Two reports in three days? Yep, that's right, as I, Ry am back with your news and rumors, The People's News and Rumors...
Last night, WCW gave us the ever rare, Tuesday Nitro, and to be honest, I thought the show was very well produced, as not only did they crown a new United States (or Canadian) Heavyweight Champion, but they put on a nice little tournament, which showed that they have more than a few mid carders who they can elevate to main event status (Awesome, Vampiro, Franchise, Kidman, Storm, Kanyon) to include in their cast of main event players (Booker, Jarrett, Goldberg, Nash, and Scott Steiner).
On the topic of Booker T and Jeff Jarrett, WCW somewhat advanced their feud leading up to the two headlining the New Blood Rising Pay Per View with Jarrett's win over Booker's older Brother, Stevie Ray. I have to say the WCW announcers were dead on when they referred to both wrestlers as the epitome of the New Blood, not the faction, but the idea of the New Blood.
Last night during the Ladder match between Three Count and the Jung Dragons, Evan Karagias of Three Count took a nasty bump, which was going from the top of the ladder to the floor where he landed on his ankle awarkardly. At first, the announcers thought it might have been broken, but it's been revealed that Evan only suffered a severe sprain.
Nitro scored a 2.4 rating last night, according to Dave Scherer, with the Goldberg/Scott Steiner main event peaking at a great (for WCW) 3.7. I haven't seen anything close to a 4 for WCW in a while, and let's just hope that WCW continues to go in the right direction in terms of ratings.
Here's a short yet sweet preview for tonight's Live Thunder from East
Lansing, Michigan...
- Newly Crowned United States Champion, Lance Storm prepares to rename the
title from the United States Heavyweight Championship to the Canadian
Heavyweight Champion.
- Crowbar with Daffney takes on Powerplant worker, Mike Sanders.
- WCW Tag Champions, Kronic take on Filthy Animals, Rey Mysterio, The Juice,
and Disco Inferno in a Handicap match.
- Tank Abbot goes up against Japanese legend, The Great Muta.
- And in the main event, Jeff Jarrett teams with the DFG, Rick Steiner
against a reunited Harlem Heat, WCW World Champion, Booker T and Stevie Ray.
Last night on WCW Nitro, WCW announced three more matches to its New Blood Rising Pay Per View as Sting will take on the Demon, The Franchise, Shane Douglas (w/ Torrie Wilson) goes up against Torrie's ex, Billy Kidman, and Kronic prepares to defend their tag straps in a 4 corners match against The Perfect Event, MIA (Cajun and Rection), and the team of S&M;, Sean O'Haire & Mark Jindrak.
WCW Live announced that Three Count will be taking on the Jung Dragons in a Double Ladder Match at New Blood Rising... Hanging from the ceiling not only will be Three Count's Gold Record but Three Count's Recording Contract.
Rumored for the NB Rising PPV due to Kevin Nash's return to WCW last night would be a Three Way Dance between Big Sexy and the two men he powerbombed at the end of Nitro, Scotty Steiner and Bill Goldberg.
Big thanks to Nils Braselmann for the next tidbit concerning WCW's return to
Germany this year...
WCW is coming back to Germany this year.
The tour will be called Millennium Tour - The Final. They come back due to
the success of the first tour which took place in February this year. It
isn't clear yet how many shows will take place. However, the biggest show
will again be in Oberhausen on November 15th. Vampiro and Jeff Jarrett said
in interviews that they are very happy to come
back because they like the German crowds. Probably Terry Funk will show up
as well, because some members of his family live in Kassel, Germany.
Bret Hart said during the last WCW German tour on every show that he
promises to wrestle his last match ever in Germany because there he has the
greatest fans!! So maybe we will see the final match of his carreer in
November because Bret Hart will end his carreer if he has the concussions a
little bit longer."
Moving on to some WWF news for today, and first the non spoiler preview for
tomorrow night's Smackdown:
- Eddie Guerrero v. Dean Malenko v. Perry Saturn for the European title
- Steve Blackman v. Al Snow for the Hardcore Title
- Kurt Angle v. Kane
- Hardys and Rikishi v. Test, Albert, and Val
- The Godfather v. Bull Buchannan
- The Big Bossman v. The Undertaker
- Chris Benoit and Triple H v. Chris Jericho and the Rock
The WWF will be releasing three brand new videos on August 22, each very unique, and each catering to three very different types of fans. The first being TLC: Tables, Ladders, Chairs features the wars between the Hardy Boys, The Dudley Boys, and Edge and Christian, which I'm definitely planning on picking up. Next for the Steve Austin fan in all of us, the WWF releases the Fourth Video in the Austin series, Stone Cold Steve Austin: Lord of the Ring. Finally, for the Diva fan in all of us, the WWF will release WWF Divas: Postcard from the Caribbean which highlights the antics of Terri, Trish, Ivory, the Kat, and Tori in the Caribbean during the Diva's Raw swimsuit issue. All three videos go on sale on August 22 for a price of $14.95 a pop.
Stevi... Err, Steven Richards has recently redesigned his website, StevieRichards.com in a move that makes Steven's website resemble The PTC's Website in order to further Steven's effort of being the conscience of the World Wrestling Federation. I have to say, with this new character, Steven is obviously far more over as a heel than Dancin' Stevie would have ever been in the World Wrestling Federation.
In some breaking news, WWF.com reports that The Game, Triple H has suffered a pinched cyatic nerve in his back this past weekend, which causes back spasms and occasional numbness in his right leg. But, being the Game, Triple H will still wrestle in his Last Man Standing match up against Chris Jericho at Sunday's Fully Loaded Pay Per View. Definitely not the greatest news in the Wrestling World, but the fact that Hunter will still wrestle on Sunday night is a statement to his character, one of being a constant professional to wrestle in such pain, thus proving that he truly is "That Damn Good!"
WWF.com also announced that NFL Hall of Famer, and former Chicago Bear, Dick Butkus will be the head coach for the XFL's Chicago franchise. Definitely a smart move by the head honchos of the XFL as Dick adds some star power and credibility to Vince McMahon's Football League.
Expect the ECW November to Remember PPV to emanate from Chicago's Odeum on November 5, 2000. Many remember that the Odeum was supposed to house ECW's September/October PPV, Anarchy Rulz which will take place in Saint Paul, Minnesota on October 1st. Somewhat good news for fans in Chicago, as the November to Remember is ECW's signature PPV, the Wrestlemania or Starrcade of ECW.
That wraps it up for today... Couple of shameless plugs for a couple of projects here at TPWW that I've been working on... First, my column, TPC has been updated, as I take a shot at being a booker with a US/Canada PPV. Also, the redebut of the Nitro Report Card occurs today with me as the recapper/grader. So that's about it, so until next time, Ciao...
Big Ry
BIGRY214@aol.com