The Steel Cage

Aah, to write about wrestling. What a pleasure, especially after an especially crazy week on the transportation beat.

Just a few notes:

. Ring of Honor returns to pay per view this weekend with "New Horizons," which premieres tonight at 10 pm on iN DEMAND and the DISH Network. It's headlined by a match between two of ROH's most exciting performers - "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson and Tyler Black. Everything I've heard about this show has been positive, and I'll certainly be watching it tonight.

. "The Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase (senior, that is) is making a number of appearances in our area this weekend. Tonight, he will be at the Praise Tabernacle on Hicksville Road in Massapequa, signing copies of his book. Then Sunday morning at 9:15 and 11, Dibiase will be at the Medford Assembly of God on Route 112. And on Sunday afternoon, Dibiase joins The Mountie and Jimmy Hart at Franklin Square Video at 984 Hempstead Turnpike.

. Having covered courts for a while, I wasn't surprised to hear about Nick Hogan expected to be released just five months into his eight month jail sentence. It seems jail sentences are rarely actually as they appear. After having witnessed the callous and immature manner in which Hogan behaved after seriously injuring his friend John Graziano in a car wreck, I'm sure many fans are frustrated with the Nickster getting time off for good behavior. Having toured a couple jails, I can attest to the fact that five months is no cake walk, especially for an entitled rich kid like Hogan. Hopefully, Nick learns his lesson, and has dropped the insane idea of somehow spinning this whole tragedy into a reality show.

. Speaking of Hogans and reality shows, I saw a preview to Hulk Hogan's new celebrity wrestling project on CMT. And guess what - it looks like a lot of fun. I'm always amused by what passes for a celebrity these days, but that aside, this show looks to have a lot of the elements that made the earlier Tough Enough contests so much fun to watch. Like UFC's "The Ultimate Fighter" the contestants are divided into two teams lead by two coaches - lifelong Hulkster cronies Bryan Knobs and Brutus Beefcake. Todd Bridges, Danny Bonaduce and other Z-list celebs learn how to take flat back bumps, come off the ropes, and believably throw punches. All the while, an American Idol-esque panel of judges including two other Hogan lackeys Eric Bischoff and Jimmy Hart, as well as the Hulkster himself, evaluate their progress and kick somebody off each week. It's actually a hell of a concept, with or without the celebs.

. So it appears we'll be getting Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett at Bound for Glory after all. While the match may not have that much main stream appeal, it can legitimately be considered one of the most historically significant matches in TNA history. Since its inception in 2002, there really have been two TNA's - the Jarrett era TNA and the Angle era TNA. There is some truth in the storyline that Jarrett essentially anointed Angle his successor at the helm of the company after Jarrett had to step back to address personal issues. In some ways the product has been better since then, in other ways it has been worse. But this match really does represent the clash of TNA's two most important figures. And with Angle involved, it should be pretty good.