— Maria made her WWE return at last night’s SmackDown/ECW live event in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, accompanying Cryme Tyme for their match against The Hart Dynasty. She took a brief hiatus from WWE in order to take part in the upcoming season of Celebrity Apprentice, which wrapped up filming two weeks ago.
— Today is Jerry “The King” Lawler’s birthday as he turns 60 years old. In other wrestling birthdays, John “Bradshaw” Layfield turns 43 while WWE Hall of Famer “Mean” Gene Okerlund turns 67.
— The website has posted new photos of Nikki Bella.
WWE Raw Superstar Mike “The Miz” Mizanin was pulled over by a police officer while driving on Saturday night and wrote about the situation on Twitter as it unfolded.
“Just got pulled over. This always happens to me. Let’s see if I can get just a warning. Prob not though never that lucky,” said Miz regarding the encounter, presumably related to a minor traffic offense (such as speeding).
He later added, “And the verdict is in….not guilty. Well actually I was guilty but was let go with a warning. See there r nice cops out there.”
While getting pulled over for a minor traffic is not a huge deal (especially when he didn’t even receive a ticket), Miz’s Twitter postings seem to represent the kind of publicity WWE wanted to avoid when it supposedly told their superstars to limit their Twitter use and not post anything controversial.
Visit our new affiliate site PWTweets.com to read the Twitter posts of pro wrestlers and divas!
A few WWE superstars and Divas returned to the ring this weekend at their brands’ respective live events:
– Rey Mysterio returned to action at the SmackDown live event in Maryland, defeating Chris Jericho in the main event. A fan report from the show says Rey wasn’t selling the injury from Batista at all. Mysterio suffered a brutal attack at the hands of Batista after their match at Survivor Series. Read More: Rey Mysterio Surgery Update
– WWE Diva Maryse returned to the ring at Friday night’s RAW live event in Johnson City, Tennessee.
– Carlito made his return to action at that same show defeating WWE developmental talent Alex Riley. There have been reports that Carlito is currently in the “dog house” and not on good terms with WWE management. Read More: Carlito In The WWE Dog House?
A few WWE superstars and Divas returned to the ring this weekend at their brands’ respective live events:
– Rey Mysterio returned to action at the SmackDown live event in Maryland, defeating Chris Jericho in the main event. A fan report from the show says Rey wasn’t selling the injury from Batista at all. Mysterio suffered a brutal attack at the hands of Batista after their match at Survivor Series. Read More: Rey Mysterio Surgery Update
– WWE Diva Maryse returned to the ring at Friday night’s RAW live event in Johnson City, Tennessee.
– Carlito made his return to action at that same show defeating WWE developmental talent Alex Riley. There have been reports that Carlito is currently in the “dog house” and not on good terms with WWE management. Read More: Carlito In The WWE Dog House?
— Raw wrestler Eddie Colón (a.k.a. “Primo”) is said to be very “frustrated” with his position in World Wrestling Entertainment.
The second generation star has accomplished little of note since being broken up from his brother Carlito over the summer as more often than not he’s working dark matches and being left off Monday Night Raw. Primo loves wrestling more than his brother does (Carlito himself has admitted this to be true), so this is a trying time for him.
The Colóns captured the WWE Tag Team Championships shortly after Primo’s debut last year, holding on to them through June.
— In this week’s edition of SmackDown After the Bell on WWE.com, Dolph Ziggler says what he’s thankful for. To listen to his comments, click here.
— Here is the TV Guide preview for next Monday’s episode of Raw: New, (TV-PG,V), Verne Troyer is the guest host. Also: John Cena and DX. (Pro Wrestling), (V=Moderate Violence).
— WWE officials have booked a local Baltimore courtroom for Monday afternoon to film pre-tapes involving Hornswoggle taking D-Generation X to court over Triple H’s attack on him two weeks ago on Raw. The entire courtroom, including the jury, will be filled with “little people.” Verne Troyer of Austin Powers fame will be the special guest host. (source: PWInsider.com)
— The Bella Twins and Eve Torres revealed on the respective Twitter accounts that they will be going on WWE’s annual trip to Iraq. The annual Tribute to the Troops show will be held two weeks from now.
— John Bradshaw Layfield has posted a blog on the WWE Universe website relaying a Thankgiving-related story from when he was living in Germany.
— Former WWE wrestler Sid Vicious has left the American Wrestling Rampage’s tour overseas with a biceps injury. Rob Van Dam said on his website that Sid went home on Tuesday with a “bruised and possibly torn biceps.” RVD also expressed his disappointment in Sid leaving the tour prematurely as he feels he would have given him his best match in a long time.
“The travel conditions I’ve previously mentioned along with many I have not seemed to get the better of him. Too bad,” Van Dam wrote. “I was looking forward to wrestling him and I know I would’ve given him his best match in a looooong time!”
— The Wrestler has begun airing on HBO. Click here to see when you can catch the award-winning film.
— In today’s wrestling birthdays, Rob Conway turns 35 while Brent Albright turns 31.
Hulk Hogan's "Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin" Australian Tour
Australian film maker Keith Loutit used special photo lenses and time lapse animation to create a unique short film of last Saturday’s Hulkamania show in Melbourne.
Loutit explained to Australia’s 9 News how he made the film and why he selected the Hulkamania tour as his latest project.
“Tilt-shift photography creates a narrow depth of field, It creates the illusion of something that is really small and close to the eye. Time lapse creates the very jerky feel which makes it feel like claymation. Most of the work I do is documentary work around Sydney but I wanted an opportunity to shoot something that I felt would suit the style”
Loutit thinks that the claymation effect would translate well to pro wrestling, which has immortalized its superstars in toy form for decades. “Hulk Hogan was such a pop culture icon in the ’80s and ’90s and people of my generation had Hulk Hogan action figures, so it seemed like a good choice.”
— It would appear that Carlito has been added to WWE’s unofficial “bad list” alongside anything TNA and Chris Benoit as a sign reading “Where’s Carlito?” was immediately confiscated by company personnel after briefly appearing on camera during Sunday’s Survivor Series pay-per-view at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C.
The Caribbean Superstar has not been seen in several weeks and his status with the company very much remains a mystery. His profile is currently active on the company website — for now.
— World Wrestling Entertainment is conducting a survey asking for your feedback concerning Sunday’s Survivor Series pay-per-view. They are asking fans if they ordered the event to begin with and if so, to say how they found about the Survivor Series and what they liked best about it. To take part in the survey, click here.
— Maria is today’s “Daily Diva” on WWE.com while Drew McIntyre is the “Superstar of the Day.” As noted earlier, Maria is expected to return to SmackDown imminently as filming for Celebrity Apprentice wrapped up last week.
— Of the WWE stars to have their pushes halted in recent weeks, Eric Escobar is going through the quickest demise of them all. Not that his stock was particularly high to begin with considering he had been in developmental for a number of years, but the company has pretty much given up on him mere weeks after his WWE debut as a result of his failure to impress. While he’s tall and has a good look, he lacks charisma and the feeling is he has done nothing to prove he belongs. (source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
— As reported earlier, independent women’s wrestler Becky Bayless received tryouts with World Wrestling Entertainment at the company’s television tapings last week. She was also used as a prop for Slam Master J’s weekly SmackDown After The Bell segment on WWE.com. To view her brief on-camera appearance, click here.
— The WWE website has posted photos of “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and WWE Hall of Famer Howard Finkel attending The Strike 3 Foundation’s Second Annual First Pitch Celebrity Gala.
— One of the reasons Kofi Kingston is being pushed hard at the moment is because they feel they need another African-American babyface star and the company has given up on several other wrestlers that were picked for the spot at one point or another.
— The Burchills — Paul and Katie Lea — are expected to head to Raw soon as they are being advertised to appear on a few Raw brand live events.
— Last week’s episode of ECW featuring CM Punk and William Regal vs. ECW Champion Christian and R-Truth drew a 1.07 cable rating with 1.38 million viewers.
— The New York Post ran a story this past week on O.J. Simpson and it was noted that the Pro Football Hall of Famer enjoys watching WWE programming while spending time in jail. The following was written regarding “The Juice”:
“O.J. Simpson, 62, loves to spend his time in jail watching WWE programming. Maybe that was part of his sentence. Simpson is currently serving between nine and 33-years for multiple felonies.”
— Matches scheduled to take place on tonight’s episode of WWE Superstars on WGN America are as follows:
* R-Truth vs. Dolph Ziggler
* Goldust vs. Vladimir Kozlov
* United States Heavyweight Champion The Miz vs. Santino Marella
— Eve is today’s “Daily Diva” on WWE.com while Big Show is the “Superstar of the Day.”
— Jim Ross has yet to sign a new contract with World Wrestling Entertainment and due to the uncertainty regarding his condition, there have not been any serious contract talks nor any offer made. His contract is set to expire in three weeks.
— At television this past week, both Jesse Ventura and Jerry Lawler were given graphics on the announcers desk, or cheat sheets, to look at that have the photos of all the wrestlers in multiple person matches. In Lawler’s case, he never watches ECW nor Smackdown. In the case of Ventura for the Breakthrough Battle Royal, he likely wouldn’t have known most of the wrestlers in the match, plus with both going live there was no chance to edit later.
— Sunday’s Survivor Series pay-per-view at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. drew 12,500 fans and that was with WWE lowering the bottom price to $20 in hopes of increasing the walk-up. The show was not a sellout.
(Credit to the Wrestler Observer Newsletter for some of the information used in this report)
– Linda McMahon is getting some criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike for her wishy-washy response to a question about whether the 9/11 trials should be held in New York. “I’ll probably have more firm policy statements after the first of the year,” she said. Her detractors say that her refusal to pick a side shows her inexperience. A spokesman for one of Linda’s Republican opponents in the Senate race said, “It is deeply disappointing that when given the opportunity to stand firm against Sen. Dodd’s dangerous and misguided approach, Mrs. McMahon took a pass. It goes to show that slick campaign ads and an army of high-priced consultants can’t buy the experience and judgment necessary to keep our nation safe.”
UPDATE: The McMahon campaign now tells Courant.com: “Linda is opposed to trying Khalid Sheik Mohammad in civilian court. Her position on terrorist trials is crystal clear and unwavering, just as it is with cap-and-trade, card check legislation, government-run healthcare and runaway spending.”
Warning: The following contains a minor spoiler for Friday’s SmackDown:
– The WWE superstar formerly known as Festus has been repackaged and is now aligned with C.M. Punk. During Tuesday night’s SmackDown taping, Festus joined Punk in the ring and announced himself as Luke Gallos. Gallos acted like a normal guy and blamed his previous mental condition on years of drug abuse. Punk took credit for helping Gallos get off drugs and has taken him under his wing. As we reported several weeks ago, Festus will serve as Punk’s enforcer.
With WWE Survivor Series already in the rear-view mirror, we’ve turned corner on WWE’s calendar year and the road to WrestleMania 26 has begun. Here’s the latest on what WWE is currently planning for the big event:
– There is a feeling in WWE that something special’ needs to be done with The Undertaker for WrestleMania 26. WWE knows that more and more fans are tired of the same old matches and want to deliver a match that fans have not seen before. The Dead Man’s health continues to deteriorate and he’s less mobile now than he’s ever been, so his years as a Wrestlemania draw are certainly winding down. Right now, a match with John Cena is being strongly considered as the main event for WrestleMania.
– There is also talk of a Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels match at WrestleMania 26. The two have wrestled each other many times before, but not in several years and never on the grand stage of WrestleMania. While DX is still one of the top babyface acts in WWE, this one makes sense and WWE may have planted the seed for the match at Survivor Series with HBK superkicking the Game in the opening moments of their triple threat match with John Cena.
– At one point, there had been a plan for a CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio Hair vs. Mask match at WrestleMania 26, but this is unlikely to happen now considering Mysterio’s injury problems.
(Credit to PWInsider for some of the information used in this report)
With WWE Survivor Series already in the rear-view mirror, we’ve turned corner on WWE’s calendar year and the road to WrestleMania 26 has begun. Here’s the latest on what WWE is currently planning for the big event:
– There is a feeling in WWE that something special’ needs to be done with The Undertaker for WrestleMania 26. WWE knows that more and more fans are tired of the same old matches and want to deliver a match that fans have not seen before. The Dead Man’s health continues to deteriorate and he’s less mobile now than he’s ever been, so his years as a Wrestlemania draw are certainly winding down. Right now, a match with John Cena is being strongly considered as the main event for WrestleMania.
– There is also talk of a Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels match at WrestleMania 26. The two have wrestled each other many times before, but not in several years and never on the grand stage of WrestleMania. While DX is still one of the top babyface acts in WWE, this one makes sense and WWE may have planted the seed for the match at Survivor Series with HBK superkicking the Game in the opening moments of their triple threat match with John Cena.
– At one point, there had been a plan for a CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio Hair vs. Mask match at WrestleMania 26, but this is unlikely to happen now considering Mysterio’s injury problems.
(Credit to PWInsider for some of the information used in this report)
WWE taped this week’s edition of Smackdown tonight from the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Below are full results:
* The show opens with Chris Jericho talking about defending the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship at WWE’s TLC PPV. He says tonight’s Batista vs. Kane match will determine the new number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship. Jericho says he should be in the match. Teddy Long comes out
and sets up Jericho vs. The Undertaker in a non-title match for later in the night.
* The Hart Dynasty b. Cryme Tyme
* Vickie Guerrero and Eric Escobar demand to Teddy Long that he get a shot at the Intercontinental Championship in a backstage segment. Long makes the match against John Morrison, but says it will be his only shot.
* CM Punk brings Festus out with a brown paper bag. Punk introduces Festus under a new gimmick and says his friends gave him pills in the past, which caused him to act like they did. Punk says what is inside the bag comes out December 1st and he’s scared it will be available to the public. The pulls out the new Jeff Hardy DVD which brings out Matt Hardy.
* Matt Hardy b. CM Punk via disqualification after interference from Festus. After the match, Punk and Festus beat down Hardy.
* Mickie James is asked what she thinks of Michelle McCool’s video last week. James says she doesn’t care how juvenile Layla and McCool get and she’s not leaving Smackdown.
* Batista b. Kane via count count out to become the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship
* WWE Intercontinental Champion John Morrison b. Eric Escobar to retain. After the match, Vickie was furious as Escobar and spit on him. The fight spews to the back with Escobar telling Vickie she makes him sick when she kisses him. He “breaks up” with her.
* World Heavyweight Champion The Undertaker b. Chris Jericho by disqualification. Batista was on commentary for the match. Batista interfered when Undertaker was going for the Tombstone. The show ended with Batista beating down Undertaker.
* After the match, CM Punk came out and started beating up Undertaker with Jericho and Batista. Kane came out and made the save.
To update an earlier report, Lauren Mayhew, who appeared on ECW as the brand’s ring announcer, has parted ways with World Wrestling Entertainment.
Both parties were working together on a short term deal, but could not come to terms on a full term contract.
The word going around at today’s television taping in Bridgeport, Connecticut was that the aspiring actress and WWE parted on amicable terms and the door was open for her to return to the company in the future.
Mayhew’s profile has already been removed from the company website. Tony Chimel handled the ring announcing duties during tonight’s episode of ECW.
— Former TNA X Division Champion Low Ki worked a dark match prior to Tuesday’s  SmackDown & ECW taping in Bridgeport, Connecticut, defeating Paul Burchill. Low-Ki, who has been working in WWE’s developmental promotion, worked under the name Kaval.
— In today’s wrestling birthday, Beth Phoenix turns 29 years old. She was born on November 24, 1980 in Elmira, New York.
— WWE returns to the E Center in West Valley City, Utah on March 6th, 2010. Tickets go on sale December 19th, 2009 at 10 AM. (Thanks to Devin Cutting)
Hulk Hogan's "Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin" Australian Tour
Hulk Hogan’s Hulkamania Tour
Perth, Australia – November 24th, 2009
Report by Jaredin Mayfair, F4Wonline.com
I attended the second leg of the Hulkamania tour tonight in Perth, Australia.
The setup was decent, with a big screen periodically playing backstage vignettes throughout the night and a ring adorned with red and yellow Hulkamania ropes. Music and titantrons were all generic. Crowd was shy to start off with, but got into the show as it went along and were really hot for the main event.
Here are the results:
Match 1 – Rikishi & Brian Christopher def. Rock Of Love
Basic match built around Rikishi setting up and eventually performing the stinkface. It got a decent pop from the crowd. Rikishi sat on a guy for the win. Rikishi, Christopher and the referee danced after the match,
Match 2 Shannon Moore def. Spartan 3000 Matt Cross
It was announced this was the 2nd match in a best of 3 series to win $25,000. Matt Cross has a Spartan warrior gimmick. Moore won with a corkscrew moonsault, tieing the series at 1-1. Moore looked good, I could see him fitting in OK in TNA.
Match 3 Rosey def. Godfather (w/Ho s) and Val Venis in a Three Way Dance
Rosey came out in his old superhero gear. According to his titantron, his ring name was Big Daddy Row Row. Val Venis heeled on the crowd before the match. Godfather s Ho s got the second biggest pop of the night. Basically Rosey and Godfather teaming up on Val. Funny moment where Rosey was hitting jabs on Val and the crowd chanted S.H.I.T. with each punch. Rosey pinned Val with a samoan drop. Rosey and Godfather left together with the Ho s after the match.
Match 4 Heidenreich & Gangrel & Black Pearl def. Nasty Boys & Eugene (w/Jimmy Hart)
Heidenreich was doing the Heidenwalk. Gangrel did the blood spit. Lots of stalling in this match, the heels got the heat on Eugene as the Nasty Boys pumped up the crowd. Sags looks in really good shape, Knobs not so much. At one point as the heels worked on Eugene, Gangrel screamed Kill that retard! . Probably the worst match of the night. Jimmy Hart doesn t seem to age. Heidenreich ended up pinning Eugene with a sidewalk slam. Nastys teased using some plunder, but didn t deliver.
Intermission
Bikini Contest
3 unknowns came out and Godfather hosted. It ended up breaking down into a pillow fight.
Match 5 Orlando Jordan def. Ken Kennedy
Kennedy did his pre-match mic routine but said Mr Anderson instead. Orlando s theme music has a line saying All the girls love me, and all the guys want to get with me . Probably the best match of the night, they worked well together. Orlando got the pin using the ropes.
Match 6 Umaga def. Brutus Beefcake (w/Jimmy Hart)
Strange matchup. Very short, with Umaga getting the pin after the Samoan Spike. Brutus sold it big time and was helped to the back afterwards.
Match 6 Hulk Hogan def. Ric Flair (w/Lacey Von Erich)
Before the match, the ring announcer said this is now No DQ. Deafening reactions for both Hogan and Flair. Hogan came out to the WCW American Made theme music. Both bled heavily very early in the match. Lots of chops to Hogan, he took his only back bump in the match from one of them. Hogan threw Flair off the top rope. Flair did the full moon spot. Orlando Jordan and Heidenreich came out and started beating down Hogan, but the Nasty Boys made the save and also gave Flair Pitty City. Hogan and Flair crowd brawled for a while. At one point Jimmy Hart came out and pulled Lacey Von Erich off the apron, accidentally exposing her ass for a moment. Hogan also gave her an atomic drop. Umaga then came out and beat up on Hogan and gave him the corner splash. Hogan then Hulked up, gave Flair a terrible big boot then clocked him with Jimmy Hart s megaphone for the pin.
Hogan did his posing routine for a few minutes after the match to end the show.
In retrospect, the show was nothing special. The action was basic, and the spectacle of the main event got really cheapened by all the run-ins. However, it was worth it for the chance to see both Hogan and Flair live, especially here in isolated Western Australia.
Monday’s special 3-hour Thanksgiving edition of WWE Raw hosted by Jesse Ventura did a 3.23 overall rating. The final 2 hours of the show, Raw’s typical timeslot, did a strong 3.55 rating – up from last week’s 3.47.
The hourly ratings were 2.60, 3.60 and 3.50 rating. When WWE runs 3-hour Raws, the first hour typically draws considerably fewer viewers than the second and third hours.
Comparing the final two hours of this week to last week’s show from Madision Square Garden, viewership was up 2.5 percent
(Credit to the Pro Wrestling Torch for the ratings data used in this report)
As previously reported, Rey Mysterio’s knee is in bad shape and the former World Heavyweight champion will need surgery to repair the situation. The beatdown he suffered at the hands of Batista following their match at Survivor Series was done to set up his time away from the ring.
While there was talk that he’d undergo an extensive surgery to fully repair the ACL, Mysterio is now is said to be considering a less invasive procedure on his ACL that would allow him to return sooner than later.
The more invasive procedure would have kept him out of action for upto 9 months and he would have missed WrestleMania 26. While this other surgery he’s considering will allow him to return at the Royal Rumble, he will still need major surgery down the road, likely after he retires.
(Credit to PWInsider.com for some of the information used in this report)
We’ve been covering the story that Shane McMahon recently met with UFC officials. At the UFC 106 posts-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White confirmed that he met with McMahon, but would not give further details regarding the nature of the meeting.
We’ve now learned that Shane McMahon is interested in purchasing a financial interest in UFC.
McMahon, who currently servces as WWE’s Vice President of Global Media, will officially leave that post on January 1, 2010 and be free to work elsewhere.
With his extensive knowledge of marketing and expanding a sports brand into new markets, McMahon could be a big asset to the UFC as they continue their international expansion.
