July 24, 2002

Welcome back to the online home of the CSWA. I've received hundreds of e-mails and calls asking "When is the TRIBUNE coming back?" and "When are you getting rid of that temporary site?"

Well, now you've got your answer. After months of planning, and going through several designs, we wanted to make sure that the new TRIBUNE would be better than ever, while still including many of the same features.

And that includes this column, "The Bottom Line."

So let's hit the high points, shall we?

I keep hearing talk of this GXW 'invasion.' Look kids, the WWE takes its cues from us, not the other way around. Before McMahon and Flair were putting companies on the line, there was Thomas/Merritt. Before "General Managers" or "Commissioners" became the fad, there were VPs and VCs.

Two workers does not an 'invasion' make. I got a call from an agent asking if GXW Champion Dan Ryan could step back into the CSWA. I agreed, and Ryan's currently here on a short contract. Kevin Powers gave me a call and said he had a great angle to run with this Nate Logan kid. Logan's been around here before, so I said sure, why not.

It seems to me that a few people have gotten their panties in a wad because Ryan has walked in here and made some waves. Good grief, you'd have thought Alex Wylde walked back in the building or something...perish the thought.

Ryan talks big, folks. It remains to be seen if he can play big, too.

Then there's FISH FUND. I've got that old AAWC-turned-Adler-shill Alex Wright, or whatever his name is, going on and on about how this person didn't deserve a shot, and that gimmick match is stupid. Lemme tell ya something, the way I see it. Have you been booking successful shows for 14 years? Thought not.

Is it a surprise that since the end of last year Mark Windham has recovered some of the sense his daddy slapped into him? Sure it is. But the man has walked through Eddy Love, Eli Flair, GUNS and Mike Randalls. I don't know of anyone else that can say that this year. Aho v. Windham is going to be a barnburner of a contest inside the ring, not to mention the potential it has outside as well.

Oh yeah, you people don't think I'm entirely stupid, do you? I know I've put a certain someone in a precarious situation. Does he or doesn't he? Will he or won't he?

As far as Dan Ryan in the US Title match... has the man proved himself in a CSWA ring? Not really. But after all the smack he's talked to Hornet and Triple X, I just couldn't resist changing my plans for a triple threat match into a four-way.

Let's see...what other e-mail has passed my desk recently? Oh, of course, "What are you going to do about GUNS?" Simple answer, folks. For right now, absolutely nothing. He beat JJ DeVille for the Greensboro Title in a match that I sanctioned. He's made a joking offer to sell it to whichever GXW stump decides to get in his path. GUNS is having a ball. I know it, because the more he says he hates the CSWA, the more begrudging respect he tries to hide, the more I know he's gearing up for one hell of a ride.

On a final note, it's time for me to catch a plane to Sweetwater. I hope all of you reading this have purchased the PPV, and will also consider pledging your support to the FISH FUND Telethon that will be running right before the show. It's a great cause, and one that we've been a proud partner of for fourteen years.

See you after FISH FUND.