Has Mr. Anderson lost a step?

[beefthelegend]

Hey all.

I try to catch TNA as often as I can, but truth be told, I'm not a week by week watcher. I have especially been trying to keep up since the debuts of The Pope D'Angelo Dinero and Mr. Anderson...

ANYHOW- tonight, Mr. Anderson's promo felt flat. Maybe he was having an off night...who knows? But both the backstage fluff with Hemme and the pre-match stuff, they both felt disjointed and were largely disappointing. Where was he going with the Vietnamese thing?

I dunno...he just felt out of sorts.

Which leads me to my question: Has Ken Anderson lost a step on the mic? If so, does this diminish his quality as a wrestler?

My answer: Yes...and no. I think the character is a larger than life deal-he is over the top, and very cocky, even for a heel. And i know most wrestlers are "Larger than life" and "over the top", but Anderson is even more so. However, i do think that the time off has hurt his improve mic skills a little bit. But, as i eluded to before, I don't think this will be a big deal. I think he will make this up, and come back stronger than ever. Unless of course, all of this "the next Steve Austin" and "The Chosen one" go to his head...in which case, he may be doomed to mediocrity.

What do you think?

Edit: I should note that I am a huge Anderson/Kennedy mark...so i am pulling for him to succeed!

 

[smarktown]

Mr. Anderson was wearing the dog tags of a Vietnamese soldier instead of an American one because, while this disappoints me to no end, wrestling fans tend to be of the "f--k everyone that isn't American" mindset. For example, remember La Resistance? Anyone with half a brain would realize that this was a babyface gimmick outside the traditional hillbilly gun nut, but people would boo them out of the arena and chant "USA." Unfortunately, Mr. Anderson's reference wasn't dumbed down enough for the crowd so it flew right over their heads.

Personally, I don't watch WWE and haven't watched much of it in the past 14 years so I don't know much about Anderson, but as a TNA mark, I didn't like him when he came in... he seemed very mic-focused, which is a WWE stereotype. However, his mic work tonight impressed me more than anything I've seen from him. Perhaps he's simply adapting to the TNA fans' style of promo and those who know his old style will need to relearn?

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I thought his promo tonight was fine. Everytime a guy comes up to bat, he's not going to hit one out of the park. Same thing goes for pro wrestling promos and matches. Anderson has given some of the best promos of his career since coming to TNA but it was only a matter of time before he cut one that didn't measure up. I thought he was entertaining overall, but he didn't really set his match up.

If anything make Anderson look bad tonight, it's how the match with Rob Terry was booked. The blow he took from the steel chair looked completely weak, yet he flopped to the ground as if he'd just been hit by a Mack truck. It didn't make Rob Terry look all that hot either as this was supposed to be his first title defense. I hate title matches that end the way the Global title match ended tonight. You can't even call it a match. The mid-card title scene in TNA is shit right now and nobody gives two shits and a piss about the Global title at this point and no one will after that match. I have no doubt that TNA could have come up with another way of continuing the build up of the Angle/Anderson feud without a waste of a title match for a belt that sorely is in need of some prestige and credibility.

 

[Derekjt]

Mr. Anderson is killer on the stick. It's too bad that TNA didn't give him the Global Title tonight. Pass the belt on to someone with relevance. Having him get hit once with a chair by Angle sucked. I wasn't really a fan of him in WWE, but he's one of my favorite wrestlers now.

The interviews with him and Christy Hemme backstage are priceless. The two of them are a great pair and I think something is building there. He definitely hasn't lost a step. Maybe you're just not a fan of heel Anderson. Angle and Ken will be a good feud. TNA needs to step it up and put on a good match between those two when they go live.

 

[Poɘt]

So he doesn't blow you away one week and you think he's lost it?

I don't think he's any different than he was the previous weeks. I wouldn't jump the gun due to him not being the main focus of the show. People have to understand TNA has under 2 hours a week (there are so many more commercials during wrestling now days), so they have to ration out their time as best they can to get all the feuds out into the open.

So one week a guy may seem like he has the stage to himself, the next he may take a backseat to someone else that needs the stage. It's not the wrestler, it's just a time factor.

 

[LegendKiller716]

I dont think he has lost a step, but i got used to him being a face. The cocky face role suits him way better. If given the right push he can have the long awaited stone cold effect. trying to be heel, but the crowd loves it

 

[Big Nick Dudley]

Anderson has a lot of talent on the mic...when he is a bit more reserved. I think he has been wayyy to over the top so far in TNA.

First of all, he is cutting wayy to many promos on each episode of Impact. He usually cuts a promo before he comes out the impact zone, and when he gets there, he grabs his ceiling mic and does another one. One is enough.

But that isn't the only problem. I think he should have left the ceiling mic back in the WWE. This guy is plenty talented enough to do without that gimmick. So far in TNA, he has just been trying way to hard. He needs to be a bit more subtle. I don't remember him being this jacked up EVERY time he grabbed the mic in WWE.

Furthermore, I would really like to see him drop the whole "Miiiiisssssttttttteerrrr.." junk. He is over enough now where he doesn't need to go that extra mile. Actually, I think it is taking away from his character a little bit at this point in time. I would like to see him tone it down a bit, and take a more sadistic approach. His improv skills were much tighter in the WWE, much more believable and realistic. He is acting like a cartoon out there and I'm not feeling it as much as I did before.

 

[trendkiller]

Anderson has a lot of talent on the mic...when he is a bit more reserved. I think he has been wayyy to over the top so far in TNA.

Sure, he's been over the top, but... that's his character... The character is absurdly egocentric, arrogant, obnoxious and over-the-top in-your-face. It's your opinion, fair enough, but I don't see how you can say he's been "too" over the top (not to mention: what about his character is over the top? - maybe it gets lost in translation on my end) when that is the character!

First of all, he is cutting wayy to many promos on each episode of Impact. He usually cuts a promo before he comes out the impact zone, and when he gets there, he grabs his ceiling mic and does another one. One is enough.

As everyone's already claimed in the thread so far, and I do agree, Ken is absolutely golden on the stick, while (even though I MTFO for Ken) his in-ring skills are admittedly not on the level of Benoit, Danielson or even Jericho. This is cause enough to give him as much mic time as possible, since he gets over on his promos - not as much on his ring work (though he is by no means BAD in the ring imo, just... like a grape is not yet a bottle of champagne).

You could also see it as his entrance promo being a continuation of his backstage promo, if that makes you happier

But that isn't the only problem. I think he should have left the ceiling mic back in the WWE. This guy is plenty talented enough to do without that gimmick. So far in TNA, he has just been trying way to hard. He needs to be a bit more subtle. I don't remember him being this jacked up EVERY time he grabbed the mic in WWE.

Come on, the mic gimmick is insanely over. The mic alone would get a massive pop if they dropped it from the ceiling in the ring! Why should he be subtle, when wrestling is all about characters that have the volume turned way up? (I also find it GOOD that he gets more wiggle room and space to expand in TNA, rather than having to hold himself back like in the WWE).

Furthermore, I would really like to see him drop the whole "Miiiiisssssttttttteerrrr.." junk. He is over enough now where he doesn't need to go that extra mile. Actually, I think it is taking away from his character a little bit at this point in time.

Yes, and The Rock should have dropped the "Finally! The Rock has come back..." junk, the "It doesn't matter who you are!" junk, the calling people "jabroni" junk, and most importantly that over-the-top "Can you smell..." junk. I mean, whoever wants to hear a wrestler have catchphrases? They never (what!) get remembered (what!) anyway (what!), right?

I would like to see him tone it down a bit, and take a more sadistic approach. His improv skills were much tighter in the WWE, much more believable and realistic. He is acting like a cartoon out there and I'm not feeling it as much as I did before.

Yes, you really want him to tone down his entire character it seems, so I wonder if you're really a fan of the character at all. Sounds to me like you want him to change everything about it, so I doubt it.

In the WWE he was given scripts like everyone else, but he made it seem much more natural. There's a lot less improvization going on the WWE than you'd think (just have a looksee at the leaked scripts!), while it certainly appears that TNA goes with the old school "this is the direction, now blow them away) approach of letting the boys do their thing on the stick.

If you don't like the over-the-top character, the loud big-mouth Ken, the obnoxious shouting of his own name and the INTELLIGENT promo work of Mr. Anderson... then I guess you just don't like the character, period.

 

[Rated_R_Superstar2010]

i love mr. anderson and i loved him in wwe. this guy is amazing on the stick and the backstage segment kept me laughing the entire time. yes the promo on the stage didnt really work out too well, but i'd say its because fans in the impact zones are stupid. like some1 stated earlier the dog tag thing went way over their head. and yes 1 chair shot to the back shoudlnt knock some1 out, but anderson is a god on the mic and always has been

 

[GenMe]

I really like Anderson, But lately IMO i think that he has lost a step. Yesterdays promo was kind of Flat, I honestly didnt understand most of the stuff that he said, He went from one thing to another, Back and forward so i really got lost. Hopefully Anderson get his stuff put together other wise he will keep stepping down the ladder until he falls down.

I also have another little problem with Anderson, Is it just me or is his Gimmick is getting kind of stale? Back then in the E i used to love seeing him introduce his own self, Now in TNA he does it but it got kind of old, Its just to long and by the time he finishes i might of gone to sleep about 3 times. sorry for getting out of topic. But i just needed to get that out my mind.

 

[TruckaHoganFan]

if there's one guy TNA has to push, it's Mr. AAAAAANNNNNDDDDEEEERRRRSSSSOOOONNNN ! besides Flair & Hogan, this guy is probably the most entertaining guy on their roster. last night's segment with juice head Terry was garbage. i enjoyed Angle crackin that chair on him but the rest of the action was wack ! i hope he's on tv every week. him and Angle are a great fued.

 

[harrythem]

Used to be a big fan of Anderson when he first arrived in WWE and loved his entrance mike work but, to me, there's not much else that goes with it. Average at best in the ring, easily loses the audience and, personally, a mid-card performer who lost all his mojo when he was caught out lying again and again after the steroids scandal. Really enjoying TNA at the moment (even though it's a confused mess, I'm normally drunk enough to get it) but can't see why he's being pushed so high up the card at the expense of a fresh character and better wrestler in Desmond Wolfe

 

[Mitch Henessey]

The thing about Kennedy's promos is, he does have a GREAT voice, but other than that, I don't feel he really brings anything to the table when cutting a promo other than when he says, "Mr Anderson!.....Anderson!". Last Thursday, he seemed entertaining during the segment with Angle because Kurt went out there and cut one of the most emotional promos/shoots I've ever seen, and Anderson was able to feed of of that. He really didn't even have to say anything, his mere presence alone would've gotten him heat from the crowd.

Anderson is still relatively new in TNA, so I would give him a little more time before I say he lost a step. He's headed for a feud with Angle which should be pretty good because this is one of those feuds that will be really personal.

 

[Dagger Dias]

I don't really think that Mr Anderson has lost a step on the mic at all. I liked that promo and found it amusing. I do agree that the Vietnamese thing seemed out of place and weird, but other than that it was as good as any other Anderson promo. The rest of it was great enough to cancel out the akwardness of that comment. It doesn't diminish his quality as a wrestler because he's as good as he's ever been and adjusting well to his new surroundings in TNA. If anything his quality as a wrestler has improved, not diminished.

 

[Tastycles]

Anderson is as good as he has always been on the microphone and I think he has been impressive since his TNA debut. The only thing wrong with the promo the other night is that the wrestling audience is generally too fucking stupid to understand his point. He was trying to show that one man's hero is another man's villain, and that the people that American heroes were being killed by were also being killed by Americans, but the point was totally missed. The whole idea of that promo was supposed to be that Anderson may look bad for being rude to American veterans, but people like Angle and the audience are doing that to the fallen of the otherside. It's a classic heel thing to portray the face as being a hypocrite, and it would have worked well, had wrestling been predominately attended by people who operate above the "America, fuck yeah!" level. Unfortunately for Anderson, it isn't and the promo bombed. Anderson hasn't lost a step, he just needs to know his audience a bit better.

 

[CBCS]

I have to say Mr. Anderson hasn't lost a step at all. He brings something that all of these fresh talent need to wake up and look at...character. He is a funny, good character. Some of these promos he and Angle have been cutting I think are relavent and are excellent products of mic work and storylines. IMO the Mr. Anderson vs Angle feud will help TNA rise to the top.

 

[Baximus]

Anderson is quite simply one of the most entertaining wrestlers in the world. His promos are as good as anyone in any company and he's been a highlight of Impact! since he came to TNA.

So has he lost a Step? Heck no! If anything, he's been invigorated since coming to TNA as a big time cocky heel who has been pretty decent in the ring. In short, he's as good as he has ever been and............


HE HAILS FROM GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN, MIIIIIISSSSSTTTTEEEERRRRRRR AAAAAAND-ERRRR-SON!!!!!!




Anderson!

 

[billm75]

I don't watch much TNA, but I caught most of last night's show. I have to say Mr. Anderson is definitely top notch on the mic. He comes across natural, even if it is over the top, but it doesn't sound forced. To compare, HHH and Cena sound less natural on the mic in the current WWE. I've heard their attitude era stuff and it was much better.

I think, honestly, having everything scripted and toned down for the PG viewing audience hurts just about anyone on the mic. It doesn't sound like something a grown man would say when he's angry. "I'm gonna whip your butt" or "I'm gonna kick your ass". I think I'd take #2 much more seriously.

 

[thebigbadfox]

If you thought last week was bad then you should have seen this week... simply priceless! His impersonation of Angle, his overall package was one of the best I've seen and actually laughed at because it truely was funny and great... not laughing because it was stupid and I couldnt believe it was on TV.. Kennn... err... Anderson is a bright spot on TV... And where some like the pope, beer money..etc arent on every week... TNA is right to make sure he is on every week.

 

[The Duke]

I honestly think he's overrated and tries WAY too hard. Didn't like him in the E and don't like him in TNA. He hasn't done anything in this business and acts as if he's the reason Hulk Hogan was so big. It's not a case of "he's doing his job because you don't like him," it's a case of his promo's seem WAY over the top and somewhat forced now.

 

[trendkiller]

I honestly think he's overrated and tries WAY too hard. Didn't like him in the E and don't like him in TNA. He hasn't done anything in this business and acts as if he's the reason Hulk Hogan was so big. It's not a case of "he's doing his job because you don't like him," it's a case of his promo's seem WAY over the top and somewhat forced now.

Well, Ric Flair HAS gone a bit stale, but to say he hasn't done anything in this business is stretching it.

Ken, on the other hand isn't overrated (unless you've found some rating system that is less arbitrary than "he's good/he sucks"), he's done quite a lot in the business (6½-7 years on the indy circuit, almost 5 years in the WWE including an - in my opinion - awesome feud with The Undertaker and a US title reign).

How exactly does he act as if he's the reason Hulk Hogan was so big? What have you been smoking?

His promos are SUPPOSED to be way over the top. It's the character. It's the style. He's in fact much less forced these days, because he ISN'T forced to say anything he doesn't want to. He's give a list of points and then is told to "go, talk". No scripts. Improv.

 

[UranageBackbreaker]

I have to agree with those who say he's stale.

His recent promo/imitation of Kurt Angle was tacky and stupid, although it could set up for a great feud.

I miss his work in the WWE though.

Just abit odd how he's worked against 2 superstars who've then keeled over the next night...

 

[rawiswartna]

Like a very intelligient poster in this thread said. They need to start making him a cockey face, and bring on that Stone Cold effect where he's a heel but the crowd eventually starting loving his cockiness and not a giving a damn. This was always the direction Kennedy had to take, and I think they should do it in TNA.

Believe what you will, but I am in contact with various people within TNA, and you may start seeing Austin-like mischievous things happing with Anderson sometime soon. It'd rock if he entered the Impact zone in some kind of vehicle, screaming out of the window, here I come.

 

[wazaveli]

He is perfect as this prick of a heel. He annoys people, he isn't stale.

I've said it in past threads that he makes any bully anyone has ever had seems nice when you listen to how he mimics people, cuts them off and just insults them. This guy is gold.

Him as a face worked but not as well as a heel. He is on the right track and him v Angle will be a good Feud with two talented workers making it that way.