===================================================================== ===================================================================== ____ ___ ____ ___ ____ / /\/ /\/ /\ / \ / /\ __ ___ / / / / / / / / \ / / / / \/ \ / / / / / / / / \/ / / / \ / \/ / / / / / / / / /\ /\ / / / / / / /\ / / / / / / / / /\ \/ / / / / /\ / / / / / / / / / /\ / / / / / \ / / /____/ /___/ / /___/ / \_____/ / /___/ / /__/ / \____\/\___\/ \___\/ \____\/ \___\/ \__\/ n a i d O ' s W r e s t l i n g N e w s Edition// 532 Date// November 9, 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// WWFE Announces Restructuring Comment// Linda's 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 -Nice big edition for you all today. As you'll read, the WWFE are doing some REAL business moves that will impact what we'll see on TV. Interesting still is the "top headline" story you'll read. If it's true, we can all rejoice. LOVE THE NEWSLETTER? PLEASE TELL A FRIEND TO JOIN! Thanks for reading. naidO// ===================================================================== -American Red Cross relief Information To make a blood donation, call (800) GIVE-LIFE or contact your local blood service organization. To help the victims of this and other disasters with a financial contribution, call (800) HELP-NOW. You can also mail donations -- designating "Disaster Relief Fund" on the memo line of the check -- to the American Red Cross, PO Box 37243, Washington DC 20013. ===================================================================== TOP HEADLINE//======================================================= -Dave Scherer reports that there was a post-Smackdown meeting yesterday with all the top WWF creative figures. Many expressed their concern that the product had not been up to scratch compared to the last few years, and it was said that as soon as some people spoke up to Vince McMahon, many others followed in suit. The meeting was said to be upbeat and this may be the final straw that forces the WWF to change its product. What those changes are, are unknown at this point. Source// 1wrestling ===================================================================== News from the WWF//================================================== -The WWF is currently offering Royal Rumble travel packages available on their website at WWF.com. The packages consist of either ringside or lower-tier tickets, a two- night hotel room plus accommodations, a "Meet & Greet" session with Federation wrestlers, and Royal Rumble souvenirs. The event takes place on Sunday, January 20th, 2002 in Atlanta. For more information, send an email to travel.packages@wwfent.com -Here is the road schedule for the WWF this week: *Saturday, November 10 - Bangor, Maine. *Saturday, November 10 - Cleveland, Ohio. *Sunday, November 11 - Hartford, Connecticut. *Sunday, November 11 - Portland, Maine. *Monday, November 12 - Boston, Massachusetts. *Tuesday, November 13 - Albany, New York. -Matt Hardy recently sat down with Kevin Malton of http://www.wrestlerevolt.com. A transcript of his interview can be read by clicking http://www.liveaudiowrestling.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp? aID=3760 -WWF will be running "B" shows in Moncton, New Brunswick, Fredricton, New Brunswick and Bahturst, New Brunswick on 1/4, 1/5 and 1/6 respectively. Fist time WWF has come to those cities in many years. There will be a Raw on 1/28 in Richmond and a Smackdown on 1/29 in Norfolk. -Today is Chris Jericho's birthday. Here's hoping your present is the BIGGEST damn push of the year for you straight to the top Y2J! -The WWF's newest "WWF Extra" column focus' on Ron Simmons, better known as Faarooq and his career and the origins of his catchphrase, "DAMN!". To read it, click http://www.wwf.com/news/headlines/1092582 -Rfvideo reports that the WWF is seriously considering holding RAW and Smackdown in England and Europe next year while they are already in England for the UK PPV's, because as was seen this past week, the schedule is grueling on the superstars and the crowd response was generally better in England anyway. -There are rumors swirling around today that, while they are just that, are also very interesting to consider. Some people in and around the business are speculating on the future of the WWF's relationship with Viacom, which pays them a reported $550,000 to air their weekly cable series'. With the recent ratings drop for Raw, Heat and the lack of success for Excess, speculation is beginning as to whether Viacom will look to restructure their deal with the WWF. Viacom has a history of using low ratings as a way of canceling wrestling programs, as they did with ECW on TNN after they signed the WWF deal. It should be noted that ECW had a clause in their contract that allowed TNN to cancel them for low ratings. I have no knowledge if such a clause exists for the WWF and given the WWF's position of leverage when the deal was done, my hunch would be that there would not be such a clause in their deal. Still, it would not shock me to see Viacom approach the WWF about restructuring the deal, especially when Raw did a 5.4 cable rating the first week that they aired in September of 2000 and had slid to a 4.0 this past week. Another much talked about topic is the status of make-good ads that the WWF will probably owe to their sponsors. The WWF sells ads on their shows at rates based off of them delivering certain rating numbers. Obviously, as the numbers have trekked downward for the WWF, the advertisers have not been delivered what they bought and will be owed make-goods, just as XFL sponsors were. In an already recessed ad market, this could prove costly to the WWF. -The numbers aren't as high as they were just a few months ago, but the WWF continues to own the top spot in the weekly cable ratings more often than not. RAW finished the week with two of the top three spots in ratings compiled by Nielsen Media Research edging out a repeat of "Pretty Woman" on TBS to emerge as the top ranked program of the week. It's interesting to note that the USA Network, the WWF's home prior to the jump to TNN, did not place a program in the "Top 15" listings. To view the rankings, click http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20011108/en/cable_nielsens_3.html Source// wwf.co, ultimo, observer, 1wrestling, rfvideo ===================================================================== News from WCW-ECW//================================================== -William Regal and the Iron Sheik will be appearing on Byte THis today at 4PM EAstern at WWF.com. -Lance Storm has updated his commentary. It's called "Luckie Strike" and can be read by clicking http://www.stormwrestling.com/commentary Source// wcw.com ===================================================================== News from the rest of pro-wrestling//================================ -Diana Hart did a radio interview yesterday in Calgary on the David Rutherford show and Bret called in. It got very nasty talking about her book. Both sad and compelling. I still haven't received a copy of the book which is why I haven't made any comments on it, but I have read a few chapters. There will be a review of the book in the Observer hopefully in the 19th issue. Also, we expect to have reviews in upcoming weeks on Missy Hiatt and Roddy Piper's autobiographies that are scheduled to come out shortly. For some reason, I'm really looking forward to the Hiatt book. Have no idea what to expect from the Piper book. -Scott Steiner has released the following comments on his website, BootyDaddy.com: "Time's up. I can't stand sitting and waiting any longer. December 1 is the date. The contract that's kept me under wraps for almost a year is finally up. England is the first country to see the return of the Genetic Freak. It will be a 10-day rampage through cities large and small. But that's just a teaser. Midajah and I will be getting ourselves back in gear for the big return coming after the holidays...watch for it. You ain't seen nothin' yet." This just confirmed the rumors that had been rampant for a few weeks concerning Scott Steiner and the WWA organisation. Source// slam!, ultimo ===================================================================== Article//============================================================ World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Announces Restructuring New Structure Will Enhance Efficiencies and Capture Growth Opportunities STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 9, 2001--World Wrestling Federation Entertainment (NYSE-WWF) today announced a restructuring to enhance operating efficiencies and position it for growth. It also announced the resignation of Stuart Snyder, President and COO. Prior to joining WWFE, Snyder was President of USA Home Entertainment and President and COO of Feld Entertainment. ``We thank Stu for his efforts, and wish him well in his future endeavors,'' said Linda McMahon, CEO. Mrs. McMahon said the restructuring was an important step to ensuring WWFE's competitive advantage as it pursues growth opportunities. ``We intend to capitalize on our broad appeal as a global brand to further international expansion, develop new brands and new television and movie projects,'' said Mrs. McMahon. Pete DiNicola, currently Senior Vice President, Planning and Administration, has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, reporting to Mrs. McMahon. DiNicola will be responsible for leading day-to-day operations of the company, and will ensure smooth, integrated coordination and execution of business operations. The reorganization centralizes all marketing functions under Julie Hoffman, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. This will fully integrate brand strategies and activities across the company's core business areas of pay-per-view, television, live event, Internet, and consumer products, and WWF New York, the company's site-based entertainment complex in Times Square. It also establishes an advertising and promotions group under Marketing that will provide consistent presentation of brand image, advertising and promotions. ``This Marketing Group's mission is to ensure that our company has one marketing message that can be rapidly integrated and executed behind our creative development,'' said Mrs. McMahon. Consumer Products, led by Donna Goldsmith, Senior Vice President, Consumer Products, will be focused on sales, distribution and operations to improve efficiencies in getting to market the company's merchandise and licensed products, including apparel, action figures, books, home videos and DVD's. She will also be responsible for the operations of WWFShopZone.com, the company's newly revamped e-commerce site. ``Making these operations more efficient is critical to achieve our long-term goal of expanding our proprietary product offerings,'' said Mrs. McMahon. The company's Internet and magazine publishing operations will be merged under Shane McMahon, President, New Media. This will capture synergies across the company's popular Internet sites, including WWF.com, and its two magazines, to better promote television and pay- per-view programming and products, and provide more options for advertisers across these media platforms. McMahon will also spearhead the company's efforts to develop video streaming of Pay- Per-View events over the Internet. The reorganization resulted in a reduction of approximately 9 percent of the company's work force. Mrs. McMahon noted that the company was proceeding with the establishment of a London office and is in the midst of planning expanded international live event tours in 2002. World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWF - news) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with sales offices in New York City and Chicago, and Toronto. Additional information on the company can be found at wwf.com and wwfecorpbiz.com. ===================================================================== Comment//============================================================ Linda's Thoughts I think I might be in the minority again but I thought Smackdown was a good show last night. After reading some negative things about the show, I truly expected a big dud, but I liked it. Austin and RVD's little backstage vignette was by far the funniest thing for me on the show. And I thought the crowd had more life in them than Raw's audience on Monday. The show opened with the APA and Jackie vs. The Dudley's and Stacey again. I thought this match was a little too long and the match on Raw was better. But this wasn't a bad match. I do like Stacey with Bubba Ray and D-Von. I think she adds a little something to what was becoming very boring. I have to say the show did have a lot of backstage skits going on, so I could see the fans in the arena being extremely bored by that. I know I wouldn't like sitting through that many. But on television I think the backstage stuff came off fine. Austin was funnier than usual, and even though I would very much like to see him turn and go back to the so called "face" Austin, I did enjoy him last night. I don't like seeing Debra with him. I meant to write about this in Tuesday's column, but of course I forgot. I'm tired of her standing with him and reacting every time someone speaks. He doesn't need her there and if WWF must keep her then let her manage someone and get her away from Austin. She adds nothing to his character, and she really isn't helping herself either. So last night she's drawing something on paper that Austin has names on. He's mad and tells her to stop and she does her usual facial expressions. I bet Austin loves her being there so he can continually insult her. But I have a feeling he would be happier if he was on his own. Lita and Matt seem to be in love again. Matt informed Lita that he was going for the IC title against the MVP (I added that) Test. Lita was happy but she thought Matt was teaming with her against Lance Storm and Ivory. I guess we know what Matt wants more, a TITLE. Now Austin and the Alliance come to the ring. Austin came up with some good lines as he grilled his Alliance members to see if they still trusted him. Let's see he imitated Hurricane Helms, he caught Hugh Morris picking his nose, and he made fun of Billy Kidman leaning on the ropes, just little things like that, which made it so funny. It seems like the Alliance doesn't trust Austin at all, and that was proven when Tazz was summoned by Austin to enter the ring. Austin got cocky with Tazz and Tazz gave it right back to Austin, causing Stone Cold to stun Tazz. That's when every member except Regal walked away and left Austin out there by himself. Now isn't this a great tease for the Survivor Series. The Alliance turns their back on their leader, so it sure looks like Austin's the mole. Well I'm not so sure. Backstage Austin tells Shane, Paul Heyman and Stephanie to fetch RVD, Booker T and Angle because he wants to talk to them. You see fear on the faces of Heyman, Steph and Shane. And again Shane and Steph kept very low profiles throughout the rest of the show. It seems like they're reading what the fans are saying about them and keeping out of the spotlight. I have to applaud them for finally doing the right thing. Matt's match with my hero Test was good. I think Matt made it good. I'm sorry Test just doesn't do it for me, but Hardy kept the pace going. Of course I knew no way in hell would he win that title, and I was right. As Test walked up the ramp, Edge speared him and that just seals it, you know that those two will be having a match at the Survivor Series. Booker and Austin meet face to face and Austin just stares and tells The Book he wants an honest answer to his question. The question is, does Booker know how to break dance? Yeah you read that right. Booker says yes, and Austin says he used to break dance as a kid and they start laughing and all of a sudden Austin asks Booker if he's with Austin. Booker says he's always been with Austin and the Alliance. That's when Steve shows Booker the tape from KOTR when The Book came out to attack Austin. Booker is angry and tells Austin he did that for the Alliance. Booker says RVD is the mole, not him. Then Shane tells Austin that Booker will win the WCW title back and be the 6 time, 6 time WCW champion. Now it's Vince's turn. He walks in on Rock whose arm is being taped up from Jericho's chairshot on Raw. Vince tells the Rock he would love it if he and Jericho could get along. He also feels bad that Shane and Stephanie are making Rock wrestle against Booker T for the WCW title since Rock's arm is in such bad shape. Rocky tells Vince that his concern is as phony as Stephanie's breasts. Yeah I think Rock has a point there. Anyway Vinny tells Rock how important winning at the Survivor Series is. Rock then says don't worry about the Survivor Series worry about Jericho surviving. RVD and Booker have a few words, and Booker tells him that he let Austin know that RVD was the mole. RVD thanks Booker for being so honest and lets him know that one-day he'll return the favor. Book has to mention that he's going to be the WCW 6 time champion after his match with Rock. RVD wishes him luck, and Booker tells him to stay out of his business or he'll wipe the mat with him. I thought Booker came off very good in this one, as did RVD. I liked Booker match with Rock. Again those two have some good chemistry with each other. The match was going great. Rock gave Booker the spinebuster, but Jericho ran in bulldogged Rock and did the lionsault on him. Y2J left the ring and Booker pinned the Rock but only got a two count. Jericho wasn't pleased. Rocky then DDT'd, Booker and got out of the ring and went for Jericho. He started throwing punches at him and then slammed him on the announce table. But wait Rock then threw Chris into the stands. That's when Booker attacked Rock threw him back in the ring and was going to do a side kick but Rock grabbed his leg and did a sharpshooter on The Book. That's when RVD runs out and kicks Rock causing the ref to call for a DQ. While Booker and Rock are down RVD does his 5-star frog splash on Booker. RVD then trash talks Booker and Rock gives RVD the Rock Bottom. Rock isn't up long because Jericho is back and hits him with a chair. I love Jericho in this character, I know a lot of you aren't real happy with it, but I'm liking what I'm seeing. Another episode backstage this time with Vince and Undertaker. Taker and Kane are supposed to take on Angle and Austin. Only Taker is alone. Vince keeps asking Taker where Kane is and Taker says he's not there. He'll take on Austin and Angle alone. Vinny thinks that's a little much, so Taker asks Vince if he wants to be his partner. Sly Vince says he would but he doesn't have his gear. Good excuse isn't it? Taker let's Vince know he's upset about McMahon wanting to take back Austin, and he tells him he might make sure Austin isn't around for the Survior Series. Taker leaves and Vince has a very weird grin on his face. Regal comes out bad mouths Big Show and gets ready for their match. Only it's a set up and Show has to take care of himself against a bunch of Alliance members, like Raven, Awesome, Credible and a few others. Well Big Show takes care of everyone of them. By the way Lita found a replacement for Matt. It's Jeff. I bet you're not surprised. Matt was already to be in the match even though he had his with Test, but Lita told him she found someone and Jeff stepped right up. Matt was anything but happy about this. So we are backstage again and Vince is praising Big Show, in fact he's so happy with Show's performance that he wants Show to be in the Survivor Series main event and take Vince's place. Show is thrilled, I wish I could say I am, but I can't. Anyway Show shakes hands with Vince and leaves. Again Vince does something weird he smells his hand that Show shook and makes an evil face. I'm telling you Vince is up to something, all you fans who have written to me saying a heel turn for Vince is inevitable seen to know what your talking about. Vince is acting way too odd. He definitely has something up his sleeve. This was for me the funniest thing on the show. RVD and Austin. They are in a locker room and Austin tells RVD to sit. RVD sits under a light, Austin asks him if he knows what the light is for and RVD says it's a tanning system. I swear the way he said it; it was like watching Beavis and ButtHead. I think Van Dam is smoking one too many lately. I couldn't stop laughing. Austin tells him it's not a tanning system he's going to interrogate him. He turns of the lights except for the one RVD is under, and RVD says he's seen this on Baretta. God this was funny. Anyway Austin asks him if he's the mole since Van Dam thought Vince was ok and he was in his limo. RVD reminds Austin that he was the one who turned at Wrestlemania and then turned again at Invasion. This segment was great, Van Dam's who cares attitude is so fun to watch, and I've said it before and I'll say again, nothing rattles him. He's just a cool guy. Jeff and Lita beat Ivory and Lance Storm. But you knew that had to happen just to make Matt even more upset. It's nice seeing Storm for a change, and he and Jeff looked good out there. Again a good match, fast paced and nice work by all four. Another match that I thought was very good was Tajiri vs. Christian. Christian was there to put Tajiri in his place for what he did to Regal. I liked this one a lot. I thought Tajiri and Christian really had good chemistry, and I think if the so called creative team could write a decent story these two could put on some good matches. The last backstage vignette was Stephanie bringing Angle to Austin. She apologized for taking so long to find him. Angle says he was warming up and Stone Cold said with her, Steph was very insulted by that comment and left. Austin let's Angle know that he thinks he's the mole. Angle tells Austin to shove it. Now for the main event. Taker vs. Angle and Austin. I wouldn't call it horrible or great it was OK. Not my idea of a match for a main event. Taker won, yeah the big man pinned Austin, Austin then stunned Taker and then Angle. So we are left to wonder if Austin is going back to WWF. As you can see backstage skits were way to plentiful last night. I would like to see less and more emphasis on the matches. Also there's only nine days until the Survivor Series and all we have is one match, the main event. I think that's very poor. Obviously WWF feels the rest of the card is meaningless, otherwise they would have built up some strong feuds. Also, last night's matches were good but not outstanding, with the exception of Tajiri and Christian's. For me that was the match of the night. There was no RVD match, and I would have thought that after that great ending on Raw a lot more would have been made between Rock and Jericho. But we only got a run in from Chris and a few words from Rock on Jericho, that was it. Raw and Smackdown were average shows this week, but WWF is going to have to do a lot better than that to get the ratings up. I just hope they don't wait too much longer. ===================================================================== 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/ppv.html Ratings// http://www.naidosworld.com/tvratings.html ByteThis// http://www.naidosworld.com/bytethis.html ===================================================================== Affiliates//========================================================= -http://www.green-mist.com -http://www.geocities.com/dsherelo -http://www.TommyDreamer.net -http://www.StephanieBellars.com -http://www.PaulHeyman.Net -http://Wrestling-Freak.8k.com -http://www.JeffTheRef.com -http://www.ecwanderson.com -http://www.ecwdangerously.com -http://www.eswfed.com -http://welcome.to/wfwa -http://www.mrwicked.com -http://www.foreverfrancine.com -http://thegame.rawfeedonline.com -http://omantortuga.cjb.net -http://www.geocities.com/pwpwrestle -http://www.manbeasttemple.com -http://www.nwouk.com -http://wrestlingradio.tripod.com 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 @ http://www.ultimowrestling.com -SLAM! Wrestling @ http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestling ===================================================================== Ads//================================================================ -Looking to trade or by Wrestling Tapes?? Check out BBBoris' Tape Trading Inc. at http://www.geocities.com/pwpwrestle for all your wrestling tape needs! There's tons tapes from all over the world including old ECW, WCW and of course WWF tapes available for sale or trade. With reasonable rates, you can't go wrong. Check us out today! -Come join the ESW today. Its the best Fed on the net today! With 8 belts, 3 weekly shows, and a monthly PPV, what more could you ask for? JOIN NOW! http://www.eswfed.com -Join the EHW. It's a Brand new RP E-Mail. We have a site and allow real or fake wrestlers. visit the site @ http://www.angelfire.com/apes/ehw/index.html or e-mail me @ TheRock420RVD@cs.com. YOU WON'T REGRET JOINING -For the best in wrestling audio news, trivia, opinions and commentary check out the soon to be daily coverage at http://wrestlingradio.tripod.com In addition, we have a public PPV round table to get your predictions and thoughts to the wrestling public. Please check us out at Wrestling Radio. ===================================================================== nWN Staff//========================================================== Founder & Editor: naidO - naido@hotmail.com Columnist: Sam Jerry - SAMJERRY@aol.com Columnist: The Vile - vile316@yahoo.com Columnist: Leno - jm51509@AOL.com Columnist: Tomac - tomac67@yahoo.com Columnist: The Sad Rebel - sadrebel@hotmail.com Columnist: Linda - lvaccarp@hotmail.com Columnist: Rishi - above__average@hotmail.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 ===================================================================== =====================================================================