WWE News

[Head Booker]

WWE.com confirms the show's return:

Quote
LOS ANGELES – USA Network has given a 10-episode order to “WWE Tough Enough,” a non-scripted series in collaboration with World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and Shed Media US. “WWE Tough Enough,” slated to debut April 4, 2011, will feature a group of 12 individuals looking for a once-in-a-lifetime shot to become the next WWE Superstar or Diva. The grand prize winner will be awarded a contract with WWE, joining its roster of talent.

“WWE Tough Enough” will premiere at 11/10 p.m. CT the day after WrestleMania XXVII and immediately following USA’s ratings juggernaut Monday Night Raw. It will then move to its regularly scheduled slot, Mondays at 8/7 p.m. CT, starting on April 11th.

"We're thrilled to tag team with the WWE in bringing Tough Enough back to television," said Chris McCumber, executive vice president of marketing, digital and brand strategy for USA Network, and Jeff Wachtel, president of original programming USA Network and co-head of original content for Universal Cable Productions. "By focusing on both the physical and the performance challenges of becoming a Superstar, the show will shine a new light on what it takes to truly make your mark in the WWE universe."

“For years, the return of Tough Enough has been one of the most talked about and speculated topics amongst reality show fans and television industry insiders,” said Kevin Dunn, executive vice president of television production for WWE. “With the combined promotional muscle of USA Network and WWE, the right time slot and the reality show experience of Shed Media, WWE is looking forward to the successful return of one of television’s first reality show hits.”

The diverse group of men and women will live and train together in a house in Los Angeles. To see who has what it takes to be the next WWE Superstar or Diva, the contestants will battle it out each week in a series of unique challenges designed to test for such characteristics as showmanship, creativity, athleticism and desire, just to name a few.

Each episode will feature a current WWE Superstar, who will introduce the contenders to a quality that they must possess to make it to the top of the sports-entertainment world. Along the way, viewers will witness the trials and tribulations of what it takes to be one of the best in the world’s greatest sports-entertainment organization. Each episode will conclude with the elimination of one of the hopefuls who is left outside of the ring, while those that remain will move one step closer to their dream. In the final episode, the remaining contestants will battle it out for the grand prize.

Shed Media US, noted for its strong characters and memorable casting in the non-scripted arena, will produce WWE Tough Enough. The company’s previous reality credits include “The Real Housewives of New York City,” “Who Do You Think You Are,” “World's Strictest Parents.” Producing for Shed Media US are Alex Demyanenko and Eric Van Wagenen.

[Head Booker]

-- The New Year's Eve edition of SmackDown drew a 1.43 cable rating, with 2,205,000 viewers. It is a record low rating for a first-run episode of SmackDown on Syfy.

-- Big Show has landed a role in the upcoming Nickelodeon series "Supah Ninjas, which is centered around a group of high school kids who are ninjas. A casting call was issued today for a stand-in for the WWE Superstar with the casting director asking for a Caucasian male "6'9' or taller who is 400 to 475lbs."

- Evan Bourne is currently on vacation in Vietnam and noted on Twitter that his shoulder is feeling stronger daily. As noted a few weeks back, Bourne is expected to be back in action in time for WrestleMania 27.

- John Cena and/or Randy Orton have been in a WWE Title or World Heavyweight Title match at every WWE pay-per-view for over two years now. The last show that didn't have either of them in a top title match was WWE's Cyber Sunday 2008 where the main events were Triple H vs. Jeff Hardy for the WWE Title and Chris Jericho vs. Batista for the World Title.

- Aside from WWE having big plans for him, Alberto Del Rio was on last night's RAW because officials are hoping to "introduce" more SmackDown stars on RAW with the idea that fans will follow those stars over to SmackDown on SyFy.
In case you missed it, Del Rio was revealed last night as the first official entrant in the 2011 Royal Rumble match.

- WWE is billing this week's Rey Mysterio vs. Alberto Del Rio 2 of 3 Falls Match as the final match between the two SmackDown Superstars who have been feuding for a few months now.

- WWE star Glenn "Kane" Jacobs and faculty from the Mises Institute will be participating in an "Economics in One Lesson: High School Seminar" in Knoxville, Tennessee on February 11th of this year. The seminar is being sponsored by the Tennessee Liberty Alliance.

- It's interesting to note that with Tough Enough beginning the night after WrestleMania 27, there won't be any three-hour RAW shows in the 10 weeks that the show airs. Usually there is a three-hour RAW/WWE Draft show shortly after WrestleMania.

-- Comcast's On Demand service is offering the following Royal Rumble matches for $1.99 apiece: 1988, 1989. 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2008.

-- Snoop Dogg is pushing his Twitter followers to vote for Brodus Clay in the ongoing NXT competition. Voting is taking place at WWE.com as the first elimination will be made on tonight's show. "Brodus clay get ur vote on WWENXT.com represent tha homey @brodusclay," Dogg wrote. "nudoknowthat." Prior to becoming a professional wrestler, he worked as a bodyguard for Snoop Dogg. The Brodus Clay ring name is a play on Snoop Dogg's real name, Cordozar Calvin Broadus.


- Lords of pain

[Head Booker]

Source: The Pro Wrestling Torch

Brandon Silvestry (a/k/a Kaval/Low Ki) requested his release from World Wrestling Entertainment after being frustrated with his position in the organization. The company's creative department was told to bury him after winning the second season of NXT, until a decision was made that he was built up for a few weeks for an Intercontinental Championship Match against Dolph Ziggler at Survivor Series. After losing at the pay-per-view event, creative was told to resume burying him.

Following his quick loss to Drew McIntyre on the Dec. 21 episode of SmackDown!, he reportedly asked WWE management if he had any heat with them, to which he was told no. He then queried if they had any future plans for him and was told they really didn't at that time. He subsequently asked to be released from his contract, which was officially granted two days later.

Silvestry joined WWE in late 2008 while reigning as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion in Japan. Original creative plans called for him to adopt a masked character and feud with Rey Mysterio. As he was awaiting his call-up to the main roster, he suffered a severe leg injury in January 2009, which sidelined him for nine months. Creative lost interest in utilizing the program by the time he healed and he remained in developmental until June, when it was announced he would be a participant in the second season of NXT.

Silvestry will be returning to the independent scene under his original ring name, Low Ki. Welcome back!

[Head Booker]

-- WWE creative has recently discussed adding a female enforcer to The Nexus faction, reports the Wrestling Globe Newsletter.


credit: lordsofpain.net

[Icon Lord Sean "Magic" Fiery]

^Awesome Kong. That would be SWEET! All hail Punxus! ;D haha

[Head Booker]

- Former WWE star Gregory Helms, who ripped Shawn Michaels on Twitter a few months back, had more comments against Shawn this week after his Hall of Fame induction.

Helms wrote: "The HOF is great but I take more pride & comfort in the fact that I've never "screwjobbed" ANYONE in life or the biz! $$$ isn't everything."

Later, Chris Jericho wrote that Shawn was the greatest performer of all-time. Helms re-tweeted Jericho's message and added his opinion: "BS! Flair did more & got more people over.

Helms then wrote another message, which sounds like it was directed at Jericho: "If u got something to say, say it public. Enough ass-kissing. He wasn't the greatest when he was cussing u out in catering."

Helms continued to rant:

"Flair got over people that absolutely SUCKED!! Shawn hadn't gotten over anyone but himself in the last decade!!

I'm sorry being honest comes off bad on Twitter, I'm not hating, I'm stating FACTS!! Facts that I would swear by on my life.

And wearing a cross doesn't make u right. Hitler wore one too! Don't be FOOLED by a TV persona!! I'm always honest. NO ONE can accuse me."

Credit>Lordsofpain.com

~~

John Cena on Twitter claimed he was fined for using bad language during his promo on CM Punk. He said “ass” which has been a banned word on live shows since Raw went PG. He wrote that he was frustrated with injury and couldn’t wrestle, which is funny because he worked a dark match after the show went off the air.

~~

The Undertaker was backstage at Tuesday’s Smackdown taping in Birmingham. He was overseeing the current angle with Wade Barrett as Barrett is the guy he’s hand picked to work with at Wrestlemania since Vince’s plan to snag Brock Lesnar never came to fruition.

~~

Former WWE star Sean Morley went on a tear via Twitter and an online video he posted today, tearing down Matt Hardy and Shane Helms, among others. The former Val Venis, who had been working recently for WWE being groomed as a Producer, wrote on twitter that Matt Hardy was in TNA because his brother Jeff worked there, not because "fans wanted to see him."

In a video posted on BamUser, Morley ripped apart both Matt and Jeff Hardy, referring to Matt as "talentless" and stating the Hardys only got WWF jobs because "washed up Michael Hayes wanted to live his life vicariously through a younger, untalented Hardy Boyz."

He also tore apart the idea that the Hardys had paid their dues through their old independent promotion OMEGA, commenting, "wrestling on a trampoline is not paying your dues."

Morley said that he never had a problem personally with Hardy but didn't get in the business to see Hardy on YouTube talking about "how great he is". Morley also took swipes at Shane Helms and Shannon Moore, saying they were part of Hardy's clan that didn't know anything about the business.

Venis was also critical of Hardy's recent comments about Paul London, saying that London would "work circles" around Matt Hardy. London and Hardy have been at odds for years stemming from a triangle involving former Ashley Massaro.

You can check out Venis' video here.

[Head Booker]

- Tyson Kidd's bodyguard Jackson Andrews has disappeared from WWE TV because he was sent back to WWE developmental because the feeling is that he was brought up to the main roster too early.

Andrews was planned for this season of WWE NXT but wasn't put on the show for that same reason. However, he appeared on RAW with Kidd not long after the season began.

- There has been some talk as of late that Booker T is in negotiations with WWE officials about a return to the company. They talked last year but those negotiations broke down. Booker and WWE have remained on good terms since then.

-LoP

~~

WWE is advertising Triple H vs. Sheamus in a streetfight, Evan Bourne vs. Tyson Kidd, and The Miz vs. Randy Orton, two out of three falls, as the main event for the 3/19 Madison Square Garden show.

[Rob]

Helms is coming off as a bitter prick. Even if some of what he says is right, he's way out of line making that comparison to Hitler. Has HBK ever condoned genocide? Maybe he used to be a cunt, maybe not, but Helms is making himself look much worse and will be lucky if anyone wants to book him.

[Head Booker]

Matt Hardy's "response" to The Big Valbowski...

[Rico]

My my how the mighty have fallen. I guess once people leave the WWE, all they have is twitter to get their name out there because TNA sure as hell isn't doing it lol. Matt said he wouldn't give Val the time of day or the satisfaction of responding to his tweets/text, but that's exactly what he did in that ridiculous video.

[Head Booker]

At the 1/18/11 tapings for the 1/21/11 edition of Smackdown, Wade Barrett announced that his group will be named The Core.

Source: nodq.com/wwe/297419075.shtml

[Head Booker]

-- Rick Morris, host of The FDH Lounge on sportstalknetwork.com announced that Bob Barker will be appearing at WrestleMania 27. Barker was a RAW guest host, and was one of the most well received celebrities during the time that the company did the guest host gimmick.

~~

- As we reported earlier this week, former UFC fighter Kimbo Slice (real name Kevin Ferguson) will be making his pro wrestling debut in Japan next month for Antonio Inoki’s IGF promotion. Kimbo, who became famous videos of his Miami bare-nuckle boxing videos went viral, will face IGF champion Shinichi Suzukawa in his first match.

According to a source within WWE, the company is interested in bringing in Kimbo Slice to work WrestleMania 27. With an appearance by Brock Lesnar virtually a dead issue at this point, people within WWE think Kimbo has enough mainstream popularity to draw attention to the company’s showcase event.

sescoops.com

[Head Booker]

Kaval interview on Slam! Sports...discusses a few things WWE...spoilered for length

SPOILER: Click to show

Fans of WWE are used to talent releases by now. While some of the releases are obvious, there are others that seem to come out of left field. Like Kaval.

The winner of the second season of NXT, Kaval had fan support and had been given a push by the company. But Kaval, whose real name is Brandon Silvestry and is best known on the indy circuit as Low Ki, states he actually pushed for his release from the company.

He felt that the company had no plans for him once he debuted on the Smackdown brand. "I asked for my release, both WWE and myself agreed that it would be best if we didn't continue doing business together at this current time. They had no path for me or any plans in the near future so instead of wasting my time and my body for them, I decided it was time to move on," he told SLAM! Wrestling.

"I can't comment on other guys who have left or wanted their release. But if you're not happy there then just leave, simple as that.

"I've had a good relationship with them [WWE] the entire time I was there regardless of what people may think. I have always had strong relationships everywhere I have gone; there are no bad feelings from either end."

For most wrestlers, being in the WWE is the ultimate goal. Under most circumstances, leaving the company would be a devastating blow.

But for 31-year-old Low Ki, working for WWE was more of a bonus rather than a career aspiration.

"It was never a goal of mine; a lot of people misunderstand that. Simply because the WWE is the biggest company in the world, it was never my dream," he confessed.

"I'm sure for others they have always wanted to go to WWE but for my personal goal it was always to go to Japan and to be accepted by the Japanese culture as a competitor.

"WWE was just a bonus for everything I have worked so hard for in my 13 years in this business."

Despite leaving WWE on good terms, Silvestry was understandably disappointed with the way the company treated him, feeling that WWE could have done more with him.

"WWE is a very big political game, and I already knew what the environment entailed, if you play that political game you stand a much better chance of succeeding in a particular role or position," he explained. "I'm not a politician; I don't see the need in playing these games especially when the business is suffering.

"I think the way they scheduled my matches on Smackdown, after NXT it was obvious they weren't behind me. I was chosen to win NXT season 2 by the fans, they wanted to see me do well and at first it seemed like the company wanted me to do well.

"People have to be very careful when they refer to the company not doing much with a certain talent. There is only one man who makes decisions, he says yes or no and that needs to be made clear. I'm not going to even mention his name but the company has their own view on who is going to be a star or not.

"If you don't fill in that particular prototype or that idea then you are going to have a more challenging time in regards to a push or trying to excel. I feel this was the case with me; they have always been more about bigger guys. The company could have been behind me a lot more. They also could be behind a lot of guys more."

Despite being in the wrestling business for more than 13 years, Silvestry was announced as being on the second season of NXT. While many speculated that this showed disrespect toward him and what he has accomplished outside WWE, Silvestry didn't see it this way -- he just was glad to get out of Florida Championship Wrestling.

"What people don't know is I voluntarily went down to FCW, I injured my knee while down there and was out for nine months. So when announced on NXT, I was so happy to be getting the chance on the main roster I didn't mind as I had been waiting over a year for my call-up.

"I knew NXT was my opportunity to show what I could do on the grand stage. To me it was another challenge, they [WWE] wanted to see how well I would do under pressure, they wanted to see how I would do when put in particular situations.

"They wanted to see how tough I was and if I could stay there for the long run. I don't think it was disrespect I just think they wanted to see what I got."

While on NXT, Silvestry was mentored by Michelle McCool and Layla, this outraged a lot of fans who followed his career, seeing this as a move by WWE to disrespect the former Ring of Honor Heavyweight Champion. Silvestry, on the other hand actually enjoyed having the team of LayCool as his mentors.

"A lot of people took exception to it, I guess ,because how over the top their personalities are, but I didn't think anything of it. Again I saw it as a challenge, how I was going to adapt to this situation, how I was going to make the best of it.

"I got along great with those two women. The biggest effect they had on me was relaxing me, up until that point I had been more of a fighter, more sports orientated less entertainment based," he said. "I think that because their personalities were so over the top it actually relaxed me and they had me laughing a whole bunch, during the entire time we worked together."

One of the biggest moments in his WWE career was winning NXT season 2, which meant a lot to Silvestry as the final was held in Buffalo, New York, which is not that far from where he was born and raised, Brooklyn, NY.

"Winning NXT to me was a great feeling. It was fulfilling to finally go back home and to win it in my backyard after 13 years of developing my craft. I almost broke down when I dropped to my knees after they announcing I had won.

"As for NXT itself, I can see that they are trying to offer variety, but for me there is only so much of that stuff that you can sit through and watch. I think sometimes it's misleading saying these guys are going to be the stars of tomorrow but then they will make them look like fools.

"I'm not a fan of it; the stars of tomorrow should be showcased as such and shouldn't necessarily do some of the things they are made to."

[Head Booker]

From Gerweck;

There has been discussions about inducting the Fabulous Freebirds into the WWE Hall of Fame this year, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. During their heyday, the Freebirds had a great feud with the Von Erichs, and their entrance music was “Badstreet USA,” being billed from Atlanta, the site of this year’s Wrestlemania. Michael “P.S.” Hayes is a writer, working on the Smackdown side of WWE’s creative team.. Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy, 40, passed away in 2001.

~~

Kevin Nash tweeted the following in regard to TNA and WWE

-- Kevin Nash has denied that he will be part of the "THEY" storyline. Here is what he tweeted: "Not going back to tna. I'm retired. Wasn't it leaked from tna office that I signed a month ago and I wasn't?"

-- Nash also tweeted the following about being at Shawn Michaels' Hall of Fame induction. "I'll be at HBK's hof, if I'm not shooting a film in Costa Rica for 2 months. If I'm at the hof, I'll be at Mania. Check @davidherro for info"

[Head Booker]

Bryan Alvarez is reporting that there has been serious talk of doing Edge vs Dolph Ziggler at Wrestlemania for the World Heavyweight title. This would mean that Dolph could walk out of the Rumble as champion.

~~

PWInsider.com is reporting that Vince McMahon is very interested in using Kimbo Slice at Wrestlemania. One idea being tossed around would be for Slice to serve as an enforcer for Undertaker vs Wade Barrett in order to keep “The Corre” from getting involved in the match.

~~

World Wrestling Entertainment's upcoming WCW Monday Nitro themed DVD set is now titled The Best of Nitro. It was previously titled Best of Seasons 1 & 2.

The DVD set is tentatively scheduled for release on May 25, 2010. The change in the title apparently indicates that WWE will not release progressive sets on individual seasons.

Diamond Dallas Page, a three-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, indicated today on Twitter that he's in the running to host the video.

DDP wrote, "Just got the Word... Looks like I may be hosting the Best of Nitro coming out on WWE DVDs...Sounds like a Great time... I'll keep you posted."

~~

WWE wrestler The Great Khali — real name Dalip Singh — and his bodyguard were involved in a shooting at the home of a senior Indian politician on Friday, according to India’s most prestigious 24-hour news channel, Aaj Tak. Three people have been seriously wounded. The former WWE Champion was invited to the home of the Deputy Speaker of the Punjab State Assemby, Mr. Satpal Gosain (BJP), as Mr. Gosain’s grandson is a big fan of Khali.

Local fans had assembled outside Mr. Gosain’s residence in the city of Ludhiana, in anticipation of Khali’s arrival. When Khali arrived with his entourage, the children approached him for autographs and photos. According to Aaj Tak, instead of receiving autographs and photos from the WWE wrestler, they received bullets.

According to eyewitnesses, including the Deputy Speaker’s relatives, Khali’s bodyguard was hostile from the start. His bodyguard shoved children as soon as they tried to approach Khali for a photograph. A few minutes later, he grabbed a boy, and started to beat him. The crowd tried to rescue the boy from the bodyguard’s clutches, and it is alleged that it was at that point that the bodyguard starting shooting into the crowd. Eyewitnesses put the blame squarely on Khali’s bodyguard, who some allege had been drinking alcohol. Aaj Tak reports that the normally fearless Khali immediately fled the scene. Ludhiana police are being silent about the matter thus far, and no charges have been laid.

This is the latest black eye for the WWE in terms of its wrestlers public conduct. Most recently, CM Punk was allegedly involved in a violent altercation with fans in Shreveport, Louisiana, one of them a child, and Alex Riley was booked for driving under the influence of alcohol in Florida.

From SlamSports