If Zach Gowen ends up being a footnote in WWE, itd be a crying shame. His history of substance abuse in later years notwithstanding, its an incredible thing for survivors of cancer and victims of amputation to remember twenty-year-old, one-legged Gowen working with Hulk Hogan and busting out moonsaults and dropkicks against the Big Show, Brock Lesnar and even Vince McMahon himself. One of the most courageous underdogs in WWE history, Gowen started off as a plant that was attacked by Rowdy Roddy Piper, who pulled off his false leg (memorably, he initially tried twisting off the real one before realising his mistake). Helping Hogans Mr. America character out drew the ire of Mr. McMahon, who pitted a babyface Stephanie McMahon and Gowen against the Big Show in what was billed the first ever real handicap match. With help from Kurt Angle, the two went over the giant. In a grudge match against McMahon at Vengeance in 2003, Gowen would rally back to kick a chair into McMahons face. The match was scripted and rehearsed to a fault, but the blood that poured out of McMahons head wasnt planned. Fortunately, it looked amazing and only added to the story of the match, which McMahon would win. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PH3L23jUd4 That would become the Zach Gowen story for a while afterwards, being involved in losing efforts until his feud with Matt Hardy culminated in a win at No Mercy 2003. Some people thought that Gowens inclusion in fairly competitive matches showed wrestling up for the over-the-top, theatrical spectacle it was. However, these were the same wrestling geeks that were clamouring for the return of the Dead Man version of the Undertaker over the more realistic American Badass/Big Evil, so what do they know?
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
