ProWrestlingSheet.com is reporting that a life-size statue of Ric Flair will be unveiled at WrestleMania 33 weekend during Axxess this year.
Ryan Satin from the website confirmed the news after a model by the name of Sean Perry posted a photo on his Facebook standing in for a full body mold for the Flair statue. “Sooooo, the other day a studio did a full body mold of me for a statue of Ric Flair (in his prime) for the WWE Hall of Fame,” Perry wrote.
This will be the fifth statue to be unveiled at Axxess with statues for Andre the Giant, Bruno Sammartino, Dusty Rhodes, and the Ultimate Warrior being unveiled at previous WrestleManias.
Hey everyone! It’s @TheMagnumDA here with your latest installment of the Raw Report, LIVE from Cleveland. This is the go-home show for the Royal Rumble, which takes place in six days at the Alamodome. I’ll be there for the Rumble, will you? Shoutout to my buddy Don, who will be joining me on this crazy journey.
We open with ROMAN REIGNS, who comes out for the night’s opening promo. The shark cage is in the ring with him. Reigns said there’d be over “40,000 people” in the Alamodome this Sunday, but only one person would be locked in the cage (Jericho). Eeps!!! 40k?! That building can hold up to 70k. They did 60k+ in 1997! Reigns tells the audience that Kevin Owens will have to face him one-on-one, which means that he will once again be the Universal Champion. The crowd shows how much they care by booing the ever-loving crap out of this guy.
Owens and Jericho show up, and Owens calls Roman delusional. Owens asks Reigns if he’s alright, considering what happened last week (Owens powerbombing Reigns through a table). Owens says the difference between he and Roman is that Owens did the powerbomb by himself. He didn’t need help along the way (referring to The Shield).
Jericho steps in and makes a prediction of his own…Roman is a stupid idiot. BOLD. Jericho mentions the shark cage and his US Championship victory, which leads Roman to request a rematch for the title. It’s on! Roman leaves us with one more prediction…at the Royal Rumble, he’ll be champion because Owens is not “The Guy”. I’m sure he’s shaking in his boots with that prediction, Roman. We got a regular Nostradamus here.
Match #1: Luke Gallows vs. Cesaro
Apparently the tag champs are on the same page? Or not. I can’t tell. They lock up and Gallows elbows Cesaro. He pounds him in the corner and Cesaro counters with a corkscrew uppercut for two. Cesaro gets a waistlock on the ground and lifts Gallows! Gallows turns the tide and hits a back body drop. Cole references the New Japan tag titles as Cesaro catches an uppercut in the corner. Anderson causes a distraction and Gallows hits a boot for two.
After the break, Gallows has Cesaro in a sleeperhold. During the break, it’s revealed that Anderson was chased out of the arena by Sheamus. Gallows tries a suplex, but Cesaro reverses and powers Gallows over. Gallows avoids the Giant Swing, and heads outside. Sheamus is out there waiting for Gallows, and the distraction allows Cesaro to hit a big boot. Sheamus finally decks Gallows when the ref isn’t looking. Cesaro tries a sunset flip, and turns this into the Sharpshooter. Anderson returns back out and Cesaro gets distracted! Gallows catches Cesaro with a big boot for the victory!
Winner: Luke Gallows (*1/2)
Foley is backstage on the phone with Stephanie (how many weeks has she been gone now?). Stephanie asks why Foley booked a rematch for the US Championship tonight, and it’s because Foley thought it was a good idea. As this thrilling conversation continues, Sami Zayn walks in and asks when he can declare himself eligible for the Royal Rumble.
Steph chimes in and tells Zayn that he has to beat Seth Rollins to qualify for the Rumble. After this announcement, Foley takes Stephanie off speakerphone and Stephanie gives orders for Foley to do something he’s not comfortable with. Whatever could this be?
Next is a sit-down interview with Bayley discussing her upcoming match with Charlotte. I hope Colin doesn’t mind, but there was literally little to nothing in this interview, in terms of substance. Bayley mentions that she’s a lifelong fan, and that she has two wins over Charlotte.
Match #2: Seth Rollins vs. Sami Zayn (Royal Rumble Qualifier)
Just before the match starts, Foley tells Rollins that HIS Rumble spot is on the line, as well. So this isn’t just Zayn fighting for any spot…it’s Rollins’ spot! DOG SPOT LIVER SPOT MY SPOT! Rollins gets a side headlock on Zayn, and shoulder tackles Zayn when thrown into the ropes. They lock up again, and Zayn gets the armbar. Rollins shows Owen Hart-like agility, getting himself out of the predicament.
Rollins catches Sami with a forearm, and starts landing rights. Zayn returns with rights of his own and a HUGE lariat. Rollins hits a lariat of his own, followed by a suicide dive to the outside! After the break, Rollins is in control with a wristlock. Rollins throws Zayn in the corner and catches him with a Ghetto Blaster. Out of nowhere, Zayn hits the Blue Thunder Bomb for ONE, TWO, NO! That was super close!
The crowd trade “Let’s Go Rollins/Let’s Go Zayn” chants. Zayn and Rollins trade near-falls and Sami hits the Michinoku Driver for ONE, TWO, NO! Awesome stuff. They’ve been going over 10 minutes, which is a pleasant surprise on Raw. A great sequence leads to a huge Blockbuster by Rollins for ONE, TWO, NO! Another great sequence leads to a superkick by Rollins for two! Rollins hits the Falcon Arrow for ONE, TWO, NO! Sami Zayn has alligator’s blood…can’t get rid of him!
Rollins and Zayn trade forearms, and Seth catches a WICKED kick on Sami Zayn. Rollins tries the Pedigree, but this is countered by Sami. Sami tries the Heluva Kick, but he misses! Rollins tries ANOTHER Pedigree attempt, but Zayn hits the back body drop, sending Rollins to the outside. Sami climbs upstairs, but Rollins catches him with a kick. Rollins follows him to the top rope and TRIES A TOP ROPE PEDIGREE! Sami fights out and reverses into a SUNSET FLIP POWER BOMB for ONE, TWO, NO! This match is freaking incredible! Rollins counters into an enziguiri, but Sami counters THAT with an Exploder Suplex into the corner. From the apron, Rollins hits the Pedigree! Sickening!
Just as Rollins throws Zayn back into the ring, we hear MOTORHEAD! HHH is here…? Rollins starts looking everywhere but can’t find Hunter. Rollins walks right into a small package for the ONE, TWO, THREE! A major upset! I didn’t care for the false finish, but this was still wonderful.
Winner: Sami Zayn (***1/2)
After the match, Rollins is seething backstage. He feels robbed of his chance to headline WrestleMania. He asks Foley if he knew anything about HHH’s mock entrance, and Foley denied any involvement. Rollins said that whoever did this…took one year away from his life, as well as his dream to headline WrestleMania. Foley suggests that Rollins should check with Stephanie and a member of the WWE production team to find out more. Way to pass that buck, Micker.
Match #3: Mustafa Ali, Jack Gallagher and T.J. Perkins vs. Drew Gulak, Ariya Daivairi and Tony Nese
They recap last week’s 205 Live and the “I Forfeit” match, won by Gallagher. Daivairi tags in Gulak, but Gallagher is ready and waiting with a headlock. Gulak kicks Jack in the corner, and throws him into the ropes. Gallagher does the handstand, and takes advantage with a headlock. Blind tag to TJ Perkins, who puts Gulak in the Octopus Stretch. Gulak counters and tags in Tony Nese.
TJ ends up taking out the opposing team, but Nese catches TJ in the corner and botches a gutbuster in the corner. He tries again and hits for two. Seated Body Scissors by Nese, but Perkins fights out of it. Gulak and Ali tag in. Why is Ali dressing like Mortis without the shoulderpads? Ali catches Gulak with a sweet kick in the corner. This quickly turns into a Pier 6 brawl, and Ali hits the Inverted 450 for the win! Match was less than 4 minutes, but not bad.
Winners: Mustafa Ali, Jack Gallagher and T.J. Perkins (*3/4)
THE NEW DAY are here, and before they can say anything of note…here comes Enzo and Big Cass! Enzo makes a ridiculous “Over The Top” reference (that was ARM WRESTLING, you half-wit!) as Rusev & Mahal interrupt the proceedings. Rusev asks why Cass and E. have “Big” in their names, and then mentions something about being handsome. “You don’t hear me calling myself ‘Handsome Rusev’, do you?” Rusev is GOLD. This guy could ramble about anything, and he’d be gold on the mic. Titus O’Neil shows up and says he’s not here to annoy The New Day…he just wanted to let them know that he’s joining Rusev & Mahal in the upcoming eight-man tag match. New Day asks WHOOOO is their fourth man? Oh crap. It’s Braun Strowman.
Match #4: Braun Strowman, Titus O’Neal, Rusev and Jinder Mahal vs. Enzo Amore, Big Cass, Kofi Kingston and Big E.
Joined in progress after the commercial. Kofi hits a cross body on Rusev, but it only gets two. Kofi’s Rumble history is discussed, as Rusev throws Kofi into his team’s corner. Mahal tags in as the announcers put Mahal over huge. Almost as huge as Mahal himself. Titus tags in and hits Kofi with some power moves. He puts Kofi in a bearhug, keeping Kofi from tagging in. “I’M THE LEBRON JAMES UP IN THIS THING,” Titus exclaims. This guy is the anti-Rusev.
Kofi FINALLY makes a hot tag to Cass, who is a HOUSE OF FIRE. Cass hits a splash and a huge boot on Mahal. Enzo is tagged in, and the Rocket Launcher is hit! Titus breaks it up, but he gets suplexed by Big E. Cass hits Rusev with a big boot, and Kofi hits a suicide dive to the brawl outside! Enzo hits Mahal with an enziguiri inside, but Mahal tags in Strowman. Enzo is brave, but gets destroyed immediately with a shoulder tackle. Enzo fights out of the Powerslam, but a DDT attempt is countered into the Powerslam for the pin.
Winners: Braun Strowman, Titus O’Neal, Rusev and Jinder Mahal (*1/2)
After the match, it’s the BIG SHOW! He’s baaaack! He looks TOTALLY JACKED UP, but I mean that in the best way possible. This has to be the best shape he’s ever been in. Show and Strowman have a staredown, and Strowman declares that he does what he wants. What is this, Maury Povich?
Match #5: US Championship Match
Chris Jericho (c) vs. Roman Reigns
Reigns catches Jericho with a big right hand, sending him outside. Jericho gets thrown into the barricade and the ring apron by Reigns. Drive-By hits as we go to commercial. When we return from the break, Kevin Owens is on commentary. Jericho wrenches Reigns in a Sleeperhold, and the commentators talk over each other. Reigns gets caught with a drop kick as KO says, “Hi, Chris! YOU DON’T HAVE THAT KIND OF CHEMISTRY WITH ANYONE, BYRON.” Hilarious!
Jericho slaps Reigns in the face, and Reigns returns with some more right hands. Reigns with…you guessed it, MORE RIGHT HANDS. This is followed by Reigns hitting a few clotheslines. They botch a roll-up as KO denies that he’s sweating Roman. Reigns tries a Superman Punch, and Jericho hits him with a drop kick. Reigns hits a huge Power Bomb, for ONE, TWO, NO! Reigns hits the Superman Punch, but Kevin Owens comes in for the DQ.
Winner: Roman Reigns by DQ (Jericho retains title) *3/4
After the match, Owens gets locked into the cage. Jericho tries to hold on to the cage while it lifts from the ring! Reigns brings him back down to Earth with a Superman Punch and a Spear. After the break, Charly announces that the Reigns/Owens title match will now be No DQ! Owens is livid, and feels the match should be cancelled.
The next segment is Charlotte’s sit-down with Corey Graves. She has much more substance in her promo than Charlotte, harkening back to the 1992 Rumble when Flair won it all. Charlotte thinks Bayley isn’t even in the same league as her, and that her legacy will live on beyond the Rumble.
Match #6: Nia Jax vs. Rae Lynn
Not even a match. Rae gets ragdolled in the corner, and Nia Jax hits the Bonzai Drop for three. Really? Because she’s heavy-set, you have to go with the Bonzai Drop? Someone’s going to get hurt.
Winner: Nia Jax (No Stars)
Afterwards, Nia dedicates her match to the dead career of Sasha Banks. Well, that’s gracious of her. Sasha (once again in Tiny Tim mode) comes out and busts a crutch over Nia’s leg. Also, I think she’s wearing the crutch wrong. Just saying. Nia, like a true rookie, no-sells the whole thing. Jax & Banks will square off in the Rumble preshow.
Match #7: WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rich Swann vs. Noam Dar (non-title)
MORE PURPLE TAPE, PLEASE! Swann vs. Neville is announced for the Rumble (for the title). Alicia Fox might be the worst actress ever. Aries declares that Noam likes “Hot Chocolate”…I’m not touching that one. Nice sequence to start, leading to a sweet dropkick by Swann. Swann runs and hits the suicide dive, but Alicia Fox gets in the way. That’s alright, because Swann goes outside and catches Dar with a superkick from the apron. As Swann is distracted by Fox, Dar hits a dropkick as we go to break. After the commercial, Swann fights out of a sleeperhold and hits a lariat on Dar. Double Stomp by Swann to the back of Dar’s head. Awesome headscissors from the top by Swann, followed by the SWANK KICK for the victory. Too short.
Winner: Rich Swann (*1/2)
After the match, Swann challenges Neville. Swann says that Neville might think he’s the King of the Cruiserweights, but to him…he’s the jester. You can literally hear the crickets after that left his mouth. This guy needs some better material, STAT. They tease going at it, and then Swann hits a tope. Just because. Swann’s a great performer, but he’s unwieldy on the mic.
Backstage, Cedric Alexander continues his love triangle with Noam Dar and Alicia Fox. Meanwhile, I fix myself a drink because nothing of substance is happening. Tomorrow night on 205 Live, it’s Cedric vs. Neville.
MAIN EVENT INTERVIEW SEGMENT
Goldberg comes out to a very good reaction. This is encouraging, because he got nothing two weeks ago. Goldberg gets hardway juice on the LOCKER during his entrance. I haven’t seen anything like that since the Flair promo from 2005 where he opened up his own wounds to provoke HHH. Goldberg comes out and it takes him THREE tries to make the following announcement: “he wants a shot at the Universal title, and that he’ll go through all 29 guys to get there.” Was that really so tough to remember? Poor Mr. Bill.
This brings out Paul Heyman, who says that Goldberg could face any number of top WWE stars during this match, including Orton, Strowman, Undertaker, and…this man. BROCK LESNAR comes out and the crowd pops huge for it. Heyman says that Goldberg will be beaten and victimized. Goldberg asks Lesnar, “Are you going to come to the ring, or just sit there like a dumbass?”
Lesnar is enraged, and starts to walk towards the ring. As the two have an epic staredown, THE BELL TOLLS FOR THEE! It’s THE UNDERTAKER!!! The crowd goes ABSOLUTELY batshit crazy upon his arrival. The BLUE LIGHTS OF GRIM UNCERTAINTY shine on Lesnar and Goldberg as the show ends. What a final segment!
That’s it for the Raw Report, I’ll be there Sunday! WATCH IT. Then come back to the site and read Colin’s Royal Rumble Report.
Linda McMahon underwent a two hour grilling by the Small Business Entrepreneurship Committee as she looks to be confirmed as the Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
President Trump nominated McMahon to the post last month, an appointment which was not a surprise since Linda was one of his major campaign donors. McMahon was introduced by Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, the two men she lost to in the U.S. Senate campaigns in 2010 and 2012 respectively.
Triple H and Stephanie McMahon were in attendance for the whole hearing and Senator Cory Booker even name checked both of them. “I want to also just say that when your daughter and son-in-law stood up, for the record, that your daughter is far more fierce and intimidating than your son-in-law,” the Senator said. He then said that Triple H is “letting himself slip” a little bit and offered to take him to the Senate gym afterward to give him “some triple help” in getting back in shape.
Linda replied by saying that her daughter Stephanie could give Senator Booker a mean hip toss, to which the Senator replied, “I believe that!”
The vote for her confirmation might take place next week.
On February 22, NXT will hold a special taping at the University of Central Florida in Orlando rather than at Full Sail University in Winter Park.
The CFE Arena holds up to 10,000 fans and it’s the second time that NXT will be visiting the University of Central Florida as they taped a show there in January 2016. The tapings will start at 6:30PM with doors opening at 5PM. Tickets go on sale for this event on January 27 at 10AM EST on Ticketmaster.com.
The Royal Rumble Kickoff show will feature two matches, one of them with the Raw Tag Team titles on the line.
Cesaro and Sheamus will be defending their titles against number one contenders Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson with two referees assigned to the match. The other match on the card is Sasha Banks vs Nia Jax.
Meanwhile, four more Superstars from the Raw brand have been added to the Rumble. These are Big Show, Sami Zayn, Big Cass, and Rusev. Raw now has 13 Superstars in the Rumble, Smackdown has 7 Superstars and the Undertaker, not attached to any brand, is the other individual in the match. With less than a week to go, there are still 9 empty spots, a few of which will probably be filled tonight on Smackdown.
Linda McMahon had her hearing for nomination to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration today. The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship held the hearing at the Russell Senate Office Building and went two hours.
You can see the replay of the whole hearing at c-span.org.
WWE Hall of Fame inductee Kurt Angle was supposed to provide commentary this weekend for the first episode of Dominant Wrestling in the United Kingdom which will air on the UK version of Spike TV, however, the promoter at 5 Star Wrestling announced today via a Facebook post that Angle was pulled from the event.
“At 16:04 today I received a call from Kurt Angle’s management team confirming the rumours that Kurt will not be commentating on the debut episode of Dominant Wrestling,” the statement said. “It’s a shame but we would like to congratulate Kurt on his Hall of Fame appointment.”
The big rumor of course is that Angle will be part of the Royal Rumble match the next day as one of the surprise entrants although at this point there is nothing confirming his participation.
For the next two days, WWE Shop is running a promotion where you can get 20% off select replica titles, 30% off t-shirts, and 40% off DVDs.
This sale features merchandise from both top current and alumni superstars like Mick Foley, Cesaro, Undertaker, and many more.
Besides this, you can deduct a few extra dollars on top before checking out by using the code WWESAVE5 for $5 off for orders over $35, WWESAVE10 for $10 off for orders over $70, WWEAFF15 for $15 off for orders over $100, and WWEAFF25 for $25 off for orders over $150.
In an interview with IGN.COM, Triple H said that this year’s Royal Rumble match will “go in a way that nobody expects.”
The former WWE champion talked how usually people kinda guess who will win the Royal Rumble but this year, it’s a tough call and no one seems to know where things are headed.
“And I think that’s when the Rumble’s at its best, when you can’t really put your finger on what’s going to happen. I can see this year going a lot of different ways and I think it’s going to go in a way that nobody expects,” Triple H said.
So far there are 18 WWE Superstars announced for the Rumble, with big names like The Undertaker, Goldberg, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, and Chris Jericho.
With just over two months to go, there are around 3,500 tickets available for WrestleMania at the Camping World Stadium on Ticketmaster.com.
A majority of the remaining tickets are in the south end of the stadium, facing the entrance stage. The cheapest prices are $160 and there are some ringside seats still available for $2,130, with the closest one to the ring being in row H.
The 3,500 number is just what’s available on Ticketmaster. Third-party sellers will surely drive that number up. WrestleManias in stadiums, despite popular belief, never sell out due to the large number of tickets available and ticket scalpers tend to lose money on the show.
Former WWE champion Alberto Del Rio and his girlfriend Paige will be hosting a Royal Rumble party next weekend at Del Rio’s La Cantinita restaurant.
There will be a $5 cover charge for this event and both Del Rio and Paige will be present. The poster for the event promises appearance by WWE Superstars who will be visiting the location after the pay-per-view is over.
La Cantinita is located on Bianco Road and is around 15 miles away from the Alamodome stadium, the site of the Royal Rumble.
WWE has updated Donald Trump’s Hall of Fame page to reflect his new position…President of the United States of America.
“After trading in his favorite television catchphrase “You’re fired!” for a national promise to “Make America Great Again,” Donald Trump won his first presidential campaign against key contender Hillary Clinton and officially took the oath of office on Jan. 20, 2017, to become the 45th President of the United States – the first time in history a WWE Hall of Famer would ever hold the distinguished title of U.S. Commander-in-Chief.”
Even though Trump is a big WWE fan and a big friend of the McMahon family, WWE refrained from mentioning Trump at all during his run for President of the United States.
Only a couple of hundred tickets remain for the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony as thousands of WWE fans stormed Ticketmaster.com yesterday to snap up tickets.
Ticketmaster.com only has few tickets in the second and third tier available although third-party ticket sellers have their fair share of tickets for sale for a price more than face value.
WWE pushed back ticket sales for the Hall of Fame twice, first waiting for confirmation about Kurt Angle headlining the show. This year’s ceremony will take place on Friday instead of Saturday and will be held at the Amway Center.
Despite receiving criticism about honoring Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka on Monday Night Raw, WWE went ahead and added a Snuka WWE Network Collection which debuted last night.
An e-mail sent to all WWE Network subscribers with the subject ‘Celebrate the Life of Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka,’ WWE described Snuka as the pioneer of high-flying offense who took the industry to new heights. “From a legendary leap off a steel cage at Madison Square Garden, to unforgettable rivalries with Rowdy Roddy Piper and “Cowboy” Bob Orton, enjoy Snuka’s most memorable moments and see how this WWE Hall of Famer influenced a generation of future WWE Superstars,” the description reads.
Meanwhile, Snuka is still missing from the Hall of Fame WWE page just like Hulk Hogan.
Several wrestlers who participated in the WWE United Kingdom Championship tournament are being pulled from appearing at certain events which will be streamed live on the Internet due to contract issues.
IPW: UK and Lucha Forever both announced that two men who were on the tournament – Pete Dunne and Joseph Conners – will wrestle different matches that they were intended to this weekend and moved to dark matches. Both Dunne and Conners were set to appear for IPW tomorrow and Dunne was scheduled to be part of the Lucha Forever event on Sunday.
With both shows airing on iPPV, WWE has contacted these promotions to notify them that the two can still wrestle on the show, but not appear on the broadcast.
Meanwhile, Pete Dunne, Trent Seven, and Mark Andrews were also pulled from appearing on a live podcast next week in London. The three were supposed to be interviewed on the Working a Resthold podcast prior to a wXw show.
Dave Meltzer of the Observer reported this week that WWE is trying to get some UK indie promotions on the WWE Network, with a deal with ICW looking to come soon. WWE has working relationships with Progress and OTT as well in the UK and all three promotions were name-checked during the WWE UK Championship tournament last weekend.
Former WWE CEO Linda McMahon will get her confirmation hearing this coming Tuesday, January 24.
Unless things go sideways, McMahon will be confirmed as the head of the Small Business Administration and will be part of President Trump’s cabinet.
McMahon will appear before the Senate Small Business Committee beginning at 10:30AM and the Hartford Courant is reporting that she will be introduced by Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, the two men she lost to in the U.S. Senate campaigns in 2010 and 2012.
Meanwhile, last night Linda McMahon attended a dinner as part of the presidential inauguration celebration. Her daughter Stephanie attended as well accompanied by Triple H.
This episode of Total Divas, proved the old adage, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas…unless you are a WWE Superstar. Okay, so maybe I messed up the saying a little bit, but all the same this episode in Vegas was one filled with all the drama we have come to expect from the Divas, but with a Las Vegas twist.
Because of Lana’s upcoming wedding to WWE Superstar Rusev, her friends thought that it would be a great idea to give Lana a bachelorette party. Since Renee Young now resides in Las Vegas with her boyfriend, WWE Superstar Dean Ambrose, Vegas seemed like the perfect party location. However, the girls made their first mistake by inviting Lana’s fiancé to join the fun. Maybe it’s just me, but that seems like a recipe for disaster. Rockstarz Limousine offers the very best limo and party bus rentals in Ann Arbor and Detroit. No matter what your event is, we have the vehicle to match. We cover pretty much everything from weddings, airport car service, bachelor and bachelorette parties, birthdays, group entertainment, and much much more.
The disaster potential became evident right away when Lana suggested that the Divas not mention the bachelorette party fun to Rusev. Apparently, the Bulgarian Brute is not a big fan of the bachelorette party tradition; in spite of having insisted that his Bulgarian traditions be a part of his and Lana’s big day.
Perhaps Lana’s future husband merely objected to his bride engaging in typical bachelorette party activities. I think he should have set parameters for what type of party his wife should have. But, knowing the Divas, they wouldn’t have respected his parameters anyway. So, in spite of knowing her fiance’s objections Lana and her friends boarded a pink party bus bound for the Thunder from Down Under show, a popular Las Vegas all-male strip show.
From the first, viewers of this episode could probably tell that the bachelorette weekend would be far from typical. Renee invited a total stranger to party with the girls at a club on the night following Lana’s bachelorette party. However, she was not the only stranger that the Divas would meet over the weekend.
Once the girls boarded the pink party bus they were greeted by a man claiming to be their host for the party bus ride. While it is not uncommon to rent party buses that come equipped with host for the evening, it may be a typical for the host to be new to the job and on loan from accounting. I am also quite certain that drivers or hosts on board party buses aren’t supposed to be having alcohol with the client.
Despite their drunken host, Lana and her friends managed to arrive at the show unscathed. The bachelorette was even pulled up on stage for personal attention from strippers. However, upon arriving back at the hotel Lana seemed to have second thoughts about keeping the bachelorette party a secret from her fiancé, she admitted her transgression to her future hubby adding that her friends forced her to join in the fun. I don’t particularly think that this was fair. Lana willingly participated in the night’s events.
Understandably, the Bulgarian Brute didn’t like the fact that his fiancée seemed so eager to spend the evening with strippers so soon before their nuptials, but he seemed to forgive her easily. However, the following evening at the club Lana a taste of her own medicine when the random stranger Renee had previously invited declared her wish to make out with her future husband.
The drama at the club was far from over though. Renee’s strange new friends were determined to ruin evening for the Divas, getting into a drunken fistfight which fortunately broken up by WWE Diva Trinity. The Divas were not through meeting strange characters. After the night at the club the ladies and gentlemen were trying to simply relax by the pool, but relaxation didn’t seem to be in the cards.
First, Trinity and Renee were confronted by a strange woman who behaved like a cat. Then, Lana met one of her ex-boyfriends who had come to the pool party on Renee’s invitation. Meeting him sent Lana into a tailspin, and she began to question whether or not marriage was the right step for her at this time. She dissolved into tears, but after some reassuring words from her friends, she was quickly ready to join the party.
Later though she decided to confront her fiancé about her fears. He was reassuring saying that they didn’t have to get married if she wasn’t ready. Obviously, the Bulgarian Brute isn’t so brutal after all. However, he and his future wife still had one surprise in store for them.
At dinner the following night, Renee announced that there was going to be a magic show preformed for the bride and groom to be and their friends at a popular Las Vegas restaurant. The show began with a wrestling match featuring two wrestlers wearing masks. Then, the lights went out and came back on to reveal the wrestlers without the masks. Lana, Rusev and Trinity were surprised to see the faces of all the strange guests who had been showing up throughout the weekend.
It turned out that, in true WWE form, Renee had played an elaborate prank on her friends by hiring actors to pose as weirdos to enhance her friends Las Vegas experience. Congratulations Renee, you have certainly given your friends a vacation that they will never forget.
Meanwhile, the Bella family was having an unforgettable experience of their own. The whole family flew to Los Angeles in order to support John Cena as he hosted the ESPN award show, the ESPYS. However, before the Bella family could walk the red carpet, Nikki decided that they needed some coaching on how to deal with red carpet interviews. Nikki was particularly apprehensive about her brother JJ’s responses because JJ tends the most blunt member of the family. He is particularly blunt about his dislike for Nikki’s boyfriend John. With a little help from the red carpet interview coach, JJ was able to navigate the red carpet without setting off any alarm bells for interviewers.
But don’t worry, WWE Universe, there’s plenty more drama to come on this season of Total Divas.
Just moments ago, WWE Hall of Famer Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States of America, capping off a year and a half of campaigning.
A complete outsider when the primaries started, Trump bulldozed his way through all his opponents and faced the equally-unpopular Hillary Clinton in the presidential election. Trump ended up passing the 270 electoral college vote threshold with a few states still to go although he lost the popular vote by a couple of million votes.
President Trump is a big friend of the McMahon family and recently appointed Linda McMahon – one of his largest campaign donors – to head up the Small Business Administration, a Cabinet-level position.
Donald Trump hosted WrestleMania 4 and 5 at his Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, New Jersey and then appeared at WrestleMania 7, 10, 20, and 23. Trump appeared on Raw as well in 2009 as part of an angle that backfired on WWE after investors failed to realize it was just a storyline. He was then inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013 by Vince McMahon in Madison Square Garden.
So whoever thought a WWE Hall of Famer would never make it in the White House…well, there you have it!
