Triple H Ready to Rumble?

It’s time to play The Game.

At least that’s what officials at WWE have to be privately saying behind closed doors.

Triple H, son-in-law of WWE owner Vince McMahon and one of the company’s biggest stars, has been out of the spotlight since an injury knocked him out of action last summer.

There’d be no better time to make a return than tonight’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

WWE, with stock dipping and pay-per-view buy rates on the decline, desperately needs something — or someone — to shake things up. The return of a familiar face with star power would be a step in the right direction.

Triple H, 41, has said publicly that he’ll only get back in the ring if he’s still able to compete at a high level, and has no plans to be one of those performers who claim to be the greatest long after their main-event days are over.

“If I can’t do this the way I feel like I should be able to, then I want to be done,” he told WWE Magazine. “And I don’t want to come back here and tarnish that. I don’t want to do the nostalgia run where I come out and say I’m the greatest in the world.”

Triple H is expected to take a much more active role in the creative division of the company — even more so than in previous years — now that wife Stephanie has three young children at home.

Surprisingly he said in a recent interview that he was more focused on learning about the company’s other business operations than he was attending creative meetings, calling himself a “special attraction” rather than a full-time wrestling performer.

But the division of the company that needs him now is the one with the ropes and the turnbuckles. Mania is just around the corner, and while WWE has done an admirable job of elevating younger talent this past year, star power is still what sells the product.

So don’t be surprised if Triple H turns out to be the 40th entrant in the newly expanded 40-man Rumble. One possible scenario has Triple H coming in and eliminating Sheamus — the man who allegedly put Trips on the shelf — to win the event.

source: postandcourier.com

Indy Show Outdraws TNA

A Southern All-Star Wrestling independent show at the Nashville Fairgrounds last night headlined by WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler vs. Bill Dundee reportedly drew 1,700 paid fans. In comparison, TNA's recent farewell tribute show at the Fairgrounds only drew 900 fans.

source: f4wonline.com

Rumor Mill - Previous Delays to Triple H's Return

The latest issue of Power Slam reports that Triple H's return to WWE programming has been postponed on multiple occasions dating back to October.

According to WWE creative team sources, his return was originally scheduled for the Bragging Rights pay-per-view on Oct. 24. It was postponed to shortly before the Survivor Series, and again to the pay-per-view itself. He was then scheduled to return at the King of the Ring edition of Monday Night Raw on Nov. 29, then the week after that. He was also tentatively scheduled for the first Raw of 2011.

The magazine adds that there has been talk of him returning at tonight's Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

source: f4wonline.com

This Day in Wrestling History - Joe Stecher vs. Earl Caddock Draws 80,000 at MSG

Joe Stecher defeats Earl Caddock in New York City at Madison Square Garden. The show draws a gate of $80,000. Caddock takes home $15,000 and Stecher $25,000. This match pits Joe Stecher's claim of the World Championship against Caddock who had never truly lost the title and made one Undisputed World Champion in Stecher. The match is the oldest known wrestling match which still survives on film.
January 30, 1920

X Years After, Memories of the XFL

If you haven't already done so, get a calendar and circle Feb. 3. It's the 10th anniversary of a sports breakthrough that should not pass unnoticed.

The XFL sprang to life Feb. 3, 2001, with its first game. I know, most of you think that's like commemorating the birth of New Coke or "Rosemary's Baby" -- assuming Rosemary had a girl and dressed her in a G-string.

Sure, the brainchild of rasslin' king Vince McMahon had its flaws. But history shows it deserves some due. For one not-so-glorious spring, the XFL gave us a partial glimpse where football was heading...More?

source: fanhouse.com

SmackDown Results: “Spear”-ited Reaction

Following another outspoken Friday night address by The Miz, Rated RKO alumni Edge & Randy Orton reunited to battle The Awesome One & Dolph Ziggler in a Champions and Challengers Tag Team Match.

In the midst of absolute tag team mayhem, Edge defeated his bleach blond adversary with the Spear. However, as the dust cleared, an irate Vickie Guerrero used her authority to ban The Rated-R Superstar’s favorite instrument of destruction until further notice, declaring that if Edge uses the Spear in his Royal Rumble title match (preview), he will be disqualified and lose the World Heavyweight Championship. Following her proclamation, The Ultimate Opportunist hit Ziggler with three defiant Spears both inside and outside the ring. Full results.

source: wwe.com

How WWE Conquered the Social Media Arena

WWE is known for its burly performers, lewd females, outrageous story lines and epic drama, but behind the scenes there’s a serious fight to engage its audience.

At WWE headquarters in Stamford, CT, a group of innovative marketers and strategists are working hard to pump out the content that gets its viewers excited. Social media is a growing part of that process. The team’s social media efforts have even caught the attention of Mashable readers, who voted to award them two Mashable Awards.

We spoke with three key digital leaders at WWE to discuss its social media strategy — Brian Kalinowski (EVP, digital media), Mark Keys (VP, web production) and Corey Clayton (online community leader) weighed in on how the company is using social to engage and learn from its community...More?

source: mashable.com

Rumor Mill - Stone Cold to Host 'Tough Enough'

Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Stone Cold Steve Austin will be the host of the incarnation of Tough Enough when it debuts on the USA Network on 4/4. Obviously, the hope is that he will bring starpower, and viewers, to the project. They have a trial run on USA with the hope being that it will become a full time program.

source: pwinsider.com

Photos: Movie Stills From 'The Chaperone'

WWE Chief Operating Officer Leaving the Company

WWE filed a Form 8-K today with the SEC that stated the following:

Effective February 28, 2011, Donna N. Goldsmith will leave her positions as Director and Chief Operating Officer of WWE and pursue other interests. She will receive severance benefits as described in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 17, 2010.

Goldsmith, along with Michelle Wilson-EVP Marketing and Stephanie McMahon-EVP Creative Development and Operations were touted as the day-to-day driving force of the WWE and were referred to as WWE's "Wonder Women". The trio were featured in Continental Magazine last January.

It will be interesting to see who takes her place.

Scott Hall Returning to Psychiatric Hospital - Thanks McMahon Family

Former WWE Superstar Scott Hall recently told the Miami Herald that he is due to return to the Menninger Clinic in Houston for treatment. He revealed that partying, drugs and alcohol have all taken a toll on his body “I recently had this pacemaker/defibrillator put in my heart,” said Hall, who was also hospitalized for double pneumonia in the summer.

Hall seemed in a good place with the treatment he has been receiving:

“This place is really cool because it’s a psychiatric hospital. A lot the people there don’t have drug and alcohol stuff. Mental illness is real, and I got them. I don’t know if it’s the multiple concussions or the lifestyle choices…I’m going to a place where they can help me.”

He also thanked the McMahon family for picking up his rehab "tab:"

"I have been to about nine rehabs," said Hall. "They were high dollar and some of the best ones around. Vince has picked up the tab the last couple of times. If you ever work or worked for WWE, if you ever need help, he will give it to you. He is really cool. Thank Vince, his wife Linda, Stephanie, Shane, and Paul [Levesque/Triple H]. Thank you for helping me. It’s hard to ask for help. It’s even harder to accept it, when people offer it."...More?

source: miamiherald.com

This Day in Wrestling History

Ric Flair debuts the famous "WWE Desire" video featuring legends of the past and present in an attempt to convince Vince McMahon to stop from bringing the nWo into the WWE.
January 28, 2002