Billy Kidman: The making
of a superstar
By Frank Amato
As an emerging
superstar in World Championship Wrestling, does Billy Kidman
fully understand what is expected of him?
"The pressures that are put on Billy by management and by
himself can become all-consuming--if he allows them to,"
Bret Hart explains. "Hey, I'm a huge fan of Kidman, and if
there's anything I can do to make his move to the next level of
competition at all smoother--he's got it."
Cruiserweight titlist today, and who knows, maybe shots at the
U.S. or the WCW Tag Team titles are right around the corner
for the likable Easterner. Dean Malenko, Chris Benoit, Eddie
Guerrero and Chris Jericho, all considered to be members of the
promotion's "A" list is talent, have sucessfully cut
ties from being labeled as "just a cruiserwight."
Kidman, 23, is younger than all four were when they broke away
from competing in a specific weight classification. And his
superstar status continued to be solidified with recent wins over
Rey Misterio Jr. and Juventud Guerrera.
Amazingly, a rotator cuff injury and a debilitating groin injury
weren't enough to cause Kidman to cancel a songle booking as
1999 was welcomed in. With his body badly needing a rest, coupled
with new cruiserweights infiltrating WCW, like Mikey Whipwreck
(formarly of ECW), there appears to be an air of invincibility
surrounding Billy.
With phenomal showings despite his injuries, concerned veterans
like Saturn have conveyd to himthe importance of longevity
to a wrestler's overall well-being.
Saturn says: "I told him, 'Brother, enjoy the ride but pace
yourself. It's no disgrace to take a night or two off when
your body is asking for it.' I thought and acted just like he is
when I started out in New England. But I still had to learn
everything by trial and error. The sooner Billy realizes he isn't
Superman, the better off his career will be."
With the increased booking commitments and public appearances on
behalf of WCW has transformed his life--personal
and otherwise--into one word: hectic! This is where Kidman's
personal character must avoid the pitfalls which others before
him, hailed as a "sure thing," were sucked into.
With little margin of error, failure to remain dedicated inside
and out of the ring ropes would land Billy back in New Jeresy
and Pennsylvania competing for what amounts to now as cab fare
with independent promotions.
"Billy is a home-grown superstar in WCW," Dean Malenko
saya. "Being a champion at any level, at best, is a fluid
situation.
(Billy) has the tools at what it takes to be someone special in
this sport for many years to come, but does he have the
discipline?"
Breaking away from Raven's Flock, and the power of persuasion of
its robotic-like behaving members, is what definitely started the
ball rolling in Kidman's favor.
Kanyon, the lone holdover from the Flock, continues to display
hostilities towards Kidman. And although Kanyon is well above the
sanctioned 220 lbs. weight limit for the cruiser contests, Billy
hasn't side-stepped battles instigated by him.
"The weight of my opponents, from a championship standpoint,
is vital when we sign contracts," Kidman says. "But if
the strap
isn't and issue, hell, I have enough confidence in my Shooting
Star Press and a few submission moves that anyone is fair game
for me."
Tabbed by his peers as someone who has "made it," but
has not forgotten his roots and those who made it possible to
reach
the major leagues, Kidman has emerged as a player almost everyone
has a positive word to say about. However, being around the
larger-than-life behemoths like Hollywood Hogan, Kevin Nash,
and Goldberg, all earning contracts in the millions, can have an
intoxicating effect on any wrestler.
This is where Billy must remain rational when reviewing his
options in WCW.
"Eric took a chance on giving me an opprotunity,"
Kidman says. "I am thankful for that and have told him. But
am I a fan of
Eric and his nWo? No way."
Growth is essential in any craft to remain competitive. Those,
like Hogan, have said that the hardest struggles that they've
faced was not getting to the top but staying at that level. This
should send the signal to Kidman that his status in WCW is always
fragile, at best.
"Look toward the future, but live for today is what I've
told my buddy Billy Kidman," Chris Benoit says. "Trust
few,
confide in fewer, and always bust your butt in the ring for the
fans. If the fans think your slacking off, the'll turn on you
before you tknow what happened."
So far so good for Kidman. With most of WCW behind, things should
only get brighter.