-The Grantland website has posted their unofficial WWE “mid-season” awards, since we are approximately half-way to WrestleMania XXX. You can check those out online at Grantland.com.
-The official WWE website for Arabia has a featured article up talking about the reports that The Undertaker will be wrestling Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XXX in 2014. While we recently reported the rumor as well, it is interesting that an official WWE-affiliated website is now spreading the rumor as well. You can check out the article online at Arabia.WWE.com.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights of what JR said about:
Sunday’s WWE Hell In A Cell pay-per-view: It will be interesting to see how different the two Hell in a Cell matches are this Sunday on the next , WWE PPV. Because the handicap match featuring CM Punk vs. Paul Heyman and Ryback is more of an ‘attraction,’ so making the two, HIAC matches unique should be less challenging.”
“The money in that HIAC match is obviously Punk closing the current chapter on his issue with Heyman. In the old days, we cranky, old veterans like to use that term when possible, Heyman’s fate would come to a graphic and definitive end. As I said, in the old days. Heyman means more to the match that does any of his villains. I expect Heyman to lose consciousness and to be stretchered out.”
“Hopefully, Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton will establish a helluva wrestling match before they start to utilize all the gimmicks that the giant, steel structure provides. That gives the fans the best of both worlds or so it would seem to me. Logic says that the underdog wins but who knows now days…?”
“The returning John Cena World Title Bout vs. the champion Alberto Del Rio feels a touch lost in the shuffle. Perhaps because it was made essentially out of no where or perhaps, Del Rio has little momentum, or because Cena is returning early from his surgery and he doesn’t feel as if he’s been gone that long to make his return even more special.”
The job the announcers did on Monday’s RAW: “Happy to hear the announce team Monday night point out that ADR would likely target Cena’s arm Sunday on PPV. Any time announcers can make believable, common sense points, no matter if they are a play by play guy or a color analysts, it helps the storytelling. However, telling back stories and constantly trying to fill in gaps in creative while story telling at the expense of not getting talent ‘over’ is a kiss of death. Conversational story telling doesn’t always facilitate the imperative, emotional investment needed to establish and build stars of which the business revolves around.”
Offers he’s been receiving lately: “Getting lots of offers to do a variety of things in New Orleans during WM30 week but so far I’ve declined as we’ve got other thoughts in mind at this time. Stay tuned.”
“I talked to Cowboy Bill Watts this week, who’s doing well by the way, and brainstormed with him about a potential gig that he might want to do during WM30 week but it has nothing to do with what I’m pursuing.”
His thoughts on the WWE Hall Of Fame: “Still getting tons of WWE Hall of Fame questions that I have no answers for but I will say that it is a head scratcher why men like Lou Thesz and Dan Hodge have not ben inducted. These two men, among others obviously, are no brainers. How can a viable argument be made as to why not?”
The following are highlights from a recent interview with WWE Superstar Dolph Ziggler:
On his first memory of watching WrestleMania: “WrestleMania IV when they had the tournament for the title (won by Randy Savage). I was cheering for Ricky Steamboat. I was a big fan of Steamboat as a kid.”
On his dream opponent for WrestleMania: “Shawn Michaels.”
On his favorite match in WrestleMania history: “Shawn Michaels vs. the Undertaker at WrestleMania XXV (won by the Undertaker). They could have just had a good match, and we would all still be talking about it. But they went out and had one of the best storytelling matches of all-time. I went into the crowd and just watched it.”
Check out the complete interview online at NOLA.com.
The following are highlights from a recent AP interview with Hulk Hogan:
His Recent Discussion with Triple H:
“He just welcomed me with open arms. He said if ever I decide I get the itch to come back home, the door’s open.”
The Possibility of Appearing at WrestleMania XXX:
“My mind has been going crazy the last couple of weeks trying to figure out the best thing to do will be.”
His Status With TNA:
“We couldn’t figure things out. We’re talking, but I’m wide open right now.”
If he has one more match left in him:
“Let me put it to you this way, brother: With the right guy, the right situation, with a big enough event, big enough storyline, you’re damn right I have one more left in me.”
Check out the complete interview online at AP.org.
-Apparently Vince McMahon and Kevin Dunn “flipped their lids” when the power outage happened at the recent WWE Battleground pay-per-view in Buffalo. McMahon is reportedly paranoid that something similar, or worse, could happen at WrestleMania XXX next year, as the event will be held in the same venue that the NFL’s Super Bowl was in when they had the same problem. McMahon’s concern is that not only are they going to be in the same building, but that WrestleMania uses more power than the Super Bowl when you factor in all of the lighting, pyro and other production elements.
-According to several key employees in WWE, the feeling is former football player-turned wrestler Mojo Rawley is the breakout performer with the most potential in the current crop of talent working in the WWE NXT developmental system.
-Apparently WWE Hall Of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin has split his online podcast into two separate versions. One, which will be added every Tuesday, will be the more family-friendly “Steve Austin Show,” which will feature interviews. The other, which will be posted every Thursday, is “Steve Austin: Unleashed,” where he will discuss adult-related subjects. The debut edition of “Steve Austin: Unleashed” is available online right now over at PodcastOne.com.
-The following WWE Superstars are shown (from left-to-right) on the new official WrestleMania XXX promotional poster: The Undertaker, Alberto Del Rio, Randy Orton, John Cena (in the middle), CM Punk, Brock Lesnar and Kofi Kingston.
-WWE Superstar Mark Henry appeared on the latest edition of the Jay Mohr podcast. Fans interested in checking that out can do so online at JayMohr.com.
As previously reported, former WWE Diva Michelle McCool, along with The Undertaker, were recently working out at the new WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. According to one source, McCool looked to be in great shape, so much so that many felt she looked better than when she was actually wrestling actively in WWE.
Reports claim McCool was in serious discussions about a year ago with WWE regarding a comeback. The feeling from her side is that now would be a good time to return because she could make it back on television in time to set up a program that would lead to a big payoff at WrestleMania XXX in 2014.
As previously reported, Bill Goldberg appeared during Pro Wrestling Night at the Miami Marlins baseball game this weekend. Goldberg threw out the first pitch before the game, and even performed a vicious spear to Marlins pitcher Tom Koehler. Check out an animated GIF of the spear below:
Results from matches at the show were as follows:
-Koko B. Ware defeated Chavo Guerrero Jr.
-Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake defeated Mike Knox
-Harry Smith defeated Wes Brisco
-The Nasty Boys defeated Ken Anderson & Garett Bischoff
Additionally, WWE Hall Of Famers Bret “The Hitman” Hart and “The Mouth Of The South” Jimmy Hart, as well as “Leapin'” Lanny Poffo and Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart appeared at the event.
And finally, Goldberg talked a bit in one of the interviews about the recent WWE and WrestleMania XXX rumors. While he didn’t rule out the possibility at some point in the future, he did shoot down the specific rumors about his supposed return at the annual classic next year. He mentioned that if he did come out of retirement for a match, he would be interested in facing off with either “Stone Cold” Steve Austin or The Undertaker, as he said he has no interest in working a match with Ryback.
For more coverage from Pro Wrestling Night at the Marlins game, check out the official MLB.com coverage of the event.
-WWE has recently updated their advertising for upcoming live events now that John Cena will no longer be able to appear on them. The biggest shuffle is Daniel Bryan being moved from the “B” shows to the “A” shows, in place of Cena as the singles headliner.
-Speaking of Cena, while publicly the statement from both he and the WWE side is that they are expecting him back by WrestleMania, apparently the expectation is that he will be back in time for the Royal Rumble pay-per-view. That would be just under five months after his surgery, which is pushing the recovery process slightly. As noted, especially with Cena, returning sooner than scheduled when dealing with injuries is not out of the ordinary.
-WWE CEO Vince McMahon celebrates his 68th birthday this Saturday. McMahon was born on August 24, 1945.
-ESPN personality and former WWE broadcaster Jonathan Coachman appeared on the “Mike and Mike” show this morning on ESPN Radio answering questions from Twitter regarding WWE.
According to a recent report, WWE changed the originally planned finish to the Brock Lesnar vs. CM Punk match at the recent SummerSlam pay-per-view event in Los Angeles. The decision was made to switch the finish in the middle of the last week leading up to the event.
Apparently one of the main reasons WWE made the switch was because The Undertaker has reportedly agreed to work against Lesnar at the upcoming WrestleMania XXX event in 2014.
The general consensus within WWE was that if they are going to promote Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XXX, then Lesnar shouldn’t lose to Punk at SummerSlam, as that would have been his final match before the ‘Taker bout, and would send him into WrestleMania with a 2-3 overall record since returning to the company.
The Times-Picayune newspaper in New Orleans, LA reports that WrestleMania 30 has been confirmed to take place on April 6, 2014 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA.
“We are proud to have played host to some of the greatest sports and entertainment events in the world over the past two years, and hosting WrestleMania is a great way to continue this unprecedented streak,” said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
“We look forward to hosting WWE and its global fan base as they celebrate this historic milestone at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.”
WWE will officially make the announcement at a press conference this afternoon at noon ET.
– WWE superstar Titus O’Neil took part in a celebrity charity auction on Friday night in Florida. He was “auctioned off” and a woman won a date with him.
– WWE.com has an article up looking at what locations could host next year’s big WrestleMania 30. Among the locations listed were Yankee Stadium (Bronx, NY), Cowboys Stadium (Arlington, TX), Beijing National Stadium (Beijing, China) and Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor, MI). It’s worth noting that the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, rumored to be the site of the event, was not included on the list.
– Here is the latest episode of “The JBL & Cole Show”:
– WWE superstar The Miz spoke to New Orleans’ Times-Picayune newspaper this week to promote Sunday’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. When asked what’s it’s like to play a babyface in WWE after spending years as a villain, The Miz said:
“The funny thing is that I never changed. To me, I’ve never been bad or good. I’ve always been The Miz. I’m used to people booing me and telling me I suck. Now, they’re chanting I’m awesome, but I’ll take it.”
To read the full interview, head over to NOLA.com.
– Speaking of New Orlens, NFL New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees tweeted the following Friday:
The word from the French Quarter is that @WWE is bringing @WrestleMania to our house in 2014! #NOLA @MBSuperDome #WM30
This is the latest bit of speculation that WrestleMania 30 will be held from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana next year. With Sunday’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view taking place from the city, it’s expected that WWE will make an official announcement regarding the WM30 location over the next few days.
It’s been rumored for months and now it’s been reported by a local radio station: WrestleMania 30 is coming to the New Orleans Superdome for the first time in 2014.
An official announcement is expected this month, around the time of WWE’s Elimination Chamber event takes place from New Orleans.
The Superdome hosted the NFL’s Super Bowl this past weekend and hosted 68,568 fans. The maximum capacity for footaball games is 76,468 fans.
– WWE announced this week that Vince McMahon will be undergoing hip surgery as a result of Brock Lesnar giving him an F-5 on RAW. Vince has had a bad hip for several months and will legitimately undergoing surgery soon.
– WWE will be officially announcing the location of WrestleMania 30 in February around the time of Elimination Chamber. It’s almost a lock that the show will be taking place from the Superdome in New Orleans, which currently has an indoor attendance record of 73,043 for a New Orleans Saints game.
– The Rock tweeted last week that WWE superstar Michael McGillicutty (Joe Hennig) was his training partner for the Royal Rumble. Both The Rock and Triple H are strong proponent of the third generation star.
WrestleMania 29 is still five months away, but WWE is already underway planning for which city will host the historic WrestleMania 30 event in 2014.
As of this weekend, one venue that is a strong contender to be the site of WrestleMania 30 is the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, home of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints. The venue holds over 76,000 fans for football games.
The legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City and the massive, state-of-the-art Cowboys Sadium in Dallas, Texas have also been considered, but are no longer considered front-runners. Los Angeles was also in contention as a host city, but it looks like they will remain as the official home of WWE SummerSlam.
WWE is not expected to finalize their plans for WrestleMania 30 or announce anything publicly for several more months, but that’s where things stand as of this writing.
– The latest issue of WWE Magazine features a new “insider news” column by The Informer, who revealed that a certain (male) American Idol runner-up is in negotiations to perform at this year’s SummerSlam pay-per-view. The most logical guess would be James Durbin, who is a huge pro wrestling fan and actually worked with WWE over WrestleMania 28 weekend in Miami doing charity & promotional work.
– The latest WWE Magazine also hints that WrestleMania 30 will be held in “a city of Olympic proportions.”
– With John Cena vs. Big Show being promoted as the main event of WWE’s upcoming No Way Out pay-per-view, the streak continues of non-title matches headlining pay-per-views.
Believe it or not, the last time a WWE Championship or World Heavyweight Championship match headlined a pay-per-view was last December’s TLC pay-per-view, when CM Punk defended the WWE title in a triple threat match with The Miz and Alberto Del Rio.
– Monday’s post-Elimination Chamber RAW Supershow drew a a 3.2 rating and averaged 4,629,000 viewers. The show did hours of 3.3 and 3.19.
– WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2012 inductee Ron Simmons appeared on the Busted Open radio show this week and said he’d love a role in one of The Rock’s movies. Simmons, who worked closely with The Rock when both men were members of the Nation of Domination stable, had this to say about The Rock’s success in Hollywood:
“As far as getting as big as he did, I don’t even think he knew he would get this big. I can say I am proud of him and the only thing I would like for him to do is offer Farooq a part in one of his movies. Let me be a stand in, I don’t even need a speech, just offer me something (laughing).”
– After an apparent heel turn on Monday’s RAW, WWE diva Eve is still scheduled to wrestle heel Divas champion Beth Phoenix at this weekend’s WWE live event from Ontario, Canada at the Citizens Business Bank Arena.
– With the recent announcement that WrestleMania 29 will take place from New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, it’s worth noting that WWE has still not decided on a location for the historic WrestleMania 30 event, which will take place in 2014.
The bidding deadline for potential WrestleMania 30 host cities is approaching soon.
