July 2007 News Archive (Page 7)

The Baltimore Sun recently sat down with past - and future? - WWE star, Chris Jericho. Here are highlights from the interview:

Q: It’s well known that you and Chris Benoit were close friends. Before getting into questions about your career, I wanted to ask what your thoughts are on the tragic events of two weeks ago.
A: It’s hard to separate the man that did these terrible, horrible crimes from the guy that I knew who was like a big brother to me, who was a great friend, a great mentor and a great influence on me in such a positive way. I’ll never understand why he did what he did, but all I know is the guy that I knew was just a sweetheart of a guy and one of my best friends, and I’m going to miss him.

Q: Moving on to something more lighthearted, how much have you missed wrestling since leaving WWE?
A: I was really mentally burned out when I left; I just never realized it at the time. It took me about a year and a half to kind of collect my thoughts. Actually what happened was that I wrote a book on my journey to make it to WWE from being a kid. And once I was done the book, it kind of made me realize how much I love the wrestling business and – not to sound too sappy – helped me find myself as a person and as a professional and to start digging wrestling again.

So, probably about the last six months, I’ve been paying attention to wrestling and getting into it and watching it again. Whereas, for the first year and a half, I really just was so mentally fried, I just didn’t have any desire to have anything to do with the business. But now I feel differently.

Q: There has been a lot of speculation about when you will return to wrestling and whether it will be with WWE or TNA. Can you give us any clue as to when you might be coming back and which company you are leaning toward?
A: I haven’t really even come that close to getting into specifics of when or where. It’s funny because I hear those rumors all the time. I’m usually the last one to know. People will come up to me and say, “Hey, I heard you’re going here,” and I’m like, “Wow, I didn’t know that. I wish I could help you with that one.” I like both of those companies. I like Ring of Honor as well. I have my favorites in all three of those groups and it’s fun to watch all three of them because, first and foremost, I’m a wrestling fan.

That’s why I wanted to be a wrestler in the first place and that’s why I think I did as well as I did, because I always enjoyed the product and tried to put myself in the fans’ shoes and ask, “If I was in this crowd what would I want to see?” And then I tried to deliver that. I really have no time frame or anything like that. But now I’m lurking in the shadows, so watch out – you never know.

Q: How do you feel about TNA dropping your name a few times on their show? Apparently, Bill Goldberg and Brock Lesnar weren’t too happy about it when their names were mentioned.
A: I don’t know why they wouldn’t be happy about it unless they’re taking themselves way too seriously. For me, I think it’s great. It keeps your name out there, and who am I to complain if my name has enough value to be used as a teaser for something? I mean, they wouldn’t use Funaki’s name or Big Bully Busick. I’m smart enough to know that if things like that are going on – rumors on the Web and dropping of my name on TNA shows – that just means that people want to see me come back. I find it a real compliment that whenever I do signings, people ask, “When are you going to come back?” Or they say, “Wrestling hasn’t been the same since you left” or “wrestling needs you.” That’s a lot better than saying, “Man, wrestling’s a lot better now that you’re not around.”

Q: When you do come back, do you want to work a full schedule again or do you want to be a guy who kind of comes and goes and makes special appearances?
A: No, that’s not me. I’m “go hard or go home.” When I left, I never said I was retiring. I just said I needed a break and I said when the time was right and I could come back better than ever, I would. When I come back, it’s to come back and make a difference and to play the game. I don’t really think guys coming in for special appearances and leaving really helps. If you come in for one show every two or three months, it’s a good nostalgia thing, but you really can’t make any forward progress. You might as well just come out and wave at the crowd like an ex-president at a parade and then disappear. If I come back, it’s to do what I do best and become one of the biggest names in wrestling again.

Q: You mentioned mental burnout as one of your reasons for needing a break from wrestling. How are you feeling from a physical standpoint?
A: I was pretty fortunate. They used to call me Hockey Puck in the locker room because I never got hurt. I never missed a show in WWE for any sort of injury, so when I left it wasn’t for a physical reason. I feel great; I’m in great shape. But I didn’t feel all that bad physically when I left.

To read the entire article, click here.

The family of Nancy Benoit has announced that they will be forming a foundation in the memory of Nancy and Daniel Benoit to benefit abused women and battered children. With so much response to the tragedy, the family is asking to donate money to the foundation instead of taking gifts at the following address:

The Nancy and Daniel Benoit Foundation for Battered Women and Abused Children
c/o Decker, Hallman, Barber and Briggs
260 Peachtree St. Suite 1700
Atlanta, GA 30303

Smackdown opens with MVP vs. Matt Hardy. Hardy won a non-title match with the Twist Of Fate.

Backstage, Edge told Teddy Long that he didn't want to compete tonight. Long told him that was OK with that, but he would have a guest for him tonight in this week's episode of The Cutting Edge.

Chris Masters beat Jimmy Wang Yang with The Master lock. After this, The Great Khali came out and beat up Yang and issued an open challenge for the Bash.

The Major Brothers beat local guys, Mike Foxx and Jeremy Young.

Next up is Ric Flair vs. Finlay. Finlay beat Flair when Finlay hit Flair with the shilleleigh. He then made Flair tap to the Figure Four.

Victoria then interrupted a photo shoot for Torrie Wilson and attacked her.

Khali was in the back and then attacked a stage hand after asking him if he wanted to accept his challenge at the Bash.

Chuck Palumbo beat Kenny Dykstra in a boring match that went way too long.

Deuce was wrestling Eugene when Khali came out and attacked them both. They asked if there was anyone brave enough to accept his challenge when Batista came out. They stared each other down and them Khali left.

It's time now for four The Cutting Edge. They must have handed out "Edge Sucks" signs because everyone in the front row has them and they are all the same. The guest on the segment is Kane. Edge sucked up to him, stating all of Kane's accomplishments. Then, he mentioned his own. Edge tried to end the interview there but Kane attacked him. Edge then said he would never step foot in the ring with Kane again. Teddy Long came out and said that at The Great American Bash it will be Edge vs. Kane for the title.

Will this be a good title match? Has Kane earned it? Comment now at our FORUMS.

This week's issue of People magazine featured Chris Benoit on the cover.

It examines his personal life and tries to make sense out of what happened with the Benoit family...

Friends searching for clues to what went wrong have focused on Benoit's relationship with Nancy Benoit, 43, who often complained she felt like a single mother because of her husband's constant touring.

Former neighbor Melissa Coppage recalls asking Nancy recently if she had any vacation plans. "She said, 'No, it's all wrestling, all the time.' "

But several of Benoit's friends describe the 40-year-old as a devoted father and husband – who, apparently at Nancy's request last year, took a four-month leave from work to be with her while she recovered from surgery.

"He wasn't a monster," Benoit's friend and former wrestler Dean Malenko tells People. "We're talking about a guy who, a month ago, was in Jacksonville and rather than drive down to Orlando, where he needed to be the next day, he took a flight to be home with [his son] Daniel."

In 2003, Nancy filed for divorce from Benoit, saying he had threatened her. But the couple then reconciled.

Continue Reading...

As of this past Thursday night, here is the updated card for TNA Victory Road on Sunday, July 15, live and only on Pay Per View from Orlando, Florida:

"The Match of Champions"
- TNA World Champion Kurt Angle & TNA X Division Champion Samoa Joe vs. TNA World Tag Team Champions Team 3D.

- The return of Ultimate X.

- Christian Cage vs. Chris Harris.

- Rhino vs. James Storm.

Here is the latest from the blog of Jim Ross:

On RVD's Post-WWE Status: I don’t know RVD's future plans but I wish him well no matter what he does. It wouldn't surprise me to see Rob take some time off and allow his body to rest and to heal. Rob is a special talent and he married an Oklahoma girl so you know he ranks high on my list of favorites. It is tough to say if Rob will ever return to the WWE as that is a question for Rob himself to address.

On Lilian Garcia in playboy rumors: Just my opinion, but Lilian Garcia posing for Playboy isn't too likely. She’s definitely physically qualified.

On The Big Show: The last I heard, The Big Show had dropped mucho pounds and was training to perhaps get into boxing, which is in dire need of a heavyweight "star" that isn’t a Russian, not that there is anything wrong with Russian athletes especially Anna Kornikova who is a stark departure from the lovely and talented Russian, lady shot putters of the 60’s who often times resembled George "The Animal" Steele.

TMZ.com is reporting that Rey Mysterio and former WWE superstar, Mark Jindrak, are the other two wrestlers named in the federal indictment against Chris Benoit's physician. Below is the article from TMZ.com:

"TMZ has learned that current WWE SmackDown wrestler Rey Mysterio (real name: Oscar Gutierrez) and former WWE wrestler Mark Jindrak, are the two other wrestlers named in an indictment against Dr. Phil Astin, the physician currently involved in the Chris Benoit double murder/suicide investigation.

When contacted, a WWE spokesperson told TMZ, "We cannot comment on this ongoing investigation at this time."

Candice Michelle is gorgeous.

This is hardly new. But the WWE Diva has finally captured the Women's Championship and that's something to get excited about. Check out her pics below with the title:

Is Candice Michelle the hottest WWE Diva? Let us know what you think today.

In light of the Chris Benoit tragedy and that wrestler's steroid use, you'd think WWE would try to promote less built superstars as a sign that others needn't focus on building muscle through such dangerous means.

To that end, WWE's Gary Davis stated in an interview with The New York Daily News that wrestlers are not encouraged or forced to use steroids.

But - as pointed out in a report by The Wrestling Observer - while nobody in the WWE is "forced" to take steroids, the company certainly is sending a message of encouraging it based on two wrestlers it pushed this week, two who have an unnatural physical look to them.

Many people within WWE were very surprised to see how much the company put over Batista on last Friday's Smackdown and Bobby Lashley on this past Monday's Raw, considering the huge amount of media attention on steroids at the moment. The overwhelming opinion among many in the company on WWE's decision to do this was said to have been a combination of cluelessness and arrogance.

What do you guys think? Let us know at our new FORUMS.

On Saturday morning, June 30th, WWE Hall of Famer ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper was on The Pain Clinic pro wrestling talk show with The Cashman, Dr. Love, The Artiste, and Danger Boy.

He talked about having dinner with Chris Benoit over the years, including after Eddie Guerrero’s funeral. Roddy said he “should have had the damn dinner” in response to Benoit recently asking Piper to go to dinner with him to talk.

Piper says he will attend Chris Benoit’s funeral, which will be his first funeral since Adrian Adonis’ because he “can’t handle them.” Piper calls Chris Benoit his “brother” and says he will stay on Benoit’s “side until the very end.” He added: “I stand behind Chris Benoit a hundred percent, I’ll be at his funeral, and we’ll wait and see what comes back (from the toxicology reports).”