Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Sept 11, 2013 19:32:23 GMT -6
PRO WRESTLING NEWS:
---SPOILERS: WWE SMACKDOWN TAPINGS FOR SEPTEMBER 13
The following took place on Tuesday night in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
WWE Smackdown tapings for September 13, 2013:
* The show opens with Big Show apologizing to Triple H. Triple H thanks Big Show for being a business man and says that disobeying him is grounds for termination. Triple H then suspends Big Show for the night. The Shield then attacks Big Show.
* Aksana, Layla and Alicia Fox def. Natalya, Brie Bella and Naomi via DQ.
* Dance Off segment involving Fandango, R-Truth, The Miz and The Great Khali.
* WWE retaped the finish of the Divas tag team match earlier in the night. WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee interferes causing the DQ.
* Backstage promo with Ryback and local wrestler RD Evans.
* Santino def. Damien Sandow.
* Michael Cole interview segment with WWE Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel and Paul Heyman.
* WWE World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio def. Ricardo Rodriguez with Rob Van Dam in his corner.
* Dolph Ziggler def. WWE United States Champion Dean Ambrose via DQ when The Shield interferes. The Usos run out to make the save. Vickie Guerrero announces a six man tag team match to take place next.
* The Shield def. Dolph Ziggler and The Usos.
* Cutting Edge segment WWE Champion Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan. Orton attacks Bryan and Bryan gets him in a Yes Lock to close the show.
* Daniel Bryan def. WWE Champion Randy Orton via DQ in a post-taping bonus match when The Shield interfered. Kofi Kingston, RVD and Dolph Ziggler hit the ring to make the save. Kingston, RVD, Ziggler and Bryan all hit their finishers on Ambrose to close the show.
---The Road Warriors book, written by Road Warrior Animal and Andrew Wright, will receive a paperback release in April 2014.
---The "This is Hardcore" punk festival announced that they want to invite Joey Styles to do live commentary at their festival next year in Philadelphia, Pa.
---Chris Jericho's band Fozzy will be playing BB Kings in NYC this Friday 9/13.
---Tommy Dreamer vs. Dan Maff will headline Impact Championship Wrestling's return to the Queensborough Elks Lodge this Saturday 9/14. Also appearing are Homicide, Little Guido, Amazing Red, Ricky Reyes, Papadon, Brian XL, Matt Taven, Matt Striker and more. For details, visit www.ICWZONE.com.
---Former WWE and ECW star Jerry Lynn will be coming to NYC for a seminar at the Ludus Wrestling Academy on 10/19 in Brooklyn, NY.
---New York's Family Wrestling Entertainment announced today that Ring of Honor had pulled Jay Lethal and Matt Taven from their 10/12 iPPV event in Brooklyn, NY. Lethal had been working for the company since he was in TNA. FWE noted they were working on replacements for the event, which is the opening round of their Grand Prix tournament.
---The Baltimore Sun featured a "Where Are They Now" piece on Nikolai Volkoff, who, now retired at 66, works at a PAL in Cockeysville, MD.
---Jake Roberts announced he will be doing his own Youtube/Radio show soon.
---The horror film "Army of the Damned", which features Tommy Dreamer and former TNA star Rosita, has completed post-production.
---Sabu, Davey Boy (DH) Smith Jr. and Necro Butcher are being advertised for a 9/22 date in Denver, Colorado for Primos Wrestling.
---Northeast Collectorfest will be holding a Pro Wrestling Convention on Sunday 9/22 at The Hudson Valley Hotel in Newburgh, NY with Tommy Dreamer, Miss Tessmnacher, Sean Waltman, Ron Simmons, Rikishi, Jilliam Hall, Joey Styles, So Cal Val and more appearing from 12-3 PM. For more, visit TaintedEntertainment.net.
---World Wrestling Entertainment issued a statement on their website announcing that WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has retired from the company, effective immediately. The article noted Ross was leaving to "focus on personal business endeavors."
Ross, long considered one of the best announcers of all time, also presided over the then-WWF Talent Relations department, signing some of the most important talents to the company's modern age to deals, including Steve Austin, Mick Foley, Trish Stratus, Edge and many, many more.
Since leaving the talent relations end, Ross has been involved with a number of behind the scenes responsibilities including determining talent payoffs, WWE developmental and assisting with different licensed products, including the WWE video game series.
Ross broke into the business in Bill Watts' Mid-South promotion, which as irony would have it, was the featured subject of a DVD which WWE released this past Tuesday featuring new commentary Ross called over old footage.
Ross debuted for the company at Wrestlemania IX in 1993, coming over from World Championship Wrestling. He was in and out of the company several times but became one of the most important figures in the history of WWE, both as an on-air performer as the voice of the Attitude Era and as a backstage official.
WWE inducted Ross into their Hall of Fame in 2006 in Detroit, Michigan.
Ross' BBQ product had been sold via WWE online. There is no word whether that will change with his departure.
The word making the rounds within WWE is that Jim Ross' retirement was actually the company's way of announcing that he had been let go without causing any major uproar among fans, since Ross is so beloved. This way, Ross could depart a hero who left of his own accord.
We are told that the decision for Ross to leave the company is at least partially due to fallout from the WWE 2K14 videogame event that took place the night before Summerslam in Los Angeles, CA last month.
As you may remember, that was the event where Ric Flair took control of the festivities and a media event that was designed to promote the new WWE videogame and it's "30 Years of Wrestlemania" theme instead turned into the Flair show with stories about how he turned John Cena into a drinker, etc.
At the time, WWE officials were embarrassed by Flair's behavior and literally walked him out of the event. The fallout and anger over the event spread to Ross since the company felt that as the host, he should have been able to control the situation and instead joked about "Grey Goose" vodka sponsoring the festivities and how they had lost the script. It should be noted that during the Q&A, Ross initially tried to stay away from Flair, but Mick Foley pointed out that Ric hadn't said anything, which sent things spiraling in that direction.
WWE was furious with Flair that weekend and sources have indicated that Flair was told that without major changes to how he had been acting, he would not be welcome to work with the company going forward, in any fashion. Flair has not made any public appearances since.
According to one high-up source within 2K Sports, they were not upset in the least with Flair's antics and if anything were "entertained by the spectacle of it." WWE, however, were upset that they were having their first presentation with a new licensee and it went to hell.
It is believed that the call for Ross to depart was made by Vince McMahon and that Ross was informed in the last day or so.
Ross had been working as a talent scout and helping with WWE developmental. He had also, from time to time, laid out commentary for WWE licensed products, such as DVDs and videogames.
It obviously stands to reason that the company could still call upon him to do additional voiceover work, if Ross was willing to do so.
We are told Ross has already received at least one major offer to sit down and do shoot interviews about his career. Ross recently took part in his first speaking tour overseas, and has been looking into additional speaking engagements as well.
Ross has not commented publicly on his departure.
On his Twitter account, Jim Ross wrote the following:
"The feedback I've received re: my @wwe retirement has been amazing. Heartfelt thanks to all. I'm ready 4 the next adventure. Stay tuned!"
We wish Ross nothing but the best as he undergoes the next chapter of his life. When it comes to what he does, there are none better.
---The trial of former AWA Light Heavyweight champion and WWF preliminary performer Eugene Otto "Buck" Zumhofe will stand trial this December on 12 felony counts of criminal sexual conduct for having alleged sexual contact with a young female relative approximately 1,800 times between 1999 and 2011.
At a hearing this past Monday to hear evidence that may be introduced during the trial, the victim claimed that she was molested by Zumhofe while she was 17 and traveling with his independent promotion.
Later, she moved in with Zumhofe and engaged in sexual relations with him several times a week. This went on for several years.
The trial will commence on 12/6.
---Ted DiBiase talks the new WWE Mid South Wrestling DVD at youtu.be/FzfZlRtA8PM and youtu.be/HKBMvIT3H61.
---Fuse TV announced today that ICP Theater, which features ICP, Vampiro and Greg Valentine has been picked up for a second season. The final episode of the first season is at 11 p.m. tonight on Fuse.
---Booker T talks pro wrestling and MMA at sg.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/fit-to-post-sports/mma-not-going-overtake-pro-wrestling-wwe-icon-085449556.html
---Bully Ray in an interview promoting Impact tomorrow night in St. Louis talked about maybe doing a television divorce party on the show.
---A German suplex in the NFL at
---UWC Championship Wrestling at www.youtube.com/UWCWrestlingVideos
---Evolve 23 on 9/21 in Ridgewood, Queens, NY at the Guzman Sports Lounge has Josh Alexander vs. Biff Busick vs. Maxwell Chicago vs. Andrew Everett and Lince Dorado vs. Drew Gulak vs. Shane Strickland vs. Mr. Touchdown in four-ways as part of a Style Battle tournament. The winners face off the next night at The Brooklyn Lyceum in Brooklyn.
---Andrew Garvey has a novel about a wrestler in the 1890s battling a vampire in London at amzn.to/15TMB2
---Story on Nikolai Volkoff at www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bs-sp-nikolai-volkoff-profile-20139010,0,568074.story
---An ESPN story on Johnny Manziel and comparisons with Ric Flair is at espn.go.com/college-football-story/_/id/9657474/texas-aggies-qb-johnny-manziel-embrace-outlaw-image
---There will be a convention at the Hudson Valley Hotel in Newburgh NY on 9/22 from Noon to 3 p.m. with Tommy Dreamer, Brooke Tessmacher, Ron Simmons, Joey Styles, Rikishi, and Jillian Hall.
---CMLL from Tuesday night in Guadalajara: Virgo & Black Metal b Magnum & Ebola, Nitro & Malefico b Magnus & Leo, Tiffany & Amapola & Princesa Sugei b Estrellita & Goya Kong & Dalis la Caribena, Brazo de Plata & Maximo & Valiente b Dragon Rojo Jr. & Vangelis & Rey Escorpion, Atlantis & La Sombra & Blue Panther b Volador Jr. & Averno & Mephisto-DQ
---Drew McIntyre recently spoke with SkySports.com. Here are some highlights from the interview: If he prefers singles or tag team wrestling: "I am happy to do anything that comes my way and I will always do my best in anything that presents itself. However, I will be getting in the ring a lot more now that my wrist injury has cleared and I am back to 100 per cent." His friendship with Alberto Del Rio: "You can probably imagine how a Scot and a Mexican became such good mates! We are very similar personality-wise, we both love wrestling - he grew up in a wrestling family and I've always wanted to be a wrestler - and we are both very passionate about what we do and very driven." Most prestigious titles in WWE: "The WWE and World Heavyweight Titles are the ones everyone is aiming for and if you're not aiming for them you are in the wrong business - and I like to think that when the time is right I will get my shot. I have just turned 28 and have lots of years left in me and after being hindered by injury I am ready to get going. I am hungrier and more vicious than I have ever been and I don't think anyone can match my aggression."
PRO WRESTLING EVENTS FOR THURSDAY SEPT 12,2013:
WWE @ Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida
TNA @ St. Louis University (Chaifetz Arena) in St. Louis, Missouri
ASW @ Big T Arena in Shelbyville, Tennessee
SBW @ Santino Brothers Academy in Bell Gardens, California
SMCW @ Western North Carolina Agricultural Center in Fletcher, North Carolina
TMW @ Chilhowee Park & Expo Center in Knoxville, Tennessee
UWA @ The Blackstock in Knoxville, Tennessee
WFW @ Boston Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee
WWA4 @ WWA4 School in Atlanta, Georgia
AAA @ Municipal Auditorium in Tlatlauquitepec, Mexico
IWRG @ Arena Naucalpan in Naucalpan, Mexico
DGPW @ Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan
Noah @ Kaikyo Messe in Shimonoseki, Japan
Osaka Pro @ Umeda Nasci Hall in Osaka, Japan
EPW @ Forum Music Centre in Darlington, England
---SPOILERS: WWE SMACKDOWN TAPINGS FOR SEPTEMBER 13
The following took place on Tuesday night in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
WWE Smackdown tapings for September 13, 2013:
* The show opens with Big Show apologizing to Triple H. Triple H thanks Big Show for being a business man and says that disobeying him is grounds for termination. Triple H then suspends Big Show for the night. The Shield then attacks Big Show.
* Aksana, Layla and Alicia Fox def. Natalya, Brie Bella and Naomi via DQ.
* Dance Off segment involving Fandango, R-Truth, The Miz and The Great Khali.
* WWE retaped the finish of the Divas tag team match earlier in the night. WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee interferes causing the DQ.
* Backstage promo with Ryback and local wrestler RD Evans.
* Santino def. Damien Sandow.
* Michael Cole interview segment with WWE Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel and Paul Heyman.
* WWE World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio def. Ricardo Rodriguez with Rob Van Dam in his corner.
* Dolph Ziggler def. WWE United States Champion Dean Ambrose via DQ when The Shield interferes. The Usos run out to make the save. Vickie Guerrero announces a six man tag team match to take place next.
* The Shield def. Dolph Ziggler and The Usos.
* Cutting Edge segment WWE Champion Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan. Orton attacks Bryan and Bryan gets him in a Yes Lock to close the show.
* Daniel Bryan def. WWE Champion Randy Orton via DQ in a post-taping bonus match when The Shield interfered. Kofi Kingston, RVD and Dolph Ziggler hit the ring to make the save. Kingston, RVD, Ziggler and Bryan all hit their finishers on Ambrose to close the show.
---The Road Warriors book, written by Road Warrior Animal and Andrew Wright, will receive a paperback release in April 2014.
---The "This is Hardcore" punk festival announced that they want to invite Joey Styles to do live commentary at their festival next year in Philadelphia, Pa.
---Chris Jericho's band Fozzy will be playing BB Kings in NYC this Friday 9/13.
---Tommy Dreamer vs. Dan Maff will headline Impact Championship Wrestling's return to the Queensborough Elks Lodge this Saturday 9/14. Also appearing are Homicide, Little Guido, Amazing Red, Ricky Reyes, Papadon, Brian XL, Matt Taven, Matt Striker and more. For details, visit www.ICWZONE.com.
---Former WWE and ECW star Jerry Lynn will be coming to NYC for a seminar at the Ludus Wrestling Academy on 10/19 in Brooklyn, NY.
---New York's Family Wrestling Entertainment announced today that Ring of Honor had pulled Jay Lethal and Matt Taven from their 10/12 iPPV event in Brooklyn, NY. Lethal had been working for the company since he was in TNA. FWE noted they were working on replacements for the event, which is the opening round of their Grand Prix tournament.
---The Baltimore Sun featured a "Where Are They Now" piece on Nikolai Volkoff, who, now retired at 66, works at a PAL in Cockeysville, MD.
---Jake Roberts announced he will be doing his own Youtube/Radio show soon.
---The horror film "Army of the Damned", which features Tommy Dreamer and former TNA star Rosita, has completed post-production.
---Sabu, Davey Boy (DH) Smith Jr. and Necro Butcher are being advertised for a 9/22 date in Denver, Colorado for Primos Wrestling.
---Northeast Collectorfest will be holding a Pro Wrestling Convention on Sunday 9/22 at The Hudson Valley Hotel in Newburgh, NY with Tommy Dreamer, Miss Tessmnacher, Sean Waltman, Ron Simmons, Rikishi, Jilliam Hall, Joey Styles, So Cal Val and more appearing from 12-3 PM. For more, visit TaintedEntertainment.net.
---World Wrestling Entertainment issued a statement on their website announcing that WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has retired from the company, effective immediately. The article noted Ross was leaving to "focus on personal business endeavors."
Ross, long considered one of the best announcers of all time, also presided over the then-WWF Talent Relations department, signing some of the most important talents to the company's modern age to deals, including Steve Austin, Mick Foley, Trish Stratus, Edge and many, many more.
Since leaving the talent relations end, Ross has been involved with a number of behind the scenes responsibilities including determining talent payoffs, WWE developmental and assisting with different licensed products, including the WWE video game series.
Ross broke into the business in Bill Watts' Mid-South promotion, which as irony would have it, was the featured subject of a DVD which WWE released this past Tuesday featuring new commentary Ross called over old footage.
Ross debuted for the company at Wrestlemania IX in 1993, coming over from World Championship Wrestling. He was in and out of the company several times but became one of the most important figures in the history of WWE, both as an on-air performer as the voice of the Attitude Era and as a backstage official.
WWE inducted Ross into their Hall of Fame in 2006 in Detroit, Michigan.
Ross' BBQ product had been sold via WWE online. There is no word whether that will change with his departure.
The word making the rounds within WWE is that Jim Ross' retirement was actually the company's way of announcing that he had been let go without causing any major uproar among fans, since Ross is so beloved. This way, Ross could depart a hero who left of his own accord.
We are told that the decision for Ross to leave the company is at least partially due to fallout from the WWE 2K14 videogame event that took place the night before Summerslam in Los Angeles, CA last month.
As you may remember, that was the event where Ric Flair took control of the festivities and a media event that was designed to promote the new WWE videogame and it's "30 Years of Wrestlemania" theme instead turned into the Flair show with stories about how he turned John Cena into a drinker, etc.
At the time, WWE officials were embarrassed by Flair's behavior and literally walked him out of the event. The fallout and anger over the event spread to Ross since the company felt that as the host, he should have been able to control the situation and instead joked about "Grey Goose" vodka sponsoring the festivities and how they had lost the script. It should be noted that during the Q&A, Ross initially tried to stay away from Flair, but Mick Foley pointed out that Ric hadn't said anything, which sent things spiraling in that direction.
WWE was furious with Flair that weekend and sources have indicated that Flair was told that without major changes to how he had been acting, he would not be welcome to work with the company going forward, in any fashion. Flair has not made any public appearances since.
According to one high-up source within 2K Sports, they were not upset in the least with Flair's antics and if anything were "entertained by the spectacle of it." WWE, however, were upset that they were having their first presentation with a new licensee and it went to hell.
It is believed that the call for Ross to depart was made by Vince McMahon and that Ross was informed in the last day or so.
Ross had been working as a talent scout and helping with WWE developmental. He had also, from time to time, laid out commentary for WWE licensed products, such as DVDs and videogames.
It obviously stands to reason that the company could still call upon him to do additional voiceover work, if Ross was willing to do so.
We are told Ross has already received at least one major offer to sit down and do shoot interviews about his career. Ross recently took part in his first speaking tour overseas, and has been looking into additional speaking engagements as well.
Ross has not commented publicly on his departure.
On his Twitter account, Jim Ross wrote the following:
"The feedback I've received re: my @wwe retirement has been amazing. Heartfelt thanks to all. I'm ready 4 the next adventure. Stay tuned!"
We wish Ross nothing but the best as he undergoes the next chapter of his life. When it comes to what he does, there are none better.
---The trial of former AWA Light Heavyweight champion and WWF preliminary performer Eugene Otto "Buck" Zumhofe will stand trial this December on 12 felony counts of criminal sexual conduct for having alleged sexual contact with a young female relative approximately 1,800 times between 1999 and 2011.
At a hearing this past Monday to hear evidence that may be introduced during the trial, the victim claimed that she was molested by Zumhofe while she was 17 and traveling with his independent promotion.
Later, she moved in with Zumhofe and engaged in sexual relations with him several times a week. This went on for several years.
The trial will commence on 12/6.
---Ted DiBiase talks the new WWE Mid South Wrestling DVD at youtu.be/FzfZlRtA8PM and youtu.be/HKBMvIT3H61.
---Fuse TV announced today that ICP Theater, which features ICP, Vampiro and Greg Valentine has been picked up for a second season. The final episode of the first season is at 11 p.m. tonight on Fuse.
---Booker T talks pro wrestling and MMA at sg.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/fit-to-post-sports/mma-not-going-overtake-pro-wrestling-wwe-icon-085449556.html
---Bully Ray in an interview promoting Impact tomorrow night in St. Louis talked about maybe doing a television divorce party on the show.
---A German suplex in the NFL at
---UWC Championship Wrestling at www.youtube.com/UWCWrestlingVideos
---Evolve 23 on 9/21 in Ridgewood, Queens, NY at the Guzman Sports Lounge has Josh Alexander vs. Biff Busick vs. Maxwell Chicago vs. Andrew Everett and Lince Dorado vs. Drew Gulak vs. Shane Strickland vs. Mr. Touchdown in four-ways as part of a Style Battle tournament. The winners face off the next night at The Brooklyn Lyceum in Brooklyn.
---Andrew Garvey has a novel about a wrestler in the 1890s battling a vampire in London at amzn.to/15TMB2
---Story on Nikolai Volkoff at www.baltimoresun.com/sports/bs-sp-nikolai-volkoff-profile-20139010,0,568074.story
---An ESPN story on Johnny Manziel and comparisons with Ric Flair is at espn.go.com/college-football-story/_/id/9657474/texas-aggies-qb-johnny-manziel-embrace-outlaw-image
---There will be a convention at the Hudson Valley Hotel in Newburgh NY on 9/22 from Noon to 3 p.m. with Tommy Dreamer, Brooke Tessmacher, Ron Simmons, Joey Styles, Rikishi, and Jillian Hall.
---CMLL from Tuesday night in Guadalajara: Virgo & Black Metal b Magnum & Ebola, Nitro & Malefico b Magnus & Leo, Tiffany & Amapola & Princesa Sugei b Estrellita & Goya Kong & Dalis la Caribena, Brazo de Plata & Maximo & Valiente b Dragon Rojo Jr. & Vangelis & Rey Escorpion, Atlantis & La Sombra & Blue Panther b Volador Jr. & Averno & Mephisto-DQ
---Drew McIntyre recently spoke with SkySports.com. Here are some highlights from the interview: If he prefers singles or tag team wrestling: "I am happy to do anything that comes my way and I will always do my best in anything that presents itself. However, I will be getting in the ring a lot more now that my wrist injury has cleared and I am back to 100 per cent." His friendship with Alberto Del Rio: "You can probably imagine how a Scot and a Mexican became such good mates! We are very similar personality-wise, we both love wrestling - he grew up in a wrestling family and I've always wanted to be a wrestler - and we are both very passionate about what we do and very driven." Most prestigious titles in WWE: "The WWE and World Heavyweight Titles are the ones everyone is aiming for and if you're not aiming for them you are in the wrong business - and I like to think that when the time is right I will get my shot. I have just turned 28 and have lots of years left in me and after being hindered by injury I am ready to get going. I am hungrier and more vicious than I have ever been and I don't think anyone can match my aggression."
PRO WRESTLING EVENTS FOR THURSDAY SEPT 12,2013:
WWE @ Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida
TNA @ St. Louis University (Chaifetz Arena) in St. Louis, Missouri
ASW @ Big T Arena in Shelbyville, Tennessee
SBW @ Santino Brothers Academy in Bell Gardens, California
SMCW @ Western North Carolina Agricultural Center in Fletcher, North Carolina
TMW @ Chilhowee Park & Expo Center in Knoxville, Tennessee
UWA @ The Blackstock in Knoxville, Tennessee
WFW @ Boston Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee
WWA4 @ WWA4 School in Atlanta, Georgia
AAA @ Municipal Auditorium in Tlatlauquitepec, Mexico
IWRG @ Arena Naucalpan in Naucalpan, Mexico
DGPW @ Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan
Noah @ Kaikyo Messe in Shimonoseki, Japan
Osaka Pro @ Umeda Nasci Hall in Osaka, Japan
EPW @ Forum Music Centre in Darlington, England