Official Wrestling Thread "Finally ... a wrestling thread HAS COME BACK TO JPH!P!!!"

[JFC]

^
One of the toughest sons-o-bitches to grace the squared circle.

R.I.P. Mr. Kiniski.

[RatBastich]

WWE officially announces Smackdown's move to Syfy; NXT being moved off Syfy

By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

WWE issued a press release this morning officially announcing that WWE Smackdown will move to Syfy starting Friday night, October 1, which would mark the end of a two-year partnership with MyNetworkTV.

Regarding the NXT show currently airing on Syfy, WWE said NXT "will leave Syfy in October as Friday Night SmackDown joins the schedule." The show is not being canceled, though. WWE will announce at a later time where they are moving NXT. Stay tuned.

Smackdown will keep its 8:00 p.m. EST timeslot when the show moves to Syfy. WWE disclosed they signed a "multi-year" agreement with Syfy, with comments from WWE CEO Vince McMahon.

"Syfy is a terrific partner and we look forward to bringing our proven ratings winner and ten year television institution, Friday Night SmackDown, to the network," said McMahon. "With this move, WWE is thrilled to be expanding its long-standing relationship with the NBC Universal family."

[RatBastich]

Chris Jericho says he could walk away from WWE; why he's sticking around

By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Recent WWE World Hvt. champion Chris Jericho says he could walk away from WWE tomorrow and be happy with his career, but he wants to continue working for WWE to help the next generation of stars.

Jericho adds that today's newer stars have the disadvantage of a contracted pro wrestling industry where there are not a variety of different places to get work to learn as much about pro wrestling before joining TNA.

"I could leave tomorrow and be a happy guy. There’s really not much more for me to do," Jericho told Patrick Lennon of the Daily Star. "At this point it's about staying to help the business, to help the young guys I see around me. When I came up, you could go to Europe, Mexico, Japan, go all over, but the problem is now that these guys have no life experience or wrestling experience. It's not their fault."

Jericho says the young stars in WWE have too many expectations on them and he wants to help them ease into main event spots. Just in the last few months, WWE has put lofty expectations on Sheamus as a WWE champion, Jack Swagger as World Hvt. champion, and Drew McIntyre as the "chosen one" by Vince McMahon on TV.

"These young guys are brought on and expected to shoulder the whole company, they expect them to work like HBK and Undertaker, and it’s just not going to happen," Jericho said. "I want to help with that. To take the money and run, that's a s----- attitude, but there were guys like that when I came in, and there are guys like that in the business now. I love wrestling, and I want to leave knowing I left a business there for the future."

[kuno_thunder]

WTF, Shelton Benjamin got released by WWE?  That's a damn shame.  And Mickie James too!

[thatonezombie]

I normally dont pay attention to wrestling until its Royal Rumble/Wrestlemania time but I couldnt help but laugh when Chris Jericho did the whole Jeriiiicho flip promo 



FLIP!

[DHG]

I'm not happy with the recent releases. I mean I can understand Funaki since he hasn't been on tv for nearly a year. But wtf Shelton Benjamin was def World Champion material I swear it's a damn shame for him. Also why release Mickie James when you can def do without Kelly Kelly. I also thought Katie Lea was awesome but they never given her a real chance to shine. Sigh oh well hopefully those that got release will go to TNA once their non compete clause ends.

[kuno_thunder]

OH man, I just about shat myself watching this. Pure gold!

[pikapikapika]

How many people do you wish this happened to in WWE? 

[RatBastich]

[daigong]

lol Hogan and a Mankind rip off


Inspiring Shit!

[JajaPipi]

I'm not a big fan of TNA but I'll see Hulk and Mankind

NEXUS stinks

[mode107]

^ The Nexus has annoyed me so much. Those guys just irk me, and I want them gone, asses kicked!

I started watching TNA regularly back in January. It's been okay so far. I've been an RVD fan for the longest time, so its great to see him wrestle. He's really one of a kind. I wish I could move like him

[RatBastich]

GARDNER'S KEY MOMENT OF THE WEEK: Why the Nexus vs. Team Cena storyline is working on Raw

By Richard Gardner, Torch specialist

Nexus, led by NXT Season One winner Wade Barrett, is heading into Summerslam as the focal point of WWE's key storyline on the Raw brand. A week after John Cena announced a team to fight the group in an elimination match at Summerslam, Nexus was put over as a dominant group on television during Monday's Raw.

WWE has unsuccessfully attempted to create gang warfare in recent years by building a rivalry between Raw and Smackdown, which even spawned its own Pay-Per-View, Bragging Rights. The problem with this approach was that there was never a tangible reason for the fans to get behind either team. Also, with wrestlers transferring between brands with such regularity, the concept of brand loyalty seemed forced. The confusion meant that it was difficult to tell who was the heel or face and why the fans should get behind the cause of either roster. After all, is there such thing as an avid Raw or Smackdown fan as opposed to an avid WWE fan?

The Nexus feud is different. Nexus has been presented as a legitimate threat to the WWE roster through a series of attacks to the top WWE stars. There is no confusing division of loyalties; Nexus are heels - supremely over heels at that - to the point where the likes of Edge and Chris Jericho are portrayed as the lesser of two evils.

This week on Raw, Nexus went over seven WWE stars in an elimination match. It was strange to see the group winning the contest without losing a single fall after being portrayed as novices on NXT for several months, but they were put over as a serious threat to the WWE team.

Nexus has gone from being harmless Rookies to a main event heel stable in a matter of weeks.

By contrast, the WWE team was booked to have dissention in the ranks over a show-long storyline. It started with John Cena and Chris Jericho arguing to open Raw and continued throughout the broadcast with disagreements between other members of the WWE team. Raw went off the air with the team members fighting and arguing in the ring.

It was simple, but effective booking that reinforced the momentum of the Nexus group and gave the audience a reason to buy the Summerslam PPV.

The Nexus storyline has given Raw direction in the past few weeks, leading to some of the best WWE TV shows of the year. Whether this momentum can be carried into Summerslam and beyond is another question, but in the meantime enjoy some of the most focused WWE booking in recent history.

[RatBastich]

Angle News: Kurt Angle in Los Angeles filming new movie; extras being sought for Sunday shoot

By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

TNA wrestler Kurt Angle is in California this weekend taking part in filming for the upcoming "Beyond the Mat" movie.

On Sunday morning, Angle will be at El Monte High School, which is in Los Angeles county, filming scenes. Angle plays the role of a high school wrestling coach in the movie based on amateur wrestling.

The local EWF promotion run by former WWE referee Jesse Hernandez is helping promote the movie. They're seeking extras to be in the shoot on Sunday morning beginning at 11:00 a.m. PST.

"Beyond the Mat" is scheduled for release in first quarter 2011. Angle will also be in movies scheduled to come out this fall, including the MMA-themed "Warrior" movie, "Dead of Night," and "River of Darkness."

[RatBastich]

WWE News: Chris Jericho interview - discusses WWE future with contract coming due, rips TNA product and calls for changes

By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

WWE wrestler Chris Jericho says there's "no reason for him to walk away from WWE" at this point in his career. Jericho's contract is reportedly due this fall, but Jericho says he feels has five years or more left to contribute in the wrestling business.

"I think the stuff I have been doing over the last three years is the best work of my career. So there's no reason for me to walk away from the WWE at this point, because I think I could perform at the level I have been doing for the last three years because you can't teach experience," Jericho said on the Monday Night Mayhem radio show last night.

"The company has a great future ahead of it, and guys are starting to break through that I'm really proud of. A guy like me, who has been doing this for 20 (and I'm only 39 years old), I could keep doing this another five or six years if I want to, so when it's time for me to walk away, I'll know, but as for now, I still enjoy it."

Jericho made it sound like his only option is continuing with WWE and he wouldn't consider TNA unless major changes are made. Jericho ripped the promotion, calling it a "vanity project" and said the product is "crap."

"They got nothing else going on, their booking is horrendous, and I say that with the utmost respect for those guys and I most desire to see them succeed, but it's crap. You know it's crap, they throw stuff up against the wall, and it's so hard to watch when it doesn't have to be," Jericho said in response to TNA's current "ECW period."

"Having a guy like Tommy Dreamer involved behind the scenes might be what they need. Get rid of the same old stuff that they have been doing over and over, and bring in someone with a new perspective, and maybe that will help them get their heads out of there asses and just making some money instead of doing this as sort of a vanity project that's been treading water for the last four years."

[RatBastich]

WWE/TNA News: WWE's lead attorney responds to TNA's use of "ECW" brand to promote Hardcore Justice PPV

By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

After weeks of speculation on whether WWE would acknowledge TNA's recent promotion of the "ECW" brand, including using the letters E-C-W on the air during recent Impact episodes, WWE has stated their position.
 

WWE lead attorney Jerry McDevitt made the following statement to Newsday's Alfonso Castillo concerning TNA's promotion of the "Hardcore Justice" PPV on Sunday:

"WWE is the sole owner of the ECW marks, and as with all of WWE's intellectual property it will be vigorously protected. TNA acts at its peril if it infringes upon WWE's rights," McDevitt said.

As Castillo points out in his blog, TNA's ECW-themed PPV is now officially on WWE's radar. Whether or not WWE, which owns the rights to the "ECW" brand name and related trademarks, decides to make a legal claim prior to or after the TNA PPV remains to be seen.

[RatBastich]

TNA News: Report on whether TNA wrestlers will be attending Hardcore Justice PPV, what it says about current locker room morale

By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

One of the questions going into Sunday night's ECW-themed Hardcore Justice PPV is whether the regular TNA wrestlers will be at the PPV.

According to sources, TNA has "encouraged" TNA wrestlers to attend the PPV, but it's not required since they're not booked on the PPV.

Many TNA wrestlers are not expected to attend, some reportedly "wanting nothing to do with" the PPV or ECW-related storylines that have taken time away from focusing on current TNA feuds and programs.

There's a feeling among wrestlers that TNA needs to look forward rather than continuing to look back - whether it's ECW, WCW, or past WWE storylines.

The timing of TNA giving former ECW wrestlers a PPV payday and shifting TNA's monthly PPV to free TV next Thursday is worth noting.

The rumored new wrestling promotion funded by the Wilpon Family continues to be a topic of discussion in the TNA locker room. Many wrestlers are speculative on whether the proposed new company will actually pan out. However, the story is that many TNA wrestlers are not happy with the recent emphasis on ECW and are considering their career options.

Sources in TNA have estimated that between 10 and 15 wrestlers on the TNA roster are considering their options between the proposed Wilpon promotion and pursuing a potential opportunity in WWE. Mid-to-upper tier TNA wrestlers in that group are believed to be considering WWE, while wrestlers not utilized by TNA are believed to be feeling out the proposed Wilpon promotion.

The recent emphasis on another brand (ECW) over the company's current roster, A.J. Styles recently expressing frustration with TNA decision-making, and Samoa Joe's outburst on TNA staff members paints the picture of a dissatisfied and frustrated locker room.

TNA wrestlers on the roster under the age of 35 are said to be strongly considering their options, especially after being loyal to the promotion during its growth stage and believing they're being passed over in favor of former stars.

Styles captured that feeling in an interview earlier this week when he talked about TNA putting the TNA World Title on Rob Van Dam right after RVD joined the company "from WWE." Styles said in the interview that he didn't understand the decision and said it sent a message to him that he's "just another guy."

Regarding the idea that some TNA wrestlers might pursue a WWE opportunity, Evan Bourne is an example of a wrestler who most people five years ago never would have believed would be in main event programs on WWE TV. Bourne has found success in WWE this year being spotlighted on Raw despite being a smaller, "X Division size" wrestler.

Some TNA wrestlers might believe the recent de-emphasis on a specific body type combined with WWE's youth movement forced by veterans beginning to age could open the door for them.

[RatBastich]

WWE/MMA News: Dave Batista on MMA transition - "I didn't like the direction of pro wrestling," talks WWE schedule, timetable for first MMA fight, more

By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Former WWE wrestler Dave Batista says one of the main reasons he's making the transition to MMA is because he didn't like the direction of pro wrestling. Batista parted ways with WWE in May after being one of the top stars in the promotion to start the year.

"It wasn't like a sporadic thing. I've been thinking of it for a long time. Kind of following the footsteps of Brock (Lesnar) and Bobby Lashley. Before I get too old, I wanted to give it a try," Batista told Fight Magazine in an interview.

"I just really want to make that cross-over. I want to be a legitimate fighter. I didn't like the direction pro wrestling was going on. I want to legitimize myself as a mixed martial artists against true legit fighters. This is not like a joke to me; this is something I take real seriously."

Batista also talked about WWE's full-time schedule and the constant travel catching up to him physically. He said he's enjoying the MMA training schedule at the Cesar Gracie camp in California where he can focus on one thing and not be constantly on the road.

"The (MMA) training part is fun. I'm a physical guy. I love to train," he said. "The traveling and the wear and tear that comes along with professional wrestling is what takes a toll on you. I always tell people the hardest thing about professional wrestling is the travel. It just beats you up, man. Just dealing with traveling coast to coast and cramped up in tight spaces for hours, plus a lack of sleep (and) lack of good food. If I can center myself in one place for eight to ten weeks, that's a dream come true for me."

Despite a history of injuries during his pro wrestling career, Batista said he thinks he's very durable, which he believes will be a strength for him during his MMA career. "Resilient" might be a better word to describe Batista, who returned from several major muscle and ligament injuries during his WWE career.

"I'm real durable. I think I've proven that over the years in WWE; I think any professional wrestler is nothing else, durable," he said. "Brock has proved that. Bobby has proved that. I think a lot more fighters than you realize are also professional wrestlers. If there's one requirement in professional wrestling, it's durability. And I'm as durable as they come."

Batista said he has eight-to-ten more weeks of training at the Gracie camp before he signs a contract with Strikeforce. He said he's looking at early 2011 for a debut fight in MMA after missing a window of opportunity this year. Batista said he's also concentrating on TV and movie projects, including what he says is a "big budget" movie opportunity.

"Early 2011," Batista said when asked when he plans to have his first fight. "Negotiations are going good; it's just when we started talking, I had a very small opportunity leaving wrestling and being freed up from that and doing other projects. I have TV projects and movie projects. One is a really big priority for me because it's a big budget film. My window of opportunity closed. Now, we're looking to early 2011."

Batista also addressed skepticism of him making the transition and whether he has the chops to make it in MMA. "I'm legit. I'm a fighter. I want to learn how to be a professional fighter," he said. "I'm not coming in here like a celebrity. I don't mind earning people's respect. I don't expect to have it handed to me."

[RatBastich]

WWE News: Recap of Randy Orton's interview on TBS's "Lopez Tonight" tonight

By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Appearing on TBS's "Lopez Tonight" show for a rare TV interview, WWE wrestler Randy Orton presented a completely different side of his personality than his customary "viper" TV character.

During his guest appearance tonight, Orton acknowledged he was a "hated villain" for six years on WWE TV and recently turned babyface. "I'm not used to this," he said. The reactions from the studio audience captured the WWE audience turning him babyface - males cheering their "Stone Cold" Steve Austin of this generation and women cheering him with his cool demeanor and relatable character.

Considering Orton's rare TV interview appearances, most WWE fans wouldn't have recognized Orton out-of-character in a sharp suit, smiling for the crowd, and having outbursts of laughter sharing stories on his WWE career and family life.

At the beginning of the interview segment, Orton strolled onto the set slapping hands with the studio audience while flashing his CEO-quality suit. Orton commanded the stage and received a strong babyface pop before beginning the back-and-forth interview discussion.

Comedian George Lopez, the host of the show and noted wrestling fan, introduced Orton as the youngest WWE champion at 24-years-old and said Orton will be challenging Sheamus for the WWE Title at Summerslam.

Orton and Lopez saved the discussion on Sheamus for late in the interview giving the final hard sell for Summerslam on Sunday. Orton talked up Sheamus as being a "big ol' boy" who is new to the business. He got a pop from the studio audience for doing a brief wrestler promo, with a grin, saying: "That doesn't mean I'm afraid of him."

During the back-and-forth, Orton talked about growing up in the business being a third-generation wrestler. He talked about his family being part of the WWWF, then WWF, and now he's in WWE.

They showed a picture of Orton's dad, "Cowboy" Bob Orton, posing. Orton also name-dropped Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Roddy Piper, and Paul Orndorff as wrestlers who used to come by his dad's house. This was followed by a picture of Andre holding a two-and-a-half-year-old Orton, which humanized Orton to continue making him relatable to the females in the crowd.

Orton then talked about his wife and small daughter watching him on Raw every Monday night if he's on the show early-enough. He shared a story that he's fourth in line behind Big Show, Sheamus, and John Cena with his daughter.

Orton said his daughter calls Cena "naked baby," even though Cena wears jean shorts and he wears the closest thing to a diaper, referring to him wrestling in athletic wrestling gear.

"John Cena, she calls naked baby, she calls herself naked baby, why can't I be naked baby?!" Orton said with a smile.

Orton and Lopez wrapped up the discussion, with Lopez giving a final plug for Summerslam in Los Angeles or on PPV on Sunday.

[RatBastich]

TNA News: Eric Bischoff refutes claim Hulk Hogan & Bischoff are leaving TNA

By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Eric Bischoff is refuting claims made by an apparent Hulk Hogan imposter on Twitter that Hogan and Bischoff are leaving TNA.

There has recently been talk of Hogan creating an official Twitter page. Eric Bischoff linked to the apparent new Hogan page earlier today, which followed Hogan's close friend, Bubba the Love Sponge, linking to it on his Twitter page last night.

The apparent imposter "Hogan" posted today that Bischoff and he are departing TNA "on a mutual basis." Bischoff followed by saying on his Twitter that the Hogan account he linked to was fake and the claims were not true.

"The Hulk Hogan twitter posts are fake. Hulk IS in the process of setting up a page, but has not as yet. The rumors of us leaving TNA are bogus," Bischoff said after the posts were made.

The apparent imposter posted that it was "time to move on" from TNA. The posts from the account were removed shortly after they were made. The full text of what was posted, then pulled from the page, is below:

"I know you've heard the rumors brothers and they are true. Eric and I are leaving TNA on a mutual basis. I just got out of meetings now. It was really fun but time to move on. TNA has a new leadership coming in. Make sure you Hulkamaniacs still support them. TNA needs the power of Hulkamania to live on brothers. Thank you Dixie and Bob Carter for the wonderful and positive experiences in TNA. Nothing but the best to you guys. Brothers, this isn't the last of me though. You'll be able to see me at 'Hulk Hogan & Friends' events on tour soon."