DUSTY OUT OF WWE HALL OF FAME THIS YEAR
Sources have indicted that WWE has decided not to induct Dusty Rhodes into the Hall of Fame this year. With two stars such as Bret Hart and the late Eddie Guerrero already announced, and names like Tony Atlas, Sherri Martel, and Arn Anderson being considered, I believe WWE felt they had enough big star power this year and are saving Dusty form next year. He works for WWE in a creative capacity right now and it is probably better to wait until next year to induct him.
TWO WWE WORKERS HAVE SURGERY
WWE Diva Ashley Massaro, whom I reported last time broke her leg during a Battle Royal on this past Raw, underwent surgery to repair three breaks in her leg. It was previously thought she would not have to have surgery but closer examination revealed she did. She will be in a cast for about a month and rehabbing for another month. She is said to be in good spirits and eager to get back into the ring.
JBL also is scheduled for surgery on Thursday, 2/23 stemming from an injury he suffered during this week’s Smackdown tapings. Details are sketchy but he injured his hand and will need surgery right away to correct the problem. There is no word as to whether he will miss much ring time or any on airtime just yet.
ANOTHER TAG TEAM RELEASED
WWE reports that they released the tag team The Dicks (Chad Wicks and John Toland). They were standouts in Ohio Valley Wrestling (WWE’s developmental promotion) but were saddled with a terrible name just so that the announcers could use the word “dick” on the air and make double entendres. This makes two up and coming tag teams (The Heart Throbs were first) released in a very short amount of time.
Look for more lower card and developmental talent to be released as WWE starts housecleaning again. They tend to do this a couple times a year.
BYTE THIS "ON HIATUS" NOT GONE FOR GOOD, WWE SAYS
WWE has announced that their webcast Byte This is not actually canceled but is just on hiatus and will return in some form at some time. The show had been plagued with problems from unsolicited callers talking up TNA to the out of control tag team The Heart Throbs crossing the line on the live broadcast. Although The Heart Throbs were released the day after their webcast and the Byte This archives have omitted that show from the list, WWE claims that their crazy and somewhat offensive antics were not the entire reason the team was released. At any rate, Byte This may be back in some form at a later date, according to WWE officials.
6:05 REUNION ADDS NITRO GIRLS AND ANOTHER LEGEND TO LINE UP
I noted in my last column that there will be a taping on March 5 in Orlando Florida to air on pay per view on April 29 of legends past and present. Added to the line up I already gave you are former WCW Nitro Girls Spice, Fyre, Chiquita, and Chae. Also just added is legendary Puerto Rican wrestling star Carlos Colon (WWE’s Carlito’s father).
This show is shaping up to be very star studded with names from the past and legends you all know. You can get more info on the taping in Orlando or the pay per view as well as the entire line up and more on http://www.605reunion.com/.
Many former WCW workers will be at the event in several capacities including my former WCW Magazine publisher Colin Bowman. This is shaping up to be a great one so check out the website and I will bring you more details in my next column.
WRESTLEMANIA SPOILER
Since many of you don’t want to know ahead of time what will be happening on taped shows or future programs, I am going to white this news out. If you want to read it, just mouse over it and it will show up. Otherwise, you’ll find out soon enough!
As I was speculating since the No Way Out pay per view, Rey Mysterio, who won the Royal Rumble to secure a spot in the main event at Wrestlemania 22 then lost that shot to Randy Orton at No Way Out, will indeed, be in the main event at Wrestlemania 22. Just not in singles action. On Tuesday’s Smackdown taping, Teddy Long announced that Orton had beaten Rey by cheating and, while he can’t overturn the ref’s decision, he can add Rey to the main event. He announced that the new main event for Wrestlemania will be Kurt Angle vs. Randy Orton vs. Rey Mysterio for the championship.
As of now, the Undertaker is not in a program but may be added to the main event to make it a four way. However, as most Taker fans know, he has never lost at Wrestlemania and, if he is in the main event, I can’t imagine he would lose this time.
I will keep you informed but as of now, it’s official: Angle vs. Orton vs. Mysterio at Wrestlemania 22. It seems like WWE realized that Rey was much more over (popular) with the crowd than they expected and decided to add him to the mix which I think rules!
Anther spoiler is that Chavo Guerrero is finally going after Orton to extract some revenge for all the awful things he said about the late Eddie Guerrero, his uncle. You will see Chavo attack Orton at last to get some revenge on him. It’s about time!
To those who read the spoiler, I will have more as this story develops. To those who didn’t, you’ll know after Smackdown anyway.
Now I will leave you once again. I will be back with more breaking news and some commentary and well as a chat date and time really soon!
QUESTION OF THE COLUMN
I can’t call it Question of the Week anymore because I am here more than once a week!
Spacygrrl asked who the heck Mart Jannetty is.
Marty Jannetty is Shawn Michaels’ old tag team partner when the two were very young. They were called the Rockers. The two were very popular in WWE from 1988 until 1992. When it came time to break up the pair, Michaels went on to obvious superstardom while Jannetty was stuck in mid card feuds until he was finally released from WWE sometime around 1996. Jannetty has been wrestling in the independent circles and came back recently to tag with Shawn but, unfortunately he was arrested for an alcohol related situation and was released from WWE almost before he was rehired. It looks like WWE may be giving Jannetty another shot or just using him as humor next week as Vince has said that Jannetty can only be hired back if he joins the elite “Kiss my Ass Club”, a club no one wants to join for obvious reasons. At any rate, Jannetty and Michaels were quiet the team in the 80’s and it would be great to see them work a few matches together again.
I went long again! I just can’t seem to keep things short and simple, can I?
I’ll be back with more soon and some commentary about wrestling in general and the women of wrestling. I have some strong thoughts about how the women in wrestling are being used and want to share them with you.
I am off to forum. I hope to see you there. It is hopping and I would love more of you to join in. We don’t bite and we don’t flame. We’re all just a bunch of wrestling fans discussing among ourselves and agreeing to disagree at times on opinions. That’s what the forum is all about!
Patty
Didn’t read Shawn Michaels’ very honest book yet? It’s quite good! You can check it out below. He discusses a lot about the Rockers and his start in the business and in WWE.
This is a good deal for all you WWE Diva lovers.
