“I used to think Bob Costas was a pompous arrogant, self-absorbed, pseudo-intellectual little twerp. I used to think that. But now, 12 years later, I’ve come to realize he’s not really a twerp. LOL” – Vince McMahon, Chairman and CEO, WWE

You can watch the feature at this link or embedded in the video below:

Thanks to Wrestling News World reader Mathew Lisett for sending this in.

My other topic I want to talk about is my upcoming interview with TNA star Magnus! I revealed this on my Facebook page right after Impact Wrestling last night. The interview is set for May 28 at 3PM EDT. Magnus is the future of this business and I can’t wait as I gear up for this one.

Opening video package – A

It doesn’t matter if we see this video packages every week. I love how they open Impact Wrestling. As I said last week, it reminds the person who tuned in last week and for quite awhile as to where each storyline is at and and then it helps the person who is watching TNA for the first time. In fact, I love seeing these because how much progression the stories have been developed since 6-8 months. Look back at the opening videos if you can find them. The story development shows.

In-ring segment with Hulk Hogan, Joseph Parks, Devon, and D-Lo Brown – B

As soon as I heard Hulk Hogan’s entrance music I thought of Richard Gray! Richard wrote on a piece on TNANews.com a few weeks ago talking about Hulk Hogan. He stated that he was surprised how many times Hulk was mentioned on the show. Well, here is the opening segment with Hulk. The thing is, this segment makes sense. He came out here to comment on AJ Styles, as usual, but also thank Abyss. First off, I called the AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle match for Slammiversary about a month ago. It was quite obvious and predictable. Still, I see where TNA is going. Instead of Abyss coming out, Joseph Parks came out. He claimed that he couldn’t find his brother again. Thinking about it doesn’t make sense. What was the number that Hulk received a call from last week? Can’t they just call that number or trace it? At any rate, Aces & 8s came out with Devon leading D-Lo. The match with Parks vs. D-Lo was made for later that night. The segment was solid. I thought Devon was really solid on the mic. I can’t remember exactly, but I thought D-Lo was a bit shaky. The main focus is still around Abyss even though he doesn’t show up.

Backstage segment with James Storm – B

I was really harsh with James Storm and the tag team division last week. I ripped on it like it was a WWE show. Honestly, I would have not taken this route with Storm. I would keep him in the single division and probably would have had him in the main event level. TNA thinks differently though. Storm’s short segment here was mysterious at its core. His words were, “Watch, just watch.” That intrigued me. While I had no idea what TNA was thinking… I still didn’t know what they were thinking when this segment aired. I sure wanted to know though. The anticipation was growing!

Video of Christian York – B-

It was nice seeing a recap of Christian York because we haven’t seen him so long. I have a couple of things that bugged me as I watched this show though. First off, I forgot the push York received in the past. I totally forgot he faced Jeff Hardy. I remember that match too and I was quite impressed with it. I talked to Kurt Angle awhile back and he did mention how York should have never left TNA in the first place. He is talented. Him facing Hardy and then having a long absence is the strange booking that TNA has at times. Someone wrote that it was quite upsetting to see this video because York should not have been absent for so long. Yeah, he was in OVW, but most people probably forgot all about him. They now have to watch this and try to reconnect with him.

Bobby Roode vs. Chavo Guerrero – B+

This match really gave me the direction TNA is going with the tag team division. It is starting to make sense now. First off, this was a really good match. I always love Roode in the ring, but Chavo has been boring for me since he came to TNA. Him fighting Roode showcased his talent. I am not sure if Roode helped Chavo or if Chavo upped his game, but it was a sweet match. The ending almost left a sour taste in my mouth, but it went away as the show went on. Storm coming out and spitting the beer in Roode’s face makes sense. James wants revenge. Storm got attacked in the back last week and now seeks vengeance. He was about to hit the beer bottle onto Roode’s head… which would give us a flashback of Roode doing that to Storm back in 2011. Roode got away though. While I looked at the small picture last week… I should have backed up and looked at the bigger picture.

In-ring segment with Kurt Angle, Mr. Anderson, and AJ Styles – A

I’ve been really impressed with Kurt on the mic lately. I know I shouldn’t say that, but we haven’t seen Kurt’s best for months. He had short little backstage segments that amounted to nothing. We have seen for the past three weeks cut great promos. Not only that, he is being shown for more than 2 minutes. Kurt is a world class talent. Showcasing him for 2 minutes or not even having him on the show is pointless. Kurt and AJ at Slammiversary should be a classic and I can’t wait for it. As Kurt said what he had to say, we had Mr. Anderson come out. He said AJ will be joining Aces next week. Honestly, if TNA actually advertised, they would really make this the top story. AJ has been floating around for months and we could try see an answer next week. TNA needs to promote this. It’s going to be quite a big story. Him actually joining Aces is another story. AJ came out and hit a pele on Kurt. Now this is good television! Did AJ hit Kurt because he is with Aces now or did he hit him because he is fighting him at Slammiversary? Honestly, there won’t be an answer next week, in my opinion, but it builds anticipation! Just a fantastic segment.

Video of Jay Bradley – B-

This is the same instance of Christian York. I expected to see more of York than Jay though. I mean, York faced Hardy on an episode of Impact. Jay is one of the newest stars so it’s quite obvious we wouldn’t see much of him. Still, I didn’t even remember his name until this video aired.

Jay Bradley vs. Christian York – C

I was quite impressed with this match. While I was impressed, I do not see why Jay went over to York. Sure, Jay is an new comer and looked good tonight, but York is a 16 year veteran. I always been quite a fan of his since he came to TNA. I wrote about this match on my social media sites and it got mixed reactions. Ric Santos from TNANews.com thought York was sloppy in the ring and Jay carried the match. Someone else tweeted me and said York is a better in-ring performer than Jay. It’s quite interesting on what others think of these two. Honestly, I would of had York win, but Jay has potential. His mic work at the end was just the simple promo every new person cuts. Nothing big but it was a big step for him. Hopefully we see more of Jay so I can form a more analytical opinion on him.

Backstage segment with James Storm – B

James Storm comes out of Hulk Hogan’s office. James said that Hulk told him there will be consequences because of his actions. It sounds bad. It sounds like James will be getting the short end of the shift. We know that is not the case. Still, the anticipation is still flowing. Just where will James go from here?

Backstage segment with Aces & 8s – B

The interesting thing I want to point out is… where is Bully Ray? We see the full Aces & 8s except for Bully. It looks like Anderson is running the group tonight. From what the group was like last week, with Ken rolling his eyes and staying out of some of the conversation, is Ken going to turn? Some people agree with me on that. Is Aces just like the Main Event Mafia where the only way to destroy them is through the inside out? Only time will tell.

Backstage segment with Brooke Hogan, Mickie James, and Bully Ray – A

The segment started with Brooke and Mickie James and I was quite stunned on their discussion. Mickie stated in an interview that she was unhappy with TNA since she came back because they pushed her to the side while giving a push to Velvet Sky. So, Mickie told that right to Brooke’s face. No lying in this segment. I just laugh how Brooke decided on who should face Sky next. Instead of picking someone who has been on a roll or who a number 1 contender’s match… she just picks Mickie because she complained. Either way Mickie vs. Sky should be good. That match just happened about 4 weeks ago on Impact. Now comes Bully. He pinned Brooke to the wall and said he will never divorce her. It’s about time we see a confrontation between these two. Bully nails his promo here. Brooke plays it off well. Loved it.

Gail Kim vs. Velvet Sky – A

This was quite a slow paced and one sided match, but I really enjoyed this one. This match showed just how great Gail Kim is. She is a great technician wrestler as she worked on Sky’s leg for almost the entire match. Sky came back and ultimately got the win by a roll-up, but this match had a nice pace with Gail showing her dominance. Sky won, which was the nice thing to do only because Sky is defending her title next week. Gail showed her vicious style as she attacked Sky after the match. There has to be some point where ODB gets involved and takes it to Gail. It’s only a matter of time. Either way, this was a great women match and you won’t see this technical style on the WWE.

Video of Chris Sabin, Kenny King, and Petey Williams – B

Nice video here to hype and promote the X-Division. It shows the story behind Chris as well as King and how he has been champion for quite sometime now. Someone told me that the show mentioned Suicide as part of the X-Division title match. I am not sure whether it was in this video or not. Where ever the case, TNA blew that one up.

Petey Williams vs. Chris Sabin vs. Kenny King – A

What X-Division match doesn’t get an A grade? Certainly this one was not one of them. It was a great contest that actually told a story. Kenny King sliding out of the ring shows his plan but also builds on his character. The way he came in at the end and got the win also builds his character. While people may be stuck on TNA not building stars, Kenny King is a star being built right in front of you. He is a champion and really evolving on the show. Kudos to him and TNA for making the division revolve around him. I thought Chris Sabin would win the first title match he would be in, but I was sure wrong. I actually am quite glad he didn’t win because it only builds on the X-Division. We now have a story with King and Chris. TNA can build on it going to Slammiversary. Yes, the PPV will have an Ultimate X Match. Thanks, TNA! One thing that I found interesting is that TNA didn’t use any video from the referee camera. He was wearing it, but not one clip from it. Maybe there wasn’t any good video that came from it. If that is the case… then that’s almost a waste of time. I sure would like to see if they use anything in the Ultimate X Match. It could help and also hurt the match.

Backstage segment with Christopher Daniels and Kazarian – B

Short little segment where they talk about James Storm. Daniels wants Kazarian to come out to the ring just incase James Storm interferes. Kaz states that Storm is afraid of him. Great segment from Bad Influence. This week I can actually hear what they are saying.

Christopher Daniels vs. Hernandez – B+

Another great match from two tag team participants. Certainly these two can have single runs if they want to. I always been curious as to Hernandez whether he can draw as a single star. I still doubt if he can, but he can really care himself in a match. He looks great in the ring. Daniels is always great. Who would expect he is 43 years old? We see an actual winner in this match, but James Storm does come out. He mentions the TNA Tag Team Title match for Slammiversary. James Storm is involved. The question is who is partner will be now. I see where TNA is going with James and it’s not bad. I wouldn’t have him in the match, but it’s something for him. I really shouldn’t have bashed TNA for the whole James Storm thing last week as I now see what they are doing. TNA adds a new tag team to the mix, so now people can be happy. Some people won’t though but that is part of the business.

D-Lo Brown vs. Joseph Parks – A-

I have to get this an A only because of what I saw in the ring. D-Lo impressed me so much. He hasn’t wrestled for quite awhile, not counting his match with Kurt Angle, and he was able to do a dropkick and a shining wizard. He also did a spin type of heel kick. D-Lo certainly showed his talent. If you look at D-Lo, you wouldn’t expect him to do that. Well, he did. Just great. Joseph got cut open and started his bloody rampage. He won but boy he looked more like Abyss than ever. I know they are the same person. Parks did his whole cross arm thing a bit more than usual after the match. He finally got out of the transformation and was confused. Something has to be brought up on whether Parks is really Abyss’ brother or is he just playing. I really want to see how this goes.

In-ring segment with Bully Ray and Sting – A

I thought this was going to be a normal contract signing with a signing and then a table smash, but it wasn’t. I first have to praise Bully for his ruthless aggression as he pushes Jeremy Borash out of the ring and then cuts one great promo. He has Sting come out and then Hulk Hogan. Hulk opens and closes the show. Funny if you ask me. At any rate, I loved Sting’s promo. The way he played the whole break my arm, bust my kneecap, rip my eyes out, etc was great. Bully had no idea what he was saying and either did I. He then stated that he will do it to Bully if Bully doesn’t do it first. Great promo by Sting. Ray gives the stipulation on how Sting will never be able to fight for the TNA World Title again if he loses to Bully. Is TNA shoving it in the face of the IWC or are they just warming up to them? Honestly, I doubt TNA cares what they are saying but certainly interesting they added that. The match is now a No Holds Barred match. That opens the window for so much to happen. Aces can interfere, Matt Morgan can cost Sting the title, and even Hulk Hogan can be part of the match. Almost scary on what could happen. I did like how Hogan tried to tell Sting no, but Ray said that is just Hogan trying to rule Sting’s life. Sting went for it and out comes the fists. They fight back and forth with Sting holding his weight. Funny how Hogan listened to Sting on picking Bully for months leads to Sting not listening to Hogan.

The crowd seemed a bit dull in the opening but they picked up at times through the night. The crowd certainly didn’t hurt the show. I thought this was an enjoyable show that gave us a lot of story progression and lots of build for Slammiversary. Great wrestling tonight with great promos/segments. This is the type of show where I praise TNA because of how the whole show flowed. Great writing and it shows.

By the way, where was Magnus and Matt Morgan?  What about Rob Terry and the trio of Jessie, Joey Ryan, and Robbie E?  All the pushes these stars got really just fell to the waste side this week.

The Hill is reporting that Kane is weighing a primary challenge against Senator Lamar Alexander, a Republican out of Tennessee. Click here to read their report, citing the libertarian magazine Reason.

WWE Can’t Escape Copyright Lawsuit

A Texas judge ruled on Wednesday that music composer Papa Berg’s lawsuit against WWE over copyrighted music can continue. Berg alleges that he wrote the “hit” song, “Badstreet USA,” used by the Fabulous Freebirds, as well as “Man Called Sting,” “Simply Ravishing,” “The Natural” and “Steineeized.” Berg says THQ contacted him to use “Badstreet USA” for the “Legends of Wrestlemania” video game before they noticed the song was owned by WWE.

According to the lawsuit, Berg discovered the song “had been improperly and erroneously registered” by the WWE, “resulting in the royalties being redirected to” the professional wrestling company. The Hollywood Reporter has the full story online at this link.

“I don’t think [the WWE] shares my belief in this, but I believe that competition is 100% positively essential,” she told Digital Spy.

“I think it’s important for fans and for us. To have one company dominate, a) it’s boring, and b) you are not being challenged enough. It’s always better to have other options out there and I truly believe it makes both companies better.”

When asked about a crossover show involving WWE and TNA talent:

“I absolutely would do that. I’m not sure if they would do that, but I absolutely would.”

Click here to read the article in its entirety.

Episode 25 of The JBL & Cole Show is online at this link. You can also watch it embedded in the video below:

WWE’s Return to the UAE

As mentioned in the latest conference call with investors, WWE is returning to the UAE later this year. The company will run three shows from the Zayed Sports City International Tennis Complex in Abu Dhabi. The shows are scheduled for 10/10, 10/11 and 10/12. Tickets go on sale on May 20, 2013.

Vince McMahon Crossing His Fingers

The following is from the verified Twitter account of Vince McMahon:

Because of the risk of injury, I will be crossing my fingers until #ExtremeRules is over on Sunday

— Vince McMahon (@VinceMcMahon) May 17, 2013

Welcome to this week’s Smackdown! The show begins of a teaser of what is to come tonight. After Dolph Ziggler’s concussion, Alberto Del Rio and Jack Swagger will battle in an I Quit Match to determine the #1 Contender at Extreme Rules. Also, Randy Orton and Big Show will both be guests on Miz TV.

The Miz is in the ring, welcoming us to the show. Miz says his two guests are bitter rivals, who will go one-on-one at Extreme Rules. Miz first introduces Randy Orton. Randy makes his way to the ring. Then Big Show makes his way to the ring. Miz says they will have an Anything Goes match this Sunday. Both have had issues since Wrestlemania, making this one of the most anticipated matches. Miz reminds us that Big Show defeated Tensai last Smackdown, but was taken out with an RKO afterwards. Miz asks if this is a preview of what is to happen at Extreme Rules. Big Show says he would expect a weasel like Miz to make a statement like that. Show says the only reason he got him was because it was from behind. Show was attacked many times by Orton, but can do anything at Extreme Rules. Show says he doesn’t need weapons, when he has on his arm. Instead of an RKO at Extreme Rules, it will be a TKO. Orton says that was an entertaining story, but the ending is inaccurate. Orton says it takes place in his hometown, but won’t allow himself to be defeated in front of his friends and family. Orton says he made the mistake of trusting Show, but can be trusted when he says he will strike down the giant. If Show isn’t careful, he might not get back up. Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter interrupt.

Colter says Extreme Rules will be memorable, but because of Swagger making Del Rio say he quits. Everyone will remember the night that Jack Swagger emerges the #1 Contender. Alberto Del Rio interrupts.

Alberto tells Colter to shut up. Del Rio says everyone is tired of hearing him talk, so he will make this clear. The only thing people will remember is Alberto Del Rio becoming the #1 Contender, as Ricardo announces it. Del Rio will make Swagger quit, and send Colter back to where he came from. Mark Henry interrupts.

Henry says the only thing that will be remembered will be Mark Henry setting records. Not only that, but Sheamus being thrown, dragged and beaten across the ring. Henry says everyone is gonna remember he is the strongest man in the world, because that is what he does. Sheamus interrupts.

Sheamus says to Mark, their match will be the most memorable. Especially when he leaves Henry’s bruised body in the ring. Sheamus says why wait, as he runs to the ring with a belt in hand. The heels are cleared out of the ring, as Sheamus, Randy Orton and Alberto Del Rio stand tall in the ring.

-Commercials

Teddy Long makes his way to the ramp. Long says with what he just saw, he is ready for Extreme Rules. Tonight, Alberto Del Rio, Randy Orton and Sheamus will face Jack Swagger, Big Show and Mark Henry.

The Shield makes their way to the ring. The Usos make their way to the ring.

The Shield (Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns) w/ Dean Ambrose vs. The Usos (Jimmy and Jey)

Seth and Jimmy start off, as Rollins is taken to the corner. Jey is tagged, as Seth is taken out with a high knee. Jey whips Seth, following with a Spear. Reigns is tagged, as Jey attempts an Arm Drag. Roman stops it, reversing it into a Short Lariat. Jey is stomped in the corner. Roman whips Jey into the opposite corner, running towards him. Roman is taken out with a boot, who is then hit with a Running Hip. Seth takes Jimmy to the floor, as Roman and Jey remain in the ring. Jey goes for a Superkick, but Roman dodges. Roman then hits a Spear for the win.

Winners: The Shield via pinfall

The Shield attack Jey Uso, until Kofi Kingston makes the save. Kingston is taken to the floor, but comes back into the ring with a chair. Kingston manages to get on a shot on Ambrose, until the Shield retreat.

-Commercials

Teddy Long is talking backstage with the Miz, welcoming him back to Smackdown. Damien Sandow says everyone would be better off if the Miz didn’t return. Damien says there needs to be a host with decency and direction, and asks Teddy Long for the Damien Sandow Show. Long says instead, he would like to see what he can do in the ring against Miz.

A highlight from Raw is shown, when the Shield attack John Cena during their match. Afterwards, Ryback would appear. A steel chair would then be smashed into John Cena’s injured ankle.

Tons of Funk make their way to the ring.

-Commercials

Tons of Funk (Brodus Clay and Tensai) w/ Cameron and Naomi vs. Primetime Players (Darren Young and Titus O’Neil)

Clay attacks Young in the corner, throwing fists. Tensai is tagged, as he and Clay do a Sidewalk Slam. Young goes to the floor, as Tensai follows. Darren is sent back into the ring, as Titus attacks Tensai from the apron. Darren gets Tensai back into the ring, as O’Neil is tagged. Darren is thrown into Tensai from Titus, as Darren throws Titus into Tensai. O’Neil connects with shoulders in the gut of Tensai. Titus runs for a shoulder, but Tensai moves. Clay and Darren are tagged, as Clay connects with an Exploder Suplex. A Splash in the corner follows. Young is then taken out with a Body Slam. Pin, but a kick out. Tensai and Clay squish Young, following with a Double Body Press. Clay pins for the win.

Winners: Tons of Funk via pinfall

-Commercials

Chris Jericho makes his way to the ring. Antonio Cesaro makes his way to the ring.

Chris Jericho vs. Antonio Cesaro

They lock up, as Cesaro backs Jericho in the corner. They lock up again, as Jericho locks in a Side Headlock. Jericho is put against the ropes, as he is taken out with a shoulder.They luck up again, as Jericho locks in a Hammerlock. Cesaro is whipped, as he is hit with a Dropkick. Jericho whips Cesaro again, as he rolls to the floor. Cesaro gets to the apron, as he and Jericho trade fists. Jericho is chopped in the corner. Cesaro runs to him in the corner, but is taken out with a Missile Dropkick. Jericho follows with multiple Dropkicks to Cesaro’s head. Cesaro gets on the apron, shouldering Jericho. They both attempts Suplexes, until Jericho connects with a Springboard Triangle Dropkick.

-Commercials

Cesaro has a Headlock applied, as Jericho stands out. Jericho attempts a Backslide Pin, but a kick out. Cesaro covers, but another kick out. Cesaro locks in another Headlock, as he lays on the mat. Cesaro is backed into the corner, as Jericho throws him against the ropes. Jericho takes him out with shoulders. Jericho is sent to the apron, as he connects with a Double Axe Handle off the top rope. Jericho is put in another Headlock, as he goes for the Walls of Jericho. Cesaro gets out, as Jericho attempts a Lionsault. Cesaro gets the knees up, following with a Double Stomp. Pin, but a kick out. Jericho is thrown into the corner, as he does a Float Over. Cesaro is hit with an Enziguri. Pin, but a kick out. Jericho is whipped, as he is hit with a Tilt-a-whirl Backbreaker. Pin, but a kick out. Cesaro locks in another Headlock, transitioning into a Neutralizer. Jericho counters into the Walls, but Cesaro gets out. Cesaro runs to a cornered Jericho, but is hit with a boot. Jericho goes top rope, but is caught with a Swiss Death Uppercut on his way down. Pin, but a kick out. Cesaro taunts Jericho, going for a Gutwrench Suplex. Jericho reveres into the Walls of Jericho for the win.

Winner: Chris Jericho via submission

Summer Rae comes out, dancing on the ramp. Fandango attempts an ambush, but is taken out by Jericho. Fandango gets away, as Jericho connects with a Codebreaker to Cesaro.

A Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter promo is shown. Zeb speaks of how their world view doesn’t fit in with today’s society. Zeb speaks of Benghazi, and wanting to know the real truth. Also, Police budget cuts are spoken of while criminals are running rampant. Speaking of criminals, Colter mentions Del Rio being a thief. Colter also questions the legitimacy of Dolph Ziggler’s injury. Colter says unlike Alberto Del Rio, they will never quit.

-Commercials

Damien Sandow is in the ring. Miz makes his way to the ring.

The Miz vs. Damien Sandow

They lock up, as Miz locks in a Side Headlock. Sandow rolls out, but is taken out with a Headlock Takeover. Sandow backs Miz into the corner, throwing shoulders to the gut of Miz. Sandow throws stomps in the corner, whipping him. Miz does a Float Over, following with a Clothesline. Sandow throws a Back Elbow, as Sandow backs to the floor. Miz jumps of the apron with a Double Axe Handle. Sandow is rolled backed into the ring, as Sandow throws knees. Sandow follows with a Suplex and Knee Drop. Pin, but a kick out. Miz is locked in an Arm Bar. Sandow connects with a Drop Toe Hold to Miz, following with a leg to the back. Sandow connects with a Russian Legsweep and Elbow of Distain. Pin, but a kick out. Sandow and Miz trade fists in the ring, as Sandow does an Irish Whip. Miz connects with a Knee Lift. Miz follows with a Lariat into the corner. Miz goes top rope, connecting with a Double Axe Handle. Miz goes for a Figure Four, but Cody Rhodes gets on the apron. Miz hits him to the floor, as Damien goes for a Back Suplex. Miz gets out, locking in a Figure Four for the win.

Winner: Miz via pinfall

-Commercials

Aksana is in the ring. Kaitlyn makes her way to the ring.

WWE Diva’s Champion Kaitlyn vs. Aksana

They lock up, as Kaitlyn takes Aksana down with a Waist Lock. Kaitlyn follows with a Suplex. Pin, but a kick out. Aksana whips Kaitlyn, but is taken out with a shoulder. Kaitlyn goes for a Reverse DDT, but is taken to the corner. Aksana connects with a Catapult into the ropes. Aksana follows with a Chinlock. Aksana throws Kaitlyn to the mat. Kaitlyn is then choked in the ropes. Aksana connects with a Russian Legsweep. Aksana connects with a kick to Kaitlyn. Pin, but a kick out. Aksana locks in another Chinlock. Kaitlyn locks in a Backbreaker Rack, but is taken out with a Spear.

Winner: Kaitlyn via pinfall

-Commercials

A Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar video package is shown.

Alberto Del Rio makes his way to the ring. Sheamus makes his way to the ring. Randy Orton makes his way to the ring.

-Commercials

Jack Swagger, Mark Henry and Big Show are in the ring.

6-Man Tag Team Match: Alberto Del Rio w/ Ricardo Rodriguez, Randy Orton and Sheamus vs. Jack Swagger w/ Zeb Colter, Big Show and Mark Henry

Swagger and Del Rio start off, as they lock up. Del Rio is backed against the ropes. Swagger locks in a Side Headlock, and is thrown against the ropes. Swagger is taken over with an Arm Drag, and is then kicked in the back. Pin, but a kick out. Del Rio throws kicks to a cornered Swagger, following wit han Enziguri. Orton is tagged, as he stomps on Swagger’s limbs. Orton connects with punches in the corner. Orton whips Swagger, but is taken out with a Chop Block. Swagger connects with a Leg DDT. Swagger runs the ropes, but is taken out with a Dropkick. Del Rio is tagged, as he connects with a Drop Toe Hold. Pin, but a kick out. Swagger is put on the apron, and in the ropes. Del Rio connects with forearms to the back, following with a Backstabber. Swagger rolls to the floor, as Del Rio connects with a Suicide Dive. Swagger is rolled back into the ring, as Del Rio goes top rope. Swagger takes him off with a Belly-to-belly Suplex. Big Show is tagged, as he chokes Del Rio in the ropes. Show stands on Del Rio’s back. Show chops Del Rio. Swagger is tagged, as he knees Del Rio in the corner. Henry is tagged, as he connects with headbutts. Swagger is tagged again, as he runs to Del Rio. Swagger is taken out with a boot. Swagger is hit with a Tilt-a-whirl Backbreaker. Big Show is tagged, as he elbows Del Rio. Show connects with a Body Slam.

-Commercials

Del Rio is in the corner, as Swagger runs to him. Alberto moves, sending Swagger to the ring post. Show is tagged, as he drags Del Rio away from his corner. Show goes for a Powerbomb, but Del Rio counters with a Headscissors Takedown. Sheamus is tagged, as he cleans house. Sheamus goes to the top rope, but jumps away from Show. Sheamus connects with White Noise after getting out of a Chokeslam. Sheamus goes for the Brouge Kick, but is Chokeslammed. Pin, but a kick out. Swagger is tagged, as he connects with an Elbow Drop. Swagger connects with a Body Slam, following with a Leg Drop. Pin, but a kick out. Swagger locks in a Front Facelock. Swagger is hit with a Rolling Senton. Henry is tagged, as he takes out Sheamus. Show is tagged, as Sheamus fights back. Sheamus is taken out with a shoulder. Show chops Sheamus against the ropes.Swagger is tagged, as he knees Sheamus in the corner. Sheamus is hit with a Swagger Bomb. Pin, but a kick out. Swagger goes for it again, but Sheamus connects with an Electric Chair Drop. Sheamus tags Orton, as he connects with a Backbreaker. Lariats and a Scoop Slam follow. Henry gets in the ring, attacking Orton. Show takes Shamus to the floor, as Alberto kicks Henry in the head.Sheamus connects with a Brouge Kick to Show on the floor. Del Rio goes for an Enziguri on Swagger, but is put in the Patriot Lock. Orton makes the save, connecting with an RKO for the win.

Winners: Alberto Del Rio, Randy Orton and Sheamus via pinfall

Feel free to leave your thoughts on this week’s show and/or give me feedback about the coverage. Thanks for reading!

-AW

• Anya (story link)
• Audrey Marie (story link)
• Brandon Traven (story link)
• Briley Pierce (story link)
• Derrick Bateman (story link)
• Percy Watson (story link)
• Sakamoto (story link)

The only worker that I heard there was considerable shock over was Briley Pierce. Pierce, whose real name is Ryan Nemeth, is the brother of World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler even expressed his shock/disappointment on Twitter:

countless @wwe peeps personally told me how hard @hotyoungbriley worked & how he was the most entertaining guy in NXT#WeirdBiz

— Dolph Ziggler (@HEELZiggler) May 17, 2013

• TNA Ratings Archive

Ion posted the following update on Facebook and made it available on Twitter:

An update on my health. twitter.com/ZemaTNA/status…

— Zema Ion(@ZemaTNA) May 17, 2013

Amit Swami, who manages The Great Khali’s events in India, was arrested on Friday for allegedly attacking a shopkeeper. The story is available at this link.

Another WWE Departure

WrestleZone.com confirmed on Friday that this was John Gaburick’s final week with WWE. Gaburick worked as Vice President of TV production and was involved with the original seasons of WWE Tough Enough on MTV.

Trish Targets Junk Food

Trish Stratus talked to The Globe And Mail in Canada about junk food. Click here to read it.

#Headsup this is not the end, but merely the beginning.

— Audrey Marie (@RealAudreyMarie) May 17, 2013

Anya, whose real name is Anna Bogomazova, is a former Russian kick boxer and martial artist. She wrote the following on Twitter:

@zoerodriguez9 @wwe please don’t cry! It’s life

— Anya Bogomazova (@RussianBruiser) May 17, 2013

She also posted a message in Russian that translates as:

For my Russian fans! I was told the reason for dismissal! But do not worry I do not lose heart! Let them know Russian)

Для моих русских фанатов! Причину увольнения мне сказали! Но не переживайте я не падаю духом! Пусть знают русских)

— Anya Bogomazova (@RussianBruiser) May 17, 2013

If you can offer a better translation, go for it in the comments are below.

Brandon Traven (developmental profile)

To show you just how unexpected this was, Traven posted the following about Friday’s NXT live event in Leesburg:

@wwenxt Tonight in leesburg, Fl #NXTLeesburg

— Brandon Traven WWE (@TravenWWE) May 17, 2013

The following was after he got the call about his release:

Staying positive on a bad day..not the end only the beginning…things in life happen for a reason..just had a good lunch with good people

— Brandon Traven WWE (@TravenWWE) May 17, 2013

Not the end of the book just the end of the chapter..my journey is far from over

— Brandon Traven WWE (@TravenWWE) May 17, 2013

Percy Watson

Watson, formerly paired with Titus O’Neil, was showcased on season five of WWE NXT.

In addition to Derrick Bateman & Briley Pierce, it appears as if Sakamoto has been released from WWE as well. Sakamoto posted the following on his Twitter account:

#WWE #NXT my friend thank you for everything SAYONARA

— Mr.SAKAMOTO (@WWEMrSAKAMOTO) May 17, 2013

Jake Roberts Training To Become Actor

According to TMZ, Jake “The Snake” Roberts has begun training to become an actor and has already been offered a role in an independent film. Click here for more.

Welp see ya later @wwe @wweuniverse #itsfine

— Derrick Bateman (@DerrickWWE) May 17, 2013

Pierce, the younger brother of World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler, spent time in WWE’s developmental territories, more recently working as an interviewer on NXT. Pierce had the following to say on Twitter:

I guarantee that was the funniest and most entertaining “You’re released” phone call in WWE history. Bye, everybody!

— Briley Pierce (@HotYoungBriley) May 17, 2013

Ziggler weighed in on the release as well:

countless @wwe peeps personally told me how hard @hotyoungbriley worked & how he was the most entertaining guy in NXT#WeirdBiz

— Dolph Ziggler (@HEELZiggler) May 17, 2013

Live Events:

• Friday from the E.A. Diddle Arena at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY (more info)
• Saturday from The Ford Center in Evansville, IN (more info)

If you attend either show, please submit a live report.

On Sunday, WWE will hold Extreme Rules 2013 from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. You can view the final advertised lineup at this link. Make sure to join us here at WrestlingNewsWorld.com on Sunday at 7:30 PM EDT for exclusive play-by-play coverage. We’ll have news and analysis before, during and after the show.

Next Week’s TV Tapings:

• WWE Raw on Monday from the Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO (more info)
• Smackdown on Tuesday from the CenturyLink Center Omaha in Omaha, NE (more info)

There is a NXT Wrestling show on Friday night from the Leesburg Armory in Leesburg, FL. Official event information is available at this link.

Have a great weekend!

Undertaker is still a semi-retired pro wrestler that is basically Wrestlemania only. He stayed on a little longer this year to work Raw and Smackdown in London but it was just to help the company draw overseas with the lack of top talent. He was never in the plans for Extreme Rules although there was talk he could be contacted but to the best of my knowledge, he was not. Undertaker showed at Wrestlemania 29 [against CM Punk] he still has more left in the tank although I’m not sure we’ll see him before Wrestlemania XXX next year. SummerSlam is a possibility but we’ll have to wait and see.

Why did Nigel McGuinness retire from the ring?

Nigel McGuinness (a/k/a Desmond Wolfe) said he couldn’t make enough money outside of WWE to justify the physical toll that pro wrestling takes on his body so he made the decision to retire. He recently confirmed he’s positive for hepatitis B but said he failed the WWE pre-screening process in 2009 because of damage to his biceps. Wolfe is 37-years-old and had a career that he can be proud of.

Everyone knows Ryback could use a manager or mouthpiece and often Paul Heyman is suggested but he has Lesnar and Punk already. Why not pair Ryback with John Laurinaitis or even Kevin Nash?

I agree that Ryback would benefit from a mouthpiece. He has a great look and getting help on the stick could greatly benefit him. WWE recently teased that Paul Heyman was actively pursuing a “third client,” however, I’m not sure that wasn’t just to draw page views and unique visitors to dot com. With that being said, Heyman is one of the best there is. Laurinaitis would certainly draw Ryback heat although another name you didn’t mention that I think would be interesting would be Zeb Colter. I actually think Zeb is one of the best things going in WWE right now and he could certainly help Ryback. Kevin Nash is someone I haven’t really thought about but I guess that could work as well. My question is how are they going to book Ryback at Extreme Rules on Sunday? Does he do another job? What exactly has he won that makes him a viable WWE Championship contender? I don’t think people are interested in Ryback vs. Cena because Ryback hasn’t been booked as a legitimate title contender.

Is there any chance Jack Swagger tried to intentionally harm other superstars in order to further himself or is he just not safe such as Lesnar and Ryback sometimes are?

There’s no way Jack Swagger (or any worker for that matter) would intentionally go out and try and injure someone. Not only would that result in termination from WWE but that’s a good way to get beat up behind-the-scenes. Injuries happen and are part of the business. Swagger had a rough week last week and is certainly fighting the “reckless” and “unsafe” labels, however, he didn’t intentionally try to put a top guy on the shelf.

Remember questions with proper spelling and grammar standing the best chance of getting answered. The next installment of Ask WNW is scheduled to run on Monday, May 20, 2013.

Check out the Ask WNW archive at this link.

Submit questions to: AskWNW@wrestlingnewsworld.com!

Layla was featured in the latest episode of WWE Hangout on Thursday. You can watch it at this link or embedded in the video below:

Sami Callihan to WWE Update

Sami Callihan didn’t pull out of Big Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Strong Style tournament RISING on May 24, 2013 due to a WWE contract as the promotion claimed. Callihan had to pull out due to family issues and has not yet signed with WWE.

“Obviously, I think it’s such a huge concern for everybody right now in sports and in the military. As we learn more and more about concussions and what can become of it, I think it’s a problem for everybody,” Paul Levesque, WWE executive vice president of Talent and Live Events, told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday.

“We still hit people with metal chairs, just not in the head anymore,” said Levesque, who as a ring star and occasional wrestler is known as Triple H. “We took out the things that … caused the most concussions and the most head impacts.”

Click here for coverage by USA Today.

Injury update: 3 1/2 weeks post surgery (3 hernial tears). Letting pain be my guide & feel good. Thank U guys for the love! #SwollenMember

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) May 17, 2013

“REDNECK ISLAND” SET TO RETURN TO CMT
FOR AN ALL-NEW SEASON ON JUNE 5

The Ultimate Redneck-Style Competition Series to Premiere at
10:30 p.m., ET/PT, Following the 2013 CMT MUSIC AWARDS

NASHVILLE – Wrestling hall of famer Steve Austin is back for a rowdier-than-ever third season of REDNECK ISLAND, premiering Wednesday, June 5 at 10:30-11:30 p.m., ET/PT, immediately following the 2013 CMT MUSIC AWARDS. Set in a remote tropical paradise, REDNECK ISLAND will pit 15 contestants—completely out of their element—against one another in CMT’s ultimate redneck-style competition series for a shot at $100,000. This season, romantic alliances form early among the castaways, and one surprise dismissal will keep the rednecks “politicking” throughout the 15 beer-packed episodes.

The second episode of REDNECK ISLAND will premiere in its regularly scheduled timeslot Saturday, June 8 at 9:00-10:00 p.m., ET/PT.

REDNECK ISLAND season three contestants, which were revealed on the series’ official Facebook page earlier this week, include:

Brandon Keys (Ellisville, Miss.) – Brandon is a 27-year-old mechanic who grew up in the country and loves to hunt, fish and drink beer.
Cody Hodge (Brooksville, Ala.) – If 23-year-old construction worker Cody wins the competition, he will buy the largest double-wide trailer that money can buy.
Daniel “Jo” Floyd (Theodore, Ala.) – Jo is a 24-year-old coil pressure washer who is looking for a good time and not another relationship.
Mike Mace (Rocky Mountain, N.C.) – Mike is a 26-year-old exterminator who can fix anything with a roll of duct tape.
Phillip Honea (Pendleton, S.C.) – Since the age of nine, 30-year-old Phillip has been riding bulls, building tree houses and shooting guns. He currently works as an electrician.
Shane Tucker (Smith Lake, Ala.) – Shane is a 42-year-old used car salesman. He loves playing beer pong and considers himself to be an exceptional dancer.
Travis Davis (Manchester, Ky.) – An avid guitar-player and NASCAR-watcher, 31-year-old Travis is a mechanic who also loves turtle hunting and tailgating.
Amnesty Sundstrom (Haymarket, Va.) – Amnesty is a 21-year-old bartender that loves riding horses, drinking beer and dancing at bars.
Bayly Risen (Brandenburg, Ky.) – Bayly is a 22-year-old retail banker who loves putting on her camouflage overalls and heading to the horse stables.
Brittany Martin (Argo, Ala.) – Brittany is always up for some cow tipping, drinking, fishing and hunting. She is a 23-year-old bartender.
Brittany Woodle (Bennettsville, S.C.) – Brittany is a 25-year-old waitress who loves being the center of attention.
Candice Orso (Creola, Ala.) – Candice is a southern girl who isn’t afraid to get dirty. This 24-year-old waitress loves the race track and going hunting.
Lindsey Donohoe (Ripley, W.V.) – Lindsey is a 29-yaer-old juvenile delinquent manager. She raises rabbits for food and owns two potbelly pigs as pets.
Misty Gordon (Dublin, Ga.) – Misty considers herself more of a Georgia Rebel than a Georgia Peach. This 22-year-old works as both a bartender and a golf cart girl.
Stacey Schuler (Shepherdsville, Ky.) – Stacey, a 26-year-old recovery specialist, isn’t into pink and says she can outhunt and outdrink any man.

REDNECK ISLAND is executive produced by Cris Abrego and Fred Birkhead from 51 Minds Entertainment and Clay Newbill from 310 Entertainment, along with Steve Austin from Broken Skull Ranch Productions. Jayson Dinsmore and Melanie Moreau serve as executive producers for CMT.

No Holds Barred Match For the TNA World Title – If Sting loses, he will no longer be able to compete for the TNA World Title again
Bully Ray (c) vs. Sting

Singles Match
Kurt Angle vs. AJ Styles

Four Team Elimination Match For the TNA Tag Team Championships
Chavo Guerrero & Hernandez (c) vs. Christopher Daniels & Kazarian vs. Ausitn Aries & Bobby Roode vs. James Storm & ??? (Hand picked partner)

Singles Match for the Television Championship
Devon (c) vs. Joseph Parks

Ultimate X Match for the X-Division Championship
Kenny King (c) vs. Chris Sabin vs. ??? (Mystery opponent)

Singles Match
Gail Kim vs. Taryn Terrell

Do not miss TNA Slammiversary as it will be live from The Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts on June 2, 2013. We will have exclusive coverage of the pay-per-view right here on WrestlingNewsWorld.com.

Impact Wrestling starts out with a video package. It shows Kurt Angle asking AJ Styles to join him and Sting to fight Aces & 8s. Instead, Kurt and AJ brawl. Hulk Hogan got a call from a wild card. They weren’t going to take any chances. They pick Magnus. Magnus got attacked backstage before the match. As the 6 man tag went on, Abyss returned and destroyed Aces & 8s. He is back!

The camera shows the arena in Tupelo, Mississippi! The fans are on their feet. They are cheering. Music hits and here comes Hulk Hogan! The fans roar as he comes out. He does his famous taunts. He walks down the ramp and gets in the ring. He grabs a mic as they chant, “Hogan, Hogan, Hogan.” He says he is shocked that Hulk-a-mania is this crazy in Tupelo. He is also shocked how AJ walked away from Kurt and Sting last week. The all-American hero, Kurt Angle, took the fight to AJ on the stage last week. Go ahead keep doing what you are doing AJ because Kurt will be following him all the way to Slammiversary! At the PPV, it will be Kurt Angle vs. AJ Styles. We will have a contract signing between Sting and Bully Ray tonight for their match at the PPV. Hulk says TNA has been under the microscope and now Abyss returns to save the day. Hulk calls him out so he can shake his hand. Music plays, Abyss’ music, but he isn’t showing. There’s no sign of him. Hulk wants to thank him man to man. Abyss’ music plays again. Joseph Parks comes out instead. He walks down the ramp and gets in the ring. He grabs a mic. He sat at home last week and watched Abyss, his brother, return to Impact. He couldn’t believe it. He has been looking all over for him. Chris was resting after the attack from Aces. Joseph can’t believe his brother was here. Hulk says they aren’t playing. They need him now more than ever. His brother will know where he is at. Just then, Aces & 8s music plays and Devon with D-Lo Brown come out. Devon grabs a mic and they get in the ring.

Devon says they want Abyss too. He ruined Aces’ mentality last week. Plus, that wasn’t a pin last week. He wasn’t the legal man. Devon asks where Abyss it because they want him. Parks grabs a mic and asks who Devon is for talking to Hulk like that. Devon calls Parks a fat boy. Parks said he wouldn’t have to look for his brother if it wasn’t for Aces. Parks is getting quite furious. He had enough of them. Let’s do this right now. Parks vs. Devon right now. Parks takes his coat off. Devon mocks Parks and tells him to shut up. Devon is the Television Champion. Parks doesn’t make matches around here. He has to prove himself. D-Lo grabs Devon and says he wants to beat Joseph tonight. Hulk tells D-Lo to watch it because it will be Parks vs. D-Lo tonight. Devon says he has faith in D-Lo. He tells Parks and Hogan to tell Abyss that he will take him down when he finds him. Hulk says when Parks beats D-Lo, he will give the green light to have Parks beat up Devon. Aces will have the whole Parks family after them. Testify to that! Hulk’s music plays.

James Storm is squatting backstage. The camera man asks him about getting revenge. James gets up with a beer bottle in his hand. He doesn’t say anything. He walks up to the guy and says, “Watch, just watch.” He walks away.

-Commercial

A video plays concentrating on Christian York. It shows him coming into TNA as he won Gutcheck. He faced off against Jeff Hardy and other stars in the company. He put hard-work into his career for 16 years. He will prove himself.

Christy Hemme is in the ring as she announces the stars for this match. Bobby Roode’s music plays. He slowly walks out to the ring. He taunts in the corner. Music plays and here comes one half of the World Tag Team Champions Chavo Guerrero. The crowd cheers for him as he comes to the ring.

Bobby Roode vs. Chavo Guerrero

They lock-up. Roode wraps around Chavo with an armlock, but Chavo is able to get out of it and knock Roode down. He gets up and they lock-up. Roode applies a headlock. Chavo pushes him. Roode comes back and knocks Chavo down with his shoulder. Roode runs into the ropes. Chavo is able to take Roode down. He gets up. Chavo applies a headlock. Roode pushes Chavo into the corner. Chavo bounces up and does a head scissors. He flings Roode through the ropes to the outside. Roode stands. Chavo jumps over the ropes but lands on the apron. Roode takes the legs out from under Chavo. He then throws Chavo into the steel guard rail. He brings Chavo into the ring. Roode does a body slam and a cover. Chavo kicks out. Roode chokes Chavo on the second rope. Chavo gets up in the corner and kicks Roode in the gut. Roode does a snapmare and then a neckbreaker. Roode stands and taunts. He gets Chavo up and punches him in the face. Chavo punches back. They go back and forth. Roode knees him in the gut and whips him in the ropes. Roode goes to toss Chavo over the ropes, but he lands on the apron. Chavo does a shoulder block as Roode goes toward him. Chavo jumps over the ropes and hits Roode. Both get up. Roode is able to grab Chavo and put him on the top corner. Chavo goes for the tornado DDT, but Roode pushes him back. Chavo does the three amigos instead. He climbs the corner for a frog splash, but Roode gets up and hits the ropes. Chavo falls on the ropes and then falls to the outside. James Storm walks out to the ring with a beer bottle in his hand. He takes a swig, turns Roode around and spits it in his face. The bell sounds. Winner by DQ: Bobby Roode

Roode can’t even stand up. He can’t see as he tries to get the beer out of his eyes. James holds the beer bottle getting ready to strike. Roode rolls out of the ring. James’ music plays and he walks to the ramp.

Kurt Angle is walking backstage. He is calling out AJ Styles next.

-Commercial

A video package plays showing AJ Styles and how everyone is trying to recruit him to join their group… either Team TNA or Aces & 8s. AJ doesn’t answer. He just walks away. Kurt had enough with him last week and brawled with him on the entrance ramp. Kurt now as a match with him at Slammiversary.

Kurt Angle’s music plays. He walks out on stage and gets in the ring. The crowd cheers. Kurt grabs a mic. He says Aces have been going on for about a year now. You can’t trust anyone. AJ Styles even walks out. He (Kurt) never walks away from a fight though. AJ walked away from him and it got Kurt mad. Hulk granted the match between them two. One more time! He doesn’t want to wait till the PPV. He wants to do it right now. Come on AJ!!! Music hits and here comes Mr. Anderson. He comes through the crowd like the Aces always do. He gets in the ring and grabs a mic. Ken says Kurt sounds like a woman. Kurt needs to get it that AJ is not his boy. He has to tell him and all of the idiots in the crowd that… next Thursday from Tampa… will be the official patching of AJ Styles. Kurt says he doesn’t want to wait. He takes the legs out from under Ken and gives him punch after punch in the face. Ken rolls out of the ring. Just then, AJ Styles jumps over the railing from the crowd. He gets in the ring. Kurt turns and meets AJ right in the face. Kurt starts yelling at him. AJ does a pele right to Kurt. He gets out of the ring and walks up the ramp as Ken claps from the outside. Kurt is out.

-Commercial

Video replays showing the confrontation between AJ and Kurt and how AJ kicked him right in the head.

A video plays showing Jay Bradley. He talks about OWV and how he has been training for quite sometime. He gets paid to do what he loves. He watches tapes to study and learn. His life revolves around wrestling. He will do whatever it takes to make a name for himself. Take notes!

Christy Hemme is in the ring as she announces the next match. Jay Bradley’s music plays and he comes out to the ring. Christian York’s music hits and he comes out to the ring. He taunts from the corner. The crowd cheers for him.

Jay Bradley vs. Christian York

They lock-up and Jay pushes Christian right into the corner. Jay backs up but pushes York in the guest. York pushes back. York rolls around him for a roll-up. Jay kicks out. Both get up and York does an armlock Jay goes for a body slam, but York pushes him in the ropes. They go for strikes with punches and kicks but none can connect as each block. York runs into Jay but Jay lifts York up and he falls on his face and chest. Bradley covers but Christian kicks out. Jay hits him in the face and back with punches and elbows. York fights back with punches in the gut. Jay knees Christian in the gut and then applies a chinlock. York gets to his feet and takes Jay over. Jay goes for a closeline, but York ducks, does a springboard elbow. Both get up and Jay takes York down. He adjusts his elbow pad. He goes to run at York, but York moves to the corner. Christian and Jay exchange words but York kicks him right in the face and then takes Jay down into the middle turnbuckle. He has Jay sitting in the corner. He does a summersault into his chest. Both get up. Christian goes for his finisher but Jay reverses for his. Neither can get it. York kicks Jay in the chest and puts him in the corner. York runs to him but Jay holds onto him and puts him on the top rope. York fights him off. York flies in the air, but Jay moves out of the way. He hits the Boom Stick (closeline) and gets the win. Winner: Jay Bradley

Christy Hemme meets up with Jay on the ramp after the match. Jay says he is one step closer to the Bound for Glory Series and one step closer to be our TNA World Champion.

Gail Kim is walking backstage. The camera also shows Velvet Sky walking backstage. They fight next.

-Commercial

James Storm is backstage. He is coming out of Hulk Hogan’s office. The camera man asks about what went on. James says Hulk said there will be actions for his actions. James doesn’t get it because they attacked him but he can’t fight back? The camera man asks what he is going to do. James tells him to watch.

Aces & 8s are backstage. Mr. Anderson is fired up for next week. He said it is going to be great. Anderson then turns to D-Lo and asks if he knows what he is going to do. D-Lo knows and will beat Parks up to get his cut back. That’s the answer. Ken leads the group away.

Gail Kim’s music plays and she comes to the ring. Velvet Sky’s music plays and she has the title over her shoulder. She gets in the ring after letting the pigeons loose. ODB is there as she is refereeing.

-Commercial

Brooke Hogan and Mickie James are backstage. Brooke talks about Mickie’s new CD is out. Mickie says she would love to have some more time on Slammiversary. Brooke understands but the division is clogged up. She makes Mickie vs. Velvet Sky for the title next week. Mickie likes that. Bully Ray enters the camera shot. He scares off Mickie. Bully pins

Gail Kim vs. Velvet Sky

They go to lock-up but neither can effectively get a lock-up. They just go all out and do punches and kicks toward each other. Gail is sent into the ropes. Sky is able to take her down. Gail crawls to the corner. Sky stomps on her till ODB pushes her away. Gail gets up. Sky runs into the ropes. Gail grabs her but Sky does a hurricanrona. Both get up. Gail sends Sky into the corner. Gail runs to her. Sky goes for a kick to the face, but Gail grabs the leg and then does a leg breaker over her shoulder. Sky falls down. Gail now works on the leg and knee as she elbows it and then hits it off of the edge of the ring. Gail gets back in the ring and stalks Sky. Sky gets up and fights back with punches and a kick, but Gail grabs the leg and takes Sky down. She works on the leg again. Gail puts Sky in the corner and wraps the leg around the rope. She then jumps up and comes down on it. Gail drags Sky to the middle of the ring and kicks the back of the knee. Gail grabs the legs and locks in a version of a half boston crab. Sky is able to grab the ropes. Gail grabs the leg and wraps it around her own head. Sky is in severe pain. Sky reaches and grabs the ropes. Gail gets up and talks smack to ODB about the hold. Sky slowly gets up. Gail puts her in the corner and chokes Sky with the boot. Sky is able to reverse a whip. Gail is able to elbow Sky and then climbs the corner. Sky comes to her and pushes her off. Gail sails in the air and falls on her back. Both are down. Both get up. Sky closelines Gail multiple times. She then kicks Gail in the gut and head. She falls down as she twists the leg the wrong way. She gets up, kicks Gail in the gut and goes for the In Yo Face, but Gail drops down and does a knee chop. Gail goes for a leg lock, but Sky pushes Gail into the corner. She bounces back and Sky does a roll-up. Winner: Velvet Sky

Sky stands up and ODB raises her hand. Gail gets to her feet and does a chop to the back of Sky’s knee. Gail drags Sky to the ring post and does the sharpshooter type move. Gail pushes ODB away. ODB gets back and breaks the hold. Gail gets up on the ramp and walks away.

Chris Sabin is backstage in a taped video as he says Kenny King is not a king of anything good… maybe the king of male strippers. King is shown and he says he is champion and Chris will never get the title. Who is Chris anyway? Petey Williams is shown and says it looks like King has a plan. Well, Petey may know what he need to do.

-Commercial

A video package shows Suicide. He is returning to Impact Wrestling next week!

All three men are in the ring already. Christy Hemme announces all three stars.

Petey Williams vs. Chris Sabin vs. Kenny King (Champ) for the X-Division Title

All three move around the ring. King quickly slides out of the ring. It leads to Petey and Chris. They lock-up. Chris does a headlock. Petey does a headlock. He gets out and they work on each other’s arm. They do armdrag and armdrag. Both get up. Chris runs to Petey, but Petey trips Chris to the middle rope. Petey runs into the ropes, but King trips Petey, takes him out of the ring and pushes him into the steel guard rail. King gets up. He goes to Chris, but Chris catches King’s leg and trips him. King gets up. Chris does knife edge chops. He does his kicks. King goes into the ropes. So does Chris. Chris applies the breaks and King does his kick to the face of Chris. Chris falls. Petey jumps over the top rope and hits King with a double knee to the chest. He then does a dropkick to Chris’ back. Chris goes out of the ring. King meets with Petey and takes him down. He covers him but Petey kicks out. King puts Petey in the corner and chokes him. King does a baseball slide to Chris. He falls down on the outside. King whips Petey in the opposing corner. Petey falls down. King does a body slam. He does a springboard and a leg drop. He covers but Petey kicks out. Kenny applies a headlock. Petey gets up and elbows his way out of it. King knees him, jumps over the top rope and choke Petey on the top. He gets on the apron, jumps on the top rope, but Petey moves. King lands o his feet. Chris gets in the ring and closelines King down. He does a back suplex and then a bridge pin. The cover is broken as Petey grabs Chris and puts him in the corner. He takes Chris out of the ring and does a suicide dive. He gets in and goes after Kenny. He does a crucifix pin but King kicks out. Petey takes out King and now sets up for his Canadian Destroyer. Chris gets in and closelines Petey down. He goes to the corner with King and goes for that tornado DDT, but King keeps Chris there and does a huge kick to the chest. Petey runs and King does a spin kick to the face. He covers Petey but he kicks out. Petey gets up and goes to the top rope. He jumps but King catches him and does a backbreaker. Chris comes back and does a spin kick to King. He does an enzuigiri and then places King upside down in the corner. Petey grabs Chris and does the Canadian Destroyer but Chris gets out of it. He has Petey up in the firemans carry and drops Petey right on King. He takes Petey down but King comes back and attacks Chris. Chris is down and out of the ring. King takes Petey out and gets the win. Winner and Still X-Division Champ: Kenny King

Christopher Daniels and Kazarian are backstage. They are talking about James Storm. He costs them the tag title shots. Chris is drinking his martini. He needs his helper out there tonight as he takes on Hernandez. Kazarian says James is afraid of him. He will be there. Chris says his drink is good. He finishes it.

-Commercial

D-Lo and Mr. Anderson are backstage. D-Lo says it is getting scary. He says things are spiraling out of control. Anderson asks why and when it started. He tells D-Lo when he pushed Garett and Wes to the side. They are the young stars and D-Lo took it for his own hands. D-Lo understands. Ken leaves him there.

Music plays and Bad Influence, Kazarian and Christopher Daniels, dance down the ramp. They get in the ring. Music hits and here comes one half of the TNA Tag Team Champions Hernandez. He has the title locked onto his chain around his neck. He gets in the ring.

Christopher Daniels vs. Hernandez

Both move around the ring. They lock-up and Hernandez pushes Chris right in the corner. Daniels pokes the eyes and puts Hernandez in the corner. He kicks him in the gut and then chokes him. He pounds on Hernandez’s back. He takes him to the middle of the ring and goes for a body slam, but Hernandez is too heavy. Hernandez lifts him up for a suspended vertical suplex. He drops Chris right on his back. Chris gets up. Hernandez kicks him in the gut and then puts him on his shoulder. He drops him right down. Hernandez goes on the entrance ramp. He runs back, jumps over the ropes and takes Daniels out. Both get up. Hernandez kicks Daniels in the gut and he goes in the ropes. Kaz trips Hernandez. Daniels distracted the referee as Kaz did so. Daniels stomps on Hernandez now. He gets him up and does a neckbreaker. He covers but Hernandez kicks out. Daniels kicks Hernandez in the back and tosses him out of the ring. Kaz kicks Hernandez as Daniels distracts the referee. Hernandez gets on the apron. Daniels walks to him, but Hernandez shoulder blocks him and then jumps over the ropes and takes Daniels out. Both get up and Hernandez does closeline after closeline. He then does a huge hiptoss. Daniels is in the corner now. Hernandez runs but Daniels moves. Hernandez hits the corner. Daniels goes for a The Angel Wings, but he pushes Hernandez to the side as James Storm comes out. Kazarian stands his ground as he stands between James and the ring. He moves though as James gets closer. Daniels turns and Hernandez does a battering ram. He pins him. Winner: Hernandez

James Storm has a mic in his hand. He says he came back from Hulk’s office and Hulk told him to make an announcement. It will be Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez vs. Austin Aries and Bobby Roode AND James Storm a partner of his choice. It will be for the TNA Tag Team Champions. Sorry about your damn luck!

-Commercial

Christy Hemme is in the ring as she introduces the stars of this next match. Aces’ music plays and here comes D-Lo Brown. He comes through the crowd and gets in the ring. Music hits and here comes Joseph Parks. He comes through the curtain and walks down the ramp to the ring. He has his usual black sweatsuit on.

D-Lo Brown vs. Joseph Parks

Parks takes off his glasses as D-Lo tells him to come on. They lock-up but D-Lo knees Parks in the gut and then hits him in the back. He punches him in the face twice and then does a huge body slam. D-Lo is ready. Parks uses the ropes to get up. D-Lo goes for a closeline, but Parks ducks and does left and right fists to D-Lo’s face. D-Lo fights back and Parks falls through the ropes to the outside. D-Lo goes outside and knees him in the gut. He rolls him in the ring. Parks fights back with punches. He bounces off the ropes, but Brown does a dropkick to Park’s knee and then hits a shining wizard. Parks slowly gets up and Brown closelines him. Parks crawls to the corner. Brown whips Parks into the opposing corner. Brown runs to him but Parks moves out of the way. Brown hits the corner. Parks does a roll-up but D-Lo kicks out. Both get up and Brown does a huge jump spin kick to Parks. He falls in the corner. D-Lo punches him multiple times in the face. Parks opens up. He is bleeding from the forehead. Parks gets up and sees the blood on his hands. He starts to fire up. His eyes are huge. He turns around. So does D-Lo and Parks closelines him multiple times. He then smashes Brown in the corner. He hits the Black Hole Slam and gets the win. He does the cross taunt he does with his arms. Parks snaps out of it and wonders what happened. He is dazed. Winner: Joseph Parks

We see Sting and Bully Ray walking backstage in different areas. They are heading to the ring for the contract signing.

-Commercial

Mike Tenay, Taz, and Todd Keneley run through the line-up for Slammiversary. It will be on June 2!

Jeremy Borash is in the ring standing behind a podium. Aces’ music plays and here comes Bully Ray. He gets on the steel steps and tells Taz to come. Taz leaves the table and pounds his fist with Bully’s. Ray gets in the ring and knocks Borash down. He rolls out of the ring. Ray grabs the mic from the podium and wants his music shut off. He asks if they know who he is. Ray says he is from Hell’s Kitchen. He is President of Aces & 8s. He is TNA World Champion. He took out Jeff Hardy in his type of match. He is also the man who will take Sting out at Slammiversary. He knows Sting is back there. He knows his fans can’t wait for him to come out. He told Brooke that this will be a negotiation rather than a signing. He is pretty sure Sting has some things to say too. Come on out, brother! Sting’s music plays and here comes The Icon. He walks down the ramp as he stares right at Ray. Ray tells Sting to stop right there. Sting is at the end of the ramp. Ray wants the music shut off too. He wants this official. He wants his daddy to come out too. Come on Hulk Hogan! Hogan’s music plays. He comes out with a mic in hand. He stands on the entrance stage.

Ray just realized something. This is the first time that he and Sting are face to face since he screwed him over… since he screwed Hogan over. Sting is now in the ring. Everyone else knows who bad he was screwing Brooke over. Sting may be looking for an apology. He isn’t getting one. Sting isn’t looking for one. When they are in Boston, Ray should snap Sting’s arm into two. He should take his knee cap out He should take his eyes out. He should make him bleed. Ray asks what is wrong with him. Why would he say that? If Ray doesn’t do it to him then Sting will do it to Ray. He doesn’t care if it is in the ring, out of the ring, backstage or in the rafters… he will make Bully bleed in Boston. They are almost face to face now. Sting wasn’t looking for any demands, but since he is looking for one.. here is one. He wants a No Holds Barred Match. Ray walks around the ring. He says Sting thinks he knows where he is right now in terms on who can be on top. Everyone would love to see Ray bleed. Ray will agree to the terms, but Sting needs to sign the contract. He can’t fight for the TNA World Title any longer. Hulk tries to stop it, but Ray tells him to shut his mouth. Ray doesn’t want Sting to retire. He doesn’t want Sting to retire. He just can’t fight for the title anymore. Hulk tells him no. Ray says Hulk is running Sting’s career. Be a man Sting. Do what you want. Yes or no, Sting? Sting says, “Yes.” Ray pushes Sting back. He bounces off the ropes. Sting comes back and punches Ray in the face. Ray punches back. It is back and forth. They keep going as the show fades.

Check out my thoughts of each segment, video, and match as I am filling in for Kendra again for this week’s IW Blog Zone!
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There is currently a presale ongoing for the July 15th WWE Monday Night Raw taping from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. You can purchase tickets now at this link using the password WWERAW.

Mean Gene Resurfaces

“Mean” Gene Okerlund resurfaced with quotes to TwinCities.com about his very limited schedule with WWE. He also said Brock Lesnar is one of the top three stars in the company right now. Click here to read the article in its entirety.

“He was only 21 when I signed him and I don’t think people realize that because he looked so much more mature than that… He’s really grown. He’s a fabulous talker and his in-ring work has come so far. He’s gorgeous and carries himself like a superstar…. Magnus is the real deal.”

Click here to read the article in its entirety.

Dodge a bullet. No hernia. Partial torn ab and adductor strain (groin pull). Start rehab tomorrow. Thanks for the tweets, text & phone calls

— James Storm (@Cowboy_J_Storm) May 16, 2013

On Thursday, Storm updated on physical therapy:

1st session of PT done. Went great. Except for the ice bath. It’s ok boys you can come out now! #BeerMe

— James Storm (@Cowboy_J_Storm) May 16, 2013

The show will take place June 2, 2013 from the Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts and will be headlined by Bully Ray vs. Sting for the TNA Championship. We have the updated spoiler lineup available at this link.

John Laurinaitis still works backstage for WWE and there is always a possibility about his on-screen character returning down the line. His appearance on Smackdown with The Rock showed he could be used when called upon. It’s kind of like Vince McMahon’s on-air character. While his primary job is behind-the-scenes, he can appear on television when needed. Both have responsibilities other than their on-screen roles. These are different from the storyline authority figures such as Teddy Long or Vickie Guerrero, who hold no backstage roles or responsibilities but are on-screen talent only.

With The New Age Outlaws competing at live events do you think if given an actual program on pay-per-view they could draw some good buys?

Billy Gunn and Road Dogg, known collectively as The New Age Outlaws, worked the entire WWE European tour and proved they still have it. I’m thrilled they are back with WWE, albeit in a different capacity, and they can be used if called upon. Do I think they could still draw? Absolutely but it’s the same situation I talked about above. It comes down to the opportunity and desire to use them.

Where are Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara?

Rey Mysterio had more knee problems after taking a personal leave of absence. He stated recently that he should be back in the ring soon. Sin Cara is back after suffering a concussion and was on weekend live events and worked two matches taped for TV this week. One of them aired on this week’s episode of WWE Main Event, a victory over WWE Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett in a non-title match.

What are your thoughts on John Cena vs. Undertaker at Wrestlemania XXX?

I would like to get through SummerSlam before I even start thinking about Wrestlemania XXX. I can tell you Undertaker is a hot commodity, with many guys wanting to work with him. People close to The Rock feel he would be more inclined to work the show if it was against Undertaker at the shear fact that it would draw huge. With that being said, let’s focus on the other shows for now.

Remember questions with proper spelling and grammar standing the best chance of getting answered. The next installment of Ask WNW is scheduled to run on Friday, May 17, 2013.

Check out the Ask WNW archive at this link.

Submit questions to: AskWNW@wrestlingnewsworld.com!

If the Brock Lesnar vs. HHH Steel Cage match doesn’t close the PPV, it’s going to make whatever follows this Slobber Knocker have to really hunker down to top what I expect to be the most anticipated bout at Sunday’s PPV. The physicality in this contest will be prominent and I expect a no frills, in your face, main event.

Click here to read JR’s latest in its entirety.