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Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday we give you the scoop on what's happening in and out of the wrestling ring. Somedays it's even funny!
Chairshots
8/3/01
Talk dirty to me!"Smackdown Thoughts
Smackdown was a mixed bag for me this week. I liked most of it but there were a few things that were lame enough to bother me long after the show was over (I have no life). The Rock was great, as usual, but what does it say about the WCW champ if The Rock doesn’t know who he is? Once again, it’s tough to have a formidable heel when the heels aren’t really that big of a threat. I’d have to say that the Rhyno/Dudleys vs E&C/Jericho was the first ever match made because some wrestlers made fun of a zit. Also, isn’t The Rock an idiot for agreeing to fight Shane in a street fight on Monday? Doesn’t he know that The Alliance is going to legally lay the smack down on him and cost him the win? The ratings for the show were 4.7 with an 8 share, leading UPN to a fourth place finish for the evening. That number is up from last week's 4.3, which only goes to show that The Rock’s return, the Invasion angle and my coverage here at Fanboyplanet.com are making a difference. I expect my cut of the profit sharing.
Ross Report
Jim Ross made his weekly Ross Report on WWF.com today. Here are the highlights:
· It appears Billy Kidman has a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear in his knee. Kidman injured his knee at the 7/28 house show in Syracuse, NY. He will be out of action until Summerslam (where I pray to God he beats X-pac for the championship).
· Trish Stratus had surgery Thursday in Toronto to remove a bone chip in her ankle. She will be away from physicality for a few weeks.
· Booker T seems to have a painful calf strain, but that should not keep him from action.
· Stone Cold Steve Austin is not 100 percent, but he's improving and will return to the ring Sunday in San Diego.
· Sean O'Haire has a sore collarbone and elbow. He will not miss any ring time.
· Triple H's rehabilitation is ahead of schedule in Birmingham, Ala. He will continue to rehab six days a week for the next few weeks.
· Hugh Morrus has tendonitis in his shoulder, but it should not keep him out of the ring. (Thank God)
· Spike Dudley is expected to be released by his doctor in the next few days for a hairline fracture of the fibula.
· Chris Benoit is doing great and will be making appearances for the World Wrestling Federation over the next few months. He's healing very well from neck surgery.
· The range of motion in Rikishi's injured shoulder is much better. He's due back in October or November.
· Molly Holly is relocating to Ohio Valley to help train Victoria "and work on her own game." (I guess there is no reason to keep her around while Spike is healing.)
· "There is no movement whatsoever with any negotiations with any former WCW competitors."
· Ross will be meeting with Rey Mysterio Jr. next week in Los Angeles. (Aaahhh, nooooo)
· Hypes the new Saturday night show on TNN, which will debut on Aug. 25.
· The WWF is taking off Dec. 23 through Jan. 2 for the holidays.
· The following wrestlers are being assigned to Les Thatcher's HWA developmental territory: Kaz Hayashi, Johnny the Bull, Kwee Wee, Shannon Moore, Reno, Elix Skipper, Jason Jett, Evan Karagias, Lash LeRoux, Jaime Knoble, Kid Romeo, and Yang of the Jung Dragons (aka the guys no one really cares about).
· The long-term plan remains in place for the Federation and the Alliance to each do their own weekly TV show, but most feel that is still months away. It could happen by the end of the year, but that's absolutely not guaranteed. They will, however, promote two house shows (non-televised events) on Saturday and Sunday nights (except Pay-Per-View Sundays) beginning in October with a major market and a smaller, secondary market.
Mrs. Stephanie Finkel
Someone has pulled a good joke on the Internet Movie Database. They have a listing for Stephanie McMahon, but have her listed as being married to Howard Finkel with three kids. HHH is going to be so mad when he finds out!
New WWF Show
The WWF sent out the following story about their new Saturday night timeslot on TNN:
WWFE will debut a two-hour magazine-format show on Saturday nights on TNN starting August 25. The new show will air from 10 p.m. - midnight and will replace WWFE's two weekend morning shows on TNN, "LiveWire" on Saturdays and "Superstars" on Sundays in the United States. "LiveWire" and "Superstars" will continue to be produced for international markets. "The Saturday night slot affords us the opportunity to more precisely target our most avid fans -- our core demographic of 18-to-34 year olds," said WWFE President and COO Stuart Snyder.
Jim Ross followed that up with this remark in his Ross Report today.
The company will launch a new two-hour broadcast on TNN Saturday nights from 10 to midnight, starting August 25. The exact format has yet to be finalized, but it will be a magazine format for the lack of a better term. LiveWire and Superstars will go away. The Saturday night show should allow more personality profiles, which will familiarize our audience with some of our talents who do not always receive adequate TV time. This show may feature several exclusive features, will probably have a new broadcast team, and will provide the opportunity to thoroughly promote our Sunday Pay-Per-Views. I expect it will take a few weeks of trial and error and reviewing the feedback to settle in on a compatible format. Our TV staff does a magnificent job producing features, vignettes and music videos.
Is it just me or is Saturday night a bad night to catch 18-34 year olds at home? I guess it’s time for everyone to go out and by a Tivo.
Ask Honky
Wayne Ferris, aka The Honky Tonk Man, posted an update his website about the break up of Jerry “The King” Lawler and his wife Stacy “The Kat” Carter. Here it is.
“In a statement issued, Lawler has confirmed what most of you read here first. It is official and the Kat is gone. For all those people who say this a personal matter and should not have been made public, I say "get real." Lawler has used the Internet to promote his own agenda and he used his wrestler wanta be, soon x-wife as part of his bag of tricks. If you or your spouse, girlfriend, live in lover, arena rats, or whatever you want to call them are in this business, then all is fair game. Cruel but fair.”
If you missed the story, I reported it here on Wednesday. On a related note...
Undertaker Loves Porn
Continuing today’s Fanboy Planet theme of “Exploitation Friday” here is an excerpt from a website that does Undertaker-themed porn. Yes, the WWF Undertaker.
“Escape is not feasible," Taker said. He slowly rose to his feet, removing his cape"..."Open yourself to me woman." The Undertaker commanded. In answer I merely glared directly into his eyes. I did not uncross my knees. It was insane, I knew, to be so stubborn considering I was completely naked and vulnerable before him. A vengeful look crossed his face. He gave the slightest nod of his head. This was a signal to his Acolytes. Each was armed with a wide leather strap. At The Undertakers signal, the Acolytes proceeded to lash my bottom repeatedly, forcefully, with hard stinging lashes…"
If you feel the need to visit the site, you can go there by clicking here. Please don’t ever come back to FanboyPlanet.com you dirty, dirty person.
Tough Enough
Tough Enough was a good show last night. Kurt Angle made a guest appearance and told some interesting behind the scenes stories about his getting in to the WWF. That Kurt Angle, he’s a swell guy. The contestants all got to go on a mini-vacation to Paradise Island where “Harvard” Chris showed his true colors as a guy that just doesn’t fit in. He takes himself all too seriously in and out of the ring. In order to loosen up, Chris goes out alone and gets drunk. This is followed up by Pauline quitting the show because she has a partial torn ligament and partial broken bone in her knee. She promised to one day return and continue trying to be a WWF Superstar. That’s all fine and dandy, but this show totally messed up my predictions for the winners. I originally had “Harvard” Chris and Pauline at the end. I guess I’ll go with Greg and Taylor. Next week will be fun since we now know that the next WWF female super star will be either Nidia or Taylor. I picked Taylor just because she’s hotter.
Have a good weekend. See you Monday.
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