So, WCW’s Road Wild went down Saturday night, and one thing that I must say I’m pleased with is, that there was no 30 minute crap concert after the wrestling event, like last year! So WCW learned one lesson, what else did they learn about putting on a entertaining show? Not much.  
First match, Eddy-Kidman-Rey Jr. Vs. The Dead Pool. - This was a fairly decent match, of course any match with the top three young guys, plus Vampiro, is always a good showing. Why does WCW not clue in? The Dead Pool group are supposed to be heels, but they are getting some good face pops, and now WCW wants to kill the angle. WHY? Is Hogan afraid of a young talented guy with two clowns beside him? 
Harlem Heat Vs. Triad - Hey, Harlem Heat is back in town, and are the new tag champions, for some reason, I don’t feel happy. When they were a tag team before, they were one of my favorites, but seeing them split their separate ways, and now rejoin, seems like a move out of desperation on WCW’s behalf. Do they think bringing back the things that had them on top a few years ago, is going to work now in 1999? WCW will never defeat WWF in the ratings, because let’s face it. Wrestling is plain boring to watch for ninety five percent of the viewers. WWF has learned this, they have no made their product a totally different thing, first introduce conflict, heat up conflict, settle conflict in ring. WCW’s way is to, throw to random guys in a ring, let them wrestle for 10 minutes, then let them go backstage and let the conflict occur. Anyway, solid match for a while, Stevie Ray, really isn’t all that great as a wrestler, Booker T is going to have to be the man to carry this team. 
The Revolution vs. The West Texas Rednecks - Wow, this match didn’t get any reaction out of me, except for the entrances, and then the finish with Saturn DVD’ing Bobby Duncum Jr. 
Buff Bagwell vs. Ernest Miller - The Cat, couldn’t get a word in edge wise at the beginning, and for you people who think Buff Bagwell was hugely over in Sturgis, then your totally wrong, only reason he was getting pops was because he was telling the bikers to rev their engines, which they were doing, without his request anyway. Not the greatest match, not the quickest match either. Took them forever to finally tie up, and when they did, Cat took Bagwell down, and immediately, was over to the corner to talk strategy with Sonny Ono. 
Chris Benoit vs. Diamond Dallas Page - AWESOME MATCH. Dumb ending, with Benoit taking out the other members of the Triad, but this had to be the highlight of the night for me. I never knew Charles Robinson was a huge fan of Benoit’s? He was going crazy whenever Benoit was on the attack. The three rolling german suplexes, into a bridge pin was great, ends with Benoit’s Swan/Suicide dive from the top. I love how the other Revolution members came out to congratulate Benoit, in their minds they’re probably thinking, "Why don’t I get a title. Why does Benoit?". I’m actually surprised Bischoff kept the title around Benoit’s waist, as the rumors on the internet were that we’d be seeing a three time, US Champion in DDP. Sting Vs. Sid - So now Sid is WCW’s new Goldberg. So does that mean Goldberg is like RVD, the Whole Show, and now Sid is like Jerry Lynn, the New Show? Tonight, or sometime during the next week, Tenay is supposed to have a record of Sid’s streak. Watch him just make up a number around 120, and then when he is tied with Goldberg, Sid will face off against Goldberg, and "Da Man" Goldberg will stop Sid’s streak.  
Goldberg vs. Rick Steiner - Goldberg knocks off Rick "The Mid Carder" Steiner. Big shock there. 
Randy Savage vs. Dennis Rodman - Another useless celebrity match. Atleast Rodman’s wrestling record is tarnished now. Two wins, one lose, that isn’t too bad for a non trained wanna-be wrestler. 
Hulk Hogan vs. Kevin Nash - I’m not going to even bother talking about this match, because we know, Hogan is old, and needs a way to stay in wrestling, and what’s not better than bringing back his old persona, that he dropped when he told the fans to "stick it." Nash is gone? Oh yeah, he’s going to retire now, yeah, he’s probably even checked in to a senior’s home. Retirement matches shouldn’t be involved unless, they are going to actually be truthful. The only semi real Retirement match I have seen, was Macho King, Randy Savage Vs. Ultimate Warrior. Savage lost, and never did wrestle in a WWF ring again, He did commentary, until he left for WCW, to wrestle again. That has been probably the only, close to real retirement match. Sometimes I wonder how dumb the bookers think the fans are.  

Well, three words for you, describing last week’s RAW. They are, RAW IS JERICHO. Simply put. Beginning of RAW, we have The Rock come out, some hilarious jokes about Big Show, he basically set the mood for the show. The Jesse Ventura interview was pretty lame, the whole time he was making fun of Hogan, yet he wouldn’t name him, and the "Official Pro Wrestler Navy Seal" crap was totally stupid as well. Does anyone really care that this guy has served for his country, and then brags about it? The Jericho debut was totally awesome. But, I’d have to say that The Rock won in the interview show down, even though Jericho put on a great show. Jericho came up with some great lines, Y2J, but Rock countered with the KYJely Plan. Chris Jericho has to be one of the best at facial expressions. Main Event of RAW last week, Chyna Vs. Triple H Vs. Undertaker. Okay, WWF we get the point that Chyna is the first lady of sports entertainment, and the first to compete in the rumble, compete in the King of the Ring, and now to be the first lady to compete in a triple threat match, and to win it and be the first one to ever compete in a World Title match, or will she? Yes RAW this week is taped, no I haven’t read the complete results, but yes, some idiot messaged me on AOL IM, and gave away some of the results. So even though I now know some of the results, I will not give them away in the column, since you can go to any news board to get them, and most people don’t like to read them, like me. Anyway, Chyna is now going to the WWF’s summer sizzler, SummerSlam, to square off against the WWF Champion, Stone Cold Steve Austin. The would be pretty cool, to see Chyna with the belt draped over her shoulder the next night on RAW after Summerslam, as she stands in the middle of the ring, with JR or Lawler, bragging about defeating Austin, and paving the road for female athletes.  

Now onto Nitro. Benoit finally wins a singles title in the over populated, over ego status wrestling promotion of WCW. Ric Flair supposedly no shows the event, so Bischoff makes David Flair job to Benoit. Well I have mix feelings on that decision. First, GREAT! The title will actually mean something now, but I don’t feel jobbing David to Benoit a form of revenge for Bischoff. Since he really screwed himself up, by making a last minute decision, and changing the title picture at Road Wild. They gave DDP and Benoit a whole 3 minutes on Nitro to heat up their rivalry. Sure they had fought in past weeks, but that wasn’t for the number two title in the company. Now onto the main event. For some reason, when HULK Hogan came out to, "American Made" it took me back about 5 years, when I was eleven. Boy was that a scary venture to go back then, and picture Hogan coming out. I can still picture Hogan and Jimmy Hart walking out. That makes me shudder at the thought, and to see it 5 years later, it simply pathetic. The guy is reaching for possible gimmicks, angles or anything that will keep him in the spotlight. Even when he retires, you know he’ll be doing a managerial role, or color commentator. If I wanted rid of the guy, I’d put him in there against a guy like Benoit, and tell Benoit, to have fun.  

Now it’s time for the Failed Gimmick of the Week. I brought this section into Pain Tolerance, you the readers liked it, so decided to make it a weekly part of the column. So, now this week’s Failed Gimmick of the Week has to be WCW’s Millennium man. Sid Vicious. Is anyone buying this? Because I’m sure not. WWF starts the millennium clock a few weeks back, then the next week on Nitro, the announcers are referring to Sid as the millennium man. So what if the guy is undefeated since his return to WCW? It’s just a bunch of hot air, set up by some genius in the back thinking that if they declare Sid the millennium man with this undefeated streak, people will get behind Sid, and make him like the next Goldberg of WCW. 

Now onto the poll. For last week’s poll, I got another tremendous amount of feedback, and I’d like to thank every single person that took the time to e-mail me your choices. Here are a few of your responses 
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[email protected] 
The next big superstar has to be Edge. This guy has it all- speed, charisma, toughness, and he's been known to take some big bumps. He doesn't even need mic skills even though his few interviews have been great. He's got a good, different finishing move, unlike other rising stars. (Test, Val Venis, Kane) This guy will have an IC run soon, and I'd predict in 2 or 3 years he'll be a main eventer. 
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[email protected] 
I think The Rock is the next superstar in pro wrestling. First, he satisfies WWF. He's got the merchandise and fan appeal to generate revenue, so WWF is satisfied financially. WWF knows they can play with his character, turn him heel and back (Survivor Series '98-Wrestlemania 15) and keep the fan base. He's not selfish. We are all hearing about how Austin won't fight Jarrett or Gunn. The Rock has always jobbed when asked (Triple H at Summerslam '98, Triple H at Fully Loaded, likely Gunn at Summerslam. He's a great entertainer (compare him at HHH on the mic) and WWF is probably incredibly happy with him. Second, he's a main eventer already. He's like 26 or 27, and he's a main eventer. If he wins only (although many wrestlers would love that) one WWF title every three years from now until he's Hulk Hogan age, including the three titles he has already that's 10. Austin won't hit 10, unless he trades the title frequently like Mankind-Rock at the beginning of the year 
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Well, that’s it for last week’s poll, now for this week’s poll. "If you’ve ever watched a Vince McMahon interview, you always hear the question of, Is anyone in the WWF bigger than the company? Well, with the recent problems with Goldberg and now Ric Flair, is there anyone that if they got fired from WCW, that would make that much of an impact on WCW’s future?" 

Just a note, some of you are just sending me your picks with no reasons, I appreciate the feedback, but it would be better if you all would send in the reasons as to why you chose that certain thing. 

Send your choices to [email protected] have a nice night everyone and thanks for reading. 

Next Issue of Pain Tolerance will be August 22.