Take up thy wrestling boots and walk - Batista and the future, Flair, Chris Masters, Christian, Coach, more
Submitted by Pt2 on Monday, May 2, 2005 at 6:11 AM EST





Welcome once again to the only column on the internet with less world championship potential than Bart Gunn, Take up thy wrestling boots and walk. I’m the same old columnist that thinks Stacy Keibler and a set of edible underwear would be a good tag team combination, Pt2, back from the other dimension that is the week. Now the standard intro crap is out of the way, lets talk wrestling, shall we?

The other night (Tuesday, to be precise), I got to sit less than ten feet away from the likes of Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Ric Flair, Batista et al. Yes, I went to the WWE house show in Nottingham, and had fantastic seats, thank you very much for asking. There is a lot of things that you notice live, that don’t come across on screen, so I’m going to spend some time reflecting on the show and how it’s changed a few of my thoughts about the current WWE product.

First match of the night was a tag title bout, with La Resistance challenging Tajiri and England’s own William Regal. La Resistance got amazing heat before they even opened their mouth, and when Grenier started to sing “Oh, Canada” the place exploded with boo’s. (which is kind of odd, because I’m sure we’d have put up with it someone we liked was to have sung it - not like it’s the American anthem, after all, eh Canadians?). Not surprisingly, Regal went over huge, and everything he did got a great reaction. All four men were on form here, and even Grenier looked pretty good out there, but Regal was undoubtedly the star. They even managed at one or two points to make me believe there was going to be a title change, despite how convinced I was that Regal would go over. So they did their job well, getting even the most jaded of fans to wonder….. What more can you ask for?

Up next was “Masterpiece” Chris Masters vs. the Hurricane. Not a bad contest here, even though everyone knew the way this was going to go before it happened. I will say one thing though - Masters is MUCH better in person than on TV. His stuff looks pretty average on TV, and I’m sure we’ve all heard the boring chants. In person, however, he worked the crowd like a veteran. Got great heat, played off the Hurricane’s popularity, and everything he did looked like it really hurt. Not a bad performance from these guys at all, and much better than I expected going in from “Masterpiece” Chris Masters. I think he may defy the odds and get over, because it seems like he knows what he’s doing. Maybe if he drops all the Lex Luger crap? Masters wins with “The Masterlock”.

If I remember correctly, the next match was a throwback to the attitude era, as Viscera took on Val Venis. Credit to these two, as they are kind of stuck in bad gimmicks and didn’t have the crowd reaction at first, but worked well to get it and were getting something approaching nice towards the end. Not superstar reaction, and definitely not a superstar match, but they worked it well. Viscera wins with a sit down power bomb.

The next “match” was the Diva’s match. I use match in inverted commas, because due to the injury to Trish, we got Victoria vs. Christy Hemme instead. And Christy, who did better than many expected her to at Wrestlemania, couldn’t manage it against Victoria here tonight. Fortunately, however, the WWE saw a way around this, by having the Coach provide some entertainment. He appointed himself guest referee, kicking Jack Doan out of the ring with the comment “Stumpy”. He then proceeded to referee the match in Victoria’s favour, before Christy hits him with a low blow. With Jack Doan returning to the ring, Christy beats Victoria (who looks just as good live as she does on TV, which is pretty unusual) with a roll up.

Shockingly, they follow this match up with what I thought would have been the main event. A tag team match between former world champions HHH and Ric Flair vs. Former world champion Shawn Michaels and current world champion Dave Batista. Now, I know he is old, and I know he can’t do half the stuff that he used to do, and I even know that a lot of people think he is an ass, but if you say that Ric Flair isn’t still the man, you don’t know what your talking about. Before the show even started, the arena was echoing with thousands of “wooo!” chants, and when all four men were in the ring, a “you screwed Bret” chant at HBK was aborted early on and replaced with more “woo!” chants to Natch. Even Hunter gave a little woo at one point. Flair got on the mic at one point, told Batista to stop acting like the world champion because Hunter was going to bitch slap him and take it back, before telling Shawn that he respected him, but tonight he was going to get bitch slapped too.

With the pre match verbals out of the way, Flair proceeded to bump for Michaels and Batista as well as anybody can. He didn’t give out as much variation as used to, but dammit, Flair can still take it as well as anybody. Then, we get the big tag to Hunter, and it’s Hunter vs.. Dave.

As much as I don’t like to admit it, the World Champ did look slightly out of his league here. He was getting one hell of a reaction so it didn’t matter too much, but everything Hunter and Flair did was crisp, and the only weak move from Michaels was the Super kick - Dave, on the other hand, looked a step off and most of his stuff looked a little weak. Something that I’m sure he’ll overcome with a little more experience.

We got a lot of comedy in this match, with Michaels revealing the behinds of Flair and Hunter. Dave and Shawn themselves were laughing at this, and when Hunter started playing it up the crowd, by playing out on his feet with his arse hanging out, Flair was weak with laughter lying on the bottom rope. Batista had the advantage of being able to duck his head in the corner to hide his face a little, but Flair and Michaels, exposed in the ring, just had to laugh and be seen laughing. Fortunately, we were all laughing too, so no one really cared. Shrimpin’ ain’t easy.

In the end, this was a match I’ll never forget. It may not have been the serious “Hogan vs. Andre” that a lot of people may have hoped for, but it was a good match, laced with plenty of comedy. It’ll do for me. Dave Batista gets the win with a Spine Buster on Natch, while Michaels Superkicks Hunter to avoid the interference.

And here is where I get surprised. OK, I knew Batista was over, but after the match, Michaels, Flair and Hunter all just slip away…. And Batista returns to the ring 4 times to lap up applause from the crowd and pose. And just like we did for Hogan in the eighties, we give it to him, without question. 3 legends just slip to the back, and Batista plays to a grateful crowd… the man is a big deal, and with the number of kids in that crowd wearing “The Animal” shirts, he could be a big deal for a long time to come. If they keep his image kind of clean, he could have a kids hero run reminiscent of Hogan, even if it’s nothing like the same scale. People want to see him dominate, and I think we’ll see much more of it, from Batista.

Next we got a short intermission, followed by a match up for the Intercontinental championship. Shelton Benjamin defends against the challenger, Christian, fresh of his RAW loss to Batista. And Christian gets another good reaction, splitting the audience completely - but whether they were cheering him or booing him (or chanting CLB), they were always loud. Shelton may have been a bit discouraged by the reaction, but still hit everything HARD. Much like Chris Masters and Tajiri/Regal, everything Shelton and Christian (and even Tomko on the outside) did looked much better in person. Tomko was ejected from the arena by referee (which one, I can’t recall right now, but I’m leaning towards Brian Hebner) who ejects him in true comical fashion by mocking Christians dance of frustration, with the dance getting more and more animated every time. Even old apeman Earl Hebner joined in the dancing on the outside when the other referee’s came down to ensure Tomko left.

Naturally, when our referee (Brian Hebner? Chad Patton? A shrunken Jess Ventura?) gets knocked down, Tomko returns to the ring, and in an attempt to cost Shelton the match, gets ONE HELL of a super kick that put Shawn Michaels earlier effort to shame. Shelton then polished Christian off to retain the IC title.

Coming up next we’ve got the next big heel Muhammed Hassan with manager Khosrow Daivari, taking on the Big red monster (who’s actually a lot less red than when he acquired that nickname) Kane. Pretty much a nothing match just put on the card for the sake of giving us an extra match and a couple more stars to see, but there are a few things I noticed.

First. Whenever the match moved quickly, Hassan looked good. Whenever he tried to attack Kane slowly, it looked shit, and the veteran Kane knew it looked shit so he started to pummel him. Second, Daivari brawls better than either of them. When he wrapped Kane’s legs into the ringpost it looked GOOD. Like, worrying about Kane’s ability to walk good. Hassan’s looked, on the other hand, weak, and you wanted him to run about, and whip Kane into the ropes. Kane wins by DQ when Daivari hits him with a chair.

And our main event of the evening was “Mr. Money in the bank” Edge vs. “The Canadian Crippler” Chris Benoit. The reactions you would expect here. Benoit got a very loud, respectful reaction, and Edge got roundly booed and “you screwed Matt” chants. He’s either a damn fine actor or he really seemed to get a kick out of those chants . I actually had very little idea who was going to win this match, and in a match devoid of comedy, they gave us a pretty damn entertaining 15 minute match, that was back and forth, featured plenty of near falls, and dastardly heel cheating including a chair shot to the face by Edge. I even thought Edge was going to steal it that way, since Benoit has mastered getting the shoulder up so late. But my fears were misplaced, however, as Benoit beat Edge by submission, in the crippler crossface hold.

After the match, several of the heels returned to the ring, including Christian, Tomko, Chris Masters, La Resistance and the Coach, before being cleared from the ring by Kane, Val Venis, Hurricane, Tajiri and Shelton. The Coach was kept in the ring, and was chopped to shit by Benoit…. Incidentally, after seeing both Flair chop and Benoit chop in the same night, I’m convinced Benoit’s are better. As Benoit annihilated Coach, All the referees returned to the ring, and Jack Doan took off his shirt revealing a “Coach Sucks” shirt. What followed was an impromptu match between Jack Doan and The Coach. Doan put the figure four leglock on the Coach, who tapped out. The bell rang, and “you tapped out” chants flooded the arena. Before we left, we had an arena wide sing song of “Happy Birthday” for Kane, and that was it. All in all, a great nights’ entertainment by the WWE.

We spend most of our time watching it on TV, we don’t realise exactly how much the business grew from the live shows. If you don’t get to see wrestling live that often (and unfortunately, where I live I don’t) then you don’t realise exactly how much it is really all about performing for that live crowd. Being on TV may have helped wrestling to grow, but at it’s heart, it’s still really about the some odd thousand people at the show.

After coming out of the show, a couple of things did jump out at me.

1. Batista shouldn’t lose that WWE title, under any circumstances, before Summerslam. Let him build up some momentum. To be honest, I wouldn’t have him lose until much closer to Survivor Series, but Summerslam at the earliest. Let him seem indestructible.

2. Chris Masters can be a star. He’s got the looks, he worked the crowd, and actually, his stuff looks good. He’s in the same boat the Rock was in back in early 97 - if he can get people interested, he can be a star. Easier said than done though, he’s got to run with the ball now.

3. The Coach is a great heel. He can talk better than half the roster, and he can bump. He should manager some of these guys who can’t do their own talking. With the coach and microphone in front of them, some of the WWE roster could do better than they’d ever do on their own.

4. Christian, Captain Charisma, is one of the best guys in the company now. People on the internet have raved about him for years, but he’s upped his game recently and is starting to justify the praise. It will only take a few big wins, and Christian will be able to draw money as a main event heel. If he gets to the top of the card, he will draw MUCH more than Edge. Of that I am convinced.

In my next column, there should be a few more details of a new project that I am taking on. I think it’s a good idea, and I hope you are as excited about it as I am. Stay tuned, folks.

And now, finally, it is time for the YBTB championship defence. The winner of January’s YBTB Rumble went on to win the championship, and now Random Guy 5 faces the runner up of that contest in a title defence. As a columnist, does Random Guy have the advantage of writing about wrestling on a regular basis? Or will the reader prove that the two are completely different games. Lets find out.

Introducing first, the challenger.

From New Jersey USA, the man named after the man of a thousand holds, Malenko 1000.

And the champion, from St Louis Missouri, the author of the nosebleed section, one half of the audio show ETA and the mastermind behind the project, 2 time YBTB Champion, Random Guy 5.
Note: The scenarios of RG5 arrived to me late, and as such receive a 5% lateness penalty.

Scenario 1:1. It seems the recent rumours are true, and Roddy Piper is returning to RAW. Book his return using the current members of the RAW roster (note: Hulk Hogan is excluded from this scenario completely)

RG5: During an episode of Smackdown with Vince discussing the draft lottery, Bischoff interrupts, wondering why such a thing is even necessary in the first place. Vince explains that Smackdown is simply a stronger show, with hot new tag champs, a beloved champion, and a general manager who actually cares about the good of the show. He calls for changes to be made on Raw.

Raw begins with Triple H backstage agreeing with what Vince had to say on Smackdown. He talks of being the man synonymous with Raw, but that he’s no longer proud of this. He begins accusing the entire roster of allowing themselves to become complacent, even calling out Bischoff for his role in allowing Raw to fall from the level it once was. He sites JR, the roster and everybody involved with Raw. He threatens to leave Raw for Smackdown if Bischoff doesn’t improve things.

Bischoff hit’s the ring in a hissy, and says that while he won’t be disrespected by anybody, even HHH, the Game has a point, and that perhaps changes do need to be made. He begins by continuing where HHH left off with the announcing, claiming it is no longer selling Raw as the premier brand of sports entertainment. As he furthers his ripping on the announcing, Jerry Lawler confronts Bishoff, praising Jim Ross. Bishoff explains that its not JR he has a problem with.

At this time, Roddy Piper’s music hits to a tremendous ovation. He rips everybody around, citing Bischoff’s spinelessness and King’s idiotic commentating. He eventually lays out both men with brass knuckles, before revealing that he was asked here by Vince McMahon to “freshen up” Raw.

A match is later booked that night whereby Piper will face King for the announcing spot on Raw. The match will take place at SummerSlam.

The following week, with Coach by JR’s side, King and Piper are both given their chance to explain to the fans why they’d be the best announcer. King gives a traditional speech regarding his love of wrestling and Raw, where Piper shows two film clips, one featuring his greatest moments on a mic, and the other a montage of King’s idiotic remarks regarding puppies and latex. The crowd seems legitimately torn, but leaning toward King.

The two men then spend the next few weeks alternating turns at the announcers table. Piper does a phenomenal job.

At SummerSlam, Bischoff screws King out of the victory, thus giving the color commentary job of Raw to Piper. He later claims its what’s best for the show. Piper then maintains something of a “tweener” moral alliance by once again knocking out Bischoff, and putting over Lawler as a legend in the business. Jerry Lawler is then brought out the next night on Raw to say farewell to the fans, while Piper assumes the commentary duties. The two men shake hands, and Raw has a new color man in Rowdy Roddy Piper.
Malenko: Before Edge’s Last man Standing match with Benoit, Edge cuts a promo about how he, not Benoit has the answer to being champion, as he will prove he is more intense by being the last man standing.
In the match, Edge is standing while Benoit is down after an eight-count. A masked man then runs through the crowd and hits Edge with a chair. The match is a draw as neither star can answer the 10 count.
Next night, Edge comes to the ring and cuts a promo saying that he has the answer to finding out who his attacker is. He will interrogate every Superstar until he finds his assailant. He spends the rest of Raw asking Superstars about the masked man. At the end of the night, we see a frustrated Edge attacking Hurricane, throwing him into a wall after Hurricane revealed no information.
Next week, After Edge is about to spear Hurricane for the win when a coconut drops from the ceiling into the ring. The distraction allows Hurricane to get the roll-up for the win. After the match, the camera pans to a bewildered Edge looking at the coconut with a question mark on it.
Next Raw, Edge is in the back when he receives a delivery from a dry cleaner. He holds up a black leather jacket with a question mark on the back.
Later, Edge sees a masked man in the parking lot near a car. Edge gives chase, but the man enters the car and speeds away.
Next week, an enraged Edge demands that Eric Bischoff find out who cost him his match at Backlash and who has been toying with him. Eric says that if Edge checked everyone in the locker room, he has no answers for him. However, Edge should use his title shot because if the masked man injures him, the shot is useless.
Edge decides to take the shot that night. In the match, Batista is down after a spear. The masked man comes to the ramp, and Edge focuses his attention there. Batista rises behind him and hits the powerbomb for the win. The masked man gets on the mike, comes to the ring, and says that Edge would not be the most intense champion, and Piper’s phrase about questions and answers. He unmasks and tells a fallen Edge to meet him in Piper’s Pit.
Next week, Piper is in the pit when Edge comes from under the ring and spears him from behind. He tells Roddy that next week; Piper will give the answer of I quit.


Judge’s view: I’m kind of torn here, in that I actually like both of them. Random has finally given me an announcing feud worth caring about, and it gets Lawler off the show for a while, which isn’t really a bad thing, especially when replaced with someone who has the energy of Piper. Malenko’s is good - even though I don’t really like Edge very much. It’s kind of campy though, with all the question marks, and the masked man has definitely been done before. While Malenko’s is good enough to earn a good mark of 70, I believe Random’s is more deserving of an 82 - I think getting rid of Lawler made the difference here.

Pt2’s adjudication: Well, there is the 5% from Random for lateness, pushing him down to 77%. I was tempted to take points from him again for the use of Vince and Bischoff on Smackdown! In the first scenario…. But since he didn’t actually use anyone on the roster, then he gets around the rules once again. I’m actually kind of surprised Random did as well as he did here, I thought it made RAW look a little weak. But, that’s why I’m not the Judge, I don’t have to make those difficult calls. Final score, RG5 77% Malenko 70%.


Now lets get straight into Scenario 2... As the loser of the first scenario, Malenko will go first….

Scenario 2: . Dave Batista suffers an injury on the Wrestlemania revenge tour, and has to vacate the title. Crown a new champion within 4 shows. Points for originality, and the credibility of your champion (within their role) when you crown them.



Malenko: Raw opens with Bischoff explaining that Batista is injured and a new champion will be crowned. Edge enters with a grin. He says that since he has the money in the bank, he will use it now and become the champion. Suddenly, a Smackdown Rebound shows Booker pinning Angle in a #1 contenders match, with JBL also involved. Booker then enters, saying that since he is a number #1 contender, he should get the shot. He would be happy to face Edge for the belt. Then a limo delivers JBL to the ring. He says that champions aren’t appointed, and since he is the only champ in the ring, he should get a shot. Then HHH arrives, saying that he will take his return match for the title and the Smackdown guys should return to the #2 show. Then Benjamin comes out. Shelton says he is the only one with a title, the top champ on Raw, and he should get the top belt. Cena arrives and says his title allows him to unify it. Jericho arrives; saying it is he, not Cena who will be the only unified champ.
Bischoff arrives and tells Edge to leave. He announces a tournament for the number #1 contendership. It starts with a three-team tag-match. The teams are HHH/JBL, Booker/Benjamin, Jericho/Cena.
In the match, Cena has HHH up for the FU, but Jericho bulldogs Cena. When Cena rises, JBL hits the clothesline for the win.
Next week, Eric Bischoff announces that the partners from the losing teams last week will face each other. The losers of Booker vs. Benjamin and Cena v. Y2J will be eliminated. The winners will advance.
Later, Benjamin defeats Booker, Booker raises Shelton’s hand afterward. In the back, Jericho says that Cena he will be the only undisputed champ. In their match, Jericho tries to use Cena’s chain but Cena ducks and FU’s Jericho for the win.
Bischoff announces that HHH and JBL will face each other now. The winner can choose his opponent for next week. JBL and Orlando come out and say that HHH’s mocking of him will stop. HHH and Flair enter and the match begins. During the match, a downed referee misses Jordan and Flair run in. Jordan accidentally hits JBL and the referee count’s HHH’s pin.
Next week, HHH wants Benjamin. HHH wins after countering a T-bone into a Pedigree. Cena rolls up JBL after Jordan mistakenly hits JBL with a chair. As the match ends, Edge points to his briefcase on the stage.
Next week, Edge reminds Bischoff that he hasn’t lost. Bischoff lets him use his money in the bank in a triple-threat match tonight for the title. It will be HHH vs. Cena. vs. Edge.
In the match, Cena is about to FU Edge when Jericho arrives and pulls Cena’s legs out from under him. They brawl outside, and HHH lifts a fallen Edge. He readies the Pedigree, but Edge flips him, spears him and pins HHH win the title.



RG5: Bischoff tells a baffled lockeroom of a hotel attack on Batista during the Revenge Tour, and that the authorities suspect it was somebody on the show, as they have the most to gain.

In the ring, HHH angles that he should be handed the title, as he was the last one to have it. Meanwhile, Edge argues it should be his, as he can’t challenge Batista as promised, and should be given the title as a result. HHH throws off his shirt, and attacks Edge, leaving him a mess with the sledgehammer.

On the ramp, Bischoff slowly approaches the shirt that trips threw off, before slowly picking it up and studying it. He explains that he’s just received word from the Australian authorities that a new Evolution T-shirt was just found in the room where Batista was attacked. He notes HHH’s history of shedding his shirt before attacking somebody. HHH is arrested, screaming he’s been framed.

The second week, its announced to the crowd that HHH is still awaiting a hearing, and Edge will be out 4-6 weeks as a result of the beating he’s taken from HHH. Kane, Jericho, Shelton and Benoit all come out wanting a title shot. Bischoff books the four men in a match for the title the following week on Raw.

Prior to the title match, we see Viscera backstage. Having been turned down again by Trish, Christian comically mocks his blue balls and explains that its not Trish’s fault, but Kane and Lita’s. Viscera buys into the manipulation.

During the main event, Viscera attacks Kane. Kane forgoes the match to destroy Viscera throughout the backstage area. Shelton and Jericho also take their feud to the next level, brawling into the seats. As the referee counts out the three men, Benoit is frantic in the ring helping the crowd count, when Christian enters, leaving Benoit laying with the Unprettier.

Raw, week 4 sees Bishoff on the phone being chastised by the board of directors for losing control of the show. Throughout the night, he dispatches Christian repeatedly, claiming that he MUST name a new champion. For SummerSlam, he books Viscera v Kane in a No-Dq match and Jericho v Shelton in a ladder.

Christian finally flips out, and comes clean on manipulating Viscera, framing HHH, and explains he’s already beaten Shelton and Jericho before. He wants Benoit 1 on 1 for the title. Bischoff is so impressed with the conniving, angry Christian, he books the match.

Christian spends the show thinking backstage, before eventually explaining its finally his time to do this on his own and knocks out Tomko. In the main event, Christian plays the heavy underdog in a brilliant match before finally spinning the Crossface into the Unprettier and getting the win over Benoit. With the title, Christian continues his slow ascent to facedom as a Eddie-esque surviving champion, and begins feuds with the jailbird HHH and a returning Edge.


Judge’s view: I can tell you right now, the marks for this one will be lower than the first. I just don’t think either of you got this one all that right. I’ll start with Malenko. First off, I have to give you points for originality, man. That was original. But I didn’t really know what the hell was going on the first time I read it. That’s not a good thing. But you do get points for originality, so I’ll say 58%. Random, yours is up and down. You don’t have quite as many people turn up, so it’s easier to follow, and Christian’s rise to the top is a good move, playing off our British love of the CLB. But HHH going to jail is just dated man, and since that’s the whole backbone to it, it really brings it down. 60%, because you actually elevate Christian and do well… but I still don’t like it.

Pt2’s analysis: Harsh judging there. Unfortunately for Random, the 5% late penalty brings him right down into 55%, and no other penalties (there is no limit on who you can use, and both get it in 4 shows, I believe) mean that we’re tied at 1-1. Final score, Malenko 58% Random 55%


And now, the final scenario….

Scenario 3: 3. Using Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels, Marty Jannetty, Teddy Long, Eric Bischoff, Hunter/Flair and the members of JBL’s cabinet ONLY, book a rematch between Angle and Michaels for Summerslam. You can start any time you like post Backlash, but the scenario must finish at Summerslam.


RG5: With Batista having retained the title at Backlash, and he himself having won his match, Shawn Michaels tells Bischoff he thinks its time that he get one last shot at the title. HHH interferes, claiming he should get yet another match. The two don’t get physical, but taunt one another. HHH reminds HBK that he tapped out on the grandest stage of them all, to a Smackdown guy no less.

Meanwhile, over on Smackdown, Angle is wrapped up in telling the world how great he is for having made Shawn Michaels tap out at Wrestlemania. JBL calls angle out on this, claiming that while he was defending his title for the 10th strait month, Angle was beating up on a poor, broken down shell of a pseudo legend.

The comments of HHH stung Michaels. He’s seen pondering that match for weeks, watching it on tape, not forgiving himself for tapping out. On Smackdown, Angle finds himself defending the legend status of Shawn Michaels, as a boost to his own credibility.

Backstage on Raw, we see Shawn Michaels inviting Marty Jannety for another reunion match the next week on Raw. Jannety agrees, and the two men have a fantastic match, winning in grand fashion. Backstage, they discuss the good old times. Jannety makes a comment about how he feels old, while Shawn claims to be as good as ever, invoking a awkward laugh from Jannety, who tries to explain to Shawn that he’s just not as good as he once was.

On Smackdown that week, Angle reviews the tape from ‘Mania, and stops Teddy Long as he passes by. Teddy, obviously confused by a quieT and shy Angle, agrees to watch part of the tape. The two men draw one conclusion…Shawn was damned good that night. But not what he once was. Angle becomes incensed, claiming he wanted a match with the LEGEND Shawn Michaels, not some flunky from Raw.

The following week, Angle shows up on Raw. Shawn is instantly defensive, but Angle informs him that they need to talk. Shawn feels as if he still has something to prove, and Angle feels as if a generation of fans watched the great HBK, but there is still a generation of fans who have yet to see him. He tells Shawn, at SummerSlam, he doesn’t want to fight Shawn Michaels, he wants a match with the Showstoppa. The two men agree, sharing a handshake.

The two men spend the rest of the weeks leading up to the PPV exchanging non-violent “I could have had you” types of encounters. Shawn sets up, but doesn’t hit the super kick, Angle grabs but doesn’t lock in the Ankle Lock. The epic battle is on as Shawn searches for his long lost greatness, and Angle attempts to defeat a legend.


Malenko: On the Raw after Backlash, Bischoff sees Janetty and says that he enjoyed the Rocker’s reunion, but a tougher opponent would make it more interesting. They’ll face HHH/Flair.
In the match, the ref is with Flair, and legal men Janetty and HHH are down. HBK tries the elbow drop but HHH moves. This allows HHH to rise and Pedigree Janetty for the win.
Next week, Flair tells Janetty in the back that last week proves he too old. Janetty tells him to face him tonight. Hearing about the match, HBK asks Bischoff to make him the special referee to stop interference from HHH. Bischoff agrees.
In ring, Janetty Rocker-drops Flair. HHH enters, distracting Janetty. HBK superkicks him out, but a recovered Flair puts the figure-four on Janetty. Marty does not tap, but HBK calls for the bell as a bewildered Janetty stairs at him. Janetty rises but HBK superkicks him. HBK grabs a mike and says that he is tired of fans telling him about who he has “screwed.” Instead, people should complain about how was screwed out of his WrestleMania match with Angle and his tag match last week. He says that Janetty only screwed himself.
Next week, Bischoff makes Jenetty v. HBK. HBK has Janetty in the sharpshooter and won’t release after the bell rings. Angle emerges from the crowd and breaks it up as RAW security chases him through the crowd.
On Smackdown, Orlando and the Bashams are on a conference call telling the speaker phone positive things about tonight. Danny leaves the room, shaking his head.
Angle walks down the ramp for a US title match with Jordan. Doug Basham emerges and hits Angle with a chair from behind. He and Orlando drag him to the ring when JBL’s limo emerges. The limo drives to the ring as the beating continues. Orlando and Doug drag and hold Angle on top of the limo when the moonroof opens and HBK emerges. He superkicks Angle onto the hood and puts him in the sharpshooter. He yells that Kurt will not screw him again because at Summerslam there can be no outside factors in the Hell in a Cell.
Next Raw, HBK enters the ring along with Orlando and Doug. Doug tells HBK that Danny said he was sick. HBK says his friends have accompanied him to make sure Kurt does not screw him in the contract signing tonight. Some security guards come to the ring. They say that Orlando and Doug must leave. As they protest, one guard emerges from the back who beats Doug and Orlando and throws them out. He turns to the crowd to reveal he is Danny Basham. Then the lights go out. When they come up we see the Hell in a Cell surrounding HBK and Angle who is behind him. He superkicks him and locks in the Ankle Lock, causing HBK to tap. The announcers comment that the Hell in the Cell will make things fair, but someone will still tap out.


Judge’s view It’s kind of ironic, that the most difficult scenario was the best answered. Competent booking from Malenko, that seems to get a little chaotic at the end. But Random has done it again, pulling it out of the fire at the end with one of the better scenario’s I have marked. It makes for great television. Random scores 94%, and Malenko gets a 75%.

Pt2’s analysis: Malenko just creeps in under the word count with 500. Random is dropped to 89% by the late penalty. No other penalties.

And with that, Random has overcome the disadvantage of the late penalty to win by 2 scenario’s to 1. Malenko-1000, a valiant effort, and a good try. Perhaps if you come back somewhere down the line, next time, you will be more prepared and become champion.

Random Guy, congratulations.

That’ll do it for this one, as it’s already 6000 words long. If you enjoyed this, or if you didn’t, or whatever, send feedback to takeupthywrestlingboots@Gmail.com and I shall reply to all mail received.

My thanks to Random and Malenko-1000, and to all of you for reading. Until next time, Take care.

Pt2.









*NEW GALLERY* Hot Photos of Hulk Hogan's YOUNGER MISTRESS & Brooke's Friend!

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