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January 1, 2014
Video: "2014 is going to be EPIC" - WWE COO Triple H addresses the returns of Brock Lesnar and Batista
December 31, 2013
Mae Young Hospitalized, Said To Be In Poor Health
Mae Young, 90, is currently hospitalized and described as being in very poor health. Young was at one point scheduled to appear on next week's 1/6 Old School RAW in Baltimore.
sources: pwinsider.com & the wrestling observer
Pro Wrestling, “Doctor Who” and Kennedy Center Honors Top Twitter for Christmas Week
It was a very Merry Christmas for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as three of its programs landed in the week’s Nielsen Twitter TV Top 10, led by USA’s “WWE Monday Night Raw” — the top program on Twitter of all for the week of Dec. 23. A total of 1.26 million distinct accounts viewed any of the show’s 113,500 tweets on the evening of Dec. 23. NBC’s airing of “WWE Tribute to the Troops” on Dec. 28 ranked seventh for the week (477,500 accounts/26,300 tweets) while Syfy’s “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” from Dec. 27 ranked eighth (473,100 accounts/39,300 tweets).
Even professional wrestling competitor TNA made a Top Ten appearance with the 10th place Spike’s “IMPACT Wrestling” (216,700 accounts/12,400 tweets)...More?
source: tvmediainsights.com
Rumor Mill - Backstage Details On A Blowup Between Stephanie McMahon, Vince McMahon & Triple H Regarding Vince’s Role With The Company & Concerns Regarding His Health At A Pivotal Time In WWE’s History
Stephanie McMahon has been urging her father to take time off until he gets to feeling better. According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Stephanie got into a bit of an argument with Vince over it and told him if he didn’t step back and put his health first, she would quit the company. Triple H sided with her and made it clear he wouldn’t stay without her.
Cooler heads eventually prevailed and there wasn’t a blowup at WWE’s highest level, however, there is a precedent for this. One of the reasons why Shane McMahon left WWE is he wanted his father to lessen his role and give him more control. When Vince rejected that notion, Shane ended up pursuing outside interests.
Those close to Vince say that with the ongoing television licensing negotiations as well as the upcoming launch of the WWE Network, he’s refusing to be on the outside looking in during such a critical time in the company’s history. However, Stephanie and Hunter are worried about the stress resulting in serious damage to his long-term health.
December 30, 2013
Who is PWI's Best Wrestler of 2013?
Pro Wrestling Illustrated has released its annual year-end awards, and earning four awards, including Wrestler of the Year, is WWE star Daniel Bryan. Bryan won Wrestler of the Year, Most Popular Wrestler of the Year, Match of the Year (SummerSlam, vs. John Cena), and Feud of the Year (vs. The Authority). The annual PWI Year-End issue can be ordered in both print and digital formats at pwi-online.com.
Very Positve Review of the December 25th Edition of WWE NXT
Pwinsider.com (Mike Johnson) reviews the December 25th edition of WWE NXT:
WWE NXT: WHAT WORKED, WHAT WORKED, WHAT WORKED - A MOST PERFECT EPISODE
Due to the holiday last week and family responsibilities, I am catching up today on TV thoughts.
The 12/25 edition of WWE NXT may have been the most perfect one hour of pro wrestling television in 2013. Usually I cover TV episodes by looking at what works, what doesn't and what we learned, but the reality is that with this episode - we learned that good wrestling TV is still out there and that WWE NXT's production team needs a big pat on the back.
The episode, which was hosted by Renee Young doing her usual expert job as the girl next door that loves pro wrestling, was something of a review of the last year of NXT. As much as I wrote that the 200th episode was a good "jumping on point" for new viewers, this episode was even better.
Over the course of one hour, the show reviewed names that had moved from NXT to the main roster, the current/next generation of NXT talents that are being featured, reviewed all three NXT championships, showcased champion Bo Dallas and more.
The show also celebrated what was deemed, quite deservedly, the NXT Match of the Year, a Best of Three Falls bout between Sami Zayn and Antonio Cesaro. The highlight package presented the bout as something akin to a Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat classic and when it was done, you were left feeling like you had witnessed history on NXT TV. Given how many executives' heads were turned by that match, it may even end up being a pretty important bout historically, so I may not be too far off either.
The show was then topped off with an excellent match between William Regal vs. Antonio Cesaro. As much as I've compared NXT to Jim Crockett Promotions' old TV at times, this episode reminded me of the original ECW at its finest - it was short, fast interviews, packages and highlight reels held together by a good announcer - but then we had the main event with William Regal pretty much in the old Terry Funk in ECW role - the grizzled veteran who may not be the best dog in the fight anymore, but you are going to have to work to beat him....and that's what Antonio Cesaro had to do.
The promos setting up the bout were awesome with Regal pretty much saying that he's done everything in his career but be the World champion, and that it was his own fault. He said that if he has to go out, he wants it to be at the hands of someone like Cesaro. One almost suspected that Regal was predicting this was his retirement bout. Cesaro then did a promo thanking Regal for helping him get a job with WWE, but warning him that didn't matter once they got into the ring.
When they did, it was pure joy for diehard wrestling fans. They did all the European wrestling matwork, they teased submissions, they sold injuries to the extremities at the match wore on and they built drama. In the end, Cesaro, even though he was a villain, sold his own dismay and disturbance at knowing he had Regal not just beaten but destroyed, and that moment where he showed a glimmer of remorse as Regal pulled himself up, still trying to channel his inner fighting spirit - before Cesaro pulled him into the Neutralizer....well, it was one of the best moments in pro wrestling all year.
Because it was truly showcasing the art and emotion of a great pro wrestling match.
Kudos to everyone involved in the making of this episode. Go out of your way to see it, NOW.
December 29, 2013
Viewership Up for WWE's Tribute to the Troops Special
Saturday's WWE Tribute to the Troops special on NBC averaged 2.31 million viewers, up from last year's 1.31 million viewers. The show finished second in its timeslot.
December 28, 2013
WWE Tribute To The Troops Results
Big E Langston and Mark Henry defeated Ryback and Curtis Axel in the dark match.
* Daniel Bryan defeated Erick Rowan when Luke Harper and Bray Wyatt interfered. Vickie Guerrero re-started the match, leading to Bryan and CM Punk defeating Rowan and Harper by DQ when Wyatt interfered again. John Cena came out for the save. Vickie makes it a 6 man match. Cena's team wins when he hits the Attitude Adjustment on Harper.
* Cena gives a speech to the Troops. Cena chants and "yes!" chants filled the hanger.
* Darren Young and Titus O'Neil defeated 3MB.
* The Usos and Rey Mysterio defeated The Shield.
* Brie Bella won a Divas battle royal by eliminating AJ Lee.
James Storm Comments On Chris Harris Not Making It In WWE
"I believe Chris brought it onto himself. I talked to him while he was there. Anytime you go up there, they're going to test you, to see if you have an attitude or whatever. And I just heard he failed miserably. He had an attitude while he was up there and you can't do that. You just go up there and you do what they ask of you the best you can, and sooner or later, they'll find a spot for you and do something with you. Just because he had a good run here, he expected to go up there and have a run, and that's not so."
