[WWW] Mike Mooneyham 11.16.03 Raw, Smackdown combine for Survivor Series show tonight

http://www.charleston.net/stories/111603/moo_16wrestle.shtml

Sunday, November 16, 2003 
 
Raw, Smackdown combine for Survivor Series show tonight 

BY MIKE MOONEYHAM 
Of The Post and Courier Staff 

World Wrestling Entertainment presents one of its four major, combined
pay-per-views of the year tonight when the Raw and Smackdown brands
team up for Survivor Series.

The show's top billing goes to the Triple H-Bill Goldberg rematch for
the WWE heavyweight title, although most of the buildup has centered
around the Buried Alive Match between Vince McMahon and The
Undertaker. Not to be outdone, Shane McMahon's Ambulance Match with
Kane has received more than its share of pre-show hype.

And what would a major WWE pay-per-view these days be without the
presence of Stephanie McMahon, who is rumored to be making a surprise
return tonight as she helps her 58-year-old father send Taker back
into the depths whence he came -- at least until Wrestlemania XX. The
logical angle, of course, would be to have Kane interfere and put his
storyline brother out of action, which remains a possible scenario.

At any rate, the show is going to be a McMahon family production.

Unlike their previous bout, in which Goldberg vowed to retire if he
lost, tonight's rematch for the Raw version of the WWE heavyweight
title holds some mystery surrounding the outcome.

Triple H, now officially a member of the McMahon clan and fresh off
his honeymoon with Stephanie, is looking at a heavy filming schedule
in December as he works on his latest movie project. But that doesn't
mean he's cool with doing two consecutive jobs to Goldberg. It's more
likely that The Game will find a creative way to wrest control of the
title from the champ.

Kevin Nash had been slated to challenge Goldberg for the title, but
yet another physical setback to the injury-prone performer prompted a
change in plans. Nash, who ended Goldberg's win streak in WCW several
years ago in a move that turned out to be the beginning of the end for
that company, had been pegged to turn heel and collect the $100,000
bounty on Goldberg. That storyline was scrapped, however, when Nash
told WWE officials that he would be undergoing neck surgery and would
be out of action for a minimum of two months. Nash had the procedure
done by Dr. Hae-Dong Jho, who performed Kurt Angle's minimally
invasive surgery earlier this year. With his contract coming up for
renewal in February, it appears likely that the 44-year-old Nash is
headed for a spot in the office.

One of the most heavily hyped matches on tonight's PPV is the showdown
between Kane and Shane McMahon in what hopefully will spell an end to
their program. As a last-minute buildup for their bout, WWE writers
had the two mortal enemies break bread at an upscale Boston
restaurant, calmly sitting down at the table, discussing their feud
over dinner and talking about how they were going to maim each other
tonight. The main problem with this angle is that few fans believe a
non-wrestler such as Shane could actually overcome a supposedly
psychotic monster like Kane. But logic is a consideration that's
rarely used these days, so it's probably a moot point anyway.

The big stipulation in tonight's match is that the loser will get
hauled off in an ambulance, even though viewers already have been
treated to car crashes, infernos and 20-foot plunges involving the
two. Once again pro wrestling is sacrificed at the altar of sports
entertainment. And with the recent hiring of two consultants with
little wrestling experience whose job is to critique the product from
an entertainment standpoint, the pendulum is likely to continue
shifting in that direction.

Speculation also abounds around the Team Austin vs. Team Bischoff
match tonight, with the stipulation that Austin will be removed as
co-general manager of Raw if his team loses. However, if Austin's team
is victorious, the Rattlesnake no longer has to be physically provoked
before going on the attack.

-- The funeral for Mike Lockwood (Crash Holly) was held Wednesday in
China Grove, N.C. Lockwood died Nov. 6 at the age of 32. A cause of
death is unknown, with toxicology reports pending.

Lockwood, who had been working for NWA-TNA and various independents
under the name Mad Mikey, was staying at the house of wrestler Steven
Richards at the time of his death.

A native of California, Lockwood had opened a wrestling school in the
Salisbury, N.C., area last year, and had worked part-time as a bouncer
as well. Lockwood, who had a history of out-of-the-ring problems, had
experienced a number of personal setbacks in recent months, including
a separation from his wife and a release from WWE.

-- George's Sports Bar and Grill, 1300 Savannah Highway, will air
tonight's Survivor Series pay-per-view at 8 p.m. Cover charge is $5.

-- Condolences to Ric Flair on the loss of his mother, Kathleen (Kay)
Fliehr, who passed away Nov. 9 at the age of 85 in Charlotte.

Mrs. Fliehr was a University of Minnesota journalism graduate who once
worked at the Star and Tribune in Minneapolis, and along with her
husband, Dick, helped found the American Community Theater
Association. She also worked for the Sir Tyron Guthrie Theater in
Minneapolis as the head of public relations, and authored a book
titled "In Search of an Audience" in 1968.

Ric Flair's father, Dick Fliehr, passed away in June 2000 at the age
of 81.