– Ryback’s strong push continued on Monday’s RAW with a decisive win over Tensai and another face-to-face confrontation with WWE Champion CM Punk. There has been a lot of speculation since Ryback’s match with Tensai regarding the botched finish of the match, where Ryback failed to get Tensai up on his shoulders twice and had decided to finish his opponent off with a clothesline instead.
Some people were speculating whether Tensai was “sandbagging” Ryback and intentionally making himself harder to lift. This could have been Tensai being uncooperative and going into business for himself – but it could have also been WWE management instructing Tensai to botch the move as a way of testing Ryback and his reaction.
WWE has a history of testing its top performers who are on the cusp of being pushed to the next level with unexpected situations like this to gauge how they handle themselves.
PWInsider.com is reporting that Vince McMahon was scrambling backstage at RAW when the incident took place and was instructing production workers to edit the spot and make Ryback look as strong as possible. This is a sign that either Ryback simply had trouble getting Tensai up (he had no problem hitting his finisher on Tensai last week on SmackDown) or Tensai was really sandbagging.
It’s worth noting that Ryback’s 2 failed attempts at getting Tensai above his head were edited off WWE’s official Youtube clip of their match.
Here’s the unedited footgae of Tensai apparently screwing with Ryback and preventing him from doing his finisher:
Posted October 3rd, 2012 in News, WWE. Tagged: Ryback.
– As Big Show sets his sights on capturing the World Heavyweight Championship from Sheamus at WWE Hell in a Cell, the official WWE website offered their suggestions for ten other things that The World’s Largest Athlete should look to conquer. This includes ending Ryback’s undefeated streak.
“Would [Ryback] still be demanding, “Feed me more!” if he was standing across the ring from the towering feast that is Big Show?” wrote Michael Burdick. “If the giant did take him on, rather than screaming “finish it,” Ryback’s undefeated streak might simply be finished.”
Other challenges suggested for Big Show include introducing the WMD to the boxing world, win the annual Royal Rumble Match, wrestle a bear, perform the 450 Splash, capture the WWE Tag Team Championship by himself, win the King of the Ring Tournament, enter a strongman competition, become a manager, and win Nathan’s annual Hot Dog Eating Competition in Brooklyn, New York. The full article is available here.
– The official WWE website has published a photo gallery chronicling the organization’s history of logos.
– The former Bella Twins, Nicole and Brianna, have been announced to appear at “Nuke the Fridge Con 2012,” which takes place Saturday, Nov. 10 at Frank & Son Collectible Show 19649 San Jose Ave. City of Industry, California 91748.
– WWE will air the one-hour documentary from their recent WCW Clash of the Champions DVD set on pay-per-view beginning November 5th.
– WWE.com currently has a poll up asking fans if they think we’ll see a CM Punk vs. Ryback match after the conclusion of last week’s RAW, when the two went face to face. As of this writing, over 80% of fans have voted “Yes.”
– Following up on the news that Hulu Plus only airing a 90-minute version of WWE RAW each week, it appears the reason is that WWE’s agreement with the USA Network gives them exclusive rights to air RAW in its entirety. Other outlets, such as Youtube and now Hulu Plus, have access to video clips and the shortened version of the broadcast.
– WWE Divas Champion Eve Torres and her fiancee Rener Gracie will be doing TV media appearances in Oklahoma City this morning to promote tonight’s WWE RAW and talk about Eve’s work helping women and children learn self defense.
– Monday’s Raw concluded with WWE Champion CM Punk encountering Mick Foley backstage and giving him a kick to the gut in response to a disappointed glare. Moments later, Punk stopped dead in his tracks upon seeing Ryback staring him down. The segment was also notable for the lack of crowd reaction to Ryback in the segment. According to fans in attendance, the segment was not shown to the live crowd as the Titantron screen was dark.
– Former WWE Superstar-turned-mixed martial artist Bobby Lashley will not compete on the premiere World Series of Fighting event airing on NBC Sports Network on Saturday, November 3. The promotion released the full match line-up for their premiere event Tuesday and Lashley was not among those listed after being previously announced to appear. Pro Wrestling Torch has confirmed that Lashley will not be competing on the show.
– Social media activity for Monday’s Raw was slightly up from last week. The episode garnered 287,260 in social activity, up from 255,107 on September 17. However, Monday’s show was below figures for the six previous weeks.
Raw ranked second in social media activity for cable television programs, behind Monday Night Football.
– Two attendees at tonight’s Raw at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York attempted to enter the ring near the conclusion of the match between Ryback and The Miz. Though not shown on camera, ring announcer Justin Roberts took the guy who made it further into the ring down and dragged him out. Both individuals were pinned down hard in front of the announcers’ table until after the finish. Two police officers met security at the barricade and escorted them out of the venue.
– It was announced on Raw tonight that Randy Orton will face Big Show on this Friday’s episode of SmackDown on Syfy. The World’s Largest Athlete resurfaced on Raw on by knocking out both Brodus Clay and Tensai during their match.
– Ryback’s match against Jinder Mahal at Saturday’s SmackDown live event in Sarnia, Ontario resulted in a no contest after Ryback got cut open the hard way during the match. The match was stopped by a doctor’s orders.
– Prior to flying to New York for tonight’s WWE RAW, Jim Ross confirmed that he and Michael Cole will be part of the Jerry Lawler interview segment on the show:
“It’s 3:30am in Oklahoma. Up & at em headed to OKC Airport in route to Albany, NY for #WWE #Raw. @MichaelCole & I will talk live w/ The King.”
– Here’s this week’s WWE Superstars featuring The Usos and The Prime Time Players, Ted DiBiase vs. JTG, Tyson Kidd vs. David Otunga and Drew McIntyre vs. Jinder Mahal.
* News On RYBACK’s Huge Push & What WWE Has Planned For Him
– Ryback’s match against Jinder Mahal at Saturday’s SmackDown live event in Sarnia, Ontario resulted in a no contest after Ryback suffered a serious cut approximately two minutes into the bout. The match was stopped by a doctor’s orders.
– WWE has posted this week’s episode of WWE Superstars on YouTube.com, which features an intense tag team match between The Usos and The Prime Time Players! Also see Ted DiBiase back in action against JTG, Tyson Kidd vs. David Otunga and Drew McIntyre vs. Jinder Mahal.
http://youtu.be/V-7MMZNq4CNJc
– This week’s WWE Classics on Demand updates are as follows: Extreme Rules (2012), World Wrestling Federation at Boston Garden *February 7, 1987), Macho Madness – The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection (Parts 5 and 6), ECW Hardcore TV (May 5, 1998), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (October 6, 1982), WWF Prime Time Wrestling (September 4, 1989).
– On Monday’s RAW, Ryback interrupted The Miz’s new MizTV talk show and destroyed the set. Ryback made it clear that he’s got his sights set on the Intercontinental championship as The Miz looked on in fear. After months of slowly building the Ryback character, word is that Vince McMahon recently made the call to push him to the next level.
– Speaking of the MizTV segment from RAW, we reported last night that after Ryback threw a live microphones into the audience, a fan grabbed it and chanted, “Goldberg! Goldberg!” According to f4wonline.com, the fan was not ejected by security.
– Monday’s post-PPV RAW had a Trendrr.tv social media score of 255,107, down a sharp 38% from the previous week and the lowest number of the 3-hour era of RAW.
It’s worth noting that last week’s RAW had a ton of social media activity due to Jerry Lawler’s heart attack. To put things in perspective, the week before that had a score of 295,822.
This week’s RAW ranked #2 on cable TV, way behind the NFL’s Monday Night Football on ESPN, which had a socre of 712,603.
(Partial Source: f4wonline.com)
Posted September 18th, 2012 in News, WWE. Tagged: Ryback.
– As “Miz TV” concluded on Raw, Ryback tossed furniture out of the ring, including the microphone into the crowd. A fan grabbed the object and began yelling “Goldberg! Goldberg!,” with his remarks being heard throughout the arena. Ring crew members chased the fan down and took the microphone away. It is not known whether he was ejected from the event.
– It was announced at Raw Monday in Bridgeport, Connecticut at Webster Bank Arena that a SmackDown taping will be held at the venue on Tuesday, Dec. 11. Ticketmaster.com is holding a pre-sale with the code WWEBridgeport.
– On Sept. 30, SmackDown ring announcer and songstress Lilian Garcia will perform during halftime at Metlife Stadium – the site of WrestleMania XXIX – when the New York Jets take on the San Francisco 49ers. Garcia was at the Jets’ facility in New Jersey on Monday doing media and rehearsing for the appearance.
– 2012 WWE video releases WWE: Falls Count Anywhere – The Greatest Street Fights and other Out of Control Matches and ECW Unreleased, Vol. 1 are now streaming on Netflix.
– WWEShop.com is now selling the first Ryback t-shirt.
– WWE returns to the Oil Palace in Tyler, Texas on January 13th, 2013. (Thanks to Devin Cutting.)
– Memphis television station WREG spoke to Jerry Lawler’s son Kevin today, who revealed that his father is sounding like his regular self and doctors told Lawler there is “no reason” why he can’t get back in the ring and wrestle at age 62.
Discussion: Comment below and tell us if you think WWE should allow Jerry Lawler to wrestle for them again. Should WWE establish an maximum age for its in-ring performers?
– With Sheamus’ Brogue Kick banned by SmackDown General Manager Booker T, the World Heavyweight Champion heads into his Night of Champions match with Alberto Del Rio with a new submission maneuver; Cloverleaf.
Innovated by WWE Hall of Famer Dory Funk, Jr., Sheamus says former WWE and WCW competitor Dean Malenko’s use of maneuver inspired him to master the hold.
“Dean was one of the greatest submission experts ever, and as history has seen, he’s made hundreds and hundreds of Superstars tap out [to the Cloverleaf],” Sheamus told WWE.com. “It’s one of the most agonizing and painful submission holds, and it’s also one of the most effective. Plus, being Irish, the Cloverleaf fits me well.”
– Former WWE superstar John Morrison noted on Twitter that he and former WWE diva Melina are working on a new web project, The Darkness Descending: Redemption. For more on the series, visit.
– The WWE website has a new “Where Are They Now” feature on former WCW star Crowbar. Crowbar, real name Christopher Ford, is now a physical therapist working with several hospitals in northern New Jersey.
– WWE remains very supportive of Ryback’s character, with hopes that he could eventually be a main event star. We noted earlier that audiences are really getting into his “Feed Me More” chant, without WWE having to pipe in sound effects.
After seeing the damage done to other new wrestlers who are pushed very hard at first and then reigned in, WWE is looking to build up Ryback very slowly and is just now having him wrestle mid-card talent.
– WWE officials are very happy with the crowd reactions Ryback has been receiving in recent weeks, with audiences really catching on to his “Feed Me More” catchphrase. PWInsider.com reports that the chants are all legit and WWE is not piping in any sound effects for Ryback.
– The WWE website is speculating that CM Punk might finally get to main event a pay-per-view when he defends the WWE Championship against John Cena next month at Night of Champions.
– Dolph Ziggler posted the following video on Tout hyping his match with Randy Orton on Friday’s WWE SmackDown:
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross is back with another blog update, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights of what JR wrote about:
Wrestlers Having Problems After Retiring: “Some media members need to smarten up and stop blaming the business for the poor decisions made by adult men and women who find themselves in financial distress or with other issues at the end of their ‘run’ in sports entertainment. I’ve had countless conversations with performers who are almost insulted that the conversation about their irresponsible ways of every day life are even being addressed. Sadly some spouses of these immature adults enable the problem by ‘needing’ elective, cosmetic surgeries, designer bling and expensive cars. Most, somewhere along the way, even forget to file their tax returns while being too busy at the mall. What does one do when advice is offered, professionals being put at talent’s disposal and the ‘stars’ still disregarding common sense guidance.”
The Development Of RyBack: “Irony…Ryback gets @Goldberg chants (which I have no issue with) and gets knocked by some of my Twitter followers @JRsBBQ because his singlet is airbrushed ala RVD as if that’s a mortal sin. At the same time, the higher skilled Dolph Ziggler is compared to HBK, Billy Gunn and Curt Hennig because of his hair, attire, and in ring moves but that’s o.k. Too many fans have zero patience when it comes to the slow build for Ryback. Some fans want immediate results or so it seems. God forbid that they would have lived in the territory era when some main event programs lasted a year or more while some stars were built over a 12 month or more period of
Thursday’s NXT Show: “NXT was the best night of TV that we’ve produced in Orlando to date. NXT Champ Seth Rollins got a great ‘rub’ from WWE Champion @CMPunk. The impromptu tag bout that occurred after the official taping ended between Punk/Rollins vs. Cesaro/Ohno was simply outstanding. We called it just for the Hell of it just in case it ever airs on a DVD, etc. It was really fun.”
Posted August 27th, 2012 in News, WWE. Tagged: Ryback.
Kirby Mack (a/k/a Stan Stansky) and Stoney Hooker (a/k/a Arthur Rosenberg), who faced Ryback in a Handicap Match on the June 4, 2012 episode of Raw, recalled their WWE experience in an interview with The Do Your J.O.B. Wrestling Hour. Highlights from the interview are as follows:
The process being selected to face Ryback: “Before we got there I got a call from a buddy of mine who runs High Velocity Wrestling who was in contact with the WWE and they called him and said we are looking for 2 guys this time…They wanted Ryback to lift 2 guys…we did our tryout but Ryback wanted the biggest guys to pick up to be impressive so right off the bat he pick 2 guys out of I think Tennessee that were really big and he went through the motions with them to see if he could lift them up, now he was able to lift them up but it was not pretty. It wasn’t good for live tv and that’s what Arn Anderson was saying…so they picked Stoney, and originally they picked another guy named Chase Owens who had been squashed by Ryback a week or two before so Arn looked at him and said didn’t Ryback already beat you up like a week ago on tv and he said yes and thankfully they picked me”
Nerves cutting the promo before the match: “The nerves didn’t kick in until we were about to go live…they gave us the promo at about 3 or 4 o’clock…and we literally rehearsed it till like 8:53 and then we rehearsed it before the commercial break in the ring…it wasn’t so much nerves but the problem with that promo was I think everyone in the back knew the promo before we did…it was tough not learning the promo but learning the promo in unison”
Reaction to the match: “Obviously to us it felt great we had a blast, it was an awesome time. I realize now it’s a PG era and it’s kinda hard to see because if the camera angle but at one point Ryback had actually busted my lip and I was bleeding pretty hard and as I was laying there I’m not thinking PG I’m thinking I’m bleeding on tv I need to get the blood put so people can see it…the referee rolled over to me and was like “Suck that blood up right now! This is PG!” so I had to suck the blood up…we come back after the match and were coming down off this high that we’re on because we just lived our dream essentially…everybody in the back knew we were gonna mess up the promo they expected it, but everyone was very complimentary. The scariest part to me was Triple H came out of the gorilla position, and from what I understand he never comes out of the gorilla pit, he came out and goes “You, you come here!” and IMF like this isn’t good and I’m walking with my head down and he was like “Great f’ing job. Great job!” and I was like oh thank you!”
Other topics include Kirby Mack’s time in Ring of Honor, his infamous match with Jeff Hardy in ROH, working in OMEGA, Matt and Jeff Hardy, Shane Helms, how the Stansky and Rosenberg gimmick have carried on and much more. The audio interview is available here.
Posted August 24th, 2012 in News, WWE. Tagged: Ryback.
– WWE superstars Ryback and Sheamus are currently in the midst of winning streaks, with Ryback at 25 consecutive wins and Sheamus at 14 (televised matches).
– Part of WWE’s booking of the Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H storyline has been done to keep the door open for a potential Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker matcha t WrestleMania 29.
– The WWE website has an article up looking at Triple H’s condition, with Road Dogg BG James talking about
“Our whole wrestling careers I’ve known Triple H. His arm was literally broken in the same place that it was months ago. I don’t know if you come back from an injury like that at his age. ‘The Perfect Storm’ may have just done it. I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to him yet.”
Today, we know Ryback as a bald-headed, singlet-wearing, victim-hungry killer that has a penchant for violence and demanding WWE “feed him more.” But he didn’t always look so scary. Check out this picture of Ryback with a pretty sweet Ric Flair haircut .. and share your best caption for the photo in the comments section below.
Posted August 17th, 2012 in News, WWE. Tagged: Ryback.
– Mark Henry and Eve Torres will be appearing at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer, Alaska on 8/23 from 1-4pm.
– Dolph Ziggler will be appearing at Rookies Sports Bar & Grill in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on 8/25 from 3-5pm.
– Ryback debuted a new theme song on Monday’s RAW that encourages fans to chant “Feed Me More.” As seen on RAW, the catchphrase is really getting over.
– After JTG pleaded his case to make some noise on Raw, his wish was granted by program General Manager AJ Lee as the quirky Diva placed him in a one-on-one match against Ryback. WWE broadcaster Michael Cole acknowledged JTG’s “controversial remarks” on Twitter last week where he cryptically stated that his “locker room brothers” were being taken advantage of—F4WOnline.com reports his source of contention stemmed from lower-tier wrestlers’ financial compensation for WrestleMania XXVIII.
Following the Cryme Tyme founder’s loss to Ryback, Cole stated, “I can’t wait until JTG tweets about this.”
– Zack Ryder mentioned on Twitter that he was not at Raw in Dallas, Texas, writing, “#NotAtRaw.” Rather, he drove to Austin, Texas, the site of Tuesday’s SmackDown taping.
– Raw viewers who check in to GetGlue.com will receive a free Trish Stratus Diva Summer Series sticker.
– Christian is today’s featured Superstar on WWE.com. He is currently not scheduled to compete this Sunday at SummerSlam.
– AJ Lee announced on Twitter that she has been invited to attend SmackDown tonight by fellow General Manager Booker T—despite herself being a member of the SmackDown roster.
“Booker T has asked me to be his special guest on tonight’s Smackdown. I promise I’ll be as well behaved as usual,” Lee wrote.
– The wrestler formerly known as Buggy Nova is now referencing herself as Skyler Moon on Twitter—her new handle is @SkYlerMoon_WWE. After signing a developmental contract with WWE in June, the young upstart appeared as Natalie, her real name, at Florida Championship Wrestling events.
– WWE Divas AJ Lee and Eve, and Vickie Guerrero, are featured on the cover of the newsstand magazine Inside Wrestling. The headline reads: “MAN-EATERS! THESE DIVAS ARE HERE TO DEVOUR.”
– Curt Hawkins was asked about Ryback by a TSA agent. He tweeted Friday, “TSA agent just asked me what’s wrong with @Ryback22 ‘s eye. I wish I knew Sir… I wish I knew.”
– WWE will hold a SmackDown live event on Saturday, September 29, 2012 at Taylor County Coliseum in Abilene, Texas. Talent advertised are Sheamus, Alberto Del Rio, Kane, Daniel Bryan, Sin Cara, Cody Rhodes, Ryback and Natalya. Bell time is 7:30 p.m.
– Chris Jericho appears at Good Records 1808 Greenville Ave. Dallas, Texas on Monday, August 13 from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. The WWE Superstar will be signing Sin and Bones, the fifth album from his heavy metal band Fozzy. Call 214-752-4663 for more information.
– SmackDown General Manager Booker T is today’s featured Superstar on WWE.com.
– WWE announced Monday night that DJ Pauly D will be the Social Media Ambassador on the August 13 episode of Raw. The world-renowned DJ, Jersey Shore star and creator of the new “REMIX” cocktail line also headlines the SummerSlam VIP party on Thursday, August 16 in Los Angeles, California.
– It was announced at Monday’s Raw at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas that WWE will return to venue for a SmackDown taping on Tuesday, January 15, 2013.
– The official Twitter feed of WWE reached a milestone on Monday: “Thank you @WWEUniverse, as @WWE hits 1.5 MILLION followers on @Twitter! We couldn’t do it without you! #StandingO!”
– Monday on Raw, Ryback defeated Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks in a Handicap Match. Afterwards, Hawkins stated on Twitter, “For the record that wasn’t a handicap match on #Raw tonight… It was officially listed as: Hawkins & Reks vs @Ryback22 & his pink eye.”
– A rumor surfaced online Monday alleging that Brock Lesnar and Ryback were involved in a physical altercation this afternoon at Raw at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas during rehearsal for Lesnar’s segment.
According to numerous sources backstage at the event, nothing of the sort happened as there was no confrontation, physical or otherwise.
– WWE aired a vignette on Raw promoting the return of Wade Barrett. Barrett, who was shown sporting a beard, Barrett proclaimed that he had to go back to his roots in underground fighting to rediscover himself.
Barrett has been sidelined since the February 20 Raw; he suffered a partially dislocated elbow while catching Dolph Ziggler, who was thrown out of the ring by Big Show during a battle royal. During his time away from the ring, Barrett shot a supporting role in the WWE Studios film Dead Man Down. He will return to action beginning Thursday for SmackDown’s two-show tour of Tokyo, Japan at Ryogoku Kokugika.
Rob Van Dam, was in Phoenix last week promoting TNA’s Bound For Glory PPV going on-sale. He was interviewed by The Phoenix New Times, and spoke about being pro-marajuna, differences between wrestling for TNA and WWE and talked about which WWE superstar asked him for permission to use his airbrush artist. View the full article here
Ryback asking him for permission to use his airbrush artist: “Ryback reached out to me and asked for permission to use the same airbrush artist that I use, Joe Holland in Savannah, Georgia,” he said. “The guy’s been making me the same outfits since like 1995 and he doesn’t do a lot work for wrestlers. And I’m all for anyone that can make more business off of things they do for me. Ryback has my blessing [and] I’m flattered that he’s a fan of mine. He’s been very respectful in reaching out to me. I haven’t met the guy but have nothing but respect for him.”
Being a fan of marijuana and a big supporter of medicalization. If he smokes out regularly: Um, that’s more of a personal question than a direct question that my character talks about. It’s not so much part of the show as just [something] connecting me to that culture. A lot of my fans are in that culture and when I’m not wrestling I’m a strong advocate for ending the marijuana prohibition. Not to mention I also help educate people about medicinal marijuana programs. Since you brought it up, I’d love to tell everybody that it’s impossible to overdose from marijuana. Everyone’s brainwashed into thinking it’s a harmful drug but its not. It’s the most resourceful plant that we have on the entire planet. Medicinally, recreationally, materially…it could basically replace so many huge conglomerate and big corporate businesses, which is the reason why its outlawed.
The differences between wrestling for TNA and WWE: “In Total Nonstop Action, individual wrestlers have a lot more freedom to artistically express themselves versus WWE,” Van Dam explained. “When we have our matches, they are known to be more athletic, more competitive in nature, and that’s what wrestling fans really appreciate. And the fact there’s more of a focus on wrestling in Total Nonstop Action over the other major company on TV. Whereas WWE has been known to feature more of the 400-pound giants that aren’t necessarily going to [perform] quite as impressively. TNA focuses more on the wrestler’s abilities and skills and gives them a chance to shine out there in front of the fans.
“It’s also more of an up-close-and-personal experience where wrestlers are more accessible and there’s a lot of times spent on meeting the fans. And Bound For Glory will be no different and we’ll be there on October 14 with a big meet-and-greet. The day before that is also something called ‘TNAFan InterAction,’ which all the top stars will be there as well. People can meet and talk to their wrestlers and get their photos taken with ’em.”
Posted July 29th, 2012 in News, WWE. Tagged: Ryback.