— Jim Ross announced on his official website that Sgt. Slaughter has been released from the hospital after becoming ‘light headed’ last week.
Slaughter, who is 62 years of age, participated in Wednesday’s filming of Legends of Wrestling. The WWE Hall of Famer Sgt. Slaughter was hospitalized Wednesday night after not feeling well.
“The cause of Sarge’s discomfort was low blood level which was addressed and he should be good to go as I write this,” Ross wrote Friday. “Sarge was in great spirits Wednesday night after receiving medical care but was kept overnight for observation which is the norm for a matter such as this. Bottom line is that the WWE Hall of Famer will be fine after a few scary moments.”
Ross added on Twitter that Slaughter had a minor intestinal problem and will be fine.
— As seen on Friday’s episode of SmackDown, Cody Rhodes prefaced his match with Matt Hardy by verbally trashing the physical make-up of his impending opponent. During the bout, color commentator Matt Striker defended Hardy by saying can’t work out at the gym due to several injuries. Meanwhile, Hardy said on Twitter that the past several months have been frustrating for him, but now feels he has his “new” body figured out as it relates to dieting.
“After 8 months of having irregular digestion because of my intestinal issues, it’s been a uphill battle to find out what works for my body. It’s been frustrating cuz I train hard & haven’t gotten the same results I used to. But I think I’ve finally got my “new” body figured out,” Hardy wrote.
“Without going into long, boring details.. I think I know what “healthy” foods I can’t eat cuz my body & intestines can’t break them down. It’s been a tough, annoying, aggravating gig-esp when ur on TV every week & have my work ethic-but it’s finally working. Luv my true peeps!”
— While there is no official update on Aloisia’s status with World Wrestling Entertainment, it is believed that she has not been released by the company. Many presume WWE officials realized she was far too green to appear on national television and thus demoted to Florida Championship Wrestling for additional training.
When asked to comment on her dismissal from NXT, the 6’9″ grappler tweeted, “Just know there is absolutely NO replacing ME. We ALL know there is just 1 of me in the ENTIRE world & I’ll be back.”
— WWE Monday Night Raw on November 15, 2010 will be a three-hour show, airing from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. on USA. The event will be held at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. (Thanks to Devin Cutting)
— The official WWE website removed Victoria’s profile from the Alumni section Friday, just one day after the multi-time Women’s Champion returned to TNA Wrestling programming. She was added back to the section in June, shortly after it was believed that she had parted ways with the organization.
Posted September 4th, 2010 in News, WWE. Tagged: Tara.
Funeral services for Luna Vachon will take place at Andre the Giant’s North Carolina ranch, according to TMZ.com. Andre’s ashes were scattered there 17 years ago and Luna’s Luna’s ashes will be scattered at the same place.
Andre was Luna’s godfather and the two were extremely close.
No word on when the scattering is taking place — but Luna’s funeral services have been taking place over the past few days.
– Matt Hardy is apparently frustrated as he posted the following gripe on his Twitter account Thursday:
“As u know, I’m extremely passionate about my job-I give everything I have every time I’m in the ring. Its frustrating when its not enough. Gotta state this. I’m sick & tired of being ‘hurt’, being misused, & not being shown the respect that I’ve earned-something has to change.”
He then added:
“As far as ‘kayfabing’ people, I’ve never done anything intentionally 2 insult my fans-I just try to make things unpredictable & real for u. IMO, that’s how pro wrestling should be.. Unpredictable & full of suspense-I try & keep that in mind. Cuz as a fan, that’s what I want. For the record, I’m not ‘quitting’, I don’t have my head down & I’m as optimistic as ever-but sometimes, u gotta just say what’s on ur mind.”
– Apparently, there are reports circulating online indicating that World Wrestling Entertainment has re-signed former performer Nick “Eugene” Dinsmore. Those within the company have stated that the reports are untrue, reports f4wonline.com.
– WWE will be holding a Raw & Smackdown Supershow at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, Washington on October 16, 2010. Bell time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale September 11, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. This event was originally going to be in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Thanks to Devin Cutting)
It would appear that Aloisia has been pulled from appearing on the third season of NXT as the official WWE website issued a statement this afternoon indicating that the 6-foot-9 Rookie Diva was fired by her Pro, Vickie Guerrero.
Guerrero’s new Rookie Diva will be announced on the NXT season three premiere this Tuesday night on Syfy.
Earlier today, WWE.com removed all mentions of Aloisa promoting the new season of NXT, prompting speculation that she had been removed from the program.
WWE Pro Vickie Guerrero has fired her NXT season three Rookie Diva, Aloisia.
Various sources are reporting that Guerrero, the temperamental Official Consultant of SmackDown, had an argument with her 6-foot-9 Rookie Diva over Vickie’s influence over Aloisia.
The news has left WWE NXT season three shaken before it’s even started. But when reached for comment, Guerrero stated she would reveal her new Rookie Diva on the WWE NXT season three premiere this Tuesday night at 10 p.m. ET on Syfy.
– The projected buyrate is in for July’s Money In The Bank pay-per-view and the disturbing downward trend continues. The company’s corporate website projects the show did 189,000 buys – down almost 30% from from last July’s Night of Champions show, which did 267,000.
Related News: WrestleMania, Royal Rumble & Elimination Chamber PPV Buyrates
– Chris Jericho spoke to the UK’s Daily Star about his band Fozzy’s upcoming UK tour. During the interview, he says his spot in WWE is safe no matter what and he’ll always be valued as a top worker for the company. “I’m not one of those people who worries about my position,” Jericho said. “I’m never going to lose my spot. I could work the opening match every night and still be a star.”
Jericho also commented on the young talent getting pushed in WWE. “It’s just the way it is – most of the guys in WWE are young guys and green,” he said. “It’s not like it used to be. I spent nine years going all round the place perfecting my craft – now it’s nine months. The brilliant thing about the Nexus angle is that we’re taking seven guys who have not done a thing and thrown them into the hottest angle they may ever be involved in. You’ve got to take what you have and work with it.”
— Teddy Hart, the youngest wrestler to be signed to a WWE contract, recently entered a Texas area rehabilitation center on behalf of his former employer. He is staying at the same facility as former WWE performer Scott Hall.
Hart is claiming that he entered rehab at the urging of his uncle, WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart, who said that if he successfully completes the center’s program, would persuade WWE to give him another shot.
During his last run with AAA, Hart managed to unite the entire locker room against him due to his reputation of changing match finishes and spots to put himself over. His mentality is to perform as many flashy maneuvers in his matches as possible, whether they make sense or not.
— The Friday Night SmackDown television taping on December 28, 2010 will be held at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, New York. Tickets go on sale October 2, 2010. (Thanks to Devin Cutting)
— WWE Women’s Champion Layla is apparently through with Twitter for the time being as she wrote over the weekend that she ‘needs a break from some of the bs’ on the social networking site. She tweeted:
“I think I’m officially off Twitter I need a break from some of the bs on here Tired of some I****S!! Having easy access 2 Me Much luv Lay.”
The tweet came just hours after her response to recent jabs from TNA Wrestling performers “The Beautiful People” made its way onto a number of wrestling websites. There is an unconfirmed rumor going around saying that WWE brass caught wind of the “war of words” and became upset with Layla for taking part.
Actor Justin Long, who hosted WWE RAW on August 16th with “Going The Distance” co-stars Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day, tells MetroNews.ca that the experience was a disaster.
“In no way am I being self-deprecating when I say that was a disaster,” Long said. “It was just not the audience to be promoting a movie like that to. We were so out of place. It was just awkward. They’re all fired up to see guys pummeling each other, not to see three nerdy comedy guys do some bits. They played the trailer for this crowd and it just silenced them — and not in a good way.”
Long continued, saying the crowd in Los Angeles looked like they were ready to attack him and his fellow co-hosts.
“We were in Los Angeles at the Staples Center, and the only time we really had the audience on our side was when we were praising the Lakers. And before that I think the majority of them were contemplating throwing things at us. There were a few homophobic remarks. I don’t want to generalize it, I know some wrestling fans. But it’s just not the audience.”
Regarding NXT Rookie Diva AJ Lee, WWE’s creative department discussed changing the 23-year-old’s ring name due to a rival promotion’s wrestler sharing the same first name, but ultimately felt it was no concern.
WWE officials originally intended to promote Lee over the summer to the SmackDown brand as a new babyface Diva, replacing released performer Mickie James as ‘the cute small girl’. A vignette featuring Lee aired before the live crowd at the July 6th Friday Night SmackDown television taping om Atlanta, Georgia but cut from the television broadcast because they were introducing Alberto Del Rio via vignettes and felt that other talent shouldn’t be introduced simultaneously.
Lee, who’s real name is believed to be April Jeanette, started wrestling independently in the Northeast in 2007, two years after graduating from high school. While plying her trade on the indy circuit, Lee attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in New York City, majoring in Film and Television production. With just over 20 matches under her belt, she attended WWE’s May 2009 talent evaluation clinic and nabbed a developmental deal — the first female with prior wrestling experience to be signed to a contract in over two years.
Lee debuted in Florida Championship Wrestling in August 2009 and has been among the most prominently featured performers in the developmental promotion since then. She currently reigns as the Queen of FCW.
Of the six NXT season three contestants, Lee is the only contestant with prior WWE wrestling experience, having just competed last week at a SmackDown live event in Odessa, Texas. She is regarded as ‘far and away’ the best in-ring performer of the cast and thus considered the favorite entering the competition.
source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Posted September 2nd, 2010 in News, WWE. Tagged: AJ Lee.
The decision to make the third season of NXT an all-women’s show was likely made very recently because last week, WWE filmed twelve wrestlers at Florida Championship Wrestling, eight men and four women. Initial plans called for four men and four women to be featured in the abbreviated season, but it was later changed to six women.
There is hope that the show will garner better ratings with women prominently featured so they can reach a television deal with another network. There is also hope that Aloisia’s “freak of nature” persona will increase ratings so Syfy will change its mind and renew the program.
Another aspect revolves around unhappiness with many of its current female performers, resulting in the company looking for replacement Divas. Talent relations were unhappy with the behavior of several of the women in recent weeks, particularly when much of the roster was situated in Los Angeles for SummerSlam. It is said that Tiffany and the recently released Serena were not the only ones who made embarrassing scenes in public. Officials are very strict regarding the public image of its talent because of promises to corporate sponsors that World Wrestling Entertainment is a wholesome company.
As things stand now, the lame duck show will end its current season on October 1, with a live episode in Oklahoma City as part of a three-hour programming block that will include the network’s debut of Friday Night SmackDown.
Mere hours after Luna Vachon’s death last Friday, World Wrestling Entertainment issued a statement addressing the many former wrestlers who have passed away as a result of substance abused related issues.
The statement reads:
“Not withstanding our extensive Talent Wellness Program for current Superstars, WWE goes to great lengths to help our former talent who may have substance abuse problems, offering complete drug rehabilitation at no cost to them. Ultimately, however, stars in any form of entertainment should be held personally responsible for their own actions. Prescription drug overdose is a problem not only with former WWE talent, but society as a whole according to the Center for Disease Control, as it is the second leading cause of unintentional death (particularly among younger people) in the U.S.”
WWE superstar MVP has posted a preview clip of his new theme music on Twitter ..
Update: MVP released a preview of his new song “Holla 2 the World” on Twitter recently. MVP said the song will appear on a mix tape he’s releasing soon. Here’s a preview:
Posted September 1st, 2010 in News, WWE. Tagged: MVP.
— Among those considered for the third season of NXT before WWE officials decided to make it a Diva-exclusive program were reigning FCW Champion Mason Ryan (a former UK Gladiator and bodybuilder who resembles Batista), Xavier Woods (a/k/a Consequences Creed), as well as second generation performers Bo Rotundo (younger brother of Husky Harris), Wes Brisco (son of Gerald Brisco) and Richie Steamboat (son of Ricky Steamboat). (source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
— All September, WWE Classics On Demand will be “Superstar Chic”, featuring ‘Superstars with unforgettable trendsetting looks’. Matches pitting wrestlers with mullets are featured in the “Shorties” section. Bouts featured include Eddie Guerrero vs. Johnny B. Badd, Rick Rude, Brutus Beefcake, Shawn Michaels vs. Crush, Scott Hall vs. Curt Hennig and Jake Roberts vs. Randy Savage, among others.
— Thanks to Devin Cutting for the following: WWE Monday Night Raw on December 20, 2010 will be held at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. Tickets go on sale September 25, 2010. WWE Monday Night Raw on December 27, 2010 will be held at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York. Tickets go on sale October 2, 2010.
— World Wrestling Entertainment is expected to rush through the current season of NXT with the final episode airing on October 1 just before the premiere of Friday Night SmackDown on Syfy. The third season of NXT will feature five episodes.
While company officials adore NXT and have vowed it will continue, they have been unable to land a new home for the show. With that being said, there was a discussion this past week of moving the show to WGN America. Vince McMahon said that ideally, they would keep both NXT and WWE Superstars.
— In regards to Sheamus’ eleven second win over Zack Ryder on last week’s Raw being the shortest WWE Championship Match in history, it is not. It is believed that the shortest WWE Championship Match in history was Diesel’s victory over Bob Backlund on November 26, 1994, which lasted eight seconds. The shortest WWE match in history is believed to be The Rock defeating Big Bossman in four seconds at the 1998 Survivor Series.
— Jerry Lawler’s Memphis Wrestling television program scored a 0.7 local rating on August 21, which equals approximately 11,000 viewers.
– The WWE website has announced that Jackass star Johnny Knoxville will host October 4th episode of Monday Night RAW. Knoxville will be promoting the new Jackass 3D movie.
– In what has to be great news for WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross, longtime Oklahoma Sooners football commentator Bob Barry announced on Tuesday that he is retiring. Ross said in various interviews over the years that calling Oklahoma football has been a lifelong dream of his, so this could be his chance to fill that position.
– Regarding the length of NXT Season 3 amid news that it won’t be carried on SyFy after October 1st, Vickie Guerrero wrote on Twitter.com on Tuesday that the season will in fact be 12 weeks. She wrote on Twitter.com/ExcuseMeWWE:
“I am loving my job…I have acquired a female giant as my rookie…life will be interesting in the next 12 weeks!”
No word on where the final 8 weeks of NXT will air after October 1st.
Johnny Knoxville will host WWE Raw on October 4th to promote his new film, Jackass 3D. For more information on this and future Raw guest hosts, head over to WWE.com.
Bob Barry announced on Tuesday that he is stepping down as the radio voice of Oklahoma Sooners football and basketball. [Thanks to Dot Net reader Bobby R.]
october 1st http://twitter.com/ExcuseMeWWE
. “I am loving my job…I have acquired a female giant as my rookie…life will be interesting in the next 12 weeks!”
Jeff Jarrett and Karen Angle were married earlier this month, reports someone with access to Karen’s blocked Facebook page. She has changed her name on Twitter to Karen Jarrett.
– The comedy duo Penn & Teller have once again been removed from WWE’s lineup of upcoming RAW Guest Hosts. A WWE source has informed us that Penn & Teller are very protective over how they are presented on television and there’s been a lot of back-and-forth over how much the WWE creative team would write for them .. They were originally booked to host RAW on September 20th, the night after Night of Champions, but now it appears they’re out again.
The only two guest hosts now listed are teen actor Bobb’e J. Thompson on October 18 and country singer Toby Keith on Oct. 25, the night after the Bragging Rights PPV.
– Alberto Del Rio’s personal ring announcer is Jesus “Ricardo†Rodriguez, one of the head trainers at The Fit Pit Pro Wrestling School in Chatsworth, California.
– The dark match before last night’s SmackDown tapings saw John Morrison defeat Tyler Reks. The dark main event after the tapings saw Kane and The Undertaker go to a double DQ.
– After Titus O’Neil messed up MVP’s Yakuza kick on last night’s NXT 2 finale, MVP responded to a fan on Twitter who asked about the botched move. MVP wrote:
“He’s either a) really tuff. B) I missed. C) he has no clue!â€
– Jim Ross, Ted DiBiase, JJ Dillon, Sgt. Slaughter and Mean Gene Okerlund were at WWE headquarters on Tuesday to film another round of “Legends Roundtable” shows for WWE On Demand.
– Goldust noted on Twitter that he suffered a black eye after his WWE Superstars match with TedDiBiase on Monday night in Boston.
– Ted DiBiase Jr. will be appearing on SyFy’s WCG Ultimate Gamer on Thursday, September 23rd. The show will feature SmackDown vs. RAW 2011.
Pay-per-view provider iNDEMAND has released the official event synopsis and promotional poster for WWE Bragging Rights. The synopsis reads:
“On Sunday, October 24, don’t miss John Cena, Randy Orton, Edge, Rey Mysterio, CM Punk, Sheamus, The Nexus, The Miz, and all your favorite WWE Superstars fighting for their reputations at WWE: Bragging Rights live on pay-per-view!”
Pay-per-view provider iNDEMAND has released the official event synopsis and promotional poster for WWE Hell in a Cell. The synopsis reads:
“On Sunday, October 3rd, 10,000 lbs of steel trap the ring in the year’s most breathtaking event: Hell in a Cell. Bear witness to Undertaker, John Cena, CM Punk, Rey Mysterio, and all your favorite WWE Superstars. Dont miss “Hell in a Cell” live on Pay-Per-View!”
— Vince McMahon noted in a recent interview with the Boston Herald that he held a talent meeting a few years ago urging his performers to “reach for the brass ring” regardless of whom they have to step over. He particularly recalled John Cena approaching him at the end of the meeting to say, ‘I’m your man.’
The interview caught the attention of an anonymous wrestler who attended the meeting. He said there were actually five wrestlers who came over to McMahon following the meeting to say they were the right man for the job.
“The only difference is that Cena did his ‘stepping over guys’ in the locker room more than the ring,” said the wrestler.
The anonymous wrestler feels McMahon was looking for a “backstabbing asshole/stooge” to serve as his top WWE Superstar.
“It has zero to do with in-ring talent,” the wrestler said. “Cena stepped on guys like the Spirit Squad and others who were only there for less than six months.”
* Warning: This article contains a Spoiler for Friday’s SmackDown:
At Tuesday’s SmackDown tapings from Albany NY (set to air this Friday), it was announced that Kane will defend the World Heavyweight title against his brother The Undertaker at Night of Champions.
With that match set, here’s the updated card:
Six-Pack Challenge for the WWE Championship
Sheamus (c) vs. Wade Barrett vs. Chris Jericho vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton vs. John Cena
Title Unification Lumberjill Match for the WWE Women’s Championship & WWE Divas Championship
Layla or Michelle McCool (c) vs. Melina (c)
World Heavyweight Title Match: Kane (c) vs. The Undertaker
Night of Champions takes place on Sunday, September 19, 2010 from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
On Tuesday’s NXT Season 2 finale, we got a look at the Season 3 roster – which will be all Divas.
Here’s the full roster of rookies for NXT Season 3:
Naomi Knight (Pro: Kelly Kelly)
Maxine (Pro: Alicia Fox)
AJ Lee (Pro: Primo)
Aksana (Pro: Goldust)
Jamie Keyes (Pros: The Bella Twins)
Aloisia (Pro: Vikcie Guerrero)
Namomi Night is the current FCW Divas Champion.
Maxine is FCW performer Liviana.
Aksana is an FCW performer.
Jamie is FCW performer Jamie Keys.
Here are pictures of those ladies:
Last but (literally) not least – Aloisia is the 6-foot-9 indy performer Isis The Amazon that we reported has been at WWE Developmental in recent weeks.
On Tuesday’s NXT season finale, Kaval was announced as the winner of WWE’s NXT season 2.
Alex Riley was the first rookie to be eliminated on the Season finale and it came down to Michael McGillicutty and Kaval.
Kaval has earned a shot at the WWE Championship on pay-per-view and a spot on either the RAW or SmackDown rosters.
As Kaval was celebrating his win, the other Season 2 rushed the ring and attacked him. The Pros from this season came down and brawled with them. It turned into a NXT 2 Rookies vs. NXT 2 Pros with Kaval brawl. Riley and McGillicutty came back down to work over Kaval. The show ended with Riley, McGillicutty, Husky Harris, Titus O’Neil and Lucky Cannon beating Kaval down in the ring with their finishers.
Season 3 will start next week and will be an all-divas cast.
– Monday’s 900th episode of WWE’s Monday Night RAW scored a 3.5 cable rating. The show averaged 5.05 million viewers did hours of 3.35 and 3.64. These numbers are up from last week’s show.
– Randy Orton was scheduled to wrestle in the dark main event after RAW last night against Sheamus and John Cena but was replaced as a precautionary measure as he suffered a stinger this weekend. Orton was replaced by The Undertaker.
– Because of the mention by CM Punk on RAW last night, Katie Vick has been trending on Google all day. As noted earlier, the name was trending worldwide on Twitter last night during RAW.
– Retired WWE star Shawn Michaels and his wife Rebecca will be on The Experience with Weston & Jodi Clark again on the Sportsman Channel and the Pursuit Channel, tonight at 8pm EST.
