– The woman who played Daniel Bryan’s physical therapist on RAW, Megan Miller, was independent women’s wrestler Chelsea Green, who trained one time under Lance Storm in Calgary.
– After the RAW cameras went off the air, Vince McMahon came out and joined the Hulk Hogan Birthday Celebration, which was shown on the WWE Network.
The following are highlights of a new Turnbuckle Weekly interview with Titus O’Neil:
Darren Young injury update: “It’s coming along excellent… I talked to him last week because a couple of my friends went to a concert with him and his partner, Nicky. It was a Maxwell concert. He’s doing well and he’ll comeback, I’m sure, very motivated. Hell, he may even come try to beat me and Heath’s (butt) for partnering up. We might have to have the Prime Time Players rejoin.”
Daniel Bryan chasing down a burglar: “I have a lot respect for him anyway. He is, obviously, dealing with some neck issues. So, my first concern would be are there any ramifications or health issues coming from that? I want him back just like the rest of the WWE Universe wants him back. He’s a very fun person to watch and he’s a really really good person and performer. He’s different. And unless you get a chance to be around him on a daily basis, you won’t understand and be able to appreciate how great his differences are to most people.”
Best wrestlers ever on the mic: “My favorites would probably be Stone Cold Steve Austin and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson… They come from a football atmosphere so there’s an attitude that comes with that. But there’s also an understanding of chemistry and being able to be who you are and knowing how to have swagger and confidence. Those things will always come out at the end of the day regardless of lack of experience in certain fields.”
Check out the complete interview at CBSLocal.com.
The dog days of summer are winding down and the biggest wrestling event of the season is just around the corner. With the card for SummerSlam essentially finalized, it’s time to look at the possibilities.
In recent years, the WWE has saved its biggest surprises for the most important pay-per-views of the year, and with SummerSlam being the last special event for the first cycle of WWE Network subscribers, the company will undoubtedly be pulling out all stops in an attempt to entice fans to renew. With that said, here are five potential SummerSlam shockers.
– The official WWE website has a new poll up asking fans who has the “most patriotic submission move,” with the options being Jack Swagger and Rusev. At last check, with just under 15,000 votes cast, Swagger was considerably ahead of Rusev with roughly 80-percent of the votes. You can vote on the poll by going to WWE.com.
– The following is a new WWE 2K15 teaser video from IGN, which features Sting, Paul Heyman, Daniel Bryan, Stephanie McMahon, Steve Austin and John Cena.
As noted by Daniel Bryan himself during the press conference held after he single-handedly stopped burglars who were attempting to rob his home, he will be requiring a second surgery to fix some physical issues he is currently dealing with.
The good news is that the second operation is not another neck surgery, as it’s actually a nerve issue he is dealing with in his right elbow that is causing weakness in his arm. The bad news, however, is that as of right now, early estimates are that Bryan will be out of action until after the Royal Rumble pay-per-view in January of 2015.
(Credit: Figure Four Weekly Newsletter)
– For those keeping track of who deserves credit as the originator of the “Yes!” chant, Daniel Bryan claims to have first seen it when UFC fighter Diego Sanchez would do it for UFC weigh-ins and his ring walk for UFC fights. Sanchez, however, says he first learned it from a Tony Robbins seminar. So, I guess Robbins is the guy responsible for the “Yes! Movement.”
– Below is the latest edition of the WWE YouTube series, “WWE Inbox,” which this week looks at “favorite WWE catchphrases.”
(Partial Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
Part-time WWE Superstar Batista spoke to the The Huffington Post ‘s UK site this week to promote his new movie, Guardians of the Galaxy. He spoke about a number of topics, including the funniest rib ever played on him, Jeff Jarrett’s Global Force Wrestling promotion, NXT and much more. Here are some highlights of what he said about:
If The Anti-Batista Chants Were Really Just Disgruntled Daniel Bryan Fans:
“You could have fooled the hell out of me! They channelled their rage right in my direction. I can’t put my finger on it, it was crazy. I don’t get wrestling now. I’ve kind of completely taken my finger off the pulse. It’s a different audience which I don’t understand. It’s strange though, it’s really just the TV audience because when we get into the live events it’s a completely different audience and they come just to watch the show. It’s weird, the TV crowd seems like they come to be the show rather than to watch and interact with the show. It’s like they want to steal the show, so I’m just totally confused.”
The Undertaker’s Streak Ending at WrestleMania:
“It sucked! Honestly, I thought it sucked. I haven’t really talked much about it but I think it was a bad decision, a horrible decision. I don’t have any say in the matter but to me, watching as a fan, it made me sick. Brock Lesnar beating him didn’t seem to work and it really wasn’t good that Brock left the day after. I just don’t see how that made sense at all. I don’t think anyone wanted to see the streak broken and it just didn’t make sense to me.”
The Shield Breaking Up & Which Member Has The Most Potential:
“It’s similar to my take on the Undertaker. I guess there comes a point where you have to send them their separate ways but – and it’s just my opinion – I don’t think they were ready. I don’t think they’re ready to fly solo. I realise where they’re going and that WWE will push Roman Reigns straight to the top. However for me, Dean Ambrose is by far the most talented in that group and I think eventually if they just give him the spotlight then he’s going to shine. As soon as he touches a mic everyone else can just sit down as he’s magic on it. So It remains to be seen, I think they’re all talented but to me Dean was the star of that group. I think Roman looks like the star of that group but I don’t think he’s nearly as talented as Dean.”
The following are highlights from the latest Jim Ross blog:
On TNA’s TV deal with Spike TV: “It’s curious that Spike hasn’t renewed Impact Wrestling as of yet for the new, fall season. That’s not a great sign and I hope that they do renew their relationship. Spike doesn’t have an over abundance of shows that draw a million viewers in prime time each week. That number could be escalated easily over time.”
On Daniel Bryan: “Daniel Bryan has had a helluva, memorable year….main eventing WrestleMania, getting married, losing his Dad, undergoing neck surgery, subduing a home invader this week and now apparently needling an additional surgery to get him back in the ring. It’s not beyond the realm of comprehension that it could be 2015 until he’s back in a WWE ring. Nonetheless it gives his body a chance to heal and for Bryan and his bride to enjoy life off the road to some degree. The glass can’t always be looked upon as half empty even though DB will be missed by his fans.”
On Rusev and Lana: “The Lana & Rusev controversy is overblown in my view. They are fictional characters who are neither Russian. Could the writers have been smarter and more conservative in light of the recent tragedy? Absolutely. But is this a major travesty? Not even close. That’s my take.”
Check out the complete blog at JRsBarBQ.com.
During the police press conference with Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella this week, the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion revealed that he was informed by his doctor on Thursday that he will likely need a second surgery to repair his injured neck.
Bryan spoke about how he has half of the strength in his right arm compared to his left. He didn’t confirm whether or not he was going to get the surgery, however did say that he was encouraged to do so.
If he does undergo the second surgery, there is no definite report on how long that will keep him out of action.
WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan interrupted a burglary at his home on Thursday night, chased down one of the thieves and subdued him until police arrived.
According to Phoenix police,, the incident occurred when Bryan and his wife Brie were returning home to their home in Phoenix, Arizona. Upon pulling into their driveway, they saw their front door open and realized they were being robbed. Two men ran out of the house and Bryan was able to catch one of them, 22-year-old Cesar Sosa. They got into a struggle and Bryan was able to wrestle him down and keep him tied up until police arrived. The second suspect was not located.
Sosa was booked into Maricopa County Jail and charged with burglary.
Bryan and his wife Brie spoke about the incident during a press conference, with Bryan saying he jumped into action because he was worried about their dog, Josie, who was in the house. He also got emotional when he revealed that the burglars attempted to steal a bracelet his father gave to him.
Here’s video of the press conference:
Triple H, Daniel Bryan and Seth Rollins all recently took part in a new WWE.com article that looks at the company’s signing of Japanese star KENTA.
Triple H offered the following comments: “He just signed with us. I was there when he had his tryout at the Performance Center and I met with him there. We’ve been working on this for a while. His training will start when he gets here. The thing is, you can be a big star anyplace else in the world. That gets you in the door. What you do once you get here is a whole different ballgame. He’s no different than anybody else once he walks through the door of the Performance Center.”
Daniel Bryan said: “Kenta has wrestled in the United States, Europe and Mexico. He knows how to switch his styles up with what WWE is doing, so the sky is the limit for him. He has worked hard at speaking English. I don’t necessarily think he should be doing long interviews, but if you told him to, he would be able to do it within a year or two because he’s so smart. And the big thing is, he’s cool. It’s like when you meet The Rock, he’s cool. Kenta’s just cool, and somehow it translates in the United States. When people see him and meet him, they’re just like, ‘Man, this guy’s cool.'”
Seth Rollins said: “The sky’s the limit for him. He’s got unlimited potential based on his skill set. He’s not the prototypical WWE Superstar. He’s not Hulk Hogan and he’s not John Cena, but he has a certain charisma about him that’s completely different than what anybody else has in the company right now. He’s got an opportunity to bring a different style to the game in an era when MMA is very prominent. Guys his size who hit as hard as he does are very popular and can connect with an audience.”
Check out the complete article at WWE.com.
The following are highlights of a new Busted Open Radio interview with WWE Hall Of Famer J.J. Dillon:
On Daniel Bryan’s injury and pushed wrestlers having to leave due to injury: “It’s happened numerous times over the years on both sides of the extreme. Look at Magnum TA and what a future Jerry Allen had in terms of ‘the skys the limit’. He had the look, the speed, the size and on a rainy slick night his car slammed into a tree, slammed his head into the car and broke his neck instantly ending his career. It’s not only the dangers that one faces in the ring because of the natures that wrestling is. There’s as much danger traveling. During the glory years of The 4 Horsemen, Arn Anderson had continual problems with his neck. It got worse and worse and he felt a numb in his arm. It kept getting further and further down and finally it reached his hand. Arn was so committed to the Horsemen, he said numerous times that it was a level of excellence and commitment that doesn’t come along every day. Arn continued to go out there every day and as a result, the nerve damage continued to progress that he needed surgery and when he finally had surgery, the damage wasn’t reparable.”
On injured wrestlers coming back from injury who were popular when they left: “I think you have to look at each case on an individual basis. Daniel Bryan, there’s a guy that, from an outside perspective, it would appear that there’s a guy who didn’t set the mold of what you would expect Vince McMahon and the WWE to give a push. He had that ‘it’ factor. The fans wouldn’t give up on him and WWE had to elevate his status because the fans demanded it. It’s sad that a guy finally gets his chance and was on the climb to who knows where and how long and then this injury comes along. Doctors will look at a guy and sometimes a guy will get a second opinion from another doctor and the doctors will sometimes not agree on the situation. The one reality of the whole situation is not only in WWE but in the whole genre of Pro Wrestling, you don’t have the depth of talent that was there years ago. You don’t have another guy you can plug into that spot and keep the momentum going. It’s the sad state of reality of the business today. Take a look at Ronda Rousey. She caught the world by storm. What happens if she goes down from injury. There is no one left.”
On Daniel Bryan and WWE creative: “From the times I’ve seen him, he has that it factor and connects with the fans. One thing about creative is there were a lot of ideas over time throughout my career and the ultimate judge and jury is the fans. You would take a guy who had the right talent and didn’t have the right situation for him and you’d put him in a situation that’s kind of like just being in limbo just to keep him out there. Sometimes it catches on fire like you couldn’t imagine. That’s one of the things about pro wrestling, sometimes you have the right pulse and sometimes you don’t. Vince McMahon picked more winners than losers, but no one is perfect.”
On the emotion he and the Four Horsemen had being inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame: “When I first started I was a fan. It was in the late 50’s and I thought I could become a professional wrestler and appear at Madison Square Garden. The Hall Of Fame at that point was Baseball in Cooperstown. There was no wrestling hall of fame. You just took it day by day and pursued your career and I’ve said it time after time that the fans made wrestling the way it is today. Their the greatest fans in the world and whatever success myself and the Horsemen had was because of the fans. We gave everything every night. It’s like in any other business, you have to give respect to get respect. At the end of the road, I wrestled full time for 5 years before I managed, then I continued to wrestle while managing. After 20 years I had over 3,200 matches. I have done it all and when you look back and you’re being inducted into the hall of fame, all of my children were there in attendance to share the experience with me. We were treated with great respect by the fans and the stars of today. The following day going in front of 70,000 people getting cheered and a standing ovation, it was a very emotional moment.”
On Ole Anderson not being inducted into WWE HOF: “Well there are political issues that go back to Georgia Championship Wrestling. If people do their research, they would realize that there was a negative tension between Vince McMahon and Ole Anderson. Ole probably wouldn’t accept it if they offered it to them. The Horsemen wouldn’t be the way they were without Ole. When Lex Luger came around we camouflaged his flaws and he came along at the right time. When Barry came along I think that was the elite group. With Barry you had the young looks, athleticism and skills.”
Check out the complete interview at BustedOpenNation.com.
– Following WWE’s live event in Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, the company will return to MSG for their next event on December 26th.
– As we noted on Saturday, Daniel Bryan is scheduled to release an autobiography called “YES! YES! YES!” during WrestleMania 31 weekend. The following is the official synopsis for the book:
“YES! YES! YES! Daniel Bryan is the real deal. Everyone’s favorite underdog, he’s proven to the world and to all of WWE that looks can be deceiving. Just ask everyone who’s ever underestimated him…right before he went out and whipped the WWE Universe into a frenzy. This is Bryan’s behind-the-scenes story told for the first time ever — from his beginnings as a child wanting to wrestle to his ten years on the circuit before finally making it in WWE. When his “YES!” chant becomes a full-fledged movement, his career skyrockets. This book chronicles all the hard work, values, influences, unique life choices and more leading to his watershed week at WrestleMania 30. You won’t want to miss it. Yes! We’re sure about this.”
– Regarding Sting on Monday, there are rumors that there will be a video released on the internet, or debut as a commercial during WWE RAW.
– Daniel Bryan will be releasing an autobiography called “YES! YES! YES!” that will chronicle his rise from his early days in wrestling to being in the main event of WrestleMania XXX. The book is scheduled to be released during WrestleMania 31 weekend next year.
(Credit: F4WOnline.com)
– The Big Show will be returning to WWE television later this month. He’s been away taping the WWE Studios film Vendetta.
– WWE is sending several top stars to the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con event later this mont onOn Thursday, July 24th.
At 10:15 am, Hulk Hogan, Daniel Bryan, Paul Heyman and Michael Cole will be hosting a panel to promote the WWE Network and WWE’s Mattel toy line.
At 7 pm, WWE Studios will host a panel to promote See No Evil 2 and Leprechaun: Origins. Kane and directors Jen and Sylvia Soska will talk about See No Evil 2, while , Hornswoggle and director Zach Lipovsky talk Leprechaun.
The following press release was recently issued:
Forensic Soul Analysis On WWE Legend Mick Foley Reveals Previous Lifetime With Daniel Bryan & Highly Unusual Astrological Chart
On Thursday, July 10th @ 10 pm EST the nationally syndicated “Outer Limits Of Inner Truth” (www.outerlimitsradio.com ) Radio Show will feature an introspective interview with WWE Legend, Best-Selling Author & Stand Up Comedian, Mick Foley followed by a forensic soul analysis.
Astrologer Constance Stellas (www.constancestellas.com) and four Psychic Mediums & Past Life Readers which include Kerrie O’Connor (www.kerrieoconnor.com), Lisa Caza (www.lisacaza.com), Laura Lyn (www.angelreader.net), and Lisa McGarrity (www.lisamcgarrity.com) each analyzed Foley’s soul. Here are some of their findings:
According to Stellas, Mick Foley has one of the most unusual astrological charts she has never seen. Foley’s chart literally suggests that great failure & hardship were in the stars for him but, that through incredible determination be defied fate & destiny and made it his own.
Mick Foley’s previous lifetime (before his current one now) was that of a woman in the early 1900’s who was severely abused (two psychics separately revealed this). Foley happens to be a tireless advocate leading the national fight against sexual violence and apparently this is one of the reasons why his chose to reincarnate so quickly and this era of human history.
According to the OLIT Team (known as the Virtues), Foley has experienced previous lifetimes with some WWE Superstars. Daniel Bryan apparently was his son in their previous lifetime (the one where Mick was abused) together and AJ Lee was a close friend. Also, the Undertaker (Mark Calaway) and Foley have shared several lifetimes together dating back to the dawn of the first ever Olympics.
Everyone who analyzed Foley said they were taken back by how much love he has in his heart for people & humanity in general. He was described an incredible force of positive energy who has been and will continue to impact millions of lives.
“It was an honor to have Mick Foley on our program. He’s a super nice guy. We feel that he’s an incredible teacher and feel that humanity can learn so much from him.” Said Ryan McCormick, Executive Producer of The Outer Limits Of Inner Truth Radio Show.
Link to The Outer Limits Of Inner Truth: Mick Foley
For more information on the Outer Limits of Inner Truth Radio Show, please visit www.outerlimitsradio.com or contact Ryan McCormick at 516-901-1103. Media interviews are also available with any of the psychic mediums featured on the show.
About The Outer Limits Of Inner Truth
Nationally Syndicated on KKRP 1610 AM & New Concious Media Network, “The Outer Limits Of Inner Truth” (www.outerlimitsradio.com) Radio Show is a program that offers a unique insight into their featured guests. The hour long show presents in depth interview on a person considered ahead of their time that is then followed with forensic soul analysis by five experts (called “The Virtues”) that include: Psychic Mediums Kerrie O’Connor & Lisa Caza, Past Life Reader Laura Lyn, and Astrologer
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights of what he said about:
Sting’s 7-4-14 Tweet: “Lots of @Sting speculation as to what 7-14-14 means but to spill the beans, if I knew, would be to spoil a cool surprise. Needless to say, I’d suggest, without leading anyone astray, that watching RAW Monday night would be judicious.”
Daniel Bryan’s Status: “Not sure what to believe or not to believe regarding the physical status of Daniel Bryan but most of what I’m reading isn’t positive. Often times a surgery will reveal other issues and it seems that may have been the case here. The bottom line to this entire matter is to get Bryan healthy and, above all else, not to rush him back into the ring. I feel confident that WWE would never allow this to occur but certainly in the territory days of years gone by promoters would want the talents to get back in the ring ASAP. Plus, the talents themselves would push the envelope because most of them did not have guaranteed contracts and if they did not work they did not get paid notwithstanding they paid their own medical bills. Times have changed much for the better in those areas.”
How Bryan’s Absence Affects Roman Reigns: “With Bryan out TFN, it’s also imperative that WWE be cautious in how they market, promote and build Roman Reigns. Overexposure can result in a backlash neither of which the WWE or Reigns needs at this point in his development. Does Roman Reigns or any other WWE talent need to be on virtually every TV show that is produced such as RAW and Smackdown? Absolutely, not.”
Gail Kim vs. Angelina Love: “Wanted to mention last week that I really enjoyed the @GailKimITSME vs. Angela Love match last Thursday on @ImpactWrestlilng on @SpikeTV. The ladies worked hard, I knew who the villain and the heroine were, and they had the time to tell a viable story. This stuff isn’t rocket science folks. However, we seem to be living in an age where pro wrestling is more ‘over thought’ these days than ever before and we can all see the results of that mindset.”
Former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan’s physical condition is worse than originally believed.
Bryan recently underwent neck surgery and his return was delayed because he was experiencing complications with the strength in one of his arms. According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, a thorough medical examination revealed additional shoulder and neck issues.
The latest is that Daniel Bryan probably needs shoulder surgery. Due to the uncertainty regarding his in-ring future, WWE has removed Daniel Bryan from all upcoming storylines and the company has no idea when he’ll be back in action.
– For those unaware, the agents used in the RAW segment with Roman Reigns and Kane on Monday night were Jamie Noble, Fit Finlay, Dean Malenko, Joey Mercury and Mike Rotunda. Reigns shoved Noble across the ring and speared Finlay. Finlay was actually trending on Twitter after the segment, as several fans noticed who he was.
– Also at RAW last night was former WWE Tag-Team Champion Sylvain Grenier.
– The following are the extras for WWE’s 2014 Money In The Bank DVD, which is scheduled for a July 29th release:
Daniel Bryan Interview (Money In the Bank Kickoff)
Fandango & Layla Interview
Money In The Bank Moment 1: Jack Swagger
Money In The Bank Moment 2: Daniel Bryan
Money In The Bank Moment 3: Dolph Ziggler
Money In The Bank Moment 4: Randy Orton
We are a little over halfway through the year. With Money in the Bank behind us, the WWE will now focus on building up its second biggest pay-per-view of the year, SummerSlam. With that said, I felt it would be interesting to look at the top five matches from the second quarter of 2014. I included full match videos and highlights where possible, but WWE licensing restrictions made it difficult at times. (I also apologize for the terrible music in a few of the videos.)
Dolph Ziggler is rarely given more than ten minutes to perform anymore, so it is definitely worth enjoying when he is given enough time to show off his talent. In this match, Ziggler squared off with Bad News Barrett in the first round of the Intercontinental Championship tournament. Both superstars put on a great show, with Barrett ultimately winning after hitting a Bad News Bullhammer Elbow. The action was fast paced in this contest, with both guys showing why they have main event talent. This would start Barrett’s push to win the title, although he would of course later be stripped as a result of injury. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdwcxG9A8UU
This would end up begin Daniel Bryan’s only title defense, as he was stripped of the title just a few weeks later due to injury. He made the most of his time with the strap, however, by engaging in a great contest with Kane. Of all the matches on the list, this is definitely the one that had the most old-school feel to it, with the action spilling to the back of the arena at one point. Bryan also used a forklift to help secure the victory by delivering a diving headbutt from the top of the vehicle. Ultimately, the match was a throwback to the Attitude Era, providing fans with a simultaneous glimpse into both the past and future of the company. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ReEU8WzzQo
– It’s worth noting that as soon as WWE became aware that Daniel Bryan was going to have to be stripped of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship due to his neck issues, they immediately decided to put the belt on John Cena again. While Bray Wyatt may have been a popular candidate to win the Money In The Bank ladder match, he was never legitimately considered, as they already knew that they were going with Cena.
– Bully Ray noted during a recent Opie & Anthony radio appearance designed to promote TNA’s television tapings in New York City that he would jump-ship to WWE if given the opportunity. Bully mentioned that he would return to WWE in a “heartbeat” if Vince McMahon called him.
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
As noted previously, the top four matches planned for this year’s WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view include Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton, Bray Wyatt vs. Chris Jericho and Stephanie McMahon vs. Brie Bella.
Another match that was originally under consideration for the show is a “Buried Alive” match between Daniel Bryan and Kane. That match is considered unlikely at this point, as it depends on Bryan’s condition, which doesn’t seem to be approving at a rate that would allow him to perform in time for SummerSlam.
It’s been noted in the past as well that WWE will be stacking the deck for Night Of Champions, the pay-per-view following SummerSlam, as that is when they will be needing something big to lure subscribers to the WWE Network, as their six-month subscriptions will be expiring at around that time.
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
Today is the all-important day where Americans celebrate their independence by consuming large amounts of alcohol and grilled fare. No WWE superstar claims to have America’s best interests in mind more than Jack Swagger.
The so-called Real American, accompanied by his founding father Zeb Colter, has advocated an isolationist domestic policy that is free of illegal immigrants. Along the way, Swagger has made national headlines by entering into a feud with conservative radio host Glenn Beck.
It appeared that Swagger was in the midst of a massive push while bickering with Beck, having just defeated accomplished stars such as Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, and Daniel Bryan to earn a chance to compete against Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 29.
Swagger and Colter made national news in 2013 after attracting the attention of Glenn Beck.
Unfortunately for Swagger, he was arrested for DUI and possession of marijuana, ending what could have been a classic feud between a border-protecting nationalist and an immigrant Mexican. Del Rio defeated Swagger at WrestleMania and the Real American was quickly shifted out of the main event scene.
Since aligning himself with Zeb Colter, Swagger has always acted as a heel, often using cheap heat as a way to get his character over. However, it seems as if a face turn could be just around the corner.
In recent months, Rusev has been dominating the WWE roster, taking out superstars such as Big E, Kofi Kingston, and R-Truth. Much like Swagger, Rusev has also used cheap heat as a way to build his character, praising Vladimir Putin and Russia along the way.
Rusev was up to his usual antics this past week when the crowd actually started chanting for Jack Swagger. Colter and Swagger defended America by taking out Rusev and acting as faces for the first time since joining one another. Unsurprisingly, Colter cut an amazing promo on Rusev and Lana, perfectly setting up what could be an entertaining feud.
The reason Daniel Bryan appeared in his ring gear during a dark segment at the WWE television taping on Tuesday night in Newark, New Jersey was because he was shooting the anti-smoking commercial that we reported about last week.
The anti-smoking PSA shows a fan so addicted to cigarettes that he missed Bryan thanking him because he was busy smoking outside of the arena when it happened.
Following the filming of the PSA, Bryan came out to the ring in his gear and basically cut the same promo in front of the Newark fans that he did in Boston on Sunday night during the Money In The Bank “Kickoff Show.”
The following are highlights of a new Inside The Ropes UK interview with Steve Austin:
On Vince Russo’s influence on the Attitude Era: “I think he had a great contribution to the Attitude Era. When I was talking to him on my podcast, we got into some heavy stuff. You know he didn’t do too well in WCW, he didn’t do so well in TNA and that’s where I think the criticism comes from. I always thought that Vince Russo was at his best when he was presenting his ideas to a guy like Vince McMahon who is very grounded with the basic fundamentals and psychology of professional wrestling. So Vince Russo could take him out of his box a little bit and then Vince McMahon could keep Russo’s ideas grounded so they all make sense. I say that with all due respect to Vince Russo, he’s gonna come back on my podcast and he’ll talk about those WCW and TNA says. But no doubt he left an indelible mark on the Attitude Era and I had a blast working with the guy. I believe that when he speaks, he speaks from the heart.”
On his neck injury in 1997 and Daniel Bryan’s current injury: “Well you know when I got dropped on my head (in 1997), I bruised my spinal cord and has some stenosis, so i didn’t need the surgery right away, I just needed to rest my neck. Then when I got back in the ring some bone spurs pressed against the spinal cord and that’s where the real danger was and I had to get the surgery. Which of course is an entirely different situation to Daniel Bryan who had minimally invasive surgery. For me, I was able to maintain a television presence, stay a part of the story lines then when I got back in the ring, started doing tags, six mans just to keep me in front of the crowd, keep drawing the houses but to protect me. Once I started getting hot and was able to overcome that thing that happened to me, it only made people buy into Stone Cold Steve Austin more. So it’ll be interesting to see what happens with Daniel Bryan. Will he have to change his work style? What will the crowd do when he comes back? I hope that they accept him with open arms and I hope they have some great story lines or angles to get him back the level that he was or even higher if that’s possible.”
Check out the complete interview at Facebook.com/theinsidenetwork.