From: hekunze@watmsg.waterloo.edu (Herb Kunze)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling
Subject: Wrestling TidBits   -   03/29
Keywords: Wrestling...
Message-ID: <35780@watmath.waterloo.edu>
Date: 29 Mar 90 20:58:43 GMT
Sender: daemon@watmath.waterloo.edu
Distribution: rec
Lines: 151
Posted: Thu Mar 29 21:58:43 1990


 - WWF Exodus:  Red Rooster (to Rooster heaven; who'll dare touch this
   guy?), Tony Schiavone (back to the NWA).

 - Seems that the Midnight Express and Jim Cornette are still having problems
   with the NWA bookers who still want to split up the act.  It's rumoured
   that Stan, Bobby, and Jim may just leave the organization.  I wouldn't
   blame them since they haven't been put to proper use in a year.  I mean
   they set up this feud with Pillman & Zenk and then downplayed it when it
   could be the hottest thing they have going.  Jeez.

 - Yup, as we all would have guessed, Norman's box contained Abdullah The
   Butcher, who'll hang around till mid summer.

 - It seems that Arn Anderson just ain't healing all that fast.  Rumour has
   him out for up to a year.

 - WWF Bound:  Rumours have Paul Diamond jumping from the AWA to the NWA
   after WrestleMania.  Hopefully he'll reform a team with Pat Tanaka.

 - Well, it's sad to say but the CNWA seems to be going downhill.  Although
   they've listed some good talent as coming in, these names have yet to
   show, leaving only smaller league players in the organization.  This is
   great for them because they actually get to work some good angles and I
   am starting to see a fair bit of potential in some of them.  But it's sad
   when compared to the awesome success that Stampede Wrestling once had.
   Until things pick up (I'm still optimistic), I won't bother posting
   anything about the CNWA.

 - The Ultimate Warrior was on Arsenio Hall last night.  Arsenio introduced
   him with just a few minutes left in the program - I guess he blows up
   quickly during interviews too.  After running through the audience and
   turning over Arsenio's furniture, the Warrior actually sat still for a
   few seconds.  I really don't understand how the grunting, growling, wild
   animal image he brought across is supposed to keep him a babyface.
   Arsenio asked him if he wanted to be called "Ultimate" or "Warrior" or
   what.  The Warrior rambled that only those who have made the sacrifice
   can call him UW, others call him Ultimate Warrior.  Huh?  Arsenio had
   some great facial expressions during the ~3 question interview,
   expressions that said "What the hell is he saying??"  It didn't work for
   me.

 - There was an interesting article in the Toronto Star on the weekend.  As
   you might imagine, with Toronto being the host city for WrestleMania
   every pseudo-journalist/quasi-fan is writing some sort of wrestling
   article.  This one had some revealing quotes from Steve Planamenta,
   Manager of Media Relations for TitanSports.  It opened with:
   "We see ourselves as a family organization, along the lines of Disney.
   When you go into a Disney property you see the Mouse ears, you hear the
   music, you recognize the characters.  It's clean.  It's neat.  And you
   know you're in Disneyland."
     The writer goes on to say that most of the wrestling world is holding
   its breath in anticipation of the WM main event.  "So am I," says Steve
   Planamenta.  "Who knows how it'll turn out?  I'm as interested as the
   next person.  But the strength of our product is that we are able to
   change it to meet the changing demands of the fans.  Our demographics
   show that the Ultimate Warrior appeals to the younger fans; the kids, the
   ones who are starting to come to the matches.  The audience of the
   future, if you will."  Hmmm.  You wouldn't want the audience of the
   future's future champion to lose to the current champion, would you?
   "Our demographics are completely different from those of other
   quote-unquote professional wrestling organizations.  Most of theirs are
   still the midnight sneakers; males 18 to 24.  Ours are 38% women, and a
   lot of children.  The message is, we're delivering mainstream family
   sports entertainment.  So far, Hulk has been the perfect symbol of that
   product."
     The writer goes on to speak to Randy Savage.  Personal questions?
   Sorry.  Never whether his name is really is really Randy Poffo, ex-St.
   Louis Cardinals baseball player.  Nor whether he is truly married to the
   lovely Elizabeth, his erstwhile manager.  Savage chooses to concentrate
   on his personal philosophy.  "Everybody's their own manager.  TCOB.
   That's Take Care Of your Body.  If you don't work, too bad, in sports or
   any walk of life.  Follow a 24-hour-a-day plan.  Check in, get up, go to
   a gym.  I'm a bobcat type mentality.  It's a lifestyle.  Everybody
   doesn't have to work out with me, but achievers like to hang around
   achievers.  Discipline, you said the right word.  If you're not
   disciplined, you're not world class.  Hey, it's rough, but it's a
   lucrative field.  You gotta stay hungry.  And you keep you're feet on the
   ground it means there's less distance to fall."  Blah, blah, blah.
     Next we talk about Vince McMahon, who brought marketing into wrestling.
   He put seven masters of sports administration in his promotions
   department.  Vince McMahon made the Hulk.  And by heaven and marketing
   research, Vince McMahon can break him.  "What Vince McMahon did," Steve
   Planamenta explains, "is take the product of the past and infuse it with
   a new kind of excitement.  A type of charisma that he had the idea for,
   that no one else had, or could have, put forth.  And provide a product
   that gives full value for the consumer's discretionary entertainment
   dollar."
      And to sum it up, Steve says, "Can this last forever?  I hope so.
   Because I believe that we'll always have the vision to keep the product
   changing.  So we can give the fans what we know they want."

 - WrestleMania VI Predictions:  I figured I'd look into my crystal ball and
   see what kind of predictions I come up with:
   1. Hart Foundation will walk over the Bolsheviks and win as faces.
   2. Rowdy Roddy Piper will win by DQ/countout over Bad News Brown; one
      last hurrah before Piper enters the TV world with Jesse Ventura in
      "Tag Team" which has apparently been picked up by CBS.
   3. Big Boss Man will pin Akeem.
   4. Curt Hennig will beat Brutus Beefcake with the help of Lanny Poffo.
   5. Hercules will do a stretcher job for the Earthquake.
   6. Barbarian will beat Tito Santana, since he'll presumably need a
      singles push.
   7. Rick Rude will pin Jimmy Snuka.
   8. Dino Bravo will pin Duggan.  Duggan is being downgraded, and Bravo
      needs to redeem himself after jobbing for Hogan and Warrior.
   9. Rick Martel will walk right over Koko B. Ware.
   10. The Rockers will probably lose to the Orient Express in a screw job
       ending (salt?).  Then again, Sato is apparently missing cards (with
       Fuji subbing) because of his involvement in Japan and Paul Diamond
       is supposed to be coming in.  I wouldn't mind seeing Sato do a job,
       allowing Tanaka to join up with Diamond in the near future.
   11. Dusty Rhodes and Sapphire will beat Randy Savage and Sherri Martel
       when Sapphire pins Sherri.  This will lead into an argument between
       Savage and Sherri...to be resolved later.
   12. Ted DiBiase will get a screw job win over Jake Roberts, who will
       probably DDT either Ted or Virgil after the match while the other one
       runs off with the million dollar belt.  This will set Jake up nicely
       for a future feud with Martel (will he be part of the screw job?) and
       Ted is of course going to move on to the BBM.
   13. Demolition will regain the tag straps from Andre & Haku.  I hate to
       say it, but Andre's retirement is definitely fast approaching.  I
       agree that he'll probably go out after a face turn.  I wouldn't be
       surprised if the Hart Foundation play a role in the after match
       scene.  Perhaps they'll watch the match from ringside, having made
       their world title aspirations known a short while back - this will be
       noted as a scouting mission by the announcers.  Then, after the
       match, when Heenan is getting pounded by Demolition (or Andre? nah)
       the Harts will enter the ring to save him, solidifying their
       allegiance with Heenan, becoming heel number one contenders, and
       washing over the loss of Andre & Haku (who will also be all but done
       after the title loss).
   14. The Hogan/Warrior match is tough to call.  I think there will be a
       definite pinfall victory for one man, although it might be
       controversial.  And I have to pick Hogan to be that man.

   In the drivel between matches, look for the SheepWhackers to interrupt
   Greg Valentine and Honky Tonk Man and smash their guitars over their
   heads.  I'm hoping that the Rona Barrett interview with Elizabeth will be
   interrupted by Sherri Martel, and Savage already upset with Sherri about
   the loss, will come to Liz' rescue.  Savage has been badly misused since
   his WWF title reign, and a face turn is in the wind.

                                                      Herb...

***********************************************************************
* Herb Kunze                    *   "Whether you like it or not,      *
* Applied Math Department       *    learn to live with it, 'cause    *
* University of Waterloo        *    I'm the best thing going today!" *
* hekunze@watmsg.waterloo.edu   *     - Ric 'Nature Boy' Flair        *
***********************************************************************

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14. The Hogan/Warrior match is tough to call. I think there will be a
definite pinfall victory for one man, although it might be
controversial. And I have to pick Hogan to be that man.

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Originally posted by Cubs

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Weird seeing the finish as a question; it's seemed more like an obvious outcome after the fact, with Hogan being phased out at the time.

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