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What About Raven - WWF Magazine - December 2000
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What About Raven?
by Mike Faziola
WWF Magazine
December 2000
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And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting; On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadows on the floor; and my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor shall be lifted-- NEVERMORE!
His name is straight from the dark, Gothic world of Edgar Allan Poe, conjuring up unsettling images of fear and malevolence. He is cloaked in mystery, hiding not only behind the long, stringy hair covering his face, but behind the layers of deception.
When it comes to Raven, there is only one absolute true: his sudden arrival in the World Wrestling Federation means nothing but trouble. Like his winged namesake, his presence is most unwelcome. He has already claimed victims, and rest assured there will be many more.
Investigative work by World Wrestling Federation Magazine has revealed a few key facts about the enigmatic Raven. Despite his unkempt appearance and violent behavior, Raven is a man of tremendous intellect. He's known as a master of the mind game, which he plays with equal effect on friend and foe alike.
He can also back up his head games with impressive in-ring skill. The lethargic slacker-look is a clever disguise; Raven is both fast and powerful, and can engage in scientific wrestling and bloody brawls with equal success. His DDT is one of the most effective finishing maneuvers in all sports-entertainment, as Jerry "the King" Lawler painfully discovered at Unforgiven.
Raven's threshold for pain may be second to none in the Federation today. He can absorb terrible beatings from the most formidable foes and respond with a smile. It's not a stretch to believe that there is a part of him which actually enjoys pain and seeks it out. Perhaps even more than his mental and physical abilities, it is this twisted aspect of Raven that makes him a most dangerous foe.
The air of mystery, which surrounds Raven, cloaks his background, and keeps others from seeing the bleakness of his soul. He freely chose his path --- a savage life of hardcore brutality. Although he may influence many with his mind games, he befriends few, often betraying those just as quickly. He is now feared as a sadistic man capable of great cruelty.
His bizarre appearance and demeanor are also signs of a deeply troubled soul, warped by years of seething rage and resentment. He can speak in great detail about any number of intellectual subjects one moment, then without warning lapse into long periods of brooding silence before exploding in fits of violent rage, lashing out at anyone and anything around him. Then, just as suddenly as it started, his wrath subsides and he once again is calm and collected, as if nothing had happened.
Raven is well-traveled, having left his mark in arenas throughout the world over the years. From Japan to the Middle East, Raven has shown up without warning and left carnage and chaos in his wake. He has crossed paths in the past with many current Superstars, many of whom may be secretly dreading the arrival of this dark specter in the Federation. For weeks leading up to his appearance at Unforgiven, the World Wrestling Federation locker room was filled with whispers that Raven was on his way. Those who had known him in the past quickly spread the word to those who knew only Raven's reputation -- this guy was trouble.
One prominent former associate of Raven's is none other than Steven Richards, leader of Right to Censor. Clearly the grunged-out Raven is exactly the kind of morally bereft individual that Richards and his RTC associates would seek to drive out of the World Wrestling Federation. Or is he? Raven and Richards share the ability to control the minds of those around them. If they were to harken back to their past and form a secret alliance, the effects could be devastating on the rest of the Federation. Or could Richards be the ultimate hypocrite, hiding behind a phony mortality while actually working at the behest of a dark master?
Perry Saturn is also well-acquainted with Raven. In their not-so-distant past they have been both friends and enemies. Will the dangerous Saturn gravitate back under Raven's influence, or, knowing Raven's true intentions, will Saturn try to send Raven back where he came from? Saturn's former partners in the Radicalz -- Chris Beniot, Dean Malenko, and Eddie Guerrero-- might be persuaded to reunite in order to rid the Federation of Raven.
Chris Jericho, too, has had the distinct displeasure of meeting Raven. "Y2J's" sunny and humorous disposition is the antithesis of Raven's foul brooding. Could the cunning Raven discover a chink in Jericho's armor -- his bad temper, perhaps -- and find a way to bore into Jericho's mind and recruit him ... or destroy him?
It's didn't take Raven long to find an ally and kindred spirit. As soon as he made his debut at Unforgiven, Raven aligned himself with a man who has alienated absolutely every single person in the Federation -- Tazz. Raven and Tazz share a deep hatred and disdain for virtually everyone and everything around them, as well as a love fro brutality and violence. As long as they can refrain from destroying each other, there is plenty of havoc for them to wreak together.
If Raven is truly adept at reaching the disenfranchised malcontents of the World Wrestling Federation-- dangerous and angry Superstars like Tazz -- he could very well become the most dangerous man in sports-entertainment. The Federation is full of Superstars who share much of the inner pain and dark emotions that Raven embraces. What if Raven were to touch a nerve and gain influence over a powerful giant who fits this description --- someone like Kane, for instance? Or what id he were to convince another angry and ambitious athlete --- perhaps X-Pac -- that he has been getting the shaft all these years and that Raven's way is the path to power? With just one or two deft political moves, Raven can immediately become one of the Federation's premier power players.
On his own, Raven is a force to be reckoned with. He can contend for any belt he desires, from the European and Hardcore titles all the way up to the most coveted prize in all of sports-entertainment-- the World Wrestling Federation Championship. Yet Raven's greatest potential may be as the man who pulls the strings, a puppetmaster who through his intellect can assemble a powerful stable and use it as he chooses.
Darkness falls early during these bleak winter months. with the darkness often comes a terrible sense of foreboding and dread. It is only fitting that one of the few creatures which still soars through the frozen skies in search of prey is the raven. The great Poe chose this creature as a model of mystery and malevolence for a reason.
The man who calls himself Raven chose his identity with a purpose as well.
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