By V ( v@hempseed.com )
7th June, '99
After closely watching tag-team matches on Nitro and Raw during the past few weeks, I have come to realize that tag team wrestling is dead. The teams which have held the title in the WWF this year are Bossman & Shamrock, Hart & Jarrett, D'Lo & Henry, X-Pac & Kane and the Acolytes, none of whom are established teams. The picture is identical in WCW- Kidman & Mysterio, Malenko & Benhoit, Raven & Saturn, Page and Bigelow. There are no established tag-teams on the scene now. The LOD has left, NAO have split and the Steiners aren't wrestling anymore. The tag-team scene has sunk so low that Eric Bischoff even contemplated retiring the WCW tag championship.
The only tag team match of worth that I have seen this year is The Brood v. The Acolytes & Midian. Edge and Christian were flawless in their performance, seamlessly tagging each other and executing breathtaking moves. Other than that, tag matches have been a very bleak affair. There was a time (nearly 6 or 7 years ago) when I used to look forward to tag-team matches. Teams like the LOD at their peak, The Rockers and the Hart Foundation enthralled audiences by putting up entertaining matches at an incredible workrate. The decline began in '93 when lots of established teams left the WWF and new ones joined. Teams like the Smokin' Gunns were still watchable but with Owen and the Bulldog losing their titles to HBK and Austin, the decline was complete. After '97 only one team has made it big- The New Age Outlaws- and they too have split up.
There were some flashes in the pan like Bulldog & Owen v. Furnace & La Fon, NAO vs. Hardcore Legends, but they were just...well, flashes in the pan. Today I change the channel whenever there is a tag match, with the rare exception when it involves luchadors. We can't do anything about it now. Tag team wrestling was an art, one which died years ago. It's time to innovate and radically change the rules. I think both members of the team should be allowed to wrestle simultaneously. In it's present form, it cannot survive, it will always be a side-show.
Now on to random thoughts:-
In case you didn't notice, Bischoff said his son's name was Garrett this week on Nitro. He said something like "Even my 15 year old son Garrett can beat David Flair".
At the time of writing this column, the identity of the Higher Power is still a secret. Well I'm going to throw my hat in the ring and tell you who I think it is- I have no idea!
Hammer is really impressive now. I'd like to see him pushed. Kevin Nash ans Eric Bischoff, of course, have diferent ideas.
Here's another comment on Nitro by Eric Bischoff, "You know those mistakes you were talking about Tony, I can sum them up in three words- Diamond Dallas Page" (i don't remember it exactly, but this is what he said). How true! Now if only Bischoff would strip his booking powers.......
So New Jack isn't guilty. As if we needed this lengthy trial to tell us that. What should an 18 year old kid acting 20 expect when trying to compete in ECW with one of the craziest men alive? T-R-O-U-B-L-E and more importantly P-A-I-N. But wasn't New Jack a bit too rough on the kid, breaking his neck?
Now before I leave, I want you to keep the votes coming for my survey. If you still don't know what it is, you have to tell me who you think are the biggest draws in the WWF and WCW and who your favourite wrestler is. Also if you could do me a HUGE favour, I'd be very greatful. Please tell me how you like my column, how I can improve it and what it's strong points are so that I write better columns for you. Send all questions, comments, suggestions and votes to v@hempseed.com .