The official blog of the NFL's Washington Redskins featured WWE Superstar Luke Harper this week after this photo of Harper and his son in Redskins gear was tweeted out:
I'm now a big @LukeHarperWWE fan!!!! @chaddukes #HTTR pic.twitter.com/csVaEa5NDN
— Sam (Snatcher) Jones (@BigSamJones54) December 31, 2014
After the recent situation with Alberto Del Rio and CM Punk, WWE has changed all performer contracts. The contract now say that if a talent is fired for disciplinary reasons, they forfeit all merchandise rights and can't work in pro wrestling or MMA for one year.
Curtis Axel worked the recent set of WWE NXT TV tapings and will face Hideo Itami on the next episode. Axel is expected to take over the role that Tyson Kidd had in NXT where he provides main roster star power for a few months.
It was announced at the end of tonight's WWE RAW from Washington, DC that The Authority, Stephanie McMahon and Triple H, will be back in power starting next week with the first RAW of 2015.
The storyline is that John Cena re-instated The Authority after Seth Rollins held Edge hostage in the ring and threatened to Curb Stomp him.
It was mentioned on tonight's WWE RAW by Jerry Lawler that Christian is retired. This was not an error by Lawler. Due to Christian's string of injuries and concussions, he's now considered "retired" as an in-ring performer by the company. Christian has about a year left on his current WWE contract.
Former NXT Tag Team Champions The Ascension made their RAW debuts on tonight's show from Washington, DC. Konnor and Viktor defeated The Miz and Damien Sandow, who lost the WWE Tag Team Titles to The Usos earlier in the night.
During a recent interview with the UK-based Mirror, TNA Wrestling president Dixie Carter spoke out against comments made by WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon during his appearance on Stone Cold Steve Austin's podcast, in which McMahon stated that his roster is comprised of "millennials" who "aren't as ambitious" as individuals like John Cena.
Below is what Carter had to say:
"I can’t even comprehend that statement. It doesn’t sit with our group. My own roster’s completely different than that. I don’t have a complaint about anybody on my roster. The young guys are just as hungry … the young guys from 10 years ago are now the Bobby Roodes, Samoa Joes, James Storms. My main eventers, who were brand new young talent from 10 to 12 years ago, I’m proud of how far they’ve come. This young group of talent we have right now, they’re the hardest working, most positive team players around."
It is being reported that Triple H is the next WWE star to get featured in toy designer and Spawn creator Todd McFarlane’s ICON series statues.
The statue is 18 inches tall and hand painted, and features a Certificate of Authenticity signed by McFarlane. The statue also comes with “authentic ring memorabilia” and will be available in January 2015.
McFarlane has previously included Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker, and Macho Man Randy Savage in the ICON series.
In the second part of Kevin Gill's interview with Sean Waltman, Waltman talks about his first meeting with Vince McMahon, his WWF tryout, Curt Hennig, working with El Generico, being bullied, hurting people's feelings, the state of independent wrestling and more. He also discussed Triple H and NXT.
"For all these supposed big time, know it all fans that want to say 'Oh, Triple H is burying this guy and that guy.' Then why is it when you let him have his own f--king thing (NXT), that Vince or nobody else has any say in, it's all Hunter," Waltman said. "Why is it that it's all those (Indy) guy's he's pushing. To all those guys who want to blame everything on him: f--k OFF!
"Hunter is very Pro Wrestler. Trust me. Everybody is worried about pro wrestling dying or whatever and saying 'Oh, it's sports entertainment blah blah,' trust me, Hunter is pro wrestling"
It's said that morale in WWE, which wasn't good before, has been noticeably different since Vince McMahon's live interview with Steve Austin. The feeling is that Vince "crapped on just about everyone in the locker room" except for Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Bray Wyatt. There's also a feeling that Vince made it clear those were the only ones he sees that have top star potential.
Triple H actually gave a speech to the WWE roster after morale got bad due to the interview. His speech was described as an attempt at damage control that backfired.
As a general rule backstage, the talents in NXT love Triple H, but on the main roster, whatever he said in the speech lost him a lot of credibility, especially among those who have been with the company for some time.
AJ Lee is currently out of action with an injury. She had been working hurt so they could wrap up the feud with Divas Champion Nikki Bella.
WWE officials were planning on doing a significant injury angle to write AJ off TV but that was nixed for an unknown reason.
AJ being away is why Naomi and Natalya were moved into contendership for Nikki's title. Original plans had Naomi challenging Nikki but they may go with Natalya.
The belief within WWE is that AJ will be back in 2015 some time.
WWE issued the following statement to The Daytona Beach News-Journal in regards to Kevin Nash and his Legends contract with the company:
“Kevin Nash has not regularly performed for WWE since January 2004. He is currently under a non-wrestling ‘legends’ contract, which has been immediately suspended until this domestic dispute is resolved.”
Port Orange attorney Michael J. Politis released a statement on behalf of the Nash family late Wednesday afternoon: “It's an unfortunate situation. They're a good family. I'm hoping the State Attorney's Office will receive my information and dismiss the charges. The kid was out of control, and the father was defending his wife. I'm pretty confident we will have a resolution in the next couple of months.”
More from The Daytona Beach News-Journal
Wrestling superstar Kevin Nash was arrested early Christmas Eve morning -- after getting into a bloody fight with his teenage son Tristen ... TMZ has learned.
The 55-year-old legend -- who is currently under contract with the WWE -- was taken into custody in Volusia County, Florida after cops received a call about a domestic incident just after midnight.
When cops arrived to the scene ... they noticed blood on Kevin's face and arrested Nash.
Two hours later, cops received another 911 call from a person claiming 18-year-old Tristen attacked his mother. He was also arrested for battery.
Cops tell TMZ alcohol may have been a factor.
Update:
TMZ just got the two police reports. As for Kevin's arrest ... the report says he told cops his son came home wasted and belligerent toward him and Kevin's wife, then spit in his face and elbow-checked him. Kevin told cops he pinned Tristen to the ground and that's when Tristen scratched his face.
But Tristen said Kevin was berating him over his relationship with his girlfriend. He says Kevin then choke-slammed him to the ground and, just like Kevin's signature move, Tristen says he hit is head so hard on the ground he blacked out.
Cops arrested Kevin because they felt he was the "primary aggressor."
As for Tristen's arrest two hours later ... Tristen's uncle told cops the young man -- who is 6'5" and 200 lbs -- was drunk and had "slung his mom around the kitchen" and tried attacking him as well.
During a recent interview with The UK’s Mirror to hype the new season of Total Divas, WWE Diva Natalya responded to Vince McMahon’s brass ring remark, and she also reacted to the quick match she had against Charlotte on Raw.
The following are some interview highlights:
What did you think of Vince McMahon’s recent [brass ring] comments?
When Vince McMahon made that brass ring comment, I think it was cool, it got everyone talking. It allowed us to analyse and say, this is what’s good, this isn’t working, maybe I’ll speak up, maybe I’ll be more aggressive.
But when I stop to look at it, I don’t think Vince McMahon meant every single solitary person that’s in the WWE right now. I think he meant that several people can grab the brass ring harder and I think when we look at Total Divas – I’ve done 40 episodes, I’ve put my life out there in ways I don’t think is even normal, and I’ve been willing to do this to help not only elevate the Divas division but show a human side to what we do. What we do in the ring is such a small part, we do so much – we work with different charities, we have anti-bullying campaigns, we work with sick kids.
For us girls, for the original cast members and the new cast members, for us to put our lives out there on blast for everybody, if that’s not grabbing the brass ring I don’t know what is. I don’t think just anybody could do a reality show and put their life out there and have no qualms about going, hey, I’m sharing something with you guys I’ve never shared with anybody and I’m doing it in front of the entire world. That, to me, is grabbing the brass ring.
USA NETWORK CONTINUES UNPRECEDENTED RATINGS STREAK WITH 9TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR AS #1 IN CABLE IN TOTAL VIEWERS
NEW YORK - December 18, 2014 – USA Network will finish the year as the most watched ad-supported cable entertainment network for an unprecedented 9th consecutive year. Fueled by a strong stable of original series, the powerhouse WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW, and top-rated acquired series, USA’s winning streak continued with 2.14MM total viewers P2+, 7% higher than the closest competitive cable entertainment network.
USA is also cable’s top-performer with women, ranking #1 for the year in F18-49 (486,000, +8% over its closest competitor) and F25-54 (500,000, +8%). USA has been #1 in F18-49 since 2005 and in F25-54 since 2006—both unprecedented streaks among ad-supported networks.
“In an increasingly competitive landscape, maintaining our leadership position is a true feat and a testament to our quality programming,” said Chris McCumber, president of USA Network. “2014 was also a financial success for the network, as we once again achieved our most profitable year ever. I am excited to build on this momentum in 2015, as we roll out more new dramas than ever before, starting with the much-anticipated event series DIG.”
WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW – the most-watched, regularly scheduled program on cable, 52 weeks a year, delivered 4.68MM total viewers P2+, 2.15MM P25-54, and 2.08MM P18-49, making USA #1 Monday nights in 2014 for all three categories among cable entertainment networks. RAW made USA the #1 entertainment network in all of television Monday nights for M18-34.
Suits was among the year’s top 20 scripted series on cable, delivering 1.79MM P18-49, 1.95MM P25-54, and 4.37MM total viewers P2+. SIRENS was cable’s #1 new ad-supported comedy in 2014 in P25-54 (870,000). SIRENS returns for its second season premiere with a double dose of half-hour episodes on Tuesday, January 27 at 10/9c, followed by the continuation of the fourth season of Suits with all new episodes on Wednesday, January 28 at 10/9c.
The network’s buzzy, breakout reality series CHRISLEY KNOWS BEST ranks as a top 20 new cable reality series in 2014 in P18-49 and P25-54. The series debuted with a strong first season in April and was swiftly renewed for a second season, which aired its finale last night. In L7 measurements, season 2 to-date is averaging 1.17MM P18-49 (+24% over Season 1), 1.14MM P25-54 (+30%), 590,000 P18-34 (+7%), and 2.18MM total viewers P2+ (+29%). Season three will start production in the new year.
USA has three of the top acquired series in cable with Modern Family, NCIS and LAW & ORDER: SVU. SVU and NCIS are the top two acquired dramas on cable among P18-49, P25-54, P18-34, and total viewers P2+. Modern Family, which delivered a much younger and upscale audience to the network, was one of the year’s top ten acquired series among P18-49, P25-54, and P18-34.
USA recently renewed original dramas GRACELAND, Suits, SATISFACTION and Royal Pains to return in summer 2015; a second season for comedy PLAYING HOUSE; and a third season for the reality series CHRISLEY KNOWS BEST, to return spring 2015.
The network will premiere DIG on March 5, 2015. This thrilling ten episode event series is from executive producers Tim Kring (“Heroes”) and Gideon Raff (“Homeland”), and stars Golden Globe nominee Jason Isaacs (“Awake”) and Emmy Award-winner Anne Heche (“Save Me”). COMPLICATIONS, from Burn Notice creator Matt Nix, will bow this summer – an edge-of-your-seat drama about a reluctant hero, whose life is forever changed after making the split-second decision to intervene in a drive-by shooting to save a little boy’s life. Additionally, USA has a strong drama pipeline, with five pilots currently in production.
CM Punk was a hot topic for wrestling legend Jim Ross when he sat down with USA Today to discuss his take on the wrestling business — among other things — on December 19.
And most of what the voice of pro wrestling/BBQ connoisseur had to say probably won’t be embraced by the Straight-Edge Superstar.
Particularly “hard to believe” for Jim Ross were the comments that CM Punk (aka Phil Brooks) made regarding Vince McMahon and the expectations that he work hurt.
This statement did not seem right to the man who managed talent for McMahon for a number of years.
“I was very surprised to hear that because I know from experience that WWE has invested untold sums of money on their medical staff,” Ross said. “Full-time doctors, full-time certified trainers, CTE testing and things that are actually being followed by some of the other leagues.”
Ross said that he knew the “health of their performers is a high priority, and that anytime I ever had an issue that was job-related or in-the-ring, I always got excellent care and I communicated with the medical staff on a regular basis. They’d call me when I was home.”
Ross did his best not to call CM Punk a liar, but he did say he was “surprised” to hear that from the former WWE Champ.
“I’m not disputing his claim because I wasn’t there and haven’t seen the medical records, but the issue is that it seems like it comes back down to communication,” said Ross.
“If I was in Punk’s place – and maybe he did this, I don’t know – and I was displeased by the doctor’s feedback, I would have gone to Vince after that, and said I believed the diagnosis to be incorrect. I don’t know if that ever happened.”
Ross called Vince McMahon a “very bright” man and found it hard to believe that he would ever “jeopardize” his company “by figuratively holding the gun to a head of a talent.”
“I have a hard time understanding that. I really do. I booked guys and was in charge of talent rosters for many years. We’d have a guy who was rehabbing, and we’d fly him in for a promo, but not a physical role. That’s a different ballgame.”
Ross admitted that it would truly “shock” him if McMahon required a talent to return when he wasn’t ready or cleared by a doctor “on the record or off.”
“I just think there was a big breakdown in communication,” Ross added.
Something else CM Punk may not like about Ross’ comments, Cageside Seats notes, is that JR sounded “skeptical” when it came to Punk’s chances of making it in the UFC.
Of course, if he were to be upset with JR over that, he’d have to pretty much be at odds with the whole internet.
Triple H and NXT announcer Jason “Tensai” Albert came up with the idea to do individual, more diverse entrances with the NXT Superstars, which we saw more of at Takeover: R Evolution and the next set of TV tapings. This was done to differentiate the talents and bring a “big fight feel” to the matches, similar to what is done in Japan.
Finn Balor’s entrance at Takeover received rave reviews backstage and from WWE officials. The former Prince Devitt had everyone in the company talking about him. Officials are very high up on Balor and the excitement surrounding his character internally is “through the roof.”
WWE's Japan website will begin featuring a weekly column from NXT star Hideo Itami on December 26th. The column will follow Hideo's time in NXT with photos and more.
New data released by WWE's Corporate website this past week reveals that the 2014 Survivor Series pay-per-view, featuring Team Cena vs. Team Authority and Sting's WWE debut, drew around 100,000 buys on traditional pay-per-view.
This was during WWE Network's free month of November. It's worth noting that 100,000 fans still paid normal pay-per-view prices when they could have got the pay-per-view for free.
In comparison, the 2013 pay-per-view drew 179,000 buys before the WWE Network launched. The 2012 Survivor Series pay-per-view drew 208,000 buys and the 2011 Survivor Series drew 281,000.
HHH refers to NXT as a place for rest…
WWE has a year-long schedule, and wrestlers do not get a break for many months at a time.
In recent years, it’s been suggested that a rotation system or some sort of regular time off would not only make lives better for wrestlers, it would be ultimately best for business as wrestlers wouldn’t burn out or get injured as much.
With the advent of the NXT training system, it seems like WWE could be getting closer to a Talent Rotation System/time off for wrestlers.
Triple H recently talked about NXT as a third brand where main roster wrestlers could come to Florida for a break from being on the road, while staying sharp at the Performance Center.
Triple H said:
(Being a third brand) also allows for guys to come off the main roster who have spent some time – if this is looked as a third brand – to take some time off Raw and Smackdown, come down here, and continue to work, but yet take a little vacation from the main roster and come back in a few months later… or, try something new down here. It’s a huge platform.
WWE Diva Naomi spoke with Chuck Carroll of The Turnbuckle Weekly about Vince McMahon’s recent comments on Steve Austin’s podcast where he said that the current locker room lacked ambition.
“Everyone was pretty shocked and taken back by it,” Naomi said. “I think we all see what the intent was and that’s just to light a fire and push everyone to work harder. I mean if it did nothing else, it definitely pissed us off to where we kinda want to go ten times harder than we were before. I think it’s a good thing, sometimes you have some negative and some positive, and I think that’s what Vince was trying to do to us all.”
Naomi then went on to say that there was “absolutely not” a lack of ambition with the Divas, and that they are all competitive and ambitious.
WWE has sent in the following:
Beginning this Sunday, December 21, ‘12 Days of Attitude’ will bring new video-on-demand content to WWE Network. Each day, WWE Network subscribers will be able to unlock new programming in their video-on-demand library from the Attitude Era. Full episodes of Monday Night Raw, SmackDown and Heat will be among content available. Also included are memorable moments from the Attitude Era such as training vignettes of Vince and Shane McMahon and the interview in which The Rock and Mankind discuss The Undertaker and Big Show being buried alive.
WWE Network features 24/7 scheduled programming, all 12 pay-per-view events LIVE and the most comprehensive video-on-demand library with more than 2,600 hours of content, including every WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-view, all for $9.99 per month with no commitment and the ability to cancel any time. WWE Network programming includes groundbreaking original programming, reality shows, documentaries, classic matches, exclusive coverage of special events and more. The U.S. English language version of WWE Network is available on an over-the-top basis in more than 170 countries and territories.
Like other digital subscription services, such as Netflix and Hulu Plus, fans are able to subscribe online by going to WWE.com and can watch WWE Network on their TV through connected devices such as Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku streaming devices, Sony Playstation 3, Sony Playstation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Smart TVs including Sony and Samsung.
For a complete listing of WWE Network availability by country and device, please click here.
USA Network issued a press release on Thursday to announce that they are ending 2014 as the most watched ad-supported cable entertainment network for the 9th consecutive year. They said the following about WWE RAW:
"WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW – the most-watched, regularly scheduled program on cable, 52 weeks a year, delivered 4.68MM total viewers P2+, 2.15MM P25-54, and 2.08MM P18-49, making USA #1 Monday nights in 2014 for all three categories among cable entertainment networks. RAW made USA the #1 entertainment network in all of television Monday nights for M18-34."
The Sioux City Journal has an interview with Hulk Hogan, who was promoting this Sunday's SmackDown taping at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, IA. We are looking for correspondents for the taping, so if you are attending it, please contact us by clicking here.
During the interview, Hogan talked about crashing and burning and returning to WWE "where it all started." He also talked about wanting to return to action, saying that he gets "the jones."
"Triple H told me I've got nothing to prove but the last time I wrestled was not with this company and I want my legacy to end with the WWE," Hogan said. "I weigh 295. I'm in really good shape and I'm training like I'm going to get in the ring. I'm like a convict given a life sentence.
"Vince (McMahon, the WWE founder) said, 'Never say never.' And that's what I want – one last match, one last run, one last title win, one last title retirement."
According to F4WOnline.com, WWE has instructed its merchandise department not to make any new merchandise for Brock Lesnar. Instead, the department has been told to make new merchandise for Sheamus.
This seems to be an indication that Sheamus might be in-line for a sizable push when he returns from injury, and Brock Lesnar’s future in WWE beyond WrestleMania 31 is very much up in the air.
The current feeling in WWE is that Lesnar will be leaving the company following WrestleMania, likely to give MMA one more try before he retires. Once Lesnar’s WWE contract expires, which is shortly after WrestleMania, a bidding war is expected to begin for Lesnar, pitting WWE against UFC and Bellator.
