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![nwo souled out 1997 set nwo souled out 1997 set](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/l24AAOSw4DJYfRDk/s-l300.jpg)
I didn’t get the reference then, and I had to look it up for this writing. Apparently harking back to a style of wrestling that translates to “catch a hold where you can”, it was supposed to show off the mat-based arsenal of either opponent. The first match was a “Catch-as-catch-can” match against Dean Malenko. But logic held no place on a show that saw Oklahoma (writer Ed Ferrara doing an offensive Jim Ross impression) defeat (the female) Madusa for the Cruiserweight title despite being well over the weight limit and not an active wrestler. And what was at stake should Kidman win the series? Zilch.
NWO SOULED OUT 1997 SET SERIES
So with no explanation whatsoever, Billy Kidman was tapped to take Benoit’s place in the three-match series, only now against a series of opponents. He was awarded it back the next night on Nitro. Because of the departure, Jarrett was stripped of the United States title. Instead, Jarrett was yanked from the show with the explanation that he was suffering headaches after getting hit by a Benoit diving headbutt from the top of a steel cage. It was to be him against Jeff Jarrett in a so-called “Triple Threat Theater” series for Jarrett’s United States title. Benoit was scheduled in not one, but three matches for the night. As a bargaining chip for him to stay, WCW arranged for him to take Hart’s place in the main event and win the belt.īut to put Benoit into the main event to give him the vacated title, a lot of shuffling would have to be done to the card. WCW apparently was not ignorant of the draw Jericho had become for their competitors, but apparently had not even thought of the possibility of Benoit jumping ship until the last night of his contract. There he was sure to receive a better opportunity for success, much like his friend Chris Jericho had when he left under similar circumstances the year before. After years of being held down by the politics backstage, Benoit was looking to jump over to the WWF. And by last minute, I mean without announcing until the show itself.Ĭhris Benoit, one of WCW’s best talents, was at the end of his contract. Shuffling would be needed for the main event…but WCW, in its infinite wisdom, decided to shuffle the entire show around at the last minute to try to take care of another lingering problem at the same time. The show was supposed to be headlined by Bret Hart defending his WCW Heavyweight title against Sid Vicious, but Hart was forced to vacate due to complications from a concussion received from Goldberg at Starrcade that eventually forced his retirement from the ring. But by 2000, Eric Bischoff and the original nWo were gone, yet the name remained. He was said to be buying “souls” into his organization, hence the name.
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The Souled Out name had sparked back in 1997 when Eric Bischoff was revealed as the backer of the nWo. And in particular, the stuff that was proudly on display for Souled Out 2000 – a shining example of just what killed WCW. The level of ineptitude that TNA proudly calls “raising the bar” is the stuff not seen since WCW closed its doors back in 2001. Their brand of awful is actually the spiritual successor to the brand of awful that tanked the long-prosperous company World Championship Wrestling. But the writing staff, headed up by Vince Russo, is not something new to the wrestling world. As a TNA fan viewer, I often criticize the awful writing/booking on the show week after week after week after week.