I think going head to head on 1/4 for TNA would be a GREAT chance to showcase the talent they have that people have read about but may have not seen as of yet.

Similar to mid 90's. I read about guys like Dreamer, Sandman, RVD, and Raven but never saw them until I got my first ECW tape.

Its just a head shaking maneuver. Hall burned them once, and has no history with the company. And this is a panic response(IMO) to Hart.

I only wish Hall would no show again, that would be epic

So Flair wants a safety net deal, too?

Lots of confidence they're showing in their own abilities to carry a federation:

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

- The latest on Ric Flair is that he has not signed with TNA as of this week. Flair was out of the country on vacation last weekend but word is that TNA is putting pressure on him that if he doesn't sign and appear on the January 4th show then the offer may be pulled.

The issue most likely is Flair not wanting to go with WWE's competition. However, money plays a factor as the last time WWE made him an offer it wasn't even close to what TNA is offering. It's believed that WWE's last offer to Flair was somewhere around $250,000 per year. Flair hasn't spoken with WWE about any kind of offer recently.

As noted before, Flair wants to sign with Panda Energy in case TNA goes under, he still gets paid. Flair feels that since Hulk Hogan signed a deal under the same circumstances with Panda, he should get the same treatment.

I just dont see TNA being able to hang with Bret Hart on Raw..

I'm worried that Bret is still emo and won't even consider sharing the screen with HBK which would be an epic face off.

There's speculation that Michaels would be okay with working with Hart, since he's born again and all that.
HHH is supposedly the one being a b**** about it. Not sure how Hart feels, but you know the scenario had to be brought up during negotiations.
I bet it happens, since there's not much time on the contract. This has to be a quick-hit, high-impact kind of deal.

It has the potential to be much more if Vince plays his hand right. One would think he knows this could be a bigtime money maker for him, promotions(tshirts, merchandise), PPV hits, DVD sales, etc. If Vince blows it right off the bat and lets this get away from him I will be disappointed

What major angle has the E played correctly in recent memory?
They blew the wCw Invasion, the last attempt at the nWo was a disaster, and Vince intentionally f***ed up ECW.
I don't expect ANYTHING from this Hart angle, but I'm hoping to be proven wrong.

I wont be surprised if he screws this up, but I will be disappointed

I would be very surprised if he screws it up. It's not like the Alliance angle where he couldn't bring guys in because of certain contracts. I'm sure they talked a lot with Bret about what they would want to do with him. I'm sure HBK was brought up. While I would be disappointed if he and Shawn never crossed paths on screen, it wouldn't make or break the run for me.

Hope he looks better than he did at his Hall of Fame thing.

If you're Vinny Mac, this is where you tell HHH to shut his mouth & play ball with whatever you & Bret wanna do. Bringing Bret in has the potential to be a HUGE moment.

Anyone watch Raw tonight? I didn't but reading the results, sounds like a set-up for Hart/HBK at WM? That would be about the most epic thing ever done.

They're definitely setting up some sort of showdown. Michaels told VKM to bring Bret back because "only good things will happen". VKM ponders the comment, gets an evil grin and announces Bret as guest host next week.
I just wonder if Bret has even one more match in him - he hasn't looked very good the last bunch of times I've seen him.

I'm sure Bret could get into shape by WM if that is what is to happen. I still think it ends with Bret/Vince at Mania and HBK/HHH.

I hope so..

As much as I loved HBK/Taker I don't wanna see it again because it cant end good.. either its the same result as last year or Undertakers streak ends, which I don't want to see happen..

At this point it would be stupid to end Taker's streak.

As big as a Bret Hart fan as I was back in his heyday...I don't wanna see him in the ring unless he's absolutely ready to go.

I dont think Bret would step in the ring unless he WAS absolutely ready to go. He has always been very concerned about the perception of him and his legacy, he wouldnt want to come off looking bad

Exactly.

He looked ok at his Hall of Fame speech, minus the pale skin. A couple of tanning sessions would fix that. I'm sure he tries to keep working out.

By the way Critic... this has clearly been in the works since, at least, when Piper hosted Raw, when McMahon said he only had one more match left in him and it'd have to be someone special.

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Whatever you say, Pratt.

Maryse couldnt be any hotter.. my god

I'll see you that and give you this; BTW, TNA's prob gonna release Lacey Von Erich soon and bring back Angelina Love (seems like her visa issues are finally getting sorted).

Lacey Von Erich seems like she has pissed off pretty much everyone

Yeah, apparently she walks around backstage like she owns the place and doesn't take anyone's advice.
Which is a bad thing when you can't wrestle or speak.
She's real cute, but that ain't gonna save her from the unemployment line for long.

She is #2 on my list behind Velvet Sky.

RIP Dr. Death Steve Williams:

http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/wwe/5604.html

Source: PWInsider.com

- It's sad to report that wrestling legend Steve "Dr. Death" Williams lost his battle with cancer last night and has passed away. More details should be available soon.

Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Williams.

Don't think I ever heard he was sick or even had cancer. Glad he is not suffering anymore.

I know he had more of career, but I will always remember him getting knocked out by Bart Gunn legit.

THE VARSITY CLUB!!!
Dr. Death, Mike Rotunda, Rick Steiner and Dan Spivey with Kevin Sullivan as their "coach".
Awesomeness!!!

was Dr Death the guy that b****slapped that 20/20 reporter(totally blanking on his name right now) who called wrestling fake to his face?

No, that was another Dr. D., David Schultz.
Schultz was off his f***ing rocker.
Dr. Death was a good friend of Jim Ross, yet agreed (to keep his job, I'm sure) to hang around with Ed Ferrara's awful "Oklahoma" character in WCW, who was basically mocking Ross' Bell's Palsy.

And it was John Stossel who took the open hand to the ear, messing up his hearing legit.

thats right, John Stossel. he was such a condescending prick, and he thought being a journalist was going to make him immune to what happened. he may have sued and won, but i enjoyed watching the replay

haha man I remember Butterbean knocking out Bart Gunn now.. that was awesome

Butterbean f***ed him up, thats a good youtube video

First, thank you for that shot of Maryse. That was more than needed. Secondly, behind Velvet Sky? To each their own I suppose.


I remember hearing Jim Cornette tell a story how the Gunn/Williams fight was set up for Williams to win & to be set up in a main card feud with Stone Cold. Gunn ends up winning, Vinny Mac has the bright idea to give the push to Gunn, and then Butterbean happened...

Wasn't that Brawl 4 All booked as legit boxing matches and they were ending in decisions and no knockouts then Bart Gunn knocked out Dr Death and they started pre-determining Bart Gunn knocking guys out...than threw him to the wolves at WM 15 against Butterbean. I don't think anyone thought Bart Gunn would have a shot.

One day until the new Monday Night War, Bret Harts return, and the AARPWO returns in TNA

Sounds like RVD and Mr. Kennedy will show up as well.

I'm more excited for Angelina Love re-signing.

Are Kennedy and RVD WWE copyrights? If so, then its gonna be Ken Anderson, and I have to wonder what RVD would be renamed

I think RVD has rights to his name since he used it before signing with WWE.

Angelina Love re-signing = goodbye Lacey Von Erich. Too bad for my eyes, but good for the business.

Okay, if this is true......NOW color me interested!!

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/31801...e-creative

In a most interesting article posted by The Sports Courier, it is speculated TNA Wrestling will blast out during its first unopposed hour this Monday January 4th during the 1st Monday Night Wrestling Wars in 9 years. Vince McMahon's WWE will be challenged by a new version of TNA, lead by former WCW President Eric Bischoff, WWE Wrestlemania and All Time Legend Hulk Hogan, TNA President Dixie Carter, and surprises they will unveil on Monday Night.

According to the article, which was written by Fred Richani there is a 95% that former WWE superstar Ken "Mr. Kennedy" Anderson will make his TNA debut this Monday night. Before you discredit this source, think about it. Anderson has been relatively quiet. He took some Nu-Wrestling Evolution and Hulkamania Tour international bookings, but has not popped up much, if at all stateside in a wrestling capacity. Anderson even said on his Twitter that he wasn't a free agent. This was in response to a fan mentioning he was “the hottest free agent in wrestling.”

Now here comes the big surprise.

From the article:

Here's the real bombshell. We are told there is a 75% chance, if not better, that former ECW owner, WWE manager/commentator, and creative genius Paul Heyman will debut for TNA on Monday night. In fact, it is believed that he may be the first person you see on your television screen, assuming the now non-WWE contracted Shane McMahon doesn't decide to take a stroll (now that would freeze hell over) to Orlando, Florida.

On a side note, if Heyman does debut for TNA on Monday night, it further pieces everything together. RVD and Anderson did the Hulkamania Tour. RVD is tight with Hogan. Heyman is loyal to Anderson and RVD. Heyman can provide the creativity and sense that has been lacking in TNA's booking for quite some time.

And here's some food for thought. Tommy Dreamer left WWE's ECW brand. He is actually not contracted by WWE anymore. In fact, he can't appear on television for a major promotion until a designated 90-day period ends. I ask you readers this.

Who said Dreamer would go to TNA as a wrestler?

If Heyman shocks the world Monday night, expect Dreamer to be backstage and involved in some creative/road agent capacity in the very near future (aka a non-televised/non-active wrestling role).

Lastly, we were told that none of us should be surprised if Booker T returns to Raw this Monday night for WWE, as a way of Vince McMahon letting TNA know “I won't acknowledge you, but I know you're there.”

Hulk Hogan seems to be doing what he's said since joining TNA: shaking things up.

Heyman would be interesting, but the powers that be never seem to let Heyman do his thing. When he is creative control, he is at his best, but I really cannot see Bischoff or Hogan allowing that

I don't think Heyman would sign on unless he had things in writing. He's basically moved on from wrestling, although he has kept his ear to the ground. I think Heyman, Hogan and Bischoff would be highly motivated to challenge VKM, so anything is possible. If it meant Russo got the boot, even better.

This. I bet he is just an on air charater more than anything. Heyman should run the show.

Looks like good things happening in wrestling, hopefully TNA gets going causing wwe to stop with there past 5 years of absolute bs

My buddy was telling me he heard a Hogan quote where Hulk was saying that he wants to do away with the 6 sided ring ASAP. I havent found it yet, but if so I would agree with that decision, although it does remove a bit of brand identity from TNA. That 6 sided ring just doesnt work when I watch it though, the wrestlers look like their moves are inhibited by the ring, they are used to more space between posts

yup 4 side > 6 side

IIRC, it was set up for Dr. Death to win the entire thing until Gunn knocked him out. Then they decided to throw him in there against Butterbean thinking that he actually had a chance. That was the last we heard of Bart Gunn.

As for tomorrow night. Yep, I'll be watching my first TNA show, that is until 8 when my favorite wrestler makes his return & hopefully it won't suck.

I just hope TNA realizes that they can bring in all the star power they want, they still have to put out a quality product. Even though growing up on the original ECW, RVD & Heyman excite me. Same with Kennedy.