Mind of Michaels: Experiencing Brad Maddox (Edition #3)

By Chris Michaels

Referee misses a foot on the ropes and the opponent wins. Who would have thought that would be a way that a superstar would debut? October 28, 2012. We are headed into one of the most anticipated WWE Championship matches in recent memory; the immovable object, WWE Champion, “The Best in the World” CM Punk vs. the unstoppable force, the undefeated challenger, Ryback. After an intense battle and the gaining of confidence from the champion, but the sudden change in wind with Ryback came seconds away from ending the most prestigious reign in WWE history the unthinkable happened; the referee, Brad Maddox, got in the way of, “Big Hungry” halting him from executing his finisher, The Shellshock. This is the moment that altered history when Brad Maddox dropped down to his knees and hit a low blow assisting Punk in retaining the WWE Championship. This is where the Brad Maddox experience began.

After that faithful night we got to hear an explanation from Maddox and he explained that it was all him, he did it to make his mark after years of trials and failures, and do whatever means necessary to become a WWE Superstar. Mr. McMahon granted his request giving him the opportunity of a one million dollar contract, if and only if, he could defeat Ryback that following week. Ryback demolished Maddox and he was left without cashing in on his chance to make his dream a reality. This would not be the last time we see Maddox as he begged RAW and SmackDown General Managers for, “One more shot!” of earning a contract only to come up short against WWE superstars like; The Great Khali, Sheamus, Randy Orton, and Brodus Clay. Brad Maddox is still attempting to receive a contract with the WWE and has recently owned up to working for Punk and Heyman along with The Shield.

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Brad Maddox has had a very bump road in the WWE so far, but with time I believe Brad Maddox could be the breakout star similar to how AJ became the breakout star of 2012 by not getting over in the ring, but getting over as a character like he has been. Brad Maddox is supposedly said to be a, “project” of HHH’s so he already has the backstage support. While he has never got the biggest pops or the largest amount of heat from fans the IWC is gradually coming to like Brad Maddox. So why exactly does he have so much support? I will tell you.

Brad Maddox has a marketable look to him everything about his appearance even down to his clothing is something that can put on poster or in front of a camera. Brad Maddox has the personality to get himself over in the WWE. He has a very unorthodox speaking pattern whenever he cuts promos. He can be really loud and make you believe in his hype, he can speak very low so you have to listen, and he patterns the timing of his words to make them come off uniquely, his presentation of what he says makes you intrigued in whatever he is spewing from his mouth. Brad Maddox’s in-ring abilities, even though they have not been displayed, are not horrible, but he isn’t the best either. His gimmick is eccentric, but one thing that separates people like; Punk, Heyman, and Dean Ambrose from everyone else are their subtle actions and Brad Maddox shows that with his facials and his body language and because of those subtleties he pulls you in and you know that whatever you are experiencing it is something you are unsure about, but you just cannot look away. 

Many people will wonder how I got this much information about Maddox from just a few short segments on WWE television, lets just say, I did my research. I watched his material from FCW and everything he has done on WWE and I am a believer in Brad Maddox like I believe in Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Bray Wyatt (many will know him as Husky Harris). Brad Maddox uses every second of time he is given to leave an impression on the WWE Universe using his strengths to display and not necessarily his weaknesses. In the next year I see Maddox eventually getting his WWE contract and becoming a focal point personality on WWE television, again, similar to what AJ has done. While I do not see him putting on many five star classics or, hell, even main eventing any time soon I can guarantee you that you will be talking about Brad Maddox by the end of the night. Brad Maddox’s career is on simmer, but it’s only a matter a time before it heats up and we truly get to feel the Brad Maddox Experience.