I can no longer sit back and allow the wrestling community to belittle and
second-guess the business decisions of the World Wrestling Federation.
Seemingly since the WWF acquired World Championship Wrestling everyone
assumed and anticipated the WWF would sign Sting, Ric Flair, Kevin Nash and
Bill Goldberg. As time passed it became more and more obvious that the WWF
was willing to spark the invasion with out arguable 4 of the most marketable
and popular WCW wrestlers. Disgruntle wrestling fans flooded the WWF with
criticism and deemed the WCW Invasion mediocre until Extreme Championship
Wrestling was brought into the mix.

Yet still this day wrestling fans scream, "The WWF should have signed Sting,
Ric Flair, Kevin Nash and Bill Goldberg". Never once did they ever say,
"Sting, Ric Flair, Kevin Nash and Bill Goldberg should have signed with the
WWF".

Did you ever consider the possibility that Sting, Ric Flair, Kevin Nash and
Bill Goldberg do not want to wrestle for the WWF?

Surely if Sting, Ric Flair, Kevin Nash and Bill Goldberg wanted to be apart
of the WWF and play a significant role in the WCW Invasion, they would have
been able to work something out with WWF and AOL TimeWarner lawyers.
Considering the fact the WWF was able to strike a deal with Diamond Dallas
Page is evident that AOL TimeWarner was willing to reevaluate their "binding
contracts".

The wrestling industry does not revolve around Sting, Ric Flair, Kevin Nash
and Bill Goldberg, the WWF pressed with time had to plan and prepare for the
Invasion with or with out the them. Armed with WCW wrestlers who possessed
more potential then popularity, more determination then marketable, the WWF
began the Invasion with out the "High Price 4". One can only assume they
called the WWF's bluff and got burnt.

Some will say that Sing and Ric Flair are contemplating retiring. If this is
so, they will leave the industry untarnished, walking away when the time was
right. They were giving the chance for one last run and turned it down.
Kevin Nash has made it clear that he wants to sit and collect on his
guaranteed contract. As for Bill Goldberg, one can only assume why he did
not sign with the WWF.

If Sting, Ric Flair, Kevin Nash and Bill Goldberg never step in the ring ever
again I will have complete respect for them.

Sting and Ric Flair are legends in the wrestling industry, yet if they ever
step foot in a WWF ring their legacy deserves to be tarnished, just a little.
If they sign with the WWF they would have stepped on Gregory Helms, Chuck
Palumbo, Sean O'Haire, Shawn Stasiak, Chris Kanyon and every other WCW
wrestler who came to the WWF with an insecure future in the wrestling
industry. Wrestlers who were forced to perform on unrealistic levels because
the top stars sat at home.

If Kevin Nash or Goldbeg step in a WWF ring we can only assume that there
guaranteed contracts ran out. While I have no objection for their decision
to support their family and collect the money, I object if and only if they
sign with the WWF. I'd like to hear them justify their decision to return. I
highly doubt that Vince McMahon offered Nash and Goldberg anything less then
minim-wage. Try telling the kid who saved up his allowance to buy wrestling
T-shirt that the WWF did not buy out your AOL TimeWarner contract. Try
telling every wrestling fan who shelled out $30 for a Pay Per View that you
can't support your family on the amount of money that the WWF offered.

Don't tell me that you love the industry and missed it terribly. I'd
simply ask you where were you when Lance Storm invaded RAW? Where were you
when Booker T invaded Madison Square Garden? Where was your love for the
wrestling industry when the Invasion began? Oh I forgot, you were at home.

I wrote this column with the intentions of defending the WWF from the
wrestling community who belittled and second-guessed the Invasion from day
one. In the end I think this column is nothing more then a celebration of
the WCW, ECW, and WWF wrestlers who truly love the wrestling industry. The
men and women who carry the weight of the industry on their back and despite
the pain they don't complain. Despite the money, they don't cry. Despite
the criticism, they press forward.

I'd be lying if I said the Invasion would have been mediocre with Sting, Ric
Flair, Kevin Nash and Bill Goldberg. It would have been amazing. Yet just
think if Sting, Ric Flair, Kevin Nash and Bill Goldberg did sign with the
WWF, we would have never known whom the true devoted and dedicated wrestlers
are.

The heart and soul of WCW signed with the WWF, the popularity and marketable
is sitting at home. To be quite honest with you, it's the best thing that
ever happened to the wrestling industry.

The Governor
MrGovernor00@hotmail.com
AIM: NONSanctioned