[ I have no idea when this issue of Hack Notes™ will make it out, as I moved into my new house over the weekend and cheated death for another year on 30 July. I'm just happy that my computer arrived intact with nothing structurally wrong with it (since I wasn't able to back it up before moving). FWIW, I still have 8823 unread articles in RSPW, 323 unread letters in email, 971 read (but unreplied to) letters in email, and haven't really checked with any sources in the biz or the WWW for a couple weeks now. With a five-acre lawn to mow and other time-consuming household tasks, I may just fade into the background of RSPW, RSPWI, the WWW, IRC, etc and leave the news- and rumor-reporting to the new crop of hounds that has sprung up in the last few months. I'll still be lurking in the background (and will still pop in to RSPW to clear up any confusion or misinformation I see, or to post some news bite that I haven't seen anyone else post) but otherwise will keep most of my wrestling-related babblage limited to e-mail. Oh, sorry about most of the news below being almost two weeks old... --Hack-Man ] = = = = = = = = = = [ WCW ] = = = = = = = = = = (jm): THE STEINER BROTHERS won the tag team straps from HARLEM HEAT at a house show 24 July 1996. Since the Steiners recently signed a longer-term contract with WCW, this is not surprising. Personally, I would have expected WCW to wait for the next PPV (or at least a Nitro). MAybe it'll spark more interest in the house shows if they let people know that titles can change hands outside of PPVs. The Steiners dropped the straps later and neither change has been mentioned on WCW TV. (pwi): JEFF JARRETT may no longer be headed to WCW. He may just stay in the USWA. (wc): DOUG FURNAS may re-join WCW at the August 1996 Clash of the Champions. WCW finally has their own website. The URL is listed on my "Wrestling Links" page (see my sig). Great Flair interview. Each day's 900-line segment in its entirety, etc. (mgo): BASIL DEVITO will be coming into WCW. Here's where WCW will be: 7/31 7:30 pm Corpus Christi, TX Memorial Coliseum 8/01 Beaumount, TX 8/02 Midland, TX 8/03 Lubbock, TX 8/05 Orlando, FL Disney/MGM (TV Tapings) 8/05 Orlando, FL Disney/MGM (Nitro) 8/06 Orlando, FL Disney/MGM (TV Tapings) 8/10 Sturgis, SD (Hog Wild PPV) 8/12 5:00 pm Casper, WY (Nitro) 8/14 Colorado Springs, CO 8/14 7:00 pm Denver, CO (Clash/Champions) 8/16 Norfolk, VA 8/17 Baltimore, MD 8/19 Roanoke, VA (Nitro) 8/26 Palmetto, FL 8/21 Orlando, FL Disney/MGM (TV Tapings) 8/22 Orlando, FL Disney/MGM (TV Tapings) 8/23 Orlando, FL Disney/MGM (TV Tapings) 8/24 Orlando, FL Disney/MGM (TV Tapings) 8/25 Orlando, FL Disney/MGM (TV Tapings) 8/26 (Nitro) 8/27 Orlando, FL Disney/MGM (TV Tapings) 8/28 Orlando, FL Disney/MGM (TV Tapings) 8/29 Orlando, FL Disney/MGM (TV Tapings) 9/02 Bloomington, MN??? Mall of Amer?? (Nitro) 9/09 (Nitro) 9/15 (Fall Brawl PPV) 9/16 (Nitro) 9/23 (Nitro) 9/30 (Nitro) 10/07 (Nitro) 10/14 (Nitro) 10/18 Minneapolis, MN Target Center 10/21 Mankato, MN (Nitro) 10/27 Las Vegas, NV Caeser's Palace (Halloween Havoc) 10/28 (Nitro) 11/24 (World War 3 PPV) 12/29 Tokyo, JP (Starrcade PPV) Wrestlers working without a contract: JOHN TENTA BOOTY MAN THE STEINER BROTHERS KEVIN SULLIVAN??? Wrestlers rumored to be heading into WCW: LIGHTNING KID SEAN WALTMAN (possibly in August) as part of NWO DOUG FURNAS (at the August Clash of the Champions) 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) probably as GLACIER of BRC. 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 ] = = = = = = = = = = (bpr): VINCE MCMAHON was miffed at JERRY LAWLER for using RON SIMMONS' name. (aol): AHMED JOHNSON is injured. Something like a ruptured kidney. GOLDUST's knee was re-injured by AHMED JOHNSON. (wc+): THE UNDERTAKER may get a gimmick change due to a decrease in merchandizing. [ personally, I find this hard to believe, considering the name value and large pop he currently gets --Hack-Man ] (wc): ADAM BOMB may be returning. (wc): In addition(?) to what I reported before, THE IRON SHEIK may be managing FATU (with a shaved head and gimmick change). (aol): Not only will PAUL BEARER turn on THE UNDERTAKER and manage MANKIND, he will also now apparently manage GOLDUST as well. 22 July 1996 Monday Night Raw taping results: 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) Here's where the WWF will be: 8/02 Montreal 8/03 Quebec, CAN 8/04 Ottowa, CAN 8/18 (SummerSlam PPV) 8/19 (Raw Taping) 8/09 New York MSG 8/24 Toronto, CAN Canadian National Exhibition 9/08 Tulsa, OK 9/22 (In Your House) 9/23 (Raw Taping) 10/20 (In Your House) 10/21 (Raw Taping) 11/17 (Survivor Series) 11/18 (Raw Taping) 12/15 (In Your House) 12/16 (Raw Taping) 12/30 8:00 pm Albany, NY (Raw Taping?????) 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) 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) DAN KROFFAT DAN SEVERN BRET THE HITMAN HART ADAM BOMB FATU (with shaved head and new gimmick) 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 BOB BACKLUND (may retire) BOB HOLLY 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. (wc): ECW (mostly STEVE RICHARDS and THE BLUE MEANIE) continue to mock WCW. At the 2 August 1996 ECW card, they came out in face paint, taking a jab at KISS lead vocalist GENE SIMMONS, who is scheduled to be making a WCW appearance in the near future). Members were: Stevie (Richards) Stanley, Don E. Kris, Nova Freely, and (Blue) Meanie Gene Simmons. 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), RAVEN (pneumonia). = = = = = = = = = = [ 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. (pwi): JERRY JARRETT and JERRY LAWLER may split up, each running their own version of the USWA. [ I'm guessing if this happens, Lawler will just work exclusively for the WWF; he can't have that much free time on his hands now as it is --Hack ] INJURIES: KOUJI KANEMOTO (broken leg, out another month) = = = = = = = = = = [ RATINGS ] = = = = = = = = = = 20-22 July 1996 (from hotlines, RSPW, WWW, and Entertainment Weekly): Raw = 2.2 Action Zone = WWF Mania = Nitro = 2.6 or 2.7 (first hour=; second hour=) Nitro Repeat = 1.5 (first hour=; second hour=) WCWSN = WCW Pro = WCWME = The 15-minute breakdown looked like this (I think this is actually the previous week's breakdown): 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 29 July 1996 (from WCW's hotline): Raw = 2.1 (the rare live Raw, even) Nitro = 3.0 (first hour=; second hour=) For Torch subscription info, write to Wade Keller at kelle050@gold.tc.umn.edu It's well worth the money (especially when Bruce Mitchell and John Williams aren't ragging on ECW fans). ;-) 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.