September 30, 1991
- The Mexican wrestling strike is heating up. EMLL's 2 hour television show will air in late afternoon every Sunday, which is the best time of the week to draw families to the live shows throughout the country and is the biggest payday for wrestlers, so EMLL's television show will be running directly against dozens of live shows throughout the country and the wrestlers' union feels this will kill the live houses. Over 70 shows around Mexico had to be cancelled on 9/15, due to wrestlers going on strike.
- Dave has been told that something big will happen in the Survivor Series main event between Hulk Hogan and Undertaker but he's not sure what yet.
- FMW in Japan drew 33,000 fans to a stadium, which is possibly the most successful show in pro wrestling history for a company of their size. The main event was a no rope electrical barbed wire cage match with explosives around the ring (during the early 90s, FMW in Japan had a meteoric rise to popularity. They started in 1989 and within two years here in 1991, they were packing stadiums of 33,000 people).
- Speaking of small promotions making good, TWA drew over 1500 fans to a live show in Philadelphia, which is one of the largest live gates for an independent show in years and also tripled what WCW drew to that same building just a few weeks ago. (Seeing how successful this company was long before Heyman got involved and turned it to ECW is interesting. Revisionist history makes it sound like Heyman created this whole thing from the ground up, but it was doing huge business in Philly with bloody hardcore matches while Heyman was still in WCW.)
- The IFBB held their Mr. Olympia contest and it was a rousing success. Meanwhile, the hype around Vince McMahon's WBF has died down lately and the only real media attention they seem to be getting in the bodybuilding world is criticism for the rumors that their championships this past summer was pre-determined, which Vince has denied. The IFBB magazines have been taking occasional potshots at WBF ("We Bore Fans"), while Vince's WBF magazine has taken the WWF approach of not even acknowledging that another company exists. All in all, the WBF isn't a failure yet, but after being in existence now for 1 year, it's hardly a success either.
- Expect several LPWA wrestlers to start appearing in GWF soon, since LPWA is currently dormant and probably finished for good. Rumor is Madusa Miceli will be coming in as the television "boss" of the company. Also, in GWF news, don't expect them to be on PPV any time soon. Negotiations with ESPN are still ongoing about how many episodes will be taped for the fall season. ESPN still wants 46, which would give them a new episode 4 days per week. Pedicino is trying to work out a deal where they only do 2 per week.
- There was no wrestling at the Coliseum in Memphis this week because of the Mid South Fair taking place. However, USWA is holding matches at the fair all weekend. Once again, this is something I have a vivid memory of because I went to the fair that year and saw the ring set up, but nothing happening. So I begged my dad to let me get in the ring and he (irresponsibly) said yes. So I climbed the barricade and got into my very first wrestling ring and jumped and climbed all over the place for a few minutes until somebody came and told me I couldn't play in the ring. Good times. Fuck, I miss Memphis wrestling.
- Latest word is that WWF will be trying to get Ultimate Warrior to come back.
- There have been talks between Randy Savage and WCW but Dave doesn't believe it's serious. Even though Savage gave his notice a few weeks back, WWF apparently doesn't think he's going anywhere, since they continue to devote tons of TV time to the Savage/Jake Roberts angle. Shows how seriously they take the threat of WCW.
- The Rockers also gave their notice last week, but much like Savage, Vince doesn't seem to be taking it seriously. I love how guys apparently go to Vince and say, "I quit!" and Vince just goes, "Okay, yeah that's cute" and ignores it.
- Expect to see lots of Hulk Hogan media in the next few weeks as he steps up promotion for his Suburban Commando movie. Hogan will also be appearing on Arsenio Hall's show again next week. Don't count on either Hogan or Arsenio to even acknowledge Hogan's last, disastrous appearance.
- Speaking of Hogan, there's a simply delicious quote he said in an interview. We all know Hogan lies and exaggerates, but holy shit: "When it comes to money, nobody in sports does better than me. My 900 number is the busiest in the business. My merchandising licensees do better than Disney's. Hulkamania and Wrestlemania do millions. We're three times as big as the NFL in total revenue. Our competition is not other sporting events, our competition is The Simpsons or Cosby. We can do $30 million in one night on PPV. We can give Tyson-Holyfield a run for its money at any time." Among the laundry list of reasons why every word of this quote is a lie, Dave goes on to note that the Super Bowl generates more revenue with one game than WWF does in one year. Hulk Hogan, everybody.
- Greg Gagne was at WWF's offices a few weeks ago to get a try out as a television announcer. He didn't get the job.
- Letters section is interesting this week. For starters, Rob Zakowski, who lives at 20217 Pine Lake Rd, Battle Creek, MI is looking for tapes of his matches in USWA and SAPW, so if you have video of those matches, please send them to the house RVD lived in 25 years ago. Also, a young child molester name Rob Feinstein writes in to say he's been a die-hard wrestling fan for years and how disappointed he is that WCW has gotten so bad. Then Dave Scherer, now known as the creator of PWInsider, also writes in to bitch about WCW and Paul E. in particular. And finally, some other guy writes in talking about the Mexico wrestling strike and predicts that the entire wrestling business will be unionized within the next 5 years. Adorable.
- Tom Zenk was arrested for misdemeanor battery as well as possession of marijuana and steroids. The steroid charge is a felony.
- Steve Austin is already back after dislocating his knee last week. Well then. Aren't I a pussy.
- With production costs going up and ratings continuing to fall, the future of Clash of the Champions events on TBS is in jeopardy. It is believed for now that they will continue, but they may do less events per year.