The Custom Made News Report 09.02.07

Posted by Ryan Byers on 09.02.2007

The latest on steroid use in WWE, current plans for Wrestlemania main events, Pac-Man's backstage antics in TNA, Battle of LA talk, and much more!

Welcome, one and all, to the Custom Made News Report. As always, I'm Ryan, and I'm here to guide you through what's going on in the wacky world of professional wrestling. It's been a hell of a week, so let's launch straight in to the latest news!

All the Stuff from Stamford

Signature Scandal Still Strong

The biggest story in professional wrestling remains the news about several WWE wrestlers and Kurt Angle being named as clients of Signature Pharmacies, an internet-based company accused of illegally providing prescriptions to clients without ever examining them. Of course, in this case, the prescriptions involved were several types of steroid, human growth hormone, and drugs used to offset the side effects of steroids. 411 has really been on top of this one, with Larry Csonka and yours truly initially hitting the story and Steve Cook following up on Saturday. The bulk of the story is contained in those three articles. Not much has changed in the twenty-four hours since Cook's report, though there are a few details that I wanted to fill in:

~ WWE has still not announced which wrestlers have been suspended. However, a press release for Raw house shows in Indiana lists John Cena, Jeff Hardy, Randy Orton, Carlito, Crime Time, Lance Cade, and Trevor Murdoch as appearing with Umaga and Ken Kennedy's names being removed from promotional materials. Though these are certainly hints as to some names that either are or are not suspended, it's probably a little too early to treat it as conclusion evidence of anything, especially when you consider that some press materials for WWE house shows were listing Chris Benoit as an active performer as recently as a month ago.

~ An eleventh WWE wrestler has been suspended. On Thursday, the company announced that ten wrestlers would be put on the shelf, with WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt appearing on FOX News that evening and stating that there may be two more suspensions after documents are reviewed. Apparently they have reviewed those documents, and only one additional name needed to be added to the list.

~ McDevitt also confirmed that one of the eleven performers suspended will receive a sixty day suspension because this is his second time being disciplined under the wellness policy. The first-time suspensions that the rest of the wrestlers are facing will last for thirty days. According to the policy as it was originally released to the public, a third infraction is grounds for termination. For what it's worth, the Wrestling Observer recently published a list of individuals who have been suspended due to wellness program failures. The wrestlers on that list who are still employed by WWE are Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Randy Orton, and Chris Masters. As such, it is probable that one of these men could be the repeat offender referenced by McDevitt, though it's also possible that it's an individual whose first suspension was not obvious to the public and thus would not have been on Meltzer's list.


Randy Orton

~ However, it should be noted that Meltzer has also stated that he has spoken with wrestlers in WWE who are of the impression that Orton has not been suspended.

~ In my initial column, I had questioned what WWE meant when it said it was "suspending" wrestlers, given that they have used two different types of suspension during the era of the wellness policy. According to Bryan Alvarez at F4Wonline.com, the suspensions in question will actually involve wrestlers being removed from TV and not being paid. Well, that should make it easy to figure out who some of the guys are.

~ I also just want to clarify a small misconception that seems to have cropped up on the internet. In one of its original releases, WWE stated that, beginning on November 1, they would make public the names of any individuals suspended under the wellness policy. Some people have assumed that this means, on November 1, we will know who the eleven currently suspended performers are. That's not the case. What WWE was actually trying to say is that the names of anybody who is suspended AFTER November 1 will be made public by the company. We may never get an official list of the eleven currently suspended wrestlers.

Mania Mains

This week, the Observer is also discussing the plans for Wrestlemania 24. It has already been reported by the WON and other sources that two of the big matches tentatively scheduled for the card are Edge versus the Undertaker (for the Smackdown Title) and Triple H versus Ken Kennedy (for the Raw title, most likely tied in to the Vince McMahon paternity angle). Now insiders are claiming that a third big match is in the works, an inter-brand war with John Cena taking on Dave Batista.

If these three matches do wind up taking place, Mania is already looking like a hell of a card. Edge and the Undertaker are obviously capable of putting on great matches, and there's no evidence that they won't have solid chemistry with one another. Though I'm no big fan of Ken Kennedy (as a wrestler or as a person after his recent lies were exposed), the fact of the matter is that Triple H is still one of the better performers in the company, and, even if he wasn't, a match tied in a McMahon angle will get to use every shortcut possible in order to be something special. Batista, though he looks terrible when he's in there with the wrong guy, looks like an absolute killer and can put on entertaining matches against competent opponents. (Just look at his work against the Undertaker, Chris Jericho, and Chris Benoit.) Cena, despite all of the internet criticism he regularly faces, is one of the most consistent guys currently on the WWE roster and far more capable in the ring than a lot of fans are willing to give him credit for. That's three matches for the top of the card that already look strong on paper. Combine that with some solid undercard bouts from the tag team and/or cruiserweight divisions, and WWE is getting ready to knock another Wrestlemania show out of the park.

Summerslam Finish Explained . . . or Is It?

Summerslam was last week, and, from the response that I've read on the internet, it seems that many fans were disappointed by the fact that none of the three major WWE championships changed hands. A very vocal contingent was particularly angered by the fact that John Cena retained his blingy, blingy belt against against one Randall K. Orton. "WHY?!" Cena's detractors cried out. "WHY?!" After that, they reportedly went back to their nightly ritual of pleasuring themselves while watching Briscoe brother matches.

Now it appears that those men may have the answers that they seek . . . or do they? Bryan Alvarez of F4Wonline and Mike Johnson of PWInsider broke apparently contradictory stories about the booking decision this past week. Johnson stated that the Cena retention was decided upon roughly two weeks before the pay per view hit the airwaves. Alvarez, however, was told that Orton was actually scheduled to win the championship until the Friday before Summerslam, with the change being made primarily because there were no finishes to the match suggested that Vince McMahon didn't think would come off as flat. At this time, neither man has offered up an explanation for the conflicting stories, though, in cases like these, the simplest explanation is often the correct one. It's likely that the reporters were receiving their information from different sources or that they received their information at different times during a period at which booking plans were fluctuating between the two options. At the end of the day, though, the individuals who got their panties in a bunch about Cena emerging from the pay per view with the belt shouldn't harbor too much resentment to WWE. Unless the Signature scandal makes Orton unavailable, it certainly looks like he'll be receiving a rematch at the Unforgiven pay per view.

LuchaGOR, GOR, GOR!

Hey, remember Lita? It's been known for quite some time that the former WWE Women's Champion wanted to begin a music career after her departure from the E and that she has had several live performances with her new punk band the Luchagors. Well, things have gotten even better for Ms. Dumas, as she announced this week on her MySpace page that the group's first album will be released on September 11. Pre-orders can currently be placed on the band's website, and Lita claims that the music will alo be available on iTunes. If you want a sneak preview, you can head over to the aforementioned MySpace profile, where the former Miss Congeniality has posted a track comprised of brief samples from most of the eleven songs that will be on the album. I've listened to it, and, even though I consider myself to be a punk fan, I can't say that it sounds good. Of course, the project can't be properly judged until all of the songs are heard in full, but, for the time being, you might just be better off buying a copy of the blues CD that Kamala recorded.

You know, after running this story and talking about Molly Holly's new job last week, maybe I should make the "Retired Diva Corner" a regular feature.

The Word from Dixieland

Ho-tell Everybody, Even the Mayor

For the last couple of weeks, there hasn't been any TNA news worth reporting. This week, however, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter included a story that I thought was particularly amusing.

Apparently, Pac-Man Jones is becoming fast friends with his on-screen partner Ron Killings. This manifested itself recently when the suspended NFL player learned that TNA had not booked his good buddy a room at the Doubletree Hotel, where the promotion's bigger stars were staying. Pac-Man immediately complained to Jeff Jarrett, and Double J said that he'd make sure that the Truth got a Doubletree room. The problem? Jarrett wanted to take the difference between the cost of the Doubletree reservation and Killings' original hotel accommodation out of the former K-Kwik's paycheck. Pac-Man also heard about this one, and Pac-Man complained one more time. Ultimately, Jarrett caved, and the company wound up taking care of Ron's fancier room.

Why do I get a good chuckle out of this story? Because both Jeff Jarrett and Ron Killings come out of it looking like complete and utter fools. First of all, Jarrett is apparently still laboring under the false impression that Pac-Man is a massive star who will be bringing new business to the promotion. However, we're about a month in to Pac-Mania hitting TNA, and there has been no increase in television ratings, no indication that the pay per view he appeared on did better than average, and the mainstream attention that he brought to the product has drastically dropped off. Pac-Man isn't drawing any more fans to TNA than guys like Petey Williams and Shark Boy, yet here Jarrett is caving in to his every demand like he's the Rock. Of course, Killings doesn't wind up looking much better. This is a man who, prior to coming back for the Pac-Man angle, had quit TNA. He'd walked out and had what seemed to be a pretty good gig lined up for himself in Mexico's Triple A promotion. Then TNA contacts the guy and begs him to come back for the Pac-Man angle, promising that he would receive the biggest push of his career. So what does he do? Does he use the leverage that he has in order to get himself the best possible deal with the company? No, instead he accepts a contract in which he's not treated as a top talent, despite the fact that he had to know he would be booked as one due to the Pac-Man storyline. Fortunately he's got his much smarter buddy hanging around to take care of him.

Did I just refer to a man who has had more run ins with the law than I have fingers as the "smarter buddy?" God, TNA's in trouble.

Foreign Fanatics

Animal Goes Back to His Roots

He may be long gone from WWE and his recent guest shot in TNA may not have lead to a longer deal, but Roadwarrior Animal isn't completely out of professional wrestling. Not yet, anyway. Last night he was in Japan, competing on a show promoted by Kensuke Sasaki's group "Kensuke Office." Animal teamed with the bookerman himself to defeat the Voodoo Murderers team of Shuji Kondo and "brother" YASSHI. This is actually the renewal of a longstanding relationship between Sasaki and the Roadwarriors. When Animal was out of commission with a severe back injury in the early 90's, Hawk was left to roam Japanese and European promotions without much to do. However, he finally found some direction when New Japan Pro Wrestling decided to team him up with a young Kesuke Sasaki. Kensuke was dubbed "Power Warrior" (with Hawk being known as "Hawk Warrior" in Japan), and the two formed the team of the Hellraisers. As a unit, they captured the prestigious IWGP Tag Team Titles on two occasions. Now, with Hawk having unfortunately passed away, Animal has taken his former partner's place for this special Hellraiser reunion.

Sometimes Things Don't Translate Well

I saw a poster for All Japan Pro Wrestling's September tour, and the text running across the bottom referred to it as the "2007 FLASHING TOUR." I hope that this doesn't mean the same thing in Japan that it does in the United States. The situation was made even more unsettling by the fact that the wrestlers shown on the poster were only photographed from the waist up.

Watch What You Say on the Internet . . .

This isn't a notable story so much as it is an amusing one. According to a press release issued by WXW, one of the larger independent promotions in Germany, a member of their roster will no longer be booked for rather unique reasons. One of the most popular German wrestling forums on the internet, located at Moonsault.de, was recently bombarded with numerous postings that buried both the WXW promotion and wrestlers competing in the company. Ultimately, the posts were tracked back to the home of wrestler Murat Bosporus, the wrestler in question. Now, because he couldn't control himself on an internet wrestling messageboard, Murat's out of the company. I don't know the ins and the outs of the wrestling scene in Germany, but WXW is literally the only company there that I've heard of running more than one show, so it wouldn't surprise me if this wound up putting the fellow's career in jeopardy. However, he did get a decent amount of exposure in 2005 from going on tour with Japan's Pro Wrestling NOAH, primarily acting as a tag team partner for the likes of 2 Cold Scorpio, Nigel McGuinness, and Doug Williams, so it's not as though he's hurting for connections outside of WXW.

Indy-Sent Headlines

Matt Sydal and PAC Potentially Insane

If you've followed wrestling for any significant period of time, chances are good that you've heard older performers spinning yarns about just how hard their travel schedules were back in the good old days. Though some of those old timers exaggerate a tad, it is true that they were on the road in far worse conditions than what the vast majority of modern wrestlers face. However, I'm beginning to wonder if two current independent wrestlers are attempting to book a schedule for themselves that is as strenuous as humanly possible.

I'm talking about Matt Sydal and PAC. Most of you already know that Pro Wrestling Guerrilla is hosting its big Battle of Los Angeles tournament this weekend, with three consecutive shows on August 31, September 1, and September 2. (More on those shows later.) Sydal and PAC are taking part in this tournament. However, do you want to guess where PAC will be on September 8? Why, he'll be in Japan, competing on a card for the Dragon Gate promotion! I don't know if he plans on doing any dates between September 2 and September 8, but giving yourself six days after a major tournament to catch an international flight and settle down in a foreign country for a tour seems a bit crazy to me. But, if you think PAC's got it bad, you ain't seen nothing yet. Sydal is also a part of BOLA and will also be a part of the Dragon Gate tour that starts on September 8. What separates him from his British colleague? Sydal was also on a Dragon Gate show held on August 27! So he's gone from that show to BOLA in the US within four days and will be headed back to Japan a mere six days after the tournament concludes. I respect these guys for putting up with the travel schedule that they do (especially when you factor in the amount of damage they put their bodies through), but don't expect me to be signing up for the indy circuit anytime soon.

BOLA Rolls On

As briefly referenced above, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla's annual Battle of Los Angeles tournament, one of the biggest independent wrestling extravaganzas of the year is taking place this weekend. Night one was Friday, night two was Saturday, and night three will be tonight. Night two results had not yet hit the internet at my deadline, but here's a quick look at everything that went down Friday:

Non-Tournament Action:
- Nick & Matt Jackson def. Phoenix Star & Zokre
- Kevin Steen & El Generico def. Dragon Kid & Susumu Yokosuka to retain the PWG Tag Team Titles

Tournament Block A – First Round:
- Joey Ryan def. Chris Hero by reversed decision/disqualification when the referee saw Hero with a pair of brass knux Ryan tried to use.
- Roderick Strong def. Austin Aries
- Matt Sydal def. Jimmy Rave
- Alex Shelley def. Tyler Black

Tournament Block B – First Round:
- Claudio Castagnoli def. Doug Williams
- PAC def. Jack Evans

Of course, the most aggravating news coming out of this is that my predictions in the staff roundtable we did are shot, as I had Chris Hero going all the way to the finals. Hopefully SHINGO and Generico don't let me down. Anyway, I've read reviews of the show from several different individuals who attended, and the consensus at this point seems to be that it was a show that didn't quite live up to people's expectations. Most all of the reports said that it was a good show and that some of the matches were excellent (especially Williams/Claudio and the Tag Title match), but this wasn't quite up to par with the big event feel that PWG managed to create for all three night's of last year's tournament. There were also numerous complaints about the temperature in the venue, which apparently was over ninety degrees due to a lack of air conditioning. Hopefully things pick up over the next two nights, because it would be a shame if something like BOLA were considered a bust.

The other two Block B matches and all of the Block C matches were featured on Saturday's card, and I'm betting that results are in the news section of the main page as you read this. Tonight's show, which begins at 8 PM at the Burbank Armory in Burbank, California, features some non-tournament action, six second round matches, three semi-final matches, and, of course, the finals (which are a triple threat match). Though no official brackets were ever announced, if the matches from Friday were put on in bracket order, that'd mean fans will see Joey Ryan versus Roderick Strong, Matt Sydal versus Alex Shelley, and Claudio Castagnoli versus PAC tonight. I've not heard anything about the shows selling out, so if you're in the Burbank area and looking for something to do tonight, it wouldn't hurt to drive by and see if tickets are being sold at the door. If this does live up to the precedent set by last year's tournament, it could be one of the better experiences of your life as a wrestling fan, overheated venue or not.

Just a Plug

It's not quite BOLA, but there's an indy show next weekend in Pennsylvania that I think might be worth checking out if you've got nothing better to do. I never would have heard of this show, but, earlier this week, I was watching a DVD of a really small independent show that I'd bought for about $1 from a guy who was getting rid of some junk. It was produced by the Allied Powers Wrestling Federation, and it was oddly entertaining. It's not a promotion with the style of "indy wrestling" that a lot of modern fans think of. It's not ROH, it's not PWG, and it's sure not CHIKARA. It's a very old school, almost southern style indy featuring a men that virtually nobody has ever heard of with a couple of older stars popping in for god knows what reason. (The show I watched featured a 60+ year old Nikolai Volkoff in the ring.) Some of it was entertaining for camp value, and some of it was entertaining because the wrestling, though basic, wound up being pretty good.


The Blue Meanie

Anyway, the DVD was from 2005, so I expected the APWF to be out of business. After all, these small groups usually have the lifespan of a fruit fly. However, I googled them for the hell of it, and, believe it or not, they're still around! On September 8, they're running in Oil City, Pennsylvania at the Knights of Columbus on on 111 Petroleum Street. Bell time is 8:00 PM, and the main event is the Blue Meanie taking on the Patriot. I believe the Patriot these days is Tom "Sal Sincere" Brandi. Other men listed on the roster include wrestlers named Lumberjack LeRoux, Pig Vomit, and the tag team of THE NEWSIES~! (Yes, they're dressed like the kids from the movie.) If APWF in 2007 is anything like AWPF in 2005, this should be good fun for long-time wrestling fans who want a reminder of what things used to be like before the big "boom period." The show also appeared to be fairly family-friendly, so take the kids.

Tickets and more information are available on the group's website. I plan on having a full review of the APWF review that I watched up sometime within the next couple of weeks.

Following Up

Here are a couple of small updates to stories that I have discussed in previous editions of the report:

~ Last week, I noted that Giant Bernard (A-Train) and Travis Tomko were headed back to New Japan and gave the dates on which they would be performing. However, in the last week, New Japan has announced that Tomko will not be on their September 7 or September 9 shows. This frees him up to appear on TNA's No Surrender PPV. Bernard will still be on the shows his partner is missing.

~ All Japan Pro Wrestling had a major show last week that I'd discussed a good deal here due to the involvement of Chris Sabin and Scott Steiner from TNA. Not surprisingly, Sabin was not victorious in his bid for the All Japan Junior Heavyweight Title, as champion Katsuhiko Nakijima dispatched him in a little under twenty minutes. Steiner also lost. In tag team action, his partner Suwama was pinned by the Great Muta, who was teaming with Tajiri. Elsewhere on the show, AJPW had two major title changes, with Satoshi Kojima & TARU winning the Tag Team Titles and Kensuke Sasaki ending the nearly year-long Triple Crown Title reign of Minoru Suzuki.

Wrapping Up

And that does it for this week. If you're still hungry for pro wrestling content, check out:

~ The Impact Crater, my weekly review of TNA's weekly show. Believe it or not, I liked this week's episode and have gotten feedback criticizing me for not hating it enough.

~ The News to Start Your Weekend, which, in case you missed the earlier link, was my first piece on the Signature Pharmacy scandal.

~ Rocketbusta Radio, which features 411's own Nick Marsico. I'm still thanking him for filling in for me last week on the Impact Crater.

~ My MySpace blog, which I brought out of hibernation this week by posting some fantasy booking stuff that I had written for the Fink's Payload, only for it to be cut due to space constraints. You can also add me as a MySpace friend to get updates about when I post articles here on 411.