All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is set to try and take the wrestling world by storm with their follow up to All In, Double Or Nothing.
One of the major storylines going into this show is the reignited rivalry between Cody and his brother, former WWE Superstar, Dustin Rhodes.
In a recent interview with the WINCLY podcast, Dustin Rhodes addressed his creative frustrations during his last tenure with WWE. He compared WWE’s creative approach to AEW’s, promising that the new promotion will “open a lot of eyes and shock the world.”
“They Never Take Your Idea Seriously”
“I think everybody is rushing to up their ratings and entertainment value. Let’s face it, the creative team in the other company [WWE]… you pitch so many ideas and nothing ever gets done. They never take your idea seriously and then you have to bypass them and go to the boss [Vince McMahon],” Rhodes said.
Dustin spoke about his frustrations in being ignored despite actively coming up with new ideas to try. He claims that this WWE culture, where people are afraid to try new things or to talk to Vince McMahon to discuss ideas, has to stop.
“If something is pitched to you and it’s a damn good angle, why are you scared to go take it to the man [Vince McMahon]? That makes no sense to me; he’s a man. He might be our boss but all he can do is say ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ My frustration was that I didn’t get a lot of answers.”
He adds that, creatively, “As long as I have that hunger, I wanna keep doing it,” revealed Rhodes. “Until that hunger leaves me, I’m not gonna stop creating… It doesn’t matter what I’m doing. If I’m doing a backstage segment, I’m gonna make it the best backstage segment I can.”
Dustin will face off against his brother, Cody, during Double Or Nothing. The event takes place on May 25th from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
It was recently revealed that Cody’s opponent at All Elite Wrestling’s Double Or Nothing, would be his brother, Dustin Rhodes. Dustin initially denied the possibility, claiming to still be under WWE contract.
It turns out that he was granted his release back in January and has been under a 90-day non-compete clause.
Not everyone who requested their release has been granted it, however, as Luke Harper recently discovered.
Harper, who shared that he had requested his release via social media, was denied his release by WWE. He isn’t the first Superstar to ask for their release, with Hideo Itami and Tye Dillinger doing the same in recent months.
According to Dave Meltzer via Wrestling Observer Radio, Triple H is the man behind Dustin being granted his release.
Meltzer stressed that Vince McMahon doesn’t want to release anyone right now, especially with AEW on the horizon, but Triple H reportedly convinced Vince to permit Dustin Rhodes his release.
The same, ultimately, can’t be said for Luke Harper.
Instead, WWE has chosen to trigger a clause in Harper’s contract. They have added the time that he missed due to surgery onto the end of his contract. This has apparently extended it by an additional six months. He was supposedly meant to be entering into a feud with Sami Zayn, but those plans have changed.
Dustin Rhodes will face his brother Cody at AEW Double or Nothing on May 25th. The match was made official yesterday on a special episode of the Road to Double or Nothing YouTube series.
Dustin noted in a statement recently that WWE granted his request for a release. His statement can be read below:
Dustin Rhodes Retires Goldust
“I have requested my release from WWE and it has been granted,” Runnels statement begins. “I am taking this time to explore some of those many opportunities. Life is too short to not take ALL the chances you feel driven to take, and I will give this next chapter my full focus and effort. I would appreciate your continued support as I turn this page in my life and go wherever this journey may lead me next.”
“WWE has given me and my family such incredible years and experiences and I have nothing but respect and warmth for everyone there,” he continued. “The roster is stacked with awe-inspiring talent who want the best and are breaking down all barriers to grab that coveted, elusive brass ring.”
AEW: Double or Nothing takes place May 25th from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
– Below is video of new WWE NXT Champion Andrade “Cien” Almas and Zelina Vega talking to Kayla Braxton after the big win over Drew McIntyre at “Takeover: WarGames” last night. Vega says she told everyone what would happen with the new Almas, and now it’s time to celebrate.
– Below is video of Kayla interviewing The Velveteen Dream after his impressive loss to Aleister Black at Takeover. Dream is just happy that Black said his name at the end.
– As noted, Dustin Rhodes was among the Superstars shown in the crowd for Takeover last night. He tweeted the following on last night’s show, giving props to Triple H and the roster:
At a couple different points tonight, the official WWE Games Twitter account tweeted these animated GIFs to hype Tuesday’s release of the Hall of Fame downloadable content pack for WWE 2K16, which is out this Tuesday:
It was already known that 1991 versions of Ric Flair and Tatsumi Fujinami plus a relevant match replay mode were in the Hall of Fame pack, but they had two matches that year. It seemed like it made more sense for 2K to base it off their match from Superbrawl in St. Petersburg, Florida, but from the above footage, it looks like they didn’t. Instead, 2K picked the OTHER Flair-Fujinami match, from the NJPW Tokyo Dome show that year, which is known as both WCW Japan Supershow and NJPW Starrcade ’91 In The Tokyo Dome. So that means that the arena that comes in the pack is an ersatz Tokyo Dome, faithfully recreated by 2K Sports. They can’t call it that (and I don’t believe WWE games ever name real venues), but 2K does a great job with the presentation of the arenas and this should be no exception.
Here’s the full lineup for the DLC pack, which, if this is any indication, should also include at least two more WCW arenas and some early ’90s WWF arenas along with period appropriate versions of the wrestlers:
“Macho Man” Randy Savage vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts
Rikishi vs. The Rock
Alundra Blayze vs. Paige
Larry Zbyszko and Arn Anderson vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat and Dustin Rhodes
Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Ric Flair
The Bushwhackers (Butch Miller and Luke Williams) vs. The Natural Disasters (Typhoon and Earthquake)
The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) vs. Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray)
As previously reported, Vince Russo has opened up an official commentary-style website which covers music, movies, sports and pro wrestling. His latest pro wrestling piece is a top ten list of the easiest talents he ever produced during his years in the business.
The top five reads as follows:
5. Kurt Angle
4. “Any Female Wrestler”
3. Dustin Rhodes
2. Paul Bearer
1. “Mr.” Backlund
You can check out the full top ten list here and here.
Russo’s official website is also accepting writers and video specialists. You can apply for those positions at PyroAndBallyhoo.com/hiring.
– Independent pro wrestler Steven Walters, who frequently works for Anarchy Wrestling out of Cornelia, Georgia, has signed a developmental deal with WWE. He is expected to start with the company in Orlando in mid-April.
– Chris Harrington recently compiled a list of the 20 wrestlers who have appeared in the most WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-view matches in history. That list looks as follows:
1. The Undertaker 161
2. HHH 158
3. Big Show 156
4. Kane 155
5. Chris Jericho 149
6. Rey Mysterio 129
7. John Cena 124
8. Edge 123
9. Booker T 119
10. Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels 114
12. Chris Benoit 113
13. Ric Flair 105
14. Christian and Steve Austin 90
16. Dustin Rhodes aka Goldust 90
17. Sting 83 and Lex Luger 83
19. Hulk Hogan and C.M. Punk 82
Following Friday’s edition of WWE SmackDown, some new items have been revealed for this coming Monday’s edition of WWE RAW.
RAW on Monday is scheduled to feature, among other things, an official contract signing between Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan for their Hell In A Cell match for the vacant WWE Championship at the WWE Hell In A Cell pay-per-view.
WWE Hall Of Famer Shawn Michaels, who will serve as the special guest referee for the aforementioned Orton-Bryan title match, will also be appearing on Monday’s RAW.
Also announced for RAW on Monday, as we reported previously, is Triple H “dealing with the Rhodes Brothers” for winning the WWE Tag-Team Championships from The Shield’s Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns on last week’s show, as well as more information on “The Game” stripping Big Show of his name.
Finally, WWE will follow-up on the storyline concussion that RAW General Manager Brad Maddox suffered after being on the receiving end of a Big Show knockout punch on Friday’s SmackDown.
The following are highlights from the latest online blog by WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:
On meeting up with Shane McMahon in New York City this week: “Great hooking up with Shane McMahon for a few minutes while I was between meetings Tuesday in NYC. Shane looks great and honestly has seemingly never been in better shape. He’s head of a company in China working in the cable/satellite TV world and affiliated projects so he is staying busy notwithstanding having a lovely wife and three healthy, strapping sons. Funny how one remembers things of significance in wrestling jargon but it was 17 years ago when Shane and his wife married which marked the week that JJ Dillon abruptly left WWE and Bruce Prichard and I were in South Africa producing a TV show for WWE’s TV affiliate there. I think that was the show that I worked on commentary with Honky Tonk Man. Damn….17 years…man, how things change and time flies.”
On what he feels Hulk Hogan should do with his future in wrestling: “I have no dog in the hunt and nor do I know any insider “dirt” but for my two cents Hulk Hogan would be better off re-signing with WWE in a limited role that would put him back in the global, WWE mix and add a jolt to his career which never hurts anyone than re-signing with TNA. Even though Hogan says he has ‘one more match left in him’ that fact, if true, is irrelevant to my way of thinking. Hogan’s opportunity to do PR work, appear occasionally at live events and on a timely basis on TV and to have his likeness on more, sellable products is logical to me. If it is the dollars holding this matter up as in a bigger guarantee now and not willing to wait on the WWE business model to generate more, new Hogan bucks, then the deal may be simply and only about the immediate cash which isn’t a sin either.”
On the lack of time limits in pro wrestling today: “One thing that hurts pro wrestling today is the elimination of all time limits and a logical set of rules that cause matches to end. The elimination of time limits, on TV and at live events, eliminates a long established conclusion to a match of which many things can spin off.”
On The Rhodes Brothers winning the WWE Tag-Team Championships: “The last two segments of RAW were specifically good as the Rhodes boys won the tag titles from the Shield thanks to the Big Show’s holiday ham sized right hand. Arguably not the greatest method for the Rhodes family to win but, the bottom line, the grandsons of a plumber became WWE Tag Champions in a division that until recently hasn’t had much cache.”
Check out the complete blog online at JRsBarBQ.com.
WWE recently announced a WWE Tag-Team Championship match for tonight’s live edition of WWE RAW. Current champions, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns of The Shield, will defend their titles in a rematch from the WWE Battleground pay-per-view, as they take on Cody Rhodes and Goldust.
Also announced for tonight’s RAW, as previously reported, is the return of WWE Hall Of Famer Shawn Michaels, who will serve as the special guest referee for the upcoming WWE Hell In A Cell rematch for the vacant WWE Championship between Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan.
Make sure to check back here at the website at 8:00pm E.T. for detailed, live play-by-play results coverage of WWE RAW.
Following the televised portion of Monday’s WWE RAW, which ended with Big Show knocking out WWE COO Triple H, WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan continued his celebration. Bryan went as far as to steal the suit coat off of HHH’s back and wear it as he continued his celebration standing on top of the announce table to a loud “Yes!” chant from the crowd. Bryan also took JBL’s hat and put it on.
After that, the post-RAW dark match took place, which featured Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton. The following are results from that bout:
-Daniel Bryan def. Randy Orton. Bryan picked up the victory over Orton, and after the match, The Shield ran in to beat up Bryan. This led to Kofi Kingston, Cody Rhodes and Goldust coming out to make the save.
The following is a new blog written by Mick Foley on Goldust’s recent WWE comeback:
“Just yesterday, I posted on Facebook about my 10 year old son’s prediction that the Goldust/Cody vs Shield match was going to steal the show at Battleground. He even prefaced it by saying “I know Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton are going to have a great match, but…”.
Last night, Goldust proved to me that his match with Randy Orton was much more than just a flirtation with greatness. As a guy who knows a little something about making comebacks, I thought, following that amazing effort against Randy Orton that Goldust may have had just enough passion and commitment to have that last great match of his career. But last night’s match at Battleground proved to me that Goldust has something even more important than the passion and commitment needed to have that one last great match. What he has is gas in the tank!
As much as i loved the match with Orton, Dustin seemed to be running on fumes those last few minutes. He clearly had worked himself into the best physical condition I’d seen him in for many years, but being in “gym shape” and “ring shape” are two entirely different animals. But what a joyride the Rhodes family took us on last night! From that pre-match promo that had proud Poppa Dusty unable to contain his composure, to the crisp execution of every move, to the finish that had the Foley family literally jumping for joy in the living room, (I didn’t get much air, but I DID momentarily leave my feet) the victory over The Shield reminded me of everything I love about wrestling. It was an emotional roller-coaster ride of epic proportions!
With the Orton match and last night’s triumph to his credit, Goldust has proven to me that he has what it takes for one more run in WWE.”
For more blogs and updates from Mick Foley, visit the WWE Hall Of Famer’s official Facebook page.
The official WWE website posted a series of video interviews following Sunday’s WWE Battleground event in Buffalo, New York. The interviews feature several WWE Superstars reacting to everything that transpired during the event. Here is a breakdown of what is covered:
-WWE RAW General Manager Brad Maddox reacts to the controversy over the outcome of the WWE Championship main event between Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan. Maddox also sells the fact that he was warned by Triple H and Stephanie McMahon over the phone that if anything went wrong, he would be to blame.
-CM Punk reacted to his victory over Ryback, continuing his claim that he will not rest until he gets his hands on Paul Heyman. Punk went as far as to say because he did not finally get his hands on Heyman, he was not satisfied with his performance at Battleground.
-The Rhodes Family reacted to their emotional victory over The Shield, which guaranteed Dusty Rhodes his job as a WWE trainer in Florida, and also resulted in both Cody Rhodes and Goldust being re-hired by the company.
-R-Truth vented his frustration for continually coming up short in matches recently after he failed to capture the WWE Intercontinental Championship in his pay-per-view match against Curtis Axel.
-Alberto Del Rio gloated about his victory over Rob Van Dam in the pay-per-view opener, and the fact that he is still the World Heavyweight Champion.
You can check out all of the aforementioned video interviews online at WWE.com.
-WWE manager Ricardo Rodriguez posted the following tweet on his official Twitter account Sunday night after the WWE Battleground pay-per-view in Buffalo, New York:
You try to do the right thing. Loyalty to Del Rio after three years didn't work and loyalty to RVD backfired…Well I guess that's it…
-The official WWE Tout website put up a post-match backstage interview with the Rhodes Family following their victory over The Shield at Sunday’s WWE Battleground pay-per-view. Fans interested in checking that out can do so online at Tout.com.
-WWE “newbie” Diva and Total Divas reality show star Eva Marie recently posted a tweet on her official Twitter account revealing the fact that WWE is filming some footage for the next half of season one of the E! reality show prior to tonight’s WWE Battleground show in Buffalo, New York. Eva wrote:
All ready for some #TotalDivas @eonline filming before #WWEBattleground
-Cody Rhodes posted the following tweet on his official Twitter account on Sunday:
I legit don’t work here, so they can’t be mad. EXCLUSIVE @WWE shirt, diff version for @FirstNiagaraCtr also
The tweet was accompanied by a link to a photo of a special Rhodes Family t-shirt, which you can see pictured below:
-WWE Hall Of Famer Bob Backlund was in attendance at the WWE live event in Syracuse, New York on Friday night. Fans interested in reading a full report from the WWE live event in Syracuse on Friday can do so on the main page.
-Several WWE Superstars, including Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, Booker T, The Miz, Damien Sandow, Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, Titus O’Neil and Brodus Clay, fielded questions about life in WWE during a recent interview with The National publication in the Middle East to promote next week’s WWE tour in Abu Dhabi. You can check that article out online at TheNational.ae.
-WWE Superstar and member of The Shield, Roman Reigns, recently took a shot at Dustin “Goldust” Rhodes” in a WWE Battleground promotional tweet posted on his official Twitter account on Saturday afternoon. Reigns wrote:
@DUSTIN_RHODES1: the poor fool isn’t familiar with how we do things. #WWEBattleground = #TheRhodesRetirementParty Believe That!
-According to a new tweet from the official Twitter account of WWE Superstar Fandango, it appears there may be a “Dance Off” added to the WWE Battleground pay-per-view event this Sunday in Buffalo, New York. Fandango tweeted the following on Thursday:
-As noted previously, Dustin “Goldust” Rhodes has signed a short-term deal with WWE to play out the current Rhodes Family storyline. According to the latest reports, Goldust will likely work for the company through WrestleMania XXX, possibly having his long-desired match against his brother, Cody Rhodes.
The following are highlights from the latest online blog by WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:
On the Rhodes Family storyline: “Loved the Rhodes Family in ring interaction Monday night and am amazed at how it is to still easy to create a meaningful, personal issue if it is largely based on logical and common sense.”
“This vehicle will hopefully elevate Cody Rhodes to the next level when all is said and done and I expect Sunday’s tag bout vs. The Shield to be really good. If it isn’t, then all involved have missed a great opportunity. The table is set.”
On wanting Daniel Bryan to win at WWE Battleground: “I saw an online poll where 70+% of those voting hope that Daniel Bryan wins the WWE Title Sunday. I’d agree. The underdog can only remain an unsuccessful underdog for so long until the fan base begins to slowly migrate away and to someone who they feel can achieve the success the fans crave.”
“No one in the biz is better at this time, bell to bell, than Daniel Bryan plus his promo work has greatly improved over his tenure in WWE. Bryan’s time is now, to steal a phrase from John Cena.”
On Sunday’s WWE Battleground PPV: “Perhaps Sunday will be a PPV that WWE performers will enhance their own professional sense of urgency and raise their games no matter their role or the time in which they have to appear on the main stage. I’d like to see more talents take a firmer grasp on the ownership of their own personas and, please, don’t tell me that has every thing to do with their ‘push.’ It doesn’t.”
“WWE Battleground Sunday on PPV is a crucial event for WWE to build momentum and to forward some very crucial storylines. Next up then is the Survivor Series and then it will be Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 30 before you know it. It’s crunch time for game planning.”
On the current WWE RAW announce team: “I have great admiration for the RAW announce team, they are all men that I respect and consider to be friends. Michael Cole does what few men, if any, in the lead role could do in today’s world of sports entertainment. Cole’s responsibility to decimate info and the amount of info is startling. Could JBL be more of an antagonist? John could for my taste but John is a great addition to the broadcast team with his intelligent and topical references. The King is The King….a WWE HOFer. However, when these men are encouraged to talk about matters that are unrelated to any significant to what I’m seeing on the screen it becomes a disconnect for me. If I am watching the TV and my eyes are processing what I am seeing but audibly I am hearing another story then which source of info do I process and retain?”
“I know times have changed since my ‘heyday’ but I feel, rightly or wrongly, that some fundamental matters don’t change. When the video and the audio combine to create that memorable ‘tag team,’ then a sports entertainment/pro wrestling broadcast creates ‘moments’ and lasting memories. Actually that goes for any entity including NFL and UFC.”
On Joey Styles’ appearance on the Steve Austin podcast: “The Steve Austin podcast with Joey Styles is very good. I’d strongly suggest that you check it out. Steve’s podcasts are one of the highlights of my week. If you haven’t checked them out you’re missing out on some great stuff. Joe was really entertaining on part one of his time with Austin. Steve’s interview skills are evolving excellently.”
On writing an autobiography: “Beginning to go through years and years of notes, especially from my time with Bill Watts and in WWE as I casually prepare to think ‘autobiography.’ This book getting done is largely dependent on the ‘Deal’ and me having the final say on the edit. I never realized that I had SO many notes from meetings, telephone calls, emails, etc so I assume that me being a ‘data hoarder’ isn’t such a bad thing now. Many yellow, legal pads to sift through.”
Check out the complete blog online at JRsBarBQ.com.
It will be announced on this week’s WWE SmackDown that WWE Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel will defend his title against R-Truth. Bray Wyatt also teased an appearance at Battleground, which will likely be the rumored match we reported on Tuesday with Wyatt taking on Kofi Kingston. That match, however, is still strictly a rumor at this point.
With that now known, here is an updated look at the official lineup for Sunday’s WWE Battleground pay-per-view from Buffalo, New York:
Vacant WWE Championship
-Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan
World Heavyweight Championship
-Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Rob Van Dam*
WWE Intercontinental Championship
-Curtis Axel (c) vs. R-Truth
WWE Divas Championship
-AJ Lee (c) vs. Brie Bella
-CM Punk vs. Ryback
-Cody Rhodes & Goldust vs. Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns**
WWE Battleground Kickoff Show
-Dolph Ziggler vs. Damien Sandow
RUMORED Match:
-Bray Wyatt vs. Kofi Kingston
* – The Del Rio vs. Van Dam rematch will be contested under “Battleground Hardcore Rules.”
** – Dusty Rhodes will be in the corner of Cody & Goldust. If the Rhodes Family loses, all three men will never be allowed to work for WWE again. If they win, Cody and Goldust get their jobs back
Make sure to visit SESCOOPS.COM this Sunday night for the absolute best live results coverage of the WWE Battleground pay-per-view. The coverage will begin at 7:30pm E.T. with the WWE Battleground Kickoff Show, and will continue throughout the entire duration of the pay-per-view. Until then, stop by the SESCOOPS.COM Facebook Page and/or the SESCOOPS.COM Twitter Page to share your predictions for this Sunday’s pay-per-view!
Several new matches and stipulations were added to the WWE Battleground event on Monday’s “go-home” edition of RAW. WWE Battleground emanates from the First Niagra Center in Buffalo, New York this Sunday, October 6, 2013. Below is an updated look at the official lineup for the first ever Battleground pay-per-view.
Vacant WWE Championship
-Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan
World Heavyweight Championship
-Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. Rob Van Dam*
WWE Divas Championship
-AJ Lee (c) vs. Brie Bella
-CM Punk vs. Ryback
-Cody Rhodes & Goldust vs. Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns**
WWE Battleground Kickoff Show
-Dolph Ziggler vs. Damien Sandow
* – The Del Rio vs. Van Dam rematch will be contested under “Battleground Hardcore Rules.”
** – Dusty Rhodes will be in the corner of Cody & Goldust. If the Rhodes Family loses, all three men will never be allowed to work for WWE again. If they win, Cody and Goldust get their jobs back
Make sure to visit SESCOOPS.COM this Sunday night for the absolute best live results coverage of the WWE Battleground pay-per-view. The coverage will begin at 7:30pm E.T. with the WWE Battleground Kickoff Show, and will continue throughout the entire duration of the pay-per-view. Until then, stop by the SESCOOPS.COM Facebook Page and/or the SESCOOPS.COM Twitter Page to share your predictions for this Sunday’s pay-per-view!
It was announced on Monday’s edition of WWE RAW that at WWE Battleground this Sunday on pay-per-view, both Cody Rhodes and Dustin “Goldust” Rhodes will have an opportunity to earn their jobs back with WWE in a match against the current WWE Tag-Team Champions, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. However, if the Rhodes brothers lose the match, which will also feature their father, WWE Hall Of Famer Dusty Rhodes, in their corner, they will never be able to work for WWE again.
Speaking of WWE Hall Of Famers, Trish Stratus officially gave birth to her baby boy, Maximus, on Monday. Maximum was born at a reported 8 pounds and 3 ounces.
The following are highlights from a recent online blog by WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:
On the build to WWE Battleground: “Interesting to see if WWE can ignite a fire tonight on Monday Night Raw as it relates to motivating PPV buyers to invest in WWE Battleground. It’s tonight or never.”
On Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan: “Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton needs some rocket fuel added to their fire especially on the WWE champion side of the flame. Just one guy’s opinion. Their PPV bout has high expectations. Should be stout…bell to bell.”
On the Rhodes Family on RAW: “Seeing the Rhodes Family on Raw interests me. I’m enjoying their personal issue storyline that feels fresh. Let Dream talk….for old time sake.”
Check out the complete blog online at JRsBarBQ.com.
WWE returns live to Biloxi, Mississippi on Monday night for the WWE Battleground “go-home” edition of RAW.
The main item heading into this week’s show is the Rhodes Family being “invited back to RAW” for a “business proposal” from the WWE COO Triple H. As noted, the Rhodes Family will be on RAW this week to build towards the six-man tag-team match against The Shield.
Also advertised in advance for this week’s RAW is the debut of the Los Matadores tag-team, which is the repackaged duo formerly known as Primo and Epico. After weeks of vignettes hyping their debut, Los Matadores will finally arrive on RAW in Biloxi on Monday night.
Outside of the aforementioned items, the main focus on this week’s show will be the final build towards the three previously announced WWE Battleground main events which consist of Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan for the vacant WWE Championship, the “Battleground Hardcore Rules” match between Alberto Del Rio and Rob Van Dam for the World Heavyweight Championship and the CM Punk vs. Ryback match.
The officially advertised talent roster for this week’s show includes Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton, CM Punk, Paul Heyman, Ryback, Curtis Axel, Alberto Del Rio, Rob Van Dam, Dolph Ziggler, Big Show, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Jack Swagger, Antonio Cesaro, Zeb Colter, Damien Sandow, Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, Erick Rowan, A.J. Lee and Kaitlyn.
There are two advertised dark match main-events for this week, as Orton will take on Bryan and Punk will take on both Heyman and Axel in a Handicap Match.
Stay tuned to SESCOOPS.COM throughout the day for continued updates on this week’s live edition of WWE RAW.
SESCOOPS.COM reader Aaron Carnevale of WrestlingDVDNews.com sent along the following highlights of a recent Dustin “Goldust” Rhodes interview with the Monday Night Mayhem radio show:
The health benefits he has seen since starting DDP Yoga: “With DPP Yoga, there are a couple benefits. I stand up straighter now, and I can bend in ways I couldn’t bend. I feel so much better: my joints, muscles, and bones. It is awesome.”
His memories of working with Scott Hall as Goldust and what valuable lessons Hall taught him in his career: “Me and Scott have had some fun times with the Goldust stuff, even though we didn’t see eye to eye all the time. We always went out there and gave 110%. I had to learn and Scott was a good teacher. He taught me what I needed to know and how to do things the right ways, and I just grew from that. I love Scott.”
His expectations on the night of his WWE return earlier this month on Monday Night RAW against WWE Champion Randy Orton and why he took out his frustrations on Triple H via Twitter: “My nerves were shot. Cody loses his job, and my little brother had the world taken out from under him all because he spoke up. That pissed off my family so I started getting on Twitter saying things to Triple H. Going into that match with Randy, I was focused. I went into that match very focused and very nervous. I was fighting for Cody’s job, and I lost fair in square.”
With the current state of events in the WWE between the McMahons and the Rhodes families, whether or not he envisions his one-on-one Dream Match with his brother Cody in the foreseeable future: “It could take place in the foreseeable future or whenever, you never know what is going to happen in the WWE. But, I’ll say that I don’t want that anymore.”
-A number of WWE Superstars, including Big Show and The Prime Time Players have posted Tout videos sharing their feelings on the Rhodes Family appearing on Monday’s edition of WWE RAW. You can check those out online at Tout.com.
-Speaking of the Rhodes Family on RAW, both Goldust and Randy Orton have commented on the angle coming up this Monday in new tweets. You can check those out below:
Randy Orton:
So the Rhodes boys will be at #Raw Monday. Should be interesting.
Dustin “Goldust” Rhodes:
Upset the established order and there will be chaos! #RhodesDynasty #raw monday night! @WWE
-In the Extras portion of the new “Triple H: Thy Kingdom Come” WWE DVD, which was released in stores this past week, “The Game” revealed that former WWE Superstar Mark Jindrak, not Batista, was originally supposed to be the fourth member of the former Evolution faction, which also included Ric Flair and Randy Orton. In fact, the company went as far as to shoot vignettes of Jindrak with the group, which you can see pictured below:
