The official Twitter feed of the WWE Insider says Wade Barrett suffered an arm injury during the 10-Man No. 1 Contender’s Battle Royal on tonight’s Raw SuperShow.
Their statement reads: “BREAKING NEWS: Wade Barrett suffered an injury to his left arm during tonight’s Battle Royal and was rushed to a nearby medical facility.”
There was panic ringside after Big Show tossed Dolph Ziggler over the top rope onto Barrett and R-Truth, leading to the injury. Barrett was escorted to the backstage area with a splint on his left arm.
A well placed source with intimate knowledge of the situation has exclusively told SEScoops that “no one is safe” within the WWE hierarchy, as it becomes apparent the WWE Network launch date will not meet with Vince McMahon’s expectations.
According to our WWE insider, McMahon and Executive Producer Kevin Dunn had high hopes for the network, and had placed “Project Evergreen” (a series of shows that can play for the next 100 years) on the fast track in order to launch the network within the original timeframe Vince had promised people within the company.
But without a development executive and an official head of the network (besides McMahon himself), the reality of the network is looming large over the heads of everyone in WWE, and last week’s front office shakeups seem to just be the beginning. “Vince is ready to do what he calls GET OUT THE BROOM,” our source told us. “No one’s job is safe in WWE at this moment!”
There’s a brand new WWE game out from THQ, and both companies have hopes for the launch, we have learned. WWE WrestleFest, a faithfully recreated 2-D experience for iPhone and iPad based on the well-known WWE arcade game made popular in the 1990s, will become available Tuesday, February 21st, and expectations for the game are high.
The game features modern day WWE Superstars, prominent WWE Legends, an extensive downloadable content program, Road to WrestleMania progression play and multiplayer functionality. WWE and THQ announced that WrestleFestwill be available through Apple’s App Store for the suggested retail prices of US $2.99 (iPhone) and US $3.99 (iPad).
THQ also announced WWE WrestleFest is in development for additional platforms, including Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStationNetwork for the PlayStation3 computer entertainment system, Androidand PC, with a currently scheduled release in 2012.
The game features everyone from, John Cena, to The Rock, Randy Orton to “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Undertaker to, Jake “The Snake” Roberts and even “Macho Man” Randy Savage. There’s a lot of buzz for the game, which will explore arcade-style WWE action across a variety of match types, including Royal Rumble, Tag Team, Gauntlet and Steel Cage, while competing in a number of renowned arenas like Raw, SmackDown, WrestleMania and Saturday Night’s Main Event. The Road to WrestleMania progression-style mode will encourage players to select a WWE Superstar or WWE Legend and compete in a series of challenges to win five different WWE Championships, while wireless connectivity through Apple Game Center will enable them to issue multiplayer challenges.
WWE WrestleFestwill also update the gameplay experience following launch with the release of 30 additional WWE Superstars and WWE Legends, as well as new arenas, through an extensive downloadable content program. Items currently scheduled for future release include WWE Superstars CM Punk, Triple H and Sheamus, WWE Legends Shawn Michaels and Big Boss Man, as well as the classic Survivor Series arena.
– Triple H finally agreed to face The Undertaker at WrestleMania – on the condition that the Undertaker agreed on a stipulation – Hell in a Cell. Undertaker did not give a verbal response to the challenge, but showed smiled as he walked away from the ring.
– The main event of Tuesday’s live SmackDown special on SyFy will be WWE Champion CM Punk vs. World Heavyweight champion Daniel Bryan.
– Ron Simmons has been announced for the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012.
— Former WWE Women’s Champion Candice Michelle noted on Twitter attending last night’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her family.
— Kofi Kingston needed staples in the back of his head following last night’s Raw Elimination Chamber Match for the WWE Championship.
— Elimination Chamber featured 1 hour and 39 minutes of wrestling action.
— WWE television ratings will be delayed this week due to the President’s Day holiday on Monday. Last Friday’s rating for SmackDown will be delayed to Tuesday and the rating for tonight’s Raw will be delayed to Wednesday.
— The official Twitter feed of the WWE Insider stated Monday: “BREAKING NEWS: @IAmJericho is medically cleared to compete tonight on #Raw. More to come on WWE.com.”
Jericho was knocked out during Sunday’s Raw Elimination Chamber Match. Later in the show, he was shown backstage being examined by medical personnel.
— In an interview promoting tonight’s Raw SuperShow in Minneapolis, Kofi Kingston discussed fulfilling his dream to become a professional wrestler and his pre-WWE connection to fellow Superstar Alex Riley via Boston College.
Regarding Riley, Kingston said, “We have a developmental territory, which is in Florida, FCW, and you know, Riley and I weren’t close friends but we ran in the same circles of people and one day at practice, I’d been signed for about a year and some change, and he had just showed up, he walked in and I was like, man that looks like Riley … there’s no way he’d be here, though. We went through the whole practice, we’d even like talk to each other and then at the end, he was like, ‘hey, did you go to BC?’ And I was like, I knew it was you! So it was crazy.”
— Ron Simmons appeared on Busted Open Monday and stated WWE will announce his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame on tonight’s Raw.
It has been reported that John “Bradshaw” Layfield will induct his longtime tag team partner into the Hall.
— Ticketmaster.com is currently holding a pre-sale for the August 27, 2012 Raw Supershow at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The code is: WWERAW. Once the pre-sale concludes this week, tickets won’t go on sale until June 30.
— Lilian Garcia stated on Twitter that she’s in Chicago, Illinois today recording a new song with producer Oh, Hush!.
— The latest issue of WWE Magazine hits newsstands tomorrow. The issue will feature four different covers—The Undertaker, Triple H, John Cena and The Rock.
During an interview with SportsVibe.uk, former WWE Diva Trish Stratus teased a possible match with Divas champion Beth Phoenix at WrestleMania 28. Stratus, who has been going back and forth with Phoenix on Twitter, had this to say about a possible match:
“Beth was saying that she was the most dominant champion, so I thought I would just let her know that title is already taken.”
“As for a match between Beth and myself at WrestleMania that is an excellent proposition and I think the fans would love that. I’ve actually had the opportunity to tangle up with Beth Phoenix a couple of times and I think that she is amazing in the ring and I would love to kick her ass actually.”
Just last month, Trish Stratus wrote the following message on Twitter in response to Beth Phoenix claiming to be the most dominant woman wrestling champion in history:
“@TheBethPhoenix should choose her words wisely when it comes to being the most dominant champion…”
Aside from Trish Stratus, Kharma has also been rumored as a potential WrestleMania opponent for Beth Phoenix. We want to know – who would you rather see face Beth Phoenix at WrestleMania 28 – Trish Stratus or Kharma?
— After putting an end to Kane Sunday at Elimination Chamber, John Cena has set his sights on The Rock. Cena tweeted on Monday:
“Kane compromised. Just u and me now movie star. See u whenever u decide to show up.”
— Irvin Muchnick and Anthony Roberts have released a book for Amazon Kindle investigating Signature Pharmacy, which years ago served as an online dealer of steroids, human growth hormone and prescription drugs to famous entertainers and athletes, including professional wrestlers of the WWE variety.
In lists obtained by the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and ESPN in August 2007, Randy Orton, Dave Bautista (Batista), Adam Copeland (Edge), Robert Huffman (Booker T), Shane Helms, Mike Bucci (Simon Dean), Anthony Carelli (Santino Marella), Charles Haas, John Hennigan (John Morrison), Darren Matthews (William Regal), Ken Anderson (Mr. Kennedy), Eddie Fatu (Umaga), Shoichi Funaki (Funaki), Chris Mordetsky (Chris Masters), Chavo Guerrero, Sylvain Grenier, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero and Brian Adams (Crush) were all identified as clients of Signature Pharmacy in Orlando, the site raided by Albany County and Florida law enforcement agencies in February 2007 for distributing drugs to clients who had not been examined by doctors.
WWE handed suspensions to ten wrestlers upon the news breaking on August 30, 2007: Copeland, Huffman, Helms, Haas, Matthews, Anderson, Fatu, Funaki, Mordetsky and Chavo Guerrero. WWE also pledged to make future Talent Wellness Program violators public after November 1, 2007.
– After arriving in Minneapolis, Minnesota for tonight’s Raw SuperShow, Vickie Guerrero wrote the following on Twitter:
“I’m here in Minneapolis with a heavy heart….I will focus on good thoughts.”
Her late husband, Eddie Guerrero, who was found dead in a Minneapolis hotel room prior to a WWE television taping on November 13, 2005.
– John Cena won the “Here to Rumble” award on Saturday night at the Cartoon Networks’ second annual Hall of Game Awards show from Los Angeles. The show, which was hosted by Shaquille O’Neal, airs tonight at 7 p.m. on the Cartoon Network. RAW superstar The Miz also appears on the show as a presenter.
– The WWE website tracked down Chris Jericho backstage after his match at Elimination Chamber. Jericho, who got knocked out during the match and was never officially eliminated, said:
“I was not eliminated from the Chamber. He (C.M. Punk) never beat me. C.M. Punk proved nothing!”
Check out this video of Jericho’s post-match interview:
Solomonster is here to cover one of the busiest wrestling weeks he can remember, including the end of the Vince Russo era in TNA, what led to it, and could we see him end up back with WWE? Plus, looking at Santino replacing Randy Orton in the Elimination Chamber and predictions for the PPV, the latest on Jesse Sorensen’s condition and a question that has to be asked about his medical bills, WrestleMania 29 comes to New Jersey and a look at the potential main event, Chris Hero gets his new name, Alex Koslov makes a jackass of himself, thoughts on Chyna’s new “movie”, the death of Whitney Houston and MUCH MORE! Get your pre-Chamber fix right now!
— Ric Flair did not appear as advertised for Sunday’s TNA Impact Wrestling World Tour event at Glenville State College’s Lilly Gymnasium in Glenville, West Virginia. “The Nature Boy” was featured on promotional posters and advertised on the Impact Wrestling website to accompany Gunner for a singles match against Garett Bischoff.
— According to the Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board, Impact Wrestling on Challenge TV drew 208,000 viewers. The previous week’s show drew 278,000 viewers.
— TNA Women’s Knockout Champion Gail Kim turns 35 years old Monday.
Shaq Says He'll Be At WrestleMania & Is Rumored To Wrestle Big Show
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal confirmed to HollywoodLife.com over the weekend that he would be wrestling at WrestleMania 28. Shaq hosted the Cartoon Network’s Hall of Game Awards on Saturday and was asked whether he’ll be wrestling at WrestleMania. He said:
“Yes I’ll be there!”
Shaq would not say who he’ll be wrestling, but Shaq stated several months ago during a radio interview that his opponent will be the Big Show. Shaq and Big Show have crossed paths several times on WWE television in recent years – usually resulting in a physical confrontation between the two giants.
Check out this video of Shaq & the Big Show getting physical on RAW from July 2009:
Former WWE Superstar Batista recently spoke with The Sun and opened up about his unhappiness in WWE and why he’ll never return to WWE again full time. Here are some highlights of what Batista said about:
Why he left WWE: “The reason I left was the PG direction the company took, it got too corny for me. I was a hug fan of the edgy era of DX, Stone Cold Steve Austin and those guys. The change in direction really ruined it for me. It’s well recorded I’m not a fan of the likes of John Cena or The Miz. It’s such a different company these days and not in a good way.”
Turning down Tough Enough: “I’ve no plans to return anytime soon. I was offered the job of working on Tough Enough, I just didn’t think it was for me. I hear it went well with Steve Austin and good luck to them. I need to be excited by a project and I didn’t feel that way about Tough Enough.”
Returning to WWE: “If I did return to the WWE, it would be for a run not just a one-shot deal. I’d have to be a constant for them not someone who drifts in and out to boost ratings. If I did I’d love to work with Triple H again or Undertaker. They are the best workers there in my opinion and they’d make it worthwhile to return. The show would have to change though, so I can’t see my return being anytime soon can you?”
You can check out the full article at TheSun.co.uk.
– As we reported over the weekend, the April 23rd RAW Supershow from Detroit, Michigan will be a 3-hour show. There are tentative plans for this show to feature the 2012 WWE Draft.
– Arda Ocai has a new article up at TheScore.com looking at the chances that it could snow in New Jersey next year on April 7th, when WrestleMania 29 takes place from the open-dome Metlife Stadium. Looking back at the weather on April 7th over the past 10 years, the average temperature has been 47.7 °F (9 °C). The high has been 58.71 °F (15 °C) and the low has been 37.79 °F (3 °C).
– There is speculation backstage that The Undertaker will show up on RAW tonight either bald or with a very altered appearance.
— TNA Knockouts Brooke Tessmacher, Gail Kim and Winter and former WWE Superstars Billy Gunn and Chavo Guerrero are slated to appear in a mixed martial arts themed independent film set for release in the summer 2013, according to a press release issued by SaintSinner Entertainment and Jaunted Productions.
The synopsis for Double Fury reads: “Double Fury is a martial arts action packed tale of two estranged brothers brought back together after their father is murdered by a megalomaniacal madman who’s looking for a volatile package in one of their possession that could destroy all that they hold dear.”
— With the retirement of Malia Hosaka, Traditional Championship Wrestling has announced that Mickie James’ replacement opponent at their April 7, 2012 show in Fort Smith, Arksansas will be Cheerleader Melissa (a/k/a Alissa Flash). It’s being promoted as the first time the two have wrestled a singles match against each other in the United States.
— Brooke Tessmacher has been announced to appear at WrestleReunion 8, which takes place April 13-15, 2012 at the Doubletree Toronto Airport 655 Dixon Rd. Toronto, Ontario Canada.
– Chris Jericho was knocked out during Sunday’s Elimination Chamber match. Later in the show, he was shown backstage getting checked out by medical personnel and looked to be totally out of it. The WWE website posted the following update on Chris Jericho’s condition:
“The WWE Universe is buzzing about what Jericho has to say regarding his departure at the hands of The Straight Edge Superstar. Although he was unable to comment earlier, WWE.com is attempting to locate him in Milwaukee’s Bradley Center tonight to get his thoughts on the Raw Elimination Chamber Match and CM Punk.”
– WWE Divas Champion Beth Phoenix wore white wrist tape and a plaid belt at last night’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view to pay homage to WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper.
– The “Major Announcement” that John Laurinaitis was teasing for Elimoination Chamber turned out to be the surprise returns of Alberto Del Rio, Mark Henry and Christian. All three Superstars returned to show their support of Laurinaitis and suggested that he become the permanent General Manager for not just RAW, but SmackDown as well.
An article on the WWE website is teasing that we may find out if Laurinaitis will get the job of permanent General Manager tonight on RAW.
– Sunday’s Elimination Chamber event was the first time since the show’s inception back in 2009 that neither the WWE title or World Heavyweight title changed hands.
– Headed into Sunday’s WWE Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, WWE officials reportedly weren’t sure if CM Punk would be keeping the WWE title. The decision was made sometime this weekend to have Punk win the match.
– As previously reported, Santino received strong praise backstage for his work last night at the pay-per-view. Beth Phoenix and Tamina, who complimented each other on Twitter after their match, also got a lot great feedback from WWE agents after their match.
– Some of the WWE terms trending worldwide last night during Elimination Chamber were John Cena, CM Punk, Alberto Del Rio, Kane, The Great Khali, Teddy Long, Mark Henry, and Kofi Kingston.
– WWE’s website posted a video with CM Punk and Sheamus after last night’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view.
Punk believes Chris Jericho is going to want a title shot at WrestleMania 28 because of the events that went down during their chamber match. Punk says he welcomes any and all challengers for WrestleMania and regardless of who he faces, he will walk out WWE Champion.
You can check it the WWE website’s interview with CM Punk by clicking here.
Sheamus says he chose to face World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 28 because he’s already been a two-time WWE Champion and the next step is to become World Heavyweight Champion. Sheamus guarantees he will leave WrestleMania as the new champion.
– After his strong performance during the SmackDown brand’s Elimination Chamber match last night, Santino Marella got a lot of praise from WWE management and his colleagues. Jim Ross tweeted the following about Santino’s role in the match:
“Santino 2nite a great example of talent’s maximizing their minutes on TV/PPV. Santino’s gotten over w/ humor. Fans like him. Simple concept.”
– WWE Divas Champion Beth Phoenix says she was impressed with Tamina Snuka at Elimination Chamber. Beth wrote on Twitter:
“@TaminaSnuka impressed the hell out of me tonight. Genuine competition. But…i told you i will be #divaschampforever”
– Tamina replied to Phoenix’s tweet, writing the following about their match:
“My blood is still pumping like crazy from EC, i have to say in order to step up to the next level and grow you have to take your beatings!”
“BE aware of the consequences of those beatings it will feed the fire of the Goddess! @TheBethPhoenix it was a dream come true wrestling you”
CM Punk and singer Chris Brown are the latest two public figures to use Twitter to talk trash about one another.
The WWE champion wrote the following about the singer on his Twitter:
“I would like @chrisbrown fight somebody that can defend themselves. Me curb stomping that turd would be a #wrestlemania moment.”
Chris Brown replied back with some strong words for Punk, apparently not aware of Punk’s straight-edge drug free lifestyle:
“@CMpunk needs more followers. He’s such a leader! Not to mention the roids hes on has made it utterly impossible for him pleasure a women.
“Positivity regardless of how u feel! @CMpunk contact my assistant and I’ll have em send u an autographed pic for my biggest FAN!!!”
Chris Brown was arrested back in 2009 for beating the shit out of his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna. According to the police report, Brown punched the female singer in the face several times and threatened to kill her. For a full account of exactly how badly Brown assaulted Rihanna, head over to People.com.
John Cena spoke to The Miami Herald to discuss his role as the honorary race starter at this Saturday’s Daytona 500 NASCAR race. Here are some highlights of what Cena said about:
Being the race starter this Saturday: “I am so honored to be able to start this great race. To me, not only being a car enthusiast but to now really being into NASCAR as well, it’s something I really can’t believe is happening, and I won’t get the full effect until I’m up there for the second lap and they come by at about 190 miles an hour.”
If he owns better cars than The Rock: “Yes. I’m sure Rocky can buy whatever he wants, but as an enthusiast I have a few 200 mile per hour cars locked up in safe keeping.”
WWE stars being into NASCAR: “I know a few [WWE] guys are into it. I can’t necessarily say some money has exchanged hands [among WWE personnel] because that would be wrong, but some points go back and forth every weekend when the [NASCAR] guys race because we have a few eyes that watch very closely on the weekend.
“I’d say about 60 percent of our crew — from superstars to techs to everybody — are into NASCAR. When I tell you as a group we all watch on weekends, we all watch on weekends.”
–- Drew McIntyre’s current losing streak on SmackDown is expected to culminate with a character makeover. PWInsider.com reports that the Scottish wrestler will become an “arrogant playboy.”
— Layla, who has been sidelined since May 2011 due to tears of both her Anterior cruciate and Medial collateral ligaments, stated on Twitter that her knee is stronger than ever. She stated during a recent radio interview that she could return in time for WrestleMania XXVIII.
— Zack Ryder continues to complain on Twitter about John Cena and Eve kissing last Monday on Raw. He wrote, “I’m trying to convince @WWEShop to take “LOYALTY” and “RESPECT” off of @JohnCena’s t-shirts. #broskisbeforehoeskis.”
— Shelly Martinez appears in The Social Rules, a new web series about the do’s and dont’s of dating and relating. In her latest video, she offers advice on breaking up.
— WWE will hold a SmackDown live event at the Civic Center in Charleston, West Virginia on May 6, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.
