Old Dirtsheet Articles from 1997 to the year 2000

[Sweettre15]

I went on a Nostalgia Hunt to see what I can find as far as older newsletters/dirtsheet articles go and I found this stuff from 1997 to 2000. If someone can find headlines from even further back in time then feel free to post them here:

HEADLINES FROM 1997

Hit Man WCW bound: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/nov5_hartgone.html

Hart's move to WCW confirmed: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/nov6_wres.html

Hit man: "The WWF can go to hell": http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/nov11_hitman.html

Owen and Bulldog staying in the WWF: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/nov12_owen.html


HEADLINES FROM 1998

Hulk Hogan eyes WWF return: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/jan10_coach.html

WCW Stuck in The Stone Age: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/oct31_wcw.html

One on One with The Bulldog: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/bulldog_interview.html


HEADLINES FROM 1999

Michaels faces toughest foe: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/jan9_coach.html

WWF has "Super" plans: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/jan21_super.html

Jericho's future up in the air: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/mar10_jericho.html

Hart quits the WCW: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/mar30_wretor.html

Jericho signs with the WWF: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/jun30_jericho.html

Mcmahon lashes out at Hitman over behavior at Owen Hart's funeral: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/jul28_wrecal.html

Russo bolts to WCW: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/oct6_russo.html

Hogan wants out of WCW: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/oct10_hogan.html

Stone Cold turning Heel?: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/oct16_cole.html

Nitro to lose an hour?: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/oct20_nitro.html

Guerrero Thrilled with WCW role: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/nov18_guerrero.html


HEADLINES FROM 2000

Benoit parts ways with WCW: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive2000/jan22_cole.html

Benoit, Saturn, WWF-bound?: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive2000/jan25_releases.html


So looking back on these articles, how does it feel reading this while knowing the ACTUAL aftermath of these events? I definitely get a surreal feeling but find it hard to imagine how some of you guys along with the rest of the IWC were reacting to this news that is IF you guys were using the internet for wrestling discussions during these times.

 

[kris8524]

Wow that is amazing i rem some of it like it was yesterday the first time i read it. The hoga n eying WWF return is important because later it showed why micheals didnt get along and that hogan would try and be the stronger of the two after the fued.

 

[Degenerate88]

Awesome thread! I've been combing through some now on the canoe website and found some pretty good ones!

Hart's WWF days numbered: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/oct5_hart.html
Talks about Bret giving 30 days notice a few weeks or so before the screwjob and his plans to go to WCW.

Rude awakening for WWF boss: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/nov22_wrestling.html
Neat little article about Rick Rude showing up on WCW Nitro live while he was also on RAW at the same time, which happened to be pre-taped.

Stone Cold floors WWF boss: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/sep27_wrestling.html
If i'm not mistaken, this is the night that the Austin vs McMahon feud really kicked off.

WWF should clean-up its act: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/feb25_editorial.html
I like this one because it's an editors view on how bad he thought the product was, yet it turned out to be one of the best periods in wrestling history.

Just a few I thought i'd share. There's so many awesome articles that take you back. It's a good viewing for any fan. (scroll to the bottom to change years)
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/archive1997.html

 

[Sweettre15]

^ Man, It's wild to be able to read these Dirtsheets of historical events in wrestling that are still conversation to this day from the perspective of someone finding out about it in the early stages as well as the criticisms of the product during that time frame.

 

[Sweettre15]

Awesome thread! I've been combing through some now on the canoe website and found some pretty good ones!

Hart's WWF days numbered: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/oct5_hart.html
Talks about Bret giving 30 days notice a few weeks or so before the screwjob and his plans to go to WCW.

Rude awakening for WWF boss: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/nov22_wrestling.html
Neat little article about Rick Rude showing up on WCW Nitro live while he was also on RAW at the same time, which happened to be pre-taped.

Stone Cold floors WWF boss: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/sep27_wrestling.html
If i'm not mistaken, this is the night that the Austin vs McMahon feud really kicked off.

WWF should clean-up its act: http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/feb25_editorial.html
I like this one because it's an editors view on how bad he thought the product was, yet it turned out to be one of the best periods in wrestling history.

Just a few I thought i'd share. There's so many awesome articles that take you back. It's a good viewing for any fan. (scroll to the bottom to change years)
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/archive1997.html

I also have to say thanks for putting the link on here for others to read the articles as well. I had read a bunch of these a week or so ago when I found that SLAM/Canoe still had their headlines archived. It's good too see that people who werent online during this time can read about when all of these events were falling into place regardless of whether or not anything came of it. For example, Hogan eyeing his return during that time frame.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

Shame there were none of the Owen or Pillman tragedies. Those would be interesting to go back and read.

I can remember reading on WZ about some of those things happening but the screwjob being my first real "IWC" experience. Prior to that it'd been hotlines etc.

I'd like to say we've come a long way but we probably haven't

 

[Sweettre15]

Shame there were none of the Owen or Pillman tragedies. Those would be interesting to go back and read.

I can remember reading on WZ about some of those things happening but the screwjob being my first real "IWC" experience. Prior to that it'd been hotlines etc.

I'd like to say we've come a long way but we probably haven't

Actually, I think there are articles about an investigation of Owen Hart's death. I didnt post them but you should be able to find something about it in the 1999 archive.

 

[Degenerate88]

Shame there were none of the Owen or Pillman tragedies.

I remember coming across a few. One in particular was a story about Owen's funeral. http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/jul28_wrecal.html

 

[Tbgator85]

Man the WWF had plans for Cena in 1999.... amazing!

 

[Sweettre15]

Man the WWF had plans for Cena in 1999.... amazing!

That was a good one but this article was actually alluding to the Empty Arena Match between Mankind and The Rock I believe.

 

[TheHitMark-SirJoseOle]

Wow that is amazing i rem some of it like it was yesterday the first time i read it. The hoga n eying WWF return is important because later it showed why micheals didnt get along and that hogan would try and be the stronger of the two after the fued.

Right, you're talking about the same Shawn Michaels that "lost his smile", and in most storyline situations would be stripped of a title rather than outright lose it, if I assume correctly? Please, correct me if I'm wrong. Not saying that I don't like Shawn Michaels and that I'm not a fan, but seriously at the time this article was written, if what they say about Michaels was true, I can't see him being any better to deal with it than Hogan.

I get it that Hogan has had his controversies throughout the rumor mill, but let's not take these dirtsheet articles with 100 percent merit. Yes, several things that were listed in here were true, i.e. Bret Hart's WWF departure, as well as some of the other aforementioned defections.

But basing the whole 2005 behind the scenes climate on Hogan's angle with HBK on an article from the late 90s about Hogan going back to WWF is ridiculous.

I will concede that indeed some dirt sheet stuff is grounded in fact, although quite embellished afterwards, but a lot of stuff just never outright happens. And some of the so called animus that we read about is just to fuel the fire and generate website traffic.

 

[AAPTSLTS]

The most interesting one to me is the Hogan rumor in early 1998. It's fascinating to think what WCW would've done if the rumor had been true and Hogan left before a proper resolution of the Sting/NWO angle. I mean we never really got a good resolution to it, but WCW had invested all of their time and energy into that angle. And where would Hulk have fit into the Attitude era? I'm probably going to spend the rest of the day thinking about the possibilities for both WCW and the WWF.

 

[James]

Right, you're talking about the same Shawn Michaels that "lost his smile", and in most storyline situations would be stripped of a title rather than outright lose it, if I assume correctly? Please, correct me if I'm wrong. Not saying that I don't like Shawn Michaels and that I'm not a fan, but seriously at the time this article was written, if what they say about Michaels was true, I can't see him being any better to deal with it than Hogan.

I get it that Hogan has had his controversies throughout the rumor mill, but let's not take these dirtsheet articles with 100 percent merit. Yes, several things that were listed in here were true, i.e. Bret Hart's WWF departure, as well as some of the other aforementioned defections.

But basing the whole 2005 behind the scenes climate on Hogan's angle with HBK on an article from the late 90s about Hogan going back to WWF is ridiculous.

I will concede that indeed some dirt sheet stuff is grounded in fact, although quite embellished afterwards, but a lot of stuff just never outright happens. And some of the so called animus that we read about is just to fuel the fire and generate website traffic.

Hogan jumped ships to the rival company and talked garbage about it. Did HBK do that? HBK was self-centered but he was willing to kill himself for that company(they had to make him leave). I'd feel the same way if I was in his shoes as well, if you want to be gone then stay away.

 

[TheHitMark-SirJoseOle]

Hogan jumped ships to the rival company and talked garbage about it. Did HBK do that? HBK was self-centered but he was willing to kill himself for that company(they had to make him leave). I'd feel the same way if I was in his shoes as well, if you want to be gone then stay away.

Yeah, and Bret Hart did the same thing when he left WWF. So have countless others who have jumped ship, keep in mind as well, this is professional wrestling. After all, if Hulk Hogan wanted to take pot shots whether in character or not, it's not like WWF didn't take their liberties with him either, let us not forget the Billionaire Ted skits. Which I might add were hilarious and I enjoyed them, and it just went to show you that even with stars who were approaching older age, like Savage and Hogan, Vince couldn't put their star power out of his mind. Hence, the constant references to them even after they left the company.

These people portray characters and even in the internet age, I still take with a grain of salt what ALL of these people say. And while I'll give credit where it's due and say that it's nice to see people like Shawn Michaels stay with an organization long term, while he was in, there was no doubt that his character was protected arguably way too often and that came at the cost of what could have been some great moments, i.e. a WrestleMania 13 rematch with Bret Hart for starters.

Again, there were other great things that happened in its place, but if we're going to play moralist here and put guys like Hogan under the microscope, let's also entertain the possibilities of what other stars have done, and if even half of what they say about Shawn Michaels was true, it trumps anything Hogan ever did. Because if my memory serves me right the only top Hogan ever lost a title via storyline vacating/stripping was when he won his fourth title against The Undertaker. Yes there was that questionable angle where he lost his first WCW Title via DQ to The Giant and of course the infamous twin referee scandal in 1988, but more often than not Hogan's time to drop the strap more often than not happened with a match.

 

[Hard Hit Prince]

I just love that quote from Stephanie in 1999: "If you're asking if I would ever date a wrestler, certainly I would," Stephanie said. "However it wouldn't be good business for me to get romantically involved with anyone in any aspect of our business."

 

[braveh]

The most interesting one to me is the Hogan rumor in early 1998. It's fascinating to think what WCW would've done if the rumor had been true and Hogan left before a proper resolution of the Sting/NWO angle. I mean we never really got a good resolution to it, but WCW had invested all of their time and energy into that angle. And where would Hulk have fit into the Attitude era? I'm probably going to spend the rest of the day thinking about the possibilities for both WCW and the WWF.

Hogan was getting a percentage of the PPV-money and every apparence on Nitro he was making money. The ppv-buys that WCW did in 97 were through the roof. Many did over 400k. Do you think any wrestler ever made more Money than hogan did in 1997?

If they said early 99 ok..but early 98?

 

[Sweettre15]

"If you're asking if I would ever date a wrestler, certainly I would," Stephanie said. "However it wouldn't be good business for me to get romantically involved with anyone in any aspect of our business."

LOL especially in light of her dating HHH during their storyline later that year and throughout 2000 then marrying him at the end of it all.