WWE legend “Stone Cold” Steve Austin appeared on The LAW radio show this past Sunday night to promote his new movie, Recoil. You can listen to the interview at FightNetwork.com. Here are some highlights of what Austin said about:
Talent Having Problems with The Rock returning: My thoughts on that are, you earn what you get in this business. Rock has earned the ability to come and go as he wants, because the business still needs him, it can still use him, and it can elevate the profile with having such a mainstream guy there. I don’t know about the promos between John (Cena) and Rock. I think some of them have gotten kind of personal, you wonder how much of it’s a work and how much of it’s a shoot. At the end of the day, it’s a worked business. Again, I think it’s a good thing for Rock to be involved with this. He’s earned his right to come and go and do whatever he wants.
Current talent being vocal to creative: (CM) Punk was a guy, and is a guy who, man, that guy flew by the seat of his pants. He was pissed off, he vented, he cuts great promos. He worked himself out of a bad situation into a great situation. He knew when it was time to pick his spot, when he contract was gonna be up. That guy’s been around the horn a few times, and he’s been kicked around a little bit. He saw how the other guys were being treated, and he needed, and deserved, and earned the right to be treated in that same fashion. Guys, you gotta pick your spot, but you gotta be vocal. It is a very interesting machine these days. They need voices to question them. They need voices to inspire them, or fuel them, to rethink some of the things that they’re doing and make it a better product.
Returning under the right circumstances: There’s nothing up in the air for me. If there’s something that presents itself as a business opportunity, then I have an open ear to listen to it. It would have to be right for myself, my opponent, and obviously the company. I’m not lobbying for another match. There’s always talk. People ask, “am I capable of having another match?” Yeah. If I was in a bad situation, I would get back in the ring full time if I had to, but I don’t have to. I’m happy doing what I’m doing.
WWE taped this week’s SmackDown show on Tuesday night from Columbus, Ohio. Credit to prowrestling.net for these spoiler results:
The show opened with the Peep Show segment involving Christian and guests John Laurinaitis and Teddy Long. Laurinaitis and David Otunga came out together to great heat. Long got a nice pop.
Christian asked Long and Laurinaitis to convince him which team he should be on. Laurinaitis said he’d give Christian a title shot if Team Laurinaitis wins, so Christian joined his team. Teddy tried to set up Christian in a match, but Johnny stopped it. Instead, they went with Kofi Kingston, now on Team Teddy, facing David Otunga, who wore his sweater vest.
– Kofi Kingston defeated David Otunga. Otunga worked the match in his regular pants, which split halfway through the match. Funny. Kofi won with Trouble in Paradise.
There was a Daniel Bryan and AJ segment. Bryan said the dress AJ was wearing looked better on the mannequin.
– A.J. (w/Daniel Bryan) defeated Brie Bella (w/Nikki). No one seems to know which Bella Twin wrestled the match. Does it matter? Bryan won with a rollup.
Chris Jericho vs. Sheamus was announced as the main event.
– Cody Rhodes defeated The Great Khali. Rhodes cut a promo before the match. He won with the Beautiful Disaster springboard kick.
Randy Orton came out to a big pop and the Orton vs. Kane match was made official for WrestleMania 28.
– Big Show defeated Drew McIntyre. Show won a squash.
– Mark Henry defeated Yoshi Tatsu. It’s turned into squash city.
Chris Jericho cut a great promo before Sheamus was introduced for the main event.
– Chris Jericho defeated Sheamus via countout. Daniel Bryan’s interference led to Sheamus being counted out.
— Multiple sources have confirmed to the Pro Wrestling Torch that there is legitimate tension between Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena, which reflects in their war of words. Furthermore, Vince McMahon is doing nothing to stop it as he and those in upper management love the conflict.
As in the past, McMahon enjoys seeing top stars challenge other. He feels the audience will sense real friction between two wrestlers, thus furthering interest in the match he’s trying to sell. In the case of Johnson and Cena, the top circle likes that fans are sensing their friction and believing that they may legitimately come to blows at WrestleMania XXVIII.
— WREG-TV in Memphis, Tennessee profiled “The Ugandan Giant” Kamala on his career and health issues. After having is leg amputated late last year, the legendary wrestler now uses a wheelchair and is learning to use a prosthetic leg. However, he doesn’t want his fans to feel sorry for him.
“Don’t think of me as oh, please help me. I want them to think of me as uplifting,” he says. “That’s the way I want them to think of me.”
Kamala also discusses his character and pay discrepancies with his WWF opponents. The video piece is available here.
— SmackDown ring announcer Lilian Garcia had a wardrobe malfunction at tonight’s SmackDown taping in Columbus, Ohio as the strap of her shoe broke as she made her ring entrance. Despite the untimely mishap, she continued on to the ring to handle ring announcements for the show.
— A match featuring Justin Gabriel vs. Hunico was taped tonight in Columbus, Ohio for this week’s episode of WWE Superstars.
Matches taped Monday night in Cleveland, Ohio were Kofi Kingston and R-Truth vs. Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks; Beth Phoenix vs. Kelly Kelly.
— Rey Mysterio has been announced to appear at the Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con taking place on June 3 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Other wrestling stars appearing at the event include CM Punk, “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, Gail Kim, Melina, John Morrison and Paul Bearer.
— AfterbuzzTV.com will begin airing a SmackDown recap show this Sunday afternoon with former professional wrestler Ric Drasin and Patricia Summerland of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling as hosts. Maria Menounos, who created AfterbuzzTV.com, has trained at Drasin’s wrestling school in Sherman Oaks, California for her WWE matches.
— The March 12, 2012 episode of Raw SuperShow featuring The Rock concert and The Undertaker confronting Shawn Michaels posted a 3.27 cable rating compared to 3.25 the week before.
Viewership was at its highest since the Raw following the Royal Rumble as the program averaged 4,820,000 viewers over the course of two hours. Viewership increased during the second hour as Raw averaged 4,970,000 viewers compared to 4,670,000 in the first.
— Madusa, who formerly competed as Alundra Blayze for WWE in the mid-1990s, continues to taunt Beth Phoenix over her possession of the Women’s Championship she infamously trashed on a 1995 episode of WCW Monday Nitro.
“Looky what I still have… The belt my dear …Get your eyes back on the belt!!” she wrote on Facebook Monday night with a photo enclosed of the belt around her waist.
Madusa became riled up after The Glamazon stated on Twitter last week, “Combing the world for competition. Who dares enter my ring????” She responded, “Do we really need to go there again?? After WM …. It begins.”
During the latest edition of Legends of Wrestling on WWE Classics On Demand, Jim Ross took the opportunity to sound off on those bearing resentment toward Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returning to WWE.
“Young guys on the roster, or the Internet guys, or anybody else that says, “Well, how does it effect the current roster that The Rock’s going to come back and have key spot and he’s not on the road everyday?” I want to say, you people have got to be kidding me. You got to be kidding me. Do you understand what The Rock has done for this business? His family has done for this business? And he’s coming back as a major movie star, to get back in the ring and be physical. You think The Rock’s going through the motions?” Ross says.
He continues, “He can’t. It’s not in his DNA. The Rock’s DNA is “I’m coming back to put boots in asses. I will not be embarrassed. I will not call it in. I will not phone it in. I will kick some ass.” The Rock has respect for this business, will have an amazing WrestleMania that we will be talking about for years to come because he is a stallion. And he loves this business.”
TheWrestlingPress.com scribe Maurice Kneisel recently essayed Dolph Ziggler’s unique ride to the top ranks of WWE, with Dolph himself discussing key moments such as his 11 minutes 23 seconds as World Champion:
“As much as it was fun to be in that match and become the champion, losing it a few minutes later is nothing against my legacy. I’m looking forward to proving myself and showing that I can be a long-term champion.”
Ziggler also revealed his confusion at receiving boos from the WWE Universe just a short time ago:
“I understand that I’m not well-liked, but I love going out there and proving that I’m better than everyone else every single night.”
The interview is part of the final edition of The Wrestling Press magazine, also included in this issue are articles on John Cena, Nigel McGuinness (Desmond Wolfe), Gorilla Monsoon, WWE in 2011, and more.
– To follow up on the news of Ted DiBiase Jr. undergoing shoulder surgery today, the procedure went smoothly and DiBiase is recovering this afternoon.
– Beth Phoenix says she’s frustrated with WWE failing to push her like the star she is. She tweeted on Tuesday:
“Stewing in my thoughts. Im sick of being pushed aside and forgotten about. I am the Divas Champion and get ZERO respect. I should be featured in magazines, being a guest star. The entire WWE has it all backwards. I AM the face of the Divas. I am tired of having no competition and being pushed aside. Its time to do something about it.”
– The latest Backstage Fallout video is online, featuring backstage interviews from RAW with Brodus Clay, Jinder Mahal, David Otunga and Mark Henry:
– Ted DiBiase is going in for shoulder surgery this morning.
– WWE agent “Road Dogg” BG James wrote on Twitter that he and several WWE divas are flying out to Los Angeles to shoot on the set of Extra with Maria Menounos. As reported earlier, Menounos will be appearing at WrestleMania.
– Tyler Reks wants a spot on Team Long at WrestleMania 28. He tweeted on Tuesday:
“Teddy, me & @TheCurtHawkins want on ur team! We’ve been on RAW for a year and the only match we’ve had is w/ Brodus. Not cool, Johnny. #RAW”
– Zack Ryder’s movement to have comments re-enabled on his Z! True Long Island Story Youtube videos appears to be gaining momentum. Ryder tweeted to WWE that that “#LetsUsCommentOnZTLIS” has been trending.
The following announcement was sent out on Tuesday morning by Vince Russo’s booking agent, Bill Behrens (SHOWBIS@aol.com):
BABY FACES, BLADE JOBS and BOOKING
Everything you wanted to know about writing a professional wrestling show but were afraid to ask.
A SEMINAR HOSTED BY VINCE RUSSO
During the years of 1995-2012, Vince Russo was one of the most controversial figures in the history of sports entertainment/professional wrestling, while serving as the head writer of all three major wrestling companies, WWE, WCW and TNA.
During that tenure, Russo wrote over a thousand televised wrestling shows–which achieved some of the highest ratings of all time– while also having a hand in helping create some of the biggest stars in the history of the business. From Stone Cold Steve Austin to “The Rock”, Russo has written for just about anybody who’s anybody in the world of sports entertainment/pro wrestling.
Whether it was in front of the camera, or behind the scenes, Russo has played an influential part in helping to bring the drama of the squared circle to the forefront of American pop culture.
Now, in this limited engagement and for the first time ever, Russo is going to bring the “behind the curtain” aspect of his job, into the spotlight, by sharing his craft and experience with wrestling fans around the world. In his ground-breaking seminar entitled, “Baby Faces, Blade Jobs, and Booking, “, Russo is going to share first hand, what it takes to be a successful writer in the world of sports entertainment/professional wrestling.
Just some of the topics Russo will be covering in this no-holds-barred presentation:
· Where to get your start in writing for a professional wrestling organization.
· How to use the experience you’ve built to get in the door of one of the major companies
· How to create larger-than-life personas and personalities
· Writing effective dialogue for specific characters
· How to format a wrestling show
· How to generate new ideas 52-weeks out of the year
· How to present and sell your idea to a talent
· How to create a successful working environment between talent and writer
· Dealing with egos
· Overcoming writer’s block
· Avoiding the pitfalls of politics
· How to generate ratings
· The difference between “writing” a show and “booking” a show
Baby Faces, Blade Jobs and Booking; nothing will no longer be sacred!!
– CM Punk has responded to Chris Jericho’s promo from RAW, which has been dubbed, the “CM Drunk” promo. Jericho got very personal with the WWE champion, revealing to the WWE Universe that the reason CM Punk lives a straight edge lifestyle is because his father was a drunk. Punk responded to the events that transpired on RAW with the following tweet on Monday night:
“I don’t want any sympathy. Save it for Chris. Shit just got next level.”
“I will hurt you. Everybody has skeletons in the family closet. Keep my father out of it.”
The WWE website noted on Monday night that they tried getting a word with Punk after RAW, but he had nothing to say.
UPDATE: Chris Jericho tweeted the following on Tuesday morning:
“Hmmmm @cmpunk did I strike a nerve? Told you I was the Best In The World….. #norulesinwar”
– Speaking of CM Punk, he recently spoke to Luis Gomez of ChicagoTribune.com regarding the production of his WWE DVD project. Punk told Gomez that the final day of filming will likely take place at April’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view, which takes place in his home town of Chicago:
“I think (WWE) wanted to do a ‘Road to Wrestlemania’ DVD. I was like ‘Who gives a s*** (about the road to Wrestlemania)?’ The pay per view after Wrestlemania is in Chicago. That was a no brainer to me – coming home. The last day of filming will probably be the pay per view. I’ll get my sisters in there and (Colt) Cabana.”
– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross arrived in Tampa, Florida on Monday to evaluate the WWE developmental talents at FCW. JR will be in attendance for Thursday’s FCW TV tapings.
– Tonight’s SmackDown tapings will take place from the Ntionwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. As announced on RAW, Christian will host the Peep Show with special guests Teddy Long and John Laurinaitis. We’ll have live spoilers on the site later tonight.
– Among the WWE-related topics that trended on Twitter on Monday night:
CM Drunk, John Cena, Vanilla Ice, Teletubby, The Rock Concert, Dolph Ziggler, Brodus Clay, Beth Phoenix, James Roday, Mark Henry, and Vickie Guerrero.
– Hornswoggle tweeted the following message on Monday night regarding The Rock and John Cena. Clearly,
“Glad @TheRock needs to sing karaoke to get his $hit in. @JohnCena will always be a true professional, doesn’t need scripted lines, bullet points, or #stupidsrxualinuendos like @TheRock”
– As seen on RAW, WWE aired a vignette for The Law Offices of David Otunga. Otunga posted on Twitter:
“The Law offices of @DavidOtunga are now open. Have you have been wronged? Tweet me. You can trust me, I went to Harvard. @WWE #RAW”
– WWE confirmed on RAW that WrestleMania 28 will feature a 12-man “Team Laurinaitis vs. Team Long” tag match., with the winning GM getting control of both RAW and SmackDown. On Monday’s RAW, several participants for the match were revealed:
Team Laurinaitis: David Otunga (Captain), Mark Henry
Team Long: Santino Marella (Captain), R-Truth, Kofi Kignston
– It was also announced on RAW that TV personality Maria Menounos is scheduled to be a part of WrestleMania 28 with the Divas. Menounos is scheduled to begin the new season with Dancing with the Stars next Monday night.
Divas Champion Beth Phoenix mentioned on RAW that she might show up to confront Menounos on her TV show Extra.
– WWE planned to announce Mil Mascaras as the latest Hall of Fame inductee on RAW, but the announcement video was not shown due to time constraints. Here’s the video announcing the Mexican legend’s induction:
After several weeks off television, the Funkasaurus Brodus Clay made his return to WWE RAW on Monday night from Cleveland. Clay Jinder Mahal in a matter of seconds, continuing his undefeated streak.
With Brodus Clay’s absence from television, one might think he’d return with some tweaks to his character, but the only thing that changed about Clay was his waistline. Clay appears to have dropped weight and was moving around better than his previous appearances.
In a sign that there could be an angle in the works for the Funkasaurus act, the Bella Twins called out Clay’s dancers after RAW, calling them wannabes. The Bellas tweeted on Monday night:
“Looks like Brodus Clay’s girls are stealing the Bella Pose up on the ring… #bellawannabes”
On Monday’s RAW, Zack Ryder and Eve had a backstage segment where Ryder invited Eve to dinner. Eve apparently stood Ryder up, as Ryder posted several tweets late on Monday night while he was waiting for her to arrive for their date.
“Waiting on @EveMarieTorres to show up for our date. It’s gonna be #SSSIIICCCKKK”
“So I guess @EveMarieTorres isn’t coming. #worstnightever”
Eve later apologized:
“Soooooo sorry… Something came up.Promise I’ll make it up to u? ;-)”
WWE Divas Champion Beth Phoenix chimed in:
“@ZackRyder waited for @EveMarieTorres for hours?? He clearly is hung up on the wrong Diva.”
Phoenix expressed interest in Zack Ryder to Eve on RAW, but Eve told Beth to back off, despite the fact that she clearly “playing” Zack.
After Monday’s RAW from Cleveland, Ohio went off the air, The Rock thanked the live crowd for their support and began reading some of the signs in the audience. Rock found a girl in the crowd with a sign asking The Rock to sing to her because it’s her birthday. Rock called the girl down to the ringside area and sang her happy birthday. After The Rock left, the dark match main event begun.
John Cena defeated Kane in five minutes after dodging a chair shot from Kane and hitting him with the Attitude Adjustment.
After the match, The Rock grabbed the microphone and was booed heavily. Cena said he was happy to finally see the “real Rock” and he thought it was funny when Rock sang about having sex with him mom.
Cena then brought Cleveland-born rapper Machine Gun Kelly into the ring and thanked MGK for allowing him to use his music for WrestleMania.
Cena then announced that MGK will be performing his entrance live at WrestleMania in Miami.
– Friday’s SmackDown will feature Christian hosting the Peep Show with special guests Teddy Long and John Laurinaitis.
– On Monday’s RAW, the Undertaker made an error during his in-ring promo with Shawn Michaels, incorrectly stating that WrestleMania is taking place on April 21st.
– Next week when RAW Supershow takes place from Philadelphia, John Cena will wrestle Mark Henry. Triple H, Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker will have an in-ring confrontation and The Rock will also be there.
On Monday’s RAW, Chris Jericho appeared on the titantron while CM Punk was in the ring and got very personal with the WWE champion – saying that he knows a secret about Punk. Jericho told Punk and the world that the reason Punk is straight edge is because his father was an alcoholic. Jericho told Punk that alcohol is in his DNA, Punk has covered himself with tattoos to mask that pain. He said he’s going to take Punk’s title and drive him to a dark place where he finally gives in and drinks.
Jericho’s reference to CM Punk’s father being the reason for his straight edge lifestyle can be traced back to a promo that Punk cut back in 2003. Check out this video of CM Punk (with Colt Cabana) from ROH WrestleRave ’03. It’s one of his best promos ever and an early look at a young wrestler with greatness ahead.
— WWE developmental wrestler Seth Rollins defeated Michael McGillicutty via Curb Stomp in a dark match at Monday’s Raw SuperShow in Cleveland, Ohio. Rollins, who reigns as Florida Heavyweight Champion, also competed at SmackDown live events over the weekend and is slated to be on hand for Tuesday’s SmackDown taping in Columbus, Ohio.
— The following matches were taped Monday night in Cleveland, Ohio for this week’s episode of WWE Superstars:
* Kofi Kingston and R-Truth vs. Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks
* Beth Phoenix vs. Kelly Kelly
— The WWE SmackDown taping scheduled for May 29, 2012 has been moved to the River Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was originally scheduled to take place at the Cajun Dome in Lafayette, Louisiana.
— One of the most influential masked wrestlers of all time, Mexican lucha libre legend Mil Mascaras is the latest name announced for the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2012.
Mascaras was announced as a Hall of Fame inductee when WWE was in Mexico City, Mexico last October, but not acknowledged on WWE.com until today. His video can be seen here.
— Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson wrote a message on Twitter regarding tonight’s Rock Concert on Raw SuperShow.
“Cleveland. RAW. 100% sold out. Team Bring It – time to have some fun. #RockConcert,” he wrote, along with a photo of a guitar and his “Boots 2 Asses” T-shirt.
— Pro Wrestling Illustrated is now on Twitter at OfficialPWI.
– Former TNA Wrestling talent Chase Stevens is backstage at today’s Raw SuperShow in Cleveland, Ohio as company officials are “taking a look at him.” The three-time NWA World Tag Team Champion has received favorable reviews for his work in Nashville, Tennessee based promotion Showtime All-Star Wrestling.
– CM Punk is featured on the cover of the latest issue of The Wrestler with the headline reading “Think You’re A Fan of CM Punk?” Visit www.pwi-online.com to see the cover.
— Former WWE star Carlito said of Dolph Ziggler and Zack Ryder on Twitter:
“Ziggler has actually gotten pretty damn good! I don’t get the whole Zack Ryder thing but I’m happy for him.”
– Acclaimed Japanese wrestler KENTA, who innovated CM Punk’s finishing maneuver Go 2 Sleep, turns 31 years old on Monday. Punk was asked Sunday on Twitter how he came up with the GTS and replied,
— Yokozuna is expected to be announced for induction into the WWE Hall of Fame tonight on Raw SuperShow. Though Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was originally slated to induct the two-time WWE Champion into the Hall, it was rumored over the weekend that Bret Hart will instead do the honors. The wrestling legends contested in championship matches at WrestleMania IX and WrestleMania X.
Yokozuna, whose real name is Rodney Anoa’i, died from Pulmonary edema on October 23, 2000.
— The Miz will be chatting live on USANetwork.com during the East Coast airing of Psych Wednesday at 10:00 p.m.
— Former WWE Superstar Carlito wrote of his recent encounter with Bret Hart at an independent show, “I think he was surprised I was still alive or just looks at me like I’m a waste of talent. Lol, hes a real good dude though!”