This report from Dr. Keith Lipinski was so big we had to split it into two parts! Part one is Keith's news from around the world of worked and real sports, or as Keith sometimes likes to call it, the "whacky hijinx" therein.
From
www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272617408.shtml - original source.
MMA Star Daniel Puder to "Wrestle" for Ring of Honor
By Anna Elizabeth Anderson
Nov 27, 2007
Daniel Puder, who is presently signed to an Mixed Martial Arts contract with the San Jose, California based Strikeforce promotion, will soon start appearing for the Ring of Honor professional wrestling promotion, starting with their December 29 and 30th shows in New York City. According to Wrestling News Desk.com, Puder, the only $1,000,000 Tough Enough Champion in World Wrestling Entertainment history, had a brief but colorful career in the world of pro wrestling.
MMA Star Daniel Puder to
MMA Star Daniel Puder to "Wrestle" for Ring of Honor (Image Credit: MMA News Desk)
He entered the 4th Tough Enough competition in 2004, with the winner promised a 4 year, $250k per year contract with WWE. Of course, WWE billed the contest as "The Million Dollar Tough Enough," even though they could (and lo and behold, actually did) release the winner after just one year of service to the company.
The Million Dollar Tough Enough didn't have it's own show, it was a showcased part of the Smackdown program, with Puder, reality show star Mike "The Miz" Mizanin (now on ECW and Smackdown), Justice Smith, Nick Mitchell (formerly of The Spirit Squad, and currently living with Torrie Wilson in Houston, Texas), Daniel Rodimer, Chris Nawrocki, and Ryan Reeves competing for the contract.
In one of the early competitions, the contestants were going to get the chance to "shoot" (or "freestyle" real wrestling) with a WWE superstar. WWE officials decided to put the chosen athlete against Kurt Angle, the Olympic Gold Medalist, and perhaps the best pure wrestler on the planet. To ensure a quick victory for Angle, the contestants spent their day eating a large meal, then put in a squat thrust competition that was supposed to weigh them down and tire them out.
Angle was to "shoot wrestle" the winner of the squat thrust competition, a young man named Chris Nawrocki. Angle made quick work of the tired and worn down Nawrocki, but then decided to show his own personality. Angle berated the others, and challenged any of them to get into the ring with him. Puder, with prior MMA and kickboxing experience, raised his hand and accepted the challenge. Angle was clearly not ready for a "game" competitor. Angle likes to point out he was suffering the effects of a broken neck at the time, but there's no denying that on that night in St. Louis, Missouri, Daniel Puder immediately locked Kurt Angle in a Kimura and had Angle at the point of tapping. Angle flipped them both on their backs, while Puder kept Angle locked in the hold.
Mmanewsdesk.com editor Arturo Collozo Jr. remarked that there is much discussion about what happened next. . "In WWE, the hub of the tv tapings is called The Gorilla Position," commented Collozo, "it's where Vince McMahon sits on headsets, the producers and writers of the segments are there with him, and old school wrestler Gerald Brisco gives times cues and speaks to the referees, who keep an earpiece in one of their ears at all times so the wrestlers know how many minutes are left in the match because the ref passes on that message and any other Vince and the producers want the wrestlers to know." Several people who were in WWE's "Gorilla Position" on that night say there was panic. There are reports that Brisco told the ref to "count." Others say the order came from Vince McMahon himself. The ref counted Puder down, even though it was obvious Puder's shoulders were not down. Afterwards, Angle and Puder shook hands, with Angle lecturing Puder about what was considered the code amongst sports entertainers and how they're not here to hurt each other, just to make money with each other.
Several people have stated there were two people with diametric views of the incident. Kurt Angle was furious, having been shown up by an unknown, and Smackdown writer Paul Heyman (better known as the creative guru behind the original ECW cult phenomenon) was telling everyone in site that a star was born. Puder went on to win the contest by beating Mizanin in a legitimate boxing contest.
Based on the premise of an unknown coming out of nowhere to become a star at the expense of an established main eventer, Heyman reportedly proposed "The Angle Invitational" to Kurt Angle. Basically, Heyman went to Angle and pitched him on the idea of what is called a "squash match," in which the dominating wrestler has a non-competitive "show off" (or "enhancement") match every week on television instead of the competitive main events that Angle was, according to many, burning himself out with. Heyman reportedly pitched the idea that they'd make a brand new superstar by someone surprising Angle by upsetting the Olympic Gold Medalist.
www.wrestlingnewsdesk.com editor Matthew Cooper stated, "Puder was supposed to be that new star. Heyman wanted Puder to be the one who upset Angle, and he wanted it to happen in Puder's hometown of San Jose, California, where the crowd would go crazy and the reaction would be memorable."
But Puder was universally hated in WWE, and Heyman was sent home in December, 2004 after one of his many blowups with the McMahon family. Puder was the victim of a legendary hazing, in which he was entered into the 2005 Royal Rumble, and then "chopped" by Chris Benoit, Hardcore Holly, and Eddie Guerrero before being eliminated.
Puder was sent to WWE developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), where he was supposed to be taught and developed, but instead was benched by OVW lead writer Jim Cornette. At the same time, future WWE superstar Ken Anderson (now "Mr. Kennedy") got assigned to OVW, and was also benched by the legendary former manager (and present TNA "authority figure").
Cornette was ultimately fired by WWE after a series of incidents, and was replaced by the exiled Paul Heyman. With Puder's contract coming due in a few months, Heyman, an acknowledged Puder Fan, becoming the lead writer for the OVW television show was the best news possible for Puder. Heyman immediately put Puder on television on television with a series of 10 to 30 second squash matches, with Anderson (Kennedy) acting as Puder's coach/partner, doing the introductions, including the now-famous repetition of the last name.
Puder was getting a star reaction, and looked to be a breakout star, but it didn't matter to WWE management. Puder was given his notice, and $750,000 of his $1,000,000 contract looked to be safe and sound in the WWE coffers instead of in Puder's bank account.
Puder returned to Northern California, and started training for MMA again. He appeared for Strikeforce on March 10, 2006, and forced Jesse Fujarcyk to tap out to a rear naked choke at 1:54 in the 1st round.
Now Puder wants to be a star in both the MMA and pro wrestling worlds. He is joining DVD-cult favorite Ring of Honor, being brought in as a "shooter" (real-wrestler), an "outsider" in the world of scripted pro wrestling. The head writer for Ring of Honor is known as one of the best in the business, 'net favorite Gabe Sapolsky, who is, ironically, a protege of Paul Heyman's, having worked as Heyman's assistant in the Original ECW. Puder will no doubt play off his incident with Kurt Angle, and as long as he can display his arrogance in his interviews, appear to be a big star in the promotion. And at the same time, Puder is a contracted fighter with Strikeforce, which appears to be ready to become a major player in MMA in the year 2008. For Daniel Puder, it may have taken some time, but it's the best of both worlds.
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From
www.miamiherald.com/675/story/323430.html - original source.
Booker T begins new chapter in TNA
Posted on Wed, Nov. 28, 2007
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BY JIM VARSALLONE
jvarsallone@MiamiHerald.com
Booker T believes he is at a good place at a good time in his life, recently leaving the well-established World Wrestling Entertainment for the climbing, building Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
''It's not about me,'' he said. ``It's about TNA.''
With numerous singles and tag team titles in his career, Booker T still maintained a presence as a team player.
''Being 42-years-old and in this business 18 years, I never had one bad thing said about me,'' he said during a TNA/Spike TV conference call on Tuesday, Nov. 27. ``I've always been straight up with everyone and righteous.''
Booker T felt slighted by WWE upon his suspension from the company with 10 other WWE stars in August/September, stemming from allegations in the Signature Pharmacy steroid investigation.
''That [decision to suspend] comes from the top [Vince McMahon],'' said Booker T. ``With everything going on right now, you just can't pick up a bunch of guys with no-names and suspend them.
``To give yourself some credibility, you suspend some names. I had nothing to do with Signature Pharmacy. I didn't order anything online. I never ordered anything online with my credit card.''
With the U.S. Congress watching WWE closely because of the Chris Benoit family tragedy and the steroid probe, WWE released and suspended several wrestlers who violated the company's Wellness Program. WWE also vowed to strengthen the program.
''I believe in conspiracy theories,'' Booker T said. ``I believe I was a scapegoat. I don't know.''
''When all this came out, the first person I tried to talk to was Dr. [David] Black [the administrator of the program]. He never returned my calls.'' Booker T had his final match for WWE against WWE champ John Cena on Aug. 27. He was suspended by WWE for allegedly being linked to Signature Pharmacy for buying performance enhancing drugs.
''The straw that broke the camel's back was the Signature Pharmacy situation,'' he said. ''I know I had nothing to do with Signature Pharmacy, but I wasn't protected by the company. So it was time for me to leave the company.'' On Oct. 16, WWE announced Booker T and Sharmell were to be released from their contracts, effective Oct. 27. Booker T and Sharmell later joined TNA.
''I never had a no-compete clause with WWE,'' he said. ``I was totally free and clear to go somewhere else. Due to the situation, WWE let me out quietly and peacefully.''
Booker T with Sharmell debuted in TNA as Sting's mystery partner against TNA champ Kurt Angle and Kevin Nash in the main event of the TNA pay-per-view Genesis on Sunday, Nov 11.
''Life goes through stages,'' he said. ``My beginning stages were in Texas with Global, and it was a great time. I was with WCW nine years and accomplished a lot. Then I made the switch to WWE, when WCW was bought by Vince [McMahon]. It was uncharted waters. I was seven years there and had a great run.
``The direction of things right now for WWE, the way the company is going, the way it was going, I didn't feel things were appropriate. In TNA, I can see how good I really am right now with A.J. Styles, Kaz, Bobby Roode -- all this untapped talent. I want to test and help the young guys. It's a new chapter, and I'm looking forward to it.''
Jeff Jarrett is the vice president of TNA, and Vince Russo is a writer for the company.
''I hadn't talk to Jeff and Vince Russo since the breakup, the crumbling of WCW,'' Booker T said. ``We always had a really good relationship. Jeff is a regular guy, and he treated me like a regular guy and wanted to do business with me. Vince Russo gave me that shot, put me in that spotlight. If he didn't have the guts to do it, would it have been done?''
During his career in WCW and WWE, Huffman won six world championships (five-time WCW champ and a one-time world champion). He won the WWE King of the Ring in 2006 and the sixteenth WWE Triple Crown Champion.
He is also known for being one-half of the tag team Harlem Heat with his brother Stevie Ray (Lane Huffman) where they were WCW tag team champs a record 10 times. Booker T is one of the most decorated tag team champions in wrestling history, winning a record 14 world tag team titles between WCW and WWE.
When listing wrestlers who experienced great success in tag team and singles' action, names like the Funk brothers, Bret Hart, HBK, Jack Brisco and Booker T top the chart.
Booker T brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and persona to TNA.
''The TNA schedule is picking up a little bit,'' he said. ``I want to role til the wheels fall off. I'm still a hot commodity, one of best talents out there. So I want to do it as long as I can.
``The schedule I was working on the road with WWE and being away from my family and business were some of the real reasons as to why I was thinking about getting out of the business.''
Booker T needed a break to rejuvenate himself. A smooth transition, TNA allows him to spend more time with his family and other projects.
''The TNA locker-room accepted me,'' he said. ``They look up to me, respect me, and I'm there for them. It's not about me. Like the Temptations, it's about the whole group.''
Booker T realizes life exists after in-ring action.
''My last two months in WWE I was in all the production meetings, moved up to that position,'' he said. ``After being there in that spot, I realized I didn't want to be in that position with WWE. I saw things I wish I hadn't seen, but it opened my eyes. So I'm glad I was there to see it. I definitely want to do something [backstage] with TNA, but I don't want to step on anybody's toes.''
Booker T started his own wrestling promotion, Pro Wrestling Alliance, along with a wrestling school in his hometown Houston.
''It is exactly what I thought it would be running my own promotion,'' Booker T said. ``I knew it would take a lot of hard work. It's been four years for the wrestling school and 13 shows. It took two years to get our first show to do it right.
``The developmental thing with WWE was just a rumor. I never had a problem with WWE not making PWA a developmental territory.''
Still, Booker T did mention one problem.
''My brother [Stevie Ray] and I, he is not helping me with PWA,'' Booker T said. ``We're at odds right now. We'll patch that up in the future.''
Booker T discussed a future autobiography, a Harlem Heat reunion and other career opportunities from his scripted endeavors.
''The one thing I've learned in this business is to never say never,'' he said. ``Harlem Heat is my passion. It's where I started. Harlem Heat is tattooed on my right arm, blowing up in flames, and it's always something I wish for, to resurrect the tag team Harlem Heat.
``The King Booker character was great. It was a WWE thing thrust upon me, and I took it as far as I could go. The ratings went up. I didn't want to do it the rest of my career, but hopefully Hollywood saw it and will be giving me some calls.''
Whether Hollywood comes calling or not, Booker T is committed to TNA.
''We have some of the greatest talent in the world in TNA, and it's a team of us doing this together,'' he said. ``I'm not there to take their spot but there to make them better.
``I'm a businessman, and I work from a business standpoint. We got to make sure everything is right and make our product the best product on Thursday night. I'm definitely there for the long haul and to be on the same page and make it like the New England Patriots.''
• Booker T with Sharmell makes his TNA !iMPACT! debut at 9 p.m. EST Thursday, Nov. 29 on Spike TV.
• TNA's pay-per-view Turning Point is 8 p.m. EST Sunday, Dec. 2 from the iMPACT! Zone at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla.
The Angle Alliance (Kurt Angle, A.J. Styles and Tomko) with Karen Angle vs. Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Samoa Joe.
Feast or Fired Battle Royal: There will be four briefcases, one in each corner. One will have a shot at the TNA title; one will have a shot at the TNA X Division belt; one will have a shot at the TNA tag team titles; and one will have a pink slip.
Tables Match: Johnny Devine and Team 3D (Brother Ray and Brother Devon) vs. Jay Lethal and The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley).
Match of 10,000 Tacks: Abyss and Rhino vs. Rellik and Black Reign.
TNA women's title: Gail Kim (champ) vs. Awesome Kong.
And more.
• The Road to Turning Point is 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1 on Spike TV.
• The History of TNA: Year 1 DVD is available. The DVD contains more than 3 ½ hours of action including some of the most memorable and pivotal matches from TNA's inaugural year. There is also an extensive documentary detailing the trials, tribulations and triumphs of the first year.
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From
www.northcountrygazette.org/news/2007/11/27/guilty_wrestler - original source.
Ex-Pro Wrestler Guilty of Human Trafficking
GEORGIA– A federal jury has returned guilty verdict against former professional wrestler Harrison Norris Jr., known in the wrestling world as “Hardbody Harrison,” on multiple charges of sex trafficking and slavery related to a scheme to force women into prostitution.
According to the charging documents and evidence presented at trial, Norris kidnapped some of his victims and lured others to come live with him by promising to train them as professional wrestlers. Once he got the women to his home, however, he instead forced them to work for him as prostitutes.
The witnesses at trial described beatings Norris administered and threats he made to bend the women to his will. On one occasion, Norris head-butted a woman and threatened to throw her through a hotel window when she would not engage in sex with two customers.
Witnesses also testified that Norris imposed a strict military structure in his home. The defendant assigned each of his victims to a “squad” overseen by an “enforcer,” a woman conspiring with Norris to keep the victims in servitude. Witnesses also testified that Norris referred to himself as “the General”; sometimes made his victims sleep with him in “the General’s Quarters”; and pierced the victims’ skin with a mark of their “rank” in the operation.
Numerous witnesses also testified about parties at which the women were forced to have sex with numerous men and sometimes with other women. One woman testified that Norris forced her to sexually assault another woman during one of these parties. Evidence at trial established that forced acts of prostitution occurred at Hispanic nightclubs, in apartments, at hotels, in the back of Norris’ truck, and in North Carolina and Northern Georgia. The victims also testified that they were forced to have sex with Norris.
In addition to forcing the victims to work as prostitutes, the defendant made the women work in and around his two homes in Cartersville, Ga. Witnesses testified that Norris required the victims to haul trees, lay sod, and paint. The evidence at trial further established that Norris set strict rules and fined the women for such infractions as talking too much or failing to exercise. In addition, Norris kept the women financially indebted to him by charging them for cigarettes, medicine, and food. Norris then told the victims that they could not leave until their debts were paid, all while continuing to increase the debt he claimed he was owed.
The jury convicted Norris after two days of deliberation. In rendering its verdict, the jury specifically found that Norris’ offenses involved aggravated sexual abuse. Because of this special finding, Norris faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. 11-27-07
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From
www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-americangladiatorspremieredate,0,5229719.story?coll=zap-news-headlines - original source.
'American Gladiators' Rise in January
NBC sets series for Sunday nights
November 27, 2007
NBC has put another piece of its midseason schedule in place, slating the update of "American Gladiators" for Sunday nights in January.
The remake of the syndicated 1990s syndicated series will premiere on Sunday, Jan. 6, the network announced via an ad in Monday's episode of "Heroes." As of Monday morning, a formal premiere announcement hadn't followed.
That means we don't yet know which of the three shows NBC initially announced for Sunday nights in January will be bumped to make way for "Gladiators." In May the network set a midseason Sunday lineup of "Law & Order" at 8 p.m., "Medium" at 9 p.m. and new show "Lipstick Jungle" at 10.
The network could shuffle any of those pieces to other nights; NBC has picked up new series "Chuck" and "Life," but "Bionic Woman" and "Journeyman" are still in limbo. If the network opts to let either of them fall by the wayside, that would open up an hour on the schedule for one or more of the originally scheduled Sunday shows. One or more shows could also be held until later in the season in the event of a prolonged writers' strike.
Pro-wrestling legend Hulk Hogan and boxer/"Dancing with the Stars" contestant Laila Ali will host the show, in which amateur athletes take part in combat games against a set cast of "gladiators." The show will feature a number of the competitions from the original series, with amped-up special effects and some other new elements.
The show is produced by MGM Television, which also produced the original series, and Reveille, the company started by current NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman.
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From
www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/article519080.ece - original source.
Lawyer: Hulk divorce is a ruse
By SIMON ROTHSTEIN of THE LILSBOYS
Published: Today
HULK HOGAN and his wife Linda have been accused of staging a divorce in order to protect their assets after son Nick critically injured a pal.
The lawyer for the Graziano family, whose son John was almost killed when travelling in Nick’s speeding car, has told a US newspaper that she feels the move is stop a large court payout.
Linda, who has been married to Hulk for 24 years, filed for divorce last week asking for half of everything.
But Kimberley Kohn, who acts for the Grazianos, feels it is just a way to protect the Hogan family’s £5million worth of properties and other assets in the impending lawsuit over the accident.
Police say Nick, 17, was drinking and speeding in a yellow Toyota Supra with John as a passenger moments before crashing into a palm tree in August.
In 911 calls, witnesses told cops that the two cars were racing. You can listen to them here.
Although the Hogans are being sued as a couple, it is expected a payout would be limited to Hulk as he was the registered owner of the car - meaning Linda's half of their fortune would not be touched.
Meanwhile court documents have emerged saying that Linda filed for divorce due to her union with Hulk, real name Terry Bollea, being "irretrievably broken".
Linda wants Nick to stay with her – with his dad getting "liberal" visitation rights – and is also seeking unspecified amounts of alimony and child support.
Daughter Brooke is 19, so is not subject to custody arrangements.
Wrestling legend Hogan has spoken on the divorce but only to say: “Please respect my family's privacy at this time with all that we have been through.
“I care for my wife, and my children are my world, and I just hope this all works out.”
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From
www.miamiherald.com/358/story/323627.html - original source.
Reality bites, at least in Florida
Posted on Wed, Nov. 28, 2007
What is it about the state of Florida and reality stars?
They tend to get a little dramatic down here, even more so than they do up north, or even out west.
Maybe we can blame it on the old excuse: It's not the heat, but the humidity.
Just take a glance at recent events:
Exhibit A:Hulk Hogan (aka Terry Bollea) got wind Friday that his wife of 24 years, Linda, wanted a divorce. Not from the lady herself -- but from a St. Petersburg Times reporter who had obtained court documents. Hulk claimed he was so in shock when he received the call he had to pull over his car (luckily, the information was not texted).
The Mrs. is now seeking half the couple's assets, including a 17,000-square-foot mansion in Belleaire-Clearwater, where they moved recently from Miami Beach. Their mansion on the bay was sold to director Michael Bay (Armageddon, Transformers) for around $18 million in August (they bought it in 2006 for $12 million). It was designed by local architect Chad Oppenheim.
In the filing, Bollea, Hulk's costar in VH1's Hogan Knows Best, called the marriage ''irretrievably broken,'' the St. Pete Times reported.
Technology may be partially to blame.
In the ''Marriage Counseling'' episode, Linda tells the shrink: ``Cellphones, I think is a huge problem. I mean, mine isn't as bad, but his, he's on it, like, eternally. And then that can escalate into an argument. Because, it's like, you know, he hangs up and he's in a rotten mood, he's in a great mood.''
Adding to their troubles -- son Nick faces a felony charge after slamming his car into a tree in August, critically injuring his passenger.
At least daughter Brooke might have some sense; we hear she's packing up her thongs and moving back to Miami.
Exhibit B: Former Bachelor winner Mary Delgado, 40, was arrested last week and charged with battery after allegedly punching the man who chose her -- Byron Velvick -- in the mouth.
Rumor has it they were at a friend's condo partying. Velvick wanted to bail; Delgado didn't. Violence ensued.
Delgado, a Tampa resident, met Velvick in 2005 during filming for The Bachelor's sixth season, which ended with Velvick proposing. They have yet to wed.
Not a great way to move up the date there, dear.
Exhibit C: Another Tampa temper tantrum. Onetime American Idol finalist Jessica Sierra was sentenced Nov. 19 to 12 months probation after she pleaded no contest to charges of battery and possession of cocaine.
Both charges stemmed from an April incident at South Tampa's Hyde Park Cafe. According to E! Online, she was arrested for bashing a man in the head with a glass. Cops say they found coke on her while she was restrained in the back of a squad car.
The 22-year-old claimed the man had spat on her, but later recanted, saying it may have been a case of mistaken identity.
Could he have resembled Simon Cowell