It's been a while since I've seen a TNA PPV (2005's Final Resolution
was the last one I saw all the way through). I don't think I know
any of the matches going into this, since I generally have the sound
muted on Impact unless Nash or someone good is cutting a promo.

The show started with a voice-over tat I didn't really pay attention
to, other than it was still promoting Booker T.

Sting came out and gave a long, rambling promo, trying on multiple
occasions to get cheap pops by mentioning Canada, Bret Hart, Ric
Flair, etc. The fans chanted "T-N-eh! T-N-eh!"

1. Super Eric, Shark Boy, Curryman over Christy Hemme, Lance Rock,
Jimmy Rave in 9:00

http://www.mikemooneyham.com/

Ric Flair: Finally 'On My Own Two Feet'

By Mike Mooneyham
Aug. 10, 2008

The Ric Flair era has ended in WWE.

Four months after getting one of the biggest send-offs in wrestling
history at Wrestlemania 24, the 16-time world champion has left World
Wrestling Entertainment and, with it, his role as "goodwill
ambassador" for the company.

The official announcement from WWE headquarters last Sunday night was
short and sweet. "WWE and Hall of Famer Ric Flair have mutually agreed
to contractually part ways."

Flair's official statement also was straight and to the point.

"WWE and I parted on the best of terms. This gives me the chance to
pursue new opportunities & corporate speaking engagements, product
sponsorships, autograph shows for my loyal fans (who made me what I am
today) and film and television roles. My agent and I are very excited
about what the future holds."

http://www.mikemooneyham.com/

A Villain With A Heart Of Gold

By Mike Mooneyham
Aug. 3, 2008

A recent story on Killer Kowalski brought back a flood of memories
about one of pro wrestling's truly great villains.

Killer was one of those classic heels who knew how to generate heat
back in the days when that rare and innate ability separated the men
from the boys in the wrestling business. He made a nice living by
being mean and playing the bad guy to perfection.

While Wladek "Killer" Kowalski was feared by wrestling fans throughout
the world, alter ego Walter Kowalski was a kind, gentle man with a
heart of gold who wouldn't swat a fly. A vegetarian who neither smoked
nor drank, he loved poetry and classical music, especially Mozart, and
was a deep thinker who studied theology and metaphysics. While fans
lustily booed him every time he stepped inside the ring, unbeknownst
to them, Killer would meditate, visualizing an image of Jesus casting
his light over the ring and the crowd.

http://www.mikemooneyham.com/

Q&A With Matthew Randazzo

Matthew Randazzo, author of "Ring of Hell: The Story of Chris Benoit &
The Fall of the Pro Wrestling Industry," answers some questions about
his controversial new book on professional wrestling.

How long have you followed the business, and do you consider yourself
a devout fan?

I've been a wrestling fan since I was a child, and for many years I
was a hardcore, tape-trading, dirtsheet-reading fan. Though I enjoyed
wrestling on its own terms, my fandom was always largely due to my
fascination with the business itself, the bizarre behind-the-scenes
subculture that I've always found fascinating.

What first attracted you to the business, and what attracts you now?

Since I became a fan as a small child, I would probably say it was the
larger-than-life characters and epic good-versus-evil storylines.
Today, my interest in the business is a sort of morbid fascination at
how twisted, destructive and morbidly hilarious one of the great
fascinations of my youth has become.

What compelled you to write a book on the Benoit tragedy?

http://www.mikemooneyham.com/

Jericho Hits Stride In New Role

By Mike Mooneyham
July 27, 2008

WWE has done a good job of shaking up the roster and altering the
sports entertainment landscape since last month's draft.

C.M. Punk continues to be the surprising underdog champ, Kane appears
to be getting closer to donning his old mask, and Vince McMahon has
taken a well-deserved respite from the camera.

Even the 54-year-old Tony Atlas has resurfaced after a lengthy absence
as the heel manager, no less, of Mark Henry.

By far, though, the most intriguing angle on WWE television has been
the amazing interplay between Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels.
Jericho, who started slowly upon his return to the company last year,
has picked up steam in his latest role as a villain seeking to
"cleanse" the wrestling business of the Heartbreak Kid, who remains
one of the top workers and characters in the industry.

http://www.mikemooneyham.com/

'Ring Of Hell' Tells Disturbing Story

By Mike Mooneyham
July 13, 2008

The latest pro wrestling book to hit the shelves, "Ring of Hell: The
Story of Chris Benoit & The Fall of the Pro Wrestling Industry," is
one sure to ruffle some feathers. It's an extremely hard-hitting look
at a complex industry in which performers die young, promoters get
rich and broken families are the norm.

Unlike some other books of its genre, however, Matthew Randazzo peels
back the deeper layers of a nearly impenetrable business that the
author describes as its dysfunctional, sadistic underbelly. The book
is compelling and controversial, no doubt, and if you're a devotee, it
probably will make you cringe at the very least and even question your
sanity for being a follower.

http://www.ugo.com/sports/how-to-reform-pro-wrestling/?cur=main

How to Reform Pro Wrestling

Ring of Hell

by: Matthew Randazzo V

In media appearances for my investigative expose of the pro wrestling
industry, Ring of Hell, the questions I'm asked more than any others
are: Why are so many pro wrestlers dying young? And what can be done
to save them? This article is my answer.

To paraphrase The Usual Suspects paraphrasing Baudelaire, the greatest
trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that pro
wrestling was fake. Vincent Kennedy McMahon transformed pro
wrestling's...

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/specialevent/wrestling/2008/08/interview_with_tito_santana...

Interview with Tito Santana

Pro Wrestling Revolution returns to the Upper Room World Center at 722
Deer Park Avenue in Dix Hills Saturday night for another loaded show
featuring the young stars of PWR, as well as faces from the past.
Tickets are just $10 and $15. More information on the show is
available at PWR’s official web site.

tito.jpeg
Along with Jimmy Hart and Bushwacker Luke, one of the legends who will
be on hand for the show will be one of my favorite wrestlers growing
up, multi-time Intercontinental champion Tito Santana, who will be
selling and signing a few rare copies of his book “Tales from the
Ring.”

I had the opportunity to chat with Tito about his book, returning to
New York, his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, WWE’s history of
casting racial gimmicks, working with Shawn Michaels early in HBK’s
singles career, and his few regrets in a storied career.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/wrestling/story/628429.html

More than just looks

Mon, Aug. 04, 2008

BY JIM VARSALLONE
jvarsallone@MiamiHerald.com

If two heads are better than one, what about two beautiful heads?

Angelina Love and Velvet Sky got the look, no doubt, but they offer so
much more -- combining athleticism, wrestling skill, smarts and
creativity for a very successful tandem in TNA.

Collectively known as The Beautiful People, Love and Sky help lead a
very talented women's division, the TNA Knockouts, proving quality
women's wrestling matches can draw fans and ratings at a sound level.

''The women's division in TNA definitely sets us apart from any other
form of women's wrestling because we offer something called variety,''
Sky said. ``None of us looks exactly the same. There's blonde hair,
dark hair, red hair, no hair.

``It sets us apart because we all look different. We all dress
different. We all wrestle different, and we don't offer fluff-n-nutter
that you see elsewhere. We're hard hitting.

Khali should be getting big pops tonight since SummerSlam is live
from India...napolis.

1. MVP over Jeff Hardy in 10:00

This was the first of three matches that turned out better than I
expected. I wasn't sure that Jeff was up to the task of being able
to carry someone like MVP, but he was able to carry him to a
respectable ** match. Decent opener with some fast-paced action.
Guess Jeff's "broken neck" was just smoke. I would have preferred
if Jeff had won, but I guess Jeff will be over with the crowd
whether he has a belt or not, whereas MVP needs the prop for anyone
to notice him at this point in his career. MVP won when Shelton
Benjamin distracted Jeff as Jeff was going for his finisher,
allowing MVP to hit his kick for the pin.

MATCH RATING: $0.80

2. Santino and Beth over Mickie James and Kofi Kingston in 4:00