– There are a lot of people in WWE wondering exactly what’s going on with Antonio Cesaro, specifically, the way he’s been booked in recent months. After a strong upper-midcard push in 2012 and a lengthy run with the United States Championship, his stock has apparently crashed and his omission from the WrestleMania 29 card was the strongest indication yet that WWE has put the breaks on his career momentum.
Asking around, nobody seems to know why Cesaro is being pulled “pulled” the way he is. As best as people can tell, it’s an example of WWE creative not having a clear vision for many of their Superstars.
– As noted on Monday, Darren Young and Titus O’Neil visited Ohio State University prior to RAW and trained with the college football team. Footage of their meeting with the OSU football team and Coach Urban Meyer aired on the WWE App during RAW.
The Prime Time Players were also featured in a WWE App segment with the Columbus Crew Major League Soccer Team, who were in attendance at RAW.
– Titus O’Neil posted a new Tout video announcing that the Prime Time Players will be training with the Ohio State University football team prior to tonight’s RAW:
New STEPHANIE McMAHON BIKINI Photo: You’ve NEVER Seen Her Like This!
– WWE.com currently has a poll up asking fans who they think will win at WrestleMania 29 between The Rock and John Cena. Currently, John Cena has 69% of the vote, with only 31% going towards The Rock.
– WWE.com also has also published a WrestleMania infographic comparing WrestleMania 1 to WrestleMania 29.
– The April 2013 issue of WWE Magazine features an interview with the Prime Time Players, who were asked about each others most annoying habits. Here’s what they said:
Darren Young: Titus’s most annoying habit is that he’s very gassy. Any time we eat at a soul food restaurant and we have to drive to the next city, it’s like a Dutch oven in our SUV. It makes me sick!
Titus O’Neil: Darren’s most annoying habit is taking the longest showers ever and leaving tanner all over the bathroom. He’s the only African-American guy I ever met that goes tanning. It’s very annoying, because we sometimes have to get up earlier than usual to hit the gym and find somewhere just so he can tan. It’s very annoying because I like to get my rest.
– Titus O’Neil says he’ll be “killing rumors” tonight on RAW, possibly in regards to online reports that his partner Darren Young will be out of action for 6+ months with a knee injury. O’Neil tweeted on Sunday:
Off to church then off to Dallas for @WWE#RAW Lots of Rumors will be Killed tomorrow night!!Stay tuned….#Wrestlemania29
– Texas A&M college football coach Kevin Sumlin was at Sunday night’s SmackDown live event from College Station, Texas and got involved during the action. Before the main event featuring Alberto Del Rio vs. Big Show, Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez introduced Sumlin to the crowd and presented him with a replica World Heavyweight championship belt. Sumlin wound up getting involved in the main event, sliding his new World Heavyweight title belt into the ring so Del Rio could use it on Big Show to get the win.
The Texas A&M twitter account (@AggieFootball) tweeted about Sumlin’s appearance. Ricardo Rodriguez also tweeted this picture of Sumlin with his new belt:
– Jim Ross was asked what he thought of AJ Lee’s (photoshopped) picture of himself and Vickie Brought to the Survivor Series pay-per-view. He replied on Twitter:
Comedic. Good plug for JR's products @ WWEShop. @Mano_LFC: @JRsBBQ what do you think of AJ pictures of you and Vickie hahahaha #Classic”
– Jim Ross and JBL tweeted the following about Titus & O’Neal doing commentary on Monday’s RAW:
Jim Ross: “Prime Time Players uniquely entertaining on commentary. It’s good for their team like em or not. Made me chuckle. #WWE”
JBL: “Prime Time Players have a lot of potential-but not on commentary. #washrag #vintageCole @wwe. The Twitter world seems to disagree with me! The whole key is to get noticed and PTP just did. #washrag”
In case you missed it, here’s video of the duo doing commentary during the Rey Mysterio & Sin Cara vs. Team Hell No match:
– Former WWE superstar Dustin Runnels (Goldust) continues to work wrestling shows on the independent circuit and has faith that one day, he’ll be back in a WWE ring. He tweeted over the weekend:
– WWE star Mick Foley noted on Twitter on Sunday night that his home is still without electricity as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Foley is currently overseas in South Korea to perform stand-up comedy for US troops that are stationed there. Foley tweeted on Monday morning:
– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross was in fact in Boston at WWE’s Night of Champions pay-per-view, but did not appear on television.
– Some of the WWE-related terms that trended worldwide on Twitter during Sunday’s Night of Champions pay-per-view were: Ted DiBiase, Brodus Clay, Zack Ryder, JBL, Rey Mysterio, Antonio Cesaro, Daniel Bryan, Kane, Eve Torres, Dolph Ziggler, Randy Orton, John Cena and CM Punk.
– The Prime Time Players say they have a “plan” for new WWE Tag Team Champions Kane and Daniel Bryan. They tweeted on Sunday night:
– WWE Intercontinental champion The Miz and his girlfriend, former WWE Diva Maryse, participated in the 4th annual Lupus LA Celebrity Poker Tournament and rooftop party on Friday night. Click here to view a picture of them at the event.
On Saturday night, Maryse was in Las Vegas at the Bellagio hotel hosting a party at the Lily Bar & Lounge to promote her new House of Maryse jewelry line.
– For the week ending on September 12th, WWE’s Youtube channel ranked as the #8 most watched channel with 2,797,610 views.
– Titus O’Neil continues to tease on Twitter that he and Darren Young will be confronting RAW General Manager AJ Lee at tonight’s WWE Night of Champions pay-per-view:
Abt 2Hit the Gym here in Boston then hit somebody in the mouth later at @WWE#NOC AJ Lee took the #PrimeTimePlayers #1 contender spot!#BS
– Vince McMahon is said to be a big fan of the Prime Time Players, Darren Young and Titus O’Neil. McMahon loves the team’s “swagger” and their celebratory dance.
Despite the recent setback they suffered when their manager Abraham Washington was released, the duo is still in line for a tag title run and is rumored to be feuding with Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara later this year.
– WWEShop.com has released new Authentic t-shirts for Santino Marella and Ryback, as well as “basic” shirts for John Cena, CM Punk, The Rock, Rey Mysterio, Sheamus and Zack Ryder.
– Here is the latest episode of WWE’s Outside The Ring Youtube series, featuring Divas Champion Layla and Brodus Clay:
– For fans hoping that Chris Jericho will be back on WWE television next Monday night, don’t get your hopes up. Jericho will doing a promotional appearance for Fozzy on Monday night at Collector’s Realm in Poughkeepsie, New York (5:30-7:30pm EST.). Jericho and the rest of the band will signing CDs and celebrating the release of their new album, “Sin & Bones.”
– The broadcast team for the WWE Saturday Morning Slam taping that took place on Tuesday night from Bakersfield, California was Josh Mathews and Santino Marella. It’s worth noting that Josh Matthews was kept off the SmackDown tapings due to “injuries” he sustained at the hands of Kane at SummerSlam, yet he was able to do commentary for Saturday Morning Slam, which was taped right before SmackDown.
– At one point, there were plan for Titus O’Neil and Darren Young to capture the WWE tag titles at SummerSlam, according to f4wonline.com. For whatever reason, that plan was scrapped and Kofi Kingston & R-Truth retained. The Prime Time Players are still expected to get a run with the tag titles in the coming months.
– Among the WWE-related trems that trended worldwide on Twitter on Sunday night were SummerSlam, Brock Lesnar, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Walls of Jericho, Zig Zag, Intercontinental title, Scott Armstrong, Michael Cole, Kevin Rudolph, Justin Roberts and more.
– Following their loss to Kofi Kingston and R-Truth at SummerSlam, Titus O’Neil and Darren Young spoke to the WWE website. The Prime Time Players vowed to come back stronger next time and become the next WWE Tag Team Champions.
– Chris Jericho almost didn’t make it to the Staples Center in Los Angeles in time for Sunday’s SummerSlam PPV. Jericho’s band Fozzy layed in Little Rock, Arkansas on Saturday night and then his flight to Los Angeles was canceled. Jericho wound up driving from Little Rock to Memphis, Tennessee and then flew from Mephis to Los Angeles in time for SummerSlam.
– A talent meeting was held prior to Monday’s RAW from Dallas, Texas. In light of the recent Twitter rant by JTG and reported unhappiness from several members on the roster, company officials gave talent the chance to express their grievances. Nobody spoke up. WWE told everybody to be “use common sense” and be careful venting their frustrations via social media, because once a tweet is made, it’s public and action can be taken against them for it.
– Related to WWE wrestlers being upset with the payouts of WWE’s recent international tours, a memo was recently sent out to the wrestlers stating that there was a clerical error when their checks were sent out for those shows and new, higher payments will be issued soon.
– Following the recent departure of AW, WWE is discussing possible replacements to manage the Prime Time Players, Titus O’Neil and Darren Young. Vince McMahon is still said to be against managers in WWE, but some feel this will change and the Players will soon be paired up with someone else.
– WWE will be screening the WWE Studio movie The Day next week at the SummerSlam Axxess event in Los Angeles. The screening will take place on August 18th at 8:30pm from Regal Cinemas at LA Live. SummerSlam Axxess ticket-holders will receive priority entry to the signing with the first 50 receiving VIP seating.
Randy Orton and David Otunga will introduce the movie. Following the screening, The Miz will moderate a Q&A session with The Day stars Ashley Bell and Dominic Monaghan.
– Some of the WWE-related terms that trended on Twitter during Friday’s SmackDown were Booker T, Sin Cara and Ryback.
– On Friday’s SmackDown, the Prime Time Players, Titus O’Neil and Darren Young, defeated Primo and Epico to become the new #1 contenders to the WWE Tag Team Titles. No word yet on when the match will take place.
It’s worth noting that earlier this week, there was talk of a 3-team match at SummerSlam, with Kofi Kignston & R-Truth defending against the Prime Time Players and Primo & Epico.
