====================================================================== ====================================================================== ____ ___ ____ ___ ____ / /\/ /\/ /\ / \ / /\ __ ___ / / / / / / / / \ / / / / \/ \ / / / / / / / / \/ / / / \ / \/ / / / / / / / / /\ /\ / / / / / / /\ / / / / / / / / /\ \/ / / / / /\ / / / / / / / / / /\ / / / / / \ / / /____/ /___/ / /___/ / \_____/ / /___/ / /__/ / \____\/\___\/ \___\/ \____\/ \___\/ \__\/ n a i d O ' s W r e s t l i n g N e w s Edition// 378 Date// June 1, 2001 Motto// "Continuing to get the news so you don't have to." Website// http://www.geocities.com/naidosnews Subscribe// naidoswrestlingnews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Unsubscribe// naidoswrestlingnews-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com ====================================================================== Table of Contents//=================================================== naidO's daily note TOP HEADLINE Latest news & notes from the WWF, WCW & the rest of pro-wrestling Article// Tate seeks clemency from governor in 'Wrestling Death' Comment// Vile Thoughts Remember... Affiliates ====================================================================== naidO's daily note//================================================== Hello to you and to those just joining. Tell your friends about the BEST newsletter around to subscribe today. Enjoy this latest edition of nWN! -Click for the SMACKDOWN! results: http://www.naidosworld.com/tvsmackdown.html -Hello and welcome to another SMASHING edition of nWN! And welcome to the first day of June. My heavens, is the year just flying by or what? Vile's back at his usual timeslot (so to speak) of Friday's edition. Hope you enjoy his literature today. rumors are abound as well in this edition as well. As much as I try and get you only truthful news, rumors are part of the fun. Plus, these rumors are coming from reliable sources so... ENJOY! Thanks for reading. naidO// ====================================================================== TOP HEADLINE//======================================================== -1wrestling.com reports Buff Bagwell has signed a multi-year contract with the WWF to wrestle for WCW. The site also reports Rob Van Dam has signed to work, but details of his contract are unknown. Reportedly, the WWF wants to sign Ric Flair, Bill Goldberg, Scott Steiner, and Sting, but none will consider taking a buyout on their AOLTIMEWARNER big money deals. All four are making incredible amounts of money from guaranteed contracts for just sitting at home. There is still no television deal for WCW. Growing concern within the WWF is they will have to use one of their regular weekend shows (Livewire, Superstars) as a WCW show. Booker T and Dallas Page both expected to sign soon Source// ====================================================================== News from the WWF//=================================================== -Smackdown on UPN scored a 5.0 rating (with an 8 share) leading the network to a third place finish for the night. The high for the night saw the last half hour do a 5.7 for the stellar Steve Austin vs. Chris Benoit match. -The WWF brain trust must be scratching their collective heads today. Though TLC 3 kicked some serious butt, last week's Smackdown! show still brought in an awful rating. That fact makes one wonder what the WWF has to do to bring back interest in its Thursday night broadcast on UPN? In the Prime-Time Nielsen ratings for May 21-27th, Smackdown! notched a bewildering 3.9 and took the 74th spot out of 125 shows. Smackdown! was edged out by "Saturday Night Live: Remember Chris Farley" (4.0) and "Pearl Harbor: 2 Hours That Changed the World,", "Walker, Texas Ranger" and "Whose Line is it Anyway?" which all got a 4.2. The Number One show was "Law & Order" at a 14.2. The rating is the percentage of America's estimated 102.2 million TV homes. Each ratings point represents 1,022,000 households. -The Undertaker will be facing the mysterious "Peeping Tom" or "stalker" who was filming his wife on Raw at the King Of The Ring pay-per-view. The likely suspects are his "brother" Kane, Val Venis, Shawn Michaels, Steven Richards or Buff Bagwell. -A rumour is swirling around the biz is that Steve Austin will lose the WWF World Heavyweight Title to Chris Benoit just in time for the WCW - WWF feud. This would pave the way for a Booker T. - Chris Benoit rematch with each man representing their federation. -Today's edition of the Calgary Herald had an article about Brian Lawler's arrest on Monday. Lawler was arrested on Monday afternoon at the Calgary International Airport after police found one tenth of one gram of marijuana and methamphetamine, and one half gram of cocaine. He pleaded guilty to the cocaine charge and all other charges were dropped. A judge ordered Lawler to pay $500 to the Adolescent Drug and Alcohol Program, plus a $50 -Victim Fine fund." Lawler will not carry a criminal record. -As reported yesterday, 5/28 RAW had a 4.2 composite off hours of 3.9 and 4.2. Here are the quarter hour breakdowns: QH1: 3.4, QH2: 3.8, QH3: 3.9, QH4: 4.3, QH5: 4.5, QH6: 4.3, QH7: 4.4, QH8: 4.5, Overrun: 4.8 -According to a WWF spokesman, the WWF is not negotiating with TBS about signing up the new WCW product for their network, contrary to previous reports. -Just a reminder that Kurt Angle will be featured on Byte This! today at 4PMEastern at WWF.com. Source// SLAM! Wrestling, ultimo wrestling, 1wrestling ====================================================================== News from WCW//======================================================= -Rumour has it that the WWF-owned WCW will be launched in June. The original start date was in September but poor television ratings and pay-per-view buy-rates may have forced the WWF to speed the process up. -In a radio interview, Rob Van Dam stated he has not yet signed with WCW, but does have a contract his lawyers are perusing. -Diamond Dallas Page is working at getting himself out of his Time Warner deal as well so he can be part of the angle. Buff Bagwell, whose contract either has just expired or will expire on Friday, is now considered close to a sure thing if he hasn't officially signed as well. Lets just say some key insiders are second guessing that decision, but the new WCW is in desperate need to people with major star potential. The rules are totally different today than they were seven weeks ago. -Lance Storm has updated his online commentary in which he talks about his weekend indy appearances, and most importantly his experience as the first WCW wrestler to debut on WWF TV as part of the interpromotional angle. To read the commentary, click http://www.stormwrestling.com/commentary/default.asp?aID=1093 Source// ultimo wrestling, 1wrestling ====================================================================== News from the rest of pro-wrestling//================================= -Roddy Piper and Kellogg Creek Software are teaming up to create a new online strategy game based on the world of professional wrestling called "Roddy's Ring". According to the designer, Randy Chase, "Roddy's Ring" will be an online game, available only over the Internet. The new wrestling project will draw from multiple genres and feature a hybrid design. "We'll be combining many common role- playing elements with a quick-paced strategy game that challenges the player to outwit his opponent. And, as with SpiritWars, we'll be putting a lot of energy into building a positive and engaging online community that can form the cornerstone for Rod's online presence and expanding Internet activities," Chase said in a press release. No word yet on a release date. -1Wrestling also notes that the Hulk Hogan and Universal promotion will reportedly start up on August 8th with a big debut show. The rumor is that the promotion will sign with Fox Sports Net to air their product. Rena Mero is being rumored for the new promotion. -Chilly-Willy.net has announced that Chilly Willy will be wrestling dark matches for the WWF on June 11th at RAW in Richmond, VA and on June 12th at Smackdown in Baltimore, MD. Source// ultimo wrestling, 1wrestling ====================================================================== Article//============================================================= Tate seeks clemency from Florida governor in 'Wrestling Death' FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - Attorneys for a 14-year-old boy sentenced to life in prison for killing a 6-year-old family friend filed a request for clemency on his behalf. Lionel Tate's attorney Richard Rosenbaum said a petition was sent to Gov. Jeb Bush on Thursday. The next meeting of the state's clemency board is scheduled for June 14. It is not clear whether Tate's case will be discussed. A spokeswoman for the governor, Liz Hirst, said staff had not yet seen the petition. Bush has said he would be willing to have the clemency board hear Tate's case on an expedited basis. A commutation request would be considered by the governor and the six independently elected members of the state cabinet. At his trial in March, Tate said he was imitating pro wrestlers and accidentally killed Tiffany Eunick. Experts testified Tiffany died of a fractured skull and lacerated liver suffered during a beating that lasted from one to five minutes. The jury found Tate guilty of first-degree murder. Under Florida law, Tate had to be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Source// AP ====================================================================== Comment//============================================================= VILE THOUGHTS - by The Vile The passing of the torch...... We've seen it on many occasions as wrestling fans, and after seeing the Benoit/Austin wars this week, I thought we might be seeing it again. When wrestling promotions pass the torch, it can be for a few reasons: (1) For shock value (2) As a test to see if the recipient can handle it (3) As a way to take the company in a new direction. (4) To finally launch the recipient into "superstardom" I've seen quite a few over the years... Harley Race passing to Ric Flair and Flair emerging as one of the best performers of the modern era. Hogan winning the WWF title for the first time and launching the WWF into the "Rock and Wrestling" era. Flair passing the WWF torch to Bret Hart, and Hart carving out his own legend. A reluctant Hart passing it onto Shawn Michaels; and then having the torch taken away again some 18 months later. Stone Cold taking the WWF into the "WWF attitude" era. Triple H taking the torch, and cementing his reputation as one of the best ever. Kurt Angle capping off a tremendous year by winning the WWF title. Booker T, in Hart-like fashion winning the WCW title amidst all the chaos. Chris Benoit, finally getting the push he so richly deserved, only to quit the company the next day. There have also been fumbled exchanges of the torch. When Savage was given the WWF title the first time, everyone knew Hogan was coming back, and he was still the king of the hill. Same thing when Warrior was champ. How bad is it when you have to job for Sgt. Slobber? I know they were trying to tie the whole Iraq thing in, but how bad is it when you have to resort to that? It just wasn't their time. Or when Sting was handed the baton in 1990. Or how about the unluckiest man of all, Lex Luger. He was never victorious against Flair, and when he was given the WCW title by default, no one cared. He didn't beat Flair, so no one gave a rats a**. Then he had his chance in the WWF; but his big mouth 2 days before Wrestlemania 10 assured him of the title of "Most overhyped underachiever." I admit, I have been critical from time to time recently about the direction the WWF is going in. But I give them credit; they have always tried to give the young hungry performers high level programs. From Bret Hart to Shawn Michaels to Stone Cold to HHH to now Jericho and Benoit, the WWF knows that putting these guys into showcase events will bring out the best in them. The past two weeks of WWF TV have been absolutely marvelous. Banoit and Jericho have earned main event status, and they are making the most of it. I also admit, I was marking out for Benoit. And I give him and Puss 3:16 credit for two great matches this week. I wasn't happy with the endings, but we know that VK isn't writing scripts just to make me happy. Anyway, they've got to be going somewhere with this; only Lex Luger could be that unlucky. If anything, maybe we'll get that HHH/Benoit WWF title match somewhere down the line. If we do, it would definitely blow the roof off of any arena it was held in. Hmmmm, do I smell Wrestlemania 18 main event? ====================================================================== Remember...=========================================================== -Remember that if you've missed any TV Shows, PPV's or more? Go to the following links to read the results. Raw// http://www.naidosworld.com/tvraw.html Smackdown// http://www.naidosworld.com/tvsmackdown.html PPV's// http://www.naidosworld.com/currentppv.html Ratings// http://www.naidosworld.com/tvratings.html ByteThis// http://www.naidosworld.com/bytethis.html ====================================================================== 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// Make nWN your official newsletter!! Email naido@hotmail.com with your website's address for consideration ====================================================================== News gathering links//================================================ -1Wrestling/Dave Scherer @ http://www.1wrestling.com -Wrestling Observer/Dave Meltzer @ http://www.wrestlingobserver.com -The Law @ http://www.liveaudiowrestling.com -UltimoWrestling/Mr. Wolfson etc. @ http://www.ultimowrestling.com -SLAM! Wrestling @ http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestling ====================================================================== 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 Columnist: ~*Laine*~ - LoveRock333@webtv.net Columnist: Leno - jm51509@AOL.com ====================================================================== 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. Copyright © 2000, 2001 - naidO - All Rights Reserved ====================================================================== ======================================================================