From: ag725@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Rick Scaia)
Subject: The News From Dayton, 4/1/96
Date: 1996/04/01
Message-ID: <4jo6no$pss@freenet-news.carleton.ca>
Sender: ag725@freenet5.carleton.ca (Rick Scaia)
Organization: The National Capital FreeNet
Reply-To: ag725@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Rick Scaia)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling


A day late, as promised last week, here on April 1...  oddly,
yesterday, there was no Alex Marvez column in the Dayton
Daily News.  I called his DDN "InfoLine" number, and there
was a message saying Alex had been in a car accident, and
nobody knew if he'd be able to get a column done in time for
this week.  The message also stated that Gary Nuhn (another
Sports columnist) *might* replace Alex on Sunday, if necessary.
Still, no column...  wonder what's up?

So we're stuck with news I gathered from other various sources.
Here goes for this week:

*  I'm gonna lead off with my *very own* scoop.  As some of you
        know, I work for the local CBS affiliate as an intern.
        Well, WHIO-7 and its cable sister station received a very
        interesting promotional tape that a friend in the programming
        department played for me.  In one acronym and two words:

        WWF GOES EXTREME!

        It's a real slick 2 minute piece promoting a syndicated
        program due to start this fall.  I don't recall the exact
        quotes, but it included clips of a TON of great ECW moments
        of the past, with a voiceover talking about the ECW
        Arena being a "proving ground" for new stars and old legends
        alike.  And now, the WWF has something to prove.  After they
        established ECW, they cut to some current WWF stars, both
        in action, and in interviews.  Bret Hart was quoted, "This
        fall, the Excellence of Execution takes it to the Extreme!"
        Vader did a quick sound bite where he said it didn't matter
        where he wrestled, it is ALWAYS Vader Time.  Incredible
        promo tape!  It came from TitanSports, Inc., so it looks like
        ECW might be taking the opportuinty to use Titan's
        synidcation power and production expertise to launch their
        product nationally.  I can't wait till fall!
*  Reportedly, Brian Pillman's "loose cannon" gimmick started as
        an attempt to "work the boys," but has since gone further.
        Pillman has taken his gimmick to heart, no-showing the
        Uncensored PPV, and getting into an altercation with
        Eric Bischoff at the office last week.  He has also burned
        his bridges with ECW.  His WCW contract is up this month.
        There is already talk of him entering the WWF at the
        next set of tapings.  He will be called "Flyin'" Brian
        Pillman, but his gimmick will be a super-cocky, asshole-ish,
        fighter pilot (a la Top Gun).
*  Ted Turner is going to bankroll Hulk Hogan's next movie.  It will
        be a sequel to Hogan's most popular film to date, "No Holds
        Barred."  The character "Zeus" (killed in the first movie),
        will be found to have a twin brother "Z Gangsta."  The film will
        begin with Gangsta hunting down and killing Hogan's character's
        brother, forcing Hogan to defend his character's family honor.
        Expect the film to begin lensing this summer, with a Thanksgiving
        release date.  Also expect another Hogan/Zeus feud in WCW to
        mirror their previous movie/WWF feud.  Suddenly, Tiny "Zeus"
        Lister's sudden re-appearance makes sense....
*  Razor Ramon, just one day after signing to re-join the WWF (it
        was said to be only a one year deal, but for a TON of cash),
        has been suspended for another 6 weeks, becauase he was caught
        speaking with a WCW official.  Rumor has it, Razor just called
        to tell the guy that he had taken the WWF's offer, and he is
        VERY pissed at the WWF's move.  SO Razor has once again
        given notice, and will be able to jump ship during the summer.
*  In an attempt to copy the success the WWF has had marketing Sunny
        as a Mega-Babe, WCW is using Kimberly Page's "in" with Playboy
        to get a "Women of WCW" spread in an issue later this fall.
        Kimberly Page (who, BTW, is now the "Booty Babe") will be
        featured, along with first time posers, Miss Elizabeth,
        Nancy "Woman" Sullivan, and Madusa.
*  Jerry Lawler is going to bring down both the actors used to
        portray the Huckster and the Nacho Man for USWA Unified
        Title feuds.  Lawler will trade the title with each, and
        along the way, will promote a Title match between the
        two, hoping it will pop the house show attendance.
*  Finally, the WWF is going to change policy regarding the In
        Your House event effect after SummerSlam:  all IYH
        shows will be shown on the USA Network on Sunday nights.
        Beginning in 1997, the WWF will add one final (a sixth)
        "major" three-hour PPV to their schedule.  They will hold
        six PPVs and have six IYH events on USA.

Remember....


4/1
--
Rick Scaia                            |        I'm on the Web now!
All of a sudden, I'm relatively sane  | http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~ag725/
ag725@freenet.carleton.ca             |    Prepare to be Disappointed!!!
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