The Great Triumvirate

[Darbicus]

The year is 1998...

Wrestling stands on the precipice of change...

A monumental shift in the world has occured...

And the dust is only beginning to settle...

 

 

For the World Wrestling Federation, things are seemingly at an all time low. The golden years of yesterday are a distant memory, weighed down by the failure of a "New Generation" that has left the once mighty Federation in the doldrums of mediocrity. Morale is down, finances are down, and most importantly, ratings are down...

 

http://www.nndb.com/people/682/000024610/vincemcmahon-sized.jpg

 

Enter this man. Vincent Kennedy McMahon is a third generation promoter, the creator of the juggernaut that was the WWF. He's not about to let his family...nay...his legacy...go quietly into the night. He knew there needed to be a change, and change is what he would bring. Coining the phrase of WWF "Attitude" Vince began to change the WWF's once family-friendly, almost cartoony image into a more cutting edge approach; one that would appeal to teenagers and young adults alike.

 

But you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. Due to his company's financial straits, McMahon was forced to break ties with his longtime figure-head, Bret "The Hitman" Hart. And due to conflicts of personality within his locker room, Vince concocted a plan to screw Bret Hart out of the WWF title, placing it on Shawn Michaels and earning the ire of fans and some of his talent alike.

 

Yet hope springs eternal. As the new year dawns, there is still a sense of optimism in the WWF. The Attitude approach has injected new life into an otherwise stale program. Vince is finding his feet as a heel character on television, and most importantly, we are witnessing the rise of the biggest star to come along in years in the form of Stone Cold Steve Austin. The WWF's fortunes are not yet written in stone, and Vince will either steer the ship of state into calmer waters, or watch it go down in flames with him on it...

 

Yet in every ocean...a predator lurks.

The alpha of the waters...waiting...biding their time...and ready to strike.

 

http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/logopedia/images/7/7b/WCW-Logo.png/revision/latest?cb=20111218023151%5B/center%5D

 

The giant placing their foot on the neck of the once mighty federation is Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling. Born out of the ashes of the once mighty National Wrestling Alliance, WCW started off as little more than a nuisance; an inept imitation of Vince McMahon's grandiose major leagues. That all changed when Turner got tired of playing second fiddle, opened his checkbook, and brought in a new man behind the business...

 

http://www.tradingcarddb.com/Images/Cards/Wrestling/67170/67170-50Fr.jpg

 

Eric Bischoff. The former commentator and road agent turned executive producer had many friends and enemies throughout the business. Some accused him of simply buying up the biggest name talents; scooping up old WWF stars, most notably Hulk Hogan, and using them to leapfrog to the top. Whatever you said about him though, no one could deny the success. After securing the talents of Kevin Nash and Scott Hall and forming the nWo, Bischoff had brought WCW from being second fiddle to being the largest wrestling company in the world.

 

Moreover he had introduced American mainstream audiences to lucha libre and Japanese technical style wrestling through his innovative use of the cruiserweight division. He had made live television an integral part of the presentation, making the WWF's taped model look archaic by comparison. Perhaps most importantly though, he had crafted one of the most integral and well-executed storylines in wrestling history, one that saw WCW hero Sting finally emerge from his self-imposed exile to strike back at the nWo and claim the title from Hogan. And in perhaps the biggest coup of all, Bischoff had secured the hottest free agent in wrestling history, Bret Hart, the victim of the Montreal Screwjob, and welcomed him into the WCW fold.

 

But success breeds complacency, and WCW is not as sturdy as you would be led to believe. Backstage politics and egos threatened to tear apart the very company Bischoff had managed to construct; older voices holding onto their spots and protecting themselves instead of the business. Hungry young grapplers who wanted those spots for themselves, and could only be placated for so long. And while the checkbook of Ted Turner appeared limitless, fates could always conspire to end Bischoff's reign at the top, as he didn't own what he had built. Bischoff remains confident though, that nothing can stand in his way from total wrestling domination, and overshadowing everyone else.

 

A shadow is merely a reflection...Nothing more

And yet...looking closer...it is sometimes hard to tell where the shadow ends...and where reality begins...

 

http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/2162773/ecwlogo01_gif.jpg

 

Extreme Championship Wrestling was only known by a select few in those early years of the Internet. But those who knew of it knew what bountiful selections it offered. While the WWF edged towards the hardcore with its Attitude product, ECW had fully indulged in the hardcore lifestyle since its very inception. And while Bischoff and WCW claimed the innovation of the cruiserweights, it was truly ECW that had first brought these men to American shores and airwaves. It was the vision of one man in particular...

 

http://pwtorch.com/artman2/uploads/3/HeymanPaul_210WK.jpg

 

Depending on who you asked, Paul Heyman was either a creative genius or a charlatan cult leader. To the ECW faithful, he was the Pied Piper of Philadelphia, leading them along to his merry tune. To outsiders, his blend of extreme wrestling, titilating storylines and the common boundaries of good taste were an affront to everything they stood for. Yet that didn't stop ECW from becoming a phenomenon that seemed to grow more and more as the days went by.

 

But growing didn't come without a price. Heyman didn't have the financial resources of his larger competitors, who freely ripped from his stable of athletes without question or warning. While Vince and the WWF had been keen to do business in the past, Heyman knew that eventually he would have to stand on his own two feet if he was going to be taken seriously as a national brand. Doing that might mean some hard choices ahead.

 

If the money keeps rolling in and the train doesn't suffer a breakdown leaving the station, there doesn't seem to be a limit to what ECW can achieve. Unfortunately, those are two very big ifs.

 

And so the stage is set...

The board laid out for our game...

Three men to shape the future of professional wrestling...

A thousand angles which can fall...but only one upon which to stand.

Trials. Tribulations. Victory. Defeat. Triumph. Tragedy.

All are intertwined...all are to be seen.

And through it all, the destinies of these three men shall be revealed.

As they change the sport for ever.

For they are...

 

 

THE GREAT TRIUMVIRATE OF WRESTLING

[Darbicus]

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="WWF_Attitude_Logo.jpg" data-src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/fr/c/c6/WWF_Attitude_Logo.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

WWF Roster</p><p> </p><p>

Main Eventers</p><p>

Kane</p><p>

Ken Shamrock</p><p>

Owen Hart</p><p>

Shawn Michaels</p><p>

Stone Cold Steve Austin</p><p>

The Rock</p><p>

The Undertaker</p><p>

Triple H</p><p>

Vader</p><p> </p><p>

Upper Midcard</p><p>

Ahmed Johnson</p><p>

Animal</p><p>

Billy Gunn</p><p>

Cactus Jack</p><p>

Faarooq</p><p>

"The Artist Formerly Known As" Goldust</p><p>

Hawk</p><p>

Jeff Jarrett</p><p>

Road Dogg</p><p>

Steve Blackman</p><p> </p><p>

Midcarders</p><p>

Bart Gunn</p><p>

Blackjack Bradshaw</p><p>

Blackjack Windham</p><p>

Bob Holly</p><p>

Chainz</p><p>

D'Lo Brown</p><p>

Henry O. Godwinn</p><p>

Kama Mustafa</p><p>

Kurrgan</p><p>

Marc Mero</p><p>

Mosh</p><p>

Phineas I. Godwinn</p><p>

Savio Vega</p><p>

Thrasher</p><p> </p><p>

Lower Midcarders</p><p>

8-Ball</p><p>

Brian Christopher</p><p>

Flash Funk</p><p>

Mark Henry</p><p>

Recon</p><p>

Scott Putski</p><p>

Skull</p><p>

Taka Michinoku</p><p> </p><p>

Openers</p><p>

Aguila</p><p>

Jesus Castillo Jr.</p><p>

Miguel Perez Jr.</p><p>

Scott Taylor</p><p> </p><p>

Enhancement Talent</p><p>

Jose Estrada Jr.</p><p>

Tom Brandi</p><p> </p><p>

Occasional Wrestler</p><p>

Brooklyn Brawler</p><p>

Chainsaw Charlie</p><p> </p><p>

WWF Champion: Shawn Michaels (def. Bret Hart Wk 3, November 1997)</p><p>

WWF Intercontinental Champion: The Rock (via forefit, Wk 2, December 1997)</p><p>

WWF Tag Team Champions: The New Age Outlaws (def. Legion of Doom Wk 4, November 1997)</p><p>

WWF European Champion: Triple H (def. Shawn Michaels Wk 2, December 1997)</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

Tag Teams:</p><p>

Disciples of Apocalypse (Skull & 8-Ball)</p><p>

The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher)</p><p>

Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal)</p><p>

Los Boricuas (Savio Vega & Miguel Perez)</p><p>

Los Boricuas #2 (Jose Estrada & Jesus Castillo)</p><p>

New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg & Billy Gunn)</p><p>

The Godwinns (Henry O. & Phineas I. Godwinn)</p><p>

The New Blackjacks (Blackjack Windham & Blackjack Bradshaw)</p><p>

Truth Commission (Kurrgan & Recon)</p>

[Darbicus]

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/logopedia/images/7/7b/WCW-Logo.png/revision/latest?cb=20111218023151%3C/div%3E</span></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

Main Eventers</p><p>

Bret Hart</p><p>

Curt Hennig</p><p>

Diamond Dallas Page</p><p>

Hollywood Hulk Hogan</p><p>

Kevin Nash</p><p>

Lex Luger</p><p>

Randy Savage</p><p>

Ric Flair</p><p>

Rick Steiner</p><p>

Roddy Piper</p><p>

Scott Hall</p><p>

Scott Steiner</p><p>

Sting</p><p>

The Giant</p><p> </p><p>

Upper Midcarders</p><p>

Booker T</p><p>

Buff Bagwell</p><p>

Chris Benoit</p><p>

Eddy Guerrero</p><p>

Konnan</p><p>

Meng</p><p>

Raven</p><p>

Ray Traylor</p><p>

Saturn</p><p>

Scott Norton</p><p>

Stevie Ray</p><p>

The Barbarian</p><p> </p><p>

Midcarders</p><p>

Alex Wright</p><p>

Barry Darsow</p><p>

Chavo Guerrero Jr.</p><p>

Chris Jericho</p><p>

Dean Malenko</p><p>

Disco Inferno</p><p>

Ernest Miller</p><p>

Fit Finlay</p><p>

Goldberg</p><p>

Hammer</p><p>

Hugh Morrus</p><p>

Juventud Guerrera</p><p>

Mortis</p><p>

Rey Mysterio Jr.</p><p>

Rick Martel</p><p>

Steve McMichael</p><p>

Steven Regal</p><p>

Ultimo Dragon</p><p>

Wrath</p><p> </p><p>

Lower Midcarders</p><p>

Glacier</p><p>

Johnny Grunge</p><p>

Kidman</p><p>

La Parka</p><p>

Prince Iaukea</p><p>

Psychosis</p><p>

Riggs</p><p>

Robbie Rage</p><p>

Rocco Rock</p><p>

The Gambler</p><p> </p><p>

Openers</p><p>

Chris Adams</p><p>

Kenny Kaos</p><p>

Lenny Lane</p><p>

Lodi</p><p>

Louie Spicolli</p><p>

Sick Boy</p><p>

Super Calo</p><p> </p><p>

Enhancement Talent</p><p>

El Dandy</p><p>

Evan Karagias</p><p>

Silver King</p><p> </p><p>

Occasional Wrestlers</p><p>

Bobby Eaton</p><p>

Dave Taylor</p><p>

Ice Train</p><p>

Jim Duggan</p><p>

John Nord</p><p> </p><p>

WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Sting (def. Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Wk 3, December 1997)</p><p>

WCW United States Champion: Diamond Dallas Page (def. Curt Hennig, Wk 3, December 1997)</p><p>

WCW Tag Team Champions: The Steiner Brothers (def. The Outsiders, Wk 4, October 1997)</p><p>

WCW Television Champion: Booker T (def. Disco Inferno, Wk 4, December 1997)</p><p>

WCW Cruiserweight Champion: Ultimo Dragon (def. Eddy Guerrero, Wk 4, December 1997)</p><p> </p><p>

Tag Teams</p><p>

Faces of Fear (Meng & The Barbarian)</p><p>

Glacier & Ernest Miller</p><p>

Harlem Heat (Booker T & Stevie Ray)</p><p>

High Voltage (Kenny Kaos & Robbie Rage)</p><p>

The Blue Bloods (Steven Regal & Dave Taylor)</p><p>

The Outsiders (Kevin Nash & Scott Hall)</p><p>

The Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge & Rocco Rock)</p><p>

The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner)</p><p>

Vicious & Delicious (Scott Norton & Buff Bagwell)</p>

[Darbicus]

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/imported_assets/2162773/ecwlogo01_gif.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

Main Eventers</p><p>

Bam Bam Bigelow</p><p>

Rob Van Dam</p><p>

Sabu</p><p>

Shane Douglas</p><p>

Taz</p><p>

The Sandman</p><p>

Tommy Dreamer</p><p> </p><p>

Upper Midcarders</p><p>

Al Snow</p><p>

Bubba Ray Dudley</p><p>

D-Von Dudley</p><p>

Jerry Lynn</p><p>

Justin Credible</p><p>

Lance Storm</p><p>

Mikey Whipwreck</p><p> </p><p>

Midcarders</p><p>

Axl Rotten</p><p>

Ballz Mahoney</p><p>

Brakus</p><p>

Chris Candido</p><p>

Darren Drozdov</p><p>

Doug Furnas</p><p>

New Jack</p><p>

Phil LaFon</p><p>

Pitbull II</p><p>

Tracy Smothers</p><p> </p><p>

Lower Midcarders</p><p>

Big Dick Dudley</p><p>

Jason Knight</p><p>

John Kronus</p><p>

Little Guido</p><p>

Nova</p><p>

Spike Dudley</p><p> </p><p>

Openers</p><p>

Danny Doring</p><p>

Roadkill</p><p>

The Blue Meanie</p><p> </p><p>

Enhancement Talent</p><p>

Chris Chetti</p><p> </p><p>

ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Shane Douglas (def. Bam Bam Bigelow Wk 4, November 1997)</p><p>

ECW Television Champion: Taz (def. Shane Douglas, Wk 1, June 1997)</p><p>

ECW World Tag Team Champions: Chris Candido & Lance Storm (def. Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon, Wk 2, December 1997)</p><p> </p><p>

Tag Teams</p><p>

The Blue World Order (Nova & The Blue Meanie)</p><p>

Chris Candido & Lance Storm</p><p>

Danny Doring & Roadkill</p><p>

Doug Furnas & Phil LaFon</p><p>

Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley)</p><p>

Full Blooded Italians (Tracy Smothers & Little Guido)</p><p>

Hardcore Chair Swingin Freaks (Axl Rotten & Ballz Mahoney)</p><p>

Sabu & Rob Van Dam</p><p>

The Gangstanators (John Kronus & New Jack)</p><p>

The Pitbulls (Pitbull I & Pitbull II)</p>

[Darbicus]

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://www.thepwashow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Monday-Night-War.jpg</span><p>

<strong>The Monday Night War for Week 1, January 1998</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

<em>The Monday Night War continues into the first week of 1998, with the WWF gearing up on its run to the Road to Wrestlemania and WCW still suffering the fallout from Starrcade 1997. WCW is pulling out all the stops this week, with a rematch (following a "best of" show last week) of the Starrcade main event, as Sting will defend the WCW Title against Hollywood Hulk Hogan. Plus Bret Hart will make his in-ring debut with WCW, as he will go one on one with one of the best technical wrestlers in the world, Dean Malenko.</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em>

Meanwhile on Raw, Steve Austin has run roughshod on his way to the Royal Rumble and will make an example of everyone put in front of him. To that end, he has accepted a challenge for a handicap match against The Godwinns. Meanwhile Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker are set to face each other at the Royal Rumble in a Casket Match, but will be on opposing sides on Raw as Michaels teams with D-X stablemate Triple H against the Deadman and Owen Hart.</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em>

Who will emerge victorious in the Monday Night Wars? That remains to be seen!</em></p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Card for WCW Monday Nitro</strong></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match</strong></p><p>

Sting © vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan</p><p> </p><p>

Bret "The Hitman" Hart vs. "The Iceman" Dean Malenko</p><p> </p><p>

Vicious & Delicious & "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. The Steiner Brothers & Lex Luger</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>WCW World Television Title Match</strong></p><p>

Booker T © vs. Rick Martel</p><p> </p><p>

"The Crippler" Chris Benoit vs. Mortis w/James Vandenburg</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>WCW Cruiserweight Championship Match</strong></p><p>

Ultimo Dragon © vs. "Lionheart" Chris Jericho</p><p> </p><p>

Bill Goldberg vs. Fit Finlay</p><p> </p><p>

PLUS: A Special Announcement from James J. Dillon</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

--------------------------</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Card for Monday Night Raw</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Shawn Michaels & Triple H w/Chyna vs. The Undertaker & Owen Hart</p><p> </p><p>

2-on-1 Handicap Match</p><p>

Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. The Godwinns</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>WWF Tag Team Championship Match</strong></p><p>

The New Age Outlaws © vs. The Headbangers</p><p> </p><p>

Jeff Jarrett vs. Chainsaw Charlie</p><p> </p><p>

Ken Shamrock vs. Kama Mustafa</p><p> </p><p>

"The Artist Formerly Known As" Goldust vs. Blackjack Bradshaw</p></div><p></p><p></p>

[Beejus]

<p>Sting - <em>We can't change the belt now, after he just got it.</em></p><p>

Bret Hart - <em>Oh yeah, build that momentum.</em></p><p>

Vicious, Delicious, and Macho - <em>The Steiners surge on toward their breakup.</em></p><p>

Booker T - <em>Martel could use a push though, he was still solid.</em></p><p>

Chris Benoit - <em>Push Benoit, it'll be worth it. He's not crazy yet.</em></p><p>

Ultimo Dragon - <em>On we go with Jericho's eventual turn as well.</em></p><p>

Goldberg - <em>Goldberg.</em></p><p> </p><p>

Undertaker/Owen - <em>Taker is up next for the title match, so he picks up a good win here.</em></p><p>

Steve Austin - <em>Stone Cold makes slop out of the farmers.</em></p><p>

NAO - <em>The hottest team in the WWF isn't dropping the belts here.</em></p><p>

Jeff Jarrett - <em>Jeff was undefeated, so he keeps that up.</em></p><p>

Ken Shamrock - <em>SNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP</em></p><p>

Goldust - <em>TAFKAG is Russoriffic, so he gets a solid push.</em></p>

[packerman120]

<p>WCW World Heavyweight Championship Match</p><p>

<strong>Sting ©</strong> vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Bret "The Hitman" Hart</strong> vs. "The Iceman" Dean Malenko</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Vicious & Delicious & "Macho Man" Randy Savage</strong> vs. The Steiner Brothers & Lex Luger</p><p> </p><p>

WCW World Television Title Match</p><p>

<strong>Booker T ©</strong> vs. Rick Martel</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>"The Crippler" Chris Benoit </strong>vs. Mortis w/James Vandenburg</p><p> </p><p>

WCW Cruiserweight Championship Match</p><p>

<strong>Ultimo Dragon ©</strong> vs. "Lionheart" Chris Jericho</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Bill Goldberg</strong> vs. Fit Finlay</p><p> </p><p>

PLUS: A Special Announcement from James J. Dillon</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

--------------------------</p><p> </p><p>

Card for Monday Night Raw</p><p> </p><p>

Shawn Michaels & Triple H w/Chyna vs.<strong> The Undertaker & Owen Hart</strong></p><p> </p><p>

2-on-1 Handicap Match</p><p>

<strong>Stone Cold Steve Austin</strong> vs. The Godwinns</p><p> </p><p>

WWF Tag Team Championship Match</p><p>

<strong>The New Age Outlaws ©</strong> vs. The Headbangers</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Jeff Jarrett</strong> vs. Chainsaw Charlie</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Ken Shamrock</strong> vs. Kama Mustafa</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>"The Artist Formerly Known As" Goldust</strong> vs. Blackjack Bradshaw</p>