Shining a Spotlight 9.04.08: Absent Slips

Posted by Michael Weyer on 09.04.2008

A look at the shakeup due to absences of Gail Kim, Mick Foley, Cena and others and a final farewell to a great legend.

This week's column is a bit of a mishmash in a way but I like to think it has the overall theme of sudden departures. We've seen a couple of them over the last few weeks, a couple by simple moving for new opportunities, others by injury. As usual, they've shuffled things up a bit and with so much at once, felt like spotlighting how this may shake things up.

First off, we have Gail Kim leaving TNA. This was a surprise as I hadn't heard any reports of Gail unhappy with her standing with the company. In anything, she appeared to be one of their prime faces, the focus of the Knockouts division. Kim has always been an intriguing figure. I can remember when she first showed up in WWE in 2003 and won a battle royal for the women's title in her very first appearance. Such a big push right off the bat didn't really win over the fans as expected and she dropped the title soon with an injury putting her on the shelf for a while. She not only rehabbed but also put in for more training and thus was greatly improved when she came back, going heel with a nice "silent but deadly" persona that got her newly over.

Of course, WWE would do what they too often did at that time with top notch talent with a great look: They let it slip right out of their hands. In order to help pay for the Divas Search in 2004, WWE had Kim among the talent they let go, which coincides with the Divas getting into more T&A than usual. After some time off, Kim went to TNA in 2005, put in as valet for Jeff Jarrett and America's Most Wanted. It wasn't too bad a gig as she was able to get physically involved a lot in their matches but still seemed a waste of her talents. But when TNA started to build up their own women's division at last, it made sense for Kim to be the focal point of it as their first champion.

She's done a pretty good job of it with some great matches all around. It helps that the Knockouts are one thing that TNA has always managed to handle very well. Kim has managed to give the Knockouts a terrific push, legitimizating the entire division and its competitors. It's thanks to Gail's fine work that Awesome Kong got over so huge as the monster champion and has helped the division along. So her sudden exit is very surprising, especially as they were just beginning the angle with her sister involved with the feud with Kong after that big beat-down. It's a pretty big loss for TNA as they've done so much to make her the focal point of the division and one of the faces of the company and she's suddenly jumped ship on them. It does sound like it was Gail's decision and not really anything to do with TNA management. I admit it does look a lot like Gail deliberately making herself a big time name and star so she could enhance her value with WWE or someone else. However, I'd like to think Gail is too professional for that and she simply saw this as a way to move on while she was still marketable and could make an impact somewhere else. I know some have snidely suggested that Gail's upset about TNA putting Taylor Swift over as champion and new face of the division but I think that's pretty much bunk.

So for her future, going back to WWE seems the most obvious option and the E would be very smart to bring her back on. Things have changed as the women's division has been seeing an upswing for actual in-ring action. I think Gail would fit in better on Smackdown and give that new Divas title a nice boost, although I admit seeing her and Mickie James feud would be great. Either way, Kim's return to WWE would be a great move that can reboost the women's division more. For TNA, the Knockouts have managed to grow beyond Gail with Taylor, Kong and the Beautiful People and it's still arguably the best booked part of the company so it'll survive Gail's leaving. It might have been nicer for her to get a better send-off than being beaten down like that but it actually works to boost Kong back as a monster and Gail is sure to continue on as a nice star for a while to come.

Of course, TNA will be busy as by all reports, Mick Foley is about to start work there. Again, this is surprising as I hadn't heard Foley was having troubles with WWE or anything. Of course, Mick's always been one to follow his own path a lot so it probably shouldn't be too shocking he'd move on. It is a shame as he was working out well as an announcer on Smackdown with his mix of experience and good humor. I do compliment WWE for making a good move replacing him with Tazz as he and Jim Ross are working together great. But it still is surprising as Foley has been with WWE for over a decade on and off and truly seemed to consider it home. Of course, Foley's worked for a lot of places over his career so maybe he saw TNA as a way to continue his old journeyman ways, not to mention that the guy is getting older and may feel like settling down more rather than the hectic traveling of WWE.

I've long felt the best selling point for TNA to attract stars is the easier schedule and less travel, a key for Angle, Booker and others to sign on with them. True, Mick doesn't wrestle much anymore although I'm sure TNA will try to talk him into a match or two. I have to admit, him vs Abyss would be a great dream hardcore matchup that can be a wild brawl for the ages. But I see him more in the commentator role which he's already proven he can manage. Let's face it, if TNA replaces him for Don West, it'll be one of the single most brilliant decisions the company has ever made. It's also possible to give him some sort of managerial or mentor role for an up and comer but I still see commentary as the way to go. Either way, Foley will bring his large following with him as he's still a widely-respected and well-liked guy. It might even be good for his family, to spend more time with them and cut down on the risks to his body, so you really can't fault the guy for making a move like that.

So these two absences are easy to handle but Shawn Michaels' is not. The timing of his injury could not be worse as they've been setting up his big battle with Jericho for a while and just did the contract signing. In my opinion, it was only a matter of time. Michaels has been doing great the last several years, amazing for a man with a steel pole in his back but the fact is, the guy isn't getting younger and can't handle those high-risk moves as easily as he once could. So I guess he's been overdue for an injury like this. That he's insisting on working the Unforgiven match seems incredibly foolhardy, even for him. I get that he doesn't want to disappoint the fans after all the hard work he and Jericho have been putting into making the angle work and I respect that. But surely Michaels can see the long-term damage he's risking going through with it. Even if they take it easy, there's risk of aggravating the injury to an even worse degree and put him on the shelf even longer. You'd think a long-time friend of HHH would see that but Michaels has often been a guy to let his pride get in the way of his good sense.

Speaking of untimely injuries, you've got Cena on the shelf once more for a few months. Now it's true the man appears to possess Kurt Angle-equal strength when it comes to freakishly fast healing but I think this time out he may take his time coming back. I'm still surprised WWE has held off so long putting Cena back on top as champ after his return at the Rumble but they might have expected something like this. Like Michaels, Cena is a guy who puts his all into the ring and rarely considers the long-term actions. His fast recovery from a far more serious injury shows he can bounce back from this one as he's still really young and thus able to continue giving his all once he comes back. So it will be a hassle for WWE to handle his absence but they can manage as they've wisely been moving away from making him the focal point on RAW the last few weeks.

Indeed, that's something that has to be pointed out, that WWE has been trying with RAW to boost some new talent. CM Punk's reign may not be as top notch as we'd like but he's still proven he can carry the brand and win fans over and WWE has recognized that. Likewise for Kofi Kingston as at least they're taking a chance on a new guy. Sure, he hasn't clicked as well but consider that just last year Santino had no fan heat and now he's one of the most entertaining guys on the roster. It's taking a while but WWE is realizing you can't rely on older guys so much and the boost to newer talent does have promise for the future. So in a way, these changes and absences can be a good thing for WWE and its talent to lead to better stuff in the future. For TNA, losing Gail Kim is a blow but it can prove that they can survive beyond her, that the Knockouts can go on and keep being the best part of TNA right now. Adding Mick Foley is also a great move for them as they get a well-liked and respected figure with lots of good insight and experience and whether it's in wrestling or commentating, he can bring a good voice for the company.

Of course, there's one more farewell that's sadly far more lasting. That's the passing of Walter "Killer" Kolwaski at the age of 81. It's sad to think that this monster of a man passed away so quietly but that doesn't take away from the incredible impact Kolwaski had on the sport. The man was one of the first of his kind, a massively built figure who was also a technical marvel in the ring. He was one of the first of the monster heels, the guys who could not only look like they could tear you apart but enjoy it as well. It was little wonder he was such a massive draw as fans couldn't get enough of the sight of this man tearing through their heroes, wondering who could stop him. In so many ways, the Killer paved the way for guys like Vader, Abyss, Samoa Joe and others, true tough men who could still go to the limit in mat action.

But it was outside the ring that Kolwaski won more respect. The man could be hard-nosed but with a soft side as well and, remarkably, was one of the cleanest men you'd ever meet. He refused to drive with guys who smoked, never drank and was a strict vegetarian, insisting on always keeping himself in shape no matter what so it's no surprise he lived so long. He also got props for his wrestling school as he imparted his tough guy styles on rookies, showing them how to toughen up but without the degree of near viciousness Stu Hart's Dungeon did. If you wonder why HHH has always been pushed from the start, it's because Vince McMahon knew that anyone who could earn the kudos and respect of Killer Kowalski had the makings of a star. His loss is a great one for the business, a man who loved the industry and what it took to get ahead but also promoted a clean lifestyle. Whether you hated him in the ring or admired him outside it, Killer Kowalski was a true legend and his name will hopefully live on for a long time to come.


Also around 411mania:

Whacky Wrestling Theory talks about the figure-four.

Chin discusses the Importance of the NWO.

Evolution Schematic continues its history of the Undertaker.

Larry C gives his Take on Killer Kowalski.

Farewell to Please Don't Hate…

The Shimmy analyzes the Scramble matches.

The Wrestling Doctor examines the WWE PPV schedule.

Pieces of My Mind continues his look at the twenty best workers.

Don't forget Column of Honor, Triple Threat, 3 R's, Cheering & Jeering, Fact or Fiction, Ask 411 and all the rest.

Next time I look at some stars who might have considered jumping ship a good idea. For this week, the spotlight is off.