Chicago Sun-Times: An 'Unforgiven' underdog in Pitt

If Stone Cold Steve Austin was ever to be listed as an underdog for a WWF title defense, it would be tonight at the "Unforgiven" PPV. Facing Kurt Angle, a man who cleanly pinned Stone Cold on "Raw" last week (just days after being cleanly pinned by RVD), in his hometown of Pittsburgh, is as tough a task as any WWF champion has had to face.

I still feel Stone Cold will leave the PPV as the WWF champion, but after the events of last Thursday night--as they say--anything can happen in the WWF. In a scene reminiscent of the Ray Stevens concrete floor pile-driver on Jimmy Snuka in the late 1970s, Austin took things to a new level of violence by executing the most vicious move in wrestling on Angle. The fact Angle was able to return to the arena and deliver a stirring promo for his title match has to have Austin doubting his ability to beat the Olympic champion.

Also on the card, the Rock will defend the WCW title in a match against both Shane McMahon and Booker T, RVD defends the WWF Hardcore title against Y2J, and it will be brother against brother as Edge puts the IC title on the line against Christian.

AROUND THE RING: Jerry "The King" Lawler has been seen quite often in the WWF locker room and could be close to a return. Some sources indicate the WWF has told the King to finalize his divorce with the Kat and the door will be open for his return once all his personal issues have been resolved. ... Ted Turner apparently is upset with AOL Time Warner's decision to sell WCW. Turner has plans to start a new network once his no-compete clause expires in roughly three years and wants wrestling to be one of his first programs. ... Some of those left out in the WWF/WCW merger are close to launching a new wrestling promotion. The feeling is without a No. 2 competitor for the WWF, a second group could easily gain momentum. ... The Undertaker was instrumental in getting Kronic into the WWF. Taker pushed hard for Vince McMahon to take back Bryan Adams and insisted he would be part of their first angle back in the WWF. . . . Kid Kash was given a tryout match with the WWF last week.

HOTLINE: I will reveal the three former WCW stars in Pittsburgh this weekend for the PPV and two stunning surprises set for the "Unforgiven" show on the hotline: (900) 454-SLAM ($2 per minute).