Author: John Bass

Ashley Massaro Reportedly Passed Away In Apparent Suicide By Hanging, CM Punk Offers Advise On Depression & Suicide

Former WWE Superstar Ashley Massaro was found hanging in an apparent suicide, according to multiple sources who have spoke with TMZ Sports.

As we’ve noted, the 2005 Divas Search winner passed away last Thursday at the age of 39. She was found unconscious at her home in Smithtown, NY shortly after 5am ET after she failed to show up for work at a local radio station. She was taken to a local hospital by first responders and later pronounced dead. She would have turned 40 on May 26 and leaves behind one daughter. Local authorities have classified Massaro’s death as non-criminal and foul play was not suspected.

TMZ also noted that Massaro is being laid to rest in Suffolk County, NY.

The New York Post reports that Massaro’s lawyer told them that her brain may be donated to Dr. Bennet Omalu, who is a professor at the University of California at Davis known as “The Concussion Doctor.” Omalu researches CTE, a condition associated with multiple head injuries and concussions, and has previously released findings related to CTE in pro football players.

CTE can only be confirmed after death. Lawyer Konstantine Kryos, who has represented Massaro and other former WWE Superstars in lawsuits against the company, told The Post that he’s asked Massaro’s mother and daughter about donating her brain.

“They were a little upset about it,” Kryos said, adding that there’s a little time to make the decision. He claimed, “It was Ashley’s wishes to donate her brain.”

CM Punk called into the WMGM radio show in Atlantic City, NJ on Friday and said he heard that Massaro had taken her life. This was before the manner of death has been publicly disclosed, but there was already speculation due to social media comments from several people close to Massaro, including Michelle McCool. Punk begged listeners to get help if they are struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, as Massaro had.

“Tremendously sad way to go,” Punk said. He continued, “thoughts obviously go out to her family, especially her daughter. It’s May. It’s Mental Health Month … if you’re depressed and things aren’t going your way, there’s no reason to feel alone. Just reach out to somebody. Text a friend. Call somebody. There’s hotlines. There’s ways you can get help.”

As noted, WWE honored Massaro with a tribute graphic before Sunday’s WWE Money In the Bank pay-per-view hit the air. They also issued a statement on her passing last week, saying, “We are saddened to learn of the tragic death of former WWE Superstar Ashley Massaro. She performed in WWE from 2005-2008 and was beloved by her fellow Superstars and fans around the world. WWE offers its condolences to Ashley’s family and friends.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Dolph Ziggler Returns, Viciously Attacked Kofi Kingston

Last night on SmackDown Live, Paul Heyman came out with Brock Lesnars’s Money in the Bank briefcase taunting WWE Champion Kofi Kingston. That’s when Dolph Ziggler made his surprise return to WWE viciously attacking Kofi.

Later Ziggler came out and explained why he did it. Ziggler says it should’ve been him instead of Kofi having all the success Kofi has had lately. Ziggler said he will ,make things right be defeating Kofi for the WWE Championship at WWE Super ShowDown on June 7 in Saudi Arabia.

Former WWE Star Ashley Massaro’s Brain May Be Donated to Science After Her Sudden Death

Days after Ashley Massaro, a former WWE star and Survivor contestant, died suddenly at 39 in New York, her legal team alleges that she may have had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease that has been linked to head trauma.

Massaro, who died in an apparent suicide, had long suffered from depression — and had alleged that injuries she sustained during her wrestling career exacerbated her condition.

In 2016, Massaro and 60 other former pro wrestlers sued the WWE, claiming that they had suffered neurological injuries in the ring. After a federal judge dismissed the case, the plaintiffs filed an appeal, which is still ongoing.

PEOPLE has obtained an affidavit that Massaro filed as part of the case. In the document, Massaro claimed that she had sustained multiple concussions during her 4-year stint with the WWE. She alleged that the WWE did not treat her injuries correctly.

A spokesperson for the WWE did not return PEOPLE’s call for comment.

In a statement after Massaro’s death, the WWE shared condolences to her family and friends, saying they were “saddened to learn of [her] tragic death.”

An attorney for Massaro told the New York Post that Massaro’s brain may be donated to Dr. Bennet Omalu, a prominent doctor who researches brain injuries.

“It was Ashley’s wishes to donate her brain,” her lawyer, Konstantine Kyros, told the paper, adding that her family was “a little upset” about the idea of donating the organ.

CTE cannot be diagnosed in living subjects; it is only found during autopsies. Several former NFL players, including Aaron Hernandez and Junior Seau, were diagnosed with the disease after committing suicide.

Last Wednesday, a day before her death, Massaro tweeted that she had just responded to “a ton of fanmail so you guys should be receiving them soon! Love ya punx.”

Authorities were called to the wrestler’s home in Suffolk County on the following day. She was transported to a nearby hospital where she died on Thursday morning. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of death, police told PEOPLE.

No funeral or memorial arrangements have been announced.

Speaking to PEOPLE in 2017, Massaro said, “I’ve been really fortunate to do a lot of different things. I’ve had a lot of adventures that most people don’t get an opportunity to do, and I’m really thankful for that.”

Sources: PEOPLE and MSN

AEW Releases Full Adam Page Vs. PAC Match From England (Video)

Over the weekend, news broke of AEW pulling Adam Page vs. PAC from this Saturday’s Double or Nothing card over creative differences.

PAC is the current Open the Dream Gate Champion for Dragon Gate and didn’t want to lose a match while holding the title. For AEW, they are focusing on wins/losses and didn’t want to have tie or DQ in the match. AEW is also reportedly looking at things long terms and while they didn’t necessarily have a problem with him beating Page, PAC’s next opponent was likely Kenny Omega and a win over Omega (or multiple opponents in a row) maybe wasn’t in the plans.

The PPV is slotted for four hours, so time was also a consideration as it would take up a big chunk of the show just for a tie/DQ to happen.

Last Saturday, Page showed up at a Wrestle Gate Pro event in Nottingham, England to confront PAC and answer his open challenge. The two had a match where Page won by DQ. Afterwards, PAC took down Page with a chair and told him he wouldn’t be coming to Double or Nothing or AEW as a way to write off the match.

So fans could still see a bout between the two wrestlers, AEW released the match today on its YouTube channel, which you can watch below. PAC could still return to the promotion at some point down the road. Page will be on Double or Nothing against a yet to be named opponent.

Double or Nothing will air on B/R Live and traditional PPV for $49.99 at 8 pm ET this Saturday. The Buy In pre-show will stream for free on All Elite Wrestling’s YouTube channel. Be sure to join us for complete live coverage of the show.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown Live Preview 5/21/19

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island with fallout from WWE Money In the Bank.

* The New Day present Big E’s Welcome Back Celebration

* What will SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley say in exclusive interview?

* Roman Reigns and Elias clash in a WWE Money in the Bank rematch

* Who will bring the 24/7 Championship to SmackDown LIVE?

* Will Daniel Bryan’s tag team revolution continue?

WWE 205 Live Preview 5/21/19

Tonight’s WWE 205 Live will take place from the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

* The Singh Brothers vs. Lucha House Party

* Who will be WWE Cruiserweight Champion Tony Nese’s next challenger?

John Cena’s “Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?” Gets Premiere Date – Trailer

The upcoming revival of “Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?” hosted by John Cena now has an official premiere date.

Nickelodeon will premiere the trivia series on June 10. According to Deadline, the game show will relaunch with over a week of new episodes through June 19 before moving into its regular 7 p.m. Monday slot on June 24.

“Are You Smarter” will keep the same premise of kids helping adult contestants test their knowledge with questions written for grade schoolers, but the updated version has added some new twists to spice things up.

Watch the trailer below.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

 

WWE Changes The Look Of The Third Hour Of RAW (Video)

WWE made some changes to the look of the third hour of RAW last night.

As seen in the video above, Mick Foley announced that starting this week, the third hour will be getting “downright mean and nasty” and a “little bit dirty.” As he said that, the bright red and white logo on the tron switched to a more basic red logo on a black background. The house lights were dimmed and the LED lights were turned off on the ring posts.

You can see the visual changes occur at the 1:30 mark in the video below.

When RAW first moved to three hours weekly in 2012, the third hour was the highest rated hour for the first several weeks. That quickly started to change, and the third hour is now almost always the least watched hour. Over the past four weeks, the audience has dropped an average of 19% from the first hour to the third.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Ric Flair Unable To Attend Starrcast II After Undergoing Successful Heart Surgery

WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair is currently recovering after undergoing successful heart surgery earlier today, according to TMZ.

Flair’s wife Wendy Barlow told TMZ that the operation was a success and that The Nature Boy is now in the recovery room, adding that she wanted to thank everyone for their prayers and support during the difficult time.

As noted, Flair was hospitalized on Thursday after suffering a medical emergency. He was set to undergo surgery on Friday but doctors postponed the operation until Monday due to complications they were working around.

Flair was forced to back out of the Starrcast II weekend and “The Roast of Ric Fair” because he would not be healthy enough to make the trip by Friday evening. There’s no word yet on if the roast will be re-scheduled.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Mick Foley Introduced New WWE 24/7 Title

Last night on WWE RAW, Mick Foley unveiled the newest WWE Championship –  the 24/7 title.

Foley kicked off the segment talking about how RAW has lost something. He then pulled out the green-strapped 24/7 Championship and explained that the belt has the same rules as the old Hardcore title.

This means the champ has to defend the belt at all times as long as a referee is present.

Mick claimed the third hour of RAW every week will start to get “downright mean and nasty” and a “little bit dirty” and that whoever could grab the belt from the center of the ring would be the first champion. This ended up being Titus O’Neil, then was pinned by Robert Roode. Throughout the show, Roode was running and hiding from a group of wrestlers coming for the title. Later R-Truth helped him hide in the trunk of his car as Truth sent the others in the wrong direction. Truth let him out and Roode opened the car door and a referee got out and truth pinned Roode to become the new 24/7 champion and drove off.

Competitors from RAW, SmackDown, 205 Live, NXT, NXT UK and WWE legends are eligible to compete for the new title.

This brings the total number of main roster titles to 11.