Its Don Callis’ World. We’re Just Living In It
The modern wrestling fan may very well be aware of who Don Callis is, but they may not be aware of where he came from. Even a 30 year vet of a fan like myself (albeit sheltered under the dome of ‘WWE only’ viewing) would even be forgiven for not knowing that he himself was in fact once a wrestler. Even more shocking to know he had incredible long locks of hair! Sure he looked like if Eddie Vedder fucked a slimy car salesman, they had a kid, and that kid grew up to be the guy who told Don Callis he should get into wrestling, but he was indeed…
The Virus
Once going by the name “Cyrus”, he really started gaining momentum when he became The Jackyl for the WWF. I miss the action movies of the 90’s too. Don was originally supposed to debut as a tag team with Rick Martel, with plans of turning on Rick to make him into a babyface for the first time since WrestleMania V. Rick’s time with WWF came to an end and Don was left without a partner and gimmick. They eventually debuted him as the Jackyl, a charismatic cult of personality type with a messiah complex. He mostly managed, but wrestled on Shotgun Saturday Night and some house shows. See Don developed a knack for leech- I mean managing others, like the Oddities, The Acolytes, The Truth Commission and The Network. Don has been a collector of misfit talent since 1997
Humble mid-ginnings?
For those of us who are newer to the wider world of pro wrestling, you may have seen Don as a regular part of TNA/iMPACT Wrestling the a few years ago, sharing commentating duties, on screen personality and Executive Vice President among others. He’s always been exceptional at the desk, he knows how to put over even people he claims to hate with every fiber of his being, but hey, that’s how the business works. Really great heels will compliment and show some true respect before giving the face a verbal lashing that would make a lesser man cry.
So how does Don Callis go from middling commentator to one of the most diabolical movers and shakers the industry has seen since Paul Hayman? And if we’re being honest here? Don might be every bit the slimly, greasy, equal the Wiseman. (God what a Forbidden Door meeting of the minds that would look like if those two crossed paths) [Taz Voice] Digression Jones ova here!
Well the answer, which is becoming more common in the WWE excluded wide world of Pro Wrestling, is Kenny Omega.
From the way he talked and hyped up Kenny, it was very clear that he was a snake in the grass. He actively tried to separate Kenny from the Young Bucks, to destroy the Elite. Even while claiming to be operating in Kenny’s best interests, it was very clear to see that Don was making moves in the background and all he needed was the right opportunity to pounce, and it arrived in the form of AEW Winter is Coming. a Pandemic era TV event that signaled the abrupt change that we knew was coming because Moxley had beating everyone to retain his World Title and Kenny Omega was on the hunt, and would not be denied.
But deny Mox would! At least it looked that way, as Mox had bested Kenny once before, it looked like the Best Bout Machine still couldn’t get one over on the Death Rider. Don Callis leaped at the opportunity to cause a distraction, Mox punched him so hard, his lapel flower disintegrated all over the ring and ramp, in the process Don drops a microphone in the ring. Kenny takes the opportunity to brain Moxley with it while the ref is distracted. Kenny then spams his v triggers, one winged angel, 1,2,3..its all over!
Don immediately leaps into action though, he doesn’t celebrate with Kenny to close out the show, no he quickly grabs the belt and usher’s Kenny away to the parking lot to jump in a waiting vehicle, uttering the famous words, “We’ll tell you all about it on Thursday! on iMPACT!”
Even the commentators didn’t realize what he just said and the implications. Don was now fully in control of Kenny Omega and by extension, the AEW World Championship. But his nefarious plans didn’t stop there.
Don took Kenny to iMPACT to reunite him with the Good Brother’s and to cuckold the veteran promotion in the first of many decisions they would make to put championship titles on talent signed to other promotions.
Kenny has always been the heart of and center of Don Callis’ story, when Kenny dropped all his belts and took time off to heal, Don was not on TV. However the minute he returned, Don was again in tow, and this time his frustrations and worries about his golden goose was much more evident. He knows sooner or later he’s going to have to dispose of Kenny.
That was the move that did it, that launched him into the sun where his continued existence would fuel what can only be described as Nuclear Heat.
Fans would boo Don continuously and viscously for the next few years, often breaking out the classic “Fuck Don Callis” chants. But it was Don’s vendetta against Kenny that would drive him build a veritable empire. To combat the Elite he had to hire and recruit heavy hitters, ironically naming them the Don Callis Family. A stable of random talent that now one assumed would get over or do anything of worth, and anything but a family.
And in typical random misfits thrown together fashion, the stable would keep evolving, gaining and losing new members, injured stars returning and feuding with. But the magic is in the name sake, Don is an exceptional mouth piece. Delivering competent by pro wrestling standards, promos that the various talent under his wings, otherwise would be floundering trying to achieve on their own.
He also started acting as an agent and glorified manager, sitting in on commentary for every one of his goon’s matches in order to justify his actions as being driven by business and his own personal morality.
Simply put, Don became the guy we all love to hate. But perhaps in an unintended twist, the crowd has started becoming obsessed with him. Fans have taken to dressing up in cosplay for a stretch of a few weeks in what was becoming a very disturbing trend. And despite his best efforts, the faction has slowly become a legit force to be reckoned with. Working quietly in the background while audiences didn’t react well to the Death Riders storyline.
And now with Moxley’s story winding down from the A-position, the DCF is poised to take center stage as the eminent heel group not just in AEW but possibly in all of wrestling. Paul Heyman acts as an advisor of sorts who probably manipulates some things. Don knows exactly what he is and makes no effort to hide it. He very much is in control of his faction and points them like a gun at anyone who has wronged him.
If Moxley was an allegory for brute force fascism, taking power in a shocking and violent manner, Don represents the hidden fear, the one we don’t see until its too late, the slow and methodical rise to power, Don is patient, devious and cunning. Don might be the physical embodiment of Capitalism itself. He cares not about any of the talent in his ward. He only cares about what they can do to benefit him. His now re-union with the Bucks who I have felt were stand ins for the wealthy billionaire class, would seem to support this.
Don Callis is like a bad penny, he just keeps popping up and won’t go away, not until Kenny Omega gets him one on one in a cage match.
