— Madison Rayne’s scheduled appearance at Redd’s Restaurant and Bar today in Carlstadt, New Jersey has been canceled due to a personal issue she is dealing with. She will, however, appear at the Middletown Market today from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Rayne asked for prayers earlier this week on her Twitter account. She added today:

“PRAYING for a smooth travel day so I can get home in time tonight…. US Airways pleeeease be on my side today :*)

— Former WWE Women’s Champion Trish Stratus was backstage at last night’s TNA Wrestling live event at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario. Stratus lives nearby and was visiting former WWE peers who now work for the organization.

Stratus indicated on her Twitter account that Mickie James, Tara and Winter slept over at her house.

Trish also posted this picture on Facebook of her with several TNA knockouts:

— It was reported earlier that Ric Flair underwent rotator cuff surgery on his shoulder last Thursday after being written off television at TNA Lockdown. Jim Ross clarified the WWE Hall of Famer’s health status by stating that he did not undergo surgery. JR tweeted over the weekend:

“While @ the gym yesterday got a text from ‘Naitch’ who was checking on my ‘wrestling’ status. BTW Ric has a horrid shoulder but no surgery.”

Taz, who stated on Thursday’s episode of TNA iMPACT! that Flair underwent surgery earlier that day, wrote on Twitter,

“For those whom have asked, Mike & I were either given BAD info on RF Shoulder issue or RF status changed from Tues (TV), to this weekend.”

— Mick Foley is scheduled to return to television imminently.

— TNA Knockout Tara has been announced for AdventureCon, Tennessee’s Largest Pop Culture Collectors Show. The annual event takes place June 10-12 at the Knoxville Expo Center in Knoxville.

source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

— Matt Hardy announced on Twitter that he is facing Sting for the first time tonight on TNA iMPACT!.

— A number of TNA stars are apparently upset with Jay Lethal’s sudden departure from TNA. The following remarks were written on Twitter.

Max Buck: “Ridiculous. Just ridiculous.”

Amazing Red: “…… ;( %&*$”

“Morale has just took a nose dive (SMFH).”

Jeremy Buck: “worst possible thing to happen to r locker room.

Tara wrote to Lethal: “Oh I hope this is just a rumor. Because I will miss you terribly.”

— Suicide has been added back to the TNAWrestling.com’s roster page.

— On Twitter, Hulk Hogan has been asked about bringing Randy Savage to TNA Wrestling. The Hulkster said he would if he could. He wrote:

“About bringing Randy Savage to TNA, man I wish we could get his butt off the couch he would add so much to the creative.”‘

He also posted the following concerning TNA Lockdown on Sunday:

“Good morning real WRESTLING people, LOCKDOWN is going to be intense Sunday in Cincinnati, this is not for the pg faint of heart.”

— Samoa Joe, Tara and SoCal Val are scheduled for an autograph signing today from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Hooters/Beer Sellar 301 Roverboat Row #1, Newport, Kentucky 41071. Call 859-431-6969 for more information.

— Mickie James is scheduled for an autograph signing today from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Columbia Chevrolet 9750 Montgomery Rd, Montgomery, Ohio 45242. Call 513-891-7200 for more information.

— Former WWE Intercontinental Champion Honky Tonk Man mentioned on his Twitter account last Friday that he will be releasing information regarding changes being made to upper management in TNA Wrestling on his “Shake Rattle & Roll” podcast.

He wrote, “Don’t miss Shake, Rattle & Roll this Monday night fans! We have huge breaking news about upper management changes in TNA.”

The podcast airs Monday night at 7:30 p.m. on www.htmradio.com.

— Mickie James battles Rosita on the latest episode of TNA Xplosion. The match is available here. Rosita is accompanied by TNA Knockout Tag Team Champion Sarita, who cuts a promo prior to the match.

— TNA Knockout Tara was on hand for the world premiere of Bail Enforcers yesterday in Ashville, North Carolina, which stars former WWE colleague Trish Stratus.

— Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will make a guest appearance on the upcoming season of Tough Enough, reports EW.com.

In the episode, the multi-time champion works out with the contestants, judges a challenge and demonstrates his own skills in the squared circle.

— TNA Knockout Tara said on her Twitter account that she’s excited for the John Morrison, Trish Stratus and Snooki vs. Dolph Ziggler and Lay-Cool match at WrestleMania XXVII.

When asked to give her reaction to the announcement of the match, she stated that she is “super excited.”

“I’m a huge Jersey Shore fan and Trish is my girl,” she wrote.

— WWE Monday Night Raw on August 8, 2011 will be held at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.

source: PWInsider.com

— “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero has heat with wrestlers in the locker room because they feel he’s not making an effort be an effective heel. They think he tries to portray himself as a babyface or “cool heel” in his promos.

— TNA Knockout Tara put over Trish Stratus’ return to WWE on Sunday, writing on Twitter: “I wish I could have watch my girl @trishstratuscom tonight. I’m sure she stole the show.”

Stratus wrote in response, “Well… It was no Chicago street fight- now that was stealing the show!”

— TNA Knockouts Traci Brooks and SoCal Val, as well as former Knockout Chelsea, are advertised for Mega Con, which takes place March 25-27 in Orlando, Florida. Visit megaconvention.com for more details.

source: Pro Wrestling Torch

— TNA Knockout Mickie James has been announced for the WrestleReunion event taking place WrestleMania XXVII morning (April 3) at the Downtown Marriott in Atlanta, Georgia. Other talent scheduled to appear include Winter, Christy Hemme, Tommy Dreamer, Scott Steiner, Bruno Sammartino, Carlito and “Cowboy” Bob Orton.

— Tommy Dreamer celebrated his 40th birthday yesterday. Regarding this, he wrote on Twitter: “Thanks to all 4 the happy birthday wishes. 40 yrs old & I realized I have been wrestling 4 more than half my life. God bless everyone.”

— Taz mistakenly referred to Tara by her WWE ring name Victoria last night during Against All Odds.

— TNA Wrestling has announced in advance that a TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match and a Lethal Lockdown Match featuring two teams will take place at their Lockdown pay-per-view on April 17.

The annual all-steel cage pay-per-view event will be held at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. Various fan interactive events will be held throughout the weekend. Tickets go on sale Friday, February 18 at noon via Ticketmaster locations and the arena box office. Full details on the festivities are available here.

— TNA Knockout Tara celebrates her birthday today as she turns 40 years old. She is the oldest women’s wrestler in either World Wrestling Entertainment or TNA Wrestling.

— Former TNA star Cody Deaner headlines GCW on February 25 in Oshawa, Ontario at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall.

— TNA ReACTION is currently not on Spike TV’s programming schedule for the entire month of January, so the season finale on December 30th will be the final episode of the show for the time being.

— Knockouts action is featured on this week’s episode of TNA Xplosion as Velvet Sky squares off against Tara. The match can be viewed here.

— Mickie James’ theme song, Hardcore Country is now available on ShopTNA.com and iTunes.

— Former TNA Knockout Rhaka Khan celebrates her 29th birthday today.

TNA Wrestling talent Lisa Marie Varon (a/k/a Tara) issued a statement this morning on her MySpace account regarding her custom car shop in Louisville, Black Widow Customs, catching on fire yesterday. She notes having tumors cut out of her breast when the incident occurred.

She also addressed her business being the subject of a Consumer Watch investigation on a local news station. She hinted that BWC will be taking legal action.

Below is her statement:

Thanks everybody !

Hey WPF’s !

I just want to reach out to everyone who has expressed their concern over the fire at Black Widow Customs. First, thanks so much! The most important thing is that no one was hurt. Also, our window tinter Justin walked in on the fire. He acted heroically by first warning the neighbors, then attempting to put it out himself, and assisting the fireman as they scrambled to the scene. And for those who weren’t aware, there was an ice storm the previous night, and the roads were covered in sheets of ice, but the fire department arrived very quickly and kept it from being a VERY bad situation. So much thanks to them as well. The damage looks a lot worse than it is. The weeks leading up to Christmas are obviously a very busy time of the year for any retailer, and BWC will reopen ASAP. It may be as soon as Monday, although we’ll know better later today.

A local news station has also focused on an unhappy customer recently. I know the guys at BWC work hard and and take pride in what they do. I’m confident that they did the right thing, and anyone who knows me knows that I believe that the best defense is a good offense. You’ll be hearing more on this once BWC takes action.

More importantly right now, BWC has some hard working, dedicated employees that are suddenly out of work ten days before Christmas through no fault of their own. I will personally make sure that their hard work is rewarded, and that they have a happy holiday season.

And finally, yesterday morning I was having some tumors cut out of my breast. I have had them before, and they always turn out to be nothing. But they have to be checked. They had always been tiny little biopsies. Unfortunately, this time I had to be completely put out. When I came to in recovery, I was pretty groggy. I was going through my phone, and I got a text from former WWE Superstar Domino. He asked ‘are you okay?’. So I replied, ‘yes’. Then he said,’Good. Saw the news and was wondering’. And I was thinking, how is it on the news that I’m getting my boob cut on? Obviously, he was talking about the fire, which I didn’t know about yet…

Anyway, thanks for your support, but I am fine. I am actually better than fine. Although it’s appreciated, show your concern for those who need it. This holiday season I’m counting my blessings, and I hope you are too.

Later Holiday Taters, Lisa Marie : )

In light of news of TNA Wrestling talent Lisa Marie Varon’s custom car shop in Louisville, Kentucky being suspiciously destroyed in a fire this morning, it occurred one day after the business was profiled on WHAS11’s Consumer Watch segment.

Antwane Glenn, a football player at the University of Kentucky, wants a refund after his car was left un-drivable following Black Widow Customs’ work on it. He contacted WHAS11 and the story was profiled on this week’s Consumer Watch.

In addition to losing $2,000, Glenn is also stuck with a dangerous vehicle. Two independent mechanics have said that he needs to put emergency brakes on it. Glenn adds that a Lexington custom car shop told him the job was poorly done.

WHAS11 wanted to find out if the car was unsafe, so they took it to an unnamed Louisville mechanic, and didn’t tell him where the work was done.

“Okay, the suspension on this vehicle has been raised with a special raise kit, which raises it somewhere between 7-12 inches,” explained WHAS11’s car expert. “That is very dangerous and this car cannot be driven like this.”

Varon’s husband Lee, who co-owns Black Widow Customs, said the company’s work has received awards on a regional and national level, but due to pending litigation, could not comment on the report. The report noted Glenn has not filed suit, and indicated it may have been Black Widow Customs filing action.

Lee said he’s willing to fix the car and says it’s the same offer he’s made from the beginning. However, Glenn said he no longer trusts Black Widow Customs to fix his car. “I’ve got football practice and I’m preparing for my finals,” explained Glenn, “Not to have a car is really stressful.”

The story can be accessed here.

Firefighters and arson investigators were on the scene today of a business fire of TNA Wrestling performer Lisa Marie Varon’s (a/k/a Tara) custom car shop in Louisville, Kentucky, according to ABC’s Louisville affiliate WHAS11. Black Widow Customs was the subject of a Consumer Watch investigation on WHAS11 yesterday.

The fire was put out but firefighters say it is suspicious.

An employee claims when he arrived to the shop this morning, it had been broken into and vandalized and that there were several small fires on the ground near a car inside. The entire inside of the store was destroyed, according to the employee.

Investigators say they are looking into the fact that Black Widow Customs was featured in a WHAS11 Consumer Watch.

There were no injuries in the fire, although several neighboring businesses suffered smoke damage.

— As reported earlier, Tara suffered a torn ligament in her elbow when she took a bad landing on her arm during her Steel Cage Match with Mickie James last week on iMPACT!. She will continue appearing on television while she heals as she will be using her cast as a foreign object.

— Regarding Hamada’s recent departure from TNA Wrestling, she was not fired as it was her decision to part ways with the organization. She headed back to Japan in October and wasn’t interested in returning.

— In response to rumors that she has parted ways with TNA Wrestling, Taylor Wilde noted on Twitter that she will clear them up in the near future.

She wrote, “There are a lot of rumours flying around right now, and I promise to clear them up in the upcoming weeks. For now, lets just roll with it!”

source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

— Last night on Raw, the anonymous General Manager arranged Lay-Cool vs. Beth Phoenix and Divas Champion Natalya for Sunday’s TLC pay-per-view in the first-ever Divas Tag Team Table Match. The match was concocted in response to Mickie James battling Tara in a Steel Cage Match last Thursday on TNA Wrestling’s iMPACT!.

— David Arquette was said to be a delight backstage at last night’s Raw. The former WCW World Heavyweight Champion spent time chatting with most everyone locker room, a stark contrast to numerous celebrities who solely acknowledge the top stars.

— The terms Slammys and David Arquette were trending worldwide on Twitter last night during Raw.

— Triple H is featured on the cover of the latest issue of Inside Wrestling.

source: f4wonline.com

— TNA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Hardy is not backstage at tonight’s iMPACT! taping in Orlando, Florida, but will be appearing at tomorrow’s event. He missed last night’s show due to a court hearing in North Carolina.

— Today is 13-time World Champion Kurt Angle’s birthday, who turns 42 years old.

— TNA Knockout Tara took part in an interview with Little Rock, Arkansas based radio station 103.7 The Buzz and discussed her Final Resolution pay-per-view match against Mickie James and working a Steel Cage Match against the country musician that will air on tonight’s iMPACT!. To listen to the interview, click here.

— Tara, who tore a ligament in her elbow during a Steel Cage Match against Mickie James at Monday’s iMPACT! taping, noted last night on Twitter that no surgery will be required.

— Ric Flair will be on hand for tomorrow’s Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colt game at LP Field in Nashville as an Honorary 12th Titan. Before the game airs on television, “The Nature Boy” will get nearly 70,000 fans amped by raising a #12 Titans flag to salute those attending the game.

— Numerous Jersey All Pro Wrestling officials are on hand for this week’s iMPACT! tapings in Orlando. TNA Wrestling coordinates live events with JAPW officials when they hold shows in New Jersey.

source: PWInsider.com

— While Samoa Joe is free and clear from all contractual obligations with TNA Wrestling, he is available to appear at this week’s television tapings if officials choose to use him. Both sides remain in negotiations for a new contract.

— Many backstage are impressed with Tara and Mickie James working through injuries at this week’s television tapings. Tara tore a ligament in her elbow, while James hurt her knee Monday.

source: PWInsider.com

— Magnus returned to action at last night’s Xplosion taping in Orlando, Florida, working a match against Tommy Dreamer. Dixie Carter noted in a recent message on Twitter that Magnus and Desmond Wolfe would be returning soon as London Brawling.

— TNA X Division Champion Robbie E squared off against Shark Boy at last night’s Xplosion tapings and did not have the title with him.

— Tara suffered an arm injury during her match with Mickie James at last night’s iMPACT! taping in Orlando, Florida.

“Tore a ligament in my elbow last night in a match against @mickiejames,” she wrote on Twitter. “It was my good elbow, but we made history. We were main event.”

She is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.

sources: PWInsider.com, f4wonline.com

TNA Knockout Tara spoke to Fanhouse.com about leaving WWE for TNA Wrestling and predicts that many others will follow her path.

“You’ll be seeing some names coming over here,” she said. “It’s a much more at ease crew at TNA. I’m so much happier here. We get to showcase what we were prevented up north.”

The multi-time champion also feels that women wrestlers should stick together.

“There are very few women in this industry and I think we should all be supportive, regardless of what company we’re in,” she noted. “I think Mickie James and I never got to finish a feud we had in the past with the other company. Now it’s time to finish it and prove a point here.”

She also discusses the pride she takes in being a TNA Knockout, being an unofficial trainer for WWE’s female talent, and more. The interview can be accessed here.

— Kevin Nash disputed online reports that he has re-signed with TNA Wrestling.

“I did not sign with TNA wrestling co.” he wrote on Twitter.

Those spoken with in the company today regarding the report were not aware that he had re-signed, but couldn’t say for sure that he had not.

— Tara’s character has been tweaked to that of a “cougar.” Creative plans call for the 39-year-old to attempt to strike a romance with members of Generation Me, of which are 14 (Max) and 18 (Jeremy) years her junior.

— TNA Wrestling newcomer Winter (a/k/a Katie Lea Burchill) celebrates her 30th birthday today.

source: prowrestling.net

– TNA Knockout Tara posted a blog on her Myspace a few days ago announcing that she recently had a mole removed that turned out to be cancerous. Tara, a lifelong “sun worshiper” who grew up in the desert in Southern California, is now urging her fans to be cautious of skin cancer and check themselves out:

“I went to the dermatologist because I had a bump on my hip. It turned out to be nothing. But the doctor noticed a mole near my collar bone that didn’t look quite right. He cut it off and tested it, and it turned out to be Basal Cell Carcinoma. That is the most common form of skin cancer. He cut most of it off, and next week, they are going to cut out the surrounding tissue and I should be 100% It’s it super minor, because they caught it early. So that some of my MySpace friends can possibly catch it early also, here is a link on what to look for… http://www.wikihow.com/Check-for-Skin-Cancer. Also, always wear sun block for extended periods outdoors.”

– WWE star Kofi Kingston was married earlier this month, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Kingston was married on Saturday, September 11th and was given the weekend off by WWE. He married his longtime girlfriend, who was with him in the audience at this year’s WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. Here they are together:

Multi-time TNA Women’s Knockout Champion Tara was scratched from last night’s TNA Wrestling live event in Rahway, New Jersey.

She was advertised to wrestle the current Women’s Knockout Champion, Angelina Love, but the match did not place.

Tara wrote this morning on Twitter that she was taken to an area hospital last night.

“Crazy night last night. I was taken to the ER in Jersey. I will post photos when I get home.”

— While there is no official update on Aloisia’s status with World Wrestling Entertainment, it is believed that she has not been released by the company. Many presume WWE officials realized she was far too green to appear on national television and thus demoted to Florida Championship Wrestling for additional training.

When asked to comment on her dismissal from NXT, the 6’9″ grappler tweeted, “Just know there is absolutely NO replacing ME. We ALL know there is just 1 of me in the ENTIRE world & I’ll be back.”

— WWE Monday Night Raw on November 15, 2010 will be a three-hour show, airing from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. on USA. The event will be held at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. (Thanks to Devin Cutting)

— The official WWE website removed Victoria’s profile from the Alumni section Friday, just one day after the multi-time Women’s Champion returned to TNA Wrestling programming. She was added back to the section in June, shortly after it was believed that she had parted ways with the organization.

As seen at Victory Road, Madison Rayne lost the Women’s Knockout Championship to Angelina Love via disqualification due to outside interference from a person incognito in a motorcycle helmet. The mystery person was Lisa Marie Varon (a/k/a Tara), who recently agreed to return to TNA Wrestling. On Twitter, she has been kayfabing her return to the organization by writing various messages indicating she’s at home. In fact, she wrote late last night that she slept all day, thus explaining why she was unable to tweet much.

Further indicating that Varon has in fact rejoined TNA Wrestling, she opened a Facebook Fan Page last week in which lists herself as a TNA Knockout — and former WWE Diva.