— Different countries have different artwork for THQ’s upcoming WWE ’12 video game and the original Sin Cara has been chosen for the cover in Mexico.
— Matches have been announced for WWE’s upcoming tour of Japan. November 30, 2011 at Yokohama Arena will feature John Cena vs. Alberto del Rio for the WWE Championship, Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston for the United States Championship, and Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix for the Divas Championship. December 1, 2011 at Yokohama Arena will feature John Cena and CM Punk vs. TBA, Big Show vs. Mason Ryan, and Dolph Ziggler vs. Evan Bourne for the United States Championship.
In light of news that WWE Chief Operating Officer Triple H has vowed to not step down from running the Raw Supershow, Christian has spearheaded an effort by various Superstars, Divas, referees, announcers and crew members to travel to Oklahoma City on Monday and stage a “Solidarity Rally” in the backstage parking lot of the Chesapeake Energy Arena prior to the show. The contingent, which consists of those who walked out on Triple H this past Monday night, tell WWE.com that they will not return to the Raw Supershow or step into the venue to perform until Triple H relinquishes control.
Triple H stated earlier in a video interview that John Cena, CM Punk, Randy Orton, Sheamus and Big Show will headline Monday night’s telecast.
“Beyond that, I might not have referees, I might not have announcers, I might not have cameramans. Quite frankly, I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. “We’ll see what we come up with on Monday. Hell, they might all show up and I won’t let anyone back in.”
The cast of beloved 1980’s movie The Princess Bride reunited on ABC’s Good Morning America on Friday and told stories about one of the main reasons the movie is such a classic – Andre the Giant.
— Though he may no longer actively compete, Hulk Hogan still commands among the highest salaries in the professional wrestling industry.
While discussing TNA’s decision to renew their contract with Hogan on the October 5 episode of Wrestling Observer Live, Dave Meltzer stated that the organization pays the wrestling legend $35,000 per television appearance—potentially totaling over $2 million per year.
TNA regularly discloses financial information to Meltzer, hence his knowledge of Hogan’s salary.
— Christy Hemme is scheduled for rare TNA house show appearances this weekend as she will be handling ring announcing duties during the organization’s tour of Quebec, Canada.
— Devon is advertised to appear at Wrestling Universe 34-29 Francis Lewis Blvd. Flushing, New York on Saturday, November 5 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Visit www.WrestlingUniverseOnline.com for more information.
— Maria Kanellis stated this afternoon on Twitter that she would only consider returning to WWE if she is given the opportunity to compete for a women’s championship.
“I have only one thing in my life that I regret and thats not getting to really fight for the Woman’s Championship. If I ever come back it would be for a belt,” she wrote in a response to a query regarding a possible return to the organization.
— Former WWE Diva Melina is scheduled to appear at the Middletown Flea Market (located at 128 Dolson Ave Middletown, New York) Saturday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for an autograph signing.
— Bruno Sammartino celebrated his 76th birthday yesterday in Italy. He attended a ceremony in his hometown of Pizzoferrato, where an individual received the annual Bruno Sammartino Award.
TNA Wrestling sources indicate that organization officials are in negotiations with Jersey Shore star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro to appear on multiple episodes of Impact Wrestling.
A deal is close to being reached, if it has not already been signed.
Ronnie is known as cast member who got into a major fist fight with Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino during the show’s filming in May.
Ortiz-Magro would be the first male member of the MTV reality series to appear for TNA.
Jennifer “JWoww” Farley and Angelina Pivarnick have also appeared for the wrestling organization.
WWE’s live events website (www.wwelivetour.com) remains offline after nude images were published in the photo gallery on Wednesday.
The website featured an unmoderated section where fans are permitted to upload photos taken at live events. A nude photo of former WWE Diva Tiffany from her Playboy modeling days was uploaded to the website, garnering attention online. More tawdry images were uploaded including a graphic still of Chyna’s s genitalia from her 2004 adult film 1 Night in China, a photo depicting TNA Wrestling broadcasters Mike Tenay and Taz looking on with approval, and a photo of The Miz with lettering reading “I’d fap to that.”
Stephanie McMahon, who oversees the website, called an emergency meeting upon learning of the situation. “Everyone was said to be blaming everyone else,” according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
UFC 136 – The Great Debate This year began with one of the most talked about fights in MMA history as Edgar and Maynard battled to a five round draw. Now these two lightweights will battle again to see who will reign atop the division.
Watch UFC 136: Edgar vs Maynard III Live on Pay-Per-View or UFC.tv on Saturday, Oct. 8th at 6/9pm PT/ET.
Colt Cabana stated during an interview with Pitch.com that he has not heard back from WWE officials since working two tryout matches for the organization in August.
“They won’t return my calls or anything,” he tells Justin Kendall. “It’s pretty weird, man. I don’t get it. Nobody was really receptive. It’s just like they wanted to ignore it. I think it’s because Punk is such a rebel that … they were able re-sign Punk, but I think to kind of stick it to him, they don’t want to talk to his friend.
He is asked whether he had that feeling when he worked the tryout matches.
“Nah,” Cabana responded. “It didn’t seem like. All of the wrestlers and all of the personalities and all of the personnel, they love me. They get it. I think there’s just a group of people who don’t get me or don’t want to get me. Unfortunately, that keeps me away from an opportunity, but at the same time, I think the answer was so obvious to put me on TV and capitalize on it.
“At the same time, I think it’s really nice that my fans are really gathering around me and supporting me and continuing me in wrestling without WWE. A lot of people say that you can only be successful if you’re in WWE, and I’m a great case and point where when it’s all said and done, to be a great wrestler doesn’t mean that you have to be a WWE Champion or WWE superstar.”
— Former WWE superstar John Bradshaw Layfield has posted a new discussion on his Facebook page answering the question he says he’s asked most on Facebook and Twitter – whether he’ll ever return to WWE. To read his full blog update, click here.
Here’s what he said about a WWE return:
“Will I return to WWE? I doubt it, but you never know. I am not looking for a job and they are not asking me to return so it has not come up. I had to retire due to injuries, and yes, the 23 second match with Rey at Wrestlemania was my idea-at that point in my career due to injuries I could not have had any type of real match.
“I was so hurt at that point that I literally couldn’t walk anywhere of distance and didn’t have the ability to work out. I hated being out of shape and realized I was tired of smoke and mirrors to hide my inadequacies-I didn’t want to be one of those old guys who had held on too long and I was in danger of becoming exactly that.
“It’s taken over two full years but I am currently in the best health, and shape, I have been in over a decade.”
JBL said he is currently training for the New York Marathon in November and then plans to climb the tallest volcano in the world (in Ecuador) in February.
He ended the piece by saying, “Bottom line-I am not looking for a job and WWE is not looking to offer me one. I hope this answers the question I am asked most frequently.”
Mr. Long Island Iced Z, Zack Ryder is back with another installment of his Z! True Long Island Story video series. This week’s show includes footage of what happened after Monday’s RAW went off the air – and it doesn’t end well for our favorite broski.
* Brodus Clay defeated a local wrestler in a squash.
SmackDown, Airing Tonight:
* SmackDown opens with Teddy Long and Zack Ryder backstage, talking about the walkout on RAW. Teddy says RAW’s loss will be SmackDown’s gain and Ryder chimes in.
* Vickie Guerrero, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Cody Rhodes, David Otunga, Wade Barrett and Christian are in the ring to heat from the crowd. They talk about their grievances and threaten to boycott all WWE events because of unsafe working conditions, unless Triple H resigns as WWE COO.
* WWE champ Alberto Del Rio comes out and says that the Smackdown stars won’t return to Raw as long as HHH is COO. He’s here to show Smackdown what Raw will be missing this Monday. Teddy Long comes out and announces Sheamus & Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes & Christian as tonight’s main event, but says that since Del Rio wants to be in action tonight, he will face Sin Cara.
*WWE champion Alberto Del Rio defeated Sin Cara. After the match, Black Cara attacked Blue Cara.
*Backstage, Matt Striker interviewed WWE Tag Team champions Air Boom, asking them why they walked out on Raw. They said it was a culmination of many things but until HHH steps down, the fans won’t see Air Boom anywhere but Smackdown.
*Jack Swagger and WWE United States champion Dolph Ziggler defeated WWE Tag Team champions Air Boom in a non title match. The champions were attacked as they made their entrance and were on the defensive for most of the match.
*WWE Divas champion Beth Phoenix defeated Alicia Fox in 30 seconds. After the match, Fox was trapped in Beth’s submission while Natalya screamed at her on the mic to cry and scream.
* Big Show comes out and talked about returning, then challenges Mark Henry. Mark Henry came out and says he will deal with Big Show when he’s ready but Show doesn’t deserve a World Heavyweight Title shot.
* Randy Orton is interviewed by Matt Striker and is asked why he didn’t participate on the walkout at RAW. Orton says he will deal with Triple H personally, if he has issues with him.
* Big Show comes back out and says he wants Mark Henry tonight. This appeared to be an addition or re-tape to the previous segment.
* Ezekiel Jackson defeated Jinder Mahal.
* John Laurinaitis shows up in Teddy Long’s office to offer his support.
* Hornswoggle and Booker T entertain the crowd in the ring, likely a segment for just us in the crowd. They both do Spinaroonies.
* Sheamus and Randy Orton beat Cody Rhodes and Christian.
* Mark Henry and Big Show had a staredown and teased a brawl to end the show.
– Sirius XM Radio announced on Thursday that The Miz will host an exclusive fantasy football show heard nationwide on SiriusXM’s 24/7 fantasy sports channel.
First and Awesome will air Wednesdays (6:00-7:00 pm ET) during the NFL season on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio, channel 87 on XM and channel 210 on Sirius Premier (formerly known as “The Best of XM”).
– The WWE website posted a “worked” statement on Thursday announcing what to expect on Monday’s RAW Supershow:
WWE Chief Operating Officer Triple H vows to “absolutely not step down” from running WWE Raw SuperShow.
Triple H vows that John Cena, CM Punk, Randy Orton, Sheamus and Big Show will headline Monday night’s telecast, emanating from the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.
Despite the walkout that took place on RAW, Triple H will continue day-to-day operations.
– Rey Mysterio tweeted on Thursday that he will not be traveling to Mexico next week’s for WWE’s upcoming tour of Mexico, which will include the first-ever RAW television taping from Mexico. Mysterio, who recently underwent two knee surgeries, wrote (translated):
“Recovery is slow but effective, I am sorry that I will not be with you in Mexico for the recording of Raw.”
– Randy Orton, who was one of the WWE superstars who did not take part in the walkout that took place at the end of Monday’s RAW, tweeted the following on Thursday regarding the angle:
“Many of you have asked me where I stand with HHH’s vote of confidence. Undecided, so I will see all of u live from Oklahoma City for RAW…and someone will be on the receiving end of an RKO.”
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights of what JR wrote about:
Mark Henry vs. Undertaker at WM28? “Yes..Mark Henry has made a definitive impact in WWE and I would be shocked if Henry loses the World Title any time soon. However, I also don’t feel that he’s unbeatable because no one is. Mark Henry has upped his game as much as any one I can name in recent times in WWE. Could the new and improved Mark Henry possibly face the Undertaker at WM28? Any thing is possible.”
WWE Reviving Its Tag Team Division: “Yes I do believe that tag team wrestling has a chance to make a come back in WWE based on what I have seen recently. Time will tell but there are some positive signs that would indicate that WWE is more committed than in recent years to develop more viable tag teams. However, for any one to think that today’s tag team scene will soon rival previous eras when teams stayed together for years and refined their skills isn’t likely, at least that’s one guy’s opinion.
WWE Hall of Fame Announcer Gorilla Monsoon: “This is the anniversary of his death and there is rarely a day that goes by that I don’t think of him. I can truthfully say that if it had not been for Bob Marella’s friendship and support when I first arrived at WWE in 1993 from the ‘enemy’ WCW that I seriously doubt that I would have had the Hall of Fame career in WWE that I have been blessed to have. Gorilla Monsoon was one of the finest men that I have ever known in any walk of life. His organic, on air chemistry with Bobby Heenan was unmatched. This business that we have chosen for our professional lives is tough in so many ways and, quite honestly, isn’t conducive for cultivating long term, true, friendships. I can look any person in the eye and say that ‘Gino’ as he was called was a great friend and mentor to me who will always hold a fond place in my heart. It’s too bad that the young wrestlers of today never got the chance to get to know Gorilla Monsoon and to sit under his learning tree.”
Brian Pillman: “Another important person in my life died this week many years ago even though it only seems like it was yesterday. Brian Pillman was one of a kind. A classic overachiever with a brilliant mind for the business and the brazen guts of a riverboat gambler. When Brian sustained a mangled foot in the Humvee accident, I truly believed that his life started to head in the wrong direction. Brian knew that after ankle fusion that he would never be the in ring performer that he longed to be. No one that I have ever known had more of an obsession to be a major, wrestling star that Brian Pillman. As hard as I tried, I could never get Brian to regroup and to focus on being a great, color commentator in wrestling. Every time I travel to St. Louis, I think of where I was when I got the news that Brian had been found dead in a hotel room in the Twin Cities. A little piece of me died that day too. Brian Pillman was a special person and another who left us much too soon. RIP, buddy. ”
Vince Russo has been removed from his post as the head of TNA’s creative team, according to a report by prowrestling.net.
Russo has been replaced by Bruce Prichard, who is also in charge of TNA’s talent relations.
Russo is not entirely gone, as he’ll still be one of the senior writers for the show along with writer Matt Conway, but Bruce Prichard will now handle the overall direction of the shows and has the final say on the scripts.
This major change to TNA’s creative structure has been in the works for several months and became official within the past week or so.
There are said to be mixed feelings in the TNA locker room regarding Bruce Prichard getting so much power in TNA so early into his run with the company – but at the same time, Russo’s demotion is sure to make many people happy.
Below is an updated line-up for next Sunday’s TNA Bound For Glory pay-per-view from Philadelphia, PA.
Some of the following matches have not been announced on television yet, so the lineup contains minor spoilers for the next two weeks of Impact Wrestling:
TNA World Heavyweight Title Match
Kurt Angle (c) vs. Bobby Roode
No Disqualification Match
Hulk Hogan vs. Sting
TNA X Division Title Match
Austin Aries (c) vs. Brian Kendrick
TNA Tag Team Title Match
Mexican America (c) vs. Ink Inc.
TNA Knockouts Title Match
Winter (c) vs. Madison Rayne vs. Velvet Sky vs. Mickie James
Full Metal Mayhem
Jerry Lynn vs. Rob Van Dam
Falls Count Anywhere Match
Bully Ray vs. Mr. Anderson
WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Zack Ryder have been going back and forth on Twitter over the past few weeks, with Ryder recently promising to send Austin a special package. Austin received the package on Wednesday and wrote the following on Twitter:
“Was starting my workout but realized I forgot to put on my legwarmers and headband…”
“Got my legwarmers and headband on…hang on Earth…gonna try a personal best of 1700lbs on the bench press…not a workout for the weak…”
“If I’m not mistaken, I think I have some mail from @ZackRyder…will find out after the workout….a broski shirt perhaps??”
“Wow what a day….a tshirt and a BLL coaster from @ZackRyder”
“But wait! There’s more! Takin care and spikin my lack of hair…am I serious, bro?”
Check out these pictures of the headband, t-shirt and Bud Light Lime coaster that Zack Ryder sent “Stone Cold” Steve Austin this week:
WWE has announced that Darren Young has been suspended for 30 days due to a violation of the company’s Wellness Policy.
The following statement was posted on the WWE website on Thursday:
“In accordance with its Talent Wellness Program, WWE has suspended Fred Rosser (Darren Young) for 30 days effective Wednesday, Oct. 5, for his first violation of the company’s policy.”
Young has not been featured on WWE television much in recent months but was shown briefly on Monday’s RAW during the talent walkout.
– USA Today has published an interview with Hollywood star Hugh Jackman, whose new movie “Reel Steel” opens Friday.
In preparation for his movie, Jackman has been working with boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard to make his fight scenes look as realistic as possible. Both Jackman and Leonard talked about Jackman’s experience hosting RAW and how his recent boxing training helped him out when he got into a confrontation with Dolph Ziggler. Sugar Ray Leonard said he’s proud of Jackman for landing a punch on Dolph Ziggler, even if Ziggler’s injuries were just “part of the show”.
“He delivered a punch that found its target. That’s all I care about,” Leonard said. “It put a stamp on my job. I’m proud.”
– Carl Dantes sent in this video footage of Shawn Michaels and his son Cameron hunting after a recent taping of Shawn Michaels’ MacMillan River Adventures.
– After a 2 week hiatus, WWE has decided to bring back their weekly Superstars online show in the United States. This week’s “return” episode will be posted to Youtube this afternoon at 4pm (EST).
The following matches have been taped for today’s WWE.com Superstars broadcast:
AJ vs. Tamina.
Ted DiBiase vs. Tyson Kidd.
Alex Riley vs. JTG.
Michael McGuillicuty vs. Percy Watson.
– There is some concern among WWE officials regarding Rey Mysterio using his own doctors in San Diego for his operations and not Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama, who is considered the best in the business.
– There was only one house show over the weekend – a RAW and SmackDown supershow that took place from Mobile, Alabama on 10/1. That event only drew 3,200 paying fans and a gate of $92,000, which is a disappointing turnout considering superstars from both brands (including John Cena) were in attendance.
– Former WWE NXT rookie and FCW Champion Lucky Cannon, who was released from his developmental deal back in August, tweeted the following on Wednesday, an indication that he could be TNA bound:
“@JeffJarrettTNA .. Looking forward to speaking with u”
– Following Gail Kim’s recent release from WWE, there’s talk that she could wind up back in TNA once her 90-day no-compete clause expires.
– TNA has announced another round of ‘Gut Check’ workshops, where people can try out to become TNA superstars. The following dates and locations have been announced:
* October 28th in Sacramento, CA
* November 5th in Toledo, OH
* December 10th in Orlando, FL
– TNA President Dixie Carter turns 47 years old today. Happy birthday Dixie!
– TNA is looking to produce a new TV show aimed at the Indian market. Sonjay Dutt and BG James recently flew to India to scout potential talents for the show.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has posted more comments to twitter regarding Monday’s RAW walkout. Ross, the final person to walk out on Triple H, now says he regrets his actions.
“I’m having 2nd thoughts on my decision to support many of the talents by walking off Raw Monday nite. I want 2 be in OKC if HHH will have me.”
“So I made a mistake Mon & I’m admonished. I admit I made a mistake & same occurs. Lots of tuf ppl on Twitter. I WILL be in OKC. I’m not explaining why I made the decision I made Monday night. Those that know, know. All I want 2 do is call wrestling matches if allowed.”
Ross also gives an update on whether WWE’s superstars will be at RAW and Triple H’s future as WWE COO:
“I hope WWE fans pack OKC Mon night. Cena, Punk, Orton, Sheamus, SHOW, will be there & HHH will NOT resign. Let’s see where the cards fall.”
