Date: Sun, 26 Oct 1997 16:38:46 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <199710262138.QAA02978@freenet5.carleton.ca.carleton.ca> From: ag725@freenet.carleton.ca (Rick Scaia) To: nfd@majordomo.aimnet.com Subject: The News From Dayton -- 10/27/97 Reply-To: ag725@freenet.carleton.ca Sender: owner-nfd@majordomo.aimnet.com Precedence: list THE NEWS FROM DAYTON For the week of October 27, 1997 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Havoc Preview / Flair to Jump? 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 October 26, 1997 The News From Dayton remains a combination of the MOST RELIABLE wrestling news as reported elsewhere in the wrestling underground and the most interesting morsels of exclusive and unique news that I can dig up. The goal is the both inform and entertain you, the Home Viewer, without cluttering up your brain with total lies and fabrications that are common on other web pages. By the way, if you are reading the NFD on one of the RSPW newsgroups, or anywhere on the web other than the Official News From Dayton Web Site, or if you are linking directly here without checking out the main NFD 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 * Unfortunately for those of us in Dayton, Alex Marvez has moved on to bigger and better things. Instead of covering the Bengals and pro wrestling for the Dayton Daily News, he has moved to Denver to cover the Broncos for the Rocky Mountain News starting this season. We are all indebted to Alex for the reliable inside wrestling news he passed along to readers, both via the NFD and by his weekly wrestling column in the Dayton Daily News. Alex hopes to continue a weekly column in Denver, and also hopes that it will be available on the internet. I'll no longer be able to include information from Alex here in the NFD, but if/when his column is available elsewhere on the 'net, I'll be sure to include a hyperlink to it here. IN OTHER NEWS... * In the age of monthly PPV events, it's rare to have a promotion take a lengthy break between PPV offerings. The standard is four weeks between events. The fact that WCW has taken a full 7 weeks since their last PPV to build storylines to tonight's Halloween Havoc PPV should have meant a palpable sense of excitement throughout the wrestling fans of the world. However, because of injuries and departures from the promotion, two of the promised top matches have had to be altered or scrapped, and WCW had to scramble to determine suitable replacements. The end result: storylines leading up to the PPV that seem just as hurried and generic as a typical PPV. But it is a testament to the depth of WCW's roster and the spontaneous booking that suitable replacements were scaped together at all. One thing that hasn't changed about Havoc is the headline match pitting Roddy Piper against Hulk Hogan inside a steel cage. In fact, cynical observers might note that not only has this not changed in regards to tonight's event, it also hasn't changed in the 13 years since Piper and Hogan feuded while both were in their primes. The two will battle tonight inside of a WWF-style steel bar cage (not the usual WCW style chain link fence cage) in a match where Hogan's WCW Title is not on the line. Another top match will be a reprise of the Dallas Page/Randy Savage feud, as the two will lock horns in a "Las Vegas Death Match" or some such nonsense. The gist of the match is that they'll fight until one man can't answer a 10 count, I believe. I'm pretty much just looking forward to seeing Liz and Kimberly, though if Page and Savage turn it up, they could possibly outshine the main event cage match. The on-going Scott Hall/Larry Zybyzko feud will be taken to the next level, as Larry will referee Hall's match against Lex Luger tonight on PPV. Lots of speculation from fans has Larry turning his back on WCW and joining the NWO. However, none of us are privvy to WCW booking meetings, so we are left with no concrete evidence either way. It's worth noting that it's been a full year since the last high-visibility defection to the NWO (Randy Savage), so they just might be looking into pulling something to freshen up the splinter group. The rest of the card includes: o Curt Hennig vs. Ric Flair -- This match was mysteriously "de-pushed" after it had been built up to marquee status. Some folks are saying this is because of Flair's uncertain future with WCW. If Hennig scores a win here, look for the "Flair to WWF" speculation to begin in earnest. o Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Misterio Jr. -- Eddie's Cruiserweight title is on the line vs. Rey's mask. On an otherwise lackluster card, these two could easily steal the show with a hard-worked match. o Mystery Opponent vs. Steve McMichael -- While a highly anticipated Giant vs. Kevin Nash match had to be scrapped due to Nash's knee injury, this match was originally intended to pit Mongo against Jeff Jarrett because of the latter's departure from WCW. Alex Wright and Bill Goldberg are leading the speculation of who Debra's mystery man will be, but with her WCW career on the line, the one safe bet would be that Mongo will take a dive to whoever it is. o Disco Inferno vs. Miss Jacquelyn -- this "co-ed" match is not for Disco's TV Title, and will probably be played for laughs. Results of Havoc will be posted in an NFD Update on Monday. * As touched on above, Ric Flair has suddenly become the object of much speculation. Despite word from Eric Bischoff that Ric Flair has not disclosed to anyone in WCW a desire to leave the group, many are saying that Flair has not yet committed to the Turner promotion to stay past the expiration of his current contract in early 1998. Flair absence from the last Nitro and a hotline report from Terry Taylor stating that Flair would be pulled from TV if it was thought he wasn't staying are the chief pieces of ammunition for this theory. One thing is clear: when Flair negociates this next contract, it will likely be his last. The 48-year-old will probably have to contemplate retirement sooner or later. In the meantime, Flair was used in a Saturday Night Live skit last night. While I didn't see the show (or more accurately, I didn't HEAR the show... I saw the sketch in question on a TV at the bar I was at), I was told by a friend that an SNL cast member portrayed Ric Flair in a fictitious "feud" with El Nino (who was portrayed by Chris Farley). The interviews were part of a "Weather Wrestling Federation" skit. * USWA may not be totally dead, but their situation certainly doesn't look good... and it's only getting more weird. To start with, USWA's last TV show aired last weekend on WMC-5 in Memphis, and should have aired on the syndication network this weekend. It was comprised of previously unseen footage of recent events, and also some vintage moments from the past. And now, after we'd been reporting for weeks that Larry Burton and Jerry Lawler were the leadership of the USWA in Memphis, it has been revealed that "Larry Burton" does not actually exist. A statement from USWA spokesman Bill Behrens said that the man known as Larry Burton has admitted to that not being his real name, and has no social security number or credit cards under that alias. What impact this will have on on-going USWA litigation is unclear at this time. (Swift) * In the meantime, Music City Wrestling out of Nashville is looking to take over the mantle of southern regional wrestling. MCW's first show aired on WNAB in Nashville this weekend, and other outlets will follow in coming weeks. Included in MCW's planned television distribution is national distribution via America One and through 50-60 stations in the WWF syndication network. MCW's syndication network will consist of 140 stations, making it the third largest wrestling promotion in terms of television coverage in the US (behind WWF and WCW). MCW will hold their first "live" TV taping this Thursday at the Fairgrounds in Nashville. Tickets will be only $3, and fans will get to see 30 wrestlers perform. (Swift) * Bob Ryder, of 1Wrestling.com, is reporting that Tod Gordon has been offered a spot on WCW's Philadelphia Nitro on November 3. Gordon had apparently attempted to lead a group of ECW wrestlers to WCW a month or so ago; he was found out by ECW, and the plan eventually failed. What role WCW might use Gordon in, and whether or not he has even accepted are unknown at this point. * Jim Cornette has been scouting independent groups for more light heavyweight talent for the WWF's burdgeoning division. Titan plans to start a tournament to crown a LHW Champ on November 3, with the championship match eventually taking place down the road at WrestleMania 14. Talent that should be included in the tournament will include: Devon Storm, Ace Darling, Bobby Fulton, Tommy Rogers, Jimmy Cicero, Steve Corino, Reckless Youth, Brian Christopher, Jerry Lynn, Scott Taylor, TAKA Michinoku, and Tajiri Yoshihiro. (Swift) * Quick note on the light heavies... I had heard that the tourney final had actually been moved up, and that the champ would be crowned at Royal Rumble. * In WWF injury news, I'm sure everyone has heard about Owen Hart suffering a concussion at the hands on Ahmed Johnson. Ahmed landed too hard with a scissors kick in a match that we will get to see on this Monday's RAW. Owen missed weekend dates, and is expected to get back on the road starting this Friday at the WWF's big Halloween show in Rochester, NY. There is also word that the Patriot suffered a muscle tear in a match taped for this week's RAW. He had been scheduled to join Vader, Goldust, and Dude Love on "Team USA" at Survivor Series. However, that appears to be in doubt, as the injury should keep Patriot out of action through the New Year. Also, with Mick Foley moved up to appear as Mankind against Kane at the PPV, he had to be replaced by Marc Mero on the American squad. It's unknown who will replace the Patriot at this point. * The highly regarded All Japan Women wrestling promotion has met with some recent financial trouble. Initially, it was expected that the promotion would fold, though there is now word that AJW may merge with Big Japan. Also, other ex-AJW talent may surface in a new group being started by Kyoko Inoue. (Mike Loriface of Industry Insider) * Southwest Ohio Wrestling Fans: local indie group UCW is once again at it. This time, they'll be presenting two shows in early November. First, on November 7, UCW will be in Springfield, OH, at the Freedom Rec Center with a card featuring Ko Ko B. Ware. And then, on November 15, they'll be at Middletown's National Guard Armory with an event topped off by Doink the Clown. Also, UCW will be giving away tickets to the November 17th Nitro in Cincinnati. You can enter by correctly answering a trivia question on the UCW Hotline at (937)-640-1921. * Speaking of Nitro, most reports have WCW loading up the post-PPV Nitro this week... it may be a full three-hour show, with Jim Duggan and Rick Martel making appearances. Also, SCOOPS is reporting that Jake Roberts may be brought in by WCW, and that he might "shoot" on the WWF in retaliation for Jarrett's comments last week. [I'll believe it when I see it.] And if you don't think you'll get enough of the Nitro Girls in that three hour episode of Nitro, then you can take comfort in the fact that the ladies now have their own website at www.nitrogirls.com. * A new fan-based wrestling show is being shopped around to several distributors, including America One. The show would be called "The South's Greatest Wrestling Fans" and would feature smaller indie promotions and even some backyard wrestling feds. (Swift) This is only the NFD Weekly Edition. Check here every Monday for in-depth coverage of all the past week's news, but don't forget to make the NFD Web Site a regular stop on OTHER days, as the NFD Updates will always include recaps of breaking stories, updated 5-7 times per week! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The News From Dayton is Copyright 1995, 1997 by Rick Scaia. -- Rick Scaia | VISIT ME ON THE WEB A True Yankee Bastard | http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~ag725/ ag725@freenet.carleton.ca | http://homepages.udayton.edu/~scaiarij/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- - List: nfd - Majordomo v1.94.4 - Aimnet, Santa Clara, California, USA