WWE
– WWE.com has a new storyline article up looking at how Chris Jericho has failed to win gold since returning in January and how this effects World Heavyweight Title match at Over the Limit as he goes against champion Sheamus, Randy Orton and Alberto Del Rio. It’s been widely reported that Chris Jericho will be taking time off from WWE this summer to tour with his metal band Fozzy, and the article is already planting the seeds for Jericho’s departure. The following is an excerpt from the article:
“Further, if Jericho fails to come away with the gold, will Over the Limit be the last time the WWE Universe ever sees the “Ayatollah of Rock n’ Rollla” in the ring? Or can Jericho save his career with a huge win against three formidable opponents?
If this is to be his final stand, the smart money would be to bet on Jericho walking out of PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., with the title in hand. Jericho is a survivor, and like a cornered lion, he’ll be at his most dangerous with his back to the wall. Jericho will do anything — anything — to emerge from Over the Limit with the World Heavyweight Championship secured around his waist.
But even if he does overcome the other three competitors in the Fatal 4-Way, there’s already plenty of speculation that the WWE Universe won’t see much of Jericho in the coming months. His heavy metal band Fozzy is set to release a new studio album this summer, and tour dates have been planned.
That said, will his match at WWE Over the Limit be his lingering legacy? And if Y2J does decide to walk off into the sunset, will he do so with the World Heavyweight Championship around his waist?”
– WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels recently spoke with the Miami Herald about his new endorsement deal with Eye Black. Here are some highlights of what Michaels said about his decision to end his legendary in-ring career, whether he’d wrestle again and why he’ll always be a part of the WWE family:
Why It Was The Right Time To Retire From WWE: “I walked away from an extremely well paying job, which is probably not the smartest thing to do, but I did it solely to come home and to help my wife raise our children, to be a part of their lives. WWE would have allowed me to work any kind of way that I wanted. I could have very easily have said, ‘Hey, I’d like to slow down over the next couple of years, do a few things here and there,’ and I think everybody would have been fine with that, but for me, I think that would have probably been harder on me. Personally, I think the job would be harder for me to do, personally, on a semi, here and there, in and out type basis. It’s easier, and I think I’m better at it when I’m doing it or I’m not. So for me I felt it was better to walk away completely.”
Has He Wrestled His Last Match? “You have to be careful because if you leave it as an open option, you’re going to be getting calls on a regular basis. Every time somebody gets injured or every time somebody comes up with an idea, the phone is going to be ringing, and you’re going to have to deal with ‘should I or shouldn’t I?’ I didn’t want to run into that. I didn’t want to put myself through that, and I didn’t want to put the company through that.”
“I’m certainly not going to wrestle, but if you need me for something, if you’re in a bind, you can give me a buzz, and I’ll be more than happy to be there and help out any way I can.”
MLB
– The Twins have placed RHP Nick Blackburn (strained left quad) on the 15-day DL and is expected to miss about 3 weeks. Blackburn battled the injury throughout Wednesday’s start against the Tigers and was torched for six earned runs in just two innings. Blackburn has an 8.37 ERA and 1.77 WHIP through seven starts this season.
– Mariners’ C Miguel Olivo (right groin strain) is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment early next week. Olivo will meet with the team this weekend for workouts before being sent to a minor league affiliate. The 33-year-old has been on the DL since May 1, and was batting just .210/.229/.346 in 23 games before the injury.
NFL
– Chiefs’ GM Scott Pioli promoted QB Matt Cassel during a recent radio interview with WHB in Kansas City. Pioli compared Cassel to Len Dawson, who is “without a doubt the greatest quarterback in the history of this franchise.” Said Pioli, “I think that we have a really good quarterback. … I think as he gets more opportunities, Matt is gonna continue to show people that he’s a good NFL quarterback.” Despite this, the Chiefs figure to be one of the biggest rush-heavy offences next season.
– Former Ravens CB Domonique Foxworth, the new NFLPA President, confirmed that he plans to retire from football. ”I think that I’ve probably made the decision that I’m going to move forward and stop playing football.” The 29-year-old recently had a recent hip surgery in addition to a chronically bad knee. Foxworth finishes his career with eight interceptions and 44 starts among 78 appearances.