Pro Wrestling/Mixed Martial Arts news and notes 1/20/07

By Art Shimko
shimko_7@hotmail.com

-- Pro wrestling and MMA news from the last few days...

-- Colorful Pro Wrestler 'Bam Bam' Bigelow Found Dead

-- He was a celebrity with a name all wrestling fans knew

-- Superstars reflect on Bam Bam

-- WWE released more talent from its roster between Thursday and Friday including Tatanka, Greg Groothius (Jack Bull), Steven Adkins (Seth Skyfire), and Ryan Reeves (all three were development talent training at OVW). The company has signed former TNA wrestler Cassidy Riley (who wrestled Monty Brown/Marquis Cor Von on ECW Tuesday) and ROH wrestler Ace Steel to developmental deals.

-- I recommend everyone check out this New York Times article: Expert Ties Ex-Player’s Suicide to Brain Damage. Dave Meltzer mentioned it in his Thursday update and the NYT article very educational and scary, it mainly discusses NFL football players and how concussions can effect their mental and physical states in the long run focusing on the suicide of Andre Waters and the condition of his brain from numerous concussions in his career. The pro wrestling/MMA connection here, besides the effects of concussions can have on wrestlers, fighters and boxers, is that former WWE wrestler and Harvard grad Chris Nowinski has done lots of research connecting concussions to depression and drastic results leading to premature deterioration of a person's brain. Another point brought up is the fact that many football players, and this seems to be the nature and attitude with athletes in general, would shake off a concussion and not tell their coaches or rest and not get back in action so soon.

-- "Dirty Dick" Slater's in trouble, this time accused of harassing a woman he attacked years ago: Ex-wrestler accused of contacting stab victim

-- Yes, this really happened: Jerry Lawler interviews David Arquette. So do you think that WWE 24/7 Online offers the match where Arquette won the big gold belt later this week?

-- J.R.'s got some new blogs: J.R. Remembers Bam Bam Bigelow and Marquis Cor Von… Russ… Punk… HBK… ECW… Stupidity

-- ECW rating: 1.52; Impact rating: 1.1 (www.f4wonline.com)

-- Casey's 1/19/2007 TNA iMPACT recap

-- Tickets are still available for Saturday's TNA show in Irondale, AL at the Zamora Shrine Temple located at 3521 Ratliff Road. The box office opens at 3PM

-- Mike Mooneyham's latest article on midget wrestling: Big controversy surrounds smallest wrestlers

-- Weekend Cover Story: High-flying Hardy

-- National Wrestling Superstars 1/27 at the Brick Elks Lodge, 2491 Old Hooper Ave., Brick, NJ: "The Anvil" Niedhart, the Famous Clown, Sychodelic Sissies (Ace Darling and Mr. Motion Shane Taylor) vs Team Supreme (Nicky Oceans and Corvis Fear), Ice Fire Steve Zaft, Strange Resin, The Hurtin Hillbillies, AC Kewl, Rocco Dorsey, of Brick, Corrupted Youth, The Great Garoffollo of Toms River and others. Tickets in Brick: Tony's Pizza, 2115 Route 88; The Brick Convenience Store No. 2, 438 Mantoloking Road; Baseball Cards of Brick, 2715 Hooper Ave.; Herbertsville Coin Laundry and Dry Cleaning, 1820 Lanes Mill Road and Stewards of Kearny, 245 Drumpoint Road. Tickets in Toms River: Rivoli's Restaurant and Store, 781 Fisher Blvd.; Antonio's Pizza, 1213 Route 37 east in the Toms River Mall; and Johnny G's Italian Restaurant and Pizza, 1812 Hooper Ave. Details: (732) 888-1704. http://www.doubleplaytixx.com

-- JAPW Saturday night @ 8PM at The Rahway Rec Center (275 East Milton Ave), Rahway, NJ: JAPW World Heavyweight Champion Teddy Hart vs The Necro Butcher; Jack Evans vs Chuck Taylor vs Ricochet vs The Grim Reefer; JAPW World Tag Team Champions Jay Lethal & Azrieal vs The SAT; Colt Cabana vs. Delirious; Ruckus w/Eddie Kingston vs B-Boy; Daizee Haze vs Alicia

-- American Combat Wrestling Every Tuesday Night
@ Club Bourbon Street, 4331 US HWY 19 in New Port Richey, FL
Show starts @ 8:45 pm
25 cent Drafts 5 dollar admission

January 23rd event information:

ACW Heavyweight champion “the Marquee” Bruce Santee (w/Supermodel Amy Love) vs. “Raging Bull” Eddie Taurus

ACW Tag Team champions Dogmatika (Sideshow and Dany Only) Joshua Masters and Sedrick Strong (w/Fetish)

Open House with Host “Roughhouse” Ralph Mosca with guest “the Marquee” Bruce Santee
Any Questions for Bruce Santee please email acwoffice@aol.com

ACW Cruiserweight champion Nooie Lee vs. Austin Amadeus

#1 Contender Cruiserweight Title Match
Nick Fame vs. Jason Moore

As always this event is subject to change without notice by the offices of ACW. ACW’s website BRAND NEW will be online in the coming days. Check out www.floridaindies.com for information. (thanks to Alan Wojcik)

-- Quite a bit of UFC press lately:

-- There's an interview with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and another Rampage article with audio.

-- NBC Sports has opened a UFC webpage featuring a Dana White interview.

-- CNBC's Business Nation is airing a special titled Fighting, Inc. on Wednesday 1/24 at 10PM EST, check this description out from UFC's website: It's one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. In its beginnings in the 1990s, MMA was thought of as barbaric, human cockfighting, and was vilified by both the press and politicians. Today, due to increased safety regulations and sanctioning, it's becoming big business - thanks to the branding and popularity of it's flagship - Ultimate Fighting Championship, and it's no-holds-barred leader, Dana White. Here we go again~!

-- Matt Hughes will be speaking at a Family Life Fellowship event on 1/28, 10:30AM at Family Life Fellowship's Destiny Dome in Moberly, IL

-- UFC's perfect antagonist

-- UFC ultimate goal for 'Peg scrapper

-- The Versus Network will be airing WEC fight shows this summer, the WEC is now owned by Zuffa.

-- Ultimate fighter Couture returns

-- IFL live show report from Oakland: Tiger Sharks vs. Condors/Lions vs Razor Claws

-- Saul Soliz's Renegades Extreme Fighting MMA show on Saturday night at the Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston sold out the 2,250-seat venue on Tuesday.

-- Rumble on the River boxing and MMA event at hosted by The Eagles Aerie 3775 at 321 N. Spring St. in Cape Girardeau, MO. The card will include competitors from the Miletich Fighting Systems of Southeast Missouri and Bootheel Bombers Boxing Club. Mixed martial arts bouts will include championships in the Sikeston-based Absolute Fighting Challenge. Competitors are expected from seven different states. The card will have 15 to 20 bouts, with about a 50-50 split on boxing and mixed martial arts. For ticket information, call 335-0931

-- Jiu jitsu instructor accused of molestation

-- Eric "Butterbean" Esch KO's Charles Hodges in 45 seconds of the main event of Palace Fighting Championships: Card a knockout at first blush

-- Promoter to diversify with mixed martial arts

-- Shamrock, Gracie, Shaw Conference Call Quotes

-- Norris hopes combat league kick-starts his pet cause
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