Jerry Lawler has licensed his name and likeness to businessman Joe Cooper to call a new deli and retail store, King Jerry Lawler's. The store will be located next to City Hall on Downtown’s Main Street Mall in Memphis. "I’m lending my name for something that’s going to be fun to visit and that could be profitable," Lawler told the Commercial Appeal. Cooper added: "One sandwich Jerry wants to have is The Piledriver. I don’t know why he wants something like that. It’ll have every kind of meat you can think of, piled up high... I think this place is going to be busy from the day it opens."
WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT
Today will be our last update until early next week as we are
moving to a new house over the weekend. See you all on the other side.
Superstars tonight on WGN includes Chris Jericho vs. Yoshu Tatsu; JTG vs. Chavo Guerrero; and Maryse & Jillian Hall vs. The Bella Twins.
Smackdown on Friday night has Kofi Kingston vs. Cody Rhodes; Drew McIntyre vs. Christian; Chris Masters & Kelly Kelly vs. Trent Barretta & Layla; Dolph Ziggler vs. Matt Hardy; and Jack Swagger attempts to prove to Kane that he had nothing to do with Undertakers vegetative state.
There is a dual-brand show on Saturday night in Omaha at Qwest Center.
Sunday is the Money in the Bank pay-per-view from Kansas City with The Hart Dynasty vs. Jimmy & Jey Uso for the tag titles; Alicia Fox vs. Eve Torres for the Divas title; Layla vs. Kelly Kelly for the Women's title; Rey Mysterio vs. Jack Swagger for the World 'not heavyweight' title; John Cena vs. Sheamus in a steel cage for the WWE title; plus the Raw and Smackdown MITB ladder matches--two title shots up for grabs between Big Show, Matt Hardy, Christian, Kofi Kingston, Cody Rhodes, Kane, Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler, Ted DiBiase, Chris Jericho, Edge, The Miz, Evan Bourne, John Morrison, Randy Orton and Mark Henry.
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Chris Jericho said today that ABC has plans to shoot more episodes of Downfall in the fall which would be around the time his WWE contract expires should he not opt to renew. Jericho was responding to reports today that the network had canceled the show due to flagging ratings. The current run is averaging nearly 4 million viewers per episode.
The Fox affiliate in Connecticut is reporting on a group calling itself Mothers Opposing McMahon. As in Linda. The group put together a YouTube video of WWE clips showing female wrestlers being humiliated, including Linda slapping daughter Stephanie and the infamous Raw segment when Vince ordered Trish Stratus to get on her knees and bark like a dog and then strip. "Humiliating, degrading, and incredibly violent treatment of women and Linda McMahon marketed it to children," the ad says. "A vote for Linda McMahon is a slap in the face to Connecticut women." The group has set up a Facebook page and describes itself as, "A group of concerned mothers--joined together to give light to the graphic, steroid-fueled violence and sexually explicit WWE content marketed to kids under Linda McMahon’s watch as WWE CEO. While McMahon profited, kids learned that it was okay to mistreat women, and that violence is acceptable behavior." The McMahon Senate campaign in response said today that the group was nothing more than Democratic operatives and activists.
There is another new girl in developmental called Celeste. Not sure who she is yet other than coming in from Texas.
Jim Duggan was a guest on Arda Ocals radio show this past week at www.hardcoresportsradio.com. He specifically put over John Morrison as the next big thing in wrestling and talked about the Hall of Fame saying he felt it was a popularity contest but is happy with his career regardless of whether or not he ever goes in. "I wouldn't lose any sleep if I didn't get it... but it would be a great honor all the same," he said.
TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION WRESTLING
Impact tonight on Spike has Douglas Williams vs. Brian Kendrick in a non-title match; Taylor Wilde vs. Sarita; Samoa Joe vs. Desmond Wolfe & Rob Terry; MCMG vs. Beer Money in match one of a best of five ladder match; Matt Morgan vs. The Pope; and Jay Lethal vs. Jeff Hardy.
The show features the hyped ECW reunion angle building towards Hard Justice on 8/8--except the company cannot use or mention the E-C-W initials and my understanding is that they would also be flirting with disaster if they so much as air footage of fans chanting those initials too. It will be interesting to see how this angle plays out but would seem to be counter productive in the grand scheme of things. Plus, why would you want to poke WWE with a stick when they own all the intellectual property relating to the original ECW?
No house shows scheduled this weekend.
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Hulk Hogan at http://tinyurl.com/333pxn9 pushes his personal appearance this weekend in Coquitlam, BC. He says now after several back surgeries his in-ring days are behind him. "Hopefully I won't get back in the ring again, because I can't afford any more broken things." He also tells the usual exaggerated stories on Andre the Giant.
Vince Russo has scripted television as far in advance as the next four months, according to Eric Bischoff via his Facebook page. Bischoff said he will return at the next set of television tapings.
ECW original Bill Alfonso was backstage at the tapings this past week. He's been looking for a way in for some time.
OTHER WRESTLING NEWS
Slam Wrestling has a story on Manny Fernandez at http://tinyurl.com/2dnpy5t who recently completed a book of road stories from his three decades in the business.
Tony Atlas and Stan Hansen also have wrestling books in the works. Atlas is now working as a personal trainer at a health spar in Maine.
Brett Blair, 18, the son of former WWF wrestler Brian Blair, was arrested earlier this month on charges of drug possession. Blair, 53, told press his son has been dealing with substance abuse problems for some time now. "I understand the hurt and pain that other parents cope with when their children have major challenges such as this," he said. "No matter what challenges we face as parents, there must be unconditional love and support." Blair is currently running as a Republican for the Florida House of Representatives.
The Toronto Sun has a fun story on Trish Stratus' yogo studio at http://tinyurl.com/2ax6fej.
Alex Marvez has a story on the former Mark Jindrak at http://tinyurl.com/334g4me who has reinvented himself in Mexico.
Ric Drasin out of LA has some "wrestling advice for dummies" and other people who want to break into the business at http://tinyurl.com/3yrddav.
The Heyman Hustle at http://tinyurl.com/36j85wp posted some photos of a recent meeting between Bill Goldberg and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino of Jersey Shore fame.
James Mitchell and Gangrel are interviewed in the latest issue of Rue Morgue talking horror themes in wrestling.
Rich Tate interviewed Jim Ross at http://tinyurl.com/2wbw5xe.
MTV2's Lucha Libre USA Masked Warriors debuts Friday night with several repeats over the coming week.
The prostitutes found guilty of murdering Mexican mini wrestler's La Parkita and Espectrito II, Maria de Los Angeles Sanchez and Estela Gonzalez, were both sentenced to 47 years in jail.
Hall of Famer Jesse Ventura turns 59 today.
James Guttman interviewed Awesome Kong at www.clubwwi.com who is waiting out her TNA no compete. She talks about what led to her leaving the company earlier this year.
Alicia Webb, 31, the former Ryan Shamrock in WWE, quietly married pro poker player Marcello DelGrosso, 34, a few months ago.
Today's Babe of the Day is Maryse at http://www.thewrestlingpress.com/DailyDiva.
