– Tonight on Raw, Bret “Hit Man” Hart will step inside a WWE ring in Montreal, Canada, for the very first time since the infamous “Screwjob” at the 1997 Survivor Series. According to sources at the event, the WWE Hall of Famer is scripted to appear in multiple segments.
– As an homage to Sheamus banned finishing maneuver, WWE.com ranks the ten greatest kicks in WWE history. Topped by Shawn Michaels’ Sweet Chin Music, the list also ranks: #2 Randy Orton – Punt, #3 Rob Van Dam – Van Daminator, #4 Sheamus – Brogue Kick, #5 “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – Stompin’ a Mudhole, #6 Hulk Hogan – Big Boot, #7 Booker T – Scissor Kick, #8 Trish Stratus – Chick Kick, #9 Tajiri – Buzzsaw Kick, #10 Kofi Kingston – Trouble in Paradise. (Article)
– WWE returns to American Airlines Arena at Miami, Florida on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 for a SmackDown taping. Talent advertised to appear include Randy Orton, Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, Daniel Bryan, Ryback, Antonio Cesaro, Kane, Sin Cara and Natalya.
WWE announced Wednesday that for the first time, the organization will hold events in Egypt. The following press release was issued:
WWE to Make Live Event Debut in Egypt
LONDON, September 5, 2012 – WWE (NYSE:WWE) today announced that, for the first time, it will bring WWE World Tour to Egypt for three nights from Thursday, October 18 through Saturday, October 20, 2012 at the Cairo Stadium Complex. With its debut in Egypt, WWE continues to expand the reach of its business, including live events in six new countries in 2012.
This Egyptian tour comes on the heels of a successful WWE Raw® World Tour in Abu Dhabi this past February, where more than 16,000 fans packed the International Tennis Complex within the Zayed Sports City. The WWE World Tour will bring some of WWE’s biggest Superstars to fans in Egypt, including Sheamus®, Alberto Del Rio®, Zack Ryder®, Kofi Kingston® and Dolph Ziggler®*.
WWE will be working with Egyptian live events promoter, Creative Design, to bring WWE World Tour to local fans. Creative Design previously brought WWE to Doha, Qatar last year.
“WWE is one of the largest names in family entertainment, and it’s a great honor to hold such an enormous event in a wonderful country like Egypt,” said Assem Al Sheikh, Chairman of Creative Design.
“We’re thrilled to announce this three-day, live event tour in Egypt,” said Ed Wells, Managing Director and Senior Vice President of WWE International. “These shows in Cairo are further testament to the strength and popularity of the WWE brand throughout the MENA region and build on our efforts to expand our business internationally.”
Tickets are on sale starting September 8 and can be purchased from http://Ticketsmarche.com and the Tickets hotline: +2 01008425387 (+2 0100tickets)
– This week on “WWE Inbox,” Superstars comment on whether they’ve ever been caught picking their nose while driving.
“I really don’t care because if you have a booger up there, you have to pick it,” says WWE Tag Team Champion Kofi Kingston. “I pick my nose quite a bit.”
WWE Divas Champion Layla says, “It’s normal. It’s what you do in the car, right?” She continues, “You think nobody’s looking at you, you start picking your nose and then you’re like, “Oh God, that person just saw me.”
Derrick Bateman, however, doesn’t care what anyone thinks about him picking his nose.
“It’s not so much that caught picking my nose, it’s that I choose to pick my nose in public because I do not care what people think of my sanitary habits,” he says.
Superstars also reveal their favorite restaurants and what they stock their fridges with.
– Bill Behrens is currently accepting U.S. independent bookings on behalf of former WWE Superstar Rene Dupree through SBIBookings.com. Dupree now resides in New Brunswick, Canada after primarily competing in Japan and Europe since departing from WWE in 2007.
– Silvervision, WWE’s European video distributer, has released a four-pack DVD package featuring “Attitude Era” titles Austin 3:16 Uncensored, Three Faces of Foley, Chris Jericho – Break Down the Walls and Kurt Angle – It’s True! It’s True. According to reader Dan, the titles are unedited as the WWF logo is not blurred and WWF references are not cut out. Chris Benoit is also not edited from the titles; he’s featured in the Jericho and Angle pieces, and appears in bonus matches featured in both sets.
– PBS program My Generationfeatured a piece on Mick Foley’s work with Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). The segment also features former WWE talent Sean “X-Pac” Waltman recalling being sexually abused as a child.
– Check into Raw tonight on GetGlue.com for a free Kofi Kingston Night of Champions Series sticker.
– Charlie Sheen, who had been speculated to appear at SummerSlam Sunday, attended a family party that. While at the get-together, Sheen was asked about working the pay-per-view event and joked that it would cost WWE a ton of money to get him. Multiple WWE sources report that company officials are interested in collaborating with Sheen at a future pay-per-view event, possibly WrestleMania XXIX.
– Santino Marella is expected to receive a WWE United States Championship rematch against Antonio Cesaro at Night of Champions. Other matches expected for the event include CM Punk vs. John Cena for the WWE Championship, Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship, Kaitlyn vs. Layla for the WWE Divas Championship and a Fatal 4-Way Match for the WWE Tag Team Championship with Kofi Kingston and R-Truth, Jey and Jimmy Uso, Epico and Primo, and The Prime Time Players.
– After Linda McMahon’s U.S. Senate opponent Chris Murphy purchased advertising time on the USA Network scrutinizing the former WWE CEO during Monday’s Raw airing in Connecticut, the sports-entertainment organization released the following statement to CourantBlogs.com: “It is apparent that the same people who have consistently denigrated and mischaracterized WWE and our family-friendly entertainment for political gain have officially changed their point of view about our content. For the second week in a row, Mr. Murphy’s campaign continues to run advertising in our programming with his new ad airing yesterday at 10:30 p.m. on USA during Monday Night Raw. While the past political rhetoric has been unjust, it pleases us to know that Mr. Murphy recognizes that WWE’s TV programming is a highly effective way to reach families and voters in Connecticut.”
– Brodus Clay and Damien Sandow, who have been feuding on WWE programming in recent weeks, were scheduled to face off at SummerSlam but their match was nixed due to time constraints.
Both the WWE Championship and WWE Tag Team Championship bouts were shortened due to time constraints because the production team wanted to make sure there would be enough time for the aftermath of the Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar bout since The Game’s farewell scene will play a vital role in storylines going forward.
– According to a fan account of WWE’s SummerSlam Axxess festivities in Los Angeles, California on Saturday, EMTs tended to numerous attendees who had fainted or collapsed at the event due to the extreme heat. There were few shaded areas and WWE did not provide water.
– Mike Tyson, who was on hand for the SummerSlam festivities to promote THQ’s upcoming WWE ’13 video game, was noted by a WWE talent as the happiest person at the events. The boxing great considers himself a huge wrestling fan, as he reveals in this article.
– CM Punk’s WWE Championship victory over John Cena and Big Show Sunday at SummerSlam extended two pay-per-view streaks. His win marked as his ninth consecutive successful title defense on pay-per-view. However, despite his reign atop WWE, it was the eighth consecutive pay-per-view in which he did not defend the title in the main event.
– WWE Universe members didn’t waste any time in chanting “Kobe Bryant” during the WWE Tag Team Championship Match between Kofi Kingston, R-Truth and The Prime Time Players at SummerSlam in response to The Players’ manager A.W. being released following a Kobe Bryant rape joke on Raw weeks ago. A.W. was informed of the chants on Twitter and responded, “To all the fans that showed their support with the chants and tweets I really want to say “THANK YOU”!!! You guys are truly.. #UNSTOPPABLE!”
A.W. also reacted to WWE confiscating a sign at SummerSlam Axxess today that featured a printed screenshot of WWE chief Vince McMahon distorting his face in a backstage segment on Raw two months ago to ridicule Jim Ross’ facial paralysis: “That really sucks! People pay their hard earned money to show their support for @WWE and that’s how they get treated. #Bully.”
– Jim Ross took a swipe at WWE’s past pay-per-view efforts Sunday via Twitter, writing, “SummerSlam has been a ‘clean’ show devoid of bad attempts at humor or endless non wrestling content. Big money matches merit big $$ effort.”
– After CM Punk recently teased on Twitter that his fans in Chicago will get a special treat regarding his upcoming WWE DVD, it’s been announced that WWE will hold a theatrical screening of the DVD on October 7th.
WWE Champion CM Punk will be on hand for the screening of the documentary portion of the DVD, which is approximately 2 hours long. No word yet on where the event will take place, but this marks the first time WWE has screened any of their DVD productions in a theater.
– WWE Social Media Ambassador Pauly D and Heath Slater were taking shots at each other on Twitter during Monday’s RAW.
– Kofi Kingston missed Monday’s RAW because he was flying back tot he United States from WWE’s weekend tour of Asia. He noted on Twitter that the Prime Time Players will have hell to pay for attacking his tag team partner, R-Truth. The two teams will square off this Sunday at SummerSlam.
After weeks of battling the Kofi Kingston and R-Truth in singles matches, Darren Young and Titus O’Neil will receive their chance at the WWE Tag Team Championship this Sunday at SummerSlam.
It was also announced during Raw that Santino Marella will defend the United States Championship against Antonio Cesaro in a YouTube exclusive pre-show leading up to the pay-per-view broadcast. The announced card is as follows:
* Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar
* WWE Champion CM Punk vs. John Cena vs. Big Show
* Kane vs. Daniel Bryan
* Chris Jericho vs. Dolph Ziggler
* WWE United States Champion Santino Marella vs. Antonio Cesaro
* WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and R-Truth vs. The Prime Time Players
* WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Rey Mysterio
– In his first Tout as SmackDown General Manager, Booker T announced Tuesday night that a match to determine number one contendership to the WWE Tag Team Championship held by Kofi Kingston and R-Truth will be held this Friday on SmackDown as Primo and Epico take on Darren Young and Titus O’Neil.
– French wrestler Tom La Ruffa announced on Facebook that he has signed a developmental contract with WWE.
Nicknamed “The French Stallion,” La Ruffa is a top wrestler in Europe. He is a product of former WWE wrestler Lance Storm’s Storm Wrestling Academy and was featured on the premiere season of the World of Hurt reality television series in Canada. La Ruffa has competed in a WWE ring before as he was an opponent of Big Show’s in a 3-on-1 Handicap Match last November.
– Former WWE Champion Batista is today’s featured Superstar on WWE.com.
During Monday’s live WWE Raw broadcast, A.W. made a crass joke referencing NBA player Kobe Bryant’s sexual assault case years ago. As client Titus O’Neil tangled with Kofi Kingston in a singles match, A.W. yelled from ringside, “Titus O’Neil is like Kobe Bryant at a hotel in Colorado hotel room. He’s unstoppable!!” The WWE personality issued an apology late Monday evening via Twitter and noted that “there was no malicious intent behind the joke.”
A.W. wrote, “It was either a Kobe or Lebron joke. Lebron jus won the Finals so there you have it..Myself!”
The remark was in reference to the basketball star being accused of sexual assault in summer 2003 after having sex with a 19-year-old hotel employee in Colorado. In September 2004, prosecutors dropped the case after his accuser refused to testify. A civil suit was later filed and settled out of court.
Following the commercial break, WWE broadcaster Michael Cole issued an apology on behalf of the organization for “remarks made by A.W.,” though without specifically referencing the joke. F4WOnline.com reports that many people were furious backstage over the remark, as well as in disbelief.
After Raw, WWE issued an official apology via TMZ.com reading, “A.W. made an inappropriate comment and WWE immediately apologized. WWE has taken appropriate action in the matter.” The representative, however, did not specify what “action” was taken against A.W.
WWE issued an official statement Tuesday concerning a personality’s off-color remark during Monday’s Raw broadcast in which NBA player Kobe Bryant’s sexual assault case was referenced.
As Titus O’Neil grappled with Kofi Kingston in a singles match, A.W., who was wearing a live mic, yelled from ringside, “Titus O’Neil is like Kobe Bryant at a hotel in Colorado hotel room. He’s unstoppable!!”
The remark was in reference to the basketball star being accused of sexual assault in summer 2003 after having sex with a 19-year-old hotel employee in Colorado. In September 2004, prosecutors dropped the case after his accuser refused to testify. A civil suit was later filed and settled out of court.
A WWE spokesman issued an statement to TMZ.com reading, “A.W. made an inappropriate comment and WWE immediately apologized. WWE has taken appropriate action in the matter.”
WWE sources tell TMZ that A.W. “felt horrible” after making the remark and claimed he simply “got caught up in the moment.” He also realizes the remark could be hurtful to rape victims and their families.
A.W. immediately apologized to company brass, including the McMahon family, as well as several wrestlers, and has also vowed to refrain from making similar remarks in the future.
During Monday’s live WWE Raw broadcast, A.W. made an off-color remark referencing NBA player Kobe Bryant’s sexual assault case in 2003 and 2004.
As client Titus O’Neil tangled with Kofi Kingston in a singles match, A.W. yelled from ringside, “Titus O’Neil is like Kobe Bryant at a hotel in Colorado hotel room. He’s unstoppable!!”
Following the commercial break, WWE broadcaster Michael Cole issued an apology on behalf of the organization for A.W.’s remark. He then quickly transitioned to a replay of a backstage segment featuring John Cena and CM Punk that took moments prior.
In 2003, Bryant was accused of sexual assault after having sex with a hotel employee in Colorado. In September 2004, prosecutors dropped the case after his accuser refused to testify. A civil suit was later filed and settled out of court.
– WWE Ref John Cone talked to Pitch.com Below are some interesting tidbits:
Most memorable match
“It was just a couple of months ago at Extreme Rules, Daniel Bryan against CM Punk. I was honored to referee that match, and those guys tore the house down. It was just fantastic, probably one of the purest wrestling matches that I’ve ever refereed. It was great.”
The biggest bump he’s taken
“It was Extreme Rules again, just a couple of months ago. Brock Lesnar was wrestling John Cena, and the official for the match was Charles Robinson. He got knocked down, and I come running down the aisle. I think Brock had Cena in a pin attempt, and I slid into the ring, got a two count, and as I stood up, here comes Lesnar with a clothesline. I didn’t remember much afterward. And then he kicks me in the stomach as I try to get out of the ring.”
– WWE has issued another installment of their YouTube show Inbox, the question this week: Who has the coolest ring gear? Take a look:
– Tag team action is slated for Sunday as Kofi Kingston and R-Truth will defend the WWE Tag Team Championship against Camacho and Hunico in the Money in the Bank Pre-Show, which streams live on WWE.com, YouTube.com/WWE and Facebook.com at 7:30 ET/4:30 PT.
– Despite his removal from WWE programming last month, John Laurinaitis is slated to compete at live shows through at least September. The advertised main event for the Saturday, September 22, 2012 Raw live event taking place at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York has ‘Big Johnny’ teaming up with Big Show to take on John Cena in a Handicap Match.
– The Raw SuperShow taking place on Monday, September 17, 2012 at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut will feature John Cena vs. Big Show in a Steel Cage Match.
– WWEShop.com is selling a Brodus Clay Fedora for $29.99.
– Last week’s SmackDown drew a 1.82 cable rating (down from 2.0 the week before) and averaged 2.63 million viewers.
– The Extreme Rising promotion will return to Philadelphia’s National Guard Armory on Saturday, November 17th. The card will see the first ever Extreme Rising Champion crowned and a steel cage match featuring fan voting. PWInsider.com reports that the show will be a “blow off” event that will see the culmination of ER’s top storylines. A pe-show fan interaction event is scheduled for noon that day.
– AW and Kofi Kingston continue to go back and forth on Twitter regarding AW’s Prime Time Players walking out on the 8-man tag match at Monday’s RAW. After RAW, AW tweeted:
– Vince McMahon issued a directive Monday night to not mention Fort Wayne, Indiana, during the Raw SuperShow telecast. The WWE Chairman and CEO feels that if a show’s host city does not sound “big league enough,” it will not be mentioned on television. He made the same call for the June 5 SmackDown in Columbia, South Carolina.
– USA Today has published an article on Magic Mike, which includes Kevin Nash playing a bodyguard for Tom Cruise’s character Stacee Jaxx. The legendary grappler says he’s in talks for a role in the next installment of The Hunger Games. “I just pray it’s recurring, that he doesn’t get killed,” he said.
– Nicole and Brianna, formerly known as The Bella Twins, are advertised to appear at Tabú at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, July 13.
– Kofi Kingston’s appearance on Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files on Syfy drew a 0.8 cable rating, with 944,000 viewers.
— WWE Tag Team Champion Kofi Kingston appeared on SyFy’s Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files on Tuesday night. Kingston helped the team determine if the famous Stonehenge in Britain was built by extraterrestrials.
A short clip of the apperance can be seen at WWE.com.
— Episode 22 of the WWE Inbox Youtube show is now online. In this edition, Ezekiel Jackson, Alicia Fox and other Superstars answer Twitter questions from fans, including which remake of a movie they would star in and why:
– WWE Tag Team Champion Kofi Kingston will be appearing on the SyFy Network’s original series Fact Or Faked tonight at 9pm (Eastern).
– WWE’s new Best of Falls Count Anywhere Matches DVD and Blu-ray sets have officially been released and can be ordered now from Amazon.com.
– Former WWE Diva (and wife of Brock Lesnar) Sable has joined Twitter and can be found at@RealSable.
– The “big surprise” that Lilian Garcia was hyping for Monday’s RAW was that she worked as ring announcer for the show, her first time announcing RAW since returning to the company.
– WWE Tag Team Champion R-Truth either severely sprained or broke his foot last week, reports PWInsider.com. He did not go on the Raw brand’s tour of Spain-Kofi Kingston partnered with Zack Ryder and Brodus Clay at events.
– Former WWE Women’s Champion Sable, who is 44-years-old, will soon become a grandmother. Her 21-year-old daughter Mariah is pregnant with her first child and expected to give birth in September, reports RenaLesnar.net.
– The June 8 episode of WWE Vintage Collection featured the following matches: Blitzkrieg vs. Super Calo (WCW Saturday Night – March 20, 1999), Matt Hardy vs. Billy Kidman (WWE No Way Out 2003), The Rockers vs. The Orient Express (WWF live event – June 17, 1990), Jeff Hardy vs. X-Pac (WWF King of the Ring 2001), Dean Malenko vs. Shinjiro Otani (WCW Worldwide – May 18, 1996). (Thanks to Devin Cutting)
– Former WWE star Rob Conway competed in a NPC Bodybuilding contest on Saturday. He tweeted, “I won the Npc Indianapolis Mens Physique Championship Tall class and Over all. Thanks to everyone for there support!”
– Some of the WWE-related terms that trended worldwide on Twitter on Monday night were: Big Show, Randy Orton, Alberto Del Rio, WWE ’13, Alex Riley & ECW.
– The WWE ebsite is reporting that several superstars were injured on RAW at the hands of the Big Show. According to storylines, WWE tag team champions Kofi Kingston and R-Truth both suffered “multiple contusions” to various areas of their bodies.
Brodus Clay suffered a concussion and several bruised ribs from Big Show’s attack. The WWE.com article states that Dr. Chris Amann advised Brodus Clay to visit the hospital for further evaluation, but he declined. Clay left the New Orleans Arena with Naomi and Cameron around 11:45pm (central time).
– WWE Superstar CM Punk is scheduled to appear at the upcoming Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con event, which takes place on May 31st at the PA Convention Center from 2-6pm.
— WWE Hall of Famer Tammy “Sunny” Sytch admitted herself to the hospital this week due to a stomach flu and was informed that she has other ailments.
She wrote Tuesday evening on Facebook, “well… just got home from the hospital…again. wasnt just a stomach flu. severe gastroenteritis and an enflamed pancreas. i have no luck. feeling better now.. on meds.”
— Former WWE star Gene Snitsky stated on Twitter that he was backstage at Tuesday’s SmackDown taping in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He said he was visiting friends.
— CM Punk, John Cena, Sheamus, Kofi Kingston and Daniel Bryan are featured on the cover of the June 2012 issue of WWE Magazine. It is branded as “THE POWER ISSUE” as the top WWE Superstars and twenty toughest WWE Superstars of all-time are ranked.
– Alex Shelley, whose contract with TNA Wrestling is set to expire, has been contacted by WWE officials. A deal, however, has not been reached. Prior to being contacted, he was looking to work in Japan and possibly Dragon Gate USA.
– WWE will hold a Raw live event at United Spirit Arena at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas on Saturday, July 7, 2012. The event starts at 7:30 p.m.
– WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and R-Truth appear at Aaron’s 3051 Springhill Ave. Mobile, Alabama on Saturday, June 2 beginning at 4:00 p.m. Call 251-473-2225 for more information.
– WWE Hall of Famer Drew Carey turns 54 years old Wednesday.
— WWE Superstar and host, Santino Marella shares with Michael McGillicutty and the WWE Universe just how dirty he will get to prove he’s a diligent worker.
— WWE developmental wrestler Dean Ambrose faced Zack Ryder at Friday’s Raw live event in Glens Falls, New York. Ambrose was disqualified after he removed the turnbuckle pad and whipped Ryder into it.
— Former WWE Superstar Billy Kidman turned 38 years old on Friday. He is currently a producer on WWE’s Raw brand.
— WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and R-Truth are advertised to appear at Aaron’s Rental & Sales in Mobile, Alabama on Saturday, June 2 beginning at 4:00 p.m.
— Announced exclusively on WWE.com, WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and R-Truth will defend their titles for the very first time at WWE Over the Limit on May 20, taking on Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger. (Match Preview)
— WWE.com has added Rob Van Dam to their Alumni section. The website writes, “Rob Van Dam’s innovative maneuvers, laid back demeanor and airbrushed attire made him ECW’s most popular Superstar of all time, and he later became WWE Champion at a historic contest in New York City. Check out RVD’s career milestones, photos and videos, the latest addition to WWE.com’s Alumni section!” (Profile)
This continues a trend of WWE.com acknowledging former talent affiliated with TNA Wrestling as Sting was added to the section last week and a playlist of Hulk Hogan’s wildest interviews was uploaded. Furthermore, three TNA Wrestling stars who succumbed to Brock Lesnar during his rise to the top of WWE—Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle and Hogan —were shown in a series of video packages on the April 23 Raw SuperShow.