– THQ’s WWE video game Creative Director Cory Ledesma tweeted on Thursday about Chris Jericho not being included in WWE ’12:
“Not having Jericho on the roster was not a creative decision. Cant say much more than that. Factors beyond our control. We wanted him too.”
– THQ has also released the first footage of former WWE superstar Batista in the upcoming WWE ’12 videogame, who will be available as a downloadable character.
Here are some highlights of what Big Show recently spoke about during an interview CTPost.com:
Mark Henry: “He has really come into his own and stepped up his level of intensity. When you’re in the ring with him, you feel how powerful he is. I’m not embarrassed to say Mark is stronger than I am. “When I’m in the ring with someone who has a real potential to crush my spine, it increases my intensity level. Mark makes me push myself athletically.”
Dark Match Main Events at TV Tapings: “We do a great job putting out our TV product, but for fans in specific market areas, we like to give them something extra. It’s a reward for people for showing their support and coming out.”
His Career: “I’ve never been that kind of guy to talk about great matches or bad matches. What happened yesterday is what happened yesterday. I’ve worked with some of the biggest names in this business. And yeah, I’ve been around a long time and done a lot of cool things. But I just try to stay humble and keep working hard.”
“I enjoy what I do so much, but I don’t want to celebrate. If I keep my head down keep pushing, maybe nobody will notice I’ve been around so long.”
New Logo for the WWE Network
– WWE unveiled a new WWE Network logo during Tuesday’s NXT episode.
The logo is a variation of the “Attitude Era” WWE logo – with one W on top of the other (still no E) and a a futuristic metallic look. The red stripe below the W remains, but has been restyled.
No word yet on whether WWE will be updating the official company logo to this new look – but hit the comments below and tell us if you think this is an improvement over the “Attitude Era” logo.
– The current plan is for Kane to return at the Royal Rumble in January 2012. Kane was written off television back in July after a brutal beatdown at the hands of World Heavyweight champion Mark Henry. At the time, WWE said Kane would be out for “at least 3 months” – but he’s been enjoying some much needed time off, which has helped sell the injury angle.
Check Out: Recent Pictures of Kane With Hair
– WWE star Hornswoggle will be attending the premiere of the new Muppets movie this weekend. After the WWE crew had such a great time when the Muppets guest starred on RAW several weeks back, the feeling within WWE is that the Muppets will be back in the future for occasional cameos at events like WrestleMania.
The WWE website has a new article up by WWE Magazine’s “The Informer” – who dishes some dirt from the WWE locker room.
Here are some of the items included in this update ..
Which WWE Diva just dumped her boyfriend from Hell and now has a private eye spying on him to make sure he’s not stalking her?
One WWE Diva is notorious for not washing her ring gear. WWE has been on tour in Europe for more than a week, and we hear the offending Diva’s luggage smells like “hot garbage and cheap perfume.”
Which WWE staffer parks his Volvo in Mr. McMahon’s reserved spot at WWE HQ Mondays and Tuesdays, knowing that the boss is on the road?
One of WWE’s most masculine Superstars was overheard on the phone telling his significant other that he was looking forward to watching The Notebook with her when he got home. (Not only that, but we’ve every reason to believe that it’s his DVD.)
Which unfortunate Diva got stuck with the bill for a very late return and extra cleaning fees after her rental car had been reportly boosted from a rest stop in Georgia?
The official trailer for the film “Journey 2: Mysterious Island” (sequel to “Journey To The Center of the Earth 3D”) starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been released.
The film, which stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Michael Caine, Josh Hutcherson, Kristin Davis, Luis Guzmán and Vanessa Hudgens, is scheduled for release on February 10, 2012.
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island was filmed at eight locations on Oahu, Hawaii, but predominantly in various parts of Waimea Valley and Kualoa Ranch. Filming also took place in Wilmington, North Carolina.
The synopsis for Journey 2 reads, “Sean Anderson partners with his mom’s boyfriend on a mission to find his grandfather, who is thought to be missing on a mythical island.”
Here’s the trailer:
As noted before, the November 7th RAW Supershow did a 2.86 cable rating with 4 million viewers and the trend continued of ratings dropping as the show went on. ESPN’s Chicago Bears vs. Philadelphia Eagles game did a 12.28 rating with 16.85 million viewers and RAW finished #2 behind that game on cable for the night.
In the segment breakdown, the show opened at a 3.21 rating for the segment with John Cena, Zack Ryder, The Miz and R-Truth. John Morrison vs. Dolph Ziggler lost 582,000 viewers while JTG vs. Mason Ryan gained 203,000 back. Kofi Kingston vs. WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio lost 212,000 viewers. The segment with Del Rio and CM Punk gained 314,000 viewers for the 10pm timeslot.
Jack Swagger vs. Santino Marella and the Maxim reveal with Kelly Kelly, Beth Phoenix, Eve Torres, Natalya and Alicia Fox lost 275,000 viewers. Kevin Nash’s segment lost 70,000 viewers. The main event with Cena and Ryder vs. Awesome Truth gained 233,000 viewers, ending at a 2.94 overrun. The gain from the main event is considered very low for the overrun.
(Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
Here are some recent WWE attendance figures from overseas:
* RAW on November 2nd in Dublin drew 7,000 fans for $545,000
* SmackDown on November 3rd in Bilbao, Spain drew 4,000 fans for $200,000
* RAW on November 3rd in Nantes, France drew 4,700 fans for $325,000
* RAW on November 4th in Amneville, France drew 5,800 fans for $420,000
* SmackDown on November 4th in Graz, Austria drew 2,600 fans for $215,000
* RAW on November 5th in Manchester drew 12,600 fans for $650,000
* SmackDown on November 5th in Vienna, Austria drew 4,000 fans for $375,000
* RAW on November 6th in Sheffield drew 7,500 fans for $420,000
* SmackDown on November 6th in Cardiff, Wales drew 4,600 fans for $280,000
* SmackDown on November 7th in Birmingham drew 7,000 for $380,000
(Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
There has been a lot of backstage controversy surrounding Evan Bourne’s recent Wellness violation and subsequent suspension.
Bourne was suspended for smoking synthetic marijuana (believed to be “Spice”), which WWE has been cracking down on in recent months.
According to Dave Meltzer, Word is that Bourne used it at a party with other WWE talents and that one or more wrestlers above Bourne on the roster were using it.
Talk among the wrestlers has to do with the idea that a mid-carder like Bourne would get suspended for doing the same thing that a main eventer does and doesn’t get suspended.
Speaking of Bourne just completed an interview with WWE Magazine. He wrote on Twitter today:
“Just finished a very candid and honest interview with @WWEmagazine. Can’t wait for my cover shoot next…”
– Shane McMahon’s name was brought up during recent internal WWE talks in regards to creative but the feeling was that he’s gone and there are little chances of luring him back any time soon.
– WWE is looking to run more shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
– Stan sent word that this week’s episode of WWE NXT had 19 minutes and 48 seconds of in-ring action, up just a bit from the previous week.
– A few agents in WWE are grumbling about the push of Mason Ryan.
(Partial Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
SEScoops.com reader @DannyPlatt93 was at Tuesday’s WWE SmackDown tapings from Liverpool, England and sent in this video from after the taping ended.
World Heavyweight champion Mark Henry does his best Spin-a-Rooney –
Here’s another view of Mark Henry’s spin-a-roonie – followed by an RKO:
After nailing Mark Henry with an RKO – Orton took center stage and did his own version of the spin-a-roonie:
Michael Morgan Jr., the cousin of TNA star Matt Morgan, was shot and killed on Monday morning in New Jersey.
Michael Morgan, a 32-year old police detective, was killed outside a nightclub as he was walking a dancer to her car. Morgan and the dancer were held up at gunpoint. The attack, which happened just after 3 a.m., ended with Morgan suffering a fatal gunshot wound to the torso.
Matt Morgan acknowledged the death on his Twitter page on Tuesday.
“Mike Morgan was a highly decorated cop, who was in (the) anti-gang division and Monday was to start SVU. Still can’t believe he got killed. Too young with HUGE career in front of him still.”
“News said he’d gotten out of over 600 ‘guns drawn situations over his career in anti-gang without having to draw his own. That’s insanely impressive.”
According to New Jersey’s NJ.com, police are offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the shooter.
As if this news isn’t bad enough, Matt Morgan also tweeted that his father is hospitalized because his brain cancer is “spreading rapidly.”
We wish our sincere condolences to the Morgan family during this very difficult time.
– Rey Mysterio wrote the following update on Twitter this weekend:
“About to start therapy! Working really hard, main goal is to be back in the ring by WM28 Miami!”
– There were said to be several production related problems at Monday’s RAW tapings in Liverpool. Among the problems were issues with pyrotechnics and time constraints.
The Maxim magazine segment with Kelly Kelly as well as the finish of the main event between John Cena and Zack Ryder vs. The Miz and R-Truth were re-filmed, as well as ringside segments with Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler.
– Former WWE Diva Maryse’s first post-WWE appearance will be at the 2012 WrestleReunion event in Los Angeles, CA. The convention is being held the weekend of 1/27-1/29 at the LAX Westin Hotel. For more details, visit WrestleReunion.com.
– Former WWE Diva Lilian Garcia recently wrapped a studio session on her new album and will be filming her second music video this Thursday and Friday.
– WWE will return to Newcastle, England on April 20th, 2012. Tickets go on sale Friday, November 19th.
WWE remembers former Heavyweight Boxing Champion Joe Frazier, who passed away earlier this week:
In this video interview with TruthIsScary.com, TNA Wrestling star Rob Van Dam explains everything there is to know about marijuana – why it should be legalized, its uses besides smoking, why the government is against it, and more.
“Newly-signed” WWE superstar Kevin Nash returned to the ring on Tuesday at the RAW brand’s live event from Newcastle, England.
Nash teamed with The Miz and R-Truth to lose to the team of John Cena, Zack Ryder and Kofi Kingston. Mick Foley served as the special guest referee for the match.
According to several live reports sent in by fans who were at the show – Nash didn’t do too much in the ring, but looked good. Only one fan mentioned that it looked like Nash “phoned it in.” Most of the match was wretled by The Miz and Zack Ryder.
Aside from refereeing that tag match, Mick Foley also appeared after CM Punk defeated Alberto Del Rio and gave Dolph Ziggler (who was interfering on Del Rio’s behalf) an up close and personal look at Mr. Socko.
A Virginia judge has ordered Kurt Angle must pay a $1,500 fine stemming from his reckless driving charge back when he got when arrested in September on suspicion of drunk driving. He will not serve any jail time and his license will not be suspended.
Angle was not in court on Tuesday when his lawyer plead No Contest on his behalf He was originally charged with DUI but was only tried for the reckless driving charge.
Angle’s lawyer says when he was pulled over for swerving on the road after a TNA live event in September, he was just texting on his cell phone. The story is that Angle was texting the promoter of the show, presumably a TNA employee, about his payment that night.
The state district attorney did not believe that Angle was simply texting while driving but the judge sided with Angle’s defense.
Arda Ocal (@arda_ocal) and Jimmy Korderas (@jimmykorderas) of #AftermathRadio on thescore.com spoke with former WWE Superstar Tonga Fifita, best known as Haku (WWE) and Meng (WCW): Highlights:
Being “King” of the WWE in 1988, taking the title as “King” of the WWE from Harley Race at the 1989 Royal Rumble:
“When they gave me the opportunity to take the title as “King” from Harley Race, wow. I know his work, I know his wrestling, but I know my respect for this man. I sit back and took a few deep breaths. That was something in my heart, it was an honor to be the next “King”.
His reputation of being the toughest man in the locker room:
“(Wrestlers) just wanna throw my name out for the heck of it. I think we were all tough. You had to make the people believe that in wrestling for us to make some money. For us to have all those angles on TV, and to bring them back for all this good stuff. Everybody was tough those days to make money and protect the business.”
Thoughts on his tag team match at Wrestlemania VI in Toronto, Ontario where he teamed with Andre The Giant against Demolition, why he spent most the time in the match:
“That’s how smart Andre was. All he wanted me to do was to go out there and look strong, because obviously I was still young then, and my career was still going, not that he was finishing up but he was past his prime. He told me ‘Boss, go out there, do your thing, and whenever I wanna come in, ill call you (laughs).”
An incident with Jimmy Jack Funk in 1987:
“I didn’t take his eyeballs off. I was ready to, my hands were in there, ready to take his eye off, but then I realized how stupid we were. Here we are brothers on the road together. I told Jim after all these things, and he got fired for it, and all these things here, And I feel bad for him Jim. It was something that happened at that moment.”
Other topics discussed include:
To listen to the full podcast interview, click here.
Mick Foley appeared for WWE once again on the current European tour – with an appearance at the live event from Newcastle.
Check out this video footage of Foley and John Cena – with Cena ripping into his Survivor Series partner and WrestleMania 28 opponent – The Rock. Below that – a promo from Mick Foley.
The ratings are in from Monday’s RAW Supershow from Liverpool, England – and its a whole lot of bad news for WWE.
Monday’s RAW drew a 2.88 cable rating with just 4,015,000 viewers.
RAW continued the disturbing trend of losing viewers in the second hour. Hour 1 this week did a 2.94 rating (4.17 million viewers) while hour two did a 2.81 (3.86 million viewers). This is the 8th time in the past 11 weeks that RAW lost viewers in hour two – something that almost never happened prior to this year.
By comparison, the NFL’s Monday Night Football game on ESPN did a 12.32 rating – up nearly 40% in total viewers from the wek before – so RAW did have stiff competition.
TNA star AJ Styles says the injury he suffered at Friday’s TNA live event from Michigan has been diagnosed as a high ankle sprain.
Styles tweeted on Tuesday afternoon (@AJStylesOrg):
“Grade 2 on a high ankle sprain and normally takes about 2-4 weeks to recover. I got 1 week .. let’s do this!”
AJ Styles is scheduled to face TNA Champion Bobby Roode in the main event of Sunday’s Turning Point pay-per-view. It will be the second consecutive TNA PPV where Bobby Roode is wrestling an injured opponent in the main event.
Styles posted the following picture of the sprained ankle:
Former WWE star Chris Jericho was interviewed by TheSuplex.com this week and addressed rumors that he’ll be returning to WWE at the Royal Rumble. Jericho said:
“Well, there’s been rumors that I’m coming back pretty much every week since I left… I still have no plans. I know people get mad at me when I say that. I’ve just been enjoying what I’m doing right now, and if other people don’t understand that I’m sorry. I apologize. I never said I wouldn’t go back to wrestling again.
“As of right now, we’ve been doing so much stuff with the band, and then when we’re done with this tour, I’ll have some stuff in Hollywood that I’ll be working on, stuff that kind of transpired from Dancing with the Stars. I’ve never considered myself just a wrestler. I’m an entertainer… It’s one of those things that when the time comes, if it comes, I’ll know it, and maybe I’ll have a really cool idea that no one has ever seen before, and when that happens then I’ll think about it.”
Jericho was asked whether there’s anything left for him to accomplish in wrestling. Jericho responded with a blunt, “No.”
“That’s the thing, f I never wrestle again, I’ll have no regrets… I could be done. I know some people don’t like that or understand it. I don’t want the big WrestleMania sendoff with the cheering and the thing, no f—ing way. I just want to disappear and never be seen again.”
Other items discussed include:
Here’s video footage of the interview:
Maxim Magazine has posted behind-the-scenes video from WWE diva Kelly Kelly’s recent photo shoot.
WWE taped this week’s NXT and another match for Superstars on Tuesday from Liverpool, England:
WWE NXT:
* Rookie Challenge opens the show. Johnny Curtis and Derrick Bateman vs. Percy Watson and Titus O’Neil is set for tonight.
* Tyson Kidd beat Trent Baretta in a great match.
* Jimmy Uso beat JTG.
Superstars:
* Daniel Bryan beat William Regal in the match of the night so far, exciting, fans into it and great.
Click Here for Pictures of Trish Stratus in "Bounty Hunters"
The movie “Bounty Hunters” (formerly “Bail Enforcers”) starring former WWE diva Trish Stratus has been sold to MPI Media Group for U.S. distribution.
Slated for a Spring 2012 release, here’s the official press release from TrishStratus.com regarding the movie:
Santa Monica, CA /TrishStratus.com/ – Raven Banner Entertainment has sold U.S. rights to Bounty Hunters to MPI Media Group. Starring seven-time WWE champion and fitness icon, Trish Stratus, MPI plans a spring release for the film.
The deal was negotiated by Greg Newman, Executive VP of MPI Media Group and Michael Paszt and James Fler of Raven Banner Entertainment.
Other territories sold include: Canada (Anchor Bay), UK/Ireland (Lionsgate), Japan (Fine Films), France (Antartic), Australia/New Zealand (VM Distribution), Germany (MIG Film Group), Pakistan (Cine Entertainment), Thailand (M Pictures) and India (Star Entertainment).
“I’m looking forward to delivering Stratusfaction worldwide” stated the wrestling star, Trish Stratus.
Former WWE star Sean Waltman says he would love to join his friends Kevin Nash and Triple H back on WWE television, but he doesn’t think it will be happening any time soon.
During Monday’s RAW, Waltman wrote a few messages on Twitter talking about why Vince McMahon isn’t ready to bring him back just yet.
“I would love to one day return home to WWE. I still need more time doing well. Not long ago I attempted suicide. I understand Vince’s fear.”
He also thanked WWE for saving his life and spending tens of thousands of dollars on sending him to multiple stints in rehab.
“You can thank WWE’s Wellness Policy for me being here tweeting with you. They spent almost as much on me as they have on Scott.”
Stephanie McMahon Says WWE Has Spent Over $100,000 Sending Scott Hall To Rehab