If  you have a network marketing business—or a small business of ANY kind—Renegade University will  show you how to attract the right kind of prospects to you using the Internet, even if you have little or NO experience with marketing.

If you don’t have a business yet, you’re about to learn how to make money and grow any kind of business by attracting customers and prospects no matter what you choose to get involved with.

Generate Your Own High-Quality Leads… Custom Designed for YOUR Business
Generate Your Own High-Quality Leads… Custom Designed for YOUR Busine
Get Your Name, Face & Message All Over the Web… It’s Called ‘Branding’ Using Web 2.0 (much of this has no cost & we show you how visually click-by-click)
Build a Highly Targeted List & Learn How to Continually Generate New Clientele and Sales From It
Learn to Get Prospects Literally Calling You First, Already Knowing Your Name & Interested in What You Offer
Use the ‘Consultative Approach’  So Prospects Value Your Time on the Phone & Literally Ask You to Tell Them More
Start Attracting MORE Prospects…

Start building your prospects list bigger, faster, and learn how to ATTRACT them to you and your business.

Step-by-step you CAN do this!
In Step 1 you learned the basics about this new attraction-based model of marketing.
In Step 2 you went beyond reading and into hands-on training. It was like getting started with training wheels. You learned how to place an ad on the Internet, track results, get your own domain name, and you started building your own prospects list.
In Step 3 we’ll help you build your list and teach you what to say and do as your prospects contact you so you will attract them with the value and services you provide. You’ll get better tools including personalized and customizable auto-email campaigns, lead capture pages, contact management and more. You also get advanced marketing training designed for the beginner with the same step-by-step help you always find at Renegade University.

They will  teach you many different marketing methods so you can choose your favorite one(s) to create a constant flow of prospects, while attracting your best prospects to your business.

The following links will get you started. Remember the Renegade University is free.

http://SHARONBLOCH.renegadeuniversity.com

http://SHARONBLOCH.renegadeuniversity.com/sieg
http://SHARONBLOCH.renegadeuniversity.com/dillard
http://SHARONBLOCH.renegadeuniversity.com/start

http://SHARONBLOCH.marketingmerge.com

http://SHARONBLOCH.marketingmerge.com/sieg
http://SHARONBLOCH.marketingmerge.com/dillard

The Command and Conquer Collection

Collects 5 real-time action, shooter, and strategy Sci Fi battlefield games, Includes Tiberian Sun, Tiberian Sun Firestorm, Renegade, Red Alert 2, and Yuri’s Revenge, Fight different stages of the Tiberium war or play Allies v. Soviets, Dish out the damage in either first or third person perspective, 1 to 32 (Internet connection required for multi-player games)

Reviews from Customers>>Click to order

I just got back from the Renegade Holiday Craft Fair in San Francisco and I wanted to show you all what I got!

Pie Bird Press has always been a favorite of mine, not only because they make the most gorgeous letterpress cards that look like paintings, but also because they have great extras like this favorite customer ribbon. So cute!

I love discovering new talent! Power and Light Letterpress may not be new to the rest of the world, but they’re new to me. I picked up this quirky little card at their booth and I can’t wait to send it!

Everyone who knows me knows how much I love a sale, especially when it’s less-than-perfect/experimental cards that didn’t quite make the cut. That’s why I picked up these four cards at Two Guitars. And it was hard to narrow it down to these four. Believe me.

Paper Pastries had the most adorable booth! Everything was pastel and they had a 25 piece stationery set that I couldn’t quite bring myself to buy, but was sorely tempted by. I ended up taking this “I left my heart in” card home for a friend and now it ocurs to me that I should have bought one for myself!

Krank Press had some adorable little card sets that required much heming and hawing before I decided on this rainbow “thank you” card.

One thing I love about craft fairs is that you can get things that aren’t available online! I saw these neighborhood posters by Ork Posters a little while ago on one of the many blogs I read and lamented the fact that I couldn’t get a San Francisco one due to lack of wall space. So I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that they turned some of their damaged neighborhood posters into greeting cards and were selling them.

All in all it was a great turnout. Lots of new people and some great finds from my old favorites. In my upcoming travels, I hope to make  it to some of the other Renegade’s in either Chicago or Brooklyn and see what they have to offer. If they’re anything like the last three in San Francisco have been, I’m sure it’ll be worth the trip!

This Saturday and Sunday (11-7pm) San Francisco will be holding a Pavilion full of amazing hand made goodies from jewelry to cute totes…looks like Christmas has come early!!<3
-Jules

• Joan Biskupic, USA Today Supreme Court reporter and author of American Original: The Life and Constitution of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. The book published Nov. 10 is the first full-scale biography combining the life-story and public impact of the court’s most provocative justice. Scalia provided exclusive interviews to the author.
• Richard Wolffe, MSNBC analyst and author of Renegade: The Making of a President. The book is the first account of the campaign, based on the author’s work as a Newsweek correspondent covering Obama for 21 months. Wolffe obtained many exclusive interviews with Obama and top aides, providing unparalleled access. Wolffe this month announced a contract for a new book on the administration.

Constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe describes American Original as a “must-read” for anyone the seeking to understand “the most influential and interesting voice of the most powerful movement in contemporary American law.”

With exceptional clarity and research, the author weaves the story: Scalia, a brilliant Nixon administration official, went on to co-found a powerful conservative movement to reorient the judiciary, and was confirmed to the Supreme Court by a 98-0 vote in 1986. He thus became the first justice of Italian-American background and just the sixth Catholic justice in U.S. history. He is now one of six Catholics among the nine on the court. More generally, Scalia’s jurisprudence helped shape our time in such ways as the court’s 5-4 vote ending the 2000 Bush-Gore recount.

Former Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee describes Wolffe’s book Renegade as, “The first of the President Obama books – and a good one – insightful, thorough, and straight.” Wolff’s book, published June 2, was suggested by the candidate in March 2008. “The resulting volume,” the New York Times wrote in its review, “showcases the author’s access to the candidate, as well as friends, aides and campaign strategists.”

Wolffe’s title Renegade is partly derived from the candidate’s Secret Service nickname. This provides a near-parallel with John McCain’s theme of “Maverick” and Sarah Palin’s autobiography Going Rogue. The book ends with the start of the new Presidency. But the author is well-positioned to comment on current issues that will be included in the DC Update radio interview.

As a listener advisory: Mac computer users need the tool “Parallels” to hear Windows Media Player.

About Joan Biskupic and American Original

Joan Biskupic has covered the Supreme Court since 1989. Before joining USA Today in 2000, she was the Supreme Court reporter for the Washington Post (1992-2000) and legal affairs writer for Congressional Quarterly (1989-1992). She is the author of the 2005 biography Sandra Day O’Connor and co-author of Congressional Quarterly’s two-volume encyclopedia on the Supreme Court (3rd Ed., 1997). She holds a law degree from Georgetown University, a master’s in English from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor’s in journalism from Marquette University. Her new book’s descriptive details via Amazon.com include a five-star rating from all four reviewers so far. Details. 

About Richard Wolffe and Renegade

Richard Wolffe is an award-winning journalist and political analyst. He is an MSNBC contributor, finishing an interlude as a senior strategist at Public Strategies before his next book. As a columnist for Daily Beast, he broke the story last month, “Obama’s Secret Climate Pact.”  He covered the length of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign for Newsweek magazine. Earlier, he was U.S. diplomatic correspondent and deputy bureau chief for the Financial Times. His book’s descriptive details and reader reviews via Amazon.com, include a 3 ½-star rating from 125 reviewers so far and a four-star rating from 36 Barnes & Noble reviewers.  Details.

About Scott Draughon 

Scott Draughton is an attorney and business radio pioneer who founded the My Technology Lawyer Radio network. Draughon, author of the 2007 book The Art of the Business Radio Show, has long experience also in guiding entrepreneurial success through close attention to the dynamics of the marketplace, law, government policy and effective marketing. Details: http://www.mytechnologylawyer.com.

About Andrew Kreig

Andrew Kreig is an investigative reporter, author and attorney who reports frequently about official corruption on such new media sites as Huffington Post, Connecticut Watchdog, Nieman Watchdog and OpEd News. Former president of the Wireless Communications Association International from 1996 to last summer, Kreig is a senior fellow with the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism at Brandeis University and a research fellow with the Information Economy Project at George Mason University School of Law. His coverage of Supreme Court books includes a 1979 interview with The Brethren co-authors Bob Woodward and Scott Armstrong about controversies involving their research methods.

AMAZON LEAKS LIL WAYNE “THE REBIRTH” ALBUM

Just one week ago when Birdman announced Wayne’s upcoming rock album Rebirth was pushed back to be released in February 2010, Santa brings us fans an early Xmas present.

Hitting up Renegade this weekend with Rose and Sadie and Hi Risk. And Billiam, if he’s good and does not continue to send me pandas (or these??) while I’M tryING to get real work done.

San Francisco « Renegade Craft Fair.

Lil Wayne’s rap career has been synonymous with dealing with early leaks.  With The Rebirth album being pushed back to 2010, the rapper has been prepping music videos to accompany the songs that have already been dropped to the public.

Weezy may have sprung one leak all too soon, however, as “Drop This World” recently hit the net featuring Detroit’s own Eminem.

Since their collaboration on “Forever” Wayne stated it didn’t really count and that he was still looking for the two to have an actual track which has culminated into this.

Weigh in on the track “Drop This World” and state if Wayne was able to compete with the re-energized Shady or if he was a victim like Jay-Z on “Renegage” that got murdered on his own sh*t.

What’s on my iPod – Dummy by Portishead

It’s once again Excerpt Monday over at my website. Check it out here – Excerpt Monday December. Or you can head over to Mel and Bria’s site by clicking the lovely box below!

The creators of Star Wars Battlefront Renegade Squadron have come up with a way to keep the online multiplayer servers free; you can only get a certain medal if you play online on Christmas day and come at the top of the leaderboard for your team that match.
I have to get that medal.
Here’s my plan for Christmas morning:
1) Wake up at something 6-8AM. The servers are american so they should have switched to the 25th of Decebmer by now. (And the majority of potential american opponents will be asleep. )
2) Check the date on my PSP (3000) is set to the 25th of December in case the game checks that to find out if its medal day.
3) Resist the temptation to open presents and head downstairs to the study to turn on the wireless modem and router. [I doubt the Swindon free Wi-Fi will be up and running by then, especially not in my area (the outskirts), or if it will be fast enough to cope with furious fragging (online killing).]
4) Return to my room and load the game while the modem powers up
5) Get online from the multiplayer and join a server that’s empty or has a low amount of human players – meaning I’ll be up against only AIs, which I can beat the hell out of eny day. A space battle would be preferable, because I can let the others do the dogfighting, while I score massive points by actually doing the objectives. If I can’t find an empty server, I’ll see if I can create my own.
6) Kill! Frag! Explode! Die! (Maybe not die)
7) When the game finishes, with any luck I’ll have the medal. If not I’ll do it again If no-one else is up, I’ll join a game that’s nearly full and see how I do. Probably not very well
9) Have a normal Christmas Day

When searching for Breckenridge, Colorado lodging, you’ll most likely notice the phrase "ski-in ski-out" used in the description of various accommodations. Realizing the incredible lure of these words, property management companies have begun using them in the marketing of their resorts, condominiums, timeshares and private vacation homes. While the phrase conjures images of a property that is mere steps from the slopes, where chairlift access couldn’t be easier, the reality is that "ski-in ski-out" is being adapted to describe properties that are actually nothing of the sort.

Many Breckenridge properties do feature true slopeside accommodations, however the vast majority describing themselves as such have stretched the truth to at least some extent. This may mean that a condominium hotel sits at the far end of a pedestrian plaza that links it with the resort’s base area, or it could be that you find yourself hiking to the nearest chairlift via an ungroomed trail through the woods. Because these trails are often too narrow to be groomed by the resort’s snowcats, they may be icy or impassable as a result of deeply drifted snow.

Other accommodations may offer ski-out access, but lack a trail system that doesn’t require hiking back up the mountain to return to your lodging. A true slopeside property should provide direct access to the slopes in both directions, allowing access to your lodging throughout the day.

The lesson to take away from this article is simple: When booking accommodations that are defined as ski-in ski-out, make sure that you know exactly what it is that you are getting. Property management companies in Breckenridge may have varying definitions of ski-in ski-out, and as a result, you should question your preservationist thoroughly as to the actual location of your lodging.

Ben Kelly is the owner of Summit Concierge and can offer expert advice on Denver to Breckenridge Shuttles and can also provide local insight on Breckenridge vacations including true Breckenridge Ski In Ski Out Lodging, transportation, activities, travel services and more.

Travel Blog

The Renegade Handmade Holiday Craft Sale is the smaller off shoot of their huge bazaar that takes place every fall on Division in Wicker Park. The big fall sale can be a totally overwhelming weekend long event with trendy bands, food and beer tents, and more silk-screened deer print throw pillows and Ray-Bans than I can honestly handle. But the holiday sale is an edited, manageable version of this inside the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse and it is the holy grail of handmade gifts. Supporting artists is the most guilt-free way to indulge in this season’s consumerist frenzy. Don’t be sad if you missed the sale this weekend. You can find most of the artists on Etsy.com, RenegadeCraft.com, or Renegade’s storefront on Division. Here were some of my favorites:

JDavis Neighborhood Ring

I loved JDavis’s jewelry.  I was so close to snatching this ring up for myself but t’is the season for giving.  Visit her Etsy and check out the gold necklaces too.

"Star Ship" by Tugboat Printshop

Tugboat Printshop

Forest Floor Fern Earrings

Red Raven Studios

Letterpress Recipe Box

I am in love with these letter press recipe cards and box from 1canoe2

Animals and Objects in and Out of Water

Of course, the honorable poster king Jay Ryan of Bird Machine Press was there with his first book.

Smartfish Flats

Smartfish makes Shoes!

Recipe Card

I bought my mom the greatest poster from Tartella, a one woman operation that uses letter press, offset, and screen printing to create items that pay homage to paper art and food.  Tartella’s tagline is “Give. Eat. Live. Love. Repeat” and uses recycled, biodegradable materials that are all cotton which means no trees!

Aventurine Gold Drop Earrings

I caved.  I got these adorable earrings for myself from Dores.  Whatever. I’m totally on the “Nice” list this year.

]]> http://killersolos.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/styx-renegade/ Mon, 07 Dec 2009 08:19:18 +0000 killersolos http://killersolos.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/styx-renegade/

This week I double on synth the killer guitar solo of Styx’ Renegade, played by Tommy Shaw. I also doubled the synth and the non-solo guitar during the fade…

So far Renegade’s been going pretty smooth for me.  Here’s a brand new card I drew and printed up Thursday and Friday, just in time for the weekend.

Eric Battaglia © 2009

This will be added to the Old Scratch Etsy store within the next few days.   You can’t tell from the picture or the card, but I used silver ink for the spines of the creature in the original drawing.

A while back I posted about the Odjits, creatures of my invention who live in the tundra and, well, do bad things.  So this weekend at the Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Sale, I’ll be debuting these fellas.  As of January 2010, the Odjits will appear as a regular one-panel comic on my blog.

Eric Battaglia © 2009

And that’s not all that’ll be at the fair.  The full volume of the Creatures of the Arboretarium will be there, as will a few other fun surprises.  If you can’t show, I’ll be twittering the fair, so you can follow me that way, should you wish to be led astray.

[Jay-Z]
Motherfuckers -
say that I’m foolish I only talk about jewels (bling bling)
Do you fools listen to music or do you just skim through it?
See I’m influenced by the ghetto you ruined
That same dude you gave nothin, I made somethin doin
what I do through and through and
I give you the news – with a twist it’s just his ghetto point-of-view
The renegade; you been afraid
I penetrate pop culture, bring ‘em a lot closer to the block where they
pop toasters and they live with their moms got drop roasters from botched robberies niggas crouched over
mommies knocked up cause she wasn’t wached over knocked down by some clown when child support knocked
no he’s not around tnow how that sound to ya, jot it down
I bring it through the ghetto without ridin ’round
hidin down duckin strays from frustrated youths stuck in they ways
Just read a magazine that fucked up my day
How you rate music that thugs with nothin relate to it i help them see their way through it – not you cant step in my pants cant walk in my shoes bet everything you worth you lose your tie and your shirt

[Eminem]
Since I’m in a position to talk to these kids and they listen
I ain’t no politician but I’ll kick it with ‘em a minute
Cause see they call me a menace; and if the shoe fits I’ll wear it
But if it don’t, then y’all’ll swallow the truth grin and bear it
Now who’s these king of these rude ludicrous lucrative lyrics
Who could inherit the title, put the youth in hysterics
Usin his music to steer it, sharin his views and his merits
But there’s a huge interference – they’re sayin you shouldn’t hear it
Maybe it’s hatred I spew, maybe it’s food for the spirit
Maybe it’s beautiful music I made for you to just cherish
But I’m debated disputed hated and viewed in America
as a motherfuckin drug addict – like you didn’t experiment?
Now now, that’s when you start to stare at who’s in the mirror
and see yourself as a kid again, and you get embarrased
And I got nothin to do but make you look stupid as parents
You fuckin do-gooders – too bad you couldn’t do good at marriage!
(Ha ha!) And do you have any clue what I had to do to get here I don’t
think you do so stay tuned and keep your ears glued to the stereo
Cause here we go – he’s {*Jigga joint Jigga-chk-Jigga*}
And I’m the sinister, Mr. Kiss-My-Ass it’s just a
[Chorus: Eminem + Jay-Z]
[Em] RENEGADE! Never been afraid to say
what’s on my mind at, any given time of day
Cause I’m a RENEGADE! Never been afraid to talk
about anything (ANYTHING) anything (ANYTHING), RENEGADE!
[Jay] Never been afraid to say
what’s on my mind at, any given time of day
Cause I’m a {RENEGADE} Never been afraid to holler
about anything {anything?} Anything {ANYTHING!}

[Jay-Z]
I had to hustle, my back to the wall, ashy knuckles
Pockets filled with a lot of lint, not a cent
Gotta vent, lot of innocent of lives lost on the project bench
Whatchu hollerin? Gotta pay rent, bring dollars in
By the bodega, iron under my coat, feelin braver
Doo-rag wrappin my waves up, pockets full of hope
Do not step to me – I’m awkward, I box leftier often
My pops left me an orphan, my momma wasn’t home
Could not stress to me I wasn’t grown; ’specially on nights
I brought somethin home to quiet the stomach rumblings
My demeanor – thirty years my senior
My childhood didn’t mean much, only raisin green up
Raisin my fingers to critics; raisin my head to the sky
Big I did it – multi before I die (nigga)
No lie, just know I chose my own fate
I drove by the fork in the road and went straight

[Eminem]
See I’m a poet to some, a regular modern day Shakespeare
Jesus Christ the King of these Latter Day Saints here
To shatter the picture in which of that as they paint me
as a monger of hate and Satan a scatter-brained atheist
But that ain’t the case, see it’s a matter of taste
We as a people decide if Shady’s as bad as they say he is
Or is he the latter – a gateway to escape?
Media scapegoat, who they can be mad at today
See it’s easy as cake, simple as whistlin Dixie
while I’m wavin the pistol at sixty Christians against me
Go to war with the Mormons, take a bath with the Catholics
in holy water – no wonder they try to hold me under longer
I’m a motherfuckin spiteful, DELIGHTFUL eyeful
The new Ice Cube – motherfuckers HATE to like you
What did I do? (huh?) I’m just a kid from the gutter
makin this butter off these bloodsuckers, cause I’m a muh’fuckin

[Chorus] – repeat 2X

I sometimes wonder if I can ever have an achievement in any field which will parallel penning such brilliance.

RINGS DON'T LIE: While his latest teams might have not been as successful as those of the 1990s, you can't argue that Bobby Bowden is one of football's all-time greatest coaches.

After 34 seasons at the helm of the Florida State University football program, which included 315 of his 388 career victories, 20 bowl victories in 30 appearances, 12 ACC championships and 2 national titles, Bobby Bowden is retiring.

Although FSU boosters and supporters alike have been pushing for this move, I’m sure many of them are saddened by the news much like I am.

But why on earth would a 28-year-old Texas boy like me take the news so hard, especially when I have no affiliation with Bowden or Florida State University? Well, I’ll tell you why.

Just days before my 11th birthday, I witnessed a college football game in person for the first time in my life. As a matter of fact, it was the first time I had seen any professional or collegiate sporting event with my own eyes at the actual game.

It was January 1, 1992 and I was able to attend the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, where Bowden’s Seminole team was in town to take on Texas A&M. From the moment the Seminoles took the field, I was in awe. Florida State’s 10-2 victory over the Aggies not only created my hatred for Texas A&M, but also started a few other things – my fascination with college football and a love and respect for Bobby Bowden.

As I got older I was always a Texas Longhorns fan and still am to this day. But during my adolescent years, I followed Florida State football passionately and vowed that one day I would be like Bowden, not just coaching a football team, but standing at the helm of some of the greatest football teams ever assembled.

I watched closely for years as the Seminoles garnered national respect, winning conference titles one after another and remembered being awestruck by guys like Warrick Dunn, Derrick Brooks, Deion Sanders and of course, Charlie Ward.

I got chills when Chief Osceola rode his Appaloosa horse, Renegade, out to midfield and launched his flaming spear into the turf.

I took great pride in the National Championship teams of 1993 and 1999. I fell in love with the uniforms, in particular, the tomahawk pride stickers the players used to decorate their helmets.

Even as things started to decline, I always believed there would be one more run, one more great team to come along and give Bowden another national title.

Obviously it never happened, but it never kept me from watching the Seminoles whenever they made an appearance on television. My respect for Bowden never went away – and never will.

So while some critics are quick to give Bowden a quick “so long”, I’d like to take this time to thank him for everything he’s done for me. He made me the college football fan I am today.

Mr Bowden . . . Thanks for the memories.

WCW Monday Nitro
December 9, 1996
Charlotte, NC
Independence Arena

The current WCW champs were as follows:
WCW World Champion: Hollywood Hogan (8/10/1996)
WCW U.S. Champion: Vacant (11/25/1996)
WCW World Tag Team Champions: The Outsiders (10/27/1996)
WCW World Television Champion: Lord Steven Regal (8/20/1996)
WCW World Cruiserweight Champion: Dean Malenko (10/27/1996)

HOUR NUMBER ONE! Your hosts are Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyszko.

Right out of the shoot, we hear bagpipes as Roddy Piper makes his way to the ring. Take that, RAW! Piper names some local landmarks that he used to frequent back in the day. The crowd loves it. He mentions that at Starrcade against Hogan will be his last fight. Yeah right. Naturally, Charlotte KNOWS Hogan sucks. Piper continues on and tells us something that nobody could have ever known – his boxing match with Mr. T was a work! WHO KNEW! He calls out a guy holding up a ‘This is nWo country’ sign and makes the assumption that because there’s no chicks in the nWo vignettes and they’re all wearing leather that they might be playing for a different team than Piper. He’s just saying. Okay enough funny business, the inevitable happens as Piper calls out Hogan to get this fight going right now. No Hogan, so Piper leaves. He’ll be back.

• M. Wallstreet vs. Mike Enos

Schiavone talks Carolina Panthers football before Ted DiBiase comes out for a distraction. He appears to offer Enos a contract when Wallstreet decks him from behind for the STOCK MARKET CRASH to pick up the win. (1:36) So DiBiase hands Wallstreet a contract and walks away. Wallstreet seems pretty happy about it too. MONEY INC IS BACK, BAYBEE! ¼*

Flashback to Saturday Night: Schiavone shows a video to Kevin Sullivan of Chris Benoit and Woman enjoying some wine together at an undisclosed area. To say Sullivan is distraught is an understatement.

• Hugh Morrus vs. Renegade (w/Joe Gomez)

Morrus knocks Renegade around to start. Renegade powers out of a bearhug (?) and powerslams Morrus for two. Handspring Elbow connects, but Morrus blocks a bulldog with a back suplex to set up the NO LAUGHING MATTER for the win. (3:01) He goes for another moonsault, but Gomez pulls his boy out. ½*

Here comes Kevin Sullivan wearing a Four Horsemen shirt with an X taped over the logo. He power walks over to Schiavone and blesses him out for airing something that affects his personal life without his consent. Didn’t they just do this same thing with Bischoff and Savage?

We take a special video look at the recent actions of Sting set to Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero”. Yes, a song from the Footloose movie soundtrack makes it to WCW television. Did they think this wasn’t going to make me laugh? Oh man, I hope we see a Sullivan-Woman video set to “Total Eclipse of the Heart” soon!

Gene Okerlund brings out Kevin Greene to get Charlotte all excited. Even though everyone else has, he still hasn’t forgot about what Mongo did at the Great American Bash. Also, he wants to punch Hogan in the face if he gets the chance. What a wild man.

• WCW World Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko vs. Jimmy Graffiti

A feeling out process leads to a commercial break. We return to see Sonny Oono taking pictures from ringside. That gets Malenko all distracted as Graffiti takes over. They trade some suplexes as Malenko dropkicks Graffiti to the floor. Graffiti avoids the baseball slide and nails Malenko with a clothesline before dropping him on the guardrail. Back inside, Malenko crotches Graffiti up top for a superplex. Back up, Graffiti puts on the brakes when he sees a leapfrog and superkicks Malenko down for two. Powerbomb and a slow jackknife cover gets two. Malenko bridges out into a powerbomb of his own for 1-2-NO! Awesome. Graffiti catches Malenko charging at him for a hotshot, but Malenko counters a suplex into a small package for the 1-2-3. (7:04 shown) Great little match, but they didn’t quite pull out on the stops in a TV match sense like they did last time around. **¼

Gene Okerlund gets a word from Sonny Oono, who is no Herb Ritts in Gene’s eyes. He calls Oono’s accent phony. Oono says that with an accent, he can get and do whatever he wants in America. It’s such a wonderful country!

WCW Saturday Night! Watch it IF YOU WEEL! 6:05PM eastern! TBS! WCW TV Champ Lord Steven Regal defends the belt against Hugh Morrus! Jim Duggan, Renegade & Joe Gomez, Jeff Jarrett, Diamond Dallas Page, Ice Train, Dean Malenko, and many others are featured on the show! Don’t miss out! It’s the MUTHASHIP! PAY WINDAHS, CLUBBERIN, AND PLUNDAH, BABY!

We see some clips from the triangle match from World War 3.

• The Faces of Fear (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. The Nasty Boys

This is somewhat notable as it’s the final match ever on Nitro for the Nasty Boys as a team. It’s a clubberin’ affair to say the least. Where’s Dusty at when you need him? The tag champs Hall and Nash watch on from the tunnel. The finish comes as Jimmy Hart goes to smash his megaphone on Knobbs as he comes off the top ropes, but Knobbs moves and Barbarian gets wiped out. Knobbs throws Jimmy out on top of Meng on the outside. Barbarian whacks Knobbs with the megaphone anyway as the ref makes the three count. (5:20) What was the point of this? To prove that the Faces of Fear deserve the tag titles shot? I don’t know. ½*

Gene Okerlund brings out Ric Flair. He praises and calls for Roddy Piper to come down. They embrace and just enjoy each other’s sentiments about how crazy they used to be. Flair goes to ask Charlotte what they think of Hogan? He sucks. Yep. Hogan SUCKS. Anyways, Flair says that Piper’s got his support because he wants to see Piper kick Hogan’s butt. WOO! Piper says he appreciates the help, but he’s got to do this by himself.

HOUR NUMBER TWO! Your hosts are Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan, and Mike Tenay.

Flashback to Earlier Tonight: Piper calls out Hogan.

• Chris Jericho vs. Bobby Eaton

Early on, Eaton hits the Flying Knee Drop for two. Jericho comes back with the spinning heel kick and a Lionsault for two. Eaton catches Jericho up top and brings him down with an electric chair drop. The ALABAMA JAM misses, but a missile dropkick from Jericho gives him the win. (2:33) Man I can’t wait for Jericho to have a personality. ½*

Recap of the recent stuff that has happened between Sting and the Steiners.

That leads to Gene Okerlund talking with the Steiners themselves. Scott says that you don’t hand my brother a bat in a fight because he’s crazy! BAT FIGHT! It’s anyone’s game. BAT FIGHT! A test of wills. BAT FIGHT! Who’s going to win? BAT FIGHT! You never know who. Yeah… bat fight.

Now we get a video montage of Lex Luger racking people.

• Arn Anderson (w/Steve & Debra McMichael) vs. Sgt. Craig Pittman

Pittman grew a mustache. Now you KNOW he’s serious. On the split screen, Sullivan blames Arn Anderson for letting Benoit mess with his Woman. Next week, they will hook it up. Pittman goes after the arm until AA says something to Mongo as we go to break. When that’s over, we see Pittman getting his knee posted. Arn goes up top, which is always a mistake. Pittman slams him down and hooks on the CODE RED! Arn makes the ropes and we got to the floor where Debra starts talking to the ref. Meanwhile, Mongo jabs the Haliburton briefcase into Pittman’s ribs. Back inside with Pittman doubled over, Arn drops him with the DDT! See ya. (2:57 shown) Again, AA is just phoning it in during the last month or so of his in-ring career. Who can blame him with opponents like this? ½*

Gene Okerlund meets with Arn, Mongo, and Debra for another pow-wow about what to do with Woman. Debra meanders on about how she thinks she’s the most powerful member of the Horsemen. Will somebody please punch her in the mouth? Benoit – come home (from a WCW tour in Germany). Woman – Arn’s got a bone to pick with you.

On the Road with Lee Marshall: He’s living it up in GORGEOUS Pensacola, Florida, where Nitro will be held next week. Somehow that guy always manages to find those non-existent Nitro parties.

• Diamond Dallas Page vs. Jeff Jarrett – First Round WCW U.S. Title Tournament Match

Since Luger and AA went to a double countout, the winner of this match goes to the finals at Starrcade on a bye to face the winner of Eddie Guerrero vs. Chris Benoit. That match goes down in two weeks! Sometimes it’s funny what becomes the main event in a promotion years down the road. Feeling out and strutting occurs as we go to break. AND WE’RE BACK! Page hits a back suplex and a tilt-a-whirl sideslam for two. Jarrett comes back with an enziguri and nails DDP with a swinging neckbreaker to regain control. Bossman straddle connects. Jarrett delivers a slingshot suplex and follows up with the Memphis flying fist drop. Page fires back, but telegraphs a backdrop and takes a faceslam. Page fights out of a sleeper and drills Jarrett with the discus clothesline. Flying lariat gets 1-2-NO! Page misses a charge and falls to the floor. Meanwhile, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash head out to distract the ref and Jeff Jarrett as Hall gives him the OUTSIDERS EDGE off the middle rope. Once Hall and Nash clear out, DDP slides back into the ring and lays on top of Jarrett for the 1-2-3. (9:44 shown) An odd match as Tony and Bobby are pushing DDP as a low down scum heel, but Jarrett controls the majority of the match to set up the comeback, but then again they were prepping Page for his face turn by now anyways. Still felt a little odd though. Gene Okerlund meets DDP in the ring and asks him to explain what happened. He compares the nWo to a chick who won’t stop calling – he just wants to be left alone. **¼

• Rick Steiner (w/Scott Steiner) vs. Scott Norton

No match. During Steiner’s entrance music, Roddy Piper storms the ring and demands Hogan come out now. He takes a seat in the ring waiting on Hogan. Instead, Hogan’s ‘messenger boy’ Eric Bischoff heads to the ring. Bischoff tells Piper that he tried to save him from himself, but now there’s nothing he can do. See ya in Nashville, gimp. Well that pisses Piper off a little bit. Piper decks Bischoff and holds him down with his foot until Hall, Nash, DiBiase, and the Giant head to the ring. Kevin Greene jumps in the ring for the assist. Everybody throws up the Wolfpac sign and as Nash starts to jump Piper, WE RUN OUT OF TIME!

Some matches have already been announced for Starrcade on December 29!

- MAIN EVENT: WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hollywood Hogan vs. Roddy Piper
- Lex Luger vs. The Giant
- WCW World Tag Team Champions The Outsiders vs. The Faces of Fear
- WCW World Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko vs. J-Crown Champion Ultimo Dragon

WCW Monday Nitro
December 2, 1996
Dayton, OH
Hara Arena

The current WCW champs were as follows:
WCW World Champion: Hollywood Hogan (8/10/1996)
WCW U.S. Champion: Vacant (11/25/1996)
WCW World Tag Team Champions: The Outsiders (10/27/1996)
WCW World Television Champion: Lord Steven Regal (8/20/1996)
WCW World Cruiserweight Champion: Dean Malenko (10/27/1996)

Why is Hulkamania STILL running wild in the intro? Come on, WCW.

HOUR NUMBER ONE! Your hosts are Tony Schiavone & Larry Zbyszko.

Both the Steiners interrupt Tony and Larry Z at the start of the broadcast. Rick Steiner sends out a challenge to Sting. That makes it okay to flashback to last week where Sting cost the DFG a match with Big Bubba by sneaking up behind him and delivering the Scorpion Death Drop.

• Glacier vs. Hardbody Harrison

Really? Is GLACIER supposed to keep people from changing over to Raw? Apparently Elijah Burke or whatever he’s called now in TNA gets his look straight from Hardbody Harrison. You can guess how this goes. Spinning Roundhouse Kick gets the quick 1-2-3. (1:00) As long as they only put Glacier on Nitro every two months, I’ll be alright. ¼*

Cincinnati Bengals players LOVE the nWo!

• Amazing French Canadians (w/Col. Robert Parker) vs. Renegade & Joe Gomez

Poor Renegade and Gomez don’t realize that a good babyface team would stop the AFC when they’re trying to sing O Canada. Renegade comes in to stop an AFC save and that just leads to Gomez getting tossed over the top rope to get beat up on the floor courtesy of Col. Parker of the French Foreign Legion and Carl Oulette. Back in, Gomez receives a double hotshot. This time Renegade REALLY makes the save for his partner and gets the hot tag. He hits a bunch of clotheslines and the Handspring Elbow, but gets his whip reversed into a clothesline by Oulette. Piledriver from Rougeau sets up the QUEBECER CRASH for 1-2-3. (3:16) Where was Gomez there? No save, pal? Tony admires the AFC for continuing their winning ways. Hey Tony, they just lost at the PPV eight days ago! *½

Gene Okerlund has Arn Anderson for an interview. AA reminds everybody he destroyed the myth that you can’t beat Hulk Hogan – not once, but twice. Better bring a high heel shoe with you to Starrcade, Roddy. Arn goes on to say that because he didn’t take Piper out many years ago, now he’s going to get his receipt. Next week when Nitro comes from Charlotte, Roddy Piper will be on the show. We dare you to show up Hogan. WOO!

• The Faces of Fear (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Robert Gibson & Scotty Riggs

Now that Riggs is on his own, he’s going with…Robert Gibson? We flashback to last week where the new World order ended a Faces of Fear/Harlem Heat main event and attacked everybody. Riggs and Gibson work on Barbarian’s arm to start. Gibson ducks low off a whip and in comes Meng. Blind tag to Riggs, he catches Meng with a flying bodypress for 1-2-NO! American Express (Gibson/Riggs! WHADDAYA THINK?) deliver a double clothesline, but Meng chops back and tags in Barbarian for the backdrop into a powerbomb on Riggs. Wow I mark for that. That gets two. What I want to know is why they’re making this match so long and wanting everybody to check for Gibson and Riggs when they’re getting a tag titles shot at Starrcade? The Faces of Fear continue to brutalize Riggs for a while. Put him away! Kick of Fear! Done! Come on. Too bad that doesn’t happen. Riggs avoids some elbow drops and hot tags Gibson. He nails Barbarian with the enziguri, but then Gibson tastes the KICK OF FEAR for real and it tastes pretty bad. (7:41) I don’t understand the booking here. Even if they won’t win the belts at Starrcade, at least make them appear to be a threat. That’s the whole point of wrestling – make your whole show sell, not just your main event. DUH. Just when it couldn’t make any less sense, Riggs cleans house on the Faces of Fear with steel chairshots. Is he PMS’ing over losing his partner to the nWo or something? They didn’t have anything to do with it, Scotty! *

WCW Saturday Night! Watch it IF YOU WEEL! 6:05PM eastern! TBS! Arn Anderson, Lord Steven Regal, the Faces of Fear, Chris Jericho, Rick Steiner, Bunkhouse Buck, Jeff Jarrett, Kevin Sullivan and many others are featured on the show! Don’t miss out! It’s the MUTHASHIP! PAY WINDAHS, CLUBBERIN, AND PLUNDAH, BABY!

Neat! We see some house show footage of Benoit/Sullivan in Baltimore back on 11/23. Pretty much exactly how it went down at the Great American Bash except for the Dungeon of Doom attacking Benoit in the bathroom while he’s trying to put Sullivan in the Crippler Crossface. A BACKBREAKER BY THE URINAL! Back to the ring, Woman jumps on Sullivan’s back to get him to stop beating up Benoit before the Faces of Fear hold her back.

• Kevin Sullivan vs. Unnamed Jobber #203

Tony doesn’t even know this jobber’s name. He looks like he doesn’t realize that the ’80s are over with his long blonde hair. HEAVY METALLLLLLLLLLL! Either that, or he’s Randy the Ram. This is the usual crazed lunatic brawl from Sullivan. Tree of Woe and the DOUBLE STOMP gets the win. (2:00) Larry Z thinks Piper should lead the Dungeon of Doom against the new World order. Somebody fire him. ¼*

Kevin Sullivan cuts a confusing promo if you didn’t already know that he and Woman were married.

• WCW World Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko vs. Billy Kidman

Kidman surprises Malenko with a headscissors for two. Tilt-a-whirl headscissors puts Malenko on the floor. Kidman wants a pescado, but Malenko moves out of the way and gives Kidman a powerbomb (!!) on the outside. Meanwhile, Sonny Oono makes his way down to ringside with a camera. You know, to scout Malenko. Back in, Malenko delivers a brainbuster for two. Looks like they screw up a boot-to-the-face-out-of-the-corner spot and then they try it again. Kidman hits a missile dropkick, followed by a fisherman suplex for 1-2-NO! Malenko tries a powerbomb, but Kidman slips away and drops down for a backslide for 1-2-NO! They trade inside cradles for two. Kidman gets caught up top for a superplex, so Malenko heads up top and gets blinded by Oono’s camera flashing in his face. Kidman wants the SHOOTING STAR PRESS, but Malenko brings the knees up and applies the TEXAS CLOVERLEAF for the win. (5:50) Way too many noticeable screw-ups from Kidman here, but otherwise a decent glorified squash. *½

HOUR NUMBER TWO! Your hosts are Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan, and Mike Tenay.

• Jeff Jarrett vs. Big Bubba (w/Jimmy Hart)

Why do these two deserve a rematch? Bubba controls to start. Jarrett puts on the brakes and struts to take control? Ha, swinging neckbreaker connects. Bubba punches him down to allow Jimmy Hart to choke him a little bit. Jarrett slides out to get him a piece of Jimmy, but Bubba makes the save by missing Jarrett and punching Jimmy away. JIMMY’S DOWN. Back in, a flying bodypress gets two. Bubba kicks off the FIGURE-FOUR as Jimmy tosses the megaphone in the ring. While Jimmy has the ref’s attention, Jarrett rolls up Bubba for the delayed nearfall. Bubba grabs the megaphone, but WHAM. Jarrett dropkicks it back in his face for the 1-2-3. (4:08) Same finish as last time they faced on Nitro six weeks ago. ¾*

The Steiner brothers come back out to get an answer to their challenge from Sting. Rick calls him out and from the rafters, Sting gives him the nod. STING vs. RICK STEINER! TONIGHT!

After the break, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and Eric Bischoff (Syxx and Vincent appear as well, but they leave right away) come out to take over the announce table. You see, they want their hour of Nitro, but they’re about ten minutes late. Piper doesn’t want none of Hollywood Hogan. Bischoff uses this time to take a stab at the WWF’s The Man They Call Vader by saying that Hogan handled him pretty easily. They show a clip of Slamboree ‘95 where Hogan clotheslines him down. He shows more footage of the time the nWo beat down Ric Flair and took his US belt. Let’s not forget the time Hogan beat the crap out of Randy Savage and painted a chalk line around him while he had him laying face down. You don’t want none, Piper.

• Eddie Guerrero vs. Squire David Taylor

Everybody in WCW has three weeks left to convert their WCW contracts into nWo contracts – or else. Hall and Nash talks about wanting to bring an Englishman into the nWo. They show a split screen for a flashback to last week when Eddie beat Konnan in the US title tournament. Taylor works the arm a lot, but Eddie fights back with a headscissors and the FROG SPLASH for the win. (2:13) Eddie looks like he’s going to confront the now, and does so by doing NOTHING. ½*

On the Road with Lee Marshall: He’s in Charlotte and doesn’t sound all that happy to be talking to the nWo. Nash asks him if he’s live from Arn Anderson’s double wide? HA. Marshall says Ric Flair in Charlotte is like the Beatles in Liverpool. Hall ~ “You mean like how Flair’s old and outdated?”

• Arn Anderson vs. Jim Powers (w/Teddy Long)

Teddy Long ~ “WESTSIDEEE!” HAHA, what. Anyways, Arn got his butt handed to him last week from Luger – now he’s all pissed off and ready to destroy Jim Powers. He takes him to the floor and rubs his face on the ringside mats before running him into the ringpost. Back in, Arn dominates and works the arm. He stops himself before coming down face-first onto Powers’ foot, but then misses an elbow drop. Powers hits the Knee Lift and the dropkick for two. Screw all that, DDT! (3:08) Hall says Arn can play on his team anytime. *

• Chris Benoit vs. Lord Steven Regal – WCW U.S. Title Tournament Match

Hey, where’s Woman? If you read above, Regal’s still the TV champ, but of course the belt isn’t on the line here. Early on during a palm strike-hip toss exchange, Regal gets busted open BIG time and the hard camera has to go wide – REALLY wide. That hurts the match at least how it appears on TV. They light each other with chops. Benoit hits the SWANDIVE HEADBUTT for 1-2-NO! Awesome tombstone exchange sees Benoit getting the better of that. Regal rolls out and baits Benoit into a missed pescado. Back in, Regal hits a Butterfly Superplex for 1-2-NO! Benoit comes back with a German suplex and then finishes Regal off with a Dragon Suplex to advance in the tournament. (6:27) Good match with both guys ripping each other apart. Too bad for the stupid ‘no blood’ policy. On a night filled with squashes, this was match of the night. **½

Gene Okerlund has Arn Anderson, Steve McMichael, Debra, and Chris Benoit for an interview. If WCW is looking for leaders, the Horsemen will be more than happy to take the job. Mongo gets onto Benoit for getting involved with Woman. Debra has to run her mouth about it too. Arn finishes up this segment saying they would all rather be a Horsemen than anything else. WOOO!

• Lex Luger vs. Rocco Rock (w/Johnny Grunge)

Wonder why Public Enemy are working singles matches? Rocco Rock takes over to start and hotshots Luger so Grunge can choke him a little bit. Meanwhile, Nash says ECW can be the #4 wrestling company behind the nWo, WCW, and some Japan company. Bischoff asks for three bucks to buy them out. Hall adds in that the sweet part of the deal would be that you can play bingo there too! Oh man good times. Rocco shows off his boxing skills and beats on Luger. To the floor, Grunge gets in some more licks. Back inside, Luger comes back with a press slam. Heel miscommunication ensues and Rocco gets caught in the TORTURE RACK to give Luger the win. (3:56) What a squashtacular show tonight. ¾*

• Sting vs. Rick Steiner (w/Scott Steiner)

Bischoff and Nash make fun of Scott being so “big”. Sting enters the ring through the crowd, tosses his ball bat aside, and turns his back on Rick to give him a free shot. Rick nails him out to the floor where Scott throws him back inside. Rick pounds on Sting, but misses a Steinerline that bounces him off the ropes into the SCORPION DEATHDROP! Scott gets in to help his brother out when Sting picks up the ball bat. Sting moves Scott out of the way, pushes Rick back with the bat, and then hands him the bat. Sting turns his back again allowing a free shot, but Scott jumps in the way. He takes the bat out of Rick’s hand and tosses it away. Fine then. Sting takes his bat and leaves while Scott tries to keep his big brother calm. During all this, Bischoff, Hall and Nash are all egging Sting on to destroy these two. Yeah, nothing to rate here. Anyways, Sting walks over to the announce table and points his bat at the nWo. Ha, they are SO confused and kind of scared.

Sting leaves back through the crowd while Hall and Nash shill their new Outsiders T-shirts.

AND WE OUT!

Some matches have already been announced for Starrcade on December 29!

- MAIN EVENT: WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hollywood Hogan vs. Roddy Piper
- WCW World Tag Team Champions The Outsiders vs. The Faces of Fear
- WCW World Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko vs. J-Crown Champion Ultimo Dragon

I honestly think I had a breakdown sometime last year. Now that I am no longer in the thick of it, it is much easier to see that I put myself on a one way tunnel to breakdown. It happened so slowly it was hard to see it coming.  If only someone had been there for me and had thrown up a few warning signs, I might not have broken down as badly as I did.

So here are your warning signs. If you find you’ve taken some of these steps already, I suggest you slow down, pull over and try to turn around.

Step 1: Work. Work a lot.
In fact, when you have any kind of downtime such as at night and weekends, take on additional work like freelancing or another project.

I worked a full-time job as a user experience designer. And then at night during my downtime I took on multiple freelance projects. In addition to that I was trying to launch two businesses: my handmade jewelry business and a surf and skate retail store for which I was writing a business plan.  (More on those failures on future blog posts.)

Step 2: Do not say no to anyone.
When people ask you for your time to volunteer or watch their kids or walk their dog or throw them a bachelorette party, don’t say no. Even though you are already so short on time.

I just hated to say no to people, especially when they were friends or family. I felt like I would let them down. So I said yes to being Maid of Honor and throwing my friend a bachelorette party. I said yes to designing websites for friends. I said yes to making jewelry for charity. I said yes to babysitting. You asked it, I yes-ed it.

Step 3: Forget diet and exercise.
Because you are way too busy for that. Remember step 1 and 2? You need time to do those. Eat fast food because it’s fast! Skip the workout because it’s such a hassle. And at this point, you really don’t care about how you look anymore anyway. Don’t do anything that will boost your energy or reduce your stress.

In prior years I was so good about exercising. I used to run, ride my bike, do Billy Blanks’ Tae-bo (yes go ahead, laugh), and yoga. I also ate pretty well and cooked most nights. But the busier I got, the less I did these things, and pretty soon they were edged off the grand project plan.  To me, exercising and making the effort for a good diet was unproductive. I didn’t see the reasons why I should keep doing these things.

Step 4: Sever all contact with friends and family.
Do not socialize with, talk to, nor lean on, friends and family. Much less ask for their help.

My network of friends and family is actually pretty wide. But I didn’t think to ask for anyone’s help. I didn’t think it would be helpful even to just vent to my therapist cousin. I thought that was just whining. And I hate whining. I thought I could do it all. All by my glorious, wonderful, super-self-sufficient self!

Step 5: Forget all your needs.
Yes you are exhausted and just need a little bit of sleep but don’t be such a weakling! Don’t take care of yourself. No time for that when you’re taking care of everyone and everything! Don’t rest. Don’t have sissy “leisure” time. Don’t even fulfill your basic needs like grooming, feeding, and clothing yourself.

I really took this one to a whole ‘nother level. I got no sleep because I stayed up late working and woke up early to get the kids ready for school. I took sick days to do other work. When I actually got sick, I went to work so I could save my sick days for non-sick activities. Leisure time? Yeah right. For months I didn’t have time for haircuts, doctor’s appointments, or any kind of self-maintenance things. And at some point, I would go for days without taking a shower. Yes, that busy, that bad.

Once all these steps are completed, you can be sure that you will feel like a failure in life and have a major breakdown.

Looking back someone did give me a warning sign. While I was manning my handmade jewelry booth at the Renegade Craft Fair, a friend stopped by and we got to chatting. As I proudly told her about all of the projects I had taken on she started shaking her head. “Wow, that’s a lot. Something’s gonna give.” Inside I laughed a cocky laugh and though to myself, “I can do it ALL! All of it. Ain’t nothing gonna give.”  Sadly something gave alright. Me. And everything came crashing down.

SouthernXtremeRadio.com kickin’ country music with DJ Renegade on air. Tune in & request UR fav country songs http://southernxtremeradio.com

I am still on this kick about what to wear to keep warm. There are dozens of beautiful winter-themed sims all over the grid and it looks mighty silly if you show up in a bikini or a fairy costume. So here is some more winter goodness.

The scenario is that I am out on the plains of the Midwest, fighting off the brisk wind rolling over the flatlands off the Rockies. This puffy parka from AIR Winx is a clever mix of sculpty prims, flexi furry prims, and system pieces with an ingenious satiny quilted texture. The thing looks real, folks.. all I can say. And it’s VERY warm. And it has that nice airy squishy feeling that is so delish. The jacket comes with a striped gray and black sweater underneath—but you don’t have to wear it.

Casual jeans from Kaejo DaSilva (thanks, KK) work with this outfit. (KK is very scrupulous about her wardrobe—whatever doesn’t work gets trashed immediately. She has had these jeans a while and loves them. I can see why.) I plopped earmuffs from Antonia Marat on my head—she didn’t have purple but white matches all and since when do YOUR earmuffs always match your jacket?

A beautiful luscious skin from Hart Larsson makes me a winter beauty with its fresh glowing tan and well drawn eyebrows. (Really.. it’s about the eyebrows.. it really REALLY is.) A short cute hairstyle, pinned back, from Truth Hawks, tops this fresh air look.

I once lived in this part of the fair Midwest, in a state where people spent an inordinate amount of time talking about their boots. “Like your boots… where’dya get ‘em… They sure look warm.” These boots from MariaElena Barbosa would do well in that wintery clime, mud-spattered and scuffed from good old-fashioned hard work. These are for girls who know how to pitch hay.

Crunchin’ through the snow:

Hair: >TRUTH< Jess – cocoa by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH<

Skin: [PXL] July LT NE Nude DEB by Hart Larsson for [PXL]

Jacket: *ARGRACE* ” Joy ” -Purple-Lady`s by AIR Winx for *ARGRACE*

Jeans: [Renegade] North 55 Faded Jeans by Kaejo DaSilva for [Renegade]

Earmuffs: /artilleri/ Knit earmuffs! *white* by Antonia Marat for /artilleri/

Boots: MEB : Grunge boots by MariaElena Barbosa for MEB

Sending a shout out to my favorite college class in the real world, Pink’s and Dex’s students in the Midwest—not the first college class in that particular state I have been in front of

WCW World War 3
November 24, 1996
Norfolk, VA
The Scope

The current WCW champs were as follows:
WCW World Champion: Hollywood Hogan (8/10/1996)
WCW U.S. Champion: Ric Flair (7/7/1996)
WCW World Tag Team Champions: The Outsiders (10/27/1996)
WCW World Television Champion: Lord Steven Regal (8/20/1996)
WCW World Cruiserweight Champion: Dean Malenko (10/27/1996)

Your hosts are Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan, and Dusty Rhodes.

• J-Crown Champion Ultimo Dragon (w/Sonny Oono) vs. Rey Mysterio

For those unaware, the J-Crown is EIGHT lightweight championships combined from promotions all around the world. The funny part is and possibly the most annoying for the champion is that he’s got to carry around all those eight titles instead of having just one belt to represent all the belts. Needless to say, the J-Crown championship was short-lived and when the WWF came calling for their light heavyweight championship all of a sudden (which was one of the eight championships) in the fall of 1997, the J-Crown status was absolved and all the belts returned to be defended in their particular promotion. Anyways, this is match #2 in the three part series of the Mysterio-Dragon PPV matches. Mysterio won the first match at Hog Wild in Dragon’s debut and now that he’s got a boost of confidence in winning all those belts, maybe he can pick up the win here especially now that Rey has just lost the cruiserweight belt four weeks ago at Halloween Havoc. Alright that’s enough set up talk, let’s get to the match.

After a short feeling out process, they flip around to come to a stalemate. Enough of that, Dragon puts Rey down with his famous kick combo and corners him for some chops. Rey lands on the apron and looks for a springboard, but Dragon stops that with a springboard dropkick to put Rey on the floor. Awesome! Dragon hits a German suplex and then puts Mysterio in a lucha backbreaker rack drop. Rey outlasts a half crab, but then Dragon powerbombs him and lifts him back up for a hotshot! WHAT. Cover, 1-2-NO! Dragon gives Rey the Giant Swing! After so many spins, Dragon ends up making himself dizzy too. Fisherman buster gets two. Brainbuster gets another two. Tombstone piledriver gets a THIRD nearfall in a row! They go to the floor where Dragon drops Rey with ANOTHER tombstone! While Mysterio’s laid out, Dragon gives him a slingshot splash! Back inside, he hits the DRAGONSTEINER for 1-2-NO! RUNNING LIGERBOMB gets 1-2-NO! Mysterio catches Dragon charging in the corner and follows up with a springboard split-legged moonsault for 1-2-NO! Rey flips out to the apron off a whip and springboard dropkicks Dragon to the floor. He continues with the offense and wipes out Dragon with a springboard somersault plancha! Incredible. In the ring, Rey delivers a springboard sunset flip for 1-2-NO! Awesome cartwheel into a spinning hurracanrana gets 1-2-NO! Dragon comes back with a Dragon Suplex right on Rey’s head for 1-2-NO! He tries another Running Ligerbomb, but Rey sunset flips out for 1-2-NO! WHOA. So many convincing nearfalls. Rey calls for the SPRINGBOARD HURRACANRANA which always wins, but this time Dragon catches him in mid-air and bounces him off the rope into a powerbomb for 1-2-3! (13:47) Wow just an absolutely awesome match. I LOVE that finish too. A slingshot powerbomb? Who thinks of this stuff? Just incredible. Easily a MOTYC here. Next month, Dragon wants Malenko and his Cruiserweight belt. At the time, Ultimo Dragon held NINE total championships – that’s one other belt outside of the J-Crown. The cruiserweight belt would make a ridiculous ten championships at once. That’s insanity. But hey, when you’re a champ, you’re a champ all the way. ****½

In the back, DDP avoids Gene’s question about whether or not he’s got anything to do with Eric Bischoff since he’s his next door neighbor and all. You know what Gene, Page does in fact owe his great hair to Head & Shoulders. Don’t be jealous. BANG!

• Chris Jericho (w/Teddy Long) vs. Nick Patrick

For this match, Jericho has to wrestle Patrick with one arm tied behind his back. Nick Patrick comes out looks all sleazy. He wrestles in a sleeveless zebra shirt, black pants, white boots, and one of those soft collars. Jericho shoulderblocks and hiptosses Patrick around to start. He stalls and gets in Teddy Long’s face for a moment. Back inside, he slaps Jericho and then takes a slap to send him flying to the floor. Patrick finally gains an advantage when Jericho misses a clothesline up against the ringpost. Back in again, Patrick punches Jericho around in the corner, but charges into a boot and takes a bunch of turnbuckle smashes. Patrick leads Jericho in and out of the ring to stomp him on his way back inside, but then he gets slammed off the top (WOO!) and eats a superkick for the 1-2-3. (8:02) I know Nick Patrick used to be a wrestler before he hurt himself and became a referee, but he did pretty darn good since that was about fifteen years ago. Tony tells Patrick to go home to daddy. In case you don’t get the inside joke, his daddy is the Assassin who RULED the southern territories as a masked heel back in the day and in 1996, he ran the WCW Power Plant. Actually not that bad to sit through and it’s certainly satisfying to see Patrick get owned if you can forget about referees usually getting merely bumped and knocked out for five minutes. They’re usually so feeble! *½

Gene Okerlund brings out a rehabilitating Ric Flair. While this crowd was already molten hot, Flair comes out to help them become a little hotter. He promises the wrestling public that before it’s all said and done, he will dance all night and dance a little longer, stay all night and stay a little longer. Oh yeah and the new World order will belong to the WCW. WOO! Wait, what?

• The Giant vs. Jeff Jarrett

Giant wears the US belt with him to the ring. Schiavone says that Flair is no longer the champ because of not defending the belt in 30 days. Jarrett spends the whole match trying to knock Giant off his feet. When he fails, Giant takes over and chokes and chops on him. Wait a minute, here comes STING! Meanwhile, Giant misses a pump splash (yep, even back then) and Jarrett takes him off his feet with a flying bodypress for 1-2-NO! As Sting jumps the rail, Giant gets dumped. Jarrett doesn’t notice anything and takes this opportunity to do the Fargo Strut. While the ref is counting on Giant, Sting hops in the ring and gives Jarrett the SCORPION DEATH DROP! Once Sting leaves, Giant waits for Jarrett to stagger up to his feet and delivers the CHOKESLAM for the academic 1-2-3. (6:52) This achieved a couple things. It continues Sting punishing Jarrett for waltzing in here all of a sudden and demanding that he stop being a loser and become the leader for WCW against the nWo. Secondly it allowed Giant to finally chokeslam Jarrett when he said he couldn’t do it. And yeah, that pretty much ends Giant’s feud with the Horsemen. ¾*

It’s time for a contract signing! There’s a table with a plaid cover ready in the ring and Roddy Piper comes out with the contract in hand. Get out here, Hogan. Instead of seeing Hogan, Eric Bischoff comes out wearing an nWo t-shirt, Ted DiBiase, and Vincent. Bischoff says that Hollywood isn’t coming out to sign this because he’s a little busy looking over some scripts and has made Bischoff his power of attorney, so he can sign the contract in his place. First of all, Piper reminds Vincent that he taught him how to fight, so he better back off. Piper handles these three by being able to talk over all them. He doesn’t care about no WCW or nWo. To Piper, nWo means ‘no way out’. And somewhere Vince is thinking that might not be a bad name for a PPV. When Piper gets up in Bischoff’s face, Bischoff reminds him that he can fine Piper for whatever it is he’s about to do. O RLY? How much would it cost him? Piper gets a little off track and then tells Bischoff that this match against Hogan is no-DQ, no countouts – there must be a winner to find out who the real icon is. Piper doesn’t want to look at Bischoff anymore, he calls Hogan out again. And here comes Hollywood along with the rest of the new World order. First of all, Hollywood says he’ll sign the contract, but then he brings up Piper’s hip replacement. Show everybody the scar, Roddy! Hogan proceeds to call Piper a cripple and “Pegged Leg Pete”. Piper finally has enough and slaps Hogan away. Big mistake. The nWo swarms on him while Hogan blasts his scar with a chair and then spray paints the nWo letters across his hip! Before the nWo leaves, Piper gets to his feet and turns the table over to prove a point. He WILL NOT DIE! While the build towards this match is pretty awesome, it’s a shame that it can’t live up to it.

• Harlem Heat (w/Sister Sherri) vs. The Amazing French Canadians (w/Col. Robert Parker)

If the Heat win, Sherri gets five minutes with Col. Parker. Hopefully this time she won’t bump her head and fall in love with him. During the Canadian national anthem, Sherri wonders if the AFC think they’re at the MTV music awards. SUH-NAP! Jacques kips up after a shoulderblock and nails Booker with a dropkick, but then eats a Hook Kick. Tag to Stevie Ray for a double clothesline. Jacques catches Stevie Ray with a jumping back elbow, but has to tag in Oulette to put him down with a clothesline. Stevie Ray nails Oulette with a back suplex and Bicycle Kicks him down for two. Oulette gets stuck in the Heat corner for a while. Scissors Kick connects. Booker misses an elbow and SPINAROONIES up into a Jumping Leg Lariat. Jacques pulls the top rope down on Booker to send him flying to the floor. Back in, Jacques slams Oulette on top of Booker and continues the double teams with a double hotshot. Boston crab/flying legdrop on Booker gets two. Stevie Ray gets a hot tag and press slams Rougeau on top of Oulette. It breaks down into a pier-six brawl and the ref gets sandwiched in the corner. Booker misses a Jumping Leg Lariat and gets crotched and falls to the floor. That leaves Stevie Ray alone with the AFC for a SPIKE PILEDRIVER! With the Heat all down and out, Oulette makes a scaffold in the corner with a table and then puts the ring steps on top of the table. He puts another bundle of steps down on the mat to make for a SUPER QUEBECER CRASH! OH MY GOSH! Too bad it completely misses. I mean it took all of a whole minute to set up. Jacques gets kicked to the floor while Booker delivers the HARLEM HANGOVER to Oulette for the 1-2-3. (9:15) Standard formula tag with a silly finish. Kind of cool, but kind of silly too. I mean, really guys? Afterwards, Sherri gets her alone time with Parker and beats him to the back after about a minute or two. About what we expected with that. **

Tony Schiavone is wiping away the TEARS of laughter. Yes, TEARS.

On the WCW Hotline, Gene says he’ll tell you who the latest superstar is that will be coming to WCW! Well whoever he is, I’ll bet he’ll be just perfect for WCW.

• WCW World Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko vs. Psychosis

Malenko stretches Psychosis down on the mat to start. During the mat work, somebody apparently is getting kicked out of the building. Who knows. Finally, it picks up a little as Psychosis takes Malenko to the floor, but then he misses a leap to the floor and slams his face on the guardrail. Oww? Back in, Malenko returns to the mat with a headscissors. He changes over to a nasty vertical half crab and then levels Psychosis with a butterfly powerbomb into a TEXAS CLOVERLEAF, but Psychosis is in the ropes. They fight to the floor while Malenko cranks on the knee. Psychosis mounts a comeback with a pumphandle backbreaker and then NAILS Malenko with a corkscrew senton on the floor! WHAT. Back in, Psychosis delivers a GUILLOTINE LEGDROP for 1-2-NO! Malenko avoids a charge, but gets caught up top and takes a rana to the mat for 1-2-NO! Whoa, Psychosis catches Malenko with a rolling Koppou kick. We see a DOUBLE REVERSAL on a tombstone piledriver which Dean wins. Cover, 1-2-NO! Malenko eats a boot off a corner charge, but avoids a leapfrog and gets the rolling clutch into a bridge for the 1-2-3. (14:34) Took too long to get where it was going to be great. However it did include quite a few awesome nearfalls. Certainly not as great as the Dragon-Rey match, but still a very good match. ***½

• WCW World Tag Team Champions The Outsiders vs. The Nasty Boys vs. The Faces of Fear (w/Jimmy Hart)

I do believe this is the final WCW PPV for the Nasty Boys. While Knobbs would wrestle on his own later in WCW, I know this is certainly the end of PPVs for Jerry Sags. Anyways, they clean house on the Outsiders before the Faces of Fear even make it to the ring. Once the Faces of Fear make it to the ring, the Outsiders stand back while the other two teams beat the crap out of each other. As you might expect, there’s a lot of CLUBBERIN’. Knobbs gets cornered in the champs corner for a while. Hall kicks Barbarian in the head a bunch and that wakes him up. The Faces of Fear slug him around until the Nasties take over. Sags hits a PILEDRIVER on Barbarian and gets two. Nash lays out Barbarian with the Side Slam. In comes Hall, the Faces of Fear have some more fun with him. Back over to the Nasties, they concentrate on Barbarian some more. Eventually, Knobbs and Meng decide to stop fighting each other and they tag in both Hall and Nash. They think they are brilliant for making these two fight, but all they have to do is pin each other to regain the tag belts, says Tony. They hype the crowd up into a frenzy making them think they’re going to really fight, but then Nash lays down for Hall and they get a two count off that. Does that remind anybody of a certain Monday night in January of 1999? Just saying. The match breaks down with the Faces of Fear heading to the floor to beat up Sags. Meanwhile, Hall gets Jimmy’s megaphone and blasts Knobbs in the back of the head so Nash can give him the JACKKNIFE POWERBOMB for the 1-2-3. (16:11) I don’t normally like tag team triangle matches because they’re usually just a huge mess, but this felt like a good fight. The Nasties and the Faces of Fear are known for being tough dudes, but the Outsiders proved to be the smartest. In this case, being the smartest won them the match. **¼

• 60-Man Battle Royal – Winner Gets The Next WCW World Title Shot

The participants: Lex Luger, Eddie Guerrero, ‘Boston Bad Boy’ Tony Rumble, Diamond Dallas Page, Kaos, Rage, M. Wallstreet, Marcus Bagwell, Scotty Riggs, Sgt. Craig Pittman, Booker T, Stevie Ray, Big Bubba, Hugh Morrus, Konnan, Ron Studd, Lord Steven Regal, La Parka, Pez Whatley, Steve McMichael, Disco Inferno, Renegade, Joe Gomez, Meng, Barbarian, Bunkhouse Buck, Arn Anderson, Johnny Grunge, Ciclope, Galaxy, Syxx, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, The Giant, Scott Norton, Ultimo Dragon, Jimmy Graffiti, Mike Enos, Rey Mysterio Jr., Roadblock, Ice Train, Jack Boot, Jim Duggan, Chris Benoit, Juventud Guerrera, Jacques Rougeau, Carl Oulette, Prince Iaukea, Dean Malenko, Jeff Jarrett, Bobby Eaton, Jim Powers, Squire David Taylor, Chris Jericho, Alex Wright, Mark Starr, Mr. JL, Villano IV, Rick Steiner, and Kevin Sullivan. Our commentators for ring one – Mike Tenay and Dusty Rhodes; ring two – Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan; ring three – Lee Marshall and Larry Zbyszko.

A black-eyed and bruised Benoit meets Sullivan in the aisleway as he comes to the ring. They had a rematch from the Great American Bash in Baltimore the night before. A Horsemen/Dungeon battle ensues on the floor. Benoit and Sullivan fight into the crowd. Bubba tries to help out, but he gets beaten down the steps. Hard to tell if any eliminations are happening even with the three-way split screen because the commentators are all talking about the Horsemen/Dungeon fight. Somehow Lee Marshall gets swept up into the brawl. HA. Apparently everybody involved in the fight is disqualified from the battle royal. The jobbers and the luchadores slowly get weeded out. That excludes Rey Mysterio Jr. The new World order people are just standing around picking their shots. Giant gets into it with Roadblock and clotheslines him out. In one ring, everybody clotheslines Ron Studd in the corner. Once he’s down, they all dog pile on top of him for some reason. While the Amazing French Canadians have their problems with Duggan after they eliminated, Eddie Guerrero pescados out on top of Regal. Off-camera, it looks like Bagwell eliminated Riggs to further their problems with Wallstreet coming up behind Bagwell to send him to the showers. It’ll all become clear tomorrow on Nitro. In another ring, the nWo pretty much stand back and watch while Rey and Dragon make a little match. I thought Eddie was eliminated when he launched himself out on Regal, but he’s still at ringside beating up DDP. Eventually, everybody congregates into the same ring. Jack Boot, better known as Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker, gets tossed out. I know everybody was DYING to know what happened to him. Luger tries to punch away on the Giant, but he can’t stay there forever with the nWo standing in his way protecting their own. Luger does manage to toss out a different giant in Ron Studd though. Now the midcarders like Rick Steiner and Chris Jericho get sent out. How is Regal still in the match? Finally when there’s nine people left, WCW stops fighting each other momentarily. Luger and Jarrett go after Hall and Nash while Regal, Mysterio, DDP, and Eddie continue beating on one another. I’ve seen everybody left from WCW on the floor at some point during this match. Regal backdrops Eddie out for a crazy bump. Rey charges Giant and gets hoisted up with ONE HAND. He pitches Rey on top of Eddie. That’s just ridiculous. Hall goes to give Jarrett the OUTSIDERS EDGE when Regal makes the save! Nevertheless, Nash clotheslines Jarrett out. DDP charges Regal and misses to crash and burn on the floor. Now that Regal is on fire, Nash and Giant swarms the guy and dumps him out.

We’re down to Syxx, Nash, Hall, and the Giant left to take on Luger. The crowd gets to their feet. Luger goes on the move and starts taking everybody down with clotheslines. All except the Giant. He whips Luger across and misses an avalanche to land himself up on the top turnbuckle. Lex gets Giant up on his shoulders to get rid of him, but Syxx kicks Luger in the gut. Hall kicks Luger for the OUTSIDERS EDGE, but Luger backdrops him out to the floor. Lex presses Syxx and throws him out onto Hall! Luger ducks a clothesline from Nash and then nails him coming back around with a running elbow! With Nash staggered, Luger lifts him up in the TORTURE RACK! As he moves over to the ropes to dump him out, Giant comes over and shoves them both out to win the match. (28:23) This actually turns out for the best because it creates an opportunity to weaken the nWo just a little bit. They were getting a tad too strong. Since Giant is part of the new World order and Hogan’s the champ, to ask for the guaranteed title shot for winning World War 3 would mean absolute treason. And boy, this should get a little interesting in the weeks to come.

Final Thoughts: What a fun PPV. Apart from who won at least from a booking standpoint, I’m not a big fan of the main event. It’s usually just a nasty cluster of a match, but the hot ending was just spectacular. Most people hate the undercard on this show aside from the cruiserweight stuff. I didn’t mind it and found those matches to be enjoyable. World War 3 ‘96 will get an easy thumbs up from me. November 1996 was just a great month for PPVs. For an interesting time in WCW, go and check this out however you can.

Oh man….

Free copies of ReadyMade magazine, free raffles for paper goods that I actually want, PLUS all the usual goodies. Goodbye money.