Tag: nEWS
Legendary Wrestler Bobby Eaton Has Passed Away at 62
Bobby Eaton was known as a incredible tag team wrestler that saw great success.
Legendary pro wrestler “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton passed away on Wednesday at the age of 62. The cause of death is unknown at this time.
Eaton’s sister, Debbie, took to Facebook to post the news of his death. Eaton was hospitalized in July after a fall that injured his hip and broke multiple fingers but it is unknown if this incident was connected to his death.
“I never wanted to have to post this ,but my Little Brother Beautiful Bobby Eaton passed away last night,” Debbie Eaton Lewis wrote on Facebook. When i find out all the details i will post them. Bobby was the kindest ,loving person you would ever meet . I loved him so much and going to miss him.”
Bobby Eaton made a name for himself as a tag team wrestler. He debuted at the age of 17 in NWA-Mid America before moving to the Continental Wrestling Association in 1980. As a member of Mid-south Wrestling, Eaton became a part of the Midnight Express, a tag team where e partnered with Dennis Condrey. This duo later moved to World Championship Wrestling, better known as WCW.
After a short hiatus from WCW, Eaton returned in 1993 and was a large figure in the company. After beginning to slow down in the ring, Eaton went to work for NWA-Mid Atlantic, where he helped form a new era of the Midnight Express. On October 23, 2015, Eaton wrestled his final match against Ricky Morton. This was a flashback to the legendary feud between the Midnight Express and Rock ‘n’ Roll Express.
Eaton enjoyed a nearly 40-year career that included six NWA-Mid America tag team championships along with three WCW tag team titles. He was inducted into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2019.
Many pro wrestlers shared their condolences on social media and that includes Ric Flair.
“So Sad And Sorry To Hear About My Close Friend And One Of The All Time Greats, Bobby Eaton! Beautiful Bobby And The Midnight Express Were One Of The Greatest Tag Teams In The History Of The Business! Rest In Peace!”
So Sad And Sorry To Hear About My Close Friend And One Of The All Time Greats, Bobby Eaton! Beautiful Bobby And The Midnight Express Were One Of The Greatest Tag Teams In The History Of The Business! Rest In Peace! ?????? pic.twitter.com/DWTKeeL7wz
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) August 5, 2021
Generation Iron send out condolences to the friends and family of Bobby Eaton during this difficult time. For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Preview: Who Wins at the 2021 Tampa Pro and How to Watch
Who will win at the Tampa Pro and how can you watch?
Many have questioned who would be competing at the Tampa Pro, namely Roelly Winklaar. The bodybuilding veteran had said he’d be competing at the Tampa Pro after a disappointing showing at the Chicago Pro. Since then it appears to have been confirmed that Winklaar is out of the show.
While Roelly Winklaar may be out, there are plenty of other great bodybuilders set to compete at the show.
2021 Tampa Pro Preview
Maxx Charles
Maxx Charles is looking to earn his place at the 2021 Olympia. Charles has incredible potential and proved he could contend with some of the best in world. His showing at the Chicago Pro was impressive, taking third place behind Hunter Labrada and ahead of veteran Roelly Winklaar. He’ll have his work cut out for him at this show, but he’ll likely be able to break into the top three once again.
Charles Griffen
After not competing for two years, many people are wondering if Charles Griffen has the goods to win at the Tampa Pro. With a great deal of potential, Griffen’s recent Instagram posts showcase a bodybuilder who contend with anyone in the world.
Iain Valliere
The favorite to win the Tampa Pro, Iain Valliere is looking absolutely incredible heading into the show. Valliere proved his greatness in his previous Olympia showing that he’s world class. Taking seventh at the 2020 Olympia, Iain Valliere has shown that he has what it takes to contend with the best bodybuilders in the world.
How To Watch The 2021 Tampa Pro
Details were dropped on how fans can watch the 2021 Tampa Pro. Below is an Instagram post that provides a number of key details of the show, including how fans can watch.
TAMPA PRO-AM WEEKEND SCHEDULE ???
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RAIN OR SHINE ? ✨
TAMPA PRO PPV LIVESTREAM DAY I & DAY II
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3 DAYS OUT until the RECORD BREAKING 14th Annual Wings of Strength & Fit Body Fusion IFBB Professional League Yamamoto Nutrition Cup TAMPA PRO & NPC Tampa Extravaganza National Qualifier, August 6 – 7 at Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay.
• SCAN your TAMPA PRO-AM ticket purchase. Saturday Main Event will SELL-OUT!!
• Every Open IFBB Professional League PRO Category over 2 days.
• Team Award Most NPC Athletes ~ Coach will receive 2 OLYMPIA Tickets, Orlando, FL, October 9 Finals.
• Individual NPC Iron Attitude Power Belts Awards: Best Poser, Most Promising & Champion of Champions.
• NPC Open Overall Champions receive Champion Base Trophy, Champion Sword, Champion Ring, Champion Watch, Champion Trophy, Champion Medal, Champion Gift Bag & Much More!!
• NPC Tampa Extravaganza National Qualifier Online Registration ENDS 8.4.21
$50 Late Fee for walk-ups at 8.6 NPC Athlete Check-In.
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Will you be tuning into the 2021 Tampa Pro?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
WATCH: Tom Stoltman Laps A 300kg Atlas Stone
Strongman Tom Stoltman took another step toward accomplishing an incredible feat.
It is no surprise to see strongman Tom Stoltman attempting, and pulling off, something crazy with an Atlas stone. In a recent Instagram post, Stoltman is seen lapping a 300kg (661.4lb) stone — and he did it with ease.
The video continues with Stoltman explaining that this lift took place before the 2020 World’s Strongest Man competition. Stoltman made it clear that he wants to become the first person ever to load a 300kg stone. In the video, Stoltman makes the life look easy and that might make some question how difficult it actually is. To put it in perspective, it is unknown if a 300kg Atlas stone has ever been lifted off the ground before.
“300KG ATLAS STONE
Who is ready for history in 2022.A feat of strength that will be talked about for decades!!#stoltmanbrothers#worldstrongestman#stoltmanstrength #wr”
The Scottish strongman, known as the “King of Stones,” is no stranger to world records. He currently holds the Atlas stone record of 286kg (630.5lb). Since taking over this mark at the World’s Ultimate Strongman “Feats Of Strength”, Stoltman has been working his way up to the 300kg mark. Stoltman won the 2021 World’s Strongest Man and will attempt to go back-to-back at the 2022 competition. It is unknown if he will try to break his own record at the event.
In the video, Stoltman reveals that he believes he could lift a 310kg (683.4lb) stone with the right preparation for about three months. After watching his recent lift in rather casual clothing and what seemed to be minimal effort, it is hard to argue with his claim.
Tom Stoltman has had great success during the WSM competitions. He has appeared in four and has three top-five finishes. This includes coming in second in 2020, behind Oleksii Novikov, and his victory in 2021. There will be another chance to see something incredible during the 2022 competition.
We know that Stoltman has his eye on the 300kg lift but we will have to wait and see when he attempts to pull it off. One thing that is certain is that when Tom Stoltman steps up to an Atlas stone, there should be plenty of eyes on him.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Matt Jansen: The Biggest Health Issues In Bodybuilding That Everyone Should Know
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Matt Jansen talks about the health risks and rewards of competitive bodybuilding.
Matt Jansen is a powerhouse bodybuilding coach who has been building an iconic reputation in the industry for his knowledge and success with athletes. He is most recently best known for training Nick Walker, who just landed a first place victory at the New York Pro 2021. We used our time speaking with Jansen to dig deep into his well of knowledge. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Matt Jansen shares important details on the biggest bodybuilding health risks all competitors should be aware of in their career and lifestyle.
During our time speaking with a wide variety of athletes, experts, and coaches – we’ve always made a point to ask a very point blank question. Is pro bodybuilding an extreme sport with unavoidable health risks? During our conversation with Matt Jansen, we asked him this question as well.
Instead of speaking in extremes, Matt Jansen answered our question with context and details to put everything into perspective. In short – yes, a bodybuilding lifestyle can lead to health risks and issues. In fact, Jansen believes that in order to be the best in any professional sport, an athlete puts themselves at risk. By definition these competitors are trying to push the boundaries of what is athletically possible. That comes with possible downsides.
That being said, this doesn’t mean that pro bodybuilding is a death sentence or a health nightmare. There are many lifestyles that all people on this earth engage in that are risky. The amount of sugar and salt that is standard in most foods we eat in markets all pose a risk. The amount of alcohol that most places find socially acceptable pose risks. Bodybuilding isn’t exactly the same as those things – but in general, it’s a lifestyle that many accept that can pose certain risks.
That’s why Matt Jansen is an advocate about being informed and trying to be as healthy as possible as you move along your bodybuilding journey. The bigger problem is less the inherent risks – and more the lack of precautions taken to mitigate those risks. To help, Jansen identifies the two biggest health risks that all bodybuilders should know about.
High blood pressure and not being aware of glucose levels are the two biggest issues within bodybuilding. This is largely because it’s “easy to shut your mind off,” as Jansen puts it, to the way these two things can slowly “wreak havoc on your body.” Of course, high blood pressure is also a specific issue that most Americans have regardless of bodybuilding. The bodybuilding lifestyle certainly doesn’t help – when you’re not paying attention to the details.
Both of these two issues can lead to damaging your heart, your liver, and your kidneys. This kind of organ damage in the long run can lead to serious health problems down the line – and for some even death. That might sound alarming – but it’s not one-to-one that bodybuilders will suffer these issues. These issues are more likely to happen with a bodybuilding lifestyle if you don’t pay attention to the details of your diet and supplements that are being put in your body.
You can watch Matt Jansen go into detail about health in bodybuilding and the importance of the details behind a bodybuilding diet and lifestyle in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Regan Grimes Shows Increased Size 9 Weeks Out From Olympia
Regan Grimes reveals his physique weeks out from the Olympia.
Regan Grimes looks to be ready to take the Olympia stage. The budding bodybuilding prospect has revealed his physique 9 weeks out from the 2021 show. From the looks of things, Grimes is ready to contend with some of the best of the world. But how up to date are these progress pics?
It’s been awhile since we’ve seen Regan Grimes step on stage. The bodybuilding prospect was able to qualify for the 2021 Olympia back in 2020. Since then Grimes has been diligently working on his physique behind the scenes. While he may have earned his spot at the 2021 show, Grimes still had a ways to go if he wants to contend with bodybuilders at the top of the division.
This off season appears to have paid off for Regan Grimes as he sets himself up to potentially break the top 10 in the division. Grimes posted a collage of several photos on his Instagram page. In the caption the budding prospect implied that the progress pics are of himself 9 weeks out from the Olympia.
Bigger Than Last Time! 9 Weeks Out
From the look of things it appears that Regan Grimes has been taking care of his biggest drawback. The biggest weakness for Grimes since making his return to the Men’s Open Bodybuilding division is his lack of size.
In order to compete against the best bodybuilders in the world Regan Grimes needed to pack on some muscle. From the looks of things, Grimes has achieved his goal. With 9 weeks until the Olympia, you can bet Grimes will continue to pack on the muscle in hopes of making himself a major threat. We must also consider the fact that these progress pics could have been taken at any point during his off season. It’s the new trend to post older pics in hopes of throwing off the competition come showtime. For now we’ll just have to assume this is the most up to date version of Regan Grimes.
What do you think of Regan Grimes and his recent progress update?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Lasha Talakhadze Sets Three World Records at 2020 Olympic Games
Powerlifter Lasha Talakhadze set three world records during the finals of the Men’s +109-kg category.
The Olympic Games is a time for athletes in many different sports from all around the world to show off what they can do. On the biggest stage, Georgian weightlifter Lasha Talakhadze did just that. On Wednesday, Talakhadze set three world records during the finals of the +109-kg category.
Talakhadze totaled 488kg (1,075.8lb) in two lifts. It began with a 223-kg (491.6lb) snatch followed by a 265-kg (584.2) clean & jerk. All three were good for new world records as the 27-year-old notched his second gold medal at the Olympic Games. He also finished at the top during the 2016 Games in Rio.
Lasha Talakhadze took to Instagram to celebrate his newest gold medal.
Ali Davoudi of Iran finished as the silver medalist while Syria’s Man Assad took home the bronze. At this point, Talakhadze seems to be in a league of his on. He dominated his way through his lifts by performing three consecutive in each round and did not miss any of his six attempts. Talakhadze set new Olympic records with each lifts and broke his own world records on the final attempt in each round.
Is Lasha Talakhadze the best powerlifter in the world? It is hard to argue against a reigning two-time Olympic champion but he has seen great success in other competitions. Talakhadze has finished at the top in every international event he has competed in since 2015. He has won five times at the European Championships and four times at the World Championships. Prior to 2015, Talakhadze picked up international victories at the European Junior Championships in 2011 and Junior World Championships in 2013.
Talakhadze had to serve a two-year ban for testing positive for stanozolol in 2013 but he has made up for it and them some. He has totaled nine records in the snatch, four in the clean & jerk, and eight overall.
This is not the end of the road for Lasha Talakhadze and why would it be? He has dominated for six years now since returning from his suspension. Talakhadze will more than likely enter the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris as the favorite looking to make some more noise and potentially set new records once again. Talakhadze has been at the top of the sport and it is looking like he is not going to fall anytime soon.
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Melvin Anthony: How To Beat Big Ramy At The Mr. Olympia
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Melvin Anthony breaks down how Big Ramy needs to be more than “a little off” to lose Mr. Olympia. He needs to be knocked out.
After many years of close calls, Big Ramy has finally become the Mr. Olympia champion many fans hoped he would be. Now with the 2020 Olympia under his belt, he’s entering the biggest competition of the year as a returning champion. Will he be hard to defeat? Or will his past challenges with conditioning plague him in 2021? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Melvin Anthony details what it will take for Big Ramy to lose the Mr. Olympia 2021.
During our conversation with Melvin Anthony, we asked if he had watched the Mr. Olympia 2020 last year. He does indeed continue to follow bodybuilding and was incredibly impressed by Big Ramy’s physique. He believes that the athlete certainly deserved the champion title.
But what does the future hold for Big Ramy? Will he continue to reign as champion or another one shot champion? Melvin Anthony doesn’t claim he can read the future – but he does look back at past champions to predict what it will take for Big Ramy to be defeated.
Melvin Anthony knows one thing is certain, an Olympia champion almost always maintains some sort of reign and repeat victories. There are exceptions and the past few years actually showcased that in the form of Shawn Rhoden and Brandon Curry. That being said, the majority of bodybuilders who win Mr. Olympia go on to win multiple in a row.
So while this is not a guarantee for Big Ramy, Melvin Anthony believes that it will take more than him being “a little off” to lose the title. Judging is meant to be as objective as possible. At the end of the day, though, it’s a subjective sport. Judges will see Big Ramy differently than in previous years. He’s no longer a competitor hungry to win his first Olympia, he’s now a returning champion.
So Melvin Anthony believes that the only way Big Ramy will lose is if he is defeated by a “knock out.” What he means by this is that either Ramy has to make significant mistakes to his physique or someone has to show up with a next-level physique than we’ve seen so far. Big Ramy has a lot of mass on his side – but his conditioning is where he has struggled in the past. No one will be him on pure mass alone – so all other competitors will need to be more perfect than they ever have been in order to surpass Ramy. Or again as we mentioned earlier – Big Ramy would have to make a huge mistake.
Melvin Anthony acknowledges that everyone on the stage has a great challenge ahead of them. Big Ramy has the pressure of either matching his 2020 physique or making it even better. The other competitors all need to try and contend with Ramy’s massive size.
You can watch Melvin Anthony speak in full detail about Big Ramy and the future of Mr. Olympia in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Janet Layug Will Not Defend Bikini Title At 2021 Olympia
Reigning Olympia Bikini champion Janet Layug will not compete during this year’s competition.
Janet Layug has been a force in the Bikini Division since 2013. She has totaled 12 victories since becoming a professional and her biggest came at the 2020 Olympia. Layug finished at the top of the division during the biggest competition of the year but she will not be defending her title this time around.
Layug put together an IFBB Pro show that was Bikini only on Saturday, July 31 called Battle of the Bodies. During the competition, Layug announced that she will not be apart of this year’s Olympia. Mr. Olympia LLC shared the video on their Instagram page.
“I’ve been competing since 2013, a very long time, and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it. We have the Mr. Olympia show coming up again, here in about 10 weeks. I feel as though, with the journey and the path that I’m taking, I’m announcing that I will not be competing in this year’s Olympia.”
This means that there will be a new champion in the Bikini Division and it could be Maureen Blanquisco, who took home the prize during Janet Layug’s Battle of the Bodies. Elisa Pecini will also be in line to take back her title this year.
Layug saw great success during the Olympia with three-straight top three finishes. In 2019, she was beat out by Pecini but was able to get her revenge during the 2020 competition. In 2018, Layug finished third behind Angelica Teixeira and Lauralie Chapados.
Janey Layug did not close the door on future competitions but there is no plan of when she will return to the stage. Also, there were no reasons disclosed as to why she will not compete at this year’s Olympia.
“It is a bittersweet moment for me, but I think it’s the best choice. As we all know, when one door closes, a new one opens. So I’m beyond honored to present the award to the Bikini champion tonight, at my show, whoever that might be, and send then off to compete at the Olympia this year.”
The presence of Janet Layug will be missed at this year’s event but there is a chance she will be able to pick up another title in the future. As disappointing as it is to see Layug not compete, it is nice to see one of the best in the sport take a break when it is needed. And we know one thing for sure — there will be a new champion in the Bikini Division.
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Roelly Winklaar Appears To Be Out of Tampa Pro
Is Roelly Winklaar out of the 2022 Tampa Pro?
It appears that an interesting development has occurred in regards to veteran bodybuilder Roelly Winklaar. The long-time competitor had set his sights on the Tampa Pro after a disappointing showing at the Chicago Pro. That appears to have changed now as it appears that Roelly could be out of the show.
Recently a new competitors list went live to build some hype ahead of the Tampa Pro. With saw some familiar names on the list, namely Iain Valliere who is looking impressive heading into the show. We expected to see Vailliere face off against Roelly Winklaar at the show. The problem is Roelly’s name was nowhere to be found on the competitors list.
But with his absence from the list of competitors, many have speculated Roelly Winklaair is out of the Tampa Pro. Below is the competitors list for Men’s Open Bodybuilding.
2021 Tampa Pro Competitors List
With Roelly Winklaar potentially out, that leaves only Iain Valliere and Maxx Charles at the top of the heap. Both competitors have what it takes to earn their opportunity to compete at the 2021 Olympia. While Charles has been very impressive in recent showings he’ll have all he can handle taking on Valliere.
As for Roelly Winklaar it’s unclear where he stands. If he doesn’t compete here his chances of being able to qualify for the Olympia will grow even more slim. For now we’ll have to wait and see. Rumors have surfaced that he could compete in Spain, but that has yet to be confirmed.
What do you think of Roelly Winklaar potentially being out of the Tampa Pro?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals How Powerlifting Helped His Bodybuilding
Arnold Schwarzenegger discusses his powerlifting past.
Arnold Schwarzenegger recently revealed how powerlifting took his bodybuilding to the next level. The iconic bodybuilder talked about his powerlifting training in a recent monthly newsletter, giving details on how it helped his game.
The most iconic bodybuilder in the history of the game Arnold Schwarzenegger completely changed the face of the sport forever. He used every tactic at his disposal in order to achieve bodybuilding greatness. That ability to think outside the box is what took Arnold to the top of the mountain and beyond.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was the kind of competitor to use psychology to his advantage. He would use mind games in order to psyche out the opposition. That ability to push himself mentally was what enabled him to push past his physical limits. It also allowed him to train in ways that wasn’t common for bodybuilders of the era.
In fact, Arnold Schwarzenegger used powerlifting to take his game to the next level. In his monthly newsletter letter, Arnold broke down how he added powerlifting to his game to supplement his bodybuilding training.
“I loved mixing in powerlifting with bodybuilding one day a week. This was my heavy day: I warmed up with 135, then 225, then 275, then 315, 375, then 405, then 455, then 495. From that I would know the weight I could do for 3 reps, sometimes it was 455, sometimes more or less, it depended on the day.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger went on to talk about his bench press routine that he would follow.
“I would do 5-8 sets of 3 reps. It was a way to get my body used to lifting very heavy. And then I would take off the weight so it was only 315 and do as many reps as I could, and then I was finished with my bench press.”
The iconic bodybuilding champion talked candidly about how goal setting and nuanced training has helped him throughout his life. Goal setting as well as failure.
“There is a lesson in setting a goal and hitting it that has helped me all throughout my life, so if you’re young, set yourself some big goals and work on a sustainable plan to achieve them.
“What you learn is simple: failure is not losing, failure is part of growing. Before I lifted 500 pounds, do you know what I did? I failed to lift 500 pounds, not once, not twice, but tons of times.
“One of the best lessons the gym can teach you is that failure is not an end – it’s a means to an end.”
Still Going Strong
There’s a reason why Arnold Schwarzenegger is so revered. He has achieved great things but has always been candid in his pursuits. Embracing both his successes and failures which is what has taken him to truly great heights. Now that the icon has turned 74 years old, you’d think he’d be ready to slow down. On the contrary, Arnold is still going strong.
What do you think of Arnold Schwarzenegger and his powerlifting methods?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.