Back Porch Pro Wrestling

It's 1986 up in here. Hulk Hogan is in Australia promoting Hulkamania (Saturday night in Melbourne ... tickets have to be still available) and during a Wednesday press conference things got out of control. (As out of control as one might expect at a press conference touting an event that involves people who fake fight for a living.)

In any event, Ric Flair, also apart of the spectacle, pimp-slapped Hogan as the two ironically "traded insults over women." And then things got, well, predictable. But there was plenty of blood to distract us from the banalities. Video proof after the jump.

I have to admit, I'm not much of a wrestling fan, so the only thing I know about the WWE performer who goes by "The Miz" is that he was a cast member on MTV's The Real World during its New York season, as well as various other "reality" shows. Apparently, he's also a Cleveland Browns fan and isn't all that excited about the job first-year head coach Eric Mangini is doing.

During a chat with ESPN.com's Jon Robinson earlier this week, The Miz decided to weigh in on the current situation in Cleveland, and as it turns out, everybody sucks, and he wants to forcefully make Mangini poop his pants.

How's that for a mental image?

In a rather shocking announcement, Shane McMahon has resigned from World Wrestling Entertainment. The son of WWE chairman Vince McMahon, Shane, 39, says he wants to pursue ventures outside of WWE.

Along with all his work behind the scenes as Executive Vice President of Global Media, Shane also spent some time as an on-air character in WWE. We'll relive some of his greatest moments -- complete with video -- after the jump.

Captain Lou Albano, the former professional wrestler whose WWF fame as a manager in the 1980s was surpassed by his crossover fame as a collaborator with Cyndi Lauper, has died. He was 76.

The New York Daily News reports:

He was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame in 1996, paying tribute to Albano's management of 15 WWE tag team champions and WWE title holder Ivan Koloff.

Sunday night's offensive explosion against the Chargers was just the warm-up act for the Steelers, it turns out. Because 24 hours later, Ben Roethlisberger and his offensive line were guest hosts on WWE's RAW. The footage has found its way onto YouTube and it's 10 delightful minutes of horrific acting, unintentional comedy, and unimaginable storylines (spoiler alert: Ben didn't get sacked once).

At one point, the short fella in the double-breasted suit (Jericho? Jon Gruden on the juice?) challenged Big Ben and his offensive line (a "gang of useless mesomorphs") to take on the Big Show. And that's when things got ... RAW (!).

Video after the jump.

The Steelers are 1-2, without Troy Polamalu, and face a huge test against the Chargers on Sunday night. The biggest story line heading into the weekend? Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers' offensive line headlining a WWE Raw (!) event Monday night.

Evidently, there are concerns that Big Ben and his five fat friends aren't taking their day jobs seriously. Because everyone knows that true professionals think about football every waking moment.

In any event, left tackle Max Starks isn't worried. Via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Ric Flair is one of those celebrities who won't go away. I'm cool with that -- I enjoy his presence at Panthers games on the Jumbotron and I freaking LOVE his lottery tickets (when you purchase one, the little register screen says, "WOOOOOO!" which is just beyond awesome). Know what I love more than that though? The voicemail he left on the South Carolina athletic director's answering machine before the Ole Miss game last Thursday.

It's basically the most awesome thing of all time. (Hear it after the jump.)

If you, like me, think that Ben Roethlisberger is the perfect athlete to host WWE Raw, then it's time to back a whole truckload of justification up to the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and dump it on the classy Steelers fans who will be streaming in to watch fake wrestling next Monday.

Because, yup, Roethlisberger is indeed the guest host of Raw (via Camel Clutch).

Last week, Linda McMahon, WWE CEO and wife to Vince, formally announced that she would enter the Connecticut Senate race. One of the biggest obstacles she'll face in a crowded Republican field will be her 30-year association with professional wrestling, especially, as The Fix's Chris Cillizza wrote at the time, "...the sort purveyed by Linda's husband Vince -- is heavy on lewd storylines and the constant whispers of steroid abuse"

So how do you run for national office while tiptoeing around how you spent the previous three decades of your professional life? Glad you asked. (Via Hugging Harold Reynolds):

Vince McMahon's official title is Chairman of the Board of World Wrestling Entertainment. And his wife, Linda, is currently WWE's CEO. But she's got her sights set on something more than overseeing an operation that has made millions on the backs of a bunch of sweaty dudes running around in their underpants.

Via The Fix, Mrs. McMahon, Republican, "will formally enter the Connecticut Senate race today, adding a celebrity element to a contest that promises to be among the most competitive in the country."