wrestling The Big Wrestling Thread!

[Rappy Veteran]

He's a former six-time WWE heavyweight wrestling champion of the world -- but this weekend Batista finally confirmed that he's now fighting for real ... for an MMA company called Strikeforce.

The 6'5", 290 pound behemoth was out in Hollywood this weekend -- where he told our camera guy about the move ... and hinted that he already has his first fight lined up.

The 40-something-year-old recently left WWE after his contract expired ... and there had been rumors floating around that he wanted to get into Mixed Martial Arts fighting.

:rofl:

[MightyJordan]

:rofl: Seriously?! He's too old to get started in MMA now! He's going to get his arse handed to him, especially if he ends up fighting Fedor!

[LOC Veteran]

He's not going to fight Fedor, he made that pretty obvious in the TMZ clip, like Fedor is a leper or something lol

[soldier1st]

WWE needs more women wrestlers and have maches where it is man vs female, the females would love it as they would get owned easily and want more and more.

[red.]

^ :s

[Darth Laidher]

i just came to say

[Mazhar]

Please tell me what's happening b/w Undertaker and Kane? I heard that "something happened to Taker" due to which Kane is outrageous. What's the whole story?

[Victor Rambo]

I really want to see Rey Mysterio vs Khali vs Big Show vs Kane vs Undertaker vs Sheamus match for the world heavyweight championship.

[Lord Nite]

Please tell me what's happening b/w Undertaker and Kane? I heard that "something happened to Taker" due to which Kane is outrageous. What's the whole story?

Apparently, the Undertaker has an Orbital bone injury from the match that he and Rey Mysterio had on Smackdown, which caused him to be on the injured list for a while. He was scheduled to participate in the Fatal 4Way match for the World title, but with the injury, they put Rey Mysterio in his place. This lead to a storyline, involving Kane, that had the Undertaker beaten to a "vegetative state" and has Kane furious. It appears that they are going to have Kane center his sights on the SES to keep the storyline going until the Undertaker returns from his injury.

[red.]

Where they will probably reveal that Kane 'attacked' the Undertaker.

[Rappy Veteran]

I really want to see Rey Mysterio vs Khali vs Big Show vs Kane vs Undertaker vs Sheamus match for the world heavyweight championship.

no :p that would be harping back to the WCW angle where they had Rey beat all the big guys and it was awful then and it'll be awful now.

[Victor Rambo]

no :p that would be harping back to the WCW angle where they had Rey beat all the big guys and it was awful then and it'll be awful now.

I hate rey rey. :(

He is so overbooked & overrated. Only kids like him.

[Rappy Veteran]

Owen Hart's Widow To File Lawsuit Against World Wrestling Entertainment

HARTFORD, Conn. ? The widow of a World Wrestling Entertainment performer who died in a 1999 stunt says she's suing the Connecticut-based company and its leaders, including Republican U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon.

Martha Hart said McMahon, who stepped down as WWE chief executive to run for Senate, and her husband, Vince, the current chairman, have continued to use Owen Hart's image to promote the business despite agreeing to stop after his death.

Hart is filing her lawsuit Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Hartford.

Owen Hart died when he fell 78 feet from a harness as it lowered him into a wrestling ring in Kansas City, Mo., on May 23, 1999. He was 34.

His family sued the WWE and several other defendants in the death. Martha Hart agreed to a $18 million settlement with the WWE in 2000.

In her new lawsuit, she alleges the WWE and the McMahons violated a contract that restricts the use of Owen Hart's name, likeness and wrestling footage.

She said in a written statement Tuesday that she learned earlier this year that his image was appearing in WWE promotional materials.

"In the 11 years since Owen's tragic and avoidable death, I have worked tirelessly to disassociate Owen's name and likeness from anything related to WWE in order to protect our children from any reminder of the circumstances surrounding their father's death, and to avoid any misplaced perception that I endorse WWE," she said in a statement.

Representatives for the WWE and McMahon's Senate campaign said they could not immediately comment but expected to release statements later Tuesday.

[timster]

TNA Knockout Angelina Love posted the following on her Facebook account this past Friday night: "So this is what I get for quickly flipping thru the channels on a friday night......a blonde & a brunette blatantly ripping something off........BRUTAL!!!" Although she doesn't mention them by name, one can only assume she's referring to Team LayCool on Smackdown.

PETA.org is the latest to jump on the bandwagon to have Bryan Danielson brought back into WWE. PETA Director Dan Shannon sent the following fax to Vince McMahon: "On behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the WWE fans among our more than 2 million members and supporters, I'm writing to toss our name into the ring as yet another proponent of the push to bring back Daniel Bryan.

I might not personally carry the same clout as other Bryan supporters like John Cena or Shawn Michaels (although I do consider myself "The Showstopper of PETA"), but I am, along with many of my colleagues, a huge Daniel Bryan fan, not only because he humiliated The Miz and Michael Cole a few weeks back on Raw but also because he's vegan...

So what do you say, Mr. McMahon? Bring back Bryan and let him prove that he belongs. And maybe there could even be a storyline romance between Bryan and the gorgeous vegan diva Tiffany! (Who, in your PETA fans' opinion, deserves another shot at Layla.)"

-----

Bryan Danielson has launched a new website over at BryanDanielson.tv. He has posted the following comments concerning the reported "Daniel Bryan" chants that were coming from fans at WWE's Fatal Four Way PPV: "Heard there were some 'Daniel Bryan' chants tonight. The support from my fans is heartwarming."

[Valerus]

..A bit late?

[Rappy Veteran]

Bryan Danielson has launched a new website over at BryanDanielson.tv. He has posted the following comments concerning the reported "Daniel Bryan" chants that were coming from fans at WWE's Fatal Four Way PPV: "Heard there were some 'Daniel Bryan' chants tonight. The support from my fans is heartwarming."

could do the same thing they did with Hardy when the fans started chanting for him they brought him back.

[timster]

WWE legend Honky Tonk Man has posted the following on his official website:

HITMAN GONE FROM WWE - 22nd June 2010

Honkytonkman.net can confirm that Hall of Famer Bret Hart and the WWE have amicably parted ways for the time being. The Hitman is collecting an insurance policy from Lloyds of London who are said to be unhappy with Bret's recent physical involvement in WWE storylines.

Current storyline plans were changed last minute following the WWE Fatal Four Way PPV which resulted in Vince McMahon firing Bret Hart on RAW during an on-air storyline.

HTM

www.honkytonkman.net

---

We reported earlier today that former WWE star Dave Batista told TMZ cameras that he will be fighting for StrikeForce. However, StrikeForce officials are denying this claim, and have issued statements noting that the former WWE Champion has not signed with the company. "The report is not correct," said Strikeforce director of communications Mike Afromowitz. "Batista is not signed."

As we exclusively reported several days ago, Batista has been telling friends that he has been offered a two fight deal with StrikeForce.

---

The Wrestling Observer is reporting that WWE decided to give Rey Mysterio the World Title at last night's Fatal Four Way PPV for several reasons. The first is that the company was reportedly unhappy with Jack Swagger as the current Champion. It's also being said that Mysterio takes great pride in being the Champion, and with reports of him being unhappy in WWE lately, this was a way for management to appease him. Additionally, it's being said that plans for a month long vacation for Mysterio were scrapped when The Undertaker was side lined with an injury, so giving him a title run probably helped persuade him to stick around.

TNA has launched a new website to promote their Live Events at www.tnaliveevents.com.

---

Several readers have sent in word that all 7 rookies from season one of NXT have been added to the raw roster page. Additionally, Bret Hart's name has been removed.

The Wrestling Observer is reporting that the original plans for last night's Raw called for Money in the Bank qualifying matches to begin on the show. However, those plans were obviously scrapped. Speculation is that it might have had to do with the Bret Hart situation, as sources are reporting the decision to have Vince "fire" Hart last night was something that was made last minute and was not planned well in advance.

[LOC Veteran]

Anyone else thinking that the "anonymous" new RAW GM is Daniel Bryan? lol

[MightyJordan]

Anyone else thinking that the "anonymous" new RAW GM is Daniel Bryan? lol

That wouldn't actually surprise me now. Seriously, PETA is supporting Bryan Danielson? Definitely sounds like a storyline. :p

[LOC Veteran]

Yeah, the PETA thing just seems way, WAY WAY out there for this to be a real firing anymore. I would be shocked if it was a shoot, but it's looking more like a work more and more.

[Rappy Veteran]

just noticed Danielson has alot of dates booked for indie shows coming up which is a bit weird when you think about it...doesn't he have a 90 day non compete clause? :unsure:

[Rappy Veteran]

Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

As you've read, Martha Hart has filed a 21-page lawsuit against WWE. One of the reasons is to try and get WWE to no longer use any footage of Owen Hart and have no connection between him and the company. This would make it impossible for WWE to induct Owen into the Hall of Fame.

Martha also wants royalties based on WWE DVD's released that have Owen matches on them. Martha says it was the marketing of the recent Hart Family DVD that caused her to take action. Martha found at least 37 WWE DVD's that featured Owen and she says the family never received royalty checks for them.

WWE's Jerry McDevitt told the Hartford Courant: ?Martha Hart does not have some exclusive right to tell the story of her husband. He was a public figure...he was part of WWE.?

This is actually the second time Martha tried to take action as she tried to get an injunction on the release of the Hart Family DVD in Canada back in March of this year. Martha's request for injunction was thrown out of court quickly and the DVD was released in Canada. Martha was ordered by the courts to pay WWE's legal costs. Martha found out about the DVD on March 20th. Five days later, her lawyers contacted WWE saying they had no permission to use the Owen Hart name or likeness. Martha says WWE ignored her letter.

Martha is worried about a connection between Owen and WWE that hurts The Owen Hart Foundation. Martha says a key component in the success of the Foundation is that his name was completely disassociated from WWE. Martha says WWE has a public image that is inconsistent with the Foundation. Martha claims that WWE has attempted to latch onto Owen's good name based on the good work of the Owen Hart Foundation. The lawsuit claims that Owen on a WWE DVD ?has tainted the Foundation?s image by creating the false impression that the estate has now abandoned its longstanding policy of disassociating itself from all matters WWE and McMahon-related. As a result, defendants have damaged and continue to damage the Foundation?s reputation that it has unrelentingly built up for ten years.?

Martha says the lawsuit has nothing to do with Linda McMahon running for political office. Martha says she has never spoken to any of Linda's opponents but did say voters should question her moral character. McDevitt said: ?I don?t think you?d see what happened today if Linda wasn?t running for Senate."

It's also said that the new lawsuit against WWE and Bret Hart leaving is purely coincidental.

Martha is seeking an injunction to prevent WWE from using Owen's name or likeness in the future and are looking for damages in an amount to be determined in court with interest and lawyer costs. Martha's lawyers have demanded a complete accounting from WWE of sales and revenue from everything that has used the Owen Hart. name or likeness.

[timster]

Thanks to Arda Ocal for sending this in and for the laugh:

Arda Ocal of "Right After Wrestling" recently opened an email account under the name CandyPants964, which is a play on the joke email account John Cena said he opened on Raw after McMahon announced the anonymous GM of the show.

Well, sure enough, people have actually sent in emails to the address, thinking that it's John Cena's address. Here's a sampling of the emails:

"You suck, retire now and go away. You can't wrestle and you brought a plague down on the WWE with that stupid spinner championship belt."

---------------------------------

"i saw when you told the world you're email account and me and my best friend wanted to talk to you.youre the best wrestler in the world if you would like to call us our numbers are [they actually posted their phone numbers here!]. Our names are Mark and Trevis please call it would be amazing. we would really appreciate it."

---------------------------------

"hi i'm warren and i'm your biggest fan john cena so can you send back an email and maybe give me your autograph bye ttyl"

---------------------------------

"I hope this is John Cena's email address like he said on Raw night on 6/28/10 , If this is not sorry for bothering you and wasteing your time."

----------------------------------

"Love Cena! NOT as much as Sheamus, but yeah, that would be a great team!!!"

----------------------------------

"I know you like the rays but you need to go to a Lightning Game instead"

--------------------------------

And here's my favorite:

"send nudes hurry hurry hurry it is really important."

oh, and congratulations to Mark Calloway and Michelle McCool on getting married! ...you might know Mark Calloway by his stage name, The Undertaker

[Rappy Veteran]

Source: The Wrestling Observer

According to a source, Richard "Ricky Steamboat" Blood, 57, suffered a brain aneurysm Wednesday night in Tampa, FL and is hospitalized as we noted earlier.

The hospitalization is not an angle off of the NXT/Nexus angle on Philadelphia's RAW taping in Philadelphia although Steamboat was banged up from Monday's angle.

His prognosis is considered good to excellent but this can be fatal.

:(

[Victor Rambo]