Former TNA champion Sting lost his match against Magnus on last night’s taped episode of Impact, signaling what seems to be the end of The Icon in TNA.
Sting put his TNA contract on the line against the TNA title but Magnus came out victorious, and then tore up Sting’s contract. In reality, Sting’s contract expired and it was a way to get him off TNA television.
Meanwhile, on his official website at TheRealSting.com, Facebook, and Twitter accounts, Sting uploaded an image with a black background and white text saying, “The only thing that’s for sure about Sting is nothing’s for sure…”
Sting is rumored to be really WWE bound this time, just in time for WrestleMania.
In a thirty minute interview with MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani, former WWE champion CM Punk was coy when it came to talk about his contract, saying that he doesn’t know what he’s going to do.
Punk’s deal with WWE expires in July of this year and he revealed that no talks have taken place regarding a new contract.
Punk said he doesn’t want to give a definite answer about his future because last time he was in the same place he thought he was going home and not coming back but then everything changed.
The full video interview, which tackles topics such as the WWE Network, WrestleMania, Daniel Bryan, the Michelle Beadle incident at Tribute to the Troops, Brock Lesnar, and others can be seen below.
30 years ago today, Hulkamania was born at Madison Square Garden after he defeated The Iron Sheik for the WWF title. As the saying goes, the rest, is history.
“30 years ago a dream came true, I became WWE Champion and HULKAMANIA has been runnin wild ever since, 30 years, seems like yesterday brother,” Hogan wrote on his Twitter earlier today.
WWE didn’t let this historic anniversary pass without at least a mention. The official WWE YouTube account has a video looking back at the birth of Hulkamania with comments from Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Mean Gene Okerlund, George “The Animal” Steele, and others.
Grantland.com has a fantastic interview with WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross which covers several topics including football, announcing, sauce, and of course wrestling.
Ross discussed his hiring – and firing – from WWE, including the latest one after SummerSlam for failing to keep the WWE 2K14 panel in check, the night he got bloodied up by Steve Austin after WrestleMania in the ring, his new one-man shows, and more.
It’s a really great interview and just summarizing it wouldn’t do it justice. You can read it in full at http://es.pn/1eeLvMO
Speaking of JR, he announced on Twitter today that he has signed a deal with Fox Sports.
“Fox Sports deal done. I’m now on the team. My Royal Rumble feature will be up today @ foxsports.com,” Ross wrote.
Monday Night RAW did a great number this week, getting a 3.5 rating and an average of 4,860,000 viewers for the three hour show. That is an increase from last week’s 3.12 number.
Hour one had a total of 5,250,000 viewers, followed by 5,000,000 in the second hour, and then a steep drop to 4,360,000 viewers in the third and final hour.
Fans certainly tuned in to see the return of Batista and probably once they figured out he’s not coming back in the broadcast, RAW saw a mass exodus of viewers in the third hour, dropping 640,000 viewers in the process. (Ratings compiled by Nielsen Media Research and put online by PWInsider.com)
Tickets for the WrestleMania Axxess fan interaction multi-day event will go on sale on Saturday, February 1, at Ticketmaster.com.
There will be a total of six sessions of Axxess including one on Thursday, one on Friday, three on Saturday, and one on WrestleMania Sunday.
The Thursday and Friday events start at 6PM and go through 10PM. The three sessions on Saturday are from 8AM to Noon, 1PM to 5PM, and 6PM to 10PM. The Sunday event is from 8AM to 2PM.
General admission tickets are $45 while VIP tickets will be set at $95.
As previously announced, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross will be doing his Ringside: An Evening with Jim Ross show in New Orleans during WrestleMania week.
JR will host two shows on Thursday, April 3, held at the House of Blues, just down the road from Wrestling-Online’s official hotel partner, The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans.
The first show will be held at 6:30PM while the second one will kick off at 9:30PM with tickets going on sale this coming Saturday at 10AM at Ticketmaster.com.
Ticket prices are $30 for general admission, $45 for balcony seating, and $70 for a VIP ticket which will also include a meet and greet with the legendary wrestling announcer.
The House of Blues is located at 225 Decatur Street.
WWE and DK Publishing announced today that they have entered into a multi-year global agreement to publish and market titles based on WWE events and WWE Superstars.
The agreement will include up to 18 DK releases over three years, including the two upcoming commemorative books WWE 50: Celebrating 50 Years of Sports Entertainment, and 30 Years of WrestleMania.
DK will also publish a new line of children’s books focusing on the careers of John Cena, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and other top WWE Superstars, as well as sticker books, autobiographies and various historical guides.
The agreement is worldwide and also includes digital rights and various subsidiary rights.
“The multi-year publishing partnership between WWE and DK will bring a diverse and exciting line of print and digital books to WWE fans,” said Alex Allan, Global Publisher of DK.
Jake “The Snake” Roberts apologized for dissing the Ultimate Warrior and said he was just trying to be entertaining while appearing on a radio show but “took things too far.”
Roberts said that he has no business inferring anything negative about him and added that he deserved the Hall of Fame nod and respect for what he accomplished during his career.
Jake said that he’s sharing his recovery path and is doing great “so no pity, bathrooms stalls or groveling,” referring to what Warrior wrote about him.
“I am an addict and alcoholic working every single day to repair and make the best out of the life I have left. I make mistakes, like that comment, but my recovery has been amazing. Jim does not know this Jake. Without realizing or intending to, I fired the first shot and will take Jim’s response without any negativity towards him. I apologize and am putting behind me.”
In a recent interview on Busted Open radio, Jake “The Snake” Roberts had some not-so-nice words to say about the Ultimate Warrior being inducted in the Hall of Fame which resulted in Warrior firing back at Roberts without mentioning his name directly.
“Maybe they’re taking a$$holes and not great talent, I don’t know,” Roberts said when he was asked about his thoughts on Warrior headlining the Hall of Fame this year.
Roberts’ comments didn’t go unnoticed and the Ultimate Warrior used his Twitter account to get back to Jake.
“Question for former talents now “hypocrite” born-again Christians. Where do we go to find you practicing the beliefs of Christianity? Hell? One a-hole instills honor and pride, The other horror and pity, One grows wise on great stories. One reads bathroom stalls and still grovels,” Warrior wrote in two Twitter posts.
Both obviously still have some animosity from their WWE days and if rumors are correct that Roberts will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, this will surely create some even more fireworks between the two.
Another match has been added to the Royal Rumble main card as Daniel Byran got medically cleared to compete, paving the way for the Bryan vs Bray Wyatt match to go ahead as planned.
The pre-show will feature Goldust and Cody Rhodes defending the WWE tag team titles against the New Age Outlaws while Hall of Famers Jim Duggan, Ric Flair, and Shawn Michaels will be hosting the pre-show.
Tonight, we are six nights away from the Royal Rumble; and tonight we are just moments (or hours, depending on when they bring him out!) away from the return of “The Animal,” Batista! What will the former WWE and World Heavyweight Champion have to say upon his comeback after a three and a half year absence? Will he go after Alberto Del Rio, who has been picking on him lately, or is just happy to be back and completely focused on the ‘Rumble?
The New Age Outlaws did not offer an explanation on why they turned their back on C.M. Punk last week, but they did pick up a win on The Brotherhood in a Non-Title Match on Smackdown. Does this mean Billy Gunn and Road Dogg are in line for a Tag-Team Title shot in the near future?
Speaking of C.M. Punk, he managed to provoke Director Of Operations Kane enough to get chokeslammed. How will he react (or retaliate?) tonight? Will he involve himself with The Shield?
Daniel Bryan regained his freedom last week, putting down Bray Wyatt at the end of Raw. What will The Wyatt Family do to their former protege who they spent weeks recruiting?
All this, much more, plus my Royal Rumble picks, so read on!
Monday Night Raw TV Report for January 20th, 2014: “Brawl For All – Part 2”
Introduction Segment: Video Promo
A video commemorating Martin Luther King Day airs, with his famous “I Have A Dream” speech, and depicts famous African-American men who held prominent status throughout their lives in America.
Segment #2: Arena Promo
After missing for a couple weeks, The Authority is also back. “King Of Kings” is blaring over the speakers and Stephanie & Triple H are standing in the ring. They put over the Royal Rumble this Sunday and the importance of the match as it leads to Wrestle<ania. HHH then wants to bring out the big return, Batista, but instead gets another former Evolution member, the WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton.
Orton demands to know “who in the hell you think you are,” but Stephanie interjects and gets right back in his face with the same question. She shows the footage of Kofi Kingston defeating him last week, then Randy going ballistic and assaulting John Cena Sr., John Cena’s father.
Stephanie dresses him down for his heinous attack, then threatens that if it continues, he will no longer be “a part of the WWE roster.” Orton turns the tables and blames them for his attitude, saying that the predicaments they put him in, along with rehiring Batista and Brock Lesnar led to him snapping. He implies that he does not regret his actions.
“The Game” says The Authority still believes in him, which is why he is the WWE World Heavyweight Champion; but “The Viper” needs to “rise up and walk through it. You need to be a man and fix what is broken, and you need to do it in short order.” Triple H gives him the opportunity to “make it right.” He books him against Kofi Kingston again, then shows a camera pointed to the backstage garage where the arrival of John Cena will await him. He may do whatever he likes, in the ring or out, to Cena to fix it. “Oh and Randy, you will do all these things alone.”
Just then, “I Walk Alone” hits and Batista makes his grand entrance. He kisses the canvas (literately) and gives HHH and Stephanie a hug. They walk off, leaving him and Orton alone. Loud “Batista” chants from the fans. “The Viper” offers a handshake, but Batista doesn’t make a move. Instead, he lays it out right there and declares that he is back for only one reason: the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. He claims that he is going to win the Royal Rumble and headline WrestleMania. Batista slams the microphone down and walks to the back.
Later tonight, Brock Lesnar and The Big Show will have a “face to face” meeting; plus up next The Shield will take on Intercontinental Champion Big E. Langston and Tag-Team Champions Goldust and Cody Rhodes!
Commercials.
Match #1: Six-Man Tag-Team – Tag-Team Champions The Brotherhood (Goldust and Cody Rhodes) & Intercontinental Champion Big E. Langston VS. The Shield (United States Champion Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns) (Non-Title)
(Note: It is announced that the Tag-Team Titles will be on the line, with The New Age Outlaws taking on The Brotherhood, on the pre-show to the Royal Rumble.)
Langston and The Brotherhood all over The Shield early. Goldust tags in Cody, who comes down on Rollins with an elbow from the top. He holds up Seth with a stalling front-suplex for a two-count! The Rhodes Bros continue to control Rollins, but the former independent star regains domination with kicks in the corner. On the opposite side, Cody flips over with a sunset pin combo for a near-fall! Cody follows Seth to the outside with a plancha-splash, and all six square off prior to the break.
Ads.
Reigns now in control over Cody with a front-facelock. He switches with Ambrose, who runs at Cody against the ropes with a front dropkick. Rollins follows to and almost takes this one again! He delivers quick blows to the chest and gut of Cody in the corner, but misses a high splash. Reigns is quickly back in and cuts Goldust off, but is smacked with the springboard Disaster Kick by Cody! Roman and Rhodes tag in respectively, and it is Langston and Ambrose going at it. Big E. completely dominates as this bout breaks down. He catches Dean with an overhead belly-to-belly-suplex. Rhodes attempts another Disaster Kick, but Reigns cuts him off with the Superman Punch! He turns around to get bowled over by Langston, but Rollins comes in and nails him with the driving knee, being the surprising one to pick up the hard-fought victory!
Winners via Pinfall: The Shield (United States Champion Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns)
Recap footage of Bryan’s amazing face-turn on The Wyatts airs. Up next, Daniel himself will talk.
Commercials.
Segment #3: Arena Promo
Daniel Bryan is leading the fans in more raucous “Yes, yes, yes” chants. They break out on their with calls of his name, to a jubilant smile on his face. He first takes a minor cheap-shot, saying “and some people say I shouldn’t be the face of this company.” Bryan reveals that he used the mental game more so than the physical to figure out the mind of Bray Wyatt. “The truth is this – I exposed you.” Bryan says that since Erik Rowan and Luke Harper are going to be in the actual Royal Rumble match, “that leaves Bray Wyatt to go one-on-one with me!”
The lights go out and Bray appears on the Titantron. He tries to counter Bryan’s own mind games, and calls him a “traitor.” Wyatt wants him to “go home and I want you to hug your mother. I want to you tell her you love her. I want you to tell her you’re sorry. Everything that happens to you from now on is your fault.”
Ads.
Match #2: Single – Xavier Woods (with R-Truth) VS. Fandango (with Summer Rae)
Xavier controls this match early, running at him with a single leg. Fandango moves out of the way, then spins him around with a front suplex. He ascends the top rope and soars off with the leg drop for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall: Fandango (with Summer Rae)
Segment #4: Office Promo
Director Of Operations Kane is with General Manager Brad Maddox. They debate on the return of Batista until Stephanie McMahon barges in. She asks Brad to leave, then berates Kane for chokeslamming C.M. Punk on Smackdown. He tries to explain, but she tells him that he is not allowed to “put your hands on a WWE Superstar.” Kane apologies, but McMahon orders him to say sorry to Punk instead. Reluctantly, he nods and walks off.
Commercials.
Segment #5: Arena Promo
With the lights dimmed and glowing red, Kane makes his entrance. In the ring, he asks C.M. Punk to come out, which takes a minute or so for a response. The “Straight-Edge Superstar” obliges and enters the squared circle. Kane uneasily admits he was wrong, but Punk eggs him on, claiming he did not hear him. Kane says he was sorry again, which Punk accepts. He then slugs away and pushes Kane out of the ring. Kane wants to go at it, but G.M. Maddox verbally holds him back. Instead, he tells Punk he can fight with one of the New Age Outlaws!
Match #3: Single – C.M. Punk VS. “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn (with “Road Dogg” Jesse James)
Punk beats away quickly, shoulder-ramming Gunn in the corner, then stomping on him in another. On the outside, Punk is distracted by Road Dogg, allowing Gunn to hit him from behind.
Ads.
Billy is still in control, wearing Punk down with a grounding rear chinlock. He nails a high dropkick, then taunts Punk until he is knocked down with a high kick. Punk slides out of the ring and jumps all over Jesse James at the commentary table. Back in the ring, Punk continues to take Gunn down with a jumping calf-kick, clotheslines, and a swinging neckbreaker. 1 – 2 – Billy kicks out! Road Dogg distracts Punk again, and is taken out. He then drops Gunn with the G.T.S. to take this bout!
Winner via Pinfall: C.M. Punk
Post-match, Maddox congratulates C.M. on his win, and then Kane comes back out to announce that Punk will be the #1 entrant in the Royal Rumble match!
Backstage, it is not John Cena arriving, but Paul Heyman and his client, Brock Lesnar.
Commercials.
Segment #6: Video Promo
A Royal Rumble statistics montage airs.
Segment #7: In Memoriam Video
The very touching tribute to the late, great Johnnie Mae Young (1923 – 2014) replays. God rest your soul.
Rey Mysterio makes his entrance, and his scheduled to take on Alberto Del Rio again, next.
Ads.
Match #4: Single – Rey Mysterio VS. Alberto Del Rio
Even to start out, then Del Rio takes control with a couple of shoulder blocks. Mysterio fires back with a low front dropkick, but is dropped on the ropes. Del Rio stomps away harshly, but misses him and slides through the ropes. Rey-Rey follows up with a springboard Asai moonsault! He kicks away in the corner, then runs with a low dropkick. He delivers 10-punch in the corner, but is cut off with a stomp in another corner. Del Rio dominates for a while, viciously sliding him out of the ring front-first.
Commercials.
Del Rio is still in control, then attempts to tear off Rey’s mask. He tries a run in the corner, but ends up eating steel post with his shoulder! Rey follows up with a launching shoulder ram off the top, then flies off with a seated senton! He goes for the 619, but is caught and launched into the corner! Del Rio kicks him hard in the head, but only gets a two count! Alberto signals for the Cross Armbreaker, but Rey-Rey counters into a headscissors and the 619. He launches off the top rope again and splashes Del Rio with the Drop Of The Dime. 1 – 2 – Alberto grabs the ropes! He manages to lock on the Cross Armbreaker and Mysterio taps out!
Winner via Submission: Alberto Del Rio
Post-match, Batista is back and answers Del Rio’s comments from the past few weeks with a spinebuster and Batista Bomb!
Up next, The Big Show will face off with Brock Lesnar!
Ads.
Segment #8: Arena Promo
The Big Show is out, and after a replay of him tossing Brock Lesnar across the ring from Old School Raw two weeks ago, the 7-footer mocks Paul Heyman’s voice. He gets to business, calling Lesnar out. Heyman walks out, and at first looks like he wants to talk, but Brock follows instead. He slowly approaches the ring, then laughs off Show and walks to the back. Show gets the mike and yells, “hey maybe you didn’t hear me Brock Lesnar. Drag your ass out hear and get in my face!” He walks back out and does enter the ring, standing right up in Show’s face! Suddenly, he tries to trip up Big, but Show just dumps him to the outside with ease. Lesnar rips apart the announce table in frustration. He tries a sneak attack with a chair, but Show sees it coming and wards off. Show stands in the ring confident, as an irate Lesnar backs away.
Commercials.
Match #5: Tag-Team – Tamina Snuka and Divas Champion A.J. Lee VS. The Funkadactyls (Cameron and Naomi) (Non-Title)
Tamina begins with Cameron and shoves her down. Big scoop slam from Tamina, then she tags in A.J. who brings Cameron down with a neckbreaker. She switches with Snuka who slugs away. Naomi is tagged in and is all over Tamina until she eats a big-boot. A.J. is tagged in and skips around, but then is caught in an inside cradle for the 1 – 2 – 3 by Naomi!
Winners via Pinfall: The Funkadactyls (Cameron and Naomi)
Up next, The Usos will take on The Wyatt Family’s Luke Harper and Erik Rowan!
Ads.
Both a Royal Rumble video promo and Martin Luther King Jr. video promo air, then The Usos make their traditional entrance.
Commercials.
Match #6: Tag-Team – The Usos (Jimmy and Jey) VS. The Wyatt Family (Erik Rowan and Luke Harper) (with Wyatt Family leader Bray Wyatt)
Luke starts out against Jimmy, beating down the twin. Rowan is tagged in and does the same with hammers and stomps. Rowan chucks him out of the ring, but Jimmy comes back against Harper with chops. Jey then dives off the apron and punches away. In the ring, the two slap each other hard, then Jimmy soars off the top with a crossbody! Rowan breaks up the pin attempt, then pushes hard against Jey. Harper gives Jimmy a boot-to-the-face, then switches with Rowan. He scoop slams Jimmy, then presses his fists against the sides of Jimmy’s head. Jimmy boots Harper and climbs the turnbuckle, but is shoved off into the barricade from Luke!
Ads.
Luke has Jimmy clamped with a grounding side headlock, when Bray gets on the microphone. He says that the bout is the “type of punishment” that our hero Daniel Bryan will face. “He walks into the meat grinder and we are the punishers.” Jimmy begins to fight back and drops Harper with a corkscrew sault! He gets the hot-tag to his bro, who is all over Harper. Jey is fired up after a Samoan Drop, then runs at Luke in the corner with his rear! Jimmy soars over the top with a splash, but Jey is slugged by Harper. Out of the back comes Daniel Bryan charging, and he hammers away on Bray. In the ring, Jey rolls up Harper for the victory!
Winners via Pinfall: The Usos (Jimmy and Jey)
Post-match, Bray laughs off the surprise from Bryan, as Daniel and The Usos chant “yes, yes, yes,” at the top of the stage.
Up next, it’s WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton taking on Kofi Kingston!
Commercials.
Match #7: Single – Kofi Kingston VS. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton (Non-Title)
Orton slugs it out with Kofi right away, giving him an elbow off an short Irish whip! Kofi comes back with a sweep-up and mount punches, then they roll around until Orton hits the floor. Kingston slams Orton’s head against the barricade, then Randy goes to the other side for a break. Kofi runs after him, but is kneed in the gut and rammed against the table. Referee Mike Chioda gets up to 6 before Orton puts both himself and Kingston back in the ring. Orton continues to dominate and even uses John Cena’s “you can’t see me” hand signal.
Randy suplexes Kingston over, and tries a backslide but Kofi reverses into one of his own! “The Viper” regains control, but is caught in the S.O.S. pin combination for a near two! The camera pans to the backstage lot where John Cena now here and making a beeline for the ring. Kingston clutches Orton’s leg, and Cena charges to the ring. He starts the brawl, which also causes Kofi to be DQ’d.
Winner via Disqualification: WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton
Post-match, Orton and Cena fight around the ring and through the crowd. Cena picks up Orton and goes for an Attitude Adjustment in the aisle way, but Orton elbows out of it. They continue to punch their away to the top of the arena. They make their way through a suite box, but Orton uses a person to cut off Cena. John follows and Orton is shown getting into a car and making a getaway.
Cena proceeds back into the arena and greets the fans to close the show.
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp
This was a great Raw with lots of final build up to the Royal Rumble. Most of it made sense and hyped up the big pay-per-view really well. Onto the critiques and then my picks!
Excellence: Opening segment, especially Batista’s return. While I didn’t miss The Authority being away, tonight was a good night for them, by only appearing in a couple of segments and keeping them short, sweet, and neutral! Same with “The Animal’s” comeback. Just went in there, stated his intentions, kicked some butt, and left. Plus, got superb crowd reaction. Beautiful! Both he and Triple H/Stephanie need to be limited like this – get to the point and take care of business.
Wrestling – particularly the Six-Man opener, Punk/Gunn, Del Rio/Mysterio, and Wyatts/Usos.
Absolutely loved the Big Show/Lesnar/Heyman confrontation. Even though these two fought before over 10 years ago, it feels really fresh this time with how they’re building it. Lesnar’s reactions to Show’s immense/impressive strength are perfect, and both of these guys need to continue with these characteristics to be even more believable.
Bryan/Bray’s war of words. Both are awesome on the mike right now, and I am really hoping this feud continues past the Royal Rumble – should be a heck of match too! Same w/ Punk and Kane; you know that match will eventually happen too! Interesting place for Punk at #1. I think he will make it to the final four, and then be eliminated.
Great ending again to Raw, and really pumped up the fans and the Royal Rumble!
Bogus: The Tag-Team Championship being on the PRE-SHOW!!! No title match should EVER be on the pre-show to the Pay-Per-View. Also, Billy Gunn should not have lost and Road Dogg not gotten beaten down so badly as it makes them look week going into their sudden championship bout.
Fandango/Woods was just a filler. Could’ve cut it out and ended Raw a little shorter, since these two had no bearings on big storylines for the PPV. As much as I hate to say, same w/ A.J./Tamina and The Funkadactyls. We saw that match last week, and so far has not led into anything else I should/would care about normally.
Shouldn’t John Cena be just a little more ticked off and not wait until the end of Raw to get his hands on the man who attacked his father? Also, when Cena showed up on screen and Orton was distracted, that was the perfect time for Kofi to roll him up and get another big W. That wasted a great chance for re-push on Kingston!
Royal Rumble Picks: Daniel Bryan to continue hot momentum again and pull out the win over Bray. The Brotherhood will retain their Tag-Team Titles, only because this is on the pre-show. Otherwise, I would’ve given serious consideration to The Outlaws. Show/Lesnar will end up without a conclusion and a big brawl instead. Orton/Cena – Randy to retain. All signs are pointing to Batista winning The Royal Rumble for a second time, so I have to go with my head on him and agree.
All in all, a great show and I look forward to next week when WrestleMania build begins! Enjoy The Royal Rumble if you watch, and as always, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!
Former WWE Diva Kelly Kelly appeared in episode 3 of the Funny or Die series Headshots & Handcuffs in a hilarious five minute episode where she welcomes two detectives to her house who portray themselves as lifeguards.
Credited by her real name of Barbie Blank, the former Divas champion spends the whole episode in a bikini as the detectives try to show her how to perform CPR and and the Heimlich maneuver.
When everything turns south, the detectives try the wrestling card to win her over, singing Hulk Hogan’s Real American theme and doing the poses.
Barbie Blank is more beautiful than ever if that’s even possible and you can see the video below.
Brie Bella had her bachelorette in San Diego, California, on Saturday night at the Prep Kitchen and TMZ.COM got some photos from the..erm, hairy party!
Brie was joined by her sister Nikki and a group of other friends at the party for the celebration and a lot of fake beards were being used for photo ops in honor of her soon-to-be husband Daniel Bryan.
It’s been nearly 4 years since Batista has appeared on WWE television. But tonight, “The Animal” is back on Monday Night RAW for his return.
It was May 24, 2010, when Batista decided to quit WWE, the day after the Over The Limit pay-per-view where he lost a WWE title match against John Cena in an I Quit match. The next night on RAW, Batista came out in a wheelchair and the then-General Manager Bret Hart ordered him to face Randy Orton to qualify for a spot in the Fatal 4-Way WWE Championship match. Batista refused, and that was the last time he was seen on WWE television.
His return to WWE was announced on the December 23 episode of Monday Night RAW. The former WWE and World Heavyweight champion is also participating in the Royal Rumble match this coming Sunday.
WWE Hall of Fame tickets went on sale to the general public yesterday morning on Ticketmaster.com.
Floor seats and the 100 level tickets are all gone but tickets in the 300 level are still widely available and you can even get up to 20 tickets in one row.
Ticketmaster also has some official platinum tickets available for sale, all in the 100 level for $600 for a pair of tickets close to the stage.
The show will be held on the eve of WrestleMania at the New Orleans Arena. So far only the Ultimate Warrior has been announced with the rest of the inductees revealed during the next few weeks on WWE television.
The funeral service for Johnnie Mae Young will be held on Wednesday, January 22, at 2PM at the Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 5PM till 8PM the day before, Tuesday, January 21, at the same location of the funeral service.
The 90 year old WWE Hall of Famer passed away on January 14. Fans who wish to send their condolences can do so by signing the guestbook at the Dunbar Funerals Home website here.
Remember that Hulk Hogan sex tape? Well, a Florida’s 2nd District Court of Appeal sided with Gawker and removed the temporary order banning the website from posting the video online according to the Tampa Bay Times.
The website posted parts of the video and a pretty good write up of the whole video and Hogan sued the website, initially winning round one back in April 2013 by getting the ban order in place.
Gawker wasn’t happy about it and appealed the decision and the court noted that under the First Amendment, there are only narrow circumstances in which someone can be ordered in advance not to publish something. The court also said that because of the publicity the sex tape receive, partly “exacerbated” by Hulk himself, the excerpts on the website and the accompanying report where a matter of a public concern.
The sex tape features Hogan and Bubba “The Love” Sponge’s ex-wife Heather Clem and was leaked to the media by Bubba’s team as payback for the radio host.
In a press release issued yesterday, WWE Studios, Relativity and Blumhouse Productions announced a partnership on the release of Intrepid Pictures’ movie Oculus.
Oculus is a supernatural horror film directed by Mike Flanagan starring Karen Gillan, Brenton Thwaites, Rory Cochrane, and Katee Sackhoff. Michael Luisi, President of WWE Studios served as a producer on the movie.
It is set for a wide theatrical release on April 11 and WWE will be using their extensive multi-platform reach to help promote the movie.
WWE has kicked off the 2014 WrestleMania Reading Challenge along with their partners the Pearson Foundation and the Young Adult Library Services Association, giving participants aged 4-18 to win a trip to WrestleMania XXX or have a WWE Superstar visit them at school.
From now through Friday, March 7, students can sign up for the WrestleMania Reading Challenge at WWEReadingSuperstar.com. Children between the ages of 4-12 can select a WWE Superstar Reading Buddy and read digital books to participate, while teens ages 13-18 can select a WWE Superstar Pen Pal, read a book and write an essay.
To support this program, WWE will make a financial contribution to We Give Books and YALSA in order to support literacy initiatives and provide access to books for children across the United States. Additionally, WWE will utilize all of its platforms, including TV broadcasts, live events, digital and social media to encourage children to read at school, at home, in their local library or wherever they’re inspired to read.
“WWE is proud to continue its long-standing commitment to literacy initiatives through our partnership with We Give Books and YALSA,” said Stephanie McMahon, Chief Brand Officer, WWE. “Children are more digitally connected today than ever before and the WrestleMania Reading Challenge provides them with a unique opportunity to read books both online and in the library.”
