Post by andrew8798 on Feb 21, 2007 18:24:48 GMT -5
WWE got major press this week on all the main homepages (Yahoo, MSN, etc.,) and the AP. The story was titled, “Trump’s hair on the line at Wrestlemania”, and read: “Will Donald Trump put his hair where his mouth is? Trump and World Wrestling Entertainment owner Vince McMahon will pick a wrestler to represent them in the ring April 1 at Wrestlemania 23 at Detroit’s Ford Field, The Detroit News reported last week.
If their pick is beaten in the ‘Battle of the Billionaires,’ the loser will get his head shaved after the match, the Detroit Free Press reported Monday. WWE spokesman Gary Davis said the date of the event had prompted speculation that it was a hoax. But it’s not an April Fool’s Day joke, he said. ‘If Trump loses, he shaves his head,’ he said.
The announcement of the match was made on a WWE television program that aired over the weekend.” That was the whole story. And it was a TOP STORY. I was just terrified that a top story on Yahoo, MSN and the AP could have so many basic errors despite the story itself being so simple, and it really made me wonder about the other top stories of the day.
WWE’s interest in getting Mistico and Perro Aguayo Jr. has picked up to the point where there is now major concern in the CMLL office about what’s going to happen. This week CMLL put all long-term plans on hold until something comes of this. What is interesting is that they’re mostly discussing what to do if they lose Mistico. I don’t know if that’s because WWE has expressed more interest in him or if they feel he’s a bigger loss than Perro or if they figure he’s more likely to go or what the deal is. CMLL will survive without both of them, because they’ll survive until there is no more wrestling anywhere else in the world, but it could be difficult for a few months.
WWE wants Mistico in for a tryout very soon. CMLL is trying to pressure him into staying, and they really have to make a decision by Friday about what to do as they’ve got the big Mistico vs. Perro Aguayo mask vs. hair match coming up in March. WWE was very interested in Mistico last year, wanting him to basically come in as Raw’s answer to Rey Jr., but the matter was eventually dropped. Interest popped back up, believe it or not, after Mistico won Wrestler of the Year in the Observer awards and certain people in the WWE office who are completely insulated from the rest of the wrestling world were blown away. Of course, there are all the usual problems. He’s got a mask, which they usually hate.
He’s very spectacular, but he’s at his best with a guy who can work his style, and there is almost nobody in WWE who does. Of course, he doesn’t work the WWE style. He’s maybe 160 pounds, which is Rey Jr.’s weight, but Rey Jr. is also three or four inches shorter. He would have to be protected like nobody’s business, and seeing as to how they can’t protect Rey Jr. and the only reason he can survive his burials is because he’s Rey Jr. and has been a star forever, this seems like something that cannot work. Plus, on Raw, if he was exposed there is no editing magic to save the day.
The belief as of Tuesday was that the chances of either guy coming in were likely pretty slim, with Aguayo’s chances being very slim because he speaks no English whatsoever. It’s said to be up in the air whether Mistico even gets a tryout.
But that’s not all. There is also interest in AAA’s La Parka. There is a movement in WWE to try to bring in more smaller, international stars to try to a) recreate the magic of Nitro in the mid-90s, and b) get a jump on WSX and TNA, who both are pushing light heavyweights (and TNA in particular used to push them as a trademark, and has since lost that edge).
We’re talking other guys down in Mexico as well as a few guys from Japan including Jado and Gedo. My feeling is that this will always be an uphill battle because it’s a style that after all these years Vince still can’t take seriously, plus you’ll always have a slower-paced product even with the fastest wrestlers in the world just because the ring is so goddamn big and the ropes are made of cable.
Regarding Great Khali’s demand for competition on Monday night, no, it’s not a sign that Hogan and WWE have made up. They’re still on the outs and no closer to a reconciliation than they were last week.
For those wondering about the 20-year contract that Hogan signed with Vince on the fascinatingly-timely Hogan Knows Best this weekend, it wasn’t a 20-year exclusive wrestling contract but rather a 20-year licensing deal. Basically, a trumped-up (~!) Legend’s contract. I should also note that despite rumors that season III was the end, apparently they just started work on filming season IV. I would guess that it will follow Hogan’s falling-out with Vince, his latest attempts at starting a new promotion (you know, his annual attempt right before WrestleMania), moving back to Clearwater, Brooke moving to LA and Nick getting more involved with racing.
Raw schedule for the UK this year has October 15th in Birmingham for TV at the National Indoor Arena, October 16 in London at Wembley Arena, the 17th in Cardiff and the International Arena, the 19th in Sheffield at the FM Arena, and the 19th in Belfast at Odyssey Arena. For Smackdown, it’s the 16th in Birmingham at the National Indoor Arena, the 15th in Newcastle at the Metro Radio Arena, the 18th in Nottingham at the Nottingham Arena, the 19th in Glasgow at the Braehead Arena, and the 20th in Aberdeen at the Press & Journal Arena.
Hunter should be back in the ring in time for SummerSlam
Funny story. Someone said they went to the restaurant after the PPV and Vince and Shane were eating there. So Big Dave shows up in a t-shirt and shorts, in clear defiance of the dress code, and when he sees that they’re eating there he gave the waitress $40 to sit him somewhere where they wouldn’t see him.
Dusty Rhodes on his Hall of Fame induction: “My youngest son Cody signed with WWE down at OVW. He hasn’t been there a year yet, but has great ability, and I think great things are going to happen. Dustin of course, from my loins created one of the greatest characters in our industry in Goldust. I’m going to be very proud to have both of them there that night to induct me into the Hall of Fame, so it’s going to be a very special night”.
Speaking of Cody, he won the OVW Title from PIRATE PAUL BURCHILL last week, but then quickly lost it back. I believe Pirate Paul is now going as THE RIPPER, I guess doing a gimmick where he murders prostitutes.
Dean Malenko, who is working with WWE as a “producer” (fancy term for agent these days), will NOT be coming out of retirement to work the March 3rd Toryumon Mexico show at Plaza de Toros Monumental de Monterrey. That was a big rumor, but it turns out it’s CHAD Malenko, aka Chad Collyer. I have a feeling that if Dean worked full-time in WWE today, he’d still be among the best guys on the roster.
None of the Mexico shows are sold out yet.
Jim Ross on Big Show: “I talked to The Big Show the other day and he indicated that he felt good. He’s losing weight the right way, is on a regimented workout program and sounded really happy. I think Show needs an extended break from wrestling for his own physical and mental health and no matter what he decided to do later in life, I am a supporter of the big fella who I signed to his first WWE contract”.
The Mystery Interviewer on Raw Monday (can we get a f***ing graphic?) was Max Bretos, Soccer AM’s US Sports Correspondent in the UK. He’s said to have a ton of charisma. Doubtful WWE will ever let him show it in that role. He’s a long-time pro-wrestling fan. Clearly he’s a hardcore fan, because he had to have known NOT to put “long-time wrestling fan” on his resume, otherwise he wouldn’t be on Raw right now. Explain this stuff to your friends.
Chavo Guerrero wasn’t much of a mystery at the PPV to the live fans since he was listed on the No Way Out shirts as appearing.
WWE is booking double-shots now. They’re running March 10th at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium and May 13th at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY. House show business started picking up prior to the Royal Rumble and is such now that they can do two shows in the same building on the same day, and since house show business is the first thing to pick up during a turnaround, it’s another indication that this is going to be a boom year for WWE (and really, it already is).
Speaking of hot, WWE was the number one show of last week on USA, the CW and Sci-Fi.
Regarding Vince’s claim that he cracked his pelvis at Unforgiven and was told to never wrestle again, he did take a nasty bump at the PPV and was hurting bad, but no one seems to know if he was actually told never to work again.
Harry Smith is currently training in OVW.
WrestleMania XXIII is now past $5 million in ticket sales, so that’s a new company record. Over 63,000 tickets have been sold thus far and it’ll be an easy sellout (it’s basically sold out now, but they’ll be making more seats available in coming weeks), particularly with business starting to heat up.
Credit: F4W Newsletter
If their pick is beaten in the ‘Battle of the Billionaires,’ the loser will get his head shaved after the match, the Detroit Free Press reported Monday. WWE spokesman Gary Davis said the date of the event had prompted speculation that it was a hoax. But it’s not an April Fool’s Day joke, he said. ‘If Trump loses, he shaves his head,’ he said.
The announcement of the match was made on a WWE television program that aired over the weekend.” That was the whole story. And it was a TOP STORY. I was just terrified that a top story on Yahoo, MSN and the AP could have so many basic errors despite the story itself being so simple, and it really made me wonder about the other top stories of the day.
WWE’s interest in getting Mistico and Perro Aguayo Jr. has picked up to the point where there is now major concern in the CMLL office about what’s going to happen. This week CMLL put all long-term plans on hold until something comes of this. What is interesting is that they’re mostly discussing what to do if they lose Mistico. I don’t know if that’s because WWE has expressed more interest in him or if they feel he’s a bigger loss than Perro or if they figure he’s more likely to go or what the deal is. CMLL will survive without both of them, because they’ll survive until there is no more wrestling anywhere else in the world, but it could be difficult for a few months.
WWE wants Mistico in for a tryout very soon. CMLL is trying to pressure him into staying, and they really have to make a decision by Friday about what to do as they’ve got the big Mistico vs. Perro Aguayo mask vs. hair match coming up in March. WWE was very interested in Mistico last year, wanting him to basically come in as Raw’s answer to Rey Jr., but the matter was eventually dropped. Interest popped back up, believe it or not, after Mistico won Wrestler of the Year in the Observer awards and certain people in the WWE office who are completely insulated from the rest of the wrestling world were blown away. Of course, there are all the usual problems. He’s got a mask, which they usually hate.
He’s very spectacular, but he’s at his best with a guy who can work his style, and there is almost nobody in WWE who does. Of course, he doesn’t work the WWE style. He’s maybe 160 pounds, which is Rey Jr.’s weight, but Rey Jr. is also three or four inches shorter. He would have to be protected like nobody’s business, and seeing as to how they can’t protect Rey Jr. and the only reason he can survive his burials is because he’s Rey Jr. and has been a star forever, this seems like something that cannot work. Plus, on Raw, if he was exposed there is no editing magic to save the day.
The belief as of Tuesday was that the chances of either guy coming in were likely pretty slim, with Aguayo’s chances being very slim because he speaks no English whatsoever. It’s said to be up in the air whether Mistico even gets a tryout.
But that’s not all. There is also interest in AAA’s La Parka. There is a movement in WWE to try to bring in more smaller, international stars to try to a) recreate the magic of Nitro in the mid-90s, and b) get a jump on WSX and TNA, who both are pushing light heavyweights (and TNA in particular used to push them as a trademark, and has since lost that edge).
We’re talking other guys down in Mexico as well as a few guys from Japan including Jado and Gedo. My feeling is that this will always be an uphill battle because it’s a style that after all these years Vince still can’t take seriously, plus you’ll always have a slower-paced product even with the fastest wrestlers in the world just because the ring is so goddamn big and the ropes are made of cable.
Regarding Great Khali’s demand for competition on Monday night, no, it’s not a sign that Hogan and WWE have made up. They’re still on the outs and no closer to a reconciliation than they were last week.
For those wondering about the 20-year contract that Hogan signed with Vince on the fascinatingly-timely Hogan Knows Best this weekend, it wasn’t a 20-year exclusive wrestling contract but rather a 20-year licensing deal. Basically, a trumped-up (~!) Legend’s contract. I should also note that despite rumors that season III was the end, apparently they just started work on filming season IV. I would guess that it will follow Hogan’s falling-out with Vince, his latest attempts at starting a new promotion (you know, his annual attempt right before WrestleMania), moving back to Clearwater, Brooke moving to LA and Nick getting more involved with racing.
Raw schedule for the UK this year has October 15th in Birmingham for TV at the National Indoor Arena, October 16 in London at Wembley Arena, the 17th in Cardiff and the International Arena, the 19th in Sheffield at the FM Arena, and the 19th in Belfast at Odyssey Arena. For Smackdown, it’s the 16th in Birmingham at the National Indoor Arena, the 15th in Newcastle at the Metro Radio Arena, the 18th in Nottingham at the Nottingham Arena, the 19th in Glasgow at the Braehead Arena, and the 20th in Aberdeen at the Press & Journal Arena.
Hunter should be back in the ring in time for SummerSlam
Funny story. Someone said they went to the restaurant after the PPV and Vince and Shane were eating there. So Big Dave shows up in a t-shirt and shorts, in clear defiance of the dress code, and when he sees that they’re eating there he gave the waitress $40 to sit him somewhere where they wouldn’t see him.
Dusty Rhodes on his Hall of Fame induction: “My youngest son Cody signed with WWE down at OVW. He hasn’t been there a year yet, but has great ability, and I think great things are going to happen. Dustin of course, from my loins created one of the greatest characters in our industry in Goldust. I’m going to be very proud to have both of them there that night to induct me into the Hall of Fame, so it’s going to be a very special night”.
Speaking of Cody, he won the OVW Title from PIRATE PAUL BURCHILL last week, but then quickly lost it back. I believe Pirate Paul is now going as THE RIPPER, I guess doing a gimmick where he murders prostitutes.
Dean Malenko, who is working with WWE as a “producer” (fancy term for agent these days), will NOT be coming out of retirement to work the March 3rd Toryumon Mexico show at Plaza de Toros Monumental de Monterrey. That was a big rumor, but it turns out it’s CHAD Malenko, aka Chad Collyer. I have a feeling that if Dean worked full-time in WWE today, he’d still be among the best guys on the roster.
None of the Mexico shows are sold out yet.
Jim Ross on Big Show: “I talked to The Big Show the other day and he indicated that he felt good. He’s losing weight the right way, is on a regimented workout program and sounded really happy. I think Show needs an extended break from wrestling for his own physical and mental health and no matter what he decided to do later in life, I am a supporter of the big fella who I signed to his first WWE contract”.
The Mystery Interviewer on Raw Monday (can we get a f***ing graphic?) was Max Bretos, Soccer AM’s US Sports Correspondent in the UK. He’s said to have a ton of charisma. Doubtful WWE will ever let him show it in that role. He’s a long-time pro-wrestling fan. Clearly he’s a hardcore fan, because he had to have known NOT to put “long-time wrestling fan” on his resume, otherwise he wouldn’t be on Raw right now. Explain this stuff to your friends.
Chavo Guerrero wasn’t much of a mystery at the PPV to the live fans since he was listed on the No Way Out shirts as appearing.
WWE is booking double-shots now. They’re running March 10th at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium and May 13th at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY. House show business started picking up prior to the Royal Rumble and is such now that they can do two shows in the same building on the same day, and since house show business is the first thing to pick up during a turnaround, it’s another indication that this is going to be a boom year for WWE (and really, it already is).
Speaking of hot, WWE was the number one show of last week on USA, the CW and Sci-Fi.
Regarding Vince’s claim that he cracked his pelvis at Unforgiven and was told to never wrestle again, he did take a nasty bump at the PPV and was hurting bad, but no one seems to know if he was actually told never to work again.
Harry Smith is currently training in OVW.
WrestleMania XXIII is now past $5 million in ticket sales, so that’s a new company record. Over 63,000 tickets have been sold thus far and it’ll be an easy sellout (it’s basically sold out now, but they’ll be making more seats available in coming weeks), particularly with business starting to heat up.
Credit: F4W Newsletter
