– Ring Of Honor star Kevin Steen, who recently signed with WWE, announced his final three opponents in ROH. Tonight, Steen will square off against Tommaso Ciampa, while next week he is scheduled to work both Steve Corino and Silas Young.
– The following is a video of TNA Knockout Gail Kim skydiving:
Ring of Honor has released a video featuring Kevin Steen announcing that the July 12th, 18th and 19th shows will be his final tour for the company.
In the video, Steen thanks Ring of Honor for everything they’ve done for him and he reveals his final three opponents for those shows, which he was allowed to choose. The first in Hopkins, Minnesota is Tommaso Ciampa, who Steen has never wrestled one-on-one.
In Cincinnati, Ohio, in a rematch from Best in the World, Steen faces Silas Young in a No Disqualification match.
In Steen’s final show for ROH from Dearborn, Michigan, he’ll will face his mentor Steve Corino, who will be coming out of retirement for the match.
It has been heavily rumored and speculated that the former ROH World Champion is WWE bound.
– The latest news regarding Kevin Steen and Prince Devitt is that Steen’s final Ring Of Honor date will be on July 19th, while Devitt is no longer accepting bookings in Europe after the end of July.
– WWE’s “Total Divas” program on E! was recently nominated for “Best Reality Series” in the Teen Choice Awards.
– Kurt Angle will be the next guest on Jim Ross’ “Ross Report” podcast next Tuesday night. The following week, TNA star Bully Ray will join JR on the weekly PodcastOne.com show.
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
The following matches are advertised for tonight’s Ring Of Honor “Best in the World” show, which is the company’s official debut on regular pay-per-view.
ROH World Championship
– Adam Cole (c) vs. Michael Elgin
ROH World Tag-Team Championships
– Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish (c) vs. Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian
ROH TV Championship
– Jay Lethal (c) vs. Matt Tavern (with Truth Martini handcuffed to the ring post)
Submission Match
– Roderick Strong vs. Cedric Alexander
Six-Man Mayhem Match For ROH TV Title Shot
– ACH vs. Takanaki Watanbe vs. Caprice Coleman vs. Tadarius Thomas vs. BJ Whitmer vs. Tommaso Ciampa
– Kevin Steen vs. Silas Young
– The Briscoes vs. Matt Hardy & Michael Bennett (with Maria Kanellis)
Former Ring of Honor World Champion Kevin Steen has officially signed with WWE, according to an exclusive report at WrestleZone.com.
Steen has been on WWE’s radar for quite some time and was rumored to be headed to NXT this summer after impressing company officials at a recent tryout camp.
Steen will be finishing up his independent bookings before heading to the WWE Performance Center. He currently has shows booked through June.
Ring Of Honor recently announced that former TNA star Frankie Kazarian will be appearing at the upcoming “Best in the World” pay-per-view on June 22nd in Nashville, Tennessee. Kazarian will team with Christopher Daniels to challenge Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly for the ROH Tag-Team Championships.
Also announced for the PPV in what could be one of his final high-profile matches with the promotion is Kevin Steen, who is expected to head to WWE developmental in the near future, in a one-on-one match against Silas Young.
For more information on ROH’s “Best in the World” PPV, visit ROHWrestling.com.
Current plans in WWE call for KENTA, Prince Devitt and Kevin Steen to all report to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida in August.
In the case of all three guys, there would be hangups with Visas, medicals or other issues, but WWE is currently going with this as the running plan.
(Partial Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
As things currently stand, Willie Mack and Kevin Steen are reportedly in the background check phase with WWE, which would indicate that both will be offered a contract.
WWE generally does a background check first, and as long as there aren’t any issues, they are then scheduled for medicals. If the talent passes the medicals, they are then offered a deal.
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
As previously reported, independent pro wrestler Willie Mack was recently offered a developmental deal with WWE.
According to one source, top Ring Of Honor wrestler Kevin Steen will also be receiving a developmental offer from the company — if he hasn’t already — in the near future as well.
(Credit: ProWrestling.net)
– According to latest reports, WWE has yet to contact anyone who took part in the March tryout camp at the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. That is the tryout that had all of the top Ring Of Honor stars, such as Kevin Steen, Roderick Strong and ACH.
– As far as interest levels on the internet for the characters involved in WrestleMania XXX this year on the day after the show, Undertaker blew away everyone involved, with triple the level of interest of Brock Lesnar, six times the interest of Daniel Bryan and ten times the interest of John Cena.
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
Ring Of Honor standouts Kevin Steen, Roderick Strong and ACH took part in a WWE tryout camp at the WWE Performance Center last week. In most cases, WWE informs the talent who take part in these tryout camps that they will be contacted within four-to-six weeks if the company has any interest in them.
Steen reportedly surprised a number of his peers by dropping weight beforehand and also for his ability to work his way through the endurance testing drills at the camp.
As previously reported, Steen’s deal with Ring Of Honor is set to expire in June. He has been telling those close to him that he does not intend to re-sign with the company, although he noted that he is open to working for them as a free agent, similar to Strong, Chris Hero and others. That would, however, likely not be the case if he were to get an offer from WWE.
(Credit: ProWrestling.net)
The following are highlights of a recent Ask Me Anything Reddit chat with legendary wrestling manager Jim Cornette:
On if he’s spoken to Ed Ferrara since his “Oklahoma” parody character on Jim Ross: “I saw him in Nashville in 2002–I had promised the promoter I wouldn’t punch him, but I didn’t promise I wouldn’t try to get HIM to punch ME first–I told him what I thought of him for doing that to JR and I spit in his face in front of 30 witnesses, and the gutless pussy did nothing. That’s what he deserved for making fun of a near career-ending disability suffered by a guy who has more talent in his finger than Ferrara in his whole body, he should have never been allowed in our business in the first place. If anyone sees him, tell him Jim Cornette STILL says he’s a gutless sack of shit.”
On his thoughts on Colt Cabana: “Colt is a fine mid-card wrestler, an average look and an oK at best promo, he was perfect for WWE and I have to assume he pissed someone off there–he was NOT a fit for ROH as we were trying to present an athletic, serious, credible style of pro wrestling and funny doesn’t draw money. We didn’t offer him a contract because he didn’t fit those plans, and he has made a big deal out of it, we never said this publicly until he made it an issue-personally, I don’t think his comedy is funny and I don’t think anyone trying to make a career in pro wrestling should make fun of it at the same time, a la his bullshit “$5 wrestling” with the asshole who runs Highspots. I have no use for that type of horseshit.”
On why Kevin Steen hates him so much: “Because I got him a raise, a contract renewal, Visa paid for, a 9 month undefeated run with the World Title and tons of TV time, even after he refused to lose weight to get the spot, so you tell me.”
On his thoughts of WWE deciding to air Chris Benoit footage on the WWE Network: “He was a great talent, a wonderful friend and a fine human being who for some reason or combination of reasons went insane and did horrible, unforgiveable things in the last two days of his life–you can’t erase him from history, but if anyone would confront it we might learn something to prevent it from happening again.”
On Kevin Dunn: “I don’t think about Kevin Dunn, the wrestling fan’s worst enemy, so I can sleep at night–I take comfort in the fact that ebveryone else who knows him hates him too.”
On the worst booking decisions ever: “The Brawl for All tied with Austin hugging McMahon at WM17 that led to the collapse of the entire business.”
Check out more of Jim Cornette’s A.M.A. chat at Reddit.com.
– In addition to Kevin Steen and Roderick Strong, Ring Of Honor wrestler ACH (aka Albert Harle Jr.) will be taking part in the next WWE tryout camp at the WWE Performance Center.
– As previously reported, former CZW World Champion Drake Younger has signed a developmental deal with WWE and will begin training at the WWE Performance Center in early May. Young was part of the WWE tryout camp in December, which according to one source was described as having the least overall amount of talent in history.
– The following are some recent WWE attendance figures:
February 28th live event in North Charleston, South Carolina drew approximately 7,500 fans.
March 1st live event in Jacksonville, Florida drew approximately 6,000 fans.
March 1st live event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa drew approximately 3,500 fans.
March 2nd in Moline, Illinois drew approximately 6,000 fans.
March 2nd in Bloomington, Illinois drew 3,200 fans.
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
As previously reported, Ring Of Honor stars Roderick Strong and Kevin Steen were considered pretty likely candidates for the next WWE NXT tryout camp at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando. Apparently Strong and Steen are confirmed to take part in the next WWE tryout, which takes place from March 24th through March 26th.
Independent wrestling star Michael Elgin was also reportedly trying to get into the next tryout camp, but there is no definitive word yet as to whether or not he will be a part of it.
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
– Tag-team wrestling legend “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton has reportedly made a significant turn for the better in terms of his health. He has apparently lost a lot of weight and is the healthiest he has been in quite a while.
– There has been talk in WWE of bringing in Kevin Steen and Michael Elgin for tryouts. Apparently the two may be invited to an upcoming WWE developmental tryout camp.
– The following are some recent WWE attendance figures:
February 7th in Oakland, California drew approximately 5,400 fans
February 8th in San Jose, California drew approximately 4,700 fans
February 8th in San Diego, California drew approximately 4,000 fans
February 9th in Fresno, California drew approximately 6,000 fans
February 9th in Bakersfield, California drew approximately 4,500 fans
(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)
The following is the scheduled lineup for the Ring Of Honor television taping on Saturday at the Fairgrounds in Nashville, Tennessee:
– AJ Styles vs. Roderick Strong
– Jay Briscoe issued an open challenge to Adam Cole
– Chris Hero vs. Kevin Steen
– Silas Young vs. Tommaso Ciampa
– Top Prospect Tournament (Cory Hollis, Raymond Rowe, Bill Daly, Cheeseburger, Andrew Everett, The Romantic Touch, Kongo, and Hanson)
– Special appearance by “Rowdy” Roddy Piper
If anyone is attending the ROH TV taping, feel free to submit a live report to be published here on the website.
Ring of Honor has released this video of AJ Styles hyping his return to the promotion this Saturday at the Nashville Fairgrounds in Nashville, Tennessee.
Styles will face “Mr. ROH” Roderick Strong in Nashville in a match that will air on ROH TV the weekend of February 1st.
Also on the show, Chris Hero makes his in-ring return against Kevin Steen.
WWE Hall Of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper has officially been added to the lineup for the WrestleCon festivities, which will take place during the big WrestleMania 30 weekend in New Orleans. “The Hot Rod” will be appearing to sign autographs and take photos with the fans in attendance at the event.
Already announced for WrestleCon in New Orleans are former WCW World Heavyweight Champion Bill Goldberg, Ring Of Honor star Kevin Steen, and independent wrestling standouts Colt Cabana and Steve Corino.
For more information on WrestleCon in New Orleans, visit WrestleCon.com.
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-The website ContactMusic.com has an article up with an update on the Hulk Hogan movie idea. They note that Hogan thinks the actor that played Thor would actually be a better fit as the person to play him, instead of his son Nick. You can read the full article online at ContactMusic.com.
-Pro Wrestling Illustrated has released their latest PWI 500 list, which you can check out at PWI-Online.com. The top ten, in order, for 2013 are: John Cena, CM Punk, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Bully Ray, Kazuchika Okada, Sheamus, Jeff Hardy, Alberto Del Rio, Dolph Ziggler and Kevin Steen.