In Bash at the Beach ’98, the PPV before Road Wild, DDMe and Karl Malone wrestled Hogan and Dennis Rodman. Malone and Rodman actually scuffled on-court during that year’s NBA Finals, kind of rolling around together during a trip down the court. THAT WAS A WORK, prearranged and executed by Malone and Rodman so WCW would have a good clip to promote Bash at the Beach. Malone was a MARK, and Rodman would do anything for money. Think about THAT: In short order, the integrity of the NBA Finals and The Tonight Show were both diminished by fake wrestling. Is it possible to suspend THAT MUCH disbelief?
It all stems from those who run wrestling being insecure with the business’ status. That’s why McMahon has tried so many ventures outside wrestling: Deep down, he’s ashamed of being JUST A WRESTLING PROMOTER. Bischoff was so busy trying to make WCW more than wrestling, he sabotaged the wrestling aspect. BIG MISTAKE. Bischoff could never compare to Leno as an entertainer. Wrestlers bumping for celebrities is the RUINATION of the former (with some exceptions; selling for Lawrence Taylor or Mike Tyson isn’t totally absurd).
Another Road Wild note: At Road Wild ’97, Harlem Heat (as babyface world tag champs) opened the show against Scott Norton and Buff Bagwell (Vicious and Delicious). During the production meeting, I said, “Uh, there’s going to be a problem here.” When pressed to explain, I put forth the OBVIOUS notion that there was NO WAY two black guys were going to be perceived as babyfaces by a bunch of redneck white supremacist bikers that didn’t watch our TV. My warning went unheeded. Of course, I was right. Booker and Stevie spent the match being bombarded with N-bombs and empty whiskey bottles. Oh, well…at least nobody got lynched.
The bikers also thought Alex Wright had a pretty mouth.
Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM, Pittsburgh. Check out the Mark Madden page at WXDX.com. Contact Mark via wzmarkmadden@hotmail.com.
