"The entire purpose of human existence, is to kindle a light in the darkness of being. We are a nation of hollow stuffed people; bleeding together; heads stuffed with straw. Like wind in an empty street, or rats feet over broken glass in a dark and forgotten cellar. So it is written. So it shall come to pass. [rips contract] Quote the Raven, nevermore."
Earlier in the week Total Nonstop Action confirmed rumors by publicly announcing Scott Levy’s departure from the company. Scott of course is most well known as the character he portrayed in ECW, WCW, WWE, and TNA called Raven. For 15 years Raven displayed creativity both inside the ring and on the microphone that won him the respect of not only fans but his fellow wrestlers.
After reading this news it’s only natural for me to believe that this could possibly be the end of Ravens career. Starting in 1988, Raven is 43 years old now and it’s unlikely he will land a job in the WWE. Possibly in some backstage capacity, but as an in ring performer it wouldn’t shock me to say that he is done wrestling on a national level.
What is the legacy that Raven leaves us with? A gifted entertainer, there is little doubt in my mind that he will go down in history as one of the top promo men. An easy example would be Stone Cold Steve Austin and Mick Foley admitting that listening to Raven cut promos in ECW helped them immensely. That’s Steve Austin and Mick Foley, two legendary promo men, crediting Raven partially with the evolution of their characters and verbal attributes.
"Anguish, fear, and sorrow, are emotions we all feel, but never more strongly than in our adolescence. When just having an acne-rabid skin, can mean a lifetime of loneliness. One's acceptance by others, is a barometer of one's popularity. If one is different, a misfit, maybe unattractive, unathletic, one is in for a lifetime of cruelty and suffering, that will traumatize permanently. You see scars are souvenirs you never loose. The past is never far. You can try to repress it. You can try to hold it back. You can try to deny it. But it will still continue to grow... stronger, and stronger. Like a malignant cancer, that can't be satiated. Each of us manifests our pain in different manners. Whether it's three in the morning in bed... tears in one's eye. Whether it's a need to destroy everything beautiful, or just simply shutting one's self off from society. My father never gave me what I needed, so I understand what it's like to do without. They should understand this. They should give what's needed. I can see this. I can feel their pain. Why can't they understand? Quote the Raven, nevermore."
There will be one thing that Raven will be known for even more than his vocal abilities. And that is his feud with Tommy Dreamer. Let me make something clear. If this feud had the chance to be properly advertised on a national scale, it would be up there with the all time great feuds.
What made the storyline so great? Besides the obvious conflict between the two, I believe it was ‘who’ had the conflict. This wasn’t the superhuman goliaths Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant. This wasn’t wheeling and dealing larger than life Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat. This wasn’t Stone Cold and The Rock with beer and monster trucks. Raven vs. Tommy Dreamer was the misfit vs. the jock. The outcast vs. the accepted. It was real life and it was something everybody grew up watching.
"For two and half years Tommy Dreamer...we fought an epic battle...of mythic proportions. We had a friendship based on love and a hatred based on friendship. You scarred my face...you battered me unmercifully...and you took my girl. But the one thing that you could never do...was beat me Tommy. You could never beat me...and I always pinned you. Two and a half years Tommy...after I came to ECW to exercise your demons...it was time for you to graduate...so I gave you your victory. For two and a half years Tommy Dreamer...I stayed away from ECW...and with me gone...your life lost it's meaning...your career lost it's purpose and your relationship...with Beulah...lost it's foundation..you've lost your focus Tommy..you lost the girl. Kaiser Souze said "The greatest trick..the devil ever pulled..was convincing the world that he didn't exist". Well Tommy...I exist and I am going to be your own personal demon..because this savior..has already been crucified..for your sins. Quote the Raven..Nevermore!!"
Inside the ring I would have to say Raven’s best years were in WCW. In ECW he was a terrific brawler, in WWE he was misused, but in WCW he really learned to not just brawl, but tell a story inside the ring. His best in ring work was in the prime of his career in the series of matches he had with Chris Benoit and Diamond Dallas Page. Really great stuff to get your hands on if you get a chance.
From a personal standpoint, Raven is on my top 10 list of favorite wrestlers all time. Not the best wrestlers, but personal favorites. One of the coolest moments ever was when Raven walked out of WCW, and a week later he showed up on ECW on TNN to help Tommy Dreamer win the tag team titles from The Dudleys. That’s the image I’ll have of Raven in my head. Arms spread out, hair covering eyes, wearing a leather jacket with the crowd going insane.
Earlier in the week Total Nonstop Action confirmed rumors by publicly announcing Scott Levy’s departure from the company. Scott of course is most well known as the character he portrayed in ECW, WCW, WWE, and TNA called Raven. For 15 years Raven displayed creativity both inside the ring and on the microphone that won him the respect of not only fans but his fellow wrestlers.
After reading this news it’s only natural for me to believe that this could possibly be the end of Ravens career. Starting in 1988, Raven is 43 years old now and it’s unlikely he will land a job in the WWE. Possibly in some backstage capacity, but as an in ring performer it wouldn’t shock me to say that he is done wrestling on a national level.
What is the legacy that Raven leaves us with? A gifted entertainer, there is little doubt in my mind that he will go down in history as one of the top promo men. An easy example would be Stone Cold Steve Austin and Mick Foley admitting that listening to Raven cut promos in ECW helped them immensely. That’s Steve Austin and Mick Foley, two legendary promo men, crediting Raven partially with the evolution of their characters and verbal attributes.
"Anguish, fear, and sorrow, are emotions we all feel, but never more strongly than in our adolescence. When just having an acne-rabid skin, can mean a lifetime of loneliness. One's acceptance by others, is a barometer of one's popularity. If one is different, a misfit, maybe unattractive, unathletic, one is in for a lifetime of cruelty and suffering, that will traumatize permanently. You see scars are souvenirs you never loose. The past is never far. You can try to repress it. You can try to hold it back. You can try to deny it. But it will still continue to grow... stronger, and stronger. Like a malignant cancer, that can't be satiated. Each of us manifests our pain in different manners. Whether it's three in the morning in bed... tears in one's eye. Whether it's a need to destroy everything beautiful, or just simply shutting one's self off from society. My father never gave me what I needed, so I understand what it's like to do without. They should understand this. They should give what's needed. I can see this. I can feel their pain. Why can't they understand? Quote the Raven, nevermore."
There will be one thing that Raven will be known for even more than his vocal abilities. And that is his feud with Tommy Dreamer. Let me make something clear. If this feud had the chance to be properly advertised on a national scale, it would be up there with the all time great feuds.
What made the storyline so great? Besides the obvious conflict between the two, I believe it was ‘who’ had the conflict. This wasn’t the superhuman goliaths Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant. This wasn’t wheeling and dealing larger than life Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat. This wasn’t Stone Cold and The Rock with beer and monster trucks. Raven vs. Tommy Dreamer was the misfit vs. the jock. The outcast vs. the accepted. It was real life and it was something everybody grew up watching.
"For two and half years Tommy Dreamer...we fought an epic battle...of mythic proportions. We had a friendship based on love and a hatred based on friendship. You scarred my face...you battered me unmercifully...and you took my girl. But the one thing that you could never do...was beat me Tommy. You could never beat me...and I always pinned you. Two and a half years Tommy...after I came to ECW to exercise your demons...it was time for you to graduate...so I gave you your victory. For two and a half years Tommy Dreamer...I stayed away from ECW...and with me gone...your life lost it's meaning...your career lost it's purpose and your relationship...with Beulah...lost it's foundation..you've lost your focus Tommy..you lost the girl. Kaiser Souze said "The greatest trick..the devil ever pulled..was convincing the world that he didn't exist". Well Tommy...I exist and I am going to be your own personal demon..because this savior..has already been crucified..for your sins. Quote the Raven..Nevermore!!"
Inside the ring I would have to say Raven’s best years were in WCW. In ECW he was a terrific brawler, in WWE he was misused, but in WCW he really learned to not just brawl, but tell a story inside the ring. His best in ring work was in the prime of his career in the series of matches he had with Chris Benoit and Diamond Dallas Page. Really great stuff to get your hands on if you get a chance.
From a personal standpoint, Raven is on my top 10 list of favorite wrestlers all time. Not the best wrestlers, but personal favorites. One of the coolest moments ever was when Raven walked out of WCW, and a week later he showed up on ECW on TNN to help Tommy Dreamer win the tag team titles from The Dudleys. That’s the image I’ll have of Raven in my head. Arms spread out, hair covering eyes, wearing a leather jacket with the crowd going insane.
"We all commit certain acts in our lives, of an unsavory nature. Some bad. Some worse. Some unspeakable. Sometimes we suffer in silence, sometimes we seek redemption. He's got what he wanted, but in attaining salvation, there is a price that must be paid. One must... give up a bit of one's self. The road; or the end of the road as it is, might not be quite as... not quite what you expect. The glowing light at the end of the tunnel may not be the beacon of righteousness that you envisioned. It may be some horribly disfigured fun house reflection of your own inner dreams. Quote the raven, nevermore."
6 comments:
Don't think he will hang up the boots just yet. Indie scene and even ROH could be a nice home for him for the next 2 to 3 years.
Raven was great in ECW and in WCW, but his whole
gimmick was based on the "grunge" scene of the 90's. I heard a lot of people wanting WWE to hire him but come on.
He might be able
to offer something creativly but if you read the interview with Paul Heyman you
should see that the E wouldn't let him run with any of his ideas. Wrestling
needs NEW ideas from NEW people to reach a NEW audience. The teenagers of the
90's have grown up and moved on for the most part. It's time for something new.
The X Division seemed to be that new thing but with the influx of
"characters" it has ruined it. Daniels and AJ were tremendous as a
team and they broke them up to be Prince AJ and Curry Man.
Raven, however, isn't much for a new
generation. He was good in his day, but that cycle has passed..
Raven's fueds, promos, and creativity among other aspects of his career is widely recognized by fans, promoters, and fellow wrestlers alike. For over 15 years through out his days in ECW, WCW, and TNA, he's been a staple on the professional wreslting scene because of his in-ring ability and undoubtedly his uncanny and brilliant promos. It's sad to hear that Raven's departed from TNA but you all know the saying, "Nothing lasts forever". Raven's the type of performer inside and outside the ring where anyone in the business whether you're an established veteran or an up and coming talent can study and learn a great deal from whether it be in ring psychology, mic skills, and/or putting on a hell of a match.
Raven's most memorable and best days were in ECW; he also had some great moments in WCW but sadly as mentioned in the blog he was misued in WWE. But Raven's spot in wrestling is solidified because of whay he brought to the table as a promo man and wrestler and also in part because of his memorable fued with Tommy Dreamer in which I think any fan can appreciate and respect.
I can in all honesty see Raven in some backstage capacity for any wrestling organization whether it's major or independent; if he doesn't return to the ring as a performer. At age 43 let's face it he's not so young anymore even though he can probably put a better show in his sleep than half of these so called "grapplers" of today. Only time will tell if and when Raven resurfaces.
Charles H.
I would have to disagree with the grunge comment. Raven was more about being an outcast and an outsider. Grunge just happened to be the look at the time, but if you have seen Raven's look the last 5-6 years it has evolved.
I think Scott would be awesome in a creative capacity helping younger talent develope characters and promo skills. If Raven isn't for this generation, then what about Dusty, Hayes, Vince, Ross.
WWE would be crazy not to give him a shot at a writer. Now whether or not he would accept? Thats a different story. One thing about Raven..corporate structure is not his scene.
-Mike
I see Raven taking indy bookings until he feels like retiring for good. No WWE for him. Even if they wanted him in some sort of backstage role he wouldn't take it. The most I see them offering him is a spot in a developmental fed doing promo training.
um.... im a big raven fan and i read just yesterday that he is in jcw wrestling for icp and had stolen the champions' title like when he came into tna for the first time he stole the title from jarret i saw the videp where he came in and stole the title from the jcw champ and it is so cool he also as of august 9t hhad a match between the same guy it was a special steel cage match where loser leaves jcw and im not sure if he lost or not cuase i can't find it anywhere but never the less he has always bee ngood no mater wher ehe is and on his web site it says he is starting a shcool some time somewhere in georgia
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