News/spoilers for week begining 15th July

[Stephanie McMahon's sidekick!]

What You Didn't See On RAW Last Night
Story By: Brendan Starr
July 16, 2002

Thanks to Skaburbia for the following:

Hey, I just came back from RAW at the Continental Airlines Arena. Thought I would pass some things along..... just a few things that weren't on television.

The Show began at 7:55 according to my cellphone, and they showed the Kid Rock Desire Video which was the history of the WWF/WWE. Big Hogan and Ultimate Warrior Pops.

At around 8:00 or so, Howard Finkel gets in the ring and he runs down the rules and copyright info.

They did a Spinarooni contest with 3 local people. There was a young kid, had to be like 10, to be honest, he wasn't any where near a spinarooni. The next guy was booed just by appearance, and his spinarooni sucked a lot. The last guy came real close to getting it right but he landed on his stomach and got a pop for that. The third guy eventually won, and was able to meet Booker T.

Sunday Night Heat Tapings Begin

At 8:05, Crash Holly met D Lo Brown. Decent match, the crowd was somewhat into it, but got bored pretty quick. D Lo won with the Lo Down.

Finkel gets in the ring again and announces tickets for Summerslam go on sale July 22nd.

At 8:14, Raven faced off against Matt Hardy. Good Match, the crowd was really behind Matt Hardy. Raven hit the twist of fate and then tried to do Matt's Hardy's leg drop off the 2nd rope, but only got a two count. Match ends with Matt Hardy hitting the Twist of Fate.

Finkel hops in the ring again and talks about "The World" and the new RAW T-shirt. A staff worker breaks out the bazooka and shoots a few throughout the arena.

At 8:26, they roll the Creed Desire video.

The last match at 8:32, was Sean Stasiak vs. Goldust. We'll never see another Shattered Dreams on Cable Television. NEVER! Decent match, the fans were really behind Goldust. Goldust won with a powerslam.

At 8:42, Heat aired a compilation of all Tommy Dreamer's lifestyle. It goes back to the drinking of urinal water, to the hair cut segment. Still funny, but we need MORE!

At 8:44, Heat Ended, and we got set for RAW. Lillian Garcia did the National Anthem, and it is true what they say, she has a great voice.

After RAW was over, the Undertaker was still down in the ring and stayed there for the next 5 minutes or so. He finally got up, but the belt around his head, jumped on the bike and rode up to the top of the ramp. He saluted the fans and walked to the back. Lillian thanked us for being there and more or less told us to get the hell out, in the nicest way possible.

It was a pretty good show. I went to see the nWo, but obviously that didn't happen. Vince sucks, he always finds ways to screw up decent storyline. It was good to see Eric Bischoff again. I'm not going to say he is going to equal ratings, but you never know.

A note not worth noting but noted anyway was that on the card they gave out with the programs, they spelled Spike's last name "Didley".

I didn't really keep track of pops and heat for the night. But here is my guesses.

Pops
1) Rob Van Dam
2) Booker T & Ric Flair(tie)
3) Jeff Hardy
4) Trish Stratus
5) Eric Bischoff's initial appearance

Heat
1) Vince McMahon(like you expected somebody else)
2) William Regal
3) Benoit/Guerrero
4) Paul Heyman
5) Molly Holly

[Stephanie McMahon's sidekick!]

HHH, Bradshaw, & More Speak Out On Eric Bischoff
Story By: Matthew Boone
July 16, 2002

The following are excerts from an article on WWE.com with wrestlers reactions to Eric Bischoff in WWE:

Triple H
I hope he doesn’t run us out of business too. His stuff was very innovative, right up until the point he went out of business. It’s got people talking. That’s good for business. A lot of people are talking. Believe me, he starts to screw up our product and I’ll be the first one to kick his ass.

Bradshaw
I’ve always thought what goes around comes around. Honestly, I don’t know him. I don’t have an opinion. If he helps our product, then that’s good. But the son of a pregnant dog tried to run us out of business, he messed with every one of our livelihoods, and now he’s here. If he can help us now, that’s fine. But we’re dancing with the devil.

Paul Heyman
What a f***ing business, huh?

[Stephanie McMahon's sidekick!]

Major Future Plans With Eric Bischoff Revealed
Story By: Matthew Boone
July 16, 2002

The following news is derrived from 1wrestling.com:

As a bit of an update on the Eric Bischoff storyline, apparently McMahon has been in contact with Bischoff for several months as Bischoff noted in his interview with WWE.com.

Vince Russo's storyline proposal, which featured Bischoff, was to have Bischoff come in and strip all of the titles off the wrestlers and start a new blood type group in WWE. Bischoff would then lead his new group to invade SmackDown! and shake things up a bit. Whether or not that is where McMahon is headed, is not really determined, more than likely it won't be the exact storyline Russo presented him with.

The plan is to have Bischoff and the unnamed SmackDown! general manager battle back and forth stealing each others talent to even up the RAW/SmackDown! roster in attempt to save the sinking ship called Brand Extension.

Some of the names that are in the air as of now to be the SmackDown! general manager include Stephanie McMahon, Dusty Rhodes, Mick Foley, Shawn Michaels, and Shane McMahon. However, those were the same names thrown around when last night's RAW was going on and it turned out to be one nearly no one expected, Eric Bischoff.

[Stephanie McMahon's sidekick!]

WWE Locker Room Reaction To Triple H's Words
Story By: Matthew Boone
July 16, 2002

The following news is derrived from 1wrestling.com:

Triple H spoke to the entire RAW roster prior to last night's RAW, as we have reported here earlier. To say that wrestlers were outspoken by HHH's words, and thought of him as basically a hypocrite, is an understatement.

A number of points HHH made were very good ones, but coming from someone with his stature, they came across very bad to the wrestlers.

Such things as sticking around to watch every match if you're on first, instead of leaving and getting some sleep, pinched a nerve with many. A lot felt it was easy for him to say that as his travel accomodations are a lot better than everyone else's.

Another would be telling wrestlers to work your ass off in every match whether there's a camera in front of you, or not (house shows). While that is good advice, it wasn't taken as such from wrestlers as HHH has been notorious for getting out of house show committments. Many felt if Undertaker or Austin, who could have done the same as HHH in taking off house shows, who worked nearly every house show asked of them, were the one's giving the speech, it would have been much better received.

The thing above all else that got wrestlers talking around the water cooler was when HHH said that a spot isn't handed to you and you have to bust your ass to earn it. Many feel that have busted their ass and had opportunities, but when they were at the point where they were creeping up on breaking into the scenes as a top-tier player, someone with political pull in the locker room, such as Triple H, would do something to prevent. They cited such examples as Triple H being in a program with Chris Jericho, and Jericho picking up dog poo for Stephanie instead of having a legitimate feud with "The Game." Others look to John Cena's role on SmackDown! where he was supposed to slap Vince, not Jericho, and go over Jericho in singles. Triple H personally stepped up to McMahon and had that entire plan changed.

Bottom line is Triple H was sincere with his speech, and made excellent points. However, he wasn't the right person to be doing such a thing when the point of the impromptu meeting was to raise morale and get wrestlers into modes where they give it everything they have to make the company succeed once again.

[Stephanie McMahon's sidekick!]

Eric Bischoff Bringing Goldberg To WWE, Austin, more
Story By: Matthew Boone
July 16, 2002

The following news is derrived from 1wrestling.com:

Many people backstage during last night's RAW predict that it is only a matter of time before Bill Goldberg ends up in WWE now that Eric Bischoff is with the company. Bischoff and Goldberg have had a strong relationship for a long time. Whether that means Goldberg will come in is another situation, but chances definitely look better.

Triple H worked his way back into attending production meetings with the higher-ups in WWE. Before Austin walked out on the company, Austin had dug into HHH's power by having him barred from such meetings with the theory that wrestlers have no business being involved in meetings such as that.

X-Pac is on a leave of absence as Jim Ross referred to during commentary on last night's RAW, as well as I reported yesterday prior to RAW. Management sent X-Pac home for a break as he had been complaining of injuries. Whether or not it was because management is sick of X-Pac using excuses to get out of doing things he does not want to do is another story, but they aren't exactly happy with X-Pac's attitude at the moment.

[Stephanie McMahon's sidekick!]

More WWE Superstars Speak Out On Eric Bischoff's Return
Story By: Matthew Boone
July 16, 2002

The following are excerts from an article on WWE.com with wrestlers reactions to Eric Bischoff in WWE:

D’Lo Brown
It’s a big shock… right now it’s an indifferent shock. It’s a let’s-wait-and-see shock. I’m almost speechless, and for me to be speechless is really something.

Matt Hardy
I think it could lead to some interesting possibilities. But when he came out and talked about the past history between WCW and WWE, it just felt like when the nWo re-debuted here. I feel like we can bring him in as a character, but instead of continually mentioning about the past, I think we need to worry about the future. A lot of that seemed like in the past to me. Personally, I don’t know him. I’ve never met him. I can’t say anything about him.

Bubba Ray Dudley
If he’s here to help RAW and the WWE product, then great. If he can’t, then go home. Everybody needs to really step up to the plate, and that includes wrestlers, writers, Eric Bischoff, everybody. It’s all for one common good: put out a great product for the fans.

William Regal
I think it’s very good. I have no grief with him. He always looked after me when I was a mess and I was screwed up. He got rid of me once and it was the right thing to do. I realize that now. When I came out of rehab and I needed a job, he was the first one to call me and offer me a job. He was always good to me. As far as being on the show, I think it’s great. He’s a heat-getting guy. If done right, it’s definitely intriguing. He’s an amazing heat-getting guy.

Howard Finkel
I’ve seen a lot over my nearly 25 years in the company and nothing surprises me. But this one just took the wind out of my sails. We’ll see what happens. That’s all I have to say.

Booker T
One thing about Eric, he’s always innovative. He always came up with a lot of good ideas. All of them weren’t great. But he did invest a lot of time in me as far as keeping me around and making sure I was taken care of in a certain way. As far as Eric Bischoff goes, I think he’ll add a lot more intrigue to the show now as far as showing people more of an authority figure, something that he’s been in a position of before. I think it’ll be good for TV because as you know ratings were at an all-time high when it was WWE vs. WCW. I think it’s going to be a good thing, to be honest. Plus, Eric Bischoff said he’ll make me a rich man, and that I am.

Shawn Stasiak
It doesn’t surprise me. It’s the wrestling business. I think it’ll make people more interested in our shows. You don’t have to get along with everyone. It’s business; that’s the bottom line.

John Laurinaitis
I’m excited. I’ve worked with Eric before in WCW. He had a lot of good ideas. I think there’s going to be good chemistry between Vince and Eric, and hopefully there’ll be good chemistry between Eric and the talent.

Raven
I’ve always gotten along with him. He paid me a lot of money when I worked in WCW before. I have no complaints.

[Stephanie McMahon's sidekick!]

HBK's New WWE Role, Goldberg's Wrestling Return, nWo Ends, more
Story By: Matthew Boone
July 16, 2002

Many are aware that the nWo was pronounced as being over last night. With regards to HBK, Shawn Michaels, he will still have some sort of role in the WWE, most likely a role on-air.

His role was not implemented last night, meaning he did not show up on the show, it is not known whether Michaels' was present backstage.

To clear up the Goldberg statement made in Houston over the weekend, he said he is returning to wrestling within the next 3-4 months but with what program is yet to be decided. This was stated in an interview with the sports dept. at the NBC affiliate, KPRC.

[Stephanie McMahon's sidekick!]

Smackdown Match, nWo Status, Josh Matthews & UFC Reaction
Story By: Will Hengelbrok
July 16, 2002

-- The Rock vs. Kurt Angle is already confirmed for the Smackdown tapings later tonight. Test, Christian and Lance Storm are expected to battle Hollywood Hogan, Edge and Rikishi in a cage match as well.

-- The nWo have been pretty much disbanded after Shawn Michaels not appearing on RAW and X-Pac was said to be on a leave of absence after being given the weekend off.

-- Josh Matthews of Tough Enough 1 fame has signed a development deal with World Wrestling Entertainment. This is possibly due to NWA-TNA being interested in signing him to their X-Division.

-- Reaction to the UFC PPV event in London, England, has been very positive thus far.

[Stephanie McMahon's sidekick!]

Confirmed Matches For Tonight's SmackDown! Tapings
Story By: Matthew Boone
July 16, 2002

The following matches are confirmed for tonight's SmackDown! and Velocity tapings:

VELOCITY:
-Billy & Chuck vs. Hardcore Holly & Big Valbowski
-Jamie Noble vs. Funaki [Non-Title]

SMACKDOWN:
-The Rock vs. Kurt Angle
-Hulk Hogan & Edge & Rikishi vs. Lance Storm & Christian & Test

[Stephanie McMahon's sidekick!]

Confirmed Matches For Tonight's SmackDown! Tapings
Story By: Matthew Boone
July 16, 2002

The following matches are confirmed for tonight's SmackDown! and Velocity tapings:

VELOCITY:
-Billy & Chuck vs. Hardcore Holly & Big Valbowski
-Jamie Noble vs. Funaki [Non-Title]

SMACKDOWN:
-The Rock vs. Kurt Angle
-Hulk Hogan & Edge & Rikishi vs. Lance Storm & Christian & Test

[Stephanie McMahon's sidekick!]

General Manager For SmackDown! Revealed
Story By: Matthew Boone
July 16, 2002

Do NOT read below if you do not want to be spoiled while watching SmackDown! this coming Thursday:

The new General Manager announced for SmackDown, as just about the entire internet guessed, was Stephanie McMahon.

Vince McMahon cut a promo making aware that trades between RAW and SmackDown! rosters are now allowed if the General Managers, and talent themselves, can all agree to terms.

Stephanie McMahon threw Eric Bischoff out of the building and definitely indicated that there will be no love between the RAW and SmackDown! brands as far as General Manager's are concerned.

[Stephanie McMahon's sidekick!]

Goldberg Talks On Wrestling Again Soon, Eric Bischoff, NWA:TNA, more
Story By: Amish Patel
July 17, 2002

Thanks to Dave Higgins for the following:

In an article on his website, www.BillGoldberg.com, the former WCW World Heavyweight Champion confirms that he will wrestle again, before the end of the year. However, he still does not mention where he will wrestle.

Goldberg is quoted as saying, “Suffice it to say, before 2002 is over, I definitely will have my boots on and (will be) wrestling again, I can’t tell you where I’m going because I haven’t made a final decision. The fact is, I miss wrestling tremendously. I miss the adrenaline rush that I get from the fans. I miss entertaining, the interaction with the fans. I miss, first and foremost, the kids.”

Goldberg also talks about the recent Ebay auction he participated in, where a fan donated $4,000 to the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, ARF (Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation) and Save-A-Pet in order to have lunch with Goldberg.

Goldberg also comments on Eric Bischoff, NWA-TNA, and more in his latest news section on the site.

[Stephanie McMahon's sidekick!]

WWE Brings Dusty Rhodes In For Possible Booking Job
Story By: Matthew Boone
July 17, 2002

The following news is derived from the Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter:

Dusty Rhodes of all people was brought in WWE last week at the request of WWE, not Dusty himself, to be interviewed for a booking position with the company.

McMahon is still believed to be in panic mode from the Austin situation, injuries, and bad creative decisions being made left and right. Since the Russo option was blown because of politics, McMahon went to another booker he used to despise during the McMahon/Crockett wars in the 80s, Dusty Rhodes.

This story is still in early development, so there is no confirmed word as to how the interview went, and what role, if any, Dusty Rhodes would fill if brought aboard WWE.

[Stephanie McMahon's sidekick!]

Erric Bischoff's WWE Role, Perry Saturn Recovering, Note On The Rock
Story By: Amish Patel
July 17, 2002

It seems as though Eric Bischoff is being treated like just another piece of talent. Last night at the SmackDown! tapings, Bischoff dressed with the wrestlers in the same locker room. There is no other role for Bischoff in the WWE other than his current on-camera role, at least for now.

The Rock managed to place sixth in a top ten chart, which was based on searches from January 1 through June 30 on Lycos.com. A funny line which was below the chart had, 'If you don't think of the Rock as an actor, #11 is Ben Affleck.

Perry Saturn is close to recovery from his ACL surgery. He should be back in the ring within a couple of weeks.

[Stephanie McMahon's sidekick!]

Scott Hall Update, Nash/X-Pac Politics, & More
Story By: Matthew Boone
July 17, 2002

[Credit: PWTorch]

NWA-TNA officials continued to sing Scott Hall's praises after the first few pay-per views. They say Hall has not shown any signs of being what his reputation says he is and he has come off completely professional and interested in his character and the company itself.

Many are surprised that Hall has yet to act-up in a major way with the company as he did before he even debuted with WWE. It is leading many to believe that Hall's behavior in the past was his way of trying to impress to other political wrestlers and friends such as Kevin Nash and X-Pac.