[Emperor Smeat]

Dirtsheets sponsored by Nap Time with Chikara Wrestling:

WWE Hall Of Famer and former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race had to pull out of Saturday’s WrestleCade IV event in Winston-Salem, NC due to health issues. WrestlingNews.co has confirmed that Race recently had a 9-inch rod inserted into his back because of spine issues and now he cannot feel his legs. Race is confined to a wheelchair. Race also underwent surgery last year to remove a cyst on his spine.

Kurt Angle confirmed that his final shows with TNA will be the U.K. tour. His plans include trying to break into acting and writing a second autobiography, claiming the WWE was too hands on regarding the first one. He said he will be starting filming in March a movie called "Epidemic." He said he'd like to get into acting and doing comedies and dramas as opposed to action movies. Jeremy Borash was shooting an Angle documentary while both were in the U.K. this past week. Borash also hosted Angle's talk shows that took place there this past week. Angle said he expected this tour would be his last time he would wrestle in the U.K., and if he had his way, he'd like to do a retirement match on the tour against A.J. Styles. He said he was very excited about the prospects going forward with Bellator.

Before anyone gets their hopes up, Rumble happens before the UK tour so very unlikely TNA is going to let him leave prior to the tour.

Originally Posted by 411Mania The WON reports that reports of backstage heat on Lana are underselling the whole thing. A source close to the matter told the site that WWE being angry at her is a “major understatement” and that, as noted last week, it stems in part from her taking her issues with the Charlotte/Paige Raw promo public via Twitter. The site notes that the company’s issues with her regarding that incident largely came from her inferring that Paige was a bully. The company was already upset with her because they believe she leaked her engagement to Rusev online, which forced them to change their onscreen storylines. The source said that calling Paige a bully was ridiculous anyway because she was one of the people who were picked on the most while in NXT.

Might need a new term for Lana's heat since its above nuclear.

Originally Posted by Observer Contract negotiations for a new ROH deal with Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly have stalled as the sides aren't close. There have been a few WWE wrestlers trying to recruit them, as right now NXT is looking to load up on workers for a more extensive schedule of big shows around the country in 2016 aiming at the same type of audience ROH draws from.

Originally Posted by Observer Jerry McDevitt filed two motions last week. One was a motion to get the concussion lawsuit filed by Ryan Sakoda (Keiji Sakoda), Russ McCullough and Matt Wiese (Luther Reigns) thrown out of court based on it being time barred under Connecticut law. McDevitt argues that Connecticut law is clear that you only have two years after an injury to file a claim for damages, and none of the three have even worked for the company since 2005. The argument that will obviously be used to counter is that people suffering from brain injuries from concussions may not even learn of the problems until decades later. McDevitt's other filing was an argument against opposing attorney Konstantine Kyros' motion to have the lawsuit filed by WWE against a number of former wrestlers including Oreal Perras (Ivan Koloff), Bob Windham (Blackjack Mulligan) and Thomas Billington (Dynamite Kid) thrown out. The WWE sued the four as basically a first move in an attempt, which has been thus far successful, to keep them from joining in on the concussion lawsuits. The Windham deal is a weird one since he's got three grandchildren that work for the promotion. It's one weird business where you work for a company that sues your grandfather who is old and in declining health, not that there's any alternative.

Originally Posted by Observer Konnan on his podcast was mad at me and adamant that Alberto Del Rio got a seven figure downside guarantee. Others close to Del Rio have also said the same thing, saying he's very clear he got well in excess of double to triple what WWE claimed and how it makes no sense given he was fixing to make $600,000 working half the number of dates and making his own schedule so why would he go back to that schedule for less than seven figures guaranteed.

Still some confusion on how much Del Rio is really making from his new deal with Konnan and Mexican sources claiming Del Rio is making at least $1.5 million before any potential bonuses.

Originally Posted by Observer In something of a coup, Kay Jewelers is now a WWE sponsor. Sponsors with high dollar products have traditionally shied away from advertising on wrestling, but NBC Universal is pushing wrestling as a good value for sponsors hard because USA Network in January will have 24 percent of its prime time schedule be WWE, and USA has been the most profitable station in the NBC Universal family. The last time I remember a jewelry company being a major wrestling sponsor was the 70s and 80s when I.W Marks was a major sponsor of Houston Wrestling and Paul Boesch was featured for years wearing earrings in their local television ad.

Some other sheet news includes:

• According to the Observer, TNA is currently scrambling to find a new date for their recently canceled India tour due to tv contracts in the country demand at least one tour per year.
• El Rey Network is reported to have already ordered a third season of Lucha Underground likely to avoid another long delay after Season 2 ends.
• In a "WWE Did You Know" type fact, the official definition of a jobber in the WWE is someone who basically acts as a prop. https://twitter.com/mookieghana/stat...91380867096576
• Ziggler teased on Twitter about retiring from wrestling within the next 1-2 years in order to move onto his next goal being a career in Hollywood.