SS legitimately sold out?, Jim Ross not calling SummerSlam

– The WWE announcing change was a last-minute decision. It was originally set to be Ross/Cole/Lawler.

– The WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view event from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California was legitimately sold out. Talent weren’t able to get comps for their friends and family for the event.

It was noted on Sunday that Jim Ross tweeted he would be calling WWE SummerSlam alongside Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler. Ross obviously didn’t call the pay-per-view but was backstage at the event. Ross tweeted the following regarding the SummerSlam snub:

“I’m at Summer Slam on Twitter duty & not broadcasting. Booker’s working w/ Cole & king.

I am at SUMMER SLAM but backstage and not at ringside. Booker adds Smackdown representation not that Cole wouldn’t have. I’m twitter man.

I’m tweeting tonite..not broadcasting. Just happy to be here. :)

Game time decision to use Booker to rep Smackdown on tonite’s Summer Slam & to work with King & Cole. I’m happy for Booker.”
Ross had earlier tweeted: “Excited to work w/ Cole & King. Expect some surprise bouts to be added to tonite’s PPV.”

JR is obviously taking the high road here as he was originally set to call the event.

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.

WWE Tough Enough filming finished!

Steve Austin said this morning on his Twitter account that WWE Tough Enough has concluded filming. “Well…just finished with Tough Enough…it was a helluva lot of fun…thanks to @BillDeMott, @trishstratuscom, and Booker T..great cats.”

Steve Austin-RAW, Booker T to call WrestleMania, Del Rio

– Steve Austin posted the following on his Twitter last night… Drank a few cold ones…time to hit the hay. Fly back to L.A. tomorrow for TE. Opened one can of Whoop Ass…I have 5 left….WrestleMania.

– Booker T posted the following on his Twitter last night… “Wrestlemania is shaping up to be one hell of a show i am honored to call it”

– Here is Alberto Del Rio, promoting WrestleMania on MyFox Houston…

Wrestling Fans Submit to Alberto Del Rio: MyFoxHOUSTON.com

Ex-WWE star confirmed as new Tough Enough trainer

WWE issued the following press release today:

“WWE(R) TOUGH ENOUGH(R)” GETS SOME “STRATUS-FACTION”

Trish Stratus & Bill Demott Named Trainers

Former WWE(R) Women’s Champion Trish Stratus joins USA Network’s upcoming, non-scripted series WWE TOUGH ENOUGH(R) as a trainer. Stratus and Tough Enough veteran trainer Bill Demott join WWE Legend Booker T. as the training team for the show. WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin will serve as the host.

The series will premiere Monday, April 4 at 11/10c, the day after WrestleMania(R) and immediately following USA’s ratings juggernaut WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW(R), and move to its regularly scheduled slot in primetime, Mondays at 8/7c, starting on April 11.

With her natural athleticism, charismatic personality and knowledge of what it takes to be the best in WWE, Stratus is the ideal trainer for Tough Enough. In 2000, she made her television debut with WWE. Combining beauty, brains, strength, and a record breaking seven championships – for which she earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records – Stratus was the epitome of a “WWE DIVA” and helped to make the brand a cultural phenomenon. In 2006, Trish retired from WWE and will go down as one of the greatest Women’s Champions of all time. After retiring, Stratus focused her efforts on launching her lifestyle brand, which includes a yoga studio – the largest in Canada, a travel adventure series currently airing on the Discovery Channel and a yoga/fitness product line set to be released this fall, all under the Stratusphere banner name.

Along with fellow trainers Booker T and Bill Demott, Stratus will mentor the diverse group of WWE TOUGH ENOUGH men and women who will live, train, eat and sleep under one roof in a house in Southern California. Each week, the contestants will battle it out in a series of unique challenges designed to test for such characteristics as showmanship, creativity, athleticism and desire, just to name a few. Viewers will witness the trials and tribulations of what it takes to be one of the best in the world’s greatest sports entertainment organization. The grand prizewinner will be awarded a contract with WWE.

For more information on Stratus’ yoga studio and her upcoming feature film debut, log onto www.trishstratus.com

Trish Stratus Speaks: Why she returned, Lay-Cool, & more!

WWE.com recently interviewed Trish Stratus, here are the highlights…

On Why She Returned: I’m joining Booker T as one of the Tough Enough trainers, so he asked me to come down to Elimination Chamber so he could make the announcement on live TV.

On Lay-Cool: Lay-Cool irks me a bit. They’ve been running their mouths off, so I thought I’d show them who’s “tough enough.” [laughs] There’s just a little rule to take away [from tonight's experience]: Whenever I come to a WWE event – although I am retired – I should always, always have my wrestling boots. When you wear heels and you try to be a Diva, it’s not a good thing, as we saw this evening when I tripped up ap a little bit. Hey, I’m retired. I tried to deliver some Stratusfaction, and I’m a little bit rusty.[laughs]

On Keeping Busy Away From Wrestling: I have been keeping busy. The latest thing that I’m very excited about is this action film I did, called Bail Enforcers. I was doing some stunts – I actually did all my own stunts, which was so much fun, I just had a blast doing it – and there’s a little “leak” of the footage on my website, so you can see a little snippet of the film there.

Booker T to coach Tough Enough and 6 SD! matches

Partial Source: Pwinsider

– According to sources, Booker T is the first trainer announced for the revival of Tough Enough.

– Here are tonight’s confirmed WWE SmackDown!:

* Non-Title Match: Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov © vs. Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel
* Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Kofi Kingston
* Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Rey Mysterio vs. Jack Swagger
* Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: Chavo Guerrero vs. Kane
* Elimination Chamber Qualifying Match: The Big Show vs. Wade Barrett
* World Title Match: Edge © and Kelly Kelly vs. Dolph Ziggler and Lay Cool

WWE SD! announce team is changed!

Booker T was introduced as the newest member of the SmackDown announce team at tonight’s SmackDown taping in Long Island, New York, replacing Matt Striker. The team now consists of the returning Superstar, Michael Cole and Josh Mathews.

He performed the “Spin-a-Roonie” in the ring before joining his new colleagues at the announce desk.

As reported earlier, Booker T returned to World Wrestling Entertainment to announce as well as wrestle. His new role with the company is being compared to that of Jerry Lawler’s since he announces and wrestles.

Booker T, along with Kevin Nash, returned to WWE Sunday to participate in the 40-Man Royal Rumble Match. He entered the battle royal at number twenty-one and was ultimately eliminated by Mason Ryan.

The six-time world champion reportedly signed a long-term contract with the organization.

Kevin Nash tweets on WWE Royal Rumble return!

Kevin Nash posted the following on his Twitter, about last night’s Rumble appearance…

“Absolutely the best night of my wrestling career. It’s so nice to be back in WWE family. Thanks Boston for making me feel so special.”

Royal Rumble, Diesel, and Kevin Nash were all trending Worldwide on Twitter last night.
Also, Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio were trending in Mexico.

Booker T arrives in Boston, MA (Picture Included!)

Partial Source: Pwinsider

– “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan is expected to appear at tonight’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view as he is in town for an autograph signing with fellow former WWE talent Carlito.

– Multi-time champion Booker T has arrived to Boston, Massachusetts for tonight’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view. He is expected to participate in tonight’s 40-Man Royal Rumble Match. You can click here to see a photo of Booker T’s arrival.

Kevin Nash arrived to Boston, Pictures Included!

Kevin Nash was spotted today at Boston Logan International Airport, which is within the vicinity of tomorrow night’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view. He was seen sporting dark brown hair.
Nash, as well as Booker T, are scheduled to appear as surprise entrants for tomorrow night’s 40-Man Royal Rumble Match.

You can click here to view 24 photos of Kevin Nash’s arrival in Boston, MA earlier this evening with brown hair.

HUGE UPDATE! 2 Royal Rumble suprises!

Source: Pwinsider.com

- Booker T and Kevin Nash are both booked for tomorrow’s Royal Rumble as surprise entrants. Booker T had been rumored to appear since canceling his scheduled appearance at the New Orleans Comic Con this weekend.

- As far as Kevin Nash goes, he had been negotiating with TNA as late as yesterday about a return, but is scheduled to fly into Boston later today. Nash admitted last week that he was in talks with TNA again and TNA sources confirmed those statements. TNA sources had also confirmed that they ended their discussions with Nash recently and Nash had finally been removed from the TNA website. The deal with WWE was finalized within the last 24-48 hours.