— Legendary ring announcer Howard Finkel appears unhappy with Lilian Garcia’s return to WWE. When asked for comment on the her return to the organization as SmackDown ring announcer during WWE.com’s live chat Monday, he initially ignored the subject.
“The Fink” wrote “Genku already stirring the pot” in response to a fan’s query. He then said he has “even bigger news” than Garcia’s return to WWE, which was Dusty Rhodes joining Twitter.
Finkel then appeared annoyed when a chat moderator posted a YouTube video of Garcia’s 2007 song ¡Quiero Vivir!. When asked for comment later, he simply wrote, “Good for her.” The following fan comment was then posted: “Fink, you should return to announce. Belong on tv not computer.” He responded, “AMEN.”
— WWE ring announcer Justin Roberts says he will be making a big announcement this week.
He wrote, “For my 1000th tweet, I’d like to announce… A big announcement this week right here on my Twitter… Stay tuned!”
— Hot on the heels of former WWE performer Maryse Ouellet’s decision to move on from the professional wrestling industry and attempt to make it in the fashion industry, Kelly Kelly may also be positioning herself for a career outside of WWE.
The WWE Diva is looking to position herself for acting and modeling gigs late next year and is pushing her real name, Barbara Blank, instead of Kelly Kelly. Whether it’s her just trying to have a backup plan, testing the waters to see if there’s interest in her, or her outwardly looking at something different, nobody knows.
— WWE referee Marc Harris is sidelines with a broken nose.
— Shelly Martinez is offering a free 8×10 with every pre-order of a Martinez Girlz T-Shirt. To see the T-Shirts, which read #kayfabe, #FunTimeGang and #TheMartinezGirls, click here.
– MTV has tried several times to get The Miz to return for another “Real World Challenge” – but he’s not interested in returning to the network that gave him his first national television exposure. Miz told FayObserver.com this week:
“MTV gave me my start, and I’m always grateful to them. But, I’m done with doing a challenge. I’m tired of the drama that comes with that, and I don’t know the kids any more. I’d be the first one voted out. I know the game; I was a mastermind at that. I enjoy watching, though.”
– WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes says WWE developmental star Seth Rollins (former ROH World champion Tyler Black) has huge potential to be a star when he’s called up to the main WWE roster. Dusty tweeted on Thursday:
“Tyler black the real thing , I be put-stamp on future champ.”
– THQ has released a preview video of Vickie Guerrero’s character in the new WWE ’12 video game, which will be available in an upcoming DLC pack release. The video shows off Vickie’s two finishing moves – a spear and a top-rope frog splash, a tribute to her late husband. Check it out:
— Former WWE performer Dave Bautista is scheduled for international sexologist Dr. Susan Block’s radio show, The Dr. Susan Block Show, this Saturday night. He will be joined by adult film star/motorcycle stunt rider Destiny Dixon, Playboy Cyber Girl Angela Sommers, Penthouse Danni Girl Samantha Saint, adult star Victoria White and webcam girl Daisy Delight. The show airs live from 10:30 p.m. to midnight PST via http://tinyurl.com/RadioSUZY1.
— Spike TV will air WWE Films’ The Marine 2 on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. The direct-to-DVD movie features Ted DiBiase playing Sgt. Joe Linwood, a Marine Force Recon sniper.
— Eve Torres and Rosa Mendes stated on Twitter that they will be on hand for WWE’s annual Tribute to the Troops events, which takes place Friday through Sunday in North Carolina. The Tribute to the Troops taping will be held on Sunday at Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville.
— Alberto Del Rio is scheduled to appear at Kmart 250 Floresta Blvd. San Leandro, California on Sunday, January 15, 2012 beginning at 10:00 a.m.
— During this week’s episode of NXT, the newly released commercial promoting the WWE Network was slightly different than the one that aired during Monday’s Raw SuperShow. When WWE Legends’ House is highlighted, WWE Hall of Famer Iron Sheik is shown.
— Former WWE talent Jacques Rougeau released his autobiography online Thursday, Les secrets les mieux gardés, enfin révélés. The book, which is written in French, hits stores in Canada next week.
— Ultimate Warrior announced the following on Twitter: “Coming soon.. Your chance to get a personalized video from Mr Warrior OR a personalized promo from the Ultimate Warrior! Team Warrior.”
– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross was at WWE’s developmental territory FCW this week evaluating talent – and was asked by a fan on Twitter when we’ll see Tough Enough winner Andy Leavine on WWE television. Ross replied:
“Don’t see it being eminent. Lots of work to do.”
– To update the status of Ring of Honor star Chris Hero headed to WWE, company officials reportedly wanted to sign him a few months back when they signed his partner Claudio Castagnoli to FCW. Hero began taking physical exams for WWE – which is around the time the whole process stalled.
Either WWE found a medical issue that made him unfit to sign or the contractual negotiations broke down, but he’s still not under contract. Hero hasn’t gone back to work for ROH or NOAH since his WWE physicals, so it’s still possible he’ll show up in FCW soon.
– WWE is gearing up for Saturday’s Tribute to the Troops tapings (airing Tuesday night on USA) – and has a few days of events for the troops lined up. Several superstars and divas will be visiting the Advanced Airborne School and the Tolson Youth Center in Fort Bragg, North Carolina this Friday morning. On Friday evening, there will be a meet and greet event at Sports USA for any Department of Defense cardholders. WWE will then tape Tribute to the Troops on Saturday from Fayetteville’s Crown Coliseum. Tickets are available free of charge to DOD cardholders.
— TNA has signed a two-year deal with the UK’s Challenge TV network that will see Impact Wrestling continue to air on Sunday nights through the end of 2013. TNA PPVs will air the Wednesday after they air live in the United States. The following is from TNA’s official announcement:
“Our first year on Challenge TV has seen us double our viewership in the UK and Ireland – and we are really looking forward to another two years of even greater success,” TNA president Dixie Carter stated in a press release.
“Our wonderful fans have made us the most-watched wrestling programme in the UK and we’re pleased this new agreement also gives them the security of knowing they can always watch us on the same channel every week – Challenge TV.”
— TNA star Robbie E. got married on Saturday, according to a recent tweet by Dixie Carter.
— This year’s TNA Bound For Glory pay-per-view from Philadelphia drew 3,585 fans for a gate of $145,898.
— TNA’s Turning Point pay-per-view drew approximately 9,000 pay-per-view buys, on the low end of what TNA has been doing for their monthly shows.
– There is talk that WWE United States Champion Dolph Ziggler may be added to the Triple Threat TLC Match for the WWE Championship at TLC later this month. Currently in the match are CM Punk, The Miz and Alberto Del Rio. This would continue Ziggler’s recent streak of working double duty at WWE pay-per-view events.
According to our WWE sources, company officials are said to be very pleased with Dolph Ziggler’s work this year. There’s something “old school” about Ziggler’s current push – how he’s climbed the ranks from obscurity to a mid-card US title run and then an eventual spot in the main events.
– CM Punk took a shot at athletes who use performance enhancing drugs today on his Twitter:
“If you’re a professional athlete and you use performance enhancing drugs, you’re a pussy.”
– Former WWE Superstar Rikishi noted on Twitter that he needs surgery on one of his eyes.
Here’s the official Impact Wrestling preview for tonight, courtesy of the TNA website:
– The main event of the huge broadcast features World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode teaming with “The King Of The Mountain” Jeff Jarrett to battle “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles and “The Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy! Styles will challenge Roode for the World Title at Final Resolution, while Hardy faces Jarrett in a Steel Cage Match! What will happen when these four athletes battle just days before the Pay-Per-View? Don’t miss it!
– The GM (General Menace) “The Icon” Sting is back, and he’s asked TNA President Dixie Carter to appear on Thursday’s broadcast to discuss the ongoing situation with the World Champion, Bobby Roode. After Roode physically assaulted Dixie Carter just a few weeks ago, what will the TNA President have to say when she’s face to face with Roode again? Tune in and find out!
– Also on the broadcast, “The Cowboy” James Storm has promised to return – despite dealing with the effects of a concussion – to confront his attacker, Kurt Angle! Will all hell break loose when Storm and Angle are in the same ring again? Can Storm keep his anger in check when faced with the superstar that cost him his shot at regaining the World Title?
In action on the broadcast, Samoa Joe battles Abyss, Knockouts Tag Team Champion Madison Rayne faces Mickie James, plus much more!
Monday Night Mayhem with Garett Bischoff
Hosts: The Big Mosh and Kahlil Thomas
Recap by Kahlil Thomas
Airs every Monday at 6:00 P.M. (CT)
Show available at MondayNightMayhem.com.
The feedback he has received from fans since making his in-ring debut on Impact Wrestling: “It’s been quite the roller coaster ride. It’s all happened pretty quick. It’s been exciting, I’m having fun. It’s been intense. For the most part, I’m getting a good reaction from people with a lot of support. A lot of people would have never guessed that I would have gone the route that I have chosen to go, so it’s been nice to see the reaction and support from those people.”
When he knew he wanted to get into professional wrestling, what degree of pressure was put on him after he made the decision to join TNA, and the message he wants to send to those that feel he’s only a part of the company because he is Eric Bischoff’s son: “It’s something that I wanted to do, to get into the wrestling business. Obviously, I grew up around it. My father knew that, and he knew that I always wanted to be involved in it. I knew going into it that if this was we were going to do, there would be a different kind of pressure being the son of Eric Bischoff. There would be those that just assume I’m there just because I was Eric Bischoff’s son, whether it be people in the TNA ranks or the fans, or whoever. I just decided I was going to take it stride and rise above it the best I can and prove to everyone else that I’m not just there because I’m Eric Bischoff’s son.”
Whether he sees himself as being ready to square off with his father if/when the time comes: “What father and son haven’t had that point in their lives where they wanted to knock each other out? I look forward to it in a way. In a way, I don’t.”
Much more is contained in Garett’s exclusive interview with The Monday Night Mayhem Radio Network, including his candid thoughts on why he decided to turn his back on Immortal, his transition from referee to wrestler, the experience of working with Gunner over the past month for his first feud in TNA, whether or not it has been hard for him to establish his own identity, if his father has received a bad rap from critics over the years, which match he is looking forward to the most at Final Resolution, life outside the squared circle, plus much more! Mayhem Nation: Enjoy an all-new episode of iMPACT Wrestling this Thursday night on Spike TV (beginning at 9PM ET/8PM CT), call your local cable or satellite provider right now to place your order for Sunday night’s Final Resolution Pay-Per-View, and be sure to follow the next steps of Garett’s career by checking out his official Facebook fan page (located at www.Facebook.com/GarettBischoff).
– There have been some jokes going around WWE lately regarding the people that Triple H surrounded himself with as the WWE’s talent development division. They have been mostly guys in their 20s, with several described as jacked-up meatheads that doesn’t know anything about the wrestling business.
Additionally, the first few talents Triple H has brought in have been busts thus far. Sin Cara’s early run was plagued by botched spots and injuries, and Kharma’s now on maternity leave, so neither had much of an impact.
– An interesting story regarding Brodus Clay is that when he finished shooting a movie for WWE Studios earlier this year, he asked the creative team if they had anything for him – and proposed that he be pushed as an indestructable monster heel that would destroy baby faces and induct wrestlers into his personal “House of Pain.” He was reportedly told it was a great idea.
Meanwhile, Clay remains on the sidelines while Mark Henry is getting the biggest push of his career with a gimmick that’s eerily similar to Clay’s idea.
Still no word on when WWE plans to have Brodus Clay return to RAW, despite several advertised appearances in the past month.
– Vince McMahon has reportedly been on the warpath as of late – shooting down a lot of ideas presented to him by the creative team. One recent situation involved Mick Foley’s recent return to television. Last week’s Christmas-themed live Tuesday SmackDown featuring Foley as Santa Clause was an idea pushed through by Brian Gewirtz, despite Vince not liking the idea.
Vince recently ordered that The Bella Twins be made a top priority and wants them to be featured on television more. Vince loves having the Bellas represent WWE in public appearances and recently reamed out the writing team for blowing a number of opportunities to feature the twin beauties.
– Vince’s son Shane was in the news this week, as his latest product, “YOU On Demand,” is set to launch in China this month. The service, which recently signed a deal with Gravitas Ventures to bring independent movies to streaming services, hopes to reach 11 million homes by the end of 2012.
Solomonster sounds off with a bonus show this week recapping Monday’s Raw from South Florida, a less than stellar effort compared to recent weeks. Plus, news on Lillian Garcia’s return to WWE and taking more of your mailbag questions, including details on WWE’s sordid sex scandal from 20 years ago.
Former WWE superstar Duane Gill, best known for his run as the Bill Goldberg parody character “Gillberg”, recently told Arda Ocal and Jimmy Korderas of Thescore.com that Bill Goldberg hated him.
If Bill Goldberg ever tried to get in contact with him while he was doing the “Gillberg” gimmick in WWE. Also speaking about when he did the segment with The Rock and Goldberg on an episode of Raw in 2003 on the segment “Rock Concert II”: “Goldberg hates my guts. He wanted to kill me. I remember the night I did meet him, the night we did The Rock Concert were I was dancing all the ring and all. They just wanted me to just stand there and tap my foot. So I had to explain to Mr. McMahon about what I wanted to do and he started laughing his ass off and he goes, “lets do it (laughs).”
On his wrestling school “Gillberg’s Pro Wrestling Academy.” What makes his wrestling school so successful that it will branch to multiple locations. What made his decision for him to branch out the wrestling school: “We have yet to advertise and were packed. We’re loaded with students. I would imagine the article on WWE.com “Where are they now” had a lot to do with helping me there. I just want to take it to the next level. I just wanna teach the way we teach. I teach old school ways. It’s taught proper and it’s really good.”
How long did he feel that the “Gillberg” character in WWE would last the first time he did when he wrestled Luna Vachon on an episode of Raw on the debut of the character; explains how much of a response he got from the WWE crew backstage: “It was actually supposed to be a one night deal. When I came back through the curtian, I got the highest honor I ever received in pro wrestling. When I came through that curtain, every McMahon, every writer, producer, boys, everybody in the back that was working was standing there clapping, and had tears in there eyes cause they were laughing so hard. That was the highest honor I ever got.”
His thoughts on working for WWE without being under contract with WWE for almost 10 years. Did he feel that if he never got anything from WWE, would he have thought about pursuing other interest in his life: “I’m a mark. I love professional wrestling, and to be honest with you, I love the WWE. Let me put it to you this way, I didn’t give a crap what I was doing, there were times where I wrestled four or five times a night. I didn’t care man. I was there. I was in the locker room with Hulk Hogan, Brutus Beefcake, Jake The Snake, Macho Man. I went to the bar, I sat down to have drinks with them, and I got to rub shoulders with the best of the best. To me it was everything.”
Check out this video of when Goldberg and Gillberg went face-to-face on WWE RAW:
– Jim Ross, who is in Tampa evaluating talent at FCW, tweeted the following on Tuesday night about a new non-wrestling project:
“Had a productive day in Tampa. A significant day on tap Wednesday in Florida. Great mtg tonight on an intriguing outside wrestling project.”
– WWE Diva Eve Torres interviewed actor, soldier and Dancing With the Stars winner JR Martinez for a segment to air on WWE’s Tribute to the Troops special.
– Former WWE star Sean “X-Pac” Waltman, who was backstage at Monday’s RAW, tweeted that he filmed a 2 hours of interview footage for WWE Network show about the Monday Night War. Waltman wrote:
“I did a 2 hour interview at RAW yesterday for a 15 episode series focusing on the Monday Night Wars to air on the new WWE Network.”
– Facebook has released its list Top-Trending Lists of 2011 – and John Cena was the #3 trending athlete of the year, behind soccer stars Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Cena ranked above David Beckham, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and other international sports stars – which is a real testament to the power of WWE’s social media influence.
– WWE will be releasing a new Wade Barrett shirt soon.
Check out the official video trailer for UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem, which takes place later this month on Friday, December 30th.
The fight will mark Brock Lesnar’s return to the octagon, with the winner receiving a UFC Heavyweight title shot against newly crowned champion, Junior Dos Santos.
– Former WWE Superstar Batista was in Los Angeles this week promoting The Scorpion King 3. Batista taped at least one segment for E! Entertainment.
– Steve Austin and Chris Jericho will be participating in the first ever Rock & Roll Roast for guitar legend Zakk Wylde. The event takes place on January 19th, 2012 at The Grove in Anaheim, California.
– Lilian Garcia appeared on the RAW Afterbuzz online show this week after RAW, hosted by former WWE diva Maria Kanellis. Garcia spoke about her return to WWE this week – and revealed she heard about WWE’s interest to bring her back.
Lilian said she was in Las Vegas for a marathon when she got the call to return on Friday. Lilian flew straight from Vegas to Tampa, Florida where Monday’s RAW was held. She said everyone backstage embraced her with open arms and at first she was surprised about being put on SmackDown but is excited about the opportunity.
– Randy Orton did a radio appearance last week in North Carolina on 1065 The END . Orton talked about wanting to feud with Triple H again, WrestleMania, his work mentoring kids about anger management and more. You can watch the 23-minute interview here:
James Storm appeared on Busted Open, which airs every Monday and Wednesday on Sirius 92 and XM 207 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Highlights from the interview are as follows:
Storm on his short TNA Title reign: “Like you said, it was a little bitter sweet, but it kind of makes me want it more now to go after it. I wasn’t really after the world title to say. It was kind of Bobby Roode’s spotlight moment with him and Kurt Angle and all this. I wasn’t told that I was actually getting a heavyweight title until like 2 hours before the show started. So, and to become the new world champion, it was a great moment, and one that I’ll never forget.”
Storm on Kurt Angle: “To me, without a doubt, Kurt Angle is the greatest wrestler to ever set foot in a ring, in a wrestling ring. I mean, there’s no one in professional wrestling that can out-wrestle Kurt, and always when I’m trying to put a story together, that’s one of the things that I put in there; that I cannot out-wrestle Kurt. I’m not gonna’ try it. I won’t go in there and try to take my fist and stick it to the back of his head as hard as I can. So, if it’s done right, I think me and Kurt can definitely be one of the feuds of the year.”
Storm on tweeting: “To me, it’s one of those things that I really wasn’t thinking I guess because I was so overwhelmed of me winning the world title that I don’t think…I don’t want to say that didn’t care that I got in trouble. But at the time,, that was my moment, and already you had all kinds of spoilers out saying that I won the world title, and all this. So, they already knew that I won the world title basically. So, I’m going to just say, “Hey, tune in this Thursday to see me win the world title, and enjoy this moment with me.” Instead of saying, “Hey, tune in to see if I win the world title.” It was the biggest ratings, and that’s kind of what I was trying to get at is, yeah I Tweeted, I won the world title, but I didn’t Tweet out how I won it, what happened during, after the match or anything like that. It was Tweeted, “Hey, tune in because I won the world title.” Even though I kind of ruined the surprise for some people, but like you said, I think people wanted to tune in to see it happen.”
Storm on Bobby Roode’s character: “My character…I have character. I have a character that a lot of people can relate to. A guy who drinks beer, and goes out hunting, and fishing, and just hangs out at the bar, and has a good time. Like you said, Walmart, Nascar, it’s all that character fit into one, which looking at Bobby Roode, who is Bobby Roode? What exactly is Bobby Roode besides being jacked? I mean, I don’t know what definition of a character you’d give him? Growing up, wrestling had characters, and I think that’s what wrestling today is missing. They don’t really have the flashy characters they did back then. You had the Jake Roberts, and you had The Macho Man. Even Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior. All of those guys were different characters. It seems like today all the wrestlers are almost the same. They’re like the same build, and they wrestle the same, and all this. So, it’s kind of hard to find a unique character.”
– During a recent interview with the UK’s The Skinny, TNA star Ric Flair revealed he has no plans to retire any time soon.
“To be honest I have no plans on retiring from the industry anytime soon. I feel that I still have so much to give to TNA. If the time ever comes that I cannot contribute anything to the company that is when I would have to consider my position within TNA.”
“I am privileged that I have a limited schedule in TNA so my time in many respects is my own. Just now I like to spend time with my family and love to do some fishing. When I retire I’ll be doing more of the same.”
– With TNA’s recent announcement that they have a working relationship with Ihio Valley Wrestling, the company sent its first two stars to OVW this week to begin training there. Rob Terry and Anarquia appeared at Tuesday night’s OVW event from from New Albany, Indiana at the National Guard Armory.
– AJ Styles and The Pope will be headed to Mexico on December 16th for AAA’s Guerra de Titanes pay-per-view. AJ will face El Mesias while Pope will team with Gunner and Chessman to face Los Psycho Circus in six-man action.
– The first TNA Impact Wrestling tapings of 2012 will take place on January 9th, 10th, 11th, 16th and 17th.
— WWE brought Lilian Garcia back to the organization to permanently replace Tony Chimel as the ring announcer for weekly SmackDown tapings. Chimel, 50, will continue working for WWE at television tapings in the production office backstage. Company officials asked Garcia late last week if she wanted to return and a deal was reached Monday upon her arrival in Tampa, Florida.
Garcia, who turned 45 years old in August, retired from her job as Raw ring announcer in 2009, citing a wish to settle down with her husband and being burned out from WWE’s strenuous travel schedule. During her time away, she continued to pursue her music career, and hosted AfterBuzzTV.com’s post-shows for Raw and Tough Enough.
— Matches taped Tuesday night in Jacksonville, Florida for this week’s episode of WWE NXT are as follows: Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso vs. Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks; Darren Young and JTG vs. Percy Watson and Titus O’Neil; Johnny Curtis vs. Derrick Bateman.
Yoshi Tatsu beat WWE developmental wrestler Damien Sandow in a dark match prior to the taping.
WWE’s December 5th RAW Supershow from Tampa, FL drew a 2.97 cable rating and averaged 4,352,000 viewers. This is down form last week’s 3.23 (4,483,000 viewers) and RAW’s 2nd lowest rating in the past 10 weeks.
Once again – the trend of RAW losing viewers in hour two continued, with hourly ratings of 3.02 and 2.91. RAW lost approximately 100,000 viewers in hour two.
The NFL Monday Night Football game between the Chargers and Jaguars did not do a great rating, so the competition on cable was not too bad this week.
WWE Tough Enough contestant and 2010 Miss USA Rima Fakih was reportedly WASTED when she was arrested for DUI over the weekend in Michigan.
According to the police report, Fakih was pulled over when officers noticed the her speeding and weaving through traffic in Detroit early Saturday morning.
Cops say Fakih “immediately identified herself as Miss USA” and then flunked two breathalyzer tests. Fakih blew a 0.19 and then a 0.20 – more than double Michigan’s legal limit of .08.
Police searched her car and found a half-empty bottle of wine behind the driver’s seat.
She was arrested on suspicion of DUI and If convicted, Fakih could face some serious jail time.
As previously reported, shortly after her arrest, Fakih denied the entire situation on Twitter – claiming she wasn’t even in Michigan, was not in jail and the person who was arrested was somebody else with the same name. The tweets were then deleted and Fakih’s attorney Donald Elder confirmed the arrest.
— F4WOnline.com reports there is going to be a “pretty good hint” about who WWE’s viral videos are teasing on the December 19 Raw SuperShow.
This week’s viral video is titled “Look Within.” A boy is shown in the video saying a “prophet” will “emerge to destroy the weak” and “it will be the end of the world as you know it.”
— Triple H was in charge of Monday’s Raw SuperShow due to Vince McMahon’s absence. The WWE CEO, as well as Kofi Kingston, Brie Bella and Nikki Bella, are in Afghanistan visiting U.S. troops. Footage from their trip will air during WWE’s annual Tribute to the Troops special.
— A forum has been set up on Kelly Kelly’s newly launched website.
She tweeted, “The forum is up at http://www.wwedivakellykelly.com. I will be reading your posts! Hope you enjoy my new site :)”
— WWE has launched a Facebook page for WWE Legends’ House, the new reality show for WWE Network premiering in 2012. The synopsis for the series reads:
“A reality series featuring many of your favorite WWE Legends, all forced to live under one roof. See what happens when the most colorful and combustive personalities in WWE history shack up, break bread, and bruise egos.”
— Kelly Kelly is scheduled to appear on The Bubba the Love Sponge Show on Friday, which airs on various Cox Radio and Beasley Broadcast Group stations.
— Lilian Garcia has released a behind the scenes trailer previewing her first music video, U Drive Me Loca. The SmackDown Diva’s music video will be officially released Friday via LilianGarcia.com.
