- The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke will debut on HBO this weekend.

- Devin Cutting sent the following: Monday Night Raw on March 1st, 2010 will be held at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Tickets go on sale January 16th, 2010 at 10 AM.

- As noted before, indy women’s wrestler Becky Bayless has a tryout at the WWE SmackDown tapings last week. Bayless makes a cameo in an “After the Bell” segment on WWE’s website with Slam Master J where he talks about how to “roll up in the club.”

- Sources say that one-half of the WWE Tag Team Champions Big Show will be undergoing knee surgery this week. We’re still waiting on more details regarding Show’s injury so stay tuned.

HOUSTON – Mickey Rourke made it to Wrestlemania after all.

After announcing to Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell at the Screen Actors Guild Awards that he would be at Wrestlemania 25, then later backing out, the “Wrestler” star stepped into the ring to take on WWE star Chris Jericho on Sunday in Houston.

“Contractually, because I’m doing this movie called ‘Iron Man 2’ now, I can’t get in the ring with (Jericho),” Rourke told a WWE reporter hours before the match.

However, the actor didn’t keep his word, entering the ring and knocking down Jericho to close out the match.

A feud had been brewing between Rourke and Jericho for weeks, with the wrestler calling out the actor’s friends, wrestling legends Ric Flair, Roddy Piper and Ricky Steamboat, during previous events.

Flair, Piper and Steamboat got in the ring along with fellow WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Snuka, where they were defeated by Jericho before Rourke’s entrance. After punching out Jericho, Rourke was joined by Ric in celebration.

“Jericho had made a comment that, that wrestler movie he made, that’s not my story,” Rourke said before the event. “And he can say all the s*** he wants about my friends Ric Flair, Roddy Piper and Ricky Steamboat — these guys that he’s talking about, I’ve got a lot of respect for and I’ve got a lot of love for. They’re my friends and I think any one of them on any given night could kick Jericho’s a**.”

The actor was nominated for an Oscar for his role in “The Wrestler,” where he played a washed-up former wrestling star named Randy “The Ram” Robinson.

JerseySmarts.com: A New Jersey View on the Issues! Come see ›››

HOUSTON – When the dust finally settled inside Reliant Stadium Sunday night, the arrogant Chris Jericho may have emerged victorious in his battle against WWE Hall of Famers Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper & Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, but it was Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke & WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair who stood tall, hands raised in the ring.

For months, Jericho had preached that Mickey Rourke’s Oscar -nominated role as Randy “The Ram” Robinson in The Wrestler supplied WWE’s Hall of Famers & Legends with false hope. The role, at least in Jericho’s eyes, gave the older ring warriors an illusion of grandeur, encouraging these “pathetic has-beens” – as Jericho was fond of referring to them – to continue to step into the squared circle.

Four Legends, each friends of Rourke, took offense to the claim, stating that they were the ones who had opened the door for Superstars like Jericho. On several occasions, WWE Hall of Famers Ric Flair, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka & Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat confronted Jericho, only to fall victim to the egotist’s underhanded and excessively brutal attacks.

Tensions finally reached their breaking point, leading Jericho to challenge the Hall of Famers to a 3-on-1 Handicap Match, with Flair in their corner. He also invited Rourke to the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania so that the actor might witness the carnage first-hand.

In Houston, it seemed as though everything was going exactly as Jericho had planned. He systematically eliminated his foes, first Snuka, then Piper and, finally, Steamboat.

During his post-match tirade, however, Jericho overstepped his bounds. After giving Flair a Codebreaker, the devious Superstar goaded Rourke into the ring. The star of The Wrestler entered the squared circle, but soon decided he’d heard enough of Jericho’s relentless taunts. Rourke, a former boxer, swung a slew of heavy fists at his tormentor, finishing with a punch that dimmed the lights of the conceited Superstar and dropped both him, and his pride, to the mat.

After Jericho regained his footing, he quickly retreated up the ramp, leaving the “Nature Boy” to enter the ring and join Rourke in celebration. The two friends did not rejoice for themselves, however, but rather for all the Hall of Famers, Legends and in-ring performers of the past who have helped to shape the WWE into what it is today.

JerseySmarts.com: A New Jersey View on the Issues! Come see ›››

At the last minute, this match was changed to an elimination match. Even such, Chris Jericho defeated all of the WWE Legends with Ric Flair in their corner. Jimmy Snuka was the first to go, followed by Roddy Piper, and then Ricky Steamboat.

In the end, Mickey Rourke knocked down Chris Jericho…tabloids go crazy.

JerseySmarts.com: A New Jersey View on the Issues! Come see ›››

1) Nicole Scherzinger sings America the Beautiful
2) JBL vs. Rey Mysterio for IC title
3) Money in the Bank ladder match
4) Chris Jericho vs. Ricky Steamboat & Roddy Piper & Jimmy Snuka. It is now a gauntlet match and not a handicap match. Ric Flair and Mickey Rourke are billed at ringside
5) John Morrison & The Miz vs. Carlito & Primo Colon for the tag title unification in a Lumberjack Match
6) Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy Extreme rules match
7) Kid Rock short concert
25 Divas Battle Royal. Santino Marella and Mae Young are listed as the final two participants that have yet to be made public to this point
9) Edge vs. John Cena vs. Big Show for the World title
10) Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker
11) HHH vs. Randy Orton for WWE title with the title changing hands on a DQ or a count-out.

ROURKE RINGSIDE AT WRESTLEMANIA
April 3, 2009

STAMFORD, CONN., April 3, 2009 – World Wrestling Entertainment and Mickey Rourke announced that he will attend the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania this Sunday, April 5th at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Rourke will be present to support Ric “Nature Boy” Flair, Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat, his WWE Hall of Fame friends, as they face off against WWE Superstar Chris Jericho.

The rivalry with Rourke began when Rourke challenged Jericho to a WrestleMania match live from the red carpet of the SAG Awards, a statement he later retracted when confronted by Jericho on “Larry King Live.” Now that Rourke is attending the annual pop cultural extravaganza, Jericho will not only be looking to defeat the Legends, but also to show Rourke the difference between being a movie actor and a real WWE Superstar.

Will Mickey stand fast with his friends? You never know what is going to happen at the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania.

Rourke won the Golden Globe Award, SAG Award, BAFTA Award, and Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor for his performance as Randy “The Ram” Robinson in ‘The Wrestler’ and will be available for interviews at WrestleMania 25.

The Absolute Latest Details On Sunday’s WrestleMania; Who’s In Houston, Divas Confirmed For Battle Royale, Special Shockers WWE Has In Store And More — [WRESTLEMANIA XXV 24/7 UPDATES »]

Sources: f4wonline.com, PWInsider

– It is surprising to note that Vince McMahon initially hated “The Wrestler” upon private screening. However, later on when it began to pick up momentum and started winning awards left and right, not to mention an Oscar nomination, Vince’s view of the movie drastically changed. Obviously, the reason for this is because Vince knew that Mickey Rourke was becoming popular again and wanted to use that advantage to tie him with WrestleMania 25. As noted earlier, WWE announced that Rourke will be an “honorary guest” of WrestleMania 25.

– The segment with Ricky Steamboat and Chris Jericho on last night’s RAW was indeed scheduled to take place in the ring. That needed to be changed when Jamie Noble got injured in his match and the segment simply went on as planned but occurred on top of the ramp.

A Big Brand Switch Confirmed – Major RAW Star Going To ECW!

- WWE will tape tomorrow night’s ECW on Sci-Fi and RAW tonight from the Sommet Center in Nashville, TN. Already announced is a match between Shawn Michaels and JBL with the right to face The Undertaker at WrestleMania. Vladimir Kozlov is supposed to be there tonight to try and get in on the fight for Taker’s streak. It’s also been announced by WWE that WWE Champion Triple H will be on RAW tonight to confront Randy Orton after last week’s attack on Stephanie McMahon. Announced for tomorrow’s ECW is Christian Cage vs. Jack Swagger for the ECW Championship.

MAJOR Spoilers For Tonight’s RAW – Stone Cold Spotted Backstage! [>>]