The following are highlights of a new E! Online interview with Nikki Bella:

Brie Bella on match vs. Stephanie McMahon at SummerSlam: “I am definitely looking forward to taking on Stephanie McMahon. Two years ago if you’d asked me what my dream match was, I would have said Stephanie, and here I am living out my dream. I think the biggest thing for me is that there’s so much going into this; everything she did to my husband Daniel Bryan to what she did to Nikki—I get to go in there with my boss. How many people would love to get into the ring with their boss and just shake them around? So I feel like I’m really living it up for everyone in the world.”

Nikki Bella on her boyfriend John Cena debuting the new WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Brock Lesnar: “I’m so excited for John but at the same time I’m very nervous for him because I have to say, Brock Lesnar is probably the toughest opponent you could have in WWE history. Brock is just the real deal; he is as tough as it gets, so I’m very excited for John but at the same time I’m like, ‘Please don’t hurt my baby!’ But I’ve got the nurse outfit in the car ready to go in case something happens.”

Check out the complete interview at EOnline.com.

The following are highlights of a new Complex Magazine interview with Paul Heyman:

There was a great moment on Monday Night Raw this past week for Hulk Hogan’s birthday with the appearances of Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Rowdy Piper, and others. Although there wasn’t a punch thrown between Brock Lesnar and John Cena, everyone was on the edge of their seat. If you were booking that angle, what would you do differently?

I view that incident from Monday Night Raw differently than you do. I view it as that Brock Lesnar punked out a ring full of WWE Hall of Famers, including the immortal Hulk Hogan. And John Cena thought he was going to play Superman—gonna be a hero—and dived into the ring, but didn’t have what it takes to jump on Brock Lesnar.

Okay, that’s fair. You’ve talked about it a lot this week, but two days away, how do you see the Cena/Lesnar match playing out at SummerSlam?

I’ll be happy to tell you what’s gonna happen Sunday. I’ll save you the time and the effort of scratching your head trying to figure out where this leads. Brock Lesnar is going to deliver a beating to John Cena, the likes of which John Cena has never experienced in his life. When Brock Lesnar is done sadistically smacking around John Cena, Brock Lesnar will hoist John Cena up on his mammoth shoulders. Brock Lesnar will F5 John Cena. Brock Lesnar will pin John Cena. And Brock Lesnar will go on to be the reigning, defending, undisputed WWE heavyweight champion of the world.

Before this interview, I revisited “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s podcast and you said that you still talk to CM Punk and that’s he’s a friend—he’ll always be a friend. Have you spoken to him recently? And do you guys have a “no-wrestling policy” when you guys talk now?

It would be very uncomfortable to describe to anyone any personal conversations I have with anybody. It would be akin to me saying, “So what did you and your wife talk about at the dinner table last night?” Or, “Hey, I heard you went to the baseball game with your best friend, what was he talking to you about?” The answer is, to the entire world, none of your business. Whether Punk and I have a “no-wrestling policy” or a “no-music policy” or a “no-religion policy,” that’s between us. And since we’re not marketing anything in public together, I’m hesitant in describing anything regarding a conversation I would have with—whether it’s CM Punk, or any other friend of mine.

Understood. Switching gears, you’re known for your superb skills on the microphone. In your opinion, of those wrestler that you have worked with, who is the best of all time in terms of cutting a promo?

That I’ve worked with in terms of writing and producing for them? Or in terms of teaching them? Or in terms of, “I’m on the same roster at the same time I watch that guy and I say, ‘Oh my God, he’s great’”?

I think the last criteria broadens the scope a bit…

I think John Cena has been on top for over 10 years because he understands how to convey his message to his audience. I think “Stone Cold” Steve Austin has revolutionized the way in which a character on a wrestling program can speak. I think that when Vince McMahon was opposed against “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, there were things that he said and things that he did that were absolutely brilliant and ground-breaking and changed the sculpt of the villain in professional wrestling. So there are a lot of people that I watched—hey, The Rock is one of the biggest movie stars of the past decade. There’s a reason for it: He understands how to convey his message. And he learned that in front of a live audience in WWE, so how could you not include him on that list? There are others that are coming up—I thought the work that Punk did as Champion was simply brilliant and ground-breaking and trend setting, so I would be remiss not to include him on this list as well.

Check out the complete interview at Complex.com.

– WWE has yet to announce a SummerSlam “Kickoff Show” match, however their official previews claim there will be one. For what it’s worth, WWE United States Champion Sheamus and WWE Tag-Team Champions The Usos do not have matches on the show yet.

– Big Show and Mark Henry are featured on the latest edition of WWE’s “SmackDown Fallout,” which you can check out below.

The following are highlights of a new IGN interview with Daniel Bryan:

IGN: I’ll get out of the way the question that I know you’ll have to deal with all day, which is, how’re things going? When might we see you back?

Daniel Bryan: Right, yeah. I don’t know how things are going. For example, I was supposed to have a second surgery scheduled for Tuesday, but they postponed it to do some more testing — and this has been the frustrating part for me. The nervous system is very complex. So there’s been debate about, “Okay, does he need a second surgery? Does he not need a second surgery?” And people have kind of been going back and forth on it. Then finally we decided, “Okay, he needs the surgery.” We’re going to go get the surgery — no, wait, nope! We’re going to go do some more tests. So I would obviously prefer to not get the surgery, but if I’m going to do it, I want to do it as soon as possible, because the sooner I do it, the sooner I get back. The surgery they’re talking about doing is a three-month recovery. I’ve already been out three months, so that’s another three months. So you’d like to get that done as soon as you can — if it needs to be done. If it doesn’t need to be done, let’s not do it! What they want to do is they want to take the nerve from down a along my elbow and then move it over, and then put it under my forearm muscle there [pointing at arm]. So it’s, like, rewiring me. [Laughs] I don’t like that at all

IGN: Meanwhile, a lot of big stuff is happening with your wife. What’s it been like to see what’s going on for her?

Daniel Bryan: Oh my gosh, I’m so proud of her. Her and Stephanie – the main event to RAW, two weeks in a row! That hasn’t happened with Divas in years. Now she’s in what’s, in my mind, the second-biggest match in SummerSlam, and Divas just don’t get that opportunity very often. So I’m really happy for her, really proud of her. She’s worked really hard. A lot of people don’t understand how hard the girls on Total Divas work. They’re on the road, the same as the rest of us, and then when they get home, they’ve got to be filming this whole time. So it’s a very hard life with very few days off, and she’s finally getting rewarded for that, so that’s really nice.

IGN: On the flip side, her opponent being Stephanie, is that just a funny, surreal thing for you? Stephanie has in-ring experience, but it’s been quite awhile — and you know Stephanie as one of your bosses.

Daniel Bryan: Yeah, and it is funny, because there is something borderline-therapeutic about being able to slap your boss, I think. And because there are so many frustrations we have as wrestlers, it’s like, THWACK! You can see, when Stephanie and Brie slap each other, it’s like, “Holy cow!” [Laughs] I’ve been on the opposite end of a Brie slap on WWE Television before, and I was like, “Holy cow! Why would you do that?” I have a ruptured eardrum in my left ear — it happened in 2007 from a Japanese wrestler named Kenta, who WWE actually has signed. So we were doing a story where I had kind of been dating the Bella Twins, but then they found me with Gail Kim or whatever, and then Brie slapped me. I just asked her, “Okay, please, just don’t slap me in the ear?” The first thing her little hand does is, WHACK! Right in the ear. I was like, “Oh my God!”

IGN: So, I have to ask… You got brought into the Brie and Stephanie story the other day on RAW in a very interesting way.

Daniel Bryan: Wait, by “interesting,” do you mean “stupid”? [Laughs]

IGN: Well, you know, it’s wrestling… anything can be brought into it! [Laughs] So for you, was that like, “Okay… I guess that’s going to be an element?”

Daniel Bryan: Yeah, to me, it’s groan-worthy. I don’t think it added anything to the story. It was just like, “Ugh!” But, you know, they do what they do, and you just gotta roll with the punches. It’s funny, because I feel like sometimes you just have to overcome these things more so than anything else. Like, Brie and Stephanie have to overcome that flaw. To me, that was a flaw in the story. The story was so good, and then here’s this flaw in it. But it’s whatever. It doesn’t hurt my feelings or anything, you know? It’s entertainment. It’s not real, so okay.

Check out the complete interview at IGN.com.

WWE issued the following press release:

STAMFORD, Conn. – WWE today announced it has officially changed its corporate logo to convey a more contemporary, bold and powerful image while maintaining the iconic “W,” which has been a part of the company’s long-storied history. The logo, originally designed for WWE Network, will become the beacon of sports-entertainment and will represent the brand as it continues to bring together a passionate, diverse and global fanbase with a unique blend of live action, excitement and drama.

“We are excited to launch a new logo that reflects the evolution and future of WWE’s global brand,” said Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon. “While we usher in a new iconic brand identity, WWE’s best-in-class entertainment, which has stood the test of time for the past 50 years, will continue to reward our fans’ passion with our exciting blend of unique characters, incredible athleticism and engaging storylines.”

The new logo was unveiled on Twitter today by Vince McMahon, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, WWE, at the company’s headquarters in Stamford, Conn. Fans will begin to see it during SummerSlam, this Sunday, August 17, live on WWE Network and pay-per-view as the logo is rolled out across all platforms including live and televised entertainment, consumer products, digital media and WWE Studios.

The following are highlights of a new IGN interview with Roman Reigns:

IGN: And how about heading into your first-ever singles SummerSlam match?

Reigns: I’m excited, man. It’s a great opportunity to me. I have a really strong opponent in Randy Orton. A former multi-time world champion. He’s held just about every title under the sun. And he’s done it all in a major way. He’s basically wreaked havoc and ran roughshod over the WWE for quite some time. Some people might forget that. Not the Viper part, but that for many years he was running the show. The biggest bad guy in town. So I couldn’t have a better platform and a bigger stepping stone than I have at SummerSlam.

IGN: Over the past couple Pay-Per-Views, you’ve had world title opportunities. Some people say you’re not ready yet while others think you are. What do you have to say about that?

Reigns: Everyone has an opinion. That’s just a crazy part of this world now. You can type things on the internet. You can have no credentials in any area and just get on your smart phone and write whatever you want. For me, I know me. I know who I am. I know where I come from and where I want to go. I know I’m 100% ready.

Everyone else seems to have an opinion, and claim to know, whether I am or I’m not. I would love to see all the people who run their mouths try and do what I do. Because they can’t. I’m special and then men that I work with are extremely special. We were built, and I was born, to handle situations the way I do. I’ve always been the type who can be thrown in the fire and make it out. So I was ready six months ago. I was ready a year ago. Any time I’m given an opportunity, I feel I’m ready.

IGN: Your run with The Shield is done now, but you still have the Shield music and the entrance that takes you down through the crowd. Rollins and Ambrose got new theme music. Did you want a new track and a new entrance?

Reigns: No, I enjoy walking through the crowd. I think that’s a cool part of the show. And I think it’s become a bit of a signature trademark of the show. I would think now too that after my whole run with The Shield that the value of those seats have gone up. Before they were just seats. Now you can actually interact. When we would all walk down the steps, there were three guys there right up close. You could touch us. You could smell us. You know what I mean? We were right there. It’s not a common opportunity.

If there’s a certain Superstar who doesn’t want to touch hands, he can just walked down the middle of the entrance ramp and nobody’s close to him. When I’m walking down through the crowd, I have no choice. People are going to grab me. They’ll get a sense of me up close and my real size. So it’s a whole different experience. I’m very grateful to have kept that part. And for me it was an obvious choice. Because if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Check out the complete interview at IGN.com.

The following are highlights of a new Los Angeles Times interview with Stephanie McMahon:

On bullying: “I would suggest that they tell a trusted adult. It’s very important that you tell someone when you are being bullied, someone that you trust. You should never be quiet when you are being bullied or when you see someone being bullied. It’s so important to stand up and say something.”

On advice for future business women: “I would say the two most important things are to believe in yourself. You have to have confidence. You have to believe in yourself and you also need to have a very strong education. So you need to utilize all of the people and all of the tools that are around you to help you succeed. So if that means staying in school a little longer, if that means learning another language, if that means getting a degree that’s higher than a college degree, those are the things that you need to do. But the most important thing is to believe in yourself and respect yourself.”

On training for SummerSlam: “Late at night, I train after I put my kids to bed, because putting my kids to bed is very important to me. I have three daughters, they are 8, 6 and soon to be 4. So I train after they go to bed. And it’s very challenging, but I’ve got to do it because health and fitness are also very important to being a success.”

Check out the complete interview at LATimes.com.

The following are the latest betting odds for this Sunday’s WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view. The odds come courtesy of BetWrestling.com.

Brock Lesnar -505
John Cena +335

Bray Wyatt -900
Chris Jericho +500

Brie Bella -120
Stephanie McMahon -120

Jack Swagger -260
Rusev +180

Roman Reigns -750
Randy Orton +450

Seth Rollins -130
Dean Ambrose +130

– WWE’s new Randy Savage documentary DVD project is expected to be released on November 18th.

– Multichannel News has a new article up with comments from WWE executive Michelle Wilson, focusing on the marketing of this Sunday’s WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view. You can check that out at Multichannel.com.

It is believed that we will see some hints towards the direction heading into WrestleMania 31 at Sunday night’s WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view.

If Brock Lesnar wins the WWE World Heavyweight Championship from John Cena, the belief is that he will remain champion until next year’s WrestleMania, where it is expected that he will drop it to Roman Reigns, resulting in the climax of Reigns’ push as WWE’s new top Superstar.

Another key to Sunday’s show is that WWE needs a strong build coming out of the event and heading into Night Of Champions, because many of the initial six-month WWE Network subscriptions are set to expire in September, so WWE will need to give a strong incentive for fans to re-subscribe.

The following are highlights of a new Chad Dukes Wrestling Show interview with Paul Heyman:

On others using ideas built in ECW: “I’m a realist and I’ve always been of the opinion that Steve Jobs wasn’t the head of Apple and every single solitary idea that Apple implemented was a Steve Jobs’ idea. People came to Steve Jobs and said, ‘What if we did this?’ And he said, ‘Yes, let’s do that.’ The guy with the bigger platform, more money, a different way to market it, and distribution channels got to make more money than the guy who actually came up with the idea. And that’s just the real world. So, I don’t sit here and bitch and moan and complain, ‘Oh well the Attitude Era kinda my idea in ECW.’ It’s just the reality of it. They had bigger money, they had more distribution, and therefore when they put their spin on it they can claim it to be their own. That’s just the real world. I look forward to the young people who come to me with new ideas today that I can steal from them and become a billionaire with.”

On which MMA star could make the transition to WWE: “Ronda Rousey. I would love for Ronda Rousey to be a Paul Heyman Girl.”

On Cesaro: “I remain very good friends with Cesaro and I appreciate his hard work, I think he is a magnificent talent, but when it became obvious that Option C had to be implemented, Brock Lesnar is a full-time job. Advocating for Brock Lesnar requires my attention 24/7, 365, when that is in play. So when it came time for Option C to be presented to the Authority, I very respectfully noted to Cesaro, ‘This is going to require my full undivided attention.’ Which Cesaro knew from day one, and that’s why we have no hard feelings with each other. I still have great admiration and respect for Cesaro as a man and for his future.”

On Sunday’s match: “Brock Lesnar is going to slap John Cena silly. Brock Lesnar is going to beat him up unmercifully and sadistically twist John Cena up in a manner he’s never experienced, being manhandled, in his entire career.”

On whether we’ll see Brock Lesnar more often as Champion: “You will see Brock Lesnar when your conqueror deems it appropriate to be seen by you.”

“So Brock will appear when he damn well feels like appearing, unless you’ve got someone tough enough to drag him out there on nights he doesn’t feel like appearing before you.”

Check out the complete interview at ChadDukesWrestlingShow.com.

Despite previous reports to the contrary, Rey Mysterio will not be appearing at AAA’s “TripleMania” show in Mexico this Sunday.

Mysterio is still reportedly under a contract to WWE and the company would not allow him to appear at the show, especially considering the fact that it will be going head-to-head with their own SummerSlam pay-per-view on Sunday.

The following was issued today:

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE, TRAIN, FLO RIDA, SHARON OSBOURNE, OMAR EPPS AND CHELSEA HIGHTOWER

JOIN WWE® AND THE CREATIVE COALITION TO STOP BULLYING

STAMFORD, Conn., August 14, 2014 – The Creative Coalition and WWE (NYSE:WWE), co-founders of the Be a STAR (Show Tolerance And Respect) anti-bullying initiative, today announced the launch of the S.T.A.R. Alliance, a group of actors, musicians, comedians, athletes, television personalities and members of The Creative Coalition, who have joined together to help put an end to bullying.

Members of the S.T.A.R. Alliance will join WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon, WWE Superstars such as Big Show®, The Miz® and Mark Henry, and The Creative Coalition to spread the Be a STAR message of showing tolerance and respect to help combat bullying, reaching more than 400 million social media followers combined. Select S.T.A.R. Alliance members will also participate and share their stories at Be a STAR anti-bullying rallies across the U.S., including this week in Los Angeles as part of WWE’s community outreach events during SummerSlam® Week.

“The mission of the S.T.A.R. Alliance is to use pop culture’s most influential voices to help eradicate the raging bullying epidemic plaguing America’s schools,” said Robin Bronk, CEO of The Creative Coalition. “We are delighted to partner with WWE to bring these powerful and inspirational voices of the entertainment industry to encourage children to be participatory in standing up to bullies.”

“WWE is proud to help bring together a diverse group of international celebrities who all share the vision to stop bullying forever,” said Stephanie McMahon, Chief Brand Officer, WWE. “Through the joint efforts of WWE, The Creative Coalition and the S.T.A.R. Alliance, we hope to reach millions of young people and provide them with the knowledge and resources they need to help put an end to bullying in their communities.”

Be a STAR is an anti-bullying initiative co-founded in 2011 by The Creative Coalition and WWE. Its mission is to encourage young people to treat each other with tolerance and respect through education and grassroots initiatives. WWE and The Creative Coalition leverage the power of The Creative Coalition’s entertainment industry constituencies and WWE’s global brand and platforms to help combat the bullying epidemic plaguing today’s youth.

The following are highlights of a new Xfinity interview with Seth Rollins:

Onda: You’re no stranger to being the bad guy, to being disliked by wrestling fans. In a way, was this getting back into your comfort zone?

Rollins: I don’t know if that was really ever a thought. It was mostly just a way to separate myself from the other two, separate myself from the pack and really try to stand out and be the guy that everyone is gonna be talking about. That was the goal the whole time, and I think we accomplished that goal. Whether or not I’m more comfortable in this role is yet to be determined, but like you said, I’m definitely no stranger to this position, so we’ll see how it all comes together.

Onda: Based on the win-loss record of past “Money in the Bank” briefcase holders, you are likely to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Do you ever think, “Oh my god, I’m going to be WWE Champion” or do you not let those thoughts creep in?

Rollins: I don’t know if I think “Oh my god, I’m going to be WWE Champion” – I think there was a moment after I grabbed that briefcase, the night that I did it, where I sat by myself and reflected upon exactly what it meant to win that. I don’t say, “Oh, my god.” I say, “Damn right, I’m about to be WWE World Heavyweight Champion someday.” Having that to look forward to is pretty awesome.

Onda: The WWE Universe is craving a brutal, knock-down drag-out between you and Ambrose, and some fans are pessimistic that a Lumberjack Match – in which the ring will be surrounded by other WWE superstars – will satisfy that craving. What would you say to those people?

Rollins: I would tell them to order “SummerSlam.” Get their eyes on it, because if they’re expecting anything less than a knock-down drag-out bar fight, then they’re completely mistaken. We’ve been at each other for months over this, and the premise of the Lumberjack Match is to keep the two opponents in the ring together. A lot of people might be worried about what the involvement of the lumberjacks might be, but essentially it’s gonna keep us in the same 20-by-20, 400-square-foot space, and that’s something we haven’t see yet from me and Ambrose. And I can guarantee you it won’t be the least bit disappointing.

Onda: As a member of The Authority, you are in a position that puts you in the company of WWE’s greatest minds and veterans. What do you learn from them on a weekly basis?

Rollins: You learn how to be successful and how to stay successful. Stephanie is a McMahon. She knows all of the ruthless and cunning things that must be done to stay at the very top. And she’s a woman. And to be a woman at the top is not always the easiest thing, and some may say it’s more difficult than to be a man on top. She’s been able to excel in that role. Triple H – “The Game,” the “Cerebral Assassin” – that’s a nickname [announcer] Jim Ross gave to him based on the way he operates in the ring, but I think it has as much to do with the way he operates outside of the ring and how he conducts himself. Learning those things – how to carry yourself, how to be the top guy, the man in our industry – those are the things I’ve picked up from Triple H and Randy Orton. Those are the guys who have been to the mountain top and know what it’s like to hold that spot. That’s where I wanna be, and there’s no better person or people to learn from.

Onda: Are you crazy enough to cash in on Brock Lesnar?

Rollins: I don’t think Brock’s gonna come out of that match (with John Cena at SummerSlam) looking too pretty either. I didn’t say, “Let’s see the condition of Cena.” I said, “Let’s see the condition of the champion.” Whoever the champion is at “SummerSlam” after that main event, they better watch out, because if the time is right and it feels good… you never know.

Check out the complete interview at Xfinity.Comcast.net.

As noted recently, there has been a lot of confusion regarding the actual rules for Sunday’s “Flag Match” at SummerSlam between Rusev and Jack Swagger.

In short, the rules are this: an American flag and a Russian flag will be hanging in separate corners of the ring and the first person to climb up and grab the flag of their country and waive it around will be declared the winner.

While not officially announced at this point, an idea being talked about is that the person who wins will have their national anthem played at the end of the match.

Last night’s Raw was held in Portland, Oregon and featured a crowd packed with hipsters, a few memorable contests, and the nWo reunion that had been teased on social media all week leading into the event.

The show was the “go-home” edition of Raw and was the final build for Sunday’s SummerSlam pay-per-view. As always, a few questions were answered, but many still remain. Here are five questions that need to be answered following Monday’s Raw.

5. Is Corporate Kane Back Permanently?

Kane was back in his suit and tie this week on Raw, having once again handed in his mask on last week’s episode. The Demon made a match between Roman Reigns and RybAxel before departing for the locker room.

My question is simple: Does Kane have anything left in the tank with his corporate character? It seems the company doesn’t know what to do with him, as he has shifted back and forth between demon and corporate Kane over the past few months. If Kane is going to become a permanent fixture in the Authority storyline, hopefully something worthwhile comes of it, because it otherwise simply results in a convoluted storyline.

4. Where Have the Usos Been?

The Usos were absent from Raw this past week (other than the announcers issuing an open challenge on their behalf for tonight’s Main Event), and with SummerSlam only a few days away, they are also noticeably absent from the pay-per-view card. There are rumors of a fatal four-way tag team contest being put together for the pre-show, but nothing has been confirmed thus far.

With the Usos having defeated basically every tag team on the roster and holding the titles for most of the year, I think it is time for the brothers to drop the titles. Nothing against the Usos, but they have fought everyone on the roster and their run is quickly becoming stale. It appeared the titles were going to be put on the Wyatt Family a few weeks back, but the Usos prevailed. Hopefully a title change can shake up an otherwise stagnant tag team division.

– It was announced on Monday’s edition of WWE RAW that on this week’s edition of WWE SmackDown, The Miz will host a “MizTV” segment with special guest Roman Reigns.

– Below is the one-on-one interview between Bray Wyatt and Chris Jericho from Monday’s SummerSlam “go-home” edition of WWE RAW.

It was announced on Monday’s WWE SummerSlam “go-home” edition of RAW that on this week’s edition of WWE Main Event, the WWE Tag-Team Champions The Usos are extending an open challenge for the titles.

WWE Main Event airs live on the WWE Network on Tuesday night at 8pm EST.

Below is the latest official WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view lineup following Friday’s edition of WWE SmackDown:

WWE World Heavyweight Championship
– John Cena (c) vs. Brock Lesnar

WWE Divas Championship
– AJ Lee (c) vs. Paige

WWE Intercontinental Championship
– The Miz (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler

Lumberjack Match
– Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose

Flag Match
– Rusev vs. Jack Swagger

Erick Rowan and Luke Harper banned from ringside
– Chris Jericho vs. Bray Wyatt

– Stephanie McMahon vs. Brie Bella

– Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns

Make sure to visit us on August 17th for live WWE SummerSlam results coverage!

The following are highlights of a new Ring Rust Radio interview with Paul Heyman:

Donald Wood: SummerSlam is Sunday, August 17, on the WWE Network. Your client, Brock Lesnar, will be fighting John Cena for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. After being behind one of the most shocking moments in wrestling history, what does the duo of Lesnar and Heyman have in store for SummerSlam?

Paul Heyman: The same thing that was in store for The Undertaker at WrestleMania; a beating beyond compare. I don’t need to hype SummerSlam to those who understand the dominance that prevails in the universe that has been conquered by Brock Lesnar. I think the people who need to be sold on this Pay-Per-View are John Cena fans, to which I offer this very quick sales pitch. If you are a fan of John Cena, and if you are there is no accounting for taste, this is your last opportunity to see him. And if you think it’s all hype and hyperbole, here’s something to consider; if you look back on 21 appearances at WrestleMania by The Undertaker, you can rarely find a video clip of someone even getting a two-count on The Undertaker. Brock Lesnar just didn’t beat The Undertaker, Brock Lesnar hospitalized The Undertaker. Brock Lesnar gave The Undertaker such an ass-kicking that The Undertaker has not been seen, nor heard from since. There was no controversy. There was no outside interference. There was no manager distraction. Brock Lesnar stepped into the ring and beat The Undertaker within an inch of his life, and the same fate awaits for John Cena at the Staples Center, on August 17 in Los Angeles at SummerSlam.

Mike Chiari: Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena is the biggest money match WWE has to offer right now, but after SummerSlam what Superstar or Superstars would you like to see Brock face moving forward? Who do you think is ready to and worthy of going up against Brock?

Paul Heyman: I see Brock Lesnar defending the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against all comers. That could mean Randy Orton, that could mean Seth Rollins, that could mean Roman Reigns, that could mean Dean Ambrose, that could mean Big Show, that could mean Daniel Bryan. If there is anyone that wants to step up and try to take the title away, because that’s the key. You’re not going to just luck a victory over Brock Lesnar. You’re going to have to beat Brock Lesnar in order to take the championship from him. The same way Brock Lesnar is going to hoist John Cena up on his massive shoulders on August 17 at SummerSlam, drive John Cena down to the mat with such ferocity that John Cena will not know what hit him with the F-5 and pin John Cena’s shoulders to the mat 1-2-3 to take from John Cena the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. To strip John Cena of the dignity of being champion.

Brandon Galvin: The running joke among us is that every new promo you cut is a top 10 promo of the year because your delivery and intensity is impeccable and you always incite an emotional reaction from the audience. Is there anybody you’ve studied during your career, whether they be in wrestling or outside wrestling, to help you evolve into the best promo man in the business?

Paul Heyman: Everyone. I watch everyone. I look to see what everyone does. I watched my father present his case to juries, my father was a personal injury attorney in the Bronx, I watched my father present cases to juries when I was a kid. I look now at the WWE Universe as if they are my jury and I am the advocate for my client. In terms of people that I watch, I watch everybody. There is something to learn from every single person who goes out there and performs because you’re going to be judged up against them. The way they hold their hands, the way they hold the microphone, the way they tilt their head, the way they engage the audience, the way someone cuts their eyes to the right and to the left, the way someone avoids the camera, the way someone looks into the camera, how do they hold their legs, what is their body language, what does anything they do tell you in their desire to convey their message to you. And I study everybody because I’m competing with them in terms of being the best person on the microphone.

Donald Wood: Tuesday marked the release of the new “Ladies and Gentlemen, My Name is Paul Heyman” DVD. As someone who has been around the business for a long time, how does it feel to have a DVD made about you and what’s it like knowing the WWE is behind the production?

Paul Heyman: If you asked me two years ago if the WWE would’ve made a DVD of me, I wouldn’t say yes. I wouldn’t have envisioned this coming and I wasn’t particularly happy when I heard they were going to do it because I didn’t know what stories they were going to tell. I also knew that meant sitting down and reflecting upon my career and my life and I hate looking back. I’m obsessed with looking forward. I’m flattered by all of the positive reviews the DVD has gotten and I’m glad people like the take that was offered. Really, I have nothing to bitch about regarding it.

Brandon Galvin: Was there anything cut from the DVD that you wish made it?

Paul Heyman: I have no idea what was shot for the DVD. My participation in this DVD, besides giving them pictures of my children and a few pictures of my parents to the WWE, was I sat down for an interview, we did it all in one shot, it took about 16 hours. The only request that I had was that we kinda do it like a Charlie Rose interview. I’m sitting at a table because it’s a more relaxed atmosphere. I didn’t want to shoot it in my house. I didn’t want to shoot it in my office. I sat down for 16 hours and we banged it out. I went in with the full intention of just whatever the question was, I’m going to give it a 100 percent honest answer. I don’t know what else was shot. I wasn’t privy to who was being interviewed for it, although I had heard. I don’t know what footage that was shot ever made it, I don’t know which stories were told never made it, which probably means if this documentary goes well there will be a Part II. After doing an interview for 16 hours, I don’t really know what they asked me that didn’t make the cut simply because it was a 16-hour interview and I was glad to be done with it.

Mike Chiari: You were there front and center when Brock Lesnar picked up the biggest win in WrestleMania history against The Undertaker. Knowing what type of condition he was in after that match and knowing everything he’s accomplished over the course of his career, in your opinion do you believe we’ll ever see The Undertaker wrestle another match?

Paul Heyman: I don’t know. I truly don’t know. I don’t know as a human being and I don’t know as a character. I don’t know what he’s thinking and I don’t know what his reaction to this is. I didn’t see The Undertaker after the match. The Undertaker legitimately collapsed five seconds after he walked through that curtain. He never even made it to the Gorilla position. He was in between the set and the curtain that leads to the control room, known as the Gorilla position. He collapsed there. They loaded him into the ambulance down a side ramp from right behind the curtain and was taken straight to the hospital. That’s not a storyline, that’s the way it happened. I don’t know how he feels about it. I don’t know if he feels that once his streak was over, that’s what he had left to give. And I don’t know if he feels that he doesn’t want to go out like that. It’s not something I’m privy to the answer of and nor should I be for that matter. It’s clearly his decision.

Donald Wood: I’d be remiss as a kid from Philadelphia who witnessed the ECW revolution if we didn’t touch on that. You helped build one of the most successful wrestling federations in the history of the sport. With TNA struggling and a wide-open market desperate for a viable alternative, do you ever think about getting back in the saddle as a primary shot caller for a company again?

Paul Heyman: No. No. No. In 2010, after Brock Lesnar choked out Shane Carwin, there was a discussion that I had with TNA that involved Spike TV. Ultimately, because TNA had been trying to get me on the phone from the day I left WWE in 2006 and I never took the phone call. We finally got into a conversation because Spike TV had reached out to make that happen. Ultimately, the story of this is, if I was going to do it, I wanted the Dana White deal. I wanted complete control, I wanted a piece of the company and I wanted the ability to, when the time was right, to take it public. I wanted to do the programming completely different than the way they had been doing it and Spike TV signed off on it. The concept was a very youth-oriented, youth-based, youth-marketed promotion. A complete contrast to the way WWE does things. A complete and utter alternative to WWE at the time. While the ruling family in TNA had no problem with my salary request, my ownership demands, my concepts, etc. etc., they didn’t want to implement as much of a youth-oriented product as I was looking for and I balked at it. I have no regrets about that. At the end of the day, they were happier being a WWE-lite promotion than they were branding themselves something different as TNA. So that was the last flirtation I had with doing my own thing. I do my own thing with my marketing brand and talent agency in New York City called Looking 4 Larry Agency. I’m very proud of the body of work. We have a long list of clients including 2KSports and in the past THQ and EA Sports and a number of different clients. And I get to do my own thing in the mainstream world with a marketing firm right in the heart of New York City. In regard to doing my own thing in sports entertainment, I kinda do my own thing now with Brock Lesnar and I’m very happy doing it. Running a whole show is a 24/7 and 365 commitment, and you would need an enormous amount of financing and very strong distribution set up front to get me to the table to even consider such a task. Otherwise, it’s doomed to fail.

Mike Chiari: During your time at the helm in ECW you became known for your ability and willingness to scour the globe and bring in unique talent. With WWE currently doing the same in the form of Kenta and Prince Devitt specifically how impressed are you with WWE’s efforts to broaden its horizons in a sense?

Paul Heyman: Very. I commend them on this reach out for the best talent on the face of the planet. That obviously includes the two men you just mentioned. We’re getting the cream of the crop and that notes a style change in the WWE. A higher work rate. Higher customer satisfaction in terms of the actual in-ring product. It’s a very exciting future to think about the kind of people who have yet to debut on WWE television.

Check out the complete interview above.

• Jon Jones CAUGHT ON VIDEO Saying He’s LITERALLY Going To KILL Daniel Cormier

[Editor’s Note: This article contains a spoiler from tonight’s SmackDown taping. Please refrain from reading until after the program if you wish to avoid.]

Since the breakup of the Shield a few months back, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose have been at each other’s throats, while Roman Reigns splintered off to do his own thing without worrying too much about being stabbed in the back.

The two have engaged in a bitter program that has seen Seth Rollins win the Money in the Bank contract, Dean Ambrose emerge from a car’s trunk, and a match at Battleground that was supposed to happen but was cancelled last minute.

The advertised match at Battleground did not take place. Fans are hoping to finally see the former partners square off next Sunday.

Along the way, Ambrose has been booked as a lunatic hell bent on exacting revenge at any cost, while Rollins has acted as a corporate stooge. The two are once again scheduled to square off at SummerSlam, with the hope being that the match actually takes place this time around.

Last week on Raw, Ambrose and Rollins competed in a beat the clock challenge, with the winner having the ability to choose the stipulation for their match at SummerSlam. Ambrose eventually won after defeating Alberto Del Rio and distracting Seth Rollins during his match with Heath Slater, ultimately causing Rollins to lose the contest in a major upset.

The Lunatic Fringe unveiled his stipulation at this week’s SmackDown taping that will air tonight on SyFy. After all of the betrayal, treachery, and destruction so far in this program, one would have expected Ambrose to choose a match that would allow him to destroy Rollins in the most violent manner possible.

Mark Kruskol sent along the following …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rob Schamberger, Painter of Champions, to Paint Live at WWE SummerSlam

KANSAS CITY, Mo., August 7, 2014 – Renowned wrestling artist and painter of champions, Rob Schamberger, is headed to Los Angeles to participate in the festivities leading up to SummerSlam, WWE’s biggest summer event.

Starting on August 15, Schamberger will paint live outside of the panel discussions to be held at Nokia Theatre LA Live. His subject of choice? None other than the legendary “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, one of several featured panelists.

Wrestling fans are encouraged to stop by the theater from August 15-17 to see Schamberger in action, absolutely free of charge. Several of Schamberger’s prints, including a limited edition SummerSlam 2014 print, will be on sale at various merchandise areas inside the theater.

For Schamberger, the chance to work at SummerSlam represents an opportunity for continued partnership with the WWE, not to mention a chance to paint in one of the world’s most celebrated cities.

“It’s an absolute pleasure to be doing live art in Los Angeles for the SummerSlam Confidential Panels,” Schamberger says. “LA is known as one of the art capitals of the world, and WWE is known for some of the best fans in the world. I’m doubly excited to paint my “Stone Cold” Steve Austin portrait in front of both.”

If that combination wasn’t enough to make any artist anxious, the event stakes recently got even higher when the Texas Rattlesnake himself jokingly tweeted a threat:

“And if you screw this thing up, you’re gonna get your ass a Stone Cold Stunner.”

As Schamberger says in his weekly video series, “Not bad!”

For more information about Schamberger’s artwork, visit www.robschamberger.com. And for a complete SummerSlam Confidential Panels schedule, visit https://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/2014/summerslam-confidential-panel-tickets-26495292.

WWE has added the latest Michael Cole weekly sit-down interview to their official YouTube channel.

Cole’s guest this week — Dolph Ziggler — talks about his lifelong history with The Miz and their upcoming WWE Intercontinental Championship match at SummerSlam.

You can watch the complete Cole-Ziggler interview above.

– On August 25th, WWE RAW, which will take place in Anaheim, California, will be going head-to-head with the Emmy Awards on NBC. Despite the long history of WWE’s weekly show, this will be the first time that RAW has ever faced competition from The Emmy’s.

– Speaking of RAW competition, the show will begin going head-to-head against the NFL’s weekly Monday Night Football games starting August 18th, which is the post-SummerSlam edition of the show.

At one point, the plan for the WWE SummerSlam “Kickoff Show” match was a four-way tag-team match for the WWE Tag-Team Championships, with The Usos defending against Luke Harper and Erick Rowan, Ryback and Curtis Axel and Goldust and Stardust.

As things stand now, the pre-show match for the pay-per-view is being discussed and a decision is expected to be made at some point during the next week.

It’s worth noting that the new “Slater Gator” duo (Heath Slater and Titus O’Neil) may end up being involved if they go the tag-team route, which is expected, as the new tag-combination recently picked up a notable win over Goldust and Stardust on WWE Main Event.