Chris Benoit, Perry Saturn, Eddie Guererro and Dean Malenko show up on RAW. The group would be known as "The Radicalz."
January 31, 2000
January 31, 2011
This Day in Wrestling History
January 30, 2011
More Ridicule for TNA...
More TNA rumblings from Mark Madden:
MORE RIDICULE FOR TNA...
...and as usual, the wounds are self-inflicted.
Only the stupidest, most dense idiots in the history of wrestling would head into a re-launch angle without having all the protagonists under contract. Whoever's responsible for letting Nash and Booker slip through the cracks to the Royal Rumble - an event TAILOR-MADE for such a poach - SHOULD BE FIRED.
But they won't be. For one thing, that would entail taking responsibility. Nobody does that in TNA.
For another, this setback won't deter anyone at TNA from being united in their common cause: MILKING THAT DUMB SKIRT AND HER ENABLING FATHER DRY.
Dixie Carter's stupidity is damn near magnificent. Either her top administrators are totally incompetent or they're running a con. Either way, she can't see it.
Why would Nash and Booker go to WWE? A) More money and B) It's the REAL SHOW. Deep down, everybody wants to be on the REAL SHOW.
Did Nash and Booker double-cross TNA? Are you really asking that question with a straight face?
Since TNA is not a legitimate threat to WWE, why would Vince McMahon do this? BECAUSE HE CAN. Kinda fun, too.
source: wrestlezone.com
Royal Rumble Results 2011
World Heavyweight Champion Edge vs. Dolph Ziggler
Winner: Edge (c)
WWE Champion The Miz vs. Randy Orton
Winner: The Miz after interference from The Nexus and CM Punk
Divas Champion Natalya vs. Lay-Cool (2-on-1 Handicap Match)
Winner: Eve - New Diva Champion. Eve was added to match by the Raw GM.
40-Man Royal Rumble Match
Winner: Alberto Del Rio. Kevin Nash (Diesel) and Booker T make appearances in the Rumble.
Triple H Ready to Rumble?
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
January 29, 2011
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
January 28, 2011
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
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
