Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
We noted before that WWE automatically extended Rey Mysterio’s contract for another year because of a clause that allows them to do that if a talent misses a certain amount of time due to injuries.
There are still concerns whether or not Rey will be returning to action for WWE. He has reportedly stopped cashing any of his WWE paychecks, which could be a sign that he plans on taking action to get out of his deal.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
– We noted before that there had been some talk about turning Nikki Bell heel. If they go through with it, the idea would be that Nikki turning on her sister Brie Bella is the culmination of the current feud with Stephanie McMahon. Brie vs. Stephanie will still likely be taking place at SummerSlam.
– WWE recently brought well-known acting coach Howard Fine in to work with the NXT talents in Orlando. Fine was once named Best Acting Teacher in Los Angeles.
He’s worked with wrestlers such as Steve Austin, The Rock, Mohammed Hassan, Diamond Dallas Page and Stacy Keibler. Other famous clients include Rosanna Arquette, Amanda Byrnes, Gerard Butler, Jennifer Connelly, Mike Tyson, Sasha Cohen, Lou Ferrigno, Carl Lewis, Michelle Kwan, Val Kilmer, Lindsay Lohan, Brad Pitt, Tara Reid, Brooke Shields, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Julia Roberts, Diana Ross, Ray Parker Jr., Justin Timberlake, Linda Gray, Darryl Hannah, Vanessa Hudgens and Salma Hayek.
WWE posted another new “#WWETransformed” teaser on Twitter this morning:
Originally speculated by some online sites as an ad for the new WWE logo, it now appears this could be for a new character coming to the main roster.
He walks in darkness… #WWETransformed
WWE posted the video above of former WWE star Funaki “translating” for Kenta in an interview with Renee Young. It appears Funaki and Kenta are spending time together in Florida while Kenta gets settled in the United States.
Kenta noted on his Twitter Sunday night that he and Funaki watched the WWE Battleground pay-per-view at home together and the also watched RAW. Funaki predicted John Cena would win the Fatal 4 Way main event and Kenta wrote the following for his pick:
“I pick @WWERomanReigns but One day I’ll be there!! #WWEBattleground #WWENetwork #WWE”
Kenta also tweeted to Cesaro during RAW:
“I’m proud of you.See you soon my friend @WWECesaro #RawMiami #RAW #WWE #WWEMiami #NXT”
Jeff Jarrett’s Global Force Wrestling issued the following:
GFW TO PARTNER WITH EUROPEAN PROMOTIONS
Global Force Wrestling: Join The Force!
NASHVILLE – On the heels of partnership agreements with the top promotions in Japan and Mexico, Global Force Wrestling has formed an alliance with several of the top independent wrestling promotions throughout Europe, including the United Kingdom, Germany and Ireland.
Stepping forward to #JointheForce are
Revolution Pro Wrestling (www.revolutionprowrestling.com, covering south of England)
New Generation Wrestling (www.ngwuk.com, covering north of England)
Premier British Wrestling (www.pbwwrestling.com, covering Scotland)
Westside Xtreme Wrestling (www.wxw-wrestling.com, covering Germany) and
Emerald Wrestling Promotions (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Emerald-Wrestling-Promotions/100651866652805, covering Ireland).
“If you look through the history of pro wrestling you’ll find great talent from Europe woven throughout,” Global Force Wrestling founder and CEO Jeff Jarrett said. “We put the word ‘Global’ in this new brand, and we meant it. We believe fans want a wrestling promotion that brings something new and exciting and will engage them at every turn, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Veteran wrestler Doug Williams, a multiple singles and tag team champion in his native England and in various U.S. promotions, has been instrumental in helping Global Force Wrestling put together this European alliance.
“I am very excited to be a part of the Force, and I really look forward to helping facilitate the relationships between GFW and these top independent wrestling promotions,” Williams said. “The European style will bring something a little different to the table, just as the other partners will.I can’t wait to see it all come together under one umbrella.”
GFW announced its partnership with Mexico’s AAA on April 29 and with New Japan Pro Wrestling on June 23.
TV 1993-06-15 (Matches taped 1993-05-14 from ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA)
Champions
Heavyweight: Magnificent Don Muraco
TV: Superfly Jimmy Snuka
PA State: Tommy Cairo
Tag: Suicide Blondes
Stevie Wonderful and Jay Sulli once again welcome us and go over todays card. TV Champion Jimmy Snuka takes on Hawk. Tag Team Champions Suicide Blondes take on Super Destroyers. Hawk hits ringside and talks about being a rebel like the rest of the wrestlers in the ECW. Dark Patriot takes on Terry Funk.
Paul E. Dangerously and TV Champion Jimmy Snuka are backstage. Paul says Hawk is not the toughest because Snuka is. Paul has a lot in store for Hawk
TV Champion “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka (w/ Paul E. Dangerouly) vs. Road Warrior Hawk, ref Kevin Christian
Snuka and Hawk get nose to nose and being jawing with each other. Hawk pushes Snuka and Snuka falls out of the ring. Hawk with a powerslam and clothesline and Snuka again to the floor. Test of strength and Hawk wins it. Hawk with a headbutt but it hurts himself. Hawk misses a corner charge and hits his shoulder and falls to the floor. Snuka with a chair on the floor as Paul E. distracts the ref. Back in the ring Snuka in control. Snuka with a body slam but he misses a 2nd rope headbutt. Hawk comes back and gets a neck breaker. Hawk goes up top and lands the clothesline Paul E. comes in and breaks up the pin getting his man DQed in 6.44. Hawk goes after Paul. Muraco, Gilbert and the Dark Patriot come to the ring. Hawk no sells clotheslines and piledrivers. Patriot hits Hawk with a chair and it takes him down. Gilbert throws a fireball into Hawks eyes and the locker room empties as we go to commercial.
Tag Team Champions Suicide Blondes (w/ Hunter Q. Robbins III) vs. Super Destroyers, ref Joe Dinolli
The match is joined in progress. Very little happens until Christopher Candido planchas out of the ring but gets caught and beat up on the floor. Jonathan Hotbody knocks out the ref. Sal Bellomo and Christopher Michaels show up and we get a double DQ. Bellomo gets on the mic and challenges all the Blondes to a match. We already know this match is happening at Super Summer Sizzler. Tod Gordon comes out and makes it.
Eddie Gilbert is outside in the woods so he could feel like a texas redneck. Gilbert is going to crowd king of philly this Saturday night.
“Hotstuff” Eddie Gilbert (w/ Paul E. Dangerously) vs. Herve Renesto, ref Kevin Christian Chain Match
Gilbert already wearing a crown. Gilbert and Dangerously argue over the Dark Patriot because Gilbert doesn’t like him. Muraco and Snuka show up at ringside about a minute in. Gilbert chokes and punches Renesto with the chair. Gilbert easily wins the match in 2.09.
Terry Funk Is backstage and he says Gilbert should have thought about the type of match he was getting into before agreeing to it.
We see a feud recap of Sandman, Peaches, Rockin’ Rebel and Tigra. Paul E. is back stage with Rebel and Tigra. Rebel says Tigra is going to rip off Peaches clothes and he’s going to beat Sandman to a bloody pulp. Tigra is “going to do exactly what her name says”. I don’t get that her name says Tigra how do you do Tigra. Sullit is backstage with Sandman and Peaches. It’s a new interview but they say basically the same things as last week.
Paul E. and Dark Patriot are backstage. Paul E. says Patriot doesn’t care about the myth and legend of Terry Funk.
Dark Patriot (w/ Paul E. Dangerously) vs. Terry Funk, ref Kevin Christian
Paul tried to trip up Funk 30 seconds in the match. Funk goes after Paul. Patriot sneaks from behind and drives his head into a table. Back in the ring Paul E. distracts the ref while Patriot chokes Funk with a hanger. They go to the floor and brawl a little. Back in Patriot gets a 2 count after a piledriver. Funk sent to the floor again. Funk goes after Paul E. Patriot again comes from behind. Funk fights back with a bunch of headbutts in the ring. They go outside the ring again and Patriot gets rammed face first into the guardrail. Back in the ring Funk goes after the mask and starts ripping it. Funk hits 2 DDTs and Paul E. hits the ring to distract Funk. Funk chases Paul E around the ring and hits a 3rd DDT as he gets back in. Back to the mask and Eddie Gilbert comes in the ring and hits Funk with a chair causing a DQ at 7.01 They fight a bit and Jay Sulli comes on and says the rest of the footage is to violent for TV and hypes Super Summer Sizzler.
My thoughts on the show
Well, really the only thing that has me remotely interested in ECW so far is the Gilbert and Funk feud, which was highly featured here. So I guess I can recommend watching this episode. Things start to pick up from here, though.
[spacer height=”20px”][spacer height=”20px”]
TV 1993-06-22 (Matches taped 1993-05-14 from ECW Arena in Philadelphia, PA)
Champions
Heavyweight: Magnificent Don Muraco
TV: Superfly Jimmy Snuka
PA State: Tommy Cairo
Tag: Suicide Blondes
We open with most of the “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka versus Hawk TV Title Match from last week. “Hotstuff” Eddie Gilbert, “Magnificent” Don Muraco and The Dark Patriot interfered and threw a fire ball into Hawk’s face at the end.
Jay Sulli and Paul E. Dangerously welcome us to the show. Paul E. talks about Eddie Gilbert being the new king. Dangerously begins to run down the card for the show when Stevie Wonderful shows up. Wonderful asks Paul E. why he has been saying some bad things about him. Paul E. takes Wonderful to the back so they can talk about it. Sulli tells us that up next is Don Muraco versus Hawk for the Heavyweight Ttile.
Back from commercial and Wonderful is with Ivan and Vladimir Koloff. Ivan says that he is the master of the Koloff family and Vladimir is the greatest Koloff ever.
Heavyweight Champion “Magnificent” Don Muraco (w/ “Hotstuff” Eddie Gilbert) vs. PA State Champion “Ironman” Tommy Cairo, ref Jim Molineaux
Cairo comes out for the match instead of Hawk. Dangerously and Sulli let us know it’s because of what happened last week. Cairo with a quick crossbody for 2 and Muraco bails to the floor. A fan in the crowd steals Gilbert’s hat right off his head and runs away. Cairo with a hip toss and back body drop. Cairo with a spinning heel kick. Gilbert distracts Cairo and Muraco attacks from behind. Cairo blocks a suplex and gets one of his own. Muraco simply covers Cairo and gets the pin at 3.44. A very strange ending.
Paul E. Dangerously and the Dark Patriot are backstage. Paul E. says Patriot but the claw on a big screen TV and it exploded. Patriot is the big bad wolf of ECW.
Dark Patriot (w/ “Hotstuff” Eddie Gilbert) vs. JT Smith, ref Kevin Christian
This show was filmed before Super Summer Slam so the ref is not Freddie Gilbert yet. Patriot forces Smith back to a corner and gives him a hard shot to the face. Dangerously points out that Gilbert and the Dark Patriot don’t actually like each other. Side slam by the Patriot. Smith with a flying head scissor, body slam and top rope moonsault for 2. Patriot whipped into the corner and Smith misses the charge and hits his shoulder on the post. They go to the floor and Smith whips Patriot into the ring post. Corner whip is reversed and the ref gets in the way and goes down. The go back outside the ring and into the crowd. Smith gets sent into the wall and they go up to the eagles’ nest. Patriot throws Smith to the floor at least 15 foot to the floor and then dives onto him. Gilbert helps Patriot back into the ring as the ref wakes up and counts out Smith in 5.51.
Stevie Wonderful is backstage with Rockin’ Rebel and Tony “Hitman” Stetson. They have a match coming up against Sandman and Larry Winters. Stetson says that Winters gave up on their team and let himself be pinned to lose the belts. Rebel says that they are going to take apart their opponents and that Peaches better not get in the way.
Rockin’ Rebel & Tony “Hitman” Stetson vs. Sandman & Larry Winters (w/ Peaches), ref Kevin Christian
Sandman and Winters hit the ring and toss out their opponents. Winters starts with Stetson and gives him a back body drop and kicks and chokes away. Suplex and leg drop by Winters for 2. Winters with a knee lift and he lets Stetson tag Rebel. Winters with the early advantage but Rebel throws Winters into the ropes and Stetson throws up the knee to the back. Stetson back in and he is in control working over the leg briefly in the corner. Rebel back in and he lands a drop kick on Winters. Stetson back in and he drops the head to early on an irish whip and Winters hits a DDT. Both men tag and Sandman nails a DDT on Rebel. Rebel hits his spinebuster but Peaches distracts the ref. Rebel gets in her face so she slaps him. Sandman with the school boy for 3 and the win at 5.54
Paul E. Dangerously is in the ECW Production truck that just looks like a regular 3 row van. Paul E. has been going around Philadelphia with the new king Eddie Gilbert getting footage of all the people showing their love. He see clips of what Gilbert has done in ECW so far with some royal music playing over it.
Tag Team Champions Suicide Blondes (w/ Hunter Q. Robbins III) vs. Super Destroyers & “Wildman” Sal Bellomo, ref Jim Molineaux
Christopher Candido starts off with the Super D 1. He overpowers Candido so Jonathan Hotbody comes in to try and help but he also gets over powered. Candido goes for a power bomb but gets tossed off. Press slam and Candido bails and tags Hotbody and Super D 2 comes in. We go to a commercial break before they lock up. Back to the action and Hotbody is thrown into the corner and body slammed as Bellomo is tagged in and hits a big splash. Super D 1 back in with a pump handle slam and suplex. Hotbody bails to the floor and the Blondes regroup. Back in and Hotbody gets power bombed. Tag to Super D 2 and he comes in with a standing senton and then tags Bellomo. Bellomo with a drop kick and again Hotbody goes to the floor. Back in the ring Super D forces Hotbody to tag Richard Michaels. Michaels gets the advantage but misses a big top rope splash. Super D 1 ones back in a gets a powerslam for 2. Bellomo comes back in and Michaels is able to get him into the Blondes’ corner. Candido tagged in and as Michaels distracts the ref they use Robbins cane. Robbins gets hit and Dangerously gets so mad he goes to ringside to check on him. Paul E. gets nailed which bring the Dangerous Alliance to the ring and we get a 3 team brawl. The ref calls for the bell after 7.55 of the match is shown. We go off the air with everyone still in the ring brawling and hitting each other with trash cans.
My thoughts on the show
This was easily the best ECW show to date. The in ring action had a fast enough pace to keep things interesting as well is it going to the extreme. Check this one out. Good week of ECW here.
[spacer height=”20px”]
Credit goes to John Cheese, and his Magic Pimp Bus
Even if you hate sports, you can still love seeing things go hilariously wrong. Well, I have good news: Pro wrestling was made for that shit. I’ve spoken before about how professional wrestlers are the best actors in the world, and other Cracked writers have shown us some pretty brutal scenes from when wrestling gets too real. They’re so rare, but when these moments do happen, they instantly become legend for wrestling fans. So let’s all appreciate the fine art of unplanned disasters like …
#5. Jeff Hardy Shows Up to His Headline Pay-Per-View Match Completely Bombed
Jeff Hardy is widely considered to be one of the best “daredevil” type wrestlers who ever lived. For years, he was portrayed as the ultimate underdog — a performer with immense amounts of talent, but lacking the bulk and aggression necessary to overpower his superior, Speedo-wearing title holders. And more recently, he was known as a big ol’ fuckin’ drug lord.
Somewhere between being a WWE superstar and having his pretty-boy ass tossed in jail on five felony charges for cocaine, opium, Vicodin, and steroids, he moved on to TNA, WWE’s laughably bad “competition.” He then worked his way up to a world title match with legendary wrestler and The Crow fetishist Sting, which was to be featured in their 2011 pay-per-view Victory Road. It was the match … the headliner that people paid actual money to see, both at the event and at home. And what they got was just flat out bizarre. Even by “dudes in face paint who aren’t ICP” standards.
The match hit bottom before the introductions were even finished and just started digging down from there. Hardy’s music hit and then played to an empty stage for 47 seconds. On paper, that doesn’t sound like that long, but seriously, stop what you’re doing and time out 47 seconds. It’s an eternity — especially on TV, where even five seconds of silence can bring a crowd to an uneasy confusion. Now watch as that amount of hanging awkwardness gets centered on clouds of dry ice, neon lights, and lasers … and no Hardy.
It went on for so long that it started to feel like he had abandoned the show altogether, and just as the audience was about to give up, Hardy stumbled out of the fog and got all ’60s flower child with the camera.
Now, keep in mind that the TNA officials knew that he was fucked up at this point, but they didn’t know it was this bad until minutes before he was due to walk out and perform. So while Hardy was stumbling down the ramp and trying to absorb the pretty colors, TNA’s management was rushing around backstage, trying to figure out how to avoid the inevitable lawsuit that forces them to pay out hundreds of thousands of dollars in refunds. Remember, this was the match that they had built up for weeks as the reason for you to give them money for a show that’s normally free.
When they finally got around to the actual introductions, the crowd booed Hardy, and he returned the sentiment by flipping them off:
After introducing Sting, a new song started up and general manager Eric Bischoff came out, giving the “time out” hand signal. He proceeded to the ring and shook Jeff Hardy’s hand, leaning in to wish him luck. Or at least that’s what he was pretending to do. In reality, he was relaying new instructions for the match, which were something along the lines of “Lay your stupid fucking ass down and end this quick. You’re in no condition to be out here, you goddamn drug addict.” Something like that — we can only speculate. He then walked over to Sting and passed the info to him as well, again, under the guise of “I’m just here to wish you luck.”
There was a small mock scuffle to give Bischoff his exit cue, and then the match began. For the first full minute, Hardy walked around the ring, doing that thing you do with a ball to get your dog all wound up, where you hold it up (his T-shirt, in this case) and pretend that you’re about to throw it, but then decide against it at the last second because you’re a horrible, manipulative dick. Meanwhile, Sting sat back and just smoldered with anger because, remember, he’s just been told by management that he has to somehow quickly end a highly promoted match that every potential rioter and arsonist in those seats paid to see.
The actual meat of the match lasted 20 seconds. There was some hair pulling and a punch or two thrown. And then out of the blue, Sting just bends Hardy over backward into his finishing maneuver, the Scorpion Death Drop, and plants him hard onto the mat. Now, check out the three count here:
Notice how Hardy tries to kick out at the end, but it looks all awkward, like he’s being forcefully pinned to the mat so he can’t get up and continue the match? Yeah, that’s because he is. Sting knew Hardy would try to put on a full performance, so the only way to end it was to pin him for real. Then, like an extremely pissed-off father who just caught his son tattooing his infant sister in her crib, Sting stared a hole through Hardy and walked away. As he neared the top of the ramp, the crowd was chanting “bullshit,” to which Sting turned around and offered a sympathetic “I agree.”
[spacer height=”20px”]
The fun continues tomorrow with #4 in our countdown, when JBL gets shitty with the Blue Meanie, and Stevie Richards exacts some revenge.
[spacer height=”20px”]
Source: PWInsider Elite
There has been a lot of talk within WWE lately about John Cena’s movie career. PWInsider noted that some of the wrestlers have joked that Cena will start “bringing it via satellite” soon.
We noted that Cena will be missing several upcoming WWE events due to filming of The Nest and Trainwreck.
There have been people backstage speculating that if Cena’s movie work takes off, given how banged up he is, he could be the next one to walk away from WWE for a Hollywood career in the next few years.
