– Earlier this week, the WWE website posted an article talking about the fact that Chris Jericho has yet to win WWE gold since returning in January and speculating whether Jericho will leave WWE again if he does not win the World Heavyweight title at Over The Limit this weekend.
Jericho responded to the writer of the article Twitter:
“Hey Alex Giannini, heres an idea-shut your effen mouth and stop spreading BS rumours.”
– A fan wrote to David Otunga on Twitter this week and brought to his attention that TNA World Champion Bobby Roode recently demanded a bowl of green M&M’s on Impact – which David Otunga also did back when he hosted RAW. Otunga replied and said the following about TNA’s champion:
When asked by a fan on Twitter about why he was being “demoted” to NXT, he responded:
“Not a demotion at all. Im a team player. You should try it.”
– Stephanie and Shane McMahon have been added to the Alumni section of the WWE website.
– Ric Flair’s daughter Ashley has indeed signed a developmental deal with WWE and will be reporting to Florida Championship Wrestling in July. She has been training in North Carolina with former WCW wrestler Lodi and already broke her nose during training, according to Pro Wrestling Insider.
It’s been widely speculated that Ric Flair will be returning to WWE when his TNA contract expires. Between his appearance at the Hall of Fame ceremony and WWE now signing his daughter, it does seem like a possibility.
After John Cena filed for divorce from his wife Elizabeth earlier this month, TMZ is reporting that she has asked a Florida judge to throw out Cena’s request because it was filled with errors.
According to documents, John referred to Elizabeth by her maiden name instead of her legal name. Elizabeth also claims John did not attach the prenuptial agreement that he referenced in his divorce filing.
Elizabeth also disputes John’s claims there was no marital property. She insists there is and for these reasons, she wants the judge to dismiss the papers and force John to re-file.
Here’s WWE’s official press release announcing that Monday Night RAW is expanding to a 3-hour show every single week starting July 23rd, the night of RAW’s 1,000th episode. RAW will also be getting more interactive – with fans getting a chance to “decide matches, stipulations and new character development.” Here’s the official announcement:
WWE® MONDAY NIGHT RAW® EXPANDS TO THREE ELECTRIFYING HOURS LAUCHING WITH THE 1,000th EPISODE, JULY 23 ON USA NETWORK
@JohnCena Tweets Historic Announcement From USA Upfront Presentation
NEW YORK – May 17, 2012 – WWE Superstar John Cena® announced via Twitter today that WWE Monday Night Raw will expand to a three-hour event 52 weeks a year. The extended telecast will kick-off July 23 at 8/7C on USA Network and marks the 1000th episode of the WWE Raw franchise and a television record – no other series has ever reached this milestone.
The announcement was tweeted today by Cena (the No. 1 most influential male athlete on Twitter last month) during USA’s upfront presentation in New York City. The move firmly put WWE’s stake in the ground as one of the most powerful social brands in the world and an integral part of USA Network’s social media initiative.
“The WWE Universe is one of the most socially active and passionate fan bases in all of television,” said Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel, co-presidents USA Network. “The powerful three-hour block of live TV truly makes USA the year-round destination for young male viewers on Monday nights.”
“WWE is proud to celebrate this historic milestone with our partners at USA Network,” said WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. “Our new three-hour Raw represents the next generation in interactive television where our fans won’t just watch the show, they will help create it.”
The expanded WWE Monday Night Raw will transform television to an unprecedented level of viewer interaction. Fans will have new ways to get involved in the show through WWE.com and social media by deciding matches, stipulations and new character development. WWE will brand this unprecedented fan interaction as “#RAWactive.”
The #1 network in all of basic cable, USA Network is seen in 115 million U.S. homes. USA is a leader in scripted programming with a powerful stable of originals including POLITICAL ANIMALS, Suits, Necessary Roughness, WHITE COLLAR, Royal Pains, Burn Notice, PSYCH, Covert Affairs, COMMON LAW, FAIRLY LEGAL and IN PLAIN SIGHT. The network offers 52 weeks of spectacular live television with WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW and is home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, a broad portfolio of acquired series and entertainment events. A trailblazer in digital innovation and storytelling, USA is defining, driving and setting the industry standard for Social TV. USA is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. The award-winning website is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 600 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Istanbul and Tokyo. Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to https://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.
WWE taped the first four editions of WWE NXT tonight from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. Below are full results, courtesy of Wrestling News World:
– Dusty Rhodes was announced as the new General Manager of NXT.
Dark Match:
* Xavier Woods b. Dean Ambrose
* After the match, Triple H came out to thank the crowd for coming. He told the crowd that just like Full Sail is the future of the entertainment business, NXT is the future of WWE. He announced that the upcoming episodes of NXT will air in over 60 countries.
WWE NXT (Week 1)
* Jim Ross & William Regal come out for commentary. JR introduces the new General Manager of NXT, Dusty Rhodes.
* Bo Dallas (aka Bo Rotundo) b. Rick Victor
* Ascension (Conor O’Brian & Kenneth Cameron) b. CJ Parker & Mike Dalton
* Jason Jordan comes out to face Damien Sandow, but Sandow cuts a promo, refusing to compete against him.
* Tyson Kidd b. Michael McGillicutty by submission with the Dungeon Lock.
WWE NXT (Week 2)
* Seth Rollins b. Jiro. After the match, Rollins got a mic and told the crowd that he’s going to take WWE by storm.
* Jinder Mahal b. Jason Jordan by submission with the Camel Clutch.
* Leo Kruger b. Aiden English. Kruger cut a heel promo after the match.
* Richie Steamboat b. Rick Victor. Ricky Steamboat was ringside in support of Richie.
WWE NXT (Week 3)
* Antonio Cesaro w/ Aksana b. Dante Dash. After the match, Aksana got a mic and told the crowd that Cesaro is her lover, then kissed him.
* Sofia Cortez b. Paige
* Seth Rollins b. Camacho w/ Hunico
* Kassius Ohno b. Mike Dalton
WWE NXT (Week 4)
Byron left and Chris Russo and William Regal came to the booth to join Jim Ross.
* The Ascension b. The Usos via a Neckbreaker into Flapjack combination.
* Bray Wyatt b. Aiden English via a Swinging Flatliner.
* Michael McGillicutty, Hunico & Camacho b. Tyson Kidd, Seth Rollins & Bo Dallas following a McGillicutter on Tyson.
Dark Match Main Event:
* Sheamus b. Alberto Del Rio w/Ricardo Rodriguez with the Brogue Kick to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.
John Cena just tweeted the following message regarding a major change to WWE’s flagship Monday night show:
“STARTING Monday Night July 23 @USA_NETWORK WILL BE ADDING A 3RD HOUR TO @WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW – PERMANENTLY. #3hourRaw”
The July 23rd show will be RAW’s 1,000th episode.
The announcement of RAW moving to 3-hours every week is now on WWE.com and has also been re-tweeted by John Laurinaitis, Dolph Ziggler, David Otunga and “Road Dogg” BG James.
It was recently reported that WWE’s weekly RAW tapings would be starting close to an hour earlier – and this news explains why. No word yet on whether the extra hour will be the rumored RAW pre-show.
Comment Below and tell us if you think 3-hours of RAW every week is overkill or not.
Linda McMahon political opponent Christopher Shays bluntly argued this week that the former professional wrestling executive should not be running for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate position for Connecticut because she is an unsuitable candidate. McMahon, whose background with WWE became an unflattering focus of her last campaign, was once again railed for her past ties to the professional wrestling organization.
In an interview with The New York Times, Shays listed “some of the more distasteful episodes” in the history of WWE, including husband Vince McMahon’s penchant for dropping his trousers and underwear in the middle of the ring and having wrestlers kiss his bare buttocks. It is known as the “Mr. McMahon Kiss My Ass Club.”
“You’re clearly not a social conservative when you do those things, and you’re clearly not a fiscal conservative when you spend $50 million so wastefully,” Shays says.
McMahon created the “Mr. McMahon Kiss My Ass Club” following the collapse of The Alliance in November 2001, which consisted of various WWE personalities being ordered to kiss his posterior under the threat of suspension or termination. Members of this exclusive club include William Regal, Jim Ross, Shawn Michaels, Shane McMahon, Mick Foley and Hornswoggle. Hornswoggle, however, did not actually kiss McMahon’s derriere, instead biting him. The WWE Chairman ruled Hornswoggle as an official club member since his lips came in contact with his backside.
The club even spawned its own online cartoon, “Mr. McMahon’s Kiss My Ass Club – The WWE’s Most Valuable Asset. The cartoon series, produced by Animax Entertainment, debuted on WWE.com in November 2006. The cartoon was later canceled as part of a settlement between WWE and Cartoon Network due to the show’s similarities with Cartoon Network program Assy McGee. If you haven’t seen the short-lived cartoon – here it is:
WWE will have their debut taping for NXT and Florida Championship Wrestling tonight at Full Sail Live in Winter Park, Florida on the campus of Full Sail University.
Here is what has been announced for the show…
– WWE COO Triple H will be in the house
– World Heavyweight champion Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio
– WWE Tag Team champions Kofi Kingston & R Truth vs. Epico & Primo
– Jim Ross and William Regal will also appear
We can confirm that the event is sold out and tickets were hard to come by on campus. Fans who wear WWE clothing and bring signs to the show will have a chance to get their seats upgraded.
Check out these pictures of the facility WWE will be using for NXT & FCW:
Daniel Bryan was interviewed by Brian Fritz of the Between The Ropes podcast and spoke about a number of topics, including the “Yes!” chants changing his life, his match against CM Punk this Sunday at Over The Limit, Brock Lesnar’s return to WWE and much more. Here are some highlights of what he said about:
Whether or not he ever thought a word as simple as ‘yes’ could change his life the way it has:
“(laughs) Yeah, you’d never think it. All the years I spent toiling on the independent scene, really learning my craft, being as good of a wrestler as I could possible be and the thing that makes me the most popular is probably the first word I learned as a kid.”
If he was disappointed for his match at WrestleMania which only lasted 18 seconds or if that is just part of the job:
“You have to look at it as part of your job but you can also be disappointed. I’ve always wanted to go out there and steal the show, every show that I’m on. That’s how I got to where I’m at. I didn’t get here by being a nice guy or going out there and being a character or anything like that. The WWE noticed me because I put on great matches. That was my thing.
“Now, I’ve developed into somebody who has some personality on TV and that sort of thing but that isn’t what brought me to the dance. What I love and what I enjoy doing is going out there and wrestling and going out there and entertaining people with what I do in the ring. So to not be able to do that to the best of abilities what disappointing but everything that has come from it has actually been very good so I guess I can’t complain.”
On if it will be special to face CM Punk on a big stage at the Over the Limit considering where they came from and knowing each other for such a long time:
“It is, especially because nobody expected either of us to get to this point. When we were both on the independent scene and stuff like that, there were knocks against Punk’s looks against my looks and how we don’t look like prototypical WWE superstars. And ever when we both signed here, Punk, he has that character, he has that quality that you think if they would just give him an opportunity he could really connect with the WWE Universe.
“For me, even the people who really liked me, kind of doubted whether I would be able to succeed here in the WWE. And it’s cool that two guys who really paid their dues and worked hard on the independents just to get opportunities like this or having this chance. This isn’t a small opportunity. This is a WWE Championship match at an Over the Limit pay-per-view. It’s unreal. This is more that I even dreamed of.”
Brock Lesnar’s return to WWE:
“I think it’s great. I think he brings a lot of added interest to the company and I’m hoping some of those UFC fans will come and watch some of out pay-per-views, especially that last pay-per-view Extreme Rules was awesome. It was an awesome show. I hope they stick around and watch Over the Limit and they’re going to see another awesome show. This is going to be a great night of wrestling for everybody involved. I think it’s great and I would love to have a match with Brock Lesnar. I know that’s probably not in the cards but I’m petitioning for it right now because I feel like me and him could have a match unlike any other pro wrestling match in North America probably ever.”
On whether he will shy away from the physicality of that match:
“No, not at all. And actually I like that sort of thing. My skills, especially as a grappler, lend itself to that kind of thing. When he’s ground and pounding, like doing the kind of stuff he was doing with (John) Cena, there’s not a lot of guys who have any counters for that. Well, I have a million. There would be a lot of things that would be really fun about a match like that. I think people would be excited to see it too.
Other Interview Topics
-Whether he regrets not going to WWE sooner so he could have a match against one of his mentors Shawn Michaels
-If this is the most fun he has even had in his career
-If there were a lot of people around him that thought going to the WWE would be bad for his career
-What he will do – if he remembers – if he wins the WWE Championship on Sunday
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross is back with another blog update, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights of what JR wrote about:
Paul Heyman’s Return To WWE Television:
“Paul Heyman’s return is one of the more positive things to occur in WWE in a good while. As I have said over the years, Heyman’s TV persona is an easy one to dislike.”
“What makes Heyman so effective is that he doesn’t play the ‘role’ of a villain who has litigious tendencies. Plus, Heyman is a life long fan who now has the chance to essentially reinvent himself with this unexpected return to the genre. It will likely be his last return to the business if I had to make a wager.”
Visiting WWE Developmental This Week:
“I’m very excited about today’s trip and tomorrow’s work in Orlando. I’m like a kid on his first day at a new school. I don’t know what to expect but am excited to be ‘enrolled.’ The future of the WWE lies within the Talent Development program and I am blessed to be able to help in that area in any way that the company sees fit. My role has yet to be outlined but I think I can assist in many areas and I’m excited to devote my time and energies to helping develop the young stars of tomorrow.”
CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan This Sunday At Over The Limit:
“Can’t wait to see CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE Title this Sunday night in Raleigh on PPV. Hope the Raleigh live audience is more emotionally invested that was the Greensboro audience a week or so ago. Punk vs Bryan should be off the page. I love their individual, in ring styles and, Lord knows, both men have paid ample dues.”
“Some day, Punk vs. Bryan has a potential ‘Ironman Match’ written all over it or perhaps even a ‘best of three’ series of bouts.”
As always – make sure to check out JR’s amazing line of BBQ products at the WWEShop website!
The WWE website has a new storyline article up looking at how Chris Jericho has failed to win gold since returning in January and how this effects World Heavyweight Title match at Over the Limit as he goes against champion Sheamus, Randy Orton and Alberto Del Rio.
It’s been widely reported that Chris Jericho will be taking time off from WWE this summer to tour with his metal band Fozzy – and the WWE article is already planting the seeds for Jericho’s departure.
The following is an excerpt from the article, which you can read here in its entirety:
“Further, if Jericho fails to come away with the gold, will Over the Limit be the last time the WWE Universe ever sees the “Ayatollah of Rock n’ Rollla” in the ring? Or can Jericho save his career with a huge win against three formidable opponents?
If this is to be his final stand, the smart money would be to bet on Jericho walking out of PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., with the title in hand. Jericho is a survivor, and like a cornered lion, he’ll be at his most dangerous with his back to the wall. Jericho will do anything — anything — to emerge from Over the Limit with the World Heavyweight Championship secured around his waist.
But even if he does overcome the other three competitors in the Fatal 4-Way, there’s already plenty of speculation that the WWE Universe won’t see much of Jericho in the coming months. His heavy metal band Fozzy is set to release a new studio album this summer, and tour dates have been planned.
That said, will his match at WWE Over the Limit be his lingering legacy? And if Y2J does decide to walk off into the sunset, will he do so with the World Heavyweight Championship around his waist?”
Comment Below and tell us whether you think Chris Jericho is really leaving again soon – or if this is just Jericho messing with Internet fans, as he’s been known to do. What do you think of Chris Jericho’s latest run with WWE?
Here are some highlights of what Michaels said about his decision to end his legendary in-ring career, whether he’d wrestle again and why he’ll always be a part of the WWE family:
Why It Was The Right Time To Retire From WWE:
“I walked away from an extremely well paying job, which is probably not the smartest thing to do, but I did it solely to come home and to help my wife raise our children, to be a part of their lives. WWE would have allowed me to work any kind of way that I wanted. I could have very easily have said, ‘Hey, I’d like to slow down over the next couple of years, do a few things here and there,’ and I think everybody would have been fine with that, but for me, I think that would have probably been harder on me. Personally, I think the job would be harder for me to do, personally, on a semi, here and there, in and out type basis.”
“It’s easier, and I think I’m better at it when I’m doing it or I’m not. So for me I felt it was better to walk away completely.”
Has He Wrestled His Last Match?
“You have to be careful because if you leave it as an open option, you’re going to be getting calls on a regular basis. Every time somebody gets injured or every time somebody comes up with an idea, the phone is going to be ringing, and you’re going to have to deal with ‘should I or shouldn’t I?’ I didn’t want to run into that. I didn’t want to put myself through that, and I didn’t want to put the company through that.”
“I’m certainly not going to wrestle, but if you need me for something, if you’re in a bind, you can give me a buzz, and I’ll be more than happy to be there and help out any way I can.”
The Wrestling Observer reports WWE has signed Ashley Fliehr Johnson to a developmental contract. She is the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair.
Reports surfaced earlier this month that Ashley intended to follow in the footsteps of her legendary father as she was training to become a professional wrestler. She is expected to join WWE’s Tampa, Florida based developmental training facility in the summer.
Ashley is the third Flair child to enter the professional wrestling industry. David notably competed for World Championship Wrestling from 1999 to 2001 while Reid currently wrestles on the independent circuit.
Ashley was a star volleyball player in high school, leading her team to two state titles in North Carolina. She graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Arts and is an ACE® Certified Personal Trainer. She also attended Appalachian State University where she was a Division-1 Full Scholarship Athlete in volleyball.
– Kharma has been ready to return to action for a while but creative has been unable to develop a storyline for her. An angle was nixed for the April 30 Raw SuperShow where Kharma would have brutalized Nikki Bella.
– WWEDVDNews.com reports WWE has plans to release single disc DVD titles on Kofi Kingston, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio and Shawn Michaels later this year as part of their WWE Superstar Collection line. Titles on Daniel Bryan, John Cena, Sheamus and Zack Ryder are also scheduled.
– Booker T has been announced to appear at the Wizard World Chicago Comic Con taking place August 9-12 at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center 5555 North River Rd. Rosemont, Illinois. CM Punk, John Morrison and Maryse Ouellet are also scheduled to appear at the event. Punk, however, will only appear on August 11.
– Buddy Roberts of Fabulous Freebirds fame turns 67 years old Wednesday.
– Rey Mysterio’s merchanise is discounted upto 75% at the WWEShop website. His action figures, tshirts and DVDs are on clearance sale as the former World champion sits out the remainder of his 60-day suspension for his 2nd violation of the wellness policy.
– An official Facebook page has been launched for WrestleMania 29, which takes place on Sunday, April 7, 2013 from the Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
– The Bella Twins will be appearing at the Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con on Sunday, June 3. The event takes place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.
– The RAW brand will be at the Mississippi Coat Coliseum on August 11. John Cena, CM Punk, Chris Jericho, Kane and Lord Tensai are advertised to appear.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has made Forbes Magazine’s list of the 100 most powerful celebrities in the world. Forbes.com has an article up looking at The Rock being one of Hollywood’s most bankable action movie stars (having grossed over $2.3 billion) and his reputation for saving movie franchises (Fast and Furious, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and now GI Joe).
Forbes estimates that The Rock made over $36 million over the last 12 months – and it doesn’t specify if that includes the millions (and millions) he’s made from working with WWE and main eventing their pay-per-view of all time, WrestleMania 28.
The article states that movie producers love The Rock’s willingness to travel in order to promote his movie, which Rock credits to his wrestling background.
“That’s the wonderful part about being in this business. I love knowing the audience and listening to the audience. Oh, and kicking a little ass, too,” Rock said.
Rock also noted he and his manager, ex-wife Dany Garcia, changed their approach to Rock’s wrestling background. “It reached a point where I felt that instead of me trying to conform to Hollywood, I needed to have Hollywood conform to me and embrace my past,” says Johnson.
The article states that The Rock’s former management team forced him to stop talking about wrestling – and his decision to return to WWE included firing those same agents.
– The WWE website has begun hyping the 1,000th episode of Monday Night RAW – which will take place on July 23rd. Leading up to the milestone show, the WWE website will be looking back at RAW’s most memorable moments and interviewing past and present WWE superstars about the big show.
It’s worth noting that based on WWE promoting August 23rd, 2010 episode of RAW as the 900th episode – the July 23rd show will actually be episode #999, not 1,000. It’s unknown how WWE arrived at July 23rd as the 1,000th episode – but keep in mind, this is the same company that hyped WrestleMania 25 as the “25th Anniversary of WrestleMania” (WrestleMania 25 was actually the 24th anniversary).
– Florida Championship Wrestling sent out a press release day announcing that Christian will be appearing at Friday night’s FCW show from Orlando. Christian, who is currently off WWE television, is being advertised for a “once-in-a-lifetime meet and greet autograph/photo session.”
Recent FCW graduates and SmackDown roster members Antonio Cesaro and Damien Sandow will be in action. For more information, visit FCWWrestling.com.
– WWE video game publisher THQ has released its quarterly earnings report for for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 – including sales data for the WWE ’12 video game. From THQ’s press release:
WWE ’12 has shipped more than 2.2 million units since its launch in November 2011. The successful rebranding of this annual franchise has led to higher sell-through to date, which is up approximately 20 percent on like-for-like platforms in North America versus the year-ago title.
The stock market is not reacting well to THQ’s year-end report – down almost 12% today.
As we reported earlier this week, there is currently a lot of scrambling behind the scenes regarding Brock Lesnar’s storyline with Triple H and how the angle will play out.
After original plans called for a Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H grudge match at SummerSlam in August, WWE officials are now talking about holding the match at July’s Money In The Bank pay-per-view or even as early as No Way Out next month.
The main issue that’s causing all the problems is the fact that Brock Lesnar’s WWE contract only requires him to make a limited number of appearances. WWE has already burned through 5 of them (4 RAWs and his match at Extreme Rules) and has a certain number set aside for the build to WrestleMania 29 next year.
It’s believed that WWE only has around 24 dates to use Lesnar this year, so they have been changing their plans a lot trying to figure out how to best use him.
The following matches booked for upcoming live events give an idea of the feuds WWE will be going with after Sunday’s Over The Limit pay-per-view:
* CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan is advertised for the June 4th RAW Supershow from Greenville, South Carolina.
* John Cena is scheduled to face Lord Tensai and John Laurinaitis in handicap matches at RAW live events.
* Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio in Last Man Standing matches are advertised for SmackDown live events.
– The new season of Shawn Michael’s MacMillan River Adventures will premiere on Tuesday, January 26th at 11:30pm EST on The Outdoor Channel.
– Ted DiBiase announced on Twitter that he and his wife welcomed a healthy new baby boy yesterday – Tate McKinley DiBiase. Congratulations to the DiBiase family!
– On the way back from promoting WWE in Japan this past weekend, Alberto Del Rio stopped in China to take part in a press conference announcing that SmackDown will be holding a live event at the Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai on August 11th. WWE will be running Tokyo, Japan on August 9th and 10th. WWE is considering doing regular tours of China.
– With the news of John Cena’s divorce becoming public last week, there are those who believe it’s going to get ugly – and ugly fast. John Cena’s wife signed a very restrictive prenuptial agreement back in 2009 and recently turned down a financial settlement offer. Don’t be shocked to see Cena’s ex to “make some noise” (talking to TMZ, writing a tell-all book) in hopes of getting paid off to go away.
– Despite his “firing” on Monday’s RAW, Big Show is currently advertised for WWE’s upcoming tour of Mexico and all SmackDown tapings and live events in June.
– Mark Henry announced on Twitter this week that he was undergoing Surgery on Tuesday and would retire if he could no longer compete at his best. No word yet on how the procedure went, but it’s worth noting that Henry is not advertised for any WWE live events until RAW on June 25th.
Former WWE & TNA star Matt Hardy telling fans that he is currently in a much better place after a very chaotic time in his life. In a message posted to Facebook on Tuesday night, Hardy claims to have focus and perspective and says he has a better understanding of his life than ever:
“There’s been times in the past that I’ve had focus & perspective, and it’s served me well.. But currently in life, I have focus, perspective, & experience-and I have a better understanding of my life than I ever have. I no longer have any unanswered questions about who I am or what I need to do to be comfortable in my own skin. I am fulfilled, I am whole, and I am at peace with myself and everyone else. As ironic as it seems, traveling through the dark showed me how much I love the light. I still have a few lingering wildfires that I started in the past that I have to address and put out.. And I will. When I say I no longer have boundaries, it’s because the only boundary that was holding me back in life was me. Now I can be what I’ve always been destined to be. God bless us all.”
WWE taped this week’s episode of SmackDown tonight from Hershey, PA. Credit to Prowrestling.net for these results:
– WWE has a little less than a quarter of the arena on the camera side tarped off. There were plenty of “Yes!” chants and “Woooooo’s” before the dark match earlier.
– Booker T came out to a big pop. Michael Cole was out next to insane heat. Lilian Garcia came out to a respectable reaction.
– John Laurinaitis came out to pretty massive heat. He said he disagrees with the decision of the board of directors. He said it will be like leading the lamb to the slaughter on Sunday. He asked the crowd to support him and then asked that they say a prayer for him.
– C.M. Punk’s music played and he received a massive pop. Punk headed to the ring as the fans chanted his name loudly. He said his prayers have been answered because after Over The Limit, Laurinaitis will be terminated. Punk said he would like to be the first to wish Johnny the best in his future endeavors.
Punk said he has no respect for Big Johnny and by this time next week, Punk will be WWE Champion and Big Johnny will be on the unemployment line. Laurinaitis blamed the fans and said they can go to hell. He booked Punk vs. Kane for later in the show.
– R-Truth and Kofi Kingston defeated Titus O’Neil and Darren Young. Truth hit Paydirt on Young for the win. Lots of love for Kingston from the fans.
– Zack Ryder was filming his Youtube show when Damien Sandow walked past him. Sandow is up next.
– Damien Sandow came out and introduced himself as our intellectual savior. He said he would bestow upon us enlightenment that we so desperately craved. He said Yoshi Tatsu was not worthy of facing him. Yoshi called Sandow a chicken, and now it’s on! Sandow hit Tatsu with a chickenwing neckbreaker and left. The match never took place.
– A Big Show vignette was shown with answers teased for tonight.
– Backstage, Sheamus said he looks forward to the four-way match because it gives him a chance to show what kind of champion he is. Orton said that while there are three other guys in the match, he would love to pin Sheamus. They had a staredown.
– Daniel Bryan beat Zack Ryder. Ryder came out to a decent pop, but his reactions have cooled considerably from where they once were. Bryan came out to a big reaction and got a mix of “Yes!” and “No!” chants, but the “Yes!” chants definitely won out. Bryan put him away quickly with the Yes! Lock.
– Kane defeated WWE Champion C.M. Punk by DQ. Daniel Bryan was on commentary for the match. Bryan went to hit Punk with a chair, but turned around and hit Kane with it instead. Bryan then hightailed it up the ramp, and Kane, thinking that Punk had hit him with the chair, lit Punk up with some throat thrusts and a pair of chokeslams. Jeremy notes that perhaps should Kane just pretend that all his opponents hit him with steel chairs since it seemed to bring out the best in him.
– Santino Marella beat Cody Rhodes in a champion vs. champion match. Santino caught Cody coming off the ropes with the Cobra and pin. The crowd was actually split for this match, but popped huge for the finish.
– Randy Orton came out to a very big reaction. Sheamus followed to a mix of cheers and boos and some “Sheamus” chants. Fickle crowd.
– World Hvt. Champion Sheamus defeated Randy Orton. Orton went for the RKO, but Sheamus schoolboyed him for the win. The crowd was about 70/30 in favor of Orton, but popped big for Sheamus’s pin. After the match, they shook hands and then Orton hit the RKO to a big pop. The show should end with Orton standing over Sheamus in the ring.
– Monday’s RAW drew a 2.94 rating and averaged 4,408,000 viewers. The show did hours of 2.91 and 2.97. This was the first time since February 13th that RAW dipped below 3.0 and the second lowest rating of the year (behind the 1/9 show, which was up against the BCS National Title college football game).
– RAW’s Trendrr.tv social media score was also way down this week, down 36% from last week and down 39% compared to this year’s average. RAW ranked #4 on cable on Monday night, behind the NBA Playoffs and “Basketball Wives” on VH1.
– This week’s episode of NXT is being taped tonight prior to the Smackdown tapings from Hershey, PA. WWE will tape next week’s show this Thursday from Full Sail University in Florida.