Guest AndrewTS Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 I'm sure many of us remember Raw X. Those of us who have failed to finally flush it from our memories, that is. Supposedly the reason HHH mooned us was as a joke. The oh-so-mature Trips heard people complain he wasn't "showing ass" as a heel (looking vulnerable enough; although I have NEVER heard this connotation used before), so he literally did so. This week's SD had Angle hitting on Steph to try to get Heyman out of the peril of the Goldbrock match. Considering they dropped the Steph/Angle/HHH love triangle angle out of nowhere, I don't think they are trying to revive it here. It was the part where Steph said she doesn't let personal relationship interfere with business. In other words, she gave a sarcastic "I don't give a fuck" to whomever knows about her and Trips' relationship. At least that's what I think. OR did she or someone else honestly write this without thinking? Or was it a wise ass just trying to get a kick out of the irony?
Guest Steviekick Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 It was propably just written as dialogue, however the other connotation about it is very funny.
Guest teke184 Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 If the comments in another thread are true, it's because Paul Heyman tried to get her to step down as head writer because of her engagement.
Guest AndrewTS Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 If the comments in another thread are true, it's because Paul Heyman tried to get her to step down as head writer because of her engagement. If so, why would it have to air on TV? Geez...these damn McMahons really do need to air their dirty laundry in public.
Guest Steviekick Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 I don't give them enough credit to do something as sarcastic as that.
Guest treble charged Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 If the comments in another thread are true, it's because Paul Heyman tried to get her to step down as head writer because of her engagement. If so, why would it have to air on TV? Geez...these damn McMahons really do need to air their dirty laundry in public. They like to use little inside jokes like that. Most of the times, it's harmless. Stupid maybe, but harmless.
Guest bob_barron Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 Yea- it was just a little wink wink for those paying attention. Nothing more nothing less
Guest Kotzenjunge Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 What was said exactly? I missed that segment, came in on Smackdown around 9.
Guest RedJed Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 It was probably more written not for us but for the inside of the company to make some sort of statement to the "boys" much like apparently the thing about the boys complaining about HHH never "showing any ass" in the ring or in promos made its way to Raw X.
Guest Jobber of the Week Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 I was suprised. Much of Kurt's character comes from his real-life accomplishments, and I figured the writers would assume we know enough to know that he has a wife at home. Especially since he has a book and everything. Chris Benoit doesn't have nearly as high-profile a personal life and went on about his family in promos. Reminds me of how Owen didn't want to flirt with Debra onscreen, and thus was told to bring back the Blue Blazer... *sigh*
Guest nikowwf Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 Kurt and Steph have a backstory, and Kurt is a heel. Heels don't have wife's and kids at home. It doesn't make sense to mention them. niko
Guest FeArHaVoC Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 Those silly McMahon's. They're almost as cleaver as Kevin Nash when it comes to the "inside shoot comments."
Guest evilhomer Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 It makes sense that it was a shot at us about her relationship with HHH, so by default, it wasn't a shot at us. Everyone knows that things that make sense are a big no-no in WEEeee land.
Guest dpac Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 This is from 411, i wish the Angle and Steph segment would of gone more like this Norton's Notes 03.07.03: The Angle That Would Save Wrestlemania's Main Event Posted By Blake Norton on 03.07.03 On the heels of Kurt Angle’s major neck injury, the WWE is in damage control... On the heels of Kurt Angle’s major neck injury, the WWE is in damage control – handled mode for the main event of Wrestlemania. Veteran writer Blake Norton has developed an angle that would take them through the biggest show of the year, save the anticipated Angle vs. Lesnar showdown for next year, and deliver the marquee match needed to headline the biggest show of the year. This document achieves three simple objectives: It prevents the heat building up to the Wrestlemania main event from being lost, instead transferring it to either (A) the new challenger (B) a returning star. It delivers Angle vs. Lesnar prematurely on Smackdown in a fashion that actually creates heat and intrigue for the PPV Angle vs. Brock rematch down the road. It writes Angle out of the script in a way that satisfies WWE fans and doesn’t come across as a stop-gap reactionary measure, instead playing into the evolution of corresponding angles. This story begin this week on Smackdown, which has already been taped; but putting it into operation next week, with minor storyline tweaks, would be just as effective. The Story This Week At Smackdown: Backstage In Stephanie’s Office Kurt Angle: “You asked to see me, Steph? You better hurry, I have a match to get ready for.” Steph looks directly into Kurt's eyes with a stone-faced expression of sincerity. Leaning against her office desk, she gingerly taps a file off the corner of the table, then holds them chest-height between her and Angle. Stephanie: “So when were you going to tell me, Kurt?” Kurt bows his head for a moment; then quickly reels it backwards and shoots forth a cold expression of defiance. His breaths are deep and deliberate. Stephanie: (Forcefully) "Dr. James Andrews called me up this morning. You have severe neck trauma. You can’t wrestle. And yet, we've both been in the arena since 3pm. When were you planning on telling me this?" Angle's expression relaxes to one of more comfortable resolution. Stephanie: "You. are booked in a match with Rhyno tonight! What were you planning to do, go out there injured and end your career?" Kurt: "…If I can't go out there tonight, how can I go to Wrestlemania?" Kurt stops dead in his tracks, shooting his head away. He's said too much. He withdraws from the argument. Stephanie: "WRESTLEMANIA?!?" Stephanie's expression suddenly changes to one of compassion and dismay. Stephanie: "Wrestlemania, Kurt?" Angle, his head hanging, his eyes shoot upwards. Stephanie's facial expression turns to one of shock, fear, disbelief; and acceptance. She awkwardly gasps out a word… Stephanie: "…You…” She takes a breath to compose herself, flicks her hair, and starts again; Angle’s stone-cold eyes locked earnestly upon hers. Stephanie: “You were going to go through with it, weren't you?" Angle: "All anyone has talked about since Brock Lesnar came to the WWE has been “Wow, finally a mat wrestler who can shut Kurt Angle up!” “But it was more than that. The second Brock Lesnar stepped foot out of the NCAA heavyweight title competition and into a WWE ring, promoters have talked about the money it would draw, fans have been debating with intrigue the idea of these two worlds colliding; a Big 10 wrestling champion going up against an Olympic Gold Medal winner. Since November, every agent on staff has been talking, hoping, praying that each of us would overcome our obstacles, to make the main event of Wrestlemania, to give the fans of this business something absolutely unique, to cap off the greatest show of the year.” Kurt bows his head and takes a breath. “You know what?” he grunts. “Brock scares the hell out of me; he scared the hell out of me before. (deep breath) Yeah, I fear for my career. But you know what? When all the talk is done, and the games have been played, I AM KURT ANGLE! I WON GOLD REPRESENTING MY COUNTRY! I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN, I AM PROUD TO BE WWE CHAMPION, and I I am not going to leave down one single fan sitting in that audience! I'm going to give what I promised! I'm going to Wrestlemania!...” Stephanie: “…You can't! The doctors physically won't let you! It would be career suicide! Have you seen these X-Rays? Your neck is in a million pieces!” Kurt’s expression is resolute; his demeanor dominant and unfaltered. Angle: "I've fought with a broken neck before…" Stephanie: "Not like this! You take one blow to your head it will - I repeat - it will cause permanent damage! This isn't a risk, Kurt, this is a certainty, this is career suicide, and you’re talking about putting your life in jeopardy!” Kurt’s head drops. His hands rest guardedly on his hips. He is not backing down. Stephanie: "Please.. Please, Kurt. I don't want to lose you." Kurt looks up. Their eyes meet. Stephanie: "You walk into that ring tonight, let alone Wrestlemania, the chances are it will be the last match of your wrestling career. You may be the greatest wrestler ever to step foot in a WWE ring of any generation; and you are in the prime of your career. You have too many good years left ahead of you. You are a leader. You are a leader to this company, to that locker room, to the stars that emulate you and want to be the next Kurt Angle. Well, I like the Kurt Angle I have right now. I like him a lot; and I know I could never replace him. No, Wrestlemania won't be the same without Lesnar versus Angle. But you know what? Wrestlemania comes every year; but there is only one Kurt Angle. You have only one life; one career. If you can… If you can swallow your pride, Kurt, maybe we can have Lesnar vs. Angle at Wrestlemania XX. And I know you'll make it worth the wait.” Kurt breathes deeply. His fists are clenched. He leans against the desk, his head down. He is silent. He is contemplating. He is in agony. Stephanie: ”Tonight, we will have a ceremony in that ring where you can forfeit your world heavyweight championship. Every single person in this industry knows who you are and what you are about; every fan knows that if you could wrestle… you would. Dr. Andrews is here tonight, and he will escort you to San Antonio first thing in the morning. It's going to be a long road, Kurt. But if anyone, and I mean anyone in this world can undergo major surgery and come back stronger than ever, it's my Olympic hero; Kurt Angle.” Kurt’s position is unchanged. His breathing deepens, a sign of distress. His head continues to hang, his eyes closed, facing the floor beneath him. Stephanie puts her hand on Kurt's shoulder. He folds over, covering his head with his hands, and growls in a low, saddening whisper of frustration and regret. Stephanie takes a deep breath. The tension dissipates. She places her arms around him and rests her head on his shoulder. She feels his pain. Later That Night - The Title Ceremony Lesnar: "Kurt; there's. been a lot of games. There's been a lot of ducking and weaving. The last three months… you've made my life a living hell (cracks a smile). But I always knew that when push came to shove, when the time had come, you would stand up to the plate. I always knew that you were a man of integrity. I can only aspire to be the kind of man that would choose to go ahead, that would choose to sacrifice my career for the fans, for my company. I know that in this business, what we say and what we do doesn't always reflect how we feel inside. You make me proud to be a WWE superstar. And I can't wait for you to come back, so we can give the fans the most biggest match in the history of WWE.” Kurt is standing, silent, his head bowed. In his right hand he holds the World title from the side strap, letting the belt dangle, touching the mat at the end. His free hand rests, poised, on his hip. Stephanie: "Kurt; you have been a tremendous champion.” She takes the free end of the title, and slowly pulls it from him. Kurt runs the belt leather back and forth between his thumb and forefingers. As she takes the body of the belt in her arms, she gives one last tug. Kurt's grip turns to stone. Stephanie cautiously loosens her grip on the belt. She looks up at Kurt's head, still bowed, his eyes shooting daggers at the mat. Stephanie: "Kurt, I.." Angle: "Right now." His head shoots up, his clear blue eyes reflecting nothing but Brock Lesnar's wide-eyed face. Angle: "We're doing this right now." Stephanie starts to lose composure, her focus flailing back and forth between each man's facials. Lesnar mouths "You can't, Kurt. this isn't the time." Kurt's facial expression turns to one of direct resolution. He turns to Stephanie. He is in control. He places his left hand on hers, removes it from his world championship, and takes it in his arms. He gazes into it once… looks up at Lesnar, and descends to one knee; Kurt then places the championship before him on the mat, drawing a line down the middle of the ring. He lets go of the belt, the championship dividing the ring. He rises to his feet, and begins to pace back and forth. ”AARAGH!” Kurt rips off his shirt and storms around the ring, sending Stephanie scurrying to the floor at his petrifying intensity. Brock's eyes dart between Kurt's and Stephanie's. "I'm not doing this, I'm not doing this, this is crazy," he asserts off-mic, stepping out through the ropes. Kurt storms up to Brock, who is half way out of the ring. Kurt grabs his arm. Lesnar's head shoots around. "No!" he screams, turning away immediately. Kurt grabs his shoulder, turns him around and slaps him across the face. Lesnar's eyes light up. They gaze into each other's eyes. Angle: "We're doing this my way; right here, right now." Lesnar's expression turns to one of desperation, fear; torn between respect for the will of his greatest peer, and respect for his peer's life. Angle storms to the center of the ring and hoists the world title onto his shoulder. "It's time!" he shouts. Lesnar takes a deep breath and hesitates to cast a look up towards the heavens, looking for inspiration on what to do. With no more than a moment passed, he deliberately marches back into the ring, throws his shirt into the crowd, and charges Angle. It’s on. Lesnar drives Angle into the corner like a freight train; again, again, again, driving his shoulder deep into Angle's ribs. Lesnar beats the champion down with clubbing blows to the head and neck, then kicks him into a pile in the corner. "You want this? This is on your hands!" screams Lesnar. “Bring it on!” screams Angle, holding his head in his left arm, fighting to rise from one knee in the corner. Lesnar grabs Kurt by the throat and under arm, and throws him like a rag doll all the way across the ring. Angle grabs his head as he lands, his body flailing with pain. Lesnar hesitates for a moment; but follows him in. He drags Angle to his feet and beats him about the head and ribs. Kurt suddenly shoots his left arm up, blocking a fierce blow, and fires back. Right hand! Right hand! The challenge is staggered. Right hand! This one sends Brock staggering backwards. Right hand! Lesnar stumbles back towards the center of the ring. Right hand! Lesnar blocks the shot and waistlocks for an overhead suplex! Angle immediately headbutts to break it! Lesnar staggers in a circular motion, both men selling the effects of the desperation blow. Lesnar throws a right hand, but Kurt ducks, takes him down with a drop toe hold, and locks in the Ankle Lock. The crowd explodes as Lesnar desperately spasms his arms and legs in a desperate attempt to break it. He makes for the ropes, but Angle drags his challenger into the center of the ring. Lost for options, Lesnar flips over on to his back and drills his leg into Angle's head, ripping his neck backwards. Lesnar springs to his feet and sets up for the F-5. Angle floats down behind the challenger, but catches an elbow to the head. Lesnar shoots him in, Angle reverses and nails a belly to belly suplex. Lesnar pops back up, but stumbles to the ropes for balance; Angle charges and knocks him over the top rope. The roof comes down as Angle storms around the ring, screaming. "I Am The WWE Champion!" Over the course of the next four minutes, Lesnar takes control and systematically takes Angle apart from his injured neck. The bout should run no longer than six minutes. To extend the length of the match would give the impression that Kurt is physically able for it, and whether he is or not, it needs to be emphasized that he is at critical risk. This is presented as an angle more than a match, as the real match, Angle vs. Lesnar II, becomes all that stronger a draw down the road from the result of this booking. Angle, dizzy and hurting, counters another belly to belly attempt with a knee to the gut. Lesnar swings at him, but Kurt ducks, waistlocks, and nails a German suplex, holding the grip for a try at two in a row. But as he makes it back up to his feet, the champion lets go of his hold. He stumbles. Angle falls to one knee, and grabs his head with both arms. “Oh My… Oh My God!” screams Michael Cole in a somber voice. “I… I…” Suddenly, Kurt’s eyes light back up. False alarm? Nobody is quite sure. He shakes off the effects of his neck trauma and returns to Lesnar, resuming his waistlock. German… no, Lesnar slips his ankle inside Angle’s knee joint to block the throw. Lesnar breaks the waistlock and counters into a full nelson. “TAP! TAP! TAP!” screams Cole. “Damn it, Kurt!” yells Tazz. “You’re ending your career! Lesnar’s arms are crushing every bone in his neck, Cole! He’s losing consciousness” Kurt’s body contorts and flails in desperation and agony. The challenger sinks in the hold deeper, dropping Kurt to one knee. The camera zooms in. Kurt’s eyes are glazed over, his arms shooting skywards in a manner so contorted his body is like that of a puppet. Saliva unceremoniously drips from his gaping mouth. Lesnar tucks his head under the champion’s right arm. “Kurt…” asserts Lesnar in a deep voice, as the camera zooms in on both men’s faces, as Angle’s glazed eyes raise slowly to meet those of the man who would end his career. “Tap out, Kurt.” Kurt, his glassy eyes slit open, locked upon Lesnar’s pale, wide-eyed baby face, sloppily smacks his left hand on the side of Lesnar’s head. Brock immediately loosens the hold, before the referee can even officially register the tap-out, gently lowering Kurt’s limp carcass to the mat. Doctors and EMTs immediately storm the ring with a stretcher. Lesnar remains on his two knees at Kurt’s side, arms on his hips, his head bowed. The referee raises his hand. He is not of this moment. As Kurt Angle’s unconscious body is lowered to ringside. The referee drops the world title on Lesnar’s shoulder, points his right index finger in the air, and quickly scurries out of the ring to follow the precession towards the aisle. Brock rises to his feet and arches his head backwards, for the second time, looking up towards the roof of the arena. He breathes deeply. The new champion removes the belt from his shoulder and holds it before him. Following a moment’s deliberation, he marches to the edge of the ring overlooking the aisle. Tears swelling up in his eyes, he pounds his chest with a clenched fist and salutes Kurt Angle. “I don’t know where he’s going,” admits Michael Cole. “I don’t know if he is ever coming back. But I do know that that man, Kurt Angle, is the most tenacious competitor in the history of this company.” “We should all pray to have that kind of integrity,” remarks Tazz. Act 2: Setting Up The New Wrestlemania Main Event The Two Options: Bring in a returning or debuting star; e.g. Kevin Nash or Goldberg Elevate a current member of the roster to harness Kurt’s heat Option 1: Bringing In A Returning Star For this path I am choosing Bill Goldberg. He is preferable over Nash, mainly because of his superior capacity for physicality, and the intrigue of potential storyline offshoots. I have gone on record as saying that Goldberg would not be a wise acquisition for WWE; but given the circumstances, I feel it would be the right choice. The story below can just as easily be written around another star, including Nash, with minor adjustments. Lesnar buries his head in his hands. He is WWE champion once again; but at what cost? Before him, the stretcher is being lifted up the aisleway carrying the man who’s career he has surely ended. Suddenly, the crowd starts to build. Something is happening. Cole: “Someone is entering the ring here… I… what… what in the name of God…” Donned in jeans and a Falcons Sport’s jacket, Goldberg has entered the opposite side of the ring. The crowd pops in deafening tones. Lesnar, still in shock, slowly turns around to see the former WCW champion standing on the opposite side of the ring. Goldberg’s expression is one of electrified satisfaction. Lesnar: “What are…” As Brock takes his first step forward, Goldberg charges like a rabid animal, brutally spearing him clean through the ropes to the concrete. Hearing the commotion, several of the officials attending to Angle, by now having reached the top of the rampway, come rushing to ringside to attend to the matter. Goldberg brushes them off like flies, sending them sailing to the concrete around ringside, as a physically and emotionally battered Brock Lesnar fights to regain his feet. Goldberg stalks his prey, and as the new WWE champion reaches one knee, goes in for the kill; he locks on the front face lock and hoists him up into the air, sustaining his 300lb frame for several seconds, before Jack-Hammering him to the concrete floor. With Lesnar incapacitated, Goldberg’s attention shifts to the aisleway. He charges up the aisle like a bear, charging straight into Angle’s stretcher, sending him flying to the floor. As Kurt begins to come to and ever so gingerly regains his composure, Goldberg clears the stage of medical personnel and officials. Kurt, one arm wrapped tightly around his head like a cast, uses the other to pull himself up to his feet on the jagged Smackdown set. Goldberg, poised like a cat, prepares to attack. Kurt pulls himself up and staggers around. His expression changes ever so slightly as his glassy eyes lock on to the man poised before him; and in that moment, Goldberg charges with all his might, driving Angle straight through the Smackdown set, his head crashing into the video monitor behind him. Officials flood around Goldberg, who grins fiendishly at his work. He strolls back down to ringside, sneers at the fallen champion, who remains incapacitated on the concrete floor, and takes the championship laying beside him. Throwing the WWE championship belt over his shoulder, Goldberg flashes a sneer at the capacity crowd before leisurely walking to the back. “Oh my Lord” screams Michael Cole. “Bill Goldberg has… has callously decimated our fallen hero Kurt Angle, he has knocked the WWE champion Brock Lesnar unconscious…” “What I want to know is, where are the police?” asks Tazz. “This guy isn’t on our roster; why aren’t the police out here, and how is he heading to the locker room?” “So many questions… we’ll find out the answers. As the march to Wrestlemania continues, we’ll see you next week on Smackdown.” Smackdown: Week 2 – The Goldberg Interview Goldberg: “I just came out here to clear up a few misunderstandings.” “First of all, I am Bill Goldberg. I am the man who dominated WCW for three straight years; and I am the most powerful force in this industry.” “Now, as far as last week goes, Brockie baby, it wasn’t nothing but a little bit of business. You see, while most officials didn’t know it, word was out about Kurt Angle’s bad neck a couple of days before Smackdown last week. There was one privileged individual through which all matters of business concerning the WWE pass; and that individual wasn’t about to let the Wrestlemania main event fall flat. So that individual hired me to come down here…” As it stands, Goldberg was hired by Vince McMahon to take out the winner of the match last week. McMahon, as the story goes, was scared that Wrestlemania’s main event wouldn’t be “the greatest extravaganza in the industry” without “the biggest marquee match this industry has to offer.” But let’s take this storyline to the next level and really use Wrestlemania to start a major new angle and pop a buyrate. Goldberg: “So that individual hired me to come down here…” “You were hired to take out the winner of the match!” bellows a familiar voice over the P.A. system. Vince McMahon appears from backstage and struts angrily down to the ring. Vince McMahon: “I hired you to make an impact and make your presence felt, so that you could challenge for the world title at Wrestlemania, and truly make it the biggest event of the year. But I give you that simple instruction and what do you do? You risk permanently injuring Brock Lesnar, taking him and Jack-Hammering him onto the concrete floor, which would have shelved my new main event; and then you attack Kurt Angle, further jeopardizing the career of one of my most marketable money-making stars!” Goldberg: “As I was saying…” McMahon: “As I was saying, Bill Goldberg… you obviously have an attitude problem, you’re obviously not very good at following orders…” “AS I WAS SAYING” screams Goldberg, “I was hired to come here and take out Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle! “I never told you to take Kurt and Brock out!” “I never said you did!” McMahon’s expression changes. The “McMahon Gulp” ensues. McMahon: “So if… you weren’t acting on my orders… then…” Goldberg: “Week in and week out for two years I have sat back and watched you tarnish my legacy! Every time you and your fly-by-night crew take a shot at WCW, you piss on my legacy!” Eric Bischoff emerges from the crowd. “You buy the company, and pick a fight with its stars, but you leave the biggest star, Bill Goldberg, behind! You leave Scott Steiner behind! You leave Ric Flair behind! You leave Sting behind! So you and your goons go out and embarrass the people that are left, and make a mockery of the promotion that almost put you out of business!” “And out of all the people you left behind” exclaims Bischoff as he steps between the ropes, “you left the two most important sitting on the sidelines. What was it, Vince? You didn’t think that your talent could compete with ours? You didn’t think that your mind could compete with mine?” Vince’s face turns to a scarlet scowl. “Things are going to change, Vince. You didn’t give us any respect; you made a mistake.” Bischoff points his finger in McMahon’s face. “You tried to humiliate us! You tried to embarrass everything that we worked for! And then you bring me here, after the quote-unquote WWF versus WCW war is already over? You have the audacity to ask Bill Goldberg to work on YOUR behalf after burying his company and tarnishing his legacy? You put me in a match with your greatest creation, Stone Cold Steve Austin, to humiliate me, to humiliate the man who almost put you out of business? That’s petty, Vince. But please, let me show there’s no hard feelings by returning the favor; let me introduce you to MY greatest creation; BILL GOLDBERG!” Vince turns back towards Goldberg just in time to be speared to the mat. Goldberg rips his WWE shirt off, revealing a WCW Nitro shirt underneath. “…And I’ll see all of YOU this Monday Night on TNN!” beams Bischoff, with a devilish look in his eye. “THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!” There you have it. With just one segment, the WCW storyline is fresh, it’s back, it’s hotter than ever; and has a million different directions it can go. Option 1: Epilogue There are many exciting directions to go from here; and rational and exciting ways to explain all and any of them, if the time is taken to logically build in any one of the many directions available. The plan you have read is a way of writing Kurt Angle out of the main event of Wrestlemania in a way which presents it as a natural progression, as opposed to a tragic let-down after months of planning. It is done in a way which includes the fans, drawing on their empathy and respect, playing to their finer qualities. Option 2: Elevate A Current Star To Take Angle’s Place Lesnar buries his head in his hands. He is WWE champion once again; but at what cost? Before him, the stretcher is being lifted up the aisleway carrying the man who’s career he has surely ended. Suddenly, the crowd starts to pop. It catches both Lesnar and the camera crew off-guard. The angle quickly changes to the top of the aisle, where the stretcher has been overturned and officials are swarming in like bees. A cameraman frantically races to the scene, with the shot bouncing and jumping, giving the impression of a shocking event in progress. The camera negotiates the knocked stretcher and a bevy of officials, and we find Chris Benoit ripping on Kurt Angle’s neck, with the Crippler Crossface sunk in. “Who’s your greatest opponent now, you son of a bitch?” screams Benoit, his face alight with an evil scowl. He bellows as he rips on Kurt’s injured neck. Lesnar storms up the aisle and pummels Benoit in the head – but Benoit won’t release the hold! Again and again, Lesnar beats on him, but somehow Benoit is withstanding the punishment. Finally, Lesnar jams his thumbs into Benoit’s eye sockets, ripping him off Angle’s limp shell of a body. Lesnar yanks Benoit to his feet, and tosses him with all his might, throwing him through the air, half way down the ramp. Lesnar turns his attention back to Angle; but for too long. He turns his attention back to the aisle a second later just in time to see The Rabid Wolverine spearing him back into the stretcher. Both men furiously pummel each other back and forth. Lesnar takes the Guard position; Benoit flips him, as both men tumble in a heap all the way down the aisle. Lesnar pounds Benoit in the head and ribs, driving him head first into the steel steps. Displaying massive upper-body strength, Benoit lifts Lesnar into the air and charges him all the way across the ring, driving him into the turnbuckles. Lesnar throws a punch, but Benoit ducks and nails a massive German suplex. Lesnar reels back into the corner. Benoit is quick to pursue; he grabs Lesnar by the head, but as quick as a cat, Brock sinks in the waistlock, spins, and buries his aggressor with an overhead suplex. Lesnar calls for the lights out; he lifts Benoit to his feet by the head and hoists him up for the F-5, but The Crippler hooks on The Crippler Crossface in mid air! Lesnar staggers blindly around the ring, trying to jam Benoit off the turnbuckle, but nothing will remove his grip. Lesnar collapses to the mat, tapping frantically. In a matter of seconds, he is unconscious. Benoit grabs a microphone from ringside and returns to the ring. “For the last two years, Kurt Angle and I have traded victories back and forth. We have traded pinfalls, we have traded tap-outs, neck a neck, mono a mono. And yet for the last six months all I heave heard out of each of your stinking mouths is how the world is waiting for the clash of the two greatest technical wrestlers in the business. How do you think that makes me feel, Brock? Where’s my Wrestlemania main event, BROCK? Benoit pauses to reflect, his heart pounding, sweat dripping off his chiseled physique, an evil scowl of pure hatred etched upon his chin. “But you know what? That’s okay. You see, I’m already one man down. Angle and I, we traded back and forth for two years. I pinned him at No Mercy. I made him tap out four times at Backlash. Right up until The Royal Rumble last month we were toe to toe, victory for victory; until I finally won the war over ‘the Olympic Hero.’ I finally won the war; I put him on the shelf indefinitely! What, are you dumb enough to think that it was a coincidence.. that after having matches with me two weeks in a row last month that Kurt Angle has a broken neck? I have this move; it’s called The Crippler Crossface. It works on giants of every shape and size. It works on Olympic Gold medallists. But most of all, it works on the WWE champion! I have said it before and I will say it again; I am the greatest technical wrestler in the WWE! I will not be disrespected! Kurt Angle disrespected me and it earned him a one-way trip to the operating table! Come Wrestlemania, you’re going to have plenty of time to discuss your ‘dream match,’ Brock Lesnar; because you’re going to be joining him! At Wrestlemania, if you have the guts to take me on, I will prove once and for all who is the greatest technical wrestler, and who is the most dangerous man in the industry today! I AM THE RABID WOLVERINE! PROVE ME WRONG!” Benoit drops the microphone on the mat and spits sadistically on Lesnar’s unconscious body. The Crippler’s music hits. The stage has been set. Suddenly, Chris Benoit scoops the heat that Kurt Angle’s injury threatened to take from the event. Suddenly, Benoit looks like the favorite; and every principal used in building up Wrestlemania’s “dream match” is harnessed by the new main event of Chris Benoit vs. Brock Lesnar, a match that can easily be booked to finally and firmly establish two of the guys who will carry this company for the next five years.
Guest notJames Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 I read Norton's proposal earlier today, but it's got a bunch of flaws (IMO, of course). 1. I doubt Goldberg would sign if he had to do his first job at WrestleMania. And I doubt Vince would sacrifice his pet project Brock Lesnar to a ghost from wCw's past simply to appease him. And booking a non-finish at the biggest show of the year (especially with the World Title at stake) is not an option. 2. If Bischoff hired Goldberg to fuck with Vince and his wrestlers, couldn't Vince just fire him? 3. Doing the whole Nitro/Bischoff/Goldberg thing to reanimate the wCw corpse just reeks of revisionist nostalgia. wCw died the second Vince refused to put them over. wCw won't suddenly become exciting or popular again because a wrestler has an old Nitro shirt on (see nWo v7.0). This booking won't benefit anybody except diehard wCw marks who refuse to let the dead rest. 4. Angle beat Benoit cleanly to segue his feud with Team Angle. I don't see how you can segue him back into the title scene so quickly, without it seeming slipshod and rushed. Better to use Cena, who already has an established and current conflict with Lesnar, and save Benoit for an extended, firmly-based feud. Besides, what would you do with Rhyno? 5. Turning Benoit heel so quickly won't work. Benoit's face runs work because his workrate is killer, but more importantly, because he's smaller than the usual wrestling monster. People root for him because he's an underdog with tremendous talent. He's not so believable as a monster heel, especially since he still lacks killer mic skills. And if you stick him with a mouthpiece like Heyman, you forego all the weeks and months of feuding with Angle and Co., essentially rendering them null and void. And that's not good storytelling. I know WW_ is notorious for doing that, but Benoit deserves a better build to a title match than this. Other than that, I like Angle's bit about gutting it out and finally succumbing to the full nelson, and Lesnar's reluctance to win in this fashion.
Guest JMA Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 Kurt and Steph have a backstory, and Kurt is a heel. Heels don't have wife's and kids at home. It doesn't make sense to mention them. niko His wife is a part of kayfabe. She celebrated with him when he beat Austin and was said to be his wife. Therefore, we have a tilt.
Guest bob_barron Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 I don't remember his wife ever being acknowledged- when he won the title his family celebrated with him- but I don't recall them mentioning his wife. Considering he hit on Stephanie in 2000 I'd say in kayfabe he's single
Guest JMA Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 I don't remember his wife ever being acknowledged- when he won the title his family celebrated with him- but I don't recall them mentioning his wife. Considering he hit on Stephanie in 2000 I'd say in kayfabe he's single No. His wife has been mentioned. And that wasn't the only time.
Guest Zero_Cool Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 Something pretty funny that not many people know about, is that if it weren't for Blake Norton's influence over at the old IGN Wrestling Website, there would've never been that fed down there at the bottom of the forum folder list. Something that makes some sense considering how he writes these fantasy matches every now and then. I dug everything in there until Wrestlemania, I just started scrolling when I saw the name Goldberg pop up. I'm not so sure about the Smackdown Angle/Brock match, either..as it still would've put Kurt at risk. Other than that,a pretty good read.
Guest Brian Posted March 7, 2003 Report Posted March 7, 2003 Goldberg's opposed to wrestling Triple H, Brock Lesnar, or any mid-carders, so rule those feuds out.
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