Check out this clip of TNA star Mick Foley’s appearance on Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central.
The Foley skit begins around 5 minutes into the clip, with Foley and Daily Show a correspondent explaining how the health care debate in the United States is quite similar to pro wrestling.
Check out this clip of TNA star Mick Foley’s appearance on Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central.
The Foley skit begins around 5 minutes into the clip, with Foley and Daily Show a correspondent explaining how the health care debate in the United States is quite similar to pro wrestling.
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Crumbums & Fatcats | ||||
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WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin appeared on Hardcore Sports Radio this week and discussed TNA Wrestling challenging WWE on Monday nights. Despite the fact that Austin is aWWE guy through and through, he says “competition is great for the business” and hopes TNA can give WWE a run for its money.
“I wish the TNA people all the luck in the world because it means more of the boys have jobs and it gives fans an alternative” Austin said.
TNA has a lot of the WCW pieces in place (Hogan, Bischoff, Flair, Sting, The Band), but Austin doesn’t know if TNA will ever be able to reach WCW’s popularity peak. “I don’t know if we’ll ever re-create that Nitro-Raw war,” he said. “WCW kicked our ass for two years, then we smoked their ass and never looked back and put them out of business.”
Even though he wishes good luck for TNA, he knows it will be close to impossible for them to realistically push them to the brink like WCW did. “I don’t think anyone will ever come close to really giving true competition to WWE because they’re so far ahead of the game, they’re rooted in their system, and they’re a winner.”
(Quotes transcribed by TheSun.co.uk)
– Batista was legitimately busted open last night by Kofi Kingston during their match on RAW.
– The following matches were taped before Monday’s RAW for this week’s WWE Superstars show:
* Bella Twins vs. Jillian Hall & Katie Lea
* Christian, Mark Henry & Yoshi Tatsu vs. Jack Swagger
* Zack Ryder and William Rega
– During the commercial break before the Bret Hart & Vince McMahon WrestleMania contract signing, CM Punk came out and challenged Rey Mysterio to a match that would take place after RAW went off the air. When RAW concluded, the two wrestled a 10 minute match and Mysterio earned the win with the 619. Mysterio celebrated with the fans after the win.
– Batista was legitimately busted open last night by Kofi Kingston during their match on RAW.
– The following matches were taped before Monday’s RAW for this week’s WWE Superstars show:
* Bella Twins vs. Jillian Hall & Katie Lea
* Christian, Mark Henry & Yoshi Tatsu vs. Jack Swagger
* Zack Ryder and William Rega
– During the commercial break before the Bret Hart & Vince McMahon WrestleMania contract signing, CM Punk came out and challenged Rey Mysterio to a match that would take place after RAW went off the air. When RAW concluded, the two wrestled a 10 minute match and Mysterio earned the win with the 619. Mysterio celebrated with the fans after the win.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Ross reveals that after months of negotiations, he’s come to terms with WWE for a new contract and will be signing it this week. Plus, Ross discusses Gorgeous George being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and more. Some highlights:
His WWE Contract Status: I will be signing another contract extension this week with WWE to allow us to get past Wrestlemania and to give us more time to finalize our newest agreement which will hopefully see me remaining with WWE for the long term future. At least, that’s the goal for all involved. I’m going into this negotiation with a positive frame of mind and hopeful that all will work out to everyone’s mutual happiness at the end of the day.
Talking With Steve Austin Over The Weekend: I talked with Steve this weekend and he was really excited about being back on Raw and feeling that live audience, adrenaline rush that one experiences. I cannot name any wrestler who better connected with their audience than did Stone Cold Steve Austin and I’ve seen a few in my day. I even think Steve was going down from LA to San Diego on Sunday, he’s still old school, to be ready to rock the house Monday night. Obviously, WWE will be promoting the film “Damage” starring Stone Cold that will be out on DVD on March 23 which is only 8 days from now.
Gorgeous George in WWE’s Hall of Fame: WWE announcing Gorgeous George as a new inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame is a cool thing for the business. When I first got in the wrestling biz in 1974, my boss, Lee Roy McGuirk, was a former wrestling star who had crossed paths with Gorgeous George on many occasions. I heard numerous GG stories from McGuirk who was a former NCAA Champion at Oklahoma A&M (Oklahoma State) and was considered one of the toughest men in the business. McGuirk was a old school guy with a “jock mentality” and he wasn’t crazy about the show biz aspect of the Gorgeous George persona but McGuirk always said that George Wagner was much tougher and more skilled in legit wrestling than people would ever give him credit for being.
WWE sent out the following press release this morning announcing that wrestling legend Gorgeous George will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame later this month:
Gorgeous George Enters Hall of Fame
STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–World Wrestling Entertainment® (NYSE: WWE) today announced that Gorgeous George, the man often credited with creating American pop culture and who set the standard for future WWE Superstars and influenced such greats as Muhammad Ali, James Brown and Bob Dylan, will be inducted into the WWE® Hall of Fame on March 27, 2010. His 96 year-old former wife, Betty Wagner will accept the honor on his behalf. The Hall of Fame ceremony will be broadcast that night on USA Network at 11 PM ET from the Dodge Theater in Phoenix, Arizona.
“A mighty spirit. Crossing paths with Gorgeous George, was all the recognition and encouragement I would need for years to come.â€
“Gorgeous George’s was a pop-culture innovator who took risks pushing the social envelope and did things that no other performer had ever dared to do,†said CEO and Chairman Vince McMahon. “He was a cultural tour-de-force who set the standard that many in the world of sports and entertainment still emulate today.â€
The significance of Gorgeous George’s legacy led WWE Studios to option the rights to his story for a major motion picture slated to begin production in 1Q 2011.
Muhammad Ali, whose notorious boastful and arrogant style derived from George, stated, “I made up my mind after meeting Gorgeous George to make people angry at me…I saw 15,000 people comin’ to see this man get beat. And his talking did it. I said this is a good idea.â€
Bob Dylan, the music poet, said, “A mighty spirit. Crossing paths with Gorgeous George, was all the recognition and encouragement I would need for years to come.â€
Gorgeous George, born George Wagner, single-handedly changed the dynamics of not only wrestling, but entertainment and sports in the 1940s-1950s. His character was an arrogant aristocrat dressed in silk, lace and chiffon robes who spoke in a braggadocio style, often referring to himself as “The Toast of the Coast†and “The Sensation of the Nation.†Audiences around the country came to see Gorgeous George perform live, and tuned their TV sets in to see what he would say or do next, making Gorgeous George one of the biggest celebrities of his day, and an influence on pop culture for generations to come. As popular as Lucille Ball and Bob Hope, media observers believe more Americans purchased televisions to watch Gorgeous George perform than to see Milton Berle.
Others to be inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame on March 27 include Ted “The Million Dollar Man†DiBiase Sr., former Women’s Champion Wendi Richter, Maurice “Mad Dog†Vachon and Japanese legend Antonio Inoki.
Heyyyyo!
Check out the latest episode of Last Call With Scott Hall ..
This week .. Scott Hall watches TNA iMPACT! with WCW Monday Nitro announcer Larry Zbyszko, who has a lot to say about “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.
Appearances by Chasyn Rance, Mister Saint Laurent, and Richard Young (ECW’s Ricky Ortiz) ..
Heyyyyo!
Check out the latest episode of Last Call With Scott Hall ..
This week .. Scott Hall watches TNA iMPACT! with WCW Monday Nitro announcer Larry Zbyszko, who has a lot to say about “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.
Appearances by Chasyn Rance, Mister Saint Laurent, and Richard Young (ECW’s Ricky Ortiz) ..
DOWNLOAD THE PODCAST HERE:
Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 103)
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Est. Runtime: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Raw and Impact reviewed with a rant on TNA, plus news on the ratings, Jeff Hardy possibly headed to prison, a new member of the Hall of Fame and a look back at WrestleMania 7!
Want your question on the air? Send feedback to [email protected].
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Visit The Solomonster on Twitter @ twitter.com/solomonster
— Though it has not been confirmed, the feeling among several WWE sources is that Gregory Helms sealed his fate with the company when he was arrested for public intoxication in Kentucky in late January, reports the Pro Wrestling Torch. He was brought back to television shortly after the incident, but was the victim of a beatdown angle and never appeared in a WWE ring again.
“He gave them an excuse,” said one insider with knowledge of the situation.
Helms developed a reputation as a party guy within the company by posting notes on Twitter about drinking contests and parties he took part in. Though it initially seemed harmless, a few eyebrows were raised when he posted a message regarding a drinking contest that he and Christopher Daniels were having last August, which was proceeded by the TNA star being arrested on charges of driving under the influence just miles from Helms’ North Carolina residence.
— Last Monday’s special guest host of Raw, Criss Angel, was originally scheduled to have a more physical role on the show but plans were scrapped a few days before the event for his safety.
“Inside scoop – I was supposed 2 do something in the ring at Raw but a few days be4 it got cancelled 4 my safety – it would have been awesome,” Angel wrote on his Twitter account.
— The TV Guide preview for tonight’s Raw is as follows: “Guest host Steve Austin presents a WrestleMania rewind.”
— Though it has not been confirmed, the feeling among several WWE sources is that Gregory Helms sealed his fate with the company when he was arrested for public intoxication in Kentucky in late January, reports the Pro Wrestling Torch. He was brought back to television shortly after the incident, but was the victim of a beatdown angle and never appeared in a WWE ring again.
“He gave them an excuse,” said one insider with knowledge of the situation.
Helms developed a reputation as a party guy within the company by posting notes on Twitter about drinking contests and parties he took part in. Though it initially seemed harmless, a few eyebrows were raised when he posted a message regarding a drinking contest that he and Christopher Daniels were having last August, which was proceeded by the TNA star being arrested on charges of driving under the influence just miles from Helms’ North Carolina residence.
— Last Monday’s special guest host of Raw, Criss Angel, was originally scheduled to have a more physical role on the show but plans were scrapped a few days before the event for his safety.
“Inside scoop – I was supposed 2 do something in the ring at Raw but a few days be4 it got cancelled 4 my safety – it would have been awesome,” Angel wrote on his Twitter account.
— The TV Guide preview for tonight’s Raw is as follows: “Guest host Steve Austin presents a WrestleMania rewind.”
Thanks to reader Jody for sending in the following ….
Former Trish Stratus recently attended the launch of the winter issue of Top Choice Magazine, which she’s on the cover of.
Related: Trish Stratus on the Cover of Top Choice Magazine
Stratus showed up with a “new” look, having colored her hair blonde the way it was almost a decade ago in her early WWE days .. Check her out, lookin’ hot as ever:
— While the clip of Bill Goldberg pinning Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XX was largely aired this past week on Raw to put over tomorrow night’s special guest host, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, WWE has indeed been in talks with the former wrestling megastar regarding a relationship renewal.
WWE officials recognize he’s not going to come back and wrestle, but they’re hopeful of reaching a deal where they can use his likeness in video games and perhaps an induction into next week year’s Hall of Fame class considering they are running low on “main eventers.”
Next year’s Hall of Fame class is expected to have a WCW theme considering that it will be taking place in Atlanta, Georgia.
— WWE’s recently released Shawn Michaels DVD, Shawn Michaels – My Journey, has HBK doing commentary for a 1992 match in Ottawa against Bret Hart. It’s worth noting because Michaels goes out of his way to put over “The Hit Man” after proclaiming for a number of years that he was very good, but not great. Michaels relays his past history with Hart, saying both tried to work past their conflicts in spite of their paranoia and shared belief that management kept them at odds because they thought it was best for business. The piece was taped prior Hart’s return to WWE as Michaels said he hadn’t seen him since “Montreal.” Michaels added he had Hart’s phone number and wanted to call him to bury the hatchet because it sends a bad message to people if you can’t forgive and forget. Ultimately, he never ended up calling him.
— Today marks the six-year anniversary of WrestleMania XX, which saw Chris Benoit triumph over Triple H and Shawn Michaels to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. After the match, Eddie Guerrero came to the ring and the two embraced while confetti dropped for an emotional ending. WrestleMania XX also marks as the final wrestling matches of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Bill Goldberg and Brock Lesnar — for now.
source: www.f4wonline.com
— Regarding Awesome Kong’s apparent departure from TNA Wrestling, one person inside the company commented, “That is one crazy woman. Say what you want about Bubba, but attacking the guy would be assault anywhere else in America, then she threatens to sue him? Only in America. Sad to lose her as a talent but I don’t think anyone will miss her personally.” (source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
— On her Twitter account, Tara expressed her displeasure with being left off WWE’s “Top 25 Most Impactful Women” list. She wrote, “(It) doesn’t surprise me. That’s an example of my experience at WWE. Unappreciated.” She then posted a link to a fan’s graphic spoofing the list, ranking her at No. 26.
— As reported earlier, Sarita will soon be heading to Tokyo, Japan for a brief wrestling tour. She will be wrestling on Fuka’s retirement show at Korakuen Hall on Mar. 28 and then again on Apr. 3 at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring. You can view an event poster for one of the shows the TNA Knockout will be on at the following link.
— Regarding Awesome Kong’s apparent departure from TNA Wrestling, one person inside the company commented, “That is one crazy woman. Say what you want about Bubba, but attacking the guy would be assault anywhere else in America, then she threatens to sue him? Only in America. Sad to lose her as a talent but I don’t think anyone will miss her personally.” (source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
— On her Twitter account, Tara expressed her displeasure with being left off WWE’s “Top 25 Most Impactful Women” list. She wrote, “(It) doesn’t surprise me. That’s an example of my experience at WWE. Unappreciated.” She then posted a link to a fan’s graphic spoofing the list, ranking her at No. 26.
— As reported earlier, Sarita will soon be heading to Tokyo, Japan for a brief wrestling tour. She will be wrestling on Fuka’s retirement show at Korakuen Hall on Mar. 28 and then again on Apr. 3 at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring. You can view an event poster for one of the shows the TNA Knockout will be on at the following link.
— Jim Ross wrote on his official website that it’s unlikely he’ll return to working WWE television on weekly basis in response to a reader who asked if he’ll be paired with Jerry “The King” Lawler again.
“I don’t think that WWE is interested in putting me back on weekly TV and all the travel that comes along with it at this time,” Ross wrote. “Would I love to work with King again? Certainly. Is this my call? Nope. Do I think that I will ever be paired with Lawler again on a regular basis? Highly unlikely.”
— WWE Hall of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper will be appearing in a wrestling-themed episode of the crime drama Cold Case airing tonight on CBS at 10:00 p.m. Playing a character named “Sweet Sil,” Piper bleached his hair blonde for the role.
— Tyler Reks is on the road this weekend with the SmackDown brand. He beat Jimmy Wang Yang at yesterday’s SmackDown live event in Stockton, California.
— Jim Ross wrote on his official website that it’s unlikely he’ll return to working WWE television on weekly basis in response to a reader who asked if he’ll be paired with Jerry “The King” Lawler again.
“I don’t think that WWE is interested in putting me back on weekly TV and all the travel that comes along with it at this time,” Ross wrote. “Would I love to work with King again? Certainly. Is this my call? Nope. Do I think that I will ever be paired with Lawler again on a regular basis? Highly unlikely.”
— WWE Hall of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper will be appearing in a wrestling-themed episode of the crime drama Cold Case airing tonight on CBS at 10:00 p.m. Playing a character named “Sweet Sil,” Piper bleached his hair blonde for the role.
— Tyler Reks is on the road this weekend with the SmackDown brand. He beat Jimmy Wang Yang at yesterday’s SmackDown live event in Stockton, California.
Former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis is crossing over the world of mixed martial arts as she will joining the “King of the Cage” broadcast team for Mark Cuban’s HDNet.
It was announced on tonight’s episode of Inside MMA that she would debut at this month’s event in Reno, Nevada on the 26th, airing live on HDNet.
A press release regarding Kanellis joining HDNet is set to be issued Monday.
Kanellis was released from WWE on Feb. 26. She will be one of the featured stars on Celebrity Apprentice premiering this Sunday night on NBC.
— In honor of WrestleMania XXVI, the April 2010 issue of WWE Magazine features twenty-six different collectible covers. It’s worth noting that the WWE Divas, who haven’t been prominently feature on a cover of WWE Magazine since 2006, were shut out here too as all twenty-six covers were given to male wrestlers.
Among those featured with their very own cover are Batista, Big Show, Bret Hart, Chris Jericho, Christian, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, Edge, Evan Bourne, Jack Swagger, John Cena, John Morrison, Kane, Kofi Kingston, MVP, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, R-Truth, Santino Marella, Shawn Michaels, Sheamus, Ted DiBiase, The Miz, Triple H and Undertaker.
The cover bearing Shawn Michaels is apparently the only one being sent out to subscribers, so fans of the likes of Bret Hart and Drew McIntyre will have to hunt newsstands for theirs.
— It appears Goldust may be in line for a renewed push on SmackDown after a stellar outing with Chris Jericho on a recent episode of WWE Superstars as he defeated Money in the Bank participant Dolph Ziggler at last night’s SmackDown live event in Stockton, California. He also gained a victory over Mike Knox on last week’s episode of WWE Superstars.
The WWE World Heavyweight Champion praised his match with Goldust on his Twitter account, writing, “I really dug the match with Goldust. He’s in the best shape of his life and is as good as anybody in the WWE. Very underrated..”
— Speaking of Goldust, both he and Dolph Ziggler will be appearing at former WWE performer Armando Estrada’s Baby’s Steak and Lemonade restaurant on Wednesday, Mar. 24 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The restaurant is located at 8285 W. Union Hills Drive, Glendale, Arizona 85308.
— It’s worth noting that Shawn Michaels is not advertised for any shows past the night after WrestleMania when Raw emanates from the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Furthermore, Undertaker is being advertised to appear at all SmackDown television tapings announced thus far — through June.
— The Wall Street Journal Magazine published a story this past week profiling WWE’s international business and use of international stars.
Stephanie McMahon is quoted in the piece, noting WWE is searching China for new talent to add to a roster that includes The Great Khali from India, Kofi Kingston from Ghana, West Africa, and Kung Fu Naki from Tokyo, Japan.
“We are making more of an effort to recruit from other countries,” Stephanie McMahon said. The Wall Street Journal Magazine added she is looking to recruit talent from China.
To read the story, click here. Former WWE performer Paul Heyman is also quoted in the story.
— The Feb. 26 episode of Friday Night Smackdown scored a 2.0 rating with 3,443,000 viewers for MyNetworkTV. (source: PWInsider.com)
In an interview with Al Norton of 411Mania.com, former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis discusses her surprising departure from World Wrestling Entertainment, her new album, her stint on The Celebrity Apprentice, and much more.
Kanellis says she had been in negotiations with WWE regarding her contract for approximately three weeks when they decided to terminate their partnership. She notes being caught off guard by their decision to release her.
“I think I was pretty surprised (laughing),” she said. “It was very shocking. It was the day after my birthday, I had just got done with my taxes, I knew that I was going to go home to pack and get ready for the road that weekend. I had been in talks about my contract for probably three weeks, trying to change a few things just like any human being who holds any job for any amount of time, I wanted things to get better. I was asking for things I thought were very reasonable and apparently negotiations ended and they decided they no longer wanted me.”
Kanellis also discloses her mother’s reaction to her release from WWE, saying she “freaked out” upon learning the news.
“It was a shock at first. I didn’t have time to call my Mom. My Mom called me freaking out because it went up on the internet within a half hour and that’s just common courtesy; you let employees call their friends and family rather than a mass press release that goes out to the entire world and you can’t even call your Mom and tell her, “I’m ok, it’s ok. I’m not freaking out.” She’s worried, saying “oh my God, what are you going to do? How are you going to pay for your house?” If I could have called my Mom I would have been so happy but I didn’t even have time to do that.”
Kanellis then says she found it strange WWE would terminate her contract when she’s about to go on The Celebrity Apprentice to support the Make-A-Wish-Foundation. She then repeatedly asks why WWE would “burn a bridge” with her.
“I think what’s even more strange for WWE and I worked very hard for the Make-A-Wish-Foundation, which is the foundation I am supporting throughout the Celebrity Apprentice, so why would they burn that bridge with me,” Maria asked. “I’m not going to burn any bridge with WWE but why would they burn that bridge with me? Maybe they just look at me like they can always make another one but I don’t like to be looked at like a number. I don’t think that anyone should be looked at like a number. Everybody has the right to be an individual and express their needs and I think it’s horrible to send somebody away that has made so many Make A Wish kids happy, done so many things for their reading program. I’ve been to burn units, I’ve been to Iraq five times. Why would they burn that bridge with me?
“I know, they think they’re a big company but I’m a strong spirit and I didn’t like getting my bridge burned.”
Kanellis also reveals whether she’s interested in resuming her career in the squared circle.
“I am still trying to decide. It’s a tough choice for me because I am such a loyal person but beyond that, I have so many dreams and unfortunately I don’t know if I can complete those dreams if I stay on the road wresting. We’ll see. I have my album coming out in April,” Kanellis said. “When it comes to TNA or anyone else, I’m not closing the door. I’m leaving it open for right now and maybe when the dust settles and the whole non-compete thing runs out I’ll be closer to making a decision.”
In an interview with Al Norton of 411Mania.com, former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis discusses her surprising departure from World Wrestling Entertainment, her new album, her stint on The Celebrity Apprentice, and much more.
Kanellis says she had been in negotiations with WWE regarding her contract for approximately three weeks when they decided to terminate their partnership. She notes being caught off guard by their decision to release her.
“I think I was pretty surprised (laughing),” she said. “It was very shocking. It was the day after my birthday, I had just got done with my taxes, I knew that I was going to go home to pack and get ready for the road that weekend. I had been in talks about my contract for probably three weeks, trying to change a few things just like any human being who holds any job for any amount of time, I wanted things to get better. I was asking for things I thought were very reasonable and apparently negotiations ended and they decided they no longer wanted me.”
Kanellis also discloses her mother’s reaction to her release from WWE, saying she “freaked out” upon learning the news.
“It was a shock at first. I didn’t have time to call my Mom. My Mom called me freaking out because it went up on the internet within a half hour and that’s just common courtesy; you let employees call their friends and family rather than a mass press release that goes out to the entire world and you can’t even call your Mom and tell her, “I’m ok, it’s ok. I’m not freaking out.” She’s worried, saying “oh my God, what are you going to do? How are you going to pay for your house?” If I could have called my Mom I would have been so happy but I didn’t even have time to do that.”
Kanellis then says she found it strange WWE would terminate her contract when she’s about to go on The Celebrity Apprentice to support the Make-A-Wish-Foundation. She then repeatedly asks why WWE would “burn a bridge” with her.
“I think what’s even more strange for WWE and I worked very hard for the Make-A-Wish-Foundation, which is the foundation I am supporting throughout the Celebrity Apprentice, so why would they burn that bridge with me,” Maria asked. “I’m not going to burn any bridge with WWE but why would they burn that bridge with me? Maybe they just look at me like they can always make another one but I don’t like to be looked at like a number. I don’t think that anyone should be looked at like a number. Everybody has the right to be an individual and express their needs and I think it’s horrible to send somebody away that has made so many Make A Wish kids happy, done so many things for their reading program. I’ve been to burn units, I’ve been to Iraq five times. Why would they burn that bridge with me?
“I know, they think they’re a big company but I’m a strong spirit and I didn’t like getting my bridge burned.”
Kanellis also reveals whether she’s interested in resuming her career in the squared circle.
“I am still trying to decide. It’s a tough choice for me because I am such a loyal person but beyond that, I have so many dreams and unfortunately I don’t know if I can complete those dreams if I stay on the road wresting. We’ll see. I have my album coming out in April,” Kanellis said. “When it comes to TNA or anyone else, I’m not closing the door. I’m leaving it open for right now and maybe when the dust settles and the whole non-compete thing runs out I’ll be closer to making a decision.”
— Former TNA wrestler Andy Douglas, 31, announced his retirement from the squared circle at last night’s Showtime All-Star Wrestling event in Nashville, Tennessee, thus ending an eleven-year career.
The announcement came after he lost a Steel Cage Match for the SAW International Championship to Chase Stevens, who he partnered with for seven years and became three-time NWA World Tag Team Champions with as The Naturals.
After a three year stint with TNA Wrestling, both Douglas and Stevens were released from their contracts in May 2007. In March 2008, they worked a handicap match against Big Show on an episode of Friday Night SmackDown, but WWE deals never materialized and they soon went their separate ways. They had been working in the southeast independent circuit since.
— In an interview with The Miami Herald, former WWE star Shawn Stasiak says he is primed for another run at the big time.
“I don’t want to waste my time and any company’s time. I’m a humble guy and call a spade a spade. I have all the attributes to be a top guy in this business. Fans might think, `Look at Shawn Stasiak. He is mid-card at best,” Stasiak said. “That could change at the drop of a dime. It’s a matter of who they want to push. Who can draw revenue or merchandise sales? I never got the chance to really exploit my true skills. People never got to see the matches I had with Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho at house shows that were untelevised. I had my best matches with those guys. I think a lot of people remember me with the goofy cheesy gimmicks.”
To read the interview in its entirety, click here.
— In today’s birthdays, Bryan “Wrath” Clark turns 46 while Beulah McGillicutty turns 41.
— As reported yesterday, actor and Major League Baseball personality Bob Uecker is set to be inducted into this year’s WWE Hall of Fame class. It has been disclosed that his inductor will be Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics.
Ebersol has past ties to World Wrestling Entertainment as he helped launched Saturday Night’s Main Event on NBC. (source: www.f4wonline.com)
— KFC, or Kentucky Fried Chicken if you will, has been named the official sponsor of next month’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view taking place in Baltimore, Maryland.
— You can view this week’s edition of Ask the Divas at the following link. The Bella Twins, Eve Torres and Katie Lea, among others, answer questions on what wild animal they would be and what they would do if the world ended tomorrow.
