Ken Kennedy was supposed to be a breakout star in 2005. He was booked strongly by WWE from the get-go, including wins over established veterans like Chris Benoit and Hardcore Holly, as well as being given his own unique, personal ring entrance. WWE brass genuinely thought the microphone maestro could be the next Rock or Steve Austin. It's difficult to picture just how far Kennedy could have gone, since his WWE career was seriously hampered by injuries. Whenever he had a little bit of momentum going, he's invariably have to take another trip to the emergency room to sort out some broken bone or muscle tear. While on a tour of Europe in December 05, Kennedy suffered a serious lat tear, putting him on the shelf for six months. A little over a month after his return, he was on the wrong end of a nasty hardway cut in a match with Batista at the Great American Bash. It took twenty stitches to close the wound. Kennedy would have happily taken the twenty stitches in May 2007, when he went down with a torn triceps muscle, meaning he had to relinquish his Money in the Bank briefcase. More time out was required after he separated his shoulder in a house show match with Shelton Benjamin in August 2008. That was his second last match in WWE: he was released in June 2009 after he accidentally dropped fellow injury-prone grappler Randy Orton on his head with a back suplex. Truth be told, WWE had been displeased with Kennedy's constant injuries for months and were probably just waiting for an excuse to get rid of him.