I was on the creative team for a hair over four months -- from the last week of July to the early part of December 2002 -- but I can proudly say that I was a part of it for three of the most infamous storylines in the history of wrestling, ever -- the Billy & Chuck commitment ceremony, the whole Al Wilson saga, and the storyline I get asked about more than any other by far, the Katie Vick saga.
(And for the record, I was there for a lot of good stuff too, but the bad stuff is way more fun to talk about!)
I'll get into the Katie Vick thing more in detail as the weeks go on (key rule of building an audience -- leave 'em wanting more. Someone please call Vince and let him know. He woulda told you the whole story in the opening segment of AM RAW). But for now, I thought I'd give you the story on where the actual name "Katie Vick" comes from.
Flashback to October 2002. We're on Air McMahon (Vince's private jet, which was pretty sweet, by the way -- great roast-beef finger sandwiches) flying out to Las Vegas for the first Raw Roulette show (name of the show was Jim Ross' idea). We were coming off of Unforgiven and starting the hard sell for Triple H vs. Kane at No Mercy (another great story for down the line)!
The main event of the evening was to be the four-way Tag Team TLC Match that was voted Best Raw Match of the Century at that pitiful 10th anniversary show. The plan was that after Kane and Hurricane won that match, Triple H would come out and accuse Kane of being a murderer.
So we're on Air McMahon, finalizing the rundown for RAW (not that any rundown was ever really final), and it's time to give this "murdered girl" a name.
Someone had the idea that maybe it could turn out that she'd be related to someone else on the roster, perhaps someone who hadn't debuted yet who could show up down the line to feud with Kane over his sister's death. Yes, they actually thought this storyline could not only last the month, but also give the rub to new talent. For the record, most of us writers knew it was destined to wind up in the XFL pile.
So we took out our "roster" (a simple sheet of paper that lists babyfaces down one side and heels down the other, with all contracted developmental talent on the bottom -- a very easy way to organize who's available at any given time). We went name by name, rejecting anyone on the current roster, and finally coming to the name Scott Vick.
All we'd known about Scott was that he'd done some stuff in WCW as "Sick Boy." He was in WWE's developmental ranks at the time, and I don't remember 100%, but I think Jim Ross or someone might have put him over a bit.
We thought "Vick" was a cool name, and thought that if things panned out, it might be a good way to reintroduce Scott down the line, to give him an instant storyline, so "Vick" it was.
But what about a first name? It was Stephanie McMahon herself who offered the name "Katie," seemingly just a random name she threw out there, though she may have had a reason for it, I'm not really sure. But that's how the name "Katie Vick" came to be.
So yes, the dead girl was to be the sister of the "Sick Boy." Which I guess would have made him and Kane brothers-in-law if she hadn't died in that accident? Which would have made Paul Bearer his ... ah, forget it.
Comments (29)
Interesting stuff. This site is very cool, I've liked pretty much all the articles posted so far. Good work.
Interesting stuff. This site is very cool, I've liked pretty much all the articles posted so far. Good work.
i enjoy your site greatly looking forward to more!! great work!
When was Scott Vick released? I remember at the time that I thought it was strange since he hadn't been around developmental for 2 years or so.
Are you sure it wasn't Katie "F"ick?
Dear God...did Marc Mero have Sable airbrushed OUT of that WWF magazine cover? The one on his wall in the video. Cuz if so, that's hilarious.
I just found this blog today. I actually think Kane has been ruined (along with many other "Stars" like the Big Show). I wasn't a fan of the Katie Vick angle. Was he masked at the time?
The Katie Vick storyline was the last time I ever watched WWE, and I used to watch it religiously, never missing a Monday RAW (or most of the PPVs) from the Hart-Michaels incident to that point. At that moment, it was so absurd and insulting that I couldn't stomach supporting what the McMahons (and HHH by extension) was telling me I would like.
Yeah, the Katie Vick thing was real bad. I would say that since that day Kane has gone downhill. From probably being the next Undertaker to what he's now, it's a shame.
I'm with Keith, the Katie Vick thing was really the end of an era for me, as I haven't been a religious wrestling fan since. I've still watched Raw, but not regularly by any means since, pretty much tuning out completely in '03 and '05, watching semi-regularly in '04 when what's-his-name was World Champ, and tuning in a bit during ECW's resurrection in '06 (tuning back out after RVD's title reign went up in smoke). And instead of watching Raw right now, I'm typing this post. So thanks, Vince, for killing off your fanbase with Katie Vick.
If only they called her Katie Cena
Good stuff! I'm looking forward to reading more of your blogs.
I thought this was a way for them to bring Scott Vick in, but I've never known for sure. Great article, can't wait to read more!
What does murder have to do with wrestling? What did HHH have to do with Katie Vick? Never ever use an off screen character in an angle. That is screen writing 101. I can see why you are no longer a writer for the company.
At least with the Kane, Undertaker, Paul Bearer saga, it was three characters on screen. At least with Torie Wilson, Al Wilson and Dawn Marie, it was all characters on screen.
If death is that marketable to sell a PPV, why not have Ric Flair come out and say Vince McMahon was behind the death of Owen Hart to hype up a program?
Like the site, should be an interesting read in the coming weeks but if you keep taking little pot shots at the WWE and McMahon you will only come across as a right bitter ex-employee prick.
McMahon may not have made his millions off brilliant storytelling (more with strong branding imho) but he has made them.
Give the guy a break, it was a good article. I look forward to more.
Really not sure why you would say they are potshots if in fact they are true? I would love some more stories like this.
Great blog - just discovered it. I used to watch WWE religiously
until this angle. HHH's ridiculously long title reign and the Katie Vick saga is why I stopped watching. Looking forward to the follow up...
In the end, the Katie Vick story was brilliant!
Years later, here we are, still disgusting, I mean discussing it. Cadaver-licious!
As classless as the storyline was, the angle will always be remembered, despite getting nixed early. Besides, Katie lives on, just Facebook her!
They could have called her Katie Bush and the angle would still have bombed. This company, with the exception of WrestleMania XX main event of Benoit/HBK/HHH, has seriously tanked since it became WWE. At least when it was the WWF, it felt like wrestling and was more exciting and entertaining. You didn't have a stupid Diva Search, an illegitimate child angle involving Angle, necrophilia, Eric Bischoff as a GM, or any of this other crap that has invaded our screen since May 2002. It may have been only one letter change in the name but it ruined this company.
That should have read "an illegitimate child angle involving Vince, not Angle. Sorry for the confusion.
eah, i was pretty much a WCW guy,nWo "mark" until Vince kiled that ff too. Katie Vick ruined WWE for me. grewup, before moving to San Diego, watching Paul Boesch's promotion in person in Houston and WCCW. I do watch the "Circus" every once in awhile, mainly for Flair, espite his age, I saw him many times in person. So very little Raw, no Smackdown and no ECW, f I want to see the circus, I'll go to Cirque du Soleil . I support the Indies. AND even though they will neer knoc Vince out, I watch TNA, as you doget more bang for your buck on the PPV. All they ned to do is end the love affair of Vince "I created the Atitude Era" Russo.
what a great story. ill never forget that raw when hhh came at the end and was like "kane...youre a murderrrrrrrrrrr". just awesome. and when "kane" was fucking katie in the casket...that was hilarious---alot of people have a beef with that but i could not stop laughing.
my buddy thought of a way to put kane over since hes pretty much in limbo. have him come out with a young girl and name her "katie" ---just katie...and make no reference to her being katie vick but of course it would be obvious
Oh, c'mon, you're missing the obvious one here. There's a Katie on RAW already.
...yeah, I know. Someone's probably reading this, and it's going to happen, now.
hated the katie vick angle.. but I have to admit... when "kane" was doing katie in the casket.. and said "i guess i really did screw your brains out"...well....i almost crapped myself.
hated the katie vick angle.. but I have to admit... when "kane" was doing katie in the casket.. and said "i guess i really did screw your brains out"...well....i almost crapped myself.
It's funny. On some wrestling IRC chats some smarks were joking that Katie Vick is the brother of Sick Boy.
Too bad about Sick Boy, I thought he had some talent that never got any recognition.
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