[ Since it's really only been less than two days since the last Hack Notes™ came out (and I haven't had a chance to gab with sources, read the now 7000 unread articles in RSPW, surf the net for rumors, etc) this will be a short issue --Hack ] = = = = = = = = = = [ WCW ] = = = = = = = = = = (torch): HULK HOGAN got his WCW contract extended last week, and the heel turn may have been one of the only reasons WCW is keeping him. The PPV was the most well-received event in the history of the Torch reader poll (8.1) which usually seems to give higher ratings to WWF PPVs. (www): KEVIN NASH and HULK HOGAN may have had an altercation backstage after the 7 July 1996 Bash at the Beach PPV. (www): The Invaders (KEVIN NASH, SCOTT HALL, HULK HOGAN (as well as the incoming TED DIBIASE, JEFF JARRETT, et al)) are going to be billed as "The New World Order" or "The New World Organization" and be referred to as "The Number Two Wrestling Organization" (guess that makes the WWF number three. :-) After Nitro, expect THE NASTY BOYS to jump ship to the NWO. (www): Don't be surprised if HULK HOGAN wins the WCW World Title back from THE GIANT right away, especially after Nitro. (www): It may be in SCOTT HALL and KEVIN NASH's contract that no one outside of HULK HOGAN can make more than them. So if WCW were to offer someone (like Bret Hart) a big money contract, they would have to increase the pay of Hall and Nash as well. The "ERIC BISCHOFF as GLACIER of BLOOD RUNS COLD" story that was on the net last month has found its way into the 13 July 1996 issue of the Torch. (net): Here's where WCW will be later this summer: 7/24 Cincinnati, OH 7/25 Charleston, WV 7/26 Muncie, IN 7/27 Dayton, OH 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 Sturgis, SD (Hog Wild PPV) 8/12 Casper, Wy 8/14 Colorado Springs 8/15 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) Wrestlers rumored to be heading into WCW: MABEL of MEN ON A MISSION (mid-July) THE QUEBECERS (as THE FRENCH CONNECTION (July)) TED DIBIASE (as an announcer in late August, for at least three years) BRITISH BULLDOG DAVEY BOY SMITH (end of September) BAM BAM BIGALOW (late October) JEFF JARRETT (some time in late October/early November) BELFAST BRUISER (back in late fall or early 1997 (though he denies it)) SIR OLIVER HUMPERDINK CHRIS KANYON PAT TANAKA CHIP MINTON (olympian) CHRIS JERICHO LANNY POFFO (as GORGEOUS GEORGE III) CHAVITO GUERRERO RAVEN MIKEY WHIPWRECK THE CYBERPUNKS Wrestlers rumored to be gone from WCW: RENEGADE BUNKHOUSE BUCK SHARK (now back working but without a contract) 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) = = = = = = = = = = [ WWF ] = = = = = = = = = = (net): The RON SIMMONS contract is rumored to be for two years. (torch): HEARTBREAK KID SHAWN MICHAELS signed a five year deal with the WWF, including a clause for a guaranteed minimum dollar figure. (net): Apparently, MARC MERO was able to get the same sort of "guaranteed money" contract that BRIAN PILLMAN has in the WWF (as opposed to the "$50/match with 15 matches/year guaranteed (with everything else in 'bonuses')". Rumors are that BRITISH BULLDOG DAVEY BOY SMITH wanted a similar contract (since he was being pushed as the WWF's top heel) and was offered a five-year deal at $250,000 per year. (torch): The WWF does not expect toe ULTIMATE WARRIOR to accept their "appearance bond" idea. UW and the WWF had been meeting about it for the last week and UW didn't seem close to thinking that was the way to continue. The WWF are not planning on UW returning any time in the near future, but will not fire him for fear that he will jump to WCW along with his name and character. VINCE MCMAHON met with select wrestlers over the weekend to get their feelings on the UW issue. Not many thought the WWF should bring UW back. PSYCHO SID will continue to replace UW at all scheduled appearances. (torch): THE 1-2-3 KID met with VINCE MCMAHON last week about his future in the WWF. He has to decide by the end of August if he wants to stay. (torch): JIM CAREY may film a scene for a movie at a WWF show this fall in Anaheim. Sports Entertainers rumored to be heading into the WWF: JIM THE ANVIL NEIDHART (with a new gimmick as "WHO") TRACY SMOTHERS JOHNNY SWINGER (THE KING OF SWING) FREDDY JOE FLOYD (from the deep South) THE GOON (a hockey gimmick) DUANE JOHNSON (son of ROCKY JOHNSON) THE PUNISHER WILD BILL IRWIN TOM "JOHNNY GUNN" BRANDI ALEX PORTEAU BRIAN CHRISTOPHER (son of Jerry Lawler, even though both recently turned heel in the USWA) DOUG FURNAS DAN KROFFAT BRET THE HITMAN HART (starting with the September tour of S Africa) MR PERFECT CURT HENNIG (wrestling by mid-November) BUDDY LANDEL (October) SID VICIOUS (the WWF no longer denies it) MARC HENRY (olympian) RON SIMMONS (as SUNNY's love interest) DISCO INFERNO (if he doesn't re-sign with WCW) THE KILLER BEES RAVISHING RICK RUDE BARRY WINDHAM (if his knee is up to it) possibly as "SilverDust" MO of MEN ON A MISSION THE QUEBECERS (who seem to be unhappy with WCW) THE IRON SHEIK 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 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. (www): Missy Hiatt had her lips enlarged recently. 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 ] = = = = = = = = = = (net): 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. No new news on VERN GAGNE's AWA. (torch): USWA had their first money-making show of 1996 when they pulled in $7000 with somewhere between 1000 and 1200 fans at the 8 July 1996 show. (quote): "If it wasn't for Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff would still be selling meat from a truck in Minneapolis." --Hulk Hogan at the 7 July 1996 Bash at the Beach PPV. (quote): "We have just seen the end of Hulk-a-mania. Hulk Hogan, you can go to hell--straight to hell!" --Tony Schiavone at the 7 July 1996 Bash at the Beach PPV. I'd love to put the entire Arn Anderson and Sting quotes from Nitro in here, but I don't have the time. INJURIES: KOUJI KANEMOTO (broken leg, out 2 more months) = = = = = = = = = = [ RATINGS ] = = = = = = = = = = 29 June-1 July 1996 (from hotlines, RSPW, WWW, and Entertainment Weekly): Raw = 2.6 Action Zone = WWF Mania = Nitro = 3.3 (first hour=3.0; second hour=3.6) Nitro Repeat = 1.7 (first hour=1.x; second hour=1.8) WCWSN = WCW Pro = WCWME = For Torch subscription info, write to Wade Keller at kelle050@gold.tc.umn.edu Great quote from a 1990 Cactus Jack torch talk interview: "When I saw a girl when I was in school unconscious or lying passed out, the furthest thing from my mind was romancing her. All I wanted to do was drop an elbow on her". 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.