Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
With WWE currently booking Roman Reigns as one of the top guys in a big way, it’s said that his ascension to the top likely would have been a slower one if Daniel Bryan was healthy and still WWE World Heavyweight Champion with John Cena as the other top guy.
Coming out of The Shield vs. Evolution feud and the split with The Shield, the idea is that Reigns will work a feud with Orton and maybe a big pay-per-view match with Triple H before moving on.
– Jerry Lawler has been greatly involved in trying to resurrect and assemble what’s left of the old Memphis Wrestling video library. Lawler has been reaching out personally and via intermediaries to people who have masters and/or good quality copies of old Memphis Wrestling TV episodes in an attempt to acquire them. Lawler has apparently a number of DVD vendors that are helping with the search also.
UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta doesn’t believe the promotion is holding too many events. Recently, UFC 176 was postponed after Jose Aldo suffered an injury and the main event with Chad Mendes was scrapped. The card was expected to take place August 2 from Los Angeles and the Staples Center.
“I don’t think so,” said Fertitta, during an interview on FOX Sports Live that you can view in the video above. “I think sometimes these come and go. Last year, we went through the entire year and I don’t think we had to replace one card. Overall, at the end of the day, we have all of these guys coming back. The lineup in the fall is going to be pretty strong.”
Aldo-Mendes is expected to take place in October, possibly returning to Brazil. Aldo, the UFC featherweight champion, defeated Mendes in 2012 in Rio de Janeiro via first round knockout.
Despite the decision to move ahead without UFC 176, the next pay-per-view card, UFC 177: Dillashaw vs. Barao 2, will remain titled the same. The promotion previously scrapped an event when Jon Jones refused to defend his light heavyweight title against Chael Sonnen after Dan Henderson suffered a training injury.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
It’s said that many people within WWE have seen a major ascension from Renee Young lately. With her recent promotion to commentary on WWE Superstars, there’s a feeling that Renee will end up doing commentary for SmackDown and eventually move to RAW.
It was reported several months ago that ESPN was interested in hiring her. Regarding possibly leaving WWE for ESPN, Renee has at least given the impression that she’s staying with WWE and has some time left on her WWE deal.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
– Emma was not backstage at Monday’s RAW and her name has not been brought up internally. As noted, her arrest for larceny came as a major shock to everyone.
– Former WCW and nWo star Masahiro Chono has apparently signed a deal with WWE that allows him to sell nWo t-shirts in Japan.
Chono has been negotiating with WWE and feels that it’s the right time to bring the shirts back as nostalgia items. The shirts will feature the original nWo designs with a WWE logo.
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Word is that Daniel Bryan may now need shoulder surgery. A full exam recently revealed a lot of different shoulder and neck issues that Bryan has.
Due to the uncertainty surrounding Bryan’s condition, he is out of all WWE plans and there is no internal estimate on when he will be back.
Chris Jericho and Fozzy have announced their full schedule for concerts and WWE dates over the next few months. Thanks to IconvsIcon.com for the listing:
Fozzy’s confirmed tour dates with Theory of a Deadman: * Fozzy only
July 24 – Los Angeles, CA – The Whisky* (record release show!)
August 2 – Syracuse, NY – New York State Fairgrounds*
September 13 – Janesville, WI – Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport*
September 17 – Tempe, AZ – The Marquee
September 19 – San Antonio, TX – Backstage Live
September 23 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage
September 24 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore
September 26 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
September 27 – Winston-Salem, NC – Ziggy’s
October 2 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live
October 3 – Knoxville, TN – The International
October 6 – Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club
October 7 – Boston, MA – House of Blues
October 8 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
October 11 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
Chris Jericho’s confirmed WWE dates:
July 12 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden (WWE Live)
July 13 – Wildwood, NJ – Wildwoods Convention Center (WWE Live)
July 14 – Richmond, VA – The Richmond Coliseum (WWE RAW)
July 15 – Fayetteville, NC – Crown Coliseum (WWE Smackdown)
July 20 – Tampa, FL – Tampa Bay Times Front (WWE Battleground PPV)
July 26 – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place (WWE Live)
July 27 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
July 28 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center (WWE RAW)
July 29 – Corpus Christi, TX – American Bank Center (WWE Smackdown)
August 3 – San Antonio, TX – Freeman Coliseum (WWE Live)
August 4 – Austin, TX Frank – Erwin Center (WWE RAW)
August 5 – Laredo, TX Laredo – Energy Center (WWE Smackdown)
August 7 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena (WWE Live)
August 8 – Sydney, Australia – Allphones Arena (WWE Live)
August 9 – Perth, Australia – Perth Arena (WWE Live)
August 11 – Portland, OR – Moda Center (WWE RAW)
August 12 – Seattle, WA – Key Arena (WWE Smackdown)
August 16 – San Jose, CA – Sap Center (WWE Live)
August 17 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center (WWE Summer Slam PPV)
August 18 – Las Vegas, NV – Thomas and Mack Center (WWE RAW)
August 19 – Phoenix, AZ – US Airways Center (WWE Smackdown)
August 25 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center (WWE RAW)
August 26 – Ontario, CA – Citizens Business Bank Arena (WWE Smackdown)
September 1 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena (WWE RAW)
September 2 – Lincoln, NE – TBA (WWE Live)
September 8 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Arena (WWE RAW)
September 9 – Wilkes Barre, PA – TBA (WWE Live)
September 15 – Lafayette, LA – Cajundome (WWE RAW)
September 21 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena (WWE Night of Champions PPV)
September 22 – Memphis, TN – FedEx Forum (WWE RAW)
Source: PWInsider
WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair is scheduled for next week’s live RAW in Richmond, Virginia and the SmackDown tapings in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Flair was originally scheduled to work this weekend’s live events in the Northeast but WWE creative has booked him into next week’s TV shows.
