When I heard that Kevin Federline and John Cena would be headlining Raw on January 1, my first reaction was to laugh.  That little pipsqueak had better hire himself a trainer if he wants to take on The Marine and look like anything but the skinny, publicity-hungry, ex-husband of a pop star.    

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K-Fed’s new album, “Playing with Fire,” was released (or dropped as they say in the biz) on October 31.  Wonder if the Halloween date had anything to do with it being frightful?  But more about that later.

The big release party for the album included many A-list Hollywood luminaries--Aaron Carter, Paris Hilton and Suge Knight . . . and Johnny Nitro and Melina. 

Excuse me? 

Johnny Nitro and Melina?  They aren’t even in the top tier around WWE, much less Hollywood. 

Then I took a closer look at the article.  It was written by WWE.com.  Ah, that explains the spin. 

The article went on to say Federline’s album “has been met with a variety of positive reviews from WWE Superstars,” the most hilarious of which was Nitro’s: “It’s only a matter of time before K-Fed goes platinum.  It’s his first album, and I expect the fans to just eat it up. He’s changing the game one song at a time. He’s going to re-shape, and re-mold the music industry. He’s a genuine urban storyteller, and that’s a lost art.”

Let me offer my review:  Bwhahahaha.  

The guy married into the music business, for goodness sake.  That doesn’t mean any talent rubbed off on him before Brit kicked him to the curb.  The only thing the fans will get if they “eat it up” is indigestion.

Do ya think I’m sexy?

Brooke Hogan may have been named worst dressed by “The Star” this week, but I guess “Playgirl Magazine” thought Vito was the best dressed.  Or best undressed, as the case may be.  He’s set to appear in the April 2007 edition of the women’s magazine.  According to WWE.com, Vito says it “is a secret dream come true.”  I’m not sure I really want to know much about Vito’s secret dreams.

WWE.com says fans will see “Vito having fun in his French maid’s dress in the WWE ring; and posing in several sexy, animal print outfits and a Versace shirt. He also looked buff in a jock strap and leopard print robe, wet after stepping out of the locker room shower.”

Okey, dokey…

While I’ll admit to buying the issue with Shawn Michaels several years ago, I think I’ll pass on seeing Vito in the buff. 

TUF 4’s Ultimate Finale

The other shoe finally fell for UFC’s Stephan Bonnar this week.  The Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended him for nine months and fined him $5,000 for failing a steroid test after his loss to Forrest Griffin at UFC 62. 

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Bonnar said "This mistake has cost me a lot. My reputation has been hurt. People think poorly of me. Now my name is synonymous with a failed drug test."

Bonnar will have to wait until next spring before he can return to the Octagon.

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While the TUF 1 star is feeling the sting of his punishment, TUF 4 moves on to the finale this Saturday night, and when the dust has settled, two more Ultimate Fighting stars will emerge.

Will it be Matt Serra or Chris Lytle who wins a shot at the welterweight title currently held by Matt Hughes?  *chanting Ser-ra, Ser-ra*

And will it be Travis Lutter or Patrick Cote facing new middleweight champ, Anderson Silva, down the line?  Umaga isn’t the only one who’s a bulldozer.  Silva has shown himself to be a Brazilian Bulldozer after the way he’s gone through his last two opponents, Chris Leben and the seemingly unstoppable Rich Franklin.  My pick for this fight is Patrick Cote.

Both Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin had visited TUF 4 as guest trainers during the season.  Hughes played his usual smartass role.  Franklin, who had been so nurturing as a coach in Season 2, was not portrayed in the best light this time.  Of course, it was during the staph infection outbreak, but he seemed standoffish and not as willing to share any skills.  It could also have been because the competitors in TUF 4 were all veterans of the Octagon.  They knew Franklin and he knew them.  Why tip off the competition?

The title picture has changed since TUF 4 started.  As noted above, Franklin lost his title to Silva a few weeks ago.  On November 18, Matt Hughes will step into the Octagon with TUF 4 trainer Georges St. Pierre with the welterweight title on the line. 

St. Pierre had not shirked away from training the TUF 4 competitors and, in fact, said something quite remarkable as the participants shared their thoughts at the end of the season.  Although he was there to coach, St. Pierre said he had grown the most.  He said he had learned from Matt Serra and Shonie Carter, and almost everybody had taught him something good.   His statement was extremely gracious and heartfelt.  There’s a reason he’s called the consummate gentleman.

“The Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback” finale will be live on Spike TV this Saturday, November 11.  Check local listings for time and channel, and join me right here at WorldWrestlingInsanity.com for coverage of the event.

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Thanks for reading and see ya next week. 

Comments or feedback.  You can reach me at Mallory at worldwrestlinginsanity.com.