Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
– We’ve noted how top indie star Uhaa Nation has been close to signing with WWE. Word now is that the two sides have finally agreed to a deal.
– After the recent situation with Alberto Del Rio and CM Punk, WWE has changed all performer contracts. The contract now say that if a talent is fired for disciplinary reasons, they forfeit all merchandise rights and can’t work in pro wrestling or MMA for one year.
Credit: Raj Giri
– As noted earlier, internet personality Front Row Brian noted that CM Punk will be training at Roufusport in Milwaukee for his MMA career. UFC President Dana White confirmed the report on FOX Sports Live, noting that Punk is “going to be training with Anthony Pettis, the 155-pound champion, and his team.” As for when Punk will fight, White said that they will see how his training progresses and go from there. You can watch the segment in the video above.
– Chris Jericho has been announced for the upcoming WWE live event at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, NY on Sunday, March 1st. Tickets go on sale on January 10th at 10 a.m. at the FNC box office or at Tickets.com. Jericho is slated to head back on the road to tour with Fozzy in Europe from March 4th until March 19th.
As noted earlier, Jericho recently stated that while he will be working WWE live events, he will not be working TV tapings or pay-per-views. This could always be a red herring so that it’s somewhat of a surprise if Jericho appears at The Royal Rumble.
Source: The Mirror
The Mirror has a great interview with WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross, who was promoting this Saturday’s NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9 pay-per-view. Just a reminder that we will have live coverage of Wrestle Kingdom 9 immediately following our UFC 182: Jones vs. Cormier coverage.
Here are some highlights from the interview:
Calling this Saturday’s NJPW pay-per-view:
“I’m not going to phone anything in. I’m going to be prepared. It may not be as smooth as with the WWE guys, because a lot of those guys, in one period in time, I hired, so obviously I knew them well. These are guys I’ve never watched wrestle in person ever. I’m going to let my instincts take over. I think it has the chance to be a good broadcast. People say, ‘Do you know what’s going to happen in the matches?’ Well, yeah, generally, but the less I know the better my performance is.”
If TNA has tried to hire him since he left WWE:
“No. They know I don’t have any desire to get back in the weekly grind of that. Dixie and no-one else has asked about me coming back full-time and that’s why this opportunity [with GFW] was so fit really – it was a one-time deal, a one-off. I like knowing I don’t have any pressure on me beyond that, I can focus on this one big event, really try to nail it without any pressure that I’ve got to do something tomorrow, or next week, or next month.”
Vince McMahon stating that no WWE star has grabbed the brass ring since John Cena:
“Has anyone else since John Cena worked in every phase of their game to get really good? I think the argument could be made that some have worked as hard as Cena in some areas, but not across the board as he has.
“Sometimes if you look at your talent as athletes, not entertainers, they need to be challenged occasionally – we need you to play better, I need you to lose 20 pounds, I need you to work on your tan, as silly as that sounds. From an athletic point of view, every coach has those heart-to-hearts with their team at some point in time. If you’re going to go down the athletic road, every now and then they need a pep talk, and every now and then they need to ask themselves, ‘What have I done to make myself better than I was last week? What am I doing to make myself a more valuable player?’
“I think Vince is sending a subtle message there, or not-so-subtle, that Cena was the last guy that went the complete distance to grab the brass ring. And then when he grabbed the brass ring he didn’t quit growing, he kept trying to get better. He’s their guy right now, lord knows what they would be without John Cena.”
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Randy Orton is currently dealing with a deviated septum, which would be an injury to the nose. This is why Orton only worked short matches at weekend WWE live events and didn’t return on RAW.
Orton is going to have surgery to repair the injury soon and recovery time is only a few weeks.
– As noted yesterday, TNA announced that Kurt Angle has re-signed with the promotion. Abyss has also re-signed with TNA.
– As noted earlier, the January 9th TNA Impact taping will be the 2015 edition of Lockdown, which will feature every match taking place inside of a steel cage. While TNA has yet to announce when the episode will air, given that the next set of TV tapings after the NYC shows will take place overseas in the last week of January, it would make appear that the special will air on January 23, 2015.
In addition to Kurt Angle and Abyss, TNA also announced that they have re-signed EC3. TNA President Dixie Carter sent out the following in-character tweet:
The best signing I’ve ever made!!! #WorldsBestNephew @EthanCarterTNA pic.twitter.com/YkNl7SZkjD
— Dixie Carter (@TNADixie) December 31, 2014
Credit: Marc Middleton
– Tonight’s WWE Main Event opens with a look back at last night’s RAW with Edge and Christian, and Seth Rollins forcing John Cena to reinstate The Authority.
– We go to the ring and WWE Hall of Famer Edge makes his way out with Christian to kick off Main Event. Michael Cole, JBL and Booker T are on commentary.
They joke on Tony Chimel but Edge says he can’t sleep after what happened on RAW. Christian says they’re hosting Main Event and SmackDown also. Edge brings out their guest for The Cutting Edge Peep Show and it’s Adam Rose. Rose makes his way out with The Rosebuds but no Bunny.
They talk for a few minutes back and forth until Edge asks where The Bunny is. Rose calls them lemons and says he put The Bunny down two weeks ago on RAW. Rose says The Bunny does not deserve to be on the Exotic Express and neither do Edge and Christian. Edge and Christian want to do a 5 Second Pose with the Rosebuds but without Rose. Edge tells Rose to get out. Rose tells the Rosebuds to follow him but they don’t. They do the Pose and Rose throws a fit before leaving by himself.
– We get a look at NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte. She will face Sasha Banks tonight. Back to commercial.
Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte
Back from the break and out comes NXT Diva Sasha Banks. NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte is out next to a reaction. Booker acknowledges that Sasha is Snoop Dogg’s cousin. Lots of back and forth to start. Charlotte counters and drops Sasha with a big chop to a pop from Flair Country. Charlotte with a 2 count. Sasha comes back and takes Charlotte to the corner for the knees drop and a pin attempt. Sasha with boots to the face in the corner now. Sasha mocks Ric Flair’s strut and smacks Charlotte for a 2 count. Charlotte finally turns it around. She goes for a moonsault but has to land on her feet. Charlotte drops on Charlotte for a close 2 count in the corner. Sasha drops Charlotte into the turnbuckle and hits a neckbreaker for a 2 count. Charlotte comes back again and slams Sasha on her face. Charlotte with her Natural Selection finisher for the win.
Winner: Charlotte
– Santino Marella is backstage at his New Year’s party and they do a bit with Erick Rowan.
– Still to come, The Usos vs. Stardust and Goldust
Titus O’Neil vs. Justin Gabriel
Justin Gabriel waits in the ring as Titus O’Neil makes his way out. Titus cuts a promo and says 2015 will be the year of the gator. Back and forth to start but they end up on the floor with Titus in control. Titus brings it back in and runs over Gabriel for a close 2 count. Titus keeps control and hits backbreakers before tossing Gabriel for another 2 count. Gabriel makes a comeback and hits a missile dropkick for a 2 count. He goes back up top but Titus cuts him off and hits Clash of the Titus for the win.
Winner: Titus O’Neil
– We come back and get a look at Daniel Bryan’s big announcement on RAW.
– Santino is backstage partying with Rowan and R-Truth. Truth isn’t feeling it and leaves them alone.
Goldust and Stardust vs. The Usos
We go to the ring and out comes Stardust and Goldust. Back to commercial. Back from the break and out comes new WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos. Goldust starts off for his team. The Usos do quick tags early on. Goldust turns it around and in comes Stardust. Jimmy Uso nails a dropkick for a 1 count. Jey Uso tags in for some double teaming in the corner. Uso slams Stardust for another 2 count. Goldust gets involved but Jimmy fights them both off and sends them to the floor as we go to commercial.
Back from the break and they fight to the floor and back in. Goldust tags in and keeps control. Stardust comes back in for more double teaming. Lots more back and forth with everyone involved. Stardust accidentally hits the springboard kick on Goldust. Uso sends Stardust to the floor and hits the big splash on Goldust for the win.
Winners: The Usos
– WWE Main Event goes off the air with The Usos in the ring celebrating.
Source: F4WOnline
We noted before that AJ Lee is out of action with an injury but is expected back some time soon. Apparently AJ is healing up from a few minor injuries, not just one.
On a related note, AJ tweeted today and indicated that she’s on vacation somewhere:
— A.J. (@WWEAJLee) December 30, 2014
While TNA President Dixie Carter has already announced that Kurt Angle re-signed with the company, they issued the following today:
Kurt Angle Re-signs With TNA Wrestling!
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 30, 2014) – TNA today announced Olympic Gold Medalist and TNA Hall-of-Fame member Kurt Angle has signed a new contract to remain an active TNA roster member. Kurt can be seen on IMPACT WRESTLING’s new home, Destination America, during a special LIVE event from New York City on Wednesday January 7 at 9/8c.
“Kurt Angle’s arrival nearly a decade ago put TNA on the map. Now Kurt leads a fresh, young IMPACT WRESTLING locker room into a whole new era on Destination America,” said TNA President Dixie Carter. “Once Kurt steps inside those ropes there is no greater talent in professional wrestling.”
“I’m extremely excited to remain with TNA Wrestling,” said Angle. “The driving force behind my signing is the honesty, great communication and positive changes being made by Dixie Carter and John Gaburick. Things are moving upward and forward at TNA, and 2015 will be a great one for all of us at IMPACT WRESTLING.”
For more information on Kurt Angle and other talent signings visit impactwrestling.com, and follow IMPACT WRESTLING on twitter @IMPACTWRESTLING and TNA President Dixie Carter @TNADixie.
IMPACT WRESTLING premieres in its permanent time slot on Fridays from 9-11 PM ET beginning January 16 on Destination America. And, IMPACT WRESTLING: UNLOCKED with Mike Tenay premieres in its permanent time slot on Saturdays from 10 AM-Noon ET beginning January 17, immediately followed by TNA GREATEST MATCHES from Noon-1 PM ET.
