Vince Russo is not one to allow an idea to die, no matter how awful it was in the first place. In 1999, when WCW signed Dustin Rhodes away from WWE, Russo pitched and developed a character named Se7en, a play on the movie of the same title. The character was to play on the elements of the bizarre that Rhodes perfected in Vince McMahon's company as Goldust. Such a bad idea was it that Rhodes publicly denounced upon its debut, vowing never to appear under that guise again. Flash forward eight years again and Russo would again try to replicate the success of Goldust, this time in TNA with the Black Reign character. Designed as an alter-ego to Rhodes, the Black Reign character was supposedly a darker, more sinister and vile side of the second-generation star. Instead it was a clear ripoff of a character whose success Russo played a major hand in. Fans treated it as such and the fact that Rhodes never appeared motivated or much interested in what he was doing helped kill ol' Black Reign right out of the gate. Attempts to book elaborate angles or give him his own pet rat did little to help make up for the fact that fans saw it for what it was and Rhodes never was particularly interested in portraying it as anything but a lame attempt at recreating history. If digging deep down within himself to be "more bizarre" was not weird enough, introducing a new tag team partner named Rellik (see, it's clever because it's "KILLER" backwards) certainly was. The painted freaks feuded with Abyss, Raven and Rhyno before being put out of their miseries following a brief run with Eric Young's Super Eric character. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NM6b72-eKM
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.
