June 08, 1993
- The timing of Vince McMahon's resignation as President of WWF and transfer of power to Linda McMahon is causing rampant speculation in regard to the Justice Dept.'s grand jury investigation into the company. WWF's spokesman is playing it off as no big deal and just a formality since Linda handles the business end and Vince handles the creative end and that nothing really changed other than their job titles.
- During a recent production meeting, Vince McMahon also gave the impression that son Shane, who is 22 or 23 and has long been groomed as the heir apparent to run the company, will be taking a more prominent role in the company's hierarchy. Man, ain't that an interesting tidbit in hindsight?
- NBC's news division has begun working on a story in the event the grand jury investigation leads to charges being filed. NBC has contacted several former WWF wrestlers, but for the most part, the wrestlers aren't cooperating with the story. With WCW seemingly spiraling down the drain, there's considerable concern that if another major scandal were to take down WWF, it could essentially destroy the industry in the United States and leave everyone out of work and struggling to make money. On the other hand, some people think that if WWF's national empire was to crumble, it would lead to opportunities for regional promotions to start back again and revive the territory system, but Dave is doubtful that such a thing could be successful even if WWF did collapse.
- From here, Dave focuses on WCW's steroid problem. Despite flying under the radar, WCW has probably more rampant steroid use than WWF does nowadays. After the Jake Roberts drug issues last year, Bill Watts had the entire roster tested for drugs and many of their top stars failed the test, but no one was punished because the company had no real policy in place for failed tests. Another test was scheduled, but was cancelled when Watts left the company and the new regime not only ignored the steroid problem, but brought in guys like Sid Vicious and Davey Boy Smith, who are walking neon signs for steroid use. Last week, they finally established a new drug policy but whether they take it seriously or if it's just more lip service remains to be seen.
- King of the Ring is scheduled this week and Dave only sees 2 likely outcomes: either a screwjob finish that sees Hogan lose the title to Yokozuna, which would lead to a rematch at Summerslam. Or Hogan retains the title, setting up a Hogan/Bret Hart match at Summerslam. Dave thinks #2 is the most likely scenario. As for rumors that either Hogan or Bret would refuse to do the job, Dave thinks both men are too professional and if WWF wants to go that route, then that's what will happen. Oh, naive Dave. Never underestimate Hogan's ability to politic his way out of doing a job.
- Newspapers in Japan are still reporting that the legendary Jumbo Tsuruta is being forced to retire after being hospitalized from complications from hepatitis C (not hep-B as previously reported). Tsuruta continues to deny this and says he won't allow his career to end like that and that he will be back.
- Shawn Michaels regained the IC title this week with help from his new bodyguard, Kevin Nash (formerly Vinnie Vegas in WCW). Nash had reportedly asked for a raise in WCW and was turned down, so then he asked for his release and Ole Anderson granted it this week. However, Dave says this was obviously a ploy since he must have already had the WWF job lined up in order to jump ship so quickly. Nash hasn't been given a new name yet.
- One of EMLL's top stars, El Satanico, jumped ship to AAA this week. He has held more championships than anyone in lucha libre history and with him gone, many newspapers are alluding to this particular defection being the beginning of the end for EMLL.
- Update on Danny Spivey's injury, he has a broken shoulder.
- Dave gives a five star rating to a Devil Masami vs. Bull Nakano match in JWP in Japan.
- WATCH: Devil Masami vs. Bull Nakano
- On USWA TV, Jerry Lawler (as a babyface) is currently feuding with Papa Shango over the USWA championship. On WWF TV, Lawler is a heel announcer and is often rooting for Papa Shango in matches, which is exposing the business and confusing those in Memphis who watch both.
- In SMW, Bob Armstrong is feuding with Jim Cornette. In a promo, Cornette referred to Bob's son Brian Armstrong (a real life member of the Marine Corps) as a "deserter." Brian has previously wrestled in SMW and showed a lot of potential, but is currently on another tour of duty in the Marines at the moment, but when he comes back, he will likely get involved in the storyline. Brian Armstrong is, of course, now better known as one half of the five-time tag team champions of the wooooooooorld, the Road Dogg Jesse James.
- The gossip column of the Winnipeg Sun newspaper reported that after a recent house show in the city, Hulk Hogan, Jimmy Hart, Brutus Beefcake, Papa Shango, Virgil and Ted Dibiase all attended a local strip club.
- Mike Shaw's ring name will actually be Bastion Booger.
- Almost all of WWF's upcoming scheduled events are in the Northeast and East Coast area. With business struggling, it seems they've decided to cut back in areas of the country where they don't draw as well and essentially run as a regional promotion for now, albeit one that still has worldwide television.
- Fans have been singing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" at Sid Vicious, which is funny because, yanno, Sid and softball. Also, new Four Horsemen member Paul Roma has been greeted with chants of "We Want Tully!" at recent shows.
- WCW has been running an angle saying that, following the injuries suffered in his match with Vader, Cactus Jack had been hospitalized at a mental institution but recently escaped. Then they interview several other "patients" about Cactus. TBS received several complaints saying that the segment made fun of mentally ill people. Dave's complaint is that they took the best, most believable angle they've had in years and turned it into a cartoonish farce. Anyway, in reality, Cactus just had major knee surgery and shouldn't be back in the ring for at least six months, "although we all know he'll be back a lot quicker than that," Dave adds. (Indeed, he came back about 3 months later).
- WATCH: All of the Cactus Jack "Lost In Cleveland" segments
- Shane Douglas is reportedly returning to teaching and leaving the wrestling business.
- Sabu received a WCW tryout this week against a local jobber and ended up breaking the jobber's nose on a moonsault. But WCW liked him enough to bring him in for another tryout soon.