(October 6, 2002)

Hello Rust-Heads, and welcome to the next edition of Ring Rust. In
this week's article, I'm going to cover the Unforgiven PPV, Wrestling
Injuries and roster cuts, new wrestling toys, and tell you what Brian
Adams has been up to. So sit back and leave the world of reality behind
because it's time to talk some wrestling.

First on the agenda today is the Unforgiven PPV. After August’s
SummerSlam PPV, Unforgiven seemed liked an over-hyped episode of Raw or
Smackdown. Talk about crappy storylines, Flair betrays Rob Van Dam just
because Triple H has been ragging on the guy. Yeah sure that’s
believable. The H.L.A. (Hot Lesbian Action) angle must go away and
never return. I’m sick and tired of seeing Bischoff say “Hot… Lesbian…
Action…” in a slow and annoying voice, while the white trash people
play repeat this catch phrase. Let's now talk about the
disqualification ending to the main event. Although in my predictions I
called for a DQ, it doesn’t mean I ever want to see one in the main
event. I pay too damn much money for these PPV’s for them to be a three
hour long commercial just to get me to watch Raw or Smackdown. I want
results, especially in the main event. It was the first PPV held in the
Staples Center in Los Angeles and how does the WWE repay the fans? They
screw them in the main event. Good job Vince, way to make the fans hate
you even more. On to my predictions of the PPV, I went 5-3 for the day,
which isn’t too bad. Okay enough on the PPV, let's hit some other
wrestling news, shall we?

Some wrestlers received their walking papers over the last few weeks.
Those wrestlers include: Shawn Stasiak - long time WWE jobber, and
former WCW Tag Team Champion, (you may also remember him as the
wrestler Meat). Mike Awesome - former ECW Heavyweight Champion, and
first WCW invader to win a WWE title by taking the then WWF Hardcore
title away from Rhino. David Flair - who is the son of Ric Flair, and a
former WCW Tag Team Champion whose greatest accomplishment was getting
to bang Ms. Hancock or as she is known now Stacy Kiebler. What a lucky
guy. Last and certainly the least was Hulk Hogan’s nephew Horace Hogan.
Horace was in Raven’s Flock in the WCW and was part of one of the last
versions of the N.W.O. I know I will miss seeing the man from Planet
Stasiak acting goofy with his wild Johnny Bravo like hair.

Now it's time for the wrestling injury report. Randy Orton separated
his shoulder during last Monday’s Raw. Hardcore Holly will be out a
long time once again due to a ruptured disc in his neck. Holly is
expected to have surgery and be out of action for quite some time.
Holly received the injury during a match with Brock Lesnar from a few
weeks ago. Mark Henry is expected to miss a few weeks of ring time to
rehab an ankle injury. Which is probably why we saw a steel chair used
on the leg of Henry on last week’s Smackdown to write him out of the
storylines for the next couple of weeks. Rey Mysterio will have an MRI
to evaluate his sore knees. The Undertaker hyperextended his elbow and
it will require surgery in the future but he will work through the
injury for now. Bubba Ray Dudley is close to returning to the ring
after suffering a pinched nerve, as seen on Raw a couple of weeks ago.
Jazz and Rhyno should return to WWE action in December. Expect to
see Maven, Christopher Nowinski, Sean O’Haire and Kanyon back in the
ring over the next few months if all goes well. Kevin Nash has set a
goal of returning to WWE by the Royal Rumble. Where I’m sure he’ll work
a couple of weeks before becoming hurt once again.

New wrestling toys are hitting the shelves soon and just in time for
the holidays. The first of the new toys is the WWE Unlimited figures.
They will feature an unlimited amount of articulation, each figure will
have a spine and muscles that look like they’re contracting and flexing
as they move. The first set will included just four figures: The Rock,
Chris Jericho, Edge and Rob Van Dam. I have included a link, which
shows you pictures of these new figures.

http://www.wrestlingfigs.com/news145unlimited.html

The second is a box set called “Rollin’ Rebels” which is based
off the Undertaker/ Hulk Hogan feud of this summer. The box set
includes both the Undertaker and Hogan each with a motorcycle. Both
figures are in the TTL (Titan Tron Live) style and should also be out
before Christmas. Check out the link below to view the goods.

http://www.wrestlingfigs.com/news147rollinrebels.html

The last of toys I will be reporting on for now is the “Flex ‘Ems”
these toys are supposed to be targeted to the younger WWE fan. Each toy
is completely poseable and features the first ever bald Kurt Angle
figure. The line up includes The Rock, Triple H, Edge, Chris Jericho,
Hulk Hogan and Kurt Angle. This set has a December due out time on them
as well. Enjoy the pictures below!

http://www.wrestlingfigs.com/news146flexems.html

Okay I covered the PPV, Wrestling news and injuries, I told you about
the new toys. Now I’m going to tell you about Brian Adams. Brian Adams
was known as Crush in the WWF before moving on to the WCW and becoming
a henchman for the N.W.O., he has had a run as a WCW Tag Team Champion
with Bryan Clarke as the team Kronik. Adams was last seen on WWF TV
last year with Kronik partner Bryan Clarke feuding with Kane and the
Undertaker last summer. What is Adams doing now? He’s boxing. Yes
boxing. He went from sports entertainment that tells you when to lose
and when to win, to a sport that on the highest levels seems faker than
wrestling itself.

Adams will make his professional boxing debut on November 16th on Pay
Per View. Adams will be on the undercard of the “Never Surrender” PPV
which is headlined by the WBC Featherweight World Title fight between
Erik “El Terrible” Morales and Paulie Ayala. Adams still wrestles and
holds the All Japan World tag team championships with Bryan Clarke.
Adams claims he has had a successful career in professional wrestling,
and is looking to do the same in the world of boxing. Adams' opponent
is yet to be named for the Nov. 16th event and as an added bonus former
WWF/WCW World Champion “Macho Man” Randy Savage will be in his corner
cheering on his close friend in his professional boxing debut. Ah,
don’t you feel better now?

Last bit of news, William Moody, better known as Paul Bearer, wrote his
final column on WWE.COM. His contract, which expires in the next week,
will not be renewed. Moody spent 12 years in the WWF, most of them
standing by the side of the Undertaker as his manager. You can read his
farewell message at:

http://www.wwe.com/news/commentary/berarer/1180054

Well that's it for me, till next time you Marks

-Scott

Question of the Month

Kane has held the Tag Team gold 8 different times (the WWE Titles
seven times and the WCW Titles once). How many different tag team
partners did he have and who were they?

Last Month’s “Question of the Month”

What WWF/WWE Champion wrestled under the name “Flex Kavana”? Need a
hint? He is a multiple time Heavyweight Champion, and has been Tag Team
Champion (at least once), this person has wrestled and held both titles
at some time in the last 15 years. Who is he?

Answer: The Rock

Email your answers to me at: fatfinley@hotmail.com.