In 1996, Crush returned to World Wrestling Entertainment following a very real stint in a correctional facility for buying steroids and the illegal possession of a handgun. Rather than shy away from the criminal record like today's image-conscience company would, the WWE of the era played the wrap sheet of the big Hawaiian up, hoping it would give further edge to one of their more recognizable villains. Crush returned to WWE with a new look, sporting dreadlocks, a nose ring and shark teeth tattooed on his forehead and a seemingly nastier, meaner attitude than ever before. He tore through some jobbers and lower card enhancement talent early in his run but soon found himself directionless, as did many of the Superstars involved in the third match of the evening at that November's Survivor Series. Only Marc Mero and Hunter Hearst Helmsley were involved in anything of note, while Rocky Maivia was making a much talked-about debut, leaving Crush as one of the fillers in a match full of them. As disappointing as his use would be heading into the event, his night in historic Madison Square Garden would only go from bad to worse. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdb044_the-rock-s-wwe-debut-survivor-serie_sport Maivia was the star of the contest, without a doubt. All the hype surrounding his debut and he shined bright, impressing with his considerable athleticism. Crush was one of the heels tasked with playing tackling dummy for Maivia. He bumped around for the mostly basic offensive arsenal of the third-generation star but it was the way that he was eliminated that serves as the biggest disgrace. A guy that brought back and hyped as someone capable of being a top heel for a depleted roster, Crush was pinned by the rookie following a cross body block. You read that correctly, a cross body block. Not the shoulder breaker Maivia used to beat Goldust but a cross body block that even Barry Horowitz himself would have kicked out of. Sure, Crush would recover enough to join the Nation of Domination and feud with Ahmed Johnson but any credibility he had or any shot he once had of starring as a singles force evaporated the minute Maivia dove off the top rope in his direction.
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.
