During an interview with Movieline.com earlier this week at the Los Angeles premiere of his new film Warrior, Kurt Angle announced that he recently signed a new 3-year deal with TNA Wrestling.
When asked about how much he was acting prior to entering the world of professional wrestling, Angle said:
“I was taking classes and I was getting very serious about it. I was also sportscasting — I was a sportscaster in Pittsburgh for Fox, just trying to get in front of the camera a little bit. Then pro wrestling came around and I took a shot at that, and I didn’t realize I was going to become that good.”
He continued, “I made a lot of money, thank God, and I stuck with it, but every time I had a movie where my name would come up for some reason, I wasn’t allowed to do it due to scheduling reasons in the WWE. So with TNA, they give me the opportunity to go ahead and do movies and if it conflicts with the schedule they work around it. It’s a much better situation for me. So I actually signed a new three-year deal today with TNA. I’m going to stick with TNA.
Angle also spoke about following in The Rocks footsteps from WWE to Hollywood, the MMA industry and more.
As we’ve been reporting here on SEScoops.com this week, it’s being advertised in New York City that The Rock will be “returning to action” at WWE Survivor Series in November.
According to one of our WWE sources, contrary to what’s being advertised, The Rock is not currently scheduled to wrestle at Survivor Series. Expect The Rock to be heavily involved in the show and somehow get physically involved with John Cena, but he won’t be wrestling.
WWE is treating Survivor Series as the “kickoff” to the build towards WrestleMania 28. It’s been stated in recent months by both The Rock and Vince McMahon that Rock will be appearing at “several” upcoming WWE PPVs – including the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber.
The Figure Four Weekly Newsletter reports that there has been talk of doing a best-of-three series between The Rock and John Cena. It’s not official yet, but there’s a chance we’ll see Rock vs. Cena at WrestleMania and then two more post-Mania PPVs, including SummerSlam 2012 in Los Angeles.
In his latest YouTube video, former TNA star Matt Hardy checks in and gives an update on the recent happenings in his life. Hardy also talks about Kurt Angle’s recent DUI arrest and the issues he may or may not be going through ..
For more on the recent happenings in Matt Hardy’s life (and links to all his recent videos), check out our Matt Hardy News Page.
TNA star Jeff Hardy is due back in Moore County, North Carolina’s Superior Court this afternoon at (2pm EST) regarding the ongoing criminal case against him stemming from his September 2009 arrest.
The most recent delay in Hardy’s case was so he could be evaluated to determine whether he is a drug addict requiring treatment.
Despite Hardy’s ongoing legal situation and various reports that he refused to enter rehab at TNA’s request, he’s returning to TNA Wrestling tonight on Impact.
– Stefan Gorges, who keeps a running list of WWE Superstar win-loss records, has provided some interesting statistics regarding John Cena and Jinder Mahal:
Many WWE fans think of John Cena as “Super Cena” who never loses any matches – but Cena is on his way to his longest PPV losing streak in yers. After losing to CM Punk at Money in the Bank and SummerSlam – if Cena loses to Del Rio at Night of Champions – it will be his longest PPV losing streak since 2008. In the Summer of 2008, Cena lost to Triple H, JBL and Batista at 3 consecutive PPVs.
Here’s another interesting stat .. Jinder Mahal and the Great Khali’s loss to Air Boom on RAW was Mahal’s first loss on WWE television. Prior to that match, Mahal had won his first 26 television matches.
– The WWE website had 12 million visitors in the July – its second lowest month in the past year (after June).
– If you ever wondered how much merchandise WWE sells online – the WWEShop website processed 452 orders per day in June
The following statement was sent out on Thursday night by Kurt Angle’s attorney C. Todd Gilbert.
To recap, Angle was arrested last weekend in Virginia for DUI. Angle issued a statement days later saying he did not break any laws by driving with a 0.6 blood alcohol content, below the state’s legal limit of 0.8. Virginia police then followed up with a statement claiming Angle did blow a 0.6 back at the police station – but he also registered a 0.91 immediately after getting pulled over.
Now, Angle’s lawyers are claiming the first breathalyzer test will be inadmissible in court because they claim necessary scientific procedures where not followed. Here’s the statement:
Reported Angle Breath Test Inadmissible Under Virginia Law
Field Test Not Calibrated and Inherently Flawed for Court Use
Front Royal, Virginia— Attorney C. Todd Gilbert who represents Olympian and professional wrestler Kurt Angle issued the following statement today to clarify erroneous media reports about the evidence against Mr. Angle following his arrest Saturday night.
Mr. Gilbert stated, “A local newspaper reported today that my client’s percentage of blood alcohol at the scene of his arrest Saturday night was 091. What the media failed to report is that the handheld field test unit used for this test is so inherently unreliable and the protocols for its use so flawed that these results are inadmissible as evidence under Virginia law.
The results which will be admissible in court, and which vindicate my client, showed that his actual blood alcohol content was a .06, well below the legal limit of .08. The breath testing machine used to determine this accurate .06 level is one that passes the rigorous scientific standards set forth by the Virginia Department of Forensic Science. This testing unit is also subject to equally meticulous written protocols and pre-test calibrations for its use. One such protocol is a 20 minute waiting period to ensure that any residual alcohol present in the mouth will have evaporated prior to testing and will therefore not cause a false positive or a result that is higher that one’s actual blood alcohol content. The handheld breath testing unit used by state troopers in this case is merely a tool to assist police in determining probable cause, but its results are inexact which is why they are inadmissible in court. For example, no such 20 minute waiting period is performed by officers in the field prior to its use. As such, the report today is both incomplete and misleading.
Mr. Angle continues to look forward to having the scientifically valid results of his actual blood alcohol content presented in court in order to clear him of this charge.”
– Regarding the mystery RAW General Manager, creative has not been told anything about the character except not to do anything with it each week. Some believe the angle is done with but it hasn’t been confirmed within the company. There have been recent RAW shows where the General Manager’s podium is set up and never used, and some weeks it’s not set up at all.
– Ricardo Rodriguez has been on the road with WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio lately as his ring announcer and to do interference during his matches. Up until Del Rio won the title, Rodriguez would not be booked for live events and has been working FCW shows.
– David Arquette’s official bio for the upcoming season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars mentions his WCW World Title reign:
“The eccentric actor hopes to place the Mirrolball on his trophy case next to the WCW world heavyweight championship title belt he inexplicably won in 2000.”
Kevin Nash wrote the following on Twitter today regarding WWE’s announcement that he’s been released and “future endeavored”:
“To set the record straight, I passed physical w/ flying colors. Cardiologist was amazed at my lipid profile. Couldn’t reach financial terms.
I will not be addressing this matter again. I am moving forward with my life. Cena, it was great having the chance to get to know you.”
Based on what we’re hearing – this is a storyline “release” and Nash was never under a talent contract to begin with. Nash signed a Legends deal back in January following his surprise return at the Royal Rumble and has been working under that deal ever since.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights of what JR wrote about:
Brock Lesnar’s Next UFC Fight: “Brock Lesnar returns to fight on December 30 in Las Vegas and I hope that it’s not too early for Lesnar. Feels early to me considering Brock has been recovering from major surgery. I hope that I’m wrong on this one but Lesnar’s situation feels vulnerable. Nonetheless I’ll be pulling for the former WWE Champion be to Alistar Overeem and I’m considering attending the event based on Monday Night Raw and the OU Bowl schedule.”
Future WrestleMania Locations: “Wrestlemania site selection seems to be trending to dome stadiums or, like 2012, to warm weather, outdoor stadiums IE Miami. When fans who have big stadiums in their area ask about ‘Mania sites, think about the time of the year and the weather. Cold weather sites aren’t good for night time, outdoor wrestling events last I checked.”
His Performance On RAW: “Enjoyed the way that WWE provided several talents TV time Monday night in Columbus, Ohio on Raw. Nice stragegy. As June Cleaver once told husband Ward when referring to their youngest son, “Gee, Ward you were a little rough on the Beaver last night,” as I’ve been hammered by various entities for my perceived, poor performance at the announce desk Raw Monday night. Nothing I can do about my failings but to do better next time out. As my late Dad used to say, “No hill for a stepper.””
TNA champion Kurt Angle was arrested for DUI once again this past weekend following a TNA live event in Shenandoah County, Virginia.
Kurt Angle issued a statement this week defending himself and saying he was not legally drunk at the time of the arrest. Angle claimed he was being framed, did not fail a breathalyzer test and had a 0.06 blood alcohol content – safely below the 0.08 legal limit.
Now – Virginia state troopers have fired back at angle – saying he was in fact legally drunk at the time of his arrest. State Trooper C.R. Scally was the arresting officer and recorded that Angle failed several field sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol content of 0.091 at the time of his arrest.
Angle was tested once again when he arrived at the Front Royal police department on Sunday morning – and that is where he blew the 0.06 he mentioned in his statement.
Once again, it appears Angle is distorting the facts to save face. Angle claims a conspiracy – the police say it’s cut and dry – he was driving drunk.
The first review is in for the new WWE Studios project Inside Out starring Triple H – and it’s bowling-shoe ugly. The Orlando Sentinel’s review takes aim at both WWE Studios (for trying to manufacture the next Dwyane Johnson-level breakout star) and Triple H (who they say will never be more than a tough-guy supporting character).
At one point in the movie, Triple H’s character is asked about his time in prison, to which he responds, “You just sit there — and it passes” – and the Sentinel’s Roger Moore says Inside Out is very similar to that experience.
Here are some “highlights” from The Orlando Sentinel’s review:
“World Wrestling Entertainment’s brief flirtation with family friendly films has ended. But the residue of this effort sticks to “Inside Out,” a half-hearted return to the violent men of the ring doing violent things on the screen model that predated the PG years.
And they refuse to abandon their efforts to turn one of their stars into the next Rock or Hulk Hogan, a crossover phenomenon about to carry movies and TV shows, and not just other wrestlers and folding chairs.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque has the look, the demeanor and the skills to be a useful heavy in other people’s action films. He’s so muscle-bound, his arms can’t quite drop to his side. His face is more scary than handsome. Yet “Inside Out” is yet another attempt to make him a leading man.”
And the single resonant line about prison comes too late to give the movie the tone they might have been going for. Asked, fearfully, about jail time, A.J. (Triple H’s character) intones, “You just sit there — and it passes.”
That’s a pretty fair description of “Inside Out,” too. (Bruce) Dern could have played this mobster whose cover job is running an animal hospital a seriously strange or seriously silly spin. But he has nothing to play. Parker Posey does her best to hide that this is just a WWE paycheck part.”
And Levesque does nothing to suggest that if the WWE weren’t backing him that he’d ever be anything on screen other than the guy who beats the heck out Jason Statham or whoever in someone else’s action picture.”
Ouch. To read the full review, head over to the Orlando Sentinel website.
Rolling Stone magazine website picked up on singer Phil Collins being backstage at the SmackDown live event in Geneva, Switzerland last week. They also posted this photo of Collins with World Heavyweight Champions Randy Orton:
Kevin Nash, Jimmy Hart and former WWE star Kurrgan are appearing in a new horror movie called “Monster Brawl!” Here is the official synopsis and movie trailer:
“Set in the tradition of a Pay-Per-View main event, comes a grotesque and hilarious fight to the death featuring a cast of eight classic combatants in all. Along with their colorful managers, these Monsters compete in visceral bloody combat in the ring to determine the most powerful monster of all time.”
UFC announced on Tuesday that former UFC Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar will be returning to the Octagon this year in a blockbuster fight against the newly-signed former Strikeforce heavyweight champion, Alistair Overeem.
Dana White announced that Lesnar vs. Overeem will take place on Friday, December 30th from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This will be Brock Lesnar’s first fight back after his latest bout with the intestinal disorder diverticulitis and recently undergoing colon surgery.
The winner of the fight will face the winner of the Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos fight for the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross was asked by a fan on Twitter what he thinks about the fight:
“Intriguing fight. Hope Brock’s ready.”
Former WWE star JBL also commented on the blockbuster heavyweight fight:
“Monster fight-as in two monsters gonna go at it! Brock versus Overeem-predictions? My pal Brock gonna be motivated and he’s gonna win it!”
Check out these pictures of Brock Lesnar’s next UFC opponent – ALISTAIR OVEREEM:
Kurt Angle released the following statement to the Wrestling Globe Newsletter regarding his DWI arrest over the weekend:
“Recently, there has been a lot of attention related to the incident which occurred Saturday night in Virginia. I was returning from an iMPACT Wrestling show in an unfamiliar place, late at night and was trying to find the exit for my hotel.
I did not believe my driving behavior was reckless or otherwise improper. Apparently law enforcement may have believed otherwise and pulled me over.
I fully cooperated with the officer who clearly recognized me while performing his standard procedures. Subsequent to the stop, I was asked to submit to a breathalyzer test and passed.
I do not believe that I broke any laws and will be entering a plea of not guilty in response to any pending charges. I hope that we can now focus on more important matters and move forward.”
In addition to that, Angle’s attorneys, C. Todd Gilbert and Frank Smith, also had the following to say:
“Our client’s blood alcohol level was negligible and was well below the legal limit in Virginia. We will wait to see if the state even wants to go forward in light of this evidence.”
– As seen on RAW last night, Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks appeared on RAW in a backstage segment with Wade Barrett. The two hinted at forming a team and will hook up this Thursday on Superstars to take on the team of Percy Watson and Titus O’Neil.
Reks, who has had fans rally for him on Twitter for a few weeks now with the hashtag #WeWantReks, wrote the following on Twitter last night:
“Thanks Rekking Crew! Your support is heard! Keep tweeting #WeWantReks #ReksAndHawkins”
Hawkins, who has also been in the news after he tweeted about wanting more WWE TV time, wrote this last night after RAW:
“Thanks for the love tonight. More too come… Be sure to check out @WWE Superstars this week to see myself & @Tyler_Reks in action.”
– Prior to suffering a lacerated kidney and being forced to surrender the FCW Heavyweight Title last week, WWE developmental talent Bo Rotunda was scheduled to be brought up to the main roster.
– Word backstage is that Vince McMahon was feeding Michael Cole more lines than usual on commentary last night during RAW.
WWE COO Triple H will be working with the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s new “Make a Muscle, Make a Difference” campaign .. Here’s the press release:
‘Make a Muscle, Make a Difference’ Campaign on Display in Rockefeller Center Plaza EHE International donates the window to MDA for the month of September
NEW YORK, Sep 06, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The Muscular Dystrophy Association’s “Make a Muscle, Make a Difference” campaign will be featured in a 115-square-foot display window in September in Rockefeller Plaza to promote awareness in the fight against neuromuscular diseases.
“Our thanks to EHE International for recognizing the importance of MDA’s mission by displaying our message to the many New York City visitors and residents,” MDA Manhattan Director of Business Development Kaylan Scagliola said. “Having a presence in such a prominent area is especially meaningful in spreading the Association’s message of help and hope.”
The window at 10 Rockefeller Plaza, donated by EHE International, will exhibit the Association’s public service advertisements that showcase life-size standing displays of MDA Muscle Team members, including Natalie Morales of NBC’s “Today” show, “Glee” star Max Adler, former NFL Super Bowl-winning quarterback Kurt Warner, WWE Superstar Triple H and several MDA Goodwill Ambassadors.
“EHE International is excited to have MDA in the window this September,” said Deborah McKeever, president of EHE International. “Together we can educate and increase public awareness of neuromuscular diseases and inform the public of its signs and symptoms.”
The 46th annual MDA Telethon was televised live on WWOR-TV My9 from Metropolis Studio in New York, on Sunday, Sept. 4.
The Rock recently announced that he’ll be appearing at several upcoming WWE pay-per-views, including November’s Survivor Series show from New York City.
Advertisements in the New York City area for tickets to the Survivor Series at Madison Square Garden feature The Rock and say he is “returning to action” for the first time in 8 years alongside John Cena.
The Rock last competed in March 2004 at Wrestlemania XX, where he and Mick Foley lost a Handicap Match to Randy Orton, Batista and Ric Flair.
At this time, its unknown whether The Rock will actually be wrestling, or if “returning to action” is a vague phrase being used to simply mean The Rock will be there in person.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has answered several fan questions on his Twitter account, @JRsBBQ. Here are some highlights of what JR wrote on Tuesday morning about:
SmackDown Moving To Tuesdays:
“Will WWE move Smackdown to tuesdays live on Sy Fy? Heard nothing official but personally I like the idea. Live TV hard to beat. So, TBD.”
WWE’s New Cable Channel:
“WWE Network moving forward briskly. Not sure of details but tv biz buzzing & interested. ‘Assume’ nothing other than it’s gonna be a hit.”
What He Thinks Of TNA Wrestling:
“Have many friends there & wish them no Ill will & only success.”
Rumored WrestleMania 28 Matches:
“Amazing how many folks think I actually known the WM28 card here in September. I’d guess NO ONE KNOWS the card. NO ONE.”
Sting vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania?
“For the love of all that’s Holy, there will be NO Undertaker vs Sting match @ WM28. Come on, man…or woman! Let it go.”
What He Thinks About Zack Ryder’s Potential:
“Working diligently to become a player & I hope that he makes it.”
Monday’s RAW SuperShow saw Zack Ryder team with Jerry “The King” Lawler in a tag match agains former tag team champions Dtavid Otunga & Michael Mcgillicutty. Ryder got plenty of ring time and scored the win for his team, which got a tremendous pop from the live crowd.
Ryder was featured on camera several times on RAW (including with John Cena), got a new video package and was filming footage for this week’s edition of his Z! True Long Island Story video series.
Zack Ryder wrote the following to his Twitter followers last night –
“29 weeks of hard work has finally been recognized…now it’s time for me to make it pay off. THANKS BROSKIS! WWWYKI #RyderRevolution”
Dolph Ziggler congratulated Ryder for his tag team win with Jerry Lawler last night and called it a “re-debut” for the self-proclaimed WWE Internet Champion.
DISCUSSION: What do you think about Zack Ryder’s push? Does he deserve the television time – and will the fans continue to get behind Mr. Long Island Iced Z?