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TNA Impact Preview: Angle vs. Young, Former TNA Champion Returning

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TNA returns to Orlando, Florida tonight for the first of four nights of Impact Wrestling TV tapings. Here’s a preview for tonight’s “live” show:

– TNA World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle vs. Eric Young. A former TNA Champion will be returning to serve as the special guest referee.

– Gail Kim and Awesome Kong vs. The Dollhouse

–  Mr. Anderson vs. Ethan Carter in a match where fans get to vote on the stipulation (Arm Wrestling Match or Falls Count Anywhere).

Plus, tonight will mark the first night ‘at the office’ for Billy Corgan, TNA’s new Senior Producer of Creative and Talent.

AAA’s Lucha Libre World Cup iPPV (5/25): Teams From TNA, Lucha Underground, ROH & More

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Mexico’s AAA promotion has announced full details for their upcoming Lucha Libre World Cup event, which airs on Monday, May 25th. The show will be presented on PPV in Mexico, and iPPV in English in the United States, with Matt Striker and Vampiro on commentary.

The tournament of 3-men teams will feature talent from some of the top promotions in the world, including AAA, ROH, TNA, Lucha Underground, Pro Wrestling NOAH and AJPW. Matt Striker and Vampiro from Lucha Underground will be doing commentary for the show.

Here are the confirmed teams:

  • Dream Team: Alberto El Patron, Rey Mysterio & Myzteziz (Sin Cara)
  • Team Mexico: El Hijo Del Fantasma, El Texano Jr. & Psycho Clown
  • Team MexLeyendas: Blue Demon Jr., Dr. Wagner Jr. & El Solar
  • Team “Rest of the World”: Drew Galloway, Angelico & Judas Mesias
  • Team TNA/Lucha Underground: Matt Hardy, Mr. Anderson & Johnny Mundo
  • Team ROH/Lucha Underground: Moose, ACH & Brian Cage
  • Team NOAH: Taiji Ishimori, Yoshihiro Takayama & Atsushi Kotoge
  • Team AJPW: Kenzo Suzuki, Tiger Mask III & Masamune

Renee Young Co-Hosting Tough Enough, Judges & Trainers Hype The Show

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Renee Young revealed on Twitter that she will be Chris Jericho’s co-host when WWE Tough Enough returns on Tuesday, June 23rd on the USA Network. Thursday’s press release from WWE announcing details for the show did not mention Young co-hosting. 

https://twitter.com/ReneeYoungWWE/status/596399101769428992

Daniel Bryan, Hulk Hogan and Paige will serve as judges, while Billy Gunn, Lita and Booker T will be training the contestants. Here are some more reactions from the cast members:

https://twitter.com/RealPaigeWWE/status/596397674535882752

https://twitter.com/AmyDumas/status/596407655905628160

Steve Austin Talks WrestleMania 32, Legends Taking The Spotlight At WrestleMania & More

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Sports Illustrated’s Extra Mustard blog has published a new interview with WWE legend “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

Austin told a story about the booking of his memorable WrestleMania 30 opening segment with Hulk Hogan and The Rock  and why he was left thinking the situation was “bullshit” after WWE didn’t deliver on what they pitched him.

He also explained why he wasn’t at WrestleMania 31, his thoughts on legends taking the spotlight at WrestleMania and his plans for next year’s huge show from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“There was no creative for me at WrestleMania XXXI,” said Austin. “Now with WrestleMania XXXII coming up in Texas, I would be pretty damn sure I’m going to be there. It’s my home state and it just makes more sense.

“As much as I love the business and I love my fans, I don’t want to be at every WrestleMania. I was really happy to watch it in my house. I wanted to see Sting and Triple H wrestle, and I was excited for all my buddies in DX and the NWO, but I want the younger generation of wrestlers to experience it and have all the time dedicated to them. That’s the future. Some of the segments that weren’t wrestling went on too long. I love The Rock, but his segment was too long. That was time that could have been given to a talent to make or not make an impact. That’s their proving ground.”

To read more about Austin’s relationship with his parents, Vince McMahon acting as a second father to him and more, check out SI.com/extra-mustard.

Jim Ross Blog: WWE’s E:60 Documentary, Reigns Special, UFC vs. WWE, More

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WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross recently updated the blog section of his official website with a number of thoughts on a variety of current topics. Below are some highlights.

On WWE’s “E:60” documentary: “Enjoyed the E60 piece on ESPN Tuesday night and Ben Howser did a great job producing this one hour story that he worked on for parts of two years. It was an intriguing look behind the scenes and proved that wrestlers are better “cast” or “booked” when they are as close to the real person as possible. The Adam Rose character is a great example of that opinion. The real life person is much more compelling than the fictional, TV persona that the South African portrays. Casting or “booking” is a delicate matter but any “booker,” if that role even exists in today’s world of TV wrestling, has a better chance of finding the next, viable or big thing if the TV personas are closely related to the individual portraying the TV character.

Nonetheless, the story told on ESPN was excellently done and all involved should feel good about i as I believe it helped WWE and certainly added more credibility to the value of the Performance Center which is truly the heartbeat of the WWE and the key driver to the future of the company. Fans pay to see stars and developing stars as stars make every championship viable, or not, and are the key components to any storyline written.”

On UFC doing a better job of creating stars than WWE: “One reason boxing isn’t where boxing fans want it to be is because they have done a poor job of developing stars and stars drive any sport. UFC has learned how to do features on their fighters and consequently UFC is being more successful in creating new stars such as Conor McGregor, among others.”

On the Roman Reigns “24” special on the WWE Network: “For example, WWE did a fantastic job on the recent, Roman Reigns feature on the WWE Network. This show was excellent and did as much for Reigns as any thing WWE has done for him to date IMO. One has to wonder how much it would have helped Reigns if something like this show aired prior to WM31 and, specifically, on a three hour RAW before if aired on the Network. With the popularity of these close up look shows at various fighters and MMA stars, I would consider putting a shortened version, 10-15 minutes, of these types of shows within the three hour RAW’s as it would greatly enhance getting talents over and creating the emotional investment the fans must have for a talent to become a star and do it in front of WWE’s biggest audience plus serve as a great promo to encourage fans to see more of it on WWE Network.”

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

Video: Regular Guy Attempts The Rock’s Insane Diet Plan For A Day

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What would happen if you attempted to eat like The Rock for a day? Sean Evans of Complex.com was recently dared by a co-worker to attempt The Rock’s diet and now has a newfound respect for the nutrition that goes into developing and maintaining The Rock’s 260-pound chiseled physique.

Here’s Evan’s recap of the experience (via YouTube):

“Now, I’m no world class athlete. But, compared to the other chain smoking Internet bloggers in the Time & Life building, I’m Bo Jackson. I’m not saying that to brag. I’m saying that to explain how/why I was pegged to live a day as The Rock and how/why I failed so miserably.

Each meal (and there were SEVEN of them) weighed as much as a Range Rover tire. I’d be forking food into my mouth for five straight minutes, and the plate would look exactly as it did when it was put in front of me. Eating became as psychologically taxing as it was physically painful, but—as someone who can eat a whole frozen pizza like it’s nothing—the volume of food isn’t what derailed me.

You see, not only does The Rock eat A LOT of food, but everything he eats tastes like butt. When Complex asked me to do this project, I kept my aversion to fish a secret which in retrospect was probably a mistake. The Rock eats three pounds of cod on the daily. While I might’ve been able to wolf down one eight ounce filet Fear Factor-style, it was the featured entree in almost every meal. I knew by 10 a.m. that it was going to be a long, shitty day. I was constantly dreading the next meal, which had as much to do with hating the food as it did with being ridiculously full.

Ultimately, I failed to complete The Rock Challenge, but quite frankly it was fool’s errand from the jump. I still wear size 30 jeans like I’m a sophomore in high school. Dwayne Johnson, on the other hand, weighs close to 300 pounds and has a body that burns fuel like a furnace. Yet, for whatever reason (probably to make me puke on Internet TV), we didn’t compromise the diet a single calorie.

I walk away with a newfound respect for Johnson. He’s an athlete-turned-professional wrestling icon-turned box office draw, and, at 43 years old, still wakes up at 4 a.m. so he can mainline sweet potatoes and flip monster truck tires. That sort of career path doesn’t happen unless you have something freakish driving you. If it took you a 20-something media guy hurling in his office bathroom to prove that, then you’re welcome, I guess.”

Sami Zayn Comments On His Shoulder Injury

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NXT star Sami Zayn spoke to WWE.com this week about the shoulder injury that he suffered on RAW prior to his match against John Cena.

Zayn underwent an MRI on Tuesday. While WWE has not provided a formal update on his status, it’s believed to be an injury to his rotator cuff.

Here’s what Zayn said about his situation:

“I’m an easy-going, take-things-as-they-come kind of guy, not just in the ring, but in life. Experiences like this make you realize that a lack of certainty can be very unnerving. Not knowing what the future has in store for you can be unsettling, especially when you’re riding that momentum. In the blink of an eye, things change.

That’s the nature of the industry we work in. It can be frustrating, but you have to keep your chin up and not get too down on yourself and believe that in some way that it’s all for the best. A lot of fans have been really supportive and have commended me. In a weird way, it could be the worst thing that ever happened to me or the best thing that ever happened to me. One way or another, it will all work out. You keep going forward and you get ahead.

I’m not going to let this destroy me, so you take it as it comes. You deal with it, see what you can do, do your best and it will all be OK. I’ll keep driving forward.”

 

WWE Tough Enough Host, Judges & Trainers Revealed

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Chris Jericho announced on Thursday that he will be hosting the new season of WWE Tough Enough, which premieres on the USA Network on Tuesday, June 23rd.

WWE also issued a press release giving tons more information about the new season, including details on judges, trainers and more.

– Hulk Hogan, Daniel Bryan and Paige will be judges on the series.

– Booker T, Lita and Billy Gunn will be the trainers.

– Tough Enough will be filmed out of the WWE Performance Center and Full Sail University, home of NXT.

– The official Tough Enough app will be launching on May 25th.

– There will be a lot of fan interaction, including the ability to vote via the Tough Enough app and texting to interact with various live elements

– Contestants in the series will “come face to face” with Vince McMahon, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and John Cena over the course of the series.

 

WWE SmackDown Preview For Tonight (Non-Spoiler)

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The following matches were taped on Tuesday night in Ottawa, Canada for tonight’s edition of WWE SmackDown:

– Dolph Ziggler vs. King Barrett
– Luke Harper vs. Fandango
– The New Day vs. Ryback, Cesaro and Tyson Kidd
– Naomi vs. Emma
– The Lucha Dragons vs. Los Matadores
– WWE Payback Fatal 4 Way contract signing

For complete WWE SmackDown spoilers for tonight, click here.

Report: Hideo Itami Injured, Could Miss 6-8 Months

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NXT star Hideo Itami is out of action with a bad shoulder injury and is expected to be out of action for the remainder of 2015, according to reports at F4wonline.com & PWInsider.com.

Itami was scheduled to compete in a 3-way bout against Tyler Breeze and Finn Balor at NXT Takeover: Unstoppable at May 20th.

Earlier this week, fellow NXT star Sami Zayn suffered a shoulder injury on RAW. Alex Riley is also undergoing knee surgery today.

Regal Hypes NXT Takeover: Unstoppable, SmackDown Preview & More

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–  NXT Champion Kevin Owens turns 31 years old today. Today would have been the 50th birthday of Owen Hart.

– WWE SmackDown preview for tonight:

  • Payback Fatal 4 Way contract signing
  • Dolph Ziggler vs. King Barrett
  • Luke Harper vs. Fandango
  • New Day vs. Ryback, Cesaro and Tyson Kidd
  • Naomi vs. Emma
  • Lucha Dragons vs. Los Matadores

– On this week’s NXT Breakdown, NXT General Manager William Regal talks hypes the Women’s Championship Match between Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks at Takeover: Unstoppable on May 20th.

Seth Rollins Talks About WWE’s Perceived Violence, Growing Up A Wrestling Fan

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WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins was recently interviewed by the Des Moines Register to promote WWE’s Behind The Curtain E:60 special on ESPN. Here are some highlights of what Rollins said about:

Growing Up A Pro Wrestling Fan:

“My brother and I would wrestle in my grandparents’ living room, that was our spot. Even when he wasn’t there, I would fight pillows and the wrestling buddies (plush toys shaped like wrestlers) all on my own. Hulk Hogan was a superhero to me as a kid. I loved Batman as a kid, but he wasn’t a real person. He was a character, and I couldn’t touch him. But Hulk Hogan, I watched him walk out on the ramp and get into the ring. He was a real person. If he was real, why couldn’t I be like him? Why couldn’t I do that, too?”

What WWE Really Is:

“It’s not a wrestling show, it’s a TV show about a wrestling show. It’s a classic morality tale. It’s a story as old as time. You have an antagonist and you have a protagonist. You have a conflict and you have a resolution.”

Jamie Noble on Rollins:

“There’s no quitting when it comes to Seth. He doesn’t get down….If we have a bad day, we find a way to make it better the next day.”

Michael Hayes on Rollins:

“He’s one of the most durable guys I’ve ever seen. He’s like a cat. There can be a mistake made and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, he’s broke in two,’ but he’s just up and fine.”

Sting, Reigns & More At Philadelphia Comic Con This Weekend

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Sting, Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, Dolph Ziggler and Paige are scheduled for this weekend’s big Philadelphia Comic Con event at the the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Here’s the full schedule:

– Thursday, May 7: Roman Reigns (autographs, photo-ops, Q&A panel)

– Friday, May 8: Randy Orton and Dolph Ziggler (Ziggler doing a solo Q&A panel)

– Saturday, May 9: Sting (autographs, photo-ops)

– Sunday, May 10: Paige (autographs, photo-ops, Q&A panel)

For more information, visit WizardWorld.com.

Video: Uhaa Nation Signs With WWE NXT

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WWE has published a video of NXT General Manger William Regal presenting Uhaa Nation with his NXT contract to sign. He’s not referenced by name, so there’s a good chance he’ll be getting a new NXT ring name in the near future.

Last month, he spoke to WWE.com about how which WWE/NXT talents he’s looking forward to working with:

“Oh, there are so many. You’ve got Neville, Finn Bálor, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens. Luke Harper, we had a lot of fun in DGUSA. Dolph Ziggler. The list is endless. Kalisto… There are just so many talented guys here. You’ve got Hideo Itami. There’s so many that it almost seems like there’s not enough time. You want to go out there and wrestle them all at one time. Another one is Solomon Crowe. I got to wrestle him before during WrestleMania Week in New Jersey for EVOLVE, and he’s just a guy I want to learn so much from. The list is endless.”

Update On Jeff Hardy’s In-Ring Return, TNA Trying To Sign Young Bucks, Impact Note

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– Next Friday’s edition of TNA Impact Wrestling will air on nearly a two-hour tape delay. The show will not be airing live.

– TNA is reportedly still aggressively pursuing top independent stars such as The Young Bucks. Ring Of Honor is also said to be after the team, while Lucha Underground is hoping to enter the mix as well, as soon as they get the green light to go ahead with their second season.

– Those close to Jeff Hardy have described his broken leg from a bad dirt bike accident (watch here) as a bad break, while doctors are confident it will heal strong. Hardy is currently getting around on crutches right now and there are reports already that he will be back in the ring within two months, although no one seems to be in favor of him rushing his way back into the squared circle.

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

Sami Zayn Out For Months?, WWE Forced To Change SmackDown & NXT Takeover Main Event

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Former NXT Champion Sami Zayn’s match with WWE U.S. Champion John Cena was laid out this week to include Bret Hart’s involvement, as we all saw on RAW on Monday night, however things didn’t quite go as planned from there.

The plan was for Zayn to lose but in the process, get over as a big star in front of an audience in Montreal that WWE was sure he would get a huge reaction.

What’s interesting is that this was not apparently going to be Zayn’s official full-time debut on the main WWE roster, even though he was originally scheduled to wrestle on SmackDown again this week. Due to the injury he sustained at RAW, SmackDown this week had to be re-written.

While there’s still no definitive word regarding the specifics of the injury, reports from those close to the situation have described it as “serious.”

There was talk in the locker room on Tuesday night at the SmackDown television tapings that Zayn would be out of action for a few months. Others claimed WWE had not yet received a report from the doctor yet, so it could be anything.

If Zayn is going to be out of action for a few months, WWE would have to cancel his match against NXT Champion Kevin Owens at the NXT Takeover: Unstoppable special on May 20th.

With Zayn out of the picture, if that turns out to be the case, the leading candidates for his replacement in the match with Owens would likely be Finn Balor or Hideo Itami vs. Tyler Breeze in a number one contender match, with the winner of that buot earning the shot at Owens.

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

Update On Seth Rollins’ Curb Stomp, WWE/Tapout Update & More

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– Regarding the “Curb Stomp” finishing move used by WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, it appears that it is not completely banned. The word going around within WWE is that the move is “on hold” until WWE’s concussion lawsuits are gone, or are no longer an active threat.

As noted earlier, WWE censored the curb stomp on the Roman Reigns WWE 24 special, cutting away to a crowd shot when replaying the final moments of the WrestleMania 31 main event.

– Not only does WWE’s new deal with apparel company Tapout more than just a sponsorship commitment, we have learned that WWE has actually purchased an equity stake in the company. We should have some more specific details on this story later this week.

– Below are some recent WWE attendance figures:

April 30th in Lakeland, FL for NXT drew 225 fans
May 1st in Syracuse, NY drew 4,500 fans (tour Daniel Bryan was pulled from)
May 1st in Tampa, FL for NXT drew 325 fans
May 2nd in Hamilton, ONT drew 6,500 fans (tour Daniel Bryan was pulled from)
May 2nd in Halifax, NS drew a sellout of 5,500 fans (Roman Reigns tour)
May 3rd in Oshawa, ONT drew 4,400 fans (tour Daniel Bryan was pulled from)
May 3rd in St. John, NB drew 4,000 fans (Roman Reigns tour)
May 3th in Montreal for RAW drew 10,811 fans with 8,700 paid

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

Backstage Update On A Possible Shield Return: Ambrose/Reigns Turning Heel?, More

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It appears that the late decision to add Dean Ambrose to the WWE Payback pay-per-view main event, making it a match with all three members of The Shield involved, was done by design.

Cable TV ads that aired after this week’s RAW, where the angle was shot, still listed a regular triple-threat match between Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Randy Orton, meaning the Ambrose decision was definitely a late decision.

What’s interesting about the change from a historical standpoint is the fact that WWE had been planning to hold off on having all three former Shield members in a high-profile title match at WrestleMania 32.

On a related note, there is speculation that in the fatal four-way match at Payback, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns may end up turning on Orton. The company is lacking in credible heels but they do have new up-and-coming babyface talents that they could be pushing.

If Ambrose and Reigns turn on Orton, that would leave Rollins. Whether or not that means Ambrose-Reigns-Rollins would become a trio again, referred to as The Shield again, or otherwise, remains to be seen.

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

WWE Executive Leaves, Developmental Happy Without Bill DeMott, NXT Ticket Sales

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– WWE’s Chief Digital Officer Lou Schwartz, who has been with the company since October 2014, left WWE a few months ago. Schwartz is now working as the Chief Strategy Officer for over-the-top company “WorldNow.”

– NXT live events scheduled for June 11th in Columbus, Ohio and June 13th in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are sold out with approximately 1,500 seats for each show. The 5/14 show in Philadelphia is close to being sold out, and the 5/15 show in Philly has just under 800 seats remaining. Philadelphia is being set up to hold about 2,000 seats per show. The 5/16 NXT event in Albany, New York has only a few hundred seats still available.

– Backstage morale at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida is said to be much higher ever since former head trainer Bill DeMott resigned. New head trainer Jason Albert has apparently been a pleasure to work with thus far.

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

Samoa Joe Says CM Punk Very Much Wants To Have ‘One Last Go’

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Samoa Joe was Jim Ross’ guest on this week’s Ross Report podcast, available now at PodcastOne.com.

Joe spoke to JR about a variety of topics, including the possibility of getting back in the ring with some of his old rivals, including AJ Styles, Christopher Daniel and CM Punk.

When asked about Punk, Samoa Joe said Punk’s desire to get back in the ring is much stronger than than he’s let on since his abrupt departure form WWE late last year. Joe said:

“You know, Punk. For everything it is we’ve still… I know he very much wants to have one last one, one last go. I’m sure he’d love for it to be 100 minutes or 90 minutes but we’ll see how that goes.”

Joe and Punk had a legendary feud back in Ring of Honor a decade ago. While the chances of Punk ever returning to WWE seem like a long shot at best, these are some interesting comments from Punk’s longtime friend.

AXS TV Announces NJPW Season 2 Details, Season 1 Marathon

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AXS TV has announced a marathon of New Japan Pro Wrestling programming leading up to the Season 2 premiere on May 22nd.

The marathon begins Monday, May 11 with six episodes from Season 1. The marathon concludes the following Monday, May 18 with six more episodes.

The Season 2 premiere of NJPW on AXS TV on May 22nd will feature A.J. Styles vs. Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Title. Former WWE Superstar Shelton Benjamin will also be in action.

Episode 2 of on May 29 will feature Kota Ibushi vs. Ricochet for the IWGP Jr. Hvt. Title from the 2014 Dominion PPV. Also on the show, The Young Bucks square off against the Time Splitters for the IWGP Jr. Hvt. Tag Titles.

AXS TV also announced that for each week of season two (starting week 2), the previous week’s episode will air at 8pm EST leading up to the new show that premieres at 9pm EST.

Lucha Underground Preview For Tonight

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The following matches were taped for tonight’s edition of Lucha Underground on the El Rey Network:

– Son of Havoc and Angelico (w/Ivelisse) vs. Mr. Cisco and Cortez Castro (w/Bael)

– Texano vs. Delavar Daivari

– Prince Puma and Hernandez vs. Cage and King Cuerno

– Alberto El Patron vs. Johnny Mundo – The winner faces Hernandez to become No. 1 contender to the Lucha Underground Championship on next week’s show

Make sure to joins us here at SEScoops.com later in the week for a complete Lucha Underground television report.

Above is complete video preview for tonight’s show.

Rose, Graves, Breeze & Woods Comment On "E:60: Behind The Curtain" Documentary

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Several of the wrestlers who were featured in last night’s “ESPN E:60: Behind The Curtain” documentary on NXT posted their reactions to the special on social media shortly after it concluded.

Below are comments from Adam Rose, Corey Graves, Tyler Breeze and Xavier Woods, all of whom were featured prominently in the special.

For those who missed the documentary last night, you can read a detailed recap by clicking here.

Ric Flair Debuts New Podcast With Kurt Angle, Joe Talks To JR About WWE, Corgan/Jericho

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– Samoa Joe is Jim Ross’ guest on this week’s Ross Report podcast. During the interview, JR talks to Joe about him possibly coming to WWE, his thoughts on CM Punk and more. You can download the show right now at PodcastOne.com.

– Smashing Pumpkins front man and the newest member of the TNA creative team, Billy Corgan, is the guest on the latest edition of Chris Jericho’s “Talk Is Jericho” podcast, which is also available for download right now. You can check out the show at PodcastOne.com.

– Finally, Ric Flair’s brand new podcast is out, with his first special guest, Olympic gold medalist and longtime WWE and TNA veteran — Kurt Angle. That show is available right now at Play.it.

For more on Flair’s new podcast, check out the following press release:

WRESTLER RIC FLAIR JOINS “PLAY.IT®”

“WOOOOO!™ Nation” Launches Today with special guest, world champion Kurt Angle

CBS RADIO and CBS Local Digital Media today announced the addition of “WOOOOO!™ Nation” to its Play.it® podcast network. The podcast features two-time Hall Of Famer, 16-time World Heavyweight Professional Wrestling Champion, Ric Flair, also known as The Nature Boy®. In the debut podcast, Flair interviews his long-time friend, 13-time World Heavyweight Professional Wrestling Champion Kurt Angle, who talks about his time in the industry with Flair and his history with the Pennsylvanian Foxcatcher Club. The podcast will be released every Wednesday. Fans can listen to “WOOOOO!™ Nation” on Play.it or through iTunes.

Widely recognized as the greatest professional wrestler of all time, Flair discusses pro-wrestling and sports, tells stories like only he can, and interviews a range of personalities – no topic is off limits for him during his weekly podcast.

“We are excited to welcome Ric to the Play.it podcast network,” said Ezra Kucharz, President of CBS Local Digital Media. “His addition to our lineup reinforces our commitment to providing podcasting fans the best content available.”

Together with Booker T’s “Heated Conversations” and Taz’s award-winning “Human Podcast Machine,” Play.it provides a great representation of professional wrestling for fans to enjoy across a variety of platforms.

Launched in January, Play.it offers more than 400 premium content podcasts by bringing together digital-exclusive programming from major brands and publishers as well as content from CBS RADIO shows on demand. Play.it also offers podcasts from CBS RADIO’s Boomer Esiason & Craig Carton, Carson Daly, and Kevin & Bean, in addition to well-known personalities like Tom Joyner, Jeffrey Hayzlett, Paulie Malignaggi and Marilu Henner, as well as content from leading news, lifestyle, sports and media brands including 48 HOURS, 60 MINUTES, CBS Sports Radio, Deadspin, Simon & Schuster and Foursquare.

Play.it is advertising supported and uses the latest in dynamic ad insertion technology as well as native and sponsorship advertising. Brands can buy campaigns across platforms in a simple one-stop-shop manner including over-the-air, live streaming and podcasts. Additionally, brands can deliver targeted messaging to specific fans of a particular show or across the entire network of hundreds of programs.

For more information, visit Play.it.

Press Release: Global Force Touts Roster & First TV Tapings

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For Immediate Release
May 6, 2015

Talent Announced for Global Force Wrestling at Orleans Arena

Chael Sonnen named GFW Analyst; Roster includes international talents, former professional football players and more

Las Vegas – Global Force Wrestling revealed some of its talent roster in a press conference today at the Orleans Arena. The roster includes talented international athletes, former NFL players, mixed martial artists and more.

“We have slowly but steadily been building toward this day,” said Jeff Jarrett, GFW founder and CEO. “The feedback I have received in my international travels has been off the charts. Fans are ready for the reveal of the entire GFW roster and they’re eager for their voices to be heard!”

Staying true to the GFW mission statement, the roster offers “elite professional athletes from five different continents,” as well as “real stories, real people and real meaning.” Fans will be able to see stars like the “Bullet Club” tag team of “Machine Gun” Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows; the “Killer Elite Squad,” a tag team composed of Lance Hoyt and Davey Boy Smith Jr., who have made a name for themselves in Japan as well as stints throughout the world. Also joining GFW are Chris “The Adonis” Mordetsky, South African sensation PJ Black, former NFL offensive lineman Quinn “Moose” Ojinnaka, and women’s stars Lei’D Tapa and Thea Trinidad, with more names to come.

GFW has alliances with 13 promotions on five continents, including New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Mexico’s AAA and more top independent organizations in Europe, Australia and Africa.

Also at the press conference, outspoken MMA star and ESPN broadcaster Chael Sonnen announced his role as an expert analyst for Global Force Wrestling.

“As an expert analyst, Chael Sonnen is something we’ve talked about for a long time,” said Jarrett. “He’s not one to shy from speaking his mind, and we’re all eager to see what he has to say about the GFW athletes.”

The GFW Las Vegas TV tapings will take place on Friday, July 24; Friday, August 21; and Friday, October 23. Tickets for all three events will go on sale on Friday, May 15 at noon, with an exclusive pre-sale beginning on Monday, May 11 at noon. Tickets are available starting at $30 and can be purchased online at www.orleansarena.com, by phone at 702-284-7777 or in-person at Boyd Gaming box offices. VIP tickets will include a Meet & Greet with GFW talent. Join the conversation online with the hashtag #GFWVegas.

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