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Jacques Rougeau On Mountie Gimmick, Jailhouse Match, & More

David Bixenspan
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Former WWE, WCW, and territorial star Jacques Rougeau joined the Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling podcast this week and covered a number of topics. Some of the more interesting quotes are below:

On the Mountie gimmick:

To be honest with you I had the greatest moments as The Mountie in my career. I was working guys like Macho Man, I remember a match with him in England against him with Elizabeth, I had matches with Undertaker, matches with Sid Vicious of course matches with Big Boss Man just so many fantastic memories. There is nothing I didn’t do as The Mountie. I remember simple matches with Tito Santana as The Mountie or Koko B. Ware. I had so much fun with that character and I honestly made people believe that I thought I was The Mountie. That I was so convinced that they started believing. It is amazing because when you build a character and I always tell this at my school that how are you going to get people to believe in your character if you don’t believe it. I had a brother-in-law who was a real Royal Canadian Mounted Police who gave me some tricks and some moves that they used when they arrest a guy so all those moves that I used in the ring were actually legit.

Not being able to use the Mountie gimmick in Canada due to restrictions from the RCMP:

I was doing such a great job of making The Mounties look bad in Canada that they suspended me on TV and I wasn’t allowed to be used on TV anymore. So the only way I was allowed to wrestle was if I took off the sleeves, the shirt and kept the black pants and they would announce me as Jacques Rougeau. Everyone knew me as Jacques Rougeau anyway so that was fun. I think they (The Mounties) took it all a little too serious. Like in movies and everywhere else there is always dirty Cops or bad Cops but they don’t ban the movie because the Cop is crooked. But I think that my character was becoming so strong that eventually they decided and voted on it and sent a letter to Vince saying that I wasn’t allowed to wrestle on TV in Canada anymore. Eventually and after that they let that character go because it wasn’t helping me at all so I took a year off and came back a year and a half later with Carl Ouellet as The Quebecers with the same suit and our music was “We’re not the Mounties.” So I think Vince wanted to get back at them in a way.

His famous “jailhouse match” with The Mountie at SummerSlam ’91:

It is one of the greatest matches that I’ve ever had in my career. Ray Traylor who was the Big Boss Man who unfortunately left us was the kindest person. I had never seen Big Boss Man talk bad to anyone in the dressing room or show lack of respect. He was another Owen Hart. So working with a guy like that for a year to a year and a half around the world was a night off every night and it was such a pleasure because he would take care of my body, take care of me and I would take care of him. It was a great time in my career.

What type of impact did the Mountie gimmick have?

The Mountie was great. I’ll never forget winning the Intercontinental Title against Bret Hart and losing it to Rowdy Roddy Piper. I had three different dolls made and sold in Toys R Us’s around the world as The Mountie and when I give conferences in schools now against intimidation. The first thing I do is because they don’t know me because they are too young and they have only heard of me but I do so many personal appearances and am on TV that when I come in and start talking to kids and I take my belt out and my dolls out they start to say “hey this guy was important”. All of that was done because of the Mountie character.

In the full interview, he also talks about his backstage issues with Dynamite Kid, leaving the Montreal territory for the WWF, his family’s legacy, the Hart family, and more.

Mike Tenay Talks About The State Of TNA, WCW’s Demise

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Former TNA & WCW announcer Mike Tenay recently spoke with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated’s Extra Mustard Blog to promote his Professor Vegas podcast. Here are some highlights of what he said about:

WCW’s Booking:

“When it comes to wrestling booking, I’ve always been a fan of sports-based booking. The wrestling product should be presented as legitimate as possible, with individuals fighting over championships and over issues that resonate with the audience. But there was a time when WCW creative went in a different direction. While I never want to take away the entertainment aspect of pro wrestling, WCW went too far in that direction. If you look at the success these days of the UFC, you’ll see a product very similar to pro wrestling in the pre-sports entertainment era, and it’s no surprise that UFC is so successful with that mindset.”

WCW Shutting Down:

“The nature of the wrestling business is always open for second-guessing. But some of the booking decisions of the late 1990’s certainly hastened the decline of WCW. All of a sudden, WCW couldn’t garner the interest of the mainstream fans like it did in 1996 and ’97, and soon after, so went the company.”

If He Would Return To TNA:

“That hasn’t been discussed with me. I think it’s great that TNA, in a very competitive time, found that outlet for Impact Wrestling. There is an absolutely terrific group of very talented people who still have the ability to apply their trade and make a living because of that, and it’s fantastic for everybody involved.”

Owens Responds To Criticism Over Renee Young Comment, NXT Special, Breaking Ground

Matt Boone
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– Kevin Owens has been receiving some heat for telling Renee Young she looked ridiculous during Tuesday’s live Super SmackDown show from Des Moines, Iowa. Owens took to Twitter after the show to comment on fans standing up for Young on social media.

https://twitter.com/FightOwensFight/status/679509015240429569

https://twitter.com/FightOwensFight/status/679509550773460992

– Next Wednesday’s edition of NXT on the WWE Network will be part one of a special two-part “Year-In-Review” show looking back at top NXT moments from 2015. The description for the special reads as follows:

“Rich Brennan and Corey Graves host part one of this look back at the Best of NXT in 2015.”

– A new episode of WWE Breaking Ground will premiere on the WWE Network after next Monday’s edition of WWE RAW. The description for that show reads:

“With TakeOver just days away, the stars of NXT are preparing for the biggest night of their careers.”

TNA Announces “One Night Only: Live!” For 1/8 In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Matt Boone
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TNA will be starting off the new year with a “One Night Only: Live!” pay-per-view from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on Friday, January 8th at 8pm EST.

The TNA: “One Night Only: Live!” pay-per-view will air live in the United States and Canada on 1/8, on 1/12 in the United Kingdom, and one week later in other countries.

The official description for TNA: “One Night Only: Live!” reads as follows:

“It’s a dawn of a new era, where anything can and will happen. For one night only, the stars of Impact Wrestling discover what 2016 has in store.”

The TNA: “One Night Only: Live!” pay-per-view airs just three days after the scheduled debut of TNA Impact Wrestling on POP TV on January 5th.

Recap Of Big Show On ESPN SportsCenter

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Big Show was Jonathan Coachman’s guest this week on ESPN SportsCenter. You can watch video of the appearance at ESPN.go.com.

Show talked about WWE’s Tribute to The Troops special and his recent visit to Afghanistan with Vince McMahon, R-Truth, Alicia Fox and Eva Marie. Coach said did Tribute to the Troops with Big Show back in 2005 and they told some stories from their trip overseas.

Show also talked about his long career, saying that he’s been blessed to work with so many top talents from multiple generations. Coach brought up that Big Show was shot right into the main events with Hulk Hogan upon joining the wrestling business.

Big Show named Neville as a guy he’d like to team with and put over his WM24 opponent Floyd Mayweather as the smartest guy in boxing.

Coach closed the segment by congratulating The Rock on the birth of his daughter, Jasmine.

Santino Marella Mourns Ruined Christmas Party (Video), NXT Preview, Big Show On SportsCenter

Matt Boone
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– In the above Super SmackDown Fallout video, Santino Marella mourns his ruined Christmas party and vows revenge on those responsible for ruining it.

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

* The Vaudevillains vs. Mojo Rawley & Zack Ryder vs. Blake & Murphy vs. Chad Gable & Jason Jordan
* Elias Samson vs. Bull Dempsey
* Sami Zayn vs. Tye Dillinger

– WWE tweeted the following link to a clip of Big Show’s appearance on ESPN SportsCenter on Tuesday night.

AJ Styles Interview: What Went Wrong With TNA, If He’d Work For WWE, NXT & Lucha Underground

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Ring of Honor & New Japan Pro Wrestling star AJ Styles’ recently spoke with Donald Wood from Ring Rust Radio to promote NJPW’s upcoming WrestleKingdom 10 PPV on Monday, January 4th from the Tokyo Dome. Here are some highlights of what he said about:

His Back Injury:

“I’m not going to let it have an impact. I’m going to be wrestling at Final Battle and Wrestle Kingdom and I will find a way. I’m not missing these amazing events for anything. I am going to be there, I have been hurt before, and I just work through it. Everyone has at some point; it’s just what you do as a wrestler. You ignore the pain and when that adrenaline starts running it doesn’t matter what’s bothering you, you will put on the best show you can.”

If He Plans On Slowing Down His Schedule: 

“Maybe less dates because I have been going hard ever since I left TNA. I have been rocking it. Maybe less dates is something that I should look to, but as far as slowing down in the ring; no way. I have one gear and it’s all or nothing with me. That’s the reason why I came home early from the tag tournament over in New Japan. If I got back in the ring, I would have hurt myself worse because I just can’t slow down. It doesn’t matter how many people are in attendance, you are always going to get everything I have.”

TNA Making Him The Face Of The Company When He Joined in 2002: 

“It’s funny cause when it first started I thought it was just another indie. I didn’t worry about what they would do with me; I just knew I was there to put on killer matches. As it grew, I had to ignore rumors that they were going out of business and that I might be done there after I felt like I was part of the company. I don’t know that I was shocked that they were giving me a title. Jerry Lynn, Low Ki, and myself were always having the best matches on PPV. So it wasn’t a surprise they wanted to put us in the main event. As many bad things that did happen at TNA, there were plenty of good things as well. As I walk down to my man cave, I have old posters of TNA. Sometimes I think I should take them down, but then again I’m not ashamed of what I accomplished there. It is what it is and despite where TNA is now, when I look back it was a very positive thing for me and I learned a lot there.”

What Went Wrong With TNA & What Led To His Departure:

“I think around 2009-10 they were headed in the wrong direction. They were trying to be WWE-lite and you can’t do that, you have to be different. I think that’s where the biggest mistakes were made and they didn’t trust the guys that got them to the ball game in the first place. They had all the talent they needed and didn’t need to bring in other talent. I think people were misinformed about what they could get out of it. The dial never changed when they brought in this higher talent as they thought it would. I will say Christian Cage when he came over was such an asset; he was the start of it. Then they brought in Kurt Angle, which was unbelievable, and they could have stopped there and we would have been fine. They have got to be different and turn it up. If WWE can’t do something because they are publicly traded, then there is your advantage. That just doesn’t apply to TNA, that applies to ROH as well. Everybody can do something different than WWE. I will say ROH wrestling is out of this world and nothing can compete with that. TNA they just have to change it and be different.

If He’s Interested In NXT:

“I’m going to be honest with you guys: The thing that makes wrestling most interesting to me is going to be the business that occurs after the match is over. A lot of people frown on that and say money isn’t everything. Well I say it depends on how much you have saved. My goal when I retire is to not be in a wheel chair or walk with a limp. Wherever I go, I will do my best, work harder than anybody there, and that’s just what I do. I only have one gear and if someone is looking for that and I can support my family while doing it, then that is what I will do.”

Is Wrestling In WWE A Goal? 

“It’s not, it really isn’t. I get to work in the Tokyo Dome on January 4th in front of thousands and thousands of people. That’s pretty awesome. I don’t know about you guys, but the first time I watched New Japan and saw them walk down that long ramp to the ring it was unbelievable. The fact that I get to do that, that is my wrestling moment. I wouldn’t say I would never go to WWE, but if it didn’t happen I wouldn’t go, “Oh man, I missed out. I’m the one guy that missed out.”

If He Would Work For Lucha Underground: 

“Again, where ever the business takes me that is where I will go. Lucha Underground does great and crazy stuff over there, and it’s a little bit of what we talked about with doing something different. Where ever the business takes me, that’s where I am going to go.”

His Ultimate Dream Match:

“I think I am going to get the opportunity to have one of my dream matches. I have never wrestled Rey Mysterio one on one. We are going to be in England at Five Star and we are finally going to get the chance to lock up. I’m looking forward to that match, I think it’s going to be fun, and it’s going to be entertaining. It’s Rey Mysterio, this guy is amazing. To be able to step in the ring with him, it’s kind of a dream come true for me. Not because I have watched him for so many years, but he is such a great guy and I never had the opportunity to have that match with him. I would have loved to wrestle Eddie Guerrero, but obviously that can’t happen. I think Rey Mysterio is definitely a big one for me.

 

 

JTG Reveals Back-Story Behind His Name, Original Name For Cryme Tyme, Working With Cena

Matt Boone
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Former WWE Superstar JTG recently appeared on Chris Jericho’s “Talk Is Jericho” podcast and discussed a number of topics related to his career. Below are some of the highlights from the interview.

On Paul Heyman’s name for him in OVW:

“I was known as Neighborhoodie. Paul Heyman gave me that name. And then when I heard it, he was like, ‘we’re going to call you Neighborhoodie’ and I was like, ‘okay, I love it’. Paul Heyman, if you’re listening to [this], I didn’t like it, but at the time, I didn’t want heat.”

On the story behind the JTG name:

“I’m still JTG. I own the rights to JTG. I don’t know how I pulled that off,” JTG said. “When I was in OVW, I was at the top of my class. And when we’d cut promos, I’d call myself ‘Just Too Good’. Just Too Good. At the end of every promo, it would be, ‘because I’m Just Too Good’. And then when I got to WWE, I had to humble myself. A lot of people would ask me, ‘so what does JTG stand for?’, and I started stuttering, I said, ‘uh, Just Too Gangster’ because I didn’t want to say Just Too Good because I didn’t want heat.”

On the original name for the Cryme Tyme tag-team:

“We heard about Cryme Tyme, I think it was our second or third time up on the road. We were just sitting in an office coming up with names, and you wouldn’t believe some of the names they had. I’ll give you an idea of [just how terrible the suggested names were]. I forget what the writer’s name was, but he said, ‘we’re going to call you Hoodie Nation and here’s what we got. You’re going to come out with your own flag and we’re going to sell flags and everybody in the audience is going to have the Hoodie Nation flag and you guys are going to be so over.’ And we’re like, ‘oh, gosh, no.’ And then they checked to see if the name was available because you have to go through trademark and this whole process and somebody already had it. I’m like, ‘yes! Thank you!’. And then Cryme Tyme came up and we just spelled it different and it worked.”

On teaming with John Cena and advice Cena gave him:

“One day, I just found out that we would be partnering up with Cena and I’m like, ‘hell yeah! That’s like the perfect fit.” JTG continued, “[CTC] was a good learning experience. A lot of the things I was doing that I had no idea was wrong, John Cena pulled me to the side [and said], ‘don’t do that no more. We’re taking it to another level.’ For example, before every match, I’d like to get the crowd warmed up. I’d say, ‘are you ready to get it popping?’. I’d look at the crowd [and] he’s like, ‘don’t do that. You don’t need their approval. Just start the match.’ He was like, ‘you don’t do that anymore.'”

On meeting his wife and the angle where he and Cena destroyed JBL’s limo on the 7/7/2008 edition of RAW:

“I’ll never forget that day. That was the day I met my wife, so I’ll never forget that day. John Cena came out. He was having a [feud] with JBL, and, if I can remember it right, he had some violations and he needed some help.” JTG continued, “and then when I invited my soon-to-be wife to the show, I was like, ‘that would be perfect. She sees her future husband being a bad ass. Oh, he’s with John Cena and beating up limos?'”

Update On The WrestleMania 33 Host City

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With this past Monday’s RAW taking place from Minneapolis, MN at the Target Center, a lot of fans in the area were hoping WWE would announce that WrestleMania will be coming to the city in 2017.

U.S. Bank Stadium, the Minnesota Vikings’s new home, will host the Super Bowl in 2018 and had been rumored as a potential host for WrestleMania 33. No announcement came and then Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com reported that Minnesota will not be hosting WM33.

Jim Ross commented on the situation in his latest blog at JRsBarBQ.com:

“Apparently, Minneapolis is no longer in the hunt for the 2017 WrestleMania as was once rumored. That has yet to be confirmed but that’s what I’m hearing.”

WWE announced the WrestleMania 32 location on January 20, 2015, so an announcement regarding WrestleMania 33 should be coming in the next month or so.

Tribute To The Troops Preview, John Cena Returning To ‘Today’ Next Week

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– John Cena will be returning as a guest host on NBC’s “Today” morning show next Monday (12/28) and Tuesday (12/29). Cena will be in town for his WWE TV return at next week’s RAW from Brooklyn, NY at the Barclays Center.

– The following matches are scheduled for tonight’s WWE Tribute to the Troops special on the USA Network:

  • Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, The Dudley Boyz, The Usos, Kane & Ryback vs. The League of Nations & The Wyatt Family
  • Rusev vs. Jack Swagger
  • Kevin Owens vs. Ryback
  • Team BAD & Paige vs. Charlotte, Brie Bella, Becky Lynch & Alicia Fox
  • Mark Henry vs. Bo Dallas

The Rock Congratulates Owens On First Year In WWE, Responds To Ziggler’s Challenge

Matt Boone
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The Rock took to social media recently to congratulate Kevin Owens on a great first year in WWE and to respond to a friendly challenge from Dolph Ziggler and Charlotte.

Rock posted this one regarding Owens’ debut year in WWE:

The Rock also called Ziggler and Charlotte two of the best in-ring performers in WWE right now in response to the following photo Ziggler posted of himself and Charlotte, which contained a friendly challenge to The Rock and UFC star Ronda Rousey.

https://twitter.com/HEELZiggler/status/679372012234661888

Jim Ross Blog: Slammy Awards Thoughts, Seth Rollins’ RAW Return, Reigns’ Promo Ability

Matt Boone
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WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross recently updated his official blog at JRsBarBQ.com with his thoughts and opinions on a number of current topics. Below are some of the highlights.

On the WWE Slammy Awards:

“I think that the Slammy concept needs to be tweaked as the multiple presentations made for way too many interruptions during the three hour show which made the broadcast more challenging to watch because it had a had a tough time building momentum. Perhapslessening the number of awards being presented on Raw might be a consideration.

WWE can always also do a separate Slammy’s show for the network as well.”

On Seth Rollins’ RAW return:

“Good seeing Seth Rollins back on TV and his presentation was well done. Rollins was also deserving of the Superstar of the Year Award which says a great deal about today’s audience that an alleged ‘heel’ won the award. Times, they are a changing.”

On Roman Reigns’ promo ability:

“Roman Reigns had a positive ight but he doesn’t need be speaking as long as we heard last night. He will find his natural voice faster if allowed to ease into the ‘main eventer promo land’ than simply dumping a long promo in his lap when it clearly isn’t his strength. Nonetheless WWE is booking Reigns more strategically lately than just a few weeks ago.”

RAW Audience Drops For The 2015 Slammy Awards

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Monday’s 12/21 episode of WWE RAW featuring the 2015 Slammy Awards drew 3.376 million viewers, down over half a million viewers from the previous week.

In addition to the Slammy Awards (and a surprise appearance from Seth Rollins), the show featured the fallout from Roman Reigns’ WWE Championship win last week and Dean Ambrose vs. Sheamus in a steel cage match as the main event.

Here’s the hourly breakdown:

  • Hour 1: 3.443 million viewers
  • Hour 2: 3.374 million viewers
  • Hour 3: 3.316 million viewers

RAW was #4 for the night in viewership behind the NFL on ESPN (10.901 million viewers), Major Crimes and SportsCenter. RAW was #4 for the night in the 18-49 demographic, behind the NFL, SportsCenter and Love & Hip-Hop.

WWE Supercard Season 2 Gets Update w/ “Throwback” Cards

David Bixenspan
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WWE Supercard, WWE’s digital collectible card game made by 2K Sports for Android and iOS, gets a brand new update today. It focuses on the addition of a number of “Throwback” cards featuring WWE legends. Here’s 2K’s full press release:

2K today announced availability of the latest update for WWE® SuperCard – Season 2, the popular collectible card-battling game.

In today’s update, WWE SuperCard – Season 2 goes old school with new Throwback Cards of WWE Hall of Famers and Alumni:

  • From the Survivor tier: Razor Ramon, Mr. Perfect, Road Dogg, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Diamond Dallas Page and Kevin Nash;
  • From the Legendary tier: Undertaker (American Badass), Dusty Rhodes, Jake “The Snake’ Roberts, Rikishi, IRS and Sgt. Slaughter;
  • From the Epic tier: Lex Luger, Farooq, Bradshaw, The Giant, Stunning Steve Austin and Bam Bam Bigelow;
  • From the Ultra Rare tier: X-Pac, Brian Pillman, Fit Finlay, Vader, Bob Backlund and Honky Tonk Man.

Additional and upcoming WWE SuperCard – Season 2 updates include the following:

  • Bulletin Board System
    • Users can now vote and provide feedback on developer questions posed through the bulletin board system;
  • Team-Event: Road to Glory
    • Starting in January 2016, players can participate in a new team-oriented version of this challenging, action-packed event.

Developed by Cat Daddy Games in conjunction with Visual Concepts, both 2K studios, WWE SuperCard – Season 2 is available now for download free of charge on the App Store for iOS devices, including the iPhone, iPad and Pod touch, as well as the Google Play Store and Amazon Appstore for Android devices.

For more information on WWE SuperCard – Season 2 and 2K, visit wwe.2k.com, become a fan on Facebook, follow the game on Twitter and Instagram or subscribe on YouTube.

WWE 2K16 Gets Legends Pack, Terminator Standalone DLC Today

David Bixenspan
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Today, WWE 2K16 got some new downloadable content (or DLC), the Legends pack, which adds six of WWE’s greatest legends (almost all of whom are Hall of Famers) to the game: The Big Boss Man, Trish Stratus, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, Lita, and Mr. Perfect (Curt Hennig). The DLC pack is $8.99 on its own but is also available as part of the $24.99 Season Pass that covers all of the game’s DLC.

Also, the Terminator DLC, featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger as his most iconic character, is now available as a standalone item for $4.99. Previously available only as a pre-order code with early copies of the game, it features Arnold as the T-800 character with looks inspired by tge first two Terminator films.

Here’s 2K’s whole press release:

2K today announced WWE 2K16’s next downloadable content offering, the Legends Pack, is available now for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, as well as Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system, and Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft for a suggested price of $8.99. TheLegends Pack features a diverse roster of playable talent, including WWE Hall of Famers Dusty Rhodes, Lita, Mr. Perfect, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Trish Stratus, as well as WWE Legend Big Boss Man.

Also available for standalone purchase today is blockbuster action film star and WWE Hall of Famer Arnold Schwarzenegger, playable as two characters – T-800 from The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day films – for a suggested price of $4.99.

The Legends Pack is also included in the WWE 2K16 Season Pass. For a suggested price of $24.99, a savings of more than 20 percent versus individual content purchases, players will receive the following items as they become available:

  • Accelerator
    • Players will gain instant access to all unlockable content available in the game (excluding downloadable content);
  • New Moves Pack
    • Featuring more than 30 new moves, including the Corner Enzuigiri (made popular by WWE Diva Nikki Bella), Avalanche Ram (made popular by WWE Diva Paige), Sidewinder Suplex (made popular by WWE Superstar Kevin Owens), Standing Crossface Chickenwing (made popular by WWE Superstar Stardust) and Dragon Sleeper (made popular by NXT Superstar Finn Bálor);
  • 2015 Hall of Fame Showcase
    • Playable matches include:
      • “Macho Man” Randy Savage vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts;
      • Rikishi vs. The Rock;
      • Alundra Blayze vs. Paige;
      • Larry Zbyszko and Arn Anderson vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat and Dustin Rhodes
      • Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Ric Flair;
      • The Bushwhackers (Butch Miller and Luke  Williams) vs. The Natural Disasters (Typhoon and Earthquake);
      • The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) vs. Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray);
  • Future Stars Pack                                                                                             
    • Playable NXT Superstars: Samoa Joe, Diego, Fernando, Blake and Murphy

Additional downloadable content available now for WWE 2K16 includes the following:

  • MyPlayer KickStart (PS4™ system and Xbox One Exclusive)
    • Players will gain instant access to boost created Superstar ratings and attributes in the game’s MyCareer mode

Developed collaboratively by Yuke’s and Visual Concepts, a 2K studio, WWE 2K16 is rated T for Teen by the ESRB and is available now for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One and Xbox 360.

Del Rio Comments On Cena’s Return, WrestleMania 33 Update, NXT Rookies To Debut Soon

Matt Boone
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– Following the announcement that Alberto Del Rio will be John Cena’s return opponent on next Monday’s edition of WWE RAW at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, the WWE United States Champion posted the following on Twitter, warning Cena to be afraid in Spanish.

– There was no announcement regarding WrestleMania 33 following last night’s WWE RAW at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After months of speculation, PWInsider.com is reporting that WrestleMania 33 will not be held in Minnesota in 2017.

– Former World Kabbadi League Champion, Lovepreet Sangha and two-time Kushti National Heavyweight Champion, Satender Ved Pal, will be making their in-ring debuts at the upcoming WWE live events in New Delhi, India on 1/15 and 1/16. Both talents signed developmental deals with WWE back in June.

Jim Ross Q&A: Thoughts On Reigns & Ambrose, Eva Marie Getting By On Her Looks, More

Matt Boone
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WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross recently updated the Q&A section at JRsBarBQ.com, fielding questions from fans on a number of topics. Below are some of the highlights.

On Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose:

“I like and support both Reigns and Ambrose. It simply takes a while for talents to get to their destination (Get over) and both these men are still on their journey to get there. Let’s give both time. Patience.”

On Reigns’ matches always looking the same:

“I don’t have any thing for you that’s going to make you automatically like Reigns or any one else any more or any less. Connecting with a talent sometimes never occurs and for others it comes immediately or over time. If you don’t like him, it’s not a crime. I know he’s doing his best to ger there but Roman is green an still evolving with miles to go before he reaches the Promised Land.”

On Eva Marie:

“Eva has a great look but how she matures as a performer is the key to her future. I think her look has been what has appealed the most to WWE thus far.”

On why WWE ring entrances aren’t as cool as they used to be:

“Even bigger than the entrance music, accompanying pyro, is for the stars to be over and many aren’t at this time. I don’t see this as a Lilian, entrance music or pyro issue whatsoever.”

On reason why WWE doesn’t have international photographers at ringside as much as they used to:

“I don’t know but it’s seemingly been long ago except for Wrestlemania or so I think. WWE likes to own and control all their own intellectual property.”

Seth Rollins Talks About Rehabbing His Knee, Superstar Of The Year Slammy

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Seth Rollins made a surprise return on Monday’s RAW and received the 2015 WWE Slammy Award for Superstar of the Year. Rollins gave a passionate speech about his eventful year and vowed to return stronger than ever in 2016.

After RAW, Rollins spoke to Tom Phillips backstage and gave an update on his physical rehabilitation after undergoing major knee surgery last month. Rollins says he is recovering on schedule, maybe ahead of schedule, since he’s a superior athlete. He once again reiterated the fact that he never lost the WWE World Heavyweight championship. Right now, he plans to redesign, rebuild and then reclaim what is rightfully his.

Scott Hall Talks Learning From Shawn Michaels, Undertaker’s “Disposable Razor” Comment, More

Matt Boone
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WWE Hall Of Famer Scott Hall recently appeared as a guest on the Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast and spoke about a number of topics from his legendary career. Below are some of the highlights.

On Shawn Michaels teaching him how to put a match together:

“Shawn was calling matches when he was doing jobs for guys in Texas. Shawn always had a clue. The first time anyone broke down to me the way a match should take place was Shawn Michaels on a trip from, like, Kansas City to Des Moines [Iowa]. We were just sitting in a car together talking and he just starts laying it out to me. He was always great. Even when he started, he was great, so he smartened me up and that’s why I’ve been invited to return to the NXT, to the [WWE] Performance Center to work with the young guys.”

On WCW giving him a raise when they thought he was returning to WWE, only to find out it was “Fake Razor” and “Fake Diesel” promotion:

“I’m barely paying attention to what’s happening on [WCW Monday] Nitro, so I’m not watching [WWE Monday Night] RAW at all. But Eric Bischoff called Kev and I in and we got a raise and a contract extension because he believed it. And then after that, he went, ‘I thought you guys didn’t care about the lawsuit and you were just going to go back there!'”

On Undertaker’s “disposable razor” joke in reference to the fake Razor Ramon:

“I heard the story one time, they were sitting around the [WWE] locker room and somebody’s trying to shave and they go, ‘hey, who [has] got a disposable razor?’ And they said Taker went, ‘there’s one right there.'”

On his thoughts on WWE bringing in a fake Razor Ramon after he went to WCW:

“I felt cool. It made me feel like Elvis [Presley]! I had an impersonator! The guy was doing my schtick! He was doing everything! Like, Kane did Diesel, but it’s just similar body types, but I heard they auditioned guys for the Razor role and I felt so flattered. I even contacted the guy [and] offered to sell him my old [ring] gear because I wasn’t using it anymore, but he was, like, too fat. He couldn’t fit into anything.”

On getting heat from Eric Bischoff for putting over Chris Jericho in WCW:

“The storyline then was we were going to bring Larry Zbyszko into the pay-per-view at Halloween Havoc as a special [guest] referee against Lex Luger and I. And so, I was just supposed to keep hitting Chris with the Razor’s Edge, just keep dropping Jericho on his head until Zbyszko came down. And I said, ‘Chris, but that’s not going to get a reaction.’ I said, ‘think of some way to beat me out of my finish and get with me later,’ so he came up with the idea to kick his feet off the turnbuckle and small package me and I said, ‘don’t tell anybody. I’ll take all the heat.’ So when I came back through the curtain [after the match], Arn Anderson’s there at the Gorilla position just shaking his head, going, ‘you’re too much’. So now I’m walking back towards the locker room and I pass Eric Bischoff and he looks at me and he goes, ‘didn’t I tell you to go over?’ and I’m going, ‘you’re telling me you didn’t like my segment?’ and he’s going, ‘no, no, but weren’t you supposed to win?’ and I said, ‘does it really matter?’ and he just throws his hands up in the air.”

TNA’s Best Of 2015 Premieres Tonight On Pop TV

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtCSS3Spy2o

TNA Wrestling premieres on Pop TV tonight with a 2-hour “Best of 2015” special at 9/8c. This is the first half a 2-part series, with the second part airing next Tuesday night, December 29th in the same time slot. This is your chance to get caught up on the major events that took place in TNA this year as we get closer to the January 5th premiere of Impact Wrestling on Pop TV.

The January 5th live premiere of Impact Wrestling will feature the semi-finals and finals of TNA’s World Title Series.

Dean Ambrose Receives 6 Staples In His Head After RAW (Video)

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WWE Intercontinental champion Dean Ambrose was injured on RAW during his steel cage main event match against Sheamus. Ambrose emerged victorious, but did not walk away unscathed. He suffered a laceration on the back of his head that required six staples to close.

There’s no rest for the weary (or stapled), because Dean Ambrose will be competing on tonight’s special live edition of WWE SmackDown. He’ll defend the IC title against Dolph Ziggler and the man he captured the gold from earlier this month, Kevin Owens.

Tonight’s live Tuesday edition of SmackDown is part of WWE Week on the USA Network, which continues Wednesday night with the annual Tribute to the Troops show.

Another Title Match Set For This Week’s Live SmackDown, Big Show On ESPN SportsCenter

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– On Monday’s RAW, a second title match was announced for this week’s live edition of WWE SmackDown on Tuesday night in Des Moines, Iowa. In addition to The New Day vs. The Lucha Dragons tag-team title match we reported earlier this evening, Dean Ambrose will be defending his WWE Intercontinental Championship in a triple-threat match against Kevin Owens and Dolph Ziggler.

– It was also announced on Monday’s RAW that Big Show will be Jonathan Coachman’s guest for the WWE segment on ESPN SportsCenter tomorrow evening to promote Wednesday’s WWE Tribute To The Troops special.

Paul Heyman Returns On RAW (Video), Mick Foley Appears As Santa Claus (Photo)

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– Paul Heyman made his WWE television return at Monday’s special Slammy Awards edition of RAW in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Heyman made a number of Slammy Awards-related appearances, as he presented an award early in the show and appeared again to accept Brock Lesnar’s “Match of the Year” Slammy award later in the program. Above is a video of Heyman’s “acceptance speech” for the aforementioned “Match of the Year” award.

– Also making an appearance on Monday’s RAW was WWE Hall Of Famer Mick Foley, who appeared in a pre-taped segment as Santa Claus. Below is a photo of the Foley segment, which also features the “Hardcore Legend’s” young son (not the one hired by WWE recently) and daughter Noelle Foley as elves.

Santino Marella Appears On RAW (Video), Title Match Announced For WWE SmackDown

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– As seen in the video featured above, Santino Marella made a surprise appearance during Monday’s WWE RAW in Minneapolis, Minnesota to present the Slammy Award for the 2015 “LOL! Moment of the Year.”

– WWE announced a tag-team title match for this Tuesday’s live edition of WWE SmackDown, as The New Day will defend the tag-team gold against The Lucha Dragons. This week’s WWE SmackDown emanates from the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.

John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio Announced For Next Week’s WWE RAW

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John Cena will look to avenge his WWE Hell In A Cell loss in seven days, as WWE announced his return match for next Monday night’s edition of WWE RAW at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Cena, who lost the WWE United States Championship to Alberto Del Rio in Del Rio’s surprise return at the WWE Hell In A Cell pay-per-view in October, will face the reigning U.S. Champion in his first match back from hiatus on next week’s RAW.

WWE posted the following on Twitter:

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