Long time no see, eh? I'm Ry and welcome back to TPWW.net for yet another edition of the People's News and Rumors. Today's edition of the N&R; will actually be my last here at TPWW, but more on that later. Let's get to the news...
Thursday night's Smackdown finished with a 4.0 rating, as UPN tied for fourth place with the FOX network in the ratings war. The 4.0 is an improvement from last week's 3.7, and considering that Smackdown went up against the season finales of NBC's powerhouse comedies, Friends and Will and Grace, it's a half way decent rating. Hopefully, the ratings will go back up next week with Smackdown going against the NBC sitcoms in re-runs and will not be facing CBS's Survivor. But to be honest, I really don't think the WWF's ratings will increase dramatically until the quality of the product increases.
Speaking of Smackdown, I missed most of the show last night, but from what I've heard, Smackdown was an improvement over Monday's Raw, and the previous week's Raw and Smackdown. I caught the opening promo, the 6 Man Tag, and angle between Austin and Taker at the end of the show. Now, I'm a huge WWF fan and all, but like many others on the 'net, I totally think that the main event program between The American Bad Ass and The Rattle Snake is a little less than thrilling, and I am hoping for some sort of new development in the next couple of weeks, whether it be the elevation of someone like Jericho or Benoit, the return of the Rock, or even the start of the WCW invasion angle.
Even though the WWF didn't do a great job of hyping up the Judgment Day PPV, I, for some reason or another, think the card has a chance of being half way decent. Without of doubt, the Angle/Benoit match will steal the show, but there's some definite intrigue on my part concerning who'll be Jericho's tag team partner, and I'm even wondering how the Austin/Taker and Kane/Triple H matches will work out. Here's the card...
- Triple H vs. Kane in a chain match for the IC title
- Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit in a 2/3 falls match
- Rikishi vs. William Regal
- Rhyno vs. Test vs. Show in a Hardcore title
- Lita vs. Chyna.
- Tag Team Turmoil with E&C;, The APA, The Radicalz, The Hardys, The Dudleys, X-Factor, and Chris Jericho and a Mystery Partner
In an update on the biggest wrestling story of all time, Linda McMahon recently stated on Bloomberg TV that WCW would re-launch in the next two to three weeks. With no TV slot or arena booked, it seems that would be virtually impossible. Jim Ross stated in his Ross Report that the talent roster and the staff would be pretty much set in the next two to three weeks, which is probably what Linda was talking about. This would probably allow WCW to launch sometime in the summer, probably late July or August.
Speaking of WCW, The DirecTV preview for the 10 PM hour of Raw has the following preview: "What's next for WCW?" Now you have to be asking yourself, what does that mean? Could it mean just a cheap ratings ploy? Could it be an important announcement from Shane McMahon? Could it be that some WCW stars will be on Raw? Tune into Raw on Monday to find out.
In some news on the WWF writing team, WWF writer Jamie Morris has left the promotion, with reports ranging from Morris being fired to Morris quitting revolving around this story. Dave Scherer reports that Alex Abrahantes is, for the most part, replacing Morris. Abrahantes is being used as an assistant to the writing team, with prior experience booking and being the president of the Nittany Wrestling Federation, and Penn State's Pro Wrestling Club. Should be interesting how the product will change with the arrival of Abrahantes and the departure of Morris. Personally, I'd like to see the WWF give the book to Paul Heyman with Vince McMahon supervising Heyman's decisions, but I doubt that'll ever happen...
Dave Scherer also reports that the WWF contacted Baltimore Ravens Linebacker and Super Bowl MVP, Ray Lewis to appear at Wrestlemania. Lewis would have been brought in to wrestle Triple H at WrestleMania, and was even flown into Raw to sign the contract. But Lewis' attorneys nixed the deal, and Triple H wound up fighting the Undertaker at the year's biggest PPV.
In some news that will surely bring a smile to the face of my friend and yours, Triple A... The Human Wrecking Machine, and the host of WWF Smackdown and WWF Sunday Night Heat, former ECW World Champion, Tazz threw out the first pitch at last night's baseball game between the National League Champion New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. Like it or not, Taz marks (and I'm admitting that I loved the ECW character, Taz), Tazz has come a long way from main eventing in the ECW arena to throwing out the first pitch at a Major League Baseball game.
On the topic of WWF stars in the media, the Rock was recently on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine, and you can access the article, by clicking HERE. It's quite amazing how great the Rock comes in media appearances, and his main stream appeal is main boggling for a wrestler... Let's just hope as wrestling fans, he remains as a wrestler, cause unlike a certain Hulk Hogan, I have no doubt that the Rock can make it in Hollywood.
Speaking of the WWF and the media, Mick Foley's "Foley is Good: And the Real World is Faker than Professional Wrestling" will debut at number one on the NY Times Best Seller list for Hard Cover Non Fiction. I picked up Foley is Good on its release, and I'm almost done with it, and I must say, I actually liked it as much as, if not a little bit better than, Have a Nice Day... It's a really good read, and Mick once again writes a book not only for die hard wrestling fans but for even the non wrestling fan.
After about a year and a half, your Olympic Hero and mine, Kurt Angle has finally been given an official WWF website.. Relive all of Kurt's amazing accomplishments in his first year and a half in the WWF from winning the defending the Euro-Continental title at Wrestlemania 16 to winning the WWF Title at No Mercy, by visiting WWFKurtAngle.com.
In some news that will definitely brighten your day, Dave Scherer reports that former ECW Tag Team and Television Champion, The Japanese Buzz Saw, Yoshihiro Tajiri has been sent a ticket to be at the WWF Judgment Day PPV this Sunday in Sacramento, California. I wonder if he'll be used. Who knows? Maybe the brain trust will relive the way they debuted Jerry Lynn, by debuting Tajiri on Heat. Then the WWF can follow up by giving no explanation of what Tajiris's agenda is, rather he'll just wrestle in matches, with no angles for months on end.
Speaking of Jerry Lynn, WWF.com reports that Jerry will be hosting the Judgment Day PPV at WWF NY on Sunday night. To quote Jerry's former Extreme Associate, Cyrus, "Tremendous, Tremendous." What a way to elevate Jerry Lynn, stick him at WWF NY during the PPV. Maybe they'll have Tajiri at WWF NY for Raw on Monday. Wouldn't that be tremendous?
In one last final note, Dave Scherer reports that there was a rumor going around that the WWF was recently talking to former WWF IC Champion and the founding father of the nWo, Scott Hall about making a possible return to the WWF. Reportedly, Shane McMahon talked with Hall, but both sides lost interest in the deal, and it eventually died. Damn shame, would have loved to see the Bad Guy back in the WWF if only for a short time.
That's about it for today... Oh yeah, I said something earlier about this being my last report here at TPWW, didn't I? Well, after being an active member of TPWW since its launch in September '98, I'm stepping down as a writer here at The People's Wrestling Website. As all of you have noticed, I really haven't been around a lot lately; I've only written six News and Rumor Reports this whole year, and with summer coming up, I'm sure I won't be around enough to help out as much I would like to. While I won't be writing here at TPWW, I'm still staying on the staff in terms of decision making whether it be ideas for a new feature or helping selecting new staffers, so my presence will always be felt here at TPWW. I'd like to thank everyone who has worked here at TPWW since day one, as it's been a privilege working with each and everyone of you. I'd kick myself in the ass if I didn't thank my "partner in crime," so to speak, Triple A for everything that he's done for TPWW. Without him, there would be no TPWW, and without TPWW, I would never have had the opportunity to write about wrestling and talk to so many great wrestling fans. With that being said, I'd like to leave with the following words of advice to all of you readers... All of the writers on the 'net are just like you in the way that we're all fans of pro wrestling. You may be a huge Tazz or Undertaker fan and I may be a huge Kurt Angle fan, but when it all comes down to it, we all have a passion for pro wrestling, which makes us all the same, for the most part. Thanks for the memories, and to quote James Hetfield of Metallica, "We're Off to Never-Never Land..."