— Evan Bourne stated the following on Twitter after WWE announced they had suspended the Raw Superstar for 30 days effective immediately for his first violation of their Talent Wellness Program.
“Love you guys! I’ll be back in a flash. AirBoom will not be derailed!”
— WWE officials were upset with the tepid response towards their Twitter trending efforts Monday night during Raw. No WWE related terms trended until the show’s conclusion, which was only brief.
— In today’s birthdays, Raw Superstar Tyler Reks turns 33 years old, former WWE Superstar Billy Gunn turns 48 years old and WWE Hall of Famer Bobby Heenan turns 67 years old.
— The t-shirt CM Punk wore on Monday’s RAW was from the action comedy movie, “Big Trouble in Little China.”
— The WWE website features a video of WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio saying that he agreed to give CM Punk a title shot at Survivor Series just so he could get out of Atlanta.
— As we reported earlier this morning, WWE annuonced today that Evan Bourne has been suspended for 30 days after his first violation of the company’s Wellness Policy. WWE issued a press release announcing the Bourne suspension, the first time they’ve done this in a long time.
Following the recent Wellness suspensions from Sin Cara, Mike Chioda, Darren Young, Heath Slater and now Evan Bourne, some WWE superstars believe the suspensions are related to WWE cracking down on synthetic marijuana, which is a legal substance.
Posted November 1st, 2011 in News, WWE. Tagged: CM Punk.
Former WWE champion The Ultimate Warrior took part in another autograph signing this week in California and appeared in character – facepaint, ring gear, title belt and all.
TMZ.com cameras caught up with Warrior, who went on a rant about the Occupy Wall Street protests that are currently underway in New York City and spreading across the country. Warrior stated:
“I find it a little ironic that most of these kids own iPads and iPhones and all these material things. They’re a big part of the consumerism that goes on in this country.”
He added, “The biggest statement you can make is not to participate in the consumerism of it all. Don’t buy the stuff. Start living your own life. Practice what you preach.”
WWE has announced that tag team champion Evan Bourne has been suspended for 30 days.
The official statement from the WWE website reads:
“In accordance with its Talent Wellness Program, WWE has suspended Matthew Korklan (Evan Bourne) for 30 days effective immediately for his first violation of the company’s policy.”
Bourne’s suspension will keep him out of action through Survivor Series.
Air Boom lost non-title matches on both Friday’s SmackDown and Monday’s RAW. It remains to be seen whether WWE will take the tag titles off them, but this is a major setback for Bourne.
— After Monday’s WWE RAW from Atlanta, GA went off the air, John Cena and C.M. Punk defeated The Miz and R-Truth in a tag team match. Both Cena and Punk hit their finishers on Miz and Truth.
After the match, Cena said he was tricked by R-Truth’s attack (dressed as the villain from the Scream movies) – so the crowd deserves a treat. The treat was Miz getting another Go To Sleep by CM Punk to end the show.
— Former WWE Womens champion Amy “Lita” Dumas was backstage at Monday’s RAW. She lives in Atlanta and was just visiting.
– Last weeks’s 10/28 edition of WWE SmackDown on SyFy drew a 1.96 rating and averaged approximately 2.8 million viewers for the 2-hour broadcast.
This is down from the previous week’s 2.18 rating (with over 3 million viewers) and the lowest rating the show has done in several weeks. SmackDown was up against Game 7 of the World Series, so we’ll see this week if the show rebounds without that competition.
– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has provided an update on the health status of Barry Windham. Ross tweeted on Monday:
“Talked to Mike Rotunda today here in Atlanta, and he said Barry Windham was improving from heart attack and liver issues. Still hospitalized.”
This is the first we’ve heard about liver issues from Windham. Windham suffered a heart attack last week. His brother-in-law and former tag team partner Mike Rotunda found him and got him the life-saving medical assistance he needed.
— The “Michael Cole challenge” match scheduled for RAW between Michael Cole and Jim Ross was bumped from the show due to time constraints. Jim Ross was indeed in Atlanta and tweeted the following after RAW:
“4 the record, I’m in Atlanta. Was informed by Raw GM’s office, my services weren’t needed. Cole wants 2 make fun of my 3 surgeries. Classy.”
Ross and Cole will wrestle on next week’s show, with the stipulation being that the winner remains a RAW announcer and the loser is off television for the foreseeable future.
— Despite Boston’s TD Garden website pulling Mick Foley from advertisements for the November 14th RAW Supershow featuring The Rock, local advertisements that aired last night in Boston
still said Foley would be appearing at that show – as a special guest referee.
WWE announced yet another new show that’s planned for the upcoming WWE Network – a daily live studio show that sounds similar to ESPN Sports Center.
Here’s the official announcement – along with 5 potential names for the show, which WWE is polling fans about.
“In 2012, WWE Network’s new daily live studio show will connect you to the Superstars like never before. Tune in to score breaking news, exclusive match analyses, topics of the day, interviews, highlights, and commentaries, then go online and on-air to voice your opinion live with our show hosts and daily guest stars, including WWE Superstars like John Cena, Randy Orton, Kelly Kelly, Sheamus, Rey Mysterio, the Miz and more!”
You can vote here on which of the following names you think best suits the show:
* WWE Power Center
* WWE Action Center
* WWE Event Center
* WWE Live Event Center
* WWE InterAction Center
Horror movie website Bloody-Disgusting.com is reporting that former WWE wrestler Dave Batista has been offered a role in the upcoming Universal Pictures film Riddick, starring Vin Diesel.
Directed by franchise creator David Twohy, Riddick will be the third installment of the Pitch Black / Chronicles of Riddick series. Aside from Vin Diesel and Karl Urban, other rumored cast members include Andreas Apergis, Katee Sackhoff (White Noise 2: The Light, Growl, The Haunting in Georgia) and Bokeem Woodbine (Total Recall, Devil).
It’s worth noting that TMZ.com reported last week that production on the latest Riddck has been shut down due to Vin Diesel’s One Race Films production company failing to pay the owners of the Montreal studio where the movie is being shot, as well as members of the crew.
Posted October 31st, 2011 in News, WWE. Tagged: Batista.
As we reported here earlier today, CM Punk appeared at the Ringsidefest collectibles event in New York City over the weekend and took a shot at former WWE star Chris Jericho.
Punk was introduced as “the best in the world at what he does” – to which he clarified, he’s the best wrestler the world, but Jericho is the best in the world at what he does – which is, dancing with celebrities.
Chris Jericho has responded to Punk’s comment, tweeting the following on Monday afternoon::
“What’s worse…Dancing With Celebrities or Playing With Muppets?”
– The Rock’s response to John Cena on RAW will be a taped promo. He will not appear live tonight, but is expected to hype his upcoming live appearance on RAW on 11/14.
– A segment featuring the Divas in Halloween costumes is tentatively scheduled.
– At least three Muppet performers are scheduled for Raw—Steve Whitmire, Eric Jacobson and Bill Barretta. Therefore, all of the major Muppet characters sans Gonzo will be at WWE’s disposal. It is unknown whether Gonzo’s handler Dave Goelz is scheduled for the event.
– The Muppet performers were asked to prepare for a segment in which Statler and Waldorf handle commentary duties. This will likely occur during “The Michael Cole Challenge.”
(Credit to PWInsider.com f0r some of the information used in this report)
– One of the shows confirmed for the upcoming WWE Network is “WWE Divas: Heels On Wheels” – a reality-based road trip show where cameras will follow the divas traveling the country.
There is said to be a lot of interest among the divas – with most wanting to be featured on the show due to the amount of exposure they think it will bring them.
For much more on the WWE Network, visit our WWE Network page.
– After WWE recently registered a new trademark for the name “WWE Supercharge” – the show will either be for the new 30-minute pre-show that would air before RAW each week or another new show on the WWE Network.
– Mick Foley will be returning to New York City on the night of WWE Survivor Series (11/20) for a comedy show at the UCB Theatre. The comedy show starts at 11:59pm, giving WWE fans just under an hour to get from Madison Square Garden after the pay-per-view to the UCB Theater.
Tickets are going for as little as $5 and can be purchased at this link.
(Credit to f4wonline.com for some of the info used in this report)
WWE officials have reportedly decided on locations for WrestleMania 29 in 2013 and WrestleMania 30 in 2014. Two venues that WWE has been strongly considering for upcoming WrestleManias include Toronto’s Skydome (site of WrestleManias VI and X8) as well as Arlington, Texas’ Cowboys Stadium, which could seat over 100,000 fans.
It’s worth noting that during the DX reunion that took place prior to a recent SmackDown taping from Texas, Shawn Michaels and Triple H teased that Cowboys Stadium would be a great place to host WWE’s flagship event.
Some are expecting New York City’s Madison Square Garden to host WrestleMaina 30 in 2014, but with WWE running stadiums since WrestleMania 23, its up in the air a to whether WWE would go back to an arena that houses less than 20,000 fans, even for a big anniversary show.
Officials have briefly discussed locations for WrestleMania 31 (2015) and WrestleMania 32 in (2016) – and will get more serious about those plans in early 2012.
(Credit to f4wonline.com for some of the information used in this report)
Entertainment industry publication Variety has an article up today looking at The Muppets invading tonight’s episode of WWE RAW from Atlanta.
The article notes that 9 Muppet characters will be on the show.
WWE executive Stephanie McMahon was quoted in the article – and says she is beyond excited to see the Muppets interact with the WWE superstars tonight.
There is said to be a lot of buzz among the WWE superstars, divas and crew today – as many of them grew up big fans of the Muppets. A lot of people are doing whatever they can to be featured in a segment on RAW with the Muppets.
CM Punk appeared at the Ringsidefest collectibles event in New York City over the weekend and took a few shots at former WWE star Chris Jericho, including his stint on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars.
– As we reported last week, The Undertaker and Michelle McCool visiting backstage at Monday’s RAW Supershow from Texas.
Word is that WWE officials approached McCool about returning to the ring in the near future.
As for the Undertaker, there are no plans for him to return to television in the immediate future. At this point, WWE officials are hoping he’ll be healthy enough in time to wrestle at WrestleMania 28 next April.
– Money in the Bank briefcase holder Daniel Bryan wrote the following on Twitter regarding the beard that he’s growing out until WrestleMania 28:
“People keep tweeting telling me to shave my beard. Hell no! Join me and grow your beards out, too! #ThisBeardFightsFascists”
– Regarding the Booker T vs. Cody Rhodes feud that we’ve been reporting on, word is that it may take place at the Survivor Series pay-per-view. If not, expect Rhodes to be involved in a traditional Survivor Series elimination match.
– Former WWE Diva Maryse has been removed from appearing at a fundraiser for the Strike 3 Foundation at the Hilton Hotel in Stamford, CT on November 19th. Her boyfriend The Miz will now be appearing by himself.
(Credit to f4wonline.com for some of the information used in this report)
— Jim Ross stated on Twitter that he has accepted “The Michael Cole Challenge.”
He wrote, “You asked..YES I’m taking the Michael Cole Challenge this Monday in ATL. What do I have to lose? Old dogs can still hunt BTW. Lets do this!”
If J.R. can defeat Cole on the Raw SuperShow, he will reclaim his seat at the announce booth and Cole will quit.
— Former WWE star Chris Masters deleted a message he posted on Twitter today alleging that a female member of the SmackDown roster maintains sexual relations with head creative writer Michael Hayes in order to keep her job. He says he was only “hypothetically speaking.”
Masters wrote earlier, “So if I had to tell you one smackdown diva who gave freebird hayes an “Oral” agreement to keep her job, who’d you guess?”
— Former WWE Superstar Edge turns 38 years old today.
After being released by WWE this week, Maryse Ouellet posted the following update on her official website on Sunday regarding her future plans:
“After six fantastic years with the WWE, I’ve decided to move on and begin the next chapter of my life. Thank you to all of my fans, colleagues and the WWE Universe.
Living in Los Angeles, I look forward to continuing my career in entertainment and creating new and exciting content!
Follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/maryse0uellet
Stay tuned and BE SEXY!”
Posted October 30th, 2011 in News, WWE. Tagged: Maryse.
Recently released WWE star Chris Masters posted a blind item on his Twitter account (twitter.com/wwemasterp) Sunday alleging that a female member of the SmackDown roster maintains sexual relations with head creative writer Michael Hayes in order to keep her job.
He wrote, “So if I had to tell you one smackdown diva who gave freebird hayes an “Oral” agreement to keep her job, who’d you guess?”
Similar allegations regarding sexual politics in the WWE lockerroom have been made as Taryn Terrell (a/k/a Tiffany) stated last December that she would not trade sexual favors with individuals in positions of power in order to maintain employment with the sports entertainment organization.
“No…if I have to sleep with people in power to keep or continue progressing in my job, I’d rather be poor,” she wrote on Twitter in response to a specific question about whether she would return to WWE.
She later retracted her remark, saying it wasn’t about WWE or anyone in particular, but rather a generalized statement of companies she’s worked for.
