The "Intellectual Saviour of the Masses" was once a regular on the main shows, belittling the crowd, chastising the roster and finding clever ways to win a match.
That all came crashing to a halt when, like many other experimental pending face turns given to characters who were once overwhelming and dominating ego-maniacal heels, - creative decided to impose a losing streak for the guy.
But instead of a losing streak where we at least witness Sandow be humiliated and learn some karma or respect and then find new ways to win or find decency in his ways, creative, with their "brilliant" and "charming" ways, decided to throw the wwe "generic and awkward segments 101" book at Sandow and involve him in dance segments, costume battles, embarrassing skits and identity crisis segments.
Unlike MVP with his losing streak that quite frankly, besides another transitional US title run and a few number one contendership feuds for mid card titles, ruined the rest of his tenure in the company, as he became stale and lost the swag, confidence and aura about his heel turn, Sandow actually showcased an rare feat, something only achieved by the likes of Goldust and Cody Rhodes and to a certain extent, Fandango... he made the awkward work, he made the embarrassing funny, he made any terrible outfit, uncreative name, pointless scenario and shameful outcome look entertaining and come off as if it was leading to something memorable or worthwhile.
Well... long story short.. most of us know about the Mizdow storyline. It made Sandow more of a star than his heel work, (if only he had been allowed to cash in his Money in the Bank Breifcase.. hmmm!) his copycat work with the Miz was simply unexpectedly brilliant and led to some pretty high crowd reactions and a forgettable, yet much deserved tag title run (a first title) for Sandow (along with the Miz).
But the issue with the whole Mizdow work that many of us Internet Wrestling fans hadn't quite realised yet was that Mizdow was Sandow playing a gimmick of the Miz. His losing streak work was playing copycats of other wrestlers such as Fandango, Bret Hart, X-Pac and Randy Savage. So creative and most probably Vince, saw a servicable and entertaining guy with no real identity.
That all came crashing to a halt when, like many other experimental pending face turns given to characters who were once overwhelming and dominating ego-maniacal heels, - creative decided to impose a losing streak for the guy.
But instead of a losing streak where we at least witness Sandow be humiliated and learn some karma or respect and then find new ways to win or find decency in his ways, creative, with their "brilliant" and "charming" ways, decided to throw the wwe "generic and awkward segments 101" book at Sandow and involve him in dance segments, costume battles, embarrassing skits and identity crisis segments.
Unlike MVP with his losing streak that quite frankly, besides another transitional US title run and a few number one contendership feuds for mid card titles, ruined the rest of his tenure in the company, as he became stale and lost the swag, confidence and aura about his heel turn, Sandow actually showcased an rare feat, something only achieved by the likes of Goldust and Cody Rhodes and to a certain extent, Fandango... he made the awkward work, he made the embarrassing funny, he made any terrible outfit, uncreative name, pointless scenario and shameful outcome look entertaining and come off as if it was leading to something memorable or worthwhile.
Well... long story short.. most of us know about the Mizdow storyline. It made Sandow more of a star than his heel work, (if only he had been allowed to cash in his Money in the Bank Breifcase.. hmmm!) his copycat work with the Miz was simply unexpectedly brilliant and led to some pretty high crowd reactions and a forgettable, yet much deserved tag title run (a first title) for Sandow (along with the Miz).
But the issue with the whole Mizdow work that many of us Internet Wrestling fans hadn't quite realised yet was that Mizdow was Sandow playing a gimmick of the Miz. His losing streak work was playing copycats of other wrestlers such as Fandango, Bret Hart, X-Pac and Randy Savage. So creative and most probably Vince, saw a servicable and entertaining guy with no real identity.
Heel intellectual Sandow worked, but he was being outshone by the likes of the Shield, the Wyatts and Dolph Ziggler who were dominating in terms of heel work; (all), new attractions; (Shield/Wyatts) more interesting promo content; (Wyatts - Sandow was great and his acting and delivery was always perfect and he ad-libbed some great lines such as his "thank you for your irrelevant opinion" aimed at the audience after they kept chanting "WHAT?" at him, but his promos were pretty generic in terms of insulting a crowd and having a superiority complex) - and better cocky heels (Ziggler). Even his terrific tag work with Cody Rhodes felt the wrath of bad timing due to Team Hell No becoming extremely popular and along with The Shield, having longer title reigns. The dropped Wrestlemania 29 match up against Tons of Funk, however minor, could have been a great platform for Sandow to shine and that stalled momentum too, and then we mention the botched Money in the Bank win again, which when you looked at it, must have been destined to fail if creative had already planned for Cena and Orton to combine titles only 3 or 4 months later.
So Sandow was a victim of bad timing. He could have kept low profile and maybe won a mid card title or two, hell, I still scratch my head at the fact they didn't insert Sandow into the Cena/Del Rio World Title rematch at Survivor Series after his failed cash in. We knew Cena would retain but at least adding Sandow would make the match a little less predictable and could have risen Sandow's stock.
But as much as we could blame bad timing, a loaded roster full of pushed heels/faces and botched pushes, I think a fundamental reason is the guy behind the Sandow gimmick. If you really scrutinise him... does he look tough? Does he look intimidating? Does he look unique? Does he look unusual enough that he stands out? Does he grab your attention immediately? Is his wrestling so smooth and clean that he resembles Matt Striker? (This isn't a knock, Striker wrestled like a wrestling instructor showing off the perfect armbar and generic neckbreaker, just REALLY look at him) - I think what Sandow is missing is some bite. Some mean streak. His Saviour gimmick, when you really look at it, was great verbally, but weak in terms of absolutely hating the guy. His pink/purple tights and polished physique and fluid wrestling style wasn't menacing or main event material. It was harmless panto villainy.
So Sandow was a victim of bad timing. He could have kept low profile and maybe won a mid card title or two, hell, I still scratch my head at the fact they didn't insert Sandow into the Cena/Del Rio World Title rematch at Survivor Series after his failed cash in. We knew Cena would retain but at least adding Sandow would make the match a little less predictable and could have risen Sandow's stock.
But as much as we could blame bad timing, a loaded roster full of pushed heels/faces and botched pushes, I think a fundamental reason is the guy behind the Sandow gimmick. If you really scrutinise him... does he look tough? Does he look intimidating? Does he look unique? Does he look unusual enough that he stands out? Does he grab your attention immediately? Is his wrestling so smooth and clean that he resembles Matt Striker? (This isn't a knock, Striker wrestled like a wrestling instructor showing off the perfect armbar and generic neckbreaker, just REALLY look at him) - I think what Sandow is missing is some bite. Some mean streak. His Saviour gimmick, when you really look at it, was great verbally, but weak in terms of absolutely hating the guy. His pink/purple tights and polished physique and fluid wrestling style wasn't menacing or main event material. It was harmless panto villainy.
Want Sandow to succeed? You need to look at Alberto Del Rio when he first came onto the wwe scene in 2010. He was the personification of cocky, confident, over the top, attractive, intense, short tempered and egotistical. But he also backed it in the ring with brutal cross arm breakers and sharp kicks and fiery reactions to when he wasn't succeeding. - Sandow has what it takes if he tweaks himself a little and makes himself just a little more hated with some passion and fury. Have himself be the rich and intelligent aristocratic asshole you would never vote for in school or politics, someone who owns the business your dad works for who threatens to fire your dad if he arrives a minute late to work. Make him like JBL circa 2004, have him just be universally hated. Nobody chant his catch phrases or enjoy his twirly elbow drops or his entrance robes. Make the audience despise him like they did for the Million Dollar Man or Rowdy Piper. Have them WANT to see him LOSE, not, WANT to see him WIN. (I wanted Sandow to cash the case and win but you want the momentum to be a great heel run or at least the turn of a great face run.)
In terms of having him turn face; simple. Like the brilliant moments where you saw JBL (a hated heel) save Mysterio in 2005 from a beatdown from Team Raw before Survivor Series or when Steve Austin finally helped the wwe in the brawl against the Alliance or when the Shield temporarily played the de-facto faces against the Wyatts, have Sandow refuse to join a struggling team or main event face against a much BIGGER foe, such as The Authority or Brock Lesnar and build the face turn slowly but not to the point (like wwe always does) it becomes stale and past its trigger time and then have Sandow switch from hated, unsympathetic and unapproachable figure of hate to all-American reliable and passionate hero. Keep the same toughness, strict mindset and business like attitude but make him a hardened yet patriotic or passionate fighter who represents a certain type of discipline and rules that even he as a villain adhered to.
Who knows what's next for the pink wearing Sandow. Maybe a stint as a Social Outcast (#Now Trending... maybe not in a couple years if you read this article) or a future endeavour release or maybe he's one of few members of current and past rosters who understands his place and is enjoying his role and paycheck. But with his promo skills and ability to make gimmicks seem watchable, its up in the air where his untapped potential could take him.
But... as Sandow of old may say if he read this long winded article;
In terms of having him turn face; simple. Like the brilliant moments where you saw JBL (a hated heel) save Mysterio in 2005 from a beatdown from Team Raw before Survivor Series or when Steve Austin finally helped the wwe in the brawl against the Alliance or when the Shield temporarily played the de-facto faces against the Wyatts, have Sandow refuse to join a struggling team or main event face against a much BIGGER foe, such as The Authority or Brock Lesnar and build the face turn slowly but not to the point (like wwe always does) it becomes stale and past its trigger time and then have Sandow switch from hated, unsympathetic and unapproachable figure of hate to all-American reliable and passionate hero. Keep the same toughness, strict mindset and business like attitude but make him a hardened yet patriotic or passionate fighter who represents a certain type of discipline and rules that even he as a villain adhered to.
Who knows what's next for the pink wearing Sandow. Maybe a stint as a Social Outcast (#Now Trending... maybe not in a couple years if you read this article) or a future endeavour release or maybe he's one of few members of current and past rosters who understands his place and is enjoying his role and paycheck. But with his promo skills and ability to make gimmicks seem watchable, its up in the air where his untapped potential could take him.
But... as Sandow of old may say if he read this long winded article;