So which member of this group of backstage politicians will make it to the top? Which one will be the undeniable “leader” of this infamous backstage faction? That’s the question we will answer today! So let’s break this down in a scientific manner….
Most Memorable Moment:
Triple H: Steals Stephanie McMahon on WWF TV, then dates her in real life
Shawn Michaels: Beating Bret Hart for WWF title
Kevin Nash: Formed NWO in WCW
X-Pac: Return to WWF in Spring ’98
Scott Hall: NWO debut, ladder match with HBK at ‘Mania
Most Embarassing Moment:
Triple H: Breaks kayfabe during infamous MSG incident in ’96, gets hung out to dry by fellow Clique members and is depushed for a year
Shawn Michaels: Gets ass kicked by “9 regular guys” at bar in Syracuse. Loses smile. “Injures” knee in ’97. Cries in locker room after Hart screw job on “Wrestling with Shadows”, hung out to dry after appearing in WWF locker room “unready to work” (according to WWF management) last year………………..
Kevin Nash: Totally flops as WCW booker, sends company further on road to hell
X-Pac: Invented Bronco-Buster and crotch-chop. Ten year olds everywhere begin telling teachers to “suck it”
Scott Hall: Post-Divorce party that lasted from 1996 to 2000
Turning Point of Career:
Triple H: When he was rehabbing knee injury in ’98 and found a way to suddenly get bigger
Shawn Michaels: Taking a bad bump from the Undertaker during a casket match in ’98, led to career-ending back injury
Kevin Nash: Given WWF title after squash win over Bob Backlund at WWF house show
X-Pac: Injured his neck and had to give up his trademark high-flying style
Scott Hall: Leaves WCW for WWF in early ’90’s
Bad News if you see him…
Triple H: …in a hallway after your husband was just screwed out of the WWF title
Shawn Michaels: …in the locker room, near the booking committee, in the bathroom (ask Bret Hart) or holding your promotion’s number one spot
Kevin Nash: …denying reports that he hasn’t signed any contracts with your promotion
X-Pac:…near pain medication
Scott Hall: …in any arena parking lot
Best moment before becoming a superstar:
Triple H: Trained with Killer Kowalski in early 90’s
Shawn Michaels: Member of Rock N’ Roll Express wanabees, the Rockers
Kevin Nash: Played college and pro basketball
X-Pac: Talk of early 90’s indy circuit, like Lo Ki or Reckless Youth the last couple years
Scott Hall: Used to look like a real white guy
Last New Year’s he was…
Triple H: …feuding with Austin
Shawn Michaels: …at home
Kevin Nash:…tag teaming with DDP
X-Pac:…who cares…
Scott Hall:…in jail
Was object of envy when he…
Triple H: received the mega-push in ’99
Shawn Michaels: …bagged Nitro girl Whisper
Kevin Nash: …played on MTV’s Rock N Jock softball game
X-Pac: …started hanging out with the “Clique”
Scott Hall: …pretended to vomit on Eric Bischoff on live television
You want to kick him between the legs when he…
Triple H:…lets his wife go out on television
Shawn Michaels: ..enters ring to “Sexy Boy” and then proceeds to try to sound like he’s a bad ass every time he wrestles
Kevin Nash: does that stupid “box/frame” thing in the corner before he punches someone. Only does a sideslam, corner stomp, mafia kick, powerbomb in every match he wrestles… Basically, anytime he’s in a wrestling ring period
X-Pac: …breathes
Scott Hall: …does that stupid survey
Wrestling Business future:
Triple H: Booking WWF television
Shawn Michaels: Reminding everyone he used to feud with Steve Austin
Kevin Nash: Pissing off everyone below him on any roster he’s on
X-Pac: Laughing when he gets to sit first class
Scott Hall: Touring Japan and baby-sitting
Blew it when he…
Triple H:…participated in the MSG farewell
Shawn Michaels:…showed up at a WWF show “unable to perform” last year
Kevin Nash:…only remembered how to do three wrestling moves
X-Pac:…agreed to a diaper match
Scott Hall:…dated Brad Siegel’s niece
Next Big Moment:
Triple H: Pushed as WWF’s top babyface
Shawn Michaels: Flying to Osh Kosh, Wisconsin for WWF promotional appearance
Kevin Nash: Missing his cue and walking out to ring before commercial and “accidentally” killing Rob Van Dam’s heat
X-Pac: Getting to carry Nash’s bags again
Scott Hall: Getting off probation
In this contest, there is no real losers, not if you’re a member of the Clique. But one of them does out-rank the others and after a long and thoughtful evaluation of the facts, we have come up with a winner….
Triple H!
Yes, after the rest of the Clique gets injured, loses heat or goes to other promotions, Triple H gains Vince’s trust, dates his daughter and is well on his way to a management position for the rest of his life down the road. Not only that, he got daddy-in-law to kick up some cash so his girlfriend could get some new cans! How can you beat that!?
So three cheers to the Clique, the WWF and especially Kevin Nash, whose new presence in the WWF will probably be the main source of inspiration of myself and many of my fellow internet writers for the next year. Thank you, Vince. Thank you so much!
Besides 1wrestling.com, BJ Bethel writes for the http://www.TWNPNews.com web page, appears regularly on the Chairshots Radio show (at http://www.chairshots.com) and does weekend updates on The Wrestling Guys Hotline at 937-285-0991. He also likes to plug all his projects.
Let’s Rank the Clique!
In case you don’t know, the Clique was an infamous backstage of friends (Triple H, Kevin Nash, Shawn Michaels, Scott Hall and X-Pac/Sean Waltman) who reportedly managed to find ways to manipulate Vince McMahon and the WWF’s booking to their own advantage for a few years during the mid-90’s. They were all members of the WWF’s “Next Generation” of superstars who were supposed to usher in a new era of WWF product. They were all being pushed as young and cool. Not as cool as the Official Ninja Homepage (http://www.bol.ucla.edu/rahjr79/ninja.htm), but whatever “cool” was to Vince McMahon at the time. Keep in mind, this is the same guy who built an angle on his second biggest PPV around a guy in a turkey outfit.
So which member of this group of backstage politicians will make it to the top? Which one will be the undeniable “leader” of this infamous backstage faction? That’s the question we will answer today! So let’s break this down in a scientific manner….
Most Memorable Moment:
Triple H: Steals Stephanie McMahon on WWF TV, then dates her in real life
Shawn Michaels: Beating Bret Hart for WWF title
Kevin Nash: Formed NWO in WCW
X-Pac: Return to WWF in Spring ’98
Scott Hall: NWO debut, ladder match with HBK at ‘Mania
Most Embarassing Moment:
Triple H: Breaks kayfabe during infamous MSG incident in ’96, gets hung out to dry by fellow Clique members and is depushed for a year
Shawn Michaels: Gets ass kicked by “9 regular guys” at bar in Syracuse. Loses smile. “Injures” knee in ’97. Cries in locker room after Hart screw job on “Wrestling with Shadows”, hung out to dry after appearing in WWF locker room “unready to work” (according to WWF management) last year………………..
Kevin Nash: Totally flops as WCW booker, sends company further on road to hell
X-Pac: Invented Bronco-Buster and crotch-chop. Ten year olds everywhere begin telling teachers to “suck it”
Scott Hall: Post-Divorce party that lasted from 1996 to 2000
Turning Point of Career:
Triple H: When he was rehabbing knee injury in ’98 and found a way to suddenly get bigger
Shawn Michaels: Taking a bad bump from the Undertaker during a casket match in ’98, led to career-ending back injury
Kevin Nash: Given WWF title after squash win over Bob Backlund at WWF house show
X-Pac: Injured his neck and had to give up his trademark high-flying style
Scott Hall: Leaves WCW for WWF in early ’90’s
Bad News if you see him…
Triple H: …in a hallway after your husband was just screwed out of the WWF title
Shawn Michaels: …in the locker room, near the booking committee, in the bathroom (ask Bret Hart) or holding your promotion’s number one spot
Kevin Nash: …denying reports that he hasn’t signed any contracts with your promotion
X-Pac:…near pain medication
Scott Hall: …in any arena parking lot
Best moment before becoming a superstar:
Triple H: Trained with Killer Kowalski in early 90’s
Shawn Michaels: Member of Rock N’ Roll Express wanabees, the Rockers
Kevin Nash: Played college and pro basketball
X-Pac: Talk of early 90’s indy circuit, like Lo Ki or Reckless Youth the last couple years
Scott Hall: Used to look like a real white guy
Last New Year’s he was…
Triple H: …feuding with Austin
Shawn Michaels: …at home
Kevin Nash:…tag teaming with DDP
X-Pac:…who cares…
Scott Hall:…in jail
Was object of envy when he…
Triple H: received the mega-push in ’99
Shawn Michaels: …bagged Nitro girl Whisper
Kevin Nash: …played on MTV’s Rock N Jock softball game
X-Pac: …started hanging out with the “Clique”
Scott Hall: …pretended to vomit on Eric Bischoff on live television
You want to kick him between the legs when he…
Triple H:…lets his wife go out on television
Shawn Michaels: ..enters ring to “Sexy Boy” and then proceeds to try to sound like he’s a bad ass every time he wrestles
Kevin Nash: does that stupid “box/frame” thing in the corner before he punches someone. Only does a sideslam, corner stomp, mafia kick, powerbomb in every match he wrestles… Basically, anytime he’s in a wrestling ring period
X-Pac: …breathes
Scott Hall: …does that stupid survey
Wrestling Business future:
Triple H: Booking WWF television
Shawn Michaels: Reminding everyone he used to feud with Steve Austin
Kevin Nash: Pissing off everyone below him on any roster he’s on
X-Pac: Laughing when he gets to sit first class
Scott Hall: Touring Japan and baby-sitting
Blew it when he…
Triple H:…participated in the MSG farewell
Shawn Michaels:…showed up at a WWF show “unable to perform” last year
Kevin Nash:…only remembered how to do three wrestling moves
X-Pac:…agreed to a diaper match
Scott Hall:…dated Brad Siegel’s niece
Next Big Moment:
Triple H: Pushed as WWF’s top babyface
Shawn Michaels: Flying to Osh Kosh, Wisconsin for WWF promotional appearance
Kevin Nash: Missing his cue and walking out to ring before commercial and “accidentally” killing Rob Van Dam’s heat
X-Pac: Getting to carry Nash’s bags again
Scott Hall: Getting off probation
In this contest, there is no real losers, not if you’re a member of the Clique. But one of them does out-rank the others and after a long and thoughtful evaluation of the facts, we have come up with a winner….
Triple H!
Yes, after the rest of the Clique gets injured, loses heat or goes to other promotions, Triple H gains Vince’s trust, dates his daughter and is well on his way to a management position for the rest of his life down the road. Not only that, he got daddy-in-law to kick up some cash so his girlfriend could get some new cans! How can you beat that!?
So three cheers to the Clique, the WWF and especially Kevin Nash, whose new presence in the WWF will probably be the main source of inspiration of myself and many of my fellow internet writers for the next year. Thank you, Vince. Thank you so much!