December 02, 1991
- After seeing Survivor Series, Dave is calling bullshit on WWF's steroid testing. All the obvious heavy users still look exactly the same, despite being told months ago to get off steroids and despite the fact that the company is now testing. Even some of the people who seemed to have gotten off the juice previously appeared to be back on it already. WWF announced they wouldn't be suspending people after the first test, but if they start suspending people for subsequent tests, they'll have to suspend most of the roster, and that's not happening. It's clear that the roster doesn't appear to be making any changes, which means they know they can beat it or they know they won't be punished. If nothing else, WWF has at least managed to change the media narrative from "WWF's steroid problem" to a more positive "WWF is trying to clean up its problem."
- Dave credits WCW for making a remarkable turnaround. They were at rock bottom a few months ago with the Great American Bash, arguably the worst PPV ever. This past week's Clash of the Champions was an excellent show. Signing talent additions like Abdullah The Butcher, Cactus Jack, and Ricky Steamboat (who debuted at the Clash) are part of the reason. Having Paul E. Dangerously as a manager for Rick Rude as a top heel have helped tremendously. TV ratings are now regularly doing better than WWF on cable. Even the Clash rating was a 4.3, the best since last year. Live attendance is still in the gutter though.
- Speaking of Ricky Steamboat, remember how last week, WCW sent a fax to WWF saying that if they felt there was a contractual issue with using Steamboat to let them know? Well, WWF did indeed let them know....less than an hour before the Clash started, which is just such a hilarious dick move. WCW's legal team discussed it and decided to go ahead with using Steamboat anyway.
- On WWF TV, all scenes showing the NWA belt have been censored on TV. WCW's attempt to get a restraining order against WWF from using the belt was denied but WWF has taken it out of play anyway. At house shows, Flair has been appearing with an old WWF tag team belt, which sorta kills the gimmick of him being a world champion from somewhere else, since the WWF logo is prominently featured on the belt.
- The AP covered a story where a former NWA referee sued Tommy Rich for $25,000 due to serious injuries he suffered in the ring. Rich was supposed to push the referee to divert his attention. The referee ended up whiplashing himself on the ropes and suffered serious spinal injuries.
- WWF had a house show in Chicago and it drew okay, but nothing special. Which Dave says has to be disappointing since it's such a hot market for the company and both Hogan and Flair have always drawn well there. But the main event of Hogan vs. Flair doesn't seem to be drawing that well, especially now that Flair isn't really seen as an outsider from another company anymore which is what made his character cool when he first arrived. He's just another WWF guy at this point.
- In GWF, booker Bill Eadie (Demolition Ax) has apparently trademarked several gimmicks (The Patriot, Handsome Stranger, etc.) to a company called Galaxy Corporation, which is one of GWF's financial backers, which gives them ownership over the characters.
- An ICWA show in Florida, featuring Rob Van Dam, Kevin Sullivan, Pat Tanaka and more drew 22 fans.
- Mad Dog Vachon is suing the state of Iowa, claiming his leg had to be amputated due to improper hospital care.
- **Undertaker & Paul Bearer were guests on Regis & Kathy Lee this past week.
- In WCW, Lex Luger quit on Monday because the company fired Harley Race. However, last Dave has heard, everything is has been worked out and Luger is back onboard.
- A lot of people within the company seem to be crediting the recent positive changes in WCW to Jim Crockett, who has been pushing for these changes for the better part of 3 years (since Turner bought the company from him) but nobody really listened until recently.
- Bill Kazmaier is gone from WCW and Dave rejoices.
- Rumor is Great Muta will be coming back in after the first of the year.