Overnight Smackdown rating, Rikishi/McCullough incident, and more Submitted by William Martinez on Friday, December 14, 2001 at 12:26 PM EST
Last night's episode of Smackdown scored a decent 5.0 rating in the overnights. The final rating should be available later today.
At an HWA show on Wednesday night, Rikishi and The Island Boys took on Haku, Elix Skipper and Russ McCullough. During the match, McCullough blew a spot which needless to say, angered Rikishi. Reportedly, once McCullough was dropped on the mat, Rikishi sat on him and refused to get up even after Haku and Skipper delivered spots to him. At the end of the match, Rikishi was continuously hitting McCullough with a chair and judging by the look on McCullough's face, that wasn't supposed to happen. The referee called for the bell following this which wasn't the planned finish. Following the match, McCullough and Rikishi exchanged heated words and McCullough left the building soon after. Rikishi is still slated to perform for the HWA tonight.
Interview with former ECW superstar CW Anderson Interviewed by Kevin Wilson of http://www.chairshots.com 12/13/01
Today I conducted an interview with former ECW superstar CW Anderson over the phone. Below you will find out some information on what CW is up to now and his thoughts about today's business, Also I asked him about the final night in ECW. CW also comments on the WWF and much more.
KW: CW Thank you for joining me today for this interview.
CW: No problem, thanks for having me.
KW: I know you grew up in the Raleigh, NC. area what was your impression of the Four Horsemen?
CW: I didn't take advantage of what they were showing me. My brother was into them more growing up then I was but I never really got hooked on them like most did.
KW: Since ECW closed it's doors what have you been up to?
CW: I have been working a few indy dates in the NC. area. Working close to where I live keeps the travel cost down since I pay my way through most of my traveling.
KW: Which indy promotions are you working for right now?
CW: Mostly SCW which runs shows here in NC. Raleigh, Rocky Mount and surrounding areas. I have been working for them off and on with guys like Shane Helms and The Hardy Boys.
KW: You have a wrestling school in Smithfield, NC., tell me a little about that.
CW: I have been training wrestlers off and on for about five or six years. At first I didn't want to train guys but some friends talked me into doing it and so I did. I also didn't have a name for it but I finally came up with "The Anderson Academy" for the name. I didn't know what to do with the school but now I know my way around it.
KW: When do you train guys?
CW: I train every Sunday in Smithfield, NC. at 1pm
KW: We have heard so many comments and stories of the last night in ECW, Tell me what it was like being a part of that.
CW: It was tough, In the back of all of our minds we all thought that Paul (Heyman) was going to pull through and keep the company alive. Me and guys like Super Crazy were all standing in the ring saying our goodbyes and we were both crying, it was very hard.
We really thought and were hoping that Paul could come through and with guys like Tommy Dreamer helping out we were hoping for the best.
I really didn't know if the company was done or not. Not until I saw Paul Heyman on Raw a few months back did I understand that it was indeed over with.
KW: What was it like in the ECW locker room?
CW: It was great, everyone was like family. We would sit around and cut up and tell jokes which made for a nice place to be in. When I was trained down at the WCW Power Plant I had the chance to go in the WCW locker room. It was not the same as ECW's because no one really came together and had fun.
It was a much different style in WCW. Their wasn't much kidding around.
KW: Lets change topics for a minute, I wanted to ask your thoughts on Backyard Wrestling.
CW: I think today's backyard wrestlers are ridiculous. They have no idea what their doing and thats why they get hurt so much. I use to do it with my friends also but we knew how to do it right with a ring in the backyard and we were trained wrestlers.
Most of these kids doing it today aren't trained and have no respect for their body. I have watched some of their tapes (laughs) and they have no idea what their doing to themselves.
KW: Now that ECW is gone and WCW was bought by Vince McMahon and the WWF, what is your outlook on wrestling?
CW: I had a guy ask me this question the other day and I told him if you had asked me a year ago this time it would have been different to what it is now.
The business has just changed so much that I am just trying to go with it. I am looking to do some business with the new John Boy and Billy show's promotion and seeing how that goes. I am hoping that it takes off. Their are so many people out there that put up a ring and say they have a promotion. I am trying to be careful of that. It's just all about having fun right now.
KW: You say you are trying to stay close to the NC. area but if the WWF came calling would you go?
CW: Yes I would if they called on me. I have heard a few things up there and my name has been thrown around as the next guy to be signed but I don't think thats the case with all the guys they are releasing now.
I heard they wanted to put together some sort of Four Horsemen deal and bringing me into the fold of that but nothing else has come out of it. It would be an honor to work for the WWF though.
KW: What do you think of the current product the WWF is putting out there?
CW: I don't really know, I haven't watched it to much over the past five months. I really only try to catch The Hardy Boys or Shane "The Hurricane" Helms.
KW: We have heard so many rumors over the past few months about new promotions perhaps taking a shot at being number two in the country, what do you think about those who are trying?
CW: Well everyone seems to be trying to take a stab at it but I just don't see anyone being able to be any threat right now.
KW: One promotion that was trying was John Collins and MECW. Were you ever contacted by them?
CW: Yes I was contacted by Tod Gordon and The Sandman a while back but nothing ever came of it.
KW: How about the XWF the new company that Hulk Hogan worked for recently?
CW: I got a call from Jimmy Hart a few months ago and I had never met him before but he was a really nice guy. He booked for a few shows and everything was going good until right before the shows they called and cancelled the bookings.
I really don't care for a promotion booking you then unbooking you. To me it says a lot about a company and I don't care for the way it was handled. I still don't understand why they unbooked me.
KW: I got an email the other day asking my opinion about indy wrestling and if I thought it was dead or not? I am intersted in what you thought about that.
CW: As for their being shows out there.... no I don't think indy wrestling is dead. Their are so many feds out there though that you have the good and the bad but their doesn't seem to be a shortage.
KW: Do you think wrestling is on the downlow?
CW: Of course it is and I think the reason why is because the fans have nothing to choose from now. With ECW gone and WCW their isn't anythings else to turn to other then the WWF.
I really don't know how long the slow spell will last but I hope not long. Right now the talent though is getting worse in the indies because their are to many promotions out there.
KW: I know you said eariler you haven't watched much WWF over the past few months but what did you think of the "Invasion" angle?
CW: I thought it went way to fast and not enough build up went into it. I have read things about it and heard stuff but I just think if they would have ran different compaines and built towards it then it might have worked.
KW: Well CW thanks for joining me today and if anyne wants to book you for an upcoming show or needs to get a hold of you how can they do so?
CW: Thanks for the time and if anyone does need to get a hold of me just go to my website at http://www.ecwanderson.com
