Trivia tidbits of notes

[Guest Trivia247]

The talk backstage is that Kenzo Suzuki and his wife, Hiroko Suzuki, talked Vince McMahon into nixing the Hirohito gimmick due to the backlash it would have with WWE's fans in Japan. WWE does very good business off its tours to Japan, and offending fans with a gimmick such as this, would have a bad effect on business in the region.

 

Suzuki will most likely now be moved to the Smackdown brand, although he was originally supposed to join RAW and move into a program with Chris Benoit.

 

Sources also claim that Suzuki's debut as "Hirohito" was thoroughly planned out, as both Benoit and Chris Jericho were announced as being from the United States to create U.S. vs. Japan feuds with Suzuki. It was planned for both men to work high-profile feuds with Suzuki, but those plans have been scrapped. It's currently unknown what type of push he'll be receiving on Smackdown.

 

[source: The Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter]

 

Reported by Justin Rowland on 05.18.2004

 

There has been a lot of criticism over HHH's actions during the battle royal on RAW this week, in that he tried his best to put himself over as much as he could even though he did not win the match, as he put himself in the position that seemed as though he would have won if Shawn Michaels didn't interfere in the match. The general feeling backstage was a lot of wondering why, if HHH wasn't going over in the match, he was one of the final two competitors.

 

Reported by Justin Rowland on 05.19.2004

 

As of right now the working plan is to have Eddie Guerrero defend the WWE Title against Bradshaw once again, as the main event of June's Smackdown-only PPV, The Great American Bash. There have been no plans to add an additional wrestler into the mix to make it more interesting, or add any type of gimmick, so right now it is just set to be a one-on-one match. There has been a lot of thought backstage that the Smackdown brand really dropped the ball with Judgment Day and potentially Great American Bash.

 

Months ago, many sources backstage at RAW had been constantly mentioning the fact that Vince McMahon seemed to be only concerned with Steve Austin and Triple H. Lately, those backstage at Smackdown feel as though Vince's primary concerns at this point in time are to make sure that he comes up with storylines for Eddie Guerrero and Undertaker.

 

Reported by Justin Rowland on 05.19.2004

 

Sources are saying that apparently Michael Cole and Tazz are pretty frustrated with the way they are portrayed by Vince McMahon on Smackdown these days, and many feel that it is shining through in their announcing. In addition to that, they are not exactly happy that they are considered the "number two" announce team on the "B-show."

 

It is no secret that Mick Foley has some problems with one of his knees, and that fact is what is potentially holding him back from being locked in for another match in WWE. A few weeks ago there had been some rumors concerning Foley returning for a Summerslam match, but at this time there are no plans to bring Foley back for Summerslam.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

At this point I wouldn't blame HHH if he just didn't care what the backstage clowns thought. The guy hasn't beaten a name wrestler clean since Armageddon.

[OldSchoolWrestling 0]

So did they want someone like Maven to eliminate HHH? He's the #1 heel isn't he? I would have had Benjamin eliminate him if anything, but I don't agree with the complaint.

[DCMaximo 0]

For all the bitching we do about Smackdown, if you'd told me a year ago that one of the two Smackdown stars Vince actually made sure had storylines was Eddie Guererro, I'd have called you a liar. God help them if Eddie gets injured.

[Karc 0]

Well, the best time to complain about Triple H would be at Bad Blood. From what I saw on Raw, the whole "HBK screwed me out of the title" was expected by everyone. That means Kane faces Benoit at Bad Blood. I am not upset that Triple H lasted that long in the main event of just one Raw. Now, if HBK-HHH is the main event of the whole PPV, then I would be upset, as it once again shoves Benoit, the top guy on Raw, to the number 2 spot again. And after all this time of trying to make the world title and Benoit legit, that would be a sham to again be completely overshadowed by HHH-HBK.

[Guest Goodear]

There has been a lot of criticism over HHH's actions during the battle royal on RAW this week, in that he tried his best to put himself over as much as he could even though he did not win the match, as he put himself in the position that seemed as though he would have won if Shawn Michaels didn't interfere in the match. The general feeling backstage was a lot of wondering why, if HHH wasn't going over in the match, he was one of the final two competitors.

 

See this is why Triple H is smart and the rest of lockerroom is full of morons who are still wondering why they aren't getting World Titles.

 

Triple H did the most to put himself over? Uhm... well first off putting yourself over is an important part of wrestling. Secondly, no he fucking didn't. He didn't dominate anyone unless he had his entire group help him which was part of the internal storyline of the match. And that only worked against like Rhyno and Hurricane and the guys that were actually going to be pushed like Edge and Shelton managed to work through the double teaming like manly men in order to put THEM over. Plus Orton and Batista looked really good... but whatever.

 

Of course they made it look like Triple H would have won if Shawn didn't interfear... THATS THE FREAKING STORY. Shawn 'would have beaten' Benoit if Triple H didn't run in. Triple H 'would have beaten' Kane if Shawn didn't run in. Both guys are suffering porfessionally because of a personal matter that will be settled in some sort of match that sort of has a rep for settling things. Kane won't be hurt by that because its impossible to hurt Kane. The guy has been the worst booked wrestler EVER and still has heat. Not eliminating Triple H isn't going to hurt that because in storyline terms, it always looks like Kane will murder everyone anyway.

 

Such a non-story, these pansies in the lockerroom don't even know simple freaking booking. Idiots.

[Papacita 0]

I still think Torch just throws that stuff out there to try and get smarks riled up. I agree with what's been said though. The battle royal was nothing to complain about.

 

Sources also claim that Suzuki's debut as "Hirohito" was thoroughly planned out, as both Benoit and Chris Jericho were announced as being from the United States to create U.S. vs. Japan feuds with Suzuki. It was planned for both men to work high-profile feuds with Suzuki, but those plans have been scrapped.

So will they go back to billing them as being from Canada again? It's not like anyone actually looks at them as being Americans anyway, especially after having Backlash in Edmonton.

[Guest glennsoe]

Steven sent word that WWE has added "Carlito Colon" and "Titan Sports" to their trademark list.

 

As Mike Johnson reported yesterday, Takako Inoue had a workout on Monday afternoon before Raw in San Diego. From what I heard, she didn’t really impress those watching it and if I had to lay odds whether she will get hired or not, I would guess against it. Inoue was a star for the All Japan Women’s promotion in the nineties and was one of their “poster girl” wrestlers based off of her very good looks.

 

The Seattle Times has a piece concerning WWE running in the Everett, WA market for a house show over the weekend, talking about how WWE is running in smaller buildings now. You can read it by clicking here.

 

There was an article in yesterday’s Edmonton Journal about Chris Benoit taking time to meet with Edmonton Oilers dressing-room attendant Joey Moss, who is a huge wrestling fan and has Down’s Syndrome. When WWE was in town last month, Benoit made a point of meeting with him but didn’t have the time to spend with Moss that he wanted to due to time restraints. So, Benoit took Moss out to dinner a few nights later and will be sending Moss a replica Title belt. I love stories like this one. What a class act the champ is. … Thanks to CKLS for sending that along.

 

Steve sent word that Moolah and Mae Young are scheduled to be on the Jay Leno on May 24th. Now that is must see TV!

 

 

If you are wondering where the “more 1980s” style of product on the Smackdown brand is coming from, it’s the baby of Bruce Prichard. Prichard is part of the Smackdown creative team and is largely an idea man for the brand (while David Lagana writes the actual show). Of late, he has come up with Undertaker doing short promos (like “Rest in Peace” at the PPV), Mordecai, etc. From what I have been told, Prichard, who is very old school in his booking ideas, has been pitching the old school stuff to Vince McMahon, who has been eating it up. Since Vince is the guiding force and likes that kind of stuff, we can expect more of it.

 

To follow up on Konnan being at the PPV on Sunday, there was a lot of talk in the locker room that he was looking to get an announcing deal with the company. He is currently doing Spanish language broadcasting for NWA TNA and, I believe, is under contract with them and would have to resolve his deal with them before he could go and work for WWE, if a position were offered.

 

As for other two notable names that were backstage at the PPV, Sean Waltman was seen talking to HHH (who was at the show in I guess what you would call a management capacity) for a while and Dallas Page was visiting with friends. While Page has said he wants to wrestle again, I haven’t heard of WWE considering bringing him back at this time

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

Lot's of news....none of it interesting other than why SD has sucked, and we already knew that.

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

HHH making himself look good....wow. I always thought a wrestlers job was to be made into everyone's bitch, and hope the crowd cares about their loser selves.

 

Oh wait, that only works with Cruiserweights.

 

 

HHH dominated NO ONE, and his eliminations were all with help, except for maybe Shelton Benjamin, who had his back turned to him while splashing Kane 495 times.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Benoit is the fuckin king.

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

Benoit is the fuckin king.

At least he cares about other people......

[Guest JMA]

Sources also claim that Suzuki's debut as "Hirohito" was thoroughly planned out, as both Benoit and Chris Jericho were announced as being from the United States to create U.S. vs. Japan feuds with Suzuki. It was planned for both men to work high-profile feuds with Suzuki, but those plans have been scrapped.

So will they go back to billing them as being from Canada again? It's not like anyone actually looks at them as being Americans anyway, especially after having Backlash in Edmonton.

I think it's doubtful they'll change their hometowns back to Canadian ones. It's just another way for Vince to mess with Canada and Canadian fans in an unprofessional way. You've got to wonder what Benoit and Jericho think of this. I can't imagine them being cool with it. Oh, I also noticed that JR casually mentioned that Edge was "now residing in Tampa, Florida" in his column in RAW magazine. It came out of nowhere, too.

[King Cucaracha 0]

So the main eventer Triple H is putting himself over? *Yawn*

 

Nobody likes Bradshaw. *Yawn*

 

The backstage feelings aren't good. *Yawn*

 

 

We're reaching 2002 levels of predictability. Expect a news story on how the Cruiserweights are unhappy at their push in next week's Torch...you know...to provide the shocking, thought-provoking journalism we always expect.

[pochorenella 0]

To follow up on Konnan being at the PPV on Sunday, there was a lot of talk in the locker room that he was looking to get an announcing deal with the company. He is currently doing Spanish language broadcasting for NWA TNA and, I believe, is under contract with them and would have to resolve his deal with them before he could go and work for WWE, if a position were offered

 

No way Konnan could add anything positive to the WWE's spanish announce team of Carlos Cabrera and Hugo Savinovich. Those guys are some of the best announcers on ANY language IMO. Keep Konnan away from them, thank you.

[Guest Mulatto Heat]

Again... I really wish people would stop re-posting the Torch's garbage over here. I agree with Papacita, Wade puts a little something extra, no matter how truthful it is or is not, to make sure the more gullible ones get riled up and relay the 'information' to other places.

 

This applies to those run-of-the-mill HOT NEWZ~! sites as well.

 

I also think that the source of each tidbit should be posted so people can determine where the crappy ones are coming from.