Category: WWE

Diamond Dallas Page Announced For WWE Hall Of Fame Class Of 2017

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WWE announced the following:

Diamond Dallas Page to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017Diamond Dallas Page, a world champion-turned-fitness guru, will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2017 during WrestleMania 33 Week. The news was first reported by RollingStone.com.

DDP’s journey to the Hall is an unlikely one, to say the least. The Jersey Shore native broke into sports-entertainment in his 30s, starting out as a manager in Verne Gagne’s AWA while still working as a nightclub manager in Florida. Page took his flashy aesthetic from the clubs, coming to the ring clad in leather, studs and diamond-encrusted jewelry, and accompanied by beautiful bombshells he called “Diamond Dolls” on each arm. He backed up his brash look with trash talk on the microphone and cunning intellect in the corner. DDP led Badd Company to the AWA Tag Team Championship before heading to WCW.

Page took charge of the Fabulous Freebirds as Michael “P.S.” Hayes and Jimmy “Jam” Garvin turned from southern rebels to glam rock megastars, leading them to the WCW Tag Team Titles. DDP also guided the early careers of Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Raven before stepping into the ring himself on a full-time basis in 1991. As a 35-year-old rookie, Page’s chances of success seemed slim, but his unmatched work ethic and determination to succeed would pay off in the long run.

Though he found moderate success as a villain in WCW, capturing the company’s Television Championship, he broke out on a worldwide scale after turning down membership in the nWo. DDP found himself an unlikely man of the people, but embraced the love of fans around the world, who continued to be amazed by the seemingly infinite ways Page found to catch his opponents out of nowhere with his signature move, the Diamond Cutter.

DDP skyrocketed into stardom through his rivalry with the nWo and one of its top members, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, taking part in a thrilling series of matches throughout 1997. Page soon became one of WCW’s top heroes, and the man that celebrities like Basketball Hall of Famer Karl Malone and late night television icon Jay Leno wanted to team with when they stepped through the ropes.

Years of hard work finally paid off for DDP at Spring Stampede 1999, when he defeated a trio of wrestling legends – Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan and Sting – to capture his first WCW World Championship. Page went on to capture the title on two more occasions before WCW was purchased by WWE in 2001. During his career in WWE, Page tried to show the WWE Universe and some of the squared circle’s most sour Superstars what a positive attitude could do for them. His efforts resulted in a reign as WWE European Champion, which he successfully defended on The Grandest Stage of Them All, WrestleMania.

Yet for all his accomplishments inside the ring, DDP is also a Hall of Fame human being. After stepping away from the squared circle, he dedicated his life toward helping people take control of theirs. He developed DDP Yoga, a fitness program based around the exercises that helped him stay in the ring game for so long. Page also used DDP Yoga to pay back two of his friends and mentors – WWE Hall of Famers Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Razor Ramon – by having the two legends move into his home and work toward getting back into shape.

It is for his accomplishments in and out of the ring that Diamond Dallas Page is more than deserving of induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.

The Rock At Tonight’s WWE RAW?, New Wrestling Movie Filming At Tonight’s RAW

The “Fighting With My Family” movie based on Paige’s wrestling family will be filming during tonight’s RAW at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. As noted, WWE Studios and The Rock’s Seven Bucks Productions are partnering for the movie.

Rock has been busy working on the movie this past week, as seen below. Rock and Florence Pugh, the actress who will play the character based on Paige, were at the Staples Center earlier doing work.

With the movie filming tonight at RAW, The Rock is rumored to be appearing.

Source: WrestlingINC

RAW Preview 2/20/17

RAW takes place tonight from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

  • Strowman and Big Show to battle on Raw
  • Is Bayley’s Raw Women’s Championship victory tainted?
  • Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho: Best friends no more
  • Who can stop Samoa Joe?

Source: WWE.com

‘The Russian Bear’ Ivan Koloff Passes Away At The Age Of 74

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Ivan Koloff has passed away at the age of 74.

PWInsider is reporting “The Russian Bear” died after battling liver cancer. He was famously known for defeating Bruno Sammartino at Madison Square Garden, after Bruno held the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship for nearly eight years.

Nicole Bass Passed away At Age 52

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Former WWE and ECW talent Nicole Bass passed away at the age of 52 on Friday.

She was removed from life support Friday evening and passed away while surrounded by those closest to her in the hospital.

Sources close to the situation says her official death was around 8:40 pm today at a hospital in New York and her girlfriend was also in the room when it happened.

As we previously reported, the 52-year old was rushed to a hospital over the weekend and put on life support for undisclosed reasons. Nicole then suffered a heart attack that caused her to become brain dead and her friends/family decided to let her pass a day later.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

WWE Hall Of Famer George ‘The Animal’ Steele Passes Away At 79

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WWE Hall of Famer George “The Animal” Steele has passed away at the age of 79.

Wrestling agent Eric Simms noted on Facebook on Thursday that Steele had entered hospice care and that it wasn’t looking good for him. WWE Hall of Famer Bob Backlund also noted on Facebook earlier this week that Steele was not at home when he called, and that Steele’s wife informed Backlund that he may not be coming back home this time, indicating that he was under hospice care. Steele reportedly passed away last night.

WWE issued the following statement on his passing:

George “The Animal” Steele passes awayWWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer William James Myers, known to fans as George “The Animal” Steele, has passed away at the age of 79.

Steele was one of the wildest and most unpredictable Superstars in sports-entertainment history. Yet, despite his green tongue, hairy torso and insatiable appetite for turnbuckle pads, “The Animal” was a very well-educated man. Prior to breaking into sports-entertainment, Steele received his Master’s Degree from Central Michigan University and became a high school teacher and wrestling coach in the Detroit area.

It was during his teaching stint that he began moonlighting in sports-entertainment, working in the Detroit-area promotions. Steele’s first WWE appearances took place in 1967, when he began a heated rivalry with WWE Champion Bruno Sammartino. For nearly 20 years, Steele was a reviled villain, managed by the likes of fellow WWE Hall of Famers The Grand Wizard, “Classy” Freddie Blassie, Capt. Lou Albano and Mr. Fuji. His classic main events against Sammartino, Pedro Morales and Bob Backlund saw him come close to winning the WWE Championship on many occasions.

In 1985, however, Steele was embraced by the WWE Universe and changed the course of his career. After The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff abandoned him during a match, Steele fell back under the tutelage of the then-beloved Albano. His transformation was remarkable, as one of the most hated men in the sport became one of its most loveable figures. Long after his in-ring retirement and WWE Hall of Fame induction, George “The Animal” Steele’s name still evoked terror for one generation of WWE fans and warm smiles for another.

WWE extends its condolences to Steele’s family, friends and fans.

Source: WrestlingINC

Wrestlers and Jim Ross commented on his passing:

 

‘Fighting With My Family’ Filming Planned For Staples Center In Los Angeles

Filming for Fighting With My Family — the movie about Paige — will take place next week at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Multiple sources say a big moment from Paige’s career will be filmed in front of the live audience, which means we’ll more than likely get our first look at Florence Pugh as the WWE Superstar.

Tessa Blanchard and Thea Trinidad have been hired to work on the movie and Lena Headey — aka Cersei Lannister has been cast in the role of her mom, Saraya Knight.

We’re told production started this week and Dave Taylor has been the on-set wrestling coordinator.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Brock Lensar Retires From UFC Competition

Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar has informed the mixed martial arts promotion that he is retired from competition.

The UFC confirmed the 39-year old Lesnar’s decision Wednesday.

Lesnar returned from a 4 and a half year MMA absence last July to beat Mark hunt at UFC 200, but the results was overturned after Lesnar failed two doping tests. He was subsequently suspended from competition for a year by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which administers the UFC’s doping policy.

Lesnar’s decision to retire means he has been removed from USADA’s drug-testing pool, which monitors the fighters year-round.

If he decides to return to competition, he would have to serve the remaining five months of his suspension.

Update On WWE Contacting Women’s Wrestlers For WrestleMania 33

Kelly Kelly is one of the former women’s wrestlers that WWE has contacted about a WrestleMania 33 appearance. Kelly was backstage visiting at Monday’s RAW and noted that she will be appearing for Axxess appearances in Orlando. She also expressed interest in having another run with the company.

No word yet on what WWE has planned for the women at WrestleMania 33 but it appears Lisa Marie Varon (Victoria) was also contacted. The plan for the RAW women’s division is for the RAW Women’s Title, currently held by Bayley, to be defended in a Fatal 4 Way with Nia Jax, Sasha Banks and former champion Charlotte Flair.

Source: WrestlingINC

Kurt Angle Reportedly Wrestling For WWE

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that there are plans for Kurt Angle to do at least some wrestling for WWE in the near future. The 2017 WWE Hall of Famer will be inducted during WrestleMania 33 weekend but there’s no word yet on if he will get into the ring that weekend. The Observer notes that Angle still has to pass a physical and would likely be used on a very limited basis.

Angle recently spoke with Forbes and commented on possibly wrestling for WWE:

“I wouldn’t be surprised if I do a few more matches somewhere down the line, but they haven’t talked about it so it’s not official. This Hall of Fame thing is just the beginning, so let’s see how it goes and we’ll go from there.”

Source: WrestlingINC