The Miz and Chris Jericho Return on Raw

As was advertised, a former WWE Champion has just returned to Monday Night Raw. After much speculation as to who this returning Superstar would be, it was revealed to be The Miz.

In a shocking turn of events, Chris Jericho returned to WWE Monday Night Raw immediately after the return of another former WWE Champion, The Miz. Jericho interrupted The Miz's mid-ring return promo.

After Jericho disposed of The Miz, The Wyatt Family appeared out of nowhere and attacked Jericho, finishing him off with a Sister Abigail from Bray Wyatt.

Bad News Barrett Update, Status Of I.C. Championship

Ringside commentators Michael Cole, Jerry "The King" Lawler and John "Bradshaw" Layfield just provided an update on Wade "Bad News" Barrett on Monday Night Raw. The four-time Intercontinental Champion will be out of action for a number of months after suffering a shoulder injury on this past week's episode of Friday Night SmackDown. The Intercontinental Championship is now officially vacant and the new Champion will be crowned through a Battle Royal at the upcoming Battleground pay-per-view.

Is something funky with the Funkadactyls? Total Divas' Naomi and Cameron may be breaking up soon

Update on the current status of Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan stating last night at the WWE Money in the Bank PPV that he may need a second surgery on his neck is said to be the truth according to a report by Mike Johnson. Bryan has not seen strength return in one of his arms since the initial surgery he had on his neck back in May and at times, that arm has seen its strength even weaken from where it was prior to the surgery. Bryan is currently undergoing physical therapy, but if the therapy is not enough and if Bryan needs to undergo a second surgery on his neck, Bryan could be at for at least another 6 months, depending on the procudere he undergoes.

source: pwinsider.com

Stephanie McMahon Praised Backstage After Raw Segment

F4WOnline.com is reporting that Stephanie McMahon was praised backstage by many WWE officials. It was said to be somewhat of the second coming of Vince McMahon, with how she reacted in the Vickie Guerrero segment.

Stephanie McMahon Says WWE Is Just Getting Warmed Up, Talks Vince, Connor's Cure, BU

The WWE is set to make history at the Garden tomorrow night. A new champion will be crowned in the main event of the “Money in the Bank” pay per view production, but the night will stand out for another unique reason. It’s a homecoming for Stephanie McMahon.

The 37-year-old McMahon, WWE’s Chief Brand Officer, spent much of her childhood in South Yarmouth.

“I actually grew up on the Cape,” she said. “My parents owned the Cape Cod Coliseum, which was the sort of the beginning of the WWE as we know it today, so I’m happy to be home.”

McMahon fell in love with Boston, and like her brother Shane before her, decided to study communications at Boston University. Over the past 15 years, McMahon has perfected her role as an on-air character, where she plays an evil boss, and credits BU as a big reason for her success.

“From film production to television production to creative writing to public speaking to marketing to advertising,” she said, “BU is basically a school to help prepare you for all of the many facets of WWE.”

McMahon graduated from BU in 1998, and still remains connected to the school. She is a member of the Distinguished Alumni of the School of Communication, and had the opportunity to teach a master’s class — “Being Your Own Brand” — last year.

She learned first-hand how to build a brand from her parents, Vince and Linda McMahon. Together, they transformed WWE from a regional wrestling promotion to a sports entertainment juggernaut, a global brand broadcast in 150 countries in 650 million homes worldwide. As a fourth generation McMahon promoter, she touched on her father’s contributions to the business.

“My father coined the phrase, ‘sports entertainment,’” said McMahon. “Vince let the world in on that, yes, this is actually predetermined and, yes, we are having fun. He was the one who created this live action-adventure soap opera.”

But Stephanie McMahon has also paved her own road in the family business.

She and her husband, WWE executive vice president Paul Levesque — better known to wrestling fans as “Triple H” — just announced the creation of their new fund, “Connor’s Cure.” The fund was named in honor of the late Connor Michalek, a devoted WWE fan who died at the age of 8 as a result of brain cancer.

“This is all about developing and donating for pediatric brain and spinal cancer research,” said McMahon. “We’re trying to help fund the research to help stop the cancer.”

McMahon is the proud mother of three girls.

“My favorite title is, ‘Mom,’” she said. “It’s what I’ve always wanted to be most, ever since I was a little girl.”

In addition to pay per view, tomorrow’s “Money in the Bank” card can also be watched on the WWE Network. While McMahon is proud of the company’s accomplishments, she cannot wait to unveil the future of the business.

“WWE continues to grow and expand at a rate faster than anyone can possibly imagine,” she said. “We have over 360 million social media followers, and we have over 12 million downloads of our app. But I have to say, even given all that, we’re just getting warmed up.”

source: bostonherald.com

Ambrose not just Good, he's great

Jonathan Good may be living a charmed life in professional wrestling nowadays, but life wasn't always easy for the man better known as Dean Ambrose.

Good, who grew up in the area known as the East End in Cincinnati, is evasive when asked if he had a rough upbringing.

"Who doesn't have their own story?" he asked. "I grew up in Cincinnati, the east side of Cincinnati. I don't really have any kind of heartbreaking sob story, just a regular old lower class American upbringing."

Turning the focus away from his formative years and onto the beginnings of what could some day be a hall of fame wrestling career, he described his beginnings."I started wrestling when I was 16 and (I spent) a lot of years on the road and a lot of years wrestling in every bingo hall and armory and bar and night club imaginable to get here," Good said, referring to his current wrestling home, World Wrestling Entertainment. "I've travelled the entire world, put my body through a lot of abuse, (gaining) a lot of experience in becoming the guy I am today."

Then the focus turns back to his early life.

"Mine might be a little bit different than most people, but everybody's got their own story and that's what makes you the person that you are."

One thing Good is comfortable talking about when it comes to his youth is his lifelong love for pro wrestling.

"For me, wrestling was like an escape," he answered when asked about what his earliest memories of the business are...More?

source: slam wreslting

Big WWE Signing Expected Next Month

Tokyo Sports in Japan is reporting that WWE will officially announce that former Pro Wrestling NOAH star KENTA has signed with the company during their tour of Japan next month with a press conference on 7/12.

The signing had been expected for some time.

"Celebrating Champions: 2014 Special Olympics USA Games" to Air on FOX Sports 1 This Monday, June 30 at 7 PM ET

The Rise & Fall Of Vince McMahon: Get Him Away From Daily WWE Content Decisions

NXT programming is becoming consistently better than WWE.

I can't call NXT competition because it's the developmental system, and those who run WWE can manipulate NXT if they wanted.

Many of the big names involved with the WWE main roster aren't controlling NXT week to week. Many who control NXT are guys who should be, but haven't been involved as much in the main roster of WWE.

That is the major advantage of NXT. Vince McMahon and Kevin Dunn don't have their hands in NXT, which is huge.

McMahon has grown the WWE brand far beyond what anybody could have envisioned 30 years ago. A lot of people have made a lot of money on his watch. That can never be taken away.

However, while he can be king of the boardroom, I think he's lost a major touch in his abilities to lead the creative direction of specifics for his programming.

Dunn has been the executive in charge of WWE television for a long time. He's a driving force in aiding McMahon's questionable views of what is entertaining. I preach and remind a lot of people that WWE is an entertainment brand, with their main stage being what we know as a wrestling ring. Even I have to say Dunn's reputation of hating wrestling and loving anything else ridiculous he can fill the segment with often is out of control.

NXT is terrific to watch. It reminds me of an old-school territory in how intimate the crowd is and how many of them are repeat customers coming to so many of the shows at Full Sail University. It makes the talent have to work harder at getting over in front of the same live crowd.

NXT is like an indy show with a six-figure production budget.

Not everything we see on NXT will instantly succeed once it gets in the hands of McMahon, Dunn or the 15,000-seat arenas for RAW and SmackDown. Case in point — Adam Rose.

McMahon and Dunn stay away from NXT, but the street is two ways. There are guys who have more influence on NXT than they ever do the main WWE product that are secret weapons to have.

William Regal, Joey Mercury, Billy Gunn and Sara Del Rey are a few. Their knowledge stemming from foot work, timing, facial expressions and psychology of constructing a character is impossible to measure.

The sad reality of it all is it only matters so much.

Natalya and Charlotte had a phenomenal match on NXT. As great as it was to watch and as great as those two are, the rules of what succeeds on the main roster under the current decision-makers are much different.

As long as McMahon and Dunn run the show, we'll never see Natalya and Charlotte do that match on RAW, SmackDown or Main Event.

I can hear the creative meeting now — “Who wants to see two hot blondes in a back and forth wrestling match or 20 minutes? Somebody tell them they got three minutes bell-to-bell and then we're making them have a food fight.”...More?

source: triblive.com

Rumor Mill - Backstage Update on the WWE Network & Talent PPV Bonuses

One of the major questions coming out of the WWE Network launch back in February was how the Network would affect the PPV bonuses regularly given to the talents who worked the monthly events. This topic was said to be a major issue for CM Punk, and WWE's failure to inform talent as to how their pay may or may not change was one of the reasons why he decided to leave the company.

According to PWInsider.com, word coming from backstage in WWE is that nothing has been said to talents yet regarding their the Network and their pay. We are four months into the launch of the Network, and no one truly knows how PPV bonuses will work as it relates to PPV events airing on the Network.

Rumor Mill - WWE Holds Talent Meeting, Reinstates Dress Code & More, Have Talents Been Paid For WM30?

WrestleZone.com is reporting that WWE talent relations held a meeting with all the wrestlers in the past week or so and instituted a dress code again, which is a sore subject with the talent considering the brutal schedule they've been on.

Fines will be levied for any violation of the dress code.

Wrestlers were also told there is a zero tolerance rule in effect for showing up to Raw or Smackdown after the designated call time, which is usually 2pm eastern time for Raw and 2pm local time for Smackdown. Needless to say, with WrestleMania checks and video game payments still not distributed, the talent in WWE is, according to one source, "jittery" to say the least.

WNS Column: HHH In, Vince Out?

Redskins Name Debate Makes WWE Raw

Stephanie McMahon, Triple H announce 'Connor's Cure' charity fund in honor of Connor Michalek

WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon and WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Creative and Live Events, Paul “Triple H” Levesque have announced the formation of “Connor’s Cure,” a charity that they have personally funded through Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation named in honor of Pittsburgh native Connor Michalek. Connor passed away at age 8 earlier this year from Medulloblastoma, a rare tumor that affects the brain and spinal cord. Donations to Connor’s Cure will provide funds for pediatric brain and spinal cancer research, and medical care for children and their families.

Through the love of his family and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Connor persevered over his affliction. His fighting spirit made him a local celebrity in Pittsburgh, including getting Superstar treatment from both the Pittsburgh Pirates and WWE. Although Connor lost his battle to cancer, his message of light and love continue to thrive.

Donations can be made by visiting: www.givetochildrens.org/CONNORSCURE.

Vickie Guerrero "Fired" On RAW

Vickie Guerrero was "fired" by Stephanie McMahon on tonight's RAW. We've noted that Vickie has been planning on taking a lengthy absence from WWE and there is no timetable for a return yet.

Total Divas Coming To WWE Network

WWE announced on Monday night's edition of RAW that the first season of Total Divas will begin airing on the WWE Network this coming Thursday night.

WWE Wins Three Sports Social TV Awards

WWE received three awards from the second annual Sports Social TV Awards this week.

The company captured awards for:

*WrestleMania 29 – Best Special Event Award

*WWE – Best Social Commerce or Marketing Program Award

*John Cena – Social TV Sports Entertainer of the Year Award.

The Sports Social TV Awards, "Bring together the top people, platforms and programs in the Sports Social TV space, nominees were recognized for excelling in the fast-moving industry of social TV, specific to the sports market, and pioneering the future of television with second-screen experiences."

Joe DeFranco Discusses Triple H's Training

Triple H's trainer Joe DeFranco recently appeared on The Podcast for Skinny Bastards. During the episode, he discussed how tore up Triple H was when he starting working with him. You can listen to it by clicking here.

Is it time for a new WWE CEO?

With this past week's announcement of World Wrestling Entertainment releasing 11 people from its roster added to the already horrendous drop in the WWE's stock price by almost 50%; reports that Vince McMahon personally lost over $750 million dollars over the last few months; the market's disappointment in WWE's new U.S. television deal; and the number of WWE Network subscribers being stuck at 667,287 which is quite far off the reported 1.5 million subscribers needed for it to break even; questions are being asked about the company's direction.

As is inevitable when a company has this kind of downfall in such a short amount of time, reports have been circulating that many investors are calling for Vince McMahon to resign as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company. However, the obvious query is whether or not that should happen and if so who would replace him?

Before devolving further into this issue, though, it has to be noted that Vince McMahon owns roughly 57% of WWE’s Class A common stock - 39.9 million shares - which gives him controlling interest in the company. So if he doesn’t wish to be removed as CEO of the company it would be almost impossible to force him to do so. Additionally, it also means that any successive CEO would need his stamp of approval.

Regardless, this does not mean that it hasn’t come time for someone else to guide the WWE as the CEO...More?

source: slamwrestling.com

More Details on WWE Offering Assistance and Scholarships to Former Contracted Talents

We noted before that WWE recently sent out a letter to all former contracted talents offering them assistance. The name of the program is the WWE Professional Development program. Below is a copy of the letter that was sent out, clarifying some of the details:

"WWE is pleased to announce a Professional Development Program available to former WWE talent, and in some cases, their family members. The Professional Development Program aims to provide guidance and support beyond your tenure with WWE. The first two initiatives are:Financial Education and Continuing Education.

Money Management International (MMI) is the largest non-profit credit counseling agency in the country and has partnered with WWE to provide financial education to WWE talent. Please see enclosed packet for more information. The use of MMI is free for you and your immediate family members. We encourage you to reach out to MMI for assistance.

WWE is now offering financial scholarships to former WWE talent in the amount of $5,000 per calendar year to be used for obtaining a college degree or completing a certificate program. In order to receive this scholarship, a former WWE talent must apply for the three annual scholarships that are available. Please note–the deadline for the 2014 award is Friday, 8/1.

To keep former WWE talent up to date with WWE news, we will be distributing via email an “Alumni Newsletter” on a quarterly basis. The newsletter will include information on WWE news, archives, wellness, professional development and more."

WWE Gives Belt to The Superdome

WWE officials presented The Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans with a WWE World Heavyweight Title belt today, to commemorate the building hosting WrestleMania XXX.

Five Athletic Transformations: The Good, The Bad, and The Strange

Some people change for the worse while others change for the better and some change just for the sake of changing. Regardless of what people change for, in almost every scenario of a transformation, there is a cosmetic overhaul. This applies to athletes as well. Though their physical changes may be something as small as a haircut, or as big as a torso-covering tattoo, the athletic change is not always fashionable. Here is a list of five athletes that have transformed themselves over the years and whether this these changes were good, bad, or just downright strange.

4. Paul Levesque (better known as Triple H). This may come as surprise to a few because many do not view professional wrestlers as professional athletes; rather they see them as stuntmen posing as actors. I could go on a wonderfully long rant about how professional wrestling is an age-old sport that is as deeply rooted in American Sports tradition as baseball, but I wont. Simply realize that they do things, athletically, that no one else in the world can do. Now that I’ve addressed the elephant in the article, we can get back to the athletic transformation of Triple H. “The Game” chopped off his iconic flow of golden locks just a few short years ago. Unofficially retired as an in-ring performer, Levesque traded in his tights for Armani suits and Rolex watches. He is now taking a more hands-on approach to running the WWE from a professional business point of view along side his wife Stephanie McMahon Levesque and father-in-law (and father of modern wrestling) Vince McMahon. Though he will go down as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, the transformation from jock to suit will aid him in infiltrating the business side of wrestling and be able to leave a lasting legacy beyond what he’s accomplished in the ring.

Verdict: The Good

Read the full article here.

source: proplayerinsiders.com

End of TNA Wrestling is Near

Video: Kevin Hart Talks Hosting Raw and Physical Encounter with Triple H

WWE Total Divas Nominated for Award

WWE Total Divas has been nominated for a Teen Choice Award this year. They're up for Choice Reality Show against Cosmos, Dance Moms, Real Husbands of Hollywood and Keeping Up with The Kardashians. The awards take place on August 10th and fans can vote at this link.

Rumor Mill - WWE Looking to Cut $20 Million From its Budget This Year, Noticeable Production Elements Already Scrapped

According to a source within WWE, the company is looking to cut approximately $20 million from its budget this year.

This would explain the round of talent cuts made last week, in addition to other production elements which have noticeably been scrapped.

For example, Fandango's golden curtain entrance has been cut, and the scissor lift is no longer being used for Bad News Barrett. The truck WWE used to transport those entrances has reportedly been taken off the road, which is a $250,000 a year savings.

Former Tag Team Champions Announced for TNA's Hall of Fame

Kurt Angle announced at tonight's TNA Slammiversary pay-per-view that Devon and Bully Ray, known as Team 3D, will be inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame at this year's Bound For Glory pay-per-view. Team 3D joins Angle and Sting in the TNA Hall of Fame.

Triple H vs. WWE director Kevin Dunn - battling over what's Best For Business

Is WWE director Kevin Dunn intentionally sabotaging Triple H, the NXT brand and their former wrestlers? Evidence is mounting up.

A few days ago my colleague Geno Mrosko reported that Vince McMahon wasn't high on the recent NXT call ups of Adam Rose, Paige and Bo Dallas, but perhaps the more interesting part of the story is the current jockeying for power between Triple H and Kevin Dunn.

For those that aren't familiar with him, Dunn is WWE's highly paid Executive Vice President of Television Production and has been one of the company's top producers since 1984, but he's been much criticized by wrestling traditionalists like Jim Cornette and the late Paul Bearer for his lack of appreciation of the art form's history and being obsessed with aesthetics over substance. He's been a confidante of Vince McMahon's for well over 15 years and has seen his influence grow, as one by one, the men Vince surrounded himself with in the 80s and the 90s all either left of their own accord or were forced out after falling out with him.

However, after surviving for so long, being someone who Vince clearly trusts the opinion of and there being no sign that he wants to downsize his duties, it seems clear that his job is safe while the old man stays in charge. Conversely, it's clear that his days would be numbered as soon as the WWE leadership baton is passed on to Vince's handpicked successor Triple H. When Paul Levesque became EVP of Talent, Live Events and Creative, he immediately got rid of the executive old guard like John Laurinaitis (whose abilities he didn't rate) and replaced them with his own hires like Jane Geddes and Canyon Ceyman. Everyone predicts that trend will continue as Levesque get more control of the company. Indeed, NXT is the training ground for the next generation of WWE technicians, script writers and TV producers, which shows that The Cerebral Assassin is already preparing for the day he gets complete command.

Thus, Dunn's position depends on trying to ensure that Vince hangs around for as long as possible, which would require him to plant seeds of doubt in Vince's head that Hunter is ready for the responsibility of being in charge of the day to day running of his company. Given his reputation of being insecure and petty, he's not above playing dirty if he has to. Clearly he wouldn't have lasted to this very day, if he wasn't a master of the dark arts of wrestling politics.

There's been online rumors that resentment between Triple H and Kevin Dunn has reached an all time high of late. Apparently, Hunter was outraged that Dunn and his crew somehow missed the shot of The Shield standing tall over his fallen body at the end of the Payback pay-per-view earlier this month. Then came the word that Dunn had successfully buried Adam Rose to Vince and the implication was that he was trying to do the same with Paige and Bo Dallas, but hadn't been quite as convincing in that regard. The obvious conclusion to come to is that Dunn is intentionally trying to sabotage Hunter's NXT brand and is also trying to call into question his talent grooming and judging skills for the main WWE roster, so that he can curry greater favor with the boss.

Kevin Dunn may have won this battle, but this will be a war that only The Game can win.

At a time when the WWE Network needs all the help it can get, this infighting is the last thing the company needs, especially as NXT should be promoted on WWE programming as something worth subscribing to the channel for, a unique opportunity to see tomorrow's WWE Superstars today. Lets hope the heat dies down and they can start working together more harmoniously. That's what's would really be Best For Business!

source: cagesideseats.com

Rumor Mill - Low Attendance at Recent TNA Basebrawl Events Leads to Low Morale, Some Talents Looking to Leave TNA, More

According to The Wrestling Observer, the low attendance figures for TNA's recent Basebrawl stadium events has lead to low morale amongst the talents who worked the events.

There is said to be an air of uncertainty in TNA right now, as so many talents have been let go recently, talents feel The Carter family isn't putting much new money into TNA lately, and since wrestlers use live fan attendance as a way to judge the state of the company, morale has been down to say the least.

TNA's lack of a new TV deal with SpikeTV also has talents nervous, however with several TNA names appearing at the SpikeTV awards show this past week, that's being looked at as a positive sign for TNA and Spike negotiations.

Several TNA stars have reportedly reached out to Ring of Honor and Jeff Jarrett's Global Force Wrestling for potential job opportunities, but since so little has been revealed about GFW, that has lead to growing concern amongst talents.

News on Attendance at WWE's NXT TV Tapings

Thursday night's WWE NXT TV tapings from Full Sail University were sold out again. After the show had started, Full Sail staff members began filling up any empty spot with chairs as more fans were coming in. A fan attending NXT TV tapings and live events across Florida regularly and said this was one of the biggest NXT crowds she's seen.

Rumor Mill - WWE's Network blamed for roster cuts, corporate bloodletting expected

Yesterdays purge of almost a dozen expendable WWE performers (including Brodus Clay, Evan Bourne, Teddy Long, Drew McIntyre, Jinder Mahal, Aksana and JTG) caught everyone by surprise, even though the writing should have been on the wall that major cuts were imminent.

After many years of relative prosperity where WWE could afford to carry a bit of deadwood in their ranks, their wrestlers had been lulled into a false sense of security. Releases only occurred when contracts expired or sackable offenses were committed. As long as you played by the rules, your job was safe. Until today.

Unfortunately such niceties can't continue in a company projected to lose a whopping $45-52 million this annum and whose cash-in-hand is rapidly running out to fund such heavy red ink. This is clearly a time where any excessive or unnecessary spending by WWE had to be ruthlessly eliminated regardless of the lives ruined in the process.

Not just in the wrestling ring, but also on the corporate sides of things too, as Dave Scherer of PWInsider.com has just reported that more cuts and redundancies are expected in all areas of the promotion:

"There is a lot of talk that the cuts/releases are not done and that there will be cuts on the administrative side of the company as well, perhaps as soon as tomorrow. Potential cuts loom across pretty much all departments. The word making the rounds is that the current state of the WWE Network, its success or lack thereof, is what is precipitating cuts both in talent as well as potentially in office staff. That wouldn't bode well for state of the Network base when they release the current subscriber numbers at the second quarter earnings conference call."

A final note from Scherer on the WWE wrestler cuts is apparently those that got the chop were unhappy that Triple H left his corporate lackey Mark Carrano to break the news to them and didn't handle the situation personally:

"We have heard that Mark Carrano, who works in Talent Relations under Triple H, is the man who made most, if not all, of the calls to the released talent today. It is fair to say that at least some of those let go would have appreciated that the call came from Triple H himself."