The decision to make the third season of NXT an all-women’s show was likely made very recently because last week, WWE filmed twelve wrestlers at Florida Championship Wrestling, eight men and four women. Initial plans called for four men and four women to be featured in the abbreviated season, but it was later changed to six women.
There is hope that the show will garner better ratings with women prominently featured so they can reach a television deal with another network. There is also hope that Aloisia’s “freak of nature” persona will increase ratings so Syfy will change its mind and renew the program.
Another aspect revolves around unhappiness with many of its current female performers, resulting in the company looking for replacement Divas. Talent relations were unhappy with the behavior of several of the women in recent weeks, particularly when much of the roster was situated in Los Angeles for SummerSlam. It is said that Tiffany and the recently released Serena were not the only ones who made embarrassing scenes in public. Officials are very strict regarding the public image of its talent because of promises to corporate sponsors that World Wrestling Entertainment is a wholesome company.
As things stand now, the lame duck show will end its current season on October 1, with a live episode in Oklahoma City as part of a three-hour programming block that will include the network’s debut of Friday Night SmackDown.
Friday, September 3, 2010
SHORTEST WWE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH IN HISTORY
In regards to Sheamus’ eleven second win over Zack Ryder on last week’s RAW being the shortest WWE Championship Match in history, it is not. It is believed that the shortest WWE Championship Match in history was Diesel’s victory over Bob Backlund on November 26, 1994, which lasted eight seconds. The shortest WWE match in history is believed to be The Rock defeating Big Bossman in four seconds at the 1998 Survivor Series.
JR'S DREAM TO GET FULFILLED
In what has to be great news for WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross, longtime Oklahoma Sooners football commentator Bob Barry announced on Tuesday that he is retiring. Ross said in various interviews over the years that calling Oklahoma football has been a lifelong dream of his, so this could be his chance to fill that position.
FUTURE OF NXT
World Wrestling Entertainment is expected to rush through the current season of NXT with the final episode airing on October 1 just before the premiere of Friday Night SmackDown on Syfy. The third season of NXT will feature five episodes.
While company officials adore NXT and have vowed it will continue, they have been unable to land a new home for the show. With that being said, there was a discussion this past week of moving the show to WGN America. Vince McMahon said that ideally, they would keep both NXT and WWE Superstars.
While company officials adore NXT and have vowed it will continue, they have been unable to land a new home for the show. With that being said, there was a discussion this past week of moving the show to WGN America. Vince McMahon said that ideally, they would keep both NXT and WWE Superstars.
WWE ISSUES STATEMENT ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Mere hours after Luna Vachon’s death last Friday, World Wrestling Entertainment issued a statement addressing the many former wrestlers who have passed away as a result of substance abused related issues.
The statement reads:
“Not withstanding our extensive Talent Wellness Program for current Superstars, WWE goes to great lengths to help our former talent who may have substance abuse problems, offering complete drug rehabilitation at no cost to them. Ultimately, however, stars in any form of entertainment should be held personally responsible for their own actions. Prescription drug overdose is a problem not only with former WWE talent, but society as a whole according to the Center for Disease Control, as it is the second leading cause of unintentional death (particularly among younger people) in the U.S.”
The statement reads:
“Not withstanding our extensive Talent Wellness Program for current Superstars, WWE goes to great lengths to help our former talent who may have substance abuse problems, offering complete drug rehabilitation at no cost to them. Ultimately, however, stars in any form of entertainment should be held personally responsible for their own actions. Prescription drug overdose is a problem not only with former WWE talent, but society as a whole according to the Center for Disease Control, as it is the second leading cause of unintentional death (particularly among younger people) in the U.S.”
KNOXVILLE TO HOST RAW
Jackass star Johnny Knoxville will host WWE’s Monday Night RAW on October 4th to promote his new film, Jackass 3D.
NXT GOING TO BE FOR 12 WEEKS?
WWE NXT 3 will begin airing on SyFy next week, but will end its run on the network on October 1st. If Vickie Guerrero’s Twitter page is any indication, the show will continue well beyond this date. She wrote:
“I am loving my job…I have acquired a female giant as my rookie…life will be interesting in the next 12 weeks!”
“I am loving my job…I have acquired a female giant as my rookie…life will be interesting in the next 12 weeks!”
BACKSTAGE NEWS ON NXT 3 DIVA AJ LEE
Regarding NXT Rookie Diva AJ Lee, WWE’s creative department discussed changing the 23-year-old’s ring name due to a rival promotion’s wrestler sharing the same first name, but ultimately felt it was no concern.
WWE officials originally intended to promote Lee over the summer to the SmackDown brand as a new babyface Diva, replacing released performer Mickie James as ‘the cute small girl’. A vignette featuring Lee aired before the live crowd at the July 6th Friday Night SmackDown television taping om Atlanta, Georgia but cut from the television broadcast because they were introducing Alberto Del Rio via vignettes and felt that other talent shouldn’t be introduced simultaneously.
Lee, who’s real name is believed to be April Jeanette, started wrestling independently in the Northeast in 2007, two years after graduating from high school. While plying her trade on the indy circuit, Lee attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in New York City, majoring in Film and Television production. With just over 20 matches under her belt, she attended WWE’s May 2009 talent evaluation clinic and nabbed a developmental deal — the first female with prior wrestling experience to be signed to a contract in over two years.
Lee debuted in Florida Championship Wrestling in August 2009 and has been among the most prominently featured performers in the developmental promotion since then. She currently reigns as the Queen of FCW.
Of the six NXT season three contestants, Lee is the only contestant with prior WWE wrestling experience, having just competed last week at a SmackDown live event in Odessa, Texas. She is regarded as ‘far and away’ the best in-ring performer of the cast and thus considered the favorite entering the competition.
WWE officials originally intended to promote Lee over the summer to the SmackDown brand as a new babyface Diva, replacing released performer Mickie James as ‘the cute small girl’. A vignette featuring Lee aired before the live crowd at the July 6th Friday Night SmackDown television taping om Atlanta, Georgia but cut from the television broadcast because they were introducing Alberto Del Rio via vignettes and felt that other talent shouldn’t be introduced simultaneously.
Lee, who’s real name is believed to be April Jeanette, started wrestling independently in the Northeast in 2007, two years after graduating from high school. While plying her trade on the indy circuit, Lee attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in New York City, majoring in Film and Television production. With just over 20 matches under her belt, she attended WWE’s May 2009 talent evaluation clinic and nabbed a developmental deal — the first female with prior wrestling experience to be signed to a contract in over two years.
Lee debuted in Florida Championship Wrestling in August 2009 and has been among the most prominently featured performers in the developmental promotion since then. She currently reigns as the Queen of FCW.
Of the six NXT season three contestants, Lee is the only contestant with prior WWE wrestling experience, having just competed last week at a SmackDown live event in Odessa, Texas. She is regarded as ‘far and away’ the best in-ring performer of the cast and thus considered the favorite entering the competition.
JOEY MERCURY INJURED, DISBANDMENT OF STRAIGHT EDGE SOCIETY
Joey Mercury will be out of action for several months after undergoing surgery over the weekend to repair a torn pectoral muscle. It’s considered a six month recovery process.
Despite the injury, Mercury is expected to remain on television since he had his arm on Monday’s Raw just days after surgery. Many feel that with Serena’s recent release, it wasn’t a good time to remove Mercury from television since the Straight Edge Society wouldn’t be much of a group with two people. However, Punk and Gallows broke up at the following night’s SmackDown television taping, so the injury may have been the catalyst to disband the group
Despite the injury, Mercury is expected to remain on television since he had his arm on Monday’s Raw just days after surgery. Many feel that with Serena’s recent release, it wasn’t a good time to remove Mercury from television since the Straight Edge Society wouldn’t be much of a group with two people. However, Punk and Gallows broke up at the following night’s SmackDown television taping, so the injury may have been the catalyst to disband the group
JOHN CENA TALKS ABOUT JERSEY SHORE ON LATE NIGHT
In an interview promoting the “feel good” WWE Films project “Legendary” on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” popular WWE Superstar John Cena put over MTV’s “Jersey Shore” as one of his guilty pleasures.
The reality show came up as a discussion topic following a recurring, “Jersey Shore”-themed Fallon bit, in which he “fist pumps” to a generic house beat played by “Late Night” band The Roots. After Cena congratulated Fallon on making it to three hundred episodes, the band set the beat to chants of “300.” Fallon then congratulated Cena in the wake of WWE’s 900th episode of RAW, at which point, The Roots saluted WWE with the “900? beat treatment.
The two then entered into a discussion about the show, which included a mention of how The Situation’s exaggerated facial expressions portray him as an onlooker watching the show from the outside, rather than as an actual member of the eight person cast. Talk turned to the cast members’ fitness for pro wrestling, at which point, Cena declared that the MTV reality stars would definitely be at home in the world of WWE.
Fallon specifically pointed to Ronnie as someone who could potentially get involved in the ring; Cena joked about Ronnie’s punching power, quoting “one punch, bro, one punch, bro” in reference to an infamous moment on the show in which Ronnie celebrated knocking someone out with a single shot.
The reality show came up as a discussion topic following a recurring, “Jersey Shore”-themed Fallon bit, in which he “fist pumps” to a generic house beat played by “Late Night” band The Roots. After Cena congratulated Fallon on making it to three hundred episodes, the band set the beat to chants of “300.” Fallon then congratulated Cena in the wake of WWE’s 900th episode of RAW, at which point, The Roots saluted WWE with the “900? beat treatment.
The two then entered into a discussion about the show, which included a mention of how The Situation’s exaggerated facial expressions portray him as an onlooker watching the show from the outside, rather than as an actual member of the eight person cast. Talk turned to the cast members’ fitness for pro wrestling, at which point, Cena declared that the MTV reality stars would definitely be at home in the world of WWE.
Fallon specifically pointed to Ronnie as someone who could potentially get involved in the ring; Cena joked about Ronnie’s punching power, quoting “one punch, bro, one punch, bro” in reference to an infamous moment on the show in which Ronnie celebrated knocking someone out with a single shot.
JOHN CENA TALKS ON BEING A PRO IN NXT 3
John Cena was asked on Twitter whether he’s interested in being an NXT pro and gave a response that his detractors will enjoy:
“yes I asked, and was denied. Apparently u need more than 2 moves to officially be called a “pro” (enjoy that one)”
“yes I asked, and was denied. Apparently u need more than 2 moves to officially be called a “pro” (enjoy that one)”
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