WWE: Will Kelly Kelly's Popularity Overshadow Beth Phoenix's Talent?

Roddy Piper should have been WWE Champion at least once in his career. The same can be said for Jake Roberts, Ted DiBiase and Curt Hennig. All of these men were good in the ring, and each one deserved a shot at championship immortality. Why did none of these men wear the gold during their era in WWE?

Two words: Hulk Hogan.

Hogan was the show, he was the main event. Hogan had the belt over every other fully capable wrestler on the roster, as he was trusted to carry it the way no one else had ever carried it before.

All of the previously aforementioned workers were better than Hogan, and all could out-wrestle him any day of the week. However, instead of beating him, each man made him look good. And countless others who came before them, and afterward, did the same thing.

Every cent that Vince McMahon took in was reinvested in Hogan, the man whom he felt could take his company to the very heights of not only the wrestling business, but the world. And, for better or worse, he ended up being right.

Is that what’s happening with Kelly Kelly?

Now, before anyone loses their mind over that comparison, a little clarification.

The biggest reason for a lot of the hate that is thrown Hogan’s way over the years has been due to his work ethic in the ring. Forget his attitude and his ego, that is if you can, and focus only on his ability in the ring.

Or, lack thereof.

For me, Hogan is the worst professional wrestler to ever hold the WWE Title. The way he bumped, or refused to bump, the right hand to the head that took five minutes for him to throw, and let’s not forget the fact that he did not sell.

Yet, he was the man. No doubt about it. He helped propel that company to the top, and did more than any fan ever expected him to. He deserves credit for not only knowing his character, but being able to get it over to the max. He made a lot of money and as a result, a lot of other guys made some money as well.

Kelly Kelly is not exactly Trish Stratus in the ring. She has improved since she began working, but many times her matches are still severely lacking in terms of flow and pace. She moves very gingerly in the ring, and watching her attempt to run the ropes is just painful.

Yet, WWE has put her at the top of the Divas Division, above others who are better and have done more in their careers. Why?

She’s young, she’s attractive, she’s sexy. She has a great smile and is very popular with fans. WWE is doing what it did with Hogan, and what it has done with so many other performers in the past.

WWE is selling the image, not the talent.

This is what the company does, the method Vince McMahon uses to sell his product. World Wrestling Entertainment is not about marketing the wrestling, they are about marketing the stars. That is what they sell, and despite a worker’s ability, if he or she has the right look, and the proper push, that person will be elevated to the forefront of the promotion.

We all know that, we understand it. As a pro wrestling writer, it’s my job to comprehend what I see, and to relate it in my columns. So, yes, it’s no mystery, this is who WWE is, and they will not change anytime soon.

So, why the frustration? Because one half of me is show business. The other half is all business.

I am a proud NWA man, a guy who grew up on Jim Crockett Promotions. Dusty Rhodes was my second Dad, Magnum TA was my uncle, and the Rock n Roll Express were my older brothers. I was very absorbed in the business, much like I am now, and from the very start, I was all about the wrestling.

After all, that’s what brought most of us to the table, right? The action in the ring is why we started following the sport, and what we continue to anticipate every time we go to an event or watch on TV. This is who I am.

When I look at Beth Phoenix, I see a woman who is very good in the ring. She is on par with Trish, and arguably even better. She has great ring psychology, she can work, and is very capable of having a great match with any Diva in the locker room.

But, who’s the face of the division?

The fact is that Beth is a professional, and as a wrestler who is working for the largest pro wrestling company in the world, she understands that titles do not necessarily reflect recognized value. She will most likely do her part, play her character, and follow direction. If the night calls for her to make Kelly look like a star, then she will do just that.

Kelly Kelly is the product of the WWE machine, a Diva who physically has everything needed to become a household name. In the ring, however, is another story. Understanding the way WWE does business, the only thing true wrestling fans can hope for is that she continues to work on her game, and keep improving. Working Beth Phoenix will do nothing but help her in the long run.

That’s the theory, anyway, though Hogan never really learned. Hopefully, Kelly will.