WWE increases security to protect Maryse

TMZ.com is reporting that WWE is increasing the security at live events to protect Maryse from a stalker after she was sent several e-mails from the fan.

The plan is to keep the security in place until the company feels the stalker is no longer a legitimate threat. They’ve also taken other measures, but won’t give details of the security plan to make sure it works.

The e-mails sent to Maryse from 61-year-old Lee Silber had him saying he would “take [her] to heaven with him.”

Steve Austin praises WWE Divas + Tough Enough news

– Steve Austin posted the following on Twitter, regarding Tough Enough and Melina and Alicia Fox: “Let me bottom line something right now–i meant no disrespect to Melina or Alicia on TE. both women are class acts and hard workers. cheers.”

TMZ.com caught up with Steve Austin, who gave the Rock a thumbs up and said that he was one his favorite opponents. You can check out video of that at http://www.tmz.com/

– WWE Tough Enough’s debut ratings got some attention from Multi Channel News.

– The Tough Enough Website has posted extra and deleted scenes. One of them includes Matt (M-Dogg 20) running into CM Punk. You can check that out at http://www.usanetwork.com/series/toughenough/

Snooki Says She’s Done With Wrestling – Details

Jersey Shore star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi told TMZ.com during an impromptu interview that her wrestling career is over. She said she has way too much going on in her life to focus on WWE. This is a complete turn from her earlier comments where she said she wanted to become a full-time WWE Diva following The Jersey Shore.

Polizzi won her debut match at WrestleMania XXVII Sunday, defeating Michelle McCool following a series of aerobatic maneuvers.

A New ‘Wrestling Wives’ Reality TV Show In The Works

According to TMZ, the guys behind Pit Boss have teamed up with VH1 to produce a new reality show similar to Basketball Wives, titled Wrestler Wives.

Sources have stated that Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman (Booker T’s wife), Stacy Carter (Jerry Lawler’s ex-wife) and Jackie Haas (Charlie Haas’ wife) will be the focus of the show. The show will center around Booker T’s wrestling school in Texas, which Sharmell runs along with Booker.

TMZ covers Michael Cole slur – WWE responds

TMZ.com has picked up the story on Michael Cole calling fellow WWE announcer Josh Matthews a “faggot” earlier today via Twitter. This is exactly what WWE didn’t want to happen. You can expect the story to appear in numerous media outlets now that TMZ has picked it up. It’s obviously not good news for WWE, especially with Michael Cole set for a main event match at WrestleMania 27 next Sunday.

The one word message was deleted approximately half an hour later and an apology was issued.

“I apologize to any and all who were offended by my tweet toward young Josh Mathews,” Cole wrote. “It was obviously not meant the way it was taken.”

He later added, “I was not ordered to apologize I said I am sorry because I am. Now can I get back to being a character again please?”

Here is the TMZ.com article:

Less than two weeks after the WWE and GLAAD teamed up to say they were going to work together to curb homophobic slurs in wrestling, one of the WWE’s top announcers tweeted one at a fellow announcer.

Earlier today, Michael Cole simply tweeted one disgusting word towards fellow announcer Josh Mathews. Cole quickly took down the tweet and apologized.

The WWE and GLAAD announced a partnership on March 17 to try and put an end to bullying based on sexual orientation after a series of homophobic taunts was made by wrestler John Cena.

WWE said at the time: “WWE takes this issue very seriously, and has already spoken with our talent about these incidents. We are taking steps and working with GLAAD to ensure that our fans know that WWE is against bullying or discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.”

A rep for the WWE tells TMZ, “WWE has alerted GLAAD to the situation and spoken to Michael Cole about his post. He has removed it and apologized for using hateful language. Michael will be included in the training session being done by GLAAD. WWE takes this very seriously and is against discrimination of any kind based on sexual orientation, gender, race, religion or other.”

A rep for GLAAD could not be reached for comment.

TMZ.com has also posted screen caps from Cole’s tweet. It should be noted that Cole earlier tweeted that he was not told to issue an apology. WWE’s statement to TMZ.com contradicts that statement. Once again, damage control at its finest folks! I can’t imagine Vince McMahon is thrilled with this either. Good luck at RAW Monday, Michael!

UPDATE: The Baltimore Sun has picked up the story. Expect a ton more in the coming days.

Ex-WWE Diva Chyna calls out Snooki – Details

As everyone knows by now, Jersey Shore star Snooki made her WWE debut on RAW when she got physical with LayCool and was booked for a match at WrestleMania 27.

According to TMZ.com, Chyna says that “Snooki” is making a mockery out of pro wrestling and wants to settle their beef in the ring.

Chyna told TMZ, “Snooki is trying to make a joke out of wrestling”. “I could take on Snooki AND The Situation in a tag match and have some fun doing it.”

As reported earlier with a video here on the website, former WWE star Shad Gaspard was arrested for resisting arrest and obstructing official business on Sunday while in Columbus, OH for the Arnold Fitness EXPO. Gaspard’s wife originally claimed it was a jaywalking incident that turned into a case of racial profiling.

TMZ has posted video of Shad Gaspard’s arrest. MMA fighter Josh Barnett shot the footage, which begins just after Gaspard was taken to the ground. Shad can be heard saying, “Why am I being arrested? Because I’m big and I’m black?” One of the officers claims that he was resisting arrest. Shad feels that he is the victim of racial profiling, and that he will fight this.

In an update on this, Sgt. Rich Weiner of the Columbus Police Department told TMZ that Gaspard was spotted by an officer standing in the road and in the way of oncoming traffic. He told TMZ that Gaspard was belligerent and ignored requests from the officer to move out of the street and also refused to show his ID when asked numerous times.

Sgt. Weiner says that when the officer tried to arrest Shad, he “broke free from the officers as they attempted to take him into custody.” Wiener then says the video that is posted online doesn’t show the events leading up to him being thrown to the ground and then placed in handcuffs. Several onlookers tried to tell police that he did nothing wrong but cops were not having any of it and continued on with the arrest.

Shad on the other hand feels differently. In an exclusive update, I spoke to them this morning and his version of the events is as follows. Gaspard claims one of his friends was nearly hit by a car. His friends started yelling at the driver while Shad stood on the sidewalk. He says that’s when an officer approached and told his friends to quit the yelling. Shad came over and tried to explain to the responding officer that he had just witnessed a near hit-and-run. This is where things took a turn for the worse. Shad was already ticked off at what he had witnessed and was asked by the officer on-scene for his ID. Gaspard questioned why as he didn’t do anything wrong and was just looking out for another person. When he refused to show ID, he was asked to put his hands behind his back. Shad claims he then squatted down as to not intimidate the cop due to his stature and the cop tackled him anyway. As noted above, Shad feels he was treated unfairly and claims he’s not going to stand by while cops disrespect him. He says you can expect a lawsuit shortly and they have spoken to an attorney today.

Shad is also telling TMZ he feels he’s the victim of racial profiling — and claims during his ride to the police station, he heard the arresting officer saying, “He’s just one more …” Shad added, “I don’t know exactly what to do yet, but I will fight this as much as possible. I’m not doing it for the money, I have the means, I’m doing this so cops don’t think they can do this to someone else … it’s not right.”

TMZ posts ‘Shocking’ video of Shad Gaspard’s arrest

TMZ has posted video of Shad Gaspard’s arrest from this weekend in Ohio. MMA fighter Josh Barnett shot the footage, which begins just after Gaspard was taken to the ground. Shad can be heard saying, “Why am I being arrested? Because I’m big and I’m black?” One of the officers claims that he was resisting arrest. Witness even say to the camera that they did not see Shad do anything wrong. Shad feels that he is the victim of racial profiling, and that he will fight this.

“I don’t know exactly what to do yet, but I will fight this as much as possible. I’m not doing it for the money, I have the means, I’m doing this so cops don’t think they can do this to someone else … it’s not right.”

You can watch the video at http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=4b62840e-7c59-49ea-b654-cb815344a113

Breaking News: ‘Snooki’ headed to RAW

According to TMZ, Jersey Shore’s Snooki will appear on WWE Monday Night RAW next week. The show takes place in St. Louis, MO. WWE obviously wants to ‘cash-in’ on the Jersey Shore as well.
WWE/TNA and the Jersey Shore share the same demographic so it’s obviously a smart move to use them. Here is the TMZ.com article:

Snooki is finally getting in the wrestling ring … and it will all go down one week from tonight on WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” … TMZ has learned.

So far, it’s unclear if the “Jersey Shore” star will actually FIGHT during the live event from St.

Louis, MO … but we already know she can take a punch.
Story developing …

Update: Khali speaks on shooting incident

TMZ.com has picked up the story with The Great Khali issuing a statement to them today. He “claims” that he was not there… “I am deeply saddened to hear of this incident and am disappointed it has been incorrectly reported that I was involved. I had left my friend’s house a half an hour before the reported shooting took place and did not have any bodyguards with me. My thoughts and prayers go out to the people who were injured.”

The security over there is different than the security in U.S. or Europe. The fans will mob him wherever he goes and turns out to be a dangerous situation for him.