Monday Night iMPACT!

– Eric Bischoff has been in Nashville this past week working with TNA officials. There was a Christmas party for the company this past Friday night but no word yet if he attended. Bischoff is said to be very behind the scenes in preparation for January 4th and is working on those “surprises” TNA is hyping.

-Kevin Nash recently posted a message on Twitter hinting at an nWo reunion on TNA’s Monday Night iMPACT! special. Nash wrote, “might see PAC Hogan Hall and Nash on tna together real soon.”

Visit PWTweets.com to follow all Pro Wrestlers & Divas on Twitter!

– Several readers sent word that the Hulkamania Australia program that was set to air on One HD this past weekend did not air. TNA’s Explosion show aired instead. No word yet on why Hulkamania didn’t air.

– Rick and Scott Steiner reunited at last night’s Prime Time Wrestling show in Belleville, Michigan. The Steiners defeated Beer Money in the main event after Rick hit his top rope bulldog.

Hulk Hogan's "Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin" Australian Tour

Australian film maker Keith Loutit used special photo lenses and time lapse animation to create a unique short film of last Saturday’s Hulkamania show in Melbourne.

Loutit explained to Australia’s 9 News how he made the film and why he selected the Hulkamania tour as his latest project.

“Tilt-shift photography creates a narrow depth of field, It creates the illusion of something that is really small and close to the eye. Time lapse creates the very jerky feel which makes it feel like claymation. Most of the work I do is documentary work around Sydney but I wanted an opportunity to shoot something that I felt would suit the style”

Loutit thinks that the claymation effect would translate well to pro wrestling, which has immortalized its superstars in toy form for decades. “Hulk Hogan was such a pop culture icon in the ’80s and ’90s and people of my generation had Hulk Hogan action figures, so it seemed like a good choice.”

To view the video, visit NineMSN.com.au.

Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin Results:

• Hulkamania Tour Results From Perth, Australia (11/24)
• Hulkamania Tour Results From Melbourne, Australia (11/21)

Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin Pictures:

Hulk Hogan's "Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin" Australian Tour

Hulk Hogan’s Hulkamania Tour
Perth, Australia – November 24th, 2009
Report by Jaredin Mayfair, F4Wonline.com

I attended the second leg of the Hulkamania tour tonight in Perth, Australia.

The setup was decent, with a big screen periodically playing backstage vignettes throughout the night and a ring adorned with red and yellow Hulkamania ropes. Music and titantrons were all generic. Crowd was shy to start off with, but got into the show as it went along and were really hot for the main event.

Here are the results:

Match 1 – Rikishi & Brian Christopher def. Rock Of Love

Basic match built around Rikishi setting up and eventually performing the stinkface. It got a decent pop from the crowd. Rikishi sat on a guy for the win. Rikishi, Christopher and the referee danced after the match,

Match 2 Shannon Moore def. Spartan 3000 Matt Cross

It was announced this was the 2nd match in a best of 3 series to win $25,000. Matt Cross has a Spartan warrior gimmick. Moore won with a corkscrew moonsault, tieing the series at 1-1. Moore looked good, I could see him fitting in OK in TNA.

Match 3 Rosey def. Godfather (w/Ho s) and Val Venis in a Three Way Dance

Rosey came out in his old superhero gear. According to his titantron, his ring name was Big Daddy Row Row. Val Venis heeled on the crowd before the match. Godfather s Ho s got the second biggest pop of the night. Basically Rosey and Godfather teaming up on Val. Funny moment where Rosey was hitting jabs on Val and the crowd chanted S.H.I.T. with each punch. Rosey pinned Val with a samoan drop. Rosey and Godfather left together with the Ho s after the match.

Match 4 Heidenreich & Gangrel & Black Pearl def. Nasty Boys & Eugene (w/Jimmy Hart)

Heidenreich was doing the Heidenwalk. Gangrel did the blood spit. Lots of stalling in this match, the heels got the heat on Eugene as the Nasty Boys pumped up the crowd. Sags looks in really good shape, Knobs not so much. At one point as the heels worked on Eugene, Gangrel screamed Kill that retard! . Probably the worst match of the night. Jimmy Hart doesn t seem to age. Heidenreich ended up pinning Eugene with a sidewalk slam. Nastys teased using some plunder, but didn t deliver.

Intermission

Bikini Contest

3 unknowns came out and Godfather hosted. It ended up breaking down into a pillow fight.

Match 5 Orlando Jordan def. Ken Kennedy

Kennedy did his pre-match mic routine but said Mr Anderson instead. Orlando s theme music has a line saying All the girls love me, and all the guys want to get with me . Probably the best match of the night, they worked well together. Orlando got the pin using the ropes.

Match 6 Umaga def. Brutus Beefcake (w/Jimmy Hart)

Strange matchup. Very short, with Umaga getting the pin after the Samoan Spike. Brutus sold it big time and was helped to the back afterwards.

Match 6 Hulk Hogan def. Ric Flair (w/Lacey Von Erich)

Before the match, the ring announcer said this is now No DQ. Deafening reactions for both Hogan and Flair. Hogan came out to the WCW American Made theme music. Both bled heavily very early in the match. Lots of chops to Hogan, he took his only back bump in the match from one of them. Hogan threw Flair off the top rope. Flair did the full moon spot. Orlando Jordan and Heidenreich came out and started beating down Hogan, but the Nasty Boys made the save and also gave Flair Pitty City. Hogan and Flair crowd brawled for a while. At one point Jimmy Hart came out and pulled Lacey Von Erich off the apron, accidentally exposing her ass for a moment. Hogan also gave her an atomic drop. Umaga then came out and beat up on Hogan and gave him the corner splash. Hogan then Hulked up, gave Flair a terrible big boot then clocked him with Jimmy Hart s megaphone for the pin.

Hogan did his posing routine for a few minutes after the match to end the show.

In retrospect, the show was nothing special. The action was basic, and the spectacle of the main event got really cheapened by all the run-ins. However, it was worth it for the chance to see both Hogan and Flair live, especially here in isolated Western Australia.

Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin Results
Melbourne, Australia at Rod Laver Arena
Report by reader TheMrDAprano

1. Nick Dinsmore (a/k/a Eugene) with Pimp Fatha (a/k/a Godfather) defeated Rock of Love. Dinsmore and Fatha win after the hot tag. Fatha hit the pimp driver. Great chant for one of the heels to ‘put his shirt on.’

2. Spartan3000 Matt Cross defeated “Outcast” Shannon Moore. Cross won with a shooting star press. Cross was heel but hit the finish and got a pop. Moore wasn’t over.

3. The Nasty Boys defeated Black Pearl and Vampire Warrior in an Australian Street Fight. The latter duo was Team Puffy Black Shirt. Basic hardcore match. The Nasty Boys were over.

4. Brutus Beefcake defeated Heidenreich. Brutus got the win witih a sleeper. Boring match. Hedenreich was okay and spent time jawing with the referee. Brutus Beefcake cut the referee’s hair after the match.

Intermission

5. Lacey Von Erich won a bikini contest. There were two Playboy models and another girl. Pimp Fatha came out. After Lacy won the contest, a fat dude got on the ring and danced.

Ric Flair cut a sweet promo and then press conference footage was shown.

6. Mr. Anderson defeated Sean Morley (a/k/a Val Venis). The former Mr. Kennedy won with the Mic Check after Morley missed with the Money SHot.

Orlando Jordan came out to custom music, which was rare. He cut a promo about being the greatest and then introduced Uso Fatu (Umaga) as his partner.

7. Brian Lawler and Rikishi defeated Orlando Jordan and Uso Fatu. Good action and comedy. The crowd was into it and chanted “Jerry’s Kid” at Lawler. They also chanted “Booker T” at Jordan because of the dreads. Lawler and Rikishi danced afterward despite some reluctance from the latter. The referee did the worm, but Lawler kicked him out for doing so.

8. Hulk Hogan defeated Ric Flair. Unreal experience. Glad to see it in person. After great backstage promos, they came to the ring. Once they were in the arena the noise was deafening. All of their trademark spots were in there. Both men eventually bladed. Hogan used Flair’s brass knuckles to win. No leg drop.

During a Tuesday night press conference in Australia to promote the upcoming Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin tour, a wild brawl broke out that left Hulk Hogan beaten and bloodied by his opponent on the tour, Ric Flair. While most probably understand that what occurred is probably “worked” and part of the show, the Australia media is reporting the story as if it were a legit attack. The story is getting a ton of media attention on Australian television news shows and is a a headline story on many Australian news websites.

The Herald Sun writes,”Media were stunned as the Hulk’s head began bleeding profusely and confusion broke out when the veteran wrestling star was unable to get to his feet.” TMZ.com has picked up on the Australian media’s coverage of the attack, asking readers whether the blood coming from Hulk Hogan’s head was real. So far, over 70% say the blood was fake

Here’s some footage of the attack from an Australian evening newscast. While the reporter acknowledges pro wrestling’s track record, yet stated that “this looked very real.”

The Hulkamania: Let the Battle Begin tour begin this Saturday with a show in Melbourne at the Rod Laver Arena. There are four shows in all, with stops in Perth on Tuesday Brisbane on Thursday, and Sydney one week from Saturday.

WWE unified tag champion the Big Show was interviewed by the UK’s Daily Star this week and commented on Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair returning to the ring later this month in Australia.

Show, a longtime friend of Hulk Hogan, “I just think it was a situation where two guys who love the industry wanted to go again,” he told the Star. “That’s the thing, no matter how long you do this for, or how old you are, you still have a love and a passion for the business. I wish them all the best.”

When asked whether his own career is winding down, he said, “I get sore and a little lame and I have a bad attitude generally – but I still love coming to work. I’m the kind of guy who can’t sit still for longer than two or three days in a row anyway! If there comes a time where I can’t go out and entertain the fans then I’ll call it a day but that’s not here yet. I’m enjoying the moment.”

Check out DailyStar.co.uk for more.

The official card has been announced for the first show of Hulk Hogan’s “Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin” tour of Australia later this month. The following card will take place on November 21st from Melbourne:

* Nick Dinsmore and The Pimpfatha (Godfather) vs. Rock of Love

* Spartan 3000 Matt Cross vs. Shannon Moore

* Vampire Warrior (Gangrel) & Black Pearl vs. The Nasty Boys with Jimmy Hart

* Brutus Beefcake with Jimmy Hart vs. Heidenreich

* Bikini Challenge with Lacey Von Erich, Stephanie Pietz, Kiara Dillon and Koa Marie Turner

* Sean Morley (Val Venis) vs. Ken Anderson (Kennedy)

* Orlando Jorden & Edward Fatu (Umaga) vs. Solofa Fatu Jr. (Rikishi) & Brian Christopher

* Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan

For more on the Hulkamania Tour (videos &  news) visit our Hulkamania Tour News section!

Ric Flair appeared on “Busted Open” on Sirius radio on Tuesday and revealed what Vince McMahon was to him coming out of retirement and wrestling overseas. “I told Vince McMahon about three months ago that I wanted to back and work and that I’d just work overseas. He said, ‘You know, go for it.”

Flair added, “I’m in good health. I like to sign autographs and I’m really enjoying (non-wrestling projects), but there’s nothing like wrestling. I’ve been working out really hard and I’m looking forward to it. It gives Hulk (Hogan) and I a chance to see if we’ve still got it going on.”

Flair was also asked about the possibility of appearing as a guest host on WWE Raw. “That may still happen,” he said. “My schedule hasn’t allowed it to happen. I work with Coca-Cole, Krogers, Wal-Mart, and Sam’s Club. The lottery thing has been huge to me. I can’t give enough credit to the North Carolina education lottery for giving me the opportunity to work for them. It’s been great.”

The Busted Open radio show airs on Tuesdays and Fridays 4-5 p.m. EST on Sirius 127, and XM 242. Visit Sirius.com for more info.

• READ MORE about Ric Flair coming out of retirement.

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Some highlights:

His WWE Contract Expiring: So, regarding my professional status, any thing else you read other than what I have said here is manure. I don’t break commitments and I am smart enough to not violate the terms of my contract with whomever I’m employed. My WWE contract expires in December, I don’t even know the exact date, and I expect to sign a multi year deal with WWE when schedules permit for us to sit down and to hammer out a deal that is a win/win. If we don’t hammer out a deal, I have no issues taking the holidays off, focusing on Family, BBQ and Football and then reassessing other career moves. The only thing that I can say is that “retirement” is NOT an option as there is still plenty of fuel left in my tank and that I can assure one and all.

Ric Flair’s NWA Title Being Auctioned: The Ric Flair, original NWA Title belt issue is still on going or so it seems. Apparently there are multiple bids for the coveted, collector’s piece of over $75K. Hopefully this matter will be resolved amicably and to everyone’s satisfaction but from a fan’s perspective there is no pro wrestling collectible any where that I can think of that I would rather have in my personal collection. I think a creative mind could literally write a screen play about the travels and experience of this “trophy.”

Ric Flair Wrestling Hulk Hogan: Speaking of “Naitch,” some emailers have asked me my thoughts regarding the Hulk and company tour of Australia coming up soon. Why would I have any issues with it? I am for all wrestlers to earn the best income that they can no matter where it may be. I would love to see Hulk and Ric tag rather than wrestle each other but that’s simply one guy’s opinion. If wrestling fans are entertained and the talents earn a fair wage, then who loses? I wish them success

Nature Boy Ric Flair’s ex-wife Tiffany appeared on the Unholy Matrimony radio show over the weekend and commented on his decision to come out of retirement and wrestle Hulk Hogan in Australia next month. “I’m very disappointed,” Tiffany said. “The WrestleMania and the Hall of Fame was so unbelievable and it was such a proud moment. No matter what I’ve been through with him, I was really, really proud to be part of that.

“It’s really unfortunate that he’s coming back under these circumstances, because that should have been the last day he wrestled. It was phenomenal and he should have been proud of that and it should have stayed that way.”

To listen to the show, UnholyMatrimonyShow.com.

Tickets for the “Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin” tour of Australia go on sale on Thursday in Australia. 

The following talent list has been confirmed on the Hulkamania tour website:

• Hulk Hogan
• Ric Flair
• Brutus Beefcake
• Aumaga (Umaga)
• Kishi ( Rikishi)
• Black Pearl
• Mr. Ken Anderson
• Shanon Moore
• Heidenreich
• King V (Viscera)
• Godfather
• Brian Knobs
• Jerry Sags
• Orlando Jordan
• Vampire Warrior (Gangrel)
• Val Venise (Val Venis)
• Stephanie Pietz
• Koa Marie Gabric
• Jimmy Hart
• Lacey Von Erich
  

The tour kicks off on November 21st and includes stops in Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, and Sydney. For more information, visit Hulkamania.com.au.