By Zack Zeigler
Written: May 11, 2007
PITTSBURGH – Mark Henry faced a huge career setback late last July when his right patella tendon ripped completely off the bone. While rehabbing his knee over the past 10 months, he’s had nothing but time to quietly stew alone, rehash old memories and build a meteor-sized rage inside himself.
Where exactly is all of his anger stemming from? One locker room source told WWE.com that it might be from rumors that have been circulating — rumors that imply how Henry has failed to live up to his potential since joining WWE more than a decade ago.
“When he got injured, people began to ask, ‘Is Mark Henry a classic example of an underachiever?’” said the locker room source. “The guy’s a former Olympian and Strongman. He inked a huge deal when he signed here, yet he’s never held a World Championship. What does that say?”
Perhaps it’s that mentality which fueled Henry’s vicious ambush on Undertaker after The Deadman’s bloody, exhausting Steel Cage Match with Batista. The Phenom could barely stand, let along muster the strength to defend himself as Henry battered him with jaw-jarring punches, then capped it off with several rib-crushing splashes. Choosing to pummel a weary and wounded Undertaker after he’d already been repeatedly slammed against the unforgiving links of a steel cage wasn’t just flawless execution of the “Kick a Man When He’s Down” strategy; it could also have been Henry’s way of showing everyone that he’s removed words like “mercy,” “forgiveness” and “sympathy” from his vocabulary.
“Undertaker took something very important from me at WrestleMania 22 — my chance at being a World Champion,” said Henry, referring to their Casket Match back in April 2006. “This beating was a sample of what I can do. My message is clear and my message is effective: If you don’t do what I say, when I say to do it, you will be dealt with, just like Undertaker was.”
Did Henry think he could really erase 11 years of disappointment with one unprovoked beating? What’s “the message” he’s sending — that these attacks won’t be focused, and will be directed to anyone who’s ever crossed him? On that topic, the World’s Strongest Man is also the silent type. He did, however, shed light on how he feels about Edge piggybacking on his dirty work, cashing in his Money in the Bank contract and claiming the World Heavyweight Championship for himself.
“Edge is a talented guy and a true opportunist, but if I had known his intentions I may have had something to say about it,” Henry explained. “But the milk has already been spilled and I got my point across…that my power and vengeance will rain down on the SmackDown roster.”
That said, does the World’s Strongest Man intend to run riot through the SmackDown ranks alone? Throughout most his career, Henry has had people to help guide him. He’s been a member of the Nation of Domination; teamed with D’Lo Brown; got wrapped up in an unusual amorous relationship with Mae Young; and shared allegiances with the likes of Theodore Long, Daivari and Melina. But now all those relationships have expired, and it looks as though his newest companion is one that won’t ever leave — his knee brace. Every time his entrance music sounds and he walks down the ramp, there’s a constant reminder of the pain and sacrifice it took him to get back into the ring. That, paired with the whispers about his “underachievement,” could be a dangerous concoction for his future victims.
Whether or not the time has come for Mark Henry to elevate himself into the next stratosphere of WWE Superstardom remains to be seen. But with his newly refocused urge to prove his dominance, this human wrecking ball of hurt will be extremely difficult to stop.
Written: May 11, 2007
PITTSBURGH – Mark Henry faced a huge career setback late last July when his right patella tendon ripped completely off the bone. While rehabbing his knee over the past 10 months, he’s had nothing but time to quietly stew alone, rehash old memories and build a meteor-sized rage inside himself.
Where exactly is all of his anger stemming from? One locker room source told WWE.com that it might be from rumors that have been circulating — rumors that imply how Henry has failed to live up to his potential since joining WWE more than a decade ago.
“When he got injured, people began to ask, ‘Is Mark Henry a classic example of an underachiever?’” said the locker room source. “The guy’s a former Olympian and Strongman. He inked a huge deal when he signed here, yet he’s never held a World Championship. What does that say?”
Perhaps it’s that mentality which fueled Henry’s vicious ambush on Undertaker after The Deadman’s bloody, exhausting Steel Cage Match with Batista. The Phenom could barely stand, let along muster the strength to defend himself as Henry battered him with jaw-jarring punches, then capped it off with several rib-crushing splashes. Choosing to pummel a weary and wounded Undertaker after he’d already been repeatedly slammed against the unforgiving links of a steel cage wasn’t just flawless execution of the “Kick a Man When He’s Down” strategy; it could also have been Henry’s way of showing everyone that he’s removed words like “mercy,” “forgiveness” and “sympathy” from his vocabulary.
“Undertaker took something very important from me at WrestleMania 22 — my chance at being a World Champion,” said Henry, referring to their Casket Match back in April 2006. “This beating was a sample of what I can do. My message is clear and my message is effective: If you don’t do what I say, when I say to do it, you will be dealt with, just like Undertaker was.”
Did Henry think he could really erase 11 years of disappointment with one unprovoked beating? What’s “the message” he’s sending — that these attacks won’t be focused, and will be directed to anyone who’s ever crossed him? On that topic, the World’s Strongest Man is also the silent type. He did, however, shed light on how he feels about Edge piggybacking on his dirty work, cashing in his Money in the Bank contract and claiming the World Heavyweight Championship for himself.
“Edge is a talented guy and a true opportunist, but if I had known his intentions I may have had something to say about it,” Henry explained. “But the milk has already been spilled and I got my point across…that my power and vengeance will rain down on the SmackDown roster.”
That said, does the World’s Strongest Man intend to run riot through the SmackDown ranks alone? Throughout most his career, Henry has had people to help guide him. He’s been a member of the Nation of Domination; teamed with D’Lo Brown; got wrapped up in an unusual amorous relationship with Mae Young; and shared allegiances with the likes of Theodore Long, Daivari and Melina. But now all those relationships have expired, and it looks as though his newest companion is one that won’t ever leave — his knee brace. Every time his entrance music sounds and he walks down the ramp, there’s a constant reminder of the pain and sacrifice it took him to get back into the ring. That, paired with the whispers about his “underachievement,” could be a dangerous concoction for his future victims.
Whether or not the time has come for Mark Henry to elevate himself into the next stratosphere of WWE Superstardom remains to be seen. But with his newly refocused urge to prove his dominance, this human wrecking ball of hurt will be extremely difficult to stop.
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