Mr. Kennedy Credits Jim Cornette’s WWE Firing for Career Success

Mr. Kennedy had a bright future in WWE, as many felt he was going to be the next big thing in the company. He had a rocket strapped to his back and was destined for greatness. While he never saw a ton of success in WWE, it seems Kennedy was worried he was being held back by Jim Cornette. Kennedy even recently said that WWE firing Cornette was the best thing that ever happened to him.

For those who do not know, Jim Cornette was the head booker and part-owner of Ohio Valley Wrestling back in 1999. Ohio Valley Wrestling was WWE’s developmental territory and it is where the likes of John Cena, Randy Orton, Brock Lesnar and Batista honed their craft before debuting in WWE.

While speaking on Developmentally Speaking, Mr. Kennedy talked about his time in Ohio Valley Wrestling. Kennedy noted that Ohio Valley Wrestling had no proper plans for him and that Jim Cornette simply did not know what to do with him.

“Nothing, nothing at all. I was just trying to do the best I could to survive. I’ve said this before and I don’t mean it in a negative way at all. He didn’t know what to do with me.

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I felt as though every week when I did get a match, it would just be kind of like he had a hat full of babyface names and a hat full of heel names. And he would just like, take one name out and, ‘Here you go, go out there. You’ve got six minutes.”

During an OVW taping, Jim Cornette slapped Santino Marella for laughing during a segment with The Boogeyman instead of showing fear. This led to him getting fired by WWE.

According to Mr. Kennedy, this was the best thing that ever happened to him as Paul Heyman took Cornette’s place and did much more with Kennedy.

“I say this half-joking, but one of the best things that’s ever happened to me in my career was Jim Cornette slapping Santino Marella around in the back. Because he got released, and the next day Paul Heyman came in. And Paul pulled me aside right away and he said, ‘I’m going to do so much stuff with you.’ He goes, ‘I’ve been a fan of yours since we met, and I’m going to do so much stuff with you on TV that they’re going to have to notice you.'”

Following his WWE departure, Mr. Kennedy debuted in TNA/Impact Wrestling where he had a solid run as their World Champion. He feuded with the likes of Kurt Angle, Sting and others before being released in 2016. It is unlikely he will ever return to WWE and Mr. Kennedy has simply accepted that fact now.

Were you a fan of Mr. Kennedy? Do you feel bad for how he was never able to become a World Champion in WWE? Sound off in the comments!