The recent episode of “WWE SmackDown” marked its debut on the USA Network, introducing new theme music and graphics. Fans witnessed an exciting lineup that featured a world title steel cage match, an appearance from Triple H, and the much-anticipated return of Roman Reigns.
One standout moment involved Ricky Gibson, a “local enhancement talent,” who was set to be Kevin Owens’ tag team partner before Randy Orton intervened.Once Orton arrived, Owens quickly delivered a Stunner to Gibson, leading into his match against A-Town Down Under. After the episode, WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray shared insights about the prupose of the pre-match angle on “Busted Open Radio.”
“Before Friday, did you know who Ricky Gibson was before he became Kevin Owens’ mystery partner?” Bully questioned. “Now, thanks to Friday night, you do. … That’s the power of WWE television. … Within 90 seconds, they turned Ricky Gibson into a recognizable name. They have the ability to raise anyone if they choose.”
While Bully doesn’t anticipate Gibson becoming a regular fixture or receiving a major push, he believes there’s potential to craft a character similar to Mikey Whipwreck from ECW. He suggested that Gibson could evoke audience sympathy without needing to score much offense, leading to a remarkable moment, such as an unexpected win at a big event like WrestleMania.
“Can you imagine if someone like Logan Paul issued an open challenge at WrestleMania and Ricky Gibson answered, rolling him up for a surprise victory?” Bully proposed.
Bully also compared Gibson to former WWE star Santino Marella, known for blending comedy with wrestling. Although Gibson did not appear again on “SmackDown” after the Stunner, Bully remains optimistic about his future appearances, considering the positive response to the segment.