| StoneCold | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Legend of StoneCold | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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I was there at the Sportatorium in Dallas that Saturday morning in 1988 when Chris Adams explained to a waiting crowd of about 50 potential wrestlers the details of enrolling in his wrestling school. Although I certainly didn't know him at the time, Steve Austin was there with all the other hopefuls looking for knowledge about how he could be a pro wrestler. He had driven up to Dallas from Victoria, Texas, that morning in a beat-up old pickup. Also speaking at the introduction that morning was Percy Pringle III, now known as Paul Bearer. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Could Shamrock & Severn happen this Sunday | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Whatever the final match for the King of the Ring crown is--The Rock or Severn vs. Shamrock or Double J--it is sure to be fantastic. But many fans, especially those that have followed the world of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), have to be hoping for Shamrock-Severn III. It could happen this Sunday. "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock and Dan "The Beast" Severn are the two most prominent names in the history of UFC. They fought each other twice in the Octagon, with each competitor winning once. They have yet to compete in the catch-as-catch-can or modern professional wrestling style. In fact, just a few weeks ago on RAW IS WAR, they were paired by Federation matchmakers as a tag team, taking on members of the Nation. The Federation did not officially sign the Beast until this March. Shamrock arrived in February of 1997, and has improved his mat game in perhaps never seen before leaps and bounds. Severn seems to be improving quickly, but the World's Most Dangerous Man still has more than a year's experience in Federation competition. In a little while, after Severn has perfected his style in the squared circle, a match between the two superstars would be just as classic as their UFC battles. That is not to say that Shamrock would easily win a match at the King of the Ring this Sunday. Because he is so competitive, even an inexperienced Severn has as good of a chance against the Sacramento, California, native as anyone. In the May issue of RAW Magazine, Kevin Kelly suggests that we give Severn time to perfect his technique in the squared circle before we throw him in the ring with the more polished Shamrock. If this happens, Kelly said, "the third meeting could be the last for one of them." But this Sunday, we may have no choice. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Why would Kane do such a thing? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The stipulation is simple. | FIRST BLOOD. The person to draw blood on his opponent will win the match and the WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION Championship! There will be no pinfalls, no disqualifications, no count-outs, and no submissions. There is only one way to win this event and that�s by lacerating your opponent anywhere on his body. But Kane, the seven-foot monster, has upped the ante even more. He claims he will set himself on fire if he loses this match against Stone Cold Steve Austin. SET HIMSELF ON FIRE. Who in the world would make such an outrageous claim? Why would Kane put his life on the line like this? This past week on RAW IS WAR, Mr. McMahon began to answer this question. He told Kane his life of torment would be over if he wins the title. No longer would Kane be ridiculed. I�ve thought about this a lot over the past few days, and I think I�ve arrived at some sort of theory as to why Kane has claimed he will set himself on fire if he doesn�t win the championship. Please, for a moment put yourself in Kane�s shoes. The last 20 years of your life you�ve lived as an absolute recluse, a shut-in. You�ve been ridiculed and laughed at, no one has ever had a kind word for you. You really only relate to one person and that�s your father, Paul Bearer. He�s a man you trust, you care about and love because he is all you know. The only other person you have any contact with or perhaps any interest in is your older brother the Undertaker. You�ve followed him on television and videotape. You�ve watched him climb the ladder and reach great heights in the WWF. He is now called The Phenom and he has won the WWF title on two separate occasions. But perhaps more important, the Undertaker is loved by millions around the world, a love you�ve never experienced. The only success you�ve known is the road you�ve traveled the past eight months here in the WWF and that success was achieved with the help of your dad, Paul Bearer. But you want to achieve success on your own. You want to match your brother�s success, your greatest ambition is to follow in the footsteps and feel what it�s like to be called CHAMPION! So, if Kane doesn�t get the chance to be called champion at King Of The Ring, if he can�t follow in his brother�s footsteps, then perhaps he�ll believe he�s a failure and that his life should be over. Perhaps this is why Kane will set himself on fire if he loses. A few thoughts before I go: There�s exclusive footage on LIVEWIRE this week concerning Stone Cold. It comes your way Saturday at 10/9c on USA. Superstars comes your way Sunday 11/10c on USA. Hey! RAW IS WAR AGAIN beat Nitro this past week! It comes your way Monday night live at 8:57/7:57c on USA! We�re in Cleveland and it�s going to be wild! I can�t wait to see Steven Regal in the ring. He�s working out and looking great! Edge is going to be a star. I don�t know about you, but the New Age Outlaws keep growing on me. See you in Pittsburgh. Here are my predictions for KING OF THE RING: X-Pac over Owen. Too Much over Al Snow/Head. Rock over Severn. Shamrock over Double-J. Rock wins King Of Ring Tourney. Undertaker over Mankind in the Cell. Stone Cold retains the WWF title.
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