From: scheid@danzan.EBay.Sun.COM (David Scheid)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling
Subject: Re: Brian Pillman
Date: 1 Oct 1992 16:45:35 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: scheid@danzan.EBay.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: danzan.ebay.sun.com

In article 21735@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu, dkempste@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (David N Kempster) writes:
>This is from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. It is the main points of the 
>article.
> Brian is now {like a} Jimmy Jam Garvin, only a nearly ten years younger version."

>In the article it also mentioned that they have talked to Rude, although they 
>have not threatend to bury him. They have asked Barry Windham to retire and 
>Sting has been scheduled to be spoken with. If any of this is correct then 
>things look bad for the future of WCW.

This is unfortunate. I heard Watts say that he had not followed wrestling 
since his retirement and that he had a lot of catching up to do, but this
news is most unsettling. Barry has been greatly misused lately, but this is
because they had too many talented wrestlers in the pool. There is certainly
no reason for him to retire, other than to downplay real wrestling ability.
Rude is one of the highlights since joining WCW. He is the type of character
(along with Snake Roberts) who can be programmed against lots of different
people and make for credible fueds. Who can forget the Rude/Roberts fued in
the WWF (one of the better ones til it went on too too long)?

=================

In article 15862@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu, dkempste@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu 
(David N Kempster) writes:
>Thanks to everyone who wrote me and told me to ignore certain members of this 
>group and post.

And thank you.

>The Wrestling Observer Newsletter in september ran a two part article on the 
>true state of WCW.
>"The day of reckoning is here. Despite some people rejocing when Bill Watts was
>hired to take control of WCW, Watts wasn't brought in to take on Titan SPorts. 
>Only with words, which have little meaning. They wanted him to cut back on the 
>bullets. He was brought in to cut expenses."

>Watts was brought in to cut costs.  
>".... Of course, Watts before he started the guarantees lost most of his big 
>talent to McMahon and to Crockett and his company didn't make it, a fact those
>who choose not to remember history don't seem willing to comprehend..."
>
>"    SO as these contracts come up, for the Steiners, Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton
>, Ron Simmons, Rick Steamboat, Cactus Jack, and Barry Windham come due over the
>next few months and for the rest of the guys except for Sting....

What is being discussed is a talent pool which represents the best of the
WCW and therefore the best of wrestling. What probably needs to happen is
for Turner to sell WCW and lease the time slots to someone interested in
developing the product. Since Turner's acquisition, WCW has taken different
directions every 6 mos or so (it seems). Most recently, with Watts it has
been a return to credible (and occasionally great) wrestling while dismissing
such fatuous (silly, inane) wrestlers like "Rap Master" and J.T. South.

An alternative to selling WCW is to get a new accountant. (I should know
something about this. :-)) Certainly, there are house shows and WCW needs
to get people in the seats, but this is best done be offering a good quality
and distinctive product, which the fans can follow even if they miss a 
weekend of viewing. Ending fueds before they start, changing titles and
then having to run countless videos to catch the fans up to date on the
changes is not something which is stable.

Cutting costs? What about the amount of revenue generated by adds on TV.
For years, the time slot (on the West Coast) has been recognized as one
of the worst. But wrestling draws viewers and this draws Ad revenue. Where
does this get added in. What about idle facilities? Wrestling was for 
Turner an incremental cost investment. It's purpose was to bring in revenue
and contribute to reducing the costs of his idle assets. This was the
primary goal. Now, if they want to make it a stand-alone profit Org. they
have changed the original purpose. Kind of like Reno and Vegas saying the
Hotels and Restaurants have to make money - not just the casino. (Great
Accounting advice - not!) Well, now there are all kinds of bargains - in
the restaurants and Hotels because the guy down the street is still offering
their customers loss leaders to get people in the house.

On the note of Time-slots; when wrestling was dropped for the Braves
games, many called up and complained. But Turner loves his Braves and refuses
to reprogram wrestling. Cartoons stay on, but wrestling does not get 
reprogrammed. So, Turner never has had a strong commitment to wrestling
(it seems). But the people running his TBS know what wrestling means to
their viewers. Wrestling is national, the Braves are strickly local. I
wonder which Ads pay more?
 
Why promote a lightweight division and then drop it? Sounds like the
Western States Heritage Championship. Why have Pillman do a job for 
Armstrong, then when Armstrong gets injured, not return the title to Pillman?
Sure, humble the guy. (Well, for a long time I wasn't a fan of Pillman, but
he won me over with his constant high workrate - a pro.) But, when the WCW
wants to make a distinction between its product and WWF, Pillman vs. Liger
or Pillman vs. Steamboat sure could go a long way in accomplishing that.

If WCW is serious, then wrestling needs a new venue. ESPN never seemed
to work. Perhaps this new super station in Chicago could be an alternative.
Maybe a "Smokey Mt. Superstation" with Jim Cornette as host. Time will tell.

>The second is even more disturbing and I will post it later today.

Can't wait.

---
Dave Scheid - All Disclaimers Apply


Newsgroups: rec.sport.pro-wrestling