Vulture cornered Rourke at NYC Fashion Week to get the scoop (sidenote: we're a little surprised that Rourke did so much schmoozing out at nightclubs on the same night his beloved dog died. When will he have time to grieve, make funeral arrangements, and secure a Rolling Stone writer to chronicle his descent into depression?) So who has beaten out Rourke's willing cast of runner-ups to get that coveted Oscar date ticket?

"Unfortunately, my agent," he told us in defeat.

But so what if ICM's David Unger doesn't look good in a dress - at least he's battling Marvel for a bigger paycheck for Rourke for his rumored role as a villain in Iron Man 2, right? "Right now, we're not doing Iron Man 2," Rourke told us grimly.

He did have some good news, though. Following the widespread disappointment over his canceled appearance at the upcoming WrestleMania 25, Rourke told us he'll still be there, just not in the ring: "We're gonna go in support. Vince McMahon, Roddy Piper, and Rick Flair have been such a part of the movie ... So whatever support I can give back to all those people from WWE, I'm gonna do that."

Strange...we thought those same WWE people were the ones who initially trashed The Wrestler. Then again, perhaps Mickey's just too blinded by grief (and the stinging tears from his meager Marvel paycheck) to think straight.

• Vulture Exclusive: Mickey Rourke's Oscar Date Revealed! Also, He Might Not Do Iron Man 2? [Vulture]

As these pictures show, both on and off the red carpet, Rourke only had eyes for Loki. Our chihuahua-compiling research also turned up evidence that before The Wrestler came out last year, Rourke used to host a weekly, Loki-dedicated night of karaoke at Rokbar in Miami. He did this shirtless, wearing a black leather vest, as is the custom in Florida.

Rest in peace, Loki. You died too late to join the "In Memoriam" pool, but we'll be saving our applause for you regardless.

[Photo Credit: AP, Getty Images, WENN, X17]

TMZ broke the news last night, just as these snippets were released from Rourke's upcoming interview with Barbara Walters:

"I sort of self-destructed and everything came out about fourteen years ago or so ... the wife had left, the career was over, the money was not an ounce," Rourke, 56, reveals during the Oscar night edition of The Barbara Walters Special, of which PEOPLE has an exclusive preview. "The dogs were there when no one else was there." [...]

"I think I hadn't left the house for four or five months, and I was sitting in the closet, sleeping in the closet for some reason, and I was in a bad place, and I just remember I was thinking, 'Oh, man, if I do this,' " he tells Walters. "And then I looked at my dog, Lowjack, and he made a sound, like a little almost human sound. I don't have kids, the dogs became everything to me. The dog was looking at me going, 'Who's going to take care of me?' "

Rourke didn't let a little thing like Loki's death keep him from hitting up some Manhattan hotspots last night, but we all know that the man is hurting inside. The competition to become his Oscar date has just been thinned even further. Bai Ling, it didn't have to be like this.

• R.I.P. Mickey Rourke's Dog [TMZ]

• Mickey Rourke — Comforted By Puppy Love [TMZ]

• Mickey Rourke: My Dogs Saved My Life [People]

Boomp3.com

Pausing slightly during a whirlwind shopping expedition, Mickey Rourke and beloved dog Loki decided to experience Rome in all of its glory and splendor. "It’s a beautiful city," Rourke said. "Just ripe with culture and history; I mean it’s just a real work of art. Something to savoir and behold.” When asked for comment, Loki said she preferred the majesty of Venice and itss various canals. Loki added, “It’s easier to get away with certain things on the street.”

[Photo Credit: INF Daily]

*A Call To The Bullpen is a work of fiction. Although the pictures we use are most certainly real, Defamer does not purport that any of the incidents or quotations you see in this piece actually happened. Lighten up, people ... it's a joke.