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PREVIEW: HALLOWEEN HAVOC 1999

Well, how did you all like the "new" Nitro? It seemed good to me, but I think it was only a slight hint of what's to come. As for it being "just another version of RAW" I think you are going to continue to see some similarities, simply because Vince and Ed were the ones responsible for 99% of what you saw on RAW when they were up there, but since we have a different crop of talent to work with here, things will end up going in new and different directions. But enough about Nitro, we got better fish to fry. We have Havoc '99 in a few short days and it looks to be the first good (maybe even, dare I say, great? Naw, I best not) WCW PPV since I-don't-know-when. WCW has had 5+ weeks of build-up leading into this PPV and I felt it was shaping up to be a strong PPV even before the ambiguously risqué duo of Russo & Ferrara took over the reigns. Let's take a gander at the matches lined up for Sunday night, and remember all matches on the card are subject to suck, err...I mean change.

Lash "Vegas" Leroux vs Disco Inferno (c) for the Cruiserweight Championship

I like Lash, but unfortunately I don't think he's got a chance here, BUT, if there are any intentions of perhaps repackaging the Disco Inferno after this, then perhaps a loss for the Mighty DI might not be such a bad idea. It would accomplish getting a somewhat promising young talent over, and it could bury the tired "Disco" gimmick and give the dancing fool a clean slate.
PREDICTION: Lash puts up a good fight, but Disco retains.

Brad Armstrong vs Berlyn

I was really high on Berlyn back when they were running those vignettes, but with the way it has been presented lately, I can't really get up for this match. Hopefully we'll be pleasantly surprised with a passable wrestling match here, but don't get your hopes too high.
PREDICTION: Berlyn wins after interference from a disgruntled Rick Steiner.

Rey Mysterio & Konnan (c) w/Filthy Animals vs The First Family (or maybe Harlem Heat) for the Tag Team Championship

After a so-so match this past Nitro between these two, heres to hoping it can only get better. With Rey and Konnan we may see some interesting double team moves, and hopefully we can keep the lazy Stevie Ray on the outside of the ring, where he will get a nice long beat down courtesy of the other Filthy Animals. The best way this could go, match-wise, is to have Rey Mysterio and Booker T spend most of the time against each other in the ring. Has potential to be surprisingly good, but can be that much worse if it ends up being the First Family in there instead of the Harlem Heat.
PREDICTION: Regardless of their opponent, the Filthy ones shall retain, and their opponents will have something pretty damn Filthy happen to them too.

Ric Flair (14x) vs DDP (2x)

Pretty good build-up for this match, with DDP ripping on Flair's age and Flair getting a slice of Kimberly pie while DDP was away. One might think that Flair is going down here, since he DID get to take the hot, hot Kimberly for a ride on Space Mountain, but I digress... Vince Russo said in a recent interview that WCW used to have a powerful and charismatic leader and that we would likely be seeing that man in charge once again. Well everyone was quick to assume this meant Bitch-off would be reprising his on-screen role, I subscribe to a different school of thought. I would have to say that perhaps what Russo was talking about, was when Flair was THE MAN beyond a shadow of a doubt in WCW. Back before the Bichoffs, the nWo's and the Revolutions, there was "The Nature Boy". I think if they make Flair into a "McMahon" type of character, the evil promoter who wrestles SOMETIMES and has superb mic skills, they could really be onto something then.
PREDICTION: Flair wins after interference from David Flair and maybe even Kimberly.

Bret "Da Hitman" Hart vs The Total(ly Re-)Package(d)

Bret has been getting a nice little face push as of late, and considering he's gotten smacked in the face and the back of his leg by the bat-wielding Luger it would appear that he should be getting justice here. I just don't see how this angle could continue after this and I think that there are different plans in the works for the Hitman after tonight, so look for some closure on this angle.
PREDICTION: Bret wins via submission after busting out with the FIVE MOVES OF DOOM.

Sting vs Hulk "Work or Shoot?" Hogan

I gotta hand it to WCW here, knowing full well it's most likely a work (Hogan's "Leaving WCW"), it is still a very intriguing situation we have here. I'm looking forward to see what happens in this match. Not for the wrestling, mind you (silly!), but rather to see how this storyline unfolds. Will Sting be looking to break the rules again? Will Hogan be looking for his cell-phone to call his agent? Will Vince Russo walk out to ringside during the match and change the finish, screwing Hogan in the progress and thus kicking off yet another chapter in the saga that is World Championship Wrestling? That would be kinda cool, but I hope it's something that I haven't even mentioned or thought of that happens.
PREDICTION: I think that Hogan's gonna turn here. Exactly WHAT he is going to turn into, I have no idea.

Other things to look for at Havoc '99:

  • In his latest promo, Dustin Runnels was overheard saying "On the seventh day, they will feel my pain..." which of course means he will be debuting at Havoc on Sunday (the seventh day).

  • No doubt Jarrett will be using his "stroke" to get him involved somehow in this PPV. I hope he's a bit more involved then merely a run-in though...

  • Since the Filthy Animals won the tag straps, and from the looks of things will be giving the shot to Jimmy Hart's Cavalcade of Jabronies, that leaves The Revolution out in the cold. Don't expect The Revolution to stay out of the spotlight though. Look for some kind of a resolution with the whole Benoit/Malenko vs Douglas/Saturn fiasco to take place.

    Halloween Havoc will be LIVE, Sunday the 24th of October, from Las Vegas and ONLY on Pay Per View.

    Enjoy, and as always, feedback is welcome and appreciated.

    Lord Meph
    freelance

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