WWE Superstar Ryback continues trolling the Internet with his new “Internet Legend” ring gear:
Update On Naomi’s Eye Injury
WWE.com has provided an update on Naomi’s eye injury, which was sustained earlier this month during a match with Aksana on RAW.
Photo Of Naomi’s Injured Eye & Video Of How It Happened
WWE’s Dr. Chris Amann told WWE.com this week:
“After Naomi went home she had increasing swelling and pain, which prompted a visit to a local doctor there, who performed a CAT scan. The CAT scan result showed a small, minimally displaced fracture of the eye socket or orbit on the medial wall, which is the inside part of the socket next to the nose. She is being followed closely and the swelling is being controlled at this point with oral medication.”
After visiting a specialist this past week, it was determined that surgery will not be required because “neither the nerve nor the eye muscles are trapped in the fracture itself.”
However, due to “the break that she has off the medial or inside wall of the orbital bone, [there is] communication between her sinus cavity and the back of the eye socket.”
Noami will not be permitted to return to the ring for an estimated 4-6 weeks.
Jim Ross Q&A: How To Turn Around TNA, Wrestlers Unionizing & More
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated the Q&A section of his website, JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights:
Did He Ever Watch The GLOW Promotion?
“I followed Glow back in the day but haven’t seen the [Netflix] documentary.”
Will Wrestlers Ever Unionize?
“Old question…same answer…no. Most wrestlers don’t trust each other to manage their professional matters and I don’t think a union will ever be seriously considered.”
Can WWE Save SmackDown From Being A “Filler” Show?
“Smackdown is not a filler show but the overall roster isn’t as deep as it used to be with main event level talent but as you can see that matter is being addressed but it’s not an overnight fix.”
What Can TNA Do To Generate More Interest?
“A blue print is costly and isn’t free but it’s there to do. I hope that they get hot. That helps the overall business.”
Batista Comments On His Return To The Ring, Marine 4 News
– The upcoming ‘Marine’ sequel from WWE Studios starring The Miz and Summer Rae has been titled, “The Marine: Moving Target.” The film is scheduled for a March 2015 release, during WrestleMania 31 season.
– Connecticut’s Fairfield Daily Voice has published an article looking at WWE’s annual WrestleMania Reading Challenge.
– Batista tweeted the following on Saturday after his return to action at the WWE live event from Phoenix, Arizona:
Tonight is what I missed about wrestling. I love house shows! Thank you Phoenix. #WWEPhoenix
— Dave Bautista (@DaveBautista) February 16, 2014
Batista Returns To Action At WWE Live Event, Obscure Action Figures List
– WWE.com has compiled a list of 10 rare wrestling action figures.
– Batista returned to action last night at the WWE live event from Phoenix, Arizona. Batista defeated Alberto Del Rio by disqualification In his first singles match since 2010.
Batista dominated most of the match. The finish came when Alberto Del Rio hit him with a steel chair. After the bell, Batista made a comeback and laid out Del Rio with a Batista Bomb.
In the main event of the show, Randy Orton defeated John Cena in a steel cage match to retain the WWE World Heavyweight championship.
Jim Ross Blog: WWE Hall Of Fame, Kurt Angle/WWE Rumors, Cesaro’s Future
Here are some highlights from Jim Ross’ latest blog:
Next WWE Hall Of Fame Inductee: “Rumor mills are working OT regarding as to who will be the next inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame. I think that it’s cool that the HOF induction ceremony will air live, as I understand it, on the WWE Network. Hopefully the live audience will mind their manners and not feel compelled to display their defiance and disrupt the show for any reason. Cheering and classy displays of support are awesome however wise ass, look-at-me chants aren’t.”
Cesaro: “If Cesaro can’t be put into a position, either as a fan favorite or a villain, to be an impactful talent in WWE, it will be a real, head scratcher. I see Cesaro as a fan favorite moving forward. If not, how well could Cesaro do associated with Heyman after Lesnar takes his leave again?”
Kurt Angle in WWE: “I’m hearing that Kurt Angle did NOT have ACL surgery and only had a clean up ‘scope procedure. I’d love to see Kurt get healthy in all phases of the veteran wrestler’s life and finish his storied career in WWE. I also don’t think that Angle should be wrestling that much these days and if he is utilized strategically then his matches will have much more validity and interest. In my view, Kurt is a future WWE Hall of Famer and will, in a perfect world, have one, last, great match at a future WrestleMania. By planning ahead, this could theoretically be facilitated for WM31.”
Check out the complete blog at JRsBarBQ.com.
Updated Schedule For WWE DVD & Blu-Ray Releases For 2014
The highly anticipated Paul Heyman WWE DVD set is scheduled to be released in August of this year.
Speaking of which, the following is the updated schedule for this year’s WWE DVD projects:
February 25th – Royal Rumble DVD and Blu-ray
March 11th – WCW’s Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Vol. 1 DVD and Blu-ray
March 18th – Signature Sounds: The Music of WWE DVD
March 25th – Elimination Chamber DVD
March 25th – Scooby-Doo: WrestleMania Mystery DVD and Blu-ray
April 1st – Ultimate Warrior: The Ultimate Warrior DVD and Blu-ray
April 22nd – Best of RAW: After The Show DVD and Blu-ray
May 13th – WrestleMania XXX DVD and Blu-ray
May 27th – Greatest Wrestling Factions DVD and Blu-ray
Joey Styles Talks To Steve Austin, HBK & Bret Hart About The WWE Network
The official WWE website recently added a new interview with Joey Styles talking to WWE Hall Of Famers “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Bret “The Hitman” Hart about the WWE Network.
Austin was asked what the Network announcement was like for him, and he noted the following:
“I was actually a bit [ticked] off that I had to be there, because I had just gotten back from Texas, I was out of shape, I hadn’t really unpacked my bags from being at the ranch for two months. But I was so proud and happy that I went. Way back in the day when I started out in 1990, I would have never envisioned that the business would ever turn to this or someone would have the vision to do it. Vince McMahon was standing right in front of me, about two feet away, and I slapped him on the back two times and I said, “That’s impressive.” And I left that thing being extremely impressed with what WWE has come up with now.”
Check out the complete interview at WWE.com.
Scott Hall’s WWE HOF Announcement On Monday?, “Mean” Gene Okerlund Blogs
– WWE Hall Of Famer “Mean” Gene Okerlund has recently opened a new official website. Okerlund noted that he will be posting weekly blogs on the site, which you can check out at TheGeneOkerlund.com.
– There is some speculation online that Scott Hall’s induction to the WWE Hall Of Fame will be announced this coming Monday night during RAW.
MMA Team Presents The Rock With Titles, Another “Mr. WrestleMania” DVD Clip (Video)
– MMA training camp “American Top Team” recently presented Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson with his USWA and WWE Championships. The Rock commented on the gesture:
“BLOWN AWAY! Received the actual two most important titles of my wrestling career as a gift (USWA, WWE) THANK YOU, MMA’s AMERICAN TOP TEAM for welcoming me to your family. Coach Libo, Lambert, Teixeira, Lawler & the entire #ATTNation Truly an honor to walk thru your doors and a privilege to work with all of you. #Family #Champions #UFC #TeamBringIt #ChasingGreatness #Respect”
– The following is another preview clip from the upcoming “Mr. WrestleMania” DVD based on Shawn Michaels:
http://youtu.be/8r9E4r5MGrI
Match Cut From SmackDown, Edge To Appear At WrestleCon During WMXXX Weekend
– WWE Hall Of Famer Adam “Edge” Copeland will be appearing at the WrestleCon event on April 5th in New Orleans during WrestleMania XXX weekend.
– The WWE Divas match between Eva Marie and Alicia Fox that was taped on Tuesday for this week’s SmackDown ended up not airing on Friday night. There is no official word as to why the match didn’t make the cut, however those in attendance noted it was a pretty bad match, to the surprise of almost no one.
Even More Celebrities At RAW, Rhodes/Eden NXT Angle, Big Show/India Note
– WWE shot an angle at the NXT event in Largo, Florida on Friday night where Cody Rhodes came to the aid of his real-life wife Brandi (Eden Stiles). Rhodes ended up laying out Aiden English with his Cross-Rhodes finisher.
– WWE Superstar Big Show held an anti-bullying rally for approximately 200 students in Mumbai, India earlier today.
– In addition to the celebrities we already reported about being in attendance at this past Monday’s WWE RAW show in Los Angeles, Blake from Workaholics was also there, as was Charlie Saxton from BETAS and porn star Alexis Amour, who apparently dressed up as Miss Elizabeth.
Byron Saxton & Emma Added To NXT Event, “WCW Greatest PPV” Blu-ray Extras
– WWE’s new main roster backstage interviewer Byron Saxton and new WWE Diva Emma have been added to the “meet and greet” for tonight’s NXT live event in Orlando, Florida. Ticket information is available at NXTTickets.TicketForce.com.
– The following are the Blu-ray extras for the upcoming WWE DVD release, “WCW: Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Vol. 1,” which is scheduled for a March 11th release:
Thunderdome Match
Ric Flair & Sting vs. The Great Muta & Terry Funk
Special Guest Referee: Bruno Sammartino
Halloween Havoc • October 28, 1989
Jean Paul Levesque vs. Alex Wright
Starrcade • December 27, 1994
Dennis Rodman vs. “Macho Man” Randy Savage
Road Wild • August 14, 1999
Billy Kidman vs. Hulk Hogan
Special Guest Referee: Eric Bischoff
Slamboree • May 7, 2000
Kaitlyn Records Shoot Interview, The Miz On SmackDown “Backstage Fallout” (Video)
– Former WWE Diva Kaitlyn recently tweeted the following regarding a RF Video shoot interview she recently took part in.
Wow I talk a lot. I just finished a long interview with rfvideo. It's coming soon! It's my Valentine… http://t.co/SFEIMOTo4f
— Celeste (@KaitlynWWE) February 15, 2014
– WWE has added the latest edition of their SmackDown “Backstage Fallout” series to their official YouTube channel. This week’s show, which features The Miz, can be viewed below:
WWE Elimination Chamber 2014: New Match Added (Updated Card)
WWE Intercontinental Champion Big E vs. Jack Swagger has been added to the upcoming WWE Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. Swagger won a 4-man #1 Contender’s match to earn the title shot.
WWE is billing the match as Big E’s “stiffest title threat to date.” Believe it or not, this will be Big E’s first televised Intercontinental title defense of 2014.
With that match set, here’s the updated card for WWE Elimination Chamber 2014:
Elimination Chamber Match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship:
Randy Orton (c) vs. John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus Cesaro vs. Christian
Factions Collide:
The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family
The Animal Returns To Singles Action:
Batista vs. Alberto Del Rio
Intercontinental Championship:
Big E (c) vs. Jack Swagger
First Matches Announced For TNA’s Wrestle-1 One Night Only PPV
The following matches are confirmed for the upcoming TNA vs. Wrestle-1 One Night Only PPV taping, which takes place on Sunday, March 2nd from Japan’s Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena.
– TNA World Champion Magnus vs. Kai
(KAI won a 1-night 4-man tournament to earn his shot).
– TNA Tag Team Champions The Bromans vs. Shuji Kondo & Kaz Hayashi
(Kondo & Hayashi won a #1 contenders match to earn the title shot.)
– TNA X-Division Champion Austin Aries vs. Seiya Sanada.
(Sanada won a 20-man Battle Royal to earn his title shot.)
Other TNA stars advertised to appear on the show include Bobby Roode, Samoa Joe, The Wolves, Bad Influence, Abyss, Gail Kim and Madison Rayne.
The show will air live in Japan and will air in the United States later this year as a Friday night One Night Only PPV special.
Kevin Nash, Scott Hall & Sean Waltman Bury TNA Booking
Former WWE Superstar Kevin Nash recently tweeted the following after watching this week’s edition of TNA Impact Wrestling:
Watched the 1st 8mins of TNA.If its a private company how can anyone attempt a hostile takeover?Wouldn't Dixie's father have to be behind it
— Kevin Nash (@RealKevinNash) February 14, 2014
Scott Hall and Sean Waltman also chimed in:
https://twitter.com/SCOTTHALLNWO/status/434344105565368320
https://twitter.com/TheRealXPac/status/434349838860566528
Top Five Moments From This Weeks Impact (2/13)
Final Impact Wrestling Rating, Tough Enough Winner Wants To Work For Jeff Jarrett
– Thursday’s edition of TNA Impact Wrestling scored a final cable rating of 1.14, according to Nielsen Media Research. That is down from the 1.24 final rating that the show drew the previous week. As noted earlier, Thursday’s Impact Wrestling show averaged 1.421 million viewers, which was also down from the 1.481 million viewers that tuned in the week prior.
– WWE Tough Enough winner Andy Leavine recently expressed interest in working for Jeff Jarrett’s new pro wrestling promotion. Leavine recently tweeted the following:
@RealJeffJarrett if your looking for talent and there's an opportunity, where can I throw my name into the mix and EARN a spot!
— Andy Leavine (@AndyLeavine301) February 14, 2014
Video: Axl Rotten Challenges CZW Founder To Shoot Fight
ECW Original Axl Rotten recently emailed us the following video where he challenges CZW founder John Zandig to a shoot fight. First, here are the comments from Zandig that prompted Rotten’s challenge:
And now here is Axl Rotten’s official challenge:
http://youtu.be/MwD5q_sjNh0
Press Release: WWE Declares Quarterly Dividend
WWE issued the following today:
STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–WWE (NYSE:WWE) announced that its Board of Directors today declared the Company’s regular quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share for all Class A and B shares of common stock. The record date for the dividend will be March 14, 2014, and the payment date will be March 25, 2014.
Stephanie McMahon Doing 4-Minute Workout (Video), 2/24 RAW Sells Out
– As previously reported, Stephanie McMahon took part in a shoot for Prevention Magazine. You can check out a video of Stephanie doing “The 4-Minute Workout” above, or at Prevention.com.
– The big WWE RAW show in Green Bay, Wisconsin on February 24th, which is the post-Elimination Chamber edition of the show on the night that the WWE Network launches, has been officially sold out since this past Tuesday. As noted, WWE legends The Undertaker and Hulk Hogan are both expected to make their long-awaited WWE returns on the show.
Former WWE Star Talks Dolph Ziggler’s Post-Spirit Squad Success, McMahon, HBK
The following are highlights of a recent Newsday.com interview with former Spirit Squad member Mike Mondo:
On his first meeting with Vince McMahon: “‘He was like, ‘Haha! This is going to work. I like it.’ I understood that this was a character [The Spirit Squad] that was going to get heat. The wrestling was almost secondary.”
On his first WrestleMania and getting encouragement from Shawn Michaels: “I remember just looking around at the Squad members and thinking, ‘We made it to the dance. We made it to WrestleMania.’ He [Shawn Michaels] said to us while we were down there, ‘Welcome to WrestleMania boys.'”
On Dolph Ziggler’s success after The Spirit Squad gimmick ended: “The fact that he’s had a lot of success with the Intercontinental title, and winning the world title and the Money in the Bank, that’s really cool. So if was not going to be me, I’m glad the next guy in line was Dolph.”
Check out the complete Mike Mondo interview at Newsday.com.
Mick Foley Speaks On Possible WWE Network Special, Comedy Show Hecklers
The following are highlights of a recent Bellevue Reporter interview with WWE Hall Of Famer Mick Foley:
On getting heckled by fans at his comedy events: “I tend not to get hecklers. I tend to get over-exuberant wrestling fans. Fans who don’t always understand that they shouldn’t shout out the endings to my stories. Because, if they’re fans, they already know how the stories end. Those people enjoy it, but it’s frustrating they don’t let me finish the stories. Fortunately, I’m experienced entertaining on Friday and Saturday nights, when some people are drunker than usual. But if that happens, I just stand back and let the club handle it. I don’t fear a heckler. I don’t take pride in shredding them apart, but I’m not afraid either. We’re supposed to be having laughs… I take honor in the act of entertaining people who laid down their money.”
On whether or not fans can expect a Mick Foley comedy special: “Yeah, yeah. I believe this is the year WWE is rolling out their TV network. WWE gets this option on a special from me and, if they decide they don’t want it, then I can take it elsewhere. But fans can expect a special with an hour of my material relatively soon. And I’ll be happy about that too, because then I can stop going on the air and saying, “Trust me.””
Check out the complete Mick Foley interview at BellevueReporter.com.
TNA Signs New Knockout, Close To Signing Lucha Libre Star
– According to recent reports, TNA Wrestling has signed independent women’s wrestler Santana Garrett. Garrett had previously been rumored to be in negotiations with the company, but apparently now it is official.
– In other TNA acquisition news, it appears as though the company is close to signing a deal with Lucha Libre star Extreme Tiger. If any additional news surfaces regarding Tiger’s TNA signing, we will update you.
(Credit: PWInsider.com)
Taz Denies Talent Recruiting Rumors, Impact Wrestling Viewership Drops
– The Thursday, February 13th edition of TNA Impact Wrestling on Spike TV drew an average of 1.421 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. That is down from last week’s show, which averaged 1.481 million viewers.
– It looks like Taz is denying rumors that he is helping recruit talent for TNA Wrestling. The Impact Wrestling color commentator recently tweeted the following:
@Jooshua24 incorrect. U got the wrong guy.
— TAZ (@OfficialTAZ) February 14, 2014