WWE
– WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin continues to tease that he’s got at least one more match left in him. During a recent interview with ZooToday.com to promote the DVD release of his latest action movie, Recoil, Austin had this to say about a return:
“If the right situation, the right opponent and the right circumstances came up for the WWE, then it would certainly be something worth considering. Could I have another match or two? Yeah. Physically I am in really good shape right now.”
“People seem to think I am half-dead!… In my movies, I do some pretty hellacious fight scenes that, maybe, a normal person couldn’t do. So my physicality is fine, my neck is fine after having it all fused-up.”
“I am not pitching for another match but if it was a win-win situation for everybody, then absolutely, I would consider it.”
Should Austin return to the ring, reports indicate that CM Punk is the lead candidate to face him, which could be done at WrestleMania 29. Stay tuned.
– Updating a previous item regarding Brock Lesnar’s new MMA-style ring attire, Lesnar’s new WWE t-shirt also features the logos of Lesnar’s various sponsors, including Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches. A WWE superstar wearing sponsor logos is unprecedented – so it appears Lesnar’s team negotiated a very unique agreement with WWE. Speaking of Lesnar, WWE officials were said to be very happy with the Lesnar promo that aired on Monday’s RAW. The video was taped last week. Lesnar has also been added to the RAW Supershow opening video.
Here’s Lesnar’s video interview from Monday’s Raw:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1X3ZZrM8tI
– In his latest blog at MickFoley.Typepad.com titled, “An Answer For Ambrose,” Mick Foley says he could never work with Dean Ambrose because he does not trust him. Foley wrote:
“Look, sports-entertainment has to involve a certain ammount of respect and trust. It’s pretty obvious Dean Ambrose doesn’t have the slightest ammount of respect for me, and therefore I can’t place the slightest ammount of trust in him. Anyone wondering if I’m feeling better following the concussion I spoke of in that promo with Flair? I’m not. I tend to have two types of days when it comes to that muted, under-water feeling I spoke of in that promo – bad and worse. Given my history of concussions, I would have to be an absolute idiot to place my future in the hands of someone I don’t trust. Since I like to think I am not an idiot, I won’t be placing any trust in him. He had the golden ticket, and he blew it, because he would not honor the simple request I made – to his face – to not include my children in any way in his tweets. If I can’t trust him to honor that simple request, I certainly can’t trust him not to take liberties in the ring. It’s tough to get over in WWE. I certainly wouldn’t want to be one of the young guys facing someone like Skip Sheffield (yeah, I know he has a new name, but I don’t know it yet) knowing that the priority placed on getting over will be somewhat higher than looking out for the well being of an opponent. I went through that with The Dynamite Kid in 1986, when I was 21 years old. I could do it then. I can’t do it at 46..especialy not for someone like Dean Ambrose. To quote the original Willy Wonka movie, “You get nothing! You lose! Good day sir!”
– Former WCW star Konnan recently appeared on the MLW.com podcast and stated that Alberto Del Rio was ready to quit WWE and return to Mexico before he was called up to the main roster:
“The trainers over at FCW told me that when [Del Rio] came in, he was terrible. He said basically, I’m not making any money here [in developmental], I’m going home. My wife is pregnant and I’m out. I’m going back to Mexico.”
“John Laurinaitis told one of the trainers, we’re going to be inducting Mil Mascaras into the Hall of Fame and we kind of want someone to induct him. We need to push a Latino guy. Just put him on the road and see how he does.”
– Evan Bourne (broken foot) remains on crutches after breaking his foot several weeks ago. Bourne, who has two Wellness Policy strikes against him, tweeted on Monday:
“Getting very good at hopping around on one foot. Friends report my crutching skills are 8/10. #mobile”
– The bar that CM Punk walked into on RAW was The Pilot Inn in Greenwich, about a 10 minute walk from the O2 Arena. A reader who was at the pub when Punk and the WWE camera crew arrived says Punk did not have any fish & chips like he said because the bar wasn’t serving food at that time.
– According to the PWInsider, the Bella Twins were backstage for Monday’s WWE RAW Supershow in London but did not appear on television. Over the weekend, there were plans to use them on television this week. Despite the fact that the Bellas have been making various storyline-driven comments about wanting to challenge for the Divas title, they are still expected to leave WWE when their contracts expire later this month.
– Earlier this week, MVP was asked by a fan on Twitter when we’ll hear him say, “I’m Comin” [to WWE]. He replied, “Never again.” MVP later clarified the tweet, saying that he was referring to using his “I’m Coming” theme song again, and not specifically a return to WWE. He wrote:
“I was actually referring to using that theme song he mentioned. I’ve never said I’d ‘never return’ to the WWE. Thanks.”
– ECW original “Tajiri” was trending worldwide on Twitter on Monday night after Lord Tensai spit green mist (one of Tajiri’s signature moves) at John Cena. Other terms that trended on Monday night were Chief Jay Strongbow, Yes Lock and fish & chips.
– Kevin Nash is the latest WWE legend to publicly endorse WWE Champion CM Punk. Nash tweeted after RAW:
“just got done with Raw.Punk needs to keep the belt at least till next May”
A fan replied that WWE would never have anyone hold the WWE Title for that long. Nash replied:
“what is old is now new. let him have that love affair with the fans make them pat to see him get beat make it epic. Make a heel”
– Michael Cole announced on RAW that Daniel Bryan has renamed his LaBell Lock submission finisher. It will now be known as the Yes Lock. Speaking of Bryan, he spoke to HuffingtonPost.com this week about his vegan lifestyle:
“My health is so much better. I’m bigger now than I was eating meat. My lifts in the gym are better. I’m in better shape. A lot of people thought you couldn’t be a top-level athlete as a vegan, but people like Mac Danzig and Jake Shields are proving that’s wrong. And it’s better for me as a performer. The other wrestlers just think it’s weird. They don’t understand it.”
– The dark match after Monday’s WWE RAW tapings from London saw CM Punk defend the WWE Title against Chris Jericho. Daniel Bryan interfered and attacked Punk, causing a disqualification. Sheamus then came out and nailed Bryan with a Brogue Kick. Cody Rhodes, Big Show and Alberto Del Rio all came out next followed by Randy Orton. The babyfaces hit their finishers on the heels to end it.
– Last Friday’s SmackDown replay drew a 1.52 cable rating and 2,300,000 viewers. The Friday replay outdrew Tuesday’s live broadcast, which did a 1.50 cable rating with 2,250,000 viewers. Friday’s replay did a better rating than the last SmackDown replay on February 20.
– It was announced on Monday’s RAW that next week’s 3-hour special will feature an Extreme Rules contract signing between Brock Lesnar and John Cena. The two will compete in an Extreme Rules match (no-disqualification, no count-out) on April 29.
– Diamond Dallas Page’s DDP Yoga program continues to gain popularity among WWE’s active superstars, according to the Wrestling Observer. WWE Superstars Primo and Titus O’Neil are the latest wrestlers who are using the product. Primo noted on Twitter that he has been pain-free since he began the program.
NHL
– Blackhawks’ F Jonathan Toews voiced his displeasure with the $2,500 that Predators’ D Shea Weber received after his illegal hit on Red Wings’ F Henrik Zetterberg. Toews, of course, missed 22 games this season with a concussion.
“In a situation like that with Weber, more than anything you should make an example of it, regardless of whether he’s a star player. They have been trying to make an example of things like that so they don’t happen again and all of a sudden you let one slide like that. Everyone must feel like they’re back to square one. So it is frustrating.”
– Capitals’ F Nicklas Backstrom received a match penalty for a cross check to Bruins’ F Rich Peverley’s face at the end of Monday’s 4-3 loss in Game 3. He is automatically suspended one game pending a review by the league, but head coach Dale Hunter believes the NHL will overturn the ruling. “If you seen it, it was not that bad.” Backstrom recorded a goal and an assist in three games in the series so far.
MLB
– Jets’ QB Tim Tebow and Heat’ G Dwyane Wade took in a recent Yankees game, but weren’t sitting beside each other. When showed on the jumbotron at Yankee Stadium, both men were booed. Check it out:
NFL
– The Dolphins signed WR Legedu Naanee to a 1-year deal. Naanee caught a career-high 44 passes for 467 yards and a touchdown in 2011, but lost his starting job to Brandon LaFell down the stretch.
NBA
– Knicks’ F Amare Stoudemire (back) is hoping to return on Friday. Marc Berman previously wrote for days that Stoudemire was “eyeing” a Wednesday return. Stoudemire has gone through two contact scrimmages, and the team believes a return on Friday is “more realistic.”
– Wolves’ G Luke Ridnour (ankle) is expected to return before the season ends, according to head coach Rick Adelman. The Wolves have just three games left after Tuesday, so he’ll need to return quickly to salvage the final few games of the season.
– Hawks’ F Al Horford (torn pectoral) has been cleared to participate in contact work. Horford had his surgery on January 17 and had returned to non-contact practice over two weeks ago. He’s three months removed from his surgery, and his initial timetable to return was 3-4 months. He won’t return before the end of the season, but he could play in the playoffs at less than 100%. Stay tuned.
– During a recent Celtics/Nets game, Mike Fratello explained a slip screen play to play-by-play man Ian Eagle, who was unhappy with the explanation. Eagle called out Fratello, causing this awkward conversation during the game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zyHkbQ6uics
TNA
– Traci Brooks has confirmed her departure from TNA Wrestling after her profile was removed from the company’s official website over weekend.
“Yes it’s true my time with TNA has come to an end, what a great time I had. I love the TNA family and will miss everyone but will be watching every Thursday!
Following a one and a half year hiatus, Brooks returned to the organization last summer to help Velvet Sky combat ODB and Jacqueline. She was then made Karen Jarrett’s executive assistant, a title she held until Jarrett’s on-screen firing in December. Brooks began competing following Thanksgiving but became inactive again a few weeks later and wasn’t used again.
– Bruce Prichard, TNA Wrestling’s Senior Vice President of Programming and Talent Relations, returned to work at Sunday’s Lockdown pay-per-view. It was his first appearance at an event since suffering a pair of recent heart attacks.