Austin announced that all former IC champions are eligible for the Battle Royale to decide the new champ. There are fourteen former champs on payroll, but it's looking like a ten man field is most likely. So, barring re-hires or jumps from Smackdown before Judgement Day, here's your field:
Shawn Michaels Goldust Sean Morley Chris Jericho Billy Gunn* Kane Lance Storm Christian Test Rob Van Dam The Sham**
The other eligible wrestlers are HHH (set to defend his title), The Rock (back in "Hollywood"), Steve Austin (Not cleared to wrestle as far as I know) and William Regal (defintely not cleare to wrestle). (*)Billy Gunn was on Smackdown before he was injured, but since he's been out for so long, it wouldn't be a stretch to see him come over to Raw as a surprise entrant. (Also, Morley was only fired as Chief of Staff, not as a wrestler, right?) I assume that Kane and RVD will drop the tag titles before the PPV to make this tourney more wide open (since double gold seems above the pushes these guys have gotten in the past).
Of course, Goldberg is going to need an opponent at the PPV, so this probably eliminates Jericho and Christian from consideration there. Who's Next?
(**) I just realized that I'm currently an IC Contender, so I guess I have to throw my hat in the ring, too
[Edit- I must have glanced over Diesel on the list of former title holders, oops. However, I'd say he's out of the picture because of his match with HHH anyway.]
This battle royal looks to be Rob Van Dam's. The guy is so frickin' over, it's unbelievable - given all the burials he's had the past year. That's what you call resiliency!
I wouldn't be surprised to see a few others appear in the battle royal, just for fun. Maybe Honky Tonk Man... perhaps X-Pac, since the rest of the Kliq is already back on RAW...
Let's all just pray for the exclusion of Ahmed Johnson and BG James (Road Dogg).
Who does Booker T fight at the PPV? All of his potential opponents look to be in the IC battle royale. Booker/Flair?
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Really, if they told you that SARS was being pumped through the ventilation system into every theatre in which this was being shown, would you be any less likely to go see it?-- review of 'Daddy Day Care' at fametracker.com
Wrestlers currently on Raw: Chris Jericho, Christian, Goldust, Kane, Kevin Nash (as Diesel), Lance Storm, Rob Van Dam, Sean Morley (as Val Venis), Shawn Michaels, Test, Triple H.
Wrestlers currently on Smackdown: Albert, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Kurt Angle, Rikishi, Roddy Piper.
Injured/Temporarily Unavailable Wrestlers: Billy Gunn (may be back), Edge, The Rock, Steve Austin, William Regal.
Yeah, I guess you just missed Nash.
NOTE: The above post makes no sense. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Originally posted by The ShamOf course, Goldberg is going to need an opponent at the PPV, so this probably eliminates Jericho and Christian from consideration there. Who's Next?
Jericho already threw his hat in to be in the battle royal in the Highlite Reel. I bet they extend the Christian/Goldberg feud through Judgemend Day.
Cinco de Satire (wienerboard.com) <- No kidding, right? Buffy 7.19 gets a 8.33 Cat fighting! Clem! Curly Fries! Faith dancing! It's a bumpy ride to the end. Next week: Faith and Wood? Ech.
Originally posted by Big BadWho does Booker T fight at the PPV? All of his potential opponents look to be in the IC battle royale. Booker/Flair?
Austin didn't limit the Battle Royale to only IC former titleholders, he just said they were automatically all entered. So Book could be entered as well as a 5 time, 5 time, 5 time, 5 time, 5 time, WCW champion
The IC strap is so welcome back. I remember some of the most enjoyable matches (to me) involved those who just couldn't yet be permitted to the top, and so could flex their talents over a then prestigious title.
It got needlessly buried last year, mainly thanks to the World Championship which became HHH's main-event anchor. IC holders like RVD and Kane, were squabbling with HHH when they should've been competing against solid mid-carders to help bolster their image instead of feuding with someone there would be no upwardly mobility from.
Unless we get a decent surprise, this match ends up with one of these as the winner: Jericho, RVD or Booker T. These guys have so much to give (RVD the lesser contributor of the three), but the current main-event scene on RAW is a very private club right now, so an IC win with a credible enough reign length would give the winner, and whoever he feuds with, a huge lift.
I'd say give Jericho the belt, let him boast about how great he is, and you've got three faces (RVD, Booker and Goldberg... think about it) who could chase straight away, and whom he could get great matches out of.
I may be a slight Jericho mark, but this might make sense in the long run, instead of booking a cheap face pop for a face winner and losing the chance of a chase.
Are we all so sure that this decision won't come back to bite Austin in the ass when Stephanie demands that SmackDown!'s former IC champs receive entry into the battle royale resulting in one of THEM winning the title and taking it away from RAW?
(What was that about Benoit having nothing to do?)
Anyone else expecting/fearing Pat Patterson becoming entered in the Battle Royale under the former I-C Champ rule?
I hate Swamprats. Payback for the Celts against the team led by a wifebeater/child abuser (he did break his kids collarbone in public). And 12 wins until Banner #17.
Originally posted by CRZAre we all so sure that this decision won't come back to bite Austin in the ass when Stephanie demands that SmackDown!'s former IC champs receive entry into the battle royale resulting in one of THEM winning the title and taking it away from RAW?
(What was that about Benoit having nothing to do?)
Does that also mean there's the potential for resurrection of the U.S. Title to go to whichever show doesn't get the IC belt? And wouldn't that also be (at least in storyline terms) for the split-brand PPV's?
Originally posted by CRZAre we all so sure that this decision won't come back to bite Austin in the ass when Stephanie demands that SmackDown!'s former IC champs receive entry into the battle royale resulting in one of THEM winning the title and taking it away from RAW?
(What was that about Benoit having nothing to do?)
Does that also mean there's the potential for resurrection of the U.S. Title to go to whichever show doesn't get the IC belt? And wouldn't that also be (at least in storyline terms) for the split-brand PPV's?
Or am I reading way too much into everything?
I assumed that since the cruisers were all on Smackdown that the Cruiserweight title would become that show's IC equivalent. I don't really want to see the belt jumping back and forth between shows. That would be like interleague play, and just plain nutty.
-- Asteroid Boy
Wiener of the day: 23.7.02
"My brother saw the Undertaker walking through an airport." - Rex "Was he no-selling?" - Me
What about the possibility that they bring back some ex Intercontinental champions back for one night only? Off the top of my head, the ones that aren't really retired (eg may wrestle on the odd indy show) or deceased include:
Randy Savage Scott Hall Godfather Ken Shamrock Honky Tonk Man Road Dogg Marc Mero Jacques Rougeau
Less Likely: Tony "Ahmed Johnson" Norris Ultimate Warrior Jeff Jarrett D-Lo Brown Chyna
I may be a missing a few from that list. The ones I conciously didn't include, for obvious reasons, are Owen Hart, Rick Rude, British Bulldog, Curt Hennig, Pat Patterson, Ken Patera, Pedro Morales, Tito Santana and Bret Hart. Of course, one assumes Austin and Rock won't be in it, same with Nash and HHH. And then on the injured list you've got Bob Holly, (possibly) Billy Gunn, William Regal, Edge and Kurt Angle.
"Vince, as a member of the immediate family....I know you can only have one question on you mind, Dad. And that is...not DID we, but HOW MANY TIMES did we consumate the marriage?"- HHH, 1999
Originally posted by CRZThat's not exactly what happened. The title was held up, but Holly never really held the belt.
See, now I'm confused. I thought the title being held up was a Savio Vega angle. My memory gets really fuzzy on the IC title between Razor's first reign and Rocky's first reign, though, so I concede this one. Yes, I know that's a looong time. I was without cable for the majority of it.
EDIT: A quick check of tOA's title history page has straightened my dumb ass out. The Savio Vega angle was with Goldust, not Jarrett. Thanks also to Eradicator, who was posting while I was editing.
They did pretty much the same thing that they did with Jarrett and Holly as they did with Savio Vega and Goldust. The belt was held up in both situations, and Vega and Holly were never considered champions. Both Goldust and Jarrett got an extrra reign out of the situations.
As far as the battle royal- I'm rooting for Christian all the way. I think it will help with his "New People's Champion" gimmick he has going. If it's not Christian I wouldn't mind seeing Morley taking it (assuming he stays on the Raw roster). Jericho would be good too, but he's already held it so many times that it kinda seems beneath him.
(edited by Eradicator on 6.5.03 1332) "The Universe is shaped exactly like the Earth. You go straight long enough you end up where you were."
1. They seem to be moving the focus of the current Goldberg feud away from Jericho and onto the New People's Champion, Christian. Smart move on the WWF's part, sez I. Jericho/Goldberg could be a huge money-drawing feud for the future because of all the back-history between the two of them, and it's wise to save this sucker up, even if it does look like they're building to Austin/Goldberg for Austin's farewell match next year.
2. The IC title's credibility was completely destroyed by You Know Who prior to its disappearance, and it needs a credible top star to start building that credibility up again. Plus, it would give Jericho something to show off every week and allow the WWF to increase the importance of the Highlight Reel segment by building IC title feuds around it.
3. The WWF owes him BIG TIME for the Wrestlemania job to Shawn, which was completely contradictory to all forms of logic.
Originally posted by Texas Kelly The IC title's credibility was completely destroyed by You Know Who prior to its disappearance.
Albert? Come on, the poor guy only held the belt for a couple of weeks..... :)
"Vince, as a member of the immediate family....I know you can only have one question on you mind, Dad. And that is...not DID we, but HOW MANY TIMES did we consumate the marriage?"- HHH, 1999
The spot that has always bothered me (much more than the slingshot, which is at least plausible) is the one where wrestler A whips wrestler B into the ropes and wrestler B can't, you know, stop.