HAPPY NEW YEARS TO EVERYONE!!! ENJOY YOUR DAY.... AND THE NEW YEAR :-)
Saturday, December 31, 2011
News from the AAA-TNA Partnership, Impact Wrestling Rating and More
- TNA will be working with the "Rock CAN Roll" hunger relief organization at their January 6th, 2012 live event in Westbury, New York at the NYCB Theatre. Fans can bring non-perishable food items to the event and donate them. The biggest donor will win one of Don West's Super Sized Brown Bag Special full of TNA merchandise.
- The final TNA Impact Wrestling episode of 2011 scored a 1.15 cable rating, up from the episode before Christmas. This week's show averaged 1.51 million viewers.
- The TNA talents who have been working with Mexico's AAA promotion have all received high marks for their attitudes. AAA is especially high on Magnus because he always comes in with a good attitude and the women in Mexico like him. AAA officials were also high on Rob Terry because he has a look that nobody else in Mexico has.
AAA is looking to bring Jeff Jarrett back in March for the Rey de Reyes event to defend the AAA Title against Mesias. They wanted to bring Karen Jarrett back with Jeff but were told she can't because of foot surgery. AAA wanted Karen back with Jeff because they are strong together and Karen gets good heat in Mexico.
J.R. Comments On Lesnar Returning To WWE, Punk Named Wrestler Of The Year
-- CM Punk has been named Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Wrestler of the Year for 2011.
The honor goes along with Punk being named WWE Superstar of the Year on the December 12, 2011 edition of Raw.
-- Jim Ross commented on Brock Lesnar announcing his retirement from mixed martial arts after losing in the opening round to Alistair Overeem in Las Vegas, Nevada at UFC 141.
"Brock Lesnar to WWE rumors rampant. Always said IF Brock returns it would be for a one off appearance. Now's NOT the time," Ross tweeted.
He continued, "I find it HIGHLY IMPROBABLE that there is an even remote chance of a Brock Lesnar vs Undertaker match at WM28. IE..ain't gonna happen. Calling Oliver Stone..please report to rumor central/fantasy booking department to write Lesnar to WWE storyline. No rush. 2013 will do."
Ex-Diva Upset With WWE's Treatment Of Natalya, Most WWE TV Matches In 2011
-- Randy Orton competed in the most televised WWE matches in 2011 with 74, according to the Pro Wrestling Torch. He is trailed by Kofi Kingston (72), Sheamus (69), Dolph Ziggler (66), Alberto Del Rio (65), Daniel Bryan (63), Jack Swagger (63), Tyson Kidd (60), Wade Barrett (60), The Miz (54), Cody Rhodes (54), John Cena (53), CM Punk (53).
-- Friday's episode of SmackDown saw Alicia Fox drop Natalya with a Scissors Kick for the decisive win in a tag team match. Then with Natalya still reeling, Tamina blasted her own partner with a kick to the face, followed up by a Superfly Splash from the top rope. Former Diva Cherry, a close friend of Natalya's, was alarmed by WWE's shabby treatment of the third-generation grappler.
She tweeted, "WWE have lost their minds! I have no idea what the hell they're doing to Natalya! You're wasting the talent of one of the best wrestlers you've got!"
Regarding the loss, Natalya wrote, "It's not how hard you get hit, but how Many times you get hit, get up and keep on fighting. That's hart...I mean heart."
Dustin Rhodes Appears on SmackDown, Dusty Comments on Cody vs. Goldust Match
- Dusty Rhodes has got in on the Twitter talk about a match between his sons Goldust and Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 28. He wrote last night after SmackDown:
"Ok all want to no about WM Cody Vs Golden one. The IC champ will make that call not me , so I don't no"
Dustin Rhodes appeared on last night's SmackDown, without the Goldust gear, and stood up for his former partner Booker T. After Cody accepted Booker's challenge for next week's SmackDown, the segment ended with Cody laying out his brother Dustin.
Goldust has been campaigning for a Career vs. Title match with his brother at WrestleMania 28 for a while now. The last word from within WWE regarding the match was that officials were open to having it but weren't too keen on holding it at WrestleMania 28
Friday, December 30, 2011
Updated Card for TNA's Genesis Pay-Per-View in January
- Below is the updated line-up for TNA's Genesis pay-per-view:
TNA World Title Match
Jeff Hardy vs. Bobby Roode
TNA Tag Team Title Match
Samoa Joe & Magnus vs. Matt Morgan & Crimson
TNA X Division Title Match
Kid Kash vs. Jesse Sorensen vs. Zema Ion vs. Austin Aries
TNA Knockouts Title Match
Mickie James vs. Gail Kim
Monster's Ball
Bully Ray vs. Abyss
Kurt Angle vs. James Storm
The Pope vs. Brother Devon
Stephanie Levesque Asked About WWE Return; Talks HHH, Losing Baby Fat & More
- RXMuscle.com recently spoke with WWE's Stephanie McMahon Levesque about losing weight and getting back into shape after giving birth to her kids.
In the interview, Stephanie noted that she legally had her middle name changed to McMahon and there is no hyphen in her last name. Stephanie also said that she doesn't see her and Triple H having anymore kids.
Here are some highlights:
Biggest obstacle you've overcome? Explain.
From a body standpoint? Losing the baby fat-weight after having each of my children. I think normal weight gain is 35 lbs, I saw fit to double that. I'm the type of person that always has to eat right to be lean, so when I was pregnant the gloves were off and I ate like a champ! We're talking a minimum of 4 pop tarts every morning with eggs and a glass of milk as a staple...
Favorite Quote:
This isn't necessarily my favorite quote, it's just the one that is coming to mind, "Learn to eat shit and like the taste" a life lesson by my dad, Vince McMahon.
You're the daughter of WWE Head Honcho Vince McMahon. What was it like growing up in a wrestling family? Was your dad always big into working out?
It's hard to say what life was like growing up as "Vince McMahon's daughter". I would watch my dad on Saturday mornings do interviews and I'd watch him commentate with Jesse Ventura on Saturday Night's Main Events. It was just what my dad did; I didn't look at it as anything unusual. It wasn't until I was a little older and the other kids tried to make fun of me that I realized my situation was a little different (I actually kicked a kid in the shins for saying wrestling was fake!). My Dad was always big into working out; he's the one who got me turned on to the gym. He was so intense and trained so hard, it looked like fun!
How did you meet your husband, WWE Superstar Triple H? Was it love at first site?
We were married on TV as a fictional couple and life just imitated art...It wasn't love at first site, but I bet you could call it chemistry at first site. I have never been more attracted to anyone in my entire life! He would just look at me and I would blush; still happens to this day actually...
Now that you're in spectacular shape again, will we see you mixing it up in the WWE ring in the near future?
Anything can happen in the WWE!
New Video from Kharma, CM Punk Wins Award, More
- Below is a new Holidays video from pregnant WWE Diva Kharma, teasing a WrestleMania return:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzd4GUnopoA&feature=player_embedded
- WWE will return to Buffalo, New York on Sunday, March 11th, 2012 for a RAW live event. Tickets go on sale next Saturday.
- RedeyeChicago.com has named CM Punk as the Chicago Sports Stud of the Year after fans gave the WWE Champion over 90% of the vote.
Jim Cornette Says WWE Is In Trouble When Vince McMahon Passes Away
Paul "Triple H" Levesque's promotion in September 2010 to WWE's Executive Senior Advisor made official what was already informally apparent: Vince McMahon's son-in-law will one day run the sports entertainment empire. Speaking to Power Slam, Jim Cornette comments on whether Levesque is qualified to succeed McMahon as head honcho of WWE.
"Nobody's qualified to replace McMahon," says Cornette. "Vince is one of a kind, a guy who will never come along again.
"Triple H is a student of the business, but he's still got his own little quirks. He's Vince's son-in-law, and he's being groomed for the spot because he thinks in large part like Vince McMahon in terms of what a star is supposed to look like: a jacked-up bodybuilder. So, some things are not going to change. He's probably going to bring a more youthful approach to it, although [Triple H is] in his early 40s. So, he's not exactly youthful—but Vince is 66.
"So, no: nobody's qualified to replace Vince. [Triple H] might do an okay job. But, personally, I think when General Patton [Vince] passes on, I think they're in trouble. [WWE is] always going to exist because they have a lot of money in the bank and they've grown into such a global company, but I don't think there's going to be any giant ground broken or revolutionary things done after Vince is gone."
Randy Orton's Injury Reportedly Legitimate, WWE's Year In Comebacks
"He's going to need some time off for rehab, anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy," said Dr. Sampson.
F4WOnline.com reports that his injury is legitimate. Orton had been complaining of the injury for two weeks which is why his physical workload was reduced prior to the injury angle shot at Tuesday's SmackDown taping in Indianapolis, Indiana. WWE.com says the injury could keep him sidelined for a few weeks.
-- WWE.com has posted an article reflecting on the numerous comebacks to take place in 2011. Booker T, Kevin Nash, Triple H, Trish Stratus, the "Classic" Intercontinental Championship, Mick Foley, masked Kane and The Rock are highlighted.
Alex Rodriguez Reportedly Dating Former WWE Diva, Randy Savage Remembered
Radar Online reports Thursday that 14-time Major League Baseball All-Star Alex Rodriguez is dating former WWE Diva Torrie Wilson.
The 36-year-old former pro wrestler spent the holidays with her family in Boise, Idaho, where Rodriguez was coincidentally spotted as well.
Rodriguez and Wilson were photographed earlier this month taking a bike ride together in Miami, Florida. Wilson was also spotted in photographs taken earlier this year while Rodriguez was vacationing in Mexico with friends George Clooney and Stacy Keibler.
-- Randy Savage is mentioned in the Chicago Sun-Times list of notable sports deaths in 2011. The legendary wrestler died of a sudden heart attack while driving with his wife, Barbara Lynn Payne, in Seminole, Florida on the morning of May 20, 2011.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
WWE Releases Injury Update On Randy Orton, How Long He May Be Sidelined
WWE.com has released details concerning Randy Orton's condition following an injury he suffered at Tuesday's SmackDown taping, including how long The Viper could be sidelined.
Although the full extent of his injury remains to be seen, WWE physician Dr. Michael Sampson examined Orton and updated WWE.com about his condition.
"Randy suffered a herniated disc on the L4-L5 level on the left side, and that’s resulting in pain and weakness down his leg." Sampson explained. "He's going to need some time off for rehab, anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy."
WWE.com adds that the injury could keep him sidelined for a few weeks.
Sheamus will replace Orton in Street Fights against Wade Barrett at WWE live events this week.
Update on WWE's Live Event Set, Dusty Comments on Guerrero, Layla, Punk
- The new WWE live event stage setup is being used at RAW and SmackDown shows.
- WWE Diva Layla will be appearing at the FCW show on January 17th in Brooksville, Florida at the Brooksville Armory. She will also be at the FCW show in Largo, Florida on January 21st at Minnreg Hall.
- Pittsburgh Penguins hockey player Matt Cooke was in attendance for the RAW live event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania last night. He gave WWE Champion CM Punk a tour of the Consol Energy Center and presented him with a hockey stick signed by some of the players.
- On his Twitter, Dusty Rhodes called Shaul Marie Guerrero the breakout FCW star of the year. Guerrero, working as Racquel Diaz, is the current Queen of FCW title holder and the FCW Divas Champion.
Video: Former World Champion Brock Lesnar Says WWE Is Fake and More
- Brock Lesnar had some interesting comments on WWE and pro wrestling at this week's UFC 141 pre-fight press event. "If you lived in a cave for the last 50 years, you will probably think is real but it not," Lesnar said about WWE.
Lesnar also made the comment this week that there wasn't much else to do while on the road with WWE than go to the next town, "scrap and steal other guys' girlfriends."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KwPt6ueV5E&feature=player_embedded
Mark Henry Discusses Injuries, Still Being Relevant in Wrestling & More
- WWE Superstar Mark Henry, who is now suffering from a groin injury, spoke with NorthJersey.com recently. Here are some highlights:
Q. Does there come a point during your career where you're like, "Am I ever gonna get to this? Am I ever gonna get that chance?"
I've had my opportunities. Injuries are something that always seem to get in the way. I've gone almost a three- or four-year stretch, thank God, without an injury.
Q. You competed in the Olympics as a weightlifter. Next year is going to be the 20th anniversary of that '92 Olympics. Does it seem like it went by in a blink? Or does it seem like it has been a long time?
It seems like it's been a long time to me and I would rather it feel that way. I've done a lot in my life. I've enjoyed the journey. I've had a chance to reflect and look back. But more than anything, the fact that I'm able to still be relevant and the world of sports and entertainment still know who Mark Henry is, it means a lot to me.
Q. When you carry around a title, do you feel like you have to be more of an ambassador?
I've been that. I've never been a drug abuser. I've never been somebody that was abusive outside of professional entertainment. I've always done things necessary to grant and warrant carrying the gold.
Gail Kim On Quitting WWE - "I Wasn't Going To Be Unhappy Anymore"
Speaking to Power Slam, Gail Kim explains why she deliberately eliminated herself from the Divas Battle Royal on the August 1, 2011 episode of Monday Night Raw.
"I have no regrets. They didn't care. It didn't affect the outcome of the match. If it was going to affect the outcome of the match, I wouldn't have done it. It got to the point where ... it's just what I did, you know. Like I said, I don't have any regrets."
Kim quit WWE that night; she says it felt good.
"You know why? It was about my life and my happiness at that point, and having control of my life again. It felt good to know that I made that decision for myself. I wasn't going to be unhappy anymore. And, most of all, I just wanted to wrestle again.
"The day that I told Johnny [John Laurinaitis) that I quit was a relief. He asked me why, and I said to him, "Really? Are you really asking me why?" And he knew: he knew my frustration. I know a lot of wrestlers are very happy in WWE. But, in my case, I had to move on."
Kim was also asked whether her success in TNA Wrestling worked against her during her second run with WWE.
"Hmmm. I'm not sure. You always hear things about how that company thinks. I really don't know. You know, that's the whole reason they hired me back, because of the success I had in TNA. Kharma/Kong, she may not have even got hired, if it wasn't for those matches we had in TNA. That's what made our names in women's wrestling at that time."
She continues, "It's funny that they knew we could do something like what we did in TNA and they didn't do it. I don't know what to say. But I can't care about that now. I'm just trying to do the best with what I'm given now, and that's on Impact Wrestling."
TNA Knockout Mocks Asian Woman, Samoa Joe Competes On TNA Xplosion
-- Samoa Joe faces Kazarian in a Maximum Impact tournament match on this week's episode of TNA Xplosion (video available here). The winner of the eight-man tournament will receive a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship during TNA's tour of the U.K. in January.
-- Bobby Roode and Mickie James appear at the Poughkeepsie Galleria (located at 2001 South Road Poughkeepsie, New York 12601) this Friday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
-- Rosita posted several messages on her Twitter account Wednesday mocking an Asian woman she rudely encountered the night before at a Fuddruckers restaurant in Connecticut following her twenty-first birthday party. The TNA Knockout claims the woman tried to cut in line. She then posted a picture of her, calling her "Kung Foo Panda."
She tweeted, "THIS IS KUNG FOO PANDA.. PERFECT PICTURE TO DESCRIBE HER IGNORANCE. http://yfrog.com/kicpkdzj."
She then wrote to Velvet Sky, "You sooo shoulda been there! King foo panda was allllllll ready! Offered to order the bitch bamboo sticks but she wasn't having it.."
Jesse Neal Comments On TNA Departure, Whether He Was Receiving Food Stamps
Jesse Neal appeared on the Running The Ropes podcast (interview available here). Highlights are as follows:
* Neal says that Christina Von Eerie (a/k/a Toxxin), his girlfriend, was never under contract to TNA Wrestling. Her status with TNA remains unknown following Neal's departure from the organization.
* Neal says the widespread rumor that he received food stamps earlier this year isn't true. He does, however, admit that he was almost evicted from his small one bedroom apartment three times this year because he couldn't afford to pay rent.
* Neal says he rejected TNA's request to move to Louisville, Kentucky and train at Ohio Valley Wrestling because the money they were offering "wasn't anything close to live on." Management told him to get a sidejob if he needed money, but felt that with three shows per week and training six days out of seven he wouldn't have the time.
* Neal says he spoke to company president Dixie Carter over the phone regarding his situation and was promised it would resolved. He adds she was gracious to him on his final day with the company and was sure she'd see him in TNA again one day.
* Neal praised creative writer Vince Russo, who encouraged him with his promos.
More from TNA's India Tapings, Final Resolution PPV Buys, Live Event Matches
- TNA has announced Jeff Hardy vs. Bobby Roode, James Storm vs. Kurt Angle, Bully Ray vs. AJ Styles, Austin Aries vs. Kid Kash vs. Jesse Sorensen, Gail Kim vs. Mickie James, Partners Matt Morgan vs. Crimson and Garet Bischoff vs. Gunner for this weekend's live events in Albany and Poughkeepsie, New York. Ric Flair will be in Gunner's corner.
- TNA taped their Ring Ka King tapings at the Belwadi Sports Complex in Pune, India - a 1,500 seat building that was packed with people turned away. However, a lot of the fans in the crowd were hired by the promoters to be spectators.
- Estimates for TNA's Final Resolution pay-per-view were 8,000 buys.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Close Friend Of John Cena's Reveals His Feelings On Being Booed Every Week
With a helping hand from John Cena, 40-year-old heavyweight boxer Monte Barrett participated in a week long training camp with WWE's developmental league Florida Championship Wrestling in late October/early November. As a close friend of Cena's, Barrett has personal insight on the WWE Superstar. He commented on the hostile reaction Cena receives from grappling fans on a weekly basis to Power Slam.
"We talked about that on [November 14, 2011] and I asked him. A lot of the fans say, "John's not great, and he's only got a certain amount of moves," Barrett says.
"The Rock [left WWE] and John took over. He just told me, "I don't take it personally, so you don't either. It's a job." Me, I was bothered because the people booed him to death [on Raw]. Rock got a standing ovation. Who knows? John might take a back seat for a while.
"People got tired of Michael Jordan always winning, the Green Bay Packers too. They want different champions, like Lennox Lewis in boxing. It's our nature to want a changing of the guard. Maybe [Cena] needs to take a back seat, then rise up again in a year or two."
Update on Randy Orton - Possible Pre-Existing Injury and Line-Up Changes
- It's possible that Randy Orton's back injury didn't actually happen at last night's SmackDown tapings in the Falls Count Anywhere Match against Wade Barrett. The match ended when Barrett threw Orton down a flight of stairs.
The scripted spot with Orton going down the stairs makes it appear that Orton had a pre-existing injury. Also, since the December 19th RAW, Orton has been put in positions where he hasn't had to do a lot of physical work on TV.
As noted before, Sheamus will be taking Orton's place in SmackDown live events this week against Barrett. There's talk that one of the RAW brand live event matches will be moved over to the SmackDown tour to help beef up the line-ups.
William Regal Comments on His WWE Status, Rumor Killer on Hardy-WWE
- William Regal wrote the following on Twitter today regarding reports of his retirement:
"Can I please make this clear.I have never said I'm retiring.Not at the O2 last year nor this week.Not wrestle as much,yes,but not retire."
"Nor have I been removed from NXT or the WWE.Not been in trouble either(shock I know)."
- Super Luchas Magazine out of Mexico, which has been a credible source in the past, has started the rumor online that current TNA star and #1 contender to their World Heavyweight Title Jeff Hardy is the man behind WWE's cryptic January 2nd, 2012 videos and that Hardy will make his return to WWE soon.
A source close to Hardy and TNA reports that the rumor is just as it sounds - completely false.
E:60 Feature on Scott Hall Nominated, WWE Magazine for iPad, AM RAW
- WWE Magazine is now available on the iPad.
- The December 24th episode of WWE's AM RAW scored a 0.89 rating with 1,126,000 viewers.
- ESPN's E:60 documentary on Scott Hall from earlier this year is nominated for Sports Illustrated's "Best News Feature on a Sports Program" award in their 2011 Media Awards. SI.com wrote:
"The superhero physique he had during his days in the WWE is long gone. Scott Hall is now 53 and says he takes 11 heart and seizure medications daily. He has a pacemaker and says he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. He looks shockingly frail. In October, E:60 aired a 16-minute piece on one of the more interesting figures in pro wrestling history, given his fame and self-destructive nature. For those of us of a certain age, it was a devastating portrait, a man wrecked by drug addiction and alcoholism. There's no narrator and no reporter fronting the piece, which adds to the sullen mood. Lead producer Ben Houser and associate producer John Minton III are to be commended for their work. Same with the terrific job of video editing by Bluefoot Entertainment's Matt McCormick."
Barrett Comments On Orton's Injury, Sneak Peek Of WWE's New Set
-- As Vickie Guerrero alluded to on Twitter this morning, WWE is set to debut a new stage at tonight's live event. WWE champion CM Punk has posted a preview picture of the set. Punk just tweeted:
"A horrible sneak peek picture of the new house show...er...LIVE EVENT set. Looks much better in person. http://pic.twitter.com/XZ87l1Rv"
-- Wade Barrett has commented on the injury suffered by Randy Orton at Tuesday night's SmackDown tapings, which took place during their street fight (airing this Friday night). Barrett tweeted:
"Look, what happened at the taping was tragic. However, there are inherent risks in our profession. Play with fire, you get burned."
Randy Orton Injury Update - Possibly Missing WrestleMania 28
Word backstage was that Orton suffered some sort of back injury and it has to do with at least one of the discs in his back. Orton could miss up to 6 months of in-ring time, causing him to miss WrestleMania 28. An official update from WWE should be available soon.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Randy Orton Injured At SmackDown Taping, Matches Taped For Superstars & NXT
-- The official Twitter feed of the WWE Insider reported the following Tuesday evening:
"BREAKING: @RandyOrton injured at #Smackdown in Indianapolis tonight. More details to follow on WWE.com as they become available."
-- Matches taped Tuesday night in Indianapolis, Indiana for this week's episode of WWE Superstars were: Darren Young vs. Trent Barreta; Tyson Kidd vs. Yoshi Tatsu.
Matches taped for this week's episode of WWE NXT were: Heath Slater vs. Justin Gabriel; Percy Watson vs. Tyson Kidd; Derrick Bateman vs. Johnny Curtis.
Zack Ryder Reportedly Demoted Due To Low Rating, Tony Chimel Resurfaces
-- Dave Meltzer stated on the Dec. 27 edition of Wrestling Observer Radio (available here) that Zack Ryder being placed in a romance storyline with Eve Torres and away from the main event scene stems from the staggeringly low quarter hour rating for last week's Raw SuperShow main event, which saw Long Island Iced-Z, CM Punk and Daniel Bryan stand tall against The Miz, Alberto Del Rio and Dolph Ziggler.
The main event garnered a 2.67 cable rating (2.55 for the first half of the bout), which was the lowest-rated main event on Raw in 2011 and possibly the lowest since Dec. 8, 1997 for a non-holiday show in its regular time slot. The overrun gained 59,000 viewers, which is considered terrible.
The Ryder/Torres storyline is slated to continue for at least a few weeks.
-- Tony Chimel resurfaced at Tuesday's WWE television tapings in Indianapolis, Indiana as the ring announcer for WWE NXT and WWE Superstars. He takes over for Eden Stiles, who parted ways with the organization last week. Chimel was removed as SmackDown ring announcer earlier this month due to Lilian Garcia's return to the company.
New Ring Ka King Promo Videos, Impact Wrestling Rating
-- Last Thursday's 12/22 edition of TNA Impact Wrestling drew a 1.0 rating.
-- New promo videos have been released hyping TNA's new Ring Ka King promotion, based out of India:
D'Angelo Dinero In The New Batman Movie, Hogan’s Game Wins Another "Award"
-- After being named the Worst Game of the Year by the official XBOX Magazine, Hulk Hogan's Main Event has won another "worst of the year" award.
ScrewAttack.com has awarded Hogan's XBOX 360 Kinect game a SAGY award (Sh--ty Ass Game of the Year).
-- TNA star D'Angelo Dinero has a small role in the upcoming blockbuster Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises. The Pope will be playing a henchman of the film's main villain, Bane.
Survivor Series PPV Buy Estimates Lowered, Jim Ross Says No Benoit In HOF
-- Dave Meltzer stated on the December 24 edition of Wrestling Observer Radio that the Survivor Series pay-per-view buy figure is lower than the initial estimate of 280,000. It was reported that of that figure, 180,000 pay-per-view purchases came from the United States. The updated estimate drops the buy figure to 260,000 as only 160,000 pay-per-view purchases came from the United States for The Rock's first wrestling match in over seven years.
The estimate compares to 244,000 buys for Survivor Series in 2010 and 235,000 in 2009, which nearly got the show scrapped from the annual pay-per-view line-up.
-- Jim Ross commented on Chris Benoit's candidacy for entrance into the WWE Hall of Fame.
"Chris Benoit will never be inducted into WWE HOF," he tweeted Tuesday in response to whether it's time for Benoit to be enshrined. "Great wrestler but horrific ending to his life overrides career."
Announced RAW Attendance, Air Boom Note, Beth Phoenix Teaser, Dreamer TV
- Below is episode 10 of The Tommy Dreamer TV:
- WWE Divas Champion Beth Phoenix wrote the following on Twitter last night, teasing why she wasn't there:
"Great. to see @NatbyNature and @KiddWWE lookin' vicious on Raw...where was I? Wouldnt u all like to know ;) #secret"
- WWE Tag Team Champions Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston now have a joint Twitter account at @TrueAirBoom.
- 14,804 was the announced attendance for last night's sold out RAW Supershow in Chicago.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Alberto Del Rio Injury Update, TNA Knockout at RAW, The Miz vs. CM Punk
- TNA Knockout Tara is backstage at tonight's RAW in Chicago. She wrote on Twitter:
"WWE Raw is in Chicago tonight. Can’t wait to see some of the gang! Super excited to see @EveMarieTorres . I miss her so much. SLUMBER PARTY!!!!"
- The Miz vs. WWE Champion CM Punk in a steel cage match is the new main event for tomorrow's RAW live event in New York City.
- WWE's website has a new article up on Alberto Del Rio's injury from last week's RAW. Del Rio has a groin tear and will need surgery. WWE doctor Chris Amann told the website:
"We were able to look at an MRI, and it appears as though he has a groin injury that’s severe enough to require surgery. Fortunately for Alberto, the surgery is minimally invasive and the recovery time is usually four to six weeks."
Skip Sheffield Works Dark Match Before Raw, Former Diva Appearing On Talk Show
-- Former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler is advertised to appear on the Rachael Ray Show this Friday. A listing for the talk show says she will be sharing her New Year's Eve plans with actor George Clooney and her tips for staying slim.
-- Beth Phoenix is advertised to appear at Motor Trend International Auto Show Baltimore Convention Center One West Pratt St. Baltimore, Maryland on February 11, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Paid Admission required. Event information is available here.
-- Cable television ratings will be delayed this week due to the holiday weekend. The rating for last week's SmackDown should be available Tuesday.
-- Skip Sheffield defeated Michael McGillicutty in a dark match at tonight's Raw SuperShow in Chicago, Illinois
The Ultimate Warrior Appearing At Wrestling Show, The Bella Twins Selling Ring Gear
-- The Bella Twins have begun selling ring worn wrestling gear through their official website, NicoleandBrianna.com. Many of the items put up for sale last week have already sold out.
-- The Miz appears at KMART 250 Floresta Blvd. San Leandro, California on January 15, 2012 starting at 10:00 a.m. Call 510-895-9055 for more information. Wristband Policy is in effect.
-- Ultimate Warrior is advertised to appear for PCW Wrestling. The event takes place Saturday, March 24, 2012 at the Oak Lawn Pavillion 9401 S. Oak Park Ave, Oak Lawn, Illinois.
The former WWE Champion will participate in an autograph signing at the event. Event information is available here.
WWE Names The Top 25 Matches Of 2011, Lilian Garcia Not Working House Shows
-- From CM Punk's WWE Championship victory in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois to The Undertaker's classic showdown with Triple H at WrestleMania, WWE.com looks back at the top 25 grappling contests of 2011.
25. Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes from WrestleMania XXVII
24. Yoshi Tatsu vs. Tyson Kidd from WWE NXT
23. Edge vs. Kane from Smackdown
22. CM Punk vs. The Miz vs. Alberto Del Rio from WWE TLC
21. Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes from SmackDown
20. WWE Champion The Miz vs. John Morrison from Raw
19. Smackdown Elimination Chamber Match
18. Randy Orton vs. CM Punk from Extreme Rules
17. Alberto Del Rio vs. Rey Mysterio from Raw
16. Dolph Ziggler vs. Randy Orton from Raw
15. Mark Henry vs. Daniel Bryan from SmackDown
14. Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett from WWE TLC
13. Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk from Capitol Punishment
12. John Cena vs. The Miz vs. John Morrison from Extreme Rules
11. Mark Henry vs. Big Show from Vengeance
10. SmackDown Money in the Bank Ladder Match from Money in the Bank
09. Edge vs. Dolph Ziggler from Royal Rumble
08. John Cena and The Rock vs. Awesome Truth from Survivor Series
07. The 40-Man Royal Rumble Match
06. Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio from Extreme Rules
05. Rey Mysterio vs. John Cena from Raw
04. Raw Elimination Chamber Match
03. Randy Orton vs. Christian from Over the Limit
02. John Cena vs. CM Punk from Money in the Bank
01. The Undertaker vs. Triple H from WrestleMania XXVII
-- SmackDown ring announcer Lilian Garcia has released her upcoming WWE schedule on her official website and she only has televised events listed, no house shows. She generally did not work the house show circuit during her prior stint with the organization.
Commercial For TNA's India Promotion, Independent Wrestlers Receiving Tryout
-- Independent wrestlers Vik Dalishus will face Hale Collins at this Friday's Impact Wrestling World Tour event at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York, which starts at 7:30 p.m. The match will serve as a tryout for TNA Wrestling.
Dalishus, whose real name is Rob Begley, has had televised and non-televised matches for WWE in the past, and he and his former tag team partner were in constant contact with TNA for years, trying to get a look from the company.
Begley tells PoughkeepsieJournal.com, "If I've ever been on my game to go out and kick (butt), this is going to be it. I don’t think the things I did with WWE were my best shot. I am going to give it my best shot and if I have to walk away, I will walk away with no regrets.”
-- Colors has released the first promotional advertisement for Ring Ka King, TNA Wrestling's satellite promotion from India. The program debuts on the network the weekend of January 14, 2012. TNA Wrestling produced the first 13 episodes of the series last week.
Bobby Roode Talks Being TNA Champion, Genesis Before The Bell Video
- TNA has released the latest "Before The Bell" video preview for the upcoming Genesis pay-per-view o January 8th. The show features a double main event of Bobby Roode vs. Jeff Hardy and Kurt Angle vs. James Storm.
- TNA Champion Bobby Roode spoke with Phil Strum of the Poughkeepsie Journal this week about his role as the new TNA World Champion. Roode said he thrives on pressure and plans to be a long-term champion:
"It's just an opportunity to prove to everybody that I'm worthy of being the world champion. Getting into this business, everybody dreams about being a world champion. There's a lot of pressure that comes along with it, but I thrive under pressure. I'm good at pressure. I've had the belt for a couple of months and I plan on keeping it."
Roode also commented on his long path to the TNA Title and the the culmination of years of hard work:
"I think, obviously, you learn along the way. I’ve learned a lot. I came from humble beginnings in Canada getting my feet wet in the business. It’s been a long transition. I’m a real student of the game and being in this spot right now allows me to perform in main events and travel around the world representing the company."
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