So Sad

This is just so sad.

TMZ is reporting that former WWE Superstar Shane Gregory Helms, who is sitting in a Raleigh hospital with his girlfriend, recovering from various injuries sustained in his Thursday night motorcycle accident, is being investigated by authorities.

It is speculated -- I should note that there are no charges pending against Helms at the moment -- that alcohol may have played a factor in the crash that left him with over 200 stitches and his girlfriend with a broken neck.

Citing the police report, it is claiming that witnesses saw Helms run a stop sign on his motorcycle before crashing through a chain link fence. One witness claimed to have been hanging around with Helms at a restaurant prior to the crash and was certain that Helms had been drinking.

They did take a blood sample from Helms at the scene of the accident to test for alcohol, but it could take months for the results to come back.

If this was a drunk-driving related accident, it really is sad. And I really hope that this will wake Helms up. His friends, his family and his fans are very, very lucky that he survived this.

More Surgery News

Former TNA Tag Team Champion and one half of the greatest tag team ever -- Motor City Machine Guns -- is set to undergo knee surgery, according to his girlfriend's Twitter page.

Sabin apparently suffered the injury at an Impact taping this week, causing his match to be cut short. There is no word on how much in-ring action he will miss, though it will probably be a couple of months.

Let me just say: lame. His partner, Alex Shelley, finally returned after breaking his collarbone. I got all excited about seeing them back together again, as TNA had no idea what to do with a singles Sabin, and now, Sabin, is injured, leaving Alex Shelley by himself.

I wish for a speedy recovery for Sabin as well, and I also hope TNA doesn't create hassle for him over his medical bills. Yeah, I went there.

Neck Surgery

WWE Superstar John Morrison has announced via his Twitter account that he is about to undergo neck surgery.

This announcement truly does come out of nowhere, but it appears he is playing up his injury angle storyline on Monday against R-Truth.

There is no word on what exactly they have to do on his neck, how severe the surgery is, or how long he will be sidelined for. He could be playing up the angle for something further down the line, but there's no way to be sure right now.

If Morrison is indeed injured, that's a pretty big loss for the Raw brand, and a pretty big stall in the pushes of him and R-Truth, who have a pretty hot program right now, with R-Truth turning heel.

If he is injured that badly, I wish him a speedy recovery.

Update: WrestleZone is confirming this is legit, and Morrison will miss several months of action.

Chyna Return Covered Mainstream!

Chyna's return to professional wrestling has graced TMZ, and, this morning, it got the Perez Hilton treatment.

However, Perez is claiming that Vince was considering putting her into the Hall of Fame, and is infuriated that she would show up at a rival organization.

This is more than likely speculation and gossip on Perez's part to make people discuss things. I really don't see Vince putting her in the Hall of Fame at the moment, just because WWE doesn't seem to enjoy acknowledging her all that much. With their PG model, her antics on reality shows, stint on Celebrity Rehab and sex tape with X-Pac are definitely clashing factors.

For the record, I would love to see Chyna in the Hall of Fame, as much as WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross disagrees with me. She deserves some kind of recognition for being the first female to hold the Intercontinental Championship.

Music Video Madness!

Billy Corgan -- as in the lead singer of the 90s alternative band the Smashing Pumpkins -- has announced that several professional wrestling personalities will appear in their latest music video.

Shelly Martinez (pictured), formerly known as Ariel in WWE and Salinas in TNA, will be featured in the music video, alongside Melissa Anderson, who is known as Raisha Saeed, Cheerleader Melissa and Alissa Flash. The director of the video announced via Twitter that one of the female talents from GLOW will also be appearing in the video.

This isn't the first time a female wrestler has been featured in a music video in the mainstream. In 2007, rap superstar Timbaland included Brooke Adams (Miss Tessmacher), Layla and Kelly Kelly, Maryse, Torrie Wilson and Ashley Massaro in his video for Throw It On Me, featuring the Hives.

It's no secret that Billy Corgan is an enormous long-time wrestling fan. I am curious as to how the video is going to be.

Get Well Soon!

This is very unfortunate.

It's been reported -- and confirmed -- that former WWE Superstar and Highway 2 Helms host Shane "Hurricane" Helms and his girlfriend Karen were both seriously injured in a motorcycle accident on Thursday night.

TNA Superstar and close friend of Helms Matt Hardy has posted an update on his condition. It was reported earlier that Helms had broken his ankle, and his arm, but from what Matt says, things are much worse.

"Shane was in pretty bad shape. His face

was damaged pretty badly. His leg was broken very badly in a few places and will probably have to have several major surgeries.

"His girlfriend [Karen] was injured as well. Actually,

that seemed like it was going to be a very, very serious situation. Fortunately, over the course of the evening, it got better.

She's kind of out of the woods, I think, although she definitely has some broken bones

and major injuries. They're both right now at the hospital recovering back in Raleigh, North Carolina."

This is a very serious and very unfortunate situation. For as harsh as I am towards the entire Carolina Clique, I'd never want to see something like this happen. I sincerely hope for the best for those two and wish them the speediest recovery they can make from something as serious as this.

Engaged!

The first-ever TNA Knockouts Champion and former WWE Women's Champion is engaged to be married!

WWE Diva Gail Kim is set to marry Executive Chef Robert Irvine from the Food Network. Her fiance appeared on a television show this morning and announced that the two of them will be married in May 2012, putting to rest weeks of speculation about their relationship.

Enormous congratulations are in order to Gail and Robert, and all the best to Gail in planning her wedding, which I heard is overwhelming and frustrating and satisfying all at once.

I should also note that with Kharma coming in, there is a great shot that we could see a renewed feud and Gail can get the push she so justly deserves.

Good Faith Deal?

TMZ is reporting that former WWE Diva and now current TNA Knockout Chyna -- born Joanie Laurer -- is working for the Orlando-based company without a contract.

It is being reported that Chyna is being kept on a very, very short leash, and they note that this will be Chyna's first time in the ring in 9 years. She also has an offer to wrestle in Japan.

I don't know how I feel about this no contract, good-faith, short-leash deal. It always seems to burn either TNA or the talents involved. I also hope that Chyna's issues don't rear up again.

One of Maxim's Hottest

Huge congratulations to WWE Diva Kelly Kelly, real name Barbie Blank, for making it onto Maxim's Hottest 100 women in the world list.

Kelly made it to number 82, and to be featured on the list at all is an enormous accomplishment.

Also making the list at number 72 is former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler, who left WWE in 2005 after her stint on Dancing With The Stars.

Both of the lovely Divas deserve a huge congratulations. Stacy is quite well-known to Maxim, having done a few cover spreads and making the list before.

For Kelly, however, I do believe this is the first time she's made it onto the Hot 100 list, and for that, congratulations!

Injured!

It appears that WWE SmackDown Diva Alicia Fox is injured.

Reports making their way around the internet is suggesting that Alicia Fox, real name Victoria Crawford -- whose sister is Christina on Tough Enough -- suffered what is speculated to be a separated shoulder after taking a particularly nasty clothesline from the newly debuted Kharma, better known as Awesome Kong.

If that's the case, best wishes and a speedy recovery to Alicia Fox, who has been relatively injury free for her WWE career. It is being said that she landed the clothesline on her shoulder.

Looks like Kharma really is looking to inflict damage. Ouch!

More on McCool's Departure

Multiple websites are reporting that WWE Diva Michelle McCool is indeed finished with the company.

Apparently her decision to leave came months ago, as she is getting ready to settle down and raise a family with her husband, WWE Superstar The Undertaker. The plan to split up LayCool has been in motion for months, but WWE decided to hold off once they confirmed Jersey Shore's Snooki for their premier event this year. As you will recall, LayCool teamed with Dolph Ziggler to take on John Morrison, Trish Stratus and Snooki.

It is being reported that Michelle left WWE on the best of terms, and that there is even an office job waiting for her if she ever opts to come back in some capacity. Also, there is speculation that if Tough Enough gets picked up for a season two, there may be the offer of her becoming a trainer for a season.

No Longer TNA?

Hulk Hogan is claiming on his Twitter page that the name TNA has been dropped in favor of Impact Wrestling.

This perplexes me as I was under the impression that they could not get the copyright on the name.

Jason Powell of ProWrestling.Net also informs us that what Hogan is saying goes against what his source had informed him about this, saying it was to be the name of the television show.

Speculation has been running rampant about TNA having a name change for the last little while.

I should also note that a lot of times what Hogan is saying is rife with ... um, "hot air", and might not be anything more than Hogan pandering to the "marks" he and Bischoff despise so much.

Chyna In TNA!

It appears TNA has dropped their idea of using Isis The Amazon as Kurt Angle's "partner" in favor of a much bigger name from WWF's 1990s heyday.

Spoilers are reporting that former WWF Diva Joanie Laurer, who competed under and later changed her name to Chyna, appeared at the show last night as Kurt Angle's partner. It appears she will be getting involved in the feud between Kurt, his ex-wife Karen and her new husband, Jeff Jarrett, who faced Chyna -- and lost the Intercontinental Championship to her -- in his last WWF match.

I'm pretty floored by this development, if for nothing else that I was under the impression that she was done with professional wrestling. I hope she has worked out her demons and gotten herself into a better place. She inspired so many and the path she has been on since she left WWE has been outright heartbreaking.

A Touch Shady, If You Ask Me

Former WCW starlet and independent wrestler April Hunter recently told F4WOnline.com that she turned down a job offer with TNA Wrestling.

"First off, I do like the people there and enjoy the locker room

backstage. It's a fun company. But there were a few issues.

The money wasn't more than I'm offered on the indies.

However, the main issue was they asked me to sign a

waiver clearing them of any future medical issues, and

that I had to be cleared by my own doctor first. I know

two other girls fighting with them to get their medical

bills paid at that point, and I wasn't very comfortable

with the idea after all the injuries I've been through.

I know how easy it is to get hurt and I also know

they like to suggest certain high risk moves at times.

That is what royally screwed up a match I had with

Desire a few years ago. TNA put a match together using

moves that neither of us were comfortable with or familiar with.

So, I said no. I'd never rule them out if they changed

their policies, but right now, it's not for me."

April is obviously referring to former TNA Knockout Daffney, who has filed a worker's compensation claim against them regarding the fact that TNA refused to cover any of her medical bills after she was injured taking nasty spots they suggested for her. I can't tell you who the other Knockout is.

Either way, it's pretty sick. TNA asks their performers to do crazy things at times; I know they don't quite have the WWE budget, but medical should be the least that they can pay for the performers, considering the Knockouts are so underpaid. I feel pretty shifty just reading that they're asking their new recruits to sign medical waivers.

TNA Return?

It appears that Kevin Nash is a touch miffed that the WWE is not going to put him back in the ring as a full-time performer.

The WWE Legend known as "Diesel" was signed to a Legends deal back in January.

Nash has been very vocal against WWE's Youth Movement, where they have been trying to push new stars in the wake of slipping ratings and fan boredom. Kevin Nash claimed when Miz won the WWE Championship, that it "exposed the whole business as a work".

Knowing now that WWE does not plan on abandoning their Youth Movement, Nash took to his twitter to ask his fans whether or not he should go back to TNA.

I wouldn't recommend it just because I think they're starting to have a little death rattle, but what do I know?

Back To ROH!

Ring of Honor's Best In The World online pay-per-view just became a whole lot more awesome.

In a press release, ROH is confirming that former TNA Superstar Jay Lethal, pka "Black Machismo", will be returning to the independent promotion for the first time since 2008. Lethal was released several weeks ago by TNA, who obviously do not contain the standard no-compete clause codicils that appear in every WWE Superstar and Diva contracts.

The upcoming Best In The World pay-per-view is slated for June 26, 2011. I'm sure that Jim Cornette is thrilled to have this great talent working for the organization.

I will also note that as far as I can tell, there has been no interest from WWE to pick up Jay Lethal, but that doesn't mean that there is a chance that they won't in the future. Either way, it's great to see him keep doing what he's good at.