______________________________________________________________________ __ __ __ __ _ ____ | | | | | \ | | | |/ _ \ | | | | | \ | | | / \ | | |/\| | | \| | | | | | | | | |\ | | | | | | /\ | | | \ | |__| |_| |__/ \__| |__| \__| [ n a i d O ' s - W r e s t l i n g - N e w s ] Edition 203 November 29, 2000 "I get the news, so you don't have to." ______________________________________________________________________ [Official newsletter & complement to:] http://www.naidOsWorld.com To subscribe: naidoswrestlingnews-subscribe@egroups.com To unsubscribe: naidoswrestlingnews-unsubscribe@egroups.com ______________________________________________________________________ [Table of contents] **Note from naidO **TOP NEWS STORY **Monday night and weekend ratings **Latest news from the WWF, WCW & ECW **[Article] XSE Press Release about ECW **[Column] Rounding the Squared Circle **Parting chair shot ______________________________________________________________________ [Note from naidO] Hello to those just joining. Tell your friends about the BEST up and coming newsletter around to subscribe today! - Y'know, this crappy little newsletter ain't half bad. It's editions liek today that make it worth the read. TONNES of ECW, WCW and of course some WWF news to pass along today along with nWN mainstay Sam Jerry as well. Can't wait until tomorrow! BTW, don't you like watching ghosts on TV? Especially when their name is HHH! **Until tomorrow, enjoy this latest edition of nWN! - naidO nWN Founder - http://www.geocities.com/naidosnews ______________________________________________________________________ [TOP NEWS STORY] **Although the WWF is out of the picture, WCW may still be sold. An article by Matt Kemper in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, looks at the sliding ratings for WCW and how Turner Broadcasting is looking to unload the company, while keeping the television programming. TBS President and CEP Steve Heyer is quoted as saying "It isn't performing to our expectations. While we have a plan in place to rejuvenate it, it may be a better strategy for us to sell it." The article also points out some of the changes in the company, the WWF deal not going through, and the absence of Eric Bischoff (who no longer works day-to-day with WCW) and Vince Russo (who is home recovering from concussions). (Buck Woodward) ______________________________________________________________________ [Monday night and weekend ratings] For Monday 11/27 TIME NITRO RAW -------------------------- 8:00-9:00 2.6 --- 9:00-10:00 2.2 4.4 10:00-11:00 --- 5.5 -------------------------- Head to Head 2.2 4.4 -------------------------- Composite 2.4 5.0 Change +0.1 0.0 QUARTERS: 800 815 830 845 900 915 930 945 1000 1015 1030 1045 1100 RAW --- --- --- --- 4.1 4.5 4.3 4.7 5.3 5.5 5.3 5.6 5.6 NITRO 2.1 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.4 2.1 2.1 2.3 2.3 --- --- --- --- **Livewire did a 1.1 rating with a (3.2 share) **Superstars did a 1.2 rating (with a 3.1 share) **Heat did a 2.0 rating (with a 2.9 share) **Thunder from 11/22 did a 1.9 rating with a 3.2 share (1wrestling.com) ______________________________________________________________________ [News from the WWF] **Jerry Lynn's meeting with Jim Ross at the Smackdown taping in Minneapolis went very well last night according to Dave Scherer. They will be in touch again and it's possible Lynn may go to the WWF. **After a few weeks of it being on the shelf, Stevie has a new/old commentary up at www.stevierichards.com. **Variety.com reports that TNN has anteed up a record fee of at least $364 million to acquire syndicated rights to three Star Trek series and five Star Trek movies. Barry Diller's USA-owned Sci-Fi Channel was also bidding for the programming. The sting of Diller losing the WWF programming and getting outbid on the Star Trek package may put him in fighting mood, more apt to get back into the pro wrestling game. "Our commitment to rebrand TNN as a top-rated network includes significant investment in programming, including acquisition of hotly bidded properties like 'Star Trek,' " said TNN general manager Diane Robina. "It will be a marquee property that will bring viewers to TNN's original programming slated to premiere in 2001." The Star Trek package is expected the newly rebranded network compete for the top spot in cable ratings - which in the long run will benefit the WWF. http://www.variety.com/body.asp?HbkId=12061944&subcat=- 1&ArticleId=1117789711 **Torrie Wilson, who had a contract in the $250,000 range, is being given her termination notice. She is expected to talk to WWF officials within days, if she hasn't already, to find out what they can offer her to jump. One friend of hers says WWF talks have already begun. WCW wants to retain Wilson, but is only willing to offer a contract in the $50,000 range per year. When Wilson signed the contract with WCW, she had recently been negotiating with the WWF. The dollar amount she received was considered grossly excessive by many wrestlers. She has failed to become a major star in WCW; she brought looks to the table, but her live charisma and mic work never developed as WCW had hoped. With WCW in a tight financial situation, on pace to lose some $80 million this year, budget cutbacks are being made at every opportunity. (naidO's note: Mmmmm, Torrie Wilson in the WWF...good Lord!) (Cred: 1Wrestling) _______________ [News from WCW] **Bill Goldberg, who complained in several interviews earlier this year about WCW's move to a more adult oriented style of program, will be featured in the January issue of Playboy. Excerpts from Goldberg's book "I'm Next" will appear in the magazine according to a Playboy Enterprises press release. **Rumors regarding Bischoff buying WCW have been spreading for the last couple of weeks, and those rumors intensified with a report last night by the Torch that Bischoff was meeting with Brad Siegel to try to close the deal. **Vampiro made his concert debut last night with ICP, and reportedly dove into the crowd to "mosh". Earlier in the day Vampiro appeared on Dave Meltzer's internet show and repeatedly said he hoped to wrestle in the WWF some day. Vampiro continued to lash out at WCW and at the people who ran his official website. **Booker T will likely be out of action for a couple of months recovering from injuries. Booker had been working for quite some time on an injured knee and had planned to take time off after Mayhem anyway, but suffered a cracked sternum in the match taking the Full Nelson move near the end of the match. The same move caused Booker to bite his tongue causing an additional painful injury. (Cred: 1Wrestling) _______________ [News from ECW] **Dave Scherer, who is the webmaster for ECWWRESTLING.COM, updated a few ECW rumors making their way around the Internet in his latest Daily Lariat column. - Because of ECW's rocky financial situation, the company is looking to do some downsizing. Heyman reportedly has a list of talent he would like to keep. Some ECW stars are contracted at a rate that is simply not good for the company, and they have also been given permission to shop around. - Despite Internet reports, there has not been a scheduled "walkout" for Sunday's "Massacre on 34th Street." The rumor stems from ECW workers not being paid on time in recent weeks. Most ECW wrestlers would like to stay with the company. - Paul Heyman continues to try and get a television deal for ECW. A powerful Hollywood group is reportedly representing him. **Now on FrancineECW.com 10 Francine photos taken by fellow FrancineECW.com staffer, Jim Quigley. These pictures were taken at ECW's November To Remember 2000 Pay Per View. To see what Francine was wearing (and not wearing!) at the biggest show of the year check out FrancineECW.com now! **The inNOVAtor is back with his latest commentary on www.NovaECW.com as Nova looks at the Texas shows that have been canceled, paintball with the ECW crew, the Blue Meanie, and wedding bells in Nova's future? Find out at www.NovaECW.com! **Rob Van Dam's webmaster sent out the following quote to his mailing list. "My knee and my body are in 100% condition. In fact, I'm excited because tomorrow is leg day in the gym and I LOVE to do squats!" -Rob Van Dam (Cred: 1Wrestling) __________________ [In other news...] **Bret Hart lashes out at professional wrestling again in an article published in today's New York Post. Hart blames wrestling for the death of his brother Owen, and says wrestling is dead for him. Hart also complains that Vince McMahon split up his family with promises of jobs to try to minimuze the lawsuit filed in the aftermath of Owen's death. Hart's sister Ellie Neidhart, though, says it was Bret who split the family apart. "Bret's had a vendetta against Vince. Vince McMahon didn't intentionally kill Owen," she said. Commenting on Hart's outburst, WWF attorney Jerry McDevitt told the Post, "Bret Hart is poisoned, he doesn't like modern wrestling but he willingly accepted a paycheck." Click to read, http://www.nypost.com/11292000/news/16954.htm (Cred: 1Wrestling) ______________________________________________________________________ [Article] XSE Press Release about ECW The following is our first official statement regarding the cancellation of ECW's Texas dates and the relationship between the two companies: PRESS RELEASE FOR NOVEMBER 29, 2000 On Saturday, November 25th, Dave Scherer reported on 1wrestling.com that the cancellation of the ECW show in Dallas on December 8th was the decision of the promoter at The Bronco Bowl (the Dallas venue). The report stated that The Bronco Bowl was upset when it learned that Steve Corino, Sandman, Yoshihiro Tajiri and Mickey Whipwreck were booked to work a show for XSE wrestling, a local independent promotion, the previous night in Fort Worth. XSE wishes to issue this statement with the intent of informing the professional wrestling community that this story is ABSOLUTELY AND CATAGORICALLY FALSE. XSE spoke with Bronco Bowl promoter Ray Compton on Tuesday, and Compton assured XSE that he was notified by Steve Karel of ECW last week that Paul Heyman was canceling the shows due to financial reasons. He offered a note from Karel informing the Bronco Bowl of ECW's intent to cancel as proof. Heyman then had the nerve to blame the cancellation on the four workers, some of whom received heat from others in the company before the real story started to surface. XSE realizes that Paul Heyman and ECW are in dire financial straits. XSE has enjoyed positive working relationships with several ECW talents, and we do not want to see the bulk of their livelihoods taken away. However, we will NOT sit still while we are used as convenient scapegoats by Paul Heyman to hide the fact that he cannot afford to run his own shows. This affects our credibility, as well as costing us many advertising dollars that have now been wasted promoting the appearance of ECW talent on our show (Heyman has apparently mandated that none of the aforementioned talents will be permitted to work the XSE show, regardless of ECW's cancellation). Ironically, Paul Heyman has always positioned himself as the underdog, an independent visionary in an era of corporate wrestling. Yet Mr. Heyman has chosen to sacrifice the good name of XSE (the very type of "underdog" independent promotion that he claims to champion) in order to save himself from being honest with his workers and his fans, and that makes him a hypocrite. Attempts to contact Paul Heyman in order to try to reach a more amicable solution to this problem have been met with no response, so we cannot realistically expect him to start returning phone calls and e-mails now. However, XSE would like to suggest that Mr. Heyman owes XSE and its' fans, as well as ECW and its' fans a sincere apology for misleading them as well as misrepresenting himself. XSE will run the December 7th show as promised, all be it without the ECW talent it had previously booked. XSE is currently arranging replacement talent, and will notify all media outlets when arrangements are confirmed. ________________________________ XSE will release further information regarding the situation at hand as it becomes available. For further statements, interviews, or general contacts, you may reply to this e-mail or e-mail XSEKellerman@a.... Austin Kellerman XSEKellerman@a... XSEwrestling.com ______________________________________________________________________ [Column] Rounding the Squared Circle - by Sam Jerry "EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET INTO THE ACT" OR "PLEASE DON'T THROW ME INTO THAT BRIAR PATCH" Have you noticed that lately there are more people who feel they could a better job utilizing the talent that left greener pastures for indentured servitude in the WWF, as well as being Booking wannabes? I'm not talking about the fun Booking that we all do at times. I'm referring to the ones that are convinced they can do a better job than the professionals. Then again, when you consider that WCW sold an amazing total of roughly 2,000 tickets to this past Sunday's PPV, they are probably right about doing a better job. Then again, PTC Czar and Public Conscience L. Brent Bozo could probably do a better job. However, many of these "experts" are positive they can improve on how some wrestlers are used and do something about the absolutely horrible Booking in The WWF. With their help, I feel confident that Emperor McMahon will be able to sleep better at night. Let's take a look at a few of these poor, misused and unhappy souls: 1. Tazz - You really have to feel sorry for poor old Tazz, after all he was ECW World Champion and in The WWF he's not in Championship contention. His punishment: he's been banished to being co-host of Sunday Night Heat and may end up as color man on one of the WWF weekend programs. He must be staying up nights worrying that having more exposure on TV is really ruining his career. Then he must also worry that he's hit a dead end in the ring as well. 2. Chris Jericho (Y2J) - Consider that he went from being a mid- carder in WCW to being a high mid-carder, on his way to (if not already there), Main Eventer in The WWF. The injustice of it all. His appearance in a national commercial must have him and his accountant worried to death over the additional taxes he will have to pay. Add to that, his being over worked and over exposed by being on virtually every RAW, SmackDown and PPV will surely lead him to an early grave. 3. Chris Benoit - Did you know he can actually speak? It was said that the biggest reason he never reached the top in WCW was he couldn't handle the mic. While not quite ready to perform in a Shakespeare play, he has shown he can do a credible job on the mic, given the chance he never had before. You also have to consider the shabby treatment afforded him by The WWF; sticking him in matches against The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin (SCSA), and other top WWF talent. He certainly wouldn't want to be confused with being a Main Eventer and considered one of The WWF's long term stars. 4. The Dudley Boyz - While in ECW, they were eight time Tag Team Champions. Of course, this was something known to just those familiar with ECW. Shame on the WWF for making them household names, and for them doing more for tables than anyone since Ethan Allen. You don't suppose they are happy about things or have given up on ever again being WWF Tag Team Champions, do you? As Bubba Ray would say, "D-Von, get the table!" WhasssssUp? 5. Eddie Guerrero - Against his will, he was forced into a long term angle with Chyna, as well as having a run as Intercontinental Champion; a terrible position to be put in. You really have to feel for him, after all many of his old friends in WCW are so concerned about how bad things are for him, they are asking him for help in getting a spot in The WWF. Another thing, who could possibly want to be instantly recognized and known as "Latino Heat?" 6. Dean Malenko - Blessed with charisma, he has been an easy sell since arriving in The WWF. He certainly has reason to be upset at how he has been treated, considering that several angles have been tried in an attempt to get him over. Imagine asking him to try various things, rather than just letting him vegetate. As part of the reunited Radicalz, he is on TV every week and staying in the spotlight. 7. Perry Saturn - Like The Dudley Boyz, he was very successful as part of a Tag Team in ECW. He has been aligned with "The Little She Devil" Terri, one of The WWF's most popular and enduring females, in an effort to sell him. The WWF says they are very impressed with him and have long range plans for him. Knowing this about his employer has to tear away at him. Being a member of The Radicalz gives him TV time when he could just as easily be dozing in the locker room. 8. Raven - Recognized as a top worker and loaded with potential. Hardly a prescription for success in Emperor McMahon's domain. Heck, if he's not careful, he might just find himself saddled with the Intercontinental Championship in the near future, and perish the thought, a Main Eventer. 9. Kurt Angle - Unlike the others, the "experts" think he has gotten too much, too quick, and isn't deserving of being WWF Champion. Since the name of the game is Sports Entertainment, where ability with the mic, charisma, good looks, etc., is the name of the game (not to mention he has a modicum of wrestling talent), sure makes a case that he shouldn't be where he is. With SCSA returning and in a major feud with HHH, The Rock wanting to wipe The Ass That Conquered Toledo, and Angle defending the Title v. The Undertaker (who deserves all of our thanks for 10 great years in the WWF and another Title reign before he hangs his casket up), how do you pick The Main Event? Answer: You advertise all three. Certainly the Championship Match is a marquee event, but so are the others. Surely we the fans are being cheated by having three matches like that on the card. Wouldn't we would have gladly traded any of them for $oldberg v. Flexy Lexy? $oldberg v. The Entire Roster of WCW? $oldberg v. The Miami-Dade Police Department? $oldberg v. The Seals and The Green Berets? What does Emperor Vince know, when there are so many better Bookers sitting in front of their computer screens? http://members.aol.com/samjerry ______________________________________________________________________ [Parting Chair Shot] Remember, tell your friends about nWN - naidO's Wrestling News today! **Missed any TV Shows? Go to the following link to read the results: http://www.naidosworld.com/tvshows.html Also, be sure to check out the NEW internet home of nWN, http://www.geocities.com/naidosnews for all your archived stats, tv shows, wrestling links, terms and PPV's, and most of all PICTURES! - naidO nWN Founder ______________________________________________________________________ [Affiliates] **http://green_mist.homestead.com **BECOME AN AFFILIATE OF nWN and make it your official newsletter!! Email naido@h... with your website's address for consideration. ______________________________________________________________________ [News gathering links] **Dave Scherer, Buck Woodward, Bob Ryder @ http://www.1wrestling.com **Dave Meltzer, Zach Arnold @ http://www.wrestlingobserver.com **Chris Clarke, Jeff Pollock @ http://www.liveaudiowrestling.com **Blake Wolfson @ http://www.ultimowrestling.com ______________________________________________________________________ [Ads] ESW - Come to the number one Internet Wresting Federtion on the face of the Earth! http://www.geocities.com/the_esw The ESW! Extremely Suicidal Wrestling. We even have a womens title, and you can pick any WWF superstar you like! ______________________________________________________________________ [nWN Staff] Founder & Editor: naidO - naido@h... Columnist: Sam Jerry - SAMJERRY@a... Columnist: The Vile - stoncold@b... Columnist: Ted Cabata - tcabata@r... ______________________________________________________________________ [Disclaimer] naidO's Wrestling News was founded on April 30, 2000 and is owned and operated by naidO. He, nor this newsletter is in no way, shape, or form affiliated with World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Turner Broadcasting's World Championship Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, or any other wrestling organization. Nor the people (staff members), wrestlers, or any other talent in the wrestling. News is gathered from various sources around the net, including newsgroups and are believed to be of public domain and truthful (uh huh). As long as proper credit is given it exempts nWN and it's staff. I (naidO) am just promoting their organization/website. nWN is not responsible for content on affiliate websites or where they may link to including mp3's, warez, kiddie porn and/or other unlawful content. This exempts myself & this newsletter (nWN) from all legal disputes. Anything taken from this newsletter requires written consent from naidO Copyright © 2000 naidO. All Rights Reserved