The following matches are confirmed for tonight’s TNA “Hardcore Justice” pay-per-view taping in Lowell, Massachusetts:
Lethal Lockdown
– Team Angle vs. Team Roode
Stretcher Match
– Bully Ray vs. Mr. Anderson
Full Metal Mayhem
– Daniels & Kazarian vs. Abyss & Eric Young
Xscape Match
– Austin Aries vs. Chris Sabin
Street Fight
– Lei’D Tapa vs. Velvet Sky
-Ethan Carter III vs. Tommy Dreamer
Based on overnight ratings, WWE’s “Tribute To The Troops” special on NBC on Saturday night drew 2.31 million viewers.
Compared to last year’s Troops special, this was a boost in numbers, as last year’s special, which was an edited replay of a show that first-aired on the USA Network, was among the lowest rated NBC shows of the year.
NBC finished third place out of the four major networks in terms of viewership for Saturday night.
Check out this video of The Shield’s grand entrance from the 2013 WWE Tribute To The Troops special. The Shield wrestled the team of The Usos and Rey Mysterio in one of the best matches on the card.
Former WWE, TNA & ECW star Rhino joined the Inside The Ropes podcast and spoke about some of the key moments of his WWE run. Here are some highlights of what he said about:
His start in WWE in 2001: “Edge, Christian and I were all buddies and I think they’d (the office) said something like they wanted me to be their brother. Edge was like, “No, you know, people know him as Rhino, they know we’re buddies, so just tag him along with us, use him as our muscle.”
“I remember the first live promo I did and I just shit the bed. I was just so nervous. I didn’t know what they wanted me to say but y’know, I then went on and wrestled on the road for a little bit in dark matches and stuff.
“I wrestled Steve Lombardi and he was actually the one that gave me The Gore as a finish. I used to use it in ECW as a cut off and use the piledriver for the finish. But I used to be really creative, goring people through tables and shit like that. So then I’m working with Lombardi, Brooklyn Brawler, on the house show loop and I hit him with the gore and then I’d pick him up and do a TKO. So the second night he said, “Just hit me with the gore and pin me on that. You pick me up for the TKO and it doesn’t get a reaction.” I remember thinking maybe he just didn’t wanna take it, but he was right. The gore would get a bigger reaction when I’d set up for it in the corner and ya know, the rest is history.”
Vince McMahon coming out and interrupting his August 2003 house show match with Tajiri: “Before the show, he was on the house show loop. So before the match he said something like, “You can’t do anything wrong in the match, just call it out there,” blah blah blah.
“Nassau Coliseum is a tough building. We’re out there and Tajiri won’t call shit and you heard what the boss said. We went out there and before [the match], one of the agents told us if they chant “boring,” don’t do anything, just sit on the hold. So you’re getting mixed instructions, but I’ve worked with Tajiri like 1000 times.
“So we’re in the hold, they chant “boring” and Vince comes out telling us to go home and I’m thinking, “He’s trying to kick us out the ring thinking lets see what they do if I throw a monkey wrench into their match.” I thought he was just working so I’m like, “What are you gonna do? Fire me?” So he tells Brian (Hebner) to tell Tajiri to dropkick me and go to the back and I’m like, “Oh shit, he’s serious.”
“So we go to the back, I go take a shower, then I go talk to him. I think he actually felt bad. He said, “The fans were chanting “boring” and you had him in a hold.” I said to him, “I was told by one of your agents, if they chant “boring,” then sit in the hold.” So yeah, that was it. I actually got a very good payoff for that match. That’s why I think he felt bad about it.”
– WWE will return to Detroit, Michigan on March 4th for a SmackDown taping. The pre-sale is going on now with the password SMACKDOWN.
– WWE Superstar Evan Bourne, who has been out of action for almost 2 years now, is expected to return to action very soon. Bourne violated WWE’s Wellness Policy for the second time in January 2012 and served a 60 day suspension. Before hes brought back to television, he was involved in a bad car accident where he broke his foot in 4 places.
Broken in 4 spots, dislocated in 5! Ouch! I wish I was back in the ring already. Until then here is a gross pic
http://t.co/hwJ0sSgD— Matt Sydal (@MattSydal) March 24, 2012
Bourne returned to action back in March, defeating Sammy Zayn at NXT. He told fans at the time that he’d be returning to WWE “soon.” Bourne tweeted the following on Saturday night, teasing a possible appearance at the Royal Rumble:
My favorite Annual PPV will always and forever be @WWE‘s Royal Rumble. Wait, that gives me an idea…
— airbourne (@findevan) December 28, 2013
Bourne also posted this video of a yoga session he did at his mother’s house on Christmas eve, showing that he’s in great physical shape once again:
* ROYAL RUMBLE News: Surprise Returns, ROMAN REIGNS Getting A Big Role & More
– WWE.com has a feature up looking at “15 Stars Who Should Have Been Bigger Deals” – including Raven, Bam Bam Bigelow and Sean O’Haire.
– The WWE website also has a photo gallery looking back at the 100 Best Photos of 2013.
– WWE has published the following videos of the Tribute to the Troops live performanmces of Daughtry and Jeff Dunham:
A friend of current WWE Diva Kaitlyn recently posted a video on YouTube that shows her real-life fiancee and former bodybuilder PJ Braun asking her to marry him several weeks ago.
“PJ Braun Proposes To Celeste Bonin- Pj and his family went to see Celeste wrestle in Connecticut. This is the actual proposal that was recorded by PJ’s dad. Celeste thought he was just recording PJ telling the story of how he almost lost his bag in the airport. In actuality PJ lost the bag WITH THE RING in it. He found it and still made the plane in the last second! Here is the end of that story and the proposal.”
The following are highlights from a recent Newsday interview with TNA wrestler James Storm:
On his short run with the World Heavyweight Title: “I can always say I was the world champion, even if it was for a week. At the end of the day, I don’t want to say I don’t care about it, but my bills are still being paid without the belt . . . when I go to the bank, they don’t ask me if I’m a champion. I still have a lot of years left in me, and the opportunity will come. It’s one of those things that you have to wait your turn.”
On Jeff Jarrett: “To me, Jeff knows wrestling. They need somebody like that either in the production side or the creative side . . . because, let’s face it, he built this company. It was his hard work and his money that he put into it in the very beginning. I think TNA needs Jeff Jarrett, whether it be behind the scenes or in front of the camera or whatever, but they definitely need him—at least for his advice on the wrestling aspect of it.”
On Chris Harris not making it in WWE: “I believe Chris brought it onto himself. I talked to him while he was there. Anytime you go up there, they’re going to test you, to see if you have an attitude or whatever. And I just heard he failed miserably. He had an attitude while he was up there and you can’t do that. You just go up there and you do what they ask of you the best you can, and sooner or later, they’ll find a spot for you and do something with you. Just because he had a good run here, he expected to go up there and have a run, and that’s not so.”
Check out the complete interview online at Newsday.com.
According to PWInsider.com, negotiations between AJ Styles and TNA Wrestling have reportedly “fallen apart.” The chances of Styles returning to the company any time in the near future are now “slim.”
Styles will be making his return to Ring Of Honor to face Roderick Strong at the company’s January 4th show in Nashville.
ROH recently added this video to their official YouTube channel to hype the Ring Of Honor return of AJ Syles in January.
The following are highlights from the latest online blog by WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:
On Brock Lesnar to UFC rumors: “Rumor of the week is Brock Lesnar returning to UFC. I find that one a little far fetched. Diverticulitis isn’t something that is to be taken lightly, of this I know what I speak, and returning to the Octagon under those circumstances makes zero sense to me. Brock has a sweet gig in WWE working a handful of dates a year for which I assume is a healthy, 7 figure income. It’s a part time gig of which Brock is very good at and earning that kind of money is a bird’s nest on the ground. Unless an athlete was broke as hell, and Brock isn’t, there is no legit motivation to return to the Octagon and give it one more shot.”
On a UFC fighter he feels could jump to WWE: “On a side note, Josh Barnett would likely make a viable, pro wrestler, of which he has done in the past, when his UFC days are over for some promotion. He’s the kind of guy a company like WWE could sign, polish him up and vignette him all the way to a major main event position for, at worst, a one off, big money match.”
On WrestleMania weekend plans: “Still haven’t finalized our NOLA date during WM30 week as it seems that many people take something like three weeks off for the holidays in the USA. However, we re close on the NOLA deal so if you’re coming to WM30 please keep our show in mind.”
Check out the complete blog online at JRsBarBQ.com.
Ring Of Honor announced on Saturday that AJ Styles will be returning to the promotion for the first time in 8 years. Styles will wrestle former TNA star Rodderick Strong at the January 4th live event from Nashville, Tennessee. The show will also feature in-ring return of Chris Hero against Kevin Steen and a special meet and greet with WWE Hall of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.
It’s worth noting that this is a television taping, which will air on ROH TV during the weekend of February 1st.
Here’s the announcement:
“THE PHENOMENAL ONE” IS BACK!
AJ STYLES returns to ROH 1/4/14 – Nashville, TN
“The Phenomenal One” is back! A true Ring of Honor pioneer and one of the greatest wrestlers in the sport today, AJ STYLES, has been signed to compete once again in an ROH ring on January 4th, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee!
AJ Styles helped put ROH on the map in its early years by displaying his own unique blend of high-flying wrestling and hard hitting strikes. Styles has gone on to be recognized as one of the best wrestlers of our time and recently became the most sought-after free agent in pro wrestling.
After finalizing the deal within the last couple hours we can now officially confirm that the long awaited return of AJ Styles to ROH will kick off 2014 in only 1 week at the Nashville Fairgrounds!
AJ Styles will face “Mr. ROH” Roderick Strong in Nashville in a huge match that will air on ROH TV the weekend of February 1st! It has been 8 years since Styles competed in ROH while Strong has been one of the most consistent competitors in ROH for the last 10 years. We are excited to welcome AJ back but not too sure that Strong will feel the same way.
“I’m excited to return to ROH and the Nashville Fairgrounds. Lots of history made that I was made that I was part of in both. Expect more on January 4. Hope Nashville fans fill that asylum,” said AJ
In addition to the return of AJ Styles, January 4th marks the return to ROH action of Chris Hero who battles “Mr. Wrestling” Kevin Steen! Plus Wrestling Legend “Rowdy” Roddy Piper will be on hand for a very RARE Meet & Greet Autograph Signing!
ROH is starting 2014 off with bang and we are not slowing down! Don’t ever pass up the opportunity to experience ROH live! See why we are the best pro wrestling on the planet with the greatest fans in the world.
Tickets to the biggest television taping in ROH history are available HERE!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The following are more Q&A highlights from WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:
On why he doesn’t return to commentating: “I’m no longer with WWE and their announcing teams are in good shape. I will look at other options in the future but I donvt think that it will be doing pro wrestling.”
On the WWE Divas division: “I’d like to see the Divas taken more seriously and have their athleticism focused on a bit more. AJ is the star of the Divas division at this time.”
On who he feels The Rock should end his career in WWE with: “It solely depends on when and who is hot and can have the best final match that Rock can possibly have.”
On Chyna in the WWE Hall Of Fame: “I never attempt to put myself in McMahon’s shoes especially when it comes to WWE HOF selections. Bottom line is that I have no idea about Chyna.”
Check out more JR Q&A online at JRsBarBQ.com.
All signs point to the WWE announcement scheduled for January 8th in Las Vegas to be about the debut of the much-talked-about WWE Network.
According to reports, the WWE Network will likely be similar to the UFC Digital Network, in that it will be streamed online as opposed to being carried by the traditional carriers. If WWE chooses to go this route, they would be cutting out a number of large fees that would be owed to the traditional carriers.
Another positive if WWE chooses to stream online is that WWE would have complete control over the project, as opposed to negotiating with carriers for positioning on their boxes.
(Credit: PWInsider.com)
– WWE Superstar and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar was a top trending topic on Yahoo! on Friday after the rumors of his potential UFC return became a big story on the internet.
– Speaking of Brock Lesnar, WWE talent Paul Heyman recently addressed the Lesnar to UFC rumors in a new tweet posted on his official Twitter account. Heyman responded to an Ariel Helwani tweet promoting his pre-UFC 168 interview with Dana White by tweeting the following:
"@arielhelwani @danawhite talks UFC 168, Brock Lesnar rumors… http://t.co/rIkwmCTl1p" … CONFIRMED. Brock was in the grassy knoll in '63
— Paul Heyman (@HeymanHustle) December 28, 2013
The following are results from the WWE live event in Indianapolis, Indiana. The event was held on Friday, December 27, 2013.
– Dolph Ziggler def. Ryback in a singles match to open the show.
– Wade Barrett did a Bad News Barrett segment.
– Natalya def. AJ Lee (with Tamina Snuka) in Divas action. This was a non-title match.
– The Miz did a MizTV segment which ended up featuring Kofi Kingston, Vickie Guerrero and The Prime Time Players. All of this led to a match being set-up.
– The Prime Time Players def. The Miz & Kofi Kingston in tag-team action when Miz left Kingston hanging.
– Wade Barrett def. Tyson Kidd in singles action.
– The Usos & Daniel Bryan def. The Wyatt Family in a six-man tag-team steel-cage match. This was said to be one of the better matches of the evening.
–Intermission–
– Big E. Langston def. Damien Sandow and R-Truth in a triple-threat match to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
– Mark Henry def. Fandango (with Summer Rae). This started off as a Dance Off and then turned into a match when Fandango attacked Henry from behind.
– CM Punk def. The Shield in a three-on-one handicap match which served as the main event of the evening. This was apparently another one of the best matches on the show.
The following are results from the TNA live event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event was held on Friday, December 27, 2013.
– Austin Aries def. Chris Sabin to retain the TNA X-Division Title in the opening match of the evening. Apparently this was as good as you would expect.
– Lei’D Tapa def. Velvet Sky in Knockouts action. Tapa picked up the victory via pinfall.
– Ethan Carter III def. Tommy Dreamer. Dreamer accepted EC3’s open challenge, which led to this match.
–Intermission–
– Kurt Angle and Bobby Roode had a match with special guest referee James Storm. The live correspondant missed the finish to this one.
– The BroMans def. Eric Young & Abyss to retain the TNA World Tag-Team Titles in what was a match that the crowd was apparently not very into.
– Magnus def. Samoa Joe to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Title.
– Mr. Anderson def. Bully Ray in a steel cage match. This served as the main event of the evening. Tommy Dreamer got involved, leading to Anderson blasting Ray with a kendo stick to score the win.
– MMA journalist Ariel Helwani conducted his normal pre-fight interview with UFC president Dana White on Friday. During the interview, Helwani brought up the Brock Lesnar rumors once again. While White didn’t really offer any additional information, as he refused to comment, he did light up and somewhat tease that there’s something going on with his facial reaction. Helwani brings up the Lesnar rumors near the very end of the interview.
– WWE has recently added a video playlist featuring the best of Batista from the past. Fans interested in checking that out can do so at WWE.com.
The following matches are confirmed for tonight’s WWE “Tribute To The Troops” special on NBC:
– Daniel Bryan vs. Luke Harper & Erick Rowan
– 3MB vs. The Prime Time Players
– Divas Battle Royal
– Rey Mysterio & The Usos vs. The Shield
– R-Truth vs. Fandango
– Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston
– Sonjay Dutt recently revealed on Twitter that he will be part of the TNA “One Night Only: #OldSchool” pay-per-view taping in Pougkeepsie, New York. Dutt tweeted the following:
Looking fwd to returning to @IMPACTWRESTLING on Monday night in Poughkeepsie for Old School!
— Holiday Sonjay (@sonjaydutterson) December 27, 2013
– Speaking of Twitter, TNA star Bully Ray posted the following about his steel cage match against Mr. Anderson on Friday and his scheduled stretcher match on Saturday in Westbury, New York:
Last night I made @mrkenanderson bleed inside a STEEL CAGE! Tonight in Westbury, NY I will finish him off in a "Stretcher Match". BE THERE!
— Bully Ray (@REALBully5150) December 28, 2013
– As previously reported, former WWE developmental talent Ivelisse Velez posted a message on Facebook saying her father had gone missing. Velez has since updated her Facebook to announce that he was found and is safe.
– Former WCW star Konnan recently posted an update on Twitter pointing out that his comments about R-Truth were part of an ongoing inside joke between the two, and not a “diss” like another reporter claimed. Konnan tweeted the following:
For da record,would never diss @RonKillings, dats my bro 4 life..its an inside joke, u guys can stay on da outside of it..#ShitStirrers
— Konnan (@Konnan5150) December 27, 2013
The following are highlights from a recent WGD Weekly interview with former WWE Superstar Marc Mero:
On his ex-wife Sable becoming a star while he was injured: “I had blown out my knee and needed total reconstruction on my knee, I was out for eight months and in that time off was when my ex-wife became very popular, you know going out there and selling merchandise and becoming a diva and so on. Then they came up with the storyline of me being jealous of her and I’m thinking ‘wow, what a great idea.’ I know a lot of wrestlers were saying, ‘That buried you, when a girl beats you up or something your never considered anything again,’ but, you know what, all that didn’t matter. They were backing up the Brinks truck to our house, so you really look at what is really important, its entertainment, its being an actor, and I’m being paid very well for it, and now, she is getting paid very well for it. So, all in all, you look back…I have no regrets…it all worked for us, like I said, there was nothing I would change.”
On leaving WWE, the Sable lawsuit and their relationship: “Unfortunately, the ending of the WWF didn’t go well. My ex-wife had some problems with the company and their was a lawsuit. I had three years left on a guaranteed contract…and I just decided to walk away, it just wasn’t fun any more. It was just a sad part of our lives…so, we left the wrestling arena and obviously the lawsuit was settled out of court between my ex wife and the WWF…its no secret, we got divorced in 2004 and she went on to marry Brock and I married an incredible woman that I have been married to for four years. So, we both went separate ways, but you know something that is amazing, we have never said a bad word about each other. I have nothing bad to say, you think about the good memories you had together. I have never been happier than I am now with my life.”
On his early days in WCW with Triple H: “Triple H was and is a talented wrestler, he was like a student of the game, you know. I really enjoyed working with him. We wrestled each other hundreds of times, because obviously we would tour for quite a while on the road and we would wrestle each other every night, and not only that, we wrestled in WCW several times. I believe his first belt he ever won was when he beat me for the Intercontinental title. You’ve seen what he has done in his career and the amazing heights he has risen to…but he was really good to work with, very similar to “Stone Cold” in their work ethic…they can make guys that weren’t as talented, I wasn’t as talented as a Triple H or a Stone Cold, and they made our matches look fantastic…my hat is off to that guy.”
On his friendship with Diamond Dallas Page: “It is no secret that Dallas and I are still great friends today. He is by far one of the hardest working people I have ever met, bar none. Just an incredible work ethic…When we were in our program together…we would go down to the Power Plant and work on our matches and moves…then all of a sudden, I get a call at like three o’clock in the morning…I’m saying ‘oh my gosh, who is calling me at this hour?’ Of course, I pick up my phone and its Dallas and he goes, ‘hey, brother, I wanna run by a spot,’ and I am going, ‘What, Dallas, its three o’clock in the morning.’ He goes, ‘I know, but I couldn’t sleep, I had to tell you this spot I want to do’… I’m thinking, ‘Are you crazy?’ But, that was his work ethic and I will tell you something, if you are ever going to bet on someone, bet on DDP, the guy…he has got that never die attitude and he never gives up…I just have such admiration for Dallas, not only as a friend, but just as a wrestler, as a human being, an entrepreneur…believe me, DDP Yoga is going to be a household word someday, you watch.”
WWE has added the latest edition of their “SmackDown Backstage Fallout” series to their official YouTube channel.
“WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton sends a warning to the rest of the WWE locker room. The Prime Time Players celebrate a huge win over Ryback & Curtis Axel.”
As previously reported, former WWE Superstar Batista will officially return to WWE on the January 20th edition of WWE RAW and will be hanging around at least through WrestleMania XXX.
Apparently the idea is that this is not a one-time WrestleMania return type deal for Batista, but rather a “final run” for him that could last as long as two years. His new deal reportedly calls for him to take some time off during the summer to promote a film project.
Regarding the specifics of his return, while his first televised appearance back with the company will be on the 1/20 episode of RAW, he will not be wrestling that night. His first official match is scheduled to take place in the 30-man match at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view.