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Morning Glory #19: The
Goldberg Generation (Part 2)
Continuing on from Part 1 of
this series (which you can find RIGHT HERE),
I’m set to discuss the next five wrestlers in the ‘Goldberg’s
Generation’ article from the August 1999 issue of WCW Magazine. From the first part
of this series, I concluded that Goldberg, Scott Steiner, and Billy Kidman have had their
careers wasted by the WWE, and Buff Bagwell wasted his own career, making Rey Mysterio the
only success out of the first five of the ‘can’t miss prospects’. Will the
next five fare any better? Let’s see….
RAVEN
Raven is already enjoying an incredible year, reforming with Saturn to become a
championship team and actually garnering the favor of the fans. Even more amazingly,
it’s hard to believe this man once displayed the cowardice that he once did. Where he
used to let others do his bidding, Raven seems eager to take on any and all challenges.
He’s also willing to display his wrestling skills, which are among the elite of the
sport, and his stamina borders on the unreal. It appears Raven could wrestle for two hours
and not become winded or tired. More than any WCW competitor we can think of at the
moment, Raven is competing with blinders on, anxious to show he’s among the
organization’s best…..and he is. If there’s a wrestler than represents this
sport’s new wave of superstars, Raven is that competitor – and he has yet to
reach a fraction of his vast potential.
Sadly, Raven never did reach that potential, in both WCW and WWE. Raven left the WCW
before it died, spending a short time on his old ground in ECW, before signing for the
then-WWF in late 2000. Brought in as an ally of his fellow former ECW wrestler Tazz,
Raven’s character was never really allowed to develop in the WWE, as he floated
around in his formative months, feuding with Steve Blackman and Hardcore Holly over the
Hardcore Title, just as many former ECW wrestlers had done before him. Raven’s best
point in the WWE came during a short face run in early 2001, where he got hugely over in
the mid card, but still, his character never really developed. Once he turned heel for the
InVasion angle, it was clear that the WWE were never interested in pushing Raven’s
character properly, and he faded from the spotlight.
The worst thing about this situation is that WWE is more character-driven than other
federations, and yet a man with average ring skills but an incredible character was given
no chance to get over. Raven’s character developed somewhat on Heat in early 2003
with his ‘masterpiece’ angle in which he encouraged people to do pointless
things, but again, it didn’t end up mattering much, as he was released soon after.
Now in NWA-TNA, Raven seems to be faring a lot better, making a successful main event run
against the likes of Jeff Jarrett and AJ Styles. Whether he will ever reach the incredible
potential he showed back in WCW in 1999 is very questionable, even if he becomes a top
main eventer in TNA. It’s just sad that he couldn’t spotlight his talents
properly in the big leagues of WWE. Another ‘can’t miss’ WCW prospect
wasted.
KONNAN
At the height of the popularity of the nWo Wolfpac, when Sting, Randy Savage, Kevin
Nash, Lex Luger and Konnan were dominating WCW, who expected Konnan to become that
organization’s most popular member? Obviously not Nash, whose jealously lead to his
violent expulsion of K-Dogg from the group. Since then, Konnan has had a decent run as a
solo competitor, but his music videos pose quite a quandary. It is painfully obvious that
Konnan could become a multi-platinum selling hip-hop artist if he chooses to go that
route. He simply has to try it, so we predict that Konnan might leave WCW for a stretch to
either go on tour or produce a full-length recording. A recent conversation with Konnan,
however, revealed that he is intent on becoming a World Champion and proudly bringing the
belt to Mexico to defend it. He may or may not become a World Champion, but we see him
working his way to the top contender’s spot – but only if he concentrates on
wrestling and not music for at least a year. Our easiest prediction: Konnan will remain
one of the most popular personalities in the mat world well past the year 2005.
How wrong could that last prediction be? I knew Konnan was floating around the indy feds,
but I had to ask Justin T and Brett Berliner to verify what he was actually doing now.
He’s in NWA-TNA, apparently, in a faux-stable with Ron Killings. Konnan’s
probably had the least success out of anyone in this group, and that is surprising, as he
was undoubtedly one of the most popular when the article was printed. I’m not sure
whether he’s badmouthed Vince, or what, but it doesn’t seem like the WWE is
going to pick him up, regardless of his mic skills, which, unlike his ringwork (and
rapping), are actually good. Anyhow, a recent run in TNA after doing nothing for a couple
of years does not make Konnan a success. He’s another one who’s talent has been
wasted (or who has wasted his talent, if it is the case).
DISCO INFERNO
Forget the image and the hair cream. The fact of the matter is that Disco Inferno is
one of WCW’s brightest young stars and an integral part of the organization’s
future. Amazingly, when Disco appears in non-ring related ventures, such as his
appearances for charities and on television programs, he proves to be a learned and
intelligent man, and when he gets in the ring fans can’t help but be impressed with
his physicality. It’s hard to say whether he’d be better off scrapping the dance
steps and music, since pro wrestling is a sport where it pays to get noticed. Disco
Inferno made his reputation with a disco ball and some dated dancing. Now, it’s time
for him to look to the future and not the past, and go for the brass ring, not to mention
the gold, by the year 2000.
Incredibly, one of the only people on this list to actually achieve their touted potential
is Glenn ‘Disco Inferno’ Gilberti. His last days in WCW were nothing
spectacular, and he was never picked up by the WWE, and floated around various indy feds
until he ended up in NWA-TNA in late 2002. Although he arrived in the Disco Inferno
gimmick, things have certainly looked up for him. In early 2003, he obviously impressed
the bookers, and he has received a huge push to the main events, under the guise of a
serious wrestler, using his real name of Glenn Gilberti. I don’t watch TNA, but from
what I can gather, the closest comparison to what has happened to Gilberti would be Val
Venis in the WWE, when he dropped the ‘Porn Star’ gimmick to become a serious
wrestler, both in 2000 and in 2002 (as Chief Morley).
However, although Gilberti has been successful so far, whether he can continue it remains
to be seen. Venis, although he had some success as Chief Morley, and also as ‘serious
wrestler Val Venis’ in 2000, ended up reverting back to the pornstar gimmick both
times – a gimmick that will always be over, but will never get him into main event
positions. Going by the example set by Venis, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Gilberti
back as Disco Inferno some time in the future. If he manages to stay successful in his
current form, good for him. I don’t watch TNA, and can’t really judge his
character, but he certainly seems to have had a lot more success than some of the other
wrestlers on this list.
EDDIE GUERRERO
Pound for pound, Eddie Guerrero may be the most talented wrestler in WCW. His
‘weaknesses’ are very minor, and he’s proven himself to be one of the most
cunning and callous of all the superstars in the league. But why? Veteran WCW fans
remember that for more than a year, Guerrero was among the biggest fan favourites in the
federation while racking up important victories. Guerrero’s talents can’t be
disputed, but his mindset can. What good did his feud against his own cousin do him? Or
his formation of the lWo, which led to, well, not much? Eddie Guerrero’s biggest fan
is, well, Eddie Guerrero. It might be a good time for him to forget his past and start
fresh when he finally returns to action. With a clear head and a healthy body, there are
few men in this sport who can corral Eddie for a victory.
Eddie’s been one of the most successful since moving from WCW to the WWE. Jumping to
the WWE in 2000, with his fellow ‘Radicals’ Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko and Perry
Saturn, Guerrero quickly became arguably the most popular of the group. He was extremely
successful, winning the European Title and the Intercontinental Title, before being
released for drug and drink offences in mid-2001. Eddie returned to the WWE in mid-2002,
and continued on a successful path, winning the Intercontinental Title again before
finally joining up in a tag team with his nephew Chavo, as Los Guerreros. The tag team was
highly successful, going from heels to faces, and winning the Tag Titles. Currently,
Eddie’s just turned heel again, suplexing Tajiri (the stand in for Chavo) through a
car windscreen.
I think the WWE is in a legitimate quandary when it comes to Eddie Guerrero, and
that’s probably what is preventing a main event run for him. Eddie is so good as a
heel, probably the best natural heel on the roster not named ‘Jericho’.
Normally, this would be a good thing, but Eddie is so good in the role that people
can’t help but cheer the guy (see his feud with Edge, in which he was getting
constant ‘EDDIE!’ chants, and even a standing ovation). Seeing those cheers, the
WWE turn Eddie face, and his character basically goes down the pan, until they turn him
heel again, and the cycle begins afresh. I don’t see how this problem can honestly be
solved, unless the WWE decide to keep the guy heel, and let things roll. Not that they
will….However, Eddie has been one of the guys to live up to the potential suggested
in the article.
CHRIS BENOIT
Many pundits already consider Benoit to be among the finest wrestlers in the world, and
they are right on the money. The ‘Canadian Crippler’ has it all: Power, speed,
ring savvy, smarts, technical knowledge, and a great teammate in Dean Malenko. His ascent
in WCW has been gradual but sure, and watching his growth as a superstar has been one of
the true joys in tuning into WCW every week on television. However, in recent months,
Benoit has been displaying a mean streak the likes of which opponents have never
experienced from him before. Add this to his hot temper and advanced ring skills, and
it’s a truly dangerous combination. Asking if Benoit will be a superstar in the
coming years is a moot point. He’s already there.
And he may have already been there, but even the WCW World Title didn’t stop him
jumping to the WWE in early 2000. Since his arrival in the WWE, Benoit has been pushed,
but only to the cusp of main event status. While Benoit was pushed to main event level
successfully as a face in 2001, his severe neck injury prevented him from keeping that
spot, and when he returned in 2002, he was back in the mid card, where he has basically
stayed since, other than his brief run against Kurt Angle in the early part of the year.
Criticisers of Benoit will tell you that while the article says Benoit ‘has it
all’, the reason he hasn’t become a legitimate main event star is his lack of
mic skills and charisma. However, while this is true, a lot of Benoit’s lack of true
success can be put down to the poor writing from the WWE.
People with poor mic skills HAVE gotten over before, when given the right motivations and
push. See Dean Malenko during his feud with Chris Jericho, or Perry Saturn in his quest to
destroy the Flock. In WWE, we’ve seen Kane get hugely over without even speaking in
his first run, and others with lesser mic skills (Bret Hart comes to mind) have tremendous
runs on top. The difference between them and Benoit is that the writers seem to offer
Benoit no character whatsoever. Until they do offer Benoit some character, he won’t
be interesting, and the viewers won’t engage with him. You could say he’s been a
success since moving to the WWE, but he has certainly not lived up to the potential that
he really has, due to WWE’s writing, which is just sad really.
And so ends the second part of ‘Goldberg’s Generation’. In the next part,
I’ll be looking at Dean Malenko, Wrath, Booker T and Perry Saturn, and coming to a
final conclusion on what’s happened to these can’t miss prospects. Until
then…
Seeya
Scott Newman:
scott.newman@ntlworld.com
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