On Monday’s RAW, it was announced that John Cena and The Rock will be teaming up at Survivor Series against the team of The Miz and R-Truth. With The Rock currently in New Orleans while filming the new GI Joe movie, Miz and R-Truth will be traveling to the city today to train with The Rock in preparation for their upcoming match.
Aside from the big Rock-Cena tag team main event – we have news on several other matches discussed for the big event.
WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio vs. CM Punk and World Heavyweight champion Mark Henry vs. the Big Show are among the matches we’re likely to see.
Despite the fact that WWE is reporting that Triple H suffered a back neck injury at the hands of Kevin Nash and RAW and will miss up to 6 weeks, expect The Game back in time for some sort of gimmick singles match with Nash at Survivor Series.
Also discussed is a traditional 5-on-5 elimination matches with the following competitors:
– Randy Orton, Sheamus, Daniel Bryan, Kane and Blue Sin Cara vs. Christian, Cody Rhodes, Wade Barrett, Brodus Clay and Black Sin Cara.
At one point, WWE had been discussing David Otunga, Christian, Cody Rhodes, Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston, Evan Bourne, Mason Ryan, Zack Ryder and one more partner, but last we heard, this match is not going to happen.
Credit to Matt Baxendell for the following notes from the Impact Wrestling taping which will air on November 10th…
– Garrett Bischoff has a match with Gunner. Eric Bischoff and Ric Flair get involved.
– Sorensen defeats Zema Ion. Kid Kash comes out and a three way with Sorensen vs. Kash vs. Aries is set for Turning Point.
– Bobby Roode cuts a promo as the new champion.
– Eric Young and a guy from Jersey Shore defeat Robbie E. and a partner.
– AJ Styles defeated Daniels. Daniels was going to use a screwdriver but RVD made the save.
– Hardy/Anderson/Abyss defeat Immortal when Abyss pins Steiner.
– James Storm was attacked backstage, but the Storm vs. Roode rematch still takes place. Roode wins after Storm passes out from blood loss. AJ Styles comes out and challenges Roode for Turning Point.
As noted earlier, Bobby Roode defeated James Storm at tonight’s TNA Impact Wrestling tapings in Macon, Georgia to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
Another title change happened as Madison Rayne and Gail Kim defeated Miss Tessmacher and Tara to become the new TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions.
Stay tuned for full spoilers as our correspondent Brent is at the tapings.
WWE Intercontinental champion Cody Rhodes spoke to SkySports.com this week to promote WWE’s upcoming return to the UK. Here are some highlights of what Cody said about:
His feelings for the Intercontinental Championship: “I’ve had the opportunity to have a very open platform on how I feel about the Intercontinental title. I feel about it in the same way that a lot of fans have felt about it and I was glad that I could be honest about it. At one point it was probably the most revered title in the WWE and it was in the hands of some of the most revered Superstars and talents.
“Without getting too specific, somewhere in the last five or seven years it kind of got lost. That was why I decided to bring back the classic look of the title because there is also a classic feel that comes with it. That’s the type of Intercontinental Champion I wanted to be…It should say a lot to be Intercontinental Champion. Today it seems like the Money in the Bank Briefcase means something, but I kinda wanted to trump that with something that used to be that way. That’s how I feel and it’s on a definite upswing.”
His Protective Face Mask: “It’s funny because things in sports entertainment get misconstrued. What we do is entertainment, but what happened with me was a little bit more than that. My nose was legitimately broken, my septum was horribly deviated, but it was the most lucky break I guess I ever had. I’m definitely not afraid to take it off and I’ve enjoyed the few times I’ve gotten away with taking it off and I can see it being around for a while, but not so much a major fixture of myself. I’m trying to make it like Triple H; he’s got his sledgehammer and I’ve got my mask.”
The Best Looking & Ugliest WWE Crowds: “The best-looking crowds is a tough one, but consistently the worst looking crowd that I ever see – and if I tell them that I’m not lying and trying to get under their skin, I’m just telling the truth – is Vienna, Austria. I got up close and personal at a signing with them and my God…”
As WrestleMania has become the global phenomenon we know it as today, state government officials around the United States have been going all-out trying to entice WWE to bring the annual event to their city.
The Miami Herald has published a new article looking at what the city of Miami did to land WrestleMania 28.
City officials promised WWE a $250,000 subsidy, along with other perks, and access to Miami-Dade county’s three largest venues – Sun Life Stadium, the Miami Beach Convention Center and the American Airlines Arena – for WrestleMania weekend activities.
To gear up the locals for next April’s blockbuster event, city officials will be hanging WrestleMania banners from light posts along the highways. A “street team” of approximately 200 volunteers has been assembled to help increase awareness about WWE events taking place next April.
Mike Sophia of Miami-Dade’s Sports Commission told the Miami Herlad, “This event is as big as it gets. WrestleMania is up there in the league with Super Bowls and Final Fours. To be honest with you, when I got the [WrestleMania] bid book, I looked at it and I put it on the corner of my desk and I said, ‘Nah, this isn’t us.’”
Comparing WrestleMania to the biggest annual sporting event in the world, Sophia said, “[WrestleMania] looks exactly like a Super Bowl. It’s exactly something we could and should do. If you want to sit down and split hairs as to whether it strictly fits the definition of a sporting event, I’m not going to have a great argument.”
– TNA executive Eric Bischoff had some great things to say about Bully Ray on Facebook this week after watching Bully Ray’s work on this week’s Impact (airing tonight).
“Watched this weeks version of IMPACT for edit notes at 3 am this morning. IMO Bully Ray is emerging as one or the top talents in the business today. Flawless.”
Bully Ray faces Jeff Hardy on this week’s episode of Impact Wrestling, airing tonight on Spike.
– TNA will tape Impact Wrestling tonight in Macon, Georgia – including the November 3rd episode that will see the debut of MTV Jersey Shore star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro.
Following tonight’s tapings in Georgia, the rest of the 2011 Impact Wrestling shows will be taped at the Impact Zone in Orlando.
In late December, TNA will tape five weeks of Impact over four days and then will take the holiday vacation. Over the holidays, officials are planning to re-evaluate the future of taping Impact outside of Orlando.
Most within TNA aren’t expecting a lot of Impact tapings on the road in 2012.
Former WWE tag team The Headbangers have resurfaced on the independent scene and are calling out the top tag teams in the industry today.
Mosh and Thrasher are now working with the Wrestle Axxess independent promotion and have posted a series of videos calling out the tag team champions of WWE, TNA and Ring of Honor. Check ’em out:
Headbangers call out WWE tag champions Air Boom (Kofi Kingston & Evan Bourne)
Headbangers call out TNA tag champions Mexican America
Headbangers call out ROH tag champions Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin
Fans who attend WWE television tapings usually get to see a bonus dark match main event. Fans who attended Tuesday’s WWE SmackDown tapings from Houston, TX were treated to three.
After the conclusion of the SmackDown taping, Sheamus won a 41-man Battle Royal featuring superstars from RAW and SmackDown. The Celtic Warrior eliminated more superstars than anybody else en route to his victory. It came down to Sheamus and The Miz, who was eliminated. Christian re-entered the match but caught a Brogue Kick to be eliminated again.
Next up was a WWE Championship match between Alberto Del Rio and John Cena. This one ended in a disqualification after World Heavyweight champion Mark Henry got involved and help Del Rio beat down Cena. Out came Big Show to make the save – and Teddy Long booked a tag match right then and there.
In the final match of the evening, John Cena and BIg Show defeated the championship team of Alberto Del Rio and Mark Henry. Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment on Del Rio while Show chokeslammed Henry for the double pin and the win.
– The ratings are in for Monday’s WWE RAW Supershow – and the post-Vengeance show did a strong 3.31 rating – up a bit from last week.
This week’s show averaged 4.71 million viewers with 4.93 million viewers for Hour 1 and 4.64 million viewers for Hour 2.
RAW was #2 on cable for the night in the coveted male demograhpic (behind ESPN’s Monday Night Football). RAW was #1 this week in the Males 12-17 demographic.
– The @WWEInsider Twitter account is reporting the following regarding Triple H’s condition following Kevin Nash’s attacks on RAW:
“Triple H has spinal damage following Kevin Nash’s attack on Monday Night Raw.”
The WWE website has an article up saying Triple H has a fractured vertebrae and doctors say he will miss up to 6 weeks.
That said, it is expected that a Triple H vs. Kevin Nash match will take place at Survivor Series with some sort of stipulation to compensate for Nash’s in-ring limitations.
– If you thought WWE was going overboard with the amount of Twitter references on WWE television – you ain’t seen nothing yet. WWE has reportedly inked some sort of business relationship with Twitter and will be going into overdrive with the Twitter integration as we head into the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania season.
– After Monday’s WWE RAW Supershow from Austin, TX went off the air, WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio defeated John Cena in a steel cage match. The Miz and R-Truth interfered in the match and allowed Del Rio to get the win.
– The dark match prior to RAW saw Sin Cara defeat Michael McGillicutty.
– The following matches were also taped before RAW for this week’s WWE Superstars show:
WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston & Evan Bourne vs. Primo Colon & JTG
The Bella Twins vs. Eve Torres & Kelly Kelly
– Friday’s episode of WWE SmackDown on SyFy did a 2.18 cable rating, down from the previous week’s 2.23 rating. The “go home” show prior to Sunday’s Vengeance averaged over 3 million viewers, which is still a strong audience.
– On Monday’s RAW, Triple H talked about being betrayed by his longtime friend Kevin Nash – and name-dropped Shawn Michaels and Sean Waltman as their longtime friends in the business.
It was noted by some backstage that Triple H did not mention Scott Hall or Ric Flair because of their situations.
Regarding Waltman working with WWE again, most believe that he will be hired as some kind of agent for FCW once Triple H’s developmental changes are figured out and begin.
– WWE has confirmed on their website that Mick Foley will be appearing at the 3-hour edition of RAW (11/14) from Boston’s TD Garden. Up until this week, only the TD Garden in Boston had announced Foley.
– The WWE Insider Twitter account noted last night that Zack Ryder tried to recover and help John Cena in the main event on RAW but WWE trainers wouldn’t clear him to compete.
In related Zack Ryder news, WWE has filed to trademark the term “Broski.” In the event that Zack Ryder leaves WWE at any point, he won’t be able to use the phrase elsewhere.
– WWE announcer Booker T is expected to return to the ring very soon. The latest word is that Booker T will soon begin a feud with Intercontinental champion Cody Rhodes that will lead to a match between the two men.
Aside from Booker’s desire to wrestle again, WWE sees Booker’s return to the ring as a chance to promote their upcoming King of the Ring DVD set, which Booker is hosting.
– In an update from last night, the CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio WWE Title Match at Survivor Series is not official yet. The storyline is that John Laurinaitis will either make the match official or scrap it before next week’s RAW.
– WWE has been teasing the follow-up to Mark Henry and Big Show collapsing the ring at Vengeance for this week’s SmackDown, where the entire RAW roster is booked.
WWE’s website noted that Henry and Show suffered muscle and ligament strains when the ring broke on Sunday. A WWE doctor was quoted in the article, saying they should be back soon.
Next week’s Halloween edition of WWE RAW will feature a special appearance from …. The Muppets! Check out this promo for Monday’s RAW Supershow featuring Kermit The Frog, Miss Piggy and the whole gang:
– After conducting an online poll asking fans to name the new WWE Network reality show where wrestling legends live together in a house, the name that will be used is “WWE House of Fame.”
WWE recently trademarked that name and “WWE WrestleMania Rewind” for the WrestleMania recap show on the network.
As noted before, the name of the Divas road trip show will be called “WWE Divas: Heels on Wheels!”
The other show that’s being discussed features a look at the Monday Night War between WWE RAW and WCW Nitro.
– Chris Jericho wrote the following on Twitter after watching
the new Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels DVD: “Watched the @ShawnMichaels_ @BretHart rivalry DVD and it was incredible. True emotion and feeling…gave me closure as a fan. A must see!”
– As seen on RAW, The Rock and John Cena will be teaming up together against The Miz and R-Truth at Survivor Series on 11/20.
As recent as last week – WWE was planning on featuring The Rock and Cena in a traditional 5-on-5 match.
As previously reported, WWE is billing John Cena and The Rock’s tag team at Survivor Series as “The Most Charismatic Tag Team of All Time.”
– Kevin Nash appeared on Monday’s RAW and brutally attacked Triple H with a sledge hammer on two separate occasions. Nash, who looked to be in the best shape we’ve seen him in in years, tweeted the following after RAW:
“in these hard times, a man must do for his family what needs to be done.Only the strong survive. have worked harder in the last year than in my life.Feel better than I did at 30.Haters hate,but my body is ready,mind right.smells like$$$”
– Jim Ross tweeted the following regarding whether he’ll be at next weeks RAW from Atlanta:
“If anyone w/ a brain thinks that next week in ATL @ RAW that between Cole & GM I have a chance in hell to come out ok you’re pet coon goofy.”
– Wade Barrett tweeted the following after defeating John Morrison on RAW. Barrett sees his win as the start of a new chapter in his young but storied WWE career:
“Barrett claims another victim. It is now beyond a great uprising. This is a fully-fledged resurrection. #TheSecondComing”
– WWE terms trending worldwide on Twitter last night during RAW included The Rock, John Cena, Awesome Truth, The Miz, R-Truth, Michael Cole, Zack Ryder, The Great White, Christian, Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, David Otunga, Dolph Ziggler, Mason Ryan, Celtic Cross, Ricardo Rodriguez, Alicia Fox, John Morrison, Wade Barrett and Kevin Nash.
– Jim Ross wrote on Twitter today he will not be at tonight’s Raw Supershow from Austin, Texas – but he will take part in a WWE.com live chat at 8:30 PM EDT.
Ross also noted he has finalized a deal to work on a WWE/Mattel project that collectors are going to love.
– Batista’s MMA manager Cesar Gracie appeared on the MMA HOUR radio show on Monday afternoon and spoke about Batista’s hopes of becoming a professional MMA fighter. Gracie said the ProElite promotion is interested in using Batista, but for now – the former WWE superstar’s movie career is keeping him busy.
– Roddy Piper and Bob Orton will reunite at the 12/2 K&S Wrestlefest, taking photos on a Piper’s Pit set and more. For details, visit Kandswrestlefest.com.
– CM Punk did an interview today with myFOXaustin to promote tonight’s Raw Supershow in Austin, Texas. Punk briefly discusses the Be A Star campaign and the current world of wrestling with an interviewer that clearly has no interest in today’s product. The interview can be viewed at MyFoxAustin.com.
With WWE Vengeance in the history books – tonight’s WWE RAW Supershow begins the march towards the 25th anniversary of Survivor Series on 11/20.
Tonight’s RAW Supershow takes place from the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas.
A steel cage match between WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio and John Cena is being advertised for RAW. No word yet on whether this will take place on the show or as the evening’s dark match main event.
SmackDown stars scheduled for tonight’s show include World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry, Randy Orton, Big Show, Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes, Sheamus, Christian, both Sin Caras and Daniel Bryan.
We’ll update this article later today as more matches are announced for RAW.
CM Punk visited Florida Championship Wrestling over the weekend (10/21) for an autograph session with the fans – and got called out by FCW star Dean Ambrose (formerly Jon Moxley).
Not only did Ambrose call out Punk – he challenged him to a match, which turned out to be the main event of the show.
Check out these videos of Moxley calling out Punk and their match at Friday’s FCW show from Kissimmee.