-- In today's wrestling birthdays, Chris Benoit would have turned 43 years old while Nancy "Woman" Benoit (née Toffoloni) would have turned 46.

Over a three day period ending on June 25, 2007, Nancy and her son were victims of a double murder-suicide apparently perpetrated by Benoit, her husband.

-- WWE Hall of Famer Jerry "The King" Lawler announced Thursday on his official website that he is launching a new wrestling promotion in his home city of Memphis. The inaugural taping of his new wrestling television show, Memphis Friends, was held Thursday evening at "The Vine." The series will debut on Saturday, Jun. 5 at 11:00 a.m. on the Ion Network (channel 50) in the Memphis market. WWE will be providing footage for the series.

-- News and photos of Randy Savage's recent wedding provoked a tidal wave of internet searches pertaining to the former wrestling champion as he was one of the most searched for topics on Google.com on Thursday, according to Google Trends.

Savage recently married his long time girlfriend, Lynn — his second marriage. Images that have surfaced online show Savage looking significantly different than how wrestling fans remember him as he now sports a white beard and gray hair. His hairline has also greatly receded.

-- TNA president Dixie Carter noted on her Twitter account this evening that she attended Mickie James' CD release party.

"Just left my first music showcase in a while. Wanna guess the artist? Mickie James. Thanks for the invite girl," Carter wrote.

James held her release party, promoting Strangers & Angels, in Carter's (and TNA's) backyard of Nashville, Tennessee.

-- Abyss received 17 stitches in his arm as a result of the attack by Desmond Wolfe that aired on tonight's episode of iMPACT!.

-- There has been talk of doing shoot interviews with talent that would be exclusively sold on ShopTNA.com. The video releases would also feature matches and other footage.

-- Rey Mysterio is once again complaining about his pay, according to WWE sources. Though some feel he's had legitimate gripes in the past, he's developed a reputation within WWE for being overly paranoid over his pay. He feels he's being short-changed compared to some of the other top performers in the company. (source: www.pwtorch.com)

-- The following was issued: "And now ladies and gentleman, viewers to www.MichelleMcCool.Net of all ages we present to you *insert drum roll here* the exclusive second part to MichelleMcCool.Net's 5th Anniversary Interview! In this half, we get a little more personal with Michelle as the questions and answers go "Beyond the Ropes." Michelle talks about her experience at WrestleMania Axxess this year, what she thinks about support from the gay community, her body and what parts she has problems with most, who she'd like to have an on screen relationship with, which wrestling family is Flawless, her favorite and least favorite classes in school, who she enjoys doing WWE appearances with most, how she got involved with Krav Maga and much more! With questions that have never been asked before and answers never before revealed, you'll definitely want to check out the conclusion to our two part exclusive 5th Anniversary interview with Michelle McCool!"

You can read the interview at www.MichelleMcCool.Net.

John Cena will be featured in a new commercial for Gillette Young Guns racing. No word has been released on when that commercial will make its rounds, but keep your eyes opened.

WWE has signed a new Diva by the name of Angela Fong. Angela was spotted while making various modeling rounds in competitions and was spotted by WWE at a pageant in Las Vegas.

Torrie Wilson mentioned in her latest blog that her dog Chloe, who used to come to the ring with her has stopped appearing because she had a seizure one night.

ThePittsburghChannel.com, the official website of WTAE ABC 4, has an article online with a video feature on Kurt Angle's new food line. Angle recently spent time off from TNA television to focus on the new food line. He has already secured several distribution deals for the brand.

Chris Benoit’s Father Urges Voters Not To Vote For Linda McMahon

Connecticut's Hartford Courant has published a lengthy article sent in by Michael Benoit, father of the late Chris Benoit, urging voters not to send Linda McMahon to the United States Senate in November. Benoit holds the McMahons responsible for the dozens of young wrestler deaths we've seen in recent years and says Linda has used blood money to fund her expensive campaign.

An excerpt from the article:

"My son, Chris Benoit, 40, was one of WWE's top superstars. In June 2007, our lives changed dramatically, when he tragically killed his wife, son and himself. The press jumped on steroids as the cause of his actions. But tests showed that brain damage in the form of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, not steroids, was responsible for our loss. CTE, caused by repetitive trauma to the brain, can bring on serious disorders such as a loss of emotional control, addictions to drugs and alcohol, depression, aggressive and violent behavior.

Most people view wrestling as fake and the McMahon family pushed that theory to avoid regulation. But in its lust for higher ratings and dollars, WWE began demanding that performers use more weapons and dangerous stunts in wrestling matches. Although matches are rigged and scripted, the harsh physical abuse in the form of blunt force steel chair shots to the head and power bombs through tables onto cement floors are real. I believe that this change in the industry is responsible for the majority of deaths it experienced in the last 20 years."

Michael Benoit says that despite the fact that wrestlers are individuals who have to make their own choices in life, the McMahons have set up a "dirty and dangerous enterprise" where the deck is stacked against the men putting their lives on the line to line the McMahons' pockets.

"You might say that these young wrestlers make their own choices, and that is true. And the McMahons entice them with prospects for fame, wealth and glory that few achieve. If this were any other business or sport, there would be congressional hearings and laws passed to reform this dirty and dangerous enterprise. The McMahons have steadfastly held that wrestlers are just independent contractors and not entitled to health care benefits, pensions or unionization to represent their best interests.

This is how Linda McMahon made the money she uses for her Senate race. This is how she ran her business. This is the true character behind the fancy, Hollywood advertisements. I pray the people of Connecticut do not allow her to buy her way into the world's most distinguished legislative body."

WWE Diva Maria Pictures

WWE In The Process Of Developing New Programs


WWE Chief Operating Officer Donna Goldsmith said yesterday during the 38th Annual J.P. Morgan Global Technology, Media and Telecom Conference in Boston, MA that WWE has talked to Nickelodeon about possibility doing an animated series.

In another interesting note, she revealed she spoke with Vince McMahon on Friday and they talked about walking away from the older audience in recent years and ideas to get them back. Goldsmith said McMahon suggested a Nostalgia or Legends program.

Beth Phoenix Out Of Surgery - Details

WWE Diva Beth Phoenix underwent surgery on her torn ACL this morning. She wrote on Twitter moments ago she is out of surgery and doing fine.

Former WWE Diva Mickie James released her debut country music album today entitled "Strangers & Angels". Below is the track listing:

1. Are You With Me
2. Hollywood Movie Moment
3. I Call The Fight
4. Freedom Song
5. Strangers & Angels
6. Make Me Feel Like A Woman
7. Fallin' Over Again
8. When You Come Home Tonight
9. I’m No Good At Pretending
10. Don’t Apologize
11. Dumb Bitch

Dixie Carter Posts Tweet About Last Night's iMPACT! Taping

The following is a new tweet from the official Twitter page of TNA president Dixie Carter:

"Our special friend, Trent (11) from Make a Wish, just tore the house down in a match with 3D v Beer $. THAT is the power of wrestling!"

Follow more Dixie tweets on Twitter @ TNADixie.

Linda McMahon's chances of winning the U.S. Senate race have just gotten better. Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal, who was slated to be the Democratic nominee for Senate, is currently being accused of lying about serving in the Vietnam war.

This is somewhat of a big deal as the most recent polls had Blumenthal leading the polls, ahead of Republican front runners Rob Simmons and Linda McMahon.

Check out more on the Blumenthal scandal at the N.Y. Times website.

WWE Diva Maryse Ouellet





WWE Diva Maryse Ouellet

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