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Tag: Bret Hart

  • JR Blog: Hardy & Flair In TNA, Bret’s Return, Angle-Styles

    WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross
    WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross

    Jim Ross is back with another blog at JRsBarBQ.com with thoughts on last night’s RAW and iMPACT. Here are some highlights:

    Bret Hart & HBK: “The dialog between HBK and the Hitman sounded so natural that I thought I was eavesdropping on two old rivals’ conversation. They were simply being themselves. Their handshake made the night complete for me but remember that I lived through the debacle of ’97 and was just a little immersed in it and spent many, many hours “talking wrestlers off the ledge” so to speak for hours after the controversial incident.”

    Bret Hart & Vince McMahon: “The McMahon-Bret confrontation was well done especially planting the seed early and keeping me hooked until the end of the show for the payoff plus adding some spice to the dish in between. The Mr. McMahon persona is so easy to dislike and the Chairman got the last word and the final act of physicality in the exchange with his longstanding adversary and left me wanting to see more and wondering how Bret will respond next Monday night? Or will he? This issue has new, fresh legs.”

    Jeff Hardy in TNA: “It surprised me to see Jeff Hardy on Spike TV Monday night which I am sure will get some fans talking and critics/pundits asking a great deal of questions. I’m a Jeff Hardy fan and I wish him well. Jeff had a great tenure in WWE and considering that I signed him and his brother Matt to their first WWE contracts I will always consider the Hardy brothers as being special. As Hall of Fame Coach Barry Switzer once told me, “Once you recruit a player you recruit them for life.”

    Ric Flair in TNA: “Knowing how much Ric Flair still enjoys wrestling I was not shocked to see Ric on another channel Monday night. The WWE gave Ric the greatest send-off/retirement presentation that I have ever witnessed but nonetheless “Naitch” has wrestling running through his veins and he’s going lace ’em up until he simply can’t do it any longer. Ric Flair has been my friend for about 30 years and I wish him well in what ever he does in his career.”

    AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle: “Former WWE Champion Kurt Angle, another one of the guys that I signed to their first WWE contract, and A.J. Styles had a truly excellent wrestling match that I got glimpses of Monday night.”

  • January 4th MONDAY NIGHT WAR Feedback

    January 4th proved to be an eventful night. TNA Wrestling had a good showing on its first live Monday night show, with Hulk Hogan, Jeff Hardy, Ric Flair, Eric Bischoff, Mick Foley, Jeff Jarrett and many other familar faces laying the groundwork for the “new” TNA. On RAW, we had the surreal return of Bret Hart – who made peace with Shawn Michaels and Vince McMahon, only to have the WWE chairman leave him laying after a nasty kick to the stomach.

    We want to know – What did YOU think of RAW and iMPACT!  Which show was better?

    Leave a comment below. If you haven’t signed up for an account already, REGISTER HERE.

  • JR Blogs About Bret Hart’s Return To WWE & More

    WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross
    WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross

    WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog at JRsBarBQ.com with his thoughts on Bret Hart hosting Monday’s edition of WWE RAW. Here’s what Ross said about the Hit Man’s return:

    Bret Hart Hype on Monday’s RAW: The Bret Hart content on Monday Night Raw really added to the overall viewing experience of the program. I watched the show from start to finish and I felt like it was one of the better Raw broadcasts WWE has presented in several weeks. To say that I did not feel compelled to be sitting there at ringside with so many new developments on tap would not be truthful.

    What a great video package on Bret Monday night and it was timely as many younger fans likely were not as familiar with the WWE Hall of Famer since his last appearance on WWE TV was in November of 1997 excluding his HOF, TV exposure.

    The King Returns: Ironically, Bret will return to WWE TV from Dayton, Ohio the site of the 1993 King of the Ring that I had the opportunity to broadcast. Bret won the tourney which was my 2nd WWE PPV after debuting at WM9 in Las Vegas.

    Other Top Legends Returning: With Bret Hart returning to Raw as the G.M. next week, some fans are curious as to what that does to the chance of a return in the same role for either Dwayne Johnson or Steve Austin. I don’t have an answer to that question but I do feel that both men will eventually return to Raw in either the guest G.M. capacity or another role that provides them a “one off’ opportunity to entertain their fans and to promote what it is that they are involved….likely their films.

  • Bret Hart Hosting RAW Next Week & 2 Matches Announced

    Next week’s edition of WWE RAW goes head-to-head with the latter two hours of the TNA iMPACT! special, and the big story is undoubtedly Bret Hart’s confirmed appearance as guest host.

    Read More:  Bret Hart WWE Storyline Plans (Vince & DX) & Planned WRESTLEMANIA Match

    But two more bits of information were also revealed for next week’s show.

    Confirmed for Monday’s RAW:
    — Triple H & Shawn Michaels vs. Big Show and Chris Jericho for the Undisputed Tag Team Championships
    *If Big Show and Chris Jericho lose, Jericho must unequivocally leave RAW–he cannot appear whatsoever.

    — Randy Orton vs. Kofi Kingston

  • WWE RAW Preview: Cena vs. Sheamus, Timbaland, Bret Hype

    Here’s an early preview for tonight’s edition of WWE RAW from Connecicut, the final show of 2009:

    Guest Host: Rapper & Producer TIMBALAND:
    Innovative music maven Timbaland mixes the last edition of Monday Night Raw in 2009. How will the mastermind behind guaranteed chart-topping album “Shock Value 2” fare in the squared circle on the next Raw?

    WWE Champion Sheamus vs. John Cena
    Can Cena – the 2009 Superstar of the Year – recapture the prize as he vowed, thus closing out the year as eight-time World Champion?

    Also, with Bret Hart making his long awaited return to WWE television next week to host RAW, expect the announcement to be made tonight and for WWE Chairman Vince McMahon to react to the news.

    The advertised dark match for tonight’s show is Cena and DX vs. Randy Orton, Big Show, and Sheamus in a six-man tag.

  • *Spoiler* RAW Guest Host For January 4th Revealed

    WWE Hall of Famer Bret "The Hitman" Hart
    WWE Hall of Famer Bret "The Hitman" Hart

    Warning: The following contains a major *SPOILER* for the January 4th edition of WWE RAW:

    It’s been rumored for several weeks that WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart has signed a new short-term contract with World Wrestling Entertainment and will be returning as an on-air character in early 2010. There has been a great deal of speculation that Bret Hart will make his WWE return on the January 4th edition of WWE RAW, the night TNA Wrestling goes head-to-head with RAW for the first time ever.

    Cable provider DirecTV has released its preview for the January 4th RAW and confirms that the Hitman will in fact be hosting RAW that night. Their preview reads:

    “Shocking Guest Host Bret The Hitman Hart returns to confront Mr. McMahon.”

    It’s also worth noting that the January 4th RAW is listed as a 2-hour show, contrary to speculation that WWE will add a 3rd hour to compete with TNA’s 1-hour lead-in.

  • Shane McMahon UFC Update, Bret Hart & DX Politics

    – As noted earlier, sources in WWE are interested to see how the politics will be with Triple H once Bret Hart is back in the company. Many are curious to see how diplomatic Triple H will be with the whole situation. Most feel that given the recent changes in his life, Shawn Michaels will get along fine and wouldn’t be surprised if he gave Hart an apology.

    – A former WWE employee was with Shane McMahon at a non-wrestling function over the weekend. The friend notes that Shane was beyond relaxed and relieved. Shane didn’t say anything negative about WWE but did seem glad that his travel schedule was over. Shane gave no indication of what’s next for him besides spending more time with his family. Apparently the meeting he had with UFC officials went well but it doesn’t look like anything further has came from it. While Shane is pretty aware of UFC, his interest in MMA must be blown out of proportion as he didn’t know of MMA promotion Strikeforce, where they stand of their recent moves.

    (Credit to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter for the information used in this report)

  • Bret Hart’s WWE Contract & Storyline Plans With Vince-DX

    WWE Hall of Famer Bret "The Hitman" Hart
    WWE Hall of Famer Bret "The Hitman" Hart

    The short-term deal that Bret Hart has signed with WWE is a performer’s contract, so he will be an integral part of the storylines heading into WrestleMania. It’s still believed by many that he will be wrestling one match, most likely against Vince McMahon at WrestleMania.

    Bret is old-school and is trying to keep everything about his return quiet. Because of this, a lot of news might not get out about plans for him in WWE before his first appearance. It’s still not confirmed that Bret will be hosting the January 4th RAW. WWE has announced guest hosts for the weeks before and after that date and that’s the night TNA challenges WWE for the first time on Monday nights, but nothing is confirmed yet.

    Bret is a bit heavier than he has been in the past and is trying to get back into ring shape. He has been suffering from an unknown back injury that has made it hard to train.

    Bret hasn’t talked with Shawn Michaels or Triple H since Montreal so it will be interesting to see how everything plays out between them.

  • Jim Ross Blogs About Bret Hart Returning To WWE

    WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross
    WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross

    WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has posted a lengthy blog with his thoughts about Bret “The Hitman” Hart returning to WWE in January.  As always, you can read JR’s full blog and purchase his delicious BBQ products over at JRsBarBQ.com. Ross wrote:

    “Firstly, having Bret Hart return to a WWE locker room and be able to mentor young talents is awesome. Young wrestlers need more positive role models who have made it within the business and Bret would no doubt be a great mentor and coach. I have often wondered why Bret has not been asked or arrangements made for Bret to do be a “reoccurring professor” in WWE’s developmental program, FCW.

    “Secondly, Bret would not come back to WWE without a game plan and a strategy. Just as his wrestling matches had a beginning, a middle and an end so would the “Hitman’s” return to WWE especially considering the controversy of Montreal 1997 which is an issue that seemingly won’t die to wrestling historians and aficionados much like the President Kennedy tragedy in Dallas in 1963 to conspiracy theorists.

    “Bret is too smart that, IF, he’s coming back to WWE that he has a sound strategy in mind with a predetermined destination. It doesn’t take the class Valedictorian to make an educated guess that destination might logically be Wrestlemania 26.

    “Thirdly, if it is physically possible for Bret Hart to have a physical confrontation with his “arch nemesis” Mr. McMahon that attraction could be significant for WM26. When I last saw Bret at the Cauliflower Ally Club function a couple of years ago in Vegas he looked great. Pulling off an entertaining, say, “Street Fight” would not require the participants to have a traditional, wrestling bout of which Bret was the master back in the day.

    “I find it hard to believe that if Bret “Hitman” Hart’s name was mentioned so prominently on Monday Night Raw that there is more than simply smoke but also some fire as it relates to this matter and I hope that I’m right as the return of the “Hitman” would be great for the fans and would add a new, fresh and much needed creative element to Monday Night Raw. not to mention enhancing Monday Night Raw’s build to WM26. USA Network should be ecstatic is this matter comes to fruition.

    “Some have emailed me about what the potential of Bret returning would mean to the Hart Dynasty and I don’t know that answer. My guess is that the Dynasty would naturally get more exposure but I see this matter as being much more about Bret and Mr. McMahon that any thing else with the goal to create some exciting, new TV moments from its inception through WM26.

    “Again, this is purely personal  speculation and only one guy’s opinion as I have, as previously mentioned, not spoken to any one in the Hitman or WWE camps about this matter.

    “Bottom line is that if Bret Hart returns to WWE that, in my opinion, it will be on Monday Night Raw, it will commence on Monday January 4 and that it will culminate in something big at WM26.

  • Bret Hart Interview: His WWE Return, Hogan-TNA & More

    WWE Hall of Famer Bret "The Hitman" Hart
    WWE Hall of Famer Bret "The Hitman" Hart

    WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart appeared on yesterday’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio on F4Wonline.com. Here are some highlights:

    * Bret said he doesn’t have faith in Eric Bischoff or Hulk Hogan when it comes to recreating the Monday Night Wars with TNA. He respects TNA as a company and hope it brings competition for the sport but doesn’t think they’re going to do anything major. Bret said Hogan has played himself out to the American audience and doesn’t have anything to offer anymore.

    * He feels he still has lots of ideas and different things he can contribute to wrestling. His ideal job in the business right now would be something similar to what John Laurinaitis does for WWE. He would want to be involved in planning matches and storylines.

    * TNA has always been good to him as far as extending offers go.

    * Bret says he is a big fan of Randy Orton’s work these days but not impressed with the storylines he’s been involved in. He also said he’s impressed with Kofi Kingston and is a mark for Melina, calling her creative and very imaginative when it comes to doing her moves. He also feels everything Sheamus is doing right now is impressive and also is a big fan of Jack Swagger. Bret feels Swagger has good potential to be a top wrestler and character.

    * He would loved to have wrestled Kurt Angle and David Hart Smith. He also would have loved to work as a heel against John Cena because he feels they could have told a good story together. He hinted that Cena’s abilities in the ring are limited but he is still good.

    * As far as all the news about his WWE return, Bret said he can’t talk about the rumors but did say that he was talking with WWE and “we will see what happens.”

  • Bret Hart Signs With WWE: Details On His Return

    WWE Hall of Famer Bret "The Hitman" Hart
    WWE Hall of FamerBret "The Hitman" Hart

    Amid speculation that Bret Hart is in talks to return to World Wrestling Entertainment to host an upcoming edition of WWE RAW, it now appears Bret Hart’s involvement with WWE will extend well beyond a 1-night appearance. WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart has signed a short-term talent contract with WWE that goes into effect on January 1, 2010 and runs until April 10th, approximately two weeks after WrestleMania 26. The news was originally reported by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and has since been corroborated by our own sources and other reliable sites.

    WWE had been in talks with Bret Hart for several months trying to bring him in for an extended program. There has been talk of talk of Hart returning to the ring for one match, but he will not be a full-time wrestler considering he’s 52 years old and has not wrestled since suffering head injuries (and later a stroke) a decade ago.

    The storyline that virtually writes itself is Bret Hart feuding with Vince McMahon to settle the 1997 Survivor Series screwjob once and for all. Whether Hart is able to participate in a full match or a less-taxing street fight, seeing the Hitman finally get his hands on Vince McMahon will be a sight to see.

    As reported here earlier this week, Bret’s former tag partner Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart recently said WWE was working on a new Hart Foundation DVD project. The DVD release is part of Bret’s deal.

    Bret Hart is expected to debut on the January 4th edition of WWE RAW, head-to-head with TNA’s Monday Night iMPACT! special.

    We’ll have more details on this blockbuster story in the coming days – stay tuned!

  • JR Blog: Bret Hart Hosting Raw, HBK-Undertaker 2, His Health

    WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross
    WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross

    WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can (and should) read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Some highlights:

    WWE teasing Bret Hart will host RAW: “The teasing of Bret Hart potentially hosting Raw was cool. That was the first that I had officially heard of any sort of ‘Hitman’ return but it’s always good to see Bret in any forum and one would think that the WWE HOF’er would enhance the ratings for Raw when and if Bret does make an appearance. Could that particular appearance occur on January 4? Your guess is as good as mine.”

    Shawn Michaels challenging Undertaker: “Shawn Michaels challenging the Undertaker for a match at WM26 captured my imagination. These two created magic in Houston at WM25 and the question will be asked if both future WWE HOF’ers can recreate such a moment one more time. I will always consider being a part of the broadcast team for WM25 and being a small part of the HBK-Taker presentation as one of the greatest experiences that I’ve had in this business.”

    His own health and WWE contract status: “Yours truly is awaiting some important, medical test results that I hope to have sometime this week. I am of the belief that they will provide good news and refuse to believe any thing else. It goes without saying that I sincerely appreciate all the get well wishes and prayers from so many of you. Since making many, overdue life style changes I have been feeling great the past several weeks as I await the aforementioned medical test results and the facial nerve to kick start. With my personal health still my most important issue, I am not stressing about any contractual issues or negotiations and nothing has changed on that front or my mindset regarding such since I last addressed this matter. All my contractual issues are still in motion and being discussed.”

  • Bret Hart WWE Update, Miz Talks About Iraq & Lebron

    – Former WWE tag champion Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart said at an autograph signing this past weekend in Long Island, New York that WWE is working on a new DVD collection featuring The Hart Foundation ( not him & Bret but also Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith, other Hart family members and possibly Brian Pillman). Neidhart told fans he recently finished shooting interview footage for for the project. With WWE teasing a return by Bret Hart on last night’s RAW, this adds to the speculation that Bret might be returning to WWE in some fashion.

    – The following matches and events are advertised for tonight’s ECW on Syfy show.

    * Kane is an invited guest of ECW general manager Tiffany.
    * The Hurricane vs. The Ripper.

    – The Miz was interviewed by FoxNews.com and spoke about his experience in Iraq for WWE’s 7th annual Tribute to the Troops taping earlier this month.

    “One camp we visited didn’t even have running water. Could you imagine living without running water? Plus there’s nothing to do besides work out, eat, and work,” he said. “However when we came in seeing the smiles on these heroes’ faces was priceless.” I feel safe and secure with our troops protecting us. One of the great things about our tribute is that their families get to see them enjoy themselves, smile and be happy. It’s a great change from seeing the news with all the bombings and negativity.”

    Miz also said he wants basketball superstar Lebron James, “the second biggest star in Cleveland behind me”, to join WWE in Iraq next year.

  • Shane McMahon Update, Marijuana Use Down In WWE & More

    – Shane McMahon has not been working for WWE since announcing his resignation, which takes effect January 1st. It’s said that morale is the lowest with workers in the office since anyone can remember. One person close to Shane says that him leaving WWE had to do with being passed over for power and that he was tired of being humiliated publicly by Vince.

    – RAW Diva Alicia Fox suffered a dislocated shoulder at the WWE live event on November 28th in Johnson City, TN. She will be out of action for a few weeks.

    – WWE are now having talents cut promos at live events to build up their matches at the next pay-per-view.

    – WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart is about to become a grandfather at 52. His oldest daughter Jade is pregnant with a baby girl and due this coming May.

    – Reports are that marijuana usage on the SmackDown brand is down and one wrestler described that side side as clean. Most feel that the $2,500 fines aren’t worth it. Word is that there were a number of recent pot failures on the RAW brand, enough that it was an issue being talked about.

    (Credit to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter for the information used in this report)

  • Could Bret Hart Be Returning To WWE Television Soon?

    For the first time since the infamous “Montreal Screwjob” in 1997, Bret Hart is said to be open to returning to World Wrestling Entertainment as a weekly storyline character, according to a report in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

    Hart has had business talks with WWE in recent months, which played a part in the company rehashing “Montreal” at last week’s Breaking Point pay-per-view — in case he agrees to return.

    While nothing yet has been agreed upon, nor should one expect anything to happen anytime soon, he is no longer against returning to WWE. In the past he has said he didn’t see himself ever coming back as a character on television because he could no longer wrestle and didn’t want to become some authority figure or manager.

    WWE has had talks over the years regarding Hart returning to the company as a character. In fact, Vince McMahon told the creative team in 2006 that he was going to do a street fight with Hart on a pay-per-view. Of course, it never came to be and Hart at the time was saying that he was never going to wrestle again. Apparently, Hart was tentatively penciled in to team up with Shawn Michaels vs. Vince and Shane McMahon at Backlash 2006 instead of “God.”