~~~~~THE TBL NEWSLETTER~~~~~
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Contents:
I. Note from the Editor
II. News & Rumors
III. Columns
IV. Advertisements
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The Balrog
balrog275@geocities.com
Note from the Editor:
Hello. Today, there is a new reporter. The TBL Newsletter welcomes aaron@tstonramp.com to the reporter’s circle! Today, we feature a Ric Flair news “byte” sent to me by the fine folks over at VME ( http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/1355 ). I urge you all to check out their site as it has a nice background information center on the owner of the WWF, Vince McMahon. Also, there is a huge update on the WWF’s new video game, WARZONE. Bye!!!
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NEWS:
(From various sources, too numerous to name)
TBL Reporter’s Circle: burnonelng@aol.com / aaron@tstonramp.com
^^^Ric Flair News Byte^^^
Ric Flair has stolen the headline story of this newsletter for the past three issues! Here is what our friends at VME are saying about Ric Flair…”ME has learned from a VERY reliable source that Ric Flair plans on joining the WWF within the next 90 days (in time for SummerSlam 98) – Flair knows that should he sign with the WWF (when he’s finally legally able to), his contract would require 200 appearances (most likely per year) – no details on how much Titan would pay Ric Flair – Flair is STILL under contract with WCW, and is STILL undergoing a legal battle with WCW – The information gathered from our source, leads us to suspect that Ric Flair believes he will be in a legal position to sign with the WWF by mid-August – no word on what Arn Anderson will do should Flair join the WWF later this year, but he’s been on record numerous times stating that he’d follow Flair.” The only addition that I have to this news byte is that we all know that Sid is not a fan of the Nature Boy or Arn Anderson. Where would this put the contract negotiations between Sid and the WWF? Questions to ponder…Thanks to our new friends VME & Johnny Kashmer for this story!
^^^WWF – Gang Warfare?^^^
It looks like the WWF is going to finally do away with all their “gangs”. They got rid of Truth Commission, and are currently slashing Los Boriquas up. The next faction to be broken up is the DOA. The WWF wants the Harris brothers 8-Ball & Skull), to wrestle as a full time tag team. Chainz however will turn heel, and join DX. This is only speculation, but it may play out with Chainz going back to the name “Prime Time” Brian Lee and joining DX. He is very good on the mic, and can fit in nicely, as he is good friends with Road Dog & Billy Gunn. (aaron@tstonramp.com)
^^^Monday Night Wars^^^
There are subtle hints being dropped at One CNN Center that Bischoff is losing his head. There are reports that Mark Madden is telling friends who tell friends who tell friends, etc. that Eric cannot handle the load of stressful work that he is getting. With this WWF -v- WCW lawsuit, NITRO being looked down upon (with the crappy time slots), most of the undercard wanting either a push or out of the company (Bulldog, Norton, McMichaels, the Guerreros, for some reason Jerhico, Mysterio, Benoit, the Steiners, Luger, and many more), and the pressure from the fans to “Free Ric Flair” and the lawsuit that goes along with it, Bischoff may be on the brink of breaking down. Add to this that Old Baldy is the champ again and the only exciting part of the nWo is the Wolfpack and there are problems in “both” of his “companies.” However, with this report comes the realization that Bischoff has many people that are helping him with the above, but also that some of them are apprehensive to go against the WWF (Dillon, for example, does not want to help with the lawsuit). Well, as I say, just sit back and let the business take its turns.
^^^WWF Warzone Update^^^
Here is a quick update on the WWF’s video game from our buddies Kraigg, Mr. Floppy, Ice Master, and Mike Archer and Michael Meyers of Acclaim…”Wrestlers: “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels, “Triple H” Hunter Hearst Helmsley, The Undertaker, Mankind, “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock, “The Black Hart” Owen Hart, Kane, “The Rock” Rocky Maivia, Faarooq, Headbanger Mosh, Headbanger Thrasher, The Artist Formally Known As Goldust, Ahmed Johnson, Bret “Hitman” Hart, “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith, Cactus Jack (As a hidden character), Dude Love (As a hidden character)…Each wrestler will have 2 costumes…Game Modes: The game modes will be: Practice Mode, 1-on-1 Match, Steel Cage Match, Tag Team Match (As of now you will have a ten count to double team), Weapons Match, Battle Royal (Only on N64) (All 16 wrestlers will compete, 4 wrestlers at a time. When one of the 4 is thrown over the top rope, a new wrestler will come out.), Gauntlet Match (Only on N64), and a WWF Challenge Mode in which you must face 12 of the 16 wrestlers, trying to win the Intercontinental and WWF championships, and wrestlers you have already beaten may challenge you to a grudge match, after interfering in your match. Once you win a belt you will defend it as long as you continue to win. If you lose, you will get knocked down a few spots, and have to climb your way back to the top…Weapons: Planned weapons around ringside will include: a video camera, tv monitor, stairs, chair, table, 2 x 4, and a ring bell. You will be able to throw a guy into the table and the table will break into half. When weapons get used too much, they will break apart and disappear. However, the crowd will throw more weapons into the ring as they are needed to spice up the action. Smaller weapons can be carried in and out of the ring. The bigger weapons can only be used in or outside the ring depending on where they land. Also, blood may be added for weapon and cage matches…Create-a-Wrestler: In Warzone you will be able to create a wrestler. There will be 5 body types, different heads, beards, mustaches, belts, bandannas, alien heads, lizard heads, a female body type and more than 30 different costumes, even wrestlers’ shirts like the D-Generation X shirt. You can choose skin tones and colors, a “set of moves” (including a taunt and “theme music”) and assign attributes to your wrestler using a limited number of points. You also will be able to give your wrestler a first name, a nick name and a last name. You will be able to choose if your wrestler is a heel or a face. You can make up to 30 created wrestlers per memory card. After each match in the WWF Challenge your attributes can be altered. Warzone will also include statistics ranging from custom wrestlers attributes can improve by the more wins he has, resulting in the rank of custom wrestlers. Also you will be able to rank how many belts you won with others. As far as the computer controlling your custom wrestlers, well Acclaim is trying to work this out…Other Features: WWF Warzone will have more than 90 mins. of play-by-play done by Vince McMahon and Jim Ross. Warzone has more than 600 moves, with each wrestler having over 35 moves including a finisher and submission holds. Each wrestler will have signature taunts (like DX’s crotch chops) that help increase your endurance and recovery rates. Also, the wrestlers will say some smart ass remark to their opponent when they do their taunt. The Titan-Tron, and the ramp will be in the game. Wrestlers will come to the ring with their music playing. Also, a wrestler can wrestle against himself. The crowds will be animated and random selected people will be able to yell at a certain wrestler and taunt him. WWF Warzone can have up to 4 Players, in Tag Team and Battle Royal modes…WWF Warzone is planned to be released on July 1998, for N64 and Playstation.
^^^Steve Austin MTV^^^
The WWF Champion, Steve Austin, will be doing color commentary on MTV’s new show, celebrity death match. He will be making cameos every few shows after this Thursday.
^^^WWF T-Shirts^^^
Many of the more popular WWF shirts such as the WWF Attitude, DX & Austin shirts are now being sold at malls, and popular shopping stores. (aaron@tstonramp.com)
^^^Kane and the Undertaker^^^
This is obviously one of the hottest and most lethal feuds in the federation’s long history. However, the WWF does not want any of the fans to lose interest so they are planning on “upping the competition” of this war. Already we have the bulbous fat man and his monster trying to destroy the lord of darkness and his minions, but there is room for more, says the WWF. They are looking to bring in at least two or three more people to this battle to keep the fan interest over the summer. The WWF wants to end the feud (if this is possible) either next winter or late fall. All three of the men involved in the feud are happy with the results as Glenn Jacobs has finally been given a big time role in the WWF and Paul Bearer is back on top of his game as a heel. The Undertaker is reportedly happy with the fan’s response and is one of the guys who are really trying to push for more people to get into the feud and stir the pot, so to speak.
^^^The Godwinns^^^
Weak rumors are now starting that The Godwinns are going to be re-packaged. They kill the WWF in ratings and draw no heat. They may be turned into bodyguards for hire. Almost like hitmen. (aaron@tstonramp.com)
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WWF 4 Life
By: Captain Gelf
mgelfand@acsu.buffalo.edu
Well, classes just ended last Monday, so I taped Raw while I partied with my buddies that night. Anyway, I get the whole episode EXCEPT for the very end of the Foley/Funk match. Needless to say, I am not a happy camper. I missed McMahon dancing!! He is such an awesome heel it’s unbelievable! I hear Al Snow may be next for Austin…
Speaking of Al Snow, it’s absolutely incredible how much can change in a matter of months. Remember Leif Cassidy and the horrifying New Rockers gimmick? Well, Jannetty is now jobbing in WCW while Al Snow is incredibly over to the point where most web reporters thought he was going to win the ECW World Title. He probably was, since Douglas is injured, but good old Uncle Vince just demanded his return to Titan.
It’s a decent plan, I guess. Send the guy to ECW to get him over with a new gimmick, thus transforming a jobber into a high mid-carder. In fact, some people are speculating that Snow may face Austin at Summerslam! Readers, I’m going to need some help here. I’ve never seen an ECW event. Has Al Snow really transformed into a main eventer? If so, I think Paul E. is much more of a genius than Bischoff or McMahon. I can’t think of a worse angle than Leif Cassidy. It’s incredible. If I was starting a fed, I’d hire Paul E. as my booker and talent guy.
This Kane saga is really starting to get on my nerves. The fact is, fans pay to see these guys fight, not to tell erotic stories about their childhood and parents’ lovers. Besides, I really don’t see how this latest twist adds much to the angle. Kane and Bearer are both very over as super-heels. No need to mess with it.
Well, Steve Austin was on Off the Record this week. He basically bragged about merchandise sales and ratings, ridiculed Bischoff’s prior statements about him. He said that WWF will always be #1, and WCW is just “a place for guys to hang around”. Austin actually claimed that wrestlers currently employed by WCW gave him this impression. Austin said that Bret Hart was completely wrong. Business is business, and you are going to get squashed if you don’t go with the trend.
My question is, how will Canadian fans react to this? I imagine most Canadian wrestling fans did tune in to Off the Record that night. I wonder how they felt about Austin’s comments toward their “hero”. Remember, Austin has that big house show at Skydome on May 23. I wonder if he’ll be as over now as he would have been before. All I’m saying is don’t be surprised to see at least a few people boo Austin that night.
Hulk Hogan is not scheduled to be at the Slamboree PPV. Hogan feels that since the last few WCW TV shows have been pre-empted, the PPV has not been adequately hyped and the buyrate won’t be all that high. Of course, as much as I hate to admit, Hogan can attract more viewers. A match involving him would get people to tune in no matter how little hype it received. To me, this sounds like a pretty lame excuse to get out of a match.
Looks like the British Bulldog has gotten himself in trouble. Missing flights, no-showing house shows. Goodness, that move to WCW has helped his career!! Hey, Jim Neidhart wrestled on WCW Pro this week!! Good career move guys!! I can just see the smirk on Vince’s face if Bulldog is fired or released.
So how about this TV title situation. Five title changes in five nights. That’s what happens when you go get sued by WWF and have to give a deposition, Bischoff. What the hell was WCW thinking giving the TV title to Fit Finley?? He was not even involved in the feud between Booker T and Benoit. I’m sure WCW will claim they did this for shock value, but there is a big difference between shock value and stupidity! And let me get this straight. Apparently, the title changes at the houseshows were not “official”. I guess thousands of fans just hallucinated during those last couple of days. Can’t be surprised though. WCW will do that to you.
Speaking of the WWF vs. WCW lawsuit, this thing has gotten no internet coverage! Eric Bischoff goes in to give his deposition and only a couple of sites even reported it and none made a big deal. It was only reported as an explanation for the TV title changes. Bischoff wasn’t around so Terry Taylor did the booking. I wanna know what’s going on with this lawsuit. Jeez, I don’t even know what the charges are!! When did the case begin. I’ve been on the internet since mid ’96, and I haven’t heard a damned thing. If anyone can fill me in on this, I’d greatly appreciate it.
Finally, these stupid Ultimate Warrior rumors keep resurfacing.People now are saying he’ll be on Nitro within a week or two. I must stress this again. The Warrior was very clear: When he comes back, the details of his return will be posted on his website before any place else. So I don’t expect to see the warrior just yet.
Once again, I encourage you to check the efed I’m involved in at http://www.cxo.com/~jweber
It kicks ass!! Happy Mother’s Day!!
Captain Gelf
mgelfand@acsu.buffalo.edu
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