— WWE is expected to hold a Tag Team Championship Match at Over the Limit where Kofi Kingston and R-Truth defend the straps against either Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger or a multiple tag team match including Epico and Primo and possibly Darren Young and Titus O’Neil.
— In attendance news the May 4 Raw live event in Huntsville, Alabama drew 4,000 paying $150,000; May 5 Raw in Knoxville, Tennessee drew 6,000 paying $200,000; SmackDown on May 5 in Asheville, North Carolina drew 2,000 paying $65,000; Raw on May 6 in Chattanooga, Tennessee drew 4,800 paying $115,000; May 6 SmackDown in North Charleston, South Carolina drew 3,500 paying $120,000.
— Alberto Del Rio will arrive in Tokyo, Japan late Wednesday night to embark on a promotional tour. He appears on Television Kanagawa on Friday at noon. He is scheduled for an autograph session on Saturday. He will then attend that day’s Hanshin Tigers vs. Yokohama Bay Stars baseball game at Yokohama Stadium as he is scheduled to shoot T-shirts into the crowd. He’ll also be at Tower Records in Shibuya at 6:00 p.m. (thanks to Jose Gonzalez)
– Georgia Smith, the daughter of the late British Bulldog, recently wrote an article about her father for Fighting Spirit Magazine that will be published soon.
– Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins are trying to get re-hired by John Laurinaitis and were informed that they will get their jobs back if they can get the hastag #SaveReksAndHawkins trending during Monday’s three-hour RAW.
– The tag team of Titus O’Neil and Darren Young have officially joined the SmackDown roster and wrestled The Usos on this week’s show. O’Neil and Young wrote on Twitter earlier in the week that they have their sights set on the WWE Tag Team Championships. Here is video of their match against the Usos:
– FCW star Antonio Cesaro made his WWE television debut on Friday’s night’s SmackDown. Formerly known as Claudio Castagnoli, Cesaro was introduced as Aksana’s new friend and had a meeting with John Laurinaitis on the show. Cesaro’s gimmick is that he’s a professional European Rugby player.
— WWE.com is advertising a Six-Man Tag Team match for tonight’s episode of SmackDown on Syfy as World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus, Randy Orton and The Great Khali will join forces against Cody Rhodes, Daniel Bryan and Mark Henry. Other matches airing include AJ vs. Natalya, Brodus Clay and Hornswoggle vs. Camacho and Hunico, Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso vs. Darren Young and Titus O’Neil, Ryback vs. James Lerman and Big Show vs. Alberto Del Rio.
— Brodie Lee, who recently signed a developmental contract with WWE, will report to Florida Championship Wrestling shortly. He concluded his independent wrestling commitments over the weekend.
— WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase has changed his Twitter handle to twitter.com/MDMTedDiBiase.
— Former WWE star Johnny Stamboli turns 35 years old today.
– The WWE website held a poll asking fans who will win at Extreme Rules between John Cena and Brock Lesnar. John Cena won the poll with 60% of the votes.
– With just a few weeks before their WWE contracts expire, the Bella Twins continue to pick up wins against Eve Torres and Divas champion Beth Phoenix on WWE’s overseas tour.
– WWE stars Titus O’Neil and Darren Young say they are headed to SmackDown and are looking to become the new WWE Tag Team Champions. Titus O’Neil wrote:
“Me& @DarrenYoungWWE put the issues of @TaminaSnuka behind us&We are headed 2 @WWE Friday Night Smackdown!!We will be Tag Team Champions Soon”
His partner Darren Young added the following:
“The #realdeal @TitusNXT & #nodaysoff @darrenyoungwwe WILL change the face of @WWE & the question is who gon stop us HUH? #ImpactPlayers”
— Matches taped Tuesday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut for this week’s episode of WWE NXT Redemption are as follows:
* Maxine vs. Tamina Snuka
* Johnny Curtis vs. Yoshi Tatsu
* Darren Young vs. Jimmy Uso
* Percy Watson vs. Titus O’Neil
WWE developmental wrestler Xavier Woods, who formerly competed as Consequences Creed for TNA Wrestling, competed in a pre-taping dark match. He defeated Hunico in a singles match.
Woods appeared before the WWE audience for the first time at Raw live events over the weekend. He defeated Curt Hawkins on all three shows.
— WWE.com has added Darren Young, Derrick Bateman and Percy Watson to the SmackDown roster. All three wrestlers have largely appeared on WWE NXT. Meanwhile, Maxine and Titus O’Neil are still listed as NXT talent.
— SmackDown ring announcer Lilian Garcia will be performing at the Viper Room in Hollywood, California (located on 8852 Sunset Boulevard) on Thursday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, which are $10, are available for purchase here.
— Former WWE star Diamond Dallas Page says he auditioned for a movie short starring Kevin Spacey. He wrote on Twitter, “I just NAILED an audition for a movie short as a Pirate starring Kevin Spacey… Cross your fingers.”
— Jim Ross stated on the following on Twitter, “Going 2 OU-Texas A&M hoops Saturday. Recorded a short sound byte to air prior to Sooners intro. Spring football starts Mon!”
— Matches taped tonight at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma for this week’s episode of WWE NXT Redemption are as follows:
* Derrick Bateman vs. Heath Slater
* Darren Young vs. Percy Watson
* Trent Barreta vs. Tyson Kidd
* Kaitlyn vs. Maxine
* Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks vs. Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso
— Brodus Clay squashed WWE developmental wrestler Damien Sandow in a dark match at tonight’s SmackDown SuperShow taping in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Sandow was accompanied by Abraham Washington.
— The February 4 episode of A.M. Raw garnered a 0.59 cable rating, with 723,000 viewers.
— WWE brought Lilian Garcia back to the organization to permanently replace Tony Chimel as the ring announcer for weekly SmackDown tapings. Chimel, 50, will continue working for WWE at television tapings in the production office backstage. Company officials asked Garcia late last week if she wanted to return and a deal was reached Monday upon her arrival in Tampa, Florida.
Garcia, who turned 45 years old in August, retired from her job as Raw ring announcer in 2009, citing a wish to settle down with her husband and being burned out from WWE’s strenuous travel schedule. During her time away, she continued to pursue her music career, and hosted AfterBuzzTV.com’s post-shows for Raw and Tough Enough.
— Matches taped Tuesday night in Jacksonville, Florida for this week’s episode of WWE NXT are as follows: Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso vs. Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks; Darren Young and JTG vs. Percy Watson and Titus O’Neil; Johnny Curtis vs. Derrick Bateman.
Yoshi Tatsu beat WWE developmental wrestler Damien Sandow in a dark match prior to the taping.
— The following matches were taped Tuesday night in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania for this week’s episode of NXT Redemption:
* Johnny Curtis vs. Yoshi Tatsu
* Jimmy Uso vs. JTG
* Percy Watson and Titus O’Neil vs. Darren Young and Tyler Reks
— The following matches were taped Tuesday night in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania for this week’s episode of WWE Superstars:
* Jinder Mahal vs. Trent Barreta
* Ezekiel Jackson vs. Tyson Kidd
— A Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza employee told an attendee at tonight’s WWE television tapings that the event drew 4,000 fans. This is approximately half the venue’s capacity.
Darren Young’s thirty-day suspension for his first violation of WWE’s Talent Wellness Program expired on Friday. Therefore, he is now eligible to resume performing for the organization.
WWE announced on October 6, 2011 that the NXT contestant had been suspended for thirty days due to his non-compliance with their drug testing policy. On the subequent episode of NXT, program host Matt Striker implied that Young had been eliminated from the competition due to his infraction as he referred Derrick Bateman and Titus O’Neil as the final two competitors.
Two other wrestlers are currently serving drug related suspensions with WWE: Heath Slater and Evan Bourne. Slater is eligible to resume performing on November 16, 2011 while Bourne can on December 1, 2011.
— Numerous Twitter users noted today that Beth Phoenix is no longer following CM Punk and Amy “Lita” Dumas on the microblogging website. Punk appeared on Dumas’ Atlanta based radio show, Punkrockalypse, Sunday night. The former WWE Women’s Champion was backstage at the following night’s Raw SuperShow.
The November 2011 issue of Maxim features an article on Punk and it’s noted that Phoenix has been his girlfriend for approximately a year.
— The official Twitter feed of WWE issued the following notice Wednesday: “Watch The Insider tonight on CBS stations for Eve, Kelly Kelly and Alicia Fox! Check local listings for time & channel!”
— Darren Young turns 32 years old Wednesday. WWE.com announced on October 5 that Young was suspended for 30 days for his first violation of their Talent Wellness Program. He is eligible to resume performing on Friday.
— After parting ways with WWE and the professional wrestling industry three years ago, Cherry now works at SeaWorld.
She wrote on Twitter, “So the most asked question is what have I been doing since wrestling…..I’m a tour guide at Sea World!!!! Love u @NatbyNature and @KiddWWE.”
— Darren Young, who is currently serving a thirty-day suspension due to his first violation of WWE’s Talent Wellness Program, made a surprise appearance at Saturday’s Independent Wrestling Federation event in Woodland Park, New Jersey. On behalf of “the boys in the back,” the IWF graduate presented promotion head Kevin Knight with a plaque recognizing his fifteen years of service to the professional wrestling industry.
“The nicest thing anyone ever did for me was Darren Young flying in for tonight’s IWF event and come to the ring to surprise me and the fans,” Knight wrote on Facebook. “The man who trained me 15 1/2 years ago Rik Ratchet was there. Original IWF Commissioner AJ Sparxx & Biggie Biggs on the card! ALL FOR THE FANS!”
WWE performer Darren Young has broken his silence about his 30-day suspension from WWE following his violation of the company’s Wellness Policy last week. Young wrote the following on Twitter over the weekend:
“To the WWE Universe, I sincerely apologize to my loving family, my supportive friends back up North, my peers who I have an incredible amount of respect for top to bottom and to all my fans that support #DYoung; I hear u loud and clear #WWE.
I take full responsibility for my actions as this will never occur again.
I love the @WWE and the worst thing you can do to me is keep me off that stage where I own it in that ring!
I accept this set back as a normal part of living; making a mental a note of it as a lessoned learned! D Young”
WWE has announced that Darren Young has been suspended for 30 days due to a violation of the company’s Wellness Policy.
The following statement was posted on the WWE website on Thursday:
“In accordance with its Talent Wellness Program, WWE has suspended Fred Rosser (Darren Young) for 30 days effective Wednesday, Oct. 5, for his first violation of the company’s policy.”
Young has not been featured on WWE television much in recent months but was shown briefly on Monday’s RAW during the talent walkout.
— According to the latest issue of WWE Magazine, John Cena’s next WWE Studios film, The Reunion, will be released in theaters on October 21.
A website for the film, which also stars Ethan Embry and Amy Smart, has been launched at www.thereunion-movie.com.
— The main event of tonight’s episode of WWE NXT on NXT.WWE.com features Jey and Jimmy Uso squaring off against Darren Young and JTG. Also scheduled is Yoshi Tatsu vs. Jinder Mahal and Percy Watson vs. Tyson Kidd.
— WWE is asking fans to vote on the WWE Greatest Matches Facebook page to help program the WWEGreatestMatches.com schedule for the month of January.
— Randy Orton caused Cody Rhodes to heavily bleed on SmackDown following an errant shot to the head with the ring bell. Cameras quickly cut to close-up shots of Orton’s face, with Rhodes’ back only being visible for the remainder of the segment. Personnel covered Rhodes’ head with a towel before Orton struck him with an RKO on the broadcast table.
The replay, however, showed blood streaming from the back of Rhodes’ head.
According to fans in attendance at Tuesday’s taping, pools of bloods were scattered around the ring following the segment.
— Florida Heavyweight Champion Leo Kruger was among the wrestlers gathered around the ring during John Laurinaitis’ address at the beginning of SmackDown. He worked a dark match prior to the taping, losing to Trent Barreta.
NXT talent also appeared ringside: Darren Young, Derrick Bateman, Maxine and Titus O’Neil.
— Matches taped tonight in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for this week’s episode of WWE Superstars are as follows:
* Ezekiel Jackson vs. Tyson Kidd
* Brodus Clay vs. Mike Palmer
— WWE developmental wrestler Percy Watson appears on tonight’s episode of NXT: Redemption as he partners with Titus O’Neil in a tag team match against Derrick Bateman and Tyson Kidd. The NXT Season 2 contestant returned to WWE programming on last week’s episode of WWE Superstars as he and O’Neil lost a tag team match to Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks.
Other matches slated for NXT include:
* A.J. vs. Maxine
* Darren Young and JTG vs. Matt Striker and William Regal
— Although WWE has billed Money in the Bank as CM Punk’s final appearance for the organization, he is among those advertised for tomorrow’s Monday Night Raw in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
He is not advertised for shows after Monday.
— The Chicago Tribune has posted an article regarding WWE star sightings this weekend in Chicago, Illinois. The article features a photo of John Cena posing for a photo with fans at O’Hare International Airport and notes that his Money in the Bank opponent CM Punk threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Friday’s Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field. The story also notes that Mark Henry, Darren Young, Titus O’Neil and Eden Stiles were seen dining at The Fifty/50 on Saturday.
— Maryse will be on hand for tonight’s Money in the Bank Live Chat on WWE.com tonight at 8:00 p.m.
— Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov are advertised to appear at the Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay, Wisconsin tomorrow beginning at 11:00 a.m.
— Darren Young, who was selected as one of six former NXT contestants to return to the show in its fifth season, NXT Redemption, was listed as a member of the Raw roster upon its premiere. He had been largely relegated to WWE Superstars in recent months but is now competing for a spot in the sixth season of NXT.
— Former WWE creative member John Piermarini said on his Twitter account that Brodus Clay was originally tapped for the role of Ted DiBiase’s bodyguard last year. The role, however, went to Virgil.
— WWE Hall of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper said on Twitter that he’s filming a piece for Jimmy Kimmel Live! this week.
— The March 5 SmackDown live event in Albuquerque, New Mexico drew 6,000 fans and gate of $170,000. The March 6 show in Waco, Texas drew 4,000 fans for a gate of $120,000.
— Awesome Kong was backstage at last night’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view event in Boston, but was not used. She is set to debut imminently. She is backstage at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence for tonight’s Raw.
— WWE Superstars Superstars Darren Young, David Hart Smith and Primo were advertised on WWE.com for last night’s 40-Man Royal Rumble Match but ultimately excluded. All three were not backstage at the Rumble as they were informed last week that they had been taken off the show. Smith, however, is in Providence for tonight’s Raw.
— Gail Kim took to Twitter to comment on speculation she performed as a heel at Saturday’s live event due to her partnership with Maryse in a tag team match. She wrote, “People I was forced to be Maryse’s tag partner by the GM! She left me high and dry so don’t think I wanted to be her partner.I had no choice.”
— There was much criticism amongst WWE officials regarding the quality of the commentary by Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler and Matt Striker during last night’s Royal Rumble broadcast.
— “Rowdy” Roddy Piper suffered a black eye at the hands of Terry Funk during a battle royal at WrestleReunion 5 in Los Angeles.
— Darren Young made his return to World Wrestling Entertainment airwaves during Monday’s Raw, participating in the 20-Man Battle Royal to determine the No. 1 contender for Randy Orton’s WWE Championship. He was eliminated by former Nexus cohorts Wade Barrett and Justin Gabriel.
— Prior to the live broadcast, Young took part in a match taped for Thursday’s episode of WWE Superstars on WGN America. He squared off against William Regal. Also taped for the program was a bout between The Hart Dynasty and The Usos.
— WWE Bottom Line host Scott Stanford made his WWE announcing debut during the Superstars taping as he called Young’s match against Regal, alongside Jerry Lawler. He was replaced by Michael Cole following the bout.
Stanford formerly worked as a sports anchor at WNBC-4 in New York City before signing with WWE last year.
— As of Sunday, the idea was that guest hosts would be used on Raw every other week instead of every week. (source: www.f4wonline.com)
— As seen last night on Raw, Bret Hart was removed from the Raw General Manager position by Vince McMahon for not attending the previous night’s Fatal 4-Way pay-per-view (kayfabe). McMahon then informed fans that a new, anonymous General Manager would take control of the show, emailing announcer Michael Cole his orders. His profile has since been removed from the Raw Superstars section.
— It was also announced on Raw that the Rookies from the first season of NXT have earned contracts with World Wrestling Entertainment (kayfabe). Their respective profiles have been added to Raw Superstars section. It was also revealed that Wade Barrett had been granted a future pay-per-view title match again by the mystery General Manager.