Epitaph
04-20-2004, 01:41 PM
THE HUNT TO SIGN STEVE AUSTIN IS ON
by Mike Johnson @ 8:45:00 AM on 4/20/2004
New Japan Pro Wrestling announced today to the Japanese media their intentions to sign Steve Austin to wrestle for the company. Austin had worked for New Japan in the early 1990s while under contract to WCW. While wrestling for New Japan, Austin delivered a tombstone to Masahiro Chono, injuring his neck years before he suffered a similar fate against Owen Hart at Summerslam '97.
Austin was also working in a New Japan ring when he suffered the tricep injury that eventually led to his well-known firing over the phone at the hands of then-WCW Vice President Eric Bischoff in late 1995, which set the course in motion for Austin's rise as the biggest name in the history of the business.
New Japan is hoping their past affiliation with Austin will give them the inside track to signing Austin, who has become the biggest marquee American name to become available since Goldberg several years back.
Goldberg may also figure into Austin's choice of where to sign as in recent weeks, Austin has also been in negotiations with Dreamstage Entertainment to work their HUSTLE events, which are jointly promoted with ZERO-ONE. Goldberg is signed currently to a Dreamstage deal and expects to sign another one shortly. Goldberg and Austin, who became fast friends during Goldberg's run in WWE, have long expressed a desire to work a major bout against the other, feeling it would be huge money draw.
While the peak of interest for that bout may have passed in the United States, taping it in Japan at a major event there for a possible American PPV broadcast could be a viable option and ensure a big time feel and look to the production of the bout. As irony would have it, Goldberg's last WWE appearance at Wrestlemania XX ended with Austin hitting him with the Stone Cold Stunner, so they have some background for the potential match laid out already.
WWE announced last week on their website that the company had parted ways with Austin due to an inability to come to contractual terms after several weeks of negotiations. One of the issues that plagued the negotiations was Austin's interest in pursuing outside ventures.
With Austin free from WWE for the first time since 1995, the stage is set for him to step back into the ring in Japan. Austin last wrestled at Wrestlemania XIX in Seattle, Washington at Safeco Field, where he was defeated by The Rock in March 2003. He had been active in various roles with WWE since that time.
Can any one imagine Goldberg Vs Austin happening in Japan? **** me if that Happed i think THAT Could draw in aload of Casual Fan's. Infact i think Japan REALLY Could do a better job than WWE Ever could of that "Dream" Feud
by Mike Johnson @ 8:45:00 AM on 4/20/2004
New Japan Pro Wrestling announced today to the Japanese media their intentions to sign Steve Austin to wrestle for the company. Austin had worked for New Japan in the early 1990s while under contract to WCW. While wrestling for New Japan, Austin delivered a tombstone to Masahiro Chono, injuring his neck years before he suffered a similar fate against Owen Hart at Summerslam '97.
Austin was also working in a New Japan ring when he suffered the tricep injury that eventually led to his well-known firing over the phone at the hands of then-WCW Vice President Eric Bischoff in late 1995, which set the course in motion for Austin's rise as the biggest name in the history of the business.
New Japan is hoping their past affiliation with Austin will give them the inside track to signing Austin, who has become the biggest marquee American name to become available since Goldberg several years back.
Goldberg may also figure into Austin's choice of where to sign as in recent weeks, Austin has also been in negotiations with Dreamstage Entertainment to work their HUSTLE events, which are jointly promoted with ZERO-ONE. Goldberg is signed currently to a Dreamstage deal and expects to sign another one shortly. Goldberg and Austin, who became fast friends during Goldberg's run in WWE, have long expressed a desire to work a major bout against the other, feeling it would be huge money draw.
While the peak of interest for that bout may have passed in the United States, taping it in Japan at a major event there for a possible American PPV broadcast could be a viable option and ensure a big time feel and look to the production of the bout. As irony would have it, Goldberg's last WWE appearance at Wrestlemania XX ended with Austin hitting him with the Stone Cold Stunner, so they have some background for the potential match laid out already.
WWE announced last week on their website that the company had parted ways with Austin due to an inability to come to contractual terms after several weeks of negotiations. One of the issues that plagued the negotiations was Austin's interest in pursuing outside ventures.
With Austin free from WWE for the first time since 1995, the stage is set for him to step back into the ring in Japan. Austin last wrestled at Wrestlemania XIX in Seattle, Washington at Safeco Field, where he was defeated by The Rock in March 2003. He had been active in various roles with WWE since that time.
Can any one imagine Goldberg Vs Austin happening in Japan? **** me if that Happed i think THAT Could draw in aload of Casual Fan's. Infact i think Japan REALLY Could do a better job than WWE Ever could of that "Dream" Feud