Tossing Salt 12/12/03
Howdy all! Deep from the dark and dingy basement of Wrestling informer HQ, it's the wrestling column that makes you want to get up and boogie all night long, like the Disco Inferno at Studio 54. I'm the ever loving degenerate, Doug M., and this is the Dojo of Info, the column that makes you go, "What the ...?", Tossing Salt.
I want to apologize if I seem a little out of whack this morning. Christmas shopping has got my mind totally blown. I've got most of it covered pretty well, but the nieces and the nephew are tough. The youngest, the demon spawn is 5, so she's easy. The oldest is twenty, and she's pretty easy to shop for as well. But then we have the three in between. Ages 13, 14, and 17. Aaaggghhh!! Teenagers. No matter what I find for them, it's going to be wrong. And I know this. It wasn't all that long ago that I was one. Geez! And since I'm the "cool uncle", it has to be something kick ass and totally cool. Why don't I just shoot myself now? Young-uns! Who needs this aggrivation?
But you all didn't come here to hear me whine and complain about Christmas shopping. Although I'm pretty sure some of you may be getting a little chuckle or two from my misery.
It says "Wrestling Informer" on the marquee, so it's time to cut to the chase and do some informing already. I've got a little bit of news from New Japan. The backstage politics are really heating up over in the Land of the Rising Sun. Plus I've got match results from all over Japan. I've got my predictions for the Armageddon PPV coming up on Sunday. There's some news on another book by a wrestling legend that looks like it will be a must read. And so much more. So, let's do it with some:
ASSORTED SPICES:
In New Japan, wrestling superstar Masa Chono is really making his opinion known about restructuring plans for New Japan by "money man" Tetsuo Buisho and Antonio Inoki. Chono appeared on the "Tsuji Radio Greffiti" show on Thursday and talked about his strong opposition to "contract restructuring plan" that Buisho & Inoki are thinking of implementing in NJ. Chone stated that the restructuring would force pay cuts and drive wrestlers away from New Japan and to the arms of other companies. He also stated that as many as 20 wrestlers currently working in NJ would be likely to leave. For their part, Inoki and Buisho have not responded publicly to Chono's claims, but sources have pointed out that not so long ago, Chono was making over $750,000 a year,and may just be bitter about the possibility of losing that big paycheck or taking a cut.
Congratulations to Zero One performer Wataru Sakata. The love of his life, famous model Eiko Koike has recently been spotted at appearances sporting a big and sparkly new ring on the middle finger of her right hand. Could wedding bells be ringing in the near future?
Advertising for the WWE show on February 7, 2004 at the Saitama Super Arena are announcing a main event of Triple H versus "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels. This could be the sign of another HHH / HBK feud on the horizon... or it could just be a example of the WWE giving the fans in Japan a taste of their very best at work.
If that's the case, I hope Mark Henry and John Heidenreich stay home. The Japanese will think Godzilla and King Kong have returned to their island nation. Nah! Kong and 'Zilla were never so careless and clumbsy. Godzilla was a little green though. *groan*.
Former AWA wrestling legend Peggy Banner has a new book coming out. Banner, who debuted in the mid - 1950's, was a major figure in ladies wrestling all during the 50's and 60's and also made headlines for briefly dating the "King". (That's Elvis and not Jerry Lawler, in case you're wondering!)
The book is called "Banner Days" and recounts Peggy's life both inside and outside the squared circle. She talks about other lady wrestlers such as Mildred Burke, June Byers, etc., as well as the performers, the politics, the promoters, of the Golden Era of pro wrestling. It looks like it'll be a great read. Her website is pretty good as well and a must see for all fans of the classic days of wrestling. For info on how to order the book, plus to learn more about Peggy Banner, go to Peggy's websire at http://home.fuse.net/jungle/bannerdays.htm. It's definitely worth the time.
BOBBY "THE BRAIN" HEENAN QUOTE # 1:
Tony Schiavone: I smell jackhammer. I smell Hogan.
Brain: Anyone close to him does.
ARMAGEDDON PREDICTIONS:
Sunday will be the latest PPV venture by the RAW brand of the WWE, Armageddon. After much consideration and study, here are my predictions for the big event.
Triple Threat Match - World Championship
Triple H versus Goldberg versus Kane
I think Goldberg will lose the title, but I really don't think HHH is ready to be champion again, yet! After all the building up they've done for Kane to promote him as the unstoppable monster, I think that Sunday will be his night. New champ, and it's the "Big Red Machine" Kane.
Intercontinential Championship Match
Special Referee: Mick Foley
Rob Van Dam (champion) versus Randy Orton
Add another notch to the belt as the "Legend Killer" takes out the ECW legend. It's Orton (with a little assist from the Nature Boy) bringing home the IC title. WInner: Randy Orton.
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels versus Batista
Batista is big. He's a monster. But he's not HBK. This one goes to the "show-stoppa".
Battle of the Sexes
Lita & Trish versus Christian & Chris Jericho
I've heard the predictions. Jericho will turn on Christian. Lita & Trish will win. Chris and Trish will be together. Bah! Humbug! It's a major PPV, and Chris will never throw a match, even for the tempataion of a little "Stratusfaction". I expect Lita & Trish to really take Vitamin C. to the limit, but in the end (after Matt Hardy makes his presence felt), it's the two gamblers from Canada - Chris & Christian taking that trip to the pay window with a big victory.
WWE Tag Team Turmoil - World Tag Team Championship
The Dudley Boyz versus Scott Steiner & Test versus Lance Storm & Val Venis versus Mark Jindrak & Garrison Cade versus La Resistance versus Hurricane & Rosey.
Two teams start - one team is eliminated and the next team enters. This whole match depends upon who gets the luck of the draw and at what point they enter the match. I'm pretty sure the Dudleys are going to lose.
They're stale and burnt out - and really need a good makeover. I don't see Rosey & The Hurricane as champs. I like them, but still.. Scott Steiner and Test. They're the darkhorse team, and I do think they could make good champs. Jindrak & Cade. They need a nickname, a mouthpiece (cause they really do suck on the mic), and need to decide if they're going to be faces or heels. Arn Anderson is available for a managerial role (hint - hint!) and could do wonders for these boys. They're future champs, but not just yet. La Resistance. Nah! They're French, so they'll just surrender.
Just kidding! I like La Res, but they did a run as champs not long ago, and it's time for someone else to have the glory. So, I'm going for the former World champs (way back in the beginning of 2003) who are just ready to bust out into the main event picture - Lance Storm and Val Venis. Gotta give it to the "porn star" and "Mr. Personality". And then, maybe, Lance Storm will finally get his big match at Wrestlemania XX.
BOBBY "THE BRAIN" HEENAN QUOTE # 2:
Brain: How many kids does Helen Hart have?
McMahon: I believe 12, Mr. Heenan.
Brain: Oh, one of each.
JERRY "THE KING" LAWLER QUOTE # 1:
"Old Harts never die. They just smell that way!"
ADDITIONIAL SEASONINGS:
PRO WRESTLING NOAH 12/11/03 Tokyo, Japan Korakuen Hall
Jun Izumeda defeated Haruka Eigen in 6:11
Makota Hashi over Mark Godeker in 11:42
Mohammed Yone, Daisuke Ikeda & Naoki Sano beat Takashi Sagiura, Takeshi Rikio, & Tamon Honda in 20:58
Yasuhiro Suzuki & Yoshinari Ogawa beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Jun Akiyama in 15:52
Masao Inoue, Akira Taue, & Mitsuharu Misawa defeated Kishin Kawabata, Takeshi Marishima, & Kenta Kobashi in 20:45
GHC JR. TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
KENTA & Naomichi Marafuji defeated Tsuyoshi Kikuchi & Mitsuo Momota in 20:11
NEW JAPAN 12/12/03 GIFU Takayama Big Arena
Ryusuke Taguchi over Akiya Anzawa in 7:00
Shin'ya Makabe defeated Naofumi Yamamoto in 1:45
Heat, Hirooki Goto, & American Dragon defeated Gedoh, Jadoh, & Katsushi Takemura in 10:40
Josh Barnett & Tiger Mask IV beat Wataru Inoue & Jushin Liger in 11:38
Ryushi Yanagisawa, Mitsuya Nagai, & Makai # 1 conquered Toru Yano, Blue Wolf, & Osamu Nishimura in 12:06
Minoru Suzuki & Shinsuke Nakamura beat Masayuki Naruse & Takashi Iizuka in 9:37
Yutaka Yoshie & Hiroshi Tenzan stopped Tatsutoshi Goto & Hiroyoshi Tenzan in 16:08
Manabu Nakanishi & Yuji Nagata defeated The Shadow & Scott Norton in 14:34
BOBBY HEENAN QUOTE # 3
Tony Schiavone: Scott Hall is looking a little better this week.
Heenan: It's only Monday.
JERRY "THE KING" LAWLER QUOTE # 2
"Bret Hart's parents, Stu and Helen used to be nudists, till they got kicked out of the Garden of Eden!"
And that's going to do it for today. Sorry it's so short, but I've got people waiting on me. It's time to head for "Christmas time hell!" aka - the mall. I love Christmas, but going to the mall to shop for stuff is one part I can definitely do without. It kind of makes me wish I hadn't blown up my credit card - then I could just do this all online. Oh well. I've got a Christmas office party to go to tommorow night with a friend, and Tatz has told me that I've got to dress "appropiately" which means dress pants, dress shoes, and a tie. I haven't worn a tie since my graduation from high school. Damn! What do these people want from me?
So, it's off to the mall to get some clothes and finish up on my shopping. If you have any questions or comments (or good ideas what to get three teenagers - two girls and a boy for Christmas) - drop me a line at either Doug28352@yahoo.com or at DougMaynard@wrestlinginformer.net.
Well, I'm out of here. WIsh me luck, because I think I'm going to need it. Until next time, I'm Doug M. and this has been "Tossing Salt!" Take it light!
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