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http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2004/05/09/453237.html

WWE returns to Civic Centre

By TIM BAINES, Ottawa Sun
  
Finally ... WWE is coming back to Ottawa. But there's a bit of a twist
to this story. While a July date at the Corel Centre was recently
cancelled, it looks like WWE will be here on Oct. 23 -- at the Civic
Centre.

This could be more than a one-show move, too. Small crowds in the
Corel Centre probably necessitated the move to a smaller venue.

- The cat is out of the bag. Toronto will get Summer Slam on Aug. 15.
But the good news for Ontario wrestling fans doesn't end there.

A hot rumour has London getting RAW on Aug. 16, then Hamilton hosting
Smackdown! on Aug. 17. There will also be a non-TV Smackdown! live
event in Owen Sound on Aug. 16.

Montreal will get a Smackdown! live event on Oct. 24. 

As for Summer Slam, it's rumoured that WWE Inside the Ring Solo by
Bell customers will get first shot at tickets. And, by sheer
coincidence, Bell Mobility currently has a zero-money-down deal on its
WWE Solo by Bell phones.

- World Wrestling Entertainment sometimes cooks up storylines that
border on tasteless, but could also be construed by some as
imaginative.

While it would be hard for anyone to argue that the Triple H
necrophilia angle was effective -- quite frankly, there's little
redemption in sleeping with a corpse -- there are some cutting-edge
storylines that draw both criticism and praise.

A couple of weeks ago, we were introduced to Eugene (Nick Dinsmore),
Eric Bischoff's storyline nephew. Turns out Eugene is special,
mentally challenged. The idea seemed reprehensible. It seemed ill
advised to make light of anyone with a mental disability. But a couple
of weeks later, Eugene has developed into a bit of a hero of sorts. A
mentally-challenged man with strong physical ability. Maybe it wasn't
such a horrible idea.

Then there was a "storyline" heart attack by Eddie Guerrero's mother
on Smackdown! Guerrero's mom suffered the attack after being accosted
by JBL (Bradshaw).

When does fact rip through fiction in this soap opera surrounded by
turnbuckles? When Owen Hart plummeted to his death from a cable high
above the ring, many fans thought it was part of the act. Soon after,
Hart died, for real.

The shock factor in wrestling has long since disappeared. 

- Alex Marvez says TNA has a new TV deal with Fox SportsNet that will
begin in early June.

- Ads for the Bad Blood pay-per-view list Chris Benoit vs. Kane and
Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels in a Hell in a Cell match.

- Chavo Guerrero is no longer the cruiserweight champ and the new
strap holder is ... Jacqueline?

- Here's an idea for the Ottawa Lynx. The Triple-A Buffalo Bisons will
host Ballpark Brawl on July 17. Among the featured wrestlers will be
Rowdy Roddy Piper, Shane Douglas, Bam Bam Bigelow, Teddy Hart and Ron
"The Truth" Killings.

- Sable is set to return after taking time off following surgery to
repair a faulty breast implant.

- Tommy Dreamer has been told that he will not wrestle again in WWE.
His contract is up in July. Lance Storm has also packed it in. He was
a wrestler who, in my opinion, never get enough recognition for his
wrestling skills in WWE.

- Japanese star Kenzo Suzuki and his wife Hiroki have apparently been
signed to WWE deals. Suzuki could debut later this month on RAW, as
Hirohito.

- CPW has its Payback show on May 15, at 7 p.m., at the CPW Arena
(St-Joseph Rec Centre, 122 Berri St.) in Hull. The main event is
F.O.D. and a mystery partner vs. Rick Sterling and Thunder. Other
matches: Jacquar vs. Mr. Know it All Shawn Demers; Player Uno vs.
Kevin Steen; Twin Terrors vs. Aftershock; Dave Titan vs. Professor
Adib Mansour. At the last CPW show, Canadian Conflict, Paranoid Jake
Matthews won the CPW heavyweight title, with help from Lollipop, over
Dynamite Tommy Blade; F.O.D. beat Sterling; Roy Stevens beat Jaguar;
Damian Styles beat Mansour; Demers and Kid Supreme beat The Freak Zakk
Manson and Player Uno.

- Devin Cutting says The Documentary Channel will air a special about
the history of Wednesday night wrestling at the Montreal Forum
tomorrow at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.


--- Internet Rex 2.29