Issue # 143

Date:  Saturday January 23rd, 1999  6:59 pm

The Wrestling Booking Sheet

MANKIND STRATEGY
Mick Foley has recently ordered tapes of classic I Quit Matches, including the
Ric Flair VS. Terry Funk 1989 match, and the Magnum TA VS. Tully Blanchard 1986
I Quit Match. These were two of the wildest, most dramatic matches I've ever
seen; Foley is studying these matches to work out the game plan for his Royal
Rumble main event against The Rock. This may be a bloody one...
(Reported by Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer)

DAVID FLAIR UPDATE
There are no no long term plans to keep David Flair to keep David Flair around.
He was brought in just to do the angle to set up Flair VS. Hogan. He's planning
to be a State Trooper but hasn't closed his mind to the idea of being a
wrestler, but won't become a wrestler without a lot more training than he has
received so far.
(Reported by Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer)

SABU CONFLICT
Sabu and Paul Heyman were talking all last weekend with Sabu talking about an
offer from WCW and still being unhappy with how he was used on the PPV show.
Sabu wanted the match at the PPV show to be a Three-Way Dance, and there were
problems over new problems being discussed with him which would have included
trading wins in programs with either Lance Storm and/or Justin Credible.
(Reported by Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer)

MORE WOMEN IN WCW?
Kevin Nash has talked of using more women in storylines, as you can already see.
There are rumors he's going to bring Madusa in, to join Chastity, Elizabeth,
and Kimberly. (Reported by Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer)

KAIENTAI STATUS
On the Kaientai front, both Mens Teioh & Dick Togo have asked for their WWF
release and have returned to Japan. Shoichi Funaki, who is living in San
Antonio, is staying in the WWF. Taka Michinoku asked for his release and has
also returned to Japan, but he was talked into staying under contract, which is
why the WWF wants to send him to ECW in order to keep him under contract
(basically to keep Taka from going to WCW since he'd fit in there is used
correctly).
(Reported by Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer)

To subscribe to The Wrestling Observer, definitely THE best source for
professional wrestling anywhere, send $11 for 4 issues to:
The Wrestling Observer
P.O. Box 1228
Campbell CA 95009-1228
===========================================
We are proud to present The Jackyl's (Don Callis) latest column from The
Winnipeg Sun. Callis has opened up a web site of his own, which can be found
at:
http://freeweb.digiweb.com/sports/thejackal/

January 23rd, 1999
Jackyl's Winnipeg Sun Column
by Don Callis
Imagine if you will, having the ability to go back in time. You wake up one
morning and everything is as it was decades ago. Your clothes and haircut
reflect the styles of days gone by, dirigible travel is still an accepted means
of transportation, people are driving Edsels, and wait, is that Verne Gagne on
your black and white TV set??
Yet another sign that the apocalypse is upon us...the AWA is back as a force in
professional wrestling. The "traditionalist" demographic which heretofore has
had to get its doses of old style grappling from videotapes, can now smoke their
cigarettes, swing their canes and spit out their dentures with wild abandon. The
legendary wrestling territory which featured literally all the big names of pro
wrestling from the fifties to the mid-eighties will be up and running very soon,
and...good heavens, they'll actually have a pay per view, called "SuperClash 3D-
In Your Face" from that thriving metropolis and hotbed of pro
wrestling...Bullhead, Arizona. The show will coincide with the annual
convergence of motorcycle enthusiasts and seven year locust plague. Bikers,
while nice people, are generally unforgiving wrestling fans (witness WCW Hogg
Wild events from Sturgis), and I fear they will be luke warm on a main event
featuring Sheik Adnan Al Kaisse challenging for Verne Gagne's newly reinstated
World Title.

So what does this all mean? Well, Verne will not only put his opponent to sleep
with his finisher, but also everyone in attendance and the hundreds watching on
pay per view. And I guess Greg Gagne will dust off his tye-dye trunks, and start
pitching beat Crusher? Slow moving even by the standards of the Neolithic age of
wrestling, Crusher, while spry for 85, will probably make Verne look like Chris
Jericho. The only one who won't be brought (or wheeled) back will be Jim
Brunzell, because Brunzy still looks 25, and can still go.

But wait, before you cash in your OAS cheques and head off on some
septuagenarian tour bus to Bullhead, you should know that the part about Verne
headlining the pay per view is, at this time, still unconfirmed (but not beyond
the realm of possibility.) Who am I to poo-poo the reinstatement of a wrestling
institution that I was raised on here in Winnipeg? The problem is I remember how
the AWA was in the late seventies, when my Dad would take me to the arena and I
would be soaked in sweat by the end of the night because the wrestling was so
amazing. That is how I like to remember the AWA, not as some new, play on words
incarnation on one of the great territories of all time. Keep your Bullhead,
Arizona, your SuperClash pay per view and your "new" AWA, I stay home and watch
Nick Bockwinkel on tape.

Between the Ropes:
I've been promising it to you for weeks, and now its finally time for the
payoff. My New Website is now officially open!! I guarantee you it is the best
site of its kind on the web. Amuse yourselves for hours swimming in the ocean of
knowledge that awaits you. See photos from my time with the IWA right up until
present day. This is your one opportunity to interact socially in a virtual
sense with myself (it'll never happen any other way.)...So please visit at:
http://freeweb.digiweb.com/sports/thejackal/...Also in the news, my pal Chris
Jericho's relations with WCW worsen by the day, as it seems like its getting
personal between Chris and Eric...Rumors since the last ECW pay per view had
former ECW World Champion "The Franchise" Shane Douglas retiring due to
differences with ECW guru Paul Heymen. This would have been a blow to wrestling,
as Douglas is a fantastic talent and one of the great talkers in the business,
but as of this week, problems have been resolved...Speaking of ECW, former IWA
star Lance Storm just inked a new deal to stay in ECW despite being recruited by
literally everybody...Finally to address rumors surrounding my own status, I
will leave you with some advice my Grandmother used to tell me: "Don't believe
anything you hear, and only half of what you see", or if you like to live
dangerously, you could just visit my website and solve the puzzle for yourself

Reach out to me at jackal
Jackyl
===========================================
Below we are proud to present Chris Jericho's latest commentary to his fans,
found at: http://www.chrisjericho.com/
1/23/99
NP: Flotsam and Jetsam-Doomsday For The Deciever
Hello Jerichoholics!
Well its all star weekend here in Tampa, so I'm looking forward to seeing it.
its my first chance to rock an NHL all star game and I'm really stoked. I'm
going to the Fanfare today to see the Stanley Cup with my cousin from Canada and
I'm going to check out all the festivities. Hockey Rules!!

Nothing new on the WCW controversy front. Still at a deadlock standstill. I
don't really know what the final verdict is going to be.

I'd like to thank all of you guys for the cards and letters for Christmas and
remember, if you're waiting for a picture, its coming. It takes me a long time
to do it, because I mail them all myself. Thanks to Tom Galen and Jack Epstein
for the cool videos!

The movie of the week is True Romance. A fine crime drama from a young Quentin
Tarantino. Great stuff!

I'm heading back to Calgary next weekend for some skiing and I hear the snow is
killer!!

Well, I don't really have much more to say about that.

God Bless you and be good to each other.
CJ
===========================================
THRASHER UPDATE
Found at: http://www.wwf.com
By Lou Gianfriddo

Headbanger Thrasher, Glen Ruth, has been sidelined with a knee injury. He said
he sustained the injury in late December during a tag team match with the Brood
in Chicago. He said he heard "a pop" while he was wrestling Gangrel and then "my
leg went numb."

The extent of his injury was severe. He said his doctor had to "rebuild my ACL
in my right knee." He added that the manner in which the surgeon performed the
operation was an extensive process.

"He had to open up my kneecap and scrape out cartilage to rebuild the ACL," he
told WWF.COM.

Thrasher’s injuries were compounded with a torn medial meniscus. The surgery, he
said, took three hours. He said he has since been in rehabilitation.

An injury of this magnitude requires a lot of recovery. Thrasher’s doctors have
advised him that it would take "three-to-six months" for the leg to return to
its original strength and capacity. Thrasher, however, is determined to make it
sooner.

"I’m looking at three months," he said. "I hope to be back at WrestleMania XV in
Philadelphia."

He said he’s been getting around "extremely slowly," but added that his physical
rehabilitation has been "moving along fine." This was the first injury he ever
sustained in the ring, he said.

In addition to the physical therapy, Thrasher has also undergone electrical
stimulation in order to activate the quadriceps, which have a tendency to
atrophy due to inactivity.

WWF.COM wishes Thrasher a speedy recovery.
===========================================
ROUNDING THE SQUARED CIRCLE
"SIGNS THAT YOU MIGHT BE A DUDLEY"
BY SAMJERRY

You go Christmas shopping for your mom, sister, and girlfriend, and you only
need to buy one gift.

Someone in your family says "Cum'n heer an' lookit this afore I flush it."

You have a very special baseball cap, just for formal occasions.

You stand under the mistletoe at Christmas and wait for Granny and cousin
Sue-Ellen to walk by.

The car up on blocks in the front yard has more space in it than your house.

You have refused to watch the Academy Awards since "Smokey and the Bandit" was
snubbed for Best Picture.

You have more than two brothers named Bubba or Junior.

You look upon a family reunion as a chance to meet `Ms. Right'

You go to a Tupperware party for a haircut.

Your dad walks you to school because you are both in the same grade.
===========================================
FANTASY BOOKING- THIS WON'T HAPPEN
Submitted by reader: Adam Schlosser (slush8)
Nitro: The NWO comes out to do their usual spiel talking about pounding Ric
Flair, Hogan trying to talk in his old scratchy, give out any minute, voice.
The lights go down and Enter Sandman begins to play. Most WCW fans have no idea
what's going on, but those who do begin to scream! When the lights go up
Sandman (Jim Fullington) is standing there smoking and drinking. The NWO is
stunned and not sure what to think. As soon as Jim finishes he hits the ring
with Raven at his side and the NWO gets caned. They finally manage to escape,
though.

Thunder: Chris Benoit, Raven, Saturn, Rey Mysterio, Dean Malenko, Chris Jericho,
Eddie Guerreroand Bam Bam Bigelow are seen talking to the Sandman. "Paul sent
me in. We're taking down WCW and the NWO. NWO first." Everyone seems to agree
but Benoit steps up. "They're a damn big force. How are we going to do that?"

"Wheels are in motion Chris. Troops are coming."

"I want 3 guys in WCW spared. Arn and Ric because they let me in the Horsemen,
and Bret Hart out of respect for his father training me," Chris says.

"Kanyon comes along too as part of us," Raven adds.

Jim agrees. "We're taking Kidman as well. He's wanted." That night when
Vincent and Brian Adams are wrestling the Armstrong brothers they are viciously
attacked by Malenko and Raven.

RAW: Vince searches the backrooms for Al Snow and Mick Foley but they are
gone. The title belt has been left behind.

Nitro: The NWO with some WCW people stand in the ring ready for a fight, having
seen the Thunder tape. The lights go out and Enter Sandman plays. WCW/NWO
grapplers stand ready, and a few brave ones stand outside the ring to ward off
any others so the guys inside the ring can have a chance to get ready. Lights
go up and the arena is in chaos. Bigelow drops Norton with a greetings from
Asbury Park, and
Tommy Dreamer, Rob Van Dam, Buh Buh Ray Dudley, and Justin Credible have
arrived as well. Jericho has Vincent in the Liontamer, RVD is pounding Wrath,
who has joined up to fight the ECW crew. Sandman canes Hogan across the face
while Benoit chops Hall to pieces. Mysterio and Eddie Guerreroleap down onto a
few WCW jobbers including Fit Finlay and Mike Enos. Nash begins powerbombing
the living hell out of people though.

Sandman, Raven, and Kanyon hold Nash off until two men arrive, Al Snow and
Cactus Jack. Al is tossed aside, and Cactus gets launched into the crowd where
he has to brawl with Hall and Horace Hogan. Nash has laid everyone out by now,
but the ECW team continues to fight. Disco Inferno comes down to help but the
lights go off and the arena is bathed in red. "SURVIVE IF I LET YOU!" is heard.

Taz comes out and gives Disco a Belly to Belly Tazplex on the ramp. Nash steps
out to meet Taz but Taz uses his speed to lock on the KataHajime. Buh Buh Ray
tosses the dazed Disco to the crowd while the rest of the ECW crew clears out
the locker room. The WCW belts are tossed into the ring, except for Kidman's
Cruiserweight belt, and are busted. Sandman grabs the mic. "Bischoff, that's
what you get for treating the hardest workers alive like crap!"

DDP comes charging out to make a final save but Justin Credible and Raven beat
him to a pulp. Finally..someone has demolished WCW.
===========================================
FLAIR/HOGAN
Submitted by reader: KGill87358
I have been reading the past couple of columns by people and I think having a
Flair-Hogan match at Superbrawl, if done right, would be good. Think about it,
Hogan has done the job the last two or three years at either Starrcade or
Superbrawl. He did it with Roddy Piper and he did it with Sting. So I think he
could do it with Flair. Why else do you think they are building this up right
now?

Okay, so what if Souled Out wasn't that great? I think King Eric knows this
now, so that is why he is having Flair taking on Hogan instead of Hart, like
some people have reported. I don't care what anyone says, Flair is still a good
worker and certainly can carry Hogan all throughout the match. If you notice
they are building up some angles early on so they can promote Superbrawl, which
is what I think they should do. They didn't start building Souled Out until one
week before the PPV and that was a mistake right there. However, I do feel that
Superbrawl is going to be a make or break for them. If it becomes good, like it
is promising, then WCW may hopefully turn it up a notch. However, if Superbrawl
becomes disappointing, like alot of their PPVs have been as of late, then WWF
will ride supreme the rest of theyear.

So that is why they are having Flair and Hogan go at it one more time. I feel
Flair will become a 14-time World Champion. After all, with the stuff he went
through in 1998, he deserves it.
===========================================
The staff of The Wrestling Booking Sheet
Editor: Steve Appy
Columnist: Mark George
Columnist: SamJerry
Columnist: Fritz Capp
Columnist: Rick Phelps
Columnist: Cindy Barnes
Columnist: Josh Hewitt
Columnist: Swami
Columnist: Tom Misnik
Columnist: Nate Pelley
Columnist: Osiris
Columnist: Tom Kirkbride
Columnist: Darren Kramer

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