This Day in Wrestling History

Controversial announcer Mark Madden was fired by WCW
December 24, 2000

TNA iMPACT! Recap 12/23/10

WWE Superstars Results: Season's Beatings

It’s been a bad week to be Lay-Cool. After being smashed through a table by Natalya at WWE TLC, the egocentric Divas were still picking the splinters out of each others backsides when they had to step in the ring to take on Beth Phoenix & Kelly Kelly tonight. But despite feeling the effects of Sunday’s beating, Michelle McCool & Layla still brought the fight to their opponents, targeting Kelly with every vicious maneuver in their diamond-studded playbook. The flawless friends’ dominance came to an end, however, once The Glamazon was tagged in. Knocking Michelle to the outside, Beth nailed Layla with a thundering Glam Slam to pick up her second win over Lay-Cool this week. Full results.

source: wwe.com

Kaval Released

Standard line from wwe.com:

World Wrestling Entertainment has come to terms on the release of WWE SmackDown Superstar Kaval (Brandon Silvestry) as of today, December 23, 2010. We wish Kaval the best in all future endeavors.

TNA Considering Filming iMPACT! Outside of Orlando, FL

FW4Online.com reports TNA Wrestling are considering taping iMPACT! outside of Orlando in order to build new fan bases in different markets. The TNA crowd is Orlando is said to be getting burned out however there is concern that taping iMPACT! outside of Orlando will attract a smaller audience that is not in tune with the current product like those in the iMPACT! Zone.

Sean "X-Pac" Waltman To Host New Online Show

The following are some messages compiled from the official Twitter page of former WWE, WCW and TNA star Sean "X-Pac" Waltman:

It will be a call-in show with Skype capability, interviews with the biggest names in wrestling and other celebs. It's not a radio [show], it's a TV webcast. I will be covering everything about wrestling, as well as pop culture and current events. There will be clips with some Tosh.0 style shit. This isn't a video podcast. This will be live in a multi-million dollar studio. Very much like [Howard] Stern's show on E Entertainment Television."

Jerry Lawler Makes Prestigious Television History List

The infamous David Letterman segment that saw WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler slap the late Andy Kaufman during their feud was named the 30th Greatest Moment in Television history in the new issue of The Hollywood Reporter.
The list of the 80 Greatest Moments was compiled as part of the publication's 80th Anniversary.

The segment is described as "Performance art at its finest."

The Lawler vs. Kaufman incident actually placed higher than Elvis Presley's debut on the Ed Sullivan Show, the debut of the first music video, The OJ Simpson chase and the Fall of the Berlin Wall, among other moments in televised history.

source: pwinsider.com

This Day in Wrestling History

Wladek Zbyszko defeats Ed "Strangler" Lewis in a tournament final to stake his unrightful claim as the World Heavyweight Champion in New York City, New York. He would lose to the rightful champion, Earl Caddock on February 8, 1918 in Des Moines, Iowa.
December 22, 1917

Rikidozan becomes the first and only Japanese Heavyweight Champion in Tokyo, Japan, defeating Masahiko Kimura. The title would be abandoned on August 27, 1958 when Rikidozan defeats Lou Thesz for the NWA International Heavyweight Title in Los Angeles, California.
December 22, 1954

Long before Kevin Nash let Hulk Hogan pin him with the push of a finger, WWF did a similar angle during an edition of Raw (show was taped on December 11th). Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter, at the start of the show, ordered Shawn Michaels to defend the WWF European Title against DX partner Triple H. During the show, tensions seemed to rise between the two, with Michaels calling Helmsley a loser and saying he could never beat him in a match. When the bout took place at the end of the show, Michaels simply laid down in the ring and let Triple H pin him for the title, showing the argument to all be an act.
December 22, 1997

SmackDown Results: In the Giving Mood

Not happy just standing in the corner watching, Official SmackDown Consultant Vickie Guerrero had no problem joining the fray in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match. But when she meddled too much, Cena shocked the WWE Universe by planting a kiss on her! Next, Cena turned his attention to Ziggler, dropping him with an Attitude Adjustment for the pinfall. With Vickie livid at the loss, Cena was poised to dispatch of her with the same maneuver. However before he could, CM Punk rushed the ring and smashed the Raw Superstar in the gut with a steel chair then blasted him again for good measure. It was the second night in a row that Punk delivered such a dastardly deed. Full results.

source: wwe.com

WWE NXT Results: A 'Man-tastic' Evening

Week three results:

NXT Rookie Challenge: Derrick Bateman won the Wheelbarrow Race
Jacob Novak def. Johnny Curtis
NXT Rookie Challenge: Derrick Bateman won Hot Seat Trivia
Byron Saxton, Chris Masters & Divas Champion Natalya def. Brodus Clay, Ted DiBiase & Maryse

NXT Rookie Records:

Brodus Clay: Challenge points: 0, Win/Loss record: 1-1
Byron Saxton: Challenge points: 1, Win/Loss record: 1-1
Conor O'Brian: Challenge points: 0, Win/Loss record: 1-0
Derrick Bateman: Challenge points: 3, Win/Loss record: 0-2
Jacob Novak: Challenge points: 1, Win/Loss record: 1-1
Johnny Curtis: Challenge points: 2, Win/Loss record: 1-1

TNA vs. New Japan in Tokyo

On January 4, New Japan Pro Wrestling will present the annual "Wrestle Kingdom" event, their biggest show of the year held at the world famous Tokyo Dome.

TNA Wrestling and New Japan are happy to announce that superstars from both organizations will once again face off in battle at the event. The TNA vs. New Japan international bouts have been a part of Wrestle Kingdom since 2008...More?

Raw TV Rating Increases

The December 20th edition of Monday Night Raw scored a 3.3 rating with 5,163,000 viewers making it one of the highest viewing numbers in many weeks. The show did hours of 3.17 and 3.39.