The contract situation between Bobby Roode and TNA was ironed out before the pay-per-view yesterday and Roode participated in the show as expected, defending the tag team titles with Austin Aries.
PWInsider.com is reporting that Roode’s contract was left to expire and it was all Bruce Prichard’s fault who heads up that particular department for the company.
Roode happens to be a good company employee as he could have skipped the show completely and pop up somewhere else instead.
Last night at the Lockdown pay-per-view, Bully Ray managed to get his first major singles title in his 22 year career, defeating Jeff Hardy in the main event and revealing himself as the President of Aces & 8s.
Aces & 8s interfered in the main event and Ray and his opponent and reigning champion Jeff Hardy fought them off before Ray’s former tag team partner – Devon – gave Ray a hammer and smashed Hardy with it for the pinfall.
After the match was over, Ray announced that he was the President of Aces & 8s and used Hulk Hogan and his daughter Brooke all along.
While Ray has won numerous tag team titles with Devon over the years – 15 in total – this was his first major singles title win. The only other singles title he won before was the WWE Hardcore title which he won 10 times.
Here are the results from yesterday’s Lockdown pay-per-view which took place from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Kenny King defeated Zema Ion and Christian York to retain the X Division title; Joseph Park defeated Joe Ryan; Velvet Sky defeated Gail Kim to retain the Knockouts title; Robbie T defeated Robbie E; Bobby Roode and Austin Aries defeated Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez and Christopher Daniels and Kazarian to retain the TNA Tag Team titles; Wes Brisco defeated Kurt Angle in a steel cage match; Team TNA defeated Aces & 8s in a Lethal Lockdown match; Bully Ray defeated Jeff Hardy to win the TNA World title.
The Agganis Arena, on the campus of Boston University, in Boston, Massachusetts, will be the site of this year’s Slammiversary pay-per-view.
The event will be held on June 2 at this 7,000-seater arena which is home of the 2009 National Champion ice hockey team, the Boston University Terriers.
With TNA moving out of Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, the company will be looking at small-to-medium sized arenas to hold its events and pay-per-views during the year.
The big news this weekend is that current TNA tag team title holder and former TNA champion Bobby Roode has an expired contract and might and might not show up tonight at the Lockdown pay-per-view.
Roode did not attend the fan interaction events this weekend for Lockdown and has been off television since the last Impact television show taped from London, England.
Roode is booked for tonight’s show teaming up with his tag team partner Austin Aries as they defend their titles in a three way tag team match.
Roode has been wrestling for TNA since 2004.
Live tonight from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, TNA presents Lockdown 2013 on pay-per-view. The full card is as follows:
Jeff Hardy vs Bully Ray for the TNA title in a steel cage match; Sting, Magnus, Samoa Joe, James Storm, and Eric Young vs Devon, Mr. Anderson, Mike Knox, DOC, and Garrett Bischoff in a Lethal Lockdown match; Kurt Angle vs Wes Brisco in a steel cage match; Velvet Sky vs Gail Kim for the TNA Knockout title; Austin Aries and Bobby Roode vs Christopher Daniels and Kazarian vs Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez for the TNA Tag Team ttiels in a three-way match; Kenny King vs Christian York vs Zema Ion for the TNA X Division title in a three way match; Joseph Park vs Joey Ryan; Robbie E vs Robbie T.
TNA has announced new locations for its live television tapings of IMPACT for the months of April and May.
On Thursday, April 25, TNA will tape two episodes of IMPACT at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Tickets go on sale on March 29 at kovalchickcomplex.com.
On Thursday, May 9, the show moves to the BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo, Mississippi with tickets going on sale on April 5. More info on tickets can be found at at www.bcsarena.com.
On Thursday, May 23, TNA then goes to Tampa, Florida, with tapings at the USF Sun Dome. Tickets go on sale on April 26, at www.sundomearena.com.
TNA will tape two shows at each locations, one live, and one for the following week.
Diamond Dallas Page is asking for help from fans to bring back Scott Hall to the man he once was, and with over 40 days sober, things are looking good.
However Hall’s body was much more damaged than initially thought. DDP is now enlisting help of fans to raise $80,000 to cover his hip replacement surgery, physical therapy, dental work, and his continuing medical expenses.
“We believe that with some persistence and encouragement, Scott can rebuild his body and become healthy and happy again,” the description on Indiegogo.com reads.
All money collected will be managed by DDP and his team to ensure that every cent donated goes only towards Scott Hall’s process of recovery and physical rehabilitation.
“I feel so peaceful for the first time in so long,” an emotional Hall said in a video. He said the first time he tweeted, he never knew so many people cared about him and now he just wants his life back.
There are several perks available if you support the cause, including merchandise, video calls from Hall himself, phone calls, and even a one day stay with DDP, Jake, and Hall to see first hand how things are going.
So far almost $19,000 were collected out of the $80,000 goal with 30 days left. You can go to http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/we-can-rebuild-him to help out.
On March 19, TNA will tape its final shows from the IMPACT Zone in Orlando, Florida, at the Universal Studios. These will be two, three hour pay-per-views from the One Night Only series which will air at a later date.
The company has compiled an almost six minute video titled ‘Thank You Orlando – From IMPACT Wrestling’ which features some of the best moments in TNA history which happened at the IMPACT Zone sound stage.
Set to the song This Time from Marc Robillard, the video shows the debut of Kurt Angle, Hulk Hogan’s much publicized arrival, some crazy X-Division spots, the Knockouts, title wins, blood, sweat, and incredible action.
You can see the video below.
Funeral services for William Moody, better known in the world of professional wrestling as Paul Bearer and Percy Pringle, will be held this weekend.
Tonight there will be a public wake held at the Serenity Funeral Home in Mobile, Alabama, between 5PM and 8PM and his funeral will be held on Saturday morning at 10 at St. Vincent Catholic Church in Mobile.
His obituary was published on the Mobile Register at AL.com and it reads as follows:
“MOODY William “Bill” Moody, age 58, went to be with the Lord and his wife, on Tuesday, March 5, 2013. William loved his kids and grandkids more than life itself. His second love was his profession. Little did he know that his mortician background would lead him to one of the biggest characters in the history of Professional Wrestling, “Paul Bearer”. “Moody” graduated from McGill Institute in 1972; shortly after, he enlisted in the Air Force. He loved the City of Mobile and local sports. He could always be seen at the Mobile BayBears games and rarely missed a Mobile Mysticks Hockey game. His favorite saying when returning from a trip and landing in Mobile was, “Wheels down in Sweet Home Alabama”. He was preceded in death by his wife of 30 years, Dianna Moody, brother, Harry “Bubba”, and his grandson, Troy. He is survived by his children, Michael (Beth) Moody, Daniel (Jami) Moody, grandkids, Grace, Danielle, Hope, parents, Harry and Clarice Moody, sister, Joan (Art) Garrett, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held Friday, March 8, 2013 at Serenity Funeral Home from 5 to 8 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Vincent Catholic Church on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 10 am. Interment will follow in Serenity Memorial Gardens.”
Former DX and nWo member Sean Waltman announced on his Twitter that he was offered a WWE Legends contract.
“I’m proud to be able to announce that I just received the executed copy of my WWE Legends Contract moments ago. I’m humbled by this honor,” Waltman wrote.
A Legends contract allows WWE to produce merchandise and other stuff without tying the individual completely to WWE. Former WWE Superstars under this type of contract can appear for other shows and often make appearances for the company throughout the year.
Waltman worked for WWE from 1993 to 1996 under the name of 1-2-3 Kid before moving to WCW for two years. In 1998 he returned to WWE and stayed there till 2002. He also worked for TNA between 2002 and 2006.
WWE produced a fantastic 2 minute 43 second video as a tribute to the late Paul Bearer, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 58.
The video has comments from various WWE personalities including Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon who opens the video saying that Bearer was the most unique manager they ever had.
Various clips from Bearer’s career are shown, managing the likes of Rick Rude, Vader, Mankind, Kane, and of course the Undertaker.
The video ends with Undertaker saying his “rest in peace” line with a photo of Bearer closing with the words “In Memory of William Moody.”
It will most likely air on Smackdown tonight as well as RAW on Monday but you can check it out below.
Impact begins with its traditional recap of recent events. The first person we see in the back is Kurt Angle, and he looks pissed off. Angle tells us that he will reveal who the VP of Aces and Eights is later tonight, and warns that no one in TNA is safe.
The first person to the ring is Austin Aries. Aries tells us that he hasn’t been able to get in touch with his partner Bobby Roode lately, but that’s OK because he beat Hernandez last week anyway. Tonight Aries wants to call out TNA Champion, Jeff Hardy. Hardy comes to the ring and gets hit with a cheap shot from Aries before the match begins.
Match #1: Austin Aries versus Jeff Hardy.
Aries rolls Hardy into the ring and starts choking him with his shirt as the match begins. Aries hits Hardy with a punch and a kick and then takes him down with a snapmare. Aries hits Hardy with a knee drop and a kick. Hardy fights back and the two men exchange a series of strikes. Hardy gets the edge and Aries goes down. Hardy goes on the attack and Aries sends him flying out of the ring to the floor.
Commercial
Jeff hits Hardy with a couple punches and then a sunset flip. Aries rolls through the flip and hits Hardy with a dropkick. Aries hits Hardy with an elbow and then picks him up for a vertical suplex attempt; Hardy slips out of the suplex and rolls Aries up for a two count.
Aries and Hardy exchange strikes again and then Aries climbs to the second rope. Aries attempts a frog splash, but Hardy rolls him up for a two count. Hardy lands a kick and a jawbreaker to Aries and then whips him to the corner. Hardy hits Aries with a Stinger splash in the corner and then clotheslines him. Hardy climbs to the top and hits Aries with a frog splash for a two count.
Hardy knocks Aries to the floor and then hits him with a flying clothesline from the ring apron. Hardy climbs to the top again but Aries cuts him off. Aries tries to suplex Hardy into the ring. Hardy slips out and hits Aries with the Twist of Fate. Before Hardy can go for a cover, Matt Morgan runs in and hits Hardy with the Carbon Footprint, ending the match. Morgan gets ready to kick Hardy’s head into the steel ring post when Bully Ray comes out wielding a steel chain and saves Hardy.
Commercial
When we return, Matt Morgan promises to gut the entire TNA roster until Hogan gives him what he wants. Next we hear from Kurt Angle, who will be facing Wes Briscoe inside a steel cage this Sunday. Angle tells us “My name is Kurt Angle, and I hurt people.” He promises to teach Wes Briscoe what pain is at Lockdown.
Wes Briscoe makes his way to the ring next and he tells us that his dad and uncle were two of the all time greats, and that they told him Kurt Angle was the greatest of all. Wes agreed until he met Angle and discovered he was ‘as worthless as that sport you got a medal in that they just kicked out of the Olympics.’
Angle comes out to confront Briscoe and tells him he doesn’t want to wait for Lockdown and wants to kick Briscoe’s ass now. Angle takes Briscoe down and pummels him. Several members of TNA management break it up, including D Lo Brown.
Completely unexpectedly, D Lo kicks Angle right in the nuts and reveals himself as the Aces and Eights vice president. D Lo asks Sting and the rest of team TNA is they can trust each other the way the brothers in Aces and Eights trust each other.
Commercial
Match #2: Sting versus Devon, in the first of a series of three matches to determine who gets the man advantage in the TNA versus Aces and Eights match at Lockdown.
Sting starts off with an elbow and a punch, Devon responds with a spear. Devon and Sting exchange strikes until Devon rakes Sting’s eyes. Devon hits Sting with a neckbreaker and a headbutt and then climbs to the top. Devon goes for a flying headbutt but Sting rolls out of the way.
Sting hits Devon with a punch and a pair of clotheslines. Sting hits Devon with a Stinger splash in the corner and Devon rolls to the floor. Sting goes out after Devon and gets hit in the face with a beverage by a fan! Devon slams Sting into the steel post and busts him open. Devon rolls Sting into the ring and covers him for the win.
Commercial
When we return, Gail Kim angrily confronts TNA Knockouts champion Velvet Sky. Velvet responds by slapping Gail in the face and walking away.
Bruce Pritchard and Al Snow announce that Tazz will no longer be a Gut Check judge (because he turned traitor and joined Aces and Eights) and will be replaced by OVW trainer Danny Davis. The new gut check team gets off to a great start by eliminating the WINNER of the match last week. Lei’D Tapa will get a vote to see if she can get a TNA contract, and Ivelisse Velez gets eliminated.
Commercial
Match #3: Velvet Sky, Chavo and Hernandez versus Gail Kim, Kazarian and Daniels.
Kaz and Hernandez start the match off and lock up. Hernandez pushes Kazarian away easily. Kazarian retaliates with a couple punches and then tags in Daniels. Daniels lands a couple kicks and Hernandez responds with a forearm. Hernandez body slams Daniels and tags in Chavo.
Chavo dropkicks Daniels and tags Hernandez back in. Hernandez puts Daniels in a bearhug and then launches him through the air with an overhead throw. Hernandez goes for a suplex on Daniels but Kazarian saves his partner. Hernandez takes down Daniels and Kazarian at the same time with a double clothesline. Hernandez props up Daniels so Chavo can dropkick him.
Chavo hits Daniels with a hurricanrana but is then tripped by Gail Kim. Daniels lands a few punches to Chavo but is then tripped by Velvet Sky. Chavo lands several punches before being hit with a cheap shot by Kaz. Daniels tags Kaz in and Kaz hits a swinging neckbreaker.
Kaz tags in Daniels and stomps on Chavo in the heel corner. Gail and Kaz double team Chavo in the corner. Chavo tries to fight his way out but is knocked down again. Daniels hits Chavo with a slingshot elbow, and Kaz follows up with a slingshot leg drop. Chavo hits Daniels with a punch, a kick, and a dropkick.
Daniels responds with an elbow and a chin lock. Chavo fights his way out and tags in Velvet Sky. Velvet hits Gail with a pair of clotheslines and a hurricanrana. Velvet hits Gail with a spear and then all 6 competitors get involved. Eventually Daniels and Kaz get knocked out of the ring and Hernandez takes them both out with a huge suicide dive. Gail Kim takes advantage of the confusion and hits Velvet Sky with “Eat DeFeet” for the win.
Commercial
When we return we get an update on AJ Styles. Apparently he is still hairier than he used to be and still doesn’t want people from TNA following him around.
Match #4: Samoa Joe and Magnus versus Aces and Eights members Wes Briscoe and Doc.
This is the second of three matches to determine who gets the man advantage at Lockdown. Joe and Bischoff start things off, with Joe quickly twisting Bischoff’s arm. Bischoff reverses the hold, and then Joe re-reverses it. Joe lands several punches and Bischoff rakes his eyes.
Joe clotheslines Bischoff and tags in his former partner Magnus. Bischoff retreats to the floor and Doc hits Magnus with a cheap shot. Doc tags in Bischoff and Bischoff lands a couple double axe handle blows. Bischoff tags in Doc and Doc hits Magnus with a splash in the corner and then a few elbow strikes.
Magnus and Doc clothesline each other at the same time and both go down. Joe hits a clothesline as he and Magnus double team Daniels. Joe hits Doc with a backsplash and Bischoff makes the save. Bischoff hits Magnus with a kick and Magnus responds with a clothesline. Joe hits Doc with a kick to the head and Magnus lands a top rope elbow drop for the win. After the match the former partners high five.
Commercial
Sting is trying to figure out who he wants to send out for the final match tonight, The score is tied 1 to 1, with Sting losing his match and Joe and Magnus winning theirs. Eric Young wants to be in the last match to prove he’s not just a comedy act. Sting seems appreciative but picks James Storm for the last match.
Next up is the Gut Check segment. Lei D Tapa comes out and is greeted with a loud NO chant from the crowd. Danny Davis disagrees and votes yes. Bruce Pritchard agrees with the crowd and votes no. Lei D Tapa is given 30 seconds to convince Al Snow to break the tie and give her a contract.
After an uninspiring plea, Lei D Tapa is inexplicably given a contract. I agree she has potential, but the whole segment just seemed wrong. She was on the losing end of her match and did not look great, her promo was unimpressive, and the crowd was literally begging them to reject her by screaming NO!
Commercial
When we return, Robbie E talks to us about his match with his former Bro, Robbie T. Robbie E is mad that Robbie T tried to outshine him and wants teach him a lesson.
Match #5: Mr. Anderson versus James Storm.
Storm gets things started with a headlock, a shoulder block, and a hip toss. Anderson tries to break Storm’s momentum with an eye rake. Anderson takes Storm down with a clothesline, lands a couple strikes, and then whips Storm hard into the corner. The two men exchange a series of strikes for a long time until Storm is able to take Anderson down with a bulldog.
Anderson follows up with a neckbreaker and a big boot. Anderson tries a swinging neckbreaker, but Storm blocks it and hits Closing Time. Aces and Eights walk out to ringside and start watching the match. Team TNA comes out to confront Aces and Eights. Back in the ring, Anderson takes advantage of the confusion and hits Storm with the mic check for the win. Aces and Eights will have the man advantage against Team TNA at Lockdown.
Commercial
When we return, Bully Ray and his wife Brooke Hogan make their way to the ring for a face to face meeting with Jeff Hardy. Hardy comes out next and a love-fest ensues. Bully Ray talks about all the history they have made together and how proud he is that Jeff was able to conquer his personal demons.
Hardy is also proud of Bully Ray. They shouldn’t even have a match, they should just hug. In case you haven’t noticed, hugging is so ‘over’ with wrestling fans that sometimes in the WWE they actually chant “hug it out!” I don’t understand the world anymore.
Bully Ray says that while he’s proud of the history he and Hardy have made, he can’t really be proud of himself until he beats Jeff Hardy for the TNA title. Hulk Hogan comes out in crutches and says may the best man win. Just then, Aces and Eights come out to the ring and attack Hardy and Bully Ray. Team TNA comes out to help Hardy and Bully. The two sides continue to fight it out as Impact goes off the air.
Larry Richert from CBS Pittsburgh sat down with Bruno Sammartino and Triple H for an exclusive interview regarding the upcoming WWE Hall of Fame ceremony and Bruno’s induction into the International Sports Hall of Fame over the past weekend.
Triple H – who was always addressed by his real name Paul during the interview – said the journey to get Bruno on board is a long story but he said to was destiny as corny as it might sound.
When Madison Square Garden was chosen as the location for the Hall of Fame, HHH said it was the perfect storybook ending for Bruno to be inducted in the house that he built.
You can see the 15 minute interview below.
Former WWE and UFC champion Brock Lesnar will be on Monday Night RAW this coming week to respond to Triple H’s challenge for a match at WrestleMania 29.
Lesnar is also advertised for the March 18 RAW in Pittsburgh and the April 1 RAW in Washington, missing only the March 25 RAW in the build up to WrestleMania.
Brock Lesnar is not the only one doing the build up to RAW on a sort of part-time basis as The Rock is also having a similar schedule. The Rock is not being advertised for the March 11 and 18 RAW shows but will be at the March 25 RAW, Smackdown the next day in Hershey and then on the April 1 show. Rock is also advertised for the April 8 RAW, the day after WrestleMania.
TMZ.COM reported that William Moody, the man who portrayed the character of Paul Bearer and who passed away on Tuesday night, was diagnosed with a blood clot just days before his death.
The news came from a representative of the Cauliflower Alley Club, who told TMZ that Moody was admitted to a hospital on Sunday after he appeared at an event in a wheelchair.
The event was the annual Gulf Coast Wrestlers Reunion, which is held every year in Mobile, Alabama, and Moody was a member of the Board of Directors.
There was no official cause of death released yet.
TNA Wrestling issued a statement on the death of William Moody on its website at IMPACTWrestling.com. Moody only worked with TNA between 2002 and 2003 under the name Percy Pringle III.
“TNA joins the entire wresting world in mourning the passing of Bill Moody – better known as Paul Bearer in WWE as the manager of The Undertaker, and Percy Pringle during his time with TNA,” the statement reads. “Throughout his career, Moody was one of the most respected veterans in professional wrestling. He will be missed by millions of fans around the world, as well as his friends that worked with him in both WWE and TNA.”
Several TNA Superstars including President Dixie Carter wrote messages about Moody on their Twitter after his death.
Wrestling fans and former colleagues of Paul Bearer mourned his death on Twitter, making the hashtag #RIPPaulBearer trending at the top worldwide.
“Goodbye to a good friend, Paul Bearer. Say hi to Owen for me,” wrote Bret Hart.
“Thank you for the memories Paul! God Bless,” added Ted DiBiase.
TNA President Dixie Carter, who never worked with Bearer in TNA when he was there between 2002 and 2003 said that he was a great performer in this industry. “Our condolences go out to the many family, friends and fans of William Moody,” she wrote on Twitter.
Hulk Hogan, who worked with Bearer during the initial title run for the Undertaker, said that he was very sad about hearing of the death of Bearer. “He was a great person and one of the original boys, he was what made wrestling great much love much respect HH.”
Jerry “The King” Lawler, having a fight with death just late last year, posted a photo of himself with Bearer which was taken just 10 days ago. “we lost a dear friend today..you will be missed by many, Paul Bearer.”
Stephanie McMahon simply wrote the hashtag while her husband Triple H wrote, “Rest in peace, Paul Bearer. You will never be forgotten. There will never be another.”
“I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of Paul Bearer. Our prayers go out to him and his family. God Bless!!” said Shawn Michaels.
Tons of other Superstars and friends posted comments about the former manager of the Undertaker and Kane which are simply impossible to retweet here.
WWE.COM broke the news that William Moody, better known as Paul Bearer, passed away yesterday at the age of 58.
“WWE is saddened to learn of the passing of William Moody, aka Paul Bearer. Moody made his WWE debut in 1991 as the manager of The Undertaker and went on to become a memorable part of WWE over the course of the next 20 years. Our deepest condolences go out to Moody’s family, friends and fans,” read the report on the official WWE website.
Moody first showed up in WWE in February 1991 following the debut of the Undertaker a few months before at the Survivor Series and stayed on TV regularly involved in feuds till 1999 when the Undertaker got injured.
A year later, Bearer returned on TV to manage Kane and then moved to a road agent role backstage until his contract expired in 2002
In 2003, Bearer returned, signing a three year deal with the WWE and at WrestleMania XX came out with the Undertaker. His feuds continued and ultimately he was buried alive by the Undertaker during the Great American Bash when he poured concrete in a crypt Bearer was in.
After once again being let go in 2005, he made a few appearances in 2010, teaming up with the Undertaker and also with Kane in his feud with Edge. That storyline ended when Kane pushed the real Paul Bearer – after several impostors by Edge – off some leaders onto a concrete floor, writing him off WWE TV. In 2012 he returned briefly and was kidnapped by Randy Orton and stuck in a storage freezer.
