WWE
– Earlier this week, Chris Jericho was reportedly telling friends and former colleagues that he’s in talks with WWE officials about returning to the organization in time to set up a match at next year’s WrestleMania 28. WWE’s first-ever Undisputed champion has acknowledged the report and wrote the following on Twitter on Thursday night:
“After discussing this with my colleagues,my response to today’s rumor is: a) false b) true c) maybe d) all of the above e) none of the above”
Chris Jericho vs. The Miz match was reportedly being discussed for WrestleMania. Stay tuned.
– Former WWE and TNA star Travis Tomko posted bail on Thursday and was finally released from jail, according to the St. Augustine Record. He’ll be headed to WWE-sponsored drug rehab immediately. Tomko’s attorney James McCune told the newspaper:
“He’s very grateful for all the support he’s received from his friends, family and fans around the world. Mr. Tomko realizes he is struggling with an addiction and with the support of his family and the WWE, he is voluntarily checking himself into an undisclosed treatment facility to receive the help he needs for a successful recovery.”
Tomko was arrested earlier this month after robbing a CVS pharmacy of oxycodone pills and getting caught in the bathroom of a Chili’s restaurant injecting over a hundred melted-down pills.
– WWE has applied for registrations on two trademarks, Ryback and Avalanche. The registration of the Ryback trademark suggests that Skip Sheffield will be repackaged with a new character upon his return from injury. Prior to assuming the cowboy persona in WWE’s developmental system, he appeared as Ryback, an indestructible “Terminator” style character billed from “The Future.”
– The first reviews are coming in for the new John Cena movie “The Reunion” – and it’s looking pretty ugly for the latest offering from WWE Studios. The Hollywood Reporter calls The Reunion a “lame action-comedy” that’s best suited for late night cable television, when viewers are half asleep and zoned out. They suggest that Cena, who already has a few movies under his belt (The Marine, 12 Rounds), is probably best off spending his time in the wrestling ring and not on the movie set. From the Hollywood Reporter review:
“Latest effort from WWE Studios is pinned to the mat.”
“There’s one thing to be said about WWE Studios — they’re consistent. Every one of their movies designed to showcase their stable of popular wrestling stars has been a critical and commercial disaster. The latest example is The Reunion, a lame action-comedy that seems ready made for undiscerning late-night cable viewing. This John Cena starrer receiving a token theatrical release provides further evidence that perhaps films are not the company’s forte.”
“But mainly the proceedings revolve around the expected action sequences, leavened by attempts at comedy, that fall flat in both areas. Needless to say, Cena is an imposing physical specimen, but after this and such previous efforts as 12 Rounds and The Marine it may be time for him to concentrate on the ring.”
Meanwhile, the Orlando Sentinel’s Roger Moore has reviewed WWE Studios’ The Reunion with John Cena and has some negative things to say about WWE’s latest effort. Moore gave the movie one star (out of 4) and had the following to say:
“Now Mike Pavone’s last picture for WWE comes out, “The Reunion,” a split personality action comedy that fails to please either impulse. The action is wan, the laughs hard to come by. They spent the money, as they often did under Pavone, on surrounding a wrestling star with decent actors (Amy Smart, Ethan Embry, Michael Rispoli). But an incoherent script gives them too little to do.”
“Wrestler John Cena has become a comfortable screen presence, within a certain range. He’s OK as a cop on disciplinary leave forced to form a sort of bounty hunters business with his siblings in order for them all to receive an inheritance.”
“Coming at the end of a string of flops, “The Reunion” makes one wonder about the motives and business model for this whole enterprise.”
NFL
– Saints’ C Olin Kreutz is walking away from the team because “he no longer feels passion and doesn’t want to just collect paycheck,” according to his agent. The 34-year-old’s game has dropped off considerably this season. Even coach Sean Payton has shown little confidence in Kreutz in key situations. A six-time Pro Bowler, Kreutz’s 14-year NFL career is likely over.
NBA
– After talks between players and owners broke down on Thursday, Derek Fisher said that Adam Silver and Peter Holt lied to the media and Billy Hunter gave a play by play of how negotiations went that included a demand by owners for players to accept a 50-50 split before discussing any other issues. At this point, Dan Gilbert tells Billy Hunter and Co. to “just trust him,” and that the owners would make a fair offer on the system (hard cap vs. soft cap, exceptions) if they accepted the 50/50 split. The players have no leverage and have yet to lose a check. The sides are not that far apart on the money, but the system issues remain a major obstacle. Stay tuned.
MLB
– Rangers’ RHP Colby Lewis was sharp in a no-decision Thursday, giving up just one run on four hits, two walks with four strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings in the 2-1 World Series Game 2 win over the Cardinals. SS Elvis Andrus made a great play in the fifth inning that kept the game scoreless. Lewis now has a 2.95 ERA over his three postseason outings. He’ll be in line to pitch Game 6, if needed.
TNA
– Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling saw Dixie Carter return as President of the company and place Sting in charge of the program. In his first duty, he attempted give Bobby Roode a rematch against World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle but a clause in the contract only allowed one match between the two–the match already held at Bound For Glory. James Storm asked and received a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship later in the show. He defeated Angle in a minute-and-a-half to win the belt for the first time.
– Gail Kim, who returned to TNA Wrestling on Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling as a heel aligned with Knockouts VP Karen Jarrett and Madison Rayne, commented on the event. She wrote on Twitter,
“Thanks every1 4 getting me trending worldwide!@karenjarrett I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship
))
“@MRayneTNA can’t forget the other piece of the puzzle some1 said the “A”team sounds about right.”