Greetings TPWW.net fans, and welcome to the News and Rumors Report for Monday, October 16, 2000. It's a lovely day here in Newport, Rhode Island, and it's what I understand is a record temperature for the month of October in the Ocean State. There are definitely a lot of juicy WCW/WWF tidbits circulating on the Internet today, and without any further discussion or temptation, let's get to them with my weekly turn at the helm of the N+R...
As reported previously in this very area of the website, Mona is indeed training in Memphis alongside Bobcat (the Ho who won the Hardcore Title), and has NOT been released from the company. She's just working a program down there in order to stay fresh while Vince McMahon thinks up an angle to insert her in. Personally, I'd like to see Mona alongside Edge and Christian. That would open the door for some fantastic six man tag matches between the Hardys/Lita and Edge and Christian/Mona.
It is all but confirmed that Billy Gunn will be replacing Val Venis as Eddie Guerrero's opponent at No Mercy. Since the WWF decided to throw a curveball and revert Eddie back into a quasi-heel role, Venis has had his match scrapped. I am relatively thankful of that because I think we've all seen Guerrero and Venis go at it enough in the past few months, and Billy Gunn ought to bring some element of freshness back into the Intercontinental Title scene.
Apparently, some WWF Officials are very upset with the lack of heel heat Rikishi has been receiving as of late, since they anticipated that having him run over Austin would make him a HUGE heel. Expect them to pull out all the stops this Monday and Thursday, since they want the fans to absolutely loathe Rikishi by the time he meets Austin at No Mercy a week from today.
Although Rikishi is turning heel, Too Cool will apparently not be splitting up as a tag team. Scotty and Sexay are going to be together for a while now, whether Rikishi is alongside them or not. It is unknown if they'll align themselves with Rikishi and turn heel, or break away from him and remain face, but they will be together regardless. I thought I'd release a little rumor killer on that hot topic.
An MRI was recently conducted on Rikishi and it discovered some tendonitis in his right knee. Because of this cumulative injury, Rikishi will not be asked to work any house shows dates over the weekend, but will be in attendance for both Raw and Smackdown, from what I understand. The WWF wants Rikishi in top form for his match with Stone Cold at No Mercy, and aren't asking him to do anything extra over the next week as a precautionary measure. On a related note, Faarooq might be having his knee scoped in the near future due to recent knee problems. I'd say that pretty much rules out the Acolytes' chances of reentering the Tag Title scene, unfortunately.
While we are on the topic of knee injuries (wow, they are common) the Big Bossman is still complaining of a sore kneecap behind the scenes. As a result, he won't be returning to action in house shows or on television this coming week, as was originally planned. Instead he will be taking at the very least two more weeks, with a maximum of four. In the meantime, Jim Ross and the Creative Team are going to iron out some new details to Bossman's outdated character.
The X-Pac/Chris Jericho match at No Mercy may be held inside a steel cage to add an extra edge to the feud. I think it would be a good idea, because both men are quick and agile, and have the potential to be very good inside a steel cage. There are also rumors circulating that this may be Jericho's last match within the Mid Card level, and will move on up the ladder for the next pay per view, alongside Angle and Benoit. Jericho is not the most popular guy backstage, and there are a number of factors working against him, but I (and the millions of Jerichoholics worldwide) will certainly be cheering him on.
WWF prospect Jason Sensation (the guy who did the impersonation angles with D-X a while back...played Owen Hart in the hilarious Nation sketch) is training down in Memphis. WWF Officials are said to be very pleased with him as far as mic work goes, although he might be a bit small for any major wrestling role. I think he'd make a great manager myself, and I think it's a shame neither promotion uses people in the managerial role anymore. It's a good way to get guys without speaking talent over, from where I sit.
Lo Down (the team of D'Lo and Chaz) is rumored to be undergoing an image change. The officials are unhappy with the attire worn by the two to ringside, since it makes them look more like common fans than wrestlers. I've kind of always liked the more casual look, and they remind me of the outfits donned by ECW's Baldies.
Gangrel and "Just" Joe have been put together to form a tag team recently on Jakked and Metal. The two have all the talent in the world as far as I'm concerned, and if putting them together is able to bring the duo one step closer to a television show that means something, I couldn't be more happy.
"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock returns to the professional wrestling business on October 21st. The WWF star, who picked up his shoot fighting career last year, will work at a charity show at a High School in Brockton, Massachusetts. WWF officials are set to be present in order to ascertain Shamrock's ring status, although the former WWF Intercontinental Champion is not expected to be back on WWF television for a number of months. It has been said that Shamrock is looking to work at least one more big shoot fight in Japan against a high-caliber opponent, and then head back to the WWF, where Vince McMahon and Jim Ross rate him highly. Ken may be placed into Memphis or Ohio Valley for a month or two in order to chisel off any ring rust he has developed during his absence. He is expected to be placed into the Intercontinental Division upon return, and eventually make his way towards the top of the card.
A lot of people backstage are said to be very happy with Perry Saturn's work ethic and constant professionalism, despite the fact that all three of his close friends (Malenko, Guerrero, and Benoit) have all been pushed harder than he has. There are rumors making rounds that he will be entered into the Intercontinental division, and may hold a brief feud with Road Dogg. This is definitely good news for me, since I am a big fan of Perry Saturn and his work.
According to most of my various sources, Raven will be taking on Steve Blackman for the Hardcore Title, NOT Jerry Lawler, at the WWF's October offering, No Mercy.
In addition to shaving his head bald, the Big Show has reportedly dropped twenty-five pounds since his arrival in Ohio Valley. WWF Officials are said to be pleased, but that the Show still has a long way to go before they bring him back, hopefully by the Royal Rumble. I am NOT a Big Show fan, but I will commend him on his efforts to lose weight and get in shape...I didn't think he'd drop an ounce, to tell you the truth, but it's good to see that he's working hard at achieving his goal.
In some WCW news, here are the matches you can expect to air on Nitro tonight, taped in Australia:
*Jindrak/O'Haire vs. Boogie Knights - Tag Titles
*Shane Douglas vs. Konnan/Rey Jr.
*Lance Storm/Hacksaw vs. Misfits in Action
*Mike Awesome/Crowbar vs. Palumbo/Stasiak
*Johnny the Bull vs. Kwee Wee
*Goldberg vs. David Flair
*Booker T vs. Shane Douglas - World Title
*Jeff Jarrett vs. Konnan
*Scott Steiner vs. Kidman
*Sting vs. Kevin Nash - Lumberjack Match
In a related note, here are the matches you can expect to air on Thunder this Wednesday, also taped in Australia:
*Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. "Above Average" Mike Sanders
*Boogie Knights vs. Harris Bros.
*Big Vito vs. "The Franchise" Shane Douglas
*Konnan and Kidman vs. Scott Steiner and Jeff Jarrett
*Jindrack/O'Hare vs. Booker T/Sting
*The Perfect Event vs. Kronic
*30 Man Battle Royale
As you may be able to tell from the fourth match down, Billy Kidman is going back to his Filthy Animals roots, filling up the vacant space left by the recently released Juventud Guerrera.
Speaking of Guerrera, Eric Bischoff is reportedly telling people that if he were to be brought back, he would reinstate Juventud immediately, and suspend him rather than all out release him. It sure is good to see that Mr. Bishcoff doesn't mind the occasional incident of disturbing the peace, assault, assault of an officer, and possession/use of an illegal substance.
There is a good chance that Stevie Ray will be dropped from the commentating table on Nitro. Apparently higher ups feel that he and Madden have conflicting styles, and the show would be much more entertaining and less clustered if the two were separated. Ray is expected to continue on Thunder, however, since his work there has been very well received.
Mark Madden is reportedly something of a "marked man" in WCW's locker room. Most of the wrestlers are tired of his constant sarcasm and vitriolic comments during their matches, and several have gone so far as to talk with him, as well as headman Vince Russo, about the little digs and jabs.
As you may have noticed from Thunder, tension is mounting between Booker T and Bill Goldberg in WCW television. This is merely foreshadowing however, since the two are not going to be in any kind of program until after Goldberg's absurd "streak" angle.
Van Hammer has reopened his official site at VanHammer.com. It has tidbits on his career, a commentary section, and video/pics and so forth. If you're a big Van Hammer fan (someone out there has to be) I'd advise you to check this one out.
From what I've heard, the Cat vs. Mike Sanders will be a "Kick Boxing Rules Match" for the WCW Commissioner spot at WCW Halloween Havoc on Sunday, October 29. I'm not too sure how they're planning to work that, but it should be quite interesting to say the least.
If you're wondering about the new look on WCW.com, it was implemented because the budget for the website has been hacked and slashed repeatedly, and funds are quite low for that section right now. It's a shame, because WWF.com is already so far ahead of WCW in terms of a company run site, the last thing they can afford is to reduce the budget by this amount.
Shawn Stasiak may be moved out of the Natural Born Thrillers sometime soon, and develop into a singles wrestler. Some people on WCW LIVE have discussed the fact of possibly having Stasiak turn against Coach Nash, and rebel against the whole faction. I have never been a tremendous fan of Stasiak (although I've heard what he did in Memphis prior to the WWF was pretty good) and perhaps an angle like this could produce some entertaining bouts between he and Mike Sanders, Reno, or maybe even Coach Kev himself.
In some ECW news I dug up, the "innovator of violence" Tommy Dreamer is reportedly going to be meeting with doctors later in the week to discuss his future in the business. He is reportedly in a great deal of pain, and is having problems even walking around. He is a tough guy and doesn't want to give it up, but at this point he might be better suited to take a backstage job with Paul Heyman than to keep going at the same pace he's attempted for the past few months.
Simon Diamond is expected to break away from his current partner, Johnny Swinger, and make a run for the Television Title. People backstage are very high on Diamond, and he is going to be given every chance to succeed independently, and not just alongside Swinger. I am a huge fan of Diamond's work both in the ring and on the microphone, and I'll certainly be waiting for this to take place.
Rob Van Dam is said to be very down on the current situation (loss of a network, lack of funds, number of injuries, and growing wrestler resentment towards management). He has told several people that he's very optimistic about moving to a new federation, as opposed to the past when he's told everyone he'd never leave ECW, and that it is the place to be wrestling wise.
In a final site related note, I have named Colin Rogers as the new Question and Answers Man here at TPWW.net, replacing yours truly. Colin is a very well spoken, intelligent guy who knows a ton about wrestling. His inaugural edition of the Q+A will be posted on October 22, under a week from today. I would encourage you to send along any wrestling related questions you may have about the Big 3, and he will do his best to answer them. He is a very talented writer, who will fit right in with the best of the best here at TPWW.net. You can check out the TPWW Q&A; page HERE That's about it for today, and I'd advise you all to swing by tomorrow as Ry will do the honors for Tuesday's report.
Corey Silvia
Corey@tpww.net