Jackson Cottontail - Getting Youth Excited About Wrestling!

Throughout one's career there are many projects that nestle in the dust bunnies of long-ignored storage boxes. Slowly, I have been removing the tablecloths that have been draped over these eyesores, and coming across hidden gems. Things that are so far from one's thoughts, they feel as if they were done by another person. One that is thinner, has more hair, and actually thought of exercise as a daily ritual, rather than an activity just watched on TV from the couch, with a bemused look while eating ice cream.

As background for this project, I was asked by a professional wrestling organization (Greco-Roman Wrestling, not WWE) to develop a show aimed at a 5-9 age group designed to get kids interested in wrestling. I was thinking how Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had a huge impact on kids going to local dojos to learn martial arts, and came up with Jackson Cottontail!

Here is a piece from the promotional material:

"Hey, Cottontail! Any relation?"

"No! And it's a common rabbit name!"

Such is the life for Jackson Cottontail, CPA. However, the large, muscle-bound accountant is also Super-Hare!"

Superhair? Is that some sort of gel product? Not hair! HARE! A superhero rabbit with incredible wrestling powers.

Cottontail cleverly disguises himself with a pair of glass-less frames and ill-fitting suit. He is a meek number cruncher until he spots a crime and then it is up, UP, and ... well, he can't fly, so he will have to take the stairs.

The only ones who know his secret identity are his card-playing friends who are like a Who's Who of forgotten sports: Lefty, the slow moving former Pro-Bowling turtle; Mabel, an aging roller-derby queen bear; and Bruno, a Russian Tug-of-War Olympiad Hippo who is unrecognizable as a Hippo after having to lose hundreds of pounds due to high cholesterol. They try to convince Jackson to hang up the tights, but he is a bunny who believes he can make a difference.

Yes, it is silly. But the characters put a smile on my face.

Ultimately, the project was shelved as the group's members could not agree on a strategy moving forward (or maybe didn't want to give development funds to a bunny), and all of the materials were put in the box, covered with the tablecloth and doily, and became the resting place for my morning coffee.

Until now.