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WRESTLING GLOBE NEWSLETTER
Thursday July 24, 2009
 
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Wrestling Globe Newsletter by Mike Aldren – All the latest professional wrestling news, gossip and occasional opinion direct to your mailbox.
WGN is read by industry power players, many top wrestlers and thousands of fans from all around the world.

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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

7/23 Superstars TV results: Christian over William Regal; Evan Bourne over Jamie Noble; and John Morrison over Kane via DQ.

WWE run a house show tonight at the Wicomico Civic Center in Salisbury, MD with John Cena vs. Big Show and CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy; plus Rey Mysterio, Tommy Dreamer, MVP, Christian, Carlito and The Miz advertised as appearing. They also run on Saturday at the Convention Center in Wildwood, NJ with the same lineup. We’re looking for reader reports from these shows to [email protected].

Night Of Champions is Sunday at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, PA with CM Punk vs. Jeff Hardy for the World title; Randy Orton vs. Triple H vs. John Cena in a three-way for the WWE title; Chris Jericho & TBA vs. Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase for the tag titles; Maryse vs. Mickie James for the Divas title; Tommy Dreamer vs. Christian for the ECW title; Rey Mysterio vs. Dolph Ziggler for the IC title; Kofi Kingston vs. Big Show vs. MVP vs. Carlito vs. Jack Swagger vs. The Miz in a six-way for the US title; and Michelle McCool vs. Melina for the Women’s title.

Smackdown tonight has Great Khali vs. the returning Mike Knox who hasn’t been seen for around 60 days; Eve vs. Natalya; Jeff Hardy vs. Chris Jericho; Finlay vs. Dolph Ziggler; R-Truth vs. Charlie Haas; and CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio in a non-title match. You can leave feedback on the show for the mailbag at [email protected].

***

I have a story on Ric Flair and his latest war of words with Bret Hart
at http://tinyurl.com/kvbxof.

Jim Ross at www.jrsbarbq.com addresses the above story in his latest
blog: “The apparent issues that exist between Ric Flair and Bret Hart
are unfortunate. I respect both men a great deal and loved both of their
in ring work over the years and wish that this matter, that seems to
rear its head periodically, would not have been made so public over the
years.”

Paul Heyman at http://tinyurl.com/lt7lbc wrote an excellent blog up
looking at the problems that exist in WWE’s recruitment process and
touches upon TNA’s inability to effectively promote new talent.

More on the passing of Damien Steele from a close friend who didn’t wish
to be named. His real name was Damien Dothard and its believed he was in
his early 30s. He was said to be in great shape and worked as a personal
trainer at a gym near his apartment. Just before his death on Wednesday
he had compained about migraines and flu-like symptoms. The last time
anyone spoke to him was on Monday. His body was found by his ex-partner
who was mother to his two young sons. An autopsy is being conducted to
determine the cause of his death. Dothard was a southeastern indy
wrestler who trained at Dusty Rhodes’ TCW school. He was under a WWE
developmental deal in 2006.

Superstar Billy Graham’s Hall of Fame ring sold for £11,500 on eBay. The
ring went to a 29-year-old man from Liverpool, England who owns a string
of pubs.

There have been some internal rumblings in WWE about another lawsuit
about to hit the company. This may have been why many WWE execs dumped
significant amounts of stock this week.

Shawn Michaels just turned 44. His anticipated return to the ring is
Summerslam as his face is all over promotional material just sent out .
The planned main event for the PPV is Triple H vs. John Cena.

Lilian Garcia’s last date with the company hasn’t yet been finalised and
they still don’t have a replacement despite grooming Angela Fong from
developmental for the role. WWE Producer Kevin Dunn has reportedly
suggested an American Idol-style talent show on Raw in the week’s
leading up to Summerslam to find her replacement.

Chris Masters return is said to be imminent.

A contracted WWE Diva who is on a leave of absence spent the early part
of this week hanging out with the TNA crew at Universal Studios in
Orlando.

The former Scotty 2 Hotty will be signing autographs at the Lake County
Fairgrounds in Eustis, FL on 725 prior to the Florida Championship
Wrestling event. The FCW website lists him as a “WWE Superstar” but we
haven’t been told he has signed back. He is booked on an overseas tour
next month in Ireland.

www.wrestlingepicenter.com did an interview with Candice Michelle. She
says she is done with wrestling and talks about producing her own line
of lingerie.

Jeremy Piven did an interview on a Fox affiliate today in Los Angeles
and didn’t once mention that he will be hosting Raw in two weeks.

Batista’s upcoming DVD will actually be titled “I Walk Alone” after his
entrance music by Saliva.

WWE sent out a new survey asking fans to pick out suggested titles for
future DVD releases. They included bios on Ricky Steamboat, Randy Orton,
Goldberg, Sting, and Brock Lesnar. Plus ‘best of’ Clash of the
Champions, Wargames, In Your House and “Craziest” WWE Moments.

JBL wrote on his Twitter that he is happy in retirement and had not been
talking to TNA as reported else where. He has also just pulled out of
his sponsorship deal with OVW in Lousiville which means Danny Davis’
Viper Fight League is no more.

Matt Hardy is signing autographs on Saturday at Last Licks in New York
City.

The WWE stock closed out the week at $13.23 on the NYSE.

TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION WRESTLING NEWS

7/23 Impact TV results from Orlando, FL: Homicide over Samoa Joe to
retain the X Division title; Kevin Nash over Amazing Red to retain the
Legends title; Scott Steiner & Booker T over Big Rocco & Sally Boy to
retain the tag titles; Traci Brooks won a Knockouts battle royal for
$50,000 of monopoly money and a spot in the MEM; The British Invasion,
Kiyoshi & Sheik Bashir over Beer Money, Daniels, AJ Styles & Eric Young;
and Kurt Angle and Mick Foley went to a no contest in an office keys on
the pole match.

TNA run tonight at the Civic Center in Monroe, LA and then again on
Saturday at the Civic Center in Southhaven, MS. We’re looking for reader
reports from these shows to [email protected] as well as from
the show last night in Shreveport.

***

Impact on Thursday night did a 1.3 rating.

Impact next week will be an extra 15 minutes of your life you can’t get
back as a special for their 200th episode.

Bobby Lashley has launched a network of websites at
www.lashleynetwork.com.

Taylor Wilde, today on her Twitter, wrote that she pulled a muscle in
her ass. Seriously. Also, a couple of days ago on her Facebook, she
wrote “Victory Road was ****!” Answers on a postcard.

Christy Hemme returned to the ring this week at the TV tapings.

The latest Hermie’s Hotseat has Abyss as a guest at
http://tinyurl.com/m5uzn3.

OTHER WRESTLING NEWS

There are rumors that Hulk and Linda Hogan are close to reaching an out
of court settlement on their divorce. All I can say is that up until a
couple of weeks ago we were receiving regular press releases from
Linda’s rep but they have now ceased.

The Iron Sheik was at the recent ESPY Awards in Los Angeles. He was
walking around on his cane cutting promos on Hogan talking about how he
would “break his back with the camel clutch and make him humble!”

Former WWE wrestler Damien Demento at http://tinyurl.com/nom7k5 posted
another one of this rants on YouTube. He thinks that MMA is a work
because when the fighters are in a clinch they call spots. He also
thinks he can whip Brock Lesnar and that Dana White told Randy Couture
to drop the UFC title to him.

Lesnar was on Jim Rome earlier this week. He noted that he would like to
fight Fedor, which actually became a reality today after Affliction
folded as a company in return for UFC allowing them back as sponsors.

Sean “X-Pac” Waltman wrote on his MySpace that he is dating former WWE
Diva Nidia: “She treats me like a king and I do my best to treat her
like the queen that she is… Very cool to have her in my life.” He
talked about mostly wrestling in Mexico for AAA these days and said he
was doing an overseas tour with RVD and Sabu.

Vampiro is out of the hospital after breaking his back a couple of week
ago in Guadalajara, Mexico. He jumped 15 feet from his bedroom window
evading what he thought were robbers/kidnappers who had broken into his
house while he slept. It turned out the criminals had fled and it was
police doing a search, so naturally he freaked out when he woke to find
his bedroom door creaking open. He won’t be wrestling for a while but is
back patrolling with local chapter of the Guardian Angels that he heads
up.

Shane Douglas has an autobiography ready to go to press but is
finalising terms with a publisher.

Dr. Death Steve Williams, is having his retirement show on 10/25 in
Tokyo. During the 1990s he became one of the most successful foreign
athletes in Japanese wrestling history.

Terry Allen, better known as Magnum TA, chats with FOX Charlotte‘s Bruce
Snyder at http://tinyurl.com/lnyvh8. He talks about the accident that
ended his promising wrestling career, what he does now, and his
appearance at the www.nwalegends.com fanfest in August.

Maryland Championship Wrestling is having PPV party on Sunday in
Dundalk, MD. More info at www.marylandwrestling.com.

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WRESTLING GLOBE MAILBAG, QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Please send any mailbag letters or questions to
[email protected]

***

It seems that Brian Kendrick was moving up pretty fast along with
Ezekiel Jackson. Then the two of the split up and he has been on a
losing streak ever since. Now being scripted there aren’t winners and
losers per se, but still he appears to be going no where all of a
sudden. Any reason behind this? Also, why can’t Christian move to the
top any faster than he has? 

KW

MA: Christian seems to be in a pretty good spot right now as the top
babyface on ECW. I am sure his time will come. Not entirely sure what
the deal is with Kendrick, but he seems to be in the doghouse more times
than not. Vince and Stephanie are the only ones who can answer that
question.

***

I watch TNA on and off and it seems to me that they have an unusually
high rate of babyface/heel turns. Am I the only one that thinks this?

Every time I turn it on, someone is jumping sides. I know that nothing
creates heat or pops like a heel or face turn, but too many just looks
stupid. Especially when someone can see them coming ten miles away. I
didn’t even watch the match, but I knew that Eric Young was turning
heel. And Bobby Lashley, DUH!!

It reminds me of when I was a kid watching Memphis wrestling. If Lawler
had a mystery partner coming in to help against a pair of bad guys, you
could almost bet they would turn on him in like 5 minutes. You would
think that wrestling would be a little more advanced this day and age,
but I guess not.

Mike Gurley

MA: I can only dream that wrestling today is like it once was.

***

Taz went over like a turd in a punch bowl. He’s as handy as tits on a
bull. It was good to see that he’s eating regular. He’s not going to do
much in the ring, as he is one bad bump away from life in a wheelchair.
Lashley coming in is good for the company. His popping Angle was a good
twist. Then Lashley clears the ring, which was funny, as Nash and Booker
sort of jogged in place while waiting for their turns to be decked.

Tom Schultz

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