by Josh Lowmon

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The Weekend Shellacking

Welcome to the first edition of the Weekend Shellacking. What is shellacking you ask? Look it up. First one to e-mail me with the correct answer gets a plug in the column. Feel the excitement.

This column is a hybrid news/opinion/ranting/mindless rambling of a column over the week of pro wrestling. I’m also doing this since I can do this thing from work and still contribute with my hellish work schedule so Huzzah!

With that out of the way… on to the shellacking!

First up is the news that Brock Lesnar injured himself this week when he fell off his boat and hit the propeller and sustained a 3 inch long cut that was one inch deep to the back of his knee. It looks as if he will be missing the weekend house shows but no word if he will be at the Smackdown tapings from Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. On a side note, Brock also REFUSED pain medication that was offered to him. He’s a manly man. (Credit to 1wrestling.com for this bit of info).

Random WWE News:

One of Vince and Stephanie McMahon’s favorite character right now is said to be Sable.

Vince McMahon is apparently also the idea man behind White Boy Challenge that we see every week.

McMahon and the writing staff justify not pushing mid and low card wrestlers because “they wont be the next Rock”. This attitude is reportedly angering those in the lower card. (Credit to PWTorch.com)

RAW did a 4.1 cable rating last night, with a 6.6 share. The show did hours of 3.8 and 4.3, and was up .6 from last week's 3.5 rating. I’m glad it did better because I dig Evolution. Randy Orton is doing fairly well and Triple H plays the perfect asshole who acts like he has all the power in the world because he is sleeping with the bosses daughter. And of course Flair is Flair.
(Credit to 1wrestling.com)

Smackdown did a 3.2 rating with a 5.7 share, which is a drop from last week but could be partially due to being pre-empted in Los Angeles.

Kurt Angle is said to have felt no pain at all after his match with Charlie Haas on Smackdown this past Thursday. (Credit 1wrestling.com)

According to JR, Goldberg will be having a shift in character to an “animal” that fights more but talks less. Seems to me like they are going back to the WCW character. Apparently the creative team is really in a hole when they are reverting to WCW ideas. (Credit wrestlingobserver.com)

Some quick and funny WWE injury notes to report.

Lita’s neck has been feeling good during her rehab assignment in OVW and should be joining the RAW roster on her return, possibly in a feud with Jazz.

Kidman is rehabbing in OVW as well with a new short haircut and should be back on Smackdown soon. I am looking forward to some Mysterio vs. Kidman again.

In the funniest news yet… the APA was scheduled to return to Smackdown but that has been delayed because of a double hernia that has sidelined Bradshaw yet again for 6-8 weeks. Seems that voodoo doll has came in handy… now if only Kevin Nash would submit to its awesome power. (Credit goes to the Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter).

Early RAW Preview for 6/23/2003:

For almost five years, Kane has been hiding his face from WWE Superstars and fans. This Monday when RAW comes to you live from Madison Square Garden in New York City, we may see the man under the mask. If Kane is able to keep his mask on, it is because he will have just captured the World Heavyweight Championship. That's right, it will be Triple H taking on Kane. Pre-match stipulations state that if Kane cannot defeat The Game for the title, he must unmask right there and then. Will we see Kane's face? Or will the big red monster finally defeat Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship? Find out Monday night on RAW on The New TNN (9/8 CT).

Just a little NWA-TNA news this week.

Raven said to be trying to get Mike Tenay fired as the lead announcer for NWA: TNA. No word on what causes the heat, but Mike Sanders also reportedly has heat with Tenay. Who cares what Mike Sanders thinks and who the fuck is he to even venture an opinion.. about anything? And what is the problem with Tenay? He is one of my favorites on commentary and actually knows what he is talking about. (Credit to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

In some fun Indy news, Steve Corino was arrested this week when U.S. Customs detained him when he returned from a tour in Japan. He is being charged with forgery and misdemeanor and felony access-device fraud. A trial is scheduled for June 23rd. Here is the statement from the man himself:

Statement from Steve Corino

First before I start I want to thank the web sites that have posted this statement from me.

Most of you have probably read that I was arrested recently on charges of forgery and fraud in suburban Philadelphia. This is true. As reported correctly I was arrested in Detroit, Michigan on charges that I forged a $2100 check and used a credit card of an ex-girlfriend of mine without her knowledge. This ex-girlfriend claimed I used her credit card 25 times without her knowledge.

I want to go on public record and tell the world that I at no time was ever involved in any illegal activity and I am looking forward to proving my 100% innocence in a court of law. It is a shame that this has happened and I am also looking forward to the truth coming out in this matter as soon as possible.

I apologize to my family, friends, and fans that they have to read negative things about me in the newspaper and Internet. The real truth of this situation will come out in court and I am confident that I will be found innocent of all charges.

A great thing we have here in America is "innocent until proven guilty" and I ask all my family, friends, and fans to keep that in mind when reading about this case. I have not done anything illegal and will prove that in court.

As you have probably figured out this is the reason I was not in attendance at the Ring Of Honor show on Saturday, June 14. I apologize to Rob Feinstien, Gabe Sopolasky, Donavon Morgan, Christopher Daniels, Danny Maff, Samoa Joe, CW Anderson, the rest of the boys, and mostly the fans for not being able to attend. I will continue to wrestle and will be in court on Monday to ask the judge for clearance to return to Japan for ZERO-ONE, which I am confident he will allow.

Thank you to everyone in my family and friends that have supported me and helped me in the last 19 days as this nightmare has unfolded. You truly realize who your friends are when something horrible happens to you.

In closing I want to thank the fans for their support already in this matter. Please realize that I am not a criminal, never will be, and I appreciate all the support you guys are giving me through this hard time.

Sincerely,

Steve Corino

You can take that for what you will. I personally will wait for the court date and see what the judgment is.

Well that is about it for this report.

Send me feedback here and see if you can figure out what shellacking is to get your name in the lights!

Later,
Josh Lowmon

Also check out my TSM Archives!

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