– Today’s wrestling birthdays include ormer WCW World Heavyweight Champion David Arquette (41), Lodi (42) and RAven (48).
– On Friday’s SmackDown, Dolph Ziggler demanded a match against Randy Orton at WWE’s upcoming Night Of Champions pay-per-view. SmackDown General Manager Booker T will give Ziggler an answer on next week’s show, just days before the PPV.
– Here is video of Wade Barrett’s return to WWE television from Friday’s SmackDown:
– Wade Barrett tweeted the following, teasing his return to WWE television on tonight’s SmackDown:
“Today’s episode of @WWE #Smackdown is the best in six months. Read into that what you will.”
– WWE producer Finlay will be appearing at the upcoming Tajiri’s Wrestling New Classic show on September 20th from Japan.
– WWE has reportedly run into difficulty acquiring the tape library of Bill Watts library of wrestling footage, which includes footage of Mid-South Wrestling, Mid-South’s Power Pro Wrestling TV and the original Universal Wrestling Federation. This is the larges tape library not owned by WWE.
There had been talks of using the footage for the WWE Network as well as DVD sets on “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, Junkyard Dog and Hacksaw Jim Duggan, however there was some sort of difficulty in WWE finalizing the purchase.
– WWE Champion CM Punk noted on Twitter that the public screening of his upcoming WWE DVD set in Chicago might be moved to a different day. The screening was previously advertised for October 7th (1-3pm) from Chicago’s Portage Theatre and Punk said an update should be available soon.
– Wade Barrett was advertised to face Alberto Del Rio and Sheamus in the main event at Saturday’s SmackDown live event at Wells Fargo Center in Des Moines, Iowa but the match was changed to a 2-out-of-3 Falls bout between Sheamus and Del Rio. Barrett instead faced Tyson Kidd, who he defeated.
– Sunday would have would have marked as the 59th birthday of Rocco Rock and 51st of Bam Bam Bigelow. Rock died on September 21, 2002 at the age of 49, reportedly due to a heart attack, while Bigelow died on January 19, 2007 at the age of 45. Autopsy results showed that Bigelow’s death was due to multiple drugs found in his system including toxic levels of cocaine and an anti-anxiety drug. He was also suffering from a heart problem, specifically arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
– Finlay is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com. He returned to the sports-entertainment organization in June in a behind-the-scenes capacity.
– RAW General Manager AJ Lee tweeted the following message on Monday night, congratulating Kaitlyn for winning the Divas Battle Royal on RAW to become the new #1 contender to Layla’s title:
I know we’ve had some small issues in the past @KaitlynWWE , but I’m so happy for you. Look at how far we’ve come. #chickbusters4life
– theScore’s Arda Ocal (@arda_ocal) spoke with WWE Superstar Wade Barrett at SummerSlam Axxess in Los Angeles this weekend about what he’s been up to during his 6 months away from the ring (due to injury), his new WWE Studios film, recovering from injury and how long before he is 100%, and changes to his character that we will see on WWE TV:
– Arda Ocal also spoke to Antonio Cesaro, who talks about what he plans to do if he becomes United States champion. Cesaro wrestles US Champion Santino Marella tonight on the SummerSlam pre-show:
– Yoshi Tatsu appeared to have injured his arm during the SmackDown brand’s tour of Asia. Tatsu wrestled Jinder Mahal in Shanghai, China this weekend and was visibly in pain during the match. He was checked out by trainers afterwards. No word yet on the extent of the injury, but we’ll follow up when more details become available.
– Wade Barrett has looked good during the SmackDown tour of Asia this weekend, picking up wins against the likes of Justin Gabriel and Ted DiBiase. Barrett used his Winds of Change move to finish off DiBiase (instead of Wasteland), another sign that Barrett is continuing to evolve his in-ring style. Some fans who attended WWE live events this week noted that Barrett looked rusty, while a few others reported that it appears Barrett is working a more deliberate, physical style.
– With WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels scheduled to appear on Monday’s “Go Home” episode of WWE RAW, WWE is advertising that Michaels will be there to support Triple H and is teasing an altercation involving Michaels, Triple H and Brock Lesnar.
– Wade Barrett turns 32-years-old on Friday. WWE aired a vignette on Raw promoting his televised return, and he proclaimed that he had to go back to his roots in underground fighting to rediscover himself. He returned to action in a dark match Tuesday prior to the evening’s SmackDown taping and is currently overseas with the SmackDown brand for their weekend tour of Asia. He is expected to return to WWE programming following SummerSlam.
Also celebrating birthdays Friday are Amish Roadkill, who turns 36-years-old and Fred Ottman (a/k/a Tugboat and Typhoon), who turns 56.
– Ezekiel Jackson was asked on Twitter whether he would consider changing or tweaking his finishing maneuver, the Torture Rack. He responded, “it aint broke y fix it?”
– WWE.com has published a list counting down the top 20 Superstar summers of all-time based on a “single championship triumph, major upset or spontaneous decision.” The list is as follows:
20. The Nexus (2010)
19. Ultimate Warrior (1988)
18. John “Bradshaw” Layfield (2004)
17. John Cena (2006)
16. The Undertaker (1998)
15. Hulk Hogan (1989)
14. Kurt Angle (2003)
13. Mankind (1996)
12. Batista (2005)
11. Shawn Michaels (1996)
10. Triple H (2003)
9. Bret “Hit Man” Hart (1997)
8. Edge & Christian (2000)
7. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin (1998)
6. “Macho Man” Randy Savage (1991)
5. Randy Orton (2009)
4. The Rock (2000)
3. British Bulldog (1992)
2. Brock Lesnar (2002)
1. CM Punk (2011).
Comment below and tell us what you think of the list.
– WWE Champion CM Punk and Eve Torres filmed a “kitchen cage match” special with celebrity chef Graham Elliot on Thursday. Elliot, who hails from Punk’s hometown of Chicago, tweeted a picture of himself with Punk and Eve, which you can view here.
– Wade Barrett wrestled his second match since returning from injury at Thursday’s SmackDown live event in Tokyo, Japan, defeating Justin Gabriel. A live report from the show that a fan sent in said Barrett appeared to work a stiffer style, a sign that Barrett could be incorporating more of his bare knuckle boxing / fight club experience into his matches.
– Former WWE superstar Billy Gunn was at Thursday night’s WWE NXT tapings from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. Gunn was at WWE developmental last week and reportedly impressed WWE officials at RAW 1,000 to the point where there’s been talk that he could wrestle for the company again.
On Monday’s RAW, WWE aired a promo hyping the return of former Nexus leader Wade Barrett, who has been out of action since February due to injury. The promo, which showed a bearded Barrett unleashing havoc at a fight club, will air on WWE television through SummerSlam.
Barrett returned to action in a dark match prior to Tuesday’s SmackDown tapings from Houston, Texas and is currently overseas with the SmackDown brand for its weekend tour of Asia. He is expected to return to action after SummerSlam.
Originally, there was talk of Barrett returning at WWE’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view and winning a title contract, to be cashed in at SummerSlam. Those plans were decided against, however sources indicate Barrett is still in line for a run with one of WWE’s top titles later this year.
Wade Barrett returned to action on Tuesday night in a dark match that took place prior to the WWE SmackDown tapings from Houston, Texas. He cut a heel promo and defeated Zack Ryder with his Wasteland finisher. Barrett had a new look, sporting a beard.
Check out these pictures of Wade Barrett’s new look, including one of Barrett’s return from this week’s SmackDown tapings:
– A rumor surfaced online Monday alleging that Brock Lesnar and Ryback were involved in a physical altercation this afternoon at Raw at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas during rehearsal for Lesnar’s segment.
According to numerous sources backstage at the event, nothing of the sort happened as there was no confrontation, physical or otherwise.
– WWE aired a vignette on Raw promoting the return of Wade Barrett. Barrett, who was shown sporting a beard, Barrett proclaimed that he had to go back to his roots in underground fighting to rediscover himself.
Barrett has been sidelined since the February 20 Raw; he suffered a partially dislocated elbow while catching Dolph Ziggler, who was thrown out of the ring by Big Show during a battle royal. During his time away from the ring, Barrett shot a supporting role in the WWE Studios film Dead Man Down. He will return to action beginning Thursday for SmackDown’s two-show tour of Tokyo, Japan at Ryogoku Kokugika.
Wade Barrett will return to action during SmackDown’s two-show tour of Tokyo, Japan at Ryogoku Kokugika next week.
Barrett has been sidelined since the February 20 Raw; he suffered a partially dislocated elbow while catching Dolph Ziggler, who was thrown out of the ring by Big Show during a battle royal. During his time away from the ring, Barrett shot a supporting role in the WWE Studios film Dead Man Down.
Matches announced for the August 9 show are a 2-1 Handicap Match for World Heavyweight Championship between Sheamus, Big Show and John Laurinaitis, a Triple Treat Match between Randy Orton, Alberto Del Rio and Kane, Rey Mysterio vs. Daniel Bryan, Kofi Kingston vs. Cody Rhodes, Santino Marella and Zack Ryder vs. Epico and Primo, Kelly Kelly vs. Natalya, Yoshi Tatsu vs. Wade Barrett, Justin Gabriel vs. Jack Swagger and Ted DiBiase vs. Jinder Mahal.
Matches announced for the August 10 show are a Fatal 4-Way Match for the World Heavyweight Championship between Sheamus, Kane, Alberto Del Rio and Big Show, a Six-Man Tag Team Match featuring Randy Orton, Santino Marella and Zack Ryder vs. Epico, John Laurinaitis and Primo, Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes, Kofi Kingston vs. Daniel Bryan, Kelly Kelly vs. Natalya, Justin Gabriel vs. Wade Barrett, Yoshi Tatsu vs. Jack Swagger and Ted DiBiase vs. Jinder Mahal.
– Wade Barrett is finally healthy and ready to return to action. Barrett was scheduled for a huge push before undergoing surgery for dislocated his elbow back in March and is expected to get that push once WWE comes up with a storyline to bring him back to television. Back then, it was rumored that WWE wanted Barrett to win Money in the Bank and challenge for the World Heavyweight title, but he’d have to return to action on tonight’s live SmackDown in order to qualify.
– Alberto Del Rio squashing Sin Cara so decisively on RAW has many wondering about Cara’s standing with the company. After recently being repackaged with a new look and scoring a series of television wins, getting destroyed on RAW is not a good sign regarding where WWE views him on the roster hierarchy.
– A new DVD documentary about ECW is in the final stages of production, according to PWInsider.com. The documentary will feature interviews with ECW wrestlers, fans and personalities dating back to 2001 (when ECW shut down) and will look at the events that have transpired in the decade following ECW’s demise.
– Despite being fired by Vince McMahon at No Way Out (and getting disposed of by John Cena on RAW), John Laurinaitis continues to work WWE live events.
The main event of this weekend’s RAW shows (Bethlehem, PA on Friday, Wheeling, WV on Saturday and Huntington, WV on Sunday) will be John Cena vs. Big Show and John Laurinaitis.
The storyline behind Laurinaitis still appearing at live events is that WWE’s Board of Directors are “making him fulfill his contract obligations.”
Fans attending these RAW-brand shows expecting to see WWE Champion CM Punk will be out of luck, because this weekend’s SmackDown shows (Springfield, IL & Bloomington, IL) will feature CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Kane and Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio as the top matches.
– After finishing up shooting scenes in Philadelphia, Wade Barrett is headed to New York this weekend to continue filming for WWE Studios’ Dead Man Down, due out in 2013.
– CM Punk’s current WWE Title reign is now the longest since John Cena’s reign from September 17th, 2006 to October 2nd, 2007.
– Former WWE diva Stacy Keibler is rumored to be pregnant with George Clooney’s child. Keibler was spotted at Clooney’s Lake Cuomo getaway over the weekend with what appeared to be a “baby bump.” A rep for Keibler had “no comment” for TMZ when asked about the possible pregnancy.
– Injured WWE star Wade Barrett was spotted at the Saloon restaurant in Philadelphia over the weekend, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.
– Friday’s SmackDown a 1.75 cable rating, up just a bit from the previous week. The show averaged 2.41 million viewers, which is actually down from the week before.
Wade Barrett is in Philadelphia, PA this week shooting scenes for the WWE Studios film, “Dead Man Down,” a romantic thriller starring Colin Farrell, features Terrence Howard, Armand Assante, Dominic Cooper and Naomi Rapace. No word yet on what character Barrett is playing. The project is scheduled for a 2013 release.
The local ABC affiliate provided the following photos:
— In a new article on the WWE website looking at the upcoming cruiserweights show on the WWE Network, WWE takes a somewhat random jab at former employee, Eric Bischoff:
“Through the crumbling of WCW and his own shameless self-promotion, Bischoff has become somewhat of a sports-entertainment punchline.”
– Wade Barrett will have a supporting role in the WWE Studios project Dead Man Down starring Colin Ferrell, Noomi Rapace and Terrance Howard.
– Husky Harris, last seen on WWE TV has a member of the Nexus, is being advertised for Friday’s RAW house show in Huntsville, Alabama. Harris had a new gimmick in WWE developmental and is listed as taking on Alex Riley on the card. The top matches set for the show are C.M. Punk vs. Mark Henry and John Cena vs. Lord Tensai.
– WWE will tape this week’s NXT and SmackDown tonight from the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Friday’s SmackDown will feature the return of Christian, Michael Cole interviewing Randy Orton and a non-title main event of Sheamus vs. Mark Henry.
The advertised dark match main event is a six-man Street Fight tag match featuring Sheamus, Randy Orton & Big Show vs. Daniel Bryan, Mark Henry & Cody Rhodes.
– WWE plugged a WWE.com article on RAW speculating whether Chris Jericho is the company’s new “Cerebral Assassin” – a nickname Triple H has been using for years. While it appears that WWE might be setting up a Jericho vs. Triple H feud, there are currently no plans to bring Triple H back to television on a regular basis.
– Wade Barrett’s Twitter account has apparently been taken over by his lawyer. Barrett’s account tweeted on Monday night:
“Due to a number of factors, Mr. Barrett has signed the administration of this account over to his attorney for the foreseeable future. Mr. Barrett will be making no further comment at this stage. Regards, Peter Lazarou, Esq.”
Barrett is still injured and is expected to be out of action until around Summerslam.
– Wade Barrett is targeting August for his return after recently undergoing shoulder surgery. As we noted a few weeks ago, WWE decided to pull Money in the Bank from the WrestleMania lineup when Barrett got injured, as he was booked to win the match. The latest is that Money in the Bank could take place at SummerSlam, when Barrett would be healthy to return.
– Morale is said to be low among some of the WWE writers after several were not invited to the WrestleMania 28 after party. Top writers Brian Gewirtz, Ed Koskey and Michael Hayes were there, but most of the creative staff was not. A Twitter account parodying Vince McMahon posted several messages this week posing as Vince and complaining about th writers who were upset about not being invited.
Wade Barrett underwent surgery on his dislocated elbow earlier this month. The WWE website originally stated that the injury would keep him out of action for six to eight weeks, but the injury turned out to be more severe than the initial diagnosis and he’s now expected to be out for three to four months.
Barrett’s injury caused WWE to make a big change to the WrestleMania 28 card, as there were plans for Wade Barrett to win a Money in the Bank match at the show and go on to feud with CM Punk over the WWE championship. Barrett’s injury led WWE to scrap the match from the show all together.
The latest is that WWE officials are hoping that Wade Barrett will be back in action by July so they can feature him prominently at SummerSlam. There has been talk of holding a Money in the Bank match at SummerSlam, with Barrett winning that match and then going on to a feud with CM Punk for the WWE title in the fall.
(Partial credit to pwinsider.com for some of the info used in this report)
Wade Barrett underwent surgery on his dislocated elbow earlier this week after suffering the injury during last week’s 10-Man Battle Royal on Raw SuperShow. WWE stated via company website that he would sidelined for at least six to eight weeks; the injury is more severe than the initial diagnosis. He is now expected to be sidelined for three to four months.
Barrett’s injury has caused change to the WrestleMania XXVIII card as a Money in the Bank Ladder Match was scheduled for the pay-per-view event with the English grappler pegged as the winner of the briefcase. With Barrett sidelined, the match has been scrapped altogether.
Meanwhile, Barrett stated Thursday on Twitter that he will be taking a break from the microblogging site.
“I am done with Twitter for now. See you in a few months,” he wrote.
– Wade Barrett made his first public comments on Tuesday night since injuring his left arm during the #1 contender’s battle royal on RAW. Barrett tweeted:
“Don’t shed any crocodile tears for me… I could still give every single one of you a good slapping even with only one arm.”
“The biggest downer is that I was scheduled to face Papa Shango this year at ‘Mania. That’s up in the air now. #Hexed.”
The WWE website reported on Tuesday that Barrett sustained a dislocated elbow and will be out for 6-8 weeks, which would keep him out past WrestleMania on April 1st.
– The Rock indicated on Twitter that he’ll be at the March 19th RAW Supershow from Philadelphia,PA.
– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross will be calling another NBA basketball game tonight. JR will serve as a guest color analyst on the Boston Celtics radio broadcast for the Celtics game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The game starts at 7pm (ET) and will be broadcast on WEEI, the Celtics Radio Network, and NBA.com.
– Boxing legend Mike Tyson appeared the Dan Patrick Show this week to discuss his boxing career, MMA and pro wrestling. Tyson, who will be inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame on March 31st, named Bruno Sammartino as the greatest pro wrestler of all time. To listen to Tyson’s appearance on the show, visit DanPatrick.com.
— WWE.com reports Wade Barrett suffered a partial dislocation of his left elbow during the 10-Man Battle Royal on Raw. He will undergo an MRI for further evaluation this week and will be sidelined for at least 6 to 8 weeks.
The injury occurred following Barrett and R-Truth’s elimination from the match. As Truth and Barrett recovered from their eliminations on the outside, Big Show tossed Dolph Ziggler on top of them from the ring. They were knocked backwards and Barrett landed awkwardly on his arm.
— Two former WWE stars gave Aksana a negative review for her match against Nikki and Brie Bella on Raw. Gregory Helms wrote on Twitter, “Geez, Askana is …. not good.”
Lance Storm said in response to Helms, “Understatement of the Century.”
Wade Barrett suffered an injury to his left arm during the 10-Man Battle Royal on Monday’s Raw SuperShow. After being taken to a nearby medical facility for further evaluation, he has been diagnosed with a dislocated elbow.
The injury occurred following Barrett and R-Truth’s elimination from the match. As Truth and Barrett recovered from their eliminations on the outside, Big Show tossed Dolph Ziggler on top of them from the ring. The three WWE Superstars were knocked backwards and Barrett landed awkwardly on his arm. Barrett could be heard screaming in pain, to the point where WWE had to cut the audio because of his use of profanity.
Ziggler was also hurt when his shoulder and arm hit the broadcast table during the match. He was examined backstage and is said to be fine.
Cody Rhodes, Kofi Kingston and R-Truth were also hurt during the bout and received medical attention backstage. Rhodes hurt his elbow and right leg. Kingston appeared shaken up but was not seriously injured. R-Truth was assisted to the backstage area following the match.