Warning: You are entering an XFL free zone column. Please take of the football jersey, get off your knees and move your head two inches away from the screen. This may be hard for those of you who have been religiously following the XFL shit on the 'net, but frankly I'm sick of it, so this should be a large step backwards and away from that. Your mileage may vary.

Well, I'm back. It hasn't been long. Let's kick it.

I get LETTERS...sorry, lettER. Still, not bad going (translation: Please give me feedback, dammit). This letter expresses some pretty intelligent points, so I'll answer them here:

From: Mark Stanguard
Subject: Hey

Good first column for the [Slash] (I read them all, and I found your's very entertaining), but I've got to take you to task on something. You said that ECW kept WCW a lot of ratings due to their crusierweight influence. This is NOT entirely true. Many of the cruisiers (Ultimo Dragon, Dean Malenko) made their big reps whilst in WCW, not ECW. Everyone knows that WCW were winning the Monday Night Wars due to their kickass nWo angle.

MW: Okay, some good points here, but I was just trying to say that whist everyone was into the nWo angle as part of their storyline entertainment, it was the cruisierweights who were constantly ripping it up weekly for the fan's entertainment. They were the one's who fulfilled WCW fan's need for GOOD wrestling. But maybe I went too far with the "ECW keeping WCW ratings points" comment.

As you know, I'm always interested in getting feedback (whatever the context), so please keep it coming, guys. It's probably the one thing which keeps an internet wrestling writer writing. Without feedback, there's not much point in me sitting here and writing.

Anyone noticed how the famous "ECW" chant has become a lot quicker (and louder). I noticed it a while ago, and if you watch old ECW tapes and compare the "EC dub" chants on those you'll find the old one's to be slower than the new one's. This proves two things:

1) I watch WAY too much wrestling (is that possible?)

2) I'm not a Shannon (unlike him, I watch my ECW with the sound up, BABY!)

The Road to WrestleMania

What the hell is going to happen between now and WrestleMania? It looks like Angle will drop the strap at No Way Out to The Rock, but then where will Rock go from there? He'll most likely go into a heated feud with The Big Show (been there, done that), but if it's going to be Austin-Rock at WrestleMania (yes please), the proposed Rock-Big Show will have to be pretty short to build up the inevitable Austin-Rock match.

So, I propose: if Rock wins the strap at Now Way Out, start the BIG TIME build-up for a match against Austin at WrestleMania. We all know Austin is better as the underdog chasing the title, and a Rock-Big Show feud will be short and pointless. It's been ages since we last saw a big Austin-Rock confrontation (Backlash 1999 was the last big match), whereas we've seen plenty of Bog Show-Rock stuff which came after that match. Rock-Austin is the big money match that everyone wants to see at 'Mania, but how exactly are the WWF to get there? Search me, I can only take wild stabs in the dark, and even then I'd probably end up stabbing myself in the eye. Maybe you guys have some decent theories for the Road to WrestleMania? Got anything you think will beat the WWF's ideas hands down? Why not e-mail with your theories, and I'll print the really cool ones. I've got my own mixed up Road to WrestleMania, but I'd rather reveal that when we get closer to the date, and possibly in another column. Until then, e-mail me with your ideas for an AWESOME Road to WrestleMania, and maybe you'll win a candy bar.

Shawn Michael's Returning

Apparently good 'ol HBK will be returning full time to the WWF. I must say, I never thought I'd see this happen, due to the terrible condition which Michaels' back is in these days. I'd love to see an HBK return, but I don't want to see the guy kill himself or anything. We've seen that happen way too much is wrestling these last few years.

Jim Ross foundated the claims in his Ross Report this past Friday, where he also revealed that Shawn Michaels has signed an extension of his WWF contract. Michaels' contract was scheduled to expire this July, and I'm sure he would have taken early retirement if he had not been offered an extension.

So what's next for HBK? Good question, and one which I don't think anybody's got a long term answer to. He could end up doing anything. He's already said that he won't be working every Monday, Tuesday or PPV, but he's certainly coming back for more than just a few novelty matches. A WrestleMania appearance, in some capacity, looks almost inevitable. One thing that I've always wanted to see is a Mankind-Shawn Michaels rematch, after their fantastic Mind Games 1996 match. It's got to be one of the most requested rematches in wrestling. These guys have wrestled, what, once? If Foley comes out of retirement, which is something else I expect in the near future, then I'm sure the WWF will think about the possibility of doing this match.

That's something I love about wrestling: unlike other sports, you never can count a wrestler out, even when retired. At any given time a wrestler can return (see Ric Flair) and you just don't know when they've left the sport for good (see Terry Funk). This is one of the things, for me, which makes the sport so special.

Great Matches Review

Right, this is how it works. This is a special column which I've decided to do, where I review stand-out matches. That's basically all there is to it. I'll probably do this again, so I suppose you can't really call it a special column, it's more like a new column.

The matches I review don't have to be absolute crackers full of technical wrestling (although, of course, some will be), just matches that stand-out whether it be for great wrestling, historic value, or whatever. Either way, you should expect wrestling match reviews straight out of my overused mouth. I won't claim to be a Scott Keith, I mean who would want to be anyway, but you should expect biased-at-times reviews that should also be funny every now and then. If I can churn out some informative but at the same time comedic reviews, that'll be cool.

So, without further ado, let's get this show on the road...

The first match comes from NJPW's Super J Cup 1994 tournament. It's the final (what else?) between Chris Benoit and The Great Sasuke. Benoit's wrestling under his Japanese ring name, Wild Pegesus, and this match is about to rock the world! Benoit has beaten Eddy Guerrero and Gedo on his way to the final, and Sasuke fought past El Samurai and Jushin Liger to get here. The latter being a classic, but that's another story.

Chris Benoit v. The Great Sasuke We're underway quickly (you can't beat that Japanese lightweights running sequence), and Benoit utilizes a 3/4 facelock. Cool chops from Benoit, as he releases a barrage of energy directed at Sasuke in the corner. Benoit outside, but he dodges a tope looking attempt from Sasuke. Benoit with the headscissors. Sasuke reverses to a bow-and-arrow. This is good stuff. Big time clothesline from Benoit almost takes Sasuke's head off and a german suplex gets two. There seems to be press guys everywhere outside of the ring. The Japanese mainstream press take their wrestling very seriously. Leg lariat from Sasuke gives him the advantage. Sasuke with a slam and legdrop for two. Good little sequence where Benoit tries a powerbomb but Sasuke armdrags out of it. Benoit suplexes him onto the top rope. Benoit hits a springboard elbow drop and sends Sasuke crashing to the floor. Back in as Benoits hits a dragon suplex for two. Sasuke's selling is extriodinary in this one, and it's one of the devices which makes this match so fucking awesome. Benoit gets the swan dive for two. Benoit with a Sharpshooter, that's unusual. Decent tilt-a-whirl backbreaker gets two. Benoit misses the dropkick, which signals the Sasuke comeback. A series of reversals leads to a Sasuke clothesline. Benoit hits another German suplex, just because, well, German suplexes rule. Benoit ends up outside and Sasuke pulls out the Space Flying Tiger Drop. Kickass! Back in the ring, and this time it's Sasuke who gets a german suplex for two. Missile dropkick misses and Sasuke crawls to the outside. Benoit is suplexed on the floor in a very painful looking spot. Benoit rolls in and out again, so Sasuke gives him a missile dropkick to the floor. Crazy shit. We're back in the ring and Sasuke kicks Benoit in the head and hits a twisting moonsault for two. Sasuke goes up top again, but this time Benoit nails him and delivers a gut-wrench superplex for the pin. Fantastic stuff and a MOTY candidate surely (well, back in 1994, anyway). Everything about this match reeks of awesomeness, and both wrestlers have their hearts clearly in the match. It's not just the wrestling which works well either, both wrestlers' selling is tremendous. This is great stuff, and bosses should play this match to employees as a reward.

WCW Superbrawl Predictions

WCW HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH
SCOTT STEINER VS. KEVIN NASH
It's not going to be a technical wrestling match, I can tell you that. What you will see is a storyline filled match, with two very bitter goes going at it. I'm sure venom will fly.
Verdict: Looks like Nash here.

JEFF JARRETT VS. DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE
Page is getting old, but I believe he's still capable of pulling in a good match. Plus, you've also got Jarrett in there, who's capable of wrestling a good match with just about anyone.
Verdict: I'd have Jarrett go over, but with Bitch-off around, you've gotta think that it'll be Page.

WCW CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE MATCH
REY MISTERIO VS. CHAVO GUERRERO
This has potential to be a classic, and something WCW should be complimented on for delivary. A great cruisierweight encounter, which, if I was buying the show, I'd be ready to get my teeth in to.
Verdict: I've got a feeling we'll see Rey get the win in this one.

FOR THE COMMISSIONERSHIP
THE CAT VS. LANCE STORM
Geez, this pisses me off. Why waste Lance on PPV in a match like this? If they've got to have The Cat vs. Lance, why couldn't they do it on TV or something?
Verdict: Cat looks like he'll go over. Plus, I'd rather see Lance wrestle. Expect some kind of screw-job ending.

TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH
CHUCK PALUMBO & SEAN O'HAIRE VS. SEAN STASIAK AND MARK JINDRAK
Weird one this. Pointless turn in the first place, if you can call it that. Get them in different feuds after this, please.
Verdict: Palumbo and O'Haire going over.

HUGH MORRUS VS. THE WALL
This is another strange feud, but it's one that I at least have some interest in (at least we've got no more MIA).
Verdict: Hugh goes over, hopefully. We wouldn't exactly like to see The Wall going over.

There should and will be more on the show, but, to tell you the truth, I just haven't looked up the full card as of yet. I'm sure you can come to your own conclusions regarding this PPV. BTW, I was going to do a "Verdict" followed by a "Scott Keith Verdict" bit, where I rip on Keith for what he would have to say about each match, but then I thought I might get a call from one of his book solicitors so I didn't.

That's all I've got time for this week. It was pleasant having you around. Maybe you could stop by again sometime (and that's the only Valentines Day reference you're going to get in this one. :-))

Matt Wilson
ShootAngle.com