News and Rumors
Well, where do I start? I'll explain what's going on and then get so some news and rumors. First of all, remember the 1997 screwjob column I wrote? Well I received well over 600 replies. Yes, six hundred. And guess what? I replied to each and every one of them! But it took me a whole month. Anyway, as you saw, I took a break from news and rumors, but I still kept posting daily news updates on my site, WrestleView.com, and on the TPWW newsboard and working on my site like a maniac. Plus it's hockey season for me, so my time is pretty much limited. Those 600 plus e-mails really slowed me down. By the way, 95% of those e-mails were people that agreed with me. :)
Bottom line is... now I am back, but I won't do another news and rumors report for until most likely next week, because I have some massive updates to do on my site, WrestleView.com - Cheap plug :) But I will still slip in daily news reports on TPWW's newsboard. Anyway, I just got back from three hours of hockey, so this report won't be that long, but I'll try to give it my best, considering I am dead tired. So let's get down to business.
Let's start with the big news over the last few days. Reports indicate that it is all but official that Kevin Nash and Scott Hall have signed with the WWF. And get this, HULK HOGAN is expected to join them and eventually form the nWo. There is no doubt in my mind that this will increase the WWF's ratings, but the question is, for how long? If this does indeed happen, I mean sure, for the first few weeks it will be exciting and fun (for some people), but then what? Hogan is 48 or 49 years old, how will he be used exactly? Now don't get me wrong, I want to see Hogan more than any wrestling fan, but his age makes a difference. Also, rumor is out that the nWo MIGHT reform at the No Way Out PPV in February, since it has the same abbreviations as nWo, although that really doesn't mean anything.
It's expected that neither Hall, Nash, or Hogan will show up before or at the Royal Rumble. Nash and Hall are expected to show up some time after the PPV, and Hogan may join sometime after. However, these are only rumors and we'll just have to wait and see what exactly happens, since there is no official debut date. What I mean by that is if the WWF has something planned for the following month, the script will be modified/changed a million times before they have it written in stone so to speak.
I have received a lot of e-mails from people telling me KevinNash.com is directing to WWF.com... well NO DUH! This doesn't mean a thing. Kevin Nash's official site is NOT KevinNash.com, it's www.kevinbigsexynash.com or KevinNash.net. Let me explain that. Time Warner owns KevinNash.com and when the WWF purchased WCW, they also purchased ALL of their domain names on the internet and made them direct to WWF.com Also, if you go to BretHart.com it will direct to WWF.com, this doesn't mean he signed, because Time Warner use to own that and WWF now has access to it. Bret's official site is BretHart.net.
Let's talk about the WWF split for a moment. Dave Scherer reports that the WWF split has been pushed back yet again. What I mean by the split, in case you haven't heard anything, is the WWF splitting into two separate companies. Reports indicate that the WWF won't use the WCW name for the other company, but just may have two WWF companies, one on Raw, and one on Smackdown. The original date for the split was first on January 7, then was pushed back to the Raw after the Royal Rumble, but has apparently been pushed back once again. Many believe the reason why it was pushed back is because the WWF is bringing in Hall and Nash. It doesn't appear that the split will happen before the No Way Out PPV, many beliand eve it might happen around WrestleMania time.
For those of you who live in the Missouri area, Steve Borden, known to wrestling fan as Sting, will be speaking at Family Life Fellowship Church on Sunday, January 20th on 10:30 AM and at 6:30 PM. For more information you can all 263-0488.
The WWF will be returning to Ottawa, Canada on March 19 to tape an episode of WWF Smackdown!, just two days after WrestleMania. Tickets for Smackdown will go on sale Saturday, February 9 at 10:00 AM. Since Smackdown is in Ottawa, I am assuming that RAW will be in Montreal on March 18, but that part isn't confirmed. The reason I am saying that, is because on October 15, 2001 RAW was in Ottawa and the following night, Smackdown was taped in Montreal, and this time I think will be vice versa, unless they decide to air RAW from the Air Canada Center in Toronto. You can count on me to get good seats for Smackdown since I live in Ottawa, and I'll hopefully have a TPWW sign along with some other signs.
WWF RAW scored a 4.4 cable rating on Monday, which is down from last week's 4.9. The first hour did a 4.4 and the second hour did a 4.5. As for the weekend ratings, Heat scored a 1.3 and the replay did a 0.9. WWF Excess scored a 0.7 cable rating. Let's compare these ratings to last years ratings shall we? January 15, 2001 RAW scored a 5.2 rating. Big difference, huh? And on January 14, 2001 Sunday Night Heat scored a 2.1. I just thought I would mention that.
The reason Rock wasn't at RAW this past Monday was because he was in California filming some more scenes for the Scorpion King movie.
Here is the current WWF Royal Rumble card for this Sunday.
- Undisputed Title - Rock vs. Chris Jericho
- Intercontinental Title - Edge vs. William Regal
- WWF Women's Title - Trish Stratus vs. Jazz
- WWF Tag Team Titles - Dudley Boyz vs. Spike & Tazz
- Street Fight - Ric Flair vs. Vince McMahon
The following is a current list of Royal Rumble competitors: Steve Austin, The Undertaker, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Kane, The Big Show, Booker T, Tajiri, Rob Van Dam, Rikishi, Christian, Lance Storm, Test, The Hurricane, Scotty Too Hotty, Albert, Bradshaw, Faarooq, Billy Gunn, Chuck Palumbo, Val Venis, The Godfather, Goldust, Mr. Perfect.
As mentioned above, the WWF has signed a one time only deal with Mr. Perfect and Goldust to make their returns at the Royal Rumble. Again, it'll only be a one time thing, for those wondering. No word on what the WWF will do with Val Venis and The Godfather.
Speaking of the Royal Rumble, Word is going around that Austin and Triple H will be the last men standing in the Rumble and could both be eliminated at the same, kinda like Bret Hart/Lex Luger from 1994. Then they will both claim they are winners and it could lead to a triple threat match, a double main event for WrestleMania, or something else. But of course, this is only a rumor.
That's it for today's report. I should back next week with another report... although it's only a rumor for the time being. :) Thanks for reading.
Paul Nemer
PaulNemer@tpww.net
WrestleView.com
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