______________________________________________________________________ __ __ __ __ _ ____ | | | | | \ | | | |/ _ \ | | | | | \ | | | / \ | | |/\| | | \| | | | | | | | | |\ | | | | | | /\ | | | \ | |__| |_| |__/ \__| |__| \__| [ n a i d O ' s - W r e s t l i n g - N e w s ] Edition 341 April 24, 2001 "I get the news, so you don't have to." http://groups.yahoo.com/group/naidoswrestlingnews ______________________________________________________________________ [Official newsletter & complement to:] http://www.naidOsWorld.com To subscribe: naidoswrestlingnews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To unsubscribe: naidoswrestlingnews-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com ______________________________________________________________________ [Table of contents] **Note from naidO **TOP NEWS STORY **Latest from the WWF, WCW & Other news in pro-wrestling **[Article] The NFL has already signed eight XFL players **[Column] Rounding The Squared Circle **Parting chair shot **Affiliates ______________________________________________________________________ [Note from naidO] Hello to those just joining. Tell your friends about the BEST newsletter around to subscribe today! - Sorry this edition is late folks. **Enjoy this latest edition of nWN! - naidO nWN Founder - http://www.geocities.com/naidosnews ______________________________________________________________________ [TOP NEWS STORY] Multiple sources are telling 1Wrestling.com that there is a real possibility that the WWF's plan to operate WCW as a separate company might not happen after all. "They bit off more than they can chew," one source familiar with the situation tell us. "I think they may be rethinking things," says the same source. A launch date for the WWF operated WCW has been pushed back at least three times now, and no start date has been announced. Speculation had been that the WCW program would air on TNN in a late night time slot on Saturday night, but no anouncement has been made about that either. Jim Ross was in Atlanta last week conducting meetings about the WCW project, and publically stated that he is optimistic about the new company. Sources tell us, though, that the option that may end up materializing would be that some of the WCW talent may be worked into existing WWF programming through an alliance with Shane McMahon and that WCW would end up being used as a storyline rather than as a separate company. From a cost standpoint, that would seem to be the safest approach. Even if the WWF decides not to relaunch WCW as a separate company, they still got a great deal. At least two offers for WCW were higher than the WWF offer...one from Fusient, and one from Jerry Jarrett, but the WWF ended up walking away with the prize because of the decision by Turner Broadcasting to cancel NITRO and Thunder. The real value to the WWF was the WCW film library, and they don't need a separately run WCW to make money off of that. At this point, no decision has been made one way or another, but the longer the WWF delays announcing a launch date...the more likely the chance is that they won't announce one at all. (Dave Scherer) ______________________________________________________________________ [News from The WWF] **For the second week in a row, last night's edition of WWF Raw scored a 5.1 rating (with a 7.8 share) off of hours 4.9 and 5.3. The quarter hours for the show were: 4.3, 4.8, 4.9, 5.4, 5.5, 5.4, 5.1, and 5.0. The overrun scored a 5.6. **Here are the weekend ratings for the WWF: - WWF Heat scored a 1.7 rating. - WWF Livewire scored a 1.1 rating. - WWF Superstars scored a 1.1 rating. **There's currently an article on Suite101.com reporting that Chyna (Joanie Lauer) has accepted to play the role of Wonder Woman in a new movie version. To read the article, http://www.suite101.com/mystuff/news/fullstory.cfm?id=14134 **The New York Post has an article up that looks at the XFL and how its dismal first season performance affects the WWF and its diversification efforts from wrestling... To read the article click http://www.nypost.com/business/29145.htm (Cred: 1wrestling) _______________ [News from WCW] **Lex Luger and Lee Haney (former multi-time Mr. Olympia) were guests this morning on a Sports Talk 790 show out of Atlanta on performance enhancing drugs in sports. On the show, Luger portrayed his situation as being under contract to Time Warner for another year and since the WWF doesn't offer large guarantees, he's going to sit out the year (as if they would take him otherwise). He said he thought FOX would take a wrestling show. He claimed steroids stunt growth in kids that it's insane for kids to use it and said he tried creatine but all it did was bloat him. Stop laughing. **Jeff Jacobson recently had the opportunity to sit down with WCW ring announcer David Penzer, and the two discussed a wide range of topics, including the events of the past year, Eric Bischoff, Vince Russo, Hulk Hogan, and more. To read the interview click http://www.1wrestling.com/interviews/interview.asp?id=4139 (Cred: 1wrestling) __________________ [In other news...] **The Wrestling Observer reports Stu Hart has been released from a Calgary hospital after recovering from heart problems. Hart was released with an oxygen tank, which he will have to use in the next few weeks. **For those of you who have been waiting for the debut of Tajiri in the WWF, you may have to wait even longer now. It was reported that Tajiri has flown to Japan in order to be with his family. This seems to be a good idea, since as soon as he does debut he'll have little time in order to spend with his family, due to the WWF's hectic schedule. It was said though, that if the WWF comes up with an idea for Tajiri, then he will be called back to the states. (Cred: 1wrestling) ______________________________________________________________________ [Article] The NFL has already signed eight XFL players NEW YORK (AP) - The Xodus has begun. At least eight XFL players have signed NFL contracts and perhaps 100 could follow as NFL teams follow up the draft by acquiring free agents to fill their training camp rosters. Even before last weekend's XFL championship, in which Los Angeles beat San Francisco, nine players from the WWF/NBC-sponsored league had signed with NFL teams. "It's a good thing for us, It's excellent," said Rick Reprish, personnel director of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who already have signed three XFL players. ``Its a great other source of information about these players.'' Among the XFLers signed are Memphis tight end Mark Thomas, who signed with Kansas City; defensive backs Tawambi Settles of the New York-New Jersey Hitmen and wide receiver Corey Nelson of Las Vegas, who went to Seattle; cornerback Hurley Tarver of Las Vegas, who signed with Green Bay; and tackle Jon Blackman of Las Vegas and linebacker Ron Merkerson of the Hitmen, who signed with Carolina. The Jaguars have signed linebacker Richard Hogans of Memphis, safety Kerry Cooks of Chicago and linebacker Joseph Tuipala of Las Vegas. Many NFL personnel privately welcomed the XFL as another venue for players who had failed to make the NFL to get additional experience. NFL teams scouted the XFL all season. About 200 players from the USFL, which folded in 1986, made it in the NFL, although that league had high-caliber, high-priced young players - Steve Young, Reggie White, Jim Kelly, Herschel Walker and Doug Flutie, among others. Many XFL players, on the other hand, already have failed in the NFL: Merkerson and Tuipala were released by the Saints last August as was Tarver by the Cowboys and Thomas and Settles by the Giants. Blackman was cut from the Denver practice squad last November and Cooks was a fifth-round pick of the Vikings who also played for the Packers. Hogans was released by San Diego in an injury settlement. Among those who most likely will be signed are two former first-round quarterback busts - Tommy Maddox of Los Angeles and Jim Druckenmiller of Memphis. Another XFL quarterback, Jeff Brohm of Orlando, actually was on the Cleveland roster for the final game of last season even while under contract to the XFL. But Maddox might have trouble getting back with the man who drafted him for Denver in 1992, Dan Reeves, who took him to the New York Giants and Atlanta, where he now coaches. The Falcons just traded up to take quarterback Michael Vick with the first pick in last weekend's NFL draft and also have veteran starter Chris Chandler and Doug Johnson, who showed promise as a rookie last season. ______________________________________________________________________ [Column] Rounding The Squared Circle - by Sam Jerry "WHERE ARE THEY NOW" OR "OLD WRESTLERS NEVER DIE, THEY JUST LOSE THEIR TIGHTS" WCW may not be dead! No, not "The New WCW," aka WWF II or WWF Lite, but the "Old WCW," aka Wheelchair Championship Wrestling. Seems like Old Baldy is still at it. He is reported (yet again) to be working with Jimmy "The Mouth of the Old South" Hart, trying to get his own Federation started, and televised on FOX. At the same time the USA Network is said to be looking for a wrestling program. Despite their claims of doing well and going in another direction, they obviously miss wrestling. As ECW found out, without a TV Network, you have about as much of a chance of being successful with wrestling as Wile E. has at catching that fast, feathered meal he has been chasing forever. With much of the young talent signed by Emperor Vince and Prince Shane, it looks like Old Baldy will have to do his recruiting at The Shady Acres Rest Home for Very old Wrestlers. I wish Old Baldy well in his quest and hope there are enough Handicapped Parking Stickers to go around his roster. As I mentioned in my last Article, I have spared no expense (at least no more than my wife allowed me to) trying to keep you updated on where the wrestlers from WCW are today. Here are a few more I have found so far: 1. Golddust - Having never gotten over Terri having a larger rack than him, and concerned that there are many others who want to have breast implants, but are afraid society is not ready for this step, has moved to San Francisco and formed Guys After Young Firm Useful Kabonzas (GAYFUKS). Anyone interested can reach him at 36 D Street. 2. Stevie Ray - Is teaching English Diction at the Palm Beach Finishing School for Proper Young Ladies. I asked him how he was doing and he said, "Iffen dey bees in da clase, Ize dun didden 'em, sucka." Talk about being able to turn a phrase! 3. Konnan - Has been in negotiations with McDonald's and Burger King, hoping to get one of them to expand with menu to include delicacies from his native country, Norway. He is said to be pushing a variety of frozen chocolate covered sardine delicacies. 4. Shane Douglas - After extensive marketing research and hoping to capitalize on The Chez Lexy Gourmet French Restaurant in Beautiful Downtown Lower Dudleyville, he plans on opening a wine boutique next door, specializing in imported fine European vintages. Should I locate any others, I will be sure to report their whereabouts. Visit My Home Page At: 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://www.paywindah.com **http://green_mist.homestead.com **http://www.geocities.com/dsherelo **http://www.tommydreamer.net **http://www.stephaniebellars.com **http://www.PaulHeyman.Net - BECOME AN AFFILIATE OF nWN and make iit your official newsletter!! Email naido@hotmail.com with your website's address for consideration. ______________________________________________________________________ [News gathering links] **1Wrestling/Dave Scherer/Bob Ryder @ http://www.1wrestling.com **Wrestling Observer/Dave Meltzer @ http://www.wrestlingobserver.com **The Law/Dan Lovranski @ http://www.liveaudiowrestling.com **UltimoWrestling/MrWolfson/CBrown @ http://www.ultimowrestling.com ______________________________________________________________________ [Ads] **ESW - The number one E-Fed on the face of the Earth! The ESW: Extremely Suicidal Wrestling! http://www.geocities.com/the_esw **Call The KLiQ Hotline For Daily Pro Wrestling News & Rumors. This call give you the most updated Pro Wrestling News that matters. This call is FREE and allways will be you can call from the US and Canada the # 1-888-561-4391 ! Give it a call. REMEBER it's 100% FREE YOU WILL NEVER BE CHARGED ______________________________________________________________________ [nWN Staff] Founder & Editor: naidO - naido@hotmail.com Columnist: Sam Jerry - SAMJERRY@aol.com Columnist: The Vile - vile316@yahoo.com Columnist: Ted Cabata - tcabata@roanoke.edu ______________________________________________________________________ [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, 2001 naidO. All Rights Reserved To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: naidoswrestlingnews-unsubscribe@egroups.com Sorry to see you go if you do =(