From: robert@askinc.ask.COM (Robert McMullen)
Subject: Re: "Nature Boy" Steve Austin
Organization: ASK Computer Systems, Inc.
Distribution: world 
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 22:00:21 GMT

In article <6352@blue.cis.pitt.edu.UUCP>, Rob Conticello writes:

>   Let me be the first to put two and two together.  Steve Austin said in
                  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Umm, let's see...four, right?  No WAAAAAAAAAAAAY you're the first, dude...I 
did it *years* ago!             ;-)      Welcome to the net, Rob!

> an interview that he was going to undergo a metamorphisis to become world
> champion and wrestler of the '90's.  Tony Schiavone mentioned in a TV plug
> for the Ross Report on the Wrestling Hotline a new "Nature Boy" in WCW.
> I'm gonna guess this means a "Nature Boy" gimmick for Stunning Steve.

That's great, IMHO!  I really like Austin as he shows worlds of potential.
However, he's going to have to find a way to draw some heat--as good as his
feud with Steamboat was *in the ring*, it could have been lots better if
Steve was given some better lines to speak during interviews.  His claims of
being the "greatest TV champion ever" hold weak with me, though (Tully fan that
I am!).

I feel Austin definitely needs to learn a few more finisher-type maneuvers
as that reverse sling-shot he uses won't work (or at least look believable)
against someone the size of Ron Simmons, let alone Vader or Bigelow.  
Hopefully, a figure four since the idea is "Nature Boy"....but Austin is
so strong I'd like to see him try a couple of the suplex finishers common
in Japan, such as Hiro Hase's Northern Lights suplex (kind of like a standing
belly-to-back, but with the suplexer's arms *around* the victim's arms and
waist--as opposed to just the waist--then FLIP-BRIDGE-123!).

FYI, according to Wrestling Observer Austin is (or soon will be) in Japan
along with the Steiners; I don't know for how long, but I presume Austin
will lose to Masahiro Chono in an NWA title match (and the Steiners will
probably defend the IWGP belts).  This kind of experience is essential
to Austin ever becoming a main-event caliber name.

> [paragraph deleted]

>   Finally, the top rope rule has been rescinded except for coming down on
> a prone opponent with a knee to the head or throat.  It seems to me that
> this will somehow come into play in the Rude-Chono match at Halloween Havoc
> since they showed a clip of Rude doing this maneuver and it was previously
> mentioned that he won all his matches in the NWA tourney using this tactic.

It probably will be part of that match's "plot" so to speak, but I'll bet
Chono takes full advantage of the rule as well (he won the title, after all,
with a flying shoulderblock).  Remember, the rule didn't apply in the NWA
tournament tag or singles matches, just *WCW*...

BUT, look for it to be part of the (a) Simmons-Barbarian WCW title match, when
either Cactus Jack or the Barbarian will cheap-shot Simmons, and/or (b) the
Sting-Roberts match, when Sting will probably win with his splash or shoulderblock from the top rope (he hasn't used these maneuvers in a while), 
and/or (c) the inevitable Steiners/MVC grudge match (at this point doesn't 
look like it'll be for any titles), and/or (d) the inevitable, and soon-to-
be-added (methinks) Pillman/Armstrong match.

>   WCW Saturday Night has been pretty good lately.  Its good that they now
> have more than one non-squash match in the show.

Depends on what you consider "squashes"; you're right in that the amount
of matches involving names vs. names has risen, but for the last year or so
there have been a lot more than one non-squash per WCWSN show (they just
had that 2/3 fall "main event" for a while).  Remember, there's usually
an additional TV title match somewhere on the show (esp. when it's 2 hours).
There are also a lot of matches in WCW which pit the "pushed ones" against
"mid-card" talent such as Tracy Smothers, Shane Douglas (soon, just watch), 
Marcus Bagwell, et al.  These aren't usually thought of as "squashes" in the
sheets (where squash = "no name jobber" vs. "big name pushee").  WWF, now 
*that's* almost ALL squashes (exc. Prime Time).

Later.
Robert *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+
               The opinions expressed in this message in no way
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