[WWW] Dave Meltzer 10.30.03 column

http://www.wrestlingobserver.com

10/30/2003 1:14:00 PM

Thursday news update: Smackdown preview, Best Selling books, Sting
schedule, G-1 finals, Ventura, Wildfire Rich, Foley, Austin, ratings,
fantasy match in Japanese papers and more

by Dave Meltzer

[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Smackdown tonight:

*Chris Benoit & Kurt Angle vs. A-Train & John Cena
*Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin vs. FBI in 2 on 3
*Rey Mysterio vs. Ultimo Dragon
*Bashams vs. Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty for tag titles
*APA vs. Brock Lesnar & Big Show

Reports we got was this was not the stellar show for wrestling, and
had too much backstage for the live audience. The best stuff was said
to be the interplay between Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman, and they
set up the new matches for Survivor Series. Matt Morgan & Nathan Jones
debut as Heyman's bodyguards and a heel tag team with a serious push.

--Pride has announced different time limits for four of the matches on
the 11/9 show. Usually Pride has three rounds of 10-5-5 minutes, or a
20:00 time limit. Because those in the tournament will have the
potential to do a second match on the same night, the third round has
been eliminated and it'll be 15:00 time limits. This affects Quinton
Jackson vs. Chuck Liddell, Vanderlei Silva vs. Hidehiko Yoshida,
Murilo Bustamante vs. Dan Henderson (since it's a match where the
winner goes into the final in the event of an injury) as well as the
main event championship match

--Reports are that Sting is scheduled for the next two Wednesdays with
TNA. Not only does he face Jeff Jarrett this coming week, but the
tentative plan was for him to work a tag next week with A.J. Styles as
his partner (to show Styles is a babyface) against Jarrett and
someone.

--Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Osamu Nishimura beat both Yuji Nagata & Manabu
Nakanishi and then Yoshihiro Takayama & Toa the Samoan Beast earlier
today at Korakuen Hall to win the G-1 tag team tourney

--TOP 15 BEST SELLING PRO WRESTLING BOOKS (based on amazon.com
rankings as of this morning)
1. The Stone Cold Truth by Steve Austin (95)
2. Lita by Amy Dumas (1,615)
3. Wrestlecrap: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling by R.D. Reynolds
(4,531)
4. Chokehold by Jim Wilson (5,181)
5. The Hardy Boyz by Matt & Jeff Hardy (10,973)
6. Have More Money Now by John "Bradshaw" Layfield (13,788)
7. Classy Freddie Blassie by Fred Blassie (17,102)
8. First Lady of Wrestling by Missy Hyatt (18,421)
9. It's True; It's True by Kurt Angle (21,304)
10. Bobby the Brain by Bobby Heenan (24,496)
11. The Rock Says by Rock (32,279)
12. I'm Next by Bill Goldberg (35,785)
13. Foley is Good by Mick Foley (36,161)
14. In the Pit with Piper by Roddy Piper (41,151)
15. Have a Nice Day by Mick Foley (42,409)
Notes: The Austin book has gotten off to the strongest start of any
wrestling book in about a year, although I'm sure that was expected.
It's too soon to say if it's doing well as far as best seller lists
go, judged by the standards of the other WWE books, it's doing very
well. Both that book and the Wrestlecrap book are out now, although I
haven't seen either one.

--The unveiling of former wrestler Steve Strong's portrait of Jesse
Ventura at the Minnesota capitol building will be on 11/13. The
portrait will include vestiges of pro wrestling, his time in the Navy,
his marriage and family.

--Scott Bowden has an excellent column on Tommy Rich up today at
www.moviepoopshoot.com/wrestling/index.html.

--The Iowa State Daily at
www.iowastatedaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/10/30/3fa0a0b54e5f3
has a story on Mick Foley giving a speech last night at the school.
The story talked mostly about his self-deprecating comedy lines.

--TNA Xplosion results from last night in Nashville: Johnny Swinger &
Simon Diamond b Johnny Thunder & ?, Shane Douglas b Henry Hoss, C.M.
Punk & Julio Dinero b The Solution, A.J. Styles b Nate Webb (thanks to
Jimmie Daniel)

--Steve Austin is on Sharon Osbourne today 

--Impact Zone Wrestling TV tapings from Tuesday night in Phoenix:
Derrick Neikirk b The Crock (HHH gives one line on TV five years ago
and a wrestling character is born), Jack Bull & Chris Kole b Oooshaa
Brothers, Mike Nox DDQ Jack Durango, G.Q. Gallo b Hollywood Yates,
John Williams b Tommy Walker, Rogue Roberts b El Pantera, Monster
Mayhem b Sky Simon, Jack Bull b Mr. Harris, Kole b Gallo, Nox &
Neikirk b Crock & Durango. Next taping is 10/11

--Championship Wrestling from Tuesday night in Camden, TN before 175
fans: Flamingos b Tony Anthony (not the Dirty White Boy) & Alex
Crisis, Tojo Yamamoto Jr. NC Gypsy Joe (yes, that same Gypsy Joe), Don
Bass b Havoc, Nasty Bill & Moondog Spot b Ricky Murdock & Randy
Rocket, Blade Boudreaux b Bobby Eaton (thanks to Matt Duffield)

--For those interested, the 2004 WWE calendar has Rock, Lesnar and HHH
on the cover. The only thing notable is that three of the 12 months
have Hulk Hogan getting pounded, one by Lesnar, Undertaker and Rock.
(thanks to Jeff Gagliardo)

--HWA has a show on Saturday night in Batavia, OH at the Red Barn Flea
Market. Biggest names wrestling will be Chad Collyer, Leilani Kai, Ace
Steel, Shark Boy, Superstar Steve, Crash Holly and Trevor Rhodes. Also
appearing will be Harley Race (for polaroids) and Ricky Steamboat (who
will referee the main event).

--Tuesday night results from Arena Coliseo in Mexico City: Fire &
Sombrita b Pequeno Olimpico & Ultimo Dragoncito, Fantasma Jr. &
Starman & Chris Stone b Loco Max & Messala & Valentin Mayo, Mazada &
Nosawa & Veneno b Brazo de Oro & Neutron & Alan Stone, Dr. X & El
Satanico & Violencia b Felino & Olimpico & Safari, Lizmark Jr. &
Tinieblas Jr. & Vampiro b Black Warrior & Mascara Ano 2000 & Universo
2000

--Sunday results from Arena Coliseo in Monterrey: Guerrero Griego &
Rey Hechicero b Galactar & Zulu, Corazon de Barrio & Corazon Latino &
Spiderman b Apolo Chino & Neon & Ultimo Barbaro, Mongol Chino Sr. &
Monje Negro Jr. & Potro Jr. & Yanki Star b Apolo Estrada Jr. & Chucho
Mar Jr. & Estrella Dorada Jr. & Konan Plus, Terrorista II was unmasked
in a tournament revealing Jose Gustavo Nino Medelin Monterrey, Brazo
de Plata & Jerry Estrada & Mascara Sagrada b Herodes & Violencia &
Zumbido, Gigante Silva b Damian 666 & Halloween (thanks to Kris
Zellner)

--For the week of 10/20 to 10/26, the NFL Sunday Night Football
returned to the No. 1 slot in cable. The second hour of Raw placed No.
3 behind the game and the pre-game show. The first hour of Raw placed
fourth. (thanks to Wes Jones)

--Paul Sosnowski at [EMAIL PROTECTED] has one front row seat,
Section A, Row 1, Seat 10 for $30 for the 11/1 ROH show in Elizabeth,
NJ.

--Next week's episode of the TV show "Angel" has a Lucha Libre theme
(thanks to Drew Archer)

--Although this is almost surely pure fantasy just to sell afternoon
papers, there has been a lot of attention over a Tokyo Sports article
claiming there are negotiations for a Kenta Kobashi vs. Mirko Cro Cop
match on New Years Eve. Of course, last week, Nagai Times wrote a
similar claim of Cro Cop vs. Naoya Ogawa. (thanks to George Guida)

--The e-mail address for the Toryumon clinic in Palos Hills, IL was
incorrect yesterday. Actual e-mail address for info is [EMAIL PROTECTED]

--Johnny Kidd, a 70s UK star, will be doing a training session on 11/9
at the London Martial Arts Centre from Noon-3 p.m. For more info you
can call 020 8524 7801 or 07940 476612 or e-mail
[EMAIL PROTECTED]