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http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2004/05/01/443757.html

Lance goes Stormin' out

By TJ MADIGAN - Calgary Sun

It's the end of the road for one of the most talented and often
underrated wrestling stars to ever emerge from Calgary. In a
commentary released on his website Monday morning, WWE star Lance
Storm (Lance Evers) announced he will be hanging up his wrestling
boots, possibly for good.

"I have always wanted to be an important part of the product," Storm
wrote. "I had come to the point where I was feeling I could contribute
more outside the ring than I have been inside it."

Storm, who was born in Ontario but moved to Calgary to train with the
Hart family in the late '80s, has been ridiculously underused since
Vince McMahon bought out his WCW contract in 2001.

He has accumulated an impressive list of injuries, including four
bulging discs, sporadic numbness and sciatic nerve issues.

To solve both the injury and career trajectory problems, Storm will
immediately move to a behind-the- scenes position, signing on as an
instructor at the WWE's OVW training facility in Kentucky, where he'll
work with developmental wrestlers to prepare them for the big time.

As one of the most talented mat technicians in the world, he no doubt
has a lot of things he can pass on to the next generation of
up-and-comers.

Storm's final match took place in front of a sea of friendly faces at
the Saddledome two weeks ago.

He wrestled (and defeated) Steven Richards in a solid one-on-one that
aired on Sunday Night Heat last weekend.

Although no one in the crowd knew it was Storm's farewell appearance,
the audience reaction for the hometown hero was off the charts, a
gesture Storm won't soon forget.

"I'm so glad it happened in Calgary," he said. 

"I am proud to be one of a long line of great workers to come out of
Calgary and the support I received that night from the crowd was
unbelievable. I love you all and can't thank you enough for making
possibly my last night one to remember.

"If the cameras hadn't cut so quickly, you may have even spotted a
tear in my eye."

Ours too, Lance. 

Ours too. 

- - - 

HHH-ALT!: Triple H was supposed to begin shooting his movie debut
after Backlash but WWE has put the film project on hold to keep him on
TV as it tries to fill the gaps on the depleted roster.

With Steve Austin, Goldberg, Brock Lesnar and Mick Foley all
disappearing in the space of a month, Triple H is being used to
elevate as much young talent as possible before he heads to Hollywood.
HHH will now begin shooting El Journada Del Muerte in Los Angeles
later this month but is expected to be back in time to face Chris
Benoit at Summerslam in August.

- - - 

TURNING JAPANESE: Former Japanese rugby star Kenzo Suzuki will be
making his WWE debut on the May 10 edition of Raw in San Jose.

Billed as Hirohito, a Japanese patriot out to get revenge for
America's actions in the Second World War (because it's not like WWE
saddles foreigners with tacky stereotypical gimmicks or anything),
Suzuki will make his TV debut at the live show, seconded by a North
American 'bodyguard' character.

- - - 

HART 'N' HOME: Chris Benoit's visit to the Hart family home in Calgary
is expected to be released as part of the Rabid Wolverine's two-disc
DVD set, which will be available later this year.

- - - 

TIME CHANGE: Velocity will be moving to a new 5 p.m. timeslot today
and WWE will be airing a heavily stacked show to promote the change.

If you don't want the spoilers, stop reading now. 

In matches taped for Velocity in Oklahoma Tuesday night, Bradshaw
bloodied Funaki on the ring steps before beating him with a
Clothesline from Hell, Rey Mysterio returned to action and defeated
Jamie Noble with a West Coast Pop and John Cena defeated Akio in the
main event.


--- Internet Rex 2.29