Randy Orton Injured...or is he?

Randy Orton was injured at last friday night's Smackdown taping in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was in a Falls count anywhere match against Wade Barrett, where the finish of the match saw Orton thrown down a flight of stairs. Randy Orton's Twitter account posted a message last friday night that said "Randy was injured at tonight's Smackdown event and more details to follow on WWE.com as they become available."

Now the next question has to be "Is he really injured?" So often when WWE superstars get injured it's just so they can have some time off to spend with their family or so the WWE can workout the storyline. In Orton's case it's probably so the WWE can tweak the storyline a little bit. The World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan will be defending his newly won title against the Big Show. Once the Daniel Bryan vs. Big Show storyline is over you will probably see Orton make his return and be the new challenger for the title. So if you're a Randy Orton fan, don't worry, I'm sure that he's just fine. This "injury" is just so the WWE can do some creative work and so that Orton can take a break and spend some time with his family.

Skip Sheffield returns to the WWE

Skip Sheffield returned to action for World Wrestling Entertainment November 3, 2011 at the Raw house show at the Bank Atlantic Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This was his first appearance since he broke his ankle at a WWE house in Hawaii in August of 2010. His appearance was a big surprise because last week he was removed from the official WWE roster page on WWE.com. While it is not known who he was introduced as, he told a fan last week that he was going to be re-introduced in the WWE as "Ryback", and the WWE recently trademarked the name. The name change was due to the fact that the WWE wants to push him as a "Babyface" character, so the injury may have been a good thing. It enables Sheffield to distance himself from the "Heel" character that he was when he was a member of the "Nexxus" and now he can reappear in the WWE as "Ryback". So now the question is "Will Skip Sheffield be able take his new persona and become one of the top "Babyface" characters in the WWE?" Well, I guess we will just have to wait and see if "Ryback" really is going to be a big part of the future in the WWE.

Shimmer Celebrates it's 6th Anniversary

Shimmer held it's first event on November 6, 2005 and not much was probably thought about it. All female professional wrestling organizations have been coming and going since the 80's, all of them would last two to three years and then they would go under. Many fans and pro wrestling insiders probably thought the same thing would happen to Shimmer. But Shimmer would take female professional wrestling to another level, and that's why Shimmer is celebrating it's 6th anniversary.

If you watch a WWE Diva's match or a TNA Knockout's match you won't see a match like you do in Shimmer. Yes, there are some talented female wrestlers in WWE and TNA like Mickie James, Beth Phoenix, Natalya, Tara, and Gail Kim but they only make up a small part of the female wrestler roster. The rest of the female wrestlers you will see in WWE and TNA are nothing but a bunch of models pretending to be wrestlers. In Shimmer you will see great matches between great wrestlers, that's why Shimmer calls itself "Shimmer:Women Athletes". At that first show in 2005 there would be a match between Allison Danger and future WWE Women's Champion and WWE Diva's Champion Beth Phoenix. There would be a great match between two of the best female wrestlers in the world today, Mschif and Cheerleader Melissa. Other Shimmer stars that wrestled at that first show were Daizee Haze, Lexie Fyfe, Christie Ricci, Mercedes Martinez, and current Shimmer Champion Sara Del Rey. And this was just the first show, these great matches and great shows have been going on for six years now. Another reason why Shimmer has been so successful is because they release their shows straight to DVD instead of trying to get a deal to be on cable television.

So many of the all female wrestling promotions before Shimmer would get cable TV deals but when the ratings didn't pan out, they would get cancelled and that would be the end of their promotion. But with Shimmer taking the approach of releasing their shows straight to DVD it would give them a better way of connecting with their fanbase. Shimmer has put together a package that has proven to be an absolute success, something those promotions before them couldn't do. So if you haven't seen Shimmer yet, I highly recommend that you go to http://www.shimmerwrestling.blogspot.com/ and order their DVDs, you won't regret it.

Huge TNA Spoilers: New Heavyweight Champion Crowned

**Warning, spoilers for this Thursdays Impact ahead, don't read if you want to be surprised**


Coming off TNA's biggest pay per view of the year, Bound for Glory, there have been many reports about the locker room being unhappy that Bobby Roode didn't beat Kurt Angle for the TNA Title.  Hulk Hogan has been very vocal recently in the media on his Twitter page recently about many of the TNA talents.  He stated last week that he didn't think Bobby Roode was "the guy," and word was that Hogan himself lobbied to change the original finish in the Bound for Glory main event which had Roode winning the belt.

Hogan had also mentioned last week that he believed James Storm should get a big push over Roode, and tonight at the Impact tapings that belief became apparent to all as James Storm defeated Kurt Angle and won the TNA World Title.  This was a pretty big swerve, as many believe Roode would still end up winning the title soon.  Storm is more of a character than Roode, and it seems like Hogan saw much more in him since Storm is now the reigning TNA Champion.  It should be interesting now to see where this story goes, since a Roode heel turn and feud with Storm seems like a natural direction, but it's hard to tell where they will go at this point.

In another spoiler from the Impact tapings, Gail Kim returned to TNA and looks to have returned as a heel alongside Karen Jarrett judging by the couple of pics we've seen.  Gail was a huge part of building the Knockout Division, and her classic matches with Awesome Kong (Kharma) set the tone for the success of the Knockouts.  Gail's return is a major boost to the Knockout division, and many more potential great Knockout matches will no doubt be on the way with Gail in the mix.

Check out Impact this Thursday on Spike and see all of these major developments unfold!

Related Content:
TNA Knockout Gail Kim poses nude in Korean Magazine

Tyson Tomko Arrested for Robbery

On the heels of the Matt Hardy rehab story, more bad news to report for another former WWE and TNA Star.  Tyson Tomko was arrested in Florida yesterday for stealing several bottles of oxycodone from a CVS Pharmacy, and allegedly threatening a pharmacist to get the drug.  Next Tomko went to a local Chili's and used their bathroom to shoot up the drugs after melting them down.  TMZ reports that cops busted Tomko in the process, and he admitted to stealing the drugs but said he didn't threaten the pharmacist.  He also apparently told cops that he had a major drug problem.

So now Tomko sits behind bars with a $7,500 bond.  It's sad that these guys admit to having such problems, but don't take advantage of the WWE sponsored rehab that is readily available to any former Superstar.  Hopefully Tomko can get a grasp on things before things spiral even further out of control.

Video: The Rock to Team with John Cena at Survivor Series

All the speculation and rumors can be put to rest, it is official that The Rock will be returning to the ring at Survivor Series in Madison Square Garden.  Of course we all know that John Cena vs. The Rock will headline WrestleMania 28 in Miami, but WWE is getting the Rock back in the ring before that in the world's most famous arena as he teams with John Cena.  Survivor Series will be quite the event being it is the PPV that The Rock debuted on, and in the same arena that debut took place in 1996.

In the video below, it states that Cena and The Rock will be a "tag team" for the first and only time, but word had been that they would actually be teaming in a traditional 5 on 5 Survivor Series match, so it should be interesting to see how that plays out.  Either way it will be the first time The Rock has wrestled in over 5 years, so that alone should draw huge interest for the event.

The old school magic of Survivor Series may be back in a small way, being the event is at the Garden and they are making the effort to do something special for it and promoting it this early.  Check out the video below for the official confirmation that The Rock will return to the ring at Survivor Series to team with John Cena.

Matt Hardy Set to Enter Rehab

Well it looks like the ongoing saga of Matt Hardy's "problems" may have a CHANCE at a good ending at least.  Over the past few weeks Hardy has been arrested multiple times, been in car accidents, and posted more "out there" videos on his Youtube channel than ever.  Many thought at first he was looking for publicity or creating a new gimmick, but now it's become apparent that he has a very real problem.

Matt was always the "good" Hardy that was responsible and didn't have all the "demons" his brother Jeff did.  Things changed a bit when Matt was released from WWE after apparently showing up "in no condition to perform" more than once.  When he signed with TNA, it looked like he might have been on the path to being a major player again.  Then his TNA run came to an abrupt end as he was released after one of his many DUI arrests. 

Things have gotten even worse since, with Hardy posting videos online that made people think he might be suicidal.  Following that video he posted another apologizing and claiming he was getting himself straight, but then more and more accidents and DUI's were being reported every few days it seemed like.  The latest news was that cops searched his house and found steroids, ecstasy, and drug paraphernalia in his house.

Finally after posting a video a few days ago of himself in the hospital, where he seemed to still be "on something," Hardy has come clean and is entering into WWE sponsored rehab.  It looks like Hardy has realized he has a problem with "medicating himself" to get by in the business, and is making the right choice.  Kudos to WWE for still offering this program for Superstars who need it, and hopefully Hardy can take advantage and get off the death watch he was seemingly on.  It's pretty crazy to think back to 10 years ago or so when veterans were saying the guys who were doing crazy TLC matches and such would be in wheelchairs by 40, and now we're looking at both Hardy's having very rough substance abuse problems, and Edge having to retire from the business completely. 

Here is Hardy making his big rehab announcement himself:

"Rowdy" Roddy Piper to have Neck Surgery

Wrestling legend "Rowdy" Roddy Piper recently underwent a MRI at UCLA University and doctors informed him that he has a broken neck. The 57 year old Pro Wrestling Icon had been dealing with pain and discomfort for the last couple months before he decided to see the doctor. After the doctors at UCLA saw the results of the MRI they informed Piper that he would have to have surgery as soon as possible. The surgery was scheduled for today, after which he will be hospitalized for 10 days.

Get Well "Rowdy" and we hope to see you back in the ring real soon.

Kurt Angle arrested for Drunk Driving

Kurt Angle was arrested for drunk driving Sunday morning, but he denies the charges and believes that he was framed. The state police in Virginia received a call from another driver claiming that Angle was driving very reckless, swerving between lanes on I-66. The current TNA World Heavyweight Champion was arrested and taken the Warren County jail. He posted a $2,000 bond and was released at 3:31am.

Queens of the Ring: Alundra Blayze

Debra Ann Miceli was born February 9, 1964 in Milan,Italy but was raised in several different foster homes in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Throughout her years in school she participated in gymnastics and track, and after school she began working as a nurse part-time. She began her professional wrestling career in 1984, she was trained by Eddie Sharkey in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After her training she wrestled on the independent circuit for $5.00 a match. In 1986 she began wrestling in the American Wrestling Association under the name Madusa Miceli. On December 27, 1987 she defeated Candy Devine to win the AWA World Women's Championship, which she held until November 26, 1988 when she lost it to Wendy Richter.

In 1988 Miceli was the first woman to be awarded Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Rookie of the Year award. In 1989 she began wrestling for All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling. She won the IWA Women's title from Chigusa Nagayo but unfortunately lost it back to her the next day. She then began training in Japan, learning muay thai, kickboxing, and boxing. She would later sign a 3-year deal with New Japan Wrestling, becoming the first non-Japanese wrestler to do so. In 1991, while in New Japan Wrestling, Miceli and Eddie Gilbert defeated Luna Vachon and Cactus Jack. Later that same year she joined World Championship Wrestling as part of Paul E. Dangerously's Dangerous Alliance acting as Rick Rude's manager.

In 1993 she signed with the WWF which had reinstated the Women's Championship that had been inactive since 1990. Vince McMahon didn't want to pay Miceli to use her 'Madusa' name, which she had copyrighted, so she wrestled under the name Alundra Blayze. She wrestled in a six-woman tournament to crown the new Women's Champion. On December 13, 1993 she pinned Heidi Lee Morgan in the final to win the title. She lost the title twice, once to Bull Nakano and once to Bertha Faye, but regained the title both times. She was still the Women's Champion when the WWF released her from her contract due to their financial difficulties.

In December of 1995 she signed with WCW where she would throw the WWF Women's Championship belt in a trash can. She would later say that she regretted doing so but was ordered to do it by Eric Bischoff. While in WCW she once again wrestled under the name Madusa, she would defeat Bull Nakano at the Hog Wild PPV in August. Later that year WCW would establish the WCW Women's Championship, there would be a tournament to crown the first champion. Miceli made it to the tournament finals but lost to Akira Hokuto, whom she feuded with for the next six months. They would meet at the Great American Bash in 1996 for the title in a Hair vs. Career match; unfortunately Miceli lost the match. She would return to WCW in 1999 where she would be part of Randy Savage's Team Madness with Gorgeous George and Miss Madness. At Starrcade in 1999 she would defeat Evan Karagias to become the first woman to hold the WCW World Cruiserweight Championship. Once Vince McMahon bought WCW in 2001 she retired because she didn't want to work for the WWF due to the direction the Women's division was going in.

After retiring from pro wrestling Miceli began racing monster trucks. She won multiple freestyle competitions and became the first woman to win the Monster Jam World Finals Racing Championship in 2005. She married Alan Jonason on June 25, 2011 and now spends her time running her pet grooming businesses in Lecanto, Fl. And although Miceli stays busy with her businesses and many hobbies she doesn't rule out a return to the ring. In an interview with WWE.com she said “Once wrestling gets in your blood it's always going to be there, you've got a bag packed and ready to go.” So maybe one these days Meceli will return to the ring, but who will she return as? Alundra Blayze, Madusa, Debra Miceli, or who she really is: Queen of the Ring.

Is the Undertaker's 19-0 Wrestlemania Record really a Big Deal?

Every year when Wrestlemania gets close you can count on one thing happening; it's time to talk about the Undertaker's undefeated streak. The announcers on Raw and Smackdown will tell you how amazing the streak is and what a legacy the Undertaker has because of it. But I have to ask one question, is the Undertaker's record at Wrestlemania really a big deal?

Let's start Wrestlemania at the beginning. At Wrestlemania VII the Undertaker defeated “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka. Jimmy Snuka is one of pro wrestling's all-time greats but let's face facts, Jimmy Snuka was 47 and the Undertaker was 26. Not exactly an even match-up. In 1993 at Wrestlemania IX the Undertaker would face the Giant Gonzalez, a wrestler who was 8 feet tall and could barely move, and the Undertaker was only able win because of his opponent getting himself disqualified. Fortunately in 1995 the WWE would finally start to put the Undertaker up against some real opponents. At Wrestlemania XII he would face Diesel(Kevin Nash). This was a hard fought victory that finally gave the streak some merit. At Wrestlemania XIII the Undertaker would face WWE Champion Sycho Sid, this should've been the end of the streak. But Bret Hart, who was in a feud with Sycho Sid, came out to the ring and attacked Sycho Sid enabling the Undertaker to win the match. It would be the next 5 years that would destroy all of credibility of the Undertaker's 19-0 record at Wrestlemania. There would be two big victories over tough opponents: Kane at Wrestlemania XIV(1998) and Triple H at Wrestlemania XVII(2001). However at Wrestlemania XV(1999) the Undertaker would defeat the Big Boss Man, who was out of his prime and not exactly a “main eventer” anymore. Then there was what was missing from this time period(1998-2003), no matches against Stone Cold Steve Austin or the Rock at Wrestlemania. And what about the incident of padding the Undertaker's Wrestlemania record when he faced 54 year old Ric Flair at Wrestlemania XVIII(2002).

In 2004 the WWE would finally start to give the Undertaker some real opponents. From 2004 to 2011 he faced Kane, Randy Orton, Mark Henry, Batista, Edge, Shawn Michaels(twice), and Triple H. But is it too little, too late? Think about all of the greats matches that could've happened, but didn't. No matches against Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior, Macho Man Randy Savage, Bret “The Hitman” Hart, Shawn Michaels(when he was in his prime), Stone Cold Steve Austin, the Rock, Bill Goldberg, or Brock Lesnar. And what about John Cena? Cena has been in the main event at Wrestlemania ever since he won his first WWE Championship at Wrestlemania XXI. So that's six Wrestlemanias without the Undertaker and John Cena facing each other in the main event. And I have to ask, what would be bigger than the "Phenom vs. the "Franchise"? So with all of these great wrestlers that the Undertaker could've faced at Wrestlemania, and didn't, you have to ask yourself a question. Is the Undertakers 19-0 Wrestlemania record really a big deal?

Update: The Undertaker's Legendary Wrestlemania streak came to an end at Wrestlemania 30 in 2014.

Sin Cara Suspended by WWE

Last night at the Money in the Bank pay per view, Sin Cara was removed from the Smackdown Money in the Bank ladder match due to an "injury" during the match.  It has now been confirmed by WWE.com that Sin Cara has been suspended for 30 days due to his first wellness violation.

This comes as somewhat of a surprise, for one since there haven't been many of these types of suspensions lately as there were a few years ago, and also because Sin Cara has been said to be Triple H's "pet project" of sorts.  The suspension has apparently been known about for a good while now, and is said to be steroid related. 

It's pretty humorous that WWE.com has the injury story headline listed directly above the shoot reason (the suspension) on their site.  Since Cara's debut has been less than stellar and he's hit a few bumps in the road, so there is now question as to whether Sin Cara will return at all following this suspension.

A REAL Backstage Story About Working with The Straight Edge Jack@$$

Yeah, he may be the hottest trending name in pro wrestling as we speak, but it doesn’t change the bad taste he left when we worked with him.

CM Punk – or should I pull a Vinnie Mac and just refer to him as “Phil” – is a very talented and gifted athlete. He’s one of the best I’ve seen on the mic in a while. Unfortunately, his over sized ego casts an enormous shadow over his skills and paints him as an old school, red rubber, hanging your grandmothers shower, vinegar smelling, DOUCHEBAG!

Now out of respect for Pro Wrestling Roundup and its visitors, I won’t go into detail on this website because I wouldn’t want to them to be associated with my personal feelings spawned by my personal experience with Phil. BUT, if you want to hear a story about what it was like working with Phil right before he signed with the WWE, then please click the link below to follow the full story.

I would also welcome all your comments and opinions about Phillip Punk. I know many of you may be a fan of his work, as well am I. But I’m not talking about his character, I’m talking about him in real life. Mr. Phil Brooks! So if you were ever told to "f" off when asking for an autograph in an airport or a hotel, I’d love to hear about it!

In the meantime, enjoy the read!

Click Here for THE REAL BACKSTAGE STORY IN WORKING WITH THE STRAIGHT EDGE @$$HOLE

Thoughts on RAW

It has been quite some time since I have posted (Finishing out my degree consumed my time) but after last nights RAW, I felt now was as good a time as ever to get back into writing.

For an overall show, it was above average. The cage match, tornado match and tables match all were well designed and had adequate finishes to them. The reason it is above average and not an average show is because of what transpired after the tables match between John Cena and Jimmy hater R-Truth.

I for one loved the finish. CM Punk distracting Cena who gets speared into a table. Nothing makes this humble fan happier than to see Super Cena actually get beat by someone. Despite my joy of that moment, what happened next made my joy turn into complete ecstatic glee.

CM Punk begins to go on a well thought out work/shoot. He absolutely SLAMS the likes of John Cena, Dwayne Johnson, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and most importantly Vince McMahon. I won't go into explicit details, but the fact of the matter is we haven't seen a work/shoot like this since Paul Heyman did it to Vince McMahon during the invasion angle. Speaking of Paul Heyman, CM Punk made references to people on television last night that, as Punk said it, was "Breaking the fourth wall". Colt Cabana was also given a shout out: LOVED IT. .The segment ends with CM Punk's microphone being cut off.

Throughout this rant Punk goes on, every word he uttered was not lacking in truth. He is without a doubt the BEST pro wrestler WWE has from an All-Around standpoint. The guy is as good in the ring as anyone today, his microphone skills surpass EVERY WWE superstar. Yet for nearly a year now, CM Punk is given the job; Leader of Nexus, a pathetic stable. Have we ever seen tag champions who NO ONE CARES ABOUT? CM Punk is underused, unappreciated and quite frankly, is being disrespected. Why is that? Marketability. The reason the likes of John Cena is continuously given the nod is because how well he markets to the fans. There is no merit apparently in having better mic/in-ring skills than Cena. Cena draws the most cash. This leaves a thought to wonder on: What if Punk was given the same push, market team and kissed enough ass?

It was absolutely invigorating to see something of this nature from WWE. Whether it was truly a shoot, or most likely a work, it was something truly different than the normal product WWE has been putting out. One fact remains constant; IF CM PUNK IS ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE COMPANY WWE WILL REGRET THAT DECISION FOR YEARS TO COME.

Robocop Returns to Pro Wrestling

Last year we posted about Elite Xtreme Wrestling in Phoenix, Arizona making some innovative moves by streaming their shows live on the Internet.  Now EXW is making headlines again after reviving an idea WCW tried in 1990 - bringing Robocop into the pro wrestling world.

In 1990, Sting had just been kicked out of the four horsemen and then went on to blow out his knee the very same night.  Sting was set to make his on screen return at the WCW Capital Combat PPV, and was in definite need of some backup.  No one saw it coming when it was announced that the one and only Robocop would be backing Sting up, seemingly read to kick the Horsemen's ass.  What followed was an angle that has been brought up ever since, because it was so flat and involved no action.  Sting got locked in a cage by the Horsemen, Robocop appears, he takes the door off the cage and Sting is free.  Yep, all the hype, all the anticipation, then Robocop takes a door off it's hinges, and leaves.  Check out the video:


Robocop Comes to WCW by TSteck160

Well the infamous WCW angle has been considered "wrestlecrap" for years now, but EXW brought Robocop out of his 21 year wrestling retirement as he appeared at their most recent show.  Apparently EXW wrestler "Johnny Manson" has been coming out in recent weeks as different wrestling personas, this week he came out in Bret Hart gear.  Robocop had apparently seen enough, and took him into custody for the crime of identity theft.  It all happened pretty fast, but it looks like Robocop at least got to interact with a wrestler this time unlike the WCW fiasco. Check out the video:



Elite Xteme Wrestling has their big "Xtreme Measures" show this Sunday in Phoenix that will feature Tough Enough's Bill DeMott, Tommy Dreamer, Val Venis, and Johnny "The Bull" Stambolli.....no word if Robocop will be back to fight more pro wrestling crimes.  Tickets on sale at EliteXtremeWrestling.com

Interview with Mercedes Martinez

Mercedes Martinez is without a doubt, the most dominant female wrestler on the indy circuit today. We have a chance to speak with the Latina Sensation to discuss her career, her experiences, her influences and thoughts on the state of the industry and the female workers who continue to fight hard for equality in the male dominant pro wrestling business.



This video is provided by Online Wrestling Videos

Don't forget to follow DieHard Pro Wrestling on Facebook and Twitter.

Interview with Roxie Cotton

Just when you thought that the wrestling business was overcrowded with "divas" and "knockouts" who spent more money on their boob jobs than they did on actual wrestling school, comes and old school throw back to the 80's in Roxie Cotton.

This northeast valley girl airhead (yeah - I know there aren't any valleys in the northeast) comes in full 80's gimmick with a deafening high-pitched voice and florescent ring attire. But she's also equipped with a strong determination and passion for the business...and a great all natural rack!

DieHard Wrestling talks to Roxie about her career, her experiences, the state of female wrestling and much more.



This video is provided by Online Wrestling Videos

Don't forget to follow DieHard Pro Wrestling on Facebook and Twitter.

Interview with Portia Perez

She may seem small, but Portia Perez is as tough as they come. The technically sound Canadian "ninja" discusses her career, her inspirations and her experiences in the wrestling business - with a wise-cracking attitude that's sharper than a ninja's blade.

Check out DieHard Pro Wrestling for more Online Wrestling Videos and interact with us at DieHard Pro Wrestling on Facebook and DieHard Pro Wrestling on Twitter

Interview with TNA and Ring of Honor Star, "Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels

DieHard Pro Wrestling presents an exclusive interview with former TNA star and one of the “founding fathers” of Ring of Honor “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels, conducted by “DieHard” Derek Gordon.

It’s absolutely mind boggling that Christopher Daniels is not performing on a main stream level any more. Sure Ring of Honor is one of the few elite when it comes to indy wrestling – but a talent with the caliber and experience that comes in the package deal of the Fallen Angel is something that any money hungry promoter can cash in on in an instant. Daniels has the pure ability to electrify a crowd and deliver a five star match with a broom stick. Bar none, he is arguably the hottest free agent on the market right now. Even with 17 years experience under his belt, some may challenge him by saying he’s past his prime. But Daniels is quick to prove them wrong by showing them that he only gets better with age. No doubt about it, Christopher Daniels belongs in the WWE…RIGHT NOW!

In this interview, Daniels discusses his thoughts on the state of indy wrestling, talent that should be signed by WWE and TNA, his influences, and some “best of the best” rapid fire questions.

Check out DieHard Pro Wrestling for more Online Wrestling Videos - and interact with us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DieHardProWrestling and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DHProWrestling

Stone Cold Steve Austin Sings and Dances!!!

After seeing all those Austin 3:16 skulls, who knew that WWE Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin had a funny bone???

Check out the Texas Rattlesnake shake it up to an 80′s classic. Let the piss start rolling down your leg….NOW!!!

Check Out More Online Wrestling Videos

Scott Hall hospitalized

Scott Hall has reportedly sought help over personal issues. Over the weekend, the wrestler known in the ring as Razor Ramon was working a Top Rope Wrestling show in Massachusetts. While the details on what exactly happened are not clear, it is believed that Hall, who has battled alcoholism and drug addiction, fell off the wagon. Rumors of an overdose proved to be false. He reportedly showed up "not ready to perform," and he was carried out to the ring.

Tuesday, Hall tweeted a message that sounds much more like a publicist's statement. "At the hospital in New England! Doing good. Thanks for all your well wishes and support..."

Friend Shawn Michaels took to his own social networking site on Sunday, posting that Hall was going through a "private matter" and "he is getting help." Michaels also went on to add: "All of us want the best 4him." Another friend and Kliq member Kevin Nash stated on his Twitter account that he will have an active role in Hall's recovery. Hall's message read: "I'll be at the airport when he lands and taking him to my home when he lands."

Nash also went on to defend Hall, in typical Diesel fashion: "To the motherf----- that made a joke who would want his kidney lol send me your address and let's see how funny it is. He's my brother and we'll get through this."

Here is hoping Hall will have a rested stay where ever he is and is able to overcome his demons.

Why John Morrison Deserves a Push

Sorry to have stayed so dormant the past month, but I'm back with a new perspective. After watching the latest Road to Wrestlemania pay-per-views and subsequent television periods afterward, there is one conclusion that I have come to: John Morrison is damn good. Case and point: his acrobatic non-fall at the Royal Rumble.The way he balance-beamed the stage before leaping back into the ring was nothing short of phenomenonal. And then, one month later, the Shaman of Sexy outdoes himself again when he climbs the Elimination Chamber walls to the top of the contraption a la Spider-Man and drops on top of an unsuspecting Sheamus. Unbelievable on both fronts. I was even more convinced that Morrison was going to be a star. And then comes Wrestlemania.

Imagine my disappointment to find that the wrestler formerly known as Johnny Nitro would be in mixed tag team action with Snooki from "Jersey Shore." At least Trish Stratus was on there too so I kept an open mind only to be even more disappointed. I was watching the event and saw how little the Guru of Greatness contributed to his team's win. Sure, it is nice to see the WWE get back to using celebrities to help prop up Wrestlemania but I hope that Morrison is a talent that does not get squandered. So here is my open plea to WWE Creative. Work Morrison into main event status over the next year. He has the look, the ability and, with some time and development, he could have the character to take the industry to a whole new level.

Bret “Hitman” Hart – The 1998 Tribute Videos and Pre-Screwjob Story

Did I ever tell you the story about my involvement in the infamous Montreal Screwjob? Ok, before you get your panties in a bunch, let me first clarify that I wasn't directly involved in the screwjob. I wasn't even associated with it. Truth be told, I just happened to be "around" it. Not as a "worker" or decision maker, but as a broadcast journalist.

See, for those who don't know - this is where I get put myself over for a minute - I had the FIRST EVER pro wrestling radio talk show (later turned TV show) on the internet. At the time, there weren't too many people who understood the concept of what the internet was, and even fewer owned computers in their own home. In 1997, I signed on with the first ever streaming broadcast company in New York and brought my creations to the air for a global audience. The name of the show was, "...And Justice For Brawl", and because of my ties in the wrestling business, the show shot off like a stud in the last minute of a porno - but without the sticky mess, of course.

Because the show was still in its infancy and I was still working on strategic marketing and building a fan base, I didn't want to start booking big names just yet and blow my load too early - there we go again with the adult references. You may be too young to remember, but internet porn was TERRIBLE back in the 90s. It was basically websites made with old digital cameras that took 3-hours to load one picture with a dial-up modem. Oh, how we've come so far since those days.... I mean in terms of progress. Not in the trajectory or distance you can...nevermind. Back to the screwjob....Here we go again! Get your minds back to pro wrestling!

Long story short, I decided to give Bret Hart a call at the end of October to see if he'd be interested in doing a rare interview. As the true professional he is, was and always will be - Bret obliged. The "Hitman" was one of my all-time favorites and getting the rare opportunity to interview him gave me the jitters. I wanted to do some prep work and ask questions that he had never been asked. What also made the opportunity so rare was that Bret was the reigning WWE champion at the time and during an era where the title was much more valued than it is today. Scoring an interview with the WWE's title holder was unheard of at the time. So Bret and I agreed to wait a few weeks to do the live interview. It would give me enough time to promote the appearance, and I could tie it into a Survivor Series promotion if the WWE office gave any resistance in having their heavyweight champion doing an interview leading into one of the most anticipated events in history.

The Monday Night Wars were in the heat of battle. The WWE's attitude era had just started picking up some steam with the formation of Degeneration-X, led by Shawn Michaels. The white hot heated history between Bret and Shawn had already been exposed to the public and was being used in the storylines. Bret blasted Shawn for what his character had become and what it was doing to the industry. The "Hitman" questioned The Heartbreak Kid's lifestyle and choice of attire. He ridiculed Shawn's ring outfits, perhaps because they weren't designed by a Bryant Park fixture like Hank Shalom of Soho Fashion. But as the date drew closer to the Survivor Series event, and to my interview which was scheduled days before the pay per view, the industry blew up with rumors that Bret Hart was leaving the WWE and signing with the rival WCW.

My heart raced like fat man running to an alton brown ribs all-you-can-eat buffet! I knew that with the interview scheduled, it was my responsibility to address the rumors. My fear was that Bret might have been gag-ordered to keep quiet until after the pay per view. Perhaps by discussing his decision live on the air, fans would lose interest in the event if they could figure out the result based on Bret's decision to stay with the company or not.

So I called Bret, and explained to him my concerns about doing the interview and how he'd like to approach it. I even offered to postpone the interview until everything was finalized and he could openly speak about the rumors and his decision. Bret calmly said, "I don't have anything to hide. You can ask me anything you want and I will tell you as much as I can. Don't hold anything back."

Not only was I relived after hearing Bret giving me the green light, but I also realized the pressure I was under. I was the ONLY journalist on the planet who could publicly discuss the rumor of Bret Hart leaving the WWE with the man himself. The show was booked for Tuesday, November 4th. The Survivor Series was set for Sunday, November 9th. Bret hadn't addressed any of the rumors and decided to wait to make his first statement on my show. Not only were the wrestling fans eager to hear the broadcast, but I'm sure the WWE offices were listening too.

On that Tuesday, Bret made his scheduled appearance on my show. The draw and out-pour of the fans crashed our broadcast servers several times. And when the time came for me to ask, "...Bret, are you going to WCW?...", I literally felt the world stop moving for a moment. Bret gave his explanation and discussed his feelings, and without giving a final or definitive answer, he concluded in saying that at that very moment, his decision was "strongly leaning towards going to WCW".

Yeah, some of you may be saying - "Big fucking deal!". Well, at the time it was. It was a big deal for Bret Hart, for the WWE, for WCW and for the industry as a whole. It was a move many thought was even bigger than when Hulk Hogan signed with WCW. Afterall, here is your current heavyweight champion publicly stating that he is going to work for the competition. But for me, it was the real launch of my career. I may not have been the guy who broke the story, but I was the guy who got the answer to confirm the rumor. What made it more magical is that it wasn't a "hear-say" story. I had the power to put the champion under the interrogation light to ask the question and get the answer that the world wanted to hear. It was my Edward R. Murrow moment.

So I guess Vince McMahon and the WWE locker room was listening too. Between my show on Tuesday and Sunday's PPV event, Bret got screwed out of the title on live television, punched Vince in the eye and hastily departed the WWE to join its arch enemy.

Almost two months later, it was finally announced on WCW television that Bret Hart would be joining the company leading into their Starcade event. Ironically enough, the WCW office was listening to my show as well and I surprisingly got a call where I was offered a contract to work for WCW as a broadcaster on their soon-to-launch internet programming and as the Tuesday voice on the n.W.o. hotline. I was flown down to Washington D.C. to sign my contract at the Starcade PPV, the same night Bret debuted for the company. Not only did I start with Bret on the same day, but we were stranded together at the airport during a nasty blizzard that had our flights delayed for hours. When we talked about the irony of the interview and how it ended up with us both working for WCW, Bret said, "Things have a really weird way of working out and it's only proof that your destiny is already chosen".

I never thought I'd have the chance to be on an open forum with one of my childhood heroes. I never thought I'd be in the center of the news with the exclusive scoop on a breaking story. And I never thought that based on those events, I'd be working with Bret Hart in WCW. And that was just the beginning.

A year later, Bret's fascinating documentary "Wrestling with Shadows" was set to debut. A few months before the public got to see it, Bret contacted me to do a follow up interview and promotion. Although our interview wasn't featured in the documentary, I felt it had its own place in part of that history. Bret felt the same way and it was one of the reasons he sought me out. Unfortunately, Bret's run in WCW had been botched, and by the time the movie was ready to debut - he had already regretted making the decision. It was at that point that I reiterated his own words, "Things have a really weird way of working out and it's only proof that your destiny is already chosen".

Hearing the sentiment in Bret's voice, I wanted to do something on the show that expressed the appreciation that the fans wanted to share with him. I took it to task and edited my first ever videos. Don't be too harsh on me, this was before Final Cut Pro!

The videos are two tributes to a legend, Bret Hart. And some of the footage used was from the screener copy that Bret had sent me himself. So if you're a fan of the "Hitman", I not only ask you to enjoy the video, but to share it so that fans will remember and honor the legacy of the best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be.

Bret Hart Tribute Video 1 - Song: Measure of a Man - Performed by Elton John


Bret Hart Tribute Video 2 - Song: Untouchable Themes - Performed by Ennio Morricone

Wrestling Celebrities on The MMA Red Carpet

Have you ever heard of a fan convention that has it’s own red carpet???…Neither have I, but ironically I attended one back in October for an MMA Expo in Atlantic City.

Let me paint a picture for you: The promoter is some money mark who spent over 90K just so he can hang out with a bunch of wrestlers, MMA fighters and kung fu experts. He basically looks like Ox Baker’s retarded son. This guy will lead you to believe that he’s the next Dana White, but that’s about as true as believing that Charlie Sheen is sober.

So when I get to the event, I hear that there is going to be a “red carpet affair”. Now I’m not sure if they mean a legit red carpet like they do for Hollywood premieres, or if this had something to do with seeing April Hunter take off her panties. Either way, I was curious enough to leave the bar for an hour, load up the camera and score some behind the scenes footage.

Low and behold, the time comes and sure enough there was a red carpet….No, not April’s. I mean a Hollywood style gala event with, well – not real media, but some people and fans with cameras…me included.

The kicker is that most of the talent booked on the convention was there and they were dressed to the nines. You would have actually thought they were going to the Oscars. All the of the female talents were fashionably dressed in designer outfits, and had their hair and make up done like they were stars of the silver screen. The men wore their best suits and tried looking somewhat normal than their professional barbaric personas. They were interviewed by some little hottie holding a microphone and whose head was filled with more air than a blow up mattress. But the funniest moment must have been when it was all done, and everyone on the red carpet wondered to themselves – “What the f*ck are we supposed to do now?”

See the convention was the next two days. There was only some lousy Muay Thai fight exhibition on the red carpet night. The real action was on the following days. So that basically left all the talent walking around the Taj Mahal like they just came from an Elvis Chapel Wedding or leaving the women looking like high priced escorts. I guess it proved at that moment, if you have money to burn then you too can try making yourself look important by paying celebrities to hang around you.

Hey – atleast I got some footage!

This video is provided by DieHard Pro Wrestling

Follow us on Facebook at facebook/DieHardProWrestling and Twitter @DHProWrestling

Interview with former WWE/TNA Star, Shawn Daivari

"DieHard" Derek Gordon conducts a one on one sit down with the former WWE and TNA star to discuss his career in both organizations, his challenges as a smaller competitor, the state of the indy wrestling scene, and what led to his TNA release after a successful run as X-division champion.

In a business that was built on characters that are larger than life, Shawn Daivari defied the offs for the smaller athlete with giant dreams. Considered by many as one of the most underrated talents in the last decade, not only did Daivari have an uphill battle in making his dream a reality based on his size, but he also faced many challenges due to his ethnicity - as the pro wrestling world immediately exploited him as an anti-American villain and capitalizing on the 9/11 tragedies.

In this interview, Shawn Daivari discusses his experiences as a smaller performer, an antagonist performer, and most of all, as a performer of a young man who worked hard to achieve his dreams and share the ring with his childhood heroes.

Kurt Angle’s Ultimate Teen Challenge

Pro Wrestling superstar Kurt Angle joined the MMA Sports Expo in Atlantic City, NJ to host his new project, Kurt Angle's Ultimate Teen Challenge, and to promote his new line of nutritional meals under the banner of Angle Foods. Here are some highlights of Kurt coaching these kids through the fitness trials.

Pro Wrestling Roundup Launches Official Radio Show

As you have noticed over the past few months, Pro Wrestling Roundup has made strides in improving the site and bring more posts, writers, and features.  Now we have taken a huge step as we have launched our own online radio show, "The Wrestling Jerks."  Hosted by Tony G. and Stevo, The Wrestling Jerks will hit the airwaves multiple times during the week, covering everything from WWE to TNA, and featuring interviews with special guest wrestling stars.  Just like the PWR site, The Wrestling Jerks pull NO punches and will bring honest opinions whether they are good or bad.  You can listen to the show live or listened to archived episodes, and there is also a live chat and call in number available if you would like to speak your wrestling opinions.  You can check out the first episode below, as Tony G. and Stevo discuss what's wrong with TNA, Triple H vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania, and so much more.

The Wrestling Jerks Episode 1

The WORST Tony Atlas Interview

Now before you think I'm going on a Tony Atlas bash today, let me just say that I have a great deal of respect for him. He's a genuine and humble individual who fell on tremendously hard times as an individual who couldn't handle the speed at which he was hit with fame. I get it and sympathize with it. But here's the flip side of the coin....

What if one day, Tony got in the ring with an opponent who went into business for himself. They no sold all his moves, they stole his heat and comebacks, and pretty much did what was best for them in a moment that allowed them both to shine. I'm sure Tony would be pretty pissed off about the situation. Here he is, a professional wrestler, going into the ring to work with his partner for the moment and rather than putting together a product that would benefit them both, his opponent gives him enough to get by and takes the liberties of making the moment all about him and whatever he had on his mind. Sound unprofessional?....Thank you!

So I ran into Tony and did hm the solid of shooting some video of women walking all over his face. I later asked, "Hey Tony, you mind if we shoot a short interview with you? It might be good to push your book and let the people know what you've been up to since being released by the WWE". Tony thought it was a great idea. But great for who?

So I take some time to do MY JOB and write up some well thought out questions that I thought my DieHard Wrestling fans would like to hear answers to. Once the camera starts rolling - Tony went into business for himself and did nothing but push his book. Now I'm kool and the gang with him getting a cheap plug - but when I ask you a question, every answer can't be "Buy my book....Inside my book... on page 3,076 of my book....my book, my book, my book".

You can imagine how pissed I must have been when I watched the footage in my editing room. I thought to myself, "What the f*ck am I supposed to do with this?". Then it hit me - do what Tony did! Go into business for YOURSELF!

So this video is a result of me trying to do my job as a broadcast journalist, Tony going into business for himself and me cashing in my receipt in the editing room. Don;t forget to LIKE, SHARE and COMMENT.

The Tony Atlas Foot Fetish Video

How many backstage legends have you ever heard?...Let me clarify that - I'm not asking if you ever heard of a "legend", I'm asking about the backstage locker room stories that have escaped the inner circles and become legend. Yet those campfire stories are difficult to prove unless you were there to witness it or heard it from a trusted sources who has seen it themselves. Truth be told, backstage rumors spread like wildfire. Lord only knows I have a few of myhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif own.

But on the flip side of that coin, there are plenty of stories that have been openly shared with the public - most of them dealing with sexual encounters, flings, ring rats, etc. How many times are you going to listen to Missy Hyatt talk about the size of Val Venis' penis? How many times is Tammy "Sunny" Sytch going to be asked her year long affair with Shawn Michaels when she was supposedly tagged 'The Clique Chick"? Ever hear the stories about that ECW skank Miss Patricia and what the boys did to her when she was leaving the company? WOW, one day remind me to tell you the story behind this dishrag!

The stories go on and on, but yet no one has ever been witness to such an event. Now I'm not saying that what you are about to see belongs on TMZ or can be sold like a glow in the dark Paris Hilton sex tape. But you at least get the sense that all the stories you've heard about Tony Atlas' foot fetish are true.

Mr. Black Superman himself shows the world that he indeed has a face of steel, as he allows women to literally stand on his face for his arousal. For his personal collection, he also likes photographs of women's feet in shoes. Now don't get me wrong - I'm all about having a women all over me and I'd consider myself an advanced expert on the anatomy of women. But there's two problems I have with the foot fetish.

First of all, it's just nasty. I mean, it's a foot. Anyone who's ever been laid will tell you that there are plenty of areas to explore and have fun with. Never have I heard of a foot. Sure, you can give a foot massage, but that's usually the gateway to getting laid. Some people are into sucking toes - but not me. I have no appetite for peanut butter and toe jam. Just something about the feet that makes me wonder what gets people off so much. This is the type of stuff that those pervy geeks on Law & Order SVU are into. First they look all innocent working on graphic design portfolio websites, then all of a sudden you find them busting a nut to foot fetish and toe jam websites!

The you have my second reason - having someone standing on your face. Um, isn't that a bit on the painful side? How is that a turn on? And I'm sure I speak for most men when I say that if I wanted a women to walk all over me, I'd just get married.

Long story short - there are stories that say that Tony's foot fetish was part of the downfall of his career. There's even a story which I believe has been confirmed by Tony himself where he was scheduled to win the WWF Intercontinental title, but was no where to be found because he was shacked up with some chick and her stinky feet. I guess there are just some thing you can't explain.

Jackie Gayda Haas Wins First Place in Figure Competition

Now don't get me wrong, I love females who keep themselves in shape. But on the flip side of the coin, I can't dig a chick whose ripped, shredded and looks like her skin is the gift wrap on a bag of bones....Excuse me, I think I just threw up in my mouth....

Remember Jackie Gayda Haas?...No? Really?

Well, back when WWE Tough Enough was just getting started, she was one of the original contestants....Still nothing huh? She also managed some ja-brone named Rico...Yeah, that's not worth remembering either. Well, let's assume you did remember her as a WWE Diva who then turned TNA Knockout and became the wife of former WWE superstar Charlie Haas. Bottomline is that she's put the wrestling business behind her and has now focused her career on fitness and bodybuilding.

Seems like things are paying off in her new career venture because she recently competed in the Bill Grant Classic Bodybuilding Competition and won first place in two categories. Not bad for a rookie. Check out the exclusive video montage of her competition and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

And as a side note - there was a tremendous bikini contest that non-shredded, Skeletor-looking chicks were NOT involved in. So if you're interested in seeing some smoking hot thickness that know how to fill out a thong, post your requests below and I'll be sure to share that video as well with you readers!

Al Snow's Dirty Promo

No one ever said that working in the pro wrestling business was easy. Regardless of what your role is in the business, you have to deal with a lot of crap. You get it from the wrestlers, the promoters, the agents, and most of all - the fans. No one is ever satisfied with your work or efforts, and at the end of the day your 'thank you' comes in the form of a big steamy turd. Just when you think you have the right formula to entertain the masses, someone is always there ready to drop a deuce all over it.

Allow me to set the stage for you. I'm working a mega-convention in New York being run by a rookie money mark promoter. The event itself is an unorganized disaster and one that will go down in the books as an epic failure. I'm interviewing most of the talent for a yet-to-be-released DVD. Next up on the slate is former WWE superstar, Al Snow.

The place is packed and the only spot quiet enough to shoot the video interview is in a small office the size of a jail cell. Four grown adults cramped into this little room with no air conditioning in the middle of summer.

For the purpose of my in-house branding, I always get the talent to do a quick promo bumper for me. A bumper is basically a short piece infront of or right after the content where the talent looks into the camera and says, "Hi, I'm BLAH BLAH BLAH, and you're watching DieHard Wrestling!". Those bumpers are nice little branding interstitial that helps build credibility for your product. Now before I go any further, let me first warn you that we had lunch with Al Snow a couple of hours prior to the interview. Nothing fancy. Think of it as a cheap ghetto date as we shared a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

When the interview was over, we were quickly prepping to shoot the bumpers when one of the guys on my crew (Toddy D) had to take a personal phone call. He left the small office space for a little privacy, but when he came back....let's just say he was welcomed with a little gift courtesy of Mr. Snow.

Without going into anymore detail, I'll let you experience it for yourself. Fortunately, you won't be able to get the full "scratch and sniff" effect - but I'm sure you have plenty of personal experiences in your own memory bank that you can use to understand our dilemma.

Check out this never before seen exclusive blooper outtake!!!

Fan Fantasy Matches: Round One

Blogger's note: The following entry is a new thing we are wanting to try here at PWRoundup. The Frozen One is a young fan (14) but has been watching wrestling since he was at least one year old. Here, he ices up his take on dream matches among the various wrestling promotions. Check out his cool predictions every Thursday. -Leah

So for my blog this week I wanted to get everyone's imagination running. So I thought of some matches we may never get the good fortune to see. The first one is...

John Morrison .vs. Rob Van Dam. The way I see this match turning out is RVD using his experience and quick feet to out maneuver John. He would then finish the match off by landing a signature Five Star Frog Splash to the middle of the ring. I believe that it would be a epic match the fans would go crazy for.

My second match idea is Abyss .vs. Kane. I think it would be an impressive win for Kane. Kane would use his signature sit up, much to the surprise of Abyss. The Big Red Machine would then release a flurry of attacks before choke slamming him. The final nail in the coffin? Kane delivering a tombstone pile driver to end the match.

Until next time,

The Frozen One

When Will Triple H Return?

The ring has not been the same since The Game has been sidelined. With the Undertaker's return date looming, it is only fair to wonder when Triple H will make his triumphant return. Some whispers had Triple H coming back at the Royal Rumble but the pay-per-view came and went and No Game.

At an appearance in Indianapolis this weekend, friend and retired wrestler Shawn Michaels said he knew when Triple H was coming back to the WWE but assured that "It would be before Wrestlemania." Some sites confirmed Shawn's story, dating the Game's return as far away as the Monday Night Raw broadcast before Wrestlemania.

It is a given that the wrestler formerly known as Hunter Hearst Helmsley will be welcomed back into the WWE crowd's open arms as a face. The Wrestling Observer pits Triple H and the Undertaker together but I am not sure that will fly. A grudge match against Sheamus, who reportedly caused the injury that took him out of commission could be much more Wrestlemania worthy. The Game in a Grudge match on the Biggest Stage of All? Yeah, that has a nice ring to it.

*Additional reporting for this post provided by Michael C. Wright

My favorite Wrestlers: #10 Scott Hall

Ok, my name is Joshua a lot of people call me by my high school nickname of Detroit Navy, and you can call me whatever you want. I have come to this site to write some wrestling content. I am an old school guy and most of what I write here will be from the old school. Hopefully you like it, maybe you won't, but hopefully we can get a good discussion going.

I am going to start with my top ten favorite wrestlers. This is based on nothing more than the enjoyment I personally got out of each performer. I got this idea because I just bought the WWE DVD 50 greatest Super Stars of all time.

I will start my top ten list at number ten with Scott Hall. I always liked him as Razor Ramon and in that character I think he was involved in the greatest wrestling match I ever saw (of course I am referring to the Ladder Match at Wrestlemania 10) and he would go on to be a huge part of the most successful wrestling angle ever the nWo.

Like a lot of great entertainers Scott's career was marred by personal demons. However, even with that he remains one of my favorite talents to ever enter the ring. Unlike most fans who started watching WCW after he debuted there, I had been watching WCW on Saturday Nights on TBS for years. I can remember watching Scott as part of the Diamond Mine stable. He got a big push back then in like 1991, but like everything else in WCW it faded quickly.

His run as Razor Ramon and later in the nWo was the stuff of legend. He may not have been the biggest guy, or the best wrestler but I always enjoyed his work, his matches, and his character. I always wondered how much of a role his feud with Goldust led to him leaving the old WWF in the first place. I have heard a lot of rumors over the years that he was not a big fan of that particular angle.

In the end for me Scott Hall had a great career, even though since I don't happen to like TNA I did not see his later stuff.

Related Links:

• The Business of Pro Wrestling• Joshua Lobdell.com

Who will topple Immortal?

In the past few months, since their formation at last October's "Bound for Glory" PPV, Immortal has dominated TNA both in and out of the ring. Despite Mr Anderson's unexpected world title triumph over "The Anti-Christ" Jeff Hardy at this month's "Genesis" PPV, the huge heel stable holds the TV, Tag Team and X Division belts.

With most of TNA's gold around the waists of Immortal and with Bischoff stacking the odds against Mr Anderson, in order to ensure a speedy transition of the World Title back to Jeff Hardy, who will rise up and topple the despotic supergroup?

The first option I would instigate to garner fan interest would be to have cracks emerge between Hogan's boys (Bischoff, the Hardy Brothers, Jeff Jarrett, Abyss) and Flair's Fortune (AJ Styles, Kaz, Beer Money). With Fortune now holding all of Immortal's gold and with Styles clearly begging for a chance to be the "top dog" in the company once more, a division would be easy to accomplish storyline wise and could be further fuelled by Flair and Hogan's long standing bad blood. This option would accomplish many things in TNA: elevating Fortune to be THE dominant group in the company; prove the younger guys have the edge on the relative veterans of Immortal; and a great way to remove Hogan/Bischoff from the company (at least from an on-screen role).

The second option I could see TNA more likely to go with would be the return of another powerful group: Main Event Mafia. With the brilliant storyline that is straying between real life/fiction between Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett, TNA seems to be edging towards a full blown war between Angle and Jarrett's "security blanket" Immortal. As Kurt is heavily outgunned at the moment, it would make sense for him to call on people he trusts to have his back and assist in the destruction of Jarrett/Immortal. Who better to fit this criteria than Scott Steiner, Sting, Booker T, Kevin Nash (?) and maybe even Samoa Joe? With this option TNA does run the risk of undermining the abilities of its younger stars like Styles, Matt Morgan and the MCMG, but the stable battle would be extremely entertaining and could open the door for Samoa Joe to return to the main event scene and even for Fortune to assist in Immortal's downfall, maybe at this year's "Lockdown".

One thing about the Immortal formation however, is that TNA has given itself a plethora of story strands it could choose and a mulitude of "dream" matches/mic showdowns that could occur (Steiner/Flair "shoot" promo anyone?!).

Val Venis Shoots on the Hardy's and More

For those who are unaware, former WWE star Val Venis has been on a crusade as of late to tear apart and trash Matt Hardy and virtually everyone he is associated with, including his brother Jeff.  Val has been voicing his opinions on his Twitter page on Matt's talent, his background, the way he presents himself online, and everything else about the Hardy's careers. 

Now Val has taken things a step further, as he posted the following video tonight, where he once again trashes the Hardys, and even head Smackdown writer Michael Hayes who was influential in the early WWE careers of the Hardys.  Val has also trashed the Hardy's "OMEGA" promotion that they ran in their years prior to WWE, and has been rumored to possibly start again in the future.  Val has endorsed the promotion "Elite Xtreme Wrestling" that he works for in Arizona, claiming it features real pro wrestling unlike OMEGA's "trampoline backyard wrestling." 

Matt Hardy has yet to comment directly about this situation, claiming he won't respond to negativity, but Venis has been in a war with Hardy fans for over a week now, and things are sure to heat up once this video makes the rounds across the net:



For Val Venis fans in Arizona, he will be appearing at the big EXW "Bad Intentions" show taking place this weekend in Prescott, Arizona.  Venis will be challenging for the promotions heavyweight title.  Also on the card are former WWE star and Tough Enough Trainer Bill Demott, and former TNA star "Rellik."   More information on the official Elite Xtreme Wrestling website.

Don't Miss Out on Ring Of Honor

Not much is mentioned about Ring of Honor and it's a shame because ROH deserves better. If you have HDNet and have never checked out ROH, take my advice and do yourself a favor and see some of the best in-ring action the sport has to offer.

From Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson), to Desmond Wolfe (Nigel Mcguiness), to CM Punk, to Samoa Joe, to Christopher Daniels (who has returned)to the newly signed Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas, the ROH product is about one thing - wrestling.

ROH will be criticized because the product is almost TOO wrestling oriented. Recently ROH has tried to add more interview time and develop storylines but it largely has not changed, and that is a good thing.

In a two hour WWE or TNA show we hardly get more than 30 - 40 minutes of actual in-ring action. ROH usually surpasses that number in a one hour time frame. The guys to really keep an eye out for, if you want a five star match, are Roderick Strong, Eddie Edwards, and Davey Richards. Richards reminds me of a Benoit/Lance Storm combination in the ring. If you get a chance to see either Richards vs. Tyler Black (WWE development talent Seth Rollins in FCW) match in 2010, they are as good as, if not better, than any match you saw in '10.

The reason why I'm saying all this is because time is running out for ROH on HDNet, and therefore running out on you to see ROH. The contract is up in April and ROH will be without a TV home. Hopefully they will get a new network and continue to be on the air, but if not, use the last few months to catch ROH, if you can. You won't be disappointed.

Shawn Michaels: First Inductee into 2011 Hall of Fame

It was announced Monday Night that Shawn Michaels would be the inaugural name for this year's class of Hall of Famers. No one deserves this honor quite like the Showstopper, the Main Event -- Mr. Wrestlemania himself, Shawn Michaels. He has a 20-year storied career like no other, and trying to list why he should be inducted into the WWE's version of Cooperstown is bound to leave out some of his amazing stats. But here goes nothing: Grand Slam Champion. Winner of Wrestlemania XII Iron Man Match. DX Founder. Was in the first Hell in the Cell match. The list goes on.

All you really need to know is that when Shawn enters the ring, he will give you a show that you have never seen before. Why? Because he can.

Congrats, Shawn, for an amazing accomplishment to an even more stellar career. Can't wait to see you make another Wrestlemania moment in April.

Matt Hardy Debuts, Mr. Anderson Wins Gold at TNA Genesis

TNA Genesis felt like a bit of a reboot/fresh start for the company as every title changed hands and the much anticipated debut of Matt Hardy took place.   I personally was surprised that Hardy debuted with such little fanfare, as there wasn't a huge amount of buildup for RVD's mystery opponent.  I knew Hardy might be an option but I figured he would come in with a lot more hype,and a lot more intrigue surrounding if Matt would side with or against his brother Jeff.  As it stands now, Matt (with a new dread locked look) defeated RVD and will side with Jeff for now in Immortal. 

The other big occurrence was the impromptu match between Mr. Anderson and Jeff Hardy for the TNA Title.  Anderson defeated Matt Morgan to become the number 1 contender, but Eric Bischoff came out following the match to tell Anderson that his match would take place right then.  Jeff Hardy came out in street clothes and smoking a cigarette (to no doubt once again put across to fans how bad of a heel he really is) and made it look like he was in for an easy win.  Anderson kept kicking out and coming back, and eventually scored the pinfall with the "Mic Check" after multiple run ins from Mick Foley, Ric Flair, Matt Hardy, RVD, Bischoff, etc. and is the new TNA Champion.

TNA starts 2011 with all new champions in Beer Money as the new tag team champs defeating the Motor City Machine Guns, Abyss (who replaced AJ Styles due to injury) winning the TV Title over Doug Williams, and Kazarian as X-Division Champ over Jay Lethal.

Now the questions begin as to where they go now.  Will Hogan be back in the picture soon?  Immortal seems to lose some steam without Hogan as their main leader.  Will Matt Hardy spark some interest?  And can Mr. Anderson do the job as the top face and champion for the company?  We will begin to see some answers as TNA tapes Impact tomorrow in Orlando which will begin airing this Thursday on Spike TV.