JoeDirt

Actually it'll be 32 teams, 3 nights.

I liked how they set the stage last night for a future Swick/Leben rematch. You know something will be happening with that on the show.

Source: Wrestling Observer While we don’t have the actual numbers at press time, it is said that the new TV numbers are encouraging, with unconfirmed reports going around the company that the 2 am showing on 1/7 drew a 0.3 rating, and the midnight on 1/8 show did a 0.26, both far higher than the original Friday afternoon show did. We should have the actual numbers in next weeks issue. While those are not numbers to turn the company around, FSN was said to be astounded particularly by the Friday night number, and it ups the company’s standing on the station. They are now scheduled for some kind of a February presence on Best Damn Sports Show Period, although the feeling right now is that it will probably be just one taped match as opposed to an entire show. The bad news from the TNA front was with FSN cutting back on the show, and I particular dumping Bryan Cox, the biggest wrestling fan on the show (as well as Chris Rose, who legitimately didn’t like wrestling), and who did a good job in his one match, it hurts somewhat in cross-promotional opportunities. The belief is the Carters have given Dusty Rhodes six months to show progress. While the better numbers in the new slot doesn’t do much for the bottom line if it doesn’t translate into PPV buys (and there is no indication from the response to this show that it has of yet), it could keep the ownership group interested and believe there is progress. Dusty Rhodes has also talked about putting together a one-night X Division tournament similar to the old Super J Cups in Japan, which some wrestlers have been talked with about participating in, and they were under the impression it would be for the March PPV. TNA drew its biggest crowd to date in Orlando. With very little local promotion, they had 875 people at the show, packed into the studio like sardines, with many standing, as it was set up for about 700. They also turned away about 400, and there was a long line of people waiting to be let into the show and would be allowed in because some left early. More impressive than the number was the atmosphere and how it looked. They drew more people most weeks in Nashville, and that was often an enthusiastic crowd, but this comes across so much classier due to the location. Jonny Fairplay’s contract for $100,000 for 26 dates and one year expires in a few weeks. The idea he’s getting a renewal is mind boggling, although they are going to try and negotiate his per show price down to stay. We’re told the original plan is Fairplay would be gone, but now, because they believe Fairplay has another reality show coming (not to mention an appearance on Hollywood Squares, as if that means anything), plus Rhodes likes him (and maybe more, Rhodes knows Dixie Carter likes him), it is likely he will be bought back. Mind-boggling. The top paid wrestlers in the company are DDP, Hall & Nash, all making $5,000. Most in the company are making $300 to $1,000 with a few of the bigger names (Rhodes, Raven, AMW) making more than $1,000 per and Jeff Jarrett significantly more, and probably with them as the highest paid being that’s he’s part owner, world champion and makes a lot of the major decisions. Dusty Rhodes is in complete control and almost autonomous, as he was able to convince the Carters into giving him a chance to prove that he has the secret for turning things around. He’s going to bring in some of his people. One of the things he’s done is convince Dixie Carter that the plans to make Monty Brown the champ and build around him now is a mistake, and that they were risking doing great damage too him by pushing him too fast. Amazing Reds contract expired and he wasn’t renewed, since Dusty Rhodes had no plans for him. He came back too fast after knee surgery and was never the same. The mystery guy on Impact where they are doing the videos announcing his arrival is Titus (Ryan Wilson). He may be given a new ring name. Rhodes idea for him is to be a “Gothic Ultimate Warrior”. He asked him to come up with a new ring name and he went to Konnan and BG James for ideas. Somebody came up with Primus, which I don’t even know what that means. Konnan joked how about “Dark Green” because he’d be wearing a green costume. I think he really meant because he’s so green. James then said how about “Dark Match” because that’s where he belongs, as James was injured in a dark match by him a few months back.

Sydal/Matthews are ROH's newest tag team. You can suggest a name for their team here: http://www.rohwrestling.com/MessageBoard/t...p?TOPIC_ID=6931 Or post here and I'll put them on the board. Have any good ideas? Mine all suck.

Here's the 1992 Royal Rumble, with pre match interviews: http://s13.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1HNA32W...X53DVY1BUS7Q3ZE

If anyone wants the 1992 Rumble in full, I'll put it in my thread in the General Wrestling section. Or order the Rumble. Which I'll be doing.

Haha, glad you enjoyed it and didn't spoil things... Here's the Rockers 1988 TV debut: http://s13.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1VKTZNA...OI3FQBE2NDBM1NJ Ultimate Warrior vs. Earthquake: http://s13.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2MQC0Q8...LC1QDK3VYCFYLFY

Ultimate Warrior vs. Haku...WITH pre-match interviews! Let me know what you think of the Warrior's. http://s13.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0FW67WI...2M0HSK9SSMMDN7F Bret Hart flips out and loses it on the RAW before Wrestlemania 13, foreshadowing his heel turn: http://s13.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0SYRT8L...RS2WY0XBYSIYWF3

So since I'm not big into UFC, are any of these guys well known already? Meltzer said something on his radio show about Leben, Southworth, and Sanchez I think.

Who used to hang out with that ESSA RIOS guy...

The Radicalz debut on RAW, 1/31/00: http://s13.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3JBF3RR...7C27PTE46IRSEBS

Justin Credible: Peter Polaco. Still better than P.J Walker though! Bubba Ray Dudley: Mark Lamonica. Not a bad name, just weird to think of Bubba with that as his name. Chavo Guerrero Jr: Salvado Guerrero III. Dusty Rhodes: Virgil Runnels Jr. Headbanger Mosh: Chaz Warrington. Sounds like a bad porn name. Saturn: Perry Satullo. Rene Dupree: Rene Goguen. Roddy Piper: Rodderick Toombs. Warlord: Terry Szopinski.

The Torch says that Hurricane beat Chris Masters this weekend in Tulsa to qualify. Hurricane over Masters?

Nicely done. And I too wish Orton would stop twirling like a fag.

Am I an idiot to have thought this whole time that Billy and Bart Gunn were really brothers? Man I am stupid. Isn't Rey Misterio's name Oscar Guttierez Rubio? Vampiro is Ian Hodgkinson.

No love for Nunzio last year?

SOTF is a great show, as already mentioned. One of my favorites all year was Generation Next. It has great booking, a mix of styles, a good crowd, and lots of good/great matches. World Title Classic is also a good solid card. More recently, Joe vs. Punk 2 and All Star Extravaganza 2 are both must see. Midnight Express Reunion, ROH Gold, and the Weekend of Thunder shows are quite good as well.

Meltzer just said on WOL that this match is happening at Wrestlemania.

http://s13.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1X0XWRM...WE2UL24UQCR6Y16 Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels from King of the Ring 1997.

In the spirit of the season... http://s13.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2N6C5QE...7V35WVBF5A24281 That's the 1996 Royal Rumble, if you want to download it. But get it fast, the file only allows 25 downloads. http://s13.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=12TTM0T...H60YARC4TO70NTD And there's the 2001 Rumble. Enjoy.

PWInsider said Pat was involved in a creative meeting recently, so maybe he'll help out. So aside from the winners, guys like Benoit, Flair, etc, and the ironmen like Kane, Martel, and so on, who are the guys that stole the show for you in Rumbles past? Matt Hardy in 2003 is a good example of one. Who else stole the show in your mind, even if they didn't win or last the longest?

1994 was Bigelow, who lasted over 30 minutes, one minute more than Shawn. Someone asked for the top 10 Ironmen: 1)Chris Benoit 61:30 2004 2) Bob Backlund 61:10 1993 3) Ric Flair 59:26 1992 4) Kane 53:46 2001 5) Rick Martel 52:17 1991 6) Rocky Maivia 51:32 1998 7) HHH 48:01 1996 8) Steve Austin 45:07 1997 9) Ted DiBiase 44:47 1990 10) Greg Valentine 44:03 1991 If you want to count Austin and Vince from 1999, they'd be tied at #4, and then you'd bump Dibiase and Valentine off the list.

97 - Austin 98 - The Rock 99 - Austin & Vince? (OK, maybe not) 00 - can't think of anyone 01 - Kane 02 - can't think of anyone 03 - Jericho & HBK? (I can't really remember) 04 - Benoit (of course!) --99 you could count Vince officially as the ironman, though he spent 99% of the match on the outside of the ring. If you went with guys that actually spent the full time IN the ring, it's Bossman, who came in at #22 (that's pretty sad), who lasted a whopping 18:53. -2000, the Ironman award goes to Test, who entered at #10 and lasted 26:17. --2001, Kane lasted over 53:00 to easily take it. --2002 goes to Austin, who entered #19 and lasted 26:46. --2003 it's Jericho at 38:54, with RVD second at over 32 minutes. Credit goes to www.prowrestlinghistory.com

What would your picks have been, Rudo?

Tito beat the Undertaker in 1991? Whoa!