Happy New Year to everyone reading this today. Have fun, be safe and here’s to a great 2007! Now let’s catch up on some news bits and other assorted stocking stuffers as 2006 comes to an end:
– In this story on WWE.com, JBL goes off on Teddy Long claiming the Smackdown GM ought to be fired. An excerpt:
There is entertainment and then there is what Long is doing … He is playing to the voracious appetite of the WWE fans, and that’s bad … These [WWE] fans aren’t happy with healthy entertainment; they want to see someone get busted open, they want to see someone get maimed and they want to see someone get burned … Just because they want that doesn’t mean that’s what we should give to them.
– WWE.com has added a feature where a superstar interviews a celebrity. The first time around, Hogan interviewed Stallone. this week, Cena interviewed Snoop Dogg. Here’s a highlight:
Snoop: We just did a little thing the other day, and they was asking, they wanted him to talk in-depth and he don’t really speak in-depth. They was like, “Who you like? Who are your favorite wrestlers?” He was like, “John Cena.” They were like, “Why?” He was like, “‘Cause he tight!” They was like, “No, explain why.” He was like, “He just tight!” to explain — it’s like transcending. They like, “Why you like him?” He said, “‘Cause he can rap good and he wrestles.” So it’s like wrestling is getting him, but then, it ain’t no gimmick that you’re flowin’ and doing your thing as an MC. And I’m gonna tell you, if you wasn’t doing what you supposed to be doing, we wouldn’t be doing this interview.
Cena: Exactly.
Snoop: I love what you doing and how you doing it. You doing it in a real fly way. I even said something to the effect of you could even get Snoop Dogg in a wrestling uniform and we could tag team.
Cena: Ah, I might call in that favor, man. I’ll be honest with you, never say never on that one.
Snoop: Yeah, you call in that favor. Just hold him up and let me slap the s*** out of him and I’ll walk up out the ring. (Laughs.) For real.
– There’s an update on Roddy Piper here.
– WWE’s gone mobile in Portugal. Read about it here.
– WWE’s Tribute to the Troops got quite a bit of press. You can read a story in the Miami Herald here, a story about Torrie Wilson and John Cena’s appearance on The Today Show here and a transcript of Edge and Shelton Benjamin on CNN Showbiz Tonight (where they showed footage of the morter attack that was shown on WWE.com) here.
– WWE.com has been updating the site with some special features, including a Best Moments of 2006 countdown that wraps up tomorrow. Some other pieces include a story on Gregory Helms’ historic title reign, a special “I Quit” edition of HEAT, a story on Mickie James going to college, a special Cryme Tyme holiday piece, pictures of Maria Kanellis in holiday-themed outfits and more. Also, WWE.com has finally put a profile up for Layla and Kenny is now called Kenny Dykstra on RAW’s roster page, but there’s still no profile for Johnny Jeter, even though he appeared on RAW recently. Finally, WWE.com has posted an update on Summerslam 2007, which will be held at the Continental Airlines Arena in NJ, and sold out yesterday in 40 minutes.
– District Court Cottbus in Germany, according to WWE.com, recently ruled that “the video game ‘WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2006’ played no role in the homicide of a homeless man, as the defendant claimed in a last ditch effort to reduce his sentence. The court also ruled that the claim could not be used to justify the crime.”
– According to WrestlingObserver.com, Kurt Angle, on a recent edition of Bubba the Love Sponge’s radio show, claimed he will indeed have a shoot fight, and it will take place on a TNA show in 2007. He threw some names out there including Ortiz and Puder, but most MMA experts see any of it as a long shot. We’ll have more on this — if it turns out there’s more to this story than Angle simply having fun with Bubba — as it unfolds.
– Sylvester Stallone was not in DC or live via satellite for his interview with Jerry Lawler on RAW a few weeks ago. The segment was filmed in advance, with Stallone answering questions from an interviewer, but calling him “King” for authenticity. (Credit: WrestlingObserver.com)
– RAW and TNA’s iMPACT! will go head-to-head on Thursday, February 15, due to preemption of the former due to the Westminster Dog Show on USA Network. RAW will air from 8-10:05 p.m. and no word yet whether or not Spike will air a special two-hour iMPACT! in order to compete. (Credit: WrestlingObserver.com)
– Mick Foley introduced the AWA Christmas Brawl on WWE 24/7 dressed as Santa Claus this month, with his son Huey picking out a gift from under the Christmas tree: “The Best of Test.” As a joke, there of course was no disc in the box. (Credit: WrestlingObserver.com)
– Layla El is one of the people on the new game show Identity. This isn’t the first time this has happened with NBC game shows, as Kristal Marshall has been a model on Deal or No Deal.
– Jeff Hardy did an in-depth interview with Up & Coming Weekly writer Andrea Pantelic a few weeks ago. Some highlights:
On working on a farm and how it prepared him to work hard as a professional wrestler and to constantly be on the road:
“Like, when you are on the road and you are wrestling all the time, you kind of have to callous up to being tough. Just like when you are learning to play the guitar, you have to callous up your fingers to the play strut, you know what i mean? And you got to callous your body to wrestle night after night. I think farming tobacco calloused us to be tough and tougher than the average person. Our dad – there was only one way to make him believe we could make it and that was to make it. There were so many times we would drive hours and hours for nothing, just to go wrestle somewhere that we thought would be beneficial for our careers and we wouldn’t get paid anything. We’d come back with separated shoulders and blown out knees and you know, that’s when our dad would be like, ‘You guys need to forget about this wrestling and think about something that’s going to provide you a good salary, take the civil service test, something like that.’ And then, when it finally happened, it meant the world to our dad. Now that we’re in the position we are, it’s kind of like a job to him and it’s totally cool.”
On his band, Peroxwhy?gen:
“It’s perox-why-gen. It’s like peroxygen but the “y” is the word why. It’s the letter “y “if that makes any sense. That’s still a dream of mine. We’ve never actually… I still play my guitar every now and then and we have some really good songs. We’ve never performed live in front of a crowd and that’s something I still aspire to do. We’d love to. Right now, I don’t do anything outside with as busy as our schedule is.”
On his poetry and philosophies:
“Ever since my mom’s death, I guess is what really ignited the fire within me to think as far as earth in general and what happens after we die. And actually, not to be so close-minded to certain religious beliefs. I’m in such a comfort zone with my own faith and my own existence here. It would be hard to explain to people at this point. Eventually, I’ll have to write a book that I can really put in words of my comfort zone of faith and what it means to me as far as being a good person, and God. I feel great about it and I would love to express that in a book in the years to come.”
On his brother’s personality:
He’s probably a little more… when it comes to a unique perspective… not reaching too high for something that you might not be able to have, like in the ring. And he’s pretty good about putting things in order when it comes to financial deals. He’s got a good head on his shoulders so we’re pretty similar. One of the biggest similarities is we both love Pearl Jam more than anything and that’s our favorite band. I think that’s one of the strongest bonds between us.”
On preparation and rituals before a show:
“I’m the type of guy… I should stretch more before my matches to get warm and everything… but I’m the type of guy who likes to be more chilled out before my matches, instead of “Raawh! Raawh! Oh yeah!” All fired up. I’m just getting to try to calm my heartbeat so I’m not nervous before every match. I think that’s a good thing. If the butterflies weren’t there, I don’t think it would be as meaningful as far as what you work and what you do in life and how good you do it. Yeah, I pretty much try to stay chilled out and more calm as opposed to getting all fired up and loud.”
On coming back to WWE after a three-year hiatus:
“Well, that first night was really tough. I was, oh my goodness. I was nervous as far as what the response was going to be, you know, seeing me again and going back out in front of that big crowd, if I was going to be welcomed or booed. It was so overwhelming, the cheers that night. It’s got nothing but better since then. It’s all uphill. It’s tough, the schedule is really tough. It’s a lot different than working once every two weeks or whatever I was working in the other organization but it’s been worth every minute.”
On making his childhood dream a reality:
“I think it is everything I ever dreamed of and more. But it’s weird because it’s got to the point where it’s just a job. Although you’re living your dream, it becomes a job. You have to do what you’re told just like any other job and do your best at what you’re out there to do. And it’s weird because after so long – it will never not be a dream – but it is a job its a tough one at that.”
On what he has left to accomplish in the ring:
“Well, I’ve had every title except the World Heavyweight Title and I was within inches of that – but that’s something I’d love to gain one of these days – to complete my collection of having all of the titles. That would be nice. And I also think you don’t need a championship to be considered a champion. Before I’m done wrestling, I would love to be the World Heavyweight Champion and other than that, pretty much be a good influence on anyone who takes time to watch me.”
On what he has left to accomplish outside the ring and after his WWE career:
Art’s always been in me. I love painting and whatnot. I don’t think … Oh yeah, movies, acting. I love to act. I feel I’m pretty talented when it comes to that. There’s a lot inside me that people have no idea (about) when it comes to comedy. I’d really be mindful for some other people to see the other personalities I can become and act as. Most of the time, I’m seen as a shy, bashful person and the Hardy Boy that hardly talks. There’s a lot that can’t be heard that probably will be heard, so yeah, acting. Yeah, I’d be straight up comedy.
On his recent trip to Iraq to meet troops serving overseas:
Last week was my first time in Iraq and it was heartfelt to see the smiles on those guys’ faces. I’m sure it means the world to them to see the guys they’ve seen on TV before but it meant the world to me to go over there and make them smile because we’re only there for three (or) four days, but three or four days is nothing compared to years at a time and it’s nothing compared to what they’re going through.
There’s much more which you can find by clicking the above link.
– TNAWrestling.com has posted a Best of 2006 feature, a promise that footage of Abyss returning “to the prison” will air on Thursday’s iMPACT! as well as highlights and video from the latest episode of the weekly show, including this extended version of the 2006 highlight video:
Again, have a Happy New Year, and look for the results of our Best of 2006 Awards, the return of Iain Burnside and Ross Williams’ “Top 50 Wrestlers” feature, full analysis of the first RAW of the year featuring John Cena vs. K-Fed in a non-title match, coverage leading into RAW’s New Year’s Revolution and TNA’s Final Resolution (the last two PPVs before RumbleMania officially begins), and much more throughout Pulse Wrestling as well as the entire Inside Pulse network in the days, weeks and months to come!
