– With the WWE Network launching next week, we’ve heard that 2 users will be able to use the same WWE Network account at the same time.
– In what appears to be a response to Goldust tweeting that he and his brother Cody will not be wrestling each other at WrestleMania XXX, Cody tweeted:
Don't let anybody tell you what is or isn't gonna' happen at @WrestleMania / bottom-line it aims to be the best of the best.
– WWE shot an angle at the NXT event in Largo, Florida on Friday night where Cody Rhodes came to the aid of his real-life wife Brandi (Eden Stiles). Rhodes ended up laying out Aiden English with his Cross-Rhodes finisher.
– WWE Superstar Big Show held an anti-bullying rally for approximately 200 students in Mumbai, India earlier today.
– In addition to the celebrities we already reported about being in attendance at this past Monday’s WWE RAW show in Los Angeles, Blake from Workaholics was also there, as was Charlie Saxton from BETAS and porn star Alexis Amour, who apparently dressed up as Miss Elizabeth.
– WWE Superstar Goldust recently denied the rumors that WWE is finally going to do the “brother vs. brother” match at WrestleMania XXX between he and Cody Rhodes. Goldust tweeted the following:
I repeat… I WILL NOT BE FIGHTING MY BROTHER AT MANIA!!!!!!! Time has passed. Think what u want. Wouldnt get the spotlight it deserves.
– WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes apparently suffered some MCL damage, likely as a result of his steel cage moonsault on RAW two weeks ago.
– Another WWE Superstar who may have been injured on RAW recently is Ryback. According to one report, Ryback may have hurt his hand in the tag-team match against The Usos this past Monday night.
– Former WWE Superstar Rob Van Dam was reportedly backstage at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on Monday to meet with Triple H and see if WWE can use him at WrestleMania XXX.
– NXT ring announcer Brandi Rhodes, wife of Cody Rhodes, has launched a new video blog at WWE.com titled, “Day In The Life.” The first episode, which is now online, features Brandi and Cody visiting an amusement park.
– WWE Intercontinental champion Big E. Langston spoke to the Arizona Republic this week to promote Saturday’s WWE live event from Phoenix. When asked about how much input he gets on his TV character, he said:
“There’s always give and take.The most successful characters and personas are extensions of the person who plays them. It’s pretty much me, for the most part. As a powerlifter, I kind of use those abilities in what I do now. It’s essentially me, but I’m still not sure how we came up with Big E Langston.”
He also commented on his reaction when he was told his ring name at developmental:
“Honestly, it was kind of jarring at first, but now I’ve gotten used to it. ‘Big E.’ is something people have always called me, but the ‘Langston’ part is kind of random,”
Two big matches for this week’s WWE SmackDown show were announced during Monday’s edition of WWE RAW.
In an eight-man tag-team match, The Usos, Goldust and Cody Rhodes, Ryback and Curtis Axel and The New Age Outlaws will battle it out.
In the main event of this week’s SmackDown, Randy Orton will continue his one-on-one showdown with every participant in the upcoming Elimination Chamber match, as he will take on Antonio Cesaro in singles competition.
– Above is video of WE Diva AJ Lee doing a Q&A session at Wizard World’s New Orleans Comic Con event from over the weekend. As previously reported, fans were instructed not to ask AJ about a ‘certain somebody who may or may not be with WWE anymore.’
– Cody Rhdoes did a Q&A session on Twitter yesterday and commented on the status of his knee after he was injured on RAW:
– The latest on Prince Devitt signing a deal with WWE is that he has not yet decided if that’s where he wants to take his future. Apparently a contract is on the table from WWE, it’s just a matter of whether or not Devitt will sign it. One source noted that a decision will likely be made before the month is over.
– It looks like Cody Rhodes may have suffered a leg injury of sorts as a result of his moonsault off the top of the steel cage this past Monday night on RAW. Rhodes recently tweeted the following:
My new “friend” about to take it’s first run…medial collateral ahhh who cares ha pic.twitter.com/4ukhWTXI9i
– WWE recently announced a big steel cage match between The New Age Outlaws and the team of Goldust and Cody Rhodes for next Monday’s edition of WWE RAW, which emanates live from Omaha, Nebraska.
– WWE is looking to hire a new television writer to handle work needed for their international shows. For more information on the position, visit Careers-WWECorp.icims.com.
WWE Superstar Goldust recently spoke with Scott Fishman of The Miami Herald to promote tonight’s WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view. Here are some highlights of what he said about:
His Current WWE Run: “It’s a lot of DDP Yoga and gym work and eating right and staying in shape. My mind has also been right for the last five-and-a-half years being clean and sober from drugs and alcohol. So I think all those things played a big factor in this. Being able to do stuff that I’ve never done and wanting to try new things and having the young talent that’s actually hungry and help me get through that and make it look good. I’ve got some new moves in my arsenal, and the people love it. This new attitude and new Goldust they’ve never seen with new face paint. I couldn’t have asked for anything. This run has been great.”
Sobriety & Inspiring others: “They say because of you I haven’t used a drug for eight days or picked up a drink. That’s awesome. I’m a true testament that the WWE Wellness Policy works, if you work it. It took me one time, and I was ready to turn my life around and say goodbye to the demons. They’re always there. They are always on my shoulder, but all I have to do is take hold. The support group I have with my wife and my daughter and things like that. Now its five-and-a-half years going on six years clean and sober and having the time of my life. I can actually get in the ring and do things in the ring I thought in the past I couldn’t do without a pill or drugs in my system or alcohol to get through a match and wake up in the morning. It’s a piece of cake. I’m doing it. I’m 44 years old, and I’m kicking everybody’s ass.”
No Longer Wanting To Wrestle His Brother At WrestleMania: “The dream match I did have I do not anymore at WrestleMania. So right now I want to continue to be the WWE tag team champions and have someone big step up to try to face us at WrestleMania. I think we need to try to be on that card and put on one hell of a show.”
Working With Younger Talent: “I watch their stuff, and I don’t give them too much. I give them a little bit that they can sink into and try first to see if that works and go from there. I try to teach them about how to tell stories because it’s a lost art. I think me and Cody are doing a real good job of bringing this tag team division back by telling a story. When you have 25 minutes out there with The Shield, the way I do it is start slow and end big. In between, it’s telling those stories and making those non-believers who are only there for their kids that are loving it, those parents stand up at the end of the match to either hate me or love me. Either way, they were on their feet because they were entertained. It’s a slow build — like a movie. The good guy is there getting beat down, but in the end he comes back. It’s hard to teach this these days. If you’re allotted five or six minutes for a match, I can tell a story with that. They don’t understand that, but with time in the business they will learn that hopefully. I hope it doesn’t stay a lost art for so long that it’s forgotten about.”
According to one source, WWE went back-and-forth on whether or not to make the match at last Friday’s WWE SmackDown show between the New Age Outlaws and Goldust and Cody Rhodes a WWE Tag-Team Championship match or a non-title match.
When all was said and done, WWE went with the idea of making the SmackDown bout a non-title match, with the plan being to bump the actual title match between the two teams for the Royal Rumble show.
As previously reported, Goldust and Cody Rhodes will officially defend their titles against the New Age Outlaws on the Royal Rumble “Kickoff Show” this Sunday night.
– In addition to the previously reported names added to the Royal Rumble on RAW this past Monday night, it was also revealed during the show that CM Punk will be an official entrant in the match.
– One of the main events for this week’s SmackDown was revealed during WWE RAW on Monday night. In a non-title match, Attitude Era greats The New Age Outlaws will square off against the WWE Tag-Team Champions Goldust and Cody Rhodes.
The following are highlights from a new SLAM! Wrestling interview with WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes:
On not being pressured to go into wrestling by his family: “Wrestling was something I always wanted to do, maybe not all I ever wanted to do, but something I definitely wanted to do. I really had no pressure from my family.”
On his father Dusty Rhodes’ early advice: “When I told my dad I wanted to give wrestling a shot, he told me, after a good 10 minutes of silence, ‘If you’re gonna do it, you gotta do it to be the best.’ But wrestling is such a great thing. There’s no way to hide from getting the fans reaction. It’s really special.”
On who helps him backstage in WWE: “Sometimes, my dad’s advice is biased because he’s too close to the project. I usually stay away from getting advice from my family. My dad thinks I’m the best and this is not what’s gonna help me get better. Guys like Fit Finlay, JBL, Arn Anderson are the ones I ask for advice.”
On what led to his teaming with Goldust: “Nothing was supposed to lead this way. It’s just one of those things that caught fire. The thing you need to know about Dustin is that before his return, he had a behind-the-scene success. He’s a healthier person now. As Goldust, he has the best matches of his life. It’s like a Benjamin Button kind of story.”
“It’s a real trip. We both have a different style, but I really love it. It’s a very positive thing. I never thought it would happen. He started his career when I was a kid. We are closer together now and try to make it up for the lost time.”
“It’s an opportunity for us. We actually don’t talk that much of the ring when we are not in the ring.”
There was reportedly a lot of talk about WWE Hall Of Famer “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes appearing at Old School RAW in Baltimore, Maryland this past Monday night. For those who watched the show, he obviously did not appear.
Rhodes hasn’t been featured on WWE television since his involvement in the storyline where his sons Goldust and Cody Rhodes got their jobs back late last year. The reason for this is Rhodes went off script during a promo on RAW with Stephanie McMahon, going as far as to put his hand in her face and not letting her get the better of him. Ever since that segment, there is said to be heat on Dusty with WWE management.
– There is a lot of heat on Ryback backstage in WWE. Ryback has ‘earned’ a reputation for being reckless in the ring – and he displayed that once again last night when he gave Dolph Ziggler a concussion. The two wrestled in a match that was taped for this week’s episode of Superstars. Ziggler went down hard after a stiff clothesline by Ryback and his concussion is being as “not a mild one.”
– The WWE contract of the original Sin Cara (formerly Mistico) is expiring soon and he’s not expected to be offered a new deal.
– Ranjin Singh made a return to WWE television on Monday’s Old School RAW, managing his former client, the Great Khali. Singh’s return was a one time deal and he’s not back with the company full time.
– Cody Rhodes appeared to injure his ankle on RAW, but he’s scheduled to wrestle at tonight’s SmackDown tapings.
– Brock Lesnar is also fine after his altercation with the Big Show on RAW. Lesnar was limping as he and Paul Heyman retreated from ringside, but he was just selling.
– It was announced at Old School RAW that the main event of WWE Main Event this Wednesday will be R-Truth and Xavier Woods vs. The Real Americans in tag-team action.
– Cody Rhodes may have injured his ankle during the tag-team match at Old School RAW on Monday night. According to reports, following the match on Monday, Rhodes removed his boot in the ring and had to be helped to the back by Goldust and the referee. We should have more on this later.
WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair and WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes recently spoke to the Tampa Tribune about second generation wrestlers. The following are some highlights:
Ric Flair on pushing his children away from pro wrestling: “I never pushed any of my kids into it. I pushed them away from it because I know how difficult it is.”
Flair on his son David Flair’s wrestling career: “It just wasn’t for him. One thing about this business is that you better love it because it is hard. He is happier now than he ever was when he was part of it.”
Cody Rhodes on people wanting him to be like Dusty Rhodes: “A lot of people preferred me to pander to those fans. They wanted me to dye my hair blonde like my dad, do his moves like the jab and the elbow, and talk like him.”
Check out the complete interview online at TBO.com.
– WWEShop.com is selling a new “F5 Beast” t-shirt for Brock Lesnar (link) and a Goldust & Cody Rhodes “Brotherhood” t-shirt (link).
– The latest “Steve Austin Show: Unleashed!” is now online, with Stone Cold motivating his listeners to accomplish their new year’s resolution goals. Listen now at PodcastOne.com.
– WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino is Colt Cabana’s guest on this week’s Art of Wrestling podcast.
– NXT trainers Bill DeMott and Sara Del Rey were backstage at Monday’sWWE RAW in Richmond. DeMott noted on Twitter that they were traveling back to Florida with Summer Rae and Eva Marie.
– TMZ reports that former WWE announcer Matt Striker will play a Romulan Commander in an upcoming Star Trek TV movie titled, “Star Trek Equinox: The Night of Time.”
– We heard from a few fans who were at last night’s WWE live event from Toronto that said Cody Rhodes’s match with Antonio Cesaro stole the show.
Also at the Toronto live event, 3MB (Drew McIntyre, Jinder Mahal and Ricardo Rodriguez) worked as “The Mounties” – losing to Los Matadores and El Torito.
– You can officially rule out the WWE Tag-Team Champions from appearing on tonight’s live WWE RAW show from Richmond, Virginia. Cody Rhodes noted on Twitter that he will be wrestling Antonio Cesaro at the WWE non-televised live event in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which takes place tonight as well.
– Former WWE Superstars Bobby Lashley and Big Daddy V. are scheduled to appear at the U8P Wrestling “Return To Glory Days” show on February 8th at the Carroll County Civic Center in Huntington, Tennessee.
– Monday’s December 23rd edition of WWE RAW averaged 3,821,000 viewers, down from 4,152,000 the previous week. Considering the show was taped last week and it’s the holiday season, that’s not a bad number. Here’s the hourly viewership:
Hour 1: 3,893,000 viewers
Hour 2: 3,959,000 viewers
Hour 3: 3,610,000 viewers
With almost 4 million viewers during Hour 2, RAW broke the 4-week streak of losing viewers every hour throughout the show.
– WWE has published the following video of Cody Rhodes doing a moonsault off the top of a steel cage at last night’s live event from Madison Square Garden:
“Catch the moment the WWE Universe has been buzzing about all day, Cody Rhodes’ moonsault from the top of a cage at a WWE Live Event at Madison Square Garden, December 26, 2013. This goes to show anything can happen at a WWE Live Event!”
– In this edition of The JBL & Cole Show, Michelle Beadle stops by, fans find out how Michael Cole got a black eye, and Cody Rhodes leads the WWE roster in the first ever JBL & Cole Show World Championship Bowling Tournament.
– The latest issue of WWE Magazine (cover-dated January 2014) features the 2013 WWE Magazine Awards and the entertainment abilities of The Prime Time Players were recognized with the “Best Use Of The WWE App” Award.
“We take pride in being one of the most entertaining tag teams and personalities collectively and individually that this company has to offer. Our job is to bring it,” remarked Darren Young. “The PTP didn’t land on the WWE App, the WWE App landed on The PTP.”
The following are highlights from a new online blog by WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:
On Batista’s WWE return: “Good to hear WWE talk of Batista’s return on January 20. Dave is a major player and WWE has the opportunity to capitalize on his established reputation and accomplishments. Hopefully, there is a long term, strategic plan for ‘The Animal’ that has been established.”
On Daniel Bryan, Goldust, Cody Rhodes and The Wyatt Family: “6 man tag with Rhodes Brothers and Daniel Bryan vs. the Wyatt Family seemingly did what it was supposed to do. Reasons the match worked…there is an established story and the talents had the ring time to tell said story. No fan favorites are executing better in WWE, IMO, than the Rhodes boys and Bryan.”
On TNA and three-man announce teams: “On a recent interview, I mentioned that one of the reasons that I had no interest in going to TNA was that I had no desire in affecting the chemistry of broadcasters Mike Tenay and Taz. Yes, a three man booth would obviously be possible but I’m not a big fan of three man announce teams in pro wrestling, as a rule. Mike and Taz do a great job especially when they are on point calling holds, near falls, etc and keeping a ‘sports feel’ on the in ring action. They certainly don’t need me. I did enjoy the three man announce team of McMahon, King, and me back in the day. It’s good having the boss sitting right next to you as it helps greatly with communication and creative direction. In those days, a quick huddle, so to speak, during commercial breaks was timely and efficient. With that said and as I’ve mentioned here before, I see my broadcasting days in pro wrestling aka sports entertainment as history. It’s time to do other things that interest me and my style of play by play really doesn’t fit in today’s genre.”
On Wade Barrett: “I’d still like to see William Regal associated with “Bad News” Barrett, in some manner, of whose new, TV persona I haven’t quite understood as of yet. I applaud Barrett getting some TV time because that’s where it all starts and am anxious to see where his creative journey takes him. The talented Brit has a marketable upside, IMO.”
Check out the complete blog online at JRsBarBQ.com.