On January 12, 1992 Shawn Michaels pulled off one of the best executed heel turns in pro wrestling history. Michaels and Marty Jannetty, up to that point known as The Rockers, were one of the most athletic and exciting tag teams of the late 80s and early 90s. They wrestled in the NWA, AWA & eventually the WWF, where they would split up and go their separate ways. That split was solidified on air during Brutus ‘The Barber’ Beefcake’s “Barbershop” segment, where Michaels would throw his former friend and partner through the barbershop window:

Most people know how the story went from there: Shawn Michaels went on to have a hall of fame career, while Marty Jannetty became the symbol of the weakest link in any future tag team breakup storyline. That brings us to last night, where Big Cass officially turned on his friend and partner Enzo Amore:

While this segment wasn’t on par with the Michaels/Jannetty turn, it was still well done and unlike most storylines in WWE, it’s been building up for awhile. Enzo Amore has been mysteriously attacked for weeks, but the story has been playing out for much longer than that. All it takes is one look at Enzo & Cass to see who the star of the team is, especially since they’ve debuted on RAW. They were Full Sail darlings in NXT, but once they debuted on RAW, Enzo was portrayed as the weakest link that could only skate by when Cass was there to help him. Week after week Enzo would get pummeled, and Cass would either make the save, or they would lose their match.

I’ve read a few internet comments on the heel turn that thought it wasn’t the best timing, but once you do a little bit of research, their win/loss record is staggering, and not in a good way. Per profightdb.com, Enzo & Cass have won 4 televised matches this year. Four! I know wins and losses aren’t the only measuring stick in pro wrestling, but this isn’t exactly The Shield breaking up in their prime. Enzo is entertaining on the microphone and they have their catchphrases, but I don’t think that’s enough in WWE. Were they fun? Sometimes, but I need more than the same catchphrase and dance moves out of wrestlers I’m going to root for consistently.

As good as Cass’s promo was, the true test for him is going to be what comes next. Shawn Michaels turned that barbershop window segment into a hall of fame career. Can Cass do the same thing? I hope so.

-Ryan