WWE
– Wade Barrett (dislocated elbow) suffered an injury to his left arm during the 10-Man Battle Royal on Monday’s Raw SuperShow and will miss 8-12 weeks. After being taken to a nearby medical facility for further evaluation, he has been diagnosed with a dislocated elbow. The injury occurred following Barrett and R-Truth’s elimination from the match. As Truth and Barrett recovered from their eliminations on the outside, Big Show tossed Dolph Ziggler on top of them from the ring. The three WWE Superstars were knocked backwards and Barrett landed awkwardly on his arm. Barrett could be heard screaming in pain, to the point where WWE had to cut the audio because of his use of profanity. Ziggler was also hurt when his shoulder and arm hit the broadcast table during the match. He was examined backstage and is said to be fine. Cody Rhodes, Kofi Kingston and R-Truth were also hurt during the bout and received medical attention backstage. Rhodes hurt his elbow and right leg. Kingston appeared shaken up but was not seriously injured. R-Truth was assisted to the backstage area following the match.
– According to the PWInsider, “no one is safe” within the WWE hierarchy, as it becomes apparent the WWE Network launch date will not meet with Vince McMahon’s expectations. McMahon and Executive Producer Kevin Dunn had high hopes for the network, and had placed “Project Evergreen” (a series of shows that can play for the next 100 years) on the fast track in order to launch the network within the original timeframe Vince had promised people within the company. But without a development executive and an official head of the network (besides McMahon himself), the reality of the network is looming large over the heads of everyone in WWE, and last week’s front office shakeups seem to just be the beginning. “Vince is ready to do what he calls GET OUT THE BROOM. No one’s job is safe in WWE at this moment!”
– With The Rock making his much anticipated return to Raw next Monday, John Cena had harsh words for “The Most Electrifying Man In Sports Entertainment” on this week’s show, saying he’s no longer The People’s Champion, but he’s a champion with people (referring to the entourage around him). After strongly criticizing The Rock for returning, but not sticking around WWE, Cena vowed to beat the iconic grappler in his hometown of Miami, Florida at WrestleMania XXVIII. A number of WWE performers appeared giddy backstage over Cena’s remarks as they legitimately feel that way over the actor/wrestler. One talent commented via text to PWInsider.com (with permission to be quoted under the condition of anonymity):
“[The Rock] comes in to use WWE to get back the audience he lost doing Disney movies, which is fine but he’s been back over a year and name one person he helped make a bigger star since then? No one.
“He’s here for himself, he keeps to himself, and he keeps someone who’s actually touring here all year from making a bigger payday at the bigger shows. It’s all about making this the “biggest” Mania of all time. OK, then what do we do the rest of the year? Who’s been made? You think he took ANY blame for Survivor [Series] not drawing? Of course not, but how do you feud with a guy on the Titantron? Cena nailed the guy dead on tonight.
“Say anything about HHH, Taker, etc. still being in the top spot but if they were needed to work the road, they would and they would still work their asses off as much as they needed to. Rock is out for Rock and the idea he’s here to better anything but his own wallet is the biggest work of 2012.”
– The Undertaker returned to RAW for a confrontation with Triple H. The Undertaker appeared with a hood covering his head, covering up the haircut we saw him give himself during last week’s promo video. According to a report at PWTorch, the current plan is for Undertaker to remove his hood for the first time at WrestleMania 28.
– Following Monday’s WWE RAW Supershow, here’s the updated card for WWE’s WrestleMania 28:
One Year In The Making: The Rock vs. John Cena
WWE Championship Match: CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho
World Heavyweight Championship Match: Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus
Hell in a Cell: Triple H vs. The Undertaker
– Ron Simmons has been announced for the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012.
NFL
– According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers are willing to let RFA WR Mike Wallace test the open market. The Steelers will reportedly place a 1st-round restricted tender on Wallace and “see what develops.” If he “(indeed) signs a contract and they deem it too high,” they will apparently take the 1st-round compensation instead of matching. The 25-year-old is likely done in Pittsburgh.
– The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that the Packers and free agent C Scott Wells will likely part ways this offseason. The Packers have reportedly low-balled Wells based on what he believes he’ll receive as a free agent. Green Bay’s center since 2004, Wells made his first Pro Bowl in 2011 and has 46 straight starts.
MLB
– Rays’ executive VP Andrew Friedman said that LHP Matt Moore won’t have an innings limit in 2012. Friedman noted that Moore has been “built up in a pretty systematic way” throughout his minor league career, with innings totals of well over 100 in each of the past three seasons. The 22-year-old is poised for a massive rookie season–he had a brilliant 12.7 K/9 and 2.64 ERA in close to 500 career innings on the farm.
– Braves’ RHP Tommy Hanson (concussion) has been diagnosed with a mild concussion. Hanson suffered the head injury on Monday morning after blowing a tire and banging his head in a one-car accident. He was checked out Tuesday by a concussion specialist in Orlando and cleared of anything major. The Braves are expecting the 25-year-old to resume workouts after a 48-hour rest period.
NBA
– Updating an earlier item, the San Antonio Express-News confirmed that G Manu Ginobili (oblique) is still expected to miss “about 2 weeks.” There was an item posted at NBA.com that quoted Gregg Popovich as saying Ginobili would miss “several weeks.”
– Chris Broussard of ESPN reports that the Lakers have spoken to the Wolves about acquiring F Michael Beasley. Broussard writes that the Lakers are “intrigued” by the possibility of adding Beasley and that the team was actually in talks for him before the year began. Los Angeles could absorb Beasley into its $8.9M trade exception, and Broussard also writes that the two teams have not discussed F Pau Gasol since the preseason.
– Hornets’ F Emeka Okafor (knee) is expected to return “soon,” and could be back immediately after the All-Star break. Okafor has been ruled out through the All-Star break, but should return immediately after. He is averaging 9.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks on 53.3% shooting.
– Nuggets’ F Danilo Gallinari (ankle) is aiming to return shortly after the All-Star break. Head coach George Karl said that “I think we’re all shooting for somewhere after the all-star break,” but wasn’t sure whether it would be on February 29 or shortly thereafter. Although Gallo’s timetable is still up in the air, he’s roughly 2 weeks from a return. He was averaging 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.4 treys.
– Mavericks’ F Dirk Nowitzki had an historic night in Monday’s win over the Celtics, moving into the No. 20 spot on the all-time scoring list while also blocking his 1,000th shot. Dirk scored 26 points on 10-of-24 shooting (including a three) to pass Robert Parish (23,334 points), and also grabbed a season-high 16 rebounds with a steal and two blocks in the process. G Jason Kidd also moved into second place on the all-time steals list, passing Michael Jordan on Monday against the Celtics, finishing with three steals, two rebounds, eight assists, and six points on 2-of-5 shooting (all threes). The steal gives him 2,517 for his career and next up is John Stockton (3265).
NHL
– The Penguins have placed F Tyler Kennedy (ankle) on the IR retroactive to February 7. Kennedy has six goals and 22 points in 42 games this season.
MLS
– DC United has signed MF Dwayne De Rosario to a contract extension. The 33-year-old international scored 16 goals and added 11 assists, claiming the Golden Boot at the league’s leading scorer en route to becoming the first Canadian to be named MLS MVP.
“It’s nice to be with an organization that has the same goals and ambitions as I. D.C. United has a very rich history and one that we want to relive in the near future — hopefully we can start this year.
“Ever since I came here, the organization and the fans have accepted me as part of the family, and I want to keep this family growing all across the D.C. area and relive those special moments.”