-This was my first time hearing Bubba's show, and I was immediately impressed with just how much insider wrestling knowledge he has. Bubba knows all the wrestling lingo, and called himself the audio version of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, which is exactly what I was thinking when I heard him talk. Within the past month, several wrestlers have appeared on Bubba's show, including Christian, Hulk Hogan, Sean Waltman, and Andrew "Test" Martin. Since Bubba is based out of Florida, expect it to be a regular stop for wrestlers who want to get on the air from time to time.

-Christian walked in, accompanied by the Spike TV camera crew. Spike was smartly filming this appearance for a future episode of Impact, perhaps airing this coming Saturday.

-Christian seemed tired and a little irritated throughout the interview, and did not put over the TNA product as much as he could have and should have. He never once mentioned younger talent like AJ Styles or Samoa Joe, and instead mentioned the bigger names Bubba knew like Team 3D, Rhino, and Jeff Jarrett.

-Christian said he didn't leave WWE over money, saying he was well paid. He said the contract WWE offered him wasn't what he was hoping for, but was by no means a lowball offer. He said it was still good money, but left because he was burnt out and not happy. He never mentioned his aspirations to be an actor.

-Bubba pointed out that all the Canadian wrestlers seem to be rich and tight with their money, such as Jericho, Bret Hart, and Test. Bubba joked that it must be all the lax Canadian tax laws, and that American wrestlers always end up broke.

-Bubba brought up the Edge/Hardy controversy. Christian said he hadn't talked to either guy in depth about it, but said he remains friends with Edge and said he was doing great as champion until they took the belt away from him. At this point Bubba talked about how HHH runs the show and never jobs, and he said this several times during the hour. Christian wisely never badmouthed HHH or WWE at all, other than saying he was unhappy there in recent years.

-Sean Waltman was brought up, with Bubba talking about Waltman's recent appearance on the show. Bubba confirmed that Waltman was not with TNA, and joked it was because he never showed up for the PPVs.

-Chyna was the next topic, since she was scheduled to appear on the Howard Stern show a couple days after this interview took place. They talked and joked about the Chyna/Waltman sex tape. Once again Christian remained silent during all this.

-Christian brought up the upcoming TNA time slot. In a very telling moment, Bubba admitted he had never seen TNA. This is a big wrestling fan who lives in Florida, and he had never seen TNA. When he found out TNA tapes in Orlando and not "Memphis," he was shocked and pleasantly surprised. Bubba said Thursdays at 9pm is a great time slot.

-Bubba talked about how Test jobbed in the undercard at WrestleMania 18, despite the fact it was in his hometown and on his birthday.

-Bubba ribbed Christian about how he was a great worker but never drew money, to which Christian replied he was never given the chance (which sounds like something Bubba's buddy Hogan probably says behind closed doors). But it wasn't a mean-spirited comment and Bubba was joking around with him.

-Talk then moved to Monty Brown. Bubba at least knew Monty's background, and Christian put Monty over as a strong guy with good charisma and mic skills. Unfortunately Bubba plugged the next PPV as March 11 (it's March 12), and Christian never corrected him.

-Bubba asked Christian about his finisher, the "unprettier," which he was unfamiliar with. They asked him to demonstrate it on one of their staff members, but instead Christian gave him a hard Ric Flairi chop. The guy screamed in pain, and this was all taped for Spike TV. Expect this to air on Impact.

-Bubba also asked about Sting. Christian never once hinted he'd come back or ever mentioned the Eric Young storyline, just saying that he did one PPV and then apparently retired. There's really no excuse for Christian sort of blowing off the storyline that TNA is expecting to pop a rating for them in April.

-Overall, it was okay. Bubba did more to make it entertaining than Christian did, but I wonder how much of the audience understood all the wrestling lingo. The TNA brand wasn't put over enough, and none of the guys they need to make stars like AJ Styles and Samoa Joe were ever mentioned. The X division was also never mentioned. It's doubtful many people heard this appearance, but this wasn't one of Christian's finest moments. But it should make for a good clip on Impact, and if nothing else, TNA has a guy in Bubba who will endlessly promote them on the radio if they take advantage of it in the future.       Wrestling Professor   http://www.armpitwrestling.com/

MEDIA ADVISORY: SPIKE TV/TNA WRESTLING MONTHLY CONFERENCE CALL

WHO: TNA Star “The Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels

WHAT: Monthly call to discuss the latest news from Spike TV’s TNA: iMPACT! and upcoming PPV event

WHEN: This Tuesday, March 6 at 3:00 PM ET/2:00 PM CT (please note new conference call time)

HOW: To RSVP, please email Debra Fazio at [email protected]  for the dial-in information

Other Key Information:
TNA: iMPACT! can be seen Saturday nights (11:00 PM to Midnight, ET/PT) on Spike TV; encores Mondays (Midnight – 1:00 AM, ET/PT)

TNA’s “Destination X” premieres Sunday, March 12 at 8 PM ET/ 5 PM PT on Pay Per View

Thanks to Mike Informer for following links pertaining to wrestling:  Plaid Piper of the Peg - Our City still has a hold on homeboy Rowdy Roddy Piper      winnipegsun.com - Pat St. Germain - Plaid Piper of the Peg

Former professional wrestler and actress Joanie Laurer, who wrestled under the name 'Chyna', arrives for the trailer screening of her new movie 'Illegal Aliens', Wednesday, March 1, 2006, in New York.  Yahoo! News Search Results for joanie laurer

Sam Houston and Grizzy Smith Rebuild Their Lives - Hurricane Katrina plus six months  SLAM! Sports - Wrestling - Sam Houston and Grizzly Smith rebuild their lives

WWE SUPERSTAR SNITSKY GIVES BACK TO THE YOUTH THROUGH USO's FOUNDATION    Allentown, PA – Wild Samoan Training Center graduate and WWE Superstar Snitsky, will be signing autographs from 2-4 pm on March 11, at the Wild Samoan Pro- Wrestling Training Center in Allentown, PA.  Located at 1313 Linden Street, the Wild Samoan Training Center is housed in the same building as Carson’s Pro Wrestling World. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the non-profit organization, the Uso’s Foundation, Inc.   

Snitsky, has long been a supporter of Uso’s, which was founded by his trainer and good friend, Afa “The Wild Samoan” Anoa’i and his wife, Lynn Anoa’i.  Snitsky has appeared at a number of WXW live events to promote the organization, and also filmed a television commercial in support of Uso’s. For the upcoming autograph signing, Snitsky has agreed to take a day away from his busy WWE schedule and volunteer his time to raise money for the Foundation. The first 150 people who attend the signing will receive an autographed full color 8 X 10 picture along with a poloroid for only $25.00

Uso’s was founded to help under-privileged youths who faced a bad situation in their lives and had nowhere else to go, to give them the opportunity to be successful in life. The Foundation provides scholarships for the kids to attend the Wild Samoan Training Center free of charge, but also gives them so much more.

Through the popularity and drawing power of professional wrestling, Uso’s is able to offer the young men and women a number of marketable skills, to help them achieve their full potential. The program teaches the basics of good nutrition, the value of sustained exercise, and the importance of maintaining good health (i.e., drug free, smoke free, free of substance abuse).  

The importance of a good academic education is stressed throughout the program and good grades are required to continue in the program. Uso’s students learn writing, promotion, photography, computer and management skills: tools that will not only help them in professional wrestling, but in the business world as well
For information, contact Lynn Anoa`i

E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.usosfoundation.org/

The Uso's Foundation, Inc. is not affiliated with or endorsed by the United Service Organizations (USO)