JR Comments on Mark Henry

I found it somewhat insulting that TMZ’s website would discount Mark Henry’s athletic abilities and entertainment skills pretty much in total by inferring that Henry became ECW Champion simply because of his ethnicity. Henry’s entire career has been marred by injuries plus let’s not confuse the difference in a traditional wrestler with a wrestling "attraction" a la Andre The Giant which is what Mark Henry is in my professional opinion, an attraction. Mark deserves this opportunity because he has earned it and now it will be up to Mark to raise his game and run with the ball. Henry’s "look" and verbal skills intrigue me.

source: jrsbarbq.com

Controversy Concerning Mark Henry's Win

Celebrity news site, TMZ.com, is reporting that race played a part in Mark Henry's win at Night of Champions. You can read the story here.

Night of Champions Results

John Morrison and The Miz (c) vs. Finlay and Hornswoggle - WWE Tag Team Championship
Winners: John Morrison & The Miz (c)

Matt Hardy (c) vs. Chavo Guerrero - WWE United States Championship
Winner: Matt Hardy (c)

Kane (c) v. Big Show v. Mark Henry - ECW Championship
Winner: Mark Henry - New ECW Champion

Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes (c) v. Ted Dibiase & ? - World Tag Team Championship
Winners: Ted Dibiase & Cody Rhodes - New World Tag Team Champions
Rhodes turned on Holly and partnered with Dibiase

Chris Jericho (c) vs. ? - WWE Intercontinental Championship
Jericho's mystery opponent is Kofi Kingston
Winner: Kofi Kingston - New Intercontinental Champion

Mickie James (c) vs. Katie Lea Burchill - WWE Women's Championship
Winner: Mickie James (c)

Edge (c) v. Batista - World Heavyweight Championship
Winner: Edge(c)

Triple H (c) v. John Cena - WWE Championship
Winner: Triple H (c)

Kaliqo's Night of Champions Picks

Triple H (c) v. John Cena - WWE Championship
After seeing Edge interrupt Triple H on SmackDown and because both belts are now on SmackDown, I think Hunter will lose the title to Cena and begin a program with Edge.

Edge (c) v. Batista - World Heavyweight Championship
I would expect Edge to retain against Batista. This would set up a good program between Batista and John Cena.

Kane (c) v. Big Show v. Mark Henry - ECW Championship
I'm not really interested in ECW. I like Kane, so I'll go with him to retain.

Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes (c) v. Ted Dibiase & ? - World Tag Team Championship
I think Hardcore Holly's only purpose here is to put over the newbies. It would be great if Dibiase's mystery partner turned out to be Cody and they double team Holly for the win.

John Morrison and The Miz (c) vs. Finlay and Hornswoggle - WWE Tag Team Championship
Another match that I'm not interested in.

Matt Hardy (c) vs. Chavo Guerrero - WWE United States Championship
Another match that I'm not interested in, but I like Matt Hardy so I'll go with him.

Mickie James (c) vs. Katie Lea Burchill - WWE Women's Championship
I really like Katie Burchill. A diva that can actually wrestle. A title change would be good for Mickie. The chase would set up some good matches.

Natalya vs. ? - Inaugural WWE Diva's Championship
Jim Ross and Mick Foley said on SmackDown that Natalya will be wrestling for the new Women's Championship at Night of Champions. Vickie Guerrero will be choosing her opponent at the event. Maryse, Victoria or Michelle McCool would make good opponents. I would like to see Victoria with a title.

Chris Jericho (c) vs. ? - WWE Intercontinental Championship
According to f4wonline.com, the WWE plans to have Chris Jericho defend his title, but an opponent is unknown. Reportedly, it was Jeff Hardy, but he has been moved to SmackDown. Since NOC is in Texas, it wouldn't surprise me if Jericho's opponent was Shawn Michaels and if so it would be nice to see Shawn with a title.

More on Michael Hayes

source: prowrestling.net

JR Comments on Michael Hayes

"Yours truly looks forward to seeing old friend Michael Hayes return to work with the WWE which I understand might be this Monday in Salt Lake City for the live Monday Night Raw. As reported on many websites over the past several weeks, Michael made a mistake and a terrible error in judgment that has cost him severely.

"Sitting home for 60 days without pay and being demoted and losing current and future income are appropriate and significant punishments. Michael’s problem, in my personal opinion, are manifested and enhanced by one evil and that is abuse of alcohol... It is my understanding that Michael has received counseling for his alcohol issues which I am truly thankful to hear."

source: jrsbarbq.com

SD/ECW House Show Results - Syndey, Australia

WWE United States Champion Matt Hardy b. MVP via pinfall

Kelly Kelly & Michelle McCool b. Natalya & Victoria after McCool made Victoria tap out.

CM Punk b. Shelton Benjamin via pinfall

Mark Henry b. Jame Noble via pinfall

WWE Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison b. Finlay & Hornswoggle when Morrison pinned Finlay.

Kofi Kingston b. Chuck Palumbo via pinfall

The Undertaker & Kane b. Chavo Guerrero (w/ Bam Neely) & The Great Khali when Undertaker pinned Chavo.

Vladimir Kozlov b. Shannon Moore in a squash match

Batista b. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Edge via disqualification because of interference from Chavo Guerrero & Bam Neely. Undertaker also came out after the match was called off.

source: wrestlingnewsworld.com

SD/ECW House Show Results - Adelaide, Australia

WWE Tag Team Championship
John Morrison (C) and The Miz (C) def. Jamie Noble and Shannon Moore

CM Punk def. Chavo Guerrero with Bam Neely

Diva Tag Team Match
Kelly Kelly and Michelle McCool def. Victoria and Natalya

Finlay w/ Hornswoggle def. The Great Khali

United States Championship
Matt Hardy (C) def. Chuck Palumbo

The Undertaker and Kane def. MVP and Mark Henry

Vladmir Koslov def. Funaki

World Heavyweight Championship
Batista def. Edge (C) by DQ when Chavo and Bam Neely interfered

There was a beatdown on Batista and Chavo and Bam Neely held Batista as Edge was about to spear him but The Undertaker made his way to the ring. Chavo and Bam Neely got out of the ring and ran off, leaving Edge to get tombstoned by The Undertaker.

source: pwmania.com

SD/ECW House Show Results - Melbourne, Australia

Justin Roberts said that The Undertaker will not be competing due to the stipulation at One Night Stand, Shane McMahon comes out to a massive pop and announces Undertaker chose for a farewell to Australia and he WILL compete tonight, fans went ballistic.

CM Punk vs Chavo Guerrero w/Bam Neely. CM Punk wins with a GTS.

Jamie Noble and Shannon Moore vs Vladimir Koslov. Vladimir wins with his reverse DDT move.

Kofi Kingston vs Shelton Benjamin. Kofi wins with his air kick move.

Victoria w/Natalya Neidhart vs Michelle McCool. Michelle McCool wins.

WWE Tag Titles Match: The Miz and John Morrison vs Finlay and Hornswoggle. Miz and Morrison retaining after Morrison gave a low blow to Finlay.

U.S Championship Match: Matt Hardy vs Chuck Palumbo. This was a good wrestling match and was one of the best matches of the night. Hardy retains with a Twist Of Fate.

The Undertaker and Kane vs MVP and Mark Henry. Undertaker and Kane win when they double chokeslam Henry then Taker gives a tombstone to MVP.

World Heavyweight Championship: Edge vs Batista
Bam Neely and Chavo Guerrero interrupted and caused a DQ. Edge retains. Undertaker then comes out and Guerrero and Neely leave. Edge is left alone and gets tombstoned by Undertaker.

source: pwmania.com

The Undertaker & Michael Hayes Return

Last night in Auckland, New Zealand, the Undertaker wrestled his first WWE match since getting banned from the company at One Night Stand. Undertaker teamed up with his brother Kane, as the Brothers of Destruction defeated the Great Khali and Mark Henry. According to WWE storylines, Undertaker is still officially gone from the company, however Vickie Guererro allowed him to travel overseas for his "Farewell Tour".

After serving a lengthy suspension due to some off-color remarks made during WrestleMania weekend, WWE writer Michael Hayes is back to work. According to PWInsider.com, he was at WWE's developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling on Monday and Tuesday and will be returning to WWE television at the June 23rd draft.

source: rajah.com

Booker T discusses Michael Hayes and racism in WWE

Booker laughed when he was asked about Michael Hayes and racism late in the conference call. He said Hayes thinks he's black. "I don't look at Michael as a racist myself," he said. "I've heard him use the N-word before... He's one of the people who can use the word around me because I know there's no malice behind it.

source: prowrestling.net

Rumor Mill - Michael Hayes & Dateline

The Wrestling Observer is reporting that Michael Hayes made some racist statements in regards to Democratic front runner Barack Obama. There was fear that some of those statements would become public before Obama agreed to appear on Raw a few weeks ago.

The newsletter also mentions an interesting comment from a minority source on the WWE production team. The person noted that Dave Kapoor (Ranjin Singh) was removed as The Great Khali's manager and threatened to be fired for merely smiling during the in-ring ceremony for the 10th anniversary edition of Raw, while Hayes will be brought back to his position despite a history of racially insensitive comments.

The W-O also notes that NBC's Dateline is looking to possibly do a show on the pro wrestling industry in late June, coinciding with the one year anniversary of the Benoit tragedy.

Looking at the Michael Hayes situation

baltimoresun.com

Michael Hayes Update

TMZ has confirmed that Hayes, the head writer for WWE's "Smackdown," has been suspended for 60 days -- allegedly for using racist language in front of wrestler Mark Henry. Michael's haymaker was supposedly thrown this past weekend while out drinking at a party, where reports say Hayes told Henry, "I'm more of a n----- than you are."

A rep for the WWE released this statement: "Due to inappropriate behavior, Michael Hayes was suspended for 60 days with no pay. In order to return to work, Michael Hayes will be required to undergo further evaluation."


Once a freebird, always a freebird...

Rumor Mill - Michael Hayes Suspension Update

Lead SmackDown writer Michael Hayes is serving a 60 day suspension. There are conflicting reports as to the reason. Prowresling.net is reporting that it was due to a racial slur. Wrestling-Edge.com is reporting that is was an incident with Carlito. You can read the reports at the links blow.

Prowrestling.net

Wrestling-Edge.com

Breaking News - WWE SmackDown Writer Suspended for 60 Days

It has been confirmed that head SmackDown writer Michael Hayes has been suspended for 60 days. More details on this story should be coming out tomorrow.

source: wrestlezone.com

Royal Rumble Results

Hornswoggle is hiding under the ring. Undertaker leg dropped Snitsky on the announce table after being eliminated. Hornswoggle comes out from under the ring and pulls out The Miz. Big Daddy V pulls Hornswoggle into the ring. Finlay runs out and saves him. Finlay and Hornswoggle went to the back but were never eliminated.

Order of entry: (1) Undertaker, (2) HBK, (3) Santino Marella, (4) Great Khali, (5) Hardcore Holly, (6) John Morrison, (7) Tommy Dreamer, (8) Batista, (9) Hornswoggle, (10) Chuck Palumbo, (11) Jamie Noble, (12) CM Punk, (13) Cody Rhodes, (14) Umaga, (15) Snitsky, (16) The Miz, (17) Shelton Benjamin, (18) Jimmy Snuka, (19) Roddy Piper, (20) Kane, (21) Carlito, (22) Mick Foley, (23) Mr. Kennedy, (24) Big Daddy V, (25) Mark Henry, (26) Chavo Guerrero, (27) Finlay, (28) Elijah Burke, (29) Triple H, and (30) John Cena.

Order of elimination: (1) Santino Marella, (2) Great Khali, (3) Tommy Dreamer, (4) Jamie Noble, (5) Chuck Palumbo, (6) Hardcore Holly, (7) Shelton Benjamin, (8) Roddy Piper, (9) Jimmy Snuka, (10) Snitsky, (11) Undertaker, (12) HBK, (13) The Miz, (14) John Morrison, (15) CM Punk, (16) Cody Rhodes, (17) Big Daddy V, (18) Mick Foley, (19) Elijah Burke, (20) Carlito, (21) Chavo Guerrero (22) Mark Henry, (23) Mr. Kennedy, (24) Umaga, (25) Kane, (26) Batista, (27) Triple H.

Winner: John Cena

Deadman Stalking

Legend has it that in Europe during the Middle Ages, Hun invaders would mark their territory by mounting the head of a slain enemy on a stake. Undertaker went a step further at Unforgiven, reclaiming his territory by leaving the body of the World’s Strongest Man broken and battered on the mat. The conquered mass of Mark Henry in his wake sent a clear message: That Undertaker’s resurrection is complete, and no one on the SmackDown roster should feel safe from his wrath...More?