The Thursday, June 5th edition of TNA Impact Wrestling on Spike TV scored a final cable rating of 0.84, according to Nielsen Media Research. That marks a pretty big drop from the already disappointing 0.89 from the previous week.
Thursday’s Impact Wrestling averaged 993,000 viewers, dropping below the one-million mark for the first time in a while. The show drew 1.079 million viewers last week.
The following are highlights of a new interview with TNA star Gunner:
On teaming and feuding with former partner James Storm: “I’ve always been a tag team fan so to get a chance to team with Storm was great because he had been in two very important and very successful tag teams, as far as Beer Money and America’s Most Wanted. I was at home for 8 or 9 months kinda, sitting in limbo, wondering what was going on, but when they brought me back to team with James, who’s one of the stars of the company, that was obviously a good position for me to be in. We had a fun run and then we got the opportunity to work with each other and carry on a fairly successful storyline that lasted for 5 or 6 months that the fans got invested in it. He’s a guy who goes out and works hard and I tend to think that I work hard. When you put two guys in the ring like that they wanna give, the best product.”
On performing on the Basebrawl shows in baseball stadiums: “It’s a different vibe because you don’t have the acoustics that you do inside of a building as far as the crowd. It’s just really cool, it’s an outside environment, reminds me of the old WrestleMania when I was a kid out at the old Caesar’s Palace and all that stuff, always enjoy those outside venues.”
On TNA World Champion Eric Young: “Eric is one of the most entertaining and most well deserved guys that I think they’ve finally put the title on. He’s been there for a long time. It’s a different time in wrestling, you look at wrestling back in the 90’s it was all 250-300lb guys. I think it’s really good for the business that it’s changed to where certain weight classes are getting that opportunity, like when Austin Aries had the title, I think it’s good because it gives those guys an opportunity, like Aries, he’s an amazing talent in the ring, for those guys to get a chance to run with the title, I think it’s good for the business.”
Check out the complete interview at ChadDukesWrestlingShow.com.
The following are highlights of a new interview with former WWE Diva Debra:
Where did the “Queen of WCW” gimmick originate from? “Well, at the time I was actually married to (Nitro announcer) Steve “Mongo” McMichael…and my background was I’m an actress and I studied in New York with Lee Strasberg. So they brought me in over there because of my acting and I’m athletic, and I had also won Mrs. Illinois America and Mrs. Texas USA, and so Eric Bischoff was like ‘Why don’t we make you Queen Debra?’…Eric wanted a real bitchy, debutante Queen Debra, and I am from the South as you can certainly tell by my voice, and I’m definitely a pageant winner. I remember my first interview or the first time on TV he helped me a little bit, but then after that I knew the direction I wanted to go in and what they wanted and what the fans wanted, so I just would write my own stuff.”
You were involved with The Four Horsemen during your run in WCW. What was it like being around “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair? “Oh man, he was so much fun. You would never know what he was going to do, because you’re out there, you’re on live TV, and you just knew you had to go with whatever he was going to go with…We would all end up back at the hotel after the show, all of us, and it would be just everybody laughing, talking about the show, and then The Nature Boy, oh my gosh; you know he does like to just dance on tables without…he likes to take his robe off and there’s nothing up underneath it, but you just don’t even pay any attention, it’s like ‘That’s just Ric being Ric’…It was a good time
back then.”
Check out the complete interview above.
The following are highlights of a new In Your Head Wrestling Radio interview with Maria Kanellis:
Having now wrestled in both the WWE and Ring of Honor, what is the difference between wrestling the women in the WWE and women on the independent scene? “It’s a lot more freeing. We always had to stick to a certain time when I was working on television so you really couldn’t try a whole lot. Getting in there and wrestling with some of the new girls or the up-and-comers or girls that have been veterans on the independents is completely different because we have all the time in the world. We can play with the crowd, we can see what works, what doesn’t work, and that’s really fun for me.”
There were a lot of rumors on the Internet that part of the reason your fiancé, Mike Bennett, didn’t go the WWE was because he was with you. Would you care to address that? “I’ve heard a lot of things, but with wrestling you have to know that everybody might blame it on different reasons. It’s always going to be ‘Oh, it’s because he wasn’t in good enough shape’ or ‘Oh, it’s because he was an independent wrestler’ or ‘Oh, it’s because he has something in his past’, and the truth of the matter is wrestling is all about timing and placement and at the time it wasn’t Mike’s time. It wasn’t his time to go. I’ve been called an albatross, I’ve been called this and that, but at the end of the day it really doesn’t matter. What matters is: ‘Is that what WWE needs right now?’, because if he is what they needed they would take him. And if you look at past history with wrestling, there’s been a lot of guys that came back that had a lot more controversy surrounding them than I have. They always said Stone Cold won’t go back, Rock’s not going to go back, this person’s not going to go back; when they need them, when they want them, they end up going.”
As a woman in wrestling, what do you think is the most important thing between looks, charisma, and in-ring wrestling, or do you think you have to have that whole complete package? “I think you have to have something. I don’t think it’s one particular look, I don’t think it’s one particular type of charisma, and I don’t think it’s one particular type of wrestling. I think that there is a place for everything; you just have to be extremely passionate about it. You have to stand out. I think a lot of people thought I would never come back to wrestling, and I think a lot of people thought that I wouldn’t have a place in wrestling and I would just do whatever it was to make money. If that were the case, then I probably would be somewhere else; I probably wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing. I’m so very passionate about wrestling, and about being a part of wrestling and making the best product out there, and I think that that is what you need to stick around in this business. You’ll move around. You might go to TNA, you might go to Ring of Honor, you might go to WWE, and each place will expect something different of you, but you have to be passionate about every aspect of wrestling in order to make it.”
Check out the complete interview above.
Jim Ross is currently hospitalized after checking in last night due to his wife’s insistence after the WWE Hall Of Famer informed her that he was feeling fatigued and somewhat disoriented. JR was kept hospitalized overnight and may be held for another day. He tweeted on Friday:
Thanks to all for their well wishes. Still hospitalized undergoing multiple tests. Eliminating things as we go. Podcast material. :)
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) June 6, 2014
Bumper to bumper medicals. 2 MRI 's, blood drawn 4X, echocardiogram, neck artery scan….all today. Awakened every 2 hours since last nite.
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) June 6, 2014
Update: Jim Ross tweeted on Saturday:
Hope to go home today from hospital. Tests eliminating potential culprits. All well wishes appreciated. Thx!
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) June 7, 2014
When it comes to Batista’s latest run, one could argue that management hit him with a bait and switch. He was promised that he would win the Royal Rumble and go on to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania. Instead, he was practically booed out of the building after winning the Royal Rumble and ended up tapping out to the Yes Lock at WrestleMania to allow Daniel Bryan to win the championship.
As most probably know by now, Batista “quit” on this past week’s Raw, as he will be taking a few months off to promote his new movie Guardians of the Galaxy. Upon return after a several year hiatus, Batista represented what many feel is wrong with the current state of the WWE.
Instead of relying on the guys that work day in and day out to headline the biggest pay-per-views of the year, the WWE has instead relied upon part-time superstars such as the Rock and Brock Lesnar to headline their biggest events. The reliance on part-time superstars is one of the reasons a certain someone (*cough* CM Punk *cough*) decided to pack his bags and head home.
However, despite all of the criticism Batista has received since returning, one has to wonder if he earned the respect of fans. In my opinion, I think it is fair to say that he did just that.
In the end, Batista was promised the world but was basically handed a half-empty bag of peanuts. Following the Royal Rumble, which featured an extremely hostile Pittsburgh crowd, it became apparent that Batista’s wishes would not be granted. The company was quickly forced to turn him heel, which messed with the dynamics of the WrestleMania main event, which featured a heel champion in the form of Randy Orton.
While nothing is definite right now regarding Daniel Bryan competing at the upcoming Money In The Bank pay-per-view, there’s a feeling among many that even if it’s not the best thing for Bryan’s health, he will end up working a match at the show because of how tough mentally he is, and how he always wants to be in the thick of things.
It’s being said that there is tremendous pressure being put on Bryan in real life to be ready at the MITB PPV, whether it’s being said directly or just strongly implied.
– WWE is already talking about ideas for a future feud between John Cena and Rusev. The company is looking to build Rusev up some more before pulling the trigger on a main event caliber program such as that, but ultimately that is where they will be heading at some point down the line.
– The following is the latest edition of the JBL & Cole Show:
As previously reported, Tamina Snuka underwent surgery to repair her injured knee, as the WWE Diva tweeted a photo of herself laying in a hospital bed after the operation.
Apparently the surgery took place this past Tuesday and was the result of Snuka suffering a pretty major knee injury during a recent match, as she is expected to be out of action for approximately six months.
WWE taped the Friday June 6th edition of WWE SmackDown on Tuesday night from the US Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. Here’s a preview, followed by spoiler results on Page 2:
– Randy Orton vs. Big Show
– Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins
– Wade Barrett vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Cesaro
– Tag champions The Usos vs. Ryback & Curtis Axel
– Bo Dallas vs. Santino
– Rusev vs. Xavier Woods
– Alicia Fox vs. Natalya
WWE issued the following:
WWE® Superstars Alberto Del Rio, Titus O’Neil and Roman Reigns Take on the Importance of Being a Dad in National Public Service Campaign
WWE Joins Ad Council and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to Launch New Fatherhood Involvement PSAs in Time for Father’s Day
Washington, DC, June 6, 2014 – A majority of dads in the U.S., seven out of ten, recently reported that they could use tips on how to be a better parent, according to a national survey conducted by the Ad Council. In advance of Father’s Day, WWE Superstars are inspiring dads throughout the country to get more involved in their children’s lives. WWE is joining the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Family Assistance, the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, and the Ad Council to launch a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) that encourage dads to recognize their critical role and give them the tools to help get more involved.
This month, the Ad Council will distribute the television, radio, print, outdoor and Web public service ads to media outlets nationwide. In addition, the Ad Council will make all PSA materials available through PSACentral.org. WWE will utilize all of its assets, including television, live events, in-arena, digital and social media, to generate awareness of the national public service campaign.
WWE donated their time, talent and resources for the campaign which uses humor and features WWE Superstars Alberto Del Rio, Titus O’Neil and Roman Reigns experiencing poignant moments with their actual children in an effort to inspire a nationwide commitment to fatherhood. The stars provide the voiceovers at the end, directing audiences to “Take Time To Be a Dad Today.” The campaign communicates to fathers that their presence is essential to their children’s well-being and emphasizes that “the smallest moments can have the biggest impact on a child’s life.” The new PSAs can be seen here.
“WWE is honored to be a part of the Ad Council Fatherhood campaign and the mission to inspire and support men in their commitment to responsible fatherhood,” said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & CEO. “Even the busiest of dads can do the simplest of things to have a positive impact on their children.”
All of the creative assets direct fathers to visit www.fatherhood.gov or to call 1-877-4DAD411 to provide them with the information they need to become more involved with their children’s lives, including parenting tips, fatherhood programs and additional resources. In addition to the English and Spanish-language advertising, the campaign also includes social and digital extensions, leveraging fans of WWE and its Superstars. To coincide with Father’s Day and the campaign launch, @WWEMoms is hosting a Twitter Q&A on June 12 at 7:00 p.m. via #WWEDads. The campaign will also be leveraging Thunderclap (a public synchronized social media post), and developing blog posts and additional activities.
“The importance of being a present and engaged dad lies in the long term effects and benefits that this responsibility has on the children and families we serve. Fatherhood must be respected as essential to the wellbeing of our communities and as an investment in the creation of a caring, healthier and more productive society as a whole. Fatherhood is both a privilege and an honor, and the greatest reward is when your child calls you dad,” said Office of Family Assistance Director Earl Johnson.
Children with involved, loving fathers are significantly more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-esteem, exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior, and avoid high-risk behaviors such as drug use, truancy, and criminal activity compared to children who have uninvolved fathers.
“Of course, with our target being dads, WWE was a natural partner for this effort,” said Peggy Conlon, President and CEO of the Ad Council. “This campaign has already made such an impact on fathers and families throughout the country and I know that with the help of Alberto, Titus and Roman, we will be able to show dads how important their role is in their child’s life.”
The new PSAs are an extension of the Ad Council’s award-winning Fatherhood Involvement campaign, which launched in 2008. The ads will air and run in time and space entirely donated by the media. To date, the Fatherhood Involvement campaign has received more than $193 million in donated media.
International wrestling star Prince Devitt was recently interviewed on the Low Blows podcast and spoke about his decision to leave New Japan Pro Wrestling.
“I felt that my time there was coming to an end. I was tired, it’s hard work traveling out there ten times a year, and I felt I wasn’t giving enough of myself to the company. They wanted me to stay but I felt it was time for a break, I’ve been out there since I was 24, I’m 32 now. Considering they brought me for three months in the beginning I felt I’d given my money’s worth. Obviously the door is still open for the future and I hope to go back and work with them in the future.”
Devitt, who is rumored to be headed to WWE developmental this summer, addressed the situation:
“There’s been a lot of talk and speculation about me doing TNA, WWE, and NASA projects, but at the moment I’m happy doing my thing at home. There is a possibility that I might go to the States in the future for a potential opportunity there but until then it’s all just rumors and speculation unfortunately.”
WWE sent out another Fan Council survey on Wednesday gauging interest in these potential DVD projects. It’s worth noting that the “Demise of Owen Hart” project suggested in a previous survey is now “The Owen Hart Story.”
Potential DVDs:
“Inside the Rivalry” Documentaries:
“Inside Wrestlemania Rivalries” Documentaries:
“One Man Show” Documentaries With Legends Telling Their Stories:
“WWE Reveals” Featuring Controversial Moments:
Superstars Documentaries & Best-Of Matches:
“All Access” Documentaries:
– The latest edition of Chris Jericho’s “Talk Is Jericho” podcast, which features Y2J’s WWE Payback review and an interview with KISS member Bruce Kulick, is now available. The official description for the show reads as follows:
TIJ – EP44 – Bruce Kulick of KISS & WWE Payback Review
“Former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick sat at Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons’ table at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony, and has plenty of stories to share about that night, and about his time in KISS! Plus, Y2J breaks down the WWE Payback PPV. How’d he do vs Egypt?”
You can download the show right now at PodcastOne.com.
– The latest edition of Jim Ross’ “Ross Report” podcast, which features JR’s exclusive interview with Eric Bischoff, is now available. The official description for the show reads as follows:
TRR – Ep16 – Eric Bischoff
“JR and Eric Bischoff are talking wrestling business… and by that, we mean “the business of professional wrestling.” They get into Eric taking over WCW and firing JR, the Monday Night Wars, the current state and future of the WWE, and what Eric thinks about his own son’s foray into the business. Plus, hear creative strategy, brand building, and what it takes to be a star.”
You can download the show right now at PodcastOne.com.
Seth Rollins turned on The Shield during the main event segment on the post-WWE Payback edition of RAW.
Instead of the originally scheduled Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns main event, Triple H revealed that he had a “plan B.” After saying that, Seth Rollins attacked both Reigns and Dean Ambrose with a steel chair, blasting them repeatedly with it. HHH and Orton stood at ringside all-the-while smiling in approval as they saw their plan come to fruition.
They end up joining Rollins in the ring to attack Reigns and Ambrose some more.
Stephanie McMahon announced the status of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship during an in-ring segment on the post-Payback edition of WWE RAW.
McMahon stated that if Daniel Bryan is able to compete at the upcoming WWE Money In The Bank pay-per-view in four weeks, he will be defending the title in a stretcher match against Kane. If he cannot, the title will be vacated and then be put on the line for the first time ever in the actual Money In The Bank ladder match itself.
Batista “quit” on Monday’s RAW after Triple H refused his request for a WWE World Heavyweight title shot against Daniel Bryan.
The show kicked off with Evolution talking about having unfinished business with The Shield, but Batista interrupted him and said he doesn’t care about The Shield he wants the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match he was promised. HHH told Batista and Randy Orton that nobody was getting anything they wanted until they take out The Shield, but once that happens, they will get everything they want.
Batista then replied, “I understand, and I quit.” He dropped the microphone and waved goodbye to the WWE Universe.
In a backstage interview that aired on the WWE app, Batista vented about a series of “empty promises” from Triple H and declared, “I’m done. I’m done.
Later in the show, Randy Orton said he and Triple H are still on the same page and he is still the “Face of WWE.”
We reported last week that Batista would be taking time off from WWE to promote his new movie “Guardians of the Galaxy” and this is how he’s being written off television. The next show he’s advertised for is the Saturday, August 23rd live event from Sacramento, California, but he is expected back in time for SummerSlam.
Batista Quits
The post-WWE Payback edition of RAW opens up with video highlights of The Shield and Evolution main event from last night’s pay-per-view. From there, we shoot live into the arena in Indianapolis, Indiana, where Evolution’s theme music plays. Out walks a banged up and bruised Triple H, Randy Orton and Batista.
Triple H, who is sporting a black eye, looks around while the fans break out in their first “Boo-tista” chant of the evening. HHH says “they say it’s always darkest just before the dawn.” He says the funny thing is The Shield, and all of the fans, think that they’ve won. They think it’s over. He says none of us get it — he doesn’t lose. He wins. Always.
HHH hands the mic off to Batista, and the fans break out into a loud “CM Punk” chant. Batista angrily tells HHH that he doesn’t want another match with The Shield. He says he wants the one-on-one WWE World Heavyweight Championship match that he promised him. HHH tells Batista that there’s a reason he’s the leader of Evolution and why he’s the boss. He says he has the ability to see the bigger picture. He says he has a plan, but Batista interupts him and tells him he doesn’t care about his plan.
“The Animal” goes on to talk about how he won the Royal Rumble and earned a one-on-one title match, and he’s demanding that he get it tonight. HHH tells Batista that Daniel Bryan is injured and can’t compete, so even if he wanted to, he can’t give him a title shot tonight. He says if he did, he’d probably choke anyways. Batista gets pissed. HHH says he’s sorry but things are stressful right now. He gets worked up when talking about how he never loses a fight. He says when this thing with The Shield is over, he promises Batista he’ll get everything he wants. He looks at Orton and says until that time no one is getting anything they want. Batista says, “I understand, and I quit.” He drops the mic, sarcastically waves to the fans and leaves.
As Batista storms off to the back, HHH freaks out on the mic. He demands Batista come back. He says his movies are going to flop and to run back to Hollywood. He freaks out some more and then drops the mic in anger.
Sheamus & Rob Van Dam vs. Cesaro & Bad News Barrett
As we head to our first commercial break of the evening, we are informed that coming up next is a tag-team match featuring Sheamus and Rob Van Dam battling the duo of Cesaro and Bad News Barrett. On that note, we head to break.
When we return from commercial, we see a quick backstage interview during the commercial via the WWE App where Batista is exiting the building and is stopped by one of the no-name WWE “reporters.” He informs him that “he’s done.” He spoke about empty promises, getting lied to since returning and kept repeating that “he’s done.” He walked off.
From there we go back to the ring, where Cesaro is introduced. Out next is the WWE Intercontinental Champion, Bad News Barrett. Already in the ring are their opponents for tonight, Rob Van Dam and Sheamus.
The bell rings and here we go. Paul Heyman joins Michael Cole, JBL and Jerry Lawler on commentary for this match. Cesaro and Sheamus start things off for their respective teams, with Sheamus getting the early advantage over “The King of Swing.”
The two battle back-and-forth for a bit until each guy makes the tag. Barrett and Van Dam are going at it now, with Barrett getting the better. Van Dam goes to the top for a high-spot, but is met by a huge shot from Bad News Barrett on the way down. On that note, we head to a mid-match commercial.
When we return from commercial, Cesaro and Van Dam are battling it out, with Cesaro getting the better of the two. After a bunch of tags from both teams, and a lot of intense back-and-forth action, the finish comes when Cesaro and Paul Heyman walk out on the match, leaving Barrett hanging, as Barrett turns around into a Brogue Kick from Sheamus and a Five Star Frogsplash from Van Dam. 1-2-3. Sheamus and Rob Van Dam win. After the match, we head to commercial.
Winners: Sheamus & Rob Van Dam
Damien “Lance Stephenson” Sandow & Big Show
When we return from commercial, Damien Sandow comes out as Indiana Pacers player Lance Stephenson. We see a shot of some real Pacers in the crowd. Sandow is wearing the jersey, carrying a basketball, etc. He says, as Lance Stephenson, he wants to make it clear that LeBron James is the best player in history and that the Indiana Pacers are a losing team from a losing city. There’s a basketball rim and he says he’s going to show a demonstration. He dicks around with the ball like a jerk off for a little while — far too long actually — until finally Big Show comes out.
When Big Show enters the ring and his music cuts, Sandow says “how dare you interupt my mad skills.” He asks Big Show if he thinks he’s “got game.” Sandow gives Big Show the ball and then moves around like a jerk off some more, pretending to “cover” him. Big Show throws the ball at his stomach real hard and then hits him with the Knockout Punch. He grabs the ball and dunks it in the rim, bending the rim down in the process. After all of this nonsense we head to another commercial.
– In a pretty coincidental tweet, WWE noted on Twitter today that Indianapolis, Indiana, which is the site of tonight’s edition of WWE RAW, was also the site of the first-ever WWE Buried Alive match. You can check out the tweet below.
The 1st-ever #BuriedAliveMatch in @WWE history occurred in Indianapolis, the host city of tonight's #Raw! WATCH NOW: http://t.co/c7fwgjnPOB
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) June 2, 2014
– Also new on Twitter, from the official account of Roman Reigns, is a photo of his welted up back following his match against Evolution at last night’s WWE Payback pay-per-view.
Sometimes we get crazy out there…ACTUALLY. . We always get crazy out there! pic.twitter.com/lDTPuUGp6F
— Roman Reigns (@WWERomanReigns) June 2, 2014
The Friday, May 30th WWE Payback “go-home” edition of SmackDown scored a final cable rating of 1.76, according to Nielsen Media Research. The 1.76 final draw marks a decrease from the 1.87 rating that the show drew the previous week.
Friday’s SmackDown averaged 2.437 million viewers, which was also down in comparison to last week’s average of 2.540 million viewers.
The president of Full Sail University, Gary Jones, recently raved about the relationship between them and WWE, “The relationship between Full Sail and the WWE is one of those rare situations when you first meet someone and are impressed and as time goes on you’re even more impressed with the people,” said Jones.
The Full Sail University president continued, “The WWE has people of their word: they do what they say and when they say it. It’s extraordinary.”
You can check out the complete article at OrlandoSentinel.com.