From: ag725@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Rick Scaia) Subject: [INFO] The News From Dayton - 7/22/96 Date: 1996/07/23 Message-ID: <4t1km5$l4a@freenet-news.carleton.ca> Sender: ag725@freenet6.carleton.ca (Rick Scaia) Organization: The National Capital FreeNet Reply-To: ag725@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Rick Scaia) Newsgroups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling Sorry for being late... deal with it, people. I do have a life, y'know! We are back to the usual grind, as the Dayton Daily News makes up for the absense of a pro wrestling column by Alex Marvez in last week's paper by including not only a column, but a huge-ass picture accompanying the column of Hulk Hogan. Of course, the caption incorrectly labels Hogan as a WWF star, but hey, who's keeping track. The rest of the column: * Top story is the return of Sid (do *not* encourage the WWF's misspelling of "Sycho," please!) Vicious. With the Warrior troubles, the WWF is hoping that the return of Sid will generate enough interest to make the PPV last night profitable. They wanted Bret Hart, but he's not ready to return just yet. * Hulk Hogan's heel turn is the secondary story. He will head up the NWO, which will be the "second most powerful wrestling organization in the world," and will be home to any more WWF defectors that come down the path. * Hogan's heel turn helped Nitro set a ratings record a couple weeks back. In fact, the 7/8 Nitro beat the 7/10 Dream Team III basketball exhibition as the highest rated sports program on TNT that week. * Dayton area fans: if you are going to the WCW event this weekend, you might want to show up early, as the Nasty Boys will be signing autographs starting at 6:30. Also, a "co-main event" tag match has been added, with Outsider taking on Sting/Luger. * Alex answers questions from fans most weeks. You can reach him with questions at "Alex1Marv@aol.com" or "alex_marvez@dni.com", or if you are on America On-Line, you can interact with Alex in his "Hot News with Alex Marvez" folder as part of the Grandstand Wrestling area (keyword: gswrestling). Other news from other places (you know the drill... mostly AOL and my other top secret sources!): * Based on info from WWF Online, it appears a lock for Brian Pillman to be receiving a weekly interview segment on WWF TV, starting with these tapings. * Also based on info from the same place, it is looking more and more like Bret Hart will be returning by year's end. WWF is planting rumors about Bret allying himself with Owen, Bulldog, or Neidhart... but based on RAW TV tonight, it would not surprise me to see him return for a solo feud with Steve Austin. * Based on a live "International Incident" report, Barry "Smash" Darsow was backstage at the PPV. Recalling reports that Crush is back in the WWF, and it would seem likely that Titan *is* reforming Demolition, using Crush and Smash. * In a move that doubles the number of potentially exciting matches on the WCW Hog Wild PPV to two, WCW has decided to bring in Ultimo Dragon to face Rey Misterio, Jr. Dragon has long been my favorite high flier, even over Jushin Liger, and this match could be fantastic. The other interesting match on the card pits Chris Benoit against Dean Malenko. The rest of the card is typical WCW... you can either piece together the card for yourself based on ten minutes of their TV, or read about it somewhere else. * Former ECW TV Champ Chris Jerico starts with WCW at the Clash of the Champions. As good as Jerico has been for ECW, I don't know how he will fit in with WCW. * Ratings for 7/15 saw Nitro once again defeat RAW, with a 3.4 to a 2.6. The Nitro replay continues to score well. * You want *more* WWF newcomers... We saw Ron Simmons tonight (acknowledged as Ron Simmons on commentary, but wearing some lame-ass costume that pretty much guarantees that he will not be Ron Simmons for much longer). Barry Windham is coming in. Iron Sheik will be back (likely as a manager). And in *extremely* interesting news, Dan Severn was spotted at Titan Tower last week. * Hogan's movie for this fall/winter has him playing "Santa with Muscles." Who here really thinks Hogan will be playing an evil Santa who tells kids to "stick it" when December rolls around? * Conflicting reports about the Qubecers heading to WCW... some say they are still a lock to debut in the next two months, but others are saying negociations have stalled out, and that they may wind up re-opening communication with Titan. * We might be seeing Stan Hansen making an appearance for ECW. * Here is the full line-up of WWF PPV dates and sites for the rest of 1996: - Summerslam Cleveland, OH August 18, 1996 - In Your House Philadelphia, PA September 22, 1996 - In Your House Indianapolis, IN October 20, 1996 - Survivor Series MSG, New York City November 17, 1996 - In Your House Lakeland, FL December 15, 1996 -- Rick Scaia | I'm on the Web now! Important to the Important People | http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~ag725/ ag725@freenet.carleton.ca | Prepare to be Disappointed!!! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------