Ellen’s Interview with WWE Star Nominated for GLAAD Award

The episode of "The Ellen Degeneres Show" featuring an interview with WWE star Darren Young has been nominated for Outstanding Talk Show episode at this year's GLAAD Media Awards.

There will be a ceremony taking place for the awards on May 3rd in New York City.

Rumor Mill - WWE Reforming Former Stable To Take On The Shield?

The word going around backstage is that WWE will be reforming Evolution with Triple H, Randy Orton, and Dave Batista, at least for a short time, to take on The Shield. Ric Flair is not expected to return to the group but that could change.

If this does end up happening, look for a Shield vs. Evolution match to take place at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view.

source: wrestling observer

Ultimate Warrior's Widow Receiving Special Help From WWE

The WWE is helping Ultimate Warrior's wife cope with her husband's sudden death ... flying two senior WWE officials to Arizona to stand by and help her.

We're told the WWE sent the employees almost immediately after Warrior died ... their main task is helping his wife Dana handle little things -- grocery shopping, letting other family members know what's going on -- so she can focus on being with their daughters.

It's sounds bizarre ... top officials leaving their jobs to handle mundane chores, but that's how important Warrior was to the WWE.

As we previously reported, Warrior died outside an Arizona hotel Tuesday ... after suffering what officials called a "catastrophic medical event."

source: tmz.com

WWE to pay tribute to Ultimate Warrior on 4/14 RAW

WWE would be paying tribute to the late Ultimate Warrior on this Monday's 4/13 WWE RAW from Indianapolis. Warrior (Jim Hellwig) passed away on Tuesday after collapsing in an Arizona hotel after taking part in Wrestlemania 30 weekend in New Orleans and his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Rumor Mill - More NXT Stars Getting Called Up

After Bo Dallas and Adam Rose come up to WWE's main roster, the next NXT stars in line to come up are Sami Zayn and NXT Tag Team Champions The Ascension.

No More WWE PPV?

With the launch of the WWE Network, the company will no longer be using the term "pay-per-view" when referring to their monthly events. Instead, WWE will be phasing out "PPV" and calling the shows "Special Events" instead. With each "Special Event" now factored into the price of the WWE Network, and the future of actual television pay-per-view in question, the new direction seems appropriate given that the fans won't actually be paying specifically to watch them.

Stephanie McMahon & Triple H Taking Bigger Role Backstage

Although Vince McMahon is ultimately in charge still, F4WOnline.com is reporting that Stephanie McMahon and Triple H have been taking a much bigger role behind the scenes. They are certainly being viewed in more of a leadership role than ever before.

The report goes on to state that Hunter and Stephanie had a ton of control during WrestleMania 30, in terms of booking. And while Vince won't be stepping down anytime soon, there is a feeling internally that WWE is going through a transitional period backstage.

“The Icon” Sting Signs Contract With WWE

After months – if not years – of speculation and rumor, Dave Metlzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that WCW legend and former TNA wrestler Steve "Sting" Borden has signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment. Sting's new deal will include television time, but at present it is unknown when "The Icon" will make his on-screen debut, and how frequently he will be used.

Reports coming in prior to WrestleMania XXX called for Sting to face The Undertaker in some kind of match, most likely at next year's WrestleMania in Santa Clara, CA. However, following the Deadman's now-infamous loss to Brock Lesnar this past weekend, that match-up seems more unlikely. There was a rumor going around earlier this year of WWE bringing Sting in as an authority figure on Monday Night Raw, similar to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Mick Foley, Bret Hart and many others being used as general managers, commissioners, etc.

Sting made his last televised appearance for TNA Wrestling at January's Genesis live special edition of Impact Wrestling on Spike TV, prior to his contract with the company expiring. His signing with WWE could be seen as a major deal, as Sting is well known for being the last wrestling legend of the modern era, who has never worked for Vince McMahon.

source: wrestlezone.com

Wrestling Columnist Posts "Memo To Nancy Grace"

Source: PWInsider.com

Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com has posted a piece entitled Memo to Nancy Grace, Crusading Wrestling Journalist that we wanted to share with all of you:

Dear Nancy Grace,

Thank you for the insightful piece on your CNN Headline News series yesterday on the Ultimate Warrior. I know with the fine journalistic standards you have set for yourself, the facts would certainly be at the forefront of this sad, tragic story.

After all, watching your segment last night, I learned:

*Warrior was found dead.

*There are allegations of "illegal steroid and drug use" in his passing.

*Warrior was a "top WWE Superstar" at the time of his passing.

*Warrior collapsed at his hotel while walking to his car with his wife (Hey....wait a minute, didn't you just say he was found dead?)

*Lots of wrestlers have died young, with implications of drug use - including wrestlers like Mark Curtis (stomach cancer), Owen Hart (fall to his death), Brady Boone (car accident), Joey Marella (actually a referee, car accident), Chris Candido (blood clot following surgery) and DJ Peterson (motorcycle wreck).

*That you have no idea what the term "catastrophic medical event" could mean.

*That you don't recognize Diamond Dallas Page when he's not "half-naked."

*That "not everyone" used steroids back in the day, because you never used them.

*That Warrior was referred to as "Ultimate"....well, at least by you.

Thank you so much for the fine upstanding research your team does on your show. Not since the days where your show told me that Chris Benoit may have committed murder because he was upset that he was demoted from the Four Horsemen to ECW and that wrestling fans looked up to "The Grunge" have we seen such hard-hitting, insightful mainstream media work on professional wrestling and those who populate that unique genre.

This incredible attention to detail and journalistic ethics brings me nothing but confidence that every other story you present will be conveyed to your viewers with the same incredible reporting. Your credibility speaks for itself.

Sincerely,

Mike Johnson

Diamond Dallas Page Issues Statement On Nancy Grace Show Appearance

Diamond Dallas Page has issued the following statement regarding his appearance on Wednesday night's Nancy Grace show on CNN:

"I went on Nancy Grace last night expecting to discuss Warrior the man. Had I known the only topic discussed would be steroids I would not have participated. At the time I was also unaware of the list that was shown to the viewing audience. To imply that all of the wrestlers on that list died from steroids was wrong and for that they owe the families an apology. Again, my only intention was to discuss Warrior the man and share some stories about how dedicated he was to the wrestling business. I am saddened that was not what happened and my thoughts remain with his family. - DDP"

As previously reported, Grace repeatedly insinuated that Warrior's death was caused by steroid use, and she also provided a list of wrestling talent that she claimed had died as a result of steroid use. Some of those talent included Owen Hart, Joey Marella, Brian Hildebrand, and others who had actually died of other causes. Wrestling fans have been in an uproar since Grace's show and her comments Wednesday night, and a Change.org petition has also been launched by a fan calling for CNN to remove Grace from their network because of her coverage of Warrior's death, as well as her incorrect statements.

Recap of DDP on Nancy Grace Tonight; DDP Praises WWE’s Wellness Policy Amidst Grace’s Attempts to Link Warrior’s Death to “Steroids & Drugs”

Former WWE star Diamond Dallas Page appeared on Nancy Grace tonight to speak on the death of the Ultimate Warrior.

Grace began with the news recap of Warrior's death, then continued to reiterate an overly-dramatic subliminal message throughout the segment that "rumors of steroid and drug use are swirling" in the case of Ultimate Warrior's death.

To my knowledge, there hasn't been a single media outlet that has linked steroid or drug use to the sudden death of Ultimate Warrior.

Grace brought a doctor onto the show to discuss the long term effects anabolic steroids have on your body, and the lasting problems they can cause even if you've stopped using them long ago. This was clearly Grace's indirect way to blame Warrior's past steroid use (which he has admitted to) for his death yesterday.

At one point in the segment, she listed numerous pro wrestling names who have died young, and attempted to group them into the same "steroid" umbrella that she was using against Warrior, even if some of the names she mentioned had never been linked to steroid use.

DDP talked briefly about wrestlers using steroids in the past, but praised WWE's Wellness Policy for getting guys like Scott Hall and Jake Roberts the help they needed to get their lives back on track following their past drug use.

Grace continued to reiterate "rumors of steroid and drug use are swirling," and then introduced a correspondent who spoke on the "catastrophic medical condition" Warrior suffered yesterday. Grace asked for clarification of the phrase "catastrophic medical condition," but the correspondent said nothing else is known at this time. She did mention most people believe the cause of Warrior's death to be a heart attack, but those details remain unconfirmed.

DDP mentioned Warrior's vigorous workout habits, and noted he was a very intense man, but added he is not a doctor, and cannot speak to the truth of any drug or steroid related causes of Warrior's death.

The segment closed with Grace reiterating, for the hundredth time, "rumors of steroid and drug use are swirling," and at this point she's said it so many times she has to be the person who started the rumors, and is continuing to "swirl" them.

Triple H Talks to ESPN About The Ultimate Warrior's Death and His Return to the Company