10 Most Shocking 2023 Wrestler Transformations
9. Big Bill
Again: why sign W. Morrissey?
Why sign W. Morrissey when Tony Khan did not have the TV time with which to get the most out of the House of Black, Ortiz, oh, and 95% of his entire women's division?
After eating a pin to Wardlow as part of MJF's crusade to weaken him ahead of Double Or Nothing '22, Big Bill was installed as the heavy for the short-lived Firm stable. He was in the shape of his life, and it was a genuinely stirring comeback story, but he was inessential: just another wrestler you could only invest in to a point.
Mired in the nonsense that was Matt Hardy Contract Lore across the first few months of the year, Big Bill broke free and was basically incredible in every way.
He stole the Double Or Nothing International Title Battle Royal by kicking everybody's head in from seemingly out of nowhere - some feat, given what a unit the man is. Big Bill was impossibly dynamic for a big man, and occupied the spaces between his improbably brilliant moves with just exquisitely heel work.
Big Bill - rightly rewarded with a World Tag Team title reign alongside Ricky Starks - was the perfect heel. He has the face you'd most like to punch, but never would punch because he'd kill you, and is also really, really funny without being too funny.
His act occupies a state of pure and beautiful equilibrium.