— Ring of Honor wrestlers Claudio Castagnoli and Chris Hero, both WWE bound, willbypass developmental and join the main roster after they sign their respective contracts.

— Scott Hall’s son Cody, who 6-foot-9 and 20 years old, is training at the I Believe In Wrestling school in Orlando, Florida. Hall offers helps train wrestlers at the school, as does Larry Zbyszko, Chasyn Rance and Alex Porteau.

— A WWE camera crew is prepping with Steve Austin today at his Broken Skull Ranch in Tilden, Texas to begin filming their DVD project on the Hall of Famer Tuesday and Wednesday.

— CM Punk has been removed from WWE’s entrance video for The Nexus.

source: F4WOnline.com

As the coach of Tough Enough and one of the biggest superstars in the history of the industry, it’s safe to say that WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin has an eye for talent.

In a tweet posted on Thursday night, Austin urges WWE to sign TNA star Samoa Joe when he becomes a free agent and give him a chance to shine:

“WWE should sign @SamoaJoe as soon as his TNA contract is up. One of my favorite workers in today’s game. Needs a full green light push.”

UPDATE: Samoa Joe has responded to Steve Austin’s suggestion that WWE sign him when he becomes a free agent. Joe tweeted on Friday morning:

“@steveaustinBSR Much appreciated. *tips cap”

Update #2: Jim Ross Comments On Samoa Joe In WWE

What do you think – with CM Punk’s recent explosion in popularity and WWE finally pushing smaller stars like The Miz Daniel Bryan, could Samoa Joe make it to the top of the WWE Universe?

– As previously reported, there are people in WWE who are very interested in bringing in experienced soap opera writers to join the company’s creative tam. One of the big reasons behind this push is that the soap opera industry is in very bad shape and they can likely sign some talented writers for much les than they could have 2-3 years ago. Additionally, WWE wants to improve its storylines and present compelling personal conflicts. An example of this would be the Vince McMahon – Triple H segment that ended this week’s RAW. (Source: Wrestling Observer)

– Former WWE star Chris Jericho’s heavy metal band Fozzy will be performing at the upcoming interPLAY music festival on August 6th in Ft. McMurray, Alberta, Canada.

– A new trailer has been released for Steve Austin’s next straight-to-DVD (and Blu-ray) action movie, Tactical Force, in stores on August 9th. Here’s the movie synopsis and video trailer:

“A training exercise for the LAPD SWAT Team goes terribly wrong when they find themselves pitted against two rival gangs while trapped in an abandoned Hangar.”

– WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin wrote the following on Twitter on Monday regarding his new WWE DVD set, which is being billed as the “final” Austin DVD:

“WWE film crew to come down to the Broken Skull Ranch in a few days. Filming last SCSA DVD. Please send your questions to my twitter acct. “

“Also send any suggestions on matches you would like to see from WCCW, USWA, WCW, ECW, and of course WWE. Thanks for the help. Gonna be good.”

– WWE Tough Enough winner Andy Leavine, who was profiled on Monday’s RAW, is currently training at Florida Championship and wrestled on last Saturday’s show from Fort Meyers, where he lost to Peter Orlov.

– RAW announcer Michael Cole is the latest WWE personality to appear on Shawn Michaels’ hunting show on the Outdoor Channel. Michaels tweeted the following about tonight’s episode:

“Just reviewed [tonight’s] MRA show. I sure hope everybody has a sense of humor. @MichaelCole is gonna b hated in the outdoor biz as well:-)”

— Steve Austin revealed on Twitter that WWE is producing a complete, final compilation DVD of his career. The project will chronicle his entire professional wrestling career.

“WWE is going to do a final DVD story on my career in the ring. Very in-depth look from start to finish. I’m very much looking forward to it,” Austin said.

“I want to hear questions from the fans. I will get an address for questions tomorrow. This will be the be all, end all DVD collection.”

Jim Ross noted on Twitter that the DVD is likely to be released during the holidays.

— The Miz will be throwing out the first pitch prior to the Cleveland Indians vs. Los Angeles Angels game on Tuesday, July 26 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

— Former WWE Diva Shelly Martinez has launched a premium website, ShellyMartinez.org. For $3.99 per month, members receive exclusive photos, videos, a first look at her Sprinkles web series and chat with the former WWE Diva herself.

Tough Enough competitor Jeremiah Riggs was interviewed over the weekend by Sean Walford of the Aftershock Wrestling radio show. Riggs spoke about his time working with WWE for Tough Enough, as well as TNA, ROH, UFC and more. You can listen to audio of the appearance by clicking here. (MP3)

One of the more newsworthy topics discussed was the major heat Tough Enough winner Andy Leavine received after not selling the Stone Cold Stunner he received following the Tough Enough season finale. Here’s what Riggs said about that situation:

“I think that a lot of people may have just bit there tongue on that one and let it pass, however I do know that he got his ass chewed that’s for sure. I ain’t gonna blast nobody, I ain’t gonna mention nobody’s names or anything, but there certainly was some people that knew what the deal was and they weren’t happy.”

• ORIGINAL REPORT: Tough Enough Winner Andy Leavine Screamed At Backstage

The fact that Andy Leavine was already under a developmental contract with WWE during Tough Enough was also addressed. Regarding that situation, Riggs said:

“You know it is what it is. Hell, he is back in FCW, so it’s not like the WWE invested in something they already had. I don’t think that it’s much, but I tell you that when I get my chance I’m gonna come through there and I’m gonna shake some things up. I’m gonna step on some toes. If someone is in my way then they can either move or get hit over. I think in this business your gonna get pushed around, however I’m gonna push myself to the top and I’m gonna give it my 

— WWE Divas Champion Kelly Kelly revealed this afternoon on her Twitter account that she will be on hand for tonight’s SmackDown taping at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

“Sorry I’ve been Mia guys! Recovering from the tour..but thought I’d take the championship n make a surprise visit to Smackdown today,” she wrote. “So get ready for me Mohegan sun :) btw @thebellatwins I promise I will expose u both on sun…you deff can look but no1 wants to touch ewww.”

— Vickie Guerrero revealed on Twitter that WWE will be releasing an “Excuse Me” T-shirt for both men and women.

— “Stone Cold” Steve Austin is featured on the cover of the latest issue of The Wrestler. The headline reads: “Tough Enough For One More Match?”

— Linda Hogan promotes her book, Wrestling the Hulk: My Life Against the Ropes, tonight on Showbiz Tonight. The program airs at 11:00 p.m. on HLN.

— The July 1 episode of WWE SmackDown scored a 1.63 cable rating, the lowest of 2011 and second-lowest on Syfy. Only the New Year’s Eve episode scored a lower rating.

SmackDown averaged 2.33 million viewers, down from 2.40 the previous week. This extends the program’s streak of less than 3.0 million viewers to nine consecutive weeks.

The June 24 SmackDown scored a 1.69 rating, down from a 1.71 rating the prior week. It was tied for the lowest rated episode of the year.

— Paul Bearer stated on his Facebook page that he is heading to WWE’s television studios in Stamford, Connecticut to work on a ‘special project’.

— Steve Austin’s latest direct-to-video film, Tactical Force, will be released on Blu-ray on Tuesday, August 9.

source: PWInsider.com

— Former ROH World Tag Team Champions Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli were on hand for this week’s WWE television tapings in New York and Rhode Island. Both worked out in the ring in front of officials before each show.

Castagnoli signed a developmental contract with WWE in November 2006 but was released a short while later for reasons that have yet to be publicly disclosed.

— WWE has released a commercial ad promoting SummerSlam, which takes place August 14, 2011 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. It is branded as “The Biggest Event of the Summer.”

The commercial features The Miz, Chris Masters, John Morrison, Kofi Kingston, Eve Torres, Alicia Fox and The Bella Twins emerging from the ocean and scurrying to a beach house to watch SummerSlam.

The commercial is available here.

— Damage starring Steve Austin airs tonight on Spike TV at 11:00 p.m.

source: PWInsider.com

After Monday’s RAW from the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island went off the air, fans saw a Street Fight WWE championship match between John Cena and The Miz. During the match, Sheamus, R-Truth, and C.M. Punk ran down to the ring and attacked Cena. Steve Austin finally ran in and cleaned house with a generous helping of Stone Cold Stunners. Cena recovered and hit Miz with the Attitude Adjustment for the pin.

Here’s a video from what went down after RAW, shot by a fan who was at the show:

Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan was recently interviewed by ESPN.com’s Jon Robinson to promote his upcoming video game “Hulk Hogan’s Main Event” for the motion-sensing Xbox 360 Kinect system. Here are some highlights of what Hogan said about:

Wanting To Wrestle Steve Austin: “Well, if there is that one last huge match that really, really meant something to the fans, that would have to be against “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. I can see him already making appearances back on TV and he’s already starting to get full of himself. I heard him say for a while that his back and his neck were too messed up to wrestle, but from I’ve been seeing lately, I think he’s getting geared up to do something and I’d like to be a part of it.”

His Memories of Randy Savage: “Randy and I were stuck together like glue for about 15 years. We did everything together — we traveled together, we worked out every day together — and then we went on to have some great matches. I know this sounds horrible, but we made a lot of money together, and then we had this huge falling out that to this day, I still don’t know why he got mad. He went through a lot with his divorce from Elizabeth and stuff, but we just started talking again a few months before he died. I don’t do many independent wrestling shows, but I finally did one and (Randy’s brother) Lanny was there and he was telling me how tough it was after their dad passed away, but his dad was really happy that Randy and I had started talking again. But then Lanny was really worried about his mom, so they were going to throw a big barbeque at his mom’s house with Randy and I, and that was supposed to be the next weekend, but Randy died in the middle of the week. Out of all the guys who have died, that one hit me the hardest. I’ve known a lot of guys, I’ve walked into hotel rooms where there have been bad situations, but that one was a tough one.”

There’s much more to the interview, including Hogan talking about his relationship with Vince McMahon, his favorite matches and more. Head over to ESPN.com for the full article.

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross is back with another blog update, which you can read its entirety over at JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights of what JR wrote about:

Zack Ryder Snubbed On RAW: We received a ton of Tweets @JRsBBQ and emails to this site about Long Island’s Zach Ryder not being on Monday Night Raw from his ‘home town.’ Not exactly sure what it was that some thought I could do about it but they vented nonetheless. Lighten Up,  Francis.”

• WWE Stars Comment On Zack Ryder Being Snubbed On RAW

Stone Cold On RAW: “@steveaustinBSR and @R_Roddy_Piper were the two highlights for this old schooler on Monday’s Raw. They both know how to fully command an audience and still have ‘it.’ Austin can be so intense that it bleeds through the TV screen. His Clint Eastwood-esque delivered line to CM Punk….”punk” was golden. @CMPunk and Austin have excellent on screen chemistry and back in the day they would have had a helluva run. Nothing but money.”

“Austin’s mic work with Miz, Vickie Guerrero, and CM Punk were three of the most memorable moments of the three hour Raw.”

Kevin Nash’s Recent Arrest: “@RealKevinNash defended his wife against a drunk dude with a beer bottle in hand and it was Kevin who got arrested and where it was made to look like a big deal by TMZ. Must have been a slow news day. Kevin protecting his wife isn’t a crime the last I looked and it sounds as if the police over reacted. When Kevin told me this story last week, I never dreamed that it would actually become national gossip/news. I’d love to do a sit down DVD interview w/ ‘Big Sexy’ about his career.”

• Kevin Nash’s Mugshot Picture From His Recent Arrest

Vickie Guerrero’s Weight Loss: “Vickie is looking great and her change in diet and exercise are working for her.”

• Brand New Bikini Picture Of Vickie Guerrero

Tonight’s special 3-hour edition of WWE RAW takes place in Long Island, NY and will feature an “All Star” theme. Here’s a preview of what to expect tonight:

– Steve Austin will be the guest General Manager for the night.

– Members of both the RAW and SmackDown! rosters will be appearing.

– WWE Tough Enough winner Andy Leavine announced that he would be at RAW tonight.

– With Capitol Punishment just six days away, expect to see plenty of hype for the pay-per-view, and likely a new match or two announced.

– WWE Champion John Cena vs. The Miz in a Street Fight is being advertised locally as the dark match main event.

Warning: The following contains a *Spoiler* for tonight’s RAW:

WWE Hall of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper is currently backstage at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, NY and will be appearing on tonight’s RAW.

On Monday’s RAW, it was announced that next week’s special 3-hour episode will be “WWE All Star Night” – featuring appearances from WWE legends.

The show, which will will take place from Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum , will feature talent from both RAW and SmackDown, as well as a special appearance from WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

WWE’s “All Star Night” is designed to promote the WWE All Stars videogame, which was released back in March prior to WrestleMania XXVII.

— WWE.com has added newcomers Jinder Mahal and Johnny Curtis to the SmackDown roster page.

Mahal beat Yoshi Tatsu in his SmackDown debut last night with a full nelson, suplex slam. He then instructed The Great Khali to manhandle Tatsu with the Khali Vise Grip.

Curtis appeared in peculiar backstage segment on SmackDown. After being declared the winner of WWE NXT season four, Curtis was promised a WWE Tag Team Championship Match with his Pro, R-Truth.

“But that’s not gonna happen,” Curtis chuckled. “And that’s the truth.” He then proceeded to do what any other WWE Superstar would do; cry over spilled milk.

— On Twitter, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin commented on the possibility of a second season of Tough Enough.

He wrote, “I have had many questions regarding a season 2 of Tough Enough…no word yet. Very interesting…”

The WWE Hall of Famer also stated last Monday during an interview with AfterBuzz TV that he does not know whether there will be a second season.

— Randy Savage was honored during this afternoon’s New York Yankees vs. New York Mets game at Yankee Stadium as an “In Memory Of” graphic displaying the years of his birth and death was shown on the video screen. “Macho Man” by the Village People played during the tribute.

— Steve Austin guest hosts Sixx Sense on XM Satellite Radio channel 164 on Monday and Tuesday.

— United States President Barack Obama is featured on the official pay-per-view poster for WWE’s upcoming Capitol Punishment event, which takes place on Sunday June 19th from the Verizon Center in Washington DC .. Check it out:

— “Stone Cold” Steve Austin is scheduled to appear on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Friday night. The program airs at 12:35 a.m. on NBC.

— This past Friday’s episode of SmackDown featured 44 minutes and 1 second of in-ring action, up from 39 minutes and 11 seconds the prior week. Also, 21 minutes and 59 seconds of in-ring action took place on last week’s episode of WWE Superstars.

— SmackDown Superstar Daniel Bryan turns 30 years old today while Raw Superstar Husky Harris turns 24.

— Randy Savage was a top trending topic today on Yahoo.com.

Paul Heyman is making headlines today with some controversial remarks about how WWE is handling the career of Nexus leader CM Punk.

Amid reports that CM Punk is unhappy behind the scenes and is considering leaving WWE when his contract expires later this year, Paul Heyman wrote on Twitter (@heymanhustle):

“I’m sure he will get heat for me saying this, but @CMPunk is STILL the most underutilized talent on the WWE roster. And my apologies to @CMPunk for the heat he’ll get, but come on already. Punk is the best heel in the biz today! WAKE THE F**K UP! It’s amazing to me (and not in a good way) that WWE doesn’t see how @CMPunk has brought out the best in every opponent.”

CM Punk caught wind of Paul Heyman’s rant and responded with:

“oh you know me, if I don’t have heat I’m doing something wrong. Keeps me warm.”

WWE Hall of Fame Steve Austin, who has exchanged words with Punk over Twitter in recent weeks, quoted Paul Heyman’s tweet and added, “Agreed.”

COMMENT BELOW and tell us what you think about CM Punk’s lack of push in WWE .. Does Punk have what it takes to be pushed ahead of other top young heels like The Miz and Alberto Del Rio?

— WWE Divas Champion Brie Bella indicated on her Twitter account this afternoon that she will be facing Kelly Kelly this Sunday at Over the Limit.

The message, however, was quickly deleted. No official announcement has been made thus far.

Kelly beat Bella in a Non-Title Match this past Monday on Raw.

— WWE has posted a video package entitled “Has The Great Khali gone soft?,” which highlights the uproarious comedy stylings of “The Punjabi Playboy.”

Khali is currently involved in a storyline where Jinder Mahal is trying to get him to behave in a more serious manner. The newcomer interrupted “The Khali Kiss Cam” last Friday on SmackDown by slapping the former World Heavyweight Champion twice before walking away.

— Hunt to Kill starring Steve Austin will be added to Netflix’ Video on Demand servce in a few weeks in the United States.

– WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin wrote on Twitter that he will be finishing filming “Recoil” in Canada this week. Austin said that it’s probably been the most fun he’s had shooting a movie so far.

– Fellow Hall of Famer Bobby Heenan is reportedly having a very tough time lately with his health issues. Keep “The Brain” in your thoughts.

– As we saw last week on Superstars, Tyson Kidd is now being managed by Michael Hayes. WWE has been considering the idea of reviving managers in recent months and there are said to be more WWE performers who will be getting managers soon. One other person who has been discussed as a possible manager is WWE producer/agent Arn Anderson. Anderson was considered for the role of Tyson Kidd’s manager, but still might be brought in to manage.

COMMENT BELOW: What do you guys think about WWE bringing back managers? Is managing a lost art that adds a lot to a wrestler’s character, or are they an unnecessary distraction that takes heat away from the wrestler?

(Partial Source: f4wonline.com)

Several weeks ago, WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin made headlines when he said that he is healthy enough that he could wrestle a full-time schedule for 2 more years if he really wanted to.

• Keep Reading: Steve Austin Says He Could Wrestle Full Time If He Wanted

During a recent interview with the UK Sun, Austin stomped a mudhole in our hopes and dreams – saying he has no intention getting back into the ring as an active competitor:

“I’m happy being gone and out of the business to the degree I am, that’s why the Tough Enough thing was such a great opportunity between my other projects. I can be as hands-on and as close as I want to be. I’m not attempting to come back and I have a load of memories from a business I love.”

“I got up there and took some bumps with one of the contestants and worked around with one of the guys and I had fun getting in the ring and bouncing around again.”

“But it doesn’t mean I want to go and do it again on a night in, night out basis.”

Austin said that he plans to continue focusing on his acting career.

— WWE.com has announced that John Cena’s challenger for Over the Limit will be determined tonight on Raw. The following statement was issued:

“Earlier today, an email from Raw’s anonymous General Manager stated that WWE Champion John Cena’s fate for WWE Over the Limit will be determined live tonight on Monday Night Raw at 9/8 CT. In what type of match will Cena defend his title?

— Steve Austin is being advertised for the June 13 Monday Night Raw taping at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York.

His scheduled appearance coincides with the end of Tough Enough season, which concludes the week before. The June 13 Raw is the first of back to back three-hour shows.

Speaking of Austin, he posted a the following video promoting tonight’s episode of Tough Enough.

source: PWInsider.com

Busted Open with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
Hosts: Doug Mortman and Dave LaGreca
Mondays and Wednesdays 2-4:00 p.m. EST
Sirius 125, XM 241

WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin appeared live in-studio promoting “Tough Enough” ahead of this week’s NBC Universal “upfronts” in New York City. The full interview is airing on Monday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. EST.

On being part of the first big event after 9/11 (Smackdown in Houston on Sept. 13, 2001…tied in with the news that Osama Bin Laden was killed):

“Well, the first show back was an interesting day at the office just because that’s when Vince (McMahon) just said, ‘Hey, Steve, we need to go back to work. A lot of people are going to come down on us but we gotta get this thing moving again and go forward because that’s what you do.’ There was just a lot going on there. A big gray cloud over all of us. Why this happened and how it happened and everything that went on. It was a little strange obviously. It was a weird period, that’s all I can say about it. It was a long time ago and it was a weird period, but you have to do what you have to do.”

Edge’s sudden retirement and similarities to Austin’s neck problems:

Well, I don’t know all the particulars about Edge’s health, but I guess it’s a neck problem. Spinal Stenosis, it means you ain’t gotta lot of room for your spinal cord to move. So that puts him in harms way by taking too many bumps or taking the wrong bump, so it’s a good decision he made. Sad day at the office for millions and millions of Edge fans and WWE fans.

I remember a long time ago, when my good buddy Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff had to get out of the business and he looked at me…Me and Paul were always straight shooters with each other and really good friends…and he goes ‘Steve, let me tell you something. There is life after wrestling.’ And there is, you just gotta go out there and find it and Edge will. He’s a bright kid, always has been, he’s still young, has got youth on his side, good looking kid and smart, so he’ll be fine. That’s just the way it is. When its time to close a door and open up another one, you gotta do that.

His Reaction to hearing the WrestleMania 28 main event announced a year in advance and making it work:

“They’re gonna have to make it work. It’s a hard build to make work. Rock’s hot and heavy right now in the movie business, he’s doing great…..and Cena is the number 1 guy, I’m sure he would love to work with a guy like Rock. When you got that big a window of time, it’s gotta work, and if anybody can make it work, it’s Vince. He always wants to do something big at every single Wrestlemania there is and that’s the big thing that he made was…..this next Wrestlemania. He’s a lot smarter than I am, so more power to him and good luck. I wish both guys well.”

On wrestlers having personality or lack thereof and if the guys in the back were upset that he showed his with the Stone Cold character:

“To this day, they (creative) might give you something because they don’t think you can come up with anything better or they feel their idea might be better than yours. Vince is a businessman. He don’t want to sit there and make every single decision that’s gotta be made. At the corporate level that’s his job because he’s the leader of that ship…he’s the captain…it’s his baby, but hell, he wants everyone to go out there.”

“If John Cena, the number 1 guy in the business, goes up to Vince and goes ‘Vince, I got a damn good idea, this is how to make me better and more hotter than I already am’….Vince is gonna listen to him. If Joe Blow who’s jerking the curtain in the first match says ‘Vince, I got a hell of an idea that’s gonna make me a main eventer, Vince is gonna say ‘Let me hear it’. It ain’t about them labeling you anything and making you stick to it. You gotta come up with something…it’s show business.”

— Former WWE star Ron Simmons is backstage at tonight’s Raw taping in Tampa, Florida and expected to appear during the program.

— Sin Cara beat Tyson Kidd in a dark match prior to last night’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view telecast.

— Steve Austin is scheduled to appear at the USA Network’s Upfront presentation in New York City today

— WWE returns to the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, Mississippi on August 26, 2011 and the Fed-Ex Forum in Memphis, Tennessee on August 27, 2011.

source: PWInsider.com

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin posted this Twitter video on Monday with an important message to his fans: