WWE Analysis: Damien Sandow Is the Right Heel for the TV-PG Era

WWE took a big risk by changing to a TV-PG format a couple years ago, because so many Superstars have been known to be more "adult" in their approach to entertaining, especially heels.

Heels are the most violent and relentless of wrestlers, which is why it is sometimes hard to put a TV- PG product together while also having someone try to cripple another person over a belt or insult them with curse words.

Damien Sandow is the perfect heel for the TV-PG era because he goes against these preconceptions.

Instead of being an overly-violent wrestler, Sandow has been booked to look intense while also occasionally running away from his competition.

Being a cowardly heel who is also dangerous is reminiscent of the days of Ric Flair and William Regal in WCW, where they portrayed similar gimmicks in regards to running from opponents when the going got tough, only to come back and attack from behind.

Add this to the fact that his promos are not only clean and intelligent, but also entertaining, and you have the recipe for the perfect TV-PG heel.

His use of big words in promos serves to make people feel stupid, but it is also great for the brand, because he could spurn a youngster to actually want to look up the definitions to those words.

How many wrestlers can say "I got a kid to pick up a book?"

My guess would be not too many. Maybe Dean Douglas or Bob Backlund.

Sandow has also added nicely to Saturday Morning Slam with his vocabulary lessons, which make him look like a huge jerk while also educating the fans. It is essentially a win-win in the most basic sense.

Having a talent like Sandow is perfect for the current time in the WWE because his charisma helps him sell the gimmick.

Not everyone could pull off the gimmick of a pompous, over-educated wrestler with purple tights and an old robe that looks like Bob Backlund left it in the locker room the last time he wore it.

His new partnership with Cody Rhodes could help him gain his first title in the WWE, as Rhodes himself is an established tag team specialist, having held the title with three different partners.

To sum him up and take a page from Sandow's book, he is aeolist who backs up everything he says with skill in the ring and a unique ability for charientism.

There is no way to know how long Sandow will last in this gimmick, or if it will help or hurt him in the long run, so all us troglodytes have to wait and see what the future holds.

What do you think of Damien Sandow and his current direction?

You can follow me on Twitter @BR_Doctor where I post WWE news as well as crack wise from time to time.