There are few certainties in the world of professional wrestling, or entertainment in general for that matter. It’s impossible to create new stories and sometimes scenarios, but as long as there are some tweaks thrown in, it’s all good. Most of us won’t recognize a bit from ten, twenty, or thirty years ago. There are times when something is so familiar, you can’t shake it, and that’s what brought Erick Rowan paralleling Jake Roberts to mind.
What’s old is new again
Erick Rowan’s new gimmick of bringing a case with some secret inside isn’t new. In fact, wrestlers have been bringing various items to the ring since the beginning of time. Whether it was Koko b. Ware with his pet bird, Frankie, Al Snow’s Head, or The Undertaker and Paul Bearer’s urn, all sorts of things could be in that cage.
There are plenty of theories out, like in wrestlinginc.com there of what’s in the cage from an animal to variations of Rowan’s old mask to toys. While it’s great speculation as to what’s inside, today we’re focusing more on the gimmick than not.
As we’ve mentioned, the fact that Rowan is bringing something to the ring isn’t new, nor is how he’s reacting. This is a gimmick that’s used to get our attention on the wrestler, to get us talking about him and the mystery he’s carrying around with him each week. We’re not supposed to realize he’s been destroying jobbers to put it over despite him already being over for the most part.
While it’s a way to reinvent himself with Luke Harper leaving, it also brought memories up other wrestlers that have done something similar. I mentioned some above, but the one it most reminds me of is Jake “The Snake” Roberts.
What’s in the bag?
Like Rowan, Roberts used to bring a little something extra to the ring every match.
Unlike Rowan, we found out what was in Roberts’ bag in his first televised match. His surprise played on the fears of many as he undid his knot, and dumped Damien, his pet python, onto his unconscious foe. The desired result was immediate as many were aghast at using something so dangerous as a prop, while other (this include yours truly) loved it.
It immediately propelled him to the front of the line of new and interesting superstar and he was over just like that. Sure, there were a few people that tried to look in the bag to find out if there was really a snake in there, but that ended after a few matched and having the twelve-foot long python dropped on and wrapped around their bodies.
They need something more than a mystery
It’s obvious WWE creative hopes Rowan’s angle has a similar effect as Jake Roberts and others have had. To some extent, it is as it’s one of the few highlights on either Raw or Smackdown, and that’s not a good thing. It’s a testament to how bland the shows have been lately. It also highlights how so few seem to care aside from hardcore WWE fans.
Despite that, this is Rowan’s chance to really grab everyone’s attention. With any luck, he’ll start to face some tougher competition that’ll force him to show us what’s in the box.
While Jake Roberts’ snake helped define his character, will this be what defines, or redefines, Erick Rowan?
Time will tell, but he can’t ignore how Rowan paralleling Jake Roberts has intrigued both new and old fans.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, my theory is it’ll be a new version of his mask and he’ll become Raw’s version of the Fiend. Although, having him jump to Smackdown and join the Firefly Family would be a pretty cool move. It’d be an awesome surprise for us and add more depth to both characters. There’s no doubting Rowan’s ability to play up an angle, so this should be fun wherever it takes us.
