Twitter was flooded with condolences for the former ECW tag team title holder Balls Mahoney from those who worked with him including Mick Foley, Tommy Dreamer, Christopher Daniels, Al Snow, Missy Hyatt, Steve Corino, Rob Van Dam, and many others.
WWE also issued a small statement on its website reading, “WWE is saddened to learn of reports that Jonathan Rechner, best known for competing in ECW as Balls Mahoney, has passed away. WWE extends its condolences to Rechner’s family, friends and fans.“
A GoFundMe.com campaign has been set up to cover the costs of the funeral as well as helping out his wife Gayle and their young son Christopher. The campaign hopes to raise $25,000 in total. You can help out by going to https://www.gofundme.com/34ywfnfw.
Former ECW and WWE Superstar Balls Mahoney passed away yesterday at the age of 44. He died at his home in Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey, but the cause of death at this point is still unknown. He passed away one day after his birthday.
Mahoney – real name Jonathan Rechner, made his pro wrestling debut in 1987 working for the World Wrestling Council before moving to Smokey Mountain Wrestling. In 1995 he had a short stint in the then World Wrestling Federation but he made his name while working for ECW – Extreme Championship Wrestling – starting in 1997.
He wrestled for ECW until the promotion closed its doors in 2001 and in 2005 he returned to the WWE as part of the ECW brand, with his second stint with the WWE lasting around 3 years. After leaving WWE, he returned to the independent scene wrestling for several different promotions. His last match was in December 2015.
This week’s Raw drew a total of 3,529,000 viewers, down 560,000 viewers from the post-WrestleMania Raw.
Hour one drew 3,474,000 viewers, followed by 3,687,000 in the second hour, and then back down to 3,427,000 for the third and final hour.
The show was first, second, and third on cable in terms of viewership and second, third, and fourth in the all-important 18-34 demographic. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
Episode 13 of season 5 of Total Divas titled C’est La Diva airs tonight on E! This is part one of the two-part season finale.
The synopsis for tonight’s show reads, “The Divas jet off to Paris where one Diva gets the proposal of a lifetime, relationships begin to crumble as the tension between Fox and Rosa peaks, and Eva ditches Mandy to hang out with the Bellas.”
WWE started its Tag Team title tournament last night to find out who will be the new number one contenders for The New Day’s Tag Team titles.
The four first round matches consist of The Usos vs Social Outcasts, Golden Truth vs The Vaudevillians, Enzo & Big Cass vs The Ascension, and Lucha Dragons vs Dudley Boyz.
Two of those matches were held on Raw and The Dudley Boyz and The Usos advanced to the next round of the competition. The tournament final is expected to be held at the Payback pay-per-view three weeks from now on May 1.
WWE Superstars John Cena, Sheamus and the Bella Twins will be attending Wizard World Philadelphia which will be held in June at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
Sheamus will be at the June 3 session from 4PM to 7PM. Cena will attend the June 5 session between 11AM and 3PM while The Bella Twins will be there as well on the same day as Cena from 12:30PM to 4PM. All of them will greet fans, pose for photo ops, sign autographs and conduct interactive Q&A panels.
The four join an amazing lineup of superstar entertainers scheduled to attend the pop culture extravaganza, including Marvel movie standouts Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston, David Duchovny, Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Norman Reedus, along with many other headliners.
WWE today announced a new class of 10 recruits that have begun training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. The new class will join a group of 69 men and women training at the facility.
“With support from our world-class coaching staff at the WWE Performance Center these men and women will have the chance to hone their skills and fulfill their dream of becoming a WWE Superstar,” said Paul “Triple H” Levesque, WWE Executive Vice President, Talent, Live Events & Creative. “Our state-of-the-art training facility gives our talent every opportunity to succeed and grow, and I’m pleased to welcome this new class to WWE.”
The new training class includes 6’9” Babatunde Aiyegbusi from Olesnica, Poland who is a former professional football player; Bianca Blair from Knoxville, Tennessee, an All-American and All-SEC track & field performer in hurdles at the University of Tennessee; Nikola Bogojevic from Superior, Wisconsin, a world-class Greco Roman Wrestler who was the National Champion in Greco Roman Wrestling at the Junior Pan-American Games in 2011; Carolyn Dunning from Las Vegas, Nevada, a former Air Force ROTC member and nationally ranked bodybuilding bikini competitor by The National Physique Committee; Macey Estrella from Parris Island, South Carolina, a former U.S. Marine and member of the Marine Corps SWAT Team; Nicola Glencross from Glasgow, Scotland who has eight years of experience wrestling on the independent circuit; Terrance Jean-Jacques from Boston, Massachusetts, an All-American wrestler at the University of Rhode Island in 2015; Daniella Kamela from Los Angeles, California, a former an on-air talent for FOX Sports Arizona, Phoenix Suns dancer and Arizona Cardinals cheerleader; Michael Nicholls from Perth, Australia, a 10 year indie wrestling veteran; and Shane Veryzer, also from Perth, Australia who has 11 years of experience wrestling on the independent circuit.
WWE kicks off their mega post-WrestleMania tour tomorrow with WWE Superstars and crew visiting 8 countries, performing 17 shows in 10 days.
The first stop will be in Milan, Italy, with a show at the Mediolanum Forum on April 13. On April 14 it’s in Florence, Italy, with a show at the Nelson Mandela Forum. Also on April 14, one half of the roster travels to Dubai for a show at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.
On April 15 it’s two shows, one at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai and one at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, Netherlands. There’s one show on April 16 at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham, England.
Notthingam, England gets its show on April 17 at the Nottingham Capital FM Arena as does Leeds, England with a show at the First Direct Arena.
Television tapings will be held at The O2 Arena in London, England with Raw on April 18 and Smackdown on April 19. There will be a second show on April 19 at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England.
On April 20 there will be one show at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, while the second crew performs at the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, England. On April 21 there will be a show at the Forest National in Brussels, Belgium and another at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland.
Two shows on April 22 with one in Paris, France at the Accorhotels Arena and one in Sheffield, England at the Sheffield Motorpoint Arena. The tour winds down on Saturday, April 23 with one show at the Palacio De Los Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena in Malaga, Spain and one at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.
Just three months after making their debut on POP TV, TNA Wrestling has already lost its Tuesday night replay on the network.
Despite POP being in much more homes than Destination America, TNA seemed to have reached its limit of around 350,000 viewers or less every week with no real advancement in viewers, something that the company hoped to achieve once they reach millions of more homes nationwide.
The POP TV schedule has removed the Tuesday night replay and instead is listing an Impact Wrestling replay on Saturday at 11:30AM EST, obviously not the ideal time for a replay.
After months of speculation and teases on Twitter, former Bullet Club members Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows made their long-awaited debut on Monday Night Raw last night, viciously attacking The Usos to mark their arrival.
The duo stormed the ring after The Usos defeated the Social Outcasts to advance in the WWE Tag Team title tournament. They performed their finishing move the Magic Killer on Jey Uso and then beat the crap out of Jimmy Uso on the outside.
Both Gallows and Anderson were in Dallas for WrestleMania weekend as well as backstage for Raw and Smackdown that followed the record-breaking pay-per-view but were not used. Their arrival was expected imminently and the duo are booked at all television tapings going forward.
The popular tag team gave their respective notices to New Japan Pro Wrestling earlier this year along with Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles in a bid to take over the WWE. Gallows and Anderson are big friends of Finn Balor and they were all part of the Bullet Club along with AJ Styles.
This is Anderson’s first ride in the WWE while Gallows worked there before as Festus and Doc Gallows.
An “In Memoriam” graphic appears first, remembering the very-recent death of Robert Windham, a.k.a. “Blackjack Mulligan,” 1942 – 2016.
Introduction Segment: Welcoming and Arena Promo
Michael Cole greets us from L.A., and Shane McMahon makes his way to the ring. a “tweet” from WWE announces Shane is still in control of Raw. McMahon talks about new beginnings on Raw, which start with Natalya taking on Women’s Champion Charlotte for the title tonight! As well, a Tag-Team Tournament will happen to determine who meets The New Day for the Tag-Team Championship; and Sami Zayn will get another chance at becoming #1 Contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, as he will wrestle A.J. Styles tonight! If Sami wins, then Sami will take part in a Triple-Threat match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against A.J. and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns, taking place at Payback on May 1st.
Kevin Owens interrupts and protests Zayn’s opportunity and the fact he has not gotten his automatic rematch for the Intercontinental Championship; Owens orders Shane to give it to him, but “The Boss” says he has to “earn” it. He books Owens to meet Cesaro in a #1 Contender’s bout, commencing immediately!
Commercials.
Match #1: Single (#1 Contender’s Bout to the Intercontinental Championship) – Kevin Owens VS. Cesaro
Owens ducks out of the ring and Cesaro taps him on his shoulder; they trade waistlocks, and Kevin breaks on the outside. Intercontinental Champion The Miz, with his real-life wife and superstar Maryse, is shown backstage watching.
Cesaro side-headlock takedowns Owens, but Kevin hammers back and grabs Cesaro in a standing side headlock, and yelling “I have the best headlock; headlock master!” Cesaro regains for a bit, but Owens takes control, focussing on Cesaro’s taped-up shoulder. He runs Cesaro into the ring post and kicks away at his shoulder in the ring. He clamps on an armlock and flips Cesaro over by the arm. He goes back to the arm submission to wear Cesaro down.
Kevin gets thrown into the corner, and Cesaro follows with an uppercut. He moves before Owens can hit him in the corner, then follows with back-and-forth uppercuts in the corners, and a smacking-dropkick! 1 – 2 – kickout by Owens! Cesaro is run into the turnbuckle bad shoulder-first again.
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We come back and see a replay of Cesaro giving Kevin a gutwrench-suplex from the turnbuckle, but Owens has taken over now. He punches Cesaro, but Cesaro uppercuts back. He is whipped over the ropes, but lands on his feet, then soars off the top turnbuckle with a crossbody. Kevin rolled-through and locks on a Crossface Submission. Cesaro struggles and turns it into a roll-up then a Sharpshooter! Owens hits a superkick and climbs the turnbuckle; he dives off with a Frogsplash! 1 – 2 – Cesaro just gets his shoulder up!
Kevin goes for the Pop-Up Powerbomb, but Cesaro hops over and hits a springboard-spinning-uppercut from the second rope! He swings Owens a couple times, but his shoulder or ribs (as J.B.L. speculated) has affected him. Owens goes for the Pop-Up Powerbomb again, but Cesaro reverses and rolls into the Neutralizer! He covers for the victory!
Winner and #1 Contender for the Intercontinental Championship: Cesaro
Segment #2: Backstage Promo
Women’s Champion Charlotte is chatting with her father, Ric Flair, on why she has to be in a title match already. Flair concurs, and says if The Authority were at Raw, this would not have happened. Special Guest Dr. Phil joins them to give advice. He is “proud” of what Charlotte has accomplished, and gives props to Ric for helping her along, but tells her she needs to split from him, as he now cheats for her to win. Flair attempts to get in his face after Charlotte walks away, but Phil “whoos” Flair instead!
Segment #3: Backstage Promo
Kevin Owens is berating Shane for his recent losses, but Shane won’t hear it and tells Kevin he is banned from the building, so not to risk him messing with Sami Zayn again.
Commercials.
Segment #4: Arena Promo
Tag-Team Championship The New Day strut to the ring; they talk about the Tag-Team Tournament, and wonder who will be the team to meet them. Xavier says the teams won’t actually thrive, but “it will sure be fun to watch them try!”
The Lucha Dragons are going to start off the tournament against The Dudleyz, next!
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Match #2: Tag-Team (#1 Contender’s Tournament to the Tag Team Championship) – The Lucha Dragons (United States Champion Kalisto and Sin Cara) VS. The Dudley Boyz (Bubba-Ray and D-Von)
Kalisto appears to be hurt, as the referee and Cara call for a ringside doctor. D-Von hits Sin and puts him in the ring; a replay is shown of Kalisto tumbling to the floor and getting a clothesline from D-Von. The Dudleyz govern over Cara while Kalisto is being checked on; they finish this quickly with a 3-D.
Winners and Advancing: The Dudley Boyz
Post-match, Enzo and Cass walk to the stage. After their usual mike work, Bubba will have none of them. He declares “we paved the way for guys like you.” D-Von tells them they’re “not the best tag-team in this business; the only reason why you exist is because of us.” Of course, Enzo replies with the biological reason he exists, and Cass threatens to stomps through them like a jackhammer! He calls The Boyz “S-A-W-F-T!”
Commercials.
Kevin Owens is shown being lead out of the building by “security.”
Segment #5: Arena Promo
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns is out. Again, he calls himself “The Guy,” citing that he’s “not a good guy,” or a “bad guy.” Reigns addresses both Styles and Zayn, both of who could be his opponents for Payback. He says he has “a lot of respect” because of what they have done around the world, but they have yet to win “THE Championship.
The League of Nations – Alberto Del Rio, Sheamus, and Rusev – walk out. They voices their angst over not being involved in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship decision last week; all three warn Roman they can harm him. Reigns challenges them to prove it, but the lights go out after a Wyatt Family video and Bray, Erik Rowan, and Braun Strowman appear in the ring!
The Wyatts and The League brawl, with Roman helping The Wyatts. Shane walks out and likes what he saw, so he makes tonight’s main-event a Tag-Team Match between Bray and Reigns vs. two members of The Nations.
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Match #3: Single for the Women’s Championship – Natalya (Challenger) VS. Charlotte (with Ric Flair) (Champion)
(Note: Dr. Phil is out to observe.) Charlotte tries to sweep Natalya, but Nattie rolls around with a front-facelock and backs into a corner. Charlotte bumps her and they lockup. Natalya takes her down by the leg, but Charlotte kicks out, literately at Natalya’s head. Natalya hops on Charlotte in a guillotine position, but Charlotte slams her down. Nattie manages an armbar, which Charlotte has to get to the ropes to break. Natalya slams Charlotte face-first in the ring, then gives her a running front-dropkick! Charlotte chops back and gives Nattie a neckbreaker; she drops repeated knees, then chokes her with her knee.
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Charlotte has Nattie locked in a Figure-4 Necklock after ramming her head into the canvas. She flips Natalya over a couple times, but Nattie reverses into another armbar. Charlotte works her way out of it into a Figure-4, then slaps her while in the submission. Natalya turns over, making Charlotte crawl to the rope. The Women’s Champ sweeps up Natalya, this time trapping her in The Sharpshooter! Natalya rolls over to break, but is in pain.
Charlotte chops hard, but Natalya hits a few hard forearms and then a German-Suplex! She tries again, but Charlotte flips her over. Nattie hits back with a Discus Clothesline! She tries The Sharpshooter, but Charlotte hits her in the face. She rolls up Nattie for two, then kicks her hard in the head. She follows with an exploder-suplex, then ascends the turnbuckle after walking over Natalya! She moonsaults, but Natalya rolls! Natalya rotates the Women’s Champ into a Sharpshooter; Charlotte taps! However, the referee is pulled form the ring by Flair, so he doesn’t see the give-in, and instead calls for the bell on a dq.
Winner via Disqualification: Natalya (Charlotte remains Women’s Champion)
Post-match, Byron Saxton interviews Dr. Phil; he is not happy with Charlotte choosing to use her father to win, but is happy with how the Women’s Division is overall.
Segment #6: Backstage Promo
Rene Young is with Sami Zayn, who gives a usual face talk about his #1 Contender chance; A.J. Styles walks up and proclaims that, while he is happy they are both where they are now, he is going to stay the only #1 contender.
Commercials.
The Usos make their entrance and will be wrestling next!
Match #4: Tag-Team (#1 Contender’s Tournament to the Tag Team Championship) – The Usos (Jimmy and Jey) VS. The Social Outcasts (Curtis Axel and Heath Slater) (with Social Outcast members Adam Rose and Bo Dallas)
Jimmy and Jey get the 1 – 2 – 3 after a roll-up and The Outcasts distract themselves!
Winners and Advancing: The Usos
Post-match, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows (former WWE Superstar) attack The Usos and are forced to leave by referees!
Segment #7: Locker Room Promo
Maryse is barking at an assistant, who didn’t take out the blue M&M’s in Miz’s candy bowl! Jojo interviews Maryse and The Miz, where Miz puts over his “A-List” endeavors; Cesaro walks up and promises to give him many uppercuts at Payback!
A.J. Styles enters to face Sami Zayn, next!
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Match #5: Single (#1 Contender’s Bout to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship) – A.J. Styles VS. Sami Zayn
They test each other first, then Sami locks on A.J.’s wrist. Styles switches it into an armlock of his own, but Zayn gives him a side-headlock takedown, and A.J. does the same! They test again, but Sami turns into a couple roll-ups for ones! Both trade wristlocks again and flip around, then Zayn spins Style with a couple of armdrags.
Another elbow-collar tie-up ensue, but A.J. flips Zayn over this time, however Sami chops Styles hard in the corner. A.J. leapfrogs over Sami and hits a hard-dropkick, then chops in the corner. He hits a forearm and a snap-suplex, but only gets one. Styles stretches Sami’s chin, then forearms him again to the outside. A.J. slingshots to the apron, then gives Zayn a running-knee!
Zayn hops over and they trade position, then Sami pulls down the top rope, letting A.J. tumble to the floor; he follows with a Swanton-Dive onto Styles!
Commercials.
Styles is wearing Sami down with a grounding rear chinlock, then numerous hits and a splashing-clothesline! He drops Sami with the fireman’s-carry-kneebuster, but only gets two! A.J. goes for the Styles Clash, but Zayn reverses it into an awkward-looking inside cradle! For two! He springs from the second turnbuckle to the top and soars into a crossbody for a near-fall! He follows that with a springboard-tornado-DDT for two!
Zayn goes for a half-nelson suplex, but A.J. elbows and hits the Pele Kick! A.J. rolls to the apron and uses the ropes to help himself; he slingshots, but Sami ducks and spins Styles around with the Blue Thunder Bomb! 1 – 2 – 2-and-a-half – A.J. lifts his shoulder!
“The Phenomenal One” suddenly traps Zayn in the Calf-Crusher, but Sami manages to reach the bottom rope to stop the submission! A.J. climbs the turnbuckle, but Sami cuts him off and meets him up there. He tries a suplex, but Styles stops. He goes for a sunset-flip powerbomb, but Zayn awkwardly lands on his head and feet. He runs back and runs forward for the Helluva Kick, but A.J. blocks with a kick. He springboards off the top rope with the Phenomenal Forearm and takes this!
Winner and Sole #1 Contender to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship – A.J. Styles
Chris Jericho is walking backstage and appears to be out, next!
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Segment #8: Backstage Promo
A.J. and Sami are discussing their match when Shane walks up and puts over the “awesome” (quoting Shane) contest! A.J. and Sami shake hands.
Segment #9: Arena Promo
Chris Jericho presents “the biggest ‘Highlight Reel’ of all time.” He brings out his guest, “a multiple-time World Champion, he’s main-evented WrestleManias, he’s a future Hall of Famer.” Jericho’s guest is himself!
“Y2J” interviews himself, and puts himself over many times and doesn’t know anyone else who is better. “The Lunatic Fringe” might answer that, as he walks out with a plant and sign in hand. Dean Ambrose meets Chris in the ring, which perplexes the host. Ambrose begins to rearrange Jericho’s set, and gives Chris with a memo from Shane McMahon, stating that the “Highlight Reel” is being taken over by the “Ambrose Asylum.”
Dean turns the tables on Jericho, but Chris doesn’t care, and demands Ambrose leave. Dean responds with a Dirty Deeds DDT after Jericho swiped the mike.
Up next, Apollo Crews is in action!
Commercials.
It is announced that The Golden Truth will take on The Vaudevillians, and Enzo and Cass will meet The Ascension in the Tag-Team Title Tournament this week on Smackdown!
Segment #10: Locker Room Promo
Goldust is not pleased with R-Truth putting them in the Tag-Team Title Tournament; Dr. Phil walks up, but doesn’t even say a word and walks away. (That was genuinely funny!)
Match #6: Single – Social Outcast member Adam Rose (with Social Outcast member Bo Dallas) VS. Apollo Crews
Rose surprisingly controls a good bit of this until Crews makes a comeback and finishes with the Spin-Out Powerbomb!
Winner via Pinfall: Apollo Crews
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Segment #11: Video Promo
Epico and Primo talk about Puerto Rico
Segment #12: Video Promo
A montage of Baron Corbin’s career in NXT and what he has done at Wrestlemania and Raw is shown.
Segment #13: Video Promo
“We are destined to dance with one another until the end of time. And although you are my mortal enemy, and I despise everything that you stand for Roman, it appears that we have a holy bond that can never be broken. And I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry Roman, you can trust me.” Bray laugh and informs L.A. that he’s “here.”
Commercials.
Match #7: Tag-Team – Bray Wyatt and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns VS. The League of Nations (Alberto Del Rio and Sheamus) (with League of Nations member Rusev)
Wyatt and Sheamus begin, with Bray controlling with a shoulder block, punches, and a clothesline. He kicks, then crab-walks to scare Sheamus! Bray pounds on Sheamus in his and Reigns’ corner, then Roman is tagged. Both kick and punch Sheamus, then Roman clotheslines Sheamus numerous times! Bray tags himself in, but Sheamus punches back until he receives a hard clothesline!
Alberto is tagged in, and he and Sheamus work over Bray for a bit until “The Eater of Worlds” makes the hot-tag to Roman! He hammers away on Sheamus and signals for the Superman Punch, but Sheamus goes to the outside, where The League go after. Sheamus runs Roman into the ring post, and he and Del Rio control again for a bit.
Roman eventually is able to make the hot-tag, and Wyatt dismantles The League! He winds up as the crowd is going ape in a good-way for him! He tries Sister Abigail, but Del Rio stops. Bray hits a running crossbody-elbow, but Sheamus breaks the pin. Roman hits Sheamus to the outside and follows with a Superman Punch attempt, but Sheamus blocks. The League almost get the W after a Backstabber by Alberto, then The Wyatt Family video plays and the lights are out! They come back on and Erik and Braun take out Rusev!
Del Rio goes back into the ring, where he is planted with Sister Abigail for the victory as Roman Spears Sheamus!
Winners via Pinfall: Bray Wyatt and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns
Post-match, Roman and Bray stare each other down face-to-face to close the show!
Former WWE Tag Team champion Titus O’Neil will be appearing on the 100th episode of Animal Planet’s Tanked on Friday, April 15 at 10PM ET.
In this particular episode, tank designers and co-owners of Acrylic Tank Manufacturing (ATM), Wayde King and Brett Raymer are asked by WWE’s Titus O’Neil to design a gator-themed tank that pays homage to his alma mater, the University of Florida.
The synopsis for this episode continues, “But first, the guys squeeze in a quick training session with Titus at the WWE training facility where they must prove themselves worthy of taking on the tank-building challenge. The pressure is instantly on and Brett fears a potential smack down when Wayde disagrees with Titus on the best position for his tank. Titus also pays a visit to ATM in Vegas where he faces an intimidating opponent: a twenty-pound eel. Losing out on the tank location, Titus at least wants to pick out his fish and chooses black and white striped “referee” fish to represent his wrestling career, plus blue and orange fish to honor his alma mater, the University of Florida.”
WWE Superstar John Cena taped an episode of Larry King Now, done after his surprise WrestleMania 32 appearance with The Rock.
During this interview, Cena talked about a variety of subjects including his career, his relationship with Nikki Bella, the rise in popularity of women’s wrestling in WWE, the UFC, his movies, and of course his upcoming reality TV show American Grit on FOX.
Cena revealed to Larry King that he’s trying to return full time in the ring within the month and if there’s an opportunity to jump in the ring with Stone Cold Steve Austin, he would do it.
The former champ also revealed that he wasn’t supposed to be at WrestleMania 32 and “dressed in a side office that’s a broom closet.” He said he would have loved to do more than he did but that’s as far as the medical team allowed him to do.
You can see the 25 minute interview in full below.
Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com is reporting that TNA is moving their headquarters next month to a warehouse where ShopTNA.com is based.
The cost-cutting move will see TNA move out from their offices at Cummins Station, a location which has been the corporate home of TNA since Panda Energy took over the company from the Jarrett family.
PWInsider adds that the plan to move out of Cummins Station has been in the works for quite a while and this move is being done to try and strengthen TNA finances which is not a secret that they are not in good shape.
It seems like the WrestleMania stipulation in the Shane vs Undertaker Hell In A Cell match didn’t really serve its purpose as once again Shane McMahon will be “running” Raw tonight.
“Due to overwhelming social media support, WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon has placed Shane McMahon in charge of Raw again tonight,” read the preview of Raw on WWE.COM.
Shane was allowed to run the show last week out of nowhere just 24 hours after losing his match to the Undertaker in a bid to take over the show. With The Authority – Triple H and Stephanie McMahon – off television for a few, it will be Shane who will be the sheriff in town, at least for now.
Also scheduled tonight is an appearance from Dr. Phil who was billed as the guest star for the show.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will be co-hosting the MTV Movie Awards along with his Central Intelligence co-star Kevin Hart tonight, a ceremony which was taped yesterday in Los Angeles but will air on MTV at 8PM today.
The Rock, who had a busy week with WrestleMania and filming Baywatch, is said to have pulled some crazy sh*t with Hart during the ceremony. This was the 25th annual of the show. Johnson was also nominated for Best Action Hero during the show. He was accompanied by his daughter Simone and ex-wife and manager Dany Garcia.
Speaking to the Peterborough Examiner, former TNA champion Bobby Roode admitted that he has not signed a deal with WWE yet despite the rumors floating around that he signed a week before he appeared at NXT Takeover: Dallas.
“I’m not officially signed yet,” said Roode. “The Internet has blown up over it, and I mean I’m close, but I don’t want to spoil anything or ruin anything. I want to wait until it’s official. I don’t want to jinx anything either.”
Bobby Roode popped up at NXT Takeover: Dallas right before the main event started and was acknowledged on television with a graphic and by the announcers. Roode wrestled for WWE between 2002 and 2003 as an enhancement talent appearing on Sunday Night Heat and Velocity.
Former WWE and TNA wrestler MVP announced last week that he had signed a deal with Lucha Underground however that contract has already been terminated by the parent company of Lucha Underground after MVP violated some terms of the contract.
In a video statement, MVP said that he inadvertently violated a non-disclosure agreement which was part of the contract and that he was released from his deal. He signed on as an agent/producer and at one point was also scheduled to debut as an on-air talent.
“I’m taking this one on the chin guys, I blew it. I made a mistake and the corporate powers that be decided that my contract should be terminated and I accept that,” MVP said. “I’m being honest with you, I f*cked up.”
MVP said that he has no animosity towards Lucha Underground as it was completely his fault.
Shinsuke Nakamura received four staples to the head yesterday to close a cut he suffered during an NXT live event in Columbia, South Carolina.
The injury happened when Nakamura was wrestling Manny Andrade and hit a moonsault from the top rope to the floor. The match was stopped for a few minutes as WWE’s medical team attended to Nakamura. The former IWGP Intercontinental champion then resumed the match and went on to defeat his former rival who wrestled under the name La Sombra.
WWE’s NXT Twitter posted a photo of Nakamura after he got stapled and then the King of Strong Style tweeted that he’s doing okay.
The post-WrestleMania Smackdown did a total of 2,444,000 viewers, up 116,000 viewers from the previous week. The one hour Hall of Fame broadcast that followed Smackdown did 1,677,000 viewers. (Ratings credit: Showbuzzdaily.com)
