Last September, Greene had a bloated midsection and fell out of the top six. He then decided to not defend his Arnold title and use the New York Pro as a warm up for the Olympia. When asked by emcee Bob Cicherillo if he can in fact unseat Jay Cutler in Las Vegas, Greene was coy and joked with an ambiguous answer. “I’d like to thank my entire team,” he said with a laugh and a smile. But come September, this will be anything but funny.

Cutler has won four of the last five Olympias and will be a tough out. Phil Heath was a close second to Greene at the 2010 Arnold and gave his buddy Cutler a run for his money six months later. ‘The Gift’ is not going anywhere and has had a full year – like Cutler – to prepare for the O. Branch Warren won the Arnold and has finished in the top three two years in a row in Vegas.

What all of that means is that Greene will need to be in his best shape just to break into the top three. Sure, he can accomplish that but may need to wait until Cutler hangs up the posing trunks before adding a Sandow to his trophy case.

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‘The Predator’ fell from fourth place in his inaugural Olympia the year before to a disappointing seventh and the two-time Arnold Classic champion took a beating from the critics. In their defense, the Brooklyn, New York native did come in out of shape and had a distended midsection that was noticeable by everyone, including the judges.

Greene sat out this year’s Arnold – a strange decision but one that makes sense in some ways – to concentrate on the O. He seemed to peak earlier in the year since 2009 at the Arnold but now has changed his strategy to get it together six months later. If he knows that he has one shot every 12 months to do some damage, then it would seem wise to move up and go after the big prize.

having already dominated in Columbus, Greene’s career will be completed with at least one Olympia win. But that seemed as unlikely as Barry Bonds eventually being inducted into the Hall of Fame last September. Perhaps the best thing that could have happened to Greene was the shock of a bad showing on bodybuilding’s biggest stage.

There is a lot of pressure on him as far as quieting the critics and putting himself back on the map. Greene’s name has hardly been mentioned and no one is expecting him to be a factor at the Orleans Arena. But he can pull off a stunner and break into the top three by putting together a presentation like the one in Ohio the night he won his first Arnold.

The line-up for the O is stacked with Cutler, Phil Heath, Dennis Wolf, Branch Warren, Ronny Rockel and so many others, so Greene has his work cut out for him. His work ethic has come into question but that would seem ridiculous when you see Greene at his best. He has arguably the best back in the sport and brings a flair that is unmatched to the stage. Greene needs at least a top six placing to get back into the pack but anyone who counts him out of the top three this early has obviously forgotten how much of a difference he made not too long ago.

KAI GREENE’S CONTEST HISTORY

2005 New York Pro – 14th

2006 Iron Man Pro – NP

2006 a Ray Colorado Pro – 14th

2007 New York Pro – 6th

2007 Keystone Pro – 3rd

2007 Colorado Pro – 1st

2008 Arnold Classic – 3rd

2008 New York Pro – 1st

2009 Arnold Classic – 1st

2009 Australian Pro Grand Prix – 1st

2009 Mr. Olympia – 4th

2010 Arnold Classic – 1st

2010 Australian Pro Grand Prix – 1st

2010 Mr. Olympia – 7th

1.    TNA X Division Championship match: Jay Lethal(c) vs. Robbie E

This was a decent opener, and although it wasn’t really that good of a match it was actually one of the better matches of the night, which says something about this show. They lock up but Robbie quickly breaks to go talk with Cookie before returning to the ring. Lethal does a couple arm drags and works the shoulder with a submission. Lethal then backdrops Robbie to the outside, slides out, and hits a chop. Lethal sends Robbie back in before hitting a missile dropkick and a hip toss/low dropkick combo for a near fall. Lethal tries for the Lethal Combination but Robbie holds onto the ropes. Robbie starts to beat away at Lethal’s midsection and gets a near fall before Lethal comes back with some right hands, but Robbie sends him into the corner. Robbie hits a spear and applies an abdominal stretch. Lethal fights out but Robbie puts him down with an elbow and applies a seated bear hug. Lethal makes a comeback with some right hands, a flying forearm, and a couple clotheslines. Lethal hits a handspring elbow and a sunset flip but Cookie distracts the referee. Lethal and Cookie argue but Lethal is able to send Robbie over the ropes to the outside, following it up with a suicide dive. Lethal hits some chops and punches until Cookie tries to spray him with hairspray, but Lethal blocks it and hits Robbie with the Lethal Combination. Lethal goes up top but the ref was distracted with the hairspray and Cookie pulls his legs down. Robbie pulls him off and hits a neckbreaker for the win. Finish felt really flat because it didn’t have great crowd heat and I question why Robbie won the title here. Match was alright but the finish was a bit much and it didn’t feel like an X Division match. Match Time: 10:44     Star Rating: **1/2

2.    Tara vs. Mickie James

I was elated when I realized that for once the obligatory TNA Knockouts match for the PPV would not involve the Beautiful People. Tara and Mickie worked really hard here. Mickie charges the ring and this some slaps but Tara puts her down and pounds on her. She goes for a piledriver but Mickie backdrops her out of it before hitting a low dropkick. Tara snaps Mickie’s neck on the ropes and kicks away at her, eventually trying for the Widow’s Peak only for Mickie to counter into a single leg Boston Crab. They refuse to let go of each other and fight out onto the floor but return to the ring where Tara takes control by choking Mickie against the ropes. Tara hits a suplex, rolls over into a guillotine, and chokes Mickie with her boot but Mickie makes a comeback, hitting some shots and taking Tara to the outside with a headscissors. Mickie dives off the apron with a Thesz press, then rolls Tara back into the ring before hitting a missile dropkick. Mickie goes for a roundhouse kick but Tara pulls her down into a split. Both girls try for a suplex before they end up on the top turnbuckle, falling off and tumbling to the floor. They brawl around ringside and into the crowd for a minute before the ref finally calls for the bell, ruling it a double disqualification. They then engaged in a very lengthy brawl after the match which started off good around the ramp area but once they returned to the ring it became excessive. I wasn’t a fan of the non-finish but at least there was effort, which you don’t usually get with mainstream women’s matches. Even with the double disqualification, Knockouts match of the year. Match Time: 8:21     Star Rating: **1/4

3.    TNA World Tag Team Championship match: The Motor City Machineguns(c) vs. Team 3D

Team 3D stated that this would be their final match, and going in I thought this would be a great way for them to go out by passing the torch and putting over the Guns. These teams really delivered and put on easily the best match on this PPV and one of Team 3D’s best non-gimmick matches in God-knows-how long. After a handshake, Devon and Alex Shelley lock up a couple times, with Shelley twisting the arm before doing a grapevine around the neck. They trade holds until Devon hits a shoulder block and a spinning back elbow. Shelley reverses out of a suplex and misses an enzuigiri but hits a dropkick to the knee before tagging out to Chris Sabin. Devon is able to double clothesline the Guns and tags out to Ray, but Shelley rolls to the outside to avoid a double team. Sabin fights with Ray in the ring, hitting some forearms and a springboard cross body. Ray hits a big boot and tags to Devon, and 3D connects with backbreaker/leg drop combo. Shelley tags in and the Guns do some quick double team moves of their own. Shelley tries for a double stomp but Devon avoids it and tags to Ray, who catches Shelley’s leg in a grapevine. Ray slams the knee into the canvas but misses a splash, allowing Shelley to tag in Sabin. The Guns start hitting a flurry of dropkicks and double team moves on 3D, culminating with Shelley doing a suicide dive onto Devon but Sabin missing a dive onto Ray. Ray charges Sabin on the outside but misses and runs into the ring post, busting him open. Shelley works over Ray’s arm in the ring before tagging out to Sabin, who works over Ray’s cut on his forehead.

The Guns each kick Ray in the gut, and Shelley hits a pair of knee drops. Ray hits a back elbow to Sabin before connecting with a top rope superbomb for a near fall. Shelley tags in but eats a pair of chops from Ray. Shelley hits an enzuigiri, but when he tries for a dive Ray catches him with an ace crusher. Both guys tag in their respective partners, and Devon hits some punches, a shoulder block, and a side slam. Devon hits a powerslam and has a back body drop attempt blocked, but he comes back with a neckbreaker. The Guns hit Poetry in Motion on Devon, but when they try it a second time Devon catches Sabin and slams him onto Shelley with a uranage. Devon goes up top and hits a diving headbutt for a near fall. Ray gets a tag and double clotheslines the Guns before 3D connects with a reverse 3D and the Wassup. Ray tells Devon to get the tables and he obliges, bringing a table into the ring. It’s set up in the corner and Ray tries to send Sabin into it, but Sabin avoids it and Ray crashes through the table. The Guns hit the Skull and Bones to Devon but only get a two count. Shelley accidentally hits a yakuza kick to Sabin in the corner before walking right into the 3D, but kicks out. They try for another 3D but Sabin hits a DDT to Devon and avoids a splash from Ray. The Guns hit the Skull and Bones on Ray for the victory. Afterwards all four men held up each other’s hands. This was a really good, long match and a good way for Team 3D to bow out but it did not feel like a retirement match. The fans didn’t appear to buy into the gimmick and the post match stuff felt just like any other respect angle and not a retirement. Still, I congratulate Team 3D on doing the right thing and putting over some young guys and passing the torch in what was by far the strongest match on the card. Match Time: 17:10     Star Rating: ***3/4

4.    Tommy Dreamer vs. Rob Van Dam

After a really good tag team match, this PPV really went downhill beginning with this match. Mike Tenay informs us that the match will now be no disqualification and anything goes. They do a couple lock ups at the start and go for some quick pins but end up in a standoff. After some sloppy chain wrestling, RVD rolls to the outside to stall. RVD comes back into the ring and buries his shoulder into Dreamer’s midsection, but Dreamer sends him to the floor before jumping off the apron with a running clothesline. RVD hits a kick and crotches Dreamer on the guard rail, and then hits a diving spinning leg drop off the apron. Van Dam tosses Dreamer back inside and grabs a chair, setting it up on Dreamer’s face on the apron. Van Dam tries for a slingshot leg drop but Dreamer moves and Van Dam crashes to the outside. Dreamer brings Van Dam back into the ring and sets him up in the tree of woe with a chair in front of his face, but Van Dam elevates himself to avoid the dropkick. Dreamer puts him back down and they REPEAT THE SPOT but Dreamer just brings him out of the tree of woe with a neckbreaker. Dreamer grabs a ladder from underneath the ring and hits RVD in the face with it on the floor. Dreamer puts RVD and the ladder in the ring and hits a sloppy bulldog to RVD on the ladder. Dreamer goes for a middle rope elbow drop to RVD, who was lying on the ladder, but RVD avoids it.

Van Dam puts Dreamer on the ladder and goes for rolling thunder but misses. Dreamer hits a top rope splash for a near fall. Dreamer tries for a DDT and Van Dam counters with a Northern Lights suplex, but Dreamer looks to have broken his hand badly, as you could see the bone sticking out. Both guys looked confused and Van Dam went for a cover, getting a two count. Van Dam hits a low dropkick and puts Dreamer down on a chair, but misses a split legged moonsault. Dreamer puts the ladder in the corner but Van Dam throws it back in his face. I cannot believe this match is continuing. RVD goes for the Five Star Frog Splash but Dreamer for some reason AVOIDS IT and hits a piledriver. They trade punches and set up a ladder on the middle rope, with Dreamer ending up crotched on it. RVD hits the Van Daminator with a chair and goes for the Five Star but Dreamer again rolls out of the way. This is just stupid on his part. Dreamer goes for the Dreamer Driver but RVD throws him off into the ladder. Dreamer gets slammed onto the chair and RVD FINALLY hits the Five Star for the win. This match just refused to end. Dreamer is one tough SOB for continuing this match with an injury but the match clearly suffered as a result. The crowd was completely dead and was just hoping for the match to end due to the injury. They get credit for effort but they really should have capped it once Dreamer got hurt instead of dragging it out so long. Ended up being a very blah match. Match Time: 16:02     Star Rating: **

5.    Fortune vs. EV 2.0

This was a 10 man tag match where the person who got pinned would be fired, and if Fortune lost then their guy would just be kicked out of the stable and not fired. This actually ended up being a pretty decent match and probably the second best match on the PPV. The match began with all 10 men brawling with each other, with Brian Kendrick knocking Kazarian to the floor only to eat a chop from Doug Williams. Stevie Richards throws Williams to the outside but eats a spinebuster from Robert Roode. Kendrick ends up down and is helped to the back by trainers, which looks to be pretty legitimate. So Fortune has a 5 on 4 advantage as James Storm and Stevie square off. Kaz quickly gets a tag and hits a jumping clothesline before tagging to Williams, who hits a high knee in the corner before making a tag to AJ Styles. Styles and Kaz connect with a side slam/leg drop combo and Roode tags in to slingshot Stevie into the bottom rope. Styles and Kaz tag in and hit a couple suplexes before Kaz begins to mock the Stevie Kick, only for Stevie to hit him with a Lethal Combination. Rhino and Storm get tags, and Rhino comes in as a house of fire, taking it to all members of Fortune. Rhino hits a suplex to Storm but AJ does a springboard dive onto him. Roode tags in and hits a snapmare and a neckbreaker to Rhino before tagging to Kaz, who applies a rear chin lock until Raven just walks in the ring to break it up. Storm enters and applies a chin lock until Rhino fights out, but Storm puts him back down and hits an enzuigiri. Rhino hits a fallaway slam and Sabu and AJ get tags. Sabu takes it to Fortune and uses a chair to launch himself onto them on the outside. A superplex attempt from Sabu fails but he is able to avoid a springboard 450 and hit a DDT. Williams hits a big top rope suplex as everything breaks down into chaos. Sabu tries for a super hurricanrana but AJ holds on, drops to the mat, and hits the Styles Clash for the win. So Sabu is fired from TNA. They made a HUGE deal of this with Flair mocking him and doing a whole sendoff with all of EV 2.0 in the ring including Dreamer and RVD. Let it be known that TNA thought Sabu being fired was a bigger deal than Team 3D’s retirement. Aside from that, the right team went over and this match had its fun moments. Better than their Lethal Lockdown match. Match Time: 12:09     Star Rating: **3/4

6.    Lumberjack match: Abyss vs. D’Angelo Dinero

The stipulation was the lumberjacks would be the Pope’s “Congregation” which was comprised of his brother and a lot of guys who looked like a New York street gang. Pope is all over Abyss at the start with strikes and avoids a chokeslam before sending Abysss to the outside, but Abyss is back in before the Congregation can get at him. Abyss sends Pope into the corner and misses a corner splash only to be hit with one from Pope. Abyss tries to send Pope out but the Congregation helps him up and Pope tries for a sunset flip. Abyss stays on his feet but Pope clotheslines him to the outside. Abyss gets sent back in quickly and eats a series of rights until he comes back with a big boot. Abyss rips the tape off Dinero’s ribs and Dinero hits a headbutt, but Abyss puts him down and stomps his chest. Abyss splashes Dinero in the corner and wears him down with a bear hug. Dinero fights out of the hold and is able to reverse the Black Hole Slam into a DDT. Dinero hits a forearm and a clothesline, then follows it up with an inverted atomic drop and a shoulder block. Pope avoids some punches from Abyss and hits some of his own. Pope hits his corner elbow and works over Abyss’s midsection, but Abyss hits the Shock Treatment. Pope fights out of a chokeslam and hits the 4Up, sending Abyss to the outside. The Congregation makes room for Pope to do a dive onto Abyss before throwing Abyss back into the ring and helping Pope up. Pope hits a diving headbutt to the shoulder before hitting the Coronation, sliding to the outside. Suddenly, Bischoff is at the ramp and smiles, which is followed by the Congregation lining up and beating down Dinero. WHAT????? Dinero is thrown into the ring where Abyss hits a Black Hole Slam for the win. That was a GOD AWFUL finish. If the plan was for the Congregation to turn on the Pope, why would they be HELPING HIM the entire match? Horrendous booking and a nonsensical Russo swerve. The match was going along okay but that finish was HORRIBLE. Match Time: 12:55     Star Rating: *3/4

7.    Jeff Jarrett vs. Samoa Joe

Jarrett cuts a promo before the match to put over Immortal before walking up the ramp, but Joe’s music hits. Jarrett retreats into the ring and Joe tries to go after him, with Jarrett being able to avoid him early on before they stare each other down. Joe hits a snapmare and they do some chain wrestling before Joe hits a high knee. Joe hits some right hands, a splash, and an enzuigiri before choking Jarrett with his boot and doing some face washes. Joe hits a forearm smash and pounds on Jarrett in the corner, hitting some shoulder blocks and a ton of vicious chops. Jarrett fights out of a suplex with the Ankle Lock and goes to grab a chair, but the ref takes it away. Jarrett tries for a fist drop and Joe blocks it and hits a clothesline, some right hands, an inverted atomic drop, a kick, and a senton. Jarrett hits the Stroke for a near fall but Joe hits an exploder suplex. He sets Jarrett up top but Jarrett snaps his neck across the rope before connecting with a Stroke from the second rope, only for Joe to kick out. Jarrett and the ref struggle over a chair on the floor, and Joe does a dive that takes out both of them. GUNNER AND MURPHY then hit the ring to beat down Joe along with Jarrett, using a nightstick. Jarrett hits Joe with it several times before choking him out with it. Jarrett puts Joe in the Coquina Clutch as the ref wakes up and calls for the bell, ruling Jarrett the winner by knockout. Typical TNA overbooked mess of a match. Match was alright then the overbooking ruined it. Samoa Joe is buried once again. To think this guy used to be their world champion. Worst match of the night, just horrible booking. Match Time: 10:37     Star Rating: *1/2

8.    TNA World Heavyweight Championship match: Jeff Hardy(c) vs. Matt Morgan

After a lackluster show it was now up to Jeff Hardy and MATT MORGAN to save the show. They try to lock up at first but Hardy bails to the outside, then ducks another lock up when he comes back in. Hardy kicks Morgan in the gut and tries to work the leg but Morgan tosses him to the outside. Hardy stalls outside the ring and Morgan spits in his face. Morgan chases Hardy, who misses an elbow drop, but just clubs him down and tries for a near fall. Morgan misses a leg drop and Hardy hits a dropkick before focusing on Morgan’s leg. Hardy beats at Morgan’s leg and applies a weird submission before turning it over into a single leg crab, but Morgan is able to get to the ropes. Hardy hangs up Morgan’s leg on the ropes and comes down on it, then hits a knee drop and applies a rear chin lock. Morgan comes back with some punches and clotheslines and rips Hardy’s shirt off, but Hardy hits a DDT for a near fall. Morgan catches a diving Hardy with a chokeslam for a two count, but Hardy hits a low blow and the Twist of HATE (no longer Fate because he’s heel now) for a near fall. Hardy beats away at Morgan but Morgan hits a bicycle kick. Morgan’s got him pinned but the ref stops the count at two in what was either a botch or a referee screwjob. If it was the latter, it was ridiculous because the match didn’t end right after it. Hardy hits another Twist of Hate for a near fall. Hardy fights off Morgan in the corner and hits the Whisper in the Wind followed up by a third Twist of Hate for the victory. Very plodding, uneventful main event and that count by the referee was just odd. No one bought into Morgan as a possibility to win the title here. A fitting end to this very bad show. Match Time: 13:11     Star Rating: **

Overall PPV Rating: 5.5/10

My name is Jared Silberkleit and I am from Orange, CT. I am a huge pro wrestling fan and follow all kinds of promotions such as WWE, TNA, ROH, PWG, CHIKARA, Dragon Gate USA, and anything else I might come across. I am a huge supporter of independent wrestling and I feel that it provides a true alternative to the mainstream promotions and also showcases a lot of innovation and hard work. Aside from wrestling I am also a really big fan of football, baseball, hockey, and MMA. I have also written for www.sportsgrumblings.com for over two years.

Heading into season 10, the Spike TV reality show was heavily promoting the man who single-handedly took down EliteXC by not living up to his billing. All along, UFC president Dana White had said that the only way Slice would get into the octagon during a UFC card was to win the 16-man competition. Slice was chosen first overall by Quentin “Rampage” Jackson, who is coaching a team of eight and so far, his fighters are winless in three tries versus Rashad Evans’ crew.

Nelson, the former champion of the now-defunct International Fight League, is deceivingly strong, especially when he takes his opponent to the ground. He appears to be out of shape and in bad condition because of his large midsection but possesses immense grappling skills.

At the start of the match, the two seemed to be taking their time measuring each other up and although Slice did hit a few solid punches, it was all one-sided once Nelson used his weight advantage to take down his opponent. Once on the floor, Slice could do little more than try to roll out of the position but could not do so before the round expired.

Nelson went right after Slice in Round Two and took him down in the middle of the ring, spelling more trouble for the man who is responsible for last night’s high ratings. Again caught in a crucifix position, Slice was pinned down and was unable to gain any leverage. Nelson was hitting him in the head with what appeared to be very light punches and the referee kept warning Slice that he had to do something or the fight would be over.

When Slice remained in the same position, the official called for the bell and waved the fight off. Even White commented that the shots Nelson was hitting Slice with did not appear to be doing any damage and this can be construed as a knock against the premature stoppage.

But just when it seemed that the dream was over for Slice, the coming attraction for next week’s episode alluded to him getting a chance at redemption. Marcus Jones, a former NFL player, has an injured knee and may not be able to take his turn, meaning that one of the three men who have already fought will take his place. Slice, who is an obvious favorite of Jackson, was pleading his case to get back in.

So the saga continues. Will team Jackson finally get on the board and will Slice be the one to do it? Needless to say, the promos definitely left it open enough that next week’s show should top the ratings of Episode Three.

After finishing in third place in the 2007 Mr. Olympia, 38 year-old Dexter Jackson knows that the window of opportunity may be closing on him. In September, he will give it another go, this time coming off three consecutive first place finishes in the calendar year.

Earlier, Jackson won the Arnold Classic, IFBB Australian Grand Prix VIII and the IFBB New Zealand Grand Prix. While that is a nice accomplishment, the Mr. O is a whole different world.

Persevering through his career, Jackson finished third in the 1992 NPC Southern States Lightweight Division. He next took the stage three years later, which was also his first victory in the NPC USA Championships Light-Heavyweight Division.

Jackson turned professional in 1999, which included a ninth place finish in his inaugural Olympia show. He would not taste victory again until the 2002 Grand Prix England, and has finished first on eight different occasions since then.

Competing in eight out of the last nine Mr. Olympia contests (he missed the 2005), Jackson has finished ninth, ninth, eighth, fourth, third, fourth, fourth and third. To break into the top two, he will need to come into Las Vegas looking the way he has all year, possibly even better.

At the Australian Grand Prix, Jackson’s thighs were extremely impressive, as was his abdominal section. His obliques appeared as if they were carved away from his midsection and all of his 5’6″ frame looked to be in peak condition.

Having his eye on the prize, Jackson knows what he has to do in September. “I’ve beaten everybody else and Jay (Cutler) is the only person I haven’t beaten and he’s the Mr. Olympia, so he’s the man to beat,” he said. “I don’t look behind me, I only look what is in front of me.”

And the time in front of him is getting shorter.

Photo credit: wikipedia.com

Dave Jacobs, the convicted steroids dealer who was giving NFL investigators names of players that he sold to, appears to have committed a murder-suicide, as opposed to foul play and a third party involved. Jacobs and his fiancee, Amanda Earhart-Savell, were found shot to death on Thursday.

The Dallas County Medical Examiner has ruled Jacobs’ death a suicide. According to the Plano, Texas Police Department, Jacobs was found with a gunshot would to his midsection and a second to the head. Earhart-Savell was found with several gunshot wounds.

Jacobs had threatened suicide in the past, and had recently become even more distraught due to his meetings with the NFL.

This should end speculation that the players concerned about being named had anything to do with the crime.

Dave Jacobs, the convicted steroids dealer who was giving NFL investigators names of players that he sold to, appears to have committed a murder-suicide, as opposed to foul play and a third party involved. Jacobs and his fiancee, Amanda Earhart-Savell, were found shot to death on Thursday.

The Dallas County Medical Examiner has ruled Jacobs’ death a suicide. According to the Plano, Texas Police Department, Jacobs was found with a gunshot would to his midsection and a second to the head. Earhart-Savell was found with several gunshot wounds.

Jacobs had threatened suicide in the past, and had recently become even more distraught due to his meetings with the NFL.

This should end speculation that the players concerned about being named had anything to do with the crime. Rumors were running rampart on who could have been responsible, but in the end, it appears that a distraught Jacobs was the only one to blame. Dealing in drugs, even steroids as opposed to cocaine or heroin, is a dangerous business. Jacobs may have crossed someone in his past dealings, which would have been very possible. There was also the possibility that an NFL player being named could have had a hand in the deaths, to remove the main person in the investigation, and that Earhart-Savell could have merely been in the wrong place at the wrong time.