MLW Locker Room Insider for 1/27/04
Submitted by Matthew Tremley on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 12:35 PM EST


• MLWRep sent in the following:
  
  
  MLW.COM LOCKER ROOM INSIDER FOR 1/27/04
  
  After a near two year absence, the first World Heavyweight Champion in the history of Major League Wrestling, "The Franchise" Shane Douglas has returned. In what will go down as one of the more memorable episodes of Underground TV, JJ Dillon - the personal advisor and manager of the current reigning World Heavyweight Champion Steve Corino made a grandstand challenge by phone to Douglas in what many insiders feel was an attempt to present a challenge that they felt would go unanswered based on the well documented issues between MLW and Douglas which ultimately led to him being stripped of the World Heavyweight Championship - a title he never lost in the ring. However it backfired. MLW officials and Douglas threw the ultimate curveball at Corino and the offices of James J. Dillon by coming to terms for a sanctioned World Heavyweight Championship bout for February 13th at the War Memorial in Ft. Lauderdale, FL in what should be a classic encounter between two of the most controversial figures in MLW history.
  
  In a battle that will decide the true undisputed World's Heavyweight Champion, Corino looks to continue his hot streak of title defenses - after defeating Terry Funk early this month. But first, he must defend the title in Japan before heading to Ft. Lauderdale to do battle with "The Franchise". Many questions remain regarding this match. For one, since Douglas and MLW severed ties, MLW has evolved from a promotion with an emphasis on the hardcore/extreme genre to a more diverse hybrid wrestling style of fighting, which sees wrestlers from around the world squaring off and using several styles to out wrestle and fight their adversary. Can "The Franchise" adapt to the new style and generation of combat in MLW? Lastly, there are those in the MLW office leaking word that there are possible clauses in the contract for this World Heavyweight Championship bout that Douglas' representation made sure to have added. How will this factor in? Find out on a very memorable and possibly unlucky Friday the 13th in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
  
  MLW is excited to announce that tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets in South Florida tickets for the Friday the 13th Burning Crush Tour. All general admission tickets are just $10.00. Ringside reserved tickets are $30 with all general reserved only $15. Purchase tickets online at: http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/901591, Charge-by-phone at: 954-523-3309, or, at any South Florida Ticketmaster outlets (including the War Memorial at 800 NE 8th Street in Ft. Lauderdale). For a full listing of outlets, visit www.MLW.com. Tickets are also available for MLW's 2/14 event in Orlando, FL at Tabu at all Ticketmaster outlets, charge-by-phone at: 407-839-3900, online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/864566/, and at all Ticketmaster outlets throughout Florida. All tickets are a special rate of $15.00 with ages 18 and up welcome.
  
  The hot topic on the MLW.com message board seems to be the Dragon's Gate Six Sided Ring match on Friday the 13th of February in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The match, which will feature the Hart Foundation 2.0 (Captain: Teddy Hart, Jack Evans, and 6'4" newcomer Apocalypse - who is fresh off of a tour with New Japan Pro Wrestling) vs. La Raza (Captain: Juventud Guerrera & Los Maximos) vs. The Kamikaze Playas (Captain: Sonjay Dutt, the mysterious Dark Fuego, and M-Dogg 20) in a elimination style match, similar to a survivor series match... only there are 3 teams, nine competitors, and a six sided ring! This will be the only match to take place in the six sided ring and your only chance to witness hybrid wrestling entering the new dimension known as the Dragon's Gate on the Burning Crush Tour.
  
  MLW will be releasing limited edition trump trading cards in India featuring all the current stars in MLW plus some legends from the past. Look for them to be available in a limited edition set online at MLW.com in the coming months. More details to follow.
  
  Ray Gordy, the son of the legendary Terry "Bamm Bamm" Gordy makes his debut for MLW on the Burning Crush Tour. Fans may be familiar with this second generation athlete from his matches in Pro Wrestling NOAH and NWA Wildside.
  
  After a great deal of restructuring, starting this week MLW's new merchandise department opens with some true "musts" for fans, including several new T-Shirts, home videos, and skull caps. Look for most, if not all orders to ship within 7 business days:
  
  MLW Reloaded: Night 2 (1-10-04) VHS PRE-ORDER (ships the week of Feb. 6): http://www.mlw.com/view/v.php?id=p88&item=26. This is another must for fans interested in getting the final uncensored barbed wire encounter between Terry Funk and Steve Corino for the World Heavyweight Championship. Plus, Teddy Hart vs. Jerry Lynn in a match only available on home video, the GTC Finals, Raven vs. Vampiro and tons more in a pro-shot high impact outing from MLW!
  
  MLW War Games 2003 (9-19-03) featuring a 2 ring steel cage war games match between the Funkin' Army and the Extreme Horsemen, plus the entire J-CUP USA on VHS http://www.mlw.com/view/v.php?id=p88&item=25.
  
  MLW Uncut: Vampiro (1-8-04) VHS: http://www.mlw.com/view/v.php?id=p88&item=51. Witness Vampiro speak honestly about WCW, MLW, IWA Puerto Rico, Mexico, NWA TNA, and more. This is a must see to believe video as Vampiro holds nothing back.
  
  MLW Defined & Reloaded Tour T-shirts: http://www.mlw.com/view/v.php?p55
  
  Skull caps: http://www.mlw.com/view/v.php?p56
  
  Recently, MLW teamed up with its wrestlers for a very special cause known as the Give Kids The World Village. During the Orlando double shot weekend earlier this month, Steve Corino, Matt Martel, CW Anderson, Stephen DeAngelis and a few others had the opportunity to spend some time with the wonderful children and families that were spending a dream come true vacation at this unique charity village. Give Kids The World Village is a non-profit resort that creates magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Give Kids The World provides accommodations at its resort, attractions tickets (with amusement rides on location) and meals for a week-long fantasy vacation. Since its founding in 1986, Give Kids The World has welcomed families from all 50 states and 50 countries. MLW encourages its fans to donate money (https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=1480) or an item on the Give Kids The World Village wish list, purchase a paving stone, or volunteer your time. For more information on a great cause for some great kids, MLW encourages you to visit: http://www.gktw.org.
  
  Teddy Hart's camp has purchased advertising on MLW Underground TV. One can only speculate what this controversial player has in store with this paid programming...
  
  Steve Corino will now be defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Jun Kasai on January 31st in Pro Wrestling Zero-One on their Tokyo, Japan Differ Ariake event. This will be the fifth defense of the World Heavyweight Championship in Japan. The premiere championship in Major League Wrestling will be defended in a record two companies in under a year.
  
  Sonjay Dutt will be defending the World Junior Heavyweight title on 2/14 in Orlando, FL against Chad Collyer in what will be his second title defense.
  
  Chris Hero will return as a regular for MLW starting in April, after completing an extensive tour of Europe where he is a regular main eventer.
  
  There has been a lot of talk in the locker room about who the Samoan Island Tribe are bringing in as their dream partner for the big Orlando, FL 2/14 main event. And the rumor is that the Extreme Horsemen aren't exactly sitting at ease on the subject, considering the Tribe's captain, Samu has over 20 years of friends, partners, and associates that he could call in at the drop of a hat. However, perhaps it's someone MLW, the fans and the Horsemen aren't thinking of?
  
  Teddy Hart will fight Juventud Guerrera on 2/14 in Orlando, FL in what should be a match of the year candidate.
  
  The recently fined Gary Hart has issued a press release giving a few more details regarding the massive 6'8" Korean man who debuted on the Reloaded Tour. Known as "Mr. Woo", this "associate" of Hart's is HEAVILY involved in Hart's day-to-day operations. However, the question still remains why and what specific role will he play in the growing sinister schemes that the master manipulator Gary Hart has designed upon his return to MLW. Speaking of Hart's recent plots and activity, one man has grown silent in his post World Heavyweight Champion challenge in Terry Funk. No longer in World Heavyweight title contention due to signing Steve Corino's clause and subsequently losing, Funk, according to insiders is at a loss for words regarding the return of his former business and wrestling manager Gary Hart and the cold and cruel words and beating Hart gave Funk at the close of the barbed wire epic on 1/10. Will Funk come forward with a statement in the coming weeks on MLW TV? Time will tell...
  
  MLW's hype machine is in full effect abroad. Reigning World Junior Heavyweight Champion Sonjay Dutt will be featured in the upcoming FHM Asia magazine where he will discuss MLW's arrival in Asia on TV, his background, and MLW. Dutt's star in MLW continues to rise. Expect 2004 to be the year of the playa from the Himalayas.
  
  MLW will be announcing its locations for its April tour as well as its May tour shortly.
  
  Several of MLW's events, fighters and management are featured in a new bestselling Japanese Fight Book by Kouhei Ichiki. MLW also appears on a regular basis in Japan's top magazines Gong Magazine, Baseball Sha, and Weekly Fight. Stateside as well as in the United Kingdom fans can see regular coverage and pictures in Total Wrestling, featuring Bill Apter, Mike Johnson and several other top notch columnists.
  
  PJ Friedman is finishing up his stay in Europe. While overseas, the former disciple of Gracie jujitsu spent a considerable amount of time in Russia, preparing for his re-entry into MLW where he plans on making a defining impact in the coming weeks and months. And from the sound of it, Friedman has picked up a few devastating moves, due in part to a great amount of time spent with a top Russian training camp where he reportedly mastered a Russian reverse body lift which is known as one of the most dangerous moves to ever be used - and invented by the Russians. But don't forget, Friedman has sent several videotapes to MLW's TV studios for airing on Underground TV featuring Friedman calling out Vampiro and his friends - including Norman Smiley. 2004 could be a very interesting year for this massive 6'3" 275 pound shoot wrestler in MLW Hybrid Wrestling.
  
  MLW will return to its old Monday airdate starting March 1st at 11pm. However, the rest of the month it will jump around in its timeslot on Monday nights due to college basketball, ending with it returning regularly at 11pm on Mondays on 3/29. Here's the rundown for MLW Underground TV in March: 3/8: midnight, 3/15: midnight, 3/22: midnight, 3/29: 11pm. Replays will also begin to roll out with more frequency in the second half of March. Check local listings for more details.
  
  MLW.com will now feature Underground TV reports on a regular basis.
  
  MLW would like to thank its Underground TV play-by-play announcer Eric Gargiulo and host of Pro Wrestling Radio (www.prowrestlingradio.com) for having Jerry Lynn, Gary Hart, and match maker Court Bauer on this past Saturday's show in conjunction with the launching of Underground TV Monday nights at midnight on Philadelphia's WGTW 48.
  
  Joel & Jose Maximo have committed to MLW for all future events with the exception of the occasional tour of the Orient. MLW is delighted to have their level of commitment and dedication as a member of our growing crew and family.
  
  The Backseat Boys will make debut in MLW on the April tour. Look for locations and ticket information to be released shortly.
  
  In light of the Burning Crush Tour falling on the weekend of Valentine's Day, "Party Boy" Matt Martel has cordially invited MLW fans to come out and have a special Valentine's Day get down with him and his clubbin' entourage when he touches down in Ft. Lauderdale on 2/13.
  
  Rich Criado has put The Fabulous Texan on notice that he's coming for him, however the Texan guarantees he's got a special plan of attack of his own come the Burning Crush Tour.
  
  Finally, MLW would like to wish Dave Scherer, Mike Johnson, Buck Woodward, and Jess McGrath the best of luck with their new and highly anticipated wrestling news web site, Pro Wrestling Insider (www.PWInsider.com).
  

  
  

  
  
  

  *NEW GALLERY* Even MORE Hot Shots of TORRIE WILSON Tearing the Night Up!

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