10 Gimmicks So Bad They Didn't Even Make It To WWE TV

5. Mr. Kennedy: A Rancid Pun

HBK Biker
WWE.com

Blessed with one of the greatest wrestling names of the 2000s - if you are generous enough to believe there was an easter egg-sized link between it and Vince McMahon's middle name that hinted towards that long-lost long-lost-son storyline - it was nonetheless canny good in itself. The name 'Kennedy' has certain obvious connotations of power, as of course does the title. Splendid stuff for a pro wrestling heel. Or maybe it just sounded good in his Pavlovian baritone.

It almost wasn't his name.

In early meetings held to determine precisely that, Kennedy was asked if he had a catchphrase. The word 'a**hole' was part of it because of course it was.

"Nice guys finish last, so thank God I'm an a**hole," Kennedy said. Vince liked it - in these stories told by released wrestlers, he always does - but it wasn't PG. Kennedy debuted in 2005, which is suspicious. It was at this point that John Laurinaitis piped up. He said that Kennedy should go by Adam Hole - ...A. Hole - to justify saying his catchphrase. An entire character named after a pun based on saying a catchphrase that made him look a prat in TNA. This man was in charge of WWE's talent development system for years and years.

They should call him Andrew Total Hack.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!