The following matches were taped for this week’s edition of WWE Superstars prior to the “season premiere” of RAW on Monday night in Baltimore, Maryland.
– Naomi def. Summer Rae in Divas action to open the show. This was said to be your basic Divas match.
– Justin Gabriel def. Sin Cara in the main event of the show. This was said to be a pretty good match with a lot of high-flying spots.
The following matches were taped prior to this Monday’s edition of WWE RAW in Des Moines, Iowa for this week’s edition of WWE Superstars.
– Alicia Fox def. Emma in Divas action to open up the show. This was said to be your basic Divas match. Nothing special.
– Sin Cara def. Justin Gabriel in the main event of the show. This match was supposedly pretty good, with Sin Cara and Gabriel hitting a lot of high-spots.
The following matches were taped prior to Monday’s RAW for this week’s edition of WWE Superstars.
– Alberto Del Rio def. Justin Gabriel via Submission after applying his Cross Armbreaker, forcing the tap out from Gabriel.
– Heath Slater & Titus O’Neil def. Sin Cara & Zack Ryder in tag-team action via pinfall. Ryder ended up being the man on his team who had to look up at the lights, as you would expect.
The following matches were taped at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida for tonight’s edition of WWE NXT on the WWE Network:
– Colin Cassady vs. Sylvester Lefort
– Charlotte & Sasha Banks vs. Bayley & Becky Lynch
– CJ Parker vs. an enhancement wrestler
– Sami Zayn vs. Justin Gabriel
The following matches are confirmed for tonight’s WWE NXT television show, which was taped on May 30th at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida:
NXT Championship
– Adrian Neville (c) vs. Justin Gabriel
NXT Women’s Championship
– Charlotte (c) vs. Bayley
– Aiden English vs. Mojo Rawley
– Jason Jordan & Tye Dillinger vs. an enhancement tag-team
The following are highlights from a new online Q&A update by WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:
On feuds being rushed in WWE and “Even Steven” booking: “In general I think that most pro wrestling story lines today are rushed because it is perceived that many fans have shorter attention spans. Even Steven booking helps who? No one.”
On WWE fans being more negative than positive: “Unfortunately, it seems more fashionable to criticize virtually any thing rather than sing its praises. That goes for most walks of life.”
On The Undertaker’s WrestleMania undefeated streak being broken: “As I have said MANY times, I never thought the Streak would ever be broken.”
On people who think the Montreal Screwjob was a work and how cameras caught it for a documentary: “As I recall, a documentary was being filmed of Bret so the cameras were scheduled to be in Montreal all along and then they stumbled onto an amazing, unplanned conclusion for their film. However, you believe what you chose to believe.”
On Justin Gabriel: “Gabriel has all he needs to be a star. He’s only missing the right creative presentation over an extended length of time and he may be a better villian than a hero. TBD.”
On The Shield breaking up: “I think it’s best it ALL the Shield break up eventually but no time soon. Perhaps around the Royal Rumble build in 2015.”
Check out more JR Q&A online at JRsBarBQ.com.
The following are highlights from a new website Q&A update by WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:
On Antonio Cesaro: “Cesaro is a star who’s underutilized and is a stalwart in the locker room. Fans like him out of respect for his in ring work. Flip a switch on him and it’s done.”
On Justin Gabriel: “Not sure why Justin Gabriel hasn’t made more of an impact. Something is missing from the equation.”
On the possibility of Bray Wyatt vs. Roman Reigns headlining a future WrestleMania: “Sure, it’s possible. Time will tell. All must remain healthy and avoid issues.”
On whether or not Hulk Hogan has one match left in him: “If true, it’s a great idea but I don’t need to see Hulk attempt to wrestle.”
On MVP working in TNA: “He’s a positive, fresh face that should help TNA if they plan long term, utilize MVP’s skills and lessen Dixie’s presence on their show. ”
On the WWE Network: “I’m WAY out of the WWE Network loop. I’m not aware of how they will deal with the many issues that are likely to pop up for the start up. I’m hopeful that the Network is successful for many reasons even though some fans will find things wrong with it just because that’s their usual MO.”
On Kurt Angle returning to WWE: “Lots of things have to happen for Angle to return to WWE including extensive medical, etc testing. His in ring days are very limited.”
Check out more from JR’s latest website Q&A update at JRsBarBQ.com.
– WWE Superstar Evan Bourne tweeted that he’s been doing some “intense” workouts a he prepares for his upcoming WWE return.
Intense workouts the past few days. When are they not? Ice bath last night. Tonight it's hot tub time…? http://t.co/wU168lfX6w
— airbourne (@findevan) January 15, 2014
Bourne has been out of action for almost two years. After being suspended in early 2014 due to a violation of WWE’s Wellness Policy, he was involved in a serious car accident in March of 2012 and broke his foot in four different places.
– WWE Superstar Justin Gabriel revealed on Twitter that he won’t be part of this year’s Royal Rumble match:
I won't be entering the Royal Rumble this year……
— Justin Gabriel (@Justin__Gabriel) January 15, 2014
– WWE Diva Lilian Garcia will be releasing a new music video today. To hype the release, she published this video highlighting her past music:
– This week on WWE Superstars, Justin Gabriel squares off against Fandango while “Mr. Money in the Bank” Damien Sandow goes one-on-one with R-Truth. Highlights are available here, with complete episodes available on Hulu Plus.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YToVsF3EWTo[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUtBHnpSf_4[/youtube]
– Rosa Mendes was born on this day in 1979 as she turns 34-years-old.
– Daniel Bryan is featured on the cover of the bi-monthly newsstand magazine Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
– Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson announced on Twitter on Friday that filming for Hercules: The Thracian Wars, which is scheduled to be released in theaters in 2014, has concluded.
My strongest THANK YOU to all who worked to create an epic film. Proud of you all. #ThatsAWrap #HERCULESMovie pic.twitter.com/QjDkQ3PyBs
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) October 19, 2013
– NXT star Tyler Breeze competed at Friday’s WWE live event in Knoxville, Tennessee, as he lost to Justin Gabriel. Prior to the match, Breeze cut a heel promo and was greeted with “WHAT?!?!” chants by the audience.
– John Nord, who was known as The Berzerker in WWE, turned 54-years-old on Friday.
WWE taped matches for this week’s WWE Superstars prior to the live WWE Battleground “go-home” edition of RAW from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi on Monday night. The following are quick-match results from the taping.
-Rob Van Dam defeated Curt Hawkins via Pinfall. Van Dam was said to be super over with the fans in Biloxi. RVD picked up the victory via pinfall after hitting his Five Star Frogsplash finisher on Hawkins.
-Damien Sandow defeated Justin Gabriel via Pinfall.
HUGE *SPOILERS* For This Sunday’s WWE Battleground PPV — CLICK HERE!
– The official WWE website has issued a poll asking fans which member of The Shield is most likely to become the first WWE Champion. Roman Reigns is currently leading the poll with 51% of the vote, with Dean Ambrose (35%) and Seth Rollins (14%) trailing.
– This week on WWE Superstars, The Real Americans take on Tons of Funk in the feature match. Plus, Damien Sandow teams up with Big E Langston to take on the team of Justin Gabriel and Zack Ryder. Highlights from both bouts are available below.
– Tonight on SmackDown, Dolph Ziggler faces Dean Ambrose in a Night of Champions rematch for the United States Championship, while WWE COO Triple H will address fans at the top of the show. Click here to read WWE.com’s “SmackDown Five-Point Preview.”
The official WWE website has added an article featuring quotes from the WWE Superstars who made the decision to help Daniel Bryan in the main event of Monday’s post-Night Of Champions edition of RAW.
Dolph Ziggler, Kofi Kingston, Zack Ryder, The Prime Time Players and R-Truth were among those, in-character, who provided responses as to why they got involved. Absent from the article were Rob Van Dam, The Usos and Justin Gabriel, who were also part of the group of Superstars who were involved on Monday.
As noted in a previous article posted on the website today, WWE COO Triple H will be addressing the aforementioned Superstars in a segment planned for next Monday’s edition of WWE RAW.
Check out the full feature online at WWE.com.
-Jim Ross recently responded to allegations that WWE is promoting bullying with the recent direction of characters such as Stephanie McMahon and Triple H, as well as Ryback. JR noted, “Anyone who interprets being a TV wrestling villain to real life bullying is embarrassingly misguided.”
-WWE Hall Of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper’s son Colt is currently taking part in a campaign called “Warrior Dash” to help the St. Jude Children’s Hospital. For more information, visit WaysToHelp.StJude.org.
-WWE Superstar Justin Gabriel and WWE Diva Layla will be signing autographs this Sunday, September 8th, at the Connecticut Women’s Expo at the Connecticut Convention Center at 11:00AM.
-WWE Superstar Ricardo Rodriguez was at the WWE Performance Center today.
2 HUGE Stars From WWE’s Past CONFIRMED For WrestleMania XXX [FIND OUT WHO >>]
– Today’s wrestling birthdays include NXT tag team champion Oliver Grey (26), TNA star Crimson (28), Brodus Clay (33) and Carlito (34).
– Following their match on Wednesday’s WWE Main Event broadcast, Titus O’Neil and Justin Gabriel have resumed their Twitter feud, with Gabriel tweeting:
My body still hurts after that match with @TitusONeilWWE. He's a strong dude with a mean streak. But numbers don't lie. 450 FTW
— Dr Black (@darewolf333) February 21, 2013
– WWE Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett will be at the Hollywood premiere of WWE Studios’ Dead Man Down on Tuesday. He tweeted:
I'll be heading out to LA for Tuesday's premiere of #DeadManDown. Going to set the record straight on who the REAL star of this movie is.
— Stu Bennett (@StuBennett) February 20, 2013
– Promoting this Sunday’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view event, WWE has released a video counting down the top 10 most destructive moments in the history of the cage match.
– The official WWE website has released highlights from this week’s episode of WWE Superstars, featuring Divas Champion Kaitlyn vs. Natalya, and Justin Gabriel vs. Titus O’Neil.
– SmackDown ring announcer Lilian Garcia is featured in today’s “Diva Spotlight” on WWE.com.
WWE taped this week’s SmackDown on Tuesday night from Jacksonville, Florida. Here are the results:
* Big Show is shown arriving on his bus. He comes to the ring and talks about how Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez are suspended. Big Show says the recent events between he and Del Rio are Booker T’s fault, which brings out the SmackDown GM. Booker announcers Big Show vs. Kane for tonight.
* Cody Rhodes defeated Kofi Kingston.
* The Great Khali defeated Titus O’Neil.
* Mark Henry came out and destroys Khali, which the crowd loved. Henry announces the Hall of Pain is back and he wants a spot in the SmackDown brand’s Elimination Chamber match. Booker came out and announced Henry vs. Randy Orton.
* Big Show defeated Kane in a quick match.
* Alberto Del Rio is shown outside in the parking lot, where he’s taken the wheels off Show’s tour bus. Show ran out to the parking lot but gets a bunch of paint dropped on top of him from the roof. Del Rio laughed and drove off.
* Jack Swagger squashed Justin Gabriel.
* Tensai beat Drew McIntyre by DQ when 3MB attacked him. Brodus Clay made the save for Tensai.
* Antonio Cesaro beat Sin Cara.
* Mark Henry defeated Randy Orton to earn a spot in the Elimination Chamber match.
* WWE Pushing For MAJOR Return In Time For WM29, CM PUNK’s Rumored Mania Opponent
– WWE superstar Justin Gabriel might be joining Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash and Triple H at tonight’s WWE NXT tapings from Winter Park, Florida. Gabriel tweeted a picture of a Ducati motorcycle and wrote:
I might just ride her to @NXTWrestling tonight @FullSail who's gonna be there?
— Dr Black (@darewolf333) January 10, 2013
– The late Crash Holly has been added to the Alumni section of WWE.com.
– Zack Ryder tweeted the following picture with the caption, “The Evolution of the Internet Championship” –
– This week’s episode of Z! True Long Island Story is a “Best Of” episode.
– The official WWE website has released highlights of this week’s episode of WWE Superstars, featuring Santino Marella and Zack Ryder vs. 3MB, as well as Justin Gabriel vs. Darren Young. The full episode is available on WWEOnHulu.com.
– WWE announced the following Facebook regarding its return to Australia next year: “The RAW World Tour comes to Australia this July with 5 stops in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Tickets will be available starting Wednesday, November 28 at 9:00am local time on Ticketek.com.”
– Alberto Del Rio is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
– In a change to Sunday’s Survivor Series Pre-Show contest, the official WWE website announced Thursday that Justin Gabriel and Tyson Kidd will square off against two members of 3MB. Gabriel and Kidd replace Santino Marella and Zack Ryder in the bout.
– Smith Hart, brother of Bret Hart, offered his predictions for WWE’s Hall of Fame Class of 2013 via Twitter. He believes Mick Foley, Bob Backlund, Carlos Colon, The Honky Tonk Man and Lawrence Taylor will be enshrined.
– WWEShop.com has released T-Shirts on The Rock—The Rock Bull Skull Retro T-Shirt and The Rock Seal of Approval Retro T-Shirt.
– Some Target department stores are selling WWE’s 2008 DVD release on Edge, Edge – A Decade of Decadence, as well as the 2008 DVD release on The Rock, The Rock: The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment, for $5.00 each.
– John “Bradshaw” Layfield posted a new video on YouTube discussing his decision to make a full-time return to the WWE announce booth for SmackDown. The former WWE Champion takes some light-hearted jabs at fellow announcers, says he sees Wade Barrett as a future World Heavyweight Champion and after witnessing Fandango in dark matches, believes the character has potential to be “pure money.”
– The official WWE website has posted highlights of this week’s episode of WWE Superstars from the United Kingdom, which features Justin Gabriel vs. Tensai and Jimmy Uso vs. Jinder Mahal. The full episode is available on WWEOnHulu.com.
– Former WWE Diva Kelly Kelly is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
– Two matches were taped Tuesday in Birmingham, England for WWE Saturday Morning Slam
* Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso vs. Justin Gabriel and Tyson Kidd
* Ted DiBiase vs. Jinder Mahal
The commentators were Josh Mathews and R-Truth.
– In the following video, Cody Rhodes shows Wade Barrett a thing or two about how to play WWE ’13.
– The official WWE website has a poll asking who poses a bigger threat to WWE Champion CM Punk at Survivor Series; John Cena or Ryback? Ryback currently leads the poll 51% to 49%.
(source: ProWrestling.net)
– The official WWE website has published an article ranking the 15 greatest ring entrances in sports-entertainment history.
“What’s more impressive, pulling up in an expensive sports car or walking through hellfire?” WWE states. “A calm walk through darkness or a mad dash to the ring?”
The list ranks 15. Ultimate Warrior, 14. Goldust, 13. Alberto Del Rio, 12. Glacier, 11. The Sandman, 10. The Rock, 9. Rey Mysterio, 8. Gangrel, 7. Goldberg, 6. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, 5. Hulk Hogan, 4. Kane, 3. Chris Jericho, 2. Triple H, 1. The Undertaker.
– Matches taped Monday in Birmingham, England for this week’s episode of WWE Superstars were Jimmy Uso vs. Jinder Mahal and Justin Gabriel vs. Tensai.
In a pre-taping dark match result, Tyson Kidd defeated Michael McGillicutty.
– WWE developmental Briley Pierce turned 28-years-old Sunday. He is the younger brother of WWE Superstar Dolph Ziggler.
– Monday’s WWE RAW was the #1 trending TV show on the Get Glue social media site for Monday night. The social media engagement still couldn’t save RAW from it’s lowest non-holiday rating in 15 years.
– Justin Gabriel’s non-title win over US Champion Antonio Cesaro on Monday’s RAW snapped his 12-match (TV/PPV) television losing streak. Gabriel posted a Tout video last night asking Cesaro for a title shot.
– New Jersey-based independent wrestler Starman was at Monday’s RAW from East Rutherford, NJ but was escorted out of the show for being overly disruptive and “trying to get himself over.”
– Batista is in Los Angeles this week to do media work and attend the red carpet premiere for The Man With The Iron Fists movie.
* Listen To The Full MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS Soundtrack – All New WU TANG Music!
(Partial Source: PWInsider.com)
– Per a huge announcement by SmackDown General Manager Booker T, Kane and Daniel Bryan will defend the WWE Tag Team Championship on Oct. 28 at Hell in a Cell against the winners of an eight-team tournament.
The bracket revealed on SmackDown showed the following first-round match-ups: Team Rhodes Scholars (Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow) vs. Jimmy and Jey Uso; Santino Marella and Zack Ryder vs. Justin Gabriel and Tyson Kidd; Kofi Kingston and R-Truth vs. The Prime Time Players (Darren Young and Titus O’Neil); and Epico and Primo vs. Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara.
– This week on “Backstage Fallout” for SmackDown, The Miz addressed the chaos on “Miz TV,” which resulted in the show’s host being punched in the face by World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus. Wade Barrett also boasted about his dominance after defeating Zack Ryder. Plus, Big Show talks about becoming the No. 1 contender to World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus at Hell in a Cell. (Watch)