WWE.com has announced the following for tonight’s edition of WWE Raw from Lafayette, Louisiana:
* New WWE champion Batista will open the show
* John Cena vs. The Miz.
* Legacy members Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase will face off against Unified WWE Tag Team Champions Carlito & Primo Colon in a non-title match. If Legacy wins, they’ll earn a title shot.
* WWE Divas champion Maryse will defend againsts Kelly Kelly.
** PICTURE of JEFF HARDY & His Girlfriend BETH (She’s Not Hot) [>]
— If you recall, Batista took part in a few interviews during a media tour of the UK last month stating he had roughly a year left on his current contract with World Wrestling Entertainment. “The Animal” added he was contemplating retiring when his contract expires. Considering WWE.com is reporting that he will be out at least four months following biceps surgery, the time he misses away from the ring will be tacked onto his current deal.
WWE contracts are set in a way that it gives the company the right to add the amount of time a wrestler misses due to injury to the end of their contracts. For instance, should Batista miss six months of action while recovering from the surgery, company officials have the right to add six months to his contract. {source: prowrestling.NET}
— In a small update on Umaga, whose real name is Edward Fatu, he is rejecting offers from independent wrestling promoters for dates for the time being. {source: PWInsider.com}
— IGN.com has an article looking at lousy gimmicks some of the biggest stars in wrestling history used before finding success. Among those featured include Undertaker, Triple H, Kevin Nash, Steve Austin, The Rock and Al Snow. {Big Stars, Bad Gimmicks}
BREAKING: Major WWE star possibly leaving (>>)
source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
A number of wrestlers were upset over the nature of Vickie Guerrero’s sendoff from WWE last week on Monday Night Raw. Either enough people in the company were, or some sponsors were, because when they replayed the segment on this week’s show, they cut out everything that could possibly be offensive out of the segment.
Many believe there is no way Eddie Guerrero would have allowed his wife to be verbally abused in the manner she was, storyline or not. The idea that he would have gone along with almost anything that would have provided for his family really only came about after he passed away. When his close friend Art Barr passed away in 1994, he told AAA officials he would do nothing that would exploit his death.
Following her sendoff, many people went up to Guerrero to say good-bye and complement her on how well she did in the role. She’s largely leaving because she has two daughters who are teenagers at home and didn’t think, as a single mother, she should be away two or three days per week.
SummerSlam ’09 pay-per-view poster released? – *BIZARRE* (>>)
source: PWInsider.com
— Jacqueline and Rhaka Khan are back on the road with TNA as they wrestled each other at last night’s live event in Grands Rapids, Michigan. The former WWE Women’s Champion, working as a babyface, pinned Khan after a top rope tornado DDT.
Both Knockouts had been off the road since March.
— Thanks to Wrestling Elite: Slammiversary is this Sunday at The Palace of Auburn Hills and right now at wdfn.com you can hear an exclusive interview with TNA Star, multiple World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Kurt Angle!
Kurt talked about wrestling in the main event King Of The Mountain match at Slammiversary, injuries, TNA’s growth as a company, whether he’d ever wrestle for WWE again and more!
To find out how to hear this interview for free, click on this link.
Thanks!
Jonel Jaksa
Sports Radio 1130 WDFN
— (TNA) will simulcast the “Slammiversary Countdown 2009” pay-per-view pre-show event free of charge this Sunday at 7:30 p.m. live from the Palace at Auburn Hills, Michigan on www.mycontent.com/TNA. The pre-show will also air on cable and satellite systems carrying the pay-per-view. The special pre-show will feature a live tag-team match pitting Rhino and Eric Young against The British Invasion. Click here for more information.
See photos of Elijah Burke in TNA (>>)
WWE Vintage Collection Report: 28th June 2009
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
Welcome aboard. This week’s show is lifted from the video release “Invasion 1992,” with action from late 1991, which includes a first time meeting between Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels. Sean Mooney and Lord Alfred Hayes call most of the action on this Coliseum Video release, with Gorilla Monsoon subbing for Mooney in match four. Hulk Hogan is up first, so let’s get started….Brother!
Hulk Hogan vs Typhoon w/Jimmy Hart
This match is taken from the December 2nd 1991 edition of Wrestling Challenge. Typhoon is mentioned as a former friend of Hogan, but the term ‘Tugboat’ is never mentioned. Apparently Typhoon had been making threats at Hogan in order to get this match. These threats were never elaborated on. Following some stalling, the two show off their power with shoves to the corner. Hogan avoids a charge, punches away, then knocks Hart from the apron. After rocking Typhoon with a clothesline, Hart hooks Hogan’s leg for the distraction. Typhoon takes over, sending Hogan into the corners, choking him with his boot and trapping him in a long bearhug. Hogan attempts a tackle, but floors himself. Typhoon squashes Hogan in the corner, Hogan kicks out of a cover and Hulks up. Hogan wags the finger, nails the big boot and the legdrop for the 1-2-3. Kind of surprised that Typhoon’s partner Earthquake didn’t get involved. Nevertheless, this was a standard, by-the-numbers match for Hogan. Mooney says this was one Typhoon that Hogan survived. Winner: HULK HOGAN.
Shawn Michaels vs Ric Flair w/Mr Perfect
The date is the same as the last match but the show is now Prime Time Wrestling, although the match has been lifted from Wrestling Challenge. Michaels was coming to the end of his Rockers tenure and was teasing problems with absent partner Marty Jannetty. Flair was still calling himself the ‘Real World’s Champion.’ The entire match airs, with Okerlund calling both ‘Iconic figures’ beforehand. Michaels dominates throughout. Following some early tackles and side headlock takedowns, Michaels springs off the top rope with a sunset flip for two. Flair shoves, and Michaels slaps the taste out of Flair’s mouth. Both exchange chops. Flair interrupts a mounted punch assault to try an inverted atomic drop, but Michaels decks him. Michaels suplexes Flair back in from the ring apron. Flair begs off, before buying time by going to the eyes. Flair takes his customary backbodydrop and upside down flip in the corner. Michaels goes outside, stares a hole through Perfect, thwarting all of his sneak attack attempts while suplexing Flair on the floor. After sending Michaels to the floor, Flair counters a sunset flip with a punch to the face. For no reason whatsoever, Flair comically flops to the mat while he’s on the offensive. Michaels escapes a back suplex, Flair blocks a rollup off the ropes, but turns into a standing dropkick. Perfect trips Michaels as he runs the ropes, allowing Flair to hit a kneedrop. Michaels catches Flair going high risk, throws him to the mat, then drops an elbow for a nearfall. Michaels nails a superkick and top rope fistdrop for another close count. Flair gets clotheslined out of the ring as Michaels propels himself back in. Perfect pulls Flair out of the way to avoid a Michaels plancha. Michaels knocks himself out on the ring barricade. Flair refuses to take a countout victory. Jannetty rushes down asking for a timeout. The referee refuses, so Jannetty picks his partner up and places him back in the ring, where Flair instantly pins him with his feet on the ropes. Michaels remains unconscious after the bell. The announcers blame the loss on Michaels’s impatience at trying to put Flair away. This was a very good match and showcase for Michaels, who was given a truckload of offense, by a generous Flair. The postmatch dressing down that Michaels gives Jannetty to further their split angle isn’t shown. Winner: RIC FLAIR.
Special Referee: Macho Man Randy Savage
Million Dollar Title:
Virgil vs Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase w/Sensational Sherri
Prime Time Wrestling, September 10th 1991. The yet to be reinstated and recently wed Savage needed something to do, so considering his history with DiBiase and Sherri, he was a good choice for referee. Here, he was decked out in a black and white outfit and hat. Virgil was one month removed from his shock SummerSlam victory over his former boss, which saw him bag the Million Dollar Title. DiBiase starts off aggressively, but Virgil sends a frustrated DiBiase outside following a couple of slams. Virgil heads outside to take the fight to his former employer. After Virgil runs into DiBiase’s boot, DiBiase takes control, tossing Virgil outside and into the ringsteps twice. Back inside, and in complete control, DiBiase keeps pulling Virgil up from pinfalls when he has him beat. Savage warns DiBiase several times, while constantly ordering a hysterical Sherri off the apron, who is also questioning her protege’s motives. DiBiase tires of Savage’s meddling, so he decks him and tosses him over the top rope. As DiBiase locks Virgil in the Million Dollar Dream, Savage exacts revenge by smashing DiBiase from behind with a top rope double axehandle. With DiBiase out cold, Virgil crawls into a cover and Savage registers the 1-2-3. Virgil retains his title. DiBiase was at his heelish best here and he provided an entertaining contest. The intensity and exchanges with Savage were also good. DiBiase would employ the Repo Man to assist him in getting the Million Dollar belt back a few months later. Winner: VIRGIL.
Big Boss Man vs Hercules w/Slick
Prime Time Wrestling, October 1st 1991. This is the only of today’s matches to be joined in progress, which is a refreshing change. Hercules is looking a lot more jakked than usual here. Boss Man decks Slick on the floor, backbodydrops Hercules out of the ring and bangs both of their heads together. Boss Man spikes Hercules in the ropes but misses a second attempt. Hercules seems to look at Slick in disgust as he works over Boss Man with an inverted atomic drop, clothesline, two hard Irish whips and short arm clothesline. Both trade a series of punches. Slick hooks the back of Boss Man’s shirt to allow a Hercules boot choke. Slick sneaks in a quick throttling of his own for good measure. Boss Man mounts a comeback with a big boot, splash, and ten head rams in the corner. Herc stops Boss Man with a backelbow, but Boss Man recovers to nail the Boss Man slam for the 1-2-3. Herc floated around for a few months as a heel jobber before resurfacing in WCW as the short-lived Super Invader. Boss Man went on to have short feuds with IRS and Nailz but his popularity had spiked during his prior feud with the Mountie. I loved that little feud. This match wasn’t so bad. Winner: BIG BOSS MAN.
Jake “The Snake” Roberts & The Undertaker w/Paul Bearer vs
Macho Man Randy Savage & Hacksaw Jim Duggan
Today’s Main Event comes from December 4th 1991. Taker and Hacksaw had a small feud going on, while Savage and Jake were embroiled in a hot feud, which started when the evil Jake gave Savage and Elizabeth a cobra as a wedding gift. Savage throws his ring jacket at Jake and the censors are on hand to blank out Jake cussing back. Savage knocks Jake off the apron. Taker chokes Hacksaw in the corner. Hacksaw clotheslines him out of the ring, but the Deadman lands on his feet. Taker hangs Hacksaw up on the top rope as Bearer laughs maniacally into the camera. Jake and Taker take turns in choking Hacksaw in the ropes. Jake fails to escape when Savage finally gets the tag. Savage throws Jake to the corner and drills him with an elbow. A double axehandle from the top rope sends Jake to the floor. Savage goes out after him, but is ambushed by Taker and double teamed. Taker resorts to choking once again and his limited moveset is really boring and annoying. Taker slams, but misses an elbow, giving Savage the chance to tag out. Taker cuts Hacksaw off and Jake takes over with a short arm clothesline. Savage clotheslines Jake to prevent a DDT on Hacksaw. Deciding they’ve had enough, Savage fetches a chair, and Hacksaw gets his 2×4. Both attack the heels with several shots to cause the inevitable DQ. This was horrible and was the worst match on the show. Taker and Hacksaw stunk the joint out and there was little interaction between Jake and Savage which was disappointing. Winners by DQ: JAKE “THE SNAKE” ROBERTS & THE UNDERTAKER.
Okerlund closes the show stating all four of today’s Main Eventers permanently etched their mark in WWE law. They did, but not based on that last showing.
A mixed bag today, with Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, Ted DiBiase, Jake Roberts and Randy Savage providing the best entertainment. See you next week. Shaun.
Comments/praise/feedback/criticism/discussion points please direct to [email protected].
— WWE developmental women’s wrestler Angela Fong, who’s worked a a number of WWE live events in recent weeks as a ring announcer, noted on her Twitter account (twitter.com/missangelafong) that fans were constantly mistaking her for Gail Kim over the weekend.
Fong wrote: “Would be a millionaire if I had a quarter for every, “hey gail kim” this wkd!! Heheh…no worries tho..just wait til I debut one day ;)”
She also congratulated all of the Florida Championship Wrestling talent that debuted on last night’s episode of ECW. Fong wrote: “Congrats to all the FCW people that debuted on ECW tonight!!! Hard work does pay off!!! 🙂 yay!!!”
— SmackDown Diva Melina talked to KSEE-TV this past Monday about losing her title at The Bash pay-per-view and what it takes to be a WWE Diva. The former WWE Women’s Champion also discusses how rewarding it is when you get what you are striving for and earn the respect of your peers. To view the video interview, click here.
— Yesterday was Raw Diva Alicia Fox’s birthday. She turned 23 years old. She has been under contract to World Wrestling Entertainment for over three years as they signed her when she was only 19.
WWE Diva asked to lose weight – find out who (>>)
A new stipulation has been added to the Dax Harwood vs. Jungle Boy match set for Dynamite.
AEW announced this afternoon that Cash Wheeler and Tully Blanchard will be handcuffed to Luchasarus at ringside to prevent any interference. Harwood last week accepted a challenge from Jungle Boy without consulting Wheeler or Blanchard. Luchasarus said he would make sure that no one got involved.
The two teams have been feuding in recent weeks. On night two of New Year’s Smash, FTR defeated Jungle Boy and Marko Stunt, with FTR scoring the pinfall win over Stunt.
Here is the full card for this week’s Dynamite:
Sting & Darby Allin discuss their upcoming street fight against Team Taz at AEW Revolution
Jon Moxley appears to talk about his upcoming six-man tag team match at Beach Break
The Young Bucks & The Good Brothers vs. Evil Uno, Stu Grayson, John Silver, and Alex Reynolds of The Dark Order
Lance Archer vs. Eddie Kingston
Hangman Page vs. Ryan Nemeth
Chris Jericho & MJF vs. Varsity Blonds (Griff Garrison and Brian Pillman Jr.)
Britt Baker vs. Shanna
source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
The immediate creative reaction to Edge suffering a torn Achilles tendon at a live event this past Friday was to figure out a way to get the belts on Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase. Over the weekend, those plans changed as they were looking to have Edge make one final appearance on television by giving his Unified WWE Tag Team Championship belt to Dolph Ziggler, and proceed from there. However, it was noted that given how things work in the company, that plan would likely change a dozen times between now and this Monday’s television taping in Orlando, when the final decision would likely be announced. At this point, they no longer have plans to make Ziggler Jericho’s tag team partner (although that too can change again).
At one point over the weekend, there was talk about keeping the Colons together, editing out Carlito’s turn on Primo on this past Monday’s taped airing of Raw. However, that idea is off the board because they ended up airing the turn on Raw.
Creative was looking at footage of the SmackDown show taped on 7/1 in Bakersfield, California to see if there was a spot they could point to on this week’s episode they could use for the injury. The hope was to find a spot during Edge’s run-in during the Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio match, since that would be his last physical appearance. It would appear that they found nothing because on Tuesday, the WWE website acknowledged the injury and the surgery, and listed it as happening in his match with Jeff Hardy match from a leapfrog spot as opposed to trying to create a storyline reason for it.
Edge had been working hurt even before his ladder match with Hardy at last month’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view. He noted during a recent radio interview promoting the television taping in Fresno that when he was younger, he was able to recover quickly from those type of matches quickly. He then said he was hurting just walking for a week after the match.
See the second Dolph Ziggler & Maria video to air on SD tonight (>)
sources: www.f4wonline.com, PWInsider.com
— WWE has re-signed the wrestler formerly known as Eugene, Nick Dinsmore. However, he will not be coming in to wrestle as company officials want him to help groom younger talent.
— Last week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown drew a 1.7 broadcast rating, up from the previous week’s 1.6 figure.
— WWE returns to the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida on October 19th, 2009. Tickets go on sale August 15th, 2009 at 10 AM. Go to http://prowrestlingevents.tk or http://prowrestlingevents.webs.com for info about upcoming wrestling shows worldwide. (Thanks to Devin Cutting)
See pics of the Divas bikini match last night on Raw (>)
— Bobby Lashley launches Lashley Network of websites
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — July 13, 2009 — Ft. Lauderdale, Florida — Former WWE Superstar and current MMA fighter Bobby Lashley, in association with AA Web and Marketing, Inc. has launched The Lashley Network at www.lashleynetwork.com.
The Lashley Network is a portal for Lashley’s network of websites. Sites under the Lashley Network of website include his personal site, his nutrition store, and his new online social networking website. BobbyLashley.net serves as Bobby’s official site for news on Bobby’s MMA career. Bobby’s online store Lashley Nutrition was launched in 2008. FightBobby.com is a social networking site for online fans to connect with each other and chat with Bobby.
Lashley stated, “Right now I am climbing up the ranks in the MMA world so that I can make it to UFC and be the top guy when the time comes. The only way to do that is to keep winning and to keep my name out there whether it’s through television media or through the internet. I think FightBobby.com also gives me a chance to interact with my loyal fans that stick by me. Think of it as a Facebook or Myspace for my fans.”
For more on Bobby Lashley, please visit www.LashleyNetwork.com.
For more on AA Web and Marketing, please visit www.AAWebandMarketing.com.
ABOUT AA WEB AND MARKETING, INC.
AA Web and Marketing is an online marketing company providing web design, search optimization, and print services for small and large businesses.
— TNA will be holding a house show at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin on October 9th, 2009. Tickets go on sale August 28th, 2009 at 11 AM. Go to http://prowrestlingevents.tk or http://prowrestlingevents.webs.com for info about upcoming wrestling shows worldwide. (Thanks to Devin Cutting)
— In case you missed Sunday’s Victory Road pay-per-view, you can see an animation of Jenna Morasca’s “sexed up” ring entrance at her Twitter account.
*EXCLUSIVE* First photos of Lashley in the TNA ring! (>>)