Date: 08/27	9:30 PM
Views: 3,097

Thursday's news is HERE and the UFC 118 AMP preview is HERE. Don't miss our live Bellator coverage from last night + the Bellator press conference audio afterward! Tonight we'll have the Smackdown Recap by Nickolye at 7 PM ET and a new Over the Top Radio w/ Jerry Lynn tonight at 8 PM ET in the AngryMarks chat. Here's Friday morning's latest news!

Mikey Whipwreck posted the following health update to Facebook: "OK Here's the scoop. Anterior Cervical Disectomy & Fusion surgery set for mid October. I'd do it sooner but I have some things coming up that I can't put off. Dr. says I'm crazy for waiting that long but What can ya do? I'm just a bad ass. lol."

ROH President Cary Silkin sent out a letter to the media yesterday which we've included below.

To Every Wrestling Fan

Wrestling is an industry that is always changing and evolving. Ring of Honor was born out of that very idea. I'm humbled by every fan who has stuck with us and every new fan who has found us in the last nine years. Without you, we wouldn't be here. I've been a wrestling fan for forty-five years and my first experience with the business was being fascinated as a kid with guys like Bruno Sammartino, Fred Blassie, The Shiek and countless others. I remember rushing to the candy store to buy the new wrestling magazines which were the only source of information for a fan who wanted to know what was going on in the wrestling world. I continued to follow the business throughout my life and somehow wound up publishing a wrestling magazine in Puerto Rico in 1999-2001 and then soon after the Ring of Honor opportunity came along.

A lot has changed with Ring of Honor in its nine years and we're always looking to find new ways to reach out and make the brand better and more accessible. Launching the TV show on HDNet in 2009 opened ROH to more fans; as they grow we will grow. Everywhere I go, fans come up to me and let me know what they love about ROH, what they hate about ROH and what they think can be better. I love our fan base and want to expand that interaction not only with me but the company.

I'm reaching out to every ROH fan within the sound of my voice, but with it being 2010, my voice is expanding to social media. As the world evolves, so will ROH. So starting this weekend, I'll be tweeting more often and want to hear what you like, what you don't like, etc. When I get to the cities for our events, I'll be offering a unique opportunity to meet me and various ROH personalities. Follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/ROHCary, our main ROH page at http://twitter.com/ROHonHDNet, and also http://www.facebook.com/ringofhonor. On those pages we will putting times and places we will be at before the show. First fans to show up will get tickets, merchandise, photos, and autographs. I will depend on all of you to spread the word when these messages go up; put #FindROH on twitter or share the postings on Facebook.

I'm looking forward to see how Ring of Honor evolves going forward and appreciate all of your support.

Sincerely,

Cary Silkin

The WWE Smackdown taping on November 16th will be at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia. Tickets go on sale October 2nd. (PWI)

Photos of Trish Stratus at the Disney Dreams Take Flight Golf Tournament can be seen HERE.

Alex Marvez interviewed Charlie Haas about the death of Lance Cade and teaming up with Shelton Benjamin again HERE.

Diva Dirt sent out the following PR: "Former WWE Diva, Katie Lea, who took part in a tryout match with TNA on Monday night, was our special guest on last night's episode of Diva Dirt LIVE. In her first interview since being released by WWE in April, Katie gives her thoughts on her release, tells us about her tryout with TNA on Monday, which Divas she would have liked to work with, the story behind her goth gimmick and reveals the original plans for her storyline with Paul Burchill. Katie also took calls from our listeners, answering their questions too. You can listen to that HERE."

Michael Benoit was on ABC's Nightline Prime last night at 10 ET to talk about the Benoit family tragedy. (PWI) More on that below.

The Atlantic has an article up talking about how the death of recent wrestlers is dogging Linda McMahon's Senate campaign HERE. The New York Times also has a story on wrestling deaths HERE.

Bryan Danielson is still scheduled for the Northeast Wrestling show on October 1st in Waterbury, Connecticut which appears to be his last independent date. The card also has Mickie James vs. Awesome Kong, Shelton Benjamin vs. Carlito, Tommy Dreamer and an appearance by George Steele. (PWI)

ESPN has an interview with Ric Flair where he talks about why he's still wrestling HERE.

Carlito Colon has been using his Twitter to answer questions from fans about why he was off WWE TV in 2009 and why he was pissed off during his time in the fed.

Ha, I was off tv in late 2009 bc I was sent on a lil "sabbatical"....and by "sabbatical" I mean I was sent 2 a rehab facility 4 a few days 2 b evaluated. I passed, they said I wasn't An addict. Then I was sent 2 a psychiatrist...a waste of time! Then they kept me at home bc they felt a was very angry at work! I was!

(WWE) asked (why I was mad), I told them but I think they thought that drugs was the problem. All I wanted was 2 stop getting f*d every week.

The former Consequences Creed has launched a Twitter account with his FCW/WWE gimmick HERE.

Here's a non-spoiler preview for tonight's Viva La Lucha: Extreme Rebellion PPV. (PWI)

* Steel Cage Match Super Crazy and Hijo del Rey Misterio vs. The Border Patrol
* Blue Demon Jr. vs. Vaquero Fantasma
* Mini Dragon vs. Pequeno Pierroth
* Scorpio Sky vs. TJP
* Young Bucks vs. Los Luchas
* Thunder Wolf, Diabolic and Golden Scorpio vs. Cyanide, Vintage Dragon and Bionico

Remember you can listen to Rubber Guard Radio to hear KZ's interview with Viva La Lucha promoter Kevin Kleinrock.

Here's a non-spoiler preview for tonight's Smackdown. (WWE)

* Kane vs. Rey Mysterio
* IC TITLE MATCH: Dolph Ziggler {C} vs. Kofi Kingston
* CM Punk vs. JTG
* Big Show vs. Luke Gallows
* Jack Swagger vs. MVP

The Lucha Libre USA Recap will be on the site tomorrow afternoon due to MTV2 postponing the show and not airing it until noon on Saturday. Carlito makes his first appearance for the promotion on the show. (PWI)

Speaking of LLUSA you can watch full episodes of previous LLUSA shows on MTV's website HERE. ALSO most of LLUSA's roster is already in Charlotte, NC doing pre-tapes for this Saturday's TV taping at the Bojangles Arena. Marco Corleone, Mascarita Dorada, David and Reid Flair, Charly Malice, Mini Park, Lujo Esquire, San Juan Kid, PR Flyer, Octagoncito, Magno, Solid, Super Nova, Mascara Purpura, Mini Dragoncito, Amazing Kong, Tineblas Jr., Lizmark Jr., Oriental, Rellik, Pequeño Halloween, Tigresa Caliente, Chi Chi, Neutronic, Sydistiko and RJ Brewer will all be at the taping. (PWI)

Stephanie McMahon and Triple H celebrated the birth of a new baby girl on Wednesday. (PWI)

Ring of Honor will debut in Richmond, Virginia at the Richmond Raceway tonight with the following card. (PWI)

* ROH champion Tyler Black vs. ROH Television Champion Eddie Edwards
* Kevin Steen vs. Davey Richards
* Roderick Strong vs. Steve Corino
* Tag Wars 2010 Tournament: Jay & Mark Briscoe vs. The Necro Butcher & Erick Stevens with Prince Nana
* Tag Wars 2010 Tournament: Colt Cabana & El Generico vs. The All Night Express
* Tag Wars 2010 Tournament: The Dark City Fight Club vs. The Bravado Brothers
* ROH Tag Team Champions The Kings of Wrestling vs. TBA

They'll also be in Charlotte at the Metrolina Tradeshow Expo on Saturday with the following card. (PWI)

* ROH Tag Team champions The Kings of Wrestling vs. TBA - Ultimate Endurance Match
* ROH champion Tyler Black vs. Davey Richards
* Roderick Strong vs. Kevin Steen
* Plus all the talent from Richmond

CHIKARA presents its Young Lions Cup VIII tournament this weekend in Reading, Pennsylvania at the The Goodwill Fire Association with the following opening round tournament matches. (PWI)

* Akira Tozawa vs. Green Ant
* Johnny Gargano vs. Andy Ridge
* Kaio vs. Josh Pain
* Frightmare vs. Brendan Michael Thomas
* Amasis vs. Chrisjen Hayme
* Christian Abel vs. Sugar Dunkerton

The first night will also feature these non-tournament matches. (PWI)

* Sara Del Rey & Daizee Haze vs. Mike Quackenbush & Jigsaw
* Grizzly Redwood vs. Tursas

We'll have live reports from Dan Berg all weekend long from the CHIKARA shows so please stay tuned for more updates!

An interview recap with The All-Night Express (Rhett Titus and Kenny King) is available HERE.

Thanks to Terri Bey and PWI we have a recap of Michael Benoit's appearance on Nightline yesterday.

The subject of the show is about how brains in murderers may work.

Mike Benoit said Chris always wanted to be a wrestler. The show gives an overview of Chris Benoit's career. Michael Benoit said the Benoit we saw in the ring was not the Benoit he knew. He said he knew Chris as a devoted dad. The show goes over the June 2007 murder/suicide. The show reveals that Chris Benoit looked up the prophet Elijah on the internet.. One story from Elijah was about how a prophet could rise a child from the dead and lay him on his own bed. They reveal that Daniel was laying in his bed.

Michael Benoit then said he watched tv 24 hours a day waiting to hear someone say something nice about his son, and he said it wasn't happening. He said the event was a nightmare.

Dr. Julian Bailes wanted to examine Chris' brain, and he said that Chris Benoit's brain had a neurobehavioral change much like the athletes' brains Dr. Bailes studied. They went over Benoit's being hit with chairs, ladders, etc. Michael said his son told him that he had so many concussions, he stopped counting.

The show talks about the media coverage of the case focusing on "roid rage." Toxology reports revealed that Chris Benoit had steroids in his system. Dr. Bailes said since the murders happened over the course of three days, he didn't think that roid rage which is a snap judgement/emotions. He didn't think roid rage explained his behavior. Michael questioned the roid rage explanation, and wanted answers so he allowed his son's brain for research.

Michael Benoit then talked about his son's accomplishments and he said his son destroyed that image in three days.

When brain was examined, the examination revealed Benoit's brain was extensively damaged. They talked about how Pittsburgh Steeler center Mike Webster was a shell of himself when he retired. Webster died homeless. Webster's brain was examined. They talk about a condition called CTE, which the doctor wants to call "Mike Webster's Disease." Dr. Bailes said Webster's and Benoit's brains were similarly damaged.

Michael Benoit said the research gave him a good understanding of what happened to his son. He still gets emotional hearing that his son's brain was heavily damaged. He said he thought that is why Chris suffered from insomnia, mood swings, and drank heavily right before the tragedy happened. He said Chris was going downhill. He said Chris had become an extremely religious person who could quote Bible Scriptures and that is not how Chris was. Dr. Bailes said in some cases a person with this sort of brain damage can develop a religiosity and he thinks it is very likely the case with Chris Benoit

Michael Benoit feels that if his son had not become a professional wrestler, Chris would still be alive.

The show revealed that WWE has questioned these medical findings and said that Michael Benoit's claim that head trauma cause his son's behaviour is impossible and said if Benoit had brain damage, he would not have been able to perform as a wrestler.

Michael Benoit, in response to those who say his son's brain damage is an excuse said, "What's their excuse?" and reiterated that his son's choice of profession was the reason his son committed the tragedy.

SyFy was taping at last night's FCW show, meaning it's almost guaranteed we'll see a third season of NXT albiet a short one. We've got full results from said event HERE.

Former WrestleMania main eventer Lawrence 'LT Smash' Taylor will be in court on September 24th for a hearing on his third degree rape and sexual misconduct charges. The New York Daily News has coverage HERE.

Anthony Osborne a/k/a Tough Tony Borne passed away this morning at the age of 83. Besides being a pro wrestling star in the Pacific Northwest during his heyday, Osborne is also the father of Matt Borne a/k/a Doink the Clown. That's not the only sad news though - Luna Vachon also passed away today at the age of 48. At this time no further details on her death are available. (WO) Our condolences to their family and friends.

ESPN New York is reporting that former MMA star Kimbo Slice is making the switch to pro boxing, having signed with Gary Shaw Promotions and planning to make his boxing debut later this year - details HERE.

Interactive Wrestling Radio talks to Mickie James about leaving WWE, TNA possibilities and her music career in a new interview recap HERE.

EVOLVE sent out a new wrestling update via their Facebook group HERE, and we have UFC 118 weigh-in results HERE.

We have ANOTHER wrestling death to report today - Anton Geesink, who was one of the original stars of All Japan Pro Wrestling. He died in the Netherlands today at the age of 76. Geesink had become a household name in Japan when he won an Olympic gold medal in judo there in 1964, so Giant Baba signed him to a 3-year contract when he started AJPW and had the Funk Brothers train him. Our condolences to Geesink's family and friends. (WO)

Spike Dudley a/k/a Matt Hyson says he'll be retiring after the Real Action Wrestling show on Sept. 11th HERE.

WWE released the following statement on Luna Vachon's passing.

World Wrestling Entertainment has been made aware of the passing of Gertrude (Luna) Vachon. WWE extends its deepest condolences to the Vachon family.

Ms. Vachon was under contract with WWE at various times from 1993 through 2000, and performed under the name 'Luna' Vachon. She last performed for WWE in early 2000.

It's a bit insulting that they always have to throw in that LAST PERFORMED bit - can't resist distancing themselves from the dead. Jim Ross blogged about her passing HERE, TMZ covered it HERE and Perez Hilton picked up the story HERE. Kevin Sullivan had this to say about her passing.

I am saddened to hear of the passing of Luna Vachon. Not only was she a fantastic performer, but I was lucky enough to consider her a dear friend and I will miss her greatly. Luna was an integral part of my career and I would not have succeeded without her. We have lost a great performer and an even greater person. My condolences go out to her family and to her friends.

Kurt Angle has a new interview up with the Baltimore Sun HERE where he teases retiring soon. He also endorsed Linda McMahon's Senate campaign on his Twitter feed today HERE.

In Thursday ratings news - TNA Impact did a 1.07 with 1.44 million viewers, ReAction did a 0.68 with 915K viewers, and WWE Superstars did a 0.59 with 658K viewers and a 0.14 with 128K on replay. (PWI)

More details on Edge's new WWE film Bending the Rules are available HERE.

TNA's house show in Woodstock, Virginia on September 4th will feature the following card. (PWI)

* Jeff Hardy vs. Kurt Angle in a preview for No Surrender
* Abyss vs. Rhino in a 'Grudge Match'
* Ink Inc. vs. London Brawling
* Madison Rayne vs. Taylor Wilde

Last but not least WWE finally made Serena's release official on their website today HERE.