Raw Factor?
World Wrestling Entertainment may as well change the name of Monday Night Raw if future shows will be as gross as this week’s episode.
It’s obvious WWE officials believe the success of Fear Factor, which airs Monday nights on NBC, is one of the reasons television ratings have declined for Raw (9 p.m., TNN). In an attempt to attract an audience that likes watching Fear Factor’s disgusting stunts, this week’s Raw episode went one step further.
Arn Anderson was sprayed with a yellowish liquid to simulate being urinated upon by Steve Austin in the opening segment. It was just as bad later in the show, as a “nervous” Tommy Dreamer vomited into a bucket before his match against The Undertaker. The slop bucket was used throughout their bout, with some ringside fans in Dallas even being sprayed like at a Gallagher concert.
Expect more “shocking” antics in the future, as WWE has assigned different lead writers for Raw and Smackdown (8 p.m. Thursdays, UPN).
Brian Gerwitz, a Hollywood writer who had a limited wrestling background before joining WWE, is now heading the Raw team. Gerwitz has produced many of the embarrassing comedy skits that have appeared on WWE programming in recent years.
Paul Heyman, the on-screen manager of Brock Lesnar and former owner of Extreme Championship Wrestling, is Smackdown’s lead writer. Heyman is known for presenting a more serious product, although his attempts at humor in ECW were generally successful.
Scripts for both shows still must have the final approval of Vince and Stephanie McMahon. But splitting the writing teams should provide some interesting backstage competition as Raw and Smackdown vie for viewers.
Despite the grossness, Raw featured two excellent matches with Lesnar and Eddie Guerrero defeating Rob Van Dam and Bubba Ray Dudley, and Austin pinning Ric Flair in the main event. Plus, the surprise return of Shawn Michaels still has fans buzzing.
Michaels (real name Michael Hickenbottom) retired from wrestling four years ago because of chronic back problems. Although he has appeared on television numerous times since, Michaels’ out-of-the-ring problems forced WWE officials to dash a projected comeback in 2001.
Michaels, who physically looked fantastic on Raw, became the newest member of the New World Order, thanks to the backstage lobbying of good friend Kevin Nash.
Some other thoughts and news on WWE’s current product:
Kudos to WWE officials for recognizing Guerrero may be its best in-ring performer. Guerrero, who appears to have beaten the drug and alcohol problems that resulted in his firing last year, is being given a major push and is slated to team later this month with The Undertaker in Raw house-show matches against Austin and Hulk Hogan.
That same Raw match Monday showed Lesnar would be better suited being in tag-team situations until gaining more in-ring seasoning. Lesnar, a 24-year-old former NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion, really could live up to his billing as the “next big thing” if given time to develop. …
Flair’s match against Austin proves he remains one of the industry’s top wrestlers, even at the age of 52. But WWE must be careful not to overexpose Flair in the ring like it recently did with fellow legend Hogan and instead concentrate on creating new stars. …
Raw ratings improved this week, but a sizable portion of fans changed the channel during the Dreamer-Undertaker debacle. Dreamer is flopping the same way Bastion Booger did with a similar gross-out gimmick in the early 1990s.
Edge, Maven injured
WWE’s injury list continues to grow, as Edge (Adam Copeland) was unable to wrestle at house shows last weekend because of a damaged shoulder. It remains unknown whether Edge, who is being given a chance to become a major WWE player, will need surgery that would knock him out for an extended period of time.
Also, Maven broke his fibula during last week’s Smackdown match against Christian and will be out for four to six weeks. To his credit, Maven finished the match.
‘TE2’ winners
WWE made the right decision choosing Jackie Gayda and Linda Miles as the winners of Tough Enough 2. WWE already has enough male performers like finalists Jacob Sokoloff and Kenny Layne under developmental contracts. Gayda and Miles both have the potential to improve the wrestling quality of WWE’s female roster.
A Tough Enough reunion show will air at 10 p.m. Thursday on MTV. WWE also is reviewing tapes to select finalists for Tough Enough 3.
Upcoming shows
The Sandman will appear at the Future of Wrestling’s next television taping at 7 p.m. Saturday inside the World Gym of Plantation, 7067A West Broward Blvd. Admission is free.
FOW has a show at 1 p.m. June 16 at the Hollywood Greyhound Track, 831 N. Federal Hwy., Hallandale Beach. Admission is free.
FOW’s next show at the Davie Bergeron Rodeo arena (6591 SW 45th St.) is slated for 7:30 p.m. June 29 and will be headlined by a 30-man table elimination match.
For information on FOW events, call 954-748-5555 or visit .com. …
WWE will hold a non-televised show with its Raw talent roster Aug. 3 at AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. Matches and ticket information have not yet been announced. …
Kevin Sullivan, The Warlord and Mike Graham are among those slated to appear at 7:30 p.m. June 22 for a Florida Championship Wrestling show at the Florence De George Boys and Girls Club, 1220 SW 133rd Ave., Davie. The show is a fund-raiser for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County. Call 954-983-0422. …
The upstart Hardkore Championship Wrestling Inc. is holding an eight-man tournament to crown its champion at 7:30 p.m. July 13 at the Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center, 1770 Monroe St. The roster features some of the industry’s more well-known independent performers, including Shark Boy, Matt Stryker and Reckless Youth. Tickets are $12. Call 954-460-2645 or visit
Q & A
Q. Whatever happened to such American Wrestling Association oldies as Nick Bockwinkle, Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell? — Scott Larson, Denver
A. All are out of the wrestling business, but their legends live on through pay-per-view. InDemand has aired several AWA specials this year featuring footage owned by legendary promoter/performer Verne Gagne.
More wrestling news can be found at observer.com. Questions can be sent to Alex Marvez, Sun-Sentinel, 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, or e-mailed to . Please include your full name and city of residence. Because of volume, no phone calls will be accepted and letters will not receive a written reply.
