– At Sunday’s Raw live event in Worcester, Massachusetts, WWE Champion CM Punk made an obscure reference to a TNA Wrestling talent.
The show opened with Punk and Raw General Manager AJ Lee discussing the night’s main event since Punk’s originally scheduled opponent, John Cena, was unable to appear due to injury. During the verbal exchange, Punk referred to Lee as “Allen Jones,” the real name of AJ Styles.
Lee announced Big Show as Punk’s replacement opponent and that it would be a Lumberjack Match. Big Show performed as a babyface and won the match via disqualification after Punk struck him with a chair. Following the match, Punk assaulted Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara. As he was celebrating, Big Show struck him with the WMD to end the show on a high note.
– WWE developmental wrestler Dean Ambrose faced Michael McGillicutty at all three Raw live events this weekend. McGillicutty beat Ambrose cleanly in all three bouts.
– The late Big Bossman is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
Matches taped Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center for this week’s episode of WWE Superstars were Tyson Kidd vs. David Otunga, and The Prime Time Players vs. Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso.
A taping was also held for WWE Saturday Morning Slam on The CW. Bouts taped were Sin Cara vs. Jinder Mahal, and Justin Gabriel vs. Zack Ryder.
A dark match was held before both tapings as Kofi Kingston beat WWE developmental wrestler Dean Ambrose following Trouble In Paradise.
– In this week’s “Backstage Fallout” for Raw, Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara respond to The Prime Time Players’ attack from behind. Plus, Layla suspects Eve had something to do with Kaitlyn’s being viciously attacked at Night of Champions, Wade Barrett discusses his future plans and Kofi Kingston and R-Truth vow to regain the WWE Tag Team Championship from Daniel Bryan and Kane.
http://youtu.be/V-qgFn0xlUDcY
– The official WWE website announced last week that a new Bret Hart video title, Bret Hart: Unreleased Matches, will be released on March 5, 2013. The WWE Hall of Famer is giving input to the project.
He tweeted Tuesday, “Starting to review matches for the new “Unreleased Matches” DVD.”
It was announced on Friday’s SmackDown that The Miz will defend the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Rey Mysterio, Sin Cara and Cody Rhodes in a Fatal 4-Way Match this Sunday at Night of Champions.
With the addition of the match, all six titles will be at stake at Night of Champions. The United States Championship Match will be set on the pre-show when the winner of a battle royal advances to the pay-per-view to challenge Antonio Cesaro.
* WWE Champion CM Punk vs. John Cena
* WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Sin Cara vs. Cody Rhodes
* WWE World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio
* Randy Orton vs. Dolph Ziggler
* WWE Tag Team Champions R-Truth and Kofi Kingston vs. Kane and Daniel Bryan
* WWE Divas Champion Layla vs. Kaitlyn
* Pre-Show Battle Royal to name No. 1 Contender to WWE United States Champion Antonio Cesaro
– Sin Cara defeated Michael McGillicutty on this weekend’s Saturday Morning Slam show.
– Friday’s WWE Smackdown had a Trendrr.tv social media score of only 77,771, down 20% from the previous week. Smackdown ranked #2 on cable TV Friday night, trailing “Stand Up 2 Cancer” coverage.
– WWE’s Chief Financial Officer, George A. Barrios, will participate in the Credit Suisse 3rd Annual Small & Mid Cap Conference, on September 21, 2012, in New York, NY. Presentation materials can be accessed at Corporate.wwe.com/investors on September 21st.
– Mark Henry continues to train for his eventual return to the ring. Henry, who has lost a lot of weight in the past few months, noted on Twitter over the weekend that he’s now lifting weights again. Check out a recent photo of Mark Henry looking skinny.
– With WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart returning to the scene of the Montreal Screwjob for the first time in 15 years on Monday’s WWE RAW, WWE is encouraging fans to tweet their favorite Bret Hart memories with the hashtag #BretMemories. WWE will select some of the tweets and feature them on the new WWE app.
– We reported earlier this week that WWE has big plans for the new Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara tag team, with the duo slated to win the WWE tag titles, break up and then eventually wrestle at WrestleMania 29.
The latest on this situation is that Rey Mysterio would likely play the heel in this feud, despite some resistance from several people in management. Mysterio is in the twilight of his career, a legend and still moves a ton of merchandise, but the feeling is that Sin Cara has a better chance of getting over as a babyface.
On Monday’s RAW, we saw masked luchadors Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara join forces as a tag team. According to a report at PWInsider.com, WWE is looking forward to having the two superstars wrestle each other at WrestleMania 29 next April.
WWE originally planned a Mysterio vs. Sin Cara match at WrestleMania 28, with the idea being that WWE would hand out Mysterio and Sin Cara masks to the audience and set the Guinness World Record for the most masks worn in a public gathering. Both wrestlers were injured prior to the pay-per-view, which put those plans on hold. WWE has not given up on this spectacle.
The Mysterio & Sin Cara pairing is also being done because Mysterio is not 100% healthy right now and they want to use Mysterio to strongly endorse Cara, get his fans to follow the young grappler and pass the torch to him as WWE’s next great Mexican hero.
There is a good chance Mysterio and Sin Cara will win the WWE tag titles prior to breaking up and wrestling at WrestleMania 29. Current plans call for the Prime Time Players to get a run with the gold, which would lead to Mysterio & Sin Cara chasing them this fall.
– In the midst of Cody Rhodes’ “obsession” with unmasking Sin Cara, WWE.com has published photos of the high-flying Superstar with his mask removed. His face, however, is not visible in the photos.
– WWE will hold a SmackDown taping at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Tuesday, November 20. Tickets go on sale Saturday, September 15 at 11:00 a.m. via Ticketmaster.com.
– Former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis has been announced to appear ringside for CHIKARA Pro’s King of Trios tournament September 14-16. She will be in the corner of Mike Bennett and the Young Bucks when they take on The Warlord, Barbarian and Meng.
– Lex Luger is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
– WWE.com has published a list counting down the 20 most memorable Superstar debuts in sports-entertainment history with Kane’s premiere appearance at the 1997 WWF pay-per-view event Badd Blood: In Your House topping the chart.
The complete list is as follows: 20. Big Show, 19. Fit Finlay, 18. Santino Marella, 17. Booker T, 16. Abdullah the Butcher, 15. Brock Lesnar, 14. The Great Khali, 13. Vader, 12. Goldberg, 11. Rey Mysterio, 10. Sabu, 9. Eric Bischoff, 8. The Undertaker, 7. Tazz, 6. Shockmaster, 5. The Nexus, 4. John Cena, 3. Scott Hall, 2. Chris Jericho, 1. Kane.
– Colt Cabana is featured in a new national Old Navy commercial promoting NFL gear. As a football player, he is shown carrying legendary football coach Mike Ditka.
– Sin Cara is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
CM Punk, AJ & Sin Cara Invade NYC at Ringside Fest 2012!
WWE® Champion CM Punk Returns Due To Popular Demand!
NEW YORK, NY – RINGSIDE COLLECTIBLES, INC. presents the 9th annual RINGSIDE FEST, scheduled for Saturday, October 20th at Carolines on Broadway in Times Square, New York City.
This blockbuster event includes appearances by WWE® Superstar CM Punk® (appearing at 11:30am), WWE® Diva AJ™ (appearing at 9:15am) & WWE® Superstar Sin Cara™(appearing at 9:15am)!
Tickets are required for autographs and photo opportunities. Availability is limited. Advanced purchase is suggested, – please visit www.RingsideFest.com for more information!
Do not miss the RINGSIDE FEST Exclusive Mattel WWE® Elite Flashback “Texas Rattlesnake” Stone Cold Steve Austin figure that will be available for sale starting at RINGSIDE FEST.
Mattel’s design team will also be on hand with the latest WWE® Action Figures on display and answering questions from fans!
– Raw General Manager AJ Lee announced on Twitter Monday night that Daniel Bryan will attend anger management classes beginning next week. “Starting next week, I’ve decided to help Daniel Bryan out with his anger issues, by sending him to anger management therapy classes,” she tweeted.
Bryan vehemently opposes her decision. He sent out a Tout where he angrily states, “I don’t belong in anger management! I do not belong in anger management! That Big Red Monster, he does! Do I? Look at my new T-Shirt! No! No! No! The new General Manager is nuts.”
– WWE Diva Eve Torres turns 28-years-old on Tuesday.
– EOnline.com has published an article on Khloé Kardashian Odom serving as Social Media Ambassador to Raw Monday.
“Divas Battle Royal!! This is what it was like growing up with my sisters! JK!,” she joked on Twitter at one point. She also noted, “I bet Sin Cara is gorgeous under his mask, probably better looking than @CodyRhodesWWE.”
– Cody Rhodes posted a video on Tout and says it’s his “responsibility” to unmask Sin Cara and show the world his face. (Pictures of Sin Cara Unmasked)
– Just days after the release of WWE’s new mobile app, the app is already 14th most downloaded app in the Apple App Store and the 21st most downloaded app in the Google Play store. For those who haven’t downloaded it yet, it’s absolutely worth a look and one of the most content-rich, polished apps we’ve ever seen.
– Damien Sandow will be appearing at the upcoming NXT live event from the Orlando Armory in Orlando, Florida on September 7th.
Deadline.com has announced a partnership between Warner Bros. Home Video and WWE Studios to co-produce a Scooby-Doo animated feature that will find Scooby and the gang solving a mystery at WrestleMania.
WWE Superstars Triple H, John Cena, Kane, The Miz, Brodus Clay, Santino Marella, Sin Cara, AJ Lee and chief Vince McMahon are slated to appear in animated format and provide voiceovers for the film.
WWE.com summarizes the film’s plot: “When Shaggy and Scooby win tickets to WrestleMania, the entire gang travels in the Mystery Machine to WWE City to attend the epic event. However, when a mysterious ghostly bear appears and threatens to ruin the show, Scooby, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred work with WWE Superstars to solve the case.”
Warner Bros Home Entertainment will distribute the film via Blu-ray, DVD, VOD and digital download while WWE will use its considerable resources to promote the title, said WWE Studios President Michael Luisi.
– The Pioneer Press in Minnesota printed an article on the death of Jack Danielson, who wrestled as Blackjack Daniels in the AWA, The Southeast and Mid-West.
Danielson, also worked under the name Jack “The Ripper” Daniels was trained Stan Kowalski and Tiny Mills. He worked a number of territories in the 1960s and 1970s, mostly working as the protege of his trailers. He and Mills worked regularly in the Missouri-Kansas area in the 60s, feuding with the Medics for the Central States tag team championship drew quite a few huge crowds.
Danielson was 83.
– Check out this week’s episode of WWE Superstars featuring these matches:
* Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel vs. Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks
* Zack Ryder vs. Michael McGillicutty
* Layla vs. Natalya
* Sin Cara vs. Drew McIntyre
– After AJ decided not to marry Daniel Bryan on Raw, it was revealed she accepted a proposal from Vince McMahon to become the new permanent Raw General Manager. She stated on Twitter Tuesday evening that she has big things planned.
“Big meetings this week at WWE HQ. Things are about to get VERY interesting. #Raw1001 #businesschucks.”
– Two matches were taped Tuesday night in Kansas City, Missouri for this week’s episode of WWE Superstars: Sin Cara vs. Drew McIntyre and WWE Divas Champion Layla vs. Natalya.
In dark match results, Zack Ryder defeated Heath Slater via Rough Ryder while Jey and Jimmy Uso beat Camacho and Hunico. Both Usos hit Hunico with the Superfly Splash for the pinfall victory.
– Former WWE Superstar Headbanger Mosh weighed in on Monday’s landmark Raw episode via Twitter: “Thought #RAW1000 was pretty good (from what I saw) only thing missing was @steveaustinBSR.”
Dolph Ziggler was reportedly livid with Sin Cara following Sunday’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match for a World Heavyweight Championship Contract at Money in the Bank.
According to SuperLuchas.net, a source within WWE says Ziggler vocally complained backstage over the SmackDown Superstar working stiffly and failing to protect him during a high risk maneuver off the top turnbuckle known as The Spanish Fly.
The errant spot nearly injured Ziggler, not to mention spurred a dubious Twitter trending topic—”Botch Cara.”
According to the source, Ziggler plans to file a formal complaint to WWE officers over Sin Cara so they can review the case further and decide whether the the high-flying grappler faces punishment.
In Sin Cara’s defense, footage indicates that Ziggler caused the spot to fail by slipping twice on the rope. Wrestling Observer editor Dave Meltzer stated Friday, “Ziggler slipped halfway through the move when Sin Cara’s back was already bent far enough he could do nothing but fall. It’s only Sin Cara’s fault if he had ESP and would have known Ziggler was about to slip.”
Sixteen months after signing up on Twitter.com and gaining nearly 8 Million followers, Charlie Sheen shut down his account Thursday.
His final message sated “reach for the stars everyone. dogspeed cadre. c out,”
Sheen was touted by WWE as the Social Ambassador for the 1,000th episode of Raw. WWE.com stated “the “winning” actor will entertain his 7.5 million Twitter followers and the WWE Universe all night long with his unique 140-character analysis of the action.” His status for next week’s RAW remains unclear.
Sin Cara is today’s WWE.com Superstar of the day.
Shawn Michaels posted a video on Friday selling merchandise.
– Following up on Del Rio squashing Sin Cara at Monday’s RAW, f4wonline.com is reporting that there’s no reason to believe Cara is in the dog house or at risk of being released. RAW was in Loredo, Texas (close to the Mexican border) and WWE wanted to get a lot of heat on Del Rio for squashing the Mexican babyface.
– Diamond Dallas Page and Bob Backlund have been added to the Alumni section of WWE.com.
– FCW will hold another round of tryouts from September 28th through October 1st at the FCW Arena in Tampa, Florida. The tryout camp costs $1,000 and at least one developmental contract will be awarded.
Bill DeMott, Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, Terry Taylor, Steve Keirn, Norman Smiley, and Joey Mercury will serve as the trainers.
– The latest WWE Backstage Fallout video is now online, featuring backstage interviews from Tuesday’s Smackdown:
“What does Eve have to say about being the punchline of the party in this SuperSmackDown edition of “Backstage Fallout”? Does Tyler Reks feel guilty for Ryback’s destruction of Curt Hawkins? Plus, Cody Rhodes and Dolph Ziggler punch their tickets for Money in the Bank.”
– Wade Barrett is finally healthy and ready to return to action. Barrett was scheduled for a huge push before undergoing surgery for dislocated his elbow back in March and is expected to get that push once WWE comes up with a storyline to bring him back to television. Back then, it was rumored that WWE wanted Barrett to win Money in the Bank and challenge for the World Heavyweight title, but he’d have to return to action on tonight’s live SmackDown in order to qualify.
– Alberto Del Rio squashing Sin Cara so decisively on RAW has many wondering about Cara’s standing with the company. After recently being repackaged with a new look and scoring a series of television wins, getting destroyed on RAW is not a good sign regarding where WWE views him on the roster hierarchy.
– A new DVD documentary about ECW is in the final stages of production, according to PWInsider.com. The documentary will feature interviews with ECW wrestlers, fans and personalities dating back to 2001 (when ECW shut down) and will look at the events that have transpired in the decade following ECW’s demise.
– Justin Roberts was conspicuously absent from Monday’s Raw SuperShow as Lilian Garcia instead handled ring announcing duties. It was a one-off appearance.
Garcia stated on Twitter, “Justin was on vacation. He will be back next week. :)”
It was Garcia’s first appearance on the program since 2010.
– Matches taped Tuesday night in Evansville, Indiana for this week’s episode of WWE Superstars were:
* Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso vs. Camacho and Hunico
* Sin Cara vs. Antonio Cesaro (with Aksana)
* Kane vs. Heath Slater
* Epico and Primo (with Rosa Mendes) vs. Darren Young and Titus O’Neil (with A.W.)
Brodus Clay beat Drew McIntyre in approximately two minutes in a pre-show dark match. McIntyre worked Clay’s injured knee, but Clay prevailed and won with the running splash.
Fueling rumors that WWE may part ways with Randy Orton as a result of his second violation of the Talent Wellness Program, former WCW announcer Mark Madden stated Thursday on Twitter, “WWE wants to get rid of Orton PERMANENTLY. Character and popularity have plateaued, and he’s a pain to deal with.”
In response to his statement, a Twitter user asked Madden whether Vince McMahon has suddenly stopped liking money. Madden responded, “Vince thinks everybody is a WWE creation, and therefore disposable, to be replaced by another WWE creation. And you’re overrating Orton.”
The Wrestling Observer reported Wednesday that there is a ‘small, vocal pocket’ within the sports entertainment organization lobbying for his termination. Vince McMahon is reportedly contemplating the move, but many employees believe he will ultimately retain the nine-time world champion due to the lack of roster depth.
The Observer added that there are people within WWE saying Orton’s hiatus ‘isn’t going to be that big a problem.’ For the first time, employees are openly categorizing CM Punk as the second-ranked babyface rather than Punk and Orton being on the same level. Many also feel SmackDown’s babyface side will be adequate with Sheamus, Christian, Sin Cara, Rey Mysterio returning soon from suspension and the option to turn Daniel Bryan at a moment’s notice.
– Steve Austin will be appearing at the CMT Music Awards tonight in Nashville, Tennessee. Austin will be promoting his new Redneck Island reality show on the network.
– WWE is now billing Sin Cara “the most popular superstar in the history of Mexico.” This statement can be disputed from many angles – and could also be seen as a shot at suspended WWE superstar Rey Mysterio.
– The Rock announced on Twitter that yesterday was the final day filming his “Pain & Gain” bodybuilder movie with Mark Wahlberg:
“On set. Last day of PAIN & GAIN. Insane true story – murder, mounds of coke & bodybuilder fanny packs. Been a helluva ride..”
Check out this gallery of The Rock on the set of Pain & Gain:
– Sin Cara returned to action on Friday night’s SmackDown, defeating Heath Slater. Sin Cara, who was trending worldwide on Twitter during the broadcast, debuted new red & white ring gear.