Slobberknocker Central Monday Night Recap #206 October 25th, 1999 The Opening Word: Halloween Havoc looks to be another WCW PPV praised by their most loyal fans, trashed by the anti-WCW folk, and getting mixed reviews from everyone else. How much one liked it depended upon one's personal tolerance for "sports entertainment". Most reviews pegged the actual wrestling on the show as being solid, albeit unspectacular. The results are widely available, and frankly aren't worth bringing up here. Let me instead tell you about my enlarged prostate and seeping anal fissures. Just kidding. Fallout from Halloween Havoc will greatly overshadow this week's Monday Nitro, as it looks like the World Title may be held up, and the whole Hogan "shoot" story will reportedly be addressed. Over on RAW is WAR, the WWF continues it's slow, but hot, build to Survivor Series. Watching SmackDown! and Heat this past weekend reaffirms my observation from last week that the WWF is at least flirting with the idea of increased match lengths, and an overall better level of in-ring product. It may not pop the 6.0 ratings they were getting a few months ago, but it is an approach which should, if people give it a chance, narrow the perceived gap in wrestling match quality between them and WCW. It could also backfire by giving the fans an appreciation for solid wrestling, which WCW is probably better equipped to deliver. That's why the WWF can't give up when it comes to "shock TV", and hot angles which lead the industry. As much as I like a well told, and well wrestled installment of RAW, I hope we also get something here in the next few weeks to set the wrestling world on its ear. Bringing Randy Savage in, as an example, might do just that. Or have Taz make a huge impression in his debut. Or turn Steve Austin heel. Any of those could fit the bill, and it'll certainly make it hard for the boys down south to catch up if the WWF keeps moving forward. Right now they're just sitting there, giving WCW the chance to catch up. When the WWF climbed back to the top last year, WCW was actually going backwards. The same could probably be said when WCW passed up the WWF back in 1996. The winner, hopefully, in all this will be the fans. So the stage is set this week. Both companies dodged a bullet with their being no World Series baseball on tonight. The Atlanta/New York match-up would have seriously hurt both shows. "Monday Night Football" has Atlanta facing Pittsburgh, so that may hurt Nitro a tad more than it does RAW. I think "Ally McBeal" is kissing another chick again this week, but other than that, nothing much to buzz about on the other networks. This is about as level a playing field as we could hope to get at this time of the year. Both have the chance to shine, and with WCW having all the attention on it right now, the WWF needs to do something big and right off the bat. Should be an interesting night. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- WCW Monday Nitro: Live/Taped: Live. Length: Three Hours+. Location: Phoenix, Arizona. HOUR ONE Hosted By: Tony Schiavone and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. - Sting, not dressed like a cartoon character for the first time in ages, is backstage looking for J.J. Dillon. ... and now he's in the ring. [Someone should confiscate that "Where Chumps Wrestle" sign at ringside.] Sting calls out Dillon, saying he only wanted to FIGHT someone at the PPV, not defend the title (other than against his scheduled opponent, Hulk Hogan). He claims he saved the company from a "bad situation" (referring to Hogan). Dillon comes out and says Sting is right, that Goldberg isn't the WCW Champ, but neither is Sting. Sting was stripped of the belt because he attacked the referee after the match. Starting tonight there'll be a 32 man tournament to crown a new champ. (Um, isn't that a bit broad? Guess they're saying everyone in the company is World Champion material.) Dillon says he's just the messenger here. Sting says to pass on a message then, and clobbers him. Goldberg comes out for the save and the two brawl until split apart by security. Scratch off Goldberg's second World Title reign. Did WCW really need to bring in Vince Russo to write such a textbook Dusty Finish? PPV stills. Schiavone reads off some of the tournament matches, which include stuff like fellow Filthy Animal members Kidman and Konnan squaring off, and Madusa facing a mystery opponent. Scott Hall & Kevin Nash, arriving backstage with a cooler full of beer, are told that they have to wrestle tonight. - Mike Tenay gets comments from Norman Smiley re: his opponent tonight, Bam Bam Bigelow. - NORMAN SMILEY vs. BAM BAM BIGELOW The ring is surrounded by plunder. Bigelow makes this a Hardcore Match. Can he do that? Same results as last week, with Smiley getting the upset pin. Tenay, interviewing the Outsiders backstage, calls their return to action a "ratings ploy". Nash & Hall say they can't comment on things until the top of the hour. So far the words "powers that be" and "new creative team" have been mentioned about a dozen times. Am I the only one to notice that the most pervasive influence we've seen thus far from Russo & Ferrara is the fact that THEY GET MENTIONED ONCE EVERY TWO MINUTES! The only thing they haven't done yet is appear on camera. - Replay of the Filthy Animals mugging Ric Flair, followed by PPV photos. - The Filthy Animals come out to speak on dis. Eddie Guerrero tries to get a rise out of the crowd. They cue up a video, footage courtesy "Kid Cam" (not to be confused with the "Kliq Cam"), showing Flair being dumped in a field following his abduction at their hands. (Where are the black Hummers and helicopters? Ric Flair, by the way, is THE GREATEST to go through with this.) everyone gets their turn on the mic, at which point they are attacked by members of the Revolution. Torrie Wilson, trying to make her escape, is cut off and carried away by Asya. Tenay's in the back with Curt Hennig. Hennig, saying "powers that be" about a half-dozen times, says he's "on the bubble", and that if he loses tonight ("shoulders pinned to the mat"), they're going to force him out. Hennig says he'll retire when he's good and ready, on his own terms. - Hall gives Nash some coffee to sober him up. The two discuss the length of the censor's delay ("seven seconds or three?") "Top of the hour" is said again. PLEASE, DON'T CHANGE THE CHANNEL!!! - CURT HENNIG vs. LASH LEROUX Disco Inferno comes out to do color. Hennig ends the match quickly when, just about to be pinned, he nails the ref, drawing a DQ. He continues the assault on LeRoux with a steel chair. The Animals are looking for Torrie. - Bret Hart, barely able to walk, enters the arena. Quick look at Goldberg. - "Mean" Gene Okerlund is in the ring with the Nitro Girls. They talk about the upcoming finals for the New Nitro Girl Search. Here comes Jeff Jarrett to chase the girls out. Jarrett says the World Title tournament is all a "work" to get him over as the new champ. He's the "Chosen One" by the "Powers That Be". Jarrett denies knocking Elizabeth out last week. Still photos from Goldberg vs. Sid avoids showing any blood. Tenay gets comments from Sid, following the PPV, with the interview being show in black & white. - SATURN vs. EDDIE GUERRERO Saturn tells the other Animals that if they touch him, they'll never see Torrie again. At about the two or three minute mark David Flair runs out and hits Eddie with a crowbar, giving Saturn the pin. Saturn escapes through the crowd as the other Animals come out. Nash says if he brings the show to a stop, then there's no way they'll have to wrestle. (Does he need to bother? There was maybe five minutes of wrestling this hour.) HOUR TWO Hosted By: Tony Schiavone and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. - Halloween Havoc Replay clip hypes the Sting/Hogan match. D'oh! - The Revolution, holed up somewhere in the back, tells Torrie that the Animals can't mess with them. Malenko then walks off, is jumped by Benoit, and is worked over by the Canadian Crippler--the other Revolution members unable to help because of a closed gate Benoit locked. - The Outsiders come out to work up the crowd. Despite teasing saying something substantive, all they really do is suck up to the crowd. Goldberg then appears and says that the two are next. Both go into their "ooh, I'm *so* scared!" act. No sooner do the Outsiders leave than Randy "Macho Man" Savage and Gorgeous George come out! Like every-damn-body else on the show Savage mentions "Vince Russo and the vultures in the back". Savage badmouths Hogan & Flair, and generally presents an eyesore with the outfit he's wearing. He promises that later tonight he will "pass the torch" to the star who will surpass everything Savage has done. Are they going to "shoot/work/swerve" during every segment this week? The Filthy Animals still can't find Torrie. Madusa ... walking. - Malenko vows revenge on Benoit, despite the protestations of Shane Douglas and Saturn. - MADUSA vs. MENG The idea here is that the "Powers That Be" are punishing Madusa for talking back to them, raising the question: are we, the fans, supposed to LIKE or DISLIKE these mysterious backstage figures? The match seems to last forever, with Madusa running and picking her shots, until Meng finally puts her away with the Tongan Death Grip. Schiavone and Heenan don't know whether to applaud her bravery or laugh at her misfortune. Awful match, but amusing for about a minute in that "sports entertainment" way. Evan Karagias comes out after the match to help her. Dean Malenko comes out and challenges Benoit to a "Last Man Standing" match. Hall & Nash ponder who their opponents will be tonight. I was under the impression that the two would compete, separately, in the World Title Tournament? - Curt Hennig has a heart-to-heart talk with Brad Armstrong. Their problem? What else: "The Powers That Be". Brad says they told him to look up his little brother (Road Dogg) and get a personality. Bret Hart is having his ankle attended to by a trainer. - LEX LUGER vs. RICK STEINER Jeff Jarrett comes out right away to talk about Luger. Schiavone thinks Jarrett knocked out Liz because "we all saw your schtick in the WWF!" Jarrett tries to take out Luger with the guitar, but hits Steiner instead. Jarrett runs away, Steiner wanders off, and the match ends in a double-countout. Tenay gets comments from Konnan and Kidman. I'm sick of seeing the Filthy Animals tonight. Buff Bagwell arrives, cackling about having it all figured out, or something. Gee, wouldn't it be cool if he came out and did a "shoot" on the "Powers That Be"? - Benoit's getting ready for his match. - KIDMAN vs. KONNAN A few moves in and Harlem Heat come out and lay the two out. Kidman takes the opportunity to get the cheap pin on Konnan, which pisses him off. Eddie and Rey Rey have to keep the two separated. - More time killed with the Outsiders. - Buff Bagwell comes out and ... does a "shoot" on the "Powers That Be". Brother. Then two big guys in suits (Ron & Don Harris, Skull & 8-Ball of the DOA, Jacob & Eli Blu) come out, saying they represent "The Two Idiots In The Back That Write This Crap". Bagwell gets his ass stomped. - Malenko & Benoit are next. Total wrestling time thus far: less than fifteen minutes. HOUR THREE Hosted By: Tony Schiavone and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. - DEAN MALENKO vs. CHRIS BENOIT Both men pound on each other for several minutes. The momentum goes back and forth. Intensity from these two, but the match is just so-so. The finish sees both men rise for a ten count, but only Benoit makes it up in time. The Animals then run in to take out Malenko. Benoit just leaves. The Revolution come out, with Torrie, and tell the Animals to leave Malenko alone or they'll take it out on Torrie. After Malenko walks out the Animals give chase. - ...and the chase continues, as the two groups tear out of the building in separate cars. - BRIAN KNOBBS (w/ the First Family) vs. STING Sting, wearing new tights and black trenchcoat, clobbers Knobbs with the bat (behind the ref's back). He gets the pin in about ten seconds. More hijinks with Hall & Nash. - Bret Hart tells Tenay that he'll give Goldberg a good fight tonight, despite his injured ankle. - HARLEM HEAT vs. THE FILTHY ANIMALS I think the Animals have officially been shoved down our throats tonight. A brief, nothing of a match, which sees Konnan & Kidman capture the Tag Team Titles. Stevie and Kidman both have their shoulders down, but Kidman gets his up before the three. - Tenay gets comments from Goldberg backstage. - There's Diamond Dallas Page and Kimberly. - DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE (w/ Kimberly) vs. DAVID FLAIR No match. Flair, as he's taking off his robe, pulls out a crowbar, and nails DDP in the back. A few more shots and DDP needs to be stretchered out. - DDP is hauled away in an ambulance. - THE OUTSIDERS vs. ??? The bodyguards for "The Powers That Be" come out. Instead of facing them, though, a trio of scantily clad women come out. One of them has breasts the size of bowling balls! The "match", such as it is, involves two of the women spanking Hall & Nash. Nash tries to get the one with the huge chest to take off her top, but she'll only do it if he lays down for the pin. They both do, and both girls pin them. Then, as the other girl plays with her breasts, Goldberg comes in and spears Hall & Nash. Man, this show is only a crotch clamp and crucifixion away from being worse than RAW ever was. - BRET "HITMAN" HART vs. GOLDBERG Bret's really selling the injury hard, so there isn't much action to speak of, but the psychology carries the match. Except... why is Hart able to fight through the pain of an anklelock hold here, yet he gave up quickly in his two previous matches? Because the title is on the line? "Sports entertainment" rears its ugly head when the ref takes a bump. Out comes the Outsiders and Sid Vicious. Goldberg is destroyed. Hart then closes in for the cover, getting the pin and winning the United States Title. - This Thursday: Nothing announced. - Next week: Nothing announced. Comments: Matches ... mostly garbage. Angles ... some good, some bad. The show has just ended and I've already forgotten most of it. There are just a couple things that stand out in my mind: * Lots of T&A. * Too much Filthy Animals. * A good main event. * Relentless angles involving "The Powers That Be". I liked about half of the Filthy Animals stuff. Not that I disliked the other half, just that they did about twice as much as they should have. Half way through I was sick of seeing them. I'm also REALLY sick of the "Powers That Be" stuff. I watch WCW for wrestling, not to see Vince Russo stroking his ego, creating for himself an all-powerful, faceless, behind-the-scenes character. Right now the guys getting the biggest push in WCW are Russo & Ferrara! It'd maybe be cool if they did it in one angle, but these guys are involved in about three out of every four! They're running so many "worked shoots" right now that they've lost all meaning. I think I'd have liked the Outsiders "match" if it hadn't been, like so much else on the show, tied into the "Powers That Be" storyline. Why would Russo & Ferrara make Hall & Nash fight women? Is it a punishment, a reward for being a ratings draw, or just the "creative team" cooking up ratings? Yeah, yeah, just shut up and look at the T&A, right? Okay then, don't blame me if that's the only intellectual level I can be engaged at with this stuff, and don't blame me if I lose interest the SECOND the T&A goes off the screen. I just can't figure out how I, as a fan, am supposed to take this whole "Powers That Be" thing. Are they good guys? Bad guys? Are they acting in my best interests, or just throwing out crap in hopes of drawing ratings? How much power do they have, and why do they exercise that power when they do, in the way they do? Not only have they failed to establish a context within which we fans are to think of them, they've destroyed the framework within which we used to view WCW before their arrival. Who wins and loses matches, whether someone is "good" or "bad", this is all pretty much meaningless once you admit everything we are seeing is at the whim of a "creative team" who calls all the shots. Even the most jaded, "smart" fan needs to be able to suspend his disbelief and engage the show on an emotional level. Chip away too much at that wall of suspension, like WCW has these last two weeks, and all you have left is a viewer who judges the show's level of writing, between looking out for shots of T&A. Which brings me back to my thoughts on the show. Well, I liked all the boobs. And the main event had a good story to it. The other matches? Can't even remember 'em. What happened to Savage "passing the torch"? Oops, sloppy writing I guess. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- WWF RAW is WAR: Live/Taped: Live. Length: Two Hours+. Location: Providence, Rhode Island. WWF RAW Hosted By: Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler. - Since attention spans are now measured in milliseconds, we INSTANTLY cut to a shot of Vince McMahon talking to the New Age Outlaws. The Outlaws want a Tag title shot. Turns out Edge & Christian have that honor tonight. They'll take anyone ... how about Rock & Sock? Mankind, it seems, is already booked for a shot at the World Title against Triple H. Who should come in then but The Game, to complain about having to fight Mankind. The Outlaws get on his case, so he suggests they fight the team of Steve Austin and the Rock. McMahon is intrigued . The Godfather can't find his Ho's. Banging on doors turns them up in a room with Mark Henry. The Godfather complains about Mark eating up all their profits (comparing his business to a pastry shop). - THE GODFATHER (w/ Ho's & Mark Henry) vs. VISCERA (w/ Midian) Viscera says he's normal and likes women (unlike Midian, who ... never mind), so he suggests this be a "Winner Take Ho" match. The Godfather agrees. Viscera then tells Henry that if he helps him out, he can have all the Ho's he wants, 24/7. It's no surprise then that Henry interjects himself in the match, yanking the Godfather to the mat. When the Godfather turns to complain he gets splashed in the corner by Viscera. Another splash on the mat and Viscera wins the Ho's. Henry leaves with the Ho's, as Viscera goes in the ring to get two who have stayed behind to comfort the Godfather. They get in Viscera's face, so he kicks one in the basket and splashes her! The other one jumps on his back and he slams her to the canvas. WHO NEEDS JEFF JARRETT ... VISCERA IS ALL MAN! EMT's come out to help the fallen Ho's. The Rock awaits backstage. - Michael Cole interviews the Rock, who runs through some of the usual catchphrases. The Dudley Boyz look on and laugh as the Ho's are loaded into an ambulance. - THE HOLLYS vs. EDGE/CHRISTIAN I think they reel of more moves here than in the entire first hour of Nitro, until Brian Christopher(!), "Hot" Scott Taylor, and the Hardy Boyz all run in. DQ. Terri Runnels looks on at ringside. Now THIS is a tag team division. - A pile of rags? No, it's just Mae Young and the Fabulous Moolah, who has a special announcement to make. - The heinous steel cage hangs over the ring. Moolah and Mae are out. Moolah thanks the fans for their support, but sadly announces that she can't defend the WWF Women's Title anymore. Out comes Ivory, carrying Moolah's "ride" (a broomstick) which she found parked in a handicap space. Ivory says Moolah can't retire, because she owes her a return match. Before you know it the bell has rung and Ivory backslides Moolah into pinning position. Moolah flops loose, so Ivory just slams her and pins her that way, regaining the Women's Title. Mae takes the eighty year-old bump over the top. MAE YOUNG *IS* SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT! Backstage, Prince Albert is telling the Big Show that he wants a piece of him, to see what he's made of. The Show's stare drills through him. Albert feels compelled to remind him that he ISN'T the Big Bossman, and he'd never say the stuff about the Show's dad that the Bossman did. Big Show just glares. - Video package featuring the trials and tribulations of the Big Show. - BIG SHOW vs. PRINCE ALBERT This one is barely underway when the Bossman comes out, wheeling an anvil. He produces a gold watch, which he claims to have pried away from the Big Show's father in his hospital bed. I've found this stuff to be a bit tasteless, but this here is so over the top it's actually funny. Sort of. The Show heads up the ramp, is attacked from behind by Prince Albert, then is nailed SQUARE IN THE HEAD with a hammer! The Show tumbles off the ramp. The Bossman and Albert then take the gold watch and smash it on the anvil. Chris Jericho tells Michael Cole that Chyna is such a disgrace as a champion that even a common fan can beat her. Jericho suggests she team up with D-Lo Brown, while he'll pick a fan from the crowd. - EMT's tend to the Big Show. Our next clip after the break picks things up backstage, where the Show comes to and storms off, looking for the Bossman. - D-LO BROWN/CHYNA (w/ Miss Kitty) vs. CHRIS JERICHO/??? Jericho looks over the fans at ringside, declaring a number of them to be "too fat ... too slovenly ... bad dental hygiene," etc. Finally he picks out an ugly "woman", an obvious plant, and invites her up into the ring. A few moments of wrestling between Jericho and D-Lo, then the women are tagged in. Parts fly free and we see Jericho's partner is Stevie Richards. Jericho abandons him, leaving him at the mercy of a Pedigree. Jericho comes back in after Chyna and D-Lo have left, and takes his frustrations out on Richards. Mankind thanks Vince for the title shot. Vince then whips out a copy of Mick's book, and asks him about a certain passage where he talks about Vince's "facial expressions". WWF WAR ZONE Hosted By: Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler. - MANKIND vs. TRIPLE H A hard fought match, which roams in and out of the ring and through the crowd. Mankind is actually on the verge of winning the title when Val Venis runs in with a DQ-drawing chairshot. Good match, annoying finish. Al Snow comes out to help Mankind. Steve Austin's in the back. After the commercial Michael Cole gets a few comments. Michael Hayes asks Stephanie McMahon about her memory. She says she's remembering a lot, and hopes Test beats an apology out of the British Bulldog. Tests and Shane McMahon are in the background discussing strategy. - Cole interviews X-Pac & Kane. The Dudley Boyz attack. Buh Buh Ray steals Kane's neckrophone. I thought he didn't need that anymore? - KANE vs. BUH BUH RAY DUDLEY (w/ D-Von Dudley) X-Pac watches the match in the back. I'm starting to tire of this "don't interfere in my match" storyline. Kane pretty much destroys Buh Buh Ray until D-Von interferes, drawing the DQ. Tori comes along and begs X-Pac to help Kane. He does, and Kane again resents the help. What's Tori have to do with all this? Kevin Kelly gets comments from the British Bulldog. - THE BRITISH BULLDOG vs. TEST Test dominates to start. Then the Bulldog rallies back. Then Test takes over, and begins to climb the cage. Out come the Mean Street Posse with a pair of chain cutters, as Test DROPS AN ELBOW OFF THE TOP OF THE CAGE! The Posse pound on Test, effectively ending the match (though there's no DQ in a steel cage). The Bulldog exits, probably making him the winner. Here comes Shane McMahon. He climbs the cage, knocks Rodney down off the cage wall, then LEAPS FROM THE TOP OF THE CAGE ONTO PETE GAS AND JOEY ABS! SHANE WILL FLY ... SHANE WILL FLY. OH, HELL YEAH! Test recovers and spares Shane a three-on-one beating. Stephanie comes out to help her two flying warriors. A look at the Outlaws backstage. After the break Triple H pops his head in to rag on them. Were this a movie I'd make note of that "Family" painted on the wall behind the three of them. Hmmm ... - Faarooq and Bradshaw are outside a bar called the "Friendly Tap". Someone in there said they would kick their ass, so they go in. In no time a loudmouthed local rube challenges Bradshaw to an arm wrestling match. Faarooq is asked to count to three, so he counts "three!", and Bradshaw slams the arm down. The local's buddy asks Bradshaw if his "darkie" friend can count. Ooh. Repeated a few more times and Faarooq, begins a three count, then smashes his beer bottle over the guy's head. Bodies start flying. The bartender comes over the bar and breaks a bottle on Faarooq's head, only to be tossed across the room and smashed against the pool table. The beer ad lightshade over the pool table is torn down, and Bradshaw pounds on a guy. Someone is tossed into the jukebox. HAL NEEDHAM IS BOOKING RAW! Faarooq and Bradshaw are the last men standing (take that Benoit), and they "borrow" a couple of beers from two more locals. Faarooq tosses some change on the bar, then the two leave before 911 can be called. Now THAT was a slobberknocker. Austin and the Rock are next. - THE NEW AGE OUTLAWS vs. "STONE COLD" STEVE AUSTIN/THE ROCK Austin & the Rock don't show much teamwork, with Austin wrestling a lengthy stretch, then the Rock. The Outlaws tag in and out frequently. The Rock sets up for the People's Elbow, but the Gunn pulls Road Dogg out. The action spills to the floor. Austin then takes a lengthy beating, the Outlaws utilizing old-school heel tactics. Austin makes the hot tag, and the Rock starts to clean house. Triple H then runs in, but Austin cuts him off, and those two battle up the ramp. The Rock still has things under control, but is dropped by a spinning kick from X-Pac, who runs in. Gunn makes the weak cover and gets the pin. Austin comes back in, but is stomped by Gunn, Road Dogg, X-Pac ... and Triple H? Someone starts throwing t-shirts into the ring, and before you know it, DeGeneration X has reunited! The fans, who are supposed to be booing at this point, are giving the re-formed D-X a loud pop. Unbelievable. - This Thursday: Nothing announced. - Next week: Nothing announced. Comments: A big show, though still in that low-key way which has been the norm for several weeks now (even before Vince Russo left). This is always a bad time of year for the WWF, and with that and the slight resurgence of WCW, the WWF looks to be taking things a bit slow right now. Not letting up, but making sure what they're doing is what the fans want to see. They're also investing some time in bringing up a few lower-level wrestlers (Al Snow, Val Venis, the Hollys), and do seem to be flirting with some longer matches on TV. Very noteworthy has been the build to the latest Austin/Rock feud. Both men are being played as babyfaces, right now, but both also seem to be primed to turn heel. Most have assumed it'll be Austin. I'm not so sure. The Rock seems to be more popular, yet Austin's pops, when he comes out, are a tad louder (if you ask me). I think the WWF is taking this one real slow, gaging the crowd reaction to see which one to turn. Perhaps the decision has already been made, and plotlines from there penciled in, but I do truly think the WWF is taking their time in this one, making sure whatever they do will go over. There's also the matter of wrapping up storylines started by Russo. Looks like the WWF has most of those sewn up and tied off now. Putting Moolah out to pasture was the last Russo atrocity to deal with. Which brings us to the new creative team's first atrocity, the whole Big Show/Bossman storyline. I speak of this in general terms, as my own reaction to it has softened somewhat. This does appear to be the one thing, though, that many people have a problem with. Another one this week were the racial slurs that came up during the bar fight. I think they could have done without that, but the fight itself kicked ass. If you're not going to do a match, and this is what "sports entertainment" is supposed to be, I can dig it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Bottom Line: The ratings continue to be a big story, as WCW once again this week saw a slight rise in their numbers. Not a lot, but a tenth of a point or so higher than last week, which is almost a point up from where they've been the last two months. The WWF's numbers were virtually unchanged. Nitro's high point, as you might expect, was the Outsiders "match". Going back to last week, SmackDown! did its best numbers yet, boosting UPN to a third place spot ahead of ABC, FOX and the WB. Shows on all three of those networks will be yanked for the upcoming sweeps period, and a few may even be canceled. SmackDown! is being directly attributed to hurting those other shows and networks, which compete with UPN for teenage viewers and those aged 18-49. NBC, as usual, was in first place with their "Must See TV", and CBS was second with their slate of shows which appeal to older viewers. There may be a ratings horse race brewing on Monday nights, but on Thursdays it isn't even close, as WCW Thunder on TBS is pulling barely a third the viewers SmackDown! is. If RAW has lost any of its spark, it can probably be traced back to the debut of SmackDown! On several occasions SmackDown! has looked like the better show, and last week I think it may actually have had more viewers than RAW for the first time. There are parallels to this, and when WCW made Thunder a hit. Which show should the company focus on? Can the Thursday show stay hot without hurting the Monday show? WCW faced this problem, and looked on in horror as RAW overtook Nitro in the ratings. The death of Nitro then lead to the death of Thunder. The WWF now faces a similar situation. RAW has been a bit flat, and WCW, by bringing in Russo & Ferrara, have re-sparked interest in Nitro. Fewer viewers switch over to RAW when it starts. How much impact will bringing the "Russo Formula" to Thunder have on things? Will SmackDown! suffer, thus hurting RAW even more? Could a resurgence in Thunder once again hurt Nitro? The big fear held by many is that four weekly shows, all similar in nature to one another, will simply divide the existing audience, and water down and oversaturate the product. Could the boom almost be over? Competition is supposed to be good for everyone. Wouldn't it be ironic if WCW's resurgence actually led to it all crashing down sooner? You can bet the WWF is worried about this. I sure hope Vince Russo gives it a thought too, in amidst writing all those storylines involving himself. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Slobberknocker Central" and "Monday Night Recap" are copyright 1999 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 206 of the "Monday Night Recap", October 25th, 1999.