Sports

It's been widely reported today that Bobby "The Brain" Heenan has passed away at the age of 72.  Bobby Heenan spent his entire life in professional wrestling, working for the World Wrestling Association, American Wrestling Association, WWF, and WCW.  He is probably the greatest heel manager of all time, having managed everyone from Angelo Poffo and Nick Bockwinkel to Andre the Giant, Ric Flair and Arn Anderson.  He is also one of the best heel commentators of all time, especially when he was partnered up with Gorilla Monsoon, and later having a run on commentary in WCW.  On the July 31 episode of his Podcast, "What Happened When," Tony Schiavone did a whole episode on Bobby Heenan, and I would really reccomend checking that out.

Nearly ten years after going to prison for attempted robbery, Orenthal James Simpson has been granted parole. But don't go lining up for autographs just yet. The beleagured football star / film actor has to wait until October 1, at the earliest, before he can set foot on the sunny side of those prison walls.

The 70 year old who who was a running back for the Buffalo Bills and who comically portrayed Nordberg in the POLICE SQUAD! films will likely always be remembered for his role as a suspect in the murders of his wife, Nicole Simpson, and her associate Ronald Goldman, a case that obsessed American culture and engulfed media outlets for much of 1994 as the courtroom drama unfolded with phrases like, "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit."

"He's going to get someone killed."

That was CNN contributor Ana Navarro's take on the fan-edited video of Donald Trump from WrestleMania (circa 2007), in which WWE head honcho Vince McMahon got clotheslined by The Donald in a guest appearance. In the edit, McMahon's face has been replaced by a CNN logo.

For the literal minded out there, this was a stunt. Also, there is no Mr. CNN running around out there with an animated CNN logo for a head. The guy in the Jack-in-the-Box commercials isn't real, either.

WrestlePro is going to be at St. Joe’s Church in Keyport, NJ this Saturday.  There are more matches to be announced (I will likely be adding to this as we get closer to show time), and Hardcore Holly and Fake News Bennett (FKA Bad News Barrett) will also be at this show!  It’s going to be a big one!  You also get to see hometown hero (and huge friend of this column) Coach Dylan Stiffwood make his triumphant return to Keyport!

Tickets available here!

The New York Yankees played the Orioles close in their last series until finally breaking through with a win in the final game.

Heading into the weekend the Bronx Bombers were fighting through some rough starting pitching and playing in a dome that causes every pop-fly to be a nightmare. When they arrived in Baltimore, their starting pitching continued to struggle. Going against an Orioles team that had yet to lose a game, the Yankees had a tough series ahead before they could set their sights on going home.

Let’s take a look at how they did...

With a lot of hype and excitement for the New York Yankees youth movement and their success in Spring training, (24-9) the first week of regular season baseball is finally here. With cold weather lingering back home, the Yankees take an extended stay in Tampa to face the AL East rival Rays. Evan Longoria feasts off of Yankees pitching but the Yankees youth movement gives some hope that their bats can keep pace.

Let’s see how the series turned out.

If you are in Orlando for Wrestlemania weekend, two things:

1. I am extremely jealous of you.

This morning, WWE released a series of four videos they claimed to be from a longlost 80's wrestling promotion called Southpaw Regional Wrestling.  The videos are a pretty clever homage to the ridiculousness of 80's wrestling.  A lot of WWE superstars appear in these in some pretty unexpected (and brilliant) roles.  Definitely worth checking out!  WWE needs to do more fun stuff like this.  I miss things like the JBL and Cole show, which really allowed wrestlers to show off more personality than we get on WWE TV, especially on Raw. 

If nothing else, therese videos are far more entertaining than anything we've gotten to see Gallows and Anderson do in their time in the WWE.

Results:

• Preshow - Talon def. Valerio LaMorte

• Bruce Pritchard came out to do a promo to start the show.  He put over WrestlePro huge in a terrific promo.

First off, let's start with the big news!  Mario Bokara, Fallah Bahh, and Kevin Matthews all made their debut at Impact tapings last weekend.  

And this led to Matthews being offered a 2-year contract. Congratulations to all three of these talented performers. They (along with many of the WrestlePro roster) deserve a much bigger platform to show what they can do.  

There’s a big WrestlePro show Friday Night (February 10) at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey and on Saturday night in Brooklyn at St Pat’s CYO.  Starland Ballroom is one of my favorite places to catch a wrestling show (or concert), and I’ve had my tickets for this one for a long time now.

Here are our predictions on how the Starland show plays out!

Ryback Vs Brian Cage

The New York Yankees not only spend a lot of time and money on winning championships, but as their YES Network implies, they invest in entertainment as well.

The highly profitable organization provides excellent programming such as "Yankees on Deck" and "Yankeeography". Both of which that take you inside the dugout and between the lines; introducing you to the world and players of Yankees baseball.

Today, their "Yankees On Demand" outlet has debuted a new series that spotlights players on the rise in their minor league system. Recently, Baseball America has ranked the New York Yankees as having the #1 farm system in the country. With that in mind, getting to know the origins of these future Bronx Bombers will help fans feel more connected to the players they'll be rooting.

Last summer, WrestlePro fans were introduced to a new faction when Coach Dylan Stiffwood brought Team Espana and Nikos Rikos together as Team Espanikos. Fresh off his betrayal at the hands of his protege Mike Del, Coach D and his boys brought the fight right to the Aesthetic Males.

Many people thought this unique group was a bit of a joke at first, but Team Espanikos has been making a name for themselves, including gettng a huge victory over Kevin Matthews, Craven Varro, and JTG at the November 10 WrestlePro show. Take one grizzled veteran give him three young bucks looking to make a name for themselves, and you have one international force to be reckoned with.

It's difficult to ignore sports. They're everywhere! As someone who spent my birthday in a sports bar with a guy yelling at the television above my head the entire meal, I can tell you sports are very overrated.

The guy in question was with his wife and another couple. He didn't pay any attention to his companions. I had to ask myself why a basketball game was so important that a man isolated himself from his friends. When you break it down it's just a bunch of guys who have the goal to throw a ball into a hoop, right?

It’s been a hell of a first year for WrestlePro!  Every month they continue to grow, and the November 10 show was insane.  The Rahway Recreation Center was packed.  It might have been the biggest crowd I’ve seen at a WrestlePro show.  

Results (you should also read Dave D-Struction's recap): ​

• Pre-Show - Amazing Graysons defeated Wrestlepreneurs

Mike:  I can remember exactly when and where I became a fan of Chris Payne.  February 2015, my co-writer Chris suggested that I go with him to a Pro Wrestling Syndicate show.  At the time, WWE, NXT (which was basically in it's infancy), and Lucha Underground were my entire wrestling world.  But I figured why not.  Tickets were pretty reasonably priced, and Johnny Mundo was going to be there.  

Mike Maillaro: This Saturday, WrestlePro returns to their home in Rahway, New Jersey for what is promising to be their biggest show of the year.  So many great matches on the card.  This is a huge showcase for all of the great WrestlePro talent!

Huge changes to NY rules regarding pro wrestling

Mike Maillaro: Readers of this column know that we love independent wrestling.  Recently the New York State Athletic Commission made some changes to the regulations regarding running a wrestling show in New York.  Some of these changes seem designed to put smaller indy companies out of business:

Clash of Champions Predictions

Mike Maillaro: Only two weeks after the Backlash, WWE is back with another PPV, this time the Raw brand is doing Clash of Champions.  I will say I love that they are using that name!  Tons of history there (yes, I know it was Clash of The Champions).  Never occurred to me that they should have used that instead of the terrible name, The  Night of Champions, which they had been using the last few years.