The Wrestling Menu - SummerSlam Predictions, 1993 Y.I.R & The Cyclical WWE
Submitted by DaveyBoy on Thursday, August 21, 2003 at 6:57 AM EST



THE WRESTLING MENU #57

Welcome one and all to the 57th edition of The Wrestling Menu, the column that is sure to satisfy your taste buds when it comes to discussing all things wrestling.

Ooops, it's Thursday. To the millions... (long pause, tilt the mic., inhale)... & millions of DaveyBoy's fans, I sincerely apologize that you have had to wait the extra day for this column. I can assure you there was a good reason behind it. Speaking of that, in addition to the thank-you's I gave out last week, I've got an extra special one to give out today. This one's personal though; RB, thank-you so much for everything of late. You know it's appreciated & it will never be forgotten. Don't be underwhelmed now!!! The cookbook is next. :) :) :)

Before I get going today, did anyone else think that shot to the ribs that Brian 'Spanky' Kendrick took last week on SmackDown, when Brock Lesnar threw him into the ringpost, was simply wicked...??? I just don't see how he could have protected himself on that spot. Anyway, my column will be a little bit a$$-about today, as I will kick off with the pay-per-view predictions & then go on from there.


APPETIZERS

SummerSlam Predictions

THE UNDERTAKER vs A-TRAIN: I can't actually remember if these two ever had their feud, after it was A-Train that in the storylines put The Undertaker on the shelf earlier in the year. The reason why I can't remember is that I didn't really care. Ditto here, although I wouldn't be overly surprised if they put on at least a decent match. Watch out for it to be terribly overbooked though. Winner: The Undertaker

SHANE McMAHON vs ERIC BISCHOFF: This must be like a pre-season game for Shane O'Mac, as it's pretty obvious he will face Kane at the following pay-per-view. I can't really see this match entertaining me, so I just hope the WWE keep it nice & short, while succeeding on the entertainment side of things. Winner: Shane McMahon

MATT HARDY vs ZACH GOWEN: Could be interesting, as there's decent storyline heat to this match. While Zach hasn't stopped amazing me with his abilities thus far, I'm mostly looking forward to see how Matt works with him given the extra time at pay-per-view level. Matt's not far from getting a big push in my opinion & the way he works this match might play a part in how soon that happens. Despite rumors of a Gowen win, I'm going with Mattitude. Winner: Matt Hardy

LA RESISTANCE vs THE DUDLEY BOYZ for the World Tag-Team Titles: I'm not really looking forward to this bout. I definitely would have preferred Benjamin & Haas against anybody. Rob Conway basically joined La Resistance last Monday on Raw, as a way to hide their current deficiencies in the ring. His influence will keep the titles on them here, while The Dudleyz continue to do whatever they are currently doing. Winners: La Resistance

KANE vs ROB VAN DAM: Finally, this match takes place. I've almost forgotten about their feud!!! I hope this is the sleeper match of the night. There's really no reason why these two can't put on a very good performance. Well, there is one; Over-booking. Couple the fact that the feud is basically over before the match takes place, with the amount of storylines surrounding Kane, and I predict the WWE to basically make this a future angle bout. It would be a shame if they do. Winner: Kane

EDDIE GUERRERO vs CHRIS BENOIT vs TAJIRI VS RHYNO in a Fatal Fourway match for the United States Title: This one could be interesting. I'm sure most will be predicting match of the night honors right here, but I'm not so sure. I'm still to be convinced about Rhyno, while I'm sure the WWE will only use Tajiri as an annoyance in this bout. Furthermore, Eddie & Benoit's feud seems to be very much storyline driven, which could take the impact away from the in-ring action here. I'm sure it will be great still, especially if given over 20 minutes. Winner: Eddie Guerrero

KURT ANGLE vs BROCK LESNAR for the WWE Championship: This time we have the evil Brock up against the face Kurt, which is how it should have been at WrestleMania in my opinion. Although, I can't see this bout topping their March encounter, this should be good. There's decent storyline surrounding the match, Brock has already impressed as a heel & Kurt still seems to be able to get the job done in the ring, from what little I have seen of him since his return. I also like the unpredictability aspect here, as I could easily see Lesnar recapturing the gold. But... Winner: Kurt Angle

TRIPLE H vs BILL GOLDBERG vs CHRIS JERICHO vs KEVIN NASH vs SHAWN MICHAELS vs RANDY ORTON in an Elimination Chamber Match for the World HeavyWeight Title: Just to remind you all, I am one who favors this match taking place. However, I'm not sure if all has been done correctly to set it up. I just like the unpredictability aspect, as well as the opportunity for the WWE to have something special occur in the match. Hell, one of the participants could very easily make their name come SummerSlam in the Elimination Chamber. You all know that I will be barracking for Jericho, and while I think that it actually should be Goldberg winning the title, I'm going to play it safe... Winner: Triple H


MAIN

1993: The Year In Review

Please note that this is a continuation of my monthly series on the 1990's. Over the past few months, I have reviewed SummerSlam '90, WrestleWar '91 & 1992: The Year In Review. This year in review is actually a review of a WWE video, titled "1993: The Year In Review". As per usual, in the dessert section of this column, I will take a topic from the review & speak in more detail about it.

HOSTED BY: Randy 'Macho Man' Savage. LENGTH: 3 hours

We begin with the debut of 3 heels that the WWE had large hopes for at the beginning of 1993; Yokozuna, Doink The Clown & Giant Gonzales. This section is capped off by a very ordinary 13 minute match between Gonzales (the man billed as being 8 feet tall) & Randy Savage. The most interesting thing about this wrestling (for want of a better word) match is the referee; Bill Alfonso. Just to remind us of a true giant, a nice little piece on the late Andre The Giant is then shown.

Then we see the return of Brutus Beefcake in a match against Ted Dibiase, but that doesn't take up too much time, as the tape focuses back on Yokozuna, as he challenges Bret Hart to a title match at WrestleMania 9. The first match from that particular pay-per-view in which clips are shown of is the bout between Crush & Doink. This is the one where a second Doink comes out to the ring. Oh, that evil clown!!! It would have more sense & continuity to show the main event first, but we only now get to see some of the Hart vs Yokozuna match. About 5 minutes of the actual bout is shown, as is the complete infamous aftermath where Hulk Hogan somehow walked out as champion.

Next in detail is the fairly good, if unspectacular, feud between Tatanka & Bam Bam Bigelow. Some storyline & a match is shown. But finally things start to get good around the 70 minute mark of the video, as we see Marty Jannetty walk out from the crowd & challenge (and defeat) Shawn Michaels for his InterContinental Title. This is followed up by another infamous bout which also happened on Raw; The huge upset of Scott 'Razor Ramon' Hall by The Kid (aka X-Pac). The rematch for $10,000, which includes a huge botched move off the top-rope by The Kid, is then shown in full.

The King Of The Ring ppv is then highlighted. We start off with a qualifying bout between Doink & Mr.Perfect. It's actually quite a good match & watching a clown technically wrestle is just plain strange!!! The final of the KOTR tournament is then shown, which sees Bret Hart defeat Bam Bam Bigelow. Ten minutes of that very good match is shown, plus Bret's coronation afterwards which is interrupted by Jerry Lawler. We then finish up the ppv with the majority of the main event, where Yokozuna regains the World Championship from Hulk Hogan, after the infamous exploding camera incident.

Yet even more sensationalisation & gimmicks next, as on July 4, Yokozuna challenged anyone to bodyslam him on the USS Intrepid. While wrestlers & professional sportsmen fail, Lex Luger then shows up by helicopter & does the deed. But that doesn't mean I should have to sit through Lex's music video. Someone please save me!!! Back we go to the Lawler vs Hart feud & finally we have a decently edited section. There's a lot of Lawler talking (including to Stu & Helen), but it's all sufficiently funny. Lawler ends up winning the SummerSlam match for the undisputed king of the WWE by reverse decision, when Bret won't let go of the Sharpshooter.

Also shown from the SummerSlam pay-per-view was the match for the WWE title between Yokozuna & Lex Luger. This may have been one of the longest matches Yoko ever had. Lex won the bout by countout. Afterwards, he is confronted by Ludvig Borga backstage!!! Who? We then finally see some tag-team action as The Steiners lose the titles to The Quebecers by Disqualification. OK match which includes an early look at Raven as The Quebecers manager, Johnny Polo. Decent, but hardly the match to end the video on though.


What a huge disappointment!!! Those that remember my review of the corresponding 1992 video will know how much I loved that tape. But this just stinks!!! Terrible matches, terrible editing, terrible production & a terrible year. There were so many great matches in 1992, yet the WWE decided to go gimmick & angle overload the following year. Why? 1993 can genuinely put a claim on being the worst wrestling year for the WWE ever!!! These compilation tapes are always a handy & memorable addition to any wrestling fan's collection, but this tape just won't get too many repeated viewings.


DESSERT - The Cyclical WWE

There was one obvious topic that stood out from the '1993:Year In Review' tape, but I've decided to leave that one for another day & discuss a topic which is actually argued quite often & vehemently by a lot of professional wrestling fans; The cyclical nature of the WWE. What I mean (in question form) is, Should it be only natural for the WWE to have it's ups & downs from year-to-year or even month-to-month...??? Or can the WWE quite easily just keep riding the crest of the success wave if they don't stuff things up themselves...???

I think this is a good topic to discuss right now seeing as though I have just compared a very good wrestling year in 1992 to a very poor one in 1993. Furthermore, the WWE ratings in 2003 aren't exactly what Vince McMahon would exactly call a career high, and discussing this topic could indirectly result in us working out exactly what the WWE does need to do to break out of their current slump.

Let's take a look at the 1992 into 1993 transition first, shall we!?!?!? August '92 saw the fantastic SummerSlam card held at Wembley Stadium in England. Most will know that the card on that night included my favorite match of all time; Bret Hart vs DaveyBoy Smith. Three months later at Survivor Series, we had another very good main event in Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels. Hart was taking the WWE on a seemingly new direction & the in-ring product was great. So what resulted in Vince all of a sudden putting so much faith in a clown, a giant who could hardly move & a sumo wrestler who had legs thicker than my body? No, I won't take "Vince is an f'n idiot" as an answer!!!

What I believe Vince was trying to do was progress & find an even more perfect balance. I'm sure he actually wanted to continue the great in-ring action of 1992, but at the same time add other things which would give more of a chance for his product to reach as wide an audience as practically possible. Of course, the perfect balance does not always exist, or sometimes it may have been reached without one knowing. This is especially the case in professional wrestling where things are always on the move. What may seem like a great talent roster at one time, might look terrible 3 months down the track, because all the feuds have shifted & all of a sudden the matchups just don't work.

But make no mistake about it, it is balance which is the key to this argument. The WWE must obviously concentrate on the present, but at the same time not forget about the future. Like life, what is done in the present will ultimately affect the future in some capacity. To their credit, the WWE are obviously trying with regards to this, as can be proven with the many OVW call-ups this year. Whether some of these guys have been thrust too far into the spotlight is arguable, but the effort & reasoning is correct.

I think SmackDown has a great balance right now, because they have many wrestlers that can slide up & down the card depending on the situation of feuds & storylines at a given time. Think about it; Wrestlers such as Angle, Benoit, Guerrero, Mysterio, Cena, Hardy & The Big Show can all slide up & down the roster depending on the circumstances. This is great flexibility to have & should be used as an advantage by this roster to put on some quality entertainment right now. Raw, on the other hand, is in a little bit of a different situation. With the exception of the relatively new Bill Goldberg, feuds appear as if they may be re-hashed, matches don't seem to have any expectation or anticipation around them, and a lot depends on a certain few.

So to me, this is what the cyclical discussion is all about in a nutshell. I don't put much credence in the usual arguments about fans moving on, wrestling being a fad & key storylines needing to be found. The fan argument is silly. If a 19 year old stops watching wrestling because of whatever reason, there is no reason why that persons place shouldn't be taken by a different youngster entering his teens. I also do not agree with the fad argument. Wrestling was a so-called fad in the mid-late 90's because the product was of high quality. What was that line out of Field Of Dreams!?!?!? "Build the field & they will come" or something like that. While the storyline argument is valid, and the Austin vs Vince & nWo examples are the most obvious, I actually feel that the storyline aspect is part of the looking forward point I raised anyway.

So, in conclusion, I do not believe that the success of professional wrestling has to be cyclical. Yes, it will be on occasions to some extent, because of factors such as injuries & talent depth. But even these variables should be able to be controlled to some degree. If the WWE practice long-term booking, by concentrating on giving us quality entertainment most weeks while still looking toward the future, I think you will find that ratings & all forms of revenue will stabilize to a level where they should realistically be. I believe that should be higher than now, and just a little below what it was in the heyday of the 'Monday Night Wars'. That may initially sound over-the-top, but when you really think about it, there's no reason why it can't be done.


Ok, that does it for edition #57 of The Wrestling Menu. Back to usual for DaveyBoy today, following a few different type of columns over the past 3 or 4 weeks. As per usual, all feedback on this column is appreciated. Let me know what you thought of my SummerSlam predictions or what your view on the cyclical nature of professional wrestling is. My e-mail address is DaveyBoy123@bigpond.com

SummerSlam will have taken place by the time my next column hits cyberspace. I'll be back with my world-famous 'PPV Review' next week after missing out on Vengeance in July. I will also have a Raw review & something else which I'm still to cook up. Look out for that column come Wednesday the 27th. Until then, this is Davey Boy signing off & asking you to remember that dinner is best served in 3 courses.














WOW! WWE's Maryse Has an ACCIDENT on RAW!

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