Over the last year, the WWF has been setting unbelievable records and ratings. They have been on the cover of every popular magazine, or newspaper, sometimes good, sometimes bad, they’ve released two biographies that have made it to the best seller’s list, they’ve sold cd’s that have made it very high in the charts, they’ve dominated the Sports-Recreation video sales, they are basically the dominating force in sports-entertainment. Then there’s WCW. Was more known for the traditional wrestling it once prided it self on, and then in 1996, struck gold, with an angle that still haunts us today. The nWo, the gold mine for WCW, is still around today, which is pretty bad. It was an angle that was good for 6 months, maybe even a year, but then the "good guys" or the WCW faithful for that matter should of dissembled the nWo in a Wargames type match, and that should of been the end of it. IF WCW would have done it that way, then hell, they could have still been number one in North American today, maybe. But it didn’t turn out that way, they kept the nWo alive, and actually began to push the nWo more than WCW’s faithful, which really put the nail in the coffin more many of the younger talent in WCW, busting at the seems, full of untapped talent. Well, the time has come, and the talent has burst from the seems and it was put right in front of the booker’s eyes, but instead of complaining, this talent has asked to flee from the scene. When I look at the recent happenings with some wrestlers asking for releases, I look at it in two different ways. First, I think if you sign your name to a contract, then your basically stating WHATEVER happens, then you will give your word, and stay put, and do whatever you can do to help. Well, obviously when Benoit, Saturn, and Malenko signed their contracts they never did think anything like this could of happened, but they still agreed to stay in WCW for a certain amount of time. Now, they’re wanting out, which isn’t helping the situation. It’s also, quite selfish, mind you, I don’t blame them for wanting out, after being held back, and force fed a bunch of lies for over a year, I’d get the hell out of I had the chance, but it’s selfish, since they aren’t looking at it in the promotion’s eye, which have lined their pockets with green for  their efforts.  

Switching gears for a moment, I’m guessing that this trio are good friends of Jericho’s, whom made the jump to the WWF and has been on the top of his game since joining, and has even captured the number two title in the fed. However, a guy like Benoit should not be comparing his situation to a guy like Chris Jericho. Benoit is an excellent wrestler. Jericho is as well. However, Jericho has the final piece of the puzzle that the WWF loves so very much, and that’s speaking abilities. Benoit has certainly improved in his mic work, however he isn’t up to par. His matches are excellent, and ever so intensifying, but when he gets on the mic, he seems like any average person, nervously spewing out a bunch of lines in front of an enormous crowd. Actually, if you really think about it. Benoit, Malenko and Saturn are all great wrestlers, but none of the three can really work the mic. Hopefully they’re wrestling will be enough to get them over. After all, look at guys like the Hardyz, Edge, Christian, who are all extremely over with the sports-entertainment crowds, when all they offer is pure athletic wrestling. It’s tough to say how either of the three will fair in the WWF, since in actuality they have yet to sign their releases, and even though the WWF has shared interest in them, they have yet to sign a contract with any of them.  

Moving off the trio, and onto another wrestler who has literally been begging for his release for over a year now. Ric Flair. He was supposed to come back in WCW as the commissioner, lose to Nash at Souled Out, just like Funk has. However, isn’t it odd that he’s been ASKING for his release for a year, but has yet to get it, and especially now, since WCW is willing to release others? Strange… 

If I were WCW, I’d just do a total switch. It’s obvious, Sid, Nash and the rest of the nWo do not have as much marketable presence as they once did, or as much as WCW thought they had. So, it’s pretty obvious that nothing is going to get better. Keep Nash, and the nWo around for NOW, but get a group of under rated wrestlers, maybe Vampiro, Kidman, Disco Inferno, Booker T, Crowbar, and then maybe a female valet that can work the mic and even take bumps, so possible Madusa. Have this group fight back against the nWo, WCW can throw odd people in to the mix, such as have Lex Luger and Sid turn nWo. And basically have this group dissemble the entire nWo, first by getting the title around one of these young guys waists. Have the rest of the WCW wrestlers, guys like Tank Abbott, Jerry Flynn, Juventud Guerrera, Shane Douglas, TAFKA Prince Iaukea, DDP etc., continue to have under card story lines like they do now, except have them against the nWo, as well as the group of WCW wrestlers who are trying to stand up for their promotion. It may not be the best thing in the world, but it would get rid of the nWo once and for all. nWo can do one thing good, but for that one thing, they’ll do four things bad. Having them around, on top is not helping matter, it’s just ruining WCW’s chances of ever coming back, even to close the gap between the WWF and WCW a little bit. Even though WCW is doing very badly, they will never go out of business. Ted Turner, could cancel the promotion, but he would never go bankrupt, since he has unlimited funds. What I would like to know is. If WCW was bringing in less money, than they were taking out, to pay for arenas, merchandise, salaries etc., would Turner cancel the promotion? Or would he disband it and reformat it with a new boss? When the WWF was going under in the early 90’s, when ever they were questioned about getting pounded in the ratings, they always could say "We’re still selling out arenas." WCW certainly cannot say that, since nearly every show we see looks embarrassingly empty, and often in reader reports on the internet, we read something to the effect of  "We got to move up a few rows".   

One more thing about this whole entire situation. I read a report and have heard numerous people say, if Russo did get completely fired from WCW, and the WWF wouldn’t except him back, that ECW would take him in a heart beat. Would they? Last time I checked, Paul Heyman and the entire ECW staff, prided themselves on their WRESTLING product, and not story lines, or "sports -entertainment". Although it would be nice to see some story lines, what real story lines could Russo think up in ECW? They have such a limited roster, and their production is horrible, which is one thing Russo really hated about, in WCW. Due to the fact that his "crash tv" concept needs a 100% cooperation from the production crew. So I don’t think we will ever see Russo crashing into ECW as long as Heyman is in charge.  

Now, Royal Rumble is TOMORROW night. It seems forever, that the WWF has put on a pay-per-view. The McMahon-Helmsly concept, hasn’t put down the ratings, however, a lot of people state that they are bored of it. Well, I’m not bored of it, but it would be nice to see another big story line pop up. Rock/Big Show has been keeping the show’s fresh enough to pass, however I really wish the WWF wouldn’t make it so obvious. By the way it looks, we’re going to see The Rock toss out 29 jabronies. I can see why the WWF wants to put him over in the Rumble, since he has yet to win him, because when you think about it, he really only hit it huge last January, facing off as a heel, against a face Foley. Anyway, predictions, predictions, predictions.. Everyone is putting out predictions. I really don’t want to embarrass myself, by guessing the whole card, but I am going to make one prediction. Test will win the Royal Rumble. You done laughing yet? Test has slowly been gaining momentum, and he even had a match for the thirtieth draw. But, Test hasn’t been put in the big story line for awhile, and he is over. Putting him over wouldn’t be bad. Test Vs. Triple H would make a lot of sense at Wrestlemania, since Triple H ruined Test’s life by taking his bride to be away from him. Vince could come back, and proclaim that a stipulation on their match at Wrestlemania, would be if Test won the title, then Triple H would have to divorce Stephanie. All adds up to me. I just think giving the win at the Royal Rumble, to a guy like Test would be more appropriate and less suspecting, since everyone and their mother is predicting a Rock win, followed by a Triple H Vs. Rock main event at Wrestlemania, with Austin as ref. That just seems to damn obvious, and the WWF has done some stupid things before, but not that BLATANT. Kurt Angle’s opponent at Royal Rumble, I don’t know who it’s going to be. I’ve heard it’ll be Tazz, seems to be again, too much of an obvious choice. However, I do see Tazz getting involved somehow in the near future with Angle. 

I was thinking a few days ago (Unbelievable eh?), what dream matches I would like to see. I’ve narrowed it down to three matches. Shawn Michaels Vs. Chris Benoit, Kanyon Vs. Crowbar, and Rey Mysterio Jr. (When he wore the mask) and Eddy Guerrero Vs. The Hardyz. For a woman’s match, I wouldn’t mind seeing Madusa Vs. Chyna Vs. Ivory.  If you would like to send me in your dream matches, send me your top three choices, and also, a female match.  

That’s all for tonight. I’ll be back Monday night, as usual with a review of the Rumble. I finally got time to read Foley’s book, and am now finished. I said it was a masterpiece, before, and I stand by that. I’ll have a complete review of it in Monday’s column as well. Thanks for reading and have a good night.