At Tuesday night’s SmackDown tapings, Cryme Tyme member Shad Gaspard told WWE management that he was unable to participate on the show as scheduled because he was feeling very sick.

Gaspard’s partner, JTG took his spot at the last minute and you can read what went down here:

• *SPOILERS* SmackDown Tapings Results for Friday 10/23

After some online reports that some people backstage were questioning the legitimacy of Gaspard’s illness, he posted the following message on his MySpace page earlier today:

“Ok before this thing gets out of hands let me set the record straight. This past Monday I got sick while traveling from Mexico to the US. On Tuesday my symptoms increased drastically to body pains, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea. I tried several over the counter medicines that temporarily worked, but didn’t help in the long run.

Finally I went to or WWE doctor who prescribed to give me a shot of Phenergan, which should have worked. Unforchantly it made me drowsy and brought on cold chills. The office thought it best I leave than try to perform. I spent Tuesday night in my hotel room vomiting and dealing with bad diarrheaa all night (Trust me no one ells was near or around me). When I got back home I dealt with the same symptom all day as my girl helped me get better bye taking what our family physician prescribed, and getting rest…..

I’ve never let being sick ever keep me from performing, I’ve worked sick, hurt, and injured before on live events, TV tapings, and Pay Per Views, I just never let no one excluding my partner know how I felt or what I was going through. I apologies to my tag team partner, the participants in my match and the WWE universe, I should have found out all the information about what was given to me before I took it, and prevented my self from getting sick in the first place.

I take full responsibility for what happened and I’m sorry. In our industry there is a tradition that the show must go on no mater what, and I feel I have betrayed that tradition bye not performing last Tuesday. The greatest joy in my life is performing in the WWE (Win, Lose or Draw), I love what I do, and I will never let something like this happen agene.

Sincerely
Shad Gaspard

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.