Looking at Awesome Kong signing with WWE
Awesome Kong signing with WWE, a move that has been reported by multiple websites over the past few days, appears to signify a dramatic change in WWE’s approach to how it presents women’s wrestling.
Despite being one of the most talented and unique female performers in the business, the 275-pound Kong doesn’t come close to fitting the WWE Diva mold and therefore always seemed like a long shot to be signed by WWE after she was released by TNA last March.
For years, WWE's female roster has been filled with swimsuit and fitness model types, some who were capable workers and some who were not. It's been more than a decade since "anti-divas" such as Luna and Chyna (the pre-surgery version) were in WWE.
The company has been putting the spotlight as of late on its better female workers such as Divas champion Natalya, Beth Phoenix, Lay-Cool and Melina, although it’s not like every one of them doesn’t have some degree of the “eye candy” quality that WWE typically seeks in its women wrestlers.
Kong’s signing represents a real breakthrough. The last time a woman of her size was in WWE, it was Bertha Faye back in the pre-Diva era of the mid ’90s (although, to be fair, there aren't many women in wrestling that are Kong's size).
Let’s just hope that the similarities between Kong and Faye end there. Faye was pushed as a killer heel under the name Monster Ripper in Japan and Mexico. However, as Faye in WWE, she was used as comic relief, including doing a story line in which she was romantically involved with sawed-off, smarmy manager Harvey Wippleman.
So let’s all keep our fingers crossed that Kong ends up in the ring facing the likes of Phoenix and Natalya and not in an angle in which she is Hornswoggle’s love interest.
It would be really great if WWE revived the feud between Kong and Gail Kim, which was the foundation of TNA’s women’s division a few years ago as well as a ratings draw. Judging by the way Kim has been used in WWE, however, it’s more likely that she would be destroyed by Kong in a squash match.
Comments
Bah. This is bad, bad, BAD news. Awesome Kong in WWE = even MORE lame fat jokes by Laycool, which in turn = more fast-forwards than the amount of ounces Ric Flair bleeds every Thursday in TNA Impact.
Okay, maybe I'm stretching the hyperbole here, but STILL!
Posted by: JETZexc | January 3, 2011 10:37 AM
I say revive the Sexual Chocolate angle with Mark Henry! Can you imagine him meeting her for dinner at Shula's in Baltimore? Or, trying to carry her up to his room?
Posted by: wrzesien | January 3, 2011 10:43 AM
I hope Vince doesn't book her as Kamala's daughter. Vince has always love portraying stereotypes of wrestlers of color. Eddie's "Lie, Cheat, and Steal" Latino Heat, almost all the Samoans, Cryme Tyme, Kamala, all Japanese wrestlers. It really gets annoying and I fear that will happen to Kong.
Posted by: Frank King | January 3, 2011 11:09 AM
She'll be the target of Cena fat jokes and future endeavored within 2 months.
If I had to guess since she is a respected performer that made her name in the Indy's and TNA, she'll be treated slightly better than "Scotty Goldman" but no where near "Daniel Bryan". Name guesses? Maxine Cor Von!
Posted by: MechanicalBull | January 3, 2011 11:11 AM
The best use for Kong may actually be as a monster diva who fights the male wrestlers. She's about as big as most of the mid-carders and I could see people paying money to watch her tangle with guys like Mark Henry instead of wasting her time crushing stick figure divas like Kelly Kelly.
Posted by: loco | January 3, 2011 11:39 AM
Think the WWE got a little bit of a clue after the Mickie James/Tara cage match on TNA?
We could only hope that Gail Kim could be turned loose and then bring in Sara Del Rey. A feud between Kong/Del Rey and Natalia/Phoenix would actually be fun to watch. And maybe, just maybe, they could all rid the world of LayCool. The sun would shine a little brighter if that day comes.
Posted by: Mark H. | January 3, 2011 11:42 AM
WWE won't be able to help themselves. If they drop the "savage beast" gimmick she had in TNA altogether, then she'll eventually be Mark Henry's love interest. If they keep the gimmick, they'll simply have Henry do the "tame-the-savage-beast" angle. She'll be the female version of Too-Cool-Rikishi.
Posted by: Don | January 3, 2011 12:54 PM
What the hell did Gail Kim do, run over Vince's dog? She went from one of the top women performers in TNA to the womens version of the Brooklyn Brawler. Any chance that WWE will allow her to show what she can do??
Posted by: Ed | January 3, 2011 1:34 PM
At least they didn't have Kong as one of the NXT female rookies. That would have killed her right from the get go. It will be interesting how the WWE creative books her.
Posted by: The Nature Boy | January 3, 2011 2:00 PM
A great signing, for both Kong and WWE. I wish her the best and I hope they use her properly and, as Kevin said, not make her into a comedy figure.
I'd like to think this marks the start of WWE signing actual wrestlers, such as Cheerleader Melissa, MsChif, Hamada, Sara Del Ray and Jessie McKay so Kong will have competent opponents to work with, rather than trying (and failing) to train models.
Either way, I look forward to Kong appearing soon. A surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble, perhaps?
Posted by: Barry | January 3, 2011 2:55 PM
I'm not really suprised. What does WWE love? Gorgeous models, second and third generation wrestlers, and.............huge monsters.
Look at Aloisia, the 6'9" girl who was signed for NXT. She was greener than grass and, by her own admission, had not learned how to take bumps, yet she got signed simply because she was huge. I would bet anything that Kong would have gotten signed, even if she was terrible, simply based on her size.
Posted by: chris | January 3, 2011 3:03 PM
I've a feeling she's going to be brought in by LayCool in an enforcer type role, which would be a shame. I agree with you, the best route to take with her is the simplest; just let her loose. Book her like you booked Yokozuna so many years ago, and you might have an angle that would actually revive some interest in the Divas division. Kong would be a good counterpoint to both Beth and Nattie, whom are both powerful enough to convincingly stand in against her. I can't believe I'm saying this, but TNA actually booked her just about perfectly, and the WWE should take a page out of their book.
Posted by: Ken Raining | January 3, 2011 3:27 PM
Now, unlike The Miz, this is awesome. If the WWE utilizes her correctly, Awesome Kong could go places no female wrestler has gone before.
By that I mean winning either the WWE or World's Championship. If Chyna could be IC champ why can't Kong be Queen of the Mountain? She would certainly be an improvement over The Miz.
Posted by: Aaron Goldstein | January 3, 2011 4:34 PM
It's great news that awesome Kong is going to be on our screen again, she's definitely missed in TNA. Like you, I hope she's used to her potential.
Posted by: scott | January 3, 2011 5:05 PM
I'm not very familier with her in ring work, but if BTLS hates her...I'm a fan.
Posted by: mat | January 3, 2011 5:42 PM
Awesome Kong signing for WWE heartens me. Actually WWE's shift in it's presentation of its Womens' division overall heartens me. While WWE doesn't put nearly the time, effort or focus on its Womens' division that it does for the men, they have - to their credit - made subtle changes and put forth a more credible division (if only marginally). Kong is perhaps the most interesting North American mainstream female performer around today, and if WWE plays their cards right, they could have Kong be the central performer that can lead the entire division for years to come.
And don't tell me that wrestling fans don't care or respond to womens' wrestling and performers. Sunny, Sable, Chyna, Luna, Lita, Trish, Sherri, etc...We still remember their names and remember them fondly (and those are just WWE!). They may not all have had the same level of talent and in-ring ability, and many used their...ahem "assets" to get over...but looks alone don't get you over. Fans respond to QUALITY, EFFORT, INTENSITY, ENTERTAINMENT. All of which have been missing from WWE "Divas" (ugh) division in the past 5-6 years.
Wrestling is cyclical and I for one hope Kong restarts a positive cyce for the WWE women.
Posted by: Jeremy W | January 3, 2011 6:00 PM
A huge signing for the wwe! No pun intended.
Posted by: warren | January 3, 2011 6:17 PM
Maybe Kong getting a push isn't such a stretch--remember they did bring Aloisia for NXT, and there would have been NO WAY she would've lost.
RESPONSE FROM KE: Yes, Aloisia was 6-9, but she also was blonde and had huge implants, so she wasn't that far off from the "wwe look." remember the top she was barely wearing in her NXT video?
Posted by: Clint | January 3, 2011 6:36 PM
Ok, picture this..
The Bella Twins, although they puzzle Daniel Bryan, he begins to grow fond of them, ( in a PG way), Enter Kia Stevens( since the Miz is " awesome" i doubt she would use that name.
Much like Bryan, they make no bones about the fact that she is an international star. she runs over every "Diva" with her obvious goal being the Divas title, Problem is " she aint a diva" so when she runs over the Bellas,,, Daniel Bryan steps in between to politely ask her to stop destroying his 2 girlfriends, so she beats the snot out of Bryan, challenging him to a US title match, which he refuses to fight a woman...until she embarasses him week after week until he finally accepts, at Wrestlemania, in the match the IWC foams at the mouth, Kia Stevens vs Daniel Bryan!!..
anyone... anyone??? o well, not a bad idea, if i say so myself, lol
Posted by: Henry | January 3, 2011 7:50 PM
Dare we hope for a rekindling of the Kong-Kim feud?
Yeah, I know you mentioned that in your last paragraph. But that's what I thought when I first read the headline. Damn, that get's me excited! And not just because Gail is also some o dat eye candy.
No, really. It's not that. :-)
Posted by: Marko50 | January 3, 2011 8:47 PM
Could we see a rematch of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcMpJZf5myA&feature=related
Posted by: Flairfan | January 4, 2011 12:28 AM
I try not to get too excited about this. Almost every TNA wrestler who came to WWE has been buried at least for a while (Christian) or forever like it seems in the case of Gail Kim.
Posted by: XDreamItchy | January 4, 2011 2:17 AM
Bringing Kong into the WWE reminds me of my post regarding your top 50. I suggested that the Fabulous Moolah be included and you didn't respond. Again, based on your criteria, don't you think she was deserving of a top 50 mention.
RESPONSE FROM KE: Moolah is a legendary name in the business, but I don't think many fans bought a ticket primarily to see her. Women were always a special attraction, not headliners.
Posted by: Magnificent Mark | January 4, 2011 8:59 AM
The thing that's encouraging about this is that WWE has reached a point where they don't fear TNA at all, and seem to be scooping up talent that they think they can use, and aren't just trying to poach talent for the sake of it. Granted, Kong certainly wouldn't be welcome back in TNA under the current regime, but WWE could have very well just let her float in the ether if they couldn't think of anything to do with her.
Posted by: MarkBGH | January 4, 2011 11:11 AM
To Frank King, you should really check your facts. Eddie had his "cheat to win" gimmick long before coming to WWE. Kamala had his gimmick all through the territories, as did the Samoans. The only group you mentioned you have a legitimate gripe about is Cryme Time, and from what I have read, they came up with that gimmick.
Posted by: Scott | January 4, 2011 3:20 PM
Figure out if you were Vince, the way to use Kong to make the most money.
That's the way she will be used.
I hope I'm wrong but it probably will not be pretty.
We'll see....
Posted by: AMC | January 4, 2011 4:02 PM
Kong Vs. Miz in a Name-Rights-On-A-Pole Match. Winner gets to be the only AWESOME 'superstar' in WWE! Loser gets to be WWE champion. Then maybe Kong could do a program with Triple...ah, never mind, I'm getting carried away now.
Posted by: Jon in bradenton, florida | January 4, 2011 7:06 PM
"Vince has always love portraying stereotypes of wrestlers of color."
___________________________________
That isn't the whole picture. Do you remember The Highlanders? They were a pair of backward Scottish stereotypes, one of whom tried to use a urinal for a bowel movement. And do I really need to mention Jesse and Festus again? Here is the bottom line: is some of this stuff questionable? Maybe. Are wrestlers of color singled out? Hardly.
Posted by: Christopher | January 4, 2011 8:17 PM
this will be a fantastic huge step up for the womens title (please bring back this title)!!! imagine the prestige she would bring to the BELT
IF ONLY LayCool isnt around for it
otherwise it is just going to be another drop lower into eugh
Posted by: Mike L | January 4, 2011 10:56 PM
Awesome Kong and Gail Kim .. what memories of two of the greatest fighters in wrestling of a couple of years ago, but memories are memories and nothing more. Gail Kim has virtually done nothing since she re-joined WWE and since WWE refuses to recognize former TNA talent both Ms. Kim and Ms. Kong will be kept as far away from each other as possible. I see one WWE match between the two where Kong obliterates Kim, and Kim is forced to retire from wrestling just like she had to leave TNA (or so that storyline went). Kong an improvement? Maybe, and then again .. maybe not. As for Gail Kim .. good luck.
Posted by: john | January 6, 2011 5:13 AM
I really hope the signing of Awesome Kong will herald the revival of the women's division in the WWE. Vince McMahon should seize this opportunity to give the division the respect it deserves, instead of turning Kong into a joke. Like me, I'm sure a lot of fans also long for the days when the likes of Lita, Trish Stratus, Victoria, Molly Holly, Jazz and Jacqueline fought for the women's title.
Posted by: Joey Alarilla | January 6, 2011 5:47 PM
at least she will not be another love interest for santino......unless she ends up feuding with tamina.........
Posted by: tom | January 6, 2011 10:14 PM