(fantasy) the landscape changeth, conclusion
Jacob Gilbert
McMahon is not married to HHH, but is alternately dating the Game and
live-in love "Action" Jack Hunter.
Powerslam Radio (our version only), 7/21: 3-hr. show this week to
properly give Invasion a large-scope view. Highlights include Rhyno
acknowledging that if they brought back the ECW title, he'd be "the
happiest man in the world"; WWF ref Teddy Long discussing the battle
of the refs at Invasion and not knowing who would actually win;
Stephanie admitting she has not one but two boyfriends (see above),
referring to an article on Chyna in the current Star (as brought up by
a caller), and giving each equal time; Torrie Wilson (late sub for DDP
in the WCW forum) owning up about her relationship with fellow
panelist Billy Kidman; Raven quoting Santayana (something Jack
normally does), Thoreau, and Shakespeare; and Booker T making public
his wish for a match against the Rock.
It's mentioned at the start of the show that co-producer Michael Hayes
and DDP will not be on this week, as they're both attending the
funeral of Hayes' former Freebird mate Terry Gordy, and attending to
personal biz back home in Georgia (DDP still lives in Atlanta). Hayes
calls in between the first two hours and talks about Gordy. Between
the 2nd & 3rd hours Steph addresses the complicated sitch between her,
HHH, & Jack. She loves them both, and can't bear to break up with
either one right now, thankful that they've patched whatever personal
differences that they've had over the last two years. She's sorry that
Chyna left the WWF last month, but it's not her fault, and the Star is
making her out to be the villain. She's seen the issue (a copy was
delivered anonymously to her home in Queens), and she isn't happy with
it. Jack says the issue will end up in the recycling bin where it
belongs, with the rest of the trash.
Heat & Invasion are in Cleveland. No match alterations, as Deputy
Commissioner Cordell McShayne (Shane Cordell, Jack's cousin) is a late
scratch. He has a family emergency to attend to in Atlanta (daughter
Alison, age 1, was rushed to the hospital by her grandmother earlier
in the day, and Shane was called back from the airport), and is
doubtful for Raw in Buffalo. Mick Foley, it turns out, is a late
replacement for Jack as guest ref for the Patrick-Hebner match.
7:45 (EDT): Foley arrives at Gund Arena and is interviewed by Lillian
Garcia. Mick pulls out the stripes.
7:49: Jack is in his dressing room, waiting for his uniform. He's seen
Foley come in, and he is understandably upset. Steph walks in and
gives him the bad news.
StM: I'm sorry, honey, but we've been overruled. Dad apparently sent
for Foley before I could get the shirt to the tailor.
AJ: No problem, Steph. We'll have to try this some other time. We're
still good to go for the main event, though, aren't we?
StM (grinning): We certainly are, handsome.
Had McShayne been there, Raven would've been DQd vs. William Regal for
Tazz's interference. Instead, everything is as we saw. When Steph
complains again about Chris Jericho, Jack is there to comfort her.
"Don't sweat it, baby. Y2Jabroni won't be a factor by the end of the
night!", he promises. Steph calms down, but Paul Heyman continues to
stir things up. Jack accompanies his lady to the ring for the
Inaugural Brawl, and merely is there as a bodyguard. He joins in the
post-match celebration as Stone Cold Steve Austin has turned on Vince
for reasons that will be made clear on Raw in Buffalo. Normally a
teetotaler, Jack gets his share of the beer at the end of the night.
It's non-alcoholic, but he & Steph save their 6-packs for back at the
hotel.
The Star had hit the stands on 7/20, and Steph was upset that the
article cast her in such a bitter light. She assured Jack that
everything was OK and that when the time was right she would have a
difficult decision to make. Considering that the Star part of Rupert
Murdoch's News Corp. group, it doesn't surprise Jack that the article
came out so slanted. He reminds Steph that she had said she had
considered moving out by 9/1 and living on her own, but again Steph
has decided that she's better served remaining in Queens. She's
dividing her time between HHH & Jack, and that if she marries one, the
other will be in the party (DUH!).
The after-party was the usual. Steph & Jack had stashed the beer in
their suite, and planned to "stretch it out", meaning for them it
would last a week. The only time Steph had ever drunk canned beer on
national TV was in April '99, when Austin was temporary figurehead CEO
and they had shared a briefcase full of beer with Linda.
Next: Raw in Buffalo, and the fallout from Invasion, which may not be
as bad as you'd think.
J. C. Gilbert