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Eddie Burkett

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EDDIE-torial
Why Scott Hall Needs the WWF

March 30, 1998: The Raw after Wrestlemania XIV. After watching DX leader Shawn Michaels drop the title to Steve Austin the night before, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, accompanied by Chyna, makes his way down to the ring. He chastises Shawn for losing the belt. He chastises Shawn for dropping the ball. And he proceeds to kick Shawn out of Degeneration X. However, he would pick the ball up. However, he would not let the DX roster thin. No, he intended to let the roster grow; he intended to induct a DX Army. And for the first member of this new army, this reborn DX, he looked to his friends. For his first member, he look to his blood. And with that, a scruffy looking young man who hadn't been seen in the WWF in about two years walked to the ring. Identified only as "the Kid" by J.R., the man who would be X-Pac gave a shoot interview on Eric Bischoff, a shoot into the ratings, allowing the WWF to finally end the 88 week win streak by WCW, and a shoot into the life of DX, establishing a group, who has both heels and faces, would go on to dominate the WWF over the course of the next two years.

March 29, 1999, 2000: The Raw after Wrestlemania XV. After being attacked by DX leader Hunter Hearst Helmsley the night before, and failing to reclaim the European championship from Shane McMahon, X-Pac, alone, makes his way down the to the ring. He chastises Helmsley for turning on him. He chastises Helmsley for selling out. However, he would not let DX die. No, he and the New Age Outlaws intended to keep kicking ass and raising hell. That night, at the arena, on the program listing the matches for the evening's show (none of which happened...), a final teaser was mentioned. "DX lost a member last night in the form of Triple H. But tonight they vow to gain another." Among the crowd, one man's name was whispered and hoped, as to who this mystery new member would be. One man, who although contractually bound to another organization, was to be the answer to DX's problem. But before any new member could be named, X-Pac's interview was over. No mystery man debuted for the crowd. No new DX member was added, and DX would spend the next few months in turmoil, before reuniting to dominate the WWF at the end year.

April 3, 2000. The Raw after Wrestlemania 2000. After watching DX leader Hunter Hearst Helmsley drop the title to the Rock the night before, X-Pac, accompanied by the New Age Outlaws, makes his way down to the ring. He chastises Helmsley for losing the belt. And he then proceeds to kick Helmsley out of Degeneration X. He chastises Helmsley for dropping the ball. However, he would pick the ball up. However, he would not let the DX roster thin. No, he intended to let the roster grow; he intended to keep the DX Army alive. And for the next member of this reborn DX, he looked to his friends. For his first member, he looked to his blood. And with that, a stubbly looking tall man who hadn't been seen in the WWF in about four years walks to the ring. The man, who's name had been whispered at the Continental Airlines Arena slightly more than one year ago, had finally made it back to the WWF, and Scott Hall was finally on his way to getting his life straight.

Although given the current situation of Scott Hall, and his status as a cancer in the WCW locker room, as he has been known, and the current abundance of the WWF roster, the above might seem impossible, a relationship between the WWF and Scott Hall could prove to be beneficial to both parties, assuming Scott Hall is released from WCW shortly after SuperBrawl. (which, although logical from a company standpoint, means that it most likely will not happen, as my magic eight-ball could display more booking and backstage logic than Bill Busch has this year...)

The main concern by both parties, first and foremost, should be the health and sobriety of Scott Hall. Assuming that Scott Hall can be signed prior to the end of February, that would give the WWF the month of March to place Hall in rehab, and decide whether or not it would be worth it to debut him at the beginning of April. Should Hall fail to complete his rehabilitation, or demonstrate any other problem over that month, then his contract would be terminated, and he would never be acknowledged on WWF TV. Only if the WWF was completely confident in Hall's attitude would they proceed with the angle at that point. Furthermore, since Hall would be a member of DX with friend X-Pac and sharing a locker room with friend Triple H, both of whom have proved to be capable WWF employees, their interest in both the Hall's health and the WWF product would cause them to do their best to help Hall recover.

Assuming recovery, upon debuting for the WWF, Hall, replacing Helmsley as a DX member, would immediately engage in a feud with his real life friend. Before Hall would be allowed to place so much as a foot in front of a camera, he and Triple H would film a scene in which Helmsley savagely attacks Hall, forcing him to be stretchered out with severe injuries. Thus, if at any time over the next month Hall's behavior becomes questionable, the WWF can simply air the above footage, and write Hall off television. Since Sunday Night would air right before the PPV, this gives the WWF almost until the last minute (and for what its worth, they could air the footage at the PPV itself, if needs be) to remove Hall, and replace him in the feud with X-Pac (who conveniently would not be scheduled to wrestle at the next PPV.) Hall would be aware of the tight leash imposed on him, and that would further encourage him to remain sober.

Moreover, actually working again might inspire Hall to attempt to achieve his former glory. Performing to a half-filled arena, or five to nine thousand people is not the same a packed arena of over twenty thousand, all of whom paid to be there. Like all wrestlers, Hall needs the spotlight to be somebody, and shining the spotlight directly in his face might get this man to realize the mistakes he's making, and what he's losing by acting as he had. Additionally, in working with Helmsley, and X-Pac, Hall, a person who has been known to work only when he wants to, will be working with two people who will make him want to work. All of Hall's best matches have been with his cliq-mates, and these two might inspire Hall to have yet another classic match.

Although the WWF does not need Scott Hall right now, it is clear that Scott Hall needs the WWF. The stability and encouragement of the WWF locker room can only help Scott Hall improve himself, instead of remaining in a company which is decomposing as quickly as Hall is himself. The realization that Hall no longer has WCW, and may lose the WWF, may be what Hall finally needs to prevent from falling further into the abyss of his personal life, and get him to turn things around. The WWF, with its crowded locker room, and firm control under Vince McMahon, has nothing to lose by signing Scott Hall. In fact, they might gain a great worker and personality. And should the situation not work out, Hall can be terminated at any time, and left to face his demons on his own. But before it gets to that, at least the WWF can say they tried to help a bleak situation. Because I don't think anyone, in any locker room, wants to see Scott Hall become any more a shell of his former self than he already is. One Jake Roberts in this world is sad enough.

Eddie Burkett
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