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Higher-Ups Have No Knowledge Of Network Success, WWE Teases Sting, Who’s At Raw?

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– Mark Henry made his WWE ring return at the recent MSG event, and is at the arena tonight. There’s always the possibility Henry makes his TV return tonight on Raw.

– Emma is also backstage at Raw and could likely make her return to TV following the Walmart incident.

– Former wrestler Sam Houston (brother of Jake Roberts) is visiting at the arena tonight as well. There’s little chance he’ll be returning. 😉

Source: F4WOnline

– For what it’s worth, WWE made their first mention of Sting’s “7.14.14” teaser on Instagram today. The way WWE put the date in there caught the attention of several fans. They wrote:

“Tonight’s 7.14.14 #Raw comes from Richmond, VA home of the state capital.”

– We’ve noted before how there is a lot of confusion going around the WWE Network employees in regards to “what’s going on with the Network.” It was said this week that there are many higher-ups in WWE that also do not know how the Network is performing. It’s said that very few people in the company actually know how the Network is doing.

Ric Flair Bloodies And Bruises Bray Wyatt, Video & Photo Inside

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– Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, Ric Flair inadvertently bloodied Bray Wyatt when he tossed punches, which apparently stemmed from a ring the WWE Hall of Famer was wearing on his finger. Wyatt suffered a black eye from the blows, as you can see in this photo of the WWE Superstar with a fan.

Will Sting Be On WWE Raw Tonight?

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Source: F4WOnline

It’s “7-14-14” and an announcement from Sting and WWE or WWE 2K15 is expected any time today.

Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Sting is not signed as of this morning. It was also said that fans tuning in to RAW tonight to see Sting won’t be disappointed but he won’t be there live.

WWE Business Is Now All About The Network And It’s Future

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Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

With pay-per-view pretty much going away, it’s said that WWE’s business now and going forward is all about WWE Network subscriber numbers.
WWE still needs a steady rate of 1.3 million to 1.4 million monthly subscribers worldwide to break even. With heavy budget cuts, it’s possible that number could drop some. In order for WWE to make it back to previous levels of financial success, they need closer to 1.9 million monthly subscribers. Once WWE tops 2 million subscribers, unless they face major unexpected costs, the company will be in the best financial position they have ever been in.

A great number for WWE’s next subscriber announcement at the end of this month would be 850,000. Given how hard the Network has been pushed, the loaded pay-per-view events and a number of specials on the Network, anything less than 850,000 total subscribers wouldn’t be that good. WWE announced back in early April that the Network had 667,287 subscribers and they were hoping to hit at least 1 million before the end of the year.

WWE Talents Upset Over Company Money Issues

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Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

We noted before that many WWE talents are upset over pay, mainly recent royalty checks. There’s a feeling that none of the talents will really do anything because they all know there is nowhere else they can find work and make even close to what they are making with WWE.

However, it’s worth noting that money issues are no longer just a major concern to WWE management, they are now the biggest concern among talents.

News For Tonight’s WWE RAW – Huge Main Event, Authority Returns, Jericho & Wyatt, More

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Tonight’s WWE RAW takes place from the The Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia. Confirmed for tonight’s show is a big six-man match with John Cena, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose vs. Kane, Randy Orton and Seth Rollins.

No other matches have been confirmed but we know that The Authority will be back this week and we know that several NXT talents will be backstage but aren’t confirmed to appear on TV in any way. Ric Flair will also be there tonight. WWE is focusing on the following points for tonight’s show:

* Who will join the Intercontinental Title Battle Royal?

* What plans will The Authority concoct now that vacation is over?

* Where does Summer Rae & Layla becoming friends leave Fandango?

* Is Bray Wyatt inside Chris Jericho’s head?

* Can Roman Reigns coexist with John Cena this close to the Fatal 4 Way at Battleground?

Bret Hart Talks WWE Return, Concussion, Screwjob, More

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The following was sent in:

Ryan Rider interviewed Wrestling Legend Bret “the Hitman” Hart earlier this week. The interview can be downloaded at WebSportsMedia.com. Here are some of the highlights:

The 1997 Screwjob:

In hindsight, I really wish the whole thing had never happened. It was a lousy way for me to leave the company after being so lucky to be the champion and to have such a great history there. It never was the same after that day. If I could go back I don’t know what I can change to make it go differently. I know that I followed my heart through that whole process. I still believe that I was on the side of the right and did the right things that day. But I do wish that it never had happened and that I could have worked something out beforehand that could have been more productive for everybody.

Coming back to WWE:

I have way more great memories than I do bad. We had a great 14 years. We had that bad fall-out at the end, which I’m still sensitive about to this day. I suffered a stroke in 2002 that made everything else in my life that happened to that point pale in comparison. It was in the first few hours after I had a stroke that Vince [McMahon] gave me a call. Things were not good between us when that happened. He gave me a big pep talk in the hospital when I suffered my stroke. He talked about improving our relationship and doing things together down the road. I always wanted to be recognized and remembered for what I contributed to the company. He assured me that that would always be the case; to protect my reputation as far as what I accomplished there. Within the first few minutes we cleared so much off of the table. His words were that I was a fighter and that I would get back and get better. As I’ve got better over the years and recovered, I remember those dark hours and I’m grateful for that call. That softened things up for Vince and I and eventually I thumped him at Wrestlemania to write a better ending for us.

The Iron Man match with Shawn Michaels:
I eager to raise the bar. I still think that for an hour match of any kind, no wrestlers have upstaged that match. Probably the hardest pro wrestling match any two wrestlers have ever had. Shawn was a great wrestler and a great athlete. That day when we had that match we were hell-bent on showing that you didn’t have to be a 300-pound steroid freak to make wrestling popular again. I take a lot of pride in the direction that wrestling went.

Burying the hatchet with Shawn Michaels:

I found a great relief from forgiveness. Forgiving the whole thing and making peace with it and moving on. What a therapy for me, I felt a million pounds come off my back when that was over. I think Shawn Michaels was carrying a lot of grief and he felt really lousy for his role in everything. How he screwed me over and how he looked that day, it bothered Shawn for a long time. When we made that truce and hugged on Raw, I can see that grief that he carried for so long was all lifted. I realized a few months later what a good thing that was for us. I recommend that to anybody out there who has issues where they can’t forgive someone, try to forgive; it’s really good for your soul.

His career-ending concussion:

A lot of people don’t realize how severe a concussion injury is. You have to listen to the doctors. You have to be really careful about them. When I had my injury, so many of the wrestlers and people that I knew didn’t believe I was hurt. I was pushed in the ring for so many weeks and when I finally saw a doctor he told me that my career was over. I had a pounding headache for almost two years, and a lot of side effects and ramifications that never leave. I still have balance issues from a kick to the head from one wrestler who didn’t know his own strength. You can see now that there are a lot of steps being taken that a wrestler who has possibly suffered a concussion is being evaluated properly and you make sure he is safe before getting back in the ring. Back in my day you’d get a pat on the back and get pushed through the curtain. People in all sports are waking up to the fact that concussion injuries are really serious. The ramifications can be long-lasting and severe.

The wrestling industry in 2014:

Wrestling today is as good as its ever been. Younger, faster, better athletes than there used to be. The fork that wrestling took, it came right around the time that I became champion in the first place. The business today doesn’t get enough credit. There’s an amazing bunch of talents out there today. There’s an amazing group of young talents, innovators who are raising the bar. Delivering better matches than anyone has ever seen before. Cesaro is a guy who does a lot of unique stuff and is a great talent. He does a lot of strong man stuff that is just impressive to watch. Daniel Bryan is another one.

And the girl wrestlers too. They’re all drop dead gorgeous and really good wrestlers and good athletes. I find them very entertaining and a lot of fun to watch. Rey Mysterio, Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes. John Cena has been such a great champion in the last 10 years, this has kind of been his era. Wrestling is even better than it used to be and I think people should start paying more attention to these great stars.

The “OH MY GOD!” Review: ECW TV 5/18 & 5/25/93

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TV 1993-05-18 (Matches taped 1993-04-03 from Cabrini College in Radnor, PA)

Champions
Heavyweight: Sandman
TV: Superfly Jimmy Snuka
Tag: Tony Stetson & Larry Winters

Jay Sulli and Stevie Wonderful open up the show. Dangerous Alliance in action as well as Sandman and Rockin’ Rebel for the championship. Paul E. Dangerously comes down and calls out Tod Gordon. They argue a bit and Don Muraco shows up and starts bumping into Gordon to scare him. Gordon leaves before he gets hurt. Muraco talks about how no one respects them. Muraco calls out Sandman and says he can be the only surfer in town.

Back from break and Sulli brings us to the tag team title match from last week. They play the entire terrible match.

The Eddie Gilbert Terry Funk chain match will take place on June 19th at the Super Summer Sizzler.

TV Champion “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka & “Hotstuff” Eddie Gilbert (w/ Paul E. Dangerously) vs. Max Thrasher & JT Smith ref John Finnegan
A rematch from last week for some reason. I would expect the same outcome. Gilbert starts off with Thrasher this time. Thrasher with an arm bar and tags into Smith and he comes off the 2nd rope with an axe handle to the arm. They switch a few time and stay on the arm. Gilbert comes back with a few eye rakes and a suplex. Gilbert covers and Thrasher tries to drop an elbow but Gilbert moves and he hits Smith. Gilbert misses a fist drop off the ropes. Thrasher grabs Gilbert and Smith charges. Gilbert moves and Smith hits Thrasher. Thrasher trips Smith and leaves. Gilbert with a back breaker on Smith and Snuka comes off with the splash getting the win in 3.07.

Terry Funk is on his ranch again hyping the chain match on June 19th. Funk says the chain match has been banned for the past few years because it’s so violent.

Suicide Blondes are in the locker room. They have apparently been on a trip to England. While there they were knighted. Good for them.

Tag Team Champions Larry Winters & Tony Stetson vs. Suicide Blondes ref Jim Molineux
Nontitle match for Stetson and Winters and if you are unlucky enough to have a broken fast forward button the second time we see them tonight. Stetson hip tosses Christopher Candido and he complains about a pull of the tights. Candido blocks a hip toss Stetson ducks a clothesline and hits an atomic drop sending Candido into Jonathan Hotbody. Tag to Winters and he goes to work on the arm. Stetson tagged in a he hits a swinging next breaker. “Wildman” Sal Bellomo comes to ringside in a mask and says he is a third member of the Super Destoyers. The Blondes have taken control in the ring as Candido lands a suplex on Winters tags and they hit a double drop kick. Snap suplex by Hotbody and he takes back to Candido. A few tags back and forth with nothing really happening. Winters gets his knees up on a rocket launder splash and makes the tag. All four men brawl in the ring. The champions both have a sunset flip in a get the pin at 5.15. The Blondes attack the champs from behind as they are walking down the aisle to go to the locker room.

“Magnificent” Don Muraco (w/Eddie Gilbert, Superfly Snuka & Paul E. Dangerously) vs. Glen Osbourne ref Joe Dinolli
Paul E. intros Muraco and calls him the next ECW Champion. Osbourne has the early advantage working over the arm. Muraco pulls the hair to break an arm bar. Muraco goes to the floor to talk strategy with Gilbert. Osbourne goes back to the arm and Muraco counters with a samoan drop. Osbourne fights back with a flying clothesline. Osbourne charges Muraco and gets caught with a hotshot. Muraco hits the tombstone piledriver for the win at 4.37

ECW Heavyweight Champion Sandman vs. Rockin’ Rebel ref John Finnegan
Tigra and Peaches are barred from ringside for this match. Sandman chases Rebel out of the ring and we get the bell. Rebel refusing to get into the ring. Sandman finally goes out after him and they fight on the floor. Rebel throws him into the ring post. They make their way into the ring. Sandman reverses a corner whip and hits Rebel with an elbow as he stumbles out. Rebel bails to the floor. Sandman lays down so Rebel will get back into the ring. Another corner whip back elbow combo. Rebel kicks whipped into the ropes and comes out with a clothesline that gets 2. Rebel with a jaw breaker and Sulli questions what Rebel calls that move. Another clothesline and big leg drop by Rebel. Sandman barely kicks out. Sandman lands a drop kick. Suplex by Rebel gets 2. They brawl and end up hitting each other with clotheslines. Tigra and Peaches hit the ring causing a DQ at 6.33

Suicide Blondes have been granted a tag title match next week. Sal Bellomo comes to ring Super Destroyer 3 debus next week. Bellomo keeps taking off the mask so he can eat pizza.

My thoughts on the show
All I can really say about this weeks show is that it was better than last weeks. Hoping and praying that Winters and Stetson drop the straps next week. Looks like they may be heading to a Muraco/Sandman match for the title with Muraco calling him out today.

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TV 1993-05-25 (Matches taped 1993-04-03 from Cabrini College in Radnor, PA)

Champions
Heavyweight: Sandman
TV: Superfly Jimmy Snuka
Tag: Tony Stetson & Larry Winters

We open with footage of Paul E. Dangerously and Tod Gordon from last week.

Jay Sulli and Stevie Wonderful welcome us to the show again this week and run down the show. The TV and Tag Team Titles are both on the line tonight.

Super Destroyer 3 vs. H.D. Rider (w/ E.Z. Rider) ref Jim Molineaux
Bellomo comes out to his own music and even the announcer is about to call him “Wildman” Sal Bellomo before Bellomo stops him. The announcers are talking like this is the funniest thing ever. They seriously giggle through the entire 3.29 match. Sal wins with splash after doing nothing but punch and kick the whole match. The real Super Destroyers and Hunter Q. Robbins III charge the ring and attack Bellomo. Robbins gets on the mic and says no one better ever make fun of the Destroyers again.

Tigra versus Peaches in a cat fight and Sandman takes on Rockin’ Rebel in a street fight at Super Summer Sizzler.

Tag Team Champions Larry Winters & Tony Stetson vs. Suicide Blondes ref John Finnegan
Winters and Stetson right the ring and go right at the Blondes. The Blondes get whipped into each other and bail to the floor. We get the bell to officially start the match as Christopher Candido gets into the ring with Winters. Shoulder block by Candido and Winters with a monkey flip and goes into a headlock. Candido goes for a monkey flip but gets stomped on instead. Winters back to the headlock. They tag back and forth a few times. Winters back in with an atomic drop and Candido cuts him off and is able to make a tag to Jonathan Hotbody. Hotbody with a vertical suplex and side slam. Each move gets him a two count. Candido taged in and he drops a leg on Winters. Hotbody comes in and Winters DDTs him and both men groggy but Winters doesn’t make the tag even though he has a chance. Winters charges Hotbody in the corner but Hotbody pulls the ref in the way. Candido and Stetson fight on the floor. Candido gets a chain as Hotbody holds Winters. Winters breaks free and blocks the punch. Candido drops the chain and Hotbody picks it up and nails Winters. The Suicide Blondes are the new Tag Team Champions in 5.10! Winters and Stetson held the belts for 2 weeks TV but only 1 calendar day. The Blondes have actually been the champions since before the first TV show aired.

Tod Gordon is at ringside when we come back from commercial to talk about the chain match on June 19th. Paul E. comes to ring with “Magnificent” Don Muraco as Gordon is about to throw to a Terry Funk interview. Dangerously talks trash about Sandman and tells Gordon that his champion is crap. Gordon says he’s going to go sign the title match right now. Muraco and Paul E. laugh about how stupid Gordon is. Muraco tells Paul E to call Dominos before he gets in the ring for his match.

“Magnificent” Don Muraco (w/ Eddie Gilbert, Superfly Snuka & Paul E. Dangerously) vs. Ernesto Benifico ref Joe Dinolli
Muraco makes a complete joke about this match. Ernesto irish whips him and he walks to the ropes and bounces off and walks back. Ernesto drops down and Muraco slowly steps over him. They lightly bump into each other. Muraco press Ernesto and drops him. Ernesto comes off the top rope but Muraco catches him and tombstones him to pick up the easy win in 2.31.

They show the Terry Funk interview from two weeks ago.

“Ironman” Tommy Cairo & JT Smith vs. Canadian Wolfman & Max Thrasher ref Jim Molineaux
Smith found a partner to help him in his new feud with Max Thrasher. Cairo and Thrasher start off. Cairo uses his power to throw Thrasher to the mat. Cairo with a suplex. Thrasher rakes the eyes and takes Wolfman. Cairo with a belly to belly suplex and body slam. Smith somes in with a belly to belly of his own. Irish whip and Smith hits a flying clothesline. Drop kick by Smith. Smith throws Wolfman to the corner and Thrasher tags in. Thrasher yells at Smith and tags Wolfman back in. Cairo in he powerslams Wolfman. Smith tagged in and a rocket launcher gets the win at 3.57.

TV Champion “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka (w/ Don Muraco, Eddie Gilbert & Paul E. Dangerously) vs. Glen Osbourne ref John Finnegan
Rematch from the finals of the title tournament. Jay Sulli asks for the 100th time in 3 weeks if they are Hotstuff International or The Dangerous Alliance. Snuka goes to the floor and when he tries to get back in Osbourne knocks him back to the floor. Suplex to the inside by Osbourne and and snapmare gets a 2 count. Headlock by Osbourne. Snuka comes back with some knees and a chop. Snuka misses a corner charge and gets school boyed and kicks out JUST before the 3 count. Monkey flip out of the corner by Osbourne. He goes for it again but Snuka holds onto the ropes and Osbourne crashes to the mat. Snuka with a back breaker and superfly splash for the win at 4.57.

Tod Gordon is at ringside with Sulli and out comes Eddie Gilbert. Gilbert says ECW stands for Eddie’s Championship Wrestling. Gilbert says he’s not going to fight Funk. Gordon says he killed their family dog when they were kids. They go to a Terry Funk interview. Funk says he’s never seen a low life like Gilbert. Funk is going to beat up Gilbert in the chain match. The Sandman and Don Muraco match has been signed for next week.

My thoughts on the show
Much better show then the last few weeks. Winters and Stetson drop the straps which is great news. The Dangerous Alliance spend a lot of time on the mic tonight and that’s a good thing. The wrestling on these shows is really just so bad it’s almost impossible to recommend them. Thank God for the talent of guys like Heyman and Gilbert on the mic to keep things going.

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