Great-ing Gimmicks of the Past: Berlyn – WCW, 1999
History
Alex Wright had signed with WCW in 1994 while they were touring in Germany. After nearly 5 years, WCW decided it was time for a makeover.
On the March 14 Nitro, things were going normally as Psychosis, Juventud Guerrera, and Blitzkrieg were taking on Rey Mysterio, Jr. in a four-way match for the WCW Cruiserweight title. Before Psychosis won the title, the cameras suddenly panned into the crowd, where a mysterious man with a black Mohawk and dressed in dark clothes was seated ringside.
This was also shortly before the tragic shootings at Columbine High School, which occurred in April of that year. Due to the new character’s look and dress, WCW immediately shelved their plans for him.
He would make his return in September of 1999 as vignettes began airing for Berlyn. Finally, he made his debut on the 30th. He made his first appearance by exiting a limo (Mercedes, in a nice touch) in the back, accompanied by private security guards and a translator. The translator was necessary because, while Berlyn knew English, he would not demean himself by speaking it.
One he entered the arena, Mean Gene came over for an interview (after security frisked him). Through the interpreter (named Ute Ludendorf), Berlyn issued a challenge to Buff Bagwell. He concluded with his new catchphrase – losing is not acceptable.
Later in the night, Bagwell took on Van Hammer. Berlyn’s entourage made their way to ringside to take notes on Bagwell.
The next week, we saw footage of Bagwell signing autographs. Berlyn made his way out and watched. Finally Buff started trash talking him, and Berlyn responded in German. Security prevented Bagwell from getting his hands on him.
That brought us to Fall Brawl, where Berlyn took on… Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Berlyn easily won (with a little help from his bodyguard), and then Buff Bagwell came running out. Apparently his plane had been late. He tried to hug Duggan, and Duggan just shoved him away.
Berlyn finally took on Bagwell the next night, as Ute joined the commentary team. Although Bagwell dominated the match, the bodyguard got a good shot in which allowed Berlyn to hit his neckbreaker. Winner – Berlyn.
The next week, Berlyn was set to take on Scott Armstrong. This time, Berlyn was in control of the match (although the cheap shot or two from the bodyguard didn’t hurt). Berlyn won but locked on a chinlock after the match. That brought Brad Armstrong out to break this up.
Berlyn took on Evan Karagias on the following Nitro with a new twist – he now demanded silence during his matches. After Berlyn won, he locked on another chinlock. That brought Brad Armstrong back out to break it up, only he wound up getting beaten down by Berlyn and his bodyguard for his trouble.
On the October 4th Nitro, Brad Armstrong faced down Berlyn. He informed Berlyn that he should speak English because he was in the United States and stormed off.
Later that night, Armstrong was taking on Curt Hennig when Berlyn and the bodyguard came out. Armstrong caught Berlyn with a shot, which gave the bodyguard the opening he needed to clock Armstrong. Hennig hit the Hennigplex for the win, then Berlyn locked Armstrong in the chinlock after the match.
The next week, Berlyn and his bodyguard jumped Brad Armstrong as he arrived at the arena. As they turned to leave, Armstrong grabbed Berlyn’s cane and hit the bodyguard with it in the stomach. Then security showed up and separated the two of them.
Brad went on to face La Parka that night. Berlyn made his way out as the referee went down. Armstrong dumped La Parka to the floor, where the bodyguard beat Parka up and then threw him back in. Berlyn hit Armstrong with his neckbreaker, but there was one problem – Armstrong landed on top of La Parka and got the win.
Later, Berlyn took on Norman Smiley, where he easily picked up the win.
On Thursday, Berlyn made his Thunder debut as he took on Prince Iaukea. Berlyn was dominating the match and broke up several pinfalls before he let the bodyguard take a shot at Iaukea. Berlyn then covered and got an easy pin.
The next Nitro (the first under Vince Russo and Ed Ferrera) saw Berlyn taking on Rick Steiner. Steiner was dominating when Brad Armstrong came out. The bodyguard tried to hit Armstrong with a chair, but Armstrong ducked and Steiner got blasted. Berlyn got the quick pin and cleared out. Armstrong tried to apologize to Steiner, but Steiner started choking him, and then beat him up all the way to the back
By this time, Ute was long gone. Her absence was felt keenly on the October 23rd Worldwide. Mean Gene was trying to conduct an interview with Berlyn, only Berlyn kept replying to him in fluent German. Gene tried to get the bodyguard to translate with no luck.
That brought us to Halloween Havoc, where Berlyn took on Brad Armstrong. Armstrong wound up winning, then got attacked by Berlyn after the bell.
On the 28th’s Thunder, Mean Gene tried talking to Berlyn again. Berlyn finally consented to speak English, and then said that his master plan was well underway.
November 1st’s Nitro opened with Vampiro taking on Berlyn in a first-round match of the WCW World title tournament. After Vampiro won (with the help of the Misfits), Berlyn grabbed the microphone and screamed “No more screw Berlyn!”
Berlyn tagged with Curly Bill (Vincent/Virgil) on Thunder to take on the tag team champions, the Filthy Animals (Kidman & Konnan). Berlyn wrestled most of the match and then finally tagged Bill in. Bill finally tried to tag out, but Berlyn ignored him, and the bodyguard explained things further with a punch to the head. Konnan locked the Tequila Sunrise on Bill for an easy win.
The tournament continued on Nitro as Vampiro took on Buff Bagwell. Just as Vampiro was taking charge of the match, Berlyn came out and clocked him with a set of brass knuckles. Buff easily hit the Blockbuster for the win. As Berlyn and the bodyguard beat down Vampiro and the Misfits, Creative Control (the ever-popular Harris Twins) came out to attack them for allowing Buff Bagwell to advance in the tournament. Later in the night, it was announced that it would be Vampiro vs. Berlyn at Mayhem.
Thunder saw Gene Okerlund talking with Berlyn again. As Gene brought up Das Wunderkind Alex Wright, Berlyn shut Gene up and threatened to put him in a wheelchair for mentioning that.
Berlyn went on to take on Curly Bill. Berlyn had control of the match when one of the Misfits came out and told him they were all waiting for him to meet them in the back. The bodyguard left to investigate. That allowed Vampiro to run in and nail Berlyn with a chain for the DQ. Curly Bill then covered Berlyn and counted his own three count, only to get beaten down by the bodyguard. Apparently beating up Curly Bill was fun, because when we saw Berlyn and the bodyguard later in the night, they were still at it.
Vampiro and the Misfits were taking on Berlyn and his bodyguard (now named The Wall) on Nitro. The match ended when the Wall chokeslammed Vampiro and got the pin. Berlyn then attacked Vampiro with a chain.
On the 20th, Berlyn made his Saturday Night debut as he took on Johnny Attitude. Easy win for Berlyn.
That brought us to Mayhem, and that wasn’t a good thing. The Vampiro/Berlyn dog collar match was upstaged by Oklahoma (a Jim Ross imitatin’ Ed Ferrera) and Dr. Death Steve Williams as they came out to the ringside area and shilled barbecue sauce. Finally Berlyn and Wall argued and Wall left, which allowed Vampiro to get the win. Then Dr. Death obliterated Vampiro and Jerry Only (of the Misfits).
Vampiro took on the Wall at the next Nitro (again with Oklahoma and Dr. Death at ringside). The match ended when Berlyn clocked Vampiro with a chair for a DQ. The Wall was furious and began ignoring Berlyn’s commands, so Berlyn slapped him. That caused the Wall to chase him to the back.
Berlyn took on Frankie Lancaster on the following Saturday Night and won easily.
Jerry Flynn took on the Wall on the next Nitro. Berlyn finally blasted Flynn with a lead pipe and ordered the Wall to leave. Wall grabbed the pipe and chased Berlyn to the back with it.
Thunder saw the Wall taking on Norman Smiley for the Hardcore title. Berlyn made his way out to join the commentators and said that the Wall would apologize to him for his actions. The match ended when Berlyn nailed the Wall with the title belt and Norman landed on top of the Wall.
December 16th’s Thunder had the Wall taking on Dr. Death. Just as Oklahoma prepared to get involved, Berlyn chased him off. Berlyn then popped Dr. Death, drawing a DQ, which caused the Wall to attack him.
The Wall had Sid Vicious on Nitro. After Berlyn had saved the Wall from two Sid chokeslams, he headed up top. Unfortunately, the men in the ring moved, and Berlyn hit the Wall with a missile dropkick. That caused Berlyn to start trash-talking Sid, who answered with a powerbomb before he shook the Wall’s hand and raised it.
And that was that. The Wall wound up with a nice midcard push. As for Berlyn? He shaved off the rest of his hair and came back as Alex Wright, who promptly began tagging with the Disco Inferno as the Boogie Knights.
Analysis
The idea of Berlyn started off with so much potential and nosedived so fast. Berlyn had a great-looking entrance, and the entourage was also a good idea. That was why Ute disappearing was a mistake – if the wrestler speaks German, you need someone to translate for him. His final condescension to speak English just watered down the character even more.
Anyway, he looks like a genuine threat as he comes in, and then he challenges… Buff Bagwell. Buff who might have been lucky to make it into the upper midcard Bagwell. Not exactly the marquee name I would’ve chosen.
Also, blowing off the Bagwell match at Fall Brawl made absolutely no sense. Why bait and switch with Duggan only to do the match the next night on free TV? Granted, Duggan would have worked well in the angle, but not when he’s thrown in at the very last second on a pay-per-view.
Things were looking up with the Scott Armstrong and Vampiro feuds. Scott Armstrong was a perfect feud – USA vs. Germany. We got a decent blowoff from it, and then it was on to Vampiro. And then the Vampiro feud got overshadowed by Dr. Death/Vampiro. At this point you knew something was going on and Berlyn was sliding downhill. The Wall feud completely killed the character.
Again, Berlyn had a ton of potential and fizzled out under the Russo regime. He would’ve never been a great world champion, but a US title run would have been interesting. It would have been perfect to use the angle here that Lance Storm would use a year later – Berlyn wins the US title and renames it something similar to the German National title. How hard would it have been to wrap a couple of other guys in the US flag to feud with him?
Where are they now?
Alex Wright remained with WCW in the Boogie Knights tag team until the WWF buyout in 2001. Following the buyout, Wright returned home to his native Germany, where he still wrestles occasionally. He has not been seen on US television since.
The Wall (Jerry Tuite) would go on to join General Rection (Hugh Morrus – Bill DeMott)’s Misfits in Action as Sgt. AWOL. After the buyout, he was picked up by the WWF. However, Tuite was involved heavily with drugs, and the WWF wound up releasing him (telling him that he would be welcomed back if he cleaned himself up). In June of 2002, Tuite, now known as Malice, made his debut with TNA. The following February he began wrestling for All Japan Pro Wrestling as Gigantes. Tuite passed away December 6, 2003 of a heart attack.
Next Week
We take a look at a great WCW gimmick from this time period that you likely never saw.
