You wouldn't know it from the gimmick he was brought into the company with, but WWE (and fans) had high hopes for Kenny Dykstra. Real name Ken Doane, Dykstra made his roster debut proper (after working some dark and squash matches) as the leader of the Spirit Squad in January 2006, aged just 19. As crap as the gimmick was, as the group's leader Dykstra was offered more chance of shining when the group was inevitably pummelled by Triple H and Shawn Michaels. After the rest of the Spirit Squad were 'sent back to OVW' by those mischievous DX boys, Dykstra was given a shot as a singles wrestler on Raw. Repackaged with new theme music, a new look (mercifully) and a new attitude, Dykstra was given a push on the red brand. He was put into a storyline where he was interested in joining Rated-RKO and told to prove himself. He then feuded with, and beat, Ric Flair. Clearly the office had plans for the talented youngster. After the Flair feud, however, he took up residency on weekend show Heat wrestling no-hopers like Eugene and Val Venis. Dykstra was sent to Smackdown a few months later, in hopes of reviving his ailing career but it was not to be. He had a long, pointless feud with Chuck Palumbo and then faded out. He was released on November 10th, 2008. Where did it all go wrong? Kenny has claimed in interviews that an affair between John Cena and his girlfriend Mickie James resulted in his Smackdown switch and, ultimately, his firing. Other reports suggest that Vince himself cooled on Dykstra and his 'swimmer's body'. Whatever the cause, given the amount of talent he had, he really should have been bigger than he was.
