----WGN with Mike Aldren.
WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT
1/6 Superstars TV results: Tyler Reks over JTG; Chris Masters over Curt Hawkins; Yoshi Tatsu over Zach Ryder; and Ted DiBiase & Tyson Kidd over Mark Henry & Daniel Bryan.
WWE has a full schedule this weekend. The Raw tour runs tonight in Augusta (James Brown Arena), Saturday in Montgomery (Garrett Coliseum), Sunday in Memphis (Fed-Ex Forum), and Raw is live Monday from Nashville (Bridgestone Arena). The Smackdown tour runs Saturday night in Lexington (Rupp Arena), Sunday in Knoxville (Coliseum), Monday in Huntsville (Von Braun Center), and the TV taping is Tuesday in Birmingham (Jefferson Convention Complex).
Due to his legit hip injury, John Cena was pulled from all the Raw shows this weekend. That tour is now headlined by Randy Orton vs. Miz. Top matches advertised on the Smackdown side are Edge vs. Kane and Big Show vs. Wade Barrett.
Smackdown TV tonight is headlined by Edge vs. Kane for the World title in a falls count anywhere match as well as Rey Mysterio vs. Alberto Del Rio in a 2/3 fall match; Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston for the IC title; and Michelle McCool vs. Kelly Kelly.
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Former developmental wrestler Sean Casey and his company Naughty Bodies is under investigation by the IRS and the Cincinnati Vice Squad for tax evasion and prostitution, according to a report today on WKRC-TV. Casey operates a service in the Ohio and Kentucky area where "erotic entertainers" are hired out for "private parties". Naughty Bodies hit national headlines last summer when a female dancer was charged in the connection with the death of a client.
The story of the 18 year-old from Clarksville, IN filing a lawsuit against WWE, Triple H and Dwayne Johnson is garnering a lot of mainstream press attention. The Associated Press and TMZ both ran stories on the suit today. The TMZ story showed the alleged victim driving stock cars and also reported that he played football in high school. Ronald Basham III is suing WWE and the wrestlers over alleged injuries sustained when he was 7 years old while attending May 2000's Judgement Day PPV. Basham's attorney was quoted as saying in response to the story that his client has a long medical history with knee problems and has never been injured from racing cars.
Wes Brisco, son of Hall of Famer Gerald, who's in the developmental program recently underwent knee surgery with Dr. Andrews in Birmingham, AL. It's a tough break for the kid as he got injured at a house show in December just days before he was due to start on the main roster.
WWE is in preliminary talks with a company in Colorado about bringing Wrestlemania 27 to movie theaters in 3D. Both sides are said to be haggling over who gets the larger slice of revenue.
The company announced Michael Luisi as it's new executive VP of Business Affairs & General Counsel. The previous holder of that position, Jared Bartie, left WWE in controversy last year after a female employee reportedly accused him of harassment. Luisi becomes the fifth most powerful executive in WWE's corporate structure. His background includes 12 years at Miramax Films as VP of Worldwide Operations as well as a senior legal advisor. “Michael has had a very accomplished career in the entertainment industry," Vince McMahon said in a press release. "He brings with him a wealth of experience, knowledge and contacts within the entertainment industry which will benefit WWE and serve him well in his new position.”
WWE.com posted ticket information for the 2011 Hall Of Fame at Phillips Arena in Atlanta on 4/2--the night before Wrestlemania 27. Prices are set at $75, $60 and $50 via Ticketmaster or Charge by Phone: 1-800-745-3000.
The trailer for WWE Films next movie The Chaperone with Triple H is online at http://tinyurl.com/29s82vf.
TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION WRESTLING
1/6 Impact TV results from Orlando, FL: Jeff Jarrett over Jonathan Cruise; The Motor City Machine Guns over AJ Styles & Kazarian; Madison Rayne & Sarita over Velvet Sky & Mickie James; Douglas Williams over Rob Terry; Jay Lethal over Abyss via DQ; and Jeff Jarrett over Rob Van Dam in a no DQ match.
1/6 house show results from Wallingford, CT: Jay Lethal over Kaz & Robbie E in a three-way; Madison Rayne over Mickie James; Mr. Anderson over Pope; Beer Money over Ink Inc; Jeff Jarrett over Tommy Dreamer; and Jeff Hardy over Matt Morgsn.
The crew on the road run again tonight in Westbury on Long Island at the Community Bank Theatre.
Sunday is the Genesis pay-per-view from Orlando with Matt Morgan vs. Mr. Anderson to determine the No. 1 contender for the TNA title; Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett in an exhibition match; Brother Ray vs. Brother Devon; Machine Guns vs. Beer Money for the tag titles; Douglas Williams vs. A.J. Styles for the Television title, belt vs. Styles leaving Fortune; Jay Lethal vs. Kazarian for the X-Division title; Rob Vam Dam vs. a mystery opponent; Pope vs. Samoa Joe; and Madison Rayne vs. Mickie James for the Knockouts title. Reads like an awesome line up on paper.
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Kurt Angle has a guest appearance on this Sunday's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on ABC. Kurt is helping the Lampe family from Louisville, KY who have fallen on hard times. The family help to serve their community by running an amateur wrestling gym from their garage. UFC legend Randy Couture also has a cameo on the show along with Dan Gable.
Alex Marvez has a story on Brother Ray to promote Sunday's PPV at http://tinyurl.com/34xhhac. He says he's recently dropped weight and is more motivated than he's been in years. Speaking on his storyline feud with Devon, he said: "This is a new chapter. It can make Team 3D fresh if we ever decide to get back together down the road. It's also something both me and Devon need to get out of our systems. Actually, I think it's more him wanting to get it out of his system. I never wanted to be a singles wrestler -- ever. But I'm going to embrace it, run with it and do the very best I possibly can."
A new reality show produced by Eric Bischoff and Jason Hervey's production company, Bischoff-Hervey Entertainment, was announced on VH-1's Spring line-up. Beverly Hills Fabulous is set to debut on 3/21 about the only African-American beauty salon located in the heart of Beverly Hills. The show follows salon owner Elgin Charles, his ex-wife comedic actress Jackee Harry, and his 18-year-old son who is an aspiring football player.
Bischoff was asked about Sting's future in the company this week during his regular segment on the Monday Night Mayhem radio show. "If I had to guess, and if he is going to sign another agreement, which I'm not sure he is going to do at this stage of his career, my bet would be that he is going to sign with TNA," he said. "I'm not sure what Sting's motivations are at this point. I know physically he's told me on more than one occasion that it's getting harder and harder to deliver the type of performances that he wants to deliver in the ring for his fans. That's got to be a big part of his consideration." Bischoff added that going to WWE at this stage of his career would be a lot of pressure for Sting. "I think realistically, if he would go to the WWE, there would be some additional pressure, much more than in TNA, to perform in the ring, and that would be a hard thing for him to do at this point in his career." Bischoff also touched upon his own future in TNA saying that he hopes to remain part of future plans. "On a personal level, I would love to be part of TNA's strategic growth. I think that's one of the biggest challenges right now that TNA has. I would love to see more programming out of TNA across different channels, as well as potentially on Spike TV. Different types of programming. I think all of those things, just like we're seeing in WWE (the fact they're bringing back Tough Enough), that is an perfect example, I think, of what TNA needs to do to grow their brand. You can't keep preaching to the same choir over and over and over again and expect to grow the congregation, so to speak." Full interview at www.mondaynightmayhem.com.
Former WWE/ECW wrestler Justin Credible visited backstage at the show last night in Wallingford.
The company is working on a dietary supplement which they are planning market under the name "Impact! 3 Count".
OTHER WRESTLING NEWS
Sad to report that former American Wrestling Federation owner and promoter Gordon Scozzari passed away on Wednesday at the age of 40 from kidney disease complications.
Dave Bautista shot a low budget movie in Grand Rapids in December called House of the Rising Sun. He plays a former crooked cop called Ray now working as a bouncer at a strip club. On Halloween evening, the club is robbed and the mob boss/owner's son is shot dead. Ray must get to the bottom of the robbery as the club's manager, Tony, has set Ray up to look like the fall guy so that Tony can take over as mob boss... Bautista is also in the running for a role on a major action movie in the works which is rumored to star Russell Crowe and Cung Lee.
Dragon Gate USA returns to pay-per-view tonight on DISH Network, iN DEMAND and cable systems everywhere. Check your local listings for time, channel and price. The line up includes the debut of Austin Aries and Homicide: Masato Yoshino vs. YAMATO; Aries, Genki Horiguchi & Ricochet vs. Ronin of Johnny Gargano, Chuck Taylor & Rich Swann; CIMA vs. Shingo; Homicide & BxB Hulk vs. Jon Moxley & Akira Tozawa; and Jimmy Jacobs vs. Arik Cannon. More info at www.dgusa.tv.
New Japan Pro Wrestling announced a United States tour from May 13-15 with stops in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Jersey All Pro is promoting each show which will include the likes of Jado and Gedo, Jushin Liger, Tiger Mask, Tanahashi, Nakamua, Taguchi, Okada, Giant Bernard, and Karl Anderson. Low Ki and Homicide are also booked on the tour. More info at www.japw.net/njpw.
A correction from yesterday. The website link for Sean Waltman's X-Pac Show is www.cowheadtv.com.
The Hollywood Reporter ran a story on former TNA personality Bubba the Love Sponge who recently decided to leave Sirius XM satellite radio. The story noted that Bubba was paid $1 million annually and was told his earnings would be cut by 80 percent starting at $200,000 at the beginning of this year. Bubba was quoted as saying: "They’ve asked everybody to take a pay cut. With me, it was a take it or leave it offer. We decided to leave it. They paid an exorbitant amount for Hollywood people like Jamie Foxx with no f*cking radio talent, so radio people like me have suffered. A lot of good radio people aren’t getting an opportunity because of these Hollywood people. Eminem doesn’t even have to show up and they pay him zillions of dollars. Where does Bubba the Love Sponge sign up for that! I don’t have any business on a movie set, and actors don’t have any business behind a radio mike. You Hollywood f*ckers stay out of radio, and we’ll stay out of Hollywood."
A former WWE Diva made it to the final round of casting for a new reality show in development where she is the prize for a group of MMA fighters who will battle it out for her affections.
Today's Babe of the Day is Winter at http://thewrestlingpress.com/?page_id=298
