This is it. Only a few hours away from the end of 2002. It's always a time when people look back on how their year went, and rate it. The radio stations start playing the "Top 100 Songs of The Year". Many entertainment shows air their favorite moments of the past 360 days. "Best of 2002" magazines hit the shelves, up to and including wrestling issues. So why should I be any different?
First off, it's been a pretty good year, all things considered, for the Accelerator. I got married, definitely a high point in my life. I've lived comfortably in my new apartment, worked hard, and generally lived life to the fullest. Of course, it's been an up-and-down road for the website. I expanded it, opting to finally start paying money for it so that it could be more than the limits I had hit. I reached 200 biographies, one of my top goals for the site. But I also was inconsistant. I tried, time and again, to start up either weekly wrestling columns or a news & rumors area. But things never worked out. I wouldn't have time to write, while the people who told me they could do it continually let me down. Thus, the Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster has stayed a massive wrestler information site, but with little reason to return consistantly to the site. Well, let's just say that one of Ace's New Years Resolutions is to correct that problem.
Now, as for wrestling, well, we've had our ups and downs there, too, from the rise of Brock Lesnar to the wave of necrophilia, from seeing the triumphant return to the top for Hulk Hogan to the less-than-triumphant resurgance of the Big Show. So, in keeping with the method that most people will be using this New Year's Eve to express their views of 2002, let's run down the great/infamous moments of the year that has past us by. Well, at least my own favorite/not-so-favorite memories. It's my column, I can write whatever I want. With that being said, let's dive into it:
Favorite Moments of 2002 (In No Particular Order):
1) NWA-TNA's X Division Is Created: It's been considered the sole reason that the NWA-TNA is still around, despite trying out a controversial weekly PPV schedule. The antics of such independent stars as Jerry Lynn, A.J. Styles, Low-Ki, Christopher Daniels, Sonny Siaki and other light-heavyweights have created something truly magnificent to behold. I've always been a huge fan of cruiserweight/lightweight match-ups. Jerry Jarrett knew that there had been a strong following for such fights in WCW, so he made the X Division a major strength of the fledgling federation. Here's hoping that the NWA-TNA continues its fine work in this area, and doesn't head towards more Russo-like ideas.
2) The Sharp Rise of Brock Lesnar: Let's face it, WWE was primed to have a new superstar emerge. Brock Lesnar definitely fit the bill. The man has shown his strength in numerous ways. Most people surely remember him hitting the F-5 with ease, broken ribs and all, on the Big Show. Now that's commitment. Personally, I'm going to best remember his F-5 on a different wrestler, Shannon Moore, who soared like a helicopter after being released. Brock Lesnar has the serious potential to be a top star in the company for years to come. Now if they'll just let him use his Shooting Star Press from the turnbuckle which I've heard so much about!
3) Rey Mysterio's Splash Into WWE: In WCW, one of the wrestlers I so looked forward to was Rey Mysterio. He did things in the ring that I really didn't think were feasible for the human body. So when I heard he was coming back to television, I couldn't wait. From Mysterio's first entrance into WWE, he has been electric. The man can fly just as well as always, as shown by his flight off the top of the cage into his opposition to help aid John Cena. I just hope that Mysterio's knee surgery will allow him to return, as predicted, in January. It's already been too long without him.
4) Hulk Hogan Being Cheered At Wrestlemania: When Hogan returned, along with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, and reformed the nWo, people around the world were wincing. It was an angle that seemed doomed to failure, especially the way it was laid out by the federation. The return of the nWo powerhouse DID fail, but not in the way most expected. When the Hulkster, the nWo leader, went into Wrestlemania X-8 against the Rock, he surprisingly started to have the crowd behind him. It was a great moment, as one of the stars of the '80s and '90s had a glorious moment for this decade. Even his loss to the Rock didn't hurt his fanfare, which led to his short reign as the WWE Champion.
5) Eddie Guerrero vs. Edge, Ladder Match: It was on a regular Smackdown show, the only WWE one I can watch, since I don't have cable. It wasn't a PPV Match, or even a title match that I can remember. But Eddie Guerrero and Edge put on a show. The one move I remember most is Edge back-flipping Guerrero over his shoulder, and sending Guerrero crashing, legs in the air, into a ladder set up in the corner. It looked incredibly painful, showing how these guys were willing to put it all on the line to win over the fans. The crowd knew it, too. After Edge won out in the end, the audience cheered Eddie Guerrero, the consumate heel, letting him stand above his "bad-guy" status for one night.
Infamous Moments of 2002 (In No Particular Order):
1) Necrophilia: No other words should be needed here, unless you were one of the fortunate few who didn't know about what went down on Raw. It made me happy I couldn't watch the program, and ticked off wrestling marks world-wide. In an attempt at "shock" tv, Hunter Hearst Helmsley accused Kane of having killed his girlfriend, Katie Vick. He then "showed" what else Kane did: making love to her dead corpse. The visual image alone caused tv remotes to be used all over the USA. I still don't know what they were thinking.
2) H.L.A.: Another "shock" angle that didn't work, and another one that happened on Raw. Have I mentioned how much I love Smackdown? When Eric Bischoff came out and touted that he had something that would show that Raw was better than Smackdown, few expected him to bring out the dreaded initials of HLA: Hot Lesbian Action. It had nothing to do with wrestling, and everything to do with a bad angle.
3) The Rock Being Booed: Sure, everyone was starting to like Brock Lesnar, despite his despicable manager, Paul Heyman, and his feud with the People's Champ, the Rock. But was that any excuse for the crowd to turn against the Rock at Summerslam? Apparently a backlash of the Rock leaving for Hollywood, he was soundly booed at both Wrestlemania and Summerslam this year, getting so bad as to not letting him finish his catch-slogan after the Lesnar match. It was a depressing way for the Rock to leave the federation for a time. Hopefully, when he comes back, the Rock will prove why he's the People's Champion, and regain his status as the top fan favorite.
4) Austin's Antics: Who saw this coming? Steve Austin, the perrenial star of the WWF/WWE, refusing to show up to face Brock Lesnar? Some have agreed with Austin's assessment of the storylines. As we have seen, they haven't always been great. But I still say that you have to follow the old maxim: the show must go on. Now, I don't know all that went down that day. I've only really heard the spin that guys like Jim Ross have put on it. But it still seemed strange, having Austin no-show an event like that.
5) The Undertaker's Affair: It was covered up by HLA and Necophilia, but it was still one more effort at shoving viewers away. It looked like Brock Lesnar/Undertaker could be a great match. Yet they decided to insert an old angle into the mix: the old "Undertaker had an affair with another woman" gimmick. Yeah, that one always works.
That's just a short review of what has gone down this year. So much more has been great, as the wrestling business has started to rebound from where it started. I've gotta say, I'm looking forward to 2003. Wrestlemania X-9 has a ton of possibilities. And the Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster will be around to take it all in. Here's to another year.
Peace
The Accelerator
First off, just to warn you, I hit on a few 'spoilers' from Smackdown in this rant. So if you haven't seen the show yet, wait, watch it, then read this column tommorrow. With that said, let's get into the meat of the rant.
The past few weeks, I've felt a stirring inside me. I didn't know what it was at first, but after reasoning it out, and removing anything that didn't make sense, I finnally figured it out. My love of professional wrestling was coming back. It was the matches that I had seen recently on Smackdown. Edge vs. Eddie Guerrero in the No-Disqualifcation match was the best match I've seen on television in months. It literally had me standing on my feet watching each devestating stunt, and moved me to join the crowd, chanting "Ed-die, Ed-die" at the end of it. That, along with the return of Rey Mysterio Jr, and the skills of wrestlers like John Cena, Chris Benoit, Kurt Angle and others, made Smackdown a Must-See show, rather than an occassional joy. It was great, feeling the excitement of tuning in each week to see the greats go at it.
Then Vince McMahon made his move.
I'm still completely thrown off by Vince's decision to push for more "soap opera" storylines. Ratings were finally starting to show signs of life. The "Raw Wheel" had people salivating at the mouth for a TLC Tag-Team Title Match. Then Vince has Hunter Hearst Helmsley come to the ring and proclaim Kane a murderer??? The sudden storyline felt the rage of the internet community, who rightfully proclaimed that the feud really didn't need something like this to push it. Many true wrestling fans were badly put off by it, myself included. But Vince, according to sources, is counting on it bringing in "non-wrestling" fans who are interested in that sort of thing. The problem, Vince, is that those people are daytime watchers, and probably could care less about professional wrestling.
Vince's efforts are continuing on this week's Smackdown, as Brock Lesnar will bring a woman to the ring who claims that she slept with the Undertaker. In other words, that the Undertaker had an affair. Why was this necessary? The fans are already psyched about the Undertaker and Lesnar going at it again, with the Undertaker's "broken hand" and the announcement that they're going to fight in a Hell In A Cell match. So why introduce a long, tired angle of adultery? Of course, you also have the running storyline of Dawn Marie coming on to Torrie Wilson's father, as well as the meaningless betrayal by Eddie Guerrero on Chris Benoit (sure, let's NOT capitalize on the crowd's reaction to his match). All-in-all, there aren't too many storylines being built up that I'm actually interested in.
So, for the first time in a few weeks, I'm not planning on watching Smackdown tonight. I'm sure I can find something more interesting on the television. If not, I'll just concentrate on other things. Maybe the WWF will figure out that wrestling fans don't watch their shows for the soap opera effect. They want angles, sure, but they also mainly want to see, surprise surprise, good wrestling. Let's just see if the ratings increase any with a murderer, a cheater and a seducer of old men. Come to think of it, this is sounding a lot like the bad period of the WWF, doesn't it?
Peace
The Accelerator
It's been a while, hasn't it? Once again, I took a sabbatical from writing columns. I wonder if I'll ever get the hang of regular posting? I've still been working on the page, putting up new biographies, keeping track of PPV histories, and even spending the last 2 days putting on the results of the PWI 500 2002 rankings. That's where I want to start this column today, because there are a few things about the picks that trouble me.
First off, let me say that I'm a huge fan of Rob Van Dam. The man is inhuman in the ring, performing moves that few other wrestlers would even attempt. He's a major innovator of offense, and one of the true fan favorites of WWE Raw. With all that, though, the man did not deserve to be picked #1 this year in the 2002 polls. While I will admit that he's had some good title reigns this year, unifying the Intercontinental, European & Hardcore Titles, he has yet to hold the biggest prize in the land, the World Heavyweight Championship. He came close, nearly beating the Undertaker, but it didn't happen. RVD also has not had his usual "Mr. PPV" run. He ended 2001 with three straight PPV losses, fell at the Rumble, lost twice to Eddie Guerrero, dropped the finals of the KOTR to Brock Lesnar, and just recently couldn't manage the title victory against Hunter Hearst Helmsley. By my count, he's lost more than he's won. Now, I know that RVD has the skills and the talent to definitely be called the best wrestler in the world. But WWE has been holding him down, keeping him from where he should be, on top. Just by that reason alone, I would have pushed the Undertaker in front of him.
That's right. As much as I think the Undertaker is holding down a lot of the talent (his match with Brock Lesnar just being the latest), the man deserves the nod for the #1 position, rather than being pushed down to #2. Looking at the same period of PPVs as RVD, the Undertaker comes out with 7 wins (8 if you count Brock), including beating down Hulk Hogan for the World Title. The reign lasted for over 2 months, with a big victory over Hunter Hearst Helmsley at King of the Ring. You can also throw in the Undertaker taking down "Stone Cold" Steve Austin for the #1 Contenders spot at Backlash, his bloody victory over Ric Flair at Wrestlemania (extending his streak), and his winning of the Hardcore Title over, you guessed it, Rob Van Dam. The only one with the Undertaker's number was the Rock, who beat him twice in PPV events during the time period involved. In PWI's own words, the Undertaker has possibly his strongest year yet in the wrestling profession. But for some reason, it was only good enough for #2.
Chris Jericho, as I see it, is the enigma of the PWI 500. Looking at it, I think I could argue either for him to be higher than #4, or a lot lower. At the end of 2001, Jericho went on a rampage, going four for five, only taking a "loss" at the Survivor Series match, being eliminated. His team still won. Jericho won the WCW World Title from the Rock, defended it successfully against Kurt Angle, then went into Vengence and became the first undisputed World Champion by taking down both the Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. He then went into 2002 continuing his winning ways, getting two straight PPV victories over the Rock and Austin. Sounds like a major contender for #1, doesn't it? Which makes it almost inconceivable how the WWE dropped him off the top and sent him towards the bottom. Since his win over Austin at No Way Out, Jericho has lost six PPV matches, twice to Hunter Hearst Helmsley. His other losses? He fell to an aging Ric Flair, rookie John Cena, and up-and-comers Rob Van Dam and Edge. He's fallen so far that no one thought much of his victory over Flair at Unforgiven. Jericho had the #1 spot wrapped up by the end of 2001. He just had it taken away from him by WWE management, who decided to destroy any possible momentum the "Living Legend" could have.
Finally, let's talk about "Stone Cold". Yes, Austin was included on the PWI 500 for 2002, even after his walk-out basically appears to have ended his career. In fact, he ranked #13, coming in above guys like Booker T, Brock Lesnar, Hulk Hogan and Jeff Jarrett. Somehow, I can't picture him being posted that high. True, he held the WWF World Title until the end of 2001, when he lost it to Chris Jericho. He was a key figure of the Alliance, and a high profile star. But he also had trouble getting the big wins. He couldn't win for the Alliance, being taken out by the Rock. He always seemed to have problems against Kurt Angle and the Rock (when he was a heel). And he came into 2002 basically doing nothing. He was tossed out of the Royal Rumble, and dropped matches to Chris Jericho and the Undertaker. His significant victories before he left? Wins over a low-ranked Scott Hall, the Big Show and Ric Flair. No wonder he left due to problems with the writers, which also should fare negatively against his place in the PWI 500. Rather than work out his problems with WWE management, using his star power to make things right, Austin simply left, barely giving any notice. Should poor work skills count against him? I think so.
Just researching for those four wrestlers took me more time than expected, making me respect the people who do the PWI 500 even more. Just think, having to decide on 500 professional wrestlers, then telling us why you think they deserve to be where they are. Doesn't sound easy, does it? So while I may disagree with some of their choices, I still see what they've done, and applaud it. I also can't wait for next year, to see who will be the next one to gain #1. My vote's on Edge. But anything can happen.
Peace
The Accelerator
First off, as is now customary in this article, I'd like to cover some webpage business. Now that I've passed over 200 wrestling biographies, I've noticed that I'm starting to run low on "popular" wrestlers of the here and now. This means that it's time to start doing some different wrestlers, from different eras. I'll be choosing them at random, but if there are wrestlers that you want to see something about, let me know, and I'll push them to the top of the list. I want to give my readers exactly what they want, after all, so send me an e-mail with your wants, and I'll get to work. Now, onto the reason you're reading this.
I've been thinking about my article, and how I've been basing it on one specific element of professional wrestling each time. While I don't think there's anything wrong with that, sometimes you just have to talk about everything. So from now on, around Sunday or Monday of each week, I'm going to take up some article space and just talk about many different wrestling-related items, throwing them out and seeing how they go. With that, let's get to the rambling!
- I keep hearing about "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in the newspapers. It almost looks like the press is happily diving into the image of wrestling, doesn't it? You can't compare "Stone Cold" with Steve Williams. They're two different people. Sure, a lot of Williams' attitude is buried in the basis of "Stone Cold", but that doesn't mean that he's definitely guilty. I, for one, am just going to wait for what happens in the trial room, if anything.
- I'm still not sure what Jerry Jarrett, the owner of NWA-TNA, was thinking when he made Ron "The Truth" Killings their heavyweight champion. I may have been a big fan of Killings when he was K-Kwik in the WWF, but I still see his reign as a bad maneuver for a very young, still-unproven company. Jarrett made the right choice early on, having an established star like Ken Shamrock hold the belt. But Shamrock supposedly didn't get over with the fans, possibly because he was having feuds with Malice and Takao Omori. If you just said "Who?", you've proved my point. With main-event types like Scott Hall, Jeff Jarrett and Sabu all making appearances in the NWA-TNA, why give the belt to an unestablished wrestler like Killings? Maybe there are contract disputes that I'm not aware of, because that's the only explanation I can think of.
- Speaking of NWA-TNA, I wonder if they've given any consideration to trying to get either "Stone Cold" Steve Austin or Bill Goldberg. I know that they wouldn't be able to afford either contract, of course, but just think of what they could do if they could. People have been wanting to see Austin vs. Goldberg for years now. The NWA-TNA is quite possibly in the best position of any federation right now to see that happen.
- They've been heavily promoting the Rock defending his World Title on Raw against Hunter Hearst Helmsley. But, for some reason, I'm not interested. I guess it could be because of the fact that NO ONE believes that Helmsley can gain the belt. Either the Rock will win cleanly, or Brock Lesnar will again appear at Raw and interfere, or possibly Shawn Michaels will cause Triple H to lose. Those are the three options, because, with the way they're hyping Rock vs. Brock, they would be absolutely nuts to have the Rock lose at this point.
- Is everyone else as excited about Kane coming back as I am? Damn, it'll be good to have the Big Red Machine back again, ready to finally climb up to the main event and stay there. Can you imagine, Kane vs. Brock? Sounds like a good one to me.
- I'm looking forward to Summerslam this year, more than I have for any PPV recently. Many of the matches appear to have the possibility of gaining Match of the Year honors. Mysterio vs. Angle could be huge, as could Van Dam vs. Benoit, and Rock vs. Brock will hopefully be handled the correct way, pushing the fans through the roof. But a lot's going to depend on the audience in attendance. Too bad they aren't going to be in Seattle, but they have to save that for Wrestlemania next year.
- About time they broke Batista away from "Reverend" D-Von. Batista was an absolute monster in the OCW, and I know that he can be a major-league star with the right push. Being a Deacan wasn't it.
- On the same front, though, having Matt turn on Jeff for no reason, then sending Matt to Smackdown, just completely threw me off. For a while, it seemed like Vince McMahon was against lightweights (not including X-Pac). Apparently he's made room for lightweights by killing off all the established tag-teams. You'd think, after what happened with D-Von, Buh Buh Ray, Bradshaw and Faarooq, he'd realize that splitting up the big teams isn't working.
- They're coming out with a Trish Stratus action figure. Oh, the possibilities....
- I can't wait for football to start up again. Go Redskins! Ok, so it's not exactly a wrestling-related post, but don't forget, when football gets going, Monday night demographics change, and wrestling ratings will probably take a down-turn. That also means, though, that ol' Vince McMahon is going to try some innovative ideas to keep his fans tuned in to the WWE.
Well, there you have it, my ramblings for this week. I expect to expand this one more as the weeks go by, but we'll see how it goes. I also plan to keep posting twice a week, so stay tuned to this page for more 'startling' developments.
Peace
The Accelerator
Things are really hopping around the Rollercoaster these days. Not only do I have a new columnist, not only have I reached over 200 biographies, but now I've got three, count 'em, three columns in a row! Yes sir, life is sweet. If you haven't had a chance to check out Shoot To Thrill, I heartily recommend it. Will's written a very nice one for his opening, and, of course, it's only going to get better from there (especially if I can talk another individual into becoming the third member of the Rollercoaster writing staff).
As I start my subject for this column, I would like to ask you readers a question: Who would you consider the greatest hardcore wrestler in the WWF's history? I can already anticipate some of the guesses from the gallery. Many would probably vote for Mankind, aka Mick Foley, the man who went through some unbelievably dangerous matches. The one most remembered is the Hell In A Cell bout with the Undertaker, where he went off the top of the cage, went through the cage, and was thrown on top of thumb tacks, just to name a few atrocities. He was also the first Hardcore Champion, so he makes a good choice. Others, though, would vote for men like Al Snow or "The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman, who defended the belt repeatedly when they were the champions. I would also expect to hear some votes for the Big Show, Kane, or the Undertaker, all of whom were made out to be devestating champions of the Hardcore division.
When you look at the numbers, though, you get some very different choices. The top Hardcore Wrestler in the WWF's history? Raven. Raven has held the WWF Hardcore Title 26 times now. That's right, I said 26 times. Behind Raven, you have to consider Crash Holly as a potential hardcore legend, after holding the gold 21 times. There are also Steven Richards (19 times), Bradshaw(16 times), Shawn Stasiak(12 times) and Tommy Dreamer(10 times). Not what you expected? Then you haven't been keeping up with the house show circuit.
Ever since the creation of the 24/7 Rule, the Hardcore Title has become the revolving door of the wrestling industry. In July 2002, a new "high" was hit, as there were 36 reigns in the 31 days of the month. These 36 reigns were caused by a dozen WWF wrestlers. Halfway through August, we've seen "only" 11 champions, so it doesn't look like July's record is threatened. But anything can happen.
So do the stats make Shawn Stasiak a better Hardcore Champion than, say, the Big Boss Man? Personally, I don't think so. If you added up all of Stasiak's 12 reigns, you only get 12 days, since all of his "wins" were quickly followed by him being pinned again. Honestly, I don't believe his dozen runs with the belt would even add up to an hour, let alone a day. Raven's statistics look a little more respectable, since he started off his title runs by holding the Hardcore strap for more than a month back in late 2000. Unfortunately, Raven wasn't able to keep that pace up, with his last 14 Hardcore Title wins being 1-day runs. His total? 110 days, or roughly 4 days per title reign.
Frankly, it's become increasingly evident that the WWE Hardcore Title is now one of the worst belts around. It's so watered down that many non-hardcore personalities can claim to have held it, from Gerald Brisco & Pat Patterson (wrestlers, but past their prime by a mile) to women wrestlers like Trish Stratus & Terri. A majority of the title changes aren't even mentioned on the television shows. Most people believed that Bradshaw had a long reign through July, until losing the belt to Tommy Dreamer. Unfortunately, Bradshaw lost the gold over a dozen times during that period, only to gain it right back. Dreamer himself has lost the gold four times, twice to Bradshaw and twice to Stasiak. All four times, he's caught up to whoever pinned THEM and regained his belt.
Now, I understand why the WWE has decided to go this route. I truly do. It's entertaining for people attending the house show, since it adds the element of a title change (or three) at every event. It used to be an unwritten rule that, if you went to a house show, you won't see the gold move around at all, since it would just confuse the running storylines. Not anymore. So I can see how it builds revenue, helping to please the fans who come to the shows. But is it really necessary to continue to downgrade the weight of what could have been a great title? Because, let's face it, the belt isn't taken seriously by the fans anymore. Too many people have laid claim to the gold for it to be a major victory to be the champ.
But then, it was bound to happen. The Hardcore Era, as it has been called in the past, has obviously been in the decline for months now. People are finally looking for quality matches from great stars, rather than chanting for blood and guts every chance they get. Matches are beginning to end in the old-fashioned ways, with countouts, disqualifications and clean submissions. The cruiserweights, led by Rey Mysterio Jr, are starting to see a resurgance of popularity. With all that's been going on as of late, the Hardcore division has fallen out of favor, thus explaining the many, many title changes. But I have a solution for the division, that could turn everything around from the decay that has set in.
Rename it the ECW Hardcore Title.
You've got all the elements to make this successful. The current champion, Tommy Dreamer, was one of the most respected ECW wrestlers around. Most of the guys trading the strap around are former ECW wrestlers. It would be easy to bring back some of the energy of ECW, just by having Dreamer declare that the belt he holds is now no longer 24/7. It's just Extreme. Just think of the possibilities. Bring Raven in and have him feud with Dreamer over the belt, rekindling the feud that had people tuning in for years to ECW television. Tazz could join the "division" and go against people his size, bringing some of his old glory back. Even guys like Spike Dudley, Steven Richards, Justin Credible and Bubba Ray Dudley (all multi-time WWE Hardcore Champs) could be involved, pushing the division back into the top-tier.
As I said, the Hardcore Era does appear to be on the decline. But then, so are the WWE's ratings. I think there are still fans out there who want it taken to the Extreme. They want to see "Stairway To Hell" Matches, and chant "E-C-Dub" at any event. Sure, there's the chance that injuries would go up. It's probably more of a certainty than a possibility. But it would give some of the guys who are getting little-to-no airtime a chance to return to what made many of them famous. It would also cause a belt that was once the prized possession of Mrs. Foley's little boy to finally start to shed the label of the joke of the industry, and start to earn its title of "Hardcore".
Peace
The Accelerator
I want to start things off this week with a little page business. I've said in the past that I've wanted to get the Rollercoaster more off the ground, and into the public's eye. Recently, I've noticed that I've been getting more hits daily than ever before, and hit a new high for the month of July. I'm hopeful that August is going to be even better, especially with some improvements that are going on. I'm happy to report that, later this week, a new column writer is going to be joining the Rollercoaster staff, doubling the amount of readability that you'll find here. The man in charge has great skills in the writing field, and I have no doubt that he'll add a great deal to this website. So be on the lookout for the new column, next week!
On that note, let's talk about Shawn Michaels. Few will argue that the Heartbreak Kid has been one of the most influential wrestlers in the history of wrestling. He helped the World Wrestling Federation survive when it was against the wall from the nWo. He put on spectacular matches that captured the eyes of the world. I still remember vividly his epic Hell In A Cell match against the Undertaker, a match so brutal that I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Although Mick Foley's fall later became the greatest, at the time, Shawn Michaels' drop from the edge of the cage shook the world, because no one thought it would happen. So I have great feelings about Shawn Michaels, both as a wrestler and as a newly-reborn Christian. He's always going to be one of my favorites.
But I also believe that he should not be in professional wrestling today.
I must say, I'm greatly concerned for two things regarding Shawn Michaels. One, I'm worried about his health. I could see him trying for too much on his first match back in the ring after so long, and possibly cripple himself while battling Hunter Hearst Helmsley. However, Michaels is a smart man, so the chances of a major injury are remote. However, that brings us to my second concern: that his match will be so tame that the fans will lose some respect for HBK. Keep in mind that the last time Michaels competed in a major WWF pay-per-view, it was Wrestlemania XIV in 1998, the infamous Mike Tyson betrayal. That was more than four years ago. We have no way of knowing what kind of shape Shawn Michaels is in, or how he will be able to wrestle. Right now, I'm sure they're treating him with kid gloves, to make sure that he doesn't get injured before Summerslam. But will the ring rust cover the match?
Another thing to note is that Shawn Michaels just turned 37 in July. While many wrestlers (see: Hulk Hogan) can continue to wrestle decade after decade, Michaels has yet to prove that his age is not a factor. It's a well-known that, the older you get, the harder it is to stay in shape. Did anyone else notice that the tv ads focused on the match between HBK and HHH showed Michaels in a black t-shirt, instead of showing off his chest? That concerned me, just for the fact that Michaels might need to hide something. Of course, he doesn't look like he's put on any weight, but that doesn't mean that he's maintained his physique throughout the years of his off-time from wrestling.
Don't get me wrong. I'm intrigued by Michaels' return to the ring, and I wish him the best. But I can't help but worry about his reasoning for returning to the ring. I read the interview he gave on Ted DiBiase's webpage, and there are some interesting quotes in there. When asked about his reasons for returning to the ring, the Heart Break Kid talked about how he believed the Lord was wanting him to have one more match, after showing him a passage in his Bible.
"I feel, to me, this getting in the ring is a testimony to God. Because in four years I haven’t felt confidence, I felt like I lost it, I don’t think my body can handle it, but in this process I feel very confident that He’s going to take care of me in this match. So that’s the only reason I’m doing it."
Michaels' faith nowadays is nothing short of extraordinary. He's definitely a different man, more in touch with his inner feelings. He's a dedicated father, and a much better man to work with in the back locker room. But you can't help but wonder if Michaels will be ready for his confrontation with Hunter Hearst Helmsley. I, personally, have to wonder if this is the way we're going to want to remember him. Hopefully, it will be.
Peace
The Accelerator
First off, it's good to be back after taking some time off from the wrestling community. Second, it's great to finally be able to say that the Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster hosts over two hundred professional wrestling biographies! It's something I've been wanting to say for a long time. It gives a guy a sense of accomplishment, how I can look at this page now and, even given my usual modest tendencies, know that it's now one of the best places around for wrestling info. Of course, I still need to get the advertising going for it, as well as a few other items, but it's still a damn good feeling.
Now let's get to the topic of this column. It's no secret that one of the biggest stories of the year is the walkout of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, basically ending his career with World Wrestling Entertainment in one fell swoop. A lot of people have criticized the Rattlesnake, saying that he should have accepted the role he had been given, rather than leaving his job and disappointing the fans. I agree with the majority, having been raised in believing in "the show must go on". But I've also taken some time to look at recent events in the WWE, and some of the things I've seen have given me a different perspective on Stone Cold's departure. The treatment of some of the top stars has been, quite frankly, shocking.
Since the beginning of 2002, there have been five World Champions: Chris Jericho, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Hulk Hogan, the Undertaker and the Rock. It's long been thought that winning the World Title was a very good thing for a wrestler's career. But is it true? The facts don't seem to follow the reasoning. Let's take a look at each wrestler's 2002, and their career after they won the belt.
Chris Jericho: He's the man who bucked the odds, taking down both "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and the Rock, the two biggest icons in the sport, to become the undisputed World Heavyweight Champion. He united the WWF and WCW titles, a feat that had never been managed before (Ric Flair's claims notwithstanding). Jericho then went on to defend the belt at successive pay-per-views, once again getting by both the Rock and the Rattlesnake, an impressive achievement. However, the return of Hunter Hearst Helmsley put an end to his run at the top, as he lost the belt at Wrestlemania X-8. This was the start of the first plunge. Jericho's stock seemed to start falling rapidly, as he was not put into a solid storyline, and didn't even wrestle at the next PPV, Backlash. He lost the Hell In A Cell match to Helmsley at Judgment Day, then had a brief return in the King of the Ring tournament, only to fall in the semis to Rob Van Dam. The former "Unified" Champion hit the bottom last month, losing at Vengence to rookie John Cena. So, looking at it subjectively, Jericho has gone 0-3 at PPVs (with one absence) since dropping the belt. He hasn't held any other belts, leaving him titleless for nearly 4 months. He's being used to get other wrestlers over, including youths like Cena and Orton, and seasoned vets like Ric Flair and Rob Van Dam. In short, Jericho's come a long way since being the champ.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley: For a while, it seemed that nothing could stop Triple H's momentum, after coming back from a major injury to win the 2002 Royal Rumble. He dominated Chris Jericho, in a match that all knew he would win. He basically seemed unbeatable, especially when it was announced that one of the top stars of the 1980s, "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, would be his opponent at Backlash. Surprisingly, though, Hogan rode the wave of renewed popularity he had gained, and took down Helmsley, taking away the belt after only a month's reign. Granted, Triple H did not fall as rapidly as Jericho did after losing the belt. In fact, he helped contribute to Jericho's plunge, beating him in the Hell in a Cell at Judgment Day. But Helmsley was unable to regain the belt at the King of the Ring, as he was taken down by the Undertaker, and hasn't held any gold since April. Injuries set in, putting Helmsley on the sidelines for a time. He has since returned and started a feud with Shawn Michaels, which might give Helmsley back some momentum. But no one can say that he's at the point he was when he won the World Title.
"Hollywood" Hulk Hogan: No one thought it could happen. He was past his prime by a long mile, no longer the immovable object. But Hulk Hogan, thanks to the push of popularity he had from his match with the Rock at Wrestlemania, would not be denied. He managed to return to the top of the WWF for a 6th time, beating Hunter Hearst Helmsley at Backlash. Hogan soon renewed acquaintances with his old rival, the Undertaker, and faced off with him at Judgment Day. Unfortunately for Hogan, his momentum only went so far, and the Undertaker stripped him of the gold. Hogan then quickly stepped out of the main event area, starting a feud with Kurt Angle. This ended badly, though, with Hogan actually being forced to submit to the Ankle Lock. Hogan did manage a little more than Jericho or Helmsley, though, as he gained the WWF Tag Titles with Edge. But their reign ended after only a few weeks, as they were beaten by the Anti-Americans at Vengence. In the last few weeks, the only push connected to the Hulkster is the push being given to Brock Lesnar, who has landed multiple F-5's to the former champ. This Thursday, Hogan will face Lesnar in a special contender's match. Since Lesnar is being heavily promoted against the Rock, expect the Hulkster to once again be crushed, falling even further from the top of the division.
The Undertaker: It was a big moment for the Undertaker, finally reaching the top of the WWE after almost three years. He also did it the way he won the first time, beating the Hulkster for the belt. The Undertaker also had a nice run at the top, keeping the belt despite the challenge of Hunter Hearst Helmsley at King of the Ring. But the Undertaker's run couldn't last forever, as the Rock proved at Vengence. With the loss so recent, it's hard to tell if the Undertaker's stock will fall like some of the other champs. Yet there have been some telling events, most particularly the beatdown the Phenom endured from the Anti-Americans, launching their feud. Still, it will take a few pay-per-views to see where things are heading.
The Rock: Finally, the Rock has come back to the World Title! It was the win that was badly needed for WWE television, as the Rock gives the fans someone to root for. Of course, since he's still the champion, I cannot analyze his time after the belt. Still, there are a few things worth noting. In recent weeks, it's seemed that the Rock's lost some of his push since becoming the champion. He and Hogan were unable to get the World Tag-Team belts, due to interference from Brock Lesnar. Not long afterwards, the Rock was actually forced to tap out by Chris Benoit, a clean submission. I don't think I've ever seen the Rock give up like that. It remains to be seen if Brock Lesnar will continue his rampage, and become the 6th champion of 2002.
If you take all of the pay-per-view matches of the former champions, you'll get a very surprising number. Out of the seven matches, there's only been one win, by Helmsley against Jericho. This could be looked at as one fallen champion beating one who had fallen farther. So what does this prove? It's hard to say. But obviously, Vince McMahon takes pushes seriously. By the numbers, he will push one man to the top, then use the man on the way back down to help push up others. The rollercoaster theory in effect. I know, though, that the data is probably inconclusive, because I only looked at 5 test cases, with 2 of them still too recent to really analyze. I guess I could have gone back to guys like Kurt Angle (lost 5 straight PPVs after losing the gold) or Austin (lost 3 out of 4). But I'll save that for another time, allowing you, the reader, to make your own conclusions.
Peace
The Accelerator
It's already hard to remember the major competition we had going on only a few years ago. We had World Championship Wrestling, which had used the nWo to grow into a major-league federation. We had the World Wrestling Federation, which was forced to use "sports entertainment" to move back to the top. And we had Extreme Championship Wrestling, the hardcore federation. Many fans loved the way that ECW worked, giving the fans exactly what they want without too many complicated storylines. They tuned into TNN and watched as each wrestler took things to the "Extreme", doing whatever they could get away with. When ECW fell to bankruptcy, many of the true wrestling fans mourned its loss.
But is ECW really gone? Or has it moved to a new location?
It's well-known by most wrestling fans that some of the top stars of ECW moved over to the WWF. But if you really look at the numbers, the results may surprise you. Let's run down the stars currently in WWE that spent significant time in ECW. First off, there's "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who used ECW to start creating his character. Many WWE stars held the ECW World Title at one point or another, including Tommy Dreamer, Justin Credible, Raven, Tazz, Rhyno, and Mike Awesome. Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn, the entire contingent of the Revolution, made their start in ECW, THEN moved over to WCW. Same for Lance Storm, Steven Richards & Chris Jericho. And we can't leave out Al Snow, Tajiri, Spike Dudley or newcomer Dawn Marie. By my count, that's over 20 former ECW stars now located in World Wrestling Entertainment, 1/4th of the current roster. That's not counting their developmental area, where guys like Super Nova & EZ Money are running as top talent. Not a bad contribution from ECW.
It's almost quicker to look for the former ECW stars that are NOT currently in WWE. There are, of course, the guys that no longer are with us, like "Big Dick" Dudley. There are some that had their shot in World Wrestling Entertainment, but didn't last, like the Blue Meanie, Shane "Dean" Douglas & Jerry Lynn. Once those are ruled out, there are only a few names left that are fully recognizable to the fans, wrestlers like the Sandman, Steve Corino & Sabu, all of whom chose different paths. Of course, there's always speculation that one or the other will be coming to WWE, but it hasn't happened yet. Why, you ask? Maybe because of the way former ECW wrestlers are treated in WWE.
If you look at the statistics for the 20 wrestlers I listed above, you'll see a noticable trend. Guys like Steve Austin and Al Snow, guys who left ECW for the WWF early on, while ECW was still running smoothly, are well-respected in the wrestling business. Some of the WCW wrestlers can be included in that as well, although Jericho, Benoit and Guerrero all jumped "early", before WCW's demise. But many of the other stars of ECW have ended up the jokes of WWE. Tommy Dreamer is eating everything, including vomit and spit-tobacco. He's definitely no longer the Innovator of Violence, one of the most respected wrestlers from ECW. Raven and Tazz have been forced to try roles as announcers, after their wrestling careers hit speedbumps. Justin Credible barely did anything in WWE, as he was unfortunately placed with X-Pac & Albert in the X-Factor. Lance Storm, one of the best technical wrestlers on the planet, is barely even getting a minor push. The list goes on and on.
A lot of fans, when hit with this argument, will point out Rob Van Dam as the proof that ECW wrestlers can do well in World Wrestling Entertainment. But Van Dam is the exception to the rule, in my view. If he had been there when Jerry Lynn had made his way through, Lynn might have been able to have the kind of matches that made him a star, rather than being restrained to 'lightweight' matches that were more technical than high-flying. Sabu or Super Crazy might have been hired as well. What really worked against the ECW superstars was the fact that the WWF/WWE has never been a fan of drawn-out matches, nor of taking it to the Extreme. They have a completely different format, and only Rob Van Dam, a very unique professional wrestler, has been able to make the transition without a major change in personality.
So where does this leave ECW? Is it truly gone, or is it simply a part of World Wrestling Entertainment now? There's always hope. The Hardcore division is a joke right now, but with all the hardcore talent they've got, we could see a surge in ECW reigns. With Super Nova coming along (he's currently the OVW Heavyweight Champion), another great lightweight is on his way to WWE. Tajiri's still pushing for a major role, and guys like Rhyno and Mike Awesome will soon be returning. It may not be much longer before we once again hear the infamous chant of "E-C-Dub, E-C-Dub!" Here's hoping, at least.
Peace
The Accelerator
It was only five years ago, which, in a person's life, is only a tiny fraction of time. Yet for some, it can be a lifetime. Only five years ago, the Hart Foundation was fully formed in the World Wrestling Federation. "The Hitman" Bret Hart brought together a powerhouse team, mainly consisting of family members. He reunited with his old tag-team partner, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. He ended the troubles with his brother, Owen Hart, and his brother-in-law, "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith. Along with "Flyin'" Brian Pillman, the Hart Foundation carried on the crusade against the WWF, waging an international war: Canada vs. America. It became one of the most exciting storylines in the WWF's history. But no writer could have conceived how things would end up for the Hart Foundation in the end.
Only five years later, three of the five members of the Hart Foundation have departed this world. "Flyin'" Brian Pillman was the first, dying in October '97 at the age of 35. It was a surprising death, as Pillman had an undiagnosed genetic heart disease, the same curse that had taken his father at an early age. Two years later, in 1999, the infamous Over The Edge Pay-Per-View took place, where Owen Hart tragically fell to his death from a stunt that should never have occurred. He was 34. Three years later, almost to the day, "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith has passed on, dying while on vacation in British Columbia. He was 39. It makes it all the more tragic to realize that, of the five, only two of them have lived past 40.
Of course, the run of bad luck has not just been for those who have passed on. Since the run of the Hart Foundation in 1997, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart has had very little success in the world of professional wrestling. A run in World Championship Wrestling showed little promise, and eventually led to his release. At the age of 46, Neidhart still toils in the independent scene, trying to find some of the magic that once made him a great star. Most know of Bret Hart's story, from his shocking screwjob by Vince McMahon in the WWF, to his harsh run in WCW which led to a concussion that ended his wrestling career. While younger than many of the headlining stars in the WWE right now, Hart, at 44, stays out of professional wrestling, instead concentrating on his family and his articles for the Calgary Sun.
So after five years, none of the five wrestlers are stars in the wrestling profession. None have had any major success since the Hart Foundation broke apart. All have faced depression, injuries, tragedy and death. It makes you truly wonder if the Hart family really has been cursed. Whether you believe in that or not, though, you can't help but feel sorrow towards the family, which has faced more heartbreak and pain in the last five years than most feel in a lifetime. It is a testiment to the strength of the human spirit, that those still here on this plane continue to live, rather than giving in to despair. It gives everyone else hope, to see them carry on. But it also causes one to look back, and wonder how things could have been, starting from five years ago.
Peace
The Accelerator
Y'know, when you're dealing with a job search, a wedding, college finals and life on its own, well, it becomes easy to forget about the column writing for a few weeks. Still, if I want to have a strong following, I'll have to get better at writing every week. Repeat after me, Ace: I will post once a week, I will post once a week, I will post once a week. Ahhhh, now that's better.
Of course, a major reason why I have not posted is because of one reason: Hollywood Hulk Hogan is the World Champion. In fact, on my PPV choices in the last column, I believe I only went 3-6, with one thrown out since it didn't happen (Dudley/Regal). So while I don't think Backlash was a complete disappointment, I think there were a lot of things that they could have done differently to make things run better at the next PPV. I mean, Undertaker vs. Hogan can be, and was, a great match. But that was back at the beginning of the 1990's. And even then, it wasn't considered one of the great matches of wrestling history. Helmsley vs. Austin would have been so much more interesting, in my opinion. But oh well, maybe they're saving it for later.
There's something else that the WWF has been doing later, while pushing the oldest wrestlers into the main event. They've also been stealthily bringing the OVW to their federation. First, we had the Big Show and Mark Henry return to television, since they already were known names in the wrestling world (even though I think Henry would still be there if it wasn't for the World's Strongest Man competition). Since then, though, wrestlers have slowly been sneaking in. Rico Constantino has become a hated 'stylist' for Chuck & Billy, giving their tag-team reign a little credibility. Brock Lesnar has become the Goldberg of 2002. And now Randy Orton has exploded onto the scene, with some magnificent matches against Hardcore Holly. With these guys entering the picture, has the WWF finally started a youth movement again?
I must say, I'm encouraged by the amount of youth currently in the WWF. There are only a few more guys I'm looking for now from the OVW: Nick Dinsmore, Ron "H2O" Waterman, Bull Buchanan & the Machine. Of the four, only Buchanan has gotten TV time. But all four are spoken of highly in the world of wrestling. I personally think all four may soon appear in the WWF, once guys like Lesnar and Orton become established and show that the OVW boys can make it in the big time. I can't wait to see it go down.
There's one other aspect of the future that has me smiling. The other night, I watched Smackdown, and saw some honestly terrific matches. They weren't short, like most matches used to be. They gave people something to watch. Lance Storm and Val Venis got to showcase their skills, as did Tajiri, Billy Kidman, Kurt Angle, Edge, and Holly & Orton. If these bouts continue, I'll start to get back to the point when I wouldn't miss a single show, because I didn't want to miss a great match. So here's to the future: may it be as bright and hopeful as it looks. In other words, Randy Orton, World Champion, 2005. You heard it here first.
Peace.
The Accelerator