by First, just let me make it clear, I’m a huge fan of Taz and what I have to say in this article truly pains me to do so, but the truth needs to be told before a legacy is completely ruined.
In 1997 as ECW headed towards the first PPV in company history, the biggest draw and moneymaker was a young man by the name of Taz. He was built like a fireplug and taken as a legit badass in the company. ECW had its share of high flyers and loud talkers, but Taz was the man, he was the draw.
Promoter Paul Heyman would continue to play the hot hand and put his faith in Taz as he became the face of the promotion and the number one threat over the next two plus years. Eventually in late 1999 after a long run with the World Championship, Taz would drop the belt and begin to prepare for a move to WWE.
It was the smart thing to do as he was one of the biggest names in the industry and going to the worlds biggest promotion. Sadly however, from there, it was all downhill and one of the most promising careers in pro wrestling history became such a disaster and his in-ring career never recovered.
Taz was asked to job almost right away, to Chyna and other wrestlers and had a bad attitude about it. Soon enough he was even jobbing out to part time wrestlers such as Jerry The King Lawler. WWE Owner Vince McMahon didn’t think anyone would take Taz seriously because of his small stature and that was pretty much it for his career. He even changed his name to Tazz, for reasons never quite explained.
But then a blessing almost in disguise as Taz hurt his neck and couldn’t wrestle anymore. This led to a full-time spot behind the commentating desk for WWE Smackdown, and the wrestling world was better for it as he was a natural.
I was a fan of his in the ring in ECW, and just as big of a fan of his behind the microphone. As much as I hated to see his WWE in ring career end so quickly and never fully get to show what we all saw in ECW, atleast this new talent was able to shine.
Between Smackdown and then a stint with the “New ECW”, he remained in the commentator role for the next seven years and did a great job! Eventually he would leave WWE for TNA where he spent close to the next decade at their commenting desk as well.
Again, he found his niche on the microphone but from time to time they would try to write into him a storyline. Sure enough each time they did, he came across as a complete idiot. It didn’t matter if he was judging on Gut Check, or a fake groomsman to break up a Wedding between Bully Ray and Brooke Hogan, he looked and sounded awful.
He was getting further and further out of shape and because WWE destroyed his wrestling credibility so badly, few actually took he him seriously. He did absolutely nothing with his time in Aces and Eights. Less than a year later the group was disbanded and Taz went back to talking for a living and little else.
When he arrived on the AEW announce team, I was thrilled. Finally, he was back to doing what he should be doing and joining a dream team with Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone. I hoped badly that he would replace Excalibur.
It was a dream scenario for a while until Double or Nothing in May when AEW made him the manager of Brian Cage. At first it appeared as if they were trying a Brock Lesnar Paul Heyman gimmick, but Taz just couldn’t carry his weight anymore on the microphone and it hasn’t worked.
I was hoping they would move away from the gimmick, but instead, AEW has doubled down and added Ricky Starks and Will Hobbs to his group. Any chance I had of getting behind them ended for good a few weeks ago as Taz came out and complained about his guys not getting enough ring and mike time. It was pathetic and he came across as a Dad complaining that his kid wasn’t getting enough playing time. It was supposed to be a worked shoot interview with him calling out Cody, but it came across horrible.
I like Taz the commentator and I loved Taz the wrestler. However, this in between gimmick they are trying to pull simply isn’t working. His time anywhere near the ring is done and he continues to look worse by the week. No one cares about the FTW belt. A title that meant nothing 20 years ago, means even less now.
Get him back behind the commentating desk, and let him excel instead of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.
