WWE Hall Of Famer Dusty Rhodes recently appeared on The Two Man Power Trip Of Wrestling podcast to talk about a number of subjects. Below are some highlights from the interview.

On the creation of the Florida Wrestling Wall of Fame at the JCC and Federation in Tampa, Florida: “It’s amazing. There are so many people that have unfortunately passed on that when you go back and look at in Florida, the wall may simply not be enough. This tribute may have to go all the way around the building. They have some great designs for it and it’s costing a lot of money. So we need the money, we need the backing, we need the focus, we need all these things to make this come true. For me it all started in Florida with The Great Malenko and Eddie Graham. It all started there. Entertainment, show business. Maybe this wall of memories can really stay up for a long time and I will be honored to be on it.”

On performing at the Fort Hesterly Armory in Tampa: “Whatever they were, the mood we were in changed the course of not only the whole state but you wanted to play The Garden, The Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis for (Sam) Muchnick, you wanted to go see Paul Boesch because he had the best pay-offs in the industry in addition to the Armory. Which actually wasn’t a great pay-off but they didn’t know it then, I would have done it for nothing.”

On becoming “The American Dream”: “When I became “The American Dream” they needed a hero down here. I had no money. I couldn’t buy a car without being tied under but I had to have a Cadillac with blue stars on the hood no matter what it cost because just driving in it will set how they look at me and perceive this guy, they’ll know. The first time a truck was ever driven into a building it wasn’t a beer truck. It was my truck, in the Fort Hesterly Armory through the side door with Willie Nelson blaring on the radio, making an entrance.”

On taking the job as booker for Eddie Graham: “I was called in one day in Tampa and Eddie (Graham) said go get an assistant (which ended up being Jerry Brisco) because we are going to make you the booker. What I learned about booking talent was with Eddie allowing me to have the open door to say I’m turning this over to you, take off with it. I used it as a motivation when I was booking. People always say, well Dusty always booked himself on top. I put myself on top because the seats are 17 1/2 inches apart and I’m selling out 12,000 seat arenas. That’s why I was on top. If you don’t have an ego and you don’t have a goal, you ain’t worth a damn.”

On what he teaches in NXT and his connection to his students: “Given the talent right now, I teach all my kids in my communications classes down in NXT that us giving them the opportunity to be free and do things on their own and what will fit their own body of work, it is the best thing they can do. In the last 2 ½ years you can see that in the kids that have made it up to RAW and Smackdown. These 70 or 80 kids that we have down here now in NXT look at me at 69 years old and say you are the coolest 69 year old guy they’ve ever met. It’s because I’ve changed with the times and I haven’t just stayed stuck in one hour Broadways with Bob Orton Sr. and Eddie Graham.”

On his matches with Ric Flair and the NWA title chase: “All of us together being able to make something really special. With “Naitch” it was easy because he had already crossed that threshold of the entertainment being brought into our industry. But we also could go 7 nights in a row. At the Great American Bash tour we went 7 in a row for one hour a night and made a story that you could understand and that made the people almost in a riot. My chase was the best. I learned from Eddie one night at the Armory that he didn’t even need to make me the NWA Champion because my chase is what’s best and eventually that became me getting short spurts with the title, but that’s all you needed. To walk out as the prestigious NWA Champion it was amazing.”

Check out the complete interview at Podomatic.com.

• PHOTO GALLERY: Ronda Rousey Looks HOT In New TV Commercial!

– WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair is scheduled to appear at the NXT live event in Columbus, Ohio next week. Flair, however, is not booked to appear on the NXT live event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Also booked for next week’s NXT live events is WWE Superstar Zack Ryder.

– ECW Original Axl Rotten is the guest on the latest edition of Chris Jericho’s “Talk Is Jericho” podcast. You can download the show right now at PodcastOne.com.

– WWE posted the following video of NBA star Dwight Howard at the SmackDown television taping this past Tuesday night in Houston, Texas.

• Photos: Ronda Rousey Turns Heads With Revealing Outfit At Entourage Premiere!

WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair recently spoke with Thomas Feaheny about a number of topics. Below are some highlights from the interview.

On returning to WWE as a wrestler: “Physically, I am more than able to return. I don’t think that’s going to happen, Vincent Kennedy McMahon does not have me on the roster.”

On returning to WWE as a manager: “I would love that. I have been waiting on that for two years, but I don’t anticipate that happening now. I understand that they have so many young guys, people they want to get established, I have no problem with it, but I don’t think it will happen.”

On his daughter wrestling in NXT: “I think she is going to be one of the biggest stars in the female division… I don’t miss one of her matches. If I’m not there in person I am watching her on the network.”

On Triple H’s role in WWE and NXT: “I personally wish he was in the ring more because he is such a great performer. It’s hard to maintain that edge when you are working part-time. I think he is doing a phenomenal job. On a personal note, NXT is his baby and he has a lot to say about Raw and Smackdown, and he is doing a great job. When you wrestle part-time, the chances of injury can happen much easier.”

You can listen to the audio of the interview above.

• PHOTOS: CM Punk Training For UFC Debut w/ Former Champions!

WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair recently spoke with the folks at the Inside The Ropes podcast about a number of topics. Below are some highlights from the interview.

On his recent comments about getting back in the ring: “Physically I’m more than capable but it’s a cosmetic issue now so I’d need time to prepare. I’ve always wanted to manage Dolph Ziggler but ya know if they were to ask me to get back in the ring tomorrow my answer would be yes and I could work with anybody. I’ve actually worked with Ziggler before when he was in the group (Spirit Squad) I love all those kids. I think I’ve had enough of Brock Lesnar, I don’t think I could do that one again. I don’t think I could take 17 German suplexes. I could work with any of the kids but I don’t think that’s going to happen, I just meant I’m physically cleared to go out there and bounce around or drop an elbow on a sports coat. I’d love to be a part of it again.”

On The Undertaker’s legacy and saluting Flair during his retirement: “First of all, I think the world of him personally. He’s a wonderful person. On top of being one of the top ten performers of all time, he’s got the greatest gimmick in the history of the business. When I first started coming to Europe with him in the 90’s, I had no idea. There were ten thousand people dressed up like The Undertaker. I had no idea how much of an impact he made over here. I was very surprised he did that. Not because he doesn’t respect me but he just doesn’t come out in public. You know you’re never gonna see him at the front row at the Hall of Fame. He’s backstage listening to every work. It’s not that he’s not in attendance, he’s back there with Vince. He’s a wonderful guy.”

On his memories of his match with Randy Savage at WrestleMania 8: “It’s funny because it was just an average match. There was so much tension at that time between Randy and Liz. As a matter of fact, that was the last time they were together, they split the next day. It was just very uncomfortable. Not working with Randy or Liz individually, they’re great people but there was just tension between them and that was the last time they worked together there. I thought the match was OK but it could’ve been better and it wasn’t out individual abilities there was just a lot going on behind the scenes that people weren’t aware of. I felt bad. I was honored to be a part of it and be in a main event at WrestleMania but there was so much going on behind the scenes that I felt bad for everybody involved.Not for me, but they were going their separate ways and it was difficult. He cared for her a great deal.”

Check out the complete interview at Podomatic.com.

• Alberto Del Rio Makes Interesting Comments About Goldberg Fight Rumors!

WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair recently spoke with the folks at The Guide in Portsmouth, where he is currently taking part in his own one-man tour of the United Kingdom.

Below are some highlights from the interview:

On his career: “I could happily talk about my career all day long. I didn’t want to stop competing at all, but I think in terms of the direction the business was heading I saw it as a good time for me to step away from the ring. I’ve been blessed to have such a varied and successful career and I couldn’t have asked for a better final match than the one against Shawn. I couldn’t have asked to go out in a better way, to a better guy. He really is a true friend and if I had to lose to anyone I am glad it was him.”

On possibly returning to the ring: “I would love to get back in the ring, but they are scared I would steal the show every week. I’m just too god damn good. I can still go in the ring and take a suplex or two if I need to.”

On John Cena breaking his World Title record: “I don’t give the record a second thought, but if it was to be broken it couldn’t go to a better person than John.”

On possibly managing his daughter Charlotte: “I think she is one of the best athletes on the roster, but being a female it is always going to be hard in this industry. I have been asked before if I would go back into a management role with Ashley, but she needs me like a hole in the head. I wouldn’t boost her career, if anything I would hinder it.

“She is so talented it is scary. I am so proud of her but there is always going to be that part of me that worries about her development, if she will get injured and things like that.”

On the wrestling business today: “The business is a lot more political now and it is really hard for young wrestlers to work their way up the ranks. Personally I would find it very hard to work full-time now. I wouldn’t be able to do a show then go straight back to the hotel.”

Check out the complete interview at Portsmouth.co.uk.

• RONDA ROUSEY Worried About Nude Photos Of Her Leaking Online!

NXT Diva Charlotte recently spoke with Donald Wood of Ring Rust Radio about a number of topics. Below are some highlights of the interview.

On how she feels about being one of the key stars in NXT’s first real tour of the United States and if she feels any additional pressure being an ambassador for the NXT Divas: “Oh wow. I am honored, I could not be more proud of where NXT is today. Obviously I am solely a product of NXT, I didn’t have any prior work, and I started at OVW before the performance center was a thing. Before we were even on the network we were with UK, Skysports, I am honored and it’s a big deal. NXT is going places and I couldn’t be more proud to be representing them and the female division right now. Especially with all the buzz around it it’s amazing.”

On what she thinks separates the NXT Women’s Division from the WWE Divas Division and what her thoughts are on the grassroots “Give Divas A Chance” movement from the fans: “I can’t speak for the Divas on the main roster, but for the women down in NXT including: Bailey, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, Dana Brook, Alexa Bliss, Carmella, I have never met a bigger group of women who are so patient about what they do. We just mold and gel together so well. Triple H hired Sara Del Ray to work with us. She fights for us every single day, they trust us, they give us storylines, and time. We just run with it. With all those elements combined that’s why we are taking off right now and it’s an exciting time for women’s wrestling.”

On which Diva has pushed her the hardest thus far and which Diva on the main roster is she most looking forward to working with: “Well first I just want to say, Natalia help put me on the map. When I had my Takeover match and I won the NXT Women’s championship, I didn’t have that much experience at the time. She brought out something in the character Charlotte that I didn’t know I had and I ran with it. I can’t say one specific girl is harder than the other. Obviously when I work Sasha Banks, she’s the baddest. She is probably one of the best heels in the company today. So how I am with her is different than how I am with Bailey. Bailey is every single persons best friend. Then you have a new comer like Becky Lynch who is the number one contender. Other girls like Alexa Bliss, Dana Brook, Carmella, for Charlotte she just tries to tell the best story with each character. Natty, Sasha, Bailey, and me have had these Takeover matches and there was the fatal four way, but I like to work with everybody so I can’t just say there is one person. When I make the main roster, I would really like one more go with Natty. I beat her at Takeover, she beat me on Raw, its 1 for 1, so that’s who I would like forward to working.”

On what it was like being named Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Rookie of the Year in 2014 and how does it feel to be the longest reigning Women’s Champion in NXT history: “I’m just so honored. For me it’s more less that I’m a generation kid and want to carry on my Dad’s legacy and represent the Flair name. For me that’s what it is all about. I want to work hard and especially for the women I work with. I’m just honored and shocked and I want to keep getting better. I want to keep outdoing every other match I have ever had. I had no idea about the Rookie of the Year until someone, Joe I think, said, “hey you won Rookie of the Year” and then my Dad being it, I’m just so honored and blown away by everything. All the credit has to do with the group of women, Sara Del Ray, Triple H, and it makes me excited for the future.”

On what her ultimate goals in the WWE are and how high does she see her ceiling in the Divas Division: “The skies the limit. I want to main event a PPV, be the Divas champion, I mean gosh when I started, I didn’t know I would be where I am today. I want to see where my hard work takes me, but I want to main event Raw, I want to main event a PPV, and be the Divas champion. I want to see the entire female NXT roster on Raw at one point.”

On how has being the daughter of legend Ric Flair influenced her in-ring style and if there is a story behind how she came up with the Figure 8 variation on the Figure 4 leg lock: “Well when I first started, I was just learning how to lock up and hit the ropes. I really stayed away from what my Dad did, like the figure four, the chops, the woo. When I had my match with Natty though, that’s when I started to incorporate some of my Dad’s signature move set. Shout out to Simon Gotch of the Vaudevillians, helped me come up with the figure eight. He said, “hey its twice as good as your Dad’s”. We were just playing around with it, and it came from a combination of everyone at school helping me. Its kinds like the figure four headlock I do. Sara Del Ray was the one that helped me do the snap mare where I flip over the person. I just want to take his move set and add my own twist to it. Its gradually coming along thanks to my coaches and co-workers.”

On if it has been difficult working in the business as Ric Flair’s daughter and how has her relation to a legend impacted the expectations for her career: “It was very hard in the beginning. Any generation kid has a hard time, but because I didn’t come from a wrestling background I felt the pressure right away. “She isn’t any good, she has no personality, she’s this, she’s just Flair’s daughter”. I knew if they would just be patient and give me time they would see. I have literally been in sports since I could walk so I knew once I could figure out the psychology, understand what’s important within the match, my character, and got comfortable within Charlotte I could show people how athletic I really am. That is what gravitates them to me now. Obviously its cool that I am Ric Flair’s daughter. I think my athleticism adds a lot to Charlotte instead of just being the daughter of the Nature Boy. Now that I am comfortable within my own skin, I have no problem going out there and wooing 75 times. My Dad is the best wrestler of all time in my eyes, but he wasn’t known for his leap frogs or being the dirtiest player in the game. So it’s been a journey figuring out who Charlotte is while not just being his daughter.”

On her thoughts on when she’ll debut on the main roster and how she’ll do: “When I do debut, I just want to run with it. I don’t want anything to hold me back and I just want to shine and not be timid or scared. NXT is getting bigger and bigger but it still doesn’t have the fan base of the WWE Universe has. I want to take my NXT fan base with me to the main roster and show what I can do on a larger scale. That is what I am most excited about.”

Check out the complete audio of the interview above.

• Ronda Rousey The Latest Victim Of Celebrity Nude Photos Leaking Online?!

– Samoa Joe is Jim Ross’ guest on this week’s Ross Report podcast. During the interview, JR talks to Joe about him possibly coming to WWE, his thoughts on CM Punk and more. You can download the show right now at PodcastOne.com.

– Smashing Pumpkins front man and the newest member of the TNA creative team, Billy Corgan, is the guest on the latest edition of Chris Jericho’s “Talk Is Jericho” podcast, which is also available for download right now. You can check out the show at PodcastOne.com.

– Finally, Ric Flair’s brand new podcast is out, with his first special guest, Olympic gold medalist and longtime WWE and TNA veteran — Kurt Angle. That show is available right now at Play.it.

For more on Flair’s new podcast, check out the following press release:

WRESTLER RIC FLAIR JOINS “PLAY.IT®”

“WOOOOO!™ Nation” Launches Today with special guest, world champion Kurt Angle

CBS RADIO and CBS Local Digital Media today announced the addition of “WOOOOO!™ Nation” to its Play.it® podcast network. The podcast features two-time Hall Of Famer, 16-time World Heavyweight Professional Wrestling Champion, Ric Flair, also known as The Nature Boy®. In the debut podcast, Flair interviews his long-time friend, 13-time World Heavyweight Professional Wrestling Champion Kurt Angle, who talks about his time in the industry with Flair and his history with the Pennsylvanian Foxcatcher Club. The podcast will be released every Wednesday. Fans can listen to “WOOOOO!™ Nation” on Play.it or through iTunes.

Widely recognized as the greatest professional wrestler of all time, Flair discusses pro-wrestling and sports, tells stories like only he can, and interviews a range of personalities – no topic is off limits for him during his weekly podcast.

“We are excited to welcome Ric to the Play.it podcast network,” said Ezra Kucharz, President of CBS Local Digital Media. “His addition to our lineup reinforces our commitment to providing podcasting fans the best content available.”

Together with Booker T’s “Heated Conversations” and Taz’s award-winning “Human Podcast Machine,” Play.it provides a great representation of professional wrestling for fans to enjoy across a variety of platforms.

Launched in January, Play.it offers more than 400 premium content podcasts by bringing together digital-exclusive programming from major brands and publishers as well as content from CBS RADIO shows on demand. Play.it also offers podcasts from CBS RADIO’s Boomer Esiason & Craig Carton, Carson Daly, and Kevin & Bean, in addition to well-known personalities like Tom Joyner, Jeffrey Hayzlett, Paulie Malignaggi and Marilu Henner, as well as content from leading news, lifestyle, sports and media brands including 48 HOURS, 60 MINUTES, CBS Sports Radio, Deadspin, Simon & Schuster and Foursquare.

Play.it is advertising supported and uses the latest in dynamic ad insertion technology as well as native and sponsorship advertising. Brands can buy campaigns across platforms in a simple one-stop-shop manner including over-the-air, live streaming and podcasts. Additionally, brands can deliver targeted messaging to specific fans of a particular show or across the entire network of hundreds of programs.

For more information, visit Play.it.

• CONFIRMED: CHAEL SONNEN Signs With GFW — What Will His Role Be?!

WWE Hall Of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase Sr. recently spoke with Chuck Carroll of Turnbuckle Weekly to discuss a number of topics. Below are some highlights from the interview:

On what Vince McMahon told him when his “Million Dollar Man” character debuted: “In an effort to make people believe you really are rich, we’re going to fly you everywhere first class. You’re going to stay in first-class accommodations, and you’ll have limousine service daily.”

On how his character compared to Ric Flair’s: “I was never as flamboyant as [Flair]. And the other big difference… Ric’s [tab] was coming out of his own pocket.”

On comparing Eric Bischoff to Vince McMahon: “The difference between Eric Bischoff and Vince McMahon is Vince McMahon knows how to create a star. Eric took a company and took it down. I remember a conversation one night after one of the shows, and Eric said he was going to put Vince out of business. I just laughed at him and said ‘are you kidding me?’ Even if Vince retreats a little bit, he ain’t going away. I don’t think you or anybody else are going to run him out of business.”

Check out the complete interview at CBSLocal.com.

• SHOCKER: THE ROCK & RONDA ROUSEY Break ONE-HUNDRED Year Old Record Together!

– As noted, WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair will be coming out with his own podcast in the near future. The name of the show will be “Woo Nation.”

– WWE Hall Of Famer Kevin Von Erich noted on social media that his sons Ross and Marshall have tryouts with WWE this May. Von Erich tweeted the following:

https://twitter.com/KevinVonErich/status/586009096446312450

– The latest edition of WWE Inbox, which you can watch below, features WWE Superstars and Divas talking about who would make the best couples.

• Former WWE Star Says He Has Beef With CM Punk Over Eve Torres!

WWE Diva and Total Divas star Natalya is scheduled to induct former WWE Women’s Champion Alundra Blayze (Madusa) into the WWE Hall Of Fame on Saturday night.

With that now known, below is the complete list of inductees and inductors for tonight’s 2015 WWE Hall Of Fame induction ceremony, which airs live on the WWE Network at 7pm EST.

– Warrior Award: Connor Michalek, inducted by Daniel Bryan and Dana Warrior

– Larry Zbyszko, inducted by Bruno Sammartino

– Tatsumi Fujinami, inducted by Ric Flair

– The Bushwhackers, inducted by John Laurinaitis

– Alundra Blayze, inducted by Natalya

– Rikishi, inducted by The Usos

– Arnold Schwarzenegger, inducted by Triple H

– Randy Savage, inducted by Hulk Hogan

– Kevin Nash, inducted by Shawn Michaels

– Alundra Blayze, inducted by Natalya

• PHOTOS: UFC Star RONDA ROUSEY Interviews ROMAN REIGNS For WRESTLEMANIA 31!!

Sports Illustrated Extra’s “Mustard Blog” recently put together a lengthy piece on 2015 WWE Hall Of Famer “Macho Man” Randy Savage, talking to a number of WWE legends about the iconic performer. Below are some of the highlights.

Jerry Lawler on working with Savage:

“The first time we worked together, when it was ‘promotion against promotion,’ we sold out at the arena with 23,000 people. That was unheard of in wrestling. But Randy was so cool. He was a great athlete, and he was a little bit out there. He had a bit of a temper, and he was moody at times, but he was his own guy. I really grew to respect him.”

Steve Austin on Savage:

“Macho Man, that guy’s stuff back when he was in Tennessee, was incredible. His intensity, his promo style—he was the Macho Man 24/7, 365—and he was that before he got to the WWF. Vince [McMahon] didn’t make him, he made himself. Vince then made him a superstar all over the world.”

Gene Okerlund, Hulk Hogan and Ted DiBiase on Savage’s relationship with Miss Elizabeth:

Okerlund: “Randy was a loose cannon. In the early days, Randy was very protective of Elizabeth to the point where it bothered a lot of the boys. But what could you do, take it to Vince McMahon and make yourself look like a powder puff? You just ignored it and worked with it.”

Hogan: “If you even looked at Elizabeth the wrong way, then, Holy s—. Randy would freak out. If you ever wanted to get him lit up, you’d just have to look at Liz.”

DiBiase: “I would never consider having my wife around a bunch of wrestlers. Randy tried to protect Elizabeth, but that created some tension between the two of them.”

Daniel Bryan on Savage:

“I’d love to be this era’s Macho Man. There are a lot of similarities between the two of us. He was so good and just had that connection with the crowd. You can watch him to this day, he’s so entertaining.”

Ric Flair on his WrestleMania VIII match against Savage:

“We brought the best out in each other. When you have that kind of chemistry and respect for each other, it doesn’t take a lot of thought-process to go out there and make music in the ring. Randy was still playing minor league baseball when I first met him. I was there in his corner during his infancy in the business, saw him blossom and become so much better. I was proud of him, and wrestling him at WrestleMania was awesome.”

Sting on his friendship with Savage:

“Randy Savage, ironically, is one of the guys I looked up to. I loved him. He was so out far out there with his character. There was something about it I could identify with. I used to tease him a little bit in the dressing room in front of all the guys, and say, ‘Come on, just talk in your normal voice.’ ‘This is my normal voice, what are you talking about?,’ he’d say. It was funny. We’d always try to get him, but I never heard him talk any other way than just like this, brother! Living the character helped him, absolutely it did.”

Lanny Poffo on a Triple H interview that led to a the infamous Stephanie McMahon rumor, which Lanny says is not true:

“A reporter asked [WWE heavyweight champion] Triple H what he thought of Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage. Triple H responded with, ‘They were great, but they’re dinosaurs.’ Randy saw this as a deliberate attempt to hurt his brand. Randy insinuated he [wanted] to take Triple H, slap him in the face, take his girl, Stephanie McMahon [the daughter of Vince McMahon and the wife of Triple H], and drive her around the block, then give her back to him,” Lanny says. “It wasn’t right, but Randy was provoked.”

Check out the complete feature at SI.com.

PHOTOS: UFC Star RONDA ROUSEY Interviews ROMAN REIGNS For WRESTLEMANIA 31!!

With WrestleMania only a few days away, it’s time for our final look at the greatest matches in the event’s history. The final decade would be a transitional period in many ways. Perhaps most importantly, the content would change dramatically after the company changed its events to PG rating following several controversies.

Additionally, old stars like Steve Austin and The Rock would largely ride off into the sunset and hand the reins to a new generation led by Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan, and of course, John Cena. Well, here we go, the top ten matches of the final decade of WrestleMania. As always, full videos of each match are included so you can relive the contest in its entirety. Enjoy!

10. Money in the Bank (WrestleMania 21)

This match would change the WWE pretty dramatically and has become a staple in the current era, so much that it now has its own pay-per-view. Supposedly developed by Chris Jericho, the match saw a title contract hanging above the ring in a briefcase, with the winner being able to cash it in at any time over the next year for a guaranteed title shot. Edge would win this first Money in the Bank contest that was filled with memorable spots, and later cash it in and become the “Ultimate Opportunist” in a move that would be mirrored by many later.

9. CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho (WrestleMania XXVIII)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x150cxk_cm-punk-vs-chris-jericho-wwe-championship-match-wrestlemania-xxviii_sport

All of the hype heading into WrestleMania 28 was around the “Once in a Lifetime” match between John Cena and The Rock. However, many feel that the best match of the night was actually the WWE Championship match with CM Punk and Chris Jericho. Following a lengthy hiatus, Jericho would return as a heel and challenge Punk for the title. It was a pure wrestling match and a treat for fans, with Punk eventually countering the Wall of Jericho into the Anaconda Vice for the win. This match would also be important because it was one of the factors that would lead to Punk departing from the company, as his dream was to headline a WrestleMania but never received that opportunity.

8. John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 23)

John Cena was the new top dog in the company by the time Shawn Michaels challenged for the title at WrestleMania 23. During the contest, Michaels was relentless in his pursuit of the title, executing a piledriver onto the steel stairs at one point, while also trying to hit his patented Sweet Chin Music several time. In the end, he would fall to the leader of the Cenation after being forced to tap out to the STF. Overall, it was a solid match that helped Cena elevated himself into the role as the face of this era.

7. The Rock vs. John Cena (WrestleMania XXVIII)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2edri7_wr-match-of-the-day-the-rock-vs-john-cena-wrestlemania-28_sport

This was one of the most hyped matches in the history of the WWE, as the build began about a year prior to the event. With Rock coming back from his successful Hollywood career and John Cena being by far the company’s biggest moneymaker, the outcome was really a toss-up. Both superstars kicked out of multiple finishers, and it eventually ended with Cena going down after failing to hit the People’s Elbow and receiving a Rock Bottom. It may not have been “Once in a Lifetime,” but it was definitely one hell of a match.

6. Shawn Michaels vs. Vince McMahon (WrestleMania 22)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5KI8DPq_Vc

Anytime Mr. McMahon is involved in a match, one can expect some shenanigans, and this one was no exception. After being forcefully inducted into the infamous “Kiss My Ass” Club, Michaels wanted revenge and he got his chance in a No Holds Barred match against the boss. This featured some brutal action that truly felt personal. Michaels would eventually win after hitting an impressive spot that would see him drive an elbow through McMahon, a table, and even a trash can – all while driving from the top of a ladder.

Due to the fact that WWE is looking at setting the new all-time attendance record at Cowboys Stadium next year, the company is looking at going all out for WrestleMania 32.

WWE is reportedly going to reach out to as many legends that can still work as possible for next year’s show, although Ric Flair is considered to be out of the question, as WWE refuses to have him work a match in their company after giving him the grand send-off for his retirement angle.

For the past few years, the talk has been that Undertaker’s retirement match will be at Cowboys Stadium, both due to the fact that he is from Texas and because WWE feels it’s an angle that will help sell a lot of tickets for a show that they need to sell more tickets than ever before.

When asked about it over the past couple of years, Undertaker has reportedly said that he doesn’t feel he will be able to go that long, although many are under the impression that the ultimate decision will be based off of how he looks and feels after his match against Bray Wyatt at this Sunday’s WrestleMania 31 pay-per-view.

• Brock Lesnar Reveals Specifics On The VERY LUCRATIVE Offer He Turned Down From UFC

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

ROH TV Champion Jay Lethal recently appeared as a guest on the Chad Dukes Wrestling Show to promote his upcoming match against Alberto El Patron. Below are highlights from the interview.

On wrestling Alberto El Patron: “The coolest part of it is my dad, who watches anything and everything wrestling, is a big fan of Alberto’s, so it was actually cool getting to wrestle somebody that my dad was a fan of AND beating him so that way I could rub it in my dad’s face.

“But also, much like when I wrestled Ric Flair, Kurt Angle, I love those high-profile matches where you know there’s gonna be a lot of eyes on you because there’s a lot of press and publicity and such surrounding the match. I always love rising to those occasions because it’s kind of a lot of pressure, you know? You know the competition is going to be watching, especially since Alberto came from somewhere else, some of the people over there are going to be watching, it’s really exciting. It can be nerve wrecking, but I love those moments in wrestling.”

On the internet wrestling community: “That’s where we get to almost judge whether not what we’re doing is working. I think a lot of the internet wrestling community fans are bit smarter than the average wrestling fan, which is why they come together in this little internet community. I definitely think that it’s a positive that they are there, although they shouldn’t be taken too seriously sometimes.

“The wrestling world is becoming smarter, and what I mean by that is, I remember a time where there were so many fans who only knew what the WWF was and that was it. Now that they are finding out about independent shows and all the other things like that they’re becoming smarter, not even because they want to be but because it’s happening naturally. I do believe if we can please them, and its very easy to know if they’re being pleased, [laughs] they do not keep it to themselves.

“Every wrestler is egotistical, we all are. We all want to be praised. So no matter what it is we do, no matter who the wrestler is, don’t let them fool you, we all search for comments about what we are doing. Some of us take those comments too personally, they take it to the heart and they let it get us down if we thought we did something good but find out there was a massive amount of people or maybe a small amount of people who don’t think that it was good. That really gets some people down, I’ve seen it happen and it’s a shame. But overall I think it’s a good tool.”

Check out the complete interview at ChadDukesWrestlingShow.com.

• BACKSTAGE UPDATE: Samoa Joe Signing With WWE SOONER THAN YOU THINK!!

– Ric Flair recently spoke with Esquire about his legendary style, from the sequins robes to the gator shoes. The Nature Boy said he set the bar impossibly high, spending more money on one robe than guys spend in 5 years.

“Kids today can’t touch us. Are you kidding? I spent more money on one robe than guys spend in five years.”

(Editor’s Note: WOOOOO!)

“All they are now is markin’ their T-shirts. I wish I would have thought of that. We didn’t have T-shirts back then. You don’t see anybody dress elaborately anymore. It’s much more casual than it was, but my clothes and my ring attire—I thought up half of what I brought to the show.”

– Several fans who were ringside at last night’s RAW dressed up as WWE legends were forced to remove their costumes or give up their front row seats.

.@MichelleDBeadle Put out another Twitter APB. Back in the front row for RAW and 10 strong this time. @crab_dangler pic.twitter.com/Umz8tMyxTl

— Kris Laufer (@KrisWontMiss) March 16, 2015

They made us take the outfits off or give up our front row seats. #TheMan #RAW @aubreysitterson @MichelleDBeadle pic.twitter.com/eLPZZYRVkY

— Kris Laufer (@KrisWontMiss) March 17, 2015

WrestleMania is now only a few weeks away, and to say that the build has been abysmal so far would be a bit of an understatement. Instead of criticizing the company for its incompetence, let’s relive the glory days together.

Over the course of the next week or so, we are going to be looking at the ten best matches from each decade of WrestleMania. Today we start by looking at the first ten WrestleMania events.

10. The British Bulldogs vs. The Dream Team (Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake) (WrestleMania II)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2cyy4p_wwf-wrestlemania-ii-the-british-bulldogs-vs-the-dream-team_sport

This took place at one of the absolute worst WrestleManias of all-time, and was one of the few (if not the only) highlights of the night. Davey Boy put in most of the work for his team, showcasing his power throughout the contest.

There were multiple near-falls in this contest, with the Bulldog attempting Perfect-Plex that registered a two-count at one point. It appeared The Dream Team had the victory at one point, but Valentine foolishly pulled the Dynamite Kid’s head from the mat, and would lose mere seconds later after having his head smashed into the turnbuckle. Overall, there weren’t a ton of memorable tag matches during the first decade of WrestleMania, but this is definitely a highlight, and one that usually doesn’t get much credit.

9. Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. Rick Martel (WrestleMania VII)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2hsfmz_wwf-wrestlemania-vii-jake-roberts-vs-rick-martel_sport

Let me start by saying this match was pretty cheesy. We all knew the two competitors could see each other through the bags they were sporting. With that said, they employed decent in-ring psychology and told a solid story, and it was even unintentionally humorous at times. (I mean how could one not laugh at Martel delivering an elbow to the canvas after The Snake was long gone, or the two running past one another in the most obvious manner?)

Roberts finally tracked down “The Model” and picked up the win after hitting his signature DDT. Most importantly, this was one of the first gimmick matches to be featured at WrestleMania and would lay the groundwork for the next generation, which would deviate away from the traditional wrestling style that had characterized the first six WrestleManias. For that reason alone, I feel that it deserves to be included on the list.

8. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant (WrestleMania III)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1u6x5h_wwf-wrestlemania-iii-hulk-hogan-vs-andre-the-giant_sport

The action in this one was basically garbage. One of the main selling points involved fans hoping to see Hogan slam Andre for the first time, even though he and others had already done so in the past. And on top of that, it was the main event of the biggest show of the year and only lasted a little over ten minutes. Don’t get me wrong, the feud leading into the event was money, but the match itself was rather meh.

Even though the action didn’t live up to the hype, this was the most important match in the company’s history at the time, and one would be hard-pressed to find one since that had more impact. These guys worked a lengthy feud leading into the event and had millions of eyes watching a product that wasn’t even putting on pay-per-view events just a few years prior. Not only did they have millions of eyes watching at home, they also drew a record 93,173 fans to check it out on in person.

Hogan did slam Andre and followed it up with his Leg Drop for the win. The action wasn’t memorable, but without this match, there’s a good chance the WWE would never have become the global juggernaut it is today, so for that reason alone, it has to be included in a list such as this one.

7. Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage (WrestleMania VII)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2hsck9_wwf-wrestlemania-vii-randy-savage-vs-the-ultimate-warrior_sport

After Savage lost his title to Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania V, he had tried on numerous occasions to win it back. Hogan passed the torch to Warrior at WrestleMania VI, and the “Macho King” set his sights on the newly crowed champ. After Warrior refused to grant him a title shot (instead granting one to Sergeant Slaughter), Savage interfered in the contest, hitting Warrior with his scepter and costing him the title.

This led to a feud between the two heading into WrestleMania VII, with Savage putting his career on the line. Sensational Sherri accompanied the “Macho King” to the ring but his former girlfriend Miss Elizabeth was also in attendance. After hitting a remarkable five flying elbows drops, Savage was still unable to diminish the power of the Warrior, eventually taking three shoulder block tackles that each sent Savage to the floor. Warrior would stand over the fallen King and pick up the victory, forcing Savage to “retire.”

Some of the most memorable action actually took place following the match, however, as Sherri attacked Savage, leading to a memorable reconciliation between Miss Elizabeth and Savage, with Savage once again becoming a fan favorite after holding the ropes for Elizabeth. Awesome match. Awesome story. Awesome Wrestlemania moment.

6. Bret Hart vs. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper (WrestleMania VIII)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2gs2s7_wwf-wrestlemania-viii-bret-hart-vs-roddy-piper_sport

Widely considered to be one of the greatest matches in WrestleMania history, Hart and Piper battled for the Intercontinental Championship back in the days when the title was actually worth a damn.

Hart could make anyone look good, and Piper was an above average worker in his own right, so there was little chance of this contest being anything other than a stone cold classic. It really felt personal too, with stiff action that was a borderline street fight at times. The “Hit Man” bladed during the match and was covered in blood by the end of this brutal affair.

After the referee was driven into the turnbuckle and knocked out for a few minutes, Piper considered using the ring bell as a weapon, but had a change of heart and chose not to. The “Hot Rod” instead attempted to put Hart away with his signature sleeper, but Hart countered the move by propelling himself off of the turnbuckle and countering into one of the most beautiful pinning combinations fans will ever see. Piper embraced Hart and helped him to the back after the contest, earning the respect and admiration of basically everyone in attendance.

– WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair said during a Q&A held at “The Arnold” this past weekend in Ohio that he doesn’t know if John Cena will beat his record for the most reigns as World Heavyweight Champion, but he would be happy if he does because he feels Cena is a hard worker. One fan suggested that Flair wrestle Triple H at WrestleMania, to which Flair said he would love to do it, telling everyone that they should e-mail that idea to Vince McMahon.

– WWE Superstar Hornswoggle took a shot at Cody Rhodes on Twitter this week, which was said to come out of nowhere. He tweeted the following to the account that Rhodes uses separate from his official “Stardust” account.

Hey @PrinceCGR I'm sorry my daddy didn't give me my spot in the business. All the paint in the world won't cover up that growing forehead.

— Dylan Postl (@DylanPostl) March 11, 2015

• MIKE TYSON Admits RONDA ROUSEY Could “Kick His Ass” In A Real Fight! [READ HERE >>]

(Partial Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

On Friday night, WWE held a “Hulk Hogan Appreciation Night” at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Among those in attendance for the special event were Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Triple H, Ric Flair and Jimmy Hart. Additionally, a special tribute video package aired that featured comments from the likes of The Rock, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart and The New Age Outlaws.

The ring ropes for the MSG event on Friday were red and yellow, in honor of “The Hulkster.” They also had a special t-shirt to commemorate the event.

WWE had several camera crews at the show to film the Hogan ceremony, likely for future use on television, the WWE Network or a DVD/Blu-ray release.

MSG raised a special Hogan banner, which you can see pictured below, to go along with their other legendary banners that hang from the rafters. They also presented Hogan with a portrait from WrestleMania 1, which was held in MSG back in March of 1985.

Courtesy of WWE and Triple H’s official Twitter accounts, below are a couple of photos from the event.

#TheImmortal @HulkHogan takes his rightful place at @TheGarden! #WWEMSG #WWE #WrestleMania http://t.co/1L6luaEUzA pic.twitter.com/O9H6OeYJkG

— WWE (@WWE) February 28, 2015

A gift from @TheGarden to #TheImmortal @HulkHogan…#WhatANight #WWEMSG @WWE pic.twitter.com/2C3zowRHb6

— Triple H (@TripleH) February 28, 2015

• VERY Detailed Update On Reason BROCK LESNAR Walked Out On WWE On Monday!

– WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair celebrates his 66th birthday today. “The Nature Boy” was born on February 25, 1949. Also celebrating birthdays today are former WWE Superstar Steve Lewington (32) and former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis (33). Today also would have been Sean O’Haire’s 44th birthday.

– The latest edition of Bill Goldberg’s “Who’s Next?” podcast, which features an interview with NFL player A.J. Hawk, is now online. You can download the show at PodcastOne.com.

– WWE Hall Of Famers Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Scott Hall were backstage at the WWE SmackDown television taping on Tuesday night in Atlanta, Georgia. WWE Diva Natalya posted the following photo of herself with Roberts backstage at the show.

• VIDEO: UFC Fighter CAUGHT ON TAPE Violently Assaulting Man At His Gym!

WWE.com has a new article up titled, “WWE Hall Of Fame Class of 2015 inductees to be announced Monday.”

As the headline of the article states, a new inductee will be announced on RAW, however this time it will be a tag-team that gets their moment in the spotlight.

The article continues with the following teaser as to who the tag-team is:

“The mystery pair of legends will join “Macho Man” Randy Savage, celebrity inductee Arnold Schwarzenegger and Rikishi in the elite class. Who will enter the WWE Hall of Fame the night before WrestleMania 31? Could it be a team famous for their camouflage gear? Could it be an ultra-popular pair of brothers or family members? How many tag team championships have they held? Is it possible that we will see a current Hall of Famer earn a second nod and join Ric Flair as a two-time inductee?”

• UPDATE: Brock Lesnar’s Return To UFC Looking Unlikely Because ….

The latest weekly sit-down interview between Michael Cole and Triple H is now available.

On this week’s interview, the focus was this Sunday’s WWE Fastlane pay-per-view event. Cole asked HHH about some of the top matches. Regarding the Daniel Bryan vs. Roman Reigns main event, “The Game” pointed out that the leader of the “Yes! Movement” might be the best wrestler in WWE right now, however he questioned if that will be enough to overcome Reigns’ brute strength and power.

Regarding Sting, HHH said he first wanted to apologize to Ric Flair for pushing him down on Monday’s RAW. He blamed it on passion and Sting and said what Sting is trying to do will only get done over Triple H’s “dead body.”

You can check out the complete Cole and HHH interview above.

• PHOTOS & VIDEO: UFC Champion RONDA ROUSEY In SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’S SWIMSUIT ISSUE!

WWE RAW Pros And Cons: Analyzing Last Night’s Show

Her are some more RAW Fallout videos from last night:

Ric Flair gives his thoughts on his confrontation with Triple H:

Paige won’t let some different looking ring attire hold her back in her goal of winning the Divas Title.

Will Kane and Big Show be able to work out their differences?

WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair recently spoke with the Bell 2 Bell podcast about his status these days, his daughter making it to the main WWE roster and more.

Below are highlights from the interview:

ON WORKING WITH RODDY PIPER AND THE HIGHLANDERS: “Oh yeah, I do remember that, wearing the Kilt and everything, Roddy had two with him, so we thought “why not?”, we had a lot of fun that night in Glasgow. I’ve known Roddy since 1976 or 77 and he’s just a great guy, we’re very very close friends.”

ON WHAT IS RIC FLAIR DOING WITH HIMSELF THESE DAYS: “I was just on RAW last week, I’m on RAW about 8 or 9 times a year and my daughter is, of course, in NXT. I just keep busy doing a lot of appearances for the company and I keep busy with my own promotional stuff, you know, like autograph signings, hockey games and NFL Hockey games. Basically I work every weekend….if I want to.”

ON CHARLOTTE MAKING IT TO THE MAIN ROSTER: “Do I think she’s ready? She’s been ready for at least 3 months. The question is whether they are ready for her. The DIVA’s devision needs a good shaking up, and she’s the one to do it. I don’t know what the time scale is like, but there is nobody like her, I’m not saying it because she is my daughter, but because she is just that good.”

Check out the complete interview at Bell2Bell.Podomatic.com.

• BROCK LESNAR Offers To HELP TRAIN CM PUNK For His UFC Debut!

As the entire northeast freezes under a mountain of snow, the WWE decided to dip down to Orlando in an attempt to heat things up heading into Sunday’s Fastlane pay-per-view. The show featured eight matches, as well as appearances from Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes. Without further ado, here are the pros and cons from this week’s episode of Raw.

Pros

Seth Rollins vs. Dolph Ziggler was pure gold. Before the match, the two engaged in a hilarious back and forth, with Rollins laying down some burnsauce by telling Ziggler: “I know you fancy yourself a comedian but the only thing funny about you is that joke you call a career.” It was also hilarious to hear Ziggler question whether J&J getting him the wrong chocolates ruined his Valentine’s Day. Something tells me his Valentine’s Day was ruined for other reasons… As for the match, it was fast paced, full of spots, and exactly what you’d expect from two of the best workers in the business. Other than the J&J interference and non-finish, this was pretty much perfect on every level. I suspect a match between these two will be added to Fastlane after Smackdown. Here’s to hoping they give these guys 15 minutes and let them tear the house down. Highlight of the night by far.

I enjoyed the Dusty Rhodes backstage segments. The match between the New Day and Gold and Stardust was also nice, as it served as a nice juxtaposition between the brawling opening contest between Ambrose and Harper. Following the match, Stardust attacked his brother and called Dusty a “polka-dotted freak of a father.” I’ll admit, they’ve dragged this out forever and I wasn’t too excited at first, but I’m now getting into it.

Roman Reigns was the man last night. He sounded like a completely different person during his backstage interview before his match with Kane. His calm, confident, and collected demeanor is a stark contrast from the nervous guy we saw out there a few weeks ago talking about beanstalks while stumbing over every other word. His match with Kane was actually decent too, with Reigns winning via countout after hitting a big Spear. Daniel Bryan was on commentary during the match, with he and Reigns playing off of one another very well. It was also humorous to hear Michael Cole state: “Daniel Bryan is trying to steal Roman Reigns’ thunder. Roman Reigns just beat Kane, guys!” That means about as much as beating the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2015.

For a comedy segment, the Paige bit was actually hilarious. The outfit was funny, it actually served some sort of purpose in furthering her feud with Nikki Bella, the fans seemed to be enjoying it, and the match with Summer Rae was good for the time they were given.

The Dean Ambrose “weekend update” promo, where the Lunatic Fringe was parked at a desk looking like a shady used car dealer, was also entertaining. His match with Luke Harper featuring some nice, brawling action and was a good opening contest. JBL’s “we’ve got an air psycho” line had me cracking up, and his plot to force Barrett to sign the contract for Sunday was perfect. Nobody in the midcard deserves the IC Title more than Ambrose, and it looks like he’s going to find a way to capture the gold on Sunday.

Bray Wyatt’s promos are starting to become a bit repetitive, but I still enjoyed his work this week. He once again attacked the Undertaker, stating: “You’re an empty shell, and any fear that I once of you has turned into nothing more than putrid, hateful pity.” I can’t wait to see this program.

WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair is currently scheduled for tonight’s WWE RAW from Orlando, according to a report at PWInsider.com.

Flair is booked for a segment with Triple H to hype Triple H’s meeting with Sting this Sunday at WWE Fast Lane. The idea is for Flair to talk about his own storied history with Sting in hopes of convincing Triple to take him seriously.

The decision to bring Flair in was made over the weekend.

As always, join us here tonight for Live Coverage of WWE RAW.