Arda Ocal (@arda_ocal) of theScore is at SummerSlam Axxess this weekend and got exclusive video interviews with a number of WWE Superstars and Divas.
Dolph Ziggler says Summerslam vs Chris Jericho is the most important match of his life and he idolized Chris Jericho growing up:
Alicia Fox notes there will be a wardrobe change in her future:
Kelly Kelly hopes WWE uses her more:
Leaked WWE SUMMERSLAM RESULTS: Find Out WHO Will Win Tonight’s Top Matches
Speaking to ESPN Deportes Los Angeles, SmackDown ring announcer Lilian Garcia explains why has repeatedly declined WWE management’s requests to wrestle over the years.
“I like it when I participate in angles, because it is something that does not occur all the time. What I like about it is that people do not expect it. If you do so all the time, it would not be something special. To call me a wrestler, I would have to learn more than just basic things. That would be disrespectful to those who are wrestling, that are practicing every day in developmental. Being a wrestler is a full-time job. I like participating in angles, but I’m not a wrestler,” she says.
Despite WWE being her ‘dream job’, Garcia decided to part ways with the sports-entertainment organization in 2009. She explains, “I decided to leave the company because I considered it a closed chapter in my life. I wasn’t tired of wrestling. In fact, during my absence, I kept watching WWE programs. But the reason for my departure was that I was going to get married. And I was also somewhat tired, since I was there ten years without taking a break. People don’t know what those in wrestling sacrifice. We are working 52 weeks of the year, we never stop. And I didn’t want to start my marriage all the time on the road without my husband. So I decided to leave. And a week later I got married.”
However, it was not long before she felt the wrestling bug again.
“The following year (2010), in Los Angeles, I was invited to the SummerSlam party, and saw everyone. And in talking with my former boss, I realized how much I missed this world, and I decided it was time to come back,” said Garcia.
Garcia also discusses being the lone Diva to be affiliated with WWE for more then ten years, her childhood, her unconventional route to WWE, her first day on the job, singing the U.S. Anthem at events and more. (Article)
Vickie Guerrero was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times this week to promote tonight’s WWE SummerSlam PPV. Here are some highlights from the interview:
Q: How did you come up with the whole “Excuse me” line?
Guerrero: I came up with “Excuse me” when I was doing a promo on stage and I forgot my lines, so all I could think of to say was “Excuse me.” And the more I said it, the more upset the crowd got with me. The next night I tried “Excuse me” again, and that’s how it started happening.
Q: People love to boo you. Are you surprised by how much they boo you?
Guerrero: No, I love when they boo me. I love it. I love when I get them mad because if I don’t, then I’m not doing my job.
Q: Do you ever think people will one day cheer you?
Guerrero: I don’t want to be cheered. I’m a bad guy, so the boos and the mean faces and the yelling is something I look forward to every night.
Q: You have two daughters. If they wanted to join WWE, would you be happy with that?
Guerrero: My oldest daughter, Shaul, she’s 21 and she’s in WWE right now. She’s training to be with us on the road. And my youngest, Sherilyn, is 17 and she wants to study marine biology, so she won’t be with the company for a while.
Q: What do you think your late husband, the great Eddie Guerrero, would say to you if he could talk about your great success in WWE?
Guerrero: I’m hoping he would be proud of me, and I’m sure we’d laugh a lot. Watching him through the years, I learned a lot of the little smirks and the mean faces that he had so I learned a lot from him and hopefully I am making him proud.
Following up on the recent report by SuperLuchas.net that former TNA star Alex Shelley has signed with WWE, f4wonline.com is reporting that as of Saturday afternoon, Shelley has not signed a WWE deal. There might be more to the conflicting reports, so we will continue to follow this story as it develops.
Shelley is currently to wrestle for New Japan Pro Wrestling next month and has been tweeting about how excited he is to wrestle in Japan. He is also graduating from college this month.
WWE is aggressively scouting new talent and is holding a big 3-day tryout camp in Los Angeles this week.
– Kurt Angle suggested on Twitter late Saturday night that he will leave TNA Wrestling if the organization does meet his ultimatum to remain a “top guy.”
He wrote, “If Tna Uses Me as the top Guy I Will Stay. I Love Tna. If Not, I Will Make A Business Decision.”
Angle stated during an interview last year with MovieLine.com promoting his appearance in the movie Warrior that he is under cotract to TNA through 2015.
– Shaun Ricker of NWA Hollywood defeated Sam Shaw in a dark match before Thursday’s Impact Wrestling broadcast in Orlando, Florida.
– Former TNA Knockouts Angelina Love and Velvet Sky will be featured on the cover of an upcoming issue of ModelsMania Magazine.
– During an interview Gerweck.net last week, Rob Van Dam stated that a Knockout who recently departed TNA Wrestling would be returning to the organization.
When asked his thoughts on Velvet Sky, Angelina Love and Winter, he replied, “One of the names you mentioned is going to be coming back I believe. Or so I’ve been told.”
– Taryn Terrell, who appeared as Tiffany in WWE, made her TNA Wrestling debut Thursday on Impact Wrestling being introduced by the Vice President of the Knockouts Division, Brooke Hogan, as the special guest referee for the TNA Women’s Knockout Championship match between Madison Rayne and Miss Tessmacher. It will be Terrell’s role going forward as Brian Hebner and Brian Stiffler both noted on Twitter that she is the organization’s newest referee.
– The man seen on Impact Wrestling that will be featured on this week’s “Gut Check” segment is Nashville independent wrestler Lani Kealoha. He will be appearing as Kris Lewie.
– Road Dogg and Josh Mathews have more clips on “Are You Serious?,” including a clip of Heidenreich sharing a very personal poem with Michael Cole. Also featured are The Demon vs. Vampiro in a Graveyard Match and “Maniac” Mike Davis competing in the world’s first (and last) bungee jump match for the Global Wrestling Federation in 1992.
– WWE.com has has published new photos of The Funkadactyls, Naomi and Cameron.
– Maryse Ouellet has been announced to appear at Chiller Theatre, which takes place October 26-28 at Sheraton Parsippany in Parsippany, New Jersey.
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Solomonster Sounds Off (Episode 233)
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Solomonster talks Ronda Rousey, Summerslam predictions including Lesnar vs. Triple H and what the real main event is, WWE’s backstage talent meeting and a message for those who failed to speak up, names being considered for next year’s Hall of Fame, the most mind-bogglingly stupid segment on Impact and a funny story about the actress behind Claire Lynch. Is she done with TNA?
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– According to F4WOnline.com, TNA Wrestling is expected to conclude AJ Styles’ storyline with Claire Lynch next week on Impact Wrestling with a paternity test segment. Lynch, who is portrayed by actress Julia Reilly, is believed to have parted ways with the promotion.
– Former TNA Knockout Sojo Bolt is on Twitter at twitter.com/thatssojosie. She prese
– Sarita is presently in Japan for a two-month tour of joshi promotion STARDOM.
– Wedding: Impossible, a special featuring the wedding of Gail Kim and Chef Robert Irvine, replays tonight at 1:00 a.m. and Wednesday at 10:00 p.m.
Earlier today, WWE and THQ announced the complete roster for the upcoming WWE ’13 video game. Here are the lists for the “Modern Era” and “Attitude Era” superstars and divas, courtesy of IGN.com:
Modern Era WWE
Alberto Del Rio
Big Show
Booker T
Brock Lesnar
Brodus Clay
CM Punk
Chris Jericho
Christian
Cody Rhodes
Daniel Bryan
David Otunga
Dolph Ziggler
Edge
The Great Khali
Heath Slater
Hunico
Jack Swagger
JBL
John Cena (Doctor Of Thugganomics)
John Laurinaitis
Justin Gabriel
Kane
Kevin Nash
Kofi Kingston
Mark Henry
The Miz
Primo
Randy Orton
John Cena
Rey Mysterio
The Rock
R-Truth
Santino Marella
Sheamus
Sin Cara
Epico
Ted DiBiase
Triple H
The Undertaker
Jinder Mahal
Wade Barrett
Zack Ryder
Alicia Fox
Beth Phoenix
Brie Bella
Eve
Kelly Kelly
Kharma
Nikki Bella
Lita
Attitude Era
Road Warrior Animal
Big Boss Man
Billy Gunn
Bradshaw (APA)
Bret Hart
British Bulldog
Cactus Jack
Chris Jericho (Y2J)
Christian (Edge & Christian)
Dude Love
Eddie Guerrero
Edge (Edge & Christian)
Faarooq (APA)
The Godfather
Road Warrior Hawk
Hunter Heart Helmsley
Kane
Ken Shamrock
Mankind
Mark Henry (Nation of Domination)
Mr. McMahon
“The Big Show” Paul Wight
Road Dogg Jesse James
The Rock
Shane McMahon
Shawn Michaels (D-Generation X)
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin
Triple H (D-Generation X)
The Undertaker (The Lord of Darkness)
Vader
X-Pac
Lita (Attitude Era)
Stephanie McMahon (The Billion Dollar Princess)
Trish Stratus
Downlaodable Characters:
Mike Tyson
AJ Lee
Damien Sandow
– Next year’s WWE SummerSlam will once again take place from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. There was a lot of talk at WWE headquarters on Friday that Madison Square Garden could host the event, but the ongoing renovations that prevented NYC from hosting the show this year will be continuing through next summer.
– John Cena tweeted that he’s going to reveal details of his nutrition and supplement routine soon:
Im often asked about nutrition and how I use supplements, it is very basic and i will have some specific info for you guys soon….
— John Cena (@JohnCena) August 18, 2012
– The latest episode of Santino’s Foreign Exchange is now online.
Santino Marella is nervous — really nervous — about going on a blind date, so he turns to his fellow Superstars for advice. Hear what Johnny Curtis, Brodus Clay and Damien Sandow have to say to the Cobra in this edition of “Santino’s Foreign Exchange.” Plus, check back next week to see how his date went!
– Just days after WWE launched its official mobile app for Apple iOS & Google Android devices, MediaPost.com is reporting that the USA Network is developing a new app for WWE RAW that will allow for “live syncing between a mobile device and the broadcast.”
WWE aims to make RAW even more interactive, which would allow viewers to “participate in polls and access supplemental content” while watching the show. The app is expected to launch in the coming weeks.
– Universal Pictures has released a second trailer for Dave Bautista’s upcoming movie, “Man With The Iron Fists” movie (due out November 2) starring former WWE star Dave Bautista. The trailer focuses on Batista’s character, “Brass Body”
Wrestling mastermind Paul Heyman has crossed over into another form of social media – WWE’s new video sharing platform, Tout.
Heyman Touted his first video on Saturday, checking from Los Angeles with his prediction for Sunday’s Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H match at SummerSlam:
Heyman also followed up with this video shortly after:
With just two days until SummerSlam, WWE is currently finalizing plans for the Sunday’s pay-per-view.
After addressing on television that his WWE title defenses have not been featured as the main event of WWE PPV this year, the current plan is for WWE Champion CM Punk’s title defense against John Cena and Big Show to close the show. In his latest blog, Jim Ross also guessed that the WWE title match will be the show’s official main event.
There has been talk of putting the WWE title on Cena and building up to Cena vs. Rock II for the WWE title at the Royal Rumble (and then Punk vs. Rock at WrestleMania 29), but those plans are tentative at this point.
As for Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H, most people expect Lesnar to win in dominant fashion. Lesnar put John Cena over in his return match at Extreme Rules and the feeling is that Lesnar needs the win more than Triple H does in order to build him back up for his next few matches.
(Source: f4wonline.com)
WWE Smackdown General Manager Booker T spoke with Jim Varsallone of the Miami Herald this week. Here are some highlights of what Booker said about:
Grading His Performance As An Announcer: “I give myself a C, maybe a C+, maybe. That job is a job you’ve got to learn on the job and literally study on a weekly basis. You’ve literally got to stay in tune to what’s going on in life as well, just to stay fresh.
“Being a commentator is something I jumped into headfirst, not knowing exactly what I was getting myself into. I looked at it as a learning experience. I never tried to put myself over Michael Cole or Josh Mathews or tried to make myself the voice of Smackdown or anything like that.”
Finding Out He Would Be SmackDown’s New GM: “Vince McMahon gave me the news, and my initial thoughts were ‘OK.’ More than anything it was a great honor to be named general manager of Smackdown by Vince McMahon, a guy who I respect so much, a guy I learned from, a guy who’s mentored me so many years. It was a great, great day for me. It really was.”
What He Can Learn From Previous General Managers:“I can learn a lot from John Laurinaitis. He was a stern G.M. He made some crazy, stupid decisions, but sometimes he made some really good decisions. He went out and upheld the position as far as being real serious about it.
“Vickie Guerrero, she went out and entertained to the utmost. That’s what this job is going to entail. I have to go out and entertain the fans. I got to give them the best show on Friday night I possibly can give ‘em. Everybody knows the personality of Booker T. Everybody knows I’m a little offbeat sometimes. It’s going to be great. Friday Night SmackDown, you can look forward to some highly entertaining content.”
TMZ.com released a video Thursday of CM Punk backing WWE’s decision to terminate A.W.’s contract after he cracked a “rape joke” on the July 30, 2012 episode of Raw.
“He got fired. Yeah. He made a rape joke. I don’t think—I don’t like to see anyone lose their job, but if anyone is justified in getting fired, ya know, making fun of rape… I don’t think that’s funny,” Punk said outside Mr. Chows in Beverly Hills, California on Wednesday night.
A WWE spokesman claimed to TMZ.com last week that it wasn’t just the “rape joke” that cost A.W. his job, but rather “because he continued to exhibit poor judgment by making offensive and inappropriate comments on live television and on social media.”
A.W. responded to Punk’s remarks via Twitter, writing, “I see @CMPunk has become a bit vocal in saying I should have been fired for an (Alleged) rape joke. Well then why wasn’t Big Show fired?
“He wasn’t fired because he draws more money than I do. With @WWE it’s not about Morals… It’s about Money.”
A.W. then posted multiple messages alluding that Punk is racist, based on Punk’s cult-like savior character as the leader of the Straight Edge Society.
“This scene look familiar to anyone..?? Hey @CmPunk I know rape jokes aren’t cool but what are you suggesting here? pic.twitter.com/s1mSNFx8.”
“@WWE sure knows how to entertain its PG Universe. Charles Manson or the AntiChrist.. You decide! pic.twitter.com/9pcnnz1g.”
He also re-tweeted a message reading, “HAHA i could see punk being a strait-edge-KKK supporter when the cameras go off….”
A.W. then responded to his critics, “ALLOW ME TO SAY THIS TO YOU WANNA BE “HE PLAYED THE RACE CARD” HATERS!! ITS NOT A RACIAL ISSUE BUT AN OFFENSIVE TO SENSITIVE VIEWER ISSUE..”
– WWE pays tribute to “Macho Man” Randy Savage all September on WWE Classics On Demand with “Macho Madness.” The synopsis for the month of programming reads, according to WWE Magazine: “Relive unforgettable matches and moments featuring one of the most popular Superstars of all-time, “The Macho Man” Randy Savage. Plus, see the entire 2012 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, including behind-the-scenes footage. Don’t miss the pomp and circumstance all month long on WWE Classics On Demand.”
– According to WWEDVDNews.com, a Raw 1,000 DVD and Blu-ray is scheduled to be released in December. The title will include moments from the 1000th episode, if not the entire episode, in addition to highlights from the history of the program.
Also scheduled for release is Best PPV Matches of 2012 before the year concludes. This title will be released on DVD and Blu-ray. The 2012 edition of the Survivor Series will be released on Blu-ray after last year’s show was only released in the format in Europe.
– The August 17, 2012 edition of WWE Vintage Collection pays tribute to Canadian wrestlers with the following matches: Dino Bravo vs. Sam Houston (WWF Prime Time Wrestling – July 25, 1988), Lance Storm vs. Chavo Guerrero (WCW Monday Nitro – July 31, 2000), Chris Jericho vs. Eddie Guerrero (WCW Thunder – January 15, 1998), Edge vs. Christian (WWF Unforgiven – September 23, 2001), The Hart Foundation vs. The Rougeaus (WWF live event at Boston Garden – September 10, 1988). (Thanks to Devin Cutting)
Primary names being discussed for the 2013 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on April 6 at Madison Square Garden are individuals with connections to the New York City area.
* Mick Foley, who hails from New York and was inspired to become a professional wrestler after watching “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka leap from the top of a steel cage in Madison Square Garden
* Kevin Nash, who defeated Bob Backlund in eight seconds at Madison Square Garden to win the WWF Championship.
* Bob Backlund, who declined an invitation to be enshrined in 2004 and headlined numerous events at Madison Square Garden in the 1970s and 1980s.
WWE officials have also discussed enshrining the late Randy Savage, although it is unknown as to whether his family, the Poffos, have been approached on the matter.
Triple H has taken a much greater role in coordinating the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and WrestleMania than he has in the past for the events. It was his decision to reach out to Bruno Sammartino in June and he personally handled site surveying for MetLife Stadium.
(source: PWInsider.com)
– Jim Ross tweeted on Friday that he “thoroughly enjoyed” conducting a sit down interview with CM Punk and Steve Austin on Friday for the new WWE ’13 video game. “It was respectfully combative. A classic.”
– Speaking of WWE ’13, the official roster reveal for the game takes place today from SummerSlam Axxess in Los Angeles. WWE Champion CM Punk, Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, and Lilian Garcia will be among the WWE talent scheduled to appear. There will also be “special guests” in attendance.
– With WWE officially rebranding it’s developmental system “NXT” this week and dropping all references to “Florida Championship Wrestling” – the official FCW Twitter account has been changed to @NXTWrestling.
– Kaitlyn, Eve Torres and Dolph Ziggler and others are featured in the latest WWE Backstage Fallout from SmackDown:
WWE personality Paul Heyman appeared on former WCW announcer Mark Madden’s Pittsburgh-based radio show on Friday to hype SummeSlam. Here are some highlights of what Heyman said about:
– He initially turned down the offer to return to WWE, which was extended by Brock Lesnar. Heyman wasn’t confident that WWE knew how to properly market Lesnar as a fighter. Heyman said he knows how to use Lesnar and wanted to see this done properly.
– He was also uncertain being aligned with somebody in his WWE return, but he’s been close with Lesnar for a long time and their relationship is natural.
– So far, there have been no issues working with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, despite their very rocky past. He thinks Hunter and Stephanie enjoyed him making personal attacks against them on RAW in recent weeks because it makes them sympathetic figures and gives fans a chance to get behind them
– He thinks Lesnar’s MMA career is likely over, but if the right deal came a along, Lesnar would fight again.
– Heyman also said although he doesn’t think it’s going to happen and it’s easy to shoot down the idea, he would consider running a wrestling promotion again if he had the resources ($) and freedom he’d require.
Here’s audio of the interview:
WWE Hall of Famer The Iron Sheik recently spoke to WWE.com and says he’s not happy about Jinder Mahal using his Camel Clutch finishing move:
“First, I want to say hello to all my [WWE] fans. That was my hold, only Iron Sheik hold, and now the Indian man come and use it. He never ask me, never talk to me … and now he use my hold.”
“If I was a young Iron Sheik, I can suplex him … humble him first and then I show him my Camel Clutch, but I never got to that point. Now he using me, he use my greatest hold, the Camel Clutch, I don’t know. Sometimes I can be happy that the Indian come use my hold, sometimes I can be unhappy because why you have to use my hold?”
“Only one Iron Sheik, one Camel Clutch. No one else in the young generation try to be the Iron Sheik [besides Jinder Mahal], but he is not Iron Sheik.”
The article notes that Sheik is recovering from recent ankle surgery.
Former WWE superstar John Bradshaw Layfield has a new blog up about talking about WWE’s “Top 50 All-Time Wrestling Villains” list.
WWE Ranks The “Top 50 All-Time Wrestling Villains”
Here’s what JBL said:
“I have to say the top 50 greatest heel list by WWE is pretty far off. Forget JBL, I’m too biased to comment on myself, after all who else has had to have a police escort out of a town like I had in El Paso in 2004? That is real heat-and has any heel had any heat like that where folks were actually wanting to kill you since then, but I digress.
The biggest problem I have is with Gorgeous George being #9. I believe he was the greatest heel of all time, he inspired Muhammad Ali and James Brown-this was the guy who set the bar.
Nothing against my pal Hot Rod, I think Roddy was greatest heel of modern era. It is hard to compare eras, so how do you compare Hot Rod to the ‘Toast of the Coast’ The “Sensation of the Nation” the ‘Gorgeous One’. It’s impossible. So any list is arbitrary.
However, putting Gorgeous George #9 is insane. The 4 Horsemen were the greatest faction of all time, you have to have them at the top. There are so many great heels, omitting Bruiser Brody though? Really? Or Stan Hansen? Or William Regal?
Hollywood Hulk Hogan? Give me a break. Hogan was in the top 3 of biggest draws of all time, perhaps the biggest-depends on how you define the Stone Cold era. However, a heel? He wasnt a real heel he was a character. Greatest storyline of all time was the NWO and biggest match of all time was him versus Andre (that was ALL him, and he should get credit for that), but he was never a proper heel-he was still the Hulk, big difference.
Only two heels in the last 20 years needed police escorts out of towns, me and Sgt Slaughter. No one else.
Before that there were many. Hot Rod had heat like a nuclear bomb, he could be greatest heel ever-if the Gorgeous One isn’t and that is a close race.
In the 70s and 80s there were great heels and too many to mention here. Dick Murdoch, my first tag partner, was one of best heels of all time. To put some of these guys on the list and not Captain Redneck? Come on!
Any list is hard to justify, but I gotta say while this one has most of the top 50 in place I would argue the placing itself.”
This week, WWE published a new list ranking the Top 50 All-Time Wrestling Villains. Here’s the list, hit up the comments below and tell us what you think.
1. Roddy Piper
2. Ric Flair & Four Horsemen
3. Mr. McMahon
4. “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase
5. “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan
6. Triple H
7. “Superstar” Billy Graham
8. Bobby Heenan
9. Gorgeous George
10. Jake “the Snake” Roberts
11. Rick Rude
12. JBL
13. Fabulous Freebirds
14. Original Sheik
15. Chris Jericho
16. Sherri Martel
17. Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig
18. Killer Kowalski
19. Jim Cornette
20. Edge
21. Freddie Blassie
22. The Undertaker
23. Sgt. Slaughter
24. Harley Race
25. Vader
26. Nick Bockwinkel
27. Paul Orndorff
28. Fabulous Moolah
29. Raven
30. Jerry Lawler
31. Kevin Sullivan
32. Randy Orton
33. Terry Funk
34. Abdullah the Butcher
35. Paul Heyman
36. Ivan Koloff
37. Ernie Ladd
38. C.M. Punk
39. Dudley Boyz
40. Don Muraco
41. Kane
42. Brock Lesnar
43. Eddie Guerrero
44. Eric Bischoff
45. Andre the Giant
46. Iron Sheik
47. Mark Henry
48. Vickie Guerrero
49. Randy Savage
50. Batista
– When asked to pick the winner for Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H this Sunday night at SummerSlam, Jim Ross tweeted this prediction:
HHH must avoid kimura. If not, Lesnar wins. It will be physical.RT @NoahLightning99: @JRsBBQ Who are you picking..Triple h or Brock Lesnar ?
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) August 18, 2012
– Several of the WWE Superstars and Divas attended the Jennifer Lopez & Enrique Iglesias concert at the Staples Center on Friday night in Los Angeles.
– Eve Torres defeated Kaitlyn on Friday’s SmackDown to become General Manager Booker T’s new assistant.
