From: hekunze@jeeves.uwaterloo.ca (Herb Kunze)
Subject: Wrestling TidBits   -   01/07
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 16:57:23 GMT

 - WWF has it's annual Royal Rumble PPV on 01/24/93 from Sacramento.  
   The line-up will include: 
     - Bret Hart vs. Razor Ramon for the WWF Title
     - Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Janetty for the IC Title
     - Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Big Boss Man
     - Steiner Brothers vs. Beverly Brothers
     - 30-man Royal Rumble, the winner of which will get a WWF Title shot
       at WrestleMania.
   29 of the participants of the Rumble will be:
   Bob Backlund, Berzerker, Carlitos Colon, Crush, Damien Demento,
   Ted DiBiase, Jim Duggan, Earthquake, Head Shrinker Fatu, Ric Flair, 
   Owen Hart, Curt Hennig, Jerry Lawler, Rick Martel, 
   Nasty Boy Brian Nobbs, Repo-Man, Nasty Boy Jerry Saggs,
   Head Shrinker Samu, Tito Santana, Randy Savage, Papa Shango,
   Irwin R. Shyster, Tatanka, Genichiro Tenryu, Typhoon, Undertaker, 
   Virgil, Koko B. Ware, Yokozuna.
     No word on who will be replacing Nailz, who was to be the final
   participant. 

 - All the "Ric Flair is unhappy" news has reached here.  Apparently,
   Ric and Vince McMahon have talked about ending their relationship
   early (Flair's contract runs out in September 1993) and there are
   even reports that Flair has already talked to Bill Watts.  The talk
   is that Ric Flair will leave the WWF before WrestleMania.

 - Between now and WrestleMania, Bret Hart will have title defences
   against Doink the Clown. 

 - WCW is running a tournament to determine the number one contender
   for Rick Rude's US Title.  All but the final match-up has already
   taken place.  The following occurred:

   Dustin Rhodes  -\
                    |-- Dustin Rhodes  -\
   Vinnie Vegas   -/                     |
                                         |-- Dustin Rhodes  -\
   Tony Atlas     -\                     |                    \
                    |-- Tony Atlas     -/                      |
   Van Hammer     -/                                           |
                                                               |-- Final
   Barry Windham  -\                                           |
                    |-- Barry Windham  -\                      |
   Johnny B. Badd -/                     |                    /
                                         |-- Rick Steamboat -/
   Rick Steamboat -\                     |
                    |-- Rick Steamboat -/ 
   Dan Spivey     -/

   The first round matches aired last weekend (01/02/93) and the
   second round matches will air this weekend.  The final will air
   the weekend after.  Rick Rude will have to defend his title against
   the winner the weekend after that (01/23/93), with speculation
   having him being unable to defend the title.  With Steamboat's grip 
   on the tag titles being fairly firm, it looks like Dustin is going 
   to get his first major singles title.  There's talk that Rick Rude
   may in fact be on his way out.

 - Both Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton will stay with WCW.  Bobby Eaton
   will appear in Smoky Mountain before returning to WCW.  Arn Anderson
   did a great interview last week saying that Bill Watts hadn't re-signed
   him when his contract expired and that he was out for revenge on Erik
   Watts.  Arn & Erik will get into a street fight, with some bystander
   fortunately videotaping the whole thing.  I guess this will all lead
   to Erik asking that Arn gets brought back to WCW so that he can teach
   him a lesson in the ring.  Good to see that Arn is going to be used
   so effectively.

 - It looks like the WWF has let the Bushwhackers go.  Talk is that 
   they'll return to WCW using their old Sheepherders gimmick.

 - WCW has a Clash of Champions on 01/13/93 from Milwaukee.  The tentative
   line-up includes:
    *- Sting & Dustin Rhodes & Van Hammer & Ron Simmons
        vs. Paul Orndorff & Barbarian & Barry Windham & Big Van Vader
        in a Thunderdome cage match
     - Rick Steamboat & Shane Douglas vs. Brian Pillman & Steve Austin
        for the NWA & WCW Tag Titles
     - Cactus Jack vs. Erik Watts
     - Tony Atlas vs. Van Hammer in an arm-wrestling match
     - 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Scotty Flamingo
     - Brad Armstrong vs. Chris Benoit
   Rick Rude won't be able to work the show and I guess will do another
   conspiracy interview.  His replacement will be Paul Orndorff.  Chris
   Benoit is only in for the one shot.

 - WCW has a SuperBrawl on 02/21/93 from Asheville, NC.

 - WWF has WrestleMania on 04/04/93 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.
   The promo tape includes some footage of Hulk Hogan and rumour has
   him appearing but not wrestling.  The talk is that he'll either do
   commentary or be a guest referee.  My guess is that he'll give Bret Hart
   the Hulkster's seal of approval. The main event will have the WWF 
   champ defend against the winner of the Royal Rumble.  

 - Videos: Having no luck since last week, I'll try once more.  There's
   got to be somebody out there without access to the wide variety of
   wrestling I have stockpiled on video that does have access to Smoky
   Mountian Wrestling.  If you want to trade tapes of SMW for whatever
   drop me some e-mail.  I have all SMW TV shows from 02/15/92-08/15/92.

                                                           Herb...