Industry insiders are reporting that Dixie Carter will be holding a conference call with TNA talent and staff today to address several items including the cancellation rumors and most likely today’s announcement of Ring of Honor joining the Destination America lineup.
MVP noted on Twitter that no one was notified about the ROH show coming to Destination America and added that he will refrain from commenting about it until “after the call,” obviously referring to the conference call about to take place.
We have addressed a couple of questions to Discovery Communications’ publicity staff regarding how TNA and ROH will co-exist together but no reply was given at time of this writing.
(Silver Spring, Md.) –Destination America announced today that it has signed a national broadcast deal with professional wrestling league RING OF HONOR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., bringing one of the most respected wrestling organizations to the only network dedicated to all-American entertainment. Destination America is now the one-two-punch to professional wrestling, adding RING OF HONOR (ROH) to its line-up after launching IMPACT WRESTLING in early 2015. RING OF HONOR has been delivering top wrestling matches for ten years with captivating hard-hitting stars such as Jay & Mark Briscoe, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, The Young Bucks, Maria Kanellis, Adam Cole and Jay Lethal. Destination America will pack on the action beginning Wednesday June 3 with the series premiere of RING OF HONOR at 8/7c leading into brand new premieres of IMPACT WRESTLING at 9/8c.
“With the electric and intense matches that RING OF HONOR provides, Destination America is the network for fans to get an entire evening of jaw-dropping entertainment on Wednesday nights,” said Marc Etkind, general manager of Destination America. “RING OF HONOR showcases tenacity, athleticism and passion and it serves as the place where America’s favorite wrestling stars are born.”
“We are very excited to be partnering with Destination America for the broader distribution of the ROH programming,” commented Joe Koff, Chief Operating Officer – Ring of Honor Wrestling. “ROH will now reach an additional 57 million households including those in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and other large cities where Ring of Honor is not currently airing. ROH has a loyal fan base and is one of the fastest growing major wrestling franchises in the country. With this great partnership with Destination America, we can continue to expand our footprint and reach while producing entertaining, original content and continuing to provide wrestling fans some of the best wrestling content available.”
RING OF HONOR will premiere on Wednesday, June 3 leading into IMPACT WRESTLING, making Destination America the home for wrestling every Wednesday evening. The first match will feature the Briscoe Brothers, Mark and Jay, as they face off with the House of Truth in the main event. Also catch athletes of New Japan Pro Wrestling battle it out with the RING OF HONOR stars and follow former NFL lineman Moose compete against BJ Whitmer.
Since launching in 2012, Destination America has become one of cable’s top fastest-growing networks, and continues to earn telecast ratings records among key series. In 2015 to date, Destination America has acquired over 50 million unique viewers. With top series that explore unique American cultures and ways of life – including Paranormal Survivor, Hillbilly Blood, Buying the Bayou, and BBQ Pitmasters – Destination America’s programming spans the nation from Alaska, Hawaii and Colorado to Louisiana, West Virginia and communities in between. To find Destination America, go to destinationamerica.com/watchda.
About Destination America
Destination America is the only network to celebrate the people, places, and stories of the United States. The inclusive network targeting Adults 25-54 is available in more than 57 million homes, emblazoning television screens with the grit and tenacity, honesty and work ethic, humor and adventurousness that characterize our nation. Destination America features travel, food, adventure, home, and natural history, with original series like BBQ Pitmasters; A Haunting; Mountain Monsters; Buying Alaska; Buying the Bayou; and Railroad Alaska. For more information, please visit DestinationAmerica.com, facebook.com/DestinationAmerica, or twitter.com/DestAmerica. Destination America is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world’s #1 pay-TV provider reaching nearly 3 billion cumulative subscribers in 220 countries and territories.
Destination America, the home of TNA Wrestling, has just announced that Ring Of Honor will be airing on their network starting next month.
The popular indy organization will make its Destination America debut on Wednesday, June 3, at 8PM EST, and the show will serve as the lead in for TNA’s Impact which airs immediately right after ROH ends at 9PM EST.
The announcement came on Twitter via Destination America’s account and was then followed by a press release from Discovery Communications. An ROH press release says that the show will air for 26 weeks, so technically until the end of 2015 and it does not mention anything beyond that.
“With the electric and intense matches that RING OF HONOR provides, Destination America is the network for fans to get an entire evening of jaw-dropping entertainment on Wednesday nights,” said Marc Etkind, general manager of Destination America. “RING OF HONOR showcases tenacity, athleticism and passion and it serves as the place where America’s favorite wrestling stars are born.”
The press release states that Destination America will be “the home for wrestling every Wednesday evening” with a three hour block with ROH and TNA.
Last week Dave Meltzer of the Observer reported that Destination America is dropping TNA Wrestling from its lineup come September due to high production costs which are not being offset by advertising and ratings.
Former United States champion Rusev was apparently injured at last night’s Smackdown tapings during his match against Ryback.
Rusev was photographed at the airport sitting in a wheelchair provided by U.S. Airways holding crutches and his right leg in a protective cast.
The match against Ryback ended abruptly and WWE medical officials had to help Rusev to the back.
Rusev is scheduled to take part in the Intercontinental title Elimination Chamber match this Sunday on the WWE Network. It’s not known yet if this injury will effect his participation in the match.
A video with a speech from late United States President Ronald Reagan (speech from 1982; Presidency 1980 – 1988), images of soldiers and families, and superstars reciting the speech is aired; then in the arena, a ten-bell salute is given for the fallen soldiers in honor of Memorial Day.
Segment #2: Welcoming
The regular Raw tape airs and the pyro goes off in Long Island, New York; Michael Cole greets us.
Segment #3: Arena Promo
The Authority’s music plays as Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, Kane, and J & J Security walk out; clips of last week’s finish to Raw are shown. Rollins has the mike first and wants to give approval for Dean Ambrose’s way of securing his WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at Elimination Chamber. The WWE World Heavyweight Champ insinuates that The Authority “made that decision under duress.” Rollins says that Triple H and Stephanie could revoke Dean’s match and even fire him, but Rollins doesn’t want that to happen after all, as he feels Ambrose is not up to par against him.
HHH informs Dean that he has to join them in the ring and put pen-to-paper to make it official. “The Lunatic Fringe” obliges and walks to the stage. He takes a couple verbal shots at Seth and is quite pleased with the match the two will have Sunday. He warns that when he wins the WWE World Heavyweight Title, he is going to switch up a few appearances on The Authority, and a couple more cheap-shots ensue. Rollins rebuttals with intimidation of his own, but Ambrose steps up to his challenge.
Just as Dean gets to the ring, Roman Reigns’ music plays and he approaches through the crowd. He joins up with Ambrose, while Stephanie tells Ambrose that he has to sign that contract by the end of the night; she then books him and Reigns to take on Kane and Rollins, “right now!”
Commercials.
Match #1: Tag-Team – Kane and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins (with J & J Security) VS. “The Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns (Non-Title)
Kane punches away at Ambrose in the corner to begin, but Ambrose hits back with quick chops, punches, a headbutt, a running-dropkick, and a running-crossbody! He switches with Reigns, who hits hard on Kane with slaps. He suplexes Kane, then tags in Dean who dives off the top turnbuckle with an axe-handle. Rollins is tagged in and hammers away on Ambrose and then suplexes him. He works over Dean for a bit until Reigns is tagged back in.
Seth is double-clotheslined by Ambrose and Reigns, then taken to the canvas with a side-headlock and running shoulder-block. He then Samoan Drops Rollins and jawbreaks him using the top rope. Noble and Mercury top Roman on the outside, as does Kane, which allows Rollins to take control in the ring. Reigns counters a potential neckbreaker, then slaps hands with Dean. Both clean house prior to the break.
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Dean and Seth are fighting it out with Rollins beginning to dominate after a tornado neckdrop. Ambrose turns it around himself with a hard clothesline that appeared to send one of Rollins’ teeth flying! Roman and Kane are now in, with Roman controlling Kane. He measures for the Superman Punch, but Jamie Noble receives it instead. Kane capitalizes with a big-boot, but Roman fends off a subsequent chokeslam attempt. Reigns nails the Superman Punch right after Dean tagged himself in. he soared with a flying elbow and almost takes this one until Rollins breaks up the pin. Rollins now rockets in with a springboard knee-to-the-head after Kane tagged in, but Ambrose kicks out at two!
“The Lunatic Fringe” attempts his Dirty Deeds DDT, but Rollins gets out of it and hits a jumping enziguri. They tussle again and Ambrose reverses into a backslide for the victory!
Winners via Pinfall: “The Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns
Commercials.
Segment #4: Backstage Promo
Rene Young is with Dean Ambrose asking about the contract. He vows to sign it, then beats up Mercury and Noble as they approach him to talk about that contract. He also accidentally slugs a cameraman and is not pleased.
Segment #5: Video Promo
A highlight package on the WWE career, so far, of NXT Champion Kevin Owens is aired.
Rusev makes his entrance, and is now being announced from Bulgaria following his split with “The Ravishing Russian,” Lana. He will be in action next!
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Match #2: Single – “The Bulgarian Brute” Rusev VS. R-Truth
Rusev makes R-Truth tap-out quickly to The Accolade.
Winner via Submission: “The Bulgarian Brute” Rusev
Post-match, Rusev wants Lana to meet him in the ring for a conversation. She does not respond, so we go to break.
Commercials.
Rusev is still in the ring and keeps asking for Lana. She finally appears and joins him in the ring. Rusev says that despite his failings recently, which he does blame Lana for, he wants to be back together with her. Lana contemplates but does take his hand that he was holding out. They hug and hold arms high, then Rusev asks her to say “I was wrong.” Lana lets go of his hand as Rusev begs her to admit she was wrong. Lana retorts that she heard him correctly at Payback when he said “I quit.” Rusev becomes angry, demanding her to re-enter the ring. Lana calls him a “liar and a quitter,” then yells in his face that “you do not own me; I belong to no one. I am not yours, and I am no longer your victim. So you can take your stupid ways and I’m not going to listen to your cruel, caveman brutish, thick-headed, moronic mouth again!” she walks away as Rusev throws a fit in the ring.
“The Show Off’s” music plays and Dolph Ziggler walks out to smooth with Lana on the stage, infuriating Rusev more.
Segment #6: Locker Room Promo
Triple H and Rollins walk into Ambrose’s locker room. Behind them is the cameraman with two officers; they arrest him for assault, amid the cameraman starting to say he was “shoved” into Ambrose.
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Segment #7: Backstage Promo
Ambrose is being hauled off as J & J and Rollins laugh at him.
Match #3: Single – King Barrett VS. “The Big Guy” Ryback
Ryback controls the early part of this bout and winds up for the Meathook Clothesline, but Barrett rolls to the outside and pushes Ryback into the barricade. Barrett places Ryback atop the turnbuckle and punches away then runs at him with a kick. He leaps off the middle rope with an elbow then delivers knees to the back.
Ryback works his way out of a surfboard stretch, then elbows Barrett in the gut. He punches him in the corner, but is yanked off the middle rope. Barrett slams Ryback with the Winds Of Change, but only gets two! “The King” sets up for the Bullhammer Elbow, but slaps him around instead after Ryback fell to the canvas. This enraged Ryback enough to give Barrett a spinebuster and the Shellshock Marching Samoan Drop. He covers and takes this one!
Winner via Pinfall: “The Big Guy” Ryback
Segment #8: Office Promo
Triple H and Stephanie are discussing Ambrose when the cast of Entourage walks in. they put each other over until Turtle (I believe; I never watched the show full-on.) makes comments about Ronda Rousey and Stephanie at WrestleMania. This does not make the power-couple happy, so they quickly shoe the four men out.
Commercials.
Match #4: Single – Stardust VS. “The Man That Gravity Forgot, The New Sensation” Neville
Prior to this contest, Stardust gets into a face-to-face with Arrow star Stephen Amell at ringside. It is also announced that Neville will take on Bo Dallas at Elimination Chamber.
Neville and Stardust grapple to begin with Stardust getting the better after twisting Neville’s knee on the middle rope. He front-suplexes Neville from the apron to inside the ring, then stomps away on Neville’s hurt left knee. He clamps on a half-crab, then Bo Dallas walks down the ramp and cheers on Neville in the corner. Neville fights back, eventually giving Stardust a Tornado DDT out of the corner. He drags him to the opposite one and ascends for the Red Arrow Splash; he hits it and receives the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall: “The Man That Gravity Forgot, The New Sensation” Neville
Post-match, Bo Dallas belittles Neville, then dropkicks him in the knee and walks off.
Segment #9: Backstage Promo
The Entourage cast walk into Emma, Summer Rae, Alicia Fox, and Layla. One of them is also talking to Zack Ryder, the hometown wrestler, saying “you have to do it.” They all conspire in Entourage’s locker room.
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Match #5: Single – “The Show Off” Dolph Ziggler VS. “The Celtic Warrior” Sheamus
Dolph corners Sheamus with punches until the big Irishman knees him and stomps away in the other corner. He snapmares Ziggler and locks on a grounding rear chinlock. Sheamus tosses Dolph to the floor and goes to ram his head against the announce table, but Dolph blocks and does the same. Sheamus kicks Dolph down at the knee in the ring, but Dolph flips backwards and dropkicks Sheamus. He clothesline Sheamus and they both tumble to the floor. Dolph runs at Sheamus, but is picked up and given a tilt-a-whirl powerslam. Lana has now walked about to observe.
Commercials.
Sheamus is holding Dolph by the head but Ziggler punches away in the corner. Dolph tries a splash, but meets the turnbuckle instead. Sheamus spins him around with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, but only gets two! Sheamus continues to punish Dolph until “The Show Off” gains momentum with a comeback. He slugs away with punches and elbows, and hits a flying forearm! Dolph rockets off the top turnbuckle with a crossbody and plants Sheamus with the Fameasser for a close-call! He nails a superkick after ducking a Brogue Kick, but still can’t pin Sheamus.
Rusev now walks out, past Lana, but Dolph kicks him off the apron. Sheamus uses this to his advantage and hits the Brogue Kick to finish bout!
Winner via Pinfall: “The Celtic Warrior” Sheamus
Post-match, Rusev beats up Dolph and puts on The Accolade in front of Lana. He release and walks right by Lana again.
Up next, John Cena’s U.S. Title Open Challenge will continue!
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Segment #10: Arena Promo
United States Champion John Cena talks to the fans first, telling them they can be summarized in five words “Let’s go Cena; Cena Sucks.” “For those of you out there chanting ‘let’s go Cena,’ well you believe in what I believe, ‘hustle, loyalty, respect.’ No matter what the environment, no matter how tough the fight, no matter if your back is against the wall, you never give up. And over the past ten years, we have shared together the ‘agony of defeat’ and the ‘triumph of victory.’ But most importantly…” (Crowd now chants “We want Ryder, whoo-whoo-whoo.”) Cena continues, “but most importantly, over the past ten years, we have formed a fraternity, a family, a bond that will never be broken that allows us to survive ‘atmospheres’ no matter how hostile they may be. So for those of you chanting ‘let’s go Cena,’ I am saying right now I am eternally grateful for over the years you giving me your unwavering support, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. And then of course, there are ‘the others,’ who chant among other things, ‘Cena sucks.’ And why? Because for over ten years, they have been clamoring for a man to step in this ring that is everything that I am not, knock me down, and keep me down. Here is where the story gets difficult for those chanting ‘Cena sucks.’ Because name, after name, after name; hopeful, after hopeful, after hopeful have tried and they have failed. I was rather ‘forcefully’ introduced to the newest ‘hopeful’ last Monday on Raw. A man named Kevin Owens. Last Monday Kevin Owens debuted on Raw and left me incapacitated; and then he broke the internet. And then two days later on NXT: Takeover, live on the WWE Network, Kevin Owens broke his best friend, Sami Zayn, in half. And this, this is why those who chant ‘Cena sucks’ believe that Kevin Owens is the man to knock me down and keep me down. This is why those of you who chant ‘Cena sucks’ believe that Kevin Owens is the man to change what you think needs to be changed around here. And amazingly enough, it’s those that chant ‘Cena sucks,’ that this Sunday, at Eliminations Chamber, may not be chanting ‘Cena sucks.’ Cause at long-last, you will be able to chant ‘fight Owens fight.’ Yeah, that’s the sound of all of you tuning into Elimination Chamber this Sunday and you will see things where you can’t believe your eyes, but for the first time in a decade, you may not believe your ears. Because there may not be a ‘let’s go Cena, Cena sucks;’ you may hear ‘let’s go Cena, fight Owens fight.’ I’m here right now to tell you that ‘fight Owens fight’ does not promise ‘win Owens win.’ Last Monday on Raw, Kevin Owens proved to the world that he knows how to start a fight; this Sunday at Elimination Chamber, we’ll see if Kevin Owens knows how to finish one!”
Cena moves on to the U.S. Title Open Challenge now. The mystery person to answer is … “Long Island Iced-Z” Zack Ryder. The Entourage cast walks out and introduces the Long Island hometown wrestler.
Commercials.
Match #6: Single for the United States Championship – John Cena (Champion) VS. “Long Island Iced-Z” Zack Ryder
Both competitors circle around each other, then Cena takes him to the canvas with a side headlock and suplex. He whips Zack into the corner and follows with a running elbow, but Ryder reverses the next one and nails Cena with double-knees in the face. He signals for the Broski Boot, but Cena moves and hits his shoulder tackles and spin-out backdrop/powerbomb. He wants to go for the 5-Knuckle Shuffle, but Kevin Dillon of Entourage rolls in the ring for a distraction. Ryder uses this for a roll-up but only gets two! He drives Cena down with a stretch-facebuster for another two-count, and hits the Broski Boot for a third near-fall!
Ryder leaps up on Cena with the RoughRyder Legdrop Lariat, but still cannot take this. He climbs to the top rope and 450-splashes, but Cena moves and drives him down with an Attitude Adjustment! 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall and STILL United States Championship
Post-match, Cena, Ryder, and Entourage all embrace. NXT Champion Kevin Owens suddenly appears and delivers the Pop-Up Powerbomb to Cena! Like last week, he stands over the U.S. Championship while holding the NXT Championship high.
Segment #11: Office Promo
The Authority and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins are lauding over NXT Champion Kevin Owens when Rene Young walks in. She wants to know what is happening with Dean Ambrose, so Steph explains that he still has until the conclusion of Raw to sign the contract. Rollins pokes fun at Ambrose’s current situation being in jail.
The Bella twins make their entrance and will be on commentary next.
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It is announced that Ryback will face on Rusev this week on Smackdown!
Match #7: Single – Tamina (with Naomi) VS. Paige
Tamina and Paige lockup, then Paige takes control with a kick and knees. Tamina shoves Paige to the floor, then headbutts her back in the ring. She turns Paige’s head sideways with a necklock then slams her down. Both divas soon engage in a punch-up, with Paige rolling up Tamina for two then kicking her. She repeatedly clotheslines Tamina and dropkicks her, then somersaults off the apron!
Tamina catches Paige as she was climbing back in the ring, then Naomi hits Paige with the referee distracted. Tamina gives Paige a Samoan Drop to complete this bout!
Winner via Pinfall: Tamina
Tag-Team Champions The New Day make their entrance for an appearance!
Commercials.
Footage of The Rock receiving an award in Los Angeles is shown.
Segment #12: Arena Promo
Tag-Team Champions The New Day – Xavier Woods, Big E., and Kofi Kingston – complain about their upcoming defense inside the Elimination Chamber on Sunday against Los Matadores, The Ascension, Tyson Kidd and Cesaro, The Primetime Players, and The Lucha Dragons. They rip on the Nassau Coliseum and the New York Islanders, then insist that “New Day rocks!”
Director Of Operations Kane interrupts. He tells them that Elimination Chamber is “fair” because they have an equal chance of winning like the other teams. However, their next contest may not be, as Kane books them against all other teams in a 10-on-3 bout.
All other teams make their entrance.
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Match #8: 10-On-3 Tag-Team – Tag-Team Champions The New Day (Xavier Woods, Big E., and Kofi Kingston) VS. Cesaro and Tyson Kidd (with Natalya), The Primetime Players (“The Big Deal” Titus O’Neil and “Mr. No Days Off” Darren Young”), The Ascension (Conor and Viktor), Los Matadores (Fernando and Diego) (with El Torito), and The Lucha Dragons (Calisto and Sin Cara) (Non-Title)
This contest doesn’t last long as it breaks down into a big brawl with New Day eventually coming out on top and actually being the victors because of a dq!
Winners via Disqualification: Tag-Team Champions The New Day (Xavier Woods, Big E., and Kofi Kingston)
Post-match, as New Day celebrate, Tyson Kidd dropkicks all three, then Cesaro swings around Xavier as Kidd dropkicks him too!
Commercials.
A clip from WWE Youtube Channel is aired and it shows that WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins pushed the cameraman into Dean Ambrose.
Segment #13: Arena Promo
The Authority bask in their happiness with Dean Ambrose not being available to make the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match official. Roman Reigns then runs down the ramp and tries to attack Rollins, but he ends up getting beat on by Kane, Rollins, and J & J as Stephanie and Triple H look on.
A siren now sounds, and it appears Ambrose is driving a squad truck into the arena! He takes off the police jacket and hat, but still welds a baton, dismantling of J & J and the Director Of Operations. He and Rollins duke it out, but Reigns yanks the night stick away. He Spears both Noble and Mercury at the same time, then Superman Punches Kane, and Ambrose follows up with his Dirty Deeds DDT. Rollins, Triple H, and Stephanie are glaring from the stage when Roman hands Dean the contract, which he puts his signature on to close the show!
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp
This was another pretty great Raw that pushed another big show really well considering how quick it has come; some great promos and decent matches, along with a couple cliff-hangers. Onto the particulars and then my predictions for Elimination Chamber
Excellence: bouts between Kane/Rollins & Ambrose/Reigns, Ryback/Barrett, Stardust/Neville, and Cena/Ryder. Also, liking the mini-feud between Neville and Dallas; theirs should be a superb contest at Elimination Chamber!
Awesome promos by Rusev, Lana, and Cena; I think this was the best that both men talked in a long while, and I really loved that Cena’s passion about the fans shone through. Kevin Owens “popping up” (pun-intended, yes!) was a good surprise too (I actually didn’t think he’d be there) and this is going to be my most vested-interest match of Cena’s since ‘Mania. With Lana, again even though it’s probably a fake accent since she’s really American, she can talk very, very well with that accent and I think she’s an even better speaker as a face.
Glad to see Ryder get some love in his hometown, and while at first I wasn’t thrilled with the Entourage guys being on Raw (thinking they’d be overused), they were perfectly-placed to get over themselves and Ryder, without outshining one-another.
Bogus: The Authority was a bit too much tonight and their opening promo was kind of bland. As well, why would they frame Ambrose when Rollins wanted to face him and prove his point of not being in the same league? Nonsensical!
Unfortunately, that was a bad match between Tamina and Paige. Both can wrestle very well, so expected much more and better. Hopefully that will happen next time.
While Sheamus/Ziggler’s match was good, I thought it was pointless to have them go at it again so soon and when it meant nothing but quick build to the I.C. Title Elimination Chamber match. Their feud should’ve ended at Payback and they shouldn’t have faced each other one-on-one/in tags for a long while.
Where has Bray Wyatt been?
Elimination Chamber Picks: Naomi over Paige/Nikki to win Divas Championship; Neville for a clean W over Dallas; Dolph to pick up another I.C. Championship with the help of Lana and then move on to a summer-feud with Rusev; The New Day will remain Tag-Team Champs; Kevin Owens/Cena go No Contest; Rollins squeaks away with the WWE World Heavyweight Title
Until next Monday, where a new grounding of WWE could occur, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!
NXT is coming to Sacramento, California, this October as WWE will be hosting shows during the Energy Aftershock Festival.
This will be the first time that Aftershock will feature live in-ring matches with NXT taking center stage. The dates will be October 24 and 25 at Gibson Ranch with pre-sale kicking off tomorrow, May 27, at 10AM PST at Aftershockconcert.com/tickets. Tickets go on sale to the general public on May 29 at 10AM PST.
The festival lineup includes Slipknot, Faith No More, Deftones, Shinedown, Jane’s Addiction, Marilyn Manson, Coheed & Cambria, Stone Temple Pilots, Breaking Benjamin, Eagles of Death Metal and more.
PWInsider.com is reporting that TNA Knockout Christy Hemme has given her notice to management and will be wrapping up her duties soon.
Hem joined TNA in 2006 and made her debut at Lockdown that year. She went from host to wrestler, to backstage interview and then ring announcer before also joining the TNA creative team in 2014.
Prior to joining TNA, Hemme was signed to WWE winning the first ever WWE Diva Search contest in 2004. Her WWE career didn’t last very long though and was released in late 2005.
UFC Women’s Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey participated in a live Q&A session hosted by The Wall Street Journal in Los Angeles.
During the Q&A, the subjects of her WrestleMania 31 appearance and potentially future appearances came up.
Regarding if there is more in the future, Rousey asked if they really would want to know.
“Here’s the thing. With the last WrestleMania, what was the coolest part? It’s the surprise. So do you really want to know? Maybe this is all part of some plot, to put Dana out there and be like, ‘Nope, no way it’ll ever happen.’ Then make everyone forget about it so later I can just pop up like, ‘What? Dana said no,’” Rousey said.
The champ said she wouldn’t reveal anything else regardless.
“As an avid wrestling fan, myself, I would rather not know. If you knew that Seth Rollins was going to turn on The Shield would you have wanted to know? No. It would have ruined that moment. As a fan and respecting your fandom, I can’t tell you anything,” Rousey concluded.
WWE yesterday announced that they are stopping the “second screen” experience on the WWE app on May 28 right after Smackdown.
The “second screen” technology allowed WWE to continue airing Raw and Smackdown during commercials or provide additional content during the shows for iOS and Android users.
“Instead, your ‘second-screen’ experience will continue to live on the platform of your choice, whether it’s WWE.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Periscope and many others. WWE is steadfastly committed to delivering multimedia-rich companion content how you want it, where you want it,” the statement on WWE.COM read.
The company started its “second screen” experience three years ago and other television shows have followed since then.
Prior to start of last night’s Raw, WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon made a rare public appearance as it was the last WWE event ever at Nassau Coliseum.
McMahon thanked every WWE Superstar who performed at the Coliseum and every person from Long Island who attended their events in the past.
“Thank you for the memories, thank you for the good times,” McMahon said to a big ovation from the crowd.
The arena, which opened in 1972, will be shutting down before renovations start.
The cast of Entourage will be appearing on Monday Night Raw tonight as guest stars.
Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon and Jerry Ferrara, will all be on the show tonight marking the first time that four celebrity individuals will guest star together on Raw.
There are no matches announced for the show so far. This will be the go-home show before the Elimination Chamber which takes place this Sunday only on the WWE Network.
Chris Jericho’s Twitter and Instagram were hacked earlier today and his Twitter account was changed from @IAmJericho to @GayChrisJericho.
Following the hack, the account was unverified by Twitter but is now back in the hands of Jericho and Twitter has restored the @IAmJericho username and verified button. The name was also changed to “Fright & Fade #GM.”
Whoever hacked the account sent some nasty messages to both Triple H and Vince McMahon containing explicit language. The hack was apparently done by a group calling themselves Galvanize Mob.
UPDATE: At around 2:30PM EST, the account was once again hacked and the name was changed to “I got hacked…AGAIN” although this time they did not change the Twitter handle.
TMZ.COM is reporting that WWE’s Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, and R-Truth turned themselves into wedding crashers on Saturday night.
The trio were at a Syracuse, New York, hotel bar and heard the reception going on and decided to just walk in and see what happens.
It turns out that the bride and groom – Beth and Matt – were huge WWE fans and they even sent an e-mail to WWE inviting any of the wrestlers who had nothing to do to join the party!
TMZ says that none of the three had an idea about the e-mail and it was just a coincidence. Reigns, Uso, and Truth ended up staying there for 45 minutes, even posing for some photos with the newlyweds.
WWE is giving prospective Tough Enough contestants until Midnight on June 5 to submit their video for the returning reality TV show.
The competition kicks off live on June 23 at 8PM EST on USA Network with Chris Jericho and Renee Young hosting. The judging panel will include Hulk Hogan, Daniel Bryan, and Paige while the coaches this year will have Booker T, Billy Gunn, and Lita.
Two winners – one male and one female – will receive a $250,000 one year contract with the WWE.
So far WWE received entries from 113 different countries and the combined videos have been viewed more than two million times on YouTube.
Tomorrow the WWE Tough Enough app will be available for free download. The app can be used for live voting.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is now a Guinness World Record holder after he managed to take 105 selfies with fans at the premiere of his new movie San Andreas in London, England.
The Rock had to take as many in-focus selfies as he can in a 3 minute period and eventually settled with 105. The previous record was 75.
“I gotta tell you, I consider myself the selfie king and I’m going to break this record in London,” he said before he went over to the fans who were all allocated numbers for the start of the challenge.
An official from the Guinness World Records then analyzed all photos taken – with 105 making the cut – while the movie premiere was going on and after the event he presented The Rock with the framed certificate in front of his fans.
Earlier this week Tammy “Sunny” Sytch said that she was not going to be doing a porn for Vivid, rejecting the rumors that she was close of signing a deal with Vivid Entertainment.
However the WWE Hall of Famer has now changed her tune and told TMZ.COM that she is indeed getting closer to sign a deal with the porn company.
Sunny told TMZ that she’s “60/40” in favor of the deal – which apparently runs in the six figures – and she doesn’t care who her co-star will be as long as “he’s hot.” She said that Vivid head Steve Hirsch wants her first film to be set in a wrestling ring but she wants something more traditional.
Sunny in a porn movie would have worked in 1996 or 1997. But in 2015? Probably not so much!
The Divas title will be on the line at Elimination Chamber as it was announced during Smackdown that Nikki Bella will defend her title against Paige and Naomi in a triple threat match.
So far five matches have been announced for the show, four of them all for titles. The newly announced match joins Ambrose vs Rollins for the WWE title, Kevin Owens vs John Cena, and the two Elimination Chamber matches, one of them for the WWE Tag Team titles and the other for the vacant WWE Intercontinental title.
Elimination Chamber airs on May 31 only on the WWE Network.
Former NXT champion Sami Zayn will be undergoing shoulder surgery which is why his match with Kevin Owens was over quicker than most anticipated.
Zayn injured his shoulder during his entrance in Montreal after he answered John Cena’s U.S. title open challenge. Zayn still went on to have a fantastic match against the champion and was given a standing ovation by the home town crowd after it was over.
His injury put some question marks over his participation at NXT Takeover: Unstoppable, however Zayn wrestled after he was taken out from all NXT activities leading up to the show.
It’s not known how long Zayn will be out of action.
Samoa Joe made his NXT wrestling debut during the NXT television tapings yesterday at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida.
NXT taped a month worth of television tapings in one day and Joe’s first match will be airing on the June 10 episode, which was the third episode filmed on the day. He will also be wrestling on the June 17 episode.
Joe’s deal with WWE will see him wrestling for NXT and other independent promotions similar to a deal that Rhyno has. Only those two are currently able to fulfill indy dates along with their WWE deal.
Meanwhile WWEShop.com is already selling the Samoa Joe “Submission Special” t-shirt. The shirts – also available in women and youth versions – will be shipping on June 15.
