Month: January 2021

TNA Impact Wrestling Preview: New TV Champion, Hogan Visits The Club House

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The following is TNA’s official preview for tonight’s live episode of Impact Wrestling on Spike TV:

NEW TV CHAMPION TO BE CROWNED ON CHAMPIONSHIP THURSDAY!

“Championship Thursday” returns to Impact Wrestling on Spike TV this Thursday with an added wrinkle; there is no defending champion. Negotiations between TNA’s current TV Champion Devon and TNA have been ongoing over the last month and have reached an impasse. As of today, The TNA TV Championship last held by Devon is vacated. TNA hopes that Devon returns to the active roster in the future. A new TV champion will be crowned LIVE on Impact!

Usually, in the “Championship Thursday” format, four challengers meet with IMPACT WRESTLING GM Hulk Hogan and plead their case as to why they deserve the shot at the champion. This month, one of the four men is guaranteed to be the new TV Champion! The challengers selected to compete in this “Championship Thursday” are Samoa Joe, Garett Bischoff, Magnus and Mr. Anderson. Hulk will hear these men’s arguments why they should be the one to get the title shot and then Hogan will make the hard decision of which two will face off. Tune into Spike TV at 8pt/7ct this Thursday night to see a new champion crowned.

ALSO ON THURSDAY’S BROADCAST:

-Last week on Impact, the Aces and 8s invited Hulk Hogan to come and meet with them face to face on their own turf, in their clubhouse. Hogan agreed to their demands before they brutally attacked Joseph Park. What will happen this Thursday on Impact? Will Hogan still enter enemy territory with Aces and 8s? Plus, we hope to find out the latest on Joseph Park’s physical condition.

-Will “TNA Gut Check” prospect Evan Markopolous earn a contract and a spot on the TNA roster? The newcomer faces the judging trio of Bruce Prichard, Al Snow, and Taz on this broadcast.

-TNA World Champion Austin Aries and Jeff Hardy will both appear on Thursday’s telecast. Less than 3 weeks ago from their TNA World Title Match at Bound For Glory, what will happen next in this developing rivalry between the champ and the BFG Series winner?

All this and much more on Thursday’s IMPACT WRESTLING on SpikeTV LIVE at 8/7c, including the latest news of the “Bound For Glory” Pay-Per-View event.

*SPOILER* On Which Wrestlers Are Behind ACES & EIGHTS

Marks & Spencer signs call to action over forced labour in Xinjiang, China

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Marks & Spencer has become one of the first companies to formally sign a
call to action over human rights violations in Xinjiang, China, where
Uighurs and other minority groups are reportedly being forced into manual
labour.

In December, a new report released by the Washington-based Center for
Global Policy found that more than half a million Uighurs and other
minorities were being forced into picking cotton.

Xinjiang produces around 85 percent of China’s and 20 percent of the
world’s cotton, which is used by fashion companies across the globe.

The call to action, supported by groups including the Ethical Trading
Initiative, demands businesses ensure their full supply chains – including
secondary and tertiary suppliers – are not linked to the human rights
abuses in the region.

Marks & Spencer said the signing of the call to action “is in line with
the company’s long-term focus on ensuring its supply chains are sustainable
and ethical, where workers are treated fairly, and their human rights are
respected”.

The retailer said that 100 percent of the cotton used in its fashion
ranges is sustainably sourced and that it is already one of the few
retailers that does not work with any supplier in or source from
Xinjiang.

Richard Price, Marks & Spencer clothing and home managing director,
said: “When it comes to sustainable and ethical clothing, we can only
achieve real change at scale by working with others, which is why we are
proud to be formally supporting the coalition and providing additional
assurance to our customers they can purchase from M&S with confidence.”

Jasmine O’Connor, CEO at Anti-Slavery International, said she welcomed
“the leadership shown by Marks & Spencer” and encouraged other retailers to
do the same.

“The Call to Action sets out a clear path of action for brands to follow
in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and we
call upon other major brands to follow suit with M&S and commit to the Call
to Action urgently,” O’Connor said.

Photo credit: Pixabay

Ex-TNA Star Wants To Wrestle At WWE Show, WWE Confirms TLC PPV Location

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– Jesse Neal, who is coming to Malone, New York on Saturday to sign autographs, is featured in a local newspaper and it notes that he’s interested in performing at WWE’s annual Tribute to the Troops in honor of the friends he lost in the Navy. (Thanks to Kyle)

Neal served in the United States Navy from 1998 to 2002, where he reached the rank of petty officer. He was on board USS Cole when it was suicide bombed on October 12, 2000. Neal has a tattoo on his right forearm of the initials of his best friend, who was killed in the attack.

– According to WrestlingFigs.com, a commercial aired during Raw in the New York area confirming that WWE’s annual TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view event will take place Sunday, December 16 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Tickets for the show go on sale Saturday, October 6 via Ticketmaster.

– WWE Divas Champion Eve and David Otunga met with Miss Connecticut USA Marie-Lynn Piscitelli and fans at the 10th annual Connecticut Women’s Expo over the weekend. WWE.com has published photos of their appearance.

RARE VIDEO – Santino Marella’s real voice caught on tape ->

Jim Ross Hypes Tonight's RAW, Shaul Guerrerro Comments On WWE Departure

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– Today’s wrestling birthdays include TNA star Robbie E (29), Michael McGillicutty (33), former WWE star Rico (51) and Mexican wrestling legend Hector Guerrero (58).

– WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross will be doing lots of local TV and radio in Oklahoma City this morning to promote tonight’s “Jim Ross Appreciation Night” edition of WWE RAW. He will be doing TV interviews for Channels 4 and 43 this morning before moving onto radio appearances for KATT, KXXY and KRBU.

JR also tweeted this about tonight’s show:

“I’m very excited 2 be honored by #WWE Monday night on #RAW. If you can attend I hope you will. If not, join us for the broadcast. Thx 2 all.”

As of this writing, there is no confirmation that Jim Ross will be announcing tonight’s RAW with Michael Cole.

– Shaul Guerrero, the former Raquel Diaz in WWE developmental, tweeted this about her WWE departure over the weekend:

“Thank you all for your love and support, WWE has been one of the highlights of my life. I learned so much and consider them family.”

* Pictures of SHAUL GUERRERO’s “Lady Gaga” Gimmick From NXT

Edge Denies Turning Down WWE Offer & Talks Retirement, Dreamer-HoH

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WWE Hall of Famer Adam “Edge” Copeland was interviewed this week by the Whig Standard to hype the first live event for Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore this Saturday night from Poughkeepsie, NY. Here are some highlights of what the Rated R Superstar said about:

On whether he had advance knowledge that his in-ring career would end so suddenly: “None of us did,” Copeland said. “I knew there were issues, but we didn’t the extent of what the issues were. It kind of caught all of us — me probably least of all just because I was like ‘whoa, something weird is happening here…’ I knew something (was wrong). No one else really knew because I didn’t tell anybody else. I think Christian was the only who knew because he rode with me. And he knows me. Him, I’ll confide in. And Tommy, there were nights where he carried my bags up for me because I had no strength in my arms. He knew, too. But generally, it was like you just go out, you do your thing and you don’t say anything and then you get back and you do it again.”

House of Hardcore: “I think it can be a place that I know Tommy kind of wants it to be — where guys can have a little bit more freedom to maybe not have quite as many restraints,” he said. “That doesn’t mean light bulbs or any of that crap. I think it just (means) if guys want to go out and try some different things, they’ll have the freedom to do it. And I’m sure they’ll be told ‘hey, that didn’t work,’ but you don’t know unless you try. I think you’ll probably have the Young Bucks and (Brian) Kendrick and (Paul) London go out and try a million things,” he said of some of the stars on tap at the debut show. “Half of them might work, half of them might not, but it will be cool to watch the process of what does and doesn’t. Or where things should be tweaked.”

Taking on a Backstage Role for HOH: “I told Tommy … ‘man I don’t mind helping out, helping guys put their ideas together in a way that makes sense, or helping guys after the fact if they want,’ and just kind of being hands-on with (Dreamer) in the back and help him out in that respect. That’s something that is a little foreign to the wrestling veteran, believe it or not. I’ve had a lot of young guys come up and ask me throughout the years, and it’s always nice to see them implemented and then when it works, it’s even nicer. It’s like ‘OK, good, I didn’t give bad advice.’ But I’ve never been in a backstage role where I wasn’t also wrestling, too. That could be kind of neat, just to, I guess for lack of a better term, kind of give back in that respect.”

Edge also denied that he was offered a new deal by WWE and the company has not said anything negative to him about his work with Tommy Dreamer’s promotion.

* VIEW HERE: Pictures of NXT Diva SKYLER MOON (Formerly Buggy Nova)

Kofi Getting IC Ttile Shot Next Week, Linda's Next Debate Tonight, Inbox

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– Linda McMahon’s next US Senate debate against Chris Murphy is tonight and will air on the Fox affiliate in Connecticut. The third debate will take place next Monday and the final debate takes place next Thursday.

– NFL player Adam Carriker recently lost a bet to Bill Goldberg and as a result, had to dress up like the former World Heavyweight Champion. The bet was over who would win last week’s game between the Atlanta Falcons (Goldberg’s former team) and Carriker’s Washington Redskins. Click here to view the picture of Carriker dressed up like Goldberg in the Redskins’ locker room.

– Kofi Kingston challenge The Miz for the Intercontinental championship on next week WWE Main Event. Kofi issued the challenge on this week’s show.

– Below is the latest episode of WWE Inbox:

* RYBACK To Get The WWE Title? Backstage News On His Monster Push

Brodus Clay Q&A: Working For Snoop Dogg, Funkasaurus Origin & More

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Brodus Clay was recently interviewed by Reyan Ali of Connecticut’s CT.com to promote WWE’s upcoming RAW World Tour live event this Sunday (10/21) at the XL Center in Hartford. Clay talks about who he travels with (Santino and Alex Riley), what Santino is like away from the ring, how he was discovered by Tommy Dreamer, what it was like to have Snoop Dogg as a boss, what his childhood was like, his current interests, and what the previous names and ideas for the Funkasaurus gimmick were.

You can check out the full interview at CT.com. Here are some highlights:

Q: There was a period in late 2011 where they frequently referenced your impending arrival, but it kept getting delayed. Was it a situation where the delay was planned or your future was in possible jeopardy?

A: My future? No, I don’t think so. [Chris] Jericho’s imminent return was coming, Kane’s return was coming, The Rock was coming. There were so many other things going on. In the meantime, there were these two personas that I have that are very much who I am. I’m literally split down the middle. I can either be the funniest guy in the room and life of the party, but I also can be the most uncomfortable-looking dude in the room at the same time. [With] the two personas I have, [the creative team] were really just trying to figure out, ‘Which one should he show the world?’ I’m glad [for] the wisdom that I didn’t necessarily understand at the time. Looking back, it was the right decision.

Q: Did you come up with the Funkasaurus idea or did somebody else pitch it to you?

A: Actually, the original nickname that I was told — it scared me to death — was Heavy G. I think the last thing you want to be known as is Heavy anything. No offense to Heavy D — rest his soul. Worked for him, wasn’t really my bag. Rob MacIntyre, who I trained with, was a big reason behind me dropping me a hundred and 50 pounds. Him and I were lifting weights and making jokes, trying to figure out better names. First it was the Funk Monster and then Funk Nasty. Then, he looked at me and [said], ‘Funkasaurus’ and started laughing, and he pitched it.

The writer was like, ‘I’ll get ready [your] debut. What are we going to call you?’ I was like, ‘I don’t want to be Heavy G.’ He was like, ‘Look, man, I’ve got like 12 other things to do. Just call yourself whatever you want to call yourself’ so I told the announcer to call me the Funkasaurus. He looked at me like I was crazy. I’m like, ‘I don’t know why I want to be the Funkasaurus.’ So I got lucky that the swamped writer had other things going on. Luckily, it stuck.

Q: You’ve talked before about Saddle Ranch, a restaurant in Los Angeles, where important stories involving Snoop Dogg and former WWE wrestler Tommy Dreamer took place. Were you working security or just happened to be there?

A: I was a bodyguard for the owner of the establishment. It used to be pretty crazy nights at the Universal location — 13, 1400 people. Girls dance on the stage. Pretty much everybody when they came to LA usually wanted to find out where Saddle Ranch was at — celebrities and stuff.

Snoop’s people saw me there and offered me a job. Fortunately, Tommy Dreamer observed me breaking up a fight and doing it very Funkasaurus-like. I’m not gonna tease ya — they weren’t big guys so it wasn’t like feats of incredible human strength or an awesome karate fight scene from a movie. They were about as big as my leg, and I picked ’em up like suitcases and carried ’em out, but I made jokes while I did it. [Tommy] told me I should do that on TV, which I thought was hilarious. I had already tried a few times to get into wrestling and it didn’t really work out. It was kind of funny — I had all but given up. I was bodyguarding. At the same time, I was working with kids during the day. I worked at Five Acres, where I was a recreation therapist during the day. I worked with 6-, 7- and 8-year-olds on motor development, trying to teach ’em how to be kids again.

* PICTURE of BRODUS CLAY As SNOOP DOGG’s Body Guard

Paul Heyman Reportedly Proposes Faction, Sheamus Video Interview, Triple H

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– World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus appeared on WPRI-TV’s morning show Tuesday promoting the evening’s SmackDown event in Providence, Rhode Island at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. Video of his appearance is available here.

– WWE has no live events scheduled before Sunday’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view event at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

– Paul Heyman, who is gaining more creative influence within WWE, recently proposed a faction consisting of WWE Champion CM Punk, Brock Lesnar and Antonio Cesaro, according to SuperLuchas.net.

– Triple H is featured in today’s “Superstar Spotlight” on WWE.com.

PHOTO – CM Punk had a razor blade at Raw? ->

John Cena Returns To Action Wednesday Night, WWE Looks Back At Beth Phoenix

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– John Cena competed in his first match since he underwent surgery on Sept. 18 to remove bone chips from his elbow at Wednesday’s Raw live event in Strasbourg, France. He beat Dolph Ziggler.

In other match results, Brodus Clay and Santino Marella beat Epico and Primo, Michael McGillicutty beat Tensai, Antonio Cesaro successfully defended the WWE United States Championship against Zack Ryder, Team Hell No beat Rhodes Scholars to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship, and Ryback beat WWE Champion CM Punk via disqualification. AJ Lee also beat Eve and Layla to win the WWE Divas Championship, but Raw Managing Supervisor Vickie Guerrero appeared and reversed the decision.

– Howard Finkel, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Vader, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Katie Lea, Daffney and Jimmy Hart have been announced to appear at the Rhode Island Comic Con taking place this Saturday and Sunday at Rhode Island Convention Center 1 Sabin St. Providence, Rhode Island.

– The official WWE website has published a video playlist of “The Glamazon” Beth Phoenix’s most memorable moments following her departure from the organization on Monday.

Photos of Beth Phoenix and Edge ->

(source: PWInsider.com)

Top Stars Advertised For WM29, Barrett Wants SummerSlam At Wembley Stadium

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– WrestleMania 29 tickets went on pre-sale this morning. Tickets go on sale to the public this weekend.

– After the first WrestleMania 29 promotional came out and featured The Rock, Brock Lesnar and John Cena, additional promotional material that’s been released since then features the same 3 wrestlers.

– In response to this weekend’s WrestleMania 29 ticket launch, SmackDown star Wade Barrett is telling his fans on Twitter that WWE should bring SummerSlam back to Wembley Stadium, which hosted hte event back in 1992:

“Wrestlemania 29 tickets go on sale this Saturday and I’ve no doubt that the Brits will again make up a disproportionately large % of sales. After showing that they are the best fans on the planet this week in Brum, I think it’s about time Summerslam made a return to Wembley. There is no place in the world i’d rather beat Sheamus than over the centre-circle of the greatest stadium in the world.”

Adding more fuel to the fire, Wade Barrett selected this week’s WWE Classics “Five-Star Match of the Week” and picked (you guessed it..) Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog from SummerSlam 92. Barrett commented told WWE.com:

“[The Bulldog] was from just down the road from me, near Wigan. I’m from Preston, very close. He was my idol as a kid, so this was a great moment and great to have a pay-per-view like SummerSlam in the U.K. I hope we get that again one day.”

* Rumor On RAW Returning To 2 Hours, Reaction To Linda’s Senate Loss