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)
The following are highlights of a new WNS Podcast interview with former WWE Diva and TNA Knockout Victoria (aka Tara, aka Lisa Marie Varon):
Thoughts on making appearances at conventions: “It’s a lot of fun. Absolutely. That’s basically what I do. I have a restaurant here in Chicago and I’m here every single night. So, it’s basically a fanfest every night anyway. I’m taking pictures, signing autographs and talking about what I love. Watching what I love and making new friends in my city. So, I’m super blessed at this point in my life right now. All those bumps and bruises in the past are really paying off. I really love doing these autograph sessions. I go way over and beyond. I don’t want anybody to have bad experience. I like every fan or follower to have a unique experience meeting me. I absolutely love them. It’s also a reunion for me to see some old friends at these conventions. You try to make it a little bit of a vacation just to like have dinner with old buddies and catch up and find out what they’re doing in their life.”
On opening her own restaurant in Chicago: “It’s going well. This is our third restaurant. We had two more and we had a custom car shop and when we first got married we had a gym so we’re not foreign to owning our own businesses. My husband’s very stubborn and cannot work for anybody else and he’s been a chef since he was about 15 or 16. He’s always been with food. It’s awesome. Our menu, if you go to thesquaredcircle.biz, and look at our menu it’s very unusual items. I named a few things after wrestlers and we do stuffed burgers and pizza and pizza made with duck fat. We have adult milkshakes. We do very well. We’re both workaholics. I’m the front of the house and he’s the back of the house and it works out very well.”
On the upcoming Sweet And Sour Larry Sweeney Night: “We’ve had Ring Of Honor donating some gifts to auction off and all proceeds go to a suicide prevention organization. So, we’re excited to be a part of it because his friend Karen, actually she’s here because it’s indy night so she lives in Chicago, brought it to us and we jumped on it and we reached out and said we definitely would love to be part of it. It’s pretty sad. In wrestling, you’re supposed to be this tough person with no family problems, you don’t really air out your dirty laundry so you kind of bottle it up a lot andxit’s important for people to know they can reach out and have someone to talk to if they’re under such bad times. I feel very lucky since I’ve got a lot of followers and very social media, I’m able to get the word out moreso then what Karen can do. Everybody should take a part in this. It’s not all about making money it’s giving back to charity and making people aware. We had an event where Jay Lethal and Roderick Strong came in as guest waiters and we gave the proceeds to Mick Foley’s charity. It’s a good thing.”
Thoughts on what it was like to be part of an elite roster of female wrestlers such as the WWE had. “It was quite an honour. At the time, we were very confident in our work but we were perfectionists and before every house show and before every TV, we were in the ring for 4hrs working with Fit Finlay, working with Arn Anderson, and Ricky Steamboat in the ring to try and better ourselves. We didn’t have to do it we just did it. We knew our division was growing and growing and getting more difficult and we wanted the viewers to respect us not just as female wrestlers but just as wrestlers period and when I look back, when I watch it here at the restaurant because we have the Network and when I watch some old matches and I remember afterwards, in my mind at the time I’d be like “that was an okay match”. And when I watch it now it’s like “That was a really good match!”. I beat myself up for two weeks after that match. We were such perfectionists. If one thing went wrong or if something didn’t look believable we’d dwell on it for a long, long time.”
Thoughts on intergender matches: “When we were doing those in the past, I was all for it. I mean working with a guy is so much easier than working with a girl because they’re so strong and they put you in moves that you didn’t know you could put yourself into. They really lead the match. They’re very good leaders. Eugene works really good, Nick Dinsmore was really good at making us look good. But now, we have indy night here and I was watching an intergender match where one of the girls got punched in the face by a guy and I went “NO WAY!” in my restaurant and they’re like “What? What happened?” and I go “A guy just get punched her in the face”. So, I think I got a little brainwashed and did a PG-13 and it was a little disturbing to watch. Because, when we first started, if I got punched in the face by a guy, I should move because they’re supposed to be a thousand times stronger than I am. So, it is difficult for me to watch. I don’t mind the mixed matches where it’s girl on girl and guy on guy and then teasing the girl about to hit the guy or the guy about to hit the girl and then getting cut off. But, I don’t want to see a girl get punched in the face by a dude.”
On a possible return to the ring or working as a trainer at the Performance Center. “I have heard that rumour. Everybody that’s been coming in every night goes “I read on the internet that you’re going back”. My phone hasn’t rang so I don’t know what you’re talking about. I have a lot to give, a lot of knowledge to share. I think I can help a lot of the girls. Whenever I watch some of the wrestling I text someone in the office and say “please give her to me for a month and I’ll work with her”. I don’t hear back, I think they think I’m joking but I never said I was retired. I think as a wrestler you don’t say retired because you aren’t always going to show up either back in WWE or the indy circuit so I don’t let myself get out of shape where I’m not ready to go in the ring. I think it’s an ego and a pride thing for me. And you think when you’re out that you can kind of let yourself go. It’s actually the opposite. When you’re “retired” and you go backstage people are checking you out going I wonder if she let herself go. It’s almost a little bit more pressure to stay in the same shape as when you left. God forbid you age or your metabolism slows down and you start enjoying the pizzas and the burgers every single day. I think maybe for a woman it’s a little different. We still have to take care of our face, our physique, ournails. You still have to present yourself as that girl that you left because people will start feeling sorry for you.”
The most important thing she’s learned being in the business. “For me, we were always walking on eggshells and always wondering am I pretty enough, am I skinny enough, did my armdrag look good, did people believe my match, were the fans involved. I think people think when people think you’ve made it to WWE that there’s no more pressure. It’s opposite now, When I go to indy shows, I wish I had the confidence level some of these indy guys have because once you’re brought up there you’re immediately put in a position where you need to be humble. I think what I learned is that you don’t settle for where you’re at. You always try to perfect yourself and strive to be better. Every match we had, we never walked away and said that was awesome. We’ll say “wow, thank you so much that was fun. Maybe we should do this next time”. In my day too, we were a little more snug or stiff. We laid things in a little bit tighter so that it’s more believable. You never settle for where you’re at. Like for me and my business, the restaurant, I’m still striving to make it better. We’re looking to expand now and it’s incredible and life passes you so fast?.”
Thoughts on her match with Trish Stratus at Survivor Series 2002: “It was an adrenaline rush I’ll tell you that. Her and I beat the crap out of each other. You have your best matches with your friends because you have a lot of trust. You put your body in their hands. And, her and I, the rule’s “don’t say sorry”, “thank you for the match right now. I’m sorry if I’m going to hurt you”, “Let’s give the fans a good show”. In that match, the mirror was supposed to be the finish. I was supposed to smash the mirror up on her head and in the match she stepped on it on a move and I didn’t realize it until I went to grab it and I was like “oh my god, oh my god”. And I also broke my nose in that match from that trash can and chipped a tooth. But that wasn’t the part I was upset about. It was the mirror, I was talking to myself and the mirror was talking back to me. But that was me, Crazy Victoria and everybody thought Trish was better and that symbolism of the mirror smashing on her head was ruined and we had to improvise. I grabbed the wrong fire extinguisher. It had the pin it and I took the pin out and sprayed her and ended it with a suplex. I would have rather had it with the mirror. That’s what my disappointment was. When I do watch it, my heart rate races again and I feel like I’m at Madison Square Garden and all my customers here are watching it. Because they all request to watch that match here so I play it once a night and I still get nervous watching it.”
On her Wrestlemania 20 match against Molly Holly: “I was nervous. She wanted to be the first woman to get her head shaved in history and so she was willing to put her hair on the line. I put my title on the line. When I was cutting her hair, I don’t know if you noticed but you’re supposed to cut it with scissors first and the guy that was standing next to us was actually Vince McMahon’s barber in real life. And no one went over how to shave a head and I cut her head several times. I mean I was nicking her skin on her head. And when I went back, I was like “oh my god, we’re going to get into a fistfight I know it. She’s gonna beat my a**” and it wasn’t that way and everybody was pleased with the match. Everybody was proud of us but at the same time I still felt bad because you really don’t want to cut someone open. Because we beat the heck out of each other during the match and now to cut her head it was really brutal and I remember them saying we need her bald by the time we get back and there’s no way. I asked the barber “can you help me?” and he goes “I’m not allowed to”. “But, I can’t do it”. And I’m smiling like I’m enjoying it but inside I’m going I don’t know how tofreakin’ shave her head. She came out here for an appearance at my restaurant to visit and I had it playing and she goes “I’m going to the bathroom I can’t watch this part” when she got her head shaved. But she’s a beautiful bald, she had the face for it.”
On her favourite person to travel with: “Oh my god, there’s so many. There’s Candice Michelle, Torrie Wilson, Chavo Guerrero,Carlito. Gail Kim was one of my favourites. ODB. I mean, you have to ride with people because you’re with them 24/7. You have to drive with them and check into hotels and the girls we share a room so you automatically form a bond. Brooke and I never had to go out. We’d have fun in the room telling stories and stuff like that. So, it was like yea herand I are very tight. Even still to this day. I did notice that people in WWE have a little bitmore stronger bond than I do with people in TNA. I think just because I was with WWE for ten years and we were on the road four days a week. Not just the Orlando show but we weren’t together that much. I immediately had a bond with ODB from TNA she was one of my close friends there. That’s who I’m facing at the Texas show. So I’m excited.”
On comparing the backstage atmosphere in WWE to that of TNA. “It’s completely different. I’m going to be honest with you, there was a lot of freedom at TNA. I remember coming there and asking “Hey what do you want out of this match”. “Oh, you just do what you do”. And I’m like “What?” because I’m not used to that. I was always used to a little bit more structure. There’s nothing like a production like WWE. No one is going to be WWE, ever. Also, there were times I found out I was pay per view through twitter and I called the office saying “Hey am I on pay per view and never got travel and it’s been two days I don’t know what’s going on”. WWE is organized. I’m used to organization and someone handling the PR department. Someone handling a photo shoot. So there is a department for every single thing you do in WWE. And if you’re lost, don’t know what’s going on, they have a department to help you out. But I did have a good career in TNA. I had some good matches. I want to go to TNA to face ODB and Kong so that was one of my dreams and I got to do it. And Mickie James and I had a cage match. I had a good run there. At the end, not so much. I didn’t feel the passion anymore. That’s the difference.”
You can check out the complete interview above.
– 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)
WWE has signed three new Divas to developmental cnotracts. The three new ladies went through orientation and met with WWE Divas Champion Paige at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida on Friday. You can check out photos and information on the three newest Divas below.
– Savelina “Lina” Fanene has a background in sports. She is either related, or close to the family of The Rock.
She’s also said to be good friends with current WWE Diva Layla. She’s has been posting on Instagram about training to be a diva and just a few days ago mentioned that she moved to Orlando, Florida. She later posted a picture of the WWE Performance Center, saying she was blessed to be training there.
– Dasha Kuret has a past as a beauty queen, fitness model and gymnist.
She was also Miss UCF in 2009.
She tweeted on Friday that she was taking her first headshots for WWE and used the hashtags #newjob and #WWENXT.
– Dani Jackson is an independent wrestler and has been recently working for Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW).
– International pro wrestling star Prince Devitt is officially done with New Japan Pro Wrestling at this point and reportedly still has a standing offer from WWE. It’s being said that Devitt joining WWE isn’t a “dead issue” just yet.
– As previously reported, WWE Tough Enough is scheduled to return as an original program on the WWE Network. The word going around is that the new season of Tough Enough will be filmed at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida and will likely feature talent currently in the WWE developmental system that aren’t regulars on television.
(Credit: PWInsider.com)
– The Undertaker is scheduled for both Monday’s WWE RAW show in San Antonio, Texas, as well as Tuesday’s WWE SmackDown taping in Houston, Texas. Also confirmed for next week’s SmackDown is John Cena.
– WWE is in the process of filming footage for various future workout DVD releases. Most of the footage has been filmed at the NXT facility and at the WWE Performance Center.
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)
– Brodus Clay, who has been training at the WWE Performance Center for the past week, worked a match at Saturday night’s NXT live event in Jacksonville, Florida. Clay lost a singles match to Angelo Dawkins.
– UFC president Dana White once again addressed the internet rumors regarding the possibility of CM Punk fighting a mixed-martial-arts fight. White spoke with TMZ about Punk, who as previously reported sat next to him at the UFC 170 pay-per-view on Saturday night. White said, “He is a friend and a fan. We have literally never talked about wrestling or fighting or anything else work related since I’ve known him.”
Check out the complete article at TMZ.com.
As previously reported, Hulk Hogan was at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida earlier this week.
Hogan, who as WWE announced will be returning to the company on Monday’s RAW, did not step foot inside a ring. He did, however, tour the facility and worked out a bit.
Speaking of Hogan, the WWE Hall Of Famer continues to express his excitement about his return to WWE on his official Twitter account. His latest tweet reads as follows:
The WRESTLEMANIA return of Hulkamania has turned into a monster already,I’m so grateful to be back home brother HH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) February 22, 2014
The following are highlights from the latest online blog by WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross:
On tonight’s RAW: “WWE really needs to hit a home run on RAW this week to build some much needed momentum for the Elimination Chamber. During a three hour RAW broadcast there is SO much info disseminated that it’s challenging for any viewer of the three hour broadcast to leave the show at signoff and remember every thing that has been thrown at them. 15 commercial breaks doesn’t help matters but that’s simply the way it is and is not WWE’s fault.”
On CM Punk: “Many have asked but I’m unaware of any new, @CMPunk news. I’m still hopeful that a mutually agreed upon resolution can be worked out sooner than later. I’d love to see Punk steal the show at WM30 and then chill for as long as it takes to get him back on WWE TV in a win-win scenario. If Punk wanted to take off until WM31, simply plan for it. The guy is too talented, has had a tremendous amount of TV time, etc invested in him and the roster is too thin to not see Punk back at some point.”
“I know if I ever do a show in Chicago I’d LOVE for CM Punk to be my special guest/MC and grill me with questions. Maybe we could take in a Cubs game and eat at Lisa Varon’s Squared Circle eatery while in the Windy City.”
“As I’ve said Punk is a favorite of mine and I’d have loved to see him back in the day as one of Cowboy Bill Watts bookers.”
On the WWE Network: “Although I am no longer affiliated with WWE, I can’t logically understand why any wrestling fan, unless they simply can’t afford the approximate 35 cents a day, wouldn’t want to try the WWE Network for 6 months at a cost of $9.99 per month. I’m ordering it w/o question. I don’t have copies of all the WCW PPV’s that I did that I’d like to go back and listen to again.”
On Gerald Brisco scouting for talent: “Gerald Brisco is in Columbus, Ohio scouting for WWE at a major amateur wrestling event. Gerald and I are attending the NCAA Division 1 Nationals in OKC in March….GB as a WWE scout and me as a fan. BTW it was in Columbus, Ohio that I was ‘grilled as in BBQ’ed’ by Kane AND had a cinder block busted over my head in another losing effort to Eric Bischoff which left me defeated and bloody. In other words, a normal in ring outing for Ol J.R. :)”
On E:60 at the WWE Performance Center: “The ESPN E60 piece that is going to air soon re: the WWE Performance Center should really be good. ESPN had virtual, unlimited access on multiple days of shooting at NXT. ESPN has hours of footage to utilize.”
Check out the complete blog at JRsBarBQ.com.
– Former WWE Superstar Scotty 2 Hotty has just recently finished up a two-week run as a trainer at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. Scotty had been working in the ring with many of the current NXT talents and helping the guys with a number of things.
– The official WWE website has recently published a list of the top ten greatest Elimination Chamber matches in history. The top five is as follows:
1. Triple H vs. Booker T vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Chris Jericho vs. Kane vs. Shawn Michaels (Survivor Series 2002)
2. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho vs. Randy Orton vs. Goldberg vs. Kevin Nash (SummerSlam 2003)
3. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle vs. Carlito vs. Chris Masters vs. Kane (New Year’s Revolution 2006)
4. John Cena vs. Edge vs. Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Kane vs. Mike Knox (No Way Out 2009)
5. Jeff Hardy vs. Chris Jericho vs. JBL vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H vs. Umaga (No Way Out 2008)
You can check out the complete list at WWE.com.
Pro Wrestling Noah star KENTA posted a blog about his training at the WWE Performance Center this week. Here’s an English translation from yottsumepuroresu.blogspot.jp:
“I am sorry for having you all confused over the various information about my visit in the US.
As a matter of fact, I am in the States and enjoying the WWE training. But as for now, it’s not about getting a tryout or a contract.
It is indeed true that I have always been yearning for a spot in WWE, and I’ve always wanted to give it a try sometime. After all, you only live once. “I should have given it a try.” “I should have chosen another way.” I’ve had those regrets when I was in my middle and high school, and even after I got in to this business. I just did not want to regret later about something I haven’t tried, so I used my time off to participate in the WWE workout. The executives were at the workout, so perhaps I may have left a mark.
The place is full of competition and hungry guys. It’s not as simple as being good at Puroresu or having strength. There are so many guys with monster physique and guys who are way athletically superior to me. And even they don’t get into the big league. That’s how tough this place could be. I can easily imagine that surviving in this environment could be severe. And spending a few days in that environment became a really good experience for me.
I’m sorry to have caused the confusion, but one thing I can say for sure is that “I’m glad I came”. I would like to work even harder making use of this experience.
And lastly, I would like to thank [NOAH] President [Akira] Taue for letting me take this chance.”
During a recent interview with F4WOnline.com, AJ Styles spoke about his departure from TNA, working with Ring of Honor and WWE not making an effort to sign him after he became a free agent for the first time in over 8 years.
Styles said he understands that WWE is pouring tremendous resources into the WWE Performance Center and is focusing on developing younger talent there.
When it was brought up that it would be “unthinkable” 10 years ago that somebody at the level of AJ Styles wouldn’t be signed immediately, Styles replied, “Yeah. Lucky me, huh?”
– Music historian Eddie Trunk will be the special guest on Chris Jericho’s new “Talk Is Jericho” online podcast on January 1, 2014.
– This past Wednesday night was “Karaoke Night” at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. The festivities featured WWE NXT Superstars, WWE NXT Divas and trainers signing and having fun before the final NXT show at the FCW Arena on Thursday night in Tampa, Florida.
Multiple new WWE developmental talents are expected to begin training at the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida in early 2014.
“Trademark” Tommy Maclin of The Monster Factory, former football player Shane Taylor and independent wrestler Brian Tannen are three names confirmed to start their official WWE training after the new year.
[Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter]
– Former WWE Superstar Chris Benoit, who is banned from appearing on WWE programming or DVD releases, was featured briefly in a WWE TLC video package for the John Cena vs. Randy Orton title unification main event match. Benoit was shown being pinned by Orton during the package that aired on WWE Main Event this week.
– The following are some known independent wrestlers at the previously reported three-day WWE tryout camp going on this week at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida:
Ricochet (Dragon Gate USA)
Pepper Parks (CZW)
Bestia 666 (Lucha star and son of former WCW wrestler Damien 666)
Gaylon Summers (6’7” 270 lb. independent wrestler)
Former WWE manager Ricardo Rodriguez continues to post tweet updates on his training at the WWE Performance Center. Rodriguez tweeted these two on Thursday:
Did Soooooo many arm drags today! Taking that next step to becoming a #WWESuperstar
— Ricardo Rodriguez (@RRWWE) December 12, 2013
Attempted a standing hurricanrana…. Powerbombed myself…. Lesson learned
— Ricardo Rodriguez (@RRWWE) December 12, 2013
– Hulk Hogan will be doing a meet-and-greet with fans at the Tristar Sports Memorabilia in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, December 20th and Saturday, December 21st. For more information, visit Facebook.com/tristarvegas.
– WWE trainer Bill DeMott recently posted the following tweet on his official Twitter account regarding a three-day tryout at the WWE Performance Center beginning on Thursday:
Coffe-check, morning work out- beginning, 3 day camp @WWEPerformCtr starts today
#ToughEnough
— Bill DeMott (@BillDeMott) December 12, 2013
– WWE Hall Of Famer Terry Funk recently worked at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida as a special guest instructor.
– According to one source, the reason WWE Diva Eva Marie was smiling and laughing on her way to the back after being eliminated during her match at the WWE Survivor Series pay-per-view was because she was told to.
Apparently WWE teaches their talents that if they are on the babyface side, when they leave the ring after losing a match, they should still smile and engage the fans and play their character as opposed to selling the fact that they just lost a match.
[Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter]
According to various reports, former NWA Champion Adam Pearce is scheduled to appear at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida this coming week to serve as a special guest trainer.
Pearce spoke about the gig in a recent message posted on his official Twitter account. Pearce tweeted:
SAN-ORL. The next chapter begins. #Thankful
— Adam Pearce (@ScrapDaddyAP) December 1, 2013
– Independent pro wrestling star Colt Cabana was at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida again this week for another tryout with WWE.
– Talks between New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) star Prince Devitt and WWE at this point are said to be informal. As of right now, Devitt has yet to receive a legitimate financial offer from the company and has apparently been telling people that he’s expecting to continue working in Japan in 2014. While Devitt’s official NJPW contract expires on January 31st, most expect him to stay with the promotion.
[Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter]
– It was announced on this week’s edition of WWE RAW that on next week’s post-Survivor Series edition of RAW, the special guest host will be former NFL star and talk-show host Michael Strahan.
– Former top Ring Of Honor stars Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards reported to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida today for a week-long tryout. Their tryout could be stage one of the two receiving a short-term deal that would send them to WWE developmental for a few months.
[Partial Credit: PWInsider.com]
– The Divas currently working in the WWE developmental system are apparently being treated to a wealth of knowledge from Mickie James, who as previously reported has been working at the WWE Performance Center as a guest trainer this week.
WWE NXT Diva Paige posted a new tweet on her official Twitter account putting over the work James has been doing with the students throughout the week. Paige tweeted the following:
Amazing having @MickieJames here teaching us with @TheSaraDelRey Awesome training day! Thank you!!
— DivaOfTomorrow (@RealPaigeWWE) November 14, 2013
– WWE Hall Of Famer Mick Foley, along with current WWE Superstar Sheamus and current WWE Diva and Total Divas star Eva Marie recently appeared together as WWE representatives at a USO event in Washington, D.C. this past Wednesday evening. Below is a photo of the three together at the event:
– The following are the WWE tour dates and locations for the company’s U.K. tour in May of 2014:
May 14th – Glasgow – SSE Hydro
May 15th – Newcastle – Metro Radio Arena
May 16th – Leeds – First Direct Arena
May 17th – Nottingham – Capital FM Arena
May 18th – Cardiff – Motorpoint Arena
May 19th – London – The O2 (RAW taping)
May 20th – Sheffield – Motorpoint Arena
May 20th – London – The O2 (SmackDown taping)
– Former WWE Diva Mickie James was at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida on Monday working as a guest trainer for the WWE Divas currently under developmental deals with the company. Mickie tweeted the following:
Lovely to meet you too sweetie! @DevinTaylorWWE & all I can say is the @WWEPerformCtr blew me away! You guys & gals got it made! Amazing!
— Mickie James (@MickieJames) November 11, 2013
-As noted, Brandi Runnels, the real-life wife of WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes, is returning to the company and officially reported to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida this past Monday. Runnels, who will go under the name Brandi Rhodes during this run with the company, is said to be on the “fast-track” to debuting on the main roster.
-WWE executive Gerald Brisco was recently recruiting and scouting talent at the National All-Star collegiate wrestling meet. There is no specific word on who, if anyone, Brisco signed, however he is a trusted eye when it comes to finding amateur wrestlers that would likely make a smooth transition into pro wrestling.
New Matches Just Announced For The WWE Survivor Series Pay-Per-View
[Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter]