The Great Khali Targeted By Indian Activist, New Vegas Promotion

Source: Pwinsider.com

— The Philadelphia Inquirer has a story on Rick Santorum, a former lobbyist for WWE who helped deregulate professional wrestling. Santorum worked for Kirkpatrick and Lockhart during the late 1980s to lobby Pennsylvania, who had the most stringent regulations on the sport, to back off. At the time state athletic commissions got between 5 – 7% of the ticket grosses and the state required their own physicians to attend to the talent. Santorum lobbied lawmakers and took them backstage to show that everything was scripted. The story has a quote then-state athletic commissioner Jimmy Binns, who said, “That’s blood money. They treated their wrestlers like fighting cocks or pit bulls, basically like people would treat animals.”

— The Great Khali has been targeted by an activist in India for his extended absence from the Punjab Police. The activist, Abhishek Kadyan, says that Khali either needs to be a police officer or “continue making money through wrestling and reality shows.” “He has been making money and misusing the leave allowed to him,” Kadyan said. “He must be terminated with immediate effect. He has clearly violated section 48 of the Punjab Police Act 2007.” The act in question reads: “No police officer shall engage in any other employment or office of profit whatsoever, other than his duties under this Act.”

— To promote their i-PPV debut, Dragon Gate USA is offering a FREE online broadcast of their first PPV Enter the Dragon from July 2009. You can get the details at http://www.gofightlive.tv/

— Ringside Collectibles will have their 2010 Ringsidefest on October 30th at Caroline’s Comedy Club in New York City. Kane and the Miz will be signing autographs in the morning from 9 – 11 AM, with a Chris Jericho Q&A and signing session to follow. You can check out more information at http://www.ringsidefest.com/

— A new promotion will be making its debut on January 7th in Las Vegas. Its calling itself Lucha Las Vegas and will be filming at the Crown Nightclub in the Rio All Suites Hotel for a TV pilot. Talent scheduled for the show includes Blue Demon Jr., Hijo De Rey Misterio, TJ Perkins, Aaron Aguilera (who was in WWE as Jesus), Joey Kaos, Matt Classic (aka Colt Cabana), Scorpio Sky, Joey Ryan, Disco Machine, Lizzy Valentine, and Rocky Romero. Shelly Martinez is signed to work as the “Head Official” and will head up an all-female group of referees. The MC for the show is former WWE talent Kizarney, who will be appearing along with his wife Stacy “The Kat” Carter. The plan is to run shows every 4-8 weeks at the same venue with both Lucha Libre and traditional American wrestling bouts. Tickets go on sale November 1st; you can find more information at http://luchalasvegas.com/

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