Mr. Kennedy is officially back with WWE after nearly 17 years away from the company. Ken Anderson, best known to WWE fans as Mr. Kennedy, has signed a WWE Legends deal, bringing him back into business with the company that fired him in 2009.
Ringside News has learned that Anderson has signed the deal, marking a major turnaround for the former WWE Superstar. His original run ended under controversial circumstances after he was once considered a future main event star.
Kennedy made his WWE debut in 2005 and quickly became popular for his loud personality and signature ring introductions. He won the United States Championship in 2006 and captured the Money in the Bank briefcase at WrestleMania 23 in 2007, putting him in position for a potential world championship run.
That opportunity never happened. Kennedy suffered an injury scare that led WWE to have him lose the briefcase to Edge, and his momentum never fully recovered. He was eventually released on May 29, 2009, just days after a match involving Randy Orton. Concerns about his in-ring safety played a major role in the controversy surrounding his departure.
After leaving WWE, Anderson joined TNA Wrestling, where he dropped the Kennedy name and became Mr. Anderson. He found success there, winning the TNA World Heavyweight Championship twice and proving he could still be a major player outside WWE.
Kennedy isn’t the only former star getting back into business with WWE. Spike Dudley recently signed a WWE Legends deal, while Necro Butcher also announced an agreement despite never wrestling for WWE. The Godfather also signed a new five-year Legends contract earlier this year.
WWE Legends deals typically allow the company to use former wrestlers for merchandise, action figures, video games, and other projects. Anderson’s agreement doesn’t mean he’s returning to television or getting back in the ring, and there are currently no confirmed plans for an appearance.
Still, this is a pretty big deal considering how things ended between Kennedy and WWE. He went from being one of the company’s fastest-rising stars to getting fired before ever winning a world championship. Now, nearly two decades later, he’s back under contract with the company that once let him go.
Do you think Mr. Kennedy deserves one more run in WWE, or should his return stay limited to a Legends deal? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
