Date: 06/23	5:30 PM
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We'll have new episodes of Rubber Guard Radio and PeachMachine's Parade tonight on the AngryMarks Podcast Network! With that out of the way let's get right down to Wednesday's HUGE heap of wrestling news.

WWE has released an official statement on Martha Hart's lawsuit. WWE's lead attorney Jerry McDevitt says her lawsuit is the first time WWE has been contacted by her single they settled the wrongful death suit in 2000, contradict her "multiple cease and desist" claims. He also says her suit is spurious because "WWE has the right to use its own copyrighted material." For her part, Hart claims to have sent the WWE a cease-and-desist desist letter on March 25, 2010 before the Hart and Soul DVD set was released, contradicts McDevitt's claim. (PWT) Linda McMahon has her own two cents on the lawsuit which you can see HERE. The Vancouver Sun has extensive coverage of the lawsuit including how Ontario courts turned down an injunction to stop the sale of "Hart & Soul" HERE.

The word today is that Batista's deal with Strikeforce hasn't been finalized yet because neither side can agree on salary, even though Batista and Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker have already met and drawn up most of the contract. What we do know today is that Batista has a response to Booker T's comments yesterday - he says he'll not only last five minutes but he'll take on anyone any time INCLUDING Bobby Lashley. You can check out TMZ coverage on this HERE.

Booker T isn't the only one to weigh in on Dave Batista doing MMA. When asked for his thoughts, UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar said this: "Get in line, everybody and their dog wants to get into fighting. Next question. We're talking about a heavyweight championship fight, not some wannabe." (MMAF)

Michael Verdi a/k/a Trent Acid was laid to rest this morning in a small service in Philadelphia. (PWI)

Combat Zone Wrestling and some of Verdi's friends in the wrestling are set to hold "Acidfest" in Verdi's memory on July 10th at the ECW Arena with the following card. (PWI)

* Da Hit Squad vs. The H8 Club
* Johnny Kashmere vs. Devon Moore
* B-Boy & Homicide vs. Sonjay Dutt & Ruckus
* A "Trent Acid" Battle Royal featuring a score of Acid's friends

The June 11th episode of Smackdown did a 1.9 rating with 2.8 million viewers. (PWI)

A Raw and Smackdown Supershow is scheduled for the Scottrade Centre in St. Louis on September 18th starting at 7:30PM. Tickets go on sale August 7th at 10 AM. (PWI)

Tony Atlas, Skandar Akbar and Les Thatcher have been added to the NWA Legends Fanfest in Charlotte, North Carolina this August - go to www.nwalegends.com for more info.

WHNT Television in Tennessee has a story on an ad for the state lottery which features Ric Flair HERE. The Associated Press also has the story HERE.

UFC and MMA legend Ken Shamrock will fight Pedro Rizzo on July 17th for Impact FC MMA on PPV. (MMAJ)

This weekend's WWE Vintage Collection featured the following matches. (PWI)

* Owen Hart vs. Matt Hardy from WWF Wrestling Challenge on July 24th, 1994
* Shane Helms vs. Shannon Moore vs. Jamie Noble vs. Evan Karagias vs. Kaz Hayashi vs. Yang from WCW Superbrawl Revenge
* Mr. Perfect vs. Sam Houston from WWF Prime Time Wrestling on November 15th, 1988
* Rey Mysterio vs. Jushin Thunder Liger from WCW Starrcade 1996

Billy Kidman is set to go on the road to work as a Producer for Florida Championship Wrestling. (PWI)

WWE is advertising Rey Mysterio vs. Jack Swagger and Big Show vs. CM Punk for their Australia tour in July and August. (PWI)

Here is this week's WWE Classics on Demand updates. (PWI)

Legends
* Best of WWF Vol 6
* Legends of Wrestling Roundtable: 1970's
* Pick Your Big One for June: Clash of Champions 27

The Big Ones
WWE Royal Rumble 2010
Madison Square Garden 8/7/76
* SD Jones vs. Johnny Rodz
* Bobo Brazil vs. Doug Gilbert
* Bruiser Brody vs. Kevin Sullivan
* Chief Jay Strongbow & Billy White Wolf vs. Baron Mikel Scicluna & Rocky Tamayo
* The Executioners vs. Dominic DeNucci & Jose Gonzalez
* Ivan Putski vs. Skandar Akbar
* WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino vs. Stan Hansen - Steel Cage match

TV Classics
* Extreme Championship Wrestling 4/8/97
* Prime Time Wrestling 9/20/88
* WCW All Night 1995 Part 4

Good ol' J.R. himself Jim Ross has a new blog up with thoughts on Owen Hart and the anonymous Raw GM.

Read on line about the Martha Hart lawsuit vs WWE. I am not a lawyer, have never played one on TV, and know zilch about this untimely legal matter. Nonetheless my personal opinion is that the timing of this legal posturing is questionable specifically as it relates to Connecticut politics. Plus, I have never recalled WWE ever doing any thing but honoring Owen's legacy and certainly not 'exploiting' it in a negative light.

I like the idea of an anonymous GM but it does put some pressure to deliver a viable surprise when the day finally comes to reveal the mystery person or does it? The individual's identity wouldn't necessarily have to be revealed as far as I'm concerned.

You can read the rest of his new blog HERE.

The WWE Elimination Chamber Anthology DVD will get a name change for sale in Europe to "Iron Will: The Anthology of WWE's Toughest Match." (PWI)

WWE's Ricky Steamboat DVD will feature sidebars so older era footage fits better on high definition television. Speaking of 'The Dragon', Ricky & Richie Steamboat will be doing an autograph signing at Friday's FCW event in Plant City, Florida. (PWI)

Guess what? J.R. has ANOTHER new blog up and this one has some thoughts on Raw and the Fatal 4-Way PPV.

Monday Night Raw was more entertaining to me, as a fan/viewer, than was the Fatal 4 Way PPV. I thought Raw was really a solid outing throughout the two hours. Some have said that I have an ill advised, unhealthy mindset of enjoying seeing Mr. McMahon get physically dissected as he was by the NXT guys as Raw went off the air. (Apparently others in the locker room area felt the same.) Seriously, Raw was a really good show and I especially liked the elements featuring Randy Orton, Miz, Edge, Natalya vs. Tamina (Both have the heritage that I like and are both physical albeit 'green'), the aforementioned Jericho-Bourne match and the addressing of the new, anonymous General Manager (nice idea) along with furthering the TV development of the 7 NXT wrestlers. Pretty loaded night with a great deal of new info and the potential for several plot twists in the upcoming weeks.

You can read the rest of this blog HERE and a new Q&A HERE.

The WWE Smackdown show in Newark, New Jersey on August 29th goes on sale tomorrow at 9 AM via internet pre-sale with a password of SUMMERSLAM. (PWI)

Following the title changes on Sunday, the new main events for the WWE Smackdown Supershow in Atlanta on July 6th are as follows. (PWI)

* John Cena, Randy Orton, Edge, Chris Jericho, R-Truth, John Morrison, & TBA vs. The NXT 7
* Kane vs. Jack Swagger vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Big Show for the World Title

One-time WrestleMania headliner Lawrence Taylor was indicted today on charges of raping a 16-year-old prostitute and, in addition to the rape charges, is also facing charges of patronizing a prostitute, endangering the welfare of a child, and sexual abuse and criminal sexual act in the third degree with a maximum of four years if convicted. Sports Illustrated has more details on this story HERE.

WWE's new NXT ring announcer Ashley Valence is a former co-host for the Memphis Grizzlies NBA franchise. The Grizzlies' website has an article up about the WWE debut HERE.

Chris Jericho's "Downfall" did a 2.0 rating and 5.9 million viewers last night. (PWI)

Jack Swagger has a new interview up HERE and Trish Stratus has a new one up on YouTube HERE.

ROH booker and NWA World Champion Adam Pearce is now feuding with former WWE star Charlie Haas over the title - you can see a video on YouTube outlining their feud HERE.

Former WWE stars Mickie James and Booker T will be participating in the 2nd Annual Cap Tech Drive, a charity golf tournament to benefit the Hermie and Elliott Sadler Foundation. You can get more details about the event HERE.

Last but not least a sneak preview of the MTV/Masked Warrior "Lucha Libre USA" can be watched HERE.