[ Got RSPW down to 5600 unread articles. Still haven't had much time to check out any of the web info sites or chat with many of my contacts in the biz. I was lucky to get this 24 July edition of Hack Notes™ out as I've got everything but my computer packed. I'll be even luckier if the 31 July edition makes it out (as I won't be able to find anything for a few weeks). ] = = = = = = = = = = [ WCW ] = = = = = = = = = = (wc): THE STEINER BROTHERS finally signed a longer-term contract with WCW, so don't be surprised if the win the belts RSN. Many sources have reported that ROAD WARRIOR HAWK decked RANDY "MACHO MAN" SAVAGE last week in Japan in the dressing room. No word on what the altercation was about. (tbr): TED DIBIASE may come in as a commentator (filling MONGO's old slot?) and *later* reveal that he is the leader of the NWO. (mr): TED DIBIASE is scheduled to make his first WCW appearance at the 26 August 1996 Nitro (as an announcer/commentator). (wc): WCW will be releasing a compact disc with the entrance music of selected wrestlers. (am): Hogan's heel turn helped Nitro set a ratings record a couple weeks back. In fact, the 8 July 1996 Nitro beat the 10 July 1996 Dream Team III basketball exhibition as the highest rated sports program on TNT that week. (torch): LIGHTNING KID SEAN WALTMAN is expected to start with WCW some time in August. (mr): RICKY MORTON was involved in a car accident late last week. (fd): RICKY MORTON was NOT in a car crash, he missed house show(s) due to his father being in the hospital. (mr): CHRIS JERICHO will start with WCW at the August 1996 Clash of the Champions. (jp): Due to the impact of HULK HOGAN's turn, some children at the Daytona Florida Bash at The Beach PPV were crying and tearing off their Hulkamania clothing. KEVIN NASH could be seen mouthing the word "wow" due to the tremendous heat the angle had caused. (mr): Fall Brawl/Wargames is scheduled to feature a matchup between the NWO (SCOTT HALL, KEVIN NASH, HULK HOGAN, LIGHTNING KID) vs WCW (either the FOUR HORSEMEN or four top WCW stars). (fd): BLACK WOLF is coming in. (C$): The lead singer of Kiss, GENE SIMMONS, will appear on Nitro in full face paint on 29 July or 5 August 1996. (ms): The WCW world title will go to HULK HOGAN at the Hog Wild PPV who will drop it to MACHO MAN RANDY SAVAGE at the HALLOWEEN HAVOC PPV. (ms): KONNAN may get a pirate gimmick. [I wouldn't put too much stock in this one --Hack] Here's where WCW will be for the next month or so: 7/24 Cincinnati, OH 7/25 Charleston, WV 7/26 Muncie, IN 7/27 Dayton, OH 7/29 Disney - Orlando, FL (Nitro) 7/31 Corpus Christi, TX 8/01 Beaumount, TX 8/02 Midland, TX 8/03 Lubbock, TX 8/05 Disney - Orlando, FL (TV Tapings) 8/06 Disney - Orlando, FL (TV Tapings) 8/10-11 Sturgis, SD (Hog Wild PPV) 8/12 Casper, Wy 8/14 Colorado Springs 8/14-15 Denver (Clash of the Champions) 8/16 Norfolk, VA 8/17 Baltimore 8/19 Roanoke 8/26 Palmetto, FL 8/21 Disney - Orlando, FL (TV Tapings) 8/22 Disney - Orlando, FL (TV Tapings) 8/23 Disney - Orlando, FL (TV Tapings) 8/24 Disney - Orlando, FL (TV Tapings) 8/25 Disney - Orlando, FL (TV Tapings) 8/27 Disney - Orlando, FL (TV Tapings) 8/28 Disney - Orlando, FL (TV Tapings) 8/29 Disney - Orlando, FL (TV Tapings) 9/15 (Fall Brawl PPV) Wrestlers working without a contract: SHARK BOOTY MAN THE STEINER BROTHERS KEVIN SULLIVAN??? Wrestlers rumored to be heading into WCW: LIGHTNING KID as part of NWO MABEL (and maybe MO) of MEN ON A MISSION (July) as part of NWO CHRIS JERICHO (14-15 August 1996) TED DIBIASE (as an announcer starting 26 August 1996, for at least three years) as part of NWO THE QUEBECERS (as THE FRENCH CONNECTION) as part of NWO BRITISH BULLDOG DAVEY BOY SMITH (end of September) as part of NWO BAM BAM BIGALOW (late October) as part of NWO JEFF JARRETT (some time in late October/early November) as part of NWO JIMMY DEL REY (as JIM BACKLUND) BLACK WOLF SUGAR RAY LLOYD (martial artist) BELFAST BRUISER (back in late fall or early 1997 (though he denies it)) SIR OLIVER HUMPERDINK CHRIS KANYON (ninja) CHIP MINTON (olympian) LANNY POFFO (as GORGEOUS GEORGE III) CHAVITO GUERRERO RAVEN MIKEY WHIPWRECK THE CYBERPUNKS Wrestlers rumored to be gone from WCW: BUNKHOUSE BUCK THE ROAD WARRIORS (going to Japan for 4 weeks and probably won't return to WCW) DISCO INFERNO HARLEM HEAT INJURIES: ROAD WARRIOR HAWK (ankle) JOHNNY GRUNGE (broken arm & thumb) JOHN TENTA (in a Nitro match 1 July 1996) EDDIE GUERRERO (broken hand) RICKY MORTON (car accident) = = = = = = = = = = [ WWF ] = = = = = = = = = = (wc): CLARENCE MASON will be managing CRUSH. (wwf): BOB BACKLUND may be bringing in a wrestler to manage soon. This would be the most managers/valets the WWF has had in years: Paul Bearer, Sunny, Cloudy, Jake Roberts, Bob Backlund, Hillbilly Jim (on and off), Jim Cornette, Uncle Zeb, The Iron Sheik, Sable, Marlena. I'm sure I'm leaving someone out. (wwf): BRIAN PILLMAN may get his own interview segment a la "Paper's Pit". He will probably start wrestling in late October or early-November. (pwh): The wrestler BOB BACKLUND may be managing could be ALEX PORTEAU. (wc): BARRY WINDHAM will be known as "THE WIDOWMAKER" BARRY WINDHAM once again when he returns to the WWF. He will most likely team with JUSTIN HAWK BRADSHAW. (wc): UFC and NWA Champion DAN SEVERN is the latest wrestler rumored to be heading to the WWF. He reportedly had a meeting at Titan Towers two weeks ago. (am): BARRY DARSOW (REPO MAN, BLACKTOP BULLY, DEMOLITION SMASH) was backstage at the In Your House PPV. Since CRUSH wrestled at the 22 July 1996 Raw tapings, it wouldn't be out of the question for DEMOLITION to be reformed with CRUSH and SMASH. (torch): AHMED JOHNSON will get a title shot at the 19 August 1996 live Raw. (ms): SHAWN MICHAELS will drop the WWF world title to SYCHO SID. (ms): STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN may get a world title shot at the 22 September 1996 In Your House PPV. (mr): ADAM BOMB has been contacted about returning to the WWF as a face. (pwh): BARRY WINDHAM's WWF contract is for three years. (am): BARRY WINDHAM has been operating an antique car dealership in Southern Georgia. Shortly after having to close it he started looking into his options for returning to the sport that made him famous. (pwh): PILLMAN's first feud may be against WILDMAN MARC MERO. (pwh): There's a very weak rumor that the WWF will bring in two unknown to wrestle as DEMOLITION, then after a while CRUSH and SMASH will seek revenge on them. (mr): WWF people who are known to "listen in" on the AOL chat area without their presence being known: VINCE MCMAHON, LINDA MCMAHON, GOLDUST, OWEN HART, ALDO MONTOYA, UNDERTAKER, DUKE THE DUMPSTER DROESE, and others. (ms): BRET "THE HITMAN" HART will be back at the SummerSlam PPV to feud with "HEARTBREAK KID" SHAWN MICHAELS. [I wouldn't put too much stock in this one --Hack] (ms): CRUSH and DUKE THE DUMPSTER DROESE may team up as DEMOLITION. (ms): The reason SUNNY was so upset in the locker room after being slopped was because a few wrestlers apparently urinated in the slop bucket as a gag. A Canadian newspaper (the Vancouver Province) had an interview with Sunny where she says that she has had cosmetic surgery. The quote from her is: "I've never denied it. I've had a surgery, just one - it's obvious." (various newspapers): The son of former Mets and White Sox manager JEFF TORBORG is due to make his debut in the WWF. A Canadian newspaper (The 21 July 1996 Calgary Sun) printed a letter from Helen Hart where she said that BRET HART whispered into his nephew Matt's ear that Matt would be his special guest at SummerSlam. 22 July 1996 Monday Night Raw taping results (from CPWorks2): Salvadore Sincerely over Billy Two Eagles (dark match?) Sid over Justin Hawk Bradshaw by disqualification (dark match?) title match: Bart & Billy Gunn and Ahmed Johnson & Shawn Michaels started but was finished later in the hour Marc Mero over The Goon Mankind over Freddy Joe Floyd Goldust over Barry Horowitz Vince McMahon interviewed Big Van Vader & Jim Cornette title match: Ahmed & Michaels over The Gunns by DQ when Farouk Asaad (Ron Simmons) attacked Ahmed 29 July: Davey Boy Smith over Henry Godwinn TMTC Vader over Wildman Marc Mero McMahon interviewed Jose Lothario & Cornette (Jose pops Corney) Steve Austin over Undertaker by countout when Mankind attacks the UT McMahon interviews Undertaker & Paul Bearer Jerry Lawler over Aldo Montoya (Jerry then pours alcohol on Montoya) Body Donnas over New Rockers by DQ when the Gunns jump the Donnas HOG/PIG then jump in to start a brawl (NO crowd reaction during this match) Brian Pillman interviewed Michaels (GREAT interview) Ahmed wins a battle royal for the right to face the world champion on the August 19th Raw (AJ eliminates Goldust for the win) McMahon interviewed Ahmed Sid over Davey Asaad over Skip Crush (mgd by Clarence Mason) over Savio Vega with a full-nelson The Godwinns over TL Hopper & Who Shawn Michaels over Owen Hart in a title match (Vader comes out and DESTROYS Shawn with three splashes), Shawn then challenges Vader to return to the ring for their match Shawn over Vader in another title match (Vader gets clotheslined, superkicked, then pinned--very quick) Ahmed and Asaad battle to a double countout in the IC title match (30 second match) Undertaker over Mankind in a casket match (two minute match) Sports Entertainers rumored to be heading into the WWF: JIM THE ANVIL NEIDHART (with a new gimmick as "WHO") TRACY SMOTHERS (as hick FREDDY JOE FLOYD) TONY "DIRTY WHITE BOY" ANTHONY (as T L HOPPER in a plumber gimmick) RON SIMMONS (as SUNNY's love interest) WILD BILL IRWIN (as THE GOON (a hockey gimmick)) TOM "JOHNNY GUNN" BRANDI (as SALVADORE SINCERE(LY)) JOHNNY SWINGER (THE KING OF SWING) DUANE JOHNSON (son of ROCKY JOHNSON) CRUSH BARRY WINDHAM (if his knee is up to it) hopefully not as SilverDust THE IRON SHEIK (wrestling, then managing ALDO MONTOYA after a gimmick change for Walker) ALEX PORTEAU THE PUNISHER BRIAN CHRISTOPHER (son of Jerry Lawler, even though both recently turned heel in the USWA) DOUG FURNAS DAN KROFFAT DAN SEVERN BRET THE HITMAN HART MR PERFECT CURT HENNIG (wrestling by mid-November) BUDDY LANDEL (October) MARC HENRY (olympian, September?) DISCO INFERNO (if he doesn't re-sign with WCW) THE KILLER BEES RAVISHING RICK RUDE (despite injuries) MO of MEN ON A MISSION JIM "THE ANVIL" NEIDHART THE QUEBECERS (who seem to be unhappy with WCW) THE BRUISE BROTHERS (despite the fact that they were fired for beating up SHAWN MICHAELS and tearing his ear- lobe while ripping off his earring last year) THE HEAD HUNTERS (managed by PAUL BEARER) Sports Entertainers rumored to be heading out of the WWF: THE BODYDONNAS MANKIND YOKOZUNA (though he is now back at the fat farm) FATU BOB BACKLUND (may retire) BOB HOLLY CLOUDY SUNNY (I really doubt this, but it has been reported by numerous sources) INJURIES: 1-2-3 KID (concussion), THE MAN THEY CALL VADER (leg), THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR (arm/shoulder), GOLDUST (20 stitches from hitting the ringpost wrong & a bad knee), BODYDONNA SKIP (elbow, out until early- or mid-July), OWEN HART (wrist), THE UNDERTAKER, WILDMAN MARC MERO (tongue), STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN (ripped lip), BOB HOLLY (foot) = = = = = = = = = = [ ECW ] = = = = = = = = = = (Hack-Man): ECW is still not being shown on Prime-owned Midwest Sports Channel. They have been given the option of airing it but feel it wouldn't pull in as many viewers as what they are airing instead (usually repeats of baseball). If anyone feels like letting them know that there are ECW fans going through withdrawal, they can be reached at (612) 330-2785. Talk to Corey Stolty. (multiple): STAN HANSEN, JOHNNY SMITH, and VAMPIRO may be in ECW shortly. Weaker rumors suggest that MUTA and THE ROAD WARRIORS could arrive as well. INJURIES: Just about everyone. Worth mentioning: STEVE RICHARDS is recovering nicely, SANDMAN (knee), 2 COLD SCORPIO (staph infection in a leg after having a knee drained), SABU (neck) = = = = = = = = = = [ MISC ] = = = = = = = = = = More info on the nationwide return of the AWF (run by SGT SLAUGHTER and TITO SANTANA). They can be reached at 1-888-293-2582 (this is toll free) or: AWF P.O. Box 146 Berwyn, IL 60402 These should probably be added to the FAQL along with the WWF, WCW, AWA, etc. In Minneapolis, the AWF will be on WB KLGT-TV 23 and WorldWide will be on UPN KMSP-TV 9. (Tacoma News Tribune): The American Wrestling Federation (AWF) will have TV tapings in August at the Lucky Eagle Indian Casino (90 miles South of Seattle). The Road Warriors are advertized at being at the tapings. (am): FOX discussed and dismissed (all in under three minutes) picking up DALE GAGNER's AWA. (hotline): RON REIS (SUPER GIANT NINJA, YETI) will be joining the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo. (ms): TOMMY DREAMER may be jumping to the USWA. (wc): 40 year old UWF president HERB ABRAMS died of a heart attack in his office on the morning of 23 July 1996. INJURIES: KOUJI KANEMOTO (broken leg, out another month) = = = = = = = = = = [ RATINGS ] = = = = = = = = = = 13-15 July 1996 (from hotlines, RSPW, WWW, and Entertainment Weekly): Raw = 2.6 Action Zone = 1.5 WWF Mania = 1.3 Nitro = 3.4 (first hour=3.3; second hour=3.5) WCWSN = 3.0 WCW Pro = 1.5 WCWME = 2.0 The 15-minute breakdown looked like this: Time Nitro Raw ==== ===== === 7:45 - - (the lead-in show on TNT was 2.4) 8:00 3.2 - 8:15 3.3 - 8:30 3.3 - 8:45 3.2 - (the lead-in show on USA was 2.9) 9:00 3.0 3.0 9:15 3.3 2.4 9:30 3.2 2.7 9:45 4.2 2.3 22 July 1996 (from hotlines, RSPW, WWW, and Entertainment Weekly): Raw = 2.2 (the rare live Raw, even) Nitro = 2.6 (first hour=2.x; second hour=2.x) Nitro Repeat = 1.5 My only guess for the ratings drop would be the Olympics. Does anyone really watch that? For Torch subscription info, write to Wade Keller at kelle050@gold.tc.umn.edu You may also send a question for Alex Marvez to answer at alex_marvez@dni.com For info on upcoming NWA cards, email them at NWAProWrestling@prodigy.com Some decent free hotlines: (212)859-3500 NY info hotline (313)252-2200 x0928 ML Curly info hotline (410)385-9530 Chad Austin hotline (718)921-1400 x1021 (708)585-3789 Chicago Wrestling Connection (215)602-2856 Philly hotline (mostly ECW) (612)362-3608 Minnesota World TV Wrestling hotline (612)649-4924 Minnesota Mick Karch hotline Hack Notes™ is now available via mailing list (as well as me posting it to RSPW, RSPWI, and putting it on my web page). Back issues are also available on my web page. To be added to the mailing list, send me email. I take no responsibility if I forget to send it out to the mailing list when I post it, as I tend to forget things from time to time. As always, the info in this post comes from various sources: wrestlers, hotlines, online forums, newsletters, and web pages. All names are trademarks of someone else. :-) This article is copyright © 1996 Otto E Heuer. All rights reserved.