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Bill Gillon

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BLAH

FROM THE BRIT SIDE
 
Hi again, and a special greeting to all my fans!!!!  I've had some more mails during the past week (none so far about my poser of last week though, so I'll let that drop for now), so once again a bit thank you to everybody who got in touch.  I'd like to start by mentioning a mail I received about a lovely young lady who would like to meet up sometime and have a really good night.  I'd like to start with that, but unfortunately I didn't get any mails like that so I can't.  For the mails I did get, a big mention must go to a fellow countryman of mine, Richard, who's got on tape every Raw from the last four years.  Top man, and worthy of respect I say.  Also, a big thanks to the anonymous mail I received which contained a comment "Good column. I enjoy your humour and ideas I can't find fault anyway in your format".  This person is obviously somebody with really good taste and knows exactly what they're talking about.  Of course, they might change their mind after this week's offerings.  Again, thanks a lot for your mails, keep them coming.  It's a nice feeling knowing that people are reading my ramblings, and even taking the trouble to give me a mail.
 
I myself enjoy reading the other columns on here, and it was pretty amusing to see some inter-column feuding creeping in (poor Mike Franck, the perils of being a WCW fan....does anybody else think that CR Wilson leans towards WWF?  And is Ronnie Cox of the 'On WCW' column the Ronnie Cox who starred in Robocop and other films?  These questions and more must be answered). It's good to see some names creeping on again and again.  I enjoy reading Chris Jones's stuff, and liked his review of the 'Come And Get Some' vid, but Chris, Chyna beats Tori hands down.  In fact if Chyna wants to mail me and wants to meet up sometime and have a really good night, she's more than welcome.
 
I suppose I'd better get on to the happenings of the past week of wrestling.  So, firstly WCW.
 

 
Watching Nitro last week was an incredible experience, in as much that I really enjoyed it, and I think the main reason is a pretty simple one....Scott Hudson.  I don't know, the whole show just seemed more professional.  I was watching the wrestling content of the show, and while it was a big improvement on what Nitro normally serves up, left by itself it didn't make that big a difference to me.  Hudson just made it more interesting and enjoyable to watch, maybe making me realise that there actually was some wrestling happening, and that WCW doesn't just consist of a select handful of wrestlers.  In case you're not aware, apparently Tony Schiavone was told just before Nitro went on air that he wouldn't be doing commentary as Bischoff felt he needed a break (notice Schiavone was there, as he appeared in the ring during the Savage-Rodman set-to), and that the break would be for at least two weeks.  If the powers that be take any notice of the wrestling fans, Hudson will be kept on for a hell of a lot longer as he seems to have made a huge difference to the feel of the show.
 
Hollywood Hogan.  Those two words seem to strike fear into the great majority of fans.  Fear, not through actually being really scared of him, but fear as in the fear of seeing him on the TV at any time, a similar effect that crappy singer Celine Dion has on me.  Now, this time last week I was prepared to give Hogan the benefit of the doubt.  After all, I just had the feeling that he knew his time was up and he was just having one last fling.  Then I read Rick Scaia on Online Onslaught and I saw the light.  What was Hogan on about?  So, it was the future Horsemen's fault that the ratings on his segment were low was it, and because of that they'll never be given a top slot on Nitro again?  Hmmmm.  You tell them Hollywood, put them in their rightful place.  I mean it's not as if the fans longing for WCW to be successful again are begging for the likes of Benoit and Saturn to be pushed more are they?  No, they're really happy to see you and Sid in Nitro's main event and wish they could see you more.  Geez, how could anybody think otherwise?
 
It was great to hear that Shane Douglas and Ric Flair have apparently shaken hands and agreed to work together for the good of WCW (take notice of this Hogan).  It's obvious that WCW need to build up Douglas's character, as most people don't seem to know who Douglas actually is (good to hear the ECW chant attempted though).  Even though last week's Nitro was a good one, you could criticize the fact that things were just thrown at you without any sort of build-up, but I would say that's a result of WCW sucking so badly for months, they had to do something to grab attention.  Of course, this now means they have to do the build-up after the character has appeared, but Douglas and the Horsemen angle definitely has potential if played right, and Hogan's comments don't hold up.  As for Flair, see later on in the column for a little scenario that I'd like to see happening even though it
won't.
 
I'll let you know now that I wrote the above before reading CRZ's recap for Nitro this week.  The following is written afterwards. While it's good to see that Hudson still seems to be doing a good job, it sounds very much that the wrestling content sucked once again.  Knowing that last week WCW put on one of their best shows for ages, you would think they would try to follow it up with a good, solid show to keep the attention that they'd received last week, wouldn't you?  Rick Steiner involved in an outcome of the main event?  David "listen to me roar" Flair going over Chris Benoit (geez, THAT was the time if any for Benoit)?  Savage and Rodman again (has it been properly explained yet why Rodman is feuding with Savage)?  The ICP breaking up what seemed like a perfectly good win for Vampiro against Mysterio (if I was Vampiro I'd be severely pissed at this)?  Maybe last week was just a fluke after all.  Maybe there were so many changes and new stuff that it just gave the impression that it was new and different.
 
By the way, a lot of people were thinking and hoping that Scott Hall would be the mystery partner for Kevin Nash (did they put him back in booking charge this week?).  While that would have been nice, I can see why they didn't have Hall there.  Basically, they're trying to portray Nash as a heel (let him have booking control, that will work).  Having Hall turn up to partner Nash would probably have made them the fan favourites for many, considering Hogan was in the opposite corner, so having Sid to team up with was probably the only choice they had....better than Rick Steiner anyway.
 

 
A busy week for the WWF of course.  First of all I have to point out that in my forecasts for Fully Loaded last week I was trying to think if the Boss Man had won a belt since his return to the WWF.  Of course he has, I'd forgotten about his Hardcore reign, which now makes him a two-time champ of course.  And thank you, thank you, thank you WWF, for doing a definite finish to the title match.  With Austin triumphant, Vince McMahon must never appear at Raw again.  Hang on, didn't he appear the following night?  Fair enough, it was just to say farewell, but the contract has been broken already!!!!  Do you think we've seen the last of Vince on Raw? 
 
Actually, I think it would have been a nice idea for Austin and McMahon to have forgotten their differences last night with a firm shake of the hand, and maybe have shared a beer.  It would then have been easier for the future, maybe to bring back Vince as a face or maybe even a heel to work with a heel Austin?  Think about it, Austin's lawyers drew up the contract.  Could it be that written into the contract is a stipulation that McMahon can only return on Austin's say so?  What better partner for a heel Austin to have than the owner of the company?  Just a thought. 
 
Talking about Austin as a heel, it has to come sooner or later surely?  Up to Summerslam things will be pretty well the same, with the match against the heel HHH now marked down, but what about afterwards?  How on earth do you turn Austin heel?  He's pretty well a heel anyway in his actions, so how do you make the fans turn against him?  I can see a possible way.  Let's say HHH wins the title at Summerslam, which I wouldn't mind at all, I like HHH.  Austin obviously would want the title back.  Let's say he has a rival for the challenger's spot, one who is just as popular with the fans.  Let's say that rival is a returning MICK FOLEY.  What about, during the Raw after Summerslam, Mick returns after a lengthy lay-off to issue a title challenge to HHH.  Austin could take this badly, thinking that the challenger spot should be his, and proceeds to mount a savage attack on Foley's newly repaired knee.  Instant heel, as everybody loves Mick!!!!  Again, just a thought. 
 
A few comments on last Monday's Raw, and the fallout from Fully Loaded.  The Big Show heel turn has arrived, and about time too.  Paul Wight doesn't really come over as a face all that well in my opinion, but he makes a great heel, and his partnership with The Undertaker could go places (especially if they change Big Show's entrance music).  But, is the Corporate Ministry still together?  What about Viscera?  What about The Acolytes?  What about Raven (oops, wrong fed, but hopefully in time)?  Does the Ministry still exist?  Come on Shane, take control again now your dad's having a layoff, you're a better heel than him anyway.  This actually brings me to the first of my two angles which I'd like to see.  This one will not happen at all, but I like the sound of it.  Remember I mentioned earlier on that I had something in mind for Ric Flair?  Well, WWF need a new 'supremo' whilst Flair is getting screwed every which way in the WCW....can you see where I'm going here?  As long as Flair's not acting the crazy guy, he makes a great heel, and I think he could do a job as a replacement for McMahon.  It's my saying of the week, but just a thought.
 
What about that Kane as well?  Seems like my hunch about Kane and Undertaker still being in cohoots has just been blown out of the window at great speed, but I'm glad.  It was great to see Kane showing some emotion, and I think the X-Pac/Kane relationship is great.  Now for my second scenario.  I can see my ending to next year's Wrestlemania.  Just imagine it,  X-Pac has given Kane the confidence and friendship he's always lacked, and has guided him to the title shot at Wrestlemania (who against, take your pick...Big Show, Undertaker, Austin, HHH, whoever).  Just as Kane is going to finish the match, Pete Rose appears again ready to clock Kane with a chair, only to be stopped by X-Pac.  Kane wins the title and the two of them celebrate in the middle of the ring.  Sentimental?  Of course, but what an ending.  Kane is one of the most over wrestlers in the WWF just now, and Wrestlemania normally ends with the chief fan favourite winning, and wouldn't a lot of you like to see something like that?  As a postscript to that, a lot of people have commented on how Glen Jacobs has really got himself into shape recently, and I have to agree.  Looking back at Wrestlemania 1998, the first match between Kane and Undertaker, it's amazing at how much bigger Kane seemed to be...he was huge.  Bigger than Judy Bagwell huge.  Now, will he take off the mask?
 
To round off Raw, I'd pretty fed up with Debra's puppies, and they should be put away so to speak.  Well done to Jarrett for putting the figure four onto Ben Stiller.  Not for his puppies comment, but because I wasted £2.95 on renting "There's Something About Mary", one of the most over-rated movies I've ever seen.  Mystery Men I like the sound of though, especially as it's got Hank Azaria in it, regular Simpsons voicer, and The Simpsons are the best thing on the TV ever.  Although Hank didn't rescue Godzilla.
 
A little run down of Fully Loaded to finish:
 
Edge v Jarrett
What a shocker the night before, Edge winning the title (possibly because it was in his local area?).  Even more of a shocker for me then that his reign lasted only one day, a new record for the Intercontinental title.  Where does Christian fit into the Gangrel-Edge situation?  Edge should have retained the title.
 
Acolytes v Hardys
That's the stuff, Hayes getting pinned.  The Hardy's don't need him, he was doing them more harm than good.  Now they'll hopefully beat up on him.  Well done to Faarooq and Bradshaw, my favourite tag team.
 
D'Lo v Mideon
Had to be done, D'Lo needs an angle with Mark Henry out of action.  Mideon shouldn't be holding a title (see below).
 
Big Boss Man v Al Snow
I'm interested to see were they take Snow now, as he seems to be stagnating a bit, although his new 'totally loopy' persona is interesting.
 
Big Show v Kane
In retrospect the win for Big Show was probably the best result for both of them.  Kane can now team with X-Pac again, and Big Show's heel turn is now in effect, and it gave him an excuse to team with The Undertaker.
 
Shamrock v Blackman
Surprising result for me as I thought Blackman would get this.  Nothing sort of match to be honest.
 
X-Pac and Road Dogg v Chyna and Billy Gunn
With X-Pac with Kane together, where does this leave Road Dogg?  Wouldn't X-Pac, Kane, Chris Jericho, Edge and Christian make a great DX?
 
HHH v The Rock
This was the most predictable outcome of the night, but as I mentioned, I like HHH.  Good to see The Rock going over Billy Gunn on Raw though (well, it looked like he was doing that).
 
Austin v Undertaker
Good, a clean result.  Now, make it stick.
 

 
Now, I normally finish with a little paragraph or so about a star who I feel is due some recognition.  It was my intention this week to take up one of the most difficult challenges I could think of....defend Mideon.  I thought and thought, sweated and tapped my keyboard, but to no avail.  I just cannot think of one redeeming feature that the Mideon character has.  What purpose does he serve?  He just seems so out of place in the Ministry.  Acolytes are the powerhouses of the team, Viscera is the big guy, Undertaker the leader, but what about Mideon?  He just seems to be there to give Dennis Knight something to do, which is good in a way as, as I've mentioned before, I like the way the WWF gives an angle to everybody on the roster, but Mideon is a nothing sort of character.  With the possible break-up of the Ministry, hopefully Knight will find something better to do.
 
This week though I give some credit to a fellow Brit, none other than:
 
STEVE REGAL.....HE WOULD HAVE BEATEN AUSTIN?
 
Apart from being a fellow Brit, Regal does have special memories for me.  Years ago, before wrestling became popular over here, the ITV station over here, on a Saturday afternoon, used to show WCW.  It was in the days of the Cactus Jack amnesia angle, and Regal used to do co-commentary in the sort of role Bobby Heenan does nowadays.  Now, Regal made the programme watchable, not because of his nationality, but because he was damn funny, especially when he did his own recorded matches, always insisting he was in total control and urging us to appreciate the sheer quality of his moves, and he got me tuning in every week to hear him, as a result making me realise there was more to wrestling than the WWF.  He's been one of my favourites ever since.
 
There have been two occasions recently when Regal has gone up even further in my estimation.  1)  When he apparently worked stiff against Goldberg, which I enjoyed and 2) When he left the WWF, after which he didn't blame anybody but himself for things going wrong, a real class act.  It's great to see that WCW have given him another opportunity, and he seems to have got himself right and things are going well for him.  Love the sound of his match against Mikey Whipwreck on Nitro this week....you show them Steve.
 
So, for introducing me to WCW, and for having the determination to prove yourself without blaming others, Lord Steven Regal I salute you.
 

 
Well, that'll do for this week.  Thanks for reading if you managed to get this far.  If CRZ's brave enough to continue to put my stuff on, I'll see you next week with some other thoughts and general chit-chat.  Once again, please feel free to mail me at the link below if you have any comments, suggestions or criticisms, I'm only too happy to read them.
 
So, till later, best wishes and hopefully see you soon.
 
Did you know that on my spellchecker, CRZ can be changed to Craze, and Ric to Eric?
 
Bill Gillon

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