May 2008 News Archive (Page 7)

Tazz welcomed us to the show. Then, Tony Chimel announced the new voice of ECW, Mike Adamle. Tazz said Adamle left the set last week, and he left in support. Adamle briskly walked to the ring, took the mic and said he lost his cool and he needs to apologize.

First, he apologized to Tazz. Adamle also apologized to the "great ECW fans.. He said he's been a broadcaster probably longer than a lot of people have been alive.

Adamle said he's made mistakes, and he's the first to admit it. Adamle said there are wrestlers who aren't shy about letting him know when he sucks. He said he loves WWE, ECW, and he wants to bring the best possible product to the ECW fans. He thanked the fans for listening, and the fans booed. Is this really a story line now? The fans hating on an announcer?

Tommy Dreamer vs. Mike Knox: Extreme Rules
Knox pulled out weapons, but Dreamer surprised him with a trash can blow with a dropkick. Adamle said Dreamer is trying to send Knox to the penalty box. Groan. Dreamer tossed the shopping cart into the ring, then he landed a basement dropkick sending the cart into Knox's head. Dreamer went under the ring and grabbed a "picnic table", as Adamle called it. He tried to bulldog Knox through the table, but Knox countered with a suplex through the table for a two count. Dreamer tried a comeback, but Knox nailed the turnout facebuster for the win.
WINNER: Knox

Kelly Kelly Expose: Kelly Kelly was in the ring for an old school Expose dance number. She was in an all-black Catwoman number and danced for a while, until Layla interrupted and tried to one-up her in the dancing category. Kelly had enough and slapped Layla hard across the face. A cat fight ensued with Kelly landing some clean blows..

Kofi Kingston vs. Matt Striker
Kofi landed the boom-boom leg drop in the opening minute for a nearfall. Suddenly, Striker tried to launch Kofi into the ropes, but Kofi did a torpedo-like rebound into the Buzzsaw kick on Striker. He covered Striker for the win. Afterward, Shelton stormed the ring and attacked Kofi. He laid him out, then left the ring very pleased with himself.
WINNER: Kofi

Colin Delaney vs. Armando Estrada
Armando slapped on a reverse chinlock, which Colin fought out of until Armando yanked him down by the hair. Colin came back with a dropkick, then Armando yanked him to the apron. Armando followed with a hard forearm across the chest, but he got too cocky. Colin then slipped under the ropes and sunset flip pinned Armando for a surprise three count to earn his ECW contract.
WINNER: Colin

CW champion Kane and CM Punk vs. Chavo Guerrero and Bam Neely
Bam and Chavo kept working on CM Punk until Chavo smacked Kane to upset him. Kane feigned attacking Chavo, but he returned to his corner to wait for a tag. Punk finally made a comeback with a springboard forearm blow, which prompted Adamle's "Have mercy" line that Miz and Morrison quickly pounded on. Kane then took the hot tag at 12:00 to a big pop, and he cleaned house. Kane smacked Bam off the apron, then he launched Chavo up and over the top rope to the floor.

Chavo then caught Kane in the knee out of nowhere, and Kane quickly tagged out to Punk. Four men on commentary and they all went silent. Punk had the pin on Chavo, but Bam broke it up. Kane then brushed off Chavo setting up Punk with a perfect Go 2 Sleep on Chavo.
WINNERS: Punk & Kane

WWE has released the following press release, celebrating tonight's ECW program:

World Wrestling Entertainment® and the SCI FI Channel announced today that the 100th episode of “ECW: Extreme Championship Wrestling®” will air this Tuesday, May 6, at 10 p.m./9C, live on SCI FI.

Since its debut on June 16, 2006, ECW has been one of the network’s highest rated programs, averaging nearly 2 million viewers per week. Led by ECW Champion Kane®, as well as Superstars such as CM Punk™, Chavo Guerrero™, WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison™ and The Miz™, and WWE Diva Kelly Kelly™, ECW is consistently one of the top performing cable programs on Tuesday nights among men.

“Airing 100 episodes of ECW is a huge milestone for WWE and SCI FI,” said Geof Rochester, Executive Vice President, Marketing. “We guarantee that ECW fans can expect the next 100 episodes to be even more compelling, more exciting, and more action-packed.”

“We are very happy to mark this programming milestone with ECW on SCI FI, ” said SCI FI President, Dave Howe. “We look forward to continued success with our partners at WWE and being the home of the powerful ECW franchise.”

The Associated Press released the following statement this morning:

STAMFORD, Conn. - World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., a promoter of wrestling events and other entertainment, said Tuesday its first-quarter profit rose 29 percent, helped by WrestleMania XXIV.

For the period ended March, 31, earnings grew to $19.5 million, or 27 cents per share, compared with $15.1 million, or 21 cents per share, meeting the expectations of analysts polled by Thomson Financial.

Quarterly revenue soared 51 percent to $162.6 million from $107.4 million. Analysts predicted sales of $131 million. The company said WrestleMania XXIV contributed $4.6 million to its profit and about $31.3 million to revenue.

Live and televised entertainment revenue jumped to $99.8 million from $63 million, while consumer-products revenue increased to $43.4 million from $37.4 million. Revenue from digital media climbed to $8.1 million from $7 million, while the WWE Films segment added $11.3 million to sales.

Shares of World Wrestling Entertainment gained 20 cents to $18.57 in premarket trading. The stock closed at $18.37 Monday.

Here's a rundown of what took place on WWE RAW last night...

Vince McMahon is standing at the top of the stage. He talked about fans calling WWE Headquarters and wanting him to show up and respond to Regal's actions from last week. McMahon called Regal's actions innovative and daring. He said Regal reminds him a lot of... himself. McMahon said he is here tonight to 100% endorse and support General Manager William Regal.

- Lilian Garcia introduce Regal, who takes the mic and said the fans may not like him, but they will respect him. He asks if they have his respect and the fans in Toronto boo. Regal says pity because like last week he is ready to turn the lights out at his own discretion. The fans start a "REGAL SUCKS" chant. Regal says so be it and has them turn off the lights. The fans start booing and continue the chant. Regal has the lights turned on again.

Mr. Kennedy's music hits and he gets a big pop. Kennedy gets in Regal's face. Kennedy said if he wants respect so much, then all he has to do is take him up on his offer and go one-on-one in this very ring tonight. Instead, Regal says Kennedy will be facing the entire ECW Roster on his own. He said he worked out this arrangement with GM Armando Estrada.

Triple H's music hits and he gets a big reaction. Triple H says if he wants to stay in that position of power he needs to not make mistakes. Regal brings up Triple H's championship match against Randy Orton at Judgment Day in a Steel Cage. He said he may not make it to that match in two weeks because it will now be Triple H & Mr. Kennedy taking on the entire ECW Roster. Regal's music hits and he walks away as Triple H and Kennedy stare him down.

WWE Women's Championship - Lumberjack Match: Mickie James (c) vs. Beth Phoenix
Mickie tries to stand up and Beth lands a few knees to her back. Beth applies more pressure and yells at the referee to ask Mickie if she quits. Mickie counters dropping to her back and kicking Beth in the face. Beth drops an elbow and Mickie rolls out of the way. Mickie attempts a sunset flip, but Beth counters and lifts Mickie up. Mickie counters that into a dropkick. Beth tosses Mickie through the ropes, but Mickie holds on and goes up to the top rope. The heel WWE Divas pull her down and she kicks them away. Mickie with a Thesz Press off the top, rolls up Beth, but Beth kicks out. Mickie kicks Beth. Beth blocks another kick and Mickie kicks her in the back of the head sending her to the outside. The babyface Divas beat up Beth and throw her back in. Beth drags Maria by the hair into the ring. Melina then grabs the WWE Women's Title, tries to hit Mickie with it, but she takes out Beth instead. Mickie takes out Melina and then gets an inside cradle on Beth for the pinfall.
Winner & STILL WWE Women's Champion: Mickie James

2 on 1 Handicap Match: Paul Burchill & Katie Lea vs. John Cutler
Cutler takes out Katie with a shoulder block, but Burchill comes back taking him down. Burchill puts Cutler in a surfboard submission and Katie jumps off the top rope with force landing on his chest. Burchill then gives Cutler the Curb Stomp, Katie covers, hooks the leg and gets the pinfall.
Winners: Paul Burchill & Katie Lea

Shawn Michaels & WWE Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho vs. WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison & The Miz
Morrison charges Jericho in the corner and gets in a few body shots. Jericho catches Morrison with a boot and takes him out with a bulldog. Jericho with a Walls of Jericho on Miz. Morrison takes out HBK on the ring apron. HBK levels Morrison with some Sweet Chin Music. Jericho with a Lionsault on Morrison, hooks the leg and gets the pinfall.
Winners: Chris Jericho & Shawn Michaels

Continue Reading...

The WWE Magazine Yearbook 2008 issue that was released this weeks hints at a possible Randy Orton vs. Undertaker feud taking place on Raw in the near future. On Randy Orton's page, it readers:

"With all of the top Raw talent gunning for him, 2008 will be the toughest year of Orton's career. There are even rumors that a certain Deadman would like to come to Raw and inflict some immortal punishment on the self-proclaimed Legend Killer."

Would you wanna see a Randy Orton versus The Undertaker feud?

In the Barrie Advance, Ken Kennedy recently spoke on what he's learned about the wrestling world.

“I learned pretty early on that the best characters are those that are just extensions of your personality. You take your own personality and you turn the volume all the way up. So I spent time really finding out who I was as a person and as a wrestler and what I could and could not do, and just really fine-tuning all that stuff,” said Kennedy.

As for how he became attracted to the WWE, Kennedy said:

“I fell in love with the character (Stone Cold Steve Austin), and I watched every week religiously, just to see that character, and sure enough sooner or later, I got hooked into all the other story lines that were going on. And I realized that I’d been missing this for a long time.

The blackout at the end of WWE Raw this week was reportedly done to set up two things.

1. To plant the seeds of a forthcoming William Regal vs. Triple H feud
2. To not give away the ending of the Orton/Triple H match, with a steel cage battle coming up at Judgment Day.

Does that make sense to anyone? Triple H will feud with Regal because he turned the broadcast off? Shouldn't the viewers feud with Regal over that nonsense?

Forgive us, fans of TNA Wrestling beauties, we do spend far more time talking about WWE Divas than TNA Knockouts. We'll try to remedy that imbalance with the following news and notes:

- According to her MySpace page, Angelina Love is dating Jared Weeks of the rock band Saving Abel.

- Gail Kim is featured on the cover of the next issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated, which is their special "Report Cards of the Stars" issue. Kim is featured alongside WWE stars Undertaker and Randy Orton.

- Christy Hemme's rock band HEMME is taking a short break. Hemme released the following message on her MySpace page regarding the status of the group:

Don't worry the band is not breaking up but just like any marriage or team effort you need a break to reflect on certain issues and even personal issues among the people at play. We just need a short time to get some stuff back on track and our minds back together to rule as HEMME with one solid mind.

The BB Kings show this Saturday will be canceled and we hope to get things back together before the Michigan show which most likely will happen. So this is not goodbye, just see you in a few. We love your support and couldn't give it up for anything in the world. Thank you very much and we hope you all understand, we are 1, us and you.

Here's a photo array of these three beauties. Click on any of the shots below for enlarged pictures of Angelina Love, Gail Kim and Christy Hemme:

WWE Raw earned a 3.3 rating this week. The figure is up from the 3.0 mark the show hit last week for the three-hour show.

Meanwhile, ECW 1.1 rating for Tuesday's show on Sci-Fi. It's the third straight week this number has fallen.

As we previously wrote, it appears as though the WWE is desperate for a jolt to its show with a pair of stunts this week. Perhaps they should focus on better story lines instead.

What do you think?

The following Smackdown results will air tomorrow night...

- John Morrison & The Miz defeated Shannon Moore & Jimmy Wang Yang to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles.

- Vladimir Kozlov defeated Colin Delaney. Armando Estrada was at ringside doing commentary for the match.

- Victoria & Natalya defeated Michelle McCool & Cherry.

- Mark Henry defeated Nunzio. Before the match, Nunzio brought out Big Show to be in his corner. After the match, Big Show came into the ring and Henry backed off. Show got on the mic and told him to pick on someone his own size. Hooray! Another matchup of giants. This is all they can do with The Big Show?

- Matt Hardy defeated MVP to retain the WWE United States Title.

- Mick Foley interviewed Batista in the ring. Foley reviewed Batista's match at Backlash with Shawn Michaels. Batista said he respects Michaels, but doesn't like how he got to the top. Foley mentioned Chris Jericho's comments on Raw on the Highlight Reel and if he thought Michaels faked a knee injury to get a win at the PPV. Batista hoped for Shawn's sake that he is hurt because if he isn't, he will be soon.

- Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins defeated Jesse & Festus.

- Finlay defeated Julio Dinero.

- Before The Undertaker vs. The Great Khali main event, Edge and Vickie Guerrero came out on stage. Vickie called Undertaker reckless, that he doesn't look out for his opponents and that his submission move is now banned. She said if he uses it he will have hell to pay. Vickie then said because of his actions, Undertaker was being stripped of the World Heavyweight Title and demanded he bring the belt to her. Undertaker refused. Khali came out for the main event.

- The Undertaker defeated The Great Khali with his gogoplata submission move. While he put the submission on, Ryder and Hawkins ran down and took the World Title away and gave it to Vickie. Khali was choked out and Undertaker took off after Edge. When everyone escaped, Undertaker returned to the ring and gave a bloody Khali a chokeslam to end the show.