WWE News Bytes

October 12, 2007

by Sassy

No Mercy

OR

Have Mercy?

No Mercy has come and gone and it appears that some WWE fans are grateful that it is over. CM Punk managed to retain the ECW Championship in spite of Big Daddy V.  John Cena’s injury left the WWE Championship up for grabs.  Unfortunately, there appeared to be few players on the road to gain that title belt.  It was handed to Randy Orton who immediately lost it to Triple H. Triple H managed to hang on to the belt during his battle with Umaga but then lost it to Orton shortly thereafter – all in one night.

Shawn Michaels Returns

Michaels didn’t make it to No Mercy, but he did make it to Monday Night Raw in order to take out Orton.  We would assume it was Michaels’ way of laying claim to the title belt Orton now holds.

Rowdy Roddy Piper Takes on Vince McMahon And The Winner IS…

It was reported that Piper piped up at the G.I. Joe Convention and blabbed that he would be one of the choices for Guest Referee at Cyber Sunday. McMahon went ballistic and refused to allow Piper’s name to be added to the list of choices for guest referee AND says Piper won’t be on any WWE list for work in the future.  Ads for Cyber  Sunday in Canada listed Piper as a choice for guest referee. Those ads, which ran as early as Labor Day, listed Piper, Mick Foley and Steve Austin as choices.  The new ads now show JBL in place of Piper. Source: www.lordsofpain.net.

Triple H A No Go For Cyber Sunday

Triple H was originally announced as being a player involved in Cyber Sunday, however, WWE now says Triple H will not be available. 

Elijah Burke Desperately Seeking Illinois

Burke missed the house show in Springfield, IL last week because he drove to Springfield, MO instead.  He obviously won’t get paid since he didn’t appear. Source: WrestleZone. Don’t feel too bad, Burke, it could happen to anyone.

CM Punk Versus Tony Atlas

We are told that CM Punk and Tony Atlas had a go around at the last ECW taping, partially over Punk’s taping – the taping of his arms.  Source: www.angrymarks.com. I can't speak for  other WWE/ECW fans, but Punk has talent, style, charisma and class and hasn’t been getting the push he deserves.  According to reports, Atlas didn’t even know who Punk was and how many fans Punk has amassed.  I thought Punk had been looking a little off during some of his performances and I can’t say that I blame him. Who is Tony Atlas anyway and is this type of action what is causing low morale in the ECW locker room?

Word is the reason Punk lost to Morrison on Punk’s home turf was to punish him for sticking to his guns against Tony Atlas.  Hang in there, Punk, if you don’t stay with WWE, er, we mean ECW,  fans will find you. I don’t know about anyone else out there, but Punk is one of the main reasons I tune in to ECW.

It is also being reported that a CNN camera crew has taken to following CM Punk around.  Did CNN hear how Punk was being treated and figure this was a good time to see if he would like to speak out?

And speaking of CM Punk, the Ghost Hunters Live Halloween Special 2006 featuring Punk has just been released on DVD.

ECW Brings in Johnny Jeeter

Johnny Jeeter, formerly of WWE’s Spirit Squad, will be joining ECW in the near future. Source: WrestleZone.

John Morrison and Randy Orton Cozy Up To WWE Management

and appear to be WWE corporate “favorites” in the Signature Pharmacy client list scandal.  Orton never served any time off for being on the list. We all knew how Orton was being treated like teacher’s pet, but we didn’t know …

John Morrison didn’t serve his full suspension. Morrison worked a house show a day before his suspension was up.  Source: www.wrestle-zone.com.

Smackdown the UK Way

The Smackdown house show for October 17 will be held at the Manchester Evening News Arena in the UK.  Currently scheduled to appear are Batista, Undertaker & Kane vs. The Great Khali, Finlay, & Mark Henry. ECW Champion CM Punk will be defending his title against John Morrison. For information on all WWE house shows, television tapings, and talent events, go to www.wwe.com.

Diva Search Elimination

Jessica Hatch has fallen victim to the latest round of votes in the WWE Diva Search.  You can catch interviews she will be doing after her removal from the competition on various wrestling news sites.

Developmental Talent Gone

WWE has released Keith Walker and Buck Quartermaine.  No reasons were given for the release.  Remember that two developmental talents tested positive during routine drug tests?

Two more developmental wrestlers are getting some heat in OVW.  The Major Brothers appear to be turning into a major pain according to OVW sources. They refuse to listen to anyone and tend to do their own thing. Source: LordsofPain.

Another New Talent Out The Door

Krissy Vain, at her own request.  Krissy made her debut on the September 28, 2007, edition of Smackdown.  Reports are that she and her boyfriend, Ryan O’Reilly both asked for their releases at the same time.  Krissy was slated to work on  Smackdown and Ryan was scheduled to work on Raw. The time apart was too much and they decided their relationship meant more to them than WWE meant to them.  Source: AngryMarks.

Lillian Garcia’s American Idol Storyline

Garcia wants more promo work on her album and is willing to work a storyline to get it done.  Garcia has been known to avoid storylines but since this will showcase her musical talent, she’s pushing for it. Source: WrestleZone. The angle may have started last week.  C’mon Lillian, you have a great voice but can’t we make wrestling really wrestling and skip the music industry stuff?

This Week’s WWE Ratings

Last week’s Friday Night Smackdown drew a 2.5 rating. Source: www.gerweck.net.

Monday Night Raw drew a 2.8 rating – that’s a new low.  The last time Raw drew a rating this low was on December 15, 1997.  Source: www.prowrestlingfans.com.

According to The Grand Rapids Press, the two hour Raw time slot provided a full thirty minutes of actual ring time.  I wonder if that’s why they have all those commercials during the matches – so it’s harder for fans to tell just how much ring time they are truly getting.

ECW drew a 1.2 cable rating, same as last week.

It is being reported the USA Network is not happy with the way WWE has been handling things and that WWE is ignoring any creative ideas proposed by the network.  USA’s contract with WWE expires shortly after Wrestlemania 24. Since Bonnie Hammer of USA expected the ratings for WWE to be between 4 and 5 when the deal was signed in 2005, no one knows if USA will want to keep WWE.

Several websites are reporting that the Smackdown taped this week was taped with two different endings. 

New Faction To Debut at Smackdown

Dave Taylor, Paul Burchhill and Scottish newcomer Drew McIntyre are slated to become a new faction on Smackdown. No word yet on the exact date they will show up. Source: www.sescoops.com.

John Cena Out Till 2008

John Cena will be out of WWE action longer than expected. Vince McMahon told fans originally that Cena will be back in six months. During his interview on past Monday’s Raw via satellite, Cena says he has been told the prognosis is seven to twelve months before he will be able to return. Source: www.rajah.com.

The Jackass Is Back --

Was He Ever Gone?

Rumor has it that WWE is again going to go for the jackass angle with Steve-O about the time of the Royal Rumble in January, 2008. The previous angle using Steve-O to be used at Summer Slam fizzled out.  Source: ProWrestlingFans.

Although the above mentioned site reports that the idea was axed because WWE got fed up with Steve –O,  I remember reading reports that Steve-O did a backpedal because of the drug problems cropping up in WWE.  If that is the case, I have to wonder who the jackass truly is.

A New Highlander Being Delivered Via the Stork

Rory of the tag team The Highlanders has been telling everyone that he and his wife are expecting a child via his MySpace page.

Ric Flair Takes On Auto Dealer

Ric Flair has filed suit against a a car dealer out of North Carolina claiming it has been using his likeness to run commercials and advertisements.  Although not trademarked, Flair says that his personality is his own and he did not give permission for anyone to use it to advertise products.  Source: The Charlotte Observer.

Not Necessarily WWE News

Johnny Fairplay has filed suit against Danny Bonaduce for injuries he sustained after Bonaduce dropped him on his head.  Source: Rajah. As reported in an earlier News Bytes, The DA reviewed the tape and refused to file charges.  I’ve seen the tape and Bonaduce didn’t do anything out of the ordinary – Fairplay latched onto Bonaduce. Bonaduce was merely defending himself. I’m not necessarily a Bonaduce fan, but if you aren’t man enough to take the heat, then don’t go around attacking people, Fairplay.  We can always hope the judge that sees this case sees through it and tosses it into the trashcan.

Independent Norwegian Wrestler Isak Rain Death Notice and Obituary

Isak Rain, of the Norwegian Wrestling Federation and the World Association of Wrestling, has died.

Rain was killed as a result of a car accident that took place in his native Norway on Tuesday night (October 9, 2007).

Rain had wrestled all over Europe, most notably for the NWF in Norway and WAW in England, but also wrestling in Finland and Italy as well as other BritWres promotions such as Real Quality Wrestling, Herts & Essex Wrestling, the British Wrestling Alliance and Real Deal Wrestling.

Rain, trained by Erik Isaksen and Robbie Brookside, later became a protege of veteran "Rowdy" Ricky Knight and was well known for his NWF tag team championship winning combination with fellow Norwegian Victor as Fremtiden ("Future").

He was 22.

Source: www.gerweck.net.

Where Are They Now

I feel like I should be adding Ric Flair and Booker T/King Booker to this section but since no one has confirmed or denied they are no longer working with WWE, I have not done so.

See The Sandman Live In Action

The Sandman will make his debut in EWF’s Seasons Beatings on December 1, 2007. Sandman will be available for polaroids and autographs before the show and during intermission. For further information on this and other EWF events, go to www.ewfarena.com.

Bret Harte Book Signings - Canada

The dates are all scheduled in Canada, but that is where the book is being released first:

Saturday, October 20, 1:00 p.m. – CALGARY

Costco, 99 Heritage Gate SE

Monday, October 22nd, 7:00 p.m. – TORONTO

Chapters, Festival Hall, 142 John St., tel (416) 595-7349

Saturday, October 27, 2:00 p.m. – MONTREAL

Chapters Pointe Claire, 6321 TransCanada Highway (corner of St. Jean Blvd.), tel (514) 428-5500

Saturday, November 3, 2:00 p.m. – VICTORIA

Bolen Books, 111-1644 Hillside Ave., tel (250) 595-4232

Sunday, November 4, 1:00 p.m. – NEW WESTMINSTER, BC

Walmart, 805 Boyd St.

Tuesday, November 6th, 7:00 p.m. – EDMONTON

Chapters West Edmonton Mall, 88820-170th, tel (780) 444-2555

Wednesday, November 7th, 7:00 p.m. – SASKATOON

McNally Robinson, 3130 8th Street East, tel. (306) 955-3599

Thursday, November 8th, 7:00 p.m. – WINNIPEG

Chapters,Polo Festival, 695 Empress St., (204) 775-5999 ******CHANGE IN VENUE

Saturday, December 1, 12:00 p.m – HALIFAX

Costco, 230 Chain Lake Drive

Monday, December 3, 7:00 p.m. – CAMBRIDGE

Book Express, 355 Hespler, tel (519) 621-9500

Tuesday, December 4, 7:00 p.m. – BARRIE

Chapters, address to follow

Wednesday, December 5, 7:00 p.m. – LONDON

Chapters, 1037 Wellington Road, tel. (519) 685-1008

Thursday, December 6, 7:00 p.m. – WINDSOR

Chapters, Devonshire Mall, 3100 Howard, tel. (519) 250-1005

Friday, December 7, 12:30 p.m. – TORONTO

Chapters, Indigospirit First Canadian Place, tel. (416) 869-1079

Friday, December 7, 7:00 p.m. – OSHAWA

Chapters, Ottawa Centre, 419 King St. West, Oshawa (905) 438-8593

Saturday, December 8, 11:a.m. – MISSISSAUGA

Wal-Mart, Square One, 100 City Centre Dr.

Saturday, December 8, 2:30 p.m. – AJAX

Costco, 150 Kingston Road.

Saturday, December 15, 2:00 p.m. – CALGARY

Chapters, MacLeod Trail, 9631 MacLeod Trail SW, tel. (403) 212-1442

Sunday, December 16, 2:00 p.m. – BANFF

Banff Book and Art.

Source: www.PWInsider.com

Former WWE Diva Does Porn

The rumor mill has been hinting that former WWE Diva Ariel will be making a new porn film. Nothing has been confirmed and we are told to take the rumor with a grain of salt.  I suggest we all wait for confirmation from the former Vampire girl's mouth.

Did Little Nicky and The Hogans Family Think We Would Forget -– 

We Didn’t

John Graziano’s mother filed for and was granted temporary guardianship of her son, age 22.  According to doctors, Graziano, an Iraqi veteran, will require lifelong care due to the injuries he sustained as a passenger in the car Nick Hogan crashed. There has been no word from the Hogans for several weeks regarding Graziano or his medical status.

Rob Conway Scheduled for “Borden Bash”

Real Wrestling Action’s “Borden Bash” is slated for October 26, 2007 in Borden, IN.  Conway is scheduled to wrestle. No word on who Conway’s opponent will be. Source: www.warned.net.

Ogdensburg School District To Be Audited

A few News Bytes back we reported WWE complained about not receiving their take during an event involving the Ogdensburg School District.  City Councilor Kreston Erikson was arrested after it was discovered funds were found to be missing and Erikson had forged a receipt for $8,000.00.  The State Comptroller has announced that its office will now be auditing the school district’s finances. Source: www.pwbts.com.

 

 

 

 

WWE NEWS BYTES / OCTOBER 5
Wrestling Bodyslam . Com