For people who have only started watching WWE in the past year or so, it must be impossible to imagine that The Miz's stunt double tag-team partner was earmarked for a main event heel push just around 18 months ago. So good was the then-Damien Sandow at his 'Intellectual Saviour Of The Masses' gimmick, that the promotion's top brass had him in line to be in featured matches, shooting up to the top of the card. Sadly, like many before him, Sandow's top line potential was cut short, and the reasons why remain utterly confusing. Excelling at everything he was given, Sandow consistently entertained audiences whether he was a mid-card heel, part of Team Rhodes Scholars with Cody Rhodes, or threatening to burst into the main event pack. Part of the problem is that WWE don't pull the trigger on talent, letting them sink or swim on their own merits. Instead, at the first sign of trepidation, or audience apathy, they are pulled out of the picture, and almost protected by being placed in a safer, mid-card zone. Paul Heyman's advice would be crucial here. Sandow is almost reminiscent of the preachy Steve Corino, who disregarded the ECW style, and was hated as a result. Damien Sandow has a better look than Corino, so there's no reason turning on the WWE system couldn't be an interesting avenue to explore.
Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.
