By Terrance McPhilly

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am one of five reporters here on the Dirtsheet, my name is Terrance McPhilly, and I will be bringing to you articles based around one particular wrestler that I have surveyed during the week. A wrestler that has impressed me the most, and given me a great deal of satisfaction due to his/her work ethic and the person's heart and desire to put on a show. This report will also include some rumors that I have heard loitering around the backstage area in regards to specific federations, but more on that later.�

Firstly, this has been an incredible week to be a wrestling fan, the EWA's first card in two years has been announced, an awesome pay-per-view presentation by the NEWF, and the announcement that Michael Simurda and Angela Chang will once again be running a federation. Not to mention the fact that we've seen new champions crowned, and arguably some match of the year candidates already for 2001! However, despite it all, one name surfaces through all of this, that has literally jumped out at me, during everyone of his matches, his words, everything about this man has got this reporter perplexed. A man who many said had seen his best days, a man who everybody has told that he's nothing more than a joke being a 30 year old pro-wrestler and that he should retire while he doesn't require the use of a Zimmer frame. The only man in this circuit who can work a crowd into thinking he's paralyzed and then hanging the longest piss on them I've ever seen in my years in wrestling. The one, the only -- VENOM!

I challenge you to find me a man that has got the entertainment factor that this man has been bringing for the past month, the kind of enemies that this guy can make with just the touching of a few buttons, and let's not forget two other important factors. His Television Championship victory at The Final Countdown against three superb athletes in Dave Kramer, Christopher Yorke and 'Red Hot' Ray Willmott, and the backup that this man has with him in Dark Force Rising. It just makes you wonder, how can this man be stopped right now, and in my estimation it's improbable that he will be stopped, he's got everything going for him right now as he ricochets to the top of the NAPWF mountain! You cannot fail to be impressed by the stellar performances that Venom has shown since his return to the ring, most old school wrestlers are content just to kick back, relax and enjoy their retirement pay, but not Venom, and that's exactly why he's the subject of my column this week. You see the funny thing about Venom is, he's capable of pulling out matches that even overshadow his younger career, a perfect example was at The Final Countdown, his ring savvy, and his quickness won him the Television Championship. I mean you've got a man here whose willing to turn on a stablemate at a moment's notice in order to get ahead in the business that he loves -- you cannot deny the man's heart. He's siccmade, he's the NPWA Television Champion, he's one of the best wrestlers currently competing on the circuit, what more can be said. This week he defends the Television Championship on Slugfest against Long-time nemesis, Michael Draven, and that in itself should be yet another awesome match up for the fans to witness for the title. Venom's intelligence within the ring, and his never-say-die attitude has made him a formidable force in this business, alongside all the whores that he rallies to ringside and his ever-present manager Slick. Keep your eye on Venom in the weeks to come, because if this is any indication of what Venom is bringing to the table, who knows what the future holds for both the DFR and their newest member.�

Now onto the rumors within the NPWA...

- Since Chris Best sold his company to Angela Chang and DeVine Inferno entertainment, not a word has been heard from him. I think it's safe to say we won't be seeing Best and for that matter Robin, around the wrestling business for a long time to come.�

- Now that Kanyon has returned to action in a federation he used to be an executive of, it makes you wonder where he stands, what allegiances this guy will make, does he intend to look for backup, or does he have other intentions, perhaps gunning for Grady Smith and the heavyweight championship. Rumor has it, Kanyon has been in talks with a few acquaintances, both inside and outside of the federation, certainly with Kanyon now active - things are going to get very interesting in a hurry.

- There's rumors circulating that tension within DFR is spreading, due to Grady taking advantage of the situation at The Final Countdown to take the title from Marcus Hailey, and Venom's manager Slick setting the dogs on his stablemate Ray Willmott. Let's just say that post-show, there was a lot of shouting emanating from that one section of the building...

- A very unusual situation spawned backstage between the NPWA president Angela Chang, and none other than 'Red Hot' Ray Willmott! Back in the CWA, the two had a very interesting relationship, and in fact, it was Angela who started off that ever popular..."Hotpants" chant that has become a cult within the circuit. As far as we can tell it was a simple, yet interesting interaction between the two within the corridor whilst they past. It's not the meeting so much that baffles me, it's the smirk that Willmott made when they both walked away...the question remains dormant, just what is going on between these two parties!?

- Now that Latino Powers have ended the tag-team championship streak of the Dudley Boyz, rumor has it that Buh-Buh Ray and D-Von suffered slight injury, the extent of which is not fully known, but as soon as we have more information it will be posted here. This of course paves the way for other tag teams to rise to the top, against this new masked combination that seems to have a mind for the business.

- Due to injuries sustained at The Final Countdown, Dave Kramer is out indefinitely, and there is no word on when he'll be back in action!

Little has been heard within the EWA about future plans or the like, but with returns of a few select superstars, anything is possible...

- Gates has gone into over-investment, and appears to have pulled out all the stops to hire anybody possible. With that being said, who could he have lined up for the first show, your guesses are as good as mine, but we've seen the damn right incredible from Gates before, and I'm sure he'll surprise us even more, now that his mule ticket is once again back in the saddle!

- Finally, the Main Event that never was, a match that the critics have waited two years for, and this one will be sure not to disappoint, all three are solid parties and this match should be one that will bring out the best in all three combatants.

Over in the NYSWF, some shocking things as of late...

- A tournament to crown a rookie as a new World Champion, certainly something one wouldn't expect, but it's definitely got to favor Loco Martinez whose just been ripping it up over there with his "smile-high-guy" gimmick! Can Loco claim the NYSWF title, one with the most history, and heritage in this sport. Can't wait to find out...

- Who will be the new commissioner of the federation when a bunch of celebrities join in the fray. Odds on favorite is that it will be none of those celebrities and Corey Collins himself has handpicked somebody to step up and take the reigns. This is gonna be special!!

- How are Jon Storm and NOTHING supposed to survive the death match this week, the hatred that boils between these two is astronomic, but it does beg the question, why so much hatred...why is it that NOTHING and Storm cannot accept their blood claims to each other. Perhaps it will take a newer member of the family to put order between the two and the NYSWF as a whole. Keep your eyes peeled...

That's it for this report, I hope you enjoyed it. If you have heard any rumors along the grapevine, or anything remotely interesting that you'd like to share with the wrestling community, I'll include it in the next report. Simply email me at [email protected] and expect your rumor to appear on the next report.

Thanks for reading, and take care of yourselves.