Christian (Cage) Spotted At The Site Of Tonight's RAW Taping?

Courtesy of Scott Williams:

"Hi, we are outside the building for tonight's Raw and Christian Cage has arrived at the venue in a rental car with it looked like Val Venus, I really couldn't tell who was driving, but Christian waived at all of us. He is back in WWE! Thought you would like to know."

Note from Ric: I can't (nor do I feel the need to) verify this sighting, but I also have no reason to doubt it. I do doubt, however, that if Cage is at the New Orleans Arena, he's there as anything more than a visitor and I do not expect him to be mentioned or shown in any way, shape, or form.

Lauzon Headlines “UFC Fight Night” Feb. 7 Vs. Franca On National Television

Courtesy of Full Court Press:

E. BRIDGEWATER, Mass. (January 5, 2009) – UFC lightweight sensation Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon fights once again in the main event February 7, headlining “UFC Fight Night” on Spike TV against fellow Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Hermes Franca, live from the Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida.

Lauzon (17-4, 5 KOs, 12 submissions), star of The Ultimate Fighter 5 television reality show, last headlined April 2, 2008 Joe in disappointing loss by second-round TKO to fellow Massachusetts fighter Kenny Florian on UFC Fight Night 13 in Denver. “J-Lau” bounced right back this past September, registering an impressive second-round stoppage of Kyle Bradley (13-6) on UFC Fight Night 15 in Omaha, Nebraska.

“It’s kind of weird,” Lauzon said, “but I’ve gone from undercard to main event, back to undercard, and now main event again. I’m not complaining at all. This is a huge fight for me, second only to my main event in Denver, which was more personal with both of us (Lauzon and Florian) from Massachusetts.”

Former UFC lightweight title challenger Franca (20-7), fighting out of Juniper, Florida by way of his native Brazil, is a former WEC and AFC champion. His most notable victories to date include a knockout of former UFC lightweight title challenger Caol Uno five years ago and third round submission (arm-bar) Jamie Varner in 2006. In his UFC championship fight in 2007 against Sean Sherck, Franca lost a 5-round decision on UFC 73 - Stacked. In his last action (July 19, 2008), Hermes won a 3-round decision versus Frankie Edgar on UFC Fight Night 14.

“This fight will be different than the one against Florian,” Lauzon promised. “I’m going to push the pace, be more aggressive. He’s a counter-puncher who likes his opponents to come to him. He’s a good defensive fighter, very good in every way. We’re both dangerous. It’s going to be fast-paced, a real dog fight.”

In addition to starring on The Ultimate Fighter 5, Lauzon caught the attention of MMA fans around the world, when as a 7-1 underdog in his UFC debut (September 23, 2006 in UFC 63), he shockingly stopped former UFC champion Jens “Little Evil” Pulver (21-7-1) at 43 seconds of the opening round.

For more information about Joe “J-Lau” Lauzon, who has a Bachelor’s degree in computer networking from Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, go online and visit www.joelauzon.com or myspace.com/lauzonrsd.

CONTACT:
Bob Trieger
978.664.4482
bobtfcp@hotmail.com

What's On Tap For Tonight's Edition Of 'Monday Night RAW'?

Here's a sample of what's expected:

* The announcement(s) of more 'Royal 'Rumble' entrants.

* Intercontinental title - CM Punk vs. William Regal. I expect Regal to lose his belt, which saddens me.

* World Tag Team title: Rey Mysterio & Kofi Kingston vs. John Morrison & The Miz. I expect M & M to retain, which doesn't sadden me.

* Kelly Kelly vs. Jillian.

* Melina & Goldust vs. Glamarella. Always excited to see Santino Marella on the card.

All of this, and much more, beginning at 9 PM ET. If I'm still working, my recap will be up at around 11:15 PM ET.

Bobby Lashley - Pro Wrestler, Mixed-Martial-Artist, Hell Of A Guy

He definitely solidified that last one, spending over thirty-minutes with myself and Casey Trowbridge, despite being extremely busy, for last night's debut edition of 'MMA Sunday.'

If you missed it, you suck, (unless, of course, you decide to check out the archive).

USWO/ATL Results - 1/3/2009 - Nashville, TN

Courtesy of Lekisha F. Oliver-Burdine:

USWO/ATL wrestling 1/3 results

Logan Shane beat Toby Farley (w/ "The Ace" Nick White)

Chris Norte beat Psycho Medic and Steven Green in a 3- way

Trakan Mathias & Mexican Dragon beat Saint & Convict Clown

Anthony Wayne beat Johnny Demento (w/ Kalita)

Otis Bass & Tony Falk (w/ Gordon) beat Kevin Dunn & Dominator (w/ Ronnie Vegas)

LT Falk & Michael Jablonski beat Chris Michaels & Toby Farley (w/ "The Ace" Nick White)

Derrick Neal beat Damien Payne by DQ

USWO/ ATL wrestling at the stadium inn Nashville TN will be off this coming saturday 1/10 due to the Tennessee Titans playoff game, but other wise is every Saturday night at 8pm $10 ringside $8 general admission

WGN America Enters WWE(R) Ring With WWE Superstars

Courtesy of WGN America:

Original Program to Air Exclusively on WGN America Beginning April 2009

NEW YORK and STAMFORD, Conn., Jan. 5 -- WGN America and World Wrestling Entertainment(R) (NYSE: WWE) enter the ring with a new television partnership. WWE Superstars, a first run, original program will air exclusively on WGN America, Tribune Broadcasting's national Superstation.

The action-packed WWE Superstars, part of a new multi-year agreement with WGN America, will be produced by WWE and will feature Superstars and Divas from the entire WWE roster. The hour-long weekly program, scheduled to debut in April 2009, will provide WGN America viewers the chance to see Superstars and Divas from all three WWE franchises in one program. WWE Superstars is scheduled to air on Thursday nights at 8 and 11pm ET with an additional run on the weekend.

"WWE is one of the great American brands on television and we are thrilled to announce our partnership. The addition of WWE Superstars to WGN America's lineup signals our intention to add more tent-pole programs to our network brand strategy. Going forward, we will play to win," said Ed Wilson, Tribune Company's Chief Revenue Officer and Tribune Broadcasting President.

"WWE programming has a tremendous track record of consistently delivering a diverse and advertiser friendly audience. We fully anticipate that WWE Superstars will be a ratings winner for WGN America," said Kevin Dunn, WWE Executive Vice President of Television Production.

"WGN America is a general entertainment network featuring original and syndicated series, major league sports including baseball and basketball, as well as theatrical movies. We are committed to delivering compelling, original first-run programming for our viewers and WWE Superstars is the perfect illustration of our strategy," said Sean Compton, Senior Vice President of Programming & Development, Tribune Broadcasting.

ABOUT WGN AMERICA:

WGN America is a broad entertainment network and destination for audiences across America. Part of Tribune Broadcasting Company, WGN America is nationally distributed via cable, satellite and telco with entertainment programming consisting of cable exclusives, first-run programs, blockbuster movies and live sports. www.wgnamerica.com

ABOUT WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT:

Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment Inc (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, copyrights and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the conditions of the markets for live events, broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, Internet, feature films, entertainment, professional sports, and licensed merchandise; acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; uncertainties relating to litigation; risks associated with producing live events both domestically and internationally; uncertainties associated with international markets; risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television distribution agreements; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, our dividend is based on a number of factors, including our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan, our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends and such other factors as our board of directors may consider relevant.

Programming Alert: Bobby Lashley On Tonight's Debut Of 'MMA Sunday'

This is extremely late notice, but just to expand on what Rich Tate said, on tonight's (first) edition of 'MMA Sunday,' Bobby Lashley will be joining myself and Combat Hooligans' Casey Trowbridge.

We're going live at 9 PM ET, and taking your calls, so, if you like enjoy big guests and, no doubt, a bunch of embarrassing mistakes, join us.

SOUTHEASTERN WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 01/04/2009

Courtesy of GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com:

NEWS and NOTES

Tonight’s debut of MMA Sunday, hosted by the Canvas Chronicle’s Ric Gillespie features a weekly recap of events in the world of mixed martial arts, the latest news, and previews of things to come, beginning at 9:00 PM ET, and is brought to you by Georgia Wrestling History’s GWH Radio Network. Bobby Lashley is expected to appear.

World Wrestling Entertainment’s RAW/ECW crew will be in Baton Rouge, LA, at the Baton Rouge Civic Center this afternoon. Advertised: John Cena defends the WWE World Heavyweight Title against Randy Orton; and Shawn Michaels & Rey Mysterio versus Mike Knox & Kane. Also on the bill: Matt Hardy, CM Punk, Kofi Kingston, William Regal, Cryme Tyme, Mark Henry, Beth Phoenix, John Morrison, the Miz, Jack Swagger, and Melina. Bell time is 5:00 PM.

WWE’s SmackDown crew will be in Bossier City, LA, at the CenturyTel Center this afternoon. Bell time is 5:00 PM.

WWE results from the SmackDown house show at the Oil Palace in Tyler, TX, on January 3: Carlito & Primo Colon over Brian Kendrick & Ezekiel Jackson; Kizarny over MVP; Shelton Benjamin over R-Truth; Vladimir Kozlov over Jimmy Wang Yang; Umaga over Hurricane Helms; Brie Bella over Natalya; the Undertaker over the Big Show; and Jeff Hardy over Edge to retain the WWE Heavyweight Title.

Rampage Pro Wrestling will be at Johnny G's in Warner Robins, GA, this afternoon. Advertised: The first ever Rampage Rumble, which is scheduled to include A.J. Steele, Cru Jones, Shaun Banks, J-Rod, Kodiak, Sal Rinauro, Oko Nono, Colt Derringer, Melissa Coates, and Chip Day. Colt Derringer vs. Chip Day. Melissa Coates vs. Tracy Taylor. Tickets are $5 after 2:45 and bell time is at 4:00. For more information, call (478) 329-8002.

The following information in regard to birthdays and memoriams has been compiled from various sources. In the event you can let us know of any omissions or corrections, please email to contributions@georgiawrestlinghistory.com.

Today’s Birthdays: Chris Kanyon (1970) and Simon Sermon (1974).

Today In Memoriam: Clarence Eklund (93, 1981), Villano I (49, 2001), and Cowboy Lang (56, 2007).

I Believe in Wrestling results from Orlando, FL, on January 3: Gus Money over Austin Amadeus; Master Flesh over Dash Maverick; Bumz R' Us over The CNS Connection; Larry Zbyszko & Becky Bayless over Scott Davis & Jessika Haze; Nick Fame over Nooie Lee; The Heartbreak Express over Raymond Snow & Demon Toro; and Chasyn Rance w/ So Cal Val over Orlando Jordan w/ Creamsicle (13:02) to retain the SCW Florida Heavyweight Championship.

NWA Prime Time results from January 2 in Columbus, GA, with a reported attendance of 200: Killer Instinct (Mike Stratus & Jake Slater) beat Chip Day & Kyle Matthews to advance in the tag team title tournament. Ace Rockwell & Truitt Fields beat David Young & Chris Stevens to advance in the tag team title tournament when Fields pinned Young. Shaun Tempers beat Josh Stone (with Colt Derringer). Bull Buchanan & Bulldog Raines & Micah Taylor beat Johnny Swinger & Zero Tolerance & Iceberg. Enigma and Little Kane were declared as co-winners of a match between each other when things got out of hand. Deathrow & Marty Jannetty beat Travis Sawyer (with Tony Lucassio) & Colt Derringer. Click here for more detail, including a further explanation on the midget match.

Prime Time returns to Columbus on January 9 with the following advertised card: "The Midnight Rocker" Marty Jannetty vs. Sonny Siaki. PTPW Heavyweight Title Match, Champion Iceberg vs. "The Durham Bull" Chris Stevens. Ace Rockwell & Truitt Fields & Kyle Matthews vs. Killer Instinct (Mike Stratus & Jake Slater) & Shaun Tempers. Chip Day vs. Josh Stone (with Colt Derringer). Also, two matches to conclude the first round of the Tag Team Title Tournament Bulldog Raines & Bull Buchanan vs. Johnny Swinger & Zero Tolerance, and Micah & Tracy Taylor vs. The Exotic Ones (Simon Sermon & Rick Michaels with Thomas Britain). Bell time is 7:30.

DISCLAIMER: GWH is not liable for any card changes, cancellations, etc. We can only report what is reported to us. As always, we suggest you check with the promotion within 24 hours to verify information posted here.

NOSTALGIA

JANUARY 4, 1888 (WEDNESDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – CLINCH RIFLES HALL (Promoter – Unknown) > Greek George defeated Piero Celi (2-1) / Notes: It was reported that 300 were in attendance for this card.

JANUARY 4, 1918 (FRIDAY) – SAVANNAH, GA – LIBERTY THEATRE (Max Bauman – Promoter) > Strangler Lewis and Wladek Zbyszko wrestled to a draw at 75:00 / Notes: Billy Sandow managed Strangler Lewis. Wladek Zbyszko had vowed he would defeat Strangler Lewis in straight falls, and since he did not, the Savannah Morning News considered this a defeat for him. There must have been some outcry against Greco-Roman rules, as Bauman said he would never use them again, and would only use catch-as-catch-can rules. Lewis was mentioned as the World champion in the newspaper advertisement, but it was likely a misprint as Earl Caddock was the champion at that time, having been awarded the title when Joe Stecher forfeited a second fall to him in Omaha, NE, on April 9, 1917. It was reported that Lewis broke a rib during the match, though it is questionable as to whether this was legitimate.

JANUARY 4, 1929 (FRIDAY) – BOSTON, MA / Notes: Gus Sonnenberg defeated Strangler Lewis to win the World Heavyweight Title.

JANUARY 4, 1934 (THURSDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – EAST ATLANTA ARENA (Promoter – Unknown) > Sammy Miller versus Red Dugan > Eddie Wagner versus Tony Padrone > Son Almand versus George Harben / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found.

JANUARY 4, 1934 (THURSDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – LAKEWOOD HEIGHTS ARENA (Frank Bettis – Promoter) > Leon Fuller versus Roy Stewart > Young Americus defeated Bull Schmidt by disqualification > George Romanoff versus Charlie Harben / Notes: Aside from the match between Young Americus and Bull Schmidt, no documented results for the remaining matches on this card have been found.

JANUARY 4, 1934 (THURSDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – WESTLAKE ARENA (Luke Appling – Promoter) > Leon Fuller versus Red Dugan > Tony Padrone versus Son Almand / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. There was also a boxing match, but no details were provided following the card.

JANUARY 4, 1935 (FRIDAY) – AVONDALE, GA – AVONDALE ARENA (Frank Bettis and Cleve Roby – Promoters) > Teddy Betts versus Charlie Harben > Eddie Wagner versus Bull Schmidt > Chippewa Charlie versus Son Almand / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found.

JANUARY 4, 1937 (MONDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – SPRING STREET ARENA (Frank Bettis and Cleve Roby – Promoters) > John Mauldin defeated Farmer Mack > Teddy Betts versus Doc Poole > John Dameron versus Bad Boy Brown / Notes: Aside from the match between John Mauldin and Farmer Mack, no documented results for the remaining matches on this card have been found.

JANUARY 4, 1946 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Ben Bennicasa defeated Charlie Harben > Rudy Strongberg defeated Wally Greb > Dick Lever and Tarzan White wrestled to a draw > Al Massey & Laverne Baxter defeated Jack LaRue & Vic Emanuel

JANUARY 4, 1952 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Bill Cazzell versus Sonny Kurgis > Eddie Gossett versus Lou Newman > Women’s Match: Babs Wingo versus Mary Horton > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Don McIntyre* versus Babe Zaharias / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. Don McIntyre had been the reigning Southern Heavyweight Champion since he defeated Art Nelson on September 10, 1951, in Augusta.

JANUARY 4, 1954 (MONDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Tom Mahoney – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Midget Match: Victorio Gonzales versus Tuffy McRae > Leo Numa versus Jack Dillon > Frank Taylor versus Red McIntyre > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Ray Villmer* defeated Don McIntyre / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. Ray Villmer had been the reigning Southern Heavyweight Champion since he defeated Don McIntyre on October 16, 1953, in Atlanta.

JANUARY 4, 1957 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Donn Lewin and Red McIntyre wrestled to a draw > Pierre LaSalle defeated Tom Drake > Mark & Donn Lewin defeated Jackie Nichols & Red McIntyre > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Chief Big Heart defeated Jerry Graham* to win title / Notes: Jerry Graham had been the reigning Southern Heavyweight Champion since he defeated Bobby Weaver on December 14, 1956, in Atlanta.

JANUARY 4, 1961 (WEDNESDAY) – COLUMBUS, GA – COLUMBUS SPORTS ARENA (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Adrien Baillargeon defeated Mickey Blassie > Adrien Baillargeon & Tiny Evans defeated Mickey Blassie & Gypsy Joe > Barbed Wire Fence Match: Chief Little Eagle defeated Freddie Blassie

JANUARY 4, 1963 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM [P] (Don McIntyre – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Homer O’Dell defeated Jose Quintero > Mike Paidousis and Lenny Montana wrestled to a draw > Bronko Lubich defeated Chief Little Eagle > The Bat defeated Rito Carreon > World Heavyweight Title Match: Freddie Blassie* and Ray Gunkel wrestled to a draw / Notes: Homer O’Dell managed Bronko Lubich. Les Ruffen was the special referee for the match between Ray Gunkel and Freddie Blassie. Blassie had been billed as World Heavyweight Champion since June 29, 1962. It was announced that John Paul Henning, the Bat, and the Steve Boys would be wrestling on the card on January 11, 1963, and that Bob Ellis would be wrestling on the card on January 18, 1963.

JANUARY 4, 1965 (MONDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Steve Manderson – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Charlie Carr and Silento Rodriguez wrestled to a draw > Bill Dromo defeated Mario Galento by disqualification > Jack & Bob Dalton defeated Joe Scarpa & Sputnik Monroe

JANUARY 4, 1966 (TUESDAY) – MACON, GA – MACON CITY AUDITORIUM (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Johnny King defeated Cousin Alfred > Ken Fryer defeated Rip Carson by disqualification > Eric & Karl Von Brauner defeated Billy & Bad Boy Hines / Notes: Saul Weingeroff managed Eric & Karl Von Brauner.

JANUARY 4, 1969 (SATURDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – WQXI STUDIOS (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > The Assassins defeated Dick Steinborn & Mario Galento > The Professional defeated the Blue Destroyer / Notes: This was taped for the “Atlanta TV Wrestling” television program hosted by Ed Capral. During the match between the Professional and the Blue Destroyer, the Pro removed the Destroyer’s mask to identify him as Gene Kiniski. Kiniski explained to Capral that he wanted to test the Pro without his NWA World Heavyweight Title on the line. Kiniski had been the reigning champion since he defeated Lou Thesz on January 7, 1966, in St. Louis, MO. Jack Crawford appeared on the program and announced he was managing Dale Lewis.

JANUARY 4, 1972 (TUESDAY) – MACON, GA – MACON COLISEUM (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > The Red Demon defeated Derrell Cochran > Dick Steinborn defeated Oki Shikina > Women’s Tag Team Match: Debbie Johnson & Jan Sheridan defeated Paula Kaye & the Black Venus > Bob Armstrong & Jimmy Dancing Bear defeated Billy Spears & Buddy Colt by disqualification > Bill Dromo versus Flash Monroe ruled a no contest

JANUARY 4, 1974 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM [P] (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Stan Vachon defeated Bill Dromo > Rasputin defeated Sonny King > The Samoans defeated Roy Lee Welch & Sputnik Monroe > Jerry Lawler defeated Bobby Cash > Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Tim Woods > Bob Armstrong & Robert Fuller defeated Bobby Shane & Stan Vachon > Lights Out Match: Robert Fuller defeated Frank Cochran / Notes: Stan Vachon substituted for Gorgeous George, Jr., to team with Bobby Shane in the match with Bob Armstrong & Robert Fuller. Gary Hart managed Rasputin, Bobby Shane & the Samoans.

JANUARY 4, 1977 (TUESDAY) – MACON, GA – MACON COLISEUM (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Charlie Fulton defeated Mike Stallings > Raymond Rougeau defeated Bill Howard > Black Atlas defeated Killer Brooks > Dick Slater & Abdullah the Butcher defeated Bob Backlund & Mr. Wrestling #2 > Georgia Tag Team Title Match: Ole & Gene Anderson* defeated Thunderbolt Patterson & the Mighty Igor

JANUARY 4, 1978 (WEDNESDAY) – COLUMBUS, GA – COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Raymond Rougeau versus the Invader > Midget Match: Cowboy Lang versus Lord Littlebrook > Tommy Rich versus Pak Song > Tony Atlas versus Abdullah the Butcher > Bob Armstrong, Dick Slater & Mr. Wrestling #2 versus Stan Hansen, Ole Anderson & Jacques Goulet / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. Rock Hunter managed Abdullah the Butcher and Pak Song.

JANUARY 4, 1979 (THURSDAY) – ROME, GA – ROME MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM (Charlie Harben – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Randy Savage versus Dutch Mantell > Tommy Rich versus Stan Hansen > Mr. Wrestling #2 versus the Masked Superstar / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. Raymond Rougeau and Pierre Lefebvre were also advertised.

The information compiled within our daily reports are through the efforts of various contributors, including, but not limited to, Rich Tate, Larry Goodman, Chuck Thornton, Brian Waits, Don Luce, Brian Slack, Fred Hornby, Thomas Bugg, J Michael Kenyon, Steve Yohe, David Williamson, Becky Taylor, John Cannon, Mike Norris, Bobby Simmons, Les Thatcher, Crimson Mask, Dan Masters, Tim Dix, Tim Dills, Jimmie Daniel, Gene Restaino, Shannon Rose, Alan Wojcik, Devin Cutting, and Richard O’Sullivan.

!BANG! TV Report - Awesome Kong Challenges "The Claw" And Johnny Magnum

Courtesy of Dory Funk, Jr.:

Now on !BANG! TV watch the Number One Woman Wrestler in the world Awesome Kong (As ranked by Pro-Wrestling Illustrated Magazine) challenges "The Claw" Claudia Reiff for the Funking Conservatory Women's Championship.

Awesome Kong takes her toll on !BANG! TV as she hits "The Claw" with the hardest of chops since Wahoo McDaniel then unleashes a Devastating Power Bomb first on the Referee, "Stiff Biff" Whitman, then performs a second Power Bomb on "The Claw" and in the aftermath a big splash from the second turnbuckle on Current Funking Conservatory World Champion, Jumbo Elvis Sharp.

Also on !BANG! TV, Awesome Kong gets her "Just Due" when she intimidates Funking Conservatory Florida Champion Johnny Magnum pushing him to the point of retaliation at the end of six man tag team action featuring Dory Funk Jr., Johnny Magnum and Jumbo Elvis sharp vs Shane Chung, Blain Rage and "Stiff Biff" Whitman.

!BANG! TV Produced by Marti Funk is a division of the Funking Conservatory Wrestling School and can be seen at http://www.dory-funk.com.

The Funking Conservatory is the Official American Training Center for all Japan Pro Wrestling.

For Training Schedules and Information Call 352-216-7636

Tickets are now available online for the Next !BANG! TV Taping Sunday February 1st.

Bob "Count Dante" Calhoun Reviews "The Wrestler"

This review may contain spoilers. I’m not quite sure it does per se, but you can probably puzzle out the film’s flow of events by reading this. Proceed at your own risk.

ONE OF THE MOST POIGNANT SCENES in Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler shows Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) making his way through the winding hallways of the “employees only” area of the super market where he works. It’s his first day of manning the deli counter where he will be seen by the public instead of moving boxes in the store’s loading dock. The scene is shot over Rourke’s shoulder, giving you a feeling of first person immediacy rarely captured in cinema. In the soundtrack you can hear the cheers of a crowd. They are faint at first but become louder with every turn down another concrete corridor. There is little to distinguish the backrooms of the super market from those of the arenas where Robinson used to perform. In his head he still hears those cheers although now, he is only going to slice ham and dish up egg salad.

He calls old ladies “spring chicken” and tosses tubs of potato salad at costumers as if they were Hail Mary passes. He works his audience just like he used to in the ring. He uses crowd psychology. He becomes the star of the show. For a moment he almost makes his post-squared circle transition to the quiet life – almost.

Anyone who has ever been in the ring, deserving of that honor or not, knows what “The Ram” is going through here. I have moments, sitting in my cubicle at my new job, where I wonder how I can get back on a bus and back in a concert hall packed with drunks to slug it out with Poontangler. I miss people throwing food at me. None of my new co-workers ever fling a vodka Collins in my eyes. You miss that kind of reaction from people. It gets in your blood.

Randy doesn’t have such appealing options as I do however. He won’t write a book or become a research analyst at a major university. While I always had to keep my dayjob, Randy made his living from the wrestling game. He was a spandex clad superstar in the 1980s but now he’s pissed away whatever cash he earned during his salad days on easy women, cocaine and steroids. Rourke’s portrayal of Robinson is a riff superstar turned crackhead Jake “The Snake” Roberts with Shawn Michaels’ aesthetic and a ghastly detour into Terry Funk country. Randy lives in a trailer. He’s late with the rent. He romances a stripper (Marisa Tomei) but she won’t break the club’s ban on dating costumers for him. His daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) hates his guts. He headlines small time cards in high school gyms for a couple of rolled up bills. With the hopes of making it back into the big time, he gets drawn into an extreme wrestling bout complete with staple guns, thumbtacks, barbed wire and broken glass. He vomits and has a heart attack. He tries to stay away from the ring but he just can’t manage that. By the time he’s driving his beat-up van and rockin’ to Accept’s “Balls to the Wall,” Randy’s balls really are to the wall.

During the film’s final bout, a reunion match with his 80s arch nemesis The Ayatollah (former WCW wrestler Ernest “The Cat” Miller in a surprisingly excellent albeit brief performance), Randy’s opponent remarks, “I forgot how much fun this is!” The Ayatollah now owns a used car lot in Phoenix. Pro wrestling retirement works for him. He uses the fast talking skills that he cultivated to gain audience ire decades earlier to move pre-owned vehicles. The ambitions that he once channeled into the ring are now used to expand his automotive empire. He's allowed himself to forget the rush of being in the ring. The problem for Randy is that he never forgot.

The Wrestler is flawed yet hits so many of the right notes. Rourke manages to be understated while playing someone who is so totally larger than life. I doubt that this will be the kind of comeback for him that John Travolta had with Pulp Fiction. Rourke just looks too strange for more mainstream or diverse roles. After several sessions with the plastic surgeon, his countenance is both puffy and tight. When he has the right role however, as in this film or Sin City, he can be mesmerizing.

Aronofsky and scriptwriter Robert B. Siegel (a former editor of The Onion no less) capture the smalltime wrestling scene with a shocking accuracy. The scenes of wrestlers working out their matches in cramped backrooms were no different from similar scenes at the Fillmore or Transmission during my days with ISW. Before Randy’s match with the Ayatollah, the two veteran grapplers forgo talking over some of the spots – the hallmark of true pros who can call a match to capitalize on the crowd heat as opposed to pre-planning it.

The film’s flaws can be found in its occasional predictability. When I was starting to work on Beer, Blood and Cornmeal, I had toyed with the idea of writing it as a loosely autobiographical work of fiction or roman à clef. The problem with that approach quickly became apparent to me: with fiction I had to generate the dramatic. Somebody had to die or become crippled in the ring. Melodrama and its resulting predictability were always nipping at my heels with fiction. I couldn’t escape it and ultimately, neither could the makers of The Wrestler. In their defense, there were very few places they could realistically take Randy “The Ram” Robinson. For me, giving a factual account of my days with the punk rock wrestling show was a liberating act. Surprisingly, nobody in ISW became crippled in that rickety ring of ours (at least not physically). Somebody should have broken their neck during one of our shows but nobody did. If I had written it that way as a work of fiction, the book would have been scoffed at for being unbelievable.

The Wrestler also features a lot of a topless Marisa Tomei. If you ever watched My Cousin Vinny and wondered what her tough Jersey girl character would look like in the buff, you get your chance to now. Sure, it’s 17 years later now, but it hardly matters. She still looks great and she even peels to the Scorps during one scene. There’s a fair amount of 80s German metal in the soundtrack to The Wrestler. You can't beat that with a figure 4 leglock.

Bob Calhoun AKA Count Dante was an untrained grappler and mad master of ceremonies for the punk rock/lucha promotion Incredibly Strange Wrestling.His book about those years, "Beer, Blood and Cornmeal" (ECW Press) is currently available through Amazon.com and bookstores everywhere.

www.beerbloodandcornmeal.com

SOUTHEASTERN WRESTLING NEWS, NOTES, AND NOSTALGIA: 01/02/2009

Courtesy of GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com:

NEWS and NOTES

World Wrestling Entertainment’s RAW/ECW crew will be at the Bank Atlantic Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL, tonight. Advertised: John Cena defends the WWE World Heavyweight Title against Randy Orton. Also advertised: Rey Mysterio, Shawn Michaels, Kane, Matt Hardy, CM Punk, Kofi Kingston, Santino Marella, Cody Rhodes, William Regal, Beth Phoenix, Cryme Tyme, John Morrison, and the Miz. Bell time is 7:30 PM.

Tickets for the following WWE events go on sale Saturday: February 1, in Huntsville, AL, at the Von Braun Civic Center; February 2, in St. Louis, MO, at the Scottrade Center; February 22, in Asheville, NC, at the Asheville Civic Center; and February 27, in Long Island, NY, at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

WWE has announced an event for February 27, with the SmackDown crew at the Cornwall Civic Complex in Cornwall, ON.

NWA Prime Time returns to the Prime Time Arena, at 5000 Burnham Blvd. in Columbus, GA, tonight. Advertised: Deathrow & Marty Jannetty vs. Travis Sawyer (with Tony Lucassio) & Mr. Hughes. Shaun Tempers vs. Colt Derringer. Bull Buchanan & Bulldog Raines & Micah Taylor vs. Johnny Swinger & Zero Tolerance & PTPW Champion Iceberg. Midget match, Enigma vs. Little Kane. Two Opening Round Matches in the PTPW Tag Team Tournament, Chip Day & Kyle Matthews vs. Killer Instinct (Mike Stratus & Jake Slater), and David Young & Chris Stevens vs. Ace Rockwell & Truitt Fields. Bell time is 7:30. For tickets call (706) 570-3978.

Showtime All-Star Wrestling presents a television taping tonight at the SAW Mill (1214-B Louisville Highway) in Millersville, TN. The advertised main event will be a SAW International Heavyweight Title match, Kid Kash (champion) vs. Flash Flanagan. Bootcamp Match, “Boogie Woogie Boy” Gary Valiant vs. “Maniac” Marc Anthony. High Society (Chris Michaels & Sean Casey with The Freak Squad) defend the SAW Tag Team Titles. “OMG” Rick Santel (with Paul Adams) vs. “Livewire” Nikki Vaughn. Jesse Emerson vs. Sigmon. PGWA Title match, Tracy Taylor (champion) vs. Josiane. Plus: Arrick “The Dragon” Andrews, Andy Douglas, Chase Stevens, Jon Michael, Drew Haskins, Chrisjen Hayme, Hammerjack, and the debut of Vordell Walker. Bell time is 8pm.

Action Packed Wrestling will be at the APW Arena in Chester, SC, tonight.

Alternative Pro Wrestling will be at the Royston Gym in Royston, GA, tonight.

The Southern Wrestling Federation will be at the SWF Arena in Tullahoma, TN, tonight.

The United States Wrestling Organization will be at the Stadium Inn in Nashville, TN, tonight.

The Universal Wrestling Council will be at the National Guard Armory in Snow Hill, NC, tonight.

The following information in regard to birthdays and memoriams has been compiled from various sources. In the event you can let us know of any omissions or corrections, please email to contributions@georgiawrestlinghistory.com.

Today In Memoriam: Chief Lone Eagle (81, 1989) and Jim Casey (87, 2000).

DISCLAIMER: GWH is not liable for any card changes, cancellations, etc. We can only report what is reported to us. As always, we suggest you check with the promotion within 24 hours to verify information posted here.

NOSTALGIA

JANUARY 2, 1929 (WEDNESDAY) Notes: John Contos was injured in a severe automobile accident near his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA, and never returned to promoting in Atlanta, thus canceling all events he had scheduled at the time.

JANUARY 2, 1933 (MONDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – HOWELL MILL ARENA (F.P. Owens – Promoter) > Lloyd Brown versus Smitty Anderson > Jack McAdams versus Bill Crussell > John Dameron versus John Mauldin / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found.

JANUARY 2, 1933 (MONDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – NEW COLISEUM (W.K. Carswell – Promoter) > Red McKlusky versus Horace Epting > Tom Mahoney versus Eddie Elzea > Southern Lightweight Title Match: Jack Ross* versus Warren Whitten / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. Jack Ross had been billed as the Southern Lightweight Champion since May 2, 1932.

JANUARY 2, 1934 (TUESDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – BELLWOOD ARENA (Bellwood Athletic Club – Promoters) > Ambrose Cole versus Bull Smith > Tony Padrone versus Harry Nixon > George Harben versus John Mauldin / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found.

JANUARY 2, 1948 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Chief Indio Cherokee defeated Jack Kelly > Paul Stanlee and Bobby Roberts wrestled to a draw > Al Massey & Bibber McCoy defeated Al Galento & Tom Mahoney > Primo Carnera defeated Roland Kirchmeyer / Notes: Bobby Roberts substituted for Nick Carter in the match with Paul Stanlee.

JANUARY 2, 1951 (TUESDAY) – MACON, GA – MACON CITY AUDITORIUM (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Bobby Lane and Red Dugan wrestled to a draw > Women’s Match: Violet Viann defeated Dot Dotson by disqualification > Don McIntyre defeated Honey Boy Hannigan

JANUARY 2, 1953 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Jerry Graham defeated Kola Kwariani > Mayes McLain defeated Mel Meiners > Don & Red McIntyre defeated Jack Steele & Babe Zaharias > Argentina Rocca defeated Gene Stanlee

JANUARY 2, 1956 (MONDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Tom Mahoney – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Jackie Nichols defeated Freddie Blassie* by disqualification / Notes: Freddie Blassie had been the reigning Southern Heavyweight Champion since he defeated Red McIntyre on November 25, 1955, in Atlanta.

JANUARY 2, 1957 (WEDNESDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Tom Mahoney – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Jackie Nichols versus Ike Eakins > Jerry Graham & Jack O’Brien versus Red McIntyre & Chief Big Heart / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found.

JANUARY 2, 1959 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Doug & Johnny Gilbert defeated Jack O’Brien & Ali Bey > Chief Little Eagle defeated Bob Shipp > The Great Bolo defeated Nick Roberts > Southern Heavyweight Title Match: Freddie Blassie defeated Ray Gunkel* to win title / Notes: Ray Gunkel had been the reigning Southern Heavyweight Champion since he defeated Freddie Blassie on November 7, 1958, in Atlanta.

JANUARY 2, 1961 (MONDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Robert McCoy – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Freddie & Mickey Blassie versus Adrien Baillargeon & Tiny Evans > Indian Thong Match: Gypsy Joe versus Chief Little Eagle / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found.

JANUARY 2, 1963 (WEDNESDAY) – COLUMBUS, GA – COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Derrell Cochran defeated Jose Quintero > Mike Paidousis versus Chief Little Eagle ruled a no contest > World Heavyweight Title Match: Freddie Blassie* defeated Rito Carreon / Notes: Freddie Blassie had been billed as World Heavyweight Champion since June 29, 1962.

JANUARY 2, 1965 (SATURDAY) – MARIETTA, GA – LARRY BELL AUDITORIUM (Elmo Chappell – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Joe Scarpa, Billy Hines & Silento Rodriguez versus Chris Averoff, Jack & Bob Dalton > Georgia Heavyweight Title Match (No DQ / No TL): Mario Galento* versus Bill Dromo / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. Mario Galento had been the reigning Georgia Heavyweight Champion since he defeated Sputnik Monroe on November 13, 1964, in Atlanta.

JANUARY 2, 1966 (SUNDAY) – MARIETTA, GA – FRANKLIN DRIVE ARENA (Elmo Chappell – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Johnny King & Derrell Cochran versus Eric & Karl Von Brauner > Ken Hollis versus Chin Lee > Dale Lewis versus Mario Galento / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. Saul Weingeroff managed Eric & Karl Von Brauner.

JANUARY 2, 1968 (TUESDAY) – MACON, GA – MACON CITY AUDITORIUM (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Oki Shikina defeated Corsica Jean > Midget Tag Team Match: Lord Littlebrook & Cowboy Lang defeated Little Bruiser & the Mighty Atom > Mario Galento & the Kentuckian defeated the Gauchos

JANUARY 2, 1970 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM [P] (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Bill Kane and the Spoiler wrestled to a draw > Joe Scarpa defeated Chati Yokuchi > The Assassins defeated Don Curtis & Doug Gilbert > Alberto & Ramon Torres defeated Paul DeMarco & Buddy Colt > Homer O’Dell defeated Leo Garibaldi > El Mongol defeated Nick Bockwinkel / Notes: It was reported that this card was near a sellout crowd. Doug Gilbert was billed as a mystery partner to Don Curtis for the match with the Assassins. Homer O’Dell managed DeMarco & Buddy Colt. Leo Garibaldi, Eddie Smith, and Corsica Jean were credited as being referees for this card. It was announced that Les Wolff would be wrestling in Atlanta soon.

JANUARY 2, 1971 (SATURDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – WQXI STUDIOS (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Bob Griffin and Michel Dubois wrestled to a draw > Bobby Shane defeated Buddy Colt by disqualification > Jack & Jim Dalton defeated Mr. Ito & the Great Ota / Notes: This was taped for the “Atlanta TV Wrestling” television program hosted by Ed Capral. Homer O’Dell managed Buddy Colt.

JANUARY 2, 1971 (SATURDAY) – GRIFFIN, GA – GRIFFIN-BARNESVILLE SPORTS PALACE (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) Notes: It was reported that the Assassins injured Chief Little Eagle.

JANUARY 2, 1973 (TUESDAY) – MACON, GA – MACON COLISEUM (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Jack Evans and Roy Lee Welch wrestled to a draw > Women’s Match: Joyce Grable defeated Peggy Patterson > Koa Tiki defeated Duke Keomuka > Hiro Matsuda defeated Don Curtis > Bob Armstrong & Eddie Graham defeated Sputnik & Rocket Monroe

JANUARY 2, 1974 (WEDNESDAY) – COLUMBUS, GA – COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM (Fred Ward – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Tom Jones versus the Zebra Kid > Sputnik Monroe versus Rasputin > Bobby Cash & Bill Dromo versus the Samoans > Women’s Match: Toni Rose versus Sylvia Hackney > Leon Ogle versus J.C. Dykes > Eddie Graham & Robert Fuller versus Bobby Shane & Gorgeous George, Jr. > Bob Armstrong & Mr. Wrestling #2 versus the Super Infernos / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. J.C. Dykes managed the Super Infernos. Gary Hart managed Rasputin, Bobby Shane & Gorgeous George, Jr., & the Samoans.

JANUARY 2, 1976 (FRIDAY) – ATLANTA, GA – ATLANTA MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM [P] (Paul Jones – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Skandor Akbar defeated Tony Garea > Les Thornton & Tony Charles defeated Luke Graham & Otto Von Heller > Jay Strongbow and Moondog Mayne wrestled to a draw > Brass Knuckles Match: Mr. Wrestling #2 defeated Rock Hunter > Georgia Heavyweight Title Match: Bob Armstrong defeated the Spoiler* by disqualification > Dick Slater defeated Abdullah the Butcher by disqualification / Notes: Gary Hart managed the Spoiler.

JANUARY 2, 1978 (MONDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Charlie Harben – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Randy Savage versus Tommy Rich > Midget Match: Cowboy Lang versus Lord Littlebrook > Bob Armstrong versus Jacques Goulet > Tony Atlas versus Abdullah the Butcher > Ole Anderson & Stan Hansen versus Dick Slater & Mr. Wrestling #2 / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. Rock Hunter managed Abdullah the Butcher and Pak Song.

JANUARY 2, 1982 (SATURDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – WILLIAM BELL AUDITORIUM (Charlie Harben – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Jimmy Garvin defeated Ricky Harris > Buzz Sawyer versus Mr. Wrestling #2 > Bob Armstrong defeated the Great Kabuki > Brad Armstrong, Leroy Brown & Big Red defeated Kevin Sullivan, Austin Idol & the Super Destroyer > Strap Match: Tommy Rich defeated the Masked Superstar / Notes: Buzz Sawyer and Mr. Wrestling #2 were scheduled to wrestle each other, but no results were reported after the card. Gary Hart managed the Great Kabuki.

JANUARY 2, 1983 (SUNDAY) – AUGUSTA, GA – RICHMOND COUNTY CIVIC CENTER (Charlie Harben – Promoter / Georgia Championship Wrestling) > Joe Lightfoot versus the Super Destroyer > Tito Santana & the Masked Superstar versus the Moondogs > Tommy Rich versus the Iron Sheik > Paul Orndorff versus Ivan Koloff > Stan Hansen & Butch Reed versus Ole Anderson & Buzz Sawyer / Notes: No documented results for this card have been found. J.J. Dillon managed the Moondogs.

The information compiled within our daily reports are through the efforts of various contributors, including, but not limited to, Rich Tate, Larry Goodman, Chuck Thornton, Brian Waits, Don Luce, Brian Slack, Fred Hornby, Thomas Bugg, J Michael Kenyon, Steve Yohe, David Williamson, Becky Taylor, John Cannon, Mike Norris, Bobby Simmons, Les Thatcher, Crimson Mask, Dan Masters, Tim Dix, Tim Dills, Jimmie Daniel, Gene Restaino, Shannon Rose, Alan Wojcik, Devin Cutting, and Richard O’Sullivan.

ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP® CONFIRMS FULL CARD FOR UFC 93: FRANKLIN VS. HENDERSON

Courtesy of the Ultimate Fighting Championship:

For Immediate Release:
January 2, 2009

STACKED CARD HITS THE O2 DUBLIN, IRELAND, JANUARY 17, 2009

Las Vegas, Nevada (USA) – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® organization has confirmed the stacked 10-bout fight card for UFC 93: FRANKLIN vs. HENDERSON. The UFC®’s first ever event in the Republic of Ireland emanates from the brand new O2 in Dublin.

In the main event, two former world champions collide as former UFC® Middleweight king Rich Franklin faces former two-division title-holder Dan Henderson in a light heavyweight battle which will set the tone of the 205lbs division in 2009.

In the semi-final attraction, UFC Hall of Famer and ‘godfather of ground and pound’ Mark Coleman faces highly regarded Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua in a rematch of their stunning 2006 bout in Japan.

Rounding up the main card is a mouthwatering collision between highly experienced welterweight warriors Marcus Davis, 20-5, and Chris ‘Lights Out’ Lytle, 36-16-4. It is a fight the pair demanded be made after they thrilled fans with their winning performances at UFC 89 in October.

Davis, the Bangor, Maine, based ‘Irish Hand Grenade’ said: “Chris told me when we were both on the UFC 89 card that he was going to call me out in the Octagon after his fight. I said ‘go for it.’ This is a fight which can’t help but be exciting, and we both think the winner will crack the top 5. And as an Irish American who grew up hearing stories of all the great boxing fights which took place in Ireland, I’m so happy to be fighting in Dublin.

“When I left boxing for MMA, I gave up on my dream of fighting in Belfast or Dublin but I fought in Belfast at UFC 72 (June 2007) and now I am fighting in Dublin. I would have fought anyone to get on this card and I promise the Irish fans I’ll give them the fight of the night.”

Lytle added: “Marcus and I both come to throw bombs. I don’t think this will be the fight of the night, I think it will be the fight of the year.”

Two fighters who will have something to say about that are exciting middleweights Alan Belcher, 12-4, and UFC newcomer Denis Kang, who also face-off at UFC 93.

Known for his aggressive, attacking style, Biloxi, Mississippi's Belcher is coming off a three round win over Ed Herman while Octagon™ debutant Kang arrives in the UFC with a huge international reputation. The Canadian brings a 30-10-1-2 MMA record to the UFC.

Also heading to the Emerald Isle is UFC pioneer Jeremy Horn. The 33-year-old Salt Lake City native has amassed an incredible record of 80-15-5 during his 13-year mixed martial arts career and now he takes on Brazilian Jiu-jitsu expert Rousimar Palhares. The Brazilian, 8-2, has won six of his last seven bouts and is looking to rebound immediately after his recent point loss to Dan Henderson.

Both 185lbers are looking for an impressive win to get back within striking range of the UFC Middleweight World Title.

The undercard for UFC 92: FRANKLIN V HENDERSON features five outstanding match-ups.

First, German Dennis Siver, 11-6, and Nate Mohr, 8-5, throwdown in a lightweight contest; then light heavyweights ‘Ravishing Red’ Eric Schafer, 12-3-2, and Brazilian Antonio ‘Samuray’ Mendes, 14-3, collide in a potentially fascinating battle of submission specialists.

The 10,000 Irish fans who sold out the O2 within two weeks are already excited by the prospect of Dublin’s own undefeated welterweight Thomas ‘the Tank’ Egan, 6-0, taking on another unbeaten Octagon newcomer in John Hathaway.

Egan, who at 20 is the youngest fighter currently on the UFC roster, arrives in the world’s elite MMA organization with his countrymen predicting big things of the fluent Gaelic speaker. But Englishman Hathaway is unbeaten in 10 professional fights and is a well rounded fighter with big ambitions of his own.

Rounding up the UFC’s historic first event in Eire is a light heavyweight bout between Ivan Serati, 10-2, and 14-1 Tomasz Drwal and, finally, Alexandre Barros, 13-5, and Martin Kampmann 13-1, will look to impress in their welterweight bout.

About UFC 93

The world’s most exciting sport returns to the Emerald Isle as the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organization opens up 2009 with a star-powered card at the O2 Dublin in Dublin, Ireland on January 17, 2009.

In the light heavyweight main event, former two-division world champion Dan Henderson will collide with former UFC middleweight king Rich Franklin in three-round war which will set the tone for the 205lbs division in 2009. Then, 2005 PRIDE® Grand Prix Champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua returns to the Octagon™ to throw down with UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman in a rematch MMA fans thought they would never see. The pair last met in Japan in 2006, with the legendary Coleman pulling off a stunning upset by breaking Rua’s arm in the first round.

UFC 93 will be available on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, Bell ExpressVu, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.95 for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available); UFC fans also have the option to watch UFC 93 pay-per-view live from Dublin, Ireland at 3pm EST/12Noon PST.

UFC 93 will be available exclusively live on Setanta Sports in the UK and Ireland.

About The Ultimate Fighting Championship

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® is the world’s leading professional mixed martial arts organization and offers the premier series of MMA sports events. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces over twelve live pay-per-view events annually that are distributed residentially through North American cable and satellite providers including iNDEMAND Networks, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN Entertainment, Bell ExpressVU, SaskTel Max™, Shaw Pay-Per-View, Viewers Choice, and WOWOW in Japan, and via the Internet worldwide on Yahoo! Sports, and commercially through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. and Canadastar in Canada. In addition to its North American distribution, UFC programming is distributed in over 100 countries and territories throughout the world. For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit ufc.com or uk.ufc.com or ufcespanol.com.

Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa™, The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC or other respective owners.

Viacom Confirms Agreement In Principle With Time Warner Cable, Despite Ads Today Suggesting The Contrary In New York, Cleveland, Orlando, Dallas, And

Courtesy of MTV Networks:

Viacom Confirms Agreement In Principle With Time Warner Cable, Despite Ads Today Suggesting The Contrary In New York, Cleveland, Orlando, Dallas, And Raleigh

NEW YORK, Jan. 2 -- Despite the presence of ads today suggesting its channels have been pulled from the Time Warner Cable service, Viacom today confirmed that it has an agreement in principle with Time Warner Cable to renew carriage for Viacom's MTV Networks, and that MTV Networks' channels remain available on Time Warner Cable. Due to the timing of the agreement and the New Year's Day holiday, Viacom was unable to pull the previously placed ads, including print ads in New York, NY; Cleveland, OH; Orlando, FL; Dallas, TX and Raleigh, NC.

Philippe Dauman, President and CEO of Viacom said, "We apologize to Time Warner Cable and our viewers for any inconvenience or confusion these ads have caused. We look forward to continuing our positive and productive partnership with Time Warner Cable well into the future."

Alan Wojcik Reviews Ring Roast Of The Iron Sheik DVD

The concept of the roast goes back decades to the Hollywood stars like Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Buddy Hackett & Don Rickles where they would gather for a dinner and throw comedic insults at their honoree. Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Club does one for their Man of the Year usually dressing them in drag (once given to "Macho Man" Randy Savage.) Well the people who run Kayfabe Commentaries decided to add the roast to professional wrestling. They chose former WWF World Heavyweight & Tag Team champion The Iron Sheik (AKA Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri) as their initial honoree on October 10, 2008. With so much controversy surrounding what happened that evening (and I will get to that in a moment) www.kayfabecommentaries.com released it as Ring Roast I. The event was emceed by wrestling journalist legend Bill Apter. Here is the list of people that took the stage to roast the Sheik: wrestlers King Kong Bundy, King Kaluha, Tom Brandi, Don Muraco, Nikolai Volkoff, Brian Blair, Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissy, Bob Backlund plus comics Don Jamieson, Jimmy Graham, Mike Maher (also a wrestling manager,) Mike Morse and lastly the Sheik’s advisor Eric Simms.

I will not roast the Iron Sheik, believe me everyone on this DVD does a good job of it. I have never been a fan of the Sheik as a wrestler and as a person. My dislike for him dates back to a 1987 arrest on the side of the Garden State Parkway when he broke kayfabe in a huge way, being busted for drugs with his good guy counterpart "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. As someone who has covered wrestling for years I know the kayfabe word doesn’t mean much anymore; but in the era the Sheik worked in, kayfabe was gospel. Since I am not an Iron Sheik follower I have no idea why the Sheik dislikes former Killer Bee & Hillsborough County (FL) Commissioner Blair. Someone told me it stems from the Sheik’s time on the Howard Stern show which is only on satellite radio. Seems he is a bitter person and is taking it out on his former WWF colleagues. I am sure the loss of a child in a violent way scars you forever. Now that I have talked about the Sheik, let’s address the star jerk on this DVD, comedian Jimmy Graham. During his roasting time he takes pot shots at the late Adrian Adonis and Owen Hart. The latter got him a near beatdown from the very intoxicated Scott Hall who charges from the audience. While Hall was in the wrong for his actions I don’t think making fun of a wrestler who fell to his death is good comedy. While I understand it’s a roast there has to be a decency line in the proverbial sand you don’t cross. Graham does it though thankfully producer Sean Oliver deletes it from the main feature.

The second disc holds some pre-roast footage, the entire Scott Hall saga and the aftermath of the Blair-Sheik confrontation. Both incidents show Sean Oliver has a career waiting in contract negotaions and mediation. The DVD is a good item for someone who got a gift card and can’t think of something to buy. Log onto www.kayfabecommentaries.com for this and other DVD’s. plus you can check out an on-demand item with former WWE office member Rene Goulet.

http://alanwojcik.com

!BANG! TV Taping Results From New Years Eve

Courtesy of Dory Funk, Jr.:

Every Match Inside a Steel Cage
December 31st New Year's Eve

Return Six Man Tag Team Match
Dory Funk Jr., Johnny Magnum and Jumbo Elvis Sharp
VS
Blain Rage, Shane Chung and Stiff Biff Whitman:
Johnny Magnum and Shane Chung Climb to the outside of the Cage hanging on like flies as Blain Rage charges Funk who steps aside causing Blain Rage to batter-ram Johnny Magnum who falls off the cage landing with both feet on the floor just ahead of Shane Chung.
Winners - Dory Funk, Johnny Magnum and Shane Chung

After the finish of the match a fight broke out between the second official (Door Guard), Diamond Derek Ian and Johnny Romano over an entrance issue into the cage after the match was over. Both men are under review for their conduct on !BANG! TV.

Women's Championship
Claudia "The Claw" Reiff vs Melissa Coates:
Melissa Coates becomes over confident as she showboats a cover of The Claw only to become victim to a reverse arm and leg backslide. Winner and Still Woman's Champion, "The Claw" Claudia Reiff

Funking Conservatory World Championship Match
Blain Rage (Champion) vs Shane Chung:
Shane Chung hits Blain Rage with the Kitchen Sink, a G. T. S., the Running Lariat, The Hail Mary, The Avatar Spinebuster and a Spinning Power Bomb for the Count of Three. New Funking Conservatory World Champion, Shane Chung. Blain Rage is reduced to the Triple Crown Champion

Premium !BANG! TV Championship
Three Way Elimination Match
Johnny Romano vs Stiff Biff Whitman vs Elvis Sharp:
Jumbo Elvis wins over both men at the same time with a Figure 4 Leg Lock and Small Package for simultaneous submission and pin-fall. Elvis Sharp failed to make the weight for the Light Heavyweight Championship however did become new Premium !BANG! TV Champion

The Funking Conservatory is the Official American Training Center for all Japan Pro Wrestling.

For Training Schedules and Information Call 352-216-7636 or visit http://www.dory-funk.com.

From the Funking Conservatory Wrestling School in Ocala, Florida, we wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Time Warner Cable, Viacom Reach Agreement In Principle

Courtesy of Viacom:

Networks Will Continue to Be Available On All Time Warner Cable Systems

NEW YORK, Jan. 1 -- Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) and Viacom (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) jointly announced this morning that they have reached an agreement in principle to renew carriage for Viacom's MTV Networks. The companies expect to finalize the details of the agreement over the next several days.

Glenn Britt, President and CEO of Time Warner Cable said, "We are pleased that our customers will continue to be able to watch the programming they enjoy on MTV Networks. We are sorry they had to endure a day of public disagreement as we worked through this negotiation."

Philippe Dauman, President and CEO of Viacom said, "We've been partners with Time Warner Cable for a long time, and we're happy to be renewing that partnership for the benefit of their customers and our loyal viewers. It's gratifying that we could reach an agreement that benefits not only our audiences but that is also in the best interest of both of our companies."