Hey all, and welcome to the News and Rumors at TPWW.net. Once again the task has fallen onto yours truly to get you all the news and info happening out in the wrestling world today, and I couldn't be happier. I'm really getting some great responses from people who checked out yesterdays report, and I really do appreciate it. I wasn't sure how well I'd be received, since as you may have guessed, I am relatively new to the "N + R" section of the website, and my expertise lies in being a columnist (well...sort of). But anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that I really do appreciate the positive (for the most part) reviews of yesterday's report. And now that I'm once again done with the little intro, let's move right on to some news for the day...
The biggest piece of breaking news out there today is of course, the fact that the jury is STILL stalled on the whole WWF/USA lawsuit. For those of you who aren't on familiar terms with the case, allow me to explain. WWF has obviously decided that they would like to go to TNN, which is a Viacom run network starting this fall. USA went bullshit, which is obviously expected since they lost the number one rated show on Cable TV. Apparently, USA signed an agreement that said they had the right to match any offers, and that the WWF wouldn't be able to keep auctioning off their services to other networks. The judge ruled against the USA lawsuit, but the network decided to appeal the ruling. Pretty much everyone is certain that the appeal will be overruled, but USA is supposed to be on TNN starting in TWO WEEKS. Until the verdict has been decided, Viacom cannot hype up the WWF's arrival. So basically, the longer the court stays out on this, the louder the USA network is laughing. If the verdict isn't decided for a week, then Viacom will only have a week to advertise the channel switch. Bad news for the WWF, although Vince is still near 100% sure that they'll be on TNN before long.
Also on the WWF side of the fence, the Chicago Enforcer's Vice President/General Manager Ken Valdiserri has decided to resign from his post on the XFL team. He cited personal reasons as the impetus behind leaving the job. It sounds like an absolute dream job to me, so it must be pretty serious for Ken to leave.
Moving on, the Rock and Wyclef Jean's song "It Doesn't Matter" continues to dominate over in the UK. It's the number three song out of the Top 40 so as you can see, the brits love their Wyclef.
Also in a little bad news for Vince and WWF fans everywhere, Al Gore and Joseph Lieberman officially announced to the Washington Post today that they plan a severe crack down on all "gratuitous violence and sex" on television. They plan on proposing a new regulatory allowing government officials to sanction the content they deem inappropriate. They have given the entertainment industry six months to clean up their acts, and if they win the election come this November, they will go all out against the entertainment industry as a whole. This is especially bad for the WWF and its fans, since Mr. Lieberman is a card-carrying board member of the PTC, and of course, wrestling is number one on the hit list. Vote Dubbya!!!
Over the next few weeks, the WWF is rumored to try and turn Jericho heel. As I suggested yesterday, what way is better than revealing him as the car driver? I personally can't wait for the return of the cocky, snide, charismatic heel Jericho, and it's something I'm certainly looking forward to seeing.
When Big Show returns later this year or early in 2001, chances are he'll be entered into a program with everybody's favorite headshrinker, Rikishi Phatu. That certainly does seem like a step down the food chain for the Big Show, but what do I care...the guy sucks ass anyway! I certainly can smell the work rate in that feud...
Tazz is supposed to start interfering heavily in some of Al Snow's matches, to start up a rivalry between he and Al for the Euro gold. I personally thought Tazz was above the European strap, since he's in a mini feud with Jericho, but I guess not.
Raven is rumored to make his debut during the main event at Unforgiven. I certainly am looking forward to Raven's debut, and it seems like appearing in the main event is the start of a great push. As has been speculated for months now, there is a good chance he and Kane will begin an alliance at the pay per view, which may lead to them being an actively competing tag team in the WWF. On a side note, Raven has also been warned by many higher ups that there will be absolutely no horsing around tolerated backstage. Raven has a history of being very disruptive and somewhat controversial backstage, so management wants to nip that in the bud before it gets serious.
Although Hardcore Holly won't be able to return to the ring until around late November, he should return to a television role about a month beforehand. Early reports seem to point towards a feud with Tazz, and Perry Saturn as well.
According to some WWF higher ups, Steve Regal has already begun to work on filming vignettes, which should air within the following weeks. The WWF brass (especially Jim Ross) are very solidly behind Regal, and think he may very well be one of the top workers in the industry before long. Steve Regal is an exceptional technical wrestler, and I have heard that many wrestlers like to work with him. If he can stay clean of his vices and demons, and keep his eye on the prize, I see no reason why he couldn't be a far upper mid carder. I think it is just a little bit optimistic of Ross to say he thinks Regal could be one of the top few people in the game today. Far too many people still remember the "Real Man's Man" gimmick for that to happen.
Some people have said that the Big Show is a possibility to be Steve Austin's assailant back at the Survivor Series. At first I wouldn't have considered it, but now that I think of it, it really does make some sense. I mean, the Big Show went on to replace Austin in the main event that night, and captured the WWF title as a result. Therefore, he definitely had the most to gain from Steve's "accident". Anyway, just some musings by yours truly.
Moving on to ECW territory, there are several big stories circling the Philly based organization. The first of which, as always in ECW, is the injury report. Kid Kash reportedly busted up his nose pretty badly in Buffalo the other night, but continued working nonetheless. Current ECW World Champion Justin Credible broke two fingers on that show as well. Neither is expected to miss any time. Tommy Dreamer will find out this coming Monday whether or not his shoulder injury is as serious as he fears. Many people have suggested that "the Innovator of Violence" may need surgery for this, and that would of course lead to a significant deal of time out. Not to sound like a prick, but Tommy definitely could use a little time off to heal up from all the injuries he's absorbed recently. Just a thought. Francine was also injured over the weekend, as she had apparently done damage to her hips. Now the doctors aren't so sure, however, and think it may be a problem with her ribs. Last and not least, CW Anderson dislocated his shoulder in his match against Rob Van Dam.
A fan has decided to sue ECW, for an incident where Rob Van Dam hit him inadvertently landed on top of him. While that may seem like it was his own responsibility to watch out (like when a foul ball hits a guy at a baseball game), he claims that RVD was on drugs at the time. The fan definitely has a case, because if he gets a solid enough lawyer, he could easily exploit the fact that Rob Van Dam frequently flaunts his use of marijuana. The fan claims that the incident left him with some severe back and leg problems that plague him to this day. The fan says that due to Van Dam's inebriated state, he completely missed the target, and came down with the brunt of the impact right on the plaintiff's neck. I still say that any spectator at an ECW event should know the risks of being there, and wouldn't you know it, that's just what ol' Paul E. said too.
Some more big news out of ECW is the fact that of course, the monetary problems continue. Paul Heyman recently decided to cancel a whole string of shows throughout Iowa, and told many of the wrestlers that their paychecks would be delayed yet again. Heyman told the wrestlers that he wouldn't ask them to work any shows until they are paid in full. You know, how long is it going to be before the ECW wrestlers get sick and tired of waiting weeks to get paid?
Paul also told the talent that contrary to popular belief, he won't be making any cutbacks anytime soon. He has also decided against hiring some of the recently released WCW workers, despite the fact that he receives daily calls from them looking to come to ECW. He says that he is loyal to the crew that he has now, and doesn't want anyone else to fill their spots.
Last of all, as you may have already heard by now, starting next year Heyman wants to start running monthly PPVs. That means there will only be one weekend a month without a wrestling pay per view on it. Honestly, who has enough money to plunk down ninety bucks each month on wrestling pay per views? That's 1,090 dollars a year!
Moving on to some WCW news...Buff Bagwell has made it clear to a few people that more than anything, he wants to work out his difficulties with WCW management (of which there are many) and come back to work for them. He feels he's carved out a solid niche within the federation, and would like to remain there for a while longer. Although, he has made it clear that should he receive a substantial offer from the WWF, he would be on the next plane to Connecticut.
Also in regards to returning faces, the rumor mill is working over time, saying that the return of Jim Duggan will take place on Nitro tonight. No offense to "Hacksaw", but I am seriously sick of the HOOOOOO! Chants, the waving of the Flag, and the rubber 2X4 swinging. Please, Please Russo, give him some sort of a new bit if you want to bring him back.
As Triple A noted earlier in the week, tonight's Nitro main event will be Nash vs. Scott Steiner for the World Belt, with the Cat as Special ref and Goldberg as special enforcer. I would say there is a little to no chance of a clean win in that one.
Once again, as stated yesterday, it is literally ALL OVER the internet that Ric Flair will return tonight during the Ms. Hancock/David Flair wedding angle. It's been done to death, and I'm sure you've all already read something about it, so I'll just leave it at that.
In addition to Ric and Duggan, everyone's favorite mamaluke (well, next to Tony and Big Vito), Johnny the Bull is also going to be on hand tonight at Nitro. It should to be interesting to see if he's 100% from that horrific botched spot from a while ago. For whatever reason, I find it hard to believe that after a pelvic injury that serious, he's already back to action...we'll see.
In addition to Ric, Johnny the Bull, and Jim Duggan (sense a theme here?), Billy Kidman is expected to return to action tonight. He should be looking to get some revenge against the Franchise, and in the process, hype up his scaffold match with him at Fall Brawl.
Well, that's just about all that's going on out there today. Unfortunately, my sure thing (the Colts) backfired yesterday as they lost to those damn Raiders. However...my hometown team the Patriots are taking on the Jets tonight, and seeing as how the Pats absolutely dominated the preseason, I'm hoping some of that will rub off on tonight's big showdown. The Patriots and the Jets are obviously major rivals, and whenever they have a game together (particularly early in the year) there are some sensational results. Anyway, that's all there is to say for today, and thanks a lot for reading.
Corey Silvia
Corey@tpww.net