Just a dude that got sent down to developmental because he was a stud, but looked too much like Edge. Changed his look, and still had the athleticism, but primed himself to stand apart, which mostly was mic skills and extra shyt on his moves. Then he was brought up as H's proxy or redux and given a chickenshyt heel moveset. Note, that this is obviously the period Vince is priming Paul to maybe take over, and letting him groom most of the moves.
Got over on the mic and extras shyt. Still caught in the doldrums of the Vince "push but can't commit unless he wants to fukk said wrestler" era, he was an instant success, and enough to get the prestigious MITB. Would be the highest point, when he was having a mercurial ascension, he would ever get.
I can't say he was average in the ring, as his early work says he was capable of a lot more and he was crisp. Feeling him or not, he was just a wasted opportunity. Movesets aren't usually solidified until you're cemented in either the ME or mid-card. He looked primed for ME to me, and a face turn, or heel shyt, would've likely expanded his moveset to old. He has obvious stamina and agility, with ring psych.