– Despite Comcast listing a rerun of NCIS: Los Angeles for this Monday night on the USA Network at 8:00 p.m., Raw will remain three hours in its regular time slot.
WWE officials confirmed to F4WOnline.com Wednesday night that Raw will remain a three-hour show airing from 8:00 to 11:05 p.m. The cause of this miscommunication is currently unknown.
– Former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis announced on Twitter Wednesday night that she is engaged to be married to Ring of Honor wrestler Mike Bennett. She tweeted a photo of her engagement ring.
After parting ways with WWE in 2010, Kanellis largely kept away from the professional wrestling industry until meeting Bennett through Twitter last year. She regularly accompanies him to independent events as his valet and now holds the position of creative director of Crossfire Wrestling in Nashville, Tennessee.
– Today marks as the 63rd birthday of WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler. Also sharing birthdays with “The King” are fellow WWE broadcaster John “Bradshaw” Layfield, who turns 46-years-old, and WWE Hall of Famer “Mean” Gene Okerlund, who turns 70.
– As previously reported, the atmosphere at Monday’s RAW was different without Vince McMahon there. While the mood was less stressful without “the boss” there changing things on the fly, the downside was that Vince’s leadership was missing and issues with the writing team and producers were not handled as efficiently by Triple H. One source called the night “more chaotic than usual” as a result.
Typically, Vince McMahon does not interact with the wrestlers much prior to RAW, since he’s busy working with the pruducers and running things from the Gorilla position. On Tuesdays for SmackDown, Vince has been giving Triple H more responsibilities as of late in an effort to groom him for when he’s the one running the show.
– WWE merchandise sales has been described as “haves” and “have nots.” A few talents are reportedly making “great money,” with all others not faring too well.
– During a recent interview, Charles Wright revealed that WWE had plans for him to return as grittier version of Papa Shango in 1997, but the idea was ultimately shelved due the introduction of another dark, supernatural character in Kane. In response to feedback on Twitter, Wright said Jerry Lawler assisted him with the character’s look and that he may post online a Polaroid photo that was taken then if he can find it.
– Coming off the heels of the third and final hour of Monday’s Raw broadcast suffering a fifteen percent drop in viewership, Comcast’s listing for Monday night programming on the USA Network (available at TVGuide.com) has a rerun of NCIS: Los Angeles (2009 episode “Deliverance”) airing during the 8:00 p.m. time slot with Raw listed as a two-hour-and-five-minute program beginning at 9:00 p.m.
The first hour of Monday’s show garnered 4,147,000 viewers, with hour two slightly dropping 4,126,000. The third hour, however, suffered its sharpest decline since the program was lengthened to three hours in July, dropping to 3,488,000 viewers. It marked as the fifteenth consecutive week and eighteenth week out of nineteen weeks where viewership dropped off during the third hour.
– WWE has relaunched its WWEDivas.com domain. WWE states, “Kelly, Trish, Lita, Stacy, Kaitlyn? They’re all right here on WWE.com’s all-new Divas page, featuring stunning galleries of Divas both past and present. It’s the go-to destination for the women of WWE, and it’s growing every day. So come on in and don’t be shy. We promise you won’t be disappointed.”
– Vickie Guerrero is the latest WWE star to be hacked on Twitter. She wrote Wednesday, “Hey guys….been away from account…I GOT HACKED!! Im glad to be back online.”
– WWE has contemplated building towards a Ryback vs. Big Show match at WrestleMania 29 on April 7, 2013 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It is based on the idea of Ryback having a “WrestleMania moment” by hoisting Show onto his shoulders and marching around.
– Ring of Honor wrestler Mike Bennett met with WWE officials last week. Additional details have not been disclosed.
In August, “The Prodigy” remarked on whether he would be interested in joining the promotion if an offer came along: “Well, I’ll give you the political answer right now and say never-say-never. I’d be absolutely lying to you if I said I didn’t become a wrestler to be at WrestleMania and headline WrestleMania, which is what 99% of all guys want to do if they’re in wrestling. They want to make the big bucks and be on the main stage. But for me, right now, I’m 100% happy in Ring of Honor. I mean, I feel like I’m building a company. Its been around since 2002, its been building since then, but I feel now with the Sinclair network behind it we really are truly building a company. Is WWE ever an option? Like I said, I’d be lying if I said wouldn’t want to go there, but right now Ring of Honor is where I like to be.”
– TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter announced Wednesday that Mickie James will face Gail Kim on tomorrow night’s live Impact Wrestling broadcast.
She wrote, “Just spoke w/Brooke (@MizzHogan). Knockouts match for tomorrows #ImpactLIVE on @SpikeTV is @MickieJames v @GailKimItsMe. 2 of the best ever!”
James is the No. 1 Contender to the TNA Women’s Knockout Championship held by Tara after winning a battle royal two weeks ago. The two will face off at Final Resolution on Dec. 9.
– On the latest edition of TNA Today, SoCal Val sits down with Kid Kash as he looks back at TNA’s initial days in the Asylum. He discusses the differences between the promotion today and then.
– Tomorrow in Mexico, Sarita vies for her seventh consecutive victory in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre’s annual bodybuilding contest. Speaking to Jim Varsallone of The Miami Herald, the internationally acclaimed wrestler discussed her training routine for the competition.
“I train throughout the year, but about 12 weeks out from the competition, I start to change my diet and increase the intensity of my workouts,” said Sarita, who is 5-6 and 120-pounds. “It’s a lot of chicken, eggs, fish, beef, vegetables, and some oatmeal and little fruit. I start to do more plyometrics, push-ups and jumping and do more high-intensity interval training. I also continue to train wrestling so that my body adjusts, and I’m able to remain agile and balanced in the ring as I’m dropping weight.”
While training for the competition, Sarita maintains her wrestling career, which also includes traveling, training and carrying food on every road trip. She looks at it as a challenge.
“Weeks before, everyone’s talking about their diets and comparing bodies. We are wrestlers, not bodybuilders, so it’s an interesting challenge trying to reach your body’s potential while dealing with traveling, wrestling, training and carrying food with you on every road trip. Everyone looks at the contest as a way to get into great shape and show dedication to our fans, to the sport and to CMLL,” said Sarita.
The full article is available here. She does not address her TNA Wrestling status in the interview.
– TNA Wrestling has released its promotional advertisement for Final Resolution, which takes place on Sunday, December 9 live on pay-per-view and online via TNAOnDemand.com. Jeff Hardy will defend the TNA World Heavyweight Championship against Bobby Roode at the event.
– Monday’s Raw averaged 3,920,000 over the course of three hours, up from 3,835,000 for last week’s post-Survivor Series show. The first hour garnered 4,147,000 viewers, with hour two slightly dropping 4,126,000. The third hour, however, saw a sharp decline, dropping to 3,488,000 viewers.
The final rating is expected to be released later today. Last week’s show drew a 2.73.
– The official WWE website has published photos and an article looking back at ringside valets, such as Kimberly Page, Miss Elizabeth, Stacy Keibler, Sharmell, Beulah McGillicutty, Debra and Torrie Wilson, among others. WWE writes, “Some Superstars like to have a little company on their way to the ring, without the prodding of a manager. To add that extra flair, these grapplers went out and found the perfect combination of beauty and brains in ringside valets. Learn more about these lovely ladies, check out photos and watch them in action!”
– Matt Hardy appears for Dreamwave Wrestling this Saturday at LaSalle Knights of Columbus 209 Gooding St. LaSalle, Illinois.
2013 could see the WWE returns of one of the most innovative tag teams in history – the Hardy Boyz.
During an interview with Pass The Torch Radio to promote his appearance at WOH wrestling in Whitehall, New York, this Friday, Matt Hardy was asked about the possibility of a Hardy Boys reunion in WWE next year, with him being a free agent and Jeff’s contract with TNA Wrestling expiring in February. His response?
“Very likely!”
Hit up the comments below and tell us if you want to see Matt and Jeff back in WWE.
– This week on WWE Inbox, Superstars and Divas are asked which celebrity they would like to get in the ring with, whether they have ever purchased an item from SkyMall, and about favorite childhood possessions.
– “The British Bulldog” is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
MDI Secures IMPACT WRESTLING Superstars and Experiential Prizes for Exciting New Instant Games
MDI Entertainment, LLC, a subsidiary of Scientific Games Corporation, has signed an agreement with TNA Entertainment, LLC, dba IMPACT WRESTLING, to offer lotteries branded instant games featuring some of the biggest names and most recognizable imagery in professional wrestling today.
The agreement makes the names and likenesses of more than a dozen wrestling superstars, as well as the logos, marks and artwork of IMPACT WRESTLING, available to lotteries worldwide.
Stars like Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle, Sting, Jeff Hardy, Matt Morgan and Bobby Roode are included, and can be used on instant tickets and promotional materials, as well as in television and radio commercials. They also are available for personal appearances and public service announcements to promote the good causes lottery games support.
“We are extremely pleased to have secured this license, and to be able to give lotteries so many noteworthy options to promote games associated with it,” said Steve Saferin, President, Properties Group and Chief Creative Officer for Scientific Games.
“In addition to providing the biggest names in wrestling today, IMPACT WRESTLING is offering extraordinary marketing support and incredible prize opportunities. This gives lotteries a chance to reach and inspire wrestling fans – including the often elusive 18-34 age group – in very powerful ways.”
IMPACT WRESTLING President Dixie Carter stated, “Working with MDI provides a new marketing platform for IMPACT WRESTLING to connect with our fans through the state lottery programs. Our fans avidly invest in our superstars as they appear on SPIKE TV every Thursday and travel the country on the IMPACT WRESTLING LIVE WORLD TOUR.”
IMPACT WRESTLING will work with MDI and lotteries to create 2nd Chance prizes that can include merchandise and trips where winners will be treated to a live taping of the IMPACT WRESTLING television show, a backstage tour and a chance to meet wrestling talent. “IMPACT WRESTLING” is a weekly, two-hour show appearing during prime time on SPIKE TV.
A “Contract-for-a-Day” prize also can be created, in which the winner will be given the trip, plus an on-camera cameo role to be included in an IMPACT WRESTLING pay-per-view live show.
– WWE Champion CM Punk announced on Twitter Tuesday that he will be on hand for the December 11, 2012 SmackDown taping taking place in Bridgeport, Connecticut, at Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard. This is the final show before TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs.
Punk wrote, “I will however be at the Smackdown in Bridgeport CT on the 11th.I invite all jealous northeastern nobodies with irrational hatred towards me.”
– WWE has released an updated version of John Cena’s entrance video to coordinate with his recent change in attire.
– WWE will hold a SmackDown live event in Louisville, Kentucky, at KFC Yum! Center on Friday, February 10th, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.
Another member of Aces & 8s has been revealed: Garett Bischoff.
A fan with an eye for details spotted pictures of both Bischoff and a member of the nefarious group sporting the same wrist tattoo.
Bischoff may not necessarily be revealed as a member of faction. TNA has been rotating some workers who won’t be part of the group into the beatdowns to make it harder to guess who is in it. Here’s the picture:
Julie Hart and Earl Hebner both joined Inside The Ropes to talk about “The Montreal Screwjob” and their thoughts after 15 years.
The highlights from Earl Hebner’s chat are:
His thoughts when he heard Bret didn’t want to drop the belt to Shawn: “Bret had plenty of time to drop the belt. He could’ve dropped it in the United States. I didn’t know much about the deal with those two but he could’ve dropped the belt to anyone, hell he could’ve dropped it to me. But he had an ego and he didn’t wanna do it. Time was running out. If you’re leavin you drop the strap, he didn’t wanna do it. If you remember Alundra Blayze went down there and dropped the Womens belt in the trash. Now if you have a $3 million deal to go to another company, why would you even hesitate to drop the belt? I mean why? Your moneys already guaranteed when you get there. Just drop it and go. A lot of people put him over, made him who he is. So he’s gonna refuse to drop it and make those guys look like idiots? This business is a work.”
On him telling Bret he swore on his kids lives he wouldn’t let anything happen in Montreal: “I was sitting on a plane with Bret. His very words “Will you count me out?” I said “If you keep your shoulder up, I will not count you out” Which I didn’t count him out. Did he get pinned 1.2.3? You stop and think about my position. I’m thinking about the guys in the back. Austin, Undertaker, Rocky all the guys that put him over as being the Worlds Champion, we made him what he was, so he’s leaving us and he’s screwing us because he doesn’t want to drop the belt. So on my way to the ring, I’m thinking it’s not fair. Someone asked me, I won’t say who, about two minutes before I walked to the ring, I said I can’t tell you what I’m gonna do, but when I walked to the ring, I thought about all the boys back in the dressing room, so it wasn’t right for him to screw 25 guys because of his stubbornness, so thats why I did what I did. When McMahon and Sgt Slaughter came to the ring, whether I had done it or not, that bell was gonna ring. The only thing that made it more official is that I motioned for the bell.”
If he thinks Montreal was a work: “It could have been a work. McMahon, Bret, WCW could’ve all been in on it for all I know. I’m gonna go 50/50 on it. I think it was but I can’t say for sure, but look where Bret is now.”
In the rest of the chat, Earl talks about the relationship between Shawn and Bret, how Undertaker felt about the situation the next day, his conversations with Bret since Montreal, Bret’s 2010 return and whether he was contacted to appear by the WWE at WrestleMania 26 and more. Check it out below.
The highlights from Julie Hart’s Chat:
When Bret got suspicious that he might get screwed: “It wasn’t really till we got to Montreal. I remember someone came to Bret and told him that they’d saw Shawn getting into an elevator with Vince in his hotel and that kinda got Bret a little worried. That was earlier in the day. The kids and I had gone shopping and when we got back, Bret said he had to go talk to our lawyer who was in town with us as well. The source, I can’t tell you who it is, but the source had said what happened, so bret went over to our lawyer to talk about it and that’s when Bret really started getting nervous.”
WWE making Vince into the Mr McMahon character: “I thought that was horrible but thats what Vince does right? Thats how he markets things. I felt sorry for Bret because he was such a good person to Vince and I felt like “jeez why did you have to go and do that?” But you look at everything now and how things have played out. It was all about the business, and it’s still all about the business. Those things, I guess, shouldn’t have been taken so personal.”
Her reaction to people who think Montreal was a work: “Firstly, no it wasn’t work. It was as raw as…..you’d have to be there to experience the emotions that Bret went through. I can honestly say on my childrens head, that none of that stuff was set up. It was as real as you would ever get. That camera was in the place in the right time. It was never set up, it’s sad that people would think that. I know, I was there, my kids were there, I saw what it did to Bret emotionally, for our marriage after that, we were never the same…..”
To hear Julie’s full chat where she talks about how Bret was in 1997, who she saw backstage at Montreal, why she talked to Hunter after the match, why Bret wore a wire and much more, listen below.
– The Miz, R-Truth, Layla, Eve and WWE CEO Vince McMahon will not be on hand for tonight’s Raw in Lafayette, Louisiana, since they are overseas visiting U.S. troops as part of a handshake tour. The group visited military bases in Bahrain today.
– Former WWE Intercontinental Champion Ken Shamrock no-showed his scheduled appearance for AAW Wrestling on Saturday in Merrionette Park, Illinois. He was advertised to face Sami Callihan. The promotion released the following message Sunday via Twitter regarding his absence: “Everyone was on edge all day yesterday regarding Shamrock. Here’s the story behind it. Ken canceled his plane ticket yesterday and didn’t inform his agent or AAW staff. Classic definition of a no show.”
– WWE will hold a live event at Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on March 1, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. Ticketmaster.ca will hold a pre-sale beginning December 14, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.
– Jim Ross remarked via Twitter of Raw returning to his former stomping grounds tonight: “#WWE #RAW Lafayette, La Mon night. Memories of Ernie ‘Big Cat’ Ladd, weekly, Mid South live events, rowdy, villain hating fans, & gr8 food.” He added that he will not be on hand for the show.
Jim Ross has published a new blog on his official website offering his thoughts on Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns as well as potential candidates for induction into next year’s WWE Hall of Fame class.
Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns explaining the motive behind their recent assaults on Raw tonight: “Apparently the three men in black, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns will be interviewed by @MichaelCole tonight on Raw. I hope that we get some revealing info but not too much as I feel these three can be significant contributors on RAW but I also feel that this info needs to come over time especially with WWE doing tons of episodic TV. As a fan, I don’t need every question answered tonight and, hopefully, their comments will elict even more interest/questions.
“Count on this…no matter what the three, NXT talents have to say, it will be dissected and thoroughly analyzed. In today’s social media crazed, info heavy world of sports entertainment, everything is under a microscope and there are more ‘experts’ sounding off than ever before. Don’t take that as a knock and if you do… Lighten Up Francis.”
Dean Ambrose: “Ambrose has a little Roddy Piper and Brian Pillman traits in him or so it seems to me. His FCW/NXT bout a few months ago with @RealKingRegal was stellar. I called it with Dusty Rhodes and we had a blast. Ambrose is a blue chip stock and is arguably the most ‘unpredictable’ of the three. Perhaps ‘complex’ is an adequate word to describe Ambrose at this point in time.”
Seth Rollins: “Rollins reminds me of @CMPunk in some areas of Rollins’ game or at least the formative CM Punk of a few years ago. I perceive that as a good thing. Rollins is an Iowa kid who has a sound, skill set, confidence, toughness and is the current NXT Champion. He has a natural swagger and wrestles with a chip on his shoulder which I embrace.”
Roman Reigns: “Reigns is a former Georgia Tech nose tackle and has reshaped his body from 300+ to 260ish and is of Samoan decent, father is WWE HOFer Sika, and at times has reminded me of @TheRock when I first inked ‘The Great One’ to his WWE contract. In that I mean the obvious heritage matter but also the physical frame, intellect, and overall, natural athleticism. We can only hope that Roman Reigns can approach The Rock’s accomplishments inside the squared circle some day. Only time will tell if that lofty goal can be reached but Reigns can be special. Watch someone interpret what I just said as being that JR is predicting Roman to be the next Rock. Hey, I wish.”
The WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2013: “The WWE HOF inductee list for 2013 is going to be intriguing. I am not in that loop so I don’t know who is or isn’t being considered. There are many right answers as to who should be inducted and we all have our favorites. I’d love to see the great Bruno Sammartino inducted if for no other reason than for his family and his fans. Seeing Bruno step up to the podium in Madison Square Garden would rekindle the memories of a beloved era of the business many of us remember with fondness.
“Bob Backlund needs to be inducted some day. Is it in 2013? Who knows. Bob’s record as WWE Champion is damned awesome even when compared to Sammartino’s untouchable accomplishments.
“Mick Foley would likely steal the show if inducted. Mrs Foley’s baby boy has become quite the standup comedian and public speaker and would be a great Attitude Era representative.
“Is this the year for Macho Man Randy Savage to be inducted? That one is arguably past due.”
– WWE officials are high on developmental wrestler Corey Graves, formerly known as Sterling James Keenan on the independent circuit. He is expected to gain the NXT Championship following the promotion of current belt holder Seth Rollins to the main roster.
– A backstage segment featuring Darren Young and Titus O’Neil was cut from Friday’s SmackDown episode.
– Colt Cabana has released his latest Creative Has Nothing For You webisode, entitled “REJECTED SCRIPTS ILLUSTRATED.”
– Mick Foley is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
– On Wednesday, a video surfaced on YouTube featuring “hidden camera” footage of Rosa Mendes purportedly changing her clothes in a locker room. The video, which was created and labeled “The Brad Maddox Experience” by a scam artist, was quickly removed, with the WWE Diva angrily tweeting Brad Maddox under the belief that he made the video.
“Nice move to get more followers. You are a nobody and you will always be a nobody!” she wrote to the aspiring WWE star. “If ur going make a fake video find someone hotter!! I look nothing like that!! You are such loser! You burned bridges with the wrong Diva!”
Maddox addressed the matter on Saturday via Twitter, writing, “Dear Morons, Stop tweeting me crap about a youtube video put up by a mark. It is clearly and obviously not me. You are stupid. Love, Brad.”
– The following video was issued of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin congratulating WWE Games on two million Facebook likes.
– WWE announcer Josh Mathews turns 32-years-old on Sunday.
– The Nov. 12 Impact Wrestling taping in Orlando, Florida, featured the television return of Mickie James following a three-and-a-half-month absence. Her hiatus was due to multiple reasons, including a major medical one.
With TNA creative’s shift in recent months to solely focusing on talent with etched storylines, James’ screen time was drastically curtailed in the spring and summer, leading to her being removed altogether in August. In September, she aggravated a rib injury during a live event tour and decided to take away from the ring. During her hiatus, she underwent surgery to remove a large benign mass, according to the Wrestling Observer. In October, James tweeted a photo of herself at the hospital after having undergone surgery, but did not mention the nature of the procedure.
James was said to be in great spirits on the night of her return.
– Speaking to Pipedream Comics, Christopher Daniels explained why there are a lot of similarities between wrestling and comics.
“I think that both offer the type of escapism that people are looking for in their entertainment, the type where good eventually triumphs over evil, where everything turns out good in the end. And while, the journey to that climax is happening, mood twists and turns keep an audience wanting more,” said Daniels.
In response to a question asking which wrestlers in TNA, WWE and even Ring of Honor would make the best comic characters, he said, “Well we’re all just comic book characters come to life anyway but for the sake of this particular question I’ll go with the most colorful and charismatic of characters: Rey Mysterio, Brodus Clay, Sin Cara, Kane, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Curry Man and El Generico. And yours truly, of course!”
Daniels also talks about wanting to develop a comic based on his wrestling persona, reading comics on digital devices and more. The full interview is available here.
Charles Wright, more famously known as The Godfather and Papa Shango, recently spoke to IMETAWrestler.com on a slew topics concerning his career. Highlights from the interview are as follows:
On the Papa Shango character: “I used to read books on voodoo, in fact I built an entire voodoo library. Everything I said in my promos was real and legit. All the props were from voodoo stores. It was totally authentic. The effects guys worked with the staffs and sticks so that they all did something different. I had a bunch of them – some would shoot sparks, others had smoke and lights that came out of them.”
How Sid messed up the character: “Papa Shango was supposed to last much longer in the main event but Sid f—ed it up. It was supposed to be Sid and Warrior headlining SummerSlam [1992], but Sid didn’t want to do it and he quit. He had his own issues, he said Vince had brought him in under the promise of replacing Hogan as the top babyface and it wasn’t going the way it was supposed to. So Papa Shango was fed to Warrior instead. The problem was, with a character like Papa Shango, once the losses piled up, the character lost a lot of that mystique and invincibility, and it was all downhill fast from there.”
Papa Shango returning in 1997 but replaced by Kane: “A lot of people don’t know this, but Papa Shango was going to return in 1997. It was going to be a more gritty, realistic version with a mask instead of paint.They created the costume and the new entrance. But what happened was, the decision was then made to do Kane. I guess they felt there wasn’t enough room for two dark, supernatural characters, and so I became Kama Mustafa and they put me in The Nation. I’ve still got some 8×10 promos of me in the new mask and gear.”
Why Vince put The Rock in The Nation: “The Rock was put into The Nation to protect him. Vince had big plans for The Rock from day one and was worried that he had been getting bad advice from the wrong people. Some jealous dudes had been getting into his ear. So Vince put Rock in the Nation so he could benefit from the guidance of Ron [Simmons] and myself. It was the same thing with Mark Henry. Mark was a big long term investment that was getting some bad advice, learning some bad habits, and so Vince put him under myself and Ron for guidance. Both those guys were struggling.”
Vince’s opinion of The Godfather: “Vince loved the gimmick. Loved it. He used to go to bat for me so many times – fighting the networks, fighting the executives. He did everything he could to keep the character as a central part of the show. Vince used to come to me and say, “Charles – he always called me Charles – you’re having too much fun out there. You should be paying me!” And that didn’t surprise me – Vince is the biggest pimp of them all!”
On the Attitude Era: “I got away with talking about weed so openly on TV because the network executives had no idea what I was saying. They didn’t understand the slang. They had no idea what a “fatty” or a “blunt” was, so I was able to say all this stuff and they had no clue. My friend in Cypress Hill said he was amazed at the shit I got away with.”
On almost joining WCW and the nWo: “I almost went to WCW to be Hogan’s enforcer in the nWo. I named my price, the contract was being drawn up, and then at the last minute, I got a call saying the contract was being retracted and there was no longer an offer for me. I was stunned, man, just stunned. I asked why, and it turned out that Virgil offered to do it for a third of the price because he wanted to be back on TV so bad. That dumb motherf—er cost us both.”
Dr. Tom Prichard joined the VOC Wrestling Nation recently to give his thoughts on the debut of Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns, working with the trio down at FCW, his new wrestling project, and the overall state of the wrestling business. The VOC Wrestling Nation is the flagship program of the VOC Nation Radio Network, and can be heard every Wednesday at 5PM ET worldwide at VOCNation.com. Here are some highlights from the chat with Dr. Tom:
On Rollins, Ambrose and Reigns’ WWE debut: “I don’t know if you can find anything in wrestling that hasn’t been done before, but I look at it the other way. At least these guys finally had the opportunity not to just show up, but to make an impact on a (top) guy like Ryback, who is making an impact right now.”
On the WWE product: “WWE is in a transitional period. The powers that be (HHH) know that they need new blood. The lifeblood of the business is getting new talent and putting them in the mix.”
On Roman Reigns: “Out of the three, Roman Reigns is the greenest, yet he still has talent and untapped potential and charisma to be a major star. Reigns is Sika’s son, so he has the bloodline. He played football in the past, and has overcome a number of personal challenges in his life that none of us can ever imagine.”
On which of Rollins, Ambrose, or Reigns has the most star potential: “The dark horse is Roman Reigns. As far as charisma and working ability, Ambrose is at the top of the list. Rollins has the passion and the attitude that can put you over the top. You have three guys that have their own individual “it factors”. All three guys are smart. Ambrose is crazy like a fox. Rollins is wild like a maverick, but finally understands that there are rules that you need to play by; he has his beliefs, and he won’t sacrifice what he believes in, but he’s finally figured out (how to work the system).”
On his departure from WWE developmental: “When anyone new comes in, they want their team. When Bill DeMott came back, I knew that the writing was on the wall. Canyon Cemen, who took over Ty Bailey’s place, is very new to the business and really knows nothing. I was very honest with him when I probably shouldn’t have been. I told him that he came across like an a—hole in his initial meeting with the talent, and the writing was on the wall from there. I understand how it works. HHH wants his own people. If they can’t produce stars, but proof will be in the ratings.”
On how to be successful in wrestling: “It’s more how you handle yourself backstage than anything. If you show up at the arena at 12:30, you have 9 hours before showtime where the (powers that be) can see you and judge you. Someone much wiser than I told me on a plane ride not too long ago, that you have to understand who you can be honest with and who you can’t.”
On his new wrestling school: “We have a new wrestling project coming to Knoxville called Next Level Wrestling. It’s going to start in January. January 3rd is the open house for Next Level Training (the wrestling school).” VOCNation.com will have all of the information regarding the project as it develops.
– After complaining to a Connecticut news station about not getting paid after Election Day, workers for Connecticut Senate candidate Linda McMahon’s campaign say they were given checks that bounced. One worker says he got a bad check and a condom.
Said a campaign worker who complained publicly, “Basically he handed me a check with a condom in it, told me I was screwed. That’s the rudest gesture you can ever do to a person, it’s like spitting in a person’s face.” (Article)
– Former WWE talent Michael Manna (a/k/a Stevie Richards) appeared on Fox & Friends on Fox News discussing the best high-tech gifts for the holidays. Video of his appearance is available here.
– Sheamus appears at Autorama at the George R Brown Convention Center 1001 Avenida De Las Americas Houston, Texas, today from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
– This week’s edition of Are You Serious? is highlighted by Michael Saxon, a mid-1980s WWF enhancement wrestler who portrayed himself similar to pop superstar Michael Jackson. Also featured are clips of the King of the Road Match from WCW’s Uncensored 1995 featuring Dustin Rhodes against Blacktop Bully, a message from Ultimate Warrior, and a misstep from Shelton Benjamin.
– The following matches were featured on the latest edition of WWE Vintage Collection: Ric Flair vs. Arn Anderson (WCW Fall Brawl 1995), Sting and The Great Muta vs. The Steiners (WCW Japan Supershow 2), Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy with Special Guest Referee Lita (WWF Vengeance 2001).
– Former WWE Superstar Tatanka is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
– WWE announcer Josh Mathews turns 32-years-old Sunday.
This Thursday on Impact Wrestling, Rob Van Dam will defend the X Division Championship against an opponent to be selected by Hulk Hogan during the show. Plus, AJ Styles and James Storm will face Daniels and Kazarian in a tag team match.
ImpactWrestling.com has released the following preview for the show:
Preview Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast at 8/7c on SpikeTV! If you can’t watch IMPACT on Thursday night, make sure to set your DVR to record all the action.
– The countdown continues to December’s “Final Resolution” event, featuring Jeff Hardy vs. Bobby Roode for the World Heavyweight Championship! Both Hardy and Roode will be on the huge broadcast – what will happen when champion and challenger go face-to-face?
– Thursday’s IMPACT also showcases the return of CHAMPIONSHIP THURSDAY! X Division Champion Rob Van Dam will defend his title on the broadcast – who will IMPACT General Manager Hulk Hogan select to face RVD? Tune in and find out!
– Last week, Austin Aries dropped a bombshell on Hulk Hogan with his accusation about his daughter, Brooke Hogan. How will Hulk, Brooke and Bully Ray react this Thursday night on SpikeTV? Is Aries ready for the potential war he just started with Hulk and Bully Ray?
– Did second-generation star Wes Brisco pass his TNA GUT CHECK? After his tryout match, Brisco will face the judges on Thursday’s IMPACT! Will Brisco realize his dream of earning a spot on the roster – or is it back to the proving grounds for the young star?
– Plus, it’s a huge tag team war on IMPACT as “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles teams up with “Cowboy” James Storm to take on Christopher Daniels and Kazarian!
All this and much more on the special Thanksgiving broadcast on IMPACT WRESTLING – Thursday 8/7c on SpikeTV!
– This week’s edition of “Santino’s Foreign Exchange” is now online. Here is the synopsis: “It’s Thanksgiving, Santino style! To cap off a “very American year” for the former U.S. Champion, Santino and crew head out to find the perfect holiday meal … and you won’t believe what’s – or is that, WHO’S – for dinner.”
– Friday’s SmackDown broadcast on Syfy concluded with John Cena emerging from the backstage area to lock Dolph Ziggler into the STF on the ramp. Following the episode, AJ Lee remarked on Twitter, “Yay for Cena beating up Dolph. I love when Cena ends up on top. *…waits for the Internet to explode…*
– Former WWE Women’s and Divas Champion Beth Phoenix turns 32-years-old on Saturday.
– In this edition of “Backstage Fallout” for SmackDown World Heavyweight Champion Big Show has some words of warning for Sheamus for their Chairs Match at WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs. Plus, Rosa Mendes “scouts” Alberto Del Rio.
– SmackDown color commentator John “Bradshaw” Layfield announced via Twitter that he will debut a new show on WWE.com next week: “Looking forward to The JBL Show debut next week! @wwe .com will carry it. @MichaelCole may also appear some. #dollarwithadime.”
– In the United Kingdom, The Miz is currently featured in a television commercial for Smyths Toys.
Courtesy of WWEDVDNews.com, the full content listing for WWE’s The Best Pay-Per-View Matches: 2012 DVD and Blu-ray has been released. This title is scheduled for release on December 26, 2012.
DISC 1
A Remarkable Year
WWE Championship Match
CM Punk vs. Dolph Ziggler
Special Guest Referee: John Laurinaitis
Royal Rumble • January 29, 2012
Elimination Chamber Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Daniel Bryan vs. Big Show vs. The Great Khali vs. Santino Marella vs. Wade Barrett vs. Cody Rhodes
Elimination Chamber • February 19, 2012
One Man, One Legend, One Streak
End of an Era Hell in a Cell Match
Triple H vs. Undertaker
Special Guest Referee: Shawn Michaels
WrestleMania XXVIII • April 1, 2012
DISC 2
Hometown Return
Once in a Lifetime
The Rock vs. John Cena
WrestleMania XXVIII • April 1, 2012
Divas Championship Match
Layla vs. Beth Phoenix
Over the Limit • May 20, 2012
Intercontinental Championship Match
Christian vs. Cody Rhodes
No Way Out • June 17, 2012
Complicated Situations
No Disqualification Match for the WWE Championship
CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan
Special Guest Referee: AJ
Money in the Bank • July 15, 2012
DISC 3
Colossal Collision
The Perfect Storm
Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar
SummerSlam • August 19, 2012
Randy Orton vs. Dolph Ziggler
Night of Champions • September 16, 2012
WWE Championship Match
CM Punk vs. John Cena
Night of Champions • September 16, 2012
World Heavyweight Championship Match
Sheamus vs. Big Show
Hell in a Cell • October 28, 2012
A Sizzling Year
BLU-RAY EXCLUSIVES
Best PPV Matches 2012 WWE Blu-ray Content Listing
Ambulance Match
John Cena vs. Kane
Elimination Chamber • February 19, 2012
2 out of 3 Falls Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan
Extreme Rules • April 29, 2012
SmackDown Money in the Bank Ladder Match
Christian vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Tensai vs. Santino Marella vs. Damien Sandow vs. Tyson Kidd vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Sin Cara
Money in the Bank • July 15, 2012
WWE Championship Hell in a Cell Match
CM Punk vs. Ryback
Hell in a Cell • October 28, 2012
Backstage Pay-Per View Access:
* CM Punk discusses his match at the Royal Rumble
* Sheamus discusses his involvement at Elimination Chamber
* Layla discusses her match at Extreme Rules
* Christian discusses his match at Over The Limit
* Paul Heyman discusses Brock Lesnar’s match at SummerSlam
* The Miz discusses his match at SummerSlam
* John Cena discusses his match at SummerSlam
* CM Punk discusses his match at SummerSlam
