Raven is the same as ever.

He's a spoiled rich punk gone bad through no one's fault but his. He's disenfranchised, depraved, grunged-out, everything pierced including his soul. He has no pride, nothing positive to do or say. He's everything that's wrong with youth in the '90s.

So why is he being cheered?

Raven's best friend wears a dress. His other compatriot spews the lamest microphone schtick ever. Most of Raven's relationships are abusive. He sits like a zombie in the corner before matches, occasionally grabbing the mic to mumble his self-pitying nonsense.

So why is he one of the most popular wrestlers in WCW?

Raven wrestles pure bad-guy style, saying his matches must be contested by "Raven's Rules," i.e., no rules. He insists that his newly-won tag-team championship can be defended by any of his three "Flock" members, including him, Saturn and Kanyon. His idea of a wrestling move is a drop-toehold that rams his opponent's face into a steel chair.

So why is Raven suddenly being embraced by the fans?

Good question.

I think it has more to do with the times than it does Raven.

Look at the world we live in. Look at wrestling in particular.

When the original nWo invaded WCW, they broke every rule in the book. They barged onto WCW television. They made a fool out of WCW constantly.

Yet, they got cheered.

Consider Ric Flair. For years and years, he was the most evil competitor in wrestling. He cheated at every turn, doing anything possible to retain his world title by hook or crook.

Yet, he got cheered.

Bad has been good in wrestling for quite some time.

Now, bad is good in society. Street gangs proliferate in every neighborhood. Organized crime leaders like John Gotti are celebrities. Dennis Rodman is accepted as a role model. Trash journalism draws huge ratings on both radio and TV. Videotapes featuring people in great peril fly off the shelves. Idiots like Albert Belle are venerated in pro sports while decent men like Greg Maddux somehow don't seem as exciting.

It's a sick, sick world.

And Raven is a sick, sick guy.

Ergo, he's popular.

Sorry, but I don't get it.

This guy enjoys pain. Remember when he smiled even as he passed out in Chris Benoit's Crippler Crossface? He belittles and abuses his friends. Remember when he ran Stevie Richards out of WCW? He treats his mom bad. Remember those "Raven at home" videos? He took a thousand bucks in ones to a strip bar. OK, so maybe he's a good tipper.

But suffice it to say he has very few redeeming qualities.

And yet, people adore Raven.

It's enough to make you want to get out of wrestling.

This guy hasn't changed one bit since entering WCW. But he has somehow changed the way he's perceived. He really does steal people's souls and warp their minds.

But now he does it with a crooked smile.

He needs his butt kicked.

Problem is, not many can do it. He is double-tough, able to withstand incredible amounts of punishment. His offensive arsenal is limited, but he has two killer moves in the steel-plated drop-toehold and the Evenflow DDT. He doesn't advertise himself as being hardcore, but he can swing a pretty mean chair or Singapore cane. And Raven is smart enough that he barely gets beat up when he does immerse himself in the hardcore scene.

It's amazing. Raven is anything but a good guy, but he gets cheered.

He's a reflection of real life, I guess. When society looks in the mirror, I suppose it has no choice but to like what it sees.

And I suppose it sees Raven.

There's only one other thing Raven can do to totally spoil the party.

Win the WCW world title.

If he ever gets the opportunity, I think it's inevitable.

It has nothing to do with what we want or like. It's simply the way the world is. The world made Raven possible. Now it has no choice but to tolerate him.

Quote the journalist, nevermore.