March 22, 1999
- Shout out to the Bucks and Cody. I was always pretty confident that they could sell out the show, but I never expected them to do it in less than an hour. This is a moment that will be talked about in their future Hall of Fame video packages.
- Speaking of Flair's multiple title reigns, Dave basically breaks down what the real number is and says it depends on what you consider being a world champion and whether you count various phantom title changes and overturned Dusty-finishes and whatnot. Or various times where Flair would lose the title just to get a big pop from the crowd and then move on to the next city like it never happened and do it again. Shit like that used to happen back in the early-80s when there was no internet and average fans didn't know what was happening in other territories. Like the time Flair lost the NWA title to Harley Race in New Zealand and then won it back 2 days later in Singapore, but it was never publicly acknowledged. It gets even more confusing when you factor in shit like the NWA/WCW split, Flair leaving WCW as champion while still being recognized by the NWA as champion, the weird "WCW International Title" debacle, and so on and so forth. Dave does a breakdown of basically every single one of Flair's title wins and losses and gives his analysis and opinions on what should count and what shouldn't. Anyway, long story short, Dave's personal opinion is that as of March 14, 1999, Ric Flair is now an 18-time world champion, although you can make an argument from anywhere between 14 and 22 and you'd probably still be right.
- As usual, Raw beat Nitro in the ratings again, but for what it's worth, WCW actually closed the gap this week and even barely edged out Raw to win the last over-run segment of the show. But overall, the final rating still wasn't really close, with Raw pretty much dominating.
- There's still a bit of a backstage power struggle in AJPW between Misawa and Giant Baba's widow Motoko Baba. Most people seem to be siding with Misawa as far as who should run the day-to-day operations. Word is AJPW plans to make an official announcement of what the new company hierarchy will be sometime next month.
- As expected, Naoya Ogawa defeated Dan Severn to win the NWA title, which Severn had held since early-1995. All the major media outlets in Japan covered it as a huge sports story and talked about Ogawa winning the same title held by legends like Lou Thesz, Dory Funk, and of course, Giant Baba. This is exactly how Antonio Inoki planned it when he booked this match, so....big win for Inoki and his UFO promotion.
- Terry Funk is reportedly planning to start winding down his career soon (lol). Funk spent the last several months recovering from Hepatitis and was in poor health. While he was recovering, Funk said he and his wife discussed his future and agreed that he would finish out a few last bookings he had promised to do before he got sick and then call it a career, although he didn't rule out the possibility of doing a show here and there. But he's decided his days on the road are over and that it's time to stay home (he'll be working a full-time schedule with WCW in less than a year).
- Bob Backlund was interviewed by a Connecticut newspaper regarding his planned U.S. Congress run and he didn't exactly have a lot of substantive ideas when it comes to the issues. On drugs he said, "If we take away the demand, there won't be any supply." On crime he said, "My motto is to treat people how you want to be treated." On education he said, "I think if we believe kids are good, they'll do good things." Hot takes there, Bob.
- The financial situation in ECW is still the biggest topic of discussion there. Paul Heyman has basically described the situation by saying they're just trying to survive until they get video game licensing money coming in which is expected to be soon and said that more checks may bounce in the meantime. There have also been bounced checks to various venues and local promoters who help them book buildings, among other things. Vince McMahon and Jim Ross both contacted Heyman and said they were willing to help ECW. Dave says it's in WWF's best interest for ECW to stay alive and to keep Heyman on their good side. If ECW goes out of business, it could lead to an influx of wrestlers and perhaps even Heyman going to WCW otherwise. Plus, it's good to have ECW indebted to them. Even WCW has somewhat put the word out there that they are willing to help in some way. Neither promotion wants to see ECW die because they don't want the other side to snatch up the remains if it happens. As of now, Heyman seemingly hasn't taken either company up on their offers.
- Big Dick Dudley and John Kronus are gone from ECW, no reason given (neither would ever return).
- Although Tommy Dreamer spoke last week about being willing to take an offer from WWF or WCW if it comes up, apparently that's not entirely true. Raven contacted Dreamer just a few weeks ago about coming in to WCW to form a tag team with him and said he could get Dreamer a good deal. But Dreamer turned it down.
- Justin Credible's ECW future may be in question. He has a 5-year contract, but has reportedly had talks with WCW recently and had spoken to Heyman about leaving. Heyman offered to release Credible from his contract if he wanted to leave, but Credible changed his mind and decided to stay.
- Lots of rumors that Eric Bischoff may be planning to quit WCW. He was on vacation in France for a couple of weeks but just returned and privately, he's apparently told some people that he's considering leaving. It's also become obvious to those backstage that he seems burned out and disinterested in running things anymore.
- Nitro was mostly the same ol' shit show this week but there were 2 really good parts that Dave gives credit to. Mysterio vs. Kidman was the best American TV match this year. And the angle with Scott Steiner attacking Buff Bagwell's neck with a chair was a great angle and for once, even the announcers sold it well and it made for an awesome angle. But, ya know, then there was the other 2 and a half hours...
- Bret Hart wasn't on Nitro last week, and surely there was a good reason, right? Maybe dealing with an injury, or perhaps he was off filming something else? Right?? Nope. He was backstage, ready to go. They just didn't have anything for him so he wasn't booked.
- Bischoff has discussed doing an advertising campaign for WCW in order to emphasize that WCW isn't like WWF because it's not as crude and sexual. They're tired of being lumped in with all of WWF's bad publicity.
- Various random WCW notes that are too brief for their own paragraph: Bobby Heenan, Larry Zbyszko, and Disco Inferno all signed new 3-year contracts. Randy Savage has been medically cleared to return to the ring. Steve McMichael no-showed Nitro. Chris Benoit, Kevin Nash, and Hogan are all booked for upcoming episodes of TSN's Off The Record. Former MTV VJ Ricky Rachmann has been hired as a backstage interviewer. Bam Bam Bigelow recently suffered a seizure and was hospitalized. And finally, Ron Reis had his contract renewed, leading to Dave to remind us that, "This is the same company that fired Steve Austin."
- David Flair is apparently serious about becoming a full-time wrestler and has been training at the Power Plant.
- ESPN's Outside The Lines has been filming for an upcoming episode about wrestling. They spoke to both Hogan and Scott Steiner regarding steroids. Hogan said he used to use them but doesn't anymore. Steiner also denied using steroids, a lie so blatant that it nearly gives Dave an aneurysm trying to process it.
- Bischoff recently spoke with Chris Jericho about his future and made it clear that WCW wants to keep him. They haven't made him a big money offer yet but it's believed they will soon. They have also talked about giving Jericho his own weekly Piper's Pit-style talk show segment on Nitro if he stays (maybe they could call it the Highlight Reel). Those close to Jericho say he hasn't really made his mind up 100% either way but most people think he's still leaning towards going to WWF.
- Nitro is expected to get a cosmetic makeover in the coming weeks. Dave compares it to how every woman in the business is apparently required to get cosmetic surgery these days and he wonders if WCW can "implant" more good wrestling into the product instead of worrying about changing logos and shit.
- After years of ignoring all the times Shane Douglas called him out, Ric Flair finally had something to say about Douglas on a WCW Live audio show on their website. Here's what Flair had to say:
- He is a quarterback that thought he was going to go in the first round, that went in the seventh round, that knew because he went in the seventh round he had to play harder, but never made it. He threw the ball ten yards shorter. He ran the 40 a tenth of a second slower. Everything he's done in life, he's done behind the scenes, and he's cried about everything and everybody. If it's not me, it's Nash. If it's not Nash, it's Hall. If it's not Hall, it's McMahon. If it's not McMahon, it's Bischoff. At some point in time, you got to look in the mirror. Do you think that fans listen to that shit? Ten years ago, he told me he was going to be a medical doctor. Everything in his life is pretty much a dream, or a thought, or an afterthought. And I'm happy that he's making money where he's at, because he'd never go anywhere else. He's, you know, been given the opportunity and some guys cut it, and some guys don't.
- I understand he challenged me to the ultimate fight or something like that. Let me tell you this. If you take the needle out of his ass, he's 140 pounds, at best. And you tell him, 90 days after he takes the needle out of his ass, anytime, anywhere, and I'm 50 years old. As a matter of fact, my son Reid, with the needle out of his ass, will beat him in record time. And Reid's 11-years-old and weighs 126. I think Shane Douglas, off the gas, is about 126 pounds soaking wet. If I'm Bob Barker [one of the names Douglas has called Flair in the past], he's, let me see, who was that cop on Andy Griffith that walked around with the hat on sideways? He's Barney Fife
- Excuse me, Dr. Douglas who never went to school. Dr. Douglas who never made it in WCW, who blamed me for it. I wasn't the booker, however. Dr. Douglas, who didn't make it in WWF. Dr. Douglas, who's alienated himself. Dr. Douglas, who is blown up at 220 pounds. You can't beat my 11-year-old son. How 'bout that?"
- Paging r/MurderedByWords
- So anyway, Shane Douglas was quick to respond with a statement of his own over on 1Wrestling.com
- "I'm honored that after five years of me dogging your ass, that you finally had, well, enough balls if you'd call it that, to bring up the challenge and make this response. I'm sitting here reading, having a good laugh. First of all, Mr. Flair, taking the "needle out of my ass," maybe you ought to re-investigate this and learn your syntax, Mr. Flair. Going to medical school? Yeah, I was accepted to medical school. Maybe that's something you can't understand in that pea brain of yours. Because I choose to stay in this business and dog your ass, thinking you might be man enough some day to accept the challenge. Maybe I should have gone to medical school. I'd had a bigger challenge with a cadaver. As far as your syntax goes Mr. Flair, "As a matter of fact, my son Reid, with a needle out of his ass, will beat him in record time." Well, I suggest that you stop stooging your son off if he's using the juice. Secondly, maybe you should take the needle out of his ass, shove it in your own ass, and maybe those tits won't flap around like they do all the damn time. Maybe if you don't put juice in it, maybe put a little Viagara, maybe you'd get a little backbone, enough to stick up for yourself and fight like a goddamned man for once, instead of being the big pussy that you are."
- Dave says that Douglas's statement actually went on a lot longer from this point and basically turned into a dumb wrestling promo, with dumb shit like claiming Flair was begging Heyman for a job in ECW and how Taz is the real world champion and other such shit. Dave says he was so embarrassed for Douglas that he doesn't even want to type up the rest of it. Dave says that unless this ever turns into a real angle or they end up in the same company, this is the last time he's going to waste space writing about it (they end up in the same company in just a few short months).
- As mentioned previously, WWF is actively trying to push Michael Cole as the new permanent lead Raw announcer. Interestingly enough, before going with Cole, they actually made an offer to TSN Off The Record host Michael Landsberg. He was interested, but then TSN told him that if he did it, he would have to give up his OTR show and he didn't want to do that.
- Sable's issue of Playboy magazine is legitimately close to becoming the all-time best selling issue of Playboy in history. She's also taking acting lessons and is considering taking more acting roles.
- Jerry Lawler was arrested in Memphis this week after an incident where he ran over a cop's foot. An officer was giving him a ticket for being parked on the curb at the airport for too long and she ended up in an argument with Lawler. He ended up balling up the ticket and throwing it at the cop and then driving off. As he drove off, he ran over the cop's foot. Lawler surrendered himself to the police a few days later and was booked and released pending a court date (I remember this. It was a huge story here at the time and later on when he ran for mayor, his opponents made a huge deal about it).
- Nicole Bass has signed a WWF developmental contract and may be brought in as Sable's bodyguard.
- Fitness model Trish Stratus has not signed with WWF, contrary to rumors, but was told to send a resume to Jim Ross.
- The letters section this week is pretty much all just letters from people who can't comprehend how WCW manages to suck as much as it does right now.