The Million Dollar Challenge (Summerslam 97) - WTF

[American Dolphin]

Was watching Summerslam 1997 on DVD last night. Besides the cringe worthy endorsement of NJ's Governor by the Headbangers ("I'm going to pile drive fiscal malfeasance" etc.), the other out of ring time filler was the Million Dollar Challenge. This consisted of two contestant winners being flown out to Summerslam, having won the chance to win $1,000,000 locked in a coffin. Why a coffin? Because wrestling is awesome. Two more contestants were also called up live on the phone by Todd 'cave my face in' Pettengill to join in. After dialling several unanswered numbers and a fan who isn't even watching the PPV they get quorum and thankfully the tedious piece could end, with no one winning, much to Vince's relief I'm sure. On the face of it the only interesting event was the look of pure joy on the 10-year old contestant's face when Sable rubbed his shoulder with her breasts.

But look closer.

During the preliminary VT where we see the contestants excitedly being greeted at the airport, we are also shown a shot of a local newspaper celebrating their man's glorious possible victory. Here's a screen cap:



Now what's stranger, that the WWF editing department are disgruntled enough to add terrorist attacks to feel good promos or that the Journal and Courier considers an insomniac wrestling nerd more newsworthy than said terrorist attack?

Congratulations to Gerde though.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

I thought the epic Summerslam match featuring Todd Pettengill and a telephone was an encounter for the ages.

[Deleted]

Eh, newspapers are like that, been like that for years. They figure the most-important news of the day is actually in the middle of the paper where you can't miss it and next to the picture. So they squeeze something else above it and relegate most of the local story to A5 or something. (I'm kinda wondering if there is a technical or shop term for that.)

Top Story: "Sewer project on pace to finish by 2014" (See A5)

Underneath: PLANE CRASH KILLS 173 IN ISRAEL
PLO Denies Responsibility, But Celebrates "Victory For The Cause"

(Wait, the sewer project's almost done? Yay I can get to work later!)

[agent817]

The thing I wonder is if that contest was legitimate at all. I have read the Wrestlecrap induction on this and it seems like the whole thing was a work. Of course, that boy was one lucky guy having been near Sable and Sunny at that moment.