— WWE announced Thursday that the Divas Championship Match between Beth Phoenix and Eve at Sunday’s Survivor Series pay-per-view will be a Lumberjill Match.
WWE explains: “The Divas Championship Match at Survivor Series should be a one-on-one affair. However, nothing in this rivalry has been evenly contested, thanks to the underhanded tactics of The Glamazon and Natalya. Now, the decks will be stacked a little more equally, as Kelly Kelly, Alicia Fox, Natalya and the rest of the WWE Divas will be ringside to make sure the action stays in the ring.”
— John Cena says family business caused him to be scratched from his scheduled appearance this Saturday on ESPN’s College GameDay.
“I want to apologize to espn’s gameday crew. I thank them for their hospitality, but I have some immediate family bizz that needs handling,” Cena wrote on Twitter.
– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that he’s not scheduled to be at Sunday’s Survivor Series pay-per-view:
“I’m not booked at Survivor Series @this time. I am booked in Waco to see OU-Baylor Sat. IF I set up sauce stand @ MSG Sunday, wud u come by?”
– After rocking Boston’s TD Garden on Monday night, The Rock was back on the movie set on Tuesday filming the new GI Joe movie. Rock tweeted a picture today (view here) of himself holding a gun with the caption, “On set. Handlin’ business. #WhatAreYouHandlin?”
– Booker T noted on Twitter that he has been training for his “last run” in the ring and told fans to “just stay tuned”.
“Q. When am I getting back in the ring A. I been training for my last run, just stay tuned,” Booker tweeted.”
– Former WWE talent Harry Smith (a/k/a David Hart Smith) is on Twitter at @RealHarrySmith. He is presently training for mixed martial arts and continues to compete for the Inoki Genome Federation in Japan.
– Carl Dantes sent the following: Shawn Michaels’ team are serious about getting “Shawn Michaels’ MacMillan River Adventures” on television stations outside of the United States. If you live outside the US and want to see HBK’s hunting show, call (780) 444-1512 and tell them you want Shawn Michaels’ MacMillan River Adventures.
– As seen on Friday’s SmackDown, Primo Colon has aligned himself with the team of Epico and Hunico. WWE has acknowledged that Primo and Epico are cousins.
– Former WWE talent Harry Smith (a/k/a David Hart Smith) is on Twitter at @RealHarrySmith. He is presently training for mixed martial arts and continues to compete for the Inoki Genome Federation in Japan.
– The Raw and SmackDown crews are returning home to the United States today from their lengthy tour of Europe.
— During Saturday’s broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada, program host Don Cherry stated Dallas Stars defenceman Sheldon Souray is dating Kelly Kelly. Photos of the WWE Diva, who he called a “Grand Slam winner in wrestling,” were then shown. Footage of the announcement is available here (beginning at the seven minute mark).
— Gregory Iron, a 25-year-old independent wrestler with cerebral palsy, has posted a video online petitioning for a spot in next year’s Royal Rumble.
Iron drew attention in July after CM Punk confronted him at an independent show in suburban Chicago. The WWE Superstar appeared in the ring to tell Iron, “You’re awesome! You overcome more than I ever have just waking up every morning. The fact that you became a pro wrestler, I’m only assuming it’s because it was something you wanted to do. You didn’t let anybody tell you that you couldn’t do it … I saw something special watching you in this ring.”
— Kelly Kelly is advertised to host an “Ugly Sweater Christmas Party” on Friday, December 9, 2011 at Jackson’s in Tampa, Florida. The WWE Diva will participate in a VIP Meet and Greet, which includes a photo on the red carpet and an autograph. Tickets are available here.
– Evan Bourne, who is currently serving a thirty-day suspension as a result of his first violation of WWE’s Talent Wellness Program, took a dig at the organization’s constant shilling of Twitter during television broadcasts. Bourne tweeted:
“I wonder if WWE ’13 will have our twitter handles, random tweet pop ups and Cole talking tweets? Might make gameplay as annoying as viewing.”
“My guess is WWE 13: “The Network”. You are Vince and control the WWE with a WWE “Univers(e)al” Remote. Create history and earn money!”
– Kelly Kelly announced on Twitter that she has set up a page on Google+.
– Monday’s Raw saw Mason Ryan quickly defeat JTG. The appearance marked as JTG’s first match on the show since being transferred to Raw in April via the Supplemental Draft.
— Kelly Kelly and WWE Hall of Famer Sgt. Slaughter appeared on Miami’s 560 WQAM Sports Radio Friday promoting the on-sale date for Wrestlemania XXVIII tickets. Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, who co-hosts the show, recalled watching Dusty Rhodes when he was growing up in Florida. The segment concluded with Kelly explaining her how ring name was created.
“My first day, my wrestling name was going to be Kelly. Then, I came back the next week and Vince (McMahon) had this wonderful idea, ‘Let’s call her Kelly Kelly. Let’s just give her two first names; we’ve never done that before,” she said. “So, there you go.”
— The legendary career of WWE Hall of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper is highlighted on the latest episode of WWE Vintage Collection. The episode featured clips from the following matches and segments:
“Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff vs. Hulk Hogan and Mr. (WrestleMania), “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Cowboy” Bob Orton vs. Paul Orndorff and Andre the Giant (WWF live event – August 10th, 1985), Piper’s Pit vs. The Flower Shop (WWF Superstars – September 27th, 1986), “Rowdy” Roddy Piper destroys The Flower Shop (WWF Superstars – October 4th, 1986, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper vs. “Adorable” Adrian Adonis (WWF live event – February 15th, 1987), “Rowdy” Roddy Piper vs. Bret Hart (WrestleMania VIII), “Rowdy” Roddy Piper vs. Bret Hart (WCW Monday Nitro – February 9th, 1999), “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Ric Flair vs. The Spirit Squad (WWE Cyber Sunday – November 5, 2006), “Rowdy” Roddy Piper rescues Bret Hart from The Mountie and Jimmy Hart (WWF live event – January 17th, 1992), “Rowdy” Roddy Piper vs. The Mountie (WWF Royal Rumble – January 19, 1992).
— Chris Masters, David Hart Smith, Melina and Vladimir Kozlov are now free to join TNA Wrestling since their respective ninety-day no-compete clauses with WWE expired Thursday. All four wrestlers were released on August 5, 2011.
The clause prohibits released talent from appearing for wrestling promotions with national television outlets for ninety days.
Masters caused fans to speculate he would be joining the Orlando based promotion with a Twitter message he posted two days following his departure. He wrote, “After a day of digesting,I must say WWE wasn’t doing anything with me.So its probably best I go make my IMpact somewhere else.”
Meanwhile, Melina was asked at last month’s pre-launch party for Saints Row: The Third if she has plans to join TNA. The former WWE Women’s Champion said she’s “still deciding.”
— Inspired by the recent surge of news surrounding former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler, Brooke Anderson will join Eve, Kelly Kelly and Alicia Fox in a WWE ring to interview them for a special segment on the syndicated tabloid television news program The Insider. The segment was scheduled to air on Wednesday’s show, but will instead air today.
The official Twitter feed of WWE wrote Friday: “Tune in to @TheInsider tonight on your CBS station for @WWE Divas @EveMarieTorres, @RealKellyKelly & @AliciaFoxy! Check local listings!”
— WWE developmental wrestler Naomi is pictured in the official WWE souvenir program exclusive sold at the ongoing European live event tour.
Zack Ryder tweeted a cell phone shot of the page featuring Curt Hawkins and Trent Barreta, which includes Naomi.
Though Naomi placed in second in last year’s all-female season of NXT, she is the last remaining contracted contestant to be situated in developmental. A.J., Aksana and Kaitlyn are all members of the SmackDown roster, while Maxine appears on NXT. She has, however, appeared at several non-televised events since the season’s conclusion.
— Inspired by the recent surge of news surrounding former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler, Brooke Anderson will join Eve, Kelly Kelly and Alicia Fox in a WWE ring to interview them for a special segment on the syndicated tabloid television news program The Insider. The segment was scheduled to air on Wednesday’s show, but was postponed.
Eve tweeted, “Our @TheInsider segment should be airing later this week :-) We’ll keep you posted!”
— Numerous Twitter users noted today that Beth Phoenix is no longer following CM Punk and Amy “Lita” Dumas on the microblogging website. Punk appeared on Dumas’ Atlanta based radio show, Punkrockalypse, Sunday night. The former WWE Women’s Champion was backstage at the following night’s Raw SuperShow.
The November 2011 issue of Maxim features an article on Punk and it’s noted that Phoenix has been his girlfriend for approximately a year.
— The official Twitter feed of WWE issued the following notice Wednesday: “Watch The Insider tonight on CBS stations for Eve, Kelly Kelly and Alicia Fox! Check local listings for time & channel!”
— Darren Young turns 32 years old Wednesday. WWE.com announced on October 5 that Young was suspended for 30 days for his first violation of their Talent Wellness Program. He is eligible to resume performing on Friday.
A bikini-clad Kelly Kelly pressed against a red sports car is featured on the cover of the December 2011 issue of Maxim. Enclosed are photos as well as a one-page interview in which she discusses her journey through WWE, crazy fan experiences, trips overseas and more.
When asked if she was a wrestling fan before joining the industry, she replied, “Oh, yeah, since I was a kid.”
She continued, “My mom thought it was too violent, but my dad would sneak me into the bedroom to watch with him. It never crossed my mind I could do this kind of stuff. I thought wrestlers were larger than life, so when WWE called and asked if I wanted to train, I was like, “Oh, my God, yes!”
Kelly made her WWE debut on June 13, 2006, becoming the youngest female performer in company history at age 19. Her character, an exhibitionist, was introduced performing a striptease for the crowd. She reveals Vince McMahon demonstrated the routine she performed in front of the crowd that night.
Kelly recalls, “I’d only been training for two months when I found out I was going to start appearing on TV—as an exhibitionist! When Vince McMahon showed me the routine, I was in shock, but, you know, anything to get my foot in the door. It was the most nerve-racking minute of my life.”
Kelly definitely feels she had to prove herself to “the boys.”
“A lot of the guys there didn’t like me at first, because they were used to training with girls who had wrestling experience. I was the youngest Diva they’d ever had and one of the first models, so I was like, “I’m going to work my butt off.”
On the June 20, 2011 edition of Raw, Kelly won her first WWE title after she was selected by the WWE Universe to face Brie Bella. She says that is her most memorable moment in WWE.
“To win the title, after being in the ring for five years—it felt like I’d really achieved something,” Kelly says. “It was my time.”
A bikini-clad Kelly Kelly pressed against a red sports car is featured on the cover of the December 2011 issue of Maxim.
The issue features a Q&A with the blonde starlet. When asked to name her favorite wrestler, she says “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. “He’s always been my idol,” she says. Kelly also says she would like to get in the ring with Lindsay Lohan.
“She needs some sense knocked into her,” she says.
Check out these pictures of Kelly Kelly in the new issue of Maxim Magazine:
— As reported earlier, WWE is no longer advertising Mick Foley for the November 14 Raw SuperShow at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. He has been removed from www.wwelivetour.com and www.tdgarden.com. Mick Foley claims in an interview published today that he has yet to hear from WWE regarding a possible return to the organization.
He told NewsDay.com, “Working a couple of days a week compared to all week is not problematic… Would not be a deal breaker at all. That’s assuming I get that phone call… I’m sure there’s a lot of people on that list. I might have to scale back on some things, but that would be OK.”
— Maxim’s “Salute To The Military” issue, which hits newsstands next week, features a two-page spread on Kelly Kelly. The spread features a brief interview with Kelly regarding WWE’s annual Tribute to the Troops effort.
— As reported recently, WWE creative have brainstormed a program between Booker T and Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes. Plans are now in place for an angle between the two that would lead to the former World Heavyweight Champion’s return match. That angle may kick off as early as tonight’s SmackDown taping in Houston, Texas, Booker T’s hometown.
Part of the reason WWE is doing the feud is to promote their upcoming The Best of King of the Ring DVD set, which Booker T is hosting.
— Matches taped Monday in Austin, Texas for this week’s episode of WWE Superstars were Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston vs. JTG and Primo; Eve and Kelly Kelly vs. Brie Bella and Nikki Bella.
— Sin Cara beat Michael McGillicutty in a dark match prior to Monday’s television tapings.
— WWE.com has published an article asking what’s gotten into Kelly Kelly since the feisty competitor brutalized Divas Champion Beth Phoenix in a fit of rage on last week’s Raw SuperShow.
“They’ve been torturing me and making me miserable for the last few months,” she told WWE.com. “Losing the title [to Beth at WWE Hell in a Cell] just topped it off. The next night, I let my frustrations get to me and I just let out everything I’ve been holding back.”
Kelly has fought back against negativity and naysayers to earn the respect of not only WWE fans, but the Divas locker room and she’s not about to let her tormentors take that away from her.
“After five years, this is finally my time,” she said. “I’m going to take it and I’m going to show people that I’m not just a pretty face.”
— Shelly Martinez has begun training at Santino Bros Wrestling Academy in Southern California as she is looking to compete more frequently. The former WWE Diva shot footage of herself at the center yesterday. She is training with Disco Machine, a wrestler she broke in the industry with.
— Different countries have different artwork for THQ’s upcoming WWE ’12 video game and the original Sin Cara has been chosen for the cover in Mexico.
— Matches have been announced for WWE’s upcoming tour of Japan. November 30, 2011 at Yokohama Arena will feature John Cena vs. Alberto del Rio for the WWE Championship, Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston for the United States Championship, and Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix for the Divas Championship. December 1, 2011 at Yokohama Arena will feature John Cena and CM Punk vs. TBA, Big Show vs. Mason Ryan, and Dolph Ziggler vs. Evan Bourne for the United States Championship.
— Two additional matches have been announced for Sunday’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view:
* Christian vs. Sheamus
* Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix for the WWE Divas Championship
Also announced for the show are Mark Henry vs. Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship and John Cena vs. CM Punk vs. Alberto Del Rio for the WWE Championship.
— WWE Chief Operating Officer Triple H announced on Raw that Christian would face Randy Orton on this week’s episode of SmackDown.
— Rosa Mendes, who has not competed since the July 29 episode of SmackDown, stated on Twitter that she will be on hand for tonight’s taping in Dayton, Ohio.
— WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels is in Canada’s Yukon Territory this week filming episodes for MacMillan River Adventures on the Outdoor Channel. Part two of his gator hunting experience with Triple H airs tonight at 11:30 p.m.
SHIMMER Champion Madison Eagles has earned the number one position in Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s fourth annual “PWI Female 50” list, which ranks the top 50 women’s wrestlers in North America from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011. She succeeds Michelle McCool, who ranked No. 1 in last year’s list.
Pro Wrestling Illustrated attributes their decision to ranking Eagles as the top women’s wrestler in North America with the following: “This year’s list was unlike any other in the four-year history of the “Female 50.” For one thing, there was no obvious frontrunner in either WWE or TNA. Last year’s number one, Michelle McCool, retired after a few lackluster months. The WWE Divas title dropped in prominence and was held for a significant amount of time by Brie Bella who, while improved, doesn’t exactly conjure thoughts of Sensational Sherri or Trish Stratus.”
Mickie James and Madison Rayne were also considered for the top spot, but for a variety of reasons, were ultimately deemed not worthy.
“So we made a bold decision. We looked to the indies. Two possible candidates were SHIMMER champion Madison Eagles and WSU champion Mercedes Martinez. It was a difficult choice to make,” the magazine explains. “Fortunately for us, Martinez and Eagles faced off in March for Eagles’ SHIMMER title. Eagles managed to win a terrific match, which proved to be the deciding factor in our decision.”
PWI also explains how the “Female 50” was determined: “To determine this list, we evaluated each woman’s innate wrestling ability, accomplishments during the past year, physical strength and conditioning, quality of opposition, charisma, and title success.”
Some women’s wrestlers contracted to WWE and TNA, such as Nikki Bella, Rosa Mendes, Tamina and Brooke Tessmacher, were left off the “Female 50” because PWI felt they did not earn a spot over some of the independent talent listed. The magazine explains, “While being on WWE’s or TNA’s global platform helps your chances, it doesn’t mean you get a free passage onto the “Female 50.”
1. Madison Eagles
2. Mercedes Martinez
3. Mickie James
4. Natalya
5. Madison Rayne
6. Cheerleader Melissa
7. Beth Phoenix
8. Tara
9. MsChif
10. Sara Del Rey
11. Eve Torres
12. Angelina Love
13. Layla
14. Sarita
15. Kelly Kelly
16. Serena Deeb
17. Velvet Sky
18. Ayako Hamada
19. LuFisto
20. Winter
21. Brie Bella
22. Angel Orsini
23. Melina
24. Daizee Haze
25. Nikki Roxx
26. Gail Kim
27. Jazz
28. Maryse
29. Christina Von Eerie
30. Portia Perez
31. Rosita
32. ODB
33. Nicole Matthews
34. Rachel Summerlyn
35. Jessicka Havok
36. Brittany Force
37. Kellie Skater
38. Tina San Antonio
39. Melanie Cruise
40. Cherry Bomb
41. Sassy Stephie
42. Tasha Simone
43. Alicia Fox
44. Amber O’Neal
45. Allison Danger
46. Kacee Carlisle
47. Brittany Savage
48. A.J.
49. Melissa Coates
50. Jessica James
— WWE has had discussions of turning either Kelly Kelly or Eve Torres heel and having them feud with against each other.
— On this week’s episode of WWE Superstars, John Morrison takes on his rival, R-Truth. The program takes place at a new time – Thursday at 4 ET/1 PT – on WWE.com.
— Four of Lance Storm’s wrestling academy students received tryouts at last week’s WWE television tapings in Edmonton and/or Calgary, Alberta.
— The Aug. 8 episode of Monday Night Raw was watched by 363,000 homes on DVR or tape delay, meaning 10.5% of the total viewers didn’t watch the episode live that week.
— WWE Chief Operating Officer Triple H announced on Raw that Superstars from SmackDown will be joining Monday nights for the foreseeable future. The “new concept,” as described by Michael Cole, will be known as Raw SuperShow. According to PWInsider.com, the initiative has several wrestlers worried about their futures since it means less television time for those not in the upper crust.
— Brie Bella snapped WWE Divas Champion Kelly Kelly fifteen-match winning streak Monday night on Raw. The Jacksonville native had not lost since May 22, 2011, at Over the Limit. Brie’s victory also snapped her nine-match losing streak.
— WWE’s 2002 DVD titles on Triple H, Triple H: The Game and Triple H: That Damn Good, are being packaged together for release in Europe next month.
— Tyler Reks was backstage at Monday’s Raw in Tulsa, Oklahoma but not used. He wrote of his absence from the show: “Oh I’m here at the BOK Center…waiting patiently for an opportunity.”
— Mason Ryan returned to action at Friday’s Raw live event in Jackson, Mississippi. The Welsh grappler beat Zack Ryder in the second match of the night.
Ryan has been sidelined since late June due to an undisclosed injury.
— WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio will face Sin Cara in a non-title match this Tuesday on SuperSmackDown.
— WWE ring announcer Eden Stiles participated in her first angle at Friday’s Raw live event in Jackson, Mississippi as she was attacked by The Bella Twins. This led to Divas Champion Kelly Kelly and Eve hitting the ring to fend off the twin duo. Kelly and Eve beat Nikki and Brie in a subsequent match.
— The Great Khali turns 39 years old today while WWE Hall of Famer Sgt. Slaughter turns 63. Also celebrating a birthday is former WWE Women’s Champion Jazz, who turns 38.
— WWE announced via Twitter that WWE Hall of Famer will appear on this Friday’s episode of SmackDown.
Their statement reads: “This Friday on @WWE #SmackDown, WWE Hall of Famer @BretHart will be SmackDown’s GM from his hometown of Calgary, Alberta, Canada!”
He is also locally advertised to appear at tonight’s taping at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta as the special guest referee for a Street Fight between World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton and Christian. This will be a post-show dark match.
— WWE Divas Champion Kelly Kelly indicated on Twitter that she will be on hand for tonight’s SmackDown taping.
She wrote, “At smackdown baby… let’see what booty whippings I can give out tonight.”
— Trish Stratus is advertised to appear at this Sunday’s Fan Expo Canada at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre South Building 222 Bremner Blvd. Toronto, Ontario. She will be on the Anchor Bay Panel beginning at 5:30 p.m. Click here for event details.
— Recently released WWE talent Harry Smith, WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase and Necro Butcher are advertised to appear at Collector’s Realm 44 Raymond Ave. Poughkeepsie, New York this Saturday from 1:00 p.m to 3:00 p.m.. Visit www.collectorsrealm.iwarp.com for more information.