Tossing Salt - 10/10/03
What up fellow Degenerates, Hardyites, Zoners, and everyone else (I'm in way too many groups. lol!) Here is the latest edition of my column for the Wrestling Informer, "Tossing Salt - Wrestling from the Land of the Rising Sun" which will be posted later today. I've got Hogan/Chono news and news from Italy. Some Jeff Hardy and Rikishi updates as well. Just figured I'd give all ya'll the customary sneak peek! Hope ya enjoy.
-Doug
Also, I'm looking for ways to spice things up a bit - so if ya have any ideas or suggestions to help me improve things and make "Tossing Salt" the best Japanese wrestling column around, don't be shy. Talk at me and let me know what ya think. Thanks..
-Doug
What up and welcome one and all to the latest edition of "Tossing Salt - Wrestling from the Land of the Rising Sun!". I'm your ever loving degenerate host - Doug M. and this is the net's greatest Wrestling web site - the Wrestling Informer. Not too much going on in the Far East right now. Things traditionally slow down a bit this time of year, but what little news I do have on Hulk Hogan and Masa Chono and their upcoming 10/13 match at the Toyko Dome is big. Way big.
Plus, in order to give this column a bit more of an international flavor, I've got some news from Italy, some WWE stuff, and who knows what else I may throw in just for good measure. So, let's begin with:
NEWS
The biggest news comes from New Japan. In an attempt to bolster ticket sales, some pretty amazing stipulations (for Japan anyhow) have been added to the match between Masa Chono and Hulk Hogan, scheduled for the 10/13 show at the Toyko Dome. According to Masa Chono, if Hogan defeats him in their match, he will hand over his spot in New Japan management to Hogan.
Chono is a very big part of the backstage power at New Japan, but it's all on the line. The Japanese press has jumped all over this bit of news and are already talking about the possibility of Hulkamania Americanizing Japanese wrestling. Also, Chono says that if he loses, he will not remain a part of New Japan, but will become a free agent and begin performing for other promotions as well.
The reasoning for these stipulaions is pretty obvious. So far, ticket sales have been less than grand for this "super card" by New Japan. They will have to have a great number of walk-ins come show day to achieve "sold-out" status. And it's not just this show. Of all of New Japan's scheduled shows (10/18 at Fukuoka International Center, 10/21 at the Hiroshima Sun Palace, and 1026 at the Kobe World Hall) all have had very low ticket sales. The only sold out show this month for New Japan is the 10/30 event at Kurakuen Hall.
In somewhat related news - WWE superstar Rikishi will be doing autograph signings in Osaka, Japan on 10/12 and at Kurakuen Hall on 10/13 at noon - 3 hours before the NJ Toyko Dome show.
Speaking of former WWE superstars, Jeff Hardy will be wrestling tonight in Newark, CA for Big TIme Wrestling. Jeff is scheduled to go up against Frankie Kazaran. This is a rare wrestling appearance by Jeff, but the word is he's mainly in California to visit friends, and decided to make it a working vacation. My guess is so he can deduct the trip under business expenses, but who knows for sure.
And one more WWE note. The Smackdown crew is going international over the next few days. They put on a show last night in Turku, Finland. They will be in Cologne, Germany tonite, and then move on to England for shows on Saturday in Birmingham and Sunday in Manchester. A travel day is scheduled for Monday and then to Cincinnati, Ohio for the Smackdown TV tapings on Tuesday. So, I expect next week on Smackdown, we'll be seeing a lot of jet lagged superstars. Even so, I surely hope it's better than last night's show.
I've been supposed to recap the show from last night for my chat group (DX Suck It!! at Yahoo groups.com) and can't bring myself to do it yet because the show was so bad, and I don't want to relive the agony.It started off bad with Linda McMahon and family and just went downhill from there. Next week will have to be better - it sure can't be any worse.
Now, let's leave the great land of Japan (oooops - already did!) and move to Europe and the country shaped like a boot, Italy.
Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) which is a independant promotion from the north-east will be putting on a show in Pistoia, Italy on 10/25. I told you about that a couple of days ago. Well, it's been announced now that some of the stars of CZW will be holding an autograph session from 4 to 6 pm before the show. For more information on this, check out the CZW Italian site at www.CZWwrestling.it.
And finally, let's end this novel novelette with the results of some great wrestling action - not from Japan because there's nothing really to report, but from the nation that brought us the Maffia, spaghetti, and Sophia Loren (over sixty but still so hot!) - here are some match results from Italian Championship Wrestling.
ICW 10/4/03 Perugia, Italy
Raiss defeated Mr. Excellent
Pain over Puck
La Tigre bested Darkness
Tsunami and White Crow wrestled to a double-count out
Raiss over Pain
Judge beat The Cannibal
ICW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
James Tighe & Andy Simmonz defeated El Diablo & The Dragon to become the NEW ICW Tag Team Championships.
ICW 10/5/03 Perugia, Italy
Los Anticristos defeated James Tighe & Andy Simonz in a non-title match.
ICW NORTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP
Mr. Excellent defeated II Marchese to retain his championship
White Crow beat The Dragon
HARDCORE MATCH
Pain defeated Puck
Puck won a 15 - Man Battle Royal
3 WAY DANCE
La TIgre defeated Raiss & Puck
Andy Simmonz defeated James Tighe
Well, that's it. Hope you've had fun at this little look at the International scene of professional wrestling. Now, I have to go try and do this Smackdown recap. It's making me feel more queesy than Big Show after some of Eddie's burritos. Ha! It just never ends. See you next time for a little more 'Tossing Salt". Later all.
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