Wrestling

- On Wednesday, CM Punk tweeted the following about his absence from WWE: “I am exactly where I belong. No desire to be anywhere else. #thankyouverymuch” As noted, Punk has been dealing with knee problems and was burned out from years on the road – including his historic 1+ year run as WWE Champion. Big Backstage *UPDATE* on CM Punk’s Return and Upcoming Feud with Brock Lesnar…

Bob Holly was recently interviewed by The Sun. Here are some highlights. If he currently watches WWE: “I try to watch it, but sometimes I can’t because it annoys me. There’s a lot of good stuff though. I’m a huge fan of Fandango and I think Dolph Ziggler is the best right now. I would love to see Ziggler and Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania. I don’t usually buy PPV events, but I would buy that one for sure.” His thoughts of TNA: “I enjoy watching TNA and they’ve got great talent across the board, especially Austin Aries, Bobby Roode, James Storm and AJ Styles. Although, I don’t know what the deal with AJ is — they seem to start and stop with him. “I was really impressed when I met Magnus, he’s got a good mind for wrestling and I think he’s going to have a great future in the business.” Holly also discussed his new book, if he would join WWE as a road agent, leaving WWE in 2009 and more.

The follow release was sent in: Shawn Michaels will be making a rare East Coast fan meet-and-greet appearance for on Saturday, Aug. 31, at the Louis Spilman Auditorium in Waynesboro, Va. Fans can take part in one of two ways – through the VIP Meet and Greet and the Fan Q&A. “We wanted to give fans every chance they could to be able to be a part of this special day,” said Chris Graham, the president of Top Rope Pro Wrestling, which is co-hosting the event with Michaels. Tickets for the Fan Q&A are just $25, Graham noted, “and that means for $25, you can ask Shawn anything. The Montreal Screwjob, WrestleMania main events, DX, even his days back in AWA.” “This is just a neat opportunity for fans,” Graham said. Starting at $125, fans can take part in the Meet and Greet with Michaels that gets you entry into the Fan Q&A and photo opportunities with Michaels. A limited number of VIP Passes are available at $175 with guaranteed Row 1-5 seating and a spot in the front of the line for the Meet and Greet. The event is still three months away, but fans from across the country have been snatching up the VIP Passes and are now moving into the Superstar-level tickets. “Look, we’re big fans, too. This is without a doubt the biggest meet and greet that we’ll ever do. Shawn does so few of these type events. We’re privileged to have this opportunity to be a part of this show, and we encourage fans to get their tickets now, because they’re not going to be around for much longer,” Graham said. More information on the show is available online at here.

- As noted earlier, Jim Ross was going to meet with officials from the NFL Players Association on Wednesday to discuss a potential working relationship between the NFLPA and WWE. This could see WWE recruit former NFL players who no longer have a spot in the league. Ross tweeted about the meeting: “Great meeting in DC today w/ NFLPA & @NolanHarrison74. Anxious to see what the future holds. @wwe looking 4 charismatic beasts who luv genre” Backstage News on Another Huge Change WWE Is Working On…

- Former WWE star Carlito commented on his tweet he posted earlier this week about The Shield: “Dirt sheets, stop trying to start sh*#% with my tweets! These just f’n jokes! Leave me in the land of irrelevance where Im happy! Thank you” Carlito took a jab at the group, writing on Twitter, “Just watched RAW, two members of the group need to stop believing in THE SHIELD & start believing in THE GYM!” - The Rock tweeted about his upcoming work on the Hercules movie: “2 weeks away from shooting HERCULES. Intense workouts w/ my strength coach Dave Rienzi (future IFBB Pro). Lets Shoot. #UpperBodyViolence” Top WWE Star Upset at SmackDown, Hot New AJ Photos, More…

- Below is this week’s episode of The JBL & Cole World Tour: - As noted earlier, Wednesday was Daniel Bryan’s 32nd birthday. His girlfriend Brie Bella wished him a happy birthday on Twitter and posted the following photo: - Adam Rank of NFL.com published a new blog entry listing six NFL names who would make great WWE Superstars. Rank named Brian Urlacher, Jared Allen, Steve Smith, Chris Kluwe, Rob Gronkowski and Richard Sherman. Possible Spoiler on Sheamus, The Shield’s Next Move, More…

Straight from our Cageside Features Section, we bring you the results for our fifth CSS Pro Wrestling Championship Series of tournaments here at Cageside Seats. Our latest match-up in the first round of our tourney is complete, and so are your results. Yesterday, (Tue., May 22) our number four-seeded Doomsday Device defeated the thirteenth-seeded Pepsi Plunge by 30 votes! Thus bringing the Doomsday Device one-step closer to being crowned the Greatest Finisher of All Time. The final tally was: (Click Image to Enlarge) Be sure to vote today (Thurs., May 23) as the CSSGFT continues our next first round match: (1) Stone Cold Stunner vs. (16) Muscle Buster. Voting will remain open in the comments section of the new match thread from 6 a.m. ET today, right up until midnight-CT tonight -- with the results announced tomorrow (Fri., May 24). Our bracket will continue to be narrowed down by you, the Cagesiders, in order to determine which finisher CSS believes to be the Greatest Finisher of All Time.

By Chris Aiken | lariatrope@live.com | @lariatrope Airdate: May 22, 2013 WWE Main Event from Omaha opened with Ricardo Rodriguez introducing Alberto Del Rio. The entrance of Big E Langston followed along with highlights from Raw of Langston beating Del Rio in a match. During Langston’s entrance with chalk in his hands, Big E clapped his hands together several times and powder went flying around. Lebron James does a similar gimmick and it works for him but Langston just looked as if he inhaled a bunch of chalk. Plus, Lebron is way more over. The advertised match between Wade Barrett and Sin Care got no mention and never took place. Apparently, plans change. Alberto Del Rio beat Big E Langston. In the opening moments, Langton overpowered Del Rio after blocking a suplex. Big E whipped Alberto into a corner a few times and began to work him over. Del Rio fought back with a kick and ducked when Langston charged towards him. Big E went over the top rope to the floor then Del Rio hit a tope. AJ screamed at Del Rio as he tried to get back in the ring. The distraction allowed Langston to knock Del Rio off the apron and send him crashing into the barricade before a commercial break. After the break, Big E had Alberto grounded and, when Del Rio tried to mount a comeback, Langston caught him as he dove off the top rope and he delivered three backbreakers. Once again, Del Rio tried to start a comeback but he missed a splash in the corner and Langston worked him over more. Alberto tried a sunset flip but Big E broke up the attempt. Langston charged into the corner and caught a boot from Del Rio before taking a tornado DDT. At ringside, Ricardo led the crowd in clapping for Alberto. Big E cut off the comeback of Del Rio but missed a charge in the corner and hit the ring post shoulder first. Moments later, Langston hit a belly-to-belly suplex and took down the strap on his gear to set up his finisher. Del Rio caught Langston and tried to apply the armbar but Langton blocked it. Del Rio blocked the “big ending” finisher and used an enzuigiri from behind and rolled up Langston for the pin. Following the match, a recap aired highlighting the feud between Ryback and John Cena. The video package put over Ryback as a strong monster heel and would help establish the ambulance gimmick for an angle later on in this episode. Jimmy & Jey Uso beat Drew McIntyre & Jinder Mahal (plus Ryback kidnapped Heath Slater). The match started at a slower pace than most of the secondary matches on this show usually do but the match started about halfway through the show instead of being in the final segment. The Usos used some double team moves and the action went back-and-forth until 3MB began to get heat on one of the Usos. After nailing a spin kick, the Usos got the hot tag and the fresh brother ran wild on 3MB. After Jey Uso went to the top rope, McIntyre distracted him and Mahal crotched him on the turnbuckle. 3MB got heat on Jey until a hot tag was made. After Jimmy hit the Rikishi (butt) splash in the corner, sirens sounded and an ambulance appeared. Ryback came out of the ambulance, marched down to ringside, attacked Heath Slater and threw him in the back of the ambulance. So he kidnapped Slater on national television and, if he is not renting the services of the ambulance, apparently committed grand theft auto beforehand. Nevertheless, the Usos used a splash off the top on to McIntyre and got the pin. Afterwards, highlights aired of the closing angle from Raw where Triple H collapsed during his match with Curtis Axel. In an “update” on the condition of Triple H, Michael Cole said he suffered from post-concussion syndrome that he attributed to the sledgehammer shot at Extreme Rules.

By Chris Aiken | lariatrope@live.com | @lariatrope Airdate: May 22, 2013 WWE Main Event from Omaha opened with Ricardo Rodriguez introducing Alberto Del Rio. The entrance of Big E Langston followed along with highlights from Raw of Langston beating Del Rio in a match. During Langston’s entrance with chalk in his hands, Big E clapped his hands together several times and powder went flying around. Lebron James does a similar gimmick and it works for him but Langston just looked as if he inhaled a bunch of chalk. Plus, Lebron is way more over. The advertised match between Wade Barrett and Sin Care got no mention and never took place. Apparently, plans change. Alberto Del Rio beat Big E Langston. In the opening moments, Langton overpowered Del Rio after blocking a suplex. Big E whipped Alberto into a corner a few times and began to work him over. Del Rio fought back with a kick and ducked when Langston charged towards him. Big E went over the top rope to the floor then Del Rio hit a tope. AJ screamed at Del Rio as he tried to get back in the ring. The distraction allowed Langston to knock Del Rio off the apron and send him crashing into the barricade before a commercial break. After the break, Big E had Alberto grounded and, when Del Rio tried to mount a comeback, Langston caught him as he dove off the top rope and he delivered three backbreakers. Once again, Del Rio tried to start a comeback but he missed a splash in the corner and Langston worked him over more. Alberto tried a sunset flip but Big E broke up the attempt. Langston charged into the corner and caught a boot from Del Rio before taking a tornado DDT. At ringside, Ricardo led the crowd in clapping for Alberto. Big E cut off the comeback of Del Rio but missed a charge in the corner and hit the ring post shoulder first. Moments later, Langston hit a belly-to-belly suplex and took down the strap on his gear to set up his finisher. Del Rio caught Langston and tried to apply the armbar but Langton blocked it. Del Rio blocked the “big ending” finisher and used an enzuigiri from behind and rolled up Langston for the pin. Following the match, a recap aired highlighting the feud between Ryback and John Cena. The video package put over Ryback as a strong monster heel and would help establish the ambulance gimmick for an angle later on in this episode. Jimmy & Jey Uso beat Drew McIntyre & Jinder Mahal (plus Ryback kidnapped Heath Slater). The match started at a slower pace than most of the secondary matches on this show usually do but the match started about halfway through the show instead of being in the final segment. The Usos used some double team moves and the action went back-and-forth until 3MB began to get heat on one of the Usos. After nailing a spin kick, the Usos got the hot tag and the fresh brother ran wild on 3MB. After Jey Uso went to the top rope, McIntyre distracted him and Mahal crotched him on the turnbuckle. 3MB got heat on Jey until a hot tag was made. After Jimmy hit the Rikishi (butt) splash in the corner, sirens sounded and an ambulance appeared. Ryback came out of the ambulance, marched down to ringside, attacked Heath Slater and threw him in the back of the ambulance. So he kidnapped Slater on national television and, if he is not renting the services of the ambulance, apparently committed grand theft auto beforehand. Nevertheless, the Usos used a splash off the top on to McIntyre and got the pin. Afterwards, highlights aired of the closing angle from Raw where Triple H collapsed during his match with Curtis Axel. In an “update” on the condition of Triple H, Michael Cole said he suffered from post-concussion syndrome that he attributed to the sledgehammer shot at Extreme Rules.

By Chris Aiken | lariatrope@live.com | @lariatrope Airdate: May 22, 2013 WWE Main Event from Omaha opened with Ricardo Rodriguez introducing Alberto Del Rio. The entrance of Big E Langston followed along with highlights from Raw of Langston beating Del Rio in a match. During Langston’s entrance with chalk in his hands, Big E clapped his hands together several times and powder went flying around. Lebron James does a similar gimmick and it works for him but Langston just looked as if he inhaled a bunch of chalk. Plus, Lebron is way more over. The advertised match between Wade Barrett and Sin Care got no mention and never took place. Apparently, plans change. Alberto Del Rio beat Big E Langston. In the opening moments, Langton overpowered Del Rio after blocking a suplex. Big E whipped Alberto into a corner a few times and began to work him over. Del Rio fought back with a kick and ducked when Langston charged towards him. Big E went over the top rope to the floor then Del Rio hit a tope. AJ screamed at Del Rio as he tried to get back in the ring. The distraction allowed Langston to knock Del Rio off the apron and send him crashing into the barricade before a commercial break. After the break, Big E had Alberto grounded and, when Del Rio tried to mount a comeback, Langston caught him as he dove off the top rope and he delivered three backbreakers. Once again, Del Rio tried to start a comeback but he missed a splash in the corner and Langston worked him over more. Alberto tried a sunset flip but Big E broke up the attempt. Langston charged into the corner and caught a boot from Del Rio before taking a tornado DDT. At ringside, Ricardo led the crowd in clapping for Alberto. Big E cut off the comeback of Del Rio but missed a charge in the corner and hit the ring post shoulder first. Moments later, Langston hit a belly-to-belly suplex and took down the strap on his gear to set up his finisher. Del Rio caught Langston and tried to apply the armbar but Langton blocked it. Del Rio blocked the “big ending” finisher and used an enzuigiri from behind and rolled up Langston for the pin. Following the match, a recap aired highlighting the feud between Ryback and John Cena. The video package put over Ryback as a strong monster heel and would help establish the ambulance gimmick for an angle later on in this episode. Jimmy & Jey Uso beat Drew McIntyre & Jinder Mahal (plus Ryback kidnapped Heath Slater). The match started at a slower pace than most of the secondary matches on this show usually do but the match started about halfway through the show instead of being in the final segment. The Usos used some double team moves and the action went back-and-forth until 3MB began to get heat on one of the Usos. After nailing a spin kick, the Usos got the hot tag and the fresh brother ran wild on 3MB. After Jey Uso went to the top rope, McIntyre distracted him and Mahal crotched him on the turnbuckle. 3MB got heat on Jey until a hot tag was made. After Jimmy hit the Rikishi (butt) splash in the corner, sirens sounded and an ambulance appeared. Ryback came out of the ambulance, marched down to ringside, attacked Heath Slater and threw him in the back of the ambulance. So he kidnapped Slater on national television and, if he is not renting the services of the ambulance, apparently committed grand theft auto beforehand. Nevertheless, the Usos used a splash off the top on to McIntyre and got the pin. Afterwards, highlights aired of the closing angle from Raw where Triple H collapsed during his match with Curtis Axel. In an “update” on the condition of Triple H, Michael Cole said he suffered from post-concussion syndrome that he attributed to the sledgehammer shot at Extreme Rules.