We've already talked about recommended WWE DVDs from 2006. But 2007 is right around the corner.
Fortunately, WWE plans way ahead. Here's a schedule of release dates through January 2008. Start making that Christmas list right now ...
Champion Of Champions Match
WWE Championship or World Heavyweight Championship or ECW World Championship: John Cena vs. King Booker vs. Big Show
Eric Bischoff, Jonathan Coachman or Mr. McMahon to referee the match: DX vs. Edge & Randy Orton
Intercontinental Championship Match
Jeff Hardy vs. Johnny Nitro or Carlito or Shelton Benjamin
World Tag Team Championship Match
Spirit Squad vs. Ric Flair & Sgt. Slaughter or âRowdyâ Roddy Piper or Dusty Rhodes
Umaga vs. Chris Benoit or The Sandman or Kane
Women's Championship Tournament Final
No Disqualification or Diva Lumberjacks or Submission Match: Lita vs. Mickie James
The following report is courtesy of lordsofpain.net ...
The show opened with The Cutting Edge. Randy Orton was a guest. Edge said that it was a sacred day (his birthday), but he was disappointed that he had to spend it with all the fans. He said he didnât know if he could go through with this tonight, to which Orton reminded him that, last week, they took out Triple H. Orton introduced the footage of his win over the Game. Edge smiled and said that it got him fired up. He said that at Cyber Sunday, DX would suffer the most decisive loss of their lives at the hands of the Rated-R Superstar and the Legend Killer.
Edge then introduced the first of three options that the fans could choose to referee the tag match, Eric Bischoff. Orton proceeded to introduce Coach. Finally, Edge welcomed Vince McMahon. Once all three potential guest refs were present in the ring, the special edition of the Cutting Edge continued. Edge gave them the opportunity to tell the fans why they should be chosen. Bischoff went first, hyped his booked, and said that controversy does indeed create cash. He mocked the idea that DX was controversial, and said that he was controversial before Hunter, Shawn, and even Vince knew what controversy was all about. Coach took the mic and said that since day one, DX has shown him no respect. He recalled how they undermined his authority and begged the fans to give him a chance to show DX that he is no joke. Then it was Vinceâs turn.
McMahon said that, if chosen, heâd show DX the same respect that theyâd shown him. He turned his attention toward tonightâs show, and made Orton vs. Triple H (in the rubber match) w/ Edge as the special guest referee. He also mentioned that HBK would not be here tonight. Vince then had Edge, Orton, and Bischoff take off so that he could have a moment alone with Coach. Despite Coachâs plea that Vince didnât need to thank him, McMahon wanted to know what Coach had in mind for a back-up in case Cena lost the WWE title at Cyber Sunday. Coach tried to offer suggestions, but Vince denied them and decided that the fans would get to choose Cenaâs opponent for tonight: Booker, Show, or Coach.
Match 1: Johnny Nitro (w/ Melina) vs. Carlito vs. Shelton Benjamin
- (IC Champ Jeff Hardy was at ringside to do some scouting). The two heels ganged up on Carlito to open the action. They tried to do a double back drop, but Carlito countered and tried for a springboard back elbow. Nitro and Benjamin caught him, though, and tossed him over the top rope. Johnny took control and connected on a head scissor into a side Russian leg sweep.
Carlito came back and cleaned house, but when he moonsaulted over Nitro to surprise the former IC champ, the other former IC Champ Shelton Benjamin caught him with a springboard bulldog. Shelton would eventually head to the top rope for a flying clothesline, but Nitro drilled him in mid-air with a dropkick. The finish came when Carlito pinned Shelton following a Back Cracker at 2:46.
Backstage, Todd Grisham interviewed WWE Champion John Cena. Cena said he wasnât worried about Cyber Sunday, saying that he preferred to think positive. He said he didnât know who heâd face on Sunday, or who heâd face tonight, or what heâd eat for breakfast tomorrow. He said what he did know is that K-Fedâs album comes out tomorrow and that it was going to be used as a weapon against Americaâs enemies (who would listen to it and then kill themselves). he champ said he wasnât worried and got fired up as he said that they should be worried about him, for they were staring down the barrel of a loaded weapon.
Further backstage, Torrie Wilson caught up w/ Carlito and offered him someone to talk to. He tried to come across like he was sensitive, and in a roundabout way asked Torrie out. In the end, Carlito flashed a cocky smile and muttered to himself that getting together with Torrie was âcool.â
Match 2: Lita vs. Maria
- A smoking hot Maria didnât back down from the more experienced Lita, catching her with a roll-up and an inside cradle for a couple of quick near falls. Lita came back with a clothesline and a side Russian leg sweep into a pinning combo, but Maria kicked out. She continued to build momentum w/ a back breaker, but soon after got caught with an awkward boot to the chest and a running bulldog. Maria got fired up and hit a Bronco Buster, but Lita came back with a pinning combo w/ help from the ropes. The ref caught Litaâs cheating ways, but Lita still got the win with a spike DDT. Lita advanced to the finals at 2:16.
At least they're being honest about ECW's status compared to that of RAW and Smackdown.
Due to budgetary and attendance concerns, WWE.com has officially announced that starting the day after Christmas, ECW will no longer be holding its own house shows. Instead, the brand will be working combined events with the Smackdown superstars.
Here is a sample from the article WWE.com released about this decision:
"WWE officials have announced that as of Dec. 26, SmackDown Superstars and ECW Extremists will be touring together for live events. Officials say that this is a great opportunity for WWE and ECW fans alike to experience the unparalleled action of both brands combined
Sources say that WWE officials were concerned because the attendance at some of the ECW live events hasnât been as strong as initially projected."
Need more evidence that the new ECW is nothing but an opportunity for recycled WWE stars and ideas?
For its next, all-ECW pay-per-view - December to Dismember - the brand will feature the Elimination Chamber. Instead of simpy having Rob Van Dam take on The Big Show in the main event, four other wrestlers will be added to the match. The remaining participants will be added through a series of qualifying matches over the next few weeks.
Who wants to wager that two of them will be Test and Hardcore Holly? Just another couple of examples of how ECW should be renamed, "WWE minor league."
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Lita (real name: Amy Dumas) will leave the WWE some time around Survivor Series.
Despite her awful mic skills, rumors have Lita wanting to pursue local acting in Atlanta after her WWE career is finished. Her main interest is said to be theater.
Insiders also claim Lita may show up in TNA at some point because the schedule is less burdensome.
Tonight marks Daylight Savings Time. Remember to set your clocks back an hour.
But Torrie Wilson doesn't care much about that. The WWE Diva wants to make sure fans don't forget about âWrestleMania Standard Time.â
The RAW superstar was in Detroit this week to remind everyone to change their watches and clocks on Saturday night/Sunday morning. But she also visited several Detroit radio stations to remind fans that tickets go on sale soon for WrestleMania 23, live at Ford Field April 1.
Tickets ($30, $45, $75, $100, $150, $250 and a limited number of Platinum Ringside Seats at $750) go on sale at 10 a.m. âWrestlemania Standard Timeâ on Saturday, Nov. 11, and may be purchased at the Ford Field Box Office along with all Michigan, Ohio and Ontario Ticketmaster locations.
The following report is courtesy of lordsofpain.net ...
- Batista enters and calls out Finlay. Instead, Paul Heyman comes out with his
security guards and tries to convince him to jump to ECW. Batista thinks about
joining ECW and shakes Heyman's hand and then gives him a thumbs down and beats up Heyman's security guards. The Big Show and King Booker both attack. John Cena makes the save and him and Batista clear the ring.
- William Regal/Dave Taylor def. Bobby Lashley/Tatanka. Regal pinned Tatanka with his feet on the ropes. After the match, Tatanka decks the referee, attacks Lashley and lays him out on the floor.
- Kristal tries to interview Chris Benoit. Benoit spots Vickie Guerrero and
talks to Vickie about how good of friends he and Eddie Guerrero were.
Vickie says that Benoit wasn't as close to Eddie as he thought he was.
- MVP tells Theodore R. Long that he's sick with a intestinal virus and says
that due to a clause in his contract he can take a sick day and opts out of
his No-DQ match with Kane that was scheduled for later in the night. Mr.
Kennedy comes in wanting a match with the Undertaker. Long says that the
Undertaker isn't here and puts Mr. Kennedy in the no-DQ match against Kane.
- Vickie Guerrero warns Chavo Guerrero to stay away from Chris Benoit. Chavo
says that he prefers to keep his friends close and his enemies closer.
- Gregory Helms beat Matt Hardy after reversing a pin attempt into a crucifix and grabbing the ropes for leverage.
- Backstage, Ashley Massaro shows Paul London and Brian Kendrick her costume for the Trick Or Treat Divas Battle Royal for later in the evening. She is dressed in some outfit with wings.
- Mr. Kennedy def. Kane in a No DQ match after MVP interfered and hit Kane with a chair.
- Chavo Guerrero and Vickie come out. Chavo talks about how they've been able to move on with their lives after Chavo made Rey Mysterio say "I Quit" last week. Chavo shows the clip of Mysterio saying "I Quit" several times. Chris
Benoit comes out and Chavo and Vickie leave and walk to the back.
-Theodore R. Long comes out and makes Mr. Kennedy/MVP vs. Kane/The
Undertaker for next week.
-The Trick or Treat Diva's Battle Royal is up: Jillian Hall comes out dressed as Elvis; Michelle McCool comes out dressed as a nurse; Kristal comes out dressed as a gold miner; Ashley comes out in her winged costume; Layla El comes out dressed as a bunny.
The Miz introduces himself as the special guest referee. He helps Kristal
win by pulling Layla off the apron.
- After the break Miz says he helped Kristal win because of what Layla did to
him when he set him up with the fat stripper on his birthday. The Boogeyman
comes out and The Miz pushes Kristal into the Boogeyman and runs away. The
Boogeyman scares Kristal into laying on her back and The Boogeyman then uses his mouth to put worms into Kristal's mouth.
- John Cena/Batista def. King Booker/The Big Show after Batista pinned Booker with a Batista Bomb and the Big Show walked out on his partner.
** Click here to view more WWE photos from this week's Smackdown
The following report is courtesy of lordsofpain.net and Mr. Tito ...
John Cena was on ESPN Radio this morning with Collin Cowherd. Cowherd was bored with the Tigers vs. Cardinals World Series and claimed he's bringing in Cena to provide a special opinion about the World Series, given Cena's hometown ties to Boston and Red Sox fans.
Collin said that wrestling fans are still "booger eaters," but he believes that Cena is the "absolute star of the WWE," citing his past education and success in pro wrestling.
- Collin asked what he thought about the big money teams being out of the World Series (Boston, New York, etc.) and Cena said it was "great" to see new teams getting a chance.
- Yesterday, there was a discussion about what NFL players would make good pro wrestlers and they agreed that Jeremy Shockey would make a good wrestler. They then discussed Terrell Owens not being a good wrestler (too uncooperative), but Cena said he'd have a great match with Owens.
- Collin asked how Cena got into pro wrestling, despite his athletic career and his degree in exercise phisiology. He said that he was a big fan of wrestling and thought about it during his time as an offensive lineman in college. By chance, he found a way into the business and wrestled for two years in Southern California.
- Cena was asked about Alex Rodriguez and how he should be traded from the Yankees. Cena was amazed at how much a city has affected a player's ability and said that the Yankees must trade him. He said that Boston, on the other hand, embraces their players, such as accepting Manny Ramirez for his eccentric ways.
- What is the best wrestling city? Top 5: Detroit, Chicago, New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia. East Coast is the best area, with the exception of the 2 midwest cities given.
- Collin said that he hates wrestling fans but loves having high quality wrestlers on his show. Collin asked his contributor, Compass, to try to get Hulk Hogan for a future show.
