Kids on steroids willing to risk it all for success

In a nation where the Super Bowl is the most-watched night on television and professional athletes in a range of sports rake in millions of dollars in salaries and endorsements, it's not hard to see why many kids grow up idolizing athletes. Some sports stars may deny they are role models for a younger generation, but a new study suggests quite the contrary.

Among students in grades 8 through 12 who admitted to using anabolic steroids in a confidential survey, 57 percent said professional athletes influenced their decision to use the drugs and 63 percent said pro athletes influenced their friends' decision to use them. Eighty percent of users — and 35 percent of non-users — said they believed steroids could help them achieve their athletic dreams...More?

source: msnbc.msn.com

WWE® To Cease Affiliation With Ohio Valley Wrestling

World Wrestling Entertainment® announced today that Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) will no longer be affiliated with World Wrestling Entertainment as an official developmental territory, making Florida Championship Wrestling™ (FCW™) WWE’s official development training facility for talent around the globe...More?

source: corporate.wwe.com

On the heels of WWE ending their affiliation with Ohio Valley Wrestling, they have released Al Snow, who was on a wrestling trainer's contract.

Kurt Angle/Criss Angel Connection

TNA’s Mobile Alert system sent out an update yesterday reporting that TNA Champion Kurt Angle taped a recent episode of “Mindfreak” with Criss Angel when he was in Las Vegas for Brock Lesnar’s UFC debut fight last weekend. Angel is expected to appear on an upcoming edition of iMPACT.

Liddell eyes main UFC event in London this June

Chuck Liddell has Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in his crosshairs.

Liddell, who is still the UFC's biggest draw, will collide with the former PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix winner in the main event at UFC 85, tentatively scheduled for June 14 at the O2 Arena in London.

"I think it's going to be a great fight," said Liddell, who recently made a guest appearance at the headquarters for Throwdown Industries. "I think he's going to strike, he's going to wrestle a little bit and he's going to mix it up. It should be fun, and it should make for an interesting fight."...More?

source: msn.foxsports.com

Project Runway: Wrestling with Fashion

This week's Project Runway made us think one thing and one thing only: Britney Spears totally has a career in professional wrestling if she makes it out of the hospital (which, apparently, she just did). The runway challenge this week was to design an outfit for a female professional wrestler in the WWE. Some designers took the challenge to heart and ran with the campy sexuality of it all, while others were blinded by the sequins and rhinestones and came up with poor imitations of real wrestling outfits...More?

source: bostonist.com

The story from wwe.com.

Maryland moves one step closer to sanctioning MMA

According to the AP, Maryland House Delegate Kirill Reznik (D-Montgomery) introduced a bill today to sanction MMA in the state. House Bill 795 now joins Senate Bill 649 as measures that will hopefully soon pave the way for legal MMA contests in this state.

With the success the sport has enjoyed the last couple of years (read dollar signs), it was inevitable that the Old Line State would eventually get in line with its neighbors Washington, D.C., and Virginia, which have already sanctioned the sport...More?

source: baltimoresun.com

'WWE Smackdown' online contest launched

Gaming publisher THQ has announced the launch of an international tournament to find the best player of its WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2008 wrestling title.

Online gamers have until February 8 to register at gamebattles.com/svr to take part in the contest, with the best 32 teams from each region going through to battle in a virtual ring starting on February 9.

A finalist from the United Kingdom and Europe and two finalists from North America will go on to compete in a head-to-head grand finale, with appearances from real WWE superstars, which will take place on March 27 in Orlando.

The overall winner of the tournament will receive two floor tickets to WrestleMania24, while other finalists will receive two stadium tickets to the event...More?

source: digitalspy.co.uk

WWE Star Grateful For His Success

The first argument made by those who don't like pro wrestling is usually, "Because it's fake." While it is scripted, there are some very real lives behind the characters in the ring. One of those was on display at the American Bank Center Tuesday night. MVP has lived between the ropes and behind bars...More?

source: kristv.com

The Reason Hunter was not on Raw

Triple H wasn't on Raw this pass Monday due to a family emergency. The emergency was that his brother-in-law died unexpectedly on Monday:

Gordon B. Ouellette, 41, of Monica Dr., Nashua passed away unexpectedly Monday February 4, 2008 at Southern NH Medical Center. Mr. Ouellette was born in Tewksbury, MA on April 17, 1965 a son of Ralph Ouellette of Gilford and Mary (Meisner) Ouellette of Nashua. He was the husband of Lynn (Levesque) Ouellette of Nashua...More?

My condolences to the Ouellettes and the Levesques.

Ontario commissioner says mixed martial arts is illegal under Criminal Code

While the UFC trumpets its first show in Canada, predicting a sellout at Montreal's Bell Centre for its April 19 card, the door to mixed martial arts in Ontario remains closed.

"It (staging a mixed martial arts show) is a Criminal Code offence," Ken Hayashi, chairman of the Ontario Athletic Commission, said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press.

Hayashi refers to Section 83.1 of the Criminal Code which says anyone who "engages as a principal in a prize fight," encourages, promotes or is present at a prize fight as an aid, second, surgeon, umpire, backer or reporter is guilty of an offence - unless the "boxing contest" is "held with the permission or under the authority of an athletic board or commission or similar body established by or under the authority of the legislature of a province for the control of sport within the province."...More?

source: canadianpress.google.com

Cauliflower Ear - A Badge Of Honor Or Unsightly?

Before Ultimate Fighting Championship legend Randy Couture entered the octagon to do battle in the world of MMA, his passion was wrestling.

He wrestled in high school in Washington, earning a state title as a senior. He wrestled in the Army and went on to become a three-time All-American at Oklahoma State. Add in a senior and two national Greco-Roman titles.

Couture doesn't have to pour out a single, eloquent narrative of his past endeavors, it's obvious. Take a peek at his ears. They're his wrestling calling card.

Each appendage is bloated with cauliflower ear, a condition that forms when the ears are repeatedly struck or if the skin is detached from the cartilage. Both conditions cause swelling. Blood pools - as a bruise would - and due to the poor circulation in the ears, the blood remains. If not drained while liquefied or removed when coagulated, the remnants harden to form cauliflower ear...More?

source: The Tampa Tribune

Amendments to WWE Talent Wellness Program

The WWE has posted the amendments to their Wellness Policy on their corporate website.