Sandman Comes To Canada/ WWF - Drag Racing Marriage?
by Marty Goldstein on 2001-07-29
"DO YOU KNOW WINNIPEG? I'm heading there this weekend."
So began my brief phone chat this past week with the Sandman,
who has been quoted all over the Internet after a radio
appearance that broke the news about the launch of Main
Event Wrestling. This ambitious promotion made it's debut,
of sorts, this week, by doing an NWO style run-in on a small
indy show in the city of Evansville, Indiana.
Sandman had spoken privately with me at the XPW card in
Los Angeles on July 7 about this start-up, and indicated
that many of his ECW co-horts would be working for this
office. Since I was sworn to secrecy, I had to keep the
basic details to myself. So far, the announcements that
have been made about running 3 crews, with he and Tracy
Smothers booking, Public Enemy as Tag Champs, TV deals in
the works throughout the Eastern U.S., jibe with what "Hak"
had told me in L.A.
One detail I had not heard about until this week was the
Canadian tour, currently a hot topic among indy offices
and fans alike. With no TV, no announced venues and no known
publicity, it will be a tough sell for promoter John Collins
to draw in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg and the other proposed
pit stops.
Sandman, who is otherwise not accepting any more indy bookings,
was headed to Winnipeg this weekend as a short-notice replacement
for former ECW icon Tommy Dreamer, whose WWF obligations
forced him to drop out of the IWA TV taping in my hometown.
My spies told me he was being heavily advertised for his
debut in the 'Peg. So to help things along, I gave my buddy
the most honest advice possible.
"You may not like the city, but it sure has a LOT of beer."
Sandman had a big laugh. At least he had something to look
forward to. I'll be speaking with him again this week.
WWF EXPANDING SPONSORSHIP?
An article in the July 26 San Diego Union-Tribune by Bill
Center speculated that the NHRA might look towards the WWF
to fill an impending sponsorship gap. Due to advertising
restrictions on tobacco companies in the U.S., R.J. Reynolds
has terminated their agreement with the dragsters, which
dates to 1974. Winston will continue to back the much more
popular NASCAR circuit.
The WWF has sponsored 2 funny cars for 2 seasons, and WWF
driver Jerry toliver said "The demographics between the
WWF and drag racing are almost identical." Center then speculated
that if the McMahon empire picks up the NHRA slack, the
cry of "fix" could emerge when teammates such as John Force
and Tony Pedregon collide.
The recent victory of Dale Earnhardt Jr. in dramatic fashion
at the track where his father died gave rise to similar
speculation of a rigged race. Such is the double edged sword
faced by Vince McMahon, who craves the respect and coverage
from the mainstream media but after the XFL fiasco can never
truly escape the stigma of being successful only in a "worked"
environment.
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Quotes
from the boys:
Ed Moretti says "Okay lets see...they did twenty high spots, chairs, tables, chains, outside interference, and juice...what's the rest of the card gonna do"? |