Kidman & Misterio Can't be Friends and Enemies!
From Pro Wrestling Illustrated
by Dave Rosenbaurn
Singles rivals and tag team friends,
Billy Kidman and Rey Misterio Jr. are carrying out one of the most unusual
relationships in wrestling. How long can it last?
Long-time wrestling fans, it's time for a Q&A session.
Question: What's wrong with this picture?
On March 15 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Rey Misterio Jr. defeated Billy Kidman for
the WCW cruiserweight title.
On March 29 in Toronto, Misterio and Kidman defeated Chris Benoit and Dean
Malenko for the WCW World tag team title.
Having a problem with the question? Well, we'll give you another clue:
On April 11 at Spring Stampede, Misterio retained the cruiserweight title
by winning a hard-fought battle against Kidman. At one point, Misterio hit
his head on the stairs leading to the ring, but he got up and scored the
pin.
Okay, you should have it by now. In fact, just one look at the headline for
this story will give you your answer: Friends can't be rivals. Two wrestlers
can't be tag team partners one day, then rivals for a major title next. Maybe
it can happen in other sports, but it can't happen in wrestling. If Misterio
and Kidman keep trying to carry on this self-deception, their relationship
can only end in disaster.
"Good," said Arn Anderson, the leader of The Four Horsemen. "I like it that
way. When I saw Kidman and Misterio trying to destroy each other at Spring
Stampede, I knew they were headed for a fall. You need a cohesive team to
be tag team champions, just like Benoit and Malenko. Kidman and Misterio?
It's only a matter of time before they're at each other's throats. I can't
wait to see it happen."
A matter of time nearly arrived at Nitro the very next night, when Misterio
got angry at Kidman for not saving him from an attack by Malenko and Benoit.
Kidman apologized, saying he had been making a promotional appearance for
WCW and had just arrived at the arena, but it was hard to ignore the implications
of what might really have happened:
1. Kidman didn't mind seeing Misterio getting ambushed, because a weaker,
injured Misterio is a more susceptible WCW cruiserweight champion. Or...
2. Malenko and Benoit planned their ambush for a when Kidman wasn't around.
If so, then the Horsemen are smartly working Kidman and Misterio against
each other, hoping that either one of them will be unable to defend the tag
team championship, or that they'll be at each other's throats.
"Only a matter of time," Anderson said again, smirking.
Indeed, the conflicts between Misterio and Kidman have only just begun. They
are conflicted friends, conflicted rivals.
For example, recently in Baltimore, Kidman battled Misterio for the cruiserweight
title. The match was only a few minutes old when Benoit and Malenko marched
to ringside and demanded a match for the tag team title. Misterio and Kidman
accepted the challenge. Suddenly, a match for the cruiserweight title had
turned into a match for the tag team title.. with the opponents in the cruiserweight
match on the same side of the ring!
"It was strange," Kidman admitted. "I don't think I've ever had anything
like that happen to me. One second I want to beat the man, the next second
I'm on his side. It takes a big adjustment in your mindset to get used to
something like that, but fortunately we got through it with the belts around
our waists."
Thanks to Kidman, who rolled up Malenko from behind to score the pin and
retain the tag team title.
But, as Kidman walked back to the locker room, a nagging thought filled his
mind: I came out here to win the cruiserweight title, but I didn't get the
chance I deserved. It's like I lost the cruiserweight title match. I have
the same thing now that I did before.
"It's a tough separation fo emotions," Kidman admitted. "I don't know how
long it can last. I guess we'll just have to wait and see."
Or maybe, just maybe, Kidman and Misterio will have to make up their minds.
One or the other. Friendship or rivalry. It can't be both.
"I don't know about that," Misterio insisted. "I think it's worth trying.
I don't know. I didn't like it when Billy didn't save me from that attack
by Malenko and Benoit, but I accepted his excuse. I have to. He's my partner."
Yet, little nagging thoughts can destroy a friendship. Kidman wasn't there
to save Misterio. Misterio made an accusation. Kidman defended himself. Maybe
Misterio didn't entirely believe Kidman's excuse.
Little by little, respect and trust is chopped down. Before long, everything
is lost: Misterio's cruiserweight title and the tag team belts proudly worn
by Misterio and Kidman.
And they'll no longer have their friendship, either.