– WWE superstar Justin Gabriel might be joining Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash and Triple H at tonight’s WWE NXT tapings from Winter Park, Florida. Gabriel tweeted a picture of a Ducati motorcycle and wrote:
As if not getting booked on RAW each week was bad enough, Zack Ryder was blatantly snubbed by WWE on RAW in a way that the entire WWE Universe took notice. During Monday’s RAW, WWE aired an info-graphic touting the Superstars with the most Twitter followers:
The problem is that Zack Ryder has 990,316 followers – over 100,000 more than The Miz and enough to qualify for the list.
Zack Ryder tweeted the following messages in response to the omission:
So on #RAW it just showed the most followed superstars in @WWE and they just skipped me? #AREYOUSERIOUSBRO
– WWEDVDNews.com reports that the following two matches are confirmed for Bret Hart’s upcoming WWE DVD series titled, “Bret “Hit Man” Hart: The Dungeon Collection” – due out March 5th:
* Bret Hart vs. Dynamite Kid in a 2 of 3 Falls Match for the British Commonwealth Jr. Heavyweight Title from Stampede Wrestling (1978).
* Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin from the Sun City Superbowl in South Africa (1996).
– SmackDown superstar Sheamus will be making several appearances at upcoming car shows. Here’s a schedule of the shows he’ll be attending:
* Friday January 11th at the Cincinnati Cavalcade of Customs in Cincinnati, Ohio from 6pm until 8pm
* Friday, February 22nd at the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center in Louisville, KY from 7pm until 9pm
* Friday, March 1st at the Chicago World of Wheels from 6pm until 8pm
* Friday, March 8th at the Detroit Autorama from 6pm until 8pm
– Zack Ryder tweeted the following about his matches at this weekend’s WWE live events, where he teamed with Brodus Clay against Jack Swagger and NXT star Leo Kruger:
I won all 3 of my matches this weekend. Do you think that I’ll continue my winning streak tomorrow on #Raw?
– Zack Ryder’s “Z! True Long Island Story” YouTube show may be coming to an end. During this week’s Episode #99, Ryder teased at the end that he’s going to have to kill the show before WWE gets a chance to do it first. That video was quickly taken down by WWE – and an edited version was then re-posted, without the final segment of Ryder teasing his show’s demise.
– Tommy Dreamer was at WWE headquarters in Stamford, CT on Thursday.
– The NXT house show in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on February 2nd, 2013 has been canceled.
– Here’s the latest installment of Santino’s Foreign Exchange:
“Santino’s Foreign Exchange” made it into the new year! Follow The Milan Miracle as he rings in 2013 as only Santino can. Which Superstar has the most outlandish New Year’s resolution of them all?”
– IMDB.comhas a listing up for a new pro wrestling movie titled, “Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies.” The horror movie, slated for a 2013 release, will feature appearances from Roddy Piper, Terry Funk, Matt Hardy & Reby Sky, Shane Douglas, Scott “Raven” Levy, Sylvester Terkay and others.
– Zack Ryder says he has a major announcement coming soon for the 100th episode of his YouTube show. He tweeted:
Working on Episode 99 of Z! True Long Island Story. A MAJOR announcement will be made. #OneeleVEnthiRteen
– This week’s edition of “Z! True Long Island Story” is titled “Best of Zack Ryder 2012,” with his many of his lowlights highlighted in a somber video package; losing the United States Championship to Jack Swagger, Kane’s numerous attacks including being chokeslammed through the Raw stage and wheeled off the stage, Eve making out in front of him with John Cena, Eve kicking him in the groin at WrestleMania XXVIII, suffering losses to The Miz, Damien Sandow, Alberto Del Rio, Daniel Bryan and Tensai, and getting beat down by 3MB.
Ryder admits 2012 “sucked,” but vows that 2013 will be “the year of the Broski,” not to mention “sick.”
– The official WWE website has posted a photo gallery chronicling AJ Lee’s dalliances of 2012, with Daniel Bryan, Kane, CM Punk, John Cena and Dolph Ziggler.
– Chris Jericho is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
– WWE recently reached out to Martha Hart, widow of the late Owen Hart, about getting Owen inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013. According to PWInsider.com, WWE inducting Owen would be part of a settlement agreement that would involve Martha Hart ending her ongoing lawsuit against WWE. She reportedly turned down the offer.
– Zack Ryder will be appearing in Levittown, New York at the FYE store on Hempstead Turnpike next Friday, December 28th at 3pm. The signing is limited to the first 400 fans.
– The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that former WWE announcer Ernest “The Cat” Miller is now the Director of Chuck Norris’ World Combat League.
– Here is the latest episode of Zack Ryder’s Z! True Long Island Story, featuring “Another Very Broski Christmas”:
– Fozzie Bear joins the Zack Pack in this edition of “Z! True Long Island Story.” See the Tout that landed the Muppet as “Bearski of the Week.”
– Courtesy of WWEDVDNews.com, two matches have been revealed for WWE’s upcoming The Best of WCW Monday Nitro Vol. 2 DVD.
From the inaugural episode episode of the program, a WCW United States Championship Match pitting Sting against Ric Flair is featured. This is the bout where Lex Luger makes a surprise appearance after competing at a WWE event the prior day.
The other match is a WCW World Tag Team Championship Match featuring Kevin Nash and Scott Hall vs. Goldberg and Bret Hart from December 13, 1999.
– Randy Orton, Sin Cara and other Superstars and Divas recently met WWE Circle of Champions honorees, including Michael of Make-A-Wish. (Photos)
– WWE.com has a a feature up looking at the 20 “Meanest Grinches.”
– As previously reported, JBL and Michael Cole will be taping their new online show this Sunday at the Barclays Center, the site of WWE’s Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view. Fans who show up with clever signs have a chance to win tickets to the show. Cole tweeted on Friday:
“Don’t forget @JCLayfield and I taping jbl and cole show Sunday at 330 outside Barclays! Best sign wins two tickets to TLC!”
– Here’s episode 96 of Zack Ryder’s “Z! True Long Island Story” Youtube show:
– Episode #95 of Z! True Long Island Story, entitled All Zack wants for Christmas, is now now online. In the episode, Ryder finds out “Santa” is a fake, spoofs the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and gleefully looks forward to hitting one million followers on Twitter.
– The former Kharma, Awesome Kong, addressed her departure from WWE and other topics in a podcast interview with RingbellesOnline.com: “So it’s time to dissect the last couple of years and get to the truth of a lot of speculation and rumours. We talk getting back in the ring at SHINE and Florida Underground (both teaming with Jazz) a couple of weekends ago and how that return came about. We talk endorsements from Jim Ross and Steve Austin leading to meetings with John Laurinatis leading to her dream job. Is it fair to call her a Triple H Project? We talk the first meeting with Vince McMahon, and the Kharma name (and more to the point, discover a rejected alternate name!), and what the initial plans were for her push. We talk acceptance into the Diva locker room, and the reaction to her pregnancy. Seen her wrestling ring-shaped engagement ring? Now hear the *true* story of how her fiancé popped the question. Stew and Kong compare how many Royal Rumbles each of them have been in, and we talk about the great personal tragedy in Kong’s life around that time and how various things contributed to her eventual WWE release. We discuss the oft-reported story that Layla was a last minute replacement for Kharma at Extreme Rules 2012 and how aware she was of the growing interest in a match with Beth Phoenix. From there it’s a discussion of future plans both at home and abroad to wrap up the episode.”
– WWEShop.com has released a Zack Ryder Bro Parking Sign.
– This week on WWE Superstars, Zack Ryder comes up short to Tensai in their one-on-one encounter. The match concludes with the former Prince Albert catching Ryder on his Rough Ryder attempt and slamming him with the Chokebomb, then hitting the Running senton to capture the victory. It is Tensai’s first victory since the October 18 episode of WWE Superstars.
Brodus Clay also takes on David Otunga on this week’s episode of WWE Superstars.
– WWE Hall of Famer George “The Animal” Steele is writing an autobiography, entitled Animal. The book is scheduled for released next spring and WWE Hall of Famer “Cowboy” Bill Watts will be writing the foreword.
– Mark Henry is featured in the “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.. “The World’s Strongest Man” has been sidelined since May after undergoing shoulder surgery.
– WWE has released a special magazine chronicling 2012 in photos.
– TMZ.com is reporting on the photos that surfaced online of John Cena attending former WWE Diva Nikki Bella’s ten-year high-school reunion in Scottsdale, Arizona last week. TMZ notes that Cena was “getting up close and personal” with Nikki on the dance floor. Regarding their relationship status, the website states, “It’s unclear if Cena and Bella are “officially” an item … but they definitely weren’t shy with the PDA at the reunion.”
Nikki’s sister Brie also attended the function with Daniel Bryan, her boyfriend.
– WWE developmental wrestler Corey Graves (f/k/a Sterling James Keenan on the independent circuit) competed at Friday’s Raw live event in a “Special Attraction Match” against Zack Ryder.
The NXT star mocked Ryder’s social media presence during his ring entrance as he vowed to become famous the old fashioned way: By embarrassing people like Ryder. He then said he created a new hashtag for Ryder: BooHooHooGravesJustKickedMyAss. Ryder won the bout with the Rough Ryder.
– Former WWE Diva Trinity turns 41-years-old Saturday.
– The official WWE website has published an article examining the state of the Divas division following multiple talent departures over the past year.
“Some of the WWE Universe might say the Divas division has been diminished, having lost a whole half-dozen of its best and brightest over the past twelve months. And it’s true: at least in terms of depth, fate carved quite the swath through WWE’s women’s division in 2012, but the depletion has also initiated a new era of opportunity for the remaining Divas. In one turn around the sun, Kelly Kelly, Beth Phoenix, Maxine, Kharma and The Bella Twins have all left WWE, with no small amount of shock,” author Anthony Benigno writes.
“At first glance, that’s a sudden, dark cloud hanging over one of WWE’s most time-honored divisions. But the whole process has turned out to be something along the lines of an evolution for the Divas. True, the abrupt change in the Divas’ landscape has been jarring for the WWE Universe. But the transformation seems to us a breath of fresh air, a chance at a fresh start, and an opportunity to redefine the very definition of a WWE Diva.”
– Zack Ryder is giving away four copies of WWE ’13 this week. Check out this webisode of Z! True Long Island Story for your chance to get your hands on one. Plus, find out which pop star is his “Broski of the Week.”
– Former World Heavyweight Champion Goldberg is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
– The Miz will be a guest host on the television show “Extra” this Thursday. He’ll take part in a segment with former WrestleMania competitor Maria Menounos at The Grove in Los Angeles.
– Zack Ryder tweeted the following about his match on RAW against Damien Sandow:
I was on #RAW…I lost…but I had an entrance…I’ll take it……
– WWE’s “Very Best of WCW Monday Nitro: Volume 2” will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on February 12, 2013.
– WWE superstar The Rock recently spoke to Australia’s Courier Mail about his days as a rugby player in New Zealand:
“I use to live in New Zealand for sometime and I went to school in New Zealand and I played rugby. I have been very lucky, I played American football for a very long time, American professional wrestling for a very long time and had my fair share of action in Hollywood … there is no tougher sport than rugby.
“And for those who have played it and understand the game know what I am talking about and those who don’t and I have this argument with my American buddies all the time who are great football players and I tell them ‘so as amazing as you are in football I want you to take all your pads off including your helmet and go play the game and see how long you last’. So no I don’t wish I was playing.”
– Here is Episode 93 of Zack Ryder’s Z! True Long Island Story YouTube show, which is Part 3 of his “Best Of” episodes:
– This week’s episode of Z! True Long Island Story is a “Best Of” episode.
– The official WWE website has released highlights of this week’s episode of WWE Superstars, featuring Santino Marella and Zack Ryder vs. 3MB, as well as Justin Gabriel vs. Darren Young. The full episode is available on WWEOnHulu.com.
– WWE announced the following Facebook regarding its return to Australia next year: “The RAW World Tour comes to Australia this July with 5 stops in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. Tickets will be available starting Wednesday, November 28 at 9:00am local time on Ticketek.com.”
– Alberto Del Rio is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
– Lilian Garcia, who continues to recuperate after being struck by a car Oct. 27 in Los Angeles, California, resulting in multiple contusions and lacerations on the left side of her body, stated on Twitter Friday that she will live tweet during Sunday’s Survivor Series pay-per-view event.
“Miss u all so much that I plan 2 tweet Live on Sunday night as I watch @WWE #SurvivorSeries!” she wrote. “So join me & tweet along!! #ItsADate ;)”
– Seth Rollins may have tweaked his knee at Thursday’s WWE NXT tapings at Full Sail University. He wrote, “Sick night at @fullsail. Defending my title feels pretty damn good. My knee? It’ll be fine. @NXTWrestling has some of the best fans.”
– This week’s edition of “Z! True Long Island Story” is a best of show. Here is the synopsis: “You begged for more of the best webisodes of “Z! True Long Island Story,” so here they are! Check out this edition on YouTube for all of the clips Zack personally picked for his Broskis.
– The roster page of WWE’s official NXT website, FCWWrestling.info, no longer lists Chase Donovan or Nick Rogers. This is generally an indication that WWE has released talent.
Donovan is 27-year-old New England based wrestler the company signed earlier this year after moving to Florida to become a bodybuilder. He previously competed on the independent circuit from 2004 to 2009 as Bryce Andrews. He largely put over talent during his few appearances for NXT.
Rogers is a Canadian wrestler the company signed last year. Albeit undersized by WWE standards, he billed himself as a physical specimen. He had not been used in a high-profile manner as of late.
Chad Baxter and Louis Fontaine were also released from their developmental contracts with WWE this week.
– This morning’s episode of WWE Saturday Morning Slam will feature WWE Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston vs. Zack Ryder. Kofi remarked of the encounter on Twitter: “Tomorrow on #SaturdayMorningSlam: a friendly sparring session between me and Long Island Iced-Z @ZackRyder. Tune in! 10am on the CW #Vortexx.”
– WWE developmental wrestlers Anya, Audrey Rae, Charlotte, Paige, Sasha Banks and Summer Rae paid a visit to Dunbar Elementary School in Florida on Friday. The future Divas shared their success stories and answered questions.
– WWE has released the following updated synopsis for the upcoming “Best of RAW and SmackDown 2012” DVD and Blu-ray sets, in stores on January 29th:
“For the WWE Universe, there are 5 hours of appointment television every week, as Raw and SmackDown continue to off er the most shocking, surprising, athletic, humorous and dramatic moments on TV. Relive all the best prime time action featuring John Cena, CM Punk, Sheamus, Randy Orton, and all the top Superstars in WWE.
“This 4-DVD set or 3 Disc Blu-ray will include more than 11 hours of the best of Raw & SmackDown including: Brock Lesnar’s shocking return to WWE, The Rock’s concert as part of the buildup to his match with Cena, the reunion of D-Generation X at Raw 1000, Zack Ryder trying to survive a Falls Count Anywhere Match with Kane, Sheamus vs Randy Orton on SmackDown, Anger Management Class with Daniel Bryan and Kane… and so much more.”
– Former WWE Diva Maryse will be hosting an event for her House of Maryse jewelry line on Wednesday, November 14th at Sunset Plaza in West Hollywood, California.
– TV personality Renee Pacquette debuted on WWE TV over the weekend as the host of the syndicated, international ‘WWE Experience’ show, which airs in Canada, the UK, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Mexico.
– Zack Ryder has published Episode #91 of his Z! True Long Island Story series, which is a “Best Of – Volume 1” edition:
– In this SmackDown edition of “Backstage Fallout,” Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston explains why he won’t lose his title to The Miz this Sunday, while Kaitlyn shares her “extraordinary” gameplan to winning the Triple Threat Match at Hell in a Cell.
– Beth Phoenix, whose WWE run is reporting drawing near, tweeted Tuesday that she will be on hand for Monday’s Raw in Charlotte, North Carolina.
– John “Bradshaw” Layfield is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
– Zack Ryder will be signing copies of WWE DVDs at the FYE store in Levittown, New York on December 28 at 3:00 p.m.
– This week’s episode of “Z! True Long Island Story” features footage of Zack Ryder in front of Egyptian pyramids last week while WWE toured the country. The Raw wrestler also announces a “Zack Ryder Halloween Costume Contest.”
– Big Show is now listed as a member of the SmackDown roster on the official WWE website. He has primarily competed on the show since defeating Randy Orton last month to become the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship.
– Ted DiBiase is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
Arda Ocal (@arda_ocal.) of the Score TV in Canada and the Baltimore Sun recently had the chance to speak with WWE Superstar Dolph Ziggler about a number of topics. Highlights from the interview are as follows:
How he feels about Zack Ryder’s show ‘Z: True Long Island Story’ potentially ending: “You can’t blame that kid for making something out of nothing. He’s the reason we have a partnership with YouTube. He’s one of the main reasons we have all this new social media interaction and WWE is so big on twitter and we get so many different things trending. All because this kid tries something new outside of the box, to go out there and try and get the fans and WWE to notice him and boy did it pay off for him. And not matter what happens in the end, it was a ground breaking, outside of the box maneuver and he did it and I was more than happy to be a part of it because I thought it was something really unique and really cool.”
His thoughts on 3 hour RAW and how the extra hour benefits himself and others: “There’s a lot of up and coming Superstars who get maybe 30 seconds of a backstage scene, or maybe get to talk for a quick second, or you see him for a minute or two on T.V., every Superstar is fighting every week to be a part of ‘I just want to be on T.V. for a few minutes. I just want to let everyone see how good I am at this’. I’m one of the ones who’s constantly fighting every week for 30 seconds of air time, or maybe 5 seconds of a promo. And with this extra hour, it’s a chance to create new Superstars.”
Where a rivalry with John Cena ranks for him in his career: “He’s been someone that I’ve looked up to, but also hated for the last five years, because he is the face, he is the franchise of the WWE. And there’s been guys that have become World Champion and WWE Champion who are still second fiddle to what John Cena and whatever he has going on in his life. So this guy is the guy to be in the ring with. This is the guy to go toe to toe on the mic with. This is the guy to be in the matches with that you will be in the main event. And instead of everyone going ‘Hey you had a great match. You should have been in the main event’ people will be telling me ‘Hey, it was a great match. There’s a reason why you’re in the main event out there with John Cena, because you do what you do better than everyone else.'”
Other topics discussed include:
His reputation of making others look good in the ring and being pigeon holed as “that guy”
What does he need to do to be more selfish in his matches and career
His ‘preemptive’ comments as the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Is he looking forward to the next chapter: The Main Event?
WWE’s Partnership with HULU
Is he the type of guy to boast about his hits on online programming?
How often he watches his own matches?
– WWE Vintage Collection on October 20th, 2012 featured these matches:
* The Goon vs. Doug Allen (WWF Superstars – August 10th, 1996)
* Ken Shamrock, Steve Blackman & Ron Simmons vs. The Nation Of Domination (WWF Unforgiven 1998)
* Kevin Greene vs. Steve McMichael (WCW Great American Bash 1997)
* Ric Flair & DX vs. The Spirit Squad (WWE Raw – November 27th, 2006)
– Zack Ryder tweeted the following over the weekend, teasing that his Z! True Long Island Story series could be coming to an end next year:
SAVE THE DATE…1/11/13…Episode 100 of Z! True Long Island Story! #finale?
– Linda McMahon has spent approximately $28 million on her current United States Senate campaign. Combined with her previous (unsuccessful) campaign, she has spent a staggering $78 million of McMahon money to get elected.
The Great Khali returned to action Tuesday night in Memphis, Tennessee, in a match taped for WWE Saturday Morning Slam. He faced Primo.
The former World Heavyweight Champion had been sidelined since undergoing surgery on July 26 to remove a tumor from his pituitary gland on July 26.
Also taped for the program was a match pitting Jey and Jimmy Uso against The Prime Time Players.
Two matches were taped for tomorrow night’s episode of WWE Main Event on ION Television. Zack Ryder took on Dolph Ziggler, and as previously announced, The Miz defended the Intercontinental Championship against Kofi Kingston.
In a dark match result, Johnny Curtis squashed Drew Haskins, a local wrestler.
