On a special Thursday edition of RAW, Shawn Michaels forfeits the WWF(E) Title in a move that many felt he did in order to avoid losing to Bret "Hitman" Hart at WrestleMania 13. In his promo, Michaels said he needed to go home to quote "find his smile."
February 13, 1997
February 13, 2012
This Day in Wrestling History - HBK Loses His Smile
February 12, 2012
February 11, 2012
WWE to Release Another WCW Themed DVD
Following strong sales for the The Very Best of WCW Monday Nitro DVD last year, WWE has plans to release another video set highlighting the best of World Championship Wrestling later this year. Amazon.com is currently taking pre-orders for a WCW Clash of the Champions DVD from WWE on May 22, 2012. Run time is listed at 540 minutes.
Clash of the Champions were a series of professional wrestling television specials aired by WCW from 1988 to 1997. The specials were supercards intended to feature pay-per-view caliber matches, similar to the World Wrestling Federation’s Saturday Night’s Main Event.
source: twnpnews.com
Jim Ross Comments on The Undertaker vs. Triple H
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross made his weekly 10:30 a.m. CT appearance on the Sean Pendergast show on Yahoo Sports Radio on Saturday. The interview will be available later today at Yahoosportsradio.com. The following are the highlights of the interview.
Ross was asked about the Undertaker and Triple H saga on Raw. He said he thought it would be tough for the company to followup on the hot Undertaker return from the previous week. However, he praised the angle and said he loves the foundation laid for the story. He said it goes against the grain for fans who want immediate gratification. He mentioned Shawn Michaels appearing on Monday's show and said it's all playing out nicely.
Ross was asked about the direction the story could take now that Shawn Michaels is in the mix. He mentioned Undertaker retired Michaels, just as Michaels retired Ric Flair. He spoke of the real life friendship of Triple H and Michaels. Pendergast said he'd like to see Michaels show jealousy in that he doesn't want Hunter to be the guy who puts away the man who retired him.
Ross said he's tired of whiners on Twitter who don't like multiple matches involving the same wrestlers. He mentioned complaints from fans who point out that Taker and Hunter have already wrestled. "So what?" Ross said. He said he finds it asinine when people keep track of how many times guys have wrestled one another. He said he thinks that by the time WrestleMania gets here, people are going to be salivating to see how it plays out. "This is really compelling stuff," Ross said. "It's not about how they've wrestled once or twice at WrestleMania. I don't give a damn."
partial source: prowrestling.net
Background on the Quote Triple H Used on Raw - "That is Not Dead Which Can Eternal Lie Yet with Strange Aeons Even Death May Die"
The quote Triple H paraphrased on Raw last Monday was taken from fantasy and horror fiction author H. P. Lovecraft's The Nameless City:
"That is not dead which can eternal lie
Yet with strange aeons even death may die."
The correct quote is actually "And with strange..." instead of "Yet with strange...". A similar version of this phrase is used in Metallica's song "The Thing That Should Not Be" from the Master of Puppets album and in the Iron Maiden album Live After Death.
More on H. P. Lovecraft and the book The Nameless City
Triple H on Raw - The quote is at 3:12.
February 10, 2012
WWE's YouTube "Webisode" Schedule
WWE has released a schedule of their new YouTube webisodes. Tuesdays - "Backstage Fallout" following Raw and Dolph Ziggler's "WWE Download." Wednesdays - "WWE Inbox." Thursdays - "Outside the Ring." Fridays - Zack Ryder's YouTube show and "Backstage Fallout" following Smackdown. Saturdays - "Santino's Foreign Exchange. Sundays - "Are You Serious?" with Josh Mathews and Road Dogg. "Superstar Toyz" is not slotted for a date.
Legacy of The Kliq
From Mike Johnson of pwinsider.com:
In terms of a legacy, I don't think there is any question that Shawn Michaels, from an in-ring standpoint, will have left the best legacy, but I'm going to go with Triple H. He wields far more political power and stroke than any other member of the clique and that power will only grow with time as Vince McMahon gets older. In terms of the worst, that's really subjective, but I'll go with Scott Hall, because (in the long term) he did the least with the most amount of talent and still has issues to this day despite many of his closest friends trying to support him and every major company giving him chance after chance. I know that a lot of fans really detest Kevin Nash but the reality is that he overachieved in the business and at the end of the day, he walked out with much more money than anyone would have ever predicted.
Inside the Process of Elimination
There are many stipulation matches in WWE designed to intimidate, threaten and menace the Superstars chosen to compete in them—but there's only one that inspires actual terror.
Sitting in his stately office inside Titan Tower, Triple H cuts the same imposing figure now as the man who won a record four Chamber bouts in the past. "What people don't understand is the metal grating outside the ring is the same grating they make the stage with," he explains. "It's designed to support thousands of pounds, so there's no give at all. Then there are the walls themselves, which are made of thick metal chain. And at first, you think, 'Oh well, the chain moves a little bit.' But it's actually worse, because the chain shifts about an inch and a half, even though it's all connected, so it's like you're hitting a steel wall. And it's a bumpy steel wall that digs into you everywhere."
Interestingly, WWE's most hated and feared stipulation match was spawned from the mind of The Cerebral Assassin himself a decade ago. The company was looking for concepts for matches that might spin off into yearly events similar to the Royal Rumble, and The Game was ready with a winning idea.
The ambitious concept was well received, and the creative team set about turning Triple H's vision into reality. Of course, when he saw it, Triple H realized that he'd gotten far more than he'd bargained for. "In typical WWE form, it was twice as big as I envisioned it and twice as elaborate," he remembers. "We don't do anything small, so I should have known better. When I stood in it for the first time, I thought, 'Jeez. Please don't tell anybody this was my idea!'"
source: wwe.com
Details on the 2012 WWE Magazine WrestleMania Edition
WWE is to release four different "WrestleMania" covers for the March 2012 issue of WWE Magazine, featuring The Undertaker, Triple H, John Cena and The Rock. According to the magazine Triple H will face The Undertaker at WrestleMania 28. The cover for this magazine reads "Can The Game End The Deadman's Reign?" while the headline for the issue bearing The Undertaker reads "Will "The Streak" Survive?"
source: wrestling observer.com
This Day in Wrestling History - Curt "Mr. Perfect" Henning Passes Away
Curtis Michael "Curt" Hennig
March 28, 1958 – February 10, 2003
WWE Hall of Fame Profile
February 9, 2012
J.R. Comments on Why Some Wrestlers Do Not Reach Main Event Level
Jim Ross wrote on his blog about why he feels certain wrestlers remain at the same level without moving up to the main event scene. "They aren't hungry enough or willing to challenge a top star for their spot on the roster," Ross wrote. "Too many talents are content to not make 'waves' and to live quietly and somewhat financially comfortable within their comfort zones. I can assure you that the comfort zone complex is the kiss of death in most organizations and businesses and is not exclusive to sports entertainment."
source: jrsbarbq.com
Rumor Mill - Where The Miz Currently Stands With WWE Officials
There appears to be backstage heat on WWE star The Miz for botching a spot on Raw which resulted in R-Truth taking a bad fall during the main event match.
In an update to this story, The Wrestling Observer is reporting that The Miz has somewhat fallen out of favor with WWE management, and it's due in part to the Raw incident as well as several other factors. WWE is placing a lot of the low Survivor Series buyrate blame on The Miz, as the company felt there wasn't enough interest in him heading into his tag bout at the PPV.
Additionally, it's being said that WWE officials feel The Miz has regressed on the microphone and in the ring since his main event push leveled off last year. Prior to that, management always regarded The Miz highly as they felt he represented the company well during media appearances and was a hungry superstar. Since being relegated back to the midcard, however, officials feel that he has lost a lot of the drive that made him a top talent in the past, and that he is not offering management many reasons to elevate him back to the top again.
source: wrestlezone.com
February 8, 2012
Update on Chris Hero Signing with WWE
As noted before, former Ring of Honor star Chris Hero has finally been signed by WWE. Word is that Hero's signing was delayed because he has a naturally elevated testosterone/epitestosterone level and WWE won't sign talents who can't pass the steroid test. It took months and many rounds of testing to prove that the high level was natural.
Linda McMahon Campaign Donations
The U.S. Senate campaign for former WWE CEO Linda McMahon has released fourth quarter 2011 fundraising, revealing contribution from WWE employees, McMahon family members, Donald Trump, Bonnie Hammer, long-time WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt, and famous executive Jack Welch.
The total of individual contributions was $326,646 and Linda McMahon contributed $770,000 of her own money to the campaign during the fourth quarter. Removing expenditures, the campaign reported that $227,061 cash was on-hand at the end of the fourth quarter.
The following are noteworthy contributions from individual donors.
Billionaire Donald Trump made a contribution of $5,000, broken up into two $2,500 donations. Since 2007, WWE has contributed $5.0 million to Trump's foundation following Trump's involvement in WWE storylines.
Linda's daughter, WWE executive Stephanie McMahon Levesque donated $2,500.
Linda's son-in-law, WWE wrestler/executive Triple H (Paul Levesque) donated $2,500. Hunter's occupation is listed as "executive/performer."
Attorney Jerry McDevitt contributed $7,500, broken up into three $2,500 donations for the primary election, general election, and another purpose.
NBCU executive/long-time WWE TV partner Bonnie Hammer contributed $1,000.
WWE executive Basil DeVito, Jr. contributed $500.
Author/former executive John F. "Jack" Welch contributed $2,500 and his wife, Suzy Welch, contributed $2,500. They are listed as residing in Florida.
source: courant.com
FEC Form 3
Interesting note, there isn't a donation from Shane...
Video: Triple H Explains Why He Did Not Accept Undertaker's Challenge And Undertaker Has A Message For Him
The Rock Entering Politics?
"The Rock" Dwayne Johnson made political waves based on comments he made about potentially running for political office in the future in an interview with Moviefone.com. "Right now the best way that I can impact the world is through entertainment. One day, and that day will come, I can impact the world through politics. The great news is that I am American, therefore I can become President. But don't forget: I am G.I. Joe," Rock said after playing coy on how he knew about the death of Osama Bin Laden in 2011 before nearly everyone else.
source: moviephone.com
New Poll Results in Conn. Senate Race
Former WWE CEO Linda McMahon is the front-runner for the Republican Party nomination in the 2012 Connecticut Senate race, but McMahon would lose to the #1 and #2 Democratic candidates, according to a new poll by the Yankee Institute. According to the poll, Democratic candidate Chris Murphy leads McMahon by 9 points and former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz leads McMahon by 3 points. McMahon is leading top Republican candidate Chris Shays.
source: courant.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Happy Birthday to:
Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart - Febrary 8, 1956
Sensational Sherri Martel - February 8, 1958
The Big Show - February 8, 1972
Pedro Morales defeated Ivan Koloff for the WWWF(WWE)
Heavyweight title
February 8, 1971
Randy Savage defeated Tito Santana for the WWF(E)
Intercontinental title
February 8, 1986
Roddy Piper defeated Bret Hart for the WCW US Heavyweight title
February 8, 1999
February 7, 2012
Top WWE Star Advocating Time Off?
Former WWE wrestler Chris Nowinski says top star Randy Orton is now advocating for time off to heal from injuries, specifically bumps around the head, after learning more about concussions. Nowinski said on the Busted Open satellite radio show that wrestlers requesting time off for concussions were viewed as soft during his era (2002-2003), but Orton is helping change the culture. "A guy like Randy Orton just didn't buy into it, and I ran into him in March, and he started talking about his concussion experiences and he was like, 'Gosh I didn't know it was that bad”.' He is an advocate for himself now to take time off and so it's interesting to see this turn."
source: busted open radio & pwtorch.com
Christopher Nowinski Details Conversations with Benoit Prior to Tragedy
Former WWE wrestler Chris Nowinski says his mission with the Sports Legacy Institute is to understand why the concussion-related CTE disease happens so it can be prevented in the future. It relates to Chris Benoit, who Nowinski says showed signs of CTE in their conversations prior to Benoit's double murder/suicide in June 2007.
"We incorporated Sports Legacies ten days before the Benoit tragedy. A year prior to that I sat down with Benoit when I was still working for (WWE) and he just started asking me questions," Nowinski said on the "Busted Open" satellite radio show. "He was more interested than any other wrestler, which helps me realize that he actually knew there was something wrong with him. He asked me about how many concussions I had and I asked him and he said, 'Well, I had more concussions than I can count.' So, because he told me that and then he told me to give him a call. I remember months later... I called him and he acted like he didn't know why I was calling after he gave me his number. So, I thought maybe there was a memory thing or maybe a mood thing going on. So, when it happened, I was sure that is why it happened."
source: busted open radio
Rumor Mill - Triple H Disciplines The Miz Following R-Truth's Fall On RAW
Following Monday’s Raw SuperShow, Triple H is said to have disciplined The Miz backstage after the show in front of wrestlers for failing to absorbe the fall of R-Truth following an attempted slingshot somersault to the outside of the ring during the Six-Pack Challenge. R-Truth was no longer able to compete in the match and carried backstage.
WWE medical personnel confirmed that R-Truth suffered no injury, which is a lucky escape considering the way he landed.
source: pwinsider.com
Is John Laurinaitis Fired? WWE Announces Decision Online
WWE.com has posted an article regarding the decision on the future of John Laurinaitis.
The article says that the Board of Directors have decided to NOT fire Laurinitais, and he will remain the Interim General Manager of Monday Night Raw.
WWE.com has more information, including the video of John Laurinaitis and his argument for keeping his job.
February 6, 2012
Laurinaitis Storyline to be Continued on WWE.Com on Tuesday
It was announced on Raw that the WWE Board of Directors will reveal their decision Tuesday morning on whether John Laurinaitis will remain the Raw GM. The announcement will be made Tuesday morning at 10am EST on WWE.com
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
