RAW was again so-so this past week, yet again. Nothing much progressed, besides the furtherment of the Triple Threat Match, and the Intercontinental Championship match. It seems the WWF has decided, if you can’t beat them, you might as well join in. We saw Mankind and Al Snow tear up the reputation of Snow and his figure, as they said that it was a replica form of domestic violence, just as critics have been shouting out in the past week and a half, since Wal Mart pulled the doll from their shelves. One thing, isn’t the doll available in other stores besides Wal Mart? What was the WWF thinking when they put the titles back around the waists of the Outlaws on this past week’s RAW? Mankind/Al Snow is a really well developed tag team, and the chemistry between the two is unmatched by many of the popular teams of today. They may not be two of the best wrestlers, but you got to like their interviews, when they really get into it and aren’t just doing the goofy skits with the Snow figure. 

Well looks like Venis is a total heel now, and it seems that his friendship with Godfather, that was really never totally diminished, has now finally been totally wiped clean as he jumped the Godfather after accepting the ho’s. The ten tolls of the bell, one of the traditional things in wrestling to do out of respect for the diseased, was totally shamed on this past week’s RAW. How could the WWF do that, after doing it for men like Brian Pillman, Owen Hart, Gorilla Monsoon. Why would they do it after all of the controversy over the Owen tragedy, especially since the civil suit with the Hart family is still in the midst of being settled. Very unwise on the WWF’s behalf. Who was responsible for this angle to begin with. A number of names have been said to be the brain behind it. Vince Russo, Terry Taylor both before they left, or was it Vince McMahon, or the man involved in it, Big Show? Taylor was supposedly taking credit for it. But I believe it was probably a mix between Vince McMahon and Big Show. The real disrespectful thing of all this is, Big Show’s father in real life, died over two years ago! Just a total blatant disregard for the feelings of the viewer’s and even the wrestlers in the federation. How could the WWF not know that they would get heat for this? Especially with the "sympathy card", and then on Smackdown with the clip of Boss Man driving off with the coffin intact and Big Show lunging to stop it. Also, wasn’t Big Show one of the guys really balling his eyes out when they did the Hart tribute RAW? 

 Amazing to see Test in the main event. I really didn’t expect to see him with a shot at the WWF title, and then the next day I read some reports online that the WWF was interested in putting the title around Test’s waist at this past week’s RAW. The Stephanie marriage angle, believe it or not, has really pushed Test to the top, and it doesn’t seem that he will be coming down for a long time. The WWF seems to be planning to push him as their next big Canadian Superstar, and with his look, and his appeal, it’s going to be just one huge pay off for the WWF, as they cash in on the Test. 

Well Nitro was the usual, you can see the much needed effort, but you can see the cracks on the walls, as the ratings don’t rise, and the attendance figures don’t rise. They’re still handing out up to two thousand plus seats free to anyone who will take them. Nonetheless, the show is still pretty well done, and does deserve some compliments. The Title Tournament was probably one of the best ideas in a while to come out of WCW in a long time. The title has been dominated in the past year, by basically enough names that a person could out off on one hand. But with this tournament we will finally see some new names rise up, and the more established names, to take a back seat. Let’s face it, Sting, Nash and Hogan on top has not helped any, and that was the problem with Bischoff’s booking, the nWo was working well for so long, he thought, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Well, as time went on, the machine became broken, but no one was there to fix it, since Bischoff was willing to stick it out with the plans that worked well in the past. Eventually he got canned, and the new heads got in, and they are really starting to make an impact. One thing is, how long will the machine of the WWF run well, Austin has been on top for so long now, McMahon has to be hoping for the Austin era to run out a few more months at the least, and will have to catch the early warning signs. One of those signs has been flashing up and down for awhile now. The interest in the Rock. But is the Austin era over yet?  Far from it, I believe. Rock has a ways to go before he can reach the top of the mountain. 

  The United States Championship four way ladder match was a decent showing but lacked the intensity that ladder matches usually have. The match seemed rushed, and wasn’t of great quality, like usual ladder matches the WWF has put on. One thing that you have to put in consideration though is, that this ladder match is only the second of WCW’s past few years. The first was with Scott Hall Vs. Goldberg in a taser, ladder match. Even that match lacked the intensity since the rule of having to zap your opponent AFTER you got the taser was a bit ridiculous. 

Well the WWF put on the last Survivor Series before the millennium and you have got to look at the facts. There has always been a dark cloud above the title Survivor Series. Nearly every Survivor Series of the nineties has had a controversial ending or a screw job in it somehow.  

’93 - The Hart Brother’s confrontation. 
’94 - Owen coaxing his parents to throw in the towel, only to laugh in their faces, and turn heel. 
’95 - Diesel Vs Bret Hart square off for the title with a controversial ending with Bret sneaking in the win. 
’96 - Sid Vs. Shawn Michaels with the cheap win by Sid after he knocked out Shawn’s life long mentor Jose Lothario. 
’97 - Bret’s last match in the WWF, as he gets screwed out of the WWF title by Vince McMahon. 
’98 - Screw job when by the Rock to capture his first WWF championship. 
’99 - Now the Vince McMahon saga with Triple H as he finally knocks Hunter out, and then the questionable push for Big Show. 

Godfather, D'Lo Brown, and the Headbangers vs. Acolytes and Dudley Boyz - Good match to start the pay-per-view up and running, the ho’s had the fans blood pumping a mile a minute, which in the long run gets them more wilder and more anxious. Godfather and D-Lo Brown win, it was interesting to see tw of the former Nation members team up, and in the end win the match with a combo together. 
  

Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Stasiak - I saw a report  few days before Survivor Series, that stated that this match would be a "boring match". Well technically, I’ve never heard of a boring match on purpose. This "boring" match that we saw, wasn’t the flashy high flying, brawling that we see much to often now. This entire match was pure amateur with some high spot moves involved. Therefore, this match wasn’t a "boring match", it wasn’t a gimmick match, but just pure amateur, flat out take down tactics. Sure Angle sucks compared to some of the stuff we see, but hey, I think we got a new winner of the least heat possible. Congratulations Kurt Angle, you just stole this title from Steve Blackman. 

Val Venis, Mark Henry, Gangrel & Steve Blackman vs. The Bulldog, Joey Abs, Rodney & Pete Gas - Two sex-aholics, a vampire, and a no heat, lethal weapon vs. A British Canadian and three preppies from Connecticut. Where else could you find this form of entertainment?! I don’t think it’s possible to find a more bizarre group of men. Anyway, pretty average match, with the Posse putting on a decent showing, but eventually getting squashed by the Big Valbowski and Sexual Chocolate. How’s that for nick names? 

Jacqueline, Luna, and Terri vs. Tori, Debra, Fabulous Moolah, and Mae Young - I think the WWF did the best thing possible here. If your going to set a match like this up, make it quick, and tease the "puppies". This match couldn’t of been more then a minute and a half. Real quick, with sort of a lame and unexpected finish.  

 X-Pac vs Kane - Pretty much a waste of time. I’m getting really tired of this angle. Just isn’t working out at all. I was really beginning to like the Kane persona, but with this character development, it’s set me back a bit from liking him. 

Big Boss Man, Prince Albert, Viscera, and Mideon vs. Big Show, Taka, Funaki, and Blue Meanie - Another waste of time, really only went on to set up Big Show as an invincible giant. 

Chris Jericho vs. Chyna - A real well worked match, for the Chyna doubters, you got to like her look in the ring and her ability. She is really beginning to come into her own, and think she’ll be holding on to the title probably until the next pay-per-view, where she’ll most likely lose it to the millennium bug, Y2J. When Jericho caught her in mid air off the hurrincarana, I thought she was finished, especially with that uproar from the crowd. It really looked like Hebner was going to ring the bell, but Chyna eventually made her way to the rope, to break the hold. Good showing by both wrestlers, and I really don’t know why people are making up all this smoke about Jericho and the WWF heads. It seems the more popular you are in the fed, the more rumors begin to fly around. Only question is, why’d the Viscera death rumor come about? 

 The Hollys and Too Cool vs. Edge, Christian, and the Hardys - Probably the best match of the night in my opinion. These eight guys aside from the Holly’s are the future, the anchor of the new WWF that will go on into the millennium. Hardyz and Edge and Christian were up to the usual high flying tactics, as the Holly’s were into their usual brawling style, and well I don’t know what to describe Too Cool’s style as? Goofy, is the best way to put it. 

Mankind & Al Snow vs. New Age Outlaws - Average match from both teams. I just don’t see the same chemistry between the New Age Outlaws, as there once was. Mankind and Snow would be excellent champions, but it seems the WWF disagrees. 

The Rock vs. Triple H vs. Big Show - Well, Austin’s gone for probably anywhere from three weeks, to three months. Is it me, or is Austin becoming the Hogan replica? He rarely wrestles, and has more mic time then some wrestlers get in one year of competing, some of them even in a lifetime, or career. Big Show wins the WWF title, it wasn’t a surprise once he was announced as the third man, you had to see it coming, especially with the controversial angle of his father battling cancer. 

Now, for this week’s failed gimmick of the week, it has to be the D-Generation X. They just aren’t cutting it. The DX name and attitude is much to outdated. The chemistry between the New Age Outlaws is lacking, which it once was there, a few months ago. Xpac just doesn’t seem apart of the group, he doesn’t take much to do with the group, except until they are being made fools of or are getting jumped or out smarted, and Triple H, has seemed to lose his flare since joining DX. It just isn’t working out as well as many hoped. The chemistry between the four is lacking. Is it the absence of the ninth wonder of the world, Chyna, or is that the four wrestlers have just matured out of the DX faction? 

That’s all for this week. WCW Mayhem is being hosted here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and the WWF has a house show this coming Saturday too. I’ll be attending both shows, and have very good seats for both events, so look out for a top-rope sign on the pay-per-view. Also, next Monday I will have a complete write up of both shows, as well as all the happenings of this week ahead. Thanks, and enjoy the wrestling