Former WWE World Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar had a 10 minute interview segment on ESPN’s SportsCenter to promote this Sunday’s SummerSlam.
A very relaxed and happy looking Lesnar said it was a pleasure to be there and he’s really excited to take the Undertaker to Suplex City on Sunday night.
When asked about beating the streak at WrestleMania XXX, Lesnar said it was a “very strange experience” as the legend of the Undertaker was supposed to live on forever. He said it was a big weight on his shoulder too and ultimately it was a business decision taken by Vince McMahon and Lesnar was fine with the win.
When told to elaborate why it was a strange experience, he said he took the streak away from the company, from the Undertaker, from the fans, and from co-workers. WrestleMania is the Undertaker’s show and he stole it. He mentioned that he still gets booed when the streak subject comes up.
The interview shifted on what it takes to become a professional wrestler and the training he had to undergo for the NFL with the Vikings and MMA. He said the NFL training camp was by far the hardest thing he’s ever done as he was a fish out of the water and it sucked not knowing where he was going to get hit from.
The SportsCenter anchor then brought up Dana White’s recent “wrestling is fake” comment and asked for Lesnar’s take on it. “Of course Dana, it’s fake, everybody knows that,” responded Lesnar, before saying that White promotes the same thing that WWE does although WWE gets more longevity out of shows, matches, and their wrestlers due to the circumstances.
Lesnar then said that the WWE and UFC share the same business model however Vince McMahon is better than his old boss at it. He called McMahon a pioneer and said he’s “damn good” at what he does.
The former WWE and UFC champ then said that he loves being in the ring and that’s why he’s there. He doesn’t care if there’s 20,000 or 80,000 people as long as he gets to entertain the fans.
Lesnar came out as a super nice guy and joked with the anchors. You can see the segment below.
SummerSlam 2015 is this Sunday, and this is the “go-home” show for Raw! We know that both The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar will be in the building, so what will go down between the two behemoths on the path to their war at the Pay-Per-View?
Also, John Cena has officially accepted Seth Rollins challenge, to square off for both the United States Championship and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam. Who will gain an advantage going into this monumental title bout?
It was made known that the Tag-Team Championship will also be on the line in a Fatal-4-Way; which team(s) will provoke the other(s)?
Summer Rae locked Lana in The Accolade Camel Clutch last week, so will Lana be able to get some revenge tonight, or does Summer and Rusev’s humiliation of her continue?
Intercontinental Champion Ryback made his long-awaited return last week and took out both Big Show and The Miz. Of the three who are schedule in a Triple-Threat Match at SummerSlam for the I.C. Title, who will come out on top this week?
All this and much more, plus my predictions, so read on!
Monday Night Raw TV Report for August 17th, 2015 – “Legacies”
Introduction Segment: Welcoming and Arena Promo
Michael Cole, John “Bradshaw” Layfield, and Byron Saxton greet us in Minneapolis, then The Authority’s music plays to kick off Raw. Triple H and Stephanie put over SummerSlam and run-down the card, as well as a couple of matches for tonight; Luke Harper taking on Roman Reigns and NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks facing Divas Champion Nikki Bella. They also reveal that Jon Stewart – talk show host and actor – will be hosting SummerSlam. “The Game” then says “the road to SummerSlam starts right now!”
Randy Orton’s music plays and he saunters to the ring., for a Tag-Team Match, next!
Commercials.
Match #1: Tag-Team – Randy Orton and Cesaro VS. Kevin Owens and Sheamus
Cesaro and Owens begin circling each other, then Owens quickly tags out to Sheamus. Cesaro does the same and switches with Randy. They circle each other also, then Sheamus goes to the outside for a break. He gets back in the ring and clamps Randy in a headlock then gives him a shoulder-tackle. They lock up again and Orton shoulder-tackles Sheamus off the ropes. Sheamus tags Kevin in, but Orton can’t switch with Cesaro again as Owens attacks him. Randy gets the upperhand and manages to slap hands with Cesaro, who then drops Owens after a stalling-suplex. Kevin knees Cesaro but misses a clothesline, allowing Cesaro to hit a springboard uppercut.
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Orton and Sheamus are back in the ring, with Sheamus controlling then tagging Kevin. He knocks Cesaro off the apron and then mount-punches Orton. Sheamus is back in and stomps away on Orton, then knees and clotheslines him off the ropes for two! Owens is now back in and wears down Randy with a grounding rear chinlock.
On the outside, Orton backdrops Owens on the barrier, then has to kick off Sheamus in the ring. He reaches for the hot-tag to Cesaro, who comes in and repeatedly uppercuts Sheamus! He climbs the turnbuckle and soars off with a crossbody for a near-fall! Cesaro tries the Swing, but Sheamus struggles to the ropes for the break. Sheamus now ascends the turnbuckle and dives off, but is met with another uppercut! Cesaro covers as “Little Naitch” Charles Robinson (the referee) counts two before Sheamus raises his shoulder!
Randy is tagged and drops Sheamus with the rope-prone DDT, then R.K.O.’s him to get the hard-earned victory!
Winners via Pinfall: Randy Orton and Cesaro
After recapping the events of Undertaker and Brock Lesnar at Battleground and Raw, Cole says that The Undertaker will be up next!
Commercials.
Segment #2: Video Promo
The Undertaker appears on the Titantron. “When the reaper calls your name, there is no apology. When the reaper calls your name, there is no remorse. When the reaper calls your name, it’s just over. Lesnar, the ‘Hounds of Hell’ are begging for your soul, and the Gates Of Hell are opening, and welcoming you to your eternal damnation. Brock Lesnar, your name has been called, and at SummerSlam, you will never ‘Rest…In…Peace.’”
Segment #3: Office Promo
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins is happy with The Authority having John Cena sign the contract for the match at SummerSlam; he also wants a statue of himself among the Hall Of Famers at Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. They agree if he wins both the U.S. Title and keeps his WWE World Heavyweight Championship after SummerSlam.
Dean Ambrose makes his entrance to be in the corner of Roman Reigns, who will face Luke Harper, next!
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Match #2: Single – Roman Reigns (with Dean Ambrose) VS. Luke Harper (with Bray Wyatt)
Reigns and Harper lockup and shove-off a couple times, then Roman slaps Luke out of the corner. Harper snapmares Reigns and works him over with a grounding rear chinlock. Reigns fights back with punches and kicks, then clotheslines him over the ropes. He follows up with the Drive-By running front-dropkick.
Commercials.
Harper is back in control, delivering a big Michinoku Driver for a two-count! Reigns counters with a backdrop, but Luke gives him a big boot direct to the side of the face! He locks in the Gator Roll, which Roman also battles back from. He ducks a clothesline and hits a couple flying forearms. Harper counters with a knee-to-the-head, but Reigns slams him with another backdrop. Luke runs, but Roman pulls the ropes down, sending Harper tumbling to the floor. Reigns follows with a leaping forearm from the apron!
Both get back into the ring at four and slug it out. Harper reverses a powerbomb attempt into a backdrop, which Reigns reverses into a sunset flip pin for two! Reigns tries a Samoan Drop, but Harper elbows out of it and superkicks Roman on the outside. He gets back in the ring but runs into a tornado side-slam by Harper. He attempts a powerbomb, but Reigns reverses into a Samoan Drop try, but Harper superkicks him again. He drops with a gutwrench powerbomb for two-and-half, but Reigns fires back with the Superman Punch and Spear for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall: Roman Reigns (with Dean Ambrose)
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Match #3: Single – Tamina Snuka (with Team B.A.D. partners Naomi and NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks) VS. Becky Lynch (with Team P.C.B. partners Paige and Charlotte)
Elbow/collar tie-up, then Tamina shoves Becky to the canvas. She headbutts Lynch, and catches her off a rope run with a spinning side slam. Snuka scoop-slams Becky for a count, then tears at her head with a chinlock. She pounds away with punches/forearms on the mat, but is elbowed out of the corner. Becky springboard-kicks Snuka in the corner, then jumps off the top turnbuckle with a front-dropkick. She reverses a pickup into her Disarmer Hold to force Tamina to tap!
Winner via Submission: Becky Lynch (with Team P.C.B. partners Paige and Charlotte)
Commercials.
Match #4: Single – Rusev (with Summer Rae) VS. Mark Henry
(Note: Lana is on commentary.) Henry begins with punches and a headbutt, then follows Rusev to the outside and hammers him with his arm. He rams him into the corner of the barricade, then slams him over-the-shoulder-style in the ring, twice!
On the outside again, Rusev kicks and runs Mark into the ring post two times. Back in the ring, he measures Henry and kicks him hard in the head. Rusev ties on The Accolade Camel Clutch. “The World’s Strongest Man” tries to break it at first, but “The Bulgarian Brute” adjusts the hold and makes Henry give up.
Winner via Submission: Rusev (with Summer Rae)
Post-match, Rusev and Summer leave but Lana enters the ring and takes off her shoes, then points at Rae, who enters the ring and removes her shoes too. Lana slaps Summer hard as she approached, then wants Rusev to face her. He obliges, and she looks to the entrance way. Out runs Dolph Ziggler, who takes out Rusev with a leaping-DDT. Rusev then uses Summer for protection, but Lana kicks her down. Lana and Ziggler celebrate his return.
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Segment #4: Backstage Promo
JoJo interviews Lana and Dolph Ziggler; they laud about what just happened and Dolph wants to wrestle Rusev at SummerSlam.
Segment #5: Video Promo
A montage of The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar’s rivalry airs.
Intercontinental Champion Ryback makes his entrance and will take on The Miz, next!
Commercials.
Match #4: Single – Intercontinental Champion Ryback VS. The Miz
(Note; The Big Show is on commentary.) Ryback chops to begin, but Miz chops him down at the knee. He controls for a bit, but Ryback counters a kick and hits the harsh Meathook Clothesline! He tries to drag Miz to the middle, but Miz holds onto the ropes. Miz dives off the turnbuckle, but is caught and slammed with The Shellshock for the finish!
Winner via Pinfall: Intercontinental Champion Ryback
Post-match, Ryback now wants to go at it with The Big Show and orders him to get in the ring; Show walks away instead.
The contract signing for the U.S. and WWE World Heavyweight Championship match is after the break!
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Segment #5: Arena Promo
The ring is decorated in a black mat, with chairs and a table in the ring, as are The Authority. Triple H and Stephanie bring out WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins first. He puts over Stephanie and Triple H for booking SummerSlam, then himself for presuming he will beat Cena at SummerSlam.
Rollins accuses Cena of being a “villain,” being the top guy for the past ten years and has not letting anyone else overtake him. He relates Cena to a “disease” and proclaims himself as “the cure.” Rollins also takes issue with Cena’s views of him and not replying to his challenge in person.
John Cena now joins to respond. He berates Rollins for his words and title reign, then talks about legacy. He says that he is a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion, and after Sunday, will be a 16-time World Heavyweight Champion. This applies to Triple H, because his mentor, Ric Flair, is the only other 16-time World Heavyweight Champion, so when Rollins loses, so does HHH. Cena puts the pressure on both; “Sunday’s not just a match, Sunday you fight to protect everything – the past, the present, the future of this man’s (Triple H) legacy. Bestowed to him by Ric Flair, he is trying to bestow it on you. There is one major difference here – Triple H was never Ric Flair’s ‘bitch.’ This Sunday, I’m going to make you mine.”
Cena signs the contract then walks to the back, holding the United States Championship high.
Commercials.
Match #5: Eight-Man Tag-Team – The Lucha Dragons (Kalisto and Sin Cara) and Tag-Team Champions The Primetime Players (Titus O’Neil and Darren Young) VS. Los Matadores (Fernando and Diego) (with El Torito) and The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Big E.) (with New Day partner Xavier Woods)
This breaks down early with Titus taking out both Matadores with tossing slams. On the apron, Torito and Woods engage in a fight, distracting a Matadore. Kalisto tags in and gets the 1 – 2 – 3 with a Hurricanrana cover.
Winners via Pinfall: The Lucha Dragons (Kalisto and Sin Cara) and Tag-Team Champions The Primetime Players (Titus O’Neil and Darren Young)
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Segment #6: Video Promo
A comic book style video for the feud between Stardust, Arrow, Neville, and Wade Barrett recaps.
Segment #7: Video Promo
Stardust and King Barrett appear on the Titantron. Stardust rambles on about their SummerSlam match with Arrow and Neville, then declares Barrett as “The Cosmic King.”
Divas Champion Nikki Bella makes her entrance with Alicia Fox and Brie Bella to take on NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks, next!
Commercials.
Match #6: Single – Divas Champion Nikki Bella (Team Bella partners Brie Bella and Alicia Fox) VS. NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks (with Team B.A.D. partners Tamina Snuka and Naomi)
They shove each other to start then lockup. Sasha gives Nikki a shoulder block for a quick count, then Nikki lockers in a standing side headlock. She drives Sasha’s face to her knee then uses the ropes to aide in a suplex, then clutches on a rear chinlock. She slams Banks to the mat and goes back to work with the chinlock. Sasha counters a double-kick and double-stomps Nikki in the corner, then performs push-ups for a break.
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Sasha is now dominating with a surfboard stretch, but Nikki soon makes a comeback. She clotheslines Banks and gives her the Alabama Slam, but Sasha counters with a modified neckbreaker for two. She slaps Nikki and rolls her up, but Nikki reverses into the Electric Chair Drop. Nikki goes for the Rack Attack, but Naomi hops on the apron to distract; Sasha reverses with a Backstabber and turns it into the Bank Statement lock for the victory!
Winner via Submission: NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks (with Team B.A.D. partners Tamina Snuka and Naomi)
Segment #8: Backstage Promo
Rene Young with Team P.C.B. Paige predicts they will win on Sunday, and will do it with “flair!” Becky, Charlotte, and Paige all let out a “whooo” in homage to Charlotte’s father, Hall Of Famer “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair.
Segment #9: Video Promo
Another recap of the feud between Undertaker and Lesnar is shown.
Commercials.
Segment #10: Arena Promo
Paul Heyman is in the ring and puts over his client’s accomplishments, then introduces the hometown man, Brock Lesnar! Confetti goes off as he makes his entrance amid cheers and “suplex city” chants. Heyman is on his knees and sings a variation of “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah,” changing the lyrics to accommodate Lesnar and The Undertaker.
The gong goes off and the lights dim and come back on quickly, but Heyman and Lesnar are still in the ring alone. Heyman mocks the short warning, then insinuates that ‘Taker will not defeat Lesnar at SummerSlam. He puts “The Deadman” over for his physical stance, but reminds him that he is wrestling “The Beast,” not a man. “This Sunday at SummerSlam, my client Brock Lesnar offers no respect to The Undertaker’s accomplishments. This Sunday night at SummerSlam offers you no recognition of your multiple WWE Title reigns. This Sunday night at SummerSlam, Brock Lesnar offers you no recognition of your twenty-five years of dominance and destruction. Brock Lesnar offers you no resurrection. Brock Lesnar offers you no retribution. This Sunday night, Brock Lesnar offers you the realization you have met your…”
Another gong rings out and the arena goes dark again. This time when the building is brightened, “The Phenom” is standing in the ring. He boots Lesnar below the belt then Chokeslams him. Undertaker gives Brock a Tombstone as a horrified Heyman looks on. ‘Taker kneels down then walks away with the arena turned in his patented purple colour and pyro going off by the stage to close the show.
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp
This was an OK Raw; the action was really good, but nothing overly new or surprising, as it was your average “go-home” build-up for Sunday. Onto my analysis then preview:
Excellence: matches between Cesaro/Orton/Owens/Sheamus, Nikki/Sasha, Becky/Tamina, and Roman/Luke – all well and hard-wrestled.
Promos by Undertaker, Rollins, Cena, and Heyman – all passionate in their respective ways and really put over their matches as to why they are “must-sees.” Particularly, Heyman and Cena, especially Cena talking about Ric Flair/Triple H’s legacies and comparing them with Seth’s.
Glad both (former) NXT women’s wrestlers got the big W’s tonight, and here’s hoping this revolution continues well past SummerSlam. As well, liked the tease of Big Show not engaging Ryback when he was called out; save the two big-men for the Pay-Per-View.
Bogus: thought the opening promo by The Authority was a waste of time; putting over the card for SummerSlam was something that should’ve been left to the commentators. They could’ve just opened with the contract signing or Orton/Cesaro/Owens/Sheamus
Was actually hoping for a Mixed Tag match between Ziggler/Lana and Rusev/Summer instead of just a one-on-one; with all that has gone on the last while, this makes mores sense since it seems the feud was more centered around Lana and Rae.
SummerSlam Predictions: Owens defeats Cesaro; Sheamus defeats Orton; Rusev over Ziggler w/ Summer’s help; Arrow/Neville get the celebrity-endorsed win Ryback retains the Intercontinental Championship; Lucha Dragons win the Tag Titles; Team P.C.B. are victorious; the reunited Wyatt Family take it with the aide of returning Erik Rowan; Rollins triumphs and has both championship by nefarious means; Undertaker wins over Lesnar, to setup one more final “tie-breaker.”
Until next week, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!
On August 10, WWE filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court of Connecticut against CTH, a Thai broadcast company which acquired WWE television rights back in November 2013.
The lawsuit states that CTH has failed to pay seven invoices sent to them dated March 2014, June 2014, August 2014, October 2014, January 2015, March 2015, and June 2015. CTH’s outstanding balance with WWE now sits at $4,424,000 and that figure does not include any interest which WWE is entitled to as per the agreement.
Before entering the agreement with CTH, WWE also requested documents with a bank guarantee, something that CTH did not provide even though they were awarded the licensing agreement and retained the broadcast license.
WWE is now demanding a jury trial along with $4,424,000 in damages plus interest, damages for any additional unpaid license fees owed under the license agreement through the date of judgment, prejudgment interest and post-judgment interest, attorney’s fees and costs, and other costs the court might demand.
Tonight’s Raw is the go-home show for SummerSlam and both the Undertaker and Brock Lesnar will be on together for the first time since the post-Battleground Raw where the big brawl erupted.
Also former World Heavyweight champion Dolph Ziggler is being advertised to appear, his first appearance in over a month after he was taken out by Rusev. Ziggler was busy filming a WWE Studios movie but production has wrapped up and The Show Off is backstage in Minneapolis.
WWE Superstar the Big Show hinted at retirement in an interview with British-based Digital Spy while he was promoting his movie Vendetta.
“Am I a little sad that my wrestling career is towards its end? Well, yeah, because this has been my life for 20 years,” Show said when asked if Vendetta is the beginning of the end for his wrestling career.
“But I think I can continue to help some of the younger guys get over and develop and find out who they are then find a pleasant transition for myself. I’m not quite in the old folks’ home yet, I’ve still got more to do.”
Show said that it’s a natural evolution for him to try and transfer over to film and television and added that he hoped he could keep entertaining his fans in different avenues in the years to come.
The former champion said that one of the things that will happen will be not being on television every week but when he gets a chance to return he hopes to have “a little bit more impact and a little bit more fun.” Show added that he thinks he’s been on television too much although part of it was a necessity.
Barbie Blank, the former WWE Diva known as Kelly Kelly, returns to television tomorrow, August 18, as part of the cast of E!’s WAGS, which premieres at 10PM EST.
WAGS is a one hour, eight episode series which gives you a front row seat to the real competition, taking viewers on a wild ride into the world of some of today’s hottest professional athletes from the perspective of the women who stand by their side, otherwise known as WAGS (Wives and Girlfriends of Sports Stars).
Blank is one of the seven WAGS featured on the show and is currently engaged to Sheldon Souray of the Anaheim Ducks.
You can see a preview of the former WWE Divas champion on the show below.
Current WWE Divas champion Nikki Bella is suffering from a back injury and did not wrestle during the weekend live events.
Rumors have been going around for a few weeks that Nikki had an injured back but it was only now that she has addressed these rumors publicly in a post on Twitter.
Nikki – and her sister Brie – were nominated for a Teen Choice Award in the best female athlete category but the duo did not attend the show yesterday. Nikki said they wished they were at the show but she’s rehabbing her back while Brie was performing at a non-televised live event. She added that the two are “beyond honored” to be nominated.
Unfortunately for the Bellas they did not win the award in their category as the title went to the U.S. Women’s Soccer national team.
Jonathan Coachman will be at SummerSlam in an official capacity with ESPN SportsCenter as the company has decided to cover the show similar to what they do with SportsCenter On The Road.
ESPN gave WWE some good coverage for WrestleMania earlier this year mainly thanks to Michelle Beadle, who she says is no longer a fan due after Triple H and WWE endorsed “serial abuser” Floyd Mayweather earlier this year for his fight against Manny Pacquaio. Lesnar was also on ESPN to break the news that he had signed a new WWE deal and leaving the UFC in the past just a few days before WrestleMania.
A couple of months ago The Coach encouraged viewers to tweet to ESPN to do a SportsCenter On The Road coverage for SummerSlam, something which has apparently worked considering that ESPN rarely covers professional wrestling.
Earlier today The Coach suggested that a return to the WWE is possible although he would not be back in the ring.
Dwayne Johnson first came on the wrestling scene in 1996 as Rocky Maivia: a combination of both his father and grandfather’s wrestling names. This original character was panned by wrestling fans as being too cheesy, but that all changed after an injury took him out of the ring and brought him back as The Rock. Now full of attitude and working as a heel for the WWE, The Rock quickly became a fan favorite and a huge ratings pull for the sport.
As his name became increasingly known, Johnson grabbed small roles on television shows and movies, but his big break didn’t come until 2001 when he was cast in a CGI-laden role in The Mummy Returns. While only a small role during the climax of the film, Johnson’s popularity as a wrestler and public figure was enough of a draw to make this sequel almost as successful as the original.
During an indefinite suspension from wrestling, Johnson took on his first starring role of the main character in The Scorpion King. As a whole, critics pretty much dismissed the film as cheesy, but some critics did commend The Rock‘s work. The Scorpion King went on to be a success, though still generating fewer box office returns than both Mummy films. That success was enough to score Johnson even more gigs to kickstart his acting career.
Between 2002 and 2009, The Rock had taken several acting roles in films. The majority of these roles were either action-based, like The Rundown or Walking Tall, or comedy-based like Be Cool or Reno 911!: Miami. Critics continually panned his films but continued to compliment Johnson on his growing skills as an actor. Financially, his films continued to make money and he even helped to reinvigorate some film franchises. Fast Five is one such example and was released in 2011 and even though it was the fifth installment of a dying franchise, The Rock’s popularity once again breathed new life into this long-running franchise. Afterwards, Johnson was able to land even more high-profile roles in various films.
After reviving Race to Witch Mountain and The Fast and the Furious, Hollywood filmmakers began to look at Johnson as the “Film Savior” and brought him in to revive dying franchises. Roles in Journey 2: The Mysterious Island and G.I. Joe: Retaliation helped further this Film Savior feeling in Hollywood. Sequels for all three of these films are in the works starring Johnson, including his upcoming fourth starring role in Furious 8.
These roles have helped solidify The Rock as a great summer blockbuster attraction, but many critics and filmgoers are still wondering if he can actually act in a more serious role. This chance is given to him in the new HBO series Ballers, where Johnson plays a retired football player turned financial advisor to up-and-coming football stars. Having premiered in June with the finale airing August 23rd, which you can catch through Xfinity, FiOS, or AT&T, Ballers has already been renewed for a second season. While being billed as a comedy, The Rock’s role is more serious as he copes with the problems, both professional and personal, that come with the high-speed lifestyle of major sports and huge sums of money.
Beginning on a one-note path to wrestling obscurity, Dwayne Johnson has used his looks, personality and attitude to carve out a lucrative acting career. Even after being cast in several critically panned films, he continued to master his acting skill and become even more of a dangerous force in Hollywood. Over ten years after his major acting debut, The Rock gets a chance to show how much he has learned and to see if he can carry a major dramedy as the lead character. No matter what the end result of Ballers, the future smells delicious for The Rock.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Brandon Engel is a Midwestern blogger with a keen interest in wrestling, boxing, horror movies, and classic Russian literature. Follow him on Twitter: @BrandonEngel2.
ESPN’s Jonathan Coachman, known better as The Coach while in WWE, has teased an appearance at SummerSlam in a tweet today.
“So next weekend does anyone know of anything to do in Brooklyn. Don’t have anything on my schedule,” Coachman wrote before adding, ”No wait… Yes I do. #SS”
When asked if he will be on the air, the ESPN SportsCenter anchor said that he’s not just going to be a spectator.
The Coach left WWE in 2008 after a ten year career with the company where he served as a backstage interviewer, commentator, and presenter. He has not appeared on WWE television since then but has interviewed John Cena, The Rock, and Vince McMahon on ESPN duties over the years.
In his latest podcast, two time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair answered a question from a fan on who would he pick for a 2015 version of the legendary Four Horsemen group.
While admitting that Triple H and Randy Orton would be his top two picks, he said HHH isn’t wrestling full time anymore and Orton is more popular as a singles guy so after some debating he named Dolph Ziggler, Seth Rollins, Cesaro, and The Miz as his picks for the stable.
Flair’s world title record is in jeopardy next week at SummerSlam as with a Cena win, he will tie Flair’s 16-time reign as world champion. Flair said that he would be “thrilled” if Cena goes on to surpass it as he’s very proud of Cena for being the top guy in the company for such a long time.
As of today, both Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker are not scheduled to appear on the Raw following SummerSlam at the Barclays Center are not part of any advertising for the show.
Taker’s involvement on WWE television is very limited, more than Brock Lesnar, and while he’s scheduled to even travel to Mexico for the non-televised events, the Undertaker is rumored to be brought back in time for the Survivor Series which would be his 25th anniversary of his WWE debut.
Both Lesnar and Taker will be appearing on the final Raw before SummerSlam this coming Monday live from the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It will be the Undertaker’s second Raw appearance this year following the one after Battleground.
WWE taped a couple of NXT shows on Thursday at Full Sail University that will be airing following the NXT Takeover: Brooklyn event on the eve of SummerSlam.
Sasha Banks came out with the NXT Women’s title for these shows. The first taping will air next week and serve as the go-home show but then during the second taping, which would air after Takeover, she also came out with title. It does seem however that her match during the second set of tapings was a dark match and will probably not air on television. She did not participate in the third taping.
Kevin Owens also came out with the NXT title although according to people who attended the show he was never announced as the NXT champion. Finn Balor held the title for next week’s go-home episode of NXT and did not appear in the second taping, although he was involved in the third taping.
WWE has not done tapings that would air following a live event in several years so this could be just a swerve since Banks and Balor will be defending their titles at Takeover against Bayley and Owens respectively. It looks like the first episode taped on Thursday would air two weeks after Takeover as WWE will tape one episode of NXT TV right after Takeover ends at the Barclays Center which would air the following week.
The eighth match on the SummerSlam card has been added featuring a potential show-stealer involving Kevin Owens and Cesaro.
This will be Owens’ second high-profile match in 24 hours as the night before he will wrestle in the main event of NXT Takeover: Brooklyn in a ladder match against the current NXT champion Finn Balor.
Cesaro has been flying high ever since his tag team partner Tyson Kidd was unfortunately injured at the hands of Samoa Joe.
Stephen Amell, the Hollywood actor who portrays Arrow on The CW series, got injured while training for his SummerSlam match according to Wrestling Observer.
Amell suffered a cracked jaw and his molars were indented into his tongue, causing it to swell. Amell is apparently in New Orleans per his Twitter and sort of addressed the injury. “If I don’t karaoke with my broken tongue, I’m doing a disservice to myself and all of you,” he wrote.
The match is one of the attractions of SummerSlam as Amell’s involvement will bring in free coverage from celebrity websites. It is not known if his injury now will effect the match.
Amell also did a Facebook Live session where he addressed the injury and his involvement on Raw. Amell said that he cannot speak highly enough of WWE and how he was welcomed last week, saying it was a cool experience and can’t wait to see everyone at SummerSlam. You can see it below.
United States champion John Cena will have a busy week next week as he is set to appear on a couple of television shows to promote SummerSlam on pay-per-view and the WWE Network.
Cena will be live on NBC’s Today show as a guest co-host this coming Monday during the 9AM EST hour and will do the gig again on Thursday morning during the same hour.
The champ will also visit Seth Myers on his Late Night show on NBC in the early hours of Friday with the show starting at 12:30AM EST.
Cena had two weeks off due to his broken nose but will return with all guns blazing next week on WWE television to further his angle with Seth Rollins for their SummerSlam winner-take-all match.
Former WWE Intercontinental and Women’s champion Chyna responded to X-Pac’s tweets that described her “bumrushing” into Triple H during the Roddy Piper funeral this past Tuesday in Portland, Oregon.
“It saddens me that I have to respond to this,” Chyna said in a video statement that lasted just under two minutes. She said she does not need to justify her relationship with Rowdy Roddy Piper and why she was even at the funeral. She’s been a friend to Hot Rod and his family for over a decade and said it was an honor to be invited and be there at the funeral.
Regarding the situation with Triple H, she said she didn’t know Hunter was going to be there but since they were in the same place, she took the opportunity to wrap her arms around him and whisper to him that she was deeply sorry for everything that happened in the past.
She said there was no altercation, no security rushing to separate the two, and described it as a “tender moment” between two people who at one point cared about each other.
Samoa Joe has been added to the NXT Takeover: Brooklyn special event on the night before SummerSlam in a match against Baron Corbin.
Joe made his NXT debut at the previous Takeover event at Full Sail University this past May, showing up after the main event confronting the then NXT champion Kevin Owens.
This is the fifth match on the NXT Takeover: Brooklyn card, an event which will run for two hours. WWE will tape an episode of NXT television right after the show goes off the air at the Barclays Center so fans will be in the arena for at least three hours.
Once again Total Divas out-numbered Tough Enough in the ratings this week, with the new episode, titled Good Diva, Bad Diva, doing a total of 1,176,000 viewers and a 0.5 rating in the 18-49 demo.
Episode 6 drew 164,000 viewers more than last week’s episode titled Tea Mode. (Ratings credit: TV By The Numbers)
In an interview with FoxSports.com, Roman Reigns hinted that we might see a surprise appearance from his cousin, The Rock, at SummerSlam.
Asked whether we’ll see The Rock at the pay-per-view in 10 days time, the former Shield member answered, “I wanna tell you, but I don’t want to give anything away.” The Rock was last seen on WWE television at WrestleMania 31 where he also made a surprise appearance to confront Triple H and Stephanie McMahon and introduced some backup in the form of Ronda Rousey.
The Barclays Center loves the people’s champion as the Brooklyn fans gave The Rock a massive ovation when he showed up unannounced on Raw to face off with Rusev and Lana in October of last year.
