Tuesday, September 22, 2009 :

-The first piece of merchandise from The Wrestling Roundtable is now available on our online store! The Wrestling Roundtable Logo T-shirt, in black, is available in sizes Medium-Double Extra Large. Before everyone asks, the design on the back is of a chalky handprint left over as if from a carny promoter around the turn of the century, leaving his "mark" on the "mark." That's where the carny term "mark" comes from. They considered you a sucker & left their chalky handprint as a signal to the other promoters that you were easy to make a buck off of.  That's why it's X'ed out ; Don't be a sucker! Get yours & support the show today!

-This past Sunday at TNA's No Surrender PPV, AJ Styles won his first TNA World title in a five-way with champion Kurt Angle, Matt Morgan, Sting & Hernandez, making him a 3-time world champion. A new father for the second time last week AJ is also the only grand slam champion in TNA history, having won every title in the pre & post-NWA eras. Elsewhere on the PPV, Sarita & Taylor Wilde defeated Madison Rayne &  Velvet Skye to win the finals of the tournament to crown the first Knockouts Tag Team Champions, Bobby Lashley defeated Rhino in his in-ring PPV debut, and ODB won the Knockouts title from Jaime Noble...I mean, Cody Deaner.

-Karl Afflis, son of Dick The Bruiser who wrestled as Leroy Redbone in Bruiser's WWA, died Sat. in Florida(Credit : pro-wrestling.com)

-Dawn Marie, head of Wrestlers Rescue, claims she's on the verge of facilitating the first 'national health care program for professional wrestling,' which would be huge if it's true(Credit : baltimoresun.com).

-Ed Ferrara was backstage on Sunday's TNA PPV, though it's unofficial whether he's on the creative team or not for now on.

-After losing in court to WWE last week, Warrior has been ordered by the judge to pay WWE's lawyers' expenses of $18, 967.46 in defending the breach of contract lawsuit(Credit : pwinsider).

-Last night on RAW was Lilian Garcia's last day in WWE after 10 years. Next week, guest hosting will be Al Sharpton.

-After getting out of her Wrestlelicious contract, Lacey Von Erich signed with TNA and is planned to be part of The Beautiful People(Credit : wrestling observer).

-Larry Sweeney was backstage at ROH's Chicago show this weekend once again, reportedly 'looking' much better than last time.

-After firing a slew of developmental wrestlers last week, reports of WWE signing Montreal-based indy wrestler Tomassino are incorrect according to SLAM Wrestling.

-Big Show will be starring in WWE Films' next straight-to-DVD production, a comedy called Suckerpunch.

-Linda Hogan withdrew her motion of enforcement against Hulk Hogan last week for $225,000 & a Harley Davidson motorcycle(Credit : WGN).

-Unconfirmed and probably untrue internet rumors that WWE offered Kanye West $10 to wrestle for them on PPVs/TV, and/or guest host RAW. Sure.

-For those wondering WTF ever happened to Perry Saturn(i.e. everyone), WGN reports he's living in Minnesota, working for a door manufacturing company.


Saturday, September 19, 2009 :

-Linda McMahon officially stepped down as CEO of WWE(Vince filling her spot. That's what she said) to run for a Senate seat in Connecticut(Credit : CNN). She is spending some of their own money to run & won't accept contributions from special interest groups(ha!), political action committees(haha!) or private donations above $100.

-Wrestling Observer reports Lester Welch died yesterday, describing him as a "Southern legend." Never heard of him. Some legend. That word needs to stop being used so liberally for anyone who just happens to be old. Anyway, he wrestled in the 60s for the AWA & NWA Florida.

-Mistoco defeated Negro Casas in the mask vs. hair main event of CMLL's 76th Anniversary Show, Friday at Arena Mexico in Mexico City.

-WWE will be returning to the Middle East for the annual Tribute To The Troops special to be aired on NBC in December(Credit : pwinsider).

-Judge Douglas L. Rayes ruled against Warrior in Warrior's defamation lawsuit against WWE over their Self Destruction Of The Ultimate Warrior DVD, citing Warrior himself first had violated a March 2000 Settlement Agreement in which either party wouldn't disparage each other(Credit : pwinsider). Meanwhile, Muscle Flex, Inc. has filed a lawsuit against WWE over "financial damages" for unauthorized use of the trademark "RAW" in Canada.

-Sam Houston, half brother of Jake The Snake & Rocking Robin, son of Grizzly Smith & former WWF/NWA wrestler, was arrested & jailed in Louisiana on Wednesday for probation violation of a 10-year sentence stemming from multiple DUIs in 2005.

-Contrary to initial reports from The Sun that Jim Cornette's TNA firing was due to "unprofessional behavior" in meetings and elsewhere in an effort to reduce Jarrett allies, pwinsider says it was an amicable separation with the possibility of returning in the future. After firing Cornette & other agent BG James this week, TNA re-hired both D-Lo Brown & Simon Diamond in agent capacities.

-Several of Traci Brooks' nudes are up at Playboy.com as a preview.

-Triple H will be accompanying Floyd Mayweather tonight in his fight against Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grande Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on HBO PPV. Mayweather has stated recently that he's interested in joining WWE "fulltime," presumably to wrestle.

-Road Warrior Animal has an autobiography coming out(Credit : pwinsider).

-Trish Stratus' "Stratusphere Yoga" is in development from Frima Studios for the Nintendo Wii(Credit : 1up.com).

-Hulk Hogan is promoting guarenteedlowerpropertytax.com as it's spokesman based out of Ft. Meyers, FL, but WFTV reports rather than the $995 fee the group charges, FL residents can get the same result for $15 elsewhere. Also, apparently DDP is not confirmed for the Hulkamania Australian tour despite initial reports.

-Speaking of washed up blond wrestlers endorsing things because they need the money after a divorce, North Carolina's Ric Flair Lottery started yesterday.

-The Tri-State Wrestling Alliance(TWA), which was the precursor to the original ECW in the northeast, is reforming for a Reunion Show on Sat. Oct. 24. but is not being promoted by founder Joel Goodhart.

-At the ROH on HDNet tapings last week, Prince Nane & Joey Ryan lost a tag match against the Necro Butcher & Grizzly Redwood with the stipulation that "Dirty" Ernie Osiris' beard was shaved post-match.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 :

-The Wrestling Roundtable had originally scheduled a taping on Sunday, September 27th, to discuss SummerSlam 2009, UFC 103, the Best/Worst of SummerSlams & Best/Worst Gimmick matches. These topics will be post-poned until October when we tape our Season Finale for Season 2 because instead, on the 27th we'll be taping a special edition of the Roundtable with guest panelist Colt Cabana, ROH wrestler and former Scotty Goldman in WWE. Cabana will be on for the entire show. The Roundtable will also be taping a special BLOG outside & inside the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on Saturday September 26th. Outside, we'll be trying to get fans' thoughts on "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson & Nigel McGuinness' leaving ROH for WWE. Inside, we'll get some parting words from the man himself, Bryan Danielson! So if you're going to Ring Of Honor's Glory By Honor show in Manhattan a week from Saturday, look for our camera!

                                                                        

-The biggest news in wrestling this weekend was Jeff Hardy being arrested in Cameron, NC Friday after cops received a tip off. Charges include felony possession of cocaine, felony drug trafficking of opium, maintaining a dwelling for drug use and/or distribution, two counts of felony possession with intent to redistribute a Schedule III drug, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, which were filed after Hardy was arrested. Police had found 262 Vicodin prescription pills, 180 Soma prescription pills, 55 milliliters of anabolic steroids, a residual amount of powder cocaine and items of drug paraphernalia. Hardy was released from the Moore County Detention Center on $125,000 secured bond & his first court date is September 26th(Credit : thepilot.com).

-This past Sunday at WWE Breaking Point, John Cena won his fourth WWE Championship from Randy Orton, making him a 6-time world champion.

-TNA fired agents Jim Cornette & BG James last night(Credit : pwinsider).

-Linda McMahon is about to announce a run for Connecticut Senate(Credit : The Hill). Anyone else reminded of The Omen?

-Annihilation(Joe Iaconelli), 42, Philadelphia indy wrestler, died last week.

-Matt "Riot" Lowry, 22, indy wrestler from Philadelphia, died after suffering an aneurysm while "warming up outside the ring at The (ECW) Arena" in the official story that's probably not what really happened(Credit : CBS3).

-Former luchador Perro De La Muerte III died September 7th after five gunshots(Credit : WGN).

-Kerry Brown, 51, former Stampede wrestler in the 80s, died a few days ago(Credit : Wrestling Observer).

-Hulk Hogan & Eric Bischoff announced the "Hulkamania" world-wide tour with it's first show("Let The Battle Begin") set to be in Australia several days ago(Credit : pwinsider). However, it was reported today Ric Flair has just signed a three-year deal to wrestle for the tour, going back on his retirement word(What? A wrestler would do such a thing?). Hoga & Flair will be working on a reality show together as well. Also signed on for the Hulkamania tour are Ken Anderson(Mr. Kennedy), the Godfather, Sean Morely(Val Venis), Lacey Von Erich, Diamond Dallas Page, Jimmy Hart, Umaga, Gangrel, The Nasty Boys, Brutus Beefcake, & Shannon Moore with rumors of new WSW Champion Rob Van Dam & Jeff Hardy being pursued. Goldberg stated he wouldn't be doing the tour and would be doing 'three reality shows(Credit : WGN). Hogan, also, has filed suit against two of his former lawyers for overcharging him in his defense case against the Graziano family(Credit : The AM Law Daily).

-WWE has fired several developmental wrestlers this week : Espiral(Sicodelico Jr.), Fletcher Chase(Jason Garrison), Troy Jackman(Ian Richardson), Aiden Frost (Jason Riggs) & Kris Logan.

-Kurt Angle was found not guilty(WTF?!) of 3/4 charges in a Pittsburgh court from his escapades on August 15th. He was cleared of harassment, driving with a suspended license & drug possession(He produced a 2006 script for his HGH). However, there will be a separate hearing for the restraining order violation/assault charge from Trenesha Biggers(Rhaka Kahn). 

-Jack Foley, 76, Mick Foley's father whose name inspired the character "Cactus Jack", died two days ago after a "long sickness"(Credit : Newsday.com).

-CMLL will be presenting Jushin Liger Vs. Mistico on Sunday(Credit : Wrestling Observer).

-TNA is offering a new call service in which you are presented with a selection of wrestlers whom you can order customized phone calls/messages from for $3.99.

-Antonio Thomas(The Heartthrobs in WWE) has signed on to donate his brain after his death to Christopher Nowinski's Sports Legacy Institute(Credit : wrestling observer).

-Jackson Andrews & Jimmy Uso(Haku/Meng's son) have been added to FCW's roster.

-Batista returned to WWE Monday & announced going to the Smackdown roster. Trish Stratus returned for one night only as the guest GM, wrestling in the main event and winning a 6-wrestler tag team match with a pinfall over Beth Phoenix. Next week's guest host will be Cedric The Entertainer.

-The Royal Rumble was delayed a week, from January 24, 2010 to January 31, 2010, to avoid going against the AFC/NFC Championship games.

-The Great Khali will be having knee surgery shortly, and Kelly Kelly just had an MRI on her leg with apparently bad results. Khali & Big Show got into a backstage fight the other weekend at a house show in Puertro Rico. It was started by Big Show and broken up by several wrestlers including The Undertaker.

DEAD WRESTLER TALLY FOR THE WEEK : 4


Saturday, September 5, 2009 :

-Former ROH Champion Nigel McGuinness has made an agreement with WWE and will be finishing up with Ring Of Honor the same night as fellow new signee, Bryan Danielson, on September 26th in the Manhattan Center(Credit : pwinsider). WWE has been scouting ROH since they moved their HDNet show to 8pm Monday Nights.

-Koko B. Ware's wife has died of cancer. The Wrestling Roundtable sends our condolences.

-Peter Zwissler(Peter Goodman), 29, west coast indy wrestler, died on 8/27 with no cause of death determined yet(Credit : WGN).

-Mike Bloomfield, former WCW production worker in the late 90s, died in West Virginia from swine flu Thursday night(Credit : WGN). 

-Police in Kobe, Japan are presenting a case to prosecutors regarding the abuse of a monkey kept at the Dragon Gate Dojo(Credit : UPI). Police will try to press charges against four wrestlers, one formerly on the roster and three currently on. Dragon Gate held a press conference announcing CIMA would get a 30% pay cut for three weeks, Naoki Matsushita will have his debut delayed, Kagetora will donate a percentage of his pay to animal protection agencies & Ryoma will serve a one year suspension, with all four issuing apologies(Credit : Wrestling Observer).

-John Morrison won his third Intercontinental title from Rey Mysterio, Jr. in a match that aired last night on WWE Smackdown.

-Jenna Moresca and Angelina Love were fired from TNA this week. Angelina was especially surprising, but the situation was due to the Canadian citizen needing to sort out her Visa issues. WGN reports she will return as soon as her paperwork is in order.

-Kevin Thorne wrestled a try-out dark match for TNA this past week, and Kristal Marshall is believed to be signed eminently(Credit : WGN).

-Former Michigan State football play Kyle Rasmussen was signed to a WWE developmental deal(Credit : WGN).

-Traci Brooks, originally scheduled to appear on the November cover of Plaboy, will be relegated to their website instead, as Playboy was unimpressed with TNA's lack of using her on TV to promote the shoot.

-Former ROH Champion (John) Xavier is now fighting in mixed martial arts, winning a fight in Ring Of Combat via 30 second knock out.

-Tyler Black had neck surgery to repair a bulging disc recently & hopes to be in the ring again by the next set of ROH on HDNet tapings next week(Credit : WGN).

-Bryan Danielson won the PWG title in his last match with the company, defeating Chris Hero. He immediately vacated the title, with a new champion to be crowned at the Battle Of Los Angeles 2009. How fucking stupid.

-John Rew, 83-year old pain management doctor who was Bryan Adams' doctor before dying of drug overdose from the drugs Rew prescribed him, plead guilty to improper prescription of oxycodone, though unrelated to Adams' death(Credit : TBO.com)

-The Iron Sheik recently had surgery on his prostate when cancer was detected.

-WWE.com removed their "Industry News" section from their website.

-Former WWF announcer/commentator Charlie Minn is producing a documentary about the 20th anniversary of the Las Cruces, New Mexico murders(Credit : pwinsider).

-Lisa Marie Varon(Tara/Victoria) clarified she doesn't have an agent and will be representing herself in her MMA aspirations & she hopes to attend next month's Strikeforce event in Oklahoma.

-Dwayne Johnson voices the lead character in the animated movie Planet 51, coming out Nov. 20(Credit : WGN).

-PWU is hinting that Jonny Fairplay will make an appearance at their ECW Arena show with Danny Bonaduce.


Tuesday, September 1, 2009 :

-WWE Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio, Jr. was suspended for violating the Wellness Policy. In an interview with The Record, Mysterio stated that he had been suspended for testing positive for a drug(likely a pain killer) he had been prescribed for knee & arm injuries but couldn't produce his script in times as proof due to being away on a European promotional tour & he hopes to have the suspension overturned, which won't happen in time to stop them taking the IC title off of him tonight at the Smackdown tapings. Dolph Ziggler, who had been planned to be the champion months ago originally, may not end up with the belt as it is presumed to be the logical step(yes, that's how stupid wrestling isin the modern era. I actually just wrote they won't do something merely because it's 'expected' This coming from a company that built it's empire on Hogan's matches having pretty much the same finish for 8 years). Back to Mysterio, everyone's reporting that he's pissed management off for doing an unauthorized and not pre-approved interview, and will be made an example of.

-Speaking of drugs, WGN reports that the fine for testing positive for marijuana has been upped to $2, 000. Look for an article by host of The Wrestling Roundtable, Eric Santamaria, soon here on wrestlingroundtable.com about marijuana use in pro wrestling.

-Jack E. Lee, 73, WWWF ring announcer for 70s Madison Square Garden shows,  died on  July 30(Credit : WGN).

-Peter Goodman, 29, Arizona indy wrestler for IZW, died on 8/26 from an 'apparent overdose of pain pills.'(Credit : onlineworldofwrestling).

-IWA Mid-South, run by Ian Rotten, ran their past show this past weekend in Bellevue, IL after 13 years of operation. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Speaking of indy garbage, CZW was sold several weeks back, from original owner Zandig, to wrestler DJ Hyde.

-Tara/Victoria sent word out that she well be dropping weight to fight Kim Couture, 1-1, in her first MMA match, saying "It's on!"(Credit : MMAJunkie)

-Christopher Daniels was arrested for DUI in Smithfield, NC this past Friday. He had been drinking with Hurricane Helms, was pulled over at a traffic stop and later released on $2,000 bond(Credit : WTSB Radio).

-WWE is working on a new design for the physical WWE Championship that still currently spins(Credit : WGN).

-Just as quickly as she left, Nikki Roxx/Roxxi Laveaux resigned with TNA in light of Rhaka Kahn being on the outs with management due to the Kurt Angle situation(Nikki had been released after problems with Kahn). She had just wrestled in ROH & Mexico. TNA will be crowning Knockout Tag Team champions soon in a tournament she will be participating in.

-A new version of GLOW is being shopped around to networks. Wrestlelicious has yet to get a deal(Credit : pwinsider).

-LeBron James is confirmed to host a future RAW, while Trish Stratus is also(Credit : WGN). Bob Barker will be up next week.

-WWE has signed Orlando Magic cheerleader Trinity McCray, who will be reporting to FCW. Former WWF female ring announcer Mike McGuirk's song Maxwell recently started wrestling FCW as well.

-Ric Flair has fired the Gillespie Agency as his representation, and subsequently, a proposed film on his life has been abandoned. Many are considering lawsuits against Flair for money owed that he has not paid back and there was "some kind of incident" with Reid last week. He begins shilling the North Carolina Lottery on Sep. 22nd(Credit : pwinsider).

-WGN reports that Ken Anderson(Mr. Kennedy) has signed to donate his brain to Chris Nowinski's Sports Legacy Institute for examination in case of his death. They should examine that moron's brain NOW. Nowinski claims that WWE stopped working with him after He Who We Do Not Speak Of's brain was examined.

-Kurt Angle, who was finally allowed back in his own house after 10 days being barred from it, claimed on WTAE TV that Rhaka Kahn caused his eventual jailing because he refused to marry her and will be filing a defamation lawsuit. However, in an interview with the Baltimore Sun, Dixie Carter stated Kahn was still a part of TNA. In another interview with the Daytona News Journal, Carter said Sting will wrestle his last match (...in Los Angeles) at Bound For Glory, while Jeff Jarrett's return will be "sooner rather than later."

-Jim Ross' contract ends in 12 months but has yet to be offered a new deal(Credit : WGN).

-Jerry Jarrett is working with All Star Wrestling, run by Reno Riggins, trying to get them on syndicated television. New England Championship Wrestling recently struck a deal with Comcast(Credit : pwinsider).



Tuesday, August 25, 2009 :

-This past Sunday at SummerSlam, CM Punk became a 4-time world champion(3 if you don't count ECW, as WWE doesn't) by winning the (WCW) World title for the 3rd time against Jeff Hardy in the TLC main event, which also featured The Undertaker's 17th return this century.

-In the biggest ROH signing in years, Ring Of Honor announced former champion Bryan Danielson "has agreed in principle(what?)" to a contract with WWE. The American Dragon has appeared many times on the Wrestling Roundtable, and we hope to get some parting words with Danielson before he makes this next big step in life. PWinsider reported last week that WWE was looking to sign several ROH wrestlers, so this could be the first of many to come. In the meantime, ROH's entire non-HDNet tour for September will be dubbed the Final Countdown Tour as Danielson's farewell series of shows.

-In an interview with ThePittsburghChannel.com, Kurt Angle gave a very different side of the story than the cops who arrested him last week regarding what led to his arrest :
* He claims he's been trying to break up with Rhaka Kahn for a while, and she asked to use his car, which he lent her as she ended up driving to get a restraining order, after which the police came to his house & made him leave, so he took her car(with her phone in it), which she followed. He went looking for a hotel and just happened to pull up into the same parking lot of the Starbucks she was at, purely coincidentally, because it happened to be in the area of the hotel he was trying to get & he had no idea she was even there. Oh, and the HGH? It's two years old and he has a prescription.
Yup, sounds like bullshit.

-Bill DeMott(Hugh Morris) has opened a wrestling school just outside Atlanta, GA.

-In a story for the Los Angeles Times, Vince McMahon stated WWE was looking into starting their own cable network within two years. RAW would be staying on the USA Network in such a case.

-Apparently Macaulay Culkin made a cameo during Chavo Guerrero & Hornswaggle's match on RAW last week. Last night's RAW guest host, undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., 39-0, had his house searched earlier in the day in connection his car being at the scene of a skating rink shooting Sunday.
LeBron James is rumored to host RAW next week.

-Linda Bollea will be coming out with an autobiography next year(Credit : WGN).

-UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar's next opponent has been named, as he will be facing Shane Carwin, 11-0, at UFC 106 on November 21 in Las Vegas, NV. Carwin was originally scheduled to face fellow undefeated prospect Cain Velasquez, 6-0, but UFC wanted Lesnar, 4-1, to fight as soon as possible due to his notoriety after UFC 100.

-Samoa Joe became a 4-time TNA X Champion at Hard Justice a week and a half ago, defeating Homicide.

-Ricky Steamboat, Sr. & Jr. tag teamed this weekend in WWC against Orlando Colon and Hiram Tua(Credit : WGN).

DEAD WRESTLER TALLY FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS :  4


Wednesday, August 19, 2009 :

-Current TNA World Champion Kurt Angle was arrested in Robinson Township in Pittsburgh, PA Saturday on multiple offenses :
*Driving with a suspended license(from his DUI appeal last year).
*"Prohibited Acts" for breaking a PFA('protection from abuse') order that his ex-girlfriend Rhaka Kahn(Trenesha Biggers) filed against him Saturday morning by driving her car in circles around the parking lot of a Starbucks while she was inside.
*"Prohibited acts possession" of two bottles of Hygetropin, or HGH(Human Growth Hormone), which were found along with capped syringes when her vehicle was searched.
His attorney, Michael Santicola, claims the situation to be a fabrication by Biggers, who was merely upset about their breakup, that there was no evidence for the PFA in the first place, and that she created the Starbucks situation unbeknownst to Angle, who was oblivious of her presence(Credit : WPIX). He also explained that Angle has a prescription for HGH, and "multiple people in the industry use it." Angle also claimed that Biggers took his car on Friday to file the restraining order & he had her cell phone. A tow truck was called for the vehicle (Biggers' silver Cadillac)  Angle was in while Biggers claims Angle was deleting pictures she took as evidence of her abuse from her phone.
Angle posted $10,000 bond Sunday, has a hearing set for September 15, defended the TNA World title as scheduled on the Hard Justice PPV on Sunday(during which, none of this situation, which has garnered much mainstream coverage, was acknowledged at all), and will host the Kurt Angle Ultimate Teen Challenge this Sunday. He also didn't make the cut for Dancing WIth The Stars this season. All TNA talent was told not to mention the situation anywhere.

-The Washington Post reports that Linda McMahon is considering a run for Connecticut Senator. She would have to step down as CEO of WWE with Vince assuming her duties. This remind anyone of The Omen? 

-Lisa Marie Varon(Tara/Victoria) is looking to start MMA next year via J.T. Stewart, Rich Franklin's manager, who has been in talks with several organizations about signing Varon, though they've been eyeing StrikeForce, who just broadcasted an event on Showtime to crown their first female lightweight champion when Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos,8-1, defeated Gina Carano, 7-1, in 4:59 of the first round(Credit : Dayton Daily News). It was the first MMA event to be headlined by a womens fight, and saw UFC counter-program on Spike TV with a special edition of UFC 100, headlined by former WWE champion Brock Lesnar unifying the Heavyweight titles against Frank Mir. Stewart says Varon is eyeing a fight with former UFC heavyweight Champion Randy Couture's ex-wife Kim, a fight Kim has said she'd take if Strikeforce were to put it together. Gina Carano will appear in Rodney Leconte's documentary, The Grappling Kings, when it is released in a few months.

-Karl Von Hess, 90, & Gladys "Killem" Gillem,  88, both died a week ago due to Alzheimer's disease. He wrestled in the 50s as a German heel while she wrestled for twenty years starting in 1942(Credit : WGN).

-Nick "Eugene" Dinsmore was released from WWE after only a few weeks back. Vic Adams, a developmental wrestler, was also released this week(Credit : WGN).

-Mistico defeated Tiger Mask this weekend in NJPW at the Sumo Hall in Tokyo to win the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight title(Credit : Wrestling Observer). The next day in the same building, Togi Makabe defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to win the G-1 Climax tournament, and later, suffering from a broken orbital bone, Hiroshi Tenzan vacated the IWGP title, with Shinsuke Nakamura Vs. Togi Makabe on September 27 in Kobe, Japan to determine the new champion.

-WGN reports that Jeff Jarrett is rumored to return to TNA eventually as a wrestler only, and that Simon Diamond(Pat Kenney) was offered his old agent job back but turned it down.

-Originally Mike Adamle, Floyd "Money" Mayweather will now host RAW this Monday in Las Vegas, after former WWE writer Freddie Prinze, Jr. hosted Monday. Stephanie McMahon claimed n Variety that guest hosts will continuously be named until possibly through WrestleMania 26 and listed the following as 'booked' for future hosts : Bob Barker, Al Sharpton, Pete Wenz, Nancy O'Dell, Ashlee Simpson, The Osbournes, Danny DeVito, Serena Williams, Woody Harrelson, MC Hammer, Rachel Ray, Jimmy Fallon, LeBron James, Ashton Kutcher, Regis Philbin & Kelly Ripa.

-Don West, who has been commentating TNA shows since the first one in 2002, was removed as an announcer and will be replaced by Taz. He has been given a role in the merchandize department.

-Daniel Puder won a unanimous decision victory over Mychal Clark on this Saturday's Call To Arms - Called Out Fights mma show in Ontario, CA.

-Sports & Entertainment Publications LLC, which is owned by Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, sold (back) Pro Wrestling Illustrated & The Wrestler/Inside Wrestling to Kappa Publishing.

-Shaquille O'Neal is being talked about for a return to WWE after the success of his guest hosting of RAW, probably for a match against The Big Show.

-B. Brian Blair is running for the Florida State House Of Representatives(Credit : Miami Herlad).

-Spike TV & TNA signed a new TV deal, a three-year extension of their partnership, which includes iMPACT! on Thursdays & a new original hour-long series of specials.

-Dr. Death Steve Williams' cancer has returned to his Stoma and is currently undergoing chemotherapy(Credit : JRsbarbq.com). Also from Jim Ross' blog, Edge is expected back in time for WrestleMania 26, with others saying possibly as early as the Royal Rumble.

-WWE's Breaking Point PPV in September will feature submission matches for the 'main events' only, not the entire card(Credit : Wrestling Observer). I expect the same format for the Hell In The Cell PPV in October.

-The XPW reunion show is Saturday in California. Fuck XPW.

-Beverly Mullins, who had been wrestling as Wesley Holiday in FCW, debuted as backstage interviewer Courtney Taylor on ECW.

-Rumor : "talk" of Ric Flair returning again(Credit : WGN). Big whoop.

-Madusa(Debra Miceli) said in an interview with the Miami Herlad that WWE had called her to participate in the Diva Battle royal at WrestleMania 25 but was unable to attend.


Wednesday, August 12, 2009 :

-Rumor was New Japan disavowed Doug Williams & Brutus Magnus' IWGP Tag title win over Team 3D last week on TNA iMPACT!, saying it wasn't sanctioned & therefore the title switch didn't count, with Team 3D remaining the recognized champions. TNA put out a press in response to this that never quite said that NJPW approved of the title change itself.

-Ricky Ortiz was released by WWE last week, with Tony Atlas expected to be joining him soon.

-Two-time Olypmic wrestler & JUCO national champion Daniel Cormier is set to train for MMA as a light heavyweight(Credit : MMAJunkie).

-Dana White was quoted in a CBSSports.com interview that (UFC's) "watching" Bobby Lashley, who is now scheduled to face former WWE developmental fighter Ron "H20" Waterman October 3 in Denver, CO for Prize Fight Promotions.

-Jay Smith(indy wrestler DJ Rizz), 26, died in a car accident last week(Credit : WGN).

-Al Tomko, 77, former Canadian wrestler & promoter, died a week ago(Credit : WGN).

-Freddie Prinze, Jr. will be RAW's guest host this week, with Mike Adamle the following week.

-Dwayne Johnson signed to be an Awareness Ambassador for Diabetes(Credit : People Magazine).

-Dutch Mantell is back working in Puerto Rico's IWA(Credit : WGN). Scott D'Amore is also coming back, to his agent job in TNA, soon.

-There has been discussion of having an X Division-themed TNA series on Spike TV(Credit : pwinsider).

-While THQ purchased Midway's San Diego studio's assets, Midway was still saying they were developing TNA iMPACT! 2.

-Dos Caras, Jr. will be renamed Alberto Banderas when he debuts for WWE, and Serena Deeb is wrestling as Serena Mancini in FCW(Credit : WGN). Elijah Burke, now "The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero, will debut his new gimmick at TNA's Hard Justice ppv.

-Harley Race claims in the Miami Herald that he is training female powerlifter Becca Swanson for wrestling.

-We finally got the outcome of the Brutus Beefcake/Bill Simmons celebrity boxing match several weeks ago ; The story according to the Wrestling Global Newsletter was that the fight was supposed to be a work, but Simmons shot on Beefcake with a legit 20 second knock out.

-Shelly Martinez stars in a low-budget horror/comedy, Porn Shoot Massacre(Credit : WGN).


Wednesday, August 5th, 2009 :

-The biggest news in MMA this month happened days ago when Fedor Emelianenko signed a one-year, three-fight deal with StrikeForce that also included co-promotion with his M-1 Global company & is non-exclusive outside the US, which means he could theoretically also fight on the New Years Eve show put on by DREAM in Japan. UFC had offered more concessions to Fedor & his management than they have for any fighter ever in their existence, which included an immediate Heavyweight title shot against current Undisputed champion Brock Lesnar. They also offered a multi-fight, multi-million dollar deal, a percentage of PPV revenue from Fedor's fights to go to M-1 Global(who was also allowed to be advertised via logos on whatever items he wished) on top of Fedor's purse, and he would also be allowed to compete in sambo tournaments. The hold-up was M-1 demanded co-promotion with UFC for their shows, something UFC was unwilling to do but StrikeForce was. This puts the dream Fedor/Brock fight on hold for at least a year, if it ever happens.

-Blackjack Mulligan suffered a mild stroke this weekend. He had already pulled out of the NWA Legends convention in North Carolina early last week. Also, Japanese woman wrestler Dump Matsumoto was diagnosed with a terminal illness & told she had less than three years to live(Credit : WGN).

-Dutch Mantell(writer) & Savio Vega(agent) were fired from TNA last week, while Elijah Burke was signed.

-WWE fired referee Marty Elias and THE Brian Kendrick last week. Meanwhile, Brooke Hogan claimed in an interview with FoxNews.com that Vince Mcmahon asked her to join WWE but she turned the offer down.

-Mike Sydal, brother of Matt/Evan Bourne, debuted in FIP this weekend, where Jon Davis of the Dark City Fight Club made his comeback.

-Doug Williams & Brutus Magnus won the IWGP Tag Team titles from Team 3D in a tables match that aired this Thursday week on iMPACT!

-Michelle McCool injured her left knee this weekend at a house show in Hampton Beach, , though it wasn't serious(Credit : WGN). Also this weekend, Eugene returned & Howard Finkel was used as a ring announcer.

-Rumor is Bound For Glory will be Sting's last match for TNA, and possibly altogether as he may retire.

-Road Warrior Animal will be writing an autobiography to be released in a couple years(Credit : WGN).

-We're hoping to have Bobby Dempsey & Shane Hagadorn from ROH debut on the panel this weekend when we tape two new shows for The Wrestling Roundtable. Also, Alex Payne will return as yet another guest panelist from ROH.

-Juventu Guerrera's Super X indy is scheduled to debut in September, and he has a hip-hop album to be released in the fall also(Credit : WGN).

-Jesse Ventura's show, 'Conspiracy Theory,' was picked up by TruTV for airing in late 2009(Credit : Broadcasting & Cable).

-Robert Englund turned down an offer to host RAW(Credit : WGN), but Stephanie McMahon said to Business Week that they're interested in bringing in Freddie Prinze, Jr., Al Sharpton & Bob Barker.

-Gene Snitsky pulled out of an NWS show in New Jersey this weekend after suffering several injuries in an auto accident Thursday.

-Mike Dibiase, brother of Ted Jr., skipped a court appearance on 7/14 in Tyler, TX to face charges related to stolen property from indy wrestling promoter Larry McDugle that were found in his car. He is now wanted(Credit : WGN).

-Ric Flair's no compete clause runs out soon(Credit : pwinsider).

-John Cena will be appearing in future episode of 'Psych,' Stone Cold Steve Austin will star in the movie "The Stranger," and Great Khali will be on a reality show titled "100% Lucha" in Argentina(Credit : WGN).

-Dragon Gate USA will be crowning a champion this winter in Phialdelphia for the new Open The Freedom Gate title, whatever the fuck that means.