Wrestling

Courtesy of impactwrestling.com: The Georgia Lottery Corporation has partnered with Impact Wrestling to launch its new instant game Impact Wrestling. “We are pleased to partner with Impact Wrestling to offer a fresh, new game to our players and wrestling enthusiasts,” said Georgia Lottery Corporation President and CEO Debbie D. Alford. “Every dollar raised by this game will benefit HOPE and Pre-K students.” The Impact Wrestling instant game went on sale statewide Tuesday. “Given the rich history of professional wresting in Georgia, we are honored and delighted to be the first wrestling organization to be featured on a Georgia Lottery ticket,” TNA President Dixie Carter said. “Our partnership with the Georgia Lottery is a uniquely exciting one for both our Impact Wrestling brand and our superstar talent.” With Impact Wrestling, players can win prizes up to $25,000. Players also can enter non-winning tickets for a second chance to win tickets to a live Impact Wrestling event. Visit www.galottery.com for more information. The post Georgia Lottery Introduces New IMPACT Game appeared first on Online World of Wrestling.

In an outstanding article detailing the final days of Macho Man Randy Savage's life, Keith Elliot Greenberg at Bleacher Report got some interesting quotes from Lanny Poffo on his brother and his status in regards to the WWE Hall of Fame. Pro wrestling fans the world over have clamored for Savage's induction but there has always been one major hurdle holding up the proceedings. The fact that Poffo has said he'll only accept the induction if the entire family goes in alongside Randy. Lanny's reasoning for this is due to many conversations he had with Macho Man during the later stages of his life when he explicitly stated that that was how it was going to be and that's all there is to it. Now that Savage is dead, it has put Lanny in a difficult position, one he wouldn't lament being rid of. He talked about just that and interestingly enough, gave his blessing to WWE in the only way he could that still allows him to back his lost brother: "On the one hand, I'm so appreciative of Vince McMahon for everything he did for me. I mean, when I was The Genius, managing Mr. Perfect, I was in main events and on the Regis show-me, a career jabroni. That's because of Vince. And the fans deserve to see Randy in the Hall of Fame. But I have to support my brother. I just think it's absolutely insane that I'm stuck in the middle. This is the quandary I'm in. "So here's the way I feel about WWE. If you think the Von Erichs were better than the Poffos, that's your prerogative. If you want Randy in against his wishes, you have my permission to do it without my permission. But don't invite me because I won't attend. I don't need the 30 pieces of silver." Savage absolutely should be in the Hall of Fame, if for no other reason that he is one of the greatest performers in the history of the industry. It's just too bad that if it happens, it would have to be under these circumstances.

Randy Orton versus Sheamus at SummerSlam is what WWE officials have been thinking about for the August classic according to F4Wonline.com. One of the two men would likely be making a heel turn in the summer to set this match up. Orton has been talked about and rumored to turn heel for quite some time. Speaking of Randy Orton, we saw him bring out the punt kick on Big Show at Extreme Rules. It does seem like that was a special situation given the theme of the pay-per-view and his opponent. Orton isn't expected to begin using that again regularly in matches.

F4Wonline.com reports The Rock and The Undertaker are the two primary opponentns right now for Brock Lesnar for WrestleMania 30. The Rock is the top choice as WWE wants to put those two together. The hope is by the fall, WWE will come to an agreement with The Rock and he will be on board to work Lesnar next April.

Jim Ross told Alex Marvez and Jim Miller on their SiriusXM NFL show Tuesday night that he's meeting with the NFLPA in Washington D.C.. The topic is to discuss a partnership that would send some guys who have come to the end with their football possibilities to tryout for WWE. "Everybody doesn’t make the 53-man roster. Some guys are going to be looking for work, and we’ve got some job openings. Maybe we can put the synergies of those two entities together and create something wonderful some day."

Mick McManus, the biggest wrestling star of his era in the United Kingdom, passed away at 1 a.m. today at the age of 93. According to a report by Frank Rimer of the British Wrestlers Reunion Group, McManus never recovered from the loss of wife Barbara and had lost the will to live. He had been living in Brushing House, the celebrity home for retired actors in the U.K. He had refused all food and liquids until he went into a coma on Sunday. Today was the 50th anniversary of one of McManus' most famous matches, attended by Prince Philip. Thanks to Lee Wall, John Lister and many others.

Mick McManus, the biggest wrestling star of his era in the United Kingdom, passed away at 1 a.m. today at the age of 93. According to a report by Frank Rimer of the British Wrestlers Reunion Group, McManus never recovered from the loss of wife Barbara and had lost the will to live. He had been living in Brushing House, the celebrity home for retired actors in the U.K. He had refused all food and liquids until he went into a coma on Sunday. Today was the 50th anniversary of one of McManus' most famous matches, attended by Prince Philip. McManus was not only voted into the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame this past November, but his 78% percentage of being voted in was the highest of the 2012 induction class that also included Mexican broadcasting legend Dr. Alfonso Morales, modern WWE star John Cena, 50s top drawing heel Hans Schmidt and WWWF manager Captain Lou Albano.  Thanks to Lee Wall, John Lister and many others.

On this day in history: May 22nd, 2011 | At 2011′s Over the Limit, Brie Bella defended her Divas Championship against Kelly Kelly, who, despite her popularity and constant presence in the Divas division, had yet to hold the title. The stage seemed to be set perfectly for Kelly’s first title win, but with Brie’s twin Nikki at ringside, it just wasn’t meant to be. The Bellas performed their “Twin Magic” and, presto change-o, Nikki retained her sister’s title. It would be another month before Kelly could call the belt hers. What are your memories of this moment? Tell us in the comments!

Here's your Daily Open Thread for Wednesday, May 22, 2013: Come chat about whatever you would like. Come back all day and night for discussion of all things pro wrestling and beyond, some of the former but much more of the latter. Basically, this is the spot to yak about anything related to anything other than pro wrestling. Don't forget to check out everything else we have going on here at Cageside today, like our CSS Greatest Finisher Tourney and our On This Date in Pro Wrestling History feature. Since it's Wednesday, that means you can anticipate an all new Rumor Round-Up from our Resident Rumor Monger Eric B. Stephen, SmackDown spoilers for this Friday night's show, and the Main Event live blog. Keep checking that front page for even more content throughout the day, as well. But for now, scroll on down to the comments and talk about whatever your heart desires.

The Greg DeMarco Show Hosts: Greg DeMarco and Patrick O'Dowd Airing live Sunday nights at 10 pm on Wrestling Smash Radio (blogtalkradio.com/gregdemarco) and on delay on The Real Fans Sports Network (realfanssportsnetwork.com,  TuneIn App channel RFSN)Listen to the latest edition of The Greg DeMarco Show, as special guest Ivelisse Velez joins Greg and Patrick O’Dowd to talk about WWE Tough Enough, wrestling in FCW/NXT, and her TNA Gut Check tryout! Also hear the lowdown on her career in Puerto Rico and her moniker “The Huntress.” All this, plus WWE Extreme Rules reaction, Chad Perry, Tony Acero and a huge announcement about the guest for our May 26 2-Year Anniversary Show!Ivelisse was quick to address her release from the WWE:“The release ... the rumors, they’re just rumors ... no matter what I say, I could say it 100 times: no I don’t have a bad attitude ... I know for sure that since day one since I started my career I always seek to approach my work as professional as possible. I’ve heard it all. ... People close to me, people that work with me can testify to that ... my work is everything to me, it’s all I know. I gave up scholarships from school and I was an honor student and I gave up all of it to go on this voyage with complete odds against me ... Of course I’m going to approach it with all my heart.”She expanded upon her character traits:“I am a very assertive person ... in a man’s world they’re not very used to that. ... A woman being assertive and not being walked over. ... Maybe it came from that, I don’t know.”On her portrayal on Tough Enough:“It was a very hard experience in the sense that a lot of the things that were on TV or things that didn’t make TV that probably should have. ... I’m very grateful that opportunity, but I feel, honestly, that it could have portrayed in a little bit more realistic way of how things really happened. ... they never showed the diagnosis of my leg, then I ended up looking like a wimp. ... Nobody ended up knowing the gravity of the injury to my leg. ... I was going to continue ... Doctor [had to tell me] that I can’t continue or they have to tear my leg off. ... You tell them because I am not going to, because I’ll rip my leg off and then I can’t have a career.”On her FCW/NXT experience:“It’s really frustrating to hear that [that you’re ready to be on television] and then you don’t [get used on television]. ... That was mostly the hardest part. ... You feel so ready but it’s a whole different ballgame—it’s not just having the skills or the talent or the look. You can have I all but there’s so much more to it there. ... We’re all human and sometimes people make mistakes, and people sometimes mix personal with business and you get the backlash of that. It took me a long time to register what happened. ... It’s tough.”On her TNA Gut Check tryout:“Definitely it was a surprise to me as well. ... In my head I thought there was no reason for me not to. I felt that Lei D’Tapa was great, too, and she has a lot of potential. At least I thought I was ready now. ... They would have benefited from signing us both. ... I’m happy for Lei D’Tapa, she’s a great girl, she’s humble. ... I’m sure everyone felt like TNA could’ve benefited from both of us. ... The whole thing, they were really good at that—at all moments, we never knew. ... I had no clue what was going to happen at any moment. ... Everyone knows both of these girls should be here. ... That was my real reaction, I was just speechless. ... When I heard that crowd...I feel like, equally, we both created that with our hard work into the match. ... It wasn’t just her! … And then I didn’t even make it to the ring. ... I was like “damn, really?” ... From wrestlers and fans, it was a big reaction. A lot of people agreed that both of us had a lot to bring to the table. The only difference is I could bring it now. … I’m ready now.”Ivelisse also talks about her return to TNA, going back home to Puerto Rico to win a championship for WWL, being a me