Look who's back, after about 3 weeks of being MIA (No, not that MIA), I'm back with the People's News and Rumors here at the People's Wrestling Website, TPWW.net. Well, I really don't have much to say for the intro, so let's get to the news...
What a last 24 or so hours for the wrestling world, aside from another good showing from the WWF and a decent showing by WCW, there's some even bigger news as a Deleware court has officially made their final decision regarding the WWF's move from USA to Viacom, Vince Russo is now the number one contender to the WCW title, and the WWF champion, The Rock did the job to the Undertaker as the WWF heads into Unforgiven.
Starting off with the biggest news of the day, as you heard on Raw last night, USA's appeal to keep WWF programming from moving to Viacom owned TNN and MTV was rejected, thus ending the seventeen year relationship between the WWF and the USA Network. This means, of course, that the WWF is headed for everyone's favorite Network, TNN. The WWF's relationship with TNN officially begins on Monday, September 25 as Raw emanates from State College from the campus of Penn State University, which always seems to provide a hot crowd. With the first appearance on Raw for Stone Cold Steve Austin in months, the first WWF Raw on TNN should be a memorable show.
In case you're a bit confused, here's how the WWF cable TV line up will change starting this Monday, September 25...
September 25 - RAW is WAR on TNN
September 30 - LiveWire on TNN
October 1 - Superstars on TNN
October 1 - HeAT on MTV
In response to the WWF ruling, reports are that the WWF locker room really didn't erupt in joy due after hearing the final decision, rather it was business as usual, and that's how the WWF handled it on last night's Raw as Jim Ross mentioned the move several times, but didn't make an overly huge deal about it.
As the WWF is making the move to TNN, TNN is making a move of its own, according to Viacom, as the network is moving their headquarters from Nashville, Tennessee to New York, New York. Now, with TNN out of Nashville, also look for a name change, as TNN will no longer be "The Nashville Network" rather "The National Network" in hopes of getting more main stream appeal and exposure. Look for the change to officially occur sometime next week.
Speaking of name changes, don't be surprised if WWF Sunday Night Heat undergoes a name change of its own, as rumor has it, according to Dave Meltzer, that the show may be called "WWF New York" once it moves to MTV on Sunday, October 1.
With the WWF moving to TNN, and ECW only with one show left on TNN, one has to ask the question, what happens to ECW now? The most logical move would be for ECW to fill the pro wrestling void left by the WWF on USA, and more likely than not, that's what is expected to happen. Don't be shocked if you hear about a TV deal between USA and ECW as soon as in the coming week.
Speaking of ECW, according to ECW's official website, ECWWrestling.com, this Friday's house show in Salem, New Hampshire will be changed into a National Television Taping and the TV Taping set for Danbury, Connecticut has been turned into a House Show.
Speaking of ECW and tickets, yesterday tickets went on sale for the next two ECW PPVs following October's Anarchy Rulz, as tickets for the 2000 November to Remember and the Massacre on 34th Street went on sale yesterday. The November to Remember PPV will take place in Chicago, Illinois at the Odeum on November 5,2000 and the Massacre on 34th Street takes place on December 3rd at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, New York. On a personal note, Triple A and I have already secured our seats for the Massacre on 34th Street in NYC and as Edge and Christian would say, it should so totally reek of awesomeness.
Moving on, here's a quick Monday night and weekend ratings recap for this week:
WCW Nitro: 2.8 (Hours of 3.2 and 2.3)
WWF RAW: 5.7 (Hours of 5.5 and 5.9)
WWF Live Wire: 1.1
WWF Superstars: 1.2
WWF Sunday Night Heat: 2.8
ECW on TNN: 0.8
There's are rumors that the commissioner of the World Wrestling Federation, Mick Foley may shock the world on Sunday at Unforgiven, and turn heel as he referees the match between Kurt Angle and Triple H. With the history between Foley and HHH, it wouldn't be surprising to me if Foley sides with our Olympic Hero on Sunday. I've been thinking about that possibility for a week or two now, and it wouldn't be a bad idea, as it would offset Triple H's pending face turn with Mick turning heel. Don't take this as "100% definitely happening," but hey, it could happen.
Quick reminder to all you Chyna and Rock fans out there - Chyna's exercise video, "More than meets the Eye" and The Rock's very own magazine, entitled "The Rock" both hit stores today. If you're a fan of either superstar, I'd advise you to pick them up.
Last night on Nitro, Vince Russo somehow pinned Jeff Jarrett to become the number one contender for the WCW World Title, meaning Vinnie Ru will be getting a title shot in his own backyard, the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, NY against Booker T. I'm really not sure how the New York fans will react to Russo, but let's just hope that he doesn't put the title on his New York waist.
In other Russo news, Vince Russo was reportedly advised by doctors not to wrestle for three months due to the concussions he recently suffered during matches against Ric Flair, Big Vito, and The Cat. Yet, Russo is insisting that he will wrestle, as he'll be wrestling a "warm up" match tonight at the WCW Thunder taping. How about that Mr. Russo? He's hardcore.
Don't expect Goldberg to be on Thunder this week, according to Dave Meltzer, as Goldberg will be off television this week to further the angle that he's "leaving" WCW, due to his match with Scott Steiner at Fall Brawl and Russo's interference. As always, don't let it fool you, as big, bad, Bill Goldberg will be back sooner rather than later, and he'll be raising hell for Mr. Russo.
The "Tank Sinatra" character for Tank Abbott did not make its WCW debut last night on Nitro as originally hyped and scheduled, as the former Ultimate Fighter wasn't even in attendance. It still might debut on one of the next few shows, but I don't think it's a great idea, as WCW is taking a guy who could have been an indestructible monster, and is turning him into an amazingly big fool.
Last night, Disqo (along with the Disqo Duck. That along with Tazz's ring announcing, and Raw's opening segment were two of the highlights of my night) lost to the Commissioner of WCW, the Cat, thus causing The Filthy Animals (Rey and Juvi) to lose the Tag Belts without being pinned. Have no fear, the tag belts will be decided next week on Nitro in a Battle Royal. As long as the Harris Boys don't take the belts, I'll be a happy guy.
For those interested, we have off air reports from both Raw and Nitro from those in attendance, including Raw's dark matches and the Jakked/Metal tapings. Click on the following links for: WWF Raw and for Nitro.
If you're attending either tonight's Thunder taping or Smackdown taping, please feel free to send along reports for either show to TripleA99@aol.com.
That wraps it up for today's report. I hope you enjoyed my "return" to TPWW, and be sure to come back day in and day out for more news and other updates. We have two great columns up, Nevermore and Ticking Time Bomb, as Adam Kirk and Rob Harvey take their own unique looks at who ran over Stone Cold Steve Austin. My guess for who ran over Stone Cold? TPWW's own, (The) Nick. Actually, the WORST case scenario for who ran over Austin would be Vince McMahon. Hopefully that doesn't happen. Well, that's about it for today, so until next time, Ciao...