Post by Head Booker on Dec 26, 2007 22:19:59 GMT -6
Once again, ripped from Inside Pulse.
In some sad news, Bart Gunn's son Mike Polchlopek III -- 19 years old -- died on Wednesday from an accidental shooting that took place a few days earlier when his friend was apparently cleaning a gun that went off, according to WrestlingObserver.com. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Polchlopek. (Don't know why it's referred to as a "sad wrestling death", but there ya go).
In happier news, also from WrestlingObserver.com, Magnum T.A. (Terry Allen) and his wife Courtney were able to bring their twins home from the hospital where they had been for about seven weeks after being born premature in late October. Congratulations!
There's an article on JBL and the Tribute to the Troops at the Miami Herald. The New York Daily News and other papers have also written articles about the event, which is always a very heart-warming show each year.
Scott Hall appeared an an Insane Clown Posse-promoted wrestling show in Michigan on Friday night, according to PWInsider.com.
For a story on possible civil action against the Hogan family by the parents of John Graziano, click here.
PWInsider.com is reporting that WWE has signed Gran Apolo (former TNA wrestler and member of LAX) to a developmental deal after a recent tryout.
This comes the way of the Observer's December 24th issue.
WWE continues to modify their WrestleMania 24 plans, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The proposed Triple H vs Batista match has been shelved and now Randy Orton vs Triple H is back on the cards for the Raw main event, although a three-way Randy Orton vs Triple H vs Batista bout has been discussed as well. Smackdown's main event is still almost certainly going to be Edge vs The Undertaker and there is talk of using some special gimmick for it, possibly a Hell in the Cell to play off of the Survivor Series finish. However, since they are planning to use the Elimination Chamber for the No Way Out main event, they might not want to bring back the Cell again so soon afterwards. One plan that is set in stone is the winner of the Royal Rumble getting an automatic WrestleMania title shot against his own brand's champion, with the other brand's main challengers then competing in the Elimination Chamber for the other spot. However, there is a better chance than originally thought that John Cena might be able to appear at WrestleMania in some capacity. He has been working exceptionally hard to get back into peak condition after his surgery, with Stephanie McMahon and Brian Gerwitz holding out hope that he might at least be able to show up for a run-in to continue his program with Orton.
Bobby Heenan underwent surgery on 14th December to have bone taken from his femur and shin and used to reconstruct his jaw, which had been destroyed by the radiation therapy treatment he received whilst fighting throat cancer. The surgery took twelve hours and the doctors found that his jaw was actually broken in two places, which had not been previously diagnosed despite the jaw causing him so much pain in recent years. Heenan hasn't been able to eat solids for a long time, living off of protein shakes and losing a considerable amount of weight. He was placed into a medically induced coma after the surgery for a few days to help ease his recovery.
Matt Hardy was hospitalised from the 8th to 12th December due to an infection stemming from his appendectomy. 40ccs of fluid were drained from the abcess and he was given a large dose of antibiotics.
Stone Cold has legally changed his name from Steve Williams to Steve Austin.
Rob Van Dam made his debut as a stand-up comedian at an improv show in southern California recently. Booker T was also in attendance, though he didn't perform. Van Dam and Booker are set to headline the PWA show in Houston on the 28th December, which will be Van Dam's first post-WWE indie match.
Montel Vontavious Porter and Rey Mysterio have been trying to get Norman Smiley hired as a wrestler or road agent. Smiley was one of the people who helped MVP get started early in his career.
The Boogeyman is now being used sparingly as WWE feels the act is getting tired. Being on ECW also limits his uses, since his main supporters on the creative team are Brian Gerwitz and Ed Koskey. ECW is under the thumb of Dusty Rhodes, who favours more wrestling and less comedy skits.
According to the Record newspaper from Mexico City, WWE are back in discussions with Mistico as they continue to prepare for their expansion into Central and South America. A Smackdown/ECW tour headlined by Rey Mysterio is booked for Mexico on the 8th, 9th and 10th February.
WWE also has two shows booked for Japan in February and Bob Sapp is currently planned to appear on them. Sapp has still not signed a permanent deal with WWE and this is little more than using a local attraction to help stir up interest in the shows, similar to how Akebono has been booked by them in Japan on previous tours.
Given all the travel plans for February, the TV tapings will be changed somewhat to avoid the costs of taping overseas. Raw on 4th February, from Austin, TX, will be taped a few hours ahead of time for broadcast at the usual time, with the following week's show taped immediately afterwards. Smackdown and ECW will tape on the 5th February as usual but will then tape the following week's shows on the 6th in Houston.
Lacey Von Erich, Kerry's daughter, has had her name removed from the Florida Championship Wrestling website. Rumours had been circulating that she had been released because she was not picking the business up quickly enough.
Ashley Massaro is cleared to return to WWE TV following the end of Survivor, with the last episode of the season having aired on the 16th December.
Jeff Lewis was given an OVW tryout last week. He was the Shawn Michaels impersonator from the 3rd December episode of Raw.
Glen Gilberti and D-Lo Brown are now working as road agents for TNA.
Some details on the upcoming movie The Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke. His character is a former major wrestling star from the '70s and '80s who is now working in a supermarket and doing weekend indie gigs. He suffers a heart attack whilst competing in a hardcore match and doctors say he should never wrestle again. However, he gets a chance to wrestle his biggest opponent from his glory days, an Iron Sheik knock-off called The Ayatollah, at a reunion show and goes for it. Other wrestlers in the script include Lex Lethal, Booker D and Shawn McPride.
Lastly, RVD has a blog up and apparently it's interesting.
In some sad news, Bart Gunn's son Mike Polchlopek III -- 19 years old -- died on Wednesday from an accidental shooting that took place a few days earlier when his friend was apparently cleaning a gun that went off, according to WrestlingObserver.com. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Polchlopek. (Don't know why it's referred to as a "sad wrestling death", but there ya go).
In happier news, also from WrestlingObserver.com, Magnum T.A. (Terry Allen) and his wife Courtney were able to bring their twins home from the hospital where they had been for about seven weeks after being born premature in late October. Congratulations!
There's an article on JBL and the Tribute to the Troops at the Miami Herald. The New York Daily News and other papers have also written articles about the event, which is always a very heart-warming show each year.
Scott Hall appeared an an Insane Clown Posse-promoted wrestling show in Michigan on Friday night, according to PWInsider.com.
For a story on possible civil action against the Hogan family by the parents of John Graziano, click here.
PWInsider.com is reporting that WWE has signed Gran Apolo (former TNA wrestler and member of LAX) to a developmental deal after a recent tryout.
This comes the way of the Observer's December 24th issue.
WWE continues to modify their WrestleMania 24 plans, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The proposed Triple H vs Batista match has been shelved and now Randy Orton vs Triple H is back on the cards for the Raw main event, although a three-way Randy Orton vs Triple H vs Batista bout has been discussed as well. Smackdown's main event is still almost certainly going to be Edge vs The Undertaker and there is talk of using some special gimmick for it, possibly a Hell in the Cell to play off of the Survivor Series finish. However, since they are planning to use the Elimination Chamber for the No Way Out main event, they might not want to bring back the Cell again so soon afterwards. One plan that is set in stone is the winner of the Royal Rumble getting an automatic WrestleMania title shot against his own brand's champion, with the other brand's main challengers then competing in the Elimination Chamber for the other spot. However, there is a better chance than originally thought that John Cena might be able to appear at WrestleMania in some capacity. He has been working exceptionally hard to get back into peak condition after his surgery, with Stephanie McMahon and Brian Gerwitz holding out hope that he might at least be able to show up for a run-in to continue his program with Orton.
Bobby Heenan underwent surgery on 14th December to have bone taken from his femur and shin and used to reconstruct his jaw, which had been destroyed by the radiation therapy treatment he received whilst fighting throat cancer. The surgery took twelve hours and the doctors found that his jaw was actually broken in two places, which had not been previously diagnosed despite the jaw causing him so much pain in recent years. Heenan hasn't been able to eat solids for a long time, living off of protein shakes and losing a considerable amount of weight. He was placed into a medically induced coma after the surgery for a few days to help ease his recovery.
Matt Hardy was hospitalised from the 8th to 12th December due to an infection stemming from his appendectomy. 40ccs of fluid were drained from the abcess and he was given a large dose of antibiotics.
Stone Cold has legally changed his name from Steve Williams to Steve Austin.
Rob Van Dam made his debut as a stand-up comedian at an improv show in southern California recently. Booker T was also in attendance, though he didn't perform. Van Dam and Booker are set to headline the PWA show in Houston on the 28th December, which will be Van Dam's first post-WWE indie match.
Montel Vontavious Porter and Rey Mysterio have been trying to get Norman Smiley hired as a wrestler or road agent. Smiley was one of the people who helped MVP get started early in his career.
The Boogeyman is now being used sparingly as WWE feels the act is getting tired. Being on ECW also limits his uses, since his main supporters on the creative team are Brian Gerwitz and Ed Koskey. ECW is under the thumb of Dusty Rhodes, who favours more wrestling and less comedy skits.
According to the Record newspaper from Mexico City, WWE are back in discussions with Mistico as they continue to prepare for their expansion into Central and South America. A Smackdown/ECW tour headlined by Rey Mysterio is booked for Mexico on the 8th, 9th and 10th February.
WWE also has two shows booked for Japan in February and Bob Sapp is currently planned to appear on them. Sapp has still not signed a permanent deal with WWE and this is little more than using a local attraction to help stir up interest in the shows, similar to how Akebono has been booked by them in Japan on previous tours.
Given all the travel plans for February, the TV tapings will be changed somewhat to avoid the costs of taping overseas. Raw on 4th February, from Austin, TX, will be taped a few hours ahead of time for broadcast at the usual time, with the following week's show taped immediately afterwards. Smackdown and ECW will tape on the 5th February as usual but will then tape the following week's shows on the 6th in Houston.
Lacey Von Erich, Kerry's daughter, has had her name removed from the Florida Championship Wrestling website. Rumours had been circulating that she had been released because she was not picking the business up quickly enough.
Ashley Massaro is cleared to return to WWE TV following the end of Survivor, with the last episode of the season having aired on the 16th December.
Jeff Lewis was given an OVW tryout last week. He was the Shawn Michaels impersonator from the 3rd December episode of Raw.
Glen Gilberti and D-Lo Brown are now working as road agents for TNA.
Some details on the upcoming movie The Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke. His character is a former major wrestling star from the '70s and '80s who is now working in a supermarket and doing weekend indie gigs. He suffers a heart attack whilst competing in a hardcore match and doctors say he should never wrestle again. However, he gets a chance to wrestle his biggest opponent from his glory days, an Iron Sheik knock-off called The Ayatollah, at a reunion show and goes for it. Other wrestlers in the script include Lex Lethal, Booker D and Shawn McPride.
Lastly, RVD has a blog up and apparently it's interesting.
