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WHITHER, WITHER, WCW
Just a few hours ago, I read (on a Raisin-Branny website that shall remain nameless) the news that three WCW stars (namely Raven, Konnan, and Kidman) had called Eric Bischoff's bluff and asked for their release from WCW.
I don't think anyone could really say they were shocked by this incident. With the rampant egotism burning through the House of Turner, and the grumbling from the younger wrestlers waiting for the shot that never came, something had to give. This problem was only exasperated by the introduction of Chris Jericho into the WWF, which only showed the cheering undercard he left behind that they COULD get the recognition due them and they COULD be handled in a suitable manner.
Add to this the pronouncement by Bischoff that the "whiners" could keep quiet or leave WCW, and you have a recipe for disaster. I can just see Scott Levy getting up out of his chair and silently leaving the MGM Garden Arena, not saying a word until he got to the airport to buy a one-way ticket back home.
So, now what? Where should the three former WCW'ers take their wares? Well, let's look at each man and decide:
RAVEN. I've been a fan of this man ever since I first saw him on ECW back in 1995. He was, simply put, a badass, and miles beyond his Johnny Polo/Scotty Flamingo personae of the early '90s. When he came to WCW, I thought he and the Flock were going to take on the world. Unfortunately, he landed in Turnerville at the height of new World order fever, and the Flock were midcard 4-life. He could have been a major heel, but WCW pissed him away. If I was Scott Levy, I'd head back to ECW, pick up a trash can and a mike and shoot on WCW like there was no tomorrow. The only problem is, will TNN allow him to speak his mind? Let's find out.
KIDMAN. I thought he was going places, but apparently, he just didn't have the stroke to fight off the hands holding him down. He held the cruiserweight and tag-team titles, but not long enough. It seemed as if he had tons of personality, but the "powers that be" had no idea what to do with him. I guess he got frustrated. Nonetheless, this was the most shocking departure of the three. I'm sure wherever Kidman lands, he will make the most of his opportunities, and he will do his best to keep from getting screwed over again. My recommendation: the WWF, to give the Light Heavyweight belt some new luster, or ECW, to help reform Raven's Nest.
KONNAN. Okay, I've not been a fan of K-Dawggggg(g?) in abut three years or so, but earlier in his career, when he was "just" a Luchadore, I marked out for him. He had some good moves. Then he became the Chicano Stereotype from Hell, and I never looked at him the same way again. He just kept descending into deeper levels of Annoyance Hell, first joining the new World order (off-topic here: Word 97 will not let me use the abbreviation, automatically respelling it NOW; how gimpy is that?), then coming up with the "arriba La Raza" spiel, the Wolfpac, the video, Mini-Me, yadda, yadda, yadda. Still, I think about half that annoyance was a push by WCW, because they thought Konnan's schtick would sell with "the homies". I don't think Konnan wanted to say the same damned thing at every single Nitro, Thunder, PPV, house show, etc. for two years running. Hell, if the Rock said the same damned thing for that long, he'd... never mind. Anyway, I think this is a chance for Konnan to make a clean break. My advice: head back to Mexico and reestablish his credibility with the lucha libre contingent.
I don't think this is the end of the resignations. In fact, I think this is only the tip of the iceberg for the Titanic-I mean, WCW. Maybe Bischoff, Hogan, and the other "players" will wake up and see what's happening to their organization. Then again, they'll probably piss it down to a foor-wrestler card by this time next year.
And wouldn't you know it, they'll probably still have run-ins on the Nitro main events!
Clint McGuire
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