#17
May 30th and it's been a week since the last edition of the best damn column there ever was, The People's Column. The past twelve months have been testing times for ECW. Top stars like Bam Bam Bigelow and The Sandman have left for greener pastures and now it looks like Shane Douglas, the biggest star that ECW has seen, has also parted ways. Fans have started complaining that ECW isn't 'Hardcore' anymore, that ECW is losing it.
When it started a few years ago, ECW was hailed as a rising star and surely, the fans believed, it would soon be in direct competition with the Big Two. Just two years ago, it was scaling new heights and Paul E. Heyman was declared the next Vince McMahon. But now, a lot of bounced checks later ECW is fast being abandoned by both wrestlers and television networks.
And then there is WCW. For 88 straight weeks, it dominated pro wrestling like no other and at one point of time almost drove the WWF to bankrupcy. But now, it is in shambles. A clique of over the hill wrestlers has the fed in its tentacles, causing increased discontentment among mid-carders. So much young talent (Paul Wight, Chris Jericho) is leaving WCW and the ones who stayed behind are a disillusioned lot. WCW seems to be sinking and sinking fast.
So what is plaguing these two feds? I would lay the blame squarely on two men- Paul E. Heyman and Eric Bischoff. The paralell growth and fall of the feds are remarkable in their similarity as they are in the fall from grace of their boses. Both Paul E and Easy E were hailed as wizards, transforming the industry. ECW with it's hardcore style and WCW with the NWO. Tragically both Heyman and Bischoff became full of themselves and helped bring down what they had created so painstakingly. Now we see them involved in petty squabbles with Shane Douglas and Goldberg, stars with the potential of pulling out their companies from the rot. The only cure I see for the maladies afflicting the two feds is to remove the very same men who made them what they are. How one wishes that Bischoff really meant what he said on Nitro a few weeks ago, but judging by the recent actions of WCW, it hardly seems likely.
And now, time for random thoughts-
Old Baldy is back! Why doesn't Hogan realize his time is up and retire? I hear both Billionaire Ted and Old Baldy want to run for President. So why not have a Tuner-Bolea campaign? Only catch is Hogan might not want to play second fiddle as the Veep.
I just can't help but laugh hysterically whenever I see the 'Nuttiest Man in the World', Ken Shamrock. Doesn't he realize he's making a fool of himself? I also can't help liking this man. Shamrock deserves the WWF Championship more than anyone else if you ask me.
The Hart family's anger after Owen's death is undertandable but slamming an industry which made them what they are is wrong. I hope Bruce and Bret make amends once they cool down.
If I were a former Hart Foundation member, I'd be scared. Looks like they're cursed. Owen and Brian are dead, Bret's career is over (ending with a whimper) and The British Bulldog came so close to death. The Anvil has reason to fear. He's next on the list. I only pray Jim Neidhart comes out unscathed from this recent patch of bad luck his family members are going thru.
Which reminds me, something is definately wrong with wrestling dynasties. (Von Erichs- All of them commited suicide, Harts- Every one of them seems to turn into a paranoid Rasputin-like shadow of his former self and the Armstrongs- The Curse).
Worst gimmicks in WWF history- 5. The Red Rooster, 4. T. L. Hopper, 3. Abe "Knuckleball" Schwartz, 2. 'The' Dean 'of wrestling' Douglas, 1. Doink The Clown.
This is the point where I run out of ideas and wind up. If you have any questions or comments, send an e-mail to v@hempseed.com .