-The following is a new tweet from WWE Superstar Bray Wyatt, who makes his WWE television debut on WWE RAW on Monday night:
“Today is a day they will talk about for a thousand years….. Tick tock #FollowTheBuzzards”
-The following matches were taped tonight in Baltimore, Maryland prior to WWE RAW to air on this week’s edition of WWE Superstars:
–Justin Gabriel vs. Darren Young
–Antonio Cesaro vs. Zack Ryder
Update On Wyatt Family’s Future In WWE, RVD vs. ??? @ SSlam, Punk/Lesnar Plans
Vickie Guerrero announced a champion vs. champion match between WWE Champion John Cena and World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio for WWE RAW tonight.
Guerrero wrote on Twitter:
“I’ve made a historic #WWE Champ@JohnCena vs. World Heavyweight Champ@VivaDelRio match tonight on #RAW@VinceMcMahon, what do you think?”
Also confirmed for tonight’s RAW is a tag-team match with CM Punk & Curtis Axel vs. The Prime Time Players.
– As seen on Monday’s RAW, Darren Young wrestled a tag match with his partner, Titus O’Neil. This conflicts with recent reports by the Wrestling Observer and PWInsider.com, that Young would be out of action for 6-8 months with a knee injury. After RAW, he tweeted:
“#DYoung out of action? #aintnobodygottimeforthat @WWE #RAW #millionsofdollars”
– WWE’s RAW crew was very tired and beat up following this past weekend’s live events tour of Qatar and Turkey.
– WWE stars Rey Mysterio, AJ Lee, Kofi Kingston and Layla participated in a Make-A-Wish event on Monday at a local Dave & Busters in Dallas.
– Here is a video preview for Bret Hart’s new “Dungeon Collection” DVD set, due out March 5th (now on sale at Amazon.com
– With Shawn Michaels retired, WWE.com has an article up looking at who will be the next “Mr. WrestleMania.” Among the superstars disucssed are Chris Jericho, John Cena, Dolph Ziggler and CM Punk.
– Prime Time Players member Darren Young recently injured his knee and could be out of action until October, according to the Wrestling Observer. Young tweeted on Thursday:
“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people. Young is 100% @WWE! #ClearYoung #PTP2Mania #MOD”
“A wise man once said ,”The 2 most powerful warriors are patience and time.” Well who’s got the time 2 b patient! #ClearYoung #StrongPTP 100%”
– Here is a new trailer for the WWE Studios film “The Call” starring Halle Berry and featuring David Otunga:
– The 2013 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony will air on the USA Network on Saturday, April 6th. The one-hour special will air from 10-11pm (Eastern).
– Darren Young of the Prime Time Players is currently out of action with an injury. We’ll provide an update when more details are available.
– Here’s the latest installment of the WWE Inbox Youtube series:
Pound for pound, who is the strongest WWE Superstar? See who many of the locker room chose in this week’s edition of “WWE Inbox.” Plus, find out how you can get your questions answered by a Superstar!
– It appears that Darren Young may have been injured during the Royal Rumble match. After he was eliminated, referees threw up the “X” sign and he was helped to the back by WWE officials. We’ll have an update on this as soon as it becomes available.
– Kevin Nash, who was backstage at the Royal Rumble and took part in the WCW panel during the Royal Rumble fan fest, tweeted the following about the PPV:
“Really enjoyed the Rumble, guessed the outcomes.As I’m sure we all did.Great to be a part of the axcess.So great to visit with the Levesques”
– MVP and Hurricane Helms tweeted the following about the rumors that they would be surprise entrants in the Royal Rumble:
MVP: “It’s humbling & flattering that so many people have expressed a desire to see me back in a WWE ring. Not yet. But thank you. Sincerely!”
Helms: “Loved all the support from my “Twitizens” today. I’ll step in a @WWE ring again one day. Timing is everything.”
– WWE contacted Rikishi to participate in Sunday’s 30-Man Royal Rumble Match but the veteran wrestler is unable to appear due to a prior commitment, Jerry “The King” Lawler revealed in an interview with New York Post promoting WrestleMania Axxess.
“I do know that they had contacted Rikishi, but he had a prior commitment that he could not get out of. My son Brian told me that it was just a commitment he literally could not get out of even though he really wanted to [be in the Rumble],” Lawler said.
Lawler also hinted that former stars could resurface as surprise entrants.
“The Royal Rumble has become our next biggest and most fan-favorite pay-per-view. It’s so unpredictable. I know for a fact, I don’t know who it will be, but there’s always some surprise entrants. There will be some people that you didn’t have a clue they were going to be involved in the Rumble.”
To read the full interview, click here.
– This week’s edition of The JBL & Cole Show features appearances by Mick Foley and Shawn Michaels, who have some kind words for JBL. Plus, Hornswoggle faces off with Daniel Bryan and his “magician’s assistant” in the “SUPERStar Search.”
– Darren Young is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
– The official website of the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan, are now advertising The New Age Outlaws, “Road Dogg” Jesse James and “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn, for next Wednesday’s Raw live event. As reported earlier, the five-time WWE Tag Team Champions will also appear at Thursday’s Raw live event at Madison Square Garden and Friday’s show in Uniondale, New York.
– This week’s The JBL and Cole Show features John “Bradshaw” Layfield and Micheal Cole outside of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, before Sunday WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view event. The synopsis reads, “Outside Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, “The Wrestling God” and one of WWE’s most outspoken announcers visit with Alex Levine from The Gaslight Anthem to join The Prime Time Players, Alicia Fox and WWE fans in a “Millions of Dollars” chant. Watch the latest episode of the hilarious “JBL & Cole Show”!”
– WWE officials are high on developmental wrestler Corey Graves, formerly known as Sterling James Keenan on the independent circuit. He is expected to gain the NXT Championship following the promotion of current belt holder Seth Rollins to the main roster.
– A backstage segment featuring Darren Young and Titus O’Neil was cut from Friday’s SmackDown episode.
– Colt Cabana has released his latest Creative Has Nothing For You webisode, entitled “REJECTED SCRIPTS ILLUSTRATED.”
– Mick Foley is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
(source: F4WOnline.com)
– This week’s episode of Z! True Long Island Story is a “Best Of” episode.
– The official WWE website has released highlights of this week’s episode of WWE Superstars, featuring Santino Marella and Zack Ryder vs. 3MB, as well as Justin Gabriel vs. Darren Young. The full episode is available on WWEOnHulu.com.
– WWE announced the following Facebook regarding its return to Australia next year: “The RAW World Tour comes to Australia this July with 5 stops in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Tickets will be available starting Wednesday, November 28 at 9:00am local time on Ticketek.com.”
– Alberto Del Rio is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
– “Backstage Fallout” for Monday’s Raw is now online. Here is the synopsis: “Aksana tells the WWE Universe why she went after Kaitlyn at Night of Champions and later at Survivor Series. Plus, see how The Prime Time Players are recovering after being double-teamed. Check out these interviews only in the Raw edition of “Backstage Fallout.”
— WWE NXT wrestler Corey Graves (formerly known as Sterling James Keenan on the independent wrestling circuit) issued the following warning on Twitter following Survivor Series: “My turn.”
– WWE Hall of Famer Howard Finkel lent his vocal talents to the Strike 3 Foundation’s First Pitch Gala, serving as emcee at the fundraiser for pediatric cancer research. The official WWE website has posted photos from the event.
– Speaking to Inside Wrestling, Booker T was asked for comment on the late Chris Benoit after working closely with him for a number of years. The SmackDown General Manager is asked how he separates Benoit’s wrestling accomplishments and friendship with him from the horrible event that occurred in 2007.
“I separate them because I have to,” said Booker. “You can’t put the two together. I think of the Chris I knew on the road and in Japan, eating the frickin’ noodles, traveling and working together for years. I can’t put those two people together because I really think the two were different people at the time. We’ll never know what happened, and that’s the thing: We don’t know. The brain is a fragile machine, because you can live with a person for 30 years and then they kill you one day.”
– After recently returning to North America, Rene Dupree competed in his first match in the United States since leaving WWE on Saturday in Rahway, New Jersey for Pro Wrestling Syndicate. He lost a Four-Way match, which also featured Dan Maff, Devon Moore and the winner, The Dynamic Sensation.
Dupree competed in Japan and Europe during his time away from North America. Though still muscular, he has since lost a considerable amount of weight.
– The Prime Time Players, Darren Young and Titus O’Neil, appear at Cricket Communications in Dayton, Ohio, on Saturday beginning at 4:00 p.m.
– As late as last week, WWE’s creative staff had contemplated a Survivor Series match pitting Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara against Darren Young and Titus O’Neil, with possible additional wrestler involvement. It should be known tonight on Raw whether the match occurs.
– Kevin Sullivan, author of the newly released WWE Encyclopedia, noted on Twitter last week during a visit to WWE’s television studio in Stamford, Connecticut that legendary announcer “Mean” Gene Okerlund has shaved off his trademark mustache. The WWE Hall of Famer hosts the company’s internationally broadcast Vintage Collection show as well as programs on WWE Classics On Demand.
– The official WWE website has a poll asking fans whether Brad Maddox can find a way to defeat Ryback tonight on Raw. The poll shows 58% towards Maddox having no chance to win.
– Nicole and Brianna, the former Bella Twins, have been announced to appear at the New Orleans Wizard World taking place November 30 through December 2 at New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center 900 Convention Center Blvd. New Orleans, Louisiana.
(source: F4WOnline.com)
– Following a meeting with the WWE Board of Directors at the company’s headquarters, AJ Lee announced on Raw Monday that she had decided it was best to resign as brand General Manager following accusations she’d been “fraternizing” with an undisclosed Superstar (she denied the accusations).
After rejected Paul Heyman’s plea to become the new General Manager of Raw, Vince McMahon introduced Vickie Guerrero as “Managing Supervisor” of the program. Guerrero then alleged that Lee had an affair with a Superstar, and following more taunts, the two came to blows.
Later in the show, Cena was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with Lee, which led to her resigning as Raw General Manager.
– Two matches were taped Monday night in East Rutherford, New Jersey for this week’s episode of WWE Superstars:
* Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso vs. Darren Young and Titus O’Neil
* Tyson Kidd vs. Jinder Mahal
No pre-taping dark match match was held.
The Great Khali returned to action Tuesday night in Memphis, Tennessee, in a match taped for WWE Saturday Morning Slam. He faced Primo.
The former World Heavyweight Champion had been sidelined since undergoing surgery on July 26 to remove a tumor from his pituitary gland on July 26.
Also taped for the program was a match pitting Jey and Jimmy Uso against The Prime Time Players.
Two matches were taped for tomorrow night’s episode of WWE Main Event on ION Television. Zack Ryder took on Dolph Ziggler, and as previously announced, The Miz defended the Intercontinental Championship against Kofi Kingston.
In a dark match result, Johnny Curtis squashed Drew Haskins, a local wrestler.
– At the conclusion of Raw Monday, Vince McMahon presented WWE Champion CM Punk with an ultimatum: at Hell in a Cell, he would either face John Cena or Ryback. And if Punk hadn’t made up his mind in seven days, The Chairman said he would make it for him.
– The finals of the WWE Tag Team Championship No. 1 Contenders’ Tournament will be determined next week on Raw as Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara take on Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow. On Monday’s show, Mysterio and Cara defeated The Prime Time Players while Team Rhodes Scholars beat Santino Marella and Zack Ryder.
– WWE has released a promotional video hyping a match between Randy Orton and Big Show this Wednesday on WWE Main Event on ION Television. (Watch)
Matches taped Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center for this week’s episode of WWE Superstars were Tyson Kidd vs. David Otunga, and The Prime Time Players vs. Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso.
A taping was also held for WWE Saturday Morning Slam on The CW. Bouts taped were Sin Cara vs. Jinder Mahal, and Justin Gabriel vs. Zack Ryder.
A dark match was held before both tapings as Kofi Kingston beat WWE developmental wrestler Dean Ambrose following Trouble In Paradise.
(source: ProWrestling.net)
– Charlie Sheen, who had been speculated to appear at SummerSlam Sunday, attended a family party that. While at the get-together, Sheen was asked about working the pay-per-view event and joked that it would cost WWE a ton of money to get him. Multiple WWE sources report that company officials are interested in collaborating with Sheen at a future pay-per-view event, possibly WrestleMania XXIX.
– Santino Marella is expected to receive a WWE United States Championship rematch against Antonio Cesaro at Night of Champions. Other matches expected for the event include CM Punk vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship, Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship, Kaitlyn vs. Layla for the WWE Divas Championship and a Fatal 4-Way Match for the WWE Tag Team Championship with Kofi Kingston and R-Truth, Jey and Jimmy Uso, Epico and Primo, and The Prime Time Players.
– After Linda McMahon’s U.S. Senate opponent Chris Murphy purchased advertising time on the USA Network scrutinizing the former WWE CEO during Monday’s Raw airing in Connecticut, the sports-entertainment organization released the following statement to CourantBlogs.com: “It is apparent that the same people who have consistently denigrated and mischaracterized WWE and our family-friendly entertainment for political gain have officially changed their point of view about our content. For the second week in a row, Mr. Murphy’s campaign continues to run advertising in our programming with his new ad airing yesterday at 10:30 p.m. on USA during Monday Night Raw. While the past political rhetoric has been unjust, it pleases us to know that Mr. Murphy recognizes that WWE’s TV programming is a highly effective way to reach families and voters in Connecticut.”
(source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
– Brodus Clay and Damien Sandow, who have been feuding on WWE programming in recent weeks, were scheduled to face off at SummerSlam but their match was nixed due to time constraints.
Both the WWE Championship and WWE Tag Team Championship bouts were shortened due to time constraints because the production team wanted to make sure there would be enough time for the aftermath of the Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar bout since The Game’s farewell scene will play a vital role in storylines going forward.
– According to a fan account of WWE’s SummerSlam Axxess festivities in Los Angeles, California on Saturday, EMTs tended to numerous attendees who had fainted or collapsed at the event due to the extreme heat. There were few shaded areas and WWE did not provide water.
– Mike Tyson, who was on hand for the SummerSlam festivities to promote THQ’s upcoming WWE ’13 video game, was noted by a WWE talent as the happiest person at the events. The boxing great considers himself a huge wrestling fan, as he reveals in this article.
(sources: PWInsider.com, ProWrestling.net)
– CM Punk’s WWE Championship victory over John Cena and Big Show Sunday at SummerSlam extended two pay-per-view streaks. His win marked as his ninth consecutive successful title defense on pay-per-view. However, despite his reign atop WWE, it was the eighth consecutive pay-per-view in which he did not defend the title in the main event.
– WWE Universe members didn’t waste any time in chanting “Kobe Bryant” during the WWE Tag Team Championship Match between Kofi Kingston, R-Truth and The Prime Time Players at SummerSlam in response to The Players’ manager A.W. being released following a Kobe Bryant rape joke on Raw weeks ago. A.W. was informed of the chants on Twitter and responded, “To all the fans that showed their support with the chants and tweets I really want to say “THANK YOU”!!! You guys are truly.. #UNSTOPPABLE!”
A.W. also reacted to WWE confiscating a sign at SummerSlam Axxess today that featured a printed screenshot of WWE chief Vince McMahon distorting his face in a backstage segment on Raw two months ago to ridicule Jim Ross’ facial paralysis: “That really sucks! People pay their hard earned money to show their support for @WWE and that’s how they get treated. #Bully.”
– Jim Ross took a swipe at WWE’s past pay-per-view efforts Sunday via Twitter, writing, “SummerSlam has been a ‘clean’ show devoid of bad attempts at humor or endless non wrestling content. Big money matches merit big $$ effort.”
After weeks of battling the Kofi Kingston and R-Truth in singles matches, Darren Young and Titus O’Neil will receive their chance at the WWE Tag Team Championship this Sunday at SummerSlam.
It was also announced during Raw that Santino Marella will defend the United States Championship against Antonio Cesaro in a YouTube exclusive pre-show leading up to the pay-per-view broadcast. The announced card is as follows:
* Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar
* WWE Champion CM Punk vs. John Cena vs. Big Show
* Kane vs. Daniel Bryan
* Chris Jericho vs. Dolph Ziggler
* WWE United States Champion Santino Marella vs. Antonio Cesaro
* WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and R-Truth vs. The Prime Time Players
* WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Rey Mysterio
– In his first Tout as SmackDown General Manager, Booker T announced Tuesday night that a match to determine number one contendership to the WWE Tag Team Championship held by Kofi Kingston and R-Truth will be held this Friday on SmackDown as Primo and Epico take on Darren Young and Titus O’Neil.
– French wrestler Tom La Ruffa announced on Facebook that he has signed a developmental contract with WWE.
Nicknamed “The French Stallion,” La Ruffa is a top wrestler in Europe. He is a product of former WWE wrestler Lance Storm’s Storm Wrestling Academy and was featured on the premiere season of the World of Hurt reality television series in Canada. La Ruffa has competed in a WWE ring before as he was an opponent of Big Show’s in a 3-on-1 Handicap Match last November.
– Former WWE Champion Batista is today’s featured Superstar on WWE.com.
– This week on WWE Inbox, Alicia Fox, Darren Young, Dolph Ziggler, Ezekiel Jackson and Titus O’Neil reveal what they would be doing if they weren’t affiliated with WWE. The WWE Superstars also discuss their favorite WrestleMania.
– WWE.com announced Wednesday details for SummerSlam Axxess taking place Saturday, Aug. 18 to Sunday, Aug. 19 at the Nokia Plaza at L.A. LIVE. Among those scheduled for VIP appearances include CM Punk, Sheamus, Triple H, Randy Orton, John Cena and Rey Mysterio, who has not returned to television following the expiration of his 60-day suspension for his second violation of WWE’s Talent Wellness Program.
– Former WWE talent Bobby Lashley and Harry Smith are advertised to appear at the Fighting Back – Wrestling With Cancer show taking place Friday, Aug. 17 at Tudor Hall 3750 North Bowesville Rd. Ottawa, Ontario.