Matt Hardy goes off the deep end, more

• Well Matt Hardy posted what many were calling a suicide "note" in video form that turned out to be a rib and has upset his sister-in-law among others. Police were called not only to Matt's place of residence but also to brother Jeff to perform a welfare check after receiving over 50 calls to their emergency line.
• Hardy recently claimed that ghosts were to blame for his bizarre behavior and then claimed to have been visited by angels and that he was now addiction free. This latest stunt from the troubled grappler shows a man still haunted by his demons and in search of attention. Unfortunately the attention he is getting from these antics in negative attention and will not help him in the long run. Hardy is soon to become another wrestling tragedy unless something is done to help him with his issues.
• The recent article about Ric Flair that outlined his life outisde wrestling that many inside wrestling already knew seems to have irritated the former World Champion to the point that he is threatening to sue the journalist who wrote the article. Shane Ryan, who penned the article that laments Flair and his money woes, marital woes and alleges that Flair suffers from a heart condition due to years of alcohol excess, is standing by his article that was based mainly on public record documents. Flair seems to be most upset over the allegations that he suffers from Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy caused by years of alcohol abuse.
• Kevin Nash was pulled from recent WWE work and work in Canada due to reported medical issues and things should progress once he is cleared. It could be that he sucks, is overrated and no one gives a whopping shit about him any longer.
• Sin Cara is not Sin Cara...so there you go.
• I saw the "latest" news on the Undertaker and his newly shaved dome and that article said that yes indeed it was true, he had cut his hair. And people pay for that stuff...
• Bruno Sammartino, who had heart valve replacement earlier this summer, is said to be recovering well. Sammartino refused pain killers before, during and after this surgery so anyone really want to debate who the baddest man on the planet may be?
• Friend of the show Scott Ferenczi, one of the best photographers wrestling has seen, is selling over 500 autographed 8x10 photos for $1500 which is a kick-ass price. I have a number of his photos in my collection both autographed and not and I have seen the ones he is selling and they are worth more than what he is asking.
• I really wish other sites would stop reporting that former WCW World Champion David Arquette is going to be on Dancing with the Stars. To start off with how annoying this is, Arquette was never a "World Champion" because WCW had, in all honesty, stopped being a wrestling company, it was a farce. Calling Arquette a "champion" of anything at this stage of the game is pointedly ignorant.
• From the not news department, Bruiser Bedlam has been linked to another murder in Canada.
• Sarita, long of Impact Wrestling, will appear in the NBC special "Children of 9/11" that will air on Labor Day.
• Friend of the show Jerry Wilson will return to the Barthlomew County Fairgrounds 4H building this Saturday with his Hoosier Pro Wrestling. For over 10 years HPW has been providing quality wrestling entertainment for Indiana fans. If you are in the Columbus, IN area this weekend be sure to check out HPW it is the best wrestling since Bruiser.
• Another note on Matt Hardy, headlines abound that say "what did Matt Hardy do when police knocked on his door?" Well the obvious would be to tell Reby to "flush that shit."
• In "duh" news of the day, some WWE performers labeled Hardy pathetic in response to the death video. Well duh...
• MVP is said to be playing a new character, DUD.
• Cookie is gone from Impact Wrestling if anyone cares...

Matt Hardy believes in ghosts, Hogan porn and more

• A lot of weirdness coming from the Matt Hardy issues of the past week. Hardy crashed his Corvette into a tree and was arrested for DUI. Police said that Hardy was under the influence of an intoxicant, not necessarily alcohol, after Hardy claimed he was not drunk. Hardy posted some bizarre videos post-arrest and then was taken to the hospital on Wednesday after falling down some stairs in his home. There are reports that say Hardy went on a tirade and started destroying his house before the accident happened. 
• Reby Sky, the girlfriend of Hardy, seems to be coming under attack by some fans of the grappler almost blaming her for getting Hardy drunk, which was not the case. Sky lashed back at her Twitter attacker saying that Hardy would not be alive if not for her. This recent series of events have left Sky exhausted, heartbroken and scared among other things.
• Still on Hardy, there are a number of friends and family members who are worried about the mental state of the former WWE and Impact Wrestling star. There is a stronger movement to get Hardy to enter into a treatment program to deal with his addiction problems but there is no indication at this point he will be going. Brother Jeff is reportedly starting back for Impact Wrestling this week and has for the most part been strangely silent over this whole affair.
• Cris Cyborg, who was rumored to be trying to get a deal with the WWE if she was unable to secure a new contract with Strikeforce re-signed with the MMA group.
• Mick Foley and his return to the WWE is all but ink drying on the contract at this point.
• From the no one cares news department, Todd Grisham is now on the ESPN team.
• From the eeewww but interesting news room, Third Degree Films is releasing an adult video parody based on "Hogan Knows Best."
• There seems to be an outpouring of disdain from veteran wrestlers about how new comers are behaving in the locker room. A major breech in etiquette is not shaking hands and introducing yourself to everyone in the back. I have been on both sides of this and have felt the wrath of some well respected veterans for not taking a moment to shake hands and introduce myself even if they will never remember who I am. My reluctance to shake hands is a ridiculous one because I simply do not like to shake hands with someone who does a halfhearted attempt to do so or has a limp wrist shake which is prominent in most locker rooms. That is not because they cannot shake with a firm grip but because they are used to shaking so many hands in such a quick time. See how ridiculous my argument is for not wanting to shake hands as it is for some of the vets to be pissed because the newbies are not doing so?
• Recent cancellations of Monday Smackdown shows that have a lot of people talking are due to stars from both shows appearing on RAW and there is little more to it than that.
• The Young Bucks are back in ROH but was there ever any doubt that is where they would end up?
• From the gossip files, Mickie Knuckles is rumored to be involved in the IWA Mid-South upcoming King of the Death Match tournament in September. Many are saying this will not happen after her treatment by Ian Rotten but according to the new owners of the promotion she is welcome back and Ian will have nothing to due with the group. As an aside Ian Rotten is allegedly slated to appear as the commissioner at some point. Only time will tell...
• The Federal Government is cracking down on web providers who stream sporting PPVs illegally. 
• The recently released Top 50 Incidents in WWE History is another one to pass by and leave on the shelf.
• The Rock is said to be involved with an upcoming NBC venture that will be a drama related to pro wrestling.
• Jeff Katz must be on the things that wreck a wrestling career because he is fronting the Wrestling Revolution promotion with Colt Cabana, Luther and now Ken Doane as "talent." Well hell, if they are talent maybe he can hire me as a writer...wait.
• Friends of the show K&S WrestleFest are acquiring some heavy hitters for their Diva Reunion to take place in New Jersey. Lined up so far are Torrie Wilson, Stacy Carter, friend of the show Chyna, Rockin' Robin, Terri "Ain't got no herpes" Runnels, Debra, Wendi Richter and others.
• Also from the soon to be failed upcoming wrestling promotions, Billy Corgan has "signed" Raven along with Harry Smith and Teddy Hart.
• And finally, just to add to the craziness that is Matt Hardy, he is blaming ghosts for his recent episodes. Well, who you gonna' call?

A Rotten commissioner, Matt Hardy craziness and more

• There appears to be some confusion over the arrest of Matt Hardy for DUI after he crashed his Corvette into a tree. Hardy was arrested and charged with DUI, driving under the influence which does not single out alcohol as an intoxicant. Hardy stated via Twitter that he passed the breathalyzer which prompted some to come to the conclusion that he was falsely charged. Shortly after his mugshot hit the internet thanks to TMZ then many jumped on the bandwagon that he was under the influence of something other than alcohol. Authorities even released a statement that he was obviously under the control of a mind altering substance.
• Matt Hardy was released by Impact Wrestling shortly after his arrest. Jeff Hardy, who has his own issues with substance abuse and is awaiting adjudication on his drug possession and distribution charges stemming from an arrest last year has said via Twitter that he will be on the road this week with Impact Wrestling.
• Major silliness from the Hulk Hogan camp and the ongoing ex-wife drama is the statement from Linda Hogan that she believes Hulk and Ed Leslie had an intimate relationship. No one in their right mind would believe that at this point and word is what really happened was Linda's mother walked in on Leslie in bed with an amazonian looking blonde who was mistaken for Hulk. Whatever sells your book I guess...
• From the IWA Mid-South, who is allegedly under "new" ownership and looking to run a King of the Death Match tournament in September in Bellevue, Illinois, which early posters on the message board state Bellevue, Indiana, is word that there are plans to bring Ian Rotten in as a commissioner. Rotten categorically denies that he will have anything to do with the group. My source has said that plans are already laid out for this to happen. Rotten recently appeared for Mitch Ryder which Rotten said was simply to train a couple of guys.
• Mexi-Mini Rey Mysterio will be undergoing surgery on his bad knees and will be out for a little while. Mysterio has said he is looking at retiring soon and this surgery may prompt him to move up the date.
• DH Smith, son of legendary British Bulldog, said the WWE has merchandise that belongs to him that the company is dragging their heels on returning to him. Ring gear of Owen Hart and Davey Boy is being held hostage by the WWE according to Smith and one item that was returned to him, a framed photo of his father, was badly damaged. 
• Jimmy Wang Yang has said he has finally been paid by Impact Wrestling for his appearance on PPV. The initial payment made via check bounced prompting Yang to take to the internet in protest.
• Friend of the show Jerry Jarrett, who has a great book available that is a must read, has lashed out at the creative team in Impact Wrestling saying the "cancer must be cut out" and stating he cannot understand how "a person who has a 15 year history of failure still keep a job" in reference to Vince Russo. Jarrett and son Jeff have not spoken much recently and their relationship is said to be very strained.
• Miss Tessmacher is said to be shooting a pilot for a reality show. That will be good TV I am sure.
• Brooke Hogan is filming scenes for a straight to DVD release called "2 Headed Shark Attack" that is set to be released in January of next year. Probably not one I will add to my collection.
• Shad Gaspard will be in a movie titled "Untouchable" that starts shooting next year. The former Cryme Tyme member will have a leading role in yet another movie that will probably not be in my library.
• Millennium Wrestling Federation, to help celebrate their 10th anniversary, will be bringing in The Boogeyman, who is replacing Al Snow. Hopefully MWF was able to secure Boogeyman for less than what Snow wants.
• Mick Foley did indeed appear on Celebrity Wife Swap so that is must watch TV.
• Team Punk v. Team HHH at Survivor Series is a possibility.
• From the who the hell cares department, Jason Hervey and Johnny Fairplay are having a bitch fest toward one another. I cannot think of any two people who mean less to professional wrestling than these two goofs. See what kind of "news" you get when you foolishly subscribe to some of the wrestling sites?
• From the stating the obvious department, JBL said on the HonkyTonk Man's radio show that he does not understand how Vince Russo still has a job and Dutch Mantell does not. Well Dutch is doing very well with his training academy and with his books so I doubt the daily grind is something he would really want though I cannot speak for him. Mantell is one of the best booking minds in the business and at one point was on the creative team in Impact Wrestling. Russo has a job because in wrestling it is who you know or who you are related to and he knows and maintains friendships with enough power people to keep his job. 
• I saw something funny in connection to the Matt Hardy DUI arrest. Hardy claims that the wreck made him see the light and he is now vice free and the blood of an angel flowed through his veins. That had to be some wicked shit he took...
• Brett DiBiase is soon to be gone from the WWE developmental gig.
• Damian 666, who some are touting as a former WCW star but was never really that associated with the group, is going to retire. The 50 year old veteran is racked with injuries and decided it was time to leave the squared circle.
• The Gathering of the Juggalos, that had an all-star line-up, mostly from the 80s, was said to be just awful this year. With matches ranging from 13 second one move matches, Rock&Roll Express v. Midnight Express to a 61 year old wrestling a 68 year old who could barely move, Bob Backlund v. Ken Patera, and starting over two hours late, I am just glad I did not waste the money on the iPPV.
• Steve Austin has said there will be a Tough Enough season 2 and that he would entertain a match with CM Punk. 
• The Young Bucks felt the wrath of Booker T but no one could understand what the hell Booker said. Even with an Ebonics handbook and the Urban Dictionary for a reference I could not figure out what was being said. 
• This would be a match for the ages, Goldberg v. Batista, both are goofs, one brought nothing to the show and the other bitched about everything he had to do to make it to the show. If this were a shoot, I would be down for it but in a worked match, just does nothing.
• Impact Wrestling seemingly full of contradictions lately have seen their ratings and PPV buys continue to fall. The company said they were in the black, meaning they were positive in the money column, then the Jimmy Yang check debacle came out and since it has been a series of "shit we had better shut up" episodes since.
• Wrestling Superstars Uncensored, who has booked Melina for their show in November is trying to squash reports that Melina is asking for $3000 to appear in addition to first class accommodations. The group says they are paying nowhere near that and saying that whomever leaked that information must have an agenda. She might be worth Al Snow money but only if there are pictures involved.

Hogan, Hardy Boys, Nash and more

• Hulk Hogan is said to have gotten into an argument with Vince Russo but the kissed and made up shortly after. It sounds somewhat contrived to me since it was the same old argument that everyone seems to make, Russo does not know what he is doing since he was never in the ring or even in the business.
• More on Hogan, word is Dancing With The Stars wants the former World Champion to appear but he has turned them down. ABC producers are hopeful that they can convince him to appear anyway and Brooke Hogan has also been mentioned.
• Yet more on Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior has taken his hate speech toward Hogan to Facebook and the vitriolic comments were removed by the social media site. Warrior is of course blaming Hogan for the comments being removed and Hogan is saying that fans must have reported what was said, not he.
• There are still noises coming from Impact Wrestling regarding the Hardy Brothers and their status with the company. Early reports have said that Impact Wrestling wants both of them to attend rehab to deal with their addiction issues and both have refused. Matt Hardy has gone on record as saying that is not the case and it appears both he and Jeff are in denial about their abuse of drugs and/or alcohol. Word I am getting from those in the know are Impact Wrestling has said they will not use either of the Hardy Brothers until this problem has been addressed. Let us just hope these two do not end up as another statistic.
• The Gathering of the Juggalos was said to have been off the charts and featured a match between Terry Funk and Roddy Piper. Television actor Charlie Sheen was hosting the event and was said to have received a lukewarm reception but at least he was not attacked like Tia Tequila last year.
• Kevin Nash back on TV in the WWE, maybe this is the beginning of Armageddon.
• Gail Kim to Impact Wrestling is expected to happen once she is able to move.
• The WWE suspended a referee and a no-name worker for wellness policy violations.
• Matt and Nick Jackson, long of TNA as the Buck Brothers, received a tryout for the WWE. They would be a great addition but with the track record of the WWE where tag teams are concerned it might not be the best thing for them. One of the reasons they were unhappy in Impact Wrestling was the break-up angle and that happens sooner rather than later in the WWE. All bets are off though because word from the grapevine is the WWE is looking to shore up the tag team division which could be the Triple H influence.
• "The Best of Times" written by Jerry Jarrett is an excellent read and highly recommended to anyone who likes historical but fun wrestling books. Coming out soon is a pictorial history of wrestling's great stars by renowned photographer George Napolitano. Paul Heyman has a book due at the end of October as well called "The Heyman Hustle" which should be a worthwhile read.
• I will not say too much about Alberto Del Rio and his win of the WWE Championship over CM Punk this passed weekend. I like the Money In The Bank concept somewhat although it feels somewhat like the Hardcore Title crap. In my opinion it weakens the run with the belt when a contender beats the champion directly after a rough title defense. Del Rio looks weak right now by taking advantage of Punk who was in no shape to defend right after beating Cena. This also takes the very hot Punk angle and waters it down so dramatically that he may as well just go to ROH and see what they can do with him.
• Maybe Kevin Nash should work Del Rio for the belt and win it then let Punk step on his chest to win it back. 
• Brooke Hogan is lashing out at those who would mock her relationship with her father as something less above board. Hogan said she is tired of people thinking the two have some perverted thing going on and shame on them for thinking such a thing. Hogan has no use for Brooke since he married a woman who looks just like his daughter.
• A little bird has told me that Chyna is negotiating to appear in another Vivid feature in the future.
• Desmond Wolfe is back in ROH but as a commentator, not a worker. It is interesting that he has been unable to return to the ring yet no one seems to know why exactly. It has been alleged that he has Hepatitis C and that is why he was taken off Impact Wrestling TV and eventually released. Wolfe has denied those claims saying instead that he has an undisclosed issue that is preventing him from wrestling. There is some plausibility with that though because there are many wrestlers who have Hep C who are still in the ring including The Hep C Kid Sean Waltman.
• Jimmy Yang is still claiming that he has yet to be paid for his Destination X PPV appearance and that there are those in Impact Wrestling who say he is being unprofessional by going public with his claims. Yang said that the check he first received did not clear and the company has made no effort to make it good. Friend of the show Mike Mooneyham reported a short time back that Impact Wrestling owed Ric Flair a significant amount of money and Dave Meltzer has said that those who have been contacted to come to Impact Wrestling have been told by the CFO that the company is bleeding money. All this comes on the heels of reports that the company was solvent for the first time.
• The Heyman Hustle has a new gallery of Impact Wrestling Knockout SoCal Val who is posing in some shots with Traci Brooks.
• Hulk Hogan is still whining about losing out on being the guy to do the "Foreman Grill" gimmick. The popular grill that has made former boxing champion George Foreman a lot of money was originally slated to have Hogan as the shill according to Hogan. The Hulkster is lamenting that he missing out on $450 or more but I do not believe he is looking at this in the right manner. Had Hulk Hogan made that much money it would have just been that much more he would have had to pay to ex-wife Linda plus continue to pay her 60% of the royalties.

Terri sues New Jack, Brook Hogan nude, AWA star passes

• Terri Runnels, the ex-wife of Dustin "Goldust" Runnels, son of former NWA Champion Dusty Rhodes, has filed a libel suit against New Jack for making claims that Runnels has spread a variety of venereal disease including herpes and HIV. New Jack also has stated that Runnels starts her mornings with drugs and alcohol. Runnels also wants to stop New Jack from trying to sell sexually explicit photos of the former WWE Diva. New Jack has stated his claims about Runnels on YouTube as well as in shoot interviews he has conducted. As an aside this is not the first time I have heard these claims nor just from New Jack. Runnels has "categorically denied" the claims which is a term often used by politicians trying to cover-up indiscretions.
• On the heels of irony for Impact Wrestling, who claim to be in the black for the first time in years, comes the claim by Jimmy Yang who says he waited for four weeks (which is normal) for his paycheck for the Destination X PPV but then the check bounced. If true this would certainly not reflect well on the company to have bounced a check for such a relatively small amount especially after saying they were solvent.
• Former AWA wrestler and boxer Scott LeDux has passed away at the age of 62. LeDux, who was once the executive director of the Minnesota Combat Sports Commission had battled Lou Gehrig's Disease.
• From the WWE now, Heath Slater has been accused on improperly touching a security guard during WrestleMania XXVII weekend and trying to force her into his hotel room. Corinne Oliver claims she was able to free herself from the clutches of Slater and later learned of his identity. Atlanta Police are investigating the claims and as of now no charges have been filed but Oliver would like to see her alleged attacker arrested. Oliver claims Slater put her in a choke hold and tried to force her into his hotel room. A spokesperson for the WWE had no comment saying only that the allegations were against Slater and that the company had no involvement.
• Mattel is planning on a John Cena/Rock action figure combo in conjunction with next year's WrestleMania.
• Hulk Hogan posed with his lady and his lady love at the premier of daughter Brooke's PETA campaign ad. I am creeped out, especially after some news organizations are posting the photos of Hulk putting suntan oil between Brooke's legs.
• As if the Government is not in enough trouble Linda McMahon has reportedly hired a campaign manager for another run at the Senate.
• Melina said that she was not done wrestling yet but no one really heard her.
• Some people are upset over my comments regarding the Hep-C Kid Sean Waltman...yeah it is my fault he is diseased.
• Shane Douglas has gone on record saying Impact Wrestling is a failure even though they have good talent. It is great that someone like Shane is finally getting on-board with what everyone else has been saying for some time now. Guess you will do anything to try and stay relevant, like starting a blog, wait...
• More on the Samoa Joe to WWE story, seems that Joe is in a rut in Impact Wrestling and that the creative team has little for him at this point which leads to further speculation that he will be jumping soon. I just do not understand how "creative" can be so not creative in finding good programs for some of these guys. Joe has been a star for the group since its inception and suddenly the company has run out of ideas for him? 
• Saying that we have had Bladerunner Sting, Sting, Crow Sting, Retro Sting and now Joker Sting. What is next, no makeup and just plain Steve Boring, er, Borden?
• What is next, oh, how old is Hulk Hogan since it was his birthday yesterday? Do you really fucking care?
• Humble Pie Films, trying to steal my gimmick, has sent out a press release about Roddy Piper and his new movie "Fancy Pants." The release starts off with "how does a wrestler with only one fan left end his career?" Next someone will steal my Hep-C Kid stuff...
• The WWE Greatest SuperStars of the 21st Century is a piece of shit DVD and you really should not waste your money. The Best of Nitro and Greatest Cage Matches are book worth putting out your $20 for...unless you work at Wal-Mart and then you get a discount.
• Vladimir Kozlov will be working, if you can call what he does working, in Japan along with DH Smith who is still talking smack about going to Strikeforce. Would be interesting to see Smith in the cage against Bobby Lashely but that would be too much like a pro wrestling match...if either of them could wrestle.
• Saw a headline elsewhere about Orlando Jordan talking about his release from Impact Wrestling and how he left. Well I cannot pass that up, you all know how he left, through the back door of course. See that is funny because he is bi-sexual...Hi Welcome to Wal-Mart.
• Congratulations to Matt and Stephanie who are to be married tomorrow by the best wedding officiant in the business Reverend Jerry Wiseman.
• And Then The Bell Rings...have a great weekend folks.

Lawler v. Funk, Brooke Hogan nude, Valuable collectables and more

• Today is the day everyone, well maybe just Hulk Hogan, but PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) unveils a new campaign featuring a nude but selectively covered Brooke Hogan.
• Jerry Lawler will be part of Dory Funk Jr.s "Bang TV" that he runs as part of his training facility in Ocala, Florida.
• Davey Richards has extended his contract with ROH which is a boon for the company. The debut of the new ROH show produced by Sinclair Broadcasting is highly anticipated. Many feel that ROH could possibly become the number two group pushing out Impact Wrestling.
• DH Smith, recently cut by the WWE is allegedly in negotiations with Strikeforce about a possible MMA deal.
• There is talk that the WWE may be bringing back some past "stars" included among them are JBL and Batista. With the scandal over Batista and his daughter's sex video it is doubtful that the WWE is interested.
•  Boring news about Gail Kim and Melina, Women Superstars Uncensored is said to be interested in bringing them in and "fans" have started a Twitter petition to get Melina on the ABC hit show Dancing With The Stars.
• There is a debate on the status of Matt and Jeff Hardy and Impact Wrestling. There are reports that Impact Wrestling has not brought them back due to their refusal to enter a rehab program for their addiction problems. Matt Hardy has disputed these claims with a simple "not the case, at all."
• The upcoming Impact Wrestling taping scheduled for August 25 in Huntsville, AL is seeing very poor ticket sales. Going on the road has been hit or miss for the group though mostly miss and this show has a 400 advance. Many people say that if the group leaves Orlando to tape they do not do well but seem to forget the taping in Orlando is free.
• Steve Austin has said that the WWE should sign Impact Wrestling star Samoa Joe and there is word that the two sides are interested. Not sure this would be the best move career wise for Joe since he is not the prototypical "type" of worker the WWE covets. If he wants a couple of good money years then this is probably a good fit.
• More on Melina, there is talk that Impact Wrestling may be interested in her "services."
• Blast from the past news former XPW promoter and porn king Rob Black, who served time in jail for sending obscene materials through the US mail, is back making adult films and a number of the star the former girlfriend of Paul London, Ms. Andy San Dimas.
• The internet rumor mongers are abuzz with "news" that Steve Austin will wrestle CM Punk at WrestleMania next year. No plans are currently in place for this to happen.
• Mickie James has raised almost twice what she needed to produce her next CD getting over $9,000 from fans.
• For the collectors out there here are a few valuable autographs for you: Al Costello-$35, Antonio Rocca-$125, Blue Blazer-$225, Bronco Nagurski-$100, Bruiser Brody-$125, Buddy Rogers-$60, Destroyer-$100, Frank Gotch-$100, Gorgeous George-$200, Johnny Valentine-$75, Red Rooster-$60, Sailor Art Thomas-$75, Ed "The Sheik" Farhat-$75, The Crusher-$50, The Rock-$35, Wild Bull Curry-$75
• If you happen to have any of the old Remco AWA wrestling figures some of the most valuable are The Fabulous Ones which can get up to $100 if still in the package as can The High Flyers while the Road Warriors  can fetch $75. Loose figures can still get a fair price as long as there is not a lot of wear.

Orndorff well, Undertaker bald, JCW Legends Show and more

• Good news coming out of the NWA Legends fanfest is that "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff said he is cancer free and on the mend. Orndorff stated in an interview with Bill Apter that he was looking at up to a year to fully recover.
• There is hope for me yet, former Baltimore newspaper writer and pro wrestling blogger (hence the tie in) has been hired to be part of the creative team in the WWE. Kevin Eck wrote a blog for the Baltimore Sun.
• Hulk Hogan is getting heat for comments he made in a UK interview concerning the riots that are going on in that country. Hogan said that he should "go over there and lay some boots" on the rioters, who are upset with British police who shot and killed a young father of four who was a suspect after police believed he fired upon them.
• People are reacting in a negative way to seeing The Undertaker with a shaved head, which was reported here last month. Many believe it makes him look much older than he actually is.
• Mexi-Mini Rey Mysterio Jr. had an MRI on his damaged knee and is looking at more surgery. Mysterio is not on the booking sheets for SummerSlam until a decision is made over what to do with his bad leg.
• My request to the new owners of the IWA Mid-South is being ignored to date. I cannot say I am heartbroken nor do I blame them.
• On the heels of a major announcement by Impact Wrestling that the company is operating in the black (which means they are showing a profit Hi Welcome to Wal-Mart) are the releases of many in the front office. A major reason for the recent cash infusion is a sponsorship deal with Direct Auto which is ironic because the responsible party for bringing the insurance company on-board was let go.
• Shane Helms, in his continued effort to stay relevant, has said he was "offered" a book deal and he has the stories to tell but does not have the energy to pen such a tale right now. 
• Want to remind everyone that Friday is the JCW show featuring a match between Roddy Piper and Terry Funk in only the second time the two have met in the ring. Dutch Mantell, Chyna, The Hep-C Kid Sean Waltman, Bob Backlund, Bob Orton, the Headbangers, Ronnie Garvin and a lot more superstars will be in attendance. You can watch the show on iPPV.
• On October 1, 2011 the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame will be honoring Angelo Savoldi who is said to be the world's oldest living professional wrestler. Those in attendance include Tito Santana, JJ Dillion, Bob Backlund, Domenic DeNucci and Danny O'Hannon.
• Word is Edge will be signing autographs prior to SummerSlam.
• Conan O'Brien, one of the most unfunny late night talk show people ever, will have Sheamus on his show this Thursday. Maybe they will sit around and talk about who is more pale.
• Melina, who is with John Morrison, has been attending shows with Morrison however she was not allowed in the back during a live taping. Guess Morrison is not the one to sleep with if she wants to stay in the good graces of the company.
• Brooke Hogan is in a new campaign for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and will be appearing nude in new posters. She will be tastefully and thankfully covered in strategic spots but the real heat is again on her famous father Hulk Hogan. Hulk said that he was going to celebrate his birthday by watching the unveiling of his nude daughter. Rub some more lotion on that Hulk brother...
• The DVD of the debacle that is the Urban Wrestling Federation is due out soon with a lot of extras (more cussing and unintelligible interviews?) and if you want to waste your money go ahead. 
• Ah good old Gail Kim, she said in response to a question from her one fan, that while Triple H is in charge Vince McMahon still runs the WWE. Well thank you for telling us that wonderful, enlightening news tidbit Ms. State the Obvious.
• Chris Masters did an interview recently where he called out some on the WWE roster that he felt were overrated. Guess with a cranium that large it is difficult to look in the mirror. He and Barry Bonds should form a tag team, the HGH Express.
• Oh pity, amid all the speculation that Ric Flair was on the outs with Impact Wrestling, he is not. 
• The son of legendary singer and actor Kris Kristofferson, a name not many of you would know, had a tryout match with the WWE. Jody Kristofferson is using the "Big Country" gimmick and good luck with that.

Goldturd returning, Gail Kim still clucking, Foley day job and more

• Bill Goldberg says he is planning on a return to wrestling before the end of the year which begs a better question than where he is going and that is why?
• Gail Kim is making a lot of noise over her departure from the WWE arguing back and forth as to whether she quit or was fired and why the WWE is holding her to the remainder of her contract, more the non-compete clause than anything, especially after they "could not find a constructive way to use her abilities." Well, at least she will eat well being engaged to Chef of the Celebrities Robert Irvine.
• I saw a recent video of Mick Foley doing stand-up comedy and all I can say about that is, I hope he does another book or the WWE signs him, comedy is not his thing. Mick Foley is to comedy what Louie Anderson is to being straight.
• In news that is not news Melina is ticked over a comment Beth Phoenix made about "no more splits" which could be the reason the WWE cut Melina to start with, all the title belt rings had finally fallen out.
• For all of those who are heartbroken over the "early" retirement of Edge due to his neck injury and think his career was cut short, Edge has gone on record that he would have been leaving the ring after WrestleMania 28 anyway.
• Jimmy Lennon was one of the most prolific ring announcers in the history of pro wrestling but damn Jimmy Lennon Jr. just sucks ass water.
• DH Smith, who was recently cut by the WWE, has revealed his post WWE plans that include going to Japan. Guess marrying deeper into a family and dying young due to drug abuse is not on his agenda just yet.
• I have extended an open invitation to the new owners of the IWA Mid-South promotion to come on "And Then The Bell Rings" to discuss the direction of the group now that Ian Rotten is no longer part of the show. King of the Death Match shows have been announced for September in Bellevue, Illinois which is one of the only facilities that will allow those kind of matches. I am not sure when Bellevue, Illinois became part of the Mid-South but then again Examiner.com has ruled Ohio part of the Mid-Atlantic so maybe there is some sort of global shift I am unaware of.
• Dixie Carter is said to be thrilled about Sting's new look and how he has reinvented himself. Dark Journey anyone?
• Want to say "Thank You" again to The Tony Myers for one of the most talked about interviews in quite some time. The Tony Myers The Interview was so big it had to be done in two parts and is available on this site. A lot of feedback from those in and out of the business has made this one a close second to the Ian Rotten "And Then The Bell Rings" which will appear here in the coming weeks.
• A little controversy regarding Colt Cabana and whether or not he worked another dark match for RAW, who cares he is a glorified JOBBER anyway. 
• Yes, I continue to live in my world of relative obscurity but that is okay...
• Zach Ryders Internet Championship belt looks great, congrats to Wildcat Belts but honestly, why the fuck does wrestling need an Internet Championship? 
• I am about half-way through the Brock Lesnar book "Death Clutch" and it is an interesting read. I would recommend you pick up a copy if you have not already.
• Some other books I would add to my library if I did not already have them (which means you my dear "Hi Welcome to Wal-Mart" greeter reader need to get) would be Dutch Mantell's books and also the new tome from Jerry Jarrett as well as the Stan Hansen book.
• Eight people in the FCW (under)developmental system have been cut so good luck to them.
• The NWA Legends convention was this past weekend and from all indications it was the place to be. I plan on attending the show next year with Ox Baker which should be interesting.
• Friend of the show Jerry Wilson and his Hoosier Pro Wrestling based in Columbus, Indiana continue to present some of the best indie wrestling around the Mid-West. This past Saturday "Diceman" Ronnie Vegas defeated former partner TJ Powers in a great match. The show included Flash Flanagan and Brian Beech, two of the most underrated workers in the business.

Mickie wants money, The Rock and PPV, NWA Legends and more

• Impact Wrestling Knockout and aspiring country music artist Mickie James is asking fans to contribute to the making of her sophomore CD by donating funds. So far James has raised $1,600 toward the $5,000 she claims to need. Fans who donate in various amounts can receive a variety of bonus items and you can learn more here.
• Even though WWE CEO Vince McMahon has said The Rock would be making an appearance at several upcoming WWE PPVs the current filming schedule for The Rock would make that difficult. Many feel that having The Rock appear too much in the build to the WrestleMania PPV could water down the angle unless handled very carefully.
• The NWA Legends convention is this weekend in Atlanta, GA and there are many former and current wrestling alumni scheduled to appear including Dr. D David Schultz who has had little to do with wrestling since he was blacklisted over his involvement in the 20/20 investigation done by John Stossel where Schultz boxed the ears of Stossel allegedly on the orders of Vince McMahon.
• Sin Cara is said to be coming back to the WWE after all and Alberto Del Rio is slated to with the WWE Championship soon.
• On the heels of CAPW promoter and wrestler JT Lightning passing away after a long battle with cancer there is word from OVW that former champion Rod Steele has also passed on with early reports saying that he took his own life. Our thoughts and prayers are with both families.
• The Amazing Red is gone from Impact Wrestling.
• Jeremiah Riggs who has recently made some biting comments about his time in developmental in FCW is getting a ton of heat including FCW wrestler Seth Rollins saying that Riggs was "10 words from an ass kicking" while Riggs was in the area. Riggs has stated he went up against Dusty Rhodes as well as others while he was on "Tough Enough" and many felt he had a bad attitude. In all honesty there is some truth to what Riggs has been saying, Dusty is only there to get a paycheck, Steve Keirn had glory as Steve Keirn in Florida and as part of the Fabulous Ones but everything else has been a disaster for him. Keirn is not the first person to pick to learn the craft of wrestling from and neither is Hugh Morrus who is little more than a bully as has been proven by his actions previously. 
• Riggs is not the only one to have spoken out against the FCW training ground though he has been the most vocal and by using social media, heard the loudest. The problems in FCW right now are one of the reasons OVW is being considered to regain the developmental contract. The amount of stars to come out of OVW compared to FCW in a similar time frame is very telling.
• Speaking of OVW, Ring of Honor will be back in Louisville, KY soon to tape again.
• Dragon Gate USA will be in my home town of Indianapolis, IN on September 9, 2011 then in subsequent days in Chicago, IL, and Milwaukee, WI.
• Vince Jones, Mike Miller and Kevin Adams are reportedly the new "owners" of the IWA Mid-South formerly ran by Ian Rotten. Rotten folded the promotion and left professional wrestling after a disastrous appearance on "And Then The Bell Rings" where he admitted to insurance fraud, illegal distribution of a controlled substance and domestic violence. 
• Matt Hardy made a somewhat interesting comment via Twitter that makes his status with Impact Wrestling tenuous at best. Hardy stated "to all promoters that have contacted me about working for them, I just wanted to let you know that I've kinda got everything on hold for now." Hardy went on to ask for patience when trying to book him for upcoming events. 
• Mick Foley may be appearing on "Celebrity Wife Swap" even though fans voted that he should not appear on the show.
• Jerry Jarrett and Stan Hansen are getting rave reviews for their recent book releases. I would suggest getting your copy of both, especially while you can still get the Jarrett book autographed. Scott Teal worked with Hansen on his book and Teal is one of the best in the business when it comes to journalism and history.
• Stacy Keibler and George Clooney are said to be "just having fun" with their relationship. Since Clooney reportedly flew Keibler over to Italy could he be considered to be like the Abu Dhabi sheiks who pay an enormous amount of money to entertain American models and lesser known stars? Would that make Keibler a pseudo-prostitute?
• Friend of the show Flash Flanagan as well as mega-star "Diceman" Ronnie Vegas and Brian Beech will be appearing this weekend for my friend Jerry "King" Wilson at the Hoosier Pro Wrestling show in Columbus, IN at the 4H Building on the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds. HPW is the best wrestling since Bruiser so check it out if you are in the area.
• Also this weekend WAR Wrestling will be doing a show at the Auglaize County Fair in Wapakoneta, OH after the OWA had to pull out. WAR always puts on a first rate show and if you are in the area check them out. We at the OWA thank WAR and everyone involved for helping us out and we apologize to all those affected by not being able to produce this show as we had planned.
• Still getting a lot of feedback about The Tony Myers The Interview that appeared on these pages earlier this week. The two part interview gave a good look at who Tony is and how he feels about a couple of staples in the USWA/Memphis territory. Randy Hales is said to be very not happy with some of the comments made.
• Speaking of people not happy, NWA World Champion Adam Pearce is less than thrilled with the comments made in a recent news column that appeared here. Bob Trobich is also unhappy with my commentary regarding the circumstances with The Sheik being stripped of the title saying that The Sheik gave his word to attend the show at the Ohio State Fair and then refused to appear and then by The Sheik still having possession of the belt, it made him a thief. The Sheik should return the belt but there is a lot more to why The Sheik did not keep his scheduled defense on July 31.
• Best wishes to friend of the show and infamous photographer Scott Romer.
• The WWE made $14 million in profit for the quarter most of it from WrestleMania.

JT Lightning in dire straights, phony Bobo Brazil Jr. and more

• There is a guy on the east coast using a Bobo Brazil Jr. gimmick and it is not the same person that has been using the monicker for the last 25 years in the Mid-West. Still trying to get more info on who the other guy is, he has been working for New Jersey based NWS. The "original" Bobo Brazil Jr. who suffered a stroke some months back is making steady progress in his recovery and said he is in good health and spirits.
• Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling promoter/owner J.T. Lightning is said to be finally losing his battle with cancer and all the wrestling community is asking for prayers.
• There is a nasty rumor regarding a former WWE Diva who dated one of the most controversial and some say craziest wrestler's in the business that alleges she gave him herpes. Gossip sure but it makes for a good story.
• A lot of great feedback regarding The Tony Myers The Interview that appeared on these pages. 
• JCW canceled an iPPV event scheduled for Columbus, Ohio this coming weekend with no official reason given.
• Highspots.com is said to be offering $100,000 each to the Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan to sit down and do a face-to-face interview. I will offer them $10 no to...
• Maryese, who was the target of a deranged stalker which prompted the WWE to provide extra security at events recently, is undergoing surgery for a hernia and will be out for a short time.
• Ric Flair, who has heat with the powers that be in Impact Wrestling , is on the booking sheet to work the No Surrender PPV in September.
• The Sheik, who was stripped of the NWA World Championship recently is said to have been reluctant to drop the title to Adam Pearce because The Sheik felt Pearce was not willing to drop the title to him and instead used Colt Cabana as a transitional champion. The Sheik also felt he had brought some respectability to the title after having had defended it in Japan and did not think it was the right time to release the belt to Pearce. As a result of all of this The Sheik was stripped of the title prompting a three-way match with Chance Prophet and Shawn Tempers that turned into a poorly booked four-way match that included Jimmy Rave. 
• Adam Pearce is in his fourth run with the title and it is thought he maintains his standing in the NWA because he brings money to the group through sponsorship and advertising. After a failed stint as the ROH booker Pearce continues to not impress with his matchmaking skills. Even though Pearce is a solid worker he leaves a lot to be desired holding the NWA World Championship as did Colt Cabana.
• There is talk that the WWE is less than happy with Steve Keirn and the FCW training ground and that Danny Davis and OVW could soon see a return to being the developmental area for New York.
• In a clear case of "who you know or who you are related to" where pro wrestling is concerned, Colt Cabana worked a dark match at the SmackDown tapings.
• News that is not news, it is expected that a ruling in the Jeff Hardy drug case could come at any time.
• Davey Richards the current ROH Champion will be at the OVW tapings tonight and at NWA Smoky Mountain on Thursday.
•  Abdullah the Butcher is lashing out at reports he has Hepatitis C in the wake of a lawsuit filed by Canadian worked Devon Nicholson who is suing the WWE Hall of Fame wrestler for $6.5 million. Abby claims he does not have Hepatitis C and he will be providing a blood sample for analysis soon. Nicholson has worked a number of bloody matches prior to having worked Abdullah including matches in Puerto Rico that were somewhat brutal.
• Finally, congratulations to "The Rock&Roller" Izzy Lambert who won the OWA Television Championship from "Big" Jake South at the NWA show at the Ohio State Fair this past weekend. Both guys put forth a prideful effort in their match and it was well received by the veterans.
• 
  

The Tony Myers The Interview Part 2

Q. Does there need to be more competition in the business and do you think TNA is the answer or does someone else need to come along and step-up?

R. TNA/Impact has EVERYTHING they need to compete with and blow WWE out the water, everything but the one thing lacking that screwed WCW-MANAGEMENT!

Q. Does it take an addictive personality to be a pro wrestler or what type of mental attitude do you need to make it in the business?

R. You HAVE TO BE persistent without being a complete pain in the ass. You NEVER know what powers that be are watching you at the darkest hour. You just have to be driven and passionate NO MATTER WHAT. I went for an announcing spot in the WWE in 2003 - 2006. Tom Pritchard and Lawler BOTH told me to keep being the way I was and that I was going about it perfectly. One day I got the call to OVW and then to the Deep South and by the time the Florida developmental started up it dawned on me than one of those two CLEARLY went to bat for me.

Q. What kind of pre-match ritual do you have before you go through the curtain?

R. Get this! STRETCHING (big time!), coffee, energy drink, diet Pepsi and water. It used to be marijuana but I've cut back on that, it also used to be a cigarette but I quit smoking so now it is simply toking on my e-cigarette. Yes, seriously, ALL of that stuff. I just love it!

Q. Do you find yourself giving 100% no matter if there are 25 people in the crowd or 2500?

R. Every single time. I do it until I get blown up; I challenge myself and TRY to blow up now every time I go out there. It's STILL fun...

Q. Do you ever practice cutting a promo in front of a mirror?

R. All the time, especially in the shower because I'm already spiking my hair into a Mohawk (laughs).

Q. How do you define yourself as a pro wrestler?

R. Hybrid style, mostly chain. Jack (ass) of all trades and master of truly none. I'm not the same guy the dirtsheets (because there was no Internet to praise the underground indie worker) in '93 and '94 praised. I swear, back then it seemed like everybody wanted a piece of my shit, then I went to Memphis and learned I didn't have a clue and the flippy flops don't draw ANYTHING. It took a while for me to get that clue and I learned eventually. At first I just figured everyone was jealous because I did all this stuff that none of them did. Oh wow! I was so great because I hit a moonsault (laughs)! Holy balls was I beyond clueless (laughs).

Q. What is the weirdest thing you have had happen while in the ring?

R. Me and Brickhouse Brown dropped acid before wrestling each other one night in Dyer, Tn. I walked out there and all the fans looked like dwarfs. I was tripping like crazy. Sorry but my early 20’s were LOADED up with experimenting with some wicked stuff.

Q. Fans either love you or hate you, what has been your worst experience with a fan?

R. Follow the angle, Mike Samples who had a problem with Sean Venom who did a snake handler gimmick. His partner was Flash Flanagan. So, Samples goes out and gets The Wolverine, a Wolfman complete with rubber mask and claws and Lawler gives me the whole gimmick except the clothes. I asked Jerry how this Wolfman-guy is supposed to dress. He goes, "Grungy, you know, kind of like the shit you usually wear ha ha!" So I tore up an old shirt and pair of sweatpants, did the gimmick on a Wednesday in Memphis (we moved from the Mid-South Coliseum by that point). I'm on my way back from the ring, did the job, jumping for joy inside because I thought the match was pretty good (and it really was). I'm jumping up on the guardrails, shaking them up and down and going nuts, howling, acting crazy, well, some wiseass fan rolled up their programs that night and stabbed me right in the eye. The only thing I was fortunate about was that I was near the entrance, I stumbled through the curtains and man, I could already feel my eye swelling shut. The next day the light was shining down on me through my window. I've NEVER felt burning like that...

Q. If you could go back to any era and wrestle for one night, where would you go and who would you step into the ring with?

R. Good Lord you have too MANY good questions, Ok, I'd say since they haven't had a State Athletic Commission since the '40's-I'd HAVE been the special guess ref the night Lawler beat Hennig for the AWA belt. Yep, at just 13 years of age-how wicked would THAT have been?

Q. What move do you think is overused and just does not get over now, like the carotid clutch in the 70s?

R. A punch, nobody knows how to get people to sell it or timing after throwing one. My 5 year-old nephew can hit with a half-dozen and your forehead would look like a sack of doorknobs yet we are grown men and well...Do I really need to elaborate?

Q. How would you describe your time in the USWA?

R. The greatest 3 years of my life. If I ever Groundhog Day'd (you know the movie?) 3 years over and over again and again, THAT is my utopia FOREVER...

Q. What is your fondest memory of working the Memphis territory?

R. Waking up every single day with the reality that WRESTLING, 7 days a week, was MY JOB. EVERY SINGLE DAY. Money left over to put in the bank. Every single day was my FAVORITE memory. Full-time, never a day off (well only if you didn't do Tony Falk's Paducah, Kentucky town on Sundays and also once we lost Evansville in '95 and they switched around on Monday nights), you know THAT was the best I ever had it in wrestling but I was way to young to even notice (20 - 22/23 years old). Today's guys have NO CLUE what they missed. It will NEVER be done again like that. EVER! I feel so bad for today's guys. It is all hit or miss, feast or fathom, ying or yang. I was a job-guy and was hauling Jerry's ring once Buddy Wayne parted ways with them and once Bruno (Wippleman) left this time to be a ref and seen as a young job guy who hauled the ring, they made SURE I was making enough to NOT work a regular job and be seen as a "normal" guy. It kind of defeated the purpose of the term "job guy" if you know where its origins are from (laughs)! 

Q. What did Mike Samples bring to the territory?

R. Mike had a lot of unique ideas that were really out there. I've had so many ups and downs with the guy but Burton himself told the boys to write down their ideas for what could change the territory and his ideas were better than what anyone had at the time (I had QUIT, I couldn't take it any more). 

Q. Everyone hates Larry Burton for what he did to the territory, why do you think Jerry Lawler got into bed with him to start with?

R. They filmed the WrestleMania thing with Goldust and Piper outside of "his studio" and he befriended Matt Borne before that. Lawler knew the guy would turn him a quick buck and could con some marks (The Selkers of XL Sports out of Cleveland is who they found) out of money. Lawler didn't bank on these people doing their homework and them tracking down Burton's criminal past. The guy falsified his own death-lol! I STILL reminisce with Viscera about The Burton Files all the time. He really did die recently according to Jerry and I knew as of a few years ago (2009) Lawler was STILL going to court over that whole mess. It was kind of comical when Burton made all the people who snuck down from the bleachers before the matches started to go back to the seat they paid for. He STRICTLY enforced it. When my buddy John (who was my Eddie Gilbert equivalent of John Gilham) left to get a jack for the trailer and Larry didn't let HIM back in the studio, well, that was all I could take. EVERYONE quit because he dropped me back to $100 a night and I couldn't afford to pay anyone to help with the ring. Not even Chile, who was a good friend of Downtown Bruno and Bruno and I clashed HUGE over that. BRUNO even quit the territory but came back because one of his best friends, Doink the Lombardi was headed in-lol! Where was I, oh yeah, so Jerry pulled a trick the Welch (Fuller) family did for YEARS, years ago in the eastern part of the Tennessee territory. He dumped the place onto some marks laps and was going to buy it back for way cheaper. Only one thing, the territory was down and out for the count and they knew they had been had. Believe it or not, to this day I STILL laugh at the Burton stories and I talked to him a couple of years ago (2009) and he STILL remembered my first wife Crystal(!). The best was him and Dave Brown arguing when he called Dave an "asshole" and Dave, who I never heard curse like this, goes, "Asshole?!?! You're the asshole, asshole!!!" It is still WAY too funny thinking back...

Q. Tell me something not many people already know about Larry Burton

R. I went to ONE court hearing over that bunch of shit (sorry), you know the court case of the XL Sports vs. Larry and Lawler and Co. I STILL have the whole book itself of the lawsuit scanned into my C drive. The guy was Tony Frisco, Larry Bergman, Lawrence Burton, and my LORD his names never seemed to end. Watching him get Starbucks flown in from California every day (when I went to his upscale apartment on Park Ave. in east Memphis) was pretty strange. He had this high-pitched voice that would drive you CRAZY. Once in the midst of them selling the place he went nuts and told me to come over RIGHT AWAY. When I got there he was screaming back and forth and thought Lawler was taking Bruno's side over some kind of fight. Anyway, they worked it all out and he felt bad and bought me a full tank of gas for my truck. 

Q. Of all the people and feuds to pass through, who do you think made the biggest impact?

R. The Smokey Mountain vs. USWA was ON FIRE! Going back and forth to the territories was cool and I even got to work a few SMW houses shows and one taping. I remember doing Memphis tapings and riding back with Jamie and Wolfie after going to both tapings with Tracy Smothers, 800 miles round trip and Tracy paid for all the gas. Tracy noted that only the job guys got paid for TV so imagine he made not one penny until the house shows. Any who, that feud, MAN, it took us from the week norm of 1,000 people to over 4,000 paid over one summer. Watching all the WWF talent come through and pop the gates from time to time was incredible and I got to befriend ALOT of the talent. It broke the ice for when Bruno (Wippleman) would take us Memphis job-boys to the WWF and some of them had squash matches against local Memphis guys for the big card when they were in Memphis on Monday nights. It was really neat getting to work with The BodyDonnas, Godwins, Ahmed Johnson, Tatanka, Undertaker and so many others come to the studio. Also the guys getting rehabbed came through, guys like Sid, Jeff Jarrett and too many others, I was just a kid and got to work the biggest names in the entire industry PLUS the office of WWF knew who I was, ME, this nobody kid from New Jersey. It told me something when Bruce Pritchard and Sgt. Slaughter told Bruno that they wanted ME at the next WWF tapings in Nashville. It was blowing my mind. Kind in mind please that this was the original WWF developmental territory. They knew who I was because they say ME working with all the developmental talent every week when they got the Memphis tapes.

Q. How does someone with a degree in journalism suddenly become a hardcore wrestler?

R. I was running two different nightclubs in Memphis on a weekly basis. One was a Gothic nightclub and the other was an alternative '80's club. I managed to get booked in Onita Pro in 1999 through Mike Samples when Big Japan fell through for my and got to do some deathmatches overseas. THIS was a crowning achievement since my idol since the early 1990's Atsushi Onita came through Memphis as well. I was his hugest mark and to this day LOVE the guy. Well, the DVDs resurfaced one the screen in the club where we would air all kinds of bizarre movies and DVDs on the large screen. I couldn't help put myself over, it is club life. I ALWAYS have people ask about all the scars and to play tough guy bouncer I barely ever wore sleeves on shirts under my suit and would show them off in the club because as you know, EVERYONE is famous in a nightclub. Well, it didn't take long before one of the girls (Briana Cambel-my "sister") who did the cable access TAJJ when she was a teenager (this was when Tv-5 got rid of wrestling for good and the Memphis promotion was in between going to Channel 30), well, she comes to me and has an idea for the guys to do deathmatches and the girls to do oil, Jell-O, ice cream and whatever-the-hell-else the chicks can wrestle in. We put all the details together and my own promotion Sex and Violence was born. I needed a main guy to feud with that was good at the hardcore/Deathmatch stuff so I brought in my buddy Pondo I knew from my IWA-Ms days and there you have it. I was just trying to be something like my hero/idol Onita but because we had such a limited roster, testing was cheap and I wrestled under a billion different weird gimmicks for the over 3 years the place stayed afloat. We also brought in EVERYONE from CZW, I love those guys. They are some of the nicest people out there. Really, all it is was me trying to be the Onita of my own little world. It was me combatting HUGE depression from being away from my whole family in New Jersey for over a decade. It was right after I was told that WWE didn't need me pursuing my announcing any more just 2 days before Christmas and it was my own way of self-destruction. I mean, YOU take off your regular job twice a year if you are lucky just so both your daughters can see their cousins, grandparents and aunts, uncles, the whole family. Yes, I was fighting off a major homesick depression and felt there was no reason to be geographically located in Memphis but I was tied down with a second divorce and a few houses I financed that I wasn't about to let go of. My best friend, CHRIST! I watched him go from a millionaire to a full-blown Crystal Meth addict over a seven year span. Everyone knows who and it has been well documented. The guy lost EVERYTHING. His wife, his house, bank account, ALL OF IT, GONE! This was all also DEFINATELY the darkest point of my life. I'm not making excuses it is just that in the pursuit of happiness I learned that it could easily take your life if you pursue your goals too much. I look back and am SHOCKED I didn't lose an eye or something MAJOR. My scars have scars but hey, I'm a silver lining kind of guy. The scars make me feel tough, they are cheaper than tattoos and will always make me unique and hey, for some screwed up reason, and the hottest chicks dig scars. Cool (laughs)!

Q. Have you met your goals in wrestling and if not, what do you still want to accomplish?

R. I'm living my dream and goals STILL every day. I broke better than even, survived being a casualty of Wrestling and Wrestle against ALL my childhood heroes every single weekend through one of the places I broke in at almost two decades ago (ECPW-East Coast Professional Wrestling). I'm going to name drop, the hell with it, over this past year ALONE I've wrestled Tom Brandi, Tito Santana, Honky Tonk Man, Duggan, Beefcake, Slaughter, Valentine, Snuka and so many others. It can't get better than this...

Q. If you could propel yourself back into an era of the USWA what time period would you like to be a part of?

R. Maturity, it sure wasn't there the first time around. I was 19/20 years old, the hell was I thinking (laughs)?

Q. What has changed about the business that it will never recover from?

R. The mystique. EVERYONE is a promoter/wrestler now. I might as well sit back and ride my passion off into the sunset. I just try to block out the blockheads. If we acted the way some of these goofy guys do back THEN, man, they would have used the door to put our heads into before they flung us outta the building.

Q. If you were a young man starting out in the business, what would your career goal be?

R. Nowadays it can only be TNA/Impact or WWE. I can't fathom how these poor kids feel...

Q. You have one shot against the most vile person in the business, who would you be shooting on?

R. Randy Hales, that bastard seemed to be sent here from the Devil himself to kill my love and passion for wrestling. From day one he was the biggest prick on this earth to me. If you saw my heart and realized my sacrifices you would know you had the world's biggest Memphis mark who would do ANYTHING that the promotion wanted me to do (other than act on Randy gay fetishes and THAT'S the truth and shoot and everyone knows it RANDY). In the Power Pro years he even sent a couple of guys to kick the hell out of me. They saw through him trying to get them to do the dirty work and that was that...

Q. Do you fear getting Hepatitis C with so many workers not reporting or not knowing they have the disease and by virtue or working a hardcore style?

R. All the time, I've been lucky to have dodged the bullet and SAC (State Athletic Commissions) do need to reinforce it. It is just that nobody wants to make a huge deal about it Jerry because you know how wrestling is, you don't snitch, and you don't rock the boat. I'm saying it will save someone's LIFE so the guys SHOULD stick together and not be a mark who doesn't want heat. It starts with you and guess what? I BETTER practice what I preach or I'll just wind up hating myself...

Q. Can ROH or TNA be a legitimate challenge to the WWE?

R. Absolutely, it just takes restructuring through re-educating your audience and the correct people in charge. WWE, the buck stops with Vince and he is worth what? 800 million this week. He is the greatest Wrestling promoter EVER...

Q. One valet to walk The Tony Myers down the aisle, who would it be?

R. Miss Elizabeth, my 11 year-old Keri's middle name is Elizabeth but other than that, someday, someway, my girlfriend. Shannon Hunter (Wrobleski) the proud owner and booker of WPW (World Professional Wrestling) out of Reading, Pa. It can happen any time on any indie at this point BUT I'd like for it to be special.