Was there any real "reason" behind Berlyn getting no love in WCW?

[Rollermacka]

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This was suppose to be Berlyn's first real feud in WCW, but Buff Bagwell refused to put him over and instead they had Hacksaw fill in and he completely makes him look like a bitch. From what I remember the original buzz around Beryln was good. He had The Wall, a hott female translator and like 5 other nameless bodyguards who were "just as big as The Wall" (kinda like how the original Nation had several "300 pounders" who got powerbombed while Farooq ran away). After Buff and Hacksaw refused to put him over they dropped the entourage, shortly after The Wall went out on his own and Berlyn became Alex Wright again. I was just wondering was there ever a real reason nobody in WCW wanted Berlyn to become a main eventer? Did he do something backstage or was it just typical "WCW higher ups" BS?

[Razzamajazz]

considering he started appear around the time the columbine shooting happened they quickly nixed him in order to not draw any negative publicity

[YoungFlyFlashy]

Keep him from main event status? I'm sure Berlyn and Main Eventing was never a concern.

[Nark Order]

considering he started appear around the time the columbine shooting happened they quickly nixed him in order to not draw any negative publicity

This doesn't make sense to me but I never really payed attention as to what Berlyn's gimmick actually was. Can somebody explain this to me?

[Razzamajazz]

if i remeber right his gimmick was some dark goth guy, and he started showing up a couple weeks before the shootings, which was thought to be done by goth kids. they didn't want to be thought of as havinhg any connection to the incident by promoting "those types of people"

[kareru]

if i remeber right his gimmick was some dark goth guy, and he started showing up a couple weeks before the shootings, which was thought to be done by goth kids. they didn't want to be thought of as havinhg any connection to the incident by promoting "those types of people"


that can't be the reason, vampiro was there at the time

[Supreme Olajuwon]

It was because he had a trenchcoat. That's really all it was. But it was enough in a lot of people's minds to be a connection.

[Rollermacka]

This doesn't make sense to me but I never really payed attention as to what Berlyn's gimmick actually was. Can somebody explain this to me?

if i remeber right his gimmick was some dark goth guy, and he started showing up a couple weeks before the shootings, which was thought to be done by goth kids. they didn't want to be thought of as havinhg any connection to the incident by promoting "those types of people"

From what I remember his gimmick was in no way gothic. It was suppose to be this superior technical German wrestler who refused to speak english, and hated the american way. Kinda a "generic eastern erupoean heel" gimmick but like I said they played it up with an entourage, dramatic entrance music, etc.

[parkmania]

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[kareru]

At the beginning of 1999, Wright was kept off WCW television for an extended length of time until May, when promotional spots began appearing on WCW television featuring Wright as a surprising new Rivethead-style character named Berlyn (an intentional misspelling of the city Berlin, the capital of Wright's home country Germany), with a black Mohawk and goatee replacing his blond hair. He was clad entirely in black with a long trench coat and arrogantly refused to speak English. He spoke through a interpreter who was a knockout blonde. The promos coincided with the aftermath of the Columbine school massacre, which threw a hitch in WCW's plans. Sensing the unintentional similarities in dress between Berlyn and the teenage killers, WCW delayed the debut of Berlyn for several months. Despite the shock value upon his debut, which occurred on August 30 on Nitro, Berlyn never really got over with fans.

This was due in part to his debut match in which he was booked to defeat Buff Bagwell, but Bagwell had refused to lose to Wright and even going as so far to miss a flight in order to avoid having to. "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan substituted for Bagwell at Fall Brawl, but Duggan no-sold all of Wright's offense and was totally uncooperative with him in the ring, though Wright picked up the win in the end.[2][33] Although Berlyn went over Bagwell in the end, irreparable damage had already been done to the character. WCW would then push The Wall, the bodyguard Berlyn hired, leaving Wright to flounder in the mid-card.[2] Berlyn took revenge on Bagwell, and defeated him the next night on Nitro.[2][34] Berlyn attacked Scott Armstrong and began a feud with Brad Armstrong. The two had a match at Halloween Havoc, which Berlyn lost but after the match, Berlyn and The Wall attacked Armstrong.[2][35]

On the October 25 edition of Nitro, it was announced that a tournament would be held for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship and the finals would occur at Mayhem.[2][36] On the following edition of Nitro, Berlyn participated in the tournament but lost his first round match to Vampiro.[2][37] Berlyn began a small feud with Vampiro and cost him his second round match in the tournament against Buff Bagwell.[2][38] At Mayhem, Vampiro defeated Berlyn in a Dog Collar match after the Wall turned on Berlyn.[2][39] Berlyn then feuded with the Wall but they never competed on any pay-per-views. Wright then again, disappeared from WCW television.

[DaBrasko]

Come to think of it, what the hell ever happen to Alex Wright?

[Razzamajazz]

well maybe alcohol has killed my memory from that time period

[redoneja]

The most important question is where can I find a picture of this hot translator?

[KayfabeMan]

Alex is still in Germany, and last I heard, still had a wrestling school.

Hope he gets over here stateside for some conventions, maybe cool photo ops with Disco Inferno and he too....

[KayfabeMan]

Also, Alex was incredibly underrated.

[James Steele]

Alex Wright had the honor of wrestling Terra Ryzing at Starrcade.

[Rammsteinmad]

Sadly, Berlyn had more talent than all the people who refused to job to him.

And THAT attitude is what lead to the death of WCW.

[DarKCentaur]

Alex Wright had the awesomest bulge of all time

[Anybody Thrilla]

I loved Alex Wright. Shame.

And really? Hacksaw? Jim fucking Duggan thought he was too good to job to Alex Wright. Come on.