Finally, after a couple days of craziness and mayhem, TPWW seems to be back to normal. I'm Ry and this is the People's News and Rumors. I really feel that there is no need for me to explain what happened over the past couple days, as it was pretty self explanitory, so let's get on to the reason for all of you being here, The People's N & R. We have about 3 to 4 days worth of news to cover, so lets get to it...
The WWF starts off its relationship with Viacom with a bang on Thursday, as the WWF teams up with MTV in "Countdown to Summerslam" on Thursday night at 10:00 PM. This won't be the first time the WWF teamed with MTV, as they colaborated with each other for "Countdown to Wrestlemania" back in April.
Speaking of the WWF on television, the WWF champion, the Rock will be appearing on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight at 11:35 on your local NBC affliate. This will be the second time the Rock has appeared on the Tonight Show, as the Rock appeared on it a couple of months back, and it should be fun to watch Rocky chatting with Jay.
Last night at the Smackdown tapings in New Orleans, LA, while filming an angle to air on Smackdown, WWF.com reported that Jim Ross was injured and taken to the hospital as a piece of glass was stuck in JR's eye during the process of filming a segment with Jerry Lawler and Tazz to further the Tazz/Lawler program that will be a part of Summerslam.
Thursday night at 6 PM, both Tazz and Jerry "The King" Lawler will be appearing on WWF.com's Byte This program. Should be an interesting hour or so, as the two men who will face at Summerslam will speak candidly about their match at Summerslam and other subjects.
Speaking of Smackdown, you can read the entire results of tomorrow night's program, by clicking HERE.
Thursday night at 7 PM, an hour before Summerslam, one half of the WWF Tag Team Champions, Edge will be appearing in WWF.com's chat room to discuss several subjects. Only one phrase can describe what Thursday's chat will be like... it'll "Reek of Awesomeness."
Fans of TPWW's own Ref and his Wrestlemania XVII ticket givaway contest will find this next rumor somewhat intresting, as the WWF, The Houston Astrodome, and ticketmaster are planning their strategy to sell tickets for the April 1, 2001 event. Tickets will go on sale November 11th, and will range from $ 20 to the Platinum Ringside Seats which will go for $ 500. As many as 16000 seats will be available for $20, while only a few will be available at $500, as it should only be the first 8 rows of seats in the Astrodome. Other tickets will range from $35 to $150, as the WWF is definitely determined to break the Houston Astrodome's attendance record for this event.
DailyRadar.com has some new info about THQ's next two wrestling releases, WWF Smackdown 2 for the Playstation and WWF No Mercy for the Nintendo 64. Smackdown 2 features almost every WWF star imaginable including Stephanie McMahon Helmsley and Michael Cole, and will have features such as the previously mentioned Ladder Match, Casket Match, Table Match, Iron Man Match, and the first time in a WWF Video Game, the Hell in the Cell. Smackdown 2 will also see an improved Create a Wrestler, Create a Manager, Create a Stable, and even a feature that will allow one to create your own taunt. Smackdown 2 will be released just before the PS2 launch, most likely being the last WWF game ever to hit the original Playstation on October 16, 2000 and arguably the greatest WWF video game ever on the Sony Playstation.
No Mercy on the other hand will include 65 plus wrestlers, Exhibition, Royal Rumble, Pay-Per-View, King of the Ring, Guest Referee, Ladder Match and Iron Man Match modes. No Mercy will be released November 7, 2000 and for the most part will be the definition of a sequel of Wrestlemania 2000, with added wrestlers and modes. Come the fall, one will have to argue which WWF game to get as both should be tremendous. Knowing myself, I'll probably get both games.
For those wondering, here's the card for Sunday night's SummerSlam which like all PPV events, TPWW will be providing live and free coverage for...
- The Rock v. Triple H v. Kurt Angle for the WWF Championship
- Chris Jericho v. Chris Benoit in a Two out of Three Falls Match
- The Undertaker v. Kane
- Edge and Christian v. The Hardys v. The Dudleys for the WWF Tag team titles in a TLC match
- Val Venis and Trish Stratus v. Eddie Guerrero and Chyna for the WWF Intercontinetal Title
- Shane McMahon v. Steve Blackman for the WWF Hardcore title
- Rikishi and Too Cool v. The Right to Censor
- Tazz v. Jerry "The King" Lawler
- Terri v. The Kat in a Stink Face Match
Speaking of SummerSlam, we here at TPWW.net have added yet another poll for you to vote in, "Which match are you looking forward to the most at SummerSlam?" Personally, I'll agree with the majority by saying the TLC match, but aside from the Terri/Kat match, every single match has potential to be great.
Here are a couple of names who have been released from World Championship Wrestling in the last couple of weeks, according to Bob Ryder... Prince Iaukea, El Dandy, Silver King, Scott Armstrong, Chris Daniels, Lenny Lane, and La Parka. A couple of Luchadores, two former champions, an Armstrong, and a talented worker who was never really given a shot in Daniels have all gotten their releases. I'm sure the WWF or ECW may pick up a few of these guys.
A couple of people have been wondering "Was that really Goldberg's girlfriend on Nitro?" Well, according to Bob Ryder, it wasn't as the lady in question was an actress paid to play a part. Interestingly enough, Goldberg's girlfriend's name isn't even Beth, it's Lisa Shekter, as stated in WCW Magazine's Outside the Ropes section.
WCW's Creative Director/Head Booker, Vince Russo will be appearing on WCW Live's post Thunder show tonight immedititely after Thunder goes after air. Russo will be fielding questions and comments from the viewers for about an hour. If you're a fan of WCW Live or Russo, check it out.
If you can't wait for a couple of hours, click HERE for Thunder/WorldWide Taping Results. Thanks to The GMan for sending results from last night's tapings from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Speaking of Thunder, here's what you can look foward to for tonight's show...
- Kwee-Wee v. Corpal Cajun
- The Jung Dragons v. The Harris Brothers
- Crowbar v. Reno
- Paisley v. Major Gunns
- Lance Storm v. Mike Awesome v. General Rection
- Norman Smiley v. MI Smooth
- Kevin Nash and Chuck Palumbo v. Booker T and Big Vito
Finally, a couple of ECW notes for today on this weekend's two night show at the Hammerstein BallRoom in Manhattan. Paul Heyman announced this weekend on Hardcore TV here in NY that Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins will be in NY and will be confronting Network Music Consultant Lou E Dangerously, and on the second night of the show, the manager of the former ECW Tag Champions, the Impact Players, Dawn Marie will be making an "impactful" return.
Finally, here's the complete and final bracket for the 12 team tournament for the vacant ECW Tag Team titles for the first night of the Hammerstein Ballroom show on Friday Night:
- Justin Credible and Rhino v. The Sandman and Chilly Willy
- Tommy Dreamer and Jerry Lynn v. Rob Van Dam and Kid Kash
- Joey Matthews and Christian York v. EZ Money and Julio Dinaro
- Little Guido and Tony Mamaluke v. Mikey Whripreck and Tajiri
- Danny Doring and Roadkill v. Devito and Angel of the Baldies
- Nova and Chris Chetti v. Simon Diamond and Swinger
After the six first round matches, there will be three semi-final matches, and the ECW original 3 Way Dance for the tag titles at the end of the night.
Well, that's about it for today, so until next time, Ciao...