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Tuesday February 23, 1999

Stone Cold Steve Austin was a busy man Monday morning, appearing on both Howard Stern and 'Live with Regis & Kathy Lee'.
Austin sat in with Stern for over an hour. Here's some highlights:
They play Austin's theme music as he walked in and as he took his seat, Stern said that Austin had "some big ass arms. I wish I had arms like that"
Stern said that when other big stars were on the show, they never had a huge crowd outside for them. Stern said when fans found out Austin was coming on, people started showing up waiting to see him.
Austin said he was getting a divorce after eight years of marriage (his first marriage lasted just six months)
Austin said he worked about 200 days a year. WCW never gave him any good opportunities but "the WWF gave me the opportunity and that's all I needed"
Austin talked about how he got into wrestling and that he gets "2 or 3 days off a week."
He gets a percentage of house show gates and merchandise.
Stern asked about Austin almost breaking Regis Philbin's nose and Austin said 'I didn't mean to. Wink WInk" and laughed. Stern asked Austin if he had "banged" Kathy Lee and Austin laughed but said "no". Stern wanted Austin to bodyslam Kathy Lee.
Howard asked how Austin kept in shape and he said he just worked out a lot and talked about the WWF's strict policy on drugs. Austin said McMahon was 53 and in excellent shape.
Stern asked Austin about how much he makes. "Do you make 2 million a year?"Austin replied "Give me more credit than that". Stern ended up saying Austin was a "multi-millionaire"
Austin said he didn't have a 'pre-nuptial agreement' with his wife but he would have one "the next time."
Stern plugged Austin's appearance this Friday on 'Nash Bridges' at 10pm EST and WrestleMania XV March 28th.
A caller asked what actually happened to Brain Pillman and Austin said "he basically died from a heart attack in a hotel in Minnesota". Austin called Pillman a "real close friend"
Austin said he'd never run for governor and that he likes to hunt a lot.
Gary Dell'Abate (Howard's producer) asked Austin about Goldberg. Austin said he was "WCW's version of me" and that he guessed he went on Leno and challenged him to a fight. Austin said he had better things to do and could care less about Goldberg. Stone Cold also said if Goldberg wants to show up in the WWF, then he'd fight him.
Austin's segment ended with another plug for 'Nash Bridges' and WrestleMania XV.
Steve Austin's appearence on 'Regis and Kathy Lee' was short and he basically plugged 'Nash Birdges' and showed a clip from the show and WrestleMania XV. Austin apologized for almost breaking Philbin's nose.
Rumors around the internet say ECW was purchased by Buena Vista but that is NOT true.
The Legion of Doom say they missed last week's RAW and Tuesday's RAW tapings because they were in Puerto Rico and couldn't make it back in time because of American Airline's problems.
That masked man who attacked Bart Gunn was Steve 'Dr. Death' Williams.
Mike Allen tried to show his support of Wrestling Insiders by bringing a sign to WCW Nitro but it was taken away by WCW officials before the show went live. This is the fifth time WCW has taken WI signs from fans.
Is it just me or does David Flair need some acting lessons?
Wrestling Action figure Update: 1999 Jakks Pacific WWF figures include Big Bossman, Shane McMahon, Commissioner Shawn Michaels (in jeans, white top and black vest), The Rock (new version), Ken Shamrock (new version), Kane (new sculpt), Gangrel, Paul Wight, Christian, MOD Undertaker, Bob Holly, Vince McMahon (new version in wrestling gear), D-Lo Brown (new version), Test, Debra and Jeff Jarrett (new version on JJ), Droz, Midian, Mable, Bradshaw, Farooq, and more to be announced. All told, over 100 new figures for 1999. WCW figures from Toy Biz for 1999 will include all four Horsemen. The Chris Jericho figure has been put on hold (?). ECW figures (from Toymakers) are also planned including Shane Douglas, RVD, Taz, Sabu, D'Von Dudley, Bubba Rey Dudley, Justin Credible, Tommy Dreamer, Chris Candido, Lance Storm, and New Jack. For more information on wrestling figures check out
The Figure Zone and Ringside Collectibles .
Telemundo has threatened to take legal action against WCW for dropping out of their agreement for the WCW Latino program. The deal called for 16 weeks of the show and it now seems WCW must live up to the agreement. WCW wanted to settle the issue out of court but Ted Turner felt that would be "a bad reflection on the Turner Broadcasting System." The pilot episode will air February 25 at 7pm EST and then show a week-old editited Nitro with Spanish commentating.
Rikki Rachman joined the WCW broadcast team on Nitro. Rikki is the former host of MTV's 'Headbanger's Ball' and the former co-owner of L.A.'s 'The Cathouse' strip club (with former Faster Pussycat frontman Taime Downe).
Check out WCW mystery girl Torrie Wilson's website at www.torriewilson.com . I posted the link before but the site was down. Torrie says it's back up and running. Check her site out.

Saturday February 21, 1999

SuperBrawl is history. Scott Hall beat Roddy Piper for the US title, Barry Windham and Curt Hennig beat Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit for the WCW tag-team titles, Rey Mysterio Jr. lost his mask, and David Flair uses the stun gunn on his own father allowing Hogan to get the win. More results here.

The reaction to Goldberg's challenge for Austin was incredible. 312 e-mails Friday night alone. There were so many letters regarding this that I can't begin to share them all with you and there's no way I can respond personally to everyone. I would like to take this time to thank everyone who has sent in a letter about this. I appreciate it. WI fans are the BEST fans in the world. Period.
Here's what my fellow Insiders had to say about Goldberg vs. Austin:
From John 'The Spear' Bammann:
"My take on it is that it could work out very well in WCW's favor. Yeah Vince
could spoof the challenge but all WCW has to do is say that Austin is scared
to take Goldberg up on his challenge. A lot of people are saying the WWF is
gonna get the upper hand in this but if WCW plays their cards right, they
could make Austin look real scared."
From Darren 'DDP' Parker:
"Bill Goldberg has really set himself up for a big fall now. Him challenging Stone Cold Steve Austin on the Tonight Show was a big mistake in my opinion, for both Goldberg and WCW. They aren't in the best position right now to be issuing challenges to other promotions. It will come back and bite them in their asses eventually."
From John Lowman:
"Bill Goldberg would kill WCW reject 'Stunning Steve' Austin in a head-to-head.
Not even a contest. WWF head Vince McMahon will never agree, but it would
be a money-maker. No wonder Goldberg was smilin' when he made the challenge. Goldberg, no doubt whatsoever. He already beat Disco Inferno's 'Stunner.' What's next?"
From Mark Brombacher:
"WCW's entire product is focused on the WWF. Getting the attention of WWF fans and merely uttering Austin's name can only be good for ratings. Goldberg (although a decent wrestler) is a creation of WCW designed to make Austin look bad. Part of the reason, WCW makes him seem so invincible is so that viewers will make the natural comparison to Steve Austin. The WWF has made Austin more invincible to retaliate. I think the WWF would be wise to dismiss the challenge, because a match can't possibly happen anyway."
From Adam Marantz:
"I look at this Goldberg/Austin scenario in different ways. From a logical stand point, I don't know what WCW is thinking. They totally threw the ball in the WWF's court when Goldberg challenged Austin on Jay Leno and Vince McMahon and Steve Austin can and most likely will make Goldberg and WCW look stupid. From a fan's standpoint, I don't see why the WWF and WCW always have to take cheap shots at each other. Dating back to Tony Schiavone's spoiler about Mick Foley winning the title. All WCW had to do was book a their show and not ruin the WWF's. The WWF countered with Gillberg who is a riot but is just a retaliation. They wouldn't have done it if Schiavone didn't say what he did back in January. Just a stupid childish game played by both federations. If they worry about their own shows and now worry about each other's, everyone would be happy. If Bischoff used all his talent by what
they can do best and if McMahon used his talent by what they did best none of
this would have ever happened and I don't think that Goldberg came out by
himself without any requests to challenge Austin. Someone put him up to it.
It is all stupid but the WWF will eat WCW alive for that."
The 'Tonight Show' with Goldberg pulled a 6.8 rating.
Steve Austin will appear on the CBS show 'Nash Bridges' Friday night. Steve Austin is also scheduled to appear on 'Live with Regis and Kathy Lee' and 'The Howard Stern Show' Monday morning.

D-Lo Brown has NOT been fired by the WWF. That's just a rumor started by another site. Total ca-ca.
Chris Candido and Tammy Sytch say they have "personal family problems" and those problems have nothing to do with drugs. They also insist they have not been fired by ECW and will never be fired by ECW.
Eddie Guerrero says he's getting much better. Guerrero is on crutches and has trouble getting around but says "with any luck, I'll be back in about 4 or five months". What about the LWO? Eddie says "Ask Konnan"
Sting says he not too happy with WCW right now. Bischoff lets Nash and DDP call the shots and he feels he's been around in WCW long enough to have say in angles. It's not secret if you're not on Nash's 'good side' you won't get far and Sting doesn't like that. Randy Savage is another man not happy in WCW due to the new 'bookers'. Savage has a weapon against Nash and Page......his good buddy Hogan.
You can pre-order the new 'WrestleMania: The Legacy' boxed set in the Wrestling Insiders Online Mall at the best price on the Internet. This set is awesome and you should check it out.
Shawn Michaels is set to take his Texas Wrestling Alliance national. Michaels and Jose Lathario are working on getting the TWA a TV deal and plan on touring all over the south with the TWA. Stay tuned here for more details!
The Playboy issue featuring Sable hits stands March 2 but some Playboy subscribers may find that issue in their mailbox next week.
The WWF will be featured on the Home Shopping Network right after RAW is WAR tonight (Monday night).
Here is a quick press release to anounce that the UMR Student Union Board presents World Legion Wrestling (WLW) on March 13th at the University Of Missouri-Rolla ,Rolla, Missouri.The event will take place at 6 pm in the Gale Bulman multi-purpose building. Card includes 3 WLW world title matches and is a national TV taping. Tickets are available from the University Of Missouri- Rolla box office or by credit card from Metrotix

Saturday February 20, 1999

WCW wrestler Bill Goldberg showed up on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' and actually challenged Stone Cold Steve Austin to a match 'anytime, anywhere'. Look for Austin to invite Goldberg to RAW for a match but he won't show. WCW may regret this move. Eric Bischoff challenged Vince McMahon but it back-fired. Send me your reactions here.
Speaking of Steve Austin, Stone Cold will invade both Howard Stern and Regis and Kathy Lee Monday morning. Maybe Austin will have something to say to Goldberg there.
WWF officials are worried about the fan's reaction (or lack of) to Public Enemy. The WWF should have hyped this duo up before sending them into battle.

RAW is WAR from the Toronto Skydome has gone down in the record books. 41,432 fans attended that RAW making it the largest crowd in Monday night wrestling history.
Steve "I Got My Ass Kicked By a Jobber' Williams returns to RAW Monday night.
Jim 'Sandman' Fullington has got a name in WCW. Jim may be called Hardcore Hack. HARDCORE HACK!?!?!
ECW lost Public Enemy to the WWF but Vince will repay Paul with the Headbangers.