WWE Started off RAW 1000 with a new “Signature” featuring the following Superstars Divas and Events:
Wrestlemania 28, Miami, John Cena, Andre The Giant, Triple H, The Rock, Fans, Chris, Jericho, Vincent J. McMahon, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Bobby Heenan & Gorilla Monsoon, The Miz, The Undertaker, Natalya & David Otunga, Sheamus, Kane, John Cena, Shawn Michaels, Kelly Kelly, Ric Flair, Bret Hart, Undertaker (Bad Ass) Hall Of Fame, Various Wrestlemania’s, Then, Now, Forever
View the New Signature:
http://youtu.be/6nxrspDWOGw
– Video has been posted showing The Rock and John Cena after Raw 1000 went off the air:
– As previously reported, Ric Flair’s first wrestling appearance since leaving TNA will be the Insane Clown Posse’s Gathering of the Juggalos show on August 12th from Cave-in-Rock, IL. Flair will hosting the event on the main stage but will not be wrestling at the event.
Almost everyone expects Ric Flair to be back in WWE when the TNA vs. WWE lawsuit dies down and WWE can find a role for him.
– A new women’s promotion called Shine will debut on July 20th in Ybor City, Florida. Affiliated with Dragon Gate and Evolve, the promotion will run regular iPPVs.
The first show, which will see Daffney as the host, will feature the following card:
Sara Del Rey vs. Jazz
Nikki Roxx vs. Rain
Veda Scott vs. Kimberly
Santana Garrett vs. Tina San Antonio
Tracy Taylor & Su Yung vs. Allysin Kay & Taylor Made
This past Monday night, Ric Flair and his wife Jacqueline Bains Beems were involved in yet another violent altercation at their condo in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police were called to the home and it was determined that Beems assaulted Flair. Nobody was arrested or hospitalized.
The New York Daily News is now reporting that Ric Flair was the person who called the police to get protection from his wife.
Beems was arrested back in 2010 after punching Ric Flair in the face. She was also arrested back in March on charges of DWI and reckless driving.
– After being released from his TNA contract earlier this month, we can confirm that Flair’s contract had a non-compete clause and he is currently unable to sign with WWE. No word yet on how long he is prohibited from signing with WWE.
During the court proceedings of the ongoing TNA vs. WWE lawsuit, WWE told the court that they have no interest in signing Flair, but most believe he’ll be back in WWE at some point.
– Austin Aries has a mixed reputation behind the scenes in TNA, liked personally by some but also disliked by others. Management is a fan of his work, as evidenced by him being in the main event of the upcoming Destination X pay-per-view.
– Abyss has been pulled from the upcoming AAA tapings in Mexico on June 30th. TNA will probably send other talent instead and AAA has expressed interest in using Robbie E and Robbie T.
– TNA’s Ring Ka King promotion in India has been such a success that the company is considering another spinoff promotion in Argentina. TNA co-founder Jeff Jarrett has had preliminary talks with the Endomol, an international television production and distribution company, about the project. Endomol is the company that helped TNA bring Ring Ka King to India.
– According to court documents filed in TNA Entertainment’s lawsuit against WWE for interference with existing contracts, the organization terminated Ric Flair’s contract on May 11, 2012. Flair, however, is still listed as a member of the active roster on ImpactWrestling.com.
Flair missed a live event he was scheduled to appear at the day before his contract was terminated. He has privately claimed that he quit the organization.
– Former WWE talent Nidia Guenard was backstage with her young daughter at TNA Wrestling’s live event at Bayou Music Center in Houston, Texas on Saturday night. She resides in the area and was a guest of Tara’s.
Guenard left the professional wrestling industry entirely in 2005 and is now pursuing a culinary career.
– Zema Ion will appear at Millennium Wrestling Federation’s eleventh anniversary show taking place September 22 at Memorial Hall 590 Main St. Melrose, Massachusetts. (Event Information)
– WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt recently sent a letter to TNA legal counsel Erika Blonquist stating that WWE has no interest in signing Ric Flair:
“First, and as I advised you orally on the phone during our recent conference call, WWE has not solicited Ric Flair to leave TNA and enter into a contract with WWE. WWE has made no offer to Flair and has no intention of doing so.
Second, as I also advised you, WWE has not solicited any other current TNA talent to repudiate their contracts and enter into a contract with WWE. WWE has no interest in current TNA talent.”
Despite Jerry McDevitt’s recent letter, most people in WWE still believe they will sign him as soon as they can without any legal repercussions. WWE would love to have him back for the 1,000th RAW celebration on July 23rd and still plans to use Flair to help market the WWE Network this fall.
– TNA’s temporary restraining order against WWE was officially dissolved on June 8th after they told the court they could find no evidence of confidential TNA information on their computer network. The order against former WWE/TNA employee Brian Wittenstein is still in effect, demanding that he return any confidential information.
– Alex Silva, the first TNA Gutcheck contestant to earn a contract, is currently training at Ohio Valley Wrestling, TNA’s developmental territory. The reason he has not been back on television since earning the contract is because he was not originally scripted to win.
Enter Ric Flair. Originally, both Bruce Prichard and Flair were supposed to vote No while Al Snow would have been the only judge to vote Yes. Flair was so impressed with Silva’s promo that he broke from the script during the segment and voted Yes.
Prichard, who was also impressed by Silva but caught off guard by Flair’s unforeseen move, had to improvise and also changed his vote to Yes.
TNA had the option of re-filming the segment but it would have looked bad in front of the crowd so they just decided to hire him.
Another lesson than when you’re the Nature Boy – WOOOOOOOOOOOOO – you do whatever the hell you damn well please.
– After getting denied a TNA contract during the Gutcheck segment of last week’s Impact Wrestling, independent worker Joey Ryan has resurfaced online with the following YouTube video:
According to sources in WWE, the creative team is currently discussing different on-air roles for Ric Flair. The most popular option has been using Flair as a manager for Dolph Ziggler. Mason Ryan has been acting as Ziggler’s body guard at recent live events and will begin accompanying Ziggler to the ring on television soon in the event that Flair’s negotiations fall through.
WWE plans to negotiate a legends contract and possibly a talent contract for the 16-time World champion. It’s worth noting that people in WWE are concerned with Flair’s advanced age as well as his tendency to break from the script and go into business for himself.
While it appears likely that Flair will be back in WWE in the coming months, nothing has been signed yet and TNA’s recent lawsuit against WWE could pose issues for Flair jumping ship.
– Speaking to Arda Ocal for The Baltimore Sun, injured WWE Superstar Ted DiBiase reveals that he will be ready to return to action in a month and is 85% healthy. He also outlines his exact injuries (ankle, shoulder, wrist) in detail.
The SmackDown wrestler also discusses changing his character from wealthy heel to a babyface that better suits him and desiring new theme music. There is also a conversation about the wealthy heel character and how he wasn’t fond of being given the Million Dollar Belt. (Article)
– “Nature Boy” Ric Flair is the featured WWE Hall of Famer in this month’s WCW-themed slate of programming on WWE Classics On Demand. Below is a preview of WWE’s piece on the 16-time World Heavyweight Champion.
– Kevin Nash announced an upcoming appearance via Twitter, writing, “Check me out June 10th at Keyser WV at firehall station 2 RT 220 south. Meet and greet 4-6. Bell time 7.”
– Several fans have sent in word that Ric Flair was spotted out in Greenville, South Carolina on Sunday night – the host city of tonight’s WWE RAW Supershow.
It’s been widely reported that Ric Flair is on the outs with TNA, with most people in the company under the impression that he won’t be back. There are conflicting stories as to whether Flair quit or if TNA ended the relationship.
Flair could wind up back in WWE, since he is a close personal friend of Triple H, his daughter just got signed to WWE developmental and WWE could use Flair to help with the WWE Network launch later this year. Under no circumstances would Flair ever wrestle in a WWE ring again after his elaborate “retirement” sendoff at WrestleMania 24.
Flair currently has a lucrative sponsorship deal in place with Coca Cola as the spokesperson for a new energy shot drink, however his financial situation (and lifestyle) is such that he will probably still need to work for years to come.
Check out these videos of Ric Flair promoting the “Fuel In A Bottle” energy drink:
Ric Flair’s days in TNA could be coming to an end. According to a report at PWInsider.com, Flair’s recent conduct outside of the ring has been such a burden for TNA, the situation has reached a point where it’s not worth keeping him around anymore.
Ric Flair’s partying lifestyle, which has been his calling card for decades, is catching up with him once again. Flair has rung up several very expensive bar tabs and then stuck TNA with the bill. Flair was recently banned from the Hard Rock Cafe in Orlando and was recently pulled from TNA live events and TV tapings after another incident at an Orlando hotel that TNA previously had a strong working relationship with.
Several people in TNA were against bringing Flair in from the beginning due to his high price tag. The fact that he has failed to be a ratings or money draw for TNA has added even more tension to Flair’s relationship with the company.
Flair is also on the radar of Spike TV, with executives from the network reportedly instructing TNA to prohibit Flair from appearing “near nude” (in his wrestling gear) and bleeding on television.
As of this weekend, some believe Flair might have made his last appearance for TNA.
It’s worth noting that Ric Flair’s daughter Ashley just signed a developmental contract with WWE.
The Wrestling Observer reports WWE has signed Ashley Fliehr Johnson to a developmental contract. She is the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair.
Reports surfaced earlier this month that Ashley intended to follow in the footsteps of her legendary father as she was training to become a professional wrestler. She is expected to join WWE’s Tampa, Florida based developmental training facility in the summer.
Ashley is the third Flair child to enter the professional wrestling industry. David notably competed for World Championship Wrestling from 1999 to 2001 while Reid currently wrestles on the independent circuit.
Ashley was a star volleyball player in high school, leading her team to two state titles in North Carolina. She graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Arts and is an ACE® Certified Personal Trainer. She also attended Appalachian State University where she was a Division-1 Full Scholarship Athlete in volleyball.
— Ric Flair did not appear as advertised at TNA Wrestling’s Thursday night live event at Uno Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The legendary grappler is advertised for tonight’s TNA live event at Harang Auditorium in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Matches taking place include TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode vs. Rob Van Dam, Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson, AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin vs. Gunner and Hernandez, Mickie James vs. Angelina Love and TNA Television Champion Devon vs. Robbie E.
— TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter announced on Twitter that new talent King Mo will appear at tonight’s Bellator 68 event at Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
– Scott Steiner’s recent claim that TNA announcers no longer call TNA action for Orlando is partially true. Mike Tenay and Tazz do commentary live from the Impact Zone on weeks when that show airs the same week. On weeks when the episode of Impact that is taped does not air until the following week, they fly to Nashville do commentary in post-production, after the show has been edited. This is done because TNA wants to keep the commentary timely and does not want it to be outdated by the time the show airs a week later.
– Ric Flair’s daughter Ashley is now training to be a professional wrestler.
– Al Snow is the person who hand picked Alex Silva to participate in the most recent Gutcheck Challenge on Impact. Moving forward, Gutcheck will feature talents similar to Silva, mostly from TNA’s developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling. OVW has had an increase in business thanks to TNA, including a local pizza sponsorship and several former names returning, including Cliff Compton.
TNA plans add other new concepts to Impact in the coming months.
– TNA will run a series of shows in California this weekend, with a show at the Citizen’s Bank Arena in Ontario, CA tonight, a show at the Robobank Arena in Bakersfield, CA Saturday night and a Basebrawl event at the Visalia Rawhide Park in Visalia, CA on Sunday.
– Jeff and Karen Jarrett worked the April 30 AAA TV taping in Mexico over the weekend. Chessman and Jeff Jarrett defeated Juventud Guerrera and La Parka Jr when Jarrett used a guitar on Guerrera.
— A teaser for the WWE Network is running at the beginning of WWE Classics On Demand shows with 2012 being advertised as its premiere.
— A Raw SuperShow is scheduled for September 3 at the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois. A pre-sale is underway at Ticketmaster.com with the password SUPERSHOW.
— WWE’s Over the Limit pay-per-view event will air live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports 1 HD on May 20 at 1:00 a.m.
— — WWE has published a Legends of Wrestling clip from 2008 where Ric Flair, Mick Foley, Tazz and Jim Ross join host Mean Gene Okerlund for a no-holds-barred discussion on the greatest factions of all time, including The Four Horsemen.
WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff appeared on Inside The Ropes on Thursday night and slammed Bret Hart, Ric Flair and Ultimate Warrior (audio available here) . Highlights are are as follows:
Facing Ric Flair in 1982 for NWA World Championship: “He was just another body. Some are better than others. I believed in making it look real. I was probably hard to work with because I wanted it to make real and I knew how to wrestle.”
Experience of working at the first WrestleMania in the main event: “It was special. There were so many people. It was the largest crowd to ever watch it. And then the pay per view of it was just ungodly. This was my opportunity to be really noticed and be seen. My paycheck….it was huge. I made more money in that 30 minutes than I did in a whole year with the NWA. People expected it and they were gonna get it from me.”
Working with Mr. T in the main event of WrestleMania: “I wasn’t crazy about it. I was very protective WrestleMania 1of the business. I was taught that. You take care of it. You don’t give out all your trade secrets. But then again you look at somebody like Ric Flair and you can say how can you hide something when they look like that? So I guess I started to give in a little bit.”
Transition in WWF from wrestling to entertainment in mid 80’s: “It depends on your personality. I protected it. To me that wasn’t protecting it. As you can see right now, because they didn’t protect it, where it is now, there’s only two shows now. Look how many there was, there was one in every state, now look where it is.”
On Vince McMahon using guys like Ultimate Warrior, more about the body: “I thought it was the worst move they could’ve made. Vince did it on purpose. He did it so he could be the only one.”
On Ultimate Warrior: “He never paid his dues. You gotta pay your dues, go and learn your trade that’ll make it better when you are on that big stage. It’s called experience and nobody has any now, because there’s nowhere to go to get it.”
Right decision on giving belt to smaller stars like Randy Savage and Bret Hart?: “No. Absolutely not. It’s like putting the belt on someone who wants to be a wrestler. It didn’t work. It downgraded, made the belt worthless. When Terry Funk, Harley Race had world titles, it meant more.”
Opinion on long rumur that Hogan wouldn’t drop the belt to Bret Hart in 1993…: “I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t have either. Bret Hart was a nobody from Canada and Hogan was the greatest star in wrestling. I don’t blame him. He did the right thing.”
Quick Fire Thoughts
Ultimate Warrior: “I gotta go to the bathroom………………..NEXT!”
Preview Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast on SpikeTV at 9/8c. If you can’t watch it Thursday, make sure to set your DVR to record it so you don’t miss any of the action.
– After what happened this past week during the Eric Bischofff Appreciation ceremony, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair has promised to call out General Manager Hulk Hogan to address what happened
– Before their World Heavyweight Championship bout at Sacrifice, Bobby Roode and Rob Van Dam will pick each other’s opponents on the huge broadcast
– As a preview to matches that will take place at Sacrifice, AJ Styles teams with World Tag Team Champions Samoa Joe and Magnus to face Kurt Angle, Daniels and Kazarian
– In Knockouts Tag Team action, Knockouts Champion Gail Kim and Madison Rayne face Velvet Sky and Brooke Tessmacher
All this and much more on Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING broadcast at 9/8c on SpikeTV, plus news on the upcoming “Sacrifice” Pay-Per-View event on Sunday, May 13
— SoCal Val catches up with Impact Wrestling General Manager Hulk Hogan as he arrives at Nashville airport for Sunday’s Lockdown pay-per-view event. When asked about the World Heavyweight Championship Match between Bobby Roode and James Storm, Hogan says Storm needs to “put a bullet” in Roode to remove the “bad seed” from the company.
— Angelina Love shot scenes last week in Paris, France for the upcoming Science fiction television series Dark Rising: Warrior of Worlds. She plays the villanus Rosemary Black.
— TNA Wrestling’s annual Lockdown InterAction Fanfest takes place Saturday at the Gaylord Oprylan Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Hulk Hogan, Sting, Ric Flair and a host of other Impact Wrestling stars are scheduled to appear at the event. Details are available here.
– There is a lot of talk in both WWE and TNA that Ric Flair will be back with WWE some time next year. Flair’s current TNA contract expires at the end of the year and WWE reportedly wants to use Ric Flair’s star power to help push the WWE Network when it launches. Flair is still very popular with wrestling fans of all ages and WWE owns the footage to most of Flair’s career, so it’s a natural fit.
Flair did an interview for a Charlotte radio station earlier this week where he claimed his last wrestling match was the retirement match against Shawn Michaels. He also spoke highly of Vince McMahon and The Rock and had a great time hanging out with the WWE crew during WrestleMania weekend.
– Following Randy Orton’s removal from the upcoming WWE Studios film, The Marine 3, WWE is currently considering CM Punk, John Cena, Cody Rhodes, JTG and Kofi Kingston for the role.
Because the movie is co-promoted with 20th Century Fox, WWE wants a big named star in the movie and the number of performers with Orton’s star power is limited. T
The Marine 3 begins filming in June so we should hear something soon.
— TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter congratulated Ric Flair on his record setting second induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, which will take place tonight in Miami, Florida as he is enshrined alongside select members of The Four Horsemen (Arn Anderson, Barry Windham, JJ Dillon and Tully Blanchard).
She tweeted Saturday afternoon, “Proud of Ric Flair and his 2nd WWE HOF induction. Have a great weekend buddy!!! WOOOOOO.”
— Sting said the Twitter feedback of Hulk Hogan being named the General Manager of Impact Wrestling on Thursday has been very positive. He added, “Hulkamania! Greatest of all time! Glad to have you back Brother!”
He was also asked Saturday who his favorite WWE wrestler is and simply stated Randy Orton.
— Sarita is not scheduled for Monday and Tuesday’s Impact Wrestling tapings in Orlando, Florida as she will be competing at a CMLL event Monday night in Puebla, Mexico.
Legacy Talent, which represents Ric Flair, issued the following press release:
TNA IMPACT WRESTLING Star Ric Flair® to Attend WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Flair Confirms He Will be Present in Miami When the Four Horsemen Receive Their Hall of Fame Honor
CHARLOTTE, NC – (March 27, 2012) International celebrity the Nature Boy® Ric Flair is set to become the only wrestler in history to be inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Fame twice. Flair’s dominant 1980s wrestling group, the Four Horsemen, known to be the greatest in ring performers of all time, will be granted their seat in the Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Miami, FL on March 31st, the day before Wrestlemania XXVIII. Flair will be inducted along-side fellow members of the Four Horsemen: Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, and J.J. Dillon.
The news of Flair’s second induction was followed by a firestorm of controversy. Questions flew about whether Flair would attend the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony as he is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling. Understanding what a huge honor this is for Flair, TNA is graciously supporting him in the decision to attend the Hall of Fame ceremony alongside his fellow inductees.
“Being inducted once was one of the greatest accomplishments of my career, so I’m humbled and honored to be recognized again. I wouldn’t miss the ceremony for the world,” says Flair.
TNA President Dixie Carter says, “We are proud of Ric’s many accomplishments and contributions he has made to the world of professional wrestling and beyond. We wish to congratulate him on yet another honor he truly deserves.”
Flair, a 16-time World Heavyweight Champion, was inducted individually into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008. On becoming a two-time inductee his agent Melinda Morris Zanoni of Legacy Talent and Entertainment says, “We are all so proud to be watching Ric continue to make history. There will never be an athlete more deserving of wearing two Hall of Fame rings than Ric Flair.”
For more information on Ric Flair go to www.ricflair.com, follow him on Facebook: Ric Flair, The Nature Boy, or on Twitter: @RicFlairNatrBoy. Flair is currently with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. TNA airs Thursday nights (9/8c) on Spike TV with monthly 3-hour Per-Per-View events.
WWE.com announced Tuesday afternoon that Ric Flair will be present at the 2012 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Miami’s American Airlines Arena on Saturday.
“The Nature Boy,” who was originally inducted as a singles wrestler in 2008, will enter the Hall a record second time alongside fellow Four Horsemen Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham and JJ Dillon. The story does not mention whether he will appear onstage, nor that he is affiliated to TNA Wrestling.
F4WOnline.com reported last week that TNA Wrestling was open to Flair appearing at the event and that they weren’t asking for for much in compensation.
The induction ceremony will air on USA on Monday, April 2 at 8 p.m.
— Today marks the eleven year anniversary of the final episode of WCW Monday Nitro. The show began with Vince McMahon appearing via satellite from Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, the site of that evening’s Raw is War broadcast on TNN, announcing that he had purchased World Championship Wrestling. The show ended with a simulcast on Raw with an appearance by Shane McMahon on Nitro as he interrupted his father’s gloating over the purchase to explain that he actually owned WCW.
WWE has posted several clips from the episode including Ric Flair’s emotional WCW farewell speech, Booker T vs. Scott Steiner: in a Title vs. Title Match, Shane Helms vs. Chavo Guerrero in a Cruiserweight Title Match, Sean O’Haire and Chuck Palumbo vs. Lance Storm and Mike Awesome, Shawn Stasiak vs. Bam Bam Bigelow, Vince McMahon firing Jeff Jarrett, Sting vs. Ric Flair and Shane McMahon saying he bought WCW.
— Kelly Kelly says “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson is her favorite ’80s Superstar. She says of the 2012 WWE Hall of Fame inductee to WWE Magazine in an interview, “I admire everything he accomplished in the ring. He was the greatest bad guy ever.”
She also reveals the best thing about being on the road as a WWE Diva: “Traveling with the girls. We have a lot fun getting in trouble together.”
– In preparation for his match with John Cena at WrestleMania 28, The Rock has been doing his in-ring training with Curt Hawkins.
– Randy Orton is being considered for the lead role in upcoming WWE Studios film, The Marine 3. Orton was originally supposed to star in Marine 2, but was injured at the time, so that role went to Ted DiBiase.
– Did you know .. Daniel Bryan is not the only vegan title holder in WWE. During an appearance on Much Music in Canada this week, WWE Champion CM Punk revealed that he is also now a vegan. However, because of how WWE has portrayed being a vegan as a heel characteristic, don’t expect Punk’s latest lifestyle change to be mentioned on television.
– TNA has reportedly been pushing for WWE to mention them at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, but it’s unlikely to happen. Flair will be appearing at the Hall of Fame ceremony whether WWE mentions TNA or not.