WWE
Updated Armageddon Card
# * Randy Orton vs. Batista
* Santa’s Little Helper Match: Michelle McCool, Maria, Mickie James and
Kelly Kelly vs. Victoria, Natalya, Jillian and Maryse
* Belfast Brawl: Mark Henry vs. Finlay
* IC Title Contender’s Tournament Final Match: CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio
* Non-Title Match: Matt Hardy © vs. Vladimir Kozlov
* WWE Title Match: Edge © vs. HHH vs. Jeff Hardy
* World Title Match: John Cena © vs. Chris Jericho
credit: 411mania.com
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Belt Changes Hands At House Show
At tonight’s Raw house show in Hamilton, Ontario John Morrison and The Miz defeated Kofi Kingston and CM Punk to win the World Tag Team Titles.
Credit: Pwinsider.com
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TNA
Impact Ratings
Last night’s edition of TNA Impact scored a 1.2 cable rating, the same as last week.
Credit: Wrestlngobserver.com
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Homicide Interview
Nelson Erazo is living proof someone can turn his life around for the better, and pro wrestling helped steer him right.
A role model, Erazo is TNA star Homicide.
Growing up in Brooklyn, Homicide took a dark road. Destiny, a life of crime.
”As a youth, I was hanging out with a bad crowd,” Homicide said. “I was a gang banger, doing bad things, negative things.”
A good baseball player, he began channeling his efforts through sports rather than the streets. His step-dad, a huge baseball fan, encouraged the game.
”I always loved competition,” he said. “I loved playing football. I loved playing baseball. When I was 5, my father left me, and my step-father took over, and he was a fanatic of baseball, and he taught me everything about baseball.
“No offense to other workers doing a job at a desk or at a computer all day, I like competition. It could be fighting. It could be golf or tennis. I just like competing. Even video games, I like to compete with my friends.”
Pro baseball aspirations did not work out but neither did jail time. Homicide avoided the pitfalls, focusing on another love — pro wrestling.
Debuting in 1993, he’s wrestled nationally and internationally including stints in Ring of Honor, Jersey All Pro Wrestling, Full Impact Pro, NWA Wildside, Long Island Wrestling Federation, Big Japan Pro Wrestling, Japan’s Zero-One and more.
He won the Ring of Honor, Jersey All Pro and FIP titles. He also captured the Big Japan junior title. He’s competed againsta wide range of talent. Late in 2005, former WCW and TNA star Konnan, a wrestling legend in Mexico, contacted Homicide.
”He liked my style,” said Homicide, 31. “We worked each other in Puerto Rico. He knew my background. He thought I would be a perfect fit for his new character group called the Latin American Xchange and perfect for the business.”
Homicide had a tough decision but always good to have options.
”Basically, Konnan told me he was going to get my foot in the door,” Homicide said. “Mick Foley was giving me advice, too. I was working for Ring of Honor then, and Mick Foley asked me if I would like to go to WWE. That was the decision to make — go to TNA or WWE.
“With less traveling, I picked TNA. I spoke to Konnan and told him I’d be willing to go to TNA. I just asked him to let me know when, and I’d get started. In December 2005, Konnan gave me a call and said, `You’re in. Just come to Orlando, and we’ll build up LAX.’
“We took it far, and we’re here right now.”
Homicide joined the agile big man Hernandez, and LAX, led by Konnan, was born in TNA. They accomplished tag team gold multiple times. As bad guys or good guys, LAX worked well, and the crowd reacted.
”I’m a big fan of tag teams,” he said. “I’m a big fan of the 1980s and 90s tag teams. Right now the tag teams of this era are not doing as well. I feel the tag team division not only in TNA but all over needs to pick up the ball.
“TNA has a great tag team division with great talents like Beer Money, the Motor City Machine Guns, us, of course, Jay Lethal and Creed. I can’t complain with the talent, but I got a funny feeling the division is dying down a little because the people are paying more attention to other stuff or the people don’t know enough about the tag team division. The tag team division is good, but it could be better.
“We need a good tag team division. Look at the guys back in the day — The Road Warriors, the Samoans, the Freebirds, the Von Erichs. We want something like that. I think the product is being introduced with new things like the Main Event Mafia [Sting, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Scott Steiner, Kevin Nash] and the Frontline [A.J. Styles, Samoa Joe, Team 3D, Rhino]. Right now the company is concentrating on that, and hopefully the company will concentrate again on the tag team division.
“Wrestling needs tag teams. It’s not only like in Mexico with six-man tags and sometimes singles. In America, it’s cruiserweights, heavyweights and tag teams.”
In America, Homicide met Hernandez on the independent circuit in the North.
”I’m the original member of LAX,” Homicide said. “I had a couple of partners who were not professional enough. We had one guy, Ricky Vega, aka Machette, who was doing good, but he didn’t pick up the ball. So Hernandez came in, and we just clicked right away.
“He’s got the same passion I got. He’s got the same mindset. We want to be the best, and we want to show the people we are the best. We also want to be the next big Latino wrestlers like Eddy Guerrero, Carlos Colon, Tito Santana, Manny Fernandez.
“We’re doing good, very good. We are the first Latinos to win the NWA world tag team champions. That’s highly accomplished, and to be a part of the history books is a Blessing.”
Hernandez and Homicide are trying to re-write history again. Each captured a briefcase during the TNA pay-per-view Final Resolution on Sunday, Dec. 7.
Known for their tag-team work, they wrestled singles on the independent circuit. They have a chance to display their singles skills with Hernandez winning a shot at the TNA title and Homicide the X Division belt.
”I’ve got a singles competition background,” Homicide said. ‘I’m a former Ring of Honor heavyweight champion. I have numerous singles’ championships around the independent circuit, and right now I have a new direction in TNA. I’m going singles for the X Division title.
“I want to change the X Division. I want to make it more interesting and more focused. Everybody thinks the X Division is about cruiserweights. It’s not about cruiserweights. It’s about no limits. It’s about dare-deviling.”
Hernandez is an agile big man.
”My partner Hernandez is going for the heavyweight title,” Homicide said. “Hernandez is about 6-3, 6-4, 270 pounds. We never had a great heavyweight Hispanic champion. The last champion Hispanic was Eddy Guerrero, God rest his soul. We need somebody to take his place, and hopefully Hernandez can do that or myself, too.”
Homicide is up for the challenge.
”I like to try something new,” he said. ‘I never wrestled singles competition in TNA. I’ve wrestled in singles all over, but in TNA, it’s like I’m a rookie in singles’ wrestling. Still, I’m going to have good plans.
“The same way with Hernandez. He did a lot of six-man tag team matches in Mexico. It’s going to be a new direction for us in TNA, brand new, starting all over again. We’re going to make the people happy and make sure to bring the gold home.”
Overcoming obstacles, collectively or individually, LAX keeps wrestling, fighting.
”We want to be in a position like Kurt Angle, Sting, Booker T,” he said. “A couple of times we had people with us like Konnan who was having troubles with the company, and that put us at the back of the bus. Hector Guerrero and we went to the back of the bus. The same thing with Shelly Martinez. I think she was the hottest girl in wrestling, and it didn’t go well, and we went to the back of the bus again.
“So we told the company. Give us the ball, and let’s see what happens. Right now we’re doing good. Hopefully it will go far, and we will do very well, and people will remember us. That’s the accomplishment we want.”
Shane Sewell, a successful wrestler in Puerto Rico, who is TNA’s newest referee, said, “Homicide. Exciting. I saw him when he came down to Puerto Rico when he was working for Ring of Honor. He had these different moves. He was an innovator of different moves. I would call him fierce and fearless in the ring.”
Homicide has come a long way from his early days of no formal training.
”I did go to a wrestling school,” he said. “It was a wrestling ring. I had a couple of people show me the basics — back bumps, hitting the ropes, the storytelling. I started in 1993. Basically, I just took it from there. I got into tag team wrestling, and my partner passed away. So I took off some time, and then I started training people.”
He trained several wrestlers including former TNA star Low Ki and Becky Bayless.
“I was also watching Japanese tapes and ECW tapes and putting that together into a style like in Japan but more the Japanese wrestler mixed with ECW.
“After that, I met [former wrestling star Raging Bull] Manny Fernandez. He had a clinic in New Jersey, and he liked my style. I’m about 5-8, but I wrestle like a heavyweight. I’m not like one of these cruiserweights that goes bippity, boppity, and does all these dives. I do dives, too, but I do dives that make sense. A lot of these guys do dives, and it doesn’t make any sense. Plus, I love to wrestle like a heavyweight.
“Manny Fernandez saw that in me and loved it. He took me under his wing and showed me every basic move. He also took me to Tennessee, to Georgia. He told he was down with West Texas State University and guys like Ted DiBiase, Dusty Rhodes, Terry Funk, Dory Funk Jr., Bruiser Brody, Tito Santana — all those guys who came from that college and their Texas wrestling style. That was the same college Manny Fernandez came from, and he just took that Texas wrestling style and passed it on to me.
“Manny Fernandez showed me everything, the right tools of wrestling. I put his great knowledge with my knowledge, and I became the first wrestler whose style combines hardcore, Lucha Libre, European. I call it the Texas style, too, because in my opinion the Texas style is kind of different. A lot of people don’t see that, but to me it is. It’s hard hitting like in the 1980s with the Von Erichs, the Freebirds, the Funks, Bruiser Brody. To me that’s a Texas style.
“In 2008, it’s very different now. It’s more like a video game, and I’m not into that kind of style. I’m more into the old school style of the 1980s and 90s. My idol is Terry Funk, and my teacher was Manny Fernandez. So I always watched them and put their style into my style, put it all together. It became an unbelievable style that I got right now.”
Homicide, who is focused on current goals, addresses his future.
“I love production, doing production stuff like in the movies, in wrestling,” he said. “God forbid something happens to me in wrestling, like an injury, I’d like to be in a behind the scenes role, becoming an agent or a match maker or promoter or booker.
“I studied from everybody, especially those working in TNA. I studied people like Terry Taylor, Dutch Mantell, Jeff Jarrett. I like to learn.”
Speaking of new thngs and learning, former pro wrestlers Bobby Lashley and Brock Lesnar are involved in the ever-growing Mixed Martial Arts field.
”I thought about MMA as did Samoa Joe who has an excellent background,” Homicide said. “I love the MMA style. MMA is picking up business wise and marketing wise.
“As for myself, I’d love to do it, but I’ve had so many injuries that I think I could not survive. I’d love to train with them and learn. I’ve got so much respect for those guys. A lot of them don’t respect pro wrestlers, but I respect them.
“I don’t care what they think about us. I respect them, the training, the passion for the competition. If I wasn’t injured because I got a bad shoulder and I work five times a week; and I travel; and I wrestle. Wrestling is not a comfortable sport. It’s really hard hitting. You wake up with aching knees and shoulders, even a bad headache.
“If I wasn’t injured, I would have loved to do the MMA style, go to Japan, go to the UFC or any promotion, any market that can compete with the great guys in the MMA.”
Homicide offers an opinion on pro wrestling and mixed martial arts.
”I’ve been telling my students and legends like Terry Taylor and Terry Funk that I got a bad feeling,” he said. “Pro wrestling is on the downhill right now. In the year 2020, wrestling is going to be over. Everybody’s got to look for a backup sport just in case.
“To me pro wrestling is great. I love pro wrestling no matter what. Right now the MMA is taking over. What we got to do is bring out some new stuff to the plate, and that’s what TNA is about as it’s very different. It’s not like the other promotions in the world, especially in the United States. We’ve got a six-sided ring. We’ve got steel cages, six sided. It’s just different from everything, and people like to see different stuff.
“I got a funny feeling for a little while Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley will get the respect they deserve, but people still won’t respect pro wrestling.”
They should respect Homicide.
• About the TNA Knockouts
”I’m highly respectful of the TNA Knockouts,” Homicide said. “TNA has a great women’s division. You have the best talent. Awesome Kong, the name of awesome fits. You’ve got Roxxi, who’s awesome. You’ve got ODB, the Beautiful People, Taylor Wilde.
“There’s a reason they call them knockouts. They bust their butts. That’s what I like about these girls. They’re putting women’s wrestling on the map.
“I respect all the ladies, in Japan, the divas in WWE, but I highly respect the ladies in TNA because they’re doing something special. We have a great roster with the ladies.”
• The TNA pay-per-view Genesis is Sunday, Jan. 11 at the Cricket Arena in Charlotte. Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett and more.
• TNA tapes four shows a month for its TNA iMPACT! TV shows at Soundstage 21 at Universal Studios Orlando.
See Kurt Angle, AJ Styles, Sting, Samoa Joe, Booker T, Rhino, Scott Steiner, Matt Morgan, Kevin Nash, Awesome Kong, Abyss, Hernandez, Homicide, Roxxi, the Motor City Machine Guns, the Beautiful People, Beer Money Inc., ODB, Sonjay Dutt, Hector Guerrero, Jay Lethal and more.
Admission is free.
• TNA iMPACT! is 9-11 p.m. EST Thursdays on Spike TV.
credit: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/other/v-fullstory/story/811445.html
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ROH
- December 12th: Larry Sweeney said that Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards would take the tag team wrestling scene by storm, and it looks like they’re setting the stage to do just that. We received a fax this morning at the ROH offices from Sweeney, saying that the “American Wolves” are issuing a challenge for December 26 in Philadelphia. And this challenge isn’t for your typical run-of-the-hill tag match. The Wolves apparently aren’t satisfied with the prospect of debuting and beating one team – they want two! That’s right; the ever-arrogant Larry Sweeney is demanding that the American Wolves face TWO teams! The proprietor of Sweet-n-Sour Incorporated stated, “We don’t care if it’s a gauntlet, we don’t care if it’s a 3-Way-Dance, the American Wolves are going to show the world what tag team excellence is, and it is going to start in Philadelphia!”
- In other Sweet-n-Sour news, a heated grudge match has been signed for Philly on 12/26. “That Young Knockout Kid” Chris Hero will represent Sweet-n-Sour and oppose the powerful Erick Stevens one-on-one! Stevens is looking for any reason to beat on a member of Sweet-n-Sour, stemming from the public beat down and subsequent concussion suffered at the hands of Sweeney’s men in Markham, Ontario last month. Hero has stepped to the plate and promised Sweeney that Stevens will eat his vicious elbows, lose, and suffer another head injury on 12/26!
- Check out the Ring of Honor “Holiday Triple Savings Sale” on the main page at www.rohwrestling.com. The first part of the sale includes 25% Off All Orders placed on the ROH website. With the second part of the sale you can get Free Shipping on your next order. The third part offers $5 Off all ROH live event ticket purchases. As always you can combine offers so you can mix the Free Shipping with the 25% Off Sale and also combine the $5 Ticket Sale with the 25% Off Sale.
- New DVD Releases include “The French Connection” from Ring of Honor’s debut in Montreal, Quebec on November 7th. This event includes a battle of champions as Nigel McGuinness defends the ROH World Title against FIP Champ Go Shiozaki, Tag Champ Kevin Steen, and Tag Champ El Generico in an Elimination Match. Also, Bryan Danielson & Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black; Roderick Strong vs. Davey Richards; plus more. Also just released is “Bound By Hate” from Markham, Ontarion on November 8th featuring Kevin Steen & El Generico defending the World Tag Team Titles against The Briscoes; Austin Aries vs. Jimmy Jacobs in a Dog Collar Match; Bryan Danielson vs. Tyler Black vs. Kenny Omega in a tremendous Three Way Match; Nigel McGuinness vs. Necro Butcher for the ROH World Title; plus more.
- Kenny Omega aims to continue his meteoric rise in ROH during Final Battle Weekend! In Philly on 12/26, he has signed to face “Addicted to Love” Rhett Titus in a singles contest. Titus, completely embarrassed by Daizee Haze and the Necro Butcher in Nashville, is looking to get back on track. Then on 12/27 at the Hammerstein in midtown Manhattan, Omega is certainly facing his biggest challenge, Claudio Castagnoli! Castagnoli has been fuming and is fresh off a No DQ loss to Bryan Danielson. Without question, Claudio is looking for someone to take it out on. Will Omega rise to the occasion? We’ll find out in two weeks!
- Speaking of Rhett Titus, we’ve been told by Titus to expect another “sweet” video in the next few days. Good lord.
Credit: ROHWrestling.com
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Other
New JR Blog
JrsBarBq.com
With me leaving Saturday for Buffalo, I thought I would write a short blog with a few observations and random thoughts. We will cover The Naitch, Brock Lesnar, JBL, and Chris Adams among others. Here goes…
I guess there was a small controversy about Ric Flair attending an autograph session Saturday in Jersey. Ric is now making the appearance as previously committed as I understand it. I heard that Ric’s agent was not pleased Ric would be asked to sign several requests from fans who could not be there but instead paid the fees and send items for signing. I say what the hell. Sign the items, earn the payday and call it a day. Agents can over think things and many of them do on a regular basis. Ric is very amenable to his fans and I can virtually assure you this “issue” was not of Ric’s doing. Fortunately, all’s well that ends well Saturday in New Jersey.
JBL has been in the eye of the storm this week as far as ‘rasslin gossip is concerned which sort of goes with the turf these days. Nonetheless I am impressed with how much weight John has lost over the past several months and I do know that his Mamajuana Energy Drink has been an important aspect of his weight loss which is getting close to a whopping 100 pounds. Obviously the product works and John has told me that taking it has helped him maintain his workouts which are a must to go along with common sense eating.
Speaking of losing weight, I mentioned that I had 2 Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches with Tazz this past week from Tony Luke’s in Philly and I get emails blasting me and telling me that my colon is going to blow up, etc. I have heard enough colon jokes to last me a life time and all you amateur Dr. Heiney’s out there can let it rest. I may eat red meat once a week nowadays and am healthier than I have been in years.
Great to see Brock Lesnar heading back down to Louisville to make an appearance at the Davis Arena where Brock learned his pro wrestling skills. I am impressed with the UFC Heavyweight Champion for taking the time to do this. Brock will be in Louisville on January 7.
We are getting a ton of emails about the retirement of The Undertaker. I have heard NOTHING about this matter and would bet a black hat and a slab of ribs that ‘Taker wrestles a few more years. Plus, for the record I don’t ever see the Undertaker losing at a Wrestlemania no matter who he wrestles.
We are really staying busy processing your orders that you are sending in and the Mrs. is helping her sister get them packed and shipped. You still have time to place your orders but I suggest you get them in ASAP so we can get them to you by the holidays.
FCW wrestler Sheamus O’Shaunessy is a good looking prospect. Keep your eye on him.
The pending Chris Adams’ documentary could really be interesting. Adams had great talent, a superb look, unique verbal skills but also had a pronounced dark side. Drugs and alcohol abuse did Adams no favors nor did him working in World Class Wrestling when it was the wild west and talents had little discipline and it was party like a rock star virtually every night. Adams seemed to have a propensity of beating women and that is never cool. Chris’ temper got him some prison time as I recall for assaulting a flight attendant and he died of a gun shot wound.
I see where Jushin Liger is having a match to celebrate his 20th anniversary of being in the business. I vividly remember meeting Liger for the first time while I was in WCW. He was and I am sure still is a class act. Liger was the Rey Mysterio of Japan for those of you that may not be familiar with the talented, high flier. Liger’s matches with Brian Pillman are some of my best memories of that period of my career. Their aerial moves were on the money and not over done and all had meaning. Flying for the hell of it reeks of a lack of knowledge of the art of wrestling and both “Thunder” and “Flying Brian” fully understood the true meaning of wrestling and entertaining the fans.
Looking forward to Buffalo hosting Armageddon on Sunday. I have not seen the show or the final, final lineup but my instincts tell me that this show might include some surprises which are always nice if they stay surprises.
Congrats to Ron Simmons for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Ron was a real stud at Florida State and a legit 3 time all American. One man never blocked the dominating nose guard including my Sooners who hooked up twice against Ron’s FSU Seminoles in the Orange Bowl. The celebration for Ron becoming the first African American World’s Champion in WCW that was held at the CNN Center was something special of which to be a part. Ironically ESPN Classics has aired one of those Orange Bowls with Ron playing against Steve “Dr. Death” Williams who was an offensive guard for the Sooners. Small world, huh?
How long will it be until we see “Legacy” merchandise available? Soon would be my answer.
Check out our Q&A section of the site as I have worked diligently to update most of your questions. Remember the more succinct you can make them the better. If they start off with, “I have 5 questions for you” they likely get deleted. Nonetheless I have answered dozens of new questions and think you will enjoy that facet of this site.
The Mrs. and I are looking forward to 5 days in Miami in early January as the Sooners prepare to play Florida in the National Championship Game for the “strap.” You see here in this blog I can say “strap” and it’s cool. It’s really not a strap though it’s a crystal cup of which the Sooners have won 7 whereas a great team like Texas has won 3 if you’re keeping score at home.
Again, thanks for your holiday business and you still have time to get your items by the holidays if you don’t delay. Our family certainly appreciates you shopping with us.
Our Norman crew is still buzzing about actor/musician Billy Bob Thornton visiting our store last week. A buddy of mine got a part in an upcoming Billy Bob movie. I wonder……
Boomer Sooner!
J.R.
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