Well, a new champ was crowned at Survivor Series, and as you all know, it was The Rock. Why am I only making mention of it now? For one reason: I didn't believe that The Rock could pull it off.
Let me clarify. When The Rock won, and became the Corporate Champion, I marked out big time. As did everyone I knew. But as the weeks went by, the Rock just didn't prove to me that he could carry a company. Before Survivor Series, when he was a face, it seemed that his skills were deteriorating (much like Austin has) to a mere brawler. For some reason, he didn't give many interviews and just came out to wrestle. Sure, now he's been booed like he was supposed to, but I thought it was only because of McMahon.
That was until last week's RAW when he fought HHH. Like I said, I felt the Rock had lost a step. So, D-X come out for their "Corporate Spoof" and really crack everyone up. But then HBK and The Rock come out, and absolutley steal the moment away. "The Corporate Jewels" line and his parody of WCW catchphrases was the absolute best.
And then the match. I hadn't seen Rock Bottom, so the "Commentate while The Rock wrestles" thing was unexpected. But my God, was it funny. "Shut up Michael Cole before I smack the plaque off your teeth". I was in tears.
At any rate, after one RAW, and Rock Bottom which I saw yesterday on video tape, I've gotta believe that The Rock is the next Ric Flair. In terms of interview skills, ring presence and charisma..... he's the best. I'm the Ultimate Foley mark for life, but the Rock is "the most electrifying wrestler in sports entertainment today".
But there's still a problem. The Rock still plays second fiddle to Austin. Sure, Austin is without a doubt the most popular wrestler today, but The Rock IS the world champ. So, why would they put Austin's "Buried Alive" match as the main event at IYH: Rock Bottom, with The Rock's world championship match on the undercard? The pay per view was even named after The Corporate Champ! And at the UK ppv, Capital Carnage the Rock's defence against X-Pac was second to the Fatal Four Way between Austin, Kane , The Undertaker and Mankind which was the same match seen at house shows all over the US. Austin has been the focus even without the world belt.
However, it's not like we haven't seen this before. When Bret Hart was world champ, he was still second to HBK. Shawn was in the main event at ppvs like the Royal Rumble (casket match) and Badd Blood (Hell In A Cell), while Bret was feuding with a relative nobody in the Patriot. Back when the Warrior defeated Hogan for the title at WrestleMania VI, Hogan kept around and feuded with Earthquake into the main event of SummerSlam while the Warrior defended the world strap against Rick Rude in a Steel Cage on the undercard!
What all of this does is devalue the title in the eyes of the fans. When Austin wins it back from the Rock at WrestleMania, (That's my prediction) it certainly won't mean as much as the win against HBK unless the focus is put on The Rock as the most important player in the WWF. The fans need to see the defeat of the Rock as a barely attainable goal, and not "The Unbeatable" Austin vs "a midcard jabronie".
I guess it all sterted with D-Lo. That strut of his. The "D-Lo Sucks" chants. "You better recognize!" The amazing ring skill. The guy's got it all. I would even say he's the second coming of The Rock. And what's best is that's he's been able to develop slowly. With each match he gets better and better. Many people "recognize" D-Lo. I'd say he gets the most heel heat of almost anyone on the midcard roster. I see I-C gold in his future.
But here's the real surprise, Mark Henry..... oops I mean "Sexual Chocolate". I've ALWAYS hated this guy. In my last column I even went as far as to say he doesn't deserve a push. But in the last several weeks, Mark has found his niche. When he first began his poems to chyna, I didn't even pay attention. "Hurry up" I would think. But then he got his date with her, and during that date... well Mark got over with me. He makes D-Lo his Chauffeur, he wines and dines with Chyna... and last week he makes that "She said to slip into something more comfortable.... her bed!" line, got the new funky theme music. All I can compare Mark to is Chef on South Park. The music.... the women..... it's all there.
But other than the personalities of the guys, they work really well as a tag team. When I watch them, I can't help but picture great Big Man/Smaller Man teams like the original Hart Foundation, Harlem Heat and The British Bulldogs. All they need is a great doubleteam finisher. And BOOM.... the next WWF taaagggg teeaammm champions of the wooooorrrrrllddddd.... "Sexual Chocolate" Mark Henry, and "Who Sucks Now" D-Lo Brown!
I finally got to watch the entire Bret Hart Documentary last night, and I enjoyed it very much. Especially all the backstage footage and "out of character" interviews with Foley, Vader and Sunny. It's a really great look at how pro-wrestling works behind the scenes: how wrestlers interact with each other behind the curtain, how endings of matches are decided, how angles develop and how wrestlers feel about the characters they portray.
But of course, the real meat of the film is the story leading up to the eventual screwing of Bret by Vince McMahon. Mind you, it's a very well told story. Although I can't help but feel that everything was too convenient. The camera shots, the recording of Vince's false plans for the ending of that fateful Survivor Series match, Shawn's reaction.... yadda yadda yadda.
But the clincher for my feeling that the whole "Bret Screwed Bret" was a work comes from a part in the movie when Bret and Vince are trying to decide a plan where Bret could lose the belt and still keep his head up high. He didn't want to lose in Canada and Vince didn't want WCW to be able to claim that they had signed the then current WWF champion. So they "decided" that the match was to end with a disqualification and Bret would drop the title the next night. But what if the idea of becoming the heel promoter was already being planned by Vince? Didn't Bret leave Montreal with his integrity intact? Isn't it conceivable that Bret and Vince came up with a brilliant scheme that would keep the fans buzzing and yet give both parties exactly what they wanted? I think so. Sure, WCW may have dropped the ball in the way they handeled Bret's debut, but he left the WWF with the biggest bang possible. Bret always spoke of loyalty to Vince and vice versa so who knows..... maybe it was a work. A beautifully orchestrated work.
Then again..... 8)
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