Tonight’s WWE RAW Supershow emanates from the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Following last week’s “No Confidence” vote and the walkout that concluded the show, a “solidarity rally” is planned for tonight, with the disgruntled Superstars that will take place in the parking lot of the arena for tonight’s show.
Several WWE superstars tweeted over the weekend that they will be protesting at tonight’s RAW and will not return to work until Triple H is removed from power. The Chesapeake Energy Arena website lists the following preview for tonight’s RAW:
“Triple H vows to absolutely not step down from running Monday Night RAW. Furthermore, Triple H vows that John Cena, CM Punk, Randy Orton, Sheamus and the Big Show will headline Monday night’s event. However, 55 of the WWE Superstars who walked out last week have vowed not to return until Triple H is removed from power.”
The WWE website has been teasing that a brawl will take place at the “solidarity rally” tonight – with Cena, Punk, Orton, Sheamus and Big Show ready to confront the 55 superstars who walked out last week.
And of course, with RAW taking place from WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross’ home state of Oklahoma, don’t be surprised to see JR attacked or embarrassed in some way tonight.
WWE performer Darren Young has broken his silence about his 30-day suspension from WWE following his violation of the company’s Wellness Policy last week. Young wrote the following on Twitter over the weekend:
“To the WWE Universe, I sincerely apologize to my loving family, my supportive friends back up North, my peers who I have an incredible amount of respect for top to bottom and to all my fans that support #DYoung; I hear u loud and clear #WWE.
I take full responsibility for my actions as this will never occur again.
I love the @WWE and the worst thing you can do to me is keep me off that stage where I own it in that ring!
I accept this set back as a normal part of living; making a mental a note of it as a lessoned learned! D Young”
The Reunion, a WWE Studios action film, stars WWE Superstar John Cena, Ethan Embry (Brotherhood, CSI Miami), Michael Rispoli (The Sopranos, Invincible, Mr. 3000), Boyd Holbrook (Milk) and Amy Smart (Road Trip, Starsky & Hutch, Varsity Blues).
The Cleary brothers, Sam (JOHN CENA), Leo (ETHAN EMBRY) and Douglas (BOYD HOLBROOK) take dysfunctional families to a new level. Sam and Leo have grown up hating each other and neither likes their juvenile delinquent kid brother, Douglas, to whom they’ve only recently been introduced. The sons share the same father, a womanizing drunk, but all have different mothers. Their father died a rich man, and when they’re brought together by their sister Nina (AMY SMART) to learn which of them will inherit the old man’s fortune, they are handed an unpleasant surprise.
A requirement of the will is that the three estranged siblings go into business together as bail bondsmen. Their first job is to bring in a parole violator who has left Leo with a $250,000 debt. Their search will take them into the mountains of Mexico where they encounter a drug lord and uncover a kidnapping plot, masterminded by an embittered entrepreneur (MICHAEL RISPOLI) that will endanger them all.
– Chris Jericho answered a series of fan questions Saturday on Twitter and was asked if he plans on returning to WWE. He responded:
“No plans as of right now.”
– Since parting ways with WWE in August, Melina has been posting and favoring messages on Twitter which suggest that her relationship with John Morrison is not picture perfect. She interestingly added the following messages to her Favorites list late last week.
“I’m proud of my heart. It’s been played, stabbed, cheated, burned and broken, but somehow still works.”
“I never get jealous when I see my ex with someone else, because my parents always taught me to give my used toys to the less fortunate.”
– Former WWE star Stevie Richards turns 40 years old today.
Both Chavo and Vickie Guerrero are remembering Eddie Guerrero today, who would have turned 44 years old.
Vickie wrote of her late husband on Twitter, “Happy 44th Birthday Eddie! I love you and you are missed! Thank you to everyone showing your love and respect for Eddie. My daughters and I are humbled and grateful. If Eddie was here today, he would have had a feast of all his fav foods. He always knew how to have fun and celebrate his bday!!!”
Chavo wrote, “Today is Eddie’s birthday. 44yrs old. I miss him very much! I know many of u do too. Let’s celebrate in his honor! Missed but not forgotten!”
“Eddie, As the best who said it…”VIVA LA RAZA!”
“In honor of Eddie’s birthday, I’m gonna frogsplash the 1st person to piss me off today!”
— Brock Lesnar will be announced as a “Legend” for THQ’s WWE ’12 video game later this week.
UFC approved of Lesnar’s inclusion in the game on the condition that he was presented as a wrestler and not a mixed martial artist.
There are no plans for Lesnar to be further involved with WWE.
— The Miz celebrated his 31st birthday Saturday by invading WWE’s Raw brand house show in Loveland, Colorado. He and R-Truth ran through the crowd in street clothes to interfere in the WWE Championship Match between Alberto Del Rio and John Cena, causing a disqualification. They knelt down with their hands behind their heads in surrender, but Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston dove onto them from the top rope.
— Alberto Del Rio is featured on the cover of the latest issue of Inside Wrestling.
16-time world champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair may have dodged a bullet and might not need to undergo surgery to repair a turn triceps.
Flair, who suffered the injury during his match with Sting last month on Impact Wrestling, was told two weeks ago that he would have to undergo surgery. Now, Flair tells PostandCourier.com that the injury is healing by itself – which doctors have called a “miracle.”
“It’s postponed right now, but I may not even have to have it. The doctor looked at it and said the thing was healing itself.”
Flair had already signed in at the hospital and had a brace fitted when his doctor gave him the great news.
“He told me it was a miracle. He said, ‘Ric, you’re one in a million.’”
StreetCorner.com.au has a story on CM Punk’s appearance Friday at the Nickelodeon Australian Kids’ Choice Awards. The WWE Superstar stormed the stage after it was announced that Kyle Sandilands beat him out for the ‘Best Baddie’ award and told the crowd, “People in America don’t even know who Kyle Sandipants is. Punk was subsequently doused with the network’s trademark green slime.
During his trip Down Under, Punk participated in an interview with World News Australia and answered a series of WWE related questions. He was notably asked what it takes to be a WWE Superstar.
“Personality, I think, is the first thing,” Punk responds. “I think the second thing is the intangible… this is probably, actually, the first thing. You hear it a lot. People talk about the “it factor,” you know? Certain people have this intangible quality to them. And I can’t explain what it is, I don’t think Vince McMahon would be able to explain what it is, there’s just something about certain people that just reaches out and grabs you.
“And they don’t always have to be the tallest guys, the biggest guys. This goes for the girls, too, but there’s always just something about somebody, like a Jake Roberts or a Randy Orton where there’s just this air about them that kind of separates them from not only, I guess, civilians but other WWE Superstars and makes them the upper echelon. It’s just an intangible quality. Other than that, I think a lot of heart, sacrifice and hard work obviously goes a long way too.”
WWE.com has published an article looking back at Halloween Havoc, WCW’s annual October pay-per-view event.
Former WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page remembers Halloween Havoc as one of WCW’s biggest events, second only to Starrcade.
“All the competitors knew the importance of Halloween Havoc, it was the WCW equivalent to SummerSlam,” he tells WWE.com. “We held the last five Havocs in Las Vegas and the fans were electric. There were celebrities visiting us backstage. It was the closest we got to the feeling of today’s SummerSlam without being at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.”
Page vividly recalls his Havoc confrontations with Eddie Guerrero in 1996, “Macho Man” Randy Savage in 1997 and Bill Goldberg in 1998. He feels his match with Goldberg was especially great.
“I challenge anyone to find a better match than me and Goldberg at Havoc ’98,” he says. “There are few matches that were as physical, exhausting and psychological as that one. I just remember us both hurting and visiting the chiropractor after that.”
Halloween Havoc is often brought up among fans as one of the top events of the 1990s. Page attributes the “high-octane” matches and fan interest as the major factors in making it WCW’s second biggest event of the year.
“It was a great show for everyone involved, fans and competitors alike,” Page feels. “I say WWE should bring it back!”
— The October 6, 2011 episode of Impact Wrestling featuring Hulk Hogan’s retirement ceremony drew a 1.01 cable rating, which marks as the program’s lowest rating of the year.
This number is down from the 1.14 rating the show garnered last week. Thursday’s show averaged 1.376 million viewers, down from 1.49 million the week before.
— Bobby Roode will host the first ever Australian Fan Viewing party in Sydney on Saturday, November 5, 2011 for Impact Wrestling, which airs every Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. AEDT on Fuel TV Australia. The interactive event will feature live interviews and be recorded for a global television audience.
“I am very excited to head ‘down under’ this November to get a chance to personally thank all the fans who watch me and Impact Wrestling each and every week. I plan on making this one hell of a celebration after I beat Kurt Angle for the World Title at Bound For Glory,” Roode said to ImpactWrestling.com.
— CM Punk is en route to the United States after attending the Australian version of the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards Friday. Therefore, he isn’t scheduled for this weekend’s Raw live event tour.
The former WWE Champion was nominated for the “Best Baddie” award but lost to Australian radio and television personality Kyle Sandilands.
— Todd Grisham’s profile on WWE.com has been transferred from the SmackDown Superstars section to the Alumni section, thus finalizing his departure from the organization.
It was disclosed on the August 23, 2011 episode of NXT that Grisham, who handled play-by-play duties for the program, would be leaving WWE to pursue new interests—a job with ESPN.
— The October 7, 2011 episode of WWE Vintage Collection on Sky Sports featured the following matches: Barbarian vs. Meng (WCW Road Wild 1998), Doom vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (WCW Wrestle War 1991), Ron Simmons vs. Butch Reed (WCW SuperBrawl), Diesel vs. Shawn Michaels (In Your House: Good Friends, Better Enemies).
— 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.
