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Post by Stephanie McMahon's sidekick! on Sept 12, 2002 13:19:46 GMT -5
Edge Gaining Popularity With The WWE
WWE has been slowly pushing Edge to the top of the Smackdown roster as a babyface, with a major feud victory over Kurt Angle and a tag team title run with Hulk Hogan.
The push is seemingly a success at this point, as fans are finally starting to see Edge as a main player. There has been a buzz on Smackdown house shows that the pops Edge gets are among the loudest of any wrestler on that roster.
Source: Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter
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Post by Stephanie McMahon's sidekick! on Sept 12, 2002 13:21:59 GMT -5
Possible Reasoning Behind Undertaker's Super Push
The Undertaker has been pushed as a "Superman" since Summerslam, specifically since his jump to Smackdown.
Since the Undertaker is being pushed as the first contender for Brock Lesnar as World Champ, the booking decision was to push the Undertaker very hard and make him seem like a legitimate threat to take the World title.
The argument for his push is that if he is pushed very hard, it will mean more when Lesnar beats him decisively. However, some pundits wonder whether putting him so strongly over Kurt Angle or Chris Benoit could do long term damage to them.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
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Post by Stephanie McMahon's sidekick! on Sept 12, 2002 13:29:00 GMT -5
Recap Of Billy & Chuck On Howard Stern
The following is the recap of Billy & Chuck on the Howard Stern show;
Billy & Chuck were on Howard Stern this morning. I heard the whole interview, and here are the highlights:
- Before coming on, Howard introduces them as the 'gay' wrestlers. He also plugs Smackdown tonight and the wedding.
- Howard begins by asking if Billy & Chuck are gay in real life, or are they playing characters. They both say they are playing characters on TV, and Billy says it's been a challenge to play a gay wrestler. Howard begins joking about how 'lucky' it must be to have Vince McMahon tell you that you're going to be gay. Billy and Chuck laughed it off, to them, it's just playing characters. Billy says he's been 'working with Vince for 10 years now' and has played 5 or 6 characters, and this is just another gimmick.
- Howard asked about their backgrounds and how they got into wrestling. Billy says he used to be bull-rider, and just wanted to be a wrestler. Chuck talks about his days of college basketball.
- There were four phone-ins from fans during the interview. The first caller says Billy & Chuck are ruining the WWE. The second caller identifies himself as 'Big Val' and said he used to be wrestler, and wrestled for the WWE. He said that Billy knows him. The guy sounded bitter, claiming Vince 'screwed' him and that Vince is off the wall, doing whatever he wants to do instead of putting on good wrestling. This guy started rambling on about how Vince stole Taker's gimmick from him. A 3rd caller said that Billy & Chuck were 'killing the WWE' and that ratings are down and it's because of publicity stunts like this. The last caller was hard to understand, but it seemed like more negativity towards B&C and the WWE. (Billy & Chuck didn't really respond to caller's comments).
- Howard then asked if they are afraid that the fans are pissed, or that if fans are going to have a hard time differentiating reality from TV. Howard also asked what the crowd response was like at Smackdown. Billy says he thinks most fans realize that it's all an act, and actually believes the fans are wanting for some kind of 'revelation' in which Billy & Chuck are NOT gay. Billy and Chuck didn't think this gimmick would reflect on their overall careers.
- The interview was peppered with the usual Howard humor, and many gay jokes. He asked if they ever kissed ('No') and in order to 'mentally' prepare, do they actually imagine performing sex acts on each other (Also 'No'). Billy & Chuck laughed with all the jokes and talked about all the 'stretching' they do on Smackdown. Howard also asked who the 'woman' was in the relationship. Billy says he proposed to Chuck, so Chuck must be the woman. Howard says based off of looks, he would've guessed Billy would be the woman.
- Billy and Chuck had to leave to be interviewed by Matt Lauer, so Howard joked that they should strip and rape Lauer.
- After B&C leave, Howard and Robin comment about how fans of the WWE are probably pretty irate over the whole thing, but that wrestlers basically have to do what Vince wants. In the interview, Howard thought that wrestlers 'made good money'. which B&C did not audibly respond. Robin commented that the look on Chuck's face made it apparent that they don't. Howard said that it seems they were handling it all very well.
Interestingly enough, Billy & Chuck were very open and into the gay angle. They seem to have a positive attitude over the whole thing which came across very well in the interview.
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Post by Stephanie McMahon's sidekick! on Sept 12, 2002 14:49:34 GMT -5
RATINGS SLAM WWE
Taken from colin Vassallo's newletter
Ratings for RAW weren't nice as the show hit an all new four year low with a 3.4 composite off hours 3.3 and 3.5 with a 5.3 share.
The start of the NFL season on Monday Night Football didn't help matters either.
It's time for McMahon and WWE to wake up before more viewers decide to make a U turn.
In other weekend ratings, Confidential did a 0.7 rating
with a 1.5 share; Velocity did a 0.7 with a 1.3 share and Heat did a 0.8 with a 1.3 share. (Ratings compiled by Nielsen Media Research and put online by 1wrestling.com)
BRADSHAW OUT FOR SIX MONTHS
- WWE.COM reported today that former APA member Bradshaw will be out for the next six months after suffering a torn biceps muscle in his left
arm. The injury occurred during the first part of RAW. Bradshaw flew to
Birmingham, AL., to see Dr James Andrews on Tuesday morning and was operated later in the evening. Bradshaw is now back home wearing a cast from his shoulder to elbow.
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Post by Stephanie McMahon's sidekick! on Sept 13, 2002 12:19:22 GMT -5
Exclusive Photos From Goldberg's Wrestling Return
Bill Goldberg recently made his pro wrestling return, after well over a year, to All Japan Pro Wrestling at the end of last month.
Goldberg wrestled two matches, in two nights, against two Japaneese opponents. After all the wait, Goldberg finally came back! However, he returned in a place where only Japaneese fans can see him, right? Wrong.
15 exclusive photos from Goldberg's in-ring return from All Japan Pro Wrestling are now online, featuring Goldberg coming back with somewhat of a new look, and can be viewed by going to Bill Goldberg's official website, BillGoldberg.com.
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Post by Stephanie McMahon's sidekick! on Sept 13, 2002 12:24:15 GMT -5
X-Pac, Hall Expected For Next TNA Show, Vince/RAW, More
Sean Waltman is expected to make his NWA: TNA debut at the next show, using the name Syxx-Pac. Scott Hall is also expected to be on the show.
Although there has been talk of using Larry Zbyszko & Terry Taylor as a tag team in the Tag Team Titles Gauntlet Tournament, it doesn't appear as if it will happen.
Believe it or not, Vince McMahon was apparently happy with how RAW came off this week, despite the show doing its lowest rating in over 4 years.
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Post by Stephanie McMahon's sidekick! on Sept 13, 2002 12:26:56 GMT -5
Billy & Chuck On Inside Edition, Stephanie Speaks Out, More
Thanks to reader Dennis for sending the following news-bit;
Hey I was watching inside edition today and they did a story on Billy And Chuck's wedding. They basically said that it was a way at shocking the viewers to increase ratings. They went on to show an interview with Stephanie where she said that she feels the company is gaining it's spark back with some new, fresh, angles. She said that people were bad that stars that they wanted to see (they then went to clips of The Rock, Stone Cold, Sable, and Chyna) were not there anymore. They went on to say that the WWE's current rising star is Edge. They did an interview with him and he basically said that while the ratings are down they are going up, and just like the struggling ratings, they will go up but it will take a long period of time.
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Post by Stephanie McMahon's sidekick! on Sept 13, 2002 12:34:01 GMT -5
WWE Apparently Happy With The "Wedding" Segment
Following one of the best and most well worked segment in the past year in the WWE; the company has a reason to rejoice. According to WKAL in Los Angeles, the WWE is extremely happy with the recent "Wedding" segment on this Thursday's Smackdown.
Apparently the Godfather will be appearing in at least a couple Smackdowns' in the near future, and with good reasoning. After the huge pop he got on this Thursday's Smackdown it is no surprise. Eric Bischoff's appearance, as well as the Godfather's part of Smackdown will most definitely give the ratings a long-awaited boost.
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Post by Stephanie McMahon's sidekick! on Sept 13, 2002 12:40:37 GMT -5
Matters Get Tense In Holly/Lesnar Match On SmackDown!
As many of you may have seen on SmackDown! last night, there was a nasty spot during the Brock Lesnar and Hardcore Holly match, which culminated in Holly being dropped on his head from a powerbomb.
Backstage talk was suggesting that Holly was not selling enough for the champ, it is not known if this is related or not. The general consensus on the matter was that Holly was just acting as he always does; it was simply described as "Bob being Bob".
The spot did genuinely rattle Holly, as he didn't get up the way he should for the move. There is no question that Brock Lesnar is unbelievably strong, however, when a man with his power and stature does not help on such a spot, problems can arise and do.
Lesnar is a genuine nice guy who respects senior members backstage. In everyone's opinion, Holly was lucky that Lesnar was so calm about the matter and didn't snap.
In a final unrelated note, Lesnar was working with the flu during last night's match, which is why he was sweating more than normal.
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Post by Stephanie McMahon's sidekick! on Sept 13, 2002 12:47:08 GMT -5
Goldberg On Talk Show, Interview, Photos, & More
The following is directly from BillGoldberg.com:
Bill Goldberg was in New York on Monday, to tape The Maury Povich Show.
The former WCW World Champion surprised 10-year-old Christina Carpenter, a wrestling fan from Kentucky, who had no idea Goldberg would appear. When Povich asked who her favorite WWE Superstar is, she said, "Goldberg."
During the show, Goldberg presented the youngster with a new dog and she immediately named it, Goldy.
"It was very cool; I had a lot of fun," Goldberg said. "Christina is a real cute little girl."
The exact airdate is not known, but check back at billgoldberg.com for an update.
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Post by Stephanie McMahon's sidekick! on Sept 13, 2002 13:52:54 GMT -5
Raw Announcing Indicates Major Shift In Brand Extension
There has been an interesting and subtle shift in the announcing and promos given on Raw that lead to the belief of a larger, more sweeping change in the Brand Extension.
On Raw before Summerslam, the Raw announcers talked about liking Smackdown as well. But since Brock Lesnar jumped to Smackdown with the World Title, the attitude of Raw has been that Smackdown is the enemy and that Lesnar turned on Raw by going to Smackdown, like a star in the old territorial days.
It is not known whether they will try to get fans to choose sides in the Raw vs. Smackdown battle.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
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Post by Stephanie McMahon's sidekick! on Sept 13, 2002 14:46:31 GMT -5
Breaking News: Scott Hall & X-Pac Sign With NWA-TNA
NWA-TNA sent out a press release today announcing the signing of Sean Waltman, formerly known as X-Pac in WWE.
X-Pac, now wrestling under the name Syxx-Pac, a modifyed version of the name he used in WCW, will debut at next Wednesday's NWA-TNA show.
X-Pac isn't the only new talent NWA-TNA have gotten their hands on recently. Scott Hall, who worked a 4-show deal with the promotion during their launch, has signed back on to return also at the September 18th show with his buddy X-Pac.
Both Syxx-Pac and Scott Hall are confirmed to take part in the tag-team Gauntlet for the Gold at the next NWA-TNA pay-per view on September 18.
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Post by Stephanie McMahon's sidekick! on Sept 15, 2002 13:28:06 GMT -5
Vince McMahon Onces Again Makes Forbes 400 Richest Men
Vince McMahon has made the Forbes 400 list of richest men in America for the 3rd straight year, but his position is falling. This year, McMahon came in at #386 with a worth of $570 million. Last year McMahon came in at 365 with a worth of $700 million. In 2000, McMahon came in at #260 with a worth of $1.1 billion.
It should be noted that the values of the people on the list were down in general this year due to the slowed economy.
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Post by Stephanie McMahon's sidekick! on Sept 15, 2002 13:32:13 GMT -5
Un-Americans Heat With McMahon Over Flag Burning
The Un-Americans have toed the line of being overly controversial, and there was some heat between the wrestlers and Vince McMahon over the flag burning at MSG Raw a few weeks ago.
It's not so much that the Un-Americans were upset about the actual angle, but wanted extra security in case the fans became incensed.
Backstage reaction was mixed, with many wrestlers believing that the Un-Americans should be happy to have such a heel-heat drawing gimmick, and should not complain in any way.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
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Post by Stephanie McMahon's sidekick! on Sept 15, 2002 14:00:37 GMT -5
Nash Returning As Diesel, Undertaker/Sara, Unforgiven, & More
The following news and rumors are derived from BlackJack Brown of Chicago Sun-Times:
Kevin Nash's road to recovery is going very well at the moment. It is said that when the big man eventually returns to the company it may be as Diesel.
The word backstage is that Teddy Long is looking to once again becoming a manager and dump referring. Long has managed two of the greatest teams in wrestling, Doom (Ron Simmons and Butch Reed) and the Skys Rubbishers (Sid Vicious and the Undertaker).
Finally, it is rumored that Brock Lesnar will defeat the Undertaker at Unforgiven next Sunday. It is possible that the Undertaker's pregnant wife, Sara, may be the catalyst behind the Undertaker's loss in some shape or form.
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