– Former WCW World Heavyweight Champion Vince Russo turns 52 years old today.
– WWE Hall of Famer Superstar Billy Graham was back in the hospital yesterday, according to F4Wonline.com. Graham has been battling health problems lately, including double pneumonia and congestive heart failure.
– Jim Ross tweeted this week that he’d “love to” call some of the action at WrestleMania 29 in April and said, “Fingers crossed.”
– Shelton Benjamin was asked again on Twitter if he’ll ever return to WWE. He responded:
“@KhalidKhattak1: @Sheltyb803 Do you see your self having one final run in wwe?” I should hope so. I still got plenty of gas in the tank
WWE is interested in bringing back several former mid-card wrestlers to fill out the roster, help the company’s younger talent get over and improve live event attendance, particularly the SmackDown brand.
Some of the names discussed include John Morrison, Shelton Benjamin, MVP and Low Ki (formerly Kaval in NXT). Shetlon Benjamin recently got out of his Ring of Honor contract and is seen as one of the wrestlers most likely to be returning. MVP recently stated on Twitter that he’s open to returning, but he is currently under contract to New Japan pro wrestling and is very satisfied working overseas.
Aside from these names, other superstars discussed for possible Royal Rumble returns include Tommy Dreamer and the New Age Outlaws. There’s also a possibility we’ll see Christian return at the Rumble, since he’s ready to return to action this month after a several month absence.
– Shelton Benjamin appears to be the latest former WWE superstar that the company is looking to bring back. F4wonline.com reports that Benjamin recently gave his notice to Ring of Honor, was released from his contract and will begin negotiating with WWE soon.
Benjamin might continue working for ROH until a deal with WWE is made, but there’s a strong chance we’ll see him back in WWE in the coming weeks.
– The backstage mood at Sunday’s WWE TLC pay-per-view from Brooklyn, New York was very positive, with everybody loving the new billion dollar Barclay’s Arena facility. Vince McMahon and Triple H in particular were in a great mood at the show, praising everybody’s work.
– With the WWE crew in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania today for tonight’s live SmackDown show, there’s some buzz that Triple H will be meeting with Pittsburgh native, Bruno Sammartino, to discuss a possible Hall of Fame induction.
– It was reported Saturday that some familiar faces could be returning to WWE in the coming months as there has been a push from several top talents for the organization to bring back some “solid hand” wrestlers that were previously released. Two specific names in mind are MVP and Shelton Benjamin as organization officials have discussed bringing the former Superstars back to the fold.
Since being released from WWE in April 2010 in a cost-cutting measure, Benjamin has kept busy in Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling. MVP also competes in New Japan, where he teams with Benjamin under the tag team name “Black Dynamite.”
– Mick Foley displays his beloved Christmas room on the latest edition of WWE’s “Superstar Toyz.”
– Former WWE superstars MVP and Shelton Benjamin are now teaming together in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
– There continues to be talk of pairing Rosa Mendes with Alberto Del Rio.
– WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia, who is still recovering after being hit by a car several weeks ago in Los Angeles, says she will be live tweeting with fans during Survivor Series:
– WWE will honor Hall of Famer Pat Patterson at the Sept. 10 Raw taking place at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC. The event is being locally advertised as “Pat Patterson Appreciation Night.” The legendary grappler is a Montreal native.
– SmackDown Superstar William Regal noted on Twitter that he was interviewed by Colt Cabana for his Art of Wrestling podcast (available at WeLoveColt.com and on iTunes): “I finally got to do @ColtCababa pod thingy the other day.Had a great time talking British Wrestling.Looks like we will be doing part 2 soon.”
– WWE announcer Scott Stanford celebrates his birthday Thursday. The year of his birth is publicly unknown.
– Shinsuke Nakamura of New Japan Pro Wrestling threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Monday’s Texas Rangers game at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Former WWE Superstars MVP and Shelton Benjamin, who also compete for the Japanese promotion, attended the game too.
– Shelton Benjamin tweeted the following message this morning about whether he headed to TNA:
“Since so many keep asking, I have no plans to go to TNA. Not saying never. but no time soon. Don’t take that as a knock against TNA. Just though I’d throw that in cause people like to create bs out of a simple answer to a question.”
– Recent TNA live event attendance figures:
August 3rd (Enid, Oklahoma): 500 fans
August 4th (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma): 600 fans
– Bellator MMA fighter & contracted TMA wrestler “King” Mo Lowal will report to Ohio Valley Wrestling around September 1st to begin training for his TNA debut.
Lawal is expected to debut for TNA in October and work through January, when Bellator MMA debuts on Spike TV.
– Former WWE Women’s Champion Melina has been announced to appear for World Wrestling Fan Xperience’s Champions Showcase Tour event on October 13, 2012 at the MegaSport Arena in Moscow, Russia (see Melina photo). Talent confirmed for the event thus far are Chris Masters, Daivari, Jillian Hall, Vladimir Kozlov, MVP, John Morrison, Shelton Benjamin Carlito and The Hurricane. Event information is available at www.wwfxperience.com.
– Former WWE talent Jackie Gayda-Haas (a/k/a Miss Jackie) is expecting her fourth child with husband Charlie Haas. She posted a photo on Facebook of her baby bump.
Haas previously gave birth in 2006, 2008 and 2010. The married couple have two daughters and one son.
– Rock of Ages, which features Kevin Nash playing a bodyguard character for Tom Cruise’s character, debuted at No. 3 this weekend in Australia with a $1.35 million gross.
– Puerto Rico’s World Wrestling Council promotion has announced that WWE Superstars Primo and Epico will wrestle former WWE superstars Shelton Benjamin and John Morrison at the June 30th Anniversario show from Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
– WWE is looking to hire a new Creative Director for the upcoming WWE Network. A job listing posted at EntertainmentCareers.net lists the following job description:
“The WWE is launching a new TV Channel. We are looking for a Creative Director to help define and create the new Network’s brand identity, positioning and programming promotion. This position is a newly created role reporting to the Vice President.”
“He/she works closely with the VP to develop concepts and ideas to be used for promoting the Network and various WWE programs.”
“The Creative Director will be manage a team and oversee the day-to-day On-Air creative team and provide creative guidance and assistance to the Managers, Producers, and Associate Producers.”
— Former WWE performer Melina Perez denied rumors she has joined TNA Wrestling.
She tweeted Wednesday, “Everyone is so funny. I am not in TNA. If I go anywhere I would tell you all first!”
Her message is in response to a masked female combatant appearing at Tuesday’s Impact Wrestling taping in Orlando, Florida.
— Mr. Anderson is advertised face former WWE star MVP at Champions Showcase 2012, which takes place February 4, 2012 in Manila, Philippines at Smart Araneta Coliseum. More details are available here.
Other advertised talent include Carlito, Chris Masters, Shelton Benjamin, Snitsky, Luke Gallows, Shane Helms, Rhino, Daivari, Jimmy Yang, Billy Gunn, April Hunter and Jillian Hall.
— Jesse Neal’s first post-TNA appearance takes place this Saturday in Orlando, Florida for I Believe in Wrestling. He is scheduled to face J.D. Amazing.
— Air Extreme Wrestling has announced that they are in discussions with Jeff and Matt Hardy to appear for the promotion’s upcoming tour of Mexico.
Eduardo Soto Ramirez, owner of AEW, said in the press release that Jeff is keen to perform in Mexico while negotiations with Matt slowed following his recent automobile accident. He adds that Matt is considering leaving the professional wrestling industry to pursue other endeavors.
The tour, which takes place October and November, will feature a slew of former WWE talent including Paul London, Shelton Benjamin, Charlie Haas, Mr. Aguila, Juventud Guerrera, Zach Gowen, Marco Corleone, Brian Kendrick, Kristin Astara, Miss Jackie and Nikki Roxx. Matt’s girlfriend Reby Sky has also been announced for the tour.
— ODB stated on her Twitter account yesterday that she will not be on hand for this week’s Impact Wrestling tapings.
“Not gonna b at impact tapings this week,” she wrote. “#bammmmm.”
— It was announced tonight on Monday Night Raw that a WWE Supplemental Draft will take place tomorrow at noon on WWE.com.
— WWE Hall of Famer Road Warrior Animal was hospitalized over the weekend with bronchitis. He has since been released.
— The June 13 Monday Night Raw taping at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York will be headlined by John Cena and Randy Orton vs. CM Punk and The Miz, according to advertising in the area.
— Ring of Honor is advertising Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas vs. Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly for their May 6 event in Dearborn, Michigan.
— Representatives of Jim Neidhart state that the former WWE star was not arrested by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office on April 18.
Neidhart realized he missed a date in traffic court on charges of driving without a license and operating an unregistered vehicle. He turned himself in to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and made a desk appearance. He then paid the $750 surety bond and was released. He was not incarcerated or taken into police custody.
— Ring of Honor has announced that ROH World Tag Team Champions Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin will defend their belts against Jay and Mark Briscoe on May 7 in Toronto, Ontario in a rematch from 9th Anniversary Show. (Tag Title Defense Set For Toronto!)
— Former WWE star Johnny Stamboli celebrates his 34th birthday today.
— Shelton Benjamin worked a dark match prior to this week’s SmackDown taping in Houston, Texas, beating SmackDown Superstar Curt Hawkins. The feeling is that based on how well he performed and the solid reaction he received from the hometown crowd, he will receive an offer to return to the organization after WrestleMania XXVII.
Follow the match, Benjamin said on Twitter that he ‘may or may not be returning to WWE’.
— A joke going around WWE regarding Vince McMahon’s doctrine that The Undertaker’s match with Triple H at WrestleMania X-Seven never happened, is that the SmackDown star’s undefeated streak should be 17-0.
— According to the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE developmental wrestler Su Yung (a/k/a Sonia) is among the cast of Tough Enough. However, her profile remains on the official website Florida Championship Wrestling, which would indicate that she is not. Former WWE developmental talent Christina Crawford (a/k/a Caylee Turner) and Andy Leavine (a/k/a Kevin Hackman) are contestants on the show and their respective profiles were removed from the site last month.
As previously reported, former WWE superstar Shelton Benjamin made a surprise appearance prior to Tuesday’s SmackDown tapings from Houston, Texas. Benjamin defeated Curt Hawkins in a dark match that got solid reviews from fans in attendence. Benjamin reportedly received a good reaction from his hometown crowd.
Following the match, Benjamin wrote on Twitter:
Sheltyb803
just got home from a completely unexpected day. Got to see some friends i haven’t seen in awhile. The WWE FANS.
Sheltyb803
for now all i can say is i may or may not be returning to wwe, but tonight was a good time.
Benjamin was released from WWE last April after a 10-year run with the company that included 3 Intercontinental title reigns, two WWE tag title reigns and a United States title reign. In recent months he’s been working for Ring Of Honor as a tag team with Charlie Haas.
Shelton Benjamin worked a dark match prior to tonight’s SmackDown taping in Houston, Texas, beating SmackDown Superstar Curt Hawkins. He received a solid reaction from the hometown crowd.
During Benjamin’s near ten year tenure with World Wrestling Entertainment, he won the Intercontinental Championship three times, the United States Championship once, and the WWE Tag Team Championship on two occasions. Benjamin was released from his contract last April, along with Slam Master J, Kung Fu Naki, Jimmy Wang Yang, Mickie James and Katie Lee Burchill.
Benjamin appeared for Ring of Honor alongside longtime tag partner Charlie Haas following his dismissal from WWE. It is not known at this time if he has re-signed with the organization.
— Lizzy Valentine revealed to fans last week on Facebook that the casting director for the upcoming season of WWE Tough Enough is urging her to submit an application for the USA Network reality show. She wrote:
“I was contacted by the casting director of WWE Tough Enough. They want me to submit, but I really had no intention of doing so. What do u guys think? Your opinions are extremely important in this decision!!!”
Valentine has taken part in tryouts before WWE officials in the past, but has never been offered a contract. She enrolled in the 2005 Diva Search contest, but did not make the final cut. More recently, she appeared on Wrestlicious Takedown as Kandy Kisses and worked a tryout match for TNA Wrestling.
She also appeared as Evan Bourne’s valet on the short-lived MTV series Wrestling Society X.
— Former D-Generation X members Billy Gunn and Road Dogg have launched accounts on Twitter.
— Former WWE Superstar Shelton Benjamin is advertised to participate in Q&A and autograph session at the TD Garden in Boston prior to the Boston Blazers lacrosse game on Feb. 12.
Below are various Twitter reactions to Kaval’s release from World Wrestling Entertainment today:
John Cena: “CeNation. Behind as always. I guess wwe has released kaval. I have no clue why but this close to holiday would probally mean……. That it is pretty serious business.”
Jim Ross: “Kaval’s release from WWE surprised me. Don’t know the circumstances. Kaval won’t have any issues finding work. I wish him my best.”
Jeremy Borash: “Very grateful to be working for a company that gives out bonus checks at Christmas instead of walking papers.”
Shelton Benjamin: “I guess my question is would you rather see him as a jobber for Wwe or the Indy phenom that he had been.”
— Former WWE Tag Team Champions Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas announced during intermission of Ring of Honor’s Final Battle iPPV that they had signed full-time deals with the organization. They said their goal is to become the ROH World Tag Team Champions.
— Triple H is being advertised to appear at several upcoming Raw tapings. However, he was advertised for last night’s show in Austin, Texas, but did not appear.
— Former WWE Women’s Champion Chyna has landed a role as a defense attorney in the independent film Code of Death. Filming begins in the spring.
Former WWE star Shelton Benjamin was recently interviewed by Blackvoices.com. Here are some highlights of what Benjamin said about:
Why WWE Let Him Go:
“Honestly, I’m still wondering that myself. What I think it boils down to is that I’d been there for so long and they had such high hopes for me. For me to continue in the position that I was in I would have gotten to the point where family would have lost faith in me. I think while I’m still young every now and then you need to completely disassociate yourself from the company to freshen yourself up. It would be one thing for me to say I am gonna leave and take three months off and when I come back I’ll be fresh and new, but it’s a total other thing to disassociate yourself from the company completely. The point that they didn’t resign me doesn’t really bother me because I felt like I needed to go and near the end of my career work for me wasn’t fun.”
“I remember when I first started I could not wait to get to work. Near the end, I couldn’t stand when I had to wake up and go to the airport. It was one of those things where we were both in agreement that I needed to step away. Do I believe that’s a permanent departure? No. If you have watched the history of the WWE or if you have ever worked there and you were ever any good; you don’t have just one run with the WWE. The door is open for me to come back. We parted ways on good terms, but as far as a lot of the decisions they made with my career, I’m still dumbfounded.”
Which African American WWE Star Deserves To Be World Champion:
“The first person that comes to my mind is MVP. If you look at his career, at one point it looked like it was going that route. For whatever reason, it just stopped. I felt like fans were accepting him so he would be the first on my list. I believe Kofi Kingston is on the cusp. I won’t say he’s quite ready yet but people put the title on guys who aren’t ready all the time. Those two would be first on my list. Most of the other Black guys are just inexperienced right now and none of them have shown me anything that would validate putting the world title on them and that’s not to say they won’t be later. I forgot about Mark Henry and I don’t want to leave him out of there.”
People Saying David Otunga Is Getting Pushed Because Of His Famous Fiancé, Jennifer Hudson:
“No, I don’t think he’s very good. My guess would be probably, but at the same time whether he’s any good or not this is a show. Just by him being in the WWE makes news. People are gonna tune in just to see David Otunga – just to see if he’s good or bad. Jennifer Hudson’s husband is a pro wrestler. That’s gonna draw and it will be foolish on the part of WWE not to take advantage of that. Do I think him being married to Jennifer Hudson helps? Without a doubt. He still has to go in there and perform. Just because he has the job and they’re using him doesn’t mean that it’s gonna stay that way. No disrespect to David because he’s a great guy and I’ve worked with him. I expect him to improve, but if I was running a wrestling company and David Otunga was signed on my company, you’re dammed right I’m gonna put him in everyone’s face. That’s the proof for me.”
Ring of Honor sent in the following announcement on Tuesday:
Ring of Honor is proud to announce that Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin, the World’s Greatest Tag Team, have been signed to appear at the ROH on HDNet national television tapings in Louisville, Kentucky December 9th and 10th. The events, “ROH–TWO NIGHTS ONLY”, will mark the first time ROH’s TV program has been taped outside Philadelphia, and was selected for two nights in a row in Louisville because of the tremendous demand for seats at the July debut event.
Haas and Benjamin are both looking forward not only to returning to Ring of Honor, but to the city in which both of them lived and wrestled early in their careers. Shelton, in particular, underwent his first wrestling training in Louisville in 2000 with Ohio Valley Wrestling under ROH executive producer Jim Cornette and OVW Owner Danny Davis.
“I can’t wait to come back to the Davis Arena”, Shelton said, “because the Louisville fans and OVW are like home. In New York, the ROH fans took to Charlie and I like we’d been there all our lives. Mix them both and these will be two really big nights for us.”
Charlie is equally as excited. “The ROH fans reignited my passion for wrestling, the passion I had when I was wrestling for Danny Davis in Kentucky and Les Thatcher in Ohio in developmental. We wouldn’t miss the chance to come see those people again.”
There are five other ROH stars appearing on those tapings that might have an interest in the appearance of the two men that many call The World’s Greatest Tag Team–the current ROH Tag Team Champions the Kings of Wrestling with their manager Shane Hagadorn, and Mark & Jay, the Briscoe Brothers. All three of these teams have a claim to being the best tag team in wrestling, and many supporters to back them up. It’ll be interesting to see all of them under the same roof, along with 25 other superstars and 12 big matches each night, at the home of OVW — The Davis Arena at 4400 Shepherdsville Road in Louisville.
A select number of VIP seats remain, as well as general admission, but we expect demand for tickets to exceed capacity on Thursday, December 9th and Friday December 10th, so please make your advance ticket orders if you are coming to avoid being left out. The Champions’ Table package is still available for the December 9th event. You get two leather recliners with a table, on a riser less than 15 feet from the ring, comes complete with waittress service and all 2 can eat or drink from the concession stand all night, for only $150. To purchase the Champion’s Table, you must call the office directly at (215) 781-2500. All other tickets are available to purchase at https://www.rohwrestling.com/store.php?sec=cat&cat=30.
Ring of Honor has posted this video of Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas’ debut match for Ring of Honor .. The former WWE tag champions challenged ROH tag champions the Kings of Wrestling at Glory By Honor IX on September 11th from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.
Former WWE performer Shelton Benjamin has issued his first public comments about his release, writing the following on his Twitter page this week:
“WWE never made me any promises just gave me an opportunity to make money. And I made a lot of money, so (they) fulfilled their end. I am not bitter or scourned and I’ve got too much pride, passion, and confidence in myself to cry like a baby because i was released.”
Benjamin says he was underutilized during his time in WWE and that there are many things about the company that “suck” – but that probably won’t stop him from returning to the company at some point in the future.
“Do I think I should have been a World Champion, HELL YES!, was I underutilized, without a doubt, do I have issue with WWE, NO! I NEED TO BE AWAY FROM WWE so I can grow are a performer. There are many things about that company that SUCK, but i got no time to be crying about it. I am enjoying a good life now and if history serves chances are you haven’t seen the last on me in WWE even if I go elsewhere along the way.”
Shelton Benjamin is currently wrestling for Ring of Honor with his former WWE tag partner, Charlie Haas.
Alex Marvez of Scrippsnews.com conducted a phone interview with former WWE superstar Charlie Haas last week.
Haas, who was released from WWE in February after almost a decade with the company, says despite his athletic ability, other forces held him back from being a main event performer. “When you’ve got guys on top who hate you and are burying you behind your back, you’re not going to go anywhere.”
Here are some highlights of what he said about:
Working With Shelton Benjamin Again: “I’m not only excited to be back with Shelton, but also being able to have the handcuffs taken off so we can wrestle the way we want to. We’re going to work for a company that appreciates wrestling and wants you to go out and steal the show. You don’t have to play political games. This is going to be a great match.”
Drug Use In WWE: “WWE is cleaning things up. There was a group of guys who were addicted to all that stuff before the wellness program. They thought you need to do pills, drugs or whatever to live the life of a wrestler. People are being really educated now that you don’t have to do that anymore.”
Lance Cade’s Death “With each individual person it’s different. Some have addictive personalities that might be in their genetic code. A lot of times, it’s an individual decision. I get angry about a lot of it. Once you’re an addict, you don’t see how badly you’re hurting people. Eddie’s kids won’t know what it’s like to have their daddy in their life. Lance will never be there to walk his daughter down the aisle or see her graduate. It really breaks my heart.”
— Seven wrestlers released by World Wrestling Entertainment on April 22, 2010 are now free to join TNA Wrestling (or any wrestling promotion for that matter) as their respective 90-day no-compete clauses have expired. Among those let go that fateful day were Mickie James, Shelton Benjamin, Katie Lea Burchill, Jimmy Wang Yang, Slam Master J, Kung Fu Naki and Mike Knox.
The contractual clause was put in place to prohibit wrestlers from immediately competing with nationally televised promotions following their release.
— It was announced during Friday’s episode of SmackDown that Layla would be defending her Women’s Championship against Tiffany on this week’s show.
— World Heavyweight Champion Kane tops WWE.com’s latest POWER 25 chart. He is trailed by Sheamus and Randy Orton, among others.
