WrestleMania 33 4/2/17

Image result for WrestleMania 33 the ultimate thrill ride April 2

 

WrestleMania 33 – special start time of 7 ET/4 PT.

Special two-hour WrestleMania Kickoff at 5 ET/2 PT

Hosted by The New Day

(Kickoff) Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal: Braun Strowman, Sami Zayn, Big Show, Dolph Ziggler, Apollo Crews, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Chad Gable, Jason Jordan, Mark Henry, Titus O’Neil, Goldust, R-Truth, Curtis Axel, Primo, Epico, Bo Dallas, Jinder Mahal, Rhyno, Heath Slater, Mojo Rawley, Curt Hawkins, Tyler Breeze, Fandango, Simon Gotch, Aiden English, Kalisto, Viktor, Konnor, Sin Cara

(Kickoff) SmackDown Women’s Championship – Six-Pack Challenge: (C) Alexa Bliss vs. Mickie James vs. Becky Lynch vs. Natalya vs. Carmella vs. Naomi

(Kickoff) WWE Cruiserweight Championship: (C) Neville vs. Austin Aries

RAW Tag Team Championship – Triple Threat – Ladder Match: (C) Gallows & Anderson vs, Enzo Amore & Big Cass vs. Sheamus & Cesaro

Intercontinental Championship: (C) Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin

United States Championship: (C) Chris Jericho vs Kevin Owens

RAW Women’s Championship – Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match: (C) Bayley vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax

John Cena & Nikki Bella vs. The Miz & Maryse

AJ Styles vs Shane McMahon

Non-Sanctioned Match: Triple H vs Seth Rollins

The Undertaker vs. Roman Reigns

WWE  World Championship: (C) Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton

WWE Universal Championship: (C) Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar w/Paul Heyman

 

 

WWE Hall Of Fame Class Of 2017 Induction Ceremony Line-Up 3/31/17

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The 2017 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place tonight from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. We will have live coverage beginning with the Red Carpet pre-show at 7pm EST with Maria Menounos and others. WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler will host tonight’s ceremony.

Below is the line-up for tonight’s ceremony:

* Kurt Angle, inducted by John Cena

* Diamond Dallas Page, inducted by Eric Bischoff

* Beth Phoenix, inducted by Natalya

* The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, inducted by Jim Cornette

* Teddy Long, inducted by JBL and Ron Simmons

* Rick Rude, posthumously inducted by Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat

* Eric LeGrand receives the Warrior Award, presented by Dana Warrior

It’s believed that the following stars will be posthumously inducted into the Legacy Wing of the Hall of Fame tonight but these have not been confirmed – Haystacks Calhoun, Dr. Jerry Graham, Rikidozan, Judy Grable, Toots Mondt, Farmer Burns, Luther Lindsay and June Byers.

Source: WrestlingINC

Backstage News & Speculation On The Hardys’ WWE Return

It was noted in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy are returning to WWE soon. No word yet on exactly, but it was noted that the only question is regarding the legal issues over the gimmick and where it stands. There’s been a lot of speculation on The Hardys appearing at WrestleMania 33 on Sunday, perhaps to challenge SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos as they do not have a match. We do know that they will be in Orlando on Sunday as they are hosting a tailgate party near Camping World Stadium earlier in the day. The Observer adds that Matt and Jeff can legally debut whenever WWE wants them to.

Matt tweeted the following photo today, which added to the WrestleMania speculation:

Source: WrestlingINC

WrestleMania 33 Roller Coaster Set (Photos)

Forbes has a story here about the massive amusement park-themed WrestleMania 33 set, noting that it “could be the greatest over.”

WrestleMania 33 set photos:

Source: WrestlingINC

Noam Dar Injured On This Week’s RAW

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WWE cruiserweight Noam Dar suffered an injury during this week’s RAW match with Austin Aries, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. No word yet on details of the injury but Dar missed this week’s 205 Live where he was to continue his feud with Rich Swann in the ring.

Dar is set to be examined in Orlando this Sunday before WrestleMania 33 to determine how long he will be out of action.

Source: WrestlingINC

Backstage Talk On Tension Between JBL And Mauro Ranallo Leading To Mauro’s Absence

Image result for Mauro Ranallo and JBL

As noted, Mauro Ranallo missed his third straight of WWE SmackDown commentary this week due to his battle with depression and the bipolar disorders he’s fought since he was a teenager, something he’s often spoke publicly about. Wrestling Observer Newsletter points to the timing of Mauro’s absence and the public verbal jabs with SmackDown partner JBL. The two had often traded shots and JBL even blocked Mauro on Twitter back in December.

The March 13th episode of “Bring It To The Table” on the WWE Network played a part in all of this as JBL ranted on Mauro during that show. JBL apparently got mad when Mauro tweeted the results of the Wrestling Observer Announcer of the Year Awards, which Mauro won, and commented on how he was honored to have won the award two years in a row. The results list featured the top 10 placements for that category, which JBL not making the top 10. People close to the situation said that things between JBL and Mauro had been building to that point. JBL was said to be legitimately very upset about the awards mention and may have said something. Mauro tweeted on March 13th, “Jealousy is one hell of a drug.” He did not indicate that this tweet was for JBL but that’s how it was taken by many. Mauro also re-tweeted several comments that were mocking JBL’s tirade on “Bring It To The Table.”

After Mauro missed his first SmackDown the following day on March 14th in Pittsburgh, JBL took to Twitter and knocked Mauro for missing the show. Then it was believed that Mauro missed SmackDown due to bad weather in the Northeast part of the country but other announcers, such as Taz and Josh Mathews, were skeptical. JBL tweeted, “I made the show, everyone made the show, everyone. Maybe he shouldn’t have bashed me if he wasn’t going to show up.” JBL later deleted the tweet and hasn’t commented on Mauro since. JBL’s rants were seen as mean spirited, even if he was being in-character.

Mauro thanked fans on Twitter today and noted that he was getting stronger but as noted, it appears he will miss WrestleMania 33. The Observer reports that Mauro has only been in touch with his closest friends like Bas Rutten and Frank Shamrock. Those close to Mauro have said that he’s getting stronger and recovering. Rutten, who also co-hosts a podcast with Mauro, has made hints at and outright told people his feelings towards JBL. Rutten mentioned JBL in tweets made after Mauro missed the first SmackDown episode:

 

 

 

Source: WrestlingINC

Mauro Ranallo Says He’s Stronger, Comments On WrestleMania

It appears Mauro Ranallo will not be working WrestleMania 33 this week as he tweeted well wishes to his WWE family as they head to Orlando today.

Mauro missed Tuesday night’s WrestleMania 33 go-home edition of WWE SmackDown Live – his third week in a row. Mauro’s absence is related to his battle with depression, which he’s fought since he was a teenager. Mauro noted last week that his doctors had advised him to stay off social media.

Mauro’s good friend and podcast co-host Bas Rutten recently appeared on The Luke Thomas Show and commented on the status of the SmackDown announcer:

“Yeah, he’s doing OK. As everybody knows, he’s very vocal about it but Mauro is bi-polar and sometimes, a few times a year, things are going too fast and he needs to just simply slow down. But he’s doing good and I talked to him… he’s sending me funny video clips, he just sent me something… It’s all in good spirits, I think he will be back to normal very soon.”

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE To Limit Number Of HOF Inductees In The Future? – ‘Dinner With The King’ Podcast

WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler noted on his latest “Dinner with The King” podcast that WWE may limit the amount of Hall of Fame inductees each year in the future because the speeches have gotten longer and longer. Lawler gave insight on being backstage with Vince McMahon during the Hall of Fame and his willingness to let presenters & inductees talk longer than expected. You can listen to the latest episode at this link or below:

Source: WrestlingINC

Goldberg On Being Miserable During Current WWE Run, What He Told Vince McMahon After Door Headbutt

On the premier episode of E&C Pod Of Awesomeness, WWE Universal Champion Goldberg talked about his gruelling preparation for his current WWE run and being “miserable”.

According to Goldberg, he is a machine now that trains, eats, and goes to the bathroom several times a day.

“I am nothing but a machine now. I get up in the morning. I eat. I train. I eat. I go to the bathroom about 20 times intermittently throughout the day because I’m shoving 15 to 20,000 calories in my body and it doesn’t know what’s going on. At 50 years old, it has no idea.”

Moreover, Goldberg admitted that preparing for his comeback has been the hardest thing he has ever done.

“It’s the toughest thing I ever embarked upon, guys. I’m 13 years removed from the business.” Goldberg added, “I can’t name a power wrestler who has come back 13 freaking years afterwards. And then, within 20 pounds of what he was back then.”

In Goldberg’s estimation, people expect him to look how he did during his previous WWE run and to be able to do the things he did before. The man behind pro wrestling’s longest undefeated streak divulged that he had been away from pro wrestling so long that he even forgot how to perform his entrance. Also, Goldberg mentioned that he pulled a hamstring doing a kick during his entrance.

“People are expecting me to be able to do exactly what I did back then. Well, I mean, let’s be honest, man. I forgot how to go through my pyro! I honestly, I swear to God, I actively, when I came back to the WWE, each and every time I went through Gorilla [position], I would remember another thing that I had forgotten in my preparation.”

Goldberg said, “I throw my punches. I throw my kicks. I pull my hamstring throwing a kick! Throwing a kick! It’s ridiculous.”

Additionally, Goldberg admitted that he knocked himself out headbutting the door before his entrance and he forgot his lines as a result.

“How about when I knocked myself out on the door? Did you hear that one? You didn’t hear that one? I did that, I don’t know, a month ago. So, well, yeah, man. My way of getting ready, you know me, man. They knock on my door, I pour water on my head, so I don’t catch on fire from the sparks, and I headbutt the door. I’m a neanderthal. That’s what I do, right?”

Goldberg recalled, “and I’m walking to the ring, and I go through Gorilla, and then, I get in the ring, man, and I literally forgot every single thing that I was supposed to say and the cameraman throws me a towel. And I’m like, ‘what is this towel for?’ I mean, I know I sweat a lot, but I’ve got blood dripping down my forehead and I had no idea, man.”

Apparently, Goldberg told Vince McMahon afterward the incident, “fault me for trying too hard, not for not trying hard enough.”

Also during the interview, Goldberg claimed that he has been miserable during this current WWE run, but his family is happy and that is most important to the former Atlanta Falcon.

“I’ll be honest, I’m miserable. I’m absolutely miserable. But my family’s having fun, man. And so, every single thing, every training session, every ART massage that makes me cry, every muay thai session, it’s all worth it, man. It’s just worth it. And, hey, at the end of the day, if I want to smile, I’ll buy a car. That’s how I’m happy. I did, I bought one on the way back from [Survivor Series in] Toronto because I worked my ass off.”

Goldberg added, “nobody get me wrong when I say I’ve been miserable throughout this, but I am. I’m miserable. I’m bloated 24 hours a day. I’m stressed 24 hours a day. I don’t sleep, but it’s a small price to pay.”

Goldberg stated that he has sacrificed cardio to bulk up and achieve that classic Goldberg look.

“For me to be 237 [pounds] and have great cardio and then get the phone call that six weeks later, I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do. Do you think I continued to do cardio every day?” Goldberg continued, “I had to shut cardio completely down and just eat, and eat, and lift, and eat. And so it’s a sacrifice. Do I give people the visual whatever as close as possible of Goldberg or do I give them a new version in which I look like a cruiserweight and it’s just different, man.”

The former face of WCW admitted that he wore a coat when he first came back to WWE because he was not bulky enough.

“Why do you think I wore a coat every time at first when I got back? The answer is I still had to train, man. I was still training.” Goldberg added, “I believe it was much more important for me to be aesthetically what I was like in the past as opposed to a dude who could run around for 20 minutes. That ain’t me.”

Click here to listen to the show.

Source: E&C Pod Of Awesomeness  –  H/T to WrestlingINC

Naomi Returns From Injury, Inserts Herself Into SD Live Women’s Title Match (VIDEO)

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Last night on SmackDown Live, Naomi made a surprise appearance by running down the ramp and hitting Natalya with a running hurricanrana.

She then cut a promo confirming that she’s officially entering the SmackDown Women’s Title Match at Wrestlemania 33 in her hometown of Orlando, Florida.

The pre-show match also includes Natalya, Carmella, Alexa Bliss, Becky Lynch and Mickie James.