WWE
– Several weeks ago, Batista teased on Twitter that he has a “major announcement” to make soon. Batista provided an update this week, stating that he’ll make the announcement in May, and that 2012 is about to get “real.” Batista’s manager Johnny Ryan Jr. also tweeted the following this week:
“Closing these deals for @DaveBautista with the suits. Will be able to announce soon and it will be worth the wait!”
– Former WWE star Kevin Nash ranted about WWE and the Hall of Fame on Thursday night – saying that being inducted means nothing to him and it’s just “not cool” that 90% of the people he would give “shout outs” to during his induction speech are “gone.”
“HOF means nothing to me,If I Die before it I,ve asked my wife to pass.Nothing against it or WWE,but if Pete Rose ain’t in cooperstown”
“Just don’t need it to validate my life.I wake every morning to the sight of the ocean. for a Detroit boy I’m already in”
“I watched it this year from up close,just don’t need the stress,I love the WWE,just love me more.90% of my shout outs are gone.Not cool”
“Don’t worrie some stooge at WWE;who’s job is to read all this shit will as of tonight’make sure it never comes up,let alone happens”
A fan accused Nash of being drunk when ranting about the Hall of Fame, which he denied–he said the rant was a result of him finding out that one of his “dearest friends got let go today from WWE.”
– WWE’s developmental promotion Florida Championship Wrestling, which has taped most of its television shows from Tampa, Florida, will begin taping some shows from Orlando, Florida starting next month. FCW will still tape shows from its current home of Tampa, Florida – but starting May 17th, will also tape shows from Full Sail University near Orlando, FL. The FCW Arena in Tampa will still be used by WWE developmental.
– Jim Ross wrote the following on Twitter this week about why Brock Lesnar has returned to WWE:
“Brock Lesnar is back in WWE to: 1 intimidate 2 brutalize 3 earn BIG money NOT to 1 work on public speaking skills 2 make friends 3 lose”
“Fans that naively think that money & being able to physically dominate people didn’t affect Lesnar’s return to WWE aren’t being honest. Word”
– Zack Ryder has posted his latest Z! True Long Island Story video:
– Chyna’s next adult movie role will be “She-Hulk” in a porno parody of “The Avengers.” Eww.
– After being asked on Twitter this week who his favorite WWE Diva is, Steve Austin said it’s Kelly Kelly:
“She’s my fave Diva. Super nice young lady. Keeps improving in the ring. Very easy on the eyes.”
– WWE has reportedly signed referee D Edwards of the Urban Wrestling Federation to a developmental deal.
TNA
– TNA and Spike TV issued a press release today announcing that Impact Wrestling will begin airing 1 hour earlier each week, starting May 31. They cited “more available viewers” and “less sports competition” in the earlier timeslot.
SPIKE TV’S “IMPACT WRESTLING” MOVING TO 8:00PM ET/PT ON THURSDAYS BEGINNING MAY 31
Spike TV’s highly-rated two-hour weekly series, TNA’s “IMPACT Wrestling” is moving to a new timeslot. On Thursday, May 31 “IMPACT Wrestling will air at 8:00pm ET/PT, moving from its previous timeslot of 9:00pm ET/PT.
The shift to 8:00pm is predicated on the fact that there are more available viewers in the 8:00-10:00pm timeslot with less sports competition in the 8pm hour.
TNA’s flagship series, “IMPACT Wrestling,” airs weekly on Spike TV and is one of the network’s top-rated series. The show is must-see-tv with young men and currently ranks among the top series on cable on Thursdays with Men 18-34.
The TNA roster features many of the top names in wrestling including Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle, Bobby Roode, Sting, James Storm, Rob Van Dam, and the lovely and lethal Knockouts.
NFL
– ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported late Friday that the Browns will likely be trading QB Colt McCoy “soon.” ”The Browns are opening to listening to offers… Colt McCoy (is) soon to be headed out of town.” QB Brandon Weeden is expected to start immediately, making McCoy, who is believed to be unhappy with management, expendable. Stay tuned.
– The Giants have signed SLB Mathias Kiwanuka to a 3-year extension through 2015. Kiwanuka would have been entering a contract season in 2012. The 29-year-old pass rusher finished with a career high 84 tackles, 3.5 of them for sacks. He’s now under contract through his age-32 season.
– ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Texans are shopping WR/KR Jacoby Jones. The 27-year-old is essentially a $3M punt returner right now.
NHL
– Markham Council voted 11 to 2 to allow the borrowing of $162.5M for a new NHL-style arena that will compete with the Air Canada Centre. Town officials stated that the money will not be raised through property tax increases, but instead through charges to developers and service fees at the arena. The proposed arena would be constructed at Highway 407 and Kennedy Road, beside the Unionville GO Station. The building would seat around 20,000, with the cost expected to exceed $300M. The arena plan doesn’t depend on an NHL team coming to Markham, but once built it would rival the Air Canada Centre in downtown Toronto as a venue for sporting and entertainment events.
– Bruins’ F Tyler Seguin (left hand) has been playing injured since March 15 and is expected to undergo offseason surgery. Seguin said it didn’t affect his performance too much, as he recorded two goals and three points in seven playoff games.
– In case you missed it, check out the Devils’ double-OT game winner against the Panthers in Game 7 scored by Adam Henrique, as well as the big hit F Tomas Kopecky laid on his teammate, F John Madden:
NBA
– The Raptors have picked up the option on head coach Dwane Casey’s contract to extend through the 2013-14 season. In his first season as head coach, Casey made significant changes to the team defensively. The team ranked in the Top 10 in the NBA in points allowed (9th), opponent field goal percentage (8th) and three-point field goal percentage (5th). The Raptors ranked in the bottom third in the league in all three categories in the 2010-11 season.
– Nets’ G Deron Williams said Friday that he wants a new contact in place by the start of the Olympics, which begin on July 27. D-Will’s leading suitor appears to be the Mavericks, but things are always subject to change.
MLB
– The Angels have released OF Bobby Abreu. The Angels have lost five straight games, including two in a row in walk off fashion. Abreu was the odd-man out in the Angels’ lineup, batting .208 over his first 24 at-bats this season. The Halos are responsible for his $9M salary this season, but he should sign elsewhere for the league minimum.
– The Nationals will place 3B Ryan Zimmerman (right shoulder) on the 15-day DL. Zimmerman was scheduled to visit specialist Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on Friday for further examination and treatment, but felt little improvement swinging the bat on Thursday, prompting the move. The timetable for his return is not yet clear.
– The White Sox have placed RHP Jesse Crain (right oblique strain) on the 15-day DL retroactive to April 21. The 30-year-old has a 2.57 ERA and 10/1 K/BB ratio over seven innings this season.
– The Nationals will place RHP Brad Lidge (abdominal wall strain) on the 15-day DL. No word yet on the severity of the injury with Lidge.
– The Tigers have placed OF Delmon Young on the restricted list. Young was arraigned on misdemeanor aggravated harassment Friday.
– The Rockies will place RHP Jeremy Guthrie (sprained right shoulder) on the 15-day DL after he suffered an injury Friday in a bicycle accident. Guthrie suffered the injury when the chain on his bicycle broke and pulled him down to the ground. An MRI revealed no structural damage.