Post by The Final Countdown on May 22, 2020 18:14:24 GMT 1
May 2004, Week 3
May 17th, 2004
Worldwide taping: Shane Helms defeated Silas Young, Steenerico defeated Karl Anderson and Raymond Rowe and Matt Hardy defeated Michael Hutter.
Attendance: 18,345
Show Notes:
-Though he didn’t ask for it, AJ Styles was protected in his loss by Devitt’s interference.
“Not sure why Cash is still around. The crowd doesn’t care about him at all. You shouldn’t have re-signed him.” -Goldberg
May 22nd, 2004
Upcoming WCW PPV Event(s):
News Updates:
Once he realized that it had been an honest mistake and not a deliberate snub, Petey Williams was happy to sign a new 2 year exclusive contract with us.
Aguila, Volador Jr. and Kaoru Ito signed 1 year extensions.
Magnum Tokyo has been hitting the gym hard as he works his way back, and he’s looking a lot more muscular as a result.
Hailey Hatred’s time as enhancement talent on Renaissance is over.
Elsewhere in the wrestling world:
Prior to his call with me, Simon Inoki made a big splash in his first week of TV. While the Best of the Super Junior tournament raged on, Steve Austin won the IWGP Heavyweight title from Riki Choshu in the main event. That’s the obvious decision, and it’s about time someone made it. Austin will have some work to do to build that title back up, because most fans and experts seem to value it less than their junior heavyweight singles and heavyweight tag team titles these days.
WWE ran their ECW Hardcore Heaven PPV in Houston. They had Kane retain the ECW title over Booker T for the second month in a row, in a 97 rated semi main event. They ceded the main event slot to Triple H, who got to retain the WWE title against his idol Ric Flair in a stinker of a main event (79.) Thanks to that letdown of a main event the show was an 84 overall. But hey, Rock and RVD showed up, did a backstage skit and left, so at least they’re using their talent properly!
New Japan signed junior heavyweight Ikuto Hidaka to a 1-year contract.
ABC was obviously not pleased with the rating Hardcore TV was pulling, because the show’s new home in the US is on the UPN network. That’s a massive step down in both size and prestige. The show will now be shown on TSN in Canada.
So Simon Inoki taking over for the retiring Antonio was an AI thing, but it got my brain started on the big change I've previously hinted at. A change in ownership seemed like a logical time for radical shifts in company direction, and that got me thinking and led me to where I'm at now.
I'm now controlling New Japan as a second player, owner/booker Simon Inoki, so Austin getting the title, the partnership with WCW, and all future decisions are being made by me. I won't be doing a separate diary for New Japan or anything like that, as I don't want to put too much on my plate. You'll continue to get updates on New Japan through the eyes of Bret, so not much will change presentation-wise. It's in the story and underneath the hood where things will actually change.
It shouldn't lead to TOO much more work for me. I was able to run the TV show shockingly fast; turns out a 1 hour show with an 80% match ratio is a lot simpler to put together! I'll just have those and one PPV a month with New Japan. I might do a results screenshot for the PPVs, but other than that any New Japan news should come the same way it's been coming. I'm hoping it won't add too much to my workload, but I think it's going to make the game world itself more interesting, plus it creates all sorts of interesting possibilities for me.
I'll be posting here for now on because your dynasty was the only thing I look at on GDS.
That's totally fine with me; I was kind of surprised you popped back in there instead of here to begin with, honestly. I'm happy to have you following along wherever you choose.
Just get rid of that default Russo avatar ASAP if you want me to take you seriously!
Love the direction of Corino I did not see that coming. I got a little outsiders vibe from Trish Dumas and Jacqueline nice. After reading your diaries on here and on GDS I got inspired enough and have actually decided to make my own diary/dynasty. I am putting the final touches on the intro tonight but I should have the intro up by tomorrow and my first show either a couple of days after or a week I still haven't decided if I will write up matches like you did initially or do screenshots because I see others doing this format as well.
Definitely an outsiders vibe, yeah! Stupid me forgot to have them cut a promo on Nitro this week explaining their actions and giving their trio an official name, so I'll have to jot that down for next week!
Happy to have given you the inspiration, and I can't wait to see how Lucha Underground does with some Latino Heat! Find whatever format works best for you, and don't be afraid to experiment mid-diary. As you can see, this one has undergone many changes along the way!
I'm feeling it now: this is going to be Corino's time. His match with Punk at the Bash should be a great one, but it's time for the King to take his crown.
Also I'm liking the direction with taking over New Japan. Even if you aren't planning on doing any further updates on them than what you previously were, I'm sure you will run it a lot better than the AI, and could run the WWE out of Japan altogether. Just so long as you don't do so well that you chase WCW out of there also!
Corino WAS supposed to be the previous heel champion before The Unnatural got hot, so who knows? Maybe you're onto something!
I'm super excited about what I've got planned for New Japan. I haven't noted it I don't think, but I had to use the editor to bail them out of bankruptcy at one point in this game, so they really should be dead already. I couldn't let that happen though; they're my favorite company in the world currently, and I think my interest in this honestly would have plummeted if they were gone. Hopefully that won't be an issue now!
Obviously I won't need to worry too much about hurting WCW, since I've reformed the partnership between them. I'm hoping to rebuild and become competitive in the Japan national battles pretty quick though (once the cooling off period wears off and I go back to national that is.)
Excited to see what happens with New Japan under your watch. I can only assume Austin/Tanahashi will be happening sooner rather than later.
I'm actually planning to hold off on that for as long as possible. Definitely something I want to do eventually though!
May 17th, 2004
Worldwide taping: Shane Helms defeated Silas Young, Steenerico defeated Karl Anderson and Raymond Rowe and Matt Hardy defeated Michael Hutter.
Attendance: 18,345
Show Notes:
-Though he didn’t ask for it, AJ Styles was protected in his loss by Devitt’s interference.
“Not sure why Cash is still around. The crowd doesn’t care about him at all. You shouldn’t have re-signed him.” -Goldberg
May 22nd, 2004
Upcoming WCW PPV Event(s):
June 13th, 2004
Goldberg vs. The Unnatural
King Corino vs. CM Punk (©) for the World Heavyweight Championship
Card subject to change. Please do not submit your predictions at this time.
Goldberg vs. The Unnatural
King Corino vs. CM Punk (©) for the World Heavyweight Championship
Card subject to change. Please do not submit your predictions at this time.
News Updates:
”Simon Inoki is on line 1, Mr. Hart.”
Simon Inoki? Really?
“Put him through,” I said as I picked up the phone. “Hello, Bret Hart speaking.”
“Mr. Hart, this is Simon Inoki, son-in-law of Anonio Inoki, and new owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling.”
I cracked a smile; as if someone in my position wouldn’t know who he was. I was glad I’d happened to browse the official WCW.com web forum to see what our fans thought of this news though. A user with the name Hashasheen mentioned that Simon was Antonio’s son-in-law, who had taken the name and inherited the company when he married Antonio’s daughter. It would have been embarrassing if I’d ignorantly called him Antonio’s son during this unexpected conversation!
“Hi Mr. Inoki,” I said. “How can I help you?”
“We can help each other, Mr. Hart,” he said. “Your company and mine used to have a strong working relationship. I wish to bring it back as part of my company’s new direction.”
That wasn’t what I had been expecting. Given the aggressive attitude Antonio had taken with us, I figured his son would be eager to keep it going and possibly put even more focus on trying to sign away our talent and drive us out of Japan. I said as much to him.
“We can’t drive you out of Japan,” he said. “We can’t drive Vince McMahon out either. My father thought that the only path forward was to try and go to war with both of the major American companies, but that would have ended with New Japan being crushed between two titans, especially with All Japan and NOAH breathing down our necks too. We can’t take on the world all by ourselves. We need friends, and you know better than anyone that Vince McMahon doesn’t play well with others.”
“I’ll say. So what are you thinking, the occasional swapping of talent like before?” I wasn’t opposed to the idea. Since Misawa had ended our very brief partnership with NOAH we hadn’t had an agreement with any of the major Japanese companies, and a chance to bring that back seemed like a positive to me.
“Yes and no,” he said. “I would definitely like to book some of the major American stars from WCW, as well as send our young lions to you when we feel they’re ready to go on their learning excursions, and of course we’d be willing to lend you New Japan stars when you think they can help you. But I think there’s more we can do together.”
“I’m listening.”
“Let me tell you about my idea for the junior heavyweight division…”
Simon Inoki? Really?
“Put him through,” I said as I picked up the phone. “Hello, Bret Hart speaking.”
“Mr. Hart, this is Simon Inoki, son-in-law of Anonio Inoki, and new owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling.”
I cracked a smile; as if someone in my position wouldn’t know who he was. I was glad I’d happened to browse the official WCW.com web forum to see what our fans thought of this news though. A user with the name Hashasheen mentioned that Simon was Antonio’s son-in-law, who had taken the name and inherited the company when he married Antonio’s daughter. It would have been embarrassing if I’d ignorantly called him Antonio’s son during this unexpected conversation!
“Hi Mr. Inoki,” I said. “How can I help you?”
“We can help each other, Mr. Hart,” he said. “Your company and mine used to have a strong working relationship. I wish to bring it back as part of my company’s new direction.”
That wasn’t what I had been expecting. Given the aggressive attitude Antonio had taken with us, I figured his son would be eager to keep it going and possibly put even more focus on trying to sign away our talent and drive us out of Japan. I said as much to him.
“We can’t drive you out of Japan,” he said. “We can’t drive Vince McMahon out either. My father thought that the only path forward was to try and go to war with both of the major American companies, but that would have ended with New Japan being crushed between two titans, especially with All Japan and NOAH breathing down our necks too. We can’t take on the world all by ourselves. We need friends, and you know better than anyone that Vince McMahon doesn’t play well with others.”
“I’ll say. So what are you thinking, the occasional swapping of talent like before?” I wasn’t opposed to the idea. Since Misawa had ended our very brief partnership with NOAH we hadn’t had an agreement with any of the major Japanese companies, and a chance to bring that back seemed like a positive to me.
“Yes and no,” he said. “I would definitely like to book some of the major American stars from WCW, as well as send our young lions to you when we feel they’re ready to go on their learning excursions, and of course we’d be willing to lend you New Japan stars when you think they can help you. But I think there’s more we can do together.”
“I’m listening.”
“Let me tell you about my idea for the junior heavyweight division…”
Once he realized that it had been an honest mistake and not a deliberate snub, Petey Williams was happy to sign a new 2 year exclusive contract with us.
Aguila, Volador Jr. and Kaoru Ito signed 1 year extensions.
Magnum Tokyo has been hitting the gym hard as he works his way back, and he’s looking a lot more muscular as a result.
Hailey Hatred’s time as enhancement talent on Renaissance is over.
Elsewhere in the wrestling world:
Prior to his call with me, Simon Inoki made a big splash in his first week of TV. While the Best of the Super Junior tournament raged on, Steve Austin won the IWGP Heavyweight title from Riki Choshu in the main event. That’s the obvious decision, and it’s about time someone made it. Austin will have some work to do to build that title back up, because most fans and experts seem to value it less than their junior heavyweight singles and heavyweight tag team titles these days.
WWE ran their ECW Hardcore Heaven PPV in Houston. They had Kane retain the ECW title over Booker T for the second month in a row, in a 97 rated semi main event. They ceded the main event slot to Triple H, who got to retain the WWE title against his idol Ric Flair in a stinker of a main event (79.) Thanks to that letdown of a main event the show was an 84 overall. But hey, Rock and RVD showed up, did a backstage skit and left, so at least they’re using their talent properly!
New Japan signed junior heavyweight Ikuto Hidaka to a 1-year contract.
ABC was obviously not pleased with the rating Hardcore TV was pulling, because the show’s new home in the US is on the UPN network. That’s a massive step down in both size and prestige. The show will now be shown on TSN in Canada.
So Simon Inoki taking over for the retiring Antonio was an AI thing, but it got my brain started on the big change I've previously hinted at. A change in ownership seemed like a logical time for radical shifts in company direction, and that got me thinking and led me to where I'm at now.
I'm now controlling New Japan as a second player, owner/booker Simon Inoki, so Austin getting the title, the partnership with WCW, and all future decisions are being made by me. I won't be doing a separate diary for New Japan or anything like that, as I don't want to put too much on my plate. You'll continue to get updates on New Japan through the eyes of Bret, so not much will change presentation-wise. It's in the story and underneath the hood where things will actually change.
It shouldn't lead to TOO much more work for me. I was able to run the TV show shockingly fast; turns out a 1 hour show with an 80% match ratio is a lot simpler to put together! I'll just have those and one PPV a month with New Japan. I might do a results screenshot for the PPVs, but other than that any New Japan news should come the same way it's been coming. I'm hoping it won't add too much to my workload, but I think it's going to make the game world itself more interesting, plus it creates all sorts of interesting possibilities for me.
That's totally fine with me; I was kind of surprised you popped back in there instead of here to begin with, honestly. I'm happy to have you following along wherever you choose.
Just get rid of that default Russo avatar ASAP if you want me to take you seriously!
Definitely an outsiders vibe, yeah! Stupid me forgot to have them cut a promo on Nitro this week explaining their actions and giving their trio an official name, so I'll have to jot that down for next week!
Happy to have given you the inspiration, and I can't wait to see how Lucha Underground does with some Latino Heat! Find whatever format works best for you, and don't be afraid to experiment mid-diary. As you can see, this one has undergone many changes along the way!
Also I'm liking the direction with taking over New Japan. Even if you aren't planning on doing any further updates on them than what you previously were, I'm sure you will run it a lot better than the AI, and could run the WWE out of Japan altogether. Just so long as you don't do so well that you chase WCW out of there also!
Corino WAS supposed to be the previous heel champion before The Unnatural got hot, so who knows? Maybe you're onto something!
I'm super excited about what I've got planned for New Japan. I haven't noted it I don't think, but I had to use the editor to bail them out of bankruptcy at one point in this game, so they really should be dead already. I couldn't let that happen though; they're my favorite company in the world currently, and I think my interest in this honestly would have plummeted if they were gone. Hopefully that won't be an issue now!
Obviously I won't need to worry too much about hurting WCW, since I've reformed the partnership between them. I'm hoping to rebuild and become competitive in the Japan national battles pretty quick though (once the cooling off period wears off and I go back to national that is.)
I'm actually planning to hold off on that for as long as possible. Definitely something I want to do eventually though!
