WWE is looking for volunteers during Wrestlemania weekend in Texas. It's a really big endeavor, so they'll need all the help they can get.
The recently-passed "Iron" Mike Sharpe was remembered by one of his trainees. I like the story about still doing the show for those two paying family members, as well as the one about why Stevie Richards is successful. Some other pretty good anecdotes, too. It sounds like a trip.
Jim Ross will be replacing Mauro Ranallo on the NJPW show on AXS TV. Fox Sports talked to him about the new role. He's definitely qualified and excited about the opportunity.
Everything else from yesterday is after the break.
Daniel Bryan is scheduled to meet with WWE doctors later this week to get an update on his condition. Hopefully they work something out for him to finally get back in the ring at WM32. WWE needs him to add to their roster of full-time talented performers under the age of 40.
Edge and Christian will be filming more material for their WWE Network show this week. Maybe we see it in February or March?
Nikki Bella was not at Smackdown. Her recovery continues.
This Sunday's PPV is pretty much an "all hands on deck" event for talent in case they're needed. Injured talents aren't subject to that, but a lot of others will be. I wonder what names we rarely see will be backstage.
Another House of Hardcore event is scheduled for April 16, so that's still a big priority for Dreamer. I wonder if he'll have something of a deal with WWE like Rhyno has by then. It could be beneficial to have him around to work with the current roster. I don't know if WWE would consider him for a more regular role, though.
Tough Enough winner Josh Bredl (now known as Bronson Matthews in NXT) got heat from the locker room for a tweet made during Raw referring to the Social Outcasts (Slater, Bo, Axel, and Rose) as "#SocialJobbers" after they were quickly destroyed by Big Show. Stardust and Kevin Owens publicly put him on blast. Pic related:
We could be looking at another "Miz" situation as far as a Tough Enough signing getting a lot of heat. I don't know if he was taking a shot at those performers or how they were booked, but it definitely didn't sit well with his co-workers. That kind of public remark can really backfire.
Update: The remark "#SocialJobbers" was seen as really disrespectful by performers both on the main roster and in NXT. The feeling was the Outcasts had earned their way to the main roster and made sacrifices, while Bredl/Matthews got a big contract despite having no experience in the business. So, the perception was he didn't have the right to disrespect people who have made it to that stage. It will be interesting to see what repercussions this has for the Tough Enough winner. He's definitely got his work cut out for him in earning his way back into the roster's good graces.
Update: Taz commented on the situation as well. I can only imagine what feelings are like behind-the-scenes for the TE winner. As if the Twitter roasting wasn't bad enough. He'll really have to work hard to overcome the perception of him if he's going to survive in WWE.
Lana has been at all WWE's TV tapings, and continues to manage Rusev at live events. I'm guessing they don't want her involved in LoN segments on TV.
Tough Enough's ZZ is still out of action from an injury he got a few months ago. I hope he does end up doing OK.
WWE has canceled a live event set for Jan. 29 in order to give their talents a day off. I'm sure that will be appreciated after the Rumble!
Pat Patterson is finishing up his autobiography. That really should be a great story.
Brock Lesnar is advertised for the March 22 Smackdown taping. Will he be WWE Champion on that date?
Ron Hutchinson, who trained Edge, Christian, and Trish Stratus, is finalizing his autobiography. That one should be interesting.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. I've liked Ryder as a singles star since the ECW brand days. I definitely think WWE needs to support people who are getting over organically with fans. Like it or not, millennials are a big part of the audience in 2016. Getting over on YouTube and other social media should be applauded, especially if it means more money for WWE. In the WWE Network era, tech-savvy fans are going to be more and more important. I'm not saying they need to completely change things to be like NXT (since there are other demographics to consider), but they need to look at what fans want in 2016.
We could be looking at another "Miz" situation as far as a Tough Enough signing getting a lot of heat. I don't know if he was taking a shot at those performers or how they were booked, but it definitely didn't sit well with his co-workers. That kind of public remark can really backfire.
Update: The remark "#SocialJobbers" was seen as really disrespectful by performers both on the main roster and in NXT. The feeling was the Outcasts had earned their way to the main roster and made sacrifices, while Bredl/Matthews got a big contract despite having no experience in the business. So, the perception was he didn't have the right to disrespect people who have made it to that stage. It will be interesting to see what repercussions this has for the Tough Enough winner. He's definitely got his work cut out for him in earning his way back into the roster's good graces.
Update: Taz commented on the situation as well. I can only imagine what feelings are like behind-the-scenes for the TE winner. As if the Twitter roasting wasn't bad enough. He'll really have to work hard to overcome the perception of him if he's going to survive in WWE.
Lana has been at all WWE's TV tapings, and continues to manage Rusev at live events. I'm guessing they don't want her involved in LoN segments on TV.
Tough Enough's ZZ is still out of action from an injury he got a few months ago. I hope he does end up doing OK.
WWE has canceled a live event set for Jan. 29 in order to give their talents a day off. I'm sure that will be appreciated after the Rumble!
Pat Patterson is finishing up his autobiography. That really should be a great story.
Brock Lesnar is advertised for the March 22 Smackdown taping. Will he be WWE Champion on that date?
Ron Hutchinson, who trained Edge, Christian, and Trish Stratus, is finalizing his autobiography. That one should be interesting.
For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. I've liked Ryder as a singles star since the ECW brand days. I definitely think WWE needs to support people who are getting over organically with fans. Like it or not, millennials are a big part of the audience in 2016. Getting over on YouTube and other social media should be applauded, especially if it means more money for WWE. In the WWE Network era, tech-savvy fans are going to be more and more important. I'm not saying they need to completely change things to be like NXT (since there are other demographics to consider), but they need to look at what fans want in 2016.
2. They have to be careful with unpredictability. If it's done just for the hell of it, it's going to mess with things that are well booked in advance. I do think they need to break from the formula more, though. There are reasons Punk's pipebomb, Bryan's push, and Rollins turning on The Shield resonated so much with fans.
3. No, but a number of lower-card matches have. Perry Saturn on Heat comes to mind, and some parts of C.M. Punk vs. JTG. JBL vs. Blue Meanie had a shoot chair shot from Stevie Richards... I'm sure there have been others.
4.a. It certainly wouldn't be with Reigns going over clean. That level of mega-push would surely backfire. I don't dislike the idea of Brock winning, although they'd run into the problem of the WWE Title not being on live events (or some PPVs), and it'd be another case of a part-timer being the centerpiece. I have an idea for Sunday's booking column that would really depend on the execution, but it's not without flaws of its own. I don't think any probable ending would go without upsetting at least part of the audience.
4.b. Here's a scenario I'd like to see unrelated to the ending: on the Rumble pre-show (or maybe backstage before the match happens), Chris Jericho cuts a cringeworthy babyface promo with Rooty Tooty Booty here, the same catchphrases from 1999 there, you get the idea.
Then, Jericho works with Ambrose during the match in over-the-top babyface fashion like we saw when he was refereeing on Raw. At just the right moment, he turns on Ambrose and eliminates him, turning heel in the process.
As a heel, Jericho plays into the feeling he's a WWE shill looking for his 16th minute of fame, sucking up to his good friend Stephanie and shamelessly promoting his podcast/Fozzy/his WWE merchandize/whatever else he can plug. He puts himself over as Cool Dad and all that stuff, and basically insinuates he's going to shill his way right into a title match at WM32.
I think everyone involved could have a lot of fun with that. Corporate Jericho blatantly kissing The Authority's asses after his history with HHH and Steph would be a real heel move. Ambrose could talk about how the Jericho he grew up watching was a rebel and all that, and the current Y2J has thrown that Jericho away.
5. Absolutely! One of the biggest drawbacks about the HoF needing to sell a place out is the lack of important unsung heroes going in. I'd like to see more names who aren't as well-known go in.
More wrestling tomorrow.
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