Columns
Morning Glory #18: The
Goldberg Generation (Part 1)
For the first time in what
seems like forever, I was clearing my room out last week. I came across a pile of old
wrestling magazines, and before throwing them out, I decided to take a look at them. They
were mainly the kayfabed ‘WWF Magazine’, all dating from 1999, but one magazine
in particular struck my interest. It wasn’t a WWF Magazine – it was the August
1999 edition of WCW Magazine. Amongst the kayfabed articles about Randy Savage, Booker T,
and the Steiner Brothers, and the Slamboree results (at which Kevin Nash won the WCW World
Title from DDP) there was a long article on ‘Goldberg’s Generation’. It was
a set of profiles on the 14 ‘young stars’ that WCW were supposedly building, and
in general, came across as a message to smart fans, who at the time, were complaining
about WCW’s lack of pushes for these guys.
The smart fans, of course, were right. By the time WCW did get around to pushing their
younger talent, it was too late, and the company was dead less than two years after the
printing of this article. Most of the guys ended up in the WWF/E. However, the funny thing
is, that with a lot of these ‘can’t miss’ talents, even when they have
ended up in different federations, they haven’t really experienced the success that
WCW predicted they would. Of the 14 wrestlers in the article, it would only be fair to say
that two of them (not including Goldberg who was a main eventer already) have experienced
a successful main event run, and even then, calling their runs ‘successful’
would be pushing it. I’m going to take a look at what the article had to say about
each man, and what they went on to do; whether they have become successful, or failed, and
why.
GOLDBERG
The article said: Bill Goldberg has come from virtually nowhere to become pro
wrestling’s biggest star in under two years. He has found, however, that everyone
from confused promoters to crazed ‘WCW Presidents’ could be standing in his way
from becoming the type of World Champion who could hold the belt for years to come. Even
today, many experts find it unfathomable why Goldberg does not hold the World Title, yet
most expect him to regain it at any time. We consider ourselves wrestling experts, but it
doesn’t take a genius to come up with a hypothesis about Goldberg’s future: We
predict he will become the first World Champion in more than a decade to hold the belt for
more than one year without being defeated. The most amazing thing about Goldberg is that
he is still learning and studying more manoeuvres and strategies as he moves along in his
career. If he manages to avoid the injury bug, his future is limitless.
Although the article is written in kayfabed terms, the beginning of the above paragraph
actually sums up why Goldberg, and in turn, WCW, fell downwards. Goldberg was the biggest
draw WCW had in the late 1990’s, and after he won the World Title from Hulk Hogan,
the sky seemed to be the limit. However, the amount of backstage politics that went on at
the time meant that WCW didn’t know how to use Goldberg as champion, and after one
decent feud as champ (with DDP), he ended up dropping the title to Kevin Nash. From then
onwards, while he was still WCW’s number one face in terms of following and drawing
power, he was treated as a mid-carder, feuding with the likes of the Steiner Brothers,
Scott Hall, and DDP, while Hogan and Nash reigned supreme at the top of the card. Goldberg
was never pushed as WCW’s franchise after losing the belt, and after an ill-fated
heel turn, his WCW career was doomed.
After the death of WCW, the WWE waited two years before adding Goldberg to their roster.
Debuting a day after Wrestlemania XIX, Goldberg has only been in the WWE for 4 months, and
yet he is already being considered a ‘failure’ by WWE higher ups. Never mind the
fact that he’s never been pushed in a proper main event capacity, other than a
pointless feud with The Rock in which Rock sucked Goldberg’s face heat from under him
by playing it cool. Since then, he’s been used in a mid card capacity, and while he
has gotten over pretty well (see his squash of Rodney Mack in MSG), he’s had nothing
of the impact that WWE were expecting. Goldberg SHOULD be main eventing WWE cards right
now, but instead, Triple H and his buddies sit on top of the RAW cards. Almost like what
happened to Goldberg in WCW, actually. The biggest dropping of the ball in the history of
the sport? Could well be.
SCOTT STEINER
Uncontrollable and unrivalled, Scott Steiner seems rejuvenated following his reunion
with his older brother, Rick. It seems academic that this fearsome duo will regain the WCW
World Tag Team Championship, but what of Scott, the current US Titleholder? Most people
want to run when they see him coming, but if they slowed down to look past his evil
tactics and his brash personality, they’d see a wrestler as powerful and purely
talented as any in the sport’s history. Unlike most grapplers, Steiner has never
suffered a lengthy losing streak or even a mini-slump. He’s been a superstar from the
moment he entered WCW, and if he forgot about being Big Poppa Pump and concentrated more
on being the best he could be, there is no cap to his future. But with his ego-driven
style, we doubt he could ever be a World singles champion – but that won’t
prevent him from dominating WCW well into the next decade.
The magazine was wrong on both it’s predictions for Steiner, as he won the WCW Title
at the end of 2000, when WCW was on it’s last legs. Steiner never did dominate WCW
into the next decade, as for the promotion, the next decade never came. However, even when
WCW was dying, Steiner was one of the men that was booked perfectly. As a monster heel
champion, he was both hugely over, and pretty good in the ring, too. Sadly, just as
Steiner’s momentum was getting huge, WCW died, and on the final Nitro, Steiner
dropped the title to Booker T. At this point, Steiner’s injury problems overcame him,
and he was forced out of the sport, until he signed with WWE in late 2002.
After a phenomenal debut in Madison Square Garden, and a monster push as a mega-babyface,
Steiner faced HHH for the World Title at the Royal Rumble. However, it was quickly made
apparent that Steiner was a shell of his former self in the ring. Blowing up after around
five minutes, HHH was forced to carry him through one of the worst matches of 2003 so far.
Immediately after, Steiner was de-pushed to the mid card. Personally, I’m still a
huge Steiner mark, because his act is so unique and entertaining. I honestly feel that if
he had been at all capable in the ring, he would probably be World Champion by this point
– his only pitfall was his brutal ringwork. But in reality, other than his WCW Title
run, he would be considered another failure out of the batch of ‘can’t
miss’ prospects WCW had.
REY MYSTERIO
When WCW Monday Nitro was a new program, the organization launched a now-legendary
promotional campaign by posting advertisements in bus stops and the sides of phone booths
at many cities in the US. One of the best of these posters was a shot of a masked Rey
Mysterio, with the words ‘Flying Fury’ next to his soaring body. Like other
legendary Mexican stars such as Mil Mascaras and El Santo, Mysterio blends in his heritage
as a mat wrestler in his homeland with the all-out, frenzied style of modern day wrestling
much better than many of his contemporaries have been able to do. When he was unmasked by
Kevin Nash and Lex Luger, he accepted his fate without complaint, but from the moment he
lost his hood, it was obvious that Rey wanted to mix it up with the biggest of the big
boys – and he won! The question is, however: What will the future hold for this
charismatic star? He could dominate the Cruiserweight division, but he is hinting at
making a strong run for the World Heavyweight Title. He would be the smallest and lightest
man to ever hold the championship, but does anyone doubt he could do it?
After his short and unsuccessful ‘unmasked’ run in WCW, Rey signed for the WWE
in mid-2002. Since his debut in August, he has been one of the most successful former WCW
wrestlers to join the federation. After a dope feud with Kurt Angle after his debut, Rey
teamed with Edge to win the Tag Titles, before being taken out with a knee injury. Since
his return, he has moved into the Cruiserweight division, and won the title, and looks to
be set to feud with either Ultimo Dragon or Billy Kidman. However, the question brought up
by the article is still going on – should Rey be used in the Cruiser division, or
should he face heavyweights?
The WWE seemed to be favouring the latter, with his feud with Angle garnering a lot of TV
time in the Summer, but since then, it seems like the WWE’s obsession with pushing
big men has taken over, and this has reduced Rey to doing jobs for men like A-Train and
Big Show. My opinion? The fans took Mysterio seriously in his feud with Angle, an
established main eventer, so who is to say that they wouldn’t take him seriously in a
main event capacity? Size should not matter as long as someone has the skill to back it up
– so if I were the WWE, I’d be pushing Rey against heavyweights, en route to a
World Title reign. He’s proven that he can get hugely over – why not let him
take the next step, rather than wasting him in the Cruiser division? As of now though, he
HAS lived up to the potential suggested in the article.
BILLY KIDMAN
Kidman had a spectacular 1998, and his quick start in 1999 bodes well for his future.
He was a World Tag Team Champion with Rey Mysterio. However, we feel that Kidman could
become the Goldberg of the cruiserweight division, known the world over as the finest
wrestler in his weight class. A fellow graduate of the Power Plant like Goldberg, Kidman
continues to improve with each appearance and each match. It would serve him well to stay
in the cruiserweight division and become, perhaps, the greatest star in his weight class
in the history of the sport. It’s all up to him.
Kidman’s final run in WCW was basically nothing spectacular, but since he has been in
the WWE, I feel he should be considered one of the most criminally misused wrestlers on
the roster. When he has been pushed by the WWE, he has gotten hugely over on his ringwork
alone – see his early appearances during the InVasion angle, and also his
Cruiserweight Title run in early 2002. People say Kidman has no charisma – I view him
as the next Bret Hart. Hart had very little charisma on the mic, but his look and his
skill in the ring, natural charisma without words attracted fans to him. The same can be
said about Kidman. I’ve always said that if I were to take over the WWE, Kidman would
be one of the men I would instantly work on making a bonafide main eventer. The only
problem with Kidman is his size, which, like Rey Mysterio, will probably relegate him to
the Cruiserweight division in the WWE despite his upper-card potential. I wish I could see
big things in Kidman’s future, I really do, but I feel that the WWE will merely use
him as another Cruiserweight, which is sad, given his amazing talent and ring charisma.
The article never predicted a main event run for him, and as much as I’d like to
change that, with the current climate of the WWE I have to agree.
BUFF BAGWELL
As we approach the millennium, Marcus Alexander Bagwell’s future seems blindingly
bright. At this writing, he is entering what could be the most fruitful and profitable
years of his career. Free of the oppressive influences of Scott Steiner and the nWo, Buff
now has an opportunity to be known as a truly great solo competitor instead of simply a
beautiful body or giggling loon. He’s always had the talent, and in the years when he
wrestled in small Georgia or Texas independent federations, he always dominated the
competiton. Now, with a wealth of experience, several tag team titles, and a remarkable
comeback from a serious injury under his belt, Bagwell has a chance to get serious and get
into the WCW’s elite. He’s always had the talent. Now he just has to show the
dedication.
And those last two lines sum up his WWE ‘career’ perfectly. After getting a good
push in mid 1999 in WCW, Bagwell, like so many others, became a missed opportunity after a
de-push during the booking reign of Vince Russo. Never that good in the ring,
Bagwell’s character, look, and charisma drew fans to him, and the pop his name
garnered on the final Nitro was probably the main reason that Vince McMahon signed him up
for the WWE. However, once in the federation, Bagwell proved more trouble than he was
worth. He had one match – against Booker T on RAW, and was booed out of the building
for his ringwork. However, I feel that judging Bagwell (or Booker) on this match was
unfair – the boos came for the WCW name in my opinion. However, Bagwell soon proved
himself a backstage nuisance, too. He had a run-in with Gregory ‘Hurricane’
Helms, and got decked on all accounts, and was also accused of faking injuries. Bagwell
was released soon after. With his good look, and good character, Bagwell could’ve
hidden his not-so good ringwork, and gotten over as a major star. However, he remains a
hugely ‘dropped ball’, but this time, Bagwell dropped the ball himself.
I’ve decided to separate this column into three parts, so expect Part Two to arrive
on the main page within a couple of days. The wrestlers that will be discussed are Raven,
Konnan, Disco Inferno, Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit. Until then, you can send your
feedback to the usual place, as I always appreciate it.
Peace,
Scott Newman:
scott.newman@ntlworld.com
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