Listen up!

Class is in session.

This week, it's plug-a-mania, as I share with the class what's new in the marketplace to enhance your overall wrestling knowledge.

Podcast: Episode 50

The first stop? A dandy new WWE DVD.

Rey's Collection
"Rey Mysterio: The Biggest Little Man" is a three-disc set covering the amazing career of this great masked athlete. WWE does it right again by mixing in new commentary (Rey's recollection of the late Eddie Guerrero is especially touching) with old matches. I mean, when was the last time you saw Rey during his ECW days? Two of those matches are here, including the best of Mysterio's matches from his time in World Championship Wrestling.

For my money, however, the highlight is watching his WWE matches -- especially the WrestleMania 22 tilt when he won his first heavyweight title, beating Kurt Angle and Randy Orton in a triple-threat match. It's great, great stuff.

For me, these WWE DVD's are fun because they include a lot of the old interviews and you get to see how a certain performer worked the microphone. The Mysterio set is a bit different because the joy is watching Rey come to the ring in his various colorful outfits and masks, and then doing his thing inside the squared circle. The wrestling itself is the highlight of this set, which I guess is the way it should be. My main thought after watching all of this: Rey deserves another title run.

The Benoit Tragedy
It was only a matter of time before a book covering the Chris Benoit tragedy would hit the market. Luckily, one of the first tomes is from a team of experts who get it right.

"Benoit: Wrestling with the Horror that Destroyed a Family and Crippled a Sport," is from ECW press. It's a collection of essays by a quartet of wrestling experts: Steven Johnson, Heath McCoy, Irvin Muchnick and Greg Oliver.

The book covers the Benoit case and how the 24-hour news channels went crazy with coverage. It also gives a history of Benoit's career, and in a nice touch, includes a chapter on his wife, Nancy. It's a quick, intense read -- but well worth it. The bonus for me was that I trust the work of these writers. They know what they're talking about. You might not get that in a book on the same subject written by a general assignment reporter.

Give TNA A Chance
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is now a two-hour show on Spike TV. It's on from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. every Thursday night. I'm not saying it's a perfect show. Far from it. But this promotion has finally been given the space it needs to develop storylines in a proper fashion. One hour was just too short to get everything in week to week. It was just too convoluted. A second hour should help, and I think wrestling fans should give it a shot if they haven't already.

Wrestle FanFest: 2007
This last plug is for an event at the San Francisco Cow Palace this weekend. It features appearances from a galaxy of wrestling stars, including Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Roddy Piper, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and many more. Dr. Mike Lano, my co-host on the "Old School, New School" podcast, is doing the publicity for the event and he says he's totally jazzed. In fact, he says he'll have a special offer for podcast listeners -- but you have to download this week's show to hear what it is!

Old School, New School
Did you know that we've been doing a podcast for 50 weeks now? 50 weeks! Woo hoo! That's a lot of time talking wrestling with Mr. Lano and "The Authority" George Schire. They're champs, and I'm glad to hear their opinions each and every week. Need your fix? Then download EPISODE 50 right here! A big thanks to George and Mike for their help with this fun, weekly project.

Next week: Cyber Sunday picks!

Now scram!

Class is dismissed!

(Professor Wrestling is a masked employee of Internet Broadcasting. Got a question, comment, complaint? E-mail him right here. )