WWE Missed Opportunities: Looking Back at Nathan Jones' Short Career
It has been over a decade since Nathan Jones competed in WWE. That, combined with the fact that his time in WWE was short-lived, makes it hard for fans to conjure up any memories of the unique Superstar.
Billed at 7'0" and 320 pounds, the Australian-born Jones was a mammoth of a man. He had the size and physical appearance Vince McMahon has always coveted.
Jones is probably best remembered as the guy who was supposed to team with The Undertaker to face Big Show and A-Train at WrestleMania 19. WWE officials decided to pull Jones from the match at the last minute, making it a handicap match.
To explain Jones' absence in the match, WWE set up a pre-match attack. However, the real reason he wasn't put in the match may have been due to his in-ring ability not being up to par.
Jones did get involved in the match, giving Undertaker a small assist on his way to another victory at WrestleMania. But aside from that, Jones' WWE career was largely forgettable.
After WrestleMania, he was sent back down to the company's developmental territory to see if he could improve in the ring. He made a return to television later that year, being placed on Brock Lesnar's team at Survivor Series.
Similar to what the company did with Lesnar upon his initial WWE, it paired Jones with Paul Heyman to help get him over. He was referred to as the "Colossus of Boggo Road," a nickname that referred to his time spent in prison.
Jones picked up wins over Superstars such as Bill DeMott and Shannon Moore, but despite having an incredibly unique look, he was never able to put it all together.
Just three weeks after his appearance at Survivor Series, WWE traveled to Perth, Australia. While there, Jones decided to quit the company and remain in his homeland. He would never appear in a WWE ring again.
Recently, WWE.com conducted an interview with Jones, who will appear in the new film Mad Max: Fury Road. In the interview, Jones touches on the movie and his acting career.
With wrestling in his past, the film industry is where Jones can be found now. He has had roles in several films, including the WWE production The Condemned. He also appeared in the 2011 version of Conan the Barbarian.
But what if his WWE career had gone differently? What if he was able to stick around a little longer? He could have made a tough opponent for upcoming Superstars John Cena and Batista at that time.
Many fans may point to Jones' lack of wrestling ability as a fatal flaw, but that simply isn't the case. Fact is, WWE has always had a place for big men even if they couldn't perform a single technical maneuver. After all, The Great Khali was with the company for eight years, and that included a run as WWE World Heavyweight champion.
WWE tried with Jones. How many guys have ever had a chance to work with Undertaker and become his protege? On top of that, WWE brought him back for a second run after only a seven-month stint in developmental. WWE wanted him to succeed; it just didn't work out.
Instead, Jones will become a small footnote in the history of WWE. Despite being one of the most physically intimidating Superstars that ever stepped in a WWE ring, he fell far short of his potential.
At least you can still catch him on the big screen.
