Rumor Mill - WWE Potentially Seeking UFC Fighters to Appear at SummerSlam as Part of Brock Lesnar Deal

Since news broke that Brock Lesnar would be fighting at UFC 200 in July, there has been a lot of speculation as to what WWE would be getting in return for Lesnar appearing at a such high profile UFC event. It seems quite obvious that UFC will be promoting WWE in some fashion, likely the WWE SummerSlam PPV in which Lesnar will return to a WWE ring.

Additionally, PWInsider.com is reporting WWE might be seeking UFC fighters to appear in a segment at SummerSlam, similar to the way Ronda Rousey appeared at WrestleMania.

Specifically, WWE might want some of the female UFC fighters to appear at SummerSlam in an angle involving the women, and a particular name that has come up is Paige VanZant (pictured above), who recently placed second in the finals of Dancing With The Stars.

WWE reportedly reached out to VanZant’s manager and there was at least some communication between both sides.

WWE SummerSlam returns to Barclays Center in 2016 and 2017

Barclays Center, NYC & Company and WWE have agreed to a multi-year deal to bring SummerSlam, Monday Night Raw and NXT back to Barclays Center in Brooklyn in August 2016 and August 2017. This announcement comes on the heels of an extraordinary SummerSlam Week last month which saw WWE sell out Barclays Center for an unprecedented three consecutive nights with NXT Takeover: Brooklyn, SummerSlam and Monday Night Raw.

2016 Key Dates:

Saturday, Aug. 20 – NXT
Sunday, Aug. 21 – SummerSlam
Monday Aug. 22 – Monday Night Raw

2017 Key Dates:

Saturday, Aug. 19 – NXT
Sunday, Aug. 20 – SummerSlam
Monday Aug. 21 – Monday Night Raw

This year’s SummerSlam Week combined the best of sports and entertainment while leaving a lasting impact on the host community. Jon Stewart served as host of SummerSlam in his first public appearance since retiring as host of "The Daily Show," and "Arrow" star Stephen Amell teamed up with WWE Superstar Neville to take on WWE Superstars Stardust and King Barrett. ESPN’s coverage of SummerSlam included exclusive interviews with WWE Superstar Brock Lesnar, and ESPN’s SportsCenter broadcast live from SummerSlam throughout the day. In addition, WWE joined forces with Charity Buzz to raise more than $200,000 for Answer The Call, the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund, while hosting 10 community outreach events, including the record-setting 500th wish granted by WWE Superstar John Cena for Make-A-Wish.

"We are thrilled to build on the success of the 2015 SummerSlam and welcome WWE back to Brooklyn in 2016 and 2017. Big events like SummerSlam help cement New York City's appeal as a dynamic, high-energy destination," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "We're thankful for WWE's commitment to Brooklyn, and look forward to a long partnership that benefits the City."

“We’re excited to be hosting WWE SummerSlam for the next two years,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Barclays Center. “We had an incredible experience this past August and are looking forward to continuing our partnership with WWE and NYC & Company.”

“Barclays Center, NYC & Company and the City of New York have been incredible partners to WWE, and we are pleased that SummerSlam Week will once again take over New York City in August of 2016 and 2017,” said John P. Saboor, WWE Executive Vice President, Special Events. “We look forward to building on the success of this year’s event to take SummerSlam Week to even greater heights.”

SummerSlam, which is broadcast around the world live on WWE Network, features the biggest stars of WWE alongside other celebrities, entertainers and athletes. SummerSlam Week in Brooklyn will feature a series of activities including fan events, autograph signings, WWE’s Be a STAR anti-bullying rallies, hospital visits and other community outreach programs designed to leave a lasting impact throughout the region.

Ticket information for SummerSlam in 2016 will be announced in the near future.

Could This Year's SummerSlam Finally Break WWE Out Of Its Summer Slump?

WWE invades New York City this Sunday, when its annual SummerSlam pay-per-view event takes over Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. SummerSlam is widely considered WWE’s second-biggest event of the year, behind only WrestleMania. That might lead fans to think the mega-event is a big part of WWE’s annual business just like its spring counterpart - last year’s WrestleMania accounted for more than one-third of WWE’s total pay-per-view revenue - but it turns out that summer is actually the company’s worst financial season of the year.

WWE’s third quarter, in which SummerSlam falls, is traditionally home to the company’s least impressive performance in terms of revenue. Last year the company generated $120 million in Q3 revenue, $6 million less than any other quarter. In 2012, the company had income of $104 million during the summer months, while no other quarter had revenue under $115 million. And it’s been a consistent trend for nearly a decade.

From 2007 through 2014, Q3 has provided an average 22% of WWE’s annual revenue. The first and last quarters pull their weight at around 25% of yearly income apiece, while Q2, the usual home of WrestleMania, has averaged 28% in those years. After looking through the revenue segment breakdowns, it doesn’t seem like the income dip is driven by any single area, but is rather a general summer slowdown in the business.

This year’s event offers some reason for hope, though. With a much-anticipated rematch between Brock Lesnar and the Undertaker on the card and demand clearly up in a big way – the average SummerSlam ticket costs nearly $540 on the secondary market, the highest for any WWE event since 2010 – this may finally be the year that WWE is able to break out of its summer slump.

source: forbes.com

WWE Takes Over New York City With SummerSlam

For the first time since 2007, WWE’s SummerSlam returns to the NYC-Metro area with a week-long lineup of events including interactive fan experiences and community outreach programs covering all five NYC boroughs. SummerSlam takes place this Sunday, August 23, live on WWE Network at 7 p.m. ET from a sold-out Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The events begin today and include:

• Children’s Hospital Visits – Wednesday, August 19
WWE Superstars and Tag Team Champions Titus O’Neil® and Darren Young® will be at The Brooklyn Hospital Center and WWE Superstar Dean Ambrose® will be joined by WWE Diva Alicia Fox® at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children in Queens. On both occasions, they will visit with patients and hand out WWE Mattel toys.

• Brooklyn Cyclones Celebrity Softball Game – Wednesday, August 19
The Brooklyn Cyclones and WWE have partnered for SummerSlam Night. As part of the night’s festivities, WWE Superstars and Divas including Ryback®, Fandango®, Eva Marie® and Charlotte, will join members of the FDNY, NYPD and other celebrities in a pre-game Celebrity/Civil Servants All-Star Challenge and softball game prior to the 7 p.m. Cyclones game against the Lowell Spinners. Also scheduled to participate in the celebrity game are NBA Hall of Famer and current St. John’s Men’s Basketball Coach Chris Mullin, Mets Hall of Famer John Franco, Greg Kelly & Rosanna Scotto – the hosts of Good Day New York – and many others.

• SummerSlam Reading Celebration – Thursday, August 20
WWE and First Book will host a reading celebration at JCC Cornerstone Program at Todt Hill Community Center in Staten Island. WWE Superstar Dolph Ziggler® and WWE Divas Nikki Bella® and Brie Bella® will read to local Staten Island students from grades 1-3 to promote the importance of literacy. A book donation will be made to all students in attendance.

• Firehouse and Police Precinct Visits to Support “Answer the Call” – Thursday, August 20
WWE is joining forces with Hollywood celebrities and professional athletes through a global online auction on Charitybuzz.com, featuring unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences in support of “Answer The Call,” the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund. To help raise awareness for the program, WWE Superstars Roman Reigns®, Jimmy Uso®, Jey Uso®, Kofi Kingston®, Big E® and Xavier Woods®, and WWE Diva Summer Rae® will be visiting firehouses and police precincts around New York City.

• “Be a STAR” (Show Tolerance and Respect) Anti-Bullying Rally – Thursday, August 20
WWE will host an anti-bullying rally at the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club in the Bronx, featuring Be A STAR alliance members, Facebook, GLAAD and DoSomething.org. WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon, Facebook Trust and Safety Manager, Emily Vacher, GLAAD Vice President of Programs Zeke Stokes and DoSomething.org’s Chief Marketing Officer Naomi Hirabayashi will join WWE Superstars Kofi Kingston® and Sheamus®, and WWE Diva Eva Marie™ to deliver bullying prevention messages to more than 250 children between the ages of 6-15.

• Hire Heroes Veteran Employment Panel & Event – Friday, August 21
WWE, in partnership with Barclays Center and Orion International will host a Veterans Career Panel and Networking Event in support of Hire Heroes USA (HHUSA) for nearly 80 veterans. Corporate HR and Brand Executives from WWE, ESPN, Marvel, Priceline, MTA, LinkedIn, FDNY and Colgate will be in attendance to discuss veteran hiring practices. WWE Superstars The Usos, WWE Diva Naomi® and WWE NXT Superstars Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady, will also be on-hand to speak with the veterans. The event will consist of a panel, networking opportunities and career coaching stations.

• John Cena 500th Wish Celebration – Friday, August 21
Make-A-Wish and WWE will celebrate WWE Superstar John Cena® becoming the first celebrity in history to grant 500 wishes. The event, which is being hosted at Dave & Buster’s Times Square, will feature appearances by WWE Superstar John Cena, WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon, Make-A-Wish America President and CEO David Williams, WWE Superstar Sheamus, WWE Divas The Bellas and Wish children and their families.

• New York Stock Exchange Opening Bell – Friday, August 21
In celebration of SummerSlam and WWE Superstar John Cena’s 500th Wish, Cena, WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon and Make-A-Wish America President and CEO David Williams will accompany seven Wish kids, and ring the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange. For more than a decade, Cena has been granting the wishes of children through WWE’s partnership with Make-A-Wish which began more than 30 years ago. To date, WWE Superstars and Divas have granted more than 6,000 wishes, more than any other sports and entertainment organization.

• Superstar Meet and Greets – Friday, August 21 & Saturday, August 22
These exclusive fan sessions will give the WWE Universe an opportunity to get autographs and photos with their favorite Superstars and Divas including WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins®; Randy Orton®; Roman Reigns; Dean Ambrose®; Bray Wyatt®; WWE Divas Charlotte, Paige and Becky Lynch; WWE Legend Sting; and WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels.

• Susan G. Komen Community Health Fair – Saturday, August 22
WWE and Susan G. Komen will be supporting a community health fair featuring The Project Renewal Scan Van, offering mobile mammograms and information on Race for the Cure. WWE Divas Tamina™, Alicia Fox™, Naomi™, and Natalya™ and WWE Superstars Titus O’Neil and Darren Young will take part in a meet and greet at the Church of the Revelation in the Bronx to promote breast health education and the importance of early detection.

• NXT Takeover Brooklyn – Saturday, August 22
On the night before the biggest event of the summer, WWE’s next generation of Superstars and Divas will perform at a sold-out Barclays Center with the biggest NXT Takeover yet. Finn Balor’s reign as NXT Champion hangs in the balance when he takes on Kevin Owens in a Ladder Match. NXT Takeover Brooklyn can be seen live on WWE Network at 9 p.m. ET.

• SummerSlam – Sunday, August 23
A sold-out crowd will converge on Barclays Center for SummerSlam. WWE’s biggest event of the summer, which can be seen live on WWE Network at 7 p.m. ET, will feature WWE Superstars Undertaker® and Brock Lesnar® in a rematch of their historic WrestleMania 30 bout where Lesnar ended Undertaker’s 21-year undefeated streak.

• Monday Night Raw – Monday, August 24
The night after SummerSlam, Monday Night Raw takes place at a sold-out Barclays Center for the third night in a row, where fans can see their favorite WWE Superstars and Divas. Monday Night Raw is the longest-running, weekly episodic program in U.S. primetime TV history and is one of the most-watched, regularly scheduled programs on cable, airing live every Monday night on USA Network.

Jon Stewart to host SummerSlam

After 16 epic years as host of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” Jon Stewart has announced his retirement plans. What will Stewart do next? A trip to Disney? A run for President? A one-way trip to Mars? No, as first reported by USAToday.com, Stewart is set to host SummerSlam, this Sunday, Aug. 23, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT live on WWE Network.

Stewart, a longtime member of the WWE Universe, appeared earlier this year in an ongoing rivalry with now-WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. After Stewart taunted Rollins on social media, Rollins appeared on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” where he challenged Stewart to appear on Monday Night Raw to settle their score.

Most recently, Rollins appeared in a look-back segment during Stewart’s final few days on “The Daily Show.”

Stewart stepped down from his post as host of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” on Thursday, Aug. 6. During his tenure, Stewart welcomed a wide array of high-profile guests, including President Barack Obama, former President Jimmy Carter, Clint Eastwood, Halle Berry, Ben Affleck, Jon Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, Derek Jeter, Shaquille O’Neal, Bill Gates and many more.

Watch ESPN SportsCenter, live from SummerSlam

Start your SummerSlam Sunday off right when ESPN SportsCenter airs live from The Biggest Party of the Summer.

ESPN SportsCenter, live from SummerSlam, will air Sunday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. This broadcasts mark the first time ESPN's long-running sports-news franchise will be on-site for a WWE event.

Former WWE personality and current ESPN anchor "The Coach" Jonathan Coachman hinted at the developing news in a series of tweets over the weekend before it was formally announced on Raw.

Triple H's Involvement With New Ultimate Warrior Book

There will be an "Ultimate Warrior Day" event in Brooklyn during SummerSlam weekend that will serve as a launch for the new book, "The Ultimate Warrior: A Life Lived Forever: The Legend of a WWE Hero." The book was written by sports and entertainment author Jon Robinson, Triple H and Warrior's wife Dana.

The website for the book launch notes that Dana is currently the president of Warrior's gym, Ultimate Creations, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Triple H Announces Raffle

Want a one of a kind @WWE @SummerSlam experience with me? Visit http://t.co/IDp7we2x43 to learn more. @SportsLegacy http://t.co/4lX7c0EPxP

— Triple H (@TripleH) July 27, 2015

WWE Unveils the Ultimate SummerSlam Experience at Barclays Center

WWE (NYSE: WWE) and Barclays Center announced today the addition of several fan events to take place at Barclays Center as part of the Ultimate SummerSlam Experience in Brooklyn. Tickets will be available this Saturday, August 1, at noon EST through Ticketmaster.

On Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22, WWE will host “WWE Superstar Meet and Greets” at 40/40 CLUB & Restaurant at Barclays Center. These exclusive sessions will give WWE fans an opportunity to get autographs and photos with their choice of WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins™, Randy Orton®, Roman Reigns®, Dean Ambrose®, Bray Wyatt™, WWE Divas Charlotte™, Paige™ and Becky Lynch™, WWE Legend Sting™ and WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels®.

On Saturday, August 22, a special “SummerSlam Panel” will take place at Barclays Center, giving fans a chance to ask questions directly to WWE Superstars. The topic of the panel will be NXT®, where WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative Paul “Triple H®” Levesque, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins™, NXT Champion Finn Bàlor™, NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks™, WWE Superstar Kevin Owens™, WWE commentator Corey Graves™ and host Byron Saxton™ will discuss the evolution of one of the hottest entertainment brands in the world seen every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. on WWE Network.

The “SummerSlam Panel” will feature a 90 minute discussion and Q&A with fans in attendance. General admission and a limited number of VIP tickets will be available. The VIP ticket includes priority floor seating, a professional photo with select panel Superstars and an exclusive, autographed limited edition poster.

Tickets for “WWE Superstar Meet and Greets” and the “SummerSlam Panel” will be available this Saturday, August 1, at noon EST and can be purchased online by visiting http://www.barclayscenter.com, http://www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center on Monday, August 3 at noon. For more information on SummerSlam Week activities, please visit www.SummerSlam.com.

In addition, WWE NXT will make its historic debut in New York City on Saturday night, August 22, as NXT Takeover: Brooklyn will emanate live from Barclays Center. NXT Takeover: Brooklyn is NXT’s biggest event to date, and will be broadcast live on WWE Network. The main event will feature Finn Bàlor™ defending his newly crowned NXT Championship against former Champion Kevin Owens™. The event will also include appearances by NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks™, Samoa Joe™, Rhyno™, Enzo Amore™, Big Cass™, as well as a special appearance by international superstar Jushin “Thunder” Liger. Tickets for NXT Takeover: Brooklyn are currently available through Ticketmaster.

SummerSlam Just Got Bigger!

WWE announced today that SummerSlam will expand from a three-hour show to a four-hour telecast live on WWE Network and now begin at 7pm ET on Sunday, August 23. SummerSlam joins WWE’s annual pop-culture extravaganza, WrestleMania®, as the only two events with four hours of live non-stop action.

Emanating live from a sold-out Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, SummerSlam will feature WWE Superstars Undertaker® and Brock Lesnar® in a rematch of their historic WrestleMania 30 bout where Lesnar ended Undertaker’s undefeated streak. In addition, WWE Network will also air a one-hour live SummerSlam Kick-Off Show starting at 6pm ET.

WWE Hosting Ultimate Warrior Event During SummerSlam Weekend

WWE will be doing a major book launch for the new Ultimate Warrior book that comes out next month. Dana Warrior will be signing copies of the book on Saturday, August 22nd in Brooklyn at the Powerhouse Arena. There will also be Warrior memorabilia, the statue WWE had made and Warrior face-painting for kids.

Brie Bella on Daniel Bryan's Recovery, Wanting to Become Parents, the WWE Divas Title, More

Brie Bella recently spoke with the UK's Mirror to promote WWE Total Divas. The full interview is at this link. Below are some highlights:

The new season:

I actually have to say this is probably one of my favourite seasons and I'm not just saying that so y'all tune in. A lot has happened, a lot happens. We start the season where the girls are in an uproar because Eva Marie doesn't want to train in NXT and it doesn't sit well with the other Divas. And it shouldn't. And you just see a lot of people start pouring their hearts out, start speaking the truth, and it turns into a lot of drama. I think everyone will be surprised and that's what you have to tune in for.

My husband and I, you know we've really just been going back on forth on becoming parents, it's something we really, really want. I'm just dying to be a mom and you're going to see that struggle this season and Daniel Bryan and myself getting our fertility checks which is just crazy, but we did that, I really wanted to know, and you'll see a lot of things that get us ready for motherhood and fatherhood.

My sister, you'll kind of just see her going back and forth whether she's going to re-sign with WWE or not and being the Divas Champion. It's crazy, we're on the road just about 350 days a year and we sacrifice everything, so you just start looking at all your family's pictures and you're like 'oh my gosh, I'm not in that, that or that, wow, I've not been in the last 10 years of your life'. We're really looking at that. I think family is everything to the Bella Twins and that's what we've been looking at and thinking about the most.

One of the main things we'll see you having to deal with is the career threatening injury Bryan has suffered. How is he doing?

You know he's doing really well, he is, but it has been very hard. This injury unlike any other has just been the hardest because in the past we at least knew 'okay it's surgery, this long to recover', he unfortunately had a relapse, but then we knew how long it would be to recover after the relapse. But with this one it's so unclear and that's the hard thing. As a wife, to put myself away from wrestling, as a wife it's so hard to see your husband go through this. I mean, you know when doctors are starting to think, and you see his dreams come crashing down, it breaks my heart. To the point where I wish I was in his position and he was in mine because I hate seeing him like that. But my husband has so much fight in him and he tells me every day 'I'm getting back in that ring, just you watch' and I'm like 'oh I bet you will'. I have his support 100% and I really think he will get back in there, I really do. He doesn't see it any other way.

You were the Divas Champion in 2011. Is it an ambition of yours to hold the title again?

Oh my gosh I would love to. It would be such an honour to hold it again. You know I'm proud of my sister right now and she couldn't be a better champion and I'll always have her back, but there are definitely times when I think, 'look at that, I think it would look better in my hands'! SummerSlam is coming up, which brings up a lot of bad memories, but I have her back, blood is thicker than water.

What was it like to feud with Stephanie and your sister and be part of such a big storyline this time last year?

Oh, it was the highlight of my career. It was amazing to work with Stephanie McMahon, you know for a Diva it was amazing to have a great story. And to have it happen organically from the Daniel Bryan situation. You know Stephanie and I main evented Raw two weeks in a row. Just as women. We had no men in our storyline, it was just two women who had beef. And then when we were going into SummerSlam to have Vince McMahon tell us that we helped sell the pay-per-view and that was the main story going in, it was incredible. Those are moments I will be telling my grandchildren, that I will remember forever. And the best part too, someone like her was bullying my husband and I got be the bitch that stepped in and put her in her place.

Coachman Wants to Bring WWE and ESPN Together

Former WWE announcer Jonathan Coachman, who still works for ESPN, told a fan on Twitter that he wants to bring WWE and ESPN together. He then made this tweet, proposing that they take SportsCenter on the road when SummerSlam comes to New York City this year:

"SportsCenter On The Road at Summerslam." How does that sound. Show my bosses the power of @wwe fans by retweeting as many times as possible

— Jonathan Coachman (@TheCoachESPN) July 1, 2015

WWE SummerSlam Location Official

The New York Daily News reports that WWE SummerSlam will be held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY on Sunday, August 23rd. An official announcement will be made on Thursday. Tickets will go on sale next Saturday, March 14th, at 10am.

"SummerSlam in New York matches one of the most iconic sports and entertainment celebrations with one of the world's greatest cities," WWE executive vice president for special events John Saboor told the Daily News.

SummerSlam was originally scheduled to take place at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ, however the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority board approved a plan in January to close down the arena.

Stephanie Talks Missing Shane In WWE, Why No More Elimination Chamber, More

Stephanie McMahon was a guest on The Wrestling Compadres Slamcast on Nerdist.com to promote the new WWE fitness DVDs. She also talked about Total Divas and other elements. Below are some highlights:

Stephanie talked about Total Divas connecting with their large female audience (she said 1/3 of the audience of WWE’s core programming is female) as well as attract new viewers. She also put over the series being the second most popular on E (behind the Kardashians).

When asked whose idea was Total Divas, Stephanie said it was “hard to say” but it was created with E.

Stephanie talked about her return to the ring at SummerSlam, saying she knew that with her return to TV that she eventually had to get her comeuppance. She called it a pleasure working with Brie Bella. Stephanie said it was fun but challenging.

When asked about the company eliminating the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, Stephanie said from a reality standpoint, the elimination chamber was 10 tons and was becoming increasingly hard to hang in arenas that had scoreboards. She explained that more and more arenas were getting these big beautiful displays and they were unable to hang the structure.

As for what to expect from WWE Fast Lane, Stephanie said they will deliver with the pay-per-view before Wrestlemania.

She said that she missed having Shane McMahon in WWE. Stephanie said she was “stretched quite often” by wrestling with her brother growing up. She said the only way she could win was by not giving up. Stephanie fully supports Shane and put over him being Chairman at You On Demand. He’s also a co-owner of a motorcycle shop.

Click here to listen to the podcast in its entirety.

Stephanie McMahon comments on her SummerSlam match with Brie Bella and her relationship with her daughters

During an interview with Yahoo Sports blog The Turnstile, Stephanie McMahon offers a nice story about how she handled her recent SummerSlam match with Brie Bella and her relationship with her young daughters:

I brought my daughters actually to Staples Center to watch me live in the ring - to watch their mother compete in the ring. It was a very proud moment for me. I worked incredibly hard for it and I wanted them to be a part of that experience. They supported me in my training all along and it took a lot of extra time for me to really get into shape to be able to compete in the ring.

I did explain to my daughters, but I've been explaining all along because as you know, I'm married to Triple H, who in my opinion is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. And in order to watch their dad compete against the likes of Brock Lesnar or The Undertaker, I would always explain to them exactly what was happening in the ring, how we make things look like they hurt when they don't, and the story that we're telling. They're involved and aware of what's going to happen, but at the same time just like our fans who know the difference between storytelling and reality, they still allow themselves to get swept up in the story and have an awesome time. When I came back from the ring and I walked backstage, I ran into my children and my mother, who were all clapping and chanting, "You still got it." It was something I will never forget.

Stephanie McMahon discusses bullying, SummerSlam and Triple H

Shawn Michaels discusses D-Generation X and SummerSlam

Video: Brie Bella vs. Stephanie McMahon SummerSlam Contract Signing

Jim Ross Blogs on His WWE Departure

"All my legal commitments to WWE ended Wednesday night at midnight which concluded a 21 year tenure with the company. Coming to WWE in 1993 was the best business decision I ever made even though I really loved living in Atlanta. Great city...great food...many friends...fun, sports town.

Arriving in WWE in 1993 and officially ending my tenure there this week made it 21 years working for Vince McMahon which not too many individuals can say that they did especially on the management level that I was in the majority of the time. We worked through drastic, financial issues, a federal trial, bankruptcy was discussed more than once, but we all pulled together and put our personal lives on hold, got lucky on hiring some amazing talents and then launched the Attitude Era that created the greatest success WWE ever achieved.

It was always a team effort and we had some very talented people working tirelessly to make WWE a more viable brand and to establish their place as firmly the #1 sports entertainment company in the world.

I have no regrets and am thankful for the opportunities that were presented me. I wouldn't have done a thing differently but I'd have preferred to not have had three Bells palsy attacks but that's the hand I was dealt. I've always tried to man up and navigate through those challenging waters. Obviously, my 'look' after the Bells attacks did me no favors as a TV broadcaster and some folks even had fun imitating me but that's something that they have to live with and not me.

I will always take great pride in how our staff in talent relations delivered time and time again when the company was going through it's toughest period ever. We got the work done, were honest and straight forward to the talents, managed some highly motivated and talented athletic performers, and recruited and signed some of WWE's all time biggest stars.

I'd like to think that my work at ringside with Jerry Lawler and with Paul Heyman along with Vince McMahon contributed some to the process. It sure as hell was a lot of fun working with such talented men at the announce desk."

"My departure from WWE over the Summer Slam symposium in 2014 was a fiasco of misinformation and rumors allegedly spread by some perhaps with dubious character, agendas and with an overall lack of information. My side of the story will be told thoroughly some day to the chagrin of some and, yes, there are two sides to every story. But that was then....today is a better day with great things on the horizon."