– The release of announcer Josh Mathews came as a big shock to most people within WWE. Mathews release was part of the going budget cuts. WWE had been making cuts in each department and Mathews was apparently at the bottom of the announcers list.
News On The Mr. McMahon Character And Stephanie McMahon’s Role On TV
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
WWE is now billing Stephanie McMahon as “The principal owner of World Wrestling Entertainment” instead of “one of the principal owners.” When it comes to Vince McMahon, there is some significance in that small change of wording.
With plans falling through months ago for Vince McMahon to return to TV in time for the WrestleMania XXX storylines, the impression was given that the character will remain retired for the time being.
Jinder Mahal Surprised By Release, Big E Makes Joke On AJ ‘Pregnancy’
– Jinder Mahal, who was released two weeks ago by WWE along with ten other performers, says he was taken by surprise by the news.
“I was surprised, because [3MB] were pretty well booked on everything,” Mahal told SLAM! Wrestling in his first interview since his departure from WWE. “We were on a lot of the live events, a lot of the overseas tours. We were always on Raw and Smackdown, and if we weren’t, we would do Superstars or Main Event in the week. So yeah, I was surprised.”
Mahal plans to continue his wrestling career as he is accepting bookings through veteran talent booker Bill Behrens at sbibookings.com. Since he is prohibited from appearing under his WWE ring name on the independent circuit, he’ll be known as Raj Singh going forward, the same name he used in his early wrestling days coming out of Calgary. The name is based on his real name of Yuvraj Singh Dhesi.
“I want to keep wrestling,” Mahal says. “I’m still young and I would like to go back to WWE someday and accomplish things that I never got to do, work with people that I never got to work with.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Mahal discussed his experience in 3MB, working with Drew McIntyre, future plans and more. The full interview is available here.
– Big E made a joking reference to the rumor of AJ Lee being pregnant in a Twitter message on Wednesday.
Big thanks to @Mattel. Now I understand the inclusion of the cookie sheet: the bun in the oven! #SoSayethTheInternet
Heyman Reveals Why He Thinks CM Punk Left, AJ Lee Pregnancy Rumor Update
Paul Heyman appeared on Wednesday’s Talk is Jericho podcast and talked about CM Punk leaving. Heyman said that the only thing about it that surprised him was how long it took.
“He was unhappy,” said Heyman. “He had enough. He couldn’t take it anymore… A year before he walked there was daily conversations of, ‘I don’t think I’m going to be able to take this. I’m not sure how much longer I’m going to be here. I don’t know how much longer it’s going to be before I just decide to go home.’ I’m surprised it lasted that long… Every day with him was an exercise in him finding the balance to simply continue on and find the passion he needed to do it. And I think what happened was he walked in the day after the Royal Rumble and he couldn’t find that passion. He couldn’t convince himself or persuade himself, ‘OK, whether I’m happy or not this is about the performance, my legacy. It’s about I take pride in what I do. And whether I’m happy or unhappy when I go out there I’m going to be the best CM Punk I can be.’ And I think somewhere during that day he couldn’t find that.”
– AJ Lee was expected to come back to WWE TV this summer after she took time off from the company after WrestleMania 30. However, nobody within WWE has said a word about AJ Lee as of late.
As far as the rumors of her being pregnant are concerned, there has yet to be any confirmation on that story at this point.
Spoilers: TNA Impact Results for 7/24/14
Thanks to Michaela R. for the following TNA Impact Wrestling spoilers from tonight’s tapings in New York City 6/25/14 for airing on 7/24/14.
* Dixie Carter kicks off the show and comes out to huge heel heat with Rockstar Spud, Rhino and Ethan Carter III. Bully Ray ends up interrupting for a fight. Devon makes a surprise return to a big pop and Team 3D reunites in NYC. They clean house and Ray holds EC3 while Devon hits the diving headbutt. They then put Ethan through a table and teased putting Dixie through one.
* Velvet Sky defeated Gail Kim in an Xplosion match.
* Robbie E returns as BroMans come out. Low Ki vs. DJ Zema Ion is next. Low Ki gets the easy win and a big pop.
* The Great Muta came out to barely a reaction which was odd. Muta quickly squashed Robbie E. James Storm came out to have words with Muta. Storm attacked Muta and Sanada ran out. Storm left the ring and Sanada attacked Muta with a steel chair and hit a moonsault.
– Jeff Hardy comes out limping and said we haven’t seen the last of Willow. He brings out Matt Hardy to a pop. Matt cuts a promo about turning his life around and said it’s time to become the TNA Tag Team Champions. The Wolves come out with their titles to respond. A tag team title match is announced for the Destination X tapings.
* In-ring segment with Kurt Angle and Austin Aries. Aries is asked to give up the X Division Title to face Bobby Lashley for the World Heavyweight Title at Destination X. MVP and Lashley were also in the ring. Aries agrees to give up the title and will face Lashley at Destination X.
– King Mo comes out and cuts a promo with Dixie Carter.
* The main event is a Street Fight and it’s Devon, Bully Ray and Tommy Dreamer vs. Rhino, Ethan Carter III and Rockstar Spud. Ezekiel Jackson and Snitsky run in wearing black hoodies and help Team Dixie get the win. Impact ends with Dixie, King Mo, Snitsky, Ezekiel, Rhino, EC3 and Spud posing together.
Jonathan Coachman No Longer Returning To Work With WWE?
Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter
We noted earlier this year that former WWE announcer and current ESPN anchor Jonathan Coachman would be working with WWE in some capacity this summer, possibly on the WWE Network or some kind of involvement at SummerSlam. Coachman himself even teased an announcement about working with WWE again. The report was that Coachman would be staying with ESPN but was going to be doing some side projects with WWE as well.
It appears the talks between WWE and Coach fell through. A fan on Twitter on Twitter wrote that everyone wants Coachman back in WWE and he replied with the following:
“everyone except @wwe.”
TNA Makes A Huge ‘Bound For Glory’ Announcement Today
Source: PWInsider
TNA’s Dixie Carter and Wrestle-1’s The Great Muta announced at their press conference in New York City today that the Bound For Glory pay-per-view will be held on Sunday, October 12th in Tokyo, Japan at Korakuen Hall.
WWE Releases Announcer Josh Matthews
Credit to PWInsider
Josh Mathews has been released from WWE within the past 24 hours. His profile has already been removed from the WWE roster page and placed under the Alumni roster.
Mathews has been with the company since the original Tough Enough reality series on MTV and has been the host of the weekly Raw Pre-Shows, as well as PPV pre-show events.
