WWE News (Page 22)

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.

• In the latest WWE magazine featuring Edge on the cover, there's another spoiler that we've mentioned before. The article states the companion to the Rated R Superstar may soon be "moonsaulting" away from wrestling. This would follow up on our story of Lita leaving from a few weeks ago.

• This past Friday’s edition of SmackDown finished with a 2.7 final cable rating with a 5.0 share. It's slightly down from the week before.

The word going around the WWE locker room is that wrestlers are more sick than ever of a certain owner's behavior.

One source was quoted as saying: "[Vince McMahon] has everyone on edge because you never know when [he] is going to show up."

The man in charge is said to be very moody and unpredictable.

A top unnamed WWE superstar, meanwhile, has been telling friends he wished he wouldn’t of signed a long contract extension with WWE because he'd prefer to head to TNA wrestling at this point.

Yet another WWE wrestler said:"The guys who used to be marks for being in WWE are starting to see TNA as a better place to be ... TNA is seen as a viable alternative by more and more guys."

The company is reportedly aware of these concerns and has been requiring superstars to re-sign at least four to six months before their contracts expire. This way, they can't be seen in a WWE ring ring one week and a TNA ring the next week.

• Another traditional, elimination match has been signed for Survivor Series. This contest will feature the Spirit Squad (with Mitch at ringside) versus an old-timers team of: Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, Dusty Rhodes and Sgt. Slaughter (with Arn Anderson at ringside).

• In the first week of release, Kevin Federline's album, Playing with Fire, sold a mere 6,000 copies, landing it at 151 on the charts. Conversely, John Cena sat at number-15 after his opening week of CD sales.

• WWE.com announced today that starting tomorrow at 3 p.m. EST, the site will be announcing matches at the same time every day until next Monday for this year’s Survivor Series. This mean seven matches overall will be announced in such a way for the event that takes place on November 26.

• Reports state that 14,687,233 votes were cast for match stipulations at this year's Cyber Sunday.

• The Sun - a British newspaper - recently interviewed Bobby Lashley and said: “He's known as one of the most softly-spoken men in wrestling, the guy who never says a bad word about anyone."

• The Cincinnati Cyclones (a local ECHL hockey team) will be having a “WWE night” tonight at the US Bank Arena.

This is the site of Sunday’s WWE Cyber Sunday pay-per-view. RAW Superstars John Cena and Johnny Nitro will be appearing to sign autographs and hang out with fans.

• WWE Films have finished filming their most recent movie starring superstar Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Condemned entered post production last month and Lions Gate Films will begin distribution of the film some time in 2007.

• The contract of Eric Bischoff contract with WWE expires in July 2007. There's no word on whether or not he'll remain with the company after that date.

• Too Cold Scorpio is scheduled to make his debut on Smackdown in a few weeks under the name Flash Funk, the name he used years ago in WWE.

• WWE Diva Candice Michelle will be making an appearance during the Tampa Bay International Auto Show at the Tampa Bay Convention Center in Tampa, Florida. She'll be taking part in a meet and greet from 6:45 to 9:00 p.m.

Champion Of Champions Match
WWE Championship or World Heavyweight Championship or ECW World Championship: John Cena vs. King Booker vs. Big Show

Eric Bischoff, Jonathan Coachman or Mr. McMahon to referee the match: DX vs. Edge & Randy Orton

Intercontinental Championship Match
Jeff Hardy vs. Johnny Nitro or Carlito or Shelton Benjamin

World Tag Team Championship Match
Spirit Squad vs. Ric Flair & Sgt. Slaughter or “Rowdy” Roddy Piper or Dusty Rhodes

Umaga vs. Chris Benoit or The Sandman or Kane

Women's Championship Tournament Final
No Disqualification or Diva Lumberjacks or Submission Match: Lita vs. Mickie James

At least they're being honest about ECW's status compared to that of RAW and Smackdown.

Due to budgetary and attendance concerns, WWE.com has officially announced that starting the day after Christmas, ECW will no longer be holding its own house shows. Instead, the brand will be working combined events with the Smackdown superstars.

Here is a sample from the article WWE.com released about this decision:

"WWE officials have announced that as of Dec. 26, SmackDown Superstars and ECW Extremists will be touring together for live events. Officials say that this is a great opportunity for WWE and ECW fans alike to experience the unparalleled action of both brands combined

Sources say that WWE officials were concerned because the attendance at some of the ECW live events hasn’t been as strong as initially projected."

Reportedly, Kevin Federline was only supposed to appear on RAW one time, but enjoyed himself so much he asked for a second appearnace.

K-Fed was paid $15,000 by the WWE for each night of work. Which sounds like a lot. But when your wife is worth $20 million, it's really more like pocket change in that family.