— 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)
As we reported here earlier in the week, WWE superstar Gregory Helms was found with a Soma pill (a schedule four narcotic muscle relaxer) in his bag when arrested with Chris Jericho. Helms was unable to produce a prescriptionfor the pill at the time of arrest, but it did not get him into any trouble with the police.
If Helms didn’t have a prescription for the drug as he told police, WWE would be forced to suspend him for 60 days on his second Wellness violation. WWE’s current policy says that every prescription a wrestler has is supposed to be filed ahead of time with Dr. David Black. All prescriptions are supposed to be written by the company doctors who travel with the WWE crew. Helms has a previous violation against him for his name coming up in the Signature Pharmacy scandal in 2007 and has never failed a WWE drug test.
There has been a lot of talk backstage regarding Helms’ future with WWE after the incident. It’s estimated that Helms missed out on a $5,000 payday when he was pulled from the Royal Rumble PPV days after the arrest. Helms was said to be apologetic to WWE officials for the incident. He appeared on this week’s ECW show, getting beat down by Ezekiel Jackson and William Regal after they talked about his “rough week.”
As we reported here earlier in the week, WWE superstar Gregory Helms was found with a Soma pill (a schedule four narcotic muscle relaxer) in his bag when arrested with Chris Jericho. Helms was unable to produce a prescriptionfor the pill at the time of arrest, but it did not get him into any trouble with the police.
If Helms didn’t have a prescription for the drug as he told police, WWE would be forced to suspend him for 60 days on his second Wellness violation. WWE’s current policy says that every prescription a wrestler has is supposed to be filed ahead of time with Dr. David Black. All prescriptions are supposed to be written by the company doctors who travel with the WWE crew. Helms has a previous violation against him for his name coming up in the Signature Pharmacy scandal in 2007 and has never failed a WWE drug test.
There has been a lot of talk backstage regarding Helms’ future with WWE after the incident. It’s estimated that Helms missed out on a $5,000 payday when he was pulled from the Royal Rumble PPV days after the arrest. Helms was said to be apologetic to WWE officials for the incident. He appeared on this week’s ECW show, getting beat down by Ezekiel Jackson and William Regal after they talked about his “rough week.”
Hulk Hogan appeared on Rob Van Dam’s RVD Radio this week and talked to the former WWE and ECW Champion about coming into TNA. Hogan called up to speak with Van Dam personally but ended up appearing as a live caller on the radio show.
Hogan told Van Dam that TNA has some serious momentum right now and if they had RVD “ruling the roost”, it would make things a lot easier. Van Dam asked Hogan about TNA on Monday nights and Hogan said the move is definitely going to happen sooner than later .Hogan kept saying how much fun everyone is having in TNA.
Hogan said TNA needs RVD’s help and Van Dam said he is very interested in hearing what Hogan has to say about him coming in. Van Dam told Hogan that now is a better time than ever as his wife is healthy, he is healthy and he’s not burnt out. RVD said he was curious about coming into TNA and said that he and Hogan will discuss it.
Hogan said he spoke to Jeff Hardy earlier in the day and both men agreed RVD would be a good fit in TNA. Hogan said he and Hardy have tossed around some “crazy ideas” that he guarantees will work.
RVD asked Hogan if it was his decision to go back to the four-sided ring and Hogan confirmed it was. Hogan put down the six-sided ring and Van Dam agreed with the decision.
Overall it was a real interesting segment and it was cool listening to Hogan and Van Dam going back and forth.
– Despite the positive spin he’s putting on TNA in media interviews, Hulk Hogan has been complaining to friends that he’s frustrated with several things in TNA. Hogan feels pressure to push people he does not believe in – namely, some of the TNA originals. Word is that Dixie Carter doesn’t want the TNA originals to be buried by Hogan’s buddies, but there are some TNA originals that Hogan sees nothing in and wants to get rid of. Hogan is said to be a big fan of Abyss as well as Tomko, saying at least both men look like wrestlers.
– TNA star Kurt Angle’s name came up in a federal trial of nine men associated with Applied Pharmacy in Mobile, Alabama that is going on this week. Assistant US Attorney Donna Dobbins brought up Angle and Jose Canseco as clients of the pharmacy in her closing arguments on Tuesday. She said, “Each one of them (the defendants) participated in this conspiracy. They operated a steroid mill, and they would dispense anabolic steroids to anyone whose credit card was good.â€
– Ed “Brutus Beefcake” Leslie was backstage at the TNA iMPACT tapings on January 20th. Leslie is a longtime friend of Hulk Hogan, brother.
– As for the news that Scott Hall and Sean Waltman are gone from TNA, this is not the case. The duo has been removed from the TNA iMAPCT! opening video as well as the TNA Roster page on the company website, but them being removed is part of the storyline.
– Eric Bischoff is still intent on bringing Jim Ross into TNA as an announcer. After many months of speculation as to what he’d do when his WWE contract expired, Ross signed a short-term extension back in December and is expected to be with WWE through mid-2010. That said, the face of the pro wrestling industry is sure to change this year, with TNA likely going to Monday nights at some point, so who knows what the future holds.
– As we’ve seen in recent weeks on iMPACT!, Nature Boy Ric Flair has taken TNA Champion AJ Styles under his wing. The basis for the storyline is that Ric Flair is the consummate World Champion. AJ Styles is a master in his own right inside the ropes, but Flair will teach Styles how to be a World Champion outside the ring – the women, the limousines, etc. TNA wants AJ Styles to be the kind of guy that stands out in a crowd, which is why they’ve been suggesting for him to bleach his hair blond.
Update: During a surprise appearance on RVD Radio on Wednesday night, Hulk Hogan talked about AJ Styles and said he’s got big plans for Styles’ character. Hogan said he can’t even reveal the “new name” for Styles’ character, but the TNA champm is going through a transformation right now that will unfold in the coming weeks. (RVD Radio Recap)
– When Rob Terry won the TNA Global Title on January 27th at a TNA live event in Cardiff, Wales, he was not told about the title change until the day of the show. Terry played the role of the local babyface and as noted before, his family were in attendance with TNA camera crews filming everything.
