The World's Greatest WWE Vengeance 2002 Preview

I don't think there's ever been a time when that old 'anything can happen' adage the McMahon clan loves has ever been more appropriate. It's been one big bombshell after another over the course of the last six months, and unfortunately enough, just about every one of them has resulted in more of a fizzle and less of a blast. Actually, rather than dropping bombshells, the WWE's warplanes may as well have been throwing cooked geese... because with the kind of thought put into them, these birds were cooked even before they really had a chance to hit the ground. Still, hype is the one thing we haven't been without all this time, and with just one monster move, this PPV is already overflowing with it. Eric Bischoff a WWE employee? Brock Lesnar in next month's main event? A refreshing youth movement? There remain quite a few new question marks, and I'm willing to bet at least one of them has what it takes to become an exclamation.

Bradshaw vs. Johnny The Bull
(possible) Hardcore Title Match

Bradshaw is overweight, his style is sloppy, his gimmick's going nowhere fast, and he's worthless in front of the mic. He shouldn't be rewarded with any kind of gold. Then again, I guess he's not main eventing too many RAWs these days, so thank god for small miracles, right? His opponent, Mr. The Bull, well... he has a lot of potential. Then again, he had just as much potential back in WCW, but he spent 90% of his time in the ring clutching various parts of his body as the announcers took bets on how long he'd be out this time. The guy's got talent, but he's injured more often than Kevin Nash.

If he can stay healthy, I'm confident he might be able to piss Bradshaw off enough to force a watchable match out of the Texan homogay. And, so long as he remains on his feet, he should have a good shot at the gold. I'll pick the rookie, just for the hell of it.
Winner: Johnny The Bull

Booker T vs. Big Show
No Disqualification, No Count-out

There isn't a reason in the world for Booker to job Sunday night. He needs to go over, and he needs to go over strong as an ox. Throw in a spinaroonie, and he's gold. Certainly, Show needs to get in his share of offense to keep things interesting and to keep the finish hot, but for god's sake.. give the man the push he's been screaming for over the last three months.

The match'll be ugly, and if they're smart, they'll keep it to inventive junk brawling. Maybe a heel kick with a trash can lid in Show's face. Maybe a chokeslam off a balcony or something. Hell, why not bring back the HARLEM FRIGGIN' HANGOVER? Just give the T a victory.
winner: Booker T

Kidman vs. Jamie Noble
(possible) cruiserweight title Match

Kidman's new look reeks. So does his new theme music. But the worker hasn't quite taken that sail down shit creek just yet, so I'm not worrying. Noble and Tajiri have been doing good things together, establishing identifiable heels in the cruiserweight division and giving us a reason to care about the matches. And, I've still got a little faith in the bookers' ability to open up their eyes and stretch out the match lengths for these guys. Given a little time, one or two new names (Rey's a start, let's not watch things fizzle out from there) and one big angle, this thing's about ready to blow wide open.

These guys weren't exactly the most marketable remnants of the WCW guard, but they were two of the most proficient in the ring, so we've got a good chance of seeing a barn burner here. It's a tough one to call, since there's likely another month before Rey will be ready to contend for the title, but I'm gonna side up with Dave here. Noble retains, he's got more direction.
Winner: The 'Former Jung Dragon' Jamie Noble

Rob Van Dam vs. Brock Lesnar
Intercontinental Championship

If Lesnar is to be taken as a serious threat next month, he's gonna have to pick up some wins on his own. As of right now he's regarded as a guy who's huge, has a convincing moveset, and stands directly in the middle of one of the longest lucky streaks in WWE history. He's beaten some rather large names, but almost every one of those V's has been thanks to Heyman interference. It's no way to climb your way to the top, and it won't be long before the casual fan realizes that Brock's not really winning his matches.

While I don't see Brock Lesnar as the savior of the WWE, I do see him as an important part of its future. He's been marketed right, the audience still believes he's got more than a fair chance at winning it all next month, and he's very believable as the monstrous killing machine. They're easing him into a vocal role, showing he's not afraid to talk when he has to, but that he chooses his moments. He's got a big finisher, though he has problems making it look convincing on everyone. In short, he's the best bet the WWE's got in the post-Austin era.

He and RVD had an entertaining match on RAW several weeks back, and if nothing else it proved to me that this one's got potential to be something big. Van Dam's done a lot to come out of his shell as the 'ECW spot machine' in my eyes, and stands ready to step up his game to an even higher platform whenever the chance arises. He and Brock could really surprise us at Vengeance, and given the importance of their match, I'd say we'll more than likely be impressed. This is the future, folks, love it or leave it...
Winner: Brock Lesnar

Bubba & Spike Dudley vs. Chris Benoit & Eddie Guerrero
Tag Team Table Match

I don't have that major a problem with Benoit and Guerrero teaming up. The main event scene is occupied for the next couple months, with Lesnar likely receiving or granting a rematch after Summerslam, depending on the results of that big main event. Benoit needs time to ramp his game back up again, and Guerrero just watched a huge program with Steve Austin go out the window. Don't tell me either of them would be doing anything else Sunday night, if the Dudleys weren't in such limbo.

So long as Benoit doesn't do something stupid like a headbutt from the turnbuckle through a table outside the ring, this will be a lot of fun. Bubba and the Crippler have been working relatively smoothly together lately, and Spike's been filling the role of cannon fodder to perfection. I guess he has had a lot of practice. And Guerrero's no slug. Let's step back and look at this. The tag scene needs fleshing out. Benoit needs to re-establish himself. Guerrero needs to keep himself fresh in fans' minds. The Dudleys are... well, the Dudleys. They're a tag team at heart. In another couple months the Wolverine will be on his own again. Let's just enjoy this while it's here.
Winners: Benoit and Guerrero

Hollywood Hulk Hogan & Edge vs. Christian & Lance Storm
Tag Team Championship

I'm really counting the minutes until Jericho joins up with these guys and makes the stable legitimate. I love Storm, but he's nothing to the common fan, and without a big name leading them, this stable's going nowhere. Here's hoping he establishes such a role Sunday night, where it would probably make the most sense.

Hogan's keeping his distance from the main event, so I'm happy. He's working the same angle with Edge that he did with Savage and the Warrior before, so there's only one way this will really turn out, and Dave called it up above. But yeah, it's way too early for that right now, and Edge needs to settle things with Y2J before he can occupy himself with the orange goblin. Team Canada brings home some gold, with a little help.
Winners: Lance Storm and Christian

The Rock vs. Kurt Angle vs. Undertaker
WWE Undisputed Championship

I'd actually be surprised to see the Rock carrying the title at any point over the next six months. He's gonna be gone again so quickly, it would be something of a waste to put it on him for a total of one month, not to mention how it would cut down the current main event scene... wait. Maybe that's not such a bad thing after all.

Rock n' Brock at the Slam has big time appeal, but I can't shake the notion that the Undertaker's gonna hold onto his title one more month and turn face on us. Spinner's right, he's been bafflingly entertaining over the course of the last month, and though a match with Lesnar has me doubting, I wouldn't mind seeing the Deadman with gold around his waist just a little bit longer.

With that said, next month's event notwithstanding, I think nobody's working anywhere near the level of Kurt Angle right now. The man's been on such a roll of late, it's a thing of beauty. For probably the first time in his career, I really buy him as a main event level heel. He doesn't feel so goofy, he doesn't feel like he doesn't belong. He feels like he's got his priorities set in order, and he's really serious about taking the company by storm. Too bad a match with Lesnar won't draw for another six months. Wrestlemania, here we come...
Winner: The Undertaker

IN CLOSING...

The WWE shouldn't be yelling at us to give them a chance, they should be forcing us to reevaluate our feelings about them. We shouldn't have to search for our favorite part of the current product, we should have to pick and choose from the many.

While I remain fairly optimistic, the truth of the matter is things have been better, and they will be better in the future. They're flailing out there, but it's only a matter of time before they realize what they're doing wrong, come up with a direct plan of attack, and start acting like the WWF we've always known. Not the pale WCW impersonation they've become.

Things are starting to get interesting again, here's hoping they don't drop everything and start over again if they don't receive immediate results.

until next time, i remain
drq