by James Caldwell, Assistant editor

NEWS

TNA News: Impact preview for tonight's broadcast - Kurt Angle in PPV main event-caliber match

Other News: Full-length clips of "The Wrestler" interview series with Luger, DDP, Beefcake, Piper, and Valentine (w/VIDEO)

PWTorch.com was granted exclusive access to part one of the following "Wrestler Roundtable" video interview featuring wrestling legends Lex Luger, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, Diamond Dallas Page, Roddy Piper, and Greg "the Hammer" Valentine discussing the recently-released "The Wrestler" movie starring Mickey Rourke.

Fox Searchlight, the distribution partner for the movie, published a five-part series of clips of after our exclusive "first-look" at part one of the video series. To watch the complete video roundtable discussions, visit the FOX Searchlight website.

Video Selections below: For all five parts here on PWTorch.com, check out the clips below.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

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TNA News: Roxxi says "It was real to me dammit," discusses creative team in TNA

TNA Knockout Roxxi didn't quite understand the art of pro wrestling until the age of 21 when she first stepped into a wrestling school and learned that wrestlers actually train to wrestle.

Prior to joining Killer Kowalski's training school several few years ago, Roxxi believed what she saw on TV was two guys simply having a fight inside the ring.

Wrestling would benefit greatly if the TV presentation went back to that vibe of featuring legit fights in the ring, but Roxxi says the wrestlers in TNA poke fun at her now for her pre-wrestling "ignorance is bliss" moment.

"I had no idea there was such a thing as a pro wrestling school," Roxxi told Jim Varsallone in the Miami Herald. "I legit thought two guys were mad at each other, got in the ring and started fighting - all the way until I was 21."

Now, Roxxi is part of the Knockouts roster where she's worn voodoo woman clothes, had her head shaved, and cursed like a sailor with ODB. There's an explanation for why she does it.

"I have no problem going out there and making a fool of myself," she said. "That's what I do. I'm really good at it."

Roxxi says the Knockouts division consists of a strong group of women who all trained through the independent ranks and have the background to be solid wrestlers, which is why TNA has put considerable effort into building up the division.

"We have great guys here in creative who help us out and tell us what they want," Roxxi said. "They put so much stock on us. It really makes you want to work for them."

Whether or not TNA has enough confidence in the rumored all-women's TV show remains to be seen, but Roxxi says she would be in favor it. "They would need to bring in more girls for more variety, but I think in the future there could be an all-girls show," she said.

Link: Miami Herald interview with Roxxi

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ROH News: ROH champion says he had doubts about "The Wrestler," latest ROH Video Wire right here

-- Ring of Honor champion Nigel McGuinness wasn't sure what to make of the filming for "The Wrestler" taking place during two ROH shows last March in New Jersey. He certainly didn't expect it to see the light of day in movie theaters.

"There wasn't much to it," McGuinness said to mycentraljersey.com. "We didn't know if it would be in movie theaters."

McGuinness, who appears in the movie, says the takeaway for him was to see how a movie is put together through filming various scenes and scenarios. "I really enjoyed my time working on it but I didn't know if it would be released," he said.

The ROH champ isn't sure how the public will react to the movie, but he hopes it will shed light on the fact that there are wrestlers who are making a good living beyond the WWE spotlight.

"I don't know if it will shed a new light on wrestling but it will be a look under the rock of stigmatized portrayals that this sports entertainment, or whatever you call it, usually gets," McGuinness said. "There's a lot of people who work outside the WWE and struggle to make the big time." Link: McGuinness interview on mycentraljersey.com.

-- Ring of Honor published its weekly Video Wire with Bryan Danielson and Jerry Lynn cutting promos to promote their one-on-one re-match on Saturday night in Edison, N.J.

Also, Larry Sweeney has multiple promos, including promoting Roderick Strong & Davey Richards and sending off a bearded Chris Hero to another tour of Japan for the "international expansion" of Sweet 'n Sour, Inc. One of Hero's better promos.

VIDEO selection below: ROH Video wire 1/13

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Other News: Very important review of "The Wrestler," Movie splashed on the cover of major newspaper (w/PIC)

-- Chauncey DeVega, from the blog "We are respectable Negroes," sent word of a recent review of "The Wrestler" published on the blog, which has been linked to the Atlantic Monthly's website.

DeVega takes an in-depth look at the highs and lows of being a pro wrestler, and the risks many wrestlers face when they begin to live for the "pop" or the roar from live crowds; defining themselves based on the reactions from thousands of anonymous fans.

In the review of "The Wrestler," DeVega paints a great picture of Mickey Rourke's transition from walking out to the wrestling ring versus walking to work post-career.

Excerpt: "When the Ram walks down the aisle to work in the deli section of a Supermarket, you will understand how utterly devastating this juxtaposition is: from walking through that tunnel to the applause of tens of thousands, to now doing 'the walk' as an anonymous functionary, we can imagine that pain."

I strongly recommended reading DeVaga's review: "There is No Old Timer's Day for Professional Wrestlers".

-- "The Wrestler" finally opens in Houston this weekend, debuting at one of the oldest theaters in Houston at the River Oaks 3 theatre.

To coincide with the very, very limited release, the Houston Chronicle, which rates the movie three-and-a-half out of four stars, splashed the iconic photo of Mickey Rourke bowing in the ring on the front page of today's "Preview" section listing the weekend's entertainment and TV happenings around town.

Included in the featured story is an interview with Rourke, who talks in hushed tones to a newspaper reporter about being in a dark place prior to taking the role and simply wanting to experience the light again.

Links: Featured article from Chronicle and Chronicle's official movie review

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Other News: Former WWE star says WWE owns every aspect of his famous gimmick; ridiculous ECW stories

With WWE releasing several producers/agents in the past few weeks, the process of organizing talent at live events and TV tapings will either become messier or more streamlined with one or two - rather than four or five - agents in charge of organizing talent per the writing team's direction for storylines.

Enter former ECW GM Armando Estrada, who says he was brought to TV for several consecutive weeks during his run as a wrestler, given nothing to work with on air, and told he would be starting again the following week.

"I was still traveling every week to the television week and I was always being told you are going to start again next week," Armando told Slam Wrestling. "During that time we switched writers. Unfortunately, I got lost in the mix. There were 10 heels on ECW and five babyfaces."

Armando says the idea of moving him to ECW in the first place was to prevent WWE champion John Cena from being booed more than he already was in late 2006/early 2007. At the time, Armando was a "cool heel" male manager in charge of Umaga, who had an epic Last Man Standing match against Cena at the 2007 Royal Rumble in San Antonio.

"We couldn't have the audience suddenly liking us, and I was told to remove that aspect," Armando said about the popular aspects of his on-air persona. "John Cena had been getting a mixed reaction and if this top heel and his manager were getting cheered, we ran the risk of the fans booing Cena. January 1, 2007, in Miami, I was told, 'You have to stop that.'"

After Armando asked for his release and WWE consented at the end of last year, he left without any of his trademark mannerisms or catchphrases that he says he came up with himself, yet no longer can use.

"The original Armando I came up with it was my creation, my brainchild," he said. "My name to my short laugh, every catch phrase, every mannerism, breaking the cigar, I came up with 'Samoan Bulldozer.' Unfortunately, even though it is my name, I can't use it."

Armando is taking bookings and looking for another run nationally (TNA) where he can do his thing "without any handcuffs." Armando recently opened a restaurant in Glendale, Arizona called "Baby's Steak and Lemonade" where he can be found working on a day-to-day basis.

Link: Armando Estrada interview with Slam Wrestling.

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WWE News: WWE diva and Hall of Famer involved in car accidents after Monday's Raw

Perhaps busy following around Jeff Hardy on North Carolina highways, WWE cameras weren't around to capture legit car accidents involving WWE diva Mickie James and Hall of Famer Jerry Brisco after Monday night's Raw in Iowa.

Ironically, Mickie James's only scripted appearance on Raw was to discuss the blizzard-like conditions in Sioux City, Iowa with Cody Rhodes.

Jim Ross reports that Mickie and Brisco were involved in separate car accidents on Monday night while traveling to Omaha, Neb., which is where Tuesday night's Smackdown was held.

"Black ice was the culprit and both individuals escaped serious injury on the treacherous roads during frigid weather," Ross said on jrsbarbq.com.

Link: Jim Ross blog on jrsbarbq.com.

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WWE News: Jim Ross comments on recent WWE releases; whether his job is affected

Earlier this week, Ron Simmons and Sgt. Slaughter (Robert Remus) were released by WWE, adding to the list of producers/agents and referees who have been cut from the non-wrestler roster in a cost-saving measure.

WWE Smackdown announcer Jim Ross says word spread on Tuesday night at the Smackdown taping in Omaha, Neb., where he found out himself.

"I have yet to speak with Sarge but I will and I know he will eventually be fine," Ross said on jrsbarbq.com. "Bob has been in tough spots before in this wacky profession and has always persevered. I am not making light of this matter whatsoever as I can relate to Sarge's dilemma."

As for Ron Simmons, Ross says he should go on a motivational speech tour to tell his personal story. "Ron might want to explore public and motivational speaking as he has a great story to tell and the pipes to tell it," Ross said.

Ross says he's thankful for his job and says he is embarrassed looking back at the time period when he complained about (and nearly quit over) the broadcasting switch from Raw to Smackdown last year.

"I remember raising hell, for better or for worse, and it wasn't for the better quite honestly, when I was abruptly moved from Raw to Smackdown," Ross said. "But I did not lose my job. Looking back on that time in my life, I feel embarrassed that I raised hell over a little humiliation on TV, not my first, and now some of my pals are unemployed."

Link: Jim Ross blog on jrsbarbq.com.

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WWE News: What's Smackdown non-entity Zack Ryder been up to? Um...Rock Band

Former WWE tag team champion Zack Ryder hasn't been part of Edge's group with Vickie Guerrero and Chavo Guerrero for some time after Curt Hawkins and himself were unceremoniously removed from the group on Smackdown.

Fortunately, they haven't gone the way of former La Familia associate Bam Neely into "future endeavors" land, but Hawkins & Ryder have been used sparingly on TV since losing the tag titles to the Colons in September 2008.

Ryder has been keeping himself busy, though. Well, kind of. "I haven't blogged on here in a little over a month," Ryder wrote on his WWE Universe page. "Why? Because I've been so busy lately...SIKE!"

Ryder said he's been playing the Rock Band video game and said he's horrible at the drum set and "even worse at the guitar." His calling, though is with the mic in his hand. Not for promos, but "I am amazing at singing with the microphone!" he claimed.

"Who knows, maybe WWE will produce a Zack Ryder album in the near future," he said. "Actually, I highly doubt that."

Caldwell's Analysis: Believe me, it's not a slow news day, especially with WWE firings occurring potentially every second of the day, but some readers simply want to know what Edge's former verbally-challenged tag team has been up to lately. So, here you go.

Link: Zack Ryder blog on WWE Universe.

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WWE News: Two WWE divas scheduled for unofficial Playboy Super Bowl party

Although Playboy Magazine cancelled its official Super Bowl party this year, an unofficial party featuring former Playboy models will be taking place in Tampa, Fla. the weekend of the NFL's Super Bowl 43 in Tampa.

Former WWE diva and Playboy cover model Ashley Massaro and current WWE diva Kelly Kelly are scheduled to appear at the event - Pied Piper Productions's "Models and Bottles Party" at Jackson's Bistro in Tampa on January 31.

Massaro has been out of WWE since last year when she asked for her release reportedly to care for her child. It also came out that her name was linked to a Hollywood escort service. She recently wrote on her myspace page that she is working on a clothing line that she hopes to launch soon.

Link: Tampa Tribune article on Super Bowl party.

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TNA News: Kevin Nash updates his health status - surrounded by smell of "Axe and ass"

Other News: Darren Aronofsky interview Part 3 - Inside the filming of key wrestling scenes (w/VIDEO)

Filming movie scenes in front of a live wrestling audience on an actual wrestling card could have easily frustrated hardcore wrestling fans not ready to warm up to a movie inside their show.

At the time when wrestling scenes featuring Mickey Rourke, Ernest "the Cat" Miller, and Necro Butcher were filmed, "The Wrestler" was nothing more than a movie project with an "indy" feel and not much chance of making it big.

Director Darren Aronofsky says keeping the Ring of Honor and CZW live crowds happy and entertained while trying to film the in-ring scenes was a difficult task, especially with the rowdy CZW fans.

"The wrestling fans, you know, well ... the hardcore wrestling fans are a different breed than the other wrestling fans," Aronofsky told Terry Keefe for an interview to be published in Venice Magazine."

"CZW was the Philly crowd, and they were a tougher crowd [laughs]. They were pretty brutal and aggressive, but we did our best to sort of keep them entertained, and to keep it going, and we got it done."

Aronofsky said the CZW and Ring of Honor fans picked up on the theatrics of what was happening inside the ring, so they "knew what to scream when different things happened," he said. "They just really played with it."

The actual filming was a challenge with only one camera and Aronofsky having to put the camera in the right spot on the fly.

"At CZW, we really limited how much stuff we had to actually do in front of a live crowd," Aronofsky said. "There's a lot of stuff that we were able to cheat when the crowd wasn't there. You can see in those scenes that there are a few angles into the mat, and a few other things we played around with, to make it do-able."

Aronofsky says there were "a lot of difficult things to get" in front of the live crowd, but they eventually warmed up to being part of a potential movie and psyched themselves up, as if they were at a TV taping.

Specifically, the scenes from the movie that were shot in front of a live crowd: "the slapping contest, the coming out to the ring, entering the ring, the exiting the ring."

FYI: Scenes for "The Wrestler" that were filmed at ROH shows took place in Dover, N.J. at the Baker Theatre on March 14 and 15, 2008. Filming for the CZW shows took place in Philadelphia at the old ECW Arena on February 8 and 9, 2008.

Link: The Hollywood Interview by Terry Keefe.

VIDEO Selection below: Behind-the-scenes look at setting up the in-ring scenes for "The Wrestler" starring Mickey Rourke.

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Other News: Darren Aronofsky interview Part 2 - Response to Iran condemning "The Wrestler" movie

Late last year, the official media in Iran issued a condemnation for "The Wrestler" movie based on its portrayal of the Iranian "Ayatollah" character (played by Ernest "the Cat" Miller) against Mickey Rourke's Randy "the Ram" Robinson character.

The newspapers claimed "the Darren Aronofsky-directed film is just the latest manifestation of Western prejudice towards Iran in Hollywood films."

Aronofsky is upset by the characterization of the movie's intent with the Ayatollah character and believes the Iranian media missed the point of the character's inclusion.

"It's not meant to be disrespecting Iran or its people in any way," Aronofsky told Terry Keefe for an interview to be published in Venice Magazine.

"I mean, this is pro wrestling, and Arabic-slash-Iranian characters are kind of stock in the trade, and so we're not in any way, you know, lauding it and saying, 'This is great.' We're just sort of making a comment: 'Hey, look, we've got a black guy playing an Iranian guy. Don't you realize this is all like a joke, and a sham?' And it plays into ... how guys like George Bush oversimplify things into good versus evil."

Aronofsky says people who misinterpret the message behind the characterization "missed the whole charm of it."

Link: The Hollywood Interview by Terry Keefe.

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Other News: Darren Aronofsky interview Part 1 - Why Hulk Hogan was never mentioned in "The Wrestler"

Mickey Rourke's lead character in "The Wrestler" is totally 1980s. In the movie, the story picks up with a modern-day Randy "the Ram" Robinson trying to hang onto the glory days of mid-carding big arena shows while earning very little pay in the 2000s.

Director Darren Aronofsky says Rourke's character was thought of as a mid-card "Intercontinental Title" type wrestler. Although Ricky Steamboat headlined a ridiculous number of major wrestling shows during the territory era, his WWF career is the lasting memory.

"Never the biggest star, more in the middle-range," Aronofsky said of the idea behind Rourke's character in an interview to be published in Venice Magazine. "Like a Ricky Steamboat, or a Brutus Beefcake type of level guy, was the idea. That's how we always pictured him in our heads."

Hulk Hogan was a major part of the actual era Rourke's character comes from, and actual wrestlers, such as Ernest "the Cat" Miller and Necro Butcher, were used for the movie, but Aronofsky says they didn't want to take viewers out of the movie to the actual events depicted in Randy Robinson's fictional world.

"I totally wanted to avoid using the big stars on purpose, because I thought, if you saw some legends show up, it almost pulls you out of the movie," Aronofsky said. "We never mention Hulk Hogan, nor any of the other [real-life] wrestlers. We just wanted to keep the fiction alive, and not pull people out of it."

Link: The Hollywood Interview by Terry Keefe.

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WWE News: WWE's developmental promotion in Florida makes significant business change

WWE's developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling, is currently going through some growing pains six months after being christened the official training promotion for future WWE stars.

One key business decision the company recently made was to drop their regular live events at the "Bourbon Street" venue off U.S. 19 in New Port Richey, just outside of the FCW home in Tampa.

"It's a smoky bar scene, you know. If we had produced crowds it might be different, but we just never got a following there," said FCW head trainer Steve Keirn to the Tampa Tribune. "We gave it almost a year to generate an audience. It's just not the style or class we want to attach to WWE superstars."

Local promoter "Roughhouse" Ralph Mosca was booking the venue on Tuesday nights for FCW shows, and will continue promoting regular wrestling events under the ACW Underground banner, and without any involvement from WWE.

"FCW is more of a family-oriented show," Mosca said. "You can see the guys training and coming up from scratch. ACW is more smash-mouth. Anything goes."

"It's not Ralph's fault or anybody at Bourbon Street. It just didn't generate enough of an audience to keep going out there week after week," Keirn said. "With our TV in place, it's important to us what we look like. We don't want to look like a little indie."

FCW is still running weekly TV tapings at the FCW Arena in Tampa, but they have not updated the official website since November. Tickets are apparently still available for the Nov. 15 show at the Ft. Myers Lee Civic Center featuring John Cena and Dusty Rhodes.

Links: Tampa Tribune article and FCW website.

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PWTORCH.COM EXCLUSIVE: "The Wrestler" video interview with Luger, DDP, Beefcake, Piper, and Valentine

PWTorch.com has been granted exclusive access to this "Wrestler Roundtable" featuring wrestling legends Lex Luger, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, Diamond Dallas Page, Roddy Piper, and Greg "the Hammer" Valentine discussing the recently-released "The Wrestler" movie starring Mickey Rourke. This video roundtable discussion will only be found on PWTorch.com.

Fox Searchlight, the distribution partner for "The Wrestler" movie, will be running a five-part series of video roundtables with former wrestlers discussing the movie. PWTorch.com was granted exclusive access to the first video series. To watch the future video roundtable discussions, visit the FOX Searchlight website.

VIDEO PRESENTATION:

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