• Wrestling News & Wrestling Rumors – WWE & TNA

- Former WWE Diva Trish Stratus has joined the “WWE Universe” and posted the following welcome blog:

Well, hello…long time no speak! It feels like Babe of the Year voting all over again – except this time I have social networking to actually deliver a great big “THANK YOU!” I have to admit, I’m new to this whole world, a world riddled with posers and fakes – you know who you are! I only recently entered this world – I finally entered the myspace world (www.myspace.com/trishstratus). I was contacted by myspace canada who asked if I’d be interested in taking over this one page that had a lot of friends (a lot of people talkin to a fake me!), and it was the one page they had gotten the most amount of reports about that it was a fake (some people know me well – luckily better than this poser).

So, I agreed and – voila! Suddenly there I was blogging, connecting with fans, people who were glad to see I finally made it into the myspace world! Then along came a nomination for a Gemini Viewer’s Choice Award – which unless you are Canadian means nothing to you – but the Gemini is the Canadian equivalent to the U.S Emmy Award – so yeah, I’m kinda psyched to say the least! I did in fact do a happy dance, and yes, I have been voting for myself ever since I found out (what? you would be too!).

So then, a couple of things happened, first I of course posted on myspace that I had been nominated and please show me some love and vote for me. Second, I confirmed to some devout fans that that this myspace was in fact me – and bam – next thing you know, I made the top 5! Coincidence – I think not!

When the folks at WWE.com contacted me about an interview regarding my nomination – and then invited me to be part of the WWE Universe – I couldn’t refuse because I know its you guys that have made the difference in everything that I have been a part of and this was a way for me to finally say directly to you “THANK YOU”.

Let’s review, just to name a few (ha, I made rhyme):

1. 3 time babe of the year – your voting
2. Cover of DIVAS mag – your voting
3. The will to go out every week and deliver stratusfaction to the best of my abilities– your vote of confidence
4. Top 5 nominated for a Gemini Award – your voting
5. Winner of the Gemini – oops, did I get ahead of myself ….

I know when I won the babe of the year you guys got a photo shoot out of it and if I win the Gemini well, I get a trophy … not exactly a win-win situation, so, kind of in keeping the tradition alive – here’s the trade – you guys vote for me and I’ll do a Gemini Viewer’s Choice Award photo shoot …maybe I’ll pose with my little statue (why?)… and I’ll post it right here for the WWE Universe, what do you think? 100% Stratusfaction Guaranteed!

(In an accompanying article on WWE.com Stratus said “I’ve heard that Beth Phoenix and this new Diva Natalya have talked (trash) about me. I’ve said it before, but if they ever decided to call me out, I wouldn’t hesitate to step into the ring.”)

[Beth against Trish at Wrestlemania in a one off would be a great match!]

- WWE has admitted the error they made on the History of the IC title DVD where there was a picture of Buddy Roberts, wearing the Texas Heavyweight Championship instead of the IC belt on the sleeve. They claim the staff thought the picture was of Pat Patterson! A second set is being released with a revised picture.

- Jim Ross is back with another JRSBARBQ.com blog, here are the wrestling highlights:

On roster cuts:
“A fan wrote me and asked if I thought that there would be more talent cuts within the WWE soon and my honest and direct answer is that I don’t know. However, if forced to make a prediction I would think yes and that unfortunately, but honestly, it isn’t a bad thing to change the bottom and then the middle of the lineup at least annually. Roster “upgrades” was always my goal when I worked in talent relations as it is today. However, the more cooks in the kitchen regarding who goes and who stays makes it more difficult in my opinion.”

On Piper smoking Pot:
“Rowdy Roddy Piper was featured on my wife’s favorite show TMZ this week apparently smoking some pot. Roddy’s reason was essentially medical in nature as in treating his cancer but nonetheless it reminded me of the territory days in the 70’s when many wrestlers would smoke pot recreationally on virtually a daily basis which seemed to act as a sedative for some of the higher strung alpha males. As the legend has it, “Hippie” Mike Boyette, who allegedly liked to smoke a joint occasionally, even had marijuana scented air freshener in his vehicle just in case he was pulled over by the police and if they smelled pot Mike would laugh and demonstrate the pot scented, air freshener. I can remember WAY back in the day when JYD’s adoring fans in southern Louisiana would bring Dog grocery sacks full of pot as a show of their admiration. Ernie Ladd used to talk to JYD all the time about what the Big Cat referred to as ‘demon week.’”

On Abby Butcher:
“I read where Abdullah the Butcher is retiring and a big event in his honor will be held soon in Puerto Rico for him. If one throughly examines Abby’s “run”, it is actually pretty damn amazing for a performer who was somewhat athletically limited but made up for it with a unique look and amazing crowd psychology. Abby was a fearless antagonist who perfected a very straight forward and physical style that, over the years, endured racism, the ever changing and fickle territory system, and in ring styles that seemingly morphed on a regular basis to survive for decades, most of the time as a main event star in a wide variety of areas and especially in Japan. I have great respect for Abby’s business acumen and his longevity. Years ago when I was a member of one of the volatile WCW “booking committees”, Abby gave me a heads up that some on the committee were out to “get me” for their own political gain and to have me replaced on the committee. I appreciated the heads up but in hindsight I wish I had helped my detractors facilitate my booking committee demise as being in that asylum was a bigger pain in the ass than it was worth and all for not one extra dollar. The late Gary Hart always called Abby “Butch” which sticks to me this very day. Congrats Abby on a wonderful career and best of luck with the continued success of your Atlanta area restaurant.”

On Smackdown Tapings:
“It is my understanding that we are taping two episodes of Friday Night Smackdown in Albany, New York on Tuesday night which might become something that occurs on a more regular basis as a means of being a cost cutting measure. That sure works for me as it means one less week on the road. It is not easy voicing over a pair of shows that total 22 segments of TV but I will trade the extra work for a week at home any time. FYI, I worked until almost 3 a.m. Wednesday night/Thursday morning putting the finishing touches on the commentary for Friday Night Smackdown that airs this Friday night on MyNetworkTV.”