===================================================================== ===================================================================== ____ ___ ____ ___ ____ / /\/ /\/ /\ / \ / /\ __ ___ / / / / / / / / \ / / / / \/ \ / / / / / / / / \/ / / / \ / \/ / / / / / / / / /\ /\ / / / / / / /\ / / / / / / / / /\ \/ / / / / /\ / / / / / / / / / /\ / / / / / \ / / /____/ /___/ / /___/ / \_____/ / /___/ / /__/ / \____\/\___\/ \___\/ \____\/ \___\/ \__\/ n a i d O ' s W r e s t l i n g N e w s Edition// 595 Date// January 18, 2002 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 The latest new from the WWF & the rest of pro-wrestling Article// Jim Ross Conference Call Comment// Linda's Thoughts Remember... Affiliates SPOILERS ===================================================================== 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 Raw results: http://www.naidosworld.com/tvsmackdown.html --Sorry about mentioning the spoiler link and not having it updated. My bad. What? Anyhoo, it's up and ready for you to peruse. Speaking of Smacky, the show was great in the fact that Jericho just might have been established last night. And if he is indeed booked to go over Rocky on Sunday, he has to do it convincingly and cleanly. His promo with the Rock was intense. He needs to carry that over. Like you'll hear Jim Ross say later, the longer he's champ, the more he'll get over. Enjoy the newsletter today with Linda's SmackDown! thoughts and all the news you can use. We'll see you tomorrow with Ross Report notes and a lot more. Take care! --THIS WEEK on BEHIND THE SQUARED CIRCLE 01/18/02: We feature a special interview with the voice of CZW, Eric Gargiulo. He and BBBoris discuss the short history of CZW, that talented roster and the latest explosion of popularity. (This is a must listen!) Also all the news of the week including our take on the nWo fiasco, XPW's 'surprise,' The Royal Rumble and more. Plus news from Japan and details of our special broadcast with Zach Arnold later this week. Click to listen http://www.btscshow.com/ LOVE THE NEWSLETTER? PLEASE TELL A FRIEND TO JOIN! Thanks for reading. naidO// ***All links in this newsletter can be viewed by being clicked (html capable email readers only) or cut and pasted into your browser. ===================================================================== TOP HEADLINE//======================================================= --Goldberg is in the latest edition of the Desert Sun had this to say about chances of him joining the WWF: "I personally believe that everything I've stood for when I got into the ring would be compromised and succumbed to the circus-like atmosphere that's out there, and that's putting it mildly. I would be an imbecile if I gave up half my money to work for a company I didn't respect." 1wrestling reports that AOL-Time Warner may offer Goldberg a 80% buyout of his contract, but at this stage Goldberg seems content just to sit and collect his full salary. By the way, Goldberg is taking part in the Bob Hope Classic and his team is currently shooting 13-under-par. Goldberg is an 18 handicap. Source// Observer ===================================================================== News from the WWF -- WWF.com//======================================= --The overnight rating for SmackDown! last night was a 5.0. Same as last week's overnight number. Expect a final rating to be released later. --There are WWF notes from their Japan press conference at the PuroresuPower website, you can check them out by clicking http://www.puroresupower.com/info/news.cgi?news=292 --Malenko returns to Federation...as road agent Dean Malenko is back in the World Wrestling Federation. He's just a little more dressed-up this time. The live SmackDown! on Jan. 3 was Malenko's first official day in his new role: road agent. To read all about it, click http://www.wwf.com/news/headlines/1106852 --WWF.com: Rock, Y2J, Hardy Boyz, Lita & more to tour Asia The following superstars are currently scheduled to take part in the World Wrestling Federation's Asia SmackDown! Tour: The Rock, Chris Jericho, Edge, Test, Kane, Big Show, the Dudley Boyz & Stacy Keibler, Tajiri & Torrie Wilson, Billy Kidman, Hardy Boyz & Lita, Billy & Chuck, Hurricane & Mighty Molly, Diamond Dallas Page, Haku and Funaki. Tickets for these events go on sale this Sunday (Tokyo) and Monday (Singapore and Malaysia). --For more detail on the Jim Ross conference call, you can click the following links for Slam! Wrestling's coverage of the event. *(Talk of Hogan, Nash and Hall) - http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBiosR/ross_02jan17-can.html *(General call notes) - http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBiosR/ross_02jan18-can.html --Here's the complete list of the 30 wrestlers in this weekends Royal Rumble: -Al Snow, Albert, Big Show, Billy, Booker T, Big Bossman, Bradshaw, Christian, Chuck, Dallas Page, Faarooq, Godfather, Goldust, Jeff Hardy, Kane, Kurt Angle, Lance Storm, Matt Hardy, Maven, Mr. Perfect, Perry Saturn, Rikishi, Rob Van Dam, Scotty Too Hotty, Steve Austin, Test, The Hurricane, Triple H, Undertaker, Val Venis Here's the rest of the card for the PPV: Undisputed World Title Match - Chris Jericho (c) vs. The Rock Intercontinental Title Match - Edge (c) vs. William Regal Tag Team Titles Match - Tazz & Spike (c) vs. The Dudleyz Street Fight - Vince McMahon vs. Ric Flair Women's Title Match - Trish Stratus (c) vs. Jazz *For those wondering, Flair's match at the Rumble will be his first since his match with Sting in March 2001. *As you may also have noticed, Matt and Jeff Hardy are returning at the PPV. There also looks to be no spots left for "surprises" like there usually are for the Rumble, but, anything can happen and anyone can get jumped. --A reminder that Kurt Angle will be on Byte This! today at 4PM Eastern at WWF.com --Along with offering the Royal Rumble online, the WWF will be having a two-hour "pre-game" webcast so to speak starting at 5PM Eastern at RoyalRumble.com. The webcast will be free up until the PPV. Sources// -Wrestling Observer/Dave Meltzer @ http://www.wrestlingobserver.com -UltimoWrestling @ http://www.ultimowrestling.com -Dave Scherer/1wrestling @ http://www.1wrestling.com -SLAM! Wrestling @ http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestling ===================================================================== News from the rest of pro-wrestling//================================ --Nielsen Ratings -- Week of 1/7/02 - 1/13/02 1. WWF 4.2 2. WWF 3.7 3. Figure Skating 2.7 4. Money Talks 2.4 5. SpongeBob 2.3 6. The Mummy 2.3 7. Rugrats 2.2 8. The Division 2.2 9. Analyze This 2.2 10. SpongeBob 2.2 --Norman Smiley and Bobby Heenan have put a slew of items up for auction at eBay.com. There's a ton of items like Heenan sequin shirts and jackets and signed hockey jerseys by Norman Smiley. You can check them all out by going to the website and searching for their names. Sources// TVInsite -Dave Scherer/1wrestling @ http://www.1wrestling.com ===================================================================== Article//============================================================ Jim Ross Conference Call Jim Ross held a conference call today and here are some of the main things he had to say, courtesy of The Observer: *He said that the WWF has not officially signed with Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash or Scott Hall. However, the Federation is negotiating with the trio and there is no word on their timetable of them signing. Ross also said that in the right envoironment the three can be very productive. *Chris Benoit is now pain free and has started to do some very light ring work. The goal for his return is around WrestleMania. *The WWF is waiting to get a medical report on Scott Steiner's drop foot syndrome, before both sides will begin serious talks once more. *He confirmed that it would be Dustin Runnels in the Goldust role, as well as Curt Hennig playing Mr. Perfect at the Royal Rumble. As of this time Goldust is only scheduled to take part in the Rumble as a one-time deal. *The main crew going to Asia in March include The Rock, Chris Jericho, Kane, Edge, Big Show, Ric Flair, Stacy Keibler, Hardyz & Lita. *He said that his best guess as to when the split would occur would be sometime after WrestleMania. *There are no plans as of yet to use Haku or D'Lo Brown in the Rumble but that can always change. *It was announced that the Hardy Boyz will be in the Royal Rumble. *He said that after the split the Cruiserweights will probably be more of a focus. He priase guys like Kaz Hayashi, Jamie Knoble, Shannon Moore and others. *They have been talking with Rey Mysterio Jr. and there is great interest in him. However he won't be brought it until at least when the split of promotions occurs. *He said that once Eddie Guerrero gets his personal issues in check, the WWF would like to see him return, possibly to help boost the name for the cruiserweights. *Thoughts backstage on Jericho as champ. Said it's very positive. Hard worker. His interview tonight on Smackdown is a true piece of work. Claimed it was the most emotional interview he's ever seen him deliver. Very well liked by the other wrestlers. The longer he's champion, the more it will establish him. ===================================================================== Comment//============================================================ Linda's Thoughts No Vince McMahon last night, WHAT, I said no Vince McMahon last night, and for that matter no Ric Flair. I don't get it with all the time those two have taken to build up their Royal Rumble feud they're weren't even on Smackdown. And you know what? It didn't matter, because the "wrestlers" were able to take over and make Smackdown well worth watching. I will say if you don't watch the first hour of Smackdown you really won't miss much. It picks up during the second half and I'm giving Chris Jericho, The Rock, Booker, Angle, Austin and HHH the credit for that. The first hour had matches that I found totally dead. Even the fans were extremely quiet. RVD and Regal opened the show with such a slow boring match; RVD seemed to be anything but smooth in this one. I think because the pace was slower than what RVD is used to his timing seemed a little off once in awhile. This match was really nothing, but again with Regal in there it was just what I expected. Another match that followed was Billy Gunn vs. Tajiri, again nothing great at all. In fact I think Billy and Chucky do better against Albert and Scottie. This had no excitement whatsoever. I'm thinking Torrie is dying out there with Tajiri, how about her turning and joining those hunky blonde guys? Hey I don't think it would be any worse than the way things are now. Right before the next match we see Lillian Garcia interviewing the Women's champion Trish Stratus. Before Trish can answer Lillian's question about Jazz, Jazz attacks her from the back. She goes after Trish, throwing her in a trunk, Trish gets out, but Jazz closes the top on Trish's fingers. She's an evil woman, but I'll tell you Jazz has really made this women's division very interesting. So now Trish has been hurt and what her status will be for Sunday no one knows, oh yeah and on one cares. Truthfully Trish has done a good job in the ring, so I don't want to take anything away from her. The last match of the first hour was DDP yeah that's right DDP, who is getting a shot at coming back if he beats the Big Bad Bossman. Michael Cole gave us this little news bit, he said Ric Flair told DDP he could be rehired it he won this match. To be honest with you I started watching it, but again the Bossman was in there so I lost my concentration, however, DDP won and now will be in the Royal Rumble. Does that mean anything to any of you? Now during this first hour it was conversations with Rock. It started with Austin, then Angle, then HHH and then the Undertaker. After each match or so, one of them would confront Rock tell them how he will win the RR and Rock would say he would beat Jericho for the title and each would say it would be him and Rock at Wrestlemania. Hope that's not to confusing, but I found all these little chats with Rock lame, and I think Rock was getting all this extra time since he was off on Monday. Also watching all of these segments I think made it obvious that Jericho was definitely losing this Sunday. So this first hour really dragged, and the fans in the arena seemed to feel the same way. Well things start to change when the second hour hits. Rock comes to the ring and starts talking how Taker says he's going to win the RR, HHH says he's going to win, and so on and so on. Then Rock says wait the cameraman says he's going to win. Rock takes the camera and starts focusing on the fans, he mentions the six-year-old in the stands says he's going to win. It was The Rock Cam and I thought it was very funny. Maybe because the show was going nowhere this was just what the fans needed to pick them up. Well things really heated up when Rock said he's going to be the Undisputed Champ, Jericho comes out and I'll tell you he really let loose on the mic. What made this so damn good I think was so much he said was a shoot, and again like other shoots he put A LOT of emotion in this. He yelled saying he hasn't had any respect since he became champion, that it wasn't a fluke he won, that he's not a transitional champion. I'm telling you just listen to what he says, it's really something. I don't think anyone will ever forget Jericho's performance last night. Anyway between the Rock Cam and Jericho the show really started to pick up. I think the fans were so pumped up that there was a little mini RR match with Rikishi, APA, Storm, Christian, Big Show and Kane. I'll tell you this might not have been the match of the night, but it sure seemed to please the fans. Pops for all in the ring, quite a change from what was going on earlier in the show. Hey after the match we even got Michael Cole's dramatic introduction of a very brutal scene that happened earlier in the evening. Cole and Lawler put their serious faces on and showed The Dudley's ambushing Tazz and Spike in the parking lot. The reason they said camera's were there was because they were waiting for Rock's arrival. Yeah, right, anyway Buh Buh and D-Von beat up Tazz and throw him in the trunk of his car and then the beat the hell out of Spike with the tag team belt. They do a 3-D right on cement and Spike's done. If you watch carefully Buh Buh cushioned Spike's head very well during this move, but what the hell it's sport's entertainment so yeah his head hit the cement. So now how will Spike be for the Royal Rumble? I bet you all can't wait to order it and find out. Edge took on Test. And I swear I'm not being prejudiced when I say this, but the match was flat. These two don't have any chemistry, and I feel they couldn't get anything going. I'm not blaming either guy, it just wasn't that good of a match. But it did bring out Regal who tried to attack Edge, but this time Edge was able to take out Test and Regal with chairs. And when Nick Patrick got in Edge's way, he got the chair from Edge too, so that woke up the audience and I enjoyed it as well. We see Debra backstage telling Austin that she wants to finish Stephanie off from their brawl on Raw. Steve tells her to cool it he has to tag with HHH and doesn't want any problems. Really I couldn't understand that, why would Austin care if Hunter has a fit that Debra beat up Steph? Hey that should please Austin even more. Well Steph is beaming to Hunter that Debra has to stay back. Hunter informs Steph that she's not coming out with him either. She can't grasp that, she says I thought I was your inspiration? I wish you could have seen his face. Well Hunter got a little pissed and very meanly told Steph it's his first match since he's been back, and it's about him not her. Wow, can this marriage be saved? Hunter leaves and again Steph has that sad rejected expression on her face. I would be lying to you if I said I wasn't frothing at the mouth waiting to see Hunter wrestle. And let me say he didn't let me down. I thought he looked great out there. Oh and his appearance wasn't bad either. He put on one hell of a performance, and for me it was just as thrilling as his return a few weeks ago. I liked watching him wrestle against Booker, since it was the first time these two have gone at it. And I also enjoyed hearing the Triple H chants, how long that will go on is the question? Face or heel maybe more will be known after Sunday's ppv. Since the matches weren't much last night, this by far was the match of the night. One the fans were really into. Now I'm thinking, since The Game got the victory he might not be winning the Royal Rumble. But I hold off on that until the weekend Raw was a much better show, but I still would recommend watching Smackdown. As I mentioned at the beginning I found it so weird that Vince and Flair weren't even on for a few minutes. However there was a Royal Rumble add that was shown I think twice hyping the Flair/McMahon feud, so I guess that was to make up for their non appearance. Sunday's the day, and I have to say predicting any of the matches is going to be very tough. Although I think there is one match that is a sure thing. Check my column out on Sunday, I'm going to really think this out, because the way I'm going right now it looks like I might only have one right. ===================================================================== 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.btscshow.com (nWN's Official Wrestling Show) -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://thegame420.rawfeedonline.com -http://omantortuga.cjb.net -http://www.geocities.com/pwpwrestle -http://www.manbeasttemple.com -http://www.nwouk.com -http://wrestlingradio.tripod.com -http://www.tointense.cjb.net BECOME AN AFFILIATE// Make nWN your official newsletter!! Email naido@hotmail.com with your website's address for consideration ===================================================================== SPOILERS//=========================================================== ***SLAM! Wrestling reports that The Undertaker will cause the what will be the remaining two survivors of the Rumble, Steve Austin and Triple to be eliminated at the same time causing confusion as to whom the true Mania main-eventer will be. ===================================================================== News gathering links//=============================================== -The WWF @ http://www.wwf.com http://www.wwfcorpbiz.com -Dave Scherer/1wrestling @ http://www.1wrestling.com -The Pro Wrestling Torch @ http://www.pwtorch.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: 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. *"Behind The Squared Circle" is in no way affiliated with nWN writer Sam Jerry The above exempts Odain Nurse from any and all legal disputes. Copyright © 1999 - 2002 - naidO - All Rights Reserved ===================================================================== =====================================================================