— WWEShop.com is selling the red hat and T-Shirt that John Cena wore at WrestleMania XXVII. It’s dubbed the ‘Persevere’ line.
— WWE set an attendance record for any entertainment event at last night at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia with am attendance of 71,617.
— WWE Hall of Famer Chief Jay Strongbow, who resides in Georgia, was backstage at WrestleMania XXVII. Recording artist Chilli was also on hand for the event.
— WWE returns to the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington, West Virginia on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.
— Former TNA Women’s Knockout Champion Awesome Kong was spotted today at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, reports Figure Four Weekly writer Bryan Alvarez.
— John Cena recalled his first appearance at WrestleMania, which took place in 2004, to MTV.com.
He squared off against Big Show for the United States Championship, but before his music hit and he walked through the curtain into the arena, he felt distracted.
“I was worried my car was going to get towed,” Cena said. “I was not allowed TK. It was cool because it was a moment of stardom wedged between reality. I truly love moments like that.”
He also offered Snooki advice for her match on Sunday. “I told her it’s just like an afternoon at the shore,” he said. “You’re supposed to go out and have a good time, and if trouble starts, just keep swinging until the cops come.”
John Cena is one of the most active celebrities working with the Make-A-Wish foundation, an incredible charity which gives sick children a chance to experience their wildest dreams. TMZ.com is reporting that John Cena is taking 30 children with “life-threatening medical conditions” to WrestleMania 27 this weekend from Atlanta. The children will be from the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
The children, which will hail from the United States, Canada and Australia, will not only attend WrestleMania, but they’ll get a private autograph session with WWE Superstars and Divas, as well as a pizza party hosted by John Cena.
Cena does so much for the M.A.W. Foundation that he’s reached an incredible milestone – 200 wishes granted. He’ll be honored by the organization this weekend for reaching 200 wishes, an honor that’s only been achieved by 3 other celebrities – NASCAR legends Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. and some guy named Hulk Hogan.
Say what you want about John Cena, but it’s hard to hate on a guy who does so much good for sick children.
WWE has posted a video clip [WWE Youtube Channel] of the final minutes of Monday’s RAW, featuring part of the epic showdown between The Rock, John Cena and The Miz. Don’t forget to comment below and tell us what you thought about it.
— WWE.com has posted exclusive footage of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson recovering from John Cena’s Attitude Adjustment at the conclusion of Raw.
— Dolph Ziggler will be on the road for most of the next month as the Raw Superstar said tonight on Twitter that he is going on a WWE promotional tour of Turkey alone from April 6 to April 9. He is advertised for a Raw taping two days later in Bridgeport, Connecticut and immediately following that is Raw’s annual spring European tour, which takes place April 13-21. Following that is a Raw taping on April 25 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
— Tickets for the WWE Money In The Bank pay-per-view event at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois go on sale via Ticketmaster on Saturday, May 21 at noon. A pre-sale takes place between Monday, May 16 at 10 a.m. and Tuesday, May 17 at midnight with the password MONEY.
— John Cena wrote the following on Twitter regarding his showdown with The Rock and The Miz tomorrow night on Raw: “CeNation. Already gearing up for monday. Rock said it..and I believe it..the time for talk is over.”
— WWE Tough Enough is expected to be added to the USA Network’s Video On Demand service. Replays of the show will air late Monday night.
The first episode is titled “Get Your Teeth Out of My Ring.”
— Trish Stratus is scheduled to appear on the CBC Television talk show Steven and Chris on Tuesday to demonstrate her workout featured in the latest issue of Oxygen.
— The Poughkeepsie Journal published an article today on Michael Cole. When asked about his match at WrestleMania XXVII, the Amenia, New York native broke character and said, “The dream’s come true. I’m participating in an event against a man who is an absolute legend and Hall of Famer in Jerry Lawler. I’m so honored and privileged just to have the opportunity to participate in a match against this man.
“Plus Stone Cold is our special referee. To be in there with two of the greatest icons, it’s like a reality check. It’s such a great ride.”
He also said that his 24-year-old son Calvin is working for WWE in the television production department and travels with him on the road. The story can be read here.
— Sin Cara beat Primo via submission at last night’s Raw live event in Evansville, Indiana. His finisher is a huracanrana into an armbar. The match went 10 to 15 minutes.
— John Cena and Vickie Guerrero are featured on the cover of the latest issue of The Wrestler.
– WWE is expected to release several people in the weeks following WrestleMania 27. With Superstars’ run on WGN ending and the company bringing in lots of new talent through developmental and NXT, some mid-card talent will be let go.
– The recent WWE storyline of John Cena suffering a concussion at the hands of The Miz and Alberto Del Rio was an angle and not a legit injury. There was no mention of the concussion on Monday’s RAW.
– WWE’s live event from Madison Square Garden last weekend drew 18,500 fans and took in $795,000, making it one of the most profitable domestic live events (excluding PPVs) in company history. The RAW brand live event the night day in Newark, New Jersey drew 9,600 fans for a gate of $420,000.
During an interview with Associated Press sports writer Dan Gelston, RAW superstar John Cena talked about how badly he wants to wrestle The Rock and what his return to WWE means to the overall WWE product.
When asked about when we’ll see him get a shot at The Rock, Cena said, “I have been willing to do anything for that match. I will do anything for that match. If I have to talk more trash about The Rock, I’m your guy.”
Cena also praised the impact The Rock’s recent return has had on the company.
“I can’t tell you how much it plugs our product back in,” he said. “It’s like getting hooked up to defibrillators. It’s the one little jump-start we needed.”
Cena put over WrestleMania, saying “WWE will always be the greatest show you’ll ever see.”
The USA Network issued the following press release today:
THE ROCK®, JOHN CENA® AND THE MIZ® TO FACE OFF LIVE ON RAW® NEXT MONDAY ON USA AT 9/8c
Final Raw Prior to WrestleMania® XXVII
STAMFORD, Conn., March 23, 2011 – After their war of words, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will finally confront WWE Superstar John Cena® and WWE Champion The Miz®, live in person, March 28th on Monday Night Raw at 9/8c on USA Network. The verbal sparring was ignited when The Rock triumphantly returned to WWE last month. The fireworks will emanate live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, IL.
The Rock will be The World’s Most Electrifying Host in Entertainment at WrestleMania XXVII on Sunday, April 3rd at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, live on pay-per-view. The Rock is expected to lay the SmackDown® on all the pomp and festivities that make WrestleMania the world’s greatest, annual pop culture extravaganza.
For all the latest updates, ‘Like’ The Rock at www.facebook.com/DwayneJohnson or follow him at www.twitter.com/TheRock.
WrestleMania XXVII will be broadcast in more than 100 countries around the world. Check with your local cable operator or satellite provider to order the pay-per-view on Sunday, April 3rd. For more information on WrestleMania and WrestleMania events, please visit www.wrestlemania.com.
— John Cena is filming Fred 2 for Nickelodeon today and teased something huge in the works:
“Day #2 of filming Fred 2! But first 3 hours worth of WM interveiws. Then late tonight, off to silicon valley for sumthin HUGE. Details hopefully on the way. Then of course..back to what we do. 4 more shows to the dance!”
— Chris Masters vs. Tyler Reks was taped last night for tomorrow night’s episode of WWE Superstars.
— Big Show, Christian, Kane and Rey Mysterio beat Alberto Del Rio and The Corre in a dark match following last night’s SmackDown taping in Columbus, Ohio.
John Cena participated in a sitdown interview with Madison Square Garden correspondent Alex Iglesias prior to Saturday night’s Raw live event at the venue. Highlights are as follows:
— Cena says that while Shawn Michaels is his all-time favorite tag team partner, it took time for the two to become friends.
“He was one of those guys that – when I started – wasn’t too fond of me, but we ended up actually becoming really good friends,” Cena said. The fact that I was fortunate enough to hold the Tag Team Championships, even though it was for a short amount of time, was my most memorable.”
— Cena commented on Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s return to WWE.
He said, “I’ve wanted him to come back for five years now. I’m glad he’s finally back. I just hope he sticks around. I guess time will tell.”
— Regarding Nicole “Snooki” Polazzi’s involvement at WrestleMania XXVII, he said, “I’ve seen her get in some crazy situations on that television show. She will be just fine. If she goes out there and is just herself, she will make a WrestleMania Moment.”
— When asked if his wife gets upset with his strenuous road schedule with WWE, Cena said, “She does. But, we’ve known each other for quite some time. She knows that’s the way I’m built.”
He added that he prioritizes things as “work first and everything else will sort itself out.”
– The Rock wrote the following on his Twitter on Monday following RAW:
“Great ending on RAW tonight….I promise RAW in CHICAGO next week will be electrified like you haven’t seen in years…in years.”
– John Cena tweeted that he was cut open on RAW when the Miz scratched his face:
“CeNation. Fear in the eyes of the miz tonite. He now knows WM will not be a Gimmie. Rock at Raw next mon live. Do not miss it. Yes miz tried to scratch me. A tactic uses mostly in cat fights. he was given a haymaker for his efforts. Then he ran. Dauwsh.”
– WWE fans who are attending the Fan Axxess convention during WrestleMania weekend are being invited to participate in focus groups to evaluate various parts of the WWE product. Fans who give feedback are being given free tickets to the final Axxess session and a private meeting with a WWE Superstar.
– Former WWE Diva Angela “Savannah” Fong is currently in the running for Maxim’s Hometown Hottie contest, representing Tampa, Florida.
— WGN America confirmed last week that WWE Superstars has been canceled. The final episode will air on April 7. Despite the cancellation, is is expected to continue as a WWE.com-exclusive/overseas show.
— Parade has a piece on John Cena touting the WWE Superstar’s charity work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He recently became one of only four celebrities (along with Hulk Hogan and NASCAR drivers Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.) to grant 200 wishes through the charitable organization, which helps children with life-threatening medical conditions.
— WWE Hall of Famer Bret “The Hitman” Hart appears at Bistro 2561 Hylan Blvd. Staten Island, New York on Saturday, April 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. Visit www.sportsfanpromotions.com for more information.
— Former WCW World Heavyweight Champion Lex Luger will share his Christian testimony during a chapel service this Thursday at Shorter University in Rome, Georgia. Click here for more information.
Now a born-again Christian, Luger travels across the United States to share his testimony and warn people about the dangers of drugs.
RAW superstar John Cena was recently interviewed by Anthony Castellano of Newsday.com and spoke about his current feud with The Rock.
“The fact that he tried to pick a fight with the toughest guy in the place, that’s kind of his style,” Cena said. “But you know me, I don’t back down from anyone. I think it’s going to make some good television.”
So far The Rock is only committed to be the host of WrestleMania, but Cena wants to face The Great One in the ring, and not just once either.
“I think we’re on to a point if this continues, something physical is going to happen. He’s supposed to host. That’s all I know. When he came back on that first night he said he was back for good. I can only hope that’s the truth because I would certainly like to have many, many matches with him.”
Cena put over his WrestleMania 27 opponent The Miz, saying, “He proved in the last few weeks that he is the champ. He needs to be respected as such.”
Cena also commented on the possibility of trying to end The Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak in the future if Triple H is unable to do so this year. While a Cena-Undertaker WrestleMania match is something a lot of people want to see, Cena doesn’t sound interested.
“Nooooo, he just doesn’t lose. That’s not a profitable night for anyone.”
— John Cena claims he suffered a concussion on Raw during his bout against Alberto Del Rio or from The Miz’s multiple mic shots to the head during a post-match attack.
“Sorry I have been away. Concussion on mon night from either del rio kick or mic shots. Took and passed IMPACT exam, rtg for fri!” Cena wrote on Twitter on Thursday.
“Folks must take, and pass, post concussion in order to go back 2 work. I’m good and headed to CT.”
— Kelly Kelly noted on her Twitter account that she’s working this weekend’s Raw live events, beginning tonight in Hartford, Connecticut.
— Kane appears at Kmart in Seattle, Washington on Aurora Avenue from 10 am until noon on Sunday, May 22.
– On Monday’s RAW, we saw a physical confrontation that involved Trish Stratus, Snooki, LayCool and Vickie Guerrero that resulted in the 6-person mixed tag match being added to WrestleMania. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the women spent a lot of time rehearsing their segments on Monday prior to RAW.
– Jersey Shore star J-WOWW spoke out on Twitter this week in response to Angelina calling Snooki a copy cat for working with WWE. Snooki’s WWE appearance did come after Angelina made her debut for TNA earlier this month, but J-WOWW was the first Jersey Shore star to get in the wrestling ring, working with TNA last fall. J-WOWW tweeted about Angelina this week:
“Who went on TNA 1st? I did. so who’s the copy cat then?! why wont she disappear? … Who knows what I’m talking about? Lol”
– John Cena has recorded a message asking the WWE Universe to help with the relief efforts currently underway in Japan. Check it out:
The boy who appeared in the segment with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson that kicked off Raw is YouTube sensation MattyBraps. He is eight years old. Check out this video of him rapping:
— WWE Champion The Miz announced at last night’s Raw live event in Wichita, Kansas that he has rehired Alex Riley, who was dismissed as his apprentice two weeks ago on Raw. The duo partnered against John Cena and Randy Orton in a tag team match, which they lost.
— Triple H spoke to children and their fathers Friday at a “Fatherhood and Mentoring Rally” held at the Boys & Girls Club in Stamford, Connecticut. He was also promoting the video release of The Chaperone.
— At a cost of $10, Walmart is selling The Chaperone packaged with WWE’s 2008 DVD title on Triple H, King of Kings.
— The Miz vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship is advertised for WWE’s upcoming WrestleMania Revenge tour of Ireland in April.
– As previously reported, Jersey Shore star Snooki will be hosting Monday’s episode of WWE RAW. John Cena tweeted the following about Snooki coming to RAW:
JohnCena
CeNation. Very excited bout @sn00ki comin 2 raw. Now I can beat up a washed up reality star ( miz). In front of a real one! :)
– SmackDown star Alberto Del Rio revealed in a MyFox Houston interview this week that his current WWE contract is for three years.
– MTV has announced that WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper will be appearing on the new season of Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory.
– In a dark match that took place after Tuesday’s WWE SmackDown tapings from Houston, John Cena, Big Show, Rey Mysterio and Christian beat Alberto Del Rio and The Corre. John Cena got the win for his team.
As reported earlier, former WWE superstar Shelton Benjamin wrestled a tryout match prior to the tapings. To read more on that, check out:
– In response to a fan question on Twitter, RAW superstar Randy Orton had this to say about the John Cena vs. The Rock feud:
RandyOrton
I think the Rock is awesome. But get em in the ring together on live tv? John would OWN him.
– Christian made his return to WWE television this week, defeating newcomer Brodus Clay in a tough match. Despite the satisfaction of finally being back on RAW, the highlight of Christian’s night actually came backstage:
Christian4Peeps
Good 2b back on Raw..but highlight 4me was b4 show meeting Jesus a cool kid who was w/ make-a-wish.His 1st WWE show &Im sure he had a blast
– William Regal, who is now part of the NXT announcing team, had this to say about his first show on Tuesday night:
RealKingRegal
Just finished my announcing debut on NXT.It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done and I have a long way to go.
— John Cena promised on Twitter a ‘final knockout’ for Monday’s Raw.
“And I will come to raw for bizzness,” he wrote. “Final knockout this monday on raw. HUSTLE. LOYALTY. RESPECT.”
— WWE developmental wrestler Jarrod Locke has been removed from the Florida Championship Wrestling website’s roster page, which would indicate that he has been released. He formerly appeared on the UK version of Gladiators as Warrior.
— The beginning of a recent NXT broadcast in New Zealand features a message from John Cena dedicating the show to victims of the recent earthquake. He praises the firefighters, Red Cross and rescue workers.
— A new promotional poster has been released for WrestleMania 27, which you can view here.
— Former WWE superstar Chuck Palumbo, probably best known as one half of the “Billy and Chuck” gay tag team that WWE featured in the early 2000’s, had the following to say about the storyline during an interview this week on the Busted Open satelite radio show:
“You know, honestly, I got to say that was one of my most fun times. You know first of all I got to work with Billy Gunn, who was a veteran and had been around a long time. He [Billy Gunn] was showing me the ropes number one. Number two I was getting some time. I was getting some TV time, so I was digging that you know. I got nothing against gay people, you know, ask Matt, they’re always making great gay jokes and making fun of people behind the scenes. I took it as a joke. I had fun with it. I mean I had a lot of fun with it.
“My only comment on that would be that I just wish, I felt like when it disbanded, it had a lot of miles on it. A lot of times there’s a reason why they disband things. I think at the time Billy Gunn was about done with his contract and you know they decided to let him go, but I think it had a lot more miles left in it. Than again when Vince [McMahon] put that together, he put that together for cable network ratings week you know what I mean, so he had a reason for it. He wanted to get that final rating on that smack down show, so I guess he did what he thought was right you know, but I thought it had more mileage left.”
— Apparently there’s a rumor going around that John Cena is dead. This is absolutely untrue, and Cena tweeted the following about it:
JohnCena
CeNation. Apparently last night I was shot dead by a group of thugs. I also was apparently owned by the rock. Both just internet rumor. :)
