The CommercialAppeal.com website is reporting that Jerry “The King” Lawler is teaming up with a restaurant owner to open Jerry Lawler’s BBQ in Cordova, Tennessee.
The restaurant is close to opening its doors and its interior is decorated with wrestling ring ropes, wrestling memorabilia and several large wallpapers of the WWE Hall of Famer.
The property is located at The Pointe strip center at 465 N. Germantown Parkway and will occupy the former Starbucks space in front of the Super Target and Walmart near Shelby Farms.
“A great group of restaurateurs put the concept together; this is their flagship,” said landlord Michael Lightman Jr., vice president of Michael Lightman Realty Co. Lightman said that while The King was involved in the concept, he does not own part of the restaurant.
Lawler already has a restaurant on the famous Beale Street in downtown Memphis titled Jerry Lawler Hall Of Fame Bar And Grille.
The 2016 NXT Year-End Awards nominees were announced today on WWE.COM. This is the second time that WWE is doing the awards for NXT. The categories and nominees for each category are:
NXT Takeover of the Year: Dallas, The End, Brooklyn II, and Toronto; NXT Tag Team of the Year: American Alpha, Authors of Pain, TM61; The Revival; and DIY; NXT Breakout Star of the Year: Sanity, No Way Jose, Ember Moon, Andrade “Cien” Almas, and Peyton Royce and Billie Kay; NXT Female of the Year: Bayley, Nia Jax, and Asuka; NXT Male of the Year: Finn Balor, Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Bobby Roode; NXT Competitor of the Year: Samoa Joe, Asuka, Finn Balor, Nia Jax, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bayley, and Bobby Roode; NXT Match of the Year: Bálor vs Nakamura (July 13), Asuka vs James (Toronto), American Alpha vs The Revival (The End), Zayn vs Nakamura (Dallas), Bayley vs Asuka (Dallas), Zayn vs Joe (February 17), Bálor vs Joe (The End), #DIY vs The Revival (Toronto), Bayley vs Jax (July 20), Dillinger vs Roode (Toronto), Neville vs Bálor (March 2), Nakamura vs Samoa Joe (Toronto), and American Alpha vs The Revival (July 6).
The winners of each category will be announced as part of the one-hour NXT Takeover: San Antonio Kickoff Show, which will take place January 28. Go to WWE.COM for voting information.
Last year, Enzo and Cass won the Tag Team of the Year while Bayley and Balor won the Female and Male Competitors of the Year. The NXT Takeover Brooklyn was announced as the Takeover Event of the Year and the match Bayley vs Sasha Banks at that same Takeover won the Match of the Year. Finn Balor then won the big one, the overall Competitor of the Year.
The passing of Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka dominated the front page of the Morning Call newspaper website, whose two investigative reporters were the reason behind the re-opening of the Nancy Argentino cold case which resulted in Snuka being charged with murder.
When the newspaper contacted Nancy’s two sisters – Lorraine and Louise – to get their comments on Snuka’s death, the two sisters said that they do not feel closure despite Snuka passing away.
“We made his life miserable his last few years,” Louise Argentino said. “His life was affected by going to court,” she added, saying that knowing that it gives their family some measure of satisfaction.
All charges against Snuka were dropped earlier this month when the judge ruled that he was not competent to stand trial due to his battle with dementia and stomach cancer, which eventually took his life.
Snuka’s attorney, Robert Kirwan, said Snuka passed away at 1PM yesterday at his son-in-law’s home in Florida. “He’s at rest and he is at peace. I came to know him like a friend and his family are my friends. I feel like I have lost a good client and a good friend,” Kirwan said.
History was made today as 19-year-old Tyler Bate was crowned the first-ever WWE United Kingdom champion, winning a 16-man, two-day tournament held at the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, England.
Bate, who wrestled for Preston City Wrestling and even Chikara Pro, defeated Pete Dunne in the final with his Tyler Driver 97 finisher, a sitout double underhook powerbomb. After the match, Triple H, Finn Balor, Fit Finlay, and William Regal entered the ring and presented Bate with his new title as confetti fell from the top in celebration.
In the quarter finals, Tyler Bate defeated Jordan Devlin, Wolfgang defeated Trent Seven, Mark Andrews defeated Joseph Conners, and Pete Dunne defeated Sam Gradwell.
The semi finals saw Pete Dunne defeating Mark Andrews in a fantastic match and Tyler Bate defeating Wolfgang.
Before the final match took place, Neville took on new NXT arrival Tommy End in a match that Neville won with the Red Arrow.
Several of Jimmy Snuka’s former colleagues sent their condolences on Twitter after “Superfly” passed away at age 73 from cancer.
“RIP to one of the greatest high flyers there ever was, The Super Fly Jimmy Snuka. Much Love and respect to the Snuka family,” wrote Hulk Hogan, who shared the spotlight with him in the main event of WrestleMania I in 1985.
The Iron Sheik, another Superstar who comes from Snuka’s era, wrote that his heart was broken and he would miss Snuka “forever.”
WWE Hall of Famer Jake “The Snake” Roberts said that Snuka will fly all the way to heaven and described him as a sweet man.
“Sad to hear a LEGEND, Jimmy Snuka has passed. I was lucky enough to tag w/Snuka in ECW. Learned tons from him,” wrote Taz, a former ECW champion himself.
Mick Foley said that Snuka’s career had a huge impact on his life and credits the cage splash on Don Muraco at MSG as the move that inspired him to become a wrestler. Foley added that he was sorry to learn of the passing of the legendary Snuka.
The Rock, who is related to the Snuka family through marriage in the Anoa’i family wrote, “Our family @TaminaSnuka asked me to share the sad news that her dad Jimmy Snuka has just passed away. Alofa atu i le aiga atoa. #RIPSuperfly”
Stephanie McMahon is so far the only member of the McMahon family who has publicly commented on Snuka’s death. “#RIPSuperfly one of the greatest icons in the history of our business. Sending our love and prayers to the entire family,” she wrote.
WWE has acknowledged the passing of “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka, the first time that Snuka has been mentioned since he was removed from the WWE Hall of Fame after he was charged with murder in 2015.
“WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka has passed away,” the statement said. “Snuka is regarded by many as the pioneer of high-flying offense because of his Superfly Splash from the top turnbuckle. His dive off the top of the steel cage onto Don Muraco at Madison Square Garden as hundreds of flash bulbs went off will forever live as one of the most memorable moments in WWE history.”
WWE then extended its condolences to Snuka’s family, friends and fans. In the statement, they referred to Snuka as a WWE Hall of Famer however his image – just like Hulk Hogan’s – is not part of the WWE Hall of Fame list on WWE.COM.
Just two weeks after all murder charges were dropped against him, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka passed away at age 73. His daughter and WWE Superstar Tamina Snuka posted a photo on Instagram holding her father’s hand, writing that she loved him, using the hash tags #forevermydad and #restwell among others.
Born in 1943, Snuka made his professional wrestling debut in 1968, wrestling for the National Wrestling Alliance before joining the World Wrestling Federation in 1982. His match against Don Muraco that same year from Madison Square Garden is one of the highlights, with Snuka leaping off the top of the cage with a splash, an image replayed a million times on WWE television. In 1985, Snuka was part of the main event of the first-ever WrestleMania, serving as the enforcer in the corner of Hulk Hogan and Mr. T.
He left the WWE in 1985 and then joined the AWA before rejoining the WWE in 1989. In 1992 he joined ECW. becoming their first ever ECW Heavyweight champion. Snuka returned to the WWE in 1993 for a very short stint and then made sporadic appearances for the company, including appearing at WrestleMania XXV where he teamed up with Ricky Steamboat and Roddy Piper to take on Chris Jericho.
In 2015, his WWE Legends contract was terminated and removed from the Hall of Fame after the murder investigation into the death of his former mistress Nancy Argentino was reopened. The cold case made it back to court and Snuka was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Snuka’s lawyers argued that their client was not fit to stand trial since he was suffering from stomach cancer and dementia. Snuka eventually pleaded not guilty and a hearing to determine if Snuka was fit for trial kicked off in May of last year. It was only earlier this month that the judge finally deemed Snuka not mentally fit to stand trial.
Snuka never won a title in his WWE career but he was part of the WWE Hall of Fame class of 1996, inducted by Don Muraco.
There’s a new host at NXT non-televised live events and his name is Vic Travagliante, who now goes by the name of Vic Joseph.
The Independence, Ohio native has been working as a part-time on-air talent for Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan (WKRK) and also was the voice of Tommy Dreamer’s promotion House of Hardcore. Travagliante also had stints with the CBS Cleveland affiliate and the Cleveland Browns.
He already made his debut on the January 12 NXT live event in Tampa, Florida.
The first-round matches of the WWE United Kingdom Championship tournament were held yesterday in front of a lively crowd at the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool.
The eight man who advanced to the second round are Trent Seven, Jordan Devlin, Sam Gradwell, Pete Dunne, Wolfgang, Joseph Conners, Mark Andrews, and Tyler Bate. The remaining rounds in the tournament, including the final, take place today with Tyler Bate vs Jordan Devlin, Trent Seven vs Wolfgang, Mark Andrews vs Joseph Conners, and Pete Dunne vs Sam Gradwell.
Attending the show were officials from ICW, Progress Wrestling and OTT Wrestling, the three British indie promotions who made all this possible. WWE even acknowledged them on screen during the broadcast.
Night two of the WWE United Kingdom Championship tournament continues today starting at 8PM GMT or 3PM EST only on the WWE Network.
HBO today announced that Dwayne Johnson’s Ballers will be returning for a third season later this year.
Ballers looks at the lives of former and current football players, following former superstar Spencer Strasmore – played by Dwayne Johnson – who has reinvented himself as a financial manager for current players in Miami.
Season one of Ballers drew an average of 1.6 million viewers, however season two dropped to an average of 1.1 million viewers. Season three will be filming in California after it relocated from Florida due to lack of tax credits.
Joining Dwayne Johnson on Ballers are Rob Corddry, John David Washington, Omar Miller, London Brown, Arielle Kebbel, and others.
With Smackdown rolling into Memphis, Tennessee live next Tuesday, WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler is returning to host a special edition of The King’s Court.
“I’m excited about the return of the King’s Court to #SmackDownLive this Tuesday night from my hometown of Memphis, TN…Don’t miss it,” Lawler tweeted, along with an old photo of him and The Undertaker on The King’s Court.
Lawler was removed – along with Lita – from his PPV Kickoff panel duties in late November and moved to a Legends deal where he no longer worked full-time for WWE.
Last month, Lawler himself said that Vince McMahon informed him that he will still host the 2017 Hall of Fame ceremony and will be offered some kind of a new deal with the company in the beginning of 2017.
The Wrestling Observer is reporting that the on-sale date for the WWE Hall of Fame 2017 ceremony tickets has been pushed to the end of January.
Tickets were originally scheduled to go on sale yesterday morning, but then pushed back to January 20. Now the new date is January 27, with a pre-sale kicking off two days earlier on January 25.
WWE usually announces the headliner of the Hall of Fame on the same week that tickets go on sale to give the show the initial sales push, however, it seems that there’s no main eventer yet, although there was no reason given why the ticket sales were pushed back twice.
Ticket prices will be $27, $54, $80, and $110 plus additional taxes and fees. The show will take place at the Amway Center on Friday, March 31.
Brock Lesnar is getting busy over the next several weeks as he will be appearing pretty much at every Monday Night Raw from now onward.
Lesnar will be at Raw this coming Monday from North Little Rock, and then on January 23 in Cleveland which also has an appearance from Goldberg, and the night after the Royal Rumble on January 30 from Laredo.
In February he will be at three Raw shows, the one on February 6 in Portland, the one on February 29 from Los Angeles, and the one on February 27 from Green Bay. Lesnar will miss the February 13 Raw because it’s taking place from Las Vegas and the former WWE and UFC champion is currently serving a one year ban by the Nevada Athletic Commission.
There are only two Raws so far advertised in the month of March, the March 6 show in Chicago and the March 20 one in Brooklyn, both of which will have have Lesnar on as well.
This run of appearances means that the mayor of Suplex City will basically be every week on television up until WrestleMania.
If you have not subscribed to the WWE Network before, today, January 14 would be a good day to trigger your free month as you will get four free shows within a 30 day period.
The action starts tonight with the launch of the WWE United Kingdom tournament live from Blackpool, England. The tournament continues tomorrow, January 15, and a winner will be crowned.
On January 28, NXT takes over San Antonio with NXT Takeover: San Antonio live from the Freeman Coliseum and featuring Shinsuke Nakamura vs Bobby Roode in the main event.
The next day on January 29, it’s the Royal Rumble live from the Alamodome stadium in San Antonio, with the 30-man over-the-top-rope Rumble match and AJ Styles vs John Cena and Kevin Owens vs Roman Reigns as the triple main event.
Then on February 12, the Elimination Chamber returns with a Smackdown-only pay-per-view live from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.
All these four shows will be free for any subscription that starts today, January 14. What are you waiting for? Go to http://w-o.it/wwentwrk to start your free month now!
The WWE United Kingdom Championship tournament kicks off tonight at 8PM GMT live from the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, England only on the WWE Network.
The tournament will feature 16 British-based wrestlers in a knockout tournament with the winner decided tomorrow night.
The eight, first round matches will take place tonight and will feature Tyler Bate vs Tucker, Jordan Devlin vs Danny Burch, Trent Seven vs H.C. Dyer, Wolfgang vs Tyson T-Bone, Mark Andrews vs Dan Moloney, James Drake vs Joseph Conners, Pete Dunn vs Roy Johnson, and Saxon Huxley vs Sam Gradwell.
The historic Empress Ballroom was built in 1896 and has a capacity of 3,000, although the set up for a wrestling event will have less. Tickets sold out pretty quick once they went on sale.
The tournament will start early for those fans in the United States, kicking off at 3PM EST.
Michael Cole and Nigel McGuinness will be calling the action.
You can watch the WWE United Kingdom Championship tournament for FREE along with the Royal Rumble and the Elimination Chamber if you are a first-time subscriber to the WWE Network and sign up TODAY. Sign up now!
This week’s Impact Wrestling did a total of 277,000 viewers, down 13,000 viewers from last week’s broadcast.
Taking out the two “best of” shows during Christmas and the Thanksgiving show, the January 12 broadcast is the lowest since April 12, 2016. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon told The Times-Picayune that he has no plans to vanish from the business he loves simply because he doesn’t consider WWE “work.”
“No. No, never. This is not work for me. I never go to work. Ever. Every aspect of the business, whether it’s working with the talent or the writing staff, even on occasion working with the legal guys, it’s all a big family. I never go to work,” McMahon said after WWE officially announced WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans.
McMahon also said that he doesn’t sleep because he can’t get enough of the business and it’s something he loves and has the passion for.
Speaking regarding not being on television anymore, the boss said that he doesn’t miss it as he enjoys producing and directing more. “I can’t do that as a talent because you have to have your head wrapped around that. I’ve done both in the past, but it’s not what I prefer to do. It takes an extraordinary amount of energy to be able to do that. Trying to both is difficult. It really is,” McMahon said.
In this episode of Total Divas, the drama continues for the Divas and their significant others. Renée Young is upset because in the beginning episode, she reveals that she and her boyfriend, WWE Superstar Dean Ambrose, were supposed to go on a trip with fellow WWE Superstars Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella, but Dean doesn’t want to go because he is to tired from his rigorous work schedule, and just wants to relax at home.
So, Renee decided to go on the trip without him. However, Renée still felt a little awkward in doing so because she said, “they are trying to get pregnant”. While I understand Renee wish not to be the third wheel, I also think that he should not restrict herself to staying home because Dean doesn’t like to go out often.
Renee, Brie and Daniel seemed to enjoy their weekend away. They communed with nature going whale watching, gardening and dining outdoors. Renee still missed Dean though. She even called Dean to complain about his absence. When he was through complaining Dean explained that he hadn’t gone with her because he was planning a personal vacation for just the two of them.
Meanwhile even though they were on vacation Brie and Daniel were still having their own issues. Daniel got a message from WWE saying that they had another job opportunity for him that didn’t involve wrestling, which Daniel is no longer clear to participate in because of multiple injuries. While Brie was happy that Daniel was going to be able to participate in the business that he loved so much, she was afraid that if Daniel once again kept rigorous schedule that the WWE requires of its talent, their plans to start a family would be derailed.
I thought that it was admirable that when Daniel heard Brie’s concerns he offered to refuse the position if Brie wanted him to. However, Brie insisted that Daniel take the position because she knew how much he wanted to be part of the WWE again.
Natalya and Lana had their own problems this week also. Lana wanted Natalya to help her to plan her wedding because Lana admired Natalya’s wedding photographs, and thought that Natalya would be an excellent wedding planning assistant.
At first, Natalya was flattered by Lana’s desire for her help but she soon realized that Lana wanted a lot more help than she was willing to give. However, she didn’t want to tell Lana that she wasn’t going to help her. So, she had her friend R-Truth how to best tell Lana without hurting her feelings. He suggested that Natalya ignore all of Lana’s wishes for her wedding and give her awful suggestions instead.
In spite of Natalya giving Lana all the awful suggestions that she could think of, Lana still kept asking for her help. Finally, Natalya had to tell Lana that she was unable to help. So, I suppose that we will just have to see the wedding plans that Lana comes up with on her own on the finale of this season Of Total Divas.
ESPN.COM is reporting that during a telephone conference call with the press, Triple H said that the company is interested in bringing Kenny Omega to WWE and any other talent who’s good.
“As far as Kenny Omega goes, I’m just interested in talent, period,” he told ESPN. He added that any talent who wants to perform on the largest platform in the world, WWE is the place to be and if they’re interested to go work for them, then he’s interested in talking to them.
“The fact that you’re questioning me on them means that person is probably pretty talented, so, yes, I’m interested,” Triple H said.
Omega just came off a fantastic match against Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 11 earlier this month and then announced that he will be leaving Japan to rethink his future. He said that he did not sign a contract with anyone yet and is exploring his options.
John Cena kept adding more fuel to the fire by posting several Omega-related photos on his Instagram and fans remember that last year he did the same with AJ Styles, and then Styles made his debut at the Rumble.
It’s believed that Omega’s contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling wraps up on January 31, which makes an appearance at the Royal Rumble on January 29 impossible unless he can get out two days before.
UFC fighter Josh Barnett made his TNA debut during the Impact television tapings this week, marking his first time wrestling with a U.S.-based wrestling company.
Barnett last fought in the UFC on September 3 of last year against Andrei Arlovski in Germany, a fight he won via rear-naked choke. Three months later, UFC’s anti-doping agency USADA, notified them that Barnett failed an out-of-competition drug test, his fourth failure so far. He is currently on a temporary suspension until he goes through the proper disciplinary actions.
The former UFC Heavyweight champion is not strange to the wrestling world, as he wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling and Inoki Genome Federation throughout the years.
He also does play-by-play with WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross on AXS TV for New Japan Pro Wrestling.
