A volcano of all things threatens to destroy tonight’s RAW. Meanwhile SmackDown looks to move to SyFy and the real reason behind Lance Cade’s sudden departure is revealed.
Opening Witty Banter
We’ve got a big bag of WWE news this week so I won’t bore you with tales of my weekend. But is anyone really surprised that Sean Waltman no-showed LockDown? I’m actually surprised he did first before Hall actually.
Let’s take some ‘E…
The News of the Week
Thanks to Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull going off on Wednesday, the WWE crews have been stranded in Europe with no end in sight. Thanks to Twitter savvy guys like Chris Jericho, Matt Hardy and The Miz have been able to keep everyone abreast of their travel horror stories. The SmackDown crew managed to make it back stateside in the wee hours of Sunday morning. But as of this writing (Monday morning at 1 am) the RAW crew is still in Belfast, Ireland. While there was initially talks of chartering a flight and get the RAW boys and girls home it now looks as if RAW will be populated by the RAW jobbers left behind, the SmackDown crew and some satellite footage from Europe. According to Heathrow airport’s website, UK airspace will remain closed until to 7AM Monday local time, and the feeling is that the ban will probably not be lifted even then. Some experts predict it could last until midweek. For the record the apparent roll call of talent that is stranded in Belfast includes John Cena, Batista, Randy Orton, The Miz, The Big Show, Mark Henry, Cody Rhodes, Ted Dibiase, Sheamus, Christian, Kofi Kingston, William Regal, Maryse, Eve, Kelly Kelly, Evan Bourne, Dos Caras, Chavo Guerrero, Chris Masters, MVP and Hornswoggle.
That’s truly a pain that they are stuck overseas but as a fan I am now genuinely excited for what tonight’s live RAW will bring. Looking at the list it appears as if Triple H, Santino Marella, Zack Ryder, Carlito, Primo, Yoshi Tatsu and Vladimir Kozlov make up the male RAW roster that is currently stateside. So are we going to get two hours of the Triple H show, bad MacGruber-Kozlov skits and perhaps an hour-long cage match between The Colon brothers that the world has been waiting for. But seriously, SmackDown is going to have help out. I can also honestly seeing them trying to fly the main eventers in tomorrow afternoon or evening and right to the arena if they can do it. It should provide for truly an unpredictable show.
With TNA Impact being live tomorrow I’m curious to see the stops they will try to pull out knowing WWE will be understaffed. And as vindictive as Vince McMahon is, how long before we see a jobber named Joe Volcano?
WWE Friday Night SmackDown will be moving to the SyFy Network SyFy is reportedly paying $30 million for the show, up from the current $20 million deal that the company has with MyNetworkTV. The only potential downfall is that SyFy is in nearly 13 million less homes than MyNetworkTV, which would immediately hinder its initial audience out of the starting gates.
The new deal works well within WWE’s current agreement with NBC Universal, which currently hosts WWE Monday Night RAW and A.M. RAW on the USA Network and NXT on the SyFy Network, both cable stations owned by NBC. The idea is that it well cross-brand WWE even more within the NBC family of networks and continue to make inroads at a possible WWE cable network in the near future.
SmackDown currently airs on MyNetworkTV on Friday nights at 7 PM CST and the plan is that the show would move to Tuesday nights. SyFy’s usual Tuesday night line-ups would move to Friday. The transition will take place in October, thus robbing MyNetworkTV of its only current original programming. As for NXT it looks as if it will go the way of the dodo, unless another NBC Universal network, perhaps Bravo, picks it up.
Okay, I want NXT on Bravo. Can you imagine the cross over appeal with the NXT Rookies appearing on Top Chef, the Real Housewives franchise or maybe a revival of Queer Eye? As for SD moving to SyFy and to Tuesdays, I am all for it. It promotes great company synergy and the idea of moving it to Tuesdays keeps it from getting stale if it doesn’t have to air days later.
Ezekiel Jackson commented on his Twitter that he will be out of action for 3-6 months with a quad injury. WWE.com then officially confirmed the injury and surgery with the esteemed Dr. Jim Andrews.
Good thing they already have Shad sitting right there to fill that big scary black guy role. Zeke will be able to return with a lot of hype and be better off than he was right now.
At the end of July, WWE will be releasing travel package information for WrestleMania XXVII in Atlanta.
Okay I’ve said I was going to go to WrestleMania the past two years but a trip to ATL looks like it is in the cards for me thanks to a couple high school friends now living there.
ESPN.com recently interviewed Brock Lesnar, as discussion of a possible WWE return came up. Here is what Brock had to say…”I wouldn’t be opposed to it. I’m still focused on my fighting right now, but if the opportunity arose some day, I’d never say never. ”
BROCK SMASH! That is all. As the biggest Brock Lesnar mark I know I would anxiously await his return back to the squared circle, even if for only one night.
Last week I reported that Lance Cade was released once again after being rehired in October and never making it back to the main roster. According to Cade himself, Michael Hayes called him to see if he’d like to return for a program with the Undertaker. However, when he was re-hired, the feud with Taker was nixed and he spent time in FCW. In December he called WWE officials and asked to be placed in rehab for painkiller withdrawal addiction. When he finished rehab in early March, he was released.
Okay so him being back on the road taking bumps night in and night out probably isn’t the best thing for a recovering painkiller addict.
The Blu-Ray edition of WrestleMania XXVI will include the WrestleMania pay per view, the full Hall of Fame ceremony, the complete RAW and SmackDown episodes from WrestleMania week, the pre-show 26 man battle royal and these Hall of Fame Matches:
Mad Dog Vachon vs. Rick McGraw
Primetime Wrestling January 1, 1985
WWE Women’s Championship
Wendi Richter vs. Fabulous Moolah
Madison Square Garden July 23, 1984
Japanese Heavyweight Championship
Antonio Inoki vs. The Great Hossein (aka Iron Sheik)
Madison Square Garden December 17, 1979
Gorgeous George vs. Frankie Talliber
AWA 1951
Ted DiBiase vs. Jake Roberts
WrestleMania 6 April 1, 1990
Sounds like a helluva good list of extras. Hopefully WWE continues to get creative with their extras like this in the future.
Speaking of the Hall of Fame, the company was unhappy with how this year’s class turned out, so they have already started working on next year’s Hall of Fame and are planning for a WCW themed induction class with names like Goldberg, Ron Simmons, Lex Luger, and the Steiner Brothers being thrown around as potential candidates.
I think it’s a cool idea to make WrestleMania XXVII a southern/WCW themed show. It’s kind of an off year and could help differentiate it. I’m begging Sting to have left TNA by that point as well as he’d a great centerpiece for a WCW themed Hall class. It’s kind of like when Hogan got inducted in 2005 and the rest of the inductees were his allies and many former hated opponents. Also if you are looking for WCW names to be inducted you’ve got Arn Anderson and Barry Windham right there on the payroll and I’m sure Tully Blanchard wouldn’t be hard to find.
Pro wrestling legend Gene Kiniski passed away on April 14 due to cancer. He was 81. Kiniski was a former NWA and AWA World Heavyweight Champion in the ‘60s. He was also a challenger to Bruno Sammartino’s World Wide Wrestling Federation World Heavyweight Championship throughout 1964. He officially had his final match in 1992. His two sons Nick and Kelly also embarked on wrestling careers in the ‘80s. While as a performer he was known as “Canada’s Greatest Athlete†and “Big Thunder.â€
Rest in peace…
According to PWInsider.com, WWE released Beverly Mullins from her developmental deal. Mullins appeared briefly as interviewer Courtney Taylor on the ECW brand, but shortly after her debut she was sent back to developmental. Angela Fong, now known as Savannah, ended up with the job.
So do you think TNA will pick her up?
The Road to…Extreme Rules
Last Man Standing Match for the WWE Championship
John Cena (c) v. Batista
Extreme Rules Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Randy Orton v. Jack Swagger (c)
Steel Cage Match
Edge v. Chris Jericho
If Punk Loses, He Must Shave His Head
Rey Mysterio v. CM Punk
Street Fight
Triple H v. Sheamus
rumored matches:
The Hart Dynasty v. ShowMiz (c) for the Unified Tag Team Championships
Eve Torres (c) v. Maryse for the Divas Championship
Matt Hardy v. Kane v. Drew McIntyre for the Intercontinental Championship
Wrestler of the Week
Week of April 12 – 18: Jack Swagger
“The All-American American†once again had a great week and is gaining valuable momentum in regards to his World Heavyweight Championship reign. On SmackDown he defeated Edge and Chris Jericho in a phenomenal free TV match on SmackDown and actually looked like a player, as opposed to winning through a fluke. In my opinion he has already been booked stronger in his first World Title reign than his fellow young gun Sheamus did in his trial run just months ago.
RAW’s On Tonight!
Well RAW is actually completely up in the air at this point thanks to the volcano. But as it stands Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig and Ryan Phillippe, stars of the upcoming film MacGruber will co-host RAW from East Rutherford, New Jersey. Last week they set up Vladimir Kozlov acting as foil for MacGruber in what should result in some comedy hijinx. And since Vlad isn’t on the overseas trip from hell we might be looking at two hours of Vlad’s antics. Actually Primo and Zack Ryder are still stateside as well so perhaps we can see a 60-minute iron man match between the two that would set the world on fire. In truth it looks as if the SmackDown crew will probably be on hand to work the live show should the RAW boys and girls not make it back in time. Plus Bret Hart was supposed to declare ShowMiz the greatest tag team ever. Will Bret still make an appearance even if The Miz isn’t there to hear it? Can you imagine if this were to be Draft week?
On Last Week’s Episode…
Eison and Chantel bring the love for the blue guys.
RAW is Hoff! Check out Marshall’s recap, Wheeler’s judicial review and Danielson’s thoughts on a campy fun episode of the flagship. Can we get Shatner and Hoff to come back and host together? It would be the greatest guest hosting duo ever.
How They Rated
SmackDown! (4.2.10) –
Superstars (4.8.10) – .77
A.M. RAW (4.11.10) – .86
RAW (4.12.10) – 3.2
Impact (4.12.10) – .8
NXT (4.13.10) – 1.0
This is Boring, What Else is There to Read?
Welcome Chantel Taylor to the staff and check out her comment-raising Hotties & Notties column. Who knew CM Punk’s beard had such a following?
O’Mahony is back with part two of his WrestleMania XXVI weekend of wrestling shows.
Tess covers WWE Vintage, featuring a 20 man battle royal.
Brashaer is back looking at some old-school Smokey Mountain Wrestling.
Check out issue seven of The Wrestling Press, featuring yours truly, among many other talented scribes…
Follow me on Twitter here.
For more relevant, interesting and exciting wrestling information from your truly, check out my gig as the Pro Wrestling Examiner over at Examiner.com.
