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KINGS OF THE NORTH FUCKERS

"Yet, thanks to my trusty safetysphere, I sublibed with only tribial brain dablage." One of my favorite Futurama lines isn't quite as funny anymore. So over the past year or so, I've been suffering from bouts of anxiety and depression, coming in and out in waves. Issues with work and home life have contributed but it was definitely something out of the norm. After urging from my wife and doctor, I visited the Amen Clinics in Bellevue this week to get treated for my ongoing ADHD issues and to get SPECT scans of my brain. What we found was far worse. What you see in this scan is multiple, cumulative TBIs (traumatic brain injuries) in my brain, clustered in the occipital and frontal lobes, but in multiple locations. Two scans were taken - this one, after I had engaged in mental activity, and one at rest. (The one at rest looks even worse.) In short, the bumps and head shots I took through my wrestling career have led to brain damage, and are the probable cause of my anxiety and depression. Most of the damage is to the back of the brain, which makes sense, as that's what would be impacted by standard bumps. There are a few in other places, and nearly all of them I can directly attribute to individual shots over the years. One was hard enough that it not only caused damage on the impact point, but on the other side as well, meaning my brain actually bounced - that was from a superkick by Scotty Mac in ECCW. (I did a promo line back then that I felt my brain actually bounce in my head. Guess I wasn't imagining it.) However, like I said on Twitter, data is beautiful and knowing is half the battle. Now that we know, I can be treated for it, and I began treatment this morning for all issues - I've started once again on Adderall to counter the ADHD symptoms, and on a low dose of Cymbalta to help with the anxiety and depression. Cymbalta also helps with issues with pain and neuropathy, which I've experienced in the past year due to possible degenerative disc issues in my neck, and a shoulder injury suffered in 2016. I will also be getting a volumetric MRI and a full spinal scan to help with those issues. But it scares me what kind of shape the brains of my friends that are/were full time wrestlers and take far stupider bumps than I ever did will be in at this point, or five/ten/twenty years from now. I was just a referee, manager and occasional wrestler, and I still ended up with noticeable, actionable damage. One thing is for sure - my wrestling career is definitely, definitively over. I may do commentary spots or appearances of that nature here and there as the itch strikes, but I will *never* take a bump of any kind ever again. This is my own decision, not the doctor's - I am medically disqualifying myself. Unlike Daniel Bryan, there will be no comeback, and honestly, I don't want one - pro wrestling in this area has changed to the point that I had already decided to walk away with my sanity, finances and health as intact as possible. This just makes it easier, in a way. But to make one thing perfectly clear: I don't blame pro wrestling for this whatsoever, in any way, shape or form. I knew what I was getting into, which is why I was careful about the bumps I did take (and the ones I *didn't*). I wouldn't change a thing and I don't regret any of it (well, maybe some of the people I associated with). You won't see me involved in a frivolous lawsuit blaming others for this. Hell, 99% of it was my idea to begin with. (I hate to pop everyone's bubble but nearly every fun angle, match and storyline I was part of was almost entirely my idea. Sadly, that includes the dumbass bumps, too.) I'd say this should serve as a cautionary tale, but it won't. The new guys never listen to those before them that tell them to take it easy, just like those that come after them won't listen to them either. But I know there's some current and aspiring wrestlers that might read this, so I'll just say - please be careful, and be smart. And if you start feeling "different", or especially if those around you notice something different, please, seek help. It's not there to judge you - it's there to help you get better. I should've gone to the Amen Clinics months ago - they have been fantastic and both the doctors and I are extremely optimistic of a significant, if not full recovery. I did more in my wrestling career than I ever would've dreamed possible. I had experiences I wouldn't trade for anything. It brought me out of my introverted shell and taught me so much, good and bad. Without it, I wouldn't have moved to Seattle, and I wouldn't have met the woman that would eventually become my wife and soulmate. I refereed a match with Kevin Nash in front of 1800 people, got punched by Ross Hart, booked guys like Christopher Daniels, Raven, Matt Borne and Fit Finlay for matches, was front and center in three fantastic stables and major angles, main evented in major matches, was carried out of a building kicking and screaming by a local women's tackle football team (Seattle Mystics represent), got to piss off more fans than I can count, main evented as a referee, a manager and a wrestler, transition for six months into a commentator, be the executive producer of a promotion and TV show in my own vision, had my own championship belts created (twice!) and even held two championships at the same time. And guess what? It was fun.

I totally got these two confused and thought Pierroth had to deal with them playing up his college football background. Like he got heat in PR because he played football at Mexico City University.

I am glad you are getting out now, knowing all of this. I don't talk about it often here, but before I became a commentator, I had a 10 year career in the ring. I've always dealt with anxiety and depression in some form or fashion, but around 2011 or so it started getting magnified. Not coincidentally, 2010/2011 were years where I took some pretty sharp blows to the head, both from bumping, and guys who work a fairly stiff style. I would have never connected the two until you posted this honestly, and has prompted me to want to get checked myself. I wish you all the best, Mike. You're a solid dude.

Arizona is now the worst team in the NFL, our teams are off the hook.

Wait until you see how it wraps up, you will likely throw things at the TV. I don't think I've ever had quite such a love/hate relationship with a TV show as I did with SOA (although Dexter belongs in the discussion). If I never hear Katey Sagal sing again it will be too soon.

Love that Joker!

Hopefully, it's a 3 hour tour.

Since @Casey only knows one Isley Brothers song, I decided that I'd state my case for Ernie Isley being the greatest living guitar player and introducing some bonafide bangers from their damn near 60-year run. The Isley Brothers were successful well before Ernie became a full-time member, but Ernie's versatility as a guitar player is what makes them one of the greatest bands of all time. The first Isley Brothers album that features Ernie's guitar playing is "Givin' It Back," an album of folk and pop covers that the Isley Brothers added funk and R&B elements. Here is their cover of Neil Young's "Ohio" and Jimi Hendrix' (discovered by the Isley Brothers by the way) "Machine Gun." Ernie and his guitar solos are the best part of this song, which is saying something because the drumming and Ronald Isley wailing falsetto are also exceptional here. Ernie officially joined the band in 1973 for their album "3+3," and immediately created one of the all-time great guitar riffs of all time on "That Lady." Not to rest on his laurels, he also plays about 75 solos on this track and solidifies himself as a guitar god at the tender age of 21. "That Lady" is probably his magnum guitar opus, but another song in the conversation has to be "Summer Breeze," a cover of the Seals and Croft hit. He takes a mellow song about a beautiful summer day and makes it a funk masterpiece. I once heard someone say the whitest song of all time is Seals and Crofts "Summer Breeze" and the blackest song of all time is The Isley Brothers "Summer Breeze," and I think I agree with them. "Ain't I Been Good to You Pts. 1 & 2" is a great illustration of the versatility of Ernie Isley's guitar playing, and the band as a whole. They can make a high energy funk ditty like part 1 and then slow it down and make a ballad like part 2 and make both sound fantastic. Part 2 is where Ernie's guitar playing really stands out, as he wails on his guitar just as passionately as his older brother pleads to his can't do right woman.

my vote goes to Buff Bagwell. remembered (sometimes fondly, sometimes not) for his character, but the definition of mediocre in the ring. multiple time tag champ, each time with a different partner, but the partner was always the better wrestler (ok, scotty riggs is arguable). can anybody name a great Bagwell match?

So far, based on only pictures (and whacked out known acting and mannersims), Phoenix Joker >>> Leto Joker.

Somebody's girlfriend is getting dragged onto that thing and is going to hate it and their life choices to that point.

Fuck the Minnesota Vikings. Forever an absolute trash organization that can do nothing right.

Lesson 2: Kirk Cousins will cough up the ball if you pat him on the back. 17-0 Bills ready to fuck up some survival picks.

and jobbing to New Jack & Mustafa

Spot on. When you start rooting for the two leads (Jax and Gemma) to off themselves, the series has gone off the rails. I still think a sequel series with Chibs, Tig, and Happy fucking people up would have been most entertaining.

If this goes well I might finally be able to pronounce Phoenix's first name

The look they have is pretty close to John Wayne Gacy, I think.

I thought that was Shannon Moore for a second. Obviously not like Shannon Moore when he was all, whatever this is?

I'm not big on Colan's DD, but I love everything about his Dracula.

Tales From the Hood 2 has plenty of....THE SHIT And by that I mean it's a solid anthology and Keith David is great as the narrator. Mandy was like a combination of Hobo With A Shotgun and Beyond the Black Rainbow. It's best if you just take it in and don't think too critically about it. I think this is the only Nic Cage film I've seen in the past decade or so, have his acting skills been Tommy Wisseau level for a while now?

No joke. There were some violent finishes tonight and those two Yankee doodle football players took way, way too much damage. I can't believe I watched 7 hours of UFC today. It didn't feel like it and sure I had other shit going on but still... 7 hours.

Is this now the best NXT ever? The only thing that's taken a step back is the women's division and even that's still really good with having Kairi, Shayna, Bianca, Nikki, Lacey, Candice, Dakota, and more. But the tag division is on fire. TUE, War Raiders, TMDK, Street Profits, Mustache Mountain, Oney and Burch, Heavy Machinery, etc. I don't even need to list the singles division talent. The only thing I'd change the is that I'd like to see Montez Ford get a legit singles run because that's a dude that could pour millions into WWE. As incredible as everyone else is, Ford has that "it factor" that makes me want to see more and more of the guy. Also, my man's from Chicago, so I might be slightly biased.

I might should add, as this is turning into the Let's All Go To Mexico City thread, that this year I went to the Sunday show as well because I was still there and I figured why not, and while it was a completely different vibe, the arena was like a third full, and the matches weren't as big, it was still very, very fun. We actually got a match with Soberano, Niebla Roja, & Angel de Oro vs. Cuatrero, Forastero, and Mascara Año 2000 that would have stood out on a Friday and like $20 gets you a ticket close enough to the action that if Soberano gets rudely tossed over the barriers you might get to hang out next to him for a second:

I was actually talking about the bullshit that meant we couldn't watch the ATl-NO overtime. The question is, how long until a defensive player figures he's going to get nailed anyway, so why not get his $$$ worth and REALLY go after a QB?

Man you thought Andrew Luck got shit on for not throwing the hail mary. Arizona is bringing in Josh Rosen late in the 4th quarter needing a score to win. I mean Bradford has sucked but seriously why now do you debut him

If Chicago wins and takes first in the division, my head will explode.

Grey and Breaks run rings around Saint. Blame Cabana for him being consider some "Godfather" of the British Style.

I still keep seeing him as Vulgar the clown.

Eryk Anders taking over in this department in the absence of Tony Thompson and Brock Lesnar.

I’m gonna continue to call bullshit on that. I’m not AJ’s biggest fan but he's taking them on at least whereas it took Wilder 39 fights to fight Ortiz and he’s shown me nothing much except he can bang. His fight with Fury is going to be interesting as i reckon it’ll boil down to who has the stamina

NXT has really done a great job with a lot of its heels not doing anything flashy at all. I remember when heel Corey Graves was getting a push pre-condition that included a win over Sami Zayn (that may have come via knockout). A lot of people were crapping on Graces for being boring but then it sorta hit a lot of people at once that... oh, crap, he isn’t giving any fans any reason to like him and that’s really awesome. Elias was in that same formula, too. Bobby Roode also had a lot of that but was oozing in a lot of shtick.

How about this concept, he simply wasn't very good except at spanking scenes, which he seemed to be unusually fond of.

I need Cole vs Lee in my life. Fuuuuuuck NXT is so good.

That match was AMAZING. They had me rooting for a 30-minute draw where neither guy ever touched.

Okay, I’ve gone from ambivalent to interested immediately

Little Richie was in the wrong place at the wrong time. That's just bad parenting by his parent or guardian. Who lets their kid party with them in the streets at night? Doesn't he have a bedtime? I can't really fault Eddie Kingston for that. Well, maybe drving recklessly.

You sound just like me after my first trip... haha I was slightly nervous since you hear all the bad things about Mexico but everything went smoothly and in all my trips since I've never felt in danger. A lovely city where you dollar goes a long way. And as you also pointed out... nothing like Arena Mexico. Just an amazing atmosphere when the building fills up. Crowd is there to have a good time + see their favorites win or the guys they hate lose... not chant dumb shit or interpret body language to break down the psychology of a match. Toronto is cool too.

This did as well.

KO' at 01:21 looking at the camera has cracked me up. "Why me?"

I wonder if Obama would be interested in the role though?