[Media] Miami Herald 3.29.07 Introducing WrestleMania's Mr. Kennedy . . . Ken-a-deeeeeeeeee

http://www.miamiherald.com/675/story/56445.html

Thu, Mar. 29, 2007

Introducing WrestleMania's Mr. Kennedy . . . Ken-a-deeeeeeeeee

BY JIM VARSALLONE
jvarsallone@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Announcing the starting line-up for his high school basketball team
set the tone for Kenneth Anderson's signature calling as he became WWE
star Mis-terrrrrrrrrr Ken-a-deeeeeeeeee.

Involved in sports and theater at Washington High School in Two
Rivers, Wi., Kennedy had a knack for making people laugh.

''I announced basketball games like that,'' he said. ``It would pump
up the players when I would say their names like that, and I would be
as flat and as lame as possible when announcing the other team. People
got a kick out of it.''

Step aside Tony Chimel, Anderson grabbed hold of his life by grabbing
hold of Chimel's microphone and uttering those two simple yet profound
words: ``Mis-terrrrrrrrrr Ken-a-deeeeeeeeee [climb the turnbuckles,
pause, arrogant glare, close eyes, tilt head back, lower pitch] Ken-a-
deeeeee.''

It sounds better than it reads.

Mr. Kennedy has made quite a name for himself since debuting in WWE in
August 2005.

''It's funny because it's the stupidest things that can get you
over,'' he said during a recent phone interview to promote
WrestleMania 23. ``My wrestling has gotten better since I started in
WWE, but it took that to get me recognized.''

Unusual for someone to combine basketball announcing, theater,
bodybuilding, humor and the military -- coupled with the admiration of
a beer-swirling, red neck -- as a base for a career choice, but
Anderson parlayed those into superstardom in WWE.

''When I was watching wrestling, Stone Cold Steve Austin became my
inspiration,'' he said. ``I come from a small, red-neck community --
blue collar jobs, people driving pick ups and drinking a lot of
beer.''

His admiration for Austin extends to his wire-haired fox terrier which
he named Austin.

With a high school degree behind him, Anderson first opted for the
military.

''My family was pretty much against me going into the military,'' he
said. ``When they saw the different person I became after basic
training, they were glad I went. It taught me a lot. It taught me
discipline.''

Kennedy became involved in bodybuilding and took a job as a personal
trainer, keeping his weekends free to pursue another profession -- pro
wrestling.

''My family thought I was crazy,'' he said. ``When they came to my
very first match [in 1999], they saw me and what I did in the ring.
Afterward, I remember my mom saying, `We're sorry we doubted you. This
is what you belong doing. This is your calling.'''

Even if they initially thought he was crazy, his parents, James and
Sheryl, and sister, Jennifer, were very supportive.

As for the rest of the family:

'Grandparents, aunts, uncles would ask me when I was going to get a
real job. My grandma would say, `What are you doing? How long can you
do this?' Now, she is my biggest fan.

``I know they were looking out for my best interest. It's a hard
business to get into and be successful, but I always thought I would
be successful in it.''

His journey began with Mike (Mercury) Cross and Eric (Hammers)
Palekan, two wrestlers and trainers from Green Bay. They helped jump-
start Anderson's pro wrestling career.

``From there, I trained as much as I could and got booked as much as I
could.''

Anderson decided to train at Brad Rheingans' wrestling school in
Minnesota -- a smart move. Rheingans, a former NCAA champion and
Olympian, competed in the AWA and trained John Bradshaw Layfield, Jake
the Snake Roberts, Vader and Jerry Lynn among others.

''He trained several famous people like Curt Hennig and Brock
Lesnar,'' Anderson said. ``I trained there for eight months. It
polished me a lot and gave me a better insight to the business. ''

Tommy Dreamer, when he served as a WWE agent, booked Anderson for some
matches as enhancement talent in 2003.

''I wrestled Daivari, who I had wrestled 60 times on the indies,''
Anderson said. ``We had a lot of stuff in the tank. It was a good,
solid five-minute match in front of WWE agents.

``Arn Anderson liked what he saw. Paul Heyman liked it, and Tommy
Dreamer saw what he liked.''

Anderson eventually landed in Ohio Valley Wrestling, a feeder group to
WWE in Louisville, Ky. He spent six months in OVW.

''Paul Heyman in OVW pushed hard for me,'' he said.

In 2005, Anderson appeared on WWE Velocity, announcing himself to the
crowd.

''It was a combination of me and Paul Heyman coming up with it,'' he
said. ``In OVW, Paul told me to go out there and cut the announcer off
and do my own ring intro. He didn't tell me what to say. I came up
with all that.

``Everyone liked it. They thought it was just great, saying my last
name twice like that.''

Heyman suggested Anderson become Kennedy to avoid confusion with the
Anderson wrestling name. Mr. Kennedy debuted on SmackDown against
another noted WWE announcer -- Funaki.

Now, Kennedy offers ring announcing advice.

''Tony Chimel and Lillian Garcia should put a little more behind their
efforts,'' said the cocky Kennedy. ``They always say it the same way
with the same inflection. It's just so boring. Put a little pizazz
into it.''

Kennedy will deliver some pizazz as part of the eight-man Money In The
Bank ladder match during WWE's WrestleMania 23 pay-per-view from Ford
Field in Detroit. The winner receives a title shot whenever he
chooses.

The match also features Matt Hardy, Randy Orton, Edge, Jeff Hardy, CM
Punk, Finlay and King Booker with Queen Sharmell.

''There is no way to prepare yourself for that match. You just got to
go and do it,'' Kennedy said.

``There will be 70,000 people at Ford Field. You always give 110-
percent whether it's before 2,000 or 20,000 [or 70,000] people. I
learned from my military experience to train as you fight. I'm used to
doing it that way.''

WWE's WrestleMania 23 already set a record, topping $5 million in
ticket sales. The event, the Super Bowl of wrestling, is 7 p.m. ET/4
p.m. PT Sunday, April 1.

''Being in WrestleMania is awesome. It's a dream come true on many
levels,'' Kennedy said. ``I always wanted to work a WrestleMania. It's
a huge, huge audience and to be on the same show with Stone Cold Steve
Austin is the best.''

Austin is the special guest referee for the hair vs. hair mainstream
media match between Donald Trump, represented in the ring by WWE's ECW
champ Bobby Lashley, and Mr. McMahon, represented by WWE
Intercontinental champ Umaga with Armando Alejandro Estrada.

''I'd love to work with him [Austin] in the ring but with a lot of
injuries he's had, I don't think that will ever happen,'' Kennedy
said. ``To get on the mic with him and go back and forth would still
be awesome for me.

``I've been fortunate to have several opportunities to tell Steve what
an influence he's had on me. He became somewhat of a mentor for me. I
can pick his brain and get his take on the business. He doesn't have
to offer me advice, if he doesn't want to, but he does.

``It's amazing to me -- after he's accomplished everything -- how much
passion and love he still has. It's obvious why he's been so
successful.''

Speaking of the hair vs. hair matchup. Kennedy said: ``I'd like to see
both of them go bald. Donald Trump going bald. I mean his hair is just
brutal. He knows it's horrible. Even without it, he would still be
successful. He would still be The Donald. He can't possibly like it.
It looks like a bad wig.''

· WWE's WrestleMania 23 pay-per-view is 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT Sunday,
April 1 from Ford Field in Detroit. WWE title: John Cena vs. Shawn
Michaels. World title: Batista vs. Undertaker.

Hair vs. Hair: WWE's ECW champ Bobby Lashley, representing Donald
Trump, vs. WWE Intercontinental champ Umaga with Armando Alejandro
Estrada, representing Mr. McMahon. Special guest referee Stone Cold
Steve Austin.

Money In The Bank ladder match: Mr. Kennedy, Matt Hardy, Randy Orton,
Edge, CM Punk, Finlay and King Booker with Queen Sharmell.

ECW originals (Rob Van Dam, Sabu, Tommy Dreamer, Sandman) vs. WWE's
ECW (Elijah Burke, Marcus Cor Von, Matt Striker, Kevin Thorn with
Ariel). WWE women's title: Melina vs. Ashley Massaro.

WWE U.S. title: Chris Benoit vs. MVP. Kane vs. Great Khali.

· WWE Magazine's April WrestleMania 23 issue is on sale now.
Undertaker is undead and undefeated. WWE Magazine tracks his
phenomenal run at 'Mania, victim by victim.

The mag also offers the straight shoot on Cena/Michaels and Batista/
Undertaker along with an exclusive first look at the new WWE Films
movie The Condemned, starring Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Go to the WWE website or call 1-866-WWE-MAGS.

· So is Mr. Kennedy, the celebrity, an extension of Kenneth Anderson?

``It's 50-50. I don't act like Mr. Kennedy all the time. I'm a normal
guy. I like to go out to eat, play video games, watch sporting events.
I enjoy my work, and I love this business.

'Someone asked me, `Can you still go out to eat and go to the mall?' I
said, `Occasionally, five people, maybe, recognize me. It's not that
bad.'

``The next day after I said that I started on my loop, and it was
brutal. I'm standing in line at the airport, and everyone is noticing
me. The people working at the airport, in the bookstore, the guy
behind the counter, people traveling.

``It has its moments. Still, this job beats the heck out of the job I
had before wrestling. I'm just thankful I'm in WWE. [Being recognized]
doesn't bother me.''

· Tickets for the 2007 WWE Hall Of Fame induction ceremony are on sale
with prices at $45, $75 and $100.

The event is at the Fox Theatre in Detroit on Saturday, March 31, the
day before WrestleMania 23. Jim Ross, The Wild Samoans, the original
Sheik, Mr. Fuji, Nick Bockwinkel, Jerry the King Lawler, Mr. Perfect
Curt Hennig and the American Dream Dusty Rhodes will be inducted.

Part of the event will be shown a few hours later on tape delay on the
USA Network. Tickets are on sale at TicketMaster online or charge by
phone.

· WWE along with Make-A-Wish Foundation and Bowl Detroit will host a
special bowling session with WWE's ECW champ Bobby Lashley and other
WWE stars just hours before WrestleMania on Sunday, April 1 at Skore
Lanes in Detroit.

The event, from 1-3:30 p.m., will help raise money for the Make-A-Wish
Foundation. Tickets are $50 spectators; $100 bowlers; $150 VIP party.
Sponsorships available, and teams can be assembled. For informatione-
mail Fran Wood at fwood@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

· The Detroit Free Press announced legendary R&B singer Aretha
Franklin will sing the National Anthem at WrestleMania 23. She also
sang the Anthem 20 years ago to kickoff WrestleMania 3 in Detroit.

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