– THQ’s WWE video game Creative Director Cory Ledesma tweeted on Thursday about Chris Jericho not being included in WWE ’12:
“Not having Jericho on the roster was not a creative decision. Cant say much more than that. Factors beyond our control. We wanted him too.”
– THQ has also released the first footage of former WWE superstar Batista in the upcoming WWE ’12 videogame, who will be available as a downloadable character.
— This year’s WWE Tribute to the Troops event will not be open to the public when it takes place December 11 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Only military personnel will be permitted to attend the event, which is why it has not been publicized. Last year’s event at Ft. Hood in Killeen, Texas was open to the public as a free show.
— Shelly Martinez will be participating in shooting for a television pilot next week in Las Vegas, California.
She tweeted, “OMG got a pilot to shoot next week in VEGAS!!!!!!!!! Details soon ;) #kayfabe.”
— Chris Jericho turns 41 years old today while Nick Patrick turns 52.
source: PWInsider.com
Former WWE star Chris Jericho was interviewed by TheSuplex.com this week and addressed rumors that he’ll be returning to WWE at the Royal Rumble. Jericho said:
“Well, there’s been rumors that I’m coming back pretty much every week since I left… I still have no plans. I know people get mad at me when I say that. I’ve just been enjoying what I’m doing right now, and if other people don’t understand that I’m sorry. I apologize. I never said I wouldn’t go back to wrestling again.
“As of right now, we’ve been doing so much stuff with the band, and then when we’re done with this tour, I’ll have some stuff in Hollywood that I’ll be working on, stuff that kind of transpired from Dancing with the Stars. I’ve never considered myself just a wrestler. I’m an entertainer… It’s one of those things that when the time comes, if it comes, I’ll know it, and maybe I’ll have a really cool idea that no one has ever seen before, and when that happens then I’ll think about it.”
Jericho was asked whether there’s anything left for him to accomplish in wrestling. Jericho responded with a blunt, “No.”
“That’s the thing, f I never wrestle again, I’ll have no regrets… I could be done. I know some people don’t like that or understand it. I don’t want the big WrestleMania sendoff with the cheering and the thing, no f—ing way. I just want to disappear and never be seen again.”
Other items discussed include:
Here’s video footage of the interview:
Former WWE superstar Chris Jericho was interviewed by LeftLion.co.uk to promote his metal band Fozzy. Here are some highlight of what WWE’s first Undisputed champion said about:
His Ability To Come and Go From Wrestling:
“It wasn’t a conscious decision. I’ve always had other things I wanted to do, and I always had an opinion, which can be a dirty word with certain people. I stopped wrestling for no other reason than my contract ended in 2010, and there was a huge glut of Fozzy opportunities, so I moved on to the next thing that was happening for me. Hey, I love wrestling, and I never say never about going back – but right now I wanna see Fozzy as big as we can get it, and that’s my goal.”
Whether He’s Surprised About Shoot Videos:
“Not at all. When you’re a fan, you love hearing insider talk. Personally, I’d never do the three-hour sit-down shoot video; I’d write a book about it instead.”
Many Of His Friends In The Business Dying:
“It sucks. I was watching Raw earlier, and Hunter (HHH) was talking about how lucky he was to have all these friends in the business and he gave a list, and I thought, fuck, my friends died. It’s not happened in recent times, thank God, but there was a period not so long ago where guys were going down one after the other. It is a very tough business, and I feel so lucky that I never got into the drugs and pills. I was always a drinker – I still am to this day, and I can probably drink more than most, but if I want to go a week or two between having those drinks, I can. I don’t know, man. Maybe because of the music side of my life, and because I didn’t have all my eggs in one basket, wrestling wasn’t the be all and end all.”
The State of the Wrestling Industry:
“Its an experience thing. I think my generation of guys was one of the best because we were going around the world learning their craft before we ever got to the WWE. Now there’s a lot of guys there who have less than five years experience. And I don’t think I really, really knew exactly what I was doing until I came back in 2008 when it came to manipulation of a crowd. I had great stuff before that, don’t get me wrong – but it wasn’t until then that I felt on certain nights that I was the best in the world. It takes years to become truly great at anything, and the guys there at the moment haven’t had five years experience, never mind ten or fifteen.”
Check Out: CM Punk Calls Out Chris Jericho Last Week & Jericho Responds
As we reported here earlier today, CM Punk appeared at the Ringsidefest collectibles event in New York City over the weekend and took a shot at former WWE star Chris Jericho.
Punk was introduced as “the best in the world at what he does” – to which he clarified, he’s the best wrestler the world, but Jericho is the best in the world at what he does – which is, dancing with celebrities.
Chris Jericho has responded to Punk’s comment, tweeting the following on Monday afternoon::
“What’s worse…Dancing With Celebrities or Playing With Muppets?”
CM Punk appeared at the Ringsidefest collectibles event in New York City over the weekend and took a few shots at former WWE star Chris Jericho, including his stint on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars.
— Chris Jericho has once again responded to query regarding a return to WWE.
He was asked Saturday on Twitter if he will be returning to WWE and responded, “Still no plans right now.”
He also said it was a “Dumb move on their part” to not include him in WWE ’12.
— Hornswoggle followed through on his Muppet tattoo promise to TMZ by getting Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Statler and Waldorf inked to his body—joining his Kermit, Miss Piggy, Animal, Bunsen and Beaker tats.
He got inked in honor of the Muppets’ visit to Raw SuperShow. The smallest member of the WWE roster is a big Muppets fan so he’s adding to his Muppets tattoo collection before Monday night. Images are available here.
— “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan has been added to The Big Event, which takes place Saturday, November 12 at the Courtyard Marriott LaGuardia Airport 9010 Ditmars Blvd East Elmhurst, New York.
Earlier this week, we reported that Chris Jericho is telling friends and former colleagues that he’s in talks with WWE officials about returning to the organization in time to set up a match at next year’s WrestleMania 28.
WWE’s first-ever Undisputed champion has acknowledged the report – and wrote the following on Twitter on Thursday night:
“After discussing this with my colleagues,my response to today’s rumor is: a) false b) true c) maybe d) all of the above e) none of the above”
Several weeks ago, we heard from a reliable WWE source that a Chris Jericho vs. The Miz match is being discussed for WrestleMania .. There’s no doubt WWE could use as much star power as they can get headed into WrestleMania – and with Jericho reportedly interested in returning to WWE at some point – a WrestleMania showdown with The Miz sounds pretty damn good to us.
— The ongoing rift between the two Sin Caras continued on Friday’s SmackDown as Sin Cara (Negro) brutally attacked Sin Cara (Azul) in the backstage area, ripped off his blue mask and put it on himself. Later, he kept the blue mask on and wore it during his match with Justin Gabriel, who he defeated with a leap from the top rope.
WWE has announced that Sin Cara (Azul) will face Sin Cara (Negro) in a Mask vs. Mask Match at Sunday’s SmackDown taping in Mexico City, Mexico.
— Scott Hall trended Saturday night on Yahoo.com (behind NCAA football, The Big Year and Hayden Panettiere) after news surfaced that the former WWE Superstar’s struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction would be profiled on next Wednesday’s episode of E:60 on ESPN.
— Chris Jericho’s heavy metal band Fozzy plays tonight at 11:00 p.m. at the House of Blues at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
source: SuperLuchas.net
— The Bella Twins have published their latest video answering questions from fans, which includes a query regarding their dream match. Brie says her dream match is “to take it to the Divas of Doom,” while Nikki wants to face her sister at WrestleMania.
They also discuss Randy Orton, their favorite rock bands, ring gear and whether they ever get tired of being twins.
— The Midland Rocks has published an interview with Chris Jericho. The Fozzy frontman discusses their 12-date tour of the UK next month, why they frequently tour the UK, living out of a suitcase and more.
— This week’s WWE Classic On Demand updates are as follows: Extreme Championship Wrestling (11/25/97), WWF Prime Time Wrestling (5/22/89), World Class Championship Wrestling (1/21/84) and The Undertaker’s Deadliest Matches (Part 3).
– WWE United States Champion Dolph Ziggler was asked by a fan on Twitter if he is supporting The Rock or John Cena at WrestleMania 28. Ziggler replied:
“Neither! I support the guys/gals that work the other 364 days”
– Speaking of WresteMania 28, NFL star Jason Taylor spoke with The Miami Herald this weekend about The Rock and noted he would be in attendance for WrestleMania 28 next year for The Rock vs. John Cena.
– Chris Jericho tweeted this afternoon that he will be appearing on Nancy Grace’s show tonight. Nancy Grace, who is currently a contestant on the ABC show Dancing with the Stars, will have Jericho on as a special guest for tonight’s DWTS-themed show tonight. Jericho wrote:
“Headed to the studio to do tonights Nancy Grace show on HLN. I was gonna go to Raw but apparently nobody is gonna be there…”
– WWE apparently played a part in the “Rock in Rio 4” benefit music festival that was held at the end of September and the first few days of October. During the concert’s live stream on YouTube last Sunday night after WWE’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, while System of a Down was playing, the feed cut out and a satellite error came up that read “WWE HD STAMFORD.” It’s believed that WWE may have been offering some of their satellites to the festival so they could transmit the show to viewers around the world.
(Partial source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
– Multiple title changes took place on Monday in Japan at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s “Destruction ’11” event from Tokyo.
ROH World champion Davey Richards and his partner Rocky Romero captured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Titles from Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi.
Former WWE wrestler MVP dropped the IWGP Intercontinental Title to Masato Tanaka.
– Former WWE superstar Chris Jericho got some media attention recently when he stated that WWE superstars have been ripping off his ideas and moves. With several WWE superstars planning to protest tonight’s “Solidarity Rally” on RAW with picket signs, Jericho is calling people out once again for being unoriginal. Jericho posted the following comment on video on Twitter on Monday:
“Why is everyone onboard with the petitioning now, but nobody was when @IAmJericho did it?
– Chris Jericho answered a series of fan questions Saturday on Twitter and was asked if he plans on returning to WWE. He responded:
“No plans as of right now.”
– Since parting ways with WWE in August, Melina has been posting and favoring messages on Twitter which suggest that her relationship with John Morrison is not picture perfect. She interestingly added the following messages to her Favorites list late last week.
“I’m proud of my heart. It’s been played, stabbed, cheated, burned and broken, but somehow still works.”
“I never get jealous when I see my ex with someone else, because my parents always taught me to give my used toys to the less fortunate.”
– Former WWE star Stevie Richards turns 40 years old today.
– According to sources close to Chris Jericho, the former WWE superstar has been talking to friends lately about returning to the company. There’s no word yet on exactly when he’ll be back, but many people in WWE expect Jericho will be back in early 2012 in time for the build to WrestleMania 28. When Jericho does return, he will most likely be working a reduced schedule.
– CM Punk noted on Twitter that he’s headed down under to Australia this week for the Nickelodeon’s Australian Kid’s Choice Awards, which tapes this Friday. Punk is nominated for the “Baddest Baddie” award.
– Natalya wrote on Twitter that she and Beth Phoenix are working on a a new double-team move called “The Drop of Doom.” She teased, “Coming soon to an arena near you” and posted an image of her and Beth’s action figures performing the move, which you can see here.
– WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler announced on Monday afternoon that he’s en route to Cajundome and will be back on RAW tonight:
“Just landed in Lafayette, LA… driving now to the Cajundome! I’m ready & excited to be back on #Raw tonight!!”
“Re: Cole’s wise-ass (no pun intended) remark about anal bleeding… no one would know more about anal conditions than @MichaelCole! #Raw”
“Cole’s proctologist called…they found his head! Maybe tonight, Cole will suffer some ORAL bleeding when I punch him in the mouth! #Raw”
– There was no dark match after last night’s WWE Hell in a Cell pay-per-view. CM Punk shook hands with John Cena and that was it.
– Evan Bourne, David Otunga, Cody Rhodes and Intercontinental Title were some of the terms trending worldwide on Twitter last night during WWE Hell in a Cell.
– Zack Ryder has joined the list of top 10 WWE merchandise movers with names like CM Punk, Sin Cara, John Cena and Rey Mysterio, based on recent numbers from their shop website.
– The WWE’s @WWEInsider Twitter account posted the following after Sunday’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view:
“Cops are now talking with John Laurinaitis. Triple H has left the building. Many Superstars are saying they’re very concerned.”
– Chris Jericho had the following to say about the Hell in a Cell PPV on Twitter:
“Tremendous ending of the HIAC ppv last night! Reminded me of an old Bill Watts UWF tv taping… @JRsBBQ”
Former WWE star Chris Jericho was recently interviewed by Duane Doogan of the Wrestling Voice radio show. Jericho had some controversial comments regarding WWE talent stealing his moves & ideas and also responds to Vampiro recently calling him a liar. Here are some highlights of what Chris Jericho said about:
Wrestlers stealing his moves and gimmicks in WWE today and lashing out at CM Punk for doing so: “There seems to be a lack of respect for the forefathers who came in and did it first and it’s not just [CM] Punk, it’s a whole litany of guys from Miz to Cody Rhodes to Mason Ryan to Sin Cara to Kelly Kelly, everybody is stealing moves, looks, ideas. Brian Pillman once told me if you want to make it in wrestling you have to do something that nobody has done before and nobody is doing that and they are coming off as second rate copies of Chris Jericho, and that’s maybe why these guys aren’t striking and I watch it and think, ‘Seriously, again?’
“A couple of years ago you had ‘Miz 4, John Cena 0’, where did that come from? Conspiracy Theory, where did that come from? Best in the World, where did that come from? Wearing suits, talking slow, using big words, using certain moves, you know Miz used the word “troglodyte” a few weeks ago and I’m like seriously? If there ever was a word associated with Chris Jericho that would be it. These guys have to start thinking of their own stuff and some times I see some of them and I’m like oh come on. It’s not like it’s influenced. At least give credit where credit is due.”
Vampiro calling him out and labeling him a liar in a recent video: “It’s funny because I just recently complimented him on the documentary they put out about him, but Vampiro joins the long list of guys like Superstar Billy Graham, Larry Zbyszko, and Scott Hall who don’t like it when they are called out for being dicks at certain point in time, and everything I’ve written in each one of my books is true.”
There’s much more to the interview, which can be heard in its entirety below:
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety over at JRsBarBQ.com. JR previews Night of Champions and had this to say about the following topics:
Whether The WWE Title & The World Heavyweight Title Will Ever Be Unified:
“No , I never see one, major champion in WWE meaning that I don’t think that the WWE/World Heavyweight titles will ever be united which essentially means that I don’t see the brand split going away any time soon.”
“Will the WWE title belts ever be redesigned? Beats me. No idea and I’m really not a ‘belt guy’ as it relates to what they look like. We get this question all the time.”
What he thinks of Brock Lesnar returning to the Octagon in December?
“My instinct says it may be too early. I’m surprised that Brock is returning to headline a UFC PPV so soon after surgery and especially against an opponent like Overeem who is a world class striker. I’m a Lesnar fan without question and hope that he can take Overeem down and avoid a knockout.”
Will Batista and/or Chris Jericho ever return to WWE?
“Again, I have no info on such but my guess is that yes they will at some point in the future and likely for a limited time engagement. Perhaps that’s just my wishful thinking and I could be dead wrong. Both would help score a bigger Wrestlemania 28 number of PPV buys, IMO.”
As always, check out JRsBarBQ.com for Jim Ross’ amazing line of BBQ products!
– Former WWE star Chris Jericho took yet another shot at CM Punk on Twitter. Jericho tweeted on Monday night after RAW:
“Another Raw, another stolen move. I expect that from a rookie or a diva, but et tu Punk? BACK OFF….”
Chris Jericho tweeted the following back on August 1st after CM Punk mentioned his name during a promo on RAW:
“Everyone is so excited that @CMPunk mentioned me on Raw. Newsflash…I don’t give a shit. Mind ur own business and stop rippin me off Punk.”
Last week, when CM Punk and Steve Austin were going back and forth talking trash on Twitter, Jericho wrote:
“It’s so cute reading @CMPunk and @steveaustinBSR ‘s lil cyber bitch-fights…”
It appears the seeds are being planted for an eventual CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho feud down the road once Chris Jericho returns to the company – which is just fine with us.
– For those wondering, it was in fact Hunico who wrestled as Sin Cara on RAW. According to a source who was backstage at RAW, the general feeling in the locker room is that Mistico is done with WWE.
– Two readers sent word that there was no Sin Cara merchandise for sale at last night’s RAW in Tulsa.
– In related Sin Cara news – in light of the recent backstage heat on Mistico, WWE seems to have scrapped the idea of bringing in Mexican wrestler Averno to work with Sin Cara. Before Sin Cara fell out of favor with WWE management, there had been talk of bringing in Averno, a formal rival of Mistico, into WWE so he had someone familiar to work with. (Source: PWInsider.com)
Chris Jericho
Former WWE superstar Chris Jericho appeared on the Between The Ropes radio show this week – and we’ve got a detailed recap below.
Jericho has been performing with his metal band Fozzy in recent months, but has indicated on several occasions that he’s open to returning to WWE when the time is right.
Here are some highlights of what Jericho said about:
Whether he can believe it’s been 12 year since his WWE debut:
“It doesn’t really seem like it was 12 years unless I think really hard about all the stuff that’s taken place since then. But I can remember writing that promo that I did like it was yesterday in the apartment I was in on the floor, just kind of writing down ideas and writing out the whole promo because back in that time there was no writers or creative as they call it. It was basically you were just on your own. You might have a couple of ideas to throw around but most of it was just coming from your own brain and just saying it the way you wanted to say it. There was no rehearsals or anything like that. You would just go out there and do it. So that’s the biggest change between the WWE in 2011 and the WWE of 1999.”
The current PG-13 programming in WWE:
“I don’t care about PG-13 or Attitude Era. If you’re a great performer, you can make it work no matter what it is. And I never really cared because I might have gone 5% into the Attitude Era or 5% into the overly PG era but I pretty much just did my thing and made it work with whatever was given to me by the boss of the company. That’s a copout if people say ‘well, I don’t like it because it’s PG-13 or I can’t work within the PG-13 system’. That’s BS. It doesn’t matter. If you’re a good guitar player, you can play Van Halen or Georg Jensen jazz. It’s just an excuse.”
Simplistic storylines and playing into the current one with CM Punk:
“That’s what it’s always been about man. It’s always been about that and the best guys can do that no matter what rules or guidelines are given to them. That’s why the Punk thing worked so good because it was something different. It was Punk vs. the status quo of the WWE. It wasn’t so much the insider topics. I’m sure guys like you and me thought that was funny but your average person doesn’t have a clue about stuff like that. They just know that Punk is doing something he’s not supposed to be doing and saying something he’s never said before. That’s also why I don’t think the thing (Kevin) Nash worked out so well this week because they went too inside.”
You can subscribe to Between The Ropes on iTunes at this link.
Former WWE star Chris Jericho was interviewed over the weekend by Canada’s FortMcMurrayToday.com to promote his metal band Fozzy’s appearance at the at the InterPlay music festival, which took place on Saturday at Keyano College.
Of course, Jericho was asked about his future in the world of pro wrestling, which he said:
“I have no plans for it right now. Like I said, I didn’t leave wrestling for any bad reasons, it’s just that I had a lot of other stuff that was going on in my life that I’ve been wanting to work on, and Fozzy is one of the main reasons for that. I know sometimes that pisses wrestling fans off, but I don’t care. I do what I do to make myself happy. I’ve done wrestling for 20 years and I’ve been in Fozzy for 12. Fozzy is in the same place now after 12 years, that I was as a performer after 12. Just really on the verge of becoming something bigger. So I’d be crazy to not to devote as much time to the band as I can and take it as far as we can go. Wrestling is always there, it’s not going anywhere. Will I come back? I don’t know. But I have no plans of it right now.”
Jericho also noted that Fozzy will be recording a new album in December of this year and early 2011 – which is currently slated for a May 2012 release.
— Life & Style reports that George Clooney is now dating former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler after recently splitting from model Elisabetta Canali.
Keibler reportedly flew to Italy to be with the Academy Award winning actor at his villa in Lake Como. She tweeted the following about the trip: “I’m in heaven.”
Clooney and Keibler have been acquaintances for some time and were set up by a mutual friend. A source close to the situation says his relationship with Keibler is “purely for fun.”
“They have a lot of friends in common and run in the same circles,” the source said.
“He’s enjoying spending time with Stacy, but he just got out of a two-year relationship. George isn’t ready for anything serious. This fling is purely for fun.”
— Chris Jericho and his heavy metal band Fozzy have announced that they will be touring the United Kingdom this November, from the 2nd to the 13th. Complete tour details are available here.
On Monday’s RAW, WWE Champion CM Punk had a face-to-face confrontation with Triple H and explained to WWE’s new Chief Operating Officer that despite all the good he did while in charge of WWE, Vince McMahon has dropped the ball on numerous occasions by letting several top talents leave the promotion. Among the superstars Punk mentioned were Batista, Mick Foley, Brock Lesnar and Chris Jericho.
One man who did not take kindly to being referenced by Punk is Chris Jericho, who let his feelings be known on Twitter.
Jericho (@IAmJericho) tweeted the following on Monday night:
“Everyone is so excited that (C.M. Punk) mentioned me on Raw. Newsflash…I don’t give a s—. Mind ur own business and stop rippin me off Punk.”
– As previously reported, there are people in WWE who are very interested in bringing in experienced soap opera writers to join the company’s creative tam. One of the big reasons behind this push is that the soap opera industry is in very bad shape and they can likely sign some talented writers for much les than they could have 2-3 years ago. Additionally, WWE wants to improve its storylines and present compelling personal conflicts. An example of this would be the Vince McMahon – Triple H segment that ended this week’s RAW. (Source: Wrestling Observer)
– Former WWE star Chris Jericho’s heavy metal band Fozzy will be performing at the upcoming interPLAY music festival on August 6th in Ft. McMurray, Alberta, Canada.
– A new trailer has been released for Steve Austin’s next straight-to-DVD (and Blu-ray) action movie, Tactical Force, in stores on August 9th. Here’s the movie synopsis and video trailer:
“A training exercise for the LAPD SWAT Team goes terribly wrong when they find themselves pitted against two rival gangs while trapped in an abandoned Hangar.”
— Tenille Tayla, a 22-year-old Australian women’s wrestler who signed a developmental contract with WWE earlier this year, announced this morning via Facebook that she will be undergoing surgery on her shoulder tomorrow due to the numerous dislocations she’s incurred throughout her wrestling career.
She wrote, “To give you all a quick rundown, I have decided to undergo surgery on my shoulder after the many dislocations I’ve incurred throughout my career. The surgery will take place tomorrow (Wednesday). Looking forward to getting it over with, rehab and hoping to pick up where I left off at the end of the year!”
— “Bright Lights Bigger City” by R&B artist Cee Lo Green is the song that was used during last night’s promotional advertisement for SummerSlam. The pay-per-view event takes place August 14 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
— Chris Jericho’s second autobiography, Undisputed: How to Become the World Champion in 1,372 Easy Steps, will be released via paperback next February.
– Rey Mysterio was reportedly not at Monday’s RAW because he was at home resting up for Sunday’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view.
– Tough Enough coach Bill DeMott told a fan on Twitter this week that “if and when” there is a second season of Tough Enough, he coaches will most likely remain Steve Austin, Trish Stratus, Booker T and himself.
– Stan sent word that Monday’s 2-hour episode of WWE RAW featured only 24 minutes and 15 seconds of in-ring action.
– Chris Jericho and Joey Styles both commented on Twitter about the CM Punk – Vince McMahon segment that closed RAW.
Jericho wrote: “Just watched the Punk-Cena-Vince confrontation from last night and it was brilliant! It’s the best angle the WWE has done in a long time…”
Styles wrote: “@CMPunk, are we allowed to say “wrestling” and “wrestler” again? Is @JohnCena holding the Championship “belt”? Did I miss a memo?”
– It was announced to the live crowd on Monday that WWE will return to Boston’s TD Garden on Monday, November 14th for RAW.