that the only way to stop him (and EC3/Team Dixie) is the return of "the most decorated Tag Team of all time"! Lol. I'd imagine Bully will also have another table with Rhino's name on it pretty soon. Maybe it will be Rhino (or even EC3) that's finally put through a table with an old-school Dudley-Death-Drop. Rhino's history with both Bully & Devon will make for great story fodder to round out TNA's Summer mid-card/tag-division. Either way, I'm looking forward to some great in-ring action from Rhino in the near-future, and I hope they can find something else for him to do after his involvement with Team Dixie comes to an end.
