William Regal has been talking about retiring from the ring for almost a year now, and announced on Thursday that he wants one last chance to become the first British World Heavyweight champion before hanging it up for good.

Regal, who has been announcing on NXT as of late, told fans during last November’s WWE UK tour that that tour would likely be his last. On Thursday night – Regal wrote on Twitter that  he wants to compete on this fall’s WWE UK tour – and plans to win the World Heavyweight title in front of his hometown crowd in Liverpool, England:

“Trying to think if Teddy Long owes me a favour.I need to get a World Championship match on Smackdown on Liverpool. Maybe the last chance I have of becoming the first English World Champion in front of WWE’s loyalist fans.

Some people are saying I’m passed it.Maybe so but @WWE,look at it as charity.Give an old rogue a chance.”

Regal’s request got a ton of feedback from his Twitter followers, who support his  plans and want to see him make history before ending his storied career. Regal wrote:

“I normally never retweet about wrestling,WWE or me(I don’t need to because I’m so over anyway)so sorry to everyone who it’s driving mental. I just want @WWE to take notice.Give back to your loyalest fans(and purely selfish reasons as I want to be the first British World champ).”

Whether or not Regal does actually wrestle his last match this year – he’s reportedly under WWE contract through 2014. He is currently doing commentary on NXT and has also done commentary for WWE’s developmental territory, FCW.

WWE SmackDown on Syfy

* Mark Henry comes out to open the show. He reminds the crowd about everyone he has taken out and says Randy Orton is next at WWE Night of Champions. Zack Ryder comes out and says Henry will face Orton tonight. Henry lays out Ryder and ends up having to face Ezekiel Jackson up next.

* Mark Henry defeated Ezekiel Jackson. Jackson showed promise at first, dominating Henry but it didn’t take long for Henry to counter and give him the World’s Strongest Slam and follow it with the pinfall victory.

* Sin Cara defeated Tyson Kidd.

* Josh Matthews interviews Cin Cara and says that he’s not sure that Cara speaks English but we are seeing a more aggressive side of him in recent weeks. Cara says that this is the real him and he was holding back out of respect for the WWE talent but now he’s not holding back anymore. Daniel Bryan comes out and challenges Cara to a rematch next week, only to be attacked by Cara.

* World Champion Randy Orton vs. Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes is tonight’s main event. Sheamus vs. Wade Barrett is also set.

* WWE Divas Champion Kelly Kelly vs. Natalya w/Beth Phoenix. Kelly Kelly is beat up the majority of the match but Kelly Kelly rolled Natalya up out of a Sharpshooter attempt to get the pinfall victory.

* Christian comes out and complains about Teddy Long not being fair by making the tag match on Monday’s Raw Supershow and he wants another shot at Randy Orton and the World Heavyweight Championship. Sheamus interrupts, telling Christian to quit crying and to get out of the ring because he has a match. Christian exits and Wade Barrett comes out to face Sheamus.

* Sheamus defeated Wade Barrett via disqualification when Christian came back out and helped Barrett beat down Sheamus. Prior to Christian returning to ringside, the match was back and forth. Sheamus ended up fighting off both Barrett and Christian and clearing the ring.

* WWE Tag Team Champions Evan Bourne & Kofi Kingston defeated Jinder Mahal & The Great Khali in a similar bout to what they had on RAW. After the match, Mahal complains about Khali losing. Triple H comes out and gives him the pedigree twice and leaves.

* Cody Rhodes came out talking about his face and himself and Ted DiBiase.

* Randy Orton defeated Cody Rhodes. 

— The latest issue of WWE Magazine claims security personnel at television events have been ordered to keep an eye out for an individual who appeared on the last season of Tough Enough as he/she is threatening to intrude WWE programming.

“The Informer” says: “Insiders report that a certain Tough Enough loser feels he/she was wronged by being eliminated from the program. So much so that he/she is threatening a run-in on WWE programming!

“Arena security is on alert all over the U.S.”

— Daniel Bryan beats Heath Slater on this week’s episode of WWE Superstars, which resulted in WWE.com posting a headline reading “Bryan Finally Wins!” The sub-headline reads “Daniel Bryan snapped his losing streak on “WWE Superstars” with a victory over Heath Slater.”

Bryan had only been on a two-match losing streak: he lost to Sin Cara on August 30 and Christian on August 26. Excluding his victory over Drew McIntyre on the August 25 episode of WWE Superstars, Bryan last garnered a victory on WWE programming on the August 5 SmackDown in a win over Tyson Kidd.

— The official WWE website added Aksana to the SmackDown roster today. The former NXT Rookie Diva returned to WWE programming on the August 5 episode of SmackDown.

— Vickie Guerrero announced on Twitter that her official website, www.MyVickieGuerrero.com, will be launched tomorrow.

The Miz with Manny Pacquaio and Juan Pablo Marquez

The Miz made a special appearance at this week’s Los Angeles press conference for the upcoming Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez boxing fight on November 12th.

The Miz takes the stage and does one hell of a job selling this event to the media and the public. Miz also has a special gift for both fighters to show that he’s totally impartial and not taking sides.

Check out the video right here, courtesy of Top Rank Boxing:

North Carolina’s FayObserver.com has picked up the story of Jeff Hardy pleading guilty to three drug felonies earlier today and has provided new details regarding Hardy’s 2009 arrest.

Assistant District Attorney Warren McSweeney said police raided Jeff Hardy’s home on 9/11/09 after employees at a Fayetteville FedEx distribution center called police about a suspicious package. The package was addressed to Hardy from a fan in Florida. It contained a Maxwell House coffee can filled with 262 prescription hydrocodone pain killers.

Police resealed the package and had the pills delivered to Hardy’s home. When Hardy accepted the package, Moore County sheriff’s deputies raided the house and found other drugs as well.

Hardy’s lawyer, James Van Camp said today that Hardy got involved with the pills “to cope with the pain and damage to his body that he endured as a professional wrestler.”

As previously reported, Hardy is currently participating in a drug abuse treatment program.

• VIDEO: JEFF HARDY Talks Trash About CM PUNK

The following press release was sent out Thursday:

Trish Stratus Launches Her Lifestyle Brand-and Takes Yoga Into the Stratusphere Stratus Teams Up With HoMedics Canada to Release a Line of Products That Hits Retailers This Fall

TORONTO, ONTARIO, Sep 08, 2011 — Officially confirmed today, fitness icon, entrepreneur and seven-time WWE Women’s Champion, Trish Stratus, has teamed up with HoMedics Canada to produce her own line of unique yoga and fitness gear, Stratusphere Living, following the success of her Stratusphere Yoga Studio.

The Stratusphere Living line will hit select Canadian retailers in September, and will also be available online via trishstratus.com.

The new line of yoga and fitness products include the weighted Fitgloves – a first for yogis – an eco-friendly TPE yoga mat, ultra-absorbing yoga towel, a yoga block, and an all-inclusive yoga kit incorporating a yoga mat, Trish’s Stratusphere Yoga DVD and her nuTrishion journal.

HoMedics Canada CEO Shaun Kobrin, says the partnership brings together HoMedics’ expertise in product development and distribution of health, wellness and lifestyle products across North America, and Trish’s reputation as one of Canada’s leading fitness experts and yoga ambassadors, making it the perfect match.

“I am extremely happy with this new partnership. Trish Stratus and the Stratusphere brand project the key values everyone should live by, and which HoMedics Canada strongly supports – balanced living and a healthy lifestyle,” Kobrin said.

The Stratusphere Living line has been crafted personally by Stratus herself, and she provides her personal touch to every product. “I wanted to give people the tools to help get them on the right track to healthy living. Every item in my line addresses the steps you need to make a lifestyle shift. Stratusphere Living is a lifestyle,” Stratus says.

After a decade long career in the industry, fitness fans are sure to be ‘stratusfied’ with the release of Trish’s first-ever workout DVD. Using yoga to rehabilitate a back injury, and drawing on her diverse fitness background, Trish was inspired to create a total mindbody workout that combines the benefits of strength training and yoga.

The Stratusphere Living brand will also be making its debut on a local and global scale via the popular IT Lounge gifting suite, to be held during the Toronto International Film Festival this year. Held from September 8 to 14, the celebrity gifting suite will be located at the NKPR Adelaide Street, Toronto location. Stratusphere Living’s presence in the Lounge will help raise funds and awareness for local and global charities, Artists for Peace and Justice and Camp Oochigeas.

Stratusphere Living will be available at London Drugs and Sportchek this September, followed by Sears, GNC, and Home Outfitters in early October.

• New Pictures of Trish Stratus Doing Yoga

Episode 30 of Zack Ryder’s Z! True Long Island Story video series is now online, featuring exclusive footage shot at Monday’s WWE RAW SuperShow.

– Stefan Gorges, who keeps a running list of WWE Superstar win-loss records, has provided some interesting statistics regarding John Cena and Jinder Mahal:

• Many WWE fans think of John Cena as “Super Cena” who never loses any matches – but Cena is on his way to his longest PPV losing streak in yers. After losing to CM Punk at Money in the Bank and SummerSlam – if Cena loses to Del Rio at Night of Champions – it will be his longest PPV losing streak since 2008. In the Summer of 2008, Cena lost to Triple H, JBL and Batista at 3 consecutive PPVs.
• Here’s another interesting stat .. Jinder Mahal and the Great Khali’s loss to Air Boom on RAW was Mahal’s first loss on WWE television. Prior to that match, Mahal had won his first 26 television matches.

– The WWE website had 12 million visitors in the July – its second lowest month in the past year (after June).

– If you ever wondered how much merchandise WWE sells online – the WWEShop website processed 452 orders per day in June

(Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

CM Punk attended an H20 rock concert in Las Vegas on Tuesday night and wound up on stage.

Check out this video Punk on stage performing “Guilty by Association” with H20:

– Regarding the mystery RAW General Manager, creative has not been told anything about the character except not to do anything with it each week. Some believe the angle is done with but it hasn’t been confirmed within the company. There have been recent RAW shows where the General Manager’s podium is set up and never used, and some weeks it’s not set up at all.

– Ricardo Rodriguez has been on the road with WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio lately as his ring announcer and to do interference during his matches. Up until Del Rio won the title, Rodriguez would not be booked for live events and has been working FCW shows.

– David Arquette’s official bio for the upcoming season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars mentions his WCW World Title reign:

“The eccentric actor hopes to place the Mirrolball on his trophy case next to the WCW world heavyweight championship title belt he inexplicably won in 2000.”

(Source: F4WOnline.com)

– The ratings are in for Monday’s Labor Day episode of WWE RAW, and it doesn’t appear that WWE’s SuperShow experiment is off to a great start.

Monday’s RAW Supershow drew a 3.0 cable rating with 4.2 million viewers. The hourly ratings were 3.06 and 2.94 – not a trend WWE or USA likes to see.

– Next week, RAW faces stiff competition from an NFL double header, as Monday Night Football will feature two football games.

– The September 3rd episode of WWE’s AM RAW scored a 0.35 cable rating with 376,000 viewers.

(Source: PWInsider.com)

Triple H appeared on Busted Open, which airs every Monday and Wednesday on Sirius 92 and XM 207 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Highlights from the interview are as follows:

CM Punk’s controversial promo on June 27: “Punk said something about doofus, but he called John Laurinitis douchebag, which is way worse, right? The joke in the back was “at least I’m just a doofus, you’re a douchebag.” If you look at it from that standpoint, he called me a doofus, Stephanie an idiot and Johnny a douchebag, and everyone said “Oh my God!” He tore the roof off the place! He ripped the veil off! And it was like the most crazy promo of all time!” 5 years ago, no one would have blinked. That would have been a tame segment. Everyone would have looked at that promo and said “So what?” he didn’t say anything. In order for that to get the reaction that it did, we had to go where it had to go.

“I think sometimes, people think we bumble through this. Especially, and I don’t mean this disparagingly, the internet fan I think sometimes thinks that we throw darts at the wall and fumble around to see what we can come up with next. I mean there is actually a plan to a lot of this stuff, but things change. It’s live television, and people react certain ways and things don’t happen the way you expect them too, and you have to make changes. But there is a plan to a lot of this.”

Midcard talent possibly being affected by WWE’s rebranding: “Well I don’t think the end of the brands is here at all. I think it’s for a period of time, it’s trying to give the best shows that we can. If I was a mid-card guy or lower end, certainly I would look at that and go “Oh man, the spot that could have been mine is now Randy Orton’s”. To me, I’m a big believer, You know everyone thinks we make the stars. The guys make themselves. We follow what the fans want. Make yourself relevant. Go out and make yourself relevant. If you have been doing the same thing for years, and you have been getting the same reaction, and you’re in the same spot, change. We tell the guys that all the time and yet they don’t do it. We try to help them.

“There is just a different mentality, guys have to be willing and I think a lot of them think that they do, but they have to be willing to go out there and take it. They got to be willing to step on toes. They got to be willing to jump ahead. It’s a business. Be willing to step up and not take no for an answer. I have been a big believer that if you’re good enough, the cream rises to the top and you will get the spot.”

The PG product: “We had pushed the envelope so far and you get to a point that after a while, its like, Vince will always use this expression, even though it was completely irrelevant from a timeframe standpoint, but we had “Chainsaw Charlie”. Where do you go after a guy with a chainsaw? But there is a certain point and time where you heard all this stuff on TV you have to pull it back to a point where it almost becomes sterile to get back to a point where you can begin to touch the envelope again where people go “OOH! Like we made it so sterile, like when CM Punk said Ass for the first time, people were like “Oh My God, he said ass!” Where ass was said every 4 seconds for a while. We have to pull it back. Will we ever get where we were before? No, because the world has changed.

“I just don’t think you can kind of do that programming now, with the way that the world is. We will never get back all the way there. But I think there is definitely a huge gap between where we were and where we went to. But I think for the right reasons. You have to get to a point where you almost sterilize it to make it seem edgy again. If you just back it off a little bit, it kind of seems a little watered down. So we just took it to where it needed to go to get it back to where it needed to be.”

Kevin Nash wrote the following on Twitter today regarding WWE’s announcement that he’s been released and “future endeavored”:

“To set the record straight, I passed physical w/ flying colors. Cardiologist was amazed at my lipid profile. Couldn’t reach financial terms.

I will not be addressing this matter again. I am moving forward with my life. Cena, it was great having the chance to get to know you.”

Based on what we’re hearing – this is a storyline “release” and Nash was never under a talent contract to begin with. Nash signed a Legends deal back in January following his surprise return at the Royal Rumble and has been working under that deal ever since.

— WWE has pulled the Zack Ryder Broski Authentic T-shirt from their merchandise website. The purchase page for the T-Shirt reads “ITEM NOT AVAILABLE.”

The youth version of the shirt was also pulled.

The shirt was decided on by fans in a poll last June. The poll is still available on WWE’s Facebook page for Ryder and the image for the Broski shirt was deleted.

— The Informer teases in the October 2011 issue of WWE Magazine that a “certain Superstar is planning on making the leap to the music world by releasing an album sometime in 2012.”

— WWE Hall of Famers The Iron Sheik and Koko B Ware appear at Della Rose’s Restaurant 8153 Honeygo Blvd. Baltimore, Maryland this Friday from 8:00 p.m. They will also appear at George’s Cards and Collectibles 7755 New Falls Rd Levittown, Pennsylvania the following day from noon to 1:30 p.m.

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights of what JR wrote about:

Brock Lesnar’s Next UFC Fight: “Brock Lesnar returns to fight on December 30 in Las Vegas and I hope that it’s not too early for Lesnar. Feels early to me considering Brock has been recovering from major surgery. I hope that I’m wrong on this one but Lesnar’s situation feels vulnerable. Nonetheless I’ll be pulling for the former WWE Champion be to Alistar Overeem and I’m considering attending the event based on Monday Night Raw and the OU Bowl schedule.”

Future WrestleMania Locations: “Wrestlemania site selection seems to be trending to dome stadiums or, like 2012, to warm weather, outdoor stadiums IE Miami. When fans who have big stadiums in their area ask about ‘Mania sites, think about the time of the year and the weather. Cold weather sites aren’t good for night time, outdoor wrestling events last I checked.”

His Performance On RAW: “Enjoyed the way that WWE provided several talents TV time Monday night in Columbus, Ohio on Raw. Nice stragegy. As June Cleaver once told husband Ward when referring to their youngest son, “Gee, Ward you were a little rough on the Beaver last night,” as I’ve been hammered by various entities for my perceived, poor performance at the announce desk Raw Monday night. Nothing I can do about my failings but to do better next time out. As my late Dad used to say, “No hill for a stepper.””

In the same manner WWE would announce a standard talent release, the organization announced Wednesday the release of Kevin Nash as of Monday, Sept. 5.

Their statement reads: “WWE has come to terms on the release of WWE Superstar Kevin Nash as of Monday, Sept. 5, 2011. We wish Kevin the best in all future endeavors.”

There is no mention of WWE Chief Operating Officer Triple H “firing” Nash on Monday’s Raw Supershow.

Yoshi Tatsu returned to the ring on Tuesday’s NXT broadcast with a whole new look.

Tatsu came out with new ring gear and a mask. Before his match with Tyson Kidd, he removed the mask to reveal facepaint.

Check out these pictures of Yoshi Tatsu’s new look:

Inside Out

The first review is in for the new WWE Studios project Inside Out starring Triple H – and it’s bowling-shoe ugly. The Orlando Sentinel’s review takes aim at both WWE Studios (for trying to manufacture the next Dwyane Johnson-level breakout star) and Triple H (who they say will never be more than a tough-guy supporting character).

At one point in the movie, Triple H’s character is asked about his time in prison, to which he responds, “You just sit there — and it passes” – and the Sentinel’s Roger Moore says Inside Out is very similar to that experience.

Here are some “highlights” from The Orlando Sentinel’s review:

“World Wrestling Entertainment’s brief flirtation with family friendly films has ended. But the residue of this effort sticks to “Inside Out,” a half-hearted return to the violent men of the ring doing violent things on the screen model that predated the PG years.

And they refuse to abandon their efforts to turn one of their stars into the next Rock or Hulk Hogan, a crossover phenomenon about to carry movies and TV shows, and not just other wrestlers and folding chairs.

Paul “Triple H” Levesque has the look, the demeanor and the skills to be a useful heavy in other people’s action films. He’s so muscle-bound, his arms can’t quite drop to his side. His face is more scary than handsome. Yet “Inside Out” is yet another attempt to make him a leading man.”

And the single resonant line about prison comes too late to give the movie the tone they might have been going for. Asked, fearfully, about jail time, A.J. (Triple H’s character) intones, “You just sit there — and it passes.”

That’s a pretty fair description of “Inside Out,” too. (Bruce) Dern could have played this mobster whose cover job is running an animal hospital a seriously strange or seriously silly spin. But he has nothing to play. Parker Posey does her best to hide that this is just a WWE paycheck part.”

And Levesque does nothing to suggest that if the WWE weren’t backing him that he’d ever be anything on screen other than the guy who beats the heck out Jason Statham or whoever in someone else’s action picture.”

Ouch. To read the full review, head over to the Orlando Sentinel website.

Rolling Stone magazine website picked up on singer Phil Collins being backstage at the SmackDown live event in Geneva, Switzerland last week. They also posted this photo of Collins with World Heavyweight Champions Randy Orton:

Music legend Phil Collins with Randy Orton

Kevin Nash, Jimmy Hart and former WWE star Kurrgan are appearing in a new horror movie called “Monster Brawl!” Here is the official synopsis and movie trailer:

“Set in the tradition of a Pay-Per-View main event, comes a grotesque and hilarious fight to the death featuring a cast of eight classic combatants in all. Along with their colorful managers, these Monsters compete in visceral bloody combat in the ring to determine the most powerful monster of all time.”

For more on Monster Brawl, hit up IMDB.com.

A pre-sale event for the Survivor Series takes place tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. ET. The password for the pre-sale is “CENAROCK” at TheGarden.com.

Advertising for the show reads: “The People’s Champion-The Rock returns to action for the first time in 8 years to join John Cena and all your favorite WWE Superstars at “Survivor Series.”

Despite the vague wording in the advertisement, The Rock is not scheduled to wrestle on the show.

WWE COO Triple H will be working with the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s new “Make a Muscle, Make a Difference” campaign .. Here’s the press release:

‘Make a Muscle, Make a Difference’ Campaign on Display in Rockefeller Center Plaza
EHE International donates the window to MDA for the month of September

NEW YORK, Sep 06, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The Muscular Dystrophy Association’s “Make a Muscle, Make a Difference” campaign will be featured in a 115-square-foot display window in September in Rockefeller Plaza to promote awareness in the fight against neuromuscular diseases.

“Our thanks to EHE International for recognizing the importance of MDA’s mission by displaying our message to the many New York City visitors and residents,” MDA Manhattan Director of Business Development Kaylan Scagliola said. “Having a presence in such a prominent area is especially meaningful in spreading the Association’s message of help and hope.”

The window at 10 Rockefeller Plaza, donated by EHE International, will exhibit the Association’s public service advertisements that showcase life-size standing displays of MDA Muscle Team members, including Natalie Morales of NBC’s “Today” show, “Glee” star Max Adler, former NFL Super Bowl-winning quarterback Kurt Warner, WWE Superstar Triple H and several MDA Goodwill Ambassadors.

“EHE International is excited to have MDA in the window this September,” said Deborah McKeever, president of EHE International. “Together we can educate and increase public awareness of neuromuscular diseases and inform the public of its signs and symptoms.”

The 46th annual MDA Telethon was televised live on WWOR-TV My9 from Metropolis Studio in New York, on Sunday, Sept. 4.

The Rock recently announced that he’ll be appearing at several upcoming WWE pay-per-views, including November’s Survivor Series show from New York City.

• Video: The Rock Says He’ll Be At Survivor Series

Advertisements in the New York City area for tickets to the Survivor Series at Madison Square Garden feature The Rock and say he is “returning to action” for the first time in 8 years alongside John Cena.

The Rock last competed in March 2004 at Wrestlemania XX, where he and Mick Foley lost a Handicap Match to Randy Orton, Batista and Ric Flair.

At this time, its unknown whether The Rock will actually be wrestling, or if “returning to action” is a vague phrase being used to simply mean The Rock will be there in person.

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has answered several fan questions on his Twitter account, @JRsBBQ. Here are some highlights of what JR wrote on Tuesday morning about:

SmackDown Moving To Tuesdays:

“Will WWE move Smackdown to tuesdays live on Sy Fy? Heard nothing official but personally I like the idea. Live TV hard to beat. So, TBD.”

WWE’s New Cable Channel:

“WWE Network moving forward briskly. Not sure of details but tv biz buzzing & interested. ‘Assume’ nothing other than it’s gonna be a hit.”

What He Thinks Of TNA Wrestling:

“Have many friends there & wish them no Ill will & only success.”

Rumored WrestleMania 28 Matches:

“Amazing how many folks think I actually known the WM28 card here in September. I’d guess NO ONE KNOWS the card. NO ONE.”

Sting vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania?

“For the love of all that’s Holy, there will be NO Undertaker vs Sting match @ WM28. Come on, man…or woman! Let it go.”

What He Thinks About Zack Ryder’s Potential:

“Working diligently to become a player & I hope that he makes it.”

You can follow Jim Ross on Twitter @JRsBBQ.com.

Monday’s RAW SuperShow saw Zack Ryder team with Jerry “The King” Lawler in a tag match agains former tag team champions Dtavid Otunga & Michael Mcgillicutty. Ryder got plenty of ring time and scored the win for his team, which got a tremendous pop from the live crowd.

Ryder was featured on camera several times on RAW (including with John Cena), got a new video package and was filming footage for this week’s edition of his Z! True Long Island Story video series.

Zack Ryder wrote the following to his Twitter followers last night –

“29 weeks of hard work has finally been recognized…now it’s time for me to make it pay off. THANKS BROSKIS! WWWYKI #RyderRevolution”

Dolph Ziggler congratulated Ryder for his tag team win with Jerry Lawler last night and called it a “re-debut” for the self-proclaimed WWE Internet Champion.

DISCUSSION: What do you think about Zack Ryder’s push? Does he deserve the television time – and will the fans continue to get behind Mr. Long Island Iced Z?