World Championship Wrestling 2002: Rebuilding the Empire

[Bigpapa42]

What's a full fantasy booking approach?

 

No longer booking through everything in the game co-currently with the monthly recaps. It wouldn't really change what the readers sees, except I'm not bound by the parameters of the game any longer. I really wouldn't change things in a major way (the editor in TEW allows one to do a lot if they want to anyway), but its taking away the base of the project in a way....

[Hashasheen]

No longer booking through everything in the game co-currently with the monthly recaps. It wouldn't really change what the readers sees, except I'm not bound by the parameters of the game any longer. I really wouldn't change things in a major way (the editor in TEW allows one to do a lot if they want to anyway), but its taking away the base of the project in a way....

 

Are you only going to do it for the recaps? If so, I'd suggest trying it out before committing if you're really getting bored.

[jhd1]

No longer booking through everything in the game co-currently with the monthly recaps. It wouldn't really change what the readers sees, except I'm not bound by the parameters of the game any longer. I really wouldn't change things in a major way (the editor in TEW allows one to do a lot if they want to anyway), but its taking away the base of the project in a way....

 

Didn't Keefmoon's WWF '97 diary end up being done without the game by the end? Wouldn't bother me in the slightest, to be honest. Only thing that I would think about would be how you would do hirings and firings but you're not the sort of person to start hiring all your Rocks, Hogans and Austins anyway.

[Hashasheen]

Didn't Keefmoon's WWF '97 diary end up being done without the game by the end? Wouldn't bother me in the slightest, to be honest. Only thing that I would think about would be how you would do hirings and firings but you're not the sort of person to start hiring all your Rocks, Hogans and Austins anyway.

 

Link?

[jhd1]

Link?

 

World Wrestling Federation: From Montreal to Attitude

http://www.greydogsoftware.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21194

 

Keef did a great job throughout, especially at keeping things believable.

[Bigpapa42]

Are you only going to do it for the recaps? If so, I'd suggest trying it out before committing if you're really getting bored.

 

Well, if I did take this route at some point, it would probably be the difference of simply ending the project or continuing on for at least a bit longer without the game behind the recaps... As it stands, I basically plan and write, then book through the month and adjust the recap as needed (usually very very little) before finishing it and posting it.

 

Didn't Keefmoon's WWF '97 diary end up being done without the game by the end? Wouldn't bother me in the slightest, to be honest. Only thing that I would think about would be how you would do hirings and firings but you're not the sort of person to start hiring all your Rocks, Hogans and Austins anyway.

 

Yeah, I recall a couple different names having been mentioned in the past as having done this. My hope is that, given the approach of this project, it wouldn't result in any readers walking away.

 

Contracts, popularity changes, and obviously everything the CP promotions do would come down to my whims. I'd use what the game has already provided as a strong base, and you are correct - I'm not likely to use that freedom to "sign" a long list of big names, no more than I would be editing in the game itself to do that.

[Bigpapa42]

World Championship Wrestling

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/WCW/Logos/Small/WCWSmall.jpg

 

October 2002

 

While running World Championship Wrestling through much of the 1990s, Eric Bischoff was a risk-taker. Whether it was a good risk or a bad risk really didn't matter, as being part of the Turner Empire provided the promotion with a layer of protection. That layer disappeared when Bischoff bought out the promotion in 2001, and the risks taken by Bischoff since have been carefully calculated ones. In October of 2002, however, he took what has to be seen as a fairly major risk.

 

As the Halloween Havoc pay per view appeared on the horizon, it seemed to many industry observers that Paul Heyman had booked himself into something of a corner. There was no clear number one contender. Shawn Michaels, Rob Van Dam, and Goldberg were the trio of possibilities, with Van Dam presenting the only fresh match-up. Coming off a win over Booker T, Goldberg like he had the best argument but many doubted whether fans were that eager to see another Goldberg-Lesnar match just yet. While the fans and insiders debated the possibilities, it would turn out that Bischoff and Heyman had a plan...

 

A long-term goal of Eric Bischoff's was to do something no one had quite managed to yet – turn a heavyweight Japanese wrestling into a notable star in American pro wrestling. The Great Muta and Jushin Lyger never truly became anything more than popular midcarders. Yokozuna had became a star for the WWE for a time and he was most certainly a heavyweight, though he was not actually Japanese. The likes of Kaz Hayashi, Taka Michinoku, Jimmy Yang, Shiochi Funaki, Yoshihiro Tajiri, and Ultimo Dragon had not and never seemed likely to be major stars in the United States. Kensuke Sasaki had been brought in to become that star, but he was getting over with fans on ECW slower than expected, in part due to the language issue. The payoff that Bischoff and Heyman hoped for would be for a Japanese star in WCW building interest in their promotion amongst Japanese wrestling fans, which would lead to WCW being able to run lucrative shows in the Land of the Rising Sun without necessarily partnering with an existing promotion. With the Sasaki project moving slower than expected, Bischoff had been working on another approach...

 

Since the middle of the summer, Bischoff had been negotiating with Mitsuharu Misawa's Pro Wresting NOAH. The subject of the negotiations were Brock Lesnar and Kenta Kobashi. Misawa wanted a match between Lesanr and Kobashi to happen in Japan, while Bischoff was insistent on it occurring in WCW, perhaps fearing the Japanese promotion would change the finish and Lesnar's winning streak would be ended. The basic point of Misawa's argument was undeniable, however – in Japan, both men were stars and the event would draw a huge house, while in America, only Lesnar was a star and it was unlikely the match would be a huge draw. In the end, Misawa had no choice but to relent as the match simply would not take place otherwise. Some rumors suggest that NOAH received a healthy financial incentive, while other rumors state that Misawa was told of the booking plan between Lesnar and Kobashi, which is what to lead to him acceding. Likely, it was some combination of both.

 

One thing was certain – using Lesnar vs Kobashi to headline the Halloween Havoc pay per view was a significant risk. As big of a star as Brock Lesnar had become for WCW, he was being put in the ring opposite a Japanese legend who was almost unknown to the casual American wrestling fans. Was the potential payoff worth that risk? Many industry observers felt it was not, which is why the decision came under a fair amount of scrutiny. There was also the question of whether or not it should be a title match, with the ultimate decision that it would not be, as that would make the result too obvious to analytical fans.

 

Both Eric Bischoff and Paul Heyman recognized the need to hype Kenta Kobashi heavily, so both Nitro and ECW featured lengthy promotional videos for the puro star from the start of October. There was plenty of other action in the build up to Halloween Havoc, however. The newly-expanded Dangerous Alliance were the center of much of the action, with the various fan favorite factions allied against the group. Keeping things interesting was the fact that the various factions were fighting amongst themselves almost as much. The Four Horsemen were in the midst of everything, but they refused to work with Goldberg, Shawn Michaels, or Rob Van Dam. They were willing to work with The Triad, but the WCW World Tag Team champions seemed to want little to do with anyone else - partly because they realized Alpha coveted the tag belts still. Commissioner Cat seemed to revel in making the situation uncomfortable as possible as he kept putting different combinations of the babyfaces together for six, eight, and ten man tag matches against the Alliance. There was just something agonizingly fun about watching The Triad and Alpha try to work together against Kronik, O'Haire, and Steiner. Booker T continued to be something of a wild card, with continually teases that he would join the Alliance, but it did not happen. At least not yet.

 

While Rob van Dam seemed to be perfect content with "not being trusted" by the Four Horsemen, Shawn Michaels remained determined to win them over. Specifically, Ric Flair. "The Heartbreak Kid" seemed driven to win the trust and resepect of a man he had admired for so long. As four the new Four Horsemen, the quartet continued to function well. Those who had been concerned about Eddie Guerrero outshining or replacing Ric Flair were likely placated, as Flair continued the obvious leadership role and Guerrero found entertainment ways to supplement that.

 

The first time Kenta Kobashi was seen on WCW television in-person was the Nitro prior to the pay per view. He was there with NOAH owner Mitsuharu Misawa. The two got a pretty good pop at the opening of the show, indicating that the heavy hype videos that WCW had used were at least somewhat effective. The announced main event for the Nitro was supposed to be Kobashi and Misawa versus Steiner and O'Haire. Throughout the show, Paul Heyman argued endlessly with Commissioner Miller and Misawa (well, Misawa's translator). The final decision on the match was Kobashi, Misawa and Flair facing Lesnar, Steiner, and O'Haire. It never took place, at least not in that format. The Dangerous Alliance came out first, then each of the three legends came out individually, with a fair degree of pageantry. Lesnar didn't like being made to wait apparently as he stood in the ring, glaring down at Kobashi. No words were exchanged, just a few gestures. It was enough. The WCW champion climbed out of the ring and went nose-to-nose with his opponent for the forthcoming pay per view. Lesnar shoved the puro legend and all hell broke loose. Security and WCW officials swarmed around the ringside area, but it was like trying to keep two angered bulls apart. The were separated for a moment, and Lesnar started to climb back into the ring. The he jumped back down, throwing a shoulder into Kobashi, who did not move. They were separated again, and then Lesnar charged. Kobashi deftly stepped aside, tripping Lesnar into the security barrier. He hit hard, and rumbled to his feet with pain written all over his face. Calm as a lotus flower, Kobashi picked up Lesnar and delivered a huge Burning Hammer onto the padded concrete floor. Lesnar did not get up. The crowd went insane and the announcers went even more insane, with Dusty Rhodes literally screaming "The champ is down! The champ is down!" Lesnar did eventually get up, but for the first time since he had debuted in WCW, he needed help making it back to the locker room. It took time to get everything settled, and a match did eventually take place. It was Kobashi-Misawa-Flair vs Steiner-O'Haire-Booker. The veteran consortium won after a rather subdued affair. All three members of the heel trio clearly wanted nothing to do with Kobashi throughout the match.

 

If the intent of the showdown was to create anticipation for the Halloween Havoc main event, it worked. The whole situation was done well enough that the Internet wrestling community was abuzz about whether the whole thing was a work or a shoot. That a live Nitro was allowed to go into overrun on Fox should have told people something. Some industry insiders generously estimate that the angle doubled the likely PPV buys for Halloween Havoc. That seems excessively high, but it is certain that the angle did help sell the pay per view to a fairly hesitant fan-base.

 

The pay per view opened with a slightly odd match, as two of the top singles competitors in WCW once again teamed up as Shawn Michaels and Rob Van Dam took on reigning WCW World Tag Team champions, The Triad. Commissioner Cat had made the match seemingly as punishment for all four men – for HBK and RVD for their continual pestering about wanting to face Brock Lesnar, and for DDP and Kanyon for refusing to “play nice” when forced to team with the Four Horsemen. The match started slow but turned into a very solid opener, ending in a double count-out. The WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team belts were the line next, with champions Jamie Knoble and Chavo Guerrero cheating prodigiously to retain over the team of AJ Styles and Jushin Lyger. Styles failed in his bid to become the first wrestler to hold both the Cruiserweight and Cruiserweight Tag Team belts at the same time. Alpha defeated Kronik in a vicious match, making the Horsemen members the de facto number one contenders to the tag belts. Goldberg went over Scott Steiner in a mundane match, followed by an Eddie Guerrero versus Booker T affair that nearly stole the show. The semi main event was Ric Flair facing Mitsuharu Misawa in a battle of legends, but it was a rather subdued match with endless shows of respect rather than anything stiff or nasty. Flair took a bit of a surprise win.

 

The main event was as stiff and vicious as anything seen in American professional wrestling in a long time. Kobashi really did not alter his typical style and Lesnar worked stiffer than usual, reportedly quite enjoying the Japanese style once again. The match did result in a bit of a split crowd, as certain segments of fans chose to cheer for the WCW champion out of national loyalties, marking the first time Lesnar has been cheered in WCW, but it was not enough to take away from the great match. Lesnar's back was taped up from his meeting with the security barrier on Nitro, and Kobashi targeted it. Lesnar looked to be on the ropes a few times, once just barely getting a foot on the ropes to stop a three count and just barely kicking out after taking the vaunted Burning Hammer late in the match. Both competitors managed repeated near-falls. Kobashi pushed the WCW as hard as any opponent – with similar size and power to Goldberg, Kobashi had a ton more experience and much of that was, as the commentators kept pointing out, “big match experience”. They threw big offense at each other until both could barely stand, but neither would stay down. It ended up being a momentary distraction from Paul Heyman which made the difference for the champion, giving him the opportunity to lock in his Death Clutch hold clean and tight after several unsuccessful prior attempts. Kobashi refused to tap out and went out cold, at which point referee Marty Johnson forced him to break the hold. Heyman tried to argue that Lesnar should be declared the winner, but the ref refused to do so. Just as Kobashi began to stir, Lesnar delivered a big F-5 and pinned the Japanese legend. After the match, the young monster offered his hand to Kenta Kobashi in a show of respect, which the Japanese legend accepted. It was a great gesture that Heyman clearly did not appreciate seeing.

 

The risk taken by Bischoff and Heyman in booking Kenta Kobashi in the main event of Halloween Havoc looked to have worked out. The match was most certainly very good, as almost any knowledgeable wrestling fan could have predicted. But perhaps more importantly, the show did strong enough business. Whether it helped World Championship Wrestling move closer to their goal of “breaking into” the Japanese market is debatable, but it could be argued that the great showing of Kobashi did help Kensuke Sasaki gain further popularity in the United States as he continued to ply his stiff style on ECW Warfare. The show did take plenty of criticism – whether it was using Misawa in a “soft” match with Flair or “wasting” HBK and RVD in a tag match, there was some definitely negativity toward booking decisions. One on-line columnist even went so far as to accuse Heyman of being “too focused on trying to put together good wrestling matches”, apparently rather than putting together what will sell to the masses.

 

Another small development in October for World Championship Wrestling was the use what would internally be called “intimates”. No, WCW was not referencing ladies undergarments. Rather, it was a specific type of promo that WCW began to use regularly after mid-October. Prior to that, WCW typically used one of two basic styles of promos – either the live in-ring promo which relied on crowd interaction or the taped backstage “interview”. The “intimate” promo was a variation on the latter. Whatever the setting, it used low lighting and low camera angles to create a cozy feel. The worker was by themselves, sans any support or interview, and they simply talked. No loud and emphatic braggadocio that was so typical of a standard promo. It was supposed to create an intimate feel between the wrestler and the viewer. It typically worked quite effectively. Some of the first “intimates” came from Shawn Michaels, who quickly proved a master of the approach. In the first one, Michaels quietly explained why winning the WCW World title meant so much to him, and also why earning Flair's respect meant so much... because to Michaels, Flair was pro wrestling, so if he didn't have Flair's respect, he didn't have respect from the business as a whole. Rob Van Dam also talked about why he wanted the WCW World championship but also why he wanted to be the one to take down Brock Lesnar in his own “intimate”. While the basic concept of this style of promo was not new, the frequent use of them by WCW was and fans responded positively.

 

The month of October was relatively quiet for ECW, where Samoa Joe remained dominant. Full Throttle Wrestling actually got some attention, as WCW's child promotion had some matches posted on the WCW website for fans to enjoy. There was a particular focus on then-current FTW Global champion Bryan Danielson. Known “American Dragon”, the 21-year old had been trained by Shawn Michaels at the Texas Wrestling Academy and even worked in the WWE's developmental system for a short time. Danielson was an all-around talent and his match-quality was undeniable, but the fact that he was under 200 pounds raised some eyebrows. Lack of size had not kept Low Ki from making an impact in ECW, so it likely would not necessarily be an impediment for “American Dragon”. Some industry observers began to consider whether smaller workers like these would be the future for WCW...

 

In the Land of McMahon, the reign of Edge continued. Its length was beginning to surprise many, but Edge had yet to secure the kind of impressive victory which would legitimize his reign at the top. He had just such a chance when he faced Triple H in the main event of No Mercy. In typical Kliq fashion, Edge was victorious but it was due to disqualification and Triple H was never pinned. It was becoming more difficult to deny the overt degree of influence that the group of friends known as The Kliq were allowed to exert over booking decisions. While many fans and insiders found it frustrating, there was no obvious decline in business to point to as proof that the influence was a negative thing.

 

World Championship Wrestling left October in much the same position as it come in, with no clear number one contender for the WCW World Heavyweight championship. With November's Mayhem pay per view once again set to feature the Mayhem battle royal to determine a clear number one contender, it seemed less of a major issue for the moment. There were growing questions from fans and observers whether the championship reign of Brock Lesnar could possibly be ended in a satisfactory manner.

 

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/WCW/PPV/WCW/WCWHalloweenHavoc.jpg

WCW Halloween Havoc 2002

 

Jamie Knoble & Chavo Guerrero d. AJ Styles & Jushin Lyger for the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championships

 

The Triad drew with Shawn Michaels & Rob Van Dam for the WCW World Tag Team Championships

 

Alpha d. Kronik

 

Goldberg d. Scott Steiner

 

Eddie Guerrero d. Booker T

 

Ric Flair d. Mitsuharu Misawa

 

Brock Lesnar d. Kenta Kobashi

[Hashasheen]

World Championship Wrestling

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/WCW/Logos/Small/WCWSmall.jpg

 

October 2002

 

NIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

[DreamGoddessLindsey]

I love how you're incorporating the Japanese into it.

 

I have only one request: make a legit division for the women. Legit enough that they could even be high on the card. I think you could do it if you grab some Joshi wrestlers and people from later on in SHIMMER. It would be awesome to see your take on the women.

[mad5226]

I really liked Havoc it seemed to be a great month. Keep up the great work, with Starcade right around the corner, I'm anxious who will come into the picture to actually beat Lesner.

[jesseewiak]

The only complaint I would make is that outside of the crappy Internet sites that shill pictures of every diva naked, nobody would believe that Misawa or Kobashi would shoot on anybody.

 

Something that would work in the future is somebody like Misawa or Kobashi coming back for another match and their opponent trying to be 'stiff' with them in the ring and Misawa or Kobashi just brutalizing them in-ring ala Finaly or Benoit in a few of their squash matches.

[BoomKing]

I actually like the fact that there is no clear number one contender going into every month. To me, it helps give each monthly update its own distinctive feel, allowing you to build up your own "monster of the month," if you weeeeeell.

[Bigpapa42]

NIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

 

Glad you enjoyed.

 

I love how you're incorporating the Japanese into it.

 

I have only one request: make a legit division for the women. Legit enough that they could even be high on the card. I think you could do it if you grab some Joshi wrestlers and people from later on in SHIMMER. It would be awesome to see your take on the women.

 

Thanks. I have to admit that it was a fairly easy decision to build ties to the Japanese promotions, given WCW's history with it. Plus, its a big pro wrestling market that the WWE has never really attempted to exploit - though likely with good reason as I doubt they would have much success anyway.

 

I don't know how high up the card the ladies would make it. On PPV, likely yes. Headlining PPVs, probably not. But anything is possible...

 

I really liked Havoc it seemed to be a great month. Keep up the great work, with Starcade right around the corner, I'm anxious who will come into the picture to actually beat Lesner.

 

Glad you enjoyed. Starracade will be interseting...

 

The only complaint I would make is that outside of the crappy Internet sites that shill pictures of every diva naked, nobody would believe that Misawa or Kobashi would shoot on anybody.

 

Something that would work in the future is somebody like Misawa or Kobashi coming back for another match and their opponent trying to be 'stiff' with them in the ring and Misawa or Kobashi just brutalizing them in-ring ala Finaly or Benoit in a few of their squash matches.

 

Any fan who really knows Misawa and Kobashi would probably realize pretty quickly that the segment was a work. However, the majority of WCW fans have never seen either man beyond the hype segments in the lead up to Halloween Havoc. As for the IWC, which isn't really the "regular" WCW fans, I don't see it as tons of people being convinced it was legit, but simply creating a lot of debate because at least a few people did.

 

I do want to bring back Misawa and Kobashi, as well as bring in Keiji Mutoh, but I don't want to go overboard and do it frequently or without good reason.

 

I actually like the fact that there is no clear number one contender going into every month. To me, it helps give each monthly update its own distinctive feel, allowing you to build up your own "monster of the month," if you weeeeeell.

 

Yeah, it changes up each month to some extent. Its not an approach I want to keep going for too long, as longer feuds and builds are still how I prefer to run things. But its fun for the moment.

[juggaloninjalee]

I was very surprised to see you using a Japanese worker who hasn't been used in America. Your write up of it was very good and made the match credible. What are your product settings at and match ratio for events and tv? I am very curious.

[Bigpapa42]

I was very surprised to see you using a Japanese worker who hasn't been used in America. Your write up of it was very good and made the match credible. What are your product settings at and match ratio for events and tv? I am very curious.

 

Its a popularity equals performance product, with Traditional and Mainstream being Key Feature. I was looking for something with pop equal to perf and this provided that. It also seems to allow for the cruisers to put on some solid matches, which I was also looking for. The match-angle ratio is 80% for PPV (though I am typically very close to 90% so I should probably actually adjust it) and 70% for TV.

 

I actually built up the popularity of Kobashi a bit prior, as I brought him in on loan in about July. He had a couple of dark matches. I didn't know how else to simulate several weeks of hype angles giving him a bit of popularity in the US without simply editing.

[juggaloninjalee]

Its a popularity equals performance product, with Traditional and Mainstream being Key Feature. I was looking for something with pop equal to perf and this provided that. It also seems to allow for the cruisers to put on some solid matches, which I was also looking for. The match-angle ratio is 80% for PPV (though I am typically very close to 90% so I should probably actually adjust it) and 70% for TV.

 

I actually built up the popularity of Kobashi a bit prior, as I brought him in on loan in about July. He had a couple of dark matches. I didn't know how else to simulate several weeks of hype angles giving him a bit of popularity in the US without simply editing.

 

Oh ok that makes sense. So really you just editing your key features, and match percentages in the product?

 

Kobashi would get over quickly in real life I think. That makes sense to throw him in dark matches with a few people.

[totti]

Cracking update, BP. The consistency is there with every post and it makes it all worth the wait.

 

Who will take the belt off Lesner is one of the most intriguing pieces of booking i´ve seen on the forums so kudos for that. You´ve built it up brilliantly and made it into a huge deal and I know you haven´t booked yourself into a corner so to speak. A plan will be revealed soon enough I´m sure.

[jhd1]

I read your latest update last night, ended up reading the diary again from the beginning and read the first ten pages in one sitting! I can't believe more people haven't taken up this approach - it is easy to read and covers the more interesting points of the 'game' without the need for reading each and every week. It's like a more in-depth (and regular) version of the 'What's going on in your game' thread

 

Admittedly it works better for RW diaries where the personas are more well known but we could have great diaries in this style covering the Invasion, the defection of Bret Hart, Hulkamania, anything at all. If I could get a RW game going long enough I'd do it like this!

 

What also struck me about this diary is the consistency of ideas - I can't remember which month it was but during the Jarrett-NOAH fiasco you mentioned that 'some time in the future' Kobashi would end up fighting Lesnar but that it wouldn't happen the way NOAH intended - and of course we've just seen how that turned out. Little things like that make you a HoF writer (and booker).

[Bigpapa42]

Oh ok that makes sense. So really you just editing your key features, and match percentages in the product?

 

Kobashi would get over quickly in real life I think. That makes sense to throw him in dark matches with a few people.

 

I changed up the product before I started the game, actually. When I first started playing around with Genadi's scenario, the results weren't great and I really didn't like the idea that 2002 WCW used a product similar to what they would have used in '98 or '00. So I started to think about WCW evolving, which lead to my idea of Bischoff evolving, which ended up becoming a central theme of the project.

 

The product change really made getting solid grades easier, I've found. Even when I did some test sims, the CPU seemed to do better with it. Once you get the overall popularity of your roster up - which isn't that difficult - then getting good grades with this product becomes quite easy.

 

Cracking update, BP. The consistency is there with every post and it makes it all worth the wait.

 

Who will take the belt off Lesner is one of the most intriguing pieces of booking i´ve seen on the forums so kudos for that. You´ve built it up brilliantly and made it into a huge deal and I know you haven´t booked yourself into a corner so to speak. A plan will be revealed soon enough I´m sure.

 

The world title story is one I've had planned from the beginning. I did rethink it a few times, but stuck with the basics of the original plan. I have added some details to the whole thing. I'm hoping to make it the kind of booking where you appreciate when it happens, then when you go back consider all the pieces that built up to it, you appreciate it more. We'll have to see if it plays out as well as I hope...

 

I read your latest update last night, ended up reading the diary again from the beginning and read the first ten pages in one sitting! I can't believe more people haven't taken up this approach - it is easy to read and covers the more interesting points of the 'game' without the need for reading each and every week. It's like a more in-depth (and regular) version of the 'What's going on in your game' thread

 

Admittedly it works better for RW diaries where the personas are more well known but we could have great diaries in this style covering the Invasion, the defection of Bret Hart, Hulkamania, anything at all. If I could get a RW game going long enough I'd do it like this!

 

What also struck me about this diary is the consistency of ideas - I can't remember which month it was but during the Jarrett-NOAH fiasco you mentioned that 'some time in the future' Kobashi would end up fighting Lesnar but that it wouldn't happen the way NOAH intended - and of course we've just seen how that turned out. Little things like that make you a HoF writer (and booker).

 

Thanks jhd1.

 

I'm actually surprised that the overview format hasn't really been used before (and if it has, I apologize to who did). Marcel Fromage's awesome format with his XWA was a bit like it, but as I've said before, I really just wanted this one to be like someone reading the history of a promotion in a book. Or even following monthly recaps in a magazine. It allows me to move quickly, focus on the "important bits", and ignore the less important stuff. It has also taken away the focus on grades as a measure of success, which I like. I do have to agree that it seems more likely to work with real world projects - I knew I didn't need to get too detailed on the Lesnar-Kobashi match, as anyone who is familiar with the work of the two men could probably imagine it better than I could write it. That is tougher with the CornellVerse for many reasons, though I may try it at some point if someone doesn't beat me to it.

 

The consistency of ideas is something I've tried to hold to. The stuff between WCW and Noah - thanks Jeff Jarrett! - took a long time to pay off, but those are the kind of connections I want to build. I've always tried to have connections in my writing projects, but it can get tough to keep track of stuff. I've been more careful in that regard on this one, plus it becomes easier with things moving faster. Its something I'm hope I'm able to continue going forward, as well.

[Hashasheen]

Glad you enjoyed.

 

Enjoyed isn't quite the word. You've been connecting things from previous updates as you go along, you're wonderfully stringing along the storylines and I'm quite pleased with Kenta and Misawa joining WCW for the mo'. I've recently become a fan of puro among other things, and I watched a 4-minute chop-fest on youtube between Kenta and another Japanese wrestler before I read the story, which really enhanced the imagery for me.

[Bigpapa42]

<p>Alright, so once again, its booking through the shows in TEW which is holding things up. Hope to have the November summary posted in the next day or two. I never ever expected to have the booking in TEW become the onerous part of this project. Especially since I book way quicker with this project than previous ones. But it is what it is, I guess. </p><p> </p><p>

So I think getting away from using TEW is becoming pretty much necessary to keep this going. Once I hit 2003, I will likely stop using TEW as the base. It will still be my guide in a lot of ways, as I have a lot of long-term plans that were made around the scenario and the game world that TEW presented, so those will remain. </p><p> </p><p>

The real point of this post, however, is this.... Since I had Paul Heyman take over the creative duties of WCW, I've struggled a bit with the thought of how would Heyman be booking World Championship Wrestling. I've ended up looking at his time running Smackdown as much or moreso than everything he did with ECW, simply because I think a lot of what was done in ECW was out of necessity. </p><p> </p><p>

I recently watched the full 90-minute interivew that Heyman did on MMA Hour, where they covered a ton of topics. MMA and Brock Lesnar were covered, obviously, but so was Vince McMahon, TNA, and some other stuff. They didn't spend too much time talking about pro wrestling, but enough. Damned interesting interview if you have the change to watch it. </p><p> </p><p>

My Heyman-vision of WCW has been based around the idea of keeping things simple. As Heyman stated in the interview, professional wrestling is really basic. Its taking two workers, giving them a reason to fight so that people will care and pay money. That's it. So I've tried to stick with a pretty basic formula - compelling characters in simple yet intriguing storylines combined with cutting edge in-ring action. </p><p> </p><p>

Now something I've thought a fair about is the idea of incorporating elements of MMA into the product. I've read that Heyman was wanting to do that when he was going to run WWECW with Angle, Punk, etc in 2006. The question becomes what elements are you going to include? More realistic MMA-style submissions is an easy one. But I don't think moving toward a shoot-style of wrestling is really the proper direction, and I don't know how much of a BBJ-styled mat wrestling approach would work either. The primary element I see as adapatable, and the one I've been trying to incorporate, is the simplicity of the feuds in MMA. Its just about competition, respect, and proving yourself. </p><p> </p><p>

I basically find myself continually questioning whether the "Heyman direction" I've taken for WCW is realisticaly and/or accurate. I guess there's no way to know and it doesn't "feel" wrong. No one is calling me out over it, either, so I guess the readers don't see a major disconnect with it. But it is something I've put a ton of thought into and I'm continuing to work with as I move along with this project.</p>

[Guest cmdrsam]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Bigpapa42" data-cite="Bigpapa42" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="28471" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Alright, so once again, its booking through the shows in TEW which is holding things up. Hope to have the November summary posted in the next day or two. I never ever expected to have the booking in TEW become the onerous part of this project. Especially since I book way quicker with this project than previous ones. But it is what it is, I guess. <p> </p><p> So I think getting away from using TEW is becoming pretty much necessary to keep this going. Once I hit 2003, I will likely stop using TEW as the base. It will still be my guide in a lot of ways, as I have a lot of long-term plans that were made around the scenario and the game world that TEW presented, so those will remain. </p><p> </p><p> The real point of this post, however, is this.... Since I had Paul Heyman take over the creative duties of WCW, I've struggled a bit with the thought of how would Heyman be booking World Championship Wrestling. I've ended up looking at his time running Smackdown as much or moreso than everything he did with ECW, simply because I think a lot of what was done in ECW was out of necessity. </p><p> </p><p> I recently watched the full 90-minute interivew that Heyman did on MMA Hour, where they covered a ton of topics. MMA and Brock Lesnar were covered, obviously, but so was Vince McMahon, TNA, and some other stuff. They didn't spend too much time talking about pro wrestling, but enough. Damned interesting interview if you have the change to watch it. </p><p> </p><p> My Heyman-vision of WCW has been based around the idea of keeping things simple. As Heyman stated in the interview, professional wrestling is really basic. Its taking two workers, giving them a reason to fight so that people will care and pay money. That's it. So I've tried to stick with a pretty basic formula - compelling characters in simple yet intriguing storylines combined with cutting edge in-ring action. </p><p> </p><p> Now something I've thought a fair about is the idea of incorporating elements of MMA into the product. I've read that Heyman was wanting to do that when he was going to run WWECW with Angle, Punk, etc in 2006. The question becomes what elements are you going to include? More realistic MMA-style submissions is an easy one. But I don't think moving toward a shoot-style of wrestling is really the proper direction, and I don't know how much of a BBJ-styled mat wrestling approach would work either. The primary element I see as adapatable, and the one I've been trying to incorporate, is the simplicity of the feuds in MMA. Its just about competition, respect, and proving yourself. </p><p> </p><p> I basically find myself continually questioning whether the "Heyman direction" I've taken for WCW is realisticaly and/or accurate. I guess there's no way to know and it doesn't "feel" wrong. No one is calling me out over it, either, so I guess the readers don't see a major disconnect with it. But it is something I've put a ton of thought into and I'm continuing to work with as I move along with this project.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> A good story is a good story, no matter the vehicle to use.</p>

[Hashasheen]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="cmdrsam" data-cite="cmdrsam" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="28471" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>A good story is a good story, no matter the vehicle to use.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> This. So don't worry, and get to writing!!!!! <img alt=":mad:" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/mad.png.69834f23b9a8bf290d98375f56f1c794.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[Bigpapa42]

World Championship Wrestling

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/WCW/Logos/Small/WCWSmall.jpg

 

November 2002

 

Through late 2002, World Championship Wrestling continued to build upon each success with a new one. Not every step was a step forward, but the momentum was rarely stalled. The progress was notable – two years prior, WCW has been losing money at an incredible rate, putting out an unwatchable product, and nearing the edge of oblivion. A year ago, things were recovering but still not entirely stable. Now, as 2002 was heading to toward its conclusion, WCW appeared to be in a very good position.

 

The big question remained who would face WCW World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar. On a weekly basis, Paul Heyman crowed about how no one was worthy of facing “The Prototype”. It was not too much of a problem for November, where the main event of the Mayhem pay per view would be the Mayhem battle royal match itself. However, the annual WCW showcase Starrcade was not far off and many questioned the lack of a build-up in a real feud for Lesnar and whoever his opponent would be. There were still a number of possibilities, but not one was clearly positioned to be the one who would challenge the still-unbeaten Lesnar.

 

Both Rob Van Dam and Shawn Michaels wanted to be the one to get a shot, as they continued to harass Commissioner Cat on a weekly basis. Reminding them that only one could face the champion, Miller told them to choose between them. HBK and RVD refused, so Miller made them face each other in the main event of a Nitro. They put on a great back-and-forth match where neither competitor could hold the advantage for long, culminating in a disappointing double count out. The following week, Commissioner Cat told the pair that if one of them was going to challenge Brock Lesnar for the WCW World Heavyweight title, it would be because they had won the WCW Mayhem match at the pay per view of the same name. That was their only path.

 

Paul Heyman was of the opinion that since there was no clear top contender, then Brock Lesnar should not have to defend his title at the coming pay per view. Paul E. proposed his client actually get the night off – some well earned R-n-R. The Commissioner did not like so much being told what to do and he was not about to give Lesnar a free pass. Heyman suggested Lesnar face a new opponent... Scott Steiner. The inference was obvious that “Big Poppa Pump” would simply lie down for the champion. Oddly, the Commissioner was not a fan of this idea and he suggested another Lesnar-Goldberg match. After several weeks of bickering between the commissioner and the manager/agent, the match somehow ended up a threeway dance between Lesnar, Goldberg, and Steiner, with the stipulation that if Commissioner Cat felt Steiner was not trying, he would be banned from WCW forever. Unlike in the past, the contemporary WCW did not throw major stipulations and the word “forever” around very often. Given that the threeway dance was merely the secondary main event on the show, fans perceived it as a rather throwaway match.

 

There was also drama on Nitro in the build up the Mayhem match as it was decided which thirty WCW competitors would be involved. It seemed like no one wanted to be left out of the match, and for good reason – winning the match brought the victor plenty of accolades. There was a massive trophy and a bonus of one hundred thousand dollars. But moreso, it was a guaranteed title shot, at whatever WCW title the victor chose. Only a few of those who had matches on the main card of the show also gained entry to the battle royal match, notably those in the tag team four-way elimination match and Sean O'Haire.

 

WCW Mayhem completely lived up to its name. The opener was a flashy match between AJ Styles and Jamie Knoble for the WCW Cruiserweight championship. Knoble became a two-time Cruiserweight champion by defeating Styles with a little help from tag team partner Chavo Guerrero. Knoble became the first man to hold both the Cruiserweight and Cruiserweight Tag Team belts at the same time, a notable honor. Next up was a big moment... but it wasn't a match. In a rare big angle for a pay per view and an even more rare backstage angle, cameras were sent backstage to watch an "on-going event", which was an attack on Goldberg by the entire Dangerous Alliance. A rather vicious attack, it was lead by Scott Steiner and it left Goldberg completely wrecked. In the background, watching from the doorway of their locker room, were the Four Horsemen. The group made no move to intervene – Ric Flair clearly still held a grudge from Goldberg turning down his invitation.

 

The next match was a four-team elimination match for the WCW World Tag Team championships. It was champions The Triad, Alpha, Kronik, and The Jung Dragons. The cruiserweight pair were an odd inclusion, given a chance after they begged Commissioner Cat to get a shot at the “big belts”. They were eliminated in the first two minutes of the match, proving they were not ready for a step up. The champions ended up retaining after a decent match. The Unites States championship was up next, as Rey Mysterio defended against Sean O'Haire. The big man took the win and the belt after endless interference and cheating. The pin came as O'Haire tried to rip the luchadore's mask off, and Mysterio ended up getting pinned as he tried to hang onto the mask.

 

When the time for the semi main event arrived, Lesnar and Steiner emerged separately. Goldberg's entrance music played, but “The Man” did not appear. It was then announced that he was unable to compete in the match, so the match would be Lesnar versus Steiner for the WCW World Heavyweight championship. Heyman looked pleased, but the smirk left his face when Lesnar and Steiner faced off in the middle of the ring. Both men were intense. Despite the stated consequences for Steiner, Heyman began yelling for “Big Poppa Pump” to lay down and get it over with. Instead, Steiner laid into the champion, which took Lesnar by surprise. Heyman was screaming from outside the ring as Steiner threw some of his trademark power offense at Lesnar, and managed to grab back the momentum every time Lesnar looked to take it. Heyman went so far as to try to climb into the ring and interfere to stop the match, but he found himself literally thrown out by referee Charles Robinson. Heyman looked sick as he watched Steiner lock the unbeaten young champion into the Steiner Recliner. Fans and Heyman both seemed to believe the champion would actually tap... but he instead simply powered out of the feared submission hold. When “The Prototype” climbed to his feet, something changed. Something snapped. That slight sadistic streak which had been displayed upon occasion came out full force. The next ten-plus minutes were an entirely one-sided beatdown by Lesnar, who was barely able to control his rage. It nearly got the champion disqualified several times as he savaged his stable-mate. Heyman watched gleefully from ringside, enjoying the carnage far too much. Lesnar made no real attempts to end the match by pinfall or submission - he simply eviscerated Steiner with power move after power move until "Big Poppa Pump" was an over-inflated rag doll. Referee Robinson finally stopped the match, since Steiner was clearly done and out. Lesnar stood over him menacingly until Heyman could pry him away. Scott Steiner was then strapped to a stretcher and and carried out of the ring, his last appearance in World Championship Wrestling. It was perhaps the scariest Lesnar had ever been thus far in his career.

 

Then came the main event. The starting pair in the Mayhem match were Eddie Guerrero and Kanyon. They didn't hold back when they started the match, but there were no early eliminations as the ring and ramp gradually filled up. The first elimination came some twenty-five minutes in, when Ric Flair got bumped off the ramp as Mike Awesome and Diamond Dallas Page both went after Brian Adams. Flair blamed DDP, yelling at him and Awesome took advantage of the distraction to dump him out of the match as well, followed quickly by Adams getting eliminated as well. RVD and HBK got a lot of attention, as both had come out early. They both had some close calls but managed to stay in the game. The cruiserweights once again had moments to shine as their quickness played well into the match. They made few actual eliminations, but did typically have some great bumps when they got eliminated. The match particularly highlighted Eddie Guerrero, Booker T, Sean O'Haire, Kanyon, Rob Van Dam, and Shawn Michaels. Even without his partner DDP, Kanyon was dangerous and he hit a number of Kanyon Cutters, but the challenge was then getting his victim over the top rope ring and out, though he did have a fair of success on the ramp. Booker T proved very opportunistic, and he worked with the new United States champion O'Haire to achieve several eliminations, until they were both sent sprawling over the top rope by Eddie Guerrero delivering a perfect drop kick. Guerrero then began to battle Kanyon once again, and Rob Van Dam took advantage to knock both over the top rope. Guerrero almost managed to skin the cat back in, but he was met by a roundhouse kick from Van Dam. For a moment, “The Whole F*cking Show” thought he had won... then he spotted Shawn Michaels climbing to his feet out on the ramp, shaking off the effects of a Kanyon Cutter from a few minutes prior. They stared at each other, then HBK flipped over the top rope and into the ring. They never looked away as they slowly circled each other, the fans going wild. When they engaged, it started a ten minute sequence of fast-paced and innovative action. Both men had the battle royal equivalent of near falls, as they went over the top rope but skinned the cat back in. RVD connected a nice roundhouse kick and went for his Five Star Frog Splash, leaping right into a perfectly-timed Sweet Chin Music. An exhausted HBK failed to get his opponent over the top rope and the pair ended up battling on the ramp, both tottering on the edge of elimination. When both collapsed, it appeared that after a seventy-minute match (though both had been in the match less than that) that neither might have the energy left. The crowd popped as Shawn Michaels sprung to his feet, hitting a springboard moonsault to RVD on the ramp. HBK then simply rolled Van Dam over the edge of the ramp and to the floor below, a simple end to a chaotic match.

 

A clearly spent Shawn Michaels looked equally elated and relieved. He was presented with his massive trophy and oversized check, but when it was announced that he would use his title shot to face Brock Lesnar at Starrcade, the WCW World Heavyweight champion came charging down to the ring. Heyman trailed behind, apparently trying to stop his client. A long staredown between Lesnar and HBK culminated in the champion snapping the huge Mayhem trophy with one hand. Having already failed once, could Shawn Michaels topple the huge undefeated WCW champion?

 

The beatdown by Lesnar on Steiner – dubbed “The Brock Smash” by fans – was a rather ignoble end to Steiner's seven year tenure. It was more than a decade in total. That Steiner had lasted a full year beyond the exit of his brother surprised many insiders. After getting a taste at the top in 2000, “Big Poppa Pump” was simply not happy being just another guy on the roster, even a fairly prominent and heavily-featured one. At 40, the obvious steroid user was simply not going to be pushed back to the top by Paul Heyman. Despite the entrainment value of his promos, Steiner was becoming increasingly limited in the ring and that was a key factor. With his contract expiring, there was reportedly limited negotiations in an effort to keep Steiner in WCW but it quickly became apparent that his demands far exceeded the promotions. Steiner had no interest in an out-of-ring role. So he “went out on his shield” by taking the Lesnar beatdown. Many fans and insiders have questioned why Steiner would agree to such an exit, but his significant amount of “respect” for Lesnar could have had something to do with it. As one WCW insider stated, “Lesnar was the only guy in this business that Scott feared. Ever.” As he left, Steiner reportedly told Heyman that he would “call when he wins the WWE World title.”

 

A small return of note that was not hyped at all was reappearance of Mark Jindrak on Nitro. He now went by Markus Jindrak, or Markus J, and he looked to be in fantastic shape. His absence over the preceding few months was not addressed, but he had been in Vegas training with Full Throttle Wrestling. The return of Jindrak showed there was still some hope for the once-heralded “Natural Born Thrillers” group of Power Plant graduates. Sean O'Haire's rise continued, and he has supplanted Steiner as the number two in the Dangerous Alliance well before Steiner's exit. Winning the United States title was a show of faith that Heyman had in the menacing 31-year old. The evolution of O'Haire's character was amongst the most interesting in the promotion, as began he showing a smooth-talking charismatic side t at was accentuated with a new upscale wardrobe. The Kronik duo followed, ahem, suit.

 

November was a big month on ECW. The war between Raven and Mick Foley continued, with ECW champion Samoa Joe in the middle of it. On the second ECW Warfare of the month, Joe successful defended the belt against CM Punk in a really good thirty-minute match. It earned the youngster a lot of respect even as he was beaten, but it didn't impress Raven, who berated and abused Punk even worse than normal. The other members of the Dark Carnival, Daniels and James, did nothing to help their “friend”. More talent debuted on the brand, with the tandem of Nigel McGuiness and Doug Williams debuting under the name The UK Saints, though the pair were hardly saintly. They were managed by another débutante, a lovely and conniving German-born brunette known as Katarina. Trained as a wrestler, Katarina had worked for the Fronter Wrestling Alliance in England as “Nikita” where she was one of several talents spotted by WCW scouts. Katarina proved a very effective manager as she would do whatever necessary to help her wrestlers.

 

The month ended with a huge announcement for ECW, with ECW Commissioner Mick Foley joined by WCW Commissioner “The Cat” Ernest Miller. Foley announced that he had come to agreement with his counterpart, and the following week on ECW Warfare, WCW World Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar would make his first ever ECW appearance. The champion would take on an ECW opponent of Foley's choosing in a non-title match. The fans were salivating over the thought of a showdown between Samoa Joe and Brock Lesnar that they believed had to be match Foley would choose.

 

In many ways, November was about building toward the end of the year and Starrcade. World Championship Wrestling continued to grow and move forward. That was not seen as a positive thing by all, as some fans criticized the loss of Scott Steiner as WCW shedding its history. Despite the criticism, WCW continued to build its fanbase. With each passing month, WCW strengthened its position and continued to chase World Wrestling Entertainment for the top spot in the world of professional wrestling..

 

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/WCW/PPV/WCW/WCWMayhem1.jpg

WCW Mayhem 2002

 

Jamie Knoble d. AJ Styles © for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship

 

The Triad © d. Alpha, Kronik, & The Jung Dragons for the WCW World Tag Team Championships

 

Sean O'Haire d. Rey Mysterio © for the WCW United States Championship

 

Brock Lesnar © d. Scott Steiner for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship

 

Shawn Michaels wins Mayhem 30-man Battle Royal Match

[Hashasheen]

World Championship Wrestling

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k235/Bigpapa42_2006/WCW/Logos/Small/WCWSmall.jpg

 

November 2002

 

................... AWESOME.

 

Sean O'Haire, my man has just won the United States Championship! Good on him! Let's see where he goes with this.

 

I see Ric is still holding a grudge. Da Man, Goldberg better beat him up, JACKHAMMER!-style.

 

I was so sure Eddie would win Mayhem, but I guess Lesnar's reign isn't about to end anytime soon. Pity, since Starrcade should have been the perfect placed to end it. Still, between the reign and his character, Lesnar's got ways to go. Even if not Eddie, Rob should have had a shot to dethrone THE NEXT BIG THING.

 

The Cruiserweights in the heavyweight tag-team division again? Sorry Bp, but that just keeps irking me, hard. And the Triads retain once again, despite a specific storyline or opponent. The tag-team scene being all chaos is both good and bad yo...

 

So Scott jobs to Brock on his last event in WCW... I'm pretty sure he's going to TNA at the moment, but besides that it was a very poigant moment for both Lesnar and Steiner.

 

Michaels versus Lesnar, eh? I'm guessing Mr. Wrestlemania is going to make himself a Starrcade moment. Not what I'd hoped for, especially since it's a repeat PPV match, but hey, stuff happens.

 

Yes, I marked out for Jamie Knoble. Nice honor for him, I'm assuming AJ is moving up?

 

Last question: Why only 5 matches? No dark matches, no none-title matches, makes me a very sad Hashasheen.