With reports coming out that Spike TV is a bit nervous about how TNA iMPACT! will perform on Monday, January 4th head-to-head with WWE RAW for the first time, Hulk Hogan sounds pretty confident he’ll make an immediate impact and is is setting the bar pretty high.
Hogan told hosts, “Everybody (at Spike) was scared of their own shadow. ‘What if we don’t do a number?’ The thing is, I said, ‘Don’t even worry about it. You have to give the audience a choice,'”
During an interview on the “Right After Wrestling” SIRIUS satellite radio show, Hulk Hogan predicted that Nielsen ratings would triple to a 3.0 on his debut appearance on TNA Impact on Monday January 4.
Hogan said he sees “something there” with guys like AJ Styles and Matt Morgan and wants to “bring to life” the TNA superstars who he feels have that “it” factor.
The full interview will air on “Right After Wrestling” on Monday night December 14 at 11pm EST on SIRIUS Channel 98, Hardcore Sports Radio.
– With January 4th shaping up to be an eventful night, WWE’s top star will not be appearing on WWE RAW for the “Monday Night War.” WWE champion John Cena will miss the January 4th edition of Raw (from Ohio) because he’ll in Arizona for the Fiesta Bowl coin flip to promote Wrestlemania XXVI.
– On the TNA side, we can confirm that Team 3D’s Brother Ray and Brother Devon will be in Japan on January 4th as they’re booked to work that day’s New Japan Tokyo Dome event.
– In related news, there has been no talk of making the January 4th edition of RAW a three-hour broadcast yet. While many within WWE management have taken notice of TNA’s Monday Night iMPACT! special, Vince McMahon is said to be “no-selling” the move and is not giving the imprsesion that he feels threatened in the least.
— The most recent issue of WWE Magazine has an interview with the Bella Twins answering questions on psychic links between twins, “the creepy girls” from The Shining, one day battling each other for a WWE championship, and more. When asked how people can tell them apart, they replied with the following.
“I have two beauty marks on my chest, and our faces are shaped differently,” Brie told WWE Magazine. “We joke that I have more of a banana head, and Nikki has an apple head. She has the bigger booty, too, which she’s proud of.”
Nikki added, “Oh, heck yeah! I carry way more curves than Brie. And I usually have a flower in my hair. I love celebrating my Mexican-Italian heritage, and a flower makes me feel Spanish…and pretty!”
ESPN.com has published an extensive report on brain damage to pro athletes, especially pro wrestlers, with the big news that former WWE wrestler Andrew “Test” Martin had brain damage similar to Chris Benoit’s at the time of his death in March.
Studies conducted on Martin’s brain revealed that he suffered damage “stemming from repeated blows to the head.” Dr. Bennet Omalu, co-director of the Brain Injury Research Institute, told ESPN that they discovered “excessive amounts of tau proteins similar to those he found in Benoit.” Both Benoit and Martin are said to have had brains similar to “those of Alzheimer’s patients more than twice their age.”
Omalu explains, “After repeated blows to the head, at some point the brain loses the ability to heal itself. he tau impairs normal brain function and kills brain cells. The delicate balance of the neurotransmitters, which control moods and drives and maintains safety, can be destroyed. With Andrew Martin as the second case, the WWE and the sport in general have to ask themselves, ‘Is this a trend?’ The science tells us that jumping off 10-foot ladders and slamming people with tables and chairs is simply bad for the brain.”
WWE was contacted by ESPN and said the following regarding Dr. Omalu’s findings:
While this is a new emerging science, the WWE is unaware of the veracity of any of these tests, be it for Chris Benoit or Andrew Martin. Dr. Omalu claims that Mr. Benoit had a brain that resembled an 85-year-old with Alzheimer’s, which would lead one to ponder how Mr. Benoit would have found his way to an airport, let alone been able to remember all the moves and information that is required to perform in the ring. WWE has been asking to see the research and tests results in the case of Mr. Benoit for years and has not been supplied with them.
— Much has been said regarding WWE’s policy on talent returning to the company with ‘strikes’ from previous Wellness Policy infractions. To clarify things once and for all, the policy officially states: “Any WWE talent who leaves the WWE for any reason with a first or second violation on his/her record will maintain those strikes if he/she returns to the WWE.”
Furthermore, any talent with two ‘strikes’ — a category which includes Chris Masters, William Regal and Jeff Hardy — would be immediately fired and banned for at least one year upon a third offense.
The Policy specifically states: “A WWE Talent who is terminated by the WWE for a third violation will be prohibited from returning to the WWE for at least one year.” (source: The Sun)
— Kelly Kelly announced on her Twitter account that she’s moving from Tampa, Florida to Miami.
— Savannah is today’s “Daily Diva” on WWE.com while John Morrison is the “Superstar of the Day.”
— To put an end to the speculation that Steve Austin may join TNA, “Stone Cold” is still under contract to World Wrestling Entertainment. A few years ago, Spike wanted to feature Austin in a non-wrestling project considering he would have been a great fit for the network geared towards men. Hence, WWE offered him a lucrative contract to not work for the USA Network competitor. The agreement also allows WWE to sell new Austin merchandise.
— The following matches will be taking place on tomorrow night’s edition of WWE Superstars on WGN America:
* Montel Vontavious Porter vs. Jack Swagger
* Jimmy Wang Yang and Slam Master J vs. Tyson Kidd and David Hart Smith
* Dolph Ziggler vs. Finlay
For the first time since the show’s April premiere, there will be no ECW match.
– TNA president Dixie Carter has updated her Twitter account with an announcement about a new TNA Wrestling ad campaign in New York City:
TNA’s 1st Times Square billboard goes up tomorrow in NYC. TNA package of goodies to the 1st person who tweets me a pic!
She didn’t specify, but its likely that the ad will be promoting Hulk Hogan’s TNA iMAPCT! debut on Monday night, January 4th. To read more from Dixie Carter on Twitter, click here.
– WWE’s website has confirmed what was reported here yesterday, that hip hop recording artist and producer Timabland will host the final WWE RAW of 2009.
– During the pre-show before Tuesday night’s Dallas Mavericks NBA game, owner Mark Cuban talked about hosting WWE RAW this week and said he he loved every minute of it. Cuban enjoyed catching up with Vince McMahon and called WWE family, saying anytime they get together is fun. He said the energy at WWE RAW was like a Mavericks game, except he didn’t have to worry about his team winning. He also mentioned that the NBA told the Mavericks players they could attend RAW but were not allowed in the ring.
The December 7th edition of WWE RAW with Mark Cuban as the special guest host drew 3.2 cable rating. This is down from last week’s 3.6 and not a great sign headed into Sunday’s WWE’s Tables, Ladders and Chairs PPV,
The show did hours of 3.18 and 3.28.
By comparison, Monday Night Football on ESPN this week did a 9.7 rating.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Some highlights:
HBK Retiring at WrestleMania: “We get emails all the time with fans assuming that WM26 will be HBK’s last Wrestlemania. I have not heard that confirmed whatsoever and if it is true wouldn’t one think that WWE would be preparing to make it a HUGE deal? In my mind’s eye, Wrestlemania season officially launches at the Royal Rumble. I am excited about the Match 2010 release of the next HBK DVD which is a countdown of Shawn’s Best Matches. Good luck in narrowing that list down to a three disc set.”
Ross on his own health: “It’s back to the doctor’s today for me as I will be seeing a Rheumatologist today which is a first. I had to go on line to find out what a Rheumatologist does in their world of specialty medicine. However, I’m feeling better every day and remain upbeat and optimistic that I have not called my last match and that my next one might be sooner than some expect.”
Mark Cuban: “Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban likely got cheered in the only major arena in America as the controversial, young billionaire is essentially one of the most vilified individuals in pro sports. Cuban is defiant, has been fined by NBA Commissioner David Stern many times and basically has been caught on TV court side acting like a tool. Nonetheless Cuban did a solid job on Raw and one could tell that the Mavs owner keeps up with the product or was tremendously prep.”
— Eric Bischoff, who is joining Hulk Hogan in partnering with TNA Wrestling, has posted a message on Twitter hyping the upcoming Monday Night iMPACT! special on January 4th with a little jab at WWE. Bischoff wrote, “Was anxious to make the announcement about the Jan 4 debut. Been in the works for more than a month and a tough one to keep quiet… s*its on!”
UPDATE: Bischoff has posted another message about the January 4th Monday night war, saying, “Expecting WWE to come out with guns blazing on Jan 4. Love making them “sell”. Thats when you know you’re doing it right!”
To read more of Eric Bischoff Twitter posts, click here.
— The guest host for the final WWE RAW of 2008 on December 28th will be rapper and music producer Timbaland. Timbaland will be promoting his new album, “Shock Value II.”
— At Monday’s TNA iMPACT! taping from Orlando (airing this Thursday on Spike), Team 3D and Homicide paid tribute to Umaga with messages on their wrist tape.
– The Hollywood Reporteris reporting that several Hollywood names have joined the cast of WWE Films’ next project, Brothers Keeper, starring John Cena. THR writes:
Patricia Clarkson, Devon Graye, Madeleine Martin, Danny Glover and wrestling champ John Cena have been cast in “Brother’s Keeper,” a PG-rated family drama from WWE Films. Mel Damski (“Mischief”) will direct a screenplay by John Posey about a teenage boy (Graye) who tries to reunite his mother (Clarkson) and estranged older brother (Cena) 10 years after the death of their father, a state college wrestling legend. A brilliant student with no apparent athletic talents, the teenager decides to join the high school wrestling team as a way to pull the family together.
– Politico.com has an article up that paints former WWE CEO and United States Senate hopeful Linda McMahon in a very negative light. The article includes quotes from several former WWE employees, who say it would be downright wrong for McMahon to reach such a high position of power in the United States government. Here are some quotes:
Joanie “Chyna” Lauer: “If there is a race to Capitol Hill, I hope she gets knocked off before she even starts.”
Bruno Sammartino: “I would not vote for her because I know what she contributed to the wrestling world with her husband. The vulgarity, the nudity, the profanity, all that kind of crap — it bothers me.â€
Llarry Zbyszko: “If the people in Connecticut are stupid enough to elect Linda, that’s their problem.”
Superstar Billy Graham: “This campaign is the height of hypocrisy. I believe the voters and citizens in Connecticut deserve to be told the truth. In no way does she have a rightful place in the U.S. Senate. The fact that we were out there experiencing trauma and drawing in untold millions for the company [means] we should have at least had some sort of health insurance.â€
The Blue Meanie: “We’re the guys out there sacrificing ourselves. You’d think they’d throw us a bone. Sometimes you wondered if they saw their employees as humans or farm animals It was like being in the circus. You’re shipped here, perform there; it’s almost like you’re disposable.—
WWE’s lack of health insurance is at the heart of the wrestlers’ grievances. They allege that McMahon and her husband, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, ran a billion-dollar company that provided no health insurance for the wrestlers who put their bodies on the line to help turn the WWE into an international phenomenon.
– The Hollywood Reporteris reporting that several Hollywood names have joined the cast of WWE Films’ next project, Brothers Keeper, starring John Cena. THR writes:
Patricia Clarkson, Devon Graye, Madeleine Martin, Danny Glover and wrestling champ John Cena have been cast in “Brother’s Keeper,” a PG-rated family drama from WWE Films. Mel Damski (“Mischief”) will direct a screenplay by John Posey about a teenage boy (Graye) who tries to reunite his mother (Clarkson) and estranged older brother (Cena) 10 years after the death of their father, a state college wrestling legend. A brilliant student with no apparent athletic talents, the teenager decides to join the high school wrestling team as a way to pull the family together.
– Politico.com has an article up that paints former WWE CEO and United States Senate hopeful Linda McMahon in a very negative light. The article includes quotes from several former WWE employees, who say it would be downright wrong for McMahon to reach such a high position of power in the United States government. Here are some quotes:
Joanie “Chyna” Lauer: “If there is a race to Capitol Hill, I hope she gets knocked off before she even starts.”
Bruno Sammartino: “I would not vote for her because I know what she contributed to the wrestling world with her husband. The vulgarity, the nudity, the profanity, all that kind of crap — it bothers me.â€
Llarry Zbyszko: “If the people in Connecticut are stupid enough to elect Linda, that’s their problem.”
Superstar Billy Graham: “This campaign is the height of hypocrisy. I believe the voters and citizens in Connecticut deserve to be told the truth. In no way does she have a rightful place in the U.S. Senate. The fact that we were out there experiencing trauma and drawing in untold millions for the company [means] we should have at least had some sort of health insurance.â€
The Blue Meanie: “We’re the guys out there sacrificing ourselves. You’d think they’d throw us a bone. Sometimes you wondered if they saw their employees as humans or farm animals It was like being in the circus. You’re shipped here, perform there; it’s almost like you’re disposable.—
WWE’s lack of health insurance is at the heart of the wrestlers’ grievances. They allege that McMahon and her husband, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, ran a billion-dollar company that provided no health insurance for the wrestlers who put their bodies on the line to help turn the WWE into an international phenomenon.
From talking to people in WWE, there is said to be “pretty much no concern whatsoever” in regards to TNA’s iMPACT! going head-to-head with Monday Night Raw on January 4, 2010. There is such little concern about TNA that WWE is not even looking to move Raw to three hours, though there is talk of lining up a strong guest host for the first two weeks of the new year.
Among those in WWE, the general feeling is that TNA president Dixie Carter is “incredibly naïve” and that TNA is in for a massive disappointment come January 5th when the ratings come in.
On another note, those on the WWE side were happy in the sense that Hulk Hogan mentioned them during last Saturday’s em>The Ultimate Fighter finale because they got free publicity out of it.
(Credit to f4wonline.com for some of the information used in this report)
Thanks to SEScoops reader Andrew for sending in the following live report of Hulk Hogan’s Monday appearance on Bubba the Love Sponge’s radio show:
– Interestingly, he made mention of Rob Van Dam and how over he was in WWE. He said “politics” was the reason RVD was never as successful as he should have been.
– When Bubba mentioned Jeff Hardy, Hulk said he would “love to have Jeff Hardy” in TNA.
– Hulk said he has not spoken to Randy Savage or Scott Hall.
– Hogan said he has not spoken to Vince Russo. He once again said that if Vince Russo is able to come up with a great idea he would listen.
– He once again squashed rumors that he was only coming to TNA as a talent. He said that he would be the booker in TNA.
– Hogan said the writers will be in a “secondary position” in TNA and that if the workers have to have the writers to get over then they can “head up north [to WWE] where everything is scripted.”
– Hulk put over Umaga and Mr. Kennedy [Hulk called him Mr. Kennedy, not Mr. Anderson] saying they “tore it down” in Australia.
– Hulk told a story about when he was wrestling in San Francisco and met a then 3-year-old Eddie “Umaga” Fatu.
-Hogan said that the night before Umaga died, he spoke with him and told Umaga he would love to involve him in his plans for TNA, and that was the last time he ever spoke to him.
– Bubba mentioned that today is Ravishing Rick Rude’s birthday. Hogan put Rick over and said that he was really good friends with him. They spoke about some other topics including Hogan’s divorce and the Tiger Woods situation but that was the extent of the TNA and wrestling related topics that were covered.
Thanks to SEScoops reader Andrew for sending in the following live report of Hulk Hogan’s Monday appearance on Bubba the Love Sponge’s radio show:
– Interestingly, he made mention of Rob Van Dam and how over he was in WWE. He said “politics” was the reason RVD was never as successful as he should have been.
– When Bubba mentioned Jeff Hardy, Hulk said he would “love to have Jeff Hardy” in TNA.
– Hulk said he has not spoken to Randy Savage or Scott Hall.
– Hogan said he has not spoken to Vince Russo. He once again said that if Vince Russo is able to come up with a great idea he would listen.
– He once again squashed rumors that he was only coming to TNA as a talent. He said that he would be the booker in TNA.
– Hogan said the writers will be in a “secondary position” in TNA and that if the workers have to have the writers to get over then they can “head up north [to WWE] where everything is scripted.”
– Hulk put over Umaga and Mr. Kennedy [Hulk called him Mr. Kennedy, not Mr. Anderson] saying they “tore it down” in Australia.
– Hulk told a story about when he was wrestling in San Francisco and met a then 3-year-old Eddie “Umaga” Fatu.
-Hogan said that the night before Umaga died, he spoke with him and told Umaga he would love to involve him in his plans for TNA, and that was the last time he ever spoke to him.
– Bubba mentioned that today is Ravishing Rick Rude’s birthday. Hogan put Rick over and said that he was really good friends with him. They spoke about some other topics including Hogan’s divorce and the Tiger Woods situation but that was the extent of the TNA and wrestling related topics that were covered.
Here are the tapings from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida for the Impact episode to air on Thursday, December 10, 2009. Thanks to reader JP Nichols for sending in the following:
The show starts off with Kevin Nash coming to the ring and he lets everyone know that he is in control of tonight’s show and he announces the following matches:
British Invasion versus Chris Sabin
Scott Steiner and a Mystery Partner versus Bobby Lashley and Kristal
Eric Young versus Hamada
Team 3D, Jesse Neal, and Rhino versus D’Angelo Dinero, Hernandez, Matt Morgan, and Suicide with the stipulation that the person who gets pinned starts the match at Final Resolution alone against their opponents for five minutes
Lacey Von Erich versus Velvet Sky in a mud wrestling match
– Chris Sabin defeated the British Invasion after pinning Big Rob Terry.
Awesome Kong is Scott Steiner’s mystery partner.
– Scott Steiner and Awesome Kong defeated Bobby and Kristal Lashley. Steiner pinned Kristal and then he did push ups over her after the match.
– Eric Young defeated Hamada. Hamada dominated the match but Young got the win after putting his feet on the ropes.
– ODB defeated Tara in a Drunken Street Fight. The women in the match had to drink a number of beers before the match. ODB pinned Tara after an X Factor onto the chair.
- Team 3D, Rhino, and Jesse Neal defeated Matt Morgan, Hernandez, Suicide, and D’Angelo Dinero. Dinero was attacked backstage by Jesse Neal and Neal comes to the ring wearing Dinero’s jacket. Neal pinned Hernandez after a gore. This means that Hernandez will have to face Team 3D, Rhino, and Jesse Neal alone for the first five minutes of the match at Final Resolution. After the match, Dinero comes out to make the save with his cane.
– A.J. Styles defeated Desmond Wolfe with a rollup. Daniels distracted Wolfe during the match which assisted Styles during the match.
– Velvet Sky defeated Lacey Von Erich in a mud wrestling match.
TNA Xplosion Taping:
– Amazing Red defeated Homicide with a standing shooting star press.
– Consequences Creed defeated Sheik Abdul Bashir with a double knee gutbuster.
Other notes:
– Team 3D and Homicide paid tribute to Umaga with messages on their wrist tape.
– Charlie Haas reportedly asked WWE for his release within the last few months. Apparently officials were going to grant him the release at first but changed their minds and gave him a raise instead. There was a rumor going around that Kurt Angle had a spot for Haas in TNA so WWE kept Haas around instead of having him jump to TNA.
– WWE has added Umaga to their Alumni roster.
– WWE will tape tonight’s ECW with this week’s Superstars and Friday Night SmackDown tonight in Houston, Texas. Announced for SmackDown this week is a street fight between Batista and Rey Mysterio. The Undertaker vs. CM Punk for the World Title is also being advertised. It will be interesting to see if WWE airs the Umaga video package that was being put together since it didn’t air on RAW.
— The latest “SmackDown After the Bell” video segment on WWE.com is teasing that Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero are romantically involved. Click here to see the video.
— Former WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia recently took part in a photo shoot for the NOH8 campaign petitioning against anti-gay marriage laws. In another Lilian note, the former WWE Diva sang the National Anthem before 76,000 fans prior to last week’s Jets game. She is auctioning off the #6 Mark Sanchez jersey she wore to the game at the following link.
— In today’s wrestling birthday, Tammy Sytch turns 37 years old. “Sunny” was born on December 7, 1972 in Matawan, New Jersey.
— The latest “SmackDown After the Bell” video segment on WWE.com is teasing that Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero are romantically involved. Click here to see the video.
— Former WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia recently took part in a photo shoot for the NOH8 campaign petitioning against anti-gay marriage laws. In another Lilian note, the former WWE Diva sang the National Anthem before 76,000 fans prior to last week’s Jets game. She is auctioning off the #6 Mark Sanchez jersey she wore to the game at the following link.
— In today’s wrestling birthday, Tammy Sytch turns 37 years old. “Sunny” was born on December 7, 1972 in Matawan, New Jersey.
In an interview with political website TheHill.com, former WWE CEO and United States Senate hopeful Linda McMahon spoke about a number of topics pertaining to pro wrestling. McMahon acknowledged that steroids were a “significant problem” in WWE back in 2006 before the company relaunched its drug testing program. She says WWE’s Wellness policy is “as good as it can be for today. But as technology advances and more is known and developed, we’ll continue to develop our policy, as we have done over the years.â€
“Unlike football or baseball or basketball, where steroids can actually enhance performance, they do nothing to enhance performance in WWE,†McMahon said. She added that its mostly about a wrestler’s “charisma, the ability to connect with the audience, and how successfully they can act and perform within the storyline.†No mention about the long standing culture of freakishly muscular wrestlers getting pushed or the increasing pressure for wrestlers to stay in shape and maintain an HDTV-friendly physiques.
WWE legends Superstar Billy Graham and Bruno Sammartino have been very outspoken towards Linda McMahon since she began her Senate campaign. Graham recently told the Hartford Courant, “She may look like a Sunday school teacher, [but her] hands are as bloody as her husband’s, because she is aware of every move in the ring.†Linda called Graham a “self-confessed liar†and dismissed Sammartino as someone who has “still got sour grapes because he didn’t make as much money as the guys today are making.” She said, “You’re going to always have the old-timers who are going to come out and say [things],†she said. “It’s just not like that.â€
FOR MARINE RECON SNIPER JOE LINWOOD… THE VACATION IS OVER….
LOS ANGELES, CA. — Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (TCFHE) and WWE Studios present *The Marine 2* — the second installment of “The Marine” movie franchise — debuting on Blu-ray Disc (BD) and DVD Dec. 29, 2009.
Inspired by a true story, *The Marine 2* was shot entirely on location in Phuket, Thailand and stars WWE Superstar Ted DiBiase as Marine recon sniper Joe Linwood. Reminiscent of the 2001 Dos Palmas incident, Linwood’s trip to paradise with his wife is suddenly shattered when guerillas take control of a secluded five-star resort asking for a substantial ransom. The guerilla leaders begin murdering hostages as the clock ticks away, forcing Joe to use his expert skills to save the hostages from certain death.
The BD will be available for a suggested retail price of $29.99 U.S. and the DVD for $22.99 U.S. Additionally, a DVD two-pack featuring both The Marine and *The Marine 2* will also be available for $34.98 U.S. Pre-book is December 2.
*The Marine 2* is the second direct-to-video premiere resulting from the first-look agreement between WWE Studios and Fox Filmed Entertainment (FFE)
*Blu-ray Disc and DVD Special Features:
– Behind-the-scenes footage of climactic fight scenes
-Making of terrorist siege sequence
-Profile of Ted DiBiase including interviews with Ted DiBiase Sr. and brother Brett
-Inside look at Thailand film shoot
-Deleted and extended scenes
— ECW wrestler Vladimir Kozlov was among those becoming United States citizens today in Tampa, Florida.
“Oh to be a U.S. citizen has been like a dream for long time, Kozlov said. “When I was raised and born in Russia, I had [a] dream to come to United States because U.S. [is a] land of big opportunity. If you work hard, you can reach whatever you want.”
The Fox news affiliated out of Tampa has a story and interview with Kozlov, which you can check out at the following link.
— WWE Studios has plans to release a film entitled Big Red. No word yet on who will be starring in the movie. The synopsis reads as follows: “In 1965, as the world changes all around him, 12-year-old Andy Nichol comes of age when he’s asked by his favorite teacher, Mr. Simon, to partner with school outcast Big Red for an English assignment.” (source: PWInsider.com)
— The WWE website has posted new photos of backstage announcer Savannah.
In anticipation of his debut tonight on ROH on HDNet (8pm), Jim Cornette has written a commentary, or contract, with all of the fans who “want their wrestling back.” Here is some of what he wrote:
“So I make this agreement, this contract, with all the wrestling fans who want an alternative, who “want their wrestling back.†I don’t care if you’re a young fan who has never seen serious pro wrestling, or an older fan who has gone away because you gave up hope, ROH is new style with old school philosophy. I am committing myself to ROH, putting my reputation and credibility where my mouth is. I am not a “big name†taking a payoff to endorse something I don’t believe in. I will not forsake ROH if or when a better offer comes along to reenter the “sports entertainment†cesspool. I truly believe Ring of Honor IS “the wrestling of the future†– and the future is NOW!
“I make this pledge as my end of the contract – in return, I ask all the fans who want an alternative, who want their wrestling back, to support ROH as well. Watch the TV on HDNet – attend live events in your area – check out the DVD’s, go to their website, ROHWrestling.com – and most importantly, spread the word to your fellow fans, current AND disenfranchised. Just as ROH is bigger and better than it was three years ago, it’s not nearly what it will be in 6 months, or a year, or two years, and you can keep track of, even be responsible for, its progress.
“ROH is a company that will listen to, not scoff at, its fans’ requests. But it needs your support, because NO promotion can thrive without the fans. Want your wrestling back? We want to give it to you! That’s why I make this contract with you. I will not forsake you again. Don’t forsake Ring of Honor. If you will us your support, your attention, your dedication, I pledge to you that we will not let you down.”
You can read his commentary in its entirety at the following link.
Also, here are two videos for tonight’s ROH On HDNet show:
— Philstar.com reports that SmackDown superstar Batista was in the Phillipines this weekend to help endorse the launch of a new energy drink called Xplode.
– Tonight’s edition of WWE RAW takes place from the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas. Businessman Mark Cuban will be the special guest host. The main event for tonight will be DX vs. Chris Jericho in a Handicap match.
— ESPN.com features an article hyping NBA Dallas Maverick’s owner Mark Cuban’s hosting gig tonight, looking at what could be a physical showdown between Cuban and Legacy’s Cody Rhodes. Cuban began hyping his appearance last week in the local Dallas media, saying he was looking for retribution against Randy Orton after getting RKO’s back at Survivor Series 2003. Orton protege Cody Rhodes spoke to the Dallas Morning News and issued a challenge against Cuban. ESPN teases a match between the two and includes several potential nicknames for Cuban should he wrestle.
