[ There hasn't been a Hack Notes™ for a few weeks now for several
reasons.  (1) I've been busy over the holidays.  (2) I've been busy at
work.  (3) I've been busy coordinating efforts for the start of The
Wrestling Channel--Online.  (4) There really hasn't been much news
that didn't already make it out to RSPW and the online sheets.  Due to
the huge number of people on the Hack Notes™ mailing list, it took
forever to mail it out in various installments to avoid flooding the
mail server, so I've discontinued that method of receiving Hack
Notes™.  It is still available on RSPW, RSPWI, and my web page (the
URL is in my signature at the bottom). ]

 = = = = = = = = = = [ WCW ] = = = = = = = = = =

There are rumors that Chris Benoit and Kevin Sullivan want to work a
stiff match at their upcoming PPV appearance, and both will be
undergoing AIDS testing so that they can blade.

Sting may keep the insipid Crow gimmick through February, showing up
every couple of weeks on Nitro to wake up the WCW faces, then
eventually coming back to lead them all against the nWo.

WCW PPV schedule:
  96/12/29 Starrcade
  97/01/25 Souled Out (nWo PPV)
  97/02/23 SuperBrawl
  97/03/16 UnCensored

 = = = = = = = = = = [ WWF ] = = = = = = = = = =

Meltzer reports that Curt Hennig was offered $300,000 per year for
five years to wrestle for the WWF, but that Hennig has chosen to
wrestle for WCW instead.  His WWF contract runs thru May 1997 and the
WWF will more than likely go to court if he debuts on WCW before then.

According to Meltzer, Antonio Pena claims to have Psicosis, Juventud
Guerrera, and the rest of the AAA guys that WCW is using under
contract.  He says he's going to court to enforce those contracts
since the wrestlers will apparently be working with the WWF.

Meltzer reports that the first episode of the "Shotgun Saturday Night"
show will be 4 January 1997.  They may already have a TV deal, which
is being kept a secret so that WCW does not buy it out.  The show will
air live at midnight in the Eastern two time zones (much like Raw does
once a month currently) and will be syndicated via satellite
broadcast.  It will air on a 3 hour tape delay to the West Coast.
Vince McMahon and Todd Pettingill will be doing the announcing and
color commentating.  McMahon, Bruce Pritchard, and Paul Heyman scouted
various nightclubs in New York City to find places that had the right
layout for the shows.  Heyman is not officially a consultant to the
show, but it wouldn't be surprising if he was involved. 

WWF PPV schedule:
  96/12/15 In Your House    West Palm Beach, FL
  97/01/18 Royal Rumble 
  97/02/xx In Your House
  97/03/xx WrestleMania 13  
  97/04/20 In Your House    Green Bay, WI
  97/05/11 In Your House    Baltimore, MD 
  97/06/08 King of the Ring Providence, RI
  97/07/06 In Your House    Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  97/08/03 Summer Slam      East Rutherford, NJ (Continental Arena)
  97/09/07 In Your House    Louisville, KY
  97/10/05 In Your House
  97/11/09 Survivor Series 
  97/12/07 In Your House

 = = = = = = = = = = [ ECW ] = = = = = = = = = =

Mass Transit just turned 17 shortly before his ECW debut.

 = = = = = = = = = = [ RATINGS ] = = = = = = = = = =

2 December 1996 ratings:

Raw          = 2.3
Nitro        = 3.x (2.8 and 3.9)
Nitro replay = 1.3



25 November 1996 ratings:

Raw          = 2.1
Nitro        = 3.1 (2.7 and 3.3)
Nitro replay = unknown


Hack Notes™ is available on RSPW, RSPWI, and my web page.
Back issues are also available on my web page.

All names are trademarks of someone else. :-) 
This article is copyright © 1996 Otto E Heuer. All rights reserved.