WWE Smackdown in Oklahoma City (correspondents needed), Fandango debut, Dot Net Audio, Verne Gagne, Jimmy Rave update, AWA on ESPN Classic


By Jason Powell

-The WWE Smackdown taping takes place tonight in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at Chesapeake Energy Center. The show has been dubbed Social Media Smackdown even though it is not airing until Friday night. The show will feature the debut of Fandango. Plus, Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler stated on Raw that they would be at Smackdown, presumably filling in for JBL, who is off this week while climbing a mountain.

-We are looking for correspondents for tonight's WWE Smackdown television taping in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. If you are going to the show and want to help, contact me right away at dotnetjason@gmail.com.

-Dot Net Members are listening to my one hour audio review of WWE Raw. Join us on the ad-free version of the website by signing up for membership now via the Dot Net Members' Signup Page.

-Former AWA Champion and promoter Verne Gagne is 87 today. He was born on February 26, 1926. Gagne is battling Alzheimer's disease and dementia and has been living in a memory care unit in Minnesota. He was able to attend a showing of The Wrestler in Minneapolis last year and signed autographs for fans. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by his son Greg in 2006.

-Former TNA and ROH wrestler Jimmy Rave (a/k/a James Guffey) recently spoke at the Georgia State Capitol as the Chair of Georgia Mental Health Day. He serves as the Director of the Georgia Peer Support, Wellness, and Respite Center in Barlow County. You can read more about the group at WABEE.org. Meanwhile, Rave continues to accept independent bookings through Bill Behrens via SBIBookings.com.

-The following matches are listed for the 11:00 p.m. CT airing of the AWA on ESPN Classic: Larry Zbyszko vs. Todd Becker, Col. DeBeers vs. John Nord, Texas Hangmen vs. Jake Milliman and Todd Becker, The Destruction Crew vs. Paul Diamond and The Trooper for the AWA Tag Titles.