– Speaking to Rodolfo Roman, World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio revealed that his dream WrestleMania match would be against The Undertaker. The Mexican grappler also promised a victory over John Cena tonight at Hell in a Cell. Here Del Rio discuss this, and mixed martial arts below:
– As reported on Thursday, TNT is continuing its relationship with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, as the cable network has ordered Wake Up Call to series. The former WWE Champion addressed the series in a message on Twitter on Saturday.
“Excited to partner w/ TNT again to create cool positive programming. #WakeUpCall #InspirationAndAssKickins,” he wrote.
The synopsis for the series is as follows: Wake Up Call will feature Johnson lending a helping hand to everyday people who are facing enormous challenges in their lives, whether they be dead-beat dads, sports teams that don’t gel, or business owners struggling to survive. Johnson will bring his own brand of motivation to each group of people, from 4 a.m. wake-up calls, to emotional reunions and goal setting.
– “The Taskmaster” Kevin Sullivan turned 64-years-old on Saturday.
– CM Punk was originally scheduled to compete at last Tuesday’s SmackDown taping in Birmingham, Alabama, but ultimately did not because company officials didn’t want him to any more beat up going tonight’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view event encounter against Ryback. Nonetheless, Punk’s injuries are expected to affect the booking of the match. The bout is not scheduled to be the end of his feud with Paul Heyman.
– Chris Jericho revealed late last night on Twitter that he plans to release his third autobiography, which will on his second tenure with WWE, next September, and a Fozzy album in June. In response to when he will return to WWE, Jericho responded, “Most asked question & the answer is “I don’t know” That’s the best I can say so STOP ASKING ;).”
– World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio battles the returning John Cena in a title clash tonight at Hell in a Cell. Courtesy of the official YouTube account of WWE,
– Vince McMahon, who has not appeared on WWE programming since Randy Orton’s “WWE Championship Coronation” on the Aug. 19 episode of Raw, is expected to make his return to WWE programming this week. According to PWInsider.com, if the WWE Chairman and CEO doesn’t show up at tonight’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view event, expect him to reemerge tomorrow night on Raw in Orlando, Florida.
– After Colt Cabana revealed recently on The Steve Austin Show that he was scheduled to try out for an announcing job with WWE, he downplayed the rumors on Twitter. Despite saying “no WWE for me,” he is still scheduled for a tryout some time next month.
– Randy Orton’s dismantling of Dolph Ziggler on Raw last week in preparation for his Hell in a Cell encounter against Daniel Bryan tonight is featured in the “WWE Raw Slam of the Week.”
– It was announced last week that Curtis Axel would defend the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Big E Langston tonight in the WWE Hell in a Cell Kickoff, which streams live at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. However, it now appears that the match has been nixed, as the match is no longer advertised on the Hell in a Cell page on WWE.com, not to mention that the page previewing the match, has been deleted.
No match is being advertised for the WWE Hell in a Cell Kickoff, with the following stated: “Find out who will be the next WWE Champion and watch John Cena’s in-ring return when WWE Hell in a Cell airs live on pay-per-view tonight at 8 ET/5 PT, and don’t forget to check out the Kickoff, which streams live at 7:30 ET/4:30 PT!”
– Konnan, who is always vocal about WWE on his podcast and on Twitter, feels a number of WWE Superstars should be removed from television—due to poor performance and/or lack of marketability. In response to a fan on Twitter asking him which two talents should be written off television, he responded with eight, including reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel, all three members of 3MB, and three WWE Divas.
“Brad Maddox, JoJo, Rosa, 3MB, Axel, Aksana, would write dem off,” said Konnan.
Konnan, however, is high on two wrestlers he feels are underutilized. In response to a question asking who should be pushed, he stated, “Ziggler and Cesaro.”
– Tonight at WWE Hell in a Cell, Cody Rhodes and Goldust will defend the WWE Tag Team Championship against the team of Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, as well as Jey and Jimmy Uso. Rollins vows to reclaim the gold.
“Tonight is for reclamation. @WWEUsos & the #RhodesDynasty may be bonded by blood, but talent outperforms tradition. Believe that. #HIAC,” he wrote on Twitter.
Tonight at WWE Hell in a Cell, Cody Rhodes and Goldust will defend the WWE Tag Team Championship against the team of Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, as well as Jey and Jimmy Uso. Should the Usos capture the gold tonight, it will be in honor of their late uncle, Umaga, who they pay tribute to inside the ring through face paint.
“We owe our whole wrestling careers to my late uncle Umaga,” said Jimmy. “He was the one who grabbed us from a bad situation in a bar at 2:30 in the morning, and drove use from Houston, Texas, to Florida, where he lived. He told us we needed to change our lives because it wasn’t working out. That’s why our paint tribute is so cool. Every time we put it on, I still feel like he’s there with us. It makes us feel like part of The Samoan Bulldozer. We’re a bulldozer, we’re reckless. We can’t get hurt. Bulldozers are made to knock stuff down. And that’s how we feel when that paint is on us. It’s the coolest thing ever man. I love getting painted up because my uncle is here with us. It’s all because of him.”
Jey adds, “No one ever knows our struggle. We say, “Day 1,” every day. They don’t see behind what got us here, how we had to work to get here. And when we got here, we had to keep working, keep pushing. The day we do win the Tag Team Titles, that’s for my family. That’s for all the Usos around the world, especially Umaga. That’s No. 1 for him. My first title win is strictly for Umaga—he knows that, and my brother knows that.”
Jimmy also explained what the term “Uce” means—friends of Umaga would often refer to him by that name and it is often used around the Usos: “Uce means your friend. I even said that to Cameron’s boyfriend, whom I just met not long ago. He was like, “What do you keep calling me?” It means “brother” in Samoan. It means you’re my friend. It’s another slang word for “bro,” or something of that nature. My brother says it so much. When we hear some of the boys calling each other, they say that. It’s pretty cool. We heard Wade Barrett talking to Heath Slater once, and he said, “Yeah Uce!” That’s funny. I was like, what the…? It catches on like that. I introduced myself to my fiancée as “Uce” when we first started talking. That’s weird. And Umaga’s dog’s name was Uce. I want to name mine that when I get one.”
Daniel Bryan, who will face Randy Orton tonight at WWE Hell in a Cell, spoke with PWInsiderTV yesterday at Ringsidefest in New York City about entering the Cell for the first time in his career, the pressure of working WWE pay-per-view main events and how it compares to working on top elsewhere in the world, advice Shawn Michaels gave him, his engagement to Brie Bella, whether we’ll ever bring the “Final Countdown” theme song to WWE and more.
Much has been said online about WWE’s handling of ongoing storyline for the WWE Championship, as Bryan’s never-ending chase for the gold has left may fans upset. In response to the fan criticism, Bryan remarks, “Let them be critical.”
He explains, “I’ve always thought that. The fans have the right to say what they what and to be critical about something. If you don’t like it, say it. We live in a free country and the problem is that people don’t voice their opinions enough. People sit on their hands too much and don’t say what they want, say what they really believe in. If they believe that, say it. And that’s good, because constructive criticism is always good to me, and the company can take it how they want to. They listen to it, and if they look at it and say, “Oh wait a second, they don’t have any valid points. We want them to be upset.” Hey, that’s okay. But if they look at it and say, “That is a valid point, we might need to change something.” That’s the basis for change to me, is constructive criticism and people going against the norm.”
While Bryan doesn’t feel pressure competing in WWE pay-per-view main events, he still gets nervous. Bryan, who was trained by Michaels, revealed a piece of advice given to him by the WWE Hall of Famer: “Shawn Michaels told me when I was training, if you don’t get nervous before you step through that curtain, then you probably shouldn’t do this anymore. So there’s always that little bit of nervousness because you want to go out there and you just want to give people everything that you got and you want to give them a great match, and all that kind of stuff, especially when you’re in the main event. But the nerves of having to follow something…the only time I really felt that was at SummerSlam, when I was watching CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar and going, “Oh my gosh. We have to follow this!”
– The latest issue of WWE Magazine features an interview with Zack Ryder, who is asked whether he feels he receives credit for launching WWE’s “social-media revolution.”
“The members of the WWE Universe give me credit and always have. They know the deal. That I worked so hard to get myself where I was and didn’t give up. If other people are in denial, that’s fine with this Internet champion,” said Ryder.
Ryder, who is now 28-years-old, also reveals that he is looking for a change of scenery. In response to what he definitely wants to do before he turns 30: “Buy a house. I need a big boy home because the college dorm/bachelor pad that I’m in now isn’t doing it for me anymore. And not to be predictable, but it will definitely be in Long Island.”
– In this week’s edition of 30 Seconds “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes and his infamous “Bionic Elbow” is highlighted.
– Three-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection Shawne Merriman is looking to enter the world of professional wrestling after retiring from the National Football League in March at the age of 28. He participated in a multi-day tryout this week at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, and according to sources within the sports-entertainment organization, has not been offered any deal, much less signed to a contract.
Merriman was a first-round pick in 2005 by the San Diego Chargers and named the Defensive Rookie of the Year after recording 10 sacks. In 2006, he served a four-game suspension for violating the league’s steroid policy, and still finished the season with 17 sacks.
The once promising pass rusher was never able to match the production of the early years of his career. After totaling 39.5 sacks in his first three seasons while making the Pro Bowl each year, he managed just six sacks from 2008 through 2012. He was looking to revitalize his career as recently as July, as he went on Twitter to make a plea for the Atlanta Falcons to sign him.
– This week’s edition of The JBL & Cole Show features a Halloween theme as The Bella Twins terrorize Hornswoggle, Renee Young gets possessed, Paul Heyman cackles and more.
Today marks as the ten-year wedding anniversary of WWE power couple Triple H and Stephanie McMahon—the two tied the knot on October 25, 2003 in Sleepy Hollow, New York at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in front of over 300 friends and co-workers.
Triple H’s recently released career retrospective Thy Kingdom Come touches base on their relationship, including its early beginnings. Before entering a fictional relationship in December 1999, the two had minimal contact at work. In the piece, McMahon admits that her initial impression of Hunter was not positive.
“We would have production meetings before the show and he would come in. And I used to think, “man, he’s so disrespectful,” recalls McMahon. “He would come in his jeans and leather jacket and he’d lay himself all out across the chairs and he’d be chewing gum and chomping gum and making jokes-very much who he is. But I kept thinking it was so disrespectful to my dad, this is a business environment. But the whole time I was thinking that, I would absolutely blush. The second he would walk into a room I would feel my face blush.”
Former WWE and TNA Wrestling executive Bruce Prichard appears on this week’s edition of The Steve Austin Show podcast, where he discussed the Brother Love character, early days in Pasadena and Austin, Texas, working alongside Vince McMahon, and more.
In June 1988, Prichard debuted as Brother Love in the World Wrestling Federation, a disingenuous preacher who claimed to spread “the message of love.” The bizarre red-faced character was inspired by controversial televangelists of the time.
“I debuted, and three weeks after I debuted I had done my first set. I had done my introduction with Bobby Heenan, Ted DiBiase was my benefactor to carry on my “message of love,” and then my introduction with the Big Bossman. So I had done those three. And right before we went to TV for the next set, the Jim Bakker-Jessica Hahn scandal broke. He was big time man, had that whole thing in North Carolina, and he gets caught in a scandal having sex with his secretary. He’s everywhere all over the news. I was made right there, because of the timing. We couldn’t have written it better,” Prichard recalls.
Brother Love was best known for hosting a weekly interview segment on WWF Superstars of Wrestling, called The Brother Love Show. He used the segment to verbally attack popular WWF Superstars at the time, such as Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior and Dusty Rhodes. Prichard admits that Hogan and Andre The Giant did not want to appear on the controversial character’s show—both ultimately did.
“People thought I was doing a spoof on religion. There were guys that wouldn’t work with me. Andre didn’t want to work with me. Andre liked Bruce, but he hated Brother Love. He did not want to be on the show; nothing to do with Brother Love,” said Prichard. “So Vince had me do my hair, get in my Brother Love shit, but not do my [make-up]. And he brought us in, had a sit-down with the boss and said, ‘Andre, it’s good business.’ And Andre agreed, but he hated Brother Love. Hulk Hogan was off at the time, and when came back he was like, “Dude, I don’t want to be out there with you man. Somebody’s gonna pull a gun on you.”
To listen to the 75-minute interview, visit PodcastOne.com.
– This week on WWE Superstars, Justin Gabriel squares off against Fandango while “Mr. Money in the Bank” Damien Sandow goes one-on-one with R-Truth. Highlights are available here, with complete episodes available on Hulu Plus.
– There is no love lost between Bill Goldberg and Scott Hall after the two last worked together in World Championship Wrestling over a decade ago. Thursday morning on Twitter, Hall slighted the former World Heavyweight Champion after a fan asked him what “Goldberg!” chants remind him of: “#Goldmark.”
Goldberg was made aware of Hall’s diss on Twitter and responded to a fan, “He’s a waste of space.”
– In this interview with Brian Fritz of Between The Ropes, Summer Rae talked about bringing the ‘Be a STAR’ anti-bullying message to middle school students in Orlando, Florida, being on the road with WWE, partnering with Fandango, training to get in the ring, cheesy pick up lines and more.
– Celebrating birthdays Friday are former WWE, WCW and ECW competitors Perry Saturn and 2 Cold Scorpio. Saturn turns 47 while the former Flash Funk turns 48. On Thursday, Bill Dundee turned 70-years-old while Dale Torborg, who appeared as The Demon in WCW, turned 42.
Monday on Raw during the contact signing for the WWE Championship Match between Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton at Hell in a Cell, Triple H offended WWE Superstars and fans alike with his verbal burial of the talents of Bryan, as well as Chris Jericho, Edge and Rob Van Dam. WWE’s Chief Operating Officer grouped Bryan with his three predecessors and declared that like them, he is not capable of being “The Face of WWE.”
“Here’s the thing, Daniel. I’ve seen guys like you come and go a million times. Guys like Jericho, Edge, Rob Van Dam. All guys that are very talented, don’t get me wrong. Top guys! Very popular! But not “the one.” Never were they “the one.” And maybe nobody wants to say this, but it needs to be said: It’s a fact. If any of those guys had been the face of the WWE back in the day, we’d all be working for Ted Turner right now,” said Hunter.
“You think you’re playing in the big leagues, kid? You have no idea. You step inside that Hell in a Cell and I have a feeling you’re gonna prove to the world that you’re a B+ player.”
Bryan subsequently challenged Triple H to a match. “The Game” responded by saying he’s a “A+ player” and “a star” who only faces the likes of The Undertaker, The Rock and Brock Lesnar.
As reported the following day, the Chief Operating Officer’s controversial remarks had a lot of people shaking their heads backstage since they feel he was burying Bryan as a performer rather than knocking him in a villainous manner that would lead to Bryan gaining retribution. Meanwhile, Dave Meltzer revealed on Wrestling Observer Radio (audio available here) on Wednesday that Jericho, Edge and Van Dam were not given notice to the angle ahead of time.
Following Raw, Jericho went on Twitter to respond to Triple H.
Thing is @tripleh despite ur major push,u never were either. Good luck in ur future endeavours @emmrichr84: Not the one @TripleH? I disagree
Later that day, Jericho downplayed his reaction to Triple H. Responding to a tweet that labeled what Hunter said as “completely untrue and unfair,” Jericho wrote, “No big deal. Always nice to be mentioned on Raw.”
Meltzer speculated that Jericho was legitimately upset with Hunter’s remarks. He added, “I can tell you with 100% certainty with the Jericho situation, that it was not an angle.”
Meltzer garnered reaction from some WWE talent on the controversial promo, many of whom felt it was counter-productive. They also felt that Hunter’s dismissive remarks are legitimate gripes.
“As far as the talent in the dressing room—the reaction that I got from a couple of people, was basically that they all thought that the interview was counter-productive,” said Meltzer. “They all felt that Triple H, while he will say “well, I was only working,” those were his true thoughts on those guys, and it didn’t make people very happy overall.”
– Eric Bischoff, who serves as Executive Producer of Impact Wrestling, is not backstage at tonight’s show in Salt Lake City, Utah.
According to two sources with the organization, he is not expected to resurface anytime soon, which has a number of employees happy. The exact reason for his absence has yet to be disclosed.
– Sunday at Bound For Glory, Gail Kim captured the TNA Women’s Knockout Championship for a third time by defeating ODB and Brooke, with assistance from Lei’D Tapa. The new champ, however, would prefer that fans not compare Tapa to former TNA Women’s Knockout Champion Awesome Kong.
“People need to stop comparing @LeiD_Tapa to awesome kong,” Kim wrote on Twitter. “Tapa Is at least smart enough who to align herself with #teamgail.”
– The official YouTube account of TNA Wrestling released the following video previewing tonight’s episode of Impact Wrestling.
Joey Styles, Vice President of Digital Media Content for WWE, appeared on VOC Wrestling Nation to help celebrate the one-year anniversary of the program’s move from AM Radio to the Cloud. In the interview, Styles discussed Dolph Ziggler, Daniel Bryan’s rise to success, promoting Hulk Hogan on WWE.com the day it was reported on various websites that his contract with TNA Wrestling had expired, and more. Highlights from the interview are as follows:
Dolph Ziggler being underutilized: “My very good friend Dolph Ziggler isn’t being used to the best of his potential. You want to be very careful who you hand the ball to, but I think Dolph is someone that you can absolutely hand the ball to because his work is very exciting. He is unbelievably crisp and great on the mic; he is a big fan of standup comedy and he can ad lib as well (if he is given permission to do it). He’s also never going to embarrass the company, he’s never going to get in trouble with the law, he’s a model guy.”
Daniel Bryan’s rise to success: “The storyline got him over the top to be someone that you would by a ticket for. I was such a fan of his before he even came to WWE. The whole idea of making him lose in 18 seconds to Sheamus did more for him than winning by cheating. That was good for Daniel Bryan (it led to the YES chant the next night on Raw). The fact that the entire company (on the storyline) is ganging up against him, (is a result of the fact that) you wouldn’t do that for someone that you weren’t ready to hand the ball to.”
Internet fans being relevant: “People say Internet fans like they’re a small group. More people have the Internet than have cable tv now. They’re not a vocal minority, they are the only vocal fans. Nobody in our company wanted to acknowledge that (Twitter and Social Media) was as big as it was; but thankfully we got ahead of that and we as a company are huge on Social Media.”
Hulk Hogan being on the front page of WWE.com the day that the Internet reported that his TNA contract expired: “Absolutely (that was intentional). Nobody at WWE.com knows if the (front office) is talking to Hulk Hogan. But it’s out there on every other site; we know that fans are thinking it, so why wouldn’t we use all of the videos and content that we own and use it on the site to build traffic and entertain the fans?”
To listen to the audio interview, visit VOCNation.com.
– After concluding six months of filming for Hercules: The Thracian Wars last week, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is crossing over to filming for Fast & Furious 7, where “The Most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment” reprises his role as the hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs.
Fast & Furious 7 will hit theaters in July 2014, while Hercules: The Thracian Wars comes out the following month.
– Promoting Hell in a Cell, the official YouTube account has released a WWE ’13 simulation of CM Punk vs. Ryback and Paul Heyman, as AJ Lee vs. Brie Bella.
TNA Wrestling officials held a talent meeting this afternoon in Salt Lake City, Utah at the Maverik Center—site of tonight’s Impact Wrestling tapings—announcing that the company will cease touring Impact Wrestling on a continuous basis in the United States on Nov. 7 in Cincinnati, Ohio in Cincinnati Gardens.
The company will return to its former base, Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, for television tapings on Nov. 21, 22 and 23. Dates at the venue in December, which will carry the Spike program through January, are currently being finalized.
While the television tapings will be held at Universal Studios Florida, it is said that the events will not emanate from the same sound stage that housed the Impact Zone. The sound stage is smaller length-wise, but features wider space.
The Dec. 27 taping scheduled for the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been canceled, according to F4WOnline.com. At the moment, an event listing currently remains on ImpactWrestling.com.
After taking Impact Wrestling on the road in March, TNA Wrestling president Dixie Carter stated in an interview that the organization had no intention on returning to Orlando, Florida. However, financial concerns and lackluster attendance has forced TNA to return to its longtime home.
– Jake “The Snake” Roberts, who announced in April that he wanted to compete in the 2014 Royal Rumble after resurrecting his life through Diamond Dallas Page and the DDPYoga program, has continued to campaign for a spot in the annual affair. Yesterday on Twitter, he publicized a petition directed to WWE Talent Relations to put him in the match.
The petition states, “Jake has given the fans so much of himself in the ring over the course of his decades spent in the business, let’s give back to him and show our appreciation by voicing our support for the next stage in his journey!” the petition states. “Let’s show WWE that we fans want to see this. Send your mail to WWE, post about this on every kind of social network imaginable, tell your friends and their friends, AND SIGN THIS PETITION! Let’s show WWE that we won’t shut up until Jake Roberts is in the Royal Rumble!”
WWE officials are reportedly aware of Roberts’ desire, but not interested in using him at this time. In August, it was reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that they were not considering him for the match, and if they did, it wouldn’t be until January when the event draws near.
– While serving a 114-day jail sentence earlier this year for repeatedly violating her ex-boyfriend’s restraining order, WWE Hall of Famer Tammy “Sunny” Sytch’s prior contraction of human papillomavirus (HPV) developed into cervical cancer. After declaring in May that she was cancer-free following a hysterectomy, the 40-year-old revealed on Monday that she is not completely clear from the life-threatening illness. Despite this, she remains in positive spirits and plans to conquer the disease.
The former WWE Diva wrote on Facebook on Thursday, “I’ve been sad, depressed, angry, confused, bitter, in denial, upset since Monday when I got the bad news from my oncologist … But this morning, I thought to myself, I’m the toughest, strongest, most resilient bitch I know (I blame that on being a Russian and a sagittarius) so I’m gonna do what I do best when something stands I’m my way…. I’m gonna beat the shit out of then choke out Cancer once and for all! And if ANYONE OR ANYTHING tries to stand in my way, I’ll take you out right along with it! Just try me, biatch! You have NO IDEA who you’re dealing with!! I WILL SURVIVE!!!”
His slight is in reference to Goldberg having a reputation within the professional wrestling industry of taking his character too seriously.
In the past, Goldberg has labeled Hall as “unprofessional” and blamed him for a near career-ending injury at a December 1999 WCW event where he smashed the windows of a limousine with his bare hands. He lost a large amount of blood due to this and came within one centimeter of having to have an arm amputated.
“I should’ve killed him but I didn’t,” Goldberg told Mike Mooneyham of The Post & Courier in a 2001 interview discussing the incident. “Scott Hall is very unprofessional and he often breaks character and does things I don’t agree with. I try to be professional and set a positive example, but unfortunately he doesn’t share the same views. Vince Russo couldn’t control him and we had an issue, and instead of being unprofessional and making him pay, I took my frustrations out on that limousine.”
– The official WWE website has added Stan Hansen to its Alumni section. An AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion in Japan, he was also an AWA World Heavyweight Champion, NWA United States Champion, and an NWA World Tag Team Champion. He competed for WWE in the late 1970s, which was then known as the World Wide Wrestling Federation. In April 1990, Vince McMahon’s company partnered with All Japan Pro Wrestling to hold a mega show at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, and in the main event, Hansen lost to Hulk Hogan.
– On this week’s edition of MLW Radio, Konnan revealed that some people in WWE feel CM Punk has a “big head.” He is not the only talent perceived in that regard by co-workers as the former WCW competitor said a Total Divas star carries that reputation as well.
Having trouble remembering her name, Konnan states, “The other one that has a big head was…who I always used to bury and now I’m glad I did is uh…the one that was…I forgot her f****** name. The one that was dating…Ariane. Remember Ariane, from the Divas?”
He did not add further details, but indicated that unlike Daniel Bryan, Cameron, who appears under her real name, Ariane, on the E! scripted reality show, has let fame get the best of her.
– Kofi Kingston answers fan questions on this week’s edition of WWE Inbox as the Raw Superstar reveals his first job, the origins of Trouble in Paradise, and his dream opponent.
– The official WWE website has issued a poll asking fans whether it is too soon for John Cena to return to action. With over 40,000 votes cast, 45% say “No. Cena has overcome injuries before. He knows his body and when he’s ready to return.” 36% say “yes” and 20% say “not sure.”
– Heading into Hell in a Cell this Sunday, Daniel Bryan opens up about his mental preparation and how he plans on defeating Randy Orton for the WWE Championship.
“This is my first Hell in a Cell match and I’m not afraid of it the least bit. I’m keeping my focus.” said Bryan. “And Randy, at Hell in a Cell, you’re going to get your head kicked in.
“My name is Daniel Bryan and I’m a professional wrestler.”
– Sheamus, who has been sidelined since August due to a torn labrum in his shoulder, participated in an anti-bullying rally today in Orlando, Florida, with a clean shaven look. He apparently plans to regrow it as he posted a message on Twitter asking fans which beard style he should follow.
– Ryback is seeking a cover for Muscle & Fitness, a national bodybuilding and fitness publication. He wrote to their Twitter account on Wednesday, “Hey @muscle_fitness when are you guys gonna put The Big Guy Ryback on the cover? It is time for Ryback to Rule M&F.”
TNA Wrestling held its premiere event, Bound For Glory, this past Sunday in San Diego, California, and was unable to fill a good portion of the 12,000 seat Viejas Arena. To combat this startling lack of attendance, some fans were guided to seats in the lower bowl and moved near the hard camera in order for the venue to appear full during the pay-per-view broadcast. Scott Hall, who appeared for the organization as recently as 2010, weighed in on the lackluster turnout with the following message on Twitter.
Despite the company’s ills, he feels that former New World Order cohorts Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff are not to blame. In response to a fan saying it’s their fault, Hall wrote, “The history is that [Bischoff] and Hulk left alone, draw money. They never had the control needed to pop that company in my opinion..”
In response to whether WWE head Vince McMahon will ultimately buy the company out, Hall wrote, “Nothing to buy….” In his opinion, that includes talent. Hall wrote to a fan, “Name three people WWE would want…”
Hall added that he he has no interest in returning to the company.
– According to F4WOnline.com, Vince McMahon is being advertised in the Orlando, Florida area to appear on this Monday’s episode of Raw at the Amway Center. The venue’s official website, however, is advertising “the McMahon’s” for the show. WWE has yet to make an official announcement.
– WWE is offering a peek backstage with this time-lapsed look at Dustin Rhodes applying his facepaint to become Goldust.
– Former WWE Superstar Gangrel will appear for Dreamwave Wrestlingat the LaSalle Knights of Columbus 209 Gooding St. LaSalle, Illinois, on Saturday, December 7.
– The Celtic Warrior has ditched his trademark beard.
Sheamus, who has been sidelined since August due to a torn labrum in his shoulder, participated in an anti-bullying rally today in Orlando, Florida, with a clean shaven look.
The three-time world champion is expected to return to action sometime between December and February.
– Promoting his much anticipated return to the squared circle this Sunday at WWE Hell in a Cell against World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio, John Cena gave a shout out to Miami Heat star player LeBron James on Twitter.
– Tonight on WWE Main Event on ION Television, WWE Tag Team Champion Goldust will do battle with Seth Rollins. Promoting the match on Twitter, Rollins wrote,
First time ever, 1-on-1 with Goldust on @WWE#MainEvent tonight! He's the best he's ever been, but I'm already better than he'll ever be.
As has been reported, Total Divas star Eva Marie is said to be strongly disliked by some of her co-workers in the sports-entertainment organization, with Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline.com claiming in August that she was “passionately hated.” In Monday’s edition of Figure Four Daily (available here), Alvarez reveals that this source of hatred was elicited by how she portrayed herself on the scripted E! reality show.
“Even though Total Divas is a reality show and it’s scripted, and most normal, rational people realize it’s fake, there are people in WWE who watch that show and developed a very strong dislike for Eva Marie…having never met her in their life,” said Alvarez.
Alvarez adds that her critics in the company came to the conclusion that she was “unlikable” (based on her demeanor on the scripted show), which triggered “a movement to make her look foolish.”
Two weeks ago, Eva Marie wrestled in matches for Raw and SmackDown despite having only competed once before in her short career. The 29-year-old’s performance drew negative reviews online, as her inexperience was put on display before millions of viewers. Dave Meltzer claimed on Wrestling Observer Radio that organization officials sought this reaction since they wanted to knock her down a few pegs due to their belief that she has an undeserved ego.
