By James Caldwell, PWTorch.com assistant editor

Kenny Dykstra (Ken Doane) was released by WWE late last year after WWE failed to find a niche for him on the Smackdown brand. Doane says he tried adapting to fit management's vision for his Dykstra character, but it never clicked.

"Whichever way I stepped, I always had someone telling me, 'No, do it like this.' It was hard," Doane told Alex Marvez in his weekly syndicated column.

Doane says his character on Smackdown was bland and "had no range," leaving him in a secondary role to either Victoria or Johnny Nitro. Doane's 90-day no-compete clause recently expired, but he hasn't received many offers to wrestle outside of WWE.

"I like doing this," Doane said of his career path to be a wrestler. "It sucks right now that I'm not."

Doane is taking the time off to rest his body, which he's put through a great deal of stress during his wrestling career. Doane is only 22 years old and started wrestling when he was 13.

"Life is all right," Doane said. "It's nice to take a step back and not have to travel so much. I've been able to let my body rest."

Caldwell's Analysis: It never seemed like the members of the Spirit Squad were given a fair shake after their feud against DX ran its course in 2006. Johnny Jeter had amazing potential based on what I saw from him in OVW prior to the Squad run, while Doane was considered the total package of size, speed, and athleticism. It's unfortunate the group was saddled with a short-term gimmick that didn't build them up for long-term success. Doane is still very young, so if he sticks with wrestling, he'll be back on national TV soon enough.

Link: Doane interview with Alex Marvez.

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