-WWE Superstar John Cena recently tweeted his tribute to those effected by the tragedies of 9/11, arguably the worst day in United States history, which took place 12 years ago today. Cena wrote:
On this day, loved ones were lost, heroes were found, and an entire nation filled with mourning and courage stood united. 9/11 #neverforget
-WWE Superstar Zack Ryder tweeted this one:
Never forget…
-WWE Superstar David Otunga tweeted:
It’s been 12 years since the WTC tragedy. R.I.P. to all those who lost their lives in the towers and valiantly trying to save others.
-WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross tweeted:
This date September 11 will always have a special place in my heart. Thoughts & prayers go out to all affected by the tragedy of 911.
-WWE Hall Of Famer Howard Finkel tweeted:
I stop to remember and reflect on the events of 12 yrs ago on this date. We’ll never forget those victims, and continue to stand strong!
-WWE personality Zeb Colter tweeted:
Today is 9/11. Please remember those we lost 12 years ago. Sad day for all Americans…#WeThePeople
-Brooke Orndorff, the granddaughter of WWE Hall Of Famer “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff was arrested in Fayetteville, North Carolina on Tuesday and charged with robbery and battery. The arrest was the result of an incident that happened on August 3rd. Brooke’s father, Paul Orndorff III, was also arrested and charged with being party to robbery, party to battery and two counts of financial identity fraud. For more information on this story, visit TheCitizen.com.
-WWE has posted a “web exclusive” SummerSlam preview on their official YouTube channel. The video description reads: “The Miz takes a stroll backstage and gets ready to host “The Biggest Party of the Summer” with other WWE Superstars such as Dolph Ziggler, Zack Ryder, and The Prime Time Players.”
– This week on WWE Superstars, Wade Barrett and Zack Ryder square off. Highlights from the match are available here.
Plus, in a battle of Total Divas, Natalya goes up against Naomi.
– Former WWE NXT talents Chase Donovan and Chad Baxter joined former WWE developmental wrestler Kevin Matthews and J-Silva on their Two And A Half Wrestlers podcast. This is a must listen as Chase and Chad dropped some major bombshells on Bill Demott which includes a second-hand story of DeMott pulling out a gun in front of some trainees, firsthand accounts of him hitting talents on the back with a yardstick, using homophobic slurs daily, telling talents to go kill themselves, bullying and over training talents, getting Cena’s trainer fired, etc. This is a must listen!
Kevin Matthews runs down his history with Demott to start off the show and the interview with Donovan and Baxter starts at the 20 minute mark twoandahalfwrestlers.com.
– Jerry Sags of the Nasty Boys turned 49-years-old on Friday.
– In battle of competitors that squared off on the WrestleMania XXIX Pre-Show, The Miz takes on Wade Barrett on this week’s episode of WWE Superstars. A clip from the match is available (view the full episode at WWEOnHulu.com).
Also, Zack Ryder takes on Antonio Cesaro.
– The official WWE website has published an article recalling seven of the “wildest” and most “outrageous” individuals to appear for the World Bodybuilding Federation, a bodybuilding organization founded in 1990 by Vince McMahon that lasted through 1992. Among those profiled with accompanying photos and video are “The Flexing Dutchman” Berry de May, “The Giant Killer” Danny Padilla, “Dark Angel” Aaron Baker, “The Executioner” Johnnie Morant, “The Phoenix” Vince Comerford, “California Personified” Troy Zuccolotto and short-lived organization’s lone champion, Gary Strydom.
– WWE has signed Missouri independent wrestler Ryan Drago to a developmental deal. He confirmed the signing at a June 1st Metro Pro Wrestling event in Kansas City. Drago was originally trained by WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race and will be among the talents reporting to WWE’s new Performance Center early next month.
– There is some speculation that WWE Diva Tamina Snuka might have suffered a concussion during a match against Natalya that was taped for this week’s episode of Superstars on Monday night prior to RAW.
– WWE Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett spoke to WWE.com about The Miz’s return on Monday’s RAW. Barrett took credit for taking The Miz out of action for a month – and says next time they wrestle, he’ll be out for even longer. The Miz was away filming the WWE Studios film, “The Christmas Bounty.”
– WWE superstar Zack Ryder turns 28 years old today.
– Speaking of Ryder, he tweeted an “LOL” that the @WWEShop account has un-followed him.
– Former WWE star Nick “Eugene” Dinsmore was spotted at the WWE NXT live event in Tampa last week.
– A report at PWInsider.com states that there is currently lot of tension between The Rock and WWE management, although neither side will admit it publicly. While The Rock always has his detractors in the WWE locker room, some people feel that The Rock didn’t do right by WWE during his most recent run.
It’s unclear exactly what the issue is, but it could have to do with The Rock not appearing on WWE television enough due to his busy schedule and not promoting WWE enough during his media appearances. That said, The Rock is still a valuable member of the WWE family and the general feeling is that things will eventually get worked out.
Arda Ocal of the Baltimore Sun recently interviewed WWE Superstar Zack Ryder about a number of topics, including his career being at a low point, his incredible popularity on social media and more. Here are some highlights of what Ryder said about:
The State of His Career: I’m at a low point. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, because there’s only one place to go and that’s up. The Z True Long Island Story paved my career, it re-invented Zack Ryder, but that time has come and gone. Last year, 2011, I ended it as the United States Champion. I had my first WrestleMania match at WrestleMania 28. Now this year at WrestleMania 29, not on the show, not really doing much. That’s why I really need this low point to really fuel me to come up with something new. Maybe it won’t be as big or as phenomenal as Z True Long Island Story, but there will be something that just works and clicks to the audience, something that gets me to that next level. So I don’t think that it’s necessarily a bad thing that I’m at a low point; I just think it’s a little break before I get even higher.
How Far He’d Go To Reinvent His Character: I would do whatever it takes. Do a complete 180, but only if it’s still me deep down inside. I’m not going to go out there and pretend to be someone I’m not. The thing that got me here [is], I like to party, pick up chicks, listen to pop music and sing pop music, but there is also a darker side to Zack Ryder, a more serious side to Zack Ryder. Maybe I’ll have to peel some layers to Zack Ryder and go out there and do something different.
Dolph Ziggler I mean, if there’s anyone who deserves to be on TV more than me, it’s Dolph Ziggler. It’s a shame what’s going on with him right now. He’s had the greatest year possible, winning Money in the Bank, stealing the show night after night. Finally, the fans have recognized him. His shirt sells out, he beat John Cena at TLC and he works hard all year, and now it’s the home stretch to WrestleMania and he’s not even on the show yet. He deserves that shot more than anybody, and I hope in the weeks coming he gets his ‘Mania spot.
WWE superstar Zack Ryder was recently interviewed by Anthony Sulla-Heffinger of the New York Post. Here are some highlights of what Ryder said about:
Kids Buying His Merchandise: It’s crazy, it doesn’t even make sense to me. I still have all of the wrestling toys that I had as a little kid and to think about those kids going to Toys ‘R’ Us and buying my action figure, it makes you go ‘what?!’ Sometimes I have to take myself out of the moment and look at my life from the outside and say ‘Woah! This is getting cool.’
The Different In-Ring Style of Saturday Morning Slam: Ryder: Luckily for me, I haven’t really had to change my style up too much. I’m sure for guys like Sheamus and guys who are giving big punches to the head, it really affects them. For me, I just do my own thing and I think that works as an advantage. Some guys have change their styles up and they are out of their element or off their game. For me, I’m the same old Zack Ryder so maybe that’s why I am going to go all the way and become the Saturday Morning Slam GM.
WrestleMania 29 Taking Place Near His Hometown: This year there are a lot of mixed emotions. It’s going to be cool that Wrestlemania is back in New York and New Jersey, I went to Wrestlemania X and XX as a fan and last year I had my first Wrestlemania match so it is cool. At the same time I’m not on the show so it’s not cool and I wish it was somewhere else because all of my friends and family are going to be there and I’m not going to be on it so that part stinks. It’s great that such a huge event is going to be at MetLife Stadium, Rock and John Cena the rematch, it’s going to be historic. Whether Zack Ryder is on the card or not, Wrestlemania is going to be the show of the year and maybe the best one yet.
What The Future Holds for Zack Ryder: I’m not really sure. I ended my YouTube show that I have been doing for two years this past January. I think Zack Ryder, the character, needs a little tweaking, it needs a little adjustment. I wouldn’t say a complete 180 turn but a couple of things here and there. I have to sit down and I have to really figure out what needs to be done to get back on top and make sure I don’t miss next year’s Wrestlemania.
Getting Title Shots In WWE: That’s the ultimate goal so I have to be positive and think that those opportunities are in my future. That’s what keeps me going.
Monday’s RAW (Punk vs. Cena, Lesnar-HHH Brawl): The way it ended, that match was a pay-per-view match right there for free on TV. I was watching in the back with a couple of guys and I was on the edge of my seat, was it going to be Punk or was it going to be Cena, was someone going to run in, would it be a straight finish? We were anxious to see who was going to win. It was a great match, the fans were on their feet the whole time. When Cena won, the place exploded and he deserved the win.
Busted Open satellite radio show with Zack Ryder
Host: Dave Lagreca, Doug Mortman, and Mike Riker
Airs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays on Sirius 92 and XM 208 from 2-4 ET
Visit Facebook.com/bustedopen for more information
Zack Ryder on how he would make a great GM for Saturday Morning Slam: I’ll Zack it all up. Maybe I will bring out my internet championship and have it defended on the show. I’ll make sure some of the hottest divas are on the show. Make sure some of the best matches are on the show. It’s a party and fans want a party every Saturday morning. They want to have fun. School is out, you have a couple of days off. They want to party, so come to Saturday Morning slam, I’ll give them a party.
On WrestleMania in the NY area: It’s cool that it’s in New York/New Jersey, basically in my backyard, but I’m not on it. It kind of sucks. I got all my friends and family who are going to be there and they are expecting to see Zack Ryder on the show and as of now he is not on it. So that part of it is heartbreaking. It’s still going to be a great show with Rock and Cena. It’s going to be one of the best WrestleManias of all time.
He talks about his rough year in 2012: 2011 was the rise of Zack Ryder. I started my YouTube show out of just frustration. The beginning of the year I was a nobody, not even on TV. Through the course of the year from doing the show and being active on Twitter and on Facebook, and then ending the year as U.S. champion. I really thought 2012 was going to be my year and as you saw, it really wasn’t. Kane threw me off the stage and off loading docks. Eve kicked me in the bro-nuts at WrestleMania and from there I was just forgot about. I was losing all the time, barely doing anything on the shows. 2013 better be different. It can’t be worse than 2012.
The demise of Z! True Long Island Story: Well when I started it, I knew something had to be done. I hated my stock in the WWE. I was a nobody. I wasn’t on the shows. I didn’t even have an action figure. I didn’t have an 8×10 promotional photo. So as far the YouTube show, in February of 2011, my parents got me the flip camera for Christmas. I really didn’t know what to do with it. Maybe I will just start a YouTube show and it kind of took off. I did it for a hundred weeks straight. It should have ended after 50. After I became the U.S. champion, WWE came to me and said “we want to move this to our YouTube channel.” I was really hesitant to do it and I should have said no. That was the end of the Z! True Long Island Story in my opinion right there when I made that switch to the WWE YouTube channel at around episode 51. The fans just assumed I sold out, when I was still doing all the work and putting it on their channel and they instantly turned on it. Then WWE was editing it and taking things out., even though they said they weren’t going to touch it. Then it just became a job and not fun. For the most part the last 50 were horrible, but the first 50 changed the business. Now Raw is all about social media and Tout, and Facebook, and Twitter. They weren’t like that before Z! True Long Island Story.
Was the WWE open to him doing his own show?: I was so under the radar that the WWE didn’t even know the show existed the first two weeks. Nobody knew I was doing it. I thought there was a chance I would get fired over some of the things I was saying. I just didn’t care. Steve Austin was one of the guys in the beginning who told me that “hey that was great and keep it going and keep pressing buttons. Get your voice out there” Steve was a huge help. I knew this show had to take off or I was going to be fired. One or the other. It was going to either help my career or get me fired. It got me noticed. It helped my career. I don’t regret doing it at all.
– WWE Champion The Rock spoke to MTV News this week to hype his upcoming movie releases and told them that he will not be playing the DC Comics character Lobo on the big screen, as was previously rumored. There is talk that the movie won’t be happening at all.
– Zack Ryder worked last night’s WWE NXT live event in Fort Pierce, Florida. He teamed with NXT Tag Team Champions Adrian Neville and Oliver Grey to defeat The Wyatt Family in a six-man tag match. After the match, Ryder tweeted, “NXT was #SSSIIICCCKKK tonight!”
– Tamina Snuka and Kaitlyn to tweet back and forth leading up to their Divas title match at Elimination Chamber. Tamina tweeted this weekend:
“@KaitlynWWE You say your a First Generation Hybrid, great, whatever helps your self esteem But I dont use my Fathers Legacy to make who I am”
– Poor Zack Ryder. With WrestleMania 29 approaching, the Long Island Broski seems to have given up hope that he’ll get a match on the show. He tweeted this week:
“I can’t wait to order my new gear for WrestleMania……Axxess.”
– World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio will wrestle Dolph Ziggler on tonight’s episode of WWE Main Event on Ion. Here’s what both men had to say about the match:
Del Rio: “We had an spectacular #MainEvent and #SmackDown show here in Little Rock,Arkansas. You guys were amazing. Thanks. And don’t miss #mainevent this Wednesday you’ll see one of the best matches ever on the show!! WHC Alberto Del Rio vs Ziggler”
Ziggler: “I’d hate to have to follow my match on #MainEvent (wednesday night on @IONtv) or any of my matches #ZigglersBetter”
– Mark Henry did an interview with Power 92.3 in Little Rock, Arkansas on Tuesday:
– Kofi Kingston will be appearing at the National Guard Gala in Washington, DC on February 26th at 6pm.
– Zack Ryder’s “Hoeski” single broke the Top 100 Pop chart on iTunes the first day it was released. The song, which sells for $1.29, currently has a 4.5/5 star rating. Various WWE superstars, including John Cena, have been encouraging fans on Twitter to download the song.
– Tamina Snukka spoke to Matt Striker backstage at Monday’s RAW for the WWE app and said last week’s Vegas Showgirls match was a joke. Tamina added that she’s not our average Diva and that WWE has a huge problem. Tamina said next time she’s one-on-one with Kaitlyn, she’s going to make a statement.
– Following his return to WWE on RAW, Mark Henry spoke to WWE.com and says he’s charged up and ready to make his mark on the WWE Universe again. Henry said he’s been beating people up for 17 years and anybody that gets in the ring with him will be destroyed.
– In response to the power failure that took place minutes into the third quarter of Sunday’s NFL Super Bowl, The Shield’s Roman Reigns tweeted the following:
49ers are losing! Vest on..Cut the lights..Time to Fight!! #49ers Losing=Injustice
– Dolph Ziggler took another jab at Zack Ryder on Twitter yesterday, tweeting the following response to Ryder announcing his song Hoeski is available for download on iTunes:
“@ZackRyder: HOESKI IS ON ITUNES RIGHT NOW!!!” -download this, or the kid wont be on @WWE RAW! jk, he wont be on anyway
– WWE.com published an article looking at the company’s top developmental prospects at NXT. The list includes Kassius Ohno, Leo Kruger, Bo Dallas, Paige, Richie Steamboat, Adrian Neville (PAC), Anya, and Bray Wyatt & The Family.
– John Cena posted the following video on Tout featuring himself and Zack Ryder. Cena asks Ryder how it feels to become a #SevenFigureBroski and how achieving 1 million Twitter followers has changed his life:
– Zack Ryder will perform “Hoeski” prior to Sunday’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view event in Phoenix, Arizona.
“BREAKING NEWS! I will perform #Hoeski LIVE before WWE Royal Rumble outside the US Airways Arena,” Ryder wrote on Twitter Monday.
– Adam “Edge” Copeland reiterated his stance on the possibility of a wrestling return in a Twitter message Monday. The WWE Hall of Famer was asked, “If the doctors ever cleared you, would you return to wrestling?” He responded, “They won’t. Seems half of you refuse to understand that.”
In 2011, Copeland was diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis, and because of such, the doctors cannot medically clear him to compete without him risking neck-down paralysis, or even death.
Copeland was also asked if he would be interested in working for WWE in a behind-the-scenes capacity, responding, “After 20 yrs on the road I prefer home for now.”
– Today’s wrestling birthdays include former WWE Diva Maryse (30) and WWE Hall of Famer Ivan Putski (72).
– John Cena noted on Twitter that he interviewed Zack Ryder over the weekend about recently becoming a #7FigureBroski (reaching 1 million followers on Twitter), his (lack of) push in WWE, his Hoeski music video and more. Cena said the WWE Universe “needs to hear” the interview.
– Jim Ross noted on Twitter that SuperBowl 47 coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens was once the roommate of the late Brian Pillman at the University of Ohio at Miami.
– Chris Jericho continues to tease a return to WWE. He tweeted over the weekend:
Had a dream I was wrestling as a heel under the name “Bobby Baby”. If I ever go back to the @WWE, that shall be my new name!#BobbyBaby
– It was officially announced on RAW that Mick Foley is the first member of the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013.
– The January 11th episode of WWE SmackDown averaged 3,130,000 viewers, which is up from 2,721,000 viewers the week before.
– WWE legend King Kong Bundy teased on Sunday night that he is Hall of Fame bound and a big announcement would be coming on Monday night. As it turns out, Bundy will not be joining the WWE Hall of Fame, but the “Pro Wrestling Report Hall of Fame” on April 5th in New York. It sounds just as prestigious.
– Despite not wrestling a match on Monday’s 20th Anniversary RAW, Zack Ryder reached 1 million Twitter followers shortly after the show went off the air, officially becoming a #SevenFigureBroksi.
Former WWE developmental Diva Shaul Guerrero attended last night’s WWE live event from Austin, Texas. She noted on Twitter that she had “one of the best car rides ever” with her mother Vickie Guerrero and Tamina Snuka.
– Zack Ryder has been thanking everybody on Twitter for their help with his Z! True Long Island Story YouTube series, which he decided to end after 100 episodes.
Ryder also said that he’s retiring his “Z! True Long Island Story” wrestling gear – which you can see below (click to enlarge):
– The Rock’s promo from SmackDown was heavily edited, with several minutes of his interaction with Team Rhodes Scholars cut from the final broadcast. At one point, The Rock called Damien Sandow a “d-bag” and the crowd began chanting along, with Sandow shouting “Silence!” It was a very funny moment and Youtube user Ajdagreat1 sent us the following video he took showing part of what was edited off TV:
– Today marks 20 years since WWE Monday Night RAW debuted on the USA Network. The first episode of RAW aired on January 11, 1993.
– As reported last night, Tyson Kidd recently suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee. He had a large amount of blood drained from the knee on Tuesday and WWE officials are saying he will be out of action for approximately 6 months.
– Here is Episode 100 of Zack Ryder’s Z! True Long Island Story. Find out below if this will be the final episode of the series:
– Speaking of Ryder, his new tag team with Brodus Clay is getting good reviews from WWE producers. They will wrestle the Prime Time Players on this week’s episode of WWE Superstars, taped Monday night from Tampa, FL.
– Sean Waltman tweeted the following about reuniting with Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash, Triple H and Billy Gunn at Thrusday night’s NXT Show:
