In this weekly column, I will comment on the past week's goings-on in WOW, and whatever else it occurs to me to discuss :-) I also hope that a big part of the column will be printing and responding to your e-mails. So please send them in (the address is thatthing35@yahoo.com)!
TFHWrestling.com - read my column, "Eat My Dust" by Tom Dean, and all the other (often WOW-related) content!
7/11/01: Mailbag Redux
Well, lots of you had thoughts on WOW's press release last week that indicated that WOW's financial backer, Carter M. Fortune, had accepted more ownership of the company in exchange for the money WOW owed him, thus bringing the company out of debt. Since WOW has not been able to come up with anything to follow up on that yet (big surprise), we'll devote this week's columns to your letters. First, though, let me say that Chris Connor has written another great fantasy column to follow up last week's. It ties WOW into the current big angle in wrestling -- the WCW/ECW invasion -- and is really a lot of fun. If you missed last week's, check that out too. Anyway, mailbag. My responses are in italics.
Jack Stark writes:
"My sweatpants are off now, and I'm back wearing slacks.
Your latest article gave me a great deal of hope that perhaps WOW will be back
and better than
ever, especially since McLame is out of the management picture. (Did I read
that right?)"
Out of the ownership picture, yes.
"Perhaps, they'll fire that idiot writer they have who used to write for GLOW (as opposed to GLOOW) and get somebody who won't rely on material that was out of date in 1990.
"You may recall that in my last letter I mentioned the idea of having a Japanese women's wrestling organization (specifically ARSION) do an event here in the US. I also sent my suggestion to ARSION thinking that they would brush it off as crazy, but they didn't. They felt that they could get a number of people, especially on the West Coast, to come to a US ARSION show, however, the various expenses they would incur (hotel, renting a building, bus, air fare, etc.) made the idea prohibitively expensive. This is where a new WOW could come to the rescue, while helping its own product. I think that a joint WOW/ARSION show (or WOW and any other Japanese organization) would be very beneficial for everyone involved. For ARSION (let's assume they do it with them) a joint show would cut down on expenses, give them exposure in the American media market, and would probably create more interest in their organization back in Japan. For WOW, it would mean a larger audience as Japanese and CMLL fans would probably take advantage of a rare opportunity to see these wrestlers in North America, and WOW wrestlers would get to work with some of the best, most experienced women wrestlers in the world. The latter benefit would improve WOW's product over the long term as well, since working with the ARSION veterans would improve the in-ring skills and knowledge of the WOW performers. Right now, they probably only get to practice against each other, and there are only two wrestlers in WOW with more than a couple of years experience."
Sounds great to me down the road, but we're a long way off right now from WOW doing shows. And I do wonder if WOW, if and when it gets going, would be interested. WOW is (or has been) completely sports entertainment... the Japanese style is so totally different. I think it would be a good experience for WOW, but I wonder if they would see that. Anyways, if WOW ever gets back on their feet, someone should ask them whether they would have any interest in this.
"Second, I recently read a number of your profiles of the WOW stars, where
I had only read a couple previously. Though I didn't agree with everything
100%, I felt that you made some really insightful, and often amusing comments
about the various performers in WOW. I suggest that anyone who checks out this
site for your column and/or the fantasy stuff should also check out those profiles.
It shows how a number of WOW's fans have a lot more of a clue as to how to make
the show successful than WOW's own management/writers."
Thanks for the plug :-) I actually no longer agree with some of what I said myself. I should go back and edit some of that stuff.
Bob van Peer writes:
"I'm glad to hear that Carter Fortune did what I frankly felt was the only thing he could, namely exchange the debt owed him in exchange for ownership of the company. The alternative was to allow the company to expire, resulting in writing off the debt."
Which, honestly, was what I was expecting.
"The question in my mind is, just how much does Fortune know about pro wrestling? I think he's going to have to hire knowledgeable people to run the company. If he relies on McLane the situation isn't really much better. The financial situation is a lot better, for if he is 50% owner of a company that is developing a 126 acre site in western Ohio, 6 million dollars is likely small change to him, he's probably worth close to 200 million or so. He may have the money to acquire the TV time the company needs."
I do wonder how much money Fortune has. On one hand, he seems to be pretty well off, because he lost almost $6 million yet seems to be ready to come back for more... but on the other hand, remember that that 50% of the real estate company was only worth $120,000. Anyways, although I am glad Fortune is willing to spend the money to get WOW back on its feet, I don't want to see him go beyond that and actually buy the show onto TV. That will just be throwing good money after bad. if If they don't want to have to pull the show again after four months, they need a cable deal.
babyhawg writes:
"After reading your latest thoughts (which was great news for WOW), we are still left with more questions than answers. McLane appears to at least be out of the spotlight. That is TREMENDOUS! And is the first step in the right direction. But who replaces him from a creative standpoint?"
Quite possibly, nobody. Believe me, I would be doing a jig if I truly believed he was gone altogether... but since he has recently contacted the wrestlers, he is probably still involved, and I dunno what else he would be doing besides creative.
"We don't know. A writer from hollywood? Someone from the wrestling industry? Russo? (now I'm getting nauseous) Whoever replaces him will determine the fate of WOW. If Fortune picks the wrong guy (Russo, or most other people for that matter), WOW will fail. There is an infinite number of wrong ways to go, and only a miniscule number of right ways. In my humble opinion (and I think you will agree), Fortune must find someone with experience in the wrestling industry (not Russo, I'm talking about a successful experience here) who is willing to take an enormous chance."
Actually, Russo can be great, but only if you have a bunch of people around who are also talented (to keep him under control), so it's not very cost-effective.
Whoever has the job will be putting not only their reputation on the line, but their career as well. Because of this, the few people who are actually qualified for the job will be wise enough to demand a deal that is substantially sweetened. Will Fortune be willing to pay that price? Or will he pick some starving hollywood writer that is willing to work for peanuts? To me, the question of 'Who will replace McLane?' is the most important issue concerning the future of WOW."
Well said. I think you are right that it might be tough for them to get a proven writer. I agree that they should try for that... but personally, I would accept as a reasonable substitute someone who does not have that experience, but who can prove they know how to write wrestling. It's analogous to hiring inexperienced wrestlers... as we saw, some of them did work out, although many of them did not. WOW would just have to show good human resources skills, and pick the right person. And it really should not be McLane (or the former GLOW writer), unless they have somehow done a total 180.
Michael Walker writes:
"I have to agree with what you said about McLane. If WOW
does go to a more modern style of booking it is a sure sign that McLane is no
longer in charge of the
creative direction of the company. That just isn't his style."
I hope it means that, but we have to see.
"I think that changing to this style is the best thing that WOW can do. I actually enjoy some of the cheesy gimmicks but it just doesn't sell anymore. The reason that Vince McMahon stopped using these types of gimmicks is because they no longer make money.If the public wanted this style of booking again McMahon would switch back to it in a heartbeat. It all boils down to money. If WOW wants to succeed they obviously need to present a product that people will pay money to see."
Precisely.
"I just hope that they won't switch over to a GLOOW style
pure T&A format. I think that in order to succeed WOW needs to present its
product in afashion
similar to the mens' promotions. They need to let the women 'get over' by putting
them in compelling storylines. And letting them show off their athletic skills.
This is what will lead to long term success."
You're reading my mind :-)
"I think that it is going to be very interesting to see how
this story develops over the next few weeks/months.WOW seams to be the Freddy
Krueger/Jason
of wrestling promotions. When you thinks its dead it springs back to life I
just hope that the people in charge know what they are doing. I would really
love
to see this fed succeed. I look forward to reading your column each week to
see how this story develops."
Pat writes:
"So what do you think even with the change of ownership can WOW be up by September in time for the fall?"
No. Absolutely not.
"I hope so. Cable deal again seems unreal look at WCW I can't believe no one will sign them, it is a little ridiculous."
Yeah, that's the big problem, huh?
"Let me know. I hope this does become something else entirely, by the way who is fortune and why the interest?"
Fortune is the guy who has been bankrolling this thing all along. So I assume he's not ready yet to give up on the idea of getting back the money he's spent.
"It's a good deal for McLane... it's kind of like he made the mess, now dad is here to clean it up? I heard some of the girls will definitely be released."
It'll be hard for us to tell who wasn't wanted back, and who didn't want to be back... but yes, surely the cast will be drastically different.
"I hope McLane continues to do commentary. I know that sounds bad but I think he is funny."
Unfortunately, I don't think incompetent announcing draws much money.
Bob Porrazzo writes:
"This report I've been reading would defintely sound the Fox News Alert Sounder on Fox News Channel. In essence McLane has been pushed aside by Mr. Fortune b/c McLane screwed up bigtime on his investment in WOW?"
That's one theory. Another theory is that McLane wants to keep this going, and the only way to convince Fortune to do that was to hand over his ownership. You can come up with other theories if you're creative.
"Can't say I blame Mr. Fortune for doing this. But in a way McLane comes out with some cash so in some small way, it's a win-win situation, since WOWE is I guess back to even in the $$$ department. I had to read this report over and over again, not being like Neil Cavuto or the CNBC staff. If I were Mr. Fortune, go for the cable deal as you may run the risk of losing less money. If you go syndie, FORGET ABOUT IT!"
Yup, exactly.
"Millions of dollars are being paid by stations to air shows like Seinfeld, 3rd Rock, Wheel of Fortune and soon Millionaire, Weakest Link and a new version of the $100,000 Pyramid. If you don't pay, you can't play or as the Connecticut Lottery used to say 'You can't win if you don't play.'
"I have to give Davey Mac a lot of credit for having the chutzpah to air women's wrestling on in the US. You know, one poster on the old board said McLane was like Ed Wood."
I've seen that comparison many times, actually.
"I say he's more like another dereanged producer--Chuck Barris (Dating Game, Newlywed Game, The New Treasure Hunt, The Parent Game, 3's A Crowd and of course The Gong Show). SOW, McLane sometimes sounds like Geoff Edwards of TNTH after pulling a $25,000 check from a lucky box! And he gets beat around like Edwards too! Could the two have been separated at birth?"
It's very easy to see McLane as a game show host...
"One only wonders! I guess this is Mr. Fortune's time to give wrestling a spin on the Wheel of Fortune. One only knows if it'll come up BANKRUPT."
Well said.
Please e-mail me with
your thoughts about anything WOW-related!
(e-mail: thatthing35@yahoo.com)