SINCERELY YOURS
Adam from Baltimore is frustrated with Dave Rosenbaum not liking the Rock ’n’ Roll Express because of their partying lifestyle, but notes that they are more successful than the Honkytonk Man, who is someone that Rosenbuam likes.
Andy from Iowa likes seeing the return of Bob Backlund to the WWF and believes that Backlund can defeat Ric Flair. Regardless of who wins a match between the two of them the true winners will be the fans.
Jim from Massachusetts believes that Razor Ramon will finally achieve success in the WWF. He doesn’t understand how Ramon didn’t get a fair shake in WCW when he was the Diamond Studd. Ramon is already competing against Warrior, Savage and Undertaker. Jim wouldn’t be surprised if Ramon won the WWF World Championship.
Richard from Mississippi talks about the clear dissension between WCW/NWA Tag Team Champions Dustin Rhodes and Barry Windham where Windham didn’t appreciate Rhodes taking the lead when Windham is the veteran. Richard wouldn’t be surprised if they aren’t friends for long.
Rita from Chicago notes that, unlike Liz Hunter, she knew that it was Madusa dressed up as a security guard recently and is confused as to how she wasn’t fined heavily or suspended since she was barred from ringside for the match between Rick Rude and Nikita Koloff. What’s the point of threatening banishment when nothing is done about it?
Anthony from New York is upset with the claim that Sting can’t be considered for wrestling immortality because his failure to hold onto the WCW World Championship for a long period of time. He notes that Dusty Rhodes held the title three times, but two of the reigns only lasted a few days and he’s a legend. Anthony also believes that Ron Simmons deserved his title match against Vader because he had been basically undefeated since losing to Luger at Halloween Havoc ’91 and has fared well against Vader in rematches, thus Simmons is a deserving champion.
Millie from New York to write in and say that both Sid Justice and Madusa are fierce wrestlers. Is Madusa getting less credit because she is a woman? Madusa winning a match against Heidi Lee Morgan should be front-page news. She also believes that Jake Roberts should be able to bring his snake to the ring since it is his trademark and a snake doesn’t interfere in matches like some managers do.
SAKS’ NOTEBOOK: written by: Stu Saks
Saks focuses on the match between Ricky Steamboat and Brian Pillman at Halloween Havoc ’92, which Steamboat has considered to be his most satisfying win. Steamboat doesn’t think Pillman thinks highly of himself due to his recent change in attitude to be a rulebreaker. Saks believes Steamboat would be even more successful if he used underhanded tactics to go with his skill, but that’s not Steamboat’s style. Steamboat is quoted as saying Pillman shouldn’t be so surprised moving forward losing to him because a lot of people are upset with his attitude and they aren’t going to let him off the hook easily.
NAMES MAKIN’ NAMES: written by: Bill Apter
Bret Hart won the WWF World Championship from Ric Flair on October 12th. Hart is the second wrestler to hold all three major titles in the WWF with the first one being Pedro Morales. Mr. Perfect was ejected from ringside by Sgt. Slaughter allowing Hart to win the title from Flair. Perfect and Bobby Heenan have claimed that Flair was sick and shouldn’t have defended the title, but Flair went with the title match anyway. Perfect is said to have suggested to Flair to submit to the Sharpshooter if he got trapped in the hold instead of facing potential career ending injury that he had suffered at SummerSlam ’91.
Dangerous Alliance may be in danger. Dangerously hired the Masked Intruder to defeat Erik Watts, but the masked wrestler lost and Dangerously tore up his contract. Dangerously was part of a meeting with the group, but Bobby Eaton ended up losing to Watts again later on in the night. Rick Rude is said to be mad with Dangerously for putting him in two matches at Havoc. It’s also noted that some people believe Dangerously is upset with Madusa have influence over Rude.
Marty Jannetty has returned to the WWF and his sights are on his former partner and friend, Shawn Michaels. Jannetty may not mind if the Rockers were to reunite in the future, but his mindset right now is to get revenge on Michaels for the brutal betrayal at the end of ’91.
Money Inc. regained the WWF Tag Team Championships from the Natural Disasters on October 13th. The Nasty Boys look to be babyfaces now that they’ve ditched Jimmy Hart as their manager.
Cactus Jack and Tony Atlas have targeted Robbie Walker in WCW. Issues are getting tense between Brian Pillman and Shane Douglas. Scotty Flamingo is claiming to be the prettiest man in WCW, which isn’t sitting well with Johnny B. Badd.
Todd Champion successfully defended the USWA Heavyweight Championship against Jerry Lawler on October 19th, but had help from Bert Prentice to retain the title. Champion is doing what he needs to do in order to win and cites the lack of respect he got in WCW. He’s going to be champion for a long time.
Ricky Santana lost a loser-leaves-town match in WWC, but a masked wrestler named The Iceman looks very similar to Santana. Santana pulled a similar ruse in the Pacific Northwest two years ago when he wrestled as the Hood.
Vladimir Koloff won the IWA Championship on October 17th. Bobby Duncum Jr. is working for Global now. Jimmy Snuka won the British Commonwealth Championship on October 11th in Germany. The Alaskan Wolfman has been fined $500 by Tennessee All-Star Wrestling for striking a referee. Jake ‘The Milkman’ Milliman has returned to wrestling after recovering from a back injury.
ON THE ROAD: written by: Chris Bernucca
The focus is on Paul E. Dangerously in Philadelphia as a beaten man following a lost to Madusa to essentially put the final nail in the coffin for the Dangerous Alliance. His rise was due to his ability to control five of the best wrestlers in WCW, but his fall came from underestimating the power of a woman. Dangerously’s reign of terror lasted a year as it all started at Halloween Havoc ’91 and concluded at Halloween Havoc ’92. During his managerial suspension in ’91, Dangerously remained on commentary and was able to scout talent. Dangerously wanted power quickly, and signed the best WCW had to offer to accomplish it. While Dangerously is quick to take recognition for success, he tends to shift blame to others. Dangerously wasn’t able to regain titles that his group had lost. Rude’s main manager became Madusa rather than Dangerously.
Dangerously lost control of the Dangerous Alliance and shifted to get help from Cactus Jack, Steve Williams and Terry Gordy. Dangerously fired The Masked Invader after one match in his quest to eliminate Erik Watts.
Issues boiled over between Dangerously and Madusa at Halloween Havoc ’92 when Dangerously berated Madusa and compared her to being a prostitute. Madusa responded with a kick to the head. Dangerously’s swagger is what led to his success, but also played a major role in his eventual downfall. Luckily for WCW, their year of living dangerously is over.
BEHIND THE DRESSING ROOM DOOR: written by: David Rosenbaum
Rosenbaum is thrilled about the return of the Honky Tonk Man to the top of the wrestling business, but is less than thrilled about the reunion of the Rock ’n’ Roll Express. Rosenbaum doesn’t like Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson largely for their partying attitude. Rosenbaum recalls six years earlier when the Rock ’n’ Roll Express won the tag titles in Philadelphia he was sickened by a couple celebrating by kissing behind him.
The magazine shifts from that story to talking about the Steiner Brothers. I’m thinking this was a printing error as the continuation of the story doesn’t continue on as stated in the mag. The topic of the Steiner Brothers getting injured while being champions is brought up and how they have bad luck with major injuries taking place. Their style likely plays a role in the injuries, but with Rick Steiner getting injured it allowed Scott Steiner to win the WCW Television Championship from Ricky Steamboat recently.
Kerry Von Erich being sentenced is mentioned to close the article. Kerry isn’t going to jail, but if he commits a crime while on 10-years probation then he goes to jail for ten years. Rosenbaum notes that Kerry doesn’t deserve their sympathy, but rather our hopes.
THE INSIDER: written by: Eddie Ellner
Bret Hart won the WWF World Championship from Ric Flair, and notes that Flair looked a bit winded after twenty-minutes after being dubbed an hour man wrestler. Ellner credits Hart as being a wrestler who finally got what he deserved.
Scott Steiner won the WCW Television Championship from Ricky Steamboat. Scott decided to try his luck in a singles role with Rick being out for a few weeks. Scott doesn’t have interest in tagging with anyone other than his brother.
Ellner can’t believe that Michael Jordan would recently say he’s had mental fatigue when wrestlers don’t have an offseason. He’s never heard a wrestler complain about fatigue like Michael Jordan had done. Jordan should be grateful.
The last part is about whether or not wrestlers should wear gloves as a way to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS. Ellner thinks that wrestlers should have education about the disease and life on the road in general.
ON ASSIGNMENT: written by: Liz Hunter
Hunter recently asked several wrestlers involved in Halloween Havoc if they felt any extra excitement to be part of the event compared to another day competing. WCW World Champion Ron Simmons considered every match to feel like Starrcade when he’s in the ring and wrestlers like his life depended on it. Steve Williams doesn’t need a crowd or hype to get his juices going for a match. Dustin Rhodes learned from his father to treat every match as the same.
Barry Windham gets fired up for big events and finds it tough to stay motivated for every match that isn’t on the big stage. Windham uses a trick his father told him and that is present himself a little weaker on non-big events so that if they compete on TV his opponent will take him lightly and Windham can take advantage of that. Terry Gordy tends to only get a bit more amped up for title matches and declares that wrestlers are who make the fans come out to the arenas.
Brian Pillman needs the exposure on pay per view since he’s been held back for a long time. Pillman plans to make a statement for himself at Havoc. Ricky Steamboat has always saved a little extra juice for the big events ever since his WrestleMania III match with Randy Savage. Rick Rude likes the big cards because that means more people are seeing him and suggests that nobody would want to miss that.
Jake Roberts prefers smaller cards because he likes to smell the fans breathing on him and they are going home soaked in his opponents blood. Sting believes that big cards are great, but for the fans every card is special and big. Sting believes that wrestlers always give their all when stepping into the ring.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Kendall Windham: Kendall still wrestlers, but he is also in the dating service business, and it has been showcased on Entertainment Tonight. Kendall noted that a few couples had gotten married after they got them together.
Ray Stevens: Stevens is retired and now acts as a scout for the WWF.
Horace Boulder: Boulder is teaming with Sabu in Frontier Martial Arts in Japan and has become a top star for the company.
Steve Olsonowski: Steve O is still competing on occasion, but he’s working as an insurance agent and real estate agent in Minneapolis. Steve misses his fans the most.
NEWS FROM THE WRESTLING CAPITALS
Houston, TX: Charlie Butera reported on Sting vs. Jake Roberts in a lights out match. Cactus Jack failed to interfere with a chair and that allowed Sting to easily pin Roberts.
Uniondale, NY: Hugh Jefferson reported on WWF World Champion Bret Hart vs. Nailz. Bret was able to mount a comeback and pinned Nailz with a rollup to retain the title.
Chiba, Japan: Yoshi Hiro reported on The Great Muta vs. Scott Norton. Muta managed to prevail following a moonsault.
Philadelphia, PA: Edward Rosen reported on Crush vs. The Mountie. Crush forced Mountie to submit to the Kona Vice.
Kansas City, KS: Gina Salme reported on Brian Pillman vs. Shane Douglas. Neither man prevailed as the match ended in a 15-minute draw.
Memphis, TN: Mark Mitchell reported on Butch Reed vs. USWA Heavyweight Champion Junkyard Dog. Reed managed to win the title after hitting JYD with a foreign object thanks to referee Paul Neighbors not issuing a disqualification for performing a piledriver earlier in the match.
MATT BROCK’S PLAIN SPEAKING
Birmingham, England: Brock prefers England for Japan because it’s not as crowded. Brock notes that the fans enjoy guys like Davey Boy Smith, Bret Hart and even Ric Flair. During the tour, Ric Flair had victories over both Bret Hart and Randy Savage without having to cheat. Brock doesn’t think Hogan would be as popular because he’s ‘too American’.
Berlin, Germany: Matches featured on the show for the WWF included Flair vs. Savage, Bret Hart vs. Papa Shango, Virgil vs. Lanny Poffo, and Natural Disasters vs. Money Inc. Brock makes a point that the WWF titles aren’t world titles to him because the same matches are happening in different countries. Matt believes there would have to be a wrestler in Germany capable of challenging the WWF World Champion.
New York, NY: Brock is impressed that wrestlers could possibly wrestle in the States upon returning from Germany because jet lag has gotten the best of him and he’s still feeling it.
Murfreesboro, TN: Brock focuses on Rick Rude recently going through a slump, and compares it to other top athletes who have gone through rough patches, but they always come out on the better end. Brock is confident that Rude will breakthrough his slump because he’s too good not to.
SMOKY MOUNTAIN: THE BEST WRESTLING YOU’VE NEVER SEEN!: written by: Andy Rodriguez
Bob Armstrong takes great pride in making decisions for Smoky Mountain Wrestling, but Jim Cornette does not trust Armstrong and doesn’t think Armstrong have the best interest for his men. Andy notes that SMW has been getting a buzz amongst fans, wrestlers and journalists and the company is growing with televised wrestling airing in several states in the South. Former SMW Heavyweight Champion Brian Lee believes their wrestling is better than WCW and WWF. Paul Orndorff also likes SMW, and his main goal is to get the SMW Heavyweight Championship.
Current SMW Heavyweight Champion Dirty White Boy is also still working with USWA, but he’s managed by Ron Wright, who is stuck in a wheelchair, but not when White Boy is in danger because Wright will then find the strength to assist his man. Wright insists he’s a sick man and will not accept being lied about.
Jim Cornette continues to find success in SMW where Stan Lane is teaming with Tom Prichard forming the Heavenly Bodies and they won the tag titles on August 10th. Rock ’n’ Roll Express have entered the area and are lined up to challenge the Heavenly Bodies for the tag titles.
Bob Armstrong wants people to think of good, hard wrestling when thinking of Smoky Mountain Wrestling and they’re going to try their best to accomplish that.
BICEPS, BABES, & BELTS: IS RICK RUDE TOO GREEDY FOR HIS OWN GOOD?: written by: David Rosenbaum
Wrestlers can tend to spread themselves thin by doing too much and not having enough time to get them accomplished. That may not apply to WCW United States Champion Rick Rude as he’s constantly moving and working hard from sunrise to sunset and beyond. Being second-best isn’t good enough for Rude and that’s why he’s now focusing on WCW World Champion Ron Simmons. Rude’s matches with Simmons may be weakening him and cost him the WCW United States Championship in the process. Madusa agrees that Rude is spreading himself thin and that it will ultimately lead to him losing the title. Rude can’t make sacrifices because he wants everything to be his. Rude needs to make adjustments otherwise he won’t be ravishing for much longer.
OUR URGENT MESSAGE TO ANIMAL & CRUSH: DON’T DISMANTLE THE NEW LEGION OF DOOM: written by: Dave Rosenbaum
The new Legion of Doom consisting of Animal and Crush had a successful tour of Europe winning all six matches on the tour. They had five victories over the Beverly Brothers and one victory over Kato & Skinner. Dave is pleading that the WWF not disband the new LOD as they may be better than the original LOD. According to reports, the team was designed to be short-term as Crush doesn’t want to be a tag wrestler and is focused on singles success. Animal is planning on competing in handicap matches and potentially focus on singles gold.
Hawk provided comment saying that he thinks Animal found the right partner to team with and considers LOD to be done, for now. Dave thinks Animal is making a mistake not having Crush as a partner because old tag teams don’t win the titles and makes reference to the Bushwhackers not coming close to winning the titles. Crush made the LOD look more freighting than before. Crush is a bit selfish and it looks like the promising rise of the new LOD is over before it even got started in America.
JIMMY HART: MANAGER OF CHAMPIONS — AND CHAMPION OF BETRAYAL!: written by: Dave Rosenbaum
Capt. Lou Albano has long suggested limits on how many people a manager can manage. Jimmy Hart is ignoring that by managing two tag teams in the WWF and using that leverage for the advantage of Money Inc. at the expense of the Natural Disaster earlier this year, and now the Nasty Boys.
On October 12th, Hart and Money Inc. paid off the Nasty Boys for a title shot, and won the titles. Nasty Boys realized they had been screwed over and tossed Hart post-match. Back in February, Hart told WWF President that the Disasters couldn’t challenge LOD for the titles, and that allowed Money Inc. to win the titles instead. Jimmy’s main focus is money and he’ll do whatever it takes to obtain it.
Jimmy has a new team forming in the USWA named Howard & Hughes Connection consisting of Jeff ‘Howard’ Gaylord & Mr. Hughes. Could he use them to betray Money Inc. in the future?
CACTUS JACK: “IF MY BOYS CAN’T WIN THE WORLD TITLE, I WILL!”
Cactus doesn’t consider himself a manger, and hates managers because they steal money. Cactus takes credit for Barbarian getting a title shot at Halloween Havoc. Cactus is able to keep Barbarian focused, and knows that Barbarian can do things in the ring that he can’t do. Cactus is associated with Jake Roberts, but doesn’t think there’s anything he can possibly tell Roberts as he considers Roberts to be an expert. Cactus dismisses any attempt of creating a rift between himself and Roberts after the suggestion is made that Roberts should lead Tony Atlas and Barbarian.
INSIDE WRESTLING’S HOLIDAY WISH LIST FOR THE SPORT IN 1993
Hulk Hogan: A full-time return to the wrestling business after a rough 1992. 1992 was the first time since 1983 that Hogan went a full calendar year not holding the WWF World Championship.
Rick Steiner: A full recovery from his pectoral injury to return and win the tag titles with Scott Steiner.
Ultimate Warrior: Proper diction to make sense of his interviews.
Sting: A return to the WCW World Championship title picture.
Jake Roberts: A psychological examination by Dr. Sidney M. Basil.
Ric Flair: One more title to make him a ten-time champion.
Ron Simmons: For the end of being referenced as the first African American champion. He should be known as a great wrestler.
Jeff Jarrett: A match with the WWF World Champion Bret Hart.
Rick Rude: Heaping amount humility. Also, allow his mustache to grow back.
Jim Cornette: Shock-resistant tennis racket and a switch to decaffeinated coffee.
Barry Windham: Decisivness. Be either a fan favorite or a rulebreaker and stick to it.
LPWA Women: A full-time return to action as it had good in-ring wrestling and not sexploitation, but has disappeared.
Sid Justice & Lex Luger: A return to wrestling, but as a tag team. Rulebreaking isn’t the same without them.
Bob Backlund: A successful comeback to wrestling.
Irwin R. Schyster: A tax audit every year.
The Mountie: A transistor radio falls into his bathtub.
The Moondogs: For a bathtub.
Erik Watts: The same path to stardom that Dustin Rhodes experienced.
Gorilla Monsoon: Objectivity.
Madusa: Unlimited expense account for her wardrobe and a no disqualification steel cage match with Missy Hyatt.
Paul Ellering: Common sense. He brought in a ventriloquist dummy, but won’t extend an offer to Crush.
Diamond Dallas Page & Mike Fury: A spot in the PWI 500.
Mark Canterbury, Ron Cumberledge, Brian Lee, Tim Horner, The Tasmaniac and Marcus Alexander Bagwell: All to have upset wins over higher profile wrestlers so people can see how good they are.
Vince McMahon: A new suit. The powder blue suits have got to go.
ONE ON ONE
Bill Apter got friends and tag champions Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes on the phone. Dustin is a bit upset that he hasn’t been able to get in contact with Windham, who admits to have gotten Dustin’s messages. Windham claims to have been busy to not get back to Rhodes, and tells Rhodes that what he does in his free time is none of his business. Rhodes apologizes for taking a match against Pillman and Austin, but is confused as to why Windham wouldn’t want the match with two guys who have been calling them out. Windham wanted to enjoy the title win a little bit. Rhodes brings up that rumors are starting that they are on the outs. Windham suggests that Rhodes not care what others are saying.
Rhodes doesn’t feel like a partner since Windham took off with both belts after they won. Windham gets insulted by Rhodes suggesting he’s not taking the title seriously. Rhodes is concerned about Windham as he’s been acting differently the last couple of weeks. Rhodes reminds Windham that they are a team and they are suppose to take care of each other.
What are your memories on wrestling at this point in time? Did you have this magazine?
Thanks for reading.