A New Generation…..a new attitude? [by To4sty]

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A New Generation…..a new attitude? [by To4sty] Nov 3, 2021 22:16:39 GMT 1

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Post by to4sty on Nov 3, 2021 22:16:39 GMT 1

ECW Week 1, March

Week 1, March 1998
Highlights from ECW Living Dangerously 1998

.....ladies and gentlemen, we’ve left February in the rear view mirror and as we head on into March things are going to get a little more extreme.....a little more perilous.....a little more.....dangerous.....because this is ECW.....and here tonight, in the ECW arena.....we are.....Living Dangerously.....

.....Joey Styles is live in front of this capacity crowd, as he welcomes the raucous ECW fans to the 1998 edition of Living Dangerously.....

.....he briefly runs down the show, including the announcement that tonight we will get to see the match that we DIDN’T get to see last month, as The Sandman puts the ECW Championship on the line against the Hardcore Legend himself, Terry Funk.....

.....a statement that doesn’t sit well with this gentleman.....as Justin Credible cuts Styles off, matching to the ring with the Sandman’s Singapore Cane in one hand.....and a sheet of paper in the other.....

.....obviously Joey isn’t particularly happy at this interruption, asking what the young upstart is doing here.....

”.....didn’t you do enough last week?.....”

.....”last week” being when Credible (and the Philadelphia State Athletic Commissioner Buford T. Pinkerton) interrupted Terry Funk’s challenge to The Sandman, stating that he couldn’t in good conscious allow a man of Terry Funk’s advanced age to compete twice in one evening.....

”.....well Justin, I hate to break it to you, but Terry Funk will only be competing ONCE this evening.....but it will be for the ECW Championship.....”

“.....actually Joey.....no he won’t.....”

.....Credible says that what he has in his hand supersedes any crappy little contract that Terry Funk has for this evening.....because this piece of paper in his hand is a signed mandate from Buford T. Pinkerton.....and on this piece of paper, it states that if Extreme Championship Wrestling wish to run this Living Dangerously event here tonight.....in Philly.....then they will abide by the Committees wishes.....

.....and (after being Piledriven by the Hardcore Legend) Buford has declared that it will be Justin Credible challenging The Sandman this evening (not Terry Funk) and ECW will finally have a champion to be proud of.....

”.....and that’s not just the greatest.....that’s not just the best.....that’s Justin Credible.....YOUR next ECW Champion.....”

“.....hold on.....hold on.....hold on one goddamn minute.....”

.....hold on indeed.....because after being interrupted once already by Justin Credible, it seems like we have another participant in this opening segment.....Paul E. Dangerously.....

.....Dangerously marches down to the ring and climbs through the ropes, snatching the paper out of Credible’s hand as he tells him that he thinks he might have forgotten where he is.....

”.....because this isn’t Titan Towers.....this isn’t the Turner Offices.....this isn’t the WWF or WC f#@king W.....THIS is Extreme Championship Wrestling.....this is ECW, and (as Mr. Pinkerton found out last month) we don’t bow down to ANYBODY.....”

.....Paul E. says that this piece of paper (tearing it in half) isn’t worth a god damn thing here, and if Buford T. Pinkerton wants to come down to the goddamn ECW arena and tell THESE fans that Living Dangerously has been cancelled, then he’d better bring the riot gear.....because he won’t be getting out alive.....

”.....so let me guarantee you something right here, right now.....Terry Funk WILL be competing tonight against the Sandman for the ECW Title.....and so will you.....you see, we have a little tradition around here.....we have a certain match type that we pioneered.....it’s called the Three Way Dance.....

.....so since Terry Funk already has a title opportunity, and since YOU want a shot at the title too, I’m going to give you one.....not because Buford T. Pinkerton said so, but because quite frankly, I want to watch you get your skinny little, buck toothed bald ass kicked.....and Sandman.....Terry Funk.....they’re going to do it.....so f#@k you.....and f#@k Buford T. Pinkerton too.....Joey Styles, here’s your main event.....Justin Credible vs. The Sandman......vs. Terry Funk.....for the ECW Championship.....in a three way dance.....”

.....and that match will be happening.....tonight.....

.....although you won’t actually see it.....

.....at least not for about another three weeks anyway.....

.....sorry about that.....

Rating: B+

.....instead, you get to watch Tracy Smothers face off against Steve Corino.....

.....you’re welcome.....

.....Smothers (as you’d perhaps expect) was accompanied to the ring for this one by the rest of the FBI, and while he’s always got a somewhat cocky manner, he’s REALLY confident here.....

.....maybe because he’s a near sixteen year veteran, while Steve Corino is a mere three years into his fledgling career.....

.....unfortunately for Smothers, this didn’t go quite as easily as he was expecting.....Corino might be young and (mildly) inexperienced, but he’s not intimidated by either his opponent, nor his team mates on the outside, twisting Guido inside out with a running lariet on the outside, as well as driving the Big Don into the guard rail with a knee to the small of the back.....

.....damn, the FBI could use a hand here.....

.....cue this gentleman.....former made man (and current wannabe re-made man) JT. Smith.....

.....Smith has made it clear that he wants the Big Don Tommy Rich to re-initiate him back into the Family, but thus far the hapless Smith hasn’t made the best of impressions, often ending up COSTING the FBI matches as opposed to helping them win.....

.....he cost the FBI the match here too.....

.....he comes rushing into the ring with a steel chair which he swings wildly at Corino.....unfortunately Corino ducks and it’s Smothers that eats the steel.....

.....Corino quickly disposes of JT, tossing him over the top rope, then (as Smothers slowly gets back to his feet) he snatches his opponent and drives his skull to the mat with an Implanter DDT for the one, the two and the three.....

Winner: Steve Corino
Rating: D

.....Corino quickly gets out dodge as Rich and Guido dive into the ring, but it’s not him they’re looking for, it’s Smith.....

.....Smith has also headed into the ring, looking to make amends with (or at least apologise to) Tracy Smothers.....Smothers doesn’t want to hear it though.....and neither does the rest of the FBI.....

.....the Big Don walks over to Smith and shoves him in the chest, telling him that he needs to stay out of the FBI’s matches, because there ain’t no way that a Mook like him is EVER going to be welcomed into the Family.....

”.....but I tell ya what.....I tell ya what, since you’re too much of a schmuck to take my advice.....and since you keep costing the Family money, tonight.....Little Guido, he’s gonna make sure you’re sleeping with the fishes capiche?.....”

.....with that, the Big Don walks over to Smith, planting a kiss on each of his cheeks....which Smith instantly freaks out about.....

.....Joey Styles on commentary tells us that JT. Smith has just been marked with the Kiss of Death, it’s no wonder he’s not happy about it.....

.....looks like we’re going to be seeing Little Guido carry out the hit when he faces JT. Smith next.....

.....or rather next WEEK if you’re watching this on Hardcore TV.....

.....what? You wanted to see it sooner? Then you should have bought a ticket to Living Dangerously you cheap b@stard.....

Rating: D+

.....instead, what you DO get are some promo’s cut in post production.....promo’s for a match that’s actually already happened, as we head to the back where the FBI are discussing Guido’s upcoming match.....

.....it’s nothing groundbreaking, in fact it’s pretty much a rehash of the promo we’ve just seen, with the Big Don telling Smith that they’ve been looking out back and they’ve finally found the concrete shoes they were looking for.....and they’re going to be a perfect fit for the hapless Mr. Smith.....

.....Smothers (who’s since recovered from his defeat) stands behind a snarling Little Guido, alternating between rubbing the smaller mans shoulders and biting his thumb at the camera.....they’re a charming bunch the Full Bloodied Italians.....

.....on the flip side of that we go to another backstage shot, where Smith is in the washroom of the ECW arena, frantically trying to wash the Kiss of Death off his face in a basin.....

.....honestly JT, I don’t think that’s how it works.....

.....Smith tells the screen (and the FBI) that it doesn’t have to be like this.....they can drop the hit.....hell, they can GIVE him a hit to carry out.....he’ll prove to them that he’s Made Man material.....that he’s not just some klutz.....some bad luck charm.....sure, he’s had a few mishaps.....made a few mistakes.....

”.....but that’s all behind me now.....all that bad luck, it’s gone Big Don.....you gotta believe me.....you gotta.....it’s all good for JT. Smith from here on in.....no more mistakes, no more accidents.....”

.....with that Smith turns.....and slips on a puddle of water that’s spilled from the washbasin, losing his footing and banging his head off the basin itself.....

.....no more accidents indeed.....

.....from there we switch to ANOTHER shot.....and another pre (or rather post) taped segment, this time with Steve Corino.....

.....Corino, while clearly happy with his victory, isn’t happy about HOW he achieved his victory.....not because he’s trying to be a rah-rah babyface, but because he says that this is everything that’s wrong with this business today.....

”.....fans would rather cheer a moron like JT. Smith.....applaud failure.....these fans would cheer louder for a fat drunk hitting someone with a Kendo Stick (like THAT takes any talent) than they would watching someone perform the perfect Bridging German Suplex.....fans have lost that Old School mentality.....technique.....skill.....talent.....now they’d rather watch a bar fight.....

.....well you won’t be watching any bar fights with Steve Corino.....because I’m bringing Old-School back.....and if you don’t like it.....I’ll wrestle you, come change my mind.....”

.....speaking of wrestling.....

Rating: C-

.....this was NOT a wrestling match.....

.....this was a very angry 911 looking to gain a measure of revenge on Shane Douglas’ insurance policy.....the absolutely mammoth Hellraiser.....

.....The Hellraiser made his ECW debut at last months House Party event and he made an instant impression, helping Douglas retain his Television Championship, before doing the unthinkable.....

.....Chokeslamming Beulah straight through a wooden table.....

.....911 has always been the problem solver here in ECW.....someone’s running their mouth, call 911.....match sucks, call 911.....just wanna see some bum chokeslammed, call 911.....well, The Hellraiser might be the biggest problem that 911 has ever had to solve.....and Shane Douglas is out there too just to make that problem even bigger.....

.....this match was horrible.....most 911 matches are horrible in fairness, but this was especially bad.....luckily it was short.....911 got his licks in to start the match but nothing seemed to phase the newcomer, who eventually began to dominate the match.....

.....911 did rally back eventually as these two huge men began to brawl their way to the finish.....a finish that saw Shane Douglas clock 911 in the back of the head with a steel chain loaded punch to the back of the head.....

.....the big man doesn’t go down, but he does stagger forward, walking straight into the open hand of the Hellraiser, who picks him up and Chokeslam’s him to the mat, handing 911 a rare pinfall loss.....

Winner: The Hellraiser
Rating: D-

.....not satisfied with that, Douglas tells Hellraiser to do it again.....and do it properly this time.....

”.....do it like you did that little b!tch Beulah.....”

.....happy to oblige (or happy to take orders at least) Hellraiser climbs to the outside and picks up a wooden table (conveniently) located under the ring.....he slides the wood under the bottom rope and then gives 911 a few stomps in between setting the table up.....then he picks up the big man.....

.....and Chokeslams him straight through the wood.....

.....which is when Tommy Dreamer’s music hits (Man in a Box.....f#@k you copyright laws) and the man himself walks out from the back.....

.....very calmly actually, considering what happened to Beulah.....

.....he doesn’t rush to the ring to meet a two on one onslaught.....he doesn’t do his best to fight the overwhelming odds.....no, he’s going to wait for that.....

.....wait until Shane Douglas accepts a match that is.....

.....Douglas scoffs at that, telling Dreamer that for one, he’s already beat his ass.....and his woman’s too......and for two, Douglas already has a match tonight.....

”.....and I don’t even know who it’s against.....see the brass back there, they want to punish me for what my Hellraiser did to Beulah last week.....apparently Chokeslamming women through tables is frowned upon all of a sudden.....but one thing they HAVE told me, is that my opponent isn’t YOU.....”

.....Dreamer says that he’s not looking for a title match, he just wants a fight.....and since Tommy knows that Douglas is only going to hide behind Hellraiser anyway, why don’t they make it a tag team match.....

”.....because after what that big son of a b!tch did to Beulah, I’m gonna tear his head off too.....”

.....Douglas isn’t going for it though.....and why should he, he has a title defence to worry about.....but, out of curiosity (since they already took out 911) who’s his partner?

.....Tommy just smiles and points to the back.....

.....as the rookie Chris Chetti makes his way out.....

.....and Douglas is in hysterics.....

.....he asks Dreamer if this is the best that he can do? A rookie that Shane beat recently anyway? This is the best he has to face off against them?.....

”.....you know what Tommy, what the hell.....you’re on.....Hellraiser could beat both you bums on his own, I won’t even have to break a sweat.....you want a match, you got a match.....bring your dumb asses down here so that Hellraiser can Chokeslamming you like he did your old lady.....”

.....another impromptu match that’s happening next? You know what that means.....we’ll see this match happen NEXT week.....right here on Hardcore TV.....

Rating: C

.....which brings us to our main event.....and in reality it’s a pretty big one.....

.....Rob Van Dam and Taz have been circling each other on and off for a few months now (although Taz has certainly been the more vocal of the two, challenging Van Dam a number of times) and tonight is the night they finally cross paths.....

.....Van Dam has only been here since January, but already he gives all of his bouts that “big match” feel with his arrogance alone and (with Bill Alfonso and his f#@king annoying whistle at ringside) these fans are ready to see Taz tear the cocky RVD apart.....

.....Alfonso will be hoping that his current client has more luck than his previous one, because Sabu has been on the shelf with a broken neck for the best part of a year now following his last meeting with the Human Suplex Machine, which is exactly why Fonzie is dead set on Van Dam picking up the win here.....

.....these two men had a hell of a match too.....

.....Rob Van Dam is perhaps the most flexible son of a b!tch in wrestling today, so when Taz tosses him with those numerous suplex variations, RVD sells them all like a superstar, regularly getting folded up like an accordion.....likewise, Taz actually sells for his opponent (which is a rarity in itself) taking Van Dam’s unique offence, including getting dropped on the safety rail for Van Dam to deliver that spinning leg drop from the apron.....

.....back in the ring the two men nail each other with chairs, strikes, kicks, suplexes and punches, with neither competitor gaining a prolonged period of offence.....even Fonzie gets in on the action, getting his lights punched out by Taz.....

.....then Taz locks on the Kata-Ha-Jime.....and with RVD refusing to tap out, it looks li,e we could get another broken neck here.....

.....until the lights go out.....

.....and then come back on.....

.....to reveal the Homicidal, Suicidal, Genocidal Maniac that is Sabu standing right there in the middle of the ring.....

.....the crowd pops for that.....and so they should.....it’s been over twelve months since Sabu was seen inside an ECW ring, but he’s here now.....and he cracks a steel chair over the head of the man who put him on the shelf.....

.....that releases the choke that Taz had on Van Dam and also leaves the Human Suplex Machine open to an out and out assault from Sabu.....

.....Alfonso blows his whistle furiously, encouraging Van Dam back to his feet as the two men go about putting the boots to Taz, before finally they put him down for good with a moonsault through a table from Sabu, followed by a Five Star Frog Splash from RVD.....who makes the cockiest cover known to man for the one, two, three.....

Winner: Rob Van Dam
Rating: B

.....Sabu has a lot of pent up aggression to get out of his system though.....so it’s perhaps no surprise that he’s not happy with just costing Taz a victory.....

.....Rob Van Dam IS happy to just celebrate his victory though.....standing there posing as Sabu continues to put the boots to the Human Suplex Machine, until he finally decides to join in.....

.....Fonzie climbs into the ring with a chair and (as Sabu holds the man in place) he holds in in front of he face of Taz, which RVD in turn kicks straight into the skull.....

.....that’s still not enough for Sabu though.....and he opens up the chair just enough to slide it over the head of Taz, before climbing up to the top rope.....

.....Fonzie hands Sabu a second chair (as Van Dam ensures Taz remains on the mat) and Sabu leaps, landing straight on the head (and in turn, the chair) with the Arabian Facebuster, which should realistically here be called the Arabian Neckbreaker.....because Taz looks to be in serious trouble.....

.....Styles has an “Oh My God” moment as he ponders whether that chair that was placed over the head of Taz has indeed broken the neck of the Human Suplex Machine, before condemning the trio of Bill Alfonso, Sabu.....and Rob Van Dam.....as the trio pose over the fallen body of Taz.....

.....we’ll see you next week for more action from Living Dangerously 1998, right here on Hardcore TV.....

Rating: B

Final Rating: C+

henriquesser Midcarder El Desperado season I have made 311 posts Location:	A New Generation…..a new attitude? [by To4sty] Nov 4, 2021 0:47:40 GMT 1 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by henriquesser on Nov 4, 2021 0:47:40 GMT 1 This looks really fun! I have no idea how you got to this point, but it does look like a great ride

to4sty
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A New Generation…..a new attitude? [by To4sty] Nov 4, 2021 21:41:33 GMT 1

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Post by to4sty on Nov 4, 2021 21:41:33 GMT 1

Nov 4, 2021 0:47:40 GMT 1 henriquesser said:

This looks really fun!
I have no idea how you got to this point, but it does look like a great ride

Thank you, it’s been fun….feel free to make some predictions for the last few shows!

to4sty
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A New Generation…..a new attitude? [by To4sty] Nov 4, 2021 21:41:52 GMT 1

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Post by to4sty on Nov 4, 2021 21:41:52 GMT 1

The Monday Night Wars: Week 2, March 1998

Preview for WWF Raw is War: Week 2, March 1998

The Undertaker vs. Bret Hart
Comments:

Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Jarrett
Comments:

Al Snow & Chris Candido vs. The Nation of Domination (D’Lo & Henry)
Comments:

Dean Malenko vs. Test
Comments:

Headbangers vs. Dustin Rhodes & Marc Mero
Comments:

Billy Kidman vs. Owen Hart
Comments:

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 2, March 1998

The Rock vs. Shawn Michaels
Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match
Diamond Dallas Page (c) vs. Lord Steven Regal
Comments:

Psychosis vs. Brian Lawler
Comments:

Mike Awesome & Gideon Cain vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage
Comments:

The Patriot vs. Alex Wright
Comments:

Bill Goldberg vs. Ray Traylor
Comments:

Asaemon Mount Rushmore of Pro Wrestling Hall of Legends I have made 11,458 posts Custom Title: Samurai Executioner Location:	A New Generation…..a new attitude? [by To4sty] Nov 5, 2021 18:08:25 GMT 1 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Asaemon on Nov 5, 2021 18:08:25 GMT 1 I've missed reading To4sty's dynasty
	Be the Booker Wrestling fantasy booking with wrestling simulators and games. Pro Wrestling Promoter - Pro Wrestling Simulator - TEW2020 - TEW2016 - TEW2013 - TEW2010 - TEW2005 - TEW2004 - EWR - Promotion Wars - WWE2K22 - WWE2K20- Fire Pro Wrestling World - The Wrestling Code - AEW Elite GM - Journey of Wrestling - TNM7

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A New Generation…..a new attitude? [by To4sty] Nov 5, 2021 18:11:46 GMT 1

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Post by Asaemon on Nov 5, 2021 18:11:46 GMT 1

The Undertaker vs. Bret Hart

Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Jarrett

Al Snow & Chris Candido vs. The Nation of Domination (D’Lo & Henry)

Dean Malenko vs. Test

Headbangers vs. Dustin Rhodes & Marc Mero

Billy Kidman vs. Owen Hart

The Rock vs. Shawn Michaels

WCW Television Championship Match
Diamond Dallas Page (c) vs. Lord Steven Regal

Psychosis vs. Brian Lawler

Mike Awesome & Gideon Cain vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage

The Patriot vs. Alex Wright

Bill Goldberg vs. Ray Traylor

Be the Booker
Wrestling fantasy booking with wrestling simulators and games.

Pro Wrestling Promoter - Pro Wrestling Simulator - TEW2020 - TEW2016 - TEW2013 - TEW2010 - TEW2005 - TEW2004 - EWR - Promotion Wars - WWE2K22 - WWE2K20- Fire Pro Wrestling World - The Wrestling Code - AEW Elite GM - Journey of Wrestling - TNM7

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A New Generation…..a new attitude? [by To4sty] Nov 5, 2021 20:10:32 GMT 1

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Post by henriquesser on Nov 5, 2021 20:10:32 GMT 1

The Undertaker vs. Bret Hart

Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Jarrett

Al Snow & Chris Candido vs. The Nation of Domination (D’Lo & Henry)

Dean Malenko vs. Test

Headbangers vs. Dustin Rhodes & Marc Mero

Billy Kidman vs. Owen Hart

The Rock vs. Shawn Michaels

WCW Television Championship Match
Diamond Dallas Page (c) vs. Lord Steven Regal

Psychosis vs. Brian Lawler

Mike Awesome & Gideon Cain vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage

The Patriot vs. Alex Wright

Bill Goldberg vs. Ray Traylor

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A New Generation…..a new attitude? [by To4sty] Nov 6, 2021 22:46:18 GMT 1 Asaemon likes this

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Post by to4sty on Nov 6, 2021 22:46:18 GMT 1

Week 2, March 1998
Worcester Centrum (Worcester, Massachusetts)
ATT: 13,334
TV: 38.16

.....the road to Wrestlemania continues and as Raw is War comes on the air, it looks like the WWF Champion is planning on travelling there in style.....because a long black limousine pulls up to the building and Brian Pillman climbs out.....

.....he’s not alone either.....the chairman of the board Vince McMahon climbs out right beside him, as do the WWF Tag Team Champions Ric Flair and Arn Anderson.....the gang’s all here.....

.....well.....MOST of the gang.....apparently Mankind isn’t a limousine kinda guy, because he’s not there at all.....

.....the four men look very pleased with themselves (particularly Brian Pillman) and laugh and joke between each other as they walk towards the arena.....

.....and the opening credits of the show begin to roll.....its time to officially get Raw underway.....

Rating: B

.....and when we return, we come back to four different men.....because Bret Hart’s screeching guitar theme signals the arrival of the Hart Foundation, as Bret, Owen, Chris Jericho and Test make their way down the aisle.....

.....judging by the demeanour of Vince McMahon (and Brian Pillman) the owner of the WWF is in a particularly jovial mood this evening following The Corporate Cannon’s assault of Stone Cold Steve Austin.....but then Brian Pillman wasn’t the only one to benefit from The Rattlesnake getting put on the shelf, as it also reduces Bret Hart’s Wrestlemania opponents by a third as well.....and The Hitman looks just as pleased at this revelation.....

.....Bret takes a microphone, telling the crowd that things are finally getting a little bit fairer around here.....because after risking it all at No Way Out (and taking a hell of a beating in the process) The Hitman is FINALLY going to get his Wrestlemania WWF Championship rematch.....

”.....and thanks to Brian Pillman weaselling his way out here last week and snapping Steve Austin’s ankle in two, it’s going to be me and Pillman.....one on one (as it should be) for the World Wrestling Federation Championship.....and Pillman, you’re going to find out that while you spent the last few weeks worrying about Austin, while Vince McMahon spent the last few months worrying about Steve Austin walking away with the gold, you forget that it’s because of US that you have that title in the first place.....and it’ll be because of ME that you lose it.....”

.....Bret says that Brian Pillman might be the best when it comes to stabbing people in the back.....Vince McMahon might be the best when it comes to screwing people over.....but when it comes to wrestling.....when it comes to stepping between these ropes.....Bret Hart IS the best.....the best there is.....the best there was......the best there ever will be.....

.....Bret hands the microphone over there to a man who’s never short of something to say.....the WWF Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho and Jericho says that while the Hitman will be walking out of Wrestlemania as the WWF Champion, the Jericho-olics in the crowd (”and I know there’s a lot of you”) don’t need to worry, because the Paragon of Virtue (your hero and mine) Chris Jericho will ALSO be walking out of Wrestlemania with his gold still around his sexy waist.....

”.....because not only am I going to retain my Intercontinental Championship, not only am I going to end Bore-Us Malenko’s career.....I’m going to do it for my friend and mentor, the ORIGINAL light-heavyweight.....Owen Hart.....”

.....Owen thanks Jericho, telling him that while he was most definitely the first (and innovator) of the light-heavyweight division, he couldn’t have asked for a better man than Chris Jericho to end it.....

.....Owen says that while most wrestlers will cling to their little safety nets, only the best of the best (like himself and Chris Jericho) can really reach for that brass ring.....but being the proud, hard working Canadians that they are, they threw “divisions” away.....they’re not “Light-Heavyweights”.....when they step between these ropes and do what Canadians do best.....wrestle.....they’re 350lb Super Heavyweights.....

”.....and some little Mexican Midget like Rey Mysterio has been riding my coat tails for too long.....Mysterio, at Wrestlemania, my good personal friend Chris Jericho is going to end the career of Dean Malenko.....and me, I’m going to rip that mask off your ugly mug and show the whole world that you’re nothing more than all flash and no substance.....”

.....the crowd boo’s at that.....they’ve developed quite the soft spot for everybody’s favourite underdog story, leading to Chris Jericho (being the gobby little shite that he is) ranting about about showing a little bit of respect for Owen Hart, calling him a trailblazer, before demanding that one of those little guys comes out here right now.....much to the surprise of Owen, who did t look like he was expecting to compete here.....

”.....send one out.....any one.....Owen will wipe the mat with them right now.....”

.....which DOES bring out someone who could be classed as a light-heavyweight I guess.....although probably not quite the opponent Chris Jericho was thinking of.....the World Wrestling Federation Champion, Brian Pillman......

.....he’s not alone either.....he has the chairman of the board with him.....the WWF Title around his waist.....and a microphone in one hand as he uses the other to wave at the Hitman.....

”.....hiya Bretty Boy.....did you miss me? I sure missed you.....missed, but didn’t forget about like you seem to think......

.....see I was just a little busy eliminating a problem.....a Rattlesnake shaped problem, because it would seem around here that if you want something done, you need to do it yourself.....and you can thank me if you want to Hitman, because now, instead of having to worry about two opponents at Wrestlemania, you only have to worry about one.....

.....unfortunately.....that one is me.....”

.....Pillman says that the time for heroes is over and the New Generation is past its prime.....THIS is a new generation.....a new age.....the Age of Attitude.....the Age of Anarchy.....Heavy is the Head, but the Crowned Prince of Chaos is here to lead us all to the promised land.....

”.....and YOU Bret Hart.....you’re about to find out that YOUR trip isn’t going to be quite such a easy ride.....tell ‘em why Vinnie Mac.....”

.....Vince tells ’em why.....because tonight, Bret Hart will be going one on one with the Undertaker.....

.....that’s why.....

Rating: A*

.....well, Owen Hart (or rather, Chris Jericho) wanted a light-heavyweight opponent “right now”.....he got one.....not just ANY light-heavyweight either, but a former light-heavyweight champion in Billy Kidman.....

.....Kidman hasn’t been showcased quite as much in recent months since Chris Jericho killed off his division, but he probably should be.....while he’s not likely to carry that Winged Eagle (or even Intercontinental gold) any time soon, the European Championship is definitely an option.....just ask Matt Hardy.....

.....with that being said, this match was very good.....and while Owen Hart claims to be THE light-heavyweight trailblazer (he’s not.....clearly) he certainly struggles to keep up with young Kidman here, who uses his smaller size, speed and agility to his advantage.....obviously Owen is no slouch in there, but he can’t keep up with a fired up Billy Kidman.....

.....which is probably why he cheats.....drawing the attention of the official on one hand while poking his opponent right in the eye with the other.....

.....Owen gets a little more braggadocios once he’s in control, but even that is fleeting, leading to Kidman mounting a good old babyface comeback, punctuated with a Shooting Star Press from the top rope.....

.....unfortunately Owen had already moved.....so as Kidman crashes to the mat, Hart quickly wraps up the legs, turns him over, locks on the Sharpshooter......and just like that, this one is over.....

Winner: Owen Hart
Rating: B

.....we leave Owen celebrating in the ring and head to the parking lot, where Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner and his Number One Freak Sable are just pulling up into shot.....

.....Scotty brings the car to a stop, pulling his huge frame out and walking around to the passenger side, opening the door for Sable like the gentleman that he is.....he helps his valet out of the seat, talking smack about going hunting for wolves tonight.....but it’ll have to be the runts of the litter, because he took care of the big bad wolf last week.....

.....and then Sable let’s out an almighty scream.....

.....as Big Sexy Kevin Nash crashes a lead pipe across the huge back of Steiner.....

.....last week we saw Scott Steiner assault his Wrestlemania opponent here in the back, looks like this week we are getting a receipt from Big Sexy, because Nash goes to town on Steiner, nailing him over and over with that lead pipe, before dragging him over to the car door.....

.....Nash is still visibly limping from his beat down last week, but he’s not about to let that stop him.....he doesn’t go for the leg though, instead he shoves Steiner’s arm inside the vehicle, then slams that door shut right on the hand of Big Poppa Pump.....

.....finally security (and medical personnel) show up, ushering Nash away and tending to Scotty, but as Big Sexy is escorted from the venue, he makes sure to wish Steiner good luck in locking on that Steiner Recliner at Wrestlemania with only one arm.....

.....that’s if these two even make it to Wrestlemania.....

.....they might kill each other first.....

Rating: A

.....from the parking lot we go back inside the arena.....or rather UNDER the arena.....as we go to Dok Hendrix who is currently down in the boiler room area of the building.....why you ask? Because that’s where Mankind is currently sitting (cross legged on the floor) and Dok is here to get a few words from the man.....

.....Dok says that Mankind was conspicuous by his absence as Mr. McMahon and the rest of his Corporate Champions pulled up to the arena earlier this evening.....why was that?.....

”.....why was that?.....why WAS that Dok?.....maybe it was because (just like you said) it was the Corporate Champions arriving.....and while I do have this particularly snazzy shirt and tie combination, a man like me is never going to be one that ‘corporate’ are going to want to show off now am I.....I’m neither corporate nor champion.....maybe it was that.....maybe it’s just that Uncle Vince doesn’t feel comfortable sharing a ride with me.....not many people are comfortable around me Dok.....you look particularly uncomfortable right now for example.....”

.....Dok does look rather unnerved by his current situation, but he doesn’t reply, instead continuing to let Mankind speak.....

”.....when you look and act as I do Dok, it kinda makes people a little uneasy.....I see the way people look at me.....hear the things they say about me.....maybe it’s better to isolate yourself instead of being shunned.....maybe then you can make yourself believe that you’re alone by choice, not necessity.....maybe it’s that.....

.....or maybe.....maybe I just like it down here.....”

.....Dok decides to switch topics, stating that regardless of why he didn’t arrive with the rest of his friends(?) earlier, it IS the company that he keeps that has lead to the match that he now has scheduled for Wrestlemania.....because after costing the Undertaker the WWF Championship at the Royal Rumble.....and then Kane the WWF Championship at No Way Out.....at Wrestlemania, HE will be in action.....against the Big Red Monster himself.....and Kane is NOT a happy monster right now.....

.....Mankind ponders that for a moment, before telling Dok that Monsters rarely are.....happiness is a gift reserved only for the normals.....the accepted.....not the monsters.....

”.....will beating me to a bloody pulp make Kane happy?.....will getting beaten to a bloody pulp by Kane, all for Uncle Vince’s approval make ME happy?.....probably not.....but for those people out there.....those people that cheered as I plunged to the mat at Badd Blood.....those people that thanked me for my sacrifices by conveniently putting MY suffering and MY pain out of their minds as I laid for months in a hospital bed.....THOSE people.....THEY will be happy.....

.....and so long as THEY are happy, Uncle Vince is happy.....because THEY put money in his pocket.....and money makes HIM happy.....money makes me accepted.....maybe that will make me happy.....maybe monsters CAN be happy.....

.....then again.....maybe not.....I guess we’ll find out though.....”

.....I guess we will.....because Wrestlemania is only a few weeks away.....

.....poor Mankind.....

Rating: A

.....we go back up to ringside from there, where it’s time for tag team action, as The Headbangers face off against one of the teams that will be competing for the WWF Tag Team Championships at Wrestlemania, Dustin Rhodes and Marc Mero.....

.....while no one particularly WANTS to lose a match, whether Rhodes and Mero win or lose here is kind of redundant.....lose, and they STILL have a title opportunity coming up in a few weeks time.....win, well.....at least they have some momentum going into that match I suppose.....

.....Wrestlemania will be a very different kettle of fish though.....win at Wrestlemania and these two men will become the tag team champions of the world.....but should one of these two men lose the match.....should it be either Dustin Rhodes or Marc Mero that takes the fall or submits at Wrestlemania, then their team will be forced to disband.....

.....big risk.....bigger reward.....

.....of course Wrestlemania is still a few weeks away.....tonight is tonight, and tonight they won, with Rhodes finishing off Thrasher with a running bulldog for the one, two, three.....

Winner(s): Dustin Rhodes & Marc Mero
Rating: B

.....backstage we go, where a flustered Michael Cole (thanks to Sunny hanging off his arm like the little flirt that she is) is standing by with the New Age Outlaws, Billy Gunn and The Road Dogg.....

.....Cole finally remembers why he’s here, telling the Outlaws that Rhodes and Mero looked very impressive in victory a moment ago, while Al Snow and Chris Candido are set to be in action later this evening.....so with Wrestlemania only 20 days away, are Gunn and James at all concerned that their days as a team could well be numbered?.....

.....Road Dogg laughs at that, saying the only things numbered around here are Arn Anderson’s liver spots.....

”.....’cept he stopped counting them when he hit 20, because he run out of fingers and toes.....

.....see there’s only one number around here that counts Michael Cole, and that’s the number three.....three weeks until Wrestlemania rolls around.....one, two, three teams for the Outlaws to smoke like Cheech and Chong.....a one, two, three count to win the match.....and the New Age Outlaws becoming your THREE time WWF Tag Team Champions of the World.....and if three is one too many, then Billy got TWO words for ya, don’tcha Bad Ass.....”

.....Billy does have two words.....he’s not ready to spill them just yet though.....first he tells Cole that they’ve been waiting months for this shot.....he says that the Lizard King Ric Flair and his little sidekick took the shot that should have been theirs to begin with, and then Vince McMahon lumbered him with a lame ass like Al Snow last month.....well THIS month the band is back together, and at Wrestlemania they’re going to be playing ALL their greatest hits.....

.....Road Dogg says that despite their recent identity crisis, Dustin Rhodes and Marc Mero spent the best part of twelve months doing each other’s make up and losing matches.....Pinky and the LameBrain (or Al Snow and Chris Candido to you and me) spend more time talking to a mannequin head than they do in the real world, ”and let’s face it, we’ve already beat them more times than they can count.....although in Al Snow’s case that isn’t very high.....so let’s say we’ve beat them more times than Billy’s had hot women”.....and then there’s the champs themselves.....The Nature Boy ”who hasn’t been a boy in about seventy years” and The Enforcer ”or rather the re-enforcer.....like the way he re-enforced those geriatric hips”.....

.....Road Dogg tells Cole that whichever way you look at it, there’s only one obvious winner here.....the real question, is which team are they going to disband to do it.....because one way or another, the New Age Outlaws are walking out of Wrestlemania as your three time tag team champions.....while the loosing team.....well, tell ‘em what they can do Billy.....

.....”Suck It!”.....

Rating: A

.....we air a quick recap video, highlighting the history between Chris Jericho and Dean Malenko (as well as recapping the stipulation for their Wrestlemania match) before we head back down to ringside for a match that’s particularly important for the Man of 1000 Holds.....not like “career on the line” important, but important non the less, because Test already has one victory over Dean Malenko, and Test also happens to be a close personal friend of Chris Jericho.....

.....that being said, this WAS a different Dean Malenko than Test faced previously.....a more determined Dean Malenko.....who (in fairness) is still fighting an uphill battle against a much bigger opponent.....

.....fight he does though, and while Test does dominate a good portion of the middle of the match, he’s clearly struggling to put Malenko away.....so much so that he severely overshot a running big boot attempt (which Malenko ducks) leading to the big Canadian’s leg getting caught over the top rope.....a mistake that Malenko pounces on, catching hold of the ankle and wrapping the knee around the cable.....

.....from there Malenko turns the entire focus of his attack on the leg of his opponent, before trying to lock on the Clover Leaf.....

.....Test has enough left to kick his opponent away though, leaving Malenko to collide into the official, sending the referee crashing to the mat.....

.....and then Chris Jericho comes running out from the back.....

.....Jericho hops up onto the apron and begins hurling orders at Test, telling his bodyguard to get Malenko to his feet.....which he does in all fairness, even on one leg, clutching the arms of Malenko behind him while Jericho climbs into the ring, Intercontinental Title in hand.....

.....he throws some insults Malenko’s way, then arrogantly slaps his Wrestlemania opponent in the face, before backing up and charging at Malenko, Title in hand.....

.....and yes Malenko moves.....

.....and yes Test gets nailed in the face with the gold.....

.....and yes.....ok, I’ll stop that.....

.....Test hits the mat, while Malenko grabs Jericho by the scruff of the neck and tosses him over the top rope to the floor, just as the official comes back around.....and with his opponent down and out, all Malenko has to do is make the cover, picking up the one, the two and the three.....and (as I mentioned earlier) a very important victory.....

Winner: Dean Malenko
Rating: B+

.....as Jericho checks on Test (half heartedly admittedly, because he looks quite annoyed that his bodyguard lost, regardless of the fact that it was actually his fault) as Malenko backs up the aisle with his arms raised in victory, as WE head backstage.....

.....where Dok Hendrix is standing by with Rey Mysterio, who (Dok states) must be very pleased at seeing his friend pick up that victory.....

”.....but Rey, I’ve gotta ask.....do you think Dean Malenko is going to walk out of Wrestlemania as the new WWF Intercontinental Champion? Or do you think that Dean Malenko is going to walk out of Wrestlemania as a retired competitor?.....”

.....Mysterio doesn’t even have to think about it.....he says that he KNOWS that Dean Malenko has what it takes to defeat Chris Jericho, the only thing holding him back.....was himself.....a lack of faith in his own ability, but now, looking at that display, Dean Malenko knows how good he is.....and as far as Rey is concerned, that man there will FINALLY shut the mouth of Chris Jericho once and for all at Wrestlemania.....and walk out your brand new Intercontinental Champion.....

”.....just like I’m going to shut Owen Harts mouth up too.....”

.....Rey says that Owen might think himself a trailblazer, but as far as Rey is concerned that’s a slap in the face of all the lucha stars that came before him.....Rey says that Owen Hart might be a lot of things.....he’s a great wrestler.....a great high flyer.....a hell of a cheater.....but he’s not trailblazed anything.....and at Wrestlemania, Rey Mysterio is going to prove that.....

.....then he gets jumped from behind by a pink and black blur.....as Owen Hart nails him in he back of the head.....

.....Rey goes down and does a tremendous sell job as Owen puts the boots to him, before Hart drags him back to his feet and whips him halfway across the room into a pile of lighting rigging.....

.....Owen tells Rey that he’s a disrespectful punk, saying that lucha only exists because of him (really Owen?) before giving Mysterio another kick for good measure, before walking off with a ”woooooo, trailblazer”.....

.....someone is clearly believing their own hype.....let’s hope that doesn’t come back to bite him in his pink and black ass.....

Rating: A

.....well, THAT interview segment didn’t go very well now did it.....maybe we’ll have better luck with this one, as Michael Cole is standing by in our second interview area with Scorpio, Nelson, Faarooq and Bradshaw.....

.....Cole says that with Wrestlemania right around the corner, these four men have a date booked with the Nation of Domination, a group that (with the exception of Bradshaw) they were all once a part of.....so the question is, is that a help.....or a hinderance?.....

.....Faarooq cuts Cole off there, saying that first of all, he wasn’t a PART of the Nation.....he WAS the Nation.....the Leader, the Founder.....THE Nation.....but he ain’t that guy anymore.....he says that it was his call to kick Nelson to the curb and Nelson came back to bite him in the ass, but he picked Nelson to join the group too.....just like he picked Scorpio.....because he recognises real.....

”.....these men here, they REAL.....just like this man Bradshaw is real.....Ahmed Johnson, he spent years trying to fight the power, now he IS the power.....problem with that is the Nation ain’t the power they used to be.....”

.....Scorpio agrees, saying that the Nation ain’t even the Nation anymore.....in fact, with the exception of Kama, ain’t a single man a Nation original.....he says that Ahmed Johnson walked in, preaching that every Nation man was equal, it was quick to turn Scorpio out of the ranks when he’d outlived his usefulness.....well that’s too bad for them, because at Wrestlemania, Scorpio is gonna show Ahmed Johnson just what he’s good for.....when he whips his ass.....

.....Cole tries to get word from Nelson, but a scowl from the big man let’s him know that Nelson ain’t here to speak.....instead Cole moves to Bradshaw, the only man in the upcoming Wrestlemania match never to have been a part of the Nation.....and Bradshaw has plenty to say.....

.....he says that he doesn’t give a damn about who was, is or will be in the Nation, nor does he care about leadership, dictatorship, or any other kind of ship.....

”.....because the only ship that matters now, is the Titanic.....because what you’re looking at here is a god damn iceberg, and at Wrestlemania, we’re about to sink the unsinkable.....sink the Nation.....and there ain’t a damn thing any of them can do about it but head for the lifeboats.....

.....of course, Wrestlemania is still a few weeks away....whaddya say we go say hello to the Nation tonight boys?.....”

.....funnily enough the Nation are in action next.....

.....wait, where are these guys going?.....

Rating: B+

.....tag team action now, as the aforementioned Nation of Domination (in the form of D’Lo Brown and Mark Henry) face off against another team that will be competing for the tag team titles (and therefore another team who’s last match as a unit might be) at Wrestlemania, Al Snow and Chris Candido.....

.....at one time, Chris Candido would have been thankful for the opportunity to have his team with Al Snow disbanded.....slowly but surely though Al has SOMEHOW turned grumpy old Skip around, to the point that when Al himself offered to disband the team several months back, it was Candido that said no.....hopefully a decision that pays off sooner rather than later.....because while CandidSnow have won the tag team titles previously, they only managed to hold on to them for 24 hours before losing them straight back to the New Age Outlaws.....

.....still.....that’s longer than the Nation have held them.....

.....Snow and Candido would be a good scalp for D’Lo and Henry.....still relatively new to the WWF, a victory over former champions (and a team who have been THE main face team for the past year) would certainly propel them up the ranks.....maybe that’s why they bought Kama and Ahmed Johnson out with them, to help them along the way.....

.....only problem there, was the arrival of the four men we’ve just seen interviewed.....because Scorpio, Nelson, Faarooq and Bradshaw all make their way out.....and after the Nation cost Bradshaw (and Faarooq) a victory last week, the big Texan looks to even the odds tonight.....because as the official watches Scorpio and Nelson head for Ahmed and Kama, Bradshaw hits the ring and turns D’Lo inside out with a Clothesline from Hell.....

.....Al Snow waits for the official to turn around and delivers a (frankly unnecessary) Snow Plow to the already decimated Brown, before earning his team a one, two, three, pinfall victory.....

Winner(s): Al Snow & Chris Candido
Rating: B+

.....revenge is served as far as Bradshaw and Faarooq are concerned, but the fight is far from over, as these eight men (well, seven briefly until D’Lo gets back into the mix) go at it in a brawl that spreads across the whole ringside area.....

.....Al Snow looks like HE wants to join in the fun too, but Chris Candido spoils that party, telling his partner to head to the back.....after all, they don’t want any injuries hampering them at Wrestlemania.....

.....the Nation and Former (plus Bradshaw) Nation don’t seem too worried about the prospect of injury though, as they continue to assault each other until security makes their way out to try and separate the two sides.....

.....good luck with that one.....those are eight angry men.....

.....while they ARE trying though, we head back to the back and back to Dok Hendrix.....

Rating: B+

.....who’s standing by with the Million Dollar Corporation, ahead of our next match.....and while Jeff Jarrett is set to tangle with Matt Hardy, it seems to be Sean Waltman of the Wolfpac that Double J is more interested in at the moment.....

.....Dok questions DiBiase about that, stating that Jarrett would be better served in attempting to recapture the European Title, rather than focusing on the Wolfpac (and more recently, cutting hair) but Deebs disagrees.....

”.....you see, when we want the European Title back Dok Hendrix, we will just TAKE the European Title back.....what you’re seeing now, is what’s known in the business world as a show of force.....every once in a while some little mom and pop business will open its doors, thinking that it can compete with the global conglomerates.....the Wolfpac are as mom and pop as you can get and we’re about to flex our muscles, flash our (vast) cash.....and crush them under the heel of our corporate boots.....”

.....Jarrett says that Sean Waltman is the reason he doesn’t have the European Title around his waist right now, and since that little rat faced punk doesn’t have anything to offer, one way or another he’s going to strip what little dignity that Waltman has.....because Jarrett IS going to give him a makeover one way or another.....

.....speaking of the Wolfpac, Dok says that Rich Steiner’s brother Scott has issues of his own with one Kevin Nash.....and while we have seen a Steiner Brother reunion recently, are we any closer to seeing Scott Steiner as a fully bought in member of the Million Dollar Corporation?.....

.....Rich says that the offer (and the money) is there on the table.....all Scotty has to do is pick it up.....

”.....my brother has always been a stubborn son of a bitch Dok Hendrix, but he ain’t stoopid.....he knows that we’re better together.....and by now he knows that beating Kevin Nash with only one hand ain’t gonna be easy.....well like I know Dok (because I’m Rich....and you’re not) EVERYTHING is easier when you have money.....and everything is easier when you have the backing of the Million Dollar Corporation.....”

.....that may well be true.....let’s find out shall we.....because a member of the Million Dollar Corporation is in action next.....

Rating: B+

.....and that member is Jeff Jarrett.....and he DOES make his way out with both Ted DiBiase AND Rich Steiner by his side.....

.....Double J is a former European Champion, but then so is his opponent.....although in all honesty, Matt Hardy hasn’t done a great deal around here as of late.....he’s certainly not had the exposure that say his brother has been receiving down in WCW.....

.....there’s no real reason for that.....Matt is over(especially with the ladies) and he can work.....perhaps his mic work would be the only thing holding him back slightly, but even those skills aren’t atrocious.....all Hardy really needs is a good win and a decent programme and he’d be right back in the title picture.....

.....maybe that good win will come tonight.....

.....unfortunately it didn’t.....and that’s partly down to the backing of the Million Dollar Corporation, who (as if to emphasise Rich Steiner’s earlier point) interject themselves at numerous points throughout the match anytime Hardy tries to mount a comeback, until finally Jarrett picks up the victory after driving Harry’s face into the mat with that Facebuster he has been utilising as of late for the one, two, three.....

Winner: Jeff Jarrett
Rating: B+

.....not happy with just picking up the victory here though, Double J is looking to make a point at Matt Harry’s expense, as he and Steiner go to work putting the boots to Hardy, as DiBiase climbs into the ring too, with an expensive looking bag in his hand.....

.....a bag which (we quickly find out) contains a pair of scissors and a set of hair clippers.....

.....looks like Hardy is about to get a makeover.....

.....Steiner holds Hardy up (with his hands behind his back) as Deebs passes the equipment to Jarrett, who holds up a long stand of Matt’s hair, scissors poised, ready to cut.....

.....and then the Wolves howl.....

.....as Scott Hall and Sean Waltman come rushing out from the back, again spoiling Jeff Jarrett attempted barber work, as they have on a number of occasions now.....

.....the duo hit the ring and instantly begin brawling (and winning) with Jarrett and Steiner, quickly driving the Million Dollar Pair from the ring back up the aisle, where the two men hurl insults at the Wolfpac from the entrance way.....

.....Waltman grabs a microphone, hurling a few insults of his own, before finally getting straight to the point.....

.....he holds up Jarrett’s barber kit, telling him that he’s finally found a good use for these things, telling Double J that is he’s so desperate to go around cutting peoples hair, why don’t they make this interesting.....

”.....you said I’ve got nothing to offer? I’ve got plenty to offer.....so does Scott.....and so do you.....”

.....Jarrett looks a bit confused by that, but Waltman quickly clarifies what he wants.....he wants a match.....a tag team match.....Hall and Waltman vs. Jarrett and Steiner.....at Wrestlemania.....in a hair vs. hair match.....

”.....you win, me and Scott, we’ll sit there and let you shave our heads bald.....but if WE win, then you can kiss goodbye to that long blonde mane of yours.....because we’ll be shaving it off.....what do you say?.....”

.....that’s a tough choice for Jarrett, who’s particularly attached to his hair.....but after a few well timed insults from Hall and Waltman, he finally accepts.....telling the Wolfpac that come Wrestlemania, he’s going to personally shave off every last grease soaked, stringy strand of hair off their heads.....

.....maybe he will.....maybe he won’t.....but one way or another, someone’s getting a haircut on the grandest stage of all.....

Rating: A*

.....all of which brings us nicely to our main event.....and it’s two men that know each other very well.....so much so in fact that Bret Hart and The Undertaker actually first met during the Deadman’s debut match back at the 1990 Survivor Series.....granted that was a multi man encounter, not a singles match, but still, it shows how much history these two competitors have.....

.....THIS particular encounter I guess is pretty much put in place to simply soften up Brian Pillman’s Wrestlemania opponent, emphasised by the fact that our WWF Champion actually makes his way out to join us on commentary for this one, which may or may not be a good idea considering the fact that (while the Undertaker is currently focused on Raven) the Deadman still has unfinished scores to settle with the Loose Cannon too.....

.....the match itself (as you would expect) was excellent.....much like Sting and Ric Flair had “their” match, Bret Hart and The Undertaker have theirs too.....theirs involves Bret going for the leg and working the bigger man down to the mat, where that strength and size advantage means squat.....

.....at least until The Deadman begins to mount his comeback.....

.....then it means quite a lot.....

.....Pillman cackles and cheers on the man he defeated to become the World Wrestling Federation Champion, telling the Undertaker to “break his neck” as he wraps a hand around the throat of the Hitman.....

.....and then the Deadman drives Bret into the mat with a huge Chokeslam.....

.....this one could very well be over.....

”.....Undertaker.....UNDERTAKER!.....Come to me.....for I can set you free.....”

.....ugh, this guy again.....

.....Raven has been calling out the Deadman for weeks now.....calling him out, challenging him, inviting him.....only for him to run every time the Undertaker actually heads in his direction.....although you’ve got to assume that as far as Raven is concerned, it’s more a case of mind games rather than fear.....

.....again, the self proclaimed Deity of the Damned is situated high up in the arena.....and while the Undertaker wants to rip his head off, he may as well win a match first.....he tells Raven to be patient, he’ll be with him in about three seconds.....

”.....I don’t think so Deadman.....maybe this will change your mind.....”

.....”this” being the Titantron flickering to life, to reveal Jake Roberts at an undisclosed location.....a dark undisclosed location.....and he looks hard at work.....

.....Raven tells The Undertaker that everything he does, he does for him.....he does to make him stronger.....the Undertaker has become a diluted family friendly phenom, no longer a member of the dark side, choosing the up side instead.....selling out his demons for the almighty dollar.....trading misery and suffering for children’s foam tombstones and t-shirts.....

”.....maybe we need to remind you where The Undertaker was born.....”

.....with that the Titantron shot pans out to show that Jakes undisclosed location is actually a graveyard.....and Jake is hard at work digging away at what looks to be two graves.....

.....that stops the Deadman in his tracks.....because he clearly recognises those two graves too, as a look of fury crosses over his face, leading the commentary team to speculate that these are actually the graves of The Undertaker’s parents......

”.....maybe we need to scorch the earth.....”

......job well done Jake pauses for a minute to wipe the sweat from his brow, before turning at the camera with a sick smile on his face, pulling up two canisters of what looks to be gasoline, pouring it all over both of the open graves.....

.....Jake reaches into his pocket and pulls out a lighter which he flicks to life, still smirking as he mutters “ashes to ashes”.....and tosses the lighter into the graves.....

”.....maybe it’s time for you to rise.....reborn.....like a phoenix from the ashes.....”

.....there’s a “whoosh” as the flames erupt from the two open flames, and the Undertaker lets out a loud “NO!” as the fire grows, decimating the entire grave area so much that eventually The Snake has to back away from the heat.....

”.....maybe it’s time to come to me.....because I CAN set you free.....Quote the Raven.....Nevermore.....”

.....Raven has done a lot of sick things during his tenure here in the WWF.....but this one might be up there at the top of the list.....he’s moved on from crucifying and blinding priests and gone ahead and completely desecrated a grave.....TWO graves in fact.....

.....that’s too much for the Deadman to take, who completely ignores the Hitman and climbs over the top rope and into the crowd, heading in the direction of Raven who is slowly backing out of sight.....

.....we do have a match happening here though.....

.....but we’ve lost a competitor.....

.....so the official does the only thing he can.....

.....he counts out The Undertaker and awards the match to Bret Hart.....

.....not the result that Brian Pillman was looking for I’m sure.....

Winner: Bret Hart (via Count-Out)
Rating: A

.....well as we found out last week, Brian Pillman is a big advocate of “if you want something doing, do it yourself”.....which is why (since The Undertaker only did half a job) he slides into the ring here, pouncing on the still half beaten Bret Hart and hammering him with blows.....

.....which brings (first) The Hart Foundation running out from the back, followed quickly by Flair, Anderson and Mankind.....

.....THEN we have a big old brawl.....

.....Bret finally gets back to his feet and begins slugging it out with Brian Pillman, as the other six men go at it on the outside.....

.....then the Titantron flickers into life, with the sound of a horn blaring somewhere in the parking lot.....

.....as a huge monster truck with “Austin 3:16” on the side and a Stone Cold Skull on the front comes tearing into shot.....

.....completely crushing Vince McMahon’s limousine that’s still parked out back.....

.....the brawling inside the arena barely pauses for breath as the Titantron switches back to a view from the ring area, visualising the war that’s going on between the two sides, focusing mainly on the fight between The Loose Cannon and The Hitman.....

.....then the glass shatters.....

.....and the crowd erupts.....

.....as Stone Cold Steve Austin comes marching out from the back, steel chair in hand.....

.....now, had these two warring factions put their differences to one side for a moment, they probably could have eliminated their Rattlesnake problem before it even began.....as it was they were too busy fighting amongst themselves, leading a poised Austin to actually look quite disappointed as he tosses his unused steel chair to one side, before charging down the aisle.....

.....it’s chaos here in the building, Flair and Anderson are brawling with Owen and Jericho, Test and Mankind are pummelling each other right beside them.....and then right there in the middle of the ring, Austin, Pillman and Hart explode.....

.....Rick Rude questions how Austin is even walking here tonight (let alone fighting) after having his ankle Pillmanized last week, but JR comments that if he knows Austin (and he does) he’s walking and fighting out of pure spite and stubbornness.....

”.....because say what you will about Steve Austin.....he’s crass, he’s brash, but he’s also the toughest s.o.b in the WWF and that goes without saying.....”

.....he may well be too.....putting Bret Hart on the mat with a backdrop, before running the ropes with Pillman, levelling the WWF Champion with a Thez Press and unloading with fists of fire as security finally comes rushing out from the back to try and regain some order here.....

.....good luck with that.....

.....because as JR let’s us know that we’re out of time and signs us off, these men might still be fighting in seven days time.....

.....hopefully not though.....

.....we’ll see you next week folks.....

Rating: A*

Final Rating: A

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A New Generation…..a new attitude? [by To4sty] Nov 10, 2021 19:21:05 GMT 1 Asaemon and Beejus like this

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Post by to4sty on Nov 10, 2021 19:21:05 GMT 1

Week 2, March 1998
Coleman Coliseum (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
ATT: 15,000
TV: 29.34
Announce Team: Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan and Mike Tenay

.....it’s Monday Night and we are fresh off of a jam packed episode of WCW Thunder, that SHOULD have been all about the crowning of a brand new Television Champion.....instead (sorry DDP) it ended up being all about Shawn Michaels and his band of degenerates.....just like it always is.....

.....the show opens up with a replay of the heinous assault that Eric Bischoff received at the hands of Michaels and his cronies, culminating in a vicious Con-Chair-To from Adam Copeland and Christian Cage, before we open up straight to the middle of the ring, where Vince Russo stands alone.....

.....he says that tonight, he stands here not as a member of the Titans of Wrestling.....he’s out here as a member of World Championship Wrestling.....he’s out here as a member of the management team for WCW......but most importantly (and despite the fact that they often don’t see eye to eye) he’s out here for Eric Bischoff.....

.....Russo says that he and Bischoff have butted heads in the back just as often as these WCW superstars butt heads in this ring, but Shawn Michaels and his little group of degenerates took things way too far this past Thursday.....

”.....Shawn, I know you’re used to stamping your little feet up north and getting whatever you want, but guess what Bro, THIS Vince ain’t about to let your prima donna attitude slide.....

.....you come out here bro, week after week, running down WCW.....well I got news for you.....tonight, WCW’s gonna get their chance to shut your mouth once and for all.....”

.....Russo says that as far as he’s concerned, come one come all.....you want a shot at Shawn Michaels?.....JPL?.....Copeland? Cage? Traylor?.....come on down and stake your claim.....

.....and come they do.....in fact, it looks like three quarters of the WCW roster makes its way out, lead by the franchise himself, Mr. WCW.....the World Heavyweight Champion.....Sting.....

.....Sting marches his way down the aisle, followed by friend and foe alike.....Lex Luger, Sid, Jeff Hardy.....DDP is there, The Patriot, Mike Awesome and Gideon Cain.....The Forgotten make their way out.....the First Family.....Rikishi, Jim Duggan, Juventud Guerrera, you name them, they’re probably out there.....in fact, the only people NOT to make their way out (conveniently enough) are the Titans of Wrestling themselves.....

.....Russo looks on with a smile, saying that while he knows he’s not the most popular guy back there in the locker room, it still warms his New York heart to see so many people willing to stand up and fight for World Championship Wrestling.....

”.....so here’s what we’re gonna do.....since we don’t want to stroke Shawn Michaels ego any more than we have to, and make this whole night about him and his little band of degenerates, what we’re gonna do is mix it up a little bro.....”

.....Russo says that tonight (after surveying the mass of humanity in front of him) it’s going to be the two men that swung those chairs (Adam Copeland and Christian Cage) facing off against Mike Awesome and Gideon Cain.....AND.....just to make it interesting.....the winner of that match will go on to face The Forgotten at Uncensored, for the WCW Tag Team Titles.....JPL, he’s going to be in action on Thursday night’s Thunder.....and as for Ray Traylor, he can just take the week off.....

”.....but Shawn.....don’t worry bro, I know how you just love being the center of attention, so tonight, that spotlights going to be firmly on you.....because you’re going to be right there in the main event.....I just need to pick an opponent for you.....”

”.....hold on there Vince-lite.....because I got some bad news jack.....”

.....wouldn’t you know it, it’s Shawn Michaels and his band of merry degenerates.....

.....I mean, not live in the arena or anything, that would be pretty stupid considering how unpopular they are.....no, instead they’re live on the Turnertron from the back.....and FROM the back, Shawn Michaels tells us that whatever proposed match Vince Russo has planned, it ain’t gonna happen.....

”.....see Vinnie-Ru, the way I see it, there ain’t no one standing out there that it’s worth lacing up my boots for.....well, maybe to kick Mr. WCW there, the Stinger, right in the mouth.....but since I’m gonna be doing that anyway at Uncensored, why bother.....”

.....Shawn says that no.....Copeland and Cage, they’ll happily take their match against those two musclebound morons Awesome and Cain, but Shawn, he’s gonna take the night off.....

”.....because as far as those opponents right there go.....that doesn’t work for me.....brother.....”

.....Russo tells Shawn that he misunderstands.....see, Sting is most certainly not going to be facing Michaels tonight.....because he’s going to be facing Jean Paul Levesque on Thunder.....

”.....and as for who you’re going to be facing tonight.....it’s not going to be one of these men out here.....”

.....and then some familiar sounding music begins to play.....

.....as the Turnertron switches to a split screen, as Bill Goldberg comes bursting out of his locker room with a snarl, marching through the halls of the building.....

.....and Shawn Michaels isn’t happy about that one bit.....

.....in fact, he actually looks terrified.....

.....Shawn stumbles over his words for a minute (as we watch Goldberg continue his journey through the arena) telling Russo that he’s not facing a rookie nobody like Bill Goldberg.....and Ray Traylor is NOT going to take the night off, because The Enforcer is going to take care of this problem right now (as Copeland and Cage shove a somewhat reluctant looking Traylor out of the room) so Russo had better some up with a plan B, C, D and E.....

.....it looks like the Goldberg plan has indeed gone out of the window too.....because Traylor and Goldberg have just come face to face in the back and are currently brawling their way towards the arena.....

.....guess it’s time for plan B after all.....

”.....!!!IF YA SMELLLLLLLLLLLLLL......WHAT THE ROCK.....IS COOKING!!!.....”

.....as The Great One himself comes marching out from the back, microphone in hand.....

.....Rocky comes to a halt at the entrance way, telling Russo not to worry, because while Thunder might be The Rock’s show, The Rock is still here tonight to electrify Monday Nitro as only he can.....

”.....so Shawn Michaels, The Rock says this.....come Uncensored, the Rock is gonna lay an uncensored, Triple X rated titty twister on Jipple the hairy left nipple.....but TONIGHT....
tonight your candy ass is gonna go one on one with the great one and it doesn’t matter if YOU don’t like it.....if Jipple doesn’t like it.....if Hanson one and two there don’t like it.....hell it doesn’t even matter if the millions (and millions) of the Rocks fans like it.....ah who’s the Rock kidding, of course the Rocks fans are gonna like it.....in fact they’re gonna LOVE it, when the Rock takes this big boot, shines it up real nice, turns it sideways.....and shoves it straight up your candy ass!.....”

.....challenge made.....

.....and Rocky barely has chance to finish his sentence before Shawn Michaels (surprisingly) accepts.....a fact which the announcers team find rather suspicious.....

.....regardless, the match is set and it’s set for later this evening, as Vince Russo informs us that Bill Goldberg and Ray Traylor have finally been separated, before informing us all that since those two men want to fight so much (and since he’s looking to make Shawn Michaels associates suffer) they can fight right now, inside this ring.....

.....so clear the ringside area.....

.....because we have a match about to start.....

Rating: A*

.....and that match is a continuation of the brawl that erupted moments ago in the back, as Ray Traylor (who’s apparently NOT having the night off) goes one on one with the undefeated rookie monster Bill Goldberg, who’s 62-0 win/loss record has propelled him all the way to the top of the number one contendership ladder for the United States Championship.....an opportunity that he’ll be granted at Uncensored, as he faces off against Eddie Guerrero.....the longest reigning current champion in all of WCW today.....

.....but that’s then.....now there’s just the small matter of a main event eventer by the name of Ray Traylor to contend with.....and yes, in 1998 the former Big Boss Man is very much a part of the main event scene, thanks in no small part to his allegiance with Adam Copeland and Christian Cage, because (as Shawn Michaels and JPL obviously realised) the Totally Awesome Trinity have been one of the hottest acts in WCW for quite some time now.....

.....Traylor is a big man too.....they don’t call him the enforcer for nothing.....so Goldberg most certainly has his work cut out for him here, but he’s going to have to get used to facing off against main event calibre stars if he has any aspirations at capturing that US Title, because Eddie Guerrero has lied, cheated and stolen his way straight to the top of the card and is (without question) even higher up the food chain than Mr. Traylor here.....

.....luckily for our undefeated rookie, he has two things that no one else here in WCW does.....

.....a Spear.....

.....and a Jackhammer.....

.....and after a sloppy brawl he uses both, before picking up the biggest win of his career, as Ray Traylor counts the lights for the one, two, three.....

.....63-0.....

.....Eddie Guerrero, are you watching?.....

Winner: Bill Goldberg
Rating: B

.....oh.....apparently he is.....because we cut backstage to a shot of our United States Champion standing in front of a monitor along with his nephew Chavo Guerrero Jr.....

.....the monitor shows Bill Goldberg celebrating his (huge) victory.....and in all honesty, Eddie Guerrero does NOT look comfortable at the sight.....

.....he runs his hands through his (greasy) hair, letting out an exasperated sigh as he tells Chavo that he was sure that Ray Traylor was going to take Goldberg out esè.....

”.....he’s supposed to be awesome holmes.....THAT wasn’t awesome.....Chavito, go take care of this esè.....”

“.....ME?.....what am I supposed to do?!?.....”

.....Eddie tells (a very reluctant) Chavo that he’s supposed to go and do what Guerrero’s do.....before picking up a steel chair and handing it to his nephew.....

”.....he’s probably tired after that gruelling match.....why don’t you go and offer him a chair esè.....”

.....Chavo doesn’t look convinced, but it doesn’t look like Eddie is taking no for an answer, as he ushers Chavo unceremoniously out of the room, before turning his attention back towards the monitor as we go back out to the ring.....

Rating: B+

.....where it’s time for the barnburner of a match that is The Patriot facing off against Alex Wright.....

.....exciting right?.....

.....don’t scoff, it wasn’t a bad match to be fair.....

.....granted it was obviously placed as a quick win for The Patriot.....after all, the USA original has been smack bang in the middle of a feud with The Sovereignty that’s actually taken up quite a lot of screen time as of late, while Alex Wright.....well.....he has BEEN on television at least recently.....

.....the winner is gonna be pretty cut and dry here huh.....

.....actually no.....

.....because with The Patriot fully in control, Lance Storm makes his way out with a microphone in hand.....

.....Storm starts running down the Red, White and Blue clad star briefly, before breaking out into a passionate rendition of “Oh Canada” which distracts the Patriot just long enough that Alex Wright is able to creep up behind his opponent and (remarkably) roll him up for a surprise one, two and three.....

.....your winner.....Alex Wright?.....

Winner: Alex Wright
Rating: B

.....Alex Wright skedaddles quickly out of the ring and back up the aisle, dancing (if you can call it that) in celebration as he goes, while Storm looks on with a smug smirk on his face.....

.....Lance is about to leave too, but the voice of the Patriot (who’s grabbed a microphone of his own) is enough to stop our Canadian Hero in his tracks, as the American Original tells Storm that he has a challenge for him.....

”.....a challenge for Uncensored.....because since you Sovereignty punks don’t seem to want to fight by the rules, let’s throw the rules outta the window.....no pinfalls, no submissions.....hell, take the match and I’ll even throw in no disqualifications too.....just you and me.....with Old Glory on one side of the ring, and that Red and White Maple Leaf you call a flag on the other side of the ring.....let’s have us a good old fashioned flag match.....”

.....a flag match? Well jeepers that sounds fun.....ah what the hell, it’s Russo booking this after all.....

.....Storm tells Patriot that he’s already beat him once.....he beat him in a WRESTLING match, because Lance Storm (much like his compatriots in the Sovereignty) is a WRESTLER.....

”.....I don’t get involved in common brawls, that’s more often than not something that we in Canada leave to you inbred Americans.....but if it will finally shut your mouth, then I accept your challenge.....

.....under ONE condition.....

.....and that’s that when I win.....and when I hold this majestic Maple Leaf high in the air.....YOU Mr. USA Original.....YOU have to salute MY flag.....as the Canadian National Anthem plays.....only THEN will I accept your challenge.....”

.....Patriot considers that for about a fifth of a second, before telling Storm that he accepts.....in fact, not only does he accept, but he’s upping his stakes too.....The Patriot says that he WILL salute that Maple Leaf IF he loses......

.....but.....

.....WHEN he wins, it’s Lance Storm that has to salute a flag.....

”.....and that’s MY flag.....OUR flag.....the greatest flag in the world today, Old Glory herself.....”

.....Storm accepts.....and I guess that means we have a match set for Uncensored.....

.....well there we go......let’s take a break shall we?.....

Rating: B

.....oh.....no.....hang on.....not yet.....

.....first we’re gonna go backstage quickly, where Mean Gene is shuffling down a hallway after the figure of Eddie Guerrero.....

.....Gene finally catches up with our slippery United States Champion, before asking him just what in the hell he thinks he’s doing.....

”.....first you and Chavo Guerrero attack Bill Goldberg backstage with steel chairs, separating his shoulder.....THEN you assault him with steel chairs again when he returned, costing him the Television Title in the process.....and NOW you’ve sent your nephew out there with a steel chair in hand again, presumably to weaken up your Uncensored opponent.....Eddie Guerrero is there now low that you won’t sink to?.....”

.....Eddie scoffs at this, telling Gene that this is professional wrestling holmes.....this ain’t the ballet.....

”.....what, does Big Bad Bill need an armed guard to escort him around the building? Ten armed guards?.....he can’t take a little bit of friendly competition?.....”

.....Eddie says that if Bill Goldberg can’t look after himself backstage, then how does he ever think he’s gong to be able to hang with the Papi of Perfection at Uncensored esè.....

.....Eddie carries on walking, with Gene hot on his tail, as the two finally come to a section of the hallway with a big plate glass window, where Mean Gene finally halts Guerrero in his tracks again.....he begins to question Eddies integrity (to which Eddie scoffs) but he’s soon cut off, as he lets out a loud ”My God” and quickly steps back.....

.....just as Chavo Guerrero comes flying through that plate glass window like Marty Jannetty at a Barbers Shop.....

.....Chavo lands at the feet of his uncle, surrounded by (gimmicked) glass, as the hulking frame of Bill Goldberg snarls what through what remains of the (now destroyed) window.....where he snarls a simple warning to Eddie.....

”.....at Uncensored.....You’re Next!.....”

.....let’s take that commercial break now shall we.....while the medical staff set about picking glass out of the carcass of Chavo Guerrero Jr.....

Rating: A

.....and when we come back it’s to a shot of the rest of the Titans of Wrestling arriving.....you know, the same Titans of Wrestling that we’re conveniently missing when Vince Russo was handing out matches earlier this evening.....

.....they pull up in a long black limousine, as the huge frame of The Giant pulls himself out of the vehicle, along with Buff Bagwell yapping excitedly behind him like a little puppy dog, as the two men (well mainly Buff) talk about what they’re going to do to Lex Luger and Roddy Piper at Uncensored.....

.....a few seconds behind them comes The (stoic and silent) Warrior, with Randy Savage bringing up the rear.....

.....Macho Man is talking to thin air (as he often does) saying that they’ve timed it just right, yeah.....

”.....Russo did the thing, now it’s time for us to finish the thing yeah.....the time is right if you know what I mean, time for the Mega, Mega, Mega, Ultimate Maniacs to do the deed, dig it?.....”

.....DO you dig it?.....yeah me neither, I have no idea what he’s going on about.....maybe we’ll find out after this next match.....

Rating: B+

.....a match which just so happens to feature two former Titans of Wrestling (and current degenerates) Adam Copeland and Christian Cage.....and for once (thanks to Bill Goldberg spearing Ray Traylor in half earlier this evening) this usually Totally Awesome Three are simply a Totally Awesome Two, because the Enforcer is nowhere to be seen.....

.....they probably could have used his presence too.....because Awesome and Cain are two big, big men.....of course, not as big as the two men waiting for the winners of this match, because as decreed by Vince Russo earlier (in the absence of Eric Bischoff) the team that picks up the victory here will go on to Uncensored to face The Forgotten, for the WCW Tag Team Titles.....

.....this was a good match too.....Mike Awesome has been calling himself the best big man in the business for a reason, while (under the tutelage of Bobby Eaton) Gideon Cain has been coming on in leaps and bounds.....add that to the fact that Copeland and Cage are both over like rover (and pretty adept themselves when it comes to in ring performances) and you obviously had the makings for a decent bout.....

.....Awesome and Cain used their size and strength advantage to dominate the opening segment.....Copeland and Cage used every trick in the book to isolate the less experienced Gideon Cain in the middle.....and the ending was one long free for all.....

.....with added special guests.....

.....because as Cage and Cain hold the officials attention, Copeland snatches up a steel chair, looking for a little one man Con-Chair-to action on Mike Awesome.....and that’s when Randy Savage and The Warrior come walking out from the back.....

.....the distraction is enough to cause Copeland to hesitate using the chair.....which in turn sees him get blindsided by a Mike Awesome kick to the gut, which is followed up by a massive Awesome Bomb.....and three seconds later, Mike Awesome and Gideon Cain are heading to Uncensored, while Adam Copeland and Christian Cage are heading into uncertainty.....

Winner(s): Mike Awesome & Gideon Cain
Rating: A

.....or maybe not quite so uncertain.....because with Copeland still down, Savage and Warrior surround the lone Christian Cage.....and the Macho Man has a microphone.....

”.....if it ain’t the little funny man, yeah.....not so funny now is it, looks like the jokes on you, yeah.....”

.....Macho tells Christian that it looks like he’s all alone.....no Copeland, no Enforcer (“and no sign of your new friends Shawn Michaels and JPL, because they want nooooo part of the Macho Man and the Warrior Man, dig it”).....

.....the usually stoic Warrior steps a little closer to the visibly nervous Cage, as Savage tells him not to worry, they’re not here to take him out.....yet.....

”.....see we could.....we could really, really, really, really hurt you, a real, real lot right now, yeah.....but I think we won’t.....I think we WILL, just not now.....”

.....Macho says that Christian has two weeks.....thirteen days to be precise.....to wake up his partner, look in the mirror, and realise what a mistake they made when they chose to side with Shawn Michaels over the Titans of Wrestling.....

”.....you wanna run around like a bunch of degenerates, that’s fine yeah.....because at Uncensored, the man with a plan Vince Russo has just booked a match.....it ain’t a title match, but it might be your last match.....because it’s going to be you and you against me and he, Copeland and Cage against the Warrior Man and the Macho Man, and we’re gonna take you out for good....oh yeahhh”.....

.....message signed, sealed and delivered.....we have another match set for Uncensored and as Savage and the Warrior leave, Christian has the unenviable task of letting his partner know what’s in store for them in just thirteen days time.....

.....once he wakes him up obviously.....

.....speaking of Uncensored, let’s show a promo package for it shall we.....

Rating: A

.....mainly because it gives us chance to clear he ring of the Totally Awesome Two, so that this gentleman can make his way out.....Mr. Brian Lawler esq.....

.....ok, a slightly grand title for him, but he IS descended from royalty after all.....

.....anyway, I’ll keep this short and sweet.....Psychosis is the current number one contender to the WCW Cruiserweight Title.....Lawler wants to be the the number one contender to the WCW Cruiserweight Title.....so he demands that Psycho comes out and faces him like a man, put the shot on the line, gets his ass kicked, and then all will be right with the world.....

.....well.....Psychosis does come out.....and I think he accepts, it’s difficult to say since he doesn’t actually speak a great deal of English.....he does wave an official out from the back though so it looks like we’re having a match.....and since Eric Bischoff is currently out of commission (and I don’t think Vince Russo cares either way) I guess it’s to decide who will go on to face Hayabusa at Uncensored.....

.....ring the bell.....

Rating: C+

.....ok, let’s get this one underway shall we.....Brian Lawler has been lurking around in the background of the Cruiserweight Division since he arrived here in WCW, but while he’s been quite vocal about vying for the prize he’s been rather reluctant to cross paths with our current champion Hayabusa.....although that might have something to do with the company that he keeps.....because where Hayabusa goes, James Vandenberg goes.....and where that somewhat sinister minister goes, Jinsei Shinzaki and Mortis aren’t far behind.....

.....it looks like Lawler has decided to suck it up though, because should he win here (since Psicosis has apparently acquiesced to putting his shot on the line) he’s going to be facing Vandenberg’s fearless daredevil at Uncensored.....that’s still only an “if” though.....because Psicosis is no slouch himself.....

.....the match itself was decent.....Psicosis isn’t the most aerodynamic of our Cruiserweights, but compared to Brian Lawler he’s certainly the more high risk of the two.....although interestingly enough this match may come down to one move.....a move both men utilise.....the top rope leg drop, and who’s going to hit it first.....

.....well.....

.....neither man.....

.....because before the match could reach a natural conclusion, it was interrupted by this little band of deviants.....

.....Vandenberg leads his men to the ring and before either Psicosis or Lawler realise they have arrived they are jumped by the trio of Mortis, Shinzaki and Hayabusa.....

.....throw this one out folks, we have a no contest on our hands.....

Winner: No Contest
Rating: C

.....but we’re not done there.....because not satisfied with just ENDING the match, Vandenberg’s villains then proceed to beat both Lawler and Psicosis into the mat, until BOTH men are left down and out in a brutal assault.....

.....the announcers question the logic here, with Schiavone deciding that this is merely a case of Hayabusa trying to dictate who he will face at Uncensored, with apparently Psychosis being the chosen opponent, since he already had the shot anyway.....

.....turns out Schiavone is right.....

.....and wrong.....

.....because Vandenberg grabs a microphone, telling the fallen challengers that there was really little need for this match to take place.....

”.....because my followers of the dark have little concern for structure and hierarchy.....they have little concern for ‘labels’ such as #1 contender.....just as my Hayabusa has little concern for who he faces at Uncensored.....”

.....Vandenberg tells Lawler that is he wanted his shot, all he had to do was ask.....ask and he shall deliver.....and since Psicosis is apparently so willing to forego HIS chance at the Cruiserweight Championship, then he won’t mind if Hayabusa alters the terms a little bit.....

.....Lawler and Psicosis start to stir (briefly.....because the unholy trio quickly stomp them back into the mat) but Vandenberg continues, telling the pair that Hayabusa rejects this so called #1 contenders match.....instead he will face both Brian Lawler AND Psicosis at Uncensored.....he’ll put the Cruiserweight Championship on the line.....

”.....and may god have mercy on your souls.....because there will be none from us.....”

Rating: C+

.....from that rather unsettling scene we head backstage, where Mean Gene is standing by with a young man by the name of Jeff Hardy.....

.....Gene says that this past week on Thunder, Jeff Hardy went to a time limit draw with one Curt Hennig, which saw BOTH men eliminated from the (then vacant) WCW Television Title tournament.....

”.....which worked out well for one Diamond Dallas Page, however not so well for you two gentlemen.....which begs the question young man, where does Jeff Hardy go from here.....”

.....Jeff has never been one for promo’s, which is why this is kept short.....but not so sweet.....

.....short because Jeff tells Gene that one little setback isn’t about to put him down.....yeah DDP is the current Television Champion, but titles are there to be defended.....won.....and more importantly, lost.....Jeff says that he’s already tasted Championship glory here in World Championship Wrestling, becoming the inaugural Cruiserweight Champion.....

”.....but I’m not stopping there Gene.....so maybe I didn’t win the Television Title on Thunder.....but Diamond Dallas Page, I know you’ll be a fighting champion, so I’m officially putting my name on the line for a shot at your belt.....”

.....see, short.....

.....and the not so sweet?.....

.....the not so sweet is Curt Hennig flying into shot and nailing Hardy from behind with a shot to the back of the head.....

.....these two men may have come to stalemate on Thunder, but their time limit draw didn’t stop their action, continuing their brawl in the back.....

.....they were separated on Thursday night, but it looks like Hennig has neither forgiven nor forgotten as he lays into Jeff Hardy, who (taken completely by surprise) is soon beaten down to the ground.....

.....Curt gives Jeff one final kick for good measure, before telling Gene that regardless of Hardy’s bravado, there’s only one man that’s next in line for a shot at that TV title.....

”.....and you’re looking at him.....”

Rating: A

.....speaking of the Television Title, it’s actually Steven Regal who’s next in line for a shot at the gold, as DDP’s ongoing feud with the Sovereignty continues.....

.....Regal is a former (multi-time) Television Champion, however he WAS unsuccessful in his efforts to capture the gold on Thursday, thanks in fact to a defeat at the hands of a man that the Sovereignty continues to court, Chris Benoit.....

.....perhaps Regal will have more luck tonight.....although when you consider the fact that tonight Regal is facing Page.....who beat Benoit.....who beat Regal.....then maybe not.....

.....for what it’s worth, Steven Regal has been one of the most consistent (and best performing) workers on the card.....in fact, the Sovereignty in general have been putting on some of the best performances week in and week out.....this match was no exception.....

.....given the self imposed time limits of fifteen minutes which surround the Television Title, you’re going to be hard pushed to see any five star classics here, but this match is as close as you’re going to get.....

.....remarkably it was a clean affair too.....the rest of the Sovereignty did make their way out towards the end, but they had a special guest with them (a man that Lance Storm has been courting for some time now) in Chris Benoit.....

.....whether it was Benoit’s influence of not, the rest of the Sovereignty did NOT get involved in this one.....as much as Regal would have perhaps liked them too.....because with around 90 seconds of the fifteen minute time limit remaining, Page was able to drop his opponent with a Diamond Cutter for the one, two, three, and to retain the gold.....

Winner: ....and Still WCW Television Champion.....Diamond Dallas Page
Rating: B+

.....okay.....the Sovereignty didn’t get involved in that match.....okay.....Diamond Dallas Page is STILL the Television Champion.....but right now, he’s completely surrounded, as all six Sovereignty men AND Chris Benoit enter the ring.....

.....Page doesn’t look particularly thrilled about the prospect of facing seven men alone, but he doesn’t look like he’s going to back down either.....I don’t like those odds.....

.....luckily for him, the odds don’t matter.....

.....Benoit holds up his hand (and a microphone) telling Page that there won’t be any funny business here (Lance Storm has given him his word) Benoit just wants to talk.....

.....Page scoffs at that, saying that he doesn’t trust this ”Sovereignty SCUM” as far as he can throw them.....a statement that Lance Storm takes offence too, but says that he should have expected from an American like Page.....

.....Benoit isn’t best pleased either, telling Dallas that the Sovereignty has been nothing but honest to him and the Sovereignty has fought fairly and squarely.....

”.....in fact, after you left me in the lurch against the Forgotten right here on Nitro, I trust them a hell of a lot more than I trust you at the minute.....”

.....which brings us to why Benoit is here.....he says that while DDP did manage to defeat the Canadian Crippler to become the TV Champion, Benoit was nowhere near at 100%.....but he will be......

”.....by UnCensored.....

.....so why don’t we put that title on the line one more time.....Diamond Dallas Page versus Chris Benoit.....just me and you.....you leave the little woman at home, I’ll leave the Sovereignty in the back and we see just WHO.....the better man is.....”

.....Benoit holds out a hand (which Page reluctantly accepts) telling his (apparent) UnCensored opponent that there will be no funny business from the Sovereignty, he gives Dallas his word as a man and a Canadian, that just like on Thunder, this will be simply Chris Benoit vs. Diamond Dallas Page, for the WCW Television Title.....

”.....except this time, I’ll be 100%.....and this time.....it’ll be ME walking out.....with that TV Title belt.....”

.....Dallas doesn’t look convinced at Benoit’s claim of a fair match, telling him that he’s been hanging out with Lance Storm and the rest of the Sovereignty for too long now.....but if Benoit gives his word as a man that there won’t be any outside interference, then Dallas will give him the benefit of the doubt.....

.....Jacques Rougeau comes over like the goofy jackass that he is, getting right up in Pages face, telling him that if Benoit says there will be no interference then there will be no interference.....

.....and Dallas drops the Amazing French Canadian right to the mat with a Diamond Cutter.....

.....quick as a flash DDP drops to the mat too, rolling quickly to the outside and retreating up the aisle, microphone still in hand....

.....Page tells Benoit again that he’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.....

”.....but Chris, you can take it from me.....any of those Sovereignty SCUM stick their nose in that match, they’re going to Feel.....the.....BANG!.....”

Rating: A*

.....from there we go to the back, where Shawn Michaels and JPL are actually trying to calm down the Totally Awesome Trinity.....because Copeland and Cage are NOT happy about the events from earlier this evening.....

.....in fact, the Totally Awesome Two’s usual happy go lucky nature is nowhere to be seen.....they’re shouting, they’re banging, they’re slamming.....there’s not a “dude” or an “awesome” or a “totally” anywhere to be heard.....all there is to be heard are threats of violence towards Randy Savage and The Warrior.....and Shawn Michaels? He absolutely loves it.....

.....instead of trying to calm down his cohorts, Michaels and JPL seem to be fanning the flames of discontent, agreeing with Copeland and Cage that Savage and the Warrior have gone too far now.....

”.....which is why you two need to finish the job once and for all at UnCensored.....you need to put those two dinosaurs from a bygone age BACK into extinction.....”

.....JPL says that UnCensored is going to be their night.....a night for degenerates.....a night where C&C take out two so called Titans.....a night where Shawn Michaels takes that Big Tin Belt, wipes the make up OFF it and wipes his ass WITH it.....

”.....and the night, where I take that loud mouth people’s chump The Rock.....and show the world that he ain’t no rock.....he’s just a Crock.....a Crock of Shi.....”

.....Ray Traylor might have gotten folded in half earlier by Bill Goldberg, but he still has the wherewithal here to keep Standards and Practices happy.....clamping a hand over JPL’s mouth before he can finish that profanity......

.....Shawn chuckles that that, telling Traylor that it’s okay.....because he’s going to take care of the Rock himself right now.....

”.....and you totally awesome three.....you know what to do.....so let’s do this.....”

Rating: A*

.....okay.....it’s main event time.....and WHAT a main event.....as Shawn Michaels and The Rock go one on one for the first time ever, in what is arguably a Pay Per View caliber main event.....

.....trust WCW to give it away for free right?.....

.....in their defence, while this WAS a PPV caliber main event on paper, in practice the two men left enough intrigue in the contest to guarantee that people would come back to buy the rematch, should one be forthcoming.....

.....that’s not to say this wasn’t a great match.....in fact far from it, it was very good.....in fact, the Rock looked completely at home in there with the former World Champion (and current number one contender) leading the announcers to question exactly WHY Shawn Michaels was quite so quick to accept the match.....

.....unfortunately (or rather perhaps, predictably) the answer to that question soon becomes clearer.....because as Rocky stalks the man set to face Sting at Uncensored (clearly looking to connect with the Rock Bottom) JPL appears from nowhere behind him, sliding under the bottom rope and dropping HIS Uncensored opponent with a Low Blow that draws the disqualification.....

Winner: The Rock (via Disqualification)
Rating: A

.....and with Rocky doubled over in pain, he’s in prime position for JPL to drive his skull into the mat with a devastating Pedigree.....and once The Rock is prone on the canvas, that’s when Michaels and Levesque begin putting he boots to the People’s Champ.....

.....as the Totally Awesome Trinity come running out from the back.....

.....and the announcers declare this whole match a set-up.....

.....they might be right too.....because not only do the Trinity come out, the Trinity come out armed.....Copeland and Cage with a steel chair a piece, while Traylor has that ever present Nightstick.....

.....and when I say set up, I don’t mean because they came armed to assault The Rock.....

.....I mean set up because they came armed to stop anyone STOPPING the assault that Michaels and Levesque laid down on JPL’s Uncensored opponent....

.....because yes, while Michaels and his Den of Degenerates are pretty much universally hated, Rocky is not.....so one by one the locker room empty’s to make the save, while one by one they get held at bay by a weapon wielding Trinity member.....

.....Michaels and Levesque continue putting the boots to Rocky, before Shawn holds Maivia in place, so that Levesque can unload with fist after fist to the skull of the Great One, telling Rocky to “make a joke now funny man, go ahead and make me laugh” as he takes a chair from Cage.....

.....unfortunately that DOES leave a gap in the defences.....because that just leave Copeland and Traylor to hold the line, as the WCW Champion himself repels down from the roof of the arena......baseball bat in hand.....

.....he quickly gets onto the ring too (right where Cage would have been holding the fort) and swings wildly as Michaels, Levesque and co quickly bolt from the ring (away from the sea of wrestlers still on the ramp) and into the crowd.....

.....the WCW Champion helps the People’s Champion back to his feet.....before slowly turning and pointing that baseball bat ominously towards Levesque.....Vince Russo said earlier tonight that JPL would be in action this coming Thursday night on Thunder.....well by the look on the Stingers face, I think we know who his opponent is going to be.....

.....the Man called Sting.....

.....we’ll see you Thursday folks.....

Rating: A*

Final Rating:

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A New Generation…..a new attitude? [by To4sty] Nov 10, 2021 20:04:24 GMT 1 Asaemon and Beejus like this

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Post by to4sty on Nov 10, 2021 20:04:24 GMT 1

From Thunder to the Extreme: Week 2, March 1998

Preview for WCW Thunder: Week 2, March 1998

Sting vs. JPL
Comments:

Bill Goldberg & Jeff Hardy vs. Eddie Guerrero & Curt Hennig
Comments:

WCW Television Championship Match
Diamond Dallas Page (c) vs. Jacques Rougeau
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Mike Awesome & Gideon Cain vs. Disorderly Conduct
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The Patriot vs. Alex Wright
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Rikishi vs. Ray Traylor
Comments:

Preview for ECW Hardcore TV: Week 2, March 1998

Matches From ECW Living Dangerously 1998

ECW Tag Team Championship Match
The Eliminators (c) vs. The Brood
Comments:

Val Venis vs. Stevie Richards
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Shane Douglas & The Hellraiser vs. Tommy Dreamer & Chris Chetti
Comments:

A New Generation…..a new attitude? [by To4sty]

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