Marvel has released the following promotional art for the new movie Guardians of the Galaxy, featuring Batista as Drax The Destroyer:
WWE RAW Preview: Batista Returns, Brock Lesnar Appearing
Tonight’s episode of WWE RAW takes place from the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio and is the “go home” show before Sunday’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view.
After weeks of hype, former WWE Champion “The Animal” Batista returns. It will be his first WWE television appearance since 2010.
Here is WWE’s 5-Point Preview for the show:
1) Here Comes The Pain: Paul Heyman announced on Friday’s SmackDown that Brock Lesnar will be in attendance to address his Royal Rumble opponent, The Big Show.
2) Enter The Animal: Batista returns and his first order of business will be addressing Alberto Del Rio, who has been insulting every chance he gets over the past few weeks.
3) The Prodigal Son: Daniel Bryan will have to deal with Bray Wyatt after breaking free from the Wyatt Family last week.
4) The Prodigal Son: How will John Cena deal with Randy Orton after the WWE World Heavyweight champion viciously attacked his father last week?
5) Here Comes the Kane: WWE’s Director of Operations delivered a choke slam to CM Punk on SmackDown. “Might Punk’s anti-Authority mentality have resurrected The Big Red Monster?”
WWE Live Event Results From Kalamazoo, Michigan (1/19)
The following are quick results from Sunday night’s WWE Live Event from Kalamazoo, Michigan, courtesy of SEScoops discussion community member Just Sayin’ –
– Kofi Kingston defeated The Miz
– Bray Wyatt defeated Big Show in a Steel Cage match by escaping the cage door. Big Show was replacing Daniel Bryan, who is still out of action due to a concussion.
– Natalya defeated Divas Champion AJ Lee in a non-title match.
– A Mae Young tribute video aired.
– NXT star Tyler Breeze defeated Justin Gabriel via roll-up pin (holding Gabriel’s tights).
– Intercontinental champion Big E Langston defeated Damien Sandow.
– Bad News Barrett defeated Tyson Kidd.
– R-Truth defeated Fandango. Fans had a chance to vote on whether it would be a match (52%) or a dance off (48%).
– CM Punk defeated The Shield in a 3-on-1 Handicap match.
“All in all it was a pretty great show!”
Kane Working As A Babyface, Pat Patterson & R-Truth Note, More
– As previously reported, Daniel Bryan was taken off of his scheduled appearances at WWE live events this weekend due to the concussion he suffered at RAW on Monday. As noted, Big Show served as Bryan’s replacement in singles matches against Bray Wyatt. As a result, Kane, who was originally slated to compete against Big Show on the opposing WWE live event tour, ended up working as somewhat of a babyface against Luke Harper and Erick Rowan in two-on-one handicap matches.
– WWE Hall Of Famer Pat Patterson celebrates his 73rd birthday today. Patterson was born on January 19, 1940. Also celebrating a birthday today was current WWE Superstar R-Truth, who turned 42. Truth was born on January 19, 1971.
Jim Ross Q&A: WWE Divas Tag Titles, Hogan/WMXXX, Undertaker’s Streak, More
The following are highlights of a recent online Q&A update by WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:
On if he was surprised by the quality of past Undertaker-Batista matches: “Not really. Both are big money players. They had chemistry. Taker’s extraordinarily special. Dave’s a beast. Great combo.”
On The Undertaker’s streak: “I’m not a fan of a The Streak ever be broken. It’s not torch passing material.”
On Hulk Hogan’s participation at WrestleMania XXX: “I see Hulk in a tag before him doing a singles bout w/ a wrecked back.”
On the possibility of a WWE Divas Tag-Team Championship: “At the moment, I’m not overjoyed by the potential of a Divas Tag Championship but I’m willing to see how it evolves over time if it happens.”
Check out more JR Q&A online at JRsBarBQ.com.
Maryse Speaks On Wedding Plans With Miz, AJ Breaking Her Record, WWE Return
The following are highlights of a new interview from the official WWE website with former WWE Diva Maryse:
On her post-WWE life: “I live with The Miz in LA and we’ve been planning our wedding for a year. I want it to be perfect, but I’m pretty much done with all the planning. We’re all set to go. It’s coming in four weeks. I got my dream house in the Hollywood Hills and we’re building a huge extension to it, but I still need some more space because I’d love to have some mini Mizzes and mini Maryses running around. If you know Maryse and The Miz, you know we’ll need a lot of space. I’m also working for a real estate firm here in Los Angeles. It’s going really well and I love it. That’s the career path I’m in right now. I love everything related to business. That’s my field, besides entertainment, which I’m really good at.”
On her wedding plans with The Miz: “The wedding is Feb. 20, on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. We’re going to have 100 people coming down there, which is pretty big for a destination wedding. I’m really excited about it, but it’s a lot of work. Planning a wedding seems easy, but there are a lot of details to think of. But overall, it’s been a lot of fun. I’ve really enjoyed it, especially because my man is really involved with all the planning. As a woman, it’s really fun to see your fiancée participate and really care. It makes it a lot easier and a lot more fun.”
On AJ Lee breaking her Divas Title record: “I’m actually really proud of AJ for doing that. Congratulations to her. It’s a lot of work to have the title for that long. I always loved AJ’s interviews. I think she’s really entertaining. I love people that can talk and have personality. Right now, my life is not focused on wrestling, but I’m proud of what I accomplished. No matter what, I’m still the most badass Diva of all time. You can’t take that away from me.”
On the possibility of making a WWE return: “Right now, the timing is not right. I’ve never been this happy in my entire life. I’m the healthiest and happiest I’ve ever been. My life is 100% like I want it. Never say never, but right now, no. Maybe one day in the future. If the timing’s right, why not?”
Check out the complete interview online at WWE.com.
Batista Comments On Tomorrow Night’s WWE RAW Return
WWE Superstar “The Animal” Batista, who makes his return to the company at RAW on Monday night in Dayton, Ohio, posted the following tweet on his official Twitter account regarding his long-awaited television return:
Made it 2 Ohio. Feels like I'm counting every second until I hit the ring tomorrow night. #dreamchaser
— Dave Bautista (@DaveBautista) January 19, 2014
Poll: WWE WrestleMania XXX Main Event
WrestleMania XXX is less than three months away and we want to know what match you want to see headlining the show. With the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber still ahead of us and Brock Lesnar and Batista back in the main event mix, there are countless matchups that we could see for the WWE World Heavyweight championship at WrestleMania.
Vote below and tell us what match you want to see headlining WWE’s biggest show of the year. If your vote is “Other” – give us your pick.
[poll id=”25″]
AJ Lee Turned Down Total Divas Offer (Video), Scotty 2 Hotty At NXT Show (Photo)
– WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee attended the Wizard World Ohio Comic Con late last year (along with Sheamus) and revealed that she actually turned down an offer to be part of the Total Divas reality show.
– Attitude Era star Scotty 2 Hotty, who returned as part of the Too Cool act at Old School RAW a couple of weeks ago, attended the WWE NXT event in Daytona, Florida. Scotty tweeted the following photo from the show:
At @WWENXT in Daytona with @RealBillyGunn @EmmaWWE @WWETensai pic.twitter.com/jLDbiI9Dv9
— Scotty 2 Hotty (@TheScotty2Hotty) January 19, 2014
WWE House Show Results (1/18): Cincinnati, Ohio
The following are results from the WWE live event in Cincinnati, Ohio. The event was held on Saturday, January 18, 2014.
– The Prime Time Players def. Ryback & Curtis Axel in a tag-team match to open the show. The finish saw O’Neil hit his Clash Of The Titus on Axel for the pin. As PTP headed backstage, they were attacked by The Real Americans. Zeb Colter, who was in a wheel chair, cut a promo.
– Alicia Fox def. Aksana in Divas action. This was the Fan’s Choice match. Finish saw Fox hit Aksana with her Watch Yo Face scissors kick for the 1-2-3.
– Xavier Woods def. Brodus Clay in singles action. This is the same match they’ve been doing for a while now, where Clay dominates throughout, gets cut off, eats a finisher and gets pinned in under two minutes.
– Goldust & Cody Rhodes def. The Real Americans to retain their WWE Tag-Team Championships. This was a solid 15-minute match that was said to be among the best in-ring action of the evening. The finish saw Goldust hit his sunset flip/powerbomb on Cesaro for the pinfall.
–Intermission–
– Luke Harper & Erick Rowan def. Kane in a two-on-one handicap match. Brad Maddox came out after intermission and announced that Big Show wasn’t here due to travel issues, so Kane should technically win by forfeit. Maddox says he knows Kane still wants a match, so he has surprise opponents for him. This led to Harper and Rowan coming out. They beat Kane up for the most part and Rowan pinned him for the win after Harper blasted him with his clothesline.
– Alberto Del Rio def. Sin Cara in the second-to-last match on the card. This was said to be a pretty good match. The finish saw Del Rio force Sin Cara to submit to his Cross Armbreaker finishing hold.
– John Cena def. Randy Orton via Disqualification in the main event of the show. This is the same exact match they’ve been doing around the country, with Orton purposely low-blowing Cena as Cena was about to beat him, strictly to avoid losing his WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Jim Ross Blog: Daniel Bryan’s Rise In WWE, JR’s “Ringside” Event, More
The following is an excerpt from the latest online blog by WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:
‘RINGSIDE: An Evening with Jim Ross’ in NOLA on Thursday April 3 will now be two shows at 6:30 and 9:30 pm at the House of Blues. VIP tickets will be available for the Meet and Greets plus each show will include lots of Q&A time. Tickets will go on sale next week and I will release that info when I receive it but I’m sure that ticketmaster.com will be involved.
Back to Daniel Bryan, he’s white hot and has done what many wrestlers only dream of doing and that’s making a strong, emotional connection with the fan base. Bryan is SO connected or ‘over’ in rasslin’ vernacular and he’s still evolving well even without the WWE Title.
Will Daniel Bryan ever become the WWE World Title for a nice ‘run’ some day? I can’t see how it won’t happen. Question is when and it could be at WM30 if all the cards fall into place. Stay tuned.
Unfortunately, many will think that professional development should have happened ‘yesterday’ but I’m enjoying the ‘chase’ that Bryan is on while fighting for ‘respect’ and then, when the time is right, fighting for the Championship.
Patience.
Who is a more popular choice to win the Royal Rumble than Daniel Bryan?”
Check out the complete blog online at JRsBarBQ.com.
Jim Ross/WrestleMania AXXESS Note, Pre-Sale For RAW In St. Louis On 4/28
– WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross was recently asked by a fan on Twitter what the chances were that he’d be appearing as part of WrestleMania AXXESS this year. JR replied, “Unlikely. Doing my 1 man show in NOLA 4/3.”
Speaking of JR, he has two shows planned for April 3rd in New Orleans. The WWE Hall Of Famer also has a show on the books for March 1st at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City. For tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com.
– Following a live event this weekend, WWE will be returning to St. Louis, Missouri for a RAW television show on April 28th. The pre-sale for tickets is going on now with the code WWESTL.
Press Release With More Details On Sandman vs. Tim Witherspoon Match
The following is the official press release for the previously reported Sandman vs. Tim Witherspoon “World Xtreme Entertainment” match:
GET IN ON WHAT EVERYONE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT!
World Xtreme Entertainment Proudly Announces the Next Trend Setting Genre!
What:Hardcore stars of Pro Wrestling along with former Boxing Champions, MMA Fighters, Xtreme Sexy Battling Babes, and other combat sports combine for an evening unlike any other you have ever witnessed.
We invite you to the kickoff Press Conference (Thursday January 23 at 7:30 P.M. at Chickie and Petes 1526 packer ave in South Philadelphia) to be the first to learn about all the action and upcoming premiere show that will be taped for worldwide television and social media distribution.
Signed to Step in the Main Event, former ECW legend Sandman will go against two-time World Heavyweight Boxing champion Tim Witherspoon. They will battle it out in a 5-round-brawl with the winner crowned the very first Heavyweight champion of (World Xtreme Entertainment). To insure that no cheating ensues, Promoter Damon Feldman has retained the services of former Philadelphia Eagles’ Defensive Tackle Hollis Thomas as the special “enforcer referee.”
Feldman, a former Boxer and promoter of many high-profile Celebrity Boxing shows, will announce the date and venue of the first event at the Press Conference. Also the undercard matches will be revealed. I have several Hollywood Actors and Athletes on board to sign with this company this is novelty Boxing with great intense entertainment Im creating a Soap Opera in the Ring said Damon Feldman
“For the first time in history I have a ground-breaking fight,” Feldman said. “This is the first time anyone has promoted a tag team rules boxing match and it will be the semi-final match on our spectacular show! Believe me, no one has ever seen anything like this before! We’ll also have to title match for the Xtreme Battling Babes title, and six-other-blockbuster Matches!”
*** The Casting Call- We will be looking for female Models,Dancers, Professional Wrestlers Entertainers and Anyone who ever wanted and Dreamed of Stepping in the Ring this is your chance ** No Experience needed we will train you
When: Thursday January 23 at 7:30 P.M.
Where: Chickie and Petes 1526 Packer Ave South Philadelphia
Media info-484-318-6133
Latest Schedule For AJ Styles’ Post-TNA Tour, New Dates & Opponents
The following is the latest official tour-schedule for former TNA Wrestling star AJ Styles:
– Jan. 18: Magnum Pro in Cedar Falls, Iowa (vs. Jaysin Strife)
– Jan. 19: PWX in Winston-Salem, N.C. (vs. Cedric Alexander)
– Jan. 26: Smash Wrestling in Toronto (vs. Chris Hero)
– Feb. 1: Dreamwave in Chicago (vs. Christian Rose)
– Feb. 7: D.S.C.H. in Blue Ridge, Ga. (w/Cody Roberts vs. Corey Hollis & Shaun Tempers)
– Feb. 8: CZW in Voorhees, N.J. (vs. Drew Gulak for CZW Title)
– Feb. 15: House of Glory in Queens, N.Y. (w/Amazing Red vs. Young Bucks)
– Feb. 21: ROH 12 Anniv. Show in Philadelphia, Pa.
– Feb. 22: ROH TV tapings in Philadelphia, Pa.
– Feb. 23: Pennsylvania Premiere in Freeland, Pa. (vs. Tommy Suede)
– Mar. 1: PCW in Preston, England (vs. Lionheart)
– Mar. 8: The Big Event in Flushing, N.Y.
– Mar. 14: 2CW in Binghamton, N.Y. (vs. Eddie Edwards)
– Mar. 15: UWE in Harrisburg, Pa. (vs. A.R. Fox)
– Mar. 21: HTCW in Tallapoosa, Ga. (tag match)
– Mar. 22: ROH in Dayton, Ohio
– Apr. 19: ROH TV tapings in Baltimore, Md.
– Apr. 26: Remix Pro in Marietta, Okla. (vs. Facade)
Press Release: WWE Studios Signs Movie Promotional Deal
The following press release was issued on Saturday:
WWE® Studios, Relativity and Blumhouse Productions Partner on Intrepid Pictures’ Oculus
STAMFORD, Conn., Jan 18, 2014 (BUSINESS WIRE) — WWE Studios WWE +2.89% , Relativity and Blumhouse Productions announced today a partnership in connection to the release of Intrepid Pictures’ Oculus, the Mike Flanagan-directed supernatural horror film starring Karen Gillan (Doctor Who, Not Another Happy Ending), Brenton Thwaites (the upcoming Maleficent,The Giver), Rory Cochrane (Argo, Parkland) and Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica, Riddick). WWE Studios will leverage its extensive multi-platform reach to help promote the film that debuted at the Midnight Madness section of the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. Oculus was developed and produced by Trevor Macy and Marc D. Evans of Intrepid Pictures, who co-financed with MICA Entertainment andis set for a wide theatrical release on April 11, 2014.
Oculus was directed by Mike Flanagan (Absentia, Ghosts of Hamilton Street), and produced by Trevor Macy and Marc D. Evans (Safe House, The Strangers, The Raven). Ryan Kavanaugh (The Fighter, Limitless), Tucker Tooley (The Fighter, Limitless), Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity, Insidious), Michael Luisi (The Call, Dead Man Down), Anil Kurian (Sahara, The Raven), D. Scott Lumpkin (Safe Haven), Peter Schlessel (Drive, Looper) and Dale Johnson (Stuck in Love) serve as Executive Producers. The screenplay is by Mike Flanagan & Jeff Howard based on the short film Oculus: The Man With The Plan, written by Mike Flanagan & Jeff Seidman.
Ten years ago, tragedy struck the Russell family, leaving the lives of teenage siblings Tim and Kaylie forever changed when Tim was convicted of the brutal murder of their parents. Now in his 20s, Tim is newly released from protective custody and only wants to move on with his life; but Kaylie, still haunted by that fateful night, is convinced her parents’ deaths were caused by something else altogether: a malevolent supernatural force unleashed through the Lasser Glass, an antique mirror in their childhood home. Determined to prove Tim’s innocence, Kaylie tracks down the mirror, only to learn similar deaths have befallen previous owners over the past century. With the mysterious entity now back in their hands, Tim and Kaylie soon find their hold on reality shattered by terrifying hallucinations, and realize, too late, that their childhood nightmare is beginning again…
“WWE Studios is thrilled to be getting into business for the first time with Relativity and partnering again with Blumhouse on the release of such a superbly crafted, heart-pounding thriller as Oculus,” said Michael Luisi, President of WWE Studios.
Bradley Buchanan, SVP of Business Affairs, negotiated the deal on behalf of WWE Studios.
About WWE Studios
WWE Studios produces a diverse slate of feature films for theatrical release, home entertainment and digital platforms through distribution partnerships with global entertainment companies. The WWE’s film division led by President, Michael Luisi, is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA and continues to create content for audiences of all ages. Films recently produced by WWE Studios include The Call with Halle Berry and WWE Superstar David Otunga®, Dead Man Down with Colin Farrell and WWE Superstar Wade Barrett®, The Marine 3: Homefront with WWE Superstar The Miz® in the third follow-up in the explosive Marine adventures, 12 Rounds 2: Reloaded, the second installment in the action franchise, starring WWE Superstar Randy Orton®, No One Lives co-produced with Pathé Films and released theatrically by Anchor Bay Films starring Luke Evans and WWE Superstar Brodus Clay™, and Christmas Bounty, an action comedy starring WWE Superstar The Miz and Francia Raisa, which premiered on ABC Family during “The Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas” and released on Blu-Ray/DVD by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Upcoming films for WWE Studios include Scooby-Doo! WrestleManiaMystery which pairs WWE Superstars with Scooby and the gang releasing direct to home March 25, 2014 by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment; Leprechaun: Origins directed by Zach Lipovsky starring WWE Superstar Hornswoggle® will be distributed by Lionsgate in August 2014; See No Evil 2 starring WWE Superstar Kane® directed by the Soska Sisters will also be distributed by Lionsgate in October 2014; The Fall Guy starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson releasing in 2015, and The Flintstones another Warner Brothers Animation feature releasing in early 2015 by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment which joins Fred, Barney and the whole Bedrock gang with stone age versions of WWE Superstars and Divas.
About WWE
WWE , a publicly traded company WWE +2.89% , is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 150 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Miami, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Munich and Tokyo. Additional information on WWE WWE +2.89% can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to https://www.wwe.com/worldwide/ .
Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television and pay-per-view programming distribution agreements; the need for continually developing creative and entertaining programming; the continued importance of key performers and the services of Vincent McMahon; the conditions of the markets in which we compete and acceptance of the Company’s brands, media and merchandise within those markets; our exposure to bad debt risk; uncertainties relating to regulatory and litigation matters; risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of our markets; uncertainties associated with international markets; the importance of protecting our intellectual property and complying with the intellectual property rights of others; risks associated with producing and travelling to and from our large live events, both domestically and internationally; the risk of accidents or injuries during our physically demanding events; risks relating to our film business; risks relating to increasing content production for distribution on various platforms, including the potential creation of a WWE Network; risks relating to our computer systems and online operations; risks relating to the large number of shares of common stock controlled by members of the McMahon family and the possibility of the sale of their stock by the McMahons or the perception of the possibility of such sales; the relatively small public float of our stock; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In addition, our dividend is dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends, general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant.
About Relativity
Relativity is a next-generation media company engaged in multiple aspects of entertainment, including film production; financing and distribution; television; sports management; music publishing; and digital media. Ryan Kavanaugh is the company’s Founder and CEO.
Relativity Studios has produced, distributed or structured financing for nearly 200 motion pictures, generating more than $17 billion in worldwide box office revenue and earning 60 Oscar® nominations. Recent films include: Safe Haven, Act of Valor and Immortals, the latter two opening number one at the box office in their debut. Relativity’s other films include the eight-time Oscar® nominee The Social Network as well as Limitless and two-time Oscar® winner The Fighter. Upcoming films include 3 Days to Kill, starring Kevin Costner, Earth to Echo, Oculus and author Nicholas Sparks’ The Best of Me.
Relativity Television is one of the country’s largest suppliers of unscripted television and has recently expanded to produce scripted series. Relativity Sports is the industry’s fastest growing sports agency, providing more than 300 NBA, NFL and MLB athletes with services ranging from contract negotiation to custom film and television content production.
For more information, please visit relativitymedia.com.
About Blumhouse Productions
Blumhouse Productions, founded by Jason Blum, is a multi-media production company that has pioneered a new model of studio filmmaking- producing high-quality micro-budget films for wide release. Since its launch, Blumhouse has produced more than 30 feature films including the highly profitable Paranormal Activity, Insidious, The Purge and Sinister franchises, all of which significantly out-grossed their budgets on opening weekend. Blumhouse’s The Purge, its first production under its first-look deal with Universal Pictures, opened to more than $34 million on its opening weekend with a budget of just $3 million. Insidious: Chapter Two from FilmDistrict, grossed $41.05 million on its opening weekend with just a $5m budget. Blumhouse’s upcoming micro-budget wide releases include Oculus for Relativity, Jessabelle for Lionsgate, The Next Chapter of The Purge for Universal and Paranormal Activity 5 for Paramount. In addition, Blumhouse is working on both scripted and non-scripted television projects. Blumhouse executive produced Stranded for SyFy and The River for ABC, and is also working on projects with HBO and MTV.
About Intrepid Pictures
Founded in 2004 by Trevor Macy, Intrepid Pictures is a feature film production and co-financing company with a mandate to produce horror, thriller, action, and comedy. Intrepid has produced eleven pictures to date, including the $82 million worldwide box office hit “The Strangers”. Intrepid Pictures also produced and co-financed Summit Entertainments action film, “The Cold Light of Day” starring Bruce Willis, Sigourney Weaver and Henry Cavill; “The Raven,” starring John Cusack and directed by James McTeigue. Additionally, Intrepid developed and executive produced Universal Pictures project “Safe House,” starring Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, directed by Daniel Espinoza.
Tommy Dreamer Replacing Jeff Jarrett In TNA?, Borash On The Food Network
– ECW original Tommy Dreamer worked as an agent at the TNA Impact Wrestling television taping on Thursday. Dreamer filled the position left open by Jeff Jarrett when he resigned from the company.
– TNA personality Jeremy Borash appeared on the “Restaurant Impossible” show on the Food Network on Friday night. Borash appeared with Gail Kim’s husband, Chef Robert Irvine, in Santa Rosa, California.
Former WWE Superstar Says He’s Taking Time Off To Address Medical Issue
Former WWE Superstar Shelton Benjamin recently posted a series of tweets on his official Twitter account to inform fans that he is going to be taking time off to deal with some medical issues.
Benjamin tweeted the following:
As of tonight Im taking time off from wrestling to take care of a long neglected medical issue. So I assure you all I will not be at the R.R
— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) January 19, 2014
Basically I have a pinched Ulner nerve in my elbow that causes lose of sensation,motor function, muscle atrophy & eventually use of my hand
— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) January 19, 2014
So before things get bad i gotta take quick pause. But after 12 years and no major injuries proWrestling this I consider very minor
— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) January 19, 2014
ECW Legend To Face Former Two-Time Heavyweight Boxing Champion
ECW original The Sandman is scheduled to compete against former two-time heavyweight boxing champion Tim Witherspoon in a five-round match to determine the first ever “World Xtreme Entertainment” champion.
The Sandman-Witherspoon bout will include a special referee, as former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Hollis Thomas will serve as the celebrity ref for the match.
The WXE event will be promoted by controversial promoter Damon Feldman, who was involved in some of the celebrity boxing events in the past.
A press conference for the show will be held on Thursday at Chickie and Petes on 1526 Packer Avenue in South Philadelphia.
Feldman notes in the press release that several “Hollywood actors and athletes” are on board with the company, and that the first event will also feature a “tag-team boxing match” and an “Xtreme Battling Babes title match.”
Daniel Bryan Misses WWE Live Event, Unlikely For The Royal Rumble
Daniel Bryan did not appear at Saturday night’s WWE live event from Hammond, Indiana, despite being advertised. It was announced at the beginning of the show that Bryan would be not be able to appear and refunds were offered to fans who wanted to leave.
Big Show replaced Daniel Bryan in a match against Bray Wyatt in one of the top matches on the card.
SEScoops.com was the first site to break the news that Bryan suffered a concussion during the steel cage main event of last week’s RAW.
WWE has confirmed the news of Bryan’s concussion to multiple independent wrestling news sites, but has yet to make an announcement of the concussion on the company website.
Bryan is still advertised for Sunday’s live event from Kalamazoo, Michigan, but will not appear.
There are reports that the concussion he suffered on RAW was so bad that he will not be competing at the Royal Rumble.
The Bella Twins “Begging” For WWE To Create Divas Tag Titles (Poll)
WWE Divas the Bella Twins are strongly in favor of WWE creating Divas Tag Team titles. During an interview with WWE Magazine (February 2014 issue), Nikki Bella said:
“We’ve been begging to get that done for years! It’d be a great chance to see what us girls could come up with. New finishers, new names, new gear. We’re all so talented and creative and it’d be great to show that in a new way.”
Brie Bella added:
“Girls gang up on girls. It’s life. We sit down, we gossip, we group together naturally. Why not bring a little bit more of that aspect to WWE?”
Girls gang up on girls? Please, tell us more!
TNA had Knockouts Tag Titles from 2009-2013, with the Eric Young (not a Knockout) & ODB being the final champions before the belts were retired.
[poll id=”24″]
Ted DiBiase Speaks On His Son Leaving WWE, WWE/WCW Differences, WMania
The following are highlights of a WGD Weekly interview with “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase Sr:
The differences in working for WWF and WCW: “…The major difference between WCW and the WWF is the WWF is a well-oiled machine that was run very well by Vince McMahon, who had his finger on the button all the time and knew what he was doing. I couldn’t say that for WCW, I’m sorry but they were the worst organization, in the time that I was there, it was kind of like too many chiefs and not enough Indians. There were times that we would go on the live show and they didn’t even know what they were going to do in the last segment yet…”
His thoughts on his son, Ted, Jr. parting ways with WWE last September: “…At a place and a time in my life, I was putting my life back together and I really came to understand that there was no amount of money that I could make that was worth being away from my family for any length of time, which is a decision that my son had recently made. I didn’t want my sons to wrestle. Not because I didn’t love wrestling and the lifestyle, but because of the demand that it takes from you in terms of being away from family…”
What is missing in today’s wrestling product: “…In my opinion, that’s the one thing today that’s really missing, and again, I’m not taking anything away from John Cena, Cena is a great guy, he is a consummate pro, he is one of the hardest working guys I have ever seen. But, it’s like every good run has it’s run and I think it’s run its course in terms of he has been there so long but what are they gonna replace him with? Where is that next bigger than life superstar? You had Hogan, then you had Austin, then you got the Rock, you had Shawn Michaels, but it’s like, where is that next star? That is the question that I’m asking…who is it gonna be?”
Turning down an opportunity to work for the WWF in 1984: “…I went back to Atlanta in 1984. This was when Vince was starting to make his move. We did a television in Atlanta and in walks Pat Patterson and they get all the guys together and Pat makes this big announcement of what is about to happen that the WWF was now going to have its show on TBS…I remember pat saying to the guys there, ‘Now, I don’t want any of you to worry, nobody is losing their job, everybody has got a job. So, I got Pat off to the side, and I said, ‘look, with all due respect, you and I have known each other a long time…you and I both know there is a difference in having a job and having a position. I said, right now, I know you guys have your key guys in position, so I think I’m gonna go back to Mid-South and I am going to wait for a better time. So, I went back to Mid-South in 1984…”
The original plan for WrestleMania 4, him almost becoming WWE Champion, and how plans changed: “…The show with the twin referee’s at Market Square Arena; the set up for WrestleMania 4 was exactly what it was supposed to be. Andre puts the belt around my waist, basically signifying that he had sold it to me, and I actually wore the belt for about a week or two weeks, then they come out with the Jack Tunney announcement…so they vacate the title and that was the whole idea to set up WrestleMania 4. Now, originally, the thought was that I would in some underhanded way, win at WrestleMania 4. I think there were a couple of things. One thing, the Honky Tonk Man was the Intercontinental Champion and for whatever reason, he didn’t want to drop the belt to Randy Savage, which is I think what they originally thought about doing there. I remember Pat Patterson came to me and he said, ‘Ted, what would put more heat on you, if we do what we normally do, your built as a heel and in some underhanded way you get the title and you have the run with Hogan and of course you drop the title then he goes on with somebody else, or you don’t win the title at WrestleMania, and eventually, you create your own belt.’ In other words, I don’t need your title, I am gonna create my own title and I am going to defend it every night. So, I said, ‘That’s the ticket.’”
A classic story from his time on the road with Andre the Giant: “…The funniest story is, we were going to Japan. It is a fourteen hour flight from Atlanta, or New York, or Dallas, just about anywhere, to japan. Andre is sitting in first class, and Andre sitting in first class is like me sitting in coach now, you know, you’re jammed in the seat, you’re not comfortable. So, we get off the plane and now it’s another hour into the city, we check into the hotel and we drop our bags and we are going to go get something to eat. So, I push the button on the elevator and there is Andre, ‘Hey boss, let’s go eat’ and so as it starts down, it seems that this elevator stops on every floor and people just keep getting on. Japan is a very small country, with a lot of people, so what you and I would consider a full elevator, not over there. One thing about the Giant is he doesn’t like to be crowded, and he has just been on a fourteen hour flight, crammed in a little seat in a plane, and now he is in a Japanese hotel in a room that is by our standard normal, but in his standard not, and now, he is in an elevator and people keep getting on. He reaches over and taps me on the shoulder or the leg and I glanced up at him and he winked and he smiled. I said, ‘okay, something is going to happen.’ I’m looking straight ahead and all of a sudden, the Giant cuts the loudest, longest fart I believe I have ever heard in my life. I remember standing there thinking when is it going to end, it was like ‘oh my gosh,’ and it just kept going. The poor guy who is standing directly behind him, which obviously…this guy is right at butt level, so he is getting it full force. All I can tell you is this, when the elevator stopped and the doors opened, those people couldn’t get off the elevator fast enough, it was like the exodus. All you could hear was the Giant going, ‘Ho,ho,ho,ho, ho.” I was laughing so hard I couldn’t breathe…it was a classic Andre moment…”
A chance meeting many years after with the little kid that he kicked the basketball away from in one of his early “Million Dollar Man” spots on WWE TV: “…of all the stunts we did, the one people ask me the most about is that one…I just started saying and of course, this is twenty years later, that kid is five then, so he would be 25 or 26 years old now. I said what is probably gonna happen is I am gonna be walking through an airport and some guy is gonna tap me on the shoulder and he will be six foot six and look down at me and say, ‘hey, remember that kid and the basketball?’ Now, I said it jokingly, then a couple of years ago I flew into Omaha, Nebraska…and I rented a car and I walked out to get the car…So, I’m trying to find a car and this guy walks up, taps me on the shoulder, I turn around and I look up at him, and he is about six foot six, this guy is a monster. He says, ‘Mr. DiBiase, I’m the general manager here. I will help you find a car if you like and, oh, by the way, do you remember that thing you did with the kid and the basketball?’ I looked at him and I just went, ‘No.’ He just got the biggest grin on his face and he says, ‘Yep, it was me.’ I almost had a cow…”
Check out the complete interview below:
WWE House Show Results (1/17): St. Louis, Missouri
The following are results from the WWE live event in St. Louis, Missouri. The event was held on Friday, January 17, 2014.
– Goldust & Cody Rhodes vs. The Real Americans in the opening match of the evening to retain their WWE Tag-Team Championships.
– Xavier Woods def. Brodus Clay in singles action.
– Alicia Fox def. Aksana in Divas action.
– Big Show def. Kane in a battle of the big men.
– The Prime Time Players def. Ryback & Curtis Axel in another tag-team match.
– Alberto Del Rio def. Sin Cara in singles action.
– John Cena def. Randy Orton via DQ in the same exact match these two have been putting on for several weeks now.
Austin’s Advice To NFL Player Who Was Robbed, DiBiase/WMXXX, Young Bucks
– WWE Hall Of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase Sr. has officially pulled out of his booking at the Mid South Wrestling fan fest, which is set to take place during WrestleMania weekend. The reason DiBiase canceled the booking is because WWE has booked him for their WrestleMania weekend festivities. A replacement for DiBiase at the Mid South fan fest is expected to be announced in the near future.
– Speaking of WrestleMania weekend cancellations, The Young Bucks have pulled out of their scheduled appearance in New Orleans during that weekend as well.
– The Philly.com website has a new story up regarding advice WWE Hall Of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin gave NFL player DeSean Jackson when he was robbed of $250,000 in cash. You can check that story out online at Philly.com.
Batista’s 10 Best Powerbombs (Video), WWE’s “Most Shocking Night”
WWE.com has published a feature looking at the company’s “Most Shocking Night” – January 18, 1971, the night Bruno Sammartino lost the WWE Championship to Ivan Koloff.
The article states that on the following day, the New York Daily News reported the result and published photos of “fans crying as they mourned this incredible loss.”
– The latest “WWE Top 10” video looks at some of Batista’s best powerbombs.
Batista has given 100’s of WWE Superstars the Batista Bomb. Which 10 rank as the best Batista Bombs of all time?
Rey Mysterio Wants Mask vs. Hair Match Against Alberto Del Rio At WrestleMania XXX
– Rey Mysterio wants to wrestle Alberto Del Rio at WrestleMania in a Mask vs. Hair match.
During an interview with WWE Magazine (February 2014 issue), Mysterio said:
“Ever since the moment that Alberto Del Rio came into the company, he’s been trying to push me aside to a certain degree. I almost feel like he wants to take over the Hispanic fanbase, which is something I feel would be impossible at this point.”
“If I were to pick a dream [WrestleMania] match-up … it would be against him, and I would definitely put my mask on the line. I want it to be a classic lucha libre-style match, Mask vs. Hair.”
Make sure to check out our WrestleMania XXX news section for all news leading up to April’s huge event.