KayfabeMan
02-11-2005, 01:11 AM
OK, so after the "Top 5 Feuds of The Last 20 Years" thread - I decided I'd finally go at it for my own thread, and if it's welcomed, my own bi-weekly column, Kayfabe Corner. In future "editions", it would be more of thoughts, discussion, and questions.
In the first installment (below), I share my opinions on WCW's Top 10 "Modern Day" Feuds. If you see fit, share your thoughts / comments.
Kayfabe Man [An Official Member of Camp Cannon]
*Norman Smiley & The KISS Demon vs. Lenny Lane & Lodi
One of these is a great tag team, and the other is Smiley & The KISS Demon - a better tag team, of course. After seeing this feud, I heard that the original Demon (Brian Adams) cried for several days - because he wished that he'd have continued the gimmick, of course. Two fine technical wrestling machines in Norman & The Demon (or as I call them - night & day), took on (as I call them) "The Gay-Themed Tag Team" Lenny & Lodi. These masterpieces of mat wizardry would go on to become one of WCW's best tag feuds ever,and #10 on this list.
*Men At Work vs. A Winning Tag Team Match
In the early to mid-1990's, WCW assembled a tag team like none seen before (or since). A great performer, Mark Starr, was paired with a less talented and more inept partner, Kanyon. The duo did what comes naturally to most wrestlers (Shockmaster, William Regal, the WWF guys in that "Piledriver" music video & others); they put on construction outfits. With a great gimmick like that and a name like "Men At Work" how could they be stopped? Out of dozens of classic matches put on by MAW, their greatest feud would have to be against...winning a match. Week after week they battled to triumph, fought to survive, and made an effort to get to "the pay winda". But alas, it was not meant to be. Nonetheless, their feud against winning matches are major part of tag team wrestling history - and for that, they make the list at #9.
*"Gorgeous" George Frankenstein vs. "Little Naitch" Charles Robinson
After Macho got "fired" from WCW, he made a challege to Ric Flair, and put George in a match against "Flair's girl" - Charles Robinson - at Slamboree 99. Despite the fact that she was experience in wrestling, George took to the ring ala Rocky Stallone and trained with Madusa & Mona. She also somehow made time to take part in various televised catfights with Robinson - much to the fans enjoyment. At Slamboree, the obvious happened. A more experienced and sound stripper used her vast ring knowledge to defeat the bleached ref. In the process Charles was also lucky enough to receive an elbow drop from Macho Man, and have his chest cave in faster than the WWE under Stephanie's control. For the simple fact that these fights led to ratings - and the blowoff match to major PPV buyrates - this feud makes it in at #8.
*Crowbar vs. Ashley "Crowbar #2" Hudson (with Daffney)
After wrestling for quite some time, Crowbar (Devon Storm) was finally given a push, and a manager, in Daffney. After months of absolutely no on-screen sexual attraction, Crowbar suddenly becomes quite affected by Miss Daffney, and develops a major crush. He tries week after week to tell her of this crush, and present her with various stereotypical gifts, but each time he fails. Of course, around the same time, another man - who just so happens to look, dress, talk and act just like Crowbar - debuts in WCW, and immediately Daffney is smitten with him. What could have led to a match ends absolutely nowhere, leaving fans worldwide devastated for years to come. For that, this makes the list at #7.
*"Mean" Gene Okerlund (& Buff) vs. Mark Madden (& Kanyon)
Now, I know what you're thinking. KayfabeMan, this feud shouldn't be listed here....it should at least be in the top 5. Well, it was edged out by others, but it made it ever so close. Here we had Gene Okerlund, one of pro-wrestling most capable ring generals, squaring off with a legend in his own right - Mark Madden. Heated verbal exchanges lead to Okerlund donning his tights again to team up with fellow technician, Buff Bagwell. On the opposite side, Mark Madden would team up with a man who has the distinction of making this list twice - Chris "The Lisp" Kanyon. In Thunder's highest rated episode in it's run, the two teams collided. A five star match was executed, and "wrestling journalist" Alex Marvez heralded the news by saying: "This match was like nothing I had ever seen before". For that, this makes it as #6.
*Mike "Vincent" Jones vs. A Decent Gimmick
Here is the sad story of Mike "Virgil" Jones - an obvious selection to be a future WWE Hall of Fame Member. Under much fanfare and celebration, including a WCW Nitro broadcast in his honor, Jones debuted in WCW as a member of the nWo - and was mysteriously given the name "Vincent". With no clear understanding as to why he was called "Vincent", Jones was left emotionally drained and floundered about in WCW. Over the course of the rest of his time in WCW, Jones would play sidekick to various talents. With what some call "the modern-day 4 Horsemen" - The West Texas Rednecks, he was known as "Curly Bill". With Vince Russo, he was again given an unexplained name in "Shane"...and finally, when placed with The Cat, Ernest Miller, he was called "Mr.Jones". Just as this character took off, and t-shirts were put into print, Mike Jones disappeared. His feud with gimmicks left it's mark on WCW, and the wrestling world - and for that, this slightly beat out Okerlund-Madden to claim the #5 spot.
*Paul Orndorff vs. The Natural Born Thrillaz
This had money in the bank written all over it since the very beginning. Any time a group of rookie wrestlers enter a training facility and issue a challenge and a beatdown to a legendary wrestler, you know the promotion will make mega-bucks. This was the case for WCW when they unleased a tremendous feud between Orndorff and The NBT. Following the lead of Mike Sanders, various young talents took on Paul Orndorff - which was not a smart move, factoring in that Paul was in the best shape of his career. In the big match, while delivering a piledriver to Johnny Stamboli, the amount of strength Orndorff applied to force Stamboli into the canvas was so massive that he hurt himself - literally. This feud just proved that being inexperienced and young in wrestling is fine, as long as you pick on Paul Orndorff. For making mega bucks for WCW, and for displaying the physical fitness of their own head trainer, this makes #4.
*WCW Wrestlers vs. Unnecessarily Dangerous Stunts
Almost making the number two spot, this is one of WCW's longest standing feuds. From the fall of Kanyon (making a 3rd appearance in this thread) off of the triple cage, to the fall of The Giant off of a rooftop in Michigan - WCW's talents feuded with dangerous stunts. In addition to Kanyon and The Giant's falls, there was also "Sting" falling 30 or so feet [while on fire] to what was obviously a platform with no padding whatsoever. And who could forget the historic "Giant nearly running over Hulk Hogan and Gene Okerlund with a monster truck" scene? All of these feuds with needlessly big risks combine to form the #3 spot on this list.
*Oklahoma vs. Madusa
When you think of a booker, a female wrestler, and barbecue sauce you automatically think of one thing - WCW's Cruiserweight Championship. From his debut in WCW, you knew that Oklahoma was destined for big things...and big things he got, in the form of Madusa and the Cruiserweight Title. Madusa, at the time a young, buxom, natural blond female wrestler, took to the ring to prove to the world something that Vince McMahon has worked for for decades - that women were equal to men in wrestling. Perhaps it was Oklahoma's original gimmick, or maybe Madusa's excellent promo skills, but the feud caught fire immediately, and the fans demanded to see Madusa covered in barbecue sauce. The originality of a male chauvanist taking on a strong female in the business definitely makes this worthy of being called #2.
and last, but certainly not least....
*The Shockmaster vs. WCW's Entrance Way
Definitely the most memorable of struggles in the history of WCW. One that was short lived, but remains talked about at least once a day by casual and hardcore fans alike. Uncle Fred the Typhoon Tugboat Shockmaster makes the list again, this time not for his head gear, but for feuding with WCW's elaborate pee-wee football team-like entrance. He tried his darndest, but he couldn't take the pressure that is a debut. And for that, I thank you sir, and make you #1 on this list.
In the first installment (below), I share my opinions on WCW's Top 10 "Modern Day" Feuds. If you see fit, share your thoughts / comments.
Kayfabe Man [An Official Member of Camp Cannon]
*Norman Smiley & The KISS Demon vs. Lenny Lane & Lodi
One of these is a great tag team, and the other is Smiley & The KISS Demon - a better tag team, of course. After seeing this feud, I heard that the original Demon (Brian Adams) cried for several days - because he wished that he'd have continued the gimmick, of course. Two fine technical wrestling machines in Norman & The Demon (or as I call them - night & day), took on (as I call them) "The Gay-Themed Tag Team" Lenny & Lodi. These masterpieces of mat wizardry would go on to become one of WCW's best tag feuds ever,and #10 on this list.
*Men At Work vs. A Winning Tag Team Match
In the early to mid-1990's, WCW assembled a tag team like none seen before (or since). A great performer, Mark Starr, was paired with a less talented and more inept partner, Kanyon. The duo did what comes naturally to most wrestlers (Shockmaster, William Regal, the WWF guys in that "Piledriver" music video & others); they put on construction outfits. With a great gimmick like that and a name like "Men At Work" how could they be stopped? Out of dozens of classic matches put on by MAW, their greatest feud would have to be against...winning a match. Week after week they battled to triumph, fought to survive, and made an effort to get to "the pay winda". But alas, it was not meant to be. Nonetheless, their feud against winning matches are major part of tag team wrestling history - and for that, they make the list at #9.
*"Gorgeous" George Frankenstein vs. "Little Naitch" Charles Robinson
After Macho got "fired" from WCW, he made a challege to Ric Flair, and put George in a match against "Flair's girl" - Charles Robinson - at Slamboree 99. Despite the fact that she was experience in wrestling, George took to the ring ala Rocky Stallone and trained with Madusa & Mona. She also somehow made time to take part in various televised catfights with Robinson - much to the fans enjoyment. At Slamboree, the obvious happened. A more experienced and sound stripper used her vast ring knowledge to defeat the bleached ref. In the process Charles was also lucky enough to receive an elbow drop from Macho Man, and have his chest cave in faster than the WWE under Stephanie's control. For the simple fact that these fights led to ratings - and the blowoff match to major PPV buyrates - this feud makes it in at #8.
*Crowbar vs. Ashley "Crowbar #2" Hudson (with Daffney)
After wrestling for quite some time, Crowbar (Devon Storm) was finally given a push, and a manager, in Daffney. After months of absolutely no on-screen sexual attraction, Crowbar suddenly becomes quite affected by Miss Daffney, and develops a major crush. He tries week after week to tell her of this crush, and present her with various stereotypical gifts, but each time he fails. Of course, around the same time, another man - who just so happens to look, dress, talk and act just like Crowbar - debuts in WCW, and immediately Daffney is smitten with him. What could have led to a match ends absolutely nowhere, leaving fans worldwide devastated for years to come. For that, this makes the list at #7.
*"Mean" Gene Okerlund (& Buff) vs. Mark Madden (& Kanyon)
Now, I know what you're thinking. KayfabeMan, this feud shouldn't be listed here....it should at least be in the top 5. Well, it was edged out by others, but it made it ever so close. Here we had Gene Okerlund, one of pro-wrestling most capable ring generals, squaring off with a legend in his own right - Mark Madden. Heated verbal exchanges lead to Okerlund donning his tights again to team up with fellow technician, Buff Bagwell. On the opposite side, Mark Madden would team up with a man who has the distinction of making this list twice - Chris "The Lisp" Kanyon. In Thunder's highest rated episode in it's run, the two teams collided. A five star match was executed, and "wrestling journalist" Alex Marvez heralded the news by saying: "This match was like nothing I had ever seen before". For that, this makes it as #6.
*Mike "Vincent" Jones vs. A Decent Gimmick
Here is the sad story of Mike "Virgil" Jones - an obvious selection to be a future WWE Hall of Fame Member. Under much fanfare and celebration, including a WCW Nitro broadcast in his honor, Jones debuted in WCW as a member of the nWo - and was mysteriously given the name "Vincent". With no clear understanding as to why he was called "Vincent", Jones was left emotionally drained and floundered about in WCW. Over the course of the rest of his time in WCW, Jones would play sidekick to various talents. With what some call "the modern-day 4 Horsemen" - The West Texas Rednecks, he was known as "Curly Bill". With Vince Russo, he was again given an unexplained name in "Shane"...and finally, when placed with The Cat, Ernest Miller, he was called "Mr.Jones". Just as this character took off, and t-shirts were put into print, Mike Jones disappeared. His feud with gimmicks left it's mark on WCW, and the wrestling world - and for that, this slightly beat out Okerlund-Madden to claim the #5 spot.
*Paul Orndorff vs. The Natural Born Thrillaz
This had money in the bank written all over it since the very beginning. Any time a group of rookie wrestlers enter a training facility and issue a challenge and a beatdown to a legendary wrestler, you know the promotion will make mega-bucks. This was the case for WCW when they unleased a tremendous feud between Orndorff and The NBT. Following the lead of Mike Sanders, various young talents took on Paul Orndorff - which was not a smart move, factoring in that Paul was in the best shape of his career. In the big match, while delivering a piledriver to Johnny Stamboli, the amount of strength Orndorff applied to force Stamboli into the canvas was so massive that he hurt himself - literally. This feud just proved that being inexperienced and young in wrestling is fine, as long as you pick on Paul Orndorff. For making mega bucks for WCW, and for displaying the physical fitness of their own head trainer, this makes #4.
*WCW Wrestlers vs. Unnecessarily Dangerous Stunts
Almost making the number two spot, this is one of WCW's longest standing feuds. From the fall of Kanyon (making a 3rd appearance in this thread) off of the triple cage, to the fall of The Giant off of a rooftop in Michigan - WCW's talents feuded with dangerous stunts. In addition to Kanyon and The Giant's falls, there was also "Sting" falling 30 or so feet [while on fire] to what was obviously a platform with no padding whatsoever. And who could forget the historic "Giant nearly running over Hulk Hogan and Gene Okerlund with a monster truck" scene? All of these feuds with needlessly big risks combine to form the #3 spot on this list.
*Oklahoma vs. Madusa
When you think of a booker, a female wrestler, and barbecue sauce you automatically think of one thing - WCW's Cruiserweight Championship. From his debut in WCW, you knew that Oklahoma was destined for big things...and big things he got, in the form of Madusa and the Cruiserweight Title. Madusa, at the time a young, buxom, natural blond female wrestler, took to the ring to prove to the world something that Vince McMahon has worked for for decades - that women were equal to men in wrestling. Perhaps it was Oklahoma's original gimmick, or maybe Madusa's excellent promo skills, but the feud caught fire immediately, and the fans demanded to see Madusa covered in barbecue sauce. The originality of a male chauvanist taking on a strong female in the business definitely makes this worthy of being called #2.
and last, but certainly not least....
*The Shockmaster vs. WCW's Entrance Way
Definitely the most memorable of struggles in the history of WCW. One that was short lived, but remains talked about at least once a day by casual and hardcore fans alike. Uncle Fred the Typhoon Tugboat Shockmaster makes the list again, this time not for his head gear, but for feuding with WCW's elaborate pee-wee football team-like entrance. He tried his darndest, but he couldn't take the pressure that is a debut. And for that, I thank you sir, and make you #1 on this list.