- Penny Banner was more than just another lady wrestler. During her 23 year career (1957-1977), which coincided with the so-called "Golden Age of Women's Wrestling", she set standards & achieved successes that made her a major figure in her day & an icon for the generations that followed. Some fans know her as the 1st woman to hold the American Wrestling Association's Ladies Championship, others for her years of packing arenas across the United States & Canada; some even recall her having dated Elvis Presley in the 1950s (Elvis was a big wrestling fan & whenever Penny would work in Memphis, he & his friends were always @ ringside to cheer her on!) Outside of the ring, Penny was also an accomplished competitive horsewoman & businesswoman, as well as, in her latter years, being a multi-medalist in the Senior Olympics. Penny Banner was also the Commissioner of the PGWA, a position which she held since the organization's founding in 1992. Although no longer a wrestler herself, Penny took seriously her duty as a role model for newcomers to the sport. She was also disturbed by the growing trend in women's wrestling @ the time to focus on what became known as "T&A" rather than actual athletic ability. In her estimation, the "Evening Gown Catfights" & such gimmicks were killing the sport she loved. In her position as commissioner, she dedicated herself to the PGWA's mission of preserving & promoting the "Old School" style of pro wrestling. The means of doing so were to host all-ladies shows, to book individual women's matches on various independent promotions' cards & to publicize the ladies in both print & {with the development of the internet} on-line & the PGWA's success speaks for itself. @ the time of its founding, women's pro wrestling was seemingly on the verge of extinction in the United States, with few organizations even bothering to book female wrestlers on their shows any longer. But in 2008, women wrestlers are more popular than ever & a number of other all-female promotions have joined the PGWA in presenting women's shows & the PGWA's official website, LadySports Online, has been visited nearly 3,000,000 times since its relaunch in 2003. Through it all, Penny Banner served as not only a symbol of the PGWA's growth, but also a cornerstone of its success. Sadly, after a valiant battle for several years, Penny succumbed to cancer early in 2008. Now, in honour of both the woman & the legend, the PGWA's presenting "A Banner Night", bringing together some of the most talented women in the sport of professional wrestling today, with each match on the card dedicated to Penny's memory. Headlining the card will be a PGWA Title Match, featuring the champion, Nikki Roxx (aka TNA Knockout 'Roxxi Laveaux'), against former WWE Diva Tracy Taylor of Hawaii. Also slated to appear will be Mia Martinez, Scarlett Rose, XTC, Sassy Stephanie, Angel Dust, Sarah Lynn, Josianne Pussycat & Jamie D (both from Canada) & Tennessee's own Tasha Simone, Susan Morton & Su Yung. Additionally, joining them will be Wendi Weaver, the daughter of both Penny Banner & another pro wrestling legend, Johnny Weaver. Wendi will present a Penny Banner Spirit of Excellence Award to 1 of the participants @ the show. The ultimate result will prove to be, they hope, a fitting way to honour their friend & idol. This very special show will be held tomorrow @ the SAW Arena, 1214 B Louisville Highway in Millersville, Tennessee (just north of Nashville) Bell time's 7:30 PM & tickets are $10 US @ the door. For further information about "A Banner Night", visit http://www.LadySports.com We here @ CHMR & RING RUST salute the PGWA & hope them well in their upcoming show.
- Former RAW Women's Champion Candice Michelle Beckman's featured in a hot photo spread in the December issue of Muscular Development magazine. Her pictorial graces a total of 8 pages & the pictures are accompanied by an interview. Being the good citizens that they are, http://www.wrestling-online.com have the whole spread for your viewing pleasure, which you can see @ http://www.wrestling-online.com/news/News_9/Candice_MuscDev.shtml
- TNA Knockout Christy Hemme has posted a new column on the TNA website & she notes her departure from World Wrestling Entertainment. "My departure was on my own terms, because I stuck to my guns on my morals & values as a human being. I knew in my gut that it'd be the end, but I also knew that carrying guilt for knowingly doing something against what I believed wasn't worth getting ahead. Leaving broke my heart. . . but doing the right thing's something I'll always be proud of. My passion for wrestling's exploding from being held for so long. I do have to say, sitting on the sidelines has been extremely beneficial. It's like I spent all that time downloading info that I can now deliver & express in a way I couldn't, keeping the wall I did. I've started training again & have to give HUGE thank you's to 'Phenomenal' AJ Styles, Samoa Joe & Jimmy Rave. . . hurting has never felt so good!" You can read her latest column @ http://www.tnawrestling.com/content/view/1156/84/
Posted on Nov 14, 2008, 4:57 PM from IP address 134.153.20.97