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Legends Honored at The 43rd Annual Cauliflower Alley Club Reunion

Thursday, June 12th, 2008

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Steve “Dr. Death” Williams, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and Jim Ross at the Cauliflower Alley Club Reunion, June 10, 2008, in Las

LAS VEGAS - The 43rd Annual Cauliflower Alley Club Reunion came to an end Wednesday night with their traditional Awards Banquet. It was a historic night for the CAC; not only were men like Jim Ross and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in attendance for the first time, but Bret Hart and his father Stu became the only father and son duo to both win the prestigious Iron Mike Mazurki award.

Calling it the “biggest honour I have ever had,” the Hitman took to the stage at the Riviera Hotel Convention Centre to the sound of a rousing standing ovation to receive the award. The Iron Mike Mazurki Award recognizes not just greatness in wrestling, but in other areas as well. Hart’s recovery from a debilitating stroke and work on the musical Aladdin more than qualified him for the award. He told the crowd he had actually met Mike Mazurki once when he was just a teenager working the doors at his father’s shows. Hitman, Patterson, Dr. Death headline CAC awards

The Hardys and Me, More the Hardys than Me

Friday, April 25th, 2008

Story of Marty Garneron his Myspace:

THE STORY OF MATT, JEFF, SHANNON, SHANE, AND THE FORGOTTEN BEETLE

My name is Marty Garner, and my friends call me The Forgotten Beetle. I’ve been in the wrestling business for 15 years now. I’ve worked under the name of Cham Pain on the Independent Wrestling Circuit for the majority of that time. I have appeared on ECW, WCW, and made numerous appearances on WWE. I am Cham_Pain.jpgwriting this because I am at a crossroads in my life. I am no longer satisfied working Independent shows for little or no compensation. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love the business and that is why I do this crazy thing we call Professional Wrestling. You see, I don’t want to go to my grave without working for one of the major companies full time. That’s why I need your help.

In 1991, I was working out in a small gym in Vass, NC when I met this young, musclebound kid by the name of Matt Hardy. He was telling me that he had a wrestling federation based out of his backyard. He asked me to come check them out. I showed up one Saturday while they were having some matches and almost chuckled. They had a round trampoline with four small trees around it for ring posts and garden hoses for the ropes. There was black plastic enclosing a sizable area with the “ring” in the middle, which made up the so-called “arena”. Matt’s younger brother, Jeff, had painted graffiti on the plastic arena walls. There was a young kid who was only 11 years old, and really small. The kid was the referee who stayed outside the ring calling the match, who you may now know as Shannon Moore. After a little encouragement, Matt talked me into working a match. It was the most horrible match anyone had seen. Matt came out in baseball pants, no shirt and barefooted, wearing a Jason mask. I came out wearing paper thin, white sweat pants, a pink tank top, a do-rag and shades, and of course, my white tube socks. After I defeated my opponent, that was it….I was hooked. If wrestling was crack, I’d be Pookie from the movie New Jack City.

After a short period of time, we met an older, burley, country man by the name of Kenneth Morgan who I referred to lovingly as “The Wooly Booger”. He was a gentle, silent man who happened to have a wrestling ring. The ring he had was hard only on the sides with a long, rectangular trampoline in the middle. Matt and Kenneth worked out a deal that we would work some shows at the local fair using his ring. When I arrived at our first show at the fairgrounds, we only had 5 guys for the show. Matt was in a bit of a tizzy. Since I was an aspiring rap artist, I told Matt I could go out and kill some time either rapping or doing stand up comedy. I actually went out and performed one of my songs, and was really pumped after that. Each wrestler there worked two or three gimmicks that night, but we got through it. The first match I had in Kenneth’s ring was just like the first match I ever had. Same opponent, same clothes, same finish. It was awesome! It’s so funny to look back on those times, bouncing around on a trampoline, having a wrestling match in front of a crowd. It’s kind of embarrassing when the boys see those old tapes, but also, it makes me very proud.

We actually converted Kenneth’s old trampoline ring into a regular ring. Our federation name was the New Frontier Wrestling Alliance, the NFWA. In 1995, Matt went into business with a guy named Thomas Simpson. Thomas was the money man and Matt was the promoter of our new federation called the Organization of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts, OMEGA. This was a local organization out of Moore County, NC that groomed many of the wrestling superstars you know today. Such as Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Shannon Moore, Shane Helms, Joey Abs, Joey Mercury, Steve Corino, Bo Dupp, Jack Dupp, and of course me, Marty “Cham Pain” Garner. That’s first name Cham. Last name Pain. The best kept secret on the Independent scene. This was the time when myself, Matt, Jeff and Jason “Joey Abs” Ahrndt started making sporadic trips to WWF shows. This was a big deal for me personally, because now my family and friends thought I was on the cusp of making it to the “big show”.

In 1998, we were getting ready for a show in a local armory in Southern Pines, NC when Matt got a phone call. I was standing next to him when he got the call. He had a strange look on his face as he hung up the phone. It was a look of disbelief. Then I saw a smile emerge. When I asked who it was, Matt said it was Jim Ross and they wanted him and Jeff at RAW the next Monday. I remember being happy for Matt and Jeff, but at the same time, I was very envious of them. The show had a different feel to me because our leader was leaving us. The last show Matt and Jeff did in OMEGA was at Shane Helms’ old high school. Shane and his partner, Mike Maverick, were baby-faces and Matt and Jeff, for the first time ever, were heels. Matt and Jeff really played up the WWF thing, and how they were going to be rich superstars and leave all this behind. The crowd hated them for the first time ever and they proceeded to have one of the best Indy tag team matches that I’ve ever witnessed. As I was watching the match, I remember the sadness I felt. Even thought no one said it, I knew OMEGA was finished. We tried to keep it going for a while, but without Matt, we were lost. He always handled everything from booking to storylines, set up, sponsorships, etc. He did it all. It wasn’t long after that when Jason Ahrndt got a call from WWF to work as Joey Abs with the Mean Street Posse. Now, I’m excited because everyone, including myself, thought I’d be the next to go.

After OMEGA, I still worked Independent shows, but they never held a match to what we had. I knew I needed to get my face on T.V. somehow, so I hit the talk show circuit. I did Sally Jesse Raphael, Montel Williams and Jenny Jones. I almost appeared in Playgirl Magazine, but my ex-fiance really disapproved. I was brainstorming how to get a job with a major company. So, myself, Murray “Bo Dupp” Happer, and Mike Maverick came up with a plan. We were going to be a family of rednecks from Lizard Lick, NC named The Dupps. I knew a guy that works for a T.V. crew out of California who said that his buddy could do a video for us. I wrote the script for the video. My name was Puck Dupp. Mike was Jack Dupp. Murray was Bo Dupp and my girlfriend at the time was May Dupp. The video was hilarious and it didn’t have any wrestling on it at all. We submitted the video to ECW and got a call back from Tommy Dreamer who said he loved it and wanted us to come up for a tryout. Tommy told us when we got there that was one of the funniest, most original tapes they had ever received. They watched it 7 times in the locker room that night. We did our tryout and they put us to work for a while. Tommy pulled us to the side one day and told us we were getting ECW contracts in a couple of weeks. I was excited and called my fiance. Before I could tell her my news, she broke up with me, over the phone. The other Dupps weren’t riding with me at the time, due to a misunderstand that had occurred between us, and I had to drive home alone with that on my mind. It was the best news and the worst news all in one day. What do you do? The next week the other Dupps missed a couple of ECW shows. On the third day when they finally showed up, I asked where they had been. They said Stamford, CT. I asked, “WWF”? They said, “Yes. We got jobs”. I said, “We got jobs?” They said, “No. WE got jobs.” I was only one day away from being immortalized on the ECW video game-but that didn’t happen. Without the other Dupps involved, I was out of luck and out of the job that I’d always dreamed of. The contract never came. My money was running out, so I had to leave ECW and come back home. I had a couple of small bites from WWF but they never actually worked out, which still left me on the Independent circuit.

A couple of years later, at a local show in Raleigh, NC, a man named John Root approached me about doing some video game stunt work. He worked for Epic Games who are the creators of “Unreal”, “Unreal Tournament”, and “Unreal Warfare”. He used my motion capture for both of the good guys on the game “Unreal Tournament 2003″, and used Mickie James as the baby-face female. It was a lot of fun and it paid really well. About a year after that, John Root moved to another company and flew me to California to do some motion capture stunt work again. While I was in California, one of the guys at the studio asked me if I knew Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. I said, “Yes, but I haven’t seen him in a couple of years.” I met Rock when I was doing some T.V. matches for WWE and we created a friendship. We went to the set of the “Run-Down” that night and as soon as Rock saw me he started quoting Cham-Pain lines. The guys that were with me thought that was the coolest thing ever! Rock told me to stay that weekend and go to a big wrap up party for the movie. I met Brittney Spears and Justin Timberlake at an after party in Hollywood. It was a blast! That was in January of 2003. In March 2003, I went to WrestleMania in Washington State to watch my buddies, Matt, Jeff, Shannon, and Shane perform. While I was there, Rock got in contact with me. The next couple of days I hung out with Rock and his family. It was a lot of fun. I asked Rock if I should I go backstage at WrestleMania or should I just sit in the crowd (He told me later that when I asked him that question, it broke his heart). He looked at me and said, “Man, you’re coming with me to WrestleMania.” The next morning, Rock, his cousin, and myself walk out of the hotel doors into a sea of screaming fans. After we got in the limo, Rock pulls his shades down slightly, looks at me, and says, “You ain’t never seen no shit like that, have you?” I looked at him and said, “Nope. Not in Vass, NC.” We all got a laugh out of that and went on to WrestleMania. In May of the same year, I got a call. It was Rock. He said, “Marty, you’ve always been my boy. You’ve never asked me for anything but advise and I appreciate that. Now, I want to ask you something. How would you like to work for me on an upcoming movie?” I felt my legs get weak and my eyes tearing up as goose bumps covered my arms. I tried to man up and sound strong when I said, “HELL YES!!!” He told me in the beginning that it wasn’t a full time gig. I told him that would be fine. I traveled halfway around the world with that guy, attending movie premiers, the CMA’s (front row), the Super Bowl, and a long list of many things that I was very blessed to be a part of. We were in Prague in 2005 on the set of “Doom” when I got a phone call from my mom. She asked if I remembered a particular girl from my past, and I said,”Yes, but why?” My Mom said, “Because the girl claims to have your child.” I said, “I haven’t seen that girl in 11 years.” Mom said, “He’s 11 years old.” I then flew home to take a DNA test. As fate would have it, it was truly my son. After discovering the truth, my son became a wonderful part of my life, and I love him more than I could ever tell you. Ironically, that was the last time I ever worked for Rock. We still keep in touch and will always be really good friends.

People still seem to always ask me if I could autographs from Matt and Jeff for their kids. I don’t mind asking for that, but at the same time it still bothers and hurts me. It seems just like yesterday that we were all together, wrestling in OMEGA, and now they’re WWE Superstars. It’s kind of like I’m The Forgotten Beetle. You know, the member of the Beetles who got lost on the way to the big show, right before their US debut. Suddenly, the band was recreated, with one less member. Please don’t think that I’m bitter, because I’m not-I’m more driven than ever. I just want to say how proud I am of all my friends who have gone on to have successful careers in professional wrestling. I still occasionally work for the WWE, with my most recent appearance being April 25th, 2008, on Smackdown against Vladimir Kozlov. Now more than ever, I want my name on the full-time WWE roster. That’s where YOU come in. If you believe in my cause, help me flood the websites of WWE and TNA requesting that Cham Pain be added to their roster. If you attend any WWE or TNA shows, please show your support by making signs and chanting loudly, “HIRE CHAM PAIN”. I refuse to be denied of my dream. It’s time to get the band back together. Thanks for taking the time to read my story, and I hope you’ll help me make my a dream a reality.

By Marty “Cham Pain” Garner

Kevin Nash Part 2, Brooke Hogan Denied Access

Thursday, April 24th, 2008

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-Several months ago, I hung out with TNA Wrestling’s Kevin Nash for a few hours. My print story ran March 3, 2008.Having talked to Hulk Hogan and Nash face to face in the last several months, I have now talked to 2/3 of the original NWO. Maybe JAWBreaker should contact Scott Hall to complete the trifecta. Kevin Nash Part 2
Nash Part 1

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-Reality TV star and Hulkamania offspring Brooke Hogan was denied admission to three state universities this week before touring Florida Atlantic University’s campus Tuesday. FAU not first choice for reality TV star’s shoot

For another Brooke denied access to college….TMZ has the story..

Ultimate Warrior Returns to Wrestling

Sunday, April 20th, 2008

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After a long stretch of not wrestling. The Ultimate Warrior is putting on his tights, hairextensions and armsbands for his upcoming wrestling events in Spain. Here is the press release from WarriorCentral.net.
The Ultimate Warrior Announces His Return To Pro Wrestling

Staggering news resounded in the NWE Arena during the Madrid show on April 19th. More than 15,000 fans had the chance to see the award presentation which celebrated the career of professional wrestling icon, The Ultimate Warrior; who was in attendance to accept his award. However, controversy erupted during the presentation when NWE Champion Orlando Jordan mocked a young fan of Warrior’s at the event. Warrior was quick to come to the defense of this fan which led to a heated conflict between Warrior and Jordan.

On June 25th 2008 in Barcelona, after a 12 year absence from the ring, The Ultimate Warrior will officially make his wrestling comeback in a match against Jordan. The news was confirmed this morning by Warrior’s agent, Bernie Gernay in a statement. “For over 10 years this is what the entire wrestling world has been waiting for, the return of the Warrior. We are excited to bring back the greatest character and energy to ever get into the ring. Ultimate Warrior is an incredible marketing machine and has kept a tremendous value to his name which is why the NWE has stepped up with a substantial deal that worked very well for both sides. There is no disputing that Warrior left a mark on professional wrestling that no other talent did and the reason why still today he is often imitated, but never duplicated.”

Over the next few days the NWE will inform fans of the preparations for one of the biggest and most important wrestling events ever to be held in Europe. As the news progresses it is sure to be the headlines of wrestling news and forums throughout the internet and will most certainly have all in the wrestling industry and fans alike in great anticipation to see what the Warrior will deliver on June 25th, and perhaps beyond.

Bernie J. Gernay
Agent for The Ultimate Warrior

PSI Marketing Group
1310 South Roller Road
Suite B
Ocean, NJ 07712

Office 877-580-6673
Mobile 908-433-5756
Fax 732-927-5414

Some could say this was the Ultimate Warriors last match on pay per view.
WCW Halloween Havoc 1998 Hulk Hogan vs. The Ultimate Warrior

Rob Van Dam on Ron Slinker , WWE Concussion Program and more

Saturday, April 12th, 2008

RVD has updated his Myspace account and where has he been lately…

Integrity

Hello readers. I hope everyone is well. Let’s catch up.
SVD and I had a great time in Portugal. I wrestled Raven on Friday in Santa de Maria Feira, frog splashed Joey Mercury in Elvas, and then we spent a couple of extra days in Lisboa to absorb its beauty. What a gorgeous place this was! Two highlights that stand out from the trip for me follow. In Elvas, everyone was hungry so we all left the arena before the show and traveled across the border to SPAIN to crowd a McDonalds counter with McWrestler Meals. Good thing we had the camera, right RVD TV watchers? The second memorable moment for me was the worst bump of the tour by far, and it was in my hotel room shower. My feet slipped out from under me, the curtain and curtain rod came down, I nailed my head on the sink counter on the way down and the shower hose broke and flooded the bathroom. It was pretty awesome. I’m just glad SVD didn’t have the camera on when she opened the door to see me lying in the water, covered in soap! I recommend visiting Portugal to anyone. Just be careful in the shower.

The weekend we were gone, Ron Slinker passed away. Ron gave me the professional name- that stuck with me throughout my career- back in 19991. Ron also got me my job with Bill Watts in WCW in 1992, and when Bill refused to let me use my professional name, Ron came up with Robby V. Of course, if you watched the show back then, you saw Robbie V, or Robbie Vee, or -well, who noticed anyway. I met Ron in Tennessee when I wrestled for USWA when he was there to see his son-in-law, Tex Slazenger. He was the first promoter to tell me that I was going to be a big star. Part of paying my dues involved driving down to Florida to sleep on this guy’s floor when I wasn’t even old enough to drink. You’ll read all about it some day in the big book. For more info=Ron Slinker - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wow! From what I understand, WWE has added a concussion management program. I think that’s great news. I have recently joined Chris Nowinski’s program to learn and help educate with proper information about head trauma. Concussions have always been a pig part of my job, and I’ve had dozens of them myself. I laughed at them. Now, Chris has told me about common traits among different athletes who have suffered brain damage, and I find the whole subject very interesting. I have friends who live with “blanking out” and headaches and just like me, consider it part of the job. Let’s look into this more. WWE is apparently going to reexamine the wrestlers on a regular 6-month basis to test their memory, cognitive skills, and reaction time along with other appropriate measures. This is excellent. I wish similar tests were used to determine the cause and effect of drugs on people with different variables but of course, that would give us too much truth! For more info click here=The Sports Legacy Institute -

Speaking of truth, I met with the legendary Jack Herer last week, which was way cool! Jack is responsible for exposing the truths about the corrupt war on pot with his book “The Emperor Wears No Clothes”, as well as “Grass” before that. “The Emperor” should be read in every public school, but it is not conducive to the governments plans. This was where I first learned that marijuana is basically non-toxic and no one’s ever died from it being in their body. I also learned here that cigarettes kill over 450,000 Americans a year but the government has huge interest in Alcohol, Tobacco, Pharmacy, Paper, Plastics, Oil and other enormous conglomerate businesses that would suffer if Cannabis was utilized the way it was intended. In the last ten years I’ve done a lot of research that-along with common sense- supports the truths I read in Jack’s book. The other day, he taught me a couple new things. He said that Budweiser sponsored the Reefer Madness movie campaign in 1937 and has paid for 50% of the governments war on pot since then, until around 1991 when the pharmaceuticals took over the responsibility. Hmm..makes sense, since I know what the war’s really bout. He also said that Hemp was used for 80% of everything until about 100 years ago. Not just the lumber in the walls, but the primer, the paint, the carpet, everything! Welcome to Jack Herer’s Home on the Web

I often get asked why I speak so freely. How can I not? I reach a lot of people and I have a conscious!
I recently watched nicotine junkies taking their last sucks before the International flight like they were baby puppies getting milk from their mother. It was pathetic, but I’ll fight for your right to make stupid decisions, because it is your right.
Our government outlawed hemp by prohibiting “marijuana” and enforces the position that it is a dangerous, addictive drug with no medicinal properties. They arrest and kill people to enforce this and at the same time they give it to patients of theirs, to help with their ailments. Why do I speak out?
People consider murder an option to make their lives better, and people think everyone should own a gun! The gift of life has always been over looked and often considered surplus when power comes from destroying it.
Where’s the respect for life lost? Let’s see.
If you’re attracted to the same sex you’re likely brought up to believe God hates you. In fact, if you’re Christian or Catholic or whatever, there’s a pretty good chance that you are taught that God does not accept you.
Kill people that don’t share your beliefs or live on the same piece of land, and you may be seen as a hero. Die from fighting against people from other countries and your life will be honored from the perspective of the U.S.government. As long as it’s part of their agenda.
We live in a world where people throw cigarette butts on the ground and are convinced that my choice to use “fucking” instead of their acceptable “fricking” or “frigging” or “freaking” has done them harm.
People look at Global Warming like people used to react to claims that the world wasn’t flat.
I live in a world where a fantastic story book is respected as the exact word of God, and murderers are expected to tell the truth in court because they swore on the Bible.
Some priests fuck little boys and others are looked up to as if they have God’s ear before he goes to bed every night.
Policemen murder their wives as if they were gang-banging target practice, but hide the body instead of fabricating evidence.
With past Presidential scandals and constant hypocritical assholes getting busted in politics all the time, how can we not acknowledge that we are -and always have been- lied to?
“A foolish man simply accepts what it is that he thinks, while a wise man thinks about what it is that he accepts.” This came from a story I read recently by Alex Shane, a man who shares my message.
HHH Black Magic
I live in a world where irresponsible junkies that are hooked on drugs are thrown into a cage like criminals. Our rights as human beings to freedom are over looked for big business.
Good friend and very smart writer - Jimmy Palmiotti- quoted Abe Lincoln in a book I read that really stuck in my mind. “Those who would deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves, and under a just god, can not retain in for long.”MySpace.com - jimmy palmiotti

No doubt I make myself a target by speaking so freely, but we , as people, have a right to seek the truth. Now, here’s the reason that most people don’t understand my willingness to speak the truth, even when facing undesirable consequences. Are you ready for this? I have integrity. No what that means? Many do not.

“Having integrity means I’d rather go down for what I believe in, then go up for what I do not.”
That’s an RVD original. Now check yourself.

Kevin Sullivan ‘End of WCW’ DVD

Thursday, April 3rd, 2008

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Description:

“We took the Golden Goose… and we chopped it’s head off.”

This spell-binding DVD takes you inside the last months of the legendary WCW with the man who was given the steering wheel to the out-of-control company. You’ll hear about all the booking decisions, you’ll go inside the meetings, and you’ll go week-by-week with Sullivan as he tries to breathe life into the fading megapower.

You will get a never before seen look inside Turner and Time Warner’s power structure and how it crumbled the federation. You’ll experience the endless barricades thrown up by talent and executives alike, and the determination of this head booker who refused to be a ‘fall guy.’

“Kevin Sullivan and the end of WCW” is now available on DVD from Kayfabe Commentaries. and can be ordered here on Highspots!

WWE on Larry King-hopefuly, DDP in Baghdad

Sunday, March 16th, 2008

-The edition of Larry King Live on CNN featuring the countdown to Wrestlemania 24 with guests as Vince McMahon, John Cena, Chris Jericho, Floyd Mayweather, Big Show, and Triple H has been rescheduled for this Wednesday, March 19th at 9 PM Eastern.

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-COP Callahan Soldiers meet, greet famous supporters

JR Blogs Q & A, Don Curtis “A Good Guy”

Sunday, March 16th, 2008

Few highlights on JR’s blog:

Q: On differnt web sites that discuss history, they comment on Greg as being “the untalneted Son” of Verne, and this was the opinion through the industry. I saw Greg a lot, and he wasnt Verne, but I thought he was very smooth, and a great tag team with Jim Brunzell . He certainly wasnt anymore scrawny than the Rock - Roll Express or Jim Cornetts first teams……..Your thoughts ? wondering is if you have ever worked with their other well known colleague, the late, great Lord Alfred Hayes and what your opinion is on him? I feel that he never quite got the credit he deserves for his work in the WWF/E during the original boom period.
A: Greg Gagne wasn’t his Dad Verne but neither was anyone else. Greg was a solid hand who was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t much akin to David Flair. I found “His Lordship” most entertaining once we broke the ice thanks to the late Gorilla Monsoon. Alfred was a helluva in ring talent and an outstanding manager but is largely remembered as being cast as a “buffoon” on Tuesday Night Titans. He was also a legit bad ass.

See the entire blog, click here.

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Don Curtis was known as the “Buffalo Bomber.”

-Don Curtis Was One Of Wrestling’s Good Guys

Lance Storm.. ‘Stampede Wrestling: The Harts’

Wednesday, March 5th, 2008

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I got to hook up with one of my old friends from the road this past weekend as “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels was in town to work a Stampede Wrestling event on Saturday. Chris and I have been friends since we first met, back during my early ECW days, and have been fortunate enough to cross paths numerous times over the years. I last worked with Chris in July of last year in Timmins, Ontario and after hooking up with him this weekend I was reminded of the first time we worked, which was here in Calgary in June of 2001.

This was during my month off between WCW and WWE and I accepted four bookings with Stampede Wrestling to keep the ring rust off before starting full time with WWE. I accepted the bookings on condition that I worked with Chris because I’d wanted to work with him since first meeting him in ECW.

This week I thought it would be fun to look back at my 4 matches with “The Fallen Angel” and I could kill two birds with one stone by also making this my latest installment in my Promoters commentary series.

I’ve only worked 5 Stampede Wrestling show, the 4 with Christopher Daniels and one back in early 1992. I have no recollection how I got to get booked on the show in 92 and don’t remember whom I actually dealt with, so I will have to focus solely to the four Stampede Wrestling shows I worked in 2001.

I dealt with two different Harts on these occasions as Ross Hart did most of the promotional end while Bruce was in charge of the booking. Ross was the guy who contacted me about working the shows and it was with him that I negotiated my pay. They had four shows booked, Thursday in Lethbridge, Friday in Calgary, Saturday in Medicine Hat, and Sunday in Drumheller. The Sunday show was the same day as the WWE King of the Ring PPV, and before accepting the bookings I made it very clear that if the WWE called and needed me for the PPV I would not be making the Drumheller show, so they needed to decided if they wanted to book me on that show and if they were going to advertise me they would be doing so at their own risk. I didn’t think WWE would be calling me for KOR but I wanted to cover my butt just in case.

Ross was very easy to deal with and I can’t think of a negative thing to say about him. I’ve run into Ross a few times over the years and he has continued to be quite straight forward and up front with me, Bruce on the other hand was a different story. Don’t get me wrong I get along fine with Bruce and I have no problem with the man, I just found him very frustrating do deal with and there was one situation at the end of this tour where I considered very strongly kicking the shit out of him.

The frustration started very early, when we did a live radio interview to promote the tour. Bruce is very old school, and when I say old school I’m talking back to the carnival con-man roots of the sport. Bruce is the kind of guy that has to exaggerate and “work” everything, and of course find a way to put himself over in the process. Not to toot my own horn but this was right after my substantial push in WCW as “Mr. Canada” and only a few weeks after I did the first WCW Invasion run in on RAW at the Saddle Dome in Calgary, so having me booked on these shows was a pretty big deal. Based on this you would think that my appearance on the shows was what we were going on the radio to promote. You would be wrong.

Bruce spent almost the entire interview dropping names like Chris Jericho, ”Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and the Rock insisting that Bruce had just established a working relationship with Vince McMahon, and the two would be exchanging talent in the future. I felt like I was there solely to lend credibility to his claims and I could not believe it when Brice actually said it was only a matter of time before he had guys like the Rock and Austin in Calgary to work future Stampede Wrestling Shows.

This is where I have a problem. There was no talent exchanging agreement with WWE and Rock and Austin were NOT coming to future Stampede Wrestling events. He was lying to his fan base, which is never a good idea, and was doing so instead of just bragging about the one truth he had right in front of him, the fact that Lance Storm only weeks removed from a WCW Invasion on RAW would be wrestling on the up coming Stampede events. I am the first to admit that my name alone isn’t going to sell out an arena but my addition to their regular line up should have helped. Truth be told, telling the story Bruce did on the radio likely hurt business because if I was a wrestling fan and heard Rock and Austin might be on the next show, I’m not going to worry so much about catching Lance Storm on this one. I might be more apt to save my money for the even bigger show next time out.

The straw that broke the camels back, for me, came at the end of the tour when I got the call from WWE saying they wanted me in New York at MSG for the King of the Ring PPV and RAW on Monday. I called Ross Hart immediately and told him I would not be able to make the Drumheller show and why. Ross understood and was cool about it. Shortly after talking with Ross I got a phone call from Johnny Ace wanting to know what was going on with Stampede Wrestling. He told me that Bruce called the office quite upset claiming I had made a commitment to them and if I left it would ruin their weekend of business, and there was no way I could make the PPV or RAW. Johnny said Vince didn’t want to stir any heat up with the Hart family and had cancelled my trip. I tried to explain to Johnny that I had warned the Harts about the possibility of not being able to make the last show and it was with that understanding that I had accepted the bookings. I suggested catching a late flight Sunday night (the Drumheller show was a matinee) so that I could at least make RAW on Monday. Some how Johnny was of the impression that Bruce needed me Monday too, but I assured him there was no Monday show and WWE could booked me on the last flight out Sunday night.

At this point I was fuming, thinking of nothing but the fact that Bruce Hart may have just got me pulled off a WWE PPV at Madison Square Garden. I got to the Drumheller show and did my best to avoid Bruce. All I had on my mind was getting out of this show in time to make my flight. Avoiding Bruce was easy as he was with the ring truck and the ring didn’t showed up till after the doors were opened and fans were let in. It was at this point that I found Ross and convinced him to put my match on first so I would be able to catch my flight. The ring truck being late was the least of our worries as it got there before the promotional posters did for the show so very few people even knew there was a show that night and even fewer bothered to attend.

Turns out I got pulled off of a sold out show at Madison Square Garden in New York, for an unadvertised and un-promoted event in Drumheller, Alberta in front maybe 75 people. On the money front at least I was paid in full. With money I dealt with Ross and I was paid in full before I even worked the last show, so there are no complaints there. I’d give my Stampede Wrestling experience a Thumbs in the middle.

A Thumbs up for Ross and a Thumbs down for Bruce.

Source

DDP Heading to FearFest; then Iraq, Lex Lugar Update

Wednesday, March 5th, 2008

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I am heading to Texas for Fear Fest and then to Iraq

Hey Cutters…

Dallas goes to Dallas… Texas, that is…That is right, this week I will be at Fear Fest in Dallas this Saturday and Sunday. For details, go to http://www.txfearfest.com. I will be signing autographs and taking pictures with the World Championship Title on Saturday and then, on Sunday morning, there will be a screening of our movie Driftwood… Speaking of Driftwood, we are jacked that it is up for a Saturn Award for “Best DVD Release”. This is like the Oscars for Horror and Sci-Fi. You can see more at www.SaturnAwards.org Also, Driftwood has blown up in all the European markets so now it can be found throughout the world! After Driftwood is over we will be doing a Q and A… Also on the card with me at Texas Fear Fest is the one and only Robert Englund… On Saturday night we will be doing a special screening of Tim Sullivan’s other movie 2001 Maniacs.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE FEAR FEST NOW

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After I leave Fearfest on Sunday, I will be heading back to Iraq for a 12 day tour where I will be speaking to the Troops about living life at 90% and taking them through the YRG Workout.

Many of you have asked for an update on Lex Luger, he is out of the hospital and living in his own apartment. From what I understand he is getting feeling back in his body.

Source

Chyna Dancing?

Tuesday, January 8th, 2008

chyna.jpgChyna was caught by TMZ cameras at Carrie Ann Inaba’s birthday party last night.

Who?

Carrie Ann Inaba - you know - the pretty judge on Dancing With the Stars. Apparently there is a possibility that Chyna will be on the next season of Dancing With The Stars!!

Just.Wow.

The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling DVD and More

Tuesday, December 4th, 2007

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The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling (2007)

In the 80s, wrestling events in Texas were like rock concerts. Fans flocked to arenas to experience the excitement of World Class Championship Wrestling. But just as quickly as it rose to popularity, WCCW burnt out through a series of traumatic losses.

This two-disc set includes an extensive documentary recounting the history of the company, plus exclusive interviews with Kevin Von Erich, Ric Flair, the Freebirds and unforgettable matches including:

2 out of 3 Falls Match
Duke Keomuka vs. Ricky Starr
Texas Rasslin’

American Heavyweight Championship
Fritz Von Erich vs. King Kong Bundy
Fritz Von Erich Retirement Show at Texas Stadium – June 1982

Steel Cage Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Kerry Von Erich vs. Ric Flair
Star Wars of Wrestling - December 1982

Iceman King Parsons / Kevin & David Von Erich vs. The Fabulous Freebirds
(Alternate Commentary: Todd Grisham and Kevin Von Erich)
WCCW – May 1983

6-man Tag Title Match
Fritz, Mike, & Kevin Von Erich vs. The Fabulous Freebirds
David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions – May 1984

Mix Tag Match“Gentleman” Chris Adams & Sunshine vs. “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin & Precious
David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions – May 1984

The Great Kabuki vs. Kamala
David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions – May 1984

American Tag Team Championship
Fantastics vs. Midnight Express
2nd David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions – May 1985

“Gentleman” Chris Adams vs. Kevin Von Erich
(Alternate Commentary: Todd Grisham and Kevin Von Erich)
WCCW – July 1985

Bruiser Brody & The Missing Link vs. One Man Gang & Rick Rude
WCCW – October 1986

Steel Cage Match
Bruiser Brody vs. Abdullah the Butcher
3rd Cotton Bowl Extravaganza – October 1986

Hair vs. Hair Match
Iceman King Parsons vs. Buddy Roberts
Star Wars of Wrestling – December 1983

Here are a few images from this dvd:
wccw1.jpgwccw2.jpgwccw3.jpgwccw4.jpg

Availability: This title will be released on December 11, 2007.

Chyna Tells Vince To “BRING IT!”

Friday, November 9th, 2007

Chyna02.jpgShocker of shockers, guess what’s happened?! Joanie Laurer, known to the WWE fans as Chyna, has gone to court in order to have her name offically changed to Chyna!

When she left the WWE, she was told that she could not use the name Chyna because it was “owned” by the WWE and by Vince. Instead, she went by the name Chyna-doll, and that’s how she was known.

Something’s going on with Chyna - first she takes her dog breeder to court, now she’s standing up to Vince! Way to go Chyna! According to TMZ, Chyna had this to say after she recieved her documentation making her new name official:

“Do I want to go back to get abused by you and get punched in the head every day and have people not stand up for me besides the fans? No. Would I like to go back for one day representing myself and all these people to kick your ass and your ass only? Cause you are the boss, right Vince? Then I would love to do it. You know my number. You know where I live, obviously. And you know my name. Bring it, Vince!”

You can see the article on TMZ here. TMZ also has a video up - I haven’t been able to see it yet (for some reason it’s not loading), but keep checking back…I’m sure it will load soon!

Note to Chyna: GOOD FOR YOU! I’d love to interview you more about what happened when you were let go - your true fans deserve to know the truth!

EDITED: Finally watched the video - it’s good. Chyna’s obviously still upset (and who can blame her) and she REALLY wants Vince to go after her. Something makes me wonder if - maybe - just POSSIBLY - she’s the Save_US.222? Could Chyna be coming back to WWE?

Nah…..although it’d kick ass if she did.

Chyna Takes Dog Breeder To Court

Thursday, November 8th, 2007

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Apparently Chyna is a dog lover! The 9th Wonder of the World attempted to purchase a Chihuahua from a co-op in Pheonix (for the record Chyna: you should’ve bought it from a pound or at least from a breeder that you were allowed to meet) for $4,000. Her dog never arrived, so she took the co-op to Christina’s Court (does anyone have this show? I can’t find it). Christina’s Court found in favor of Chyna, which upset the co-op immensely. According to TMZ, the owner of the co-op said:

“We have sold several other puppies to Chynna [sic] with no problem. Her most recent order was cancelled after our cobreeder wanted more for the puppy once he found out it was going to Chynna. Because we’re a coop, each Breeder has an individual responsibility to provide delivery of their pups. Another problem arose when we found out that one or more of the pups previously shipped to her had died after escaping into the street. As Breeders and animal lovers, we are always concerned about alleged cases of animal negligence or abuse. We agreed to appear with her on Christina’s Court to resolve this issue and believed that Chynna was a friend. That court episode turned out to be an ode to Chynna with video clips and photos from her various ventures shown during the kangaroo courtroom happening. We quickly found out that Christina merely wanted to turn the event into a lovefest for Chynna and had no intention of giving us a fair hearing. I guess she hoped that Chynna would boost her ratings (good luck on that). Judging from her lack of concern for us or the pets involved, the only thing Christina should be judging is Michael Vick dog fighting contests.”

To see the entire article, click here.

The Condemned on DVD- TODAY !!!

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007
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The Condemned 2007 WS at Amazon.com, click here.

The Condemned 2007 [Blu-ray] at Amazon. com, click here.

, , ,

About WWE Daily

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