Awesome trailer for WWE 2K18 video game revealed

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06/19/2017

Seth Rollins has been confirmed as the cover superstar of WWE 2K18, the upcoming video game that will be released for consoles on October 17.

The reveal of Rollins as the man on the cover came along with a new, kick ass trailer for the game. The trailer has a man, who ends up being Rollins, making his way to a warehouse where all the important memorabilia – such as Ric Flair’s robe, Undertaker’s gear, Steve Austin’s ATV, Triple H’s WrestleMania mask, the Million Dollar title, Andre The Giant’s life size statue, and others – get absolutely destroyed and set on fire. At the end of the trailer, the man behind the mask sets the whole warehouse on fire and then removes the mask for the final reveal.

You can see the awesome trailer below.

Maria and Mike Kanellis arrive in WWE

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/19/2017

Mike Bennett and his wife Maria Kanellis-Bennett showed up at Money In The Bank last night, with Maria making her return to the company for the first time since 2010 while her husband made his WWE debut.

The two will be using the Kanellis name with Mike dropping the Bennett last name. They will be part of the Smackdown brand going forward. “The first lady is back in WWE. And for the past 7 years I’ve been searching for the perfect partner,” Maria said. “And you found me,” Mike added. The two vowed to educate everyone on the Smackdown brand the power of love.

Maria was part of the 2004 Diva Search contest and despite placing fifth in the contest that year, she was given a developmental deal with the company. She wrestled for WWE till her departure in 2010 and then joined Ring of Honor with her then-boyfriend for five years. After ROH, she had a short stint in New Japan Pro Wrestling and then Impact Wrestling in 2016. In 2013, Maria was a recipient of WWE’s Talent Scholarship and successfully graduated from Johnson & Wales University in May of this year obtaining a degree in Sports, Entertainment, and Event Management.

Mike Bennett built his name on the independent scene and then joined Ring of Honor in 2008 where he wrestled there till 2014. He joined his wife in Japan for NJPW and then at Impact Wrestling as well.

Money In The Bank 2017 pay-per-view results

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/19/2017

Here are the results from the Money In The Bank pay-per-view which took place from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Hype Bros defeated The Colons in the Kickoff match; Carmella defeated Natalya, Tamina, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch in a MITB ladder match to get the briefcase; The New Day defeated The Usos via countout, with The Usos retaining the Smackdown Tag Team titles; Naomi defeated Lana to retain the Smackdown Women’s title; Jinder Mahal defeated Randy Orton to retain the WWE title; Fandango and Tyler Breeze defeated The Ascension; Baron Corbin defeated Shinsuke Nakamura, Dolph Ziggler, AJ Styles, Sami Zayn, and Kevin Owens in a MITB ladder match to get the briefcase.

Latest betting odds for Money In The Bank 2017

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/18/2017

Baron Corbin remains the favorite for tonight’s Money In The Bank ladder match with odds at 2/7 to grab the briefcase. Shinsuke Nakamura is at 5/1, Sami Zayn at 11/1, AJ Styles at 12/1, Kevin Owens at 20/1, and Dolph Ziggler who is doing the worst with 50/1 odds for the win.

And just like Corbin, Carmella’s odds from yesterday remain as the favorite with 1/3 to win the first-ever all-women MITB ladder match. Charlotte Flair is next at 4/1, Natalya at 7/1, Becky Lynch at 10/1, and Tamina a complete outsider with odds at 50/1.

The WWE champion Jinder Mahal looks like he’s going to hang on to his title as he is 1/10 favorite to retain while Randy Orton is at 11/2 to regain it. The Smackdown women’s champion Naomi is also looking to retain with odds at 4/11 and Lana at 2/1 to win the title in her first singles match on the main roster. The Usos are at 1/2 to retain the Smackdown Tag Team titles and The New Day are at 6/4 to win.

Odds still have a big chance of changing as the event gets closer to bell time.

Trailer for Nobody Speaks Netflix doc featuring the Hulk Hogan vs Gawker trial

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/18/2017

The Hulk Hogan vs Gawker trial is part of a Netflix original documentary titled Nobody Speaks: Trials of the Free Press which will be released on June 23 in all Netflix territories.

Nobody Speak explores what Peter Thiel’s financial support of the lawsuit against Gawker and Sheldon Adelson’s purchase of the Las Vegas Journal-Review newspaper mean for future of journalism, the First Amendment, and the power of the ultra wealthy. It also looks at privacy rights against freedom of the press and how big money can silence media through legal means.

The documentary is directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Brian Knappenberger. You can see the trailer below.

Is there a sixth woman entering the MITB ladder match tonight?

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/18/2017

Rumors of a sixth participant in the women’s Money In The Bank ladder match are running wild on the Internet although at this point there are no confirmed reports of such a thing.

The men’s MITB ladder match features six participants but the women’s one has one missing. Lana tried to get herself in the match but instead received a title match against Naomi. The rumored names range from Paige to Nikki Bella, to some Attitude Era stars and to the latest name: Maria Kannelis-Bennett.

A photo of Mike Bennett and his wife Maria at the airport in St. Louis was just published online, adding more fuel to the fire. Meanwhile, PWInsider.com adds that the former Impact Wrestling and ROH couple are expected to join the Smackdown brand imminently.

You can see the photo from the airport below.

https://twitter.com/GuyInGreenWWE/status/876282090823663616

Money In The Bank 2017 live on PPV and WWE Network tonight

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/18/2017

Live from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri WWE presents Money In The Bank live on pay-per-view and WWE Network. The full card is as follows:

Jinder Mahal vs Randy Orton for the WWE title; AJ Styles vs Dolph Ziggler vs Sami Zayn vs Shinsuke Nakamura vs Kevin Owens vs Baron Corbin in a MITB ladder match for the WWE title match contract; Carmella vs Charlotte Flair vs Tamina vs Natalya vs Becky Lynch in a MITB ladder match for the Smackdown Women’s title match contract; Naomi vs Lana for the Smackdown Women’s title; The Usos vs The New Day for the Smackdown Tag Team titles; and The Hype Bros vs The Colons in the Kickoff match.

Money In The Bank is free for first-time subscribers to the WWE Network. To start your free subscription go to http://w-o.it/wwentwrk.

Last women standing match set for upcoming NXT tapings

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/18/2017

The NXT Women’s champion Asuka and Nikki Cross will be in a new match for NXT women as their feud continues to escalate.

The two will be wrestling in a last woman standing match on the June 28 episode of NXT on the WWE Network, a match which will be part of the upcoming television tapings at Full Sail University on Friday, June 23.

The match was set up during the June 14 episode after both Asuka and Cross wrestled all over Full Sail University, including outside the arena, after they eliminated Ruby Riot from the triple threat elimination match.

Asuka has been the NXT Women’s champion since NXT Takeover: Dallas and remains undefeated.

40 athletes at WWE Performance Center for three-day tryout

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/18/2017

The WWE Performance Center welcomed 40 athletes this week for a three-day camp as WWE looks to expand its roster by bringing in new talent.

These athletes came from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, and American Samoa as WWE PC head coach Matt Bloom, the coaching staff and four WWE PC recruits ran these men and women through several drills.

Among those who were in the tryout included top-ranked CrossFit athlete, a horseshoe-bending strongman, NFL and college football players, multiple All-American grapplers and crossover athletes from MMA, taekwondo, bodybuilding, powerlifting, swimming and volleyball as well as wrestlers from the independent scene.

Among the familiar names who were part of the tryout are Cody Deaner, “Crazzy Steve” Steve Scott and Hunter McIntyre, the reigning champion of Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Challenge competition series. You can see the list of everyone who participated at WWE.COM.

Seth Rollins on ESPN SportsCenter for announcement on Monday morning

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/17/2017

Former WWE champion Seth Rollins will be on ESPN SportsCenter at 10:30AM ET on Monday to make an announcement, hours before Roman Reigns will be making his own announcement during Raw regarding SummerSlam.

There are rumors that this announcement will be related to the WWE 2K18 video game, where apparently Rollins is the cover Superstar. The WWE Twitter account has been running several teasers with the hashtag #BLN1 which stands for Be Like No One and #ThisMonday. These tweets come along with quotes of WWE Legends including Triple H and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

The company has been pretty good in creating buzz for their video games and their last campaign for WWE 2K17 with Goldberg was well received.

Baron Corbin and Carmella leading the odds for MITB ladder matches

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/17/2017

Baron Corbin is leading the pack in betting odds as the probable winner of the Money In The Bank ladder match tomorrow night.

Several websites are offering similar odds for tomorrow’s Money In The Bank pay-per-view including free spins in Unibet casino over at the Unibet website. Odds are most likely to change over the course of the next day as smart money comes in.

Corbin’s odds are at 1/2, the clear favorite and no one comes close so far. Shinsuke Nakamura is the second-favorite, although if history suggests, the last man who gets the upper hand on the go-home show is usually not the one who wins. Dolph Ziggler is, out of the six, the least-likely to win with odds at 25/1.

Meanwhile, over at the women’s side, Carmella is interestingly enough leading the odds as the clear favorite with the same odds as Baron Corbin of 1/2. Tamina shares the same odds of Ziggler of 25/1.

Mauro Ranallo to call McGregor vs Mayweather boxing fight

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/17/2017

Good things happen to good people and Mauro Ranallo just got the best news he could probably ever get in his professional career.

The former Smackdown announcer has been given the task by Showtime to be the play-by-play man for the Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather boxing fight on August 26 live from Las Vegas. Joining him on the broadcast are host Brian Custer, color analysts Al Bernstein and Paul Maglianaggi, ringside reporter Jim Gray and unofficial scorer Steve Farhood. These men will have the honor to say that they have been part of history, keeping viewers up-to-date in the highest-grossing pay-per-view in history.

The 47-year-old Ranallo left WWE in March one year into his contract after suffering another bout with depression. When he signed with WWE, he called it his dream job but people within the company didn’t really make him feel welcome.

Ranallo this week signed a new deal with Bellator MMA along with longtime UFC commentator Mike Goldberg.

Daniel Bryan returning to Smackdown next week

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/17/2017

Smackdown General Manager Daniel Bryan will be returning to Smackdown Live next week after a few weeks off to enjoy his newborn daughter Birdie.

Bryan has been absent since the Superstar Shake-up episode of Smackdown over two months ago back in April. His wife Brie was supposed to give birth in April but then ended up delivering their baby late, on May 9.

“Looking forward to watching history be made at @WWE #MITB on Sunday but Tuesday it’s back to work for me at #SDLive,” wrote Bryan in a tweet. Smackdown Commissioner Shane McMahon has been filling the empty spot while Bryan was out.

The situation at Raw is the opposite as Raw Commissioner Stephanie McMahon has not been seen on television since WrestleMania. New Raw GM Kurt Angle has been the face of authority over at the red brand since then.

Impact rating for 06/15/2017

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/16/2017

Impact Wrestling this week 327,000 viewers on POP, up 9,000 viewers from last week’s broadcast. It is the second most-watched Impact of 2017 so far. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)

Two WWE Superstars cleared to return to the ring

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/16/2017

According to multiple sources, both Rusev and Zack Ryder have been cleared to return to the ring effective immediately.

Rusev last wrestled at Fastlane in February, losing to Big Show before disappearing to undergo shoulder surgery. He went under the knife in the beginning of March, ruling him out of WrestleMania. Lana also was taken off television until her return two weeks ago on Smackdown. Rusev was about to start a program where he demanded a title shot at Money In The Bank or else he would “go home” but that angle was dropped after a week when everything shifted towards Jinder Mahal winning the WWE title.

Zack Ryder has been out longer than Rusev, with the former Intercontinental champion sitting on the sidelines since December. Ryder injured his knee during a match where he and his tag team partner Mojo Rawley won the #1 contenders match for the Smackdown Tag Team titles. Ryder underwent surgery and it took six months to get cleared again. He returned on television during this week’s Smackdown but did not wrestle. His in-ring return is set for Money In The Bank, tagging with Mojo Rawley to take on The Colons.

Broadcast team announced for Slammiversary 2017

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/16/2017

Impact Wrestling has selected longtime collaborator Don West and MLB/NHL announcer Robert Flores to be the commentary team for the upcoming Slammiversary pay-per-view which takes place on July 2.

The press release, issued strangely enough through the Global Force Wrestling PR team – says that West will be making a one-night return to the broadcast booth as color commentator while Flores will be leading the broadcast.

The change in commentary team comes due to the fact that both Josh Mathews and Jeremy Borash – who are Impact’s regular announce team – are part of a match during the show.

Flores is a big wrestling fan and is currently a studio host across MLB Network’s programming, including MLB Network’s Emmy Award-winning daily studio show, MLB Tonight. He is also a studio host for the NHL Network. Prior to these two gigs, he was at ESPN.

“I’m excited to have a part in this year’s Slammiversary and grateful to Jeff Jarrett for this unique opportunity,” Flores said. “To play a role in Slammiversary alongside Don West is really cool. Slammiversary is an event 15-years in the making, and the best always separate themselves on the biggest stages – be it the in the wrestling ring or the World Series.”

Don West added, “I am so excited to be a part of IMPACT again and to be a part of the great Slammiversary weekend. As an avid sports and baseball fan, it will be a great honor to work next to Robert Flores as I have admired his professionalism for years. When Jeff Jarrett asked me to do this, I had only one response, ‘YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!’”

First participants of the Mae Young Classic tournament revealed

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/15/2017

PWInsider.com has revealed the first 10 names of the 32-women Mae Young Classic tournament that will start taping next month. The tournament will air exclusively on the WWE Network.

These 10 women are: Zhao Xia, a mixed martial artist and the first Chinese woman at the WWE Performance Center; Mary Kate, who is under contract at NXT and is formerly known as Rosie Lottalove in TNA; Bianca Blair, also under contract at NXT; Danielle Kamela, a former cheerleader for the Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix Suns; Julia Ho, a mixed martial artist and model; Kimberly Frankele, also known as Kimber Lee and former CHIKARA champion; Lacey Evans, a former U.S. Marine; Victoria Gonzales, who is under a WWE developmental deal as well; Sarah Logan, formerly known as Crazy Mary Dobson; and Taynara Melo, a Brazilian judoka under a WWE deal.

Tapings for the Mae Young Classic will take place on July 13 and 14 at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, with the finals taking place in September.

RINGSIDE with Jim Ross coming to New York during SummerSlam weekend

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/15/2017

Jim Ross announced on his blog that his RINGSIDE show will be part of the SummerSlam weekend in New York, with one show held on Friday, August 18.

The WWE Hall of Famer will be hosting his show at the Gotham Comedy Club, located at 208 West 23rd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in Chelsea. The show will kick off at 7:30PM ET. Those who purchased a VIP ticket will be meeting JR between 5:30PM and 6:45PM on that same day.

Tickets for RINGSIDE with Jim Ross go on sale on Tuesday, June 27 at 10AM ET at gothamcomedyclub.com. There will only be 100 VIP tickets available.

Survey lists London as possible future WrestleMania host city

By

Colin Vassallo

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06/15/2017

A survey was sent to fans who attended WrestleMania 33 in Orlando with a list of potential host cities that could play home to future WrestleManias and one of them was London.

The Independent newspaper in the United Kingdom said that this survey had London listed along with Toronto, New York, “and others.”

This is not the first time that the UK has pushed for a WrestleMania in the capital city but due to the five-hour time difference to ET, it would mean that WrestleMania in London would start at 2PM ET and the Kickoff show at Noon ET.

The last time a major event happened in the UK was SummerSlam in 1992, an event that remains one of the most-attended shows in WWE history with over 80,000 fans. That show was headlined by the British Bulldog vs Bret Hart for the Intercontinental title.

The company recently held NXT Takeover: London at the Wembley Arena which aired live on the WWE Network.

Has WWE become too predictable?

By

Daniel Street

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06/15/2017

WWE is the world’s largest wrestling promotion. Annually, WWE events exceed 500 and are watched by more than 36 million viewers in over 150 nations. While some consider WWE a sport, it is actually is branded by the company as sports entertainment with the matches being choreographed with planned storylines. Despite this omission by the company who owns the brand, WWE continues to see record audiences.

Given the fact that WWE matches are planned ahead of time, many fans attempt to predict the results of pay per view matches. Since WWE isn’t really a sport of chance, many believe it is rather easy to guess what will happen following each event. As a result, some fans find that WWE simply isn’t exciting anymore. Others point to the fact that if the storylines are written ahead of time, the writers aren’t making them thrilling enough. Despite these naysayers, there still are millions of fans who enjoy WWE as they do other television programs.

WWE matches have become the source of wagers through major betting companies online. These bookies realize the draw of the matches and permit fans and gamblers alike to place money of the results of the matches. Their websites provide odds for WWE bets and make it easy to place a wager online. Not only have sportsbooks realized the potential of WWE but casinos have as well. Different slot machine games have been designed around WWE in order to attract fans to casinos. Offering these WWE themed slot machines also permits fans to enjoy playing online while they watching a live match.

With such a popular fan base, WWE promises to provide even more entertainment in the future. While industries like sportsbooks and casinos have capitalized on this fan base, it may be interesting to see how WWE may expand in the future.