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A FAN IS BORN

It was all Mick Foley’s fault. My first experience with Ohio Valley wrestling was for an advertised appearance by Mick Foley. Due to a scheduling conflict, Mick was unable to attend. I debated whether or not to stay. But as I sat there in the parking lot, mark that I am, I actually asked myself “What would Mick want me to do?” The answer was simple. Everyone has to start in this business somewhere, and everyone deserves a good crowd to work in front of. It was with this thought that I entered Davis Arena for the first time. Little did I know…

Rico Costantino came to the ring arrogant, cocky and down right hilarious in his delivery of it. He was an attractive man, to say the least. But as I watched the match, my focus left that aspect of him and cenetered on his ability. When he climbed the turnbuckle, poised for a moonsault, I thought there was no way in the world in that tiny darkened venue he would be able to execute it. I think I forgot to breathe as his feet left his perch and his body revolved. He missed it, of course, he was a heel. (If you’re reading Rico, I’m still waiting for you to nail that sucker), but the sheer perfection of the miss allowed me to know I was seeing a pro, someone who was dedicated to what he was doing. I was glad I decided to stay.

The next week saw Raw live from Cincinnati, and Smackdown! Filmed in Louisville. Imagine my surprise when the dark match in Cinci featured Rico and Randy Orton. I was going to get to see him in action again. From the time he hit the ramp, the arrogance washed over the restless crowd, and the dislike for him was evident. Once again a wonderful match, once again a missed moonsault, but as well timed and executed as any move done later that night by any established performer.

Then, Rico himself, attempting to be incognitio I suppose, sat down a few rows in front of me, studying the matches from a fan’s eye view. He could have been in the back, absorbing it from that angle, but instead he was seeing what we saw. Another positive mark in my mind. It wasn’t long before he was recognized as someone, even though I wnder if the Ohio fans really knew much about him other than he had wrestled a few matches before. They approached him, in ones and fearful twos, and his graciousness with these would-be fans was overwhelming almost. He signed autographs there in the aisle. Posed for photos while he kept one eye on the action in the ring. He did not appear to be put off or bothered. I took a chance.

Tending to Kane’s pyro always takes a minute or two, so I choose that time to appraoch him. I wanted to tell him I enjoyed his work, and had a whole new respect for what the wrestlers had to endure. It may have been Mick Foley that got me to OVW, but Rico was the reason I would return. His smile and charm and appreciation nearly knocked me off my squatted position and flat on my butt. In this day and age for a celebrity, even a relatively minor one, to be so real and make such a connection, it was refreshing. Even now, a “regular” at OVW house shows and tapings, it is even more apparent to me how rare that kind of not only fan connection but people connection can be. Most of the OVW boys are quite fan friendly and accessible, but there’s an extra spark that in truth, I have only seen from very few performers, including Mick Foley and Chris Jericho. Rico had the makings of a star even then. There is a certain grace that accompanies celebrities who are grateful for that fame. Rico has it, and I have no fear it will leave him. It is ingrained it seems.

I have had the pleasure of watching from ringside as Rico has evolved from those back to back dark matches. I have seen him run the gambit in this business…face to heel and back again. Tag Team championships, angles that were so insufferably funny it brought tears to one’s eyes. I have seen him pull out moves from an arsenal so vast, I don’t think I’ll ever see them all. Just went you think you know what to expect from Rico, he surprises you. His finisher, the “Sudden Impact” isn’t even predictable, he doesn’t always choose to do that. I still thought I couldn’t get much more impressed with the man until I saw him in a match with a very green rookie who the whole wrestling world has high hopes for. He quite literally worked his butt off in that match to make that kid look good, and it wasn’t perceptible to anyone who didn’t know Rico’s style. That kid will make it some day, and I hope he remembers who helped him early on. I’m sure I’ll remind him if he should forget.

Now a new adventure for Rico. Just when I thought the WWF product was making no sense…the blending of WCW, ECW and the WWF. Just when I was beginning to fear that no one from OVW would get called up…the roster is overtaxed as it is, someone finally made a decision that will pay them back over and over. There is no one on the developemental roster right now that has both the drive and abilty to make it, and make it in a way that will surpass terminal mid-card-itis as Rico does. There is a lot of talent here in the valley. Ron Waterman and Steve Bradley are close, very close, and equally deserving success. Randy Orton is genetically predsposed to success in this business, and he has a heart for it, too. Nick Dinsmore and Flash and Leviathan are all waiting for the dust to settle and be given a chance. But Rico is ready NOW. The world, quite simply, needs a Role Model, and it’s too big a job for Mick Foley alone.
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