by Greg Dillard

This series of emails was sent to my by a long time Rantsylvania reader who apparently has some connections at high levels of the wrestling scene. I think you'll agree with me that it gives a very interesting peek inside the world of pro-wrestling, its journalists, and this little thing we call smarkdom.

Oh and for those wanting to know what's up with The Edge, well that's a different column - and one that is forthcoming. Needless to say Senor Hyatte and I are trying to re-tool the show given my recently re-acquired DSL skills and the lack of potential guests in the future now that the WWF owns everyone lock, stock, and barrel. But enough about that...we'll be back in some form soon. Now...the emails:

Date: 3/18/01
From: Bob Ryder (BRyder@wcw.com)
To: Wade Keller (Keller@pwtorch.com)
RE: News

Wade,

Just wanted to send you a quick note to congratulate you on the recent success of The Torch website. I know we've had our differences lately but I think you're really doing a great job. The rest of it's all a work - but I know you know that.

Anyway, keep an eye on the trades. I hear there's something big going down. Lord knows I want our sites to get the news first and keep the pageviews in UGO sites. Fuck Meltzer!

Later,

Bob


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Date 3/18/01
From: Jason Powell (Powell@pwtorch.com)
To: Bob Ryder (BRyder@wcw.com)
RE: FW: News

Bob,

What's this shit with kissing Wade's ass? I was over at his house today changing his cat box and I see this email from you? Do you really think he's that stupid?

Anyway, if you're talking about Turner axing WCW programs...we already heard. I ran into a kid at a Hardee's this morning that has an aunt on the cleaning crew in CNN Center in Atlanta and she told us.

JP

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Date 3/19/01
From: Eric Bischoff (EZE@hotmail.com)
To: Terry Hogan (Flex4cash@earthlink.net)
RE: It's dead

Terry,

Just wanted to let you know the deal is dead. Fusient and Bedol are pulling out their money today officially. Apparently Turner can't even pull this one out of the ashes himself. I have a good feeling that McMahon may be behind all of this.

Either way I've got a meeting tomorrow with ESPN. With you, me, and guys like Lex, Buff, Rick, and Scott - we'll be kicking WCW and the WWF's ass in no time.

Call me when you get in town next week and we'll do lunch. Bye the way...Page says hi, but he's a bit distraught right now.

Ciao,

Eric

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Date: 3/19/01
From: Bob Ryder (BRyder@wcw.com)
To: Dave Meltzer (Meltz@eyada.com)
Re: News

Dave,

Long time no talk. Great job recently on the Eyada show. You guys really do a great job there. Someday we should talk about merging some of the WCW Live talent and your show. We could do big business there.

Anyway, the reason I'm emailing is because Fusient is pulling out of the WCW deal. I'm hearing Jerry Jarrett may have an interest, but the big thing going down is with the WWF. I expect them to keep me around...they know what I mean to this business. I wanted to give you the scoop though. Fuck Keller, let's just keep this with the trailblazers - you and me.

Who knows...maybe you and I can do some business in the new WCW?

Bob

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Date: 3/20/01
From: Shane McMahon (SOMAC@wwfe.com)
To: Jamie Kellner (hatchetman@turner.com)
RE: Deal

Thanks for your quick response on the paperwork. My people just reviewed it all and the package should be on your desk in the AM. It's been great working with you folks.

Let's try and keep this on the QT for the next couple days. We'd like to announce this the WWF way.

Thanks,

Shane


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Date: 3/20/01
From: Vince McMahon (VKMcmahon@wwf.com)
To: Jeff Jarrett (Slapnuts@wcw.com)
Scott Steiner (roidrage@wcw.com)
Kevin Nash (BigDaddy@wcw.com)
Dustin Runnels (used2begoldust@wcw.com)

I'm laughing last. Have fun at the soup kitchen.

Mr. McMahon


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Date: 3/21/01
From: Bob Ryder (BRyder@wcw.com)
To: Al Iassacs (scoopsal@ign.com)
Re: Update

Al,

Do you still have a website? I love you man.....

Call me!

Bob

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Date: 3/21/01
From: Ernest Miller (Cat@wcw.com)
To: Page Faulkenburg (DDPBang@ddpbang.com)
Re: Bischoff

Can you believe how bad that bitch fucked us over? Fusient.....who the hell ever heard of them in the first place. I'm going to find that Bedol bitch and kick his little white ass.

Somebody call my momma, I'm going to kill Bischoff's kid in class next week.

Is ECW still around?

Cat

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Date: 3/22/01
From: Scott Keith (scott@rantsylvania.com)
To: Random House Publishing (agent@randomhouse.com)
Re: Book Idea

Hi,

I'm Scott Keith and I am the author of "The Buzz on Wrestling", a recently published book on the world of pro-wrestling. I have a great idea for a new book based on the recent downfall of WCW. I've just FEDEXed you a package with my recent book as well as my publicity photo attached.

Call my agent when you receive it. His number is forthcoming!

Thanks,

Scott

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Date: 3/22/01
From: Dave Meltzer (Meltz@eyada.com)
To: Wade Keller (keller@pwtorch.com)
RE: Ryder

Wade,

Thanks for the heads up on Ryder. It seems that the lazy bastard is finally getting what's coming to him. Watching him beg for forgiveness in these emails is hilarious. I say we let him flail away in public for awhile before we bail his fat ass out.

He even thinks that the WWF is going to pick up Borash and his show. I mean come on...Borash isn't bad, but he's no Bryan Alvarez right...

Yeah, I'm kidding.

Tell Brucie I said "hey".

Later,

Dave

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Date: 3/24/01
From: Dusty The Fat Bitter Cat (dustbutt@respectthepussy.com)
To: Chris Hyatte (Glorydog@msn.com)
Re: War

Hyatte,

I haven't heard from you in a week or so. Hopefully you're on board with my "worked feud" with you. It'd mean a million to me dude. You know the traffic troubles we've been having and the feud could be the thing to get it all going again.

The offer still stands for ScT v5.0. Ashish can go screw off.

By the way, who's Greg Dillard and why are you hanging with him?

Email me back asap,

Dusty

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Date: 3/25/01
From: Bob Ryder (BRyder@wcw.com)
To: Dusty The Fat Bitter Cat (dustbutt@respectthepussy.com)
RE: Arrangement

Dusty,

I wanted to see if you still were involved in a website. Does ScoopThis still exist? We need to do business together, and I'm going to have a lot of time on my hands soon.

Call me, you have my number!

Bob

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Like I said, an interesting look into a lot of events all going on at a similar time. Like a game of dominos, life has been altered by the WWF/WCW deal. Who knows where it all ends....

Stick around for me of me and more news on The Edge.