Fit Finlay on Nancy Grace

WWE is sending SmackDown star Fit Finlay to debate Marc Mero on the WWE/Benoit/steroids story on Nancy Grace on Friday night at 8:00 p.m. on CNN Headline News. Finlay is the first wrestler WWE has allowed to appear on a cable talk show that wasn't Larry King's. TV producers have made several requests to WWE asking for someone to represent the company in the debates, but WWE officials have repeatedly turned down the requests. Furthermore, WWE put talent on a three-week media ban.

source: wrestling observer

Benoit News: Big Argument Before Killings?

The Police Department believes (but are not absolutely certain) that the argument between Nancy and Chris Benoit that resulted in Nancy Benoit's murder was the result of Nancy telling Chris she was leaving him.

Apparently Benoit actually spoke to next door neighbor Holly McFague sometime on Saturday, after the killing of Nancy Benoit, but before the killing of Daniel Benoit.

Benoit gave neighbor McFague a cover story of how sick Nancy and Daniel Benoit were (the same story that was reported in the phone calls to WWE workers). This was again after the killing of Nancy Benoit, but before the killing of Daniel Benoit. McFague has previously been reported by many sources as the person who actually led police into the Benoit property and first discovered the bodies of all three Benoit's. She came out of the house screaming.

source: Wrestler Observer

Triple H Return Update

It is rumored that Triple H will make his return at the August 13th Raw at Madison Square Garden.

Statement from WWE Regarding Drug Abuse

In an exclusive statement to TMZ, the WWE vigorously defended their drug testing policies, claiming the organization does everything in its power to ensure that their wrestlers are clean:

WWE finds the abuse of drugs and steroids to be unacceptable, and such behavior is actively discouraged. For 20 years the WWE has been doing something to address the issue of steroid and drug use. We instituted our first drug testing program in 1987. In February 2006, we instituted our latest and most comprehensive drug testing program ever as part of our new Talent Wellness Program as a deterrent to steroid and drug abuse . We cannot account for the poor personal decisions a small minority may make outside the workplace to undermine these efforts.

source: tmz.com

Ken Kennedy and Eric Bischoff Cut Loose on the Media and Has-Beens

From Ken Kennedy:

Please GOD, I'm just BEGGING for someone who has actually wrestled in a WWE ring in the past decade besides Jericho, Bret Hart, John Cena, and Ted Dibiase to come forward on one of these shows and tell the world what's really going on. For these goofs, like Lanny Poffo? Ultimate Warrior? and Marc Mero???!! to repeatedly act as "experts" and "wrestler advocates" on the current situation is like having a frustrated ex-jock who rode the pine bench throughout his high school sports career give advice to Brett Favre on how to improve his game! It's ridiculous, insane, and it really makes me sick that these so called reporters like Bill O'Reilly, Nancy Grace, and Geraldo Rivera, call upon these silly bastards who are bitter and frustrated that their careers have ended to represent the WWE which of course makes all of us look like a bunch of babbling idiots who are all addicted to steroids, drugs, alcohol, etc...More?

and this from Eric Bischoff:

...one need only look back at the list of idiots that have covered this story. Nancy Grace…give me a break. Or how about Bill O’ Reilly? “Hard Hitting Interview”? Since when is a half decade old out of context interview newsworthy? Can anyone seriously argue that news networks are not exploiting and spinning the sad death of a wife, son, and father for one reason and one reason only?...The most embarrassing thing for me over the past ten days has been watching the likes of Debra Marshall-Williams-McMicheals-Whoeversheisgoingtotaketothecleanersnext, Marc Mero, Lanny Poffo, et all fighting like a bunch of addicts at a crack festival, trying to become the spokesperson for an industry in which they have been irrelevant for years. If it were not for the painful circumstances surrounding this issue, these three would have a regular gig on Saturday Night Live...More?

Hunter Mentioned in Linda McMahon's Official Corporate Bio

...The McMahons reside in Greenwich, Connecticut. They have two adult children who make up the fourth generation of McMahons involved in the business – Shane, Executive Vice President, Global Media, and Stephanie, Executive Vice President, Talent and Creative Writing. Also involved in the business is Stephanie’s husband, Paul Levesque, who portrays the WWE’s charismatic Triple H.

Hot4Hill

Not as good as the "Obama Girl" video, but worth a look.

Former Wrestler Doesn't Blame the WWE

Former WWE wrestler Shawn Stipich (better known to wrestling fans as Shawn Stasiak), who is now a doctor and is working as a chiropractor a former WWE wrestler, was a guest on FOX News’ Hannity & Colmes last night to discuss the Chris Benoit tragedy and the use of steroids in professional wrestling. A quick recap of what he had to say, as follows:

- Stasiak said that WWE aren’t to blame for the Benoit tragedy, or the use of steroids in wrestling. He said it’s obvious that there is a problem in pro wrestling right now, but while a lot of people have abused steroids for a long time, they didn’t kill their families. He came across as defending WWE in order to not “rock the boat” with his first comments, but as he settled into the interview, his comments later came across real well.

- He said there are only so many positions in the industry and that wrestlers are wanting to build their careers. He said that steroid abuse isn’t anybody’s fault and that Vince McMahon and WWE are “not a babysitter"...More?

Rey & Jindrak on Steroids?

WAGA-TV in Atlanta has just reported that federal investigators have seized all medical records of Dr. Phil Astin and patients Larry Pfolhl (Lex Luger), Marcus Bagwell, Mark Jindrak, Bob Howard (Bob Holly), Chris Benoit, Nancy Benoit, Mike Durham (Johnny Grunge) and Oscar Gutierrez (Rey Mysterio).

The station also reported that M.J. and O.G., the two wrestlers involved in the indictment of overprescribing pain killers were, as speculated, Mark Jindrak and Gutierrez.

Chris Benoit Murder Suicide: Quit Blaming Vince McMahon, WWE

...Quit blaming the WWE. Quit blaming Vince McMahon for these people's problem or the business in general. Everyone has a choice, to take drugs or not, work the heavy schedule or not, and to work in a job with no benefits or not. People need to quit pointing fingers and expecting someone else to fix their problems.More?

Congressman urges hearing on steroids

Congress, which has examined steroid policies in baseball, football and basketball in the past few years, must now address allegations of "rampant" steroid use in professional wrestling, says a Florida lawmaker.

"Between 1985 and 2006, 89 wrestlers have died before the age of 50," Republican Rep. Cliff Stearns said yesterday. "Of course, not all of these deaths can be attributed to steroid use. However, this abnormally high number of deaths of young, fit athletes should raise congressional alarms."

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Stearns' call follows the death last month of pro wrestler Chris Benoit, who strangled his wife and 7-year-old son before hanging himself. Steroids were found in Benoit's home, although it's unclear whether they played a role in the slayings...More?

Did Senator Vitter Get Hustled?

When Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana confessed to "a very serious sin" on Monday night, Debra Jean Palfrey was not about to forgive him. Sin is one thing; but Palfrey believes Vitter — a proponent of the "sanctity of marriage" — should fess up if that sin was a crime as well. After all, she notes, prostitution is a legal offense for both purveyor and consumer. And as the so-called "D.C. Madam" whose escort service Vitter says he used, Palfrey says the agency she ran was merely one-half of the alleged equation. "Why am I the only person being prosecuted?"...More?