Home Blog Page 2528

(Spoilers) NXT TV Taping Results For The Next Four Weeks

7

Thanks to SEScoops.com reader Tara for sending along the following NXT TV taping results for the next four weeks …

Spoilers For June 5, 2014:

– Mojo Rawley kicks off NXT and gets everyone hyped. Aiden English sings and gets beat with Mojo’s finisher in a fairly quick match.

– Bayley comes out and gives her bandana to one of the Special Olympic athletes at ringside. NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte comes out for a match. Charlotte gets the win with Bow Down to the Queen after Summer Rae returned to NXT and distracted Bayley. Sasha Banks, Summer and Charlotte beat down Bayley until Emma and Paige made the save.

– Jason Jordan and Tye Dillinger defeated two indie wrestlers from FIP.

– CJ Parker came out with more Earth friendly signs in protest.

– Tyler Breeze comes out for an in-ring segment and talks about beating Sami Zayn to become the new #1 contender. Breeze promises he will be the new NXT Champion when he gets his shot against Adrian Neville. Breeze shows us a music video he had made which is a compilation of his greatest entrances.

– Adrian Neville defeated Justin Gabriel. After the match, Tyson Kidd came out and apologized for his actions at Takeover. They shook hands and agree to a rematch at a future date that isn’t announced.

Spoilers For June 12, 2014

– Bayley, Emma and Paige defeated Charlotte, Sasha Banks and Summer Rae. The BFF’s argued from the time they came out to the stage. They argued all during the match, allowing Bayley to get the pin on Charlotte. The problems continued after the match as Charlotte and Sasha argued to the back. Summer ended up staying at ringside and taking photos with fans.

– More protesting from CJ Parker.

– Big Cass defeated Sylvester Lefort.

– Bo Dallas comes out under a mask and he’s called Mr. NXT. Sami Zayn comes out and exposes him. After Sami wins the match, he calls for security to escort Bo out of the arena since he was banned from NXT previously. Bo runs around the arena but security catches up with him. Bo begs for someone’s help but they take him away.

– Adrian Neville defeated Tyson Kidd with the NXT Title on the line. Natalya was at ringside. Kidd won the match at one point but the referee didn’t see Neville’s foot on the bottom rope and the match was re-started. The end came when Kidd grabbed a steel chair from Natalya but got caught with a heel kick and Red Arrow. Kidd walked away from Natalya after the match.

Spoilers For June 19, 2014

– There’s an off-camera segment with Bo Dallas running around asking for help from security.

– Alexa Bliss defeated Sasha Banks. Charlotte and Summer Rae were at ringside with Sasha. Sasha lost when there was more arguing among the BFF’s.

– Mojo Rawley defeated Garrett Dylan.

– “The Vaudevillians” Aiden English and Simon Gotch defeated Travis Tyler and Angelo Dawkins.

– Tyler Breeze defeated Kalisto.

– The Ascension defeated Sami Zayn and Tyson Kidd with the NXT Tag Team Titles on the line. Sami got hit with Fall of Man after Kidd walked out on him.

Spoilers For June 26, 2014

– The Vaudevillians defeated two unknown wrestlers.

– CJ Parker comes back out with more Earth friendly signs in protest.

– Bull Dempsey defeated Xavier Woods. Dempsey took the mic and said the business used to be dominated by brawler guys like him. He said he’s the last of a dying breed.

– Becky Lynch defeated Summer Rae when she was distracted by Sasha and Charlotte arguing at ringside.

– Big Cass defeated Sawyer Fulton in a squash match. After the match, Marcus Louis and Sylvester Lefort came out and beat Cass down. Enzo Amore made his return and made the save for Cass. Enzo cut an awesome promo and the crowd was all into it. Cass and Enzo did their schtick and left to a new theme song.

– Tyler Breeze is out next for commentary. Rob Van Dam vs. Adrian Neville in a non-title match is next. Neville gets the win with the Red Arrow. Breeze and Neville stare each other down after the match.

  • BACKSTAGE NEWS On Some Possible New “PAUL HEYMAN GUYS” — **CLICK HERE**
  • VIDEO: NXT Takeover Fallout Featuring Renee Young & Paul Heyman

    4

    WWE uploaded the much-talked-about NXT Takeover “Fallout” post-show from Thursday night to their official YouTube channel.

    The official description for the show reads as follows:

    “Now that the smoke has cleared from NXT Takeover, watch NXT Takeover Fallout. Renee Young and Paul Heyman get on-the-spot reactions from the NXT Superstars and Divas after their matches and see what the future holds for WWE NXT. “

    You can check out the full show above.

  • BACKSTAGE NEWS On Some Possible New “PAUL HEYMAN GUYS” — **CLICK HERE**
  • Kazarian Talks TNA Departure, His History With WWE, Global Force Wrestling & More

    0

    The following are highlights of a new TNA News interview with Frankie Kazarian:

    Do you still have a good relationship with Jeff Jarrett? If you were asked to join his newest company, Global Force Wrestling, would you be part of it?

    “I have a good relationship with Jeff, I mean the guy gave me a huge break. He was my boss for a long time. He became a pal. He’s got a great vision. He has wrestling in his blood. I’ll wait to see how everything pans out before, I mean, let’s wait till GFW is actually an existing entity. Right now everything is speculation, so until there is an actual wrestling company to go we’ll see. I mean, I can’t really answer a question that the possible answer is that you have to guess. Anything Jeff puts his name on I would jump at the chance to be part of because he is a brilliant business man when it comes to professional wrestling.”

    Your run in the company lasted till 2005 where actually signed with WWE. Did you think you fit the “WWE mold”? Does it bother you that you have never had a long run with them?

    “I don’t think there is such a thing as a mold – You either get over or you don’t. At the time I just wasn’t mentally prepared for WWE the machine and the big business that it is cause that is exactly what it is. I don’t know what I was expecting but I just wasn’t mentally prepared. I wasn’t mentally mature enough cause it is such a huge business. It is not just a wrestling promotion, it is a business and it is run very smoothly and it is run by people are the best in the industry and have been doing it forever. There is a reason why they are the best. So, at the time I was a little bit young, a little bit naïve about things and that’s all 100% my fault. You know, just being a little unprepared for the business side of things and a little bit overwhelmed also.”

    Now for a question that many people are wondering – Are you finished with TNA Wrestling? If not, is the contract coming up soon?

    “I’m technically still under contract but that’s for a very, very short amount of time. Once that contract runs out I will no longer be with TNA.”

    How do you feel about TNA’s way of sending you off?

    “It wasn’t much of a sending off. I was in the position where they wanted to introduce new characters and get over other characters, so if the guy isn’t going to be there, that’s, I guess, is the best use of them – is to put them at the expense of other characters. Hey, that’s their decision and I’m good with that if they are good with that. If they think that is a good way to put a new character over, then hey, I’m a company guy and I’ll do it. It’s somebody’s vision – They decided to go with this crop of guys going forward and decided to not go with guys Chris Sabin, AJ Styles, Daniels, and myself. You don’t want to fight that. There’s no need to fight it. Just go with it.”

    Check out the complete interview at TNANews.com.

  • BACKSTAGE NEWS On Some Possible New “PAUL HEYMAN GUYS” — **CLICK HERE**
  • Jim Ross “RINGSIDE” Show In Chicago Today, New Hardy Boyz Promo (Video)

    2

    – Don’t forget that WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross will be at the House Of Blues in Chicago, Illinois for his “RINGSIDE” one-man show today.

    – The following is a new video promo from Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy for their Big Time Wrestling matches this weekend. The two also speak about a dream match that’s coming up.

  • BACKSTAGE NEWS On Some Possible New “PAUL HEYMAN GUYS” — **CLICK HERE**
  • TNA Stars On Popular CBS Reality Show, Jake Roberts Appearance, More

    0

    – TNA stars Robbie E. and Brooke Tessmacher are among those on the cast of the CBS reality show “The Amazing Race.” The event officially kicked off in New York City on Saturday. For more information, visit CBSPressExpress.com.

    – Speaking of reality shows, former “Survivor” cast member Jonny Fairplay, as well as WWE Hall Of Famer Jake “The Snake” Roberts are advertised for the May 31st and June 1st West Coast Wrestling Connection events near Portland, Oregon. For more information on that, visit WestCoastWrestlingConnection.com.

  • BACKSTAGE NEWS On Some Possible New “PAUL HEYMAN GUYS” — **CLICK HERE**
  • Samoa Joe Makes TNA TV Return, TNA Buys Expensive Ads In New York

    2

    – TNA began running promotional ads on the New York City radio station WFAN this week. WFAN is among the most expensive sports radio stations in the country to advertise on. TNA is running ads for their upcoming television tapings in August, with the following talent listed in the advertisement: Eric Young, MVP, Bobby Lashley, Kenny King, Velvet Sky and “New York’s own Bully Ray.”

    – Samoa Joe made his return to TNA on last night’s edition of Impact Wrestling. Prior to Joe returning at the TNA tapings in early May, he had been away since the company’s TV tapings in March.

  • CM PUNK FINALLY Breaks His Silence On WWE Situation [SHOCKING COMMENTS >>]
  • Impact Wrestling Preview For Next Week: Two Matches Announced

    0

    Angelina Love vs. Madison Rayne for the TNA Knockouts Championship has been announced for next week’s edition of Impact Wrestling on Spike TV. Also announced is a match featuring Willow vs. Bram.

    Above is a video preview for next week’s Impact Wrestling.

  • CM PUNK FINALLY Breaks His Silence On WWE Situation [SHOCKING COMMENTS >>]
  • Kurt Angle Victim Of Bad Promoter In Canada, Paid With Multiple Bad Checks

    26

    Kurt Angle appears to be the victim of another bad promoter. According to a recent report, the Olympic gold medalist was paid with a bad check for his appearance at a Sparkes Productions event in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Angle then reportedly received another check that ended up bouncing until finally getting paid with a legitimate money order.

    It appears that the Sparkes Productions company is now out of business. The Canadian Wrestling Elite promotion in Winnipeg that had worked with Sparkes in the past said that the promoters’ cell phone was disconnected, his website was down and they were told that he was in both financial and potential legal trouble.

  • CM PUNK FINALLY Breaks His Silence On WWE Situation [SHOCKING COMMENTS >>]

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

  • Final TNA Impact Wrestling Rating: Up From Previous Two Weeks

    8

    The Thursday, May 29th edition of TNA Impact Wrestling on Spike TV scored a final cable rating of 0.89, up from the 0.87 final draw that the show has drawn the previous two weeks.

    Thursday’s Impact Wrestling show averaged 1.079 million viewers, up slightly from the 1.07 million viewers who tuned in the previous week.

  • CM PUNK FINALLY Breaks His Silence On WWE Situation [SHOCKING COMMENTS >>]
  • Jeremy Borash Speaks On Issues With Eric Bischoff, Vince Russo, TNA & More

    7

    The following are highlights of a new v2 Wrestling Podcast interview with Jeremy Borash:

    On Vince Russo: “I have not seen or spoken to Vince Russo in two years, so I couldn’t tell you of his involvement, on what level it is, if at all.”

    On his spat with Eric Bischoff, after a bartender told Bischoff that Borash had been claiming to be the TNA owner: “The guy that told him that was a guy named Magnus – not the wrestler; Magnus the bartender – who is a family friend, and I believe knew that Eric and I had not exactly gotten along before. I think Eric might have been tipping a few back, and I think Magnus was effing with him a little bit. Anybody who knows me knows that I would not go around and tell anybody that I own TNA, that is absurd. And if I did own TNA, I’d be driving a much better car and dating a supermodel. Eric apologized to me a hundred times for it, and more than made good for it, and I totally forgive him. It was just a joke that got out of hand.”

    On what he would do differently if he owned TNA: “Move it to London. The fan base is a huge missed opportunity. The production in the UK is miles ahead of anything that is in the U.S., and I have no idea why, but I am a huge fan of the production values over here. I would use that production, and take advantage of how passionate the crowd is.”

    Check out the complete interview at Podomatic.com.

  • CM PUNK FINALLY Breaks His Silence On WWE Situation [SHOCKING COMMENTS >>]
  • Christopher Daniels To Work Full-Time For ROH, Update On ROH/NJPW Relationship

    7

    – Christopher Daniels has reportedly signed a contract with Ring Of Honor. The former longtime TNA star is expected to start full-time with ROH on the company’s upcoming June 22nd show.

    – As things currently stand, there are no official plans on the existing schedule for New Japan to work with ROH in the near future, however the company is said to be interested in bringing in a NJPW star for their “Final Battle” show. ROH is said to be most interested in Kazuchika Okada, since other than Jushin Liger, he was the performer who got over the best with the ROH fans.

  • CM PUNK FINALLY Breaks His Silence On WWE Situation [SHOCKING COMMENTS >>]

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

  • Update On Christian’s WWE Status: Future As A Producer/Agent?

    30

    There is still no definitive word as to when Christian will be making his return to the ring after suffering two concussions in the past year.

    There are those within WWE that have suggested Christian be hired as a producer/agent for the company when his contract as an active performer expires.

    As noted in the past, the talk within WWE was that Christian is expected to be phasing down his in-ring career this year even prior to suffering the second concussion.

  • CM PUNK FINALLY Breaks His Silence On WWE Situation [SHOCKING COMMENTS >>]

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

  • Report: Jennifer Hudson Not Happy David Otunga Could Be Returning To WWE

    50

    David Otunga could be returning to WWE soon and his fiancé Jennifer Hudson is not happy about it, according to the latest issue of Star Magazine The article notes that she is “fuming” that Otunga wants to wrestle again and is concerned he won’t be spending enough time with their son David Daniel.

    “The will-they-or-won’t-they debate about Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga’s wedding just took a turn for the worse,” Star Magazine writes.

    The couple is “constantly arguing” and Hudson does not think being a pro wrestler is a good career move for him.

    “Jen knows that it’s his passion, but she doesn’t want him away from home for long periods of time, and there’s always the chance that he could get hurt,” according to a source close to Jennifer.

    Paul Heyman Searching For New Clients, More NXT Live Specials & More

    34

    – WWE will tape another set of NXT TV tapings tonight from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. We will have full spoiler coverage tonight. Rob Van Dam and Summer Rae will be appearing, with Summer doing a pre-show meet & greet at 4pm.

    – Batista has been announced for the June 12th WWE NXT TV tapings from Full Sail.

    – Triple H revealed on last night’s NXT Takeover post-show that the next live NXT special will happen around the end of the summer or early fall. He aded that WWE is planning to do a live NXT special every quarter.

    – Last night on the NXT Takeover kickoff show, Paul Heyman revealed that he was scouting for new Paul Heyman Guys or Paul Heyman Girls at the show. He noted that he signed Cesaro shortly after seeing his match against Sami Zayn at NXT Arrival back in February, which is widely regarded as a Match of the Year candidate.

    Brie Bella Talks About Having A “Girl Crush” On Stephanie McMahon, Total Divas, Daniel Bryan

    21

    WWE Diva Brie Bella recently spoke with Scott Fishman of The Miami Herald to promote the season finale of WWE Total Divas, which airs this Sunday night on E! Here are some highlights:

    Being on Total Divas: “I look at all of us girls, and we all bring something different to the table. I think women can relate to us because I think it’s very common women have to balance career and relationship. At the same time, you never know what the world is interested in at that moment. There was the thinking of, ‘I think it will do well because we have something great here.’ At the same time, are people interested in women fighting in the ring and fighting for relationships outside?”

    Daniel Bryan Appearing On The Show: “When I brought it up to Bryan [about doing the show], he was just like, ‘Brie, I don’t think we’re entertaining to watch. I don’t think this is a good idea for you and I.’ I was kind of like, ‘I think you’re right. We are kind of boring.’ It’s because we are very private, so it was hard for us to open up with all the cameras. He is such a good sport. He is just so good to me. With anything I want to do, he is 100 percent for it, even if he thinks I’m crazy. It was very hard for he and I at first, but now we have fun with it. We are so comfortable that sometimes we forget that the cameras are there. Bryan and I came to look at this as people can see he and I are very into the environment. That’s our passion outside of work.”

    Rosa Mendes Joining The Cast Next Season: “She has kind of been in this business for a really long time but has never really gone to the top. It will be neat to see her story and her struggles.”

    Wanting Babies: “I’m 30, and I’ll be 31 in November. You do get that baby fever where everyone around me is having children. I think in two years Bryan and I would love to have kids. Now it could be sooner, or it could be later. I’m not ready just yet, so for me it’s later. You never know. I just can’t wait to be a mother and to see Bryan as a father because I know he will be amazing at that. It will be crazy.”

    Her “Girl Crush” on Stephanie McMahon: “I have to say I have like a girl crush on her. She is just an amazing woman. She is so talented and with the way she is with all the charities to represent WWE. Then she can put that all aside, when she gets to that ring. It’s just insane to me. I just really admire her, and it has been a lot of fun to work with her and learn from her. I’ve really enjoyed it. The storyline is insane, and you never know what it holds. I’m excited for Payback because I think it will have a really great twist.”

    Jim Ross Talks About Wrestlers Using Social Media, CM Punk & More

    1

    WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross spoke to ChicagoNow.com this week to promote his “RINGSIDE: An Evening With Jim Ross” one-man show on Saturday afternoon from Chicago’s House of Blues. Here are some highlights of what JR said about:

    If Wrestlers Should Use Social Media: “Well whatever they do, I think they should be consistent with it. If you want some privacy with your real life, then yes stay in character. Whatever you decide to do I think you shouldn’t insult the audience either personally or intellectually. I think the wrestling fans on the internet today know wrestling is entertainment. I love Twitter because I get to interact with the people. That’s why I love doing these shows so much because there are so many fans out there and I get to find out what’s on their mind.”

    If He Will Ever Do Wrestling Announcing Again: “It’s foolish to close any door. I’m not looking to do anymore pro wrestling broadcasting, but if the right opportunity arises then I will listen. I’m not soliciting companies but I will always keep my ears open. It would be stupid for me to say it’s over. I have my Podcast that is doing a lot of great things and I’m writing for FOX. So I’m staying busy but again I’m a wrestling fan, but as an entrepreneur. I am willing to try MMA or football if it’s the right opportunity.”

    If CM Punk Could Appear At His One Man Show In Chicago: “There are no plans for CM Punk to be at my show but stranger things have happened. I honestly don’t know but he knows how I think of him. I hold him as high regard as a performer and more importantly as a man.”

    For tickets to Saturday night’s “An Evening With Jim Ross” from Chicago, visit HouseOfBlues.com.

    Bad News Barrett Talks About His Goals In WWE, How Real Total Divas Is

    23

    WWE Intercontinental Champion Bad News Barrett did a radio interview this week with 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C. Here are some highlights of what he said about:

    How Real Total Divas Is: “I think for the most part it’s genuine characters and genuine personalities… As with any TV show their aim is to make it entertaining. So, certain scenarios might be set up where they’re put into a very strict environment and seeing how they respond. It’s not like they have lines like a movie… it’s a lot of improv.”

    Wanting To Be WWE World Heavyweight Champion: “I want to be champion of the world. There’s never been a British world champion before. I think that’s a terrible statistic and somebody needs to wipe that out. Hopefully, it’s me. I’m going to take it as far as I can. There’s certain elements involved in pro wrestling that aren’t solely down to the performer. There’s only so much I can do. I’ve kind of stopped beating myself up about things not working out the way I want them to every time.”

    Other topics discussed include ECW’s influence on UK Wrestling, Tyson Kidd’s potential and more.

    Early Betting Odds For WWE Payback

    18

    The first round of betting odds have been released for Sunday’s WWE Payback pay-per-view. Here are the favorites, courtesy of International betting site PaddyPower.com:

    – The Shield and Evolution are neck and neck with who will win the 6-man Elimination tag match.

    – Divas champion Paige is a strong favorite to retain against Alicia Fox.

    – IC Champion Wade Barrett is a strong favorite to retain against Rob Van Dam.

    – John Cena is a slight favorite over Bray Wyatt in their Last Man Standing match.

    – US Champion Sheamus is a slight favorite over Cesaro.

    – El Torito is a strong favorite over Hornswoggle in the pre-show Mask vs. Hair match.

    Make sure to check back this Sunday for our Live Coverage Results of WWE Payback.

    Ric Flair Wrestling In Japan In September, Wants To Manage Dolph Ziggler

    28

    2-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair was interviewed by Mike Mooneyham of The Post and Courier this week. The article covers Flair’s experience breaking into the business, his love of nightlife, his current relationship with WWE and his daughter Ashley (NXT Diva Charlotte), who was crowned NXT’s new Women’s Champion last night at NXT Takeover.

    Flair, who hasn’t wrestled since August of 2012, is itching to get back on television. He’s scheduled to wrestle for a Japanese promotion in September. “I’m down to 228 now, and I’m in the best shape I’ve been since TNA” he said. “I’m excited. I’ve got so much energy, it’s ridiculous.”

    While he almost certainly has wrestled his final match in a WWE ring, he’d welcome the chance to manage a WWE superstar. Specifically, he’d like to manage Dolph Ziggler. “I think he’s awesome. He’d be a great guy to manage. He looks like a million bucks. He just can’t find his gimmick. He needs to work on his entrance. I could help him with that.”

    When asked about his 28-year-old daughter Ashley (NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte), Flair gushed with pride. “She will be the greatest Flair of all time. Her credentials speak for themselves. I’d put her resume up against anybody.” Ashley boasts an impressive athletic background, as a gymnast in high school as well as a four-time All-American cheerleader. As a college volleyball player for Appalachian State, she was a two-time state champion and player of the year in North Carolina. “She’s Rey Mysterio but bigger,” Flair joked. “She is going to be the greatest female wrestler and the most famous diva in the history of the WWE.”

    Through all the highs and lows he’s experienced in his life, the Nature Boy sounds like he’s in a great place. “I couldn’t be better. Do I feel like I’m 65? No. I feel like I’m 15. That’s my problem. I’m trying as hard as I can to act like I’m 65, but it’s very difficult.”

    Backstage News On Why WWE Doesn’t Want Ric Flair Managing Dolph Ziggler

    WWE SmackDown Preview & Spoiler ResultsFor Tonight (5/30)

    26

    The following is a spoiler-free preview for tonight’s 5/30 episode of WWE SmackDown. Hit up Page 2 below for spoilers.

    • Bray Wyatt vs. Jimmy Uso in a Last Man Standing match
    • US champion Sheamus vs IC Champion Bad News Barrett
    • Cesaro vs. Kofi Kingston.
    • Divas champion Paige vs. Tamina Snuka
    • Bo Dallas vs. Xavier Woods
    • El Torito vs. Jinder Mahal.
    • Big E. vs. Titus O’Neill
    • Adam Rose vs. Jack Swagger

    Also appearing are The Shield, Paul Heyman, Rusev & Lana, Alicia Fox and more.

    WWE & Full Sail University Celebrate Two Years Of Partnership

    2

    Full Sail and WWE Celebrate Two Years of Education and Entertainment Partnerships

    On May 17, 2014 Full Sail University and WWE celebrated the second anniversary of a partnership that has made the sports entertainment giant a permanent fixture on campus, and provided one-of-a-kind educational and professional opportunities for both students and alumni.

    At the center of this collaboration are regular tapings of the WWE NXT television series in the Full Sail Live Venue – which airs in more than 60 countries worldwide. The first broadcast performance was held May 17, 2012, and there have since been 100 episodes of NXT produced that have brought generations of WWE Superstars to campus. Just a few of these entertainers include Triple H, Sheamus, Sin Cara, John Cena, Big E Langston, Daniel Bryan, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, The Great Khali, Big Show, “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels, Bret “The Hitman” Hart, and the WWE Divas.

    The NXT series focuses on up and coming athletes, and on July 11, 2013 the WWE opened a dedicated Performance Center for new talent in close proximity to Full Sail’s campus. This facility offers a comprehensive program for potential entertainers – including in-ring training, physical preparedness, and character development. The 26,000 square-foot space also features seven training rings, a world-class strength and conditioning program, and edit and production facilities.

    In addition to the entertainment output, NXT tapings have also allowed Full Sail students to become involved with their promotion and production. Spearheading these efforts is the WWE & Full Sail Student Initiative, which provides opportunities to volunteer, learn alongside, and shadow with WWE employees in areas like marketing, social media, media production, graphic design, and more. For any given event approximately 50 to 60 students will participate on the day of the production, with another approximate 30 assisting throughout the week to set up and break down equipment in the Live Venue.

    The program has also allowed students to assist on other WWE productions in the Central Florida area and beyond. A recent highlight saw eight travel to New Orleans, Louisiana for WrestleMania 30, held on April 6, 2014. Six members of this student group took on production roles as part of the camera team, helping broadcast the organization’s largest annual event to a record 1 million U.S. households through the WWE Network and pay-per-view.

    In addition to supporting the practical education of students, proceeds from ticket and merchandise sales from NXT go toward a scholarship fund for students enrolled at Full Sail.. To date, WWE has awarded six $10,000 scholarships to students since 2012, and these recipients are Geraldo Gutierrez (Recording Arts), Felipe Giannazzo (Show Production), Allison Iliev (Creative Writing), Claribel Ross (Entertainment Business Masters), Hamza Aboufirass (Film), and Hunter Haines (Film).

    This is only a portion of the campus events and opportunities that have been open to students as part of the Full Sail and WWE partnership, and we’ve also seen many continue to work with the company after graduation.

    Looking back on the last two years of this unique relationship, Full Sail President Garry Jones offered, “We are humbled by the continued dedication from WWE in recognizing the efforts and dreams of our students. Collaborating with WWE has elevated the education experience here at Full Sail University by creating many opportunities for our students to be mentored by some of the best minds in the entertainment production industry. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this evolving partnership.”

    “We are proud to celebrate our unique partnership with Full Sail University, which continues to help build WWE’s next generation of talent, both in the ring and behind-the-scenes,” said Paul Levesque, Executive Vice President, Talent, Live Events & Creative, WWE. “Full Sail students continue to serve as an integral part of our NXT production team and we look forward to working with Full Sail University for many years to come.”

    Other notable Full Sail/WWE collaborations include:

    In August 2013 Full Sail and WWE hosted the “WWE Hackathon,” a global game jam-style contest available exclusively to Full Sail students. 64 students participated, and during the 48-hour hackathon, designed, prototyped, and presented an action game concept to a panel of WWE judges, as well as other communication/technology professionals. The winning team, Team Synapse, was awarded $5,000; second place Team Vorpal received $3,000; and third place Team High Five Games received $1,000.

    In February 2014 Full Sail served as the host for an episode of NXT ArRIVAL, which was the first in-ring event to be live streamed on the recently launched WWE Network, the sports entertainment giant’s subscription-based video streaming service.

    In February 2014 students got an inside look at the new WWE Network during a lecture called “The Future Is Now: A Conversation with WWE.” This included a panel discussion and Q&A session with WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events & Creative, Paul Levesque (WWE Superstar Triple H), the “Voice of WWE” Michael Cole, Lead Writer & Showrunner for Raw and SmackDown, Dave Kapoor, and WWE Executive Vice President of Special Events, John Saboor.

    NXT Takeover Results, Dark Match, Stars In Attendance & More

    18

    Last night was NXT Takeover, the second live NXT special on the WWE Network. Here’s a recap:

    – NXT Champion Adrian Neville successfully retained against Tyson Kidd in the main event.

    – Charlotte defeated Natalya in the finals of the NXT Women’s Championship tournament to be crowned the new champion. Ric Flair was in Charlotte’s corner, while Bret Hart was in Natalya’s. Prior to the match, WWE Divas Champion Paige came out and brought the NXT Women’s championship to ringside.

    – Tyler Breeze defeated Sami Zayn in a phenomenal match to become the #1 contender to Adrian Neville’s NXT Championship.

    – The Ascension defeated Kalisto and El Local to retain the NXT Tag Team titles.

    – Rusev (with Lana) came out during the show and dismantled Mojo Rawley.

    – Adam Rose defeated Camacho in the opening contest. Rose was very over and showed a lot more potential in the ring than we’ve seen on WWE television since his debut.

    – The dark match that took place prior to Takeover going live on the WWE Network saw Bayley defeat Sasha Banks with her “Bayley to Belly” suplex finisher.

    – Michael Cole, WWE legend Haku (father of NXT star Camacho), former TNA Knockout SoCal Val, Cesaro and actor Kris Kristofferson (father of NXT star Garrett Dylan) were all in attendance.

    – Overall, the event was seen as another huge success. The entire NXT roster was at Full Sail University watching the show on a big screen at the campus auditorium.

    Seth Rollins Talks About The Shield Breaking Up, His Unorthodox Ring Style

    12

    Shield member Seth Rollins recently spoke to Jonathan Snowden of Bleacher Report to promote WWE’s new Greatest Factions DVD/Blu-Ray. Here are some highlights of what he said about:

    The Shield Perceived As One Of Wrestling’s Greatest Factions: “You know what, man? Even if I really had the opportunity to sit back and really take that information in, I don’t know if it would ever become less surreal. You’re talking about guys who are legends in our business, who really paved the way for people like myself and Dean and Roman. That’s pretty impressive, to even be in the same breath as those guys. It’s just pretty wild.”

    How Veterans Deal With His Fast-Paced Style:  “It was mostly trial by fire. You get out there and, once you steal the show a couple of times, you start to earn the trust of those guys you’re talking about. They start to see that what you do works, and if they don’t have a better answer for you, they’ve just got to trust. It’s kind of like that in any working environment.”

    “The guys know what they’re doing. They know how to work. They’ve been doing it for a long time. And when you come in with a new idea, people are going to be skeptical. But once they see that your style works too, that there’s multiple ways to stack this ice cream and it all tastes delicious in the end, they’re going to be more willing to work with you. That’s just the nature of politics I guess, right?”

    The Shield Eventually Breaking Up, As All Great Factions Have: “You know, you say that, but I don’t know if these factions are all ever really dead. Because when Shawn (Michaels) and Hunter (Triple H) get back together and you get that “Are you Ready?” pumping on the Titan Tron, or when you get Scott (Hall) and Kevin (Nash) together and they put up the “Too Sweet” to each other, or you put Arn and Ric in the same room, they’re definitely not enemies.”

    “It doesn’t always have to end badly. There’s a lot of longevity that comes with having a gang of friends with you throughout your career in this business. So there’s no telling when The Shield will run its course. If it ever will. We’re just happy riding this wave of success right now, trying to make this place a better place for everybody, wrestlers and fans alike, and we’re going to keep doing that until we can’t do it anymore.”

    WWE Magazine Hints That The Shield Is Breaking Up

    Jey Uso Talks About The Usos Wrestling Singles & More

    8

    One half of WWE’s Tag Team Champions, Jey Uso, recently spoke with The State Journal-Register to promote Saturday’s WWE live event in Springfield, Illinois. Here are some highlights of what he said about:

    His brother Jimmy Appearing on Total Divas: “Sometimes it does get overwhelming, especially for my brother. The cameras go home with him, and on his days off they’re around him. It does get uncomfortable. Sometimes you’re talking with the cameras there, and if we get too deep, then it’s like, wait. … To me it’s a weird feeling.”

    Never Wanting to Break Up The Usos: “I feel like me and my brother will never break up. Why can’t we be tag-team champions/WWE World Champion or Intercontinental Champion and tag champs? I don’t think it has been done before. But if it came down to it, I think we’d draw a lot of money (if my brother and I broke up and faced each other). Have my dad come in there and get involved.”

    Santino Marella Speaks On WWE Payback, Paul Heyman, Women & More

    6

    The following are highlights of a new interview with Santino Marella:

    Donald Wood: WWE’s Payback pay-per-view is Sunday, June 1, and there is a real buzz in the air about the show. As someone with a unique view of the action being in the trenches, what are you most looking forward to during the show?

    Santino Marella: I really want to see the Shield vs. Evolution, for me, because this is a real classic story of the old champions that are past their prime and the new up-and-comers and somewhere theirs paths have to cross, somewhere one was going to be better than the other and it all was going to shift and change. Now? Is it maybe 2 years from now? That’s what I am really curious to see.

    Mike Chiari: Having been with WWE for seven years you’ve had a lot of different experiences, but what one match or angle or moment stands out to you as your favorite thing you’ve been a part of in WWE?

    Santino: It’s very difficult for me and I often tell people that the best moment is yet to come, but I believe winning the United States Championship was very nice, Elimination Chamber was very special for me, defending my US Title in a cage vs. Jack Swagger was cool; I had never been in a cage match before, to have just one moment; maybe wrestling in Italy.

    Brandon Galvin: Not many fans know about your background in MMA, is this a style you would like to incorporate more into your future matches?

    Santino: For my matches maybe not because my character is established but for the future and young talent, I believe this is the way the business should go because of the growth of MMA and people are becoming more savvy when it comes to submissions and takedowns and things like that. Before, when we said that wrestling was real we didn’t have to work so hard, but now that we acknowledge that it’s entertainment we have to be very realistic and that is the style we teach at Battle Arts Academy in Toronto.

    Donald Wood: Your ring name Marella was an homage to WWE Hall of Famer Robert “Gorilla Monsoon” Marella. Did you have any say in this decision and how did it feel to be bestowed such an honor?

    Santino: When they told me, immediately I realized it was an honor and a privilege and it did put some pressure on me to deliver the goods, so to speak.

    Mike Chiari: You’ve been paired with a lot of different Divas over the course of your career like Maria, Beth Phoenix, Tamina and now Emma. As a performer how does sharing the stage with a valet or partner impact and enhance what you’re able to do?

    Santino: If you know how to use them then of course you have a synergy and if you don’t know how to use them it can be a waste of time. I have been with very different women, for example, Maria was very delicate, more like a model, Beth Phoenix was very strong, Emma is very funny and Tamina was like an amazon. So you have to know how to incorporate them and it all depends on how the personalities mingle.

    Donald Wood: You trained in Ohio Valley Wrestling under the tutelage of Paul Heyman. Heyman is widely regarded as one of the smartest minds in the business, but how did he influence your career and do you still go to him for advice?

    Santino: Paul Heyman is like a wrestling genius. His input weighs a lot for me. In training, he was observing me and he pulled me aside and said I have an idea for you and he heard about my background and we became more selective and it was very good and it was very fun. I believe the people that watched, they believed 100 percent so we did our job, you know.

    Brandon Galvin: You’re always willing to take a chance on something different and creative, whether it’s in the ring or outside the ring, with your character. How much of this a collaboration with others, or do you come up with everything we see?

    Santino: In the beginning, it was more regionalized, then it was a collaboration, and now I have more freedom for input. They give me a skeleton, and say ‘you need to say this, this and this, but in your way’ and I come up with what I want to say.

    Check out the complete interview above.

  • BACKSTAGE NEWS: WWE To Make HULK HOGAN The NEW RAW GM?! [Full Story >>]