The Tombstone

Hello everyone. I first want to apologize for not having a column for so long. We didn’t put out many issues over the holidays, but I still haven’t been heard from since before that. I had a loss in my family a few weeks ago, when my mother passed away, so I didn’t feel like writing for awhile after that. Then, last week, I got about halfway through a “Year End” column on 2001, when my laptop crashed. So that took care of the columns last week. Here I am again trying to write a column, and assuming I don’t run into any more unforeseen problems, hopefully I can do this once a week from now on. So let’s get started, shall we?

As far as the Year End column on 2001, I’m going to give up on that. I had notes and everything and was ready to whip up a great column, when my laptop crashed, so I lost all of it. So I’ll just give you a very brief version of what I would have said.

2001 was a very transitional year for the world of professional wrestling. WCW finally breathed its last breath, as did ECW. Meanwhile, the WWF was going strong in early 2001, before slowing down dramatically shortly after Wrestlemania 17. The purchase of WCW shortly before Wrestlemania by the WWF added much to the possibilities for 2001, but those hopes quickly disappeared.

The first major setback for the WWF occurred with the Rock’s disappearance in early April to Hollywood through the spring and summer months. But then in May, Triple H suffered a serious injury that would keep him out of action for the rest of the year, leaving the WWF without another top heel to work with. With Steve Austin recently turned heel, the WWF didn’t have a true top face, just designated hitters like Jericho, Benoit, Kane, and the Undertaker. Another setback was Benoit’s neck injury in June, forcing him from the ring as well.

At King of the Ring 2001, the WCW Invasion officially got underway. Well, sort of. It stammered and it choked, and it eventually died a horrible death by the time Survivor Series rolled around. There were a few high points, like the reuniting of ECW on a July edition of RAW or the addition of Rob Van Dam, Booker T, and the Hurricane to WWF shows.

Unfortunately, lack of top WCW stars and lack of pushes for other WCW and ECW stars led to a severe lack of interest in WWF shows for most of the year, and ratings declined sharply. With another young up-and-comer, Rhyno, out with injury now as well, 2001 seemed to be the year of the injury, and definitely it was full of letdowns.

But, 2001 had its high points none the less. The Royal Rumble, No Way Out, and Wrestlemania were three of the best WWF Pay Per Views ever. Like I said, I have enjoyed the additions of guys like RVD, Booker T, and the Hurricane to the rosters. The classic battles between Kurt Angle and Stone Cold (What?) Steve Austin were highlights of the year as well.

All in all, 2001 was a year of transition, and hopefully 2002 will show a more focused WWF product.

Yes, that was the condensed version of what I had to say, believe it or not. I had about 3 pages written on two events of 2001 before my laptop crashed, and that’s just one page total. Anyway, let’s move on to what has happened over the last month, shall we?

Obviously, those of you who know me at all or have read my columns very frequently know what a Triple H mark I am. I spent January 5th and 6th, and the 7th before RAW listening to his theme music and “Beautiful Day” on repeat, as I literally counted down the hours until RAW started. It annoyed the hell out of my family and friends when every time I saw them I would say “20 hours until Triple H returns!” Or however many hours were left.

So I decked myself out in a Triple H shirt, hat, and necklace and sat down to enjoy the show. I thought that RAW was a pretty big letdown that night actually, like they didn’t try to make the rest of the show good because they knew everyone would watch until the end of it anyway to see the return of the Game. Or maybe I was just so damn excited for his return that I wouldn’t have liked anything besides Triple H that night.

Anyway, it was a pretty good return, although I still think a surprise run in would have been a better idea. But the Game is back, and I’m happy!

The Royal Rumble was a pretty good show, although it can’t touch last year’s Royal Rumble. The main highlights to me were Chris Jericho retaining the title, the return of Mr. Perfect, and of course, Triple H winning the Rumble itself.

The nWo? Ehhh…I don’t know what to think. I’ve never been a big Hogan fan, even during his WWF days. I was both a Razor Ramon and Diesel mark back in their WWF days, but I don’t know if I want them back. I’m afraid it’ll hurt the WWF in the long run, just like it did WCW. We’ll see though, I don’t know what to think about the nWo.

I guess I’m done running my mouth (fingers?) for now, so until next time…