The following is a non-spoiler match listing for this week’s edition of WWE SmackDown, which was taped on April 22nd in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and will air this Friday, April 25th on the SyFy Network.
– “The Great Debate” between Paul Heyman and Cesaro.
– Cesaro vs. Jack Swagger
– Natalya vs. Tamina Snuka
– Curtis Axel vs. Jey Uso
– Luke Harper & Erick Rowan vs. Goldust & Cody Rhodes
– Fandango & Layla vs. Santino Marella & Emma
– The Shield vs. 11 WWE Superstars
For a complete WWE SmackDown spoiler report for this week, click ahead to page two …
The following is a non-spoiler match listing for this week’s edition of WWE SmackDown. For complete spoiler results, click ahead to page two.
– Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose vs. Drew McIntyre & Jinder Mahal
– Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose vs. Ryback & Curtis Axel
– Damien Sandow vs. Sin Cara
– Goldust vs. Fandango
– Batista vs. Sheamus
– The Bella Twins vs. AJ Lee & Tamina Snuka
– Jack Swagger vs. Jimmy Uso
– The Miz vs. Mark Henry
– Bray Wyatt vs. Big Show
For complete spoiler results for this week’s WWE SmackDown, click ahead to page two …
– Goldust was apparently slightly upset backstage after his match on Monday’s RAW because he was busted open by Fandango. He ended up receiving minor medical attention to close the cut.
– The following is a promotional video for Jake “The Snake” Roberts’ live show scheduled for WrestleMania XXX weekend:
– 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
WWE Superstar Goldust will be attending the world premiere of the film “Meet Me There,” which he is featured in, at the fifth annual “Filmorama Festival” on Friday, April 4th. The movie will air at midnight. For ticket information, visit NewOrleansFilmSociety.com.
Speaking of WWE-related movies, The Newton Brothers served as the composers for the soundtrack to the new WWE Studios film “Oculus,” as well as “See No Evil 2.”
– According to one source, the three names that were initially listed internally for opponents for Batista at this year’s WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view were Daniel Bryan, John Cena or CM Punk. With Punk no longer actively working with the company, the latest word is that it will still be either Bryan or Cena facing “The Animal” in the main event for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
– The latest word going around WWE is that there will not be a “brother vs. brother” match between Goldust and Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania XXX.
According to reports, WWE is strongly considering the possibility of adding a third person to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship main event at WrestleMania XXX between Randy Orton and Batista. The latest internal lineup in the company reads, “Batista vs. Orton vs. ?”
Other WrestleMania XXX matches that have been discussed internally, but not yet decided on, include Big E. vs. Dean Ambrose in a match to unify the WWE United States and WWE Intercontinental Championships, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan vs. Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, Sheamus vs. Christian, Goldust vs. Cody Rhodes and a match pitting two NXT wrestlers against each other in a match on the main card.
– A bunch of new PodcastOne.com podcasts are now available. Part two of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin on the new Jim Ross “Ross Report” podcast is available.
A new “Talk Is Jericho” podcast with Chris Jericho interviewing Ghosthunter star Jeff Belanger is up on his page.
Finally, the latest “30 Years Of WrestleMania” podcast featuring Renee Young interviewing Goldust and Cody Rhodes has been added.
You can check all of these shows out right now at PodcastOne.com.
– NBA star LeBron James recently bought his whole team WWE World Heavyweight Championship replica belts. He tweeted the following photo of his team with the belts on his Instagram account.
Always wanted to be the WWE Heavyweight World Champion so today I surprised my teammates with their… http://t.co/NmT44sSlVG
WWE officials are under the impression that Curtis Axel, who is from the Minneapolis area and is part of the famous Hennig family (Larry Hennig, Curt “Mr. Perfect” Hennig), may receive a babyface reaction from the fans in attendance at this Sunday’s WWE Elimination Chamber event.
As previously reported, Axel, along with Ryback, will take on Goldust and Cody Rhodes in a tag-team match during the Kickoff Show prior to the start of the pay-per-view.
– With the WWE Network launching next week, we’ve heard that 2 users will be able to use the same WWE Network account at the same time.
– In what appears to be a response to Goldust tweeting that he and his brother Cody will not be wrestling each other at WrestleMania XXX, Cody tweeted:
Don't let anybody tell you what is or isn't gonna' happen at @WrestleMania / bottom-line it aims to be the best of the best.
– WWE Superstar Goldust recently denied the rumors that WWE is finally going to do the “brother vs. brother” match at WrestleMania XXX between he and Cody Rhodes. Goldust tweeted the following:
I repeat… I WILL NOT BE FIGHTING MY BROTHER AT MANIA!!!!!!! Time has passed. Think what u want. Wouldnt get the spotlight it deserves.
Two big matches for this week’s WWE SmackDown show were announced during Monday’s edition of WWE RAW.
In an eight-man tag-team match, The Usos, Goldust and Cody Rhodes, Ryback and Curtis Axel and The New Age Outlaws will battle it out.
In the main event of this week’s SmackDown, Randy Orton will continue his one-on-one showdown with every participant in the upcoming Elimination Chamber match, as he will take on Antonio Cesaro in singles competition.
– WWE Superstar Goldust recently spoke to PE.com to promote this week’s WWE SmackDown television taping in Ontario, California. During the interview, Goldust talked about doing new moves in the ring lately. “I want to do something that I’ve never done. Something that everyone looks at and says ‘Goldust can’t do that. Oh my God, Goldust just did that!’ And leave them with ‘I can’t believe Goldust just did that, that is awesome!’”
– A fan recently asked Kurt Angle is the rumors that he wants to return to WWE are true. In true Kurt Angle fashion, he simply replied, “It’s true.”
– WWE recently announced a big steel cage match between The New Age Outlaws and the team of Goldust and Cody Rhodes for next Monday’s edition of WWE RAW, which emanates live from Omaha, Nebraska.
– WWE is looking to hire a new television writer to handle work needed for their international shows. For more information on the position, visit Careers-WWECorp.icims.com.
WWE Superstar Goldust recently spoke with Scott Fishman of The Miami Herald to promote tonight’s WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view. Here are some highlights of what he said about:
His Current WWE Run: “It’s a lot of DDP Yoga and gym work and eating right and staying in shape. My mind has also been right for the last five-and-a-half years being clean and sober from drugs and alcohol. So I think all those things played a big factor in this. Being able to do stuff that I’ve never done and wanting to try new things and having the young talent that’s actually hungry and help me get through that and make it look good. I’ve got some new moves in my arsenal, and the people love it. This new attitude and new Goldust they’ve never seen with new face paint. I couldn’t have asked for anything. This run has been great.”
Sobriety & Inspiring others: “They say because of you I haven’t used a drug for eight days or picked up a drink. That’s awesome. I’m a true testament that the WWE Wellness Policy works, if you work it. It took me one time, and I was ready to turn my life around and say goodbye to the demons. They’re always there. They are always on my shoulder, but all I have to do is take hold. The support group I have with my wife and my daughter and things like that. Now its five-and-a-half years going on six years clean and sober and having the time of my life. I can actually get in the ring and do things in the ring I thought in the past I couldn’t do without a pill or drugs in my system or alcohol to get through a match and wake up in the morning. It’s a piece of cake. I’m doing it. I’m 44 years old, and I’m kicking everybody’s ass.”
No Longer Wanting To Wrestle His Brother At WrestleMania: “The dream match I did have I do not anymore at WrestleMania. So right now I want to continue to be the WWE tag team champions and have someone big step up to try to face us at WrestleMania. I think we need to try to be on that card and put on one hell of a show.”
Working With Younger Talent: “I watch their stuff, and I don’t give them too much. I give them a little bit that they can sink into and try first to see if that works and go from there. I try to teach them about how to tell stories because it’s a lost art. I think me and Cody are doing a real good job of bringing this tag team division back by telling a story. When you have 25 minutes out there with The Shield, the way I do it is start slow and end big. In between, it’s telling those stories and making those non-believers who are only there for their kids that are loving it, those parents stand up at the end of the match to either hate me or love me. Either way, they were on their feet because they were entertained. It’s a slow build — like a movie. The good guy is there getting beat down, but in the end he comes back. It’s hard to teach this these days. If you’re allotted five or six minutes for a match, I can tell a story with that. They don’t understand that, but with time in the business they will learn that hopefully. I hope it doesn’t stay a lost art for so long that it’s forgotten about.”
According to one source, WWE went back-and-forth on whether or not to make the match at last Friday’s WWE SmackDown show between the New Age Outlaws and Goldust and Cody Rhodes a WWE Tag-Team Championship match or a non-title match.
When all was said and done, WWE went with the idea of making the SmackDown bout a non-title match, with the plan being to bump the actual title match between the two teams for the Royal Rumble show.
As previously reported, Goldust and Cody Rhodes will officially defend their titles against the New Age Outlaws on the Royal Rumble “Kickoff Show” this Sunday night.
The following press release was issued on Wednesday:
Los Angeles, CA, January 22nd, 2013 – (afterbuzztv.com) – Wrestler Chavo Guerrero made an appearance on Extra host Maria Menounos “after-show” network, AfterBuzz TV, on Monday night, where he joined the hosts of the WWE Monday Night RAW aftershow. Guerrero shared many of his opinions not only on the specifics of Monday’s RAW but also on other WWE moments and wrestlers.
Monday’s edition of RAW marked the return of Dave Batista aka “The Animal”. When asked his thoughts on Batista, Guerrero says, “If you guys know Dave, he’s got some massive legs. Maybe the [jeans he wore on RAW] weren’t skinny skinny jeans. Maybe they were normal jeans, but they look skinny on him…[Batista] looks like he’s shrink wrapped. I mean he’s so thin. The guy is in crazy shape… He’s like a genetic freak. He really is. You could work out as much as you want and never look like him. I mean, I don’t [look like him] and I work out a lot.”
Another wrestler who made a reletively recent return is Cody Rhodes’ brother, Goldust, the two of whom are now the WWE Tag Team Champions. Guerrero says of Goldust, “He’s an awesome guy and a really good wrestler from a great lineage…Very entertaining guy in and out of the ring.”
And just days away from John Cena’s rematch with Randy Orton at the Royal Rumble, there’s much speculation from fans as to who will win. But rather than speculate on the match, Guerrero divulged on a moment that he believes was the start of Cena’s superstardom. “One time, and this is a true story, we were in South Africa and [Cena] started battle rapping. He started rapping with someone and it was awesome. He went five minutes just talking about things around the room. And we were like, ‘Oh my gosh. Where did that come from?’ Tommy Dreamer heard it and Tommy took it to Shane McMahon and Shane McMahon heard it and took it to Vince McMahon and next thing you know he’s a rapper on TV…and he had already been with us six months or so. Slowly but surely he just became John Cena the superstar.”
Guerrero also openned up about his uncle, Eddie Guerrero, who passed away back in 2005. “[Eddie] was told he was a great performer, was always really really good. But he was told, ‘You’re a cruiserweight. You’ll always be a cruiserweight.’ And then when he left and got clean and sober and then came back, the fans just related with him so much and it was undeniable. They had to use him. They had to push him and he became who he was…When he passed, I would be walking in the airport and people would stop and look at me and hug me. They would give me a hug. I remember a TSA agent one time looked at my ID, looked up and looked at me. He didn’t say anything he just grabbed me and hugged me.”
Chavez says he’s very protective on Raquel Diaz, Eddie and Vickie Guerrero’s daughter, who is currently an NXT talent. “It’s really cool to see her follow the footsteps of the family…I have given advice and I’m always here for her. I don’t want to coddle her because she needs to do it. But she could call me any day and time and place and I’d be there for her. I just want to see her succeed. She’s got that Guerrero blood in her and people tell me that she’s really, really good.”
Links to Chavo Guerrero’s appearance can be found on AfterBuzz TV’s website or on iTunes or YouTube.
– In addition to the previously reported names added to the Royal Rumble on RAW this past Monday night, it was also revealed during the show that CM Punk will be an official entrant in the match.
– One of the main events for this week’s SmackDown was revealed during WWE RAW on Monday night. In a non-title match, Attitude Era greats The New Age Outlaws will square off against the WWE Tag-Team Champions Goldust and Cody Rhodes.
The following are highlights from a new SLAM! Wrestling interview with WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes:
On not being pressured to go into wrestling by his family: “Wrestling was something I always wanted to do, maybe not all I ever wanted to do, but something I definitely wanted to do. I really had no pressure from my family.”
On his father Dusty Rhodes’ early advice: “When I told my dad I wanted to give wrestling a shot, he told me, after a good 10 minutes of silence, ‘If you’re gonna do it, you gotta do it to be the best.’ But wrestling is such a great thing. There’s no way to hide from getting the fans reaction. It’s really special.”
On who helps him backstage in WWE: “Sometimes, my dad’s advice is biased because he’s too close to the project. I usually stay away from getting advice from my family. My dad thinks I’m the best and this is not what’s gonna help me get better. Guys like Fit Finlay, JBL, Arn Anderson are the ones I ask for advice.”
On what led to his teaming with Goldust: “Nothing was supposed to lead this way. It’s just one of those things that caught fire. The thing you need to know about Dustin is that before his return, he had a behind-the-scene success. He’s a healthier person now. As Goldust, he has the best matches of his life. It’s like a Benjamin Button kind of story.”
“It’s a real trip. We both have a different style, but I really love it. It’s a very positive thing. I never thought it would happen. He started his career when I was a kid. We are closer together now and try to make it up for the lost time.”
“It’s an opportunity for us. We actually don’t talk that much of the ring when we are not in the ring.”
The following are highlights of a recent Q&A update from the official website of WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:
On how surprised he is with Goldust’s WWE comeback this year: “Very proud of Dustin as it shows everyone what one can do with their life is they are not dependent on drugs or alcohol and then dedicate their life on doing the right things. Simple plan that works.”
On if he considers The Undertaker a heel or a babyface: “He is without question a hugely popular, character ‘face.”
On his thoughts of Kaitlyn’s WWE departure earlier this week: “I do not know the circumstances that lead to her leaving but she obviously made the decision she felt was right for her. I wish her well. Nice, young lady.”
There was reportedly a lot of talk about WWE Hall Of Famer “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes appearing at Old School RAW in Baltimore, Maryland this past Monday night. For those who watched the show, he obviously did not appear.
Rhodes hasn’t been featured on WWE television since his involvement in the storyline where his sons Goldust and Cody Rhodes got their jobs back late last year. The reason for this is Rhodes went off script during a promo on RAW with Stephanie McMahon, going as far as to put his hand in her face and not letting her get the better of him. Ever since that segment, there is said to be heat on Dusty with WWE management.
– It was announced at Old School RAW that the main event of WWE Main Event this Wednesday will be R-Truth and Xavier Woods vs. The Real Americans in tag-team action.
– Cody Rhodes may have injured his ankle during the tag-team match at Old School RAW on Monday night. According to reports, following the match on Monday, Rhodes removed his boot in the ring and had to be helped to the back by Goldust and the referee. We should have more on this later.
– WWEShop.com is selling a new “F5 Beast” t-shirt for Brock Lesnar (link) and a Goldust & Cody Rhodes “Brotherhood” t-shirt (link).
– The latest “Steve Austin Show: Unleashed!” is now online, with Stone Cold motivating his listeners to accomplish their new year’s resolution goals. Listen now at PodcastOne.com.
– WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino is Colt Cabana’s guest on this week’s Art of Wrestling podcast.
The first movie trailer has been released for “Meet Me There” which features WWE Superstar Dustin Runnels (Goldust) in a big role.
“Based on a bizarre town in rural Oklahoma where there are more crime scene cleanup employees than there are mailboxes, Meet Me There blurs the lines between horror, suspense, romance, and fear.”