— American Idol season six contestant Antonella Barba, who achieved much notoriety three years ago when a series of racy photographs of her surfaced on the Internet, will be singing the National Anthem at Independent Superstars of Professional Wrestlings’s “ISPWMANIA” event on Saturday, March 27, 2010 in Freehold, New Jersey. Visit www.ispwlive.com for more information.
— It has been announced that former WWE Superstar Giant Gonzalez will be appearing at the “Legends of the Ring” convention taking place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Monroe, New Jersey on Saturday, May 15, 2010. The former wrestling giant presently lives in Argentina and has been in poor health from diabetes for years. This will be his first wrestling related appearance in years providing his health holds up. Other talent announced thus far include Tajiri, PN News, Mantaur, Mike McGuirk, Sean Mooney, Ivory, Kurrgan, Brother Love, The Mean Street Posse (Pete Gas, Rodney and Joey Abs), Jeff Jarrett, Rhino, Gerald Brisco, Jack Brisco, Tiger Jackson, Dawn Marie, Kamala, Jimmy Valiant, Jose Luis Rivera, Moondog Rex, Petey Williams, Ivan Koloff, Dominic Denucci and Angelo Savoldi.
— In today’s wrestling birthdays, WWE Hall of Famer Gerald Brisco turns 64 while Mike Awesome would have turned 45.
— The following press release was issued last week, announcing that Mickie James had signed on with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, an organization that tracks and protects recording artists’ royalties and compensation: WWE’s® MICKIE JAMES JOINS ASCAP FAMILY AS DEBUT ALBUM NEARS COMPLETION (Nashville, TN) – Mickie James, one of the WWE’s® (World Wrestling Entertainment) top female competitors, announced today the signing of her ASCAP membership. ASCAP Senior Vice President Connie Bradley and Nashville Director of Membership Relations Mike Sistad were on hand as James signed off on her affiliation with the organization. James co-wrote with Nashville songwriters on several of the cuts scheduled for inclusion on her debut album. James and producer Kent Wells expect the project to reach completion this week, with the album’s first single impacting radio in February. The full album is currently projected for a March, 2010 release.