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The Torch is reporting that Ken Shamrock told Vince McMahon and Jim Ross last week that he does not plan to return to a WWF ring anytime soon, and is instead training for a return to UFC/shoot-fighting. Shamrock could change his mind, but as of right now the WWF has not booked him, or even started to write him in, to any
angles or programs. Shamrock wants to fight in UFC 2-3 times this year.
Credit: Stone9Cold
WrestleMania Main Event
WrestleTalk America said as of right now in the WWF booking sheets, it will be The Rock vs. HHH at WrestleMania. Originally, it was supposed to be Rikishi vs. HHH, but they did not want to push Rikishi as far as main-eventing WrestleMania, although he is very over. The Rock will indeed come out the winner, and the People's Champion.
Why did Big Show Drop Title?
The WWF decided to strip the title from the Big Show, becuase no matter what he did, he never really got over with the fans. The fans just dont like him as much as Rikishi or hate him as much as HHH. To say that Big Show will get the title again is accurate, but probably not for a while. If he does, it will probably be against The Rock, since the two have not feuded that much, which will turn Big Show heel.
The new doctor for Steve Austin, Austin is more comfortable with. It will be done in San Antonio. The doctor has performed the surgery before, many times, and they have a team of specialists to do it. Steve was really not comfortable with the publicity that he was getting from Cleveland, and the doctors in San Antonio are spending hours and hours with him. He is more comfortable with this doctor then any doctor he has ever had. Surgery has been scheduled for January 17th. He is working out, spirits are up and he is excited about the future. They have not talked to him about Wrestlemania or any other event. The main thing is the surgery, and then after that if the surgery comes out well, they will then go from there. Jim thinks it will be unfair for Steve, the other guys and the company to pencil Steve in for Wrestlemania. Jim says they feel the chances for him to return to the ring are better than they were before. All the doctors believe they can put him back into shape to live a normal life. The original doctor who was going to do it, and the new one, have the same opinion on that. Steve and the doctors think he has a heck of a chance to come back, and Steve in no way believes he has had his last match. They will book him in a very judicious way when and if he comes back. Jim believes still that he is the top guy in the business, and the most over, and will stay that way until he officially retires. Jim says if he can appear at Wrestlemania, no doubt it would make a huge impact and Steve is so over that if he told them a week ahead of time that he could participate or do some sort of activity at Wrestlemania, they could figure something out for him because it is so easy to book him.
Jim says it is very motivating and very flattering whether people want to believe it or not that he appreciates it when people think he is the best commentator out there.
Jim reiterates that the WWF's top priority is for Steve Austin to get healthy to lead a normal life before wrestling.
They ask Jim about the rumor that the contracts with USA and UPN expire this year. Jim is not directly involved in that area, and does not think they're up very soon. However he does believe there will be negotiating going on very soon to keep WWF on both stations. He said there should be no problems since the WWF is the top rated program on both networks, and that both networks are very pleased with the WWF.
They ask Jim about that radio station situation with The Rock. Jim has heard from what he got, that Rock was kind of ambushed in that interview. Jim says the hosts say they were not aware that this was going to happen, and the guy who owns the site passed off the blame to his writers for the racial remarks and basically everyone involved kept on passing the blame. Jim think Rock handled the situation the best way he possibly could have.
Jim is halfway through the Rock's book, and Bryan has a review of his book, where it says Rock talks about lots of racial stuff in his childhood, and is very serious about those issues. Jim said Rock handled it with a lot of class and that the person who runs the webpage should be responsible for what people write on his page, and Bryan and Dave agree. Jim says the people at the radio station should have been aware too. The Rock also stated that the person who owns the webpage should be responsible for what his people write.
They ask Jim about the contract status with Terry Funk and the WWF. Terry's contract rolled over at the end of December and had an automatic option year on it. He was still getting a check for his role, and the WWF has a great relationship with Terry, and even though he participated on a WCW program the WWF respects Terry and will allow him out of his contract to peruse programs in WCW because the WWF had nothing creatively planned for Terry. Jim says Vince has a great respect for Terry and it was just an oversight by the WWF legal team.Terry was probably not aware of it either. Jim says the legal team for the WWF will release Terry from his contract so he can continue doing business legally with WCW (Reporter's note: I think that is a very classy move by the WWF).
Question, of Reckless Youth being under contract with WWF and when does Amy Dumas start? For Amy Dumas, her creative plan is being addressed and there is a chance they may give Papi Chulo a make over and repackage them and see how they function in the ring. They may bring them up to Stamford and see what chemistry they might have. Papi Chulo is learning more English, and Amy can help with that because she speaks Spanish. He says maybe in the next four to six weeks. Jim says Reckless Youth is under contract and they are looking to sign all their developmental talent within 30 days and get them started in Memphis, Louisville and Puerto Rico. Bruce Pritchard is the man who deals with that area. Scott Vick is ready to roll and is happy and healthy. They're going to bring him up to Stamford next Thursday for three or four days for an assessment to watch him in the ring and listen to him do promos so they can assess his character development. Jim thinks he will probably start in the WWF and be ready in four to six weeks however there is still a chance he may be sent to another territory for work, and therefore would be ready in two or three months.
They ask his comments on Jerry Lawler getting TV in Memphis against Randy Hales. They say they are on good terms with both men. The WWF will be making major changes in their talent program this year. They will be giving that department that evaluates talent a make over and they want to sign good human beings, with athleticism, and charisma, which can make the WWF roster. He wants to make it a good program, which it is not what it is right now. He says it could mean changes in Memphis, subtle changes in Louisville, and starting something in Puerto Rico. They do not see any conflict of interest with Jerry Lawler getting more exposure on TV in Memphis because he only works two days a week with the WWF.
Email asks who was the best wrestler to come out of Oklahoma? JR says Danny Hodge. He says there were other pros that drew more money, but JR believes Hodge was the best he ever saw and the second best would be Jack Brisco. JR said as a kid he watched Hodge and he was the #1 face in the territory fighting all the Russians and Japanese guys. JR says Hodge was his favorite for sentiment reasons, but Jack Brisco was probably the best pro.
The WWF is not scheduled to appear in Oklahoma this year, but JR is lobbying for it in the year 2001, and he brought it up as a place for Wrestlemania 2001, but it is out of the question. They may do a RAW in Oklahoma City sometime. They will be heading to Vancouver for RAW in April, and Smackdown in Seattle on the Tuesday following Vancouver.
Caller asks his opinion on Oklahoma, the character created by WCW? He says don't take it too seriously. He didn't think it was too entertaining. It didn't bother him as much as some people thought it did and he thought they were just trying to create a character. He says sometimes you have to be bigger and just move on.
Caller asks if he could ever see WWF and WCW doing a once a year big inter-promotional PPV? "NO" says JR.
Caller asks what his fondest memories are of working with Bill Watts? Some of his best memories were watching him write great weekly television. It was amazing to see how he would forward stories, where all seven segments of a one-hour show would have some significance. He thought Watts kept the storylines fresh with a shorter roster, and it was extremely educational for him and the long term planning Watts did was incredible. JR has used some of his principles in booking the house shows for the last year. He thought that was memorable stuff.
Caller asks if Watts would be successfully today? JR said Bill could do a lot of things in administrative capacity to any company who does wrestling, but Bill by his own admission does not have a lot of patience dealing with people in this field, and he would have challenging time motivating talent through power and intimidation which was his philosophy and JR believes that does not work anymore with talent. JR says he is a great guy, and if he was motivated he could probably do it again. JR felt lucky to be doing commentating back then for Watts.
Bryan asks how long term booking the WWF is because Russo said before he left that it got to the point where they were booking week to week. JR said the WWF is doing more long term planning now then they were a few months ago. JR says Vince McMahon writes the TV and it is his primary responsibility and he likes longer term planning, and he likes to know where he is headed. Bryan asked if all programs are planned long term or only the top story lines? JR said the top ones get the most focus, and the most time devoted to it, because it gets the most airtime. He says the others get less time because they don't get as much airtime. He says the WWF has some stories that they are planning leading up to Wrestlemania, and they have a fairly good plan of what they plan to do for Wrestlemania.
Caller asks his three best calls for a match? JR says Steamboat and Flair in the late 80's or Flair in Terry Funk in the late 80's, Rock and Austin at Wrestlemania 15, which was his comeback match. And the Hell in the Cell with Mick Foley in the Undertaker. He hopes Foley never takes another bump like that, and never thinks about it again. JR says Mick Foley is a great guy, and a great man in the industry. He said he was aware Mick Foley was going to do something amazing before the match, but he was never aware that he would be going to that extent. Dave and Bryan say it was a memorable call by JR. JR to this day shakes his head in amazement and said it was a beyond amazing move. JR says he probably will never forget that day. JR said if you look back at all the main events Mick Foley is in, he has never failed to deliver and he thought that Mick's match with Shawn Michaels two years ago was an amazing match, at the Mind Games PPV. JR says he worries when Mick Foley gets into the ring as to what he is going to do next. JR said he is not trying to say he does not know anything because he does but he did not know that spot at the KOTR 98 was going to happen, and his reaction was a real, genuine one.
Dave wants to know what the status is with the sponsorships and companies coming back to Smackdown. JR said that topic is dead, and has not been a topic of discussion with upper management in a long time. He said they are having problems with inventory and demand for commercial time in the first quarter, so business is good. He said it is not a major issue in the office, at least as far as he knows.
JR said RAW this week just happened to seem more tone down and was not done on purpose, and it was just how it turned out, rather then a conscious effort. JR said there are certain things that are being evaluated and they will try to take the higher road more often then not but sometimes they will be off the mark. He said there were no meetings to discuss what will be on the show and what won't be on the show, but they will try to take the high road more often then not. But they will maintain there edge and have provocative television.
Dave asks if Edge, Christian, Hardy Boyz, etc, will be moved to the upper level, and who will be up at that level with Rock and Hunter (and Austin if he is healthy), with Foley bowing out? JR says the Undertaker is going to be back and fits into the upper level. JR says he is doing better, training, and his spirits are great. Wonderful attitude. Says they miss his leadership in the locker room, not that they have bad leadership, but you can never have enough. He says plans are that he will hopefully be available at the Royal Rumble unless his groin just can't get it done. JR says they have a lot of guys, who with the right story and right interview time, could get over. He says WWF has a lot of confidence in Edge and Val Venis. Thinks Prince Albert will be moving up the ladder soon. Says in his view, D-LO Brown, needs to get into a good storyline, where he can execute it, and he is very close in moving up. He says Christian as well and the Hardy Boyz are innovative. He says it is enabled that they will all get their chance and probably become big stars.
JR says D-LO probably has between 14-16 months left on his contract. JR says they have begun discussion on a new deal, and they want to have it done before one year is left on the contract. They have great hopes for D-LO. He's the kind of kid the WWF likes to do business with. Intelligent, Integrity Class. He says D-Lo wants to be in the business badly, and worked hard on his weight and conditioning. The WWF will do everything to keep him and they want him to stay, and he wants to stay. He says he has earned a new contract and would not be surprised if the contract is finalized within the next couple weeks.
Caller asks with the McMahons so involved on the RAW show, and with Foley and Austin being phased out, how house show business will end up doing? JR says he hopes all their guys grow as performers, and the DX guys are very valuable at their house shows. He thinks Kane gets great reactions at house shows, and is a great attraction. They are very happy with what Big Show has done in the last several weeks physically, and they believe house show business will remain competitive for the next little while, and they do there best to have finishes at house shows. They do their best not to false advertise, so it brings people back the next time. He says they'd love to have Austin and Undertaker back, but as long as The Rock is healthy, with Kane and Big Show, things are looking good. Jericho will be a huge addition on that side too, and a little bit more mileage out of Foley hopefully he says as pertaining to working house shows. JR says one of the things the WWF does well is motivates their workers, but with their group they don't even need that much motivation.
Bryan says one of the things he believes the WWF does well is that the production of house shows is like going to a TV taping, and something the WWF does well is have all there major stars show up at events and are attractions for the viewers. The fans are more interested in the superstar, rather than who is fighting who in the match, and he believes as long as that is the case, the WWF will remain strong in the house shows. JR said the main thing is the effort the guys put forth so the people go home happy, and the next time they come back to that market place, the people will invest in the product again.
Dave asks the status of Ric Flair and would the WWF be interested in him? JR does not know anything other then he is under contract to WCW. JR said he is a great treasure in the business, and has a lot to offer. JR said he is idolized by a lot of the guys in the WWF locker room, and is very well respective in the front office, and especially by Vince McMahon. JR said if he was sitting on the sidelines, he doesn't believe he'd be there too long and any wrestling company would be lucky to have him.
ECW has given up on using Shawn Michaels for tomorrow night's Guilty As Charged PPV. They are hopeful of a future appearance. (CurtCreighton)
*** Due to the constant disagreements with TNN, ECW officials are said to be keeping an eye on the WWF's deal with UPN. There are some minor rumblings that ECW may sign with UPN should the WWF choose to leave the network once their contract expires in September. (Curt Creighton)
It's not the first time you see fans jumping the guardrail and run towards the ring. Most of them have an unsuccessfull mission as they are stopped midway by the security guards. A female fan from Minneapolis, MN grabbed Rock's attention pretty well during the ending moments of the WWF house show in the Target Center. Just as the final match ended, The Rock grabbed the mic and did his usual lines. Wade Keller reports on the Pro Wrestling Torch that a female fan headed towards the ring, but once again, the security guards stopped her, and dragged her away. However, the show wasn't over. The Rock called the security guards, but they ignored him. A "Know your role and listen to The Rock" later, the security guards stopped, and turned around. He told them to bring the fan to him, as the female was embarrassed going in the ring. The fan was speechless, and Rock congratulated her for wearing his shirt, then mocked her when she said she was from "Minn-E-so-Tah". And as a true gentleman, he told her
he had a song for her...yep... Smackdown Hotel! Security grabbed her again and moved to the back, but then changed their minds and let her go. If this was a work, I guess it was done quite good, but I doubt it!
- It appears that Ken Shamrock has no desire to return to the WWF ring at the moment, as he is training for a last dance in the UFC. Reports
are that he let McMahon and Ross know about this during a meeting last week. There's always a chance that he might change his mind again, but
we all know he's been targeting for a UFC return for quite some time.
- CHANNEL 4 has signed the rights to show WWF Wrestling. The agreement marks the first time the WWF will feature on terrestrial television in the UK.
Under the terms of the one-year deal, Channel 4 will show an hour-long magazine and highlights programme every week throughout the year.
WWF Heat, will follow the format of the hugely popular Heat in America, but will be specially tailored for British audiences. In particular, the
programm will take steps to introduce the sport and its characters to a new audience. Channel 4 will also show four live specials on Sunday nights. These three-hour programs will feature live coverage from a WWF top bout in the United States (PPVs). WWF Heat starts on Sunday
January 9th at 4pm. The first of the live specials is on Sunday January 23rd.
Rock's book should be in the New York Times best seller list in two weeks. Its sales are actually ahead of Mick Foley's book. We haven't read the book but the reviews are that it isn't comparable to Foley's.
- D-Lo Brown's contract is being extended and they hope to have him sign a new deal in a few weeks.
- Tazz' debut hasn't been determined. He may not be in the Royal Rumble. They expect him as a babyface but right now nobody seems satisfied they have the right idea or scenario for him to make the best impression upon starting.
Thanks to Wrestling Observer
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