February 2008 News Archive (Page 4)

At WWE.com, WWE officials are finally confirmed that WWE Diva Maria Kanellis will be posting in Playboy. Check out the website's countdown to the event now.

Here's what the site says:

It’s official – Maria will pose for Playboy magazine. The fashionista Diva will be featured on the cover of the April issue. Maria sealed the deal on Monday night when she was victorious over Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix.

Maria’s boyfriend, Santino Marella, revealed immediately before her match with Beth that she had to defeat the Women’s Champion to claim the Playboy contract he was holding. When former Women’s Champion Candice Michelle made a surprise return on Monday night, Beth was obviously stunned and distracted by Candice’s entrance, leaving Maria the chance to roll up the Women’s Champion for the pin.

Once Maria’s win set in, the elated Diva celebrated with Santino (who didn’t exactly look pleased) and former Playboy cover girl, Candice Michelle. As Maria clutched the contract in her hands, she beamed and jumped for joy, as our fans were just as excited.

In an interview with MTV.com, Hulk Hogan says he wants face Ric Flair at WrestleMania 24.

"They need a main event real bad. When I think about Ric Flair styling and profiling, when I think about Hulk Hogan going [head to head] with Ric Flair in my backyard, Florida...

I think that's where it's at. They got a lot of tickets, brother, that need to be sold," Hogan said, dissing the current two main events - Triple H vs. John Cena vs. Randy Orton; and Undertaker vs. Edge - in the process of hyping himself up.

Hogan also suggests that Vince McMahon could be guest referee in what he describes as the "perfect match" with "The Nature Boy's" career at stake.

What do you think? Would Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair still be a draw? Would you pay to watch it? Leave a comment. Let us know.

With Floyd Mayweather set to be involved in Wrestlemania 24, the boxing champion recently spoke on his WWE involvement:

“Pro wrestling is for real, I went to watching wrestling, and I was there watching it, and Rey Mysterio is a good guy, my little sons got me into wrestling. Next thing I know, Big Show grabs Rey and tries to chokeslam him. So I got in there, hit Big Show in the face, and broke the guy’s nose.”

Sad news for Rey Mysterio fans:

The WWE star will not be wrestling at WrestleMania 24. He's scheduled to undergo surgery to repair his torn biceps muscle this Friday and will miss between four and six months.

After missing WrestleMania last year, Mysterio had his sights set on wrestling at this year's event; there were plans to do a Mysterio/Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show/Shane McMahon match. As a consolation, Mysterio has been been assured that he will still be involved in the angle in some way.

The name of Kofi Kingston's theme song is "SOS" and it's performed by Collie Budz.

Tripe H starts off Raw. But he barely has time to talk before Randy Orton comes down and says that Triple H is just jealous of Orton.

Soon, John Cena joins the party and then William Regal comes out and says that Cena deserved a rematch due to Orton throwing the match at No Way Out, so the two would wrestle tonight: if Cena wins, there will be a triple threat match at Wrestlemania.

Match #1: Money in the Bank Qualifying Match: Jeff Hardy vs. Snitsky
Jeff Hardy has new theme song: “No More Words” by EndeverafteR. Twist of fate followed by a swan-ton bomb.
Winner: Jeff Hardy

HBK comes down to the ring and announces the first inductee of the class of 2008 Hall of Fame: Ric Flair.

Match #2: Paul Birchell w/ Katie Lee vs. Super Crazy
Birchell grabs his arms from behind and head stomps him into the canvas.
Winner: Paul Birchell

Big Show comes down and apologizes for his actions at No Way Out. He asks for Floyd Mayweather to come down so that he can publically apologize to him. They shake hands and then Floyd goes to leave, but Big Show stops him and challenges him to a match: the greatest fighter in the world against the largest athlete in the world. Mayweather accepts the challenge.

Match #3: Money in the bank qualifying match: Mr. Kennedy vs. Val Venis
Leg Sweep Slam
Winner: Mr. Kennedy

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Floyd Mayweather's appearance at No Way Out last night wasn't a one-time deal. The boxing champion is scheduled to wrestle at Wrestlemania 24.

Mayweather is likely to be partnered by Rey Mysterio (if he is cleared to compete) in a tag-team match against Big Show and a tag partner.

Nothing is set in stone at the moment - but the creative is said to be working with numerous possibilities, with Shane McMahon and MVP touted as possible partners to team with Show.

- Chavo Guerrero defeated CM Punk to retain the ECW Championship.
Back and forth action until CM Punk crotches Chavo on the top rope and attempts a top rope huracanrana. But Chavo holds on to the ropes, Punk hits the mat and Chavo connects with the Frog Splash. Chavo covers Punk and gets the pinfall to retain the ECW Championship.

- Mike Adamle is backstage with Rey Mysterio. Mysterio talks about how Edge only looks out for himself and that it was an accident that he took out Vickie. Adamle brings up the reports of Mysterio suffering a torn bicep. Mysterio said he intends on competing tonight and shows off the bruises on his arm. Adamle asks how he can compete tonight and Mysterio said he can overcome anything with the World Title on the line.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. then shows up and he embraces with Mysterio. Floyd asks him if he will get the job done tonight and Mysterio promises he will. Mysterio and Floyd leave as we see Mayweather Jr.'s giant posse follow behind him.

- The Undertaker won the Smackdown/ECW Elimination Chamber. MVP was out first and got into one of the pods. Big Daddy V with Matt Striker was out second. The Great Khali was out third. Finlay was out fourth. Batista and The Undertaker were the last two to enter and will kick off the match. The two exchange punches. Batista gets the best of Undertaker with a knee to the gut and throws him into the corner. Batista drives his shoulder into Undertaker's gut a few times until Undertaker breaks it up with a high knee. Undertaker launches Batista over the top rope and Batista lands on the steel floor of the chamber. Undertaker then pushes Batista's face into the chain. Batista fights back kicking Undertaker in the head through the ropes. Batista with an irish whip to the corner, Undertaker bounches off and Batista levels Undertaker with a clothesline.

Undertaker then fights back choking Batista in the corner. Batista fights back with a big clothesline on Undertaker. Undertaker and Batista knock each other out with a big boot as time expires. Out of the pods first is Big Daddy V. V goes after Undertaker with a big chest chop and then chops Batista over the chest as well. V then levels both with two clotheslines. V with a big scoop slam on Undertaker and another chest chop on Batista. V with a samoan drop on Undertaker. V then stands on Undertaker's chest applying pressure.

V headbutts Undertaker and he falls back into the chamber door. The door opens up and Undertaker falls to the outside in something that obviously wasn't planned. Undertaker favors his arm, gets back in and they lock up the door. Back in the ring, Batista takes out V with a huge spinebuster. Batista clotheslines V over the top rope, V hits the steel and Undertaker takes out V with a big DDT. Batista covers Big Daddy V and gets the pinfall.

Big Daddy V is eliminated.

Time expires and out next is The Great Khali. Khali takes out Batista and then levels Undertaker with another chop to the head. Khali's translator gets up on the chamber door and Undertaker takes him out with a big boot. When he lands, he lands hard on his knee and screams out in pain. Undertaker applies what looks to be a triangle submission on Khali and Khali taps out. Well, that is what Cole and Coachman said but we really couldn't see it all that well.

The Great Khali is eliminated.

Time expires and out next is Finlay. Undertaker takes out Finlay with a big boot right away. Finlay fights back sending Undertaker into the corner and then sends Batista over the top rope onto the steel. Finlay picks up Undertaker and hits a huge side walk slam, but Undertaker kicks out after two during a pinfall attempt. When Finlay goes after Batista on the steel, Batista trips him up and then catapults Finlay into the chain wall. In the ring, Undertaker takes out Batista with a quick clothesline.

Quick pinfall attempt by Finlay on Batista, but another two count. Finlay sends Undertaker over the top rope and Undertaker lands on the steel. Finlay then throws Undertaker into the chain wall. Finlay sends Undertaker face first into an empty pod and the pod breaks. Batista then grabs Finlay and sends his arm right into the steel post. Batista with a big suplex on Finlay off the top rope.

Time expires and MVP is the only one left. MVP tries to keep his pod shut as Undertaker stands in front. When it opens, Undertaker walks in and takes out MVP with kicks and punches. Undertaker goes back in the ring and Batista goes right after him with shoulder charges in the corner. Undertaker with a big boot on Batista from the corner. MVP hits the ring and kicks Batista in the face and then does the same to Undertaker. Undertaker grabs MVP by the neck and flips him off the top of the pod. MVP crashes to the center of the ring! Finlay crawls over and covers MVP to get the pinfall.

MVP is eliminated.

Undertaker is still up on the top rope and sees Finlay down. Undertaker jumps attempting an elbow, but Finlay rolls out of the way. We then see a shot of Hornswoggle popping his head out from under the chamber and throwing a shillelagh at Finlay. Finlay goes after Batista with it and it is legal. Batista then attempts a Batista Bomb, but Finlay cracks the shillelagh over his head to break it up. Undertaker then chokeslams Finlay over the top rope onto the steel! Undertaker covers and gets the pinfall.

Finlay is eliminated.

We are down to Undertaker and Batista. The two start exchange punches. When Undertaker punches, the fans cheer. When Batista punches, the fans boo. Batista with a huge Batista Bomb on Undertaker! Batista covers, but Undertaker somehow kicks out. Batista's head is busted open. Batista starts punching Undertaker in the head in the corner, but Undertaker lifts Batista up and connects with the Last Ride! Undertaker then signals for the end, but Batista counters a Tombstone Piledriver and throws Undertaker over the top rope sending Undertaker onto the steel floor. Batista puts Undertaker on his shoulder and launches him into the chain wall.

Batista attempts this a second time, but Undertaker gets his hands up to block it. Batista backs up to the ropes, Undertaker puts his feet down, flips Batista up onto his shoulder and connects with the Tombstone Piledriver in a great spot. Undertaker covers Batista and gets the pinfall. Undertaker advances to WrestleMania 24 for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship.

- Ric Flair defeated Mr. Kennedy.
Eventually, Kennedy with a roll up holding the tights of Flair, but the referee sees Kennedy using the ropes and stops the count. Inside cradle, but Flair kicks out and then applies the Figure Four on Kennedy. The fans in Vegas cheer loudly and Kennedy taps out.

- Edge defeated Rey Mysterio to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.
We saw another shot of Floyd Mayweather Jr. at ringside cheering on Rey Mysterio during his entrance. Edge attempts a big dropkick, but Mysterio lifts himself up and Edge slides crotching himself on the steel ring post. When Edge stands up, Mysterio takes out Edge with a big moonsault, covers, but only a two count. Mysterio with a jumping tornado DDT on Edge from the corner, covers, but Edge puts his boot on the bottom rope. Mysterio connects with the 619 on Edge when Mysterio drop toe holds Edge into the ropes. Mysterio screams out in pain and gets back into the ring. Mysterio springboards off the middle rope, but Edge catches him in mid-air and connects with a huge Spear. Edge covers Mysterio and gets the pinfall to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.

As referees help Rey Mysterio out of the ring, The Big Show's music hits and he makes his way out to the ring. He shows off his newly trim body in a suit and says, "Guess who is back!" Big Show said he missed WWE and promises to become champion once again. He said it doesn't matter if it is Raw, Smackdown or ECW. Show said a lot of people make promises, but he has already been champion of Raw, Smackdown and ECW. He said it is only a matter of time before he becomes champion again. Show talks about losing over 100 pounds and that he is now faster, meaner and ready to be back in the WWE. Show notices an injured Rey Mysterio at ringside and grabs him.

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The eighth edition of WWE the Music comes out on March 25. Here's a look at what will be on the CD:

- Jeff Hardy: No More Words (Endevetafter)
- Kofi Kingston: SOS (Collie Budz)
- Beth Phoenix: Glamazon
- Mark Henry: The Wall (Heat Mobb)
- Hawkins & Ryder: In the Middle of it Now (Desciple)
- Jillian: Sliced Bread
- Mr. McMahon: No Chance In Hell (Theory of a Deadman)
- ECW Theme

- Jesse & Festus: Biscuits & Gravy
- Candice Michelle: What Love Is
- John Morrison: This Aint No Make Believe
- Shelton Benjamin: Ain’t No Stoppin Me (Axel Rose)
- Mr. Kennedy: Turn Up The Trouble (Airbourne)
- Chris Jericho: Break Down The Walls (James Grundler)

Respected, longtime Hollywood publication Variety has a feature up on John Cena's next film, 12 Rounds:

World Wrestling Entertainment is stepping into the film production ring with Fox Atomic for "12 Rounds," tapping Renny Harlin to direct the actioner set to star grappler John Cena, Steve Harris, Aidan Gillen and Brian White.

The story centers on a New Orleans police detective (Cena) whose girlfriend is kidnapped. Production starts February 25 in New Orleans.

Mark Gordon, Josh McLaughlin and WWE Films' prexy Michael Lake are producing. WWE topper Vince McMahon serves as exec producer with Becki Trujillo.

"12 Rounds" becomes the fourth pic produced by subsid WWE Films since the production arm was formed in 2002 to develop movies that feature the pro wrestling company's top stars.