Torturous Backlash Days, 23rd March
By Clement Cher

Well, welcome to our KYR first ever Rumblings! This is what it is practically about, just our thoughts and cries for help. Basically, we are just trying to relate Raw Deal to our life.

Let me start with the current Backlash enviroment. It was, to me, the worst ever.

Yup, I hated it when Backlash was first released a couple of months back. The introduction of Backlash decks were a twist to the game, however, one thing that is forever persistent in Raw Deal is that CI try to make and break a wrestler.

What do I mean by this? Look at Stone Cold Steve Austin now. At an average tourney, how many of this bald headed redneck do you see now, compared to the time during Series 1? Same thing goes for Triple H, who was the "Game" of the Game at that time. Now, people find it hard to even beat an Kurt Angle, Benoit (clutch + apply that sort) of decks. Stone Cold took a deep plunge in the RD scene, for what reason? It was because he was to dominant? Yes, I admit that he can cycle his deck faster than anyone else, but with the release of Backlash, it all changed.

When Backlash came out, Face took a bigger hit. Austin had hard time functioning as Face, it was not impossible, but it was close to that. Then, Austin had no sort of any Backlashed' type cards while new addition superstar like Christian got his all powerful shades. Then, Austin was presented with a new Foil, DTA. Yup, that is crap.

Not only that, the 2nd most dominant wrestler, Triple H was also affected. With the current Backlash enviroment, the Grapples were agrubaly the best maneveurs to play with. It was hard going with the usual HHH/SCSA styles strikes/irish whips. All we saw were Fortitude plungers Throw into the Corner turnbuckle followed up with cards like Half Hour Suplex. Well, let me get back to Triple H. CI made him so that he had the biggest handsize, bigger than anyone else in the game and for that they denied him of an ability. Fair, because he got above average foils. However, out came cards like Underrated Superstar, Awesome pyro uping superstars' handsize such as Kane up to 11+!!! With all other superstar being able to surpass Triple H, how is the Game going to play the Game? The breaks of them just started here. Although I would say Austin was in a way much more affected than HHH, like maneveurs had certain effect against Austin. (eg. Neckbreaker, brainbuster)

Well, then we come to the Makes. The Rock was made in Backlash. Yes, Rocky players who found it hard to control the Great one, were all assisted with Brahma Bull. This card make Rock into nothing but a defensive s**t. The Rock had been made into a top notch superstar, with him being a tournament competetive player. At this point of time, Chyna who was a monster in FL, also had a not so strong, but noticeable break into RD. People were all using the Throw, plunge fortitude so much, that this abuse was seen at every tourney.

Ala, with have the Two Man Power Trip and Brothers' of Destruction. The super aggro beatdown Power Trip, caught many eyes at first sight. Being able to play with Austin/HHH foils was definately something big. Austin elbow smash, leaping knee in the same deck. Double digits, chyna interferes, or Cause I am that damn good and And thats' the Bottom line. This was definately a great boost to existing Austin/HHH players. Not only that, the card Backed By Mr McMahon was also released. This killer card was so irritating, people called it the Playa Hata. The Power Trip have helped raised Austin/HHH's foundation.

Now, we have the Brothers' of Destruction. Now, they were the real monsters. Being able to be an aggro-control, or a lock down control or aggro beatdown, the BoD were a force to reckon with. They were strong, and was able to retrieve a reversed card by milliing 2.

Well, as the months past, wrestlers were made and break. And then, Mania rolled along. What did it do then?

Fortitude Surge- A result of the Throw and Bait combos that was abused so violently. It allows your reversals to be played as though it wasn't plunged.

Iron Will- Well, this was to tackle the Claw or Clutch/Apply combo. And for a damn good reason, the Rock was not able to play this card or he will cycle it like mad.

Product Endorsement- I think most people overlooked the card, but then it can actually make the Backed by Mr MchMaon negated! 2MPT have a SSV of 8 + 1(tag titles) all you need is an Austin with Product Endorsement. 9-5=4. Wow, you are higher....lol

There are many others, but I will go into it in general.

There were lots of cards that were pinpointed the Power Trip. What are they trying to do? Kill them again?!! Please no! As for The Rock, he is also affected by Mania in great amount of ways. He cannot play Hell in A Cell, etc. Plus, Austin and HHH's premium rare cannot be played by the Power Trip. Whats up with that?

Well, my point is, CI tries to Make and Break tons of wrestler. They are trying to make less playable wrestler in the past much more playable then before and they do so in more ways than 1. Either through cards that give them big boosts and/or by "demoralising" other wrestler. This in the sense that they make the enviroment not suitable for them. See it as now that Austin is finding himself harder to survive in the current Backlash enviroment. I hope that by doing this, they do affect others greatly and a lot. Well, it does seem that RVD or Booker T is the next superstar that is going to break into the RD dominant scene. Well, then maybe in the next expansion they are gonna be "broke" by CI. Only time will tell. And I hope that this isn't the case with every expansion. Make someone, break him next.

Clement Cher
25th March 2002