One Giant Leap for Mankind

After almost a daily blast of updates on Mick Foley's wrestling future it now has been reported that Foley has officially made the plunge out of the WWE joining the "legends revived" roster at TNA.

The following statement was issued today by The Gillespie Agency:


September 3, 2008 - Statement from Mick Foley on leaving
WWE, his future with TNA Wrestling and other opportunities.

As of today, I am a free agent in the world of professional wrestling. I will always be grateful to WWE for affording me so many incredible opportunities over the past thirteen years, but feel the time is right to pursue other endeavors.
This move frees me up to participate in more film, television and voice roles, autograph sessions, speaking engagements, volunteer work, and will allow me the time to start work on a third novel, a fourth wrestling memoir and a new children’s story.

Over the next few weeks I will be working with my management team at Braverman/Bloom Co., Inc. in pursuing a couple of unique investment opportunities. I can confirm I have had discussions with TNA Wrestling and have come to a short-term agreement. I am very excited about the specifics of this agreement and the potential it holds.

Mick Foley is available for booking through The Gillespie Agency. For more information contact Elaine Gillespie (elaine@GillespieTalent.com - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it) or Nola Armstrong (nola@GillespieTalent.com - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it).

Quickie Wrestling News

Technical Difficulties Fail to Discourage PSP

Despite glitches with last nights Peach State Pandemonium Broadcast, Georgia Wrestling History Online will charge forward with a great show this upcoming Wednesday September 3rd at 9PM featuring NWA legend Ronnie Garvin and GCW star Micah Taylor.


Foley Reportedly Signs with TNA

The Pro Wrestling Torch and ProWrestling.net are reporting that current WWE superstar Mick Foley has agreed to contracyual terms with TNA Wrestling. It is also being reported that Foley will debut sometime after his WWE contract expires after September 1st. Under speculation is still the possibility that his WWE contract may currently include a non-compete clause making his eventual date of debut with TNA uncertain.


Former GCW Star Young Headed to PTPW?

Wrestler David Young, who recently broke ties with Great Championship Wrestling, is already rumored to be booked with another regional promotion. Young, one of GCW's top drawing stars for the past four years is reportedly due to take part in Prime Time Pro Wrestling's event in Columbus on August 29th. Also of note is the fact that Colt Derringer & Deathrow are scheduled to take on Chris Stevens & a Mystery Partner. Young perhaps? Also on the card will be Elix Skipper and long-time regional wrestler Chic Donovan


Raw Over Monday Night Football Streak Ends

After RAW beating out Monday Night football in the rating the past few weeks, it appears as the WWE using the rash of recent ratings wins as a promotional tool has come to an end. PWInsider is reporting that thispast Mondays MNF game between the Seahawks and Chargers beat out Raw by drawing a 3.2 rating compared to Raw's 2.84. Seeing that Raw did air on the Sci fi channel instead of their usual home and that the NFL is still in it's pre-season, we'll have to wait and see how the two fair against each other under "normal" circumstances.


Kevin Nash Addresses Recent Rumors

The Baltimore sun recently posted a pair of Kevin Nash video interviews online where the former WCW/WWE and current TNA superstar commented on reports that he walked out on TNA tapings last month in Orlando. In one of the interviews he states:

"I have a clause in my contract that states that when it comes to physicality, that I have the right to veto with creative anything that I don't feel is safe, that is warranted or anything else. We had 10 guys and a battle royal is a cluster anyway. To give everyone a weapon and give me a pipe and then the only way I can be eliminated is to go over the top rope. As I was sitting and thinking about it, well the first thing I have to do is go over the top rope and make sure the pipe doesn't leave my hand and hit a fan. Then I have to make sure that I don't impale myself on it. And thirdly, I have to make sure I don't land on it."

To check out both interviews here.

Late Breaking News

PWInsider reports that former TNA Knockout Gail Kim will be returning to WWE once her current deal with TNA expires. Reportedly WWE made Kim a fairly sizeable offer to have her heavily involved on either of the Raw or Smackdown Diva rosters. Kim's decision is reported to be strictly financial and sources report that the TNA door will remain open should Kim wish to return later.

Sting did not return to TV tapings after the Hard justice pay-per-view due to ongoing negotiations for a new contract with TNA. TNA is seeking to have a deal finalized in the next few weeks for 2009 in order to move on with key parts of Sting's current angle. Sting, who turns 50 early next year, was believed to be earning in the $600,000 range this last year for working basically a part-time schedule.



The Wrestling Observer reports that the decision to pull Mick Foley from his involvement in the Undertaker/Edge Hell in the Cell Match at SummerSlam was made by Vince McMahon on the basis that it would distract from new plans for the match. Reportedly McMahon told the WWE creative team that what was scripted for Foley was now off the show and said they were "moving on without Mick." No news on the exact meaning of that comment as of yet. Foley, who had agreed to sign with TNA in 2005 before the WWE gave hime a new deal, has been reported to be in talks with the Dixie Carter run company.

Speculation continues to grow in the authenticity of Randy Orton's recent morocycle accident. While media outlets in the St. Louis area have been unable to find evidence that suggests the incident occurred, family and friends have come forth in an effort to validate the story that the WWE superstar recounted to WWE.com. At recent WWE TV tapings the accident was being discussed as being real yet a couple of days later many found it strange that nobody could find any sort of doumentation of Orton being in a near fatal motorcycle accident.

Reel Wrestling - Beyond the Mat (1999)

(description: wikipedia/film: YouTube) Beyond the Mat is a 1999 professional wrestling documentary, directed by Barry W. Blaustein. World Wrestling Entertainment chairman Vince McMahon tried to block its release after deciding that the film reflected badly on him and the WWF.[citation needed] Three editions of the film were released to video, including a "special edition" and a "ringside special edition," each of which had different extras and slightly different footage.

Director Barry Blaustein decides to travel America over a three year period, endeavoring to understand the mindset of someone who would voluntarily choose to become a professional wrestler. Blaustein interviews a wide variety of wrestling personalities and ascertains their motivations.

Blaustein focuses on three famous wrestlers, one at the height of his career (Mick "Mankind" Foley) and two contemplating retirement (Terry Funk and Jake "The Snake" Roberts). Foley has been taking increasingly risky falls (or "bumps") and blows to the head, and at one point is heard talking incoherently as the result of a fall which briefly rendered him unconscious. Later in the film, in a scene from the 1999 Royal Rumble, he is shown taking multiple shots to the head with a steel folding chair, while his wife and young children watch in horror from the audience. Funk is a 54-year-old man in need of knee surgery who appears unable to retire, despite the mounting toll wrestling is taking on his body. Roberts is a wrestler who enjoyed tremendous popularity in the 1980s, but who is now a cocaine addict, estranged from both his father and his daughter.

The careers of the three successful wrestlers are contrasted with those of wrestlers who have not yet achieved comparable success. Darren Drozdov is a former NFL football player who is shown in an interview with Vince McMahon. After discovering that Drozdov can vomit at will, McMahon renames him "Puke", and, controversially, instructs him to vomit in a bucket as a demonstration of his ability. Drozdov becomes a WWF wrestler, but at the end of the film Blaustein reveals that Droz was paralyzed in an in-ring accident from a botched move, several months later.

On a World Wrestling Entertainment-produced DVD released in late 2005/early 2006 entitled Jake The Snake Roberts: Pick Your Poison, Jake Roberts, along with others, heavily criticized the film for showing him in a negative light, contending that the depiction of him was "not the real Jake Roberts". Roberts also claimed that director Barry Blaustein and Terry Funk lied to him about the aims of the film, telling him it was a television special on the effects of drug and alcohol abuse.



Think you know EVERYTHING about Pro Wrestling?? It's All Fake right?? Ever wonder WHO the guys are that beat the hell out of each other every night ... for a living??