-As of this writing, there are no concrete plans for WWE Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel as far as a match at the upcoming WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view. It is possible that Axel will be added to the SummerSlam pay-per-view pre-show, as the company has recently been putting title matches on the “PPV kickoff” specials.
-Despite the fact that he has not yet been officially cleared to return to in-ring action, WWE Superstar The Big Show is expected to be ready to return to the ring in time to follow-through on SummerSlam booking plans. Current plans feature a two-on-three handicap match between all three members of The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns) and the big-man duo of The Big Show and Mark Henry.
Additionally, Big Show is expected to return at the WWE RAW show on August 5th to shoot the angle for the aforementioned pay-per-view match.
-The following is the official synopsis for “The History Of WWE” DVD and Blu-ray set, which is set for a November 19th release:
“The History of WWE celebrates 50 years of sports entertainment by chronicling the evolution of WWE from small regional promotion into a worldwide phenomenon With new interviews from several key personalities past and present get the inside story behind each era of WWE as well as all your favorite moments and Superstars.”
-WWE Superstar Dolph Ziggler celebrates his 33rd birthday today. The former World Heavyweight Champion was born on July 27, 1980. Ziggler will be celebrating his birthday by wrestling at the WWE live event in Macon, Georgia tonight.
-WWE Superstar The Big Show has been taken off scheduled lineups for the current WWE overseas tour due to concerns over his injury. As reported earlier this week, there is a tentative plan to have Show team up with Mark Henry to take on The Shield in a handicap match at the upcoming WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view.
– A pre-sale begins today for WWE’s September 24th SmackDown tapings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Bradley Center. The password is WARRIOR (as in, Celtic Warrior, Sheamus).
– As Mick Foley recently revealed on Twitter, WWE Saturday Morning Slam will in fact be returning soon. Season 2 of the popular wrestling show geared towards children will premiere this September on the CW Network.
– The reason Big Show did not return on this past Monday’s RAW (as advertised) is because he was not medically cleared. As a result, the segment with Mark Henry and The Shield had to be rewritten. Originally, it was going to be Big Show saving Henry, but the Usos were used instead.
WWE is planning for Mark Henry and Big Show to team up at SummerSlam in a handicap match against Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns.
– The following matches are scheduled for tonight’s episode of WWE Main Event on Ion:
Sheamus vs. Jack Swagger.
Sin Cara vs. Drew McIntyre.
Damien Sandow vs. Justin Gabriel.
– Big Show made an appearance for WWE on Tuesday at the Special Olympics North America Conference. He spoke about WWE’s partnership with the organization.
– WWE developmental Diva Brittany Fetkin noted on Twitter that she dislocated her kneecap while training on Tuesday:
-The reason The Big Show did not return on RAW on Monday night as advertised was because of his knee injury. Show was still noticably limping as recently as the Money In The Bank pay-per-view. WWE officials may end up bringing him back early regardless, as they likely want him back in time to shoot an angle for SummerSlam.
-According to reports, WWE officials were said to be furious at Brie Bella for her wardrobe malfunction at Monday’s WWE RAW show from the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. Apparently the apology she tweeted was something she was ordered to do by WWE management.
-Despite being advertised to appear, The Big Show did not appear on Monday’s edition of WWE RAW. Big Show was featured in an actual vignette that aired on SmackDown that promoted him returning on RAW. You can check out that video promo, which WWE still has on their YouTube channel listed as “Big Show returns to Raw!”, below:
-As noted on Monday’s edition of WWE RAW, WWE Divas The Bella Twins will be special guests on The Today Show this coming Thursday morning, July 25th at 8:00am E.T. on NBC. Nikki and Brie Bella will appear on the morning talk show to promote the debut of “Total Divas” on the E! cable channel this Sunday night, July 28th at 10:00am E.T.
-WWE posted the following video promo on their official YouTube channel. The promo features hype for the return of The Big Show to WWE RAW this coming Monday night:
-WWE has signed independent pro wrestler Cory “Wild” Weston. Weston is a student under WWE Hall Of Famer Dory Funk Jr. Dory released the following statement on Weston’s signing with WWE:
“From Funking Conservatory Wrestling we are proud of the accomplishments of Cory ‘Wild’ Weston. Cory is an example of what can be accomplished with dedication and hard work.”
– WWE has published a storyline-driven article looking at Big Show’s absense from television. Here’s an excerpt:
“I have an ironclad contract!” he screamed through the phone. “I’ll take time off any time I want to, for as long as I want to! I don’t care if Booker doesn’t like it. I’m a giant! I don’t do what other people tell me to do. They do what I tell them to do. ‘Ironclad’ means I answer to no one. That includes Booker, and anyone else in WWE management.”
Big Show is currently out of action with a shoulder injury.
– WWE is currently searching for a new head creative writer. The position entails being responsible for building TV scripts and developing long-term storylines, as well as developing characters for new talents. According to f4wonline.com, WWE is looking for someone that has experience in either reality TV, sitcoms or character-based nonfiction.
According to reports, WWE has petitioned for the lawsuit being brought against the company and Paul “Big Show” Wight by former employee Andrew Green to be removed from the Arizona State Court and moved instead to federal court. Attorneys for WWE argued on 5/9 that since the lawsuit revolves around a video that was posted on the internet on WWE.com, it would fall under federal law.
In the complaint, Green states his job with WWE was to film post-match interviews with wrestlers that were later posted to WWE.com and YouTube. When Big Show refused to take part in an interview, Green informed him that former WWE Senior Vice President Eric Pankowski wanted the interview.
The compaint lists the following incident in detail adding, “In response, Big Show stated with the use of profanely indecent language that if Green wanted an interview then he would give him one, and to turn on the camera. Big Show toward Green enraged, shouting obscenities, and waving his fist in Green’s face. Big Show then grabbed Green by the collar and throat, striking Green in the face and backing him up against a trunk while declaring ‘You son of a bitch … Are you having fun right now … Don’t even come up to me again … I don’t give a shit who you are’.”
The entire incident was filmed and later added to WWE.com and YouTube. It is claimed the clip had over 100,000 views and was later removed on 1/29 by WWE. The complaint noted, “Upon information and belief, Big Show was not feigning his emotional outburst at the time of the attack.” Green was later told to reshoot the interview by Paul “Triple H” Levesque. According to the complaint, “Triple H asked Big Show to muster the same emotional level for the third interview as he had with the original shoot, that being the attack. In response, Big Show said that he did not think he would be able to do that because his emotions in the original shoot had been real.”
Green said he was unable to work with WWE following the incident because he “was uncomfortable working around Big Show and the other wrestlers, nervous, and had ‘a ton of anxiety’ as a result of the attack.” Green also added that WWE “encouraged its wrestlers, including Big Show, to act in a violent and threatening manner both inside and outside of the wrestling ring relative to their appearances and participation in staged wrestling events as a means of entertainment.” Green and his wife are seeking damages for assault and negligence. WWE has yet to publicly respond to the lawsuit.
– This Friday on SmackDown on Syfy, Sheamus will join forces with Randy Orton to battle Mark Henry and Big Show.
– The following two matches were taped Monday night at the Bi Lo Center in Greenville, South Carolina, for this week’s episode of WWE Superstars:
* Natalya vs. Tamina Snuka
* Brodus Clay and Tensai vs. Epico and Primo
– In Tuesday’s birthdays, WWE Hall of Famer George “The Animal” Steele turns 75-years-old, Paul London turns 33-years-old, and All Japan wrestler turns 31.
– Former WWE Champion Dave “Batista” Bautista was at the Saddle Rack in San Jose, California, over the weekend participating in a benefit with fellow The Man with the Iron Fists star Cung Le.
Former WWE employee Andrew Green is suing Big Show and WWE over an alleged backstage incident at the 2013 Royal Rumble pay-per-view, according to Courthouse News Service. Green claims another WWE producer told him to get an interview with Show after his Rumble match to be posted on the company’s website. Green says Show refused to do it until he said it was at the request of Eric Pankowski. Big Show then began using “profanely indecent language,” saying if he wanted an interview he would give him one. The complaint continued:
“Big Show toward Green enraged, shouting obscenities, and waving his fist in Green’s face. Big Show then grabbed Green by the collar and throat, striking Green in the face and backing him up against a trunk while declaring ‘You son of a bitch … Are you having fun right now … Don’t even come up to me again … I don’t give a shit who you are’.”
Show requested a re-tape of the interview saying he would just walk away. Triple H requested a third take but Show said he didn’t think he would be able to do it because his emotions in the first shoot had been real. A third interview was shot but Pankowski decided to air the first interview.
Green claims he was unable to continue working for WWE after following the incident because he was uncomfortable working around Big Show and other wrestlers. He alleges in the complaint that WWE had previously “suspended or terminated Big Show’s employment because of his behavior, including his engagement in violent and/or unlawful and/or improper activities outside of the wrestling venue.”
– Episode 1 of Steve Austin’s new podcast is now online and can be heard here. Shawn Michaels will be his guest next week.
– WWE returns to the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire on June 1st, 2013. Bell time is 7:30 PM. Tickets go on sale April 20th. Also, USA Championship Wrestling presents “A Royal Homecoming” with Jerry Lawler on April 25th, 2013 at the National Guard Armory in Bolivar, Tennessee. Bell time is 7 PM. Tickets cost $10 & $8. (Thanks to Devin Cutting)
– USAToday.com has an interview up with John Cena hyping his match against The Rock at WrestleMania.
– The Big Show will appear on the Nickelodeon show Supah Ninjas once again on Saturday night at 9 PM (EST), reprising role of Two Ton Harley.
WWE superstar the Big Show recently spoke to Sports Illustrated’s Extra Mustard blog and spoke about WrestleMania 29 and his past as a college football player. Here are some highlights of what he said about:
WrestleMania In Front Of A NY/NJ Crowd:
“It’s completely different. New York and New Jersey fans are like no other fans anywhere in the world. It’s funny because New York is known for being competitive. New York likes champions. If you’re not pulling your weight, New York lets you know. Trust me: If you have a crappy match, New York fans will let you know right in the middle of it. They’ll chant boring. They’ll chant you suck. They’ll chantyou messed up. The pressure to do well is always a little bit higher in New York. But like anything, that pressure makes you better. So the only thing that I’m a little concerned about is the weather. Because, you know, I’m not wearing much. I’m wearing Spandex. It’s gonna be a little chilly out there.”
His College Basketball Career:
“My college experience at Wichita State was definitely a learning curve. I had a great time at Wichita State. It’s a great university. I love the program. I chose Wichita State specifically because they didn’t have a football program. Wichita State was all about basketball and baseball — and we all know I have a strike zone the size of Nebraska so I don’t think I would have made it as a baseball player.”
“The basketball program had a lot of potential and I think that was one of the reasons I made the decision. I really liked Coach [Mike] Cohen at the time, who recruited me. I liked the university. I liked the town. The people in Wichita are very supportive of their athletic programs. Wichita’s a fun place. It’s a great place to go to school. It’s a big university, but at the same time it’s not too big. The program was awesome. The colors were cool with the black and gold. I still haven’t figured out exactly what a Shocker is. People ask me all the time: “It’s a … shock … of … wheat … I don’t know?”
– WWE has announced that they will be hosting an Open Casting Call for the upcoming WWE Studios movie “Christmas Bounty” starring The Miz during WrestleMania Axxess next week:
“The WWE Studios team is looking for talent during WrestleMania Axxess! You have an opportunity at auditioning for a role in WWE Studios’s upcoming film, ‘Christmas Bounty.’ Your audition could be posted on WWE’s YouTube channel for all to check out…do you have what it takes?”
– WWE has confirmed that this year’s Money In The Bank pay-per-view will take place on Sunday, July 14th from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. An online pre-sale is scheduled for Thursday at 10 AM and the password is WWEPPV. For tickets, click here.
– SportsIllustrated.com has an interview up with the Big Show, who talks about his college basketball career and wrestling’s longstanding relationship with New York City.
– WWE.com has published a list of 15 superstars who should have “been bigger deals,” including Bam Bam Bigelow, The British Bulldog, Hakushi, Chris Candido, Raven and Mike Awesome.
– WWE Champion The Rock is not scheduled to appear Monday’s WWE RAW from the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA. After that, he will be at the final 2 RAW shows before WrestleMania as well as the show the night after WrestleMania. As previously reported, The Rock has agreed to work several dates after WrestleMania, including May’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view.
– WWE Sueperstar The Big Show will guest star on tonight’s episode of Psych at 10 PM on the USA Network. Here’s a preview of the episode:
– Former WWE Superstar Hakushi has been added to the Alumni section of WWE.com.
– WWE Superstar the Big Show will make a guest appearance on the USA Network original series “Psych” next Wednesday, March 13. Details about his character are not available yet, but the episode description reads, “Shawn (James Roday) and Gus (Dulé Hill) join a pair of college students in the woods who are filming a documentary on Bigfoot.”
– WWE Superstar Triple H and 2013 Hall of Fame inductee Bruno Sammartino sat down with Larry Richert of CBS Radio in Pittsburgh to discuss Bruno entering the WWE Hall of Fame this year:
– After news broke Tuesday evening that Bill Moody, famously known as Paul Bearer, had passed away, there was a push among some WWE circles to posthumously induct the legendary manager into the WWE Hall of Fame this year.
Bearer addressed the topic to Chris Yandek of www.cyinterview.com in an interview in January, stating, “I know that I will [be in the WWE Hall of Fame]. So that’s all I need to know. Whether it’s next year or whether it’s five years from now, I know the time’s coming. … I’ve been very, very blessed in professional wrestling because I’m just a Alabama kid, from the Alabama Gulf Coast that grew up watching local territory days wrestling. … I have been all around the world. I performed in all 50 states, 28 countries and I got a paycheck every week.”
– The USA Network announced via press release Wednesday that Big Show will guest star on the next episode of Psych, which premieres Wednesday at 10:00 p.m.
– With conservative commentator Glenn Beck refusing to associate with WWE after publicly speaking out again Tea Party-inspired villains Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter, the sports-entertainment organization has nixed plans to draw attention to him.
– Big Show did not appear at Sunday night’s SmackDown live event from Louisville, Kentucky. Wade Barrett filled in for him, losing to Alberto Del Rio in the champion vs. champion match.
– With Rey Mysterio still out of action, Sin Cara continues to team with the Great Khali at SmackDown live events.
– NXT star Conor O’Brian wrestled at last night’s live event in Louisville, losing to Brodus Clay.
– Speaking of NXT stars working WWE live events, NXT’s Corey Graves wrestled at all 3 of this weekend’s RAW live events from Missouri (Poplar Bluff, Springfield & Cape Girardeau). WWE ring announcer Justin Roberts tweeted that he was impressed by Graves’ work over the weekend.
Graves tweeted this picture on Sunday of himself on the way to the ring with the hashtags #FilthParade & #StayDown:
WWE taped this week’s SmackDown on Tuesday night from Jacksonville, Florida. Here are the results:
* Big Show is shown arriving on his bus. He comes to the ring and talks about how Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez are suspended. Big Show says the recent events between he and Del Rio are Booker T’s fault, which brings out the SmackDown GM. Booker announcers Big Show vs. Kane for tonight.
* Cody Rhodes defeated Kofi Kingston.
* The Great Khali defeated Titus O’Neil.
* Mark Henry came out and destroys Khali, which the crowd loved. Henry announces the Hall of Pain is back and he wants a spot in the SmackDown brand’s Elimination Chamber match. Booker came out and announced Henry vs. Randy Orton.
* Big Show defeated Kane in a quick match.
* Alberto Del Rio is shown outside in the parking lot, where he’s taken the wheels off Show’s tour bus. Show ran out to the parking lot but gets a bunch of paint dropped on top of him from the roof. Del Rio laughed and drove off.
* Jack Swagger squashed Justin Gabriel.
* Tensai beat Drew McIntyre by DQ when 3MB attacked him. Brodus Clay made the save for Tensai.
* Antonio Cesaro beat Sin Cara.
* Mark Henry defeated Randy Orton to earn a spot in the Elimination Chamber match.
In response to back-to-back attacks by World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio on No. 1 contender Big Show, SmackDown General Manager Booker T announced Tuesday night that he has suspended the Mexican grappler from this week’s SmackDown.
“Following the incidents last Friday on SmackDown as well as this week on Raw,” Booker told WWE.com, “it is my duty as GM to suspend Alberto Del Rio. He will not be in action this Friday night and will not be in the building.”
WWE teased in the announcement: “While there is no question these latest developments will make a profound impression on this week’s edition of the blue brand, one has wonder how it will affect the upcoming World Title Match between Del Rio and The World’s Largest No. 1 contender at Elimination Chamber.”
– Jim Ross noted on Twitter that he will be headed to WWE developmental this weekend to evaluate talent at WWE’s latest tryout camp. He will also be at Thursday’s WWE NXT tapings from Full Sail University.
– As previously reported, WWE has reached out to Kamala about a possible induction into the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013. No word yet on whether he has accepted, but WWE reportedly has a backup inductee in mind if Kamala does not agree.
– After Tuesday night’s WWE SmackDown tapings from San Diego, CA concluded, Big Show came out and cut a promo running down the Spanish fans in the audience. He talked about how he hires “people like them” to clean his pool and cut his grass. Show talked about Alberto Del Rio’s stereotypical love of burrito, which brought out the World Heavyweight champion. The two brawled at ringside, with Del Rio attacking Big Show with a steel chair to end the show.
– Some WWE RAW delayed-viewership data from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWE RAW on 11/19 had 336,000 homes watching via DVR or tape delay, while the following week (11/26) had 292,000 homes watching delayed.
– WWE Attitude Era superstar Steve Blackman now has a profile on the Alumni section of WWE.com.
– As part of WWE Week on the USA Network, WWE World Heavyweight champion Big Show will be guest starring on tonight’s episode of Burn Notice.
– ESPN has announced that former WWE announcer Todd Grisham has signed on to be the studio host of ESPN’s new Friday Night Fights series, debuting January 4th.
– WWE is now advertising that The Rock will be at February’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. The Rock has been added to WWE’s listing for the event on the WWE.com Live Events page. Previously, The Rock’s appearance was only being advertised by the website of the arena hosting the show, the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
– Justin Roberts and Dolph Ziggler were courtside at Wednesday night’s Phoenix Suns NBA basketball game. You can see pictures of them at the game here.
– Peter Rosenberg of New York’s Hot 97 hip hop radio station conducted an exclusive sit-down interview with WWE World Heavyweight champion the Big Show.
“We discuss his relationship with Randy Savage, his incredible run with Mark Henry last year, his complaints about workers today, and a prediction on Hulk Hogan appearing at Wrestlemania XXX and much more!”
– WWE Hall of Famer Adam “Edge” Copeland has indicated that he is working on an autobiography.
When asked on Twitter if he plans to write a second book, The Rated-R Superstar replied, “Workin on it.”
His first autobiography, Adam Copeland on Edge, was released in 2004. Unlike most wrestlers who used “ghostwriters” to write their biographies, Copeland wrote the entire book himself, in longhand. Mick Foley, who also wrote his wrestling autobiography himself in longhand, wrote the foreword to his book.
– Wednesday marks as WWE Superstar Rey Mysterio’s birthday as the three-time world champion turns 38-years-old. Also celebrating birthdays are Sabu, who turns 48, and “King of Diamonds” Eddie Kingston, who turns 30.
– Tony Dawson, who joined WWE as an announcer in August, is now on Twitter at TonyDawsonWWE. The former lead announcer for St. John’s TV network at St. John’s University is the host of Saturday Morning Slam and Afterburn, and is an occasional color commentator on NXT.
– Big Show, Ted DiBiase and other WWE Superstars spread be a STAR Alliance’s anti-bullying message at Sewells Point Elementary School.
