November 25, 1991
- After months of talking about it, WWF finally conducted their first steroid tests last week. A lot of their testing policy is shrouded in mystery, but here's what Dave knows: the testing is real, conducted by a legitimate independent organization. Results will be kept confidential, with only the doctors and Vince himself knowing the results. There are no penalties for failing this first test, as it was only done to establish a baseline. Following positive tests will result in a 6 week suspension the first time. Second failed test will be another 6-week suspension plus mandatory drug rehab. The third will be termination.
- There are certain things, like HGH (human growth hormone), that are undetectable in the current system. But they are extremely expensive and most wrestlers probably wouldn't be able to use that. In the end, these tests can still be beaten, but this testing will probably be enough to satisfy the media, which is likely the only thing WWF truly cares about in this case anyway. They just want the negative PR to stop.
- All the contracted wrestlers and managers took the test, except one. Dave doesn't name him, but it's apparently someone who has been very vocally against the testing. Otherwise, most of the roster did so without complaint. If a top star failed a test, Dave isn't sure whether WWF would really suspend them or not. If, hypothetically, Hogan failed a test, Dave is pretty sure that there's no way they would.
- Speaking of bad PR, both Entertainment Tonight and Inside Edition ran stories on steroids and WWF this week and they were devastating, especially to Hulk Hogan. Vince called the Entertainment Tonight people himself to complain about it and was furious. In return, ET gave McMahon time on Monday's episode to respond. Vince and Hogan appeared on the show, with Hogan saying he was the first to take the new steroid testing and he wanted his clean results made public.
- Regarding Ric Flair's championship belt, the NWA sued the WWF on Wednesday. The NWA argued that the WWF parading around their championship belt is damaging to their organization. WWF's lawyer argued that "A lot of wrestlers have big flashy gold belts. A belt's a belt." Ha! That's just hilarious to me. WWF has filmed several more hours of footage including the belt, however they agreed to tell their 300 affiliate stations to edit the belt out of this weekend's TV shows. Didn't work too well, since it showed up on TV everywhere anyway, although they blurred it on Prime Time Wrestling.
- Speculation for the upcoming Tuesday In Texas show is still running rampant and no one knows what it will be yet, but right now, it's still looking like the main event will either be Hogan vs. Flair or Hogan vs. Undertaker.
- A recent house show featuring Hogan vs. Flair did pretty poor business, which isn't a good sign. Also scheduled to wrestle that night was Kerry Von Erich, but he showed up "in no condition to walk, let alone wrestle." Oh, Kerry.
- Art Barr debuted in Mexico, under a mask using the name The Love Machine and teamed with Black Magic (Norman Smiley!)
- Some indie company is doing a show next year where the ring will be set up at the Four Corners Monument, which is the spot where Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico all meet. This will make it the first time a wrestling match has taken place in 4 states at the same time.
- It's widely assumed Ricky Steamboat will be Dustin Rhodes' mystery tag team partner at the Clash. WCW reportedly sent WWF a letter asking them to respond if they felt there was a contractual issue preventing them from using Steamboat. WWF never responded, so WCW is going to use him. Surely WWF won't do anything to try to sabotage this.....
- Lex Luger's contract specifies a certain number of shows per year and WCW has already almost reached the limit within 8 months. As a result, Luger is being pulled from all of the smaller shows for the remainder of his contract and will only be booked on the bigger shows where the top star is expected most. As a result, there has been serious consideration of having Rick Steiner win the WCW title from Luger at the Clash.
- After the Magic Johnson HIV story, WCW has now totally banned blood on both TV and house shows.
- In a cage match between Sting and Cactus Jack, Cactus brought something to the ring wrapped in a towel. When he pulled it out, it was a squeegee. Sting sold it like Cactus had a gun and tried to run away and escape the cage. It was an obvious joke about Sid Justice and the squeegee bar fight with Brian Pillman mentioned a few weeks back.
- The Nasty Boys will face the Legion of Doom on the Arsenio Hall Show to promote Survivor Series. And so they did: