WWE just announced the following:
Adam Rose releasedWWE has granted Adam Rose’s request to be released, as of today, May 23, 2016. WWE wishes Rose the best in all his future endeavors.
This comes after Rose was recently arrested for misdemeanor domestic battery and felony tampering with a witness over an incident with his wife. He was suspended indefinitely due to that incident but had already been serving a suspension for his second WWE Wellness Policy violation.
Source: WrestlingINC
As noted, Cody Rhodes requested and received his WWE release over the weekend.
In Rhodes’ statement that he posted online yesterday, Rhodes mentioned that he had “pleaded with WWE Creative” to drop the Stardust character and become Cody Rhodes again. He wrote:
In the past 6-months I had pleaded with WWE Creative and both of my bosses to let me roll-the-dice and once again be Cody Rhodes. I had pitched to every writer on the staff like a door-to-door salesman on “how” & “why” & “when”…and believe me, there are many of those who sought to help me (Brian James, Nick, Faz, J Russo, Dave K, JBL & Cole for letting me go wild on their YouTube show and a few others I’m sure) but for all that, both “head writers” of RAW & Smackdown (one pretending to be Brian Gewirtz and the other too busy hitting on developmental divas) continued to not return my pitches or e-mails, and in face-to-face encounters tried to big league me by pretending to be on their clearly powered-off laptops…barely willing to listen to an idea I considered beneficial to more than one talent. What’s that expression? Don’t take no for an answer…what do you do when you don’t get an answer at all?
You may recall back in March that Rhodes started teasing the end of the Stardust character on social media. Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline noted on the most recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio that the plan was in fact for Rhodes to drop the Stardust gimmick right around WrestleMania 32 – or the night after – and go back to simply being Cody Rhodes.
“Vince McMahon and Triple H – and it was more Vince McMahon on this one, from what I was told – they decided [that] we’re not going to do it,” Meltzer said.
Meltzer noted that despite being released by WWE, Rhodes is still being held to his WWE contract and the split is “not amicable.” Meltzer said that WWE is “kind of putting the screws to him,” and that since Rhodes quit, they are trying to make it hard for him contractually to do anything for another wrestling company.
In case you missed it over the weekend, below is Rhodes’ full statement regarding his WWE departure:
The statement reads:
“Setting foot in the dingy ol’ Greensboro Coliseum this past Monday can only be described for me as just a whimsical moment of clarity. At this point, most folks know that I have indeed asked for my release from World Wrestling Entertainment, but it’s paramount in my mind for the fans of pro-wrestling to have some answers and not be left with questions. A many superlative can be used to describe my mentor in wrestling, but one I often forget about is…fearless. And it’s a trait I wish more of had been passed down my way.
So there I was, standing in the very same locker-room Ric Flair had dressed in before changing the wrestling/PPV(closed-circuit at the time) game forever and capturing the NWA Title at Starrcade 83′, “a Flair for the gold”; it’s sad that after once again being benched off TV that my fate in said spot was instead to be relegated to watching a monitor advertising a returning star and kicking open my tumi gear bag to find an outfit I had long outgrown and a face-paint kit. Both HHH and Vince McMahon have given me many fun and challenging opportunities in my career, and I showed my gratitude by always pushing for the best segment I could create, the most interest I could generate. They gave me the chance to train on the job with some of the most brilliant minds in our world (gentlemen like Arn Anderson and Fit Finlay). I would do this job for free, but that didn’t stop WWE from always compensating me in a generous manner. My goal in pro-wrestling has always been to win the WWE Championship (the one accolade in the game my Father never obtained), and for a decade I tried to convince both Vince and HHH that I could be their star-player, their varsity quarterback if you will, but it seems we have reached the point where neither saw that in me. I sincerely appreciate HHH’s unflinching respect for my Father, and how he has acted as a custodian of history in honoring him since his passing. He did not owe me that same respect he gave Dream, but I thought I could earn it in time. One of the last discussions we had included him telling me that “wwe is a play, and everybody has their role and needs to act it their best”. All I can think of to say to that is, “the best actors don’t want the lesser roles”. In the past 6-months I had pleaded with WWE Creative adn both of my bosses to let me roll-the-dice and once again be Cody Rhodes. I had pitched to every writer on the staff like a door-to-door salesman on “how” & “why” & “when”…and believe me, there are many of those who sought to help me (Brian James, Nick, Faz, J Russo, Dave K, JBL&Cole for letting me go wild on their YouTube show and a few others I’m sure) but for all that, both “head writers” of RAW & Smackdown (one pretending to be Brian Gewirtz and the other too busy hitting on developmental divas) continued to not return my pitches or e-mails, and in face-to-face encounters tried to big league me by pretending to be on their clearly powered-off laptops…barely willing to listen to an idea I considered beneficial to more than one talent. What’s that expression? Don’t take no for an answer…what do you do when you don’t get an answer at all?
So there I was…having done everything I could possibly do for ten years to make the most out of both large opportunities and even the half-cocked ones like “paint-up like your Brother”. Chicken shit into chicken salad became my specialty; and with those worthy opportunities afforded me…I can only hope I fully executed. I’ve made the walk down the ramp at multiple WrestleManias, and I have had a WrestleMania match cancelled while I stood at the curtain moments before my music hit. I felt like I had a bag of those brass-rings and when it came time for me to cash them in, I find I can’t do so.Like I said, Monday was whimsical…because I felt that fearlessness in my blood, even if just for a fleeting moment. I realized that I don’t need to sell myself to those two writers captaining a broken unrecognizable system, matter a fact with the time I had put in and the body of work I presented it should have been the other way around. I realized that blood is thicker than paint, that I know who I am and what I’m capable of…I’m not Dusty Rhodes. I’m a pro-wrestler. I am proud of that. It’s been said never to leave money on the table, but no money is worth being less than you are. Ask my wife, I don’t even read the check breakdowns…this was never about the money, this was always about the moments, and I’ll be dammed if my fathers legacy is “stardust” or a series of sizzle-reels for NXT. It’s not my job to pick up his sword. It’s my privilege.
I will miss many of the soldiers in that locker-room, some who I have earned their friendship. Guys like Cesaro, Zack Ryder, Tyler Breeze, KO, Harper, Kofi, Tye, the wasteland and the NC…keep that locker-room clean and keep having a better match than you’re supposed to, I do believe the cream rises and hard work prevails. My work just needs to be elsewhere. I want to thank both fans and critics of mine alike. There is no greater responsibility than having a fan who expects a level of entertainment from you, and there’s nothing more motivating than those who buy a ticket yet find something lacking (considering the first few CAW years of my career, I always took the criticism as more of a request and I made what adjustments I could for the overall product). Again, from the BOTTOM OF MY HEART…thank you. Almost one year ago, the biggest light in my sky was ripped away from me when I lost my Father. It’s time for me to try and seek that illumination…that glow that’s still out there. This is not goodbye. There’s a whole world of film and television and the state that I might find I have a knack for(maybe I even already got an offer). As far as the future is concerned though, I’m a wrestler. So that’s what I’ll do…wrestle.”
(Kickoff) No DQ Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin – Winner: Baron Corbin
Tornado Tag Match: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. The Usos – Winners: Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
United States championship: (C) Kalisto vs. Rusev w/Lana – Winner and new United States Champion Rusev
WWE Tag Team championship: (C) New Day vs. The Vaudevillains – Winners: New Day
Intercontinental Championship – Fatal 4-Way: (C) The Miz w/Maryse vs. Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro vs. Sami Zayn – Winner: The Miz
Asylum Match: Dean Ambrose vs. Chris Jericho – Winner: Dean Ambrose
WWE Women’s Championship – Submission Match – Ric Flair Is Banned From Ringside: (C) Charlotte vs. Natalya – Winner: Charlotte – Dana Brooke interfered to help Charlotte get the win.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship – Extreme Rules Match: (C) Roman Reigns vs. AJ Styles – Winner: Roman Reigns
After the match – Seth Rollins returned and laid out Reigns with a Pedigree
We have learned via Twitter that WWE superstar Cody Rohdes who currently wrestles under the name Stardust has asked for his release from the company as of today.
The tweet reads
The past ten years have been quite the trek, but as of earlier today I have asked for my release from @WWE I’ll speak further on the matter shortly. Thank you to all the pro-wrestling/sports entertainment fans worldwide. Thank you
No word at this time from our sources on what may have caused him to ask for his release, but the wrestler had recently been teasing that he may be dropping the Stardust gimmick.
His wife WWE announcer Eden Rhodes tweeted shortly after saying, “Could not be any prouder or more supportive.”
WWE World Heavyweight Championship – Extreme Rules Match: (C) Roman Reigns vs. AJ Styles
WWE Women’s Championship – Submission Match – Ric Flair Is Banned From Ringside: (C) Charlotte vs. Natalya
Asylum Match: Dean Ambrose vs. Chris Jericho
Intercontinental Championship – Fatal 4-Way: (C) The Miz w/Maryse vs. Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro vs. Sami Zayn
United States championship: (C) Kalisto vs. Rusev w/Lana
WWE Tag Team championship: (C) New Day vs. The Vaudevillains
Tornado Tag Match: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. The Usos
(Kickoff) No DQ Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin
Source: WrestlingINC via TheWhig.com
Aiden English of The Vaudevillains recently spoke with The Kingston Whig-Standard to promote WWE Extreme Rules. The full interview is at this link. Below are highlights:
Coming up with The Vaudevillains in WWE NXT:
“I had been in NXT for probably about two years when this (idea) came up. We had just started at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando and at the time, I was doing my theatrical, artiste entrance to the ring and doing things on my own and Simon Gotch had just recently come to WWE. I think someone basically suggested, ‘Hey, Simon has this unique look, you have this whole entertainer, artiste thespian persona going on, is there anything there?’ To be fair, we did not know each other so this wasn’t something we originally threw together, but when somebody kind of tossed the idea out there, we got together and we’re like, ‘How can we turn this into something?'”
“All I remember was that somebody threw out the word vaudeville. Obviously, coming from a theatre background, I loved all that stuff. So I literally went home that night, sat on my bed and said, ‘Hmm, vaudeville … alright, we’re going to do a team … vaudeville … Vaudevillains.’ … It literally rolled off my tongue as I said it out loud. I went, ‘OK, let’s try that,’ and boom, literally the next day off we went, we started teaming, we started doing shows, then NXT and so on and so forth.”
Fans embracing the gimmick:
“I think, given the chance, I believe that they’ll take to it quite, quite keenly. As time goes on, and people see us every single week, they’ll grow to understand why we say the things we say, why we do the things we do and what makes us real men, as we put it, and I think this Sunday at Extreme Rules on the WWE Network, that’s going to be a really good opportunity for everybody to see what we can do.”
His mother-in-law Vickie Guerrero:
“Obviously, anytime you have family or friends or anybody who has been in the business you’re in or been down the path, it’s an invaluable asset, an invaluable centre for advice. My mother-in-law Vickie is an amazing person and has been nothing but helpful and supportive. She helps with the little things, dealing with being on the road and being away from home and how to keep up communication and little things like where the best hotels are, how to find a gym, little things on the road. She’s helped me deal with this transition from NXT where I was primarily just in Florida to now with WWE, where I’m on the road every single week, something she knows plenty about. She’s been nothing but helpful and supportive and very, very sweet and kind.”
Check out the full interview with English at this link.
Source: WWE.com
Roman Reigns vs. Luke Gallows
Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens
What will happen when Jericho checks into the Asylum?
New Day & Big Cass vs. The Dudley Boyz & The Vaudevillains
Paige vs. Dana Brooke
John Cena will be hosting the 2016 ESPY Awards for ESPN on Wednesday, July 13th.
ESPN issued the following:
WWE® Superstar John Cena to Host The 2016 ESPYS on ABC on July 13The 2016 ESPYS Presented by Capital One will be hosted by WWE Superstar, actor and television host John Cena, who is best known as a 15-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion and record-setting Make-A-Wish granter. The ESPYS will be broadcast live on ABC Wednesday, July 13, at 8 p.m. ET from Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Cena—who is the host and executive producer of American Grit, a new military-inspired competition series on FOX and has appeared in hit comedies Trainwreck and Sisters—will be joined by top athletes and celebrities to commemorate the past year in sports by recognizing major achievements, reliving unforgettable moments, and saluting the leading performers and performances. The ESPYS raise more than $1 million annually for The V Foundation, the charity founded by ESPN and the late basketball coach Jim Valvano to promote cancer research.
“It is truly an honor to be named host of The 2016 ESPYS,” said Cena. “Not only will the biggest names in sports and entertainment come together to recognize some of the most spectacular athletic performances of the year, but we’ll also raise funds for The V Foundation to further much-needed cancer research.”
As a WWE Superstar, actor, TV host and philanthropist, Cena devotes much of his time working on behalf of numerous charitable causes. He is Make-A-Wish’s most requested wish granter of all time and the only celebrity to grant 500 wishes. Cena is also committed to Susan G. Komen and its support of breast cancer research and awareness, and is a longtime supporter of the U.S. military, recently recognized by USO Metro as the recipient of their 2016 Legacy of Achievement Award.
“John is not only a superstar athlete and entertainer, but also a motivational force who inspires fans across the globe,” said executive producer Maura Mandt. “John approaches all of his endeavors with energy, enthusiasm and passion so we expect him to bring a new level of excitement to the night’s celebration.”
In addition to his work in the community, Cena is a powerhouse on social media with more than 41 million Facebook fans, making him the most popular active U.S. athlete on Facebook. He has recently appeared on Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Ellen, The Tonight Show and CONAN, among others. He also frequently co-hosts the 9 a.m. hour of TODAY.
The celebration of the best moments from the year in sports kicks off with The ESPYS Countdown Show Presented by Capital One airing from 5-6 p.m. ET, SportsCenter at The ESPYS from 6-7 p.m. ET, then another hour of The ESPYS Countdown Presented by Capital One from 7-8 p.m. ET on ESPN prior to the start of the awards. The ESPYS are executive produced by Maura Mandt and MaggieVision Productions.
The application site for media credentials for The 2016 ESPYS will open on June 6. Tickets are available for public purchase at AXS.com. For additional ESPYS news and information, please follow the official Twitter handle: @ESPYS.
The ESPYS
The ESPYS gather top celebrities from sports and entertainment to commemorate the past year in sports by recognizing major sports achievements, reliving unforgettable moments and saluting the leading performers and performances. The 2016 ESPYS will recognize both sport-specific achievements, such as “Best MLB Player” and “Best WNBA Player,” and best-in-sport winners, such as “Best Team” or “Best Female Athlete” that pit nominees from different sports against each other. Inspiring human stories are showcased through three pillar awards – the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, the Jimmy V Perseverance Award and the Pat Tillman Award for Service. The ESPYS support ESPN’s ongoing commitment to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, launched by ESPN with the late Jim Valvano in 1993.
Emma underwent successful back surgery yesterday for a ruptured disc. WWE has not released an official update on when she may be back but she’s in good spirits and resting at home.
Emma tweeted the following:
The following was taped for tonight’s NXT on the WWE Network:
Austin Aries and a partner of his choosing vs. Blake and Murphy
Carmella vs. Peyton Royce
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa vs. Danny Birch and Rob Ryzin
Nia Jax vs. Bayley
