Triple H will be appearing on the Smackdown broadcast this week, which is being taped in Boston, Massachusetts tonight.
The Game – who overcame Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania – had to get an X-Ray on his hand after his match was over as it was swollen after landing badly on it. The X-ray showed no broken bones however.
“Hand and arm not working, head to toe pain…… loved every minute!!!!!” wrote Triple H, adding a photo of his swollen hand in a post on Twitter.
HHH had been advertised for this Smackdown for quite a while now and Chris Jericho is also scheduled to be there along with the new WWE champ John Cena.
The dark match advertised is Sheamus, Orton, and Ryback taking on The Shield in a six man tag team match.
The new World Heavyweight champion Dolph Ziggler thanked the New Jersey crowd – filled with International flags from people across the world – with a message on Twitter, posting a meme which read “First 2014 HOF Inductee – New Jersey crowd.”
“I’ll induct,” wrote Ziggler, whose never ending chanting of his name as well as the massive pop he received transformed him into a mega superstar on television yesterday.
“Amazing time, amazing team @WWEAJLee @BigELangston ABOUT DAMN TIME,” he added, closing his tweet with a heel remark, “#thanksmarks.”
Big E offered his own congratulations on Twitter to the new champ saying, “Congratulations to the new World Heavyweight Champion @heelziggler. Best tag team partner/double dutcher/lasagna chef I’ve ever known.”
New Jersey’s own AJ Lee also congratulated Ziggler on his amazing night.
“Congratulations to my baby Ziggy @HEELZiggler. No one works harder or deserves it more. No one. I’m so happy right now.”
Last year on the day after WrestleMania, the Miami crowd showed all the fans how to interact during a live RAW. This time around, New Jersey and the tons of International fans that made it to the show showed Miami that they do it better in New Jersey.
The fans inside the IZOD Center for RAW gave a Hall of Fame worthy performance, singing, dancing, chanting, and even doing the Mexican wave during the three hour RAW broadcast.
The pro-heel, anti-face crowd gave the usual faces a hard time and chanted for the bad guys. During the Sheamus vs Orton match, the crowd totally ignored the ring and created their own show, chanting “Michael Cole,” “Jerry,” “JBL,” “Justin Roberts,” “Austin,” “Chris Benoit,” “We want pretzels,” “Randy Savage,” “We are awesome,” and a bunch of other random names that had absolutely nothing to do with what was going on.
But the most amazing thing was the crowd was singing along to Fandango’s theme song almost all night long, dancing around and having a great time as the three hours of RAW flew by quickly.
It was one of those nights where the fans made the show seem more spectacular, helping Dolph Ziggler get one of the biggest pops he’ll ever receive in his entire life, and making Fandango a very, very, very happy man indeed.
After the show was over, fans still sang along to Fandango’s theme in the hallways of the IZOD Center and in the car parks as you can see from the video below.
After Monday Night RAW went off the air, John Cena addressed the crowd’s weird choice of singing Fandango’s theme song.
Cena said he heard a lot of chants – including for Michael Cole, Justin Roberts, and JBL – however he didn’t hear one for the camera man Disco Stu. So what did the fans do? Of course chant his name.
Cena said that from all the chants, he loved the “We Are Awesome” chants. He thanked the fans for making Dolph Ziggler’s moment of winning the World title special.
He said that when Rock debuted the new WWE title he said it was for the people. Cena said that he was right, because it’s the fans who create the Superstars and the fans create the atmosphere. He said a lot of dollars and a lot of vacation days were spent over this WrestleMania weekend and there was no better way that to prove that title belongs to the people, he was going to leave it to the fans. He threw the belt in the middle of the ring to a loud applause from the crowd.
Cena said that usually they end the night by playing somebody’s music but not tonight, because tonight, the fans are going to play the music. At that moment, the rowdy New Jersey crowd started singing Fandango’s theme as Cena danced his way all the way to backstage, bowing to the crowd before going to the back to a nice ovation from the fans.
In a message posted on Twitter as soon as RAW was going on air on USA Network, The Rock said that he tore his abdomen and abductor muscles off the bone halfway through his WrestleMania match against John Cena.
“Just part of the job,” The Rock tweeted. “But as we know it’s all about #JustBringIt. WWE Universe THANK YOU for all the love & well wishes. Means everything to me. #LeaveItAllInTheRing”
The Rock surprised everyone by packing up and flying home and sources say the backstage atmosphere was in chaos as the creative team tried to cook up a new storyline to replace the one which he was supposed to be a part of with Brock Lesnar.
Dwayne Johnson will be filming the new movie Hercules this month and obviously cannot afford any downtime due to production.
Prior to RAW starting, ring announcer Justin Roberts announced that The Rock was injured and he would not be on the show tonight. That led to some massive boos and everytime he came on screen for a commercial or a replay from WrestleMania, the fans heavily booed him. The trailer for his upcoming Pain & Gain movie was played like five times during commercial breaks for fans inside the arena.
The “We want Ziggler” chants that took over the IZOD Center today on RAW were answered as Ziggler successfully cashed in his Money In The Bank after Alberto Del Rio defeated Jack Swagger to retain the World Heavyweight title.
Ziggler came out to a gigantic pop and the crowd stayed on its feet to during the very short match which saw Ziggler win the World title for the second time in his career.
The former Spirit Squad member was super over with the crowd and was treated like a mega superstar by the fans as they went bananas when he pinned Del Rio.
Funny enough, his former girlfriend and comedienne Amy Schumer immediately took it to Twitter to crack a joke and address the new champion. “Um, @HEELZiggler i feel like we should get back together,” she wrote.
The Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson saga continues as it is now being reported that he went home after suffering an injury during last night’s match against John Cena.
If he did suffer an injury, Rock surprised everyone by packing up and flying home and sources say the backstage atmosphere was in chaos as the creative team tried to cook up a new storyline to replace the one which he was supposed to be a part of with Brock Lesnar.
The said injury was never reported what it was or when in the match he thinks he got it.
Dwayne Johnson will be filming the new movie Hercules this month and obviously cannot afford any downtime due to production.
WWE is in full hyping mode for his upcoming movie Pain & Gain which comes out later this month. The movie had a spot during WrestleMania and is featured heavily on WWE.com ads as well as on upcoming WWE television shows.
Top industry insiders are reporting that The Rock sent WWE into frenzy today and not in a good way as he packed his bags and left home, leaving the plans for him in tonight’s show in complete chaos.
The Rock was scheduled to be a part of tonight’s RAW to plant the seeds for next year’s WrestleMania even though recently Rock said he’s still not sure if he will be participating.
The plan was to have him involved with Brock Lesnar in one of the major angles on the show however the word is that there is a big change in plans underway as the WWE creative team scrambles for a plan B.
PWInsider reports that Rock leaving caught everyone off guard as he was advertised for tonight’s show and there is some massive heat on the former WWE champion for bailing out like that.
Celebrity Maria Menounos issued an open letter to all WWE fans and members of the press regarding this past Saturday’s Hall of Fame, where the crowd showed their hostility, booing her most of the time.
“The fans were a little rough as another inductee and friend, Donald Trump, would likewise experience,” Menounos wrote. “It’s understandable as we are not pro wrestlers and the honesty of the WWE fans is what makes it fun,” she then continued, saying that the speech was mainly to tell the world the “amazing things about Bob.”
Since she fears some of the things were not heard, she has decided to publish her speech in full in hopes that the media prints it in full “for a good friend, a great champion, and one of the most incredible human beings.”
You can read the speech below.
=====
Dear fellow WWE fans and members of the wrestling press,
As you know, I had the honor of inducting my friend, Bob Backlund, into the WWE Hall of Fame. The fans were a little rough as another inductee and friend, Donald Trump, would likewise experience. It’s understandable as we are not pro wrestlers and the honesty of the WWE fans is what makes it fun. However, I did the speech mainly to tell the world all the amazing things about Bob and I fear some of those things were not heard.
Below is my speech. I’m hoping you’ll print it for a good friend, a great champion, and one of the most incredible human beings I know.
Thanks and God Bless, Maria Menounos
===== Maria’s Hall of Fame speech =====
To induct anyone into the WWE Hall of Fame puts you in the company of the greatest artists, athletes and performers in the entire world. I CHALLENGE ANYONE who disagrees to show me another kind of entertainer who can recite monologues, in character, without the use of teleprompters and before world audiences, performing improv drama and comedy while flying through the air and taking bumps, 300 nights a year.
But for me tonight is even more special for I am not just inducting anyone into the WWE Hall of Fame. I’m inducting someone who encapsulates the word champion. Someone whom I’m a great fan of…Someone whom is my friend.
Growing up Greek and not speaking English, wrestling was one of the few things on TV I’d watch and be able to understand. I was five when Bob Backlund lost his title to The Sheik. I was 14 when “Mr. Backlund” returned. I was eighteen when I met Bob in person and I remember being in awe. It was on the set of my first movie and Bob was literally the most positive and striking force I have ever encountered. He was funny when we needed laughter – the man has an incredible and underrated sense of comedic timing – strong when we needed support and sensitive when we needed a friend.
While Working on Bob’s congressional campaign, a story came up about the Iron Shiek and his Persian Clubs. the Iron Shiek apparently had an exercise where he would swing these heavy wooden “Persian Clubs” behind his back. He had toured the nation’s gyms with the clubs and, apparently, no other strong man in the country could perform the exercise, nor could anyone on the WWF roster – except Bob, who did it….on his FIRST TRY. When I asked Bob how, he told me ‘when you believe you can do something…you can.’ The very next day, bob said he was going to perform an exercise of his own-the harvard step test in front of city hall on his election day. Twenty years earlier bob set a personal record doing the step test for two straight hours. The goal was to match that. we all thought he was crazy as he was well into his 50s by that time. Bob was not able to match that record. He made a new one. It wasn’t three hours. It wasn’t four hours. He did his harvard step test for eight hours straight!!! Once again reminding us all, if you believe you can do something, you can.
Speaking of Hollywood, one of the first days I was hosting the Today Show, John Cena and Vince McMahon happened to be guests. Of course, I’m huge fans of theirs, too, but I couldn’t help but threaten John that Bob would one day come back to put him in the chicken wing! They both had great things to say about Bob but I’m sure they thought I was a little nuts, as people have thought Bob was a little nuts. But along with everything else Bob taught me, its okay to be a little nuts.
I’m sure people thought Bob was more than a little nuts, when after an unprecedented 5 year run with the title, he refused to turn heel. He believed it would let down his fans which included many troubled youth who had looked up to him and in those days, it would have. In so doing he surrendered millions of dollars from the new age of rock and wrestling as well as the career he loved most.
Not only did Bob Backlund hold the title for almost six consecutive years – he did something perhaps even greater when he came back a decade later. He completely reinvented himself and his character. When you think of performers who’ve been able to successfully reinvent their characters, even in Hollywood, few names come to mind. Bob not only created an entire new persona he also went on to become wrestling’s number one heel and regained his title in one of the most successful comebacks in sports entertainment history.
But, most people know that. Like the greatest champions Bob Backlund carries himself with humility – which is why many of the facts I’m about to reveal are not known.
In a Pennsylvania match against Hulk Hogan, whom he pinned on several occasions, Bob Backlund picked Hulk up over his head with one arm. It’s a feat Hulk, and his own late father, often reflected on in astonishment.
Bob Backlund has only been to the doctor twice since 1973.
Bob Backlund has never done a drug. As he says and I quote, “I wouldn’t know what to do with them.”
Bob Backlund, within a three month span, won the NCAA wrestling championship and the National college football championship. He is perhaps the only man in history to hold that distinction.
In that championship football game, Bob Backlund recorded 22 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries. To give perspective, a team averages about 65 plays in an entire game.
Bob Backlund was a top shoot fighter if not THE top shoot fighter in the world of professional wrestling.
Bob Backlund intentionally NEVER squashed his opponents as he believed it would harm their future earnings.
Bob Backlund is in better condition than 99 percent of men…a third his age.
Bob Backlund has a diverse portfolio of stocks and real estate and has NEVER IN HIS LIFE PAID A DIME OF INTEREST!
Bob Backlund has a beautiful wife and daughter.
And at the end of the day, Bob Backlund justs want to help others in need.
Bob Backlund is simply one of, if not, THE greatest personal success stories for wrestlers, fans and people in general.
I know it wasn’t always easy in your career, Bob. But, in the face of shortcomings and disappointments, you never gave up or succumbed like so many of us understandably would. Instead, you continued working out, educating yourself and, always, helping others and donating your time to charity. Through it all you kept your faith and your resolve and here you are on the greatest stage being honored by your greatest peers. I’m excited for tonight, your book being published and all the amazing things you remain to accomplish in your journey. And, I believe there’s one more WWE run in that journey for you Bob, because ‘When u believe you can do something, you can.’
Some know you as Bob Backlund. Others as Mr. Backlund. I just know you as my champion, my hero and my friend. Thank you to the WWE Universe for allowing me to welcome to the stage, Mr. Bob Backlund!
WWE had a string of technical difficulties with the online pay-per-view offering yesterday on the website PPV.WWE.COM and the WWE Active app.
Several readers reported that the pay-per-view got “restarted” at one point and had to watch it again from the very beginning when the show was already a couple of hours in. WWE apparently weren’t ready to meet the massive demand online and it is costing them dearly as the company is already refunding customers for the trouble.
WWE charged the full price for U.S. customers to order the pay-per-view online and $20 to customers in other countries.
Last week’s number one movie G.I. Joe: Retaliation with The Rock in the leading role slipped down to the third place, with the usual average of a negative 47.9% change from the prior week according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.
G.I. Joe did an additional $21,100,000 this past weekend, the same as The Croods movie, raising its total box office revenue domestically to $86,663,000. It has an additional $145,200,000 in foreign box office for a worldwide total of $231,863,000.
In comparison to the previous G.I. Joe movie, Rise of Cobra did $150,201,498 domestically and $152,267,519 foreign for a total of $302,469,017 in worldwide box office receipts.
Well that didn’t take very long but less than 24 hours after winning the WWE title, WWEShop.com is already selling the brand new John Cena merchandise which refers to him as the WWE champion.
The new authentic “The Champ Is Here” t-shirt features a white-only shirt colour with the words “THE CHAMP IS HERE” in big bold black font and an arrow pointing downwards. An image of the new WWE title is printed across the waist section of the shirt which the arrow points down to…and not, you know, something else!
The back has “RTIME=NOW” using the same font and color of the front text and the sleeve has the John Cena hand gesture.
It’s available to order now on WWEShop.com for $24.99 or $21.99 for a youth size. The shirt is expected to be in stock on April 15.
WWE announced yesterday at WrestleMania 29 that the company will be a founding partner for the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games, which ill take place between June 14 and June 21 of next year in New Jersey.
WWE will utilise TV broadcasts, live events, digital and social media to create awareness and raise funds in support of the USA Games. Besides that, WWE will be the official production partner of the Games, filming the opening ceremonies as well as producing the daily recaps of the games. WWE will also produce an hour long TV show highlighting the Games.
WWE Superstars and Divas will be involved in various events with promoting the 2014 USA Games and several WWE employees will serve as volunteers. The company will so make a financial contribution to support the Games.
“WWE is proud to serve as a Founding Partner of the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games and utilize our global platforms to bring more attention to the accomplishments of so many determined and extraordinary athletes,” said WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. “WWE, its Superstars and employees look forward to being a part of these important events.”
Yesterday’s attendance of 80,676 inside the MetLife Stadium was the second highest attendance for WWE for a WrestleMania show.
The show is only beat to the number one spot by WrestleMania III, held at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, where 93,173 fans packed the dome back in 1987 for Andre The Giant vs Hulk Hogan.
The three other shows which make up the top 5 attendances at a WrestleMania are WrestleMania 23 at Ford Field in Detroit with 80,103 in 2007, WrestleMania 28 at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami with 78,363 in 2012, and WrestleMania 24 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando with 74,6435 in 2008.
The eight-person mixed tag team match featuring Brodus Clay, Tensai, Naomi and Cameron taking on Cody Rhodes, Damien Sandow, and the Bella Twins was ditched from the card after the show was running late.
The elimination of the match meant that for the first time in a very, very long time, there were no Divas at all on the card, not even on the pre-show, and the only Diva which appeared live on the show was AJ in the corner of Ziggler and Langston.
“In life we have set backs and disappointments sometimes you need your heartbroken to know how much you love it #365toredemption,” tweeted Brodus Clay around an hour after WrestleMania was done. His positive message was retweeted by none other than Triple H.
The Bella Twins ironically enough posted a photo on their Twitter in a group hug with Sandow and Rhodes, writing, “Group Hug. Getting ready for our match.”
Unfortunately for all eight of them, the match never even started.
A total of 80,676 fans jam packed the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, yesterday for WrestleMania 29, with visitors from all 50 states and 34 different countries.
WrestleMania 29 grossed $12.3 million, breaking the record of MetLife Stadium’s highest-grossing entertaining event. The show is also the highest grossing in WWE history.
The previous record at the MetLife Stadium was held by U2 in 2011 which did $8.9 million.
“On behalf of the great state of New Jersey, I want to thank all of the fans that came from around the world to beautiful MetLife Stadium for WrestleMania 29,” New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said. “WWE put on a show like no other and electrified the capacity crowd.”
WWE presented their WrestleMania 29 pay-per-view yesterday night with an almost four hour show plus a one hour pre-show at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
In the pre-show match, Wade Barrett defended the Intercontinental title against The Miz. The Miz won in a short match with the figure four leg lock to capture the Intercontinental title.
The PPV kicked off with a fantastic video recounting the tragedy of Hurricane Sandy and the determination of the people of New York and New Jersey to get their cities back in business. It was narrated by NJ Governor Chris Christie. Breaking away from tradition, there was no performance of America The Beautiful and no fireworks display to kick off the show.
The first match on the PPV card was The Shield vs Orton, Big Show, and Sheamus. The Shield won the match after Orton was pissed and then Show knocked out both his tag team partners mainly because Orton stole the hot tag that and eventually led his team to a loss.
Ryback vs Mark Henry was the second match, which saw Mark Henry pinning the artist formerly known as Skip Sheffield. Ryback hoisted Henry up on his shoulders however Henry grabbed the ropes and collapsed on him for the pin. After the match Ryback gave Henry the Shellshock.
Daniel Bryan and Kane retained their tag team titles over Dolph Ziggler and Big E. Langston. AJ gave Dolph the kiss like she did to Bryan last year when he lost in record time and Bryan kicked Ziggler and quickly covered him but he kicked out. The finish saw Bryan going with a flying headbutt and pinning Ziggler after a chokeslam from Kane.
Sean Combs was up next for a live performance including one of the WrestleMania themes “Coming Home.”
Alberto Del Rio successfully defended the World Heavyweight title against Jack Swagger. Swagger came down to the ring with Zeb while the video was the only one who didn’t get a proper ring entrance on the show. Swagger tapped out to the arm bar.
The Undertaker’s streak lives on as he managed to defeat CM Punk in the match of the night. Lots of near falls including some from CM Punk. Punk tried a flying elbow from the top rope to the Spanish announce table but came up short just a bit and the table did not break. It took two tombstone piledrivers to put Punk to sleep. Taker took the urn after the match.
Lesnar vs HHH in a no holds barred with Triple H’s career on the line was up next. Lesnar came out looking like a big monster with an impressive physique. Crowd was really dead for this match, probably cause they had to follow Taker/Punk. Lesnar gave HBK the F5 and then HBK hit the Sweet Chin Music on Paul Heyman. HHH locked in the kimura three times but Lesnar broke free. Eventually the sledge hammer came in play and a Pedigree on the steel steps afterward sealed the win for Triple.
The Hall of Famers came out to take a bow in front of the live crowd, which was then announced at 80,676. Impressive.
With the mixed eight person tag team match scrapped, it was time for the main event. John Cena became the new WWE champion after an Attitude Adjustment following tons of reversals and close calls by the two. Cena was being booed out of the building. After the match was over, Cena and Rock shook hands and hugged and then Cena left the ring, leaving Rock alone to soak up the crowd. Rock kissed his family and Betty Skaaland, the wife of the late Arnold Skaaland, before joining Cena at the top of the ramp and raising each other’s arms.
Videos from the Hall of Fame have been posted on our YouTube channel in a separate playlist.
There are six videos which cover the introductions where the WWE Superstars, Divas, and Legends walk out with their families to take their respective seats. It’s cool to see how the fans react to each of them, some getting a bigger pop than others while certain individuals just get booed.
There are also videos of Bruno Sammartino’s introduction, Booker T doing the spinaroonie on stage, Mick Foley dropping the elbow on Chris Jericho, and the final salute to the fans from the class of 2013.
Speaking on the WWE Active app after the Hall of Fame, Renee Young asked WWE Chairman and CEO if we will see another battle of the billionaires at next year’s WrestleMania and maybe Vince getting redemption over what happened last time around with Donald Trump.
“I’m 67. Donald’s (coughs) 60 whatever, so, I have no idea, but it will be interesting,” McMahon said referring to the challenge that Trump made during the Hall of Fame speech.
Vince also spoke about the huge importance of coming back to the New York area for WrestleMania since this is where it all began. McMahon said it was appropriate that they’re using the Diddy song “Coming Home” to promote this show because it is very special to really come back home.
TMZ.COM is reporting that Jersey Shore star Angelina Pivarnick tried to score a free WrestleMania 29 ticket from WWE but was ignored.
The celeb-busting website says that Pivarnick has been contacting “every WWE employee she can find” but so far has been unlucky in her quest and chances of her getting a ticket are slim to none.
When TMZ contacted WWE, a source told the website that they were “unable to accommodate her request due to overwhelming demand for tickets.”
Jersey Shore fans need not to worry though as Snooki will be at WrestleMania and will be one of the celebrities involved in the show.
