Live Audio Wrestling recently welcomed former WWE talent Harry Smith (a/k/a David Hart Smith) to discuss a variety of topics. The full interview can be heard accessed here. Highlights from the interview are as follows:

How long he’s been training MMA and who he is working with: “I’ve had a lot of interest in mixed martial arts actually since before I got signed with WWE. I was training a little bit in jiu jistu, I was an amateur wrestler a little bit before. I ended up getting into contact with Josh Barnett, ‘cause we were both wrestling in New Japan Pro Wrestling at the same time, just different tours. The first time I met Josh, I went down to an independent show for Pinnacle Wrestling in Seattle, Washington, and I saw Josh there. He looked at me, and we talked a bit, and he goes “So, when are you gonna get into fighting?” I kinda chuckled, I didn’t really think much of it at the time, but I did have some interest in it. He invited me to come down and train with him at the next show up in Seattle, so I did grapple with Josh, and I was just amazed. My eyes were sort of totally opened up to this whole other level of grappling that was like catch wrestling. Crossfaces, leg locks, slams, suplexes, different unique throws. From that point on, I had started watching a lot of Erik Paulson DVDs, and some other catch wrestling stuff, and trained in jiu jitsu as well. I came back and trained with Josh a year later or so, and Billy Robinson happened to come up to California for a seminar. I got to meet him, we trained a little bit. At that time, I had been signed with WWE, so I was still training at it a lot, and the more and more I trained at it, the more and more interested I got with it. I think it’s sort of in my blood, with my grandfather being Stu (Hart) and his legendary reputation of catch wrestling.

“It’s not like as if I just left WWE and it’s like, “Okay, now I wanna become a mixed martial artist to make money. I really do love mixed martial arts, and I think me training with Billy, and training at it while I was employed with WWE goes to show that I was always sort of interested in it. Since I left WWE, I’ve been training at it full time, trying to get the striking down, putting everything together, finding a good fighting weight for myself. We’ve toyed around with a few things, maybe even 205, not exactly sure, that might be too light. We’re sort of experimenting a bit with weight, and just putting it all together. Not exactly sure when there will be a fight. More training with Josh, and cage time, and we’ll see.”

Teddy Hart and some of his plans to train animals for future shows: “I just heard from hearsay about some of the ideas, like I think cats are supposed to bring weapons to the ring and stuff like that. I mean, if he can train the cats to wrestle…actually, he should train the cats how to shoot and grapple and stuff. Put some gi’s on the cats and let them grapple. He might just be saying some of that stuff to generate interest with the audience and stuff like that, to see if he would really do that. He hasn’t actually explained any of that sort of stuff to me. Some of his ideas are very good, with MatRats, they had the pizza pie plate at the top of the ring post, which I guess is about six to eight inches higher than the top turnbuckle and further out, so two people can both stand on the top and do a suplex off there, or a hurricanrana. It was kind of a nice spectacle for the fans. So, you know, some of the ideas are good. The cat stuff might be a little bit out there, but hey man if he can train those cats to do it, all the power to him. I wanna see it, too.”

WWE not giving him a fair chance: “The big complaint that I had with WWE was just that they never gave me a fair chance, ever. We had a good deal with the tag team title run and everything, but guys like Drew McIntyre and Sheamus, they’re obviously very good talents and big guys and everything, but if they had given me the rocket like they had given those two guys, I’m sure that with my family’s lineage and going over to Canada and the UK, they could have done some really good business. For whatever reason, they didn’t. I’m not gonna point any fingers at anybody, but I think that there’s people up there that probably didn’t like my family, or maybe my Dad ribbed too many of the guys that are up top now. That’s basically the way that it happened, and I’m glad to be gone really. I don’t want to be wasting my time at a place that doesn’t appreciate me, or doesn’t want to do anything with me. There were other interests that I had, and so when John (Laurinaitis) called and gave me the release, I was relieved. We had a good talk, and he said that the doors are open to come back.”

— Chris Masters, David Hart Smith, Melina and Vladimir Kozlov are now free to join TNA Wrestling since their respective ninety-day no-compete clauses with WWE expired Thursday. All four wrestlers were released on August 5, 2011.

The clause prohibits released talent from appearing for wrestling promotions with national television outlets for ninety days.

Masters caused fans to speculate he would be joining the Orlando based promotion with a Twitter message he posted two days following his departure. He wrote, “After a day of digesting,I must say WWE wasn’t doing anything with me.So its probably best I go make my IMpact somewhere else.”

Meanwhile, Melina was asked at last month’s pre-launch party for Saints Row: The Third if she has plans to join TNA. The former WWE Women’s Champion said she’s “still deciding.”

— Inspired by the recent surge of news surrounding former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler, Brooke Anderson will join Eve, Kelly Kelly and Alicia Fox in a WWE ring to interview them for a special segment on the syndicated tabloid television news program The Insider. The segment was scheduled to air on Wednesday’s show, but will instead air today.

The official Twitter feed of WWE wrote Friday: “Tune in to @TheInsider tonight on your CBS station for @WWE Divas @EveMarieTorres, @RealKellyKelly & @AliciaFoxy! Check local listings!”

— Mick Foley stated Saturday on Twitter that he will be appearing on an episode of the NBC show 30 Rock.

He added, “I’ll let you know details as they arise.”

— Shelly Martinez and her sister Danielle shot a video of themselves interviewing Shawn Daivari. They ask him a series of questions including who his favorite band or artist is, what he looks for in a woman, what his super power would be and more. The video can be accessed here.

— Former WWE star David Hart Smith is scheduled to appear at an Off The Record on Tuesday to promote Stampede Wrestling’s show on Nov. 6 in Barrie, Ontario. He will be wrestling Finlay at the event.

Off the Record airs regularly Monday through Friday at 5:00pm ET (encores at 6:30pm ET on TSN2; also available On Demand on TSN.ca).

— Melina is returning to her roots as she has been announced for Wrestling All Star Pros’ upcoming tour of Mexico. The multi-time champion is of Mexican descent.

Other former WWE talent scheduled for the tour taking place Nov. 4-20 include Vladimir Kozlov, Chris Masters, Tommy Dreamer, Carlito, The Boogeyman, Super Crazy, Eugene, Trevor Murdoch, Jillian Hall, Serena, Mr. Aguila and referee Marty Elias.

Details on the tour are available here.

— “Future Legend” Melissa Anderson (a/k/a Alissa Flash and Raisha Saeed) has launched a page on Facebook.

— David Hart Smith will be at the Big Time Wrestling events in Newark, California on Oct. 14, 2011 and Dec. 9, 2011.

— According to a promoter who reached out to Melina Perez to book her for an independent wrestling event, the former WWE Diva’s representative is asking for $3,000 per appearance, as well as first class travel and hotel accommodations.

— Japanese based promotion Inoki Genome Federation announced today that recently released WWE talent Harry Smith will appear on their Aug. 27 show.

— Kevin Eck, who announced last Wednesday that he was leaving his job as sports content editor and professional wrestling blogger at The Baltimore Sun to become a member of the WWE creative team, officially starts with the entertainment organization on Aug. 29.

— K-Mart is running a promotion where customers receive a free WWE Fathead with purchase of $30 or more WWE merchandise.

source: PWInsider.com

— WWE Divas Champion Kelly Kelly indicated on Twitter that she will be on hand for tonight’s SmackDown taping in Bakersfield, California.

She wrote, “At smackdown taping bringing #beastmode to Friday night hope the girls are ready!!!”

— Nikki Bella posted a video of herself rapping on YouTube, saying Kim Kardashian, Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift have nothing on her.

To see the video, click here.

— Recently released WWE talent Harry Smith, WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase and Necro Butcher are advertised to appear at Collector’s Realm 44 Raymond Ave. Poughkeepsie, New York this Saturday from 1:00 p.m to 3:00 p.m.. Visit www.collectorsrealm.iwarp.com for more information.

— WWE Champion CM Punk spoke directly to the WWE Universe at SummerSlam Axxess Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles, California as he answered questions from fans during a promo. Todd Grisham also asked him the following question: “How can you speak your mind the way you do and still have a job at WWE?”

Punk replied, “That answer is very simple. I really don’t care if I get fired.” He continued, “If (WWE) decide to bench me and sit me at home, or fire me or suspend me, I really don’t care. Maybe that’s a horrible attitude to have in some peoples’ minds, but that’s the honest to God’s truth. That’s why I can get away with doing and saying what I want.”

To see the video, Alumni section

— Chris Masters, David Hart Smith, Joey Mercury, Melina and Vladimir Kozlov have been added to WWE.com’s Alumni section. Mercury remains under contract to WWE after disappearing from television last summer as he works as trainer in Florida Championship Wrestling.

*NEW* bikini photos of A.J. ->

Diana Hart Smith, the outspoken mother of recently released WWE talent Harry Smith, continues to lash out at Michael Cole via Twitter after calling the WWE broadcaster effeminate on Monday. She wrote the following messages on the microblogging site on Thursday, including calling creative writer Michael Hayes a transvestite.

* “Does the reMARKable Michelle Cole have rabbies or perhaps mange. Just wondering because he is such a dog for a diva. That’s what he is, right?”

* “When Michael Hayes wrestled in Germany in late 70s as a transvestite, was his name Suzi Sykes or Suzy Sails? Any1 know?. He was quite the lady.”

* “Michelle Cole=reMARKable 2 staff&Vince 2.? wuld pedigree Harry b w/whores like MC. Recall early days gttng wedgied by HHH/DX & he cried on live TV.”

The former wife of “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith also noted during her diatribe that Harry is heading to Japan at the end of the month for the Inoki Genome Federation.

Harry, meanwhile, apologized for his mother’s critical remarks. He says he has no ill will towards Michael Cole nor WWE.

“In regards to my Mom’s twitter remarks about Michael Cole and the WWE, these are only her opinions she’s expressing. I hold no ill feelings towards the WWE, and I don’t want it to look like I’m influencing these posts in any way shape or form,” he wrote on Facebook. “I’m a man of honor and integrity and try to be like my Grandfather Stu Hart. If I have something to say to or about someone I’ll say it to their face. I really dislike twitter, so I can’t post this myself on there.”

The self-proclaimed “Voice of WWE” did Smith no favors during his lone broadcast booth appearance on an episode of Raw last year as he criticized the third generation wrestler’s verbal ability and lack of charisma.

— Diana Hart Smith, mother of recently released WWE Superstar David Hart Smith, took aim at Michael Cole yesterday on Twitter as she called the WWE broadcaster effeminate.

“Michael Cole is such an expose of garbage wrestling–MC is brutally effeminine,” she wrote to a follower. “Oh well. On another level, STRIKEFORCE=HARRY SMITH.”

For what it’s worth, the self-proclaimed “Voice of WWE” did Smith no favors during his lone broadcast booth appearance on an episode of Raw last year as he criticized the third generation wrestler’s verbal ability and lack of charisma.

— Reader SirWombat sent word that WWE.com’s bio on referee Mike Chioda makes mention of deceased wrestler Chris Benoit, who is considered persona non grata within the organization.

It reads: “Chioda also distinctly remembers Nov. 29, 2004, when he and a fellow official declared contrary decisions in a Triple Threat Match for the World Heavyweight Championship; Chioda saw Chris Benoit pinned for the three-count while Edge tapped out simultaneously. It’s a moment in his career that’s nearly impossible to replicate.”

— WWE announced Friday that they had come to terms on the release of David Hart Smith, who Executive Vice President of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis once deemed a future WrestleMania main eventer. The third generation talent revealed that he is returning to Japan, where he competed prior to joining the sports entertainment promotion in 2006.

“Yup, Japan here I come! No more WWE, had a great time tho.” Smith wrote on his Facebook page.

His mother, Diana Smith, stated in April that David had plans to cross over to mixed martial arts.

— Tough Enough contestant Martin Casaus, who was forced by injury to withdraw from the competition near its conclusion, was spotted buying a ticket to last night’s Raw live event at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah. Furthermore, an independent wrestling promotion he co-owns, UCW-Zero, was handing out fliers promoting upcoming events, including his return match from the ankle injury he suffered while competing on Tough Enough.

source: PWInsider.com

WWE announced Friday that they have come to terms on the release of David Hart Smith.

Their statement reads: “WWE has come to terms on the release of David Hart Smith as of today, August 5, 2011. WWE wishes David the best in all of his future endeavors.”

The third generation wrestler’s prospects with the entertainment empire became grim following the dissolution of the Hart Dynasty late last year; his final match occurred on the April 28, 2011 episode of WWE Superstars. Even further, Smith had not competed in a match on Monday Night Raw in eight months. He last appeared on the program on December 6, 2010, which saw him lose to former tag team partner Tyson Kidd in a blow off match. He was then laid out by Kidd’s short-lived bodyguard Jackson Andrews.

His mother, Diana Smith, stated in April that David had plans to cross over to mixed martial arts.

Seldom seen WWE talent Harry Smith (a/k/a David Hart Smith) apparently has plans to cross over from professional wrestling to mixed martial arts. His mother, Diana Smith, wrote on Twitter that he plans on following his father and grandfather’s trail as a shoot fighter.

“My son Harry Smith is quite the shoot fighter, does everyone know that?” she wrote. “He is following in his dad Davey’s and Grandfather Stu’s footsteps.”

Diana also believes he is good enough to compete in a premiere mixed martial arts organization today.

“I actually think my son Harry Smith could compete in Pride, MMA/UFC now as a high level wrestler, he’s honestly that good! Ask Josh Barnett.”

Barnett, a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, said last year in an interview that he has been training the WWE Superstar in catch wrestling. Smith can be seen sparring with Barnett in the DVD seminar W.A.R. Catch Wrestling: Lessons in Catch-As-Catch-Can with Billy Robinson.

CagesideSeats.com reported last month that Smith became an assistant coach in the Scientific Wrestling certification program under Catch-As-Catch-Can-Wrestling legend Billy Robinson. Smith earned the designation after logging over 100 hours of training with Robinson and receiving his approval to teach his concepts.

Robinson stated to Wrestling Observer Newsletter editor Dave Meltzer that if he personally trained Smith for 18 months, he could win the UFC Heavyweight Championship—he was that impressed by him in the time they sparred.

Smith, however, remains under contract to WWE, which prohibits him from joining a mixed martial arts organization. While no indication has been given that the third generation wrestler is leaving WWE, his future prospects with the entertainment empire appear grim as he finds himself in a bigger rut than his 2007-2008 stint on the main roster where he primarily competed on WWE Heat. Sans an appearance in the 22-Man Battle Royal at WrestleMania XXVII, Smith has not competed in over two months; his last match occurred on the February 17, 2011 episode of WWE Superstars. Even further, Smith has not competed in a match on Monday Night Raw in nearly six months. He last appeared on the program on December 6, 2010, which saw him lose to former tag team partner Tyson Kidd in a blow off match. He was then laid out by Kidd’s short-lived bodyguard Jackson Andrews.

source: F4WOnline.com

— Awesome Kong was backstage at last night’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view event in Boston, but was not used. She is set to debut imminently. She is backstage at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence for tonight’s Raw.

— WWE Superstars Superstars Darren Young, David Hart Smith and Primo were advertised on WWE.com for last night’s 40-Man Royal Rumble Match but ultimately excluded. All three were not backstage at the Rumble as they were informed last week that they had been taken off the show. Smith, however, is in Providence for tonight’s Raw.

— Gail Kim took to Twitter to comment on speculation she performed as a heel at Saturday’s live event due to her partnership with Maryse in a tag team match. She wrote, “People I was forced to be Maryse’s tag partner by the GM! She left me high and dry so don’t think I wanted to be her partner.I had no choice.”

— There was much criticism amongst WWE officials regarding the quality of the commentary by Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and Matt Striker during last night’s Royal Rumble broadcast.

— “Rowdy” Roddy Piper suffered a black eye at the hands of Terry Funk during a battle royal at WrestleReunion 5 in Los Angeles.

source: f4wonline.com

— Three WWE Superstars that were advertised on WWE.com for last night’s 40-Man Royal Rumble Match were ultimately excluded: Darren Young, David Hart Smith and Primo.

Nine additional slots were opened as a result (there were six open slots before the pay-per-view). The slots were filled by Kevin Nash (referred to as Diesel), Booker T, Alex Riley, Chavo Guerrero, Dolph Ziggler, Hornswoggle, Randy Orton, The Great Khali and Tyler Reks.

— Evan Bourne said on Twitter yesterday that he is still rehabbing his injured shoulder. He is expected to return to the ring by WrestleMania.

— Former WWE star MVP is rumored to appear at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s show on Feb. 20.

— As reported earlier, the Rey Mysterio vs. Alberto Del Rio match scheduled for Sunday’s WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view was canceled and both men were moved into the World Heavyweight Title bout because they wanted all the major matches on the show to have adequate time. It has since been disclosed that WWE officials felt the Kane vs. Edge storyline “wasn’t clicking,” and would thus lead to a bad pay-per-view match.

— David Hart Smith has deleted his Twitter account.

— Matt Hardy will be the guest live tonight on In Your Head. Listen live starting at 8PM EST 5PM PST at www.inyourheadonline.com and www.justin.tv/jackiyh. To call in and talk to Hardy, dial 1-508-644-8503 between 8:30 and 9:00 PM EST.

source: f4wonline.com

— Goldust announced on Twitter that he will be undergoing surgery to repair his injured shoulder. He wrote:

“Unfortunately, I have to have surgery…out for some time.”

— USA Network president and WWE ally Bonnie Hammer took the number three spot in The Hollywood Reporter’s Women In Entertainment Power 100 list, beating out Oprah Winfrey, who took 4th. You can check that list out at HollywoodReporter.com.

— Former WrestleMania celebrity and boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been charged with criminal battery after poking his finger on a man’s face, according to TMZ.com. Security officer Shayne Smith alleges that he got into a verbal dispute with Floyd Mayweather, who got physical with him and left a bruise on his cheek.

“The willful and unlawful use of force and violence upon Smith caused redness and discoloration to the area which was battered by Mayweather,” reads the complaint. For more details, visit TMZ.com.

— Former WWE developmental star Flash Flanagan played the role of the waiter in the John Cena and Nexus hotel scene on Monday’s RAW. He currently works on the indy scene.

— It has been confirmed that Devin Allen, Dr. Cable Jones, Fahd Rakman, Ron Myers, Rhys Ali and referee Daniel Skyler were released from their developmental contracts with WWE over the weekend.

FCW talents Byron Saxton, Eli Cottonwood, Lucky Cannon and Rhys Ali were also removed from the FCW website’s roster page, but have since been placed back. They have not been cut.

— David Hart Smith noted on his Twitter account that he met former WWE star Dynamite Kid (a/k/a Tom Billington) during the company’s recent tour of Europe. Billington is best known for being half of the tag team The British Bulldogs with Smith’s father, Davey Boy. Billington currently resides in Manchester, England and suffers from the after-effects of steroids and his high-impact wrestling style, which has left him confined to a wheelchair and partially paralyzed.

— Multiple WWE related terms trended on Twitter during Monday’s “Old School” episode of Raw including “#OldSchoolRaw”, “Brawler” and “Jim Ross.”

— THQ quietly revealed on Thursday that former WWE star Mickie James will be a playable character in its WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011 video game, which is set for release in the United States on Oct. 26. To view her character profile, click here.

Other featured wrestlers who parted ways with WWE while the game was in production include Shelton Benjamin, Mike Knox, Batista and Shawn Michaels.

— Natalya confirmed on Twitter that fellow Hart Dynasty member David Hart Smith has opened an account on the social networking site. His account can be reached at twitter.com/HarryDHSmith.

— A Six-Man Tag Team Match pitting The Undertaker, Rey Mysterio and Edge against Kane, Alberto Del Rio and Jack Swagger is being advertised for the Dec. 28 SmackDown television taping at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, New York.

— Carlito and Primo Colon are expected to be put together as a tag team and feud with The Hart Dynasty over the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship.

— It was announced during Tuesday’s WWE Supplemental Draft that JTG had been drafted from SmackDown to Raw. However, it was announced minutes later that the move had been rescinded and that JTG would remain on SmackDown. While it has yet to disclosed why JTG didn’t change brands, the move was planned ahead of time as he is advertised for Raw events over the next few weeks.

— Nickelback will be giving away a pair of tickets to several Monday Night Raw events throughout the months of May and June. You can enter here for a chance to win.

sources: PWInsider.com, Wrestling Observer Newsletter

— Local advertising in the Richmond, Virginia area is promoting the Apr. 26 edition of Monday Night Raw at The Richmond Coliseum as a three-hour WWE Draft spectacular. The show will mark as the 2010 roster draft with Superstars from both Raw and SmackDown changing sides. Ticketmaster.com is running a pre-sale for the event through 10:00 p.m. tonight. The pre-sale code is DRAFT.

— Eve Torres and WWE Hall of Famer Howard Finkel are in Phoenix today doing media and making appearances to promote WrestleMania. Torres noted on her Twitter account that she will be throwing out the first pitch at today’s Los Angeles Dodgers spring training game at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix. She will also be taking part in an autograph signing with Finkel today at 2:30 p.m. at Food City (located 9020 W. Thomas Rd. Phoenix, Arizona). Finally, both Torres and Finkel will be on 101.5 JamZ tonight with the SuperSnake at 5:00 p.m.

— Daniel Bryan has been sparring with David Hart Smith as of late, working on European Catch-style takedowns. The Hart Dynasty member has been training this particular style in recent months. (source: PWInsider.com)

*SPOILER* on the 10th Money in the Bank participant ->

— The latest issue of the Wrestling Observer says Tyson Kidd is booked to appear at WrestleMania Axxess during this year’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony, thus meaning he won’t be there for Stu Hart’s induction. According to the WWE website, fellow Hart Dynasty members David Hart Smith and Natalya are also booked to appear at WrestleMania Axxess that evening. It should be noted however that the induction ceremony is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. MST with their scheduled appearance at WrestleMania Axxess session starting at 7:30 p.m. They should be able to do both providing that the induction ceremony doesn’t run longer than three hours as the Dodge Theatre is within walking distance of the venue WrestleMania Axxess is being held at. With that being said, the induction of Stu Hart is expected to close out the show as he is the event’s headliner.

— WWE Divas Champion Maryse has posted a blog on her official website saying she eats a piece of chocolate cake every day.

“For those who really know me, its NOT a surprise to see me eat a piece of chocolate cake,” she wrote. “I DO have one everyday of my life, its not a lie! After all, french women don’t get fat, soooo yeah, hate me !!!”