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You know, I debated long and hard over which issue to cover for the latest edition of Rudy's Rant. I could discuss the whole incestual relationship between the Unholy and the Forsaken.  I could take on the whole Merritt/Thomas issue.  

But there’s something I find even more intriguing.

They’re back. Hornet and Vizzack…at exactly the same time…give or take 24 hours. Two men who were once fast friends, or so Vizzack thought, until Hornet did the unthinkable at ELVIS LIVES. And things were never quite the same. We saw the "Greatest American Hero" go to "Takin’ Care of Business." Vizzack assumed the role of the ultimate babyface, especially after being branded with the TCB symbol by Hornet and Ivy.

And then it all fell apart. Vizzack’s title reign fell into disarray as Hornet continued to interfere. Vizzack tried to distance himself…only to be screwed out of the title. And a week later, Hornet was stripped of the title.

Since then, we’ve seen Hornet seem to realize, at least to some small extent, what his change in character has done to those around him. So much so…that the man behind the suit apparently could live with what the Hornet character had made him. I guess the age-old question is…which came first, the Hero or the Businessman.

But what about Vizzack? He returns to an ovation….but does it with a chair…and with a ferocity that we’ve rarely seen from Vizzack. He’s always been the straightforward one….we weren’t used to him coming out from the crowd, chair in hand.

So what's going to happen between the Daredevil and the former Hero?  Vizzack still has a brand to remind him of what Hornet did.  And Hornet's conscience appears to have finally gotten to him...or has it?  

And then....there's Mike Randalls.  "The Wolf," "The Devastating One," whatever you want to call him....Randalls is intense, a little crazy, but incredibly shrewd.  He's pulled off as much as anyone in his career...but he hasn't been around the CSWA since 1998.  He left before the 'new crop' of superstars like Vizzack, Deacon, Love, Powers and Radder established themselves.

The question to ask yourself there is:  what does Mike Randalls want?  And the answer can be only one of two things.  The first is easy....he wants the belt.  The second is a little more complicated....other than Mark Windham and Hornet, not many of the CSWA's roster was around for the days of Randalls' domination.  Eli Flair and Troy Windham are out, and you never know if Mark Windham's going to show or not.

That tells me that Randalls is back because of one man.  Somehow he knew what Hornet would do at TWS.... maybe that's because Randalls has always been able to get inside Hornet's head.  

All I'm sure of is...between the three of them, we're all in for a bumpy ride.

UPDATED 2/1/00

Updated 2/2/00

I'm Rudy Seitzer, and welcome to CSWA Grapevine, where we track down the rumors running rampant here in the world of wrestling.  As always, I have to start with a standard disclaimer:  we cannot verify any of the rumors reported here.  Some may be true, some may be outright false...but they've all been passed to me by various sources.  So don't come crying to Rudy...got it?

(Note:  The following info is updated as if posted a few days after TWS...thus it is dated around mid-December 1999.)

Let me see if I can break it down for everyone... The Unholy consists of the UNIFIED Tag Team Champions, the Powers of Apocalypse, "Destroyer" Dante Inferno, and "Mr. Main Event" Rob Sampson. This NEW group, "Forsaken" consists of United States Champion BLADE, Greensboro Champion Wicked Sight, HaVoC, and newcomer Zero. They apparently have some sort of agreement with each other, using former members Commando and Nemesis, as well as the Family, as a way to write their pact "in blood." Eerie. 

The Family has been splintered by the incident. Former World Champion "Total Elimination" Eli Flair was hit the hardest, and adding the brutal WAR GAMES match, where he took a fifteen foot dive through Kevin Powers and a table, on top of his current medical condition made a sabbatical less of a personal decision and more of a life necessity. 

Randy Harders, who shocked the world by upsetting Dante Inferno for the vacant Presidential Championship, took probably the most post- match damage, yet the resilient, gritty, veteran walked out of the arena under his own power. I would not want to be any of the Unholy or Forsaken if the HARD one gets a hold... unless I've got the rest of my team to back me up. No official word yet on the conditions of Joey Melton or Steve Radder. 

It was good to see Mark Vizzack back in the CSWA at the PPV the other night, but the question on everyone's lips is "Where has he been?" and "Why was he wearing the "X" mask?" Even as he unsuccessfully tried to take the Tag Team Titles from the Powers of Apocalypse, it was still tremendous to see Vizzack in the ring again, having recovered completely from a separated shoulder.

A man fitting Damien Xeno's description was spotted by Gregg Gethard after the Day One events, and while there has been no official action, Chris Shepherd was noticeably disturbed by the news. 

Details are still sketchy after the events of the past few days in the CSWA... so I'll keep you posted as I learn more. 

That's it for now, Fans... I'll keep you posted.