Chock Full's RETURN! By Chock Full Back by popular demand it's... Chock Full's Rumor Mill! No mo' intro - just git down t'bidnes! Some rumblings out of the PPW locker room have the federation on some shaky legs. From some reports out of the backstage of PPW's pay-per-view, Power Struggle, many on the inside are thinking that the federation is just NEO in new clothing. "Same shit, different name," one of PPW's employees (who asked to remain anonymous) said in the aftermath of the show. "Look at the people being pushed by the federation: Pscicopa gets tons of airtime, Irvin comes back after doing nothing for a year and gets big spotlight on him. Worst of all, Ktulu went over despite the fact that the fans don't respond to him. It's pathetic." When one of my PPW spies interviewed some other PPW talent, they seemed to be pleased with where the federation is going. However, a couple of the newer stars expressed frustration at PPW giving more time to some of the bigger name wrestlers. "I signed a PPW contract because I thought they would profile some us lesser known guys, grow us into household names. Instead, you get Verhoeven, Taylor, Matthews, Ktulu, Dynasty and others who have built their name already getting the biggest chunk of the pie. It's very frustrating." There are some rumors of some top names leaving, however. It appears that Bobby Taylor's time with the federation is over due to the grueling match he had with Otto Verhoeven. As well, look for another top tier name to leave soon because of frustrations with the federation's operations. A big piece of news this past month is the possible return of one of wrestling's top promoters. Former EMWC owner, Chris Blue, issued a statement that he is in serious talks with networks, venues, and talent about opening a federation again. Blue hasn't specified any details on what the federation is, but according to some of my spies, there is heavy talks about a return of EMWC. This has been a rumor that's long been around, but this appears to have legs to it as Blue has contacted some former top talent about returning to the ring. Blue had also shopped around the idea of a totally unrelated EMWC federation, hoping to bring something new to the wrestling landscape. However, advertisers and networks seemed weary in lending support to a new venture after the failure of the small-scale PWR, in which Blue was a main financial supporter. As well, some wrestlers and backstage talent said that even if the EMWC were to return, they wouldn't join since RCW, PPW, and UWF have long since passed by the E and that it would be a step back in their career. In case you didn't hear it, El Paso Wrestling closed its doors last week. No word on why it happened, though one could easily guess from lack of revenue. As well, poor working conditions and low wages had the fed's talent leaving for greener pastures. The only wrestlers to have landed anything else so far is still Travis LaGrange, though he already was wrestling in PPW while in EPW. Heaven Lee Mayfair, Grant Stone, and EPW Champion Billy Sweets appear to have the best chance at landing a spot somewhere else with the rookie Ryan Barnes possibly having a chance at signing a developmental contract or work in the indies a couple years more. Major name leaving RCW? Well, it is a possibility, according to one of my RCW spies. Last year, when Mark Langseth signed a one-year contract for RCW, it was specialized one that had many clauses and items that were negotiated between Langseth and RCW. The contract originally only called for Langseth to wrestle "on occasion", meaning pay-per-view or big shows, due to his previous injuries and time off. However, lately Langseth has been booked for matches quite frequently and has been treated much like a regular roster member. That contract, though, has long since expired and Langseth has been wrestling on a week-by-week basis as he mulls over a new contract offered by the St. Louis based federation. Langseth feels as though - due to his name and that he's in one of the best shapes of his career - he should be offered some more money than what RCW has laid out. RCW, however, is still weary of another big-money contract especially on a wrestler that has overcome a near-crippling injury. As well, some in the RCW management office feel as though Langseth "name" has eroded over the time that he's been in the fed and that his work ethic isn't as high as it was in the past. Other federations, though, still feel that Mark Langseth can bring in the fans and the ratings. Both of RCW's main rivals - UWF and PPW - have expressed interest in Langseth. Though, one may be skeptical of any contract offers from the two rivals as just a ploy to "steal talent" from the top fed in the world right now. Langseth himself has stated that he isn't interested in offers from UWF or PPW. "I've told both UWF and PPW no before and that still stands. I still hold that UWF is a place where careers go to die, though it seems that PPW's trying take that crown away from UWF. I mean, Temple? Matthews? Verhoever? Can those guys even move anymore?" But there is one big factor here that could cause Langseth to bolt from the River City - the return of EMWC. If Chris Blue does in fact re-open the former top fed, Langseth has stated that he would leave and join up "in an instant." It appears to be a major reason why Langseth is on a week-by-week contract, to give him time to decide to stay or wait until the E returns. "Fletcher knew that when I signed on last year," Langseth recently said in a radio interview. "He knew that the moment that EMWC returned, I would be with EMWC. It's where my career took off and I consider it to be my place of loyalty. Don't get me wrong - I've been having a blast in RCW. Working with Chayne has been great, Club Elite's been alright, but my home is EMWC." United States Jisatsu Project has been on the ropes recently, struggling to meet the demands of its DVD distributors. The production team at USJP have been having problems with their design as well as their computers while compiling the DVDs. USJP management has been looking into hiring a new production team with more sophistocated operations. The hardcore federation currently contracts out the work the same time shop that they signed when they first opened. GLCW is no more, but in its place is Huron Valley Wrestling. The federation has a unique take on rosters as it employs a mandatory manager system for all its talent. Last time this was done was in the N.E.W. federation, who used a system of "owners" competing for control of the fed. HVW's take, though, is different than the oppressive way that N.E.W. employed the idea - the managers don't have uniform "rosters" (so a their teams have a mix of heels & face and different styles) and the talent themselves don't have to be in line with their managers. So far, the idea's been a plus as far as attracting talent goes - Tim Sanders, Corey Hart, Vespasian Reed, Tim Turner, and Joey~! have signed on, among others, and there's prospects for more big signings in the coming weeks. That's all I've got loaded in the gun for now. I'll be back... sometime to update on all this news and MORE!  Have news from the wrestling world? Some tasty rumours? Good dirt? Then e-mail [email protected]