From: hekunze@watmsg.waterloo.edu (Herb Kunze)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling
Subject: Wrestling TidBits   -   02/01
Keywords: WWF,AWA,NWA,Wrestling
Message-ID: <33876@watmath.waterloo.edu>
Date: 2 Feb 90 00:21:59 GMT
Sender: daemon@watmath.waterloo.edu
Distribution: rec
Lines: 144
Posted: Fri Feb  2 01:21:59 1990


 - Word is strong that Iron Mike Tyson will be a part of WrestleMania VI on
   April 1 in Toronto.  The question is:  will Mike repeat his role as
   referee or actually don the tights?  For those unaware, Mike Tyson will
   be the special guest referee for a Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage title
   match on February 23rd at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.  The show will
   be aired live on NBC in prime time.
     Early rumours had Hogan dropping the title to Curt Hennig at the live
   Main Event, then rumours switched to the Ultimate Warrior making a heel
   turn and taking the title.  Once again Vince has surprised everyone by
   throwing a wrench into the works.  But WrestleMania VI has been dubbed
   'the Ultimate Challenge,' which still seems to indicate that the Main
   Event will feature Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior.  Then again, Vince
   may just have released the subtitle to confuse everybody.  Certainly, a
   Hogan/Tyson match would be the ultimate challenge in many people's books.
     The way I see it:
     It's incredibly likely that Iron Mike will end up taking a shot from
   somebody in Detroit.  Of course, Iron Mike will surely want revenge of
   some sort.  A fantasy scenario follows:

   begin {rambling}
     Iron Mike Tyson's refereeing ability is questioned somewhat by
   announcer Vince McMahon, as co-announcer Jesse Ventura continues to say
   Mike has attended the Body's school of officiating.  Vince, voicing
   worries of bias, prepares us for the possibility of an 'evil' Mike Tyson.
     Of course, when the match comes Tyson's officiating is beyond reproach.
   He even sends Savage's manager, Sherri Martel, away from ringside before
   her interference can cause Hogan any harm (this allows for a nice
   mid-match commercial break).
     Eventually, the match gets a little out of control and Mike takes a few
   bumps.  Both wrestler's actually knock him down in order to get at each
   other.  Tyson forces himself between the two wrestlers and Savage nails
   him with a stray (or on purpose) punch.  Tyson, having had enough, turns
   and attempts to lay a punch on Savage (who with speed unmatched by any
   of Tyson's boxing competitors ;-) manages to dodge the blow.  Hulk Hogan
   unfortunately ends up taking the punch on the chin.
     Unsure of what to do, Mike makes the count on an unconscious Hogan,
   when Savage goes in for the cover.  Savage becomes a two-time WWF
   champion.
     In the post match interview, Hogan quite legitimately blames Tyson for
   the title loss.  Hogan is told that he will get a return title match in
   Toronto in WrestleMania VI; but, Hogan says he doesn't want to be another
   Tyson casualty.  He's looking to be the man to teach Iron Mike a lesson.
   Tyson, not scheduled to defend his world strap again until June 18
   (actually, he has a defense scheduled on February 11th, too), says he
   doesn't want to fight Hogan, but he won't back down either.  Of course,
   this leaves the question of who will get the title match at WM VI.  Hogan
   chooses his replacement in the match to be his buddy, the Ultimate
   Warrior.
     Time passes.  Time in which we are subjected to all kinds of training
   clips of Hogan sparring and working out in new ways for this new
   'ultimate' challenge.  Whatever bizarre rules Vince decides on for the
   Tyson/Hogan match don't really matter.  The key match on this card sees
   the Ultimate Warrior crowned new WWF champion after coming from behind to
   thrash Randy Savage.  This causes the Intercontinental Title to be
   vacated - and allows Vince to milk some money out of a tournament
   card on PPV perhaps.
     Hulk Hogan, after congratulating the Warrior, announces that just like
   any athlete involved in a boxing match, he needs some recovery time.  The
   combination of the excessive training and gruelling match-up have taken
   much out of him.  He then disappears (to have his second child and film
   'No Holds Barred II - How Much Can You Stand?').
     Eventually, of course, Hogan returns to the WWF; perhaps a month before
   the movie is scheduled for release.  He and the Warrior are best buddies,
   until the MegaPowers Meltdown II.  For whatever reasons, the Warrior does
   turn on Hogan and is clearly cast as heel.  After all, much like Savage
   when he was WWF champion the first time, the Warrior owes his title match
   to Hulk Hogan.  Vince will not only criticize his ungratefulness, but
   will also replay those old clips from the Royal Rumble and the SNME where
   Hogan and the Warrior bumped heads - "We should have seen this coming...
   ...We couldn't avoid it..."
   end {rambling};

   The bottom line is that Vince likes to flashback to old footage that
   clearly foreshadows today's feuds.  Who knows?

 - Also on the February 23rd card from Detroit are the following matches:
   The Ultimate Warrior defends the IC strap against Dino Bravo.  Andre the
   Giant and Haku defend the tag straps against Demolition.  Roddy Piper
   meets Rick Rude in a lumberjack match.  Dusty Rhodes goes up against a
   clearly demoted and no longer perfect Curt Hennig.  Jake Roberts locks
   horns with Ted DiBiase.  Jimmy Snuka fights Bad News Brown.  Brutus
   Beefcake faces Rick Martel.  Ronnie Garvin takes on the Canadian
   Earthquake.  Of course, not all these matches will be aired on
   television.  In all likelihood, only two matches will make it to the
   screen.  I don't suppose any Detroit fans are planning on attending this
   card live and will volunteer to post a report?
     Although the recent SNME made me consider the possibility of a Savage
   vs. Rhodes match at WM VI, perhaps this show will set up a Rhodes/Hennig
   feud and allow my fantasy prediction to come true.
     Also, expect Demolition to lose again to the Colossal Connection.  As
   I reported before, the SheepWhackers seem to have been chosen to take the
   straps at WM VI.  Then look for Andre to retire and Heenan to take on
   the Hart Foundation, as I mentioned at the beginning of the year.

 - Make sure you catch the DiBiase/Roberts match-up on the weekly WWF show
   this week.  This is the match where the Big Boss Man will make is
   long-awaited face turn.

 - It looks like Barry Windham is gone for good from the WWF.  What with dad
   and brother being arrested for counterfeiting, Barry has other concerns
   on his mind.

 - I reported a while back that Candi Devine has taken the AWA Women's belt
   from Wendi Richter.  This is incorrect - or at least imprecise.  It seems
   that Wendi vacated the belt (i.e. quit the AWA) and Joe Blanchard decided
   that the two top contenders could duke it out for the title.  Candi
   Devine beat Judy Martin in Toronto on December 6th and received the
   title.

 - While leafing through the April 1990 issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated,
   I noticed a full page advertisement for the February 6, 1990 Clash of
   Champions X: Texas Shootout.  It's good to see some advertising dollars
   being put behind the NWA.  The caption reads: "TBS - Wrestling with a
   capital yes!"  Not too bad.  What does confuse me though is the wrestlers
   pictured in the ad.  I understand the presence of top talent Ric Flair,
   Sting, Luger and the Road Warriors.  But I cannot comprehend why the only
   other talent shown is the Dynamic Dudes.  Should we be expecting a push of
   these two guys?  Maybe they'll take the U.S. tag titles.
     In any case, this CoC promises to be one hell of a card.  In all
   honesty, I'm looking forward to this card more than the WWF Feb 23rd
   show.  You have to believe that the heel horsemen will be formed at this
   show, with Woman at the head.  There is no question that Flair, Arn and
   Ole will turn on Sting.  This situation is cause for both worrying and
   rejoicing.  Flair is certainly at his best when he's bad; and I don't
   really care for Arn and Ole as faces.  There's also the anticipation of
   who the new fourth heel horseman will be.  is Tully coming back?  Will
   Luger rejoin?  Perhaps Windham will return.  Or maybe someone from J-Tex
   will get enlisted.  This kind of wondering will make for some great
   excitement.  The worrying arises because a heel change could well mean
   the end of Ric Flair.  The prospect of a Sting/Luger title picture is as
   appealing to me as the next fan, but I can't picture an NWA World title
   match without Ric Flair in it.  All will be revealed on Tuesday.  Perhaps
   it's time for me to start calling up the sports bars to find place with a
   satellite dish that is willing to put on the show.

                                                      Herb...

***********************************************************************
* Herb Kunze                    *   "Whether you like it or not,      *
* Applied Math Department       *    learn to live with it, 'cause    *
* University of Waterloo        *    I'm the best thing going today!" *
* hekunze@watmsg.waterloo.edu   *     - Ric 'Nature Boy' Flair        *
***********************************************************************