Charlotte announced on Raw last night that The Authority has granted her petition and she will get her title shot against WWE Divas Champion Nikki Bella on next week's RAW instead of at the Night of Champions pay-per-view.
Nikki noted on tonight's show that she will be having a special celebration on next week's RAW as she will be breaking AJ Lee's record then, if she can win the match against Charlotte.
It's possible they do a finish on RAW to where the match still happens at the pay-per-view.
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September 8, 2015
Nikki Bella Teases Big Celebration For Raw
September 5, 2015
First Details On WWE's 'Best Of NXT' DVD Set
We noted several days ago via WrestlingDVDNetwork.com that there was speculation on WWE releasing a NXT DVD in early 2016.
That set has now been confirmed. The first-ever NXT home video will be released in March as a three-disc DVD and two-disc Blu-ray set. It appears to be a worldwide release also.
The working title "Best of NXT" indicates it could be a match compilation but more details should be released in the coming months.
September 4, 2015
Which Wrestler Topped The 25th Annual PWI 500?, Full Top 10 Listing
The 25th annual PWI 500 is now available for download at pwi-online.com. Topping this year's list, for the first time, is WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, whose unexpected title win at WrestleMania, combined with several key victories throughout the evaluation period helped him lock down the number 1 position.
"Thanks @OfficialPWI for the number 1 spot," Rollins tweeted Thursday. "But let's be honest here...was there really ever a second option? Mwuhahahaha!!"
Rollins joins an elite group of wrestlers who have topped the PWI 500 since it debuted in 1991, including Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin and, last year's top-ranked wrestler, Daniel Bryan.
Rounding out this year's Top 10:
2. John Cena, who achieved his 12th consecutive Top 10 ranking.
3. AJ Styles
4. Roman Reigns
5. Shinsuke Nakamura
6. Randy Orton
7. Jay Briscoe
8. Rusev
9. Alberto El Patron
10. Kevin Owens
The PWI 500 is compiled each year using criteria that includes win-loss record, championships won, quality of competition, major feuds, prominence within their individual promotion(s), and overall wrestling ability. The evaluation period was from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015.
The print edition of the 2015 PWI 500 hits news stands on Sept. 29, but the digital edition can be downloaded now for just $3.50 at pwi-online.com.
September 3, 2015
Rumor Mill - WWE NXT Talents Reportedly Not Happy With How Blue Pants Is Being Used
Indie wrestler Leva Bates, known in WWE NXT as Blue Pants, reportedly has a lot of heat on her right now from others in NXT.
According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there is said to be resentment over how the company brought her to Brooklyn for the NXT Takeover angle with Alexa Bliss, an angle that any of the Divas would have wanted to be in, that she sells her own merchandise and doesn't have to split a cut and that she's not under contract so she doesn't have to go through the daily training at the WWE Performance Center.
There is also reportedly resentment over how she's still able to work indies and because she's increased her fees on the indies, talents believe she's making more money than they are, and being pushed more than they are, then getting over more than they are.
Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa on receiving the opportunity of a lifetime in NXT
WWE's website spoke with indie stars Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa about being entered into the WWE NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. WWE notes that they are still free agents. They also talked about going to NXT from the independent scene.
"Right now, I feel that NXT is the hottest thing in wrestling," Gargano said. "There's no doubt about that. The guys that they're utilizing are some of the best talent in the world. I know a lot of those guys. I've been in the ring with Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens numerous times. You look at a guy like me, I'm not 6-foot-8, 300 pounds, but from what I've been able to do with my talent around the world, I can come to NXT and show the world what I have. Based on the past, that wouldn't happen. NXT gives guys like me that opportunity, to do what we love to do and show the world what we're capable of."
Ciampa added, "It has an indie, underground vibe to it, but the production value and expertise of WWE leading it. It's the best of both worlds. From the first live special they did, I think that was the first time that the masses saw that this was something special and the place to be. From that point on, seeing things like Sami Zayn and Cesaro's 2-out-of-3 Falls Match, seeing Kevin Owens do so well, it's seeing guys who were the top of the independent world going to NXT and getting a bigger platform to show themselves on. Seeing how well they're doing gives you this drive to want to be a part of it. I just watched TakeOver: Brooklyn a couple days ago. When Triple H was in the ring introducing the show and it was dark, all you could hear was his voice. When he says, 'You told us the future is now!' and throws his arms up and the cameras go wide [to show the crowd], you could feel this energy. I told my wife, 'I want that. I need to be a part of that.'"
You can check out the full interview at WWE.com by clicking here.
WWE Going Gold for Pediatric Cancer Awareness
Connor, 8, was battling medulloblastoma, a rare tumor that affects the brain and spinal cord. Connor formed a special connection with McMahon and Levesque and many WWE Superstars and Divas. When Connor lost his battle with medulloblastoma in April 2014, McMahon and Levesque decided to honor him by creating Connor’s Cure, a fund within Children’s Foundation at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh that supports brain tumor research.
To date, Connor’s Cure has raised more than $630,000 and has been supported by WWE and fans all over the world.
https://community.wwe.com/hope/partners/connors-cure
WWE will be “going gold” throughout September to raise awareness for pediatric cancer. WWE will donate $1 to the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation to benefit Connor’s Cure for every updated twitter profile picture that goes gold.
WWE Goes Gold
http://connorscure.twibbon.com/
Article Looks at Vince McMahon’s Role in 1983 Snuka Murder Investigation
A 2013 article has resurfaced looking at Vince McMahon’s involvement in the 1983 investigation into the death of Jimmy Snuka’s girlfriend Nancy Argentino. As previously reported, Snuka has been charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the death.
While McMahon’s participation in the investigation isn’t news, it’s also not as widely known as the allegations against Snuka. McMahon was part of the meeting that Snuka had with District Attorney William Platt (now a Pennsylvania Senior Superior Court judge), then-Assistant District Attorney Robert Steinberg and the medical examiner on June 1st, 1983. An excerpt of the article is below.
Whitehall Police Detectives Gerry Procanyn, Al Fritzinger and Vincent Geiger were also at the meeting, according to police records. There’s no official record of what was said and Snuka doesn’t remember much of what happened, according to his book. “All I remember is [McMahon] had a briefcase with him,” Snuka wrote in his autobiography. “I don’t know what happened. …The only thing I know for sure is I didn’t hurt Nancy.”
Steinberg, now a Lehigh County judge, said Snuka didn’t say much and McMahon “did all the talking.” “I remember Vince McMahon being what Vince McMahon has always been — very effusive. He was very protective, a showman,” Steinberg said, noting he couldn’t recall specifics of the conversation. “He was the mouthpiece, trying to direct the conversation.”
Procanyn said McMahon gave authorities the phone numbers of wrestlers and managers they wanted to speak with. Fritzinger could not be reached for comment and Geiger died in 1984. Platt wouldn’t comment when asked if Whitehall police pushed for charges to be filed.
WWE responded to the newly-resurfaced article with a statement, which reads as follows:
“The insinuation that a group of medical examiners, detectives and prosecutors – including two who became judges – could have their integrity compromised and participate in improper activity during the course of a meeting is absurd, categorically false and insulting to all parties.
We are hopeful that justice will prevail.”
WWE Suspends Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka's Legends Contract, Comments On Removing His Images
As we first reported earlier today, WWE removed "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka's profile from their official website after Snuka was charged on Monday with involuntary manslaughter and third-degree murder for the 1983 death of Nancy Argentino. His profile has also been removed from the site's Hall of Fame section.
We noted that Snuka-related content still appeared on the site, however since that writing, it has been removed. WWE sent us the statement below noting that they have suspended Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka's legends contract and noted that his images were being removed from their media platforms:
Jimmy Snuka's non-wrestling 'legends' contract has been suspended and we are currently removing his images from our media platforms pending the outcome of this case.
WWE Removes 'Superfly' Jimmy Snuka From Hall Of Fame Section On Website
WWE has removed WWE Hall of Famer "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka's profile from their official website after Snuka was charged on Monday with involuntary manslaughter and third-degree murder for the 1983 death of Nancy Argentino. His profile has also been removed from the site's Hall of Fame section.
Snuka is only the second WWE performer to have their profile removed from the company's Hall of Fame section on the site. Hulk Hogan was removed this past July after racist comments that he made years ago surfaced online. Unlike Hogan, as of this writing, Snuka hasn't been completely scrubbed from the site and you can still find Snuka related news items and videos.
While Snuka and Hogan have been removed from the Hall of Fame section on WWE.com, WWE has yet to to officially announce that either Superstar has officially been taken out of the actual Hall of Fame.
Jimmy Snuka Suffering From Dementia, May Not Be Able To Stand Trial According To Lawyer
In an interesting development, William E. Moore, the attorney representing Jimmy Snuka, told the Allentown Morning Call that he sees the likelihood of Snuka being able to stand trial as doubtful. According to Moore, Snuka:
* Was wheelchair-bound and hooked up to a feeding tube when he surrendered into custody yesterday. ("He is not in good shape physically or mentally," said Snuka's attorney. I'm not sure he realized what was going on. I'm not sure what his cognitive abilities are. […] "I don't see it ever getting better.")
* Is suffering from partial dementia stemming from numerous concussions. ("He's had head injuries, just like football players have had head injuries. He's suffered a number of concussions with all the antics he's done.")
* Has limited recall/long-term memory. ("His faculties are so compromised you wouldn't know what he's saying. "He doesn't understand a simple conversation. You put him up against a sharp prosecutor asking, 'Remember 30 years ago when you said this ...,' he has no recollection.")
* Would not have been able to write a book (it was ghostwritten), though it should be noted he was still relatively coherent when it was released two years ago. ("He said he wrote a book. That's kind of comical,") With how the production schedule can go on that type of book, it's likely the author interviewed him closer to four years ago.
* Was bailed out by his first wife, Sharon Georgi. She had testified to the grand jury about Snuka beating her during their marriage.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 21st, but that may be delayed because Moore is unable to represent Snuka at trial due to a prior commitment.
September 2, 2015
September 1, 2015
Scott Hall Talks About His Legacy, If He Blames Pro Wrestling For His Personal Troubles, More
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross recently spoke with fellow Hall of Famer Scott Hall for the FOX Sports website. The full article is at this link. It was noted that Hall took Antabuse during WWE SummerSlam weekend in Brooklyn to help him stay sober. Antabuse makes a person very ill when mixed with alcohol. Hall told JR that he "hated being sick even more than he used to enjoy drinking" so the Antabuse works. It was also noted that WWE previously paid for at least six of Hall's rehab stints and the company suggested he try psychotherapy so that the root problems he was trying to deal with could be addressed instead of just the symptoms.
Below are highlights from JR's interview with Hall:
Hall on Jake Roberts and Diamond Dallas Page offering to help him:
"What did I have to lose? I was drinking myself to death. I don't even know why I answered the phone when Dally and Jake called because I wasn't answering any calls or talking to anyone. I guess it was fate. Jake was one of my professional heroes and Dally was always a great friend. It was just the two of them and me in Page's home."
Hall on the lifestyle he was living:
"I always wanted to be a main eventer in pro wrestling. I lived my dream but the excess of the '80s and the huge money of the '90s became a great temptation for many of us. After working in a main event, on the advice of one of my peers, I took my downers, Xanax was my drug of choice, before I stopped sweating and got into the showers. Then I'd have a few beers on the drive to the hotel and then hit the rack to make that 6 a.m. flight. Some nights we wouldn't go to bed at all and hit the hotel bar and then hit a diner, eat and then get to the airport to sleep on the plane."
Does Hall blame the business for his troubles?
"Absolutely, not. Never. I just blame myself. If I want to know who the culprit is I simply look in the mirror. All my friends that died much too early have themselves to blame and no one else."
His legacy:
"I love the wrestling business, but my Mom never named me Razor. That I did with the blessing of Vince McMahon but, at the end of the day, the wrestling business was always essentially about the money and the miles. My most important legacy is being a good father to my two children."
"My life is like driving down a road. I occasionally glance in the rearview mirror but I'm not focused on the past or looking back anymore. That's why the windshield is bigger than the review view mirror. I prefer to look ahead, make my short term goals, and focus on today. I'm where I'm supposed to be but not where I want to be. Thank God I'm not where I used to be. I'm OK and I'm on my way one day at a time. Help awaits everyone if they truly want it."
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
