WWE Notes from the 4/26 Observer

[Enigma 0]

The lawsuit stemming from the flight from hell got national coverage from an AP article, as well as an article in Ric Flair's home town Charlotte Observer, this past week. The only thing of note in the story is that Flair's attorney is Mickey Aberman, who I believe is a major attorney in Charlotte who represented George Shinn in a major case that had some similarity (Shinn got off, but the case got so much pub that he left town and took the Hornets with him). He just said. "I'm pretty certain that there is a different version of this story from the ones the plaintiffs are telling." Flair was asked about it during a U.K. interview and claimed the incident never happened and asked why it took the women two years to bring their case public.

 

Walking Tall placed No. 6 in the weekend box office, doing $4,601,007 for the weekend. Its total at press time was $36,977,964, so it should finish in the low-$40 million range which is the level it was projected to do. The Punisher, with the entire big pub from the last week, debuted at No. 2 with a $13,834,527 first week (at press time at $14.9 million). Kevin Nash got some decent reviews for his fight scene, although the movie didn't get good reviews overall.

 

The new Hirohito character introduced in vignette form on Raw will be Kenzo Suzuki. This has a chance to be one of the all-time flop gimmicks, because they have huge plans, and no matter how many times I write it, it must be invisible paper or something because they don't get that Suzuki has almost as much ability and nowhere near the look of Lex Luger. He was so bad that he stunk out the joint at TNA and even on the independent level in the U.S. He was introduced showing old war footage, so they are using the World War II mentality Japanese, not realizing that World War II Japanese racism means nothing to a fan base born after 1978. There are those in Japan who think this angle could backfire huge in that country. The fear is the Japanese right wing politicos will be furious at what they consider mocking Emperor Hirohito to the point it could become a strong enough issue to keep WWE from being able to return to the country. Years ago, when the WWF used Yokozuna, they were not allowed to run shows in any sumo buildings because Yokozuna wasn't a real Yokozuna (not to mention the fact he wasn’t even Japanese), and this is considered to be potentially 100 times worse. The current plan for his TV debut is 5/10 for Raw in San Jose. WWE has been looking for someone to play Hirohito's bodyguard and have actually contacted one of the bigger stars in industry for the role.

 

HHH was originally scheduled to start shooting his movie this month. Due to Steve Austin and so many others leaving, the decision was made to keep him on TV and try and get new stars over quickly. As of now, the movie is scheduled to be shot in July. I don't think they'll delay it any longer than that, since I can't see them delaying the Benoit vs. HHH singles matches any longer than SummerSlam.

 

Bret Hart met with Vince and Shane McMahon after the Raw on 4/19 in Calgary. Earlier in the day, the company went through Bret (actually it was Chris Benoit who asked Bret) to be able to shoot footage of Benoit in the Hart house (which is about to be sold) and in the famed dungeon. It was expected to be a quick shoot for Raw, but they interviewed Benoit for about an hour and also shot lots of footage of him. Bret Hart okayed it and was there with Benoit, but the deal for him okaying it was that they couldn't shoot footage of him. I'm not sure when the piece will air, possibly Confidential, but it will be the last footage of any wrestler or for wrestling in the famed dungeon. Hart was invited to the show, but wanted to meet with Vince privately, so they did so after the show. Everyone was very friendly and the main piece of business that was proposed to him was doing a Bret Hart DVD. It was mentioned here as something they were looking at doing, but this was the first proposal to him, and they asked for his involvement in picking out his favorite matches and to appear on the DVD talking about his career and those matches. This had actually been agreed to in 1997 before he left the company. Shane said that he personally wanted to oversee the project. The basic hang-up, if there will be one, would be how the DVD would explain 1997 and his departure from the company, which is actually more tricky than you'd think because it would require some recanting of excuses that were used to the wrestlers as to why at the time. Vince also asked Bret, and this is the first time he's really done so ever, if there was any way he'd agree to come back and to try and make it spontaneous as opposed to storyline (although if it's on TV, how can it be anything but storyline, which Hart has always been opposed to doing) to where it wouldn't make Hart or his fans feel bad about it. He didn't suggest a way that could be done, but you can see that the entire storyline leading up to and including Edmonton and Calgary does have a natural build to Hart coming back and doing something with Benoit against a heel Michaels, and the Raw brand has no money ideas for the summer. But it wasn't talked about in any detail and it was more a suggestion of an idea than a storyline proposal. WWE was also interested in marketing his autobiography, which has been asked about before, including in late 2002 when Vince and Jim Ross met with him in Boca Raton. They again promised not to change a word. I don't see the latter happening. The release of the book, which was originally hoped to be for Christmas this year may have to be delayed until settlement of his lawsuit. McMahon himself wrote a letter to Lloyd's of London regarding the suit, saying that Hart only missed two dates in nearly 14 years (not including injury time off after a cracked sternum in the late-80s and his mid-1997 knee surgery) with the company and they were never aware of him suffering a concussion. Lloyd's case is predicated on proving that Hart had suffered brain damage prior to his taking out his insurance arid thus his career ending due to a concussion wouldn't be something the company was liable for.

 

The Rock has said that John Woo is a potential candidate to direct his upcoming movie "Spy Hunter," based on the popular video game. He told scifi.com over the weekend that there are other directors being talked with as well.

 

Eddie Guerrero is more banged up physically than is being let on, but is taking the role of champion and top guy so isn't taking time off. He had a nasty bruise on his left biceps on TV along with everything else.

 

Although it was pushed hard on the TSN Raw feed for a few weeks, as well as on the web site, about meeting Chris Benoit at the Edmonton Airport on 4/13 for what was planned to be a taped homecoming, the Edmonton Journal reported only about 50 people came, and according to one person who was there, that number would have included the media. There was a snowstorm that day, although Michael Jenkinson of the Edmonton Sun said he thought the snowstorm had little to do with it and more to do with him arriving during the day when kids are in school and most people are working, plus the airport is 25 minutes outside the city. There was a ton of media for Benoit as the Edmonton Sun ran stuff all week. Some of it was because of Jenkinson, who is one of the paper's sports editors and is a huge fan. There was an editorial in the paper about them no longer announcing Benoit from Edmonton, saying that "Given there was no real or imagined slight from American fans toward Benoit, we don't think there was any pressing reason for the WWE to change his hometown, particularly just prior to his big hometown return at Backlash." All the stories on Benoit were hugely positive, including going back to his old grade school and talking with students. The newspaper called him the most famous native of Edmonton in the world right now. He was presented with the key to the city and 4/18 was declared Chris Benoit Day. Benoit talked about his career having a storybook feel now that he's champion, as he talked about starting his career in late-1985 with $20 in his pocket and driving a 1974 Gremlin. On 4/15, they had a special presentation for him at City Hall with Mayor Bill Smith. They went all out, with a stage that looked like a ring, sticking up balloons and bringing out two big screen TV's. The crowd was loud, breaking into "Benoit" chants frequently. It was covered by all the TV stations in the market. Benoit was said to have been noticeably touched by all this in his home city, more than once having to compose himself while giving a thank you speech. His mother was overwhelmed. On 4/16, he went to Calgary to do promotional work and appeared on a radio show. Unbeknownst to him, the host of the show had contacted Bret Hart to call in and Hart talked about how proud he was of Benoit's success. Hart even plugged the WWE show in his newspaper column, talking about how fans should come out and support Benoit as champion. Scott Zerr, who appeared in a clip on the PPV talking about Benoit, did most of the writing. Benoit said that when he won the title in MSG, he got all these thoughts overwhelming him such as wrestling Bret Hart in the tribute to Owen match, and thoughts about Stu Hart, Davey Boy Smith, and Brian Pillman. He said he never considered himself a world champion before, even though he won the WCW in early-2000, and then quit the promotion the next day due to Kevin Sullivan, the ex-husband of his current wife Nancy, being hired as booker. "When I was in WCW, certain people (I think he means Hulk Hogan here) who held the title were not conversational and I thought that was wrong. I've learned a lot from people who've held the title, but not in a good way. They were not professional and didn't act like a champion." He said he wanted to act like a role model as champion for the younger wrestlers. Zerr did a story on Shawn Michaels, who said he was both pleased and surprised by how well he's done since coming back. He said his body seems to react better when he's wrestling than when not wresting, saying he doesn't think he'd feel as good if he wasn't wrestling. Michaels said it was amazing for him to be in the ring when Benoit won, saying he always thought it was better to be the guy who won the title, but watching someone else win it was one of the coolest things he's done. When asked about Montreal, he said, "I regret the situation, but life goes on. I don't think about it much, but I recognize it will still be there and that's all OK with me. I've certainly come to a point where it's concluded for me, but I still have not spoken to Bret. I've publicly apologized, but for two years he's questioned my sincerity about that and about my faith and the changes I've made. But I serve a God, and it's not Bret Hart." He can't help himself getting in that final dig. Actually, it would be very simple for Michaels if he's sincere to just pick up the phone, call Hart, and apologize in a non-public forum.

 

Chris Benoit had Harry Smith invited to Edmonton along with T.J. Wilson to train before the show.

 

WWE officials are trying to secure the first date when the new MTS Centre in Winnipeg opens in the winter. The original plan was to do both Raw and Smackdown on 7/5 and 7/6 at the old arena. They are doing Smackdown there, but it looks like they’ll save Raw for the new building.

 

Despite the angle on Smackdown, there are no plans right now to build to a Kurt Angle vs. Big Show program.

 

Paul Heyman was originally scheduled to come back as a manager on the Smackdown brand shortly after Angle was named G.M. He's really not involved directly in creative, although he remains an adviser of sorts. I'm not exactly sure why he hasn't returned but it doesn't appear he pushed at all to do so.

 

The next shows in Japan, which will be the Smackdown crew, will be on 7/16 and 7/17, both at Budokan Hall. Tokyo is the best city for them, but I could see Smackdown having troubles drawing with its lackluster roster right now and so many wrestling and MMA events in the metropolitan area that this time. WWE, with only Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio as top guys and no Japanese superstar, wouldn't stand out from the crowd.

 

There hasn't been any contact between Vince McMahon and Bobby Heenan since our item a few weeks ago. Heenan, who is best friends with Mike Tenay at TNA, has floated the idea of working there for probably a year, but nothing has happened. TNA at one point, and I believe this was when Vince Russo was in power, called him for a show and he had a prior commitment or there was some reason he couldn't be there and they never called him again. I do know Heenan over the last week or two on his own came up with the idea of going in and making Jonny Fairplay his apprentice, since TNA has a commitment to Fairplay and no idea what to do with him. Fairplay himself is frustrated since they haven't even brought him in for a few weeks.

 

The company had a successful Passover short-term run of programming in Israel. WWE is expected to get regular cable with an edited version of Raw called "Casach" on Sundays at 6 p.m. and Smackdown would air Tuesdays at 6 p.m. They will also get monthly PPV events.

 

Ric Flair was in the U.K. this past week doing tons of PR work. He noted the WWE now makes his robes, as his old designer (Olivia Walker, the wife of Mr. Wrestling II) passed away. When asked how long he would wrestle, Flair said he would never give himself any time limit. When asked about injuries, he made no reference to his current neck issues and talked more about his rotator cuff problems that kept him out of action for a long time back in 1996-1997. He said his favorite title win was the 1983 NWA title win from Harley Race, and claimed wrestling's popularity was about to turn around because live attendance has been increasing. He actually brought Olivia Walker up a few times. Flair said he thought Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels were better than the top wrestlers in his heyday. Flair is super high on both of them, as he's told people in the past he thinks Michaels is much better than Bret Hart (Flair has never forgotten the stuff Hart used to write about him in the mid-90s in the Calgary Sun). He has also said he thinks Angle has the potential to be the best wrestler there's ever been, comparing him to Alex Rodriguez. Sadly, due to Angle's neck, he isn't expected to last long enough to reach that kind of a platform. Flair did say that he didn't think a lot of today's wrestlers would have been able to make it when he was breaking in, citing more the lifestyle of the 300-matches per year schedule and the ratty hotels, but felt that any of the top guys when he was breaking in could have made it today. He also said HHH is the best wrestler right now. Well, he does have to say that. He said his son David Flair would be getting married in two months. He said his favorite matches were with Ricky Steamboat, but would like to headline another high profile show against either HHH or Michaels. Flair said he had no confidence in the opinion of internet fans but really doesn't know what they say because he can't turn a computer on. You'd be surprised at how many of the old-guard wrestlers don't ever look at the internet, like Steve Austin and Mick Foley, and it probably keeps them a lot more sane. The only person Flair really knocked was Foley (he's getting back at Foley in his book for Foley knocking him in his first book according to those close to the situation). He said he thought Foley was overrated and tries to play the normal guy card to connect with the fans. He did a lengthy fan interview with The Sun in the U.K. He said it's been awesome doing this comeback because he felt he lost respect of the wrestlers in the last few years in WCW when he felt the company purposely booked him to destroy his name and legacy. He blamed Eric Bischoff for it. He knocked Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage, saying that, "I wrestled them both and when they wouldn't do business (put him over clean), I did business." He said he really turned things around when he had the match with HHH and the post-match celebration in Greenville, SC. He called that night the greatest moment of his career because he got it back. He again said he was glad to see WCW close down. "The company was an embarrassment to anything I'd ever known or been part of. Vince Russo had turned it into a circus." He said he blames Bischoff for killing WCW, and that Russo just added on to the problems. "The management didn't take into account anybody's feelings, they kept hiring the wrong people and there were no controls in place." He said he tolerates Bischoff because he has to, but that Bischoff has to know how he really feels. He said there are ten guys in the locker room who want to kick Bischoff’s ass every time they see him, but because of business, they have to get along. He said the strangest thing is that everyone knows if Bischoff could find a millionaire to want to go into business against Vince, he'd start tomorrow. He said he thinks the original WCW world title belt is still owned by Hogan (that was the belt he left with at Bash at the Beach, so that's probably the case). Flair, who very rarely would say anything negatively about Hogan, was a little more critical saying, "That certainly isn't right, but that's Hogan." He said Jim Herd was an absolute idiot for not paying him his $25,000 deposit to get the belt back in 1991 when Flair left for the WWF. He said in the end, WCW gave him $36,000, his original deposit, plus interest, to get the belt back. He said Vince's recognizing history of other promotions of late comes more from the influence of HHH and Michaels, because they grew up as NWA fans. He noted his daughter Megan's first child, which would be his first grandchild, is due on 5/9. He said son Reid will be an awesome pro wrestler some day, saying he's got almost too much personality and can beat him in a fight right now. Shelton Benjamin, who was assistant wrestling coach at the University of Minnesota before turning pro, will be spending a few days coaching him. Reid has also been coached by T.J. Jaworsky, who is one of the best U.S. wrestlers of the past decade. He said he believes he's really 22-time world champion, but they only count 16 of them. He seemed to indicate his closest friends in the company among the wrestlers right now are HHH and Michaels. He ripped on TNA, saying what he's seen was terrible, and that anything Russo is involved with is going to be bad. He said Jeff Jarrett was a good performer (Flair and Jarrett always got along and Flair wanted Jarrett in one of the late incarnations of the Horsemen as babyfaces but the fans wouldn't cheer Jarrett). He ripped on Raven, saying his match with Jarrett wasn't enjoyable and he'd never pay a dollar to see Raven headline. He said he's never seen a good match on TNA, and what they do with the high flying doesn't translate into money. He also ripped on Foley saying, "falling off a building doesn't make you a wrestler. Where would he be if he hadn't fallen on a bed of thumb tacks?" He did credit Foley with having drawn a lot of money, but said he's not a great wrestler by any means, he's a stunt man, and could have never even gotten into the business when he started. He said he doesn't think Brock Lesnar will become an all-time great because to be an all-time great you have to love the business, and Lesnar doesn't. He said his worst opponent ever was Ultimate Warrior because he simply couldn't get a match out of him. He said right now, the four best wrestlers of all-time are Harley Race, Michaels, Steamboat, and HHH. He said Michaels was at his best, as good as Steamboat, but only when he wanted to be.

 

There is some talk of a storyline where Jackie Gayda starts falling for Charlie Haas, since he beats Rico.

 

The current writing team is Brian Gewirtz, Ed Koskey, and Michael Hayes for Raw and David Lagana, Bruce Prichard, Dan Madigan (who I'm not familiar with), and Dominick Pagliaro for Smackdown. While the immediate conclusion to recent events would be Gewirtz has gained greatly in his understanding of the product, and he may have for all I know, the programs that carry the show have been Foley's, which he takes a major hands on approach to and makes sure all the holes are filled, and the Chris Jericho program, which is largely put together by Jericho. Not sure how much input HHH has to the minute details of his programs, but as far as general direction, you have to figure he's the same way.

 

According to Simon and Schuster, the William Regal book is not coming out on 5/7 in the U.K. as listed in last week's issue. Information on the book was sent to different sources, including amazon.co.uk, because that was the originally planned release date, but things have changed and there is no release date. With Regal being back on television, it certainly helps its chances of being released at least in the U.K.

 

Rey Mysterio has been bothered by dizziness, the cause of which is unknown. It's possible he suffered a concussion, but has been bothered since the South Africa tour. That's why he wasn't at any of the shows this past week. He had already gotten Easter weekend off, but also missed the post-Easter shows.

 

In Calgary, they used Lance Storm for the first time in weeks. Even though he's a heel, since he's from Calgary, he got a huge babyface reaction. Shelton Benjamin was kept off Raw for reasons unclear because it hurt his momentum not being involved in at least running HHH off in the main event. He was put in the Heat main event, beating Rhyno.

 

WWE Canada president Carl DeMarco, who has a habit of coming off looking bad whenever there is a controversial issue to discuss (he has to make sense out of the party line, and at times that isn't the easiest thing to do), talked with the Winnipeg Sun this week about the home town controversy. He put the blame right on Vince McMahon, who did make the call. "It came from Vince himself," DeMarco said. "What Vince is trying to do is he's trying to portray reality as to where the WWE superstars are now residing from." That went over big, since Chris Jericho was billed from Manhasset, New York, and he hasn’t lived there in close to 30 years, and it was noted in the article with the quotes that Jericho said he considers Winnipeg his home town even though he currently lives in Tampa. The article by Kevin Engstrom continued, "DeMarco was at a loss to explain the switch, but he did say the company has been surprised by the amount of attention the decision has received in Canada. He fended off suggestions that Canadian fans should be offended by the move. "I don't think anyone is trying to take away the history, the heritage, and the roots that our Canadian wrestlers have," DeMarco said. "I don't think Canadian fans should be offended, they should be proud." If somebody can make sense out of that, please explain it to me.

 

Ultimo Dragon asked for his leave of absence to work on Japanese business, which I'm presuming means to work on the Toryumon promotion. He told the company he'd return in the fall. He's available to WWE until the end of the month, at which point he's going back to Japan to work the 5/3 Tokyo Dome event for New Japan. He also has some bookings in Mexico including 5/16 at Arena Coliseo teaming with Vampiro and two of his Toryumon Mexico students against Ultimo Guerrero & Rey Bucanero & Tarzan Boy & Super Crazy.

 

Believe it or not, Lex Luger's name came up regarding WWE this week, and this came from a source very close to Sting. Sting has been trying to get Luger to find religion and do the religious deals with him. Luger, and this was one guy I thought this wouldn't happen to, is said to be having financial problems. Well, legal expenses and divorces are costly. He made a ton of money during his career. He also hasn't had a job in more than three years. Sting, who has no financial issues, has never shown much interest in WWE. It's said Sting would be willing to make some WWE appearances if they would take Luger. You never say never in wrestling, and they've surprised me before, but this one I can't see happening.

 

WWE red flagged another match this past week. The Cyberspace Wrestling Federation in Wayne, NJ, had scheduled a match where Ron Killings would defend the group's title against Al Snow on 4/24. When WWE officials found out, they immediately had it nixed. Snow is still working the show, but WWE would not allow him to face a TNA wrestler. For whatever it is worth, the booking plan was for Killings to go over.

 

The company has an event promoter in the Southeast named Bret Hart (known for years as Bret Hart #2), who naturally is often confused with the wrestler. He just applied for the vacant position as athletic director at the University of South Florida in Tampa (the same college Hulk Hogan attended). The school newspaper ran a story about it, but thought it was the more famous Bret Hart applying for the job, talking about his relationship with WWF and being screwed by Vince McMahon as well as the death of his brother Owen.

 

WWE over the past week removed all references to Paul Heyman from its web site. The reason behind it was because he had quit the company in storyline, and the web site is supposed to now treat everything in storyline fashion.

[Tawren 0]

Despite the angle on Smackdown, there are no plans right now to build to a Kurt Angle vs. Big Show program.

So...mind...bogglingly...stupid...argh. What was the fucking point of it then?

[JN News 0]

To move Big Show to RAW?

[Guest wrestlingbs]

Flair said he had no confidence in the opinion of internet fans but really doesn't know what they say because he can't turn a computer on. You'd be surprised at how many of the old-guard wrestlers don't ever look at the internet, like Steve Austin and Mick Foley, and it probably keeps them a lot more sane. The only person Flair really knocked was Foley (he's getting back at Foley in his book for Foley knocking him in his first book according to those close to the situation). He said he thought Foley was overrated and tries to play the normal guy card to connect with the fans

 

Flair was asked about it during a U.K. interview and claimed the incident never happened and asked why it took the women two years to bring their case public.

 

I have no doubt that Ric Flair is a legend and is a great wrestler, but doesn't anyone else feel that he's a self-serving prick?

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

To move Big Show to RAW?

SD needs Show more than Raw does. He'd be, what, at least the #3 heel on the show, behind HHH & Orton? #4 if HBK turns heel.

 

"falling off a building doesn't make you a wrestler. Where would he be if he hadn't fallen on a bed of thumb tacks?"

That's funny - everyone is praising Orton for doing the same thing.

[Jericho2000Mark 0]

To move Big Show to RAW?

Uhh...Why would they move one of the few credible Main Event Heels SmackDown has left, to Raw(who already has Evolution & Kane)?

[snuffbox 0]

I have no doubt that Ric Flair is a legend and is a great wrestler, but doesn't anyone else feel that he's a self-serving prick?

I think thats been the prevailing opinion for a couple decades now...

[AndrewTS 0]

The new Hirohito character introduced in vignette form on Raw will be Kenzo Suzuki. This has a chance to be one of the all-time flop gimmicks, because they have huge plans, and no matter how many times I write it, it must be invisible paper or something because they don't get that Suzuki has almost as much ability and nowhere near the look of Lex Luger...

He was introduced showing old war footage, so they are using the World War II mentality Japanese, not realizing that World War II Japanese racism means nothing to a fan base born after 1978. There are those in Japan who think this angle could backfire huge in that country. The fear is the Japanese right wing politicos will be furious at what they consider mocking Emperor Hirohito to the point it could become a strong enough issue to keep WWE from being able to return to the country.

 

Natch, it was Kenzo.

 

And MMoM apparently was not blowing this out of proportion, at least on the Japanese side. Geez, WWE, learn to more subtlety and tastefully insult them, like they do to us.

 

Despite the angle on Smackdown, there are no plans right now to build to a Kurt Angle vs. Big Show program.

 

Echoing the above sentiments, WHAT WAS THE POINT?! Couldn't they figure a way to get Kurt out of the GM role without another stupidly over-the-top attempted murder?

 

Believe it or not, Lex Luger's name came up regarding WWE this week, and this came from a source very close to Sting. Sting has been trying to get Luger to find religion and do the religious deals with him. Luger, and this was one guy I thought this wouldn't happen to, is said to be having financial problems. Well, legal expenses and divorces are costly.

 

...and drugs.

 

Best of luck to Sting for the effort. I hope Luger cleans up and gets his life straightened out, because it's simply shocking to hear how low he'd sunk.

 

The only person Flair really knocked was Foley (he's getting back at Foley in his book for Foley knocking him in his first book according to those close to the situation). He said he thought Foley was overrated and tries to play the normal guy card to connect with the fans

 

I guess Ric has to be right about something these days.

 

"falling off a building doesn't make you a wrestler. Where would he be if he hadn't fallen on a bed of thumb tacks?"

 

 

That's funny - everyone is praising Orton for doing the same thing.

 

Not everyone. I still think he sucks, as does AS and several others, and plenty thought it was ballsy but they aren't completely impressed either about his wrestling yet.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

Sting's a real good friend but Luger is hopeless.

[Vyce 0]

Flair said he had no confidence in the opinion of internet fans but really doesn't know what they say because he can't turn a computer on. You'd be surprised at how many of the old-guard wrestlers don't ever look at the internet, like Steve Austin and Mick Foley, and it probably keeps them a lot more sane. The only person Flair really knocked was Foley (he's getting back at Foley in his book for Foley knocking him in his first book according to those close to the situation). He said he thought Foley was overrated and tries to play the normal guy card to connect with the fans

 

Flair was asked about it during a U.K. interview and claimed the incident never happened and asked why it took the women two years to bring their case public.

 

I have no doubt that Ric Flair is a legend and is a great wrestler, but doesn't anyone else feel that he's a self-serving prick?

He said right now, the four best wrestlers of all-time are Harley Race, Michaels, Steamboat, and HHH.

 

He also appears to be in the early stages of senility.

[Damaramu 0]

Michaels? HHH?

What's he been smoking?

[jester 0]

Michaels? HHH?

What's he been smoking?

Rick's not senile, and he's not high.

 

He just knows who married the daughter of the guy who signs his paycheque.

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

Michaels? HHH?

What's he been smoking?

Shawn Micheals is an excedingly talented performer. What North American wrestlers are better than him?

 

Bret Hart? I love him to death but Bret was shit in WcW, and always had a tendancy to put on the same match every night unless properly motivated. Micheals since his comeback from what should have been a career ending injury has been involved in numerous **** matches.

[edotherocket 0]

Any guesses as to who Kenzo's bodyguard will be?

[Guest Brian]

And during a good portion of time before his injury he was walking through his matches. What about Dynamite Kid or Benoit? Eddy Guerrero? Vader?

[Enigma 0]

Any guesses as to who Kenzo's bodyguard will be?

Everyone's favorite bodyguard, Sid Vicious.

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

And during a good portion of time before his injury he was walking through his matches. What about Dynamite Kid or Benoit? Eddy Guerrero? Vader?

Vader in North America once he left WcW was shite outside of two maybe three big matches. He spent too much of his prime in Japan.

 

Dynamite Kid is an excellent wrestler but he never held a major title outside of the tag belts and was never in a postion where he was THE star of a major federation. There's no way we can honestly say if he could have handled that.

 

THe same is true to an extent of Benoit and Eddie, they're still relativly untested as a main event champion.

 

I'm looking at this as a career and Benoit/eddie hasn't beena major player anywhere near long enough to be in the top rankings.

 

And As you said in another thread Brian, many wrestlers wrestle the same type of match every night, SHawn was no different in that regard.

[DCMaximo 0]

The next shows in Japan, which will be the Smackdown crew, will be on 7/16 and 7/17, both at Budokan Hall. Tokyo is the best city for them, but I could see Smackdown having troubles drawing with its lackluster roster right now and so many wrestling and MMA events in the metropolitan area that this time. WWE, with only Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio as top guys and no Japanese superstar, wouldn't stand out from the crowd.

 

 

Also, surely letting Ultimo Dragon go away for a few months, without getting him to do this show (since he's already in Japan) is pretty stupid.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

As for the Bret Hart news, there's still hope after all.

 

So...mind...bogglingly...stupid...argh. What was the fucking point of it then?

 

To write Big Show off the show since he's in need for surgery.

 

WWE red flagged another match this past week. The Cyberspace Wrestling Federation in Wayne, NJ, had scheduled a match where Ron Killings would defend the group's title against Al Snow on 4/24. When WWE officials found out, they immediately had it nixed. Snow is still working the show, but WWE would not allow him to face a TNA wrestler. For whatever it is worth, the booking plan was for Killings to go over.

 

Al Snow doesn't even wrestle in WWE anymore, I mean what the fuck is up with this?

 

oh and this:

 

There is some talk of a storyline where Jackie Gayda starts falling for Charlie Haas, since he beats Rico.

 

is most interesting indeed.

[Jericho2000Mark 0]

Sakoda is far from a Japanese Superstar. He spent most of his career in UPW, and only did a couple tours for Zero-One.

[DCMaximo 0]

That's true, but he tags with former All-Japan star Jimmy Yang in a team where they were supposed to be Japanese mafia, and he's certainly more of a Japanese superstar than the rest of the Smackdown roster. There's certainly no reason why they can't use these guys as their Japanese stars for the show.

[haVoc 0]

Someone want to PM me and let me know what Dean Dark typed that was so bad it needed be be censored in a Observer/spoiler thread?

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Someone want to PM me and let me know what Dean Dark typed that was so bad it needed be be censored in a Observer/spoiler thread?

He said: "There is some talk of a storyline where Jackie Gayda starts falling for Charlie Haas, since he beats Rico."

 

It's already mentioned in the original post, so I don't know why he put it in spoiler tags.

[TheOriginalOrangeGoblin 0]

Anyone else find it funny that Flair ocmplained how Savage wouldn't job to him yet Savage has jobbed 3 or 4 World Titles to Flair. I don't know I just ofund that a bit weird of Flair to say.

[Guest Dazed]

Someone want to PM me and let me know what Dean Dark typed that was so bad it needed be be censored in a Observer/spoiler thread?

Highlight the "censored" line.

 

 

Nik

[Guest Brian]

Vader had a number of matches in the US that should be considered highly. He had a handful of matches with Cactus Jack, he had two matches with Sting (Starcade 92 and GAB 1993), the match with Flair (Starcade 1993, and a match with Michaels (Summerlsam 1996).

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

How come "best wrestlers ever" becomes "best north american wrestlers ever" which turns into "best north american wrestlers whose matches in north america can only count" and then changes to "best north american wrestlers whose matches in north american can only count and have been in prominent positions in the WWE or WCW for an extended period of time"...

 

It sorta changes the meaning of the original statement, doesn't it?

[Guest wrestlingbs]

Just to show you how much weight to put on Flair's opinion...

 

I remember that Flair used to say that WCW was the #1 promotion in the world... in early 2001.

[Guest Goodear]

How come "best wrestlers ever" becomes "best north american wrestlers ever" which turns into "best north american wrestlers whose matches in north america can only count" and then changes to "best north american wrestlers whose matches in north american can only count and have been in prominent positions in the WWE or WCW for an extended period of time"...

Because no one can say 'best wrestler EVER' without a hoard of people coming down and listing a bunch of people the first guy has never seen before or hasn't seen the bestest best matches of. This is why I always go 'best wrestler I've ever seen' which makes the whole thing a whole lot more accurrate. Who is going to take offense to that?

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

I don't know if you are answering my question or making a statement. I agree with the "best wrestler I've ever seen", I don't agree that you should limit Flair to just North America and having a qualifier be "being THE star" in regards to "the best". It's ridiculous.

 

"Who's better than Shawn Michaels... In North America... and was THE star of a large promotion for am extended period of time"

 

You _do_ see my point here, right? The field kinda narrows conveniently.