Atlas Ortiz made his televised debut on ECW last night. Formerly Atlas Dabone of OVW and FCW, he began his training in 2006 and was offered a developmental deal by WWE and immediately assigned to OVW.

Here's what else went down on the show...

- Opens with Mark Henry coming out and saying he is the savior of ECW. Tommy Dreamer comes out along with Colin Delaney and they challenge Henry to a title match. He tells them they have to earn it. Colin Delany vs. Mark Henry later tonight. If Delaney wins, Dreamer gets a title shot.

- Matt Hardy, Finlay, and Hornswoggle def. Chavo Guerrero, The Miz, & John Morrison.

- Atlas Ortiz def. Armando Estrada.

- Mark Henry def. Colin Delaney.

Hooray! We get to be treated to numerous Mark Henry squashes to show just how strong and scary he is. What did you think of this week's ECW?

Jim Ross has updated the blog section of JRsbarbq.com to include comments on his farewell speech this week on WWE Raw.

Here's what he had to say:

Being able to address the crowd in OKC was a nice opportunity that is greatly appreciated on my end... I had a challenging time getting through the in ring promo as a million thoughts were running through my mind about my years on Raw, especially my OKC experiences, beginning my career in my home state, etc.

I did not 'write' anything down to say nor did any one else if you are keeping score at home or simply just need to know that info. From what I understand neither did Edge.

This is a little strange: The BBC has posted an article on Kofi Kingston that questions his heritage.

As WWE officials like to publicize, Kingston is the first-ever superstar to hail from Jamaica... or is he?

His mother Elizabeth - the head of a Ghanaian-American organization in the U.S. - said that her son was bornn Ghana. The family moved to America in 1982.

"I told him: 'Kofi, your cousins watch you on TV in Ghana and want to know why you don't say you're from Ghana,'" she said.

Kofi's response? "Tell them it is business."

It is business. And if this story is true...who cares? Don't superstars often change their persona and background in order to fit a character?

We hate to break it to the BBC, but Kane wasn't really burned alive as a child, either.

With WWE obviously intent on shaking things up - yes, CM Punk really is the new champion on Raw - what will ECW have in store for us tonight? Courtesy of WWE.com, here's the official preview...

It was an incredible Night of Champions for the World’s Strongest Man Mark Henry, who overcame the onslaught of the Big Red Machine Kane and the World’s Largest Athlete Big Show in a Triple Threat Match to bring the ECW Championship back to the Land of the Extreme.

Kane showed tremendous fortitude as he fought through an injury during the match, suplexing the gigantic Big Show off the top rope. But, while both men were feeling the effects of the devastating move, Henry splashed his way in, picking up both the win and the gold.

With Big Show still a SmackDown Superstar and Kane drafted over to Monday Night Raw, who will dare challenge the gigantic new ECW champion?

Newly-drafted United States Champion Matt Hardy made an extremely strong statement by defeating the self-proclaimed “Mexican Warrior” Chavo Guerrero.

After Guerrero grabbed the No. 1 contender’s spot thanks to his aunt, SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero, Hardy stopped him in his tracks, hitting the Twist of Fate. Will Guerrero come back for more? Or, will Matt Hardy find new prey on Tuesday nights?

WWE Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison retained their titles in a whirlwind match against the father-son duo of Finlay and Hornswoggle, which ended with Morrison hurling Hornswoggle from the top rope to pick up the win. Will the brawler from Belfast and his son s

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the long-awaited match between John Cena and Batista may take place at Wrestlemania 25

During a recent a creative meeting, Triple H pitched an idea for Batista to eventually turn heel and build towards a match with Cena at the event.

What do you think of this possibility? We're all for it, with one exception: We wanna see Cena turn heel!

Will John Cena battle Batista at Wrestlemania 25?

We're still traumatized by the awful injury to Vince McMahon last week. Hopefully, we can keep it together as we sum up last night's WWE RAW...

- Shane McMahon appears from WWE Headquarters. He talks about his father experiencing an accident last week. Shane said in respect of his father's privacy, they will not reveal his condition or anything else at this time. Shane asks WWE employees to pull together during this time of uncertainty.

- Jim Ross is on his way out to the ring. JR gets a big reaction from his hometown crowd. He gets into the ring and salutes the thousands of fans in attendance tonight. He said he is excited about a new journey he is embarking on as the new play-by-play voice for Friday Night Smackdown. He thanks Jerry Lawler and says he is a special guy. JR calls his time on WWE Raw an amazing run. He thanks everyone for being here tonight and encourages everyone to eat some more BBQ when Edge's music hits.

Edge appears with the world title over his shoulder and Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder close behind him. Edge has a big smile on his face as his pyro goes off. Edge said when he heard JR was having a farewell speech tonight, he just had to make an appearance. He said JR's arrogance never ceases to amaze him. Edge said instead of JR yelling "Stone Cold! Stone Cold! Stone Cold!" it will now have to be "Edge Wins! Edge Wins! Edge Wins!"

He asks Hawkins and Ryder to escort JR out of the building. JR walks out and leaves the ring. Edge says his farewell speech is officially over as JR leaves the ring with Hawkins and Ryder right behind him.

Edge remains in the middle of the ring as the fans boo him again. He said now that he took care of that he did have a reason to be here tonight. Edge wants to point out to all the Raw viewers that this "flagship show" doesn't have a General Manager... unlike his show that has the greatest GM in history, his fiancee, the love of his life, Vickie Guerrero. He said she is resting comfortably and thanks the fans for asking. Edge said this show is also missing The Undertaker. He adds the entire WWE Universe is missing him since he banished him from the entire WWE and adds your welcome.

Edge said there is one other thing this show is missing, oh yeah, a World Champion. He said he wanted to come here tonight to let John Cena, Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio or Batista know they will never have a shot at his World Heavyweight Championship. Edge says unless there is another Draft, fans will never see him on Monday night's ever again. He drops the mic and as he gets to the top of the ramp, Batista's music hits and Edge stops. Edge turns around and Batista walks out. Batista stares Edge down. Batista goes after Edge and chases him around the ring. Batista catches Edge and gets in a few rights. Batista picks up Edge and drives him into the ring barricade and the ring. Batista then sends Edge into the steel ring steps. Batista gets Edge up for a Batista Bomb and connects. Michael Cole said this was not about the World Title tonight but rather about retribution. Batista stands over a lifeless Edge, stares him down and then leaves the ring.

As Batista walks up the ramp, CM Punk's music hits and he runs down with his briefcase in hand along with a referee. The referee orders Lilian Garcia to say that the following match is for the World Heavyweight Championship. The bell rings and here we go.

World Heavyweight Championship Match: Edge (c) vs. CM Punk
CM Punk picks up Edge and connects with the GTS! Punk hooks the leg and gets the pinfall! We have a new World Heavyweight Champion!
Winner: CM Punk

Non-Title Match: WWE Women's Champion Mickie James vs. Jillian Hall
Jillian slams Mickie's face down on the mat and then goes to work on Mickie's shoulder that was roughed up by Katie Lea Burchill last night. Jillian with a big slam takedown on Mickie, but misses a flipping body splash. Mickie comes back kicking Jillian and with another big takedown. Jillian attempts her flipping splash in the corner, but Mickie gets her knees up and catches Jillian with her big kick (or what they called the Mick Kick). Mickie covers Jillian and gets the pinfall.
Winner: Mickie James

- Rey Mysterio comes out and gets a big reaction from the crowd. Mysterio takes the mic and congratulates CM Punk on beating Edge and bringing back the World Heavyweight Championship back to Raw. He said that was kind of weird. Mysterio said up until last week, his entire WWE career, his entire life was on Smackdown. Mysterio said he was shocked when he got drafted to Raw.

Santino Marella's music hits. Santino grabs the mic and said just like Shane McMahon said earlier, we have to pull everyone together and officially welcomes Rey Mysterio to Raw. He laughs and says personally, he doesn't see what the big deal is because anyone who hides behind a mask is either ugly, stupid or is The Batman!

He says there is a reason Mysterio has never been on Raw. Santino says Raw is where true superstars like himself rise and shine. Mysterio hits Santino with the mic and lights him up with some right hands. Mysterio drop toe holds Santino on the second rope and connects with the 619. Mysterio celebrates and heads up the ramp.

- We are back live and John Cena is out to a big reaction. He said no, I did not win the WWE Title last night. Cena said he was defeated by Triple H, but it is a loss he takes with pride. He said last night's match proved one thing: we are the best two in this business and that match will go down in history. Cena said just like tonight, you have all been part of history and that you will look back and say you were there when CM Punk cashed in the "Money in the Bank" briefcase and became the new World Heavyweight Champion.

Continue Reading...

Did Mark Henry win the ECW title this week because of recent racial statement made by Michael Hayes?

None other than celebrity gossip website TMZ poses this question, claiming that various WWE sources have said that The World's Strongest Man" would never have been in line for a championship belt if the racial controversy didn't exist.

In April, the company suspended writer Michael Hayes for 60 days for telling Henry: "I'm more n***** than you are." On Sunday, at Night of Champions (one week after Hayes was reinstated) the twelve-year WWE veteran and former Olympian finally got his big moment by winning the company's ECW world title.

WWE officials did not return TMZ's phone call on the issue. What's our take on it?

We almost hope this is true. The alternative would be that writers think Henry's in-ring work is actually deserving of a title - and that's even scarier!

Here is the official WWE Raw preview for tonight, courtesy of WWE.com...

During last week’s Draft, WWE Champion Triple H was randomly selected to SmackDown, taking his title with him.

On Sunday night, John Cena had a chance to bring the title back to Raw, but was unable to defeat The Game. Similarly, Batista attempted to win Edge’s World Heavyweight Championship, but couldn’t come out on top against the Master Manipulator.

Another Raw Superstar that suffered a devastating loss at Night of Champions was Chris Jericho, defending his title against surprise opponent, Kofi Kingston. Y2J and the capacity crowd in Dallas were shocked as the Jamaican Superstar made a huge splash in his first match since joining the Raw roster.

Another surprise entrance was made by Shawn Michaels, who was unable to compete due to an eye injury. HBK distracted Jericho long enough for Kingston to take control of the match, pinning Y2J. Following the match, Y2J took brutal revenge against HBK, assaulting him outside the ring.

With the Intercontinental Championship acting as Raw’s main singles title, will Kingston and his unorthodox style be able to hang onto the championship? And what is in store for Chris Jericho when HBK returns to in-ring competition?

Continue Reading...

Katie Lea Burchill is becoming one of the more prominent WWE Divas. She even earned a Women's Title shot at Night of Champions last night.

Take a look at the British beauty now:

In an interview with Great Britain's The Sun, Rey Mysterio spoke on his WWE championship run of 2006, which took place after he won the belt at WrestleMania 22.

During that time, the masked grapper was beaten by in non-title bouts by numerous foes including The Great Khali, Mark Henry and Rob Van Dam.

“Now I go back and reflect on it, when I don’t have the title, I think that things could have been handled a different way," Mystero said. “Unfortunately I was the champion that lost more times holding the title.

If that opportunity comes again, Rey says he'll be better prepared:

"I know what to aim at and try to perfect, that I didn’t do throughout those three months, and make it better. There is more to Rey Mysterio. I think I can give a lot more. I need to hold onto that opportunity and not let it go.”

Do you wanna see Mysterio as champion again?