In previous WWE photos, we've shown you superstars enjoying their time across England and Germany.
Now, let's head over to Scotland. There, we find WWE Divas such as Lilian Garcia and Torrie Wilson. They're knocking on the door of some ancient castle, which leaves us pondering the following question:
Who wouldn't let these beauties in?!?
Sports Illustrated recently interviewed James Laurinaitis. A star linebacker for Ohio State, read on to see his connections to the WWE.
On growing up the son of Joe, better known as WWE wrestler Road Warrior Animal
It was a thrill. Seeing guys like Hulk Hogan and The Rock on a regular basis was awesome. We'd have pay-per-view parties and watch Dad wrestle on TV with all my buddies cheering. We'd try to mimic what he did and act out matches. It was hard watching him sometimes, though. The matches are scripted, but the bruises are real. Once in a cage match he got hit over the head with a steel chair. He needed 10 stitches.
On talking wrestling with Buckeyes teammates
The main thing they want to know is if the moves really hurt. I tell them to go into a ring and fall on your back five times without the support of your hands, then tell me how you feel.
On what his name would be if he were a WWE wrestler
I don't know. That's up to the boss, Vince McMahon. Vince has told my dad that if football doesn't work [I should] call him.
On being in the ring with Stone Cold Steve Austin
When I was in eighth grade my dad brought me and my friends to the ring before the show started, and we were running around faking like we were having a match and going crazy. Next thing you know Austin's music came on, and he charged down to the ring. Everyone got out but me. He grabbed me, and he knew I knew what I was doing a little, so he threw me off the ropes.
As I ran from the ropes back toward him he yelled, "Duck!" and threw a clothesline. I ducked just in time. Then he gave me a Stone Cold Stunner [knee in groin, face lock, etc.]. I sold it and just lay there. My friends ran in and were like, "I can't believe you're not dead!" It was a great experience. People dream of getting the opportunity to do that.
The following recap of this Jeff Jarrett conference call is courtesy of wrestleview.com ...
- On his departure from WWE after the No Mercy PPV in 1999 about rumors he was holding Vince McMahon up for more money: "This call is about TNA Wrestling and moving to primetime. To answer the question, there was no hold-up and they paid me the money that was owed to me."
- On how far TNA has come since it began: "We have come an awful long way in fou years." Jarrett mentioned that here they were in primetime this Thursday night and that TNA is the first one to do it in four years besides WWE.
- On TNA's drug policy: "We deal with each individual. We have had some within the company we have dealt with on a very individual case. We went and worked with them and got the problems out on the table. We have a policy that we watch everyone. If there is a problem at work, we take care of it."
- On going head to head with WWE: "We aren't going to out-do the competition. We have tried to be smart and strategic. If going head-to-head on Monday night is what we need to do, then we will certainly do that when the time is right." Jarrett talked about the history of the Monday Night Wars, Hogan/Hall/Nash jumping to WCW and the Attitude Era. He said that was a special time and that Thursday night is a great TV night. "Who knows what the future will hold, but going head-to-head may happen."
- If Bill Goldberg or The Ultimate Warrior will come to TNA? "Never say never." Jarrett said both have drawn a lot of money in their day. "They both didn't have a long shelf life during their career." Said they found themselves hitting a peak early on.
- Why did TNA re-hire Vince Russo? Jarrett mentions he is a changed man and his experience with WWE and WCW. Said he was there with Russo in both and saw his strengths and weaknesses. Jarrett said they have learned from the past and want to make the TNA product as good as it can be.
- Is Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe the most important match in TNA's history? "Every PPV event in our growth is important for the company. The WWE has been around for 40+ years, WCW had origins from the territory days with 30-40 years behind it. We started TNA from scratch 4 years ago and to be on primetime TV 4 years later is a big deal. We are only as good as our last PPV and last television show. You have to keep churning out hits. WWE already has hits to go on. We have to continue to prove ourselves. I dont think anyone is expecting anything but a spectacular match this Sunday."
- On if he feels TNA Impact feels too fast after 60 minutes and if they are looking to slow down in the move to primetime? "Well, truly we intend to live up to our name - Total Nonstop Action. We are literally charting ground that has never been done. We have 1 hour of television to do a 3 hour pay per view. A PPV has 7-9 matches. So to have intrigue, drama and storylines, right there you have 4-5 storylines and on a week to week basis with 42 mins of TV time, we have to be at a break-neck speed in order to tell stories. We are doing programming that has never been done. We also know that TV time is very precious and it is a tough balance."
- On TNA stars starring in films? "We have more than enough on our plate. TNA, along with Spike TV, have had discussions about outside projects. Kevin Nash got his acting career going. Christian and Kurt Angle have gotten offers. Gail Kim as well. All of us are really focusing, and rightfully so, on being the very best wrestling organization we can and that is our focus."
- On his hiatus from TNA TV: "What you saw on TV, I spoke from the heart. I have been going wide-open for 4 1/2 years. The place for me to be right now is not in the wrestling ring. I'm taking it day-by-day. To say I have a big plan, I don't, I would be lying. That is really the status of Jeff Jarrett the wrestler. I wrestled 7 years during the territory days, went to the WWF, went to WCW, back to WWF and back to WCW. My career has had very few breaks and this is a much needed one."
The following results are courtesy of wrestlemag.com ...
- Paul Heyman and Big Show cut a promo to open the show. Heyman reveals that there will be no Rob Van Dam tonight, and also that Hardcore Holly will be in the Extreme Elimination Chamber match at December to Dismember.
Backstage, Bobby Lashley attacks Holly then gives Big Show a spear, before heading to the ring and signing a contract that will see him as the sixth man in the Elimination Chamber match next month.
- Backstage, Holly, Big Show and Heyman argue over who to blame for what just happened, with Big Show putting the blame on Heyman. Heyman announces Lashley vs Hardcore Holly for later tonight.
- CM Punk beat Mike Knox with the Anaconda Vice in a match that went a little longer than Punkâs previous outings.
- Matt Striker cut a promo talking history and hyping up the Elimination Chamber match, which led to a video package to further hype up the match.
- Backstage, CM Punk cut a great promo putting over the importance of the Elimination Chamber match.
- Tommy Dreamer beat Daivari via DQ in a short match after The Great Khali interfered and gave Dreamer the low blow into the ringpost. After the match, Khali continued to attack Dreamer.
- In the main event of the ECW taping, Bobby Lashley vs Hardcore Holly ended in a no contest after Big Show, Test, Paul Heyman and Heymanâs security interfered, only to be chased off by Sabu, Rob Van Dam and CM Punk.
** Click here for more ECW photos from this week's show
Last week, The Chop Shop went off about the lack of solid tag teams currently in the WWE.
With the belts changing waists last night on RAW, what a perfect time for this fan to talk more about the current champions ...
Edge and Randy Orton could be a great tag team. Longivity will help that cause. But with today's game, they won't be together that long. Edge obviously is a great tag teamer. Orton is the wild card.
He is technically sound, has a great lineage, and is an intense wrestler. What will kill them is Orton's ego. Sharing the spot light with Edge may hurt the teams bottom line. Look for an Edge/Orton feud with in the next 2 months.
Does anyone think that Cryme Tyme has a shot at doing anything other than making jack asses out of themselves night after night?
The current state of the WWE is not looking too good in my opinion. The guys they spit out have ZERO personality. The two best interviewers of all-time are Ric Flair and Arn Anderson. It would make smart sense that ole Vinnie Mac has the two greats sit down with the lads and work on there act.
Where have Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo gone?
Due to various injuries to Tazz, ECW fans will hear a new annoncer tonight. When the show broadcasts frm England, newcomer Elijah Burke will be behind the mic.
Of couse, WWE.com played it off like part of the script.
âElijah Burke is the commentator this week,â said Paul Heyman, âbecause of a recent poll on ECW.com in which people responded that Burke is the Extremist they are most excited about. And being someone who has never turned a deaf ear to the ECW audienceâs reaction, I decided to place Elijah in this huge position this evening. As always, I listen to my disciples.â
As Triple H battles Edge and Randy Orton inside the ring, a feud is developing outside of it for this wrestling megastar.
HHH has sued the rapper, The Game, over use of that moniker. Recently, Rapreviews.co sat down with the artist and asked him about the lawsuit, along with other WWE questions.
Q: I read something the other day that I'm not sure if I really believe. Is WWE superstar Triple H really suing you over your name?
A: Yeah, Triple H is tryin to sue me for "The Game." I think that we should just take it to Pay Per View and have a wrestling match, man, so I can f-ck him up because I'm not into that whole play wrestling thing.
We can really take it to the streets, we can wrestle right in the middle of Compton. We can put up a makeshift ring made out of shoestrings and light posts. I'll get in there and body slam his ass all over the place for the name.
Q: Were you ever a wrestling fan? Does this hurt you at all?
A: I was a fan of Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan, but these new wrestlers, the guy with the rappin thing with the spinnin belt and s-it? I don't know about all these guys. There's too much fake s-it. It was fake back in the day but at least they made it real. Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior, Macho Man and all them motherf-ckers, Sting and Lex Luger, Ric Flair, but these new motherf-ckers, these Triple H's and these⦠I don't even know nobody else's name in the new s-it.
Q: So could you see yourself battling John Cena, the aforementioned wrestler who rhymes?
A: I'd kick his ass.
Q: You know he's beefin with Kevin Federline on RAW.
A: I might come on one day and just f-ck him up for Kevin, like don't be f-ckin with us man.
The Game goes on to say he's cool with K-Fed, which obviously undermines all his credibility. It also makes us wonder how he can ever look anyone in the face in the rap industry again, as well.
