The Criminally Underrated, Rockstar Spud

[It's Damn Real!]

I'll be the first to admit that I shit all over this guy when he won British Bootcamp and was brought over to TNA the first time around. I was laughing at him, in a really bad way, based on his size and how just unbelievably small he looked compared to the guys he was wrestling. Believe me, I'm all for suspension of disbelief, and I'm even willing to stretch it, but not to the point that I could ever accept that Spud is/was any type of threat in that ring.

But holy shit on a stick has he proven everyone wrong, or what? I mean, the guy is criminally underrated in this whole Dixieland angle/story. He's the glue holding it all together, week-after-week. He's the guy bringing that needed comedic addition to it every Thursday.

He had me when he went searching for AJ Styles in some backwoods bar in Georgia, and after last night's episode, with him demanding the Wolves reveal the investor, only to end up slapping Richards in the face in the process... yeah, I've come around on this guy, for sure.

The bow ties, the hair, the outfits... it just flat out works.

 

[three count bout]

Yep Spud has been dynamite in his role as Dixies chief administrator. His size works to his advantage in this capacity, it's flat out hilarious when he's running someone down on the Mic and he looks like he can't even get on the big kids roller coaster. From his "Lords and ladies" down to calling Dixie a Queen he's been a bright spot in this angle. While interrogating the Wolves I swear his voice hit a certain inflection which reminded me of Alex De Large from A Clockwork Orange and I legit thought he was gold.

 

[Cereal Killer]

"This is interrogation from your Chief of Staff mate, who's the investa'?"

Rockstar Spud has got to be one of the most entertaining and funniest stars on the TNA roster. From all of the promos last night in Glasgow, the one involving himself and the Wolves had to be the best there. He worked the Scots (the British B-team), made us all laugh and built up a lot of tension and anger in the Wolves until they flipped out.

The 5 foot 3 Brit isn't only a good talker, but I find him to be a good wrestler as well. He's got plenty of exciting moves in his arsenal and has thrown on a lot of good matches in his homeland. He was even the most fun to watch on British Bootcamp and was clearly the most original and charismatic with his character.

While he's short and won't probably ever be seen as a serious competitor, he has potential to be a strong mid-carder either in the X-Division or even in a tag-team in the classic pairing of big man and little man. I think he's pretty happy with his current role and his developing himself as an entertaining character which I want to see a lot more of. I wish it doesn't turn out to be something similar to Hornswoggle where he's involved in a lot of ridiculous things, and (instead) that he continues to be in a similar position to where he is now; involved in storylines and is awarded the role of entertaining the audience with fantastic promo skills. Similar to the Bad Influence, a lot of entertaining promos and some good matches in the mid-card.

 

[Maverick T Kenderson]

Was at the Impact tour in Dublin and the guy is brilliant. He is such a good "chickenshit" heel. Very entertaining. Plus he can do the business in the ring. Really makes opponents look good. Him and ECIII are very good as a team.

 

[ABMorales787]

There's no denying that Spud plays his character to a tee and is perfectly comfortable doing it. That's great. But in the ring, I don't think he's quite as solid. Don't get me wrong, he's doing a great job as Dixie's helper monkey. I just wonder if in the future, once his role dies down, what'll keep him afloat. The guy is small even for an X Division guy, after all.

 

[Zeven_Zion]

I freaking love Spud. This guy has it going on. He reminds me of the douchey heel Chris Jericho from back in the day.

This is a prime example of utilizing someone's talents the best way possible. If it wasn't for this, Spud would be home right now, or gone. Instead, they put him in a role which suits him perfectly. With this he'll have a chance to prove himself to the fans and he already has to some of us.

Honestly, I don't even care about his size. He can go. Make him a trickster type of guy, a cheater. Or if he's a face, just make him an underdog type of guy. Mysterio did it, it can work for Spud or anyone with the right booking.

I'm on board with him. He's funny, his delivery is flawless, Spud's the man.

 

[Hard Hit Prince]

This is what I know about Rockstar Spud - he's been wrestling for over a decade, he was a solid active for British independents and is really well liked as both a person and a trainer by various European wrestlers. Him getting a spot in TNA was at the time something I thought he really deserved - he's made a living out of doing something nobody believes he could do, ence why the underdog gimmick always fits him to a pulp.

As far as in-ring performance goes he's a veteran and he can work with whomever, but the thing that always stands out is his charisma and that is why he's playing this character so successfully and so well. He isn't main event material or a guy that the company should promote to be their guy or whatever, but he's a great active as far as comedy, promos and good performances goes. He is being used in the best way possible right now and in the future he'll be able to stick around, either in a tag team or by himself as an underdog against guys by the likes of Sabin or even Magnus in a British rivalry of some sorts.

As of right now I think he's been one of the best acts in TNA for some time and that should bring him a better spot in the future as a babyface. Enjoy his work for now, it's still way too soon to think about him after this sort of Corporation Stable.