Mike Bucci toiled for years on the independents and in ECW before finally receiving his big break as Simon Dean, the annoying anachronistic fitness instructor, in 2004. As Nova, the 'inNovator of offense', he had a cult following but it was only when he hammed it up as Simon Dean that he finally got proper TV time. The gimmick was a hoot. Bucci threw himself into the role and wasn't afraid to make a fool of himself in order to entertain the crowd. Dean would come to the ring (usually on a ridiculous segway scooter), berate the fans for being out of shape and then try to sell them his patented 'Simon System' weight loss/muscle-building programme. It was wonderfully cheesy, just the kind of thing that would work in the PG era. Bucci is basically retired and living happily as a bank manager, so he's not coming back any time soon. However, it is a gimmick that would suit one of the in-shape trainees down in NXT.
