Published: November 20, 2008 11:16 pm      

Column: WWE Universe an Internet success

Here are the news and notes from the pro wrestling world:

• WWE’s venture into the social networking world is a success — so far. Variety.com wrote this week that the silent launch of WWE Universe in April brought more than 200,000 WWE fans to the site. WWE Universe can be accessed through www.wwe.com

• The annual year-end housecleaning continues at WWE. This week the organization released former ECW general manager Armando Estrada.

• Bad news for WWE female fans: Ted DiBiase Jr. and his girlfriend, Kristen Tynes, were married last month.

• Remember B. Brian Blair of Killer Bees fame? He proves there is life after wrestling. Blair lost his re-election bid for the Hillsborough (Fla.) County Commission.

• Interesting thought from Jim Ross’ blog at www.jrsbarbq.com: “MLB has started its free agency period, an oxymoron if I ever heard one because these overpaid dudes are certainly not free, and I am just thinking out loud why the WWE doesn’t have a free agency period or trade deadline to stimulate brand movement and to freshen the three brands up on a more regular basis than the annual draft?”

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The Local Corner: Frankie Frank did all the heavy lifting, but Mikey Watkins is TWA’s “Ringmaster.” Last Saturday night, Frank eliminated six wrestlers over a span of one hour and nine minutes. But Watkins was the last to enter the fray. He was aided by outside interference and won the marathon match.

TWA will present “Thanksgiving Thunder” — three nights of cage matches — from Nov. 27-29.

In matches last Friday night: Aiden Wright beat Dino Dupree; Jake Murphy defeated Tyler Sutton; Cody Gunn topped The Patriot; Rock-C and Fantasy turned back Mikey Watkins and Torque; Johnny Rokk outlasted Billy Jester and Nate Diaz Jr.; the New Age Freebirds downed Gunn and Simon Bane; Honor and Respect vs. Brothers Grimm vs. The F.L.O.W. ended in a no contest.

TWA runs Fridays at 8 p.m. in the TWA Arena off Reed Road in north Whitfield County, about three miles north of the bypass. The Action Zone runs Saturdays at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for kids 6 to 12. Kids under 6 are free. Any military member with ID will be admitted free.

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Trivia Teaser: Name the three teams in AWA’s “Team Challenge Series” in the late 1980s.

Check next week for the answer.

Last week’s question: Who was the sole survivor of the 1993 WWE Survivor Series?

Lex Luger.



Jamie Jones thinks the turkey on the pole match during the AWA’s “Great American Turkey Hunt” is one of the most ludicrous moments in pro wrestling history.