Posts Tagged ‘John Cena’

Bill DeMott Wants To Tell His Side Of The Story, Recent WWE Attendance Figures

– Multiple sources are reporting that former NXT head trainer Bill DeMott wants to give his side of the story after resigning from the company a few weeks ago following a lot of controversy. DeMott, however, has been asked by WWE to remain quiet for the time being due to legal reasons. As noted, WWE is expecting lawsuits to be filed as a result of the DeMott controversy.

– The following are some recent WWE live attendance figures:

March 12th in Largo, FL for NXT drew a sellout of 500 fans
March 13th in Abbotsford, BC drew 5,000 fans (Roman Reigns tour)
March 14th in Seattle drew 6,000 fans (Roman Reigns tour)
March 14th in Milwaukee drew 7,000 fans (John Cena tour)
March 14th in Citrus Springs, FL for NXT drew 225 fans
March 15th in Portland drew 3,200 fans (Roman Reigns tour)
March 15th in Minneapolis drew 5,500 fans (John Cena tour)
March 16th in Des Moines, IA for RAW drew 9,300 fans

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

Potential Spoilers For WrestleMania Main Event & Future Storylines

With less than two weeks to go until WrestleMania 31, booking plans are in the process of being finalized and we’ve got some information regarding three of the top matches on the show. WWE insider ‘MetsFan4Ever’ has released some major details regarding what’s planned for the main event as well as the IC & US titles.

According to the Reddit user, the word going around Tuesday night’s SmackDown tapings is that Brock Lesnar is very close to signing a new contract with WWE. The deal would be similar to his current deal, with Lesnar presented presented as a special attraction making limited appearances.

The big news is that Triple H is reportedly trying to sell Vince McMahon on the idea of Brock Lesnar retaining the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania. This scenario would also have implications on two other WrestleMania matches.

If Brock retains, the plan is for John Cena to defeat Rusev for the Unites States Championship and Daniel Bryan to emerge victorious in the Intercontinental Championship Ladder match. With Brock Lesnar only making occasional appearances on WWE television, the idea is for John Cena and Daniel Bryan to headline various RAW, PPV and live events defending their titles, which would bring a great deal of prestige to both.

While things can change over the next week and a half, this is one the main ideas being considered.

WWE RAW Pros & Cons (3/16/15): The Authority Feels The Wrath Of Sting

This week’s episode of Raw was held in Des Moines, Iowa at the Wells Fargo Arena, and it was anything but money. With less than two weeks until WrestleMania, one would think the action would be heating up, but that wasn’t really the case. Here are the pros and cons from this week’s episode of Raw.

Pros

Once again, Paul Heyman was the highlight of Raw. He appeared solo to hype the main event of WrestleMania and kicked off the third hour of the show. Heyman declared that Brock Lesnar is not a “pacifist” but a “conqueror.” The best in the biz questioned what would happen after Lesnar violates the parameters of the match and said fans are “stuck with Brock Lesnar as your WWE Champion.” It was an entertaining promo, and it’s nice to see at least one person is putting in work to hype the biggest match of the year. Reigns appeared but was totally out of his league as the crowd booed him. It wasn’t even a terrible promo, honestly, but it would’ve been much more intense if he had delivered it while standing toe-to-toe with the Beast Incarnate. That confrontation is at least supposed to happen next week, or so they say.

If you were on the Internet at all during the day, you probably knew Sting was photographed in Des Moines. The final match between Orton and Rollins never took place, with The Authority surrounding the ring as Orton wielded a chair. The entire crowd was chanting, “We want Sting” from the start and it was totally obvious he was going to make the save. With that said, it was still awesome to see him appear and hit J&J with a Stinger Splash while teaming up with The Viper. I don’t know about Cole’s assertion that it was “one of the greatest moments in Raw history,” but it was a good way to end the show and actually hype a few of the matches leading into WrestleMania.

The six-man tag featured the best wrestling action of the night. Ambrose and Stardust started the match and worked well together, with Ambrose hitting a big bulldog at one point. Bryan then entered the ring and worked over Stardust by using a surfboard that he turned into a pinning combination. After the break, Ambrose was back in the ring, this time with Luke Harper. The Lunatic Fringe had the upper hand after a tornado DDT before tagging in Dolph Ziggler. The faces dominated the action early, but Barrett eventually entered the fray and turned the tables for a bit. After a second commercial break, Ambrose made a blind tag and picked up the win after the action broke down, hitting Dirty Deeds after an excellent counter of the Bull Hammer Elbow. It was a good match, and they continue to hype this ladder match, which is always a plus.

It was good to see Mark Henry back on Raw, as he declared his intention to enter the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal before clearing house. Axel was entertaining during this segment as well.

AJ Lee and Nikki Bella squared off in the opening contest while Brie and Paige looked on at ringside. They were given a good bit of time and put on an entertaining match, even if the action was a bit sloppy at times. AJ locked in an impressive guillotine choke before being driven into the turnbuckle by Nikki. She later rallied and took down Nikki with a nice lateral crossbody. Nikki finally picked up the win with the Rack Attack after knocking AJ out following a distraction. It was a decent opening match and if nothing else, it was something new.

I guess the Brock Lesnar interview could be considered a pro, if only because he appeared on television and actually spoke. Lesnar said WrestleMania is a “day that I get to show up, kick somebody’s ass, and get paid to do so.” With that said, he needed to be in attendance instead of wasting his limited appearances by having his show up and look bored out of his mind. There is zero heat between Lesnar and Reigns, as they have yet to come face-to-face and it will be one week until the biggest main event of the year on next week’s Raw. Lesnar isn’t the best speaker, but he’s not terrible by any means. Have these guys face off and speak their minds to build this match up.

Spoiler: WWE Planning Special Entrance For Rusev At WrestleMania 31

WWE has hired a casting agency in the local Bay Area of San Francisco, California, with the goal of hiring males to work as “marching Russian soldiers” at WrestleMania 31.

While not confirmed at this point, one would assume that this is in regards to Rusev and Lana’s entrance at WrestleMania 31 later this month.

Rusev is scheduled to defend his WWE United States Championship against John Cena on the show, which takes place on Sunday, March 29th at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

(Credit: PWInsider.com)

Flair On Cena Possibly Breaking His Title Record, Hornswoggle Takes Shot At Stardust

– WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair said during a Q&A held at “The Arnold” this past weekend in Ohio that he doesn’t know if John Cena will beat his record for the most reigns as World Heavyweight Champion, but he would be happy if he does because he feels Cena is a hard worker. One fan suggested that Flair wrestle Triple H at WrestleMania, to which Flair said he would love to do it, telling everyone that they should e-mail that idea to Vince McMahon.

– WWE Superstar Hornswoggle took a shot at Cody Rhodes on Twitter this week, which was said to come out of nowhere. He tweeted the following to the account that Rhodes uses separate from his official “Stardust” account.

(Partial Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

John Cena Talks Dropping Rapper Gimmick, Getting Mixed Reactions From WWE Fans & More

WWE Superstar John Cena recently spoke to USA Today to promote the new WWE Flintstones movie. Below are highlights from the interview.

On seeing more kids in the crowd and moving away from his old rapper character: “I looked around and saw who was sitting in the audience and said, ‘You know what, I proactively need to change.’ And it was for the greater good.”

On staying connected to the fans: “I know what they’re thinking. A lot of our performers become too cool for school where they can’t show that sort of happiness and humility at times, that emotion, and that’s when our audience doesn’t necessarily attach to them. You’ve got to be able to go out there and just lose yourself.”

On being okay with the mixed reactions he gets from fans: “I totally get it. I don’t necessarily spend my time watching programs that 6- to 10-year-old kids enjoy, so I get the need for different racy comedy and story lines. But at the same time I don’t want to offend anyone in our audience so I do what I do to the best of my ability, and I actually really enjoy being able to be a real-life superhero and an aspirational character both in live entertainment and animation films like Flintstones. It gives you a feeling of self-worth at the end of the day. It becomes more than just a job — you feel as if you’re affecting lives and that truly is pretty important.”

Check out the complete interview at USAToday.com.

Wiz Khalifa Performed High At RAW?, Photos Of Him Backstage With Vince McMahon & John Cena

– Wiz Khalifa teased that he was high on marijuana during his performance at last night’s RAW. Khalifa tweeted the following, referencing a joke from the film “Half Baked” when talking about his performance at the show. Coincidentally enough, the joke he is referencing was actually made by last week’s RAW host, Jon Stewart, in the movie.

– Speaking of Khalifa, he tweeted the following photos of himself backstage at Monday’s RAW with John Cena and Vince McMahon.

Wiz Khalifa Talks RAW Experience (Video), Total Divas Season Finale Viewership, More

– Part one of this past Sunday’s two-hour long season finale, which was actually two separate shows that aired back-to-back to wrap up this season of the show, drew 1.214 million viewers and drew a 0.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic for the 9-10pm EST. show. The 10-11pm EST. second episode drew 1.280 million viewers and the same 0.6 rating for the 18-49 demo.

– Wiz Khalifa talks about his experience as the special guest at Monday’s WWE RAW in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in part one of this week’s RAW Fallout, which you can watch below.

– In part two of this week’s RAW Fallout, Erick Rowan talks backstage after his segment on the show.

– Part three of RAW Fallout this week features the Los Matadores.

– Finally, John Cena is featured in the fourth and final portion of this week’s RAW Fallout.

What Happened After RAW, Lilian Reacts To Botch On RAW

– After WWE RAW went off the air, trainers checked on Seth Rollins after Randy Orton put him through the announcers table. They put a neck brace on Rollins and loaded him on to a stretcher as Orton walked to the back. Rollins was then stretchered out of the arena.

Backstage, John Cena spoke to Byron Saxton. Cena said Stephanie McMahon made a valid point that performing at WrestleMania is a privilege. He said it will be satisfying to hand Rusev his first defeat at WrestleMania and bring the United States championship back to the United States.

– Last night on RAW, Lilian Garcia botched the announcement of Big Show’s entrance, stating that he’s 4 feet tall. A fan asked about it on Twitter and she joked:

WWE RAW Pros & Cons (3/9/15): The Viper Finally Strikes!

This week’s episode of Raw was held in the greatest city in the world: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Brock Lesnar made his return, the Viper finally decided to strike, and Bray Wyatt received an answer regarding his challenge to the Undertaker. Here are the pros and cons from this week’s episode of Raw.

Pros

Paul Heyman’s promo was the highlight of the night, and boy was it a highlight. In what was quite possibly one of the greatest promos of all-time, Heyman put just about everyone within a thousand-mile radius on blast. He criticized the Reigns video package that aired before he entered the ring, calling it, “nothing short of sheer propaganda” while calling Reigns’ father “one generation removed from cannibal.” He also addressed the Lesnar UFC controversy, saying that no one will take the title from Lesnar and that the Beast would gladly unify the WWE and UFC Championships over the summer if he chooses to do so. He later mentioned the Montreal Screwjob and said that anyone who tries to screw over Lesnar would not leave the arena alive. In all, the promo was a borderline shoot that perfectly blurred the line between fantasy and reality. He really did everything he could to put the main event at WrestleMania over, and he definitely succeeded.

Daniel Bryan vs. Bad News Barrett was a good match with both guys displaying strong fundamentals. Bryan hit the running high knee from out of nowhere for the win after failing to put away Barrett with a backslide. Bad News got the upper hand on Bryan after the match, however, hitting him with a Bull Hammer before being laid out by Dean Ambrose. It was a solid opening contest and a good way to further hype the ladder match at WrestleMania.

Connor “The Crusher” Michalek will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as the first recipient of the newly created “Warrior Award.” This company gives fans plenty of reasons to complain, but even the most cynical fan can’t help but praise them for this move.

Dean Ambrose squared off against Stardust in the second match of the night. The action was largely uneventful, with Ambrose picking up the win after a big clothesline and Dirty Deeds. This goes into the “Pros” column largely due to the post-match brawl, with all of the competitors in the Intercontinental Championship ladder match getting in on the fun. It’s nice to see the company making this into a big deal, and Barrett getting duped by a phony IC strap was also somewhat amusing.

Rusev quickly squashed Curtis Axel and then proceeded to talk some smack on the good ‘ole US of A. Cena had warned him beforehand not to do so in a nationalist rant prior to the match, but the Russian decided to press his luck. Cena absolutely destroyed Rusev, causing him to pass out twice in the STF. Lana granted Cena his rematch in an attempt to call off the dogs. Cena then stood up with an absolutely evil glare on his face, which was actually a nice change of pace. I’d like to see a darker, more ruthless side of Cena as they head into their rematch at WrestleMania.

The opening segment was pretty entertaining, all things considered. Noble sounded like a fool, leading Rollins to declare that they are “J&J Security, not J&J Public Speaking.” Orton was the star of this segment, however, as he went down the line and ripped everyone a new one. He said what we’ve all been thinking for months by calling Kane the “Devil’s Favorite Dumbass,” and continued by insulting Big Show, Rollins, and J&J. It was a solid opening to the show and the crowd seemed to be into it.

The Divas make an appearance in the “Pros” column this week after a solid match between AJ Lee and Summer Rae. They were given about five minutes and the match featured some decent action, with AJ eventually picking up the win with the Black Widow. It didn’t set the world on fire, but it’s definitely an improvement over what we’re used to in the main roster Divas division. I also thought the Bella Twins’ Flintstones outfits were kind of cute.

And, in a shocking turn of events, the Divas are back for an encore. Naomi and Natalya weren’t given much time at all, but the action was solid, with the highlight being Naomi’s excellent counter of the Sharpshooter. I wish this one would have been a little longer, but it served its purpose by advancing the tag team feud and getting the Divas more exposure.

Bray Wyatt finally got his answer after weeks of provoking the Undertaker. After cutting a nice promo, the lights went out and ‘Taker’s music hit. From there, a message appeared on the big screen that said, “At WrestleMania, the man comes around.” Lightning then struck Wyatt’s chair, causing Wyatt to laugh maniacally as it burned. It was the perfect way to have the Dead Man accept Wyatt’s challenge without giving fans too much.

John Cena vs. Rusev Added To WrestleMania

John Cena will challenge Rusev for the United States Championship at WrestleMania 31 on Sunday, March 29th. The match was made after John Cena applied to the STF to Rusev twice, with Lana pleading with Cena to release the hold and offering the match in exchange for mercy on Rusev.

With that match set, here’s the updated card for WWE WrestleMania 31:

– WWE World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns

– Triple H vs Sting

– The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt

– John Cena vs. Rusev

– IC Title Ladder Match: Bad News Barrett vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Luke Harper vs. R-Truth, more TBA

– The Bella Twins vs. AJ Lee and Paige

– Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Jack Swagger On The “#GiveDivasAChance” Movement, WrestleMania 31 & More

WWE Superstar Jack Swagger recently spoke with The Huffington Post U.K.’s “Royal Ramblings” blog. Below are highlights from the interview.

On what it would mean to win the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 31: “It would mean a lot. Just to be on a Wrestlemania card, I think, means more to the superstars than a pay check or going to work that day. It’s such a special thing, such an honour to be on there. So to win the Battle Royal would be very impressive and I’d put it up there with one of the best feats of my career. Anything named after Andre the Giant in our line of work is something very special and should be put on a pedestal.”

On Rusev vs. John Cena at WrestleMania 31: “Rusev is one of those competitors that comes around once in a generation. Everything that you see about him is legit. If anyone were to stand a chance against him it would probably be Jack Swagger! I think I’ve probably got one more Wrestlemania to get him! Me aside, if anyone wants to take him down in this day and age in the WWE it will be John Cena – and what a moment that will be.”

On advice he’d give Roman Reigns going into his match with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 31: “I think I would tell Roman that he just needs to do everything he has done his entire life. He knows how to win and how to prepare himself. The hay’s in the barn at that point, it’s just time to believe in himself and go win the biggest match of his life. That, and to stop putting so much conditioner in his hair before he goes out! It’s not naturally that shiny! It makes me mad. It’s all product! You’re all product Roman!”

On the “#GiveDivasAChance” movement and who he feels the next big Diva will be: “I think our divas division is very strong and more competitive than it has been since I’ve been on the roster. They definitely are underutilised and don’t get enough air time – some matches just leave you blown away by what they do. I think Trinity (Naomi) is one of the girls that is going to transcend and change the division. She’s so athletic – if she was a guy she’d be a Pro Bowler in the NFL or an All-Star in the NBA, she’s that good.”

Check out the complete interview at HuffingtonPost.co.uk.

John Cena Thinks Nikki Bella Should Leave WWE, Ex-WWE Star Launching Wrestling Promotion

– Afa Anoa’i Jr., who formerly competed in WWE as Manu, announced on his Facebook page the launch of his own wrestling promotion, Battlefield Pro Wrestling. It will be based in Pennsylvania.

The press release states, “Look out, Pennsylvania is about to become a BATTLEFIELD! Afadomis Productions inc. presents Battlefield Pro Wrestling, the thrilling, high-impact, much anticipated new addition to Pennsylvania’s storied wrestling scene. BPW is owned and operated by Afa Anoa’i Jr, a.k.a. Manu of WWE fame. Afa is part of the legendary Anoa’i family that has produced pro wrestling’s biggest superstars throughout the history of this great business. Anoa’i offers over 17 years of experience and is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Afa the Wild Samoan. Battlefield Pro Wrestling is committed to giving top quality entertainment each and every event and will deliver a roster that will be second to none in the independent scene. BPW strives to offer a product that Pennsylvania will be proud to call its own. Join us as we prepare for battle, and as we take the pro wrestling business by storm in 2015!”

– In this preview clip of tomorrow’s season finale of Total Divas, Nikki Bella mentions to John Cena that she is uncertain about signing her new WWE contract, which would extend her career for another three years.

“So what’s the hold up?” Cena asks. “Are you gonna leave or are you gonna stay?”

“So I had some productive meetings in Los Angeles,” she informs him. “There are some really great opportunities out there and I’ve always loved to do acting and I think it’d be amazing to be part of a TV show, of course. I guess I’m talking confusing ’cause I feel confused.”

“I love WWE but I think you and your sister are destined for success outside of the WWE,” Cena says.

John Cena To Be Inducted Into Springfield College Hall Of Fame

Springfield college has officially announced John Cena as an inductee into their Hall Of Fame.

Below is the official press release:

Springfield, Mass. – March 6, 2015 – Springfield College is proud to announce that John Cena ‘99 is one of five inductees who will be enshrined into the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 18.

In 1998, Cena was one of three captains on the football team that was 9-2 and advanced to play in the NCAA Division III Championship. At season’s end, the accolades rolled in for the senior, as he was named a Hewlett-Packard Division III First Team All-American, a Football Gazette All-American, an ECAC New England/Northeast Division III All Star, and a New England Football Writers DII/DIII All Star.

After graduating from Springfield College in 1999, Cena went on to become one of the most recognizable sports and entertainment faces on the planet. As a WWE Superstar and 15-time World Champion, Cena combines his athleticism, charisma, strong work ethic and genuine personality to make him one of the brightest stars in WWE and it’s hit cable program, Monday Night RAW on the USA Network.

Cena devotes much of his time working on behalf of numerous charitable causes, including Make-A-Wish and Susan G. Komen. In 2009, Cena was awarded Make-A-Wish’s highest honor, the Chris Grecius Award, and in June 2012, set a Make-A-Wish record granting his 300th wish and continues to keep grant wishes as long as there are children who want to meet him.

He has currently granted over 460 wishes, the most of any celebrity or athlete involved with Make-A-Wish. Also in 2012, Cena led WWE’s partnership with Susan G. Komen, and special edition merchandise debuted, helping raise more than $1.5 million to support Susan G. Komen’s mission to eradicate breast cancer and save lives.

WWE RAW Pros & Cons (3/2/15): Mr. Daily Show Gets The Best Of Mr. Money In The Bank

Raw emanated from the Garden State this week, but it was certainly no walk in the park for Seth Rollins. Fans were treated to two title matches during the show, as well as a special appearance from Jon Stewart. Without further ado, here are the pros and cons from this week’s episode of Raw.

Pros 

The highlight of the night was Seth Rollins’ phony “Daily Show.” He immediately insulted the crowd by calling Newark the “armpit of America” before recapping his appearance on the real deal last Thursday. Mr. Money in the Bank had J&J rolling with a few corny jokes, while pondering the whereabouts of Mr. Stewart. His question was quickly answered, as Stewart showed up to a nice pop from the crowd. Stewart ripped on Rollins hard while displaying his knowledge of legends past in an absolutely hilarious segment that ended with Stewart delivering a swift kick to Rollins’ nuts. Entertaining top-of-the-hour segment, and it should provide a bit of crossover buzz heading into WrestleMania.

Triple H was so intense during his promo this week, and as always, his delivery was solid. Hunter took a few shots at the “kids” who think they know the backstage politics of the business, while threating: “I will make sure it is as if Sting’s career never existed.” Booker T’s involvement in the segment was refreshing and something new, even if it meant seeing The Game almost hand the five-time champ his walking papers.

Daniel Bryan vs. Luke Harper went into the “Pros” column before it even started. When you get two guys with this kind of talent in the same ring, it’s almost impossible to disappoint. Even though they weren’t given much time at all, the two worked a stiff match that saw both superstars take their fair share of abuse. Bryan was unceremoniously dumped over the top rope to the floor at one point, but was eventually able to counter a modified crossface into the Yes! Lock for the win. Following the match, Ambrose, Harper, Barrett, Ziggler, and R-Truth, all attempted to walk away with the Intercontinental Championship while Bryan looked on. It looks like our lineup for the WrestleMania ladder match is basically set.

It was a pleasant surprise to see Seth Rollins open the show, as he hyped his confrontation with Jon Stewart later in the night. He of course talked a little smack, saying: “Unlike the Daily Show where they give away their tickets for free, every single person in a seat tonight paid to see Seth Rollins.” The only downside to this segment was the involvement of Roman Reigns. He arrived, said a few words that weren’t exactly memorable, performed his two signature moves, and basically stood in the ring hoping to be cheered (he failed miserably, in case you’re wondering). It’s sad that even when the the company is using New Jersey’s own Jon Stewart to get Rollins heat, the crowd still universally boos the thought of Reigns becoming champion. Overall, it seemed like another lame attempt to get Reigns over, but Rollins was money.

The Miz “Niagara” commercial was on point. I loved Mizdow’s involvement in the backstage segment and commercial.

There weren’t many spots during the Ambrose/Barrett match, but it was pleasant. Most of the exciting action took place outside of the ring, with Ambrose diving through the middle ropes to take out Barrett and later delivering a big elbow from the ring apron. He eventually picked up the win after hitting Dirty Deeds following a distraction. It’s nice to see the company getting multiple midcarders involved in this Intercontinental Championship ladder match (including Dean Ambrose, Luke Harper, probably Daniel Bryan as well). With that said, it is absolutely cringeworthy hearing JBL and Cole interact with R-Truth on commentary.

Alundra Blayze was announced as the latest inductee into the Hall of Fame. That’s cool, I guess.

Finally, John Cena cut his usual “inspirational” promo this week. It’s obvious Cena doesn’t possess the necessary credentials to warrant inclusion into the prestigious Andre the Giant Battle Royal, and Stephanie of course quickly shot down his hopes. The two engaged in their typical banter to start the nine o’clock hour. Stephanie declaring, “For once, I actually like this chant” when referring to the Yes! chant was humorous.

Axel was easily the MVP of this segment though, and the crowd was eating it up big time. The two followed up the segment with a quick match, with Cena quickly forcing Axel to tap out to the STF. Rusev once again denied Cena his rematch following the match, keeping us all on edge as to whether this will match occur at WrestleMania.

Update On WrestleMania Poster Featuring Undertaker And Sting, Lilian Garcia To Sing At NBA Game

– This WrestleMania 31 poster that surfaced last week featuring The Undertaker and Sting, among others, is legitimate. WWE launched this banner ad campaign on Monday promoting the event on the WWE Network featuring a variation of the artwork.

– Lilian Garcia is scheduled to sing the National Anthem on Friday, March 13 the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona before the Phoenix Suns vs. Atlanta Hawks game.

Big Paul Heyman Promo Planned For Tonight, Cena Comments On Jon Stewart At RAW, NXT Preview

– John Cena posted the following on his official Twitter account regarding “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart appearing on tonight’s edition of WWE RAW in Newark, New Jersey.

– Speaking of tonight’s RAW, Paul Heyman is hyping a big WrestleMania 31 promo on social media. He tweeted the following promising fans that he “has plenty to say.”

– Below is a preview for this week’s edition of NXT, which takes place on Wednesday night at 8pm EST. on the WWE Network.

Video: John Cena Calls Vince McMahon An Inspiration, Talks Jon Stewart vs. Seth Rollins & More

John Cena spoke with TMZ in New York City this week about Vince McMahon’s “Muscle & Fitness” cover, the Jon Stewart vs. Seth Rollins feud and WrestleMania 31.

Regarding McMahon’s “Muscle & Fitness” cover, Cena said he is an inspiration to anyone who lifts weights. He said that even at age 69, McMahon operates like a 29 year old.

When talking about the Stewart-Rollins feud, Cena said he’s a big fan of “The Daily Show” host, so he would like to see him come to WWE.

Cena also spoke about WrestleMania 31, predicting that The Undertaker will go over Bray Wyatt.

You can check out the complete TMZ interview with Cena at the top of this page.

Hulk Hogan Gives WM31 Predictions, Says WWE Should Induct Rick Rude, More

As reported on Thursday, John Cena, Hulk Hogan and Stephanie McMahon toured Google Headquarters to promote WrestleMania 31.

As part of the promotional effort, Cena and Hogan took part in a Q&A on social media. Below are highlights from Hogan’s Q&A:

John Cena Talks Underutilized Talents In WWE, Proposing To Nikki Bella & More

As noted earlier today, John Cena, Hulk Hogan and Stephanie McMahon toured Google Headquarters today to promote WrestleMania 31.

As part of the promotional effort, Cena and Hogan took part in a Q&A on social media. Below are highlights from Cena’s Q&A:

Hulk Hogan, John Cena & Stephanie McMahon Tour Google Headquarters

– WWE.com has published a gallery of rare Vince McMahon photos from throughout the years.

– Triple H was interviewed by USA Today this week about his induction into the International Sports Hall of Fame.

– Hulk Hogan, John Cena and Stephanie McMahon were at Google headquarters in Mountain View, California earlier today as part of the #31to31 Wrestlemania campaign. They each held a Q&A session on Twitter, with #AskCena and #AskSteph still trending. They will also tour the campuses of Twitter and Facebook as part of the tour. Here are some photos from today:

Hit up Page 2 for more photos & videos:

Post-WrestleMania WWE Europe Tour Lineup

WWE is gearing up for their annual post-WrestleMania European tour, with the following matches being advertised:

The “A-Crew” will be headlined by John Cena vs. Rusev for the United States Championship, Bad News Barrett vs. Dean Ambrose for the Intercontinental Championship and Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins.

For other touring roster will feature Roman Reigns vs. Big Show in the main event, Daniel Bryan vs. Bray Wyatt, Dolph Ziggler vs. Luke Harper and Tag Team Champions Tyson Kidd and Cesaro vs. The Usos.

While this doesn’t reveal anything big about what could transpire at WrestleMania, it does give an idea of which feuds will be continuing.

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

WWE Surpasses NBA As Top Sports Channel On YouTube

WWE issued the following …

WWE SURPASSES NBA AS #1 SPORTS CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE

STAMFORD, Conn., February 25, 2015 – With more than 4.2 billion video views in the last 12 months, WWE has become the No. 1 Sports channel on YouTube ahead of the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, ESPN and NASCAR. In addition, WWE on YouTube has more than 5.2 million subscribers, which is more than MLB, NFL, NHL, ESPN, NASCAR, MLS and NBC Sports COMBINED.

WWE continues to remain a leader in social media, with more than 450 million combined social media followers globally. During the past year, WWE’s social media channels added more than 194 million followers, a nearly 75 percent increase year-over-year. WWE’s network of Facebook pages has more followers than the NFL and its 32 teams’ pages combined, and WWE Superstar John Cena is the No. 1 most-followed active American athlete on Facebook, with more than 36 million “Likes.”

Since launching in 2008, WWE’s YouTube channel has featured award-winning original short-form programming, including popular shows such as WWE Inbox, WWE Fury, 5 Things and WWE Top Ten. In addition, WWE uses its YouTube channel to promote its monthly WWE Network and pay-per-view events by airing live pre-shows that include exclusive matches and commentary.

What Happened After Monday’s RAW Ended, Jon Stewart/WWE Update

– While he did mention the name Rusev on Monday’s episode of “The Daily Show,” Jon Stewart did not reference his current angle with Seth Rollins.

– The dark match main event after Monday’s RAW saw Daniel Bryan, Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and John Cena beat Big Show, Kane, Bray Wyatt and Seth Rollins. The finish saw Reigns hit a spear on Big Show, with Cena following up with an Attitude Adjustment for the 1-2-3.

WWE RAW Pros & Cons (2/23/15): The Road To WrestleMania Rolls Through Nashville

Raw was held in Nashville this week as the build to WrestleMania continues. The event featured a Tag Team Championship match, a few promos, and a bunch of other stuff that wasn’t really music to most fans’ ears. Here are the pros and cons from this week’s episode of Raw.

Pros

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As soon as they announced the Usos were planning to invoke their rematch clause, it was obvious fans were going to be in for another treat. As one would expect, the action was fast paced and frequently spilled over to ringside. Kidd’s heel work has been top notch over the past few weeks, frequently using his wife as a human shield in order to gain an upper hand.

The Tag Champs work so well together too, using combination moves such as a catapult into a big uppercut, and a Cesaro swing into a dropkick. Although the match didn’t end clean, it featured some solid action and was probably the highlight of the night. Kidd and Cesaro are the best team in the WWE by far right now. They should get these guys some merch and push them to the moon.

I loved the backstage segment between the Miz and Damien Mizdow. It was awesome (no pun intended) to hear the Miz talk up the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal and act like a win would elevate his career to new heights. (That worked out real well for Cesaro last year.)

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Bad News Barrett vs. Dolph Ziggler was a decent opening match. There were honestly only a handful of wrestling moves utilized throughout the match, with most of the action consisting of punches, rest holds, and brawling action outside of the ring. With that said, there were a few impressive sequences. Ziggler countered Wasteland twice, once into a DDT and another into a sunset flip. The sequence where Barrett ended up hitting Winds of Change was also nice.

The Show Off picked up the win after hitting the Zig Zag, allowing for Ambrose to show up and taunt Barrett with his Intercontinental Championship before staring Ziggler down. What are the chances that Barrett never touches his beloved title again? I’d usually say it’s about as likely as the Cubs winning the World Series this season, but they actually decided to crack open the checkbook over the winter so that might not be the best analogy.

#Axelmania. Enough said.

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The Daniel Bryan/Roman Reigns promo was one of the more interesting moments all night. It was nice to see Daniel Bryan once again acting as the voice of the fans, saying, “The biggest Roman Reigns doubter is right here in Daniel Bryan,” while also echoing fan sentiments regarding Reigns only being in the main event because of his size and look. At the same time, he also put Reigns over for winning the match, ending the segment with a handshake.

Heyman’s interaction with Reigns was also intriguing, as he said he would put his money on Reigns over anyone, including guys like Hogan, Austin, and the Rock – anyone except Brock Lesnar, of course. Reigns was confident and composed during the back and forth with Heyman as he continues to improve on the mic. It’s easy to picture these two guys hooking up in the near future.

The Bray Wyatt promo was more of the same, but still entertaining nonetheless. I can’t wait for the Undertaker to show up respond to Wyatt’s challenge.