~~~~~THE TBL NEWSLETTER~~~~~
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Brought to you by:
The Balrog’s Lair – http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Track/5869/
Wrestling Universe – http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Sideline/9031/
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Contents:
I. Note from the Editor
II. News & Rumors
III. Columns
IV. Advertisements
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Note from the Editor:
The Balrog
balrog275@geocities.com
Note from the Editor:
Hi folks! In this issue, we feature a new columnist, some news and rumors, and a new reader response question. Also, I ask a favor of all of you. Please visit The Balrog’s Lair (linked above) and tell me what you would like to seee on the lair that is not already there. The lair has been on the web for over a year and we are looking at raising our level of performance. Get ready and hold on tight, because here we go!
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News & Rumors:
(From various sources, too numerous to name)
TBL Reporter’s Circle: burnonelng@aol.com / aaron@tstonramp.com
^^^Bischoff’s Secretary^^^
Well, more and more news is coming out of this story. It nows seems that this woman was the only worker who could pull Bischoff aside during the middle of meeting, the only worker who could interrupt him on the phone, and the only worker who could get people meetings with Bischoff. Needless to say that this woman was the pulse of the WCW’s heartbeat. It should be interesting to see if she goes to the WWF or if she stays loyal to the WCW.
^^^Jeff Jarrett^^^
With the rumors that Deborah McMichael is on her way into the federation, it has been rumored that she will begin combating Tennessee Lee in getting men to face Jeff Jarrett. I have heard rumors of a Marc Mero with Deb versus Jeff Jarrett with Tennessee Lee feud in the makings. I think that it is obvious that Jeff Jarrett has the ability to be the World Champion one day, but his lack of charisma is holding him back. Look for him to start using a more aggressive style of wrestling and start looking for a title shot. Hey, he deserves it, right?
^^^WCW Injury List Skyrockets^^^
For those of you who haven’t heard, the WCW roster, well over 200 wrestlers, has an injury list that exceeds 30 wrestlers! This is almost unheard of in the sport. While most of these injuries can be blamed on the new high flying style of wrestling, it should be noted that these men that we watch faithfully on television and live in person are putting their lively hoods on the line every time that they take the mat. Let’s hope that all of our favorites get back into the ring as soon as possible and that they return healthy!
^^^Reader Response^^^
This response has to do with the above story on Jeff Jarrett. What should the WWF do with him? They tried the traditional NWA guy; that fell through. They are trying the Double J deal again; it is gaining heat, but not superstar heat like the WWF wants. If you were a WWF booker, what would your storyline be for Jeff Jarrett? All responses will be posted in the next edition of the newsletter.
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Columns:
From the desk of Mr. Ostien
By: Mr. Ostien
costien@wvu.edu
The Giant’s change was just plain “great!”
As a first time wrestling columnist…my thoughts are opinionated as I encouage well thought out replies…especially ones that disagree. Enjoy
I believe it was a Monday…but who the hell knows anymore. The day The Giant walked the aisle sporting the white and black (again!) with the invisible “I “heart” Hollywood” tatoo on his arm and a dim yet futile gleem in his eye.
And I can remember thinking to myself…
“woahhhh”
Then I thought…
“Thank God!”
…and then something along the lines of needing more beer, but I digress.
Because as a face….The Giant was a bore..a snore…and lackluster galore. Not much of a mic master, a little bit of talent, but for the most part…about as exciting as watching the grass grow… In other words, I didn’t like him to begin with…now I gots me a reason to REALLY dislike him. (How about that entrance music huh?)
But here’s where it gets better!
It appears a feud with Big Sexy is still iminent. A guy slowly comming to face. And to use and over-used paraphrase…that’s just tooooooo sweeeeeet!
When it comes to working the mic…Kevin Nash is Top 5. He’s not Ric Flair…but the guy always can crack my smile! Nash is funny…he is honest…he doesn’t stutter or blink or pause..or accidently call “The Great American Bash”, “Slamboree” ( i.e. Da’ Macho Man last Thurs.)
Nash is..in a word…cool.
Granted he is injury prone…and yes…his mat skills are lacking. But ask yerself this question… Which draws the bigger roar? The call for the Choke Slam or the call for the Jacknife Powerbomb? (if you say the choke slam….then yer tv needs fixed) And isn’t that what watching the sport is really about? It’s about yelling and screaming and huffing and puffing and getting yer house blown in!?!?!?
Regardless….The Giant has once again joined the nWo. Where he never should have left in the first place. Liking him sucked….Booing him just feels right. Agree?
But the best part about The Giant going nWo….
Nobody knew about it! Admit it…We ALL sat back and said “woahhhhhhh” at that one!
In a day and age where it’s tough to keep a secret from the masses of internet wrestling reporters… Big Paul in an nWo T-shirt stunned us all!
And thats what made it great!
If only Hogan could learn to wrestle…My God, then the world would be a better place….just thought I’d let ya know.
Yours in Word,
Mr. Ostien
costien@wvu.edu
Balrog Babblings
By: The Balrog
balrog275@geocities.com
A look at wrestling in society
Hi folks. This is the trusty Balrog here with another bunch of babbles. This week, the focus is wrestling’s effect on society. I know that you can all remember a few years ago, we wrestling fans had to hide in public (or we were told to at least) because wrestling wasn’t “cool”. Well! How times change! Nowadays I challenge any of you to go to hot vacation spots and not see an nWo shirt or the brilliant Austin 3:16 deal. It won’t happen. Wrestling has evolved from the closet cartoon game to the public’s fantasy land. What?
As I see it, with the growth of the wrestling industry, the imaginations of those who watch it flourish as well. I know that it may seem odd, but people actually look up to Stone Cold and Hollywood Hogan (who, despite our disgust, has yet again become an icon of sorts for professional wrestling). How else is this evident? Well, I don’t know about you, but when I go to the park to work out all I hear the younger kids saying is “I’m gonna stunner your ass, 3:16!!!” That’s just one way that wrestling has influenced society.
Another, maybe more important way, that wrestling has affected society is through the uprisal of amateur wrestling. I, myself, wrestle every week and I am amazed at how just two years ago all my team did during our pre-practice fooling around was beating each other up when now we (usually led by me) go over the proper ways to apply a Boston Crab, a Scorpion Death Lock, and the infamous Figure Four. Also, I teach the safe way to perform the powerbomb and drop-kicks. Wrestling is a niche in today’s world!
Who can say that wrestling hasn’t made itself a power player in the sports entertainment industry? Heck, wrestling television shows draw better ratings than baseball games and football games. I’m not sure about basketball, but I know that wrestling is the number program on cable television.
All in all, I think that the past few months have been the sonic boom of sorts for wrestling and I know that it will only get bigger. Fans and television surfers have the ENTIRE wrestling spectrum at their finger tips. They can watch the WCW for the older guys of yesteryear and the storylines that enthralled them back in the day, they can watch the WWF to see modern storylines and wrestlers that play to today’s crowds, or they can get extreme…
That’s it for me! Bye!!!
Balrog
balrog275@geocities.com
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Advertisements:
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