Post by mattywood on Jan 6, 2024 17:12:54 GMT 1
Wrestling Observer News & Notes
WWF News:
-For those wondering after seeing his humorous appearance as the "Blue Blazer" on WWF Superstars recently, Andre the Giant is back full time with the WWF after leaving All Japan. Andre opted to take an out of the ring role with the WWF after years of wrestling taking its toll on his body. He is mainly working as a road agent, but he will make occasional appearances from time to time.
-Crush was not busted hard way when Hercules hit him with the chain recently on Monday Night Raw. Crush being busted open was actually a rare case of Vince McMahon allowing for the use of blading to help sell an angle. Don't expect to see this on the WWF's weekend offerings as Vince apparently wants Monday Night Raw to have a distinct feel from Wrestling Challenge & Superstars.
-Attendance for the WWF's recent tour of the northeast United States was down, but there are several factors at play here. The WWF is still trying to recover from the steroid scandal that broke last year, which is ironic when you consider that anabolic steroids were not as regulated during the pro wrestling boom of the 1980s. Another factor is the downturn in the US economy for over the past year, although there are signs of life starting to show that a comeback is on the way. Also consider that with Monday Night Raw having held their TV tapings at the Manhattan Center in New York, those fans may not feel the need to go to a monthly Madison Square Garden card, or may not have the money to attend both bi-weekly TV tapings & a Madison Square Garden supercard.
-I was in New York for the recent MSG show. I liked what I saw from Violent Beauty in the six-woman tag team match. Wendi Richter sold really well for the babyfaces in the match, & Velvet McIntyre sold well in helping to make Tori look good.
-Sources close to the WWF have reported that Bobby "The Brain" Heenan has taken Glen Ruth under his wing as a protege. Glen has been working as an enhancement talent for the WWF, & it is said that officials are high on him as a potential player down the road.
-Many are surprised at Bill Eadie's return to the WWF, & as a road agent at that, which was the position he was promised when Demolition was nearing its end. Vince McMahon & Bill Eadie were somehow able to patch things up, with money & Eadie not having to take as many bumps probably playing a factor. Eadie was said not to have been happy with his recent in-ring matches in the W*ING promotion in Japan, either.
WCW News:
-Jerry Lynn is signed to a written contract in WCW, but he is not exclusive to WCW. He is the man under the mask as Mr. JL, which might explain why Eric Bischoff hasn't had any qualms about Jerry wrestling for the GWF on ESPN. The deal was said to just be a nine month deal as Eric wanted to get a feel for Jerry, but he is high on him as a potential player in WCW's Light Heavyweight division. He could potentially be given an exclusive offer down the road.
Independent News:
-Nikita Koloff is keeping himself busy these days. He is working dates for the NWL, & has recently signed on with both Herb Abrams' UWF & Tim Horner's Smoky Mountain Wrestling. Nikita may be trying to get himself a deal with either the WWF or WCW, or maybe even a lucrative deal in Japan.
-I was able to catch a recent airing of the USWA, & I have to make a correction. It is due to my source getting information from a fan, who had mistakenly thought that Brian Christopher (now Brian Candido) was playing Chris Candido's long lost brother. It turns out that the angle is that Brian & Chris are long lost cousins, which makes the fact that Brian dyed his hair & changed his last name even funnier. Goofy as it is, I have to admit that I was pretty entertained by the angle.
WWF News:
-For those wondering after seeing his humorous appearance as the "Blue Blazer" on WWF Superstars recently, Andre the Giant is back full time with the WWF after leaving All Japan. Andre opted to take an out of the ring role with the WWF after years of wrestling taking its toll on his body. He is mainly working as a road agent, but he will make occasional appearances from time to time.
-Crush was not busted hard way when Hercules hit him with the chain recently on Monday Night Raw. Crush being busted open was actually a rare case of Vince McMahon allowing for the use of blading to help sell an angle. Don't expect to see this on the WWF's weekend offerings as Vince apparently wants Monday Night Raw to have a distinct feel from Wrestling Challenge & Superstars.
-Attendance for the WWF's recent tour of the northeast United States was down, but there are several factors at play here. The WWF is still trying to recover from the steroid scandal that broke last year, which is ironic when you consider that anabolic steroids were not as regulated during the pro wrestling boom of the 1980s. Another factor is the downturn in the US economy for over the past year, although there are signs of life starting to show that a comeback is on the way. Also consider that with Monday Night Raw having held their TV tapings at the Manhattan Center in New York, those fans may not feel the need to go to a monthly Madison Square Garden card, or may not have the money to attend both bi-weekly TV tapings & a Madison Square Garden supercard.
-I was in New York for the recent MSG show. I liked what I saw from Violent Beauty in the six-woman tag team match. Wendi Richter sold really well for the babyfaces in the match, & Velvet McIntyre sold well in helping to make Tori look good.
-Sources close to the WWF have reported that Bobby "The Brain" Heenan has taken Glen Ruth under his wing as a protege. Glen has been working as an enhancement talent for the WWF, & it is said that officials are high on him as a potential player down the road.
-Many are surprised at Bill Eadie's return to the WWF, & as a road agent at that, which was the position he was promised when Demolition was nearing its end. Vince McMahon & Bill Eadie were somehow able to patch things up, with money & Eadie not having to take as many bumps probably playing a factor. Eadie was said not to have been happy with his recent in-ring matches in the W*ING promotion in Japan, either.
WCW News:
-Jerry Lynn is signed to a written contract in WCW, but he is not exclusive to WCW. He is the man under the mask as Mr. JL, which might explain why Eric Bischoff hasn't had any qualms about Jerry wrestling for the GWF on ESPN. The deal was said to just be a nine month deal as Eric wanted to get a feel for Jerry, but he is high on him as a potential player in WCW's Light Heavyweight division. He could potentially be given an exclusive offer down the road.
Independent News:
-Nikita Koloff is keeping himself busy these days. He is working dates for the NWL, & has recently signed on with both Herb Abrams' UWF & Tim Horner's Smoky Mountain Wrestling. Nikita may be trying to get himself a deal with either the WWF or WCW, or maybe even a lucrative deal in Japan.
-I was able to catch a recent airing of the USWA, & I have to make a correction. It is due to my source getting information from a fan, who had mistakenly thought that Brian Christopher (now Brian Candido) was playing Chris Candido's long lost brother. It turns out that the angle is that Brian & Chris are long lost cousins, which makes the fact that Brian dyed his hair & changed his last name even funnier. Goofy as it is, I have to admit that I was pretty entertained by the angle.
