Newsgroups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling From: hekunze@jeeves.uwaterloo.ca (Herb Kunze) Subject: Wrestling TidBits - 05/19 Message-ID: Sender: news@watdragon.uwaterloo.ca (USENET News System) Organization: University of Waterloo Date: Thu, 19 May 1994 23:30:31 GMT Lines: 137 - "American Journal" ran a story on the Chuck Austin case last Friday. The segment ran almost 7 minutes and strongly painted Austin as a victim of WWF negligence and incompetence. For those that forget, Austin worked as a WWF jobber in 02/90, teaming with Lanny Poffo against the Rockers. According to a WWF memo shown on the show, (paraphrased) "after talking with Marty Janetty about the Rocker Dropper [the leg-drop DDT], Austin said he was comfortable performing the move. Unfortunately, in the ring he did not execute the move correctly and was injured." They showed the bump on the show, with the camera catching it in profile. Austin landed on the rear back of his head -- think about the move and how the bodies would have to be positioned for him to end up that way. The bump looked brutal. Austin said that the snap was sickeningly loud (likened to a 2x4 breaking from those nearby) and he knew he was seriously injured. His arms stilll flopped around, but his legs were crossed in a somewhat weird way (he was paralyzed from the shoulders down, originally). Austin was presumably supposed to roll over onto his back, acting groggy from the move, so that Shawn Michaels could splash him for the finish. When he didn't, Janetty bent over and grabbed him to flip him over. Janetty got in very close and, according to Austin, asked him if he could roll over. Austin told him that he was injured and couldn't move. Janetty rolled him over anyhow, with Austin's legs not moving and the position looking very strange, and Michaels splashed him. Austin lay in the ring for 20 minutes before medical help arrived. Much has been made on the net about anybody with 6 months experience being able to take the bump required for this move. Austin had put on some pro-wrestling shows at fairs with his some of his buddies. The first show was 6 months prior to this accident. So, when asked, he said he had been dabbling with pro-wrestling for 6 months. Nobody asked him what he could do, what he'd done in the past, or for a video of him in action. Most expect that an appeal will drop the award down to something that Titan will be able to afford paying after insurance covers it's share. - The WWF's JapanMania tour drew record low houses for the venues that they worked. - Jacques Rougeau's last date with the WWF is 06/25/94. There is some talk about Rougeau beginning a pro golfing career. Before returning to the WWF for his most recent run as a Quebecer, he was running a golf course. He's even talked about the WWF sponsoring him. - WCW has Slamboree II on 05/22/94 in Philly. Tentative line-up includes: *- Ric Flair defending the WCW Title - Rick Rude vs. Vader for the WCW International Title - Nasty Boys vs. Kevin Sullivan & Cactus Jack for the Tag Titles in a Broad Street Bully Match - Tully Blanchard vs. Terry Funk - Steve Austin vs. Johnny B. Badd for the US Title - Steve Regal vs. Larry Zbyszko for the TV Title - Dustin Rhodes vs. Bunkhouse Buck in a Texas bullrope match Legends slated as appearing include Verne Gagne, Dusty Rhodes, Killer Kowalski, The Assassin, Ray Stevens, Red Bastien, Larry Hennig, Ole Anderson, Blackjack Mulligan, Tommy Young, Lou Thesz. There is talk that they'll be adding a Marcus Bagwell vs. Ron Simmons match to debut Sherri Martel as Simmons' manager on the PPV. We'll have some feel after this weekend's WCW Saturday Night whether Barry Windham is "on again" as the opponent of Flair on this PPV. They had planned to air a run-in with Windham attacking Flair. Even if it airs, they might try to explain it away on Sunday, so we'll probably just have to wait for the PPV. Meltzer did report that Windham is not expected to make it for the show, but things change quickly. Meltzer said that somebody mentioned them considering moving Terry Funk into the match with Flair. And how about this? Haku has debuted at a taping as Col. Parker's bodyguard, Ming. Perhaps, if they are desperate they'll use him as Flair's opponent... Also, I've been told that Terry Funk and Curt Hennig have both reached deals to work for WCW. I'd be surprised if Hennig can get out of his WWF contract before it runs out later this year, but stranger things have happened. In any case, WWF fans hoping that Hennig would return will be saddened. I don't know any details about Terry's deal either, but it apparently extends past this one-shot appearance and probably has something to do with a working arrangement with ECW. Meltzer also reports that Rick Rude and Nasty Boy Jerry Saggs were injured a couple of weeks back. Rude has back and neck problems (hey, I can relate) and Saggs has shoulder trouble. Hopefully, this won't affect the matches on the PPV. There is some talk that Hulk Hogan will make an appearance at the PPV. - The WWF has the King of the Ring PPV on 06/19/94 from Baltimore. Tentative line-up includes: - Bret Hart vs. Diesel for the WWF Title (the IC Title will not be on the line in this match) - Roddy Piper vs. Jerry Lawler - Headshrinkers vs. Yokozuna & Crush for the Tag Titles - an 8-man King of The Ring single elimination tournament, which looks like this so far: IRS (def. S. Steiner) --\ |----\ Mabel (def. Pierre) --/ \ |----\ Razor Ramon (def. Kwang) --\ / \ |----/ \ Bam Bam Bigelow (def. S. Plugg) --/ \ |-- King! Jeff Jarrett (def. Lex Luger) --\ / |----\ / 1-2-3 Kid (def. Adam Bomb) --/ \ / |----/ --\ / |----/ --/ The matches for the first four entrants above have aired already. The Jarrett vs. Luger match airs this weekend and, presumably, the Kid vs. Bomb match airs the weekend after that on Superstars. The remaining two spots will be filled by matches that will air on Monday Night Raw. - WCW has a Clash of Champions on WTBS in 06/94. Tentative line-up includes: - Steve Austin vs. Johnny B. Badd for the US Title Hulk Hogan is expected to make his first WCW in-arena appearance for this show. - WCW has The Great American Bash on 07/17/94 from Florida. - Videos: I have posted something about the availability of videos. If you missed it, I'll send it to you in e-mail upon request. Basically, all of the tapes in my video collection are available. I've uploaded an updated version of my detailed tape list to the ftp site. I've managed to enter some details for all of my weekly TV tapes, so there's a total of very close to 500 tapes listed. If you are interested in getting a copy of VideoMarinepiad I, drop me some e-mail. The plans are in the works for VideoMarinepiad II in June. All promotions will be considered for participation in VM II and hopefully we'll showcase a diverse selection of matches so that fans of any one promotion won't feel insulted. Stay tuned. Lots of great things have arrived or are on their way to me, so I anticipate having a lot of fun with VM II. The Chuck Austin piece from "American Journal" is the first item on the VM II tape. Herb...