UPDATE FROM DR. KEITH REPORT FOR 12/8
- 12/08/2006 (12:20:16 pm)
- Keith Lipinski
…….
A complete listing of upcoming big shows…and whacky hijinx…
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Shows this weekend
Friday ROH (Chicago Ridge)
Saturday: ROH (Chicago Ridge), CZW, IWC
Sunday: TNA PPV
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James, storyline born again
BY JIM VARSALLONE
BG James and his 15-year-old son sat down to ponder a name to fit the VKM moniker for the controversial angle in TNA.
'TNA said `Very Kool Men.' That was not cool,'' said James. "My son went on the computer, and I got a dictionary. He doesn't know how to use a dictionary, and I don't know how to use a computer. I started writing down words starting with each letter that we thought were cool.
"I don't think Voodoo is real. I thought of Papa Shango. That's real cool. Me and Billy [Gunn] are supposed to be brothers. Kin. Then, Militia, Mafia, Militants. I just think Mafia is cool. The Sopranos are cool.''
Voodoo Kin Mafia.
BG and Billy James, formerly Road Dogg and Billy Gunn from their DX days in WWE, recently declared war -- as VKM -- against WWE, the reformed DX and another VKM - WWE chairman Vincent Kennedy McMahon.
''There's a lot of people on the Internet talking about it [VKM],'' said BG James. "It doesn't matter if they like it or hate it. They are talking about it.
"It stirs things up a little bit. We want to make wrestling interesting again. Let's have some fun again.''
When they were the New Age Outlaws in WWE, they rode on a tank with Triple H, Shawn Michaels, X-Pac and Chyna. Collectively known as DX, they decided to invade then rival WCW Monday Nitro to save Scott Hall and Kevin Nash.
Of course, similarities are drawn between the original DX and the VKM.
''The first time we drove down there [WCW] with a tank. It was interesting,'' James said. "Once you get there, you wing it. If WCW would have let us in, we would have crapped ourselves. We knew they weren't going to let us in.
"WCW did call the cops. It was exciting but not very fun when that happened.''
TNA does have VKM's back.
''I've been to jail before, and I'm not proud to say that,'' said James. "I don't want to go to jail again.
"I know TNA would pay my bail, if WWE called the cops. I understand I may have to sleep on that brick for a while, but TNA would get me out in a hurry.''
Whether the company admits it or not, WWE is taking notice of VKM.
''WWE responded legally more than once. Maybe three times but at least more than once,'' James said. " We're trying to rouse them, get in their skin. They said Vince [McMahon] doesn't care about this. Well, why is Jim Ross talking about it? Why are we receiving legal letters?
"We have to use their legal names [Shawn and Paul] because of legal purposes. WWE is paying attention.''
VKM along with Vince Russo appeared at WWE house show, and Triple H even acknowledged them.
''If we [VKM] buy a ticket, then we can sit down in any building,'' James said. "I don't think they have the right to refuse us from buying a ticket. I'm not counting anything out. Wherever we were sitting, I don't think WWE would show us very much -- not at our camera angle.''
James enjoys being the center of attention even during a spinoff, so to speak, of the original DX/WCW angle.
''It feels like we're doing it all over again,'' said James. "It just feels good doing something at my age and with the body condition my body is in. I'm happy to be in the mix.
"The segments are funny, entertaining. It is rehashing some stuff. It's nostalgic. It's not quite the same. I think it's more fun because of who [Vincent Kennedy McMahon] we are doing it to this time.''
With the VKM appearing on TNA iMPACT! 9 p.m. ET Thursdays on Spike TV, DX (Triple H and HBK) appears on WWE Raw 9 p.m. ET Mondays on USA
''We were an important part of that team [DX],'' James said. "Don't get me wrong. They get a huge pop when they come out. WWE has invested a lot of time and money in this new DX thing, but I don't like what I see.
"They do a lot of stupid stuff -- not cool and not funny. It's almost the anti-DX than when I was involved in it. It looks like forced fun now. I hurt for those guys a little bit.
"They are making cheese, and they're happy in their personal lives. It is an impossibility to get me and Billy there, and even if we were able to be there, it would be different.
"I was never contacted by WWE. It was nothing like that. That was the furthest thing from my mind anyway. [TNA principle] Jeff [Jarrett] is a good friend of mine. My schedule is awesome right now with TNA. Never close to going back to WWE. I can't speak for Billy.''
James explains some the VKM bravado toward DX 2006.
"When we were there [WWE], it was the Attitude era -- Austin
James also turned his life around.
''I had a lot of demons,'' said James. "We all have troubles and trials and tribulations. Literally 4 ½ years ago, I was born again. I didn't think much about it before it happened, but I got saved, and it changed my heart.
"My relationship with wife who I was separated from for 10 months, God brought us back together. God moved me and my life in a positive direction. I have a beautiful piece of land, and my kids are playing sports, and I catch all their games and parades. I'm not perfect and no angel, but my life is great right now.''
What would occur if the VKM came face-to-face with DX?
"For a confrontation to have to ensue, we would have to approach them with a camera. I think it would be great TV.
"I have no idea where we go from here. We are making some good little segments and having fun with it. Wouldn't it be sweeter to have a match on Raw? Our people would allow us to wrestle them on Raw, and we'd be getting people interested in the game of wrestling again.
"If we have to rehash, that's the way it goes. People with money. There are a lot of egos and a lot of political posturing. So who would do the job if we did wrestle DX? Me.
"It would be a huge money-maker. I don't think the two people of the two separate businesses would come together, though, but we're going to do some good skits. Hopefully, I won't have to work as much because I'm fatter and out of shape.''
James, whose father is the legendary Bullet Bob Armstrong and brother Scott actually works as a referee for WWE in ECW, eyes the future.
''I'm in a very, very blurry crossroads in my career,'' he said. 'It's the first time I'm actually going, `What am I going to do now?' I still have a lot to offer in a mental capacity -- ideas as an an agent, doing promos. I can do that til I'm dead.
"I don't know what I'm going to do. If I can't be in the ring and not be the center of attention, then I don't want to do anything else in the ring. No refereeing. I have to be center or not be in there at all.
"I'm locked into Jeff [Jarrett with TNA] for three more years. I'm 37 now. That would mean I'd be 40. I don't have much left in me. In my mind, I don't see me returning to WWE. I would like to have one more run there, but I'm very happy with TNA.''
The Hardys issued an open challenge to any team for WWE's ECW pay-per-view December to Dismember.
''We accepted the challenge of the Hardys,'' James mused. "We never heard from them or anyone in WWE about the challenge.
''When we were in WWE, me and X-Pac always put in a good word for the Hardys. They can run circles around me. If only business egos could meet in the middle, how awesome would that have been for the fans.'' VKM doesn't like the current DX segments, but that's as far as the ill will goes.
''I'm not really sour toward Triple H,'' James said. "We had one incident in WWE. It was me in the wrong and him in the right. I owe him an apology, but I don't know if I'll ever get to give it to him.
"Shawn is a born again Christian, and Triple H just had a kid. I just had another kid. I don't want to fight anybody. I'm older now. At the time, I was caught up in the bullcrap and the wrestling world. I let a lot of that go.''
Former DX member X-Pac is involved in Wrestling Society X, MTV's new wrestling venture.
''There was some interest in bringing X-Pac into TNA,'' James said, "but no interest in Chyna.
"We do need a few more people [in the VKM]. Kevin Nash. I can ask about him. We need a workhorse. We need some of the younger boys.''
Russo recently returned to TNA. How about Paul Heyman?
"I think Paul would not be well-liked around TNA. The jury is still out on what I think of him. Who knows? I may be working with him tomorrow. I just don't see him being a welcomed acquisition.''
Tag teams are a welcomed addition to the TNA roster. TNA has the strongest tag team division in the world.
''We have a great tag team division,'' James said. "It seems like WWE has made the tag team titles a joke. Not to mean Piper and Flair are jokes. They're not. Maybe they did it to give it to Edge and Orton.
"I'm really a big fan of Orton but not in a tag team. Whoever is in charge of making tag teams in WWE should be fired.''
• TNA's Turning Point pay-per-view is 8 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 10. NWA champ Abyss with Father Jim Michell vs. Sting vs. Christian Cage with Tomko. Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe. LAX vs. AMW with Gail Kim. Rhino vs. A.J. Styles. X-Division champ Christopher Daniels vs. Chris Sabin and more.
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http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061208/NEWS01/612080334/1002
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'A&F' celeb: This one's for the girls
By NICK WERNER
"I was a woman making it in a male-dominated industry before, and that's the same opportunity I have here," she said.
Stratus, 30, retired this fall from World Wrestling Entertainment, where she held the WWE Women's title a record seven times between 2001 and 2006.
In a short interview with The Star Press, Stratus, an Ontario
Stratus did not have a recognizable accent, however, as she answered questions about her views on Muncie
"With the physicality, I'm used to it," she said. "I was a professional wrestler, so I fought for a living."
Stratus describes herself as a tomboy and said she feels at home in "boys' clubs" like police departments.
Before taking to the streets as a cop, Stratus told the newspaper she was gradually overcoming the initial nerves related to being an officer.
"I really feel like each day we are getting better," she said. "I also know we are going to have backup."
Armed & Famous is being produced for CBS, which has not announced when the reality series will air.
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Dec. 22: World Pro Fighting (WPF) Makes US Television Debut With Distributed By TVN Entertainment
Media Advisory
LAS VEGAS/EWORLDWIRE/Dec. 8, 2006 --- World Pro Fighting (WPF) Championships announced its U.S television debut on Pay-Per-View on December 22, 2006 . WPF: Las Vegas Steel Cage Challenge is distributed nationally for TV PPV by TVN Entertainment Corp., the leading television on-demand company.
"We are very pleased to have TVN Entertainment introduce WPF - one of the most exciting mixed martial arts (MMA) organizations globally - to US MMA fans," said Ivan Gulas, WPF's executive producer. This event marks the first WPF production for Gulas, who, prior to becoming a partner in the WPF, produced four other major MMA events in the last 12 months. Gulas, who had served as co-chairman of Pacific Title/Mirage, one of Hollywood's oldest and most respected optical and digital studios, and producer of films, TV and HomeDVD projects, describes mixed martial arts as the fastest growing sport globally. "WPF Championships offer spectators one of the most exciting, yet ironically safest, individual competitive sporting events, showcasing a combination of traditional combat and fighting styles including boxing, mauy thai, taekwondo, judo, jiu-jitsu and wrestling," said Gulas.
Partners in the Las Vegas-based WPF-USA include Holland-based Jeroen Winters, publisher of MAT-Magazine and the legendary Las Vegas U.S.
The Las Vegas Steel Cage Challenge features fighters from Holland , Germany Japan Great Britain USA Nevada England Japan Holland
About TVN Entertainment Corporation (www.TVN.com)
TVN Entertainment, a video on-demand (VOD) content solutions company, is a leading provider of on-demand television programming, management and delivery services. TVN currently offers more than 3000 hours of VOD programming from over 120 content providers. In addition to comprehensive programming services, TVN Entertainment offers the only single-source management and distribution solution for VOD, including content aggregation, packaging, encoding, asset management and fully encrypted transport via satellite to all video service providers. TVN Entertainment has been chosen as the VOD solution for many leading MSOs and telecommunications companies including Adelphia, AT&T, Atlantic Broadband, Bresnan, Buckeye, Blue Ridge , Cablevision, Charter, Comcast, Cox, Insight, Mediacom, Midcontinent, RCN and Verizon.
About World Pro Fighting (www.wpfight.com)
Jeroen Winters, managing director of WPF Ltd., describes The World Pro Fighting as "the first Mixed Martial Arts organization dedicated to promote and showcase individual international fighters. WPF is global in every respect, including in its ownership, focus and agenda. With matchmakers on every continent, WPF's events are the meeting ground for the best MMA fighters from every corner of the world."
WPF-USA is scheduling bi-monthly events in Las Vegas
One World…One set of rules…One World Pro Fighting Championships.
WPF Contact:
John Stuart, Managing Partner- Las Vegas
World Pro Fighting- USA
702-563-3900
Bel Air , CA 90077
310-440-2659 Office, 310-713-1402 Mobile
www.WPfight.com, www.MirageQuest.com
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WWE receives highest award
By Michael Cole
World Wrestling Entertainment received the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award today. The award was presented to WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and dozens of WWE Superstars as they entertained the troops during the company’s 4th annual Tribute to the Troops. Thousands of members of the Combined Forces Coalition cheered the announcement from the Director of Air Force Services, Art Myers.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) distinguished itself with exceptional public service in support of deployed service members in Iraq Afghanistan
Mr. McMahon immediately presented the honor to WWE Superstar John Bradshaw Layfield because it was, in Mr. McMahon’s words, JBL’s vision and idea to bring WWE to the troops for the holidays.
Also today General Casey, the Commander of Multinational Forces in Iraq
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