What about him? What about Raven?


by RichInKC

The Wrestling Reality Check - 08/07/00

The Wrestling Reality Check By RichInKC richinkc@yahoo.com

Welcome to the wonderful world of the Wrestling Reality Check. As always, you can share your thoughts on this week's column by using the Post Your Comments link at the top of the page.

I'm sorry that there was no Reality Check last week. We were hit by a rough storm that Wednesday and my cable was out for more than a week. No cable modem, no Internet access, no TV, no wrestling. While I enjoyed the peace and quiet, I was going through withdrawal by the end of the week.

With all the things that are happening in the world of professional wrestling, one recent development has received little attention. According to several published reports, Scott Levy, better known as Raven, has signed with the World Wrestling Federation and should debut in the next several weeks.

I have always had a very high opinion of Raven. While I have only met him two or three times, he has always impressed me with his understanding of the business. Raven is arguably one of the savviest men of his generation in professional wrestling today. He has shown the ability to write cutting edge angles and psychological drama in the ring. He has also shown himself to become easily frustrated and has had his own battles in his personal life.

Raven has always shown that he can be very creative, but thrives best in an environment where he has control. In my opinion, that has been the secret to his successful partnership with Paul Heyman in ECW. Paul has let Scott exercise his creativity as he exorcised his demons in and out of the ring. This need for creative freedom is what I feel is the cause for Raven's inconsistent run in WCW . That, along with the infamous politics of WCW, is what prevented the Raven character for being the main event player that he was in ECW.

The WWF presents an interesting challenge for Scott. It lacks much of the corporate rigidity that is such a large part of WCW, but does not have nearly the free wheeling style of Paul Heyman's ECW. Will he succeed as he returns to the WWF? Only Scott can determine that, but I think he is determined to show that he can.

That being said, what will his role be in the WWF. It seems that Scott will bring his Raven character with him, but he will be spared a re-hashing of his Stevie Richards feud since Stevie is now involved in his first major push since coming to the WWF. There is talk about reforming Raven's Flock. Honestly, I have always liked Raven best as a loner character. His brooding nature and the psychological issues with his father have always made for the most interesting incarnations of Raven.

That being said I have a different take on Raven.

Raven is a child of wealthy parents and a domineering father. Much of his feud with Sandman was based on his seeing Sandman as a surrogate for his deceased father and taking out his frustrations on him. This has always been the best, and most unsettling, motivation for Raven. Raven should rediscover this and use it. Think about it.

Right now, Shane McMahon is marshalling forces to create his own stable. As of yet, the purpose for this in unknown. There may be no purpose for all we know.

Enter Raven.

Raven shows up in a much more clean cut look. He dresses better, has his hair tied back, and seems to have abandoned his grunge look, which admittedly is somewhat out of date. Raven and Shane have a lot in common. Both come from wealthy families. Both have lived in the shadow of a successful father. Both have struggled to create their own identities only to be seen as Junior. Friendship is inevitable.

Once their friendship has solidified, things begin to change for Shane. Shane begins to rebel from his father. Shane begins to dress more casually, not in the suits that make him look like his dad. He gets an earring, a tattoo. Shane starts partying through the night, and his work suffers. All the while, Raven is in his ear leading him down the wrong path.

At the same time, we see Raven talking to a concerned Vince McMahon telling him he doesn't know what is wrong with Shane and how he wished he was a better friend and could help Shane straighten out.

Finally, Vince finds he has no choice but to fire Shane. Shane has made a wreck of his part of the business and, for the sake of the family, Shane must be relieved of his duties. A despondent Shane leaves the WWF only to find out that his close friend, Raven, has taken over his role in the WWF.

Things progress normally and Raven and Vince become closer. Finally, Vince McMahon decides that he is going to take some time away from the business and announces that Raven will run the company in his place. Vince signs the power of attorney in the middle of the ring. Raven tells Vince that he appreciates his trust and will do his best to live up to that trust. He tells Vince that he is like a father to him and wants to tell him something he wishes he had told his own father before he died. Raven, choking back tears, holds the microphone close and says four powerful words I hate you, Dad.

and beats Vince McMahon to a pulp. Raven finally escapes from the shadow of the father figure that has tormented him for years and, in the process, has taken over the WWF.

Now, Vince and Shane need to get it back.

Sounds like a lot more fun than a bunch of slackers sitting in the front row to me.

Until Raven dresses in yellow and changes his name to Tweety Bird, I am...

RichInKC

Note: If anybody's a FAN of Diamond Dallas Page, then you'll recognize RichInKC from DDP's Site

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