Newsgroups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling From: hekunze@jeeves.uwaterloo.ca (Herb Kunze) Subject: Wrestling TidBits - 01/07 Message-ID: Sender: news@watdragon.uwaterloo.ca (USENET News System) Organization: University of Waterloo Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 16:57:23 GMT Lines: 101 - WWF has it's annual Royal Rumble PPV on 01/24/93 from Sacramento. The line-up will include: - Bret Hart vs. Razor Ramon for the WWF Title - Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Janetty for the IC Title - Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Big Boss Man - Steiner Brothers vs. Beverly Brothers - 30-man Royal Rumble, the winner of which will get a WWF Title shot at WrestleMania. 29 of the participants of the Rumble will be: Bob Backlund, Berzerker, Carlitos Colon, Crush, Damien Demento, Ted DiBiase, Jim Duggan, Earthquake, Head Shrinker Fatu, Ric Flair, Owen Hart, Curt Hennig, Jerry Lawler, Rick Martel, Nasty Boy Brian Nobbs, Repo-Man, Nasty Boy Jerry Saggs, Head Shrinker Samu, Tito Santana, Randy Savage, Papa Shango, Irwin R. Shyster, Tatanka, Genichiro Tenryu, Typhoon, Undertaker, Virgil, Koko B. Ware, Yokozuna. No word on who will be replacing Nailz, who was to be the final participant. - All the "Ric Flair is unhappy" news has reached here. Apparently, Ric and Vince McMahon have talked about ending their relationship early (Flair's contract runs out in September 1993) and there are even reports that Flair has already talked to Bill Watts. The talk is that Ric Flair will leave the WWF before WrestleMania. - Between now and WrestleMania, Bret Hart will have title defences against Doink the Clown. - WCW is running a tournament to determine the number one contender for Rick Rude's US Title. All but the final match-up has already taken place. The following occurred: Dustin Rhodes -\ |-- Dustin Rhodes -\ Vinnie Vegas -/ | |-- Dustin Rhodes -\ Tony Atlas -\ | \ |-- Tony Atlas -/ | Van Hammer -/ | |-- Final Barry Windham -\ | |-- Barry Windham -\ | Johnny B. Badd -/ | / |-- Rick Steamboat -/ Rick Steamboat -\ | |-- Rick Steamboat -/ Dan Spivey -/ The first round matches aired last weekend (01/02/93) and the second round matches will air this weekend. The final will air the weekend after. Rick Rude will have to defend his title against the winner the weekend after that (01/23/93), with speculation having him being unable to defend the title. With Steamboat's grip on the tag titles being fairly firm, it looks like Dustin is going to get his first major singles title. There's talk that Rick Rude may in fact be on his way out. - Both Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton will stay with WCW. Bobby Eaton will appear in Smoky Mountain before returning to WCW. Arn Anderson did a great interview last week saying that Bill Watts hadn't re-signed him when his contract expired and that he was out for revenge on Erik Watts. Arn & Erik will get into a street fight, with some bystander fortunately videotaping the whole thing. I guess this will all lead to Erik asking that Arn gets brought back to WCW so that he can teach him a lesson in the ring. Good to see that Arn is going to be used so effectively. - It looks like the WWF has let the Bushwhackers go. Talk is that they'll return to WCW using their old Sheepherders gimmick. - WCW has a Clash of Champions on 01/13/93 from Milwaukee. The tentative line-up includes: *- Sting & Dustin Rhodes & Van Hammer & Ron Simmons vs. Paul Orndorff & Barbarian & Barry Windham & Big Van Vader in a Thunderdome cage match - Rick Steamboat & Shane Douglas vs. Brian Pillman & Steve Austin for the NWA & WCW Tag Titles - Cactus Jack vs. Erik Watts - Tony Atlas vs. Van Hammer in an arm-wrestling match - 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Scotty Flamingo - Brad Armstrong vs. Chris Benoit Rick Rude won't be able to work the show and I guess will do another conspiracy interview. His replacement will be Paul Orndorff. Chris Benoit is only in for the one shot. - WCW has a SuperBrawl on 02/21/93 from Asheville, NC. - WWF has WrestleMania on 04/04/93 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. The promo tape includes some footage of Hulk Hogan and rumour has him appearing but not wrestling. The talk is that he'll either do commentary or be a guest referee. My guess is that he'll give Bret Hart the Hulkster's seal of approval. The main event will have the WWF champ defend against the winner of the Royal Rumble. - Videos: Having no luck since last week, I'll try once more. There's got to be somebody out there without access to the wide variety of wrestling I have stockpiled on video that does have access to Smoky Mountian Wrestling. If you want to trade tapes of SMW for whatever drop me some e-mail. I have all SMW TV shows from 02/15/92-08/15/92. Herb...