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From 3e6r.net Latest News Headlines WWE CONFIDENTIAL RECAP - 5/31/2003 Recorded at the WWE TV Studios in Stamford, CT. Your Host: Mean Gene Okerlund. Gene gets in his customary quick howdy and previews a few of our upcoming segments. Tonight we’ll be getting pieces on John Cena and Chris Nowinski-also, quick snippet of video indicates our ‘Classic Match’ will take us back to Wrestlemania 12, when ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper and Goldust engaged in a gonzo ‘Hollywood Back Lot Brawl’. First up though is tonight’s ‘Cover Story’, which will focus on the long, often stormy relationship shared between Vince McMahon and Hulk Hogan. We’re reminded that earlier this year (at WM19) the two had their first one on one match, the Hulkster emerging victorious. Shortly after the boss had Hogan suspended from the active roster. Vince was therefore NOT real happy when his daughter Stephanie signed ‘Mr. America’ (obviously Hulk under a mask) to her Smackdown roster. Gene mentions Vince has stated in interviews that Hogan has never ‘told the truth’, particularly during his stint in WCW and during a highly publicized Federal court trial. Coming up, Vince gives his ‘real feelings’ on Hulk Hogan. (Disclaimer: I smell a weird mixture of shooting and kayfabe, or straight talk and bulls***, upcoming. I’ll refrain from editorializing and try to provide as accurate a recap as possible without delivering a complete transcript.) Vince remembers meeting Hogan when his father brought him into his old Capitol Wrestling organization. Hulk’s ring name at the time was Sterling Golden-Vince Sr. quickly had him change his handle to the Irish-flavored Hogan (no word on the origins of ‘Hulk’). Vince Sr. saw Hulk as a perfect candidate for an ‘aggressive heel’ role due to his size and strength. Son had a differing opinion. He thought those qualities, plus his charisma and (at the time) unique look, made Hogan a candidate to be a new type of ‘fan favorite’-the kind that an entire promotion could be built around. (We go to an interview with Hulk from June, 2002.) Hulk feels the seeds of Hulkamania were planted while working in Minnesota (presumably for Verne Gagne’s AWA) prior to his entry to the WWF. Vince confirms Hulk’s assertion, but feels the craze was limited to a small territory. He quickly summarizes his method to making Hulkamania a national phenomena-bring the man in, build him up, make him World Champion, GO. Vince gives Hogan full credit for coming up with the idea of Hulkamania-but takes (seemingly sole) credit for taking the idea and making it work. Segment ends with Vince (slightly begrudgingly) professing his belief that he and Hogan are equally responsible for the creation of Hulkamania. Break. (Commentary: Hell, that was a LOT more vanilla than I expected.) WWE Rewind: From last Monday’s Raw, Chris Nowinski helps Rodney Mack get a win over Bubba Ray Dudley during the weekly ‘5 Minute White Boy Challenge’. Gene returns for a segment on Mr. Harvard. We get footage of Chris hanging out with fellow Ivy Leaguers at the Harvard Club in Boston. Highlight: Question is asked, who would he most like to get in the ring with? Answer: Ric Flair. No dummy, this Chris N. Not a whole lot else to see here, let’s go to break. Back, Gene presents our weekly ‘Outside the Ropes’ segment. Tonight, Jonathan Coachman interviews the ‘Innovator of Violence’, the last-ever WWE Hardcore Champion, the possessor of highly questionable dietary habits, Mr. Tommy Dreamer. Q. Do you remember eating a cookie that was stuck to the bottom of your shoe the night of the ‘Kurt Angle milk truck incident’? A. Yes. He also ate cookies stuck to the shoes of Chuck Palumbo and Rhyno. Q. How did they taste? A. Like stepped on, wet, soggy cookies. Q. In the past WWE stars have competed on the show ‘Fear Factor’. How would you fare on that show, is there any event, nasty food, that you would not eat? A. Physical challenges could possibly be problematic, but he’d eat anything, no reservations. Q. As a New York native, what are his feelings on the controversy regarding possible price hikes on subway fares? A. Drives his own car, very rarely uses subway. Q. How did he get the name Dreamer? A. Has dreamed of being a pro wrestler since childhood, ‘hence the name’. Q. If not a WWE star, what would he be? A. In prison. Q. Not where would he be, WHAT would he be? A. Someone’s b**** in prison. Strike that: Really doesn’t know what he’d be, mild interest is expressed in exotic dancing. Q. Did you watch ‘American Idol’, and if so did you feel it was rigged? A. Admits to watching the show as a Ruben fan, feels the show is ‘fake’. Q. What’s the last concert he attended? A. Van Halen in 1984. Q. Who is your hero? A. 3 mentioned-Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan and Dusty Rhodes. Q. What place that you haven’t already been would you like to visit, and why? A. Alaska, so he can put on his resume that he’s wrestled in all 50 states. Q. Final question: What special talent does he have that no one knows about? A. The ability to fall from high places without getting hurt. (Commentary: Try telling that to your chiropractor Tommy.) Coach thanks Tommy for his time and we go to break. (2 notable spots air during the break. First is the tribute to Kurt Angle-reportedly Our Olympic Hero will be returning to Smackdown this Thursday. Second one confirms The Rock will be Chris Jericho’s guest on Monday’s installment of the ‘Highlight Reel’. Good news all around!) Gene returns to shill for Jim Ross’ new cookbook, which hits the stores this Tuesday. We cut to a photo shoot for the book’s cover-Trish Stratus, Lita, Terri and Stacy Keibler are featured. (Commentary: This portion of the segment originally aired on 11/9/2002. Lita makes its dated nature obvious by making a reference to the now long-discontinued ‘Ross Report’.) This year’s book features recipes from members of J.R.’s family. It’ll also contain J.R.’s thoughts on the Junkyard Dog, André the Giant and Owen Hart. Break. Back, Terri introduces our ‘From the Vault’ segment (yep, it’s the aforementioned WM 12 match). She quickly mentions doing some lingerie shopping with Goldust (her former real-life husband) the morning before this match… From Wrestlemania 12: Goldust vs. ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper in a ‘Hollywood Back Lot Brawl’. Announcers are Vince McMahon and Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler. Back, we get video of John Cena chillin’ out in Ireland while on the recent WWE European tour. Highlights: John getting booted out of a castle and drinking Guinness with Fit Finlay. Attempting to, actually-John quickly opted for chocolate milk ‘in a dirty glass’. Fit: “You’re a wuss.” Gene wraps up, reminds us Rocky will be on Raw Monday night-and that’s it. Nothing announced for next week. End of show. Kind of sad when the 2 best parts of a show are both commercials! All I got, thanks for reading, please send any feedback to . © Copyright 2000 by www.3e6r.net |