Current Ring of Honor Television champion Jay Lethal spent six years (2005-11) of his career competing for TNA and during that period, he was one of the cornerstones of the X Divison. He was an outstanding professional wrestler but was never really allowed the opportunity to build a character for himself. He, like so many of the talented young stars on the TNA roster, was a faceless competitor in a mess of them. Then came a backstage meeting with Kevin Nash, filmed for Alex Shelley's "Paparazzi Productions," in which Big Sexy told Lethal to run with the "Macho Man" Randy Savage impersonations. Suddenly, Jay Lethal was gone and in his place was Black Machismo. He was incredibly over with the fans, who got a kick out of the performer's spot-on Savage impersonation, and his popularity was key in the decision to put him over Kurt Angle for the X Division Championship at No Surrender 2007. So how did a story that resulted in such success manage to land on a list of weirdest in TNA history? Simple: it was born of an angle in which Nash buried the X Division competitors, effectively labeling them characterless spot monkeys. On the television show of a company built around that portion of the roster. Why management would allow one of its most recognizable stars to go on their show and deliberate criticize their bread and butter is a question those in power never really addressed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOsK90Z5fQs
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
