WWE
– For the first-time ever, WWE.com has added a wrestler who never competed for WWE to their Alumni Section—Sting: “Sting’s charismatic personality and colorful face pant made him one of the WCW’s most popular wrestlers and the most recognizable face of the organization. For the first-time ever on WWE.com, check out Sting’s profile, photos and videos, the latest addition to the Alumni section!” The website adds:
“Remembered for his colorful charisma and struggle with The nWo, Sting has become synonymous with the Atlanta-based organization. Although he has never competed in a WWE ring, more than a decade since the demise of WCW, he remains one of the most popular and respected competitors of all-time.”
– According to the Wrestling Observer, there were reportedly several top members of WWE management that were concerned about how much John Cena bled at Extreme Rules. Cena was busted open ‘the hard way’ in the opening minutes of the match after a brutal elbow to the head from Brock Lesnar that almost ended the match.
– As part of WWE’s First Quarter 2012 earnings report announced on Thrusday, the company released pay-per-view buyrate information for this year’s Royal Rumble and Elimination chamber events.
The Royal Rumble drew 443,000 buys, down from 446,000 buys in 2011, and 462,000 buys in 2010.
Elimination Chamber did 178,000 buys, down from 199,000 buys in 2011 and 285,000 buys in 2010.
Even though the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber both did fewer buys in 2012 than they did in 2011, revenue was essentially the same due to more viewers ordering the high-definition feeds of the events, which are more expensive and made up the lost revenue.
As for WrestleMania 28?s buyrate, the official numbers will not be reported until WWE announces its Second Quarter 2012 results in a few months, but WWE CEO Vince McMahon did say that the buyrate is expected to be “nearly 1.3 million pay-per-view buys globally,” indicating the final number might be less than the 1.3 million estimate WWE previously touted.
After tying a 52-week low on Wednesday with $7.77 per share, WWE’s stock price saw a significant gain Thursday with the release of the organization’s 2012 First Quarter 2012 Earnings Results. The stock price increased to $8.78 per share, up $0.94 from Thursday’s closing price of $7.84 per share. Profitability came in well-above analysts’s expectations, increasing 17% to $54.7M. WWE explained the increase in the financial report released today.
– WWE released the following video Thursday highlighting Laurinaitis’ time in the squared circle:
– WWE.com announced Thursday that “superagent” A.W. has signed Primo, Epico and Rosa Mendes to his ”All World” talent agency, officially making the former WWE Tag Team Champions his clients. A.W. had been courting the trio for several weeks leading up to Monday’s Raw SuperShow as he insisted that the team deserved better placement and promotion at events. “We’re going all the way!” said A.W. at the official signing, who promising to take them to “The Promised Land.” Mendes added, “We expect nothing but the best from this new relationship,” to which A.W. replied, “You’re going to get the best and beyond.”
– William Regal announced on this week’s NXT that he has scouted new wrestlers that will soon be appearing on the show. He did not reveal the identities of the new talent, but did promise we’ll see several NXT debuts in the coming weeks.
– Wade Barrett is in Philadelphia, PA this week shooting scenes for the WWE Studios film, “Dead Man Down,” a romantic thriller starring Colin Farrell, features Terrence Howard, Armand Assante, Dominic Cooper and Naomi Rapace. No word yet on what character Barrett is playing. The project is scheduled for a 2013 release.
– WWE has posted a new video looking at some of the company’s funniest bloopers. The video, which is inspired by Lilian Garcia’s recent fall on the entrance ramp, features clips of the Shockmaster, Matt Hardy falling down, “Mean” Gene Okerlund cursing on live television and more.
“If Lilian Garcia’s recent tripping on the entrance ramp left you in stitches, watch this series of hilarious trips, falls and blunders by a host of sports-entertainment’s top grapplers — a partnership between WWE Classics and “Are You Serious?”
TNA
– Scott Steiner, who parted ways with TNA Wrestling in March, has continued to fire off messages on Twitter trashing his former employer. In his latest series of messages, “Big Poppa Pump” rips Hulk Hogan over his reported concept calling for fans to film TNA Wrestling talent whenever they may encounter them. The multi-time champion also recalls a conversation with Sting where both shared displeasure with Orlando Jordan portraying a bisexual character. Steiner says:
“Everytime hogan talks to the media without a script he sounds like a F’n idiot. Now hogan is sayin hes going to give more power to the fans get them more involved Make them more important,BUT,thats all he can speak on it right now,F*CK R U kidding me no other business in the world would allow 2 assholes to come into a company, Drive it to the lowest ratings EVER continue the low ratings for 2 1/2 cut down most employees In the media,and still have a job,what is Tna n Spike Tv officials thinking.”
“First off hogan, there is nobody more important than the fans,without fans There is no wrestling,dumbass,and second theres this new invention calld the nielson ratings system And the fans are choosing not to be involved in the bullshit that you n bitchoff brought to Tna And are using their power to change the channel.”
“This new brand,concept will be a fraud just like changing it to impact wrestling where”wrestling matters” Which was a crock of shit bcuz nothing changed,this is nothing but smoke But they are not wrestlings target audience,wrestlings demographics are basically the same as nascar fans.”
“now i have NOTHING against gay ppl “to each his own” Hogan brought in Orlando Jordan n introduced the wrestling audience to the first openly gay. Plus we were filming at universal where the fans were familys with kids from the park,at first They did segments with Orlando in front of the live crowd n some familys were appaud n left Bcuz his first stuff was him lusting over another wrestling which was bullshit,so then they starting doing His segments backstage,so the live crowd wouldnt see them.”
“so im talking with Sting in the impact Zone one day,and we are both saying WTF is going on around here and he said he was going to Say something and that he cant watch the show anymore,so i start asking questions and find out that In the production meetings hogan thinks he could be the world champion,which i didnt understand Why at the time,then later his ex-wife comes out n said he was gay. Hogan i know u think u have a Strong brand name,but when yur ex-wife says yur gay You were Branded .:…..brother.”
“Every PPv sunday tna would have chapel and sting was pissed at the hypocrisy of it all But thats what hogan wanted,of course his business partner and lap dog was backing him Sayin controversy creates cash ….bullshit .. U motherfuckers need to get a grip.”
Eric Bischoff has finally responded to Scott Steiner’s numerous messages on Twitter over the past month blasting him and TNA Wrestling. After “Big Poppa Pump” wrote Thursday afternoon on the social networking website, “At Shoney’s to Go Grand Opening in Buford….awesome food,” the TNA Wrestling executive responded,
“50+ year old man pitching greasy fried chicken in Buford and wrestling indys in front of 250 fans…bitter?”
Bischoff feels it’s ironic that Steiner complains about young talent not rising in TNA Wrestling while simultaneously ripping his 28-year-old wrestler son Garrett:
“Its hard for some guys to move over and let the younger talent rise. Irony? One of Scotts bitches in his 20?s and 30?s.”
Bischoff then retweeted comments on his timeline with an anti-Steiner stance, many of which accusing him of drug abuse.
“@ScottSteiner @HulkHogan @EBischoff Steiner’s bitter. He’d be there tomorrow if he were called upon. His matches were slow and boring anyway.”
“@ScottSteiner U must have a sad fuckin life if all u do is waffle on about @HulkHogan and @EBischoff all day on this #steroidjunkie.”
“@ScottSteiner You’re tweets make as much sense as your promos did… In other words, you’re a babbling, old, drug abusing fool @EBischoff.”
“@ScottSteiner Get a life you complete tit, Spending all day going on about @EBischoff and @HulkHogan get some respect.”
“@EBischoff Scott Steiner sounds like a disgruntled ex girlfriend!”
“@EBischoff don’t listen to the dabbling jealous wreck that is @scottsteiner, WWE needs to offer him the ex-employees the wellness rehab.”
“@EBischoff it would appear that Scott steiner has his head in his ass, as well as a needle.”
A Twitter user also wrote, “@EBischoff I bet if Hulk sold used toilet paper, it would triple the sales of @ScottSteiner merchandise. Bischoff responded,
“Thats being generous. Be kind to Scott. His AARP card is active and it’s an adjustment for him.”
Bischoff also took aim at Shane Douglas, who has accused the TNA Wrestling executive off of “killing pro wrestling” in multiple interviews:
“It takes a while…but eventually they get it. Shane is a loud mouth never-been, never will be, bitter old man trying to relive.”
– AAA matchmaker Konnan has launched his new weekly podcast, MLW’s Konnan Show presented by Masked Republic’s LuchaShop.com. A variety of topics were discussed this week and Konnan even had some surprise callers, including AAA star Teddy Hart. Konnan had previously appeared on MLW Radio and told a story about how Kurt Angle had claimed to him that Vince McMahon mails flowers to Angle every week with a note asking Angle to return to WWE. Kurt Angle recently responded on Twitter and accused Konnan of lying. Konnan had this to say about Angle’s twitter rant:
“All I can say is that it did happen. Obviously, when people are embarrassed or don’t remember, they’re going to refute it. If we can get him on the show one day, I’ll say it to him over the phone. There’s no problem. He did tell me that. He said, ‘Yeah man, Vince McMahon sends me flowers every week hoping for me to come back.’ I was just thinking to myself, yeah right.”
NHL
– Coyotes’ F Raffi Torres and the NHLPA will appeal the length of his 25-game suspension for his high and late hit to Blackhawks’ F Marian Hossa during the opening round of the playoffs. The appeal may take place next week and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman would act as the arbitrator. Torres has served 6 games of the suspension. Meanwhile, Hossa spoke for the first time since suffering the injury:
“Definitely, it is better. But I’m still not feeling like myself. Obviously, it’s going to take some time. It’s step by step getting a little bit better and that’s a good sign.”
“Somebody just came and hit me, since then I don’t remember much. After the hit I don’t remember much, I remember a few seconds of seeing Dr. [Michael] Terry. I don’t remember being in our dressing room. I just remember a little bit in the ambulance and I woke up in the hospital. Basically, I remember a few seconds. In the hospital, I became better and remembered more.”
“I believe he wouldn’t have gotten 25 games if he didn’t have the history of what’s he done before. He didn’t get the 25 games because of the hit on me.”
“I would say that it was nice that he contacted me, but I told him, I know he’s playing that way, but the one thing that I was upset with was the jump. If he didn’t jump, I would maybe get hit, but not hit in my head and he wouldn’t have the 25 games. Basically, I was upset about the jumping.”
“The good news is I’m slowly getting better. Obviously, I’m not feeling like myself yet, but I’m getting better. I’m slowly going for walks, and that’s a good thing. Training camp is still far away, and we’ll see what will happen by then.
“So far, small steps, and I believe I’ll be ready.”
NFL
– ESPN Milwaukee reports free agent RB Ryan Grant is contemplating an offer from the Lions. Grant has already visited the Patriots, and is believed to have received an offer from them as well. Grant won’t be guaranteed money or a roster spot on either team.
– The Jaguars have released CB Drew Coleman. The 29-year-old signed a 3-year/$7.4M contract last summer, but played just one season in Jacksonville, recording two sacks, three forced fumbles, and two picks.
– The Jets have signed No. 43 overall pick WR Stephen Hill to a 4-year/$5M contract. Hill will receive $2.8M in guarantees.
MLB
– Giants’ 3B Pablo Sandoval (fractured left hamate bone) is scheduled to undergo surgery on Friday and will miss 4-6 weeks. Sandoval was hitting .316/.375/.537 with five homers and 15 RBI through his first 104 plate appearances this season.
– Marlins’ manager Ozzie Guillen told reporters Thursday that he’s staying with RHP Heath Bell at closer. ”We’re a better team with Bell closing. There’s no doubt. That’s what we want. That’s what I want.” The 34-year-old has allowed 12 runs on 13 hits in 7 2/3 innings this season for an 11.74 ERA and and is just 3-for-6 in save opportunities. Bell has 3-years/$27M remaining on his contract, so they’re stuck with him.
– Cubs’ manager Dale Sveum said Thursday that he is considering removing RHP Carlos Marmol from the closer’s role. Marmol fell apart again Thursday after getting a 3-0 lead against the Reds. After walking the first two batters he faced, Brandon Phillips hit a potential double-play ball which went off Ian Stewart’s glove to score a run. Marmol then gave up a single to Jay Bruce to load the bases and walked Ryan Ludwick to force in a run. The tying run scored after he was pulled in favor of Rafael Dolis, and the Reds went on to win the game 4-3 in 10 innings. Marmol was charged with only one earned run, but still has a 6.23 ERA and 8/12 K/BB ratio over 8 2/3 innings.
– Cardinals’ OF Lance Berkman (calf) confirmed that he will not return from the DL when he’s first eligible Friday. Berkman said following Thursday’s game that “it’s just a matter of a couple days.”
– The Yankees have placed INF Eric Chavez (concussion) on the 7-day DL. Chavez suffered whiplash Wednesday when he dove for a ball down the line, but he didn’t leave the game until he felt dizziness while hitting later in the same inning. He was taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital for head and spine scans, but the official diagnosis is not yet known.
NBA
– Hawks’ F Josh Smith (left patellar tendinitis) hasn’t tried running yet. Smith sat out Thursday’s practice. He plans on testing the knee in Friday morning’s shootaround, then making a decision on his status. A source has told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Smith is doubtful for Game 3, but is likely to return for Game 4.