From: hekunze@jeeves.uwaterloo.ca (Herb Kunze) Subject: Wrestling TidBits - 08/10 Date: 1995/08/11 Message-ID: X-Deja-AN: 107969299 sender: news@watdragon.uwaterloo.ca (USENET News System) organization: University of Waterloo newsgroups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling { There won't be a TidBits next week; I'll be in Montreal for the week. With a little luck, I may end up going to Jacques Rougeau's show in Verdun. We'll see. } - "This is text book offence" - Eric Bischoff during the All Japan Women tag team match in the Collision in Korea PPV last Friday. Gee, is that the same book they teach from at the Power Plant (WCW training school)? Whose shoulder did Hulk Hogan look over on exam day? The wrestling on the CiK show was sort of stunted by the short match lengths, but it was still a good show. The biggest negative of the show was the insulting USA vs. Japan commentary. - WCW's Clash of Champions took place on Sunday night. The promotion continued to build around the Hulk Hogan vs. Dungeon of Doom story line, in particular setting the stage for Hogan vs. the Giant with the Giant ripping the crucifix from around Hogan's neck (repeating the angle done years earlier with Andre). The wrestling on top was as abysmal as one would expect, but there were two surprises otherwise. The first surprise was the lacklustre match with Vader vs. Ric Flair & Arn Anderson; the story line -- teasing the beginnings of a split between Ric & Arn -- obliterated the work. The second surprise was the energetic performances of Brian Pillman, Marcus Bagwell, Alex Wright, and Johnny B. Badd. The Observer has frequently mentioned that there is much interest in putting excellent fast-paced matches on the new TNT Monday Nitro show, so maybe this was foreshadowing. The Observer this week reported that Eddy Guerrero has decided not to go to WCW and that Al Snow has signed with the WWF; both guys had been talked about as potential additions to a faster-paced division in WCW. - Just when you wondered if it could get worse, WCW has taped matches that build an angle wherein Big Bubba Rogers is allergic to Dave Sullivan's rabbit. Somehow this will lead to a taped fist series between Bubba and Jim Duggan. - Rumours are still flying regarding Jeff Jarrett and the Roadie leaving the WWF. Some say that the Roadie's future was in trouble due to failed drug tests and Jarrett sided with him. The Jarrett party line is that it was bad booking to have Jeff lose his title and his claim to being a singer on the same night in his home town. In either case, Jarrett still has some months in his WWF contract and the Roadie still has a year; that means neither will show up in WCW in the immediate future despite rumours that Jerry Jarrett's consulting position with WCW will be upgraded. - The WWF has SummerSlam on 08/27/95. The tentative line-up has - Diesel vs. Mabel for the WWF Title - Shawn Michaels vs. Razor Ramon for the IC Title in a ladder match - Yokozuna & Owen Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith & Lex Luger for the WWF Titles - Alundra Blayze vs. Bertha Faye for the Women's Title - Bret Hart vs. Dr. Isaac Yankem - Undertaker vs. Kama - Skip Bodydonna vs. Barry Horowitz The IC Title match was changed when Sid suffered a neck injury that will keep him out for a little while. There is talk that the change to Michaels vs. Ramon will be temporary and that the actual match will become Michaels vs. Jerry Lawler. Indeed, Michaels issued a challenge to Lawler on TV. - WCW will begin airing TNT Monday Nitro on 09/04/95. The one hour long live show will feature the debut of Steve McMichael as a commentator; he is reportedly training to become a wrestler. - I guess the WCW-backed "UFC-style" PPV rumoured for 09/01/95 is not going to happen. - WCW has Fall Brawl on 09/17/95. The tentative line-up has: - Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage & Sting & Vader vs. Shark & Zodiac & Kevin Sullivan & Meng in a Wargames match - Ric Flair vs. Arn Anderson - Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater vs. Harlem Heat for the WWF Tag Titles - Diamond Dallas Page vs. Renegade - Johnny B. Badd vs. Brian Pillman - Craig Pittman vs. Cobra (formerly Thunder of Thunder & Lightning) Last week I mentioned a Wargames rumoured line-up that included the Steiners, but after the Clash it sure seems likely that they are going to run with the above match. Might we see a Savage turn to put a reasonable worker on the heel side of the current story line? - There will be a "UFC-style" PPV on 10/07/95. - Booking Prediction Tourney: The next tourney card is SummerSlam. I'll post a ballot the week before the show. - WWW: My home page is at http://barrow.uwaterloo.ca/~hekunze. The wrestling portion includes this post, tape lists, and other stuff, including a reworked version of my SMW Fanweek review from last year. - 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. The VideoMarinepiad III home video is now available. Herb...