8. Brand Split Taking Place After WrestleMania 32?
New graphics have been produced by WWE’s marketing department for both Raw & SmackDown. The Raw brand features: John Cena, Kevin Owens, Bray Wyatt, Alberto Del Rio, Nikki Bella & Charlotte. The SmackDown brand features: Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler, The New Day & Paige.
Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer noted that this could be a hint at a possible brand split, or could also mean absolutely nothing. The rumors of a brand split started a few weeks back when Shane McMahon was put in a match with The Undertaker for the control of Raw.
7. “Gawker Picked The Wrong Guy” – Hulk Hogan
During a recent appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America”, Hulk Hogan discussed his huge victory over Gawker Media, his WWE legacy & more.
Below are the highlights:
How determined he was to hold Gawker accountable:
“I told my wife, I said, ‘If I had to get my situation where I had to sell everything and borrow money and do whatever, I will not stop. They actually picked the wrong guy.’ I don’t know how to tell you, I took it real personal. Gawker was hoping that, financially, I wouldn’t be able to stay in the game with them, and I’d quit or tap out or something. I felt like I had this monster on my shoulders no matter where I went.”
Not hearing the number he was awarded at first:
“I went upstairs with my whole crew. And everybody was excited. And I heard somebody say something about, ‘the number was unbelievable.’ And I said, ‘Well, what was the number?’ I didn’t hear the number. I was so overwhelmed that people actually believed me, it just — it was like white noise at that point. I didn’t hear anything else.”
WWE:
“It would be really nice to be, you know, in the Hall of Fame. But it’s not as important as what we did with this case. I don’t think you can destroy my legacy, you know, because the fans know Hulk Hogan and know what flipped the switch on this industry … it would be great to be part of the Hall of Fame and be legitimate and be, you know, looked at by the establishment of the WWE as back in good graces.
But if it doesn’t happen, you know, it’d be sad. But I can look at myself in the mirror and be happy.”
