[WWW] Dave Meltzer 10.19.03 column

http://www.wrestlingobserver.com

10/19/2003 4:26:00 PM

Sunday update: Hawk tragedy, Preview of tonight's PPV, HHH update, TNA
on NY TV, women & transvestities put hair up today and much more

by Dave Meltzer

[EMAIL PROTECTED]

This has been a tragic week in wrestling to say the least. If you
hadn't seen the earlier update or heard about it, Road Warrior Hawk,
Mike Hegstrand, passed away either late last night or early this
morning. We are still awaiting more details.

We'll be doing our poll after tonight's No Mercy show, so you can
leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a
best and worst match to [EMAIL PROTECTED] We'll also have
live coverage of the show up on the site starting at about 7:45 p.m.
Eastern time.

Tonight's line-up:
*Matt Hardy vs. Zach Gowen - Gowen has been pretty cold since his
return but he's still an unbelievable worker considering his handicap.
At one point they were going to have Gowen join Hardy, and since Hardy
gets a face reaction most nights, this may be an angle to go back face
for Matt. I'm not sure of any purpose for this match unless there is
an angle
*Chris Benoit vs. A-Train - Benoit is in line for title shots soon
with Lesnar. Benoit almost never has a bad match and this should be no
exception, but it probably won't be the caliber of what you expect
from Benoit on PPV
*Tajiri vs. Rey Mysterio for cruiserweight title - I'm presuming that
Ryan Sakoda and Jimmy Yang debut here and screw Mysterio out of the
win. Anyway, that's just a guess, since these two are scheduled to
work through December and it's better for a Rey chase. These two
almost always have very good matches and if they are given time, it's
probably the surest bet for a great match on the show.
*Eddy Guerrero vs. Big Show for U.S. title - I doubt this will be the
classic Guerrero wrestling match, but I also expect it to be
entertaining in some fashion.
*Kurt Angle vs. John Cena - This is a big test for Cena, as he's ready
to move up and the only thing holding him back is his in-ring work. I
don't know that this will happen, but he probably should sneak out a
win here and we'll see how Angle can handle what I presume to be a
longer match with a less skilled wrestler than he's used to. Then
again, Angle has had good matches with Big Show.
*Vince McMahon vs. Stephanie McMahon - The big challenge here is to
have a match and at the same time protect Stephanie's face for
Saturday's wedding. Stephanie will be away for a few weeks between
wedding preparation and her honeymoon after this one.
*Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker in a biker chain match for the title -
The way I see it, Vince screws Undertaker out of the match. Since
it'll be put in the main event slot, they'll be given time. I expect a
very good match.
The card doesn't have any match that are going to be a special draw
unless Vince vs. Stephanie's hype actually gets people curious. Unless
that match has clicked from all the hype, this could be the lowest buy
rate in years. But on paper, you've got either matches with good
workers, or a match with a great worker, so it should be a solid
wrestling show.

Also, if anyone knows how to get in touch with Eddie Sharkey these
days, let me know.

The Smackdown crew has the PPV today, a house show tomorrow night in
White Plains with Brock Lesnar & John Cena vs. Kurt Angle & Chris
Benoit, Eddy Guerrero vs. Big Show and Tajiri vs. Rey Mysterio.
Smackdown tapings are Tuesday night in Albany, NY.

Because tonight is a PPV, Wrestling Observer Live will be a taped show
from 8-10 p.m. Eastern time and 5-7 p.m. Pacific time on the Sports
Byline radio network. Guests on the show will be Billy Graham, talking
a lot about his experiences in another lifetime with Governor
Schwarzenegger, and Randy Couture, who gave a great interview about
every subject under the sun regarding his future, his past and MMA.
You can find a station in your area carrying the show by checking
www.sportsbyline.com, or you can listen live through their web site,
through this web site, through www.dragonkingpress.com or on Sirius
Satellite radio Ch. 122. We will have Bret Hart on as a guest a week
from Sunday.

--HHH didn't work yesterday's show in Providence except at ringside
due to suffering a hamstring injury in the early moments of his match
in Manchester the night before. Ric Flair took his place. He wasn't
booked on today's Raw show in Portland, ME. He was scheduled to
wrestle on TV tomorrow but not sure of his status for that right now.

--TNA Xplosion is on Metro TV 60 in New York City every Saturday at 4
p.m. (thanks to Hedda Ace)

--Main matches today in Mexico are at Arena Coliseo in Mexico City are
Brazo de Plata & Gigante Silva & Negro Casas vs. Apolo Dantes & Damian
666 & Halloween & Universo 2000; Naucalpan has Avisman I & Gigante
Silva & El Hijo del Texano vs. Canek & Enterrador & Pentagon Black &
Toro Irisson; Monterrey features Gato Volador vs. Estrella Dorada Jr.
in a mask vs. mask as well as the 100 year old feud with Rayo de
Jalisco Jr. vs. Cien Caras; Leon has Perro Aguayo Jr. & Angel del
Espacio & Felino vs. Ultimo Guerrero & Rey Bucanero & Super Parka;
while AAA in Monterrey has a parejas increibles (face & heel teaming
together) with Abismo Negro & Santo & Silver Star vs. Antifaz del
Norte & Heavy Metal & Eddie Watts; as well as a huge show at El Toreo
in Naucalpan featuring an electrified steel cage match with Latin
Lover vs. Hector Garza and a six-person with women Fabi Apache, Miss
Janeth and Tiffany as well as transvestites Pimpinela Escarlata, Polvo
de Estrellas and May Flowers with the loser getting their head shaved.

--Southern Championship Wrestling on 11/15 at the DeBary Civic Center
is headlined by Norman Smiley vs. Dave Mercury

--The Fan Fest on 11/8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fremont (CA)
Marriott will feature Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart, Bobby Heenan, Bob Orton
Jr., Nick Bockwinkel and Ivory. You can order autographs of any of
these people if you don't attend through [EMAIL PROTECTED] for
more info.

--The Fremont Argus had a good article today on the All Pro Wrestling
school, talking about the current crew like James Choi and Melissa
Anderson (who wrestled this weekend in Germany), internet angles and
trainers Robert Thompson and Steve Rizzono.

--Notes from the Iowa Challenge 11 (shoot show) in Waterloo last
night: Clayton Miller b Davey Conger to win the light heavyweight
title and did a WWE style promo saying that Kevin Oliver is sucking
him, and came off like a good pro wrestling angle. Main event saw
Travis Wiuff win a split decision over hometown favorite Travis Fulton
to win the Midwest super heavyweight title (thanks to Jesse Kruger)

--TXW from last night in Corpus Christi: Benancio Cruz b Tito
Sanchez-DQ, Riff Morrison b J.C. Hendricks, Joker & El Latino b
Benancio Cruz & USA Kidd, Titan b Lemus II, Jacob Ladder & Valik b
Virus & Cyprezz, Massive b Flaming Rose (thanks to Carlos Musquiz)

--APW Halloween Hell from last night in Newhall, CA before 75 fans:
Lil Cholo won three-way over Steve Pain and Infernal, Vennis DeMarco b
Billy Blade, Babi Slymm b Dana Lee, Disco Machine b Joey Ryan, Scorpio
Sky b Scott Lost to win lightweight title, Frankie Kazarian b Matt
Stryker, Danny Daniels b Adam Pearce-COR, Super Dragon b Vic Grimes

--CPW from last night in Moorefield, WV: Shane Shadows b Roughhouse
Matthews, Tiffani Monroe b Millie Mascaras (cool name), Ravishing Red
Dog b Bobby Keller, Brock Singleton DDQ Uncle Mikey Baritona, Shadows
& Keller & Singleton & Zubov & Mercury Flash b Johnny Graham & Big
Johnson & Baritone & Roughhouse & Red Dog

--Xtreme Championship Wrestling from Friday night in Denton, TX: Eric
Idol b Chris Richter, Gemini b Bullman Downs-DQ, El Convicto b Adam
Arson, Drunk Adam & Scott Phoenix b Punishers, Idol b Richter, Krusher
Kong & Bull b Kit Carson & Khris Germany

--PCW from Saturday night in Arlington, TX: Chris Stevens b
Sytmetrico, Mike Foxx b Steve DeMarco-COR, B.J. Cummings won three-way
over Brett Barnes and G-Slice, Stevens b Dragonflies, Shadow b John
Allen & Mike Thunder (thanks to Rob Moore)

--MMWA results from somewhere in Michigan before 350 fans: Gutter b
Sinn (TNA), Joe Legend b Bobby Bambino, Antagonists b Petey Williams &
Magnum Conroy, Bump n Uglies b Tommy Starr & Eddie Venom, Tracy Brooks
(TNA) b Jamie D, Nate Webb b Jerry Lynn, Jimmy Jacobs b Jamie Coxx,
Legend b Jamie D, Matt Maverick & Jimmy Shawlin & Frankie the Face b
Jim Duggan & Tommy Starr & Johnny Swinger (thanks to Whitey Bell)