The Bagpipe Report
Encyclopedia
The Bagpipe Report was the world's first weekly professional wrestling
magazine show that broadcast via TWC Fight! (Then known as The Wrestling Channel). The weekly hour long in-house produced programme from Howth
, Ireland
- was presented by Blake Norton, and launched on July 9, 2004 at 8PM.
Transcending from an earlier web based newsletter; the show which boasted no allegiances, no politics, and no agendas, covered the entire spectrum of the wrestling world with all the latest news, exclusive interviews and competitions. Apart from airing across Europe
, shows are available for download from the official website
.
, Charles MacLaurin became a pioneer of the internet
wrestling fan base when he launched The Bagpipe Report in 1996, a newsletter with a mailing list for thirty friends. The name of bagpipe was apparently due to the originator hailing from Scotland
.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
magazine show that broadcast via TWC Fight! (Then known as The Wrestling Channel). The weekly hour long in-house produced programme from Howth
Howth
Howth is an area in Fingal County near Dublin city in Ireland. Originally just a small fishing village, Howth with its surrounding rural district is now a busy suburb of Dublin, with a mix of dense residential development and wild hillside, all on the peninsula of Howth Head. The only...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
- was presented by Blake Norton, and launched on July 9, 2004 at 8PM.
Transcending from an earlier web based newsletter; the show which boasted no allegiances, no politics, and no agendas, covered the entire spectrum of the wrestling world with all the latest news, exclusive interviews and competitions. Apart from airing across Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, shows are available for download from the official website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
.
The beginnings
Whilst studying in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Charles MacLaurin became a pioneer of the internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
wrestling fan base when he launched The Bagpipe Report in 1996, a newsletter with a mailing list for thirty friends. The name of bagpipe was apparently due to the originator hailing from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Programming 2004
- July 9 Telephone interview with Diamond Dallas PageDiamond Dallas PageDallas Page , better known by his ring name "Diamond" Dallas Page , is an American retired professional wrestler, fitness instructor and actor...
- July 16 Studio interview with Doug WilliamsDoug Williams (wrestler)Douglas Clayton Durdle is an English professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Doug Williams. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Douglas Williams...
- July 23 Telephone interviews with Les ThatcherLes ThatcherLeslie Alan Malady better known by the name Les Thatcher is a former professional wrestler who achievied many accolades over his career...
, Michael ModestMichael ModestMichael K. Cariglio is an American professional wrestler, better known by his stage name, Michael Modest . A Bay Area legend on the independent circuit scene, Modest ran the promotion Pro Wrestling IRON with tag partner Donovan Morgan and Frank Murdoch until its closure in 2005...
and Jim CornetteJim CornetteJames Mark "Jim" Cornette is an American professional wrestling manager, commentator, promoter, and booker. As a manager, he has worked for Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation and from 1991 to 1995, was the owner of Smoky Mountain Wrestling... - July 30 Studio interview with A.J. StylesA.J. StylesAllen Neal Jones , better known by his ring name A.J. Styles is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
- August 6 Telephone interview with Ross Hart and Ron KillingsRon KillingsRonald Aaron "Ron" Killings is an American professional wrestler and rapper. He is currently signed to WWE working on its Raw brand. Since working for the company, he has been a one time United States Champion under the ring name R-Truth and a two time Hardcore Champion under the ring name K-Kwik...
- August 13 Telephone interviews with Kevin Seifert and The Blue MeanieBrian HeffronBrian Heffron is a professional wrestler and actor better known as The Blue Meanie or Da Blue Guy.-Early career:...
- August 20 Telephone interview with Harley RaceHarley RaceHarley Leland Race is a retired American professional wrestler and current promoter and trainer. During his career as a wrestler, he held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship 7 times...
- August 27 Telephone interview with Jimmy HartJimmy HartJames "Jimmy" Ray Hart is a professional wrestling manager, executive, composer, and musician currently signed with WWE. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling under his nickname "The Mouth of the South." He has managed many professional...
- September 3 Telephone interviews with Road Warrior AnimalRoad Warrior AnimalJoseph Aaron "Joe" Laurinaitis is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring names, Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior...
and Rob FeinsteinRob FeinsteinRobert Feinstein is the owner and operator of RF Video , who were best known as the videographers of Extreme Championship Wrestling... - September 10 Telephone interviews with Alex ShaneAlex ShaneAlexander Daniel Spilling is a British professional wrestler who is best known by his ring name "The Ascension" Alex Shane. Spilling also works as a promoter and wrestling teacher.-Early career:...
, GangrelDavid Heath (wrestler)David William Heath is an American professional wrestler and pornographic film director. He is best known for his time in the World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Gangrel.-Beginning:...
and Luna VachonGertrude VachonGertrude Vachon was a Canadian-American professional wrestler better known by the ring name Luna Vachon.-Training:... - September 17 Telephone interview with Joe E Legend (part one)
- September 24 Telephone interview with Joe E Legend (part two), and location interview with THQTHQTHQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...
- October 1 Studio interview with Jonny Storm
- October 8 Studio interview with Colt Cabana (part one)
- October 15 Location interview with Bryan AlvarezBryan AlvarezBryan Alki Alvarez is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and the editor and publisher of Figure Four Weekly, a newsletter that has covered professional wrestling since 1995. Alvarez credits a portion of his pro wrestling training to pro wrestler Buddy Wayne, and is credited in training...
, and studio interview with Colt Cabana (part two) - October 22 Telephone interview with Flash Barker
- October 29 Studio interview with Alex Shane
- November 5 Studio interview with Jasmin St. ClaireJasmin St. ClaireJasmin St. Claire is a former pornographic actress who is best known for starring in "gang bang" pornographic movies, in which she has sex with large numbers of men continuously. She is also known for her work as a professional wrestling personality, most notably for ECW...
- November 12 Studio interview with D'Lo BrownD'Lo BrownAccie Julius Connor better known by his ring name D'Lo Brown , is an American professional wrestler. Well known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment, he is currently working as an agent for Impact Wrestling.Connor has held forty-eight championships in various promotions during...
(part one) - November 19 Studio interview with D'Lo Brown (part two)
- November 26 Studio interview with Paul BurchillPaul BurchillPaul Birchill , better known by his ring name Paul Burchill, is an English professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment , where he signed after training and debuting for the Frontier Wrestling Alliance in his home country.-Frontier Wrestling Alliance...
- December 3 Telephone interview with Vince RussoVince RussoVincent James "Vince" Russo is an American creative writer and author, well known for his work in the professional wrestling industry. He is notable for his tenure with World Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...