Message-ID:  

http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/

2/25/2004 2:43:00 PM

Wednesday update: Wrestlemania, TNA preview, NY Times story on WWE,
Great story on Rotunda, Continental revival, Race knocks Brody, OVW,
Raw mag gives away next big angle, Jesse invites unique guest lecturer
and much more

by Dave Meltzer

hsmeltzer{at}juno.com

Tonight's line-up:

*Raven & Sabu vs. Julio Dinero & C.M. Punk
*A.J. Styles vs. Abyss in a 4 tables match with the winner getting
both NWA tag titles
*Simon Diamond vs. Johnny Swinger
*Konnan & Ron Killings vs. Shane Douglas & Michael Shane
*A three-way match with Juventud Guerrera vs. Teddy Hart vs. an NWA
TNA X division rep
*Chris Harris vs. either Andy Douglas or Chase Stevens
*Mike Tenay interviews Vince Russo. Now that'll be funny in some way
Taped for 3/10 will be singles matches with Team AAA (Guerrera, Abismo
Negro, Mr. Aguila, Hector Garza managed by Antonio Pena) vs. Team
Canada (Petey Williams, Jack Evans, Teddy Hart, Johnny Devine managed
by Scott D'Amore)

--Added to Wrestlemania officially last night is a "Cruiserweight
Open" for the cruiserweight title. Pretty much every major names is
now accounted for on the show, so whatever comes next, aside from the
official announcement of Foley's match, will just be prelims.

--Today's New York Times has a story about the WWE recruiting amateur
wrestlers for their shows, featuring an interview with Kurt Angle. Jim
Ross did an interview and said they look at recruiting football
players and amateur wrestlers. The story listed Bronko Nagurski, Jim
Thorpe (who definitely refereed but I'm not sure he ever wrestled),
Kevin Greene and Reggie White as football stars who did pro wrestling.
Well, White tried to anyway. It noted Danny Hodge was a pro wrestler.
There was also a quote from John Layfield, who they listed as having
played with the Raiders (I know he was in camp, but I don't know if he
ever played a regular season game). There was nothing in the story
that anyone who follows wrestling wouldn't already know.

--Today is Ric Flair's 55th birthday

--All Star Wrestling is doing a Continental Championship Wrestling
reunion show on 3/20 in Dothan, AL at the Houston Farm Center with
Robert Fuller & Jimmy Golden & Jerry Stubbs vs. The Bullet & Road Dogg
& Steve Armstrong, plus Tommy Rich, Johnny Rich, Adrian Street, Ken
Wayne, The Assassin, Larry Brock, Scott Armstrong and Lord Humongous
(Jeff Van Kamp). There will be more legends from the past added in the
upcoming weeks. (thanks to Larry Goodman)

--CBS-3 in Memphis will be doing a sweeps piece on wrestling during
the 10 p.m. news both tomorrow and Friday night. They filmed at TNA
last week, as well as MCWA and also filmed at a Dyresburg, TN training
school. (thanks to Mark Volzer)

--OVW results from Saturday night in Hodgenville, KY: Static D (Lamont
from Smackdown and why wasn't he called Maurice?) b Robbie Dawber,
British Knights b Carlos Colon & Chris Masters, Paul E. Normous b Mac
Johnson, Sean O'Haire & Seth Skyfire b Rob Begley & Mike Taylor,
Standing Thunder b Mark Magnus-DQ, Chris Cage & Tank Toland & Alexis
Laree b Nova & Idol & Trudi DeNucci (thanks to Brian Grieves)

--Harley Race did his radio show last night from Kemper Arena where
Smackdown was taking place with cooperation from WWE. According to
Rick Murphy, he was stunned by the awe and respect the WWE wrestlers
had for Race, but the show was sad because they pretended everything
about wrestling was real. I know several people had told Race before
starting that you can't do a show like that in 2004, but guess we'll
see. When Race's co-host asked him if he ever thought wrestling would
be as big as it is now, he said that when he was wrestling, it was
bigger. Well, you can make a case for both ways. He talked about
wrestling Backlund, Hogan and Billy Graham for the title in MSG (he
wrestled Graham in a title vs. title match, but it was in Miami, not
MSG). Guerrero and Lesnar were guests. Race said the Funks, Dory Sr.,
Dory Jr. and Terry, were the only family where three different
generations held the world title. I'm sure he'd rephrase that today.
One caller had no idea who Eddy Guerrero was, but wanted to talk about
Bruiser Brody. Race was not kind, saying, "If Brody had went to the
arena with a better attitude, he would be alive today." (thanks to
Rick Murphy)

--There is a very good article on the ending of the wrestling career
of Mike Rotunda in today's St. Petersburg times at
www.sptimes.com/2004/02/22/Hernando/The_final_bell.shtml.

--Silvervision has already put a copy of the new Raw magazine front
cover on its web site. The cover is Foley & Rock called "The Odd
Couple. Mick Foley and The Rock are together again. Here's Mick's
story on why he's back wrestling, and how he and The Rock manage to
form the unlikeliest of duos." (thanks to Richard Van Dam)

--Today's Boston Globe has a very interesting story on Jesse Ventura
teaching at Harvard. Vince McMahon is being brought in as a guest
lecturer.

--Future Legends of Wrestling from last night in New Port Richey, FL
before 110 fans: Pretty Fly b Erick Stevens, Tarus b Donnie D, Daddy
Pimp b Vendetta, Nuke b Luther Jackson, Robbie Chance b Mexican
Nightmare, David Mercury b T-Bolt-DQ (thanks to Alan Wojcik)

--Jake Roberts appeared before a magistrate court on charges of
starving his pet python to death this week. He was released on bail
and scheduled to appear again on 3/11.

--Live Action Wrestling on 3/20 in Rockingham, NC at the Richmond
County High School. This is not confirmed, but there is a chance Jeff
Hardy will be on the show

--Revolution British Wrestling on Saturday night at the Woodhall Farm
Community Centre in Dathchet Close, Hemel, Hempstead, Hertfordshire
features an appearance of Johnny Kidd, who was a technical star during
the ITV era.

--Border City Wrestling and Prime Time Wrestling have a joint show on
4/25 at 6 p.m. at the Diamondback Saloon in Belleville, MI with Sabu
vs. Shane Douglas, Chris Sabin vs. N8 Mattson, Terry Taylor vs. Joe
Legend plus Zach Gowen (thanks to Devin Cutting)

--There will be a new York bus trip on 2/28 to the Jersey All Pro show
in Woodbridge, NJ which will feature a Q&A session with Jack Evans and
Teddy Hart. The bus will be leaving at 5:30 p.m. from the Modells
behind the Queens Center Mall in Queens and at 6:15 p.m. at the
Manhattan Center. The show has Teddy Hart vs. Homicide, Jerry Lynn vs.
Christopher Daniels, Dan Maff vs. Monsta Mack, Jack Evans vs. Derek
Wylde vs. Insane Dragon, Sonjay Dutt vs. Roderick Strong (these two
looked real good Wednesday on TNA) and more. For more info you can
e-mail AGENTCLPT{at}aol.com.

--New Midwest Wrestling from Monday night in Springfield, IL: Billy
Morgan b Hardcore KC, Cult b Drive Thru, NWQ b Kev G, LPC b Freshman,
Eric Logan b Mr. Elite, Toga Steve DCOR Don Jackson, Sage Ramsey b
Doug Graze, Scotty Cash b Tom Arson. Next show is Saturday at the USA
Sports Center in Springfield. They also run shows every Monday night
at Club 217 in Normandy Rd.

--CPW on 3/13 in Keyser, WV with a Bunkhouse Rumble. If you bring a
copy of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter to the show, you can get $2
off any ticket.

--River City Wrestling has a TV taping on Saturday night in San
Antonio at the Salvation Army Peacock Center

--Hurricane is doing an autograph session on 3/20 at the Futureshop at
the Heartland Town Centre in Mississauaga, ONT at 2 p.m.


--- Internet Rex 2.29