April 2008 News Archive (Page 3)

Sad news today from the world of Rob Van Dam. He's announced on his MySpace page that his wife, Sonya, is battling colon cancer.

Our thoughts go out to her as we post RVD's blog entry:

One good thing about spreading positive energy and encouraging an optimistic approach to life- when it comes time to get a taste of my own medicine, it's good. Still, it may not be fun to be put to the test. It may be quite unpleasant.

After thinking of several ways to put this, I decided to give it to you straight- just like we got it. After months of chasing down the origin of stomach cramps, we got the news that Sonya has cancer in her colon. Obviously, this was not something we wanted to hear, and were not at all prepared for it. This is the kind of thing that we hear about happening to other people. Us? Really?

I'm sure that a lot of you realize that cancer is way too common. In fact, I know that many of you are all too familiar with what we are experiencing.

This is very personal and I understand if you would choose to keep it on the down-low. One of Sonya's first thoughts was that if she could have colon cancer (being a 32 year old, lean, active, and healthy eating female that barely hits 3 digits on the weight scale), "We need to tell everyone it could be them!"

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WWE has released the following announcement, pertaining to plans already underway for Wrestlemania 25...

Fresh off a tremendously successful WrestleMania XXIV in Orlando, World Wrestling Entertainment is already working with the Houston business community on WrestleMania XXV, which will be held on Sunday, April 5, 2009, at Houston’s Reliant Stadium, home to the NFL’s Houston Texans.

WWE executives and WWE’s most decorated Superstar, Ric Flair, traveled to Houston today to meet with local city officials and businesses, to begin preparations for this milestone event. Their collaborative agenda includes planning stadium production, discussing sponsorship opportunities and organizing citywide activities. The trip included a luncheon with more than 100 Houston business leaders and discussion of how their companies could integrate with sports entertainment’s biggest pop culture event.

For the past two years, WrestleMania has attracted fans from around the world, and infused up to $30 million into the local economies of host cities Detroit (WrestleMania XXIII) and Orlando.

The always anticipated WrestleMania weekend is expected to feature the 2009 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the annual Bacon, Bagels and Biceps Brunch, the annual national WrestleMania Reading Challenge Finals, another wish granting initiative with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visits to schools and libraries, local fundraisers and exciting opportunities to meet WWE Superstars and Divas at various public appearances.

“Fans in Houston can expect an up-close and personal experience when WrestleMania XXV comes to Texas next year,” said Geof Rochester, Executive Vice President, Marketing. “It’s going to be an amazing 25th Anniversary celebration.”

Smackdown head writer and WWE creative team member Michael Hayes has been suspended from the company for 60 days. The punishment follows an incident that took place in Orlando during Wrestlemania weekend.

Hayes allegedly used racist language towards SmackDown star Mark Henry.

During a party, reports say Hayes had been drinking when he approached The World's Strongest Man. Hayes told Henry, "I'm more of a n----- than you are."

After a physical altercation between the two, Henry reported the issue to either Vince or Stephanie McMahon and the suspension was given out.

SOURCE: PWInsider.com

Terri Runnels appeared on the Monday Night Mayhem radio show last week and was asked if there was any pressure on her for being married to somebody in the company at the time.

The hosts used Triple H and Stephanie McMahon as an example, saying that people argue over whether he has his position in the WWE due to his marriage. Terri replied with the following defense of Triple H:

"I will defend Triple H in a heartbeat because I remember way back when, I don't remember what year it was, but this was way back in WCW when Paul was at a party that Diamond Dallas Page and Kimberly threw, this was a Christmas party. And he had just gotten in the business, and I remember, everyone was saying "Here's this new kid" and he had just come in the business and, I remember watching him, and what I respected about him was, he was such a student of the business.

You could tell he wanted to soak up and learn absolutely everything he could. And so for that, you cannot, there's no way, if you really know who Paul Levesque is, and what he's done, the way he has ate, slept, and breathed this business, long before Stephanie, there's no way you can say he needed Stephanie to do anything. He didn't. And I think it's a great disservice to him whenever any fan says that.

Yes of course his life is made easier in terms of what he gets to do, I'm sure if he has an idea, it probably flies a lot quicker than, you know, any other Joe Blow, but to say that he hasn't earned the place that he's at in this business, I think is unfair."

John Cena turns 31 years old today.

The WWE star is busy shooting a new movie, but is rumored to be entering into a summer-long feud with Triple H upon his return.

In honor of Cena's birthday, here's a photo tribute to the grapper. Click on each picture for a larger version...

Here's what fans were treated to on ECW last night...

Tommy Dreamer and Kelly Kelly defeated Mike Knox and Layla. Kelly hit the Fameasser on Layla for the win. Afterward, Knox hit his finisher on Dreamer and left him lying.

Jimmy Wang Yang (w/Shannon Moore) beat John Morrison. The Miz sat in on commentary and immediately stated that it was a pleasure to be around someone with Adamle's legendary status. Miz also threw out the "Jamaican Me Crazy" line that Adamle used last week. Good stuff. He also referred to Yang as "Jimmy Wang Wang" and said it was okay because Adamle is allowed to mess up lines. As for the match, Yang hit a moonsault on a standing Morrison and scored the pin.

Kofi Kingston pinned Shelton Benjamin. Early in the match, Shelton jumped off the top rope into a dropkick. Shelton worked an arm hold and Tazz did a nice job of explaining the purpose of the hold. Later, Shelton went for a kick, but Kofi ducked it and hit Trouble in Paradise for the win. Solid television bout.

Mark Henry squashed Nunzio. During the match, the announcers hyped that the ECW replay on WWE.com was downloaded a record 155,000 times. Way to go, Mike Adamle! The match was a total squash.

Edge introduced Kane for the Cutting Edge segment. Edge said most people believe the most dominant family in wrestling are the Brothers of Destruction. "Your parents must be proud," Edge said.

Kane got upset: "My parents are dead and you will be too if you mention them again. He said he's taken out Edge before and can do so again. Edge pointed out that Kane's life sucks. He ran through Kane's history, including Undertaker burning his house down, the mask years, and the failed relationships with two women. Edge said he wouldn't mention one (Katie Vick), but pointed out the other was with Lita.

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Jim Ross updated the blog section of JRsbarbq.com. In it, he commented on a pair of issues from this week's WWE RAW:

On the King of the Ring tournament: "The KOR Tourney Monday night in Greenville, S.C. certainly had its moments that featured a strong first half of the bracket and a perplexing second half of the tournament bracket. KOR winner William Regal is arguably one of the more underutilized talents in the biz and even though Regal can definitely talk, which all General Managers must obviously be able to do, he adds a valuable element of experience and expertise to any bout in which he is involved."

On the Hillary Clinton vs. Barack Obama debacle: "Some wrestling pundits really slammed the 'match' between the impersonators posing as Hillary and Barack. I am not sure what folks expectations were for this "contest," but it was, plain and simple, nothing more than a publicity stunt that did garner a great deal of pub the week of a WWE pay per view.

The WWE made air on media outlets that would never mention the WWE unless there was a tragedy or a scandal. While the "match" was not my personal cup of tea, it did not last long enough to offend me and I sort of got a kick out of the ovation Umaga received when he came to the ring to put an end to the frivolity."

WWE has added a 12-Diva tag team match to the Backlash card this Sunday.

It will feature WWE Women's Champion Mickie James, Maria Kanellis, Ashley Massaro, Michelle McCool, Cherry and Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix, Melina, Jillian, Layla, Victoria and Natalya.

Check out other matches on the card now.

Here's a clip from last night's WWE RAW.

Reportedly, fans in attendance didn't care for the following Barack Obama/Hillary Clinton match. Can you really blame them?

Take a look now:

We aren't sure where the following, newly released photos of Karen Angle are from... but does it really matter?

Just drool over the thumbnails of this TNA Wrestling knockout now, clicking on each photo for a larger, more beautiful version: