WWE Superstar Dolph Ziggler recently appeared on the “Between The Ropes” radio show with Brian Fritz. Below are highlights from their discussion:
On wrestlers telling him his style will lead to serious injuries down the line: “I’ve been pulled aside by legends and guys backstage and being told that I put my body through too much sometimes. I understand that, but I’m out there in the ring trying to give the best possible performance I can. I can’t not run into something as hard as I can. I can’t not give my all. And one day that could be a problem, but so far I’ve never been injured to where I was out for weeks from anything I’ve done.”
On why he wrestles the hard-nosed style that he does: “I got kicked in the head one time and, like you said, it was a fluke, and every other thing I’ve done I put my body on the line because I want to because I want this crowd to go ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ and ‘Wow, we’ve got to get behind this guy.’ I go there to prove to myself that I’m going to work harder than everyone else and I always will.”
On losing momentum after suffering a concussion: “I feel like before the concussion we were finally starting to get some momentum. I was the only guy in this business who had a girlfriend and a giant bodyguard ringside with me and would still lose every night. As we were starting to work together and actually piece together some wins, I started to feel this is how a faction works. Just then, I got the concussion and I think that set back a few things and put in motion that maybe it’s time everyone goes their separate ways.”
-WWE Diva AJ Lee recently noted on Twitter that she is just now getting home after nearly 20 days straight on the road, as on top of her usual schedule, she was part of the WWE live event tour in Australia and South Africa recently.
-Episode number 39 of WWE Hall Of Famer Booker T’s new “Reality Of Wrestling” promotion is now available for viewing on the official YouTube channel, which you can access here.
-WWE Superstar and the number one contender to the WWE Championship at the upcoming SummerSlam pay-per-view, Daniel Bryan, was recently interviewed by Sky Sports out of the UK. You can check out that interview online at SkySports.com.
-For those interested, WWE is looking to fill the position of “Account Executive in Digital Sales.” The job, which is based out of New York City, can be applied for online at Social.ICIMS.com.
This week’s WWE SmackDown and Main Event television shows will be taped before a live audience at the BHO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, Illinois this evening.
Already confirmed for the show, as announced on Monday’s WWE RAW show, is a MizTV segment with special guests Big E. Langston and AJ Lee.
The advertised dark match main event is Sheamus, Randy Orton and Rob Van Dam vs. The Shield. However, for whatever this is worth, the advertised dark match main event for RAW between John Cena and Alberto Del Rio never took place on Monday night.
Make sure to check back here on the website later this evening for live WWE SmackDown spoiler results.
-It was announced on Monday’s edition of WWE RAW that on Friday’s edition of WWE SmackDown, which will be taped Tuesday niight, there will be a MizTV segment with special guests Big E. Langston and AJ Lee.
-WWE RAW on Monday also featured the return of two WWE Superstars. First, Ricardo Rodriguez made his return from a Wellness Policy suspension. Rodriguez returned as World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio’s special ring announcer for his match against Rob Van Dam. Rodriguez, who tried helping Del Rio by cheating for him during the match, ended up costing him the match. Following the loss, Del Rio snapped and attacked Rodriguez. He beat down Rodriguez with the bucket he tried using to help Del Rio, as well as a nasty dropkick onto Rodriguez while his head was wedged between the steel steps and the ring.
Also returning on Monday’s RAW was former WWE Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston. Kingston returned in singles competition, as he took on Fandango. Kingston picked up the win in his first match back, as he defeated Fandango via clean pinfall after hitting him with his Trouble In Paradise finisher.
– WWE has announced four additional matches for tomorrow night’s Raw broadcast through the Raw Five-Point Preview on the company website.
It was announced on last week’s show that WWE Champion John Cena will take on Ryback in a Tables Match, with former WWE Tag Team Champion partners Daniel Bryan and Kane meeting in a singles match. Also announced for the program are Rob Van Dam vs. Fandango, Divas Champion AJ Lee vs. Kaitlyn in a non-title match, World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian in a non-title match, and Mark Henry and The Usos vs. The Shield.
Tomorrow night’s episode was filmed last Tuesday in Laredo, Texas, at the Laredo Energy Arena.
– The series premiere of Total Divas takes place tonight on E! at 10:00 p.m. Previewing the episode, the official website of WWE states, “Watch The Bellas, The Funkadactyls and Natalya prepare for WrestleMania, as two new Diva hopefuls, Eva Marie and JoJo, arrive, ready to make a name for themselves in WWE.”
Vince McMahon promoted the show on his Twitter account. He wrote, “Total Divas get personal this Sunday night #TotalDivas.”
Meanwhile, WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus asked her Twitter followers today whether they are looking forward to the show. She added, “Wishing all the girls good luck + my gal @NatbyNature – represent girls!” Natalya responded, “Thanks!!! Super excited…I’m so grateful to be a part of something that taught me SO much about myself.”
– Lilian Garcia, who rarely appears at house shows in the United States, appeared as the ring announcer at Friday’s and Saturday’s events in Georgia.
– The official YouTube account of WWE has posted this video of Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, Daniel Bryan, Sheamus and Mick Foley reflecting on the 2013 Comic-Con International in San Diego, California.
– This week’s WWE Classics On Demand updates are as follows: WWE Royal Rumble 2013, WWF at Madison Square Garden (July 23, 1984), Extreme Championship Wrestling (September 25, 1998), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (November 17, 1982), WWF Prime Time Wrestling (November 20, 1989).
– The official WWE website has a poll asking visitors whether Dolph Ziggler is better off without AJ Lee. Of over 16,000 votes casts, 76% say “Yes, AJ Lee was holding The Showoff back from his full potential” compared to 24% for “No, Ziggler was at his peak with the Divas Champion by his side.”
– As seen Friday night on SmackDown, Kaitlyn appeared dressed up as AJ Lee in response to the Divas Champion’s mockery of her on Monday’s Raw. She ridiculed her former friend by suggesting that, in addition to the roster of Superstars that the New Jersey native had dated, she also had been romantically affiliated with several of the WWE personnel seated at ringside including ring announcer Lilian Garcia. Kaitlyn continues her mockery of Lee in this week’s SmackDown edition of Backstage Fallout. Plus, Natalya weighs in on her victory over Lee in a Non-title Match and Dolph Ziggler continues his fiesta backstage.
– The official WWE website has posted footage of The Prime Time Players visiting University of South Carolina Gamecocks head football coach—and Titus O’Neil’s former coach at the University of Florida—Steve Spurrier.
– According to WrestlingFigs.com, former WWE announcer Matt Striker will appear at the Englishtown Flea Market located on 90 Wilson Ave. Englishtown, New Jersey, on Saturday, July 27 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
– Gambling lines for tomorrow night’s WWE Payback pay-per-view event have skyrocketed in recent days, with Alberto Del Rio being favored 17 to 1 to defeat Dolph Ziggler in the World Heavyweight Championship Match. Betting odds are also in favor of Curtis Axel claiming the WWE Intercontinental Championship from Wade Barrett in a three-way affair also including The Miz, as well as AJ Lee defeating Kaitlyn for the WWE Divas Championship. In the Three Stages of Hell Match, Ryback is favored to win the Lumberjack Match, with John Cena taking the Tables Match and subsequent Ambulance Match to retain the WWE Championship.
– WWE counts down The Shield’s most brutal attacks since the group’s inception in this “Top 10” video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT9hKBiIbWg
– Six years ago today, WWE Hall of Famer “Sensational” Sherri Martel died at her mother’s residence in McCalla, Alabama. A toxicology released later that year stated that she died of an overdose with multiple drugs in her system, including high amounts of oxycodone.
Former NWA World Women’s Champion Tiffany Roxx posted this message in remembrance of Martel, “RIP Sensational Sherri. You were one of my biggest inspirations and I’m still learning from your work.”
– WWE Sueprstar Randy Orton recently was recently interviewed by Comcast and gave some interesting insight on his future as a WWE Superstar:
“I wouldn’t say I’m WWE for life, I’d say my near future will consist of me primarily being in the ring,” Orton said. “Wrestling is my first love. The movie was fun, but the schedule was grueling because I had to fly off on my off days to film. Eight weeks went by and I had three days off. If I do the movie thing, I’ll be sure that I’m only doing the movie so I can concentrate on it. (Laughs) I think I’d be more sane that way.”
– WWE Diva AJ Lee was recently interviewed by FayObserver.com to promote one of this weekend’s WWE Live Events. One of the more newsworthy quotes came when she was asked about how much of a “diva” she is in real life:
“Diva is a funny word because the connotation isn’t the greatest,” Lee said. “For me, it means being smart, sexy and powerful. It’s my goal to redefine the word. I’m in the WWE, but right now I’m at home on my couch watching Arrested Development. I work out and hang out with my dog and play video games. I’m not the diva archetype; I’m 115 pounds with no curves. I’m the ‘homely diva,’ but I’m proud to be so different and to be a face of the WWE.”
– WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart is solely featured on this week’s edition of WWE Inbox as “The Hitman” answers such questions as his favorite WrestleMania match and the origins of the Sharpshooter.
– The official website of WWE has published a photo gallery entitled “The many faces of AJ Lee.” WWE explains, “Just one of AJ Lee’s faces is worth a thousand words. Take an in-depth look at the Divas division’s emotional chameleon with this exclusive photo gallery of AJ’s many, many revealing facial expressions.”
– WWE Hall of Fame Ric Flair has been announced to appear at the Hollywood Show taking place July 13 at The Westin Los Angeles Airport (located 5400 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 90045).
– WWE World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler appeared at a WWE live event for the first time in four weeks at Saturday’s show in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Ziggler, who was donning street clothes, accompanied Big E Langston in his match against Alberto Del Rio as well as AJ Lee in her match against Divas Champion Kaitlyn. Langston lost his match via disqualification while Lee lost her match via pinfall.
Ziggler has not been medically cleared to wrestle again after sustaining a serious concussion last month.
– The official YouTube account of WWE released the following video previewing this month’s slate of Classics On Demand programming; the theme is “Ring Royalty.” This includes a profile on Jerry “The King” Lawler, the 1999 edition of the Royal Rumble, various King of the Ring moments and the 2007 video release, Triple H: King of Kings – There is Only One.
– Former WWE wrestler Big Bully Busick turned 59-years-old on Sunday.
– WWEShop.com has released new merchandise for several of WWE’s top performers:
Randy Orton has a new “Recoiled” authentic t-shirt ( Men | Women | Youth )
AJ Lee’s new “Love Bites” shirt is also now on sale ( Men | Women )
– The announced attendance for Sunday’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, MO was 17,529 fans – a legitimate sellout. Prior to the show, Paul Heyman tweeted a photo of a sign that was hanging backstage that stated the show was sold out and there would be no comped tickets available.
– After suffering a “severe” concussion at last Tuesday’s SmackDown tapings, WWE World Heavyweight champion Dolph Ziggler has been advised by doctors not to fly. WWE is taking his condition very seriously.
– Triple H has accepted Brock Lesnar’s challenge to a steel cage match at next month’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view.
– AJ Lee won a battle royal on RAW to become the #1 contender to Kaitlyn’s WWE Divas Championship. It has not been confirmed yet, but the match will also likely take place at Extreme Rules.
– WWE announced that Friday’s SmackDown will feature Jack Swagger vs. Alberto Del Rio in a No DQ Match.
<a href=”http://stg.sescoops.com”><B>* Insider News On Why ROSA MENDES Was Sent Home From WWE’s International Tour</b></a>
AJ Lee spoke with IGN.com to promote WrestleMania 29. Here are some highlights:
IGN TV: I was at WrestleMania last year, and I feel like things were already on the rise for you, but I think that that was the starting point for so much that followed. What’s it like for you to be back at WrestleMania a year later with so much having changed?
AJ Lee: It’s insane. Like you were saying, last year, honestly, everything that had happened to that point was kind of the be-all, end-all for me. I was like, “This is so amazing. This wasn’t supposed to happen.” Everything kind of happened by accident. I was so appreciative. I was like, “Cool, it’s ending at Mania. What a cool way to go out! I’ll go back to Superstars and have fun.” And Superstars was fun anyway — I’d do it right now. But I’m always mentally prepared for everything to end, and I was then. I was like, “Wow, this is so amazing. I’m so happy I got this opportunity.” Then another door opened, and then it closed. I thought, “Wow, that was awesome! All right, let’s see what happens.” And it just keeps going, and that’s probably the coolest thing for me, and I think that if at any second everything were to end, I would be so happy because I’d done pretty much everything I came to do, and then some. I feel super complete. I’m really lucky to be a year and a half into my official career and to feel complete, like I’ve done everything that I need to, so now everything’s kind of gravy. I’m just fighting for longevity, I guess.
IGN: You and Kaitlyn have had a long friendship. Has it been fun for you with how things have gone with the two of you lately?
AJ: Oh my God, there’s nothing like punching your friend in the face! You can’t punch anyone else in the face as hard as you can your best friend. But it’s been insane, because two or three years ago I had Kaitlyn’s tryout — I’m kind of like the tryout girl. There have been a lot of people who have come in and gotten signed and I like to believe I helped and that I was the gateway. So she’s kind of my proudest project. I feel like her momma. I’m momma Diva for her. I helped her learn how to bump. Her first steps were with me, and her first match was with me, and her tryout was with me. Then to go through NXT together, we needed each other. It was like war. You need your buddy to get through that. We helped each other develop our on-screen characters and be comfortable with just being idiots. If you can do a robot handshake on camera, you can do anything. You just kind of have to have that ballsiness. We wouldn’t have done that without each other. So I started to get to do stuff, and that was amazing. She was so happy for me, and we did a little bit of stuff, some tag-team, before that. Then it was kind of bittersweet not to have her along for the ride. So when she got to do all that with Eve and get the title, it was so gratifying to see where we were and what scrubs we were before. “Look at us now!” You could not have two girls that are less of the Diva mold. We’re just dudes, and we joke like dudes. It’s so funny that now we’re the girls. That’s weird. [Laughs] But I can’t wait to beat her up, you know? One of these days!
IGN: You recently had a match against Kaitlyn. Might we see you back in the ring a little bit more going forward?
AJ: Gosh, I don’t know. I really love managing. When I was younger, I thought it would be so cool to be in this super badass group, and just kind of be the chick on the sidelines. And I appreciate that, and I think there’s a lot of value in that. I love that I get to get in the ring every now and then. I could not have a better mix of things for me. If I could get in the ring with anyone, it would be her. I’m dying for that. I think we could tear the roof off the place and just beat the crap out of each other. We have so much unfinished business, and there’s not a lot of females that have that kind of storytelling behind them. The story sort of writes itself, and I think people have figured that out and are kind of waiting for it, so that’s cool. Maybe we can keep them waiting; it’s all right.
Posted April 6th, 2013 in News, WWE. Tagged: AJ Lee.
– Tickets are on sale now for WWE Money in the Bank, which takes at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center on Sunday, July 14. Fans can purchase tickets at the Wells Fargo Center box office, online at www.comcasttix.com or charge by phone by calling 800-298-4200.
– Part 2 of WWE Diva AJ Lee’s WrestleMania diary is now online, which you can view at WWE.com in its entirety. In this installment, AJ talks about what inspired her to get into wrestling:
“When I was really little, I wanted to be a wrestler so I could be like the girls I looked up to,” AJ says, reflecting on her decision to pursue a career in the squared circle at age 12. “My brother then told me that ‘you don’t want to be like your idols, you want to grow up and be better than them.’ To this day, that’s the best piece of advice I’ve ever gotten. You shouldn’t want to replicate somebody just because you like them. You can respect what they’ve done, but you should also want to surpass them.”
Posted April 4th, 2013 in News, WWE. Tagged: AJ Lee.
– WWE Diva AJ Lee spoke with NJ.com about WrestleMania 29 taking place 10 minutes away from where she used to live:
“Everything has worked out so amazingly, especially for it to be after this whirlwind year that I’ve had. To have WrestleMania literally 10 or 15 minutes from the motel I used to live in with my family is kind of insane.”
– CM Punk will throw out the first pitch at Friday’s New York Mets vs. Florida Marlins baseball game at Citi Field. Paul Heyman will be with him.
– Here is video of WWE stars visiting children’s hospitals in New York and New Jersey on Wednesday:
– Diamond Dallas Page spoke to ESPN this week regarding Scott Hall’s condition:
“Right now, he can’t do too much physical stuff,” Page said. “He can do some limited stretching and he can start eating right. When you get sober and you start eating really good food, your body starts healing itself, and it hurts a lot in the beginning. As you go through, you get better and your body starts healing. I think Scott is going to be in pretty good shape by the time he does his surgery.”
– Here is Episode 1 of AJ Lee’s WrestleMania Diary video series:
