Ken Kennedy
All Axxess
by Guy “Bill” Gamble

Backstage (3)

Backstage Signature x1
Signing Appearance x1
Raw Deal Fifth Anniversary x1

Strategy Notes: Backstage Shenanigans is not a concern for Kennedy, so feel free to drop all three. Just beware of any Triple H incarnation that can drop Cerebral Assassin on you. Fifth Anniversary is one of the few recovery tools the deck employs, so if you must choose, choose it.

BACKLASH DECK (20)

Pre-Match (10)

Dare to Take a Challenge x1
Give ‘Em High Fives-TB x2
Houston, Texas x1
Linda and the Board of Directors x1
Managed by Vince McMahon-TB x1
Mr. Kennedy’s Mic x1
My Sacrifice x1
<Revolution> World Heavyweight Title x1
The Champ Is Here x1

Strategy Notes: This pre-match is set up to do several things: beef up your starting hand size, reduce your opponents opening hand size, allow you to play your entire pre-match and almost all your mid-match cards, and give you fuel for Over the Ropes via cards removed from the game and a big maneuver or two in the ringside to start the game. With Kennedy’s ability, there are a variety of ways to achieve all those requirements, but I settled on this one, as the heavy hand disruption should help you both offensively and defensively. Use Kennedy’s Mic to remove any reversal that might slow you down in the early going, such as It’s Great to be Back Here In… and The Return BASH for Scotty’s W-O-R-M, or certain superstar specifics. Remember to resolve Managed by Vince after all other effects so you can pick up those cards discarded to Houston and the Challenge.

Mid-Match (10)

Introduce Your Brain to Your Mouth x1
Not According to the Fine Print! x1
<Revolution> Indian Death Lock x2
<Revolution> Tiger Bomb x2
Restricted Use in This Area x1
The Road to Victory x1
This is Going Nowhere Fast x1
You’re as Graceful as a Cow on Ice x1

Strategy Notes: Tiger Bomb and Indian Death Lock should easily be playable on the first turn after an Over the Ropes. Both their abilities are very strong for the early part of the game, if an opponent’s Road to Victory doesn’t blank them. The reversals in the Backlash deck are all non-aligned so that they can be used with both Linda and the Board and The Return BASH for Scotty’s W-O-R-M, while also cover a broad range of card types.

ARSENAL (60)

Actions (12)

… KEN-NE-DY! x1
McMahon Family Values x1
Mmmmisterrrr Kennedyyyy… x1
Over the Ropes x8
Say it Loud, Say it Proud; x1

Strategy Notes: Over the Ropes is what fuels this deck, allowing you to throw your colossal maneuvers from the start of the game. Family Values can help save cards in the ringside or removed from the game. Kennedy’s specifics give you good options as you’re trying to put away your opponent.

Maneuvers (16)

Blindside Hook x2
Let Me Get a Shot In! x1
<Revolution> DDT x3
<Revolution> Figure Four Leg Lock x3
<Revolution> Press Slam x3
<Revolution> Samoan Drop x3
The Kenton Bomb x1

Strategy Notes: Getting your colossal maneuvers down on the board early is the idea behind this deck, so there’s a heavy dose of them to choose from. If you’re having trouble getting them to stick, you have Blindside Hook and Let Me Get a Shot In! to fall back on.

Reversals (32)

A Revolution of the Mind x3
Back Body Drop-TB x3
Blindside Control x2
Blindside Ego-TB x2
Divine Intervention x1
Don’t Try This at Home x3
Elbow to the Face x3
Get the “F” Out! x2
… I Change the Questions x3
It’s Great to be Back Here In … x2
No Chance in Hell-TB x2
The Price We Pay x1
The Return BASH for Scotty’s W-O-R-M x3
Why Don’t You Kiss My A$%! x2

Strategy Notes: Scotty’s W-O-R-M is the only BASH card the deck, but it’s probably the most versatile opening reversal in the game right now, and since Linda already keeps us from packing heel and face cards, it’s a natural fit. As with most decks of the current era, everything here is meant to cover as broad a spectrum of card types as possible. Back Body Drop-TB is there mainly to pick up Over the Ropes from the ringside if necessary, but it could also function as a surprise reversal for some of the <Revolution> maneuvers.

Final Insights: This deck basically came from the premise of trying to throw colossal maneuvers from the beginning of the game, similar to The Largest Athlete in Sports Entertainment. With Over the Ropes, most superstars can do the same, albeit with a few more hoops to jump through. Ken Kennedy’s ability gives him the most reliable set up to achieve that goal, allowing him to play out his pre-match without worrying about problem cards, such as Hell in a Cell Match or I’m Gonna Break You, that could make it more difficult for other superstars. It still encounters the same problem match-ups all Over the Ropes decks face, like The Rattlesnake or “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, but it’s a fun experiment, and if it happens to get the gears turning for a few other players out there, then it’s still a winner in my book.