Before I get into the column, I’d just like to inform you all of something interested I read. If you don’t follow a religion, or if it’s been a while since you’ve been to a church or picked up your bible, you probably won’t know this fact. Some of you may know it, but anyway here it is. If you look up in your bible under Revelation 16:16., you will find the definition of Armageddon. "The place of the final great struggle between the forces of good and evil." Now WWF: Armageddon may have been three weeks ago, but make not of that quote, "…between the forces of good and evil." Obviously in the WWF story line, Triple H is the evil one, and Vince McMahon is the good one. However, was that their last "struggle"? I’ll leave you with that in mind.

Now, on to the column, today’s will be a relatively small one, since I am preparing for the new millennium. Yes, I know it’s technically not the beginning of a new millennium, but honestly, who really cares? It’s a big change in our lives, as we put the 1900’s behind us and move into a new digital year, the 2000’s. Anyway, instead of the usual column, of reviewing and analyzing the past week or so of wrestling, I thought I’d look into the new year, and give a few predictions. Followed by that, I’d like to continue my topic of the younger talent in the industry. A short review of Foley’s book. I got it for Christmas and haven’t been able to put this book down, it’s just so interesting. Finally, to end the final Pain Tolerance of the year, three failed gimmicks of the year, one from WWF, WCW and ECW.

It’s amazing how most of us were born when wrestling was beginning to develop in it’s popularity. We have all seen tons of changes in the sport of wrestling, the most obvious is the Big 2, focus more on the entertainment factor of the shows, rather than the actual wrestling, it’s self. In the early 1900’s the NWA was created and from that, we’ve seen some feds rise, and some fade away. The ones that have risen and maintained their position, are the World Wrestling Federation, and World Championship Wrestling. Now, here’s my predictions for Y2J, er… Y2K.

World Wrestling Federation:
The seems the be the leader out of the big three as we head into the new millennium. When December 2000 rolls around I still see WWF in the #1 position in the industry, but through out the year, will definitely have tough times, and have a close race with WCW to maintain their number one spot this year. 

Triple H will leave DX entirely, in mid-February and headline Wrestlemania 16/2000 Versus the Undertaker. Later in the year, Triple H will be in a feud that climaxes at Survivor Series against Test. 

Test, as far as he goes, I see this being his break out year. He's been with the fed for nearly a year now, and he hasn't really gotten his feet wet as far as character development goes. At the February pay-per-view, I could see him very well headlining against Triple H in a title match, with a screw job ending. He will then have a injury that will put him out for a few months. Returning shortly after Summerslam, he'll get into the title hunt, and will finally win the title at Survivor Series off, the heel Triple H. 

Steve Austin will not play as big as a factor as he once had, as his neck surgery in early January, relieves some of the pain, but causes him to not compete at 100% in the ring. Austin will mainly be used in the new year as a veteran to work the mic more than wrestle. Isn’t that how is career recently has been anyway?
 
The Rock, will rise to the number one face in the company, but will lose heat mid year and be knocked down a few steps. But when the leaves turn brown, and fall from the trees in the fourth quarter of 2000, he'll slowly make his way to fame, and headline the December pay-per-view, as a heel, feuding with the newly crowned champion, face, Test. 

Tazz, will not make much of an impact on the WWF in the year 2000, but will trade the IC title with the Millennium man, Chris Jericho. In the end, Tazz’s 2000 WWF experience will be more of a time to get his feet wet in the new atmosphere of the fed.

Mankind, sadly will disappear round Wrestlemania time, but then will pop back up around mid-October, as an on air Commissioner, who will lead Test to the gold, and seek revenge on Triple H. 

World Championship Wrestling: 
Not much can be said with the future of WCW. Russo and Ferrera are just all over the place lately, that it's so hard to see where they are going. I for sure know they are going to push this new nWo on us, which right now, seems to be quite interesting. I’ll admit it to you all. I didn’t think Russo could get Jarrett over. However, Jarrett isn’t getting over on his gimmick or the people he’s associated with. But rather the pure wrestling talent he has. That Ladder match at Starrcade was maybe my pick of the year for Best match. Sure the Hardyz/Edge & Christian ladder match was magnificent in it’s own right, however their ladder match really didn’t elevate or help the participants, while the Jarrett/Benoit one from two weeks ago, has put a little bit more hope in the eyes of WCW, and was the starting point of hopefully a slight turn around leading into the new year. I don’t think the nWo angle will work very well, as most fans will be scared/turned off by the whole "take over" angle again. It failed once. It failed again. It's inevitable, it'll fail once more. I do however, see WCW pulling close in the ratings, in mid-May, and holding on for a few weeks or even a couple months, but, then like now, WWF will pull ahead once more and WCW won't be left without a prayer due to their past reputation and mannerisms. I think Russo/Ferrera will last till August, then they'll probably be canned. 

Extreme Championship Wrestling: 
Wow, ECW really has been looking good lately, especially last week’s show. A 1.1 rating on Christmas eve? It’s probably due to the fact that the show was properly advertised on the internet, as fans anticipated the Awesome/Tanaka match, among other things. I really do not see where 2000 will lead ECW. I do see them getting a second show on TNN or another national channel, but I do not see them gaining much more crowd support, at least not for awhile. ECW has great performers who risk their lives and careers a lot, however their production values are the worst, and unfortunately that drags their product down big time, and makes channel surfers, flip on by.

I got tons of negative feedback on this topic from last week. So what do I do? Bring it up again. I just have been thinking about this subject, and have come up with more sub topics on this. Now, Jerry Lynn, praised and loved by the majority of ECW’s fans. Sure his matches with Rob Van Dam are impressive, but for a viewer that has only been watching since ECW came on TNN, I find Lynn to just be RVD’s personal jobber. We hear all the time in interviews of, how a guy loves to work with a certain guy, because he feels he brings out the best of him. For instance, the Rock states that the best of him is brought out with Austin. Bret Hart may not agree, but the best of him was brought out in his matches with Michaels. The same with Lynn, who seems to be at his best with RVD. However, when he’s not fighting RVD he seems to be put in meaningless, time wasting matches. That’s not a way to build up your next big star. Now the main point you all tried to make was, that McMahon, Russo, Heyman etc. made stars in the past, and will make new ones when the time need be. Well, my retaliation to that is, sure they will make new stars, but as we’ve seen, the bookers or whoever you want to say, seem to miss some of the talent, and end up putting guys that meet their standards out their. Back when Hogan was in the WWF and was the number one guy, he could be put in there against anyone, and the fans would cheer. Soon as he left, McMahon found him self, screwed. He has built the federation around Hogan, and didn’t have a back up plan. Now as we head into the new year, millennium etc. We have talents like the Hardyz, or Devon Storm, Chris Benoit, etc. Who the fans really like. But who is pushed, and forced into our face? The Rock with his catch phrases. Goldberg, the two move wonder, as could be said about the Rock. Sid, do I even need to provide an explanation. The list goes on and on. The top starts right now, are MOSTLY from years ago, and have been around for way too long, and frankly are stinking up the joint. It’s time some of these guy that have reaped the benefits of the popularity, to give something back to it, and insure that it has new life, when they’re gone. ESPECIALLY Hogan. Wouldn’t it be nice, if Hogan pulled a Michael Jordan, and tried to get into a different sport? I could see Hogan thinking he was god, and stepping onto a NFL field. Setting up, and POW! Getting drilled by a linebacker. 

Mick Foley’s book is a masterpiece. There’s no other way of describing it. I haven’t finished the entire book, I’m about three quarters of the way done, and will have a complete review when I finish it. However, I don’t need to read the whole thing to recommend it. If you’ve ever wanted to see what goes on behind the curtain, how the wrestlers act without the fans as an audience, or plainly just how the whole thing works out, then this is the book to get. Forget the A&E special, or the lame NBC ripoff special, or even the TLC review of the industry. This book shows you Foley’s passion and obsession for the sport, right from when he was in Junior High. Mick doesn’t just give details on his professional wrestling life, but also the impact it has had on his personal life, with his wife and two kids as well as the many of trips he’s made to the emergency room. This book is worth the money.

Almost ready to wrap this one up. One thing left to do, the failed gimmick of the week. The failed gimmick of 1999 for ECW is… Chris Candido. It’s ironic how "No Gimmicks Needed" Chris Candido, ended up in a gimmick topic isn’t it? However, this more deals with his actions as of late. Candido is such a pure talented wrestler. I enjoy his matches, and it seems he can make anyone out to be a good opponent. The most memorable match of recent, was at November 2 Remember, where he battled Sabu. In my opinion this match was the best on the entire card. Even with Sabu and Candido having totally different styles, they certainly pleased me with their showing, and it’s a shame that ECW has reportedly fired Candido and Sytch, or at the least, holding the two off television.

For WCW, the failed gimmick of 1999 is… the Revolution. The Revolution, has some great workers in it, however, the three (four including Asya), of them together just doesn’t work. They don’t seem to have the chemistry with each other. I never really ever liked Douglas, and haven’t been impressed with his often praised mic skills. Dean Malenko, would be a lot better, in a race for the US title. He may not be the most charismatic wrestler, but his wrestling alone makes up for that. Saturn, who like Benoit, is just too good to hold down, seems to be, held back. Why? The guy has a superb repetoire of moves, and has a great look to him. He could go a lot further than he is right now. Asya, she’s got an awesome look to her. However, she really shouldn’t be wrestling. She should be more of a body guard for a top draw. I wouldn’t mind seeing Asya and Saturn together, with Saturn playing a heel with Asya at his side helping him win matches.

Finally, the WWF’s failed gimmick of the year is…. More of a group of guys. This group involves the likes of, Bossman, Bulldog, Godfather, Prince Albert and the mean street posse. This list of guys, really shouldn’t be in the WWF right now. None of them deserve a spot on the roster, and neither of them produce or help to make the WWF more popular. The only guy in this group that actually gets a big reaction, is the Godfather, and quite honestly, without the hoe’s he’d be getting no blunts lit up for him, from the fans. Instead, he’d getting either no reaction, or moderate boos. 

Well, with that said, this column is near it’s closing. I guess I lied, this week’s column wasn’t short. When I started, I didn’t think I had enough material to talk about, but I guess I was wrong. As we step into the new millennium, whether you like it or not. One thing that will drastically change in the new millennium is the entire wrestling industry. Anyway, I’m sure your all ready to party like it’s 199…er 2000. And as the clock ticks away, it’s nearing. Hopefully nothing serious will happen. I’d just like to wish you all a happy and safe holiday season, and a good new year.  See you in the new year, with an all new Pain Tolerance.

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