Official WWE rumour thread

In a new shoot interview with RFVideo.com, Bob "Hardcore" Holly, who was released in January, talked in detail about his firing. He blamed Ken Kennedy saying he took some pain pills from Kennedy's bag at a show and Kennedy ratted him out to management. Subsequently he was removed from television and released. Holly threatened in the interview that if he ever crosses path with Kennedy again he will beat the hell out of him.

Chris Jericho has requested doing a long program with Rey Mysterio. They teased Jericho removing Mysterio's mask during the recent European tour.

WWE has offered Tommy Dreamer a new contract, so it is not a lock that he'll be hanging it up this summer.

Developmental talent Sheamus O’Shaunnessy from Ireland is being booked for dark matches and house shows.

The following is an excerpt from an article in the New York Daily News:

Former five-time WCW tag champ Buff Bagwell visited my aunts' holiday "Burger and Bean Blast" and chatted with King Gremlin.

He commented on the rampant rumors about him coming to TNA. "I don't know who started them, but (the rumors) are totally false. I have not been contacted by TNA. If they did call, I'd answer (even if it was collect) and listen."

Bagwell was last on the big stage in 2001 in the WCW. Since then he's done some independent circuit work but admits he wants to get back on the big stage.

When asked if not TNA what about the WWE, his face lit up. "I'd love to join them so much I'd work for free!"

Bradshaw101 wrote:He could pay Vince to wrestle, and he still wouldn't be taken back. TNA used him a couple of times, but hopefully they won't use him again.

Outlaw2x4 wrote:Lillian Garcia made the following announcement on her official website, liliangarcia.com, this morning:

Hi Everyone,

I hope all of you are doing well! I am writing to address the situation in which WWE is looking for a Female Ring Announcer/Singer. The truth of the matter is that they are looking for someone new because I have given them my notice that I will be leaving at the end of my contract this year. It is with a heavy heart that I have made this decision because WWE has been my family from day one and you, the WWE Universe have always been incredible to me. The fact is that I am getting married later this year and have decided to enter into a new phase of my life but I will truly miss all of you and the WWE tremendously.

Love you all & keep rockin!

Forever Rockin',
Lilian :-)


So Lillian is leaving. Never thought she was a great replacement for the Fink anyway. Hopefully they'll promote Justin Roberts or whatever his name is.

Bob "Hardcore" Holly said in an interview this week that he left WWE because he was tired of the travel and sick of "putting guys over so they can get all the credit and make all the money." (credit: The Wrestling Globe Newsletter)

During an investor conference call this morning, WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon revealed that after 23 years, the Survivor Series PPV concept has come to an end and will not be used again. McMahon stated:

"We think that Survivor Series is obsolete, as far as that title is concerned. It was something that worked many, many years ago, in terms of a creative standpoint, various teams competing. That really is not advantageous as the consumer now looks as what actually they are buying. And it's such a broad ... Survivor Series yes, many years ago, was one of the original four pay-per-views, but it's outlasted its usage and it is one of the things in terms of re-branding, this year and going forward, that will be re-branded. No longer will we have that title, Survivor Series."

WWE Survivor Series debuted back in 1987 and for many years featured primarily team elimination matches. The show had lost much of its identity in recent years and will likely be replaced next year with a new gimmick-themed event.

Source: LOP

ShowStealer wrote:It was a pretty poor concept and the matches went on a bit. Random teams which were a mix of heels and faces and the brand split that no one cares about didn't do it any favours.

BRING BACK KING OF THE RING YOU CUNT.

Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The word making the rounds in Baltimore, where the WWE crew has arrived for tonight's Extreme Rules pay-per-view, is that Batista is finishing up with the company this week.

Batista had been talking about leaving as early as January, and as was recently reported he was displeased with Triple H taking the lead role in the film Killing Karma, which was originally slated for Batista. The feeling is that this decision was made because Batista's contract was ending and WWE did not want to risk having him in a film while not under contract.

He's challenging John Cena in what may ultimately be his final match inside a WWE ring. We'll have more shortly.

- Ed sent word that WWE also trademarked "The Great White" back on August 10th. Ed also noted that "The Great White" trademark and the recent "Future Endeavored" trademarks indicate that they may be used for a new character, based on how they were registered.

- WWE sent out a survey to fans today to see if they were interested in a John Cena branded clothing line and other merchandise that would be available through retailers. Apparently WWE has been interested in releasing a Cena clothing line for a few years.

- Before the John Morrison vs. R-Truth match on Monday's RAW, they were told to re-do the layout of the match and cut three minutes off of what was originally planned. R-Truth wasn't happy about the change.

- Vince McMahon is very high on Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez. It's said when Del Rio and Rodriguez are out doing their thing, Vince stands backstage and watches with a smile on his face.

- Rey Mysterio blew out his knee in the match against Alberto Del Rio on Monday's RAW during a baseball slide. Rey couldn't walk at all backstage after the match. He had an MRI done last week and noted he had another one yesterday on Twitter, which apparently wasn't part of the storyline after all. The word on Monday was that Rey wasn't going to have surgery on his knee but after the blow out at RAW, he might end up having surgery instead of going through more rehab.

-- WWE recently filed trademark applications for the terms "Future Endeavored," "Future Endeavor" and Mr. Future Endeavor." The terms are for John Laurinaitis' on-screen character.

- With the exception of John Morrison and a few others, there weren't a lot of people within WWE sad to see Melina go because of the reputation she had developed. The same deal applies for Gail Kim to an extent. Officials felt that Kim speaking out was getting the other Divas riled up.

- A Beth Phoenix vs. Kelly Kelly rematch for the Divas Title is expected for September's Night of Champions pay-per-view from Buffalo, where Phoenix grew up.

- All the younger WWE talents were backstage at RAW watching the segment with CM Punk and Kevin Nash on monitors. Punk is seen as a kind of hero to some of the younger guys because he puts them over and speaks for them since they can't say what he gets away with saying. Nash is in great shape but with his history of knee operations, he wasn't walking very well. The feeling is that a CM Punk vs. Kevin Nash match won't be too pretty.

------- Kevin Nash is expected to be at this coming Monday's RAW and will be a regular character on WWE TV going forward. As teased on Monday's RAW, the plans are indeed for Nash to face CM Punk in the ring. The idea behind Punk and Nash feuding is to give Punk a top name that would put him over.

Regarding their segment on Monday's RAW, the feeling backstage was that Punk got the better of Nash and Nash's comebacks were too inside and outdated compared to Punk's.

Since Nash didn't get that big of a reaction when he came out on RAW, there was talk that they need to do a better job of explaining on TV to the current generation of fans who Nash is.

- There has been a lot of discussion within WWE lately among some of the talents about preparing for a future after WWE. The release of Chris Masters shook up a lot of people as nobody saw it coming.

- The segment on Monday's RAW with The Miz putting over Subway is said to be building to something bigger.

- Curt Hawkins wrote on his Twitter that he has made a decision not to trim his beard until WWE puts him in a match on RAW.

Recently released WWE talent Harry Smith (a/k/a David Hart Smith), who rarely speaks ill of anyone, is very upset with his former employer. The son of the late "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith stated on his Facebook account on Saturday that after much pleading, WWE did not return all of the Hart family possessions he had lent for their memorabilia display at WrestleMania Axxess. This includes his father's ring gear and ring gear of the late Owen Hart, among other priceless possessions. WWE did, however, send him a framed picture of Mae Young as a goodwill gesture. He is further agitated that WWE would call him two weeks after his dismissal from the organization asking for the items he received back.

"Well I'm not one to bury any companies or people but I'm afraid I have no choice here. The WWE after great difficulty of my begging, finally sent me back "some" but not all of my familie's possessions from the Hall of Fame/Fan axxess. This includes, my dad's ring gear, my ring gear, owen hart's blue blazer masks, and singlet and lots of priceless family possessions. They sent a framed picture of my dad smashed, half the other stuff missing but they threw in a Mae Young framed picture," Smith wrote.

"Then they have the nerve to call me, two weeks after firing me, sniffing around asking if they can have it back for their precious Hall of Fame/fan axxess. Even though I am expendable talent, they wouldn't mind just keeping my family's last remaining wrestling stuff.

"Anyone can feel free to post this on dirt sites as I feel the world should know about how selfish and inconsiderate the WWE truly is."

Harry's mother, Diana Hart Smith, is also upset with WWE as she feels they carelessly handled her framed drawing of her late husband ([URL="https://2img.net/h/oi53.tinypic.com/11qs3zd.jpg"]click here[/URL] to view the smashed picture of Davey). She says it was "the last straw."

She wrote on Facebook, "This is my drawing of Davey's, and the more info I am sent about this disrespectful injustice, the more shocked I am--this is the second time this has happened with this drawing, and they never took care of it the first time. And then to ask two weeks after Harry's release if we can lend more items to Hall of Fame Fan axxess. These things are from Davey and Owen, my father, all legendary people who are no longer alive and it is difficult to fathom giving up these things which we would never be able to see, since it would go to the WWE HOF Fan Access. These are family possessions and unless Georgia, Harry or I, in the Smith household specifically, are at WWE Fan Access, we cannot see for ourselves.

"These aren't belongings of just some random old friends--they are lost family members. With Harry's release, I really doubt I would be flying to Connecticut to see my Hall of Fame memorabilia, and I would probably end up paying admission too. The smashed picture of Davey, which I drew of him, was the last straw, and this is the second time it has happened.

"I wonder what the significance of sending an 8 x 10 pic of Mae Young to Harry, Georgia and me was?"

Several major changes have taken place over the past week on the corporate side of WWE, including the Corporate.WWE.com website being taken down and several high-ranking employees leaving the company.

- Brian Kalinowski (WWE's Executive VP of Digital Media) and Mark Keys (VP of Digital & Interactive Content Production & Social Media) have both left the company in the past week in what some are seeing as a "major restructuring."

- The Corporate.WWE.com website has been taken down and the domain is now redirecting users to the main WWE site.

- Stephanie McMahon is now in charge of WWE website as a result of structural changes made in recent weeks.

- Regarding the reports of Bill Goldberg returning to the ring soon, he stated on Twitter that he won't be signing with TNA and as noted before, also said he won't be signing with WWE. Goldberg added the other day that if and when he signs a contract, he will reveal all the details online.

- WWE developmental talent Hunico, who had been performing as Sin Cara up until this weekend, received praise from WWE officials while on the main roster the past few weeks. Some feel that he may be on the fast track to being called up from FCW in the next few months. As noted before, Hunico may be called back up to feud with the original Sin Cara in a Cara vs. Cara feud.