Wrestling Observer
Headlines for May 2002
Friday, May 31st, 2002
- 06:24 pm Headline: Smackdown ratings and WWE notes
- 06:13 pm Headline: First Friday update: Tough Enough 2 commentary, Weekend schedule including best PPV line-up of the year, and maybe worst PPV in history in a looking back segment plus Graham/Prichard story
- 06:10 pm Headline: Scott Williams on brand extension
- 06:08 pm Headline: WWF Wrestling Classics TV report
- 04:55 am Headline: EMLL, Heat, Raw and Smackdown for the week of April 11, 2001 -- F4W Flashback
- 12:59 am Headline: Tough Enough 2 finishing surprises
Thursday, May 30th, 2002
- 10:01 pm Feature: WWE Smackdown report
- 08:33 pm Headline: Most detailed story on life of Bulldog, separting truth from fiction of WWE show, and who really draws ratings--Details of June 3rd issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, ordering info and this week's special offer
- 08:33 pm Feature: Most detailed story on life of Bulldog, separting truth from fiction of WWE show, and who really draws ratings--Details of June 3rd issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, ordering info and this week's special offer
- 02:31 pm Headline: First Thursday update: Question of the day, Raw ratings, Confidential numbers, Smackdown & Tough Enough tonight, NWA TNA notes, WWE injury, brand split a joke again, Best selling books and more
- 09:30 am Interview: Alex Marvez interviews Paul Hough
- 04:12 am Feature: Steroids and pain pills in wrestling, creative team changes, more: Figure Four Weekly #362 preview plus ordering information, special 5 for $5 offer for new readers, and how to get this week's newest issue free
- 04:12 am Headline: Steroids and pain pills in wrestling, creative team changes, more: Figure Four Weekly #362 preview plus ordering information, special 5 for $5 offer for new readers, and how to get this week's newest issue free
- 02:17 am Headline: OVW TV tapings with unique angle
Wednesday, May 29th, 2002
- 04:02 pm Headline: First Wednesday update: Wrestling's last decade gives baseball a crystal ball to its future, Writing changes, Smackdown notes, Media on Smith, Raven writing and more
- 04:00 pm Headline: NWA Wildside
- 04:00 pm Headline: NWA Wildside TV report
- 04:00 pm Headline: NWA Wildside
- 02:17 pm Headline: WWE Smackdown spoilers from Calgary
- 02:17 pm Feature: WWE Smackdown spoilers from Calgary
Tuesday, May 28th, 2002
- 08:57 pm Headline: Severn stripped of NWA title
- 02:51 pm Feature: WWE Raw Report
- 02:45 pm Headline: First Tuesday update: WWE writing team changes, Smith funeral, lots of Raw notes, NJ PPV, NWA TNA signing, ROH tourney update, movie producer interview and more
- 04:24 am Headline: Flair on life after WCW, Russo on ratings, more: Indy news for week of 4/11/2001 -- F4W Flashback
- 12:35 am Headline: Non-Raw report from Edmonton
Monday, May 27th, 2002
- 02:53 pm Headline: First Monday update: Davey's father refuses to believe drugs are involved, Big Dick Dudley Memorial show, WWE notes
- 02:49 pm Headline: WWE Byte This Report w/Trish Stratus and some hilarious comments by Mean Gene
- 02:46 pm Feature: WWE Sunday Night Heat report
- 02:44 pm Feature: WWE Velocity TV report
- 02:42 pm Headline: More WWE house show notes from Regina 5-26
- 02:15 am Headline: WWE house show report 5-26 Regina
- 02:13 am Headline: WWF house show report 5-26 Red Deer
Sunday, May 26th, 2002
- 03:02 pm Headline: First Sunday update; Hart on WOL, Raves about match from Europe and Japan and much more
- 02:59 pm Headline: WWE Confidential report
- 02:58 pm Headline: Galavision Lucha Libre report for 5-25
- 02:57 pm Headline: Championship Wrestling (Memphis) TV report
- 02:54 pm Headline: K-1 report 5-25 Paris
- 02:51 pm Headline: WWE house show report 5-25 Saskatoon
- 04:41 am Headline: WWE house show report 5-25 Winnipeg
- 04:36 am Headline: WWE house show repot 5-24 Duluth
Saturday, May 25th, 2002
- 05:04 pm Headline: Bret Hart on Wrestling Observer Live this week
- 03:24 pm Headline: Jado injury notes
- 01:05 pm Headline: First Saturday update: GHC heavyweight and junior titles up; K-1 on Eurosport, More on NWA TNA, legendary manager returns and more
- 01:00 pm Headline: Dory Funk's "BANG" TV report w/Nishimura
- 02:49 am Headline: WWE house show report 5-24 Duluth
Friday, May 24th, 2002
- 04:24 pm Headline: Smackdown ratings
- 01:50 pm Headline: First Friday update: Hogan retirement and ratings, Smith's service, more of WCW in WWE, Weekend schedule, Positioning of June PPVs, and UFC TV bouts in UK
- 01:45 pm Headline: FOX Celebrity boxing report
- 01:44 pm Headline: Championship Wrestling (Memphis) TV report
- 01:42 pm Headline: NWA Wildside TV report
- 09:56 am Interview: Alex Marvez interviews Ron Pritchard
- 04:50 am Headline: WCW relaunch, Michaels, XFL, more: April 11, 2001 WWE news -- F4W Flashback
- 01:39 am Feature: WWE Smackdown report
Thursday, May 23rd, 2002
- 09:30 pm Headline: The life and times of Davey Boy Smith, Judgment Day review, exactly where Goldberg stands and life of the mythical king of the jungle; preview of the May 27th Wrestling Observer Newsletter, ordering info and this week's special offers
- 09:30 pm Feature: The life and times of Davey Boy Smith, Judgment Day review, exactly where Goldberg stands and life of the mythical king of the jungle; preview of the May 27th Wrestling Observer Newsletter, ordering info and this week's special offers
- 06:45 pm Headline: UFC gets American TV slot
- 02:01 pm Feature: WWF Wrestling Classics TV report
- 01:50 pm Headline: First Thursday update: Ratings for Laurer vs. Joey, Joey's comments, Smackdown tonight, Best of Super Junior, Top selling books, MCW honors Steamboat, Eaton and Morton
- 01:47 pm Headline: Ben Miller on the WWE split
- 01:44 pm Headline: Scott Williams on recent wrestling deaths
- 04:04 am Headline: Bios of Davey Boy, Arai, Gordienko, Golden Boy, Rizzo, Alexander, Ford and Kulas -- Figure Four Weekly #361 preview plus ordering information, special offers, and how to get this week's newest issue free
- 04:04 am Feature: Bios of Davey Boy, Arai, Gordienko, Golden Boy, Rizzo, Alexander, Ford and Kulas -- Figure Four Weekly #361 preview plus ordering information, special offers, and how to get this week's newest issue free
- 01:10 am Headline: OVW TV tapings w/ Jim Ross, Kanyon, Prototype, Rey Jr.
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2002
- 03:07 pm Headline: First Wednesday update: Prelim cause of death for Smith, more on Nash-Waltman, Frye vs. Coleman announced officially, plus Tenay and Styles back announcing wrestling
- 05:14 am Headline: ECW parent company files bankruptcy -- F4W Flashback
- 01:46 am Headline: Smackdown spoilers
Tuesday, May 21st, 2002
- 08:01 pm Headline: Raw ratings
- 04:40 pm Headline: First Tuesday update: Waltman & Nash threaten to quit, why this is getting more and more like WCW, Screening of new wrestling movie, Kea vs. Bigelow and Bockwinkel on Hollywood Squares
- 03:40 am Feature: WWE Raw Report
- 03:39 am Feature: WWE Sunday Night Heat report
- 03:36 am Headline: WWE Metal Jakked report
- 03:36 am Feature: WWE Metal Jakked report
- 02:30 am Headline: WWE house show report 5-20 Birmingham
- 02:28 am Headline: More notes from Raw in Memphis
- 02:17 am Headline: First post-WCW Raw and Smackdown shows -- F4W Flashback
Monday, May 20th, 2002
- 04:28 pm Headline: Raw notes
- 12:30 pm Headline: First Monday update: Smith notes, Hogan-Taker odds shift late, Survivor Series saga continues thsi week, NWA TNA announces signings, Super Juniors, Parka vs. Lynn and lots of indies
- 12:30 pm Feature: First Monday update: Smith notes, Hogan-Taker odds shift late, Survivor Series saga continues thsi week, NWA TNA announces signings, Super Juniors, Parka vs. Lynn and lots of indies
- 12:28 pm Headline: ESPN Classics TV report with Gorgeous George (not the bimbo)
- 04:42 am Feature: Judgment Day feedback
- 02:03 am Headline: Late Sunday notes, Michaels returns to WWE TV
- 12:19 am Headline: WWE Judgment Day results
Sunday, May 19th, 2002
- 06:21 pm Headline: First Sunday update: Hogan vs. Jericho, Misterio Jr. first WWE match, Best of Super Junior, Scorpion King and much more
- 05:34 pm Headline: Will Parrish looks at Goldberg in WWE
- 05:30 pm Headline: WWE house show report 5-18 Macon, GA
- 05:27 pm Headline: WWE house show report 5-18 Raleigh
- 05:25 pm Headline: Galavision Lucha Libre report
- 03:46 am Headline: Michaels sent home, Russo says goodbye, and more; April 2001 WWE/WCW news -- F4W Flashback
Saturday, May 18th, 2002
- 09:04 pm Headline: Davey Boy Smith passes away
- 02:21 pm Headline: First Saturday update: Super Juniors opens, 1982 dream match, Bet on Undertaker-Hogan, ROH, and much more
- 02:17 pm Headline: WWF Byte This report w/HHH and Kane
- 02:14 pm Headline: Dale Torborg interview
- 02:08 pm Headline: Intervew with Dusty Rhodes
- 02:09 am Headline: WWE house show repot 5-17 Louisville
Friday, May 17th, 2002
- 04:34 pm Headline: Smackdown ratings
- 01:32 pm Headline: First Friday update: Legendary tough guy passes away, Costas-Vince, Smackdown numbers, weekend schedule, PPV thoughts, Jarrett on WOL and more
- 01:29 pm Headline: Dory Funk's BANG TV report
- 04:14 am Feature: WWE Smackdown report
- 01:53 am Headline: WCW office staff fired, first new WCW taping on May 12th -- F4W Flashback
Thursday, May 16th, 2002
- 09:00 pm Headline: Most detailed look at NWA TNA promotion; Details of plane ride from hell, where UFC really stands and tons of history; Details of the March 20th Wrestling Observer Newsletter, ordering info and you can still get Thesz issue
- 09:00 pm Feature: Most detailed look at NWA TNA promotion; Details of plane ride from hell, where UFC really stands and tons of history; Details of the March 20th Wrestling Observer Newsletter, ordering info and you can still get Thesz issue
- 07:31 pm Headline: Former Dudley passes away
- 03:31 pm Headline: Arai suicide confirmed
- 03:12 pm Headline: First Thursday update: McMahon-Costas, Chyna, Smackdown, tough competition all week and strong Galavision show in two weeks
- 03:07 pm Headline: More on AWA PPV and comments relating it to today
- 03:04 pm Headline: Scott Williams talks with former wrestler Nick Kozak
- 10:00 am Interview: Alex Marvez interviews Jeff Jarrett
- 04:31 am Headline: The Plane Flight From Hell, UFC rundown and more: Figure Four Weekly #360 preview plus ordering info and special offers for both new and returning subscribers
- 04:31 am Feature: The Plane Flight From Hell, UFC rundown and more: Figure Four Weekly #360 preview plus ordering info and special offers for both new and returning subscribers
- 02:42 am Headline: AWA PPV report
- 02:35 am Headline: OVWTV tapings featuring OVW title switch
Wednesday, May 15th, 2002
- 03:18 pm Headline: First Wednesday update: Laurer vs Buttafuco, more ratings notes, Best selling books and notes, Mind boggling ad for the day and tourney updates
- 03:10 pm Headline: More Smackdown notes from last night
- 09:45 am Headline: Raw ratings collapse
- 04:02 am Headline: Austin wins WWF Title at WrestleMania -- F4W Flashback
- 02:46 am Headline: WWE Smackdown spoilers from Montreal
Tuesday, May 14th, 2002
- 02:29 pm Headline: First Tuesday update: TV from last night, big lesson on nostalgia, Former ECW star debuts in developmental, ESPN on UFC, WWE press conference and more on name change
- 02:25 pm Headline: UFC contest results
- 02:23 pm Headline: WWF Wrestling Classics TV report
- 02:19 pm Feature: WWE Raw Report
- 02:17 pm Feature: WWF Sunday Night Heat report
- 02:16 pm Feature: WWF Metal Jakked report
- 02:14 pm Headline: WWE house show report 5-13 Cornwall, ONT
- 02:05 am Headline: Non-Raw notes from Toronto
Monday, May 13th, 2002
- 06:32 pm Headline: Raw matches tonight
- 03:27 pm Headline: First Monday update: Tough competition tonight, lawyer tries to tie death to wrestling again, Funny WWE notes, Flair Whoo, tons of notes from around North America
- 03:25 pm Headline: Rocca and Londos highlight ESPN Classics wrestling
- 02:41 am Feature: WWE house show report 5-12 Halifax
- 02:41 am Headline: WWE house show report 5-12 Halifax
- 02:41 am Headline: Late March 2001 TV, including the final-ever Nitro and Thunder -- F4W Flashback
- 02:13 am Feature: Some UFC Feedback
Sunday, May 12th, 2002
- 01:06 pm Headline: First Sunday update: Shamrock signs, More media on flight from England, CZW shows lasts forever, Hildebrand remembered and more
- 01:04 pm Headline: WWF Byte This report w/Edge & Scotty 2 Hotty
- 01:02 pm Headline: Galavision Lucha Libre report
- 01:00 pm Headline: Championship Wrestling (Memphis) TV report
- 12:16 am Headline: WWE house show report 5-11 Quebec City
Saturday, May 11th, 2002
- 01:51 pm Headline: First Saturday update: More on flight including radio report and national tabloid report, Jericho on OTR in role reversal, More on Hogan-Taker, Gagne vs. Robinson on PPV and more
- 03:40 am Headline: 4/2/01 WWF News: Gimmick Battle Royal, WCW Tape Library, Hunter conference call and more -- F4W Flashback
Friday, May 10th, 2002
- 09:34 pm Headline: UFC round-by-round live report
- 06:46 pm Headline: Smackdown ratings/Ross on Opie & Anthony/more WWF notes
- 02:39 pm Headline: First Friday update: Smackdown numbers, weekend ratings, Ross on incident, Media on Vince, Linda on MSNBC, Inoki & Joanie on FOX, Name change and much more
- 02:37 pm Headline: Scott Williams on Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame
- 08:24 am Feature: WWE Smackdown 5/09/02
- 08:19 am Interview: Alex Marvez interviews Missy Hyatt
Thursday, May 9th, 2002
- 09:52 pm Headline: The life and times of Lou Thesz, full details of the plane ride from hell, most detailed look at Goldberg's future, preview of the giant-sized March 13th Wrestling Observer Newsletter, ordering info and special offers
- 09:52 pm Feature: The life and times of Lou Thesz, full details of the plane ride from hell, most detailed look at Goldberg's future, preview of the giant-sized March 13th Wrestling Observer Newsletter, ordering info and special offers
- 03:45 pm Headline: First Thursday update: Jarrett promotion notes, Smackdown notes, Best selling books with some new additions and a huge loss, ESPN Outside the Lines films tomorrow, Wrestler tries Tough Man and much more
- 03:41 pm Headline: Nine Questions about today's wrestling
- 03:40 pm Headline: NWA Wildside TV report
- 04:29 am Headline: Figure Four Weekly #359 detailed preview (WWF changes name to World Wrestling Entertainment) plus ordering information, special offers, and how to get six issues for just $5
- 04:29 am Feature: Figure Four Weekly #359 detailed preview (WWF changes name to World Wrestling Entertainment) plus ordering information, special offers, and how to get six issues for just $5
- 03:31 am Headline: It's official: Vince McMahon buys WCW -- F4W Flashback (man, what a difference a year makes)
- 03:31 am Feature: It's official: Vince McMahon buys WCW -- F4W Flashback (man, what a difference a year makes)
- 12:19 am Headline: OVW TV spoilers
Wednesday, May 8th, 2002
- 07:01 pm Headline: NWA Jarrett update; WWE discipline update
- 04:28 pm Headline: First Wednesday update: Hennig fired, WWE new line-up, Booked sized issue on Thesz, New York Times covers Thesz, WWF on WWE, Barnett update, Hogan's nephew debuts and more
- 04:27 pm Headline: Detailed Smackdown spoilers from Bridgeport, CT
- 04:25 pm Headline: Dory Funk's BANG TV report
- 04:22 pm Headline: WWE Byte This report
- 01:28 am Headline: WWF Smackdown spoilers 5-7 Bridgeport
Tuesday, May 7th, 2002
- 10:10 pm Headline: Gagne family member passes away
- 05:24 pm Headline: WWE fires Hall
- 05:16 pm Headline: Raw ratings
- 05:16 pm Feature: Raw ratings
- 03:37 pm Headline: First Tuesday update: What's missing tonight, UFC line-up, Rock on Stern, Goldberg on WOL, Ortiz on FOX,
- 03:33 pm Headline: Win a free sub with pick 'em in UFC contest and detailed preview of the show
- 03:30 pm Headline: ESPN Classics TV report
- 02:10 pm Feature: WWF Sunday Night Heat report
- 02:08 pm Feature: WWF Metal Jakked report
- 12:30 pm Feature: WWE Raw Report
- 04:48 am Headline: No prayer after this week’s XFL rating -- F4W Flashback
- 01:36 am Headline: WWF Heat spoilers
Monday, May 6th, 2002
- 11:28 pm Headline: Ref Anderson passes away
- 02:38 pm Headline: First Monday update: New era Raw begins tonight, Dark Angel with Lita, $5 million lawsuit judgement, Scorpion King and more
- 02:34 pm Feature: WWF Wrestling Classics TV report
- 02:32 pm Headline: NWA Wildside TV report
- 02:05 am Headline: More on name change
- 02:00 am Headline: WWF house show report 5-5 Worcester
Sunday, May 5th, 2002
- 06:17 pm Headline: First Sunday update: WWF is no more, Cornette on WOL tonight, Rock box office, Spike injury update and more
- 06:16 pm Headline: Championship Wrestling (Memphis) TV report
- 06:14 pm Headline: Galavision Lucha Libre report
Saturday, May 4th, 2002
- 11:41 pm Headline: Updated WWF 5/4 house show review in Sunrise, Fla.
- 05:42 pm Headline: WWF Insurrextion PPV report
- 02:08 pm Headline: First Saturday update: WWF PPV today, Rock returns for one-night only, Jarrett inks Canada deal and more
- 02:06 pm Headline: Reaction to Smackdown ratings
- 02:02 pm Headline: Konnan interview
Friday, May 3rd, 2002
- 09:59 pm Headline: WWF house show report 5-3 Birmingham, England
- 04:15 pm Headline: Ratings shocker - Houston, we've got a problem
- 03:29 pm Headline: First Friday update: WWF acknowledesThesz, Wahoo; More on Goldberg, Ratings, Bruno, Weekend schedule and much more
- 08:04 am Feature: Smackdown report 5/3/02
- 04:17 am Headline: It's over: Time Warner cancels WCW television -- F4W Flashback
Thursday, May 2nd, 2002
- 10:47 pm Headline: Lengthy bios of Lou Thesz and Wahoo McDaniel, Behind scenes on Hogan belt decision, Ratings tell story; Preview of the biggest issue of the year of the Wrestling Observer and ordering info
- 10:47 pm Feature: Lengthy bios of Lou Thesz and Wahoo McDaniel, Behind scenes on Hogan belt decision, Ratings tell story; Preview of the biggest issue of the year of the Wrestling Observer and ordering info
- 09:38 pm Headline: WWF house show report 5-2 Glasgow, Scotland
- 09:33 pm Headline: OVW TV report for this coming Saturday
- 06:59 pm Headline: Goldberg negotiates contract buyout
- 01:37 pm Headline: First Thursday update: Tokyo Dome results, Best selling books, and what H.L. Mencken really said
- 01:35 pm Headline: Scott Williams column on Lou Thesz
- 01:33 pm Headline: Al Galdi: Questions from the mailbag
- 01:31 pm Headline: Dory Funk's BANG TV report
- 03:09 am Headline: Figure Four Weekly #358 preview ("Lou Thesz, arguably the best ever, passes away") plus ordering information, special offers for new and returning readers, and how you can get this week's brand new issue today
- 03:09 am Feature: Figure Four Weekly #358 preview ("Lou Thesz, arguably the best ever, passes away") plus ordering information, special offers for new and returning readers, and how you can get this week's brand new issue today
Wednesday, May 1st, 2002
- 05:46 pm Headline: WWF house show report 5-1 Cologne
- 04:17 pm Headline: First Wednesday update: Hair vs. hair at J-Day, Biggest issue in years, Chyna's role at Tokyo Dome, Another SI story on a wrestler, next Japanese hardcore PPV and more
- 12:23 am Headline: WWF Smackdown spoilers 4-30 Pittsburgh
- 12:20 am Headline: WWF house show report 4-28 Syracuse
