Honestly, if you told a wrestling fan in 2011 that the most terrifying monster in TNA history was about to trade his spiked mask for a Men's Wearhouse suit and a law degree, they would’ve laughed you out of the arena. It sounds like a career-killing disaster. Yet, the Joseph Park Impact Wrestling run remains one of the most oddly brilliant character arcs in the modern era.
Chris Park—the man behind the "Monster" Abyss—didn't just play a new character. He deconstructed his entire career through a bumbling, over-polite attorney who "had never seen a wrestling match in his life."
Who Was Joseph Park, Anyway?
The story started with a disappearance. Abyss vanished after a brutal beatdown by Bully Ray, and shortly after, this guy in a suit shows up claiming to be Abyss's brother. Joseph Park, Esq., of the law firm Park, Park, and Park. He was soft-spoken. He was nervous. He looked like he’d be more comfortable filing a tort claim than taking a powerbomb.
What made it work was the commitment. Chris Park is a big man, standing 6'8" and weighing 350 pounds. Seeing a guy that size act like a startled kitten every time a pyro went off was gold. He spent months "investigating" his brother's disappearance, dragging Bully Ray into legal threats and basically being a massive nuisance.
Most people knew it was just Abyss under a haircut. But the fans didn't care. They loved the "Big Joe" persona because he was the ultimate underdog. He was the everyman who accidentally found himself in a world of savages.
✨ Don't miss: Why ASAP Rocky F kin Problems Still Runs the Club Over a Decade Later
That One Moment It All Changed
The gimmick lived and died on one specific trope: the sight of blood.
Joseph Park was a pacifist—until he bled. It was like a psychological trigger. The second he saw red, his eyes would glaze over, and he’d hit a Black Hole Slam with the precision of a 15-year veteran. Then, he'd snap out of it, look at his hands in horror, and apologize to his opponent.
It was hilarious. It was also kind of tragic.
The Evolution of Joseph Park in Impact Wrestling
The storyline eventually pivoted from a simple "where is my brother" mystery into a deep dive into split personality disorder. Eric Young—who was basically the MVP of weird TNA storylines back then—became Park's mentor. He tried to teach Joseph how to wrestle, leading to some of the funniest "training" montages in wrestling history.
🔗 Read more: Ashley My 600 Pound Life Now: What Really Happened to the Show’s Most Memorable Ashleys
Eventually, the truth had to come out.
Bad Influence (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian) did the heavy lifting here. They played the perfect bullies, eventually "proving" that Park, Park, and Park had been closed for years and that Joseph was just a figment of Abyss’s fractured mind.
The reveal wasn't some shocking "gotcha" moment. It was a slow burn. When Joseph finally looked in a mirror and saw the Monster staring back, it felt earned. It wasn't just a gimmick change; it was a character study.
Why the Gimmick Saved Chris Park’s Career
By 2012, Abyss had done everything. He’d been through thumbtacks, glass, barbed wire, and fire. He was a Grand Slam champion. But the "Monster" was getting stale.
💡 You might also like: Album Hopes and Fears: Why We Obsess Over Music That Doesn't Exist Yet
- Humanization: We finally saw the man behind the mask.
- Longevity: It gave his body a break from the hardcore matches.
- Versatility: It proved Chris Park was one of the best actors in the business.
He wasn't just a "big guy" who could take a hit. He was a guy who could make you laugh and then make you feel genuine sympathy when he got bullied. That’s a rare skill in pro wrestling.
The Legacy of the Law Office
We don't see characters like Joseph Park much anymore. Modern wrestling is very focused on "work rate" and "athleticism." Don't get me wrong, that stuff is great, but Joseph Park reminded us that wrestling is a variety show.
He was a comedy character who stayed relevant for years. He even had a brief resurgence in later years before Chris Park finally hung up the boots to become a producer (you might have seen him on WWE TV as AJ Styles' statistician, "Joseph Park," a few years back).
The takeaway here is simple. If you're a fan of character work, go back and watch the 2012-2013 Impact episodes. Ignore the "LOL TNA" memes for a second and just watch a 350-pound man try to learn how to do a wristlock. It’s some of the most charming television the company ever produced.
To really appreciate the depth of this run, look for the match against Bully Ray at Slammiversary 2012. It’s the perfect introduction to the character’s "accidental" brilliance. After that, check out his "legal" segments with Hulk Hogan—they’re a masterclass in deadpan comedy.
What to Watch Next
- Slammiversary 2012: Joseph Park vs. Bully Ray (The debut match).
- Impact (July 2013): The reveal where Joseph realizes he is Abyss.
- The "Park, Park, and Park" Segments: Pure comedy gold from the early 2012 episodes.
Joseph Park wasn't just a side project; he was the heart of the show for a long time. Whether he was Abyss or Joseph, Chris Park proved he was the ultimate team player in the industry.