Pro Wrestling News, WWE Rumors, Divas

Hulk Hogan's Press Conference on Signing with TNA Video

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:05:00 +0000

Here is the video of the historic press conference that took place at Madison Square Garden yesterday that announced the signing of Hulk Hogan to TNA Wrestling. This story has the wrestling world lit up with opinions and interest, both good and bad. From what we see, Hulk Hogan makes TNA look like a big time wrestling company that can bring in the top talent, and they're getting more recognition than ever for it. There are going to be tons more information on this for months to come, but for now, here is the video that will go down as what started it all, direct from the "house Hogan built."

Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff Sign with TNA Wrestling!

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:57:00 +0000

Huge news to report today, as the wrestling world has lit up with the news that Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff are coming to TNA. Over a year ago, we speculated on a rumored Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan promotion, and how the two could finally create a rival to WWE if done right. That rumor turned out to be Celebrity Championship Wrestling, which was a fairly entertaining show, but it wasn't the change wrestling needed. Then a few months ago, the "Hulkamania Tour" was announced for Australia, which will feature Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair main events and a good roster of talent. Sounds like some fun shows, but again not something that will change wrestling here in the U.S. Then today, the bomb dropped. Hulk Hogan was scheduled to have a press conference at Madison Square Garden to promote his new book, "My Life Outside the Ring." No rumors, no speculation, just Hulk promoting his book. Then suddenly some rumors began to trickle in. Glimpses of TNA Spike TV banners were seen, and a story was born. News followed that TNA officials were on the scene, and at the actual press conference, Hogan announced he has signed with TNA Wrestling. Dixie Carter was on hand to take part in what is no doubt the biggest signing in TNA history. Word has it that Eric Bischoff may not only be in an on camera role, but will be working to bring more TV coverage to TNA through his production company. Of course this news has many "smart marks" calling for another WCW, with Hogan bringing in his friends like Brutus Beefcake and the Nasty Boys, and killing TNA, but we see this as exactly what TNA needs. Hulk and Bischoff bring controversy, coverage, exposure, all things TNA need. Everyone can complain about who needs to be pushed and who deserves a spot, but there is no doubt that Hulk Hogan will bring TNA a record rating this Thursday. TNA is now the hot topic, with something that's fresh and interesting, in an era where WWE is just getting worse.

In a related note, rumors are now abound that Ric Flair is also negotiating with TNA to come on board through a similar deal that Hogan and Bischoff are on board with. And for the first time TNA is a trending topic on twitter. Looks like Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff are already giving us what wrestling needs, just like they did 15 years ago.

Shane McMahon Resigns from WWE...WTF?!

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:35:00 +0000

In what we feel is one of the biggest wrestling news stories in a few years, apparently Shane McMahon has resigned from WWE. Even though this is WWE we're talking about, it seems legit. The following press release is on WWE.com:
STAMFORD, CT – Shane McMahon, Executive Vice President of Global Media, announced today he has tendered his resignation effective January 1, 2010.
Shane stated, “It has been an incredible experience to help build WWE® into a global phenomenon. However, having been associated with this organization for the majority of my life, I feel this is the opportune time in my career to pursue outside ventures.”
“Even though I am personally saddened by Shane’s decision to leave the company, I am proud of the enormous contributions he has made. He will unquestionably bring passion, commitment and extensive business experience to any endeavor he pursues,” said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman and CEO.

Now there is a statement from Shane McMahon himself, again from WWE.com:

"It is with great sadness that I announce my resignation from the WWE, effective January 1, 2010.

I have never even considered a future outside the walls of the WWE. However, sometimes life takes an unexpected turn and while it is the most difficult decision I have ever made, it is time for me to move on.

First and foremost, I would like to thank my father for the incredible education working with him has provided and for giving me the opportunity to play a role in building WWE into the global phenomenon that it is today. I am extremely proud to have been the 4th generation in this business, and I am grateful for everyday I was able to work along side not only my own, but the entire WWE family.

Thank you to all of the WWE Superstars both past and present for your passion, pride and dedication. You are truly the engine of the organization and it has been a pleasure to work with, learn from and get to know all of you. Thank you for the privilege of sharing the stage with you and for allowing me to become but a momentary member of your elite brotherhood. I have so much appreciation for the many sacrifices you endure, both physically and personally, to make this business the success that it is. The respect I have for each of you is immeasurable.

Finally, there are no words to express my gratitude to WWE fans the world over for supporting this company through good times and bad and for your unbridled passion that fuels the Superstars’ performances. I am profoundly grateful to have been able to entertain you both in front of the camera and from behind the scenes. You are the greatest fans in the world.

I will always love this business and will remain a fan forever.

Shane"

A McMahon resigning from WWE? Of course Linda did to run for Senate or whatever, but she hasn't had near the impact over the years as Shane has. And over the years, many speculated that WWE would be exciting again if Shane ever took over. Now we're doomed to think that Stephanie and Triple H will no doubt be handed the reigns of WWE someday....ugh. Is this a work? Would Shane ever entertain the thought of starting his own show or appearing on another? Probably not, but this big move definitely will start the "what if" scenarios. Let's just hope it doesn't mean Shane will be another guy who could really make wrestling great but does other projects instead that don't involve wrestling like Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff have.

RIP Captain Lou Albano

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:05:00 +0000

Captain Lou Albano passed away today at age 76. Lou was one of the most recognized faces during WWE's "Rock and Wrestling" era. Lou is a WWE Hall of Famer and recognized as one of the top managers in wrestling history. In 1985, when WWE was taking over the wrestling world, Lou played a huge role in making wrestling mainstream, after appearing in numerous Cindy Lauper videos, and being involved with Lauper when she appeared on WWE programming. Prior to this time, Lou managed numerous tag teams to gold, from the Wild Samoans, the Valiants, and Fuji and Saito, to the Moondogs, and the British Bulldogs. After Lou's role leading up the first Wrestlemania, for the first time Captain Lou became a good guy, and played that role until his exit from WWE in late 1986. After WWE Lou's star kept on growing, starring in the movie "Body Slam" in 1987 with Roddy Piper, then being cast as "Mario" in the Super Mario Brothers show. Lou will always be remembered as one of the most unique and charismatic characters in wrestling history. The rubber bands, the bright clothes, the 90 mph talk, we had no choice but to be hooked by Captain Lou. You won't find intriguing characters like the Captain in today's wrestling. Below are some videos, including talking about his role as Mario, and more from the one and only, never forgotten, true Hall of Famer, Captain Lou Albano.

Why Aren't There Wrestlers Like Abdullah the Butcher Anymore?

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:53:00 +0000

In today's world of cookie cutter wrestlers and cookie cutter wrestling in general, I got to thinking about some of the wrestlers that made old school wrestling great, and hence this new series on the truly unique legends of wrestling. When we talk about unique, different, special, even bizarre...Abdullah the Butcher is the first wrestler that comes to mind. A wrestler that was (and still is) legitimately feared. Abduallah the Butcher was scary, there is no argument. 1 look at a huge wildman chasing his opponent with a fork, most of the time covered in blood, and the fear was there. No one looked at Abdullah the Butcher and thought ANYthing he did was fake or he was just pretending. Abdullah looked like a murderer in the ring, hence the reason fans running in all directions while Abdullah brawled through the crowd. The first time I saw Abdullah, it was during his classic and never ending feud with Bruiser Brody. The site of these 2 wild men who didn't look like your normal every day guy you'd see walking down the street, brawling, bleeding, grabbing anything they could to use as a weapon, it was really something that hooked me on wrestling. Sure you had some great in-ring wrestlers, the world champions, but it was intriguing to think about what would happen if this great wrestler was up against the Madman from the Sudan. The champ could wrestle, but how would he take on the Butcher with his weapons and brawling...its the intrigue that followed Abdullah his entire career, never a dull moment. These days you can see an "extreme rules" match and "hardcore" etc., but the wrestlers all pretty much look alike, the WWE-style body builders. Gone are the days of legit scary looking bad asses who get in there and make you believe. It's too bad, because just the thought of Abdullah the Butcher vs. Brody, Dusty, Funk, The Shiek etc. is what really makes fans say "Wow, I really want to go buy a ticket to see THAT!"

Here are a few great clips of the greatness of Abdullah the Butcher. This type of action still blows a lot of the current product away.

Is Bret Hart Returning to WWE?!

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:17:00 +0000

In what could turn out to be one of the biggest wrestling stories in the past couple of years, the Wrestling Observer is reporting that Bret Hart is open to returning to an on-camera position with WWE. This news is shocking, because unless you've been living under a rock since 1997, it's well known that Bret Hart hasn't been willing to do anything with WWE aside from his Hall of Fame induction and his DVD project. Bret did make a brief appearance "via satellite" a couple of years ago to say something about Vince McMahon on a RAW episode, but has always vowed to never be part of any angles or stories again. Well apparently that may be changing, as Bret has made with WWE officials, and rumors are swirling that the current angle on Smackdown that involved Vince McMahon putting Teddy Long on probation, which lead to the screwjob last week in the Undertaker/CM Punk match and Taker's consequent abduction of Teddy Long on Smackdown last week, could all leading toward a Bret Hart return as Smackdown GM. Bret is one of the few guys that hasn't been back on TV In so many years, and could really be fresh and interesting again, and that's something WWE needs badly. Some fans are already mentioning Bret being involved with the Hart Dynasty (maybe a Dynasty vs. DX feud someday,) and of course if Bret was in the mix, some sort of big interaction between Bret and Vince could be a possibility, and that's something people have wanted since the Montreal Screwjob 12 years ago! I'm all for it, I hope it happens, and WWE could use a new nostalgia boost, and definitely one with Bret Hart that could open up some new fresh stories while capitalizing on classic situations from the past. More updates soon on this breaking situation.

Related:
Bret Hart book review

Jeff Hardy Busted for Drugs

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:36:00 +0000

Well it looks like CM Punk was right all along. The storyline between Punk and Jeff Hardy was based on Punk living a straight edge, drug free lifestyle, while bringing up how Hardy has been suspended for wellness violations related to drug use on a number of occasions. Sadly, only 2 weeks of Hardy taking a break from WWE, he's been busted on numerous counts of drug possession ranging from steroids and somas to cocaine and other drugs. We posted a couple of years ago about Jeff Hardy's drug suspension that got him removed from the WrestleMania 24 card, and how I didn't believe Hardy would get another shot at holding the title. Lucky for him, I was wrong, and Jeff has had title runs, and has been a main eventer for WWE for that past couple of years. But yet again, Jeff screws up, and screws up big time. This guy is going down the wrong path, and no one is going to be able to make excuses for him anymore, he's just screwed up too many times. Jeff was arrested but has since been bailed out, and of course is on his twitter saying how the media doesn't have the facts and it's not all true, but come on, TMZ has posted the reports, talked to officials, etc. Jeff can deny all he wants, but he's royally F'ed up his career, and I think it's doubtful we'll see him back in WWE any time soon, if ever, since he just can't keep things straight. The guy is being charged with intent to sell drugs? Really? A WWE main eventer needs to sell drugs just to pay the bills? What a waste of talent, but what else can be done. Here are a few reports on the arrest:

"Jeff Hardy -- one half of the WWE tag team duo The Hardy Boyz -- was busted today after cops found a boatload of pills and steroids inside his home.The Moore County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at Hardy's home in Cameron, NC today -- where they found 262 Vicodin pills, 180 Soma pills, 555 milliliters of anabolic steroids and a residual amount of powder cocaine. Cops say the estimated street value of the drugs: $2,500.Hardy was arrested on charges of "trafficking in controlled prescription pills" and possession of anabolic steroids.Chief Deputy Neil Godfrey told us Jeff's brother posted bail, which was set at $125,000." Source: TMZ.com

Jeff posted the following on his Twitter:

"For the record, Matt didn't bail me out, loan me money, or is his name on anything.. He's just learning about today's situation.."

Hardy then posted:

"The media is the media, I wish they would at least report the story correctly & accurately. I will make a statement later."

The Hardy Boyz are Back Together...I Think?

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 23:15:00 +0000

Smackdown has been a very different show than RAW lately. With a newly heel CM Punk leading the charge against World Champion Jeff Hardy, who is definitely the most popular guy on the brand. Throw in John Morrison, who's been booked as a new face (which we still can't get used to) who kept on getting the best of Punk up until last night's show. Last week we got a very interesting twist. WWE has been running an angle for awhile where Mr. McMahon isn't happy with the way Teddy Long is running Smackdown, and has put him on probation. Last week when Hardy and Punk had a wild brawl that couldn't be controlled, Vince announced that a special mystery enforcer would be appointed for the match. When match time came around, Matt Hardy's music hit, and he returned to Smackdown from an injury, with the thought being that Jeff was screwed now that his evil brother would be at ringside. As it turned out, after Punk accidentally nailed Matt toward the end of the match, Matt actually counted the 3 count for his brother Jeff to win the match, and then walked off. This week on Smackdown, Matt actually came to the aid of Jeff and Morrison as they were getting beat down by Punk and the Hart Dynasty. As Matt helped up Jeff, it sure looked like Matt would nail Jeff and once again ignite their feud that started at last year's Royal Rumble. That wasn't the case, as Matt helped Jeff up, said some words to him that we couldn't hear, and before we knew it, Teddy Long was announcing next week's main event as the Hart Dynasty and Punk vs. John Morrison and the Hardy's.

So let's stop for a minute, Matt comes out, helps Jeff, says a few words, i guess they were "Hey man, sorry I tried to kill you a few months ago, let's be friends again..." and all was good. Seriously, does anyone else remember that after Matt destroyed Jeff with a chair at the Royal Rumble, it was revealed that Matt was the one who had been attacking Jeff and even ran him off the road in North Carolina. All story of course, but they better have a GREAT explanation as to why Jeff can easily forgive Matt and trust him again. Matt has claimed that there is a great story behind all this complete with explanation, but wow, these 2 had quite a feud, and even a big Wrestlemania match this year, but all was forgiven REAL fast. Hopefully it's not a case of "Matt helps Jeff, Jeff forgives Matt, then a few weeks later, Matt turns on Jeff again, and they feud again." The Hardy vs. Hardy feud has been tried a couple of times now, and it just doesn't work. The idea of a Hardy Boyz reunion tour has spread across the net the past few days, and that is probably the best idea. Matt and Jeff as main eventers on Smackdown against a great heel like Punk and whoever aligns with him is the best bet. The Hardy feud wasn't great this time around either, so we can all just pretend it never happened like they seemingly want us to, and we'll enjoy the Hardy's in the top face position that they do so well in. With Jeff pondering taking time off again, reuniting him with Matt will either help his choice to stay, or give us a main eventer to take Jeff's place if he does decide to take off into the sunset once again.

Remember When...Terry Funk Battled Sabu at Born To Be Wired

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 05:54:00 +0000

Time to bring back the popular "Remember When..." series to Pro Wrestling Roundup. Time to look at some great classic memories from the month of August. In August of 1997, ECW was still running strong, and was a major part of the glory years that were the late 90's in wrestling. At the ECW Arena, a make shift main event was scheduled between ECW Champion Terry Funk and Sabu in a barbed wire match. The match was originally booked as a regular 6 man tag match, was was changed due to injuries and other circumstances. This match and really sums up a big part of what's missing in wrestling today. You had Terry Funk, who was the legendary icon of ECW, and in his mid 50's was ECW Champion, taking on Sabu, who was the most innovative guy to come along in years, and was a huge part of ECW rising to the popularity it did. Basically ECW wasn't about good guys vs. bad guys, it was about great talent having great matches. Sure you can say CZW or any of the hardcore promotions, or even TNA could put on a barbed wire match, but in ECW the entire feel was different. A big part of it was that Sabu and Funk could have had a great regular match, or any other stipulation match, they were great wrestlers, not just "hardcore guys." On paper, the match sounds like another good ECW main event from that time, but a couple of occurrences in the match made it one of the most memorable in ECW history. Early on in the match, Sabu was whipped into the barbed wire, and his inner arm was hooked and sliced open by the wire. It was a deep cut, but Sabu being Sabu, got some tape from his manager Bill Alfonso, wrapped it up, and kept on going. The match was utter brutality, right down until the very end, when both Sabu and Funk became wrapped together in barbed wire, so bad that they couldn't escape, and after Sabu somehow pinned Funk in the tangled mess and won the ECW title, they both had to be cut from the wire to escape. With the ECW name being insulted by being the equivilant of a minor league for WWE, this match showed the wild, crazy, unpredictable spirit of the REAL ECW. And these days, there is no promotion that is filling the ECW niche. No compelling stories with great workers who can tell a story, pull off great matches, and also have the ability to be put in a crazy barbed wire match and pull off a history making match. Hopefully someday someone will realize that the fans who loved ECW were still out there, and still crave this type of promotion that is aimed toward entertainment for adults, and gives fans an option that is NOT TV-PG.

Brian Kendrick Released by WWE

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:27:00 +0000

WWE announced the release of Brian Kendrick earlier today. No reasons have surfaced yet, but unless this was a release based on a wellness policy violation, this is another stupid release by WWE. Kendrick came from Shawn Michaels Pro Wrestling Academy around 7-8 years ago, and was always a talented wrestler, even though he was rather small. Kendrick had been in and out of WWE over the years, spent some time having some classics in Ring of Honor, before eventually returning to WWE and being put in a successful tag team with Paul London, with the duo even winning and having a long run with the WWE Tag Team Titles. I think the real breakout time for Brian Kendrick, was when after being drafted to Smackdown last year and breaking up his tag team with London....Brian debuted with a new heel gimmick, that being "THE Brian Kendrick." He suddenly had some pizazz, and colorful outfits, and really shined with charisma. Sadly, WWE did nothing with it, and while he had great performances, and even aligned with a new bodyguard, Ezekial Jackson, Kendrick was never put in the spotlight at all. This year Kendrick was drafted to RAW, and was started an angle where he was looking for a tag team partner to go after the tag belts with, but the angle went nowhere. Kendrick worked as recently as this past Monday, losing a quick match to Kofi Kingston, but still pushing a feud that had apparently just started the week earlier with Jerry "The King" Lawler, who Kendrick lost an impromptu match to. Hopefully more details will come, but it sounds like another case of WWE not knowing what to do with a talent, since the main event picture has pretty much been the same for years, with no change. I'm sure Ring of Honor would gladly take Kendrick back, but TNA could really use him as well as part of their attempt to be different than WWE, and of course Japan is an option for him as well. Brian Kendrick is his real name, so wherever he goes, he'll be able to keep that name. Kendrick is another guy I look at and see the star power that could be brought out of him if Paul Heyman was booking somewhere...and it continues to suck that he's not.

TNA Signs Deal with Playboy; Traci Brooks to Pose Nude

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:05:00 +0000

Ladies and Gentleman, Pro Wrestling Roundup's call was heard, and TNA Wrestling has signed a deal with Playboy that will feature the Knockouts posing nude in the magazine. Back in May, we called for TNA to get the Knockouts in Playboy, being that WWE is going TV-PG, and was going back to the boring 90's style of wrestling. Well now TNA is doing exactly what we said, and is making the statement that they are a different product than WWE, and is a place for adult wrestling fans to get what they want. TNA is kicking things off with Traci Brooks being the first TNA Playboy cover girl, and she'll also be posing nude in the magazine. Traci will be doing a promotional tour with autograph signings to promote the magazine this October, so that means the magazine should be coming pretty soon! Of course we think it's a great deal for TNA, and mature adult wrestling fans who don't enjoy WWE's bland product. Wrestling fans should have options when they want to see the hot women of wrestling naked, and TNA is now providing those options. Traci Brooks will kick things off, and rumors are already swirling that Playboy cover girl Christy Hemme will return to pose again, and SoCal Val will pose as well. Here's to hoping the Beautiful People and Tara also jump on the bandwagon, and also that the Playboys sell well, so we can get a long series going of the TNA Knockouts naked in Playboy!

For a hot preview of Traci and SoCal Val, check out the Traci Brooks vs. SoCal Val exotic fetish match below!

Brock Lesnar - MMA Super Heel

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:46:00 +0000

The talk of the MMA world is Brock Lesnar not only unifying the UFC Heavyweight title by avenging his loss to Frank Mir, but also Lesnar's pro wrestling style promo that followed the fight. The lines have clearly been drawn, and MMA fans hate that Brock Lesnar is bringing pro wrestling style entertainment into the MMA world. It was bad enough for MMA die hards that hate Lesnar to watch him beat Mir convincingly, after months of build up and hope that Mir would once again catch Lesnar as he did in their first fight, and take the win and title. No such luck, as Brock came prepared this time, and steamrolled Mir's ass, plain and simple. What followed was Brock Lesnar solidifying his spot as UFC's top draw, and no doubt MMA's biggest heel. UFC is all about sportsmanship and respect, Brock Lesnar is about selling tickets and making money. Lesnar first let us know that he told Mir last year that he had a "horse shoe stuck up his ass," so he "pulled that sum bitch out and beat him over the head with it." The crowd was enraged....then Lesnar pissed off Dana White as he cut on Budweiser for not paying him any sponsor hip money, and pointed out that he was drinking a Coors Light. Then he topped things off by saying he "might just get on top of his wife tonight (that being former WWE Diva Sable. The crowd erupted in boo's, Lesnar responded with a double middle finger for them, it was the WWE Attitude era all over, only in MMA. Of course now MMA purists are saying UFC is now a work, or the respect is gone, or it's all about money. Well WTF people, UFC sells tickets, gets bigger and more popular, and people are mad? People actually think guys LET Lesnar win? Anyone saying that must not be watching, because it's stupid. What it boils down to, is that people can't get over the fact that a pro wrestler entered MMA, and answered the question people have had for years..."How would a pro wrestler do in a "real" fight?" Brock answered, and answered loud, and now no one can handle it. And now Brock is the main man in UFC, the man who people will buy pay per views to watch win, or the man people will buy pay per views to see who can beat him. It's a winning situation for everyone, and should be for MMA fans too, but they're too busy bitching. To me, MMA is a hell of a lot more entertaining with some color, and without every guy doing the same boring thing without any hype. Why does EVERY guy have to be respectful? Let them be themselves, let them talk shit if they want, just sit back and enjoy. I've never seen so much buzz in MMA. Everyone is talking about Brocks fight, his promo, or who his next opponent could be. The winner Shane Carwin vs. Cain Velasquez could be the next opponent for Brock, but everyone knows that Dana White needs to give us the fight that will draw more interest than any other in the current MMA scene...that of course being Brock Lesnar vs. Fedor...and if that happens, the Brock hate will increase, right along with the cash streaming in to UFC.

Bobby Lashley Destroys Bob Sapp at Ultimate Chaos MMA Event

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:15:00 +0000

Earlier tonight, Bobby Lashley had his fourth MMA fight, but this time, he faced a well known name for the first time in Bob Sapp. The collision was set to be an epic encounter from the minute it was announced. Lashley has pretty much dominated every opponent he's had so far, and defeated most quickly. It was pretty much a lock, that Lashley would not dominate this fight, as for the first time he would not be the bigger fighter against the over 300 pound Sapp...but everyone was wrong. The bell rang, Lashley took Sapp down, and beat him until he tapped out. That's right, Lashley made Sapp tap out to punches. Sapp is not the most respected MMA fighter, being he does a lot of comedy style events and fights in Japan, and his style involves rushing guys, and punching them, without much discipline involved. But still, after defeating a well known Sapp, Lashley is moving closer and closer to being recognized in the MMA world as the real deal. With Affliction, Strikeforce, and of course UFC representing the top fight companies in the U.S., many are calling for one of them to sign the now 4-0 Lashley. Of course, given Lashley's WWE background, the Lashley vs. Lesnar fight is already being talked about, and while it's very premature for that, if Lashley keeps up his dominating streak going, he's going to end up on the big MMA stage. Sapp will most likely go back to Japan, where he's a huge star, and keep on making huge money in endorsement and even more fighting events, but it's doubtful anyone will take him seriously here in the U.S. as far as MMA goes again. Here's the Youtube video of the fight, watch it while u can:

Hey TNA! How About Getting the Knockouts in Playboy?

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Wed, 06 May 2009 03:50:00 +0000

I have to vent on a subject that's been talked about on a lot of wrestling sites for a few months now. WWE's new plan to be TV-PG, family friendly, whatever. It just gets worse and worse, and really hit when news spread that WWE was no longer working with Playboy due to their new direction, and most recently Vince McMahon straight up said that WWE was done with Playboy due to the WWE's now family friendly direction. I personally think it sucks. WWE was cool in the late 90's and into the 2000's because WWE changed direction, and made it cool to be a WWE fan. There was adult stories, foul language, obscene gestures, and lots of hot women in skimpy outfits. Sable and Sunny were huge parts of the WWE Attitude movement when it first started, and the Divas as a whole were a great element of the Attitude Era. Then, when it was announced Sable would be doing Playboy, it was official that adults could be WWE fans, and WWE would give adults the kind of entertainment they wanted. Now? WWE is going back in time, to a dark period around the mid-90's, when WWE had cheesier than ever gimmicks, and most adults hid being wrestling fans, because it was so cartoony and obviously aimed at kids. This era was also a time when WWE was doing record low ratings, and they eventually had to change everything or face demise. The Attitude Era is what saved WWE from this period, so why WWE would go back is beyond me. Sure they want to sell merchandise, and kids want merchandise, but the adults won't last very long if you don't give them something of their own. WHICH brings me to TNA. A couple of years ago, the TNA Knockout division was born, and were a huge hit mainly due to the awesome matches between Gail Kim and Awesome Kong, and also great new acts like the Beautiful People. The main marketing campaign for the Knockouts once they were a hit, was they weren't "Divas," didn't do bra and panty matches, or basically flaunt their boobs to entertain, all shots at the WWE Divas. The TNA Knockouts were all about ass kicking, great matches, etc. Well that was fine, but now WWE's new direction has the divas in competitive matches, no skimpy outfits, no bra's or panties, so basically they're going for the same thing TNA has had for awhile. So TNA can't knock WWE's girls anymore since they're fairly similar, so I think it's time for TNA to further their attempt to separate themselves from WWE, which they've already done by being anti-TV-PG with use of blood, violence, foul language, and more adult style storylines, so why not give Playboy a call, and take WWE's spot! TNA wants to pull WWE's adult audience away, then they should give them something WWE won't. TNA already has former Playboy Cover girl Christy Hemme, and plenty of candidates to choose from if Playboy came knocking, such as Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, Traci Brooks, Taylor Wilde and others (maybe even ODB and Awesome Kong for some of you.....or maybe not.) I think TNA can make a huge statement by showing their female wrestlers can kick ass, and be hot too, without being all nicey nice for the kids, come on. WWE expects us to watch Divas like Mickie James, who once wore sexy outfits and did a lesbian angle with Trish Stratus that included a girl on girl kiss, come out in nice covered outfits and be a nice girl who just wrestles in regular matches every week now? Boring. One of the wrestling companies has to realize that guys want to see sexy women be sexy, not play nice. WWE has refused and wants to be family friendly only, so the door is wide open for TNA to make yet another impact in the battle with WWE, and give the adult demographic the wrestling promotion they want, and at the same time gaining the company some obvious major publicity. Am I wrong here? Do any of you readers miss seeing a Diva in Playboy every year? Or are you just happy with the state of women's wrestling as it is now? Share your thoughts in comments.

TNA Lockdown Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (brett kahn) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:38:00 +0000

Last night, I attended the TNA Lockdown Pay-Per-View at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. It was the first ever TNA pay-per-view in Philly and they had a nice crowd. There were some nice suprises and some moments that were just ghastly. Below are my thoughts.

The dark match between Eric Young and Danni Bonnaduci was horrible. Danny had trouble bumping and the whole match lasted about six minutes. I wish I had gotten to the arena at 7:59 rather than at 7.

The X division championship was probably the second best match of the night in my opionion. Actually it was prob. better than I originally thought because I found out Christopher Daniels wrestled as Suicide because Kaz didn't return when he was supposed to. There were some really nice spots in this match especially involving Black Machismo and Consequences Creed. The finish was expected but overall, not a bad match.

The Queen of the Cage Match wasn't good. ODB got a great pop (along with Cody Deaner) and worked fairly well. Other than that, the match was a throwaway.

Unfornuately, due to me losing a bet to my friend Christian causing me to have to buy him a drink, I missed most of the Motor City Machine Guns match. Sorry.

Matt Morgan vs. Abyss...Enough said about that.

The TNA Knockouts Championship Match fell short of expectations for me. I am a huge Awesome Kong fan and she really didn't do as much as I hoped for. She had an insane spot where she missed a moonsaut which was awesome, but the finish sucked (that was def. a theme for the evening).

Finally, we come to by far the best match of the evening....Team 3-D vs. Beer Money Inc. Again, I was hoping they would really push the boundaries and take it into the street but they only made it as far as the concourse. There were some nice spots in this match, including two table spots (of course). The Bubba Bomb from the top rope was awesome. I still don't know how he still has a tail bone after all of those but I digress. The finish was fine with the 3D through the tables.

Now, the worst match of the evening. Team Jarrett vs. The Main Event Mafia. I was so pumped up for this match because of all the superstar power. AJ Styles had a sick spot when he fell through the top of the cage. That was pretty much it. Nash lasted about 30 seconds before he ducked in the corner the rest of the match. The finish was horrible!!!! We thought Jarrett might turn on his team but he hit angle with the guitar and Styles got the pin. Horrible.

Now, I am not a big Lashley fan. But, when he came out, the crowd, including myself went nuts. It was very unexpected.

The main event was again not great. It lasted about 10 minutes and didn't involve any even decent spots. The finish was the worst of the night with Foley and Sting both climbing over the cage with Foley landing first. The most suprising part was that Foley actually won the title.

After they went off the air, Team 3-D came out to celebrate with Foley and the fans and gave and nice speech regarding Philly as having the best wrestling fans in the world.

Overall, the show was not great at all but had some small bright spots. To be honest, I'm partial to WWE...However, my seats were great and free. So, I can't really complain. lol.

TNA Lockdown

noreply@blogger.com (brett kahn) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:54:00 +0000

I will be heading to the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia tomorrow night for TNA Lockdown. I will post results and thoughts on Monday.

Remember When...Trish Stratus Returned to RAW?

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:09:00 +0000

It's been a while since I've done a "Remember When..." post, usually a post I'd make on a memorable moment from the 80's or 90's, but for the first time today, I'm posting a remember when from not even a year ago, yet still was such a great moment, it deserves recognition. In a recent post I commented how great WWE Diva Maryse is, and how it's good to see she'll be getting a big push on RAW, with some people even comparing her to Trish Stratus. Well Maryse is good, and hopefully she becomes a big star, but she's no Trish yet. Trish Stratus is probably the only "main event" level Diva to hit WWE since Wendi Richter was a star in the mid-80's. Trish brought the star power to the Diva division, and went from being just a mega hot blonde coming out to manage Test and Albert, to becoming one of the best all time in-ring women wrestlers ever. Trish's feuds with Lita, Victoria, and Mickie James were all great stories to follow. When Trish retired in 2006, the Divas took a major step backward, and it's been a rebuilding process ever since. Now I've already posted once when Trish made her return to WWE, but it was such a great night, I've decided to do this follow up post, with the video of the match included!

Fast Forward to this past Christmas in 2008. RAW was a few days from Christmas, so WWE actually thought outside the box for once, and gave us a fun entertaining main event, as opposed to the same old tired main events every week, where the top guys feuding get put into a lame handicapped match and whichever 2 are wrestling at the next PPV have a big stand off to end the show. It was Christmas, so WWE went with a fun approach at least for one week. Santino and Beth Phoenix challenged John Cena to find a Diva to team with in an inter-gender tag match in that night's main event. Being that RAW was in Toronto that night, the rumors were heavy that Trish would appear, but actually wrestling was still a surprise. When the story unfolded, most people probably knew it would be Trish in the role, especially since the match was put in the main event spot, so someone big had to be in the spot, and only Trish would fit that role, especially in Toronto. When Cena announced Santa had brought him a new partner, and Trish's music hit, the place went wild, a huge reaction only a Diva the caliber of Trish Stratus could get. In the match, Trish hadn't missed a step, and we finally got a glimpse of Trish vs. Beth Phoenix, which is a match that's been talked about ever since Phoenix hit the scene. It was evident that Trish was the star in the match, as Cena was booed as usual, and Trish was cheered wildly in her home country, but Cena played his role well, letting Trish have most of the spotlight. Cena got the win, which I guess was the only finish that could happen since Trish pinning Beth would kill any future dream match scenarios with Trish vs. Beth 1 on 1, but Trish still shined bright, and WWE delivered a great feel good ending to a Christmas edition of RAW. If WWE did more of this type of stuff, it'd be such a better show, and would keep us guessing so more. On a side note, when the WrestleMania 25 Divas Battle Royal was announced, I figured it was a definite that Trish would be in it, and probably have a big role in the ending. But after the disappointing way WWE presented the former Divas, just thrown in the ring with no entrances or anything, I'm GLAD Trish turned them down, as she definitely knows how to pick her spots, and only appear when it's meaningful. Thankfully Trish has left the door open for a return, saying she'd do it for the right story, and I'm sure between Natalya, Phoenix, and DEFINITELY Maryse, there's still some Stratusfaction to be had by us all in the future. Here's the match from this past December, Glamarella vs. John Cena and Trish Stratus.

John Cena & Trish Stratus VS Glamarella [RAW 22/12/08]

Trish Stratus Hottest Female Canadian TV Star

Trish Stratus Wet T-Shirt Video

Thoughts on WWE Draft

noreply@blogger.com (brett kahn) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:25:00 +0000

Every year, the wwe decides to change it up and create new feuds to try and build a broader audience for each of the three shows. However, this year, it was clear that they are trying to build around raw since it is the top rated wwe show. Below are some thoughts on possible upcoming feuds/situations after the draft (Basically just shit that I would personally like to see).

RAW

Triple H (wwe champ) vs. Big Show

Yes, this has been done before, but unless Hunter turns heel, there isn't much else to do here. Both guys can work and have proven that. I think Orton will still become champ. very soon but besides him, there aren't really too many main event heels on raw.

Primo and Carlito (unified tag team champs.) vs. Legacy

I think its just a matter of time before Legacy regains the tag team titles. To me, they have the most upside of any tag team in the biz. It also gives the Legacy faction more credibility, especially when Orton takes the title.

John Cena will drop the title soon

I believe and I truly hope that Cena drops the title soon. He aint moving to smackdown and they wont have both titles on the same show. Look for CM Punk to have some say in bringing the title back to Smackdown with is MIB contract. Also, Edge will be involved here some how.

MVP (US Champ.) vs. The Miz

Splitting up this tag team was one of the best decisions the wwe has made in a long time. Both can hold their own as singles superstars and both will soon make an impact. I def. like the way the Miz is improving and I think these two will have a nice feud.

Matt Hardy will compete for a major title

I like Matt Hardy a lot and I think he could possibly enter a major title hunt. I don't think he is a great heel but is good enough for now.

Others to make impact on show

Batista

Evan Bourne

Kofi Kingston

Shawn Michaels

The Brian Kendrick (hopefully not jobbing)

Mr. Kennedy (if he can stay healthy)

Smackdown

CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho

These two haven't really matched up before but I think it can be very successful. Chris Jericho is prob. the best superstar in the wwe and anything he touches turns to gold. Punk, although I think it was a mistake not to give Christian the briefcase, will prob. end up winning a major title in 2009 unless the wwe throws a curveball and has him lose the briefcase in a match like they did with Kennedy.

Edge vs. Christian???

I would die a happy wrestling fan if these two feuded. I absolutely love both of them and I hope Christian is wearing a major title on his waist sometime soon, hopefully not the ecw title.

Rey Mysterio (intercontinental champ.) vs. John Morrision

Again, they split up this tag team for a reason. There is no doubt that Morrison can flat out wrestle, but, his mic skills need some serious work. I would love to see this feud but not if morrision isn't ready to become a true singles heel.

Others to make impact on show

The Undertaker

Jeff Hardy

Shelton Benjamin

Kane

Mike Knox

ECW

Jack Swagger (ecw champ) vs. Christian

It's kind of inevitable isn't it? I like both of them but since there is no one else on this god-foresaken show, they have no choice. Although I like for Evan Bourne to win a title soon.

Others to make impact on show

Vladimir Kozlov (hope he gets fired soon)

Evan Bourne

Findlay

Hurricane Helms

Why is Ricky Steamboat Not Still Wrestling???

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:53:00 +0000

For anyone that saw WrestleMania 25, or even RAW the night after, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat had his first matches in 15 years. The RAW match was most likely due to his performance in the Mania match. Going into WrestleMania 25, the Chris Jericho storyline was great, and many of us were guessing for weeks as to just who would face Jericho at Mania. Austin? Hogan? Lawler? Mickey Rourke? Well, we were all pretty let down that it would just be a legends handicapped match against the legends Jericho had already beaten up on RAW. We've seen Jimmy Snuka and Roddy Piper plenty of times make special apperances on numerous RAW's and pay per views. But the one stand out part of the whole sceneario, was Ricky Steamboat. Steamboat had his last match in 1994 against Steve Austin, and hadn't wrestled since. Steamboat of course is brought up every year around WrestleMania time, with everyone of course bringing up the legendary WrestleMania 3 match with "Macho Man" Randy Savage. This year, Steamboat was set to recieve the ultimate accolade, induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. So when it was announced that Steamboat would actually be wrestling, the thought alone was a very special thing. Steamboat probably wouldn't be what he once was years ago, but still, I personally believed a Jericho vs. Steamboat 1 on 1 match would've had more intrigue. The surprising thing was, I was wrong about Steamboat not being what he once was....other than gray thinning hair, Ricky Steamboat came to WrestleMania, and blew everyone away. "The Dragon" stepped in the ring at WrestleMania, and brought the magic back with him. Steamboats performance, doing his signature chop and high cross body from the top rope, were a complete 20 year flashback. Steamboat made it clear, that while Piper and Snuka were understandably slower than they'd been, Steamboat's "still got it." And the fans let him know, the "you've still got it" chant was awesome, it was like finally Ricky Steamboat was getting the recognition he deserved, on the grandest stage of them all. Steamboat lost to Jericho, but in reality, Steamboat scored the real victory, as it was apparent that the fans weren't the only ones who recognized Steamboat still had the magic in the ring, as RAW opened up the following night with the announcement that there would be a "WrestleMania MVP" 8 man tag match, and Steamboat was in there teaming with Cena, CM Punk, and Mysterio. You could tell Steamboat's partners for the night were in awe that they got to team with the legend in this match, and when Steamboat was tagged in, he turned the fire on, chopping away on everyone, selling like only Steamboat can, and taking part in the finish with Rey Mysterio. In the end, Steamboat got the proper send off, as his team mates left him in the ring to get the spotlight one more time, as the fans gave him one more ovation, and he soaked up the respect of the wrestlers and the crowd. The question here is, Steamboat stepping in the ring and performing got people talking, people were given what they wanted to see, and that's something not many wrestlers today can do, so why is Ricky Steamboat not on the roster for another year or so? The perfect underdog that can still go. I'm sure injuries forced Steamboat into retirement in 94, but now it seems The Dragon is ready to go for one last run. The send off Steamboat got on RAW almost seemed like a farewell (although Steamboat still works for WWE behind the scenes,) but I think WWE seriously needs to consider having Steamboat have one more run, because I myself would love a year full of Steamboat vs. Michaels, Triple H, Punk, Mysterio, etc. matches. Steamboat's still got it, and we want more!

April Fools Joke or Major WWE Screw Up?

noreply@blogger.com (brett kahn) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:10:00 +0000

Many wrestling sources released a story today touting that the wwe posted a picture of a new undertaker t-shirt giving up the match result at this Sunday's Wrestlemania. The shirt reads 17-0 with undertaker's cross peircing a heart (heart-break kid). Although, the wwe quickly removed this picture from it's website, one can only wonder if it was indeed another april fools joke, a way for the wwe to throw the fans off, or a really horrible screw-up by the WWE.

Former Divas Returning for Miss Wrestlemania Battle Royal

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:51:00 +0000

The Miss Wrestlemania Battle Royal at this weekends Wrestlemania 25, is actually a bright spot considering the match has some nostalgic value, being it is the 25th anniversary of Wrestlemania, as where some of the other matches on the card just seem like matches you could see on any old edition of RAW (::cough JBL vs. Rey Mysterio ::cough::) But WWE at least made the right move with the Divas. Instead of a regular women's title match, or even just a battle royal with all the Divas, they're actually bringing in some former Divas to make the divas battle royal truly special. Earlier today at the Wrestlemania press conference, Kelly Kelly and Eve Torres revealed that Torrie Wilson, Molly Holly, Sunny, Victoria (who's barely been retired,) and Jackie Gayda (who I fear will get zero reaction, due to her run in WWE being less than memorable other than some classic move botching.) Not a bad line-up at all, but too bad Wendi Richter and Lita turned down the offers, especially Richter, who hasn't done anything with WWE since 1985, but in that era was a huge name who did a lot for women's wrestling in WWE as far as women in major storylines and matches go. Also not appearing will be Debra, who apparently wasn't asked, and neither was Ashley Massaro, but we can live without her. Also too bad Stacy Keibler has moved on, would have been nice seeing her in a WWE ring one more time. The battle royal should be fun at least, and good to see Divas like Torrie and Sunny who are still hot, and really should be used by WWE still. And of course, her name is not on the list, but I'm sure EVERY one, including me, is hoping for the one and only Trish Stratus to make another appearance comeback appearance this Sunday, as Wrestlemania is always in need of some Stratusfaction. Hopefully WWE is saving Trish for a little Mania surprise, hopefully as the final entrant in the Miss Wrestlemania Battle Royal, because if anyone should be called Miss Wrestlemania, I'd say it's Trish Stratus..

Also see:
WWE Divas Nudity Review, Pics, and Clips at MrSkin.com

Breaking News: Tazz Leaves WWE

noreply@blogger.com (The Midnight Writer) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:23:00 +0000

It's Wrestlemania week, so as usual, there is always a heaping helping of news, rumors, happenings, etc. First off, out of the blue, news hit this morning that Tazz has officially left WWE after doing commentary at last night's Smackdown tapings in Dallas. His contract was up, and he opted to not renew, which is VERY weird being it's Mania week, as you think he'd at least stick around to do one last Mania. Now it should be interesting to see who they put with Jim Ross to commentate at this Sunday's Wrestlemania 25. One also has to wonder, what does Tazz do from here? His active wrestling days are over as far as we know, but he could still make an impact (no pun intended) by jumping over to TNA as a commentator, being he's been a well known voice on WWE broadcasts for around 7 years now. And of course, he'll can easily make the rounds at one of the many autograph conventions going on around the country, especially those that have ECW reunion themes. Of course, I'm sure Shane Douglas will make a play for Tazz (or Taz if it happens) to appear at Shane's final November to Remember ECW reunion which was recently announced. Tazz's departure from WWE raises a lot of question, some of which will be answered this weekend at Wrestlemania 25, while the rest can only be answered by Tazz himself. Hopefully we'll be seeing a Tazz shoot interview soon so we can get his side of the story.

Stone Cold and Batista Making Appearances at Wrestlemania???

noreply@blogger.com (brett kahn) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:48:00 +0000

There is a lot of buzz right now about whether or not both Stone Cold and Batista will be used in Wrestlemania somehow. I believe they both will be used in some capacity.

I believe that Stone Cold will not be wrestling at mania but will be a special guest referee for the Michaels/Taker match. The reason I think he will be used in this match is because I think Batista will make an appearance during the HHH/Orton match, seeking revenge on Orton for punting him in the head. I don't think they will be involved in the same match. There would be too much chaos considering how they are both major faces. Reports have come out that Batista has been training fairly heavily and don't be suprised if he actually wrestles at mania. Remember how the WWE elongated John Cena's injury only to see him make a triumphant return three months later at the Royal Rumble. We shall see what happens.

Another possible scenario is that Austin will be the special guest referee sent in by Vince McMahon to keep Orton in check and Batista doesn't show up at all. It would be very cliche for Batista to return at mania and the WWE has been desperately trying to suprise people, especially after Christian returned to ECW of all places.

Anyway, these are just some thoughts conceived from buzz on the internet. I would love to hear feedback on this and anything I right. I love to hear from the real fans out there.

Until next time...

RIP Andrew "Test" Martin

noreply@blogger.com (Devon Norris) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 11:25:00 +0000

PWInsider.com is reporting this morning that former WWE star Andrew "Test" Martin was found dead in his apartment in Tampa, Florida at the age of 33, just four days shy of his 34th birthday. We don't have much in the way of details at this time. Tampa area authorities have declined to officially confirm it is Martin they found but word within the industry has been widespread the last few hours.

Check back to PWR today and we'll keep the info coming.

Very sad news if it's true....

Update:

At approximately 8:00pm on Friday, March 13, 2009, Tampa Police Officers responded to the Post Harbour Apartments, located at 725 Harbour Place Drive to check on the welfare of Mr. Andrew J. Martin. A neighbor reported that she could see into his apartment through a window and that Mr. Martin appeared motionless for several hours.

Officers entered the apartment and discovered Mr. Martin to be deceased. At this time there is no indication of foul play. The deceased was transported to the Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. The date of the autopsy is undetermined at this time. The next of kin has been notified of the death.

Andrew "Test" Martin is a former wrestling champion with the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment).

Lieutenant William Ferguson

Tampa Police Department

New Wrestlemania Matches Announced

noreply@blogger.com (brett kahn) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:08:00 +0000

Edge (world heavyweight champ.) vs. Big Show vs. John Cena

This should actually be an interesting match to watch. Edge and Show are pound-for-pound two of the best workers and Cena is well....uh...not. With the cheating angle with Vickie and Show now thrown into the mix, it should give the match some nice heat and actually make Cena look even more over in this match. Unfortunately for all those Cena haters, it looks like Cena might be in for another title reign. Don't be suprised if the ending comes down to Cena planting the "attitude adjustment" on Show.

Winner: John Cena (new world heavyweight champ)

MITB -- CM Punk vs. Kane vs. Mark Henry vs. Shelton Benjamin (us champ.) vs. MVP vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Christian vs. Finlay

Sorry to those who didn't know the last two participants but rajah.com leaked that this morning after tapings this week. I don't think there is any way that Christian will not be winning this match. I think he came back to wwe, making sure he was going to be a main eventer and that's what he will be. I don't think we'll see as many big spots as years past with all of the big men, but it probably won't dissapoint. I think the match will come down to Christian and Kane with Captain Charisma taking the briefcase.

Winner: Christian