Former WWE Divas champion Eve Torres won the NBC reality competition Stars Earn Stripes which aired its season finale yesterday.
Eve was almost out in the first sudden death mission of the episode with her gun suffering a jam and two shots behind celeb Nick Lachey. Eventually Eve managed to unjam her gun and avoided last place in that round.
In the second mission, she was chosen by Dean Cain – who won the first mission – to be her tag team partner which they also won by a couple of seconds agains the team of Picabo Street and Todd Palin.
In the last mission, Harbor Demolition, Torres and her op, Army Green Beret Grady Powell, completed their mission in 5 minutes 10 seconds.
Torres was constantly congratulated during her time on the show for her excellent shooting capabilities with any type of gun and Dean Cain challenged anyone to get into a gun fight competition with her!
Eve won a total of $150,000 for the USO and her op won a Ford F-150 for winning the competition with her.
You can see the full final episode of the show below.
The best way to start a new “season” of Monday Night Raw is to have it emanate from your favourite American city – which is also the hometown of WWE Champion C.M. Punk – Chicago Illinois.
In the follow up to last week, and the continuing build to the Night Of Champions pay-per-view, what will go down in the “Second City?”
Will John Cena gain any revenge for Punk’s assault on Jerry “The King” Lawler and at the same time, momentum going into their WWE Championship match at Night Of Champions? Where is Wade Barrett? Perhaps his comeback?
Who will be named the #1 Contender’s to the WWE Tag-Team Championship? That title picture is about as interesting as NASCAR’S “Race To The Chase.” (Trust me, that’s an awesome comparison!)
How will Raw General Manager A.J. Lee run the show? What will happen in the next installment of “Anger Management?” (Hopefully, another superb Kane movie reference/promo!)
And finally, the reaction for WWE Champion and hometown hero C.M. Punk will be….
Only one way to find out, and that is to read on!
Monday Night Raw Report for September 3rd, 2012 – “Respect – Part 2”
Introduction Segment: Recap & Welcoming
A video reminding us of last week’s events with Jerry “The King” Lawler and WWE Champion C.M. Punk is played. Michael Cole greets us to Raw in the Allstate, albeit beside an empty chair. That is because footage plays of WWE Champion C.M. Punk engaging in a brawl with Jerry Lawler backstage, and convincingly beating him down while referees struggle to pull him off. (Good, this should hopefully help C.M. keep his heel heat.)
The regular Raw video now plays, but no pyro. Instead, Justin Roberts introduces the World Heavyweight Champion, Sheamus.
Segment #1: Arena Promo
The World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus puts over Chi-town as a “party-town” but, not for one person – Alberto Del Rio. However, before he can continue to tell us what he is going to do to his challenger, WWE Champion and Chicago native C.M. Punk interrupts. (Note: Heel heat NOT kept, fans still love him – big time!)
Punk embraces and scans the arena of the “C.M. Punk” chants, then orders Sheamus not to talk to “his” hometown. This is because of the rapport, which C.M. Punk has by being from there, and Sheamus is not.
Punk says that while the cameras caught him assaulting Lawler, they did not show Jerry attacking C.M. first. The “Second City Saint” says he was teaching Lawler a lesson for disrespecting him during the Raw 1000 episode, by stating Punk has turned his back on the WWE Universe. So, to foil that accusation, Punk asks his fans if they he has turned his back on them – emphatic cheers ring out, much to the WWE Champion’s pleasure.
C.M. says that since John Cena helped Jerry Lawler, bottom line is that he agreed with Lawler and disrespected the WWE Champion for 288 days, and therefore, has turned his back on the WWE Universe.
Sheamus cuts Punk off now, and challenges Punk to a confrontation in the ring, citing that he too was disrespected by Punk. “The Straight-Edge” Superstar is not going to oblige, since he feels that Sheamus is the “at best, the second-best in the world, and comes with that a pecking order, and in that pecking order, you’re right behind me, so shut your mouth!”
Before the verbal banter can go on, Raw General Manager A.J. Lee enters on to the stage. She decides to book two matches – Alberto Del Rio facing John Cena, and of course stemming from this promo, Champion taking on Champion – World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus squaring off with WWE Champion C.M. Punk.
The Heavyweight Champions stare at each other, happily, as A.J. skips around the ring and to the back.
Up next, Randy Orton takes on Dolph Ziggler, yet again.
Commercials.
Match #1: Single – “Mr. Money In The Bank” & “The Showoff” Dolph Ziggler (with Vickie Guerrero) VS. “The Viper” Randy Orton
(During Dolph’s entrance, they show the result from Friday Night Smackdown!, where Orton defeated Ziggler via an R.K.O., so Dolph wants/gets a return match.) Lockup and a side headlock from Ziggler, plus a high picture-perfect dropkick. Dolph shoots Randy off the ropes, but gets shoulder blocked twice and dropkicked once. Orton now in control, working over Dolph.
Springboard suplex by Orton for a two-count, and Dolph starts to comeback now with quick fierce corner punches. Randy comes out of the corner with a short-clothesline, then throws Dolph out of the ring and chucks him into the barricade, twice!
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Back live, “The Viper” still dominating over Ziggler with 10-punches in the corner, but Dolph counters with a kick-to-the-knee and neckbreaker. He too tosses Randy into the outside wall harshly, but rolls him into the ring for a very close near-fall!
High jumping elbow by Dolph, and after another two-count, he locks in a grounding rear chinlock. He uses his athletic prowess to bridge the chinlock, “showing off!” Dolph misses another high jumping elbow, allowing Orton to attempt a comeback, but it is short-lived courtesy of a jumping-running-clothesline by Ziggler for a two-count!
Dolph ascends the top rope, but Randy crotches him on the turnbuckle. Uppercut by Orton and a headbutt. A HUGE top-rope superplex brings both crashing to the mat, and Orton makes the cover. 1 – 2 – Dolph kicks out! (Really close!) Momentum is being built from Orton with clotheslines and a powerslam off an Irish Whip! Orton getting into the zone with a backbreaker, but still only for 2!
Orton turns around into a jumping DDT from Dolph – 1 – 2 – Randy kicks out! Ziggler is stalking but misses a Fameasser, and gets driven down with a Springboard DDT instead! Orton almost gets the R.K.O., but Ziggler blocks it. He runs at Randy in the corner, who leaps over him with a roll-up, but Dolph reverses it into one of his own, complete with holding the tights to get the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: “Mr. Money In The Bank” & “The Showoff” Dolph Ziggler (with Vickie Guerrero)
As Dolph and Vickie vacate quickly, Intercontinental Champion The Miz walks out (decked in suit) and joins Cole on commentary – as he says, “Monday Night just got AWESOME!”
Commercials.
Segment #2: Video Promo
It continues…apparently still not “healed,” Kane & Daniel Bryan return to Anger Management classes. This week, the Doctor Shelby has asked his patients to create an “Anger Collage.” Daniel talks about his first, which has the word “no” written all over it. He explains that when he says “yes,” the people respond with “yes,” when he says “no,” the people still scream “yes” louder. Bryan can’t bear it anymore. The doctor is pleased with Bryan.
Kane is next, and his paper is blank. Shelby speculates that is how he feels inside. To prove it, Kane walks over to a garbage can and lights it up, just like his pyro in the turnbuckles. Daniel calls The Big Red Machine a “teacher’s pet,” and Dr. Shelby will talk about their families next time. (This should be good!)
Following the break, Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara will team up again.
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Match #2: Tag-Team – Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara VS. Tensai and Cody Rhodes
Rhodes and Cara start out, with Cody kicking him down, until Sin comes back with a springboard back elbow. Rhodes contemplates in his corner to go for a break.
Commercials.
Back live, Tensai is now in the ring and dominating over Cara. Rhodes tags in again and kicks away at the masked wrestler in the corner. He covers but for only a one-count. Cody kneels on Sin’s back and pulls him up into a bow-like submission. Rhodes pulls on Cara’s mask and then drops an elbow. Tensai back in, and he gives Sin a clothesline and uppercut. Tensai applies pressure on Cara’s shoulder with his hands, but soon receives a kick out of the corner and an enziguri.
Rhodes gets another tag, but so does Rey. He hits a headscissors and a diving seated-senton from the top-rope! Tensai breaks up a later pin, but Rey escapes a Crucifix move, then hits the 619, but gets slammed with a front-suplex by Cody. 1 – 2 – Mysterio kicks out! Rey-Rey counters a powerbomb with a hurricanrana, setting Cody to get hit with the 619 by Mysterio and a top-rope splash by Cara for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winners via Pinfall: Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara
Segment #3: Video Promo
“Anger Management” is still on, with Dr. Shelby asking the participants to form a “circle of trust.” He wants Kane & Daniel to demonstrate, with Bryan falling into Kane’s arms, trusting Kane to catch him. Daniel gives in and trusts Kane, and properly falls into Kane’s body. Dr. Shelby pushes it a step farther, asking patient Harold to do the same. He also falls, but not into Kane & Bryan, as their arms weren’t waiting. He hits the floor, and Kane and Daniel realize neither was planning on catching Harold, so now they decide that they understand each other.
Match #3: Single – “Champion VS. Champion” – World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus VS. WWE Champion C.M. Punk
(WHY IS THIS NOT THE MAIN EVENT!!!!?????!!!) Sheamus is out first, as per usual, but C.M. Punk walks out in the same t-shirt and jeans from the beginning of the show. Punk gets the microphone and agrees with me. He says that the Chicago crowd understands that a “Champion VS. Champion” match should basically be the main event of WrestleMania, let alone Raw.
So, citing more disrespect at shelling out the WWE Champion at the 8:00 hour and “exploiting” his hometown status, C.M. Punk decides to use what today is – Labour Day. He claims that he is going to make like a lot of people and take the day off work.
He walks to the backstage area, where Raw General Manager A.J. finds him. She wonders what’s going on and begs him to not leave, but Punk uses one of his “personal days” in his contract and gets in his car and leaves! Raw announcer Matt Striker asks the General Manager what she will do, and she tells him to inform Sheamus to stay in the ring and she will find an opponent.
Winner: No Contest due to Walkout
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Match #4: World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus VS. “The All-American-American” Jack Swagger
Elbow-collar tie-up and Swagger shoves Sheamus into the corner. He waistlocks the Champion and whips him off the ropes, but Sheamus comes back with a shoulder block. Sheamus soon climbs the top rope and dives off with a shoulder tackle. Jack ducks a clothesline and cuts off Sheamus at the knee with a chop block. Sheamus later kicks out of a Swaggerbomb, kicks Swagger, and clamps on a Texas Cloverleaf Submission for the tap-out!
Winner via Submission: World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus
Post-match, Alberto Del Rio (who was on commentary, but said nothing), attacks Sheamus from behind with Ricardo Rodriguez. Sheamus manages to clean house and take down Del Rio with White Noise, but nails Ricardo with the Brogue Kick instead of Alberto. The champion and his challenger stare down to amp up their pay-per-view bout.
Commercials.
Match #5: Single – Eve Torres VS. Kaitlyn
(Note: Divas Champion Layla is on commentary). Lock up and waistlocks by the women. Kaitlyn with a running crossbody for a 1, then grabs Eve in a side headlock. Hip-toss from Kaitlyn and the two ensue in a catfight on the canvas. After they get up, Eve and Kaitlyn slap hands in sportsmanship, then tangle in some chain wrestling. (What a concept!). Kaitlyn botches another crossbody, appearing injured, so Eve gives her some time, then kicks her in the gut and finishes her off with a Tornado Neckbreaker!
Winner via Pinfall: Eve
Post-match, Eve helps Kaitlyn up and then pretty much forces Divas Champion Layla to shake her hand.
Segment #4: Backstage Promo
Disheartened from his latest loss, Jack Swagger is walking in the hallways and declares to G.M. A.J. that he is leaving and taking some extended time off. She tries to convince him otherwise, using recent superstars Brock Lesnar, Chris Jericho, and now WWE Champion C.M. Punk, as examples of wrestlers that have left her. This was to no avail, as Jack simply says “sorry” and walks off.
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Segment #5: Video Promo
A third-round of “Anger Management” is up, and it appears to be the final one. Dr. Shelby congratulates all the patients in completing, then invites Daniel Bryan to close the sessions with comments.
Bryan thanks the doctor and realizes that he *had* an anger problem, but that is behind him. In fact, Daniel is happy to even give Kane a SummerSlam rematch. Kane stands up and also thanks Bryan, telling him that he accepts the challenge and will try not to destroy him.
Bryan disputes this, and they get into a heated discussion, with all the patients leaving and Kane grabbing Daniel’s throat. Dr. Shelby now flips out, screaming at the two that they have learned nothing!
Back in the arena, Michael Cole announces that the fans can decide Kane & Bryan’s outcome – have a match, be a tag-team, or something that would go over real well, “hug it out!”
In the locker room, Matt Striker tries to interview Alberto Del Rio about the condition of Ricardo Rodriguez, but Harvard Lawyer David Otunga walks out and declares that his client has “no comment.”
Commercials.
Match #6: Single – Jinder Mahal VS. Ryback
Ryback immediately pushes Mahal into the corner, but Jinder comes back and holds his arm in a wristlock. Ryback tosses Jinder off, but Mahal again returns, trying to hammer away. He even boots him and dives off the top with a shoulder tackle! Soon though, Mahal gets caught in a scoop slam and back body drop. Ryback picks him up and powerbombs Jinder, amping up the crowd to “feed him more!” Clothesline and marching Samoan drop polish this one off!
Winner via Pinfall: Ryback
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Segment #6: Backstage Promo
Matt Striker knocks on General Manager A.J. Lee’s door, inquiring about how she is fixing Raw tonight, since it is falling apart. She informs Striker to inform Cena & Del Rio that their match will be “falls count anywhere!”
Segment #7: Arena Promo
The results are in – it is time to “hug it out!” Neither can believe it (I can – it’s called “rigged!”), and both stall for an amount of time, with the crowd egging them on.
Kane & Bryan slowly approach, but Daniel won’t, emphatically saying “no, no, no!” Another attempt is made, and Bryan chest-bumps Kane, however referee Mike Chioda enforces the “hugging” aspect.
Bryan eventually hugs, but Kane did not, which makes Daniel peeved. Kane does soon hug Daniel, but Bryan didn’t put his arms around him, so this continues until it is full-on togetherness!
Finally, they both do a complete hug and a handshake, taboot!
A back and forth with should-slapping and shoving then ensues, which eventually turns into an all-out brawl in and out of the ring. (surprise!)
A chair makes an appearance via Kane, hits Bryan in the gut with it and then chokeslams him. He wraps the chair around Daniel’s neck and climbs the top rope to dive off, but referees, and Daniel with chair, stop him. Bryan runs away to the back, as Kane looks frustrated again.
Commercials.
Match #7: Single for the United States Championship – Santino Marella (Challenger) VS. Antonio Cesaro (Champion) (with Aksana)
They lock hands and then Santino slaps Cesaro’s face. He quickly takes him down with a hop-toss and headbutt. He goes for the Cobra shot, but it stalls and Antonio gains control. Huge gutwrench suplex from Antonio and clothesline. Cesaro hits “The Neutralizer” (Cradle Faceplant) to retain his U.S. Title.
Winner via Pinfall and STILL United States Champion: Antonio Cesaro (with Aksana)
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Match #8: Single – “Long Island Iced-Z” Zack Ryder VS. “The One-Man Band” Heath Slater
Slater ducks a punch and grabs Ryder in a waistlock and side headlock. He jumps off the ropes with a forearm but gets slammed down with a flapjack. Slater quickly gets back with a punch and stomps. Heath with a neckbreaker for a two-count, then pounds away. He jives around and then drops a knee on Zack’s face. He punches away in the corner, but ends up getting double-knees and a middle-rope dropkick. Ryder measures him and nails the Broski Boot, but gets thrown off a RoughRyder attempt. Ryder counters another move into a face-slam and then hits the RoughRyder for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall: “The Long Island Iced-Z” Zack Ryder
Post-match, Vickie Guerrero walks out and demands to deal with personal issues she has with Raw General Manager A.J. She will not leave the ring until said issues are dealt with. Guerrero orders a chair in the ring and takes a seat.
Commercials.
Segment #8: Arena Promo
Vickie is still in the ring, then airs the catfight she had with A.J. from last week. Guerrero then starts talking to “A.J.,” a.k.a the empty chair. The real A.J. walks out and puts and confronts Vickie. She says that her actions as of late have been deemed “inappropriate and juvenile” by the WWE Board Of Directors. She has orders not to put her hands on anyone anymore and apologize.
She does so, then Vickie questions if she is apologizing to her or her inept leadership skills. Guerrero demands an apology straight-up. A.J. just stares, then gives her the “I’m sorry.” Guerrero doesn’t go for it, calling the apology “pathetic.”
A.J. apologizes again, then Vickie slaps her hard. Lee restrains herself from firing back, so Guerrero provokes her again and slaps er again. She laughs her way up the aisle and skips, just like A.J.
A.J. has a complete meltdown, hurling the chair out of the ring and screaming, while falling to her knees.
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Match #9: Single (Falls Count Anywhere) – John Cena VS. Alberto Del Rio
The combatants make their entrance, and David Otunga has announced via “Tout” that his client (Rodriguez) will be taking legal action against Sheamus. A break now happens.
Commercials.
Back live, the bout is well underway, with Alberto Del Rio turning John Cena around with a tilt-a=whirl backbreaker. Cena breaks out of a rear chinlock and they trade punches back and forth. Cena kicks Del Rio and runs off, but both take each other down with a double-clothesline. Alberto ducks another shot and brings Cena down with knee-backbreaker.
Cena manages to cut-off a flying Del Rio with a dropkick, then gets his usual momentum with his usual moves. 5 Knuckle Shuffle, but Alberto wiggles out of an Attitude Adjustment try. He throws Cena into the steel steps then jumps and double-stomps his chest Cena crashes into the barricade, courtesy of Del Rio, who is soon shoved into the barricade himself. 1 – 2 – Del Rio kicks out! Cena begins to take apart the commentator’s table, but turns into a running enziguri from Del Rio. 1 – 2 – Cena kicks out! Another A.A. is tried, but Del Rio gets out again and runs Cena into the ringpost.
Del Rio picks up a chair and takes a swing. Unfortunately for him, he misses and smashes the ringpost. Cena tosses Del Rio over the barricade, then brings the steps closer to the announce table. Cena now carries Del Rio on his shoulders, walks up the steps, but ends up collapsing the in the table with Del Rio, who fought out of the A.A. and drove him through with a backdrop. 1 – 2 – kickout by Cena!
As Alberto is kicking away at Cena in the ring, he has a microphone and proclaims that Cena, the WWE roster, and Chicago is beneath him. (Nice touch!) He then threatens that he will break Cena’s arm, but of course, Cena rolls through and manages to lock in the STF. Del Rio manages to escape by smashing the microphone on Cena’s head (again, nice touch!), but Cena ducks and Alberto runs through the ropes.
Cena follows to the outside, but gets suplexed on the steel ramp. 1 – 2 – Cena kicks out! As they fight near Del Rio’s ride, all I can think is “bye-bye car!” Cena looks at the car, then the camera, thinking exactly what I was. He picks up a speaker but can’t use it because Del Rio kicks him. They now brawl into and all around the backstage area.
Cena finally hits the A.A. on Del Rio, but before he can cover, a kick from behind by WWE Champion C.M. Punk knocks him out! Punk then puts Alberto on top of Cena for the victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Alberto Del Rio
Post-match, C.M. drops Cena on a car via the Go To Sleep. The WWE Champion then squats over Cena, getting in his face and spitting out the word “respect.”
C.M. Punk gets in the back seat, and holds the Championship high, with the car driving off. The driver pokes his head out looking over Cena, and to a sincerely nice twist (and shocked crowd reaction), the man is revealed to be….Paul Heyman!
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp
This was a much, much better edition! A few great wrestling matches (even the Divas!) and definitely awesome promos and continuity of the angles. Onto the analysis:
Excellence: All the promos, especially of course WWE Champion C.M. Punk. Really love that he continues (and the writers) play up the “respect” for the Champion and Championship angle, especially tonight with him walking out on his mid-card match, that SHOULD’VE been main-event. Again, this does two things: #1 – truly puts over WWE Champion C.M. Punk and his desire/respect for this business, and #2: puts over the WWE Championship as being the most important prize in this business.
Great match between Ziggler and Orton, and YES, YES, YES, for Ziggler actually winning it! He needs to continue to win so he can be a credible threat when he actually does cash in his Money In The Bank contract for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Again, awesome “Anger Management” videos and really showed both the range and chemistry Daniel Bryan & Kane have together. Although I felt the end result (“hugging it out” was too long), they should still work well and look forward to their continuing feud.
As mentioned above, some actually decent wrestling from Kaitlyn & Eve – way to go women!
Liked Swagger walking out too – I think he does need to be restarted and having him realize that he is better than this, makes him want to come back more hungry, and hopefully dominant again.
The main-event. Was a very cool match, since when was the last time we saw a *true* Falls-Count-Anywhere battle?
And of course, the divulging of an alliance between WWE Champion C.M. Punk & Paul Heyman. (truly didn’t see that coming!) These two men know the business like the back of their hands, how to work the crowd/cut promos, how to make it real, and will make a new great angle together. This will be EXCELLENT!
Bogus: Not caring for the re-hashed Cody & mask storyline, especially since it was only a year ago!
While a great wrestler and great on the mike, Intercontinental Champion The Miz was really not that great on commentary. He was too quite at times, and way too loud at others, often distracting me from the actual match in the ring, especially his verbal spout with Divas Champion Layla during Kaitlyn/Eve.
Where was any of the actual tag-teams and most importantly, Tag-Team Champions Kofi Kingston & R-Truth?
Why all of a sudden is Ricardo taking action *now* against Sheamus for Brogue Kicking him? He’s taken the move plenty of times before! (This doesn’t really make sense).
Not really sure right now about the whole A.J. meltdown – I wish they hadn’t gone this route, I was hoping they would’ve kept her straight down the middle and a fair/justifying General Manager.
All in an all, an excellent episode of Monday Night Raw, and I am truly giddy/can’t wait to find out the relationship between WWE Champ C.M. Punk and Paul Heyman! Until next week, as always, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!
The three hour Monday Night RAW tonight will be coming to you live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois, which means there will be some hardcore pops for home town boy and WWE champion CM Punk.
This is the arena where Punk won the title from John Cena in last year’s Money In The Bank pay-per-view before ‘quitting’ the company with the title. The pop and support Punk got that particular Sunday night has to be one of the most hair-raising moments for fans in the arena.
“Allstate Arena tonight for #RAW. Chicago is always an interesting environment. Its one that u wont wanna miss,” John Cena tweeted earlier today.
NBC will be airing the two hour season finale of Stars Earn Stripes tonight which features WWE Diva Eve Torres.
Torres is one of the five remaining contestants on the show along with Dean Cain, Nick Lachey, Picabo Street, and Todd Palin. Previous episodes saw the elimination of Dolvett Quince, Laila Ali, and Terry Crews.
Tonight’s season finale is titled ‘Stolen Intelligence,’ and will see the celebs and their tag team partners execute a ship-board mission in a battle to win the show and money for their charity. Torres is playing for the USO, a military organization that WWE works closely with.
Torres has done really good on the show and last week was praised by General Wesley Clark for her amazing shooting capabilities. She is paired up with a former Army Green Beret Grady Powell, and the two have some good chemistry going on with the hosts pointing out last week that they look like a couple!
Several readers sent in word that DirecTV is running a special for UFC pay-per-views where you can purchase six shows for the price of five.
Starting with UFC 152 and ending with UFC 157, the offer will be available till September 22 and to receive the offer, a DirecTV subscription is required with all DirecTV receivers have to be continuously connected to the same land-based phone line.
TNA President Dixie Carter made a video appearance yesterday at the TNA London Fan Party and announced that there will be a new TNA show just for the United Kingdom.
Carter said that the show, called Bootcamp, will start in December of this year and will air on Challenge TV, the home of TNA television in the UK.
The show will be similar to what Tough Enough is for WWE, with British wrestlers wrestling their way to win a TNA contract.
PWInsider.com is reporting that WWE Diva Cameron, one half of the dance team for Brodus Clay, has been suspended for failing to notify WWE about her arrest on August 24.
It looks like WWE officials learned about her arrest from the Internet and she was already on the way to Australia with the rest of the RAW brand when they realized she had failed to mention it. Eventually the 24 year old was pulled out and did not work all the dates.
There’s no confirmation on how long her suspension will last or if it will lead to a termination. Other WWE Superstars and Divas were busted for DUIs in the past and kept their jobs but they all notified their superiors about the arrest.
Cameron – real name Ariane Andrew – listed Wells Fargo as her employer instead of WWE in the arrest report.
British tabloid newspaper The Sun has a story about Dwayne Johnson stopping two hooded burglars as they tried to steal equipment from the set of his latest movie Fast and the Furious 6 in England.
Apparently according to The Sun, the former WWE champion charged at the two while he was wearing his Diplomatic Security Service agent gear. He was in the middle of a scene when he noticed the burglary was about to happen.
“Now the crew are joking that they should drop security and just have The Rock do it,” said a source from the set of the movie.
You can see a photo of The Rock decked in his DSS gear from the set below.
Hulk Hogan opened his Hogan’s Beach Shop in Clearwater, Florida, this weekend, adding another shop to the Clearwater Pelican Walk Plaza.
The shop will be selling tons of Hulk Hogan merchandise with wrestlers scheduled to appear for autograph signings. Hogan will be helped by his wife Jennifer and daughter Brooke to run the shop along with his longtime friend and manager Jimmy Hart.
Pelican Walk Plaza property manager Mike Buonos hopes that with Hogan’s arrival, the area will see an increase of traffic.
“It’s going to increase tourist traffic, because he himself is a tourist attraction,” Buonos says. “People love Hulk Hogan.”
You can see some photos from the opening day of Hogan’s Beach Shop below.
The WWE Divas title will be defended at the Night of Champions pay-per-view this month as Kaitlyn will get a shot at the title currently being held by Layla.
The Divas title hasn’t been defended on pay-per-view since the No Way Out show in mid June. At the Money In The Bank, the champ was involved in a six tag Divas match while at SummerSlam there was no Divas match at all.
This is the third title match announced for Night Of Champions, with Sheamus vs Alberto Del Rio for the World title, and CM Punk vs John Cena for the WWE title, being previously announced.
The upcoming IMPACT episode will end the Bound For Glory Series, with the final four being revealed after their respective matches.
James Storm has already qualified with a total of 73 points doing all his required 11 matches. Others in contention are Samoa Joe with 68, RVD and Bully Ray with 55 each, and Jeff Hardy with 49 points. AJ Styles has 50 points and is done with his 11 matches.
Kurt Angle came up short with only 48 points after losing to Jeff Hardy last week on IMPACT and he has done all his 11 matches so there’s no way for him to qualify.
WWE Diva Rosa Mendes is back on the road with WWE, flying out to Australia with the RAW brand after some time off following a domestic violence incident with former WWE Superstar and boyfriend Jackson Andrews.
Earlier last month, Mendes was questioned by police as soon as she landed in San Antonio for RAW after she was spotted in a bathroom crying and pleading for help.
The police report said that Mendes – real name Milena Roucka – was showing signs of domestic abuse and she said her boyfriend was the one who inflicted the damage. The two lived together in Las Vegas.
Mendes was not used for RAW that week and WWE provided her with assistance as Epico and Primo toured without their valet for the rest of the month.
WWE stock is enjoying a new surge after analyst Richard Ingrassia of Roth Capital Partners lifted his rating from Neutral to Buy and price target saying there appears to be increasing fan interest.
Ingrassia said that pay-per-view buy rates for non-WrestleMania events increased 37 percent in the second quarter, the first meaningful improvement in the figure in four years. He also cited the move to three hours on RAW and the new TV show for ION that will increase WWE’s exposure to television viewers.
He credited WWE’s use of social media for marketing as helping to drive increased interest in all of its revenue categories as well as the change in direction for WWE Studios, with the company now moving away from self-produced films.
Stocks are currently trading at 8.80 at time of this writing, up 3.17% over yesterday’s closing which also had a significant increase over Wednesday.
This week’s broadcast of Impact Wrestling begins with a recap of the huge brawl between the wrestlers of TNA and the gang of thugs known as Aces and Eights that ended last week’s show.
We go to the Impact Zone live and the first person to the ring is the TNA heavyweight champion and self professed greatest man that ever lived, Austin Aries. Aries has his right arm taped up after being attacked last week by Aces and Eights, and he gives them credit for doing it. Aries also tells us that while he may not be medically cleared to wrestle, he can still fight, and he wants to fight whoever is behind Aces and Eights tonight.
Hogan and Sting come out carrying baseball bats and they tell Aries they are here to support him. Hogan also says he’s back now and he’s ready for a bloodbath with Aces and Eights. Aces and Eights interrupt them on the big screen and tells Hogan and Aries that they will let them know what Aces and Eights are all about, but when they choose, and on their terms.
Commercial
When we return, ODB is still trying to get in touch with her husband, Eric Young. She sent Eric out for some chicken and beer weeks ago and he still hasn’t come back. I think her fish are still jumping to, she said they were last week.
Match #1: RVD versus James Storm.
The two men lock up and RVD quickly gets behind Storm and locks up his waist. Storm lands an elbow to escape and then puts RVD in a headlock. RVD tries to get out of the headlock and repeatedly fails until he finally drops Storm with a suplex. The two men get back to their feet and Storm re-applies the headlock.
Van Dam frees himself by whipping Storm into the ropes and Storm responds with a shoulder block. Storm whips RVD to the ropes and charges, but RVD drops into a split to avoid him. RVD gets to his feet and Storm drops him with a forearm shot. Storm and RVD exchange a series of strikes in the corner. RVD backdrops Storm to the edge of the ring and then knocks him to the floor with a kick to the head. RVD slingshots himself out of the ring and onto Storm, flattening him.
Commercial
When we return Storm is in control and going for a cover, but Van Dam kicks out. Storm goes for a kick but RVD catches it and drops Storm with a spinning back kick. Van Dam hits Storm with Rolling Thunder and both men are down. They both get to their feet. Storm lands a kick and then follows up with a jumping DDT for a two count.
Storm picks RVD up for “Eye of the Storm” (A spinning crucifix toss) and RVD hits the mat hard. It wasn’t clear to me if Storm dropped him or RVD slipped out, but Van Dam hit hard and Storm gets a two count. RVD hits Storm with a big monkey flip, and then tries to follow up with another monkey flip but Storm blocks it. Storm lands a big kick to the head and pins RVD for the win! Storm has now clinched a spot in the Final Four in the Bound For Glory (BFG) series.
Commercial
When we return, Madison Rayne is telling us that she received a call from Knockouts GM Brooke Hogan telling her she has a match tonight. Madison assumes this is her rematch for the title and calls out Brooke Tessmacher, but it’s ODB that comes out. ODB says she also got a call from Brooke Hogan, and then tells Madison that her real opponent tonight is ODB. ODB runs to the ring after yelling “the bitch is back!”
Match #2: Madison Rayne versus ODB. Squash match. ODB wins in about a minute, maybe less.
After the match, ODB’s missing husband, Eric Young, finally shows up. He is carrying chicken and beer and wearing a suit. (Actual chicken and beer, not the album Chicken and Beer by Ludacris.)
ODB wants to know where the hell he’s been, and he explains that he went to Hollywood and became a star. Apparently he has been doing a fishing show on Animal Planet. ODB says that’s fine, but asks who the hell he is now. Eric admits something is wrong, and it’s the suit.
The insane fishing TV star strips of his suit in the middle of the ring and then makes out with his butch alcoholic wife wearing nothing but skimpy USA underwear. They really do make a lovely couple. I’m not even trying to be funny, they are adorable together.
In the back, AJ tells us he’s grateful the situation with Claire is finally over. I think we can all agree on that. That whole storyline absolutely sucked.
Commercial
When we return, Sting and Hogan are in the office talking tough. They’re getting ready to talk to Kaz and Daniels about their recent attempts to blackmail AJ. Kaz tries to get Sting and Hogan to calm down, and calls Sting “Heath” when he speaks to him. This was an obvious reference to the late Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker, which seems to be the inspiration for Sting’s current character.
They remind Hogan that they have iron clad contracts and are the reigning tag champions. Hogan tells them they are his champs and he’s going to make them fight, and he hopes they get their brains beat in. That’s not really much of a punishment; they were going to have to fight someone to defend their titles anyway. Hoping they lose isn’t punishment. I hope Mitt Romney loses; I don’t think he feels punished by my hope.
Commercial
Match #3: AJ Styles versus Samoa Joe.
The match starts off with Joe landing a couple leg kicks. AJ tries to grab Joe’s arm but doesn’t get it. Joe knocks AJ down and then whips him into the ropes. AJ leapfrogs Joe and then goes out to the floor to regroup. AJ gets back in the ring and puts Joe in a headlock. Joe escapes and knocks AJ down with a shoulder block. AJ trips Joe into the corner and then hits him with a shoulder block. AJ tries a suplex but can’t get Joe up.
Joe hits AJ with an elbow, AJ responds by trapping Joe in the ropes. AJ lands a couple kicks and then dropkicks Joe to the floor. AJ slingshots himself out of the ring at Joe, but Joe punts him in the gut before he lands. Joe rolls AJ in and hits him with a chop, a kick, and a knee drop. AJ tries to fight back with some punches, but Joe takes AJ down with a scoop powerslam. Joe and AJ trade forearms and Joe knocks AJ down. Joe gets AJ in a crossface and AJ tries to get to the ropes.
AJ nearly makes it to the ropes, but Joe pins his arms behind his back and changes submission holds. AJ eventually manages to get a foot to the rope and force Joe to break. AJ and Joe exchange some more strikes and AJ appears to be getting the upper hand. Joe whips AJ to the corner and charges, but AJ gets his boots up at the last second and Joe drops. AJ picks Joe up, Joe slides out, and AJ hits him with the Pele kick. AJ tries for an armbreaker submission but Joe gets to the ropes.
Joe’s arm appears hurt, possibly related to the chair shot to the arm he took last week from his former partner, Magnus. AJ hits Joe with a flying forearm and then whips him into the ropes. AJ charges, but Joe gets him up high with his good arm and then slams him to the mat. Joe goes for a rear naked choke but AJ counters and tries to roll Joe up for the pin. Joe gets out and tries the choke again and locks it in. AJ manages to reverse it and catches Joe in an armbreaker again! Joe is acting like he’s in pain, but he manages to stack AJ up on his shoulders and pin him for the win!
Commercial
When we return, it’s Gut Check time. The current gut check contestant is Kris Lewie, who lost last week to Gunner. Taz gives his impression and he tells Lewie he’s not ready yet. Bruce Pritchard is next and he’s a little more brutal. He tells Lewie that he knows wrestling is his dream, but it’s time to wake up from the dream and realize that this business is not for him. With two votes against him already, Al Snow’s third vote doesn’t matter. Hopefully they wish Kris Lewie the best of luck in all his future endeavors.
As the Gut Check segment comes to a close, Joey Ryan starts yelling that Gut Check is a farce with a bullhorn from the crowd. Al Snow and Bruce Prichard go to confront him and Ryan throws a cup of something in Al’s face. Al chases Ryan through the crowd as Prichard waddles after them.
Commercial
When we return, Joe Park is offering to help Hogan and Sting with Aces and Eights. Apparently, they’ve broken some laws, and he wants to investigate them. Hogan says if he can help, great. Sting repeatedly mumbles “kayfabe.”
Match #4: Kurt Angle versus Jeff Hardy.
Both men need to win to have a shot at making the Final Four in the Bound For Glory series. Angle scores the first takedown, Hardy reverses and ties up Angles arm; Angle reverses and puts Hardy in a headlock. Angle knocks Hardy down with a shoulder block, then takes him down again with a fireman’s carry and applies an armbar.
Hardy gets to his feet and Angle knocks him down again. Hardy takes Kurt down with an armdrag, and Angle uses his feet to push Hardy to the corner. Angle lands a couple forearms and a couple punches, but Hardy responds with a headscissors takedown that sends Angle sprawling to the floor.
Hardy kicks Angle away from the ring and then flies off the top rope onto Angle. Hardy and Angle re enter the ring and hardy lands a series of strikes. Angle whips Hardy to the ropes and then clotheslines him.
Commercial
When we return, Angle has Hardy in a kravat, but Hardy quickly escapes. Angle lands some punches and Hardy responds with a running double axe handle. Hardy grabs Angle’s legs and hits a double leg drop and follows up with a basement dropkick. Hardy tries for the Twist of Fate, but Angle slips out of it and hits Hardy with 3 German Suplexes, releasing him with the third. Angle tries to take Hardy up with an Angle Slam but Hardy escapes it and hits the Twist of Fate!
Hardy goes for a cover but gets only two. Hardy hits Angle with a couple more strikes and then hits Whisper in the wind but only gets a two count. Angle gets to his feet and throws Hardy with a belly to belly overhead release suplex. Angle follows up with the Angle slam but gets only two! Angle tries for an ankle lock but Hardy reverses and hits Twist of Fate!
Hardy goes to the top rope and hits the Swanton but only gets two!! Angle applies the ankle lock but Hardy kicks him off. Hardy knocks Angle down with a kick and then goes to the top again. Angle runs up the ropes to cut him off, but Hardy pushes him back down to the mat. Hardy hits the Swanton again and this time gets the three count for the win! Hardy is still barely alive in the BFG series, but Angle appears to be out of it.
After the match, Angle looks like he’s crying. Jeremy Borash makes his way to the ring to announce the final five in the BFG series: Jeff Hardy, RVD, Samoa Joe, Bully Ray, and James Storm. Storm has already qualified for the final four, next week we will have matches to determine who joins him in the final four.
Commercial
When we return, Austin Aries makes his way to the ring to challenge Aces and Eights. Hogan, Sting, and many of the wrestlers make their way out into the Impact Zone to support Aries. Hogan again tells us that there is going to be a bloodbath if Aces and Eights show up.
Hogan tells them they have their finest wrestler, their champion, in the ring now, and he challenges them to send their finest to face him in the ring one on one. A large masked man makes his way to the ring and he starts brawling with Aries.
The masked man gets an early edge, but Aries takes him down with a double leg, and then mounts and pounds him. The rest of Aces and Eights come to save their “finest” from Aries and a donnybrook breaks out. All the Impact wrestlers and all the Aces and Eights start fighting all over the Impact Zone.
Eventually Aries and the big man representing Aces and Eights start fighting each other again in the middle of the ring. Aries lands a dropkick, but fails to see another Aces and Eights member approach him from behind. The attacker had his face exposed as he entered the ring but quickly covered it.
The new attacker hits Aries in the back of the head with a flapjack and knocks him out cold. As Aces and Eights retreat, Bully Ray tries to point out the one wielding the flapjack, but they’ve all made their escape. Austin Aries is still unconscious as Impact goes off the air.
TMZ.COM has a story about the TNA World title which was stolen on August 18 in Ottumwa, Iowa, after a stagehand left it unguarded while he was unloading the truck for the non-televised show.
The title, carrying an estimated cost of $6,000, was stolen along with its $400 replica, by two individuals who were later caught because they didn’t realize there was a surveillance camera watching their moves.
The suspects are 33 year old Joel Luke and 39 year old Forrest Jamison. The two were arrested on Wednesday but posted bail and were released. Luke was charged with 2nd-degree theft and Jamison was charged with accessory.
The Undertaker and his wife, former WWE Diva Michelle McCool welcomed their newborn baby on August 28, their first child together.
This is Taker’s fourth child, a girl which was named Kaia Faith. He has a son, Gunner, from his first marriage, and two daughters, Chasey and Gracie, from his second marriage. His kids are aged 19, 10, and 7.
Gunner, his eldest son, tweeted a message announcing the arrival of his sister. “Welcome to the world Kaia Faith Calaway! My new little Sis. #FourthTimeStrong,” he wrote.
Hulk Hogan appeared on Fox & Friends and was interviewed about the Republican National Convention that is going on right now in Tampa, Florida.
Hogan, who lives in Tampa himself, said he was excited with the Romney and Ryan combination and while he was an Obama supporter in the past, actions speak louder than words and according to Hogan, he has seen no action, referring to why he’s supporting Romney’s bid for President this time around.
Hogan also talked about small businesses and a comment that Obama made which he didn’t like, saying that he’s opening a shop in Clearwater and the company that he works for – referred just as IMPACT Wrestling – built the company from ground up with a few employees and expanding over the past 10 years.
One of the interviewers asked Hogan to talk about his upcoming beach shop and Hogan went straight into his wrestling persona, putting his sunglasses on and cut his typical promo. “So watch gonna do when Hogan, IMPACT Wrestling, and Hogan’s Beach Shop run wild on you, brother!!”
Needless to say, it’s very obvious for who the Hulkster will be giving his vote this coming November. You can watch his interview below.
W-O reader Daniel Mohr from Australia attended the live WWE event in Brisbane earlier today and sent in the following results.
Brodus Clay defeated Jack Swagger; Zack Ryder defeated Daniel Bryan; The Miz defeated Alex Riley; Kofi Kingston and R-Truth defeated Epico and Primo; Layla defeated Rosa Mendes; Santino Marella defeated David Otunga; CM Punk defeated Big Show and John Cena in a triple threat match.
WWE issued a press release today announcing that the debut episode of Saturday Morning Slam on the CW was the most watched program on the network among total viewers and a bunch of kids demographic that the show was initially after. It drew the top spot in demos for Kids under 18, Kids 2-5, Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11, Kids 9-14, Boys under 18, Boys 2-5, Boys 2-11, Boys 6-11, Girls under 18, Girls 2-11, Girls 6-11, Girls 9-14 and Female Teens (F12-17).
The show reached a total of 1,126,000 viewers and it was CW’s most watched Saturday morning program since a March 10 episode of Dragon Ball Z. WWE Saturday Morning Slam was watched by more viewers than the The Green Lantern on Cartoon Network, Noodle and Doodle on NBC, Little Bear on Nick Jr., Doodlebops on CBS, Pair of Kings on Disney XD and Power Rangers on Nicktoons, all of which aired in the same time slot of WWE’s kid show between 10AM and 10:30AM.
Current TNA TV champion Devon announced on his Twitter that he has left TNA wrestling after seven years with the company.
“I would like to thank the TNA fans for making the last seven years fun. I’m sure we will see each other again down the road real soon. I’m ready to see where God brings me to next. I can’t wait,” he said on Twitter. “I see big things on the way. Oh and HELL NO I’M NOT RETIRING.”
The former Team 3D/Dudley Boyz member made his TNA debut in October 2005 along with his tag team partner Brother Ray before moving to singles competition in 2010. During his time there, he won the NWA World Tag Team titles once, the TNA World Tag Team titles twice, and the TNA Television title also on one occasion.
Bully Ray seems to be also on the way out as just like Devon he has so far failed to come to an agreement with TNA over a new contract.
