Although it was initially reported that the new WWE DVD and Blu-ray set on “The Kliq” would include a special reunion show, that appears to no longer be the case.

According to WrestlingDVDNews.com, the DVD, which will focus on the behind-the-scenes “faction” consisting of Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Triple H and Sean Waltman, will feature a documentary with a compilation of matches and segments, however the reunion show that was originally planned has been canceled.

Mani Mohtadi, the fan who filmed the infamous “Curtain Call” incident at Madison Square Garden in 1996, noted on Twitter that he was interviewed for the documentary portion of the set.

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

– In response to rumors that she is out of action due to a shoulder injury, NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks wrote the following on social media: “No I didn’t. Stupid news.”

– WWE recently posted the following clip of various talent singing Shawn Michaels’ infamous theme song.

– Former TNA Knockout Sarita (Sarah Stock) was recently at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida working with the NXT Divas. Stock was reportedly brought in to teach the women the Mexican style of wrestling. NXT coach Sara Del Rey tweeted out the following photo of Sarita working with some talent.

Great having @SSDarkAngel in with the divas this week experience/knowledge like no other @WWEPerformCtr @WWENXT pic.twitter.com/bUL2LuyOvf

— Sara Amato (@WWESaraAmato) May 28, 2015

• VIDEO: UFC Champion MARKING OUT In The Crowd At WrestleMania 31!

With all the things you can criticize WWE for these days, the company should be commended on doing an excellent job in elevating their secondary championships.

If you flashback to around this time last year, the WWE World Heavyweight Championship was virtually ‘on ice,’ only being defended on major pay-per-view events due to the champion at the time — Brock Lesnar — working under a special, limited-date contract.

Now, at the time, you could make sense of it, and even Vince McMahon himself did when asked about the topic during his interview on the short-lived “Steve Austin Show” live WWE Network podcast, as he pointed to the fact that having Lesnar defend the biggest title in the company on an infrequent basis made World Title matches feel that much more important.

Fast forward to the present day, and when it comes to championships in WWE — all systems are “go.”

First and foremost, we finally have a fighting WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Sure, the storyline surrounding Seth Rollins, the current world champion, is that he chickens away from ‘the big fight.’ At the end of the day, however, the bell eventually rings, the referee raises the golden belt up high, and two or more competitors end up vying for the richest prize in all of sports entertainment.

Now, move down one level to the two secondary championships. For the longest time, the WWE United States Championship and the WWE Intercontinental Championship, for all intents and purposes, were viewed as a total joke by the WWE Universe — and rightfully so.

Not anymore.

WWE came up with a great idea heading into WrestleMania 31 this year — put more significance behind their secondary titles. First, slap the U.S. title belt around John Cena’s waist. In a bit of irony, it was Cena who really launched his career off of his first U.S. title run, so in a story-telling fashion, his story comes full circle.

So, basically, WWE decided that now that they want to elevate some new blood into the top spots in the company, they decided to put one of their secondary titles — in this case the U.S. title — on arguably the biggest star in the company today.

On the flip side of the coin, when it comes to the WWE Intercontinental Championship, WWE decided to put that belt on the most popular wrestler in terms of the fans — the leader of the “Yes! Movement,” Daniel Bryan.

And that brings us to Monday’s WWE Payback ‘go-home’ edition of RAW.

After being unable to defend his WWE Intercontinental Championship against Bad News Barrett at the recent WWE Extreme Rules pay-per-view as originally scheduled, WWE played the waiting game to find out how the latest round of the Daniel Bryan injury-bug would work out. As it turns out, whatever Bryan is going through is serious enough that WWE felt they had no choice but to have him surrender the Intercontinental Title on live television, much like they had him do shortly after he won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXX last year.

The idea behind his forefitting of the title last night was where the plan regarding secondary titles in WWE remains in tact. The reason given by Bryan, delivered in a passionate way I should add, was that the WWE Universe deserves a fighting champion. A top contender who deserves the right to bust his ass day-in and day-out, city-to-city, state-to-state, country-to-country and even continent-to-continent, all for the right to try and earn what is now once again slowly being viewed as a title of importance. One of value. One worth fighting to obtain.

Where WWE goes next with the Intercontinental Championship in particular remains to be seen in terms of how far they are willing to go to try and elevate the perceived importance of the title.

Basically put, the company can go one of two ways, as I see it. You can follow the mandate that they have been following since this year’s WrestleMania, which is find the most over performer with the fans, give him the I-C title, and try and get the belt over that way, so that in the future, the belt can make the man, as opposed to the current formula, where the man makes the belt.

Their second option is to try and do the opposite. Put the title on an up-and-comer who has the goods to deliver, but just needs something to put him over the edge so he is viewed as a bigger deal than he already is. Names like Neville and Sami Zayn come to mind.

Zayn, depending on his injury, would make a great impact on the main roster by giving U.S. Champion John Cena all he could handle — with an injury no-less, in his first high-profile match on RAW since having his run as NXT Champion in WWE’s developmental system, and then go on to win the next high-profile match he is in and become the brand new WWE Intercontinental Champion.

Keep reading on Page 2 …

– As noted, WWE pulled Daniel Bryan from the advertising for all of their upcoming TV and live events. Bryan’s first advertised date back is a June 28th live event in Reading, Pennsylvania.

– Originally, WWE was planning on making the King Of The Ring tournament last several weeks and kick it off on the WWE Network. Obviously those plans changed to the two-night tournament with the semi-finals and finals being on the WWE Network.

– WWE Hall Of Famer Shawn Michaels was included in a video package for the San Antonio Spurs’ Game Four of the NBA Playoffs. HBK is known to be a big fan of his hometown team. Check out the video below.

• HUGE Update On RONDA ROUSEY vs. STEPHANIE MCMAHON At WRESTLEMANIA

– The Friday, April 17th edition of TNA Impact Wrestling on Destination America drew 401,000 viewers for the much-hyped “Tag-Team Gold” special edition of the show. The 401,000 viewer figure is down from the previous week’s show, which drew 408,000 viewers. The replay edition of Impact Wrestling on Friday drew an additional 171,000 viewers, making for a total of 572,000 viewers for the most recent Impact Wrestling episode. Last week’s replay edition of Impact Wrestling drew 175,000 viewers.

– Former WWE Diva and TNA Knockout Mickie James recently took to social media to praise Dolph Ziggler. James posted the following tweet, sharing her belief that while Shawn Michaels is the best of all-time, Ziggler is as good as it gets these days.

No one will ever be @ShawnMichaels but I do believe @HEELZiggler is the closest to this generations we may ever see. #JustMyHumbleOpinion

— Mickie James~Aldis (@MickieJames) April 21, 2015

• Steve Austin FINALLY Breaks His Silence Regarding Issues With WWE

WWE Hall Of Famer Shawn Michaels was the guest on this week’s edition of Jim Ross’ “Ross Report” podcast, and during the show, he spoke in-depth about nearly jumping-ship from WWE to WCW during the infamous “Monday Night Wars.”

“I thought about it,” said Michaels. “But there’s two things — I went to Vince [McMahon] and said, ‘Let me go. I’m miserable here. I wanna go down and be with my buddies.'”

Michaels continued, “[Vince] said no. I’m under contract under WWE, so I couldn’t. But, there was a time I wanted to go.”

HBK also said that McMahon warned him to look at the “bigger picture,” pointing out the way that other wrestlers were being used in WCW. He cited Michaels’ in-ring work as something he wouldn’t be able to employ as liberally in WCW as he did in WWE.

Michaels continued to explain the words of wisdom McMahon gave him when he was pushing to be let out of his WWE deal so that he could make the jump to WCW.

“He said, ‘You’re a creative guy. Once you get past being angry and it comes to working, you want to do things your way. They won’t let you do that down there, and that’s going to kill you. They’ll [kill] the one thing about this business you enjoy.'”

“I think he had some validity there,” Michaels stated, adding that as time went on, he agreed with the advice McMahon gave him.

You can listen to the complete Shawn Michaels interview on the latest Ross Report podcast at PodcastOne.com.

• PHOTOS: Dozens Of Sexy, SUPER-MODEL Pics Of UFC’s Paige VanZant!

Planning for WrestleMania 32 is well underway, with WWE working on ways to ensure WrestleMania 32 is the biggest ‘Sports Entertainment’ event of all time and draw over 100,000 fans to the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Just days after WrestleMania 31, WWE officials visited AT&T stadium to begin planning out the arena configuration for next year’s mega show. Now, it’s been revealed that WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels was contacted about coming out of retirement for a final match in his home state.

During this week’s episode of The Ross Report at PodcastOne.com, HBK told Jim Ross that WWE pitched the idea of him tuning up the band one more time for a farewell match in front of what could be the company’s largest crowd ever.

While the idea of “one more match” for the WWE Hall of Famer is certainly a worthy special attraction for WM32, Michaels said that he respectfully declined the offer and is happily retired. He made it very clear that he has no plans to wrestle again.

Michaels retired from active competition after losing to The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26 back in 2010.

– WWE Hall Of Famer Shawn Michaels is the guest on the latest edition of Jim Ross’ “Ross Report” podcast this week. You can download the show right now at PodcastOne.com.

– 2015 WWE Hall Of Fame inductee Madusa (Alundra Blayze) announced via social media that she may show up “incognito” at the upcoming NXT live event in Lakeland, Florida on Thursday, April 30th.

– After suffering an “injury” due to the attack from Naomi on Monday’s edition of WWE RAW in London, Paige has posted the following on her official Twitter account:

https://twitter.com/RealPaigeWWE/status/588372704400695296

• VIDEO: CM Punk Demonstrates His Favorite MMA Technique He’s Learned [DIRECT LINK]

WWE has released additional promotional material for Daniel Bryan’s new autobiography, which will be released on July 31st.

Below is the release WWE sent out, which includes comments from Shawn Michaels, Triple H and Bryan’s wife, Brie Bella.

The incredible journey of everyone’s favorite underdog to the top of the WWE mountain!

Praise for Daniel Bryan:

“I knew at first glance what a talented young man he was…His work ethic, his integrity, his dedication, all of that stuff was phenomenal.” -Shawn Michaels

“Daniel is the crossover of so many of those factors that make a Superstar…He’s got charisma. He’s got personality. He’s different…There’s a truth to what he says.” -Triple H

“Bryan’s humble spirit and gracious heart are why I fell in love with him. His brilliance in the ring confirms why we love watching this incredible WWE Superstar.” -Brianna Danielson (Brie Bella)

Do people cheer for the underdog? YES! Does professional wrestling still hold a special place in the hearts of sports fans? YES! Is the man who began the WWE fan-driven YES! Movement the most popular Superstar in the WWE Universe? Emphatically – YES! Daniel Bryan is everyone’s favorite underdog. What started early in his career as a simple rallying cry – YES! – has become synonymous not only with wrestling fans worldwide but with everybody who ever pulls for the little guy to climb the mountaintop. In his electrifying memoir YES!: My Improbable Journey to the Main Event of WrestleMania (St. Martin’s Press, on sale July 21, 2015, $25.99), Daniel Bryan takes the reader from all the backwoods wrestling outposts at the onset of his career to the pinnacle of his profession – heavyweight champion of WWE!

From the time he was a little boy in rural Washington state all Daniel Bryan wanted to do was become a wrestler. Although small in stature he was blessed with great athleticism but even more importantly – a huge heart. Bryan immersed himself in the sport and in his training like a whirling dervish. After more than a decade of beating the bushes of every wrestling event stop in the US, Mexico, Japan and Europe, Bryan found himself on the cusp on making the WWE lineup, his improbable rise nearly complete.

Along the way Bryan’s mettle inside and outside the ring would be tested and strong friendships formed, while the fans take notice of the underdog without any quit in him. When his “YES!” chant becomes a full-fledged movement his career skyrockets. And standing at his side, his rock of support, is the love of his life, Brianna (herself a Superstar in the WWE’s Total Divas). It all leads up to the most incredible event in WWE history – WrestleMania 30 – and the crowning of a new WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

YES! chronicles the hard work, values, influences, and unique life choices – such as devotion to sustainability and protecting the environment – that have become the hallmark of the life and career of everyone’s most beloved underdog.

• WWE Changes WM31 Main Event Winner DURING The Show!

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!!

Hideo Itami finally pulled out his “GTS” finisher in NXT, using the move to win his match in the opener against Tyler Breeze.

Vince McMahon, Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Seth Rollins were among those backstage watching the NXT event on Friday night in San Jose, California. Jim Ross was also in attendance, sitting in the front row. Below is a photo of McMahon, HHH and some of the other WWE executives watching some of the action from backstage.

And there's photo proof –> RT @Djbousquet: @TripleH @VinceMcMahon at #NXTSanJose watching one heck of a show!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/kXXZpUIW7C

— WrestleChat (@WrestleChatNet) March 28, 2015

Speaking of last night’s NXT show, the building was packed with lively fans from start-to-finish, with the rowdy crowd doing a lot of “This Is Awesome!” and even “We Are Awesome!” chants.

Below is a picture of the packed arena:

• 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.

– As reported earlier this week, WWE is looking at bringing some legends back for a match at next year’s WrestleMania 32 pay-per-view to help fill Cowboys Stadium and set the all-time attendance record. Today, WWE’s official website is running a poll asking fans which legend they would like to see have one more match at WrestleMania. The options are Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, Bill Goldberg, The Rock, Hulk Hogan, Batista, Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, Vince McMahon, Lita, Trish Stratus or The Dudley Boyz.

With over 2,000 votes cast as of this writing, Stone Cold is leading the pack with 30 percent of the vote. Trailing Austin are Goldberg (21%), Shawn Michaels (13%) and Kurt Angle and Jeff Hardy, both of whom have eight percent of the votes. You can vote on the poll at WWE.com.

– The latest WWE Superstar workout video released by WWE features WrestleMania 31 headliner Roman Reigns preparing for his WWE World Heavyweight Championship match against Brock Lesnar this Sunday. You can check out Reigns’ WrestleMania workout video below.

• Bill Goldberg: “There’s a Distinct Possibility I’ll Be Fighting MMA This Year”

On Monday night, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley stated on Twitter that he’ll be the person to induct Kevin Nash into the Hall of Fame this Saturday night.

https://twitter.com/realmickfoley/status/580244461969485824

Foley got a lot of responses from fans, who were under the impression that it would be Shawn Michaels inducting his longtime friend. Foley responded:

https://twitter.com/realmickfoley/status/580437304331907074

https://twitter.com/realmickfoley/status/580439949075439617

On Tuesday afternoon, Foley revealed that he hasn’t actually been offered the opportunity to induct Nash:

https://twitter.com/realmickfoley/status/580433445043728385

– The Undertaker turns 50 years old today. He was born on March 24, 1965.

– This Saturday night, Kevin Nash will apparently be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Mick Foley, not Shawn Michaels as expected. Foley tweeted after RAW:

https://twitter.com/realmickfoley/status/580244461969485824

– WWE posted a sponsored tweet of Roman Reigns backstage at RAW eating a Snickers candy bar with Renee Young. So we made it better.

Hey Roman, you're not you when you're hungry #wwe #eatasnickers pic.twitter.com/IlPjplYZju

— SEScoops (@sescoops) March 24, 2015

With WrestleMania only a week away, we continue our survey of the best matches in the event’s history by looking at the second decade of action. This was an important and transitional decade for the company, as they started the period relying on superstars such as Bret Hart, Diesel, and Shawn Michaels at the top of the card, while ending it with guys such as Triple H, Brock Lesnar, and of course, Steve Austin.

The content of the product also changed dramatically during this time period, with it starting as a family-friendly product during the “new generation” era, and we all know what went on during the Attitude Era after the company shifted focus due to pressure from rival WCW. With that said, here are the ten best matches from this era. Matches are judged based on workrate, in-ring psychology, pre-match build, and historical significance, and a full video of the match is included with each entry.

10. Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Jericho (WrestleMania 2000)

Despite being billed as the greatest thing since electricity, WrestleMania 2000 was basically a bust. One of the few bright spots was the two-fall triple threat match between Benoit, Angle, and Jericho. The stipulation was unique in that both the Intercontinental and European Championships were on the line, with the first fall deciding the former and the second deciding the latter. Angle would go into the match holding both titles, but would unfortunately walk out with neither. Benoit won the first fall with a diving headbutt and pinning Jericho. Jericho would win the second by delivering a Lionsault and pinning Benoit. It featured fast-paced action with a ton of near-falls, and it told a great story by having Angle lose both of his titles without being pinned or forced to submit.

9. Triple H vs. Chris Jericho (WrestleMania X8)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2d0qox_wwf-wrestlemania-xviii-chris-jericho-vs-hunter-hearst-helmsley_sport

This was the first time Chris Jericho had the opportunity to headline a WrestleMania, and he came into the match aligned with Stephanie McMahon as a heel. It told a great story that featured a thorough build, and eventually ended with The Game winning the Undisputed Championship after hitting the Pedigree.

8. Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XX)

These guys were three of the best technical wrestlers in the game at the time. The match was entertaining, there were multiple near-falls, and in the end, the title changed hands after Benoit forced Triple H to tap out to the Crippler Crossface. After the match, Benoit’s best friend Eddie Guerrero came to the ring and the two embraced while confetti rained down from the rafters. It’s of course a little bittersweet due to what happened years later, but it is still an emotional moment and a great match nonetheless.

7. The Rock vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania X8)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2d0qps_wwf-wrestlemania-xviii-the-rock-vs-hollywood-hogan_sport

This match seems to receive a mixed reaction from a lot of fans. In my opinion, it is one of the most entertaining and unpredictable matches in WrestleMania history, largely due to the crowd reaction. Going into the match, The Rock was the fan favorite while Hogan was booked as the heel. However, the crowd turned on Rock halfway through the match and started to cheer Hogan. The two improvised from there the match ended with Hogan once again turning face and celebrating with The People’s Champion after going down in defeat.

6. Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XIV)

Following his match with Bret Hart at the previous WrestleMania, Austin was undoubtedly the top dog in the WWE. It wouldn’t be until this night that he would finally capture his first WWE Championship, however. This wasn’t a technical affair by any means, largely due to Michaels wrestling with a severely injured back. With that said, it was still an entertaining contest that featured great in-ring psychology and one of the best builds of any main event in WrestleMania history due to the involvement of Mike Tyson. Austin would of course go on to win the title and start his run as perhaps the most successful superstar in WWE history.

– Last night’s WWE RAW ranked #2 for the evening amongst “non-sporting events” on Nielson’s Twitter rankings. ABC’s Dancing With the Stars took the top spot. Approximately 1.873 million people were tweeting about RAW, which is down from 2.696 million.

– Speaking of last night’s RAW from Des Moines, Iowa, it was the only RAW this month that was not a sellout.

– It’s expected that WWE will announce Kevin Nash as the final member of the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2015, with Shawn Michaels scheduled to induct him.

– Nash’s longtime friend, WWE Hall of Famer Scott Hall, tweeted the following to the participants of the IC Title Ladder Match at WrestleMania:

https://twitter.com/SCOTTHALLNWO/status/577640036046368769

WWE Hall Of Famer Shawn Michaels recently spoke with The Phoenix Suns website to promote his new autobiography, “Wrestling For My Life.” Below are highlights from the interview.

On how he felt after his last match at WrestleMania 26: “Going in, it was a good feeling because my family was there. But there was a little anxiety, because it’s still WrestleMania and it was the last one. You know people expected it to be really good. Because it was the Undertaker again, there were going to be a lot of comparisons to the last one (2009). So for all the upside you get out of just enjoying the moment that is WrestleMania, there was a little anxiety and a little stress wanting to just deliver a really good match.

But afterwards, it was just complete joy and then also, I think a lot of mental and physical and even spiritual exhaustion. “It’s over.” And again, that’s when it settled in. That’s when it got real. And it was almost as if everything under God’s green earth had been lifted off my shoulders and it was a nice feeling. It was a bit surreal, but I would have to say it was really the next day when everything settled in. Honestly, getting to make that speech on RAW, I felt like the luckiest guy in the world honestly. I couldn’t think of a better way for it to go, for it to end, and to have the opportunity and the time to express all of that on RAW was wonderful. That’s when it’s all allowed to be real and you’re allowed to talk about the wrestling business and your life in the WWE, in a very real sense. And it was a joy to be able to do that well.”

On NBA players who would succeed in WWE: “Well, you know what… every once in a blue moon, I think about Kevin Garnett maybe. But I honestly don’t know. I think those guys who did it, they found out really quick… if you ask any one of them, they’ll tell you, “My goodness, I don’t know how those guys do that on a regular basis.” I think that’s the thing that every athlete who tries to do what we do, very quickly comes to have a great deal of respect for us. They see what they’re putting their bodies through on that one night and then they sort of grasp that we do that 250-300 times a year and don’t have an offseason, and that’s when they say, ‘Not for me.'”

On how proud he is of Daniel Bryan: “Oh, very! Very! But at the same time, not surprised. He was a talented young man, he was always a hard worker and that’s a combination that is hard to deny. The only thing you have to have is patience and an attitude that you aren’t ever going to give up. He had that as well. As proud as I am of him, I’m not surprised by it and I don’t think other people should be. That’s one of the things that I think is funny, people have a hard time grasping; people like him and people like me didn’t get into the wrestling business just to do it, just to be average. We got into it to excel and to be really good at it, and hopefully make an impact that lasts a long time, and he’s no different.”

On not returning to the ring: “Well, I appreciate it. Everybody always asks me, “Gosh, do you have one more in you?” and I tell them, “No, I’ve got about 15 more in me.” But I always felt like that was the point. I mean, I just think it’s a bad idea if you shoot your last bullet and you’ve got none left. That just makes you vulnerable for Heaven’s sake. The whole point of leaving on top is to leave on top.”

On what he wants to be known as today after being Mr. WrestleMania, The Showstopper and The Heartbreak Kid: “You know what? As far as out there in the world, it doesn’t really matter to me. I want my wife to see me as a loving, Godly husband, and I want my kids to see me as a loving, Godly father. That’s about the extent of it. And I don’t mean that disrespectfully towards fans, but those three are the only people I’m really concerned about right now. I think over time, people’s reputations, the history, all of that kind of stuff changes. It all depends on who’s writing it, who’s spinning it. So I don’t put a lot of stock in all of that stuff. I just want to be a good dad and a good husband, and whatever else is out there about me professionally, I’ll leave that to the rest of the world to determine.”

Check out the complete interview at NBA.com.

• WWE Planning Very Special Ring Entrances For Sting & Rusev At WrestleMania 31

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 Shawn Michaels recently appeared on the Bell 2 Bell radio show to promote his new autobiography. Below are highlights from the interview.

On his new book and the differences between it and his last book: “Well, the first book was more part of the WWE marketing machine. It wasn’t something that I wanted, but was more something that WWE wanted me to do, focusing on Wrestling and what I wanted to do. Yes, it is wrestling related, but it does focus on my faith more. Faith and my family are the two biggest aspects of my life, so I’m genuinely interested in talking about it.

On how close he came to signing with WCW in the nineties: “There were certainly times that I wanted to, but I was still under contract. Hall and Nash were different, they gave their notice and weren’t in breech of contract when they went over, that’s how they were allowed to go. Years later, when my contract was up, however, I did consider it, and thought about it, but it was after the back injury, so I wouldn’t have been much use to them anyway. But I decided to stay, and it’s safe to say, I wouldn’t be chatting to you today if I had indeed went over.”

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

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– After making the list last year, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon failed to make the Forbes list of billionaires for 2015 due to WWE stock woes. The Hartford Courant has an article up today that mentions Connecticut has 16 billionaires, but McMahon is not one of them. You can check out the article at Courant.com.

– WWE Hall Of Famer Shawn Michaels recently spoke to The Christian Post to promote his new book, “Shawn Michaels: Wrestling for my Life.” During the interview, Michaels explained why he feels WWE becoming a PG-product has made the company more profitable. Below is an excerpt.

“It was very successful and lucrative for the guys in it at that time but when wrestling first went sort of mainstream so to speak in the 80s, with Hulk Hogan in it, that was certainly more PG than it was Attitude Era. I would say that way back when in the 50s when it was again on at primetime it was the Gorgeous George era, it was more, certainly more realistic but it wasn’t Attitude Era. People talk about the Attitude Era as if it was some kind of longstanding, it was a four-year run out of a line of work that’s been around for fifty-plus years. I would always have to say that ultimately everything is done more for the bottom line of making a profit. WWE is more profitable if it appeals to more people.”

You can check out the complete interview at ChristianPost.com.

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– Kevin Nash is now confirmed for the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2015. The new special edition of WWE Magazine focusing on WrestleMania 31 has an article talking about Nash’s induction, which has yet to be formally announced by WWE. It’s expected that longtime friend Shawn Michaels will induct him.

WWE will announce another inductee tonight on RAW, rumored to be former WWE/WCW women’s wrestler Madusa.

– WWE has responded to the news of Hulk Hogan’s banner being removed from Madison Square Garden after it was raised on Friday night as part of Hulk Hogan appreciation night. WWE sent out the following statement today:

“The banner was a part of our show and was never intended to stay at MSG.”

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!

As noted recently, Kevin Nash is all but confirmed to be inducted into this year’s class of the WWE Hall Of Fame.

According to a new PWInsider.com report, Nash, much like Scott Hall, who was inducted under his WWE gimmick name of “Razor Ramon,” will be inducted as “Diesel.”

This is said to open the door for a potential second induction in the future, which could feature a faction being inducted like the Four Horseman was, as Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall could all be inducted a second time as part of a nWo group-induction.

It’s expected that Nash’s induction into the WWE Hall Of Fame will actually close out this year’s ceremony. As things stand now, Shawn Michaels is scheduled to handle Nash’s induction.

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

As we have been reporting for a while now, Kevin Nash is rumored to be inducted into this year’s class of the WWE Hall Of Fame. According to a new PWInsider.com report, Nash is confirmed for this year’s class, and the current plan is to have Shawn Michaels do the induction.

Regarding the tag-team that WWE is teasing for Monday’s Hall Of Fame announcement on RAW, word is that it will be The Bushwhackers, Butch Miller and Luke Williams.

It’s also worth noting that plans to induct Larry Zbszyko will likely be postponed until a different year now that the final decisions have reportedly been made on this year’s class.

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