— Recently released TNA performer Shawn Daivari (a/k/a Sheik Abdul Bashir) returned to Ring of Honor at Friday night’s television taping in Philadelphia.
The former WWE star cut a promo forsaking his previous gimmicks and ripped on the people of Philadelphia, saying he could walk away from guaranteed money because he was rich from working hard, unlike them.
His appearance will air on ROH on HDNet in a few weeks.
Daivari last appeared for Ring of Honor in July 2004.
— Ring of Honor announced today that Roderick Strong has signed a contract renewal with the organization.
“Roderick has grown into one of the foundations of Ring of Honor over the years.” said ROH Vice-President Sydney Eick. “We are very happy that he has elected to resign with ROH, and look forward to seeing just how far Strong can go in 2010 and beyond.”
— Here is a preview for the next episode of ROH on HDNET, which premieres tonight at 8:00 p.m. EST:
* Main Event: The American Wolves vs. The Young Bucks (click here to view a preview video)
* Interview with Tyler Black concerning ROH World Championship Match against Austin Aries in New York City
* Steve Corino and Kevin Steen vs. Alex Payne and Bobby Dempsey
— Hulk Hogan was asked to give his Super Bowl predictions as part of Scripps Howard’s annual celebrity list.
In Hogan’s trademark wording, he said the following: “New Orleans, 35-6. New Orleans has an amazing new energy this year, both as a team and a city. They survived Hurricane Katrina, and if they could survive that, they can survive anything.”
Likewise, Bret Hart made the following prediction on his Facebook account: “Anyhow, as for the Super Bowl on Sunday between the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints, I’ve decided after great deliberation to pull for the Saints but I think Manning will pull it out of the fire. Most importantly, I hope it’s close anyway.”
— Via online voting, former WWE Diva Jackie Gayda-Haas (a/k/a Miss Jackie) is in the running to determine the new Status Fitness magazine cover model. You can vote for Haas at the following link.
— Hulk Hogan was asked to give his Super Bowl predictions as part of Scripps Howard’s annual celebrity list.
In Hogan’s trademark wording, he said the following: “New Orleans, 35-6. New Orleans has an amazing new energy this year, both as a team and a city. They survived Hurricane Katrina, and if they could survive that, they can survive anything.”
Likewise, Bret Hart made the following prediction on his Facebook account: “Anyhow, as for the Super Bowl on Sunday between the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints, I’ve decided after great deliberation to pull for the Saints but I think Manning will pull it out of the fire. Most importantly, I hope it’s close anyway.”
— Via online voting, former WWE Diva Jackie Gayda-Haas (a/k/a Miss Jackie) is in the running to determine the new Status Fitness magazine cover model. You can vote for Haas at the following link.
— According to a post on the SLAM! Wrestling website, Brooke Hogan is rumored to be joining TNA Wrestling. They wrote: “With Brooke Hogan’s career in music and television stalled, it is rumored she might take an on-camera role with TNA.”
— According to the webmaster of The Honky Tonk Man’s official website (www.HonkyTonkMan.net), the recap of The Shoot interview where HTM said he made up the rumor that he was going to TNA was taken out of context.
According to his webmaster, Jeff Jarrett contacted The Honky Tonk Man for a TNA legends deal with Jakks Figures to create merchandise.
What Honky Tonk Man is referring to is no deal to appear on air. However, he is/was indeed in talks with TNA for a merchandising deal.
— Last night’s TNA live event in Joplin, Missouri drew approximately 2,000 fans to the 2,700 seat Joplin Memorial Hall. The event saw Jeff Jarrett defeat Mr. Anderson in the main event.
— Peculiarly, the left side of Tara’s top was blurred throughout the conclusion of her match with Angelina Love on this past Thursday’s iMPACT! broadcast. It seems strange because the blurring commenced once the match came back from a commercial break and carried on towards its conclusion. Furthermore, it would not appear to be a case of an insignia issue as the top she wore simply read “Poison” with no logo beared. Also note, she’s worn the ring outfit before on television.
It’s been speculated that Tara suffered a wardrobe malfunction at some point during the match and that TNA’s production staff decided to digitize her top through the conclusion of the match as a precautionary measure.
Tara’s apparent wardrobe malfunction comes on the heels of last month’s live iMPACT! special where ODB pulled her trunks a bit too far south while attempting a roll-up. The TNA Women’s Knockout Champion’s buttocks was blurred during the episode’s subsequent Thursday replay.
Likewise, Tara’s Thursday opponent, Angelina Love, suffered a wardrobe malfunction of her own roughly two years ago as her breast momentarily came exposed during a taped television broadcast while backing towards the ramp at the conclusion of a match which she had just interfered in. In that case, TNA’s production crew missed digitizing her.
— As reported earlier, Thursday’s episode of iMPACT! drew a final 1.2 cable rating with 1.6 million viewers — a drop from the previous week’s record high 1.4 rating. The Wrestling Observer is reporting that there was a lot of unhappiness within the company when Thursday’s rating was released.
— TNA will be holding live events in Virginia this coming Thursday and Friday (Charlottesville and Norfolk) before heading off to Orlando for Sunday’s Against All Odds pay-per-view. Fans that purchase a $35 seat ticket will receive a free TNA DVD.
— SmackDown Diva Beth Phoenix had a run-in with police last night while driving through Dallas, Texas. She noted the following on her Twitter account: “Just got pulled over while driving to Dallas by a Walker Texas Ranger wannabe. he wrote me a ticket. I gave him the Glamastare..he cried.”
— Brie and Nikki Bella give their Super Bowl pick via video footage at the following link.
They also gave their Super Bowl pick on Twitter, writing: “Wow SuperBowl Sunday! Feelin’ like a good day! We’re excited for both teams, but the Bella Pick is The Colts, Have a fun and safe SuperBowl!”
Meanwhile, former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler picked the Colts to win 34-28. She told ESPN.com: “I think this game has the chance to be one of the most exciting Super Bowls yet. Two fantastic offenses vs. two underrated defenses. I am secretly rooting for New Orleans because I know Reggie Bush, but in the end, though, I think Peyton Manning’s experience will be the difference. I just don’t think that New Orleans will be able to stop him consistently.”
— Former WWE performer Armando Estrada’s Baby’s Steak and Lemonade restaurant based in Glendale, Arizona has a sandwich called the CM Punk. Its description reads: “The Straight Edge Sandwich Wrestles Grilled Chicken Breast, Marinara Sauce, Provolone Served On Fresh Baked Bread.” The restaurant also has a sandwich called Big Vito. You can view the menu at the following link.
— As noted earlier, Awesome Kong requested her release from TNA following her one-sided physical encounter with shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge backstage at a recent television taping. She has been telling friends that officials refused to grant her release from the organization. She countered by telling management that she would not be appearing on the UK tour despite being advertised. However, she did give into working a match the night following her altercation with Bubba. Furthermore, the issue between Kong and Bubba has apparently been resolved following a meeting between her, Hulk Hogan, and Eric Bischoff, though some internally feel it wouldn’t be too surprising to see it turned into a storyline if and when she returns.
It should be noted that much of the lingering heat between Kong and TNA is said to be over a financial dispute. She is especially touchy when she notices the company spending frivolously on newcomers while also claiming that they can’t afford to give raises to her and her fellow Knockouts. The assumption within the company is that Tara and perhaps Christy Hemme are paid well due to their past history with World Wrestling Entertainment, but there is much frustration over the pay that the other females receive.
— TNA will be running live events in Georgia and Alabama during WrestleMania weekend instead of holding shows in Phoenix, which was speculated after dates for that weekend in Canada were recently canceled. They will be in Ozark, Alabama on Mar. 25 and Columbus, Georgia on Mar. 26.
— The TNA website is running a poll asking which newcomer will have the most success in 2010. Generation Me are winning the poll with 34% of the vote. They are trailed by Brian Kendrick (22%), Hamada (12%), Orlando Jordan (12%), Rob Terry (11%) and Lacey Von Erich (10%).
(Credit to prowrestling.net for the information used in this report)
— As noted earlier, Awesome Kong requested her release from TNA following her one-sided physical encounter with shock jock Bubba the Love Sponge backstage at a recent television taping. She has been telling friends that officials refused to grant her release from the organization. She countered by telling management that she would not be appearing on the UK tour despite being advertised. However, she did give into working a match the night following her altercation with Bubba. Furthermore, the issue between Kong and Bubba has apparently been resolved following a meeting between her, Hulk Hogan, and Eric Bischoff, though some internally feel it wouldn’t be too surprising to see it turned into a storyline if and when she returns.
It should be noted that much of the lingering heat between Kong and TNA is said to be over a financial dispute. She is especially touchy when she notices the company spending frivolously on newcomers while also claiming that they can’t afford to give raises to her and her fellow Knockouts. The assumption within the company is that Tara and perhaps Christy Hemme are paid well due to their past history with World Wrestling Entertainment, but there is much frustration over the pay that the other females receive.
— TNA will be running live events in Georgia and Alabama during WrestleMania weekend instead of holding shows in Phoenix, which was speculated after dates for that weekend in Canada were recently canceled. They will be in Ozark, Alabama on Mar. 25 and Columbus, Georgia on Mar. 26.
— The TNA website is running a poll asking which newcomer will have the most success in 2010. Generation Me are winning the poll with 34% of the vote. They are trailed by Brian Kendrick (22%), Hamada (12%), Orlando Jordan (12%), Rob Terry (11%) and Lacey Von Erich (10%).
(Credit to prowrestling.net for the information used in this report)
— The Honky Tonk Man has posted a message on his official website requesting that Todd Alan Clen (a/k/a Bubba the Love Sponge) give him copies of all recordings where Eric Bischoff mentions him. HTM is considering legal action for defamation of character based on statements Bischoff made concerning his “value to the wrestling industry.”
Prior to this, Clen requested that HTM remove all media from said show posted on his website.
— On her Facebook account, Angelina Love spoke out against those impersonating her on Twitter, vehemently stating that she doesn’t have an account. She wrote: “Hey Everyone, I know there are a lot of posers out there and I just wanted to clear up that I do NOT have a Twitter account! A lot of people have been asking me about twitter.com/TNA_AngelLove and I want you all to know that is NOT me…”
— TNA will be holding house shows at the Eastern Kentucky Expo Center in Pikeville, Kentucky on April 8th, 2010 and the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington, West Virginia on April 10th, 2010. (Thanks to Devin Cutting)
Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff appeared on The Bubba the Love Sponge Show last Friday for a combination work/shoot interview segment that included one new piece of news, which was Bischoff knocking Sting for missing the last set of television tapings.
Sting missed last month’s Genesis pay-per-view and subsequent television tapings due to a family emergency, though it remains unclear what is was exactly. What is known is that nobody is questioning its legitimacy considering that he has been in the wrestling industry for years and has never had a reputation for coming up with excuses to miss dates.
Bischoff said that everyone in TNA has to be completely committed to the organization or things won’t work out, with Hogan adding he doesn’t see how they can use anyone missing shows. Internally, it was noted as a message being sent to Sting, though it’s unlikely he’ll get it considering that he pays no attention to the wrestling business except on days when he’s working as he doesn’t follow it online. Nonetheless, the belief was Sting had a very legitimate reason for missing the last set of shows.
Bischoff said, “Sting’s a great talent. Love him to death. My problem is now that we’re trying to do this big picture. I understand how big picture it is for the wrestling business. Sting had life-and-death personal issues, but from a business side, it totally screws us up. If at any time that happens, I got a personal issue, now we have to switch gears on who we use, you can’t build the world around them.
“Everybody has got to make a commitment. It’s easy to say we want TNA to be No. 1, but if you’re not willing to put TNA as a priority above almost every situation, then it’s probably not going to work out.”
(Credit to the Wrestling Observer Nesletter for the information used in this report)
— Taking house shows, television and pay-per-view events into account, here are some interesting win and loss statistics for TNA this year.
* Brutus Magnus dropped to 0-12 on the year following his loss to Mr. Anderson in the opening Eight Card Stud qualifying match last night on iMPACT!. The only wrestler with a worse record than Magnus is Daniels, who is currently 0-13 on the year.
* TNA World Heavyweight champion AJ Styles lost his first match of the new year last night on iMPACT! to “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero. Styles was 16-0 before the airing of the match.
* Wrestlers who have yet to be beaten so far this year include Matt Morgan (4-0-1), Mr. Anderson (3-0), Orlando Jordan (1-0), and the Nasty Boys (1-0).
* Lacey Von Erich is the last remaining unbeaten in the Knockouts division as she is 1-0. Angelina Love was 1-0 prior to her loss to Tara last night on iMPACT!. (source: www.pwtorch.com)
— For those interested, “Future Legend” Cheerleader Melissa (a/k/a Alissa Flash, a/k/a Raisha Saeed) is now available for wrestling bookings, personal appearances and autograph sessions by contacting Bill Behrens at [email protected]. He can also be reached at www.sbibookings.com.
— You can follow Orlando Jordan on Twitter at the following link.
(Credit to the Pro Wrestling Torch for some of the information used in this report)
— Rapper Foxy Brown mentions WWE Superstar John Cena in her new song “Let ’em Know.” Brown says she’ll “Slam A B**** On Her Back Like I’m John Cena.” No word on whether Foxy Brown also does the five knuckle shuffle.
— Tonight’s WWE house show at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, PA has been rescheduled to next Thursday due to the expected snow storm. Ring of Honor is running a TV taping tonight at the ECW arena (starting at 7:30pm) and has announced anybody who had tickets to tonight’s rescheduled WWE show gets into their show for free.
— It was recently reported that former WWE tag champion Joey Mercury is on his way back to the company. According to Mike Aldren, one idea currently being discussed by the WWE creative team is to have Mercury return on SmackDown as part of CM Punk’s Straight-Edge Society. Mercury was released from WWE back in 2007 after a well-documented battle with pain killer addiction, so the angle would be playing off real issues.
— Rapper Foxy Brown mentions WWE Superstar John Cena in her new song “Let ’em Know.” Brown says she’ll “Slam A B**** On Her Back Like I’m John Cena.” No word on whether Foxy Brown also does the five knuckle shuffle.
— Tonight’s WWE house show at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, PA has been rescheduled to next Thursday due to the expected snow storm. Ring of Honor is running a TV taping tonight at the ECW arena (starting at 7:30pm) and has announced anybody who had tickets to tonight’s rescheduled WWE show gets into their show for free.
— It was recently reported that former WWE tag champion Joey Mercury is on his way back to the company. According to Mike Aldren, one idea currently being discussed by the WWE creative team is to have Mercury return on SmackDown as part of CM Punk’s Straight-Edge Society. Mercury was released from WWE back in 2007 after a well-documented battle with pain killer addiction, so the angle would be playing off real issues.
– The following matches have been confirmed for TNA’s Against All Odds pay-per-view on February 14th:
TNA Heavyweight Title Match: AJ Styles (c) vs. Samoa Joe
Tag Team Legends Collide: The Nasty Boys vs. Team 3D.
– While some speculated that TNA would be holding live events Arizona during WrestleMania weekend when WWE is in town, the company has actually announced shows in Alabama and Georgia that weekend. They will be in Ozark, Alabama on March 25th and Columbus, Georgia on March 26th.
– Scott Steiner has been removed from the TNA roster page, which doesn’t say good things about his standing in the company. It was reported a few weeks back that Steiner’s future with TNA was up in the air. Ric Flair and Mr. Anderson have been added to the roster page.
– The following matches have been confirmed for TNA’s Against All Odds pay-per-view on February 14th:
TNA Heavyweight Title Match: AJ Styles (c) vs. Samoa Joe
Tag Team Legends Collide: The Nasty Boys vs. Team 3D.
– While some speculated that TNA would be holding live events Arizona during WrestleMania weekend when WWE is in town, the company has actually announced shows in Alabama and Georgia that weekend. They will be in Ozark, Alabama on March 25th and Columbus, Georgia on March 26th.
– Scott Steiner has been removed from the TNA roster page, which doesn’t say good things about his standing in the company. It was reported a few weeks back that Steiner’s future with TNA was up in the air. Ric Flair and Mr. Anderson have been added to the roster page.
– Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will be appearing on Friday’s edition of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” It will be Johnson’s first time on the program. Musical star Pink, whose Grammy performance grabbed headlines last weekend, will appear as the music guest. For more information, visit Oprah.com.
– After Beth Phoenix made comments about Chyna this past Sunday night, she wrote the following on her Twitter yesterday:
“I’m told I hurt Chyna’s feelings with my comments. Oops!”
– WWE Studios will be holding open casting calls this weekend for the lead role in their upcoming “Big Red” movie. The part calls for a male between the ages 13-16. The casting calls take place in Los Angeles on Saturday and New York on Sunday. If you fit the bill and are interested, visit WWE.com.
– The official theme song for WWE’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view is Rise Up by Cypress Hill.
– John Cena will be appearing on Nickelodeon’s True Jackson VP soon.
– Triple H will be at the International Toy Fair in New York City next week to promote WWE’s new Mattel Toy line.
– Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will be appearing on Friday’s edition of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” It will be Johnson’s first time on the program. Musical star Pink, whose Grammy performance grabbed headlines last weekend, will appear as the music guest. For more information, visit Oprah.com.
– After Beth Phoenix made comments about Chyna this past Sunday night, she wrote the following on her Twitter yesterday:
“I’m told I hurt Chyna’s feelings with my comments. Oops!”
– WWE Studios will be holding open casting calls this weekend for the lead role in their upcoming “Big Red” movie. The part calls for a male between the ages 13-16. The casting calls take place in Los Angeles on Saturday and New York on Sunday. If you fit the bill and are interested, visit WWE.com.
– The official theme song for WWE’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view is Rise Up by Cypress Hill.
– John Cena will be appearing on Nickelodeon’s True Jackson VP soon.
– Triple H will be at the International Toy Fair in New York City next week to promote WWE’s new Mattel Toy line.
Shortly after WWE announced ECW is being shutting down to make way for the “NXT” generation of programming, a light was shined on an existing NXT – NXT Wrestling, an independent promotion based out of Scotland. NXT Wrestling sent out the following today:
NXT Wrestling. Established 2006.
A Renfrewshire-based company in Scotland has come under threat from US media giants after a global enterprise decided to use their name and tagline.
Global media giants World Wrestling Entertainment have recently announced their plans to launch WWE:NXT, the NXT Generation of wrestling. This has since been a cause for concern for Scottish promotion NXT Wrestling, a local company who risk getting squashed in favour of the multi-million dollar WWE headed by Vince McMahon.
NXT Wrestling was announced in 2006 and launched in 2007 as a way of giving young men with dreams their chance to break free from their lives and live for a few moments in the spotlight. NXT and it’s associated promotion the Scottish Wrestling Alliance have strived to bring quality family entertainment to towns and halls across the West of Scotland, culminating in the struggle to bring an ailing genre into the spotlight with events in Kelvin Hall, and has helped raise funds for charities including Torkhill Childrens Foundation.
When WWE announced their new brand as NXT, using the same tagline ‘NXT Generation’ and emphasis on developmental talent, staff and employee’s began to worry when they woke up to the new on Wednesday morning.
“We have had no direct contact from WWE regarding this matter but we welcome any conversation or resolution they would like to put forward.” Commented Peter Murphy, owner of the Scottish Wrestling Alliance.
“Everyone at the Scottish Wrestling Alliance is honoured that WWE have decided to name their latest product after SWA’s feeder programme, NXT. We would like to assure our fans that the original NXT is still leading the way for trainees in Scotland and the shows on 6th February, Spittal Community Centre, Rutherglen, 19th February, Bargarran Community Centre, Erskine, March 6th, Viewpark Community Centre, Uddingston and March 19th, Links Community Centre, Cumbernauld are all still due to go ahead as advertised.”
After long and careful planning, SWA:NXT made it’s debut in January 2007 as a promotion designed to showcase up and coming talent within Scotland in conjunction with SWA’s Area 52 wrestling school. In 2009 NXT Wrestling split from the Scottish Wrestling Alliance to stand on it’s own two feet, taking it’s own creative direction in September last year.
The goal within the company is to give younger talent an opportunity to showcase their abilities and get noticed. Several of our NXT talents over the years have gone on to work across the UK, gain international interest and win NWA Heavyweight championships. NXT promoted shows across the West of Scotland with our next event scheduled this weekend, February 6th in Rutherglen which features some fresh young talent who have risen through the ranks of their training facility and earned their place on the event.
Contact:
Peter Murphy
Scottish Wrestling Alliance & NXT Wrestling
07877461913 [email protected]
http://nxtwrestling.com
http://scottishwrestling.co.uk
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his JRsBarBQ.com blog. Some highlights:
The End of ECW: “I will always have great respect for the Original ECW because of the passion and work ethic of all involved. Paul Heyman had great vision for what he wanted to create and his talents bought into that vision. I bring this up because the letters “ECW” will leave weekly TV in 3 weeks and will be replaced with a new, WWE produced program. Anxious to see what they come up with for Sy Fy.
His Health: “I am excited about the future primarily because I’m feeling so much better physically and am presently in a great place mentally.”
His Future: “Must be lots of new rumors on the ‘net about my future. If any of you get some concrete info on what I will be doing for a living in the coming months, years, etc, please let me know because my status, goals for the future, etc are the same as I have repeatedly stated for months … I have actually been discussing some projects totally unrelated to the wrestling biz which are intriguing.”
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his JRsBarBQ.com blog. Some highlights:
The End of ECW: “I will always have great respect for the Original ECW because of the passion and work ethic of all involved. Paul Heyman had great vision for what he wanted to create and his talents bought into that vision. I bring this up because the letters “ECW” will leave weekly TV in 3 weeks and will be replaced with a new, WWE produced program. Anxious to see what they come up with for Sy Fy.
His Health: “I am excited about the future primarily because I’m feeling so much better physically and am presently in a great place mentally.”
His Future: “Must be lots of new rumors on the ‘net about my future. If any of you get some concrete info on what I will be doing for a living in the coming months, years, etc, please let me know because my status, goals for the future, etc are the same as I have repeatedly stated for months … I have actually been discussing some projects totally unrelated to the wrestling biz which are intriguing.”
The decision has been made within TNA that iMPACT will be going to Mondays full-time but it’s not known yet when those changes will take effect and it’s unknown if the show will air from 8-10pm or 9-11pm.
The current plan has TNA taping the show every other week doing a live shot on Monday and taping on Tuesday with the taped show airing the next Monday. Because of the occasional odd number of weeks between pay-per-views, it’s possible there will be times there TNA will tape three shows or do a taping where they would fly people in just for one live Monday.
TNA may make the decision to go live every Monday night depending on how low the ratings for taped shows are. iMPACT going to Monday nights has actually been discussed between Hogan, Bischoff, TNA officials and Spike since October of 2009.
(Credit to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter for some of the information used in this report)
