Former 11 time WWE and World Heavyweight champion Adam “Edge” Copeland appeared on the George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight show this week to talk about several topics including professional wrestling.
Stroumboulopoulos asked Copeland about his time in the WWE and his retirement. Copeland said that hew knew it was time to hang up his boots and he didn’t want to end up like Mickey Rourke in the movie The Wrestler. Copeland explained all the pain he went through and how he avoided the pain killers but sympathized with those who fell for them because it’s easy to forget the pain once you start popping them in.
The discussion turned to his match with Hulk Hogan winning the tag team titles together and Copeland said that was the most fun time he’s ever had. He went over how Hulk Hogan was so laid back at the time and told him that he will do whatever he asks him. The man formerly known as Edge said he pitched the idea to have a double boot and double leg drop for the climax of the match and Hogan agreed, even letting him get the pin to win the titles.
In the final segment of the show, the host asked what was the most romantic thing that he’s ever done and Copeland answered with having a baby. He revealed that he’s still new to fatherhood as the baby was born just six weeks ago.
Copeland’s girlfriend and mother of his baby is former WWE Women’s champion Beth Phoenix, who before dated CM Punk.
The WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony and the post-WrestleMania RAW will no longer be marketed as coming from the New Orleans Arena as the owners of the building have signed a deal for a new name!
The arena will now be called the Smoothie King Center following a $40 million deal over 10 years with the NBA team New Orleans Pelicans.
The change is still not reflected on Ticketmaster.com for future ticket sales but everything will remain the same except the name of the arena.
Tickets for both the Hall of Fame and Monday Night RAW are still available although both carry a notice on Ticketmaster that not many seats are left.
In a rare interview acknowledging other wrestling companies around, WWE.COM talked with several Superstars who came through the ranks of Ring of Honor as well as its founder, Gabe Sapolsky.
The ones interviewed are Seth Rollins, Colt Cabana, Antonio Cesaro, and Daniel Bryan, leaving out one very important member of the ROH group – CM Punk.
There is mention of CM Punk however in the article as well as others such as Samoa Joe and Low Ki. WWE.COM even provided links back to ROH’s website and Dragon Gate USA’s website, which is Sapolsky’s current job.
Monday Night RAW this week did 4,211,000 viewers with a 3.15 rating, down over 500,000 viewers from the post-Royal Rumble show last week.
Hour one pulled in 4,428,000 viewers, hour two dropping slightly to 4,221,000 and then a drop to 3,983,00 viewers in the third and final hour. (Ratings credit: PWInsider.com)
WWE.COM has published a list of the pay-per-view archive that will be available right from the first day of the launch of the WWE Network come February 24.
Over 400 pay-per-views from WWE, WCW, and ECW, will be available to stream as part of the $9.99 per month price.
The shows are supposed to air uncut and unedited with some of them carrying a disclaimer at the beginning of the broadcast. The Over The Edge pay-per-view from 1999, the one where Owen Hart passed away, is also listed although it will be interesting to see if that gets any editing.
The WWE Network starts on February 24 and will be available to stream on several devices including Android, iOS, Playstation, Roku, and others.
John Cena was missing in action from the live broadcast of Monday Night RAW yesterday thanks to the eye injury he suffered over the weekend wrestling Randy Orton however that didn’t keep Cena completely away.
After RAW went off the air and the attack on Daniel Bryan continued, it was John Cena who came down to the rescue, clearing the ring. Both Orton and Kane tried to jump on Cena however the former WWE champ quickly disposed of them by delivering two Attitude Adjustments.
Cena was supposed to wrestle Orton in the dark match but that did not happen.
During the Take-Two Interactive’s conference call to discuss the company’s results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2014 ended December 31, 2013, Karl Slatoff, President of Take-Two, announced that consumers can “look forward to exciting next generation releases” including WWE 2K15 this year.
Strauss Zelnick, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said earlier in the call that sales of WWE 2K14 have exceeded their expectations and the WWE franchise has quickly proven to be a successful addition to their portfolio.
“We believe there is a meaningful opportunity to grow this series by further leveraging 2K’s marketing power and development expertise,” Zelnick said, without releasing any figures of how many copies the title has sold.
Take-Two took over the WWE license from THQ last year and is now marketing the WWE video games under their 2K Sports brand.
One half of the Funkadactyls, Naomi, suffered an eye injury during her match against Aksana on Monday Night RAW yesterday.
The injury happened when Aksana hit her with a knee while she was on the ground. The ref immediately noticed and didn’t count after the initial cover but then counted and then Naomi kicked out – and we use that term very lightly – with Aksana buying some time to let her opponent recover. Eventually the match continued briefly and Naomi went for the win.
Dr. Chris Amann, WWE’s resident physician, told WWE.COM that Naomi suffered a bruised orbital bone or bruised eye socket along with a scratch on her cornea. No concussions were diagnosed after a test was performed and they will check back on her again today.
Roman Reigns of The Shield was also on the receiving end of a nasty bump and had a laceration above his eye, an injury he received during the six man tag match on the broadcast against Kofi Kingston, Rey Mysterio, and Big E Langston.
The 2014 Royal Rumble MVP needed six stitches to close up the wound and WWE cameras did their best to avoid the blood showing on television.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross will be kicking off his new venture on February 19, an online audio show in association with Podcast One.
Titled Ross Report, a name which is familiar with fans following his Ross Report columns on WWE.COM, JR joins Stone Cold Steve Austin and Chris Jericho on the rising Podcast One platform.
Ross’ first guest will be his good friend and fellow Hall of Famer Steve Austin.
The star of Hot In Cleveland, Betty White, will be on Monday Night RAW next week when the show rolls into Los Angeles, California, at the STAPLES Center.
The 92 year old Guinness World Record holder for the longest television career for a female entertainer will probably not take any bumps in the ring for obvious reasons but will be interacting with the Superstars and Divas throughout the three hour broadcast.
This is her first appearance on WWE television and WWE announced her participation on RAW last night and via a press release.
Let’s hope tonight is much better than last week. I really, really hope they fix the WWE World Heavyweight Championship picture and do not go in the route of Batista/Orton – again, I am fine with Batista as the #1 Contender, but a fresh face (Daniel Bryan, Christian, even Cena again [since they didn’t put Lesnar in a qualifying match) must be the champion going into WrestleMania XXX to at least make a new main event interesting.
Meanwhile, the Tag-Team Title scenario is great – loving the Steel Cage rematch that is on the card and again, really hope they give this match either the deserved main-event or a long time on Raw. Unfortunately, I don’t believe that will happen, but wishful thinking. Plus a continuing feud between The Brotherhood and The New Age Outlaws.
The Shield are set to face The Wyatt Family at Elimination Chamber. While I think this is rushed/out-of-nowhere, it is very intriguing for three reasons: the great in-ring skills with all of them, their microphone work, and the fact they both teams are supposed to be heels, so who will the fans cheer for? (At recent times, they love both but have leaned towards “The Hounds of Justice”!). Also, will Triple H get involved? As seen on Smackdown he got in the face of Roman Reigns and Reigns did not back down. Is this a new rivalry leading to a match at ‘Mania 30? If it is, Roman needs to come out on top to be the potential big star he can be.
Lastly, will they announce another Hall Of Fame Inductee, and who will it be for the Class Of 2014?
All this and much more, so read on!
Monday Night Raw TV Report for February 3rd, 2014 – “Saving ‘Face?'”
Introduction Segment: Arena Promo
Michael Cole welcomes us to Monday Night Raw right off the bat, and the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Randy Orton, proceeds out. Orton speculates that The Authority wants to strip him of the title, since they put him in the Elimination Chamber predicament. He wonders how many times he has to defeat Cena, or Christian, or Bryan, or Sheamus, or Cesaro. He also berates Batista and says he will be him handily too at Wrestlemania. (Again, I hope not, as in I hope their is a new WWE World Heavyweight Champion by that time to take on “The Animal!”) Randy puts himself over as the “greatest superstar of this generation and the main attraction of Monday Night Raw.”
The Authority themselves appear on stage to respond. Amid loud “C.M. Punk” chants, Stephanie tries to build up Orton’s confidence and remind him of all they have done for him. Triple H considers realigning their faith in a new “face of the WWE,” since all the words that “The Viper” has been ranting about, which to them is not becoming of the “face of the WWE.” McMahon then announces that the WWE World Heavyweight Champion will take on all five of his competitors in singles matches over the next few weeks. And, if tonight’s opponent wins, she may consider him the “new face of the WWE.” The man Orton is going to “face?” (yes, stupid pun intended!) Yes, yes, yes, Daniel Bryan! Triple H even leads the fans in a “yes, yes, yes chant.”
A video is shown of The New Age Outlaws winning the Tag-Team Championships from The Brotherhood at the Royal Rumble. Later tonight, the two teams will square off inside a Steel Cage, and can only win by pin or submission!
The Shield make their way through the crowd for their 6-Man Tag-Team bout, as clips of their struggles with The Wyatt Family and Triple H air.
Commercials.
Match #1: Six-Man Tag-Team – The Shield (United States Champion Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns) VS. Kofi Kingston, Intercontinental Champion Big E. Langston, and Rey Mysterio
The U.S. Champ and the I.C. Champ begin, with Langston pounding away on Ambrose. Kofi is tagged in and leaps up then armdrags Ambrose. Rollins now in and eats a jumping elbow by Kofi. Ambrose back in and viciously mudhole stomps Kofi in The Shield’s corner. Kingston is dominated by the trio. Scoop slam by Rollins, but he misses a splash, which allows Kofi to tag in Rey-Rey. He soars in with a seated senton then flies around Rollins, nailing him with a stiff kick. Rollins catches Rey on his shoulders and Reigns comes in to hit him with a leaping forearm.
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Reigns is still in control over Mysterio, clasping on a grounding rear chinlock. Rey elbows and kicks his way out, but is elbowed back down to the canvas. Dean is back in and rips away at Mysterio’s neck. Ambrose hang shim upside down in the corner and stomps away, then goes for a running shoulder but finds the ring post instead! Rey gets the hot-tag to Langston, who cleans house on The Shield. Big E. runs over Roman with a couple clotheslines, one that busted Reigns wide open near his right eye. He rams Reigns in the corner, then impressively overhead belly-to-belly suplexes him! Langston follows with a splash, but the rest of The Shield break up the count. Reigns collects himself and nails the Superman Punch on Langston. He is setting up for the spear when Ambrose tags himself in and drives Langston down face-first with the front DDT! He follows with the cover to get the victory!
Winners via Pinfall: The Shield (United States Champion Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns)
Post-match, Roman gets in Ambrose’s face about the finish until Seth gets in between to calm them down. Just then, The Wyatt Family appear on the Titantron. Bray proclaims their moment is soon, and Luke tells them “he has always been your king.” Rowan warns them to “run.”
Commercials.
Segment #2: Arena Promo
“Bad News” Barrett cuts another pointless promo about football (American) fans over-feeding themselves and risking their health. Jerry “The King” Lawler interrupts Barrett, but unfortunately subtly warns him that he “won’t be here next week.” That went virtually nowhere.
Christian makes his return to Raw and will have a match next!
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Match #2: Single – Christian VS. Jack Swagger (with Real Americans partners Antonio Cesaro and Zeb Colter)
Swagger waistlock slams Christian then rolls around with him. Christian moves out of the corner and kicks him away. He tosses Jack over the ropes, then follows up with a baseball slide. Swagger yanks Christian face-first onto the apron! He throws him in to the steel steps. Swagger takes control in the ring, hurling Christian across the canvas. He clamps on a butterfly lock, which Christian rises out of, but is quickly slammed back into the corner. Swagger climbs the turnbuckle, signals “We The People,” but takes a double-boot to the face! Christian fires himself up, but is quickly turned over with a knee-to-the-gut by Jack. Christian spins out of a gutwrench suplex attempt and drops Swagger with a reverse DDT. 1 – 2 – Swagger kicks out!
Swagger catches Christian in an ankle lock position, but Christian rolls through. He uses the middle rope to springboard into a sunset flip and take this one!
Winner via Pinfall: Christian
It’s not the main-event after all, but let’s hope this next contest gets some lengthy time. Up next is the Steel Cage Match for the Tag-Team Championship!
The steel structure lowers and The New Age Outlaws make their entrance and usual promo, followed by Goldust and Cody Rhodes.
Commercials.
Match #3: Steel Cage Tag-Team for the Tag-Team Championship – The New Age Outlaws (“Road Dogg” Jesse James and “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn) (Champions) VS. The Brotherhood (Goldust and Cody Rhodes) (Challengers)
After formal introductions (nice touch!) Goldust and Road Dogg begin. Goldust taunts Dogg who tries to escape, but Goldust rolls him up from behind for two. Dogg wants out, so he tags in Gunn. Again, Goldust taunts Billy, but “Bad Ass” taunts right back with the DX signal. Rhodes is tagged in, and swings over in a sunset flip for two! He counters a suplex attempt with an inside cradle for two. Billy backs into his own corner for a chat with Dogg. Rhodes wants to continue, and odes, but is taken over by Road Dogg.
Once again, loud “C.M. Punk” ring out. James holds Rhodes in an armlock and switches with Gunn. He too clamps on an armbar and hammers away on Rhodes’ taped-up left arm. Cody comes back with a shoulder block, then stomps away. He now locks James in an armlock, then tags in his half-brother. He too works over James’ left arm. Goldust slugs away with a 10-punch, but is chucked into the steel cage as a more boisterous “we want Punk” call blares out.
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Road Dogg is still in control, again hurling Goldust face-first into the steel mesh. Gunn back in and whips Goldust into the corner, but is taken down with a springboard back elbow by “The Bizarre One.” He leaps for a tag to Cody, but is caught then given a big boot! Goldust counters with a spinebuster, then tags in Cody!
Rhodes is all over the Outlaws, taking both out. Gunn tries a Fameasser, but Cody gets out of it. He sets up for the CrossRhodes, but James interrupts, however gets spun around with a powerslam by Goldust! Cody hits the Disaster Kick on Gunn and covers. 1 – 2 – kick out at the last half-second by Billy! Cody argues with Mike Chioda, the referee, then eyes the steel cage. He ascends the walls, looks at the crowd, and moonsaults back! Unfortunately, he basically misses “Road Dogg”, only hitting him with an arm. “Bad Ass” capitalizes with a Fameasser on Rhodes for the 1 – 2 – 3!
Winners via Pinfall and STILL Tag-Team Champions: The New Age Outlaws (“Road Dogg” Jesse James and “Bad Ass” Billy Gunn)
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Match #4: Single – Zack Ryder VS. Titus O’Neil
A recap of Titus’ heel turn and beat down of former Prime Time Players partner Darren Young is shown. O’Neil is aggressive right away and pushes Ryder off the ropes and into the barricade. The Miz also walks out and joins on commentary, ripping on both competitors then walks away. O’Neil has Ryder wrapped in a standing side submission, then clotheslines him. Ryder comes back with a double-knee hit and the Broski Boot. Titus counters again, runs at Ryder in the corner with a splash, then puts Zack down with a high-dropping spinebuster!
Winner via Pinfall” Titus O’Neil
Commercials.
Summer Rae and Fandango make their way to the ring, then a video package commemorating the late-great Ernie “Big Cat” Ladd and Black History Month airs.
Segment #3: Dance-Off
Justin Roberts introduces Santino as a challenger, but he converts it to a dance-off between Summer Rae and NXT Superstar Emma. (She can wrestle really well, and yet they make her debut like this?) Summer goes first, followed by Emma. Santino asks for the vote of the fans, and naturally they pick Emma. (Pointless, and waste of talent for both Summer and Emma.)
Sheamus come to the ring for his contest, next!
Match #5: Single- Sheamus VS. Curtis Axel (with Ryback)
Sheamus controls with a hip toss and side headlock. He counters an Irish whip, ramming his shoulder into Axel’s gut then nails a high running knee. He catches Curtis on the apron and pounds away with fists ten times! Sheamus slams Curtis’ head off the announce table, then delivers an elbow to the back of the head in the ring. Axel comes back and throws Sheamus shoulder-first into the ring post. He wears over the left shoulder/arm area for a while. Once again, the fans chant for C.M. Punk.
Axel has Sheamus pressed against the mat with an armbar, but Sheamus begins to “Hulk Up.” Sheamus catches Curtis off the ropes with a rolling fireman’s carry, then gets geared up. He signals for it and Brogue Kicks Axel to earn this contest!
Winner via Pinfall: Sheamus
Up next, Batista will be out!
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Segment #4: Arena Promo
Batista makes his entrance amid both cheers and boos. Before he can say a word, a man who has had a beef with him interjects. Alberto Del Rio comes out and wants to talk about “our unfinished business.” Batista denies having a problem with Del Rio, but is put down for being at home for almost four years. Del Rio informs Batista during that time he won major titles and threatens to “break your arm.” Batista again says he’s not sure what the problem is, but gets quickly beaten down. Del Rio hammers away. Batista comes back with a kick, but Alberto wiggles out of a Batista Bomb attempt. They stare each other down as Del Rio backed away to the stage.
Dolph Ziggler, R-Truth, and Xavier Woods are out for their 6-Man bout, next!
Commercials.
Match #6: Six-Man Tag-Team – “The Show Off” Dolph Ziggler, R-Truth, and Xavier Woods VS. The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Erik Rowan)
The Wyatts dominate for most of the bout until Truth comes back with a jumping calf-kick. He tags in Ziggler, who is all over Harper! Rowan breaks up a pin attempt, and Ziggler is thrown off a sleeper. Luke hits him with a wicked clothesline, then Bray finishes this off with Sister Abigail.
Winners via Pinfall: The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Erik Rowan)
Post-match, The Shield appear on the Titantron. They say The Wyatts are “delusional,” and The Shield doesn’t live in their world of “monsters.” Reigns tells them that “play times over. Believe that, and believe in The Shield.” Bray laughs eerily and screams, “I welcome this war! Bring it to me!”
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Segment #5: Video Promo
NXT Wrestler Alexander Rusev claims “The Rusev legacy begins.”
Match #7: Single – Aksana (with Alicia Fox) VS. Naomi (with Funkadactyls partner Cameron)
(Note: Divas Champion A.J. Lee and her partner Tamina are out on commentary/at ringside) Naomi leap-frogs Aksana, but is slammed down and stomped on. She gets a two following a suplex, then clamps on an armlock. She then turns into a scissors lock around the neck, but Naomi gets out of it. Naomi come back with a couple of dropkicks. Naomi flips off the ropes with the split-legged moonsault and 1 – 2 – 3!
Winner via Pinfall: Naomi (with Funkadactyls partner Cameron)
Up next, the main-event!
Commercials.
Both Bryan and Orton make their respective entrances.
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Match #8: Single – Daniel Bryan VS. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton (Non-Title)
Even start for both competitors, then Bryan takes control with an armlock. Orton counters by ripping at his ear. He suplexes Daniel for two, then grapples him with a standing side headlock. Bryan fires back with quick kicks in the corner and a dragon screw. He slams Orton’s leg into the ring post, then runs at it with a front dropkick! He puts Orton in an Indian Deathlock, then turns Orton around and rams Randy’s knee backwards. Bryan turns him over into a surfboard pin combo for two, and continue to work over Orton. “The Viper” counters by biting Bryan, then hits an uppercut. Bryan counters another uppercut into a backslide for two! They brawl on the outside, with Daniel aggressively chucking Orton over the announce table onto Michael Cole!
In the ring, Bryan turn Randy head-over-heels with a hurricanrana out of the corner for a near fall! Bryan continues to be fierce with kicks, then locks on a half-crab submission. Orton is struggling, but eventually makes it to the ropes. He comes back by backdropping Bryan onto the barricade, then follows up with a cover for two! Orton stomps on Bryan’s stomach. Daniel starts another comeback but is caught with a quick powerslam by Randy!
Commercials.
Orton spins Bryan around and tosses him over with a t-bone like suplex. He runs Bryan shoulder-first into the steel post, twice, then the steel steps. He continues to be aggressive, smartly working over the potentially-injured shoulder. He sits Bryan atop the turnbuckle and punches him a couple times. Orton goes for a superplex, but Daniel blocks it. He punches him down, then flies off with a front dropkick! It takes a bit for both to get up and then they slug it out. Bryan starts his patented kicks, but Randy counters with an arm wringer.
Bryan suddenly catches Orton and locks him in the Yes Lock Crossface! Orton puts his leg on the ropes to break, but Bryan is fired up and hits a couple runs at Randy in the corner. Orton counters the last run with a big dropkick of his own! He drives Bryan down with the slingshot DDT. “The Viper” gets in his zone, but Bryan hits a kick and the headbutt! 1 – 2 – Orton kicks out! Bryan kicks away, but Director Of Operations Kane walks out. He hops the apron, but Daniel puts him down. Orton is shot over the ropes too and Bryan follows up with a double suicide dive. He rolls Randy in the ring and takes Kane into the steel steps! Orton tries an RKO back in the ring but is shoved off and Bryan nails the running knee for the hard-fought victory!
Winner via Pinfall: Daniel Bryan
Post-match, as Daniel celebrates, both Kane and Orton double-team him. Kane Chokeslams Bryan, then blows his pyro out of the corner. They both stand over a downed Bryan to close the show.
End Of Raw.
Reporter’s Rumblings – By Moe Tapp
Well, they seemed to have redeemed themselves, just a little. This was a great Raw and I loved the ending of Bryan winning – it at least points to a better direction. Let’s hope they continue that way, but the real telling of the tale will be known after Elimination Chamber. Onto the analysis:
Excellence: As already mentioned, the quick turn-around with The Authority seemingly getting behind Daniel Bryan. While I’m sceptical for sure, and believe this is a response to Punk leaving and the extremely negative reaction they received over the Royal Rumble, it was something a little different than the last little while, which was nice. The match Orton/Bryan had was fantastic; however still wouldn’t be enough to win me over on Orton’s side for the WrestleMania main-event.
Great match between The Shield and Mysterio/Kingston/Langston. I’d like to also see Reigns and Langston go at it – two big brutes who can willingly deliver in both power and speed. Both Wyatts and Shield’s promos were awesome and creepy, fitting their respective characters perfectly. Right now, I do think The Shield need to win this one, as I see a bigger position(s) for all three on the WrestleMania card.
It would be great (and looks to be that way) for Christian to win all the way up to Elimination Chamber. This would give him a believability that he can/would win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Definitely got one of my wishes with the Steel Cage match being given plenty of time. It was crafted very well too, and the ending was very back-and-forth/suspenseful! The Outlaws really do “still got it,” and The Brotherhood keep rolling with their in-ring ability!
Was really surprised by Titus’ heel turn on Smackdown, but I really like it. Interested to see how far up the proverbial ladder he will go.
Bogus: “Bad News” Barrett – as always, don’t care! As I wrote above, really disappointed in Emma’s “official” debut. She should’ve been in a wrestling match; the girl can wrestle very well! That segment was definitely wasting hers and Summer’s talent. Really hate how far Dolph Ziggler has fallen star-wise. I can’t even see him on the WrestleMania card this year, which is a true shame.
Sheamus/Axel was a great physical battle, but a one-off, so not very interested. Same with this Batista/Del Rio feud. Liked the fire in Alberto with his promo, but really, it’s just a hold-over for “The Animal” until WrestleMania; so knowing the very predicted outcome hurts what could’ve been a decent rivalry any other time of the year. Not Naomi’s biggest fan, and I don’t usually like (save for Dean Ambrose of The Shield) one partner of a tag-team getting a singles championship match. A.J. should be feuding with Natalya, Tamina, or an NXT woman.
Where were The Usos and Brock Lesnar/Paul Heyman? I know John Cena has a severe eye injury, so that explains his unfortunate absence.
All in all, a much, much better Raw this week. Here’s wishing they go back to a streak of great ones leading to WrestleMania 30; and again, change the main-event Batista VS. any of the other 4 (sorry, Cesaro, just not believable yet) in the Chamber other than Orton at WrestleMania.
Until next week, as always, Be Excellent Wrestling-Online Readers and Wrestling Fans!
A reply to a question on Facebook regarding the WWE Network being available on the Apple TV was deleted by the WWE social media team but not before Apple websites such as Mac Rumors and Apple Insider got a hold of it.
A would-be WWE Network subscriber asked about the availability of WWE Network on Apple TV, a device which WWE has so far not mentioned about being supported. “In order to experience WWE Network on Apple TV, you must have a second generation or later (black) Apple TV and be a WWE Network subscriber,” read the response.
The second half of the response mentions a WWE-specific app on the Apple TV like Netflix, Hulu Plus, MLB, and others have. “Once WWE Network is available, you will be able to launch the WWE Network app directly from your Apple TV.” The response also said that the app would launch on February 24.
The reply by the social media team was however deleted from the Facebook page soon after it was posted probably because they’re not allowed to reveal it yet for some reason.
At the launch event, WWE Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer Michelle Wilson did mention that the service would be available on a connected device that she was not allow to mention yet. Media reps who attended that event were given a Google Chromecast or an Apple TV for free.
Former WWE champion John Cena was injured during his match against Randy Orton on Saturday night in Orlando, Florida, and missed yesterday’s non-televised live event in Kansas City, Missouri.
Cena apparently got poked in the eye by the WWE World Heavyweight champion by mistake and the injury was serious enough to take Cena off the show last night. A photo which surfaced online shows Cena’s eye swollen shut.
At the Kansas City event, Orton told the fans that he injured Cena’s eye and that’s why he wouldn’t be in the building. Orton wrestled Daniel Bryan in a steel cage match instead, which Orton won with an RKO after interference from the Wyatt Family.
The new SuperBowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks, paid tribute to Daniel Bryan on their official Twitter account after the game.
Bryan, who is from the state of Washington, first tweeted “First ever Seahawks Super Bowl win!!! AMAZING!!! There’s going to be a lot of happy people in Washington.”
The social media team of the Seahawks got word of his Tweet and decided to return the favor.
“@wwedanielbryan In the words of one of @wwe’s finest… #SuperBowlChamps,” the Seahawks tweeted, along with a picture of YES! YES! YES! along with the team’s logo, Super Bowl XLVIII Champions at the bottom and @WWEDANIELBRYAN at the very top. The image and tweet was retweeted 4,750 times at time of this writing.
Hulk Hogan was one of the many 80s stars who were featured in a Radio Shack commercial which played during the SuperBowl yesterday.
The pricey commercial featured two Radio Shack employees with one answering the phone telling his co-worker that the 80s called and they want their store back.
So a bunch of 80s stars – including Hulk Hogan and Sgt Slaughter – walk in the Radio Shack store and clean house to make space for the new Radio Shack store.
It’s pretty funny. Don’t blink though, you might miss Slaughter. Hint, pause at the 9 second mark!
WWE’s newest private jet took flight today for the first time under the WWE brand according to a tweet by Stephanie McMahon.
The $27.5 million 2006 Bombardier Global 5000 jet took off for Omaha, Nebraska, for tonight’s Monday Night RAW carrying the McMahons and other key WWE personnel.
Prior to buying this jet, WWE owned a 1998 Canadair Challenger which they bought in 2001.
You can see the photo of WWE’s new plane covered with snow at the airport below.
TNA wraps up the successful Maximum Impact United Kingdom tour today with a final show in Birmingham, England.
Today’s show at the Birmingham NIA will be a taped pay-per-view of the One Night Only series titled Joker’s Wild 2, an event which will be airing later in the year in the United States and in International markets.
TNA Superstars and Knockouts have been in the United Kingdom this week to tape a month worth of Impact along with this pay-per-view and another special event. The company held shows in Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester, and London prior to wrapping things up in Birmingham.
The 2014 Maximum Impact VI was a big success for TNA as they performed in front of big crowds, something which is a rare when they are in the United States.
Following his UFC 169 win against Frank Mir yesterday, Alistair Overeem called out former UFC Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar in the Octagon.
However UFC President Dana White dismissed any rumor of the current WWE Superstar making his return to the UFC, telling the press in the post-fight press conference that it’s not going to happen.
“Brock Lesnar is not coming back. We have no deal with Lesnar and he’s not coming back anytime soon,” White said.
When Overeem was asked why he called out Brock, he said that he heard talk of him returning and that’s about it.
Overeem and Lesnar headlined UFC 141 on December 30, 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, a fight which Overeem won in the first round. Immediately after the fight, Lesnar announced his retirement from the UFC.
WWE will be announcing its 2013 fourth quarter and full year results on Thursday, February 20, 2014, before the opening of the market.
Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and Chief Strategy and Financial Officer George Barrios will host the conference call beginning at 11AM EST to discuss the results.
It will be interesting to see how Wall Street reacts to the results this time around. WWE is on a big climb in the stock market, closing the week at $24.19 and then rising to $24.73 in after market trading, their best in around 15 years.
Tickets for WrestleMania Axxess went on sale earlier today on Ticketmaster.com, with fans able to choose among six different sessions.
Axxess will be held at the New Orleans Convention Center starting on Thursday, April 3 at 6PM. Another session follows the next day, April 4, also at 6PM. Saturday will see three different sessions, one at 8AM, one at 1PM, and one at 6PM. The 6PM session clashes with the Hall of Fame ceremony. The last session is on WrestleMania Sunday at 8AM.
General admission tickets are $45, VIP tickets are $95 and Premium VIP are $175. Premium VIP ticket holders will also get an autograph and professional photo with a WWE Superstar, VIP line at the entrance, 8×10 glossy photo of the VIP Superstar in attendance and a copy of the WWE 50 book.
John Cena will be the Premium VIP Superstar on Friday at 6PM while Batista will be the other Premium VIP at 8PM on the same day. The Undertaker will be the Premium VIP at the 3PM session on Saturday.
Normal VIP ticket holders will get the same as the Premium VIP minus the book. Schedule for VIP autographs are Randy Orton at 6PM and Bret Hart at 8PM on April 3, Daniel Bryan at 10AM on Saturday, Big Show at 1PM in the second session, and Ric Flair at 6PM and Sheamus at 8PM in the third session.
Bruno Sammartino will be the VIP on Sunday starting at 8AM, Rey Mysterio will follow at 10AM, and Shawn Michaels will be there at Noon.
