Local pro wrestler's toughest foe may be fellow Tar Heel Vince McMahon

On the rainy Sunday evening before New Year's Eve, tucked away in Raleigh's RBC Center arena, an estimated 5,000 rollicking, patriotic, oft-conservative lovers of professional wrestling sit with their cameras accessible and overpriced beer cups steady. Holding signs that read "FU," "You Suck," "Woooooo" and "Hooooooo," the fans quiet as the lights dim, eager to see which WWE "Raw Live" Superstar will appear first.

World Wrestling Entertainment is the leading purveyor of the strange combination of buffoonery, kitsch and muscle-bound athleticism known as professional wrestling. Billionaire chairman and N.C. native Vince McMahon—240 pounds of muscle, wrestling experience and business savvy—commands it with an iron fist. Poised to decipher sports entertainment for me is wrestling expert and Chapel Hill resident Ted Hobgood, a friend and former co-conspirator of tonight's World Championship challenger, WWE superstar Jeff Hardy...More?

source: indyweek.com

"The Bussey Bunch" Cancelled

After one week, TLC has cancelled "The Bussey Bunch," a reality show on a family running the PCW Wrestling independent promotion out of Arlington, Texas. Last night's originally scheduled episode(s) didn't air last night because TLC had already cancelled the program. The debut episodes of "The Bussey Bunch" on TLC scored ratings of 0.25 and a 0.26 for the 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. showings.

Chris Harris to WWE

Former TNA wrestler Chris Harris confirmed on his official website, www.WildcatChrisHarris.com, that he has signed a deal with World Wrestling Entertainment. Here is the message from his website:

"Wildcat Chris Harris is officially announcing that he has signed with the WWE on January 29th."

Sanctioning by state won't be quick

John Rallo and the lawyers he works with are optimistic that mixed martial arts will be sanctioned in Maryland.

They're just not sure the process will go as quickly as hoped.

Many state athletic commissions have the power to allow the sport without legislative action. But that's not the case in Maryland...More?

source: baltimoresun.com

WWE Making An Impact Outside of the Ring

WWE Superstars are known for their action in the ring. But their charitable actions outside of the ring have a huge impact on the communities in which they live and perform. WWE has created a video highlighting the support WWE and its Superstars provide for the troops, literacy, children with life threatening illnesses and voter registration. Click here to view the video.

source: corporate.wwe.com

Raw Results - Chamber Made

Triple H is no fan of losing. So, when The Game got to choose his partner Monday night in a tag team match against Umaga & Snitsky, he went with the sure bet, reuniting with his DX compadre Shawn Michaels. But reunions can sometimes be bittersweet.

Even as the longtime friends showed solidarity and vanquished their foes, the pair knew all too well that in three weeks they will be trying to destroy each other at No Way Out....More?

Kudos for a well-kept secret

He was supposed to be injured and out of action for as long as a year, but WWE® Superstar John Cena shocked the wrestling world Sunday night by entering the Royal Rumble Match at No. 30 in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 20,000 fans at Madison Square Garden. Cena won the 2008 Royal Rumble Match by tossing Triple H® over the top rope.

With the victory in the 2008 Royal Rumble Match, Cena earns a World Championship opportunity against the title holder of his choice at WrestleMania XXIV on Sunday, March 30, in Orlando, FL...More?

source: businesswire.com

"Rehabbed" Chyna

TMZ.com reports on Chyna's "sober" status:

Looks like Chyna didn't need rehab -- just a new bartender! We caught the "Celeb Rehab" reality trainwreck at a swag suite over the weekend, and while most stars were selecting jewelry and clothing -- Chyna went straight to the booze.

They have a video on their site that is worth checking out.

Royal Rumble Results

Hornswoggle is hiding under the ring. Undertaker leg dropped Snitsky on the announce table after being eliminated. Hornswoggle comes out from under the ring and pulls out The Miz. Big Daddy V pulls Hornswoggle into the ring. Finlay runs out and saves him. Finlay and Hornswoggle went to the back but were never eliminated.

Order of entry: (1) Undertaker, (2) HBK, (3) Santino Marella, (4) Great Khali, (5) Hardcore Holly, (6) John Morrison, (7) Tommy Dreamer, (8) Batista, (9) Hornswoggle, (10) Chuck Palumbo, (11) Jamie Noble, (12) CM Punk, (13) Cody Rhodes, (14) Umaga, (15) Snitsky, (16) The Miz, (17) Shelton Benjamin, (18) Jimmy Snuka, (19) Roddy Piper, (20) Kane, (21) Carlito, (22) Mick Foley, (23) Mr. Kennedy, (24) Big Daddy V, (25) Mark Henry, (26) Chavo Guerrero, (27) Finlay, (28) Elijah Burke, (29) Triple H, and (30) John Cena.

Order of elimination: (1) Santino Marella, (2) Great Khali, (3) Tommy Dreamer, (4) Jamie Noble, (5) Chuck Palumbo, (6) Hardcore Holly, (7) Shelton Benjamin, (8) Roddy Piper, (9) Jimmy Snuka, (10) Snitsky, (11) Undertaker, (12) HBK, (13) The Miz, (14) John Morrison, (15) CM Punk, (16) Cody Rhodes, (17) Big Daddy V, (18) Mick Foley, (19) Elijah Burke, (20) Carlito, (21) Chavo Guerrero (22) Mark Henry, (23) Mr. Kennedy, (24) Umaga, (25) Kane, (26) Batista, (27) Triple H.

Winner: John Cena

Stallone, HGH, & the UFC

From Zach Arnold of FightOpinion.com

On Wednesday’s Spike TV telecast of an Ultimate Fight Night live event from The Palms in Las Vegas, NV, Joe Rogan did a promo spot with Sylvester Stallone to promote the latest Rambo movie release. It was quite the interview.

Stallone was busted in Australia for bringing vials of growth hormone in 2007. Today, Stallone was quick to defend his use of growth hormone. Also, Stallone told the press that he uses prescription testosterone, but doesn’t take steroids.

Testosterone is the base chemical for anabolic steroids.

The last 12 months for UFC has been quite an adventure in terms of fighters failing steroid tests. Dana White’s aggressive support for Sean Sherk in the media, combined with media spots (such as this advertising spot on the UFC web page) with a testosterone & GH user like Sylvester Stallone, have created an interesting PR situation for the company.

TNA Impact Review By: Chris "The Authority" Schultz

Every week I usually put together a review of TNA Impact which airs on Spike TV every Thursday night for 2 hours. When I first started doing these reviews, I considered it a privilege to be able to cover an organization that I have grown quite fond of over the past several years. Heck, I used to be a part of TNA for two and a half years myself. I truly believed that the WWE couldn't help but take notice of this up and coming promotion and that it would only be matter of time before each company was fighting each other for the best ratings on television.

Lately, I have been disgusted with what TNA calls a wrestling show. Over the past several weeks, it seems like their main focus was to get people to laugh. They made and absolute joke of the professional wrestling business. I was critical, but I thought they would come around and realize what brought them to the dance. Looks like I was wrong though. TNA continues to waste my time with stupid antics and a horrible show that has me wishing I had those 2 hours back that I wasted watching Impact...More?

source: wrestlezone.com

Tito Ortiz' PunishmentAthletics.com Gets A New Look

PunishmentAthletics.com, the website featuring sportswear clothing offered by mixed martial arts fighter Tito Ortiz, has a new look and feel as well as a new picture gallery of the famous athlete and his pals...More?

source: mmanews.com