It’s funny, during a time when everyone wants tradition to rule, change is on the horizon. In the WCW, the downfall of the nWo is close at hand, the splitting of tag teams is upon us, and the big man may be moving North. In the WWF, the re-emergence of the NWA has finally been brought about, the NOD is shifting, and the title scene is heating up.
The WCW is experiencing a major change simply in the shake-up of the nWo. It is obvious that the nWo is going down, but where will the members go? Well, Hogan is expected to go yellow and red and the Wolfpack is expected to break apart and be their own clique. But think of all of the other guys. Think of nWo Japan. This is going to be the biggest release of talent from the WCW in my opinion. With all of these nWo members going out into the wrestling world, think of all of the titles that will be changing hands! The world title between Hogan, Savage, Nash, and Hall; the US title between Hennig, Hall, and Bagwell; the Cruiserweight title with Syxx; the tag belts to Vicious and Delicious or the Outsiders. Sheesh! If the WCW thinks that they are having title problems now, wait until the nWo egos enter the title fights! Other changes are already at hand in the WCW. We have seen the splitting of Harlem Heat (the most successful tag team in WCW history). This, I think, is a turn for the worse. The WWF has picked up former WCW/NWA greats The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express. With the WWF supposedly getting the best tag teams in the world (LOD, NAO, NOD, DOA, R&RE, Nasty Boys?) the WCW needs some quality tag teams in their roster. And with the way that the Steiners are acting, the WCW will have to depend on…hmmm…Public Enemy as their major tag team!
In the WWF, the NWA is making its presence felt. Notice that the NWA is sort of “invading” the WWF? This was the original plan for ECW, but Paul E.’s paranoia got the best of him. Anyway, it was an electrifying moment in the WWF when Jeff Jarrett won the NWA North American Title on WWF’s RAW and the excitement carried over this week when the Rock and Roll Express returned to the ring. Add to this the fact that one of the best managers in history is returning to the ringside in James E. Cornette and you have what the experts call, perfect! One of the changes that I see as a major play in the WWF is the defection of the NOD’s leader, Faarooq, from the group. I believe that the WWF had to comply with certain demands of Ron Simmons and that one of them was his leaving the NOD, something that he never really liked being a part of. This change not only brings Faarooq back out into the title scene where he belongs, but it gives Rocky the chance to improve his super heels status by leading the mean tempered Nation of Domination. Another one of the changes is the title scene. Now granted, the WWF title will be around Shawn’s waist because no matter how much he denies it, he “obsesses” to be the champ. What I mean to say is that the Undertaker has been brought back to main event status and now that he and Kane are on the same page, he has a little bit more of a chance at getting that title. Also in the title scene is Owen Hart, Stone Cold, and Ken Shamrock. Could one of these men be the next champ? I somehow don’t think so, but it would be nice to see!
