From: shawn1059@aol.com (Shawn1059)
Subject: [INFO] The News From Dayton -- August 11, 1996
Date: 1996/08/11
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Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
Reply-To: shawn1059@aol.com (Shawn1059)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling


Greeting all as I once again fill in for our dear friend Rick who is
taking the next two weeks off to visit some nude beach in France (At least
that's the rumors I hear).  This is once again a recap of the Alex Marvez
column printed each and every Sunday in the Dayton Daily News.  All
copyrights reserved. On to the news...

* Headline reads "Injuried plague top wrestlers".  Alex reports that Ahmed
Johnson will undergo surgery Monday to repair damage sustained by Ron
Simmons attack on RAW.  Johnson will miss Summerslam.

* Alex also reports that Jushin Liger will undergo surgery for his brain
tumor on August 23.  Tests are not yet complete to determine if the tumor
is benign or malignant.

* Pitbull I (Gary Wolfe) has announced his retirement after being
diagnosed with a broken neck.  Alex writes the former ECW Tag champion may
try a comeback in 1997.

*  Alex goes on to blast Dusty Rhodes, who "has greatly improved as an
announcer this year" (Alex's words not mine!) but was dreadful in trying
to tie the Olympic bombing into a wrestling storyline on last Saturday's
WCW Pro on TBS.  Dusty said wrestlers uniting against the NWO was similar
to the country coming together to mourn the bombing victims.

*  In an equally tasteless move, The Iron Sheik will be coming in to
manage Fatu, who will be repackaged as an Arabian. Alex says every time
the Middle East is in the news in a negative way - i.e. The possibility of
terrorism on TWA 800 and the Gulf War - the Sheik find new life in the
WWF.  (In fairness to the WWF, I do believe that the Sheik returning was
planned before the TWA explosion, but Vince has been known to capitalize
on these news stories in the past and may do do again.)

* Finally, Alex reports on Steve Williams returning to the U.S. last
weekend and debuting in ECW, teaming with Tommy Dreamer in a loss to Brian
Lee and Taz.  Williams, one of the top stars of the 80's has been with All
Japan for almost all of this decade.  Terry Gordy, "Dr. Death's" partner
in Japan is also now in ECW.

Other news from the net and various hotlines:

* Conflicting reports now on if The Undertaker will change his gimmick.
Previous reports had Paul Bearer turning on UT at Summerslam which would
cause Jake Roberts to come in and "save" UT, giving him a rebirth at the
Savior or the Angel, wearing all white.  Some say this idea will be
scrapped (Let's hope!)

* There will be War Games at Halloween Havoc between the Horsemen and the
NWO.

* The In Your House video game for PC, Saturn and Playstation will be out
in November.

* Look for a possible confrontation between Bret Hart and Steve Austin at
SS or on the following RAW.

* Lou Albano or Roddy Piper may be brought in to train and manage Mark
Henry, who got into a confrontation during an in-ring interview at MSG
last week with HHH.

That's all for now.  Be back next week...

Have Fun,
Shawn Stidham

"As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly" - Arthur Carlson, WKRP