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- Today marks at the 70th birthday of WWE Hall of Famer “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka. Also celebrating a birthday is The Blue Meanie, who turns 40-years-old.

- Former WWE Superstar Raven appears at JR’s Sports & Collectibles at the Englishtown Flea Market (Red Building Booth 5) 90 Wilson Ave. Englishtown, New Jersey, tomorrow from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Call 347-992-8240 for more information.

“I don’t think [the WWE] shares my belief in this, but I believe that competition is 100% positively essential,I think it’s important for fans and for us. To have one company dominate, a) it’s boring, and you are not being challenged enough. It’s always better to have other options out there and I truly believe it makes both companies better. absolutely would do that. I’m not sure if they would do that (a crossover event), but I absolutely would.”

She also discussed TNA doing another season of Boot Camp & more.

* Photos of BATISTA In The New Movie RIDDICK

countless @wwe peeps personally told me how hard @hotyoungbriley worked & how he was the most entertaining guy in NXT#WeirdBiz

— Dolph Ziggler (@HEELZiggler) May 17, 2013

- Below is the latest JBL & Cole Show:

WWEShop: $10 of Orders $70+ (Code: WWESAVE10)

Because of the risk of injury, I will be crossing my fingers until #ExtremeRules is over on Sunday

— Vince McMahon (@VinceMcMahon) May 17, 2013

- WWE’s Vice President of Television Production, “Big” John Gaburick recently departed the company. Gaburick was behind the original WWE Tough Enough show on MTV and is leaving on good terms.

- WWE will be returning to the Zayed Sports City International Tennis Complex in Abu Dhabi for three events in October of 2013. The dates are October 10th, 11th & 12th. Bell time is 7 PM on all three nights. Tickets go on sale May 20th. Currently advertised for the events are John Cena, Mark Henry, Sheamus & Ryback. (Thanks to Devin Cutting)

* Photos of BATISTA In The New Movie RIDDICK

We reported here earlier this week that there are people in WWE that are against pushing Swiss superstar because he’s too “boring.” The Texas Rattlesnake says Antonio Cesaro’s got the skills to be a player in WWE, but he won’t become a main eventer any time soon by yodeling:

@sescoops Bad gimmick. Very good worker. Hello.

— Steve Austin (@steveaustinBSR) May 17, 2013

The donation is to further research aimed at developing a treatment for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a brain disease that is associated with repeated concussions.

WWE COO Triple H told USA Today that WWE has gone to great lengths to protect their performers from the dangers of head trauma. “Obviously, I think it’s such a huge concern for everybody right now in sports and in the military. As we learn more and more about concussions and what can become of it, I think it’s a problem for everybody.”

“We still hit people with metal chairs, just not in the head anymore. We took out the things that … caused the most concussions and the most head impacts.”

Triple H says concussions are being less common in WWE, but there’s still a lot more work to do:

“In 2011, we had 25 concussions of the 150 talent (wrestlers) on the road all year long. … In 2012, we only had 11. If you’re in the NFL, your goal is to try to hit the other guy as hard as possible. … The goal in what we do is the exact opposite. The goal in what we do is first and foremost … protect your opponent. Without him you have nothing. … Our whole goal is to make something look as devastating as possible and as impactful as possible with as little impact as possible. It’s really the art of what we do. We really work on that with talent. If John Cena and I are in a story line together and I hit John Cena hard and he gets injured, and he’s out, it hurts me as much as it hurts him. He’s out; now my opponent that I’m in a story line with is gone and my storyline just ended.”

Earlier this week, he tweeted that he had a very bad stomach ache, was “getting sick” and thought he had a bad case of food poisoning. He was hoping he wouldn’t have to be hospitalized, but he eventually did go – and it saved his life.

Good morning! Ended up goin to the hospital afterall last night. And long story short….it was one of the smartest things i could have done

— Zema Ion(@ZemaTNA) May 15, 2013

He posted another update on Facebook today – revealing the extent of the medical issues he’s facing:

“I’m alive! Seriously thank you all for the get well wishes. Means the world to me. I was rushed to the hospital lasts night for sharp stomach pains i was having. I couldnt stop puking. For like 9 straight hours. I didnt wanna go to the hosptial, but the pain was too much to handle. Thank god i went, as i ended up having appendicitis and had to have my appendix removed today. I consider this a blessing in disguise too, coz the cat scans also revealed that i have a tumor on my colon and will eventually need another surgery to try and remove it. Hoping it is not cancerous. Pray for me! This really sucks lol”

The Ultimate Redneck-Style Competition Series to Premiere at 10:30 p.m., ET/PT, Following the 2013 CMT MUSIC AWARDS

NASHVILLE – Wrestling hall of famer Steve Austin is back for a rowdier-than-ever third season of REDNECK ISLAND, premiering Wednesday, June 5 at 10:30-11:30 p.m., ET/PT, immediately following the 2013 CMT MUSIC AWARDS. Set in a remote tropical paradise, REDNECK ISLAND will pit 15 contestants—completely out of their element—against one another in CMT’s ultimate redneck-style competition series for a shot at $100,000. This season, romantic alliances form early among the castaways, and one surprise dismissal will keep the rednecks “politicking” throughout the 15 beer-packed episodes.

The second episode of REDNECK ISLAND will premiere in its regularly scheduled timeslot Saturday, June 8 at 9:00-10:00 p.m., ET/PT.

REDNECK ISLAND season three contestants, which were revealed on the series’ official Facebook page earlier this week, include:

Brandon Keys (Ellisville, Miss.) – Brandon is a 27-year-old mechanic who grew up in the country and loves to hunt, fish and drink beer.

Cody Hodge (Brooksville, Ala.) – If 23-year-old construction worker Cody wins the competition, he will buy the largest double-wide trailer that money can buy.

Daniel “Jo” Floyd (Theodore, Ala.) – Jo is a 24-year-old coil pressure washer who is looking for a good time and not another relationship.

Mike Mace (Rocky Mountain, N.C.) – Mike is a 26-year-old exterminator who can fix anything with a roll of duct tape.

Phillip Honea (Pendleton, S.C.) – Since the age of nine, 30-year-old Phillip has been riding bulls, building tree houses and shooting guns. He currently works as an electrician.

Shane Tucker (Smith Lake, Ala.) – Shane is a 42-year-old used car salesman. He loves playing beer pong and considers himself to be an exceptional dancer.

Travis Davis (Manchester, Ky.) – An avid guitar-player and NASCAR-watcher, 31-year-old Travis is a mechanic who also loves turtle hunting and tailgating.

Amnesty Sundstrom (Haymarket, Va.) – Amnesty is a 21-year-old bartender that loves riding horses, drinking beer and dancing at bars.

Bayly Risen (Brandenburg, Ky.) – Bayly is a 22-year-old retail banker who loves putting on her camouflage overalls and heading to the horse stables.

Brittany Martin (Argo, Ala.) – Brittany is always up for some cow tipping, drinking, fishing and hunting. She is a 23-year-old bartender.

Brittany Woodle (Bennettsville, S.C.) – Brittany is a 25-year-old waitress who loves being the center of attention.

Candice Orso (Creola, Ala.) – Candice is a southern girl who isn’t afraid to get dirty. This 24-year-old waitress loves the race track and going hunting.

Lindsey Donohoe (Bipley, W.V.) – Lindsey is a 29-yaer-old juvenile delinquent manager. She raises rabbits for food and owns two potbelly pigs as pets

Misty Gordon (Dublin, Ga.) – Misty considers herself more of a Georgia Rebel than a Georgia Peach. This 22-year-old works as both a bartender and a golf cart girl.

Stacey Schuler (Shepherdsville, Ky.) – Stacey, a 26-year-old recovery specialist, isn’t into pink and says she can outhunt and outdrink any man.

* Photos of BATISTA Looking HUGE – Back To His WWE Fighting Weight