Antonio Cesaro Is A Beast

Things Get Heated Backstage At Raw With Triple H & Top WWE Stars Over Blown Spot Involving Ryback, More

Brad Maddox’s lines in the opening segment of this week’s show were once again a worked shoot play on Vince McMahon’s former mindset on Daniel Bryan.

Triple H called the CM Punk/Paul Heyman segment some of the best promo work in many years. The program is being built with the “big fight feel,” something both Vince McMahon and Heyman love. Hunter is really high up on the realism and feels it shows a side of Punk’s character that hasn’t been seen WWE television. One observer pointed you would have to go back to Punk’s program with Raven in Ring of Honor to know that he really had it in him. While both Vince and Hunter feel Punk plays a better heel in the ring, they are “very happy” with this current direction and feel it’s a completely different kind of babyface.

Daniel Bryan’s match against Antonio Cesaro was being called a second “Match of the Year” candidate in just as many weeks. Triple H greeted Antonio Cesaro as soon as he got backstage and CM Punk and others gave him an ovation. Many workers were spotted watching the bout on the monitor backstage.

Their was criticism from Daniel Bryan beating Ryback by count out. As “poor as poor booking can get,” is how one key observer described it. After the show Vince McMahon went to Bryan and told him that sometimes it’s “good to be wrong.”

WWE officials were furious over the Brie Bella nipple slip on last night's RAW. The apology that she tweeted out was ordered by management. While not shown on television, Nikki Bella came out to the ring on crutches for the Miz TV segment on this week’s Monday Night Raw.

Triple H “blew a gasket” on Ryback for his botched spot at the end of the match with Daniel Bryan where he was supposed to protect Bryan and catch him then put him through a table. It was seen as “careless and reckless” that Ryback just let Bryan bump to the outside and didn’t know how to improvise after completely botching it. According to a source backstage, Hunter got in Ryback’s face and was screaming “carelessness” at him. Bryan is expected to get x-rays on his collar bone on Tuesday but isn’t believed to be hurt as he worked the dark match main event following the taping. However, it’s worth noting this continues to hurt the stock of Ryback. Not only was Hunter upset with the spot but CM Punk and John Cena were vocal about it as well. Cena is someone that rarely calls out others, so when he does, people listen.

source: wnw premium news

HBK Honored In Salt Lake City

Jim Ross came out and gave a speech honoring Shawn Michaels, followed by a video package. Michaels then came out and was presented a plaque from Valley City Mayor Mike Winder. Antonio Cesaro interrupted and said Michaels doesn’t deserve the honor, he does. JR grabbed the plaque from him and when Cesaro was getting ready to attack, HBK hit him with Sweet Chin Music.

Participants for WWE Intercontinental Cup

During last night's WWE Raw it was announced that an Intercontinental Cup tournament will take place on Wednesday's episode of Main Event. The following participants have been announced:

The Miz

Kofi Kingston

Darren Young

Antonio Cesaro

Dolph Ziggler

Cody Rhodes

Damien Sandow

Randy Orton

The winner will get a shot at Wade Barrett.

Debuting Playbook's WWE Power Rankings

Oh, you didn’t know?! ESPN’s power rankings are expanding to capture the madmen of the mat, ranking the best in the business in terms of match strength, promo skills, showmanship, and suplexes. Every week, we’re reacting to "Raw" and "Smackdown" to give you our thoughts about some of the best athletes in the world.

And before you head to the comments with the whole “it’s fake!” talk, we realize the outcomes are predetermined in the same way you should realize there’s no way to fake getting press-slammed on top of a ladder. The ribs hurt whether or not the outcome is legit, and we’re showing respect to the athletes/performers who put their bodies on the line every week to entertain millions of “yes!” screaming fans.

This week’s episode of "Raw" saw some brutal bumps in the hard-hitting Tables, Ladders and Chairs match between CM Punk and Ryback, an awesome show of strength and athleticism by Antonio Cesaro, and an introduction to the term “cookie puss” to the wrestling vernacular.

More?

J.R. Comments on Antonio Cesaro

"Antonio Cesaro delivering his finisher, the Neutralizer, to a behemoth the size of Khali was a jaw dropper. By the time that WrestleMania rolls around, I'm thinking that Cesaro will be a significant player on April 7. Cesaro is the type of in ring talent that would have been coveted in virtually any era and would never have had to look for work in the territory days."

Antonio Cesaro: 'I'm A Doctor Of Wrestling'

For Antonio Cesaro, his match against R-Truth this coming Sunday at the TLC PPV is not about USA versus Switzerland. Even if the WWE U.S. champion didn't have good words to say to the American people recently, that's not the point he's trying to prove.

"Those who think it's a war between USA and Switzerland are the ones who listen to what R-Truth wants them to think," told Cesaro to SLAM! Wrestling.

"This match is me proving that I'm better than R-Truth. The fans will get an exciting title match. I don't need tables, ladders and chairs to win and I'll prove what I can do with only my wrestling abilities," he added.

Cesaro developed his wrestling abilities working many years on the indy scene, at a time when he was known as Claudio Castagnoli.

"Becoming a WWE wrestler is like trying to be a doctor. You need several years of studying in a university prior to achieve your goal.

More?

Rumor Mill - Top WWE Stars In 2013

There’s a feeling backstage that the five big names they will try and build around in 2013, besides the obvious stars like CM Punk and John Cena, are Dolph Ziggler, Sheamus, Cesaro, Barrett and Randy Orton as a heel.

JR Comments on Future Stars In NXT, More

NXT was the best night of TV that we’ve produced in Orlando to date. NXT Champ Seth Rollins got a great ‘rub’ from WWE Champion CM Punk. The impromptu tag bout that occurred after the official taping ended between Punk/Rollins vs. Cesaro/Ohno was simply outstanding. We called it just for the Hell of it just in case it ever airs on a DVD, etc. It was really fun.

Big E Langston continued to take giant strides and is a star in the making if he continues to steer the course and gets a break once he debuts on one of the WWE rosters which I feel will happen some day soon. Just a gut feeling.

Michael McGillicutty can be a star and he is beginning to really bring it. The duo of Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel impressed me as does the team of Ascension every time I see them.

Paige is the top young diva in NXT for my money and the young lady from England has a bright future.

I’m really enjoying the new TV persona of the talented South African Leo Kruger.

Jim Ross Praises FCW Talent After Final Taping

Jim Ross has posted a new blog, which consists almost entirely of talk about the final FCW taping, which was held last night:

The atmosphere Thursday night at the last FCW TV taping was intimate and exciting from the sell out, turn away crowd. 

As much as the crowd delivered the kids delivered more. I'm amazed at the teamwork and team spirit these young talents possess. It's refreshing and motivating even for an old veteran like me.

Lots of kids stood out. Rollins, Steamboat, Cesaro, Ohno, Bo Dallas, Bray Wyatt, Brad Maddox, Ascension, Big E Langston, Jason Jordan, Paige, and several others who I'm sure that I'm inadvertently omitting while doing this on the fly from 35,000 feet. 

I like the team of  Jake Carter and Cory Graves. Their match w/ CJ Parker and Mike Dalton was really nice. 

Loved the @thedeanambrose vs @realkingregal bout that had a shockingly, real, physical conclusion.  That match was on hour three and will likely air in July but I'm not sure of any of the air dates. When FCW's TV show runs its course on the Brighthouse Network in Florida, FCW will be replaced by NXT. I'm unaware if the rebranded NXT will air on WWE.com ( doubtful) but will air outside the USA where NXT is currently airing. 

I had a blast blast broadcasting  w/ WWE HOFer Dusty Rhodes as you will hear if you are able to assess the show which many watch on You Tube. 

With FCW in the rear view mirror we turn our attention to the next, NXT taping at Full Sail University in Orlando next Thursday June 14.

Interview with Antonio Cesaro

Ricky Steamboat Comments on FCW Talent that are Ready to be Called Up

"I believe Seth Rollins and Bo Rotundo are ready for a look-see. I think Husky [Harris], who is Bo's brother is ready for a look. A guy who has been with us for about six months in Antonio Cesaro is ready for a look. Not knowing his background, I find he has been doing this for a while. He is ready. I think my son is ready for a look. Every quarter collectively, all the trainers give a report on all the talent that is sent up to WWE for them to look at."

Antonio Cesaro Debuts

Antonio Cesaro (Claduio Castagnoli) debuted for the WWE main roster during last night's WWE house show in Jackson, MS. Cesaro teamed with Michael McGillicutty to lose to Mason Ryan & Alex Riley.

Claudio Castagnoli Signs with WWE

Pwinsider.com is reporting that Claudio Castagnoli has officially signed a WWE developmental deal and has reported to Florida Championship Wrestling. His new ring name is Antonio Cesaro.