– The WWE website attempted to interview Chris Jericho backstage at Monday’s RAW, but did not get much out of him. Jericho continued the “silent treatment” we saw on television, smiling and ignoring the questions asked of him. When asked if he plans to enter the Royal Rumble, Jericho paused, turned on the lights on his jacket, and walked away. To view the video, visit WWE.com.
– The latest on Brodus Clay’s status is that WWE is holding off on his debut until the Royal Rumble.
– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross, who is celebrating his 60th birthday today, will be calling an NBA basketball game tonight between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Portland Trail Blazers. Ross tweeted on Tuesday afternoon:
“Heading to OKC for Thunder game tonight at 7 central on Fox Sports Oklahoma & NBA Season Pass. I’m Going 2 join broadcast team in 2nd QT.”
The official PPV poster for WWE’s upcoming Elimination Chamber has been released and it features Sheamus. The event takes place on Sunday, February 19thfrom Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Bradley Center. It will be the final WWE pay-per-view before WrestleMania 28.
As previously reported, participants for WWE’s annual Raw Elimination Chamber Match are tentatively scheduled to include:
Alberto Del Rio
CM Punk
John Cena
Kane
R-Truth
The Miz
The outcome of the bout is expected to be based on whether Cena’s match with The Rock at WrestleMania XXVIII will have the WWE Championship on the line.
The Nevada State Athletic Commision recently issued mandatory medical suspensions to twelve fighters who competed on the UFC 141 event this past Saturday.
The suspensions are as follows:
•Brock Lesnar: Suspended until June 28 due to an abdominal injury, though he can be cleared early by a physician
•Alistair Overeem: Suspended until Feb. 14 with no contact until Jan. 30 due to lacerations near his right eye
•Nate Diaz: Suspended until June 28 due to a right-eye injury, though he can be cleared early by an ophthalmologist; regardless, suspended until Jan. 30 with no contact until Jan. 12 for precautionary reasons
•Donald Cerrone: Suspended until Feb. 14 with no contact until Jan. 30 due to a lower-lip cut
•Jon Fitch: Suspended until Feb. 29 with no contact until Feb. 14 for precautionary reasons
•Vladimir Matyushenko: Suspended until June 28 due to a possible left-knee injury, though he can be cleared early by an orthopedic doctor; regardless, suspended until Feb. 14 with no contact until Jan. 30 for precautionary reasons
•Alexander Gustafsson: Suspended until Jan. 30 with no contact until Jan. 21 due to right-tibia contusion
•Nam Phan: Suspended until Feb. 29 with no contact until Feb. 14 due to a right-eyebrow cut
•Junior Assuncao: Suspended until Jan. 30 with no contact until Jan. 21 due a right-cheek cut
•Dong Hyun Kim: Suspended until Jan. 30 with no contact until Jan. 21 due to left-foot contusion
•Manny Gamburyan: Suspended until June 28 due to a possible right-shoulder injury, though he can be cleared early by an orthopedic doctor and X-ray; regardless, suspended until Jan. 30 with no contact until Jan. 12 for precautionary reasons
•Diego Nunes: Suspended until Feb. 14 with no contact until Jan. 30 due to a cut near left eye
Regarding the online rumor of Rob Van Dam returning to WWE, Power Slam confirms in their latest issue that RVD is seriously considering returning to the organization once his contract with TNA Wrestling expires. The magazine adds that the feeling is mutual as people in WWE want the master of the Five-Star Frog Splash back.
“RVD from what we’re told would receive a warm welcome in WWE,” the magazine says.
Providing that no contract extension has been reached since his arrival to TNA Wrestling in March 2010, it would appear that Van Dam will be a free agent in the near future. It was reported in 2010 that RVD had signed a two-year contract with TNA.
During his hiatus from full-time wrestling, Van Dam said he would consider returning to WWE if and when he felt ready.
“One thing that’s for sure is that WWE and I do have a good-faith understanding that if and when I’m ready to return that I’ll be talking to them. They look forward and hope that we’ll be doing business again,” he told the Baltimore Sun during an interview.
Van Dam, who turned 41 years old last month, performed for WWE from 2001 to 2007. Should RVD return to WWE, he would join a select group of former WWE world champions—Booker T, Kevin Nash and Mick Foley—who joined TNA and ultimately returned to the Stamford based organization.
– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross turns 60 years old today. Happy birthday to JR!
– William Regal’s Twitter account was hacked Monday night and several Regal-like sayings were published including “I love Dr Who,” “Plonkers!,” “I’m on a horse!,” “Don’t cross me!” and “Can’t get the theme song from Eastenders out of my head.”
Regal is now back in control of the account and has deleted the fake tweets.
– Stephanie McMahon joined her personal trainer Dave Palumbo Monday night on Heavy Muscle Radio. The synopsis for the show said:
“How is it like living in the spotlight of the WWE, as well as being a mother of three, and a hard training fitness enthusiast? It’s not as easy as it seems, and Stephanie knows it’s a fine balancing act.”
We’ll post a recap of the appearance soon. As we reported here on the site last week, Stephanie’s trainer Dave Palumbo recently helped her lose 80 pounds following the birth of her most recent daughter.
— Mickie James was the most searched for female wrestling talent on Google.com in 2011, according to statistical data compiled by the Wrestling Observer. She is trailed by fellow TNA Knockout Velvet Sky, Michelle McCool, Vickie Guerrero, Beth Phoenix, Eve Torres and Gail Kim.
— The final episode of Impact Wrestling of 2011 garnered a 1.16 cable rating, with 1,510,000 viewers. This is up from the prior week’s show, which drew a 1.03 cable rating with 1,360,000 viewers.
— Gunner stated on Twitter that he faces Rob Van Dam on this Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling.
— Matt Morgan and Gail Kim appear at Direct Auto Insurance 700 North Military Highway Norfolk, Virginia on Feb. 10 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 757-455-9072 for more information.
Pictures Of Randy Orton & His Wife Samantha (Click to view more)
— Randy Orton addressed his detractors on Twitter, telling fans he’s no longer bothered by people who don’t like him. to a Twitter follower that he is no longer phased by his numerous haters.
“Why not? It’s not like I gave em my address or phone #. if anything I just motivated them to spend more time tweeting garbage.”
“Stuff like this used to upset me, but [my wife] Sam is the one the made me realize these people have no impact on my life, and the things they say mean absolutely nothing.”
— Chris Jericho, who returned to WWE at Monday’s SuperShow, will be working house shows. WWE has updated their advertisements for upcoming Raw live events and he is listed as making a “special appearance.”
— WWE Hall of Famer Tony Atlas appears for IYF Wrestling at the Ballston Area Community Center 20 Malta Ave. Ballston Spa, New York on Jan. 14.
There were a lot of people within WWE wondering why the company had Chris Jericho fly into a major airport over the weekend. Jericho was photographed at the airport and that photo circulated online on Monday, taking some of the surprise away from Jericho’s WWE return.
WWE has taken extra measures in the past when it came to returning talents’ travel. No word on why they did not take the same steps with Jericho. We’ve heard that Chris Jericho’s name did not appear on the script for RAW – however, Jericho was backstage during the show and there was not a big effort made to keep his presence top secret.
Jericho’s appearance on RAW was meant to be somewhat of a parody of his WWE debut & “Save Us” return several years ago. Like with Jericho’s WWE debut back in 1999, Jericho appeared after weeks of buildup, got a tremendous reaction from the live crowd and wound up turning them against him by the end of his segment. Based on what we’ve been hearing, Jericho will be turning full-fledged heel in the coming weeks and is still scheduled to wrestle CM Punk for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 28.
Jericho re-tweeted several comments from fans about about how he was trending worldwide during RAW without speaking on television.
The WWE’s website has posted a few articles looking at Jericho’s return and shedding some light on where his storyline is headed. One article discussed Jericho’s use of viral videos over the years – and questions who the little girl in the “It Begins” video was meant to portray:
“There are plenty of questions left unanswered between the videos and Jericho’s shocking appearance on Raw SuperShow. For example, the fourth video refers to a mysterious “she.” According to the clip, “she” holds the answers to the return of Chris Jericho, and that when he calls her, he will begin to reclaim what is rightfully his.
What does all this mean for the WWE? No one but Chris Jericho knows, and until he decides to let the rest of the world in on his ultimate goals, all the WWE Universe can do is conjecture. Certainly, Jericho has left us plenty of material to do precisely that.”
“@IAmJericho Helluva kick ass return. Welcome back my friend. Look forward to having some fun w you.”
Jericho’s longtime friend Lance Storm says he helped train Jericho in recent weeks at his Storm Wrestling Academy in Canada to prepare for his return. Storm wrote:
“Since he’s back yes @IAmJericho did come back and train with me at SWA. We spent a couple days in the ring including a 17 min match #norust”
Former WWE Champion JBL wrote:
“The @Iamjericho return to WWE? Loved it. This is going to play out well over the next couple of months. The audacity of the return is gold!”
Interim RAW General Manager John Laurinaitis said:
“We are now stalking @IAmJericho to see what all that silence was about.”
My staff and I aren’t pleased, for those of you who follow this and want the real scoop. We hope to have answers from @IAmJericho soon.
– As we reported over the weekend, former WWE diva Torrie Wilson is dating New York Yankees all-star Alex Rodriguez. The UK’s Daily Mail notes that the two have now gone public as a couple and spent New Years in Cabo San Lucas with George Clooney and his girlfriend, former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler, a good friend of Wilson’s.
– Among the WWE terms trending worldwide on Twitter last night were Chris Jericho, Y2J, Brodus Clay, Undertaker, “Happy New Year Miz” and Hornswoggle.
– The Rock is scheduled to make another WWE TV appearance in the next several weeks, according to f4wonline.com. Rock has been filming his new movie Snitch in New Orleans over the past week and will spend most of February promoting Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, which hits theaters on February 10th.
John Cena wrote the following on Twitter early Tuesday morning:
“2012 started as 2011 ended. Hate dominating the landscape. I have a feeling these next few months will be the greatest of all challenges.
I can see what kane is trying to do…and I certainly know where I stand with Dwayne. I wont falter. Stand 4 something or fall 4 everything. Rise Above Hate.”
WWE legend Shawn Michaels has posted a new 13-minute video answering fan questions. Regarding his WWE contract status, Michaels said:
“I have a contract with WWE. It’s not a Legends contract, it’s not a wrestling contract. It’s just something special they gave me. That’s one of the ways I make a living,” Michaels said. “I will never end up going anywhere else. I won’t be wrestling somewhere else and I won’t be showing up on someone else’s TV show.”
Michaels added he’s open to a behind-the-scenes role with WWE in the future:
“I’m always hoping to come back and maybe do a semi-regular role behind-the-scenes. But, that’s all stuff that’s hard for me to say when that’s going to happen.”
CM Punk will defend the WWE Championship against Dolph Ziggler at the Royal Rumble – with interim RAW General Manager John Laurinaitis serving as the special guest referee.
Laurinaitis announced the match on RAW after CM Punk and Dolph Ziggler’s match.
The WWE championship match and the 30-man Royal Rumble main event are the only matches announced for the card so far.
After being spotted with Abraham Lincoln and The Beatles – Chris Jericho was revealed to be the man behind the cryptic “It Begins” promo vidoes and made his long awaited debut to WWE television on Monday’s RAW.
Jericho came out to his signature “Break The Walls Down” theme music and wore a flamboyant & illuminated studded black leather jacket.
Jericho came to the ring and soaked up the huge reaction from an audience that appeared to be satisfied on WWE’s delivery of this latest surprise. Fans chanted “welcome back” to the former Undisputed champion. The celebration lasted several minutes, with Chris Jericho riling up the crowd and slapping hands with fans – without taking a microphone and explaining why he is back. The crowd began to turn on Jericho as it became apparent he was not going to do anything more than listen to them cheer him on. The segment ended awkwardly, with Jericho apparently looking to turn the crowd against him.
Check out these pictures of Jericho’s WWE return and hit up the comments section below with your feedback.
— Chris Jericho has continued to refute rumors that he is returning to WWE at tonight’s Raw SuperShow in Memphis, Tennessee. He tweeted a photo of himself and a friend snowboarding.
He wrote, “Beautiful day on the mountain! #bestJan2ever @speewee @holowatuk pic.twitter.com/eoPQZBj9.”
— Christian, who has been sidelined since November 9, 2011 due to an ankle injury, is now advertised for WWE’s annual post-WrestleMania tour of the U.K. in April. He is tapped to return to the ring no later than February.
— WWE will hold a Raw live event at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts on Sunday, March 4, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.
— Michael McGillicutty won the WWE Magazine 2011 Fantasy Football League.
— It was reported Sunday that Randy Orton, who is out of action after suffering a herniated disc on the L4-L5 level on the left side, would be returning on Jan. 16 Raw SuperShow in Anaheim, California. He is now scheduled for all SmackDown events beginning on Jan. 17.
— A photograph circulating online of The Undertaker and Michelle McCool arriving at an arena parking lot is being inaccurately depicted as being taken today in Memphis, Tennessee. The photo is over a year old as it was taken in September 2010.
— The Nasty Boys, Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags, appear at the In Your Face Wrestling Academy 3 Mcelwain Ave. Cohoes, New York this Sunday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
— Jerry Lawler headlines AAW Wrestling’s event on Feb. 24 in Merrionette Park, Illinois at 115 Bourbon Street. Visit aawrestling.com for more information.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety over at JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights of what JR wrote about:
Tonight’s WWE Raw: “It’s a very important Raw tonight in Memphis for a variety of reasons. It’s the first event of the New Year, the build to the Royal Rumble begins to a certain degree as the Rumble officially kicks off WM28 promotion, a marquis matchup for the WWE Title between two of WWE’s most outstanding, young talents in Punk and Ziggler, the reveal of the mystery person, and follow up on what on how Raw left the air last Monday with Kane’s perplexing message to John Cena. Everyone needs to be on top of their game tonight in Memphis.”
Brock Lesnar Returning to WWE: “Will Brock Lesnar return to WWE full time or part time? For those that know Brock well, the answer to this question is actually quite simple. It’s NO. Brock dislikes, putting it mildly, traveling. Plus, he doesn’t need the money even though he’s smart enough to not turn down a big payday if the lay of the land is to his liking. That’s why the UFC thing was good for him because he could earn big money by traveling 2-3 times per year to fight.
“I could see Brock doing a major, one off WWE appearance ala a Wrestlemania, but not this year, and doing so while not even making the live Raw events that lead into it. I could also see WWE traveling to Brock to shoot vignettes to build whatever match that he might be booked. For fans who think that Lesnar will return to make a significant amount of TV dates only and then only work a handful or so of PPV’s, I hate to burst your bubble, but in my opinion that simply isn’t happening.”
Following Brock Lesnar’s first round loss at Friday’s UFC 141 pay-per-view, the former heavyweight champion announced his retirement from the sport of mixed martial arts.
At the post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White was asked about the possibility of Lesnar returning to WWE , despite having one fight left on his UFC contract. White stated:
“When you retire, he retires under contract. I have no idea (the length of the contract). Listen, I’ve had my moments with Brock Lesnar, but I’ve had a great relationship with him and we’ll figure it out, no big deal. I’ve never had a situation with a guy where we haven’t done the right thing.”
The wait is finally over .. It’s January 2nd, 2012 – and tonight on RAW, we’ll find out who is behind the cryptic videos we’ve been seeing for almost 2 months. We’ve gathered all six videos here, so you can re-watch them and catch any clues you may have missed earlier.
Hit up the comments section below and give us your last-minute predictions on WHO will be returning tonight on RAW.
Three more matches have been announced for Ring of Honor’s first television taping of 2012 this Saturday night from the Du Burns Arena in Baltimore, MD. The new bouts include:
– ROH World Champion Davey Richards & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Caprice Coleman & Cedric Alexander
– “Die Hard” Eddie Edwards vs. Mike Mondo
– “The Dominant Male” Tommaso Ciampa with The Embassy vs. TJ Perkins
These matches are in addition to the previously announced Grudge Match, with ROH World Tag Team Champions Jay & Mark Briscoe facing Roderick Strong & Michael Elgin.
It’s January 2nd, 2012, which means – tonight is the night we find out who has been behind the cryptic videos airing on RAW over the past couple months.
With the rampant rumors that Chris Jericho is returning to WWE on tonight’s RAW, the following image has been circulating online of Chris Jericho reportedly at the airport today – flying to Memphis, where RAW takes place.
Chris Jericho headed to RAW tonight? Jericho says, not so much
Jericho, who has been vehemently denying that he’s returning to RAW tonight, says the image is a fake:
“Apparently I’ve been cloned…or somebody has started a great rumour!! #waroftheworlds”
He has since posted links to various hilarious pictures of Chris Jericho sightings throughout the world – and throughout history!
It has been a little over a year since MVP announced he would be leaving WWE. A good amount of soul searching and discontent with his position in the organization led to his final decision.
“I guess more than anything it was that my contract was coming to a close,” he tells the Miami Herald. “I had a year left on my contract. John Laurinaitis was coming to me to re-sign like he had a number of times. I had actually been avoiding him because I hadn’t made my decision yet. I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I hadn’t come to terms with my decision. “On a professional level it was a culmination of a lot of things. I just wasn’t happy anymore and felt I wasn’t being given the opportunities that I had been given previously. It was time for me to make a decision, and I didn’t want to re-sign. I asked if I could be out of that final year so I could go and pursue my original dream of wrestling in Japan.”
WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent Relations respected his decision. MVP feels he receives unnecessary flack.
“I have to say John Laurinaitis gets a bad rap from a lot of people,” MVP said. “He is in a really crappy position. His job makes you very unpopular. He and I had a good relationship. He was the guy that hired me and gave me my first opportunity. John Laurinaitis, a.k.a. Johnny Ace, spent 10 years in Japan with the All Japan [Pro Wrestling] promotion. He and I would talk about Japanese wrestling all the time over beers.”
MVP also discusses his passion for Japanese wrestling and life after WWE. The full article is available here.
