Paul Heyman just dropped a new episode of his Heyman Hustle video series, revealing a spoiler for tonight’s WWE RAW. Also making a cameo on the show is the #HustleBootyTempTats Super Model of the Year, Ellie Gonsalves.
Roman Reigns spoke to our friend Chris Illuminati from BroBible.com this week to hype his match against Brock Lesnar at Sunday’s WrestleMania 31 pay-per-view. Here are some highlights of what Reigns said about:
If He’s “Nervous Excited” or “Excited Excited” For WrestleMania:
“That’s a good way of asking that question. I’m excited excited right now. I think the nervous-excited won’t kick in until we get closer to Sunday.”
What His Average Day Looks Like:
“My average match is 20-25 minutes. That’s probably the easiest part of my day. There’s a full day of training involved before I even hit the ring. I usually do 30-40 minutes of cardio before I even hit the ring. Eating right is tough. I have to be concerned about my meal, and while I’m eating, I have to think about my next meal. Sometimes you see guys lugging around 3-4 meals just in case. My body just expects it.”
His Most Painful Moment In The Ring:
“The most recent was my match against Daniel Bryan at Fastlane. He kicked my scar from my recent hernia surgery. That was painful. I needed to take a step back from training that next day!”
Head on over to BroBible.com for the full interview.
– WWE Hall Of Famer Jake “The Snake” Roberts is the guest on this week’s edition of Roddy Piper’s “Piper’s Pit” podcast. The show is available for download right now at PodcastOne.com.
– WWE Superstars Titus O’Neil and Darren Young worked out with former NFL star and one-time WWE prospect Shawne Merriman in Los Angeles, California this morning.
– WWE filmed some footage of Roman Reigns with his family this past weekend in Florida. The belief is that the segment was filmed to air as part of the build to Reigns’ match against WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 31 on tonight’s “go-home” edition of WWE RAW.
Check out the photo below.
One of the hot topics backstage at WWE live events among talent this past weekend was the contract status of current WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar.
It’s said that all the talents in WWE realize that things have come to a point where Lesnar either has to sign a new WWE contract, or inform the company that he’s done at some point this week.
As we reported last week, WWE is hoping to sign Lesnar at tonight’s RAW. However, lately it’s been said that WWE is setting today as the deadline, one way or the other, to finish their negotiations with Lesnar.
(Credit: PWInsider.com & F4WOnline.com)
Dean Ambrose recently spoke with Mike Jones of DC 101 to promote WrestleMania 31. Here are some highlights of what he said about:
The IC Title Ladder Match At WrestleMania: “When you add in the guys that are in the match, and the stage that it’s on, WrestleMania, and it’s a lot of guys with a lot of chips on their shoulder this year that have worked hard for this moment. We’re all going to do our best to shine and steal the show, and when you get into a ladder match, that’s a lot of tools to work with.”
Bringing Prestige Back To The IC Title: “To me, I think it’s very easy to remedy. If I’m the Intercontinental Champion, or Dolph Ziggler, or Daniel Bryan is the Intercontinental Champion. To me it’s like, any one of those three are the best wrestlers on the planet and can main event any show in the world with the Intercontinental Championship match.”
The Dangers Of Ladder Matches: “The adrenaline in front of 70,000 people is pretty indescribable, you pretty much do anything. I’ve done some of the worst, most abusive things to my body and taken the biggest risks you can possibly imagine for almost no money on very small stages for no other reason than just because.”
If Roman Reigns Can Handle Being In The Main Event Of WrestleMania: “There’s no way to prepare for a situation like that other than experience and the only way you get experience is by experiencing stuff. I think he’ll be fine. That’s a hell of a position to be put in, main event of WrestleMania, considering he’s only been wrestling since 2010 or 11, that’s the first time he stepped in the ring. So if you consider the learning curve that he’s had to deal with it’s amazing that’s he at this point. Only way you find out if you’re ready to do anything is just to do it!”
With WrestleMania only a week away, we continue our survey of the best matches in the event’s history by looking at the second decade of action. This was an important and transitional decade for the company, as they started the period relying on superstars such as Bret Hart, Diesel, and Shawn Michaels at the top of the card, while ending it with guys such as Triple H, Brock Lesnar, and of course, Steve Austin.
The content of the product also changed dramatically during this time period, with it starting as a family-friendly product during the “new generation” era, and we all know what went on during the Attitude Era after the company shifted focus due to pressure from rival WCW. With that said, here are the ten best matches from this era. Matches are judged based on workrate, in-ring psychology, pre-match build, and historical significance, and a full video of the match is included with each entry.
10. Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Jericho (WrestleMania 2000)
Despite being billed as the greatest thing since electricity, WrestleMania 2000 was basically a bust. One of the few bright spots was the two-fall triple threat match between Benoit, Angle, and Jericho. The stipulation was unique in that both the Intercontinental and European Championships were on the line, with the first fall deciding the former and the second deciding the latter. Angle would go into the match holding both titles, but would unfortunately walk out with neither. Benoit won the first fall with a diving headbutt and pinning Jericho. Jericho would win the second by delivering a Lionsault and pinning Benoit. It featured fast-paced action with a ton of near-falls, and it told a great story by having Angle lose both of his titles without being pinned or forced to submit.
9. Triple H vs. Chris Jericho (WrestleMania X8)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2d0qox_wwf-wrestlemania-xviii-chris-jericho-vs-hunter-hearst-helmsley_sport
This was the first time Chris Jericho had the opportunity to headline a WrestleMania, and he came into the match aligned with Stephanie McMahon as a heel. It told a great story that featured a thorough build, and eventually ended with The Game winning the Undisputed Championship after hitting the Pedigree.
8. Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XX)
These guys were three of the best technical wrestlers in the game at the time. The match was entertaining, there were multiple near-falls, and in the end, the title changed hands after Benoit forced Triple H to tap out to the Crippler Crossface. After the match, Benoit’s best friend Eddie Guerrero came to the ring and the two embraced while confetti rained down from the rafters. It’s of course a little bittersweet due to what happened years later, but it is still an emotional moment and a great match nonetheless.
7. The Rock vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania X8)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2d0qps_wwf-wrestlemania-xviii-the-rock-vs-hollywood-hogan_sport
This match seems to receive a mixed reaction from a lot of fans. In my opinion, it is one of the most entertaining and unpredictable matches in WrestleMania history, largely due to the crowd reaction. Going into the match, The Rock was the fan favorite while Hogan was booked as the heel. However, the crowd turned on Rock halfway through the match and started to cheer Hogan. The two improvised from there the match ended with Hogan once again turning face and celebrating with The People’s Champion after going down in defeat.
6. Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XIV)
Following his match with Bret Hart at the previous WrestleMania, Austin was undoubtedly the top dog in the WWE. It wouldn’t be until this night that he would finally capture his first WWE Championship, however. This wasn’t a technical affair by any means, largely due to Michaels wrestling with a severely injured back. With that said, it was still an entertaining contest that featured great in-ring psychology and one of the best builds of any main event in WrestleMania history due to the involvement of Mike Tyson. Austin would of course go on to win the title and start his run as perhaps the most successful superstar in WWE history.
WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross recently spoke with The Last Gentlemen Podcast to talk about a number of topics. Below are highlights from the interview.
On whether the wrestling business is dictated by the fans, and why Daniel Bryan is main eventing house shows, but not WrestleMania: “Its a coach’s decision… In their view that’s the best utilization of Daniel Bryan. In the WWE, The Intercontinental Title has been very tepid…. (The Belt) could mean more… Maybe Daniel Bryan wins the ladder match at Wrestlemania, and becomes the Intercontinental Champion and actually has the title long enough to make it mean something… You also got a guy that’s in the eyes of many, a little undersized, and now unfortunately for him…. I don’t know how his health is… Whether he’s still on pins and needles…There’s probably more to the story then you and I know about.”
On the current commentators: “Like any other talent, you follow the producer, if your unwilling to compromise your style you’re more then likely to be replaced…. The announcers today are a reflection on how they are being produced. They are following their orders….”
On CM Punk possibly not hitting a UFC buyrate that he might be expecting: “It would probably be a very productive pay-per-view if Punk and Lesnar were both on the same one….. The irony is that while neither of them are seemingly emotionally invested in the wrestling business any longer, which does alienate that fan base from you… They are both counting on that fan base to set those records.”
On recruiting pro wrestlers, specifically former athletes: “I’d wanna talk to every coach they ever had, I’d wanna talk to their parents, to their teammates, if I’m going to invest money in a player, id wanna know as much as I humanly possibly can, before I offer them a contract. That’s where a lot of mistakes were made.”
Check out the complete interview at TheLastGentlemenPodcast.com.
Jim Ross shared his in-depth thoughts on the ongoing negotiations between Brock Lesnar and WWE in the latest blog posted on his official website.
Below is an excerpt:
“Arguably the hottest issue that has been on my Twitter timeline @JRsBBQ is the contract status between WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and WWE. This matter is running into the 11th hour and one would have thought it would have been settled month ago just as I mentioned last summer on one of my Ross Report Podcasts. Now both sides are scrambling to finalize a deal in what could be a high stress and emotional negotiation which is exactly what neither party ever wants to experience. To WWE’s credit they have have been talking to Brock for months and he could have possibly simply been posturing to achieve what is happening now to occur. I have no idea of the circumstances surrounding this matter. I do know that Brock likely makes an enormous sum of money for essentially a part time job but I have no issue with that as Lesnar stays more ‘special’ because he is not over exposed which is seemingly the norm in the biz these days and another reason that the genre struggles at times with TV ratings and general perception.
If Lesnar re-signs with WWE there is no lock that he will lose the WWE Title at WM31 to Roman Reigns but I do applaud WWE for seemingly steering the course with their long term build of Reigns who has a viable upside and plenty of potential but is arguably not completely ready for the distinction of being the ‘man.’ However, when was any first time WWE Champion ever 100% ready to be the ‘man?’ If we analyze the past champions, all of who displayed the traits desired for the role, no one could guarantee their success until they got in the game and experienced the ‘live ammo’ that comes with that extremely challenging job and it’s many responsibilities.
It’s obvious that UFC would love to have Brock back in the fold and would likely pay him a proverbial pot of gold to return and step back into the Octagon. Is returning to the highest level of MMA the best thing for this beast of an athlete who’s nearing 40 years of age and coming off significant heath problems and who also has a beautiful and young family?
One thing is for sure and that’s both Reigns and Lesnar are former D1 athletes of distinction and both men will bring their legit, competitive athletic fire to the personation as to have a match that will make them both pleased with the effort and the results no matter who wins or loses. They are athletes first and entertainers second which tells me that they will have no major issues closing the show at WrestleMania in a positive way. I don’t see this match being fancy or a spot fest but I do feel that it will be physical and reality based.
Some fans seemingly are in over thinking mode more concerned about who gets booed and who doesn’t than focusing on what the match will be like and the story that will be told inside the ring.
I am somewhat optimistic that Brock will re-up with WWE but there are certainly no guarantees and I’d expect we won’t know that answer until after the event in Levis Stadium. Having said that, one cold argue that the main event is as unpredictable as it has been in quite some time of which I personally like. Many within WWE will breathe much easier if Brock puts pen to contract this Monday in LA at RAW.”
Check out the complete blog at JRsBarBQ.com. You can also order JR’s Bar-B-Q products online at WWEShop.com.
Miami’s FOX 7 Entertainment reporter Chris Van Vliet recently interviewed The Rock to promote his role in the new “Furious 7” film. Below are highlights and video of the interview.
On giving Jason Statham the Rock Bottom in “Furious 7”: “The idea was I got together with Jason Statham and said let’s put together an epic fight that’s going to be memorable. And at the end to punctuate it I said ‘Alright brother, what if I hooked you’ and he’s like ‘Yeah? Suplex?’ and I said ‘No, not a suplex. First time ever on film, I hit you with the Rock Bottom.’ When you present that to a movie star like Jason, you’re at a crossroads because if ego is involved the movie star could say ‘I don’t know. That your thing, it’s a big finishing move and I don’t want you to hit me with it.’ If you check your ego at the door like Statham did, it was great. He’s a focused guy and we pulled it off and we went through the glass table, cut us up a little bit and he was game to play and he came to rumble. And by the way, it’s the best move of the movie.”
On whether he thinks Roman Reigns is ready to be the WWE Champion? “Ready to headline WrestleMania and ready to be the Champ are two different things. I think that he’s in a unique position. He’s being pushed quickly, I was in that position before so I know what it’s like, but at the same time you either sink or swim so you’ve got no choice but to be ready. Fans have expressed their displeasure in it and that is the best part about the WWE Universe is that they’re so vocal and passionate about how they feel. I think he’s going to go out with Brock, who I’ve known for a very long time, and they’re going to have a hell of a match and that’s what I expect.”
On the rumors about facing Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 32: “In Dallas? Possibly. There’s a lot of things that are up in the air. We’ll see. I would love that rematch. Whatever it is I think that you want to create something that is going to be special, memorable and especially in Dallas at that stadium and you have a shot at breaking the attendance record.”
On how he thinks CM Punk will do in UFC: “I think he’s going to great because he’s putting in the time to train. And he’s had the background anyway so I think he’s going to great.”
Check out the complete interview above.
– During a taped interview on Raw offering his thoughts on Roman Reigns, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar mentioned beating The Rock as a rookie—at the 2002 SummerSlam to capture the WWE Championship—and sending him to Hollywood. It was stated in this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that this line was scripted to push a match between both wrestlers as a possibility for next year’s WrestleMania.
WrestleMania 32 is scheduled to take place on April 3, 2016, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
– After realizing Renee Young is his perfect co-host on The JBL & Renee Show, JBL celebrates by singing with other WWE Superstars on this week’s episode.
– It was announced on Monday that Larry Zbyszko will become enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame the night before WrestleMania 31. To celebrate the induction, five clips of “classic moments” from his career have been added to the WWE Hall of Fame section on the WWE Network.
At the WWE SmackDown television taping on Tuesday night, there were rumors going around the WWE dressing room that WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar was close to signing a new deal with the company.
According to the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the rumors are premature, as there is still no definitive word as to what Lesnar is going to do once his current WWE deal expires after WrestleMania 31.
As of Wednesday, the situation between Lesnar and WWE is reportedly the same as it has been for a few weeks now, dating back to the big backstage blow-up between Lesnar and Vince McMahon at a WWE RAW taping. Whatever caused that blow-up at RAW has yet to be settled and nothing has changed as of yet.
WWE officials are still negotiating with Lesnar and are hopeful to get him to sign a new contract, specifically targeting next Monday’s RAW in Los Angeles, California as the place and time they hope to see it happen.
Daniel Bryan recently spoke with Adelaide Now out of Australia to promote WrestleMania 31. Below are highlights from the interview.
On being in the I-C title ladder match instead of the main event: “For a year, I had this vision of me wrestling (former UFC champion) Brock Lesnar in the main event for the WWE Championship. But sometimes, when you don’t get what you want, you end up getting something better — like this ladder match. I think with the guys we have in that match and the excitement we can generate, we have a real chance of stealing the show.”
On Connor “The Crusher” Michalek: “This is really, really difficult for me. You talk about us inspiring people with what we do, and what we do really is a selfish job. Actors, musicians, artists, wrestlers — we all entertain people but really we are doing it for ourselves, for our art. It wasn’t until I got to the WWE, that I really felt what I do could make a positive difference in other people’s lives — and the first time I really felt like that was when I met Connor. You know how some people have a bright light shining out when you meet them? I don’t know if people understand this sometimes, but while we’re performers who inspire people we, too, are people — and we can be inspired as well.”
On wanting to make the I-C title and SmackDown important again: “One of the things that frustrates me — both as a performer and as a person who thinks the current crop of superstars is really, really good — is the way people don’t get opportunities. It’s well known that the people who are perceived to be ‘the bigger Superstars’ don’t show up often on SmackDown, they mostly feature on (the main show), Monday Night Raw. One of the things I’d like to do, as a kind of near-main event guy, is to do things that provide opportunities for guys to really stand out.”
On Vince McMahon’s “millennial” comments and his claims that Cesaro is “missing something”: “I think that’s only one man’s opinion, and I don’t think Cesaro has had a chance to show Vince that there’s nothing missing. You let Cesaro and I have a match on SmackDown and I guarantee that, by the end of it, people will either love him or hate him … he will get a very strong reaction.”
Check out the complete interview at AdelaideNow.com.
WrestleMania 31 main event challenger Roman Reigns spoke to Rolling Stone today to discuss last night’s RAW, his character’s evolution, being underestimated and much more. It’s a lengthy interview and we highly recommend you check it out.
Since winning the Royal Rumble, Reigns has had to battle throw intense negative backlash and is still getting mixed reactions with less than two weeks until WWE’s biggest show of the year. During his promo last night on RAW, Reigns improvised when the crowd began chanting for the man he defeated at Fastlane to solidify his title shot, Daniel Bryan. Reigns doubled down on his position from after the Rumble, stating that if fans want to cheer for Daniel Bryan, he’s “all for that.” But Reigns sounds like he’s getting fed up with fans not buying in to his promos:
“That’s just an instinct thing. That’s not something you learn in a warehouse or people can tell you. If you’re a Daniel Bryan fan, I’m all for that. The more people Daniel Bryan will bring into arenas, the better. The more people I bring in, the better. But when I’mherzog talkin’, shut the hell up and let me talk.”
When asked if winning the WWE World Heavyweight championship is his ultimate goal at WrestleMania, Reigns told Rolling Stone’s Kenny Herzog:
I just want to go out there and do my thing, and a lot of that is winning the WWE Championship. I can’t stress enough how that title is everything for us. But for me, I would like to wake up and know, “Yeah, that was a five-star, you-can’t-touch-that match.” I’d like to be able to walk to the back thinking, “Can’t one of y’all do that.”
He added that he’s enjoying ‘learning on the fly’ and is “absolutely” saving his best for Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania.
With less than two weeks to go until WrestleMania 31, booking plans are in the process of being finalized and we’ve got some information regarding three of the top matches on the show. WWE insider ‘MetsFan4Ever’ has released some major details regarding what’s planned for the main event as well as the IC & US titles.
According to the Reddit user, the word going around Tuesday night’s SmackDown tapings is that Brock Lesnar is very close to signing a new contract with WWE. The deal would be similar to his current deal, with Lesnar presented presented as a special attraction making limited appearances.
The big news is that Triple H is reportedly trying to sell Vince McMahon on the idea of Brock Lesnar retaining the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania. This scenario would also have implications on two other WrestleMania matches.
If Brock retains, the plan is for John Cena to defeat Rusev for the Unites States Championship and Daniel Bryan to emerge victorious in the Intercontinental Championship Ladder match. With Brock Lesnar only making occasional appearances on WWE television, the idea is for John Cena and Daniel Bryan to headline various RAW, PPV and live events defending their titles, which would bring a great deal of prestige to both.
While things can change over the next week and a half, this is one the main ideas being considered.
This week’s episode of Raw was held in Des Moines, Iowa at the Wells Fargo Arena, and it was anything but money. With less than two weeks until WrestleMania, one would think the action would be heating up, but that wasn’t really the case. Here are the pros and cons from this week’s episode of Raw.
Once again, Paul Heyman was the highlight of Raw. He appeared solo to hype the main event of WrestleMania and kicked off the third hour of the show. Heyman declared that Brock Lesnar is not a “pacifist” but a “conqueror.” The best in the biz questioned what would happen after Lesnar violates the parameters of the match and said fans are “stuck with Brock Lesnar as your WWE Champion.” It was an entertaining promo, and it’s nice to see at least one person is putting in work to hype the biggest match of the year. Reigns appeared but was totally out of his league as the crowd booed him. It wasn’t even a terrible promo, honestly, but it would’ve been much more intense if he had delivered it while standing toe-to-toe with the Beast Incarnate. That confrontation is at least supposed to happen next week, or so they say.
If you were on the Internet at all during the day, you probably knew Sting was photographed in Des Moines. The final match between Orton and Rollins never took place, with The Authority surrounding the ring as Orton wielded a chair. The entire crowd was chanting, “We want Sting” from the start and it was totally obvious he was going to make the save. With that said, it was still awesome to see him appear and hit J&J with a Stinger Splash while teaming up with The Viper. I don’t know about Cole’s assertion that it was “one of the greatest moments in Raw history,” but it was a good way to end the show and actually hype a few of the matches leading into WrestleMania.
The six-man tag featured the best wrestling action of the night. Ambrose and Stardust started the match and worked well together, with Ambrose hitting a big bulldog at one point. Bryan then entered the ring and worked over Stardust by using a surfboard that he turned into a pinning combination. After the break, Ambrose was back in the ring, this time with Luke Harper. The Lunatic Fringe had the upper hand after a tornado DDT before tagging in Dolph Ziggler. The faces dominated the action early, but Barrett eventually entered the fray and turned the tables for a bit. After a second commercial break, Ambrose made a blind tag and picked up the win after the action broke down, hitting Dirty Deeds after an excellent counter of the Bull Hammer Elbow. It was a good match, and they continue to hype this ladder match, which is always a plus.
It was good to see Mark Henry back on Raw, as he declared his intention to enter the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal before clearing house. Axel was entertaining during this segment as well.
AJ Lee and Nikki Bella squared off in the opening contest while Brie and Paige looked on at ringside. They were given a good bit of time and put on an entertaining match, even if the action was a bit sloppy at times. AJ locked in an impressive guillotine choke before being driven into the turnbuckle by Nikki. She later rallied and took down Nikki with a nice lateral crossbody. Nikki finally picked up the win with the Rack Attack after knocking AJ out following a distraction. It was a decent opening match and if nothing else, it was something new.
I guess the Brock Lesnar interview could be considered a pro, if only because he appeared on television and actually spoke. Lesnar said WrestleMania is a “day that I get to show up, kick somebody’s ass, and get paid to do so.” With that said, he needed to be in attendance instead of wasting his limited appearances by having his show up and look bored out of his mind. There is zero heat between Lesnar and Reigns, as they have yet to come face-to-face and it will be one week until the biggest main event of the year on next week’s Raw. Lesnar isn’t the best speaker, but he’s not terrible by any means. Have these guys face off and speak their minds to build this match up.
WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross has updated the blog section of his official website. Below are some highlights.
On Friday’s edition of Impact Wrestling: “Thought Impact Wrestling Friday night was one of their best TV shows in a good while and arguably the best wrestling show of the TV week. If TNA simply keeps their talk managed and succinct while focusing on what their talents do best and that’s wrestle they are going to be line over the long haul IMO. It’s not that their talents can’t promo but today’s audiences generally don’t want to have to listen to the ‘never ending promos’ that are over scripted and over thought. Kudos to Rockstar Spud & EC3 on a compelling performance.”
On Melina’s appearance on the Ross Report: “We are getting some amazing feedback on our Ross Report Podcast with @RealMelina this week especially from women. I hope that you will check it out as Melina is brutally honest and opens her heart for all to hear. Download for free at podcastone.com and iTunes or listen to it right here on the home page of our site.”
On Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 31: “I think fans should give Roman Reigns an opportunity to prove himself on the big stage at WrestleMania vs. Brock Lesnar. Wouldn’t shock me to see Lesnar win the match even though Reigns is the favorite because of the unknown status of Lesnar’s WWE contractual arrangement.”
Check out the complete blog at JRsBarBQ.com.
Dolph Ziggler recently spoke with Ring Rust Radio about the Intercontinental Title Match at WrestleMania 31, Daniel Bryan and more. Here are some highlights of what he said about:
Restoring Prestige to the Intercontinental Championship:
“Well to restore prestige, you’d have to do something similar to what I did a couple of months ago. I finally beat Miz for the title, and then constantly, The Authority wanted to take it off me. So it became that much more exciting because every Monday, every Thursday, every weekend, every pay-per-view I was defending that title. They were trying to stick it to me, and you didn’t know if I was going to win it or if I was going to lose it because the odds were stacked against me. Or you thought that whether they are trying to take it off him or not, it’s constantly being defended, and I think that was the right track in starting it to get seen as the workhorse title that gets put on the line all the time.
Brock Lesnar is not always around, this could be the up-and-coming title, and for a couple of months I defended that thing 20 times and that’s the absolute way to get that title more prestigious. It’s obviously on the back burner right now; there’s other stories going on, it’s not the top story right now, and I’m not going to pretend it is. My goal is when I’m given an inch I try to take a mile. So when I had that title, I was always wanting to defend it, tell Triple H to call whoever he wants, have him at ringside, because the more I defended it, it slowly began to gain prestige as a title that wasn’t just a workhorse title, but a title that was going to be defended sometimes, and that’s what needs to happen.”
The IC Title Ladder Match at WrestleMania:
“Here’s the deal, ladder matches are crazy; the Intercontinental title is starting to barely mean something again, not just to me, but the fans. I’ll say what I always say going into WrestleMania: You’re going to see Sting, you’re going to see Brock Lesnar, you’re going to see John Cena, so my goal and the chip on my shoulder’s goal is to have you talking about my match the next day. I promise you, there are so many hungry guys in there who want to prove to everyone just how damn good they really are. It’s going to be hard for me to keep up, but trust me I will.
Campaigning On Twitter For A WrestleMania Match With Daniel Bryan:
“I randomly suggested it. I was pissed at my Royal Rumble match, I was pissed. I felt bad about Daniel Bryan with the entire world behind him and getting shot out after a couple of minutes. So I thought I have this chip on my shoulder, he’s got a chip on his shoulder, why the hell don’t we show people who the real main event match should be? If you want to pretend that there is no story, what are you kidding me? This guy went from nothing to being the biggest chanted name in this business; he changed history in the main event of WrestleMania that he was not supposed to be in.
I, on the other hand, on a slightly smaller scale, was told that I would never be champion. I would never be Money in the Bank winner, I would never have the chance to be on top here, and damn it I earned it. I said, You know what? Daniel without these people behind you, I don’t know what type of situation you would be in right now, maybe mine, but if you want to prove who is better, this isn’t about who can steal the show—this is about who the real main event is in this business should be.
I sure as hell wasn’t going out there to shake his hand and shake his hand after. I was out there to kick his ass and prove that I’m the best. It’s unfortunate it didn’t happen because there was a little buzz all based on me suggesting to him let’s show the WWE Universe what a main event should be, and I dare someone to try to follow that. It didn’t happen, but I don’t quit. I come up with my own stuff on my own time before, that almost turned into something, so that means maybe next time it will turn into something.”
As far as the contract issues between WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar and Vince McMahon that took place backstage at RAW a few weeks ago, it’s said that nothing has changed. While Lesnar was at this week’s RAW, apparently they were still unable to resolve whatever issues they are dealing with.
Currently, the situation is described as one where Lesnar and McMahon are both refusing to budge regarding Lesnar’s potential new deal with the company. To finalize the deal, the belief is that one, or both, will have to budge on the terms that they are currently sticking by. The feeling is that both McMahon and Lesnar are aware of this fact, and there is said to be pressure on Lesnar to be the first to cave.
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
WWE Diva and Total Divas star Natalya recently spoke with USA Today’s “High School Sports” blog. Below are highlights from the interview.
On who would win a UFC Tournament involving only WWE Divas: “(Laughs) Well, first of all I’d have to say myself. I’ve got a lot of pent-up anger from my childhood. Just kidding! Other than me, I’d have to say Brie Bella. She’s one of the feistiest divas I know. Everyone thinks Nicole is the more aggressive one, but Brie brings it! When things go down backstage don’t be afraid of Nikki, be afraid of Brie!”
On who she would not want to be alone with in a dark alley: “(Laughs) Brock Lesnar. There are moments when he’s really nice, but he’s so scary looking because he’s huge. You don’t even have to watch WWE to see that.”
On what fans can expect from the next season of Total Divas and WrestleMania 31: “Well, I never thought of myself as the type of person that would do a reality show, but it’s been really fun. And I realized that I’m a train wreck and I cry every episode of the show. I can’t even explain how it feels to let it all out. It shows all of these different sides of all of us. It’s made us a lot more well-known now too. Even the Kardashians really like the show! I’ve had so many people tell me how much the show inspires them and how relatable we are.
Also, we’ve got WrestleMania coming up on March 29 on the WWE Network. My dad is going with me; he’ll be my eye candy along with my husband! It’ll be an amazing show!”
Check out the complete interview at USATodayHSS.com.
This week’s episode of Raw was held in the greatest city in the world: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Brock Lesnar made his return, the Viper finally decided to strike, and Bray Wyatt received an answer regarding his challenge to the Undertaker. Here are the pros and cons from this week’s episode of Raw.
Paul Heyman’s promo was the highlight of the night, and boy was it a highlight. In what was quite possibly one of the greatest promos of all-time, Heyman put just about everyone within a thousand-mile radius on blast. He criticized the Reigns video package that aired before he entered the ring, calling it, “nothing short of sheer propaganda” while calling Reigns’ father “one generation removed from cannibal.” He also addressed the Lesnar UFC controversy, saying that no one will take the title from Lesnar and that the Beast would gladly unify the WWE and UFC Championships over the summer if he chooses to do so. He later mentioned the Montreal Screwjob and said that anyone who tries to screw over Lesnar would not leave the arena alive. In all, the promo was a borderline shoot that perfectly blurred the line between fantasy and reality. He really did everything he could to put the main event at WrestleMania over, and he definitely succeeded.
Daniel Bryan vs. Bad News Barrett was a good match with both guys displaying strong fundamentals. Bryan hit the running high knee from out of nowhere for the win after failing to put away Barrett with a backslide. Bad News got the upper hand on Bryan after the match, however, hitting him with a Bull Hammer before being laid out by Dean Ambrose. It was a solid opening contest and a good way to further hype the ladder match at WrestleMania.
Connor “The Crusher” Michalek will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as the first recipient of the newly created “Warrior Award.” This company gives fans plenty of reasons to complain, but even the most cynical fan can’t help but praise them for this move.
Dean Ambrose squared off against Stardust in the second match of the night. The action was largely uneventful, with Ambrose picking up the win after a big clothesline and Dirty Deeds. This goes into the “Pros” column largely due to the post-match brawl, with all of the competitors in the Intercontinental Championship ladder match getting in on the fun. It’s nice to see the company making this into a big deal, and Barrett getting duped by a phony IC strap was also somewhat amusing.
Rusev quickly squashed Curtis Axel and then proceeded to talk some smack on the good ‘ole US of A. Cena had warned him beforehand not to do so in a nationalist rant prior to the match, but the Russian decided to press his luck. Cena absolutely destroyed Rusev, causing him to pass out twice in the STF. Lana granted Cena his rematch in an attempt to call off the dogs. Cena then stood up with an absolutely evil glare on his face, which was actually a nice change of pace. I’d like to see a darker, more ruthless side of Cena as they head into their rematch at WrestleMania.
The opening segment was pretty entertaining, all things considered. Noble sounded like a fool, leading Rollins to declare that they are “J&J Security, not J&J Public Speaking.” Orton was the star of this segment, however, as he went down the line and ripped everyone a new one. He said what we’ve all been thinking for months by calling Kane the “Devil’s Favorite Dumbass,” and continued by insulting Big Show, Rollins, and J&J. It was a solid opening to the show and the crowd seemed to be into it.
The Divas make an appearance in the “Pros” column this week after a solid match between AJ Lee and Summer Rae. They were given about five minutes and the match featured some decent action, with AJ eventually picking up the win with the Black Widow. It didn’t set the world on fire, but it’s definitely an improvement over what we’re used to in the main roster Divas division. I also thought the Bella Twins’ Flintstones outfits were kind of cute.
And, in a shocking turn of events, the Divas are back for an encore. Naomi and Natalya weren’t given much time at all, but the action was solid, with the highlight being Naomi’s excellent counter of the Sharpshooter. I wish this one would have been a little longer, but it served its purpose by advancing the tag team feud and getting the Divas more exposure.
Bray Wyatt finally got his answer after weeks of provoking the Undertaker. After cutting a nice promo, the lights went out and ‘Taker’s music hit. From there, a message appeared on the big screen that said, “At WrestleMania, the man comes around.” Lightning then struck Wyatt’s chair, causing Wyatt to laugh maniacally as it burned. It was the perfect way to have the Dead Man accept Wyatt’s challenge without giving fans too much.
WWE Superstar Jack Swagger recently spoke with The Huffington Post U.K.’s “Royal Ramblings” blog. Below are highlights from the interview.
On what it would mean to win the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 31: “It would mean a lot. Just to be on a Wrestlemania card, I think, means more to the superstars than a pay check or going to work that day. It’s such a special thing, such an honour to be on there. So to win the Battle Royal would be very impressive and I’d put it up there with one of the best feats of my career. Anything named after Andre the Giant in our line of work is something very special and should be put on a pedestal.”
On Rusev vs. John Cena at WrestleMania 31: “Rusev is one of those competitors that comes around once in a generation. Everything that you see about him is legit. If anyone were to stand a chance against him it would probably be Jack Swagger! I think I’ve probably got one more Wrestlemania to get him! Me aside, if anyone wants to take him down in this day and age in the WWE it will be John Cena – and what a moment that will be.”
On advice he’d give Roman Reigns going into his match with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 31: “I think I would tell Roman that he just needs to do everything he has done his entire life. He knows how to win and how to prepare himself. The hay’s in the barn at that point, it’s just time to believe in himself and go win the biggest match of his life. That, and to stop putting so much conditioner in his hair before he goes out! It’s not naturally that shiny! It makes me mad. It’s all product! You’re all product Roman!”
On the “#GiveDivasAChance” movement and who he feels the next big Diva will be: “I think our divas division is very strong and more competitive than it has been since I’ve been on the roster. They definitely are underutilised and don’t get enough air time – some matches just leave you blown away by what they do. I think Trinity (Naomi) is one of the girls that is going to transcend and change the division. She’s so athletic – if she was a guy she’d be a Pro Bowler in the NFL or an All-Star in the NBA, she’s that good.”
Check out the complete interview at HuffingtonPost.co.uk.
WWE is advertising the return of WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar at tonight’s RAW in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
In the RAW “Five-Point Preview” at WWE.com, the company wrote the following:
“As WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar returns to Raw and Wiz Khalifa gets set to perform in his hometown of Pittsburgh, what else awaits on WWE’s flagship show? WWE.com has some ideas.”
Additionally, the company is teasing an appearance by The Undertaker. WWE.com wrote the following:
“Not content with The Undertaker’s silence on The Road to WrestleMania, Bray Wyatt is about to make his boldest statement yet, vowing to bring what appears to be The Undertaker’s urn to Raw and “unleash its spirit.” Will The New Face of Fear finally garner a response from The Deadman, three weeks before The Show of Shows?”
Make sure to join us here at SEScoops.com later this evening for live WWE RAW play-by-play results coverage.
– While still unofficial at this point, based on Saturday night’s Ring Of Honor television taping, it was strongly suggested that Samoa Joe vs. Jay Briscoe for the ROH World Championship will take place as the main event for the “Supercard of Honor” event in Redwood City, California on March 27th.
For those who missed it, Samoa Joe is also scheduled to wrestle Michael Elgin at the ROH event at The Frontier Fieldhouse in Chicago Ridge, Illinois on March 14th.
– WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar is scheduled to return on Monday’s edition of WWE RAW, which takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and features rapper Wiz Khalifa as the special guest host. If Lesnar appears, it will be his first WWE appearance since walking out during a live RAW following a major backstage blow-up with Vince McMahon.
Make sure to visit SEScoops.com tomorrow night for live WWE RAW play-by-play results coverage!
There is speculation that Brock Lesnar may legally owe WWE an additional appearance due to the fact that he walked out without appearing on the February 23rd edition of RAW as scheduled. As noted, Lesnar walked out after a business “blow-up” with Vince McMahon.
Lesnar’s current deal with WWE is set to expire following the post-WrestleMania 31 edition of RAW. As of right now, he is advertised to work the RAW in Pittsburgh on March 9th, the RAW in Los Angeles on March 23rd and the aforementioned post-WrestleMania 31 edition of RAW. The only date Lesnar could work to make up the show he walked out on would be the RAW in Des Moines on March 16th. As things stand currently, he has not been added to that show.
Despite all of the uncertainty surrounding Lesnar’s future, the belief among many within WWE is that there is still a good chance that he will end up re-signing with the company when his current contract expires.
Regarding the Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns main event for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 31, there’s a feeling that with the “smart fan” WrestleMania crowd, Reigns, who hasn’t been getting cheered as much as WWE would have liked by now in recent weeks, may end up being a wildly popular babyface if word spreads that Lesnar is leaving WWE for a UFC return after WrestleMania 31. A similar scenario played out back at WrestleMania XX between Bill Goldberg and Brock Lesnar, as the smart crowd knew both guys were leaving after WrestleMania, so it immediately made both guys nuclear level heels to the Madison Square Garden fans.
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
As of this week, the business “blow-up” between Vince McMahon and Brock Lesnar has yet to be resolved, although McMahon is said to be confident that Lesnar will work WrestleMania 31 as scheduled.
As reported over the weekend, WWE writers reportedly asked McMahon if they should write a back-up script for WrestleMania 31 that doesn’t involve Lesnar, but he told them not to. Not only would Lesnar be in breach of contract if he didn’t show up for WrestleMania, but his pay for working the show is so significant that skipping the show doesn’t appear to be much of a concern to WWE officials, as they are confident he will work it. There is, however, concern regarding whether or not Lesnar will continue to work for WWE after WrestleMania 31.
We reported previously that Lesnar and McMahon were involved in such a heated shouting match backstage at RAW in Nashville that people who overheard the argument were concerned for McMahon. This is the same night that Lesnar walked out during the show and went home. The issues with McMahon that night reportedly had to do with negotiations over a new WWE contract, but apparently those differences were not so great that they can’t get past it. It’s said to be a situation where two people — Lesnar and McMahon — simply did not want to back down.
As far as Lesnar’s appearance at the UFC 184 pay-per-view is concerned, he made the arrangements with the UFC President Dana White at least a few days before the show, which would have been just one or two days before the big blow-up backstage at RAW.
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)