WWE General Discussion

[The Dark Vampire]

Talk about anything WWE here that covers things which covers WWE as a whole and not just Raw-Smackdown or ECW

[The Dark Vampire]

WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
THE 2007 DIVA SEARCH

CONTEST DESCRIPTION

Think you’ve got what it takes to be a WWE Diva? World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., 1241 East Main Street, Stamford, CT 06902 (“WWE”), is seeking beautiful, glamorous, physically fit, talented and charismatic women to participate in the 2007 Diva Search (the “Search”). As part of the Search, WWE select approximately fifty (50) semi-finalists from among all eligible entrants. WWE will then host a casting event in Los Angeles, CA on August 16, 2007 where judges will select, from the semi-finalists, eight (8) finalists who best exhibit the qualities of a WWE Diva.

The eight finalists will go on to participate in a series of challenges (“Challenges”) currently scheduled to be filmed in Los Angeles, CA from August 17 – 19, 2007. The Challenges will be shown on WWE television programming and posted on www.wwe.com, one Challenge per week, throughout the early fall. After each Challenge is posted, WWE fans will be asked to consider each finalist’s performance during that Challenge and whether or not each finalist has the qualities of a WWE Diva. WWE fans will then be invited to vote for their favorite finalist. The finalist who receives the fewest number of votes each week will be eliminated, and the Challenge performances of the remaining finalists will be broadcast during WWE television programming and posted on www.wwe.com over the following several weeks until a single finalist, the woman fans have selected as best exhibiting the qualities of a WWE Diva, is left and is declared the Winner of the 2007 Diva Search.

THE WINNER WILL BE AWARDED A WWE TALENT CONTRACT WORTH UP TO $100,000 (US DOLLARS). THE TALENT CONTRACT WILL BE SUBJECT TO WWE STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS CONTEST IS GOVERNED BY THE COMPLETE TERMS AND CONDITIONS (THE “COMPLETE TERMS”), WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON ON THIS WEBSITE. ENTRANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO READ AND SIGN THE COMPLETE TERMS ONCE THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.

To be eligible to enter and participate entrants must:

* be, and must have been born, female and must be legal residents of the forty-eight (48) contiguous United States (excludes Alaska and Hawaii), the District of Columbia or Canada (excluding Quebec);
* be at least eighteen (18) years old at the time of application and also must have reached the age of eighteen (18) at the time any photographs they submit in connection with the application are taken; and
* not be employees, officers or directors, or members of the immediate families or household of employees, officer or directors of WWE, or its affiliates, or any person or entity involved in the Contest’s development or execution.

To enter, please apply online at divasearch.wwe.com by filling out the this Entry Form and following the instructions for electronically submitting photographs of yourself that meet the following technical specifications: (i) jpeg format; (ii) 300 x 400 pixels; and (iii) resolution of 72 dots per inch. You must submit a minimum of two (2) and up to three (3) current photographs of yourself, including at least one full, true-to-life head shot and at least one full, true-to-life head-to-toe body shot. Photographs must have been taken when or after you had reached the age of eighteen (18). Photographs must be a clear, honest and accurate depiction of you. No one other than you may appear in the photographs. If you are a minor in your state of residence, your parent or legal guardian must consent to the submission of this Entry Form (including the photographs).

Entries must be received no later than 11:59 pm (ET) on July 30, 2007, when the Search application period ends. All other forms of application are void. Late applications will not be considered.

Limit one (1) application per person. All submitted application materials and photographs become the exclusive property of WWE, and none will be returned.

No one other than you may appear in the photographs. Photographs must be original and must not include false, deceptive, altered, manipulated, unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, pornographic or profane material, material that violates the intellectual property, privacy or other rights of third parties. Applications that include photographs depicting nudity will be disqualified.

WWE’S OWNERSHIP AND PUBLICITY RIGHTS. By submitting this Entry Form along with photographs (the “Submission”), each entrant assigns to WWE all of her right, title and interest, including, without limitation, her copyright and all moral rights, in and to her Submission and acknowledges that, as the owner of the Submission, WWE shall have an exclusive, unrestricted, perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, freely-assignable and irrevocable right to use, edit, alter, copy, reproduce, license, sell, rent, disclose, display, publish, prepare derivative works from, perform, distribute, exhibit, broadcast, or otherwise exploit the Submission, as well as the entrant’s name, address, biographical material and personal information, and any speaking, posing, singing, musical, acting and/or other performance, included in the Submission (collectively, “Name and Likeness”), whether in their original form or as altered, edited, lifted or reproduced by WWE, its subsidiaries, affiliates and agents, in whole or in part, on or in any merchandise, media or technology now known or hereafter developed, including, without limitation, print media, television, radio and the Internet, for any purpose whatsoever, including, but not limited to, advertising, promotion, merchandising, entertainment or commercial purposes, without additional consideration to, or further authorization by, the entrant. Each entrant understands that her Submission, or parts thereof, may be shown on television or the Internet, or otherwise used by WWE, in connection with promoting the Contest or otherwise. Each entrant agrees not to make any claim against WWE, its subsidiaries, affiliates and agents as a result of the use of the entrant’s Submission and/or Name and Likeness, including, without limitation, any claim that such use invades any right of privacy and/or publicity.

Each entrant represents and warrants that she has the right to grant to WWE all the rights granted in this paragraph and that nothing in the Submission is false or will violate the rights of any third party.

TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN OF MINOR APPLICANTS WHO RESIDE IN ALABAMA, NEBRASKA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, NEW BRUNSWICK, NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, NOVA SCOTIA, NUNAVUT OR YUKON AND HAVE NOT REACHED THE AGE OF NINETEEN (19) AND BY PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN OF MINOR APPLICANTS WHO RESIDE IN MISSISSIPPI OR PENNSYLVANIA AND HAVE NOT REACHED THE AGE OF TWENTY-ONE (21):

I REPRESENT AND WARRANT THAT I AM THE PARENT/LEGAL GUARDIAN OF THE MINOR APPLICANT IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND THAT I HAVE RECEIVED, READ AND UNDERSTOOD THE FOREGOING PRELIMINARY ENTRY FORM. I FULLY CONSENT TO AND AUTHORIZE THE ENTRANT’S PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST AS DETAILED HEREIN. I ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT ALL REPRESENTATIONS, CONSENTS, AGREEMENTS, GRANTS, WAIVERS, AUTHORIZATIONS, INDEMNIFICATIONS AND RELEASES HEREIN SHALL BE REGARDED AS MADE BY ME ON BEHALF OF THE MINOR AND SHALL BE BINDING ON ME AND THE MINOR.

Credit>http://www.wwe.com/divasearch/termsandconditions

and just in case any of the F13th ladys wish to join here is the form
http://divaform.wwe.com/

[Denzil]

People want Triple H Back?

This is the time where i get a bit confused.

Lots of people are pretty pumped to see Triple H return, yet when he was on top of the WWE as a heel two years ago everyone hated him and couldn't stand his 20 minute promos at the start of RAW. They also said that he was holding people down and squashing the rising stars of the WWE.

Now people are pretty amped to see the "King of Kings" making his triumphant return. I've even read forum posts where they are hoping that he wins the title quite soon after he returns.

May how times change...

[The Dark Vampire]

Er your so behind the times it's cool to hate Cena now

Granted if HHH wins the title after few wins we will be back to the HHH's is only champ because he's banging Steph

[Denzil]

I thought that it was ok to like Cena because he has more than 4 moves now?

[kain4521]

People want Triple H Back?

This is the time where i get a bit confused.

Lots of people are pretty pumped to see Triple H return, yet when he was on top of the WWE as a heel two years ago everyone hated him and couldn't stand his 20 minute promos at the start of RAW. They also said that he was holding people down and squashing the rising stars of the WWE.

Now people are pretty amped to see the "King of Kings" making his triumphant return. I've even read forum posts where they are hoping that he wins the title quite soon after he returns.

May how times change...

Gotta have the one guy that everybody loves to hate. Nobody fits that role in the WWE right now. Sure Randy Orton and Kennedy are great heels, Khali just stumbles around until he does his chop of doom but HHH can make people cheer for him one minute and the next are ready to throw stuff at him and that is what makes him a great performer in and out of the ring. And the reason people want him to have the belt is because they are tired of Cena. I really don't have a problem with Cena as a wrestler but it is time for a change in the title chase.

[FinalBeyond]

I thought that it was ok to like Cena because he has more than 4 moves now?

He does? Why didn't he use them in London against HBK? :p

So, so many headlocks...

[Denzil]

True, although on another forum they have done a "Cena Movewatch 2007"

Cena Watch '07

NO lying.

Add moves as he does them or if you remember any.

1. FU
2. STFU
3. Protoplex
4. Five Knuckle Shuffle
5. Diving shoulder Tackle
6. Fisherman Suplex
7. Poorly executed top rope leg drop
8. Clothesline
9. Punch
10. Bulldog/Throwback
11. School Boy Roll up
12. Drop toe hold
13. Arm Drag
14. The Steps Throw (See: Royal Rumble, Umaga)
15. Hurling of Edge into the Sea
16. FU through a table
17. FU through TWO tables
18. FU off of steps onto a table
19. FU off of machinery
20. STFU Ladder Sandwich (actually kind of cool)
21. STFU w/ the Ring Ropes to choke
22. Weak chairshot
23. Kicking of chair when he realizes just how bad that chair shot was.
24. Feet up when being sandwish in the corner
25. Protoplex on the steps
26. Five Knuckle Shuffle with someone on the steps
27. Five knuckle Shuffle off of the ladder.
28. Pumping up of Pump up shoes
29. 'You can't see me' hand gesture
30. Hiptoss while landing on his ass like a goon
31. Powerslam - kinda.
32. Weak kick when setting up FU.
33. Monitor CRUSH~!
34. Back elbow
35. Elbow Drop
36. Body slam
37. DDT
38. Irish Whip
39. Running the ropes
40. Marine Salute
41. Screaming/Yelling
42. Quivering
43. Overcoming the Odds
44. Missing cross body's
45. Side Headlockuge
46. FU off of the top rope.
47. Throwing someone into pole

;)

My favourite is number 15.

I think if we are talking about headlocks Randy Orton is the worst at the moment, his matches contain loads of headlocks.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h280/bravedeal07/anotherheadlockrandy.gif

However, he is pretty over so i can see him winning the title at Summerslam.

[JVY2K]

The WWE has been shit in recent months and years! I've been an on again off again viewer, but ever since they bought out WCW, the show has taken a major nose dive and IMO is still trying to recover...

That's why I want TNA to get bigger and better so that WWE will be forced to step up the volume and start producing quality shows again. After all it was the major rise of WCW that gave us the amazing programs WWF gave us through 1997-2000. But as soon as WWF bought WCW the programs got less entertaining, the writing got sloppier and we lost guys like The Rock and Austin who weren't happy in the direction. Had WWE kept up what they were doing '97-00 then we may still have had The Rock and Austin. Austin has said many times that he'd come back but he doesn't think he'd be used right.

The WWE needs competition before it's going to get good again. Look at the history. The early days was about building a successful product, which Vince did with much help from Hulk Hogan. By the early 90's though Vince felt comfortable enough in his product to let certain things slide, such as entertainment, good storylines etc. And we got PPVs like Mania 7&8. Still successful but nowhere near the caliber of previous Mania's. Why? Because the WWF had been established as a power player and Vince’s pockets had been loaded. He could afford to put on cheap shows and get away with it...

Then when he realized Hogan couldn't carry the WWEE on his shoulders anymore, he got worries his product might tumble. So he changed gears and went with the new generation. Built stars like Bret Hart, HBK, Razor Ramon, Owen Hart, etc. And we saw some good shit again through late '93 and all through '94. Then he let his product go to shit while fighting his steroids battle in court. Came back and realize WCW was now throwing him over in the ratings and once again, Vince stepped up and gave us, as mentioned above, 1997-2000. Prime, awesome, beautifully written and entertaining storylines and matches. Then he bought out his competition and he could go back to be lazy again...

Bottom line, the WWE needs competition in order for Vince to put his heart back in the product. So until TNA rises or another fed comes along, we'll continue getting the pure shit we're getting for as long as it takes for some competition to come along.

As a WWE fan, I hope that happens sooner than later as I miss sitting down on Monday nights and having my ass entertained as hell!! Another favorite of mine was coming home after a night of partying Friday night, poppin’ my taped Smackdown in and vegging to some quality WWF while nursing a hangover. I want to be able to do this again, but I don't see a surge coming anytime sooner. Unfortunately.

[The Dark Vampire]

Reported By Marc on Jul 25, 2007 - 6:07:24 PM

- PWInsider.com is reporting that within the past few weeks, there has been a major push from Bonnie Hammer and the USA Network for WWE to step their product up, due to the recent ratings decline.

Apparently Hammer is even sending memos to WWE suggesting ideas and storylines. Reportedly she wants a more Vince Russo-like product and wants to see names like Steve Austin, John Cena, Chris Jericho and the McMahons featured. Hammer wants WWE to have something like it did back in its Attitude era.




There are talks with Stephanie McMahon and RAW writer Brian Gerwitz about changing Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas into a gay tag team gimmick in which they will be kissing during backstage interviews and doing gay antics just like Billy and Chuck.

Credit>Wrestling Observer
ADDED:
To add to that I did put it on the other site but I'll add it here
The USA Network is considering expanding Raw to a weekly three hour television show starting in the fall. The extra hour of Raw would almost for sure guarantee another highly rated hour for the network, which would help the network maintain their status as being the most watched network on cable TV. WWE is not thrilled with the idea, but the advantage of WWE expanding the show would be a rate increase from the USA Network.



Credit>Wrestling Observer Newsletter

[Special Killa B]

Good I hope USA lights a fire under Vince's ass!!!! I want to see kick ass wrestling again!!!!

[The Dark Vampire]

But Russo like for gods sake that will make things even worse.

I agree we need the attitude era stuff but not Russo crap

[kain4521]

Kind of odd that they would go to 3hrs with the network complaining about a ratings decline.

[The Dark Vampire]

True

I did read though even though ratings are dropping off most weeks (something like 9 weeks out of 10 maybe even more ) Raw is still the highest rated show on the USA network.

It lost to Monk the other week but apart from that it's still number 1 that to my knowledge is the only time it's been number 2 since it went back to USA

[Mutant Leprechaun]

Another possible injury:
Source: WrestlingObserver.com

According to reports from fans at the Wheeling, WV house show, Santino Marella may have injured is shoulder or collarbone. Marella appeared to be injured after taking Umaga’s spinning side slam. The referee then threw up the “X” and Umaga went for the Spike to win the match.

Afterwards Marella was helped to the back alongside the trainer while favoring his shoulder or collarbone. No other details have emerged, we will update you when we receive new information.

[Kane Lives]

I hope RAW doesn't go to three hours.

I've always preferred the two hour formats personally. I never liked Nitro as much after it expanded to a three hour show.

[Violent VictiM]

I don't really watch anything on TV when South Park isn't on, besides wrestling. So truthfully a 3 hour show would be okay with me. My friends and I usually gather at my friend Ty's house, we buy a 24 pack, smoke some weed and just bullshit while RAW's on in the background. So another hour to drink and smoke is always a great thing.

I agree wrestling has gone to shit, but I've learned to appreciate it for what it's worth; a soap opera for dudes that I've watched since I was 4. They could have Shelton and Charlie become gay, Khali become gay, John Cena the champ when he's 60, HHH coming out and just flashing his balls for 20 minutes, it won't matter. I, along with the rest of you, are still going to watch. I watch now only to see the few stars I do like, and to see when they are actually going to do something that WOW's me again.

I think HHH said earlier in the year that he wants to go face and stay face for the rest of his career. So if Orton does win the title, I can see him losing it to HHH. Either that, or the September/October PPV is definitely going to be headlined by a HHH/Cena/Orton triple-threat.

[Deathscythe]

I hear that Rey Mysterio was a stunt double for Freddy Krueger in Freddy vs. Jason, can anyone confirm this?

[Mutant Leprechaun]

I hear that Rey Mysterio was a stunt double for Freddy Krueger in Freddy vs. Jason, can anyone confirm this? Yeah he was Robert Englund's double for the stunt where Freddy jumps out of the water to get Lori near the end of the movie.

Screencap:

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w139/Mutant-Leprechaun/PDVD_151.jpg

[CosmoBubba]

You know, it didn't hit me until just now, but maybe it was a good thing that WWE fired Sabu when they did. If he'd been around after the Benoit thing, it would have looked really bad for WWE to have a guy billed as a "homicidal, suicidal, genocidal maniac" on the payroll.

[Special Killa B]

Source: PWInsider.com

John Cena got his 100th win of 2007 Monday with his disqualification victory over Snitsky on RAW. It was his 115th match of the year.

15 Non Wins? I'm surprised he didn't win all of them :side:

I'm trying to think of who he lost to or had a draw with:

1. K-Fed pinned him in January
2. Lost the Tag Titles in the Tag Team Battle Royal in April

LOL those are the only two I can think of

[Nick Michalak]

I didn't even bother watching Cena vs. Snitsky. When McMahon announced the match, the crowd had no f'n reaction! Snitsky has never and will never be over as a serious heel. He's a 3rd rate Psycho Sid, and even Sid himself is bad enough after the bell rings.

-NJM

[Mutant Leprechaun]

I didn't even bother watching Cena vs. Snitsky. When McMahon announced the match, the crowd had no f'n reaction! Snitsky has never and will never be over as a serious heel. He's a 3rd rate Psycho Sid, and even Sid himself is bad enough after the bell rings.

-NJM To be fair though, the crowd was pretty damn awful anyway. They might as well not have even been there if it weren't for the average pop they gave Cena's entrance.

[The Dark Vampire]

To be fair though, the crowd was pretty damn awful anyway. They might as well not have even been there if it weren't for the average pop they gave Cena's entrance.

Crowds like that annoy me at times sometimes it seems like they don't want to even be there even if the wrestler is over or the match is good they don't do much.

On the other hand you have TNA crowds who chant "This is awesome" before they even lock up

[Special Killa B]

Source: PWInsider.com

John Cena got his 100th win of 2007 Monday with his disqualification victory over Snitsky on RAW. It was his 115th match of the year.

15 Non Wins? I'm surprised he didn't win all of them :side:

I'm trying to think of who he lost to or had a draw with:

1. K-Fed pinned him in January
2. Lost the Tag Titles in the Tag Team Battle Royal in April

LOL those are the only two I can think of

3. The Great Khali pinned him on SNME a few months back. (I knew I would think of another one.) :D

[The Dark Vampire]

4-Carlito pinned him a few weeks ago on Raw

[Mutant Leprechaun]

5. Shawn Michaels' pinned him a few months ago on Raw after their 50 minute match.

[The Dark Vampire]

I think some loses will of happened at house shows as well
ADDED:
Lots of talk of another PPV being axed in 2008, probably Cyber Sunday. Instead of doing it as a PPV, they might switch it to another special three-hour Raw with the same concept.

There is talk that Extreme Expose may all share Playboy leading up to next year's WrestleMania. Yes, Brooke's ass in Playboy. So we all just have to live another seven or eight months.

Credit>Figure 4 Weekly Newsletter

[Autobotsdie]

Don't forget Carlito also pinned him a few weeks back.

[Special Killa B]

Spoiler plans for Vince's paternity angle from Rajah.com

Current plans call for the Mr. McMahon paternity angle to lead to a WrestleMania 24 main-event match between Triple H and Mr. Kennedy. At last word, the plan was for WWE to continue slowly dropping hints that Kennedy is the illegitimate child before finally revealing his identity during a three-hour Raw special in October.

Stephanie McMahon will be returning to television on a full time basis in the near future -- likely in October or November. She will be returning because her status as her father's heiress will become threatened due to Kennedy. Triple H would reveal his real-life marriage to Stephanie, thus disclosing that he is Vince's son-in-law. This would set the stage for the Raw main event at WrestleMania, which at last word is going to be Triple H as a babyface vs. Kennedy, likely for the title and with all the members of the McMahon family somehow involved. Shane McMahon has been told he won't be needed in the ring until around Royal Rumble, so he'll probably be Kennedy's first family victim.

USA Network executive Bonnie Hammer is said to be very satisfied with the angle. She is the one behind the idea of a three-hour Raw special in October.

Furthermore, WWE has a contingency plan in case the storyline bombs with the audience. It would be revealed that Kennedy faked the lab results in order to gain access to McMahon's money.

[The Dark Vampire]

UK Fans well from September 1st if you call 0870 243 4548 you will get a 3 or 2 deal on the next 3 PPV's (that we pay for) we will get No Mercy on 7th October Survivor Series on 18th November and Armageddon on 16th December I think you may have to pay the £29.95 up front but you still save £14.95 that way

[Denzil]

That sounds good. :)

[Toejam]

Source: PWInsider.com

John Cena got his 100th win of 2007 Monday with his disqualification victory over Snitsky on RAW. It was his 115th match of the year.

15 Non Wins? I'm surprised he didn't win all of them :side:

I'm trying to think of who he lost to or had a draw with:

1. K-Fed pinned him in January
2. Lost the Tag Titles in the Tag Team Battle Royal in April

LOL those are the only two I can think of

I only count Cena having 11 televised losses and 2 draws this year, so he must have lost 2 dark matches or at house shows.

WWE RAW January 1, 2007
L - Cena was pinned by Kevin Federline (4:55)
L - Cena was disqualified after hitting Umaga with a chair (1:16)

WWE RAW January 8, 2007
L - Cena was disqualified after hitting The Great Khali with a chair (1:43)

WWE RAW January 22, 2007
L - Cena was involved in a battle royal which The Great Khali won (4:46)

WWE RAW March 27, 2007
L - Cena and Shawn Michaels lost to Batista and the Undertaker – Batista pinned Cena (6:40)

WWE RAW April 2, 2007
L – Cena and Shawn Michaels lost a 10-team battle royal to the Hardyz (12:14)

WWE RAW April 23, 2007
L - Cena lost to Shawn Michaels (pin) (55:49)

WWE RAW May 7, 2007
D - Cena went to a no-contest with Randy Orton when Khali came to the ring, took the belt, and hit Cena with it. (Leaving Cena outside the ring as RAW went off the air.)

WWE RAW May 28, 2007
L – Cena and Bobby Lashley lost to The Great Khali, Umaga, and Shane McMahon – Shane pinned Lashley (7:59)

Saturday Night’s Main Event June 2, 2007
L – Cena was pinned by The Great Khali (6:20)

WWE RAW June 11, 2007
L – Cena lost to Edge by count-out (6:55)

WWE RAW June 18, 2007
L – Cena and Bobby Lashley lost to Randy Orton and King Booker – Orton pinned Lashley (12:50)

WWE RAW July 20, 2007
D – Cena went to a no-contest with Bobby Lashley

WWE RAW July 30, 2007
L – Cena was pinned by Carlito (5:58)

[The Dark Vampire]

Some 2008 PPV dates announced

* No New Year Revolution PPV scheduled-

1/27/08 Royal Rumble (Madison Square Garden)

- 2/17/08 No Way Out (New Orleans, Louisiana)

- 3/30/08 Wrestlemania 24 (Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FL)

- 4/27/08 Backlash

- 5/18/08 Judgment Day

- 6/01/08 One Night Stand

- 6/29/08 Vengeance

- 7/20/08 Great American Bash


Credit>www.gerweck.net

[freako104]

My room is kind of messed up here. What did I miss on Monday's Raw?

[Denzil]

My room is kind of messed up here. What did I miss on Monday's Raw?

Here is a link to a good RAW Report: http://www.wrestleview.com/news2006/1188272130.shtml


from www.f4wonline.com:

The New York Daily News reported today that Congress will be holding a hearing in mid-September on steroids and pro-wrestling. Believe it or not, this news was actually broken on the Nancy Grace show a week ago with Chyna. They threw it out at the top of the hour so quickly that I don't think anyone noticed it or realized what she was saying, and in fact I forgot about it pretty quickly as well. They are currently compiling witness lists.

The date the hearings start, from PWTorch.com:

The New York Daily News announced today that the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection will begin its hearings on "the destrutive drug culture of pro wrestling" in late September. The opening statement will likely be made on Monday, September 24th.

The chairman of that subcommittee, Representative Bobby Rush, said the following about the upcoming hearings: "I am extremely concerned about the possible illegal and destructive practices by professional entertainment athletes that negatively influence the younger generation. We must make sure that today's wrestling sports heroes are not using illegal performance-enhancing drugs that, unfortunately, can and have led to their untimely deaths."

[The Dark Vampire]

World Wrestling Entertainment's Stephanie McMahon and John Laurinaitis held a meeting with the Smackdown and ECW talent last night in Cincinnati, Ohio prior to yesterday's television tapings to discuss new changes to the WWE Wellness Policy:

*The company will begin to test for marijuana shortly. A positive will not result in a suspension but all positives will be met with a fine of, at least, $1000 per offense.

*The company will also begin testing for anti-estrogen drugs, which can be taken to offset some of the effects of steroid and HGH use. A positive for any anti-estrogen agents will result in Wellness suspensions.

*The company also announced that any new potential hires will have to undergo and pass the WWE Wellness test before they are signed to the company.

Credit>PWinsider.com

[Denzil]

Good but it's just the start of a long hard road where the WWE should tighten up their Wellness policy.

[ChoKo]

WWE used to boast that their brand of entertainment has "no offseason". In a recent interview, Ken Kennedy was asked if he could make one change in the wrestling business what would it be. Kennedy said he would vote for more time off. "Maybe every quarter have a week off, to recharge our batteries and spend time at home with family, it would help mentally and physically." With the upcoming Congressional investigation into the grueling lifestyle of pro wrestlers, more time off may become a reality.

From WrestleZone.com (http://www.wrestlezone.com/article.php?articleid=191116679)

[Nick Michalak]

Well, if WWE laid off on the PPVs, and just forget all about their failed attempt to resurrect Saturday Night's Main Event, superstars would have less crucial, high profile events to attend. They could have more time off. These days, it seems you only get time off if you're injured, or you're someone like Triple H or HBK.

-NJM

[The Dark Vampire]

, or you're someone like Triple H or HBK.

-NJM
To be fair HKB doesn't get time off or HHH really as they are considered to have "power" backstage they are expected to work just as much if not more often then others.

HBK worked for an extra 4 months this year when he was injured just to help out when he was needed

[Brett H.]

I don't watch wrestling anymore, just reading for something to do.

But, Kevin Federline in the WWE? How the fuck did this happen?

[freako104]

I don't watch wrestling anymore, just reading for something to do.

But, Kevin Federline in the WWE? How the fuck did this happen?




He isn't anymore, they just had him feud with Cena a short while. At first i thought he was a new wrestler until some one on here said he was just a celeb in a storyline.



How is the Cena/Orton feud going to end since Orton will be suspended? Same with CM Punk and John Morrison?

[The Dark Vampire]

He isn't anymore, they just had him feud with Cena a short while. At first i thought he was a new wrestler until some one on here said he was just a celeb in a storyline.



How is the Cena/Orton feud going to end since Orton will be suspended? Same with CM Punk and John Morrison?

Orton isn't suspended he confessed about this months ago and has already served his punishment.

[andrew8798]

Vince McMahon paid for Sherri Martel's funeral. Booker T, who she managed in WCW as Sister Sherri, sent the money to pay for a headstone for Martel's grave.

credit: wrestling observer newsletter

[The Dark Vampire]

There has been a growing concern regarding Michaels. Michaels, who the expectation was would return from knee surgery in November, has made it clear he's enjoying life right now with his family. He has young children and no financial concerns.

He's also having more time to devote to his religion, which is his passion right now and is largely disconnected from wrestling except regularly talking to HHH. HHH has been trying to talk him into coming back to television because of the depth issue regarding lack of stars, even if he can't wrestle yet. Michaels hasn't opted for it.

HHH brought him to OVW to talk to the talent and a lot of people were surprised he agreed to go. The feeling internally was that being around HHH and seeing the hungry young wrestlers would put the fire back into him to come back. Everybody was doing the "Once you get around the business again, you can't walk away so easily," maxim and were actually surprised he agreed to come with HHH to OVW a few weeks ago.

He's been telling HHH he's on the fence abut returning and he really doesn't know how much wrestling he wants to do. He said his family is his top priority, his knees are really bad and he feels his comeback in recent years has vindicated his entire career from his admitted past transgressions of the 90s. Those close to the situation surmise that one of the things he's wanted to do in recent years was to come back with a new attitude, make a new reputation within the business, and leave with a better legacy than he left with in 1998. Of all the various people out with injuries and other sabbaticals this years, even though Rey Mysterio came back and made the biggest difference in demos, the two people whose injuries seem to have left the biggest holes are Edge and Michaels, as their spots have never been adequately replace.

The feeling is that while the wrestlers of the 90s may have negative things to say about him personally, the modern wrestlers and people working in the company today look at him in a a positive light. It's also not like anyone is talking that he's retiring, but nothing is definite, and again, even if and when he comes back, a key may be getting an even more reduced schedule.

Credit->Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Well while I think he's great and would love to see more HBK matches if he's happy then let him retire.

In a way it's best he gets out now while he's still relativity healthily and still on top it's betting then getting hurt and hanging around long past your prime.

[Nick Michalak]

If for nothing else, HBK should come back at WrestleMania for a farewell match. I don't want the image of Shawn Michaels getting busted up by Randy Orton being his in-ring farewell.

-NJM

[freako104]

I am with Nick on that, but if he does not want to, then yay for him to be happy. That's what's important. Would like to see him have one last great match.

[The Dark Vampire]

There is talk of doing a trade that would send Mark Henry to Raw and Umaga to SmackDown. This is basically a way to provide fresh opponents for each brand's top babyfaces.

McMahon is very interested in doing an Undertaker vs. Umaga feud. Mark Henry would likely feud with John Cena since Raw is so low on fresh heels.

Henry's program with Undertaker appears to be through after he was soundly defeated by him yet again at last Tuesday's SmackDown taping. That match was probably Henry's write-off from SmackDown. Umaga's program with Triple H will likely end soon as well.
Credit>Wrestling Observer Newsletter

[freako104]

I'd like to see Umaga vs Taker. I am not too big on Henry though

[The Dark Vampire]

Nobody is even his mother turns over during his matches:D

[Nick Michalak]

Henry is not worth a dime, let alone a nickel. Vince's hard-on for GIANTS and BIG monsters is so tired. The last guy it worked with was Kane, and that was nearly a decade ago. Giants that weren't worth half of what they were hyped to be starts with guys like Psycho Sid and King Kong Bundy, and end with guys like Mark Henry and Umaga. Yeah, they're big guys who are visually impressive, but collectively, they don't have a tenth of the wrestling skill or character impact that the Undertaker has. Personally, I prefer seeing the Undertaker square off with guys like Bret Hart & Kurt Angle than the Giant Gonzalez and the Great Khali.

-NJM

[ChoKo]

Source: 1Wrestling.com

We're told that Tony Atlas and CM Punk had a verbal confrontation at the OVW taping on Tuesday night.

Atlas was apparently evaluating matches during the evening and approached Punk earlier in the day and told him that taping his hands and arms was "not the look the office wanted".

Punk came out during the taping with his hands and arms taped. Atlas was not happy that he didn't take his advice. After the show during a post-show meeting, Atlas made a speech about people with attitudes. He was staring at Punk the entire time. Punk finally lost it and asked Atlas why he was starting at him as he was giving his attitude speech.

The two exchanged words and Punk loudly asked Atlas, "Do you even watch our show? Do you even know who I am?".

Weird. :|
__________

[The Dark Vampire]

They both could of been smeg heads with Atlas throwing his weight around and just been a dick and Punk getting big headed and giving it the Do you know who I am speech


On the other hand it could of been a misunderstanding.

Atlas may not of known who C.M Punk was hence the the line taping his hands and arms was not the look the office wanted. to me that sound like he thought Punk was a development guy waiting for the call up and was just giving him advice of course that was advice from back in his day where you didn't tape hands today a lot of wrestlers tape their hands HHH inc has done it many times.

As for C.M Punk it may not of been a big headed Do You Even Watch Our Show Do You Know Who I Am but a genuine question as in don't you know I'm already on the main roster one of the most over guys in the whole of WWE/ECW not to mention the ECW World Champion.


Either way if the office or Vince didn't want Punk to tape his hands I'm sure they would of told him by now.
ADDED:

Update on the C.M Punk--Tony Atlas incident

BACKSTAGE INCIDENT BETWEEN ECW CHAMPION CM PUNK AND WWE HALL OF FAMER LEADS TO HEAT ON WWE DEVELOPMENTAL
by Mike Johnson @ 11:34:03 AM on 10/8/2007


An incident between ECW champion CM Punk and WWE Hall of Famer Tony Atlas at last Wednesday's Ohio Valley Wrestling TV taping resulted in some heat being put on OVW management, according to several sources.

WWE had sent Atlas down to both OVW and Florida Championship Wrestling last week to mentor the developmental talents and give them advice on avoiding some of the pitfalls that hurt his own career. Atlas, according to several wrestlers I spoke to, instead spent most of his time telling performers what a huge star he should have been and correcting them on things they were doing wrong.

One of the things Atlas commented on was how CM Punk wore his wrist tape, teasing Punk that it "looking like he had broken arms" according to one witness. Punk, who sports a very dry, straight forward personality, listened to the comments and then went about his business. Punk was working the taping as WWE had television tapings in the area last week, so he stayed on to work a dark match for OVW.

During the traditional post-taping meeting, where Al Snow and other WWE veterans critique what the developmental talents do right and wrong during the show, Atlas began talking about the attitude of the OVW roster and whenever he would say something derogatory or negative, he made it a point to stare at Punk. I was told that at first Punk ignored it, but by the fourth or fifth occurrence, he finally asked Atlas why he kept looking at him.

Atlas then started to tear into Punk for having a "bad attitude. He told Punk that with his bad attitude, he would never make it to television. As you could guess, that remark plunged Atlas' credibility with the developmental crew into the toilet since it was the first time he was there and basically admitted (without realizing it) that he was giving advice while not even knowing anything about the current product. Punk responding by asking Atlas if he knew even Punk's name or had ever watched the ECW TV show and Atlas told him no. The argument went back and forth for close to 20 minutes before simmering down.

When word got back about the incident to WWE's John Laurinaitis, he was said to have been furious that not only the incident happened, but that OVW management stood by and allowed it to unfold before them, instead of defusing it. I was told that OVW owner Danny Davis wasn't even present as he was working on editing the OVW TV show that the company had just finished filming, but Al Snow and Robert Gibson were present for the entire situation. A few people wondered if Gibson may have somewhat incited Atlas as he was parroting things that Gibson had been saying to talent in recent weeks.

After the meeting, OVW star Atlas DaBone took it upon himself to go up to Atlas and apologize on behalf of Punk. While it's possible he was just trying to defuse the situation, the other developmental talents reacted negatively to that move, feeling that no one should have been speaking for Punk, particularly someone with less than a year in the business.

Among the wrestlers, Punk was seen as something of a hero because morale in OVW has been "terrible" (to quote one prominent OVW performer) in recent weeks. As I discussed last week on my Elite Audio Hotline, many of the OVW performers there have started to feel that the main goal of late isn't to help them improve but to mentally beat them down for everything that do "wrong", even when it's someone who's been in the business for some time prior to signing with WWE.

Credit>Pwinsider.com

[The Dark Vampire]

I'll put this here for now as it's a bit early for a Royal Rumble thread.

Apparently they are trying to redo the Jackass angle originally set for SummerSlam at the Royal Rumble in January. WWE is setting up some promotions that includes Jackass superstars involved.
Credit>Wrestling Observer.

I'm really unhappy about this if I'm honest I sooner see K-Fed return than Jackass this really puts me off the Royal Rumble ok I'll still buy it was the Royal Rumble match is my favorite match of the year but this has really put a downer on it.

[freako104]

I hope K-fed does not come back. His storyline with MNM got old quickly especially for those of us who had no idea who he was or why some one would be in the ring who literally does nothing at all

[The Dark Vampire]

I agree and I dislike K-Fed I guess I missed getting my point across what I meant is K-Fed was useless and they should never of brought him in but no matter how much I dislike him I dislike Jackass even more.

[ChoKo]

I agree, DV. I think it's shit like this that's flushing the WWE down the toilet.

[The Dark Vampire]

Gorgeous WWE babe Maria Kanellis is now single... and she is our Weekly Diva, which means you can see some stunning snaps just by clicking the link below.

Back in June 2006 we told the world how Maria was dating fellow wrestler CM Punk – now we can exclusively reveal that the pair have split up.

Maria, who vows to one day pose for Playboy, told us: “Me and Punk split, four months ago.

“If you want to put that in The Sun go right ahead. I am so ready for this to leak!

“Everyone thinks we’re still a couple, so I hope that this actually gets out there finally.”

But don’t get too carried away boys, the gorgeous Raw Diva says she isn’t looking for a new man in her life with so much still to achieve in the wrestling business.

She added: “When it comes to relationships inside the business, you have to be very committed to one another, but also committed to your job and your career.

“At this point, at my age, work has to come first. If you do not complete your goals and dreams, you’ll resent that other person.

“I’m so happy now, because I get to devote everything into my career.

“Family and relationships do come first, in a sense, but I think you have to be happy in yourself before you can make anyone else happy.

“I could never give up my job for a boyfriend. Never.

“That’s a choice I can’t make.
Credit>Gerweck.net (who got it from The Sun Online)
ADDED:
Partnership forming?
Written: October 16, 2007

WWE.com has learned that several meetings have taken place between Acting SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero and ECW General Manager Armando Estrada that, if ratified, would allow SmackDown and ECW Superstars to compete on Tuesday and Friday nights.

While nothing is signed as of yet, locker room sources say that this open door agreement between Vickie and the cunning Cuban shyster will be discussed tonight, live on ECW on Sci Fi. No further details have been released, and when pressed for more information, Estrada was tight-lipped (a rarity in its own right).

“I have no news for you right now,” said Estrada. “But tonight on ECW on Sci Fi (10/9 CT), I will give some insight to these, come se dice, meetings.”

I wonder if this is step 1 is ending ECW altogether and merging the 2 shows.

The contract with Sci Fi ends at end of the year so maybe either WWE or Sci Fi don't wish to continue.

[NW77]

Maria, who vows to one day pose for Playboy




:D :D


http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/6/30/1227484/1178709752524.jpg

[Denzil]

I wholeheartedly agree with the above message.

[The Dark Vampire]

But she not going to do it
Maria has been asked to follow in the footsteps of other WWE Divas and pose for Playboy, but she refused because she does not wish to embarass her sister, who is still in high school.
Credit>Wiki (The Sun thinks all females want to pose nude)

[Denzil]

I'm so disappointed. :(

[freako104]

I'm so disappointed. :(



We can still dream. But I am with you. But I guess she is doing it for the right reasons plus she still looks good when doing the ring thing

[NW77]

But she not going to do it

Credit>Wiki (The Sun thinks all females want to pose nude)

She'll do it someday soon. After all, her reason for not doing it right now is because her sis still in high school, right? Then she can do it when her sis finish high school. :D

[The Dark Vampire]

* Stephanie McMahon blew up before the No Mercy pay-per-view a few weeks ago regarding Chris Jericho being revealed as the SAVEUS campaign. She was really interested in keeping the return a surprise, thus was very upset it leaked. Her reaction was to run all the company cell phone records of the writing team as well as do a forensic check of their computers and e-mails.

This is not the first time this has happened, as events have lead to this in the past, but they did not find a guilty party. Some writers were using their company cell phones to make excessive private calls and they go reamed for it. Several of the writers were said to be upset because they have been under added stress recently with having to completely re-write the No Mercy pay-per-view one week before the show due to John Cena being injured. They felt it was not fair they were getting blamed for the information being leaked.

Stephanie is now talking about revising contracts that would disallow creative team members to speak out publicly and to specifically state that they don't have any ownership to their ideas. She also wants their contracts to ban them from being able to talk publicly after they are no longer with the company, about their experience with the company, or talk about the impressions of talent or anyone they met in the company. This would keep someone from going to TNA and sharing their WWE ideas. *


Now...does she really think it took someone from the creative team to leak the SAVE_US.222 information about it being Jericho all along? Considering 20 seconds after the first video aired, sites went crazy talking about a Jericho return.

If she wanted to make it a complete surprise, then why not just have him turn up out of the blue, without the build-up videos. Yes, it's not as exciting, but at least we wouldn't be expecting it.

Oh well - Felt it was decent enough to post.

Credit>Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Well first off I first heard Jericho's name mentioned about 3-4 times even before the next match after Save_US22 promo was first aired of curse there has been rumors for pretty much most of the year that he would return about this time.

Also the final confirmation came when TNA reviled that he had broke off negotiations with them apparently telling them he had opted to go with WWE.

[FinalBeyond]

Considering all the screencaps and analysis of each thing on Youtube, I doubt it was any creative members who got it out.

[The Dark Vampire]

While we wouldn't of had any suspense with the promos if they wanted it to be a surprise they should of just had him to a run in no warning or clues or anything.

To take it a step further I would even have him keep talking to TNA up to and including the day he returned make out he may even go with them (have him tell friends and others he's looking likely)

[Nick Michalak]

I think Stephanie McMahon underestimates the fans (as does Vince). We've heard rumblings of Jericho wanting to come back for a LONG time, and when a strange promo video pops up, much like the old 'Countdown to the Millennium' clock in 1999, it seems pretty easy to connect the dots. Personally, I think it works better that we are actually anticipating his return instead of scratching our heads wondering what this bizarre 'Matrix' code video is all about. Nobody would know what it meant, let alone that it was foretelling the return of Chris Jericho. Hard to really promote something if nobody knows what you're promoting.

-NJM

[The Dark Vampire]

Nielson Soundscan reports that Lilian Garcia's new CD "Quiero Vivir!" didn't even break the Top 200, selling less than 3,800 units.
Credit>Gerweck.net

[NW77]

Credit>Gerweck.net

Ouch! I feel sorry for her, since she has such a great voice with singing. I wonder if the song not being in English is the reason it wasn't a success? Seeing as lot of us don't know Spanish. I hope Lillian will get over it thought. She deserve better.

[The Dark Vampire]

I was just having to wonder as WWE employs a lot of writers from the entrainment filed (comedy drama ect) will they be effected by the strike as some could be in the union.

[ChoKo]

I think it would be good if the WWE lost a few of their current writers, if you know what I mean.

;)

[The Dark Vampire]

I just read on another forum that acording to PWinsider non WWE writer is in the union.

WWE has quietly removed the Cruiserweight Championship from the SmackDown superstars page on the official WWE web site. It is unknown whether or not WWE dropped the title altogether or just took it off of WWE.com because there is no current Cruiserweight Championship with Hornswoggle moving to RAW.

Credit>Wrestlezone.com

I did hear when Hornswaggle won it the plan was to retire it.

If they have maybe we will see this on WWE.com very soon

WWE has today come to terms on the release of The Cruiserweight Championship. We wish it best in its future endeavors.

Maybe it will go to TNA or Japan

[ChoKo]

That fucking sucks.

[nottidelterrore]

WWE didn't do a whole lot with the Cruiserweight Title. Very sad since they have some talented cruiserweights on their roster. I guess we need more screentime for various dumb backstage segments featuring Hornswaggle, Coach, & Mr. McMahaon. I didn't include Regal since he's pure gold, in the ring & on the mic.

[Kane Lives]

WWE dropping the CW Title is bitter sweet news to me.


On one hand it is sort of good because, they hardly ever used it properly and recently had made it a joke. So, it'll be nice that no more tarnish will be placed on it because of how the company obviously looks at it.

On the other, it's a shame that a once great Championship is now dead because they allowed it to sink to that level to begin with. :shifty:

[The Dark Vampire]

I was more hoping they would make it an inter-brand title with ECW but it has never been treated seriously neither was the Light Heavyweight Championship before it.

[ChoKo]

The fact that Hornswaggle was the last CW champion is an insult to what once was (in WCW, at least) a great title.

Anyway, if the WWE can't take the World Heavyweight Title seriously, how the fuck do you expect them to take the CW title seriously.

[The Dark Vampire]

That was actually Jamie Nobie's idea it's not that known but Noble is the booker/writer for the CW devision all that stuff with him and Hornswaggle was all Noble's handy work

[ChoKo]

Then he's an idiot.

I like his ring-work, but if that was really his idea, then he's a few bricks short of a full load.
ADDED:
I posted this in the Hired/Fired thread, but I'll post it here too:

The following is from WWE.com:

Chris Mordetzky has been suspended for 60 days, and DH Smith has been suspended for 30 days for violations of WWE’s Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy.

Mordetzky is known to fans as Chris Masters.

[JVY2K]

The SAVE US just took someone with a creative mind to piece together all the little bits of code. I don't see why Stephanie is upset. The codes are all in the message, all pertaining to stuff regarding Jericho. And now she's mad people made the connection? How sad...

As for the Cruiserweight title, I'm glad it's gone. WWE's cruiserweight division was a joke from the very get go.

I think it would be good if the WWE lost a few of their current writers, if you know what I mean.

;)

Agreed. It's been stated in the past that allot of the writers aren't even wrestling fans or have ever followed the product. That's ridiclous.
ADDED:
The fact that Hornswaggle was the last CW champion is an insult to what once was (in WCW, at least) a great title.

Anyway, if the WWE can't take the World Heavyweight Title seriously, how the fuck do you expect them to take the CW title seriously.

They've also butchered the prestigious feel the US title once had. In WCW being the US champ was almost as important as being the world. And anyone who got it was usually elevated into the world title picture soon after.

As for the WHT, at least it's kept it's current look. I cross my fingers every time a new champ is crowned that they aren't going to change it. When Edge won it, as big a Edge fan as I am, I was expecting him to alter it. Glad that wasn't done.

WWE needs to bring back the big eagle belt for the WWE Championship. It doesn't even make sense why the belt has remained as the spinner belt as Cena isn't even around right now. It would be different if he was chasing Orton for it, but he's not so it makes no sense. Bring back the big eagle. Though I fear when they do revert back eventually, they'll go back to the stupid design prior to the spinner that was used for the Undisputed title.

[The Dark Vampire]

The title belt Orton is using is in fact a new title it's the spinner look but it hasn't got the spinner bit in it.

[JVY2K]

The title belt Orton is using is in fact a new title it's the spinner look but it hasn't got the spinner bit in it.

How sad...

[ChoKo]

The title belt Orton is using is in fact a new title it's the spinner look but it hasn't got the spinner bit in it.

And it still sucks.

[Geomonic]

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet... but how the mighty fall, eh?

LTnOGJeKMLY

[The Dark Vampire]

It's from the UK he did it about January last year.

In other news JBL's wife threated

November 3, 2007 -- There were profanity-laced angry calls, hate-spewing e-mails, even wishes for her death.
Yet financial analyst Meredith Whitney isn't wrestling with her conscience over the decision yesterday to downgrade Citigroup's stock that caused $369 billion in the U.S. stock market to vanish in one day.
MORE: Citi Chief On His Way Out
"It is a major call, and it takes guts," Whitney told The Post with her husband John "Bradshaw" Layfield, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound giant who wrestled as JBL for World Wrestling Entertainment and is a fellow investment guru, at the St. Regis Hotel.
"This was the intellectually honest thing to do. I think shareholders should get out of the stock," she said. "People have always been afraid to come out with negative calls on Citi because it's a widely held company, and people are intimidated by it."
On Thursday, Meredith, an analyst at CIBC World Market, a subsidiary of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, issued a stern report saying Citigroup needs to cut its dividend or sell assets to stave off a $30 billion capital shortfall. She further downgraded Citigroup shares to "market underperform," which basically tells investors to sell.
Almost immediately, Citigroup's shares plunged 7 percent, costing the company $15 billion. More significantly, the bank took the rest of the market with it. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 360 points, or 2.6 percent, socking it to investors big and small around the globe.
"To see wealth destruction is upsetting. Look, my mom owns the stock, my husband owns the stock," the Manhattan money maven said. "I certainly thought it was going to be a big deal. Did I think a $369 billion decline in the market? No."
Her phone rang off the hook yesterday. Friends and colleagues called with support. Other wished her to hell.
She described the typical rant as: "F - - - you, dumb analyst. I hope you get hit by a truck," but added, "The abusive phone calls, thankfully, have gone straight to voice mail."
Whitney, 37, shrugged off all the hate.
"When a lot of money is at stake, it's the average investor who reacts most emotionally. I suspect that's the case here. I'm more than capable of defending myself. If I were a shrinking violet, I wouldn't have made the call."
Still, her husband, who won the WWE championship in 2004, was unnerved enough to cancel a trip to his native Texas.
"I just don't want her to be alone this weekend. She tried to talk me into going, but if someone accosted her on the sidewalk or something, I don't know what I would do," Layfield said.

Credit>New York Post and Gerweck.net

JBL talks to WWE.com about it

It’s an old adage that money makes people do crazy things sometimes. Unfortunately, WWE Superstar John Bradshaw Layfield and his wife Meredith Whitney are finding this out the hard way.

On Thursday, Whitney, a financial services analyst and Fox Business Channel contributor, recommended a “sell” rating for Citigroup, the global banking giant, which, simply put, means that she’s recommending to stockholders that they sell their shares in the company.

A “sell” rating from such a well-respected analyst as Whitney shook Citigroup’s stock to the core. The market capitalization of the company, which has been rocked lately by the subprime-mortgage crisis, dropped an estimated $15 billion, and, according to the Wall Street Journal, the company’s chairman and CEO, Charles Prince, plans to tender his resignation effective Sunday.

“I’m proud of Meredith for what she did,” said Layfield. “She stuck her neck out and told the truth. After all, she has to be honest with her investors, which a lot of analysts won’t do for fear of upsetting the wrong people.”

In the rough and tumble world of Wall Street, where fortunes may be earned and burned on a whisper, such a downturn, however, can send shockwaves of fear and anger through the investment community. Sure enough, shortly after the reverberations were felt, a few incensed investors emailed and phoned Whitney, leaving her threatening messages. As one might imagine, such behavior didn’t sit quite so well with JBL.

“I think whoever would threaten the life of a woman is a cowardly piece of s***,” fumed the SmackDown announcer, who canceled a planned trip to Texas so that he could be with his wife in New York City. “Meredith said she’d be fine and wanted me to visit my folks, but when someone threatens your wife, it’s not a good idea to leave her.”

Layfield, also a contributor to the Fox Business Channel, confirmed that law enforcement has been pursuing leads, but admitted the whole incident still leaves him somewhat ill-at-ease.

“Meredith will be fine, of course,” explained Layfield. “I’m just worried about one of these cowards unexpectedly running into her on the street and verbally accosting her.”

Layfield, who has been married to Whitney since February 2005, assured WWE.com that if he were to ever run across one of the persons who threatened his wife, it would not be a pretty site.

“I would hope that anyone who would threaten my wife would try to get physical with me,” said Layfield, obviously angered at the mere idea, “because, believe me, I wouldn’t hesitate in the least

It's not often I would jump to the defense of JBL but if anyone tries to hurt his wife I hope he beats the crap out of them.

[JVY2K]

No doubt. Dudes who threaten or further more hit women should be treated as animals. It takes a real pussy to hit a woman!!

That aisde, I was hoping to see HBK turn on Triple H on RAW. Have it come full circle to the time Triple H turned on Shawn when they brought DX back for one night only in '03. Sad that WWE misses so many great opportunities for amazing moments...

[The Dark Vampire]

It has a lot to do with the fact HBK refuses to go heel if you look even with Hogan and Cena he only went half heel (and still got about 50% of the cheers anyway) and turned face immediately after the match

[JVY2K]

Even half heel would be decent. Just to capture that moment of HBK getting revenge for what Triple H did in '03. Even have HBK win the title and have HBK vs. HHH. One Last Match or something...

I'd also always hoped WWE had capitialized on an Undertaker vs. Rock match for the world title at Survivor Series. Both men made their debuts and won their first world title at Survivor Series. Would have been a great match to have had...

[The Dark Vampire]

Mick Foley's ebay site (Is good old Mick Skint?)
http://stores.ebay.com/MICK-FOLEY-WRESTLING-STORE

[Kat]

Mick Foley's ebay site (Is good old Mick Skint?)
http://stores.ebay.com/MICK-FOLEY-WRESTLING-STORE

I wonder if he is that hard up for cash?

[nottidelterrore]

Did anyone see the cover of the new WWE Magazine set for release next week? It basically confirms a HUGE return. I won't spoil it though.

I'm very excited about this.

*Edit*

Oops. Saw that that this was covered in another thread. Regardless, I hope he saves us & helps the product become better because it really needs it.

[The Dark Vampire]

Due to the writers' strike in Hollywood, there has been talk that NBC would approach WWE about holding some extra Saturday Night's Main Event programs in the near future. New episodes of Saturday Night Live stopped as soon as the strike began because they write material for SNL on the day of the show.
Credit>prowrestling.com

[ChoKo]

From WZ (http://www.wrestlezone.com/article.php?articleid=197069004):

Source: PWInsider.com

A fight broke out backstage last night in Wichita, Kansas after SmackDown! was taped. After the show was over, JBL gathered a number of WWE superstars together, including John Morrison, The Miz, MVP, CM Punk, and Matt Hardy.

JBL berated Miz and Morrison for their color commentary work on ECW. JBL was furious that the two made Punk look bad with their commentary. They were heels and were supposed to criticize Punk in a heel way, but JBL felt they went too far with it. JBL then yelled at them for their ring work during their match with MVP & Matt Hardy. JBL told Miz & Morrizon to apologize to Punk, MVP & Hardy for making all 3 of them look bad.

The Miz apologized, but Morrison told JBL “F*ck you, it's none of your business”. He then said he would apologize to Punk, Hardy & MVP, but not because JBL told him to.

The confrontation went back and forth until Morrison shoved JBL. Several agents broke up the dispute before it got further than a shove.

I dunno how to feel about this really. On one end, JBL was sticking his nose in where it didn't belong; on the other, I can understand why he had a problem with them. I guess I'm a bit indifferent on the matter.

[The Dark Vampire]

I just came here to post that myself and say the same thing.

I think he should of had a word with them but he didn't have to be an asshole about it and do it in front of everybody he could of took them aside and had a quite word them them maybe made it more giving them advice and say it would be a good idea to apologize but not made it an order.

[Spade]

I just came here to post that myself and say the same thing.

I think he should of had a word with them but he didn't have to be an asshole about it and do it in front of everybody he could of took them aside and had a quite word them them maybe made it more giving them advice and say it would be a good idea to apologize but not made it an order.

I completely agree.

Also I have no problem with Morrison's response. Act like an jerk, get treated like one.

[The Dark Vampire]

Only thing is if I were Morrision I would try to keep my head down he's just back from suspension (for buying illegal drugs) and according to rumors he has quite a lot of heat backstage already from what I've read in the past he's come within a nat's nut of getting fired on more than one occasion.

[ChoKo]

From WZ:

As noted earlier, an incident took place after Tuesday’s WWE SmackDown/ECW taping in Wichita, Kansas involving ECW stars The Miz and John Morrison and WWE SmackDown co-commentator JBL. Dave Meltzer is reporting that JBL ripped into The Miz and John Morrison for their commentary during the CM Punk vs. Jamie Noble match. Reports suggest that JBL felt that The Miz and John Morrison went too far into ripping CM Punk, instead of disrespecting CM Punk as a character they disrespecting him as a wrestler. JBL also got mad at the pair for their ring work in their match against Matt Hardy and MVP at the WWE SmackDown taping. JBL said that the pair owes CM Punk, Matt Hardy and MVP an apology for making them look bad. The Miz apologized to the stars, however John Morrison told JBL to mind his own business, but he did apologize in the end. The situation between John Morrison and JBL began to get heated and ended up getting broken up by WWE staff
_____________

[NW77]

Not suprise to hear JBL is involve with this. I heard he is quite a big asshole & a bully. Not to mention he didn't like Miz at all when Miz first joined Smackdown before he went to ECW.

[ChoKo]

Not to mention he didn't like Miz at all when Miz first joined Smackdown before he went to ECW.

I don't think anyone likes The Miz.

[freako104]

They were both supposed to be heels, so they acted it out. I did not hear either of them disrespect his ability. (and I am not a fan of the Miz either but to his defense, he was just being a heel and disrespecting CM's character and doing what he could to get over the crowd. John Morrison did the same thing. Both in that case did well). I don't see why JBL is getting on them about it though

[The Dark Vampire]

I watched it and was annoyed they spent most of the match talking about The Miz's hat both Tazz and Joey tried to get them to talk about the match but they ignored them I had to rewacth it on mute just to be able to concentrate on the match (who was very good shows how good Noble can be but I liked Noble in ROH anyway)

Also I read another report what said things were exaggerated JBL did have a word with them but he wasn't screaming and swearing but Morrision did respond by telling JBL to f**k off and pushed him.

I'm no JBL fan in fact I really dislike the guy and agree he's nothing more than a jumped up bully who uses his friendship with Undertaker and Vince ( apparently Vinve and JBL are good friends) to the best of his ability abd gets away with stuff others would be fired over.

[The Dark Vampire]

TAMPA, Fla. – SmackDown Superstar Matt Hardy underwent an emergency appendectomy at a Tampa area hospital tonight. Doctors expect the surgery to keep Hardy out of action anywhere from 1-3 months.

An appendectomy by definition is the removal of the appendix from the lower right area of the abdomen. Oftentimes, if the surgery is not performed immediately, severe consequences can follow.

Credit>wwe.com

[freako104]

Hope he recovers soon

[freako104]

Tonite's 15th anniversary seemed pretty good. Ending could have been better though I liked how Mankind and Taker and Stone Cold did their finishers. Plus Jericho used the Walls of Jericho instead of the new finisher which made it all better

[ChoKo]

I agree with you; Jericho's new finisher is lame compared to the Walls of Jericho/Liontamer.

[Nick Michalak]

I wish Jericho would go back to the Liontamer - the elevated Boston Crab. Don't know why he changed it, but I liked the original version.

-NJM

[Special Killa B]

From Rajah.com

Chris Jericho said in a recent interview that he got his new finisher, The Codebreaker, from watching Naomichi Marufuji do it on a Ring of Honor tape. He figured it would be a cool finisher and so he's using it now.

[ChoKo]

I think the Codebreaker would be a better transition maneuver for Jericho; it would set up the Walls Of Jericho perfectly.

[NW77]

I think the Codebreaker would be a better transition maneuver for Jericho; it would set up the Walls Of Jericho perfectly.

Agree. Kinda like Stone Cold did when he kick his opponent in the guts before he does the Stunner & HHH doing the knee to the face (I forgot what the move is call) before does the Pedigree.

[nottidelterrore]

I wish Jericho would go back to the Liontamer - the elevated Boston Crab. Don't know why he changed it, but I liked the original version.

-NJM

The one he used in WCW? In so, there's a lot of weight placed on the neck. It's one of the most painful looking submissions I've seen. I'm sure there are worse but wow that has to hurt.

The Codebreaker is a decent finisher. I'm just glad Jericho is back. He's lookin' good & still got it in the ring. And he's a god on the mic. His promos are some of my favourites.

The shiny vests really need to go.

[Spade]

The one he used in WCW? In so, there's a lot of weight placed on the neck. It's one of the most painful looking submissions I've seen. I'm sure there are worse but wow that has to hurt.

The WCW version of the Lion-Tamer was great. When he switched it to the Walls of Jericho it didn't look as good.

[ChoKo]

The Liontamer is definitely my favorite variation of the Boston Crab. I have no idea why he converted to a normal-looking Boston Crab when he went to the WWF.

I remember when Dusty Rhodes was on the commentary team for WCW and he'd always say "Jericho's gotta deep seat! Deep seat!" whenever Jericho would apply the Liontamer. Good times, those were.

The shiny vests really need to go.

Definitely. He looks like he could be a waiter at the Blue Oyster Bar, if you catch my drift.

[Esten]

The WCW version was awesome. Now it's like Jericho's doing a really bad Rick Martel impersonation with the Walls Of Jericho. :X

[ChoKo]

From WZ:

WWE hall of famer Bobby Heenan is scheduled for surgery tomorrow. The procedure will include doctors taking bone from both his shin and thigh and using it to reconstruct a new jaw, because his jawbone was destroyed by radiation therapy in treating his throat cancer. After the surgery, doctors will have to put the legendary manager in a coma for several days.

This message was posted earlier on Myspace Bulletins via Jake Roberts' myspace account:

Dec 13, 2007 10:59 AM - Subject: Statement on Jake Roberts - Body: To answer many of your questions, yes, the rumors are true ... Jake Roberts entered rehab on Monday, Dec. 10th. Obviously, Jake wanted his whereabouts kept private and confidential. We were shocked and disturbed to see that this information was sadly and unfortunately leaked. With that said, now all we ask is that you keep Jake Roberts in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Jake B (for Jake Roberts, Shannon, Viper & Ben)

More on Jake:

Jake “The Snake” Roberts has been placed in rehab by Wolrd Wrestling Entertainment according to the Legends Championship Wrestling website.

"Baby Doll" Nickla Roberts, who is featured on Legends Championship Wrestling, informed the company that Jake "The Snake" Roberts was placed in a nine-week rehab program this past Monday by WWE. Nickla Roberts is the ex-wife of Roberts' half-brother, Sam Houston, who has stayed in close contact with Roberts. In a recent interview Nickla Roberts said "Jake needs prayers and support from all of us."

Jake "The Snake" Roberts was last seen in WWE back in 2005 where he confronted Randy Orton, who was preparing to challenge the Undertaker at WrestleMania 21. He later had a brief spell in TNA last year.

This looks to be the first former WWE Superstar who has accepted WWE’s offer to pay for their rehab. Roberts has been known in the past for abusing substances and comes to little surprise that he has accepted WWE’s offer.

I hope they both get well soon.

[Spade]

I hope they both get well soon.

Me too.

_________

[NW77]

I hope they both get well soon.



Same here. I'm amazed Heenan survive all those surgery ever since he has cancer. He sure is one tough bastard. Get well soon, Heenan & Jake.

[nottidelterrore]

I hope both get well too.

I met Jake earlier this year & he was a very friendly & hilarious guy.

[Violent VictiM]

I just read the "Where Are They Now" portion for Jake the other day on WWE.com It made light of his struggles with drugs and alcohol and I'm glad to see he keeps a positive outlook on his fight, and has accepted WWE's generous rehab offer. He said that he fights relapse every now and again, so maybe 9 weeks and a few new sober buddies will aid in his recovery. I wish him the best.

As for Jericho, I think the Lion Tamer in WCW was a bit dangerous. There was a lot of pressure on the neck and any wrong twist or turn could easily pull a neck muscle or pop a disc. The WWE version seems to be a lot safer in the sense that all that pressure is being applied to the lower back and the way he cradles their legs it seems to have little or no effect at all; the purpose of pain being all for show of course.

The vest doesn't bother me. He arrived with a very similiar vest when he came to the WWE in early 2000. I'm sure you can youtube the segment he did with The Rock and see it. I'm not sure, so I may ever youtube it myself. The Codebreaker is sort of a rip off of Carlito's Backstabber if you ask me. It's a diesel move either way though.

I just hate the fact that Jericho isn't going to win at Armageddon. I feel the direction they have going with Randy Orton is going to set up HHH to win against Hardy and then face Orton at the Rumble, where he will win. Obviously a face superstar is going to win the Rumble, possibly Michaels and make for the Trips/Michaels showdown at Mania. The only other thing I can see happening is HHH staying face after Rumble if Kennedy wins. After all, Kennedy said he was going to cash Money in the Bank in at Mania, so they may just go along with that, and have him win the Rumble.

It just sucks because I feel they are wasting Jericho's return to catapult him to WWE Champion status, only to have him fall back down to the IC ranks and waste him on stupid feuds with mid-carders. His finisher should be called the "woes" of Jericho, because all WWE does is shit on him.

[Denzil]

Get well soon Heenan and Jake!

[ChoKo]

In the new issue of WWE Magazine, Batista was named Superstar of the Year. That doesn't sit well with me. In fact, nothing the WWE does sits well with me.

Fuck Batista.

Also; I'm not sure where to put this next bit of news but, since it possibly concerns all three brands, this thread seems the best place to put it.

Partial Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The Ric Flair retirement angle has been changed from what was laid out several months ago. The original angle which was devised by Steve Austin called for Flair to wrestle and win on all three WWE brands. WWE began the angle at RAW in Charlotte a couple of weeks ago but for reasons unknown got cold feet and pulled Flair from scheduled television appearances two weeks ago. At one point the idea was for Flair to win all the way up to WrestleMania and get a title shot. There was even talk of Flair winning the title at WrestleMania and having a short title reign. Those plans appear to have been scrapped, however, Flair’s retirement angle will continue in some capacity leading up to WrestleMania. It is unknown if the angle will remain exclusive to RAW or if they will go with the original plan of him working on all three brands. It was made clear Monday night on RAW that the “Flair must retire if he loses” stipulation will be limited to singles competition only.

[Nick Michalak]

Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, and Edge have all been out of action from four to six months this past year. I don't think they can at all be considered the superstar of the year when they haven't been around for so much of it. Unfortunately, that only leaves guys like Batista, John Cena, Randy Orton, and a few others for contention. So, it's inevitable that the choice of superstar of the year would be disappointing.

-NJM

[ChoKo]

So, it's inevitable that the choice of superstar of the year would be disappointing.

-NJM

Of course, but that doesn't mean I can't complain about it. :cry:

[ChoKo]

From WZ:

The new WWE RAW music CD which was released this past Tuesday hasn’t got off to a great start. Based on the first day of sales, the album was notably absent from the new hits listing for the week. Music professional, Mike Omansky, is saying that WWE should have released the album in October, however the album could still end up becoming a success. He also said that the album has not got off to the best of starts.


I think a lot of Wrestling Fans have already downloaded most of the tracks on the new CD, so it's no wonder it's not selling well.

[Special Killa B]

We've all downloaded them or decided we don't want them! One or the other! LOL!!

[ChoKo]

That's a damn good point, B.

Here's the track listing:

1. The Time Is Now (John Cena, Trademarc)
2. I Won't Do What You Tell Me (Jim Johnston)
3. If You Smell (Jim Johnston)
4. The Game (Motörhead)
5. Sexy Boy (Shawn Michaels)
6. Rest In Peace (Jim Johnston)
7. No Chance In Hell (Jim Johnston with Peter Bursuker)
8. I Walk Alone (Saliva)
9. Line In The Sand (Motörhead)
10. Break The Walls Down (Jim Johnston with Adam Morenoff)
11.Wreck (Jim Johnston)
12. Time To Rock & Roll (Jim Johnston with L'il Kim)
13. Booyaka (619) (Jim Johnston with Chris Classic)
14. Slow Chemical (Finger Eleven)
15. Are You Ready? (Jim Johnston with Chris Warren)
16. Paparazzi (Jim Johnston)
17. Turn Up The Trouble (Jim Johnston with Ted Nigro)


So, it's basically a mixture of old and new stuff. It's nothing worth buying, IMO

[Nick Michalak]

Not worth buying because they released most of that stuff on the WWE Anthology set five years ago, and anything else has popped up on other WWE The Music CDs. A real waste of time for WWE to produce this. Though, "Slow Chemical" has never been released in the U.S. - only the Canadian release of Forceable Entry. Still, like you've all said, we've downloaded them by now.

-NJM

[ChoKo]

Though, "Slow Chemical" has never been released in the U.S. - only the Canadian release of Forceable Entry.

-NJM

I thought it was available in the US as a "Best Buy Exclusive" bonus track on Forceable Entry.
ADDED:
The Wal-Mart version of the new RAW theme song CD features two exclusive tracks.


Number one contender Jeff Hardy is the featured superstar on WWE’s No Way Out pay-per-view promotional poster. According to local advertisements, the PPV will feature the return of the Elimination Chamber. The match is slated to feature Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Ken Kennedy vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Umaga.

Source - WZ

[NW77]

Look like Maria posing for Playboy is becoming a reality recently. I check out Wrestlezone.com & it mention that she supposely started shooting photos for them. Like I said it before & I'll say it again:


:D :D
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/6/30/1227484/1178709752524.jpg

[Spade]

:D :D
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/6/30/1227484/1178709752524.jpg

I agree.
__________________

[ChoKo]

I'll do what any other civilized American would do in this situation; wait for the pics to leak online. :D

[NW77]

I'll do what any other civilized American would do in this situation; wait for the pics to leak online. :D

Dude, you know the pics on the magazine will look a hell lot better in person than online. Seriously! ;) :p

I can't blame you on the online thing thought. :D

[ChoKo]

From PWInsider.com

Jonathan Coachman has been tapped to replace John Bradshaw Layfield as the Friday Night SmackDown! color commentator.

The switch was revealed at Sunday night's WWE event, which features the taping of the first ECW and SmackDown! episodes of the new year.

JBL departed the announce booth in order to return to the ring as an active RAW brand Superstar. Michael Cole will continue his long-running role as SmackDown's play-by-play man.


SmackDown just got shittier.

[Spade]

SmackDown just got shittier.

Ah Coachman sucks, but so did JBL.

[ChoKo]

Ah Coachman sucks, but so did JBL.

Indeed. However, I think Coachman sucks a bit more than JBL. lol

[Nick Michalak]

Might as well watch Smackdown with the volume off now. I don't know how anyone can tolerate Michael Cole's blatherings ever week. I stopped watching Smackdown YEARS ago for numerous reasons (including the poor commentating).

-NJM

[nottidelterrore]

I actually liked JBL as a commentator. I can't say the same about him as a wrestler though. A wrestling god he is not. The guy has great skills on the mic though.

[freako104]

I hope JBL and Jericho have a good rivalry. I would like for JR and King to remain as commentators on Raw

[Darth Reaper]

So, Maria might be posing nude for Playboy huh? As always I'm torn by this. Part of me would respect her more if she didn't do it. But, on the other hand it's Maria posing naked. What hormonally charged straight man doesn't want to see that?

I'll say this though, if it turns out to be true then she needs to show it all. Stark naked all the way and leaving nothing to the imagination. I don't want one of those deals where the woman only appears partially nude or they obscure some of the good stuff somehow. Show me everything or don't bother. I hate being teased.

[NW77]

So, Maria might be posing nude for Playboy huh? As always I'm torn by this. Part of me would respect her more if she didn't do it. But, on the other hand it's Maria posing naked. What hormonally charged straight man doesn't want to see that?

I'll say this though, if it turns out to be true then she needs to show it all. Stark naked all the way and leaving nothing to the imagination. I don't want one of those deals where the woman only appears partially nude or they obscure some of the good stuff somehow. Show me everything or don't bother. I hate being teased.

I'm sure she will show it all. The last few divas who posed showed it all, so I wouldn't be surprise if Maria does it too. :D :D

[Denzil]

I can't wait to see Maria in Playboy. :)

She is by and large my favourite diva at the moment.

[nottidelterrore]

Maria in Playboy will be awesome.

I thought Ashley looked hot when she was in it last but her tits look like they're filled with cement.

[Spade]

This should be a good issue ;).

[DedKid]

Thanks be to the Lord, who's name in this situation be Hefner :D My prayers have been answered.

[ChoKo]

A couple of random things from WZ:

WWE RAW superstar Ken Kennedy (Ken Anderson) married his girlfriend, Shawn Trebnick this past Friday.

John Cena is getting married. He is engaged to his long-time girlfriend Liz, who he proposed to in late September.

[ChoKo]

Source - Wrestling Observer Newsletter

As we have reported several times now, WWE Diva Maria will be part of the company’s joint venture with Playboy, with a cover of the magazine that comes out in March as part of the WrestleMania promotion. WWE Diva Maryse Ouellet is the January model in the Playboy 2007 calendar.

Don't be surprised to see most all WWE Superstars get back to their normal muscular sizes. Right now, the feeling backstage is the heat is off.

[ChoKo]

When WWE started talking about going in HD, there was concern among a number of people in the company because they were unsure on how it would portray their product on TV, such as exposing the "fakeness" of the matches, which could be covered up to a degree by the lower quality production. The other main concern is that HD would reveal the appearance of the older wrestlers and Divas a bit more. WWE would have preferred staying in the old format, but technology is changing and as a business they must adapt.


Source - PWTorch

[Special Killa B]

Awesome now we'll all get to see Ric Flair's old saggy titties clear in HD now!!!!!

[nottidelterrore]

Awesome now we'll all get to see Ric Flair's old saggy titties clear in HD now!!!!!

:lmao:

Maybe they'll make Flair wear a shirt during all of his matches. I hope so. I love Naitch & all but I just hate seeing all of his old man sag when he wrestles.

[Kane Lives]

Awesome now we'll all get to see Ric Flair's old saggy titties clear in HD now!!!!!


Finally, WWE programming will be must see TV again. :shy:

lol

[freako104]

Awesome now we'll all get to see Ric Flair's old saggy titties clear in HD now!!!!!







:lmao::lmao: If it makes it better we get to see Candace and Maria in HD.

[NW77]

Awesome now we'll all get to see Ric Flair's old saggy titties clear in HD now!!!!!

:lol: :lol:

[Spade]

Awesome now we'll all get to see Ric Flair's old saggy titties clear in HD now!!!!!

:lmao: oh God no! :lmao:

[ChoKo]

On the other hand, some of the Diva's might not look as good as you thought they did, now that they'll be in HD.

[NW77]

Right now, I read that Maria's Playboy spread will be on for sale around March 7th. At least that what MariaKanellisOnline.com said right now. Take it for what it worth. :D

[Uncle Hoody]

I thought Ashley looked hot when she was in it last but her tits look like they're filled with cement.


I'm sure they still felt like bags of sand like all good breasts do.

[Denzil]

Right now, I read that Maria's Playboy spread will be on for sale around March 7th. At least that what MariaKanellisOnline.com said right now. Take it for what it worth. :D

I can't wait. It'll be great. :)

[andrew8798]

Smackdown leaving CW

WWE has issued the following statement:


After a successful decade of "SmackDown" on both UPN and The CW, World Wrestling Entertainment and The CW have agreed to conclude our partnership. Since The CW's exclusive negotiation period ran out as of last Thursday, January 31, we have been contacted and have been in negotiations with other networks. "WWE SmackDown" will continue to air on The CW until the conclusion of the 2007-08 broadcast season. We are grateful to Les Moonves, Dawn Ostroff, and their entire organization for bringing "WWE SmackDown" to millions of viewers for so many years.

credit:gerweck.net

[Nick Michalak]

Somehow I don't see Fox picking it up. Smackdown's ratings were good for UPN/CW, but they are in last place next to the networks. Considering the poor ratings for Saturday Night's Main Event on NBC, I don't see any networks jumping on obtaining Smackdown.

-NJM

[NW77]

What luck! I was just typing preview pic of Maria's Playboy & look what I found. Credit go to MariaKanellisOnline.com again for posting it first. It suppose to be from the last page of the new Playboy issue. The one that said "Next Month". I must say the pic made her look hotter than ever. :love: :drool:


http://bp1.blogger.com/_b83mOJOJ_Zc/R6zOTGcj5wI/AAAAAAAAE2E/VKgveB2OJPI/s400/Maria+Preview.jpg

[Denzil]

I just saw that picture now.

Wow, just... wow.

[ChoKo]

More on SD! leaving CW:

Following last night’s announcement by WWE that Friday Night SmackDown will not return to the CW Network after the 2007-2008 season, the obvious question is what is next for WWE’s second highest rated show? According to Variety the most logical choice for WWE would be to get a slot on the USA Network as they already have a relationship with NBC Universal with RAW airing on USA and ECW on the Sci-Fi Channel.

However, Variety also hinted that News Corp.’s MyNetwork TV could be in the running for the series. Obviously Friday Night SmackDown would be the highest rated show on MyNetwork TV but it would have to be considered a huge set backwards for WWE.

If WWE is able to get SmackDown under their current deal with NBC Universal, the USA Network, Bravo, and the Sci-Fi Channel would be the top networks in the running. NBC and MSNBC would be the other options but would be long-shots for obvious reasons. If SmackDown doesn’t fall under WWE’s current deal with NBC Universal or NBC Universal lets WWE shop the show with other networks, there could be several other possibilities.


Source - WZ

[Darth Sinister]

What luck! I was just typing preview pic of Maria's Playboy & look what I found. Credit go to MariaKanellisOnline.com again for posting it first. It suppose to be from the last page of the new Playboy issue. The one that said "Next Month". I must say the pic made her look hotter than ever. :love: :drool:


http://bp1.blogger.com/_b83mOJOJ_Zc/R6zOTGcj5wI/AAAAAAAAE2E/VKgveB2OJPI/s400/Maria+Preview.jpg

All I have to say is...

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g92/darth-sinister/Insults/giggity-1.jpg

[freako104]

What luck! I was just typing preview pic of Maria's Playboy & look what I found. Credit go to MariaKanellisOnline.com again for posting it first. It suppose to be from the last page of the new Playboy issue. The one that said "Next Month". I must say the pic made her look hotter than ever. :love: :drool:


http://bp1.blogger.com/_b83mOJOJ_Zc/R6zOTGcj5wI/AAAAAAAAE2E/VKgveB2OJPI/s400/Maria+Preview.jpg






God that is fucking hot!!

[Uncle Hoody]

TMZ is reporting that Steph is scheduled to have demon spawn # 2 sometime this July. I wonder if HHH is finally going to get the boy that he wants.

[Denzil]

TMZ is reporting that Steph is scheduled to have demon spawn # 2 sometime this July. I wonder if HHH is finally going to get the boy that he wants.

If so, then they might as well make up a nameplate for his eventual 2 year title reign as soon as the kid can lace up a pair of wrestling boots. By then i'd imagine that Triple H and Steph will be running the show. *shudder*

[ChoKo]

WWE has announced that, effective 2010, Mattel will become the exclusive toy licensee covering all global territories upon the expiration of their current toy license with JAKKS Pacific Inc. Below is an official press release:

STAMFORD, Conn., February 13, 2008 - World Wrestling Entertainment® ("WWE"), the greatest force in sports entertainment, and Mattel, Inc., the undisputed champion of the toy industry and the world's leading toy manufacturer, today announced that they have entered into a comprehensive, multi-year licensing agreement, effective as of January 2010, naming Mattel as WWE's master toy licensee covering all global territories upon the expiration of WWE's current toy license.

Under the terms of the agreement, Mattel will develop and market products in a wide variety of toy categories such as action figures, accessories and playsets, games and puzzles, activity toys, plush products, vehicles (including R/C), and role play products. The first line of products will be available in 2010.

"The unbeatable combination of Mattel's product innovation, retail relationships and global distribution along with WWE's world renowned brand and superstars, global television penetration and live events will result in many years of profitable business for both parties," said Donna Goldsmith, WWE's Executive Vice President of Consumer Products.

"We're thrilled to be partnering with WWE to jointly develop a long-term global brand that brings their superstar talent to kids of all ages in new and innovative formats," said Tim Kilpin, General Manager/Senior Vice President of Boys/Entertainment, Mattel Brands.

Source. (http://wrestlezone.com/article.php?articleid=204922290)

[Darth Reaper]

I wonder if Mattel will make their WWE figures compatible with the ones that JAKKS Pacific has produced.

And, I wonder if they'll do a better job of making varying the sizes and body types of the figures to match the sizes of the wrestlers. Have you ever noticed that there isn't much difference between the JAKKS figures? Put a Kane figure next to a Rey Mysterio figure and there isn't much difference between them in terms of height and size. There is some difference but not as much as there should be.

And, have you noticed that most of their figures share a very similar body mold. You have guys like CM Punk, Jeff Hardy, and Randy Orton, who should have more lean physiques, looking about as massive as guys like Kane, Batista, and Triple-H. There are a few exceptions to this rule like figures of The Big Show, The Great Khali, Mark Henry, and so forth. They're much different than everybody else because they have to be. But, if you look you'll notice that they still tend to recycle molds for these guys. The mold that they used for The Giant Gonzales is very similar to the mold that they used for The Great Khali, the mold that they used for The Big Show is very similar to the mold that they used for Andre The Giant, and the molds that they used for guys like Mark Henry, Vader, King Kong Bundy, Earthquake and others are all very similar.

Hopefully, Mattel will mix things up a bit more and make each figure look like each individual wrestler in as many ways as possible.

[Uncle Hoody]

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2918310#prod_prodinfo


Is it worth the money?

[ChoKo]

I wonder if that Triple H figure comes with a shovel accessory for burying mid-card figures?

[FinalBeyond]

That, and a title belt with his name inscribed. Just because you know it'll be relevant again.

[NW77]

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2918310#prod_prodinfo


Is it worth the money?

LOL! I wasn't expecting to see that. :lol:

[ChoKo]

The Tampa Bay Tribune is reporting that WWE developmental Superstar Ted DiBiase Jr. was arrested in South Tampa early this morning and charged with driving under the influence. Police took DiBiase into custody about 3:30 AM after a crash on South West Shore Boulevard at Browning Avenue.

Police said DiBiase was in a Cadillac SUV that crashed into another vehicle. No one was seriously injured and no one required hospitalization. DiBiase had alcohol on his breath, his speech was slurred, eyes bloodshot and glassy and he was unsteady on his feet, according to police. DiBiase was asked to perform a field sobriety test and has "indications of impairment." DiBiase submitted to the breath test and results on two tests were 0.137 and 0.138. Florida law presumes a driver to be impaired with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or higher.

WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr. was reached for comment at his home this morning but declined, saying he had not heard of the arrest yet. Police records state that DiBiase Jr. was taken to the Orient Road Jail and his bail was set at $500.

Source - WZ

[Uncle Hoody]

Source - WZ



Hope his dad can bail him out.



OH COME ON SOMEONE HAD TO SAY IT

[ChoKo]

Everyone's got a price for the Million Dollar Man.
ADDED:
Update on Ted Dibiase Jr:

As noted earlier today, the 25-year-old son of WWE Legend "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase, Ted DiBiase Jr., was arrested and charged this morning for Driving under the influence in South Tampa, Florida this morning. Tampa police took DiBiase Jr. into custody at 4:30 a.m. after a crash on South West Shore Boulevard at Browning Avenue. He was booked into the Orient Road Jail at 5:44 a.m. According to the official website of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, DiBiase Jr. was released from Orient Road Jail this afternoon at 4:53 p.m. on a $500 bond, so he spent over 12 hours under police custody.

DiBiase Jr. is the second WWE developmental wrestler to be arrested within the past few weeks as former TNA wrestler Germán Figueroa a.k.a. Apolo was recently booked in a Puerto Rican jail for 30 days for missing a court hearing regarding his domestic abuse case with his wife.

Tampa's Orient Road Jail has booked a startling number of "name" professional wrestlers for various infractions over the past few years, the latest being the son of the "Million Dollar Man." Former WWE/WCW star Dan "Waylon Mercy" Spivey was booked in the very same jail this past summer for a DUI arrest. Following his release from WWE, Hulk Hogan's nephew Horace Hogan was booked on two occasions (fall 2002 and March 2003) for DUIs. Former WCW/WWF star Chris Kanyon was arrested and booked in the Tampa jail in October 2005 for "disorderly conduct and resisting arrest without violence" at an area nightclub. Kanyon publicly claimed he did nothing wrong and was ultimately vindicated when the case was thrown out of court. Additionally, the late Mike Awesome was booked in the Orient Road Jail due to a domestic dispute with his wife in May 2006.

Ted DiBiase Jr. is the current Heavyweight Champion of WWE's lone developmental promotion, Florida Championship Wrestling. DiBiase Jr. won the FCW Southern Heavyweight Championship from TJ Wilson on December 18, 2007. DiBiase Jr. defeated former Spirit Squad member Mike "Mikey" Mondo in a match at last Tuesday's Florida Championship Wrestling show.

Ted DiBiase Jr.'s mugshot is online.


Source - WZ
ADDED:
WWE is releasing yet another CD:

On March 24th, 2008, World Wrestling Entertainment will release "WWE The Music: Volume 8", the latest compillation of original superstar theme songs. Here is the complete track listing for the upcoming CD, which will be available in stores and on iTunes:

(1) Jeff Hardy: No More Words (Endevetafter)
(2) Kofi Kingston: SOS (Collie Budz)
(3) Beth Phoenix: Glamazon
(4) Mark Henry: The Wall (Heat Mobb)
(5) Hawkins & Ryder: In the Middle of it Now (Desciple)
(6) Jillian: Sliced Bread
(7) Mr. McMahon: No Chance In Hell (Theory of a Deadman)
(8) ECW Theme
(9) Jesse & Festus: Biscuits & Gravy
(10) Candice Michelle: What Love Is
(11) John Morrison: This Aint No Make Believe
(12) Shelton Benjamin: Ain't No Stoppin Me (Axel Rose)
(13) Mr. Kennedy: Turn Up The Trouble (Airbourne)
(14) Chris Jericho: Break Down The Walls (James Grundler)

Source - WZ

[Special Killa B]

Everyone's got a price for the Million Dollar Man.
ADDED:
Update on Ted Dibiase Jr:



Source - WZ
ADDED:
WWE is releasing yet another CD:



Source - WZ

Wow that's great news about a new CD, I'll put that one next to the other 7 I don't own! :side:

[ChoKo]

Indeed. The WWE CD's really suck, as of late. The last one I bought was Wreckless Intent, and that only had two or three good songs on it.

[Special Killa B]

The only WWE CD I enjoyed was the Forceable Entry CD that had real rock bands doing songs for the wrestlers.

[ChoKo]

Yeah. Most of the songs on that one were really good. It was the last one, I recall, being enjoyable.

[zombie extra 3]

Sean "X-Pac" Waltman reportedly attempted suicide/accidentally overdosed

- Juventud Guerrera was on the "In You Head" Radio show last week. He is working in AAA with Waltman and he said that Waltman had tried to commit suicide and was then placed in rehab. The story out of Mexico is that Waltman tried to hang himself in his apartment sometime over the last two-weeks. He was found by his girlfriend Alicia Webb (the former Ryan Shamrock in WWE) when she showed up to the apartment. Waltman had turned purple, with broken blood vessels in his face and eyes by the time she found him. Waltman had been telling people how much he was enjoying wrestling for AAA because the crowds made him love wrestling like when he was a kid and that he was free of the politics of the business like in WWE and TNA. Waltman also had personal issues, including major depression and not being allowed to see his children.

- Waltman told the "The Pro Wrestling Torch" that the story wasn't true and that he had a bad reaction from mixing alcohol and anti-depressants.

- In the last week Kevin Nash flew to Texas to help check Waltman into a rehab facility for both rehab and psychiatric care. Nash had contacted HHH about WWE covering the financial costs of the rehab, which is the new policy offered to all former contracted talent, and then helped Waltman physically check into the facility. Kevin Nash was also very big part of Scott Hall checking into rehab recently.

- Other issues from the attempted suicide/accidental overdose is that Alicia Webb has a child, with another man, and the father found out that Waltman had entered rehab and went onto MYSPACE and started begging people to bring his child home. This has made Webb paranoid about going on the road with AAA without Waltman around, as she now fears that someone will try to abduct the child.

- Some feel that this may be a warning sign for AAA to begin drug testing. Several of AAA's biggest stars have been sent to rehab for either drugs or alcohol over the past year. Drug usage in Mexico is wild, but unlike the US there are not the number of overdose deaths. The top stars in Mexico work insane schedules, but they have less mental stress than the top stars in the US. Also the drugs that are favorites by the wrestlers in Mexico don't appear to be as lethal as the ones being used by the wrestlers in the US. There is steroid use, but due to Lucha being more about style and movement the huge dosages that lead to long-term health issues and muscle tears tend to be limited.

Credit: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

[Nick Michalak]

Waltman's lucky to have such good friends like Nash & Hunter. Same for Scott Hall. Those guys would probably be long gone if they hadn't gotten the help they've gotten because of their friends.

-NJM

[freako104]

I hope Waltman will be ok

[ChoKo]

WWE is getting a lot of bad press in Spain. Both La Asociacion de Usuarios de la Comunicacion and La Condereacion Nacional de Padres de Familia y Padres del Alumnos have called for a ban of WWE television during hours children would be watching. Most every major newspaper picked up on the story on February 12th, saying they want WWE banned except from the hours of 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. The same thing happened in Mexico in 1955 which led to Lucha Libre being off television in Mexico City until the late 80s.

Source - Wrestling Observer Newsletter

[Nick Michalak]

This coming from the people who have the annual running of the bulls where people can get maimed and mutilated by rampaging animals. Must be the sexual content.

-NJM

[nottidelterrore]

I just saw a razor commercial for Gillette(I think) with John Cena in it. He said something about teaching someone to wrestle. That's where I laughed. The commercial would've been better if William Regal or Charlie Haas were in it. Hahaha. Or SD Jones.

[Special Killa B]

I just saw a razor commercial for Gillette(I think) with John Cena in it. He said something about teaching someone to wrestle. That's where I laughed. The commercial would've been better if William Regal or Charlie Haas were in it. Hahaha. Or SD Jones.

Yeah it was with a bunch of NASCAR drivers. The funny part of the commercial was that they beat Cena up! :D

[ChoKo]

Cena should focus on teaching himself how to wrestle, let alone attempting to teach others.

[nottidelterrore]

Cena should focus on teaching himself how to wrestle, let alone attempting to teach others.

Right on! Haha.

You can't see me.

[ChoKo]

I don't wanna see him. Haha.

[Nick Michalak]

Cena has the skills, but the higher ups want him to stay with the street brawling image. Stone Cold was the same way - very talented technical wrestler, but was made to be a street brawler to reflect his persona.

-NJM

[freako104]

His first match (Cena) with Angle would verify your post Nick. As a brawler, move set seems very limited.

[NW77]

His first match (Cena) with Angle would verify your post Nick. As a brawler, move set seems very limited.

Yep. It not until he went with Enimen wannabe gimmick, that he started using brawler moves. Since he no longer use that gimmick, they should let him use his skills from his OVW days now. But too bad Vince won't allow it, but he don't have a problem using the incest angle. :side:

And today is Maria's birthday. Happy 26th, Maria!! :bow: :love:

It kinda funny her birthday is today, since tonight on RAW they will show behind the scene of her Playboy photo shot. Can't wait for next week!!

[nottidelterrore]

I didn't mind Cena back in the day when he basically had no gimmick. His early days of being a "thug" were ok since he was a complete heel & had some really funny raps. Once he turned face, he got stale really fast. I didn't mind him until he won the WWE Title & brought that damn spinner belt to burn out all of our eyes.

[ChoKo]

I hate it when people compare Cena's OVW "skills" to his current move set. Cena wasn't anything special in OVW either. Some people talk about him in his OVW days like he was the next Dean fucking Malenko. Sure, he had a few more moves and even dove to the outside a few times, but he was still very one-dimensional in my eyes. I'll say he was slightly better back then, but that's not saying a whole hell of a lot. Comparing OVW Cena to WWE Cena is like comparing Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior; either way you look at it, it's shitty.

IMO, of course.

[Special Killa B]

I hate it when people compare Cena's OVW "skills" to his current move set. Cena wasn't anything special in OVW either. Some people talk about him in his OVW days like he was the next Dean fucking Malenko. Sure, he had a few more moves and even dove to the outside a few times, but he was still very one-dimensional in my eyes. I'll say he was slightly better back then, but that's not saying a whole hell of a lot. Comparing OVW Cena to WWE Cena is like comparing Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior; either way you look at it, it's shitty.

IMO, of course.

I agree with you ChoKo! Everybody kept talking about how great he was when he was Prototype. So I bought a few DVD's with him as Prototype on there and I was not impressed at all!

[The Dream Master]

Choko, guys like you and me just have to accept that this is what audiences want these days. Unfortunately, I think the days where good wrestlers get a chance to shine are long gone. Great matches are so few and far between these days. I thought the Michaels/Hardy match was pretty decent on Raw a couple of weeks back, but it's nothing compared to what you used to see on a weekly basis (up until say, five years ago). People can say what they want about WCW and Nitro, but their undercard matches were usually fantastic. The main events were always ruined by some kind of interference, but there were some great matches otherwise (especially in the cruiserweight division).

Of course, these things seem to go in cycles. I feel like we're stuck back in the early 90s with all these wild gimmicks and shit, so maybe we'll get back to good wrestling someday. Whatever happened to the days where guys simply didn't like each other, and that was all the reason they needed to beat the hell out of each other?

[Nick Michalak]

Yeah, WCW had a lot of HUNGRY talent willing to bust their asses every night to pick up the slack of the main eventers. WCW main events were dull shit from 97 on. Guys like Jericho, Benoit, Malenko, Guerrero, Mysterio, and so forth were the backbone of that company. These days, we do have some guys like that, but WWE waters them down so much, it's hard to tell. As is constantly stated, Shelton Benjamin should be main eventing by now, and stealing the show on a regular basis. Instead, he's slumming it on the SciFi Channel with his bleach blonde hair and eight man roster opponents.

-NJM

[ChoKo]

People can say what they want about WCW and Nitro, but their undercard matches were usually fantastic. The main events were always ruined by some kind of interference, but there were some great matches otherwise (especially in the cruiserweight division).


Fuck yes. WCW's undercard was damn near the only reason I bought WCW PPV's back in the day. I could've cared less about what was going on in the main event. If Malenko, Jericho, Guerrero, Benoit, Raven, Mysterio, Ultimo Dragon, or damn near any of the cruisers were on the card, chances are, I bought the PPV.

Case in point: Anyone else remember Halloween Havok '97? The main event for that card was Piper and Hogan in a cage match. No one remembers that stinker of a cage match. What they do remember from that card is the CLASSIC that Mysterio and Guerrero had that night. If I remember correctly, it was Match of the Year for 1997.

The year before that, at Halloween Havok 96, Mysterio stole the show AGAIN with Dean Malanko, and it was the first match on the card.

[The Dream Master]

Just to go along with that: everyone remembers what happened at the end of Bash of the Beach '96, but I think only true hardcore WCW fans remember that the PPV featured a damn good match between Mysterio and Psychosis (and featured one of my favorite endings to a match ever--Rey's hurricanrana out of the top rope crucifix bomb was sick.)

[nottidelterrore]

People can say what they want about WCW and Nitro, but their undercard matches were usually fantastic. The main events were always ruined by some kind of interference, but there were some great matches otherwise (especially in the cruiserweight division).


I totally agree. I loved watching WCW's midcarders in action. Their cruiserweight division was pretty good. I miss WCW but not all of that bullshit towards the end. I miss it circa 1996-mid 1998.

[ChoKo]

Just to go along with that: everyone remembers what happened at the end of Bash of the Beach '96, but I think only true hardcore WCW fans remember that the PPV featured a damn good match between Mysterio and Psychosis (and featured one of my favorite endings to a match ever--Rey's hurricanrana out of the top rope crucifix bomb was sick.)

That match was, indeed, amazing.

[Spade]

Comparing OVW Cena to WWE Cena is like comparing Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior; either way you look at it, it's shitty.

IMO, of course.

:lmao: Man that was just plain funny.

[ChoKo]

Source: Variety

WWE pins down distrib deal at Fox
Studio gets first-look at wrestler pics
By MARC GRASER
Cena

World Wrestling Entertainment has found a tag-team partner in 20th Century Fox, inking a first-look deal that gives the studio rights to distrib pics headlined by the company's pro wrestlers.

Beginning next year, WWE Films plans to develop, finance and produce at least one theatrical release and up to four direct-to-video titles annually, with Fox receiving a distribution fee should it release the pics in theaters, on homevid or digitally. It's similar to the pact comicbook giant Marvel Entertainment has with Paramount and Universal on the upcoming "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk."

Going forward, though, WWE will focus on making movies across all genres that appeal to a broader audience and land a PG-13 rating, vs. the hard R it had been going after with its previous pics.

"We had to refocus where we wanted to go," said Michael Lake, prexy of WWE Films, a former Village Roadshow exec who took the post in October, and quickly began reworking the company's development slate. "There's a strong audience base that is ready for movies that star our guys. A lot of our audience is in the PG-13 area."

First pic out of the multi-year deal with Fox is "12 Rounds," an actioner toplined by John Cena that bows in 2009 and will be released under the Fox Atomic label. Production on the pic, with Renny Harlin at the helm, begins this month in New Orleans.

WWE is looking to spend around $20 million for theatrical releases while direct-to-DVD titles would be made for around $3 million to $5 million.

The wrestling org has had mixed success since forming its film division in 2002, releasing three pics, "See No Evil," featuring Glen "Kane" Jacobs; "The Marine," also with Cena; and "The Condemned," with Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Fox distribbed "The Marine" in 2006, WWE's biggest earner to date, that collected $22 million at the worldwide box office. Lionsgate handled the other two releases. While ticket sales were less than expected, the pics performed well on homevid, which has proved a lucrative revenue generator for the company.

Fox sparked at the chance to work with WWE on "12 Rounds" because the Fox Atomic label is essentially going after the same young male demo that WWE has been able to attract to its live events, pay-per-view broadcasts, TV shows and DVDs.

The Fox Atomic banner won't necessarily release each WWE pic.

Either way, the films would be promoted across WWE's various properties, putting them in front of millions of potential moviegoers.

"This partnership allows Fox to capitalize on this global audience and the WWE brand's continued expansion into the filmed entertainment medium," said Tom Siegrist, senior VP of production for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

WWE's hoping to use the pics to raise the profile of its stable of stars and entertain existing fans, while attracting new auds and boost its bottom line.

The film deal comes as the WWE finds itself facing increased competish from mixed martial arts and leagues like the Ultimate Fighting Championship that are winning over wrestling's fanbase.

WWE enjoyed a surge in popularity with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who succesfully made the transtion from the ring to the bigscreen.

"There's a real depth of talent we can use," Lake said. "These guys are action stars anyway. We want to fashion movies to fit their personalities. We've got to establish these guys not to our audience so much but to the other moviegoing audience, so that they cross over."
ADDED:
Former WWE champion John Cena recently lashed out at Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in a recent interview with The Sun in the United Kingdom. Cena was quoted as saying the following:

"He is a genuinely nice guy and a fantastic human being. What I kind of get peeved about, and this is my Achilles heel, is that I've wanted to do this my whole life. Rock falls into that category. At one point he loved wrestling and wanted to do this all his life. So explain to me why he can't come back. Simply put it's because he wants to be an actor and there's nothing wrong with that. He's very good and very successful. Associating with sports entertainment doesn't do much for his acting career. I get it. Just don't f*** me around and tell me that you love this. That's the only thing that gets me really p***ed off. Our fan base have so much admiration for him, he's got to respect that. He doesn't give anything back."

You can listen to the interview at this link (http://del.interoute.com/?id=950d6949-47cd-4728-9ce6-1bb767085d66&delivery=download).

[Denzil]

I will be listening to the interview later on.

It was on the "Wrestlecast" podcast, which i would strongly advise you to subscribe to. You can find it on iTunes by searching for "Wrestlecast" in the iTunes music store. It is presented by Simon LilsBoy (online wrestling columnist for The Sun (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/)) and Joel Ross a DJ both hailing from the UK.

It isn't a weekly interview show, it is on occasionally and i find it strange to hear WWE wrestlers talk so frankly. The interviews are great.

[Nick Michalak]

I can understand Cena's point of view, but I understand why The Rock has changed careers. Cena's got a lot of passion, and we would absolutely LOVE to see The Rock show up every once in a while. Him appearing, maybe, once a year in a taped segment doesn't mean much. He's probably the biggest, most charismatic performer that came along in the last 10 years. He could still have a bunch of really good matches, and do WWE a hell of a lot of good at this point in time. But despite his love and admiration for his fans, he doesn't give them anything anymore. He could make a live appearance on a special ocassion, but continually passes it up. I mean, why not WrestleMania? Why not a live, in-person appearance at some time to pay tribute to his fans? Not to mention, The Rock still hasn't done a really BIG film. He hasn't had his Terminator or Die Hard or Rocky, yet. While he hasn't done any true bombs, the majority of his films haven't gone over well with critics or audiences. So, it's not like he's become a major movie star, yet.

Then, there's The Rock's point of view. The man does love sports entertainment, and adores his fans. Though, the man has to think of his health, and certainly must've felt he went out on a high. He's a family man, and wants to stay healthy and prosperous for them. Seriously, you look at a lot of guys, and after their long, long careers, they have so many injuries it's terrible. Look at Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, Bret Hart....all in pretty bad shape, some worse than others. The Rock got a door opened for him to an acting career, and made a wise choice. Though, he didn't leave WWE cold. He divided his time for a couple years before he made his final depature. Perhaps, he might feel that coming back and coming back would only dillute his legacy. Steve Austin shows up so often that you barely remember a time when he was the bad ass that he was back in the late 90s. He comes in, does some comedy, and stuns somebody. It's pretty dull by now. He's got nothing new to offer fans. Maybe Rock feels the same way, but we'll never know if he doesn't make a few more substantive appearances.

One thing I do admire about Cena in that interview is that he takes a lot of the criticism in stride, and appreciates the support all WWE fans give to the company. Whether they like him or hate him, they are sticking around and showing their support for the industry as a whole, and that's all that matters to him. Too many guys have an ego, and it's refreshing to see someone with a more down-to-Earth perspective.

-NJM

[nottidelterrore]

My favourite thing going on in WWE right now.

Stevie Richards' mini push. I've been a huge fan of Richards for years. He's very talented in the ring & on the mic yet WWE used him as a jobber pretty much his entire time there. I'm glad that he's getting somewhat of a push. I hope it continues & leads to something bigger because he really deserves it. He showed us. We saw.

And damn....I hate The Miz. I seriously hate that guy.

[ChoKo]

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f282/ShivChoko/SOS.jpg

[nottidelterrore]

Haha. Exactly. I never was a fan of The Rock but damn I'd rather have him around than Cena. At least The Rock cut some amazingly hilarious promos & had some decent wrestling skills.

[ChoKo]

I never appreciated the Rock in his heyday. Now, watching his matches, I can safely say that I really like him and appreciate what he did for the business.

[CosmoBubba]

And damn....I hate The Miz. I seriously hate that guy.

At least The Miz inspired one of the greatest pieces of WWE merchandise ever:

http://www.wweshop.com/newimages/images/W01229X.JPG

[nottidelterrore]

He's had many solid matches back in the day. I never was a fan of him but always thought that he was pretty good. His on & off feud with HHH is one of my all-time favourites.

[ChoKo]

At least The Miz inspired one of the greatest pieces of WWE merchandise ever:

http://www.wweshop.com/newimages/images/W01229X.JPG

If I saw someone walking down the street wearing that, I'd promptly kick their ass. :sniffle:

[Kane Lives]

If I saw someone walking down the street wearing that, I'd promptly kick their ass. :sniffle:

And I'd help you. lol

[NW77]

At least The Miz inspired one of the greatest pieces of WWE merchandise ever:

http://www.wweshop.com/newimages/images/W01229X.JPG

Lame!! I can't believe some think that is a good idea. :lol: :lmao:

[Uncle Hoody]

And here I sat thinking "dude it doesn't have the W logo I might have to buy it!"


Thanks for doing LOADS for my self esteem guys :)

[CosmoBubba]

Don't feel too bad, Hood. I actually like it too, just because it doesn't look like one of the typical lame wrestling shirts.

[ChoKo]

I don't like any of their other shirts, either. Haha.

The last cool shirt the WWE had was the Stone Cold "Unleash Hell" shirt.

[NW77]

Look like some of us hornballs (:evil:) here don't have to wait for RAW to see a preview of Maria's Playboy cover, guys. Playboy's official site has finally release the pic of it.


http://www.playboy.com/girls/celebrities/features/magazine/maria/images/maria-kanellis-cover.jpg


Hubba hubba!! :drool: :drool:

[nottidelterrore]

Maria is hella hot.

[ChoKo]

Credit: PWTorch.com

-- Jim Ross recently spoke to the Daytona Beach News-Journal in Florida about the possibility of a WWE roster draft in 2008, saying "I assume that there is a chance, but I have heard nothing concrete about this matter. In 2008, I would rather see an influx of new, young talents make their debuts in an organized, systematic process rather than see the same established talents simply change addresses." You can check out the full interview here (http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Opinion/Columnists/Angle/colJAW022808.htm).

[Denzil]

Maria looks just...wow.

[andrew8798]

Surprise surprise, The Sun beat up that "John Cena dislikes The Rock" story. I found this on the Baltimore Sun website

Was Cena taken out of context again?


Some readers who have listened to the audio of John Cena’s interview with The Sun (U.K.) have commented to me that Cena’s statements about The Rock were not nearly as harsh as they seemed in print. One reader also expressed disappointment in me for not listening to the interview before I reacted to the story.

I just finished listening to the interview, and I do agree that Cena’s comments were not nearly as vitriolic as they appeared. In hindsight, I wish I would have listened to the interview instead of just relying on the printed story. Considering the British tabloid’s reputation for sensationalism, I should have known better. I also should have learned from the incident that occurred last November, when CNN took Cena’s quotes about steroid use out of context.

There are similarities in how The Sun (U.K.) and CNN presented Cena’s quotes, although I think CNN’s actions were more egregious. When CNN asked Cena if he had ever used steroids, the network aired an ambiguous sound bite from Cena that came across like a veiled admission. What CNN failed to do was air Cena’s initial response to the question, which was, “Absolutely not.” CNN completely misrepresented his answer.

The Sun (U.K.) also left out some key elements of Cena’s quotes about The Rock disassociating himself from wrestling. Not only that, but the paper published a story based on one small portion of a 30-minute interview and slapped a sensationalistic headline on it. The headline was “Cena: The Rock p***es me off.” The intro under the headline said: “WWE superstar John Cena has blasted ex-WWE champion The Rock for turning his back on the business.”

Cena’s quotes in the article, which I published yesterday, were mostly accurate, and he did indeed criticize The Rock. But, once again, segments of his statements were left out – segments that would have softened his comments.

Here are some of Cena’s thoughts on The Rock that were on the audio interview, but were conveniently left out of the story:

“He’s genuinely a nice guy. I’ve met him. And a fantastic human being.

“Like I said, he is a great guy. But I think we all know now that he wants to be an actor. And there’s nothing wrong with that, because he’s truly found another passion. He’s good at acting. His films make money.”

Cena also was quoted in the story as saying, “At one point Rock loved wrestling and wanted to do this all his life. So explain to me why he can’t come back.” The Sun (U.K.) ended the quote there, but what Cena actually said was: “So explain to me why he can’t come back for our 15th anniversary show or why he can’t make an appearance at WrestleMania. I wish he’d just show up, say hi and leave. Do the eyebrow once and get out of town.”

The harshest thing Cena said was: “Just don't [expletive] me around and tell me that you love this. That's the only thing that gets me really [ticked] off. Our fan base have so much admiration for him, he's got to respect that. He doesn't give anything back.”

It should be noted, however, that Cena said this in a calm, matter-of-fact tone, so categorizing what he said as “blasting” The Rock was quite a stretch.

I still think Cena’s criticism of The Rock is off base, but he certainly is entitled to his opinion. After being taken out of context for the second time in three months, however, I wouldn’t blame Cena if he decided to start keeping his opinions to himself from now on.

As far as this incident is concerned, I regret if I exacerbated it.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/wrestling/blog/2008/02/was_cena_taken_out_of_context_again.html

Cena's comments are a little bit more reasonable here. I also would've liked to see The Rock come back for a one shot appearance, but realistically he's a busy man and it's not always as simple as "Oh, I'm just going to take a couple of days off to fly across the country to talk about monkey asses."

[ChoKo]

Honestly, I don't give two shits about what Cena has to say about anything. I just posted the article.

At the end of the day, the whole thing was just used by wrestling sites to try and get hits and nothing more.

[Denzil]

Honestly, I don't give two shits about what Cena has to say about anything. I just posted the article.

At the end of the day, the whole thing was just used by wrestling sites to try and get hits and nothing more.

That is right.

His comments weren't that harsh but Cena of all people should have known that they may take the quote out of context. Does anyone remember his quote from the (first run edition of) "Death Grip: Inside Pro Wrestling" documentary?

[Special Killa B]

I think it is a scam to try to get Rock and Cena in a future match. If The Rock is smart he wouldn't waste his time because I'm sure WWE would let Super Cena pick up the win.

Because we all know no matter how many "People's Elbow's" or "Rock Bottom's" The Rock hits Cena with Cena will still get up and score the win with his awesome finisher the fireman's carry! :side:

[Darth Reaper]

Eh, my guess is that if the WWE wants to get The Rock to have a match with Cena, and The Rock wants to win, he can work it out so that's part of the deal. Otherwise, he can just say no to the deal and the WWE is S.O.L. I figure that The Rock has enough influence now to get the WWE to play ball with him, at least to some degree.

[ChoKo]

Some of Maria's Playboy pics have leaked online.

http://www.wrestleattitude.com/

[Denzil]

This industry news tab on the WWE website just doesn't make sense. It's basically advertising all their competitors and giving credit to "dirt-sheet" websites. It is strange to see a Wrestling Observer news clipping on wwe.com.

from wrestleview.com:

As noted earlier, WWE.com has implemented an "industry news" section to their website using stories from different wrestling websites or other media websites covering wrestling.

We actually made the website earlier today giving us "credit" for a story about TNA's Motor City Machineguns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) being set to appear on MTV's "Made" program on March 8. You can view it at this link (http://www.wwe.com/inside/industrynews/6548244).

This is another example of WWE promoting TNA with the new feature.

Note from Adam Martin: WWE.com has decided to credit one website in particular that is notorious for lazy reporting, not crediting sources and "cutting and pasting." They are obviously huge fans of WrestleView.com and have been for years. Steve Gerweck wrote a great statement on his website about this earlier today that pretty much sums up how most people look at them.

The website in question may be Wrestlezone.

[nottidelterrore]

Maria is lookin' good!

[Uncle Hoody]

I think Maria is amazingly beautiful. Seeing her nude is not a bad thing as a guy.

But as far as pictorials go, her spread in playboy sucks.

[Darth Sinister]

The best Playboy pictorial will always go to Shannon Elizabeth and one pic in particular.

[freako104]

I hoped for more shots. The ones in there were well worth the wait but hoped for more

[Darth Reaper]

The best Playboy pictorial will always go to Shannon Elizabeth and one pic in particular.- Darth Sinister

Which one?

[Uncle Hoody]

Which one?


I think he means the Chyna playboy spread.

[andrew8798]

http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/jeffhardysuspended

STAMFORD, Conn. – In accordance with its Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy, WWE has suspended Jeff Hardy for 60 days, for his second violation of the company’s policy

[Kat]

That blows. Stupid Hardy. I wonder if it will start right away or after mania?

[andrew8798]

I would guess right now
ADDED:
already been taken out of the match preview

http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/matc...464426/preview/

The talk backstage at Raw last night, when word of Jeff Hardy's impending suspension made the rounds, was shock and disbelief. I talked to a number of WWE people that began the conversation with a phrase like "Can you believe what an idiot he is?" Jeff is pretty well liked backstage but even people who have used substances in the past have realized that the rules have changed in WWE and the testing policy is the reason why. You just can't do the things that maybe you could have gotten away with doing years ago. It's a new WWE and Jeff found out, once again, the hard way.

http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=29653&p=1

[freako104]

I guess he fell again. He was doing pretty well too. Damn shame

[Uncle Hoody]

Yes, so much for his late summer title run :(

Geez Jeff! Just say no!

[ChoKo]

Credit: PWInsider.com

There was shock and disbelief in the WWE locker room last night when word of Jeff Hardy's impending suspension made the rounds. Hardy is pretty well liked backstage, but there was a lot of disappointment after the news broke which lead to several guys asking out loud "Can you believe what an idiot he is?"

Even guys in the company who have used substances in the past have realized that the rules have changed in WWE and you can't do things anymore that you might have gotten away with back in the day.

[Spade]

Poor decision making by Jeff.

[ChoKo]

I thought they said Jeff was clean when he came back? I guess being back on the road brought back some of his demons.

[Darth Sinister]

I think he means the Chyna playboy spread.

*slaps Hood*. :p

No, I mean Shannon Elizabeth. Out of all the Playboy spreads, in the entire history of the magazine, she has the best. Reaper, I'll PM it to you.

[nottidelterrore]

Jeff screws up again. Not that I really like the guy but he was getting a hell of a push.

[andrew8798]

From Pro Wrestling.Net:

Jeff Hardy had a long meeting with Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis before Raw on Monday to discuss his 60-day suspension for violating the wellness policy. Although WWE spokesperson Gary Davis would not specify to the Associated Press which drug Hardy tested positive for, multiple sources tell Prowrestling.net that the suspension is related to recreational drug use and is not attributable to performance enhancing drugs.

Hardy was said to be subdued and mindful of his words in front of most members of the locker room on Monday because he knew anything he said could come back to haunt him. There’s no word yet on whether management has asked him to seek treatment. The wellness policy states that WWE officials have the right to suspend a second time offender indefinitely if company officials want the wrestler to seek treatment and he refuses.

Powell’s POV: Hardy left the company and took a long hiatus the last time WWE officials wanted him to seek treatment back in 2003. He’s famous for marching to the beat of his own drum, so there’s no telling how he will react if a similar request was made during Monday’s meeting.

[Nick Michalak]

Well, it explains why he dropped the belt to Jericho. Just seemed like something out of nowhere since there was no real build up to the match. Good thing is, they didn't throw the belt on Umaga again. Anyway, Jeff really needs to be extra careful now because the next time will be the last time.

-NJM

[NW77]

I really wish Jeff could control his problem. It's a shame some have trouble with controlling it for so long like Scott Hall, Jake Roberts, etc. I hope Hardy control his life better & get a title push when he deserve it after he return soon. Please don't screw it up again, Jeff. :(

[Violent VictiM]

Jeff Hardy pisses me off. He's the fucking man. The only guy who can probably save us from Cena and in the midst of the biggest push of his career he decides, "hey I'm gonna do drugs". It was more than likely pot, because I don't see him having any other symptoms of hardcore drug use. Maybe prescription pills, but he could probably get a doctor to write him a fake script for those. ;)

[nottidelterrore]

He'll probably end up getting released. He really needs to get his problems in check.