October 19, 1992
- Bret Hart unexpectedly won the WWF title from Ric Flair at a house show this week. It was a last minute decision to get the title belt onto a babyface ASAP due to uncertainty of Ultimate Warrior's future with the company (we'll get there in a minute) and because Undertaker required shoulder surgery and won't be back until December. Bret ended up spraining both ankles and breaking a finger during the match and had to go to the hospital afterward.
- The future of Ultimate Warrior in WWF is in question but Dave doesn't seem to know why. As of Tuesday, Warrior hadn't been pulled from any shows, but internally, the planned Flair/Warrior feud is off and Flair will be feuding with Hart instead. Warrior is still scheduled to team with Macho Man in the Survivor Series main event against Flair/Ramon, but might be replaced with Hart in that match as well (this story gets plenty messier in the coming weeks). That's all Dave knows as of press time.
- Meanwhile, WWF is suddenly negotiating with Hogan to return ASAP. Hogan wasn't expected to return until the spring, if at all. Dave isn't sure if this is because Warrior is on his way out the door or just a coincidence. But if Hogan returns, it will be on his terms and he's going to want a lot of money and a part-time schedule.
- Scott Steiner reportedly had a huge locker room argument with Bill Watts before the recent TV tapings. Scott hasn't appeared on any shows since and has been removed from any upcoming shows, as well as Halloween Havoc. It's no secret that the Steiners are most likely gone when their contracts expire at the end of the year. They have been negotiating about new contracts for weeks. Word is money isn't really the issue, but the medical coverage (in case they get injured) is the huge hurdle and Watts refuses to budge on it. Either way, with Rick Steiner still on the shelf injured and now Scott going AWOL, it's very likely we've seen the last of the Steiners in WCW.
- WWF seems to be copying WCW a bit now. Vince McMahon (sounding like Bill Watts) announced on TV that there will be stricter enforcement of the rules and focus on competition. Sgt. Slaughter is now in an enforcer/referee-type role (same as Ole Anderson in WCW). Backstage, the wrestlers have been given stricter rules (focus more on actual wrestling and holds, all action stays inside the ring except for main eventers, no cartoonishly playing to the crowd for cheap heat, etc.). With business down, Vince clearly feels the company has gone too far in the goofy cartoonish aspects of the business and is reigning the stars back in to a more classic, old-school style of wrestling. Between making Bret Hart the champion, allowing Flair to work 30-minute matches on house shows, and Bob Backlund set for a big push, you can already see more of a focus on wrestling begin to take shape.
- WWF's promoter in Montreal and former 1970s wrestler Gino Brito was one of 4 men arrested on extortion and loan sharking charges this week. He was evidently working as a collector for loan sharks (basically, he was the guy who showed up and threatened to break your knees if you didn't have their money by tomorrow).
- In Houston, WWF and WCW had shows on the same night. WWF drew about 3000 people while WCW drew about 1000. Meanwhile, both group's TV ratings set record lows again.
- Eddie Guerrero is expected to start with AAA this week. Art Barr is scheduled to debut soon as well (those 2 should form a tag team). The company also has interest in Lightening Kid (Sean Waltman), Pegasus Kid (Chris Benoit) and Bob Orton (who the hell wanted Bob Orton on their roster in 1992??).
- Canadian Vampire Casanova (Vampiro) is not actually engaged to actress Stephanie Salas as previously reported. They simply dated for a few months. The engagement reports came from a gossip tabloid in Mexico.
- Road Warrior Hawk is scheduled to start with New Japan in November.
- Eddie Gilbert has quit USWA. Word is he asked for a nightly guarantee and was turned down, so he left.
- In GWF, they seem to be hinting of breaking up the tag team Ebony Experience (Booker T and Stevie Ray).
- Samoan wrestler Kokina was originally scheduled to join the company as a member of the Headshrinkers with Samu and Fatu but instead, he has been given the ring name Yokozuna and will be doing an ex-sumo wrestler gimmick. "At least he looks the part," Dave says.
- Undertaker will be out for about 8 weeks after having surgery for bone chips in his left arm and shoulder. It won't be acknowledged on TV because they feel it will ruin his character for him to be injured.
- Animal has been pushing for his younger brother to come in as his new tag team partner instead of Crush, but WWF doesn't seem to want him. Animal might also just wrestle solo, so it's not a guarantee that the new Legion of Doom will happen.
- Marty Jannetty returned to WWF this week, coming out of the crowd to attack Shawn Michaels. Also at the tapings, Mondo Kleen debuted under the name Damian Demento. And finally, Matt Borne was backstage wearing a clown costume. He didn't wrestle but appeared in front of the crowd.
- Dino Bravo's planned retirement match in Montreal has been postponed. The postponement came just days after the previously mentioned arrest of Gino Brito. What are you implying there, Dave? Surely you don't think Dino Bravo is involved in anything shady...
- On the 900 hotline, Jim Ross hinted that Terry Funk would be returning to WCW. Dave highly doubts this. Funk sued WCW awhile back, claiming he was forced back in the ring to wrestle with a broken back during his 1989 feud with Ric Flair. The case was settled out of court, but it was a nasty fight and there's still bad blood there.
- Vinne Vegas isn't quite done with WCW yet, despite what Dave previously reported. Plans are for him to team with Diamond Dallas Page against Van Hammer & Marcus Bagwell in the coming weeks.