Chicago Sun-Times: Stone Cold no match for hot Angle

There are many in the wrestling business who agree with Jim Ross in believing that Stone Cold Steve Austin cannot defeat Kurt Angle-- and that was before Angle was mad. Now that SCSA has thrown the former champ's Olympic gold medals into the Detroit River, there could be a whole new level of insanity that the American hero reaches when the two meet in just a few weeks at "Judgment Day" for the WWF title.

Angle has not only held off attacks from the likes of Shane McMahon, Booker T, Mike Awesome and many others, he seems to have accomplished the near impossible by getting into the head of the WWF champion. Austin's actions in the Motor City last week were not those of a sane man; in fact, by throwing the medals into the river, some might say he has turned desperate. What Stone Cold has not counted on is the fact that Angle feels he has used the Olympic gold as a crutch for long enough and will be dropping the red-white-and-blue gimmick in the next few weeks anyway.

Combine Angle's mental state with the fact the "Judgment Day" PPV is in Kurt's hometown of Pittsburgh, and there definitely could be a title change on the horizon.

HEARD AROUND THE RING: Kudos to Rob Van Dam and Rhyno, who have made the transition from ECW to the WWF as well as anyone. In fact, Van Dam was so over at the Detroit "SmackDown" tapings that the WWF had to dub "Rocky, Rocky" chants over the actual crowd that was chanting "RVD, RVD." . . . Kronic and Paisley are on their way to the WWF. . . . There is a better than 50-50 chance that Scott Steiner could be in the WWF by the "Survivor Series." ... No truth to the rumor that Jeff Jarrett is on his way back to the WWF. Double J is on his way to a new promotion in Australia along with Stevie Ray, Juventud, Disco Inferno, Road Dogg and Jerry "The King" Lawler, who no longer is romantically linked to the Kat. . . . I still keep getting asked about the future of Goldberg and Ric Flair, but nothing has changed as both are still collecting checks from AOL Time Warner and won't rush back.

HOTLINE: While in Detroit for the "SmackDown" tapings Tuesday, I found out exactly what the WWF is planning for next year's "Wrestlemania" that will shock the world. I will reveal the secret, plus news on the return of Bret Hart on the hotline: (900) 454-SLAM ($2 per minute).