WWE SIGNS NEW FOOTBALLER

Tampa Bay Online reports that WWE has signed Andrew Leavine to a developmental deal and he will report to FCW next month.


Leavine, who is 6-foot-5 and 292 pounds, spent the past four years playing football on the offensive line at Florida International University. After graduating with a degree in parks and recreation, Leavine was briefly signed to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins with a few other undrafted rookies.


He also did amateur wrestling in high school and finished his senior year with a record of 33-4 and 23 pins. While in college, Leavine trained some in jiu-jitsu and other forms of MMA. He had the following to say about those skills and stepping into the world of pro wrestling:


“It helps tremendously. But at the same time, I’m walking into a whole different animal here. It’s going to be a process of watching film, watching guys in front of me, like Husky Harris. It helps to watch those guys and see what I have to do to get to the next level.”

UPDATE ON KANE VS REY MYSTERIO

Several ideas are being talked about for the Kane vs. Rey Mysterio match at SummerSlam. We do know that The Undertaker is booked for an angle at the show.


One idea under discussion was for a casket to be brought to ringside and at the end of the match when either Kane or Rey was about to be thrown in, Undertaker would come out and attack Kane to kick off their feud.

BIG HEEL TURN PLANNED FOR SUMMERSLAM

The idea of John Cena turning heel at Sunday’s SummerSlam pay-per-view has at least been discussed in recent creative meetings.

LANCE CADE DIES AT 29 YEARS OLD

Former WWE superstar Lance Cade (real name Lance McNaught) was found dead today. He was 29 years old and leaves behind two young daughters.


Cade was trained by former WWE superstar Shawn Michaels in late 1990’s at Michaels’ wrestling academy in San Antonio, Texas. He was released from WWE after an incident on an airplane where Cade took too many painkillers and went into a seizure. He was brought back to WWE developmental last year but was never used on television and was released again earlier this year.


Cade spoke openly in several interviews about his struggle with sleeping pills. He had been working for independent promotions and in Japan over the past year.


WWE.com confirmed the reports, posting this message:


“World Wrestling Entertainment was informed Friday morning by Lance McNaught’s father that he has passed away of apparent heart failure. WWE extends its deepest condolences to the McNaught family.


Mr. McNaught was under contract from March 2003 to October 2008 and performed under the name “Lance Cade.” He returned to FCW, WWE’s developmental territory, in September 2009, and was released in April 2010.”


“Lance Cade” is currently the top trending Twitter topic in the United States.