Date: Sun, 8 Jun 1997 15:51:59 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <199706081951.PAA29090@freenet5.carleton.ca.carleton.ca> From: ag725@freenet.carleton.ca (Rick Scaia) To: nfd@aimnet.com Subject: The News From Dayton -- 06/09/97 Reply-To: ag725@freenet.carleton.ca Sender: owner-nfd@majordomo.aimnet.com Precedence: list THE NEWS FROM DAYTON For the week of June 9, 1997 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lawler Crashes ECW Show / Hart vs. Michaels is Off Read on for more on today's Headline Stories! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The News From Dayton is compiled weekly by: Rick Scaia (ag725@freenet.carleton.ca) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The News -- For the Week of June 9, 1997 The News From Dayton, as always, remains a combination of the weekly Dayton Daily News pro wrestling column, penned by Alex Marvez, and other pieces of information I feel are unique and worth passing on to you, the Home Viewer. If you are reading the NFD on one of the RSPW newsgroups, or anywhere on the web other than the revamped News From Dayton Web Site, or if you are linking directly here without checking out the main News From Dayton Headlines Page, I strongly encourage you to make the jump to the NFD on the web at http://homepages.udayton.edu/~scaiarij/wrestling/nfd.htm I think you'll find the trip worthwhile, as there are many exclusive features to the NFD Web Site, along with updates on breaking news, so that you don't have to wait a full week for the NFD's take on the latest rumors. THE ALEX MARVEZ COLUMN * Alex's top story this week is the set of card changes for tonight's King of the Ring PPV event necessitated by Bret Hart's still-injured knee. This marks the third time this year that an injury has forced the WWF to change the main event of one of their PPVs, says Alex. Hart was suppossed to face Shawn Michaels tonight, in a match that would re-ignite a major feud between the two. Initially scheduled to be a #1 Contender's match, the contest was changed to be a special 10 minute challenge match after WWF officials became concerned that Hart's knee would not be able to sustain a full 30 minute match. Alex goes so far as to pass along speculation that Sunny would have been involved in the match to give Hart the victory in under 10 minutes. However, with Hart not able to even work an abbreviated match, the WWF has been forced to change to a co-main event of Shawn Michaels vs. Steve Austin. Austin was originally scheduled to face Brian Pillman tonight on PPV; but the angle that played out on RAW last Monday effectively moved the Austin/Pillman match to tomorrow's RAW, while switching the KotR match to Austin vs. Michaels. Austin and Michaels also just happen to be the current WWF Tag Team Champions. As a final subtext to this new co-main event, Marvez says that many are guessing that this could be one of Michaels' last WWF PPV matches... Michaels is reportedly upset with his current situation in the WWF, both in terms of his pay and his position in the company. Michaels remains in contact with his close friend Kevin Nash, and supossedly wants to join him in WCW. But it is expected that regardless of a rumored "highest paid wrestler" clause in Michaels' contract, Shawn will remain a WWF performer; in fact, now it is being reported that the clause that stated Shawn should be the WWF's highest paid wrestler was a verbal agreement, and never actually inserted into his contract. * The big WCW Nitro show here in Dayton last week drew a legit sell-out of just about 6,000 fans (5,092 paid, for a gate of $73,000); WCW also sold $40,000 in merchandise. In fact, the televised event also generated the highest quarter hour rating ever for the show, as the final 15 minutes, which included the end of the Flair/Hall match and a confrontation between Randy Savage and JJ Dillon, drew a 4.7 rating. WCW also promoted a card down in Athens, OH, two days before the Nitro event; just over 4,000 fans paid a total of $56,000 to see that show. After the card, several wrestlers, including Dallas Page, Steve Regal, Dean Malenko, and Johnny Grunge were swarmed by fans at two area nightclubs; Alex says they deserve credit for taking the time to sign hundreds of autographs. * The next item on Marvez's agenda is a brief discussion of the shaky future of UFC. As I discussed last week, some Dayton-area cable companies apparently made the decision not to carry the May 30 UFC PPV (most notably, my cable company, TCI). The main event of the PPV saw Vitor Belfort defeat Tank Abbot in under one minute. With UFC's future in doubt, Ken Shamrock and Don Frye have already signed deals to become pro wrestlers (Shamrock, obviously, with the WWF; Frye recently signed with New Japan Pro Wrestling). Dan Severn is expected to appear in the WWF before too long; and other UFC competitors are also considering a jump to the ranks of pro wrestling; Scott Ferrozo is one name listed by Alex as considering the jump. * So where's Warrior? Alex says there is talk that the Ultimate One could be at the June 30 Monday Nitro in Las Vegas, NV... other people have indicated the WWF had re-opened talks with Warrior. But if I had to place a wager, I'd guess that we won't see Warrior on either Monday night show in the near future. * Two quick WCW "Grappling Gems": expect Scott "Raven" Levy to debut on Nitro tomorrow. He'll be legally allowed to take the Raven gimmick with him, though it's unknown whether he will use it or not......... Jeff Jarrett should soon be getting kicked out of the Four Horsemen; his angle with Mongo McMichael should finally amount to something in the next few weeks. * Finally, Alex plugs the local indie card that I mentioned in an update last week. As part of "Southeast Dayton Days" on June 14, a four match card will take place, headlined by a Southern Heavyweight Title match between Savannah Slim and Mark Mustang (in a Fall Count Anywhere match). The event takes place at Washington Park (on Wright Avenue and Woodley Road), and kicks off a 7pm; and the best part is that the event is TOTALLY FREE. For more info, call (937)-253-0322. * Alex Marvez's column appears every Sunday in the Dayton Daily News. In addition to sharing his wrestling thoughts there, Alex is also once again lurking about the America OnLine Grandstand Wrestling Area, and can be e-mailed with questions at "alex_marvez@coxohio.com". Also, Alex can also be heard on Mondays and Fridays on WING-FM (102.9) at 7:20 a.m. talking about wrestling and other sports. IN OTHER NEWS... * Without a doubt, last night's ECW Wrestlepalooza '97 was the venue for this week's biggest news. The slow build to a confrontation between the WWF and ECW took the biggest step so far, as Jerry Lawler lead the duo of Sabu and Rob Van Dam into the ECW Arena. After delivering a tongue-lashing to ECW and its fans, the trio then proceeded to pound on any ECW wrestlers who attempted to step into the ring with them. The crowd heat was labeled as "incredible" by one observer, and the possibilities for this angle have now grown greatly in number. Expect to see more of this story develop in ECW, as well as in Lawler's Memphis-based USWA and in the WWF. Other big news out of the Wrestlepalooza card: o The Dudley boys defeated Sandman and Ballz Mahoney to get a tag title shot at the Eliminators o In the tag title match, the Eliminators were victorious when Perry Saturn dropped a top rope elbow for the win; Saturn was wrestling hurt, and will have surgery done this week that -- according to Prodigy's Bob Ryder -- will result in Perry being unable to walk normally for 12 months and unable to pivot on the leg for upwards of 16 months... o Terry Funk beat Chris Candido to retain the ECW World Title; Candido was replacing Stevie Richards, whose injured neck kept him off the card; Bob Ryder did, however, report that Richards neck injury will not require surgery, only several months of rest and recuperation o Tommy Dreamer defeated Raven soundly in their Final Battle; it was immediately after this match that Lawler, Sabu, and Van Dam entered the ECW Arena o Sabu defeated Taz by pinfall in the "Rematch of the Century" when Taz's shoulders were pinned to the mat, despite the fact that he was holding Sabu in the Tazmission * Also according to Prodigy's Bob Ryder -- whose live on-line coverage of ECW Arena events is a fantastic service and great source of backstage info -- we can expect to see Rob Van Dam on RAW is WAR tomorrow night; there is reportedly a plan to build to a Sabu and Van Dam vs. Tommy Dreamer and Sandman match at the WWF's SummerSlam PPV event. On the USWA front, you can expect Tommy Dreamer to show up at USWA's June 14th Memphis TV broadcast to challenge Jerry Lawler. * In related Sabu and Van Dam news (again reported first by Bob Ryder), the duo quit their jobs with All Japan Pro Wrestling at the end of their tour on Friday. The office was not happy with Sabu's antics (using tables and chairs and whatnot); so Sabu quit after the tour was over. Van Dam followed Sabu's lead. * Rey Misterio Jr. will be missing a couple of months of action after finally being convinced to have much needed knee surgery. He has a guaranteed contract, so he will continue to get paid while sitting out. Rey's friend Kevin Nash was said to play a key role in convincing Rey to take the time off to get surgery and heal up. * Anyone interested in seeing ECW's first PPV event, Barely Legal, can now order the official video tape of the show from ECW. The tape was suppossed to be delayed until mid-July, but demand for it has dictated that the tape be released sooner rather than later. The phone number for ECW merchandise is 1-800-854-5831. * The names being tossed around as being part of the on-going "Undertaker's Secret" angle have expanded to include Kamala, the Ugandan Giant. You'll remember that Papa Shango is heavily rumored to be a part of it, too. I have no idea how seriously you should take these rumors, as it seems there might be some serious dis-information being circulated... certainly, using Papa Shango as a major factor in the angle would be a regression for the WWF, which has recently made great strides in staying away from ludicrously gimmicky angles. One possibility is that the Undertaker's "Vault of Souls" could be opened with some of UT's vanquished foes coming back to assist him against Paul Bearer, or something like that. Men beaten by the Undertaker in casket matches include Kamala, Giant Gonzales, Yokozuna, and Kama (a/k/a Charles Wright, who also played Papa Shango). * Best wishes go out to Bruno Sammartino, who was injured in an auto accident last week... the long-reigning WWWF Champion was fortunate to escape with injuries to his neck and back, as he was hit by another vehicle. I hope that both the WWF and WCW also send out best wishes on their weekend/Monday night programming. This is only the NFD Weekly Edition. Check here every Monday for the in-depth looks at all the news, as well as for the exclusive Web Home of the Alex Marvez Column. At other times during the week, be sure to check out The NFD Updates for quick recaps of breaking stories! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The News From Dayton is Copyright 1995, 1997 by Rick Scaia. This document, as well as all contents of the pages in the NFD web hierarchy, are the intellectual property of Rick Scaia. Please refer to the "Thanks and Acknowledgements" page for full copyright information. In short: You are not to reproduce the content or style of these pages for financial gain. -- Rick Scaia | VISIT ME ON THE WEB A Loathesome, Offensive Brute | http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~ag725/ ag725@freenet.carleton.ca | http://homepages.udayton.edu/~scaiarij/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- - List: nfd - Majordomo v1.94.1 - Aimnet, Santa Clara, California, USA