The Fight Club 11.2.00
Posted by Josh Nason on 11.02.2000
I'll admit even I was surprised by what the WWF gave us Monday night.
I'll admit even I was surprised by what the WWF gave us Monday night.
From top to bottom, Monday's RAW is WAR was great and something the
wrestling fan needed for a long time. From the main event No. 1
contender's match - preceded by the best promo of the year - to the
Undertaker run-in on William Regal to the steel cage match between
Steve Austin and Rikishi, I thought it was brilliant.
But why did it take this long to have a great RAW and why wasn't No
Mercy this good?
Austin's return, for some reason, has more people talking about his
midsection than his first full-length t.v. match since last year. This
is unfortunate, as the Austin/Rikishi encounter was exactly what should
have happened in the PPV. With Austin gaining a pinfall win over the
big man, he can now focus on other targets - the Rock perhaps? While I
doubt this is going to happen before WrestleMania, an Austin-Angle push
in the near future is not out of the question. Yes, the unthinkable
could happen - Austin getting the title back before the Rock.
Speaking of Mr. Maivia, an intriguing feud with Rikishi could be just
what the good Mr. McMahon ordered. Some time away from the main stage
will do wonders for the Rock, as it has for Triple-H. For now, the
WWF's MVP has to be careful of what happens from here on in. His
popularity is growing and that is a good thing since the bar will raise
with his eventual split with Stephanie. But a run at the title again
will bring him back to where he was a few months ago - dull and
plodding. Another title run will come soon, but I would love to see a
few more battles with Chris Benoit before that happens.
Finally, Billy Gunn faces the prospect of a huge future now that his
Mr. Ass gimmick will be dropped for a while. I have been singing his
praises for the past year and I hope now the rest of the wrestling
world will see what I have been crowing about. After losing the
tights, cutting the hair and getting a better image, Gunn is ready to
take the mantle of his former DX partner Shawn Michaels and become a
major player in the WWF - after downing Eddy Guerrero for the I-C title
that is.
After being called stale and predictable for a while now, the WWF
finally stepped up Monday and provided a big-time show - a thank-you of
sorts to the fans that are still tuning in. While ratings have fallen
slightly, Vince and Co. took measures to keep those who are still
watching in the fold, and hopefully gathering any stragglers along the
way. I sincerely hope the 15 minutes of fame aren't up like the
"experts" of pop culture claim it is. That means we won't see Lita and
Trish as much!
On a quick note, I want to commend fellow 411 columnists Bryce McNeil
and Chris Hyatte for four-star columns this week. It is great to be
compadres with writers like that. I promise my column will be more
structured next week - now I have some company to entertain!
Josh Nason can be reached at thefranchize@kidrock.com and writes The
EWA Report for EWAwrestling.com.
