TNA had a street team at WWE's show in Orlando on Sunday night. The street team was promoting the January 4th iMPACT! special. WWE's security eventually ejected them from the venue.
source: 411mania.com
And they wonder why they are perceived as amateurs. Perception is reality.
December 21, 2009
Another Bush-League TNA Move
‘The Pope’ Speaks on his TNA Signing
“I have absolutely nothing but positive thoughts about coming here. This is literally a stress-free environment. Everyone is just like a big family. This is my first time experiencing that. The funny part is that it seems (WWE) can only push one black wrestler at a time. God forbid you push two black guys at the same time. They’ve always had this problem. It’s something I’ve been in discussion about with Dixie Carter because it’s something I feel TNA needs to tackle even though I think they do a great job with diversity. Why it didn’t happen in WWE? I have no idea.”
source: scrippsnews.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Happy Birthday to Del Wilkes (aka The Patriot and The Trooper).
December 21, 1961
December 20, 2009
NFL to Ask Players to Donate Brains for Study
The league is going to encourage current and former NFL players to agree to donate their brains to the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy...More?
source: foxnews.com
The Definitive History of the WBF
As the final moments of the annual Mr. Olympia competition played out, there was nothing particularly memorable about the scene. What was going on in the lobby of the Arie Crown Theatre in those final few minutes was anything but however. A carefully calculated all-out ambush was about to occur. The man behind it was Vince McMahon, and the intentions were hostile.
Spectators sat restless in the Arie Crown Theatre while sponsors gave their pitches as the 1990 Mr. Olympia was coming to an end. What everyone was confronted with next was a total shock, even to Joe Weider and the competing athletes themselves. Vince McMahon spent $5,000 to secure a promotional booth for Bodybuilding Lifestyles, his new bodybuilding magazine. Tom Platz, the magazine's spokesman, stepped to the stage to promote the publication in front of the 4,600 bodybuilding fans in attendance . Platz began to speak: "I have a very important announcement to make. We at Titan Sports are proud to announce the formation of the World Bodybuilding Federation. And we are going to kick the IFBB's ass!"...More?
source: pwchronicle.blogspot.com
MVP: 'Wrestling Saved My Life'
Being in Iraq earlier this month as part of WWE’s Tribute to the Troops was something wrestling superstar MVP says he’ll never forget. It was a humbling experience, he says, to have been in the midst of heroes who risk their lives each and every day to secure our freedom.
But, as he stood with a group of Marines in a war zone, he gazed at the fences topped with razor wire and the towers that dotted the landscape. The memory gave him chills.
“You guys would be surprised at how much I can relate to what you’re going through,” he told the soldiers. “The uniforms, the housing barracks, being told what to do, the razor wire. I can relate to that. But I didn’t have to worry about anybody trying to blow me up.”...More?
source: postandcourier.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Bret Hart defeated Bill Goldberg for the WCW World Heavyweight Title and Chris Jericho and Chyna pinned each other to become co-holders of the WWF(E) Intercontinental title
December 20, 1999
December 19, 2009
ESPN Columnists on Deaths in Wrestling
ESPN's Bill Simmons and Malcolm Gladwell have a discussion at this link about the recent death of Eddie "Umaga" Fatu, Roddy Piper's reaction to it and the wrestling business as a whole.
Sheamus vs Hulk Hogan Would be the Ultimate WWE Irish Fight
Lets call it 'Erin go Brawl' – Hogan, who is a fake Irishman, fighting a real one, Hogan showing the new Irish kid on the block a trick or two, and Sheamus eventually prevailing because – well, he's Sheamus...More?
source: irishcentral.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Madusa defeats Evan Karagias to win the Cruiserweight Championship at Starrcade. This was the first time a woman was crowned with this title.
December 19, 1999
December 18, 2009
SmackDown Results: From Here to Christmas
Friday night began in a fury of Animalistic rage as Batista interrupted SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long, demanding a rematch with World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker following the GM’s controversial actions at WWE TLC. However, when Rey Mysterio emerged to challenge the irate Animal, Teddy Long declared that the two former comrades-in-arms would face each other, with the winner becoming the No. 1 Contender to the World Title, challenging The Demon of Death Valley Christmas Night.
No matter what punishment Batista threw Mysterio’s way in the grueling main event, The Master of the 619 with the heart of a lion simply refused to be beaten. Then, from out of nowhere, the WWE Universe erupted into a mad frenzy as the masked Superstar overcame the odds, using a sudden small package to snatch the win from his bewildered adversary.
As a result of his huge triumph, Rey Mysterio will challenge The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Championship on Christmas Night. Full results.
source: wwe.com
UFC Vs. WWE – Can Dana White Out McMahon Vince?
A few years back no-one would dare make this comparison, but these days it seems to be something that maybe needs to be discussed a little more. The UFC scene has long looked down its nose at the professional wrestling world, at least in the sense of the much hyped athleticism. Wrestlers are workers, for sure, but in terms of how dangerous they would be in the octagon – forget it. No matter how many tables Cactus Jack has been thrown through, he's still gonna tap on a well executed armbar, or get pounded defenseless against the right striker. Forget how much he loves the pain, his brain loves oxygen and a well set rear naked choke is going to take his ability to operate a sock puppet away – quickly...More?
source: tvovermind.com
ROH Champ Austin Aries Says Wrestlers Need Union Protection in WWE and TNA
Ring of Honor champion Austin Aries presented a strong argument that wrestlers in WWE and TNA should have union protection as actors since they're being slotted for roles in a TV show. Aries based his argument on WWE and TNA changing the characters and personalities of wrestlers coming from Ring of Honor or the independent scene to fit a certain role.
"This new idea that you’re going to come into our company and we’re going to change everything about you – I guess that’s the mentality that we’re all just kind of actors and we’re playing a part," Aries told Alfonso Castillo of Newsday. "I’ll follow that, but if that’s the way we’re going to do the business, let’s do it across the board. If we’re actors, then let’s be actors – and get the benefits of actors and be taken care of like actors. They kind of found this crack. I don’t know. It’s really interesting."
Aries added that it bothers him that WWE and TNA "discount" wrestlers coming up from the independent ranks as if what they do prior to joining the Big Two promotions "didn't mean anything."
"We (referring to himself, Bryan Danielson, and Nigel McGuinness) busted our a-- to make our names mean something, to be recognized in the wrestling business. And for them to just try to erase it so that they can feel like they’re the creator, it doesn’t much make much sense to me," Aries said. "Just because we’re on TV for another promotion doesn’t mean all the stuff we did here didn’t mean anything. Then why do they want me?"
reported by: pwtorch.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Happy Birthday to:
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin
December 18, 1964
Rob Van Dam
December 18, 1971
Trish Stratus
December 18, 1975
December 17, 2009
WWE Superstars Results: Evening the Score
Fans of Raw are well familiar with the enmity between MVP and Jack Swagger, as the two have frequently found themselves circling one another like junkyard dogs. On the last “WWE Superstars,” the two ring warriors squared off with “The All-American American” leaving with his hand raised in victory. The previous week’s loss must have given The Ballin’ Superstar the motivation he needed however, as he took the fight to Swagger, ending the match with a decisive pin...More?
source: wwe.com
CM Punk Shoots on Hulk Hogan
CM Punk had some strong words regarding TNA Wrestling, and Hulk Hogan on the KISW radio show:
"I have a lot of friends that work there, and I do watch the show, but I seem to watch it on perpetual fast forward. I really hope something comes of it, but honestly I have zero faith in Hulk Hogan as a man who’s 60 years old and tries to dress like he’s 18 and lives on the Jersey Shore. And for a guy I’ve never met, I’ve formulated enough opinion about him just from being around him and his business acumen, and I really trust he’s not in this for TNA, he’s in this for himself, and you know, Hulk Hogan I hope you prove me wrong, I hope, because with this competition, we step up, everybody makes more money, and I think it makes the business healthier...and that’s what I’m looking forward to, but I don’t have much hope"
source: kisw.com
2010 Royal Rumble Theme Songs
The theme songs for WWE's 2010 Royal Rumble pay-per-view will be Martyr No More by Chris Jericho's band Fozzy and Hero by Skillet.
Rumor Mill - TNA Wants to Tell Stories
There was a half hour meeting at an Impact taping a few weeks ago where the wrestlers were told to go back to working holds and telling stories with their matches as opposed to the assorted "highspots" accustomed with the product.
source: wrestling observer newsletter
According to Dixie Carter, TNA is wrestling, not sports entertainment. I find this switch very surprising.
Obama Tribute 'Not for WWE'
President Barack Obama has denied taping a special message for WWE's Tribute to the Troops TV show. The WWE sent out a press release earlier this week announcing that Obama would be delivering a pre-recorded speech on the show, which airs on NBC. It was seen by many as a boost not only for the WWE, but also Vince's wife Linda's campaign for a US Senate seat.
However a White House spokesman insists Obama did NOT tape his message exclusively for the wrestling programme. Instead, the spokesman revealed the President taped a general greeting that was made available to any media outlet who wanted to air it...More?
source: the sun
Loved to be Hated
Twenty-five years after Andy Kaufman's death, Mike Edison ponders whether the comedian was the greatest wrestler of all time...More?
source: nypress.com
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
