WWE Announces Closing of WWE Universe Website

We’ve had a great run WWE Universe ... but all good things must come to an end.

I’m writing to you all today to let you all know that WWEUniverse.com will be closing its doors this Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011.

While the site is going away, some of the site’s most popular features will live on:

* The popular Monday Night Raw and pay-per-view Live Chats, hosted by WWE Hall of Famer Howard Finkel, will move to a new location on WWE.com’s main site (WWE.com/social/livechat).

* Finkel’s weekly blogs, as well as The Ross Report from Hall of Famer Jim Ross, will move to their Facebook pages.

* Our make-your-own-highlight-reel video creation factory known as “Smash-Ups” will be added to WWE.com in the near future.

While the site is going away, the WWE Universe will continue to live online. Please consider joining us on our popular outposts on the following social networks:

* Twitter: twitter.com/WWE

* Facebook: Facebook.com/WWE

* YouTube: YouTube.com/WWE

Our WWE Universe Twitter account, @WWEUniverse, will continue to provide answers to your fan questions, re-tweeting the best comments from our followers, Superstars and Divas, and provide live coverage and pictures from select WWE events.

In parting, I just want to say thank you to all the dedicated long-time members of this site that participated, contributed photos, blog posts, and comments in the Forums.

WWE appreciates your support over the past two years, and I hope you enjoyed your time on the site.

Thank you all for supporting WWEUniverse.com. We’ll see you on Facebook and Twitter.

Sincerely,
Corey Clayton
WWE Online Community Leader

Q&A with The Miz

Video: John Cena Injury Speech

WWE star John Cena suffered an apparent leg injury during Tuesday's Raw house show in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Cena was working a cage match against Wade Barrett that was stopped abruptly. Dot Net reader Angelo Ambrosecchia attended the show and filed the following report.

"The cage match with Wade Barrett ended out of nowhere, Cena couldn't even stand up. They had to end the match fast and get the trainers out. Cena had to be helped to the back, apologized to the crowd and said he thinks he will have to miss some time. It looked really bad. You can tell at the end something was wrong when Barrett climbed the cage and basically sat there for about 2-3 minutes waiting for Cena to get up and stop him from getting over the cage, but he couldn't stand on the knee."

source: prowrestling.net

This Day in Wrestling History

The Monday Night Wars continued, WCW Monday Nitro's 4.6 rating defeated WWF Monday Night RAW's 3.6 rating. RAW in Uniondale, New York featured Owen Hart defeating WWF Champion Shawn Michaels by disqualification when Triple H broke one of his crutches over Hart's head while he had Michaels in the sharpshooter. Nitro was just over 200 miles away in Baltimore, Maryland, and featured Ultimo Dragon defeating WCW Cruiserweight Champion Eddie Guerrero by submission to win the title for the second time, Booker T winning his first of a record six WCW World Television Titles from Disco Inferno, and a main event of WCW World Champion Sting defeating Hollywood Hulk Hogan.
December 29, 1997

Mick Foley (as Mankind) defeated The Rock for his first WWF(E) Title after Stone Cold Steve Austin returned knocking out The Rock with a steel chair. The show would air on the following Monday, January 4, 1999. That night Tony Schiavone would reveal the result during WCW Monday Nitro, airing live that night, noting that Mankind as champion "ought to put a lot of butts in the seats." Schiavone would later claim Eric Bischoff fed him that line to say. D-Generation X celebrated with Foley after the match.
December 29, 1998

On an edition of ECW on SyFy from East Rutherford, New Jersey, Tommy Dreamer wrestled his last match for WWE's version of ECW, facing Zack Ryder in a match where Dreamer promised to leave ECW if he lost.
December 29, 2010

WWE NXT Results: One Week Until Elimination

Week four results:

Dolph Ziggler def. Johnny Curtis
Conor O’Brian def. Derrick Bateman
NXT Rookie Challenge: Johnny Curtis won the Power Punch (two points)
Byron Saxton def. Ted DiBiase (by disqualification)
NXT Rookie Challenge: Johnny Curtis won the Talent Show (one point)

NXT Rookie Records

Brodus Clay: Challenge immunity points: 0, Win/loss record: 1-1
Byron Saxton: Challenge immunity points: 1, Win/loss record: 2-1
Conor O'Brian: Challenge immunity points: 0, Win/loss record: 2-0
Derrick Bateman: Challenge immunity points: 3, Win/loss record: 0-3
Jacob Novak: Challenge immunity points: 1, Win/loss record: 1-1
Johnny Curtis: Challenge immunity points: 5, Win/loss record: 1-2

Rumor Mill - WWE Ending Raw Guest Host Concept

PWInsider.com is reporting that the Raw guest host concept appears to be finished in WWE. The concept lasted over a year and a half, but the guest star section of WWE.com has been removed.

Photo: Triple H at Tribute to the Troops

Triple H Interrupts During an Interview with Shawn Michaels

Much like any of WWE’s live broadcasts, the potential exists for something to go wrong or for interruptions during an interview. The latter held true, humorously, during our chat backstage moments before the tribute’s taping. But you don’t argue with Michaels’ best friend and former DX partner Triple H. Mostly because he’s that damn good. And, well, because Triple H can kick my ass. Fortunately, a battle royal didn’t break out, and Michaels continued to graciously accommodate.

As Shawn Michaels described what life has been like since retiring from wrestling, a brief stoppage in the interview occured as Triple H appeared:

Triple H: On my bus is your camou stuff.
Michaels: Yeah?
Triple H: I’ve got a little suitcase of DX stuff. We’re pretty limited. That’s all the DX stuff that exists apparently. I just need to know what one you want to wear so I can put the same one on.
Michaels: Whatever one you want.
Triple H: It doesn’t matter to me. You know where my bus is, right over there?
Michaels: Yeah, I guess so.
Triple H: At some point, just run on in there, change and grab whatever shirt you want, and I’ll just grab the same one.
Michaels: Alright. Nobody’s told me anything.
Triple H: That’s what I figured.
Michaels: Yeah (laughs, looks at interviewer and shrugs). I found out when I got here I was actually doing something (in the ring). Sheesh. And that’s the truth. That’s how it goes. I got a text: “You want some camou?” I’m like, what for? “For the DX stuff.” Am I doing something?

You can read the rest of the article here.

source: shawnmichaelsweb.com

First Match Announced for Pro-Wrestling SUN Debut Show: Mia Yim vs Mia Svensson

Pro-Wrestling SUN is pleased to announce the first two members of the Queens of Promise rookie roster, both scheduled to face each other at our inaugural show March 20, 2011 in Jackson, NJ.

Representing Jersey All Pro Wrestling is 2010 standout Mia Yim. The last year has been a huge one for Yim, who has been on a tear of the East Coast. From great outings at Jersey All Pro and Pro Wrestling Respect to a much buzzed about tryout with TNA Wrestling. In September, Yim was one of four women to be a part of the SHIMMER pre-show, Sparkle, in Berywn, IL. It was during that weekend when bad blood developed between Mia Yim and her SUN opponent.

Mia Svensson, also known as the Scandinavian Sweetheart, is a young upstart from Sweden. Svensson is a student of SUN president Allison Danger and North Carolina promoter “Nitestic” Eddie Brown. Svensson suffered a broken rib at the Sparkle pre-show in Berwyn, IL during singles competition with Mia Yim, an unexpected double stomp put Svensson on the disabled list and sent her right off the deep end. After a war of words across the internet, the unadulterated hatred between the two reached an all time high and Svensson lobbied SUN president Allison Danger to make the match and finally put these two women within the squared circle to settle their differences.

Sunday, March 20th in Jackson, NJ, World-1 and Pro-Wrestling SUN are set to blow the roof!

Mia Yim (JAPW) vs. Mia Svensson (RWC)

Also appearing:
Roxie Cotton (World-1)
Current World-1 Womens Champion Allison Danger (SUN) and more to be announced!

source: diva-dirt.com

This Day in Wrestling History

Sting defeated Hulk Hogan for the WCW World Title at Starrcade in Washington, DC.
December 28, 1997

Raw Results: "N"-listing Punk

According to Chinese astrology, 2010 was the Year of the Tiger. However, with The Miz as WWE Champion, The Nexus still a dominant force and CM Punk getting the best of John Cena, perhaps the past 12 months will best be known as the Year of the Rat. Full results.

source: wwe.com

Moore County DA Says Wrestler Jeff Hardy to Plead Guilty to Drug Charges

Jeff Hardy, the professional wrestler from Cameron who was arrested last year on drug charges, plans to plead guilty in court next month, according to the Moore County district attorney.

Moore County deputies raided Hardy's home in September 2009 after Fayetteville police received a tip about drug use in his Cameron home.

When they searched his house at 265 Boys Camp Road, lawmen found about 262 doses of Vicodin prescription painkillers, 180 Soma prescription pills, 55milliliters of anabolic steroids, a residual amount of powder cocaine and drug paraphernalia. The street value of the drugs was estimated at $2,500, the sheriff's department said at the time. He was charged with trafficking in opium, two counts of possession with intent to sell or deliver a controlled substance, maintaining a dwelling to keep a controlled substance, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He has been free on bail since his arrest.

At a court appearance earlier this month, Hardy's lawyer, James Van Camp, told the judge his client intends to plead guilty at his hearing Jan.20, District Attorney Maureen Krueger said.

Krueger would not comment on whether Hardy would be offered a deal in exchange for his plea, or whether he would be able to avoid jail time...More?

source: fayobserver.com