Stardust is of course referring to actor Stephen Amell. After Amell and Neville defeated Stardust and King Barrett at SummerSlam, the Arrow star revealed that he was continuing to train in the ring just in case Stardust wanted another shot at him.
WWE taped the following matches on Monday night in Dallas, Texas, prior to the WWE Hell In A Cell “go-home” edition of WWE RAW for this week’s edition of WWE Superstars.
– Fandango def. Heath Slater in one-on-one action to kick off the evening in Dallas, Texas. The match was given only a few minutes and in the end, it was Fandango who managed to score the pinfall victory.
– Cody Rhodes def. Zack Ryder in the second of two matches taped for this week’s Superstars. During the match, the ring rew was covering the Susan G. Komen logo on the ramp and the stage, appearing to be setting up some special entrances or camera shots for RAW. In the match itself, Stardust ended up scoring the “W” after hitting Ryder with his finisher.
At Wednesday’s NXT Takeover: Respect special on the WWE Network, the first-ever “Dusty Rhodes Tag-Team Classic” tournament winners were crowned.
The teams of Finn Balor & Samoe Joe, The Mechanics, Baron Corbin & Rhyno and Chad Gable & Jason Jordan advanced to tonight’s WWE Network special, with Balor and Joe eliminating The Mechanics in the opener, and the team of Corbin and Rhyno taking out the team of Gable and Jordan to advance to the finals.
In the finals, which were held in the co-main event spot of the NXT special, Balor and Joe ended up defeating Corbin and Rhyno, who put up a good effort.
Cody Rhodes came out to do the Dusty Rhodes Tag-Team Classic Cup presentation to Balor and Joe. He mentioned that tonight everyone is a “Rhodes” member as “The American Dream” theme music played and the fans echo’d chants of “Thank You Dusty! Thank You Dusty!” to close out the first ever Dusty Classic Tournament and move on to the 30-minute “Ironwoman Match” for the NXT Women’s Champion.
– King Barrett should be back on television soon, as he recently completed his scenes in the UK for a WWE Studios action-thriller.
The film was originally titled “Eliminators” but Barrett revealed in an interview last week that the name will be changed by release time.
– Cody Rhodes has posted a new blog at BeingBrandiRunnels.com ahead of tonight’s WWE RAW from Buffalo, NY. The city is significant for him because it’s the setting for the very last “Bionic Elbow” delievered by his father (Battleground 2013).
– Big E revealed that New Day Socks are coming soon to WWEShop:
– Here’s another preview for the NXT All Star Panel that airs tonight on the WWE Network immediately following RAW. The panel was taped in Brooklyn during SummerSlam weekend:
Cody Rhodes and his brother Dustin (Goldust) will be appearing at next month’s NXT Takeover: Respect event to present the championship trophy to the winners of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. It will be Cody’s first WWE appearance (as himself) in nearly a year and a half. He told Triblive.com this week:
“It’s great though that you ask, because the Dusty Rhodes tag tournament taking place in NXT is something he would really be proud of because of all the platforms it gives to talent, including independent talent that came in for a shot to win the Dusty Rhodes tag tournament. I will actually be there myself, (as) me — for the first time a while on WWE programming — Cody Rhodes and my brother will be there to present the trophy, which I’m looking forward to seeing.”
The semi-finals and finals of the tournament will be held at Takeover: Respect on Wednesday, October 7th from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.
Cody also spoke about his decision to not return as Cody Rhodes after the passing of his father, the late, great “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes. He explains why he think it would have been tacky – and what Dusty told him about how he wanted to be remembered after he was gone.
“It would have been tacky — would have been tacky, and it wouldn’t have been genuine. Many years ago, I used to watch RAW with my dad, and we watched Nitro, and we watched the pay-per-views. Many years ago, there was a wrestler who passed away, and his name was used pretty regularly after that on programming. People were using it to try draw the adulation of fans. Everyone was saying, “Oh, well such and such who passed away would have loved this.” And (my father) told me, and this is something very few people know, “When I go don’t ever let anybody say that about me. I left my body of work on the table already and it doesn’t need to be expanded.” And I never forgot that. So there was never any question on who was coming back.”
Bret Hart took part in a Q&A session on Twitter and Periscope this week to discuss a bunch of topics, including Hulk Hogan’s racism controversy, CM Punk’s WWE departure, the Hart Foundation and more. Here are some highlights:
– Kevin Owens is one of his favorite wrestler, period. He’s a hard worker, a great heel and looks like a wrestler. Bret doesn’t agree with people who say he’s fat. He’s stocky and solid and resembles great big men like Bam Bam Bigelow.
– Bret loves CM Punk and says wrestling hasn’t been the same since he left. He was the best of the last generation and raised the bar for everyone. He was innovative, had a great sense of psychology and stood up for all the right things. Punk did what needed to be done and Bret has nothing but respect for him.
– Bret hopes Hulk Hogan never returns to WWE. Hogan should stay in Tampa in his little world of idol worship of himself. He feels bad for Hulk because he doesn’t remember him being a racist, but in his experience, a vast majority of white southern wrestlers “tend to be a little racial all of the time” and the n-word was used frequently whenever there wasn’t a black guy in the room. He’s glad Hulk got busted.
– Roddy Piper was the guy he kept in touch with the most from his wrestling days and it’s very sad he’s gone. He talks to Steve Austin, CM Punk, the Bella Twins and Natalya & Tyson Kidd. Most of his friends from his era are gone.
– Bret thinks Cody Rhodes is the best technical wrestler today. He also put over Goldust. He likes Seth Rollins a lot, but can’t forgive him for breaking John Cena’s nose and said you can’t call yourself a great wrestler when you’re making big mistakes like that.
– He thinks The Sharpshooter is the best finisher in wrestling history.
– Bret named Tyson Kidd as a very underrated wrestler.
– His best match ever was the Iron Man Match with Shawn Michaels at WresteMania 12 and thinks his match with Steve Austin the following year was a “work of art.”
– The Prime Time Players will be Chris Jericho’s guest this week on his Talk Is Jericho podcast over at PodcastOne.com.
– WWE officials are not happy with Hall of Famer Tammy “Sunny” Sytch, according to f4wonline.com. Sunny has been selling “private Skype sessions with fans” and is dealing with a lot of legal issues at the moment.
– Stardust is asking fans on Twitter to vote on which persona they like bette – Stardust or Cody Rhodes, who mysteriously disappeared back in June 2014 and is rumored to be chained up in a remote cave somewhere off the coast of Parts Unknown.
Cody Rhodes has published an emotional letter to his late father, the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes.
Cody tells the story of what inspired him to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a professional wrestler, his goal to capture the WWE Championship and deliver it to his parents, memories of being his father’s sidekick and what’s next for him as he continues on his own journey.
– While Stardust (Cody Rhodes) was back at television this week, WWE decided not to use him. The belief is that WWE isn’t ready to turn Stardust babyface, and due to the fact that he is Dusty Rhodes’ son and people probably won’t want to “boo” him, they are waiting to bring him back.
– At one point, a few of the NXT Divas, Charlotte being one we can confirm specifically, were scheduled for this past Monday’s edition of WWE RAW. This wasn’t the first time NXT Divas were set to make their main roster debuts only for plans to be changed. As noted recently, Charlotte and Sasha Banks are expected to be brought up to the main roster in time for SummerSlam, and they are likely to be involved in the Paige vs. Team Bella angle, siding with Paige.
Cody Rhodes, better known to modern-day WWE fans as “Stardust,” the son of the late WWE Hall Of Famer “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, wrote the following eulogy for his father, which he made public via social media.
Below is the eulogy that Rhodes wrote on Wednesday evening.
Daniel Bryan recently spoke to App.com about the recent passing of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes. Bryan said that Dusty always saw the good in people and did not look down on the current generation of superstars, like some legends tend to do.
“It happens a lot in wrestling and a lot of other things where the older generation looks down at the younger generation and picks him apart. Instead of that, he would say, “Ooh, look at this in this person.” As opposed to looking at their negatives, he was looking at their positives.
He wasn’t afraid to tell you what was wrong with something, but he was also quick to highlight the very good aspects of your nature or things about you that you should focus on. He touched a lot — a lot — of people.”
Bryan, who lost his own father last year, said Dusty’s son Cody shares his engaging personality.
“I have fond memories of Dusty, but I also have fond memories of being in the car withCody while he was talking to his dad. You could hear the way they would banter back and forth and you can see how that vibrancy that Dusty had was passed on to Cody,” Bryan said. “And I don’t know Dustin as well as I know Cody, but you can see it in Dustin too.”
According to Hollywood Life, Stephen Amell of “Arrow” fame will be competing in a match at this year’s WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view.
HollywoodLife.com is reporting that Amell will be going one-on-one with WWE Superstar Stardust (Cody Rhodes) at the event, which takes place on Sunday, August 23, 2015 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The story claims Amell and WWE are debating whether to refer to him as simply Stephen Amell, or if he should play his character from “Arrow” in the match.
– Stephanie McMahon is scheduled to be at NXT Takeover: “Unstoppable” tonight.
– Ahead of tonight’s NXT special, WWE has released new t-shirts for Hideo Itami, Enzo Amore and Big Cass and Becky Lynch, which says “Lass Licker.”
– Real-life WWE couple Stardust (Cody Rhodes) and ring announcer Eden recently bought a house together in Texas and noted that they plan to move into the home this week.
– On social media, WWE Diva Paige praised third generation wrestler Tessa Blanchard, daughter of WWE Hall Of Famer Tully Blanchard. Paige tweeted the following:
– WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair said during a Q&A held at “The Arnold” this past weekend in Ohio that he doesn’t know if John Cena will beat his record for the most reigns as World Heavyweight Champion, but he would be happy if he does because he feels Cena is a hard worker. One fan suggested that Flair wrestle Triple H at WrestleMania, to which Flair said he would love to do it, telling everyone that they should e-mail that idea to Vince McMahon.
– WWE Superstar Hornswoggle took a shot at Cody Rhodes on Twitter this week, which was said to come out of nowhere. He tweeted the following to the account that Rhodes uses separate from his official “Stardust” account.
Hey @PrinceCGR I'm sorry my daddy didn't give me my spot in the business. All the paint in the world won't cover up that growing forehead.
– WWE Hall Of Famer Shawn Michaels is the guest on the latest edition of Steve Austin’s “Steve Austin Show” podcast. The official description for the show reads as follows:
SASc – EP195 – WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels
“WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels talks to Steve about his new book, and his time in the ring. They cover WM 14 and what that was really like for Shawn given his injuries then, Shawn’s retirement from pro-wrestling, his in-ring work philosophy, hitting rock bottom with pills & coming out on the other side, best advice he got from Macho Man Randy Savage, what he learned from Ric Flair, and how shooting’s going for his reality TV show, MacMillan River Adventure.”
– The official WWE website has video footage of The Bella Twins at the 2015 ESPN Sports Science Newton Awards during Super Bowl weekend. You can check that out at WWE.com.
– Stardust’s (Cody Rhodes) wife, NXT Diva Eden, posted the following tweets regarding the promo on RAW:
Once an occasional treat for the WWE Universe, the Hell in a Cell match has become a yearly event since the introduction of the eponymous pay-per-view in 2009. Since its inception, the company has yet to truly knock it out of the park with Hell in a Cell, although fans have witnessed some memorable moments.
This year, it will be either John Cena or Dean Ambrose headlining the event against Seth Rollins inside the most ominous structure in sports entertainment. As the company builds up its next pay-per-view, here is a look back at the first five Hell in a Cell events.
5. 2012
This event really didn’t have a pay-per-view feel to it. The undercard was primarily filled with forgettable matches that had little impact on future storylines. The main event was also lacking due to injury.
It was clear that the company had no idea what to do after John Cena went down to injury, leading to Ryback receiving a premature main event push. From top to bottom, this event was lacking and easily locks up the honor of being the worst Hell in a Cell pay-per-view to date.
Main Event: CM Punk vs. Ryback (Hell in a Cell Match for the WWE Championship)
Best Match: Big Show vs. Sheamus
Worst Match: Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara vs. The Prime Time Players
– WWE is scheduled to finalize several new developmental talent signings, which includes multiple professional athletes and independent wrestlers, in the near future.
– In the latest edition of Eden’s (aka Brandi Rhodes) video blog, she and husband Cody Rhodes exchange wedding anniversary gifts. You can check that out below.
– In addition to Rusev and Lana, who as we reported earlier today were on vacation in Maui this past weekend, Cody Rhodes and new-wife Brandi Rhodes (aka NXT’s “Eden”) also spent the weekend in Hawaii. The two were reportedly on their belated honeymoon.
– Apparently Ryback was exaggerating his condition with the video he uploaded to YouTube that showed him in a hospital bed acting like he was about to undergo major surgery. It’s worth noting, however, that he actually has been dealing with some injuries, although he apparently overplayed it simply because he likes to mess with fans on the internet.
– With no WWE live events this weekend, several WWE Superstars and WWE Divas are on a rare vacation. For example, noted WWE couples Cody Rhodes and Eden, as well as Rusev and Lana have been in Hawaii this week.
– Below is the “SmackDown Fallout” for this week’s show, which features WWE United States Champion Sheamus, who talks about his upcoming title defense against Cesaro at WWE Night Of Champions.
Money in the Bank is only a few days away, and it appears that the card is all but set. There are two ladder matches scheduled so fans can enjoy double the fun. Leading into the event, most questions have been answers, but a few still remain. Here are five questions that need to be answered heading into Money in the Bank.
5. Should Big E Be Given More Time to Speak?
This past week on Raw, Big E cut a rather passionate promo on Rusev. During his Intercontinental Title run, Big E was never really given an opportunity to connect with fans, leading many, including myself, to believe that his run with the title was stale.
However, after seeing him on Raw last week, I think that he could be one of the top superstars if booked properly. Instead of writing Big E cookie cutter promos that bore the fans, he should be given more time to speak freely and be himself as he did on Raw. If he had been given this opportunity while he still held the title, he could still be holding the strap today.
4. Will Bad News Barrett Compete?
Bad News Barrett was unfortunately the one receiving the bad news this week after separating his shoulder during a SmackDown taping. It seems that Barrett cannot avoid the injury bug, as he has been known to go down to injury at the worst possible times.
There has been no official announcement regarding his status for this Sunday’s pay-per-view, but it seems as if he will have to sit out while his fellow competitors attempt to win at shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. One can only hope that he recovers quickly and gets back in the ring, especially considering how successful his latest push has been.
One week from today, WWE’s annual Money in the Bank pay-per-view will be held in Boston, Massachusetts. The event has quickly become one of the most anticipated programs of the year, as it provides exciting action and sets up the storyline for months by allowing a WWE superstar to stalk his prey while holding a contract for a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match.
There will be two Money in the Bank ladder matches this year. One will be held for the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship, and the other will be a traditional contest for a shot at the title. The first contest will feature perennial title contenders such as John Cena, Randy Orton, Sheamus, and Alberto Del Rio, as well as up-and-coming stars such as Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, and Cesaro.
It seems like John Cena is once again the favorite to leave Boston as the champ.
The second ladder match will feature Seth Rollins, with the rest of the lineup to be determined in a series of qualifying matches. Thus far, only three matches have been announced for the entire pay-per-view, and with only one week left before the event, one has to wonder how the WWE will tie everything together in such a brief period.
Other than the two ladder matches, a matchup between the Usos and Luke Harper and Erick Rowan of the Wyatt family is the only confirmed contest on the card. It seems apparent that Dean Ambrose will be one of the participants in the traditional ladder match. Potential options also include those who did not qualify for the championship ladder match, including Bad News Barrett, Dolph Ziggler, and Rob Van Dam.
The two ladder matches will soak up a large portion of the roster, meaning the midcard will have to pick up some slack in order to fill up the three hours of airtime. Rumored contests include Cody Rhodes and Goldust vs. RybAxel, Rusev vs. Big E, and a Divas Championship match involving Paige and all or part of the Funkadactyls.
This week’s Raw took place in the dump of a city known as Cleveland, Ohio. The card featured a total of six matches, including two contests to finalize the field for the Money in the Bank championship ladder match.
Most notably, this week’s Raw saw Roman Reigns and John Cena punch their tickets for Money in the Bank, while Vickie Guerrero and Stephanie McMahon bonded with one another. As always, a few questions were answered, but many still remain. Here are five questions that need to be answered following this week’s edition of Raw.
5. Will Seth Rollins get a new theme song/attire soon?
Seth Rollins furthered his feud with former partner Dean Ambrose last night, and it seems apparent that the two will square off at Money in the Bank. Since joining the Authority, Rollins seems to have lost a bit of momentum.
Most importantly, it feels like Rollins needs new attire, as he is currently still sporting his Shield gear. His new theme music also does not fit him well, but there are rumors that it could change in the near future. Ultimately, the situation shows how haphazardly his heel change was handled, as there was not even a plan in place for new ring gear or decent entrance music.
There are rumors that Vince McMahon is not too keen on Adam Rose. He seemed to be over last night, with the crowd loudly singing along to his theme song for the first time that I can recall.
Rose defeated Fandango in a mixed-gender tag team contest. There was a bit of irony during the match, with Rose essentially being the same character that Fandango was a year ago. We all know what has happened to Fandango during the past year. Where will Rose be a year from now, and most importantly, will he still be with the company?
On Monday’s RAW, Cody Rhodes debuted a new character, Stardust, and teamed with his brother Goldust in a quick match against Ryback and Curtis Axel. Shortly after the match, Cody Rhodes, who has changed his Twitter handle to Stardust, tweeted:
