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Michael Mad Dog Tearson
Friday, January 28, 2000 Page:
ON THE MAT
WCW is one big, fat mess. One week after head writer Vince Russo saw his
duties slashed, one week after a group of key WCW performers requested their
releases in response to the Russo demotion, things are as unsettled as ever.
On Nitro last week it was announced that Chris Benoit who had won the WCW
World Championship the night before at the Souled Out PPV had been stripped of
the title. (In replays the leg of his opponent Sid Vicious was clearly under
the ropes and Sid’s submission was erased. Benoit had been one of those
seeking a release, and thus it made no sense whatsoever to have a champ who
was ready to bolt.) On Wednesday’s Thunder, new Commissioner Kevin Nash
announced that Sid would meet an opponent of Nash’s choosing for the belt.
Next, Nash said he had chosen himself as the opponent, and that the match
would be on this week’s Nitro. As disturbing as this upheaval about the belt
is, it is the tip of the iceberg. Benoit, Dean Malenko, Perry Saturn, Shane
Douglas, Billy Kidman, Eddie Guerrero and Konnan’s status regarding their
futures with the promotion remains in doubt at press time. WCW head Billy
Busch asked the group to wait a week to see how affairs would shake out before
making any decisions, and the group agreed. That meeting was described as a
very professional meeting without any raised voices or anyone getting hot. The
group’s key disputes were Russo’s demotion, which may yet lead to him leaving
the company he joined in October when he unexpectedly jumped from the WWF.
Russo was promised a free hand in the creative aspects of scripting WCW’s
shows and directions. Instead, Kevin Sullivan was placed in charge of the
newly regenerated booking committee as well as the naming of WCW road agent
Mike Graham to the panel. Sullivan and Graham each have been unpopular with
these wrestlers. Each has seen his role and influence damaged by Sullivan in
his previous power runs. None of them want a repetition just as they all were
finally getting some momentum and long overdue prominence. Only Kidman
appeared on TV last week, and his name has subsequently been out of the rumor
mill. Since the meeting, members of the dissenting group have individually
received their releases effective Feb. 1. In the latest news, WCW has
confirmed that Benoit and Saturn have signed their releases, with Malenko’s
and Guerrero’s expected to be turned in at any time. This is especially
damaging to WCW as Benoit was the one of the group that they most wanted to
keep. Douglas seems to be leaning toward staying in WCW. This might in part be
due to the lingering ill will since Shane’s unpleasant short stay in the WWF
as Dean Douglas. Also, Douglas still has about three months to go rehabbing
his arm. Konnan, who has waffled on releases in the past, also will most
likely stay in WCW. Eddie Guerrero seemed likely to stay too, but he appears
to have thrown himself into the mix with Benoit, Saturn and Malenko. As for
the Vince Russo front, WCW seems very unlikely to cut him loose. The company
seems likely to keep him under contract as an insurance policy in case Kevin
Sullivan bombs out as head of the booking committee. Russo is reported to have
requested that one of three things happen. Either he wants nine months
remaining on his contract guaranteed to run things on his own, or a release
from the 21 months left on the deal in place, or he would work on a booking
committee as long as Kevin Sullivan, Gary Juster and J.J. Dillon no longer
have any impact. Again, most of this report is speculation. Nothing has been
signed or announced at press time. (Thanks to 1wrestling.com’s Dave Scherer
for invaluable assistance in this report.) THE FLAIR QUESTION: When we last
checked in on Ric Flair, the Nature Boy had worked a couple of house shows
while waiting for his contract to roll over into a new year in which he is
only signed to do public appearances with no wrestling mandated. That rollover
date is in February. Flair has requested his release and it has been refused.
In the light of the other releases that have been signed, Flair cannot
understand why WCW would stick him in this way. Reports have Flair eager to
bolt to the WWF to be a full-time heel (bad guy) and feud with the Rock. WCW
wanted Flair to be the new commissioner, a role Terry Funk filled as
last-second replacement. Flair does not want to work as a babyface (good guy)
because he feels better suited for the darker side. Even later reports have
Flair reaching at least a short-term deal with WCW for a run with Terry Funk
against Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. (That shows what happens when the talent
pool is depleted.) Flair is yet another aspect of the Big Picture that will
have to play itself out. BESTSELLERS: On the Jan. 23 New York Times
Non-Fiction Best Sellers list, the Rock’s “The Rock Says” broke in at No. 2.
In the Jan. 30 list, The Rock reaches No. 1. Mick Foley’s “Have A Nice Day,”
which has been in the Top 6 since its debut three months ago, climbs back to
No. 3. SUPER BOWL SUNDAY: Again this year, the WWF presents Halftime Heat on
USA during Super Bowl. This year’s match is scheduled to be a three-way
between Triple H, the Rock and the Big Show. It should fall during that
night’s Sunday Night Heat in the 7 p.m. hour.
Michael Mad Dog Tearson writes about professional wrestling every week in The
Guide. Mail comments c/o The Arts and Leisure Team, The Times Leader, 15 N.
Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711 or send e-mail to mtearson@yahoo.com