– The dark match prior to Monday’s WWE RAW from Seattle saw NXT star Alexander Rusev defeat Zack Ryder. There were no matches taped for Superstars.
– We received word from a few fans that were at RAW stating that Rey Mysterio was once again seen favoring his knee after the eight-man tag team match on RAW.
– Mick Foley’s big “Cactus” Jack announcement at midnight is that the original Cactus Jack t-shirts are available for one week only on TopRopeTuesday.com for $19.99.
– Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella took home a total of 6 Slammy Awards last night, including Couple of the Year, Superstar of the Year, Diva of the Year, Beard of the Year, Fan Participation of the Year and Catchphrase of the Year.
Brie tweeted this photo of her and Daniel Bryan showing off their awards:
– Next Sunday night’s edition of Total Divas is the episode that will feature Daniel Bryan’s real-life proposal to Brie Bella.
– Lex Luger’s autobiography is scheduled for a paperback release in May of 2014.
– The following is the official synopsis for the new “WWE #1” comic book, which was written by WWE Hall Of Famer Mick Foley:
“Pandemonium Squared,” Part 1 of 4. An all-new adventure straight from the world of WWE’s powerful, ongoing clashes. It all starts with a fierce battle between WWE Champion John Cena and Mark Henry, but quickly turns into all-out chaos! Soon virtually every WWE Superstar faces off in a no-holds-barred Brawl to End it All – but what has caused the wrestlers to virtually go berserk? Can Vickie Guerrero and Booker T manage such chaos, or will Mr. McMahon have to step in? Featuring CM Punk, Fandango, Sheamus and more! “
– The 2013 Slammy Awards will air live this Monday on Raw as The Bella Twins are collectively in the running for Diva of the Year (with AJ Lee, The Funkadactyls, Natalya, Kaitlyn and Eva Marie). The twin duo appeared on the WWE App last night during SmackDown to discuss their nomination with Tom Phillips.
“We kind of feel that we are the Divas of the Year,” Brie remarked. Nikki added, “Yes! I’m just hoping that they have two Slammys because it would be kind of weird if they have one because I know I wouldn’t share!” Brie then responds to Nikki, “Really?!”
In response to where they would place their respective awards at home, Brie says her bookshelf, while Nikki states, “I would love mine in my bed. I would sleep with it, I’d shine it, I think I’d take it to breakfast. I’d definitely keep it snuggled up with me in bed.”
– As announced earlier, SmackDown ring announcer Lilian Garcia has teamed up with Closets For Causes (ClosetsForCauses.com) to raise money for Susan G. Komen in an auction featuring pieces worn to red carpet events and on television. Garcia has posted a a new blog discussing the event. Also, above is a behind-the-scenes video of Garcia modeling the clothes that will be up for auction.
The following is an excerpt from a recent Las Vegas Review-Journal interview with WWE Divas and co-stars of the Total Divas reality show, The Bella Twins:
On if they ever plan to fight in the UFC like other WWE Superstars have done:
Nikki: “That would be so cool. But in the end: No. I’ve broken bones, and the healing process on broken bones is horrible. I just came back from a stress fracture, and stress fractures are so fragile. It made me think about the rest of my life. If I have kids someday, I want to play with them without pain.”
Brie: “The Ronda Rousey arm bar doesn’t look too pleasant. I wouldn’t want to get stuck in a (UFC) cage with that.”
Nikki: “But I could break her arm.”
Brie:“You think you could break Ronda Rousey’s arm?”
– Friday’s edition of WWE SmackDown drew an average of 2.641 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. The 2.641 million average marks a pretty significant decrease from the impressive 3.106 million viewers that the show averaged the previous week.
– As previously reported, WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan appeared on the “Steve Austin Show” podcast, which is available online right now. During the interview, Bryan revealed that he and his fiancee, Brie Bella, intend to get married during WrestleMania weekend in April of 2014. Bryan said the reason they are likely to tie the knot at that time is because it is a rare time when WWE Superstars actually get a break from their hectic travel schedule.
You can listen to the full interview with Bryan on Austin’s podcast online at PodcastOne.com.
– As recently announced, Raw and SmackDown tapings are slated to take place at The O2 Arena in London, England next May. Advertising for the event in an area publication, however, features two errors, as John Cena is being promoted as Ryback while CM Punk is labeled as Alberto Del Rio.
– The official WWE website has issued a poll asking fans who is the most talented “Total Diva.” With over 2,000 votes cast thus far, Natalya is winning the poll at 41%. She is currently trailed by Brie Bella (17%), Nikki Bella (16%), Naomi (9%), JoJo (7%), Eva Marie (6%) and Cameron (4%).
– Former WWE Diva Trinity turns 42-years-old on Sunday. Now a stuntwoman and roller derby player, she came out of retirement for one night only in the spring for TNA Wrestling.
– The season one finale of Total Divas on E! will air on Sunday, Dec. 15 and will be highlighted by former WWE and World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan asking Brie Bella for her hand in marriage. According to TVGuide.com, the official synopsis for the episode, titled “Ready to Ride,” is as follows: “In the Season 1 finale, Bryan pops the question to Brie in a romantic setting; at the same time, Nikki feels uncertain about her future with John Cena after a heated discussion about marriage and children; and the first meeting between Eva Marie’s fiancé and her family goes horribly wrong.”
The penultimate episode will air on Sunday, Dec. 8. Details are as follows: “Nattie and TJ are forced to say goodbye to a beloved pet; Trinity has it out with Jon over his jealous behavior; and Nikki’s medical leave causes tensions between herself and Brie.”
– Former WWE Diva Amy Weber, who served as John “Bradshaw” Layfield’s image consultant when the Texas native reigned as WWE Champion in 2004 and 2005, was honored with Best Dance Song at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards in Hollywood, California last week. She also opened the show with a performance, footage of which is available here.
– In addition to Christian (40) and Jushin “Thunder” Liger (51), two former WWE wrestlers are celebrating birthdays today. “The Z-Man” Tom Zenk turns 55 while Jimmy Del Rey turns 51.
– WWE Hall of Famer “Mean” Gene Okerlund appeared on ESPN Radio’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd this week as a celebrity guest picking NFL games.
– Two big pro wrestling-related weddings are now official for the early part of 2014. WWE Superstar The Miz and his fiancee, former WWE Diva Maryse are set to get married in February. WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan and his fiancee, current WWE Diva Brie Bella are set to get married in April.
– Many are unaware, but a little known fact about WWE Diva JoJo Offerman, who is also one of the stars of the WWE Total Divas reality show, is that she is the daughter of Major League Baseball legend Jose Offerman.
– WWE.com has added the following preview for tonight’s edition of Total Divas on E!:
‘Total Divas’ ROUGH SKIES FOR NIKKI & CENA?
John Cena and Nikki Bella contemplate the future during an emotional exchange before Cena’s triceps surgery in this preview clip of the latest “Total Divas,” airing tonight at 10/9 CT only on E!
– As noted, country music band Florida Georgia Line have announced that they will be appearing on Monday’s “RAW Country” edition of the weekly WWE program. In their tweet announcing their appearance on the show, the band also joked about borrowing John Cena’s workout routine when joking about being “pumped” for their appearance. The current World Heavyweight Champion replied to their tweet, cracking a joke back about how the post-workout routine may involve the consumption of some moonshine. Cena tweeted the following:
– WWE ring announcer Tony Chimel got physically involved in the action at the WWE live event in Minehead on Saturday night. After defeating R-Truth to retain his WWE Intercontinental Championship, Curtis Axel demanded that Chimel give him the proper post-match announcement. Instead of doing that, Chimel kicked Axel in the gut and hit him with a “Stone Cold Stunner.” Following that sequence, The Bella Twins hit the ring and gave Chimel a big kiss.
WWE Superstar and current World Heavyweight Champion John Cena later joked on Twitter that Chimel may “owe Steve Austin” and that he may have lost his girlfriend, Nikki Bella, to Chimel.
– Speaking to Larry Nickel of CBS Sports 920 in St. Louis, Missouri, former WWE Champion Daniel Bryan admits that when he first joined WWE, he could not tell Brie Bella, who he’s now engaged to be married to, from her sister Nikki.
“Now, they are so different to me, I don’t even see how people think that they look alike. It’s crazy. They definitely look like sisters, but they’re no longer twins to me,” said Bryan.
Nickel tells Bryan that he can tell them apart for “different reasons,” leading the WWE Superstar to ask him to name them.
“Nikki had the…uh…yeah,” Nickel remarked, alluding to her sizable breast augmentation last year.
– WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee didn’t miss a beat after fainting during her match on Friday in London, England as she competed at tonight’s show in Minehead. Partnering with Tamina, the duo again lost to The Bella Twins.
Today’s show in Minehead marks as the eleventh day of WWE’s grueling tour across Europe, which has been described as exhausting by some wrestlers.
– The official YouTube account of WWE has released a teaser clip previewing next month’s slate of Classics On Demand programming, which features a “Stone Cold Christmas.”
The synopsis reads, “All next month let WWE Classics On Demand warm you with “Season’s Beatings”. Get in the holiday spirit all December, with your favorite festive moments and matches. Highlights include a special “Stone Cold Christmas”, Tribute To The Troops 2012 and unforgettable holiday editions of Monday Night Raw, TNT, Prime Time and more.”
– In a scene that did not air on last Sunday’s return episode of Total Divas, Eva Marie approaches Brie Bella about becoming her new tag team partner after Nikki Bella suffers a leg injury (in June, Nikki suffered a stress fracture in her leg and did not return to action until last month).
Eva, who is “known for her unorthodox career tactics,” sees this as a major opportunity for herself and offers to fill in for Nikki while she recuperates. To watch the clip, featuring Brie’s response, click here.
WWE Superstar Zack Ryder has been rocking a goatee during his recent appearances on the WWE European tour. You can check out a photo of Ryder’s new look below:
With Total Divas returning tomorrow night at 10/9 CT on E!, viewers can expect to see Eva Marie’s off-putting behavior and John Cena and Nikki Bella’s relationship take center stage.
The Nov. 17 episode, titled “Nurse Nikki,” will focus on the three. Courtesy of TVGuide.com, the synopsis reads, “Nikki moves in with John Cena and he shocks her with an unexpected demand; at the same time, Eva Marie considers cheating after she’s asked to announce on live TV.”
The Nov. 24 episode, as well as tomorrow night’s show, will center around Eva Marie. In a new twist, Natalya suspects that she is attempting to get in touch with Tyson Kidd. The official synopsis for “Seeing Red,” which also features the continuation of the Cena and Bella storyline, is as follows: “Nattie has a feeling that Eva Marie is trying to cozy up to her man; Nikki wonders if she can accept John Cena’s demand; and Brie has issues with Bryan’s increasing fame.”
As reported earlier, the synopsis for tomorrow night’s “SummerSlam” show reads: “Eva Marie’s rising popularity is seen as a threat by Nikki; Ariane works on anger management; and an accident during a match leaves Nattie worried about returning to the ring for SummerSlam.”
Brie Bella has her own suspicions of Eva Marie. Speaking to OK! Magazine, she stated the following of her peer’s behavior at SummerSlam for her match against Natalya, “The thing is, you are putting so many different personalities together trying to force friendships and it is like, we are still going for one spot. Especially in the first episode because it is SummerSlam, that is a big night for us and I was lucky enough to have a singles match but how can someone just walk in and try to capitalize off that?! We definitely have our moments where we get along great but you will see a lot more of Eva just kind of being herself and just trying to get ahead without working hard. She has her ways.”
Eva Marie, who scored her first pinfall victory last Monday on Raw, is currently in Europe promoting Total Divas.
-WWE Diva and co-star of the Total Divas reality show, Brie Bella, is said to have impressed WWE officials with the improvement of her in-ring work as of late. Many are crediting her real-life fiancee’ Daniel Bryan for her improvement, as Bryan and Bella reportedly spend two hours before each show in the ring working on various things together.
Speaking of Brie Bella, there is talk of WWE releasing some “Brie-Mode” merchandise soon. Fans of Total Divas will remember “Brie-Mode” as the name her twin sister Nikki gave her to describe her behavior when she is drunk and partying.
-According to reports, a new priority for the future in WWE is tag-team wrestling. Triple H is strongly behind the idea and will apparently put additional focus on tag-teams during the next set of WWE NXT television tapings, which is scheduled for November 21st at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.
– As seen last night at WWE Hell in a Cell, AJ Lee successfully defend the WWE Divas Championship against Brie Bella. Attempting to kick Lee, Brie inadvertently leveled Nikki as she combated Tamina, knocking her twin off the apron and onto the ringside floor. The miscue was enough to open the door for Lee to put her in the Black Widow. Nikki is taking the blame for Brie’s loss, as she wrote on Twitter, “”Another Divas Championship match I have ruined. So sorry Brie 4 distracting u again. I promise u will get it next time! N #SisterlyLove”
Brie responded on Instagram, “It wasn’t you Nikki…it was me! I might of let the #bellaarmy down tonight, but I won’t stop till I’m Champ. As long as you all stand behind me, I won’t give up! #briemode.”
– WWE and The Pearson Foundation recently set a world reading record for Jumpstart’s “Read for the Record!” The official YouTube account of WWE released a promotional video on this, which features Sheamus reading to children.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIvW20SSRag
– Former WWE Superstar MVP turns 40-years-old on Monday. On Twitter, he posted some messages concerning this milestone day, including, “Well, I don’t FEEL any different.”
– Three-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection Shawne Merriman is looking to enter the world of professional wrestling after retiring from the National Football League in March at the age of 28. He participated in a multi-day tryout this week at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, and according to sources within the sports-entertainment organization, has not been offered any deal, much less signed to a contract.
Merriman was a first-round pick in 2005 by the San Diego Chargers and named the Defensive Rookie of the Year after recording 10 sacks. In 2006, he served a four-game suspension for violating the league’s steroid policy, and still finished the season with 17 sacks.
The once promising pass rusher was never able to match the production of the early years of his career. After totaling 39.5 sacks in his first three seasons while making the Pro Bowl each year, he managed just six sacks from 2008 through 2012. He was looking to revitalize his career as recently as July, as he went on Twitter to make a plea for the Atlanta Falcons to sign him.
– This week’s edition of The JBL & Cole Show features a Halloween theme as The Bella Twins terrorize Hornswoggle, Renee Young gets possessed, Paul Heyman cackles and more.
– After concluding six months of filming for Hercules: The Thracian Wars last week, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is crossing over to filming for Fast & Furious 7, where “The Most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment” reprises his role as the hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs.
Fast & Furious 7 will hit theaters in July 2014, while Hercules: The Thracian Wars comes out the following month.
– Promoting Hell in a Cell, the official YouTube account has released a WWE ’13 simulation of CM Punk vs. Ryback and Paul Heyman, as AJ Lee vs. Brie Bella.
– As seen at the conclusion of Raw, Triple H took hold of the mic and ran Daniel Bryan down yet again in typical fashion, as he proclaimed that the 5’8″ grappler is not worthy of being “The Face of WWE.” The Chief Operating Officer’s remarks had a lot of people shaking their heads backstage since they feel he was burying him as a performer rather than knocking him in a villainous manner that would lead to Bryan gaining retribution.
– WWE NXT star Tyler Breeze, who competed on WWE live events over the weekend in matches against Justin Gabriel, receiving positive reviews for his performance. His co-workers were especially impressed with his heel mannerisms.
– In WWE’s latest Susan G. Komen for the Cure promotional video, Nikki and Brie Bella share personal stories about their families’ struggles with breast cancer.
With Nikki Bella recovered from her shin injury and no longer banned from ringside, The Bella Twins reunited on Raw as they took down Divas Champion AJ Lee and Tamina. Six days before AJ and Brie tangle at Hell in a Cell, Lee suffered the pinfall loss following a Bella Buster from the No. 1 Contender.
Following the bout, Brie declared in Tout message that she will defeat AJ this Sunday at Hell in a Cell: “What you just saw here at Raw is exactly what I’m going to do to AJ Lee this Sunday Hell in a Cell. And once again, that Bella Buster is going to take her down and I will become the new Divas Champion because AJ Lee isn’t the only who has passion for that title. Brie Bella does as well.”
As for Nikki, she remarked on Twitter about her first match since June 3 with the following: “I’m cleared and it feels oh SO good to be back in that ring! Besos! Nikki #BellaTwins #TwinMagic #RAW #Twinning.”
In a rematch from WWE Battleground, it has just been confirmed by WWE.com that Divas Champion AJ Lee will defend her title against Brie Bella this Sunday at WWE Hell in a Cell.
WWE explains that with Bella’s victory over Lee on last week’s episode of SmackDown, she has earned another opportunity to capture the belt.
Here is the updated card for the pay-per-view event taking place in Miami, Florida.
* Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan (WWE Championship Hell in a Cell Match)
* World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio vs. John Cena
* CM Punk vs. Ryback and Paul Heyman (Handicap Hell in a Cell Match)
According to one source, WWE is apparently puzzled as to why Brie Bella is not more over as a babyface right now. The general consensus is that she came off on the “Total Divas” reality show as a super-babyface, unlike her twin-sister Nikki Bella, who at times came off as a heel.
Considering the fact that she came off as such a babyface on the show, WWE reportedly failed to understand why she didn’t receive more sympathy from the fans during the beat down she suffered at the hands of Tamina Snuka and AJ Lee on this past Monday’s edition of WWE RAW.
Obviously, Total Divas represents a small percentage of the fan base that watches RAW, and the demographics are very different, however some in the company fail to make that connection.
Speaking of Bella, as noted previously, current plans call for her to challenge AJ Lee for the WWE Divas Championship at the upcoming WWE Hell In A Cell pay-per-view.
