|
/wrestling /guests /SKLOK |
|
|
/wrestling /guests /SKLOK |
| Guest Columns | SKLOK |
MainBLAH
|
THE PROMISED LAND THAT NEVER WAS Many ancient religions had a prophecy of a world beyond their own. A Promised Land, a place believed to promise final realization of hopes. Most Internet fans believe this will come to pass when Chris Benoit is WCW World Heavyweight Champion. I, myself, believe that WCW was on the way to that in 1997. For it was in 1997 when WCW had the biggest match since Hulk Hogan vs The Ultimate Warrior. They were on a path DIRECTLY towards this fabled Promised Land. WCW's Promised Land was a world where the nWo was beaten down to the point of non-existence by the heroic leaders of World Championship Wrestling. Where the flowers bloomed and the birds chirped, and the world was a better place. Sting, the silent avenger superhero, was the most popular wrestler alongside of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Chris Benoit was getting a great US Title run, feuding with Raven. Hulk Hogan even turned babyface, seeing the error of his ways and teamed with Sting on occasion, not ever touching the WCW World Title and maintaining his status as "legend." Sting took on all comers such as Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Ric Flair, and even a PPV program with Raven. Imagine what THAT feud would have been like. WCW would have had direction. Building the league around Sting, who would have been the present at the time, and maybe even looking towards Goldberg in the future. Sting and Hogan finally were in the ring at Starrcade '97. Sure, I thought it was a bit anticlimatic for Sting to just walk out of the entryway rather than descend from the sky, but the entrance was still pretty cool nonetheless. Hogan & Sting "wrestled" for about 10 minutes. I could take that, I wasn't expecting a workrate-o-thon, just the big payoff. Then, Hogan whips Sting in for the big boot... Then drops the leg... 1... 2... And, then... HERE IT COMES... Sting was going to kick out, beat his chest, and howl at the sky and make Hollywood Hogan regret the last 18 months of hell he put WCW through. He was going to show Hogan that he was a worthless bastard that wouldn't even defend the belt, that he stole that belt from his friend and worthy champion (I'm only saying this, because that's how the story goes) Lex Luger. That taking over WCW Nitro resulted in nWo Nitro, one of the most boring segments in Nitro history (Though, they DID have cool graphics and theme music). Hogan was going to eat the Scorpion DeathDrop, then be squealing like a bitch in the Scorpion Deathlock he--- ...3? 3??? 3!?!!?! Yes, 3. Nick Patrick made the 3-count, signalled for the bell, but Bret Hart saved the day and made Sting look as if he needed Bret Hart to beat Hollywood Hogan. Bret Hart, who was a TOTAL non-factor for the entire angle. Sting did put Hogan in the Scorpion Deathlock, but there was still that empty feeling of being robbed a clean win when it matters. Sting was awarded the WCW Title and won the match, but Hogan was really the person that was put over. That entire match was booked to make the big Orange Monster look good because WCW felt he was, as Madden says, "money." Well, that may have been true, but if you mean to tell me that diehard WCW fans that kept that ratings streak going were watching to see Hogan walk out every week, challenge Sting, then flex his muscles you're sorely mistaken. The fact of the matter is, they were watching, hoping for the hero of the entire organization (Sting) to come out and save the day at the end of the night. That's what it was all about, and it worked. Sure, Sting was the perfect foil for Hogan and maybe the angle couldn't have been done without Hogan, but to "payoff" 18 months of buildup by putting on a "controversial" matchup, WCW screwed everything up. And, I mean EVERYTHING. Sting was stripped of the title 11 days later and got it back at SuperBrawl, but after that, WCW seemed to even forget that Sting was the most important person in the league. NOOOO... They had to concentrate all of their emphasis on Hollywood Hogan taking on Randy Savage, because those two were a BIG TIME MONEY MAKING MATCHUP. Yup, and it was that alone that was fueling WCW's ratings as they began to break the 5.0 mark. After all, the fans were waiting rather impatiently to see Hollywood Hogan go in there and battle Sting, not the other way around. That record buyrate that match did only went to service Hulk Hogan and no one else. Sure, the WWF's Steve Austin vs Vince McMahon feud was the juggernaut that blew away the nWo, sure X-Pac entering the WWF was a blow, and maybe splitting up the Outsiders for NO REASON WHATSOEVER hurt them. But, when Hulk Hogan pinned Randy Savage to get the WCW Title back a mere 4 months after Starrcade, that was the moment when WCW truly lost it. Eric Bischoff, the spineless bastard that he is, shows his complete and utter reliance on Hulk Hogan as the centerpiece of his organization. Even when he draws crap 2.9 ratings in matches against DDP & Sid this year, he still gets the belt. Sting vs DDP earlier this year drew a 4.9 while Hogan vs Savage did a 4.7. Sting worked wonders again for the ratings in matches against Ric Flair. Why he the one getting 1 hour, 30-minute title reigns? How's that for justice? Has anyone even questioned why Hogan is a face now? Or, why Flair turned heel by calling a fan "fat boy" at Uncensored? Next Monday, the unthinkable happens. Hogan "gets his win back" because WCW is going to randomly feel the need to give a clean finish in the main event. Internet columnists that think they know what they're talking about will praise WCW for ending Nitro with a clean finish, completely oblivious to what they have just witnessed. After all, where was the clean win at Starrcade 97, when it was important? Maybe Hogan will turn heel for no apparent reason whatsoever during the match. Maybe Sting will turn heel for no apparent reason whatsoever in the match and end up like all the other extremely popular babyfaces that were turned heel to be fed to the Orange Monster. Maybe I shouldn't give a damn because WCW's a pathetic second-rate oraganization. How can people even watch WCW after all this? They're only going to do it again! You don't believe me? Look at what they did to Ric Flair at Starrcade '98 and SuperBrawl! WHY do we even bother with WCW? Oh, I guess they have a pretty good undercard... Chris Benoit's kind of cool... But, when the focus of the entire organization is around Hogan, does it even matter if Chris Benoit is getting a push? Well, we all know how the story turns out. WCW screwed itself up yet again. In fact, several times over the next 2/3 years (which we STILL haven't seen the end of) WCW tried to market themselves around Hogan AGAIN and AGAIN (Warrior feud, associating him with Leno, reuniting the nWo, running for president, a stupid face turn, the list goes ON AND ON). In the end, the WWF came to the Promised Land and WCW didn't. Bischoff's reliance on Hogan was the mark of failure for them and, when people remember why Hogan didn't appeal to them in the first place, Hogan won't be making those itty bitty 3.7s anymore, he'll be doing worse. If I'm wrong, and Hogan somehow is successful and you people actually like the Orange Monster, I just hope you all remember what Hogan has done since 1997 and wonder if he really is all that great. SKLOKAZOID freelance Mail the Author Full size version of the margin picture (18k GIF) |
.. |
Main |
||