Kim Couture made her wrestling debut Sunday night for TNA.  Almost no one noticed.  As heavy.com pointed out, that's because almost no one watches the upstart wrestling promotion, which is still trying to squeeze the last bit of life out of aging wrestlers who were ancient 10 years ago during the Monday Night Wars.

In fact, like almost everyone else on the planet, I did not see that Couture had gone to TNA. Total Nonstop Action (also stands for Tits N Ass, get it?) is, charitably, the second best wrestling company in the United States. Second best, only because literally no one else promotes wrestling nationally besides the WWE. If someone did, TNA would immediately be relegated to third place. Thousands watch their television programming and only a handful their pay per views. I was not among the die-hard few.

TNA has wildly overestimated Couture's appeal.  They never mentioned her name and assumed people would know who she was.  In reality (far from wher some wrestling executives reside) Couture was not a major television centerpiece during Rany Couture's reign as top dog over at the UFC.  She is, essentially, an unknown with a recognizable name.

The entire fiasco ended up being a waste of time. No one cares about Kim Couture in MMA and even fewer care about her in pro wrestling. Had TNA tried to glam it up, have a kitschy catfight and a little fun with it, things might have gone all right. It's the only way to play wrestling these days. It's like Batman comics. After a decade of grim and dark stories, you have to bring Robin back and have Batman smile now and again. Wrestling needs a few smiles too. This wasn't one.

The two women are now pretending that the showdown wasn't scripted at all.  They don't insult fans intelligence outright-admitting that Couture was scheduled to be there.  But that, they insist, wasn't supposed to happen.  Dozens, no doubt, are on the edge of their seats waiting to see what happens next!

It was a nothing RAW.  Not a single match worth discussing, no scintilating interviews, tons of lame partner vs. partner matches.  We'll pretend it never happened and wait for Snoop Dogg next week.

The Torch, as always, has plenty to say.

Cole announced that Cena's opponent next week has been made ... it's Triple H. It's only fitting this show would close with "the biggest match ever" in Cena's career featuring Triple H. The graphic showed on the video screen and Cena went from confident to his "concerned, thinking about what to do, should I even life live even more?" facial expression to close the show.

In the late 1990's, professional wrestling reached unprecedented national heights with a very raunchy product.  Stonecold Steve Austin flipped the bird, Shawm Michaels and HHH encouraged kids to shout "Suck it," and Paul Heyman's ECW ramped up the violence to all new levels. 

Today, it's tough for the WWE's Vince McMahon to reach the same audience that loved the Monday Night Wars era of wrestling.  Those fans are now watching MMA, where the violence is even more hardcore and even more real. Vince is smart enough to know he can't compete with that, at least not fighting fire with fire.

"You really can't compete with that," he said. "Why not deliver a more sophisticated product and not go to those extremes? If the audience wants those extremes, they know where to go and how to get it."

The hijinks are more disgusting too.  On The Ultimate Fighter, UFC fighters curse like sailors, urinate on each others property and food, and play disgusting games with their own semen and excrement.  Wrestling can't match that depravity.  So why is Bloody Elbow.com's Luke Thomas taking gratuitous shots at Vince and the WWE?

More at Cageside Seats

In the late 1990's, professional wrestling reached unprecedented national heights with a very raunchy product.  Stonecold Steve Austin flipped the bird, Shawm Michaels and HHH encouraged kids to shout "Suck it," and Paul Heyman's ECW ramped up the violence to all new levels. 

Today, it's tough for the WWE's Vince McMahon to reach the same audience that loved the Monday Night Wars era of wrestling.  Those fans are now watching MMA, where the violence is even more hardcore and even more real. Vince is smart enough to know he can't compete with that, at least not fighting fire with fire.

"You really can't compete with that," he said. "Why not deliver a more sophisticated product and not go to those extremes? If the audience wants those extremes, they know where to go and how to get it."

The hijinks are more disgusting too.  On The Ultimate Fighter, UFC fighters curse like sailors, urinate on each others property and food, and play disgusting games with their own semen and excrement.  Wrestling can't match that depravity.  So why is Bloody Elbow.com's Luke Thomas taking gratuitous shots at Vince and the WWE?

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Welterweight legend Matt Hughes is looking for bigger game than the American Kickboxing Academy trio of Jon Fitch, Mike Swick, and Josh Koscheck.  The three fighters have all recently challenged Hughes, but he made it clear to Heavy.com's Jeremy Botter that those fights don't interest him.

There are plenty of older guys out there with big names who can fight, too. I like to take fights where I've got something to win. If I take a fight against Mike Swick or Josh Kosheck, I've really got nothing to gain from that fight besides a paycheck and beating somebody up. They've got more to win than I do. Those aren't the kinds of fights that interest me.

Hughes is the best fighter the UFC has ever produced.  He sees the end of the line and has just a few fights left before he hangs up his gloves.  I think he's right not to be interested in a step back like this.  Matt has a hard time getting motivated to leave the house every day to go train.  It will take a special fight to bring him back, fully engaged, and ready to rumble.

Royce Gracie was a big fight, you know? It was a huge name, a guy that had won the old tournaments in the beginning. Those are the fights I like, the ones I can really get revved up for and get motivated. Those are the kinds of fights that gets me into the gym ready to train and work.

Read the entire interview at Heavy.com

Tomorrow night, Kazushi Sakuraba makes his return to the ring for DREAM in Japan.  It's a return to action that literally no one has been awaiting with baited breath.  As Jonathan Snowden points out at Heavy.com, Sakuraba is a tragedy waiting to happen.

Now the hall of famer is firmly in the Ali-Holmes stage of his career. He's clearly no longer the man he once was, and just as clearly needs to stop fighting to protect his long term health. Yet, promoters keep dragging him back to the ring. And he goes willingly. And audiences still want to watch him fight and in an ugly business that trumps all. Everyone is responsible for the tragedies, yet no one is.

Snowden runs down Sakuraba's history in the piece.  He's clearly one of the most important figures in MMA history.  It's a shame to see him come to this.  Remember this up and coming fighters:  save your money so you can save your brain. 

Ben Roethlisberger just doesn't seem to know what's good for him.  He already put his career at risk once, riding a motorcycle without a helmet which is the stupidest thing imaginable.  Now he's going to step into the WWE, in the middle of the season, to host RAW.  If that's not bad enough, apparently Big Ben has gone rogue, dragging his teammates along without the coach's permission.

"I mean, it's our off day," Roethlisberger said, via the Beaver County Times. "I talked to (Tomlin) about it. I didn't really ask for his permission. I talked to him about it to get a feel for if he was going to have a big problem with it. I figured he tell me. But like I said, it's our off day."

The Steelers will have Tuesday off after meetings on Monday. The Times reported that Roethlisberger's party will fly to the event in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., after work.

On Tuesday, Tomlin acknowledged the wrestling date, but wasn't thrilled. "I'm aware of it," he told reporters. "I just don't have a comment at this time."

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Bobby Lashley is looking to take his MMA game to the big leagues, or at least to AAA, and is considering signing with Strikeforce for its winter cards.  Although Lashley was never a major attraction in pro wrestling, promoters remain convinced that his adonis like, sculpted physique will bring in fans.  Plus, the success of Brock Lesnar has many MMA promoters chomping at the bit to sign Lashley.

The problem?  He's just not that good. 

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Ric Flair (via SpursUpBlog)

Have you noticed that Jim Ross spends as much time talking about MMA as he does pro wrestling?  Here he's torn:  he loves the UFC but he loves college football stars of all shapes and races.

 

It's hard to not have great respect for the athletic accomplishments of former Georgia Bulldog and NFL star Herschel Walker but Herschel's recent decision to venture into MMA at age 47 makes no sense. Is this a publicity stunt or is Walker truly serious about competing at a high level of MMA at his age? Why would any responsible promoter sign Walker to a contract of this nature unless it was merely for PR which will turn into negative ink if Herschel fights and gets embarrassed or injured. This is not a good move for MMA in general of which UFC takes the biggest hit because they are the biggest dog in the hunt.

http://www.jrsbarbq.com/blog/

And after his fight this Friday with Zak Cummings, he's got his sights set on "Mayhem" Miller.

Heavy.com: What do you think would be different in a rubber match with Miller?

Tim Kennedy: I pretty much crushed Jason for two rounds, like destroyed him and got cut in the second round and scooped blood out of my eyes for the last round. It was a very frustrating, irritating fight. I was never hurt at any point. I got up the next day, put some stitches on my nose, and was in the gym the day after that. It’s a really irritating loss to know that you’re destroying a guy and whatever the rules were, I get elbowed and cut and that changed the whole course of the fight, not being able to see. So I’m going to eliminate the possibility of those things happening. I know what the rules are and I know the rules in Strikeforceand making sure the referees know what they are and that they’re enforced. Then I’m just going to do exactly what I was doing in the last fight and maul him.
http://www.heavy.com/post/tim-kennedy-interview-502

Kennedy has long been considered a top prospect.  Now that he's fighting full time, I think we'll see great things from this American hero.

via assets.heavy.com

Check them out at heavy.com

...Badly.  Liddell was at a loss for words and for moves last night on Dancing with the Stars.  Heavy.com's Jonathan Snowden said the performance reminded him of another infamous Liddell video.

He hasn't had a television appearance this rough since his infamous interview with Gary Cogill on Good Morning Texas. In that appearance, Liddell seemed like he was drunk or high, slurring his words and proclaiming his intention to fight boxer Tommy Morrison, who was not an MMA fighter and had HIV to boot. He was in such bad shape that Cogill ended the interview by saying "You hang in there today. Take care of yourself."

As rough as it was, Snowden doesn't think that Liddell will be the first to go.  Neither do I.  There was another bad dancer who was also unlikeable.

Chuck is in luck though. George Hamilton's son embarrassed the whole clan, not only with his wooden dancing, but with his half-assed tan as well. I think he'll get the boot and Chuck will survive for a rematch. Hopefully, this time, in touch with his feminine side.

According to his former co-worker, the world's most boring wrestler, Lance Storm, Jeff Hardy was not selling drugs.  He just loved drugs more than the average man.

The first thing I want to say is that people need to remember that being charged with something and being guilty of something, can be two different things. I’ve gotten email from fans that were both crushed and appalled to read that Jeff Hardy was dealing drugs. Let me just say, I don’t believe for a second Jeff Hardy was selling drugs and I’m pretty sure that any trafficking charges are based solely on the quantity of drugs found, not him actually selling them. I believe in the US there are limits on the amount of certain drugs you can have in your possession, and as soon as those limits are reached the charge is trafficking, because they feel you have more of the substance than would normally be considered for personal use.

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From Cage Potato

3:17-3:44:

"I was wrestling with Cris Cyborg, and she's a tough chick, man — for a girl I expected her not to be so damn tough — and we were just wrestling around and I went for a guillotine, and she slipped out of it, and when she slipped out of it I traded off to a triangle, and I locked the triangle and she went to go pick me up and slam me, she picked me up and slammed me on the ground, and I had no pain, nothin'. I ended up choking her, but at the same time it was just a factor of one of those little small things that I notice like, 'I'm good, I'm ready to do this and start working,' but I feel great, man, I feel really good."

Jeff Hardy has been charged with felony trafficking and felony possession with intent to sell.  The former world champion wrestler is being held on $125,000 bond.  The Wrestling Observer has the story.

The Moore County Sheriff’s Office confirmed with us moments ago that Jeff Nero Hardy was arrested today on charges of trafficking in controlled prescription pills and possession of anabolic steroids.

During a search officers located and seized approximately 262 Vicodin prescription pills, 180 Soma prescription pills, 555 milliliters of anabolic steroids, a residual amount of powder cocaine, and items of drug paraphernalia.

 

As usual, Don Frye was far from shy.  In an exclusive interview with Heavy.com, Frye talked about his former career, his boxing prowess, and why he's more of a man than Dave Herman.  Frye was especially amused by Herman's claim that he wanted to reenact the famous Frye-Takayama fight.

"He was probably still sitting on the toilet when he told you that," Frye said. "Because that is shit. He don't want no part of that, let me tell you partner. Everyone wants to be a cage fighter until they find out they're going to get punched."

Shark Fight 6: Stars & Stripes," which takes place Sept. 12 at Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum in Amarillo, Texas, will air live on ESPN 1440AM.

The broadcast of the event, including the evening's featured bout between MMA legend Don Frye and prospect Dave "Pee Wee" Herman, can be heard on 1440AM in the Amarillo area ñ as well as Eastern New Mexico, Southeastern Colorado, Southwestern Kansas, and Northern Oklahoma ñ or on the station's online audio stream.

As usual, Don Frye was far from shy.  In an exclusive interview with Heavy.com, Frye talked about his former career, his boxing prowess, and why he's more of a man than Dave Herman.  Frye was especially amused by Herman's claim that he wanted to reenact the famous Frye-Takayama fight.

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On Frye's Fight With Yoshihiro Takayama:

 

"I thought it was awesome. I watched it again recently," Herman said. "It was great. The guy's tough as hell and just goes out their slugging. I almost kind of want to do that just because I'm fighting Don Frye. He's done it so many times. I've at least got to try it once. If nothing else, the crowd would love it."

 

More at Heavy.com

Happy Birthday to one of the sport's best all-time on the stick.  44 today.  Doesn't look a day over 60.

James Caldwell at the PW Torch makes that case:

An opening tag match with Morrison & a top young babyface from Raw vs. Dolph & a top young heel from Raw would be a nice "bonus match" to achieve both goals of fulfilling the Dolph vs. Morrison advertising while saving that important singles match-up for a future date.

WWE made the right decision to pull the singles match. Dolph vs. Morrison could be special and WWE has plans to elevate both as main event stars. It will be disappointing for many fans if both are completely left off the card on Sunday, but the match-up will have more value in the long-term.

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There is much to recommend WWE stock.  The company, by all accounts, is very healthy and profitable.  But the Motley Fool thinks the ship has sailed on the WWE.  Part of the reason?  A departure of fans for the hipper and edgier UFC.  It may be some time, however, before investors realize that the WWE is yesterday's news.  And even then, it may not matter.

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The last generation of young workers to really get over needed that extra oomph, the difference between your typical middling WWE push and the kind of push that puts you over and keeps you over.  There was nothing special about The Hardy Boyz or Edge and Christian.  They were fine workers and good looking young men.  So were a million other babyface tag teams that came and went from big time wrestling.  What got them over was the gimmick match:  Table, Ladders, and Chairs.

Eventually though, the crazy matches had to end.  Workers just couldn't handle the punishement they were inflicting on their own bodies.  But now there is a new generation of young workers to get over, a group that hasn't paid the price yet.  According to the Pro Wrestling Torch, it's time to break them.

The event is scheduled for December 13 from San Antonio. WWE has not released official details on how the TLC concept match will be incorporated into the PPV, but the main event matches will most-likely be TLC format.

Sean O'Haire, who was arrested in 2004 after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, is back in the news.  And when a wrestler is in the news, it's never a good thing.  Years after his WCW heyday, O'Haire still has the juice to make TMZ.

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The Hart Dynasty was not happy with being left off of SummerSlam this year.  Now they are letting the WWE know, publically (in an interview with The Sun) that they expect to be on the next show. 

"I think that Breaking Point is almost tailormade for us — I don't know who came up with the concept but it was like [the creative team] were thinking of us.

"I couldn't think of anything that's more catered to The Hart Dynasty than Breaking Point in Montreal.

"All the matches have to be won by submission and we are submission specialists. It's in our backyard. I don't know how this show could be catered to us any more than that."

According to Bryan Alvarez's Figure Four Weekly Newsletter (one of the top 5 wrestling newsletters on the market) there was a fight backstage between two of the WWE's largest Superstars.  This is a big story in more ways than one.  Or it's not.  They're big.  That's the joke.  More after the jump allows me time to wipe up this flop sweat.  Comedy is hard.

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Before he played a cowboy on television in the WWE, before he became Mr. Ass, before he starred in a gay wedding:  Kip James was a real life cowboy.

``Back then, California has the most pro rodeos you can drive to and not kill yourself,'' said Sopp, who was physically bigger than the pro rodeo norm. ``You're really trying to go to as many as you can on weekends. Just like wrestling, you go Friday, Saturday and Sunday for house shows. You try to go to as many as you can because you want to win as much money as you can, and that's the only way you're going to survive.''

Former WWE Star Mr. Kennedy (AKA Ken Anderson) could be starting in TNA as early as Wednesday.  That's the day his no compete clause expires and he is free to rejoin the world of professional wrestling.  Anderson has teased joining the TNA cast and TNA announcer Jeremy Borash has all but said he would be joining the promotion shortly.  Anderson is one of the highest profile WWE wrestlers to hit the free market in several years.

If Anderson joins TNA, he would immediately become a top of the card player.  All the feuds are fresh, as Anderson has never worked with Sting, Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, or Mick Foley.  It would all be new ground, virgin territory. 

via www.wrestlingmemories.com

While Bix and Kurt Brown are busy discussing the Wrestlign Observer Hall of Fame, another Hall is expanding. According to Pwinsider.com*, the following legends (and Dennis Coralluzzo) will comprise the 2009 NWA Hall of Fame:

OF these names, Orndorff is the most questionable.  He was a fitting WWE Hall of Famer.  His best years were there and he lit the territory on fire with Hogan in 1986.  I don't think his work in Florida or Mid South for the NWA was at that level.

*PWInsider.com is notorious for viruses and other malware.  We will not link readers there.  Travel at your own risk.