More On Hogan & WrestleMania 25, Rosa Mendes, Christian Ring Tone
By Daniel Pena
Feb 18, 2009 - 3:17:50 PM
-- During today's Bubba the Love Sponge radio show, a caller asked Bubba if Hulk Hogan would be appearing at WrestleMania 25 since a number of WrestleMania moment clips on WWE television seem to feature him. Bubba said he knew why WWE was running the clips, but could not comment at this time, reports ProWrestling.NET.
As many of you know, Bubba is one of Hogan's best friends. Seeing how he didn't deny anything, his silence on the matter should spark even more speculation on "The Hulkster" appearing at WrestleMania 25.
-- WWE.com has added a profile on Rosa Mendes to the Raw section. She has also been added to the Diva section.
-- WWE.com has added Christian's entrance theme "Just Close Your Eyes" to their mobile ringtone service. Click here for more infomation.
Rourke Says He'll Be At WM25, JBL's Wife Starting Her Own Firm
By Michael Bluth
Feb 18, 2009 - 3:45:40 PM-- New York Magazine caught up with Mickey Rourke last night at a fashion show in New York City and asked him about his involvement at WrestleMania. "We're gonna go in support. Vince McMahon, Roddy Piper, and Ric Flair have been such a part of the movie," Rourke said. "So whatever support I can give back to all those people from WWE, I'm gonna do that." When the reporter asked Rourke why he backed out of his rumored match with Chris Jericho, NYMag.com writes that Rourke's publicist jumped in and said, "We don't need to talk about that."
-- CNBC.com has a breaking news alert that financial guru Meredith Whitney, the wife of WWE superstar John Bradshaw Layfield, is leaving Oppenheimer Funds to start her own firm. The story is developing and there should be more details shortly.
-- The Chicago Sun Times has an article up about WWE developmental star Dvaid Otunga, the reality TV star and fiance of Oscar winner and American Idol winner Jennifer Hudson. SunTimes.com writes about Otunga being the second Harvard graduate to move on to World Wrestling Entertainment. Otunga was fascinated by Hulk Hogan growing up and wanted to be a wrestler from a young age. His parents told him to be a doctor or a lawyer, which lead him to Harvard Law School. "After Harvard, I knew I could go wherever I want, do whatever I want to do." Otunga is currently training at Florida Championship Wrestling, where he wrestles as Dawson Alexander, Esquire.
WWE Confirms Another HOF Inductee, LOW Update, Raw In Buffalo
By Daniel Pena
Feb 18, 2009 - 3:01:40 PM-- WWE has confirmed the induction of "Cowboy" Bill Watts into the WWE Hall of Fame. In the latest edition of Legends of Wrestling on WWE 24/7 Classics On Demand, Watts, who appears on the program, is listed as a 2009 WWE Hall of Fame inductee. So, WWE ended up spoiling the news before it was announced on Raw or Smackdown.
-- The May 4, 2009 edition of Raw is set to take place at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. Tickets go on sale on Saturday, March 7 at 9:00 a.m. at the arena box office, Tops Supermarkets and
www.tickets.com.
-- WWE.com has posted models of the final batch of characters to be revealed for the upcoming "Legends of WrestleMania" video game. Images of Arn Anderson, Big Boss Man, Koko B. Ware, Michael Hayes, Mr. Perfect, Paul Bearer, Ric Flair, Ultimate Warrior, and Undertaker have been disclosed. You can see the images at the following link.
If you're wondering how the images previously leaked online last week (and when specific characters were going to be introduced by IGN.com), it was as a result of one ardent person who managed to crack WWE.com's code.
After WWE.com released images of the first batch of Legends, through tons of trial and error, one person meticulously discovered the other images by constantly changing the wrestler name and photo set number in the URL (for example -"/legendswrestlemania/photos/rosterpt3/mr.-fuji.jpg" to "/legendswrestlemania/photos/rosterpt4/ric-flair.jpg"). Although, a list correctly revealing all 40+ characters leaked online about four weeks ago, so he was able to use the information from the list when changing the character names. The URL's to the images were then posted online, which WWE.com soon found out about and quickly deleted.
Legend Speaks Out On HOF Induction; Chris Benoit, Theodore Long
By Daniel Pena
Feb 18, 2009 - 1:23:45 PM
-- As announced on Monday's Raw, Terry and Dory Funk, Jr. will be inducted into the 2009 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony in Houston, Texas. Dory Funk, Jr. offered comment on the honor to the Ocala Star-Banner "I feel so privileged," Funk said. "This is one of the highlights of my life." The brothers will be inducted by Dusty Rhodes, who helps run things in WWE's developmental promotion in Tampa, Florida. Dory Funk, Jr. runs a wrestling training school out of Ocala, and has helped trained the likes of Kurt Angle, Amy "Lita" Dumas & "up and comer" Adam Windsor. {Ocala's Dory Funk Jr. named to WWE Hall of Fame}
-- WWE continues to celebrate Black History Month with a look at the career of ECW General Manager Theodore Long. Long is also featured on the latest episode of "Legends of Wrestling" on WWE 24/7 Classics on Demand.
-- WCW SuperBrawl III won the "Pick Your Big One" poll on WWE 24/7 Classics on Demand. Therefore, the event is scheduled to air later in the month. When WWE.com put up the match listing for the show, Chris Benoit's encounter with Too Cold Scorpio was interestingly listed. Although, WWE 24/7 still cuts out matches featuring Benoit, so it was probably a mistake on the website's part. WWE 24/7 has aired the pay-per-view before as it was available on the video on demand service a week or two before his double murder and suicide (and still available for a few days following the incident). Also, this month's poll features WrestleMania IV, WrestleMania X, and WrestleMania XII. On WWE.com, Hulk Hogan's pictured for WrestleMania X even though he didn't appear at the event.
Lawler Reveals Vince's Reaction Jericho's "Incident" (Interview)
By Michael Bluth
Feb 18, 2009 - 8:57:01 PM
Source: TheSun.co.uk
The UK Sun has posted an interview with Jerry Lawler, which can read here in its entirety. Some highlights from this interview:
Working with Jim Ross again at the Royal Rumble: It was fun – JR and I have a great rapport and a great relationship. A lot of people say ‘I bet you really miss JR now he’s on Smackdown’, but the truth of the matter is we still get to see each other quite often. We also talk on the phone and we text. But by the same token, I tell everyone I really enjoy working with Michael Cole as well. Michael might be a little easier, maybe a little less demanding than JR. JR is so passionate, and such a huge fan which is a great. It’s what makes JR one of the best in the business. But because of that he’ll want us to go to production meetings and run through things. Whereas Michael and I like to show up and go in and get the thing done and head out as quickly as possible. And I know that may sound like we’re slackers, and taking the easy way out, but the truth of the matter is it works better for me in the way that I do my job. I don’t want to go to production meetings and I don’t want to be too prepared. I like to watch the matches like a fan. I like to be surprised by the things I see. I like to not know what’s going to happen next. I feel like my commentary is more honest that way – it’s more sincere in the way that I’m as surprised as the fans are!
Mick Foley's claims that Vince McMahon screams into the headsets of announcers during live shows: Let’s face it, Vince is the man who owns the company and he has definite ideas about how he wants things done. And if you do something that he doesn’t approve of, then he’s going to let you know it. I don’t know if I’m fortunate, or if Vince is just a big fan of my work, but he absolutely in the 15 years of me doing it has never ever yelled at me. Not even once. I was surprised when I heard that from Mick. But Vince has a direct line to every announcer. If we’re doing a broadcast and Vince wants to say something to me, Michael Cole doesn’t hear it, and the same goes with Michael Cole. So occasionally, after a show, Michael will say: “Oh man, Vince yelled at me when I screwed this up.” But if you’re out there doing a good job, and saying what you’re supposed to say, he’s not going to yell at you!
How He's Avoided Drug and Alcohol Abuse: I just didn’t do it! I’ve never had a taste of alcohol, never done any kind of drug and never smoked a cigarette. Some people will think that’s not true, but I’ve honestly never tasted one sip of beer, wine or whiskey. And I think that’s been a long part of my longevity in the business. I’m not saying it's given me a youthful appearance but it’s certainly helped me not look any older. And it’s not something that years ago I thought about, I simply just didn’t do it. There was a choice out there, and I always felt it was the wrong choice. That was the way I was raised. I was told those things were bad for me.
The Recent Chris Jericho "Incident": I have not seen it but I heard them talking about it last week at the show – Vince (McMahon) was kinda chuckling about it. Vince and I were talking and Jericho walked by and he said: “Watch out! Jericho will hit you! He’ll knock you right down!” Then he adds: “Especially if you’re a girl!” Everybody is having a joke about it and to me it’s not a big deal, because that used to be very prevalent in the past. We used to be able to get the fans so riled up that they literally wanted to physically attack you after the matches. That hasn’t happened in a long time, so it’s almost like hats off to Chris Jericho – for doing his job. He’s being the best bad guy that he can be. And it’s working as he’s making the people so mad at him that they want to get physical with him themselves.
