April 30, 2009
WWE Superstars Results: Divas Make 'Superstars' Debut
source: wwe.com
Potential Booms and Busts of the WWE Draft
Two weeks after announcing roster changes, WWE officially unveiled new talent lineups on all three of its television brands ("Raw," "Smackdown" and "Extreme Championship Wrestling"). A whopping 36 performers were swapped, the highest total since the WWE began conducting its annual draft in 2002.
In theory, the draft's main purpose is to create new headline matches and give up-and-coming wrestlers the chance to climb WWE's talent ladder.
Unlike with NFL draft picks, it doesn't take several years to judge whether grapplers will flourish in their new WWE surroundings. After the first week of programming, here's a look at this draft's potential booms and busts:
Boom
The Miz, MVP & Carlito and Primo Colon
Busts
The Brian Kendrick, Mr. Kennedy, Zack Ryder, Curt Hawkins, Jesse and Festus
...More?
source: scrippsnews.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Superstar Billy Graham defeated Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF(WWE) Heavyweight title.
April 30, 1977
Greg Valentine defeated Roddy Piper for the NWA U.S. Heavyweight title
April 30, 1983
Chris Benoit defeated Booker T for the WCW Television title.
April 30, 1998
The Rock defeated Triple H for the WWF(E) Heavyweight title at Backlash at the MCI Center, Washington, DC.
April 30, 2000
April 29, 2009
"Sureshot" Derek Wayne, Indy Wrestler Passes Away
Maryland indy wrestler "Sureshot" Derek Wayne was found dead in his parents home today. He wrestled for local indys such as MCW and MEWF and gave it his all each time he stepped in the ring.
Derek's sister, Megan, posted the following on her myspace blog:
I'm not even sure where to start. i just felt i needed to write about it so what better place than here to share it with my family and friends. last night my brother took his own life. i know he had alot of problems and alot of demons within himself i just wish he would have came and talked to me instead of thinking that was the only option he had left. he thought so bad about himself and he thought he was a failure i just wish he was still here so i could tell him how wonderful of a person he was. derek and i were always so close growin up and we did everything together. i looked up to him. he was my hero. me having to be the one to find him has definatly takin its toll on me right now my head is just so fucked up. i just wish i could get the image of finding him like that out of my head. right now i just feel so mad at him for what he did for being so selfish and takin himself away from us and the i feel worse about myself for bein mad at him. i just wanna say for those of us who were lucky enough to have known him we know how great of a person he was and for those of u who didn't have the pleasure to have met him believe me when i say u missed out on knowin one of the greatest men who ever walked this earth. last night while sayin good bye to my brother at the hospital i promised him that i would look after his 4 beautiful children for him and i will make sure i keep that promise i just wished that one day when i have children they could have known there uncle derek but the stories and memories of him will always carry on i promise that. i miss u and love u so much derek and i'm so sorry i couldn't save u i tried so hard. i love u derek R.I.P.
Update on Hurricane Helms
From Jim Ross' blog:
Gregory "Hurricane" Helms is now doing backstage interviews for ECW and he should bring added entertainment value to the program. Helms isn't 100% physically and this assignment can keep the North Carolinian on TV and in the publics eye. His wrestling future is unknown.
Jeff Hardy Contract Update, Shopping a Reality Show to MTV
Jeff Hardy is giving the impression to friends that he will re-sign with WWE before his contract expires this summer. He's said to be burned out with the schedule and additional time off will likely be something he requests in contract negotiations.
In related news, Hardy has had talks with MTV regarding a reality television project. It's said to be tied to "The Hardy Show" that he and his brother produce together online. The MTV talks are simply at the discussion level, but Jeff is said to be very excited about the idea of having his a reality show on the network.
source: prowrestling.net
Playboy Buddy Rose Passes Away
Former AWA, Portland Wrestling, and WWF(E) star Playboy Buddy Rose (Paul Perschmann) was found dead by his wife on Tuesday afternoon. Rose had been dealing with diabetic issues in recent years...More?
www.playboybuddyrose.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Stone Cold Steve Austin & Triple H defeated The Undertaker & Kane to win the WWF(E) Tag Team Titles.
April 29, 2001
April 28, 2009
ECW Results: Championship Interrupted
source: wwe.com
Rumor Mill - How Long Will Triple H Be Out?
Following the injury angle at the Backlash pay-per-view on Sunday night, former WWE Champion Triple H is expected to be out of action until the summer. He will be back in time for a revenge angle this summer as the early plan for the main event at SummerSlam is Triple H vs. Randy Orton.
Rumor Mill - Two TNA Stars Suspended
TNA Knockouts Rhaka Khan and Roxxi are currently serving unofficial 60 day suspensions as punishment for their involvement in a backstage altercation at an iMPACT taping last month, that we reported on shortly after it happened. Roxxi reportedly felt Khan had worked too stiff with her during their match earlier that day, resulting in her getting a black eye.
source: f4wonline.com
Does the WWE finally realize it is time to make new stars?
Sunday's Backlash pay-per-view produced matches and finishes that many felt should have taken place at WrestleMania 25. Most notably, Triple H and John Cena lost their matches (and their championships). On top of that, they were both taken out of the arena on stretchers. I would never wish for someone to get injured, but the "Goodbye song" chants directed at Triple H should have woken up the brass in WWE.
Triple H is a valuable member of the roster. However, while he does deserve his spot on the card, he could be used so much more effectively than he is...More?
source: prowrestling.net
Details on Ric Flair's Ring of Honor Debut on May 2nd
Ric Flair will serve as the Ambassador of "Ring of Honor Wrestling" on HDNet. New ROH World Champion Jerry Lynn is ready to back up his promise to be a fighting champion, but with a number of worthy challengers, it's up to "The Nature Boy" to determine who will have the honor of taking on Lynn in the first ROH World Title match on HDNet...More?
This Day in Wrestling History
Owen Hart defeated Rocky Maivia(The Rock) for the WWF(E) Intercontinental title.
April 28, 1997
Wrestling legend, Lou Thesz, passes away at the age of 86.
April 28, 2002
April 27, 2009
"Kardinal Sinners" Docu-Drama - A Peek into the Rollercoaster Ride of Indy Wrestling
Keep your eyes peeled for a new wrestling series that documents the struggles of earning a living and achieving recognition on the indy circuit, all the while maintaining family and friendships.
Kardinal Sinners, a Canadian East Coast production that premiers April 27 on the RUSH HD specialty channel, follows a troop of heels wrestling on a six-date tour from Cape Breton to Ottawa...More?
source: slam wrestling
Matt Hardy Suffers Broken Hand
WWE.com has learned that Matt Hardy suffered a broken hand in his loss to his brother, Jeff, last night at Backlash during the siblings' "I Quit" Match.
According to WWE physician Dr. Amman, Matt broke his second metacarpal in his right hand, requiring that the Raw Superstar wear a cast.
source: wwe.com
Reid Flair Arrested Again: Felony DUI, Heroin Found In His Car
WSOC TV in Charlotte, NC is reporting that Reid Flair, son of Ric Flair, was arrested again on Sunday and is facing felony charges after Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said they found heroin inside his car. Flair has also been charged with driving while impaired and driving with a revoked license. Click here for the full story.
Lance Hoyt Announces He Has Signed with WWE
Former TNA wrestler Lance Hoyt announced at last night's Professional Championship Wrestling event in Arlington, Texas that he has signed a contract with WWE. The promotion aired a tribute video for him at the end of the show as all of the wrestlers gave Hoyt a farewell celebration.
source: pwinsider.com
Christian, Triple H & Edge Title News
Christian became the first wrestler to win TNA's top title and then return to WWE and win a brand's top title. Edge's win last night gives him a total of 9 top WWE Title reigns, second only to Triple H who has 13. This was Edge's 5th time winning the World Heavyweight Title, tying him with Triple H for most times holding that belt. Backlash 2009 was the first time since WWE has had a major title on all three brands that the top title for each brand has changed hands in one night, not including the interim champions in the Championship Scramble matches at Unforgiven last year.
This Day in Wrestling History
Happy Birthday to Frank Gotch
April 27, 1878 - December 16, 1917
Frank Gotch is truly one of the original pioneers of professional wrestling. Long before the money, fame, and glitz of modern wrestling, long before the post WWII boom of Gorgeous George and "TV wrestling," before Lou Thesz, before Ed "Strangler" Lewis, before there was even a such thing as a "federation" in wrestling, there was Frank Gotch.
During this fleeting time of legitimacy in wrestling, Gotch was renowned for his great skill and power, despite his deceivingly small stature, and became perhaps wrestling's first true box-office attraction. As crafty and ruthless as he was skilled, Gotch held the undisputed World Title until he retired, undefeated as champion. His professional record was an impressive 132 victories out of 140 total matches...with several of his losses coming in handicapped matches. His bouts with Hackenschmidt, Jenkins, Stanislaus Zbysko and others were truly legendary...and can be traced back to the earliest days of what we now know as professional wrestling...More?
source: wrestlingmuseum.com
April 26, 2009
Punter's Quarry
As The Legacy made their way up the ramp, with Orton clutching the WWE Title, the fans in attendance kept their eyes glued on the ring, where Triple H lay motionless after “The Viper’s” attack. Suffering from the same maneuver that has put so many Superstars out of commission – some permanently – The Game was loaded onto a stretcher, quickly removed from the ring and taken from the Dunkin Donuts Center in an ambulance as his partners and the WWE Universe looked on in grave concern. Full results.
source: wwe.com
Backlash Results
ECW Champion Jack Swagger (c) vs. Christian
Winner: Christian - New ECW Champion
Chris Jericho vs. WWE Hall of Famer Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
Winner: Chris Jericho
CM Punk vs. Kane
Winner: Kane
Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy ("I Quit" Match)
Winner: Matt Hardy
WWE Champion Triple H, Batista & Shane McMahon vs. Randy Orton & The Legacy
Winner: Randy Orton - New WWE Champion
After the match, Orton and Legacy head to the back. Triple H is laid out in the ring after the punt kick. Batista and Shane sit in the ring around him as WWE officials and medics come down. They put Triple H in a stretcher and on a neck brace. We go to replays of the punt kick. Triple H is taken to the back on a stretcher as we go to a break.
World Heavyweight Champion John Cena vs. Edge (Last Man Standing Match)
Winner: Edge - New World Heavyweight Champion
Triple H Donates Items for Silent Auction at The World School
Earlier this month, Triple H donated several items for a silent auction at The World School to benefit their Tuition Assistance Program. The World School is located in Nashua, NH and their Director is Lynn Ouellette, Hunter's sister. She is also a member of the Advisory Board. The items Hunter donated have been sold, but you can view them here.
Rumor Mill - Shawn Michaels Taking Much-Needed Break
Very few performers in the business today have the ability to single-handedly affect the quality of a pro wrestling show and the quality of a pro wrestling company.
Shawn Michaels is one of them, and he looks to be out of action for the next few months.
Reports have surfaced that Michaels, who has not appeared on WWE television since his Wrestlemania 25 match against The Undertaker three weeks ago, is taking some time off...More?
source: postandcourier.com
Poll Results - Who will turn on Hunter at Backlash?
Stephanie
1 - vote (14%)
Shane
3 - votes (42%)
Batista
1 - vote (14%)
No One
2 - votes (28%)
This Day in Wrestling History
Sting defeated Diamond Dallas Page for the WCW Title. That same night, DDP regained the title defeating Sting, Bill Goldberg and Hulk Hogan.
April 26, 1999
Happy Birthday to Kane (Glen Jacobs)
April 26, 1967
April 25, 2009
Kaliqo's Backlash Predictions, Picks & Speculations
World Heavyweight Champion John Cena vs. Edge (Last Man Standing Match)
With both Championship titles on Raw, I would expect Edge to win and take the title to SmackDown.
ECW Champion Jack Swagger vs. Christian
I'm not sure how long Vince wants to punish Christian for leaving the WWE and going to TNA, but I hope he gets the title. I could see him in a feud with Hurricane Helms or Vladimir Kozlov. Kozlov needs all the help he can get.
WWE Champion Triple H, Batista & Shane McMahon vs. Randy Orton & The Legacy
I think we should expect a swerve here. Shane should turn on Hunter and cost him the title. Creative has yet to address Shane's response to Stephanie slapping him back in January and he could take out his revenge against her husband.
Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy ("I Quit" Match)
If the rumors are true, I think the outcome of the match depends on Jeff Hardy's contract status.
Chris Jericho vs. WWE Hall of Famer Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
This match has great potential. Steamboat still has it, but I don't want to see him return full time to the ring. Jericho should win and let this be Steamboat's swansong.
CM Punk vs. Kane
I'm not interested in this match at all.
Khali and Santina to lock up
Are they serious? This is such a joke. First they had "Santina" win the Diva Battle Royal at WM25, then this Khali kiss-cam bullsh*t. I can't believe they are wasting time on a pay-per-view with this crap. I wonder who Santino pissed off to get booked this way.
Rival Angels Webcomic Blurs Reality/Kayfabe Lines
Rival Angels, the name of the comic and its fictional WWE-like wrestling federation, centres around rookie Sabrina "Ultragirl" Mancini and her three roommates as they try to climb the pro ranks. It is a mix of storyline and kayfabe, for the wrestlers actually compete to win in the ring, and yet at the same time, the owner of the federation talks about who she wants to "push."
"The story lines of pro wrestling but the reality of, for example, mixed martial arts," explained creator and artist Alan Evans. "The description I like to use is, 'Reality TV meets women's wrestling.'...More?
source: slam wrestling
Rival Angels website
SmackDown/ECW House Show Results - Geneva, Switzerland
Triple H & The Undertaker beat Priceless (Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase) with a Pedigree/Tombstone double finish.
After the match, Triple H spent almost 5 minutes going around the ring to shake everyone's hand and spreading his sweat all over our hands and shirts. He also went specifically to the sector reserved for the disabled, shook their hands, and showed them the WWE Championship belt. Nice gesture!
Special mention for the biggest single crowd reaction of the night - Triple H gesturing for the whole crowd to cheer at once...More?
source: prowrestling.net
TNA iMPACT! Rating Breakdown
The April 23rd episode of TNA iMPACT did a 1.23 rating, with an average audience of 1.8 million viewers. This is the fifth largest audience ever. TNA fell from the #1 spot last week to the #2 spot this week in the males 18-49 demographic, beaten once again by the NBA playoffs on TNT...More?
source: pwpix.net
This Day in Wrestling History
In a very surprising move by WCW, David Arquette pinned Eric Bischoff in a tag team match to become the new WCW Champion that saw Arquette team with DDP against Bischoff & Jeff Jarrett. He vacated the title six days later on May 1.
April 25, 2000
VCW Pro Wrestling TV Taping
Saturday, May 02, 2009
7:30 PM to 10:00 PM EDT
Kings Fork Recreation Center
350 Kings Fork Road
Suffolk, VA 23434
This event is a television taping for Fox 43, and features a VCW Heavyweight Title Main Event, and a special Ladies Match.
Vanguard Championship Wrestling
April 24, 2009
SmackDown Results: Bedlam Beckons Backlash
source: wwe.com
TNA Slammiversary News
TNA will be holding this year's Slammiversary pay-per-view at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit, Michigan. Tickets for the June 21st event go on sale Friday, May 8th. The arena holds up to 24,276 seats for a center-stage concert, not to mention 23,000 for an end-stage concert. This will be by far the biggest arena TNA has ever held an event in stateside.
Jakks Pacific Blames WWE for 17 Percent First Quarter Decline in Revenue
WWE's official toy manufacturer, Jakks Pacific, blamed WWE, Pokemon, and Hannah Montana for a 17 percent decline in revenue from the first quarter 2008 to the similar January - March period this year.
Jakks reported a first quarter loss of $10.8 million compared to a profit of $877,000 in the prior year quarter. The company blamed declining sales of WWE's toy line for contributing to the profit loss...More?
source: associated press
Glamour, Glitz & Divas - The Untold Story of American Women's Wrestling
Dedicated to the late Sherri Martel, this DVD focuses a great deal on women breaking into a male-dominated business and the history of women's roles in pro wrestling. Many of the interviews look to have come from previous RF Video spots.
One of the first interviews is with The Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young and as if we didn't know how old Mae Young is, she discusses seeing Ed "Strangler" Lewis back in her Oklahoma childhood. Good stuff here and, sorry Vince, but she doesn't lose her top. Bummer.
Moolah says she either wanted to be like Mildred Burke or the next Amelia Earhart. Pretty sure she made the right choice...More?
source: slam wrestling
This Day in Wrestling History - Johnny Valentine passes away
Buddy Rogers vs. Johnny Valentine - 1953
Johnny Valentine (born John Theodore Wisniski, September 22, 1928–April 24, 2001) was a professional wrestler with a career spanning almost three decades. He has been inducted into four halls of fame for his achievements in wrestling. Wisniski is the father of professional wrestler Greg "The Hammer" Valentine.
He held numerous world champion and regional titles, including the NWA United States Championship and the World Heavyweight title. He had long running rivalries with Bobo Brazil, Pat O'Connor, Buddy Rogers, Antonio Rocca, Lou Thesz, Harley Race, The Sheik, Wahoo McDaniel, Fritz von Erich, Bruno Sammartino, Johnny Powers, Antonio Inoki and Jack & Jerry Brisco. He alternated between being a villain and a hero during the Golden Era in the 1940s through 1960s of wrestling.
In 1975, he was injured in a plane crash; he suffered a broken back and was forced to retire from wrestling. He worked briefly as a manager before retiring altogether. He suffered from several health problems during his career, which worsened considerably after a fall in 2000. He died the following year.
source: wikipedia.org
April 23, 2009
WWE Superstars Results: Edge Stands Tall
source: wwe.com
AJ Styles to be a Presenter at the
Dove Awards
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles will be appearing live tonight as a presenter at the 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards at 8 p.m. ET on the Gospel Music Channel...More?
source: tnawrestling.com
Wrestlers Rescue Thanks WWE for Help
Wrestlers Rescue (wrestlersrescue.org) thanks WWE for its generous contribution of an encased replica World Title Championship belt, signed by Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, John Cena, The Nature Boy Ric Flair and The American Dream Dusty Rhodes with a letter of authenticity. This unique, rare item will sell for charitable auction on April 24 at shop.ebay.com/merchant/dr.deathcampaign, and the starting bid will be $200, plus shipping and handling...More?
source: miamiherald.com
Just Blame Vince McMahon: An Assessment of the Media Treatment of Pro Wrestling
Steroid scandals. Liability lawsuits. Predatory condemnations by the Parents Television Council. Cold, hard statistics on the number of professional wrestlers who have died are referenced and exploited by media sharks honing in on the bloodied eye of a profitable branch of the entertainment industry.
The easy response to the latest tragedy is to censure Vincent Kennedy McMahon, World Wrestling Entertainment Chairman; to decry the so-called barbaric schedule that the business demands from its performers and deplore the content of professional wrestling. Yet, it is questionable as to how the blame and the criticism can be laid solely at the feet of one man.
Provided facts, statistics, and context, can Vince McMahon truly be convicted as the perpetrator of the ills and misfortunes of professional wrestling? Further, is professional wrestling an island unto itself in the tumultuous sea of immoral content and tragic losses?...More?
source: bleacherreport.com
Response to ESPN Writer's Heavy, Uninformed Criticism of Bobby Lashley for Joining TNA
Jake Rossen, editor of Real Fighting magazine and contributor to Sherdog.com, made some pretty bold and abrasive statements on ESPN.com regarding Bobby Lashley's participation in TNA's Lockdown PPV.
He degraded Lashley for appearing on what he called an "embarrassment to the human race" and referred to pro wrestling as "some poorly performed theater for the hygiene-challenged." He then went on to describe wrestling as "a deranged spectacle full of drug-addled performers taxing their adrenal glands in a poorly scripted imitation of athletics."
Tell us how you really feel, Mr. Rossen. Or better yet, tell us what you really know...about pro wrestling, that is. I'd place a safe bet that your knowledge of pro wrestling would not come close to filling a thimble. Now, I'm not going to deride you for your lack of pro wrestling knowledge, but I will question your decision to publicly insult Bobby Lashley and millions of wrestling fans around the world by commenting on a subject you obviously know nothing about. Your comments were not only uncalled for, but very offensive to the performers, the fans, and everyone involved in wrestling...More?
source: pwtorch.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Curt Hennig defeated Tito Santana in a tournament final for the WWF(E) Intercontinental title.
April 23, 1990
Happy Birthday to:
Tony Atlas
April 23, 1956
Terry Gordy
April, 23, 1961
John Cena
April 23, 1977
April 22, 2009
SmackDown/ECW House Show Results - Birmingham, England
Triple H & Undertaker defeat Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase & Cody Rhodes
HUGE pop for HHH, MONUMENTAL pop for Taker, and good cheer/boos for Orton and Co. Orton went for HHH at start, HHH quickly got advantage and brawled why Taker scarred others away. Orton bolted making it a tag. Orton eventually returned and he and Cody started the usual headlock fest (lots of 'ANOTHER headlock Randy?/Cody?' from me and a few other people).
Randy hit the RKO before HHH took him outside and he ran off backstage again. Taker sat up, DiBiase and Rhodes went to double team him, but HHH slid in behind them and set up a stereo Tombstone and Pedigree. Very good main event. Taker lapped it up first, giving the crowd the usual in ring pose and the raised arm at top of the ramp, before HHH got his cheers in and did a few laps of the ring for the fans before leaving...More?
source: prowrestling.netm
MCW Backlash Viewing Party
Loafers Bar & Grill
6518 Baltimore National Pike
Catonsville, MD 21228
410-719-2121
April 26th @ 7pm
Jim Cornette Comments on Stephanie McMahon Levesque as Head of Creative
For years, the head of the creative team has been Stephanie McMahon, the boss’ daughter. While an intelligent, college-educated woman, her credentials qualifying her to be the head “writer” of a wrestling promotion remain the three words “the boss’ daughter.” Her knowledge of wrestling history, especially of how her father put the territories out of business, is nil, as evidenced by her testimony before Congress. Her experience as a performer has been limited to what she wrote for herself. It’s not her fault entirely, as until she came to work at the WWE after college, she attended the matches sporadically, and certainly no one was going to teach the boss’ daughter anything that might be politically imprudent. Her husband, Triple H, a student of the game, is certainly not going to rock his marriage boat, and much more important to him, his position as the heir to the throne, by telling her any of the negative effects her father has had on the pro wrestling industry in general while building his personal empire.
So Stephanie, as head of creative, hires people like her.Young people with college degrees in writing, many with experience writing scripted television, comedy shows in particular, with little or no respect for wrestling, and little if any experience performing ANYTHING. As a matter of fact, being a fan of wrestling is not even a requirement for the job, and God forbid if you DO admit to being a wrestling fan, and having watched any other wrestling besides WWE, you will at best be viewed as a “mark” and your days numbered.
source: jimcornette.com
Although Jim Cornette has an axe to grind with Vince, which makes his opinions biased, I do agree that at some point WWE Creative needs to put the emphasis back on the wrestling and hire people with wrestling experience. Quite frankly, I think that is why Triple H sits in on production meetings.
And would it hurt if that writer was also a fan?
Diva Receiving Heat for Draft Complaints
There was some backstage heat on WWE Women's Champion Melina for openly complaining about being drafted to SmackDown last week, reports prowrestling.net. Her complaints about being moved to the blue brand have generally drawn eye-rolling and laughter from the wrestlers, who feel she had to know it was a possibility to be drafted just like everyone else.
The three-time WWE Women's Champion has worked hard to improve her reputation in the locker room in the last year or so, but she is once again upsetting people with her behavior.
Hall of Famer Released from his Contract
In a cost-cutting measure, World Wrestling Entertainment released "Superstar" Billy Graham, 65, from his $2,000 per month level consulting contract this past week — saving $24,000 annually.
The WWE Hall of Famer was given 90 days notice that the company was canceling the contract with one year remaining on it.
source: wrestling observer
WWE Hall of Famer in Serious Condition
Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman William "The Refrigerator" Perry was in serious condition at a South Carolina hospital, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday.
Perry was involved in WrestleMania 2 and is a member of the WWE Hall of Fame.
Perry, 46, was hospitalized to deal with complications from Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a chronic inflammation disorder of the peripheral nerves, the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune reported...More?
April 21, 2009
ECW Results: Tabled
source: wwe.com
Shad Gaspard Rips Internet Sites For False Rumors
In quite a heated Myspace Q&A Cryme Tyme’s Shad Gaspard ripped several wrestling news sites and a reporter by name...More?
source: wrestlingtruth.com
"The Wrestler" Out on DVD and Blu-Ray with Extras
The Academy Award nominated film The Wrestler is officially out on DVD today. Here are the DVD extras for the film:
* "Making of" Documentary
* The Wrestler music video featuring Bruce Springsteen
* Wrestler Round Table featuring Lex Luger, Rowdy Roddy Roddy Piper, Diamond Dallas Page, Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine in a discussion following the Hollywood premiere (only available on the Blu-Ray version)
Bobby Lasley Explains Why He Signed With TNA
“With the WWE, I was on the road nonstop; it was my entire life. With TNA, I’m only working four days a month. And with the extra income from wrestling, I can take care of my family and afford to fully dedicate myself to my MMA training. I’m no different than so many young fighters: I still need a day job, because MMA training is expensive – especially when you want to travel to different camps and learn from the top minds in the game. And TNA has been great to work with.”...More?
source: mmaxfc.com
Ric Flair on Triple H, Nigel McGuinness, Steve Austin and Others
On Triple H:
"He's wonderful," Flair said. "He's one of the top three guys in the company. He's a phenomenal performer. He's a great human being and a wonderful guy."
"He has an unbelievable work ethic. He reminds me of me. On the road and on house shows, He never...not ever...takes a shortcut. He's very smart."
On who he was impressed by at the ROH tapings.
"Nigel," Flair said, referring to former ROH champion Nigel McGuinness. "I hadn't seen him before. He's a great speaker and he has a lot of skill. I was impressed with a lot of the workers there. Nigel works hard in the ring and is a really phenomenal speaker
On Stone Cold Steve Austin:
"At the Hall of Fame, I said that the biggest star in the history of pro wrestling was Steve Austin. I wasn't just blowing smoke. It wasn't Hulk in the 80s. Steve clearly set a standard, I thought."
Click here for more.
source: pojoslam.blogspot.com
WWE sells outs in Dublin back-to-back nights
As reported on TheSun.co.uk April 17, WWE Superstars made their return to Dublin as part of the WrestleMania Revenge Tour and sold out the new O2 Arena for two nights in a row. Each night, 11,000 members of the WWE Universe filled the seats to watch their favorite WWE Superstars in action live. To read more about WWE’s back-to-back sell-out nights, click here.
source: wwe.com
Rumor Mill - WWE Struggling to Re-Sign Jeff Hardy to a new contract
Jeff Hardy's WWE contract expires within the next two-to-four months and the company has yet to re-sign him to a new deal, according to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com. The company has offered him a one-year deal in hopes of keeping him under contract while they negotiate a longer deal, but Hardy has yet to sign.
Other rumors floating around is that Hardy has handed in his resignation and wants to explore other options.
God Save The King (of Kings)
source: wwe.com
Poll Results - How Would You Grade the First WWE Superstars Show?
A - 1 vote (20%)
B - 2 votes (40%)
C - 1 vote (20%)
D - 0 votes (0%)
Didn't Watch It - 1 vote (20%)
This Day in Wrestling History
Ken Patera defeated Pat Patterson for the WWWF(WWE) Intercontinental title.
April 21, 1980
Hulk Hogan defeated Triple H for the WWF(E) Unified Heavyweight title.
April 21, 2002
Happy Birthday to Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake
April 21, 1958
Ted Grizzly dead at 65
Ted Grizzly, who died today in a Hamilton hospital, carved a name out for himself while on the losing end of countless WWF matches in the 1980s, mostly taped in Brantford, Ontario. Yet his life was a colourful, and controversial, as any main eventer.
Portraying a country bumpkin with his ratty overalls, unkempt beard and less-than-stellar physique, Grizzly was a competent worker who battled the likes of Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant and Paul Orndorff over the years. His sheer size -- a balloon-like 320 pounds or so -- made him believable cannon fodder for the WWF giants...More?
source: slam wrestling
April 20, 2009
ESPN Slams Bobby Lashley's Re-Entry to Pro Wrestling
ESPN has published an article by Sherdog.com writer Jake Rossen in which he slams Bobby Lashley for his decision to sign with TNA Wrestling while still being an active MMA fighter. After calling "professional wrestling" slang for "embarrassment to the human race," Rossen said, "Lashley can obviously do as he pleases to earn a buck, but I don't think his hybrid career will do the sport of MMA in the States any favors." Click here for the entire article.
TV Ratings of the Debut Edition of
WWE Superstars
The debut edition of WWE Superstars on WGN America did an 0.9 cable rating last Thursday night. The replay at 11PM EST did an 0.32 cable rating. Superstars was the highest rated show on WGN that day, beating an 11AM airing of In The Heat of The Night which did an 0.67.
Larry Sweeney Quits Ring of Honor
Larry Sweeney announced that he officially quit Ring of Honor Monday on his Facebook account.
"Alex Whybrow (Larry Sweeney's real name) quit Ring of Honor this morning. For real. I don't need to take this sh** anymore and will be appearing back again for ian rotten starting veeeeeery soon. F** it, I love it," his message read.
Sweeney had been estranged from the company since WrestleMania weekend when ROH officials escorted him out of the company's pay per view taping. ROH officials had previously stated that they did not expect to see Sweeney back with the company until he had cleared up his personal issues.
This Day in Wrestling History
Triple H defeated Taz in the first match between a WWF(E) heavyweight Champion and an ECW Heavyweight Champion
April 20, 2000
This Day in Wrestling History - Rick Rude Passes Away
Rick Rude of dies of a heart attack at age 40.
April 20, 1999
Richard Erwin Rood
December 7, 1958 – April 20, 1999
April 19, 2009
Bobby Lashley Debuts at TNA's Lockdown
After the Lethal Lockdown match with Kurt Angle, Scott Steiner, Kevin Nash and Booker T vs. Jeff Jarrett, Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels and AJ Styles, the lights went out and a motorcycle was heard revving up. Out comes former WWE star Bobby Lashley to a huge pop! Lashley raises his hands in the air and acknowledges a smiling Kurt Angle. The Main Event Mafia won the match.
SmackDown/ECW House Show Results - Vienna, Austria
Triple H came in to the second loudest pop of the night, followed by Taker whose pop was even louder (everybody loves Taker). Legacy came in second, which was kind of strange, since as over as HHH/Taker were, you would have thought they would have wanted those pops last. The entrances alone took about ten minutes. Anyway, Legacy stalled getting into the ring and when they did, Hunter immediately speared Orton and ran after him to the back. He returned shortly after and it was a regular tag-match for a while...More?
source: darkguy.pycoos.com
Raw Preview: 'Mania Rematch
Last Monday, Raw Draftee and WWE Champion Triple H led Batista & Shane McMahon to victory over Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase to earn the right to face Randy Orton in a No Disqualification Match on Raw, mere weeks before they meet at Backlash with the WWE Title on the line.
Chuck Liddell Retiring?
Dana White comments on Chuck Liddell's loss at UFC 97 and possible retirement:
"He's a huge superstar, and we could still sell lots of tickets (with Liddell). But I don't care about that. I care about him. I care about his health, and it's over, man. It's over. How we built this company – using boxing as the blueprint – (and we) don't let guys hang around longer than they should, I was pushing for retirement. He's my friend, I love him, and I care about him. We sat down (prior to UFC 97). We had a two-hour talk. He wanted to do this (fight). I said, 'If you take this seriously – if I hear you're in one [expletive] nightclub, if you're not training, if you're not doing this, doing that – it's over. That's it. He said, 'No, I'm taking this seriously.' And he did. He kept his word. He was in great shape. He came out guns slinging like he does, but that was it. If that (fight) was a toe-to-toe war and he got flashed (knocked down) a couple times and it went to decision, he'd still be retiring too. He'd still be retiring."
From Jim Ross:
"It was tough watching Chuck Liddell get TKO'ed in the first round Saturday night in Montreal on the UFC PPV. I have huge respect for Liddell who was one of the primary individuals who motivated me to want to watch MMA from the early days. Chuck is a true warrior and I hope that he doesn't put himself back in the octagon for "one more fight" so he can end his career "the right way." Chuck's legacy is in tact and fighting again and either losing again or not fighting like the old, Chuck Liddell won't do Chuck any favors. My hats off to Chuck Liddell and I thank him for helping make me a huge UFC/MMA fan."
Liddell also spoke on the possibility of retirement, saying:
"Yeah, that's probably the case, I'm not going to make any decisions until I go home to talk to everybody, talk to my people and my friends. But it's probably safe to say I'm retired."
SmackDown/ECW House Show Results - Salzburg, Austria
Main Event: HHH & Undertaker vs Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase and Orton
Very slow match. Hunter and Taker got many, loud pops...More?
April 18, 2009
"The Creation of Adam” - WWE Style
The Undertaker reaching out for The Game's tag.
Photos from Cologne, Germany
Photos form Strasbourg, France
Photo of The Creation of Adam by Michaelangelo
SmackDown/ECW House Show Results - Strasbourg, France
Main Event: HHH & Undertaker vs Rhodes, DiBiase and Orton
Huge huge pops for HHH and Taker. Orton, as a great coward, escapes from the match for several minutes. He came back to viciously attack his opponents. Nice stuff. Crazy crowd, Undertaker hits a double chokeslam on DiBiase and Rhodes. Orton hides and then its a vicious RKO on Undertaker. Later, he tries to escape again but HHH follows him and then the faces hits a combo Pedigree/Tombstone for the victory. Great and long match...More?
source: impactwrestling.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Happy Birthday to "The Brooklyn Brawler" Steve Lombardi.
April 18, 1961
Wahoo McDaniel passes away due to a stroke at the age of 63.
April 18, 2002
April 17, 2009
SmackDown Results: Raging to Backlash
Batista dropped Legacy member Ted DiBiase with a hard-hitting spear, followed by a thunderous Batista Bomb for the win on SmackDown. They will meet again on the battle grounds at Backlash in a Six-Man Tag Team Match. Full results.
Women Watching the WWE
According to Michelle Wilson, WWE's Executive Vice President of Marketing, 40% of the WWE audience is women. F4Wonline.com is reporting that depending on which show it is and the week, the female audience usually ranges from 29% to 34%. When dealing with live event business, women are closer to 20-25% of the audience.
Maxim Interview with Bret Hart
Pink-wearing, ex-WWE wrestling champ Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart discusses forehead licking and elbows off the top turnbuckle…
You used to wrestle in a pink leotard. Please explain…
Originally I was a bad guy, and it made the crowds hate me even more. Then people accepted it as part of my ‘cool’ image. It wasn’t like I was tied into any gay thing. Still, looking back, maybe I should’ve switched to blue or something...
Did the less skilled wrestlers ever seriously injure others?
Yeah, Bill Goldberg did right at the end of my career. He kicked me in the head the way somebody might kick a crash test dummy. You’re talking big, powerful men here, a lot of them on steroids. And when these guys don’t have the skills or the understanding of the limitations of the human body, you get cases like mine. Bill’s a sweetheart, but he got pushed to the top too quick...More?
Taz Issues Statment about Leaving the WWE
Taz (He hates the second "Z") issued a statment on his Facebook account about leaving the WWE:
"I want to clear up some "true & false" for all of you," Taz wrote on his Facebook page:
"True
My contract expired the end of March and I had given my notice several weeks prior.
I ask WWE for my release to pursue other interest.
I offered to call Wrestlemania while I was not contractually obligated....and offered to call the show for free to the company.
I have fulfilled EVERY obligation to the WWE, and pride myself on leaving the proper/professional way.
On my way out, from Vince McMahon, Kevin Dunn and Stephanie ALL treated me great...which was cool.
I APPRECIATE all of the offers for appearances but right now I'm just doing very few appearances (if any). I'm gonna chill out and watch my kid hit baseballs.
I am done wrestling. At 41 years old, several neck and shoulder issues...not happening. I would be a former shell of myself.
I too have hated the extra "Z"
FALSE
Burnout (If anything, I'm more inspired & motivated now than ever)"
Click here to read the full statement.
The Four Superstars that Keep the WWE a Great Experience
Jack Swagger
Shelton Benjamin
John Morrison
Maryse
Click here for the full article at Bleacher Report.
Rumor Mill - The Undertaker Retiring
in 2010?
WWE ring announcer Tony Chimel made an announcement at the 04/16 Dublin, Ireland show that The Undertaker's retirement tour would be taking place next year in April when the company returns overseas for the next big tour.
SmackDown/ECW is Coming to
Roanoke, VA
WWE presents SmackDown/ECW
Date: June 16, 2009
Time: 6:45 p.m.
Venue: The Roanoke Civic Center
City/State: Roanoke, Va.
On-Sale Date: Saturday, April 18th at 10:00am
Ticket Information: Get your tickets at the box office and www.tickets.com , Starting at $15
Charge by Phone: 888-397-3100
Prices: $60, $40, $30, $20 and $15
This Day in Wrestling History
Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch defeated Tony Atlas & Rocky Johnson for the WWWF(WWE) Tag Team title
April 17, 1984
WCW filed suit in Fulton County Superior Court against Ric Flair for breech of contract
April 17, 1998
Happy Birthday to Rowdy Roddy Piper (Roderick George Toombs)
April 17, 1951
April 16, 2009
Poll Results - Are You Going to Watch the New WWE Show, WWE Superstars?
Yes - 8 votes (80%)
No - 0 votes (0%)
Maybe - 0 votes (0%)
I don't have WGN - 2 votes (20%)
WWE Superstars Results: Pulse-Pounding Premiere
TNA Signs A Former World Champion
TNA Mobile issued the following text message alert:
"TNA has signed a former world champion from another organization. Unlock the identity this Sunday on TNA's Lockdown PPV."
SmackDown/ECW House Show Results - Cologne, Germany
Undertaker and Triple H defeated Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase, and Cody Rhodes in a handicap match...More?
WWE to Report 2009 First Quarter Results; Vince to Address Investors
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. announced that it will report its 2009 first quarter results on May 7, 2009, before the opening of the market. The Company’s chairman, Vincent K. McMahon, and senior management will host a conference call beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results...More?
Hulk Hogan Tries to Fight-Off the Current Wave of Criticism
In what I am now calling Hogan-Gate, Hulk Hogan tries to respond to the wave of criticism from his "I understand O.J. Simpson" comments:
Hogan called into Bubba The Love Sponge this morning to discuss the publicity he has received from his "out of context" Rolling Stone magazine comments. He said Linda Bollea was in "hiding" before the blurb came out because Hogan and his lawyers are trying to deposition Linda's financial records before a May court case on her spending, but she hasn't responded. He said Linda is "working" the divorce like its a wrestling match and he understands that and he sill loves her. He said he called his children yesterday to make sure she knows that...More?
Recap by prowrestling.net
See my previous post here.
This Day in Wrestling History
Chris Benoit wins the first ever "Super J Cup" junior heavyweight tournament in New Japan Pro Wrestling
April 16, 1994
Triple H defeated Jeff Hardy for the WWF(E) Intercontinental title
April 16, 2001
April 15, 2009
TNA Knockouts at the Cauliflower Alley Club
ODB, Cheerleader Melissa & Awesome Kong at the Cauliflower Alley Club's Baloney Blowout dinner. More photos.
source: slam wrestling
Hulk Hogan Embracing O.J. Simpson
Publicity hungry, Hulk Hogan has once again inserted his foot in his mouth. In a recent interview, he had this to say about his divorce from estranged wife Linda Bollea:
"I could have turned everything into a crime scene, like O.J., cutting everybody’s throat. You live half a mile from the 20,000-square-foot home you can’t go to anymore, you’re driving through downtown Clearwater and see a 19-year-old boy driving your Escalade, and you know that a 19-year-old boy is sleeping in your bed, with your wife… I totally understand O.J. I get it.”
What a moron...
Nine year-old pro wrestling fan dies after jumping off his apartment roof while trying to emulate Jeff Hardy
A 9-year-old wrestling fan jumped off his Brooklyn apartment roof wearing a homemade parachute - a fatal imitation of his favorite video game character, friends said.
Shakar Murrel, Damori's best friend, believed his pal jumped off the roof to imitate his favorite PlayStation2 video game "Smackdown vs. Raw."
"He tried to do a swan dive like Jeff Hardy does in SmackDown. That was his favorite game. He played it all the time. That was what he was trying to do. If I would have seen him up there I would have told him not to do it."...More?
source: nydailynews.com
Former ROH Booker Joins Dragon Gate in US Expansion
Japan's Dragon Gate promotion has announced its expansion into United States with Dragon Gate at last night's Korakuen Hall event in Tokyo. It has named Satoshi Oji as the President and Gabe Sapolsky as the Vice President of Dragon Gate USA. DGUSA will make its online home at www.DGUSA.tv as the site was launched late last night...More?
"WWE.com Legacy Moment of the Week" - April 13, 2009
Hunter Hearst Helmsley's WWE debut is the Legacy Moment of the Week. Click here.
WWE Supplemental Draft - Tag Teams Demolished
Ezekiel Jackson to Raw
Mike Knox to SmackDown
Primo to Raw
Alicia Fox to SmackDown
Shad to SmackDown
Mr. Kennedy to Raw
Nikki Bella to Raw
Candice to SmackDown
Zack Ryder to ECW
Chavo Guerrero to Raw
Ricky Ortiz to SmackDown
Layla to SmackDown
Hornswoggle to Raw
DH Smith to ECW
John Morrison to SmackDown
Carlito to Raw
Natayla to ECW
Festus to Raw
JTG to SmackDown
Dolph Ziggler to SmackDown
The Brian Kendrick to Raw
Charlie Haas to SmackDown
Hurricane Helms to ECW
Brie Bella to Raw
ECW Results: Changes and Chases
April 14, 2009
Documentary: "Wrestling Then & Now"
"Wrestling Then & Now", the movie available from acclaimed director Dwayne Walker & Evan Ginzburg associate producer of "The Wrestler".
If you’re a fan of “old school”- who better than the late, great Killer Kowalski, Nikolai Volkoff, and Don “Dr. Death” Arnold to show you the ropes as they talk about not only wrestling but their philosophies on life and the extraordinary experiences they’ve had travelling the world?
And if you’re a fan of today’s wrestling, see a young, outspoken Homicide, hardcore icon Lowlife Louis Ramos and indie stars from coast to coast talk about all aspects of the sport: injuries, “the road”, the women’s division, overzealous fans, the ever-present “paying dues,” and much, much more...More?
"ESPN Rise" on New WWE Superstars
ESPN.com's "ESPN Rise" show is featuring interviews with WWE stars Mickie James, Cody Rhodes, Matt Hardy and Beth Phoenix discussing how they got their start in pro wrestling. The interviews begin around around the 3:00 mark.
Ric Flair on the WWE Wellness Policy
and Women
"Our company's as clean as can be. We've got the most stringent drug-testing policies in place in the world. There's no ifs, ands or buts. The guys pee in an open area. … It is what it is. The guys pay the penalty now. We're not going to mess around with that after all we've been through."...More?
source: espn
Raw Results: Rough Draft
Trish Stratus Clears the Air on Missing WMXXV
"Simply, there were no finishes, no 'What's going to happen? Will I win?' discussed," Stratus said. "It was just, 'Would you like to be in this 25-woman battle royal at WrestleMania,' and I said, 'Thank you but I’m going to decline.'"...More?
source: slam wrestling
April 13, 2009
WWE Draft Results
1. MVP to Raw
2. Big Show to Raw
3. Melina to SmackDown
4. Matt Hardy to Raw
5. Triple H to Raw
6. CM Punk to SmackDown
7. The Miz to Raw
8. Kane to SmackDown
9. Chris Jericho to SmackDown
10. Vladimir Koslov to ECW
11. Maryse to Raw
12. Rey Mysterio to SmackDown
Obama Deserves The World Title: How Politics Mirrors Wrestling
Excellent article by Keelan Balderson:
Where pro wrestling is simple entertainment and the “Hulkamania” from the 80s was harmless (although a little nauseating), something that is definitely not harmless is the Barackamania the world is experiencing now. We can suspend our disbelief and get wrapped up in the moment when Vince McMahon is trying to sell tickets to a wrestling event, but it’s extremely dangerous to suspend our disbelief and get wrapped up in an election. Just like a wrestler, Obama is acting and working his audience, wowing us with his mic work and the spectacle of his stage. His inauguration was like the set for Wrestlemania! Essentially Obama is a face (good guy) and the heels are whoever the US opposes. Instead of the elite McMahon family dictating what the wrestlers do and say we have the elite bankers and corporations meeting Obama. Instead of WWE.com covering the storylines we have Fox News, and for the small portion of the audience who want the backstage truth we replace Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter and Wade Keller’s PWTorch with Alex Jones’ Infowars and Paul Jay’s Real News Network. The problem here is that we are dealing with the well-being of the entire world, not 60 or so pro wrestlers...More?
source: wrestlingtruth.com
WWE's Goldmine of Talent
Matt Saye of wrestlingtruth.com discusses WWE's Goldmine of young talent that could easily lead the company if given the opportunity:
WWE has many “gold” superstars sitting in their locker room right now. When I say ‘gold’ I don’t mean they’re literally gold, I mean that they are very talented and, if pushed right, could be ‘big money’.
In order of most deserving:
Christian
MVP
CM Punk
John Morrison
Mr Kennedy
Shelton Benjamin
Click here for the full article.
JBL Addresses Rumors that he Left the WWE on Bad Terms
From JBL's latest WWE Universe blog:
My first Monday off in about 18 years, at least off at night and not due to injury. Really excited about just being a fan again. Looking forward to watching the draft tonight and seeing what is going to happen. There is always a surprise or two in these things, so should be a fun night of WWE viewing for me.
I heard rumors that I left on bad terms with the WWE, could not be further from the truth. In fact, I don't think I could have left on better terms. My wife not being at Mania had something to do with the fact that she is busy with her company, and in case you hadn't noticed a huge financial meltdown in the world.
My time was awesome, and I said you can never say never. But I am on to the next chapter in my life, I will always be a WWE supporter no matter where I am.
Click here to read the full blog.
USA & Sci-Fi Contributed a Billion in Profit to NBC Universal
USA Network (home to WWE Raw) averaged more than 3.2 million prime-time viewers during the first three months of 2009, more than any other cable network in history and even more than the fifth broadcast network, the CW, according to Nielsen Media Research.
The more important number is $1 billion. Those are the profits USA and its cable sister, SciFi (home to ECW), contributed to NBC Universal’s bottom line last year. (The company won’t break out those two networks individually.)
“USA is the single biggest asset that we currently have at this company,” said Jeff Gaspin, president and chief operating officer of NBC Universal’s cable entertainment group...More?
source: associated press
WrestleMania Sets One-Day Box
Office Record
With $52 million in gross sales, the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania set a record for the highest grossing one-day entertainment event in 2009...More?
source: corporate.wwe.com
WWE Grapples to Broaden its Reputation
From Hulk Hogan to pay-per-view extravaganzas, very few people don't know of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) brand and its unique blend of sports and spectacle. However, the WWE is now seeking to spotlight its evolution into a publicly traded global company and present its media content to consumers, who know the brand, but might not realize all that the WWE has to offer.
These goals align with the recent hiring of new communications leads – EVP of marketing Michelle Wilson and VP of PR and corporate communications Robert Zimmerman – who seek to tailor the company's PR strategy to the multi-platform entertainment company it has become...More?
source: prweekus.com
This Day in Wrestling History
ECW makes its debut on Pay Per View. The show called "Barely Legal" was headlined with Terry Funk vs. Raven for ECW World Title.
April 13, 1997
April 12, 2009
This Day in Wrestling History
Mike Von Erich (Michael Brett Adkisson) died of a drug overdose at age 23.
April 12, 1987
April 11, 2009
WWE Draft News: The number of wrestlers who will be drafted revealed
WWE.com has announced that 12 wrestlers will be drafted during Monday's three-hour Raw show. The article also notes that the website will feature interviews with each draftee. There will be a supplemental draft on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. CT. The results will be featured on WWE.com.
Bruce Prichard Working for TNA?- Updated
According to a myspace blog posted by former WWE Diva Victoria, Bruce Prichard is now with TNA:
"I ran into a couple former WWE employees there. Bruce Prichard and Dan Stevenson, who were behind the scenes guys, who are now with TNA. They introduced me to Dixie Carter and her husband. I don't know if she's supposed to have a tough businesswoman image. But I'm gonna shatter that. She was supernice. It's always weird to me when a tidbit of my personal life becomes wrestling gossip, because someone saw Dixie and I talking, and now "I may be going to TNA". I'd be lying if I said it never crossed my mind, but they haven't come to me with anything, and I am really focused on my MMA."
Prichard was part of WWE creative team until his release last December.
**Update**
It seems Victoria has caught wind of the controversy and changed her blog to say the following:
"...I ran into a couple former WWE employees there. Bruce Prichard and Dan Stevenson, who were behind the scenes guys. Dan is now with TNA..."
You can read the revised full blog here.
This Day in Wrestling History
While the WWF(E) was in Kuwait, Vader attacked Bassam Al Otham, the host of "Good Morning Kuwait" after being asked if wrestling was fake. Vader was detained in Kuwait for a week. He ended up paying a $200 fine.
April 11, 1997
April 10, 2009
And onto the Stretcher
Rx Muscle at Wrestlemania XXV
John Romano of RX Muscle went to WMXXV with Dave Palumbo. Here is their recap:
WWE world champion Hunter Hearst Helmsly, aka "Triple H," has been a very good friend of ours. In spite of his mega-stardom, he's been a regular guest on Heavy Muscle Radio where he lent his insights on the Arnold Classic, wrestling and life in general. He even dropped in our Arnold wrap-up video backstage at the show to show his support and faith in what we're doing. During that same Arnold weekend he also appeared (for free) at the Species booth where he signed autographs and boldly wore a Species t-shirt.
It was really cool when Triple H supported our start-up effort over here at Rx Muscle; however, when he gave Dave four ultra-expensive floor seats to Wrestlemania 25, 4 tickets to the Hall of Fame Ceremony, and a full boat first class experience to go along with the weekend, we were blown away. There was a limo waiting for us at our hotel when we got there. It took us to all the events on both nights and even waited for us while we ate dinner. We got to experience a gigantic event-- attended by over 74,000 people-- in grand style.
While the greatness of the event was blood boiling for my nine-year old son; for us, as it turned out, the magnanimous giving was not yet complete. On top of the gratitude extended by our world champion friend, it appeared that the WWE followed Triple H's lead. They left, for us to discover, a symbol of their support for our new website. And of all places, we found it in a grave yard...More?
JBL's New Job
Press Release from Vyper Fight League:
John “Bradshaw” Layfield & Layfield Energy Co. Join the Vyper Fight League
The Vyper Fight League and Vyper Productions are proud to announce the addition of John “Bradshaw” Layfield, formerly WWE’s “JBL,” and Layfield Energy Company to the VFL product. John Layfield, coming fresh off of his retirement from professional wrestling, will be joining the VFL broadcast team as one of its hosts. Layfield is a former WWE Champion; the longest reigning in Smackdown history, a former broadcaster on WWE Smackdown, regularly appears on Fox News Channel’s The Cost of Freedom, is a best-selling author, and is the president and owner of Layfield Energy Company. John Layfield joins the VFL at its inaugural event, Enter the Vypers Pit, on Friday April 24th, 2009, at 4400 Shepherdsville Road in Louisville, Kentucky...More?
Poll Results - What was the WMXXV
Match of the Night?
According to KLQ fans, the Orton vs. Triple H Match was the match of the night:
Orton vs HHH - 7 votes (53%)
Cena vs Edge vs Big Show 0 (0%)
Money in the Bank 0 (0%)
Hardy vs. Hardy 0 (0%)
Michaels vs Undertaker - 6 votes (46%)
Jericho vs Legends 0 (0%)
Shawn Michaels Comments on the Technology Advances in the WWE
In an interview with chron.com, Shawn Michaels noted that advances in TV technology allow performers to craft their moves not only with sufficient flair to appeal to fans in the upper deck but with slight nuances that appeal to fans watching on TV.
“You have to continue to hone your craft,” Michaels said. “I have found so much joy in the last year of seeing if I can tell a story and convey emotion and reaction without saying a word, as opposed to the days when I started having to use my entire body to get a point of view across.
“When I started, you didn’t focus so much on production, certainly not, gosh, down to the finest little detail of how you shifted your eyes or how you turned to somebody. A lot of the shots were far away from a still camera. There weren’t as many close-ups and intimacy.”
“We can bring it all down to the subtleties of the shifting of an eye, because we know the camera will catch it,” Michaels said. “That has been a great thing to learn, and it makes it interesting for a guy who has been in it as long as I have.”...More?
Preview of ESPN's E:60 Profile of Vince McMahon
Famed wrestling promoter Vince McMahon tells E:60 correspondent Jeremy Schaap about being physically abused as a child, about being reunited with his birth father at age 12, and how he changed his name from Vinnie Lupton back to Vince McMahon.
He also talks frankly about the death of wrestler Chris Benoit, who committed suicide after killing his wife and their seven-year-old son. Schaap also takes a backstage tour with McMahon’s daughter Stephanie, and meets some of the WWE’s biggest stars, including John Cena, Big Show, Shawn Michaels, as well as the legendary Hulk Hogan.
The show airs April 14th at 7:00pm.
This Day in Wrestling History
Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo return to WCW and declare all WCW titles vacant.
April 10, 2000
Jeff Hardy defeated Triple H for the WWF(E) Intercontinental title.
April 10, 2001
Happy Birthday to Paul Bearer aka Percy Pringle
April 10, 1955
April 9, 2009
Andrew "Test" Martin Died of an Accidental Overdose
The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner announced that the cause of death was Oxycodone intoxication and ruled the manner of death was accidental overdose...More?
source: the sun
The Undertaker's Insane Dive at WM25 and other Crazy Bumps
The rumor is the "cameraman" on the receiving end of that cray dive was Sim Snuka.
Greatest Legend of WrestleMania Voting Results
WWE.com's "Greatest Legend of WrestleMania" voting is complete:
* The Undertaker: 44%
* Shawn Michaels: 23%
* Hulk Hogan: 16%
* Bret Hart: 11%
* Triple H: 6%
Rumor Mill - Top ROH Wrestler's Contract Expires Next Month, Possible MMA Future
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Bryan Danielson's contract with Ring of Honor expires in May. He's been training five hours a day at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, and plans to go to Thailand to train for three months.
Angels pitcher Adenhart, 22, killed in car crash
Los Angeles Angels rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart died Thursday in a hit-and-run car crash after a game, a hospital official said. Adenhart, 22, died after undergoing surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center spokesman John Murray said. Nick Adenhart was from Hagerstown, MD...More?
source: associated press
TNA Signs Second Generation Japanese Female Wrestler
The company has signed Japanese wrestler Ayako Hamada who has worked previously with TNA Knockouts Champion Awesome Kong. Hamada announced that she had signed with TNA in a press conference Wednesday morning with Japanese press. Her final match in her native country will be the April 9 Ito Dojo show.
Hamada is a second generation wrestler. Her father is Gran Hamada, a legendary name with Michinoku Pro Wrestling, who briefly appeared in the original ECW.
source: pwnewsnow.com
The WWE's Year Round Format Risks Less Suspense
The WWE has no off season. The episode of WWE RAW the night after WrestleMania is one of the highest rated and most talked about of the year, with cliffhangers from the night before already needing to reach partial resolution or further complication. But it’s not possible to do a two hour show without addressing most of the major questions fans want answers to.
Rather than being able to let a great cliffhanger really eat at fans and drive their excitement through the roof for a big time return, the WWE has, at best, a week to leave fans with absolutely no idea what’s going to happen. Sometimes the moment of discovery would be sweeter if fans had been waiting longer for it...More?
source: buddytv.com
Ribs Gone Bad
April Fools' Day has come and gone, but in the world of professional wrestling, it doesn’t need to be April 1st to pull a practical joke. Ribbing has been part of wrestling since its inception. Whether from boredom on the road or just being a joker in nature, it seems like everyone has a rib story -- or 20.
That isn’t to say that ribbing is always popular. Ric Flair, for one, isn’t a fan.
"I am not a ribber. Never have done that. I didn't like guys who ribbed people. I think usually you only rib people when you can bully them...More?
source: slam wrestling
This Day in Wrestling History
Tiger Ali Singh defeated Owen Hart in the finals to win the Kuwaiti Cup Tourny.
April 9, 1997
April 8, 2009
Shoulder Injury May Be Career Ender For WWE Star Mr. Kennedy
Injured WWE Superstar Mr. Kennedy revealed that he still has not received clearance to return to action after missing eight months of ring time. Moreover, the ailing WWE talent fears that the shoulder injury may be a recurring one...More?
source: pwnewsnow.com
MTV Compares John Cena's WrestleMania Entrance with Eminem's Entrance at the 2000 Video Music Awards
April 7, 2009
ECW Results: Let the Chase to Backlash Begin
New ECW & SmackDown GM's
It was announced at tonight's ECW taping in Austin, Texas that Teddy Long will be the new on-screen General Manager of SmackDown while Tiffany will be the new on-screen General Manager of ECW.
Triple H on RX Muscle Radio
Triple H is the special mystery guest on RX Muscle Radio. Click here. Hunter comes on at about the 1:20 mark.
Backlash Preview: WWE Champion Triple H, Batista & Shane McMahon vs. Randy Orton & The Legacy
source: wwe.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Kevin Nash returns to the WWE & starts a feud with Triple H that lasts for three months.
April 7, 2003
April 6, 2009
Raw Results: The Animal Returns
As Orton and his cohorts pummeled The Game, they were shocked to find out there was more opposition that he hadn’t counted on: The returning Batista...More?
source: wwe.com
Rumor Mill - WWE Championship Spinner-Belt Being Replaced
The current rumor making the rounds is that after Wrestlemania, or possibly during the show itself WWE will be replacing the spinner belt with something more traditional. It makes sense since Cena is now in contention for the heavyweight belt.
source: wrestlingtruth.com
I am so hoping the spinner-belt will be replaced. I'm old school and that belt ain't old school.
Jerry Lawler says Vince Promised him a WrestleMania Match
Jerry "The King" Lawler, who has been with WWE for 16 years, spoke about never getting the chance to wrestle at WrestleMania:
"Two years ago, I had a meeting with Vince close to WrestleMania and I said, 'Vince, I've been here since 1993 and I've never even wrestled on a WrestleMania.' He looked at me surprised and said, 'That's a travesty.' He said, 'We could rush something this year, but this is something big, the King having his first match ever at WrestleMania. Next year, I promise we're going to do something big.' Well, that was two years ago." Lawler was hoping to be a part of the Chris Jericho vs. WWE Legends match, but he was never asked. "I keep thinking any minute, boy, one of these nights we're going to be announcing what kind of big match we're going to be in," Lawler said. "And the next thing you know, WrestleMania comes and goes again and no match for me."
source: rajah.com
King of Kings Reigns Supreme in Houston
Triple H showed just why he is one of the most feared and respected WWE superstars of all time as he retained his WWE Championship with victory over Randy Orton at WrestleMania...More?
source: sky sports
Triple H Speaks with Joey Styles
Triple H spoke to Joey Styles following retaining the WWE Championship against Randy Orton. Hunter said that this was just one small step and their feud is far from over. You can watch the clip here.
Rumor Mill - Plans for WWE Draft
Going into the WWE Draft on April 13, the idea is that Raw and SmackDown will no longer be treated as separate brands, but equal. Last year they moved Triple H, Jeff Hardy and Jim Ross to SmackDown to strengthen the shows transition to MyNetworkTV. The move is seen as unsuccessful considering the drop in ratings. The plan now is to move the top talent to Raw for maximum exposure, and keep two-three stars on SmackDown to keep house show business strong.
source: wrestling observer newsletter
WWE Stock Outperforms Entertainment Companies in Q1 2009
Despite a challenging economy, World Wrestling Entertainment® stock outperformed other entertainment companies on both stock price performance and total return basis for Q1 2009...More?
JBL Officially Retires From WWE, Writes Farewell Blog
JBL officially reired from professional wrestling and wrote a farewell blog on his WWE Universe account. Here are some of the highlights:
I had wanted to make it to WM 25 for years, and when injuries cut my career short the one regret I had was that I wouldn't make the 25th anniversary of Wrestlemania-well, I made it. I never dreamed after I retired the first time that my back would get better and I would be allowed to return to wrestling.
Standing there last night in front of over 70,000 people in my home state ended a journey that was unreal to me. For a kid from Sweetwater, Texas to be able to travel all over the world and realize his dream is pretty cool.
I don't know what the future holds, never say never in life. But I have wrestled my last match. Months ago, I picked out this match. If Eddie Guerrero couldn't be here for it then my dear friend Rey was the obvious choice, and I'm proud he was.
I want to thank the WWE for a great career, for taking a chance on me and allowing me the keys to the car for a while. I will always represent the WWE wherever I go, I am proud of my 13 ½ years with the WWE. And, I am proud of the WWE for cleaning up a great sport to make it more healthy to everyone that is a part.
Thanks to all you guys out there for cheering me, booing me and making signs about me. It is a little overwhelming to think of the great fans the WWE has today. I have been a bad guy for so long, and when I started you were a bad guy 24/7, I carried that mindset probably too long-well no more, today I am just a normal guy going to work.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for allowing me to be a part of the great theater we call "sports entertainment", personally I just always considered myself a wrestler.
You can read the full blog here.
Who cares if action's not real; WrestleMania is a hit
Shawn Michaels, the old football player from San Antonio, and Mark Calaway, aka the Undertaker, the old basketball player from Houston, brought down the house Sunday night during WrestleMania XXV at Reliant Stadium.
Granted, the product on display before 72,744 fans was sports entertainment, aka professional wrestling, not the NFL, college football, NCAA Tournament basketball or championship rodeo product that usually rocks the stadium to its foundations.
Michaels and the Undertaker, scripted or not, was simply one heck of a slobberknocker...More?
source: chron.com
Mickey Rourke knocks down WWE's Jericho
After announcing to Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell at the Screen Actors Guild Awards that he would be at Wrestlemania 25, then later backing out, the "Wrestler" star stepped into the ring to take on WWE star Chris Jericho on Sunday in Houston.
“Contractually, because I’m doing this movie called ‘Iron Man 2’ now, I can’t get in the ring with (Jericho),” Rourke told a WWE reporter hours before the match.
However, the actor didn’t keep his word, entering the ring and knocking down Jericho to close out the match...More?
source: msnbc.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Mildred Burke defeated Clara Mortensen for the WWWA Heavyweight title.
April 6, 1937
April 5, 2009
WrestleMania XXV: Legacy Killer
source: wwe.com
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
