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Chair Shots!
A look at the crazy world of wrestling and its hold on America |
by Benjamin Trecroci
Sports Editor |
If the calendar reads November, then wrestling is about to show fans the best yet. Historically, this month has seen some of the most intriguing and compelling stories in wrestling history.
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WWF.com
Bret “Hitman” Hart is finally ready to win the WCW Championship.
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From the infamous “screw” job of Bret Hart in 1997 to last year’s turn by The Rock to join McMahon, the “Survivor Series” has been one for the ages.
In 1997, Hart lost the WWF title to Shawn Michaels after McMahon ordered the timekeeper to ring the bell because Hart had submitted to Michael—in actuality he had not given up. Hart was leaving the WWF for WCW and McMahon did not want him to go to WCW with the WWF Championship around his waist, so he screwed Hart in front of his hometown fans in Montreal. This “real” story became a special on A&E called, “Wrestling with Shadows,” it showed back stage information and the days leading up to the “Survivor Series” and how Hart was supposed to keep the championship.
Since arriving in WCW, Hart has not made the impact he was expected to have. When he first arrived he was aligned with the NWO only to turn on Hulk Hogan and cost him the title to Sting at “Starrcade ‘97.” After that, Hart never seemed to fit. He was not exactly a heel but people would boo him and still others would cheer him on. He did not even receive a World Title shot until nearly a year and half later against Sting. Of course he lost.
Finally, it looks like this year Hart has a chance to be the heavyweight champion in Canada, except this time for WCW. At press time, Hart was in the final eight of the WCW World Championship tournament pitted against Billy Kidman. Other tournament matches include Lex Luger vs. Sting, Chris Benoit vs. Scott Hall, and Buff Bagwell vs. Jeff Jarret. The semi-finals and the final of the tournament will take place Nov. 21, at “WCW Mayhem” in Toronto.
Hart is expected to be in the finals, but an opponent is still unknown. With the success that Jarret has had so far, it would not be a surprise if he qualifies, so or it could be an all Canadian final between Hart and Benoit.
In other “WCW Mayhem” matches, Sid and Goldberg battle in a “I quit” match, Brian Knobs vs. Norman Smiley in a “King of Hardcore” battle and Vampiro takes on Berlyn a.k.a. Alex Wright in a chain match.
While this year’s version of the “Survivor Series” brought back the eight-man elimination tag team matches, the card was not as impressive as in the past. In the last few years, the Series has become a fall edition of Wrestlemania with championship matches and away from the orginal four-on-four matchups.
Although, it seemed as though the four-man teams were put together on the fly. Who can ever forget the teamwork between Tito Santana, Nikolai Volkoff and the Bushwhackers?
This year did bring the talents of Mark Henry, Val Venis, Gangrel and Steve Blackman vs. The Bulldog, Joey Abs, Rodney and Pete Gas to the forefront in the ultimate concession stand match.
Besides the tag team matches and the three-way dance for the belt, the rest of the card did not look that intriguing. Kane vs. X-Pac and Chris Jericho vs. Chyna for the Intercontinental Championship look to be the best matches of this night.
In other news and notes, Sandman returned to ECW after a short stint as Hak in WCW. The Hak character was not working out the way it should have, so the Sandman returned to the place that made him famous.
Also, Monday through Friday on A & E, it’s wrestling week, with biographies on “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Owen Hart, Mankind, Jesse “The Body Ventura and Andre the Giant. The show airs at 8 p.m. and replays at midnight.
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