Messages: Show Message Summaries (Group by Topic)

#14255

From: CAPTINLOUALBANOAWRESTLINGEND@yahoogroups.com
Date: Mon Sep 1, 2008 1:39 pm
Subject: File - Captain Lou Albano

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Captain Lou Albano
Stats: 5'10" 350 lbs.-

  Captain Lou Albano
By Steve Slagle

For the nearly forty years that Capt. Lou Albano was involved in professional
wrestling, be it as a wrestler or manager, he created controversy, excitement,
and in many cases, genuine hatred from the audiences he performed for.  For a
man who, by his own admission, was not a tremendous wrestler Albano certainly
made a huge impact in the "sport" and was, for many years, one of the most
well-known cross over celebrities that wrestling had to offer.  His vaudevillian
style approach to cutting interviews, combined with his over-the-top personality
and ring persona made Albano one of the most hated managers of all time.  Later
in his career, Albano transformed that intense hatred into babyface popularity,
and became one of the most beloved figures in wrestling.  In either case, the
rowdy Captain made the fans care about him, which, in the wrestling business, is
all that really matters.




Lou Albano first rose to national prominence in the late-fifties as part of a
tag team known as The Scicilians.  Along with partner Tony Altimore, Albano
created a fair amount of controversy doing the stereotypical Italian gangster
gimmick -- so much so that, according to Albano, he and Altimore were once
approached in Chicago by some legitimate "wise guys" and were told -- in no
uncertain terms -- to tone their act down.  The Scicilians, despite their
somewhat limited ring ability, were able to win a few titles while raising their
stock in the world of tag team wrestling.  On June 30, 1961 The Scicilians won
the prestigous Midwest Tag Team title in Chicago, which helped them immensely in
building their reputation in the eyes of the fans.  Their other major
championship, the United States Tag Team title, was captured in Atlantic City,
NJ. on July 10, 1967and eventually lost to Bruno Sammartino & Spiros Arion.




However, despite the modest success of The Scicilians, Albano did not truly
break out as a star until he ended his partnership with Altimore, and forged a
completely new identity as a manager.  With WWWF Heavyweight champion Bruno
Sammartino the target of his efforts, Albano managed a revolving door of the
meanest, toughest, biggest athletes he could find in order to take the gold
strap from the hugely popular WWWF champ.  Men like Crusher Verdu, Fred Blassie,
Prof. Toru Tanaka, Ivan Koloff and many others were led to battle against
Sammartino by Capt. Lou.  In fact, it was one of Albano's men -- the powerful
"Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff -- who finally did the impossible and ended
Sammartino's 7 year-long first WWWF title reign.  Later, Albano would also wage
the same type of never-ending war with WWF kingpin Bob Backlund.  Other than
Koloff, Lou was never able to guide another man to the World title. However, he
did manage many other men to championships, including Inter-Continental
titleholders Don Muraco, Pat Patterson and Greg Valentine among others. 
However, it was in the tag team ranks that Albano was most successful, guiding
nearly 15 different teams to WWF gold -- including the likes of the Wild
Samoans, The Valiant Brothers, Saito & Fuji, The British Bulldogs, and many
other legendary tandems.  And what would the "Rock `n Wrestling Connection" --
the angle that essentially launched the WWF to national prominence -- have been
like had Lou Albano not been involved?  Or for that matter, WrestleMania 1,
which largely revolved around the boisterous manager?  For some reason, I can't
help thinking that Cyndi Lauper and The Grand Wizard just wouldn't have been as
effective.  Perhaps that most important (and, at the time, innovative) angle
needed the P.T. Barnum-esque wit and personality that Albano -- who once summed
up his talents by saying, "I'm a good bullsh**er" -- was able to deliver.


The Captain parlayed his MTV rock `n wrestling success into other Hollywood
ventures, including several movies, commercials and a hit television show (Mario
Brothers).  In fact, throughout most of the eighties, Albano was a wrestling
celebrity on the scale of Hulk Hogan and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.  Capt. Lou's
newfound main-stream fame and babyface status was entertaining (if not a little
bizarre) for the older WWF fans who remembered him as the most controversial,
devious and hated manager in the history of the promotion.  Nevertheless, Albano
continued to be one of the most recognized celebrities of the 1980's, and helped
attract a whole new audience for pro wrestling..

All the while, of course, he maintained contact with his large wrestling fanbase
by occasionally making special guest appearances on various WWF programs as the
1990's rolled in. As far as his personal life went, Albano eventually gave up
many of the "poisons" that he felt were combining to shorten his life. His
switch to vegetarianism helped the perpetually obese Albano drop over 150 lbs.
And although he lost his flabby girth (which was a big part of his wrestling
persona for many years) his quick wit was as loud and brash as always. Even
though his "Mario Brothers" job eventually ended, Capt. Lou remained a fairly
well-known (within the mainstream) and active media celebrity, especially by pro
wrestling standards. In 1996, the World Wrestling Federation inducted Albano
into its Hall of Fame. Naturally, no shrine to our "sport" would be complete
without "The Captain", so it is with great honor that The Ring Chronicle inducts
wrestling's Manager of Champions, the entertaining and bombastic Capt. Lou
Albano into the TRC Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame...

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#14254

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Mon Sep 1, 2008 5:11 am
Subject: WWE house show report 8-29 Cedar Rapids

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WWE house show report 8-29 Cedar Rapids

D-Lo def. Lance Cade w/frogsplash (Cade looked really sloppy)

Kelly Kelly was in the stands with a flood-displaced family in the upper deck and brought them to four ringside seats (right next to me)

Primo Colon def. Snitsky

Beth Phoenix and Santino def. Candice Michelle and Kofi Kingston for the Women's and IC titles

Jamie Noble def. ? (blonde white kid with blue trunks...looked almost like John Cena's brother with medium-length blonde hair)

DiBiase and Rhodes def. Cryme Tyme for the World Tag Team titles (Cryme Tyme stole the belts back after the match)

Batista def. Regal w/ Kelly Kelly at ringside. (A really good, long match.)

Mark Henry def. Matt Hardy for the ECW title in a no-DQ match when Tony Atlas caused a distraction. (Also a really good, long match.)

CM Punk def. Kane for the World Title

Notes:

- Tim White was walking around the ring before the event started. (I didn't know he was still with WWE)

- They let the fans vote on the stip for the ECW title match via text message

- Batista got the biggest pop with Cryme Tyme a VERY close #2

Overall a top-notch house show

http://www.f4wonline.com/

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#14253

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Mon Sep 1, 2008 5:07 am
Subject: *SPOILERS* WWE Smackdown Taping Results For Friday

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*SPOILERS* WWE Smackdown Taping Results For Friday
Written by: Kyle Faust - August 31st, 2008

Thanks to WrestlingNewsWorld for the following spoilers:

WWE SmackDown (Airing Friday)
* Triple H opens SmackDown with an Unforgiven promo. Shelton Benjamin comes out and interrupts saying that he plans on adding a little more gold to his collection.

MVP comes out and says he is better than everyone and Shelton is more like fools gold. Brian Kendrick comes out and attacks Hunter from behind. MVP and Shelton Benjamin join in on the attack until Jeff Hardy comes out for the save.

* R-Truth b. Bam Neely
- Killings comes out through the crowd rapping. Chavo was at ringside with Neely. Killings scored the win via pinfall.

* The Undertaker comes out. He cuts a promo about Vickie's dead lifeless body and burning flesh. He says she can join her husband Edge in hell.

* Shelton Benjamin b. MVP
- Shelton got the win via pinfall.

* Maryse b. Maria
- After the match Michelle McCool comes out and stares down Maryse.

* Brian Kendrick b. Jeff Hardy
- Kendrick got the win after interferon from Ezekiel Jackson.

* Super Crazy b. Ryan Braddock
- After the match Vladimir Kozlov comes out and attacks Super Crazy. He then talks about not having any competition. Big Show comes out to the ring.

* Big Show vs. Vladimir Kozlov
- Vickie comes out and says she will not allow for the match to happen. She demands that the Big Show get out of the ring and go home or he will be fined and suspended.

Vickie is drawing so much heat you can't hear what she is saying. She does however say that she will no longer let the Undertaker intimidate her. She will not allow it on SmackDown.

* Brie Bella b. Victoria
- Brie got the win via pinfall. She dominated throughout the match.

* Triple H is shown backstage. Jeff Hardy interrupts and says that Hunter has a big problem and that problem is him. Hunter pretends he is on the phone and hands it to Jeff saying it's Doctor Black.

* Triple H b. The Great Khali in a lumber jack match
- Jeff Hardy, MVP, Brian Kendrick, and Shelton Benjamin are lumber jacks on the outside. Triple H gets the win via pinfall after a pedigree on Khali. He then proceeds outside to pedigree the lumber jacks.

http://www.wrestling-edge.com/

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#14252

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Mon Sep 1, 2008 5:05 am
Subject: Shawn Michaels Injured At RAW Taping

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Shawn Michaels suffers a major injury at the WWE Raw tapings

This original source for the above news was Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com.

Shawn Micahels suffered an injury at the WWE Raw tapings on Sunday night in St. Louis. He is believed to have suffered a torn triceps muscle, according to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com. Michaels is slated to appear in an unsanctioned match against Chris Jericho at next Sunday's Unforgiven pay-per-view.

http://www.prowrestling.net/

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#14251

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Mon Sep 1, 2008 3:35 am
Subject: *SPOILERS* WWE RAW Taping Results (Airdate 9/1)

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*SPOILERS* WWE RAW Taping Results (Airdate 9/1)
Written by: Kyle Faust - August 31st, 2008

Thanks to Joe V. for texting in the following results:

A WrestleMania Video was shown.

Lillian Garcia came out to start the Raw tapings. Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole came out for commentary.

Dark Match:
Jimmy Wang Yang def. Takeshi Morishima w/ Tony Atlas with a standing moonsault.

Raw:

Randy Orton comes out with a sling on his arm (which he didn't have on yesterday during an autograph signing). Anyway, he's dissing the Glamazon saying she acts like shes on Beverly Hills 90210. Then he starts dissing the rest of the WWE champions. Randy is then interrupted by CM Punk. Orton wanders off to the back, but in the mean time JBL is now out to argue with Punk. Kane also joins the party, and says that Rey Mysterio won't be at Unforgiven because he's in hell... but soon after Batista runs down and clears house.

Kofi Kingston def. Charlie Haas (who was dressed like John Cena)

An announcement was made that a contract signing for the HBK/Y2J match at Unforgiven would be held tonight.

Backstage Cody Rhodes confronted Orton about dissing him earlier in the ring, Orton smacked Rhodes.

They announce a 5-man battle royal next with the scramble match participants from ECW.

Mark Henry sent out Miz and Chavo first...Next was Finley. Finley and Matt Hardy double team Henry, but Henry ended up getting the win.

Chris Jericho is shown backstage signing the legal papers for his match with Shawn Michaels at Unforgiven.

Jaime Noble def. William Regal w/ Layla at ringside via pinfall.

Mickie James and Kelly Kelly were shown backstage stretching...

6-Diva tag match:Mickie James, Kelly Kelly, Candice Michelle def. Katie Lea, Jillian, Beth Phoenix after Candice Michelle pinned Beth Phoenix. I was told that Candice Michelle had trouble keeping her pants up lol.

Santino def. D'lo Brown... after D'lo dominated most of the match, he missed a 'Low Down' frogsplash and Santino capitalized to get the win.

The Miz & Morrison vs. Cryme Tyme ended in a DQ when Team Priceless (Rhodes and Dibiase) crashed the party, beat both teams up and took their belts back.

Randy Orton is on commentary with Lawler and Cole for the main event.

Kane def. JBL, Punk and Batista in the Battle Royal main event. Kane won with a chokeslam over the top rope REY MYSTERIO Comes out and attacks Kane. They fought outside the ring, then Rey reversed a chokeslam sending Kane into the crowd. At this point the crowd was going nuts...

Chris Jericho/Shawn Michaels contract signing is up next.

King Lawler comes into the ring as the moderator. Adamle says that neither man can touch the other or the match at Unforgiven will be called off. Jericho comes out first, followed by HBK. They agree to dismiss the security, saying that they wont jeopardize their match at Unforgiven. Jericho says he isn't sorry for what he's already done and that his children wont be watching their match because of what he's going to do at Unforgiven. After signing the contract, both men are unable to be restrained and go at each other as Raw goes off the air.

http://www.wrestling-edge.com

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#14250

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Mon Sep 1, 2008 2:06 am
Subject: Getting to Know ... Tony Schiavone

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Getting to Know ... Tony Schiavone
By Guy Curtright
Staff Correspondent for Gwinnett Daily Post

Tony Schiavone is still best known as the longtime TV host of World Championship
Wrestling, but he is busier than ever in his post-ring existence. The sports director
of WSB-AM, among other jobs, will return to his baseball play-by-play roots next
year as the voice of the new Gwinnett Braves on WDUN-AM, where he also works.

Schiavone, 50, lives in east Cobb County and he and his wife, Lois, are the
parents of five children, all Pope High School graduates. They met when he was
starting as a minor league broadcaster in the early 1980s, before his wrestling gig.

Staff correspondent Guy Curtright sat down with Schiavone at Turner Field
recently to talk about the highs and lows of his broadcast career, his dream
growing up and what Gwinnett fans can expect on this broadcasts next season.

GC: It's been more than five years and you've been ultra busy since, but aren't
you still recognized most for announcing pro wrestling?

TS: I'll take that to my grave.

GC: How do you feel about that?

TS: I don't have a problem with it. Wrestling can either help or break your career. I
think it helped mine. I've been able to survive and move on.

GC: Do you have any wrestling connections anymore?

TS: I still get residuals from a TV episode of "Arli$$" I did and the wrestling movie
that I was in. I'm surprised when I find a check in the mailbox.

GC: Weren't you famous - or infamous - for saying that each bout you called was
the best ever?

TS: For my credibility sake, I hoped that people had forgotten that.

GC: So what really was the best bout?

TS: The one the producer in my ear told me to say at that time. A lot of the stuff I
said was told to me to say. It was all part of the script. I was just the mouthpiece,
for better or worse.

GC: How many of the athletes that you encounter want to talk about pro wrestling
rather than their own sports?

TS: A lot. I was in Phoenix one time and Charles Barkley came up and introduced
himself. He just wanted to talk about wrestling and he still does when I see him.
Among baseball players, Sean Casey is a big fan and Johnny Estrada is crazy
about it. Roger Clemens is into it as well. But there are a lot of them.

GC: How did you get involved with pro wrestling in the first place?

TS: I was doing baseball in the mid-1980s at Charlotte in the Southern League
and it just so happened that the family that owned the team also promoted
wrestling. They needed a wrestling announcer part time. I was practically starving
back then and needed the money. We had two kids and one on the way. A year
later, I was making more doing wrestling part time than I was baseball full time.

GC: So you gave up baseball?

TS: Reluctantly.

GC: You broadcast Greensboro games in the Class A South Atlantic League for a
year and then did the Charlotte games in Class AA for four. Had it always been
your dream to do baseball on the radio?

TS: Oh, yeah. That's all I've really wanted to do since I was in the fourth grade. My
hometown in Virginia was really small. Less than 1,000 people. There wasn't much
going on. I sat on the porch and listened to baseball on the radio all summer.

GC: Who was your favorite announcer back then?

TS: Joe Tait, who worked on the Cleveland Indians broadcasts. I loved him. I also
liked Marty Brennaman, who did the Cincinnati Reds games. It wasn't until later
that I really became familiar with the Braves announcers. They all do a great job.

GC: What is your baseball style?

TS: I guarantee you one thing, I won't say every game is the best in the history of
baseball.

GC: So you won't have a script or a producer talking into ear like with wrestling?

TS: I hope not.

GC: Will you root for the Gwinnett team?

TS: I won't get too excited or be over the top. But I will be a homer, supporting the
team. I think that is part of the job in the minors.

GC: Will it be hard doing baseball again after all these years away?

TS: I think I know a lot about the game. Wrestling was a job. Baseball has always
been my passion. I follow it religiously.

GC: How to you think the Gwinnett Braves will draw?

TS: I think the stadium will be packed almost every night. There are an awful lot of
baseball fans in the north part of the metro area who want to see baseball, but
don't like driving into Atlanta.

GC: Do you think that the Gwinnett crowds will hurt Atlanta attendance?

TS: No. In the long run, I think it could actually help. Fans will follow the Gwinnett
players to the majors and be even more interested. And there are certainly
enough people in the metro area to support both teams.

GC: Don't you have almost as many jobs as there are people in Atlanta?

TS: I do and I hope to get more.

GC: I'm not joking. You are sports director of WSB, also do morning sports for
WDUN, work on the Georgia Bulldogs football broadcasts and do play-by-play on
WDUN for high school football and baseball. How in the world can you balance all
that?

TS: I love a challenge. I like to do things that other people say that I can't. I've
always stayed busy and now I don't have as many family responsibilities. My kids
are grown. I don't have to do the dad things anymore, which frees up my schedule.

GC: So the timing is right for you to hit the road again as a baseball play-by-play
man?

TS: My wife says that this was made to be and I agree. I met her my first year in
baseball in 1981. She worked at the radio station in Greensboro. In fact, our
honeymoon was a road trip with the team.

GC: And you have stayed married all these years?

TS: Amazing isn't it?

GC: So now she wants you back on the road?

TS: We both think that this was meant to be. We believe that there was some kind
of higher power that put me in wrestling so I could make money to get the kids
through school, and now that they're out it's time to get back to baseball. Our joke
is that it took me one year to get from Class A to AA and 24 years to make it from
Class AA to AAA. At this rate, I might make to the majors when I'm in my 70s.

http://www.gwinnettbraves.com/

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#14249

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Mon Sep 1, 2008 2:04 am
Subject: Mick Foley's WWE.Com Bio Removed

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Mick Foley's bio was removed from the WWE website. The bio was still
available on the Smackdown page last week, but it has been pulled.

http://www.prowrestling.net

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#14248

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Mon Sep 1, 2008 2:02 am
Subject: RIP Killer Kowalski

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Killer Kowalski dies
By GREG OLIVER - Producer, SLAM! Wrestling

A rare photo of a smiling Killer Kowalski from 1964. Photo by Bob Leonard

The life of Killer Kowalski may have ended on Saturday morning at 2:15 a.m., a few months short of his 82nd birthday, in a Boston area hospital, but his legacy will live on in so many ways. He was one of the most memorable bad guys in history, one of the most articulate and intelligent men in the business, and a trainer of many stars.

As a professional wrestler from 1947 to 1977, few could match Kowalski. He was able to adapt not only to the changing style of wrestling through the years -- from the long matches of the 1950s, to the slam-bang shorter matches of the WWWF of the 1970s -- but also recover from a car accident that nearly cost him his life, and a personal experiment when he dropped 100 pounds of weight, just to see if he could do it. He also was a vegetarian, sharing his knowledge with a reluctant wrestling world when prompted.

When he decided to get off the road, he adapted yet again. Kowalski became a trainer, and developed a friendlier persona for the media who wanted to know more about the well-known school; after all, wrestling schools were few and far between in those days, and Kowalski often claimed to have the first one open to the public. Up until the days of the mass media empire of World Wrestling Entertainment of the late 1990s, few wrestlers had appeared had the visibility of Kowalski -- he penned a column for the Boston Herald, he appeared on Late Night With David Letterman (where he memorably quipped, "No no, that's loved" not loathed), he was featured in People Magazine and Maclean's.

As he aged, Kowalski seemed to mellow, even marrying for the first time at 79 years old. He became an elder, beloved statesman, profiled by Esquire magazine when he was 80 in a column titled "What I've Learned." His peers recognized him with the industry's top honour, the Iron Mike Mazurki Award, presented by the Cauliflower Alley Club at its 2002 reunion in Las Vegas. Kowalski was also a member of the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (2003), The Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame (1996) and the WWE Hall of Fame (1996). The National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in Troy, Michigan recognized him as well in 2007.

Don Leo Jonathan considered Kowalski a good friend, yet didn't know his real name, or much about his family.

"Wally was sort of an individual. He certainly didn't go along with a lot of the stuff that the guys did," said Jonathan. "He was, I don't want to say a loner, because he could be quite charming and he got along good with everybody, but if you done something that he really didn't like, he would let you know about it -- especially if it would hurt the business. He was very conscientious about wrestling."

In his book, I Was a Teenage Professional Wrestler, wrestler-turned-artist Ted Lewin tried to explain Kowalski's dualness. "Kowalski, the meanest, kindest human being you'd ever want to meet. He was as gaunt and lean as a Southern preacher, and a strict vegetarian. It was a wonder how he maintained his weight of two hundred and eighty pounds on lettuce and carrots."

Growing up in Windsor, Ontario, Edward Walter Spulnik -- his birth name -- was a tall, skinny kid, weighing 160 pounds on a 6-foot-4 frame at age 14. He found his way to the local YMCA, where others convinced him that weightlifting would easily add pounds to his frame. It worked, and he grew into a 6-foot-7, 270-pound man.

Kowalski enrolled at Assumption College (now part of the University of Windsor), studying electrical engineering, and found part-time work with the Ford Motor Company in Detroit.

While at the YMCA, someone suggested that professional wrestling was a good career for him. Kowalski hooked up with Detroit promoter Burt Ruby, who saw something in the giant. Over the years Kowalski claimed his first match was against Lou (Klein) Bastien, in 1948.

St. Louis promoter Sam Muchnick saw something in "Tarzan" Kowalski, and matched him up against world champion Lou Thesz. A conflict with getting time off from Ford to wrestle abroad let to Kowalski quitting his "day job."

In those early years, known as Tarzan Kowalski, he fought to get better known. "He was a hell of an attraction," said Lou Thesz in 1998. "He had a great body back then. He was not a sophisticated wrestler, but every promoter wanted him because he made a lot of money."

"Killer Kowalski -- when I first saw him I thought he was the most magnificent specimen of a human being I'd ever seen in my life," Joe Hamilton told Rich Tate of Georgia Wrestling History. "He was working out at the gym and was six feet six and about 280 pounds, and he was ripped and just looked phenomenal. You know, back then they called him Tarzan Kowalski, and he looked like Tarzan should look like -- big and powerful.

Incredibly famous as a bad guy wrestler, few fans realize that he was a popular fan favorite for many years. "Kowalski, who has made quite a sweep of rivals and has become popular with the fans," reads one write-up. Kowalski always maintained that he turned fully heel simply because fans started booing him.

"He was such a good looking guy. He 6-foot-8, weighed over 300 pounds, and had long hair and looked like Tarzan. He looked real good at whatever he did," said Paul "Butcher" Vachon. "The women just loved him and the men hated him. I heard about women fainting when Killer Kowalski came into the ring."

"Just because I get over-enthused about my work people hate me," Kowalski said in a 1961 article in Wrestling Revue. "Everywhere I go they throw chairs, newspapers, cigar butts, fruit and anything else they can grab. I have been burned, knifed, blinded by pea shooters and hit over the head with boards."

Though never recognized as one of the "big three" world champions (AWA, WWWF, NWA), Kowalski held claim to the world title out of Australia six times from 1964-67 and a variant of the AWA World title based out of Boston. He also held a plethora of other belts: NWA Texas tag team (by himsef!) in 1950, the Central States champ in 1951, the Pacific Coast tag team champ in California in 1951, the International champion in Quebec a remarkable 11 times from 1952-63, the Big Time Wrestling champ 1958-61, the Pacific Coast tag team champ in B.C. twice in 1961-62, the Stampede Canadian champ in 1962, the WWWF U.S. tag team titles in 1963, the Hawaiian U.S. Heavyweight belt in 1965-66, the IWA tag team belts in Australia four times from 1967-71, the NWA America's title in 1972, the Grand Prix heavyweight and tag team titles out of Montreal two times each from 1972-73, the NWA Southern title in Florida in 1975, and the WWWF tag team belts in 1976 (under a mask as the Executioners with John Minton, a.k.a. Big John Studd).

Retired from the ring since 1977, Kowalski has been a trainer of wrestlers for years. His biggest name students are Triple H, Big John Studd, Chyna, Mike Shaw (Makhan Singh, Norman the Lunatic, Bastion Booger) and Frankie Kazarian.

"Kowalski had a great school. He spent a lot of time with us," said Shaw.

Theresa and Walter Kowalski at the beginning of August. Photo by Jason Clevett

"Anyone who knows me knows that I have always attributed Walter with all of my success in pro wrestling," wrote Kazarian on his blog after Kowalski's passing. "He took in a 20 year old kid who had traveled 3,000 miles from southern California, and embraced him like a son. He was kind enough to pass on his extensive, and unique knowledge of this business to me. From day one, Walter became my trainer, and my friend. He guided me through every step of pro wrestling, but more importantly, taught me how to be a genuine, good person, and to treat others with respect, dignity and class. I owe so much to Walter, that I could never put it all in words. The time we spent together is and always will be some of the most precious memories I have, and I will keep it in a special place in my heart."

The way Kowalski tells the story, he didn't want to be a trainer. "They kept talking to me. I had nothing to do anyway, sitting home watching TV. So I started training guys at the Salem YMCA," he said in 1998. "That was the first wrestling school of all in 1978. So I start training guys and pretty soon they start writing it up. I was on the David Letterman show. And before David Letterman, I was on other TV shows. Word got out, there's a wrestling school. Killer Kowalski. We had guys come all the way from California. A whole TV crew came to show me working out, wrestling, working out the guys. I got a lot of publicity that way too. I just kept at it. Now I can't get out of it!"

For many years, Kowalski ran a promotion in the Northeast U.S. that had television. It was a chance for youngsters to hone their craft, and some old friends to continue working.

Kowalski had been confined to a nursing home for a few months, with problems with his knees. Doctors were reluctant to operate on an 81-year-old former wrestler who had a pacemaker. On Friday, August 8th, Kowalski suffered a heart attack and was moved to a hospital. For the rest of the month, the prognosis for a recovery rarely looked good. The family -- Kowalski's wife Theresa, and brother Stanley -- decided to remove him from life support. The incredible physical specimen that he was, Kowalski lasted more than a week with a supply of oxygen and his functioning pacemaker. The family welcomes remembrances of Kowalski at his nephew's blog: walterkowalski.blogspot.com/.

Though he never released an autobiography, Kowalski did publish a book of his photography in 2001, entitled Killer Pics.

Walter Kowalski -- his legal name since 1963 -- is survived by his wife Theresa, brother Stanley and sister-in-law Colette, of Ottawa, nephews Jan, Anthony, and Mark, and niece Laura. He is predeceased by his sister Wanda, and parents, Mary and Anthony.

The funeral will be on Wednesday at Weir Funeral Home, 144 Salem St., Malden, MA 02148. Afternoon services are at 2 p.m. and evening services at 6 p.m.

A fund to pay for Kowalski's medical care has been set up that is accesable ONLY by Theresa Kowalski. The address to directly send funds that will be immediately available to help with medical costs and other expenses is: The Walter "Killer" Kowalski Memorial Fund; Citizens Bank; 876 Main St.; Malden, MA 02148. A benefit show to raise funds is in the works as well for Malden, on Sunday, October 26 at 2 p.m.

RELATED LINKS
August 19, 2008: Killer Kowalski removed from life support August 10, 2008: An uplifting visit with Killer Kowalski August 9, 2008: Outlook for Killer Kowalski improved Killer Kowalski Photo Gallery Killer Kowalski in our Canadian Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Killer Kowalski results archive

Greg Oliver first met Killer Kowalski in 1998. One of his favourite memories following the publication of The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Canadians was a message from Kowalski (#3 Canadian all-time), saying, "Greg, thanks for putting me over."

Credit: Slam! Wrestling

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#14247

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Mon Sep 1, 2008 1:56 am
Subject: Husband, wife team works well in TNA

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Husband, wife team works well in TNA

BY JIM VARSALLONE

Behind every good man is usually a good woman. In the case of TNA star Booker T, his good woman is next to him. A former WCW Nitro Girl dancer, the lovely Sharmell Sullivan is not only his real-life wife but also his wrestling manager/valet.

''It's amazing to be married and work together,'' she said. ``A lot of people can't handle it. I've talked to a lot of my friends who have tried to work with their husband, not in the wrestling industry but just in business in general, and they can't. So they always say, `I don't know how you do it.'

``Because of our work schedule, we kind of have to work together. Otherwise, I'd never see him. Being on the road together and working together have been great for us because we had been in entertainment prior to wrestling. So we know what it's like. We know what it takes. We know that people seem to think being on the road traveling is all glitz and glamour, and it's not. It's hard work.

``We realize that aspect of it, and we just make it work. We put our relationship first, and that's what helps.''

Sullivan, a 1991 Miss Black America, became a professional dancing, touring with several hip hop artists and R&B bands including a three-year stint the Godfather of Soul James Brown.

For exposure, she started her career in pro wrestling in 1998, making the Nitro Girls dance team under the direction of Kimberly Page in WCW. While there, she met the talented tag team and singles' standout Booker T.

In March 2005, they wed.

''It definitely was not love at first sight,'' she said. ``It was one of those things where we've worked together, but I never really got to know him because Booker never really talked to any of the girls or socialized a lot. He's so business. He just did his job.''

Booker's first wife, Levestia, was not involved in wrestling, but she did appear on WCW Monday Nitro a couple of times. They divorced in 2001.

Booker T and Sharmell dated about five years.

''What happened was he ended up meeting my mother one day at one of the tapings,'' said Sharmell, a native of Gary, Ind. 'I just introduced him to my mom like I introduced my mom to everybody, and he ended up having a 2-hour conversation with her. I go back and I say, `Mom, how in the world did he talk to you for two hours and he barely says hello to me.' It really was the weirdest thing. It was really crazy.

``When I got released from WCW and he was still there, I just really, really missed him. I don't know why. Then I ended up seeing him in Florida just by chance, and we started talking, and it kind of went from there.''

Mom knows best.

''She was so happy,'' Sharmell said, 'because I remember after that time they first met, and it literally was a 2-hour conversation, she kept telling me how nice he is and how smart. I'm like, `How do you know all this stuff about him? I see this guy every week, several days of week, and I really know nothing about him.' So she was overjoyed because I guess that 2-hour conversation they had must have been magic.''

Working together has also been magic, stemming from many accomplishments in WWE and continued success with TNA.

''It's amazing in TNA, and Booker and I have gotten to do a lot since we've been in TNA,'' she said. ``That's been fun. We're almost a year in. Booker, the TNA champ, I was really excited about that. It's the feather in the cap of all the great things that has been going on this year.''

Sharmell appreciates the female talent in TNA, which is mapping women's wrestling in the United States.

''I've been in the business about 10 years now, which is kind of a long time for a female,'' she said, ``and I can honestly say working with the TNA Knockouts has been the most amazing experience of my wrestling career. These are the most talented young ladies I've worked with.''

Some of TNA's highest-rated segments on TNA iMPACT! (9 p.m. EST Thursdays, Spike TV) involve women's matches.

''The girls, they're just great,'' Sharmell said. ``Not only are they tremendous athletes but they're entertainers as well. I look at [Awesome] Kong. I look at ODB. I've worked with Gail Kim at WWE, and I've seen how far she's come. These girls just really have the right stuff, and they know what it takes.

'These girls are beautiful, but it's not all about, `Oh, I'm gorgeous. Look at me.' It's about, 'I'm gorgeous, and I can work. I can wrestle. I can get in there. I can mix it up.' I have not seen that before in my 10-year career. They are amazing.

``It's usually one or the other, but there are exceptions. Jaqueline, who was in WWF at the time, was one of the exceptions there, but here it's the norm to have both.''

TNA is striving to reach new heights.

''It's amazing the way TNA has grown leaps and bounds, and I think it's because the wrestling fans are looking for something fresh,'' she said. ``They're looking for something new. I look at the X Division, and these guys are the future of the business. They're amazing, the stuff that they do. I'm sitting here, and I can't comprehend.

``Booker and I want to help the future. We want to help the young guys and girls coming up, and that's why we have a wrestling school [Pro Wrestling Academy] in Houston where we're training the next generation of wrestlers.

``We feel like, and more so Booker, who is the superstar and has done this for 18 years, to pass that knowledge on and let these guys know we need to teach you to have longevity in your career and how to have the fans screaming your name, even when you're up in your 40s.

``The guys are great, and the X Division is phenomenal, and that's what the people want. We're just hoping that we can help them take it to the next level.''

Sharmell knows her role.

''I just help him do his thing,'' she said. ``He's the one who's made the name for himself in this business. I think it kind of came naturally because we really are a team, and that's what we do on television. I'm right there in his corner.

``At home, in our real life, we're a team. We know we're in this together. I think that's why it's so natural, and why it works so well for us on television. I'm just there to help him and support him.''

Sharmell enjoys the fans.

''The energy I get from the crowd, whether they cheer or boo, is amazing,'' she said. ``You have them suspended for that two hours you're there. You entertain them, and you're feeding off their energy. It's just great.

'What I really like is after the shows, when people come up to Booker and say, `Thank you for entertaining us for so many years. Thank you for a job well done.' That makes it all well worth it.''

Sharmell has been the good woman and the bad in her career.

''I love getting booed the most,'' Sharmell smiled.

What you see (on television) isn't always what you get.

``It depends on the fan. If people think that's us on television, how we are, in real-life, that's fine. We'll feed off that. If that's what they want, that's what we'll give them.

``In general, most of the time, people are coming up to us, just thanking us, and then we're nice. We shake hands. We sign autographs.

Sharmell laughed, ``We have some of those few really, really hardcore fans, too, who just hate us til the end.''

� Booker T and Sharmell aren't the only real-life husband and wife combo working together in TNA. There's also Kurt and Karen Angle.

Past years, in WCW, Diamond Dallas Page and Nitro Girl Kimberly were married. In WWE, Marc Mero and Sable were married. In WWF, Macho Man Randy Savage and Elizabeth were married as were Gangrel and Luna. In ECW, Sandman and Lori Fullington. In WCCW, Chris Adams and Lady Blossom (Jeannie Clark). Chris and Toni Adams. Stunning Steve Austin and Lady Blossom. Jimmy Garvin and Precious (Patti Williams). In CWF, Exotic Adrian Street and Miss Linda.

Know any others?

� Sharmell supports Obama.

� In TNA, wrestling's dynamic is changing. Women's wrestling is reaching new heights.

''Women are something different now,'' Sharmell said. ``We're not just a pretty face and a great body. We actually get physical. We matter. We can change the outcome of a match. That's what I love, and that's the major thing I've seen change in the business.''

� ''I like what I'm doing now,'' said Sharmell, 33. ``I watch these girls in TNA, and they make me miss wrestling, but I don't know if my body could handle that every week. I enjoy maybe a match here or there or a mixed tag match every now or then with Booker, but I really enjoy the acting side of it and just being there as my husband's cheerleader.''

� ''Booker is such a character. We just go with it,'' she said. ``We know what's going on with the storyline or whoever we're fighting that day, and we make it as real as possible.''

� TNA star A.J. Styles, one of the best pro wrestlers going today, will help Rock the Universe on Friday, Sept. 5 and Saturday, Sept. 6 at Universal Studios Orlando.

Styles will appear both days to give his amazing testimony during the annual Christian rock music extravaganza.

If there's a seductive quality to being a young superstar -- the flashing lights, the soldout arenas and the worldwide television audience -- none of it has tempted Styles. Hear how he's remained grounded in a business that is anything but.

Head, formerly of the popular metal group Korn, will also give his testimony on Sept. 6. In February 2005, more than 10,000 people watched as the heavy metal guitarist and founding member of Korn gave his life to Christ. He will discuss how he found God, quit the band, kicked drugs and lived to tell his story.

The event will feature top Christian music artists including Switchfoot, Reliant K, Jars of Clay, Newsboys, Grits, Skillet, Third Day, Stellar Kart, Jeremy Camp, New Method, Group 1 Crew, Leeland, This Beautiful Republic and Special D.

Join thousands for a pulse-pounding weekend of soul-stirring music and action-packed rides, geared toward teens, kids and young adults at the No. 1 movie and TV based theme park in the world. The weekend concludes with an inspirational Sunday worship service. Visit rocktheuniverse.com/index.html#top.

� TNA is 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami in Coral Gables. Tickets are on sale.

� TNA is 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28 at The Lakeland Center in Lakeland, Fla. Tickets also are on sale. Prices vary.

� TNA tapes TNA iMPACT! four times a month at Soundstage 21 of Universal Studios Orlando. Admission is free. Seats are first come, first serve.

� Booker T's Pro Wrestling Academy trains people to become wrestlers, managers and referees. He also founded the Pro Wrestling Alliance which runs shows in Houston and surrounding areas. Visit bookertpwa.com.

''We encourage students, and we have students from all over,'' Sharmell said. ``Last year, we had two kids come from South Africa. They trained with us for a month. Recently, we had two guys come from New Zealand.

``We have a guy who consistently drives every week from Dallas, which is about a four-hour drive, one way. We have about 40 students now, and we love it. This is our passion. We love giving back. Booker trains the guys himself. He is looking out for the business, and he wants to train the next generation of superstars.

``It's a great place to be. We have six wrestling rings, so everybody can get in. We have a full gym. We do sessions in interviewing and promos. It's a great place to be, if you're really serious about becoming a professional wrestler.''

Credit: Miami Herald

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#14246

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Mon Sep 1, 2008 1:51 am
Subject: Foley Denies Signing with TNA at WWE Licensed Autograph Event

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Foley Denies Signing with TNA at WWE Licensed Autograph Event

Mick Foley, who has been the talk of the wrestling community as of late due to the fact he's supposed to be gone and going to TNA, made a stop in Cleveland today at the Indians baseball game and threw out the first pitch and signed autographs for fans. I made my way through the line and got a chance to speak with Mick on the TNA rumor and what exactly is going on:

Matt: "Mick, so what is true on these rumors of your leaving?"

Foley: "I didn't even know there were rumors."

Matt: "Various sites are reporting you are leaving WWE and signing with TNA...is that true?"

Foley: "Who reported that?"

Matt: "It's all over wrestling sites on the net"

Foley: "Well, I can say that is NOT true, though I may try out a PPV with them."

So there you have it, a first-hand conversation that while Foley will likely end up in TNA, the deal, according to him, has yet to be inked. At least not yet. Foley's WWE conract ends on Monday, and today's appearance at the Indians game was not even promoted on the WWE's list on their website.

http://www.letstalkwrestling.com/

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#14245

From: Evan Ginzburg <evan_ginzburg@...>
Date: Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:08 pm
Subject: Star-studded Wrestlers Rescue 9/14 NJ

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Don�t miss Wrestlers Rescue 9/14/08 NJ:

Meet Torrie Wilson, Terri Runnels, Mick Foley, Dawn Marie, Tammy Sytch, Missy Hyatt, Iron Sheik, Superfly Snuka, Greg Valentine, Lou Albano, Balls Mahoney, Nikolai Volkoff, Lanny Poffo, Brutus Beefcake, JJ Dillon, Sandman, Manny Fernandez, Baywatch�s Traci Bingham, Boxing legend Emile Griffith, many, many others & surprise guest�

Our 1^st fundraiser will be held on September 14, 2008. This function will consist of two events. The first event is a Convention/Autograph Session that is being held at the Radisson in Piscataway NJ. The second event is also being held at the Radisson and this is a Semi-Formal Dinner with the Stars.

For up to date information on star-studded celebrity guests, schedule, prices, super tickets, auction, etc. visit www.WrestlersRescue.Org

Questions about event? E-Mail Michele at wrestlersrescue@...

Dawn Marie and other stars of Wrestlers Rescue available for interviews and appearances. Contact: Scott Epstein: scott@...

Dawn Marie talks about Wrestlers Rescue on the Sunday August 31 edition of Evan Ginzburg�s Legends Radio co-hosted by Dr. Mike Lano from

7-9PM EST on www.wrestling-radio.com

WRESTLERS RESCUE Mission statement

Wrestlers Rescue�s mission is to create awareness and to help raise monies to support the health care needs of Retired Professional Wrestlers due to a career choice in wrestling.

Wrestlers rescue will be focusing on three stages of growth.

� 1st stage is to create awareness of the need and to raise funds.

� 2^nd stage is to put in place a financial advisory for the active wrestling community to call on for advice on how to plan for their future. Including retirement, pension, college funds, family needs etc.

� 3^rd stage is to set in place a Health care program that can be bought into at a group rate so that the community can afford care for themselves and their families.

We are dedicated to improving the lives of the professional and their families, by educating the person on how to expand their opportunities and how to reach their full potential in life.

Wrestlers Rescue

1126 Saint Georges Avenue

Suite 313

Avenel, NJ 07001

Phone: (732)236-1987

Email: WrestlersRescue@...

Web: http://WrestlersRescue.Org

This event started out to raise money for my sister in law Carrie and "The Carrie Deussing RSD Foundation" (www.carriedeussingrsd.webs.com). She was a successful career woman who loved her job and was looking forward to her new marriage when she started to feel the symptoms of RSD. The symptoms started on 7/20/2007 and quickly spread throughout her entire body within a few weeks. She may at times look "healthy," but she suffers with a great amount of pain. Her skin also swells, changes colors and temperature. She hurts at the slightest touch. It's difficult for her to sleep and she has difficulty walking and sometimes her body may shake or spasm. Carrie started to receive the low dose treatment that the United States offers and found no relief of her symptoms.

Dr. Schwartzman has recommended that she be put into a five-day Ketamine Coma. This procedure which cost $50,000.00 is only done in Germany and Mexico because of the high doses that are required for the five-day coma it is only legal overseas. In Mexico, she will be put into an induced coma and put on life support equipment for 5 days. During this time they will administer high doses of Ketamine. Dr. Schwartzman pioneered this new treatment, which resets the link between the pain sensory neurons and the brain. The coma calms the nervous system and "reboots" the patient, much like a computer. After the 5^th day they will slowly wake her up. The goal is for her to wake up pain-free. Dr�s. Schwartzman & Kirkpatrick tell her that that since her symptoms started so recently she has a great chance of a complete recovery.

At this time in my life I was trying to acclimate to my new life as a mother, wife and accepting my untimely release from the WWE. �This sounds pretty silly after reading about Carrie right?� That is exactly what I thought. I started to pull myself out of my depression and started to help raise money for this procedure Carrie needed. Together we were able to raise $32,000.00 which meant we fell short $18,000.00.

With this in mind I decided to put together a small fundraiser /meet and greet with a few local wrestlers. While putting this together I realized that I had a lot more friends in the industry than I thought. To my surprise many people started to come out of the woodwork to help my family. At that moment I started to find the love for the business I once had. As this small fundraiser grew I started to think of what can I do for them and this rekindled love. I came up with Wrestlers Rescue.

Wrestlers Rescue�s mission is to create awareness and to help raise monies to support the health care needs of Retired Professional Wrestlers due to a career choice in wrestling.

We are dedicated to improving the lives of the professional and their families, by educating the person on how to expand their opportunities and how to reach their full potential in life.

SPONSORSHIP

Wrestlers Rescue

PLATNIUM = $1000.00

1. Logo and a link of your website on Wrestlers Rescue.Org for one year.

2. A full page ad in the program for the event held on September 14, 2008.

3. Logo on back of the official T-Shirt of Wrestlers Rescue.

4. Logo will be placed on a banner to be show cased at the convention and at the dinner.

5. 4 free general admission tickets to the Convention.

GOLD = $750.00

1. Logo and a link of your website on Wrestlers Rescue.Org for 6 months.

2. A half page ad in the program for the event held on September 14, 2008.

3. Logo on back of the official T-Shirt of Wrestlers Rescue.

4. Two free general admission tickets to the Convention.

SILVER = $300.00

1. Logo and a link of your website on Wrestlers Rescue.Org for three months.

2. A quarter page ad in the program for the event held on September 14, 2008.

3. Two free general admission tickets to the Convention.

Bronze = $150.00

1. Your name will be listed in the Program of the event as acknowledgement of Sponsorship.

2. A certificate of acknowledgment from Wrestlers Rescue.

3. 1 free general admission to convention.

*All donations can be accepted through WrestlersRescue.org or you can mail them to:

Wrestlers Rescue

1162 Saint Georges Ave

Suite #313

Avenel, NJ 07001

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#14244

From: "$Lil Brat Shellie$" <xtreme_shellie_1982@...>
Date: Sat Aug 30, 2008 1:56 pm
Subject: Candice Michelle Returns, Henry/Hardy at RAW, More

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In an organization such as World Wrestling Entertainment, one never knows where the next grouping of future Superstars will come from. But, if you ask WWE Hall of Famer and mat legend Harley Race, he�ll be the first to raise his hand and tell you that he�ll do his best to oblige. From Sept. 15 to 19, Race�s World League Wrestling will hold its annual Pro-Wrestling/NOAH Training Camp at its headquarters in Eldon, Mo., and the eight-time World Champion is ready to roll.

"We�ve got three different classes we conduct involving athletes who just want to get involved, those who are about halfway there, and a class for those who are close enough that we can put the final touches on them so they can make it into the big show," said Race.

Two current Superstars who cut their teeth with Race at a previous camp before joining WWE are one-half of the World Tag Team Champions, Ted DiBiase, and referee John Cone.

At the camp, one can expect to receive guidance and instruction of the highest order possible on all facets of learning the art of wrestling. Legendary Superstar and current WWE producer Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat will be on hand to look at the crop of individuals at the camp this year, and Race cannot be more pleased.

"Ricky Steamboat was one of the premier talents to ever be in this business, and was one of the very best to have ever stepped in the ring," he said. "We�re delighted to have Ricky come to our camp. He�s showing us a world of respect by being with us."

Steamboat will have his clipboard, his pencil and, most important, his keen eye ready.

"It�s going to be interesting to see the Japanese group [NOAH], there," Steamboat told WWE.com. "It will also be inspiring to know that there's going to be a good group of folks that will be coming for this camp. What I�m going to be looking for is that diamond in the rough, that person who can add and contribute to our company that seems to be coachable. Hopefully, I�ll leave there with that possibility becoming a reality."

The Harley Race Pro-Wrestling Camp is one of the most anticipated affairs on the annual wrestling calendar. For further information and registration, log on to harleyrace.com.

Shellie Michelle R, Raymond G, Jean Marie R, Sean T, Patty S, and Patty F is the tightest group at camp Loyaltown.

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#14237

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:14 pm
Subject: New TNA 'iMPACT!' video game TV ad spot

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New TNA 'iMPACT!' video game TV ad spot
Reported by: Colin Vassallo
Submitted on: Aug 28, 2008 - 9:20:33 PM

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue-TqmP6I_g

On September 9th, TNA will debut its first video game called 'iMPACT!' and marketing by TNA and Midway - makers of the game - are in full force with a new television ad and spots in the busy Times Square in New York City. The new video game trailer is being played on the Toys 'R' Us big screen outside the store in Times Square, giving the game and TNA a large audience every day. The television ad features two teenagers entering a video game store and see the TNA game available to play. "A TNA game? Want some of this?" says one teen to the other. As soon as the other one agrees, AJ Styles enters the store smashing through the window while Kurt Angle punches his way in, taking a whole rack of games out. As soon as the two start to fight the action cuts to the two in the game and ends with Angle standing over AJ Styles as one of the teenagers goes to the counter and tells the sales guy, "We'll take it!" Pretty awesome commercial.

Credit: Wrestling-Online Newsletter

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#14236

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:58 pm
Subject: Thursday News Update

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By Dave Meltzer

-There is an article on Killer Kowalski's final battle at http://www.wickedlocal.com/malden/sports/x633547550/Kowalski-s-last-fight

--Jerry Lawler's son Kevin was released after being arrested earlier this week on charges of trespassing and aggravated burglary. Police records say a woman gave Lawler her house key to clean the carpets and Lawler returned the key, but later entered the house with what she believed was a copy key he made. Story is at http://www.wmctv.com/global/story.asp?s=8915023

--At a weekend indie show in Maryland, it was reported Joey Matthews cut a promo saying he would be going back to WWE in December with former partner Christian York

--The Peoria Journal-Star has an article on C.M. Punk at http://www.pjstar.com/entertainment/ He's promoting a Saturday night house show in Peoria where he faces Batista in the main event on a show with Matt Hardy vs. Mark Henry and Kofi Kingston vs. Santino Marella.

--For the U.K. for the week ending 8/17, the live Raw at 2 a.m. drew 38,000 viewers, while the replay airings did 50,000 and 31,000. Smackdown did 58,000 on Friday night and 31,000 on Saturday morning. An edited version of the HHH DVD drew 53,000. (thanks to Ian Hamilton)

--Kevin Eck has an interview with Kevin Nash about why he left the Impact tapings, his thoughts on the Samoa Joe storyline and his creative control clause in his contract at http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/wrestling/blog/

--Alfonso Castillo at http://newsday.com/steelcage has an interview with Balls Mahoney, talking about his WWE departure

--Jerry McDevitt talks the Raven lawsuit at http://www.thesun.co.uk.sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/article1620461.ece His arguments for why they have no case should show up quickly enough in a motion to dismiss he is expected to file.

--Who is the best wrestler of the current group of world heavyweight champions poll:
Nigel McGuinness 22.6%
Samoa Joe 22.2%
HHH 18.3%
C.M. Punk 17.9%
Keiji Muto 8.8%
Takeshi Morishima 6.7%
Cibernetico 1.5%
Dos Caras Jr. 1.5%
Suwama 0.4%

--WWE released developmental referee Jamie Tucker. He's looking to work indie dates in the Florida area at wrestlingroadie7392@...This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

--Lance Storm wrote about his experience of almost, but never making it to the main PPV stage at Wrestlemania at http://www.stormwrestling.com/082708.html

--Spike will be airing a replay of The Best of 2007 UFC special from 9 p.m. to midnight tomorrow night

--There is an article at http://mmarated.com saying that Jason Guida, Clay's brother, never did fight on this season of Ultimate Fighter because he couldn't make weight for the first fight

--TNA debuts in Davenport, IA at the River Center on 10/10. Tickets go on sale tomorrow. It's the first major non-WWE house show in the market since 2000 and first in Davenport itself since 1992 (thanks to Joel Kolsrud)

--Notes on more problems with Bodog, including the closing of the MMA company are at http://www.gambling911.com

--Insanity Pro Wrestling features its 8th annual Super Junior tournament on 9/6 in Indianapolis at the Fountain Square Salvation Army Community Center. First round has Vito Thomaselli vs. C.J. Otis, Dingo vs. Sami Callihan, Nate Webb vs. Billy Roc, Aaron Williams vs. Dave Crist, Shiima Xion vs. Jayson Quick and Ruckus vs. Scotty Vortekz

--Jersey All Pro Wrestling on 9/19 at Toms River, NJ Intermediate South Middle School features Kenny Omega vs. Jay Lethal, LAX vs. Heavy Hitters, and James Maritato (Nunzio) vs. Xaiver and a Rumble match, plus Rhino appears

--Dave Landon at thelesserfaith@... This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it is looking for info on any wrestling schools in the Miami area

--B.J. Lacy, who fought on 8/15 for the Pure Combat promotion in Visalia, CA, tested positive for marijuana and has been suspended for three months and fined $500 by the California State Athletic Commission

--Urijah Faber is down to the final four in the Versus Toughest Athlete of 2008 voting. The other three left are Lance Mackey and Rachel Scdoris, Mushers, and Team Hoyt Triathletes

--Tomorrow night in Tijuana at the Auditorio Municipal has El Hijo del Santo & Blue Demon Jr. vs. L.A. Park & Super Parka Ensendada has a Saturday night show with Atlantis & Rey Bucanero & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Mr. Aguila & Damian 666 & ?

--Puebla tonight has Groon XXX & Dr. Wagner Jr. & Tinieblas Jr. vs. Atlantis & Rey Bucanero & Ultimo Guerrero (thanks to Kris Zellner)

--Rich Tate's Atlanta wrestling nostalgia:
49 years ago: Adrien Baillargeon beat Southern champ Fred Blassie via DQ
44 years ago: Buddy Fuller beat Sputnik Monroe in the main event
41 years ago in Marietta: Stan & Butcher Vachon beat Alberto & Ramon Torres to win the Southern tag team titles
38 years ago: Nick Bockwinkel beat Buddy Colt to keep the Georgia title and The Assassins beat Doug Gilbert & Bobby Shane to win the Georgia tag titles. Second match on the card was Robert Fuller vs. the notorious Jose Gonzalez
35 years ago in Macon: Jack Brisco beat Bob Armstrong to keep the NWA title while Tom Jones & Mr. Wrestling II beat Bill Watts & Bobby Duncum
31 years ago in Savannah: Ric Flair retained the U.S. title pinning Ricky Steamboat and Masked Superstar beat Tim Woods
30 years ago in Augusta: Harley Race retained the NWA title going to a draw with Thunderbolt Patterson and Tommy Rich beat Ole Anderson
29 years ago in Macon: Ole Anderson & Ivan Koloff kept the Georgia tag titles over Stan Hansen & Tommy Rich
25 years ago: Roddy Piper beat Buzz Sawyer in a dog collar match, Road Warriors kept the National tag titles over Mr. Wrestling I & II (this was one of Tim Woods' last matches) and Tommy Rich beat Bill Irwin in a bullwhip match

--Jody Hamilton of The Assassins turned 70 today. Bearcat Wright, a huge star in the 60s and early 70s, passed away 26 years ago today at the age of 50

--Shannon Rose noted to us that he was at a movie and saw the FYE commercial on the screen with MVP and Batista brawling in the store

--Richard Byrne is putting on a benefit show to help with medical bills for Killer Kowalski on 10/26 in Malden, MA at 2 p.m. We will have more on that as the date approaches

--FPWA on 8/30 in Pinellas Park, FL at the Boys & Girls Club

--WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 was No. 6 on PS 2 and No. 4 on PSP (thanks to Jereme Warneck)

--Update on names for the Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup on 9/26 in Port Richey, FL and 9/27 in Brooksville, FL are: Larry Sweeney, Kenny King, Sal Rinauro, C.J. O'Doyle, Erick Stevens, Tommy Taylor, Rhett Titus, Jon Davis, Gran Akuma, Jigsaw, Chris Jones and Chris Gray

--Florida Championship Wrestling has booked an 11/15 date at the Lee County Civic Center, which holds about 7,000 fans

--SPRY Wrestling debuts on 9/27 in Bolton, ONT at the Fairgrounds headlined by Cody Deaner vs. Josh Prohibition

--Sascha Ferdinand at SaschaFerdinand@...This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it is looking for the new Santino Marella T-shirt that it out of stock at the WWE web site

--CHIKARA announced the 9/20 Chicago area debut at the Streamwood Park District Community Center with Oriental from Mexico teaming with Player Uno & Player Dos vs. Mike Quackenbush & Hallowicked & Incognito plus Tim Donst vs. Buck Hawke

--They are selling tickets in Ocala, FL for All Japan tryouts conducted by Osamu Nishimura on 9/6 and 9/7. For info go to www.dory-funk.com

http://www.f4wonline.com/

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#14235

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:56 pm
Subject: Kowalski�s last fight

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Kowalski�s last fight
By Christopher Hurley/churley@...
Emacs!

Malden -

Walter Kowalski has always been known to be a battler.

From his early days breaking into the wrestling business, to his years as a top trainer to some of today�s biggest WWE superstars, �Killer� Kowalski has certainly left an indelible mark on the wrestling world.

But the Malden resident and WWE Hall of Famer�s biggest battle continues to be the fight for his life, after suffering a massive heart attack Aug. 8 that has left him near death.

Since that time, Kowalski, 81, has been in critical condition at Whidden Hopsital in Everett. With his condition showing no signs of improving, Kowalski�s family decided to take the wrestler off life support, Monday, Aug. 18.

Kowalski�s wife, Theresa, as well as his family and friends have been by the wrestler�s side during this very difficult time.

Among Kowalski�s closest friends holding vigil at the hospital has been Richard Byrne.
�Walter was a showman,� said Byrne, a Malden native, Tango Soo Do grandmaster and veteran of the local and international wrestling circuits. �He knew how to promote pro wrestling. He knew how to promote the image of �Killer� Kowalski and there was nobody better at the game. I thank God my first match was with him, because as hard as it was, it made every match that I�ve had in my career seem like a walk in the park.�

According to Byrne, when news first broke of Kowalski�s illness, calls from across the wrestling industry began streaming in from grapplers, past and present, all wanting to pay their respects and lend their support to the legend.

Among the old-time wrestlers who checked in was Nick Bockwinkle. A veteran of the squared circle, Bockwinkle, 73, was just 14 years old when he first caught a glimpse of the then 22-year-old Kowalski, who was entering his second year in the business.

�I saw Walter Kowalski enter the ring in a long purple robe,� Bockwinkle recalled. �And when he took it off he turned to the audience, he lifted up his arms and roared. It was the most magnificent sight I had ever seen.�

Birth of a �Killer�
Standing in a lean and mean 6-foot-7, 285 pounds, Kowalski�s intimidating stature gave him instant credibility with wrestling fans. But it was his infamous run-in with Yukon Eric at the Montreal Forum in 1954 that earned him his infamous nickname.

During the match, Kowalski knee dropped Yukon Eric, severing a piece of his cauliflower ear in the process. The move horrified fans and �Killer� Kowalski was born.

Over the next three decades, Kowalski continued to pummel the opposition, gaining legions of fans worldwide. Wielding a wild array of signature moves including the Killer Clutch � a crippling stomach vice which left opponents powerless � a devastating diving knee drop, a powerful dropkick and relentless piledriver. Kowalski proved to be unbeatable, while also possessing a strong sense of theatrics in the ring, which also earned him the distinction of being one of wrestling�s biggest heels.

�He maintained his work ethic,� Byrne said. �He worked as hard in front of 35 people as he did in front of 3,500 people and there was no slacking because he was an entertainer. When talking to old-time wrestlers, about who was the toughest, �Killer� Kowalski�s name always came up because he never let you rest.�

Byrne speaks from experience. He first faced Kowalski in a memorable match at the Malden Armory in 1978. At the time, Byrne was a 6-foot-4, 225-pound third degree black belt in Korean karate, just breaking into the wrestling game himself, but was taught a thing or two by the then 52-year-old Kowalski, who entered the ring in the guise of his infamous alias, the masked Executioner No. 1.

�I�ll never forget it,� Byrne said. �Here I was a 28-year-old guy, I thought I was in good shape, being the karate expert. I got in the ring with him; we did 29 minutes for a double disqualification. But it was 29 minutes of non-stop action, which is unheard of now � if you watch television, it�s 10-minute matches. But you�re talking about a guy who on a regular basis in the olds days would go for a one-hour time limit. To be able to do that for an hour is incredible.�

After retiring from the ring, Kowalski turned teacher, opening up a wrestling schools in both the Salem and Boston YMCA before setting up shop in Malden, where he spent the next 30 years of his career training the stars of today, including current WWE heavyweight champ Triple H and former women�s champ Chyna.

Although he was as mean as they come inside the squared circle, Kowalski was nothing but a gentleman outside of it.

�The thing with Walter was, the more horrible a human being he could get in the ring, the nicer he was outside the ring,� Byrne said. �He never turned down an autograph; he was never too busy to talk to somebody. He was always a standup guy and if he could help you some way he would. That�s just the way he was.�

Kowalski fundraiser
Plans are already underway to hold a wrestling fundraiser in Kowalski�s honor at the Malden Irish American, Sunday Oct. 26. All money raised will go to Kowalski�s wife to help with medical expenses.

�Everybody is donating their services,� Byrne said. �The ring and the hall are already donated; the stars are flying in on their own money to be part of it. It�s probably going to be the biggest gathering of talent that Malden�s ever seen.�

�We�ve got a lot of big names who are very interested in coming and paying their respects and being there for Walter,� he added. �I think it�s going to be a great send off. It will definitely be the biggest event at the Irish American. It will be packed wall-to-wall.�

For more information on the Kowalski wrestling fundraiser, call 1-781-324-9568.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/

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#14234

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:49 pm
Subject: TNA Contracts Set To Expire; Christian Cage & Sting's Status

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TNA Contracts Set To Expire; Christian Cage & Sting's Status
Reported by Cornelius Wilson on 08/27/2008

Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, ProWrestling.net

Christian Cage, Sting, Team 3D, and Kevin Nash contract with TNA expires before the end of this year. Sting's contract is believed to be near finalization with an extension, as he has stated in the past that he would not appear on television unless his contract has been renewed. He appeared at the TV tapings this week.

The door is still open for a Christian Cage WWE return according to sources within the company. He left on good terms and would be able to make his return with a storyline involving Edge. He has told friends that he's happy with his current situation in TNA, which is what he told people regarding WWE before his departure.

http://www.pwmania.com/

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#14233

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:47 pm
Subject: Backstage Plans For Undertaker At Unforgiven, Vince Fuming

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Backstage Plans For Undertaker At Unforgiven, Vince Fuming
Reported by Andy Steven on 08/28/2008

Sources: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, www.f4wonline.com

-- At the moment, WWE has plans for the winner of the SmackDown Scramble match at Unforgiven to subsequently defend the title later in the night against Undertaker. The idea is that Vickie Guerrero would be giving him the title shot as a peace offering.

-- Vince McMahon was in a bad mood at last week's television tapings after SummerSlam. He was quite critical of Raw and in an even worse mood at the next day's SmackDown's tapings. The shows didn't go as he would have liked due to a timing issue as they were said to be overwritten. WWE didn't have the scripts in place for SmackDown until 7:00 p.m. on the night of the show. The disorganization reminded some of working in World Championship Wrestling. McMahon also cussed out Bruce Prichard at the Raw taping due to a certain situation. A number of people were walking around on egg shells at both television tapings when around him. Additionally, some people were reminding McMahon about his looming 63rd birthday, which took place on August 24. McMahon's still into youth and doesn't want to face the reality of aging.

http://www.pwmania.com/

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#14232

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:44 pm
Subject: The Main Reason Gail Kim Left TNA For WWE; Details

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The Main Reason Gail Kim Left TNA For WWE; Details
Reported by Andy Steven on 08/28/2008

Sources: www.pwtorch.com, Wrestling Observer Newsletter

-- The primary reason Gail Kim left TNA for WWE was due to the significant discrepancy between the kind of money WWE offered her and what TNA offered her. According to multiple sources, Kim really didn't really want to leave TNA, but she felt she had no choice but to accept WWE's offer due to the massive difference in money.

Despite being the most consistent TV ratings draws for the company, it appears that no matter how successful the female performers are for TNA, they're still not going to make much money, at least in comparison to the guys. The company still saw the top babyface in the division of what has become, from a television ratings standpoint, their most successful entity, as a low-budget expenditure. TNA offered their top female babyface star well under $100,000 per year, a figure that can only be met if she appears on a target number of shows, so if she gets hurt, she's not getting all the money. TNA's offer to Kim was said to be less than one-third of what WWE was offering - a six-figure downside guaranteed contract for three years. Also, Kim can potentially earn significantly more from appearing on pay-per-views and house shows, not to mention merchandise such as action figures. Additionally, TNA's lackluster offer to Kim probably doesn't bode well for the other girls in the company when their respective contracts come up considering that the top star couldn't even get a six figure offer.

Kim's friends had to talk her into leaving for WWE due to her strong sense of loyalty and happiness with TNA. While Kim loved TNA as well as her friends in the company, she couldn't justify not taking the significantly better offer from WWE. One friend of Kim said she really had no choice but to go for the financial security that only WWE can provide. One TNA source disappointed in her decision said she chose to be unhappy for more money rather than stay happy with the smaller company that made her a star.

There was said to be a huge void backstage at this week's Impact tapings as a number of her friends couldn't believe she was gone, especially without saying goodbye before she left.

One friend of Kim's with knowledge of TNA's apparent lowball offer deemed it to be "insulting" and "possibly sexist." Also, Kim couldn't risk getting hurt or being jobbed out once her decision to leave TNA was made.

http://www.pwmania.com/

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#14231

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:32 pm
Subject: TNA Impact preview

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TNA Impact preview

The following matches and events are being advertised for tonight's TNA Impact.

-Sting explains why he attacked Samoa Joe and A.J. Styles.

-Kurt Angle vs. Kevin Nash in a Four Ways to Glory qualifying match.

-Taylor Wilde and Roxxi vs. Angelina Love and Velvet Sky.

-X Divison Champion Petey Williams vs. Consequences Creed.

-Curry Man vs. Jimmy Rave,

-Awesome Kong in action.

http://www.prowrestling.net/

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#14230

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:39 pm
Subject: 500 TNA Fans Show Up In 8,000 Seat Arena, TNA Appearances

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500 TNA Fans Show Up In 8,000 Seat Arena, TNA Appearances
Reported by Andy Steven on 08/28/2008

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

-- There were a ton of empty seats at last Saturday's TNA event in Topeka, Kansas as the house show only drew 500 fans to the Kansas Expocentre, which can hold 8,000 seats. Additionally, house shows the week before in Dallas, Texas (8/15) and Muskogee, Oklahoma (8/17) drew poorly as well. However, the 8/16 house show in Lawton, Oklahoma reportedly drew drew okay.

-- TNA has posted a schedule of upcoming wrestler appearances. Velvet Sky, Kurt Angle, AJ Styles Christian Cage and Taylor Wilde are among those listed.

http://www.pwmania.com/

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#14229

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:29 pm
Subject: First screenshots of Hulk Hogan mobile game

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First screenshots of Hulk Hogan mobile game
Gameloft's Hulkamania Wrestling is ready to rumble
by Stuart Dredge

Screenshots:
http://tinyurl.com/5trgzf

You might argue that Hulk Hogan's tangled personal life would make a better game right now than his wrestling skills.

Of course, you might not argue that if you were actually sat in a room with Hogan trying to sign the rights to make an official mobile game.

Wrestling it is, then. We've reported on Gameloft's Hulkamania Wrestling before, but now we've got some screenshots to show you.

The game lets you play as Hulk and seven other wrestlers (presumably not famous real-world ones), beating each other black and blue with suplexes, boulder throws and other moves.

As you can see, the action is presented with an isometric perspective. It's out in the US, but there are hopefully enough Hulk fans on this side of the pond to ensure a release here too.

http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/

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#14228

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:19 pm
Subject: Chris Jericho Between the Ropes Interview

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Chris Jericho Between the Ropes Interview

Between The Ropes
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
ESPN Florida AM 1080 and AM 1060
Simulcast online at BetweenTheRopes.com

On Tuesday night, August 26, Chris Jericho joined hosts Brian Fritz, Dickerman, and Vito DeNucci live on Between The Ropes on ESPN Florida AM 1080 and AM 1060 to discuss his feud with Shawn Michaels, the evolution of his character, his projects outside the ring, and much more.

The interview started out with Chris being asked about his feud with Shawn Michaels. "I remember when I was a kid watching wrestling I think Jake the Snake and Rick Rude had an angle for a whole year, it literally lasted a year. Nowadays, if you can go two months with somebody it's like 'oh my gosh, we got a lot out of that one.' This one has been six months and going with no signs of slowing down. It's hotter now than it ever has been�Definitely it's one of the best, if not this best, angle I've ever been involved with in my entire career." Chris also credited his reinvention of the Chris Jericho character as one of the reasons that the angle has yet to slow down.

On top of his work with WWE Chris discussed his projects outside the ring. Regarding his band Fozzy Chris said that he's working on lyrics for his next album, though neither he nor the rest of the band have time to actually produce it right now. Chris explained that he sees this as a positive since it gives him time to figure out the most effective way to release the album given the ever changing music business.

Chris was then asked whether he finds the politics to be worse in music or wrestling. He said the politics in music were worse for him because he doesn't always know who to talk to, whereas in wrestling he can just go straight to the boss and discuss his issues.

After some talk about the video game Guitar Hero the topic shifted back to his WWE work, specifically the recent evolution of his character. Chris said that he knew when he returned he wanted to do something different, but he wasn't exactly sure what at first. He then talked about the fans taking a little while to get used to the new Jericho, who both looked and acted a bit differently, likening it to the reaction that Metallica got from its fans after cutting their hair for the album Load. "It takes a while for people to get used to a new look, a new image, and a new mindset. When they were getting used to it I changed it up into something completely new and different and not playing the old Y2J character that was very sarcastic and over the top. I wanted to take it all the way down to where if I talk slow and whisper almost the fans are going to have to shut up and listen to what I have to say because I'm in control. I'm in control every night I go into that ring, every night I say something, do something, or wrestle. I'm the one that calls the shots not the fans."

Jericho also specifically discussed one of the most obvious visual evolutions of his character, his wearing of short tights. "It's the first time I've ever worn short tights in 18 years. It's great, I love it because everyone is like 'what are you doing? Why are you wearing short tights?" Chris said that the reason he always wore long tights was because two of his favorites, Shawn Michaels and Owen Hart, wore long tights, so he started doing it and never changed. Chris then recounted this backstage reaction to the new short tights "I think it was Bruce Pritchard, or it might have even been Vince, asked me 'why have you been covering those legs for so long?' It's a very homoerotic sport, two half naked guys greased up and touching each other."

Chris then explained how some of his acting studies have helped his character's recent evolution. "I studied acting while I was gone and its come in so handy and made me so much more relevant now as a performer because I'm playing a character more than I ever have. I'm definitely an actor playing the part of Chris Jericho when I'm out there. It adds so much to the layering and the depth of the mindsets that I have�I honestly feel that this is the best I've ever been on the mic and in the ring as well."

The interview concluded with Jericho hyping his next book which he is currently working on and will come out next October. He said that the subject matter will revolve around what it was like achieving his dream, whether it was worth it, and how he fought to continue living it out.

To listen to the entire Chris Jericho interview, including Christ talking about his new reality show and what he considers his favorite storylines in his career, as well as the entire August 26 edition of Between The Ropes in streaming audio, visit the show online at http://www.BetweenTheRopes.com. In addition to listening to this week's show you can become a site member and access hundreds of previous Between The Ropes shows and interviews. Join us for Between The Ropes for two hours every Tuesday night at 6:00pm ET on ESPN Florida AM 1080 and AM 1060 and worldwide on BetweenTheRopes.com.

http://www.impactwrestling.com

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#14227

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:05 pm
Subject: Official WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 Podcast

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Gamingring.com and THQ presents the Official WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 Podcast

Here is your chance to get your questions answered directly by the creative team of the Smackdown vs Raw 2009 franchise

Thread Link:
http://tinyurl.com/5geycu

To help kick off the extensive coverage on Smackdown vs Raw 2009 at Gamingring I am very pleased to make this following announcement. On Saturday September 6th THQ and Gamingring.com will present the official WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009 Podcast. To kickoff our extensive coverage,

THQ will join us to discuss the tag team matches, backstage areas, and the create a finisher mode and the Superstar roster announced up to that point. As the official podcast of WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009, this will be your chance to get your questions answered directly from the creative staff behind the best selling wrestling game series.

We will be holding several podcasts with THQ leading up to the release of the latest installment in the Smackdown vs Raw franchise. Each of the podcasts will focus on the latest editions to this years game. Be sure to put your questions in this thread for the September 6th Smackdown vs Raw 2009 Official Podcast. We will have more information on this announcement in tomorrows GR8 Podcast.

http://gamingring.com/news/?p=2653

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#14226

From: Tom <ctb2003@...>
Date: Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:59 pm
Subject: WWE fan favorite stays on own path

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WWE fan favorite stays on own path

By John Sharp of the Journal Star

ABINGDON �

CM Punk doesn't drink alcohol or do drugs and has adopted a 'straight-edge' movement of basing life around personal development. He is what he is, he says, on TV and off it.

Punk, the 29-year-old World Wrestling Entertainment's heavyweight champion, is a fan favorite right now, often cheered in arenas WWE visits while his opponents are booed.

But given the WWE's not-so-distant past, where grapplers like 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin were cheered for drinking beer and flipping off opponents, will the fans continue to embrace Punk's clean lifestyle?

'I think my popularity is partly driven on it being who I am, like Steve Austin,' Punk said during a recent interview with the Journal Star. 'Obviously we are night and day on the beer drinking stuff. But I'm not trying to be a garbage man or astronaut or something I am not. What you see is what you get with me.'

Punk is a Chicago native, a current resident and a diehard Cubs fan who will headline the RAW/ECW Live event at the Peoria Civic Center's Carver Arena Saturday. He will defend the WWE title against Batista. Other matches on the card, scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., include Matt Hardy versus Mark Henry for the ECW Championship, and Kofi Kingston versus Santino Marella for the Intercontinental championship. Headlining title matches as the champion for the largest sports entertainment companies in the world is something Punk probably thought little about as a blue-mohawk-wearing high schooler at Lockport High School in the 1990s.

He didn't play football. He didn't wrestle. Instead, he was into martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Punk also had a group of buddies he would hang around and watch pay per view wrestling matches with. They would get 'amped up,' grab cookie sheets and start smacking each other.

A fan of the entertainment, Punk wanted to learn the trade. He got on the Internet and looked around for a wrestling school in Chicago. He checked out a few that he said 'seemed shady.'

Punk eventually came upon a place called the 'Steel Domain,' which he describes as grueling and similar to places like Stu Hart's 'Dungeon' in Calgary, Canada, where many legendary wrestlers, including Bret 'The Hitman' Hart, once trained.

'The first couple of weeks ... without making it sound too barbaric, they try to make the kids (who were training) quit,' Punk said. 'It's not a malicious thing. It's just to see if they can handle it.'

Punk, an 18-year-old at the time, did.

He only thought briefly about those days at the Steel Domain before cashing in his 'Money in the Bank' award against then-champion Edge on June 30. The moment allowed Punk the opportunity to win the title. He made good on that chance, and became champion.

Punk returned to Chicago recently as the WWE champion during a RAW event there a few weeks ago. It was quite a homecoming.

'I had my best friend and little sister in the front row,' he said. 'It was overwhelming in some aspects.'

http://www.pjstar.com/

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