The Journal Of: Eric Bischoff

[batsnumbereleven]

Abyss vs CM Punk
Interference rules here one way or another, perhaps a DQ win?

Lex Luger vs Horace Hogan

NWA Women's Championship
Allison Danger vs Lisa Marie Varon (c)

The Island Boys vs Big Dick Dudley & Ballz Mahoney

[Henderson]

NWA Wrestling Showcase
Friday Week 3, June 2000
Attendance: 1,583

vs
- This week after a short introduction to the show, NWA Wrestling Showcase starts right up with the first match of the night. Tonight, The Island Boys square off against Big Dick Dudley and Ballz Mahoney. The announce team,
Todd Keneley and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan tell us that ever since the buyout of ECW by the WWF, the former ECW stars have been trying to find their spot in the wrestling world and they've now ended up right here in the NWA. One can only speculate how long we'll be seeing this duo, or if any others may show up, that's just the exciting action you get here in the NWA!
This match saw all the classic traits of an old-school tag team wrestling match. The Island Boys used their size and uncanny agility to take it to the extreme wrestlers. In much the same, Mahoney and Dudley didn't hesitate to put their bodies on the line to try and gain an advantage. The Island Boys proved to everyone watching why they are the force in the NWA to be beat.
Kimo put Dudley down after a high flying body splash from the top rope.
Winners by pinfall: The Island Boys

Rating: D

- After everyone is able to settle after the introductory bout, bagpipes begin to fill the arena, which causes the crowd to stand on their feet. Roddy Piper strolls out with a giant smile on his face. Piper makes the short trip down the aisle and into the ring where he pulls a microphone from his leather jacket.


Let me just say that this company is getting off to the greatest start I've ever seen!! It ain't even been a month yet and this place has new people showing up every week and let me tell ya, this week's no different! Last week, things got a little heated with CM Punk and, well,
I may admit that I got just a liiiiiiiiiiiiittle worked up by his big mouth.
Well tonight he's gonna pay the Piper! But that was last week and this is this week and we've got a new show for you tonight and with that is new confrontations! So what I'm out here to do right now is officially sign the match for Special Attraction between NWA National Champion Samoa Joe and the challenger Randy Orton!

Now before I bring both of those men out here, I'm gonna say, I know how these types of things turn out usually and most of the time one of the men end up laying on the floor! Well things are different in the wrestling world and I'm gonna give a warning to both of these fellas that there will be no physical confrontation and that we're gonna play it straight. We're going to have an official contract signing between two stellar young talents and we're going to show everyone that we have more class than any other company,
so boys, get on out here!


Orton makes his way out first and he appears extremely confident, almost to the point where the crowd isn't fully supportive of him. He steps into the ring and looks Piper up and down. Piper offers a handshake but the young Orton,
who possibly is familiar with the relationship Piper had with his father,
doesn't take him up on the offer.


Next, NWA National Champion Samoa Joe makes his way out. The championship belt is around his waist and he looks just as confident as he makes his way to the ring, his eyes not looking off of the challenger at any point. Joe appears that he doesn't even see Piper in the ring and just stares at Orton.


Alright, alright boys, we still got a bit of time away from Special Attraction so save some of that aggression for then! Mr.
Orton, since you're the challenger we're gonna have you sign first! All you gotta do is sign your name where it says your name, provided you're able to read it!

- An unamused Orton leans down and, without incident, signs his name on the contract before tossing the pen down and gives an overconfident smirk to the champion. Joe just stoically stands there, now with the title belt over his shoulder. After a few words are said by both men, Joe picks up the pen and also signs his name. Just as Joe finishes signing his name though, Orton takes the opportunity to deliver a cheap shot by clubbing the back of Joe with a vicious forearm. A quick beatdown ensues by Orton but just to get one final blow in, Orton delivers a swift kick to the damaged right knee of Joe.
He's a tough man, but a man nonetheless and it causes Joe to crumple to the mat. The announce team mention that Joe's been battling a knee injury that he sustained in the very first episode of Wrestling Showcase. Orton appears confident with the work he's done and can only hope it enhances his chances of a victory at Special Attraction and winning the championship. Orton slowly exits the ring and backs up the ramp as he looks at the champion downed in the ring.

Rating: D+
Randy Orton underperformed while Roddy Piper's performance was fantastic

NWA Women's Championship
vs (C)
Women's champion Lisa Marie Varon tests her abilities in this title defense against little known Allison Danger. We're told by announcer Todd Keneley that Danger is a transient in the wrestling world who has now been given an opportunity in the NWA. It doesn't come at any easy task though as she has to do it against the women's champion. Varon proved why she is the top woman in the company as she's got a vicious streak a mile long. The difference with Varon though, is she destroys her opponents in a cold,
calculated way that is very much reminiscent of Jake Roberts. Danger tried her best but it didn't take long before Varon put her away with the Widow's Peak.
Winner by pinfall: Lisa Marie Varon


vs
- No joke, this was probably the match of the night and really stood out and played well to both men's strengths. Luger had the crowd firmly behind him in this match while Horace, who's doing a really fantastic job at staying out of his uncle's shadow, pulled his own weight in this matchup. Horace did everything he could to use cheap tactics to give him an advantage but the veteran instinct of Luger really prevented most of them. Horace attempted the tried and true method of getting into a test of strength with Luger,
but quickly found out that was the worst thing he could've tried. Luger quickly cinched down on Horace's fingers, causing him to scream out in pain.
Hogan had a few moments where it looked like he was going to take over the advantage but Luger fired right back with a series of clotheslines.
Luger quickly then dropped Horace with a forearm shot and just like the week prior, hyped up the crowd by signaling for the Rack. A second later,
Luger hoists Horace up and he has no choice but to tap out, being on the receiving end of a Torture Rack two weeks in a row!
Winner by submission: Lex Luger

Rating: C-

vs
Finally it's time for the much-anticipated main event where CM Punk will test his abilities against the Monster Abyss. The announce team run us through the course that brought us here, where CM Punk was trying to best Roddy Piper. It all ended up backfiring on him last week when Piper announced Punk would be facing the Monster this week, testing if he could back up his claims of being the best in the world. While Punk still looked as confident as he could, there was still a visible unrest coming from Punk as he stood in his corner across from Abyss. The match began with Punk not sure how to go after the monster, so he just went straight for him. This turned to be a mistake quickly learned though, as he went for a clothesline and just bounced off the masked monster. With Punk down on the mat, he just sits perplexed while Abyss towers over him. Abyss quickly reached down and clasped his huge hands around the throat of Punk. The referee yelled and did his best to get Abyss to break the choke, but Abyss shocks everyone watching as he lifts Punk by the throat straight off the mat and then tosses him down with ease. The audience, and announcers, all gasp and shout out at the pain that must have caused.

Punk rolls on the mat in agony and Heenan remarks that this was just the first move by Abyss and it seems impossible that Punk could withstand much more. He predicts the main event ending in short order. Punk proves to be resilient though as Abyss goes to attack again but this time Punk gives a solid rake to the eyes, staggering the big man for just a second. This is long enough for Punk to go on the attack, giving a quick double dropkick to the knee of Abyss. After he drops down to one knee, Punk bounces off the ropes and connects with a loud kick to the side of his head, which echos throughout the arena. Abyss goes down and Punk quickly goes for the cover. Before the referee can even get into position to count though, Abyss kicks out,
causing Punk to fly through the air. Abyss sits up and Punk moves in but he gets caught again by the throat. Abyss keeps the hold as he gets back to his feet and Keneley predicts Abyss will be going for a chokeslam. This proves to be a right prediction as Punk gets lifted high in the air and crashes to the mat with the force of two Mack trucks colliding. Rather than go for the pin though, Abyss looks down at his prey. No one is really sure what the big man is thinking before he exits the ring and begins to look under it. In rather unorthodox fashion for the NWA, Abyss retrieves a leather bag. The announcers guess what could be contained inside this bag, as does the crowd. No one wonders for long though as Abyss climbs in the ring and dumps the contents on the mat. Everyone reacts in horror as they see shiny,
silver thumbtacks get scattered on the mat. Abyss pulls his hair as he turns toward Punk, who's still down. Abyss screams out as he goes to pick up Punk. The referee is doing his best to get the tacks out of the ring and while he's turned, Punk found enough energy to give a swift kick between the legs to Abyss! He may be a monster but a man is a man, and that'll be the great equalizer for anyone. The referee was successful in getting most of the tacks out of the ring and turns to see Abyss down on both knees. Punk composes himself enough to start laying in kick after kick, in similar fashion to chopping down a tree. Abyss fails to drop fully to the mat though and actually begins to slowly get back to his feet in between kicks!

Seeing his failed attempts, Punk gives a bewildered look as now both men are on their feet. Abyss slowly begins to stalk toward Punk and the crowd grows in anticipation. Punk holds up his hands in an attempt to beg off Abyss, but it's to no avail. Seeing no other alternative, Punk quickly exits the ring and begins his own search under the ring. It only takes a second as Punk gets what he was looking for, or maybe it was the first thing in sight,
a steel chair. Punk slides back into the ring and the two wrestlers seem to have a bit of a stalemate. Punk holds the chair, threatening to hit Abyss with it. Abyss doesn't seem to mind though as he still slowly stalks toward Punk.
The referee is trying his best to reason with Punk, telling him that if he uses it he will be disqualified. Punk continues to threaten but it doesn't hold off Abyss. Abyss slowly gets closer, and closer and then...











THE LIGHTS GO OUT!





























The lights come back on and everyone is left in shock!!!




















Heenan: What the hell is he doing here?!?!?




The crowd takes a second to register just who they're seeing in the ring.
Once the realization comes that Raven has just debuted, the crowd explodes. He stands behind Punk, who still has the chair. This has stopped Abyss from moving forward and he just stands there. Punk isn't sure what is going on but he knows Abyss has stopped his advance. After Punk has sensed there is something going on behind him, he turns, seeing Raven standing now in front of him. There's a brief second of a confused look on the face of CM Punk before he doubles over, a direct result of a quick kick in the gut by Raven followed immediately by a ring-rocking Evenflow DDT!!!
Raven bounces back up to his feet as he looks down at CM Punk. The referee quickly calls for the bell, as this match has ended in a disqualification! Everyone is trying to grasp their mind around the fact that Raven has just debuted in the NWA.
Winner by Disqualification: CM Punk

Rating: E+

The match has ended but Raven manages to take a microphone out of his leather jacket.



CM Punk, best in the world? Pain, suffering, bleeding and broken bones. We'll see at Special Attraction just how much you can endure......

QUOTH THE RAVEN, NEVERMORE.

Rating: B
Raven has debuted his Weirdo gimmick and it is Very Good

Final Show Grade: D+
TV Rating: .01 (8,230 viewers)
This show increased our popularity in 2 regions

Thank you to everyone who predicted! Hopefully the shows keep delivering. I have to apologize for one of my prior shows where the images for the Island Boys were incorrect. I do not have the Headshrinkers or Rikishi on my roster. I'll have news and notes posted later on which will include the final show before my monthly PPV event - Special Attraction.

[Henderson]

- Plenty of news and notes from this weeks edition of NWA Wrestling Showcase as well as news from across the wrestling world!

- There apparently was some backstage heat on Lex Luger prior to this week's show after he pulled off a rib. It isn't known who the rib was directed at or what the rib actually was, but Bischoff seemed to dismiss it as it really wasn't a big deal. We're told nothing else was said about it the rest of the night.

- CM Punk also was brought before the locker room after spending way too much time looking at himself in the mirror. He apparently was admiring himself so much, other workers couldn't use the mirror to get ready. We've learned that Roddy Piper issued a "punishment" to Punk to buy drinks for the entire locker room after the show. CM Punk learned from his narcissistic behavior and seemed to improve his attitude.

- Raven was rumored to be a very last minute signing that the NWA was hoping to have completed by their first Pay Per View.

- There is expected to be a huge announcement regarding the tag team division and the NWA tag team titles this week on Showcase.

- Despite the angle on this week's show, Samoa Joe's knee is said to now be at 100%. Eric Bischoff is extremely pleased that he's back to capacity and that the title match between Orton and Joe at Special Attraction won't be hindered.

- The WWF has gotten some heat after they took what people have said "tasteless shots" at WCW during the airing of Shotgun Saturday Night.
They were said to be in such bad taste that the show was "ruined."

- Bill Goldberg, after signing a lucrative deal with the WWF, has only wrestled once since starting there in May. He wrestled Bushwacker Luke where he was victorious. That was the last he was seen until this past Monday on Raw where he had a brief opening skit with Vince McMahon. The angle didn't seem to go over very well.

- News from the WCW front, Ric Flair and Booker T are rumored to be starting a feud.

- The Ultimate Warrior was signed by WCW back in June but oddly enough, he has only been used in skits on Saturday Night. We've learned that he does have a deal signed as an in-ring competitor, however, he hasn't wrestled at all since re-joining the company. His last short run in WCW during October 1999 was very well received and he was used in an excellent capacity where he shockingly debuted only to side with Hollywood Hogan. This marked the first time in his career turning heel.


We've also learned the card for this week's NWA Wrestling Showcase. This is the last show before their first ever Pay Per View on Sunday, which Eric Bischoff is doing his best to stack to impress not only viewers, but potential sponsors and other networks. The card is as follows:

Horace Hogan vs Bryan Danielson


Trish Stratus vs Mickie James


Randy Orton vs Barry Horowitz

Plus!!! An appearance by Roddy Piper!

[James The Animator]

Horace Hogan vs Bryan Danielson


Trish Stratus vs Mickie James


Randy Orton vs Barry Horowitz

[ElectricX]

Horace Hogan vs Bryan Danielson


Trish Stratus vs Mickie James


Randy Orton vs Barry Horowitz

[crackerjack]

Horace Hogan vs Bryan Danielson

Trish Stratus vs Mickie James

Randy Orton vs Barry Horowitz

[batsnumbereleven]

Horace Hogan vs Bryan Danielson
for the heck of it. Interference or something if you have to, but given Hogan's performance with Luger, you have to keep his momentum reasonable

Trish Stratus vs Mickie James
more of a pick 'em, but at this stage of Trish's career she wasn't known for being very good in the ring

Randy Orton vs Barry Horowitz
Orton's challenging for a title, so he needs to stay relevant. Perhaps some interference from Samoa Joe, or a post-match beat-down?

[Henderson]

BREAKING NEWS!


We have breaking news on the front of NWA;

- We've learned through very close sources that the NWA offices were raided by the FBI just days before Special Attraction. We don't have much on the story but what we have learned is that the joint partner that Eric Bischoff went in with in order to start the NWA was already under an embezzlement investigation (which we're thinking Bischoff was unaware of). The FBI is reported to have exited the NWA offices with a large amount of money seized. We don't have an exact amount, but some reports are saying it's in the multi-millions, which we didn't even know the NWA had.


This has got to be a huge impact to NWA as well as their capability of booking shows. There has been no official word yet from the NWA regarding the surprising visit or regarding the event this Sunday. If all the NWA's funds were seized, they are going to be unable to carry on their schedule. We're hoping for some kind of official statement soon from Eric Bischoff and the NWA.

[James The Animator]

Gee, this diary ended quickly. Well, what can I say? I like what I saw. Here's hoping you come back with something excellent.

(I know this diary is probably not over yet, I'm just playing along with the "uncertain future" plotline here.)

[Henderson]

...

June, Week 1 2000

What in the hell just happened? That's the only thing I can ask at the moment. I had everything ready to go for the first event for the NWA. We were just finished with Wrestling Showcase. Everything seemed to be going to plan.
Raven had just arrived, Lex was doing a phenomenal job, Curt was raising the prestige of the NWA world title all around the US. Then it started.

Punk and Bryan tell me they won't be available for Special Attraction. They must have been tipped off......I'm home Saturday morning and I get a frantic call from Sophie in the office that the FBI just barged in with a search warrant.
Not only did they completely trash the office, they took our funds. Their excuse was that it was "potential evidence" in an investigation my partner group is involved in. I was floored. I didn't have any idea what to tell her.
Suddenly, I hear the beep on my phone for another call coming in. I'm thinking I'm saved by having to come up with something to tell Sophie,
but I'm wrong. I tell her to hold on and I answer the other line just for it to be the police asking me to come down for questioning. I tell them that I can be at the station in 30 minutes and go back onto the line with Sophie.

"Sophie, I just got a call from the police wanting to interview me....I gotta go, I'll have something for you later on.......Hopefully...."


The entire way down to the police station, I'm trying to wrap my head around just what in the hell is going on. Since I left WCW I had been trying to get the ball rolling on a new company. I wanted to get back into it as fast as I could. I already signed up a lot of potential talent for WCW's developmental promotion and I knew time was running out to sign people that were still left. I had several other friends in the entertainment industry that knew my aspirations and a few of them jumped at the chance to help me start up a new wrestling company, especially one as identifiable as the NWA. I didn't think anything of it. I knew them for years and never expected them to be involved in anything questionable, otherwise I wouldn't have put my name on it and risk ending up in the spot I'm in now. Then all the sudden it hit me;

WHAT IF I GO TO JAIL?!?


I could possibly be driving to the police station and staying there. I'm startled back to the present after hearing another car's screaming horn at me. In my daze, I let off the accelerator and was coasting down the road.
I then start questioning my decision to leave WCW. I knew things were going too perfectly. The NWA was going great and exactly where I wanted to to be, better, actually than I even predicted. For a brief second I wondered if Ted was behind all this. Giving a false report to the police in attempts to derail my success, but then I just thought that was a ridiculous thought.
Ted isn't ruthless like that. If I were still with WCW, I'd think that would be a stunt perfect for Vince, but even he would get nothing out of sabotaging my new company like that. I don't even pose a remote threat to Vince and the WWF. Then, as I'm pulling into the police station, I'm just hoping this is all a bad dream and I've simply fallen asleep while trying to finalize the plans for our first event.

That's not to be though. I walk into the police station and tell them my name and the detective I'm there to meet with. I wait a few minutes and then am brought into a small, cold, simple room with just a table and two chairs. A quick thought goes over my head to Vince and how many times he's been in this position. What the hell does he even think about it now? I'm more nervous than I've ever been in my life. The detective goes over several questions with me about my friends and their entertainment group. I tell him that despite knowing these people for a few years, I'm not very close with them. I've never been a part of any of their ventures or co-op'd anything with them prior to the NWA. He tells me that they have strong ties to an organized crime ring and that the funds used to upstart the NWA are identified as dirty money. In that short statement, I've realized that everything is lost. As quickly as it began, it crashed down even faster. The detective assures me that their investigation and surveillance has shown that I'm not involved in their corrupt little ring and that the NWA, the company itself, will not be seized by the government due to my name being the only one on the documents. That gives me little consolation though. The money is gone. Not only is it gone, but my company is now hugely in the negative. It's a black hole that is inescapable. There's no money to book venues. There's no money to pay workers. There's no money to pay production. I have negotiations pending with a few workers, ones that I was trying to finalize before our event....What am I going to tell them now? Better yet, are they even going to want to be associated with my company? I can't even pay them what I offered now. There's no doubt word of what's happened has already been announced. The Sunshine Network was already annoyed with me over the shows. My pay per view provider probably won't even want to do business with me.

I don't know what to think. All of these thoughts are running through my head while I'm sitting in this little room. The detective tells me no charges are being filed on me and that they just wanted to interview me for more information. At least I'm not going to jail, but now what am I going to do? I essentially have no company anymore. I leave the police station and get back in my car. I sit for what feels like forever trying to gather my thoughts. Everything has been turned upside down in the matter of 3 months. The NWA is dead in the water. It's only a matter of time before I have to declare bankruptcy. Though I may be innocent, no one is going to want to go into business with me on anything else. I could put feelers out there with other companies, but that isn't what I want. I'm done following anyone else's direction. That's why I left WCW. I don't want to simply book wrestling shows. I have a vision that I want to put across to the wrestling world. I'm not finished, but is the deck stacked against me? I start my car and begin to pull out of the parking lot. I dial up Sophie on my car's phone and she answers.

"Sophie, there's nothing else you can do. Just go home for now."


She says a few words, not upset at me, but understandably upset. Shortly after my call ends with her, I get another call. I guess this is how it's going to be for awhile, everyone calling to find out just what in the hell happened. I don't even know myself. I know most of the calls aren't going to be pleasant, especially ones coming from the talent. I'm going to have to call every one of them. All those guys that have busted their ass for me to make the NWA a surging company so fast. Guys who stuck their necks out for me and believed in my vision. Guys that I never even expected would do that. Curt and Lex were so fast to join me. I never thought they would. Not only did they join me, but they worked harder than they have in years. Lex especially could have just gone through the motions and collected a paycheck every week, but he was working hard! Anyway, I answer the phone and I'm not shocked to hear it's an executive with the Sunshine Network. They heard what happened and don't want any association with the NWA. He doesn't care about hearing that I'm not involved. Their board had an emergency meeting in this short time and they all had a consensus that the NWA is a tainted company. I exhale after I get off the phone with him. I guess I can't really blame them. I get home and toss my keys on the counter. My wife is out on her tennis lessons. I guess those are going to have to come to an end. I think how am I going to continue to pay for this house, my car, my plane, all these things when I don't even have an income anymore. I hear my computer go off...

"You've got mail....."


****ing AOL. I forgot to even cancel that service. Every time I turn around,
it just seems to be a reminder of nothing but bad things. I check my email just to find one more negative; my pay per view broadcaster just pulled out.
They're refusing to air Special Attraction tomorrow. No TV, no pay per view, no events that can even be booked, no money to pay talent. I sit on the couch, my head in my hands, trying to grasp everything and think of something. I need to start contacting talent before they travel for the now non-existent show. I think it'd be much quicker to put out an official statement and fax and email to the entire NWA just so they can all be notified. Then I can start calling people individually to explain what happened more. Then my phone rings again. I let it ring several times, not wanting to answer it, but I finally do. I can't listen to the ringing anymore and make a mental note that I should unplug it after I'm off this call. It's a very familiar voice, one that I'm not entirely shocked to hear; Ted Turner.


"Eric, I heard about what happened................"

[James The Animator]

ffs ted

[DHK1989]

Good lord, can ANYTHING go right from here?

[Henderson]

That's what I'm trying to figure out right now. After that happened, I can't really justify immediately opening up a new fed. I'm sure after reading the opening thread to this dynasty, you guys can figure out where I ultimately want to end up. For those not sure, I won't go right out and say my direction though.

I will say that I've simmed up past January 2001. The "issue" I've run into with WCW is that they're a very solid company. Despite their crashes that are put into this mod, they are an extremely wealthy company after I had built them up since the start of the game in 1998. For some reason, I thought the narrative built into this mod would have caused Ted Turner to go out of ownership, but that doesn't happen.

So I have a few directions I can choose to go because I don't want this to end, but I'll have to play it out. I will give an update as to what's taking place in the game world, but as of right now, and somewhat true to life, Eric Bischoff is unemployed from June 2000 to what is now about March 2001.

[DHK1989]

Ouch...poor Eric.

[Texasrangers13]

That's almost more fun. It's his journal, he could end up anywhere. Maybe as a booker again. I'd assume TNA will be starting up and XPW.