I hope you weren’t expecting to get an answer to this headline, because I have no f***ing clue. I was there, at Madison Square Garden in 1994, when Mark Henry […]
I hope you weren’t expecting to get an answer to this headline, because I have no f***ing clue. I was there, at Madison Square Garden in 1994, when Mark Henry made his first appearance and announced that he had signed a ten-year contract with the WWE. I didn’t know who he was; I didn’t watch him compete in the Olympic Games; and honestly, I didn’t care because my first perception was – “Oh, this guy isn’t going too last long!”
But the sound of “ten-year contract” continued to echo in my head. Ten years is an awfully long time to commit to something. At the time, the only talent with a long-term contract was Bret “Hitman” Hart…BUT, he was Bret “Hitman” Hart! I knew what he was worth; I knew how great he was; and locking him in for ten years made all the sense in the world. Then we have Mark Henry, who I’ve never even seen hit the ropes, let alone seen a match. I was baffled as to why the WWE would make such a commitment. What had they seen that we hadn’t? What kind of plans were in the works for this guy that no one has ever heard of? And let me remind you, this was 1994.
Here we are in 2016, and Mark Henry is still here! Not only did he run the course of his ten year contract, but they signed him up for another ten! Unless you’re related to him, there is not a person on the face of this earth that has EVER paid to see a Mark Henry match! NOT, ONE! Am I wrong? Prove it!
Even after he signed that contract back in the early 90’s, he immediately got injured prepping for his debut, and that sidelined him for over a year. He finally came up during the Attitude Era with the Nation of Domination and has coasted along ever since. In those twenty-plus years, we have seen the WWE part ways and wish the best in future endeavors to some great talents. There have been workers with unlimited potential who were told point blank, “Creative has nothing for you“…but, they had something for Mark Henry!
Don’t get me wrong, I have NOTHING against Mark Henry. I’ve actually grown to appreciate him more over the last several years and see countless missed opportunities with him. But, I’m still baffled at how Henry avoided all the cost-cutting measures, all the house-cleanings, all the post-WrestleMania releases, all the Black Friday firings… everything.
I don’t wish for anyone to suffer the loss of employment, but I have to question how some still have theirs when others don’t. How did the axe miss Mark Henry when it fell so many times? It’s not like he’s gotten any better – although he technically has, but he still doesn’t draw money. Does he have some kind of blackmail on Vince McMahon? Maybe some pictures of Vince dressed as a woman doing some kinky s*** to a goat and a midget?
I’m challenging fans of Russo’s Brand to help me understand how Mark Henry has survived over twenty years of employment with the WWE – but, don’t just sell me on his potential now. The “challenge” is to sell me on the last twenty years.
Feel free to sell me via the comments below or hit me up on Twitter @DieHardDerekG – just be warned, I might challenge you right back!
Vince Russo's The Brand 
Like how you seem to always post a couple things at a time. Anyway, I cant say he is a draw but in the Midwest(I mean Missouri and the border states for the most part) he is kind if like big show. Huge, strong, and he has held titles. For whatever reason a lot of fans I this area still go for that and I think that’s where he has been used a lot in house shows. I can’t speak for the rest of the country but it’s more about a passable show rather than was it a good show worth the money.. I mean they don’t even bother to announce the last minute changes before the shows. But that’s a different tale of woe. I think they just don’t care. . like vinnie ru has said its about dollars and cents and where they may not sell out the house shows in the Midwest they get a great deal on the venues for state colleges and such and they KILL on merch for whoever they sell it for even if they aren’t on the card..but I’m slipping off track. Basically I think they feel they can slap him on at the last minute as a sub or just as a filler for some tag team crap in the b and C towns and get by for 20 years. . and they have I guess. Love your work!