kjh

I'm not sure if Bruno insisted on exactly that line, but I'm sure there would have been some loose agreement in place over how to handle discussions about his past differences with the company before he put pen to paper.

When you're getting a top star level WrestleMania payoff, you're going on last.

Ric Flair's Japanese in ring return cancelled due to health scare

I've long wondered about Keith's psychology. He's some guy who likes to say strange, counterintuitive tidbits with the seeming goal being to make himself seem like the insider who has all the information. Most of his past works are obviously sensationalistic by nature, and he writes history with the intent of putting himself over more than constructing narratives that are supported by both facts and critical analysis. Honestly, he reminds me of those carny barker trolls who used to frequent wrestling figure websites by claiming his inside source within Jakks has given him a list of the next few sets of figures, creating an impressive but obviously bs list in the process. Over time, those people were banned or not trusted, but it got them over for that minute I suppose. IIRC, Keith wrote a book called "The Death of the WWE". If he did, I wonder how he justified that title given that the company was still making ginormous amounts of money that WCW could only dream of. I think he's someone who has some low level sources and he takes their word as gospel, rather than, as you say, only believing the stories that are backed up by further evidence. I don't think he even has low level sources. Seth Mates, who was on the WWE creative team about ten years ago was quoted on the front page of one of his book's saying: "Scott gets it dead-on".

Not that this sort of cynicism is unwarranted, but it wouldn't shock me if Backlund was on the planned list this year all along. Backlund's name has been rumoured as a likely inductee since last August. I don't think they've given up the ghost yet with Bruno either.

I've long wondered about Keith's psychology. He's some guy who likes to say strange, counterintuitive tidbits with the seeming goal being to make himself seem like the insider who has all the information. Most of his past works are obviously sensationalistic by nature, and he writes history with the intent of putting himself over more than constructing narratives that are supported by both facts and critical analysis. Honestly, he reminds me of those carny barker trolls who used to frequent wrestling figure websites by claiming his inside source within Jakks has given him a list of the next few sets of figures, creating an impressive but obviously bs list in the process. Over time, those people were banned or not trusted, but it got them over for that minute I suppose. IIRC, Keith wrote a book called "The Death of the WWE". If he did, I wonder how he justified that title given that the company was still making ginormous amounts of money that WCW could only dream of. I think he's someone who has some low level sources and he takes their word as gospel, rather than, as you say, only believing the stories that are backed up by further evidence.

Bruno wanted the title again in 1981? Goes against every interview he's done in the past 20 years. And how does Zybysko turning babyface fit with Bruno winning the title back.

Awesome! It gets better: TMZ claims Hulk Hogan was offered a $50 million WWE retirement contract in 2009

Hulk Hogan files $50 million malpractice lawsuit against Tampa's Laser Spine Institute The Huckster gets conned by local quacks, tries to get $50 million in damages by claiming they cost him a match against John Cena. Incredible chutzpah!

On a similar note, was Oliver being serious when he said Roy Nelson only started going nuts about roids after the NSAC turned down his request for TRT.

Kawada was never really put in the position to be a draw at that level for New Japan again. He never headlined another Dome show for the company.

I can understand that. But there's zero excuse for booking the Fedor fight, especially in 2003. Inoki had more riding on Bom-Ba-Ye being a ratings success?

It's worth noting that Ogawa being shot straight to the top in April 1997 was a last minute desperation move. They needed something special after the company had egg on their face when they had announced Hashimoto vs. Ken Shamrock, only for the WWF to sign the shooter from right under their nose. It worked as the show drew a near sell out of 50,500 fans. You're also missing two matches from their two feuds: May 3, 1997 Osaka Dome - IWGP Champ Shinya Hashimoto beat Naoya Ogawa (10:20) via submission. Drawing 43,000. Jan 4, 2000 Tokyo Dome - Shinya Hashimoto & Takashi Iizuka beat Naoya Ogawa & Kazunari Murakami (8:59) when Iizuka beat Murakami via sleeperhold. Drawing 53,500, though wasn't the main event. Regarding Nagata vs. Cro Cop, the New Japan side thought Nagata would win as they had been taught that an amateur wrestler with submission knowledge always beats a kickboxer. What they didn't realise was Cro Cop had been learning takedown defence on the side secretly.

Severn was a bad fit for the WWF, but he was also booked to fail, as everything involving Jim Cornette in 1998 was.

Zeus pulled a great SummerSlam buyrate against Hulk Hogan in a tag match as pretty much a one and done heel. You build monsters up for Goldberg to slay, just like they did in the days of Bruno and Hogan. To a certain extent even WCW got that, but they half-assed it.

Ric Flair to wrestle for All Japan Pro Wrestling in Tokyo on Jan. 26? Ric Flair & Keiji Mutoh vs. Tatsumi Fujinami & Seiya Sanada confirmed for Jan. 26th

And he's already gone again... I wonder if Dave got a friendly call from Jerry McDevitt telling him in no uncertain terms that Flair is not under contract to WWE.

I wouldn't call it ripping off when Joey Styles still runs WWE.com.

I did a post about the situation for Cageside Seats. I think the fact that all the wrestlers who are supposed to be leaving lost on the Sumo Hall show and Kobashi is going to promote his Budokan Hall retirement show by himself suggest that all the rumours were true and they're just playing nice together for the good of the company.

"I wrestled him in my first year in the business, and I knew nothing. Austin carried me through every match that we had." - Kurt Angle to The Sun

Zach Arnold on Kenta Kobashi's retirement:

More information from the Charlotte Observer, it looks like Ric hasn't been paying his taxes again:

RIC FLAIR'S WIFE You're a Dirty Cheater ... This Marriage Is Over!! He's also stiffing her on alimony. Shocking I know...

Edge was hurt a bit this year with John Cena being on the ballot, after a big retirement bump in 2011: 2009 Edge 44 22% 2010 Edge 32 18% 2011 Edge 105 46% 2012 Edge 95 37% The likely course is to crack the 50% threshold next year and once he gets close, he'll probably go in the year after.

Punk's a very good performer, but he's really been a massive disappointment as a draw on top. Part of that is he lifted expectations so unreasonably high after his killer "shoot" promo on Vince McMahon and part is the WWE creative team dropping the ball, neither of which he can be blamed for, but he hasn't really clicked with the mainstream fans. It may be blasphemous to say this here, but Edge is probably a stronger candidate than Punk at this point, due to greater longevity and being a foil for Cena when the business was hotter.