Slobberknocker Central Monday Night Recap #279
March 19th, 2001

The Opening Word:

WCW is dead.

I wish I could be shocked or outraged or overly saddened to say that, but I 
can't. It's been too long in coming. I feel like the guy in disaster movies 
who keep saying there's a calamity coming, but no one believes him. Then, 
rather than feeling smug about being right when it all goes down, the guy 
rolls up his sleeves and helps pull survivors out of the rubble. Smug I 
won't be either, but I haven't decided yet if I have the will to keep on 
going now that everything has fallen apart.

Come Tuesday, March 27th, WCW as we know it will cease to exist. Thunder has 
been canceled after this coming Wednesday, and Nitro will air for the final 
time on TNT on March 26th.

The long and short of what killed WCW is AOL Time Warner has decided to no 
longer air professional wrestling on their networks. That decision 
officially killed the previous ongoing negotiations by Fusient Media 
Ventures to buy the company. Without the cable TV timeslots guaranteed, all 
anyone buying WCW would be getting is a name on a piece of paper.

Right now that name isn't worth anything.

There is an effort being made on the part of Fusient to secure a deal with 
FOX to air wrestling, probably either on the fX network or FOX Sports. If 
that deal can be made then they MAY buy the rights to the WCW name, figuring 
the brand name of WCW will give their new wrestling promotion a better 
chance at succeeding.

There are also RUMORS that the WWF or someone else may step in and offer to 
buy WCW, but like Fusient they would merely be buying the rights to the 
name. Somebody could try to make a deal to continue Nitro on TBS, but that's 
a longshot, and if the WWF buys it they would be just doing so to stage an 
"interpromotional feud" between the two companies.

The question all these potential suitors will be asking themselves in the 
days to come is "is it worth it to buy the WCW name?" As it stands now most 
everyone who can be released outright by WCW will be. WCW may retain a few 
of the top names in hopes of using them as leverage to sell the company 
name, but if no buyer comes forward they will be forced to buy out (or try 
to, anyway) the contracts of those top stars. Anyone wanting to sign a Hulk 
Hogan or Goldberg or Scott Steiner needn't buy WCW. All they need to do is 
wait for WCW to breath its last breath, then sign the free talent. (That's 
what the WWF did with ECW.) The WWF could sign all those guys and stage a 
WCW "invasion". They just have to decide if it's worth it to pay a few 
million to be able to say "WCW" on their TV. Being realistic, it probably 
isn't.

There's no real incentive for anyone to buy WCW except to own the name. That 
way when they start their new company they can claim it's really a 
continuation of the previous company, the same way Ted Turner did when he 
originally bought it from Jim Crockett in 1989, claiming that NWA history 
all the way back to 1905 or whenever. Wrestling fans may amuse themselves in 
debating whether it'll be the same WCW or not, but what does it really 
matter--the point is WCW as we know it has died.

Where do we begin in sorting through the rubble? The first sad fact to 
absorb is that after more than two decades there will no longer be any 
wrestling on a Turner-owned network. Mull that over. There's not much to add 
to that. It's maybe the saddest part of all this.

WCW going under has turned the entire wrestling world upside-down. The WWF 
is now the lone name remaining in the business. There is no other promotion 
anywhere in the world close to challenging their position in the industry. 
The upside for the WWF from here on out is that they have a monopoly on the 
business. The downside, and it's a pretty big one, is that they have zero 
competition to fuel their business. Without competition it's going to be 
next to impossible to keep from reaching a point where fans will declare the 
product stale. Unless the WWF can luck upon an angle or character that 
captures the public's imagination, there is really nowhere for them to go 
but down.

Vince McMahon has finally become the undisputed King of Wrestling, but it's 
of a kingdom that's going to shrink day by day.

What happens to all the wrestlers now on the market? The WWF already has a 
full roster, and has just signed several former ECW wrestlers. Now they have 
the entire WCW roster to deal with. Who do they pick up, and who already in 
the WWF is going to be let go to make room for them? I'm sure the WWF isn't 
going to complain, but there's going to be a lot of fans out there of 
certain wrestlers who are going to be waiting in vain for them to ever reach 
the top of the ladder.

One would have to say the odds are good that a new company will rise from 
the ashes of WCW. If Eric Bischoff and Fusient don't do it, someone else 
will. But will that company succeed? The odds are pretty slim. More likely 
there will be a number of challengers to come and go before the WWF sinks to 
a level where they will be vulnerable to someone out there with a new, fresh 
approach to the business.

History will repeat itself. It's not just a cliche to say wrestling is by 
its nature a cyclical business. The WWF will fall, someone else will rise, 
and some day the battle will begin anew.

So the countdown begins for the end of this Monday Night Recap that I do. I 
honestly can't say how much longer I'll be interested in doing it. Come 
April 2nd it'll no longer be a "Monday Night Recap", but a "RAW is WAR 
Recap". If Eric Bischoff can get a new group started soon, or the WWF does 
stage a "feud" with WCW, that might be enough to keep me around for a while, 
but I can't see myself writing just about the WWF forever.

For those few who are hoping against all odds that this is all part of some 
grand work on WCW's part to swerve the fans into thinking the company is 
dead, and that the reality is that the deal was secretly completed and will 
be revealed at the last hour, all I can say is this ... if that were to be 
the case, then I'm done with them. Period. I can't imagine spending a second 
more of my life devoting attention to a company so willing to lie to its 
fans for the sake of getting an angle over. I can stand being worked, and 
I've been lied to before, but just thinking about how deep this lie would 
have had to have been on WCW's part makes me sick. It's not as if the 
average wrestling fan out there in the real world has been picking up the 
newspaper or turning on their TV set and following this story (until this 
week, anyway). This is something that Internet fans almost solely have been 
privy to. For this to be an angle means WCW has looked us squarely in the 
face and said "we do not care about or want you as a fan of our product." It 
would be a betrayal, and an unprecedented amount of disrespect leveled at a 
specific group of fans. Perhaps that was why I disliked Nitro so much last 
week: knowing that the WCW bookers were taking such a serious matter and 
turning it into a stupid, pointless angle to boost ratings. Most WCW fans 
have no idea what the company is talking about when they say "the new 
owners" on TV. Internet fans do, and that angle last week was specifically 
meant to draw us in, then pull the rug out from underneath us. It raised the 
notion that the disaster about to befall WCW was really an angle.

But, sadly, WCW's demise is not an angle. It's all too real.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

WCW Monday Nitro:
Live/Taped: Live.
Length: Two Hours.
Location: Gainesville, Florida.
Hosted By: Tony Schiavone & Scott Hudson.

HOUR ONE:

 - Taps plays, as a picture of Diamond Dallas Page is shown, superimposed
   over footage of a trailer park.

 - The announcers have been informed that Eric Bischoff will be phoning into
   the show later to make a huge announcement. Why do I have an image in my
   head of Slim Pickens sitting on a bomb and yelling "whaa-hoo!"?

 - Scott Steiner, Midajah, Ric Flair & Animal hit the ring. Steiner says the
   usual about putting DDP out like all the others. Flair then says he and
   Jeff Jarrett won their match at the PPV, and that he's waiting for Dusty
   Rhodes to kiss his ass. Tony Schiavone assures the fans that Flair &
   Jarrett actually lost that match. Dusty & Dustin Rhodes appear on the big
   screen. Dusty says he talked to someone earlier and that person is ...
   Booker T, who comes out and immediately rips off one of Chris Jericho's
   catchphrases. Steiner makes a crack about beating Booker so bad he forget
   where his barber shop is. Booker says he came back to WCW to win the
   World Title, and that he's been talking to "The Man", who will have
   something to say to Steiner about it in an hour. The announcers assume he
   means Bischoff. You know, Ric Flair used to be "The Man". How goddamn
   wonderful that Bischoff was able to take away yet something else from
   Flair.

 - Footage from after the PPV of DDP being loaded into an ambulance.

 - This week Buff Bagwell has a cameraman running the Buff-Cam. He and
   Animal think Lex Luger is behind the mystery attacks on the Magnificent
   7. The cameraman is ordered to follow Luger around.

 - DISQO INFERNO (w/ Mike Sanders) vs. JASON JETT
   Nice to see a regular on the booking committee get some TV time on the
   next-to-last Nitro. Sanders is now Disqo's "best friend", and looks about
   as pleased with that as you'd imagine. Jett, I'm not wild about those red
   garters of his, but this guy rocks in the ring. Lots of great, innovative
   offense. By the time he gets the pin he's actually gotten the crowd into
   the match.

 - The Buff-Cam snoops on Flair & Jarrett, and after a few moments of not
   being able to hear what they're saying, the cameraman says we shouldn't
   be seeing this.

 - "Sugar" Shane Helms comes out to his new big entrance. He's wearing black
   trunks and white boots now, and looks about ten times better than he did
   in those baggy 3 Count pants. He challenges Billy Kidman to a match,
   saying he needs to prove to himself and everyone that he's better than
   him. Helms needs a lot of work behind the mic. 

   "SUGAR" SHANE HELMS vs. BILLY KIDMAN
   A second really good match, which Helms wins after a brutal Vertebreaker
   knocks Kidman senseless. I don't think that's just selling there. Helms
   dropped him right on his head. Chavo Guerrero does a run in, followed by
   Elix Skipper & Kid Romeo. Rey Mysterio makes the save, and a very wobbly
   Kidman helps out as much as he can. Billy looks pretty messed up--he
   actually collapses in the corner and the camera gets off him quick.

 - Next week's Nitro is being billed as the "season finale". Whatever.

 - The Buff-Cam finds Luger laid out. And the plot sickens ...

 - Bam Bam Bigelow would like another crack at Shawn Stasiak.

 - Luger has no idea who laid him out.

 - SHAWN STASIAK (w/ Stacy Kiebler) vs. BAM BAM BIGELOW
   Stacy comes out before the match and pouts because she didn't like the
   fan reaction. Vince should sign this girl, because she's got legs.
   Talent! I mean, talent. I'm guessing this is pretty close to their PPV
   match, except this time when Stacy's bottle of hairspray gets involved
   Bam Bam gets it. He tosses it to Stasiak, then plants him with the
   Greetings From Asbury Park. Stasiak immediately begins whining about the
   loss, saying Bigelow cheated. End result: a rematch next week, and if
   Bigelow wins again he gets to tattoo something on Stacy. Scratch
   that--tattoo something on Stasiak. Who cares?

 - A table has been set up in the ring by the Red Rooster. Scott Steiner
   comes out. Booker T comes out. After the setup and a delay, we are
   greeted by Eric Bischoff via telephone. Bischoff's "huge announcement"
   turns out to be that he and his investors have encountered some "brick
   walls" in their attempts to buy WCW, and that while he still has the
   ability to do so (huh?), he's making Nitro next week a "Night of
   Champions". Every title will be on the line, capped off by a Title vs.
   Title match between Steiner and Booker T. Since next week's show is
   pretty much the end, Bischoff invites any past WCW Champion to join them
   on the show, and that they should bring their gear and be prepared to
   wrestle. Bischoff then notes his rocky relationship with Ric Flair
   (asshole), and advises Flair it would be in his best interest to kiss
   Dusty's ass. Bischoff himself will be on the show next week, meaning
   those deluded few who still think this is all an angle will continue to
   do so for another week. I mean, there's hoping for the best and all that,
   but c'mon ...

HOUR TWO:

   Steiner and Booker T sign the contract for the match next week, and of
   course a fight breaks out, Steiner whacking Booker in the knee with his
   lead pipe. About twenty security guys then run in, one at a time, and
   Steiner takes them all out, chokeslamming the last one through the table.
   Booker T then comes back, pipe-bashed knee just fine, and he sends
   Steiner packing.

 - Another backstage moment with the Buff-Cam. The Steiners are becoming the
   main suspects in the Magnificent 7 attacks. Call me stupid, but what
   subatomic plot point did I miss that established it MUST be a member of
   the Magnificent 7 responsible for these attacks? Aren't DDP, Kevin Nash,
   Goldberg, Sting, Hulk Hogan, and any of a hundred other people more
   likely suspects? And why are we wasting so much time on this angle when
   WCW is but five hours of TV time away from ceasing to exist? It's like
   it's time to say goodbye, but WCW's still trying to figure out who the
   Hummer driver was.

 - KANYON vs. M.I. SMOOTH
   Kanyon pins Smooth following a run-in by Animal, Ernest "The Cat" Miller
   coming out too late to stop it. Traditional setup for a tag team match on
   Thunder (boy, doesn't that make you want to watch).

   Dustin Rhodes brings Dustin a big plate of burritos. See, he's going to
   eat them, which will cause him to fart a lot, maybe even shit himself,
   and Ric Flair's gonna have to kiss his ass. Between this and Rikishi
   there's just too much fixation on big, smelly asses in wrestling right
   now. By the way, they've already said "ass" on this show (unbleeped) more
   than on a year's worth of any WWF show.

 - RICK STEINER vs. KONNAN
   Konnan dresses like a 70 year old man. Ugly, slow match which doesn't
   amount to anything when a run-in by Shane Douglas brings about a DQ, him
   hitting Steiner with a cast on his arm. Hugh Morrus comes out to help
   Konnan. God, Morrus vs. Rick Steiner either on Thunder, or Nitro next
   week.

 - The M7 boys bust in on Rick Steiner and accuse him of being behind the
   attacks. Rick isn't amused. Ooh ... he called Bagwell "Mark". It's a
   shoot!

 - Lance Storm (with Mike Awesome in the background) delivers an interview
   to a indeterminate point to the immediate left of the camera.

 - Another commercial?

 - Flair's not gonna kiss Dusty's ass. Jarrett is sick of hearing about
   it. I'm sick too, because the goddamn cameraman can't hold the friggin'
   camera still.

 - MIKE AWESOME/LANCE STORM vs. CHUCK PALUMBO/SEAN O'HAIRE
   What is so frustrating about the death of WCW is that they've had the
   talent, like the guys in this match, to do great matches and angles and
   storylines and such, but so often they were misused. Just think back to
   how many times Storm and Awesome have had to feud with the likes of
   "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, the Misfits in Action, and Ernest Miller. So now
   the company is dead and what do they do? Throw four of the better workers
   in the company together, and damned if they don't deliver a great match.
   I don't know if I've ever seen Chuck Palumbo look better in the ring.
   Awesome pins Palumbo following a chairshot and running Awesomebomb. This
   could have been a great feud, but instead we had to sit through Palumbo &
   O'Haire feuding with Luger & Bagwell, the payoff to that being a temper
   tantrum thrown by aging stars, and their refusing to even wrestle the
   guys at the PPV. They basically just laid down and let them pin them.
   Luger & Bagwell, I hope I never see them in a wrestling ring again. These
   four guys, though, I hope they can make it into the WWF.

 - Ric Flair & Jeff Jarrett hit the ring. Dustin then comes out, followed by
   Dusty, leading a white mule with "Dusty's Ass" written on its rear. Ah,
   the ass ate the burritos, and Flair is supposed to kiss the ass' ass.
   Ass. Ass, ass, ass. ASS. Oh yeah ... ass. Flair tries to make Jarrett do
   it, they get into a staged shaving match, attacking Dustin, which draws
   Dusty to the ring to do the Flip Flop Fly and such. All four end up down
   the aisle where the ass awaits, and Flair & Jarrett's faces are shoved
   into the ass.

   And so goes the last remaining shred of Ric Flair's dignity, much to the
   delight, I'm sure, of Eric Bischoff. Asshole.

   But at least he kept his pants on ...

 - This Wednesday: The Final Thunder.

 - Next week: Spring Break-Out. Season Finale. Night of Champions. The End


Comments:

One down, one to go.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

WWF RAW is WAR:
Live/Taped: Live.
Length: Two Hours+.
Location: Albany, New York.
Hosted By: Jim Ross & Paul Heyman.

WWF RAW:

 - After a highlights package, we see the Rock awaiting the arrival of
   "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

 - THE BIG SHOW vs. RAVEN
   It's squash city for Raven, until Kane comes out to tangle with the Big
   Show (legal because the Hardcore Title is on the line). Kane eventually
   levels Big Show with a flying clothesline, and Raven covers for the pin,
   regaining the Hardcore belt. Raven runs away. Why haven't we seen Tori
   since she was unmasked as the Ninja Woman on Heat a few weeks ago?

   Shane McMahon is in the back.

   Jonathan Coachman tells the Rock that Austin's plane has been delayed.
   The Rock orders the Coach to go to the airport and tell Austin that he's
   waiting for him.

 - Shane McMahon makes his way to the ring. There he talks about his father
   Vince, and how he grew up watching him do whatever he wanted, regardless
   of the consequences. Until recently Shane was close to his father. People
   like Steve Austin, the Rock, Mick Foley and Ted Turner have all tried to
   stop Vince, but failed. He brings up the Bob Costas interview, and the
   line there by Vince about Bob wanting to play, and how Vince was ready to
   play. Well, Shane says he's ready to play too, and challenges Vince to a
   match at WrestleMania! Shane has a contract all ready to sign.

   Here comes Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley. She begs Shane to reconsider. The
   family already has enough problems. Shane should think about his
   inheritance.

   Vince McMahon & Trish Stratus join the party. Vince asks Shane what kind
   of human being he is to challenge his own father? He says Shane has
   challenged him before. Vince sends Trish down to the ring to fetch the
   contract. Once he has it he looks it over, signs it, then suggests they
   get it on right there. Shane doesn't exactly play the smartest McMahon,
   as we go through the expected advancement by Vince, the staredown, Vince
   taking off his jacket--all to set up a run-in from behind by Triple H.
   Triple H stomps on Shane. Vince suddenly stops him, only to order him to
   give his son the Pedigree! "I will never, EVER forgive your mother for
   giving birth to you!" Vince says he's going to wheel the comatose Linda
   McMahon to ringside at WrestleMania so she can watch Vince kick her son's
   ass. It's going to be so cool when she gets up out of that chair, Vince
   gulps, and she does whatever to help Shane win that match.

 - For the love of god, they're still beating Shane up outside. Triple H
   bounces him around like a ping pong ball, eventually tossing him in the
   back seat of a limo. Shane hangs his head out the window. Vince then lays
   in a chairshot that catches more car roof than Shane's head.

 - THE HARDY BOYZ (w/ Lita) vs. EDGE & CHRISTIAN
   The story here is that the Dudley Boyz were supposed to get the title
   shot, but they're apparently on the same delayed flight as Steve Austin.
   Edge & Christian offer to fill the slot, and quickly the match is
   underway. In short order it looks like the Hardyz are going to win this
   one, with Edge falling victim to both a Twist of fate and Swanton Bomb.
   Suddenly, out of the crowd, ECW Heavyweight Champion Rhino runs in and
   gores Jeff Hardy! The ref, bumped a bit earlier, recovers as Edge makes
   the cover. Edge, Christian & Rhino celebrate on the ramp. Paul Heyman is,
   of course, going nuts, while Jim Ross is all like "what the HELL?!" Man,
   Rhino is a little guy. He looked like a monster in ECW, but here he's
   smaller than Christian!

   The Undertaker roars through the back on his bike, black coattails
   billowing behind him like giant bat wings. Cool.

 - Edge & Christian tell their buddy Rhino (wearing an ECW t-shirt) to go
   back to the hotel. Rhino--it looks like his character isn't going to be
   too bright. He's got kind of a Sabu/George "The Animal" Steele thing
   going on.

 - WWF commissioner William Regal, escorted by four policemen, serves a
   restraining order on the Undertaker, barring him from getting within 25'
   of Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley. Is this because he kidnapped her once?
   Ugh--I hate "restraining order" angles.

 - An update from the airport informs us that Austin's plane will arrive
   shortly after Nitro is over.

 - William Regal--remarkably relaxed in his office in the minute or so
   that's passed since we saw him talking to the Undertaker--has a talk with
   Triple H. The Game would like to kick some ass tonight. Regal suggests
   Chris Jericho, but Triple H suggests Test, as a way of revenge for the
   besmirchment Regal suffered in losing the European Title to him. Regal
   agrees.

 - Now it's Triple H's turn to get around quickly, as he's off in a hallway
   somewhere talking to the Big Show, suggesting that the way to get back at
   Kane is to get the Undertaker.

 - STEVEN RICHARDS (w/ Right To Censor) vs. TAZZ
   No match to speak of, as the other RTC members interfere, then the match
   is brought to a screeching halt when the Rock suddenly comes out charging
   the ring. The RTC members are dispatched, as is Tazz, who eats a
   spinebuster. The Rock grabs a mic and throws out a few comments directed
   at Stone Cold. Between that, and his laying out Tazz, the Rock comes off
   pretty much as a heel here, so maybe he's doing the turn for
   WrestleMania.

 - The Coach bumps into the Dudley Boyz, who have just arrived at the
   airport. It seems somebody messed with their reservations and they ended
   up on a late flight. They're gone before the Coach can tell them they
   already missed their titleshot.

WWF WAR ZONE:

 - TRIPLE H (w/ Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) vs. TEST
   The match is barely underway when the Undertaker comes out onto the
   stage. As he's staring at Helmsley the Big Show comes out behind him,
   wielding a chair. Right behind him is Kane. Kane yanks away the chair and
   blasts Big Show. The Undertaker then sends Kane after Stephanie. She runs
   away through the crowd. That leaves the way clear for the Undertaker to
   go after Triple H. He's just about to chokeslam him when a recovered Big
   Show enters the ring. Undertaker sets Triple H down to deal with him,
   allowing Triple H to flee. The Taker nails the Big Show. Big Show and
   Triple H end up backing up the ramp, making the usual "we'll get you!"
   faces. Test, forgotten in all this, gets a little too close to the
   Undertaker and eats that chokeslam meant for Helmsley.

 - Somewhere in the bowels of the arena Kane has caught up to Stephanie. He
   has her hoisted above his head, high up on a concrete staircase. The
   Undertaker watches from below. William Regal demands they let her go, and
   they do, but only after Regal agrees to book Kane in a match against the
   Big Show at WrestleMania, as well as the Undertaker vs. Triple H.

 - X-PAC/JUSTIN CREDIBLE (w/ Albert) vs. GRANDMASTER SEXAY/STEVE BLACKMAN
   X-Pac & Credible have new entrance music that's less annoying than
   Justin's was. A by-the-numbers deal here, with Albert interfering and
   X-Pac pinning Sexay.

   The Dudleyz are ready for their Tag Title match. Regal gives him the bad
   news, but they convince him that it's in his best interest to give them a
   shot anyway.

   Meanwhile, in Regal's office, Chris Jericho ducks behind a curtain with
   the commissioner's teapot. Tinkle tinkle tinkle. Oh god.

 - Regal has settled in and is just pouring himself a cup of pee when Harvey
   Whippleman bursts in, trying to warn him. Regal tells him to bugger off,
   and samples the brew. "Ooh ... rather tart!" At least he didn't say it
   had a little wang to it.

 - Ivory comes out for a promo in the ring that lasts about three hours. She
   belittles a cardboard cutout of Chyna for not having the guts to sign a
   contract for a match against her at WrestleMania. As she's beating up the
   cutout the real Chyna comes on (yowza--looking hot). Chyna gets her hands
   on the contract and signs it, then gets away before the rest of the RTC
   can catch her.

   Regal has found out that he's been besmirched again, and books a match
   between himself and Jericho at WrestleMania. He also adds himself and
   Jericho to tonight's main event, which had been scheduled to be a
   handicap match with the Rock against Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit. Jericho
   will team with Rock, while Regal joins the Canadian Crippler and Olympic
   Gold Medalist.

 - Funny that a man with knees as bad as Austin would walk down all those
   steps instead of taking the escalator which is RIGHT THERE. The Coach
   tells Austin and Debra that the Rock is waiting for him at the arena.
   Austin tells the Coach he just got the Rock's ass kicked, then orders him
   to get his bags.
 
 - THE DUDLEY BOYZ vs. EDGE/CHRISTIAN
   Fast forward to the Whazzup?! Nutbuster, and D-Von getting the table. A
   baseball slide by Edge smashes the table into D-Von's face, while Buh-Buh
   gets a Slop Drop from Christian. Christian has a chair when ... Spike
   Dudley(?!), another refugee from ECW, comes in and drop-kicks the chair
   into Christian's face. Headlock, run up the turnbuckles, and Spike
   delivers an Acid Drop onto the chair! Edge is totally flabbergasted, and
   by the time he turns around the Dudleyz are waiting with the 3-D. Cover,
   and we have our second Tag Title change of the night. The Dudley Family
   celebrates on the ramp. Paul Heyman is, of course, going nuts, while Jim
   Ross is all like "what the HELL?!" Cool angle. Does this mean Jerry Lynn
   is coming in as the third Hardy Boy?

 - Kurt Angle tells Chris Benoit to use the Crippler Crossface ("that thing
   you do where you put your, you know, hands across their nose ...") on the
   Rock to set up Angle's anklelock submission. Benoit doesn't look thrilled
   to be told to set up anything for Angle.

 - Eddie Guerrero is at WWF New York. Eddie faces Test for the European
   Title at WrestleMania.

 - KURT ANGLE/CHRIS BENOIT/WILLIAM REGAL vs. THE ROCK/CHRIS JERICHO
   Jericho asks what Regal's favorite letter is, and as he rattles them off
   in order, the crowd loudly yells "NO!" every time he pauses ... until he
   reaches "P". Funny stuff. Decent match, but not as good as other recent
   RAW main events. The finish sees Benoit slaps the Crippler Crossface on
   the Rock, while Angle goes after the ankle. Jericho saves the Rock, but
   himself falls victim to a championship belt shot from Regal, who then
   covers for the pin. Regal, Benoit & Angle all turn their attention to
   stomping on the Rock.

   Here comes Steve Austin, blowing the roof off. Austin first goes after
   Angle, then sets his sights on giving the Rock a Stunner. Angle comes
   back for more, and Austin disposes of him, but by this time the Rock has
   recovered and he waffles Austin with the championship belt! Regal and
   Jericho are going at it, leaving Benoit, who the Rock punches out of the
   ring. The Rock turns, and there's Austin. A Rock Bottom lays the
   Rattlesnake flat out on the mat. The show ends with the Rock standing
   over the unconscious Austin.

 - This Thursday: Nothing announced.

 - Next week: Nothing announced.

Comments:

An unpredictable show, which went a long way towards fleshing out the 
WrestleMania undercard. They must have touched on seven or eight different 
matches throughout the show. Good show, but the mediocre quality of matches 
this week made it a step down from the last couple of weeks.

Maybe it was just Albany, but the fans really seem to be siding with Austin 
more than the Rock.

I'm damn surprised that they debuted two new wrestlers before WrestleMania. 
I'm not sure how good Rhino's chances are of getting over, but I think Spike 
Dudley will be a hit (though most of the crowd here seemed to have no idea 
who he was). They should really show some ECW footage to give the fans some 
idea who these guys are.

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The Bottom Line:

The latest on WCW coming out of these shows is that Fusient has completely 
halted efforts to buy the company, as stated in a press release sent out by 
them on Tuesday. Looks like Bischoff couldn't put together a TV deal 
anywhere else quick enough to make them risk buying the company.

In Fusient's place the WWF has reentered the picture. With airing WCW on TNT 
or TBS no longer being an option, the obstacle that prevented the WWF from 
buying the company earlier this year (opposition from Viacom) has now been 
removed. If the WWF buys WCW it looks like they may take a shot at keeping 
the company running, airing a show on one of the Viacom networks. They are 
in the process of examining all of WCW's assets, basically in the position 
Fusient was in roughly two months ago when they first publicly announced the 
sale. We should know in the next week or two if a deal will be made, though 
the odds of it happening this time around are probably much greater, since 
the WWF doesn't have to worry about the opposition from Viacom. Were it not 
for that they probably would have already bought WCW. They only thing that 
could kill the deal this time around is if the WWF changes its mind and 
decides they don't want it. Even if someone else steps in and tries to 
outbid the WWF, if Vince McMahon wants WCW bad enough, he'll probably get 
it. Fusient knew that, and with no TV deal anywhere to make buying WCW a 
safe investment, they pulled out.

We'll have to see how this plays out, but for a while at least it looks like 
there's going to be something for me to keep writing about.

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"Slobberknocker Central" and "Monday Night Recap" are copyright 2001 by 
John Petrie, and all opinions expressed therein are his own, and not those 
of "USLink". Check the "Slobberknocker Central" main page for info on how 
to receive the "Recap" free via E-Mail every week.

Volume One, Number 279 of the "Monday Night Recap", March 19th, 2001.