Update on Triple H's Backstage Speech

There was a talent meeting backstage before the SmackDown/ECW tapings. When the meeting concluded, Triple H reportedly addressed all wrestlers with a speech saying that he knows many people probably feel they are in a horrible business and are questioning why they would still want to be involved. He "reminded" the wrestlers that they have a dream job where they get to make children happy and get to live out their dreams of being involved in a business they all grew up loving. Triple H reportedly said he was proud to be a pro wrestler and that the entire business, not just WWE, was under fire and that it was up to the boys to "stick together and work through it.

source: wrestlezone.com

Top WWE Star Claiming He Wants to Sue the Media

During the meeting before the ECW/SmackDown! tapings yesterday, Batista asked Stephanie McMahon what he could do legally about his name being included in the recent media reports, citing publicly in front of the crew that he had never received anything from the online pharmacy companies. Stephanie told him that was an issue he and his attorneys should look into, also mentioning that she was under the impression he was already doing that (which would mean a civil lawsuit seeking damages).

Batista claims that there was no connection between him and the pharmacies and he is very upset at Sports Illustrated and other media outlets for reporting his name.

source: pwinsider

WWE Releases Cryme Tyme

World Wrestling Entertainment and RAW brand tag-team Cryme Tyme has parted ways. There are no in-depth details at this point, only that there was an incident sometime this weekend involving Cryme Tyme and WWE Tag Team champions Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch.

source: pwinsider

Triple H vs Mr. McMahon

The beginning of the McMahon-Helmsley Era

WWE: Mediaplayer

Kaliqo's Commentary

Jim Ross has an excellent commentary on his blog concerning the doping scandal. You can read it here. My response is below:

Your commentary was great. Hopefully this will be enough to bring the wrestlers in compliance with the Wellness Program. I am dreading the coming week with the "mainstream media". I know they cannot wait to drag out former wrestlers to discuss a company they either never worked for or haven't worked for in years.

Isn't it interesting that the NFL suspensions linked to the same pharmacy hasn't generated the same attention?

I hope that some of the wrestlers will use this as an opportunity to step up and shine.

As usual, looking forward to Raw.

Benoit's mental state questioned at estate hearing

The father of professional wrestler Chris Benoit could be trying to make sure two grandchildren inherit his son's estate, suggesting Tuesday that Benoit had "diminished capacity" when he murdered his family and took his own life at their Fayetteville home.

Attorneys for Michael Benoit said that would mean that Georgia's "slayer's statute" that prohibits a killer or his heirs from profiting from the crime would not apply in this case....More?

source: ajc.com

Tapout crew out to make stars out of scrappers

As much a staple of the Ultimate Fighting Championship as the eight-sided cage and bloody mats, the Tapout crew are out to prove they're more than the ugly cheerleaders of mixed-martial-arts.

Armed with their trademark freak show look and a film crew, the California trio hopes to transform unknown fighters into mainstream stars.

"This is the same thing we've been doing for the past 10 years, only now there are cameras following us around," says Mask, the unofficial leader and the loudest of the three.

The formula for the show, which airs in Canada Fridays on Showcase Action, is simple and one that is custom-made for both veteran fight fans and newcomers to the sport.

The trio hits the road in a pimped-out tour bus collecting virtual unknowns from some of the world's top fight camps and bringing them to their first professional scrap...More?

source: winnipegsun.com

Randy Orton's Status

WWE is telling people that Orton fessed up to his dealings with Signature Pharmacy a few months ago, and somehow "already did his time." Most of the guys in the locker room are not buying it at all and see this as WWE trying to get out of losing him right now when they need him in his high-profile storyline with John Cena.

source: pwtorch

Stephanie McMahon & Triple H Conduct Talent Meeting

Before the ECW/SmackDown taping in Cincinnatti, Ohio, Stephanie McMahon conducted a talent meeting. The meeting was held at 4pm with the main subject being the changes to the Wellness Program.

The main changes made to the program and announced to the talent are:

- New talent signed by WWE will need to be drug tested before being signed.
- Marijuana testing will now be in effect by WWE. If tested positive, talent will be fined one thousand dollars each time failed. Also, if tested positive for marijuana, talent will not be suspended and will not be included in their “three strikes” rule.
- The drug “anti-estrogen” will be added to the banned items talent will be tested for.
- From November 1st, talent who violate the Wellness Program will be made public by WWE.

Also, before the ECW/SmackDown taping took place on Saturday, Triple H addressed the stars during a pre-show meeting. He told the stars that the whole industry is now being under attack and it’s now time for everyone to stick together.

source: 1wrestling

Status of Batista & Chavo Guerrero

Rey Mysterio took on Chavo Guerrero in an "I Quit" match at tonight's SmackDown taping. The match went about 20 minutes and said to be pretty good. Sports Illustrated reported on Thursday that Guerrero received Somatropin (HGH), Nandrolone (an anabolic steroid) and Anastrozole (to ward off breast tissue development after using steroids) between April 2005 and May 2006 through the Signature Pharmacy drug firm. Because Guerrero purchased drugs over the Internet, he is in violation of the WWE Wellness Policy, thus meaning that he is subject to suspension. Considering that Guerrero wrestled in an "I Quit" match as opposed to a regular match, it looks this was WWE's way of writing Guerrero out of the storylines for the time being. Guerrero definitely looks to be on the suspended list.

One wrestler who has apparently been cleared of any wrong doing is Batista. He appeared at tonight's SmackDown taping in a tag match with Kane as they took on The Great Khali and Finlay. He also did a run-in to fend off Khali, who had attacked Mysterio after his "I Quit" match with Chavo Guerrero. To further cement Batista's good standing status, Theodore Long came out soon after and announced a change in the SmackDown main event at Unforgiven. He said that Khali wil be defending his belt in a triple threat match. It will be Khali vs. Mysterio vs. Batista. ESPN.com reported on Thursday that Batista was a client of the busted Signature Pharmacy firm. However, his name was never implicated in the back-breaking article by Sports Illustrated. It appears as though that Batista has been cleared.

source: pwtorch

Breaking News: Eugene Fired By WWE

The following is from WWE.com:

WWE has come to terms on the release of WWE Smackdown talent Eugene as of September 1. We wish Eugene the best in all future endeavors.

Spoiler - ECW Title Change

CM Punk defeated John Morrison for the ECW Championship. As reported earlier, Morrison is involved in the doping scandal.