I'M BACK...
And it looks like the inmates were running the institution while I was gone! Yep, I was able to bang out a quick column late on Saturday from my hotel room in Iowa, but while I was stuck in airports on Monday, Chris Hyatte got the keys to the candy store. If you'd like to drop him a line about his column in this spot yesterday, send it here. Meanwhile I have to thank my gracious hosts for a great weekend. I'll have plenty of photos this week, but a pilgrimage to the wrestling museum sometime in the future is definitely in order for you serious fans! I'm still working on catching up here, and did what I could to stay informed...mostly during a series of phone calls from my four and a half hour layover in Chicago. Let's see...
I don't need to tell you this, but that is indeed Sandman you hear cackling on NITRO. I was told WCW is trying to convince their latest acquisition to cover up the tattoo he got last year of his own bloody head.
The big topics of conversation concerning the WWF and WCW among some folks at the convention is where do the federations go from here?
Once Austin fights UT and Kane again. They've already thrown Shamrock in front of him, and I suppose they could do it again. Steve Williams, who looked to be the next great challenge...well, we know what happened there. Vader? Title vs. title against Triple H?
And then there's Goldberg in WCW. Lou Thesz compared their situation with him to the one with Antonio Rocca is the 50's. When your entire mystique is defined by you being undefeated, how do you keep it going without being boring...especially in the age of pay per view and so many matches being televised? Well, Bill Goldberg has done it so far.
My only response to the above two observations is that Mr. McMahon and Mr. Bischoff always find a way. Just when you think they've painted themselves into a corner, they're already off hanging wallpaper in the next room.
Dan Haggard dropped me some encouraging news concerning Jim Duggan while I was away. This article appeared in the "Florida Today" newspaper, and was written by Ihosvani Rodriguez:
"Wrestler "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, 44, was released from Parrish Medical Center (Titusville,Fl) earlier this week after undergoing surgery for cancer. Duggan's right kidney was removed to prevent a cancerous growth from spreading, according to Dr. Y.V. Sachdev of Titusville. The growth, described as the size of a football, was completely removed and Duggan is expected to fully recover, doctors told the wrestler.
'This has really put everything in perspective for me and showed me what my priorities are,' Duggan said from his home, where he is recovering. 'Right now, I am going to take it easy. I'll probably be doing some fishing and spending a lot of time with my family.'
Duggan said he plans to return to WCW in January, but he's not sure in what capacity. He expects to do some promotional work before considering going back into the ring. The wrestling veteran said he ban having health problems last last year. Initially, doctors believed his kidney problems stemmed from an injury sustained in a match, but they later diagnosed him with cancer.
An operation was performed September 10th to remove Duggan's right kidney and the growth.
Duggan's wife Deborah, has been updating her husbands condition on the family answering machine in Titusville. (no number given)
'The support from my fans and friends and the entire Brevard (county) community has been overwhelming,' said Duggan. 'This Tough Guy appreciates every single one of them.' (Duggan) moved to Titusville (Fl) in 1990 with his wife, where they now live with their two daughters, Celia, 5, and Rebecca, 3."
Now to the bad stuff...in other words this NBC "special" on wrestling that I've been reading about..."Exposed! Pro Wrestling's Greatest Secrets".
WHAT SECRETS?!?!?!?
Once again it looks to me that we have a deal just like FOX has been doing on magic, except in this case instead of a magician who couldn't earn his keep doing magic disguising himself to show industry secrets, we have disgruntled wrestlers doing the same. Except for what reason (don't say ratings and money, I'm talking about the reason deeper than those.)???
What is the point of doing this? I've been saying for months that part of the mainstream media's problem with wrestling is that they didn't realize we fans were in on the joke. That wrestling is predetermined (I learned to HATE "fake) and we don't mind one bit!!! Now does NBC believe we are going to be shocked to learn that these guys aren't (gasp!) really out to kill one another?!?!?! That heaven forbid, maybe some of these guys' names aren't real?!?!? Maybe they can even string it out over several specials just like Fox's Magic....Episode One: Bogus Bodyslamming...Episode Two: Sly Secrets of Suplexing...and the one hour Episode Three: Brutus Beefcake/Discipe...One in the Same??? You Decide!!! hosted by Robert Stack and followed by a 1-900 call in ($2.79 per call, ask your parent's permission).
You know what? If you couldn't cut it in wrestling, it wasn't meant to be. And if you're willing to sell out industry secrets that could potentially hurt the business, then there's no question why you didn't make it in the first place...you didn't have the love for the honor and tradition, nor the dignity and self-respect in the first place.
No dark matches from NITRO last night. But, Stevie B. let us know what did go down once the cameras stopped rolling...
"Hogan started to bad mouth the Disciple and soon callled him a "joke". At that very minute, the Disciple ran into the ring and beat the living lights outta Hogan. After Hogan fell aimlessly out of the ring, the Disciple started to raise his arms and pull the warrior energy in just like the real deal."
How long was I gone?
I'll be back up to speed by tomorrow, and I'll be working on getting up all those WARZONE formulas sent in while I was gone plus the other ton of work that seems to have piled up in my absence.
A belated happy birthday to The Enforcer, Arn Anderson who celebrated on the 20th. And a big congrats on his book which I've been getting some glowing reviews from.
Speaking of which, before I roll....on the plane down I got to read an advanced copy of Dave Meltzer's book TRIBUTES which is a collection of his obituary issues of the WRESTLING OBSERVER. Talk about putting things in perspective. Dave has done a wonderful job in preserving the memories of the men who are the foundation for what you watch today. I was as deeply impressed as I was deeply moved by some of his accounts. Really great stuff.
9/22/98