WCW Cont'd

[Grimmas]

Excerpts from the Pro Wrestling Observer by David Keller from March 24, 2001

 

Today it was made official that Fusient Media Ventures has purchased World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS Inc.) a division of AOL Time Warner. Fusient CEO Brian Bedol and his business partner, Steve Greenberg, have named Eric Bischoff as the new WCW President.

 

Fusient has secured the WCW brand, tape library, and other intellectual property rights. As of press time there is no word on what talent contracts Fusient will be taking on.

 

The final performance of WCW Monday Nitro will be live on Turner Network Television (TNT) on Monday, March 26, 2001. WCW will not continue on Turner networks. That fact almost ended the purchase, however it is believed WCW has made an agreement to move to another network once the purchase is finalize and after Monday's series finale.

 

Since the deal was just made public today, officially, there is not much known about WCW's future. The original plan was to take a month off and return to pay-per-view on May 6th with a show called "The Big Bang". No word on if that is still in the works. Although no arenas have been booked going forward.

 

At the final Nitro, Bischoff, Bedol, & Greenberg will be in attendance and will address the talent. We will have more news in the next issue.

[Grimmas]

Excerpts from the Pro Wrestling Observer by David Keller from March 31, 2001

 

Last Monday was the final WCW broadcast on Turner Broadcasting. The show started with new WCW President Eric Bischoff, who let everybody know this was not the ending, but a new beginning. He directed everybody to the WCW website for information about the return of WCW. He said WCW will be taking a month long break and in that time they would recruit the best talent from around the world to compete. He brought out Rob Van Dam as the latest WCW signing. Van Dam cut a short promo in his style. The rest of the show was pretty straight forward and in between matches videos showing the history of WCW on Turner.

 

Here is the quick results:

1) Rey Mysterio Jr. & Billy Kidman beat Shannon Moore & Evan Karagias and Kaz Hayashi & Yang (3:38) when Mysterio pinned Moore with a legdrop off the top.

2) WCW Cruiserweight Champion Shane Helms pinned Chavo Guerrero Jr. (4:39) with the Vertebreaker.

3) WCW Tag Team Champions Sean O'Haire & Chuck Palumbo beat Lance Storm & Mike Awesome (3:21) when O'Haire pinned Awesome with the Swanton Bomb.

4) Shawn Stasiak w/ Stacy Keilber pinned Bam Bam Bigelow (1:23) with the neckbreaker.

5) WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions Elix Skipper & Kid Romeo breat Rey Mysterio Jr. & Billy Kidman (4:43) to retain the titles when Romeo pinned Kidman by pulling his tights.

6) Sting beat Ric Flair (7:17) with the Scorpion Death Drop.

 

Shortly after the final Nitro, WCW announced a three year deal with the USA Network to air their programming. This includes a two hour live show on Wednesday evenings (entitled World Wide) and an one hour show on Saturday mornings (called Power Hour). It also includes 4 (3 in 2001) live Clash of the Champions on Monday nights, going head to head with WWF Raw. The first Clash will be on May 7th and will be the first show back for WCW.

 

WCW Clash of the Champions XXXV "Reborn" will be held on May 7th live from the Greensboro Coliseum in direct competition to WWF Raw. Already announced is a four-way elimination match for the now vacant WCW United States Title (vacant due to Booker T winning the World Title) between Rob Van Dam, Dustin Rhodes, Jeff Jarrett, & La Parka.Also announced will be a preview match for the upcoming World Cup, as Booker T (USA) & Rey Mysterio Jr. (Mexico) faces The Great Muta (Japan) & Lance Storm (Canada).

 

The World Cup will consist of 5 teams of two from various countries competing in a round robin tournament over the course of May and early June on WCW World Wide. The two teams with the most points will compete at WCW's return to pay-per-view The Great American Bash on June 10th to determine the winner.

 

Already announced teams are:

Booker T & Diamond Dallas Page (USA)

The Great Muta & Yuji Nagata (Japan)

Rey Mysterio Jr. & Psicosis (Mexico)

 

The two remaining teams will be Canada and England.

 

There is a bunch of behind the scene news coming out of WCW as well. Bischoff and Fusient were at Nitro and had a meeting with the roster. Talent were given the chance to sign new contracts with WCW, as WCW will only take on one current contract and that is Goldberg's (since it has only one year remaining). Everybody else will have to resign. Word has Rey Mysterio Jr., Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page, Lance Storm, Dustin Rhodes, Jeff Jarrett, Billy Kidman, Sean O'Haire, Chuck Palumbo and Shane Helms have all signed. Others are all negotiating still.

 

The working agreement between WCW and NJPW is back on as well. Except some talent exchanges going forward.

 

Bischoff let everybody know about the USA Network deal and the return on May 7th. There will be that special, then the weekly live Wednesday World Wide shows, plus house shows on Fridays, Saturday and Sunday. Power Hour will be taped once monthly. WCW will focus on younger and international talent to set itself apart form the WWF. The talent were happy with the announcements and with Rob Van Dam coming in.

 

In the days since the final Nitro, we have learned that Dutch Mantell has come in as head booker and his assistant booker will be Gabe Sapoloski (who has been Paul Heyman's assistant in ECW). These two hope to install stability into WCW programming. With the company built around Booker as WCW World Champion and Golberg in super fights, to go along with the Cruiserweight division.

 

Things are happening quickly in WCW and we will have way more news in next's week issue.

[Bierschwale]

Strong start. I assume that Storm's on Team Canada. PCO as his partner? England's a mystery. Brookside and Doug Williams?

 

I also like Goldberg as a guy who bypasses the title because he's already done that shit. Now he's gonna take on the entirety of PRIDE.

[Grimmas]

Strong start. I assume that Storm's on Team Canada. PCO as his partner? England's a mystery. Brookside and Doug Williams?

 

I also like Goldberg as a guy who bypasses the title because he's already done that shit. Now he's gonna take on the entirety of PRIDE.

Thanks and you are almost spot on.

[Grimmas]

Excerpts from the Pro Wrestling Observer by David Keller from April 7, 2001

 

Let's start off the WCW news by listing the previous WCW talent that has resigned with the new WCW. Last week we got word that Rey Mysterio Jr., Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page, Lance Storm, Dustin Rhodes, Jeff Jarrett, Billy Kidman, Sean O'Haire, Chuck Palumbo and Shane Helms have all signed new contracts. Goldberg's contract has been assumed by the new WCW as well.

 

Over the last week, WCW has added Norman Smiley, Mark Jindrak, Alex Wright, Disco Inferno, Billy Kidman, Psicosis, Jason Jett, Kaz Hayashi, Jimmy Yang, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Kid Romeo, Elix Skipper, Jamie Noble and Shannon Moore. La Parka is the first luchador brought back and WCW is looking at more options from Mexico to fill out the curserweight division.

 

The rest of the roster will be filled out with new talent from around the world, including taking on ECW talent. Rob Van Dam already appeared at the final Nitro, but we have learned that Tajiri, Simon Diamond, CW Anderson and Little Guido have all had talks and are expected to sign within a few days.

 

One major change coming from ECW is that Joey Styles will take over the lead announcer position. It seems Styles and head booker Dutch Mantell will be the lead voices on World Wide when it debuts on the USA Network. Scott Hudson will remain as the lead announcer of the b-show Power Hour. It is unconfirmed who will be his partner. Mike Tenay is also staying with WCW, as an interviewer and to help scouting.

 

Gabe Sapoloski, the new assistant booker, will also help out on scouting. He has had a hand in the ECW names mentioned above. He is also pushing for WCW to bring in Low Ki as the next star of the Cruiserweight division. Low Ki will meet with WCW next week.

 

Sapoloski and Tenay will help Fit Finlay, who has been named the new head of talent. He will be the head road agent and will be in charge of talent, a job similar to what Jim Ross does in the WWF.

 

Other news is that Eric Bischoff, even though he will be the WCW President, will not be an on air character. He will, on occasion, appear on television and will be used in a similar role to how Jack Tunney was used in the WWF in the late 80s. The on air matches will be booked by a fictional championship committee with Arn Anderson as the on air head match maker. Arn will be on each show as the voice of the committee. Arn will also be a road agent along with Finlay and Ricky Steamboat.

 

To end this week's report we have more info on both the World Cup and the Clash of the Champions.

 

The full World Cup teams will be:
Booker T & Diamond Dallas Page (USA)
Yuji Nagata & The Great Muta (Japan)
Rey Mysterio Jr. & Psicosis (Mexico)

Lance Storm & Carl Ouelette (Canada)
Norman Smiley & Doug Williams (England)

 

Nagata and Muta will be on loan from NJPW, as part of the new working agreement the two companies have. Williams and Ouelette will be singed for the duration of the tournament and this tournament will be used as a trial to see if they will be brought in full time.

 

As for the Clash of the Champions "Reborn" on the USA Network on Monday, May 7 as of last week we had the two top matches.

 

Rob Van Dam vs Dustin Rhodes vs Jeff Jarrett vs La Parka in an Elimination Match for the vacant United States Title

Booker T & Rey Mysterio Jr. vs The Great Muta & Lance Storm in a preview of the World Cup.

 

Over the last week WCW has announced that IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions El Samurai & Jushin Liger will take on WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions Elix Skipper & Kid Romeo.

 

Shane Helms will defend his Cruiserweight Title against his former friend Shannon Moore.

 

Rumour has it that Don Frye is one big talent WCW is trying to sign, if they do expect him to feud with Goldberg and to debut at the Clash.

[Grimmas]

Excerpts from the Pro Wrestling Observer by David Keller from April 7, 2001

Low Ki's meeting with WCW went well, although he has not signed yet. The Cruiserweight division is posed to be a huge part of the new WCW and Assistant Booker Gabe Sapoloski is very high on Ki as a centerpiece of the division. We are told Ki should be making his decision next week.

Already signed who could be considered cruiserweights are: Rey Mysterio Jr., Billy Kidman, Shane Helms, Psicosis, Jason Jett, Kaz Hayashi, Jimmy Yang, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Kid Romeo, Elix Skipper, Jamie Noble, and Shannon Moore. Yoshihiro Tajiri has signed as well and is set for a huge push. James Mitchell, Tajiri's ECW manager, also met with WCW about returning. No word yet, on how that went.

Other that have talked to WCW, but have not yet signed are AJ Styles, Air Paris, Ikuto Hidaka, Super Crazy, Antifaz del Norte, Shark Boy, Dick Togo, Christopher Daniels, Christian York and Joey Matthews. On top of the NJPW working agreement, WCW has also put out feelers to CMLL, AAA, and Toryumon about making similar deals.

For the return of WCW at the Clash of the Champions on May 7th, there is the El Samurai & Jushin Liger vs Elix Skipper & Kid Romeo match, but there will be two more cruiserweight matches. Shane Helms will defend his Cruiserweight title and there will be a six man tag showcasing new and old talent.

A new draw added to the Clash is a Terry Funk appreciation ceremony. Whether this will be another retirement or an angle is unknown. If it is an angle, expect it as a tool to debut a new talent. Whether it's someone that has talked to WCW in the past like Steve Corino or someone else from ECW, we are not sure. Jerry Lawler is someone else that has talked to WCW, but we are not sure of what role.

WCW did announce it's special events schedule as follows:

7/8 Bash at the Beach 2001 @ Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, FL

8/6 Clash of the Champions XXXVI @ Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, NY (live on USA Network)

9/16 Fall Brawl @ United Center in Chicago, IL

10/28 Halloween Havoc @ MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV

11/12 Clash of the Champions XXXVII @ Air Canada Center in Toronto, ON (live on USA Network)

12/30 Starrcade @ Phillips Arena in Atlanta, GA11111

[Grimmas]

Excerpts from the Pro Wrestling Observer by David Keller from April 7, 2001

 

ECW may not be dead?

When Paul Heyman showed up on Raw and RVD showed up on WCW we all thought ECW was long dead. However on April 4th, HHG Corp., the parent company of ECW, officially filed a voluntary Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Petition.

 

What does that mean?

 

A Chapter 11 Bankruptcy is a formal attempt at reorganization.

In plain English:

• The company still exists and still continues to operate. Paul Heyman is still the owner and he still has operating control.
• His mandate, however, has changed.
• His objective now is to develop a plan to satisfy creditors, either by paying them back or coming to some other acceptable resolution.
• The plan could involve shutting down, selling everything, and using the cash to pay everyone back.
• Or it could be to rebuild and restart, and use the new money earned to pay them back.
• The Bankruptcy Petition formally holds his creditors at bay for the time being to allow him the chance -- i.e. he doesn't have to pay them while the plan is being developed.
• Once a plan is developed, if it makes the creditors happy, it's a go.

Essentially Heyman can restart and rebuild, sell everything and pay everyone back, someone else buys ECW, or sit back and wait as he has 120 days to make a plan.

The three biggest rumours going around are:

1) Heyman decides to rebuild with youth and run more out of the North East.

2) Vince McMahon buys ECW and does an Invasion angle.

3) Heyman sells off all the assets and gets out the best he can.

We should know more in next week's newsletter.

[SirEdger]

Man, this is actually everything that should've happened back in 2001! I'm gonna keep a close eye on this, sounds like fun!

[Grimmas]

Excerpts from the Pro Wrestling Observer by David Keller from April 14, 2001

World Championship Wrestling

Don Frye is officially coming into WCW on a short term deal. The former UFC and NJPW star has signed a short term deal and will debut on the Clash of the Champions. A feud with Goldberg seems like the direction.

Last week we reported that Low Ki was very close to signing with WCW. However, we have learned something has soured the deal. Instead of Ki coming in as the future ace of the Cruiserweight division it turns out that role will go to AJ Styles, who has officially signed.

We made a mistake last week, saying that Tjairi has signed and was set for a huge push. Tajiri actually declined the offer and seems posed to return to Japan. That may have killed the interest in James Mitchell.

Other cruiserweights signed in the last week include Ikuto Hidaka, Antifaz del Norte, Shark Boy, Dick Togo and Christopher Daniels. A few more luchadors have been brought in for interviews, including: Virus, Black Warrior, Hector Garza and Ricky Marvin.

In a weird piece of news, Joey Styles will not be the voice of WCW. He had signed a tentative agreement, but that agreement was never finalized. He has had talks with WWF, so that might be where he is headed. It also adds fuel to the fire of ECW, possibly, returning. Read the ECW section for that info.

Who will be the voice of WCW then? Scott Hudson was already slated in to do Power Hour and was formerly a head announcer for WCW. Mike Tenay is under contract and could also fill that void. However, WCW was looking for a new voice to give the company a new feel. Two candidates that fit that mold are Maura Ranallo (who was the voice of Stampede Wrestling, until it closed down last year and now does local sports) and Eric Gargiulo (former ECW ring announcer and current commentator for CZW). WCW President Eric Bischoff, could also fill that role if needed.

Extreme Championship Wrestling

Nothing is official on the bankrupt news. Heyman has lots of time to make a deal, so there is no rush. However, with Joey Styles not taking the WCW job that adds fuel to the fire that ECW may return. Some sources say ECW may not fully return, but just may run a few shows to give ECW fans a proper good bye.

[Grimmas]

Excerpts from the Pro Wrestling Observer by David Keller from April 21, 2001

Three weeks out from WCW's return and we have an official roster:

Heavyweights:

Goldberg, Booker T, Diamond Dallas Page, Rob Van Dam, Dustin Rhodes, Sean O'Haire & Chuck Palumbo, Doug Williams, Ray Gaonzalez, Tracy Smothers, Chris Hamrick, Norman Smiley, Don Frye (short term deal), Lance Storm, La Parka, Too Cold Scoprio, Super J (former nWo Sting), Mark Jindrak, Alex Wright & Disco Inferno, Flash Flanagan & Wolfie D.

Cruiserweights:

Rey Mysterio Jr. & Billy Kidman, AJ Styles, Shane Helms, Psicosis, Jason Jett, Kaz Hayashi, Ikuto Hidaka, Antifaz del Norte, Jimmy Yang, Shark Boy, Dick Togo, Christopher Daniels, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Kid Romeo & Elix Skipper, Jamie Noble, Dixie, Shannon Moore, Kwee Wee.

There are working arrangements with NJPW which will provide talent, as well as with Toryumon. Terry Funk will be on the first show, not sure if that is a one shot deal or something going forward. Also there will be a few luchadors coming in.

Joey Styles backed out of the WCW deal to take a full time ad sales job. Maura Ranallo has been hired as his replacement. Also adding to the on air personality team is Don West (from the Home Shopping Network) to host an Event Center type deal.

The full card for the Clash of the Champions on May 7th is as follows:

Booker T & Rey Mysterio Jr. vs The Great Muta & Lance Storm (in a preview of the World Cup)

Jeff Jarrett vs Dustin Rhodes vs La Parka vs Rob Van Dam (in an elimination match for the vacant WCW US Title)

Terry Funk celebration ceremony

El Samurai & Jushin Liger vs Elix Skipper & Kid Romeo

Shane Helms vs Shannon Moore (for the Cruiserweight Title)

Don Frye vs Norman Smiley

Kaz Hayashi, Ikuto Hidaka, & Psicosis vs Dick Togo, Chavo Guerrero Jr. & Christopher Daniels

Ray Gonzalez vs Disco Inferno

[Bierschwale]

With Frye & Mutoh, you could run a BATT angle. Imagine Frye/Hakushi/Hase/Kea/Muta as a WarGames team. That'd be a hell of a thing.

 

And, a quick thought on prospects... Bischoff has said that he wanted to go with SoCal moving forward. Well, when did Cena officially ink his OVW deal? You could say that he was already a WWF guy because he was in UPW, but rules only exist to be broken. You've got HWA guys.

[Grimmas]

With Frye & Mutoh, you could run a BATT angle. Imagine Frye/Hakushi/Hase/Kea/Muta as a WarGames team. That'd be a hell of a thing.

 

And, a quick thought on prospects... Bischoff has said that he wanted to go with SoCal moving forward. Well, when did Cena officially ink his OVW deal? You could say that he was already a WWF guy because he was in UPW, but rules only exist to be broken. You've got HWA guys.

Wikipedia says 2001.. so who knows. I didn't think of Cena, but that might be a good road to look at.

 

Sorry for the slowness, I am super busy. Really close to the debut show though.

[Grimmas]

Excerpts from the Pro Wrestling Observer by David Keller from April 28, 2001

 

A little over a week until WCW's return and everything seems to be set. The card is ready and looks like an interesting one, setting things in motion for their return to pay-per-view with The Great American Bash on June 10th. That should revolve around Goldberg-Frye and the finals of the World Cup.

 

The only other news coming out of this week is that Stevie Ray has been signed on as a colour commentator. He will probably work Power Hour.

[Grimmas]

Excerpts from the Pro Wrestling Observer by David Keller from May 5, 2001

 

Two days away from WCW's return at the Clash of the Champions, live on the USA Network on Monday, May 7, 2001. It will air live head to head against WWF Raw. Here is a preview:

 

Booker T & Rey Mysterio Jr. vs The Great Muta & Lance Storm (in a preview of the World Cup)

* This should be the main event to set up the World Cup. The top four teams are featured here and Rey and Booker, could make a great team. Rey can be the face in peril and Booker is quite the hot tag. Not sure who will win this, but maybe Booker gets pinned leading to a future title match for either Storm or Muta.

 

Jeff Jarrett vs Dustin Rhodes vs La Parka vs Rob Van Dam (in an elimination match for the vacant WCW US Title)

* RVD is the heavy favourite here, as he is supposed to be one of the stars WCW is trying to build upon. Since it's an elimination match, expect a feud to be set up between two of the other three. It's interesting to see La Parka in here and how he is treated.

Terry Funk celebration ceremony

* Probably an angle. Rumours of Steve Corino or Jerry Lawler showing up to start something going forward. Dustin Rhodes is another option.

El Samurai & Jushin Liger vs Elix Skipper & Kid Romeo

* Samurai and Liger are signed for the Great American Bash, so this should build to a rematch there. Probably with one of the teams titles (or both) on the line.

Shane Helms vs Shannon Moore (for the Cruiserweight Title)

* Helms will win this to help establish himself. Not sure if Helms is a long term champion, as WCW has signed a lot of Cruiserweights to come in like AJ Styles, Dick Togo, and Christopher Daniels.

Don Frye vs Norman Smiley

* A squash to get Frye over. Goldberg is set to be at ringside to start their program.

Kaz Hayashi, Ikuto Hidaka, & Psicosis vs Dick Togo, Chavo Guerrero Jr. & Christopher Daniels

* This should be an exciting high flying match to help re-establish the Cruiserweight Division.

Ray Gonzalez vs Disco Inferno

* A cool down match where Gonzalez should pick up the win. He could be a solid hand on the under card.