Home Blog Page 2234

Tough Enough Hits Season-Low Viewership, Divas Tag Titles Discussed, Ziggler’s Return

Staff
-
17

– Tuesday’s “Week 7” episode of WWE Tough Enough dropped to a season-low 0.70 rating with 856,000 viewers. The show premiered with a 0.87 rating, peaked during Week 3 (0.96 rating) and has been trending downward ever since.

WWE announced that John Cena will be making a guest appearance on the show next week, which is probably their best card to play in order to turn things around for the struggling show.

– Dolph Ziggler is scheduled to return to action this weekend. Radio ads for WWE’s live event from Vancouver are promoting that Ziggler will be facing Rusev in the co-main event of the evening, along with Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt. (Thanks to reader Scott Williamson).

– There continues to be talk within WWE about introducing Divas tag team titles, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

More Details On The 2002 Pitch To Turn Brock Lesnar’s Character Gay

Staff
-
38

More details are “coming out” regarding WWE considering Brock Lesnar portraying a gay character back in 2002, courtesy of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

According to Dave Meltzer, it was Dr. J. Kober Zehner who originally came up with the idea. Brian Solomon and Aaron Feigenbaum developed the idea and pitched it to the head writers at the time, which included Paul Heyman, Brian Gewirtz and Seth Mates. Heyman was said to be completely against the idea, since Lesnar had already established himself on TV as a freak athlete that didn’t need a controversial gimmick to get over.  Meltzer speculates that Lesnar would have likely hated the idea, since it could have wrong a dozen different ways.

An excerpt of the pitch to WWE’s lead writers reportedly stated:

“[Brock] is physically dominant, has impeccable credentials concerning believability, and because he is new and relatively unknown, his character can be crafted easily. His ascension could also raise the scores of other Superstars with whom he feuds. The following possible scenario to increase Brock’s ability to grow the industry is radical. It’s unprecedented and may appear crazy at first. There are risks involved, but if it works, it has Austin/McMahon like potential. The solution: Turn Brock Gay.

Everything else about him stays the same. He’s pushed in a traditional babyface manner. He’s not the stereotypical Billy/Chuck character. He’s Brock. He continues to annihilate people. He’s just gay. It has to be presented as completely real, especially in the beginning.”

In the end, the idea never came to fruition and Lesnar has had a Hall of Fame career without his character’s sexual orientation ever coming into play.

Comment below and tell us if you think Brock would have reached the heights that he did, had WWE revealed his character was gay.

Backstage News On Plans For John Cena vs. Seth Rollins Feud

Matt Boone
-
45

– A lot of controversy has spread regarding UFC President Dana White’s “FAKE” comments when referring to a legion of pro wrestling fans on social media, a campaign that WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins was a major part of, in terms of back-and-forth comments between himself and White.

Earlier this week, current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, current FOX Sports analyst and lifelong pro wrestling fan (need proof — watch UFC champ Daniel Cormier completely mark out when watching Rollins win the WWE title at WrestleMania earlier this year by clicking here for possibly the funniest crowd reaction from a celebrity in WWE event history) appeared on the “Steve Austin Show – Unleashed!” podcast, and the two shared their in-depth feelings about the backlash behind UFC President Dana White’s “FAKE” comments.

Surprisingly enough, Austin and Cormier did not side with who you think they would side with. In fact, to make things even crazier, forget who they each sided with, and listen to why they each backed who they did by CLICKING HERE.

– WWE is planning on having the feud between John Cena and Seth Rollins run as a long-term program, as Cena vs. Rollins is booked as the advertised main event for most of the key WWE live events through September.

The company will continue to market “anti-Cena” t-shirts for the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, one of which Rollins debuted this past Monday night on RAW in San Jose California. Two of the shirt ideas read, “Never Shut Up” instead of “Never Give Up,” and “You Can’t See Knee” instead of “You Can’t See Me.”

Speaking of the knee, which Rollins landed to Cena’s face over a week ago, resulting in Cena needing reconstructive surgery to repair a badly broken nose, the fact that it happened is part of the reason WWE is running with Cena-Rollins long-term.

Cena vs. Rollins in a “Title vs. Title — Winner Take All” match is scheduled for this year’s WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view, which will be a four-hour event live on Sunday, August 23, 2015 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

Lana’s Push To Be Halted In Favor Of Eva Marie?

Staff
-
48

WWE is gearing up to give Eva Marie a big push in the coming weeks at the expense of Lana, according to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

After getting over in a big way as Rusev’s manager and more recently as his rival and Dolph Ziggler’s love interest, it appears WWE is getting ready to pull back on Lana’s push in favor of Eva Marie.

Eva Marie has been training hard to improve her in-ring work, which has been universally mocked by the WWE Universe since she started with the company. Higher ups in WWE are looking to feature Eva Marie as one of the cornerstones of the Divas revolution, with the storyline being Eva Marie took the rejection from fans to heart and it drove her to work hard and become Divas champion.

Many fans have been calling for Lana to be reunited with Rusev, since both of them saw the most success when they were paired together. During a recent workout video clip published by WWE, Lana teased that she’s been working on her own in-ring work and sent a message to the other Divas that she’s becoming a threat they need to watch out for.

It remains to be seen if Lana does eventually become an active competitor, but expect to see some pullback on how much TV time she’s been getting.

WWE 2K16 Screenshots: Austin, Bryan, Balor, Rollins & More

Staff
-
5

Another batch of screenshots from WWE 2K16 has surfaced online featuring Stone Cold Steve Austin, Daniel Bryan, Finn Balor, Seth Rollins and Bad News Barrett. (Pre-Order now from Amazon.com)

The game is scheduled to be released in October and will boast the largest roster in WWE video game history, with over 120 playable characters.

WWE 2K16

Updated Lineup For NXT Takeover: Brooklyn Live Special (8/22)

Matt Boone
-
4

Following this week’s edition of NXT TV, below is an updated look at the scheduled lineup for NXT Takeover: Brooklyn, which airs live on the WWE Network on Saturday, August 22nd.

NXT Championship
(Ladder Match)
– Finn Balor (c) vs. Kevin Owens

NXT Tag-Team Championship
– Blake & Murphy (c) vs. The Vaudevillians

NXT Women’s Championship
– Sasha Banks (c) vs. Bayley

– Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Tyler Breeze

– Samoa Joe vs. Baron Corbin

– Apollo Crews (formerly known as Uhaa Nation) will make his NXT debut

– Appearances by Hideo Itami and others are expected as well

WWE Changing Name Of Diva Faction Due To Adult Website?

Matt Boone
-
32

As seen on Monday’s edition of RAW, WWE has given the trio of Paige, Charlotte and Becky Lynch a team name, similar to Sasha Banks, Naomi and Tamina being called “Team B.A.D.” and the team of Nikki Bella, Brie Bella and Alicia Fox being referred to as “Team Bella.”

Unfortunately, the team name for the babyface trio, “The Submission Sorority,” is also the name of an adult website, a fact that WWE quickly found out about after mentioning the name on national television.

A traffic analyst for the BangBros website told TMZ.com that their web traffic shot up 56% overnight, and they saw a 35% rise in subscriptions. The adult movie company plans on sending Vince McMahon a ‘thank you’ gift basket for the spike in business.

As a result of the slip up, WWE is already talking about changing the group name to “The Submission Sisters.” There was actually some discussions about giving the group the name “Horsewomen,” however the belief was that it could be seen as stepping on UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey’s toes.

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

Update On WWE Possibly Bringing Back Axelmania, AJ Lee Changes Twitter Handle, Total Divas Preview

Daniel Pena
-
8

– Earlier today, Curtis Axel’s profile on WWE.com was altered to reflect his Hulk Hogan-based Axelmania schtick. It has been changed again as all references to the persona have been removed.

When WWE terminated Hogan’s contract two weeks ago amid allegations that he made racist comments, virtually all references to his legendary name were removed from the official website, including his listing as a judge for Tough Enough, his merchandise on WWE Shop, and his entry in the Hall of Fame portion of the Superstars section. This included anything that could be associated with Hogan, which meant the end of Axel’s character.

– AJ Brooks (a/k/a AJ Lee) has changed her Twitter handle to AJBrooks.

– Here is the synopsis for Total Divas airing on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at 9/8 CT on E!: “Tensions ride high in the Bella family when JJ tries to take over the twins’ new business; Trinity goes above and beyond in her role as stepmother; and Eva devises a risky plan to prove herself to the Divas.”

Uhaa Nation’s New WWE Name, NXT TV Debut Date Revealed

Matt Boone
-
41

Former independent wrestling sensation Uhaa Nation, who recently signed with NXT, will be making his official debut with the promotion later this month.

Uhaa Nation will now be known as “Apollo Crews” in NXT, and will debut at the Saturday, August 22nd NXT Takeover: Brooklyn event, which airs live on the WWE Network the night before WWE SummerSlam.

As of right now, there is no official word regarding who Crews’ opponent will be at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn.

Video: Preview & Matches For Tonight’s Lucha Underground Two-Hour Season Finale

Matt Boone
-
4

The following matches are scheduled for tonight’s edition of Lucha Underground on the El Rey Network, which is their “Ultimate Lucha” two-hour season finale.

– Alberto El Patron vs. Johnny Mundo

– Vampiro vs. Pentagon Jr. in a Cero Miedo match

– Fenix vs. Sexy Star vs. AeroStar vs. Bengala vs. King Cuerno vs. Jack Evans vs. Big Ryck in a 7 Way Gift of the Gods match

– Texano vs. Blue Demon Jr.

– Prince Puma vs. Mil Muertes (w/Catrina) in a Lucha Underground Championship Match

Check out a video preview for tonight’s Lucha Underground season finale at the top of the page.

Details On New Ultimate Warrior Book Being Launched During SummerSlam Weekend

Matt Boone
-
2

As reported earlier this week, Insight Editions have announced August 22, 2015 as “Ultimate Warrior Day,” in honor of the late WWE Hall Of Famer.

Below is a press release issued by the company this week, which announces details on the tribute, including Dana Warrior launching “Ultimate Warrior: A Life Lived Forever” book during WWE SummerSlam weekend.

Join Insight Editions at The Powerhouse Arena for Ultimate Warrior Day!

Including a Book Signing with Dana Warrior

Saturday, August 22, 2015, is Ultimate Warrior Day, and Dana Warrior will be at The POWERHOUSE Arena celebrating Ultimate Warrior’s enduring legacy and promoting Insight Editions’ new book, Ultimate Warrior: A Life Lived “Forever.”

Known for his vibrant face paint, Ultimate Warrior’s true colors can be seenin Ultimate Warrior: A Life Lived “Forever.” Releasing on Tuesday, September 15, 2015, this biography showcases the WWE Hall of Famer through stories and photographs of his historic matches, as well as rare candid, behind-the-scenes images and personal ephemera from his family, making this the ultimate collectible for diehard Warrior fans worldwide.

This book launch will feature an autograph table, Warrior statue, museum displays, a face paint artist, and more! Ultimate Warrior Day, on Saturday, August 22, 2015, begins at 3:00 p.m., and is open to the first 300 fans at The POWERHOUSE Arena, which is located at 37 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11210 and is exclusive to Ultimate Warrior book purchases made at POWERHOUSE.

About Insight Editions:

Insight Editions is a publisher focused on creating superlative illustrated books on photography, music, and popular culture. Lavishly produced and visually stimulating, every volume from Insight is dedicated to the skillful interplay of word and image. The books produced are unique works that combine the highest quality print production values with time-honored traditions of publishing and rich subject matter. Elegant and informative, books from Insight showcase the best of art and photography in exquisite presentations of the bookmaker’s craft. For more information, visit www.insighteditions.com.

About POWERHOUSE Arena:

The POWERHOUSE Arena is a laboratory for creative thought. Home to world-renowned art book publisher powerHouse books, the Arena is a gallery, boutique, book store, performance, and events space located at 37 Main Street, in New York City’s scenic DUMBO neighborhood. With soaring 24- foot ceilings on the 5,000 square foot ground floor (with over 175 linear-feet of glass frontage and amphitheater-style seating), The POWERHOUSE Arena showcases a series of landmark exhibitions, performances, and controlled mayhem fusing the worlds of art, photography, design, fashion, pop culture, advertising, music, dance, film, and television into a glorious whirlwind of captivating spectacle. For more information, visit: www.powerhousearena.com.

WWE Bringing Back Axelmania?

Daniel Pena
-
13

When WWE terminated Hulk Hogan’s contract on July 24 amid allegations that he made racist comments, virtually all references to his legendary name were removed from their website, including his listing as a judge for Tough Enough, his merchandise from WWE Shop, and his entry from its WWE Hall of Fame page. This included any imagery that could be associated with him, and for Curtis Axel, it meant the demise of his character patterned after the legendary wrestler.

In an update, Axel’s profile on WWE.com was reverted back to the “Axelmania” character today.

Chelsea Green Talks Tough Enough Elimination, Her Relationship With Tanner

Matt Boone
-
7

Former WWE Tough Enough contestant Chelsea Green recently spoke with the folks at After Buzz TV about her elimination from the show, her relationship with Tanner, her ankle injury and more. Below are some of the highlights from the interview, which you can check out in full above.

On her WWE Tough Enough elimination: “When I woke up this morning I think it had sunk in a little bit more. Of course I’m upset but I feel better than I did last night. I’m just gonna keep training, get back in the ring and I’m just using this as a stepping stone to improve and better myself.”

On dealing with the ankle injury: “I was put into this competition late and I didn’t have time to take a month off. So I knew that I just had to tape it up, put a brace on it and get back out there and do as much as I could and do it to the best of my abilities and I think I did pretty well.”

On her relationship with Tanner: “We were having a good time. We’re stuck in the barracks, we just need to have a good time. Sometimes I had good times with Tanner, sometimes I had good times with the girls and you saw in the hot tub, we were just having fun.”

Matt Hardy Shares His Thoughts On TNA, Kevin Owens, Hardy Boys Still Going Strong

Matt Boone
-
2

TNA Wrestling performer Matt Hardy recently spoke with Sean Ross Sapp of Wrestling Inc about a wide variety of topics. Below are some of the highlights of part one of their two-part interview.

On his match at tonight’s Impact Wrestling and being in such a high-profile position at this stage in his career: “It’s always an honor to be in a top position. When it comes down to it, I’m a kid who came from a small down in North Carolina and the dream was to become a professional wrestler. Obviously my brother and I have been very successful, but I still have a passion to be as good as I can be. I realize after 24 years that it’s hard to be as athletic as I used to be, but I feel like I have a lot of mileage in the tank. To go into this Full Metal Mayhem match tonight and challenge for the world title is very special. I guarantee people will walk away from this match in disbelief that Matt Hardy is still doing these things when he’ll be 41 in a month. That’s my goal coming out of this. I feel like no one can represent TNA better than I can right now.”

On both of The Hardy Boys wrestling at age 40 despite people thinking they wouldn’t due to their style in the ring: “I don’t know, man. I never try to predict the future. Even when we started with the WWE and were doing regular matches, the pace, the moves. We were doing splashes and Jeff was taking flat back bumps to the floor, and our finish was a legdrop/splash. The veterans who watched our matches said we wouldn’t be able to walk by the time we were 35. It was very scary. To still be a part of that right now and be able to do the things I do, I’ve had to totally change my thing. It’s a lifestyle, and you can tell the changes I’ve made in the last year. I really just try to work hard and stay passionate about things. I’m very lucky, I think.”

On still working crazy stipulation matches this late into his career: “Honestly, I didn’t expect it. I’m pleasantly surprised that I feel as good as I do. I try to be a statement for someone who is a regular person in this business and their longevity. I’m living proof that it can happen. I’ve been through struggles and survived. I was with the Young Bucks this weekend and we were talking about how intense Kevin Owens’ schedule was. For 12 years I was doing ten days on, four days off, then 5 days on, a day and a half off. There’s no way to describe the damage that puts on your body, especially if you wrestled a high impact style like I did. These TNA TVs are a little challenging sometimes because we have several days back-to-back. We did that recently. It was aggressive and tough for me. As soon as I was done, I’d get back to the room and sleep for an hour, then I’m up training, stretching, staying in survival mode. I really had to change my game. I have to make wrestling my lifestyle and what I build my schedule around.”

On his thoughts on TNA as a whole: “I encourage fans to check out TNA on Destination America not just tonight, but each week. We have a lot of really great programming and wrestling, and I think maybe some older fans who fell away from the brand would really enjoy it.”

Check out the complete interview at WrestlingInc.com.

How Much Does Forbes Claim Vince McMahon Is Worth?, NXT Preview For Tonight

Matt Boone
-
8

– It was reported back in May that WWE Chairman Vince McMahon did not make this year’s Forbes list of billionaires, however it’s worth noting that Forbes’ profile on McMahon currently has his net worth listed at $1.21 billion, as of Wednesday, August 5, 2015. The profile does, however, note that McMahon “dropped off” this year’s billionaire list. You can check out McMahon’s Forbes profile at Forbes.com.

– The following matches were taped for tonight’s edition of NXT TV on the WWE Network.

* Charlotte vs. Bayley
* Baron Corbin vs. Steve Cutler
* Tyler Breeze vs. Aaron Solow
* The Mechanics vs. The Hype Bros
* Samoa Joe vs. Rhyno

Jim Ross Blog: Fans Complain About WWE’s Piper Tribute, Heyman/RAW, Tough Enough

Matt Boone
-
23

WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross recently updated his blog on his official website, posting comments and thoughts on a number of current pro wrestling topics. Below are some of the highlights.

On Paul Heyman’s promo on Monday’s RAW: “@HeymanHustle promo on RAW Monday was arguably one of his best ever. If any wrestler or wannabe who wants to understand the art of verbally telling a story and can listen to only one person in the business then make that one person Happy Heyman. It makes me proud that I was in a position to give him his first, national break on TV back in the WCW days. For me, it was easy to see that he was a special talent and he’s proven to be even more extraordinary than I predicted. I loved working with him even though he was could be like an ornery, little brother at times but make no mistake about it we jelled because we had mutual respect for each other and we both made it in the business when the majority of those in it did not endorse or predict our success.”

On WWE’s tribute to Roddy Piper on RAW: “Th Roddy Piper tribute was exceptional on RAW and I thought WWE hit it out of the park on that presentation. It’s hard to fathom that some keyboard warriors hit me on twitter @JRsBBQ that they thought it “wasn’t enough.” SMH.”

On WWE Tough Enough: “Tough Enough down to six vying for the big money in the reality show. I’ve watched every episode but the format doesn’t resonate with me. Not enough time to vote for my taste.”

On the season finale of Lucha Underground: “Season finale of Lucha Underground tonight on the El Rey Network. Check it out or DVR it. I had the opportunity to broadcast this episode but logistics couldn’t be worked out. I’m a fan of the show nonetheless and am pulling for their success. They have some great talent. Big fan of producer Chris DeJoseph aka Big Dick Johnson. I’d be shocked is this group has a season two that Rey Mysterio wasn’t a part of it. Hopefully, both come true.”

Check out the complete blog at JRsBarBQ.com. You can also order JR’s Bar-B-Q products online at WWEShop.com.

The Comedy Store In Hollywood To Honor Roddy Piper On August 17

Matt Boone
-
2

The Comedy Store in Hollywood issued the following today, announcing that they will be holding a private memorial on August 17th in honor of the late WWE Hall Of Famer, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.

Private Roddy Piper Memorial at The World Famous Comedy Store in Hollywood, Planned for August 17, 2015

A private memorial is in the works for beloved pro-wrestler, actor and comedian “Rowdy” Roddy Piper who passed away last week at his home in Hollywood, California. Set to take place Monday, August 17th at The Comedy Store, this private memorial will include friends from all facets of Roddy Piper’s life and career which ran the gamut of wrestling, acting, stand up comedy, live and broadcast TV, film and numerous business and charitable ventures. His closest friends/colleagues in L.A. will share stories and experiences about Roddy over the years.

Organizer and Roddy Piper friend, comic Steve Simeone said of the event “The Comedy Store is the adopted home of so many ‘comic orphans’ and Roddy became like a dad or big brother to all of us. He became family. I wanted to have a get together where we could get up and share our favorite stories about this incredible man who we all love and will miss greatly. This is a night for Roddy’s friends to celebrate what a great friend he was to all of us.”

Roddy Piper’s daughter, actress Ariel Teal Toombs had this to say about the memorial, “I know a lot of friends who will appreciate something like this in L.A., especially because the funeral will be up in Oregon and a lot of folks won’t be able to make that trip. It means a lot that Steve and the Comedy Store family are putting this together.” Pro-wrestling & Mixed Martial Arts agent, producer and longtime friend of Piper, Rick Bassman commented, “Roddy’s sudden death has hit all in the pro-wrestling and fight world pretty hard. I’m very grateful that the Comedy Store is doing this for our friend, and we intend to go the distance to insure that Roddy is remembered in a manner which would make him proud.” Helping to organize this send off is Mitch Ackerman, Roddy’s best friend who remarked, “I appreciate all the love and support from all the friends and fans of Roddy’s. Other than Madison Square Garden I don’t think there is a more appropriate place to have this memorial than at the Comedy Store”

The Toombs family invites the worldwide public who can’t attend Roderick George Toombs’ private funeral or memorial to a moment of silence, planned for the same day and time as Piper’s private funeral, August 11th at 10:30 am PST.

Details here: http://j.mp/RoddyPiper_MomentOfSilence

Triple H Confirms Sasha Banks Opponent For NXT Takeover: Brooklyn

Martin Lamont
-
15

Earlier tonight we reported that Triple H was testing out Facebook’s new video streaming application that had been created for celebrities who were verified on the site.

In the video he discussed a number of topics including the upcoming special event on the WWE Network NXT Takeover: Brooklyn which will take place the night before SummerSlam.

He once again mentioned the main event of the night, Finn Balor defending his NXT Championship against Kevin Owens in a rematch from the Beast in the East event in Tokyo.

Triple H also confirmed that live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday, August 22nd, Sasha Banks would defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Bayley.

If you haven’t seen the video, you can check it out at this link.

Rey Mysterio On Rumors About His WWE Departure, Being Booed At Royal Rumble, More

Matt Boone
-
10

Rey Mysterio, who goes one-on-one with Myzteziz (aka the original Sin Cara) at this Sunday’s TripleMania XXIII event, which airs live on North American pay-per-view, recently appeared as a guest on Ring Rust Radio to promote the show. Below are some of the highlights from the interview.

On his upcoming TripleMania XXIII match against Myzteziz (Sin Cara): “Well that match between us is going to a legacy defining match. There is a lot of animosity and egos that are going to come into play that night. I have to point out that this match was made for the fans by the fans. The fans were the number one critiques on who is better? Rey Mysterio or Myzteziz. At one point I left Mexico to continue my career globally and a new star came about. He is known now as Myzteziz, but back then he was known as Mistico and then Sin Cara when he joined WWE. I would have to say the fans in their eyes see a lot of similarities between us. We even tagged at one point in the WWE and now here we are against each other thanks to the fans.”

On rumors about his WWE departure: “The initial meeting in Buffalo went well. Both parties, they agreed to continue to move forward on the Rey Mysterio brand. There was no rumors, no animosity, no bad feelings between us. I feel like resigning with the company due to the fact that I had a large amount of injuries on my body. That was the number one reason why I was on the bench so long. So when it came around to resigning, they were ok with me wanting to depart and do my own thing. There was no hard feelings and we departed in an amicable way. It was my time to think for myself and act upon myself and that was the best thing I had done for myself in years. I have had time to rest and my body feels a thousand times better. I’m calling my own shots and doing things I have never been able to do in my career. I never had the freedom to do them but now I do.”

On if he’s willing to return to WWE: “Yes of course. I think that’s what every wrestler would want, there’s nothing better than dictating your own future and not over working your body. You can’t keep running on fumes constantly when you are older. You don’t see the same Rey Mysterio you see when I was 25 years old. I think it’s good to understand from both ends that I can’t deliver the way I used to when I first signed with the WWE. To make sure talent last, you have to take care of it.”

On being booed at the 2014 WWE Royal Rumble: “No hard feelings at all. One thing I have learned through the years is I have never been political about certain things and I take things lightly through my whole life. At the moment, I couldn’t believe or understand what was going on. After the match I was able to sit down and digest what was going on, and sure enough it was the fact that the fans weren’t given what they wanted. At one point I remember talking to Konnan about it, thinking if they would of let me walk down to the ring, then when the fans were booing, let me go back into gorilla and give my spot to Daniel Bryan to be number 30.”

Check out the complete interview at BlogTalkRadio.com.

Triple H Tests Out Brand New Facebook Live Streaming Feature

Martin Lamont
-
6

Triple H Facebook Live TEST

The WWE aren’t afraid to try out the latest technology. Most recently at their live events they’ve been making use of Twitter’s live streaming app Periscope.

Facebook have now launched their own live video streaming app that is only available to celebrities who have their page verified by the social network.

WWE COO Triple H has posted a new video showing him discussing how WWE like to be on the “cutting edge of technology” and even discussed NXT Takeover: Brooklyn

Check out the video at this link.

WWE Superstars Set For Wizard World Chicago, Daniel Bryan Audio Book Excerpt

Martin Lamont
-
11

2 WWE Wizard World 2015

– From the 20th-23rd of August The Undertaker, Sting, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan and Paige are set to make appearances at Wizard World Chicago.

Information on the Wizard World Chicago website reads:

Five larger-than-life WWE® Superstars and Divas will be in attendance at Wizard World Comic Con Chicago when The Undertaker®, Sting™, Randy Orton®, Daniel Bryan®, and WWE Diva Paige™ appear during the pop culture extravaganza, set for August 20-23 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.

Randy Orton (4:30-8:00 p.m.) and Daniel Bryan (5:30-8:30 p.m.) will appear on Thursday, August 20, greeting fans, signing autographs and posing for photo ops (Bryan will also conduct a question and answer panel at 8 p.m.). The Undertaker (3-7 p.m.) and Paige (3:30-7:30 p.m.) will attend on Friday, August 21 (Paige’s question and answer panel is set for 7 p.m.). Sting is scheduled for Saturday, August 22 (11 a.m.-3 p.m.), and will make a rare appearance in face paint.

“I love coming back to Wizard World, the fans always make me feel at home,” says Daniel Bryan. “I am honored to be here and look forward to meeting the WWE Universe in Chicago.”

“The fans in Chicago have consistently supported WWE at Wizard World, and we have always strived to bring them the biggest and the best,” said John Macaluso, Wizard World CEO. “We are in absolute awe of The Undertaker, Sting, Randy, Daniel and Paige and are proud to be able to bring this remarkable lineup of WWE talent to Chicago!.”

The five join a star-studded lineup of celebrities at Wizard World Comic Con Chicago which already includes Norman Reedus (“The Walking Dead”), Nathan Fillion (“Castle”), Stephen Amell (“Arrow”), Ben McKenzie (“Gotham”), Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead), Billie Piper (“Doctor Who”), David Morrissey (“The Walking Dead”), Matt Ryan (“Constantine”) and dozens of others.

Wizard World Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, cosplay, comics, television, sci-fi, toys, video gaming, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. The 16th of 27 events currently scheduled on the 2015 Wizard World calendar, Chicago show hours are Thursday, August 20, 3-8 p.m.; Friday, August 21, 12-7 p.m.; Saturday, August 22, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sunday, August 23, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

For more on the 2015 Wizard World Comic Con Chicago, visit http://www.wizd.me/ChicagoPR.

To book tickets for the event including VIP sessions, click this link.

Other WWE Superstars will be making appearances at other Wizard World conventions, more information can be found by clicking here and clicking on the desired location.

– As you may be aware, Daniel Bryan has released his new book “Yes!: My Improbable Journey to the Main Event of WrestleMania” which is also available as an audio book.

You can check out a short excerpt from the book read by Daniel Bryan himself below:

Renee Young-Nikki Bella Preview, John Cena On Tough Enough, SummerSlam Poll

Martin Lamont
-
3

– As previously noted, the next episode of “Unfiltered with Renee Young” on the WWE Network will air tonight and will be a 30-minute interview with WWE Divas Champion Nikki Bella.

A preview for the interview is shown above, it appears that even Renee herself wasn’t aware that the episode was going to air for 30-minutes after she tweeted at the beginning of the month:

https://twitter.com/ReneeYoungWWE/status/627613612522102784

https://twitter.com/ReneeYoungWWE/status/627614131252662272

– The WWE website has a poll asking if John Cena should accept Seth Rollins’ “Winner Takes All” match at SummerSlam later this month.

The two options available are “Yes! A broken nose can’t stop the champ!” or “No, Cena should forfeit his U.S. Title.” You can cast your vote at this link.

– On the topic of John Cena, the WWE have released a video to hype up his appearance on Tough Enough next Tuesday on the USA Network. Check it out above.

John Cena hasn’t been seen on WWE Television since Seth Rollins broke his nose during the main event on RAW which led to Rollins releasing a t-shirt mocking the situation.

Could The Undertaker Work A Match At Survivor Series This Year?

Martin Lamont
-
30

We already know that The Undertaker is due to take on Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam this month live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

The Undertaker has also been confirmed for live events in Mexico but other than that, nothing has been mentioned with regards to where he goes from here.

WWE.com have a new article up entitled “5 Unbelievable Facts About The Undertaker” which could be hinting that The Undertaker may be working Survivor Series this year to celebrate his 25th anniversary in the WWE.

“The 2015 edition of Survivor Series will claim an important place in WWE history, and not just because of the epic match card that will presumably take place. This edition of WWE’s fall classic will also mark the 25th anniversary of The Undertaker’s debut in WWE, as well as the first time the WWE Universe witnessed him earn his way into the winner’s circle. He didn’t just become The Phenom overnight. It took a long time and a lot of defeated opponents to remove all doubt about this supernatural Superstar’s capabilities in the ring.”

The 29th annual Survivor Series will take place on November 22nd at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Do you think we could see The Undertaker work the event that started it all?

*Spoilers* WWE Main Event Taping Results For This Week

Matt Boone
-
0

WWE taped only two matches for this week’s edition of Main Event prior to the SmackDown taping in Sacramento, California on Tuesday night. Below are spoiler results for this week’s show.

– Big Show comes out to kick off the show. He cuts a promo on Ryback, but while he’s talking, Jack Swagger’s music hits. Swagger comes out, interrupting the giant, which leads to a match.

– Big Show def. Jack Swagger in one-on-one action in the first of only two matches taped for this week’s Main Event. This match was actually given a lot more time than you’d think. In the end, Big Show was able to hit his finisher on Swagger and score the 1-2-3.

– The Lucha Dragons def. The Ascension in tag-team action in what was the final match taped for this week’s show. This match was also given a decent amount of time. The crowd was into the action, as it was fast-paced and featured a lot of high-flying moves and big spots. In the end, The Lucha Dragons managed to pick up the “W.” After this match, WWE began taping this week’s SmackDown.

Roderick Strong On His Feud With Jay Lethal, IWGP Title Match With Okada

Matt Boone
-
2

Ring Of Honor star Roderick Strong recently appeared as a guest on The Two Man Power Trip Of Wrestling podcast to talk about a number of current topics. Below are some of the highlights from the interview.

On his feud with Jay Lethal and their recent ROH title match: “It was two guys going out there with something to prove and nothing got settled. I know Jay Lethal is probably not happy about this but August 21st I have my rematch and we can finally settle this.”

On the chemistry between the two: “I think it’s the ability to be aggressive. I’ve said in promos that I like to push the pace and I really do. In the ring there are certain matches where I like to just challenge my opponent and not in a bad way to try and embarrass them but I like to challenge somebody enough to up their aggression. Jay is a classic wrestler like me in a sense that you feed off of that and respond to it well. He is a fantastic professional wrestler that really loves the sport and understands it and I feel I’m the same. A lot of it is reaction based and I think that is what makes our chemistry so unique.”

On what is the key factor to building a true rematch: “It’s going to be a lot more intense than our first match up. Obliviously we didn’t settle what we needed to be settled and when you have a first match up like that in this kind of situation and you set the bar so high, it’s a challenge for you to go in there and see if you can top it and the thing that is great is being able to go in there with someone like Jay Lethal. We are very competitive and we want to be considered the best in the world (both of us) doing what we do. I think we are going to try and make that even better but different.”

On how to prepare for his upcoming IWGP Title match vs. Kazuchika Okada: “It’s another situation of facing somebody that many people consider the best or one of the best in the world. I am a competitive person so for me to see the match ups he has had with other people and the type of wrestler he is it’s a challenge for me to top the type of stuff he has done with other people around the world. It has people talking about us, having one of the best match ups in Ring of Honor history if not in the world and to prove that I am one of the best wrestlers currently participating in professional wrestling today.”

On if he sees himself as the MVP of Ring of Honor: “Honestly, the way I look at stuff is I go out there and do my job. My goal when I started wrestling is go at the highest level possible and I feel like I’m just starting to hit the prime of my career. For people to consider what I’ve been doing to be the MVP or (this) being the best year of my career, it makes me happy but it also motivates me to make the rest of this year and the rest of my career even better. I am always hard on myself and I’m trying to just improve as much as I possibly can. If it’s up to me, you guys have seen nothing yet.”

Check out the complete interview at Podomatic.com.

1...2,2332,2342,235...3,389Page 2,234 of 3,389