WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT
7/8 Superstars TV results: Gail Kim & Yoshi Tatsu over Jillian Hall & Primo; Zack Ryder over Goldust; Chris Masters over Caylen Croft; and Lay-Cool over Kelly Kelly & Tiffany.
WWE has a full house show schedule this weekend. Raw runs tonight at the Peoria Civic Center followed by shows in Rockford on Saturday and Huntington, WV on Sunday. The Smackdown crew runs Grand Rapids on Saturday followed by Evansville, IN on Sunday. We're looking for reader reports to you2us@wrestlingglobe.com.
Smackdown tonight has Big Show vs. Jack Swagger; Kofi Kingston vs. Drew McIntyre in a non-title match; Chavo Guerrero vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. MVP in a three-way; Matt Hardy & Christian vs. Curt Hawkins & Vance Archer; Cody Rhodes vs. JTG; and Kelly Kelly & Tiffany vs. Lay-Cool.
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Triple H actually underwent surgery to repair a torn tendon in his upper arm, not neck surgery, according to WWE sources. Dave Meltzer first broke the news last night.
H is expected to be out of the ring for 2-4 months although he could return to television sooner in a non-wrestling role.
Beth Phoenix is now about 8-weeks out from returning after knee surgery.
The health of Hall of Famer Superstar Billy Graham, 67, has taken a turn for the worse. He has said he has less than one year left after his transplanted liver started to show signs of failure. He is currently undergoing testing and treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix.
Q&A with Dusty Rhodes at http://tinyurl.com/3ynvx9p talking about returning to the ring tonight in Kissimmee, FL where he teams for the first time ever with his sons Dustin and Dashing. "I had my run, that was it. It was cool. So I'm helping them get theirs now. That's a really hate thing for me to see guys take young kids spots and kids that want to do it for the sake of their namesake." On other topics, when asked about the Hall of Fame, he suggested Dick Murdoch (his former tag partner) and also floated the interesting idea of Ted Turner for induction. He said: "For me, I would love to see in Atlanta to see Ted Turner go in the Hall of Fame. We're in Atlanta and WrestleMania is coming up and I think that's a huge deal. I would love to see Dick in it because it's a big deal man. People make so much of it. People that are bitter about the industry and they'll turn it into this sideshow deal. It was a big deal when I got my ring. I was recognized by a group of people and a family of people and I had entertained so many people through the years. It was a big deal for me. It still is. I cherish that moment."
Christina Crawford, the younger sister of Victoria Crawford aka Alicia Fox is currently training in developmental. I believe she was picked up following a tryout in April. She has a similar look to her sibling.
Another new Diva will be introduced tonight on Smackdown--said to be a California valley girl gimmick.
Brodus Clay in FCW is the new name of the former G-Rilla.
Jim Ross and Steve Austin are among those who have taken to Husky Harris. Ross wrote in his latest blog at www.jrsbarbq.com: "The 2nd NXT class is beginning to take shape in my eyes and from this fan's perspective. I still like Husky Harris among others. I think it was Michael Cole who said that Husky had an 'unusual body.' Unique description of the stocky 3rd generation athlete. I would suggest that Husky drop some LB's, I could do the same, but no one can deny that this kid isn't a special athlete who has noticeable quickness for, what I assume, is a 300 pounder. Husky at 260-270 might be at much better weight over the long haul but he's a keeper. I would refraining from any more tattoos if I were him but that's only one man's opinion." Others in the company are comparing him to a young Dusty Rhodes.
For obvious reasons the company has edited clips of Owen Hart from the opening montage of the Vintage show.
Due to media pressure from journalists digging into her finances, Linda McMahon this week ordered her financial adviser to sell off stocks in seven foreign firms involved in Iran’s energy sector. Reports the Journal Inquirer: "A proponent of economic sanctions to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear threat, McMahon has reported that she and her husband last year held assets valued at between at least $583,000 and $1.7 million in 27 companies reportedly doing business in Iran. The couple’s holdings, which the former World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. executive disclosed in a report to the secretary of the Senate, included investments of between at least $157,000 and $480,000 in the seven foreign firms identified by the General Accounting Office as having commercial interests in Iran’s energy sector."
TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION WRESTLING
7/9 Impact TV results from Orlando, FL: AJ Styles vs. Kazarian was a DCO; Angelina Love over Daffney; Rob Van Dam over Samoa Joe; Jeremy Buck over Douglas Williams in a non-title ladder match; Beer Money & Matt Morgan over MCMG & Hernandez; and Jeff Hardy over Mr. Anderson.
Sunday's Victory Road pay-per-view has AJ Styles & Kazarian vs. TBA; Brother Ray vs. Jesse Neal vs. Brother Devon in a three-way; Ric Flair vs. Jay Lethal; Kurt Angle vs. The Pope; Matt Morgan vs. Hernandez in a steel cage; Madison Rayne vs. Angelina Love for the Knockouts title--if Madison wins, Angelina is forced to leave TNA, but Madison can lose her title via DQ if Velvet or Lacey get involved--something like that; MCMG vs. Beer Money for the vacant tag titles; Douglas Williams vs. Brian Kendrick in an Ultimate X submission match for the X-Division title; and Rob Van Dam vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson vs. Abyss in a four-way for the TNA heavyweight title.
Expect at least one surprise during the show.
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Scott Hall as of last night was listed in intensive care battling double pneumonia. Friends who visited say he's being treated with antibiotics to compensate an overtaxed immune system. He was said to be in good spirits and his condition was improving.
Shannon Moore said today that he went to see his doctor regarding a wrist injury. Apparently his non-Twitter hand.
Jay Lethal has been all over the place promoting his match with Ric Flair at Victory Road. He told Slam Wrestling at http://tinyurl.com/2w6ybcs and many other media outlets that this match will be the highlight of his life since he's not yet married and has no children. Lethal says age is just a number for Flair. "That doesn't slow him down or stop him," he said. "You're only as young as your mind thinks you are, and the Nature Boy is definitely young in his mind."
Alex Marvez has a story on Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin at http://tinyurl.com/3ynovvb. They note doing well to stay together as a team for three years in the modern era and credit Beer Money, Team 3D, and Jim Cornette for helping them to raise their game.
Eric Bischoff wrote on his Facebook page that before rumors start he's missing the next set of TV tapings too due to a prior obligation... Bischoff did his weekly segment at www.mondaynightmayhem.com. He answered tons of questions without really answering anything, if that makes sense. Regarding the chances of Paul Heyman coming in: "I've heard the Paul Heyman rumor over the last few months, and I know that Paul has talked to Dixie so there has been some conversation, but I don't know what Paul's plans really are. I don't talk to Paul on a daily basis, and if Paul was to join TNA, I think it'll be a big asset, but I don't know what his immediate plans are."
Hulk Hogan has said he is concerned about his Florida home in Clearwater Beach after BP's oil spill. He told Life & Style magazine: "No one can give us a straight answer. Now that it's hurricane season, the big unknowns are coming at us. How far is the oil going to spread? Is it going to push way up on the land? ... The local economy depends on tourism. All of a sudden the tourists aren't here. And I've seen the price of [seafood] skyrocketing, because we depend on most of the grouper and the shrimp."
OTHER WRESTLING NEWS
The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, IA will hold their Hall of Fame induction ceremony this weekend with Terry Funk, Baron Von Raschke and Mick Foley among those in attendance. More information at www.wrestlingmuseum.org.
Acid-Fest: A Tribute to Trent Acid at the former ECW Arena runs Saturday afternoon with a 2:30pm belltime. Admission is free with a $10 donation to the Trent Acid Memorial Fund to help his family pay his funeral costs. Seating will be on a first come first serve basis. The event will consist of a who's who of the Northeast indy scene plus Tod Gordon, Homicide, Dan Maff, Sonjay Dutt, Balls Mahoney, Missy Hyatt, and many more. Directions at www.thearena.biz.
Dragon Gate USA returns to pay-per-view tonight in the United States on iN DEMAND and Avail-TVN or in Canada on Viewer's Choice or Bell ExpressVU. BxB Hulk vs. Masato Yoshino; CIMA & Dragon Kid vs. YAMATO & Shingo; Naruki Doi & PAC vs. Mike Quackenbush & Jigsaw; Jimmy Jacobs vs. Jon Moxley in a no DQ match; and Masaaki Mochizuki vs. Akira Tozawa. More info at www.dgusa.tv.
The Fight Network has a feature on ROH wrestler Tyler Black including comments from Christopher Daniels, Steve Corino and Shawn Daivari at http://tinyurl.com/3afqz7d.
ISPW runs this Sunday at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, NJ, home of the Lakewood BlueClaws Minor League Baseball team. Belltime is 1pm. Rob Eckos vs. Judas Young; Ace Darling vs. Danny Inferno; BlueClaw's mascot Buster vs. Nicholas Nice; plus Josh Daniels, Damian Adams, Mo Sexton and more. For further information call Chuck Keller at 732-901-7000 ext 163 or visit www.BlueClaws.com.
Diamond Dallas Page finished the highest of any former wrestler in Oprah's search for the next reality star. He placed No. 9 in the health category with a litter over 850,000 votes, but missed the final cut.
Frank Mir continues to stalk Brock Lesnar at http://tinyurl.com/3aezqj2.
Candice Michelle is interviewed about the joys of motherhood at http://tinyurl.com/2ex6ykh. She says her newborn is a good sleeper but wants to feed a little more than she would like. "When we do the marathon breastfeeding at night that can be 3-5 hours of me sitting on my tushy on the couch. That can emotionally and physically drain you so just getting into the flow of that is challenging." Her baby's name, Akianne, is taken from the first names of her mother and the mother of her husband, both of whom have passed on. She says she's already back in the gym but doesn't feel any pressure to lose weight. When asked about WWE, she was very diplomatic saying everyone has control of their own character. "If they ask you to go out and do something you don’t want to do, you need to have a backbone and say that you don’t want to," she said.
CTV's Get Fresh interviewed Trish Stratus about her new Yoga for Golf program. Video at http://tinyurl.com/3a3kgdr.
Today's Babe of the Day is Madison Rayne at http://www.thewrestlingpress.com/DailyDiva.
