Dirt Sheet History: August 2009

Take a trip back to a memorable timeline in sports entertainment with the most important stories reported as fact in the journalistic world of pro wrestling dirt sheets.

Following the timeline of the last Dirt Sheet History looking back at July 2009, we get a glimpse into the top scoops from August of 2009 as we read Dirt Sheet History.

Reminder that you can find all past editions of Dirt Sheet History looking at 2004 through 2008 right here. Now enjoy August 2009!

8/1/2009

It’s been nine years since he was last ranked number one on Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s annual PWI 500 list, but Triple H sits atop this year’s list, making him a repeat winner.

8/3/2009

Brooke Hogan says that WWE and Vince McMahon have reached out to her several times about a role in the WWE.

“They are always like, ‘Hey, Brooke, when are you gonna put on some spandex and get in the ring?’” Brooke said. “But it’s just not my interest. I’m more of a girly girl. I would be good at it though, I would really kick ass at it – because I’m really strong and my dad’s trained me since I was 12 years-old.”

8/4/2009

Dolph Ziggler and ECW Diva Nikki Bella are dating again, although they actually have been together for a while.

8/5/2009

As noted earlier, WWE parted ways with The Brian Kendrick last Thursday. It would appear that the decision was actually made two weeks ago because he was pulled from a previously from a scheduled program with Evan Bourne that week. He was then booked to lose to Jerry Lawler and Kofi Kingston in humiliating fashion.

To confirm ongoing Internet rumors dating back to last fall, Kendrick’s push went up in smoke, so to speak, as a result of his disobedience towards the company’s policy on marijuana. He had been warned several times by company officials that they weren’t going to tolerate his failing drug tests for marijuana (which constitute a $1,000 fine, but not a suspension) after failing numerous tests. He was one of at least two wrestlers whose pushes were stopped because of their disobedience, and it was likely a major contributing factor in his departure from the company.

Kendrick’s release from WWE was also said to be taken as a warning to higher profile wrestlers who have been failing tests for marijuana, as company officials have said many times to a slate of wrestlers individually that they are no longer going to tolerate it.

It should be noted that when Kendrick was informed by John Laurinaitis that he was being let go, he was told it was due to the economy. Those who heard it couldn’t believe he gave him such an obviously bogus reason. It’s also been said that Kendrick would have been released months ago, but Pat Patterson spoke up on his behalf.

8/6/2009

A very audible “This Is Stupid” chant that took place during “The Abraham Washington Show” on last night’s episode of ECW at Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum was edited out by WWE’s production staff. According to a fan in attendance, it was very loud and even stopped Zack Ryder while he was cutting his promo.

8/7/2009

Roddy Piper said the following when asked about who he feels are the current stars of wrestling:

“I think Jeff Hardy is outstanding, not only as a man but as a athlete. Randy Orton, he’ll be talking to you like this someday. People that excite me…I’ll tell ya, Jeff Hardy is hard to beat. (John) Cena…I think Cena’s too company. I don’t mean he is personally, I think they whitewashed him too much. I think if they let Cena go a bit, he would do even better than he’s doing.”

8/8/2009

WWE has had discussions of running a three-hour episode of Raw in September and building it around a match between Big Show and Shaquille O’Neal.

8/10/2009

An underground steroid network in Egypt was broken up last week. The network chose to brand all of their drugs with a photo of WWE’s own Dave Batista flexing his biceps.

8/11/2009

Vince McMahon has been upset with the product as of late and has been heard complaining about the company’s inability to create new stars. During a recent creative meeting, McMahon actually said, “G** D*****! WHY CAN’T WE CREATE NEW STARS?”

8/13/2009

This week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer is reporting that a number of Ring of Honor wrestlers saw their checks bounce in recent weeks. This would seem to indicate that ROH’s bank account is in dire straits, but company owner Cary Silkin was able to make good on all of them.

8/15/2009

TNA World champion Kurt Angle was arrested in Robinson Township, Pennsylvania this morning. Angle’s girlfriend, TNA Knockout Rhaka Khan, filed a protection from abuse order against Angle, which was served at his home this morning. Khan reported to police that she was at a Starbucks on the internet, when she claims she saw Angle stalking her.

She called 911, and police pulled over Angle in his girlfriend’s car. When police searched the car, they found a capped syringe and two vials of “Hygetropin,” otherwise known as HGH. Angle told them he had a legal prescription for the drugs.

The charges against Angle include: driving while operating privilege is suspended, prohibited acts-possession, harrassment and prohibited acts.

8/18/2009

As reported here yesterday, Taz has replaced Don West as the color commentator of TNA Wrestling. The change took place at Monday night’s television tapings, as Taz called this week’s iMPACT! taping along side Mike Tenay.

Taz posted a couple of comments on his Twitter page regarding his new position: “I am already LOVING my new role in TNA,” Taz wrote. “I had a blast with Mike (Tenay) also. TNA will sound different starting Thursday.”

Taz also addressed Don West, who he is replacing on air. “I’m also happy Don is TNA still. It shows the type of front office we have. Dude has been there for seven years. You don’t just can him – promote him.”

While Don West will no longer be calling the action from ringside, several sources have confirmed that he received a promotion in TNA’s merchandising division and is not being let go.

8/20/2009

Former WWE Tag Team Champion Carl Ouellet had a tryout before agents at a recent SmackDown taping.

In an interview with James Guttman, he gave a weird story regarding the experience. Ouellet said: “After the show, I asked Mike Rotunda, I said, ‘Should I wait for their phone call or should I wait and thank Vince for the opportunity?’ Mike said, ‘No Carl. You should wait for Vince and thank him, so it’ll be fresh in his memory, you know.’ So I’m just waiting at the end of the Smackdown show. He’s coming out and it’s maybe 12:30 or 1 a.m. And I go, `Vince, I just want to…,’ and he shoved me into the wall like I was a piece of crap. I felt pretty bad. Right after that, I got to my hotel room and called John Laurinaitis.”

8/21/2009

Chris Jericho said the WWE needs to build more stars.

“We’re in a crisis period in WWE and we need to build new guys. When Shawn Michaels came back to Raw, he said, “Whose been built since I left?” On Smackdown we’ve built [John] Morrison and [Dolph] Ziggler and Cryme Tyme. The Intercontinental title has been rebuilt now with Rey Mysterio. But I can’t tell you on Raw who has been built over the last six months. They better do it soon, because when this generation of performers is gone, who will replace them?”

8/22/2009

Pro Wrestling Illustrated has named Mickie James number one in the second annual PWI Female 50, which ranks the best 50 women’s wrestlers in the United States in 2009.

8/24/2009

WWE has talked about signing four or five wrestlers from Ring of Honor, though names have yet to be specified. WWE’s sudden interest in acquiring ROH wrestlers has much to do with the promotion recently shifting its weekly television show to Monday nights on HDNet.

8/25/2009

Ring of Honor issued the following press release tonight:

Bryan Danielson has agreed in principle to a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment.

Bryan has been an exemplary talent and a wonderful member of the Ring of Honor locker room and family since the inception of the company. We couldn’t be happier for Bryan and all of his successes, many of which Ring of Honor has been proud to witness first hand.

We congratulate Bryan on the beginning of this next journey in his brilliant career, and wish him all the best as he progresses. Many Ring of Honor fans refer to Bryan as the “best in the world” and we look forward to looking on in earnest as he shows everyone watching the wrestling world’s biggest stage just why that is.

8/26/2009

It was brought to Randy Orton‘s attention that during a recent interview, Ken Anderson, formerly known as Mr. Kennedy in WWE, blamed both him and John Cena for getting him fired from the company. He also implied they were using political clout to bury other wrestlers. In response to his allegations, Orton made the following post:

“He is in denial. He thinks you have to be able to do a moonsault to know how to work. And, as for dropping me on my head, he did. He never got to see all 4 camera angles of him doing it. I did. Plus, the left side of my neck down to my trap was sore all week in MX. I did tell Ken that he shouldn’t be dropping me on my head with such a simple basic move. He never said sorry, and even called me a liar after the match! I remember looking at him in disbelief. And yes, I did tell managment I did not want to work with him after that. Who wouldn’t? That’s my side. I honestly hope for his wifes sake that he can find sometrh Else he’s marginally good at,and earn a living. I know he really wants to entertain, so Good luck ken, you r gonna need it.”

8/28/2009

Nobody from the office outright said it, but there was a feeling everyone was kept busy on Saturday night because they didn’t want anyone attending TNA wrestler Mick Foley’s stand-up comedy routine at the Hollywood Improv. A number of WWE stars were interested in attending but noted they were “kept busy.” Though the entire crew was in Los Angeles, nobody from WWE attended the event and Foley is quite popular among his peers.

8/30/2009

On Twitter, a fan asked Michelle McCool (who recently opened an account) how Undertaker is doing and why she stole AJ Styles‘ finishing maneuver. The fan wrote: “Hows Taker? Why did you Steal AJ Styles finisher?”

McCool actually responded to his query, writing back: “idk and I guess b/c I had nothing better to do…sorry!”

– Tune back in next time for more Dirt Sheet History as we continue looking at 2009.

Stories are credited from Rajah, PWTorch, PWInsider and The Wrestling Observer. Month name photo art is by Phillip Martin.

All past editions of Dirt Sheet History are found here.