10 Things We Learned From Damien Sandow On Chris Jericho's Podcast
6. His Character Was Inspired By Gorgeous George...
Gorgeous George was one of the biggest stars of the First Golden Age of Professional Wrestling in the 1940s and 1950s. His character was flamboyant and charismatic, making him the most famous wrestler of his era. George would frequently antagonise audiences with his exaggerated effeminate behaviour, having his valet spray the ring with perfume and telling the referee to get his filthy hands off him whenever he was checked for foreign objects.
George won wrestling belts all across the USA and appeared in front of millions on national television before doctors advised his retirement due to advancing age and liver problems. His influence has even been acknowledged by two of the world's greatest ever showmen, Muhammad Ali and James Brown.
When Damien Sandow was developing his "Intellectual Saviour of The Masses" character for his second run on WWE television, he felt that many of his peers were overthinking their gimmicks and wanted to portray a simple heel who would rile modern audiences.
His main influence in this endeavour was Gorgeous George, now a WWE and Wrestling Observer Hall of Famer and revered as one of the greatest wrestling heels of all time.
Damien Sandow studied his tapes religiously to develop his gimmick. Sandow felt that modern wrestlers were too conservative, especially in their appearance as many modern talents simply wore black. He added to the character visually by wearing a robe in honour of Bob Backlund and Ric Flair. His was just a simple bathrobe however, in contrast to the showy, expensive wrestling robes of old!
The gimmick was a hit with many commentators comparing Sandow favourably to The Genius Lanny Poffo.