Kevin Randleman, Former UFC Champion & MMA Pioneer, Dead At 44

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Kevin Randleman died of heart failure at age 44. Randleman was also a 2-time NCAA National Champion at Ohio St. in the early 1990’s.

Source: MMA Mania

In Oct. 1996, a 24-year old former Ohio State University (OSU) standout wrestler, Kevin Randleman, entered a one-night tournament in Brazil.

Randleman defeated Luiz Macial, Geza Kalman and future Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Pride FC competitor, Dan Bobish, to win the tournament. Eight months later, “The Monster” would make his UFC debut, picking up a big win over former champion, Maurice Smith, to avenge his training partner and mentor, Mark Coleman. Randleman would lose in the finals of that tournament two months later to Bas Ruten in one of the more controversial decisions of the early mixed martial arts (MMA) era, but avenge Coleman once again by defeating Pete Williams to win UFC’s Heavyweight Championship.

That was the crowning achievement of Randleman’s career, but he would not be without other highlights. His most notable one was an astonishing knockout of kickboxer-turned-MMA practitioner Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic with one of the biggest left hooks you’ll ever see. He nearly defeated Fedor Emelianenko in his very next fight, but “Last Emperor” was unbreakable back then, and Randleman’s astonishing highlight-reel suplex of the great Russian, which normally would send wheelchair salesmen into heart palpitations, was merely shrugged off and turned into a kimura one minute later.

It remains a defining moment for both men:

Sadly, word from nearly all segments of the Internet, specifically Sherdog.com, are that Randleman has passed away at age 44, leaving behind his wife and four children.

Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter is reporting that Randleman went to a local hospital with pneumonia and suffered from heart failure while undergoing treatment. A relative of his also made numerous Facebook posts in apparent outside confirmation.

ROH Ring Crew Worker, Former WWE Referee Sent Home After Making Advances At A Female Talent

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter via WrestlingINC

Ring of Honor employee Kevin Keenan, who did some refereeing and worked the ring crew, was fired this past weekend after allegedly making advances at a female member of the roster. Keenan previously worked for WWE as a referee but was released in 2009.

The night before after the TV tapings in Nashville, some of the wrestlers, crew and staff went out for food and drinks. This is when Keenan made the alleged advances, which apparently included spanking her rear end, and it was clear to people there that the un-named female roster member was uncomfortable. People reportedly told Keenan that his behavior was unacceptable and he left the establishment they were at with a few other people.

ROH officials were told later that night and booker Hunter Johnston (Delirious) reprimanded Keenan the next day in front of the ring crew, officials and roster members. Johnston reportedly told Keenan that his actions were not acceptable in the ROH locker room and wouldn’t be accepted in any other locker room. Johnston then told Keenan to gather his belongings, leave and to not come back. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter was told that Keenan will no longer be used by ROH.

 

Possible New WrestleMania 32 Plans For Braun Strowman

Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter via WrestlingINC

After lots of talk about Braun Strowman vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania 32, The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the match is most likely not happening now.

According to The Observer, the current plan is for Strowman to compete in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal and go on to get a major push as WWE’s new monster.

The idea is to build him to a feud with future WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns and a potential pay-per-view match with Brock Lesnar. That match could happen at SummerSlam.

We noted before that there was talk of dropping the match due to fan backlash.

Ryback Makes Snide Remark Regarding CM Punk’s Injury

Ryback got a little dig in at CM Punk after it was revealed today that Punk’s UFC debut would be delayed so that he could undergo back surgery. Ryback wrote on Twitter:

During Punk’s now infamous interview on Colt Cabana’s Art of Wrestling podcast in 2014, Punk accused Ryback of being careless in the ring and said that Ryback had taken “20 years off of his life.” He accused Ryback of injuring him several times, and once confronted him after Ryback press slammed Punk through a table but missed.

“Either you’re doing it on purpose and you suck or you’re dumb as f–k, which is it?,” Punk claimed to have asked Ryback. Punk then said that Ryback replied in a dejected tone, “I’m dumb as f*ck.”

 

CM Punk’s Opponent Responds To Fight Delay, Update On Punk’s Status

Source: WrestlingINC

News broke Wednesday of former WWE Champion CM Punk’s long-awaited UFC debut being delayed due to back surgery. Punk’s scheduled opponent, Mickey Gall, took to Twitter to comment on the injury

“Guys. It’s all good. The fight is still on. Minor surgery. I wish @CMPunk a healthy & speedy recovery. I want you at 100%, check that, #200,” Gall said, indicating that he wanted Punk at July’s UFC 200.

As it turns out, Punk’s surgery is a minor one, and as we’re being told, will likely only sideline Punk for 4-6 weeks. This would give him over three months to prepare for a fight at UFC 200.

SmackDown Preview: 2/11/16

AJ Styles VS Chris Jericho

Immediately following the chaotic Eight-Man Tag Team Tables Match on Raw, The Dudley Boyz stunned the WWE Universe by turning the tables on their partners The Usos and putting both the Samoan brothers through wood. But why would they carry out such an unexpected onslaught? Tonight, Bubba Ray and D-Von will address their fans at SmackDown. Will they explain the reason for their attack? And will Jimmy and Jey be in any condition to respond?

Naomi VS Sasha Banks

In recent weeks, The Wyatt Family has laid waste to the likes of Kane, Big Show and Ryback. Considering that Bray Wyatt and his ominous followers are scheduled to address the WWE Universe tonight, it will be interesting to see whether they will shed some light on what is causing theses recent attacks … or whether they will indicate who will be the next target.

Lucha Dragons & Neville VS The Cosmic Wasteland

TNA Knockout Raquel Says She Was Assaulted During Match

Source: WrestlingINC

New TNA Knockout Raquel (Gabi Castrovinci), a former WWE Tough Enough competitor, appeared on last night’s episode of TMZ on FS1 and claimed to have been assaulted during a match at a WXW event in Miami over the weekend.

“I really got assaulted, I didn’t expect it,” Raquel said. “Although I was warned that it was going to happen, but I never thought that it would be at that level.”

Raquel noted that she cracked her tooth and had to get a root canal and a crown on her tooth. She also had “a little hairline fracture” on her jaw and multiple bruises.

Raquel noted that she does not intend to file charges out of respect to her coach, and that the person who had warned her does not want to come forward.

She believes that the incident happened because she “became very successful in wrestling and got a huge contract with Impact Wrestling.”

Raquel also stated on Twitter that she would not let the ordeal affect her and that she was already back training. She also posted the following on her Instagram, writing, “I’m fearless, I don’t complain. Even when horrible things happen to me, I go on.”

Update On Titus O’Neil’s WWE Suspension

Source: WrestlingINC

The New York Post reports that WWE changed Titus O’Neil’s suspension, and Titus will now be suspended for 60 days instead of 90 days, which would still have him out of WrestleMania.

As noted, Titus O’Neil tugged at Vince McMahon following Daniel Bryan’s post-RAW retirement celebration, as seen in the video below. PWInsider.com first reported today that WWE suspended Titus O’Neil for unprofessional conduct for the incident.

The Post article is actually titled “Fans call Vince McMahon a racist for suspending black wrestler,” and contains many messages from fans complaining that the suspension was racially motivated.

“The suspension of Titus O’Neil had nothing to do with race and everything to do with unprofessional conduct,” WWE told the Post in a statement. They added that Titus “acknowledged the gravity of his mistake” in a text message, writing:

“I feel like s–t now so if you have to let me go, I understand. Stupid mistake.”

CM Punk’s UFC debut delayed once again 

The former professional wrestler turned mixed martial artist can’t seem to catch a break.

CM Punk made the announcement in late 2014 that he would be debuting in the Octogan in 2015 but due to legal issues and a shoulder injury that wasn’t the case.

Last week Mickey Gall defeated Mike Jackson to earn his right to face Punk. The bout was slated to take place at UFC199 but now Punk is telling MMAfighting.com that is not the case.

Apparently the straight edge Chicago native with an (0-0) MMA record has been dealing with some nagging back pains and as per usual found himself working through them. Upon further investigation it appears that Punk has a herniated disk that will require back surgery, pushing his UFC debut back even further.

Injuries are never fun so we here at WNB would like to wish Punk a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.

Backstage Talk About WrestleMania 32 Main Event Plans

Source: PWInsider Elite via WrestlingINC

As of last week there was still at least some talk of having either Vince McMahon and The Rock or Stephanie McMahon and Ronda Rousey involved with the Roman Reigns vs. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H main event at WrestleMania 32. We also know that there’s been talk of having a special referee in the match.