The Buzz

Ahh I used to love the random hugs on McMahon from Austin.

I second the Cactus Jack/HHH feud in that retired Foley from a full time schedule. I'd have to say reading that Sting signed to TNA online shocked me. I was all but sure he was done, and had read rumors that he was open to a dvd from WWE and a match with The Rock like a month before. Shawn Michaels returning to wrestle at Summerslam 02 surprised me, but him then returning to an active schedule surprised me even more. I figured he'd work a Hogan like schedule showing up a few times a year. Reading that the nWo was coming to WWE and seeing the teaser pics online. Then seeing how fast they killed the angle when they could have doubled the heat by having Hogan show his ass and get more heat for the angle.

you can buy the book on highspots.com. I just found it there for like 35 bucks.

This makes me wonder how many other statements supposedly made by wrestlers, or things supposedly done by wrestlers over the years are blown out of proportion. It's like that game you played in high school where you started with a fact on a piece of paper and passed it by whispering it to the person next to you. By the time it reached the end of the room you went from saying something like the baboon likes bananas to something along the lines of a banana gave birth to a baboon.

I just read he's trying out to be an agent.

I bought that Heroes of World Class, and a few of the angles leading to some of those matches are discussed. Glad to see I'll be able to see the payoff in a few cases.

I don't mind a lot of the stuff mentioned in the thread, and hell I don't even mind the whole get up and freeze when you see your opponent perched on the top rope as the deer in the headlights mentality is a good excuse. However, I cringe whenever I see a group of guys blatanty standing outside of the ring for a suicide dive, doing some weak brawling and looking over their shoulders waiting for the move.

Yeah now when I watch it it's annoyingly slow, but when I was ten and marking out because my favorite wrestler of all-time is wrestling again after a year layoff, I just really didn't notice that it was slow.

I echo some of the above sentiments. I'd say Sting winning the World Title a week or so ago really surprised me after reading retirement/Kurt Angle power play rumors. The first few months of the nWo angle were chalk full of surprises. Ultimate Warrior returning at Wrestlemania to help Hulk Hogan fight off Sid and..I think it was Papa Shango haven't watched that particular angle in awhile. Ric Flair's comeback to the WWE was surprising. Hearing that WCW was bought by WWF was surprising and depressing in a way. Tazz standing up to Austin several times to pretty good pops was a surprise the few times it happened. I remember the one time Austin was picking on Cole and Tazz said something to the effect of "Either apologize or I'll beat it out of you." Probably one of the last times I thought Tazz might get a push. Luger winning the WCW Title on Nitro in 97 was a shock/cool mark out moment. As a kid I didn't notice that the fast count was really slow in the Starrcade 97 match between Hogan and Sting. I probably looked away for a brief second during the count. So I was pretty surprised that the match didn't end on Hogan winning.

The point I was talking about in regards to her skill level was I feel bad that she got injured as I think she is still learning, and getting better every time. I think she's in a very high spot for still being a rookie, and I hope her career isn't in danger because of a routine spot gone wrong.

I'm surprised at the way she hit the turnbuckles when she fell, I guess that is the danger of on the job training in pro-wrestling.

That was fucking horrible looking, hope all is ok with her spine or head.

I'd probably give it to Santino. I can't think of any one that's debuted recently having any sort of impact. Santino is probably the closest. Edit: Does PWI consider guys like Snitsky and Big Daddy V as new wrestlers when WWE seems to?

Santino is slowly winning me over with his promos. It's too bad that he'll probably get a stunner sooner or later.

primetimecentral.net or .com can't remember which anymore probably has a good amount of links still up for various efeds. They used to have a large interfed, but are now just a set of forums. Also I believe fwrestling.com hosts a lot of feds.

Wasn't he released recently as well?

They went with Junior Fatu because he's quite simply the biggest named Samoan that wrestles still.

I think they split last year a few months after dating.

So according to Jim Ross, the World Class dvd is still on track to be released. Has anyone heard anything about the Mr. Perfect dvd?

An Interview With Ken Shamrock: Thoughts on Randy Couture, Dana White, and Upcoming Tryouts Posted by MMA Junkie on October 22, 2007 at 1:06 pm ET Ken ShamrockHeavyweight champion Randy Couture isn’t the only UFC Hall of Famer who’s had a falling out with UFC President Dana White. Before the UFC legend abruptly resigned from the UFC earlier this month, Ken Shamrock had his own issues with UFC management. After working to become the biggest name in mixed-martial arts — and becoming perhaps the first MMA superstar to get the sport international recognition — his relationship with the UFC soured to the point of being essentially nonexistent today. MMAjunkie.com recently caught up with the MMA trailblazer to discuss his thoughts on Couture’s resignation, his own problems with the UFC, why a rumored fight with Michael Bisping never worked out, and even his open fighter tryouts he has set for Thursday. MMAJUNKIE.COM: You’ve spent as much time with the UFC as just about anyone else. What was your reaction when you first heard the news that Randy Couture resigned from the UFC? KEN SHAMROCK: It didn’t surprise me because of what they did to me. I basically sold my body to them. I mean I fought hurt all the time — and I got paid, of course… (UFC management) seems to think that the UFC is everything and that it doesn’t have to respect anybody. The guys who built this sport are thrown outside — the guys who were there before Dana White got there. Dana’s not a fighter, and he’s not a tough guy, and he walks around talking to people, treating people with disrespect, talks about people’s managers because he doesn’t like them. Randy Couture was an absolute gentleman in the sport. Myself, and Royce Gracie, and other people who developed the sport before Dana White ever got in there, he treats them like dog crap… The fans need to understand that the money that they’re putting into the UFC and spending is going into Dana White’s pocket and the Fertittas’ pocket. They made billions of dollars on this company, and they’re selling souls. MMAJUNKIE.COM: Kind of along those lines, I know Dana’s been quick to call it a retirement, though Randy’s saying it’s absolutely not a retirement. Did you go through that too? Did you feel like they were trying to force you into retirement? KEN SHAMROCK: Absolutely. I mean that’s what everybody keeps asking me, ‘When are you coming out of retirement?’ I’m not retired. If I’ve ever seen a bully in my life — and I’ve seen a lot of bullies and I don’t like them — the UFC’s a bully. They push little organizations around, they talk bad about people that don’t march… in a line that they want them to march in. It’s just the way that they treat people man, it’s just sad, and the money that they’re making is going to them and not the talent. It’s the talent that is making them who they are. They’re not making it themselves; the talent is. But yet, they seem to think that it’s them. Randy Couture is a gentleman, a stand-up guy. For Dana White to say that he slapped his manager — and to think that Dana White is a promoter — what promotor goes around talking about someone’s talent whose made them millions of dollars and say that they slapped them? How immature is that? MMAJUNKIE.COM: Why would the UFC be so quick to turn its back on Couture — or you for that matter? KEN SHAMROCK: Well, it’s like this. I mean, yes, I was injured and I had a lot of things going on with myself, but I went in and fought anyways, and I lost. But, the things that I’d done prior to that, even when I was losing, I was selling more tickets than they had ever sold before. I was promoting the event, I was promoting the fight.. and there was absolutely no respect toward me as a person and as an employee of the company that did all this for them — none whatsoever. I’m not talking about the money. I’m just talking about the way that you’re treated. When this happened to Randy, it didn’t surprise me because they don’t have any respect for the talent. The only time they have respect for (fighters) is when they’re talking to their face and they have an event to do. . MMAJUNKIE.COM: After your final fight with Tito Ortiz (Oritz vs. Shamrock III in October 2006), did you tell the UFC that you wanted to keep the door open for a return? KEN SHAMROCK: Well, the UFC breached my contract. I had one fight left on my contract, and they just told my agent and my attorney that they were terminating by contact for no reason. MMAJUNKIE.COM: This was right at the time of that fight? KEN SHAMROCK: Yeah, saying that my quality, my level of fighting can’t compete in the UFC. Buddy, they knew I had some injuries that I needed to let rest for a little bit so that I could come back and perform better. But the fights were coming back to back (in July and October 2006), and I was being put in these positions to where I had to fight. So, I did the fights. I had one fight left on my contract, and I wanted to make sure that this last fight that I had on the contact — that I was able to go in and be 100 percent. And then they cut my contract, which obviously is a breach. MMAJUNKIE.COM: This past summer, there were some rumors of you possibly fighting Michael Bisping at UFC 75. What happened there? Had they talked to you about that? KEN SHAMROCK: They never talked to me, but they talked to a reporter, and they talked to my agent and said the fight was offered to me. And then they (spun) it as if they never offered that fight. (Dana White) straight out lied to my agent — straight out lied to my agent — because he told a reporter and he also told my agent that that fight was offered if we wanted it. And I jumped at it because I knew, when they offered it, I would crush (Bisping). I saw him on ‘The Ultimate Fighter (3).’ He’s a good young talent. He’s going to be great one day, but he’s not where I’m at. MMAJUNKIE.COM: You had mentioned that the UFC terminated your contract. Were they talking about a new contract for that Bisping fight? KEN SHAMROCK: No. Like I said, I can’t go too much into that because we could have an ongoing process here. MMAJUNKIE.COM: A lawsuit? KEN SHAMROCK: I can’t go into it. It was definitely offered and they did breach my contract. I had one fight left. So, I mean, it’s Dana White thinking that he created the world, and everything in it, and he created the human race, and people should bow down to him and do what he says and be happy with it and like whatever he says. MMAJUNKIE.COM: Obviously, you deal with a lot of young fighters, real prospects. If one of the guys that’s under your wing came to you and said he was thinking about signing with the UFC, what would you tell that fighter? KEN SHAMROCK: I would say absolutely do it. It’s a dream. I mean the UFC is a dream for fighters to be involved in. I was very fortunate to be the first champion, the first superfight champion in the UFC, the first heavyweight superfight champion, and you know, I was part of the history of making it where it’s at today. And I know that there’s a lot of young kids coming up wishing they could be there fighting because it is the SuperBowl of fights right now. I would tell them, go for it. Just because Dana and I — or, I should say Dana has a problem with me because I don’t have one with him; I have a problem with what he has done to me and the disrespect towards me, but I don’t have a problem with the UFC. The UFC is a great place for fighters to go and fight. You just have to be careful how your contracts and different things are being done so that you’re not going to be hosed in the end because, unfortunately, the things that have happened to me and have happened to other fighters — and now to Randy — kind of tells you the tall tale of what goes on behind the scenes with the organization and contracts and the way they treat their talent. So I would say, yes, definitely follow your dream. Just make sure you got somebody there to take care of you and make sure that you’re not being hosed. MMAJUNKIE.COM: Do you think Dana White sometimes acts more with his heart than his head? KEN SHAMROCK: Yeah. One of the issues that Dana White has is the fact that he wants to own the universe. He doesn’t want anybody else to come in there and have competition, and he’s (said) many times that ‘I’m going to crush that organization’ or ‘I’m going to crush that person. They don’t need to F with me.‘ MMAJUNKIE.COM: Has that happened with you? KEN SHAMROCK: This is what caused Dana to let me go — because he had a vendetta with the International Fight League because he felt that they had stolen concepts or fights, or personnel of paperwork, or something. He tried to sue them. He lost in court, and that pissed him off. So, then I was going to put an IFL team together (in 2006) where I was going to be a coach, which was not against my (UFC) contract. There were no rules that I couldn’t corner my fighters in the IFL. I was going to go in the IFL and bring a team so some of my fighters could get some fights under their belt, get some exposure on TV because they weren’t going to get it with the UFC. They just weren’t there yet. So, Dana White tells me that if I go with the IFL, that he will not use me. I was like, ‘But I have a contract,’ and he said, ‘I’ll rip it up.’ I mean I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’ I thought well OK, I’m going to respect his wishes right now because I don’t want to ruffle the feathers and maybe he’ll get over this or whatever, so I did my thing later on and promoted my own shows, and then I put the team together. I get my fighters out there, they’re getting TV exposure, and Dana White cuts my contract. He cuts my contract and doesn’t give me a reason why. Obviously we know why. That’s personal. It’s nothing to do with business… He was pissed off because he had some employees who went to work for the IFL. And he said this to other people about the IFL that their scumbags, that they’re no good, and that they’re thieves and he’s going to crush them and that if anybody works for them, they won’t fight in the UFC. That to me is absolutely ridiculous. It’s ridiculous. It’s like saying he’s going to bitch slap Randy Couture’s agent — like he’s going to fight Tito Ortiz. What is this man doing? MMAJUNKIE.COM: You know the industry as well as anyone? Will the UFC ever have any real competition? KEN SHAMROCK: I just want people to really understand that Dana White is not the driving force behind the UFC. I know everybody’s going to say he is and put him out in the front because he’s the guy that’s going to get… the shaft if anything goes wrong, but it’s (Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta) really behind the UFC… Anyway, organizations that are going to come up and have to compete with them are going to have to have deep pockets, and they’re going to have to bring in big talent. They’re going to have to go in there and do what Dana White is doing to everybody else and buy up the talent. They’re going to have to go out and spend a lot of money, get that talent locked up and put on their event. Dana White went out and bought all the talent. He’s crushed everybody that’s tried to come up because they have the money to do it, so it’s going to take somebody with a lot of money in their pockets. MMAJUNKIE.COM: I’ve got to ask. Are we going to see you fight again any time soon? KEN SHAMROCK: Yeah. I just want to be part of a company that’s going places and treating fighters the right way. No place is perfect because all organizations are going to have issues. But you want to go somewhere where you want to put in your blood, sweat and tears — a place that respects the fighters and the fans. MMAJUNKIE.COM: So you don’t feel the UFC is that type of company? They don’t reward that type of loyalty? KEN SHAMROCK: Well yeah. The track record shows it. You’ve got how many hall-of-famers in the UFC? How many are still there working or doing something with them? Dana White has forced them all out. He doesn’t want them there. MMAJUNKIE.COM: You make a really good point. KEN SHAMROCK: Any of the UFC guys that are in the hall-of-fame are not there. Why is that? Every organization — baseball, football, boxing, you name it — when you’ve got a guy that’s made billions of dollars… they’re working for them. There are opportunities there to get a job in those sports. (The UFC) has nobody. They have pushed them all out. These are the people that built the organization, not Dana White. These fighters did.. They sacrificed family time, and they sacrificed their personal-life time. They got paid; we made money no question. But money does not give you a right to disrespect and sell them out and treat them like dirt. That doesn’t give you a right to do that. (Dana’s) done that to everybody that has built that organization and has brought it to where it’s at now. Dana White has turned his back on them. MMAJUNKIE.COM: Let’s switch gears and talk about your new gig with the International Fight League. You’ll be coaching a team. Can you tell me about the upcoming tryouts? KEN SHAMROCK: We’ve got tryouts on (Oct. 25), and it’s to be on the Lion’s Den Team and also the IFL Lions and also we have team fights overseas, so we’re looking for people that want to join our teams because we have lot of spots open. We have a lot of events going on, so it’s a great opportunity for any young kids out there who are looking to break into this business. We’re looking for talent in all weight classes. MMAJUNKIE.COM: What kind of fighters are you looking for. Veterans or youngsters? KEN SHAMROCK: We’re looking for both. We’re looking for guys that can jump in and get it on right now. We’re also looking for guys that are just starting out in the business that we can grow and build into champions. MMAJUNKIE.COM: Even if they don’t have a whole lot of experience, you’ll still consider guys like that? KEN SHAMROCK: Yeah… I promote shows where guys have no fights, or they’ve only had about four fights, and also a range of guys from who have gotten a lot of fights. We would definitely give them experience in the ring. If they have the talent, and they have the desire to be a champion, man, we can train them. MMAJUNKIE.COM: What was it about the IFL that made you want to get involved with them? KEN SHAMROCK: I liked the concept of it where you got five guys going in different weight classes and they’re all training together. Each fight depends on whether or not you’re going to move into the next round and be able to compete for that final championship at the end of the year as a team. So, everybody works hard depending on each other. It’s a real camaraderie thing, they really bond, and they start working well together. And also, anybody on any team who is undefeated or has done well gets the opportunity to compete for a belt at the end of the year and individual belt in each weight class — the Grand Prix. So, it’s a real good concept.

Source: Wrestling Observer - Junior Fatu is already asking for more money from TNA. The belief is that the former WWE star is currently working without a contract. - As posted last week, Sting has been telling people backstage at the iMPACT tapings that he plans on retiring at the end of this year. Sting and TNA are currently negotiating for a one year extension on his contract. Many within TNA aren't sure if Sting will resign or not. Dixie Carter is said to be very high on Sting and wants him to stay with TNA. If Sting signs the new deal, he would make $500,000 per year and only have to work TV and PPV dates.

Wow I missed the whole them not being brothers thing on WWE.

That's pretty funny, maybe they'll look for bookings if they are ever out for PWG. The only ROH wrestlers I've met are Nigel McGuinness and I talked about Joe vs Kobashi for a few minutes with Julius Smokes, both were nice guys. That and I guess I bumped into AJ Styles on the way out of Better Than Our Best, and my friend then got his autograph. I'm a working out, fitness nut since I want to be a wrestler, and AJ is about 20-30 pounds lighter than me, but my shoulder felt like I just hit a brick wall. Judging by the attendance, does anyone think they'll return to the west coast next year for one more try?

See here is the one thing that continues to dig into me when I hear about this wrestler did steroids straight from their mouth. I've been busting my but for ten years since I was fifteen to get to 250 pounds at 5'11. I'm starting my wrestling training with Dan Severn hopefully since he's the closest to me in probably the next six months. I hope if I'm lucky enough to ever work for the WWE I wouldn't give into the pressure and use steroids. As of right now I say I won't, and hopefully the fact that I'm not coming in small in terms of muscle and weight means I won't feel that pressure. Anyways aside from all that this is probably the book I've been wanting to read the most since I heard about it being written years ago.

Well I'd say Angle's not that much better than Sting in a few of those categories to be honest. I've never felt myself emotionally invested in a promo from either one. Sting atleast brought intensity to his promos, something that Angle brings on occasion to a promo. Angle is much funnier then Sting, but he's mainly a heel. Being funny as a heel for the most part is considered a bad thing. You can't truly hate someone that makes you laugh. As a worker, I don't deny that Angle is above Sting. The only era of Sting I might be able to compare Sting to Angle would be the late 80s. However, I think Sting's experience with great workers tends to make him a good worker by default. In my opinion Angle's short career just doesn't match up with the series of matches Sting had with guys like Vader, Muta, Flair. None of Angle's storylines match up with the excitement of Sting vs nWo/Hogan. One of the things you can say for Angle is his best matches top Sting's best matches in workrate. Angle will end up being a bigger star then Sting if he continues his career, and doesn't do anything stupid to end it early. I just don't think he's a bigger star yet in the overall picture. I mean I do see the Angle side of the argument, but I think both guys are more on an even playing field at the moment with Sting having a slight edge just due to the fact that he's been in a top spot in a major company for twenty plus years. I think it's a compliment to Angle that he's already reached legendary status barely 10 years into his career. Hell, but I can argue with you for an eternity over something like this so I'm done with my side of the argument. I think this is one of those debates that can go either way just depending on when you started watching wrestling. I just think saying Angle is "EONS" better then Sting in every category is ludicrous as well. Angle may be "EONS" better then a guy like Bill Goldberg or Sid Vicious, but he's only a mile or so better then Sting if even that much. Edit: I've found some lists on top draws, etc. from the Wrestling Observer I think they are as recent as 2003, but if I'm wrong feel free to correct me. Wrestling Observer's top 100 wrestlers based on box office, charisma, wrestling ability 1. Ric Flair 2. Lou Thesz 3. Rikidozan 4. Antonio Inoki 5. Hulk Hogan 6. Andre the Giant 7. El Santo 8. Giant Baba 9. Steve Austin 10. Buddy Rogers 11. Frank Gotch 12. Jim Londos 13. Ed Lewis 14. Stan Hansen 15. Bruno Sammartino 16. The Rock 17. Goregous George 18. Bruiser Brody 19. Riki Choshu 20. Mitsuharu Misawa 21. Verne Gagne 22. Jumbo Tsuruta 23. Terry Funk 24. Mil Mascaras 25. Bret Hart 26. Dory Funk Jr. 27. Tiger Mask 28. Blue Demon 29. Perro Aguayo 30. Nick Bockwinkel 31. Dusty Rhodes 32. Johnny Valentine 33. Freddie Blassie 34. Vader 35. George Hackenschmidt 36. Jushin Liger 37. Toshiaki Kawada 38. Keiji Muto 39. Jack Brisco 40. Harley Race 41. El Hijo del Santo 42. Tatsumi Fujinami 43. Danny Hodge 44. Akira Maeda 45. Chigusa Nagayo 46. Ricky Steamboat 47. Shawn Michaels 48. Shinya Hashimoto 49. Ray Stevens 50. Randy Savage 51. Gene Kiniski 52. Nobuhiko Takada 53. Mick Foley 54. Genichiro Tenryu 55. The Crusher 56. Dick the Bruiser 57. Canek 58. Antonio Rocca 59. The Sheik 60. Den Leo Jonathon 61. Dynamite Kid 62. The Undertaker 63. El Solitario 64. Billy Graham 65. Jerry Lawler 66. Roddy Piper 67. Ultimo Dragon 68. Billy Robinson 69. Jaguar Yokota 70. Lioness Asuka 71. Bobo Brazil 72. Karl Gotch 73. Bert Assirati 74. Salvador Gori Guerrero 75. Bill Longson 76. Killer Kowalski 77. Mildred Burke 78. Abdullah the Butcher 79. The Destroyer 80. Atsushi Onita 81. Ted Dibiase 82. Earl McCready 83. Pat O'Connor 84. Fritz Von Erich 85. Wahoo McDaniel 86. Billy Watson 87. Leroy McGuirk 88. Mad Dog Vachon 89. Yvon Robert 90. Bronko Nagurski 91. Dos Caras 92. Edouard Carpentier 93. Rayo de Jalisco 94. Stanislaus Zbysko 95. Sting 96. Pat Patterson 97. Masahiro Chono 98. Dara Singh 99. Jess Ventura 100. Eddie Graham A list of Wrestlers who have main evented pay-per-views with buyrates of 1.0 or higher from the Observer as well. This is the 2003 update and I'm sure Angle may have earned another number or two since then. Hogan 23 Austin 20 Rock 18 Flair 17 HHH 10 Bret Hart 9 Taker 7 Sting 7 Luger 6 Angle 6 Foley 5 Savage 5 Vince 5 Jericho 4