Alex Marvez's weekly look at professional wrestling

Dean Roll hopes his new pro wrestling persona doesn't jump the shark any time soon.

Roll's career has rocked since meshing a "Stone Cold" Steve Austin parody with his masked Shark Boy character. Roll recently signed a three-year contract extension with TNA Wrestling, where he is being paired with comedic cohorts Christopher "Curry Man" Daniels and "Super" Eric Young on TNA Impact (9 p.m. Eastern, Thursdays, Spike TV).

The do-gooders are being called the "Prince Justice Brotherhood,'' which in itself is an inside joke stemming from the former wrestling name of TNA's Chris "Abyss" Parks.

"It seemed like a natural to put the three of us together," Roll said earlier this week in a telephone interview. "Curry Man was a great foil for my character. Now, we're having double the fun in our vignettes with Eric joining us."

Countless aspiring wrestlers have failed when trying to mimic Austin, who ranks with Hulk Hogan as the biggest stars in World Wrestling Entertainment history. But the absurdity of Roll's imitation makes this gimmick work.

Even at 5-10 and 180 pounds, Roll walks and talks with Austin's distinctive swagger. Roll also has amusingly spoofed Austin's catchphrases and mannerisms, like substituting "clam juice" for beer in his post-match celebrations.

Roll, 33, began doing Austin impressions while with his friends in the late 1990s. Once word spread backstage about his prowess, Roll was approached by TNA executive Jeff Jarrett about incorporating "Austinisms" into a Shark Boy character that wasn't being given interview time.

"I wasn't sure about it at first, but I thought why not give it a go and see what happens," Roll said. "People seem to embrace it, although I've also gotten a lot of criticism."

Roll said some of the knocks stem from the perception TNA is doing too many rip-offs of WWE stars after casting Jay Lethal (real name Jamar Shipman) and So Cal Val as the second comings of Randy "Macho Man" Savage and The Lovely Elizabeth (the late Elizabeth Hulette). There also are diehard Austin supporters who believe Roll is mocking their hero.

"I wouldn't bother to learn how to imitate somebody I wasn't a fan of," Roll said. "From what I've heard and read on-line, Austin thinks it's funny and entertaining. If he gets it, I wish some fans would lighten up and realize what I'm doing is not meant as an insult in any way. It's more of a tribute."

When Austin first emerged as a superstar in 1997, Roll was beginning his wrestling training with the renowned Les Thatcher in Cincinnati. Roll combined sound technical skills with an eye-catching grappling outfit that included a shark-inspired mask bearing oversized teeth.

Between semi-regular stints with TNA that began when the promotion opened in 2002, Roll has taken a bite out of the industry's business side. He operates a wrestling school (the Shark Tank) in Middletown, Ohio, where he is also running Buckeye Pro Wrestling's fifth anniversary show on Sunday.

Appropriately, one of the headliners is Nick Dinsmore. He found WWE success as the simpleton Eugene until that character ran its course.

Roll worries that the same will eventually happen with Shark Boy's Austin spoof. Roll, though, says he hopes that parody becomes a springboard for other impressions.

"Austin's is not the only voice I can do," Roll said. "It would be cool if I got to play a character like a mimic to show some of my other stuff. And then at some point, maybe Shark Boy will find his own voice."

For more information on Roll and his training school, visit www.sharkboy.net.

(Alex Marvez writes a syndicated pro wrestling column for Scripps Howard News Service. Contact him at alex1marv@aol.com)