Video Music Awards

Suge Knight's torso looks like a piece of Swiss cheese -- riddled with 5 bullet holes, plus another in his arm -- and these photos of the damage make you wonder how in the world he survived.

In the pics, obtained by TMZ, some of Suge's wounds are still packed with gauze ... after the shooting nine days ago at a pre-VMA party hosted by Chris Brown.

You can also see the massive scar down the middle of his gut-- sources tell us doctors had to slice his torso open to make sure the bullets did not hit any major organs. Amazingly, they did not.

One crazy detail -- the bullet hole in Suge's arm is inches away from his ink honoring Tupac. One cool detail -- docs stapled him up so well, his tatt of a vintage whip almost looks untouched.

Kim Kardashian gave Rita Ora the cold shoulder at the VMAs last Sunday -- refusing to sit near her -- and sources close to the family say it's because Kim blames her for screwing with Rob Kardashian's head.

We're told Kim arrived at the awards show and discovered her seat was just a couple away from Ora's. Not wanting any drama ... she asked producers to find her a different seat. We're told she wasn't a diva, she just didn't want to have to be social with Rita.

Sources close to the Kardashians tell us the family still blames Ora for some of Rob's issues ... since his ugly breakup with her in 2012.

VMA producers had to scramble, but ultimately they found a seat for Kim ... with Kendall and Kylie.

Suge Knight left an L.A. hospital early Wednesday ... just 3 days after taking SIX gunshots to the gut at a pre-VMA party -- and he's healing amazingly well.

Suge's rep tells TMZ ... the music mogul left Cedars-Sinai around 6 AM, and doctors say he won't need any rehab -- just a few follow up visits.

As we previously reported ... Suge got blasted Saturday night at 1Oak nightclub at a Chris Brown hosted event -- but he's refusing to cooperate with the police investigation.

We're told Suge is already back on a regular diet, and if he keeps his bandages clean ... he'll be good to go.

Suge Knight hasn't always been the hardest man in the world -- we didn't say that by the way -- his college football coach Wayne Nunnely did ... telling TMZ Sports Knight was the total "opposite" of a thug at UNLV.

FYI -- Knight was a defensive end for the Running Rebels in 1985 and '86 -- and Coach Nunnely (the man in charge at the time) tells us the Suge he knew was less gangsta and more good guy.

"Imagine the total opposite of the guy you know now, that was Suge."

Nunnely, who went on to coach in the pros as an assistant with the Saints, Chargers and Broncos says Knight changed his image in a BIG WAY after he left Las Vegas.

"Helluva player, one of the most respectful, hard working guys I ever had. One of our leaders, I don't know what happened when he put his pads down."

Suge, who's refused to work with law enforcement in identifying the individual who shot him SIX times this past weekend, definitely has the support of his former coach in his recovery

"Hopefully he makes it back, I'm praying for him."

Suge Knight is NOT talking to cops about the 6 bullets that penetrated his body ... refusing to drop a dime on anyone.

Sources close to Suge tell us ... the wounded mogul is fully conscious, although on several occasions police were turned away on false info -- that he was supposedly sedated.

But during one visit cops were actually allowed to see Suge. A source tells us when they asked about the shooting ... Suge acted disoriented, asking, "I was shot?"

Katt Williams says he was with Suge Knight when he was shot at the pre-VMA party ... and the comedian maintains Suge was trying to protect someone else when the bullets started flying.

Our photog spotted Katt out in Malibu Monday, where he broke down the shooting of his friend Suge, like this:

-- Suge was not the intended victim and he was merely trying to save someone else ... possibly Chris Brown?
-- Suge's shooting was NOT gang-related because ... has there ever been a gang-related shooting where the other side didn't shoot back?

As for who pulled the trigger, Katt uncorked a rant about "nobody" shooting Suge ... theorizing the shooter might never be caught just like MLK Jr. and Malcolm X's assassins -- which makes zero sense since their killers were tried and convicted.

No one believed Riff Raff when he told us he was hooking up with Katy Perry -- but when they showed up at the VMAs together … in matching outfits … we started to reconsider.

And then we came to our senses and realized there's NO WAY this could possibly be more than a publicity stunt!!! Right?

The man who shot Suge Knight and 2 others at a pre-VMA party early Sunday is on tape clear as Knight -- problem is ... so far the eyewitnesses are clamming up.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... 1Oak has a sophisticated surveillance system that covers almost the entire club, and at least one of the cameras clearly shows the gunman firing the shots. We're told the shooter's facial features are clear enough to make out.

As TMZ first reported ... cops are zeroing in on gang rivalry as a motive. Suge and Chris Brown -- who were inside the club -- make no secret of their Bloods affiliation. The Game -- who was denied entry -- also wears his Bloods affiliation on his sleeve.

We're told none of the witnesses want to be the person who fingers the gunman -- for obvious reasons.

We're told cops still have others to interview -- including Suge, who is currently sedated.

Nicki Minaj CLAIMS her dress was unzipped during her performance at the VMAs because she didn't have enough time to get ready ... but that's BS -- she pulled the same stunt during rehearsals.

Eyewitnesses who watched Nicki's rehearsal Sunday morning tell TMZ ... she walked on stage wearing the same dress -- unzipped. One eyewitness says it caught her eye because she initially thought Nicki had come out in a robe.

We're told Nicki was wrapping her arms around the dress in a "weird" sort of way ... trying to manipulate it to see how much would be exposed.

And we're told ... the VMAs created a make-shift dressing room right off stage -- draped with black sheets -- so she would have enough time to change.

Nicki Minaj delivered a killer performance Sunday night at the VMAs, but she says it would have been better if she'd had a live snake on stage with her as planned ... ya know, before it bit someone.

TMZ broke the story ... a 6-foot long Anaconda bit a dancer during Nicki's run-through of "Anaconda." She had the snake with her at the Forum Sunday, but MTV opted against using it.

When our photog spotted Nicki leaving Republic Records' VMA party at Project nightclub after the show ... she said the bit dancer was actually up on stage with her. She seems upset her snake wasn't there too.

Bet that dancer isn't.

Fashion model Megan Hawkins just earned her street cred ... but it may hamper her career ... she took a bullet apparently meant for Suge Knight at Chris Brown's VMA party ... and took it in the butt.

The 5'11" blonde-haired, blue-eyed model posted photos -- showing her in a hospital bed and using a walker to get around -- with the comment, "my ass took a 9mm and I'm keeping it as a souvenir."

Megan -- who's just 19 -- was one of 3 people shot inside 1Oak nightclub early Sunday morning.

Here's an unspoiled view of Megan pre-wound. Enjoy.

Riff Raff tried telling us he was dating Katy Perry months ago and we didn't believe him ... but Sunday night, the two looked like quite the couple -- the key word being ... LOOKED.

Following the VMAs, our photog spotted the happy couple leaving Mastro's wearing matching denim outfits. They were both clearly tipsy and joked about picking baby names.

But when you see the car door close ... and Katy's hand press against the window -- this all starts to look like they're both trying way too hard. It's not that we don't want RR to land a chick like Katy ... it's just that their gushing stinks of a publicity stunt.

Back in March, Riff Raff told us he and Katy were a thing, but check out the other girl in the video ... we assumed he was just kidding. Based on last night's video, we were probably right.

Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart insist they're not back together, and Sunday night at the VMAs ... they went through great lengths to show they aren't ... which totally means they are.

As TMZ first reported, despite being photographed together last week ... her people swear they're leading separate lives and just friends.

So J.Lo and Casper walked the VMA red carpet separately, sat separately at the VMAs (except for a quick reunion for candy) and each showed up at Mastro's following the show ... but left separately.

Where there's smoke ...

TMZ has obtained video showing Suge Knight shortly after he was hit by 6 bullets ... and he's surrounded by cops with their guns drawn.

In the video ... Suge can be seen on his knees, crouched behind a white Bentley parked outside 1Oak nightclub ... and appears to be in distress -- although the gunshot wounds are not obvious.

Witnesses tell us he sought protection behind the car as other people fled the club ... where Chris Brown had been hosting a VMA party.

Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart REUNITED at the MTV VMAs ... if only for a quick second ... when the dancer made J.Lo an offer she couldn't refuse -- Skittles.

Despite the fact they were sitting in different sections, Casper made his way over to Jennifer's section during a commercial break with a sugary peace offering ... and the whole thing was captured on the VMA livestream.

As we previously reported, the two were spotted out together earlier this week -- despite the fact they recently broke up.

Nicki Minaj's would be "Anaconda" co-star -- the snake that bit a dancer during Friday's rehearsal -- did not get the chance to strike a second time … and TMZ got the shot of the reptile getting 86'd just hours before the VMAs.

Sources at VMA rehearsals tell us the offending python was at the L.A. Forum today -- just in case Nicki, her team and MTV felt comfortable going forward with the performance as planned.

But we're told the final decision was made to cut the snake a few hours before show time, and handlers loaded the rejected serpent into a container and unceremoniously removed it from the premises.

Sometimes showbiz bites.