I am your Average Joe and this is my forum for everything that sparks my interest. Baseball cards to wrestling, UFC to horror movies, and everything in between.
Here is another autograph I was lucky enough to get when I saw TNA Wresting live in Binghamton. The woman who puts the T and A in TNA, the lovely Traci Brooks. After the show I bought 2 pictures, one of Alex Shelley (see previous post) because I saw he was signing autographs and the other was Traci Brooks. I didn't see her anywhere but hey I wanted the pic. All of a sudden I turn around and who's standing behind me but this vision of beauty. This is pretty much how the conversation went.
Me: Traci, I didn't think you were coming out. (To do a meet and greet)
Traci: Oh, I always come out to greet the fans, I would be nothing without you guys.
Then she hugs me. I about lost it right then and there and somehow stammered out the words asking for her autograph. Her response:
Traci: Of course sweetheart. Whats your name?
I actually had to stop and think for a minute, really I did, I reverted to being a shy little kid who hides whenever someone says hi. I was just awestruck at how unbelievably nice this woman was (especially in comparison to my experience with Alex Shelley) and of course struck by her beauty. Pictures do not do this woman justice. So she signed my picture, gave me yet a second hug and thanked me for coming to the show and was then off to greet other fans. If God took me at that moment I would've died a very happy man.
Here's a brief history for this beautiful woman. Traci Brooks, was born Tracy Brookshaw and grew up on a pig and chicken farm in St. Mary's, Ontario, Canada. In 2000, she won the Toronto Sunshine Millennium Calendar contest which led to her being named Miss June 2000 and interviewed in the Toronto Sun. Brookshaw went on to engage in promotional modeling work with the Molson, Labatt and Budweiser beverage brewers. In her interview, Brookshaw said that she aspired to be "the next WWF Superstar". This led to her being introduced to Ron Hutchinson, a professional wrestler who operated the Sully's Gym professional wrestling school out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Brookshaw began training under Hutchinson in March 2000 and debuted in January 2001 as "Tracy Brooks".
And here is one of my favorite notes. On July 26, 2009, it was revealed that TNA had signed a deal with Playboy making Brooks the first TNA Knockout to ever pose for Playboy. However, on September 2 it was reported that Playboy had decided not to publish Brooks' photo shoot on their magazine. Deciding instead on doing a spread on the recently deceased Farrah Fawcett. The photo shoot was instead released through their Cyber Club on September 17, 2009 and pictures are easily found through any search engine. I did not post them cuz I like to think of this site being, PG-13.
Hope you do enjoy the additional pics I have included though and again a big thank you to Miss Brookshaw for just being the great person that she is.
I got this autograph at The Broome County Arena in Binghamton, NY when TNA wrestling came to town. I always heard that this guy has an attitude and pretty much thinks his shit don't stink. After meeting him I tend to agree. He just did not seem happy to be there and in general just treated everyone like crap. Which is a shame because he is one of my favorite wrestlers. He was nice enough to sign this for me though so I guess I gotta thank him for that.
Alex Shelley was born Patrick Martin on May 23 1983 in Detroit, Michigan. He was initially trained by Bobo Brown and Breyer Wellington. He then joined BCW Can-AM Wrestling School and was trained by Scott D'Amore and Joe E. Legend and on March 2, 2002 made his wrestling debut as Alex Shelley. He chose his name by combining the forename of Alex DeLarge, the protagonist of the 1962 book A Clockwork Orange and the surname from Pete Shelley, the lead singer of the 1970's punk band, The Buzzcocks.
Shelley has wrestled for numerous independent promotions across the United States including, Border City Wrestling, Combat Zone Wrestling, All American Wrestling and many more including my local wrestling affiliate Squared Circle Wrestling. He has also worked for Ring of Honor (ROH), Total Nonstop Action (TNA) and even had a tryout match for the WWE back June 12, 2005. He fought Simon Dean on an international version of WWE Heat in a losing effort after being hit with the Simonizor. Unfortunately, nothing came of it.
Shelley debuted in Ring of Honor in 2003. He has wrestled there as recently as 2008 and in his time there has fought many great wrestlers including Steve Corino, Bryan Danielson and CM Punk. He had his own faction in ROH called Generation Next which consisted of himself, Austin Aeries, Jack Evans and Roderick Strong. He did not hold a title during his time in ROH but along with Jimmy Rave and Abyss did win the Trios tournament in 2006.
Shelley signed a non-exclusive contract with TNA on July 8, 2004. He was paired with Goldy Locks and named "Baby Bear" Alex Shelley. Shelley requested his release from TNA later that year after then booker, Dusty Rhodes, stopped utilizing him. He re-signed with the company in 2005 after Dusty Rhodes stepped down as booker. In TNA he has wrestled in both the X Division as well as in the Tag Division, wrestling the likes of AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Sonjay Dutt, Eric Young and the Dudley Boys. He is a former TNA X-Division Champion and has also won the Chris Candido Memorial Cup with Sean Waltman (X-pac) and was part of the team to with the TNA World X Cup in 2006 with Chris Sabin, Sonjay Dutt and Jay Lethal. He currently wrestles mostly as part of the Tag Team, The Motor City Machine Guns with partner Chris Sabin.
In a very shocking turn of events TNA has released Angelina love from her contract late Thursday night. Angelina was a major part of the TNA Knockouts division and a former TNA Knockouts Champion. Love along with her partner Velvet Sky were set to take part in the finals of the TNA Knockouts Tag Title Tournament. It will be interesting to see how TNA will explain this.
Love is a Canadian citizen. She came to the U.S. to work for the WWE and got a work visa to be is this country. However, when she was let go from WWE in May 2007 the visa is deemed invalid. Basically, if you are not a legal citizen of the United States, you must apply for a new working visa each time you start work with a new employer. Seeing as how Love, real name, Lauren Williams, is a Canadian citizen working in the U.S., she falls under this category. The person applying must initiate the matter themselves by either having: enough money in the bank to support themselves; a U.S. sponsor; or a company confirming they will employ them in the U.S.
In September 2007, Love was contacted by TNA to appear at their annual October pay-per-view, Bound For Glory, TNA's version of Wrestlemania. For all of the debuting Knockouts, including Love, the 10-Knockout gauntlet to crown the first ever TNA Knockout Champion was a tryout match. She passed with flying colors and was contacted only days later to sign a contract with the company and became a regular television character. As a matter of fact Love with her partner Velvet Sky otherwise known as the Beautiful People are regularly one of the highest rated portions of TNA Impact on Spike. However this is where the problem first occurred.
From a legal standpoint, her work visa issues were supposed to be taken care of before she could sign a contract with TNA but Love did not do so. Likewise, company officials carelessly ignored the issue as well. Considering Love has been working without a visa for the past two years, both she and TNA could face serious legal ramifications should Federal agents become informed of the situation. As for a possible punishment, Love could be subject to deportation and banned from entering the U.S. for ten years. She may also be forced to pay back any money she garnered by working in the U.S. as an "illegal immigrant". It wasn't until recently that this situation was brought to the attention of TNA President, Dixie Carter, and Love was promptly released. Hopefully this entire situation can somehow be worked out as Love was an intregal part of the Knockouts division and will certainly be missed by friends, fans and co-workers. Please enjoy the match below, Angelina Love vs. Tara at Victory Road 2009. And to Lauren Williams, if we do not see you again, thanks for the memories.
This Sunday, July 19, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling presents "Victory Road" live and exclusively on Pay-Per-View!
The epic event will be available on InDemand, DirecTV, Dish Network, TVN, Viewer's Choice and more!
Please enjoy the preview below:
Here is a full match breakdown, along with my predictions:
The "Blueprint" Matt Morgan vs Daniels
I see the Main Event Mafia sweeping this Pay Per View. I think they will win all of their matches. Not necessarily something I want but I believe this is the way they will go. And even though Morgan is not in the Mafia, his gimmick right now is that he wants to be so i see him taking the match.
Prediction: The "Blueprint" Matt Morgan
"The Monster" Abyss vs. Dr. Stevie
With Raven no longer with the company and this feud starting to run its course I see Abyss taking it to Dr. Stevie. As a matter of fact I see this as a squash match for Abyss all the way. However this is a normal match and Abyss will take it to the extreme which I believe will cost him this match and lead to a no DQ match next month.
Prediction: Dr. Stevie by DQ
Sharmell vs. Jenna Morasca
This will be the bathroom break match. I mean really, does anybody care? I'm really surprised that a company that prides themselves on their wrestling would even put this match on a PPV
Prediction: Everyone goes to get popcorn because they don't care!
New Japan Tag Team Championship: Team 3D vs. The British Invasion
This one should be easy to call. I don't believe New Japan Wrestling will have their Tag Champs lose their belts for another companies PPV. Team 3D keeps the belts. The 22-time tag champs, and arguably the best tag team of all time retain.
Prediction: Team 3D
TNA KNOCKOUT WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP Tara vs. Angelina Love
Tara just won the title 2 weeks ago on TNA Impact on Spike. I don't see them pulling the belt off of her that quick. Doesn't make much sense. Then again I have seen crazier things. These two women are so hot!
Prediction: Tara
TNA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH The Main Event Mafia's Scott Steiner & Booker T vs. champions Beer Money, Inc.
Again I believe the Mafia will win all their matches tonight so I am going with the team of Booker and Steiner. I don't think they hyped them tagging together up enough. Booker, formally of Harlem Heat, and Steiner, formally of the Steiner Bros., are two of the best tag teams ever. The two of them tagging together is a big thing. I'm not even sure how many Tag Titles they've held. Dropped the ball a bit there. Beer Money is the tag team of the future, as long as they don't break up anytime soon. This should be a great match.
Prediction: Scott Steiner and Booker T
TNA LEGENDS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH The Main Event Mafia's Kevin Nash vs. champion "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles
I'm torn about this match. I'm giving it to Nash but AJ is by far the better wrestler. AJ is far better than Nash was even in his prime. But I have some issues with the match. As great as AJ is, he's still relatively a kid and therefore should never have been given the "Legends" belt to begin with. Nash has had so many knee surgeries at this point he can barely walk. I have no idea how he'll be able to keep up with AJ. As Good Ol' JR would say, "This match will be bowling shoe ugly."
Prediction: Kevin Nash
SAMOA JOE'S MYSTERY ADVISOR WILL BE REVEALED Samoa Joe vs. "The Icon" Sting
With the way they have been pushing this feud Joe has to win. And anyone who doesn't know that Taz is Joe's advisor is an idiot. They show the orange and black, show his #13, show his FTW signs but then pretend to not know who it is? Really? After the match Taz and Joe will beat the crap out of Sting. Who, if anyone, will make the save?
Prediction: Samoa Joe
TNA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH Mick Foley vs. champion Kurt Angle, leader of The Main Event Mafia
The Hardcore Icon vs. The Olympic Gold Medalist. I miss the Foley of old. I understand he cant do all the crazy stuff he used to but I love hardcore Foley. I pray Foley has one more "extreme" match in him. I want to see him and Abyss go at it. Foley will come close but Angle will take it and the Mafia will leave Victory Road with all the gold (minus the Knockouts Title)
.jpg)
