– In this Raw edition of “Backstage Fallout,” Santino Marella and Zack Ryder call out 3MB, while Sheamus looks ahead to his fight against Big Show at Hell in a Cell.
– Three-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion and former WWE Superstar Vader noted on Twitter Monday that he was at WWE’s television studio in Stamford, Connecticut filming content.
“Just finished up a very long hard week. Left WWE recording studio did some good work a little rusty on the promos thxs to Kieran from WWE,” he wrote.
– Ryback is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
– WWE Champion CM Punk announced on Twitter that Long Island-based ‘hardcore’ band “This Is Hell” will be attending next week’s RAW in New Jersey.
– A fan told Randy Orton on Twitter to cut his hair and grow out his beard again. Orton replied, “Gimme about two weeks and I’m on it!” Orton is currently working on the WWE Studios film, “12 Rounds: Reloaded.”
– Zack Ryder noted on Twitter last week that he submitted a very controversial episode of his Z! True Long Island Story Youtube show to WWE, but they rejected it. He followed up with this explanation:
I made 2 different Episode 88s of Z! True Long Island Story. They will be never be seen. The third Episode 88 will air next Friday. #best1?
– When WWE’s creative department decided to split-up Kofi Kingston and R-Truth so the two can compete as singles wrestlers, an idea was brought for R-Truth to turn heel. The idea was squashed since Vince McMahon is high on R-Truth’s animated persona as well as the Little Jimmy gimmick.
– Former WWE performer Tamara Sytch, famously known as Sunny, remains jailed in Connecticut after being arrested for the fifth time in one month Tuesday and her second time in less than 24-hours, for allegedly violating a protective order stemming from an original September arrest.
The official website of the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch features a database of pending case details and it notes that she has not been released from custody. The WWE Hall of Famer is being held on $100,000 cash bond.
– Tensai is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
– Zack Ryder appears at the Long Island Auto Show taking place at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York today from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
– Zack Ryder noted on Twitter that he submitted Episode 88 of his Z! True Long Island story and if WWE doesn’t edit the episode, it’s going to blow our minds. A couple hours later, he followed up with another tweet saying WWE rejected his submission and thus, this week’s episode “will suck.”
– John Cena will be the honorary team captain for the NFL’s New York Jets this Sunday when they play the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium (home of WrestleMania 29). Cena is still rehabbing his elbow injury and won’t be appearing at this weekend’s WWE live events.
– Speaking of Cena, WWE.com has an article up explaining the black “Kinesio Tape” we saw on his elbow on RAW. Chris Arrigo of Advanced Rehabilitation told WWE:
“It basically does two or three main things. It helps reduce pain … eliminate swelling under the skin and helps support the muscles and joints for improved, pain-free movement. The tape lifts the skin to promote the flow of lymphatic fluid, which helps reduce associated swelling.”
– Hornswoggle revealed on Twitter that he has been off the road due to gallbladder surgery.
“Who needs a gall bladder anyway? As much as I miss home at times when on the road, these 4 weeks home have gotten me anxious! #brutal”
– On this week’s episode of Z! True Long Island Story, Zack Ryder “apologizes” to WWE for grabbing the brass ring when he was only supposed to reach for it. He also campaigns for a match against Dolph Ziggler at WrestleMania and a “USA Guy” vignette airs. (Watch)
– In today’s birthdays, former WWWF Champion Bruno Sammartino turns 77 years while Barry Darsow (a/k/a Demolition Smash, Repo Man) turns 53 and Afa Jr. (a/k/a Manu) turns 28.
– Shane McMahon is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.
– Wrestling legend Rick Martel has been added to the Alumni section of WWE.com.
– Diva-Dirt.com is reporting that independent wrestlers Brittney Savage, Gabby Gilbert and Luscious Latasha were among the women who participated in the most recent WWE tryout camp. There were two other women at the tryouts without any wrestling experience – a fitness model and a friend of Gerald Brisco.
– Former WWE superstar The Godfather is now on Twitter at @WWEGodfather. He currently manages the Cheetahs strip club in Las Vegas and says he’d be open to returning if WWE called.
– Zack Ryder is back with Episode #87 of his Z! True Long Island Story:
– John “Bradshaw” Layfield, who was successful in scaling the tallest mountain in Africa last week, Mount Kilimanjaro, stated on Twitter that he will not be commentating tonight’s Raw broadcast.
After joking today that was awaiting his plane in Africa to head to tonight’s show, he clarified, “Not trying to ‘work’ anyone. I’m NOT at Raw tonight. In middle of Africa. Space shuttle is retired, like me, but it couldn’t get me there.”
– Zack Ryder tweeted a photo Monday of his new T-Shirt, a purple V-Neck featuring a drawing of Ryder-style sunglasses.
– SmackDown ring announcer Lilian Garcia performed the national anthem prior to Sunday’s New York Jets game at MetLife Stadium. The Diva also gave a halftime show in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Day. The official WWE website has published photos of her appearance.
– WWE will hold a Raw and SmackDown SuperShow on Saturday, Dec. 15 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. Talent advertised to appear include John Cena, CM Punk, Randy Orton, Sheamus, Big Show and Daniel Bryan.
– Per a huge announcement by SmackDown General Manager Booker T, Kane and Daniel Bryan will defend the WWE Tag Team Championship on Oct. 28 at Hell in a Cell against the winners of an eight-team tournament.
The bracket revealed on SmackDown showed the following first-round match-ups: Team Rhodes Scholars (Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow) vs. Jimmy and Jey Uso; Santino Marella and Zack Ryder vs. Justin Gabriel and Tyson Kidd; Kofi Kingston and R-Truth vs. The Prime Time Players (Darren Young and Titus O’Neil); and Epico and Primo vs. Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara.
– This week on “Backstage Fallout” for SmackDown, The Miz addressed the chaos on “Miz TV,” which resulted in the show’s host being punched in the face by World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus. Wade Barrett also boasted about his dominance after defeating Zack Ryder. Plus, Big Show talks about becoming the No. 1 contender to World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus at Hell in a Cell. (Watch)
– On this week’s edition of Z! True Long Island Story, Zack Ryder appears in a “dream sequence” as he blames himself for his bad year thus far after being advised to “reach for the brass ring.” He teases making changes to the show as well as his character to prove he can be more than just an “Internet Champion” as well as a “gimmick.”
– Ohio Valley Wrestling announcer and manager Kenny Bolin announced Wednesday that it would be his last day working for the promotion for the foreseeable future due to personal issues in his life. Bolin released the following statement Friday thanking fans and colleagues for their support.
“I do want to thank all the fans, wrestlers and Staff at OVW last night for really making me feel like a KING ! i have never felt so special and loved in all my life. I have been inducted into the OVW hall of fame which only has 5 members but when Danny Davis, AL Snow, Frank Miller and my Long time Broadcast partner Dean Hill voted to have the world wide known “Gorilla Position” renamed the “Bolin Position” (the entrance area near the curtain) at Davis arena and all OVW shows from this day forward. I nearly broke down when Dean presented me with this honor at the End of the TV taping. the be mentioned in the same breath as Gorilla Monsoon is more than i could ever live up to. i could have never expected such a tribute to my name while i was still living. this was better than having a park named after me in La Grange Ky. “hint, hint” LOL I love you all at OVW and my friends and fans and i truly hope i get to return one day. OVW will always be a part of my life!
Kenny Bolin.”
– Beth Phoenix says her match against Natalya on this Friday’s episode of SmackDown will be the first time they ever met in a singles match.
“This Friday on SmackDown @NatbyNature and I square off for the first time one on one in our respective 10+ year careers in Buffalo. #magic,” she wrote Wednesday on Twitter after noting earlier that the event may have been the highlight of her career.
– Grow Socially has published an article on the online success story of Zack Ryder. “Long Island Iced Z” says his struggle to find a place in WWE led to him venturing online.
“I didn’t feel like a Superstar, you know?”, Ryder said, “I didn’t have an action figure, I wasn’t on TV, I didn’t have a promotional [photo]. I was just sick of pitching ideas and nothing getting done. But I did realize I had to do something about it.”
In February 2011, Ryder began using various social networking websites in order to establish a niche fan following which helped attain an elevated status within WWE.
With Ryder’s successful online endeavors, he has been credited with WWE embracing social media after long dismissing it. As late as early 2010, Vince McMahon had WWE voice Michael Cole publicly label social media outlets such as Twitter as something “nerds” use. Ryder attributes WWE’s enthusiastic audience to the company’s rousing success across social media, especially on Twitter.
“You’re able to communicate with someone you regularly watch on TV, and it’s just this crazy environment that WWE has really been able to capitalize on,” he says.
Matches taped Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center for this week’s episode of WWE Superstars were Tyson Kidd vs. David Otunga, and The Prime Time Players vs. Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso.
A taping was also held for WWE Saturday Morning Slam on The CW. Bouts taped were Sin Cara vs. Jinder Mahal, and Justin Gabriel vs. Zack Ryder.
A dark match was held before both tapings as Kofi Kingston beat WWE developmental wrestler Dean Ambrose following Trouble In Paradise.
– A Steel Cage Match between WWE Champion CM Punk and John Cena was held after Raw went off the air Monday. The bout resulted in a disqualification loss for Punk since Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio interfered, leading World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus and Randy Orton to surface and even the odds. Ziggler was left in the ring as he took the babyface wrestlers’ respective finishers.
– During a commercial Monday night on Raw promoting this week’s episode of WWE Saturday Morning Slam on The CW, it was announced that Zack Ryder will be in action. The program will also feature segments on WWE Champion CM Punk and The Miz.
– As reported Sunday, Randy Orton was caught on camera using the middle finger gesture during his match against Dolph Ziggler at Night of Champions. According to F4WOnline.com, Orton’s flippant action stemmed from a group of fans ringside chanting “Orton sucks.” Following the match, Orton reportedly threatened a fan that he would “kick his ass” after the show.
– According to an account backstage at tonight’s Raw show in Bridgeport, Connecticut, John Cena is walking around fine after rolling his ankle last night at Night of Champions. As of 4:00 p.m., he was scheduled to compete on the show.
– Before World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio squared off last night at Night of Champions, SmackDown General Manager Booker T reinstated the Brogue Kick, which aided The Celtic Warrior in retaining his title. According to F4WOnline.com, Sheamus is moving on to a new opponent on television as Big Show is scheduled to confront him tonight on Raw. This will lead to a match at Hell in a Cell on Oct. 28.
– Zack Ryder is featured on the cover of the latest issue of WWE Kids Magazine. The Raw Superstar excitedly tweeted a photo of the issue.
– John “Bradshaw” Layfield addressed his appearance on Raw tonight at the announce booth via Twitter: “Yes back on @wwe raw with my burden, @MichaelCole ! Like Usain Bolt having to run with crutches being with Cole!”
– Airing this month on WWE Classics On Demand, ‘Long Island Iced Z’ Zack Ryder picked his top three favorite matches. They are: WWF Champion ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage defending his title against the ‘Million Dollar Man’ Ted DiBiase at the Philadelphia Spectrum on August 27, 1988 (Watch), The New Age Outlaws defend the WWE Tag Team Championship against Mankind and Al Snow on the October 6, 1998 episode of Monday Night Raw (Watch), Hulk Hogan and Sid Justice battling Ric Flair and The Undertaker on Saturday Night’s Main Event on February 8, 1992 (Watch).
– The official WWE website addressed former Diva’s Stacy Keibler rumored break-up from Hollywood heavyweight George Clooney. The website states, “Hollywood is abuzz with rumors that Stacy Keibler and George Clooney have split. True or not, the former WWE Diva is still tops in the hearts of the WWE Universe. Check out the long-legged beauty’s WWE Alumni profile with classic photos and videos, only on WWE.com!”
– The official WWE website has published unseen photos of Little Jimmy. The website notes, “Just because you can’t see Little Jimmy doesn’t mean that R-Truth’s invisible buddy isn’t there. Get to know Little Jimmy better with this photo album of his day-to-day life.”
WWE announced Wednesday that for the first time, the organization will hold events in Egypt. The following press release was issued:
WWE to Make Live Event Debut in Egypt
LONDON, September 5, 2012 – WWE (NYSE:WWE) today announced that, for the first time, it will bring WWE World Tour to Egypt for three nights from Thursday, October 18 through Saturday, October 20, 2012 at the Cairo Stadium Complex. With its debut in Egypt, WWE continues to expand the reach of its business, including live events in six new countries in 2012.
This Egyptian tour comes on the heels of a successful WWE Raw® World Tour in Abu Dhabi this past February, where more than 16,000 fans packed the International Tennis Complex within the Zayed Sports City. The WWE World Tour will bring some of WWE’s biggest Superstars to fans in Egypt, including Sheamus®, Alberto Del Rio®, Zack Ryder®, Kofi Kingston® and Dolph Ziggler®*.
WWE will be working with Egyptian live events promoter, Creative Design, to bring WWE World Tour to local fans. Creative Design previously brought WWE to Doha, Qatar last year.
“WWE is one of the largest names in family entertainment, and it’s a great honor to hold such an enormous event in a wonderful country like Egypt,” said Assem Al Sheikh, Chairman of Creative Design.
“We’re thrilled to announce this three-day, live event tour in Egypt,” said Ed Wells, Managing Director and Senior Vice President of WWE International. “These shows in Cairo are further testament to the strength and popularity of the WWE brand throughout the MENA region and build on our efforts to expand our business internationally.”
Tickets are on sale starting September 8 and can be purchased from http://Ticketsmarche.com and the Tickets hotline: +2 01008425387 (+2 0100tickets)
– Zack Ryder will be appearing at the Long Island Auto Show from the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York on 10/12 from 7-9pm.
As for Ryder not being booked on RAW once again this week, he tweeted during the show, #NotAtRAW.
– John Cena vs. Big Show in a No DQ match is being advertised for the October 15th RAW from Nashville, Tennessee.
– Tonight’s WWE SmackDown tapings take place from the Frank Erwin Center in Dallas, Texas.
Confirmed for the show, Alberto Del Rio will confront General Manager Booker T and Eve Torres will wrestle Kaitlyn to determine Booker T’s new assistant. Triple H is also scheduled to appear.
The advertised dark match main event will see John Cena vs. Big Show and John Laurinaitis in a handicap match.
* Backstage News On WWE’s Plans Headed Into Sunday’s SUMMERSLAM PPV
– After JTG pleaded his case to make some noise on Raw, his wish was granted by program General Manager AJ Lee as the quirky Diva placed him in a one-on-one match against Ryback. WWE broadcaster Michael Cole acknowledged JTG’s “controversial remarks” on Twitter last week where he cryptically stated that his “locker room brothers” were being taken advantage of—F4WOnline.com reports his source of contention stemmed from lower-tier wrestlers’ financial compensation for WrestleMania XXVIII.
Following the Cryme Tyme founder’s loss to Ryback, Cole stated, “I can’t wait until JTG tweets about this.”
– Zack Ryder mentioned on Twitter that he was not at Raw in Dallas, Texas, writing, “#NotAtRaw.” Rather, he drove to Austin, Texas, the site of Tuesday’s SmackDown taping.
– Raw viewers who check in to GetGlue.com will receive a free Trish Stratus Diva Summer Series sticker.
– Christian is today’s featured Superstar on WWE.com. He is currently not scheduled to compete this Sunday at SummerSlam.
– WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin told his fans on Twitter that “knee rehab is going good” after recently undergoing surgery.
Austin also tweeted a photo of himself a stack of photos he signed for the “Austin 3:16 Collector’s Edition” of the upcoming WWE ’13 video game, in stores October 30th.
– WWE Diva Eve Torres touted a video this week announcing that she has earned the second stripe on her blue belt in jiu-jitsu. Eve also noted that she now has 500,000 followers on Twitter.
– Rarely seen WWE Superstar JTG posted a series of cryptic messages on Twitter suggesting that he is unhappy with his standing in the sports entertainment organization. The Cryme Tyme founder wrote Sunday evening, “Make decisions based on your worth, not your circumstance!” I wish some one told me this 2 years ago.”
He continued Monday night, “The camels back just BROKE ! I had enought of this.
“As a pro athlete,Im tired of me and my lockerroom brothers being taken advantage of . Fans have no idea what we go through.#itsanillusion
“Yea I said it.
“Nobody wants to speak up, everybodys afraid of losing their job or getting taken off TV.”
– Two Raw brand matches were taped Monday night at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas for this week’s episode of WWE Superstars:
* WWE United States Champion Santino Marella vs. Michael McGillicutty in a non-title match
– RAW General Manager AJ Lee tweeted the following message to SmackDown GM Booker T regarding both of them turning down Eve Torres’ attempts to get hired this week:
Congratulations to fellow new GM @BookerT5x . This week I'll show how to activate our Wonder Rings. Perhaps we'll hire Eve to be our Gleek.
– Chris Jericho and Zack Ryder teamed up at this weekend’s RAW live events in matches against Dolph Ziggler and WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz. Ryder tweeted the following about getting the chacne to team with Jericho:
@IAmJericho was on my birthday cake when I was in 9th grade…tonight he was my tag team partner. #JeriBro
– It was announced on Raw that WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon will appear on this Friday’s episode of SmackDown to announce the new SmackDown General Manager.
– Cody Rhodes defeated Zack Ryder in dark match prior to Raw at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio,
Just prior to showtime, there was a minor incident involving the show’s pyrotechnics and as a precaution, the limited number of people in the venue during the incident were evacuated. The fire marshal issued safety clearance for the show to proceed as scheduled at 8/7 p.m. CT. However, due to time constraints, no WWE Superstars matches were held.
– Via Twitter, Jim Ross weighed in on Daniel Bryan’s Street Fight against World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus on Raw: “Does Daniel Bryan ever have a bad match? $2 steak tough. He’s a product of hard work & desire. Same can be said for Sheamus. Physicality!”
– The Pioneer Press in Minnesota printed an article on the death of Jack Danielson, who wrestled as Blackjack Daniels in the AWA, The Southeast and Mid-West.
Danielson, also worked under the name Jack “The Ripper” Daniels was trained Stan Kowalski and Tiny Mills. He worked a number of territories in the 1960s and 1970s, mostly working as the protege of his trailers. He and Mills worked regularly in the Missouri-Kansas area in the 60s, feuding with the Medics for the Central States tag team championship drew quite a few huge crowds.
Danielson was 83.
– Check out this week’s episode of WWE Superstars featuring these matches:
* Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel vs. Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks
* Zack Ryder vs. Michael McGillicutty
* Layla vs. Natalya
* Sin Cara vs. Drew McIntyre