RAW this past week was an awesome show in my view, simply because we got to see some controversy, a growing hatred between Austin and Triple H, and I got to see my favorite duo in the WWF a lot, Triple H and Chyna. The Triple H interview at the beginning was great, the way he started off sympathetic and then finally lost it, and got under Chyna’s skin until she finally gave into his demand of a Number One Contender’s match later on. The match was a fairly average match, but was pretty impressive to see Chyna counter some holds, and for all you Mick Foley fans, myself included got to see his return, with him helping Chyna get past Triple H.  

Moving on, to the Undertaker, Big Show interview. For you readers who have been reading for a while, know that I didn’t like Undertaker in the Corporate Ministry, since we was a mere hand puppet of the McMahon’s, as well, he didn’t get to let his mic skills reach full potential, since Vince would do more of the interviews for the Corporate Ministry to keep the heat between him and Austin. Now Undertaker is doing all the talking for himself which is awesome, since he truly is a great talent, who doesn’t need any help getting over, he can do it alone. Only thing is, now this may decrease the momentum of Big Show. Big Show came in, in a big way, and soon there after began to sink less and less. Well now he’s Undertaker’s right hand man, or as it seems sometimes, his "student." For a guy that is supposed to be getting a major push in the coming year, I do not think you want him riding along in the shadow of top heel in the company for very long. Maybe that’s what has hurt Triple H’s credibility of being a main eventer, for all those months he stayed in Shawn Michaels’ shadow during the beginning of DX, and then when he took over, he got booked to be the leader of a mid carder stable. Sure DX was extremely over, but at any time during the Triple H lead DX, did you think he would have a chance at any title higher than the Intercontinental Title? I didn’t even though I was a major fan of him. Jericho confronts Undertaker on RAW, I love the way he is picking out these main eventers and shooting them down, but then allowing the "victim" the last word, but does the last word really mean much? Don’t you think Jericho is slowly drawing fan heat from each of the guys he’s shooting down? Sure, it doesn’t matter with the Rock, since the Rock is always recreating his sayings, and keeping it fresh, but with Undertaker, he isn’t really that charismatic, he brings a great ring presence with him every time though. 

The Main Event of the evening, which had been lead up to throughout the entire night, which was afirst for the WWF, since they usually set up the main event in the opening interview, and then that’s it, until the time comes for the match. Anyway, this was a tiny bit of taste as to what the main event of Summerslam will be like, and even though Mick Foley is injured, I think once it’s time to get it on tomorrow night at Summerslam, he’ll be ready to go, and give it one hundred percent. The ending of this match was pretty pathetic with both of them pinning each other. It’s just like a few years ago, with Shawn Michaels defending the title against the British Bulldog, Michaels went for the german suplex into a bridge pin, but never did get the bridge, an the referee counted it saying Bulldog’s shoulders were down, and another referee shot back that Shawn’s shoulder’s were down. I’m surprised Shawn Michaels didn’t get boo’ed for grabbing the chair from Triple H, since the fans in attendance may not be HHH fans, but I’m sure they wouldn’t of minded seeing Mick Foley get his head cracked a few times by a chair. 

Nitro, what can I say about Nitro. It was another average show. You think Bischoff wouldn’t be as stupid as he is sometimes, Sid is the Millennium man? Usually, if your going to classify somebody as the Millennium man, or the leader in the locker room for the new era, usually you get a young guy with potential talent. Sid reached his peak in the WWF against Diesel, and Shawn Michaels, I’d say. Beating up little luchadors, and then having Shaivone saying he should get "bonus" points for beating nine guys or close to it in one night a major accomplishment. This isn’t first grade, where you get bonus points or credits for saying please and thank you, or cleaning up the sandbox. Also, pounding nine guys may be nice for Sid, but what does that do for the heat of those guys, that had to sell his beating? I read on a newsboard that Eric Bischoff was really pleased with Road Wild, and how all the matches were clean pins. Well, Bischoff, you sure made up for them on Monday night. Lash Leroux Vs Juvi.  

It was good to see that the Dead Pool weren’t dissembled. People on the internet were stating that Bischoff did not want them as fan favorites, as they have been getting over as, maybe he has come to his senses and has realized that this group is really over. Diamond Dallas Page doing the job for the second time in two days, two things about this. Yeah sure, he’s nice and he may be getting praised in the locker room, but how does anyone not know he was promised another title run if he starts putting over a few guys or, maybe something like that. No one, would just all of a sudden decide to lay to put guys over, and then state that he has roughly two years left in his career, and all he wants to do is put people over. It may be true, and if it is, then good for him, but I can bet he will start getting irritated pretty soon. Also, so DDP is the man that will put the young talent over? One guy won’t cut it. Also, DDP isn’t even consider a major player, they need the likes of Savage, Hogan, Nash, Hall, Luger and even Sid to put these guys over. Some where down the line, some internet reporter will be reporting something about DDP throws a fit backstage because he is tired of his recent WCW role. It may not be now, may not be in the next month, but it will come, if he continues to job, because after awhile, the praising will stop, and the wrestlers and bookers will just expect DDP to job, and that’ll be when everything breaks loose.  

Chris Benoit defending against Disco Inferno, is the type of matches WCW should be aiming for, each and every card. When Disco is actually wrestling, and not showboating, he is a great wrestler, and we all know how well Benoit can work a match, stiff, fast paced, and heart beating a mile a minute. It was great to see a competitive match between two of the younger talents that will most likely be main eventing in WCW in a few years, if they actually get treated well, and stick around. The thing that is truly saddening about this match was, the low rating it got. I do believe this match was the segment that went up against the 9:15-9:30pm slot of RAW, which saw the Triple H Vs. Chyna match with Mankind’s return, followed by the confrontation with Shawn Michaels, and then the Undertaker-Big Show show down with Chris Jericho.  I’m sorry, but this match even though it was put on nicely, WILL not beat what it was going up against on RAW, simply because these two guys Benoit and Disco, haven’t been given the chance to expand. Also, I enjoyed this match a lot, but here in Canada, RAW and Nitro don’t go head to head, so I didn’t have the chance to switch back and forth. In the US, you have the choice to watch a ten minute match between Benoit and Disco, or watch three separate entertaining things spanning in the same 15 minutes, some people do not watch wrestling for the five star matches, some people just like the mic work, or story lines, and cannot sit through a 10 minute match between two guys. The saddening thing is, now we’ll here Hogan complain about this low rating and put down these two guys, even though it’s not their fault at all. WCW has to learn the concept of timing.  

Now, I’m not going to even bother talking about the Main Event of Nitro, because it was pure crap. How can Hogan, face Sid, yet pin Rick Steiner? God WCW, that’s pathetic. If you want to keep Sid’s streak going, you could of just had Sting run in, and DQ Hogan. That would add some heat between the two for their match this coming week on Nitro. Instead of Ol’ Hulk just deciding to be a good friend and give his pal Sting a shot. 

Now onto bigger and better things, Predictions for Summerslam. 
World Title Match: Steve Austin Vs. Triple H Vs. Mankind - God, I would have loved to see Triple H, pedigree Austin, roll him over, one, two, three. Ding! Ding! Howard Finkle walks up the steps to the ring apron and announces the new WWF Champion, Triple H. Massive boo’s fill the arena as an unconscious Austin lays, forced to watch Triple H climb each of the turnbuckles and hold his new found title above his head, so that everyone in the arena can see, as Chyna stands in the ring, waiting to congratulate her man. Jim Ross, shocked at the turn events announces the winner to the viewing audience at home, as Shane McMahon runs down the aisle and jumps into the ring cheering on Triple H, and as Jerry Lawler, rubs it in to Jim Ross at ringside. Well, now that I have described that all to you. It won’t happen. And that is totally pitiful. Sure Mankind is a great entertainer, but I would have much more enjoyed seeing Triple H pedigree then pin Austin on his own. Either way, I’m going on record to say Triple H is your next WWF Champion. 

Rock Vs. Billy Gunn. - Well, Rock is much more over than Gunn, but it’s most likely Rock will win, but will put Gunn over a legitimate challenger. Pushing him on to the next phase.  

Test Vs. Shane McMahon - The rule if, Test wins, and then Shane cannot contact Stephanie or Test again is pretty lame. It’s basically a retirement match from his sister, basically. I really don’t know how this one will play out, but I’m expecting interference by some new Mean Street Posse member or something, which will allow Shane McMahon to pick up the win. 

Hardcore title Match: Bossman Vs. RoadDogg Vs. Al Snow - It would be pretty funny if  Pepper pinned someone and won the hard core title. I think we will see interference by the Blue Meanie and Stevie Richards, probably, taking Snow out of the match, and then Road Dogg will probably gain the victory and the HardCore title. 

Tag Team title Match: X-Pac and Kane Vs. Undetaker and Big Show - I’d really like to see Jericho interfere in this one, and "test" the Undertaker on his promise that he stated on RAW, as to which if Jericho interrupts Taker again, Jericho will be basicaly put out of service by the Undertaker. I see Big Show and Taker walking away with the titles. 

European-IC title match: D-Lo Brown Vs. Jeff Jarrett - I think this will be the final match with Debra at Jarrett’s side. This has been leading up for so long now, don’t  be surprised to see Debra totally screw Jarrett out of a victory and allowing D-Lo to retain. Wouldn’t it be funny to see Jarrett fall for Debra’s "revealing the puppies"? 

Lion’s Den Weapon’s Match: Steve Blackman Vs. Ken Shamrock - This will probably be a fairly decent match, but I’m just sick of these two guys fighting. Blackman has no charisma, and when he did an interview on RAW a few weeks ago, he turned his back on the camera the whole time, and just pointed at Terry Taylor. Blackman isn’t that great of a ring performer either. Shamrock, well his average routine will happen, he’ll go psycho, and snap, and then get knocked out. Steve Blackman should win this one, and put Shamrock "out". Since Shamrock has been said to be rejoining UFC for a year. 

Women’s title Match: Ivory Vs. Tori - Well, FINALLY it’s going to happen. Finally, we will get to see a competitive women’s championship match. I’m a big fan of Tori, but I don’t see the WWF giving her the title right away, they will probably wait, and let this feud build, till the next Pay-per-view. Ivory should come out on top of this one. 

Well, that’s it for the column, 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 Monday, August 23.