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Raven takes his lumps
By TIM BAINES - Ottawa Sun
Raven has plenty of charisma ... wonderful ring psychology ... and he's a warrior. Not to mention he's smart. Try an IQ of 143. And, under his real name of Scott Levy, he holds a degree in criminal justice from University of Delaware.
So it hardly seems fair that he was never pushed to the top of WWE or WCW.
"Who knows why?" Raven, who will perform in Ottawa on Oct. 2, said on the phone the other day. "Wrong place, wrong time? I know I deserved to be, but I'd drive myself crazy trying to figure out why it didn't happen. You can't change history."
In his first WWF stint, he was cast as Johnny Polo, a manager.
"Ten years ago, I was a different character," he said. "I was 30 lbs. lighter.
"The second time, as Raven, I guess it was a political decision (to keep me down)."
In a stint with WCW, Raven would walk out.
"(Eric) Bischoff told me if I wasn't happy with the company, I should leave. So I said, 'see you' and I walked out the door. I left behind a six-figure salary."
Besides doing independent bookings, Raven's one of the stars of NWA:TNA.
"I'm young for this business. Look at Ric Flair, he's 56. As long as you can keep going, age isn't a factor.
"Your career will have its ups and downs, unless you're the Rolling Stones."
Raven's character, that of a tortured soul, has teetered on the brink of good and evil. His deliciously wicked character has made him a fan favourite at times in his career.
"They cheer and cheer, but I'm still able to make them hate me at the right moment," he said.
So how would he like to be remembered when all is said and done?
"I'd like people to remember I was one of the only truly defined three-dimensional characters ... who was always entertaining, who always had a point of view, who always made what he did interesting, and who always made opponents look better than they were."
It'll be a treat when he steps into the ring in Ottawa, where he'll face Gangrel in Universal Wrestling Alliance's Bloodbath show. Other scheduled matches are: Petey Williams and Bobby Rude from TNA facing Kwan Chang and Jacob Caine; Jaime D and She Nay Nay vs. Yce and a mystery partner; Caster McFear vs. "Showtime" Shawn MacMillan vs. VIRUS; Max Alexander vs. Sean "Hangover" MacGregor; Colin Oliver Carnage III vs. Tim Jim Jimbob; and a midget match. For more info, check out universalwrestlingalliance.com.
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