This will be an interesting “Wrestling Salvage Yard” as we look at former WCW star “Lightning Foot” Jerry Flynn. A student of Boris Malenko, he came into the business in 1989 with a background in taekwondo. He would spend his early years with Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi, a now long-defunct shoot style promotion in Japan.
WCW Run
After that, he would pop up in WWE as an enhancement talent before landing with WCW in 1996. This is what we’re going to focus on salvaging—his 1996-2000 run with the company. When Flynn hit television via WCW Saturday Night bookings, he was mainly clapping scrubs and showing off how he good was.
I’ll admit, Flynn was a wrestler I enjoyed seeing on the B-show. He had become familiar and I knew what to expect at the minimum. Flynn was going to come out, maybe tie-up with his opponent a bit, then proceed to beat their ass before picking up the win.
Oh yeah, he had to do so with his kicks as well. That was essential. Once he began making appearances on Nitro, it was if the charm wore off a bit. I’m not sure, something about Jerry Flynn getting the main show promotion seemed off. His gimmick was fleshed out a bit, instead of big ol’ kicking guy, Flynn was a legit shootfighter—just in time to feud with Goldberg, Ernest Miller, and later Tank Abbott.
All three feuds were less than mid, folks. Of the three, I figured the one with Ernest Miller would’ve been enjoyable. It turned out seeing Goldberg beat his ass every encounter was actually fun. Also, he was in the company during the whole Glacier, Mortis, Wrath, Miller storyline.
WCW could’ve maybe brought him in earlier. I think he showed up a little late while things were bubbling storyline-wise for Nitro and he was just kind of…there.
Salvaging Jerry Flynn
Following his feud with Tank, Flynn would be released. That marks a mostly uneventful run for someone who wasn’t that bad. I mean, he had nothing else going for him but have this kind of bargain bin-version of Ken Shamrock minus the charisma.
If anything, WCW could’ve leaned into that and have him as a down-on-his-luck failed martial arts film star. Put him in a tier below Don Wilson and Sasha Mitchell. Flynn’s films went straight to video and no one checked out. No one watched them when added as a free promotion.
I’d say it’s mix of downbad Diamond Dallas Page after Kimberly left him for Johnny B. Badd and if the Bloodfist films utterly bankrupt Don “The Dragon” Wilson. Almost a martial arts version of Bojack Horseman. Now, he has to actually fight for cash in Thunder Hardcore division matches.
I think Flynn could’ve pulled off the comedic side the character in being cocky for no reason. Again, he was running through scrubs on Saturday Night a few years earlier—and he was proud of it. As if beating them was a challenge!
Throw in some pity from Ernest Miller, Glacier, and even Chris Kanyon and I can see this being nice. Sure, it’s more sports entertainment-oriented than just having him go out and being kick-y badass but WCW at that point had moved towards gimmicks for everyone on the roster. There’s always something to do, basically.
So, Id mark Jerry Flynn has pretty salvageable. Something could’ve been worked out with him.
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