– Triple H has received a lot of praise backstage for his promo work, according to f4wonline.com. Triple H has been strong on the mic in recent weeks building interest in his match with the Undertaker at WrestleMania, but you can insert your own joke about the “boss” getting praised by his colleagues.
– John Cena re-tweeted a fan’s comment predicting what The Rock’s promo on next Monday’s RAW would sound like:
“prediction 4 rock promo – 1999 catchphrase, insult Cena, catchphrase, sniff the air, eyebrow, say electrify – leave till mid march”
Cena followed up with the following:
“Im pretty sure that’s close to accurate. Prove me wrong movie star. Ill be waiting in nike town.”
– WWE’s new WrestleFest arcade game is now on sale for iOS (iPad/iPhone/iPod) at Apple’s App Store. Here’s the official trailer:
– Triple H finally agreed to face The Undertaker at WrestleMania – on the condition that the Undertaker agreed on a stipulation – Hell in a Cell. Undertaker did not give a verbal response to the challenge, but showed smiled as he walked away from the ring.
– The main event of Tuesday’s live SmackDown special on SyFy will be WWE Champion CM Punk vs. World Heavyweight champion Daniel Bryan.
– Ron Simmons has been announced for the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012.
— Ron Simmons appeared on Busted Open Monday and stated WWE will announce his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame on tonight’s Raw.
It has been reported that John “Bradshaw” Layfield will induct his longtime tag team partner into the Hall.
— Ticketmaster.com is currently holding a pre-sale for the August 27, 2012 Raw Supershow at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The code is: WWERAW. Once the pre-sale concludes this week, tickets won’t go on sale until June 30.
— Lilian Garcia stated on Twitter that she’s in Chicago, Illinois today recording a new song with producer Oh, Hush!.
— The latest issue of WWE Magazine hits newsstands tomorrow. The issue will feature four different covers—The Undertaker, Triple H, John Cena and The Rock.
— Coaster Boy Josh sent the following: “I interviewed John Cena, Triple H and Sheamus at the Mania 29 press conference for Elvis Duran and the Morning Show which broadcasts on Z100 in New York and is syndicated to 40+ other radio stations around the country. Instead of asking typical wrestling questions, we thought it would be funny to see how much WWE talent knows about pop culture.”
— Fox6Now.com has published a story on CM Punk surprising WWE fan Rhiannon Patz at the 102.1 FM studios. Patz has Stage 4 brain cancer and it was her story of strength that made the WWE Superstar offer a helping hand.
“If I can bring a smile to their face or take them to an event and take their mind off whatever problems they had, show them a good time, I jump on the chance to do that,” said Punk.
— Former WWE star Matt Hardy has been announced for WrestleReunion 7 taking place March 30 and April 1 at the Miami Beach Deauville Resort 6701 Collins Ave. Miami, Florida.
WWE has announced that MetLife Stadium will play host to WrestleMania next year.
“For the first time, The Show of Shows is headed to New Jersey, as MetLife Stadium, home to the Super Bowl XLVI Champion New York Giants, as well as the New York Jets, will host WrestleMania XXIX on Sunday, April 7, 2013,” WWE.com states.
WrestleMania Week activities, including WrestleMania Axxess, the 2013 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Raw will take place across the New York/New Jersey area in the days leading up to the pay-per-view extravaganza.
An official press conference is scheduled for Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at MetLife Stadium, where Vince McMahon will be joined by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, New York Giants President & CEO John Mara, New York Jets Owner & CEO Woody Johnson, and a slew of WWE Superstars, including John Cena, Triple H and Sheamus. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is scheduled for a “special appearance.”
— Triple H reportedly wants more Spanish-speaking wrestlers signed since he believes the Hispanic market is a major key to the prosperity of WWE. More specifically, he wants wrestlers who can conduct interviews in both English and Spanish. Rosa Mendes in particular has been directed to yell at ringside in Spanish as much as possible since she’s bilingual.
— In episode three of WWE Inbox, WWE Superstars and Divas answer questions on their favorite superhero, favorite television show and funniest wrestler. Alex Riley, Beth Phoenix, Derrick Bateman, Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, Kaitlyn, Maxine and Rosa Mendes appear.
— The official Twitter feed of RESISTANCE Pro has announced that Teddy Hart will not appear on Friday’s show in Chicago, Illinois due to visa problems. He will be replaced by Ricochet. Also advertised for the show is Rhino challenging Harry Smith for the R-Pro Heavyweight Championship.
— The Undertaker was shown cutting his hair during a vignette on Monday’s Raw SuperShow. The iconic wrestler shaved his head bald last year and appeared to don wear a wig for his return two weeks ago.
Regarding the Raw vignette, the official WWE website wrote, “Then, Undertaker appeared on the TitanTron, revealing a shocking moment, taking a razor to his hair and proclaiming “vengeance will be mine.”
— Tamina will be known as Tamina Snuka going forward. WWE is pushing her as the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka.
— WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin is in Canada shooting scenes for the action film The Package. Dolph Lundgren co-stars.
— Jim Ross was spotted last night by the bench of the Oklahoma University women’s basketball team for their game against the Connecticut.
— Shawn Michaels returns to Raw tonight as a guest of Interim Raw General Manager John Laurinaitis, and according to “Mr. Excitement” via WWE.com, the WWE Hall of Famer is coming with a message for Triple H.
WWE.com states in an article: “Although the WWE Universe remains in the dark as far as what Michaels will tell The Game, the timing of his arrival is conspicuous, coming as Triple H wards off The Undertaker’s challenge for a WrestleMania rematch. Given the volumes of history shared by these three Superstars, it would make sense for The Showstopper’s words of advice to pertain to his friend’s involvement with The Phenom, and his legendary WrestleMania Streak.”
— GulfNews.com has published an article on WWE’s debut at the United Arab Emirates last week. The company plans to tour the country once per year going forward.
— The February 21 WWE SuperSmackDown Live special will air live in Canada on The Score at 8:00 p.m.
WWE’s Executive Vice President of Creative Stephanie McMahon recently appeared on the “Heavy Muscle Radio” at RXMuscle.com. Stephanie spoke to Dave Palumbo about her marriage to WWE superstar Triple H.
The March 2012 issue of WWE Magazine is now on sale, featuring four different “WrestleMania” covers – featuring The Undertaker, Triple H, John Cena and The Rock.
As if Triple H and Undertaker on the covers was not a strong enough sign that this match is all but official, the headline for the Triple H cover reads “Can The Game End The Deadman’s Reign?” while the headline for the issue bearing The Undertaker reads “Will “The Streak” Survive?”
The Undertaker cover was apparently designed to conceal his lack of hair, as his head is surrounded by photoshopped fire, with no hair visible.
Many people have speculated that the iconic wrestler donned a wig in his return to television last week after a photograph surfaced online last summer in which he appeared bald.
We have independently confirmed that that The Undertaker had indeed shaved his head.
— Updated advertising for the March 12 Raw SuperShow at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio confirms a bout pitting The Undertaker and Triple H at WrestleMania. The description on the official website of the Quicken Loans Arena says, “What will HBK have to say about the confrontation between his long-time friend (Triple H) and WrestleMania foe (The Undertaker)?”
— Former WWE performer Dave Bautista (a/k/a Batista) will be playing the role of Diaz in the upcoming Chronicles of Riddick 2 movie starring Vin Diesel, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He will appear in “9/10ths of the film” once filming and editing is complete.
— Christian wrote the following on Twitter about an individual claiming to be Edge for a scheduled appearance in New York later this year:
“If ur planning on going 2 meet Edge @ autograph session @ Omega Sports, Queensbury, NY Apr 21 he WON’T be there..Unfortunately owner of store was fooled by someone claiming to represent Edge.. Hopefully something like this doesn’t happen again.”
— The official website of the Quicken Loans Arena is now advertising The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels for the Raw SuperShow taking place at the venue on March 12, 2012.
The Rock and Triple H were previously announced for the event. A double main event is also scheduled: John Cena vs. Kane and CM Punk vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Championship.
— WWE Hall of Famer Superstar Billy Graham has been released from the hospital after being admitted on Sunday for pneumonia and leg infection. He is on heavy antibiotics right now. Graham believes he caught a virus at a wrestling convention last week in Los Angeles, California.
— Wednesday would have marked as the 54th birthday of WWE Hall of Famer “Sensational” Sherri Martel. She died on the morning of June 15, 2007 at her mother’s residence in McCalla, Alabama. The toxicology report stated that Martel died of an accidental overdose with multiple drugs in her system, including a lethal concentration of oxycodone.
Sheamus was the last man standing at Sunday’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view, earning himself a title shot against a champion of his choosing at WrestleMania 28. While Sheamus winning the Rumble sets up a series of interesting scenarios for the next several months of WWE television, it was actually Chris Jericho who was originally scheduled to win the event.
Triple H, who has gained even more influence behind the scenes in recent months, made the call for Sheamus to win the Rumble just days before the event took place. The two have been close friends (and workout partners) since the Irish grappler’s promotion to the main roster in the summer of 2009.
In an interview with Power Slam magazine, Triple H singled out the Celtic Warrior as a wrestler with big potential:
“The closest to me is probably Sheamus, because we always train together on the road. But I try to watch all the young guys’ matches and give them advice, if they want to hear it. If they take advice to heart and really want to improve, then I’m wanting to help. As for seeing some of myself in someone? That’s tough. Sheamus just the other day showed up at a show he didn’t have to be at. He does whatever he’s asked to do without complaining, he goes to every show and is always wanting to work: he does it all, goes above and beyond. That’s what I was like.”
Randy Orton was also discussed as a potential winner of the Rumble, since he cleanly put over Mark Henry during The World’s Strongest Man’s rise as World Heavyweight Champion and the event was taking place in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. Before the final call was made for Sheamus to win the Rumble, Chris Jericho was the favorite, which would have set up a WWE Championship showdown against CM Punk at WrestleMania XXVIII (a match that will likely happen anyways).
WWE officials contemplated last week having John Cena win the match due to the stipulation that “everyone was eligible” for the Rumble. Cena would win the match and subsequently make a tough decision: take the title shot and not face The Rock at WrestleMania.
— There is “strong talk” within WWE that Chris Jericho will only appear for the promotion through April or May before taking another hiatus to tour with Fozzy in the summer.
— In a stark contrast to recent weeks, Twitter was severely downplayed on Monday’s Raw SuperShow. F4WOnline.com reports Triple H advised the move.
— Jacques Rougeau has been very pleased with the reception for his French-language autobiography. “The book is doing marvellous, it really is,” he told SLAM! Wrestling, noting that 2,500 of the 3,000 printed have been sold.
The former WWE Superstar is scheduled to appear at book fairs through April, in New Brunswick and throughout Quebec. He hopes to have it released in English within the next two months.
– WWELiveTour.com is reporting that Triple H is advertised for every RAW SuperShow through WrestleMania.
The only upcoming RAW that the Undertaker is currently advertised for is the February 20 RAW Supershow from the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The official website of the Target Center advertises:
“The Phenom” The UNDERTAKER will be live in Minneapolis to confront “The Game” TRIPLE H for the first time in over a year since their last meeting at WrestleMania 27!”
– CM Punk and Daniel Bryan’s “Champion vs. Champion” match from Monday’s RAW Supershow got rave reviews from fans and wrestlers alike. Several superstars and announcers took to Twitter to praise the work of WWE’s two top champions:
Jim Ross: “Punk vs Bryan is a broadcaster’s dream. They’re making great music. Amazing match.” “What I would have given to call that one. Had to stand ti watch it”
Bret Hart: “Kudos to both @CMPunk and @WWEDanielBryan. Good match”
Joey Styles: “OK. I’ll admit it. I would come out of retirement to call @CMPunk vs. @WWEDanielBryan. #BestInTheWorld”
William Regal: “Hello from lovely Omaha Nebraska. Very proud of @CMPunk and @WWEDanielBryan. Good lads.I hope my twins marry such lovely fellas.”
Lance Storm: “@CMPunk and @WWEDanielBryan Thank you for giving me some great wrestling on my Sports Entertainment show.
– The Game is expected to return to RAW on a regular basis until WrestleMania to add some extra star power to the shows.
It was announced on RAW that Triple H is scheduled to for next week’s show, where he’ll decide if John Laurinaitis is fit to be the Interim RAW General Manager. He is also being advertised for the March 12th RAW Supershow from Cleveland, the same show that The Rock is scheduled for.
The latest talk behind the scenes is that Triple H vs. The Undertaker is still planned for WrestleMania, their third encounter at the big event.
– ECW original Tommy Dreamer says he saved CM Punk’s job with WWE twice. Dreamer tells RadarOnline.com:
“He [CM Punk] had little-to-no chance of ever making it in the WWE — he wasn’t their type of guy. I saved his job two times when he was about to be let go — I was saying, ‘Ya gotta keep this kid, ya gotta keep this kid.”
– In the unlikely event that the WWE Network launch is significantly delayed beyond the fall, it’s possible that WWE could shop the “Legends House” reality show around to other networks.
– Triple H will return on next week’s RAW Supershow. He will be there to give a “formal job evaluation” to Interim RAW General Manager John Laurinaitis and determine whether Laurinaitis will keep his job or not.
– After Kane chokeslammed Zack Ryder through the stage on RAW and the former United States Champion was taken away in an ambulance, the storyline is that Ryder has suffered a broken back. Expect Ryder to miss a few weeks of television due to the storyline injury.
– Matches taped for this week’s WWE Superstars prior to RAW were were Kofi Kingston vs. Michael McGillicutty and Brie Bella vs. WWE Divas Champion Beth Phoenix.
WWE Hall of Famer Tully Blanchard appeared on Busted Open, which airs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on Sirius 92 and XM 208 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Highlights from the interview are as follows:
Why Barry Windham was chosen over other members for the WWE Hall of Fame: “The most dynamic group that we had was with Barry. You had more guys that could perform with more opponents. Big, small, all sizes and that was the most powerful group we had. Lex Luger was an addition. He was just coming in to work for Crockett as Ole was on his way out. So it was a place to put Luger to try to get him instantly to a star status since he had such a great look and it worked and it worked for quite a while. But when we switched him to babyface and Barry came back as a heel you had four guys that who could perform with Andre the Giant or the Rock and Roll Express or The Road Warriors. We could go out with all shapes and sizes and go out and tear the house down, and that is where your dynamics and your benefit for your promotion came.
Triple H possibly inducting The Four Horsemen: “He just shared with me in brief that he watched and appreciated everything we did, not just we, but he was talking about me specifically. Before he got into wrestling or at the start of his career, as he went in, if that is what he watched and that is what he molded himself after, then he would have a great amount of input on how the images of the Four Horsemen blended together and affected him.”
Thoughts on JJ Dillon: “JJ is definitely one of the finest managers in my opinion, if not the best manager that the wrestling business has ever had, and I have known some good ones. But a lot of the very good ones were fighting for center stage with talent many times, and JJ never did that. He complemented everything that was done and not taking away from what the guy was doing in the ring or what the guys were doing in the ring. That made it very, very simple to go out and perform, just like you’re out there by yourself or in a tag team match and JJ could put the gas to the fire when you needed it.”
What he expects the night of the Hall of Fame: “Right now the biggest honor is to be in the WWE Hall of Fame, in the wrestling business. There will be twenty thousand people at the American Airlines Center that Saturday night watching it. If I am still on this earth, I’ll be there, and I’m planning on having my four children there with me. They were born after my wrestling career and they have not really grabbed hold of the fact of what I used to do. With the magnitude of this setting and with Wrestlemania and Saturday night and Fan Axxess. My children have never seen me in that big of a setting. They have been in a couple of autograph settings with me, but this is going to be a little eye opening for them.”
— The official website of the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia is advertising The Rock for the March 26, 2012 Raw SuperShow.
This will be the final Raw before WrestleMania XXVIII.
— It was rumored at last night’s Raw SuperShow in Anaheim, California that Shawn Michaels and Triple H would together induct The Four Horsemen—Arn Anderson, Barry Windham, JJ Dillon, Ric Flair and Tully Blanchard—into the WWE Hall of Fame. WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent lobbied for the Horsemen to be inducted into the Hall.
Meanwhile, Alberto Del Rio is internally expected to induct his uncle, Mil Mascaras.
— Ken Shamrock and Sid Vicious have been announced for Wrestlereunion, which takes place January 27-29, 2012 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport 5400 West Century Blvd. Los Angeles, California.
— Speaking to Street and Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent Paul “Triple H” Levesque reveals what he wants to accomplish personally and professionally in 2012.
He says, “My resolution is to continue sharpening my business and corporate skills in my new role as EVP, talent. Although whenever the day-to-day grind of being a company executive gets to me, I still have the opportunity to jump into the ring and take my aggression out on a few unsuspecting opponents.”
— Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stated on Twitter that he is beginning a twenty-five day press tour today that will include stops in Taiwan, Hawaii, Los Angeles, Mexico and New York.
— Former WWE Women’s Champion Molly Holly is scheduled to appear at Pro Wrestling World in the Merchants Square Mall 1901 S.12th St. Allentown, Pennsylvania on March 3, 2012 from noon to 2:00 p.m. Contact prowrestling1@aol.com for more information.
— Stephanie McMahon is profiled in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, which WWE.com says “offers a compelling look at the hard work it takes being one of the most powerful and tireless women in entertainment.”
Regarding the piece, WWE.com writes: “WWE’s Executive Vice President of Creative allowed the weekly magazine into her life for a jam-packed 14-hour workday. From dropping two of her daughters off at school with her husband, Executive Vice President of Talent Triple H, to discussing Sundance Film Festival plans with WWE Studios execs, to revealing what she and her father, WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon, discuss during one-on-one meetings, McMahon gives readers a fascinating peek into a typical busy Wednesday at her Stamford, Conn.-based office.”
McMahon is featured in the “What Did You Do Today?” section of the January, 20, 2012 issue of Entertainment Weekly, which is currently on newsstands.
— On Monday’s Raw SuperShow, Chris Jericho was overwhelmed with emotion and left the arena speechless. Jim Ross explained on Twitter why Jericho cried on Raw.
— Triple H attended New York Giants’ practice Wednesday as they prepared for their NFL Playoff game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. According to PopTheCrowd.com, Triple H was in town with WWE officials to finalize a deal to bring WrestleMania 29 or WrestleMania 30 to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
— CM Punk has been announced to appear at Wizard World’s Philadelphia Comic Con on June 2, 2012 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Former WWE Diva Melina, WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase and TNA Women’s Knockout Champion Gail Kim are also scheduled to appear at the event.
— The 16th annual ECWA Super 8 tournament takes place on April 7, 2012 at the Greater Newark Boys and Girls Club in Newark, Delaware. Tommaso Ciampa won last year’s event.
— Mike Tyson has been announced as a vendor guest for WrestleReunion, which takes place January 27-29 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport 5400 West Century Blvd. Los Angeles, California. The WrestleMania XIV celebrity will be doing photo-ops for $99. Autograph prices have yet to be announced.
— The Yakima Herald-Republic has published an article promoting this Friday’s Raw live event at the Yakima Valley SunDome in Yakima, Washington. It is titled “It’s not fake, it’s scripted.”
T.J. Tranchell writes, “This is a good time to have the “wrestling’s fake” conversation. I don’t disagree with the idea; I disagree with the semantics. People get seriously injured. Owen Hart died. Let’s change the wording. Wrestling isn’t fake, it’s scripted. In general, the outcomes are predetermined. You don’t bet on professional wrestling the way you’d bet on a boxing match.”
— Randy Orton is featured on the cover of the February 2012 issue of WWE Magazine. The headline reads “THE VIPER TARGETS WRESTLEMANIA.” Also featured is Triple H’s guide to the Elimination Chamber and a poster featuring The Rock.
WWE tag team champion Evan Bourne is in hot water after he revealed that R-Truth’s recent Wellness policy violation and suspension were a result of them smoking synthetic marijuana (“spice”) together. Even though Bourne and Truth are believed to have “partied” together, Bourne was suspended back on November 1st, while R-Truth’s suspension was not announced until after he main evented Survivor Series with The Rock, John Cena and the Miz.
Triple H, who is not a fan of Bourne, confronted him several weeks ago and blamed him for the news getting out. There is a company policy that WWE talent is not supposed to express frustration with the company publicly – and Bourne has done so several times on Twitter in recent months.
Triple H’s wife Stephanie McMahon is said to be a backer of Bourne’s, feeling that he is a unique act and brings something different to the WWE roster. However, eEven with Stephanie’s support, there is fear within WWE that Bourne could be “the next Paul London” – a guy with tremendous talent who is going to have his spirit broken and will be chewed up by the system.
With Bourne’s Wellness violation and the heat on him related to R-Truth’s situation, it’s somewhat surprising that the tag titles have not been taken off Air Boom already.
(Credit to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter for some of the information used in this report)
SRG Films’ upcoming film Crossface retelling Chris Benoit’s descent into double murder and suicide will feature actors portraying his wrestling peers.
“Eddie [Guerrero] is obviously very important to the story,” Sarah Coulter tells WorstPreviews.com, who has already written the first draft of the script. “Triple H, Kurt Angle, they’re all there, but it’s early and things can still change.”
Regarding whether the film will be a biopic, Coulter says, “Chris had a remarkable career. You take a look at his time in Japan and with Stu Hart, and you realize that you’d need more than one movie to tell the entire Chris Benoit story. Ultimately, it’s about the 2007 murders/suicide, so we had to pick and choose the right moments in Chris’ career that may have been factors in his downfall.”
Coulter adds several actors are under consideration for the lead role and that an official casting announcement will be made soon.