=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
WRESTLING GLOBE NEWSLETTER
Sunday October 25, 2009
=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
10/24 WWE house show results from State College, PA: Evan Bourne over Chavo Guerrero; Zach Ryder & Paul Burchill over Yoshi Tatsu & Tyler Reks; Matt Hardy over Jamie Noble; Drew McIntyre over R-Truth; Christian over William Regal; The Bella Twins over Rosa Mendes & Katie Lea; John Morrison over The Miz; and the min event was John Cena, Mark Henry & MVP over Randy Orton and Legacy.
Kofi Kingston, Dolph Ziggler and Shelton Benjamin were all advertised but didn't appear. Matt Hardy was called to come in late.
WWE presents Bragging Rights tonight on PPV from the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh: The Undertaker vs. CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Batista in a four-way for the World title; Randy Orton vs. John Cena in a 60-minute no DQ Iron Man match for the WWE title and if Cena loses he leaves Raw for good; John Morrison vs. The Miz in a non-title match; Melina, Kelly Kelly & Gail Kim vs. Michelle McCool, Beth Phoenix & Natalya; and Team Raw (Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Big Show, Mark Henry, Kofi Kingston, Jack Swagger & Cody Rhodes) vs. Team Smackdown (Chris Jericho, Kane, R-Truth, Fit Finlay & The Hart Dynasty).
***
In an interview with PowerSlam magazine when asked about potential break out stars, Triple H listed Jack Swagger, Sheamus, Evan Bourne, and Kofi Kingston as one's to watch. He said: "They are all moving up, but slowly, which is the right way. The closest to me is probably Sheamus, because we always train together on the road. But I try to watch all the young guys' matches and give them advice, if they want to hear it. If they take advice to heart and really want to improve, them I am wanting to help. As for seeing some of myself in someone? That's tough. Sheamus just the other day showed up at a show he didn't have to be at. He does whatever he's asked to do without complaining, he goes to every show and is always wanting to work: he does it all, goes above and beyond. That's what I was like."
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review at http://tinyurl.com/yl8879e has a story on CM Punk spending his day off visiting a local children's hospital with gift packs for the kids.
The new WWE-produced Hulk Hogan DVD has been titled Hulk Hogan's Unreleased Collector's Series, a 3-disc set of 27 matches most of which have never been released before. The collection will be released on November 17.
Hogan is all over New York City next week pushing his book. He will be on The Today Show on NBC early Tuesday morning, Larry King on Tuesday night, and Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday.
Marty Jannetty wrote a blog noting he was dealing with an injury when he worked Raw last Monday in Jacksonville. He wrote: "I knew ahead of time I wasn't going to be able to give the performance I like to give and expect from myself. I did give it my all, but my all wasn't all it can be. I wont make excuses, as even a great excuse will accomplish nothing, and what's done is done. I'll simply say what you saw the other night is not what you will see in the future."
Shane Helms wrote on his Twitter that he watched UFC last night and thought the show was very lackluster. "WWE party tonight. Guarantee WWE will be the better show," he Tweeted.
Edge is headed to France next week for a promotional tour.
Cody Rhodes is interviewed at www.mondaynightmayhem.com.
TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION WRESTLING NEWS
10/24 house show results from Racine, WI: Alex Shelley over Kip James; Kiyoshi over Shark Boy; ODB over Alisha Flash; Matt Morgan over Rhino; Lethal Consequences over Sheik Bashir & Kiyoshi; and AJ Styles over Scott Steiner.
Samoa Joe didn't work a match after a knock Friday night in Chicago. Show drew an estimated 600 here, and 400 in Chicago.
***
Joe is expected back in the ring this afternoon in Green Bay.
Jim Cornette at www.jimcornette.com has a new blog online with his perspective on his TNA run, Vince Russo, and what really happened behind the scenes leading to his release. He says he would welcome the chance to work with TNA again, but not under the creative of Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara, who collectively he describes as Abbott & Costello: "They split for a few years, but apparently have kissed and made up. I have not seen Ed Ferrara since I vented my disgust on him in 2002 over his mockery of Jim Ross' Bells Palsy on national television. It's safe to say he doesn't want to be around me, and especially in the absence of Dutch [Mantel] and Jeff [Jarrett] and the presence of Russo, there's no way I could tolerate him either."
Kip James and Rhino appeared on Saturday at the University of Wisconsin college football game. They were introduced as "WWF stars Billy Gunn and Rhino" and shot off the cannon following a touchdown.
TNA Karaoke featuring Creed and Flash from earlier today at http://www.twitvid.com/C644E.
Booker T's profile was removed from the TNA website. Sharmell is still listed as part of the roster.
OTHER WRESTLING NEWS
Ultimate Death Match 2, a movie starring several pro wrestlers including Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Sean Waltman, is filming on Tuesday at the Davis Arena (home of OVW), 4400 Shepherdsville Road in Louisville, KY. The producer is looking for volunteers as extras to report to the Davis Arena at 10am.
The wife of Mike "Nova" Bucci just gave birth to a baby girl called Olivia Marie weighing in at 7 lbs 2oz. Congrats to the happy couple.
There was an altercation between Luna Vachon and Eric Simms (best known as the Iron Sheik's handler) at the Legends of the Ring convention on Saturday in New Jersey. Luna was yelling at Simms from a distance then made a lunge but security blocked her attack. One eye-witness said: "[Luna] calmed down and eventually everything went back to normal, but it was still something to see." Several people caught the altercation on tape so I am sure this will be make the rounds on YouTube. Apparently Luna was upset that Simms wasn't spending enough time with her as her agent at the convention.
We have a report on the Terry Funk Roast in today's mailbag. New Jack upset a lot of people at this event over some mean spirited comments directed at Missy Hyatt and Lacey Von Erich.
Mick Foley wrote a blog with his thoughts on the roast at http://tinyurl.com/ylpowwt.
2 Cold Scorpio turns 44 today.
James Guttman interviewed Tony Anthony (T.L. Hopper) about his WWE run, the Godwinns, Vince Russo and more at www.clubwwwi.com.
Dan Mirade reports that Shiloh Pepin (known as "Mermaid Girl" from Discovery Channel and TLC documentaries as well as an appearance on Oprah last month) passed away on Friday at the age of 10. Earlier this year Superstar Graham and John Cena Sr. arranged for Pepin, a huge wrestling fan, to go to the WWE Backlash PPV. She was born with both of her legs were fused together from the waist down, leaving her with no genitals or lower colon and one kidney that didn't function.
http://www.nzpwi.co.nz has an interview up with Bret Hart. Again he was negative on TNA booking, saying another promotion is good for the wrestling, "but I’m not so sure about the ridiculous storylines." He added: "I don’t get it. But they have some great people, I think pound-for-pound AJ Styles might be the best wrestler in the world today; he’s one of them anyway.." He also put over Randy Orton in WWE and talked about producing an audio version of his popular autobiography.
Dwayne Johnson got some negative press in today's New York Post at http://tinyurl.com/ygs7pxb.
Wrestle Talk Radio tonight 11pm ET at www.wildtalkradio.com.
Bill Anderson has a book out titled, The School of Wrestling. The book is 8.5′ x 11″ with 164 pages and over 350 photographs from Bill’s training sessions featuring the likes of Sting, Ultimate Warrior, Louie Spicoli, and many others, with a narrative relating to that particular training session. More info at www.lateralpress.com.
WRESTLING GLOBE MAILBAG
Ring Roast 2 took place this past Friday, the day before Legends of the Ring at Monroe NJ's Crowne Plaza Hotel. The room was packed with fans, both casual and workers in the wresting business who came to salute the one and only Terry Funk.
The wrestlers included Kevin Sullivan, Kevin Von Erich, King Kong Bundy, Dennis Stamp, Superstar Billy Graham, New Jack, Missy Hyatt, Mike Graham, JJ Dillon, Mick Foley and the event was hosted by Bill Apter. Other TV wrestling personalities in attendance were Al Snow, Ken Anderson, Luna Vachon, Mark Lewin, Sir Oliver Humperdink, Terry Runnells, Lacey Von Erich and many other people who packed the room to give tribute to this legendary superstar.
The event opened with Bill Apter disguised as an old women who escorted Terry into the room and told stories about when they first met in Japan and how by dressing as a "grandma", he is finally even with Terry for things that happened years ago while Apter was singing Karaoke.
Next up was comedian Ryan Mahar who opened the show and started what seemed to be an overload of jokes about Missy Hyatt's sexual prowess, Terry Funk's many retirements and how Terry had also done movies and started with such luminaries as Sylvester Stallone, Patrick Swayze and more. Then he went around the room throwing shots against almost every wrestler in attendance.
Next up was New Jack, who delivered story after story about his relationship with Terry Funk including the fact that Paul Heyman kept him off the first PPV and yet delivered a 28 minute tribute to him before the PPV. He then went on to talk about certain incidents that happened over the years including Mass Transit and through it all thanked Terry for helping him when he was with Smokey Mountain and other territories.
Next was King Kong Bundy who started off with comedy before talking about he and Terry in Texas and delivered some funny stories about getting started with the Funk Family.
Next up was Kevin Von Erich who told people he was not funny but delivered some great stories about the Funk and Von Erich family and telling people that as a kid, he used to hang with Terry and one day, while gigging for frogs, Terry steered him toward a 10 foot hole in the pond where Terry laughed while Kevin tried to tred water.
Next up was another comedian Sean Morton (who tried but rather than give a tribute to Terry, wound up almost getting attacked for shoots on New Jack). Security as well as Mick Foley handled the matter and it was quicky resolved without an issue.
After that was Florida Championship Wrestling's Mike Graham, who like Kevin Von Erich, had some great stories about growing up with the Funk Family. Mike told the crowd right up front he was not very funny, but was indeed very entertaining to the crowd.
JJ Dillon went to the podium and told people that while everyone remembers him as a manager, he was indeed a wrestler who had been taught a lot by Terry Funk and brought up stories about Florida, Georgia and other territories.
Next up was Kevin Sullivan who told stories about ECW, WCW, Florida Championship Wrestling, Japan and more. Kevin Sullivan is a master storyteller and had the full attendion of everyone in the room.
After that, we had Dennis Stamp head to the podium who proceeded to tell what a great humanitarian Terry was, giving his time to children and those who were sick and showed the selflessness side of Terry Funk, that had tears in many eyes in the room.
Not to be outdone was Superstar Billy Graham who told stories about the different territories and how proud he was to call the Funks, not just Terry but Dorry Jr. and Sr. as well as friends and family. Graham mentioned how much time Michelangelo put into working on the Sistine Chapel, dedicating 7 years of his life to the project and told Funk that he had his own dedication and presented a drawing of Terry (among his many retirements... that joke never got old).
After another comedian, Matt Bridgestone (with a so-so imitation of Randy Savage including presenting a Slim Jim to Terry Funk), it was time to let Missy Hyatt get her revenge on everyone and told stories about each and everyone who had attacked her during the night. Then she went and told a nice story about Terry and that he was one of the true gentlemen of wrestling.
Finally we had Mick Foley who told everyone about stories in Japan, WWE, ECW, and how he wanted to know how Terry could punch and make it look so good (the truth be told, according to Mick Foley is that the punches were real, which is why they looked so good).
After everyone had their say, Terry took the microphone and thanked everyone for coming to see him and showed an award presented to him earlier in the day. He also showed off the painting by Superstar Graham and went and told some remarkable stories about working with each and every wrestler in the room. He then talked about what the business has become today and about keeping it old school and keeping the business safe.
This is just a short synopsis of the Ring Roast 2 and the DVD will be available soon. For more info you can send an email to info@kayfabecommentaries.com.
Kevin Redding
=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Missed an issue? Go to: http://lists.topica.com/lists/wrestlingglobe
Please send any mailbag letters or news tips to: you2us@wrestlingglobe.com
----Wrestling Globe Newsletter by Mike Aldren - All the latest professional wrestling news, gossip and occasional opinion. WGN is read by industry power players, many top wrestlers and thousands of fans from all around the world.
