GOODBYES AND WRESTLING

As this summer slowly comes to a close, I find myself saying goodbye to many close friends as they leave for college and I find myself wanting to re-live past memories of my own childhood here on my home turf. The days at the lake with my buddies, the pool contests between me and Jon, the bicycle rides from a long time ago...high school football and wrestling. Ah...for all of you seniors to be, let me just tell you that you have one hell of a straining task ahead of you when you have to say goodbye to your buddies at the end of next summer. Lucky for me, the internet has provided me with a way to communicate with just about everyone, thank goodness.

The internet has also provided me with a vent for my melancholy, my lair! The Balrog's Lair is almost like a part of my high school experience and it provides me with a link to that part of my life as I move into the next part. This is not a good-bye speech...I am still doing my thing here. Just getting some stuff out. Basically, reporting is keeping my mind occupied in this time...

But, there is work to do!

There is not much to report today, but I am going to try to cover what I can.

Crash Holly is Erin O'Grady. Not the Rapid Delivery guy from MTV. Look for the Holly cousins to become a tag team against the Undertaker and The Big Show and against X-pac and Kane. They will not stay as a tag team long, though, as they will be the ones that revitalize the Hardcore Division in the WWF as well as Al Snow, Road Dogg, the Blue Meanie, and Stevie Richards. These men (as well as a few others) are going to try to make this division as big as the ECW. That's a hell of a task, but they can do it if they try!

There are rumors that Austin is asking Mankind to job at the PPV to Triple H only so that he can fight for the title at Wrestlemania against Triple H. The only problem with this is that Vince McMahon promised the Wrestlemania XVI main event to The Big Show. This one will take time to develop, but it will be good to watch!

Everyone seems to think that Hogan is going to pass the torch to Sting this Monday. Nope. He is going to ride out Hulkamania until at least his feud with Bret Hart. This is scheduled to happen sometime this fall. Now, with guys like Bret Hart and Lex Luger and lovely ladies like Elizabeth and Torrie Wilson on the shelf and not being used, is it any wonder that the WCW is fading? They need to utilize everything that they got, and they need to do it now!

Just looked at screen shots from THQ's Wrestlemania 2000 (scheduled out in November) and it looks like WCW Revenge...with Attitude! Already, this game looks like it will take over as the best wrestling game in the history of the home entertainment platforms. While Attitude had all of the hype, the complex controls ruined all of the potential that the game had. Look for this excellent game from THQ to be out on the store shelves in a few months.

When Austin drops the title to Triple H at SummerSlam, it is widely expected that he will be used to boost the careers of wrestlers like Jeff Jarrett and Mr. Ass. In the planned scenarios, Austin will be challenged by Jarrett and then fight with him over who is a bigger bad ass and eventually end the feud by completely obliterating Jarrett in the ring...still lifting Jarrett's career to the next level like no one else could have done. After this, Jarrett could go on to feud with The Rock or maybe even Triple H while Austin lifts up Billy Gunn before eventually fighting his own way back to the top and taking everything over again. That's what I heard...

There is a new Over the Edge in the columns section. Check it out!

You know it IS sickening how the Rock has every fan in every arena eating out of his hand. I have NEVER seen anyone have that type of following ever in the wrestling world! You know, the Rock's appeal is simply that he does what the people want him to do. Look at his character. He is basically every man's ideal as he is built, well dressed, and has supreme power (guys know what I am talking about) and he is every girl's dream as he has sex appeal and that little bit of attitude to get through a conversation. The Rock has the perfect character, the perfect bit of entertainment in his monologues, and he has the respect of the fans. What more can he ask?

The banner ad hits are way down for this week. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE hit the sponsor! Please! Thank you!

Bye!!!