Introducing...Mr. Kennedy

May 28, 9:14 AMPro Wrestling ExaminerMark Satrang

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KENNEDY!...KENNEDY!

Something as simple as repeating your name twice like an old school sports announcer has made all the difference for Ken Kennedy (real name Ken Anderson). Mr. Kennedy, as he’s more commonly known, has mountains of charisma that can’t be taught and have helped him remain a fixture on WWE television for the better part of four years, despite numerous injuries, filmmaking and personal gaffes. He finally made his much awaited return to Monday Night RAW this past week after his most recent injury and immediately inserted himself back into in the scene.

Kennedy found his niche while working in Ohio Valley Wrestling in 2005 where he was able to use his past as a high school sports announcer to good use. With his booming voice, obnoxious personality and some help from an old-school drop mic, Kennedy was able to turn a basic ring announcement into a winning gimmick.

After spending years toiling on the independent circuits and his time in OVW, Kennedy made his WWE television debut on the SmackDown brand in August 2005. He shot up the cards almost virtually overnight and had the unfortunate honor to wrestle the late Eddie Guerrero in his last televised match before his untimely death in November 2005. The next month on an overseas trip, Kennedy tore his latissimus dorsi muscle in his back and was out of action until June 2006.

When he returned he picked up right where he left off. He briefly held the prestigious United States Championship in the fall of 2006 before he entered in a lengthy feud with the legendary Undertaker. He gained his biggest career victory at WrestleMania 23 when he won the eight-man Money in the Bank ladder match to earn a guaranteed World Title contract. However shortly thereafter he tore his right triceps and was out of action once again after losing the Money in the Bank contract to Edge in a one-on-one match. Just like that his momentum was stalled once again.

He returned to action that summer now apart of the RAW brand. Just a couple months later Kennedy was suspended, along with ten other WWE stars, in a steroid scandal that completely wiped out the WWE roster for the month of September. This came on the heels of a much-publicized interview that Kennedy gave where he commended the WWE’s Wellness Policy and claimed to have never used steroids while under WWE employ.

When he returned he entered into high profile feuds with Jeff Hardy and Shawn Michaels and once again built momentum. He competed in the Money in the Bank match once again at WrestleMania XXIV and then disappeared once again in order to film the WWE Studios produced straight-to-DVD film Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia. When he returned to RAW he became a fan favorite for the first time in his WWE career and looked to climb into main events for the first time.

He was drafted back to SmackDown in the 2008 Draft but a little more than a month later he dislocated his shoulder in a match against Shelton Benjamin. This injury was even more severe than his previous ones and kept him out of action for nearly a year, only return to in ring action this past month. While nursing his injury he made sporadic appearances on WWE television hyping Behind Enemy Lines.

He was drafted back (again!) to the RAW brand in the 2009 Draft. He made his surprise return to RAW this past Monday as the fifth man on the “good guys” team in a ten-man tag. This past Monday, RAW was of course held in Los Angeles after the WWE-Nuggets debale and everyone on Kennedy’s team wore Lakers jerseys while their villainous opponents wore Nuggets jerseys. Naturally WWE’s “Lakers” won the match. Who says Vince McMahon doesn’t hold a grudge?

After three injuries, a break for some filmmaking, and a suspension for essentially putting his foot in his mouth, this is really could be Kennedy’s last chance at superstardom. He’s had more chances than many and it shows that the company has faith in him and his skills. If he can keep himself healthy and keep himself out of trouble this could be (and should be) Kennedy’s big chance to make something of him and catapult himself into the company’s stratosphere.

Billed Height – 6’2
Billed Weight - 243 lbs.
Nicknames - formerly wrestled as Ken Anderson
Billed From – Green Bay, Wisconsin
Signature Moves - Mic Check, Ken-ton Bomb, Green Bay Plunge
Major Titles Held - WWE United States Championship, Money in the Bank (2007)
Debuted - 1999

For more info:
Mr. Kennedy’s profile on WWE.com
Mr. Kennedy’s Wikipedia entry
Mr. Kennedy on Online World of Wrestling