King Kamala

It seemed like they were building up to a Goldberg/Meng mini-feud on at least two occasions but both times, they just ended up with Goldberg squashing Meng. Once in The Summer of '98 when Meng went on a winning streak, destroying jobbers and ended up getting squashed by Goldberg on a Nitro and once in '00 when Meng returned seemingly out of nowhere to save Vince Russo from getting beat up by Goldberg and put Goldberg in The Tongan Death Grip. The two also squared off in a Little Caesar's commercial in '99ish And since we're never not in the mood for crappy Russo era WCW and I like posting videos Russo forfeits the WCW World title and siqs (sp?) Meng on Goldberg

Alright if you haven't already, I advise you to read my last entry. To sum it up, after the cancellation of ECW on TNN in October '00, ECW agrees to a talent exchange with the also struggling WCW. So I'll basically do written summaries for this first part, but as this progresses, I'll do entire results of cards for PPVs and supershows and what have you. The story begins at WCW Halloween Havoc '00 on October 29th at The MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show is main evented by a handicap match between the team of Kronic (Brian Adams and Bryan Clarke) and WCW's beloved #1 superstar, Goldberg, who is currently fighting for his career. After a couple minutes of tepid action, Goldberg comes out victorious with his career intact much to the fans delight. However, during Goldberg's postmatch celebration, a trio of men slip past security and hop over the guard rails and into the ring. Although identified by the announcers as "overzealous, psycho fans", it's clear to the informed wrestling fan that they're ECW wrestlers Rhyno, Justin Credible, and Sabu. The three men jump Goldberg from behind and assault him viciously in the ring. However, a large contingent of the WCW roster, led by Tag Team Champions, Sean O'Haire and Mark Jindrak charge the ring to make the save and pummel the ECW wrestlers. Conspicously absent from the mob of WCW wrestlers are some of WCW's established veterans (Kevin Nash, Sting, Lex Luger, Diamond Dallas Page, Booker T). The PPV ends abruptly as local police drag Credible, Rhyno, and Sabu away in cuffs. The next night on Nitro, it's business as usual. The annnouncers try to ignore what happened after the main event and focus on the current storylines. Their attempt to proceed with business as usual cracks when new WCW Commissioner Mike Sanders references the event in a State of WCW address and specifically mentions Extreme Championship Wrestling, Justin Credible, Rhyno, and Sabu. He mentions that this weekend ECW will hold a PPV of its own in Chicago and Sanders says he and The Natural Born Thrillers will be there and if ECW wants a fight, they'll give it to them and any WCW wrestler who wants to join them will be gladly invited aboard Sanders' private jet to kick some ass at whatever bingo hall ECW is running this weekend. Later during the event, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair is announced as the new CEO of WCW. During his spiel, Mike Sanders confronts Flair and expresses his disgust at the announcement. He says as long as Ric Flair, Sting, Kevin Nash, and all those old timers keep coming back, there's no room for progress for WCW. Sanders asks Ric Flair where Sting was last night when Goldberg was in trouble? Where Kevin Nash was? Sanders says they don't care about the good of the company, they care about the good of their bank accounts. If he really cares about WCW, Sanders tells Flair that he should be in Chicago on Sunday to take care of business. Ric Flair says he's forgotten more about the storied history of wrestling than Sanders will ever know. Flair says that WCW is where the big boys play, ECW is a pissant pennyante operation run out of a bingo hall in Philadelphia. They're a bunch of violent thugs, not professional wrestlers. Flair says it isn't worth their time to bother with them and encourages WCW wrestlers not to go to Chicago on Sunday and if they do show up there and get involved with ECW thugs, there will be consequences. Soon after, ECW owner Paul Heyman issues a statement on the promotion's website, sending an open invitation to anybody on the WCW roster to compete at the November To Remember PPV on November 5th in Chicago. On that week's Thunder, Flair addresses the challenge and reiterates that anybody who wrestles or participates in any other type of attack against the ECW roster will be punished severely. He also says he's been given word from the WCW Board of Directors that if Mike Sanders shows up at the event, he will be stripped of his position as Commissioner of WCW. Sanders comes out and responds that the position doesn't mean nearly as much as defending the honor of WCW and he will be at November to Remember as will the WCW Tag Team Champions, Sean O'Haire and Mark Jindrak who have accepted Paul Heyman's open invitation and will compete in a match against an ECW team at November to Remember. Flair then says he'll have to strip them of their titles! During that weekend's episode of ECW's syndicated show Hardcore TV, Paul Heyman issues a rebuttal to Ric Flair. Heyman says that ECW doesn't only house hardcore wrestlers such as The Sandman and New Jack but superb athletes like World Champion Jerry Lynn and Rob Van Dam. High flyers better than anybody in the joke that is the WCW Cruiserweight division. Heyman also proudly boasts that November to Remember has been sold out for months, something WCW hasn't been able to say about the venues it runs in this country for years. Heyman emphasizes that he did not order the attack on Goldberg at Halloween Havoc but he is not going to condemn. For far too long, ECW has been ignored. Since they haven't been able to get the spotlight they deserve through more passive methods, some of them have decided to do what they do best for attention, by fighting for it. Heyman says he believes ECW wrestlers are the best in the world and if anybody in WCW wants to try and prove them wrong, they are more than welcome to show up at ECW events to try and do so. As Flair once said, to be the man, you have to beat the man! WHOO! Midway through November to Remember, there has been no sign of any of WCW's rosters. However, right before Sean O'Haire and Mark Jindrak's scheduled match, a parade of WCW wrestlers, led by The Steiner Brothers, make their way down to ringside to watch the match/protect their fellow WCWers. Amongst these wrestlers is Ric Flair's own son, David. Sean O'Haire and Mark Jindrak handily defeat their opponents, Christian York and Joey Matthews much to the chagrin of the audience. After the match, Scott Steiner grabs a mic to address the audience. Steiner disparages ECW and its fans in his own inimitable way, prompting ECW fan favorite Tommy Dreamer to come out. Dreamer says he didn't ask for a fight with WCW, a bunch of lunatics did but he can't sit here idly while Steiner tears down the promotion that's given him his livelihood. Steiner says its the only promotion that would hire Dreamer's bitch tittied, wind pants wearing ass. Dreamer says at least he worked for his spot and didn't take any shortcuts. Steiner asks what Dreamer's implying and the fans chant the short cuts that Dreamer is implying. Steiner angrily shoves Dreamer and Dreamer responds by decking Steiner to the fans' delight. The WCW guys rush in to make the save and attack Dreamer. This prompts the ECW locker room to empty to protect one of their leaders. WCW begins to appear to get the upperhand of the brawl with Steiner placing a bloodied Dreamer in The Steiner Recliner in the middle of the ring. All of a sudden, we hear "Enter Sandman" over the PA and The Sandman makes his entrance with kendo stick and beer entoe. He manages to clear out most of the guys- WCW and ECW out of the ring until it's just The Steiner Brothers and the fallen Dreamer in the ring. The Sandman manages to fight both Steiners off to the back and the rest of the WCW guys quickly follow. The crowd manages to calm down enough before the main event; a Double Jeopardy match for the ECW World title between Champion Jerry Lynn, The Sandman, Justin Credible, and Steve Corino. Corino eliminates the exhausted Sandman with The Old School Explosion and Credible pins Lynn with The That's Incredible. Corino hits Credible with a superkick and appears to have the victory and The ECW World title when Credible's old friend, Scott Hall appears out of nowhere and attacks Corino and hits The Outsider's Edge on him. Credible covers for the win and The ECW World Championship. After the match, Credible and Hall celebrate in the ring together. Paul Heyman comes out and offers Hall an ECW t-shirt which Hall gladly accepts. Heyman grabs the mic and says that tomorrow night...Monday Nitro will be in Chicago and he and the rest of ECW will be in the audience! Alright part two will be up in the next couple days. Any feedback (negative or positive- just try to make it semi-constructive) is welcome.

Hope I don't jinx myself by saying that I'm glad to see that my two backup choices for my last pick are still on the board. Nobody better take 'em!

Does 14 count as being a kid? If so, I'll say the vast majority of my posts I made here during my first year qualify as "stupid, embarassing shit". Oh and I used to make movies with my younger brother with our family's home video camera when I was 7 or so. The only one I remember though was a Saturday Night Fever ripoff (I had a weird fascination with '70s pop culture for a couple years) with myself in the Tony Manero role. For some reason, we roped my older brother into dressing in drag to play the zany comic relief role.

Not sure yet. I've just planned up to Starrcade to be honest. I'll get to that bridge when I cross it.

WWE @ Fayetteville, NC - Crown Coliseum - June 29, 2004 Shannon Moore pinned Carly Colon Velocity: Nunzio & Johnny Stamboli defeated Doug & Danny Basham at 6:26 when Stamboli pinned Danny following the Sicilian Slice double team Charlie Haas (w/ Jackie Gayda) pinned Mark Jindrak (w/ Teddy Long) with a German suplex at 3:47 after avoiding a springboard crossbody; after the bout, Jindrak argued with Long over the loss Paul London & Billy Kidman defeated WWE Smackdown! Tag Team Champions the Dudley Boyz in a non-title match via disqualification at 9:15 when Bubba Ray pulled the referee out of the ring after Kidman hit the Shooting Star Press on D-Von; after the bout, the champions attacked London & Kidman Smackdown! - included John Cena interrupting an in-ring promo by Kenzo Suzuki: Booker T defeated Rob Van Dam and Rene Dupree at 13:07 by pinning Dupree after RVD hit the Five Star Frog Splash but was pulled out of the ring; due to pre-match stipulations, Booker earned a US title shot for the following week Rey Mysterio Jr. pinned Mordecai at 4:19 by reversing the crucifix powerbomb into a hurricanrana (Mordecai's last match before going back to OVW) Torrie Wilson pinned Sable with a DDT at 3:14 WWE World Champion John Bradshaw Layfield pinned Spike Dudley at 7:28 with a powerbomb after hitting two short-arm clotheslines; after the bout, Eddie Guerrero came out to make the save and announced that a steel cage rematch between he and Bradshaw would take place in two weeks' time The lure of the Smackdown! spoilers that evening were all too alluring for lurkers is my best hypothesis.

More videos! The Faces of Fear Vs The Fantastics (Nitro 10-21-96) Gotta love Heenan saying that they're cannibals. I remembered The Rock 'N' Roll Express being around the time the nWo debuted but not The Fantastics. Guess I was wrong. And babyface Bischoff was such a dweeb. The Outsiders Vs The Faces of Fear (Nitro 12-16-96)- And I thought Ray Traylor was WCW 4 Life King Haku Vs Harley Race (Royal Rumble '89) You have to love Monsoon railing against Heenan for not buying Haku a new robe.

Yeah, they sure did. However, they weren't quite around yet for the period I'm starting (October/November '00). The WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team titles tournament was in February and March of '01.

I think I may be in a distinct minority here but I think Meng/Haku was one of the most underutilized guys of his era. Now he wasn't a super great worker and his mic work was...well...non-existent but he had something that you can't create for a monster heel (see Zeus, Giant Gonzalez, virtually any of The Undertaker's opponents from '92 to '96)---the appearance of being legitimately tough. Now- as Cheech pointed out being legitimately tough alone isn't going to get you over but it sure can help. While he did have some of the best mouth pieces in the business managing him (Heenan in the WWF, Colonial Robert Parker and later Jimmy Hart in the WCW), he was always second banana to another one of his manager's clients. And while I don't think his reputation as a superbadass was completely ignored, it wasn't emphasized nearly enough. I mean the dude ripped another dude's eye out. He shouldn't have been the guy the huge babyface beats on his way to facing the monster heel, he should have been the monster heel. For some reason, I think his hard-hitting, superstiff style may have been better utilized in today's wrestling than in cartoony '80s WWF and mid '90s WCW.

Let's revitalize this attempt at a running thread. Today, we'll look back at everybody's favorite Tongan hoss and a guy I personally find underrated...Haku Name: Haku Also known as: Meng and King Tonga Height: 6'1'' Weight: 313 pounds Age: 49 Debut: 1978 Accomplishments: WWF Tag Team Champion (With Andre The Giant), WCW Hardcore Champion, WWC Tag Team Champion (With Hercules Ayala), two time SWS Tag Team Champion (With Yoshiaki Yatsu), King of WWF Background: Born as Tonga Fifita, he was sent at the age of 14 by The King of Tonga to Japan to train as a sumo wrestler. However, after the death of his stablemaster, he was trained for the sport of professional wrestling by former sumo wrestler, Genichiro Tenyru and Japanese wrestling legend, Giant Baba. He first made a name for himself as King Tonga in the Montreal territory in the early '80s before being signed by the WWF in the midst of their national expansion. Early on, he carved a reputation for himself as one of the legitmately toughest men in professional wrestling. In one notable incident, he popped out the eye of Jimmy Jack Funk during a backstage brawl. He eventually found success there as one half of The Islanders, under the new name of Haku. The team engaged in a memorable feud with The British Bulldogs over The Islanders and their manager, Bobby Heenan's kidnapping of The Bulldogs' beloved...err...bulldog, Matilda. After Tama's departure from the WWF, Haku retained Bobby Heenan as a manager and emerged as a solo star becoming briefly rechristened King Haku after the previous king Harley Race went out with an injury. In the latter half of 1989, he joined forces with fellow Heenan Family member and Eighth Wonder of The World, Andre The Giant to form The Colossal Connection. The two quickly won the WWF Tag Team titles to Demolition. The team would lose the titles to Demolition in a famous rematch at WrestleMania VI and broke up immedietely afterwards. Afterward, he former a tag team with another Heenan Family member and fellow Tongan, The Barbarian. The two would team until Haku departed the WWF in early '92. He would go on to join the stream of '80s WWF superstars to sign with WCW. He debuted in the Fall of '94 as Meng, Colonial Robert Parker's bodyguard. Meng would go on to feud with WCW megababyface Sting for the WCW U.S. title. Later, he would join the infamous Dungeon of Doom and reteam with his old WWF Tag Team partner, The Barbarian as The Faces of Fear for the majority of his WCW run. He occasionally got a glimpse of the upper mid-card and main event; the aforementioned feud with Sting, getting a World title shot against Goldberg in August '98, defeating Lex Luger at Mayhem '99). After the release of The Barbarian in '00, he became a part of WCW's Hardcore division, becoming the last champion at WCW Sin in January '01 before jumping back to the WWF and his old moniker of Haku several days later. This would be one of the final blows in the infamous Monday Night Wars. There, Haku would team up with Rikishi. Unfortunately, Rikishi would be plagued with injuries and Haku was relegated to Sunday Night Heat and Jakked duty before being released in early 2002. Currently, Haku is happy in semi-retirement. Working as a car salesman (!?) in Florida and working the occasional indy show. Points of Discussion: Do you think Haku(/Meng/King Tonga) was underutilized? Overutilized?Utilized the right amount? Would he have had a different career had he debuted ten years later than he did? Who used the big man to the better of his abilities WWF or WCW? Best tag team he was in...Faces of Fear, Colossal Connection, or The Islanders? Favorite matches/moments? Least favorite matches/moments? Now some highlights of Haku's career King Haku's coronation King Haku Vs Hulk Hogan (Saturday Night's Main Event, 10-25-88) Demolition Vs The Colossal Connection (Superstars 12-13-89) Meng Vs Chris Benoit (Slamboree '97)

Can someone explain the concept of The Eliminator to me?

Former TSM semi-regular and charter member of the Maine Street Posse, HartFan86 is a friend of a friend and I saw him regularly at local indy shows five or six years ago. Don't think I've talked to him in person though to be honest.

When we were kids, me and my brothers used to ride down the stairways in sleeping bags. For some inexplicable reason, our dad let us do this for a while but Mom put an end to it once my younger brother got hurt during one of our poor man's luge races. I also ate ants as a kid in an attempt to imitate a bat (In particular Batly from Eureeka's Castle but reading up on the show having not seen it in a good twelve years, it seemed like he kept them as pets rather than ate them). I would also run into walls while flapping my arms wildly on purpose as part of that imitation. During our playground battle royals (a bunch of us'd stand on this platform thingy on the playground and throw each other off), I always purposefully went after the kid that was a foot taller and a good one hundred pounds heavier than me in an attempt to be the valiant, Hoganesque babyface of our elementary school battle royals. This usually resulted in me getting chucked first.

Shit, I was seriously going to mention you. I think we have a very similar sense of humor and a lot of similar tastes.

In fairness, one of the major reasons I wouldn't hang out with Czech is that he reminds me a lot of myself sometimes.

I'm problay on that list... Nah, I don't even really have a problem with you anymore. Czech, for example, is a great poster but seems like he'd be way too high strung in real life for me to enjoy hanging out with him on a regular basis.

Dandy's the guy I talk to most outside of the board on AIM so obviously he's up there. I'd also love to hang out and shoot the breeze about old school wrestling with Venk, Cheech, and Millenium Man. And honestly I think it'd be interesting to hang out with Bob Barron for a day. There's very few people I wouldn't want to hang out with in real life here to be perfectly honest.

Alright folks, I'm back with some fantasy wrestling stuff far too dorky even for the wrestling sections of this book. Over the next few weeks, I'll be exploring an interesting "What if?" What if, after the cancellation of ECW on TNN in October 2000, World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling agreed to a talent exchange? In addition to featuring each others talent on their respective shows, what if Paul Heyman was named head booker for WCW and color commentator for its flagship show Monday Nitro? Now this would be an extremly unlikely scenario for a multitude of reasons but hey it's called fantasy wrestling and for the next few weeks, I'll explore the possibilities of this scenario and book the company from the initial invasion till the planned Big Bang PPV that was scheduled to take place on May 6th, 2001 before WCW was bought by Vince McMahon. Before we start though, let's run down the champions and top five contenders for both companies, shall we? WCW World Champion- Booker T Top Five Contenders 1. Scott Steiner 2. Goldberg 3. Lex Luger 4. Kevin Nash 5. Jeff Jarrett WCW U.S. Champion- Hugh Morrus 1. Lance Storm 2. Buff Bagwell 3. Bam Bam Bigelow 4. Sgt. A-Wall 5. Disco Inferno WCW Cruiserweight Champion- Mike Sanders 1. Kwee Wee 2. Elix Skipper 3. Rey Mysterio Jr 4. Kidman 5. Lieutenant Loco WCW Tag Team titles- Sean O'Haire and Mark Jindrak 1. The Insiders 2. Kronic 3. The Filthy Animals 4. The Perfect Event 5. The Boogie Knights ECW World Champion- Jerry Lynn 1. Rob Van Dam 2. Justin Credible 3. Steve Corino 4. The Sandman 5. CW Anderson ECW Television Champion- Rhyno 1. Yoshiro Tajiri 2. New Jack 3. Spike Dudley 4. Nova 5. Super Crazy ECW Tag Team Champions- Full Blooded Italians (Little Guido and Tony Mamaluke) 1. Yoshiro Tajiri and Mikey Whipwreck 2. Danny Doring and Amish Roadkill 3. Spike Dudley and Balls Mahoney 4. Christian York and Joey Matthews 5. Chris Chetti and Simon Diamond

Alright, surprised this one hasn't been picked. Though I've seen people who aren't entirely fond of this one (they're idiots). A somewhat unique and undisputably brilliant parody of art films. I'm going of course with... Season Seven, Episode Twenty One "22 Short Films About Springfield" Skinner: [faking a yawn] Well, that was wonderful. Good time was had by all. I'm pooped. Chalmers: Yes, I guess I should be - [notes entire kitchen is on fire] Good Lord, what is happening in there? Skinner: The Aurora Borealis? Chalmers: The Aurora Borealis? At this time of year? At this time of day? In this part of the country? Localized entirely within your kitchen? Skinner: Yes. Chalmers: May I see it? Skinner: Oh, erm... No.

Seriously, this Hall and Oates video can't go ignored.

I'd like to see Czech's thoughts on this video It's clear to me that everybody involved in this one was wacked out of their gourds on something and why is Oates singing?

Damn. Three straight rock solid selections. "Homer Goes To College" is one I had assumed had already been picked when I made my last choice and thus didn't think of it and "The Springfield Files" was one I strongly considered for my last one. I said earlier that "The City of New York Vs Homer Simpson" was the last great episode of The Simpsons IMHO. Well, IMHO "Behind The Laughter" was the last really good one.

Aw man- that whole period of the cruisweight title from when Lenny Lane won the title till Russo and Bischoff came back in April '00 and stripped Prince Iaukea of the title just killed that division. I thought no matter how bad WCW got, the Cruiserweight division would always be at least pretty good. I thought wrong. Oh and that brings to mind Evan Karagias. That guy was bland as plain toast. I liked Three Count but even as a mark, I could tell he was the weakest link of that group. Certainly didn't deserve a push to The Cruiserweight title and at the time he won the title, I thought the division hit rock bottom. Again, unfortunately, I thought wrong.

Well like mellow, I can't say I ever wanted someone to fail, I was relieved whenever WCW decided to end their biyearly pushes for Van Hammer and Prince Iaukea. Those guys were just so boring. Boring as faces, boring as heels. I'd say the same about Chris Masters. Didn't want to see the guy fail but I was relieved WWE finally just gave up on him being the next big thing.

Graham Parker is playing this supersmall club here in Portland in late March. Hopefully he's still good live if not-eh, I'm only out $20 and I can say I saw him.