Archive for Pro Wrestling
The residents of the town of Boise, Idaho, had an extra special visitor over the Christmas holiday weekend: New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez. The reasons behind why A-Rod would be in Boise during the holiday were initially murky, but that was before he was joined by Torrie Wilson, who the Idaho Statesman describes as “a Boise native who won the Miss Galaxy fitness competition and became a star in World Wrestling Entertainment.”
Wilson’s rise to fame had much to do with her role as a Diva in the WWE, which is a term used to describe any and all of the female talent within the organization’s employ. What the Statesman neglects to mention is that Wilson was also a covergirl on the May 2003 issue of Playboy. Perhaps that little nugget from her bio would not play well in Boise, especially about a native daughter.
Several media types noted Rodriguez’s presence at the Axiom Fitness on Parkcenter Boulevard, including local news anchor Mike Murad, who snapped the above pic of A-Rod and uploaded it to his Twitter account. Said Murad in an email to the Statesman: “He didn’t tell me why he was here, but did tell me he was trying to keep a low profile.” Yeah, snapping photos and uploading them to Twitter is a great way to help Rodriguez keep a low profile.
More on the hot new couple and some pics follow.
Okay, okay, I’ll buy it! Just don’t hurt me, Mr. Brock Lesnar, sir. I don’t want you to bring the pain as you threaten to do in the above video of intimidation, Mr. Lesnar. In fact, I’m skipping out on work to buy the darn game right now, man. I mean sir. Thank you in advance for taking pity on this pencil-necked geek, Mr. Lesnar.
Sure, it’s not as explicit nor as entertaining as the Iron Sheik’s previous forays into online criticism, but despite its lack of vileness and excessive profanity, it’s hard to argue with the veracity of thoughts contained in the above tweet. Well put, Iron Sheik. Heck, that’s probably better advice than Billy Hunter or David Stern are giving to the parties they represent. Maybe the Iron Sheik can help mediate the differences between the two groups. And if not, he could place both Hunter and Stern in the Camel Clutch and whoever lasts the longest before submitting wins on a particular issue. This would go on until all the issues are resolved or one of the two are incapable of continuing. If that occurs, the other side’s position on all remaining differences would win out. What a concept.
But one question: is the Virgil in “dont be the virgil” in reference to the Million Dollar Man’s personal assistant from way back when? It has to be, right? Although if it is, that is one strange reference out of nowhere, not to mention a totally awesome one at that.
Interesting. There really isn’t much to add here other than the man in the middle of pro wrestling royalty is George Richards from the Miami Herald. I wonder if Sgt. Slaughter gave that ink-stained wretch a taste of the old Camel Clutch. Or, at the very least, gave the guy a G.I. Joe action figure. How cool would that be?
Yet, I do have one question: does Jimmy “The Mouth of the South” Hart really carry around a megaphone wherever he goes or does he only bust it out for semi-staged public appearances? I’d like to think he uses it when he’s in the drive-thru at McDonald’s. You know, just to mess with them.
Oh, and here’s an interesting little trivia nugget I learned during a quick search of the interwebs: prior to his entry into the wacky world of professional wrestling, Jimmy Hart was the lead singer of ’60s band The Gentrys, who had a run of hits during their heyday, including the little diddy, “Keep On Dancing”. Crazy stuff.
But now I know, and knowing is half the battle.
[H/T The Big Lead]
Brilliant. Certifiably brilliant. Well done, Hugging Harold Reynolds. You are hereby awarded an honorary Intercontinental Championship belt.
They all managed to make it: Hulk Hogan, King Kong Bundy, Hillbilly Jim, George “The Animal” Steele, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Mr. Fuji, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, Junkyard Dog (I think), and many, many others I can’t quite make out (although I’m guessing one is Savage’s brother, Lanny Poffo, possibly Brutus Beefcake, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat and is that Elvis in the back there?) were on hand for an impromptu memorial honoring the late great “Macho Man” Randy Savage. Well, their acrylonitrile butadiene styrene-based counterparts made it, but really, when setting up a backyard funeral on the fly, what can you expect?
Rest in peace, Macho Man. Your action figure buddies will always have your back…
Wait. What’s this? Is that…is that?
Preach on, Ozzie. Preach on. Couldn’t have tweeted it better myself even if I tried.
Yowsers: ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage Is Dead
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TMZ has learned that “Macho Man” Randy Savage tragically passed away earlier this morning in an car accident. Details are sketchy at this early stage, but according to Savage’s brother, Lanny Poffo, he suffered a heart attack at approximately 10:00 this morning before losing control of his vehicle and getting in an accident. He was 58.
Savage was one of the most colorful personalities ever to don the tights in professional wrestling’s long and storied history. He was 58.
Rest in peace, Randy Savage. Hopefully, you’re with Miss Elizabeth in heaven now.
Macho Man Randy Savage Dies In Car Accident [TMZ]
Well, that’s a weird career move. But it be true: Rima Fakih, the reigning Miss USA from Michigan, has signed on to participate in Tough Enough, some kind of WWE competition. My knowledge of professional wrestling is not what it used to be – especially relating to its current status (you can ask me anything about Hillbilly Jim, though) – but apparently, Tough Enough is some kind of professional wrestling reality TV thingy where participants compete for a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (thanks, Wikipedia!).
A statement released by Fakih (via Fanhouse):
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to battle for a title in an entirely different competition,” said Fakih in a press release. “Miss USA is an incredible honor that’s provided invaluable experience which will undoubtedly help me as I push my performance and athletic skills to the limit. I look forward to learning if I have the mettle to make it in WWE.”
While this opportunity is sure to raise Fakih’s profile among folks who do not generally take an interest in Miss USA pageants, one has to wonder how the powers-that-be who run the pageant feel about their reigning princess taking part in a professional wrestling/reality television hybrid show…
(looks up who runs the pageant, discovers it is Donald Trump)
…never mind. Oh, and lest we forget, Miss Fakih is the very same Miss USA who once participated in a pole dancing competition prior to her crowning as Miss USA, and Trump didn’t take issue with that development. But that’s The Donald for you…
And we thank him for that.
Miss USA Signs on for WWE ‘Tough Enough’ [Fanhouse]
Whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do, brother, whatcha gonna do when Bartomania runs wild on you?
Doesn’t quite have the same ring as the original iteration of the iconic catchphrase, but that probably will make little difference to Jets linebacker Bart Scott when he finds out his outrageous performance during his interview with Sal Paolantonio shortly after New York’s upset of the New England Patriots last weekend caught the attention of his boyhood hero, Hulk Hogan.
Hogan, reached on the phone by ESPN New York, liked what he saw out of Scott’s bravado. In fact, it reminded the Hulkster a little bit of himself:
“It was like one of my mid-’80s promos, and all that was missing were a few ‘What are you gonna dos?’ and some lightning bolts in there,” said the 57-year-old Hogan, who now appears with TNA Wrestling on Spike TV. “It was right on the money. I think it’s cool that [Scott] is stepping up and showboating it a bit, because it’s about personality and entertaining people, too.
“I could tell Bart had been watching wrestling, and it’s pretty cool because a lot of these guys are afraid to step outside the box. … Sometimes when you say stuff you believe it and it happens.”
Indeed. Although in Hogan’s case, that worked only as long as the thing he believed would happen coincided with the script. Zing.
Hogan also believes that after Scott’s career in the NFL is over, he could have a future in pro wrestling.
“Oh yeah,” Hogan said. “When his career’s over and he wants to make some real money, tell him to give me a call and we’ll break him in the right way.”
Now that would certainly be something, wouldn’t it? Scott makes the transition to sports entertainment and follows in the footsteps of his childhood hero. But it might be a good idea if Scott stopped a bit short of totally emulating the Hulkster and did not marry a woman who looks exactly like his daughter. Just saying.
Hulk Hogan pulls for Jets, Bart Scott [ESPN New York]
Hulk Hogan has checked himself into a Florida hospital for a much-needed surgical procedure on his bad back. Exact details regarding the surgery have not disclosed at this time, but it is safe to say that years in the sports entertainment business are the likely cause. Either that or the years of attempting to carry his untalented daughter’s fledgling music career has finally got the best of him.
Hogan is now a shocking 57-years-old, which makes perfect sense when you consider how long he has been around but nevertheless causes me to feel incredibly old, and it should come as no surprise that his body might be beginning to cease up and quit on him, although if I were a betting man, I would have wagered his ex-wife Linda would have been the Hogan requiring back surgery first, for obvious, saggy reasons. Gross. She looks like a broken-in catcher’s mitt.
Hulk’s admittance into the hospital for surgery is only weeks after his marriage to girlfriend Jennifer McDaniel, but considering the disaster the nuptials turned into, Hulk probably should be grateful he’s only in the hospital for back surgery.
Alas, where have the years gone? It seems like only yesterday that Hulkamania was running wild and I was taking all my vitamins. Now, the Hulkster is slowly turning into a broken-down old man. Time waits for no man, I guess, even for a Real American like Hulk Hogan.
Hogan to undergo back surgery [Toronto Sun]
While one would assume that professional wrestlers would be last people who would like to sponsor an anti-bullying campaign – wouldn’t you have suspected that boys who grew up to become athlete entertainers in such a brutal “sport” to have been the cretins who dished out punishment to pencil-necked weaklings in their youth? – TNA Wrestling has decided to use its brand to promote measures that would help bring an end to the bullying epidemic currently plaguing this country. Launching this week and dubbed “Eliminate the Hate,” TNA will use all its platforms to promote the movement, including PSAs during broadcasts on SPIKE TV, its website and various social media platforms, including Facebook.
