The November 2009 issue of Men’s Fitness magazine has exclusive excerpts from former WWE and WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan’s new book, My Life Outside the Ring. Here are a few highlights:

Filming Rocky III with Sylvester Stallone: “So Stallone starts doing his Rocky thing and starts reaching out to try to punch me… I laughed out loud. He was maybe 170 pounds and I was pushing 320 at that point.”

Contemplating suicide: “Just three pounds of pressure is all it would take – nothing for these big hands – and if I moved that finger an inch in the right direction, like flicking a a switch, I could have blown my brains out.”

Being injured by The Undertaker: “Heck, the tips of my fingers are still numb from that Tombstone incident (an ill-executed move with the Undertaker, which caused Hogan to temporarily lose feeling in numerous body parts) way back in the 90s.”

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has posted an update regarding his health and future plans after suffering a 3rd attack of Bells Palsy earlier this week. Ross says he will not be at the Bragging Rights PPV on Sunday and his future as an announcer is currently in question.

“I saw my neurologist today in Norman and had a long consultation and some testing,” Ross wrote. “He diagnosed me, as expected with full blown Bells palsy. It is on the right side of my face and has adversely affected my vision in my right eye more than previous bouts. We are concerned about the cornea in my right eye being damaged which is why I am using a ton of artificial tears and having to tape my eye shut at night to sleep along with using a gel in my eye under the eye patch…

“My time line on returning to work is unknown as I write this. I wish it was going to be this Sunday in Pittsburgh as I wanted to be a part of Bragging Rights on PPV. I think it will be a fun and a unique show that will be showcasing some new talents in key bouts…

“So, Sunday night I will be at home in Norman watching Bragging Rights on PPV. I don’t know the announcer lineup but it ‘might’ be a three man team of (Michael) Cole, King (Jerry Lawler), and Todd Grisham but that’s only an educated guess. It could be something else altogether but obviously Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler will be figured in the mix prominently.

“For those fans that think that this is the end for me or the end is near I suggest you rethink your position. I won’t allow your views to adversely affect me because I still love to play the game. I am an old school guy who still loves calling wrestling matches and sitting at ringside soaking up the adrenaline from the fans.”

— In response to Tyler Reks’ tweet announcing he was getting his own show on WWE Mobile, a wrestling fan wrote the following note to the ECW star: “It will still be boring as sin, just like you.”

Reks was quite rattled over his remark, as he responded with the following: “aaaaaand if I’m so boring, then why are u following me? Oh wait, you’re not – cause I just blocked your sorry ass.”

— Beginning at 12:30 p.m., Edge and the Bella Twins will be taking part in an autograph session tomorrow afternoon at the NACS Tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nevada.

— TheBoomBox.com has coverage of Snoop Dogg’s big night as Raw guest host this past Monday. (Article link)

source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

— During an interview with the major Mexican newspaper El Universal previewing this past weekend’s tour of the country, Batista said WWE has been wasting the talents of one Rey Mysterio. He feels Mysterio should be at the level of the biggest stars of the company.

— John Cena will be off house shows during the month of December in order to film his next movie, Oxley’s Road. This straight-to-DVD project has Cena playing the role of a pro wrestler whose younger brother is trying to make it as a high school wrestler.

— The reason Kyle Busch and Joey Logano, NASCAR drivers, are hosting next week’s episode of Monday Night Raw in Buffalo is because World Wrestling Entertainment is sponsoring their respective race cars. More specifically, they are being sponsored by the SmackDown vs Raw 2010 video game.

WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan says he had his finger on the trigger of a gun and was about to kill himself when he received a phone call from a concerned celebrity friend.

The New York Daily News has published quotes from Hulk’s new book “My Life Outside the Ring,” where he describes hit rock bottom after the nasty breakup with his wife of 23 years and coping with Nick’s car accident that put Nick in jail and left family friend John Graziano brain-damaged.

Hulk says he did everything he could to keep his family together. “I practically begged her, ‘Please, don’t file. Our son’s just had this accident — if we do this now, it’ll make us look like the Britney Spears family. Please, don’t file for divorce.'” Hogan calls Linda an abusive alcoholic who once threatened to beat Nick with a wine bottle. Hulk says the extend of Linda’s crazy side was never really seen on their “Hogan Knows Best” VH1 reality show because “There were plenty of times when Linda would lose it, but no one wanted to see that kind of ugliness on TV.”

Hogan then describes a darker chapter in his life, where he almost committed suicide. Hulk said one day while filming NBC’s “American Gladiators,” he downed a heavy cocktail of rum and the anti-anxiety medication Xanax. Later in the day, he received a phone call from co-host Laila Ali, daughter of boxing great Muhammad Ali, who was concerned for him after noticing he seemed distracted at work. Hogan said in the book that he had reached for a gun and put his finger on the trigger when Ali called.

• Buy Hulk Hogan’s “My Life Outside The Ring” Now at Amazon.com

WWE World Heavyweight champion The Undertaker is not expected to retire at WrestleMania 26, despite speculation to the contrary. His surgically repaired hip is still causing him a great deal of discomfort during and after his matches, but he’s working through it and receiving regular physical therapy to manage the pain.

There has been speculation that he had hip replacement surgery after WrestleMania, but a well-placed source disputes that rumor. “That’s physically impossible to come back that soon” (from hip replacement surgery), the source said.

The feeling is that barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Dead Man is hoping to work his current [reduced] schedule for another two to three years.  Even then, after he’s had enough of being a full time member of the roster, the belief is that he’ll still make himself available for special appearances and the occasional special attraction match.

(Credit to prowrestling.net for some of the information used in this report)

Former WWE & ECW champion Rob Van Dam appeared on the Between The Ropes radio show with Brian Fritz on Tuesday night and talked about his experience at Sunday’s TNA Bound For Glory event. Van Dam met Vince Russo and Dixie Carter for the first time at the show.

Regarding his meeting with Vince Russo, he said, “I think that was the first I’ve met him,” Van Dam said. “I’ve talked to him on the phone a few times. I stood there and talked with him for a few minutes the other day. I’ve only known him by reputation before, which was a little choppy.” Van Dam sounded a bit skeptical of Russo, but acknowledged that most of what he’s heard has been second and third hand information.

Van Dam also described his brief encounter with TNA president Dixie Carter. “It was real short,” Van Dam said. I introduced myself to her. She said, ‘Yeah, we’ve talked on the phone.’ And then it was it was real awkward like she wanted to talk, but there wasn’t anything to say.”

To listen to the full interview, visit BetweenTheRopes.com.

source: www.f4wonline.com

— The wrestler Marty Jannetty replaced on last night’s episode of Raw was local wrestler TJ Perkins (a.k.a. Puma). He has been working out at WWE’s developmental facility in Tampa in recent weeks, but has yet to obtain a deal.

— As reported a few weeks ago, former WWE performer Marty Wright (a.k.a. The Boogeyman) was believed to be missing considering his closest friends were unable to get reach him. In an update on the situation, he has since been found as he is telling friends he was in Argentina “trying to find the Appalachian Plain.”

— In today’s wrestling birthdays, Chavo Guerrero turns 39 whereas Scott Hall turns 51. Today is also Snoop Dogg’s birthday, who turns 38.

While on a Monday night flight from Oklahoma to Columbia, South Carolina for tonight’s SmackDown tapings, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Rosss suffered his 3rd Bells palsy attack. He was able to reach WWE doctors and they called in the medicines he needed to get started on to slow down the paralysis. He wrote on JRsBarBQ.com this afternoon:

“This isn’t my first challenge I’ve had to deal with and there are lots of folks that have much worse issues than do I that they contend with on a daily basis. My intention is to fight thru this and continue doing what I love.”

“The wrestling business and those that work in it have become such a huge part of my life and the way I see it this is just another bump in the road as I am far from “tapping out. With all the fans that have always supported me thru 35 years, I know I won’t be going thru this alone.”

Ross had planned to work tonight’s WWE SmackDown tapings alongside Jerry “Lawler,”  filling in for the recently married Tod Grisham. Those plans have now changed.

“It has been decided that I should not risk further issues by working tonight and I am in the process of arranging a flight back to OKC so I can see a neurologist on Wednesday.”

“I want to be a part of Bragging Rights but only time will tell if that will be physically possible. My passion and love for the game is in tact but I have to do what’s best for my long term health”

“Life is about facing the challenges we encounter so I am going to do all I can to get better and back at the announce desk asap. I wish I had more answers but I simply don’t at this time … Never count me out of the game as this isn’t the first mountain that I have had to climb. Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole will handle SD from Columbia. My thanks to every one for understanding this matter. Better days are on the horizon.

Ross said he’s grateful that WWE has been “tremendously supportive” of his situatiion.

We wish JR a full and speedy recovery.

CM Punk was part of a brief chat at TheState.com today to promote tonight’s Smackdown taping in Columbia, South Carolina.  Punk was his humorous self, delivering mostly sarcastic answers during chat. You can read a full transcript here. Some highlights:

His dream Wrestlemania opponent:

“Last year, before I was in the MITB match, it was Rey.   This year, it’s still Rey.   Mania is a long ways aways right now, so it’s hard to say where i’ll end up….but I do need a haircut….”

Who he wants to wrestle in WWE:

“If you think about it, you haven’t really even seen me warm up….Cena, hbk, hhh….”

How long he plans to wrestle:

“I’ve been wrestling 12 years now non stop with a little pit stop for a fractured skull.   It’s hard to say when i’ll stop, but I don’t want to wear out my welcome OR do this forever.   There is life after wrestling.”

If he could wrestle anyone from the past, who would it be:

“Harley Race.   And he would kill me.   But I would come back from the dead.”