Quantum Leap

THE Natural Born Thrillers have yet to blink since being thrust into the Spotlight glare.

The Natural Born Thrillers have been touted as the future of WCW, but the future may have arrived sooner then expected. The tag team, cruiserweight and hardcore titles all are held by members of the brash, young group, and the thrillers that don't currently have a title all have worn gold previously in WCW. It's hard to believe that when the year started, most of the thrillers were merely hoping for opportunity to make it out of WCW's Power Plant training facility.

Is the spotlight too much, too soon for this 7-man squad? Possibly. Do they have to potential to one day carry WCW on there own? Absolutely.

The microscope is on the thrillers - Mark Jindrak, Sean O'Haire, Mike Sanders, Chuck Pulumbo Shawn Stasiak, Reno and Johnny the Bull - because of their inexperience. While all the thrillers, who range in age from 23 to 31, are accomplished athletes they don't have the polish in the ring of more seasoned wrestlers. Training in the Power Plant cant be compared to performing in front of a worldwide audience on Nitro and Thunder. The Thrillers often wrestled on independent cards in Nashville, Tennessee and other places before their big push. That was a start, but it is not the same as performing in the big leagues.

This group of hungry lions seems ready for any challenge, though. "Were a step above everyone in the company. Its time for a change and we are the change." Says Sanders, the cruiserweight champion and spokesman of the group. "Were faster, harder and stronger then anyone in the sport and I think everyone knows that and properly hates us for that. Sure were being scrutinized for all angles, which means a lot of pressure. But we'll take it, channel it and use it to our advantage."

Ultimately the bookers will determine the success of the thrillers. There is talk that WCW Management believes O'Haire has the most potential because of his size, look and athleticism. Will jealousy will ran rampant in the thrillers if one member becomes more successful then the others? Judging by the camaraderie in the group, the answer appears to be no.

"Everyone has their own personality in the group" says Jindrak, a co-holder of the tag team championship with O'Haire. "We've got tough guys. We've got clowns. We've got everything in between. That's why we mesh so well together. Imagine sitting by yourself at the lunch table on the first day of school. With the thrillers, you'd instead be sitting at lunch with all your friends. That's the difference. We always help each other. Instead of thinking about the fact were in the ring entertaining 4 million fans, we're in the ring with 6 of our close buddies. That makes it much easier."

Adds hardcore champion Reno, one of the quieter members of the team, "It's an absolute privilege to work along side some of the most talented athletes in the business. Were like family. The way everyone feeds off one another, the way everyone has their own unique, twisted sense of humor is absolutely hilarious. This is the greatest bunch of guys to be around."

Not only do the thrillers have each other for support, they have Kevin Nash in their corner. Nash, one of the biggest stars in sports entertainment, plays the role of the thrillers coach on television, and he is also somewhat of a mentor to them in real life.

"To get the rub from Kevin Nash is incredible," Jindrak says "He is so down to earth, always helping us young guys. That really shows that he wants to give back to the business. Our right hand man is one of the most influential wrestlers in the game - that huge.

"One great thing about Nash is he is not just our TV friend, his our off camera friend, too. He hangs out with us and jokes around with us." Says Reno "Kevin Nash ties us all together. His experence and sence of humor is incredible. Who better then Kevin Nash to get the rub from? Who better then Kevin Nash to bring us to the dance?"

Only time will tell if the Natural Born Thrillers are "For Life," as Nash used to say about the n.W.o - or just for the time being.