Chicago Sun-Times: `Starrcade' best of show for WCW

Tonight WCW will stage "Starrcade," its top PPV of the year. It by no means meets the levels of "Wrestlemania" in attendance, hype or PPV buys-but everyone needs their own Super Bowl.

The main event actually has become quite interesting as champion Scott Steiner defends the world title against the returning Sid Vicious. Sid has bounced between the WWF, ECW and WCW most of his career, but he always seems to get (and get up for) big title matches.

Considering Steiner's history with injury and run-ins with company suits, it could be bell time before anyone knows who the winner will be.

Also on the show in a no-holds-barred; no-DQ match, Goldberg looks to make an example of Lex Luger; The Perfect Event face the Insiders for the tag titles, and General Rection defends the U.S. title against Shane Douglass.

One late surprise on the show has hardcore icon Terry Funk returning one more time to face Crowbar with the WCW hardcore title on the line. Funk, well into his 50s, still has plenty left in the tank and certainly could pull off the upset.

HEARD AROUND THE RING: On a serious note, I had the occasion last week to visit with former WWF and ECW wrestler Nicole Bass in the hospital. Nicole is suffering from acute pancreatitis (a serious infection of the pancreas) and has her up- and down-days, to say the least. She has been on an intravenous lifeline since the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and doctors tell her she is not out of the woods yet. Wrestlers' medical coverage being what it is, any of Nicole's fans-and wrestling fans in general-can make a donation toward the growing medical bills to Nicole Bass, P.O. Box 790321, Middle Village, NY 11379. Any donations or good thoughts would be appreciated. . . . Comedy Central tonight will be running the holiday edition of "The Man Show" featuring Goldberg. . . . The WWF may loan the Dudley Boys to ECW for the "Guilty as Charged" PPV in January. The Dudleys recently appeared for Extreme in New York. In return, the WWF might use Yoshihiro Tajiri in its hardcore division. . . . Matt Hardy injured his shoulder on "Raw" on Monday. He worked the "Smackdown!" taping on Tuesday but was unable to move the shoulder out of one position, so brother Jeff worked most of the match. . . . Many within the WWF feel Kurt Angle will escape the "Royal Rumble" with his WWF title. . . . The Tuesday night edition of "Nitro" drew a dismal 1.7 rating. . . . X-Pac is set to return to the WWF in late January. . . . The WWF Cookbook is listed at No. 6 on the New York Times best-seller list.

HOTLINE: Linda McMahon brutally attacked, and Vince has a new girlfriend. Get the details-and much more-on the hotline: (900) 454- SLAM ($2 per minute).