By: David Stephens of Wrestleview.com
Ousta! Welcome back to the only WrestleView column covering topics both nowhere yet everywhere at once. If you are new to the column you are probably going to hate me for the first couple weeks, but then you are going to hit a point where you say ‘oh wait a minute, I think he gets it’. Don’t worry, that’s exactly how it is designed to be. This column is all about gut reactions and traveling thoughts. As the great Andy Kaufman once said: “I just want real reactions. I want people to laugh from the gut, be sad from the gut, or get angry from the gut”.
What’s in the News?
My opinions are in italics
All news is gathered from WrestleView.com unless otherwise noted
Regarding the fire ball stunt on Impact, Jeff Hardy’s girlfriend Beth wrote on Twitter that Jeff suffered burns around his eye, forehead, nose and mouth. “I hope he doesn’t agree to do anything like that again,” she said.
– I thought it looked kind of cool, but I suppose not so much
Despite news this week that WWE Smackdown will be heading to the SyFy this October and would result in NXT being pulled from the network, Variety is reporting that WWE is currently shopping the show around to other networks.
-Nice! I really like the concept so I hope that they are able to continue on with it
According to The Sun in the UK, TNA star Kurt Angle is now engaged to 24-year-old model/actress Giovanna Yannotti. Sources in Angle’s management confirmed the engagement. News of this comes just a week or so after it was revealed that Angle’s ex-wife Karen is now engaged to Jeff Jarrett.
-Angle is apparently into models and strippers (Karen Angle was a stripper, for those wondering)
Wrestleview.com columnist, Raw recapper and radio host David Stephens made an appearance on the TNA Impact post-show over on TNAwrestling.com this past Monday night. You can see David’s appearance at the 50 minute mark. (http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/6146819)
-hey, that’s me!
LoHud.com is reporting that Scott Siegel, an actor in the movie “The Wrestler” starring Mickey Rourke, was sentenced to five years in prison for possession of steroids and leading cops on a high speed pursuit. Siegel, who is 35, actually played a steroids dealer in “The Wrestler” with Rourke.
-Truth becomes fiction, wait strike that and reverse it
WWE.com is reporting that Ezekiel Jackson underwent surgery on his right quadriceps on Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama. He is expected to be out of action for up to six months.
-that sucks, he was really growing on me. I hope that when he makes a return they are willing to allow him to make a big splash
The departure of former X-division champion Christopher Daniels was not voluntary. He was released by the company. There had been reports that Daniels requested his release, but this wasn’t the case. As we noted earlier, Daniels was not a favorite of Eric Bischoff.
-I spoke to an employee for TNA this past week and he told me that they were all shocked, and it caught them off guard
Courtney Taylor (Beverly Mullins), 25, was also just released. She was the former Hooters model signed in 2008 who debuted on ECW television last year as a backstage interviewer. She lost her spot to Savannah (Angela Fong) when she took a leave of absence and was never brought back to the main roster.
-oh! I remember her. She was not that great to be honest
The head honcho at TNA Wrestling (Dixie Carter) is ready to show the world she has brains and the brawn to answer the wrestling world’s questions at “YouShoot: LIVE,” on Friday night May 14 in Monroe NJ at the Crowne Plaza ballroom. The first ever live production of the hit show “YouShoot” is being co-promoted by Kayfabe Commentaries and Legends of the Ring. This event is the night before the big Legends of the Ring convention.
-for those who have not watched a previous youshoot video, they are actually quite intriguing. It is a cool concept that kayfabe commentaries has put together, definitely worth checking out
The Los Angeles Times is reporting that WWE Smackdown will be heading to NBC Universal’s SyFy cable network later this year either in late September or early October. Smackdown has been airing on broadcast television since 1999 starting on UPN, The CW Network and now MyNetworkTV. According to the article, SyFy will be shelling out roughly $30 million a year for the show (MyNetworkTV had been paying around $20 million a year for the show). The show is expected to remain airing on Friday.
-I’m surprised by the decision to remove Smackdown from a network, but NOT with the decision to remove it from this particular station. I have been reading reports that this was going to happen for almost a year
According to a report by The Wrestling Observer, Triple H is only being booked for TV tapings and PPV events and not on house shows as he is suffering from some neck problems right now.
-fair enough
Former WWE diva and TNA knockout Kristal Marshall posted on Twitter: “Hello everyone Bobby (Lashley) and I have split, but remain great friends. He is a constant in our son’s life and a tremendous father.”
-*insert Scott Steiner joke here*
TNA star Orlando Jordan has announced on his Twitter page that he has signed a new long-term contract with TNA, adding “I’m just getting started people.”
-am I the only one that actually loves the progression of this storyline? I don’t know why but it has really kept me entertained
The day after winning the World Heavyweight Title from Chris Jericho, Jack Swagger and his girlfriend reportedly tied the knot in Las Vegas, NV. According to a report, Swagger was at a Criss Angel show on 3/31 and introduced a woman as having just gotten married earlier that day.
-Sure, why not
Ratings
RAW 4/12 – 3.2
iMpact 4/12 – 0.8
NXT 4/13 – 1.01
Superstars 4/8 – 0.77
Quick Results
RAW April 12th
-Eve def. Divas Champion Maryse
-Unified Tag Team Champion The Miz def. David Hart Smith
-Evan Bourne def. Carlito
-WWE Champion John Cena def. David Otunga
-Kofi Kingston def. Sheamus by Disqualification
-The Bellas def. Kelly Kelly & Gail Kim and Jillian & Rosa Mendes in a Divas Baywatch Babe Triple Threat Tag Team Match
-Randy Orton vs. Batista ended in a No Contest
TNA iMPACT April 12th
-6-Man Tag Falls Count Anywhere Street Fight: The Band (Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, & Syxx-Pac) def. Team 3D & Jesse Neal
-“Prince of Punk” Shannon Moore vs. Kazarian TIME LIMIT DRAW
-“I Quit” Match: Angelina Love vs. Velvet Sky NO CONTEST
-TNA World Tag Team Championships: “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan & Amazing Red (c) vs. Motor City Machine Guns
-“Charismatic Enigma” Jeff Hardy def. Robert Roode
-Main Event: “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero & “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal def. “The Phenomenal” AJ -Styles & Desmond Wolfe w/Chelsea DQ
NXT April 13th
-WWE Pro Christian def. NXT Rookie Wade Barrett
-WWE Pro William Regal def. NXT Rookie Daniel Bryan
-NXT Rookie Darren Young def. Luke Gallows
Superstars April 8th
-Beth Phoenix def. Layla
-Evan Bourne & Yoshi Tatsu def. Chavo Guerrero & Zack Ryder
-MVP def. Carlito
Smackdown April 9th
-World Heavyweight Champion Jack Swagger def. John Morrison (Non-Title)
-Intercontinental Champion Drew McIntyre def. Matt Hardy (Non-Title)
-The Hart Dynasty def. The Dudebusters
-Edge vs. Chris Jericho (Double Count-out)
So ‘that’s a wrap’…. Love it? Hate it? Disagree with everything I said? Just want to chat wrestling? I’m always up for reading your thoughts so send them ’em on over.
Look for the newest edition to the WrestleView Radio Network: “The Teacher’s Lounge” featuring Anthony Valvo (From the Desk of Mr. V) and myself this Saturday!
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