WWE News

WWE News & Professional Wrestling Stories Of The Day – December 1, 2017

Let’s take a look at the top WWE News & Professional Wrestling stories of the day:

• Tugboat Talks About Working With Hulk Hogan

During a recent appearance on the School of Morton podcast, Old School WWF Veteran Fred Ottman (a.k.a Tugboat) talked about Vince McMahon pitching him the ‘Typhoon’ Gimmick, working with Hulk Hogan & more.

Below are the highlights:

On Vince McMahon pitching him the Typhoon gimmick:

“They called me in the office. Vince McMahon would sit down with all of his guys and they would have agents or whoever the powers may be. Pat Patterson was always his right hand man.

They would throw things back and forth like a committee. He would call you into the office and talk to you. The thing is if they would come up with a gimmick for you they want you to be comfortable.”

On his feud with Hulk Hogan:

“I couldn’t believe it, actually. You had the man that took the business to the next level and is that American icon. Once you went through that curtain, you get out there and feel the electricity of those people and Hulk was and still is a good, good guy and genuine guy and has helped so many guys in this business.

Feel the electricity and the people’s response whether you are a heel or a babyface and getting that response.”

On a trip to Disneyland with his Natural Disasters partner, “Earthquake” John Tenta:

“I got a picture of me and him at Disney World with our families. In Orlando on the Dumbo ride with Mickey Mouse ears on.

People knew who we were from TV and here’s the two big rhinoceros with Mickey Mouse ears on to ride the dumbo ride. We were lucky we didn’t snap them off. We were both over 400 pounds!”

• WWF Legend Says Braun Strowman Will Be Up There With The Undertaker Down The Line

During a recent Q&A session, Old School WWF Legend and Raw General Manager Kurt Angle had the following to say about “The Monster Among Men” Braun Strowman:

“Braun is one of a kind. I actually told Braun this last week. If he stays healthy, he can be up there eventually, in years’ time, with Undertaker as one of the best big men in the business. You have to remember that this guy wasn’t an athlete-athlete.

He was a Strongman competitor. It’s hard to believe that he’s as athletic and has the psychology like I’ve never seen a big man have since Undertaker. I give him a lot of credit for being able to pick up the business so quickly.”

• Promo For The Biggest Match In Jinder Mahal’s WWE Career Released

Next weekend in India, former WWE Champion “The Modern Day Maharaja” Jinder Mahal will have the biggest match of his WWE career when he faces Old School WWF Legend and 14 time World Champion “The Game” Triple H in the main event of a WWE “Super Show” Live Event in India.

Below is the official promo for this match:

• Original Plan For SmackDown Title

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, original plans for Charlotte Flair as the SmackDown Women’s Champion was for her to defend the Title against Tamina Snuka, with the storyline being that both of them are second generation superstars.

However, plans got changed once the Riott Squad arrived on SmackDown Live last week.

• On This Day In WWF History (December 1, 1995) – Old School WWF Jobber Passed Away

On the first day of December in 1995, the Wrestling World lost Old School WWF Enhancement Talent Jerry Allen (Real name: Jerry Arotski).

Allen did jobs on WWF TV occasionally in 1982/1983, plus on a regular basis from 1986 till 1988, where he lost to the likes of Randy Savage, Bret Hart, Ted Dibiase, Greg Valentine, The Honky Tonk Man, Rick Rude, Harley Race, Jake Roberts, … & many, many more.

† REST IN PEACE JERRY ALLEN!

• Former WWF Champion Returning For Tribute To The Troops, Scott Hall Talks About How He’s Doing (Video)

Former WWF Champion Sgt. Slaughter will be returning for the upcoming WWE Tribute To The Troops show. This show will air on December 14th at 8 PM EST on the USA Network.

Below is a new video of WWE Hall of Famer Scott Hall talking to legendary wrestling journalist Bill Apter about how he’s doing nowadays:

• Update On Two Matches That Are Currently Planned For Royal Rumble 2018 PPV

Two matches are currently planned for Royal Rumble 2018 PPV – Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe for the Intercontinental Championship and Kane vs. Braun Strowman.

And as always, the 30 man Royal Rumble match will headline the show. Speaking of the Royal Rumble PPV, below are the results from the last edition of the PPV, Royal Rumble 2017:

– Nikki Bella, Naomi & Becky Lynch def. Alexa Bliss, Mickie James & Natalya

Raw Tag Team Championship Match: Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson def. Cesaro & Sheamus (c) to win the Titles.

– Nia Jax def. Sasha Banks

Raw Women’s Championship Match: Charlotte Flair (c) def. Bayley to retain the Title.

No DQ Match For The Universal Championship: Kevin Owens (c) def. Roman Reigns to retain the Title (Chris Jericho was suspended in a Shark Cage above the ring).

WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match: Neville def. Rich Swann (c) to win the Title.

WWE Championship Match: John Cena def. AJ Styles (c) to win the Title.

Royal Rumble Match: Randy Orton eliminates Roman Reigns in the end to win the match and earn a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 33.

• John Cena Sued

According to TMZ Sports, Ford is suing 16 time WWE World Heavyweight Champion John Cena for selling his $500,000 2017 Ford GT.

This violated his contract with the company, where he was selected from thousands of applicants to get one of the only 500 cars of this model and wasn’t allowed to sell the car before 2 years of use.

Below is a statement regarding this from Ford:

“Mr. Cena has unfairly made a large profit from the unauthorized resale flip of the vehicle, and Ford has suffered additional damages and losses, including, but not limited to, loss of brand value, ambassador activity, and customer goodwill due to the improper sale.”

Ford now wants to Cena to return the profit made from the sale and other damages that they claimed.

• Old School WCW Veteran Celebrates His Birthday

Old School 90s WCW Wrestler “The Equalizer” Dave Sullivan (Real name: Bill Danenhauer) turns 60 today.

If you watched Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling during the mid-90s, you will certainly remember him as the dyslexic kayfabe brother of the evil ‘Dungeon of Doom’ leader “The Taskmaster” Kevin Sullivan.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE SULLIVAN!

• Goldberg’s Next TV Appearance Announced

Below is what WWE posted about former WCW World Heavyweight Champion Bill Goldberg’s next TV appearance:

“Who’s Next?” for former Universal Champion Goldberg? As it turns out, he’s headed to Central City after the legendary Superstar confirmed on Twitter that he is slated to appear on two episodes of The CW’s hit show “The Flash.”

Although there has be been no official announcement from the show’s producers, Goldberg’s tweet suggests that The Flash his team are in for some hard-hitting action when Goldberg arrives.

This would mark the second appearance of a former WWE World Champion on “The Flash.” During the show’s second season, WWE Hall of Famer Edge appeared as Atom Smasher.

• Edge Reveals What He Loved About The Brock Lesnar vs. AJ Styles Match

During a recent edition of “E&C’s Pod Of Awesomeness” podcast, former WWE Champion Edge praised the Brock Lesnar vs. AJ Styles match from Survivor Series 2017.

Below is what Edge said about the match:

“AJ and Brock, I really, really enjoyed. I loved that. The match made AJ weigh even more. You know because with Brock’s match they can go with one of two ways.

If he decides to, it can be amazing because he is super talented, but if it’s one of those deals where it’s like okay…we are not gonna make it seem like this person is necessarily on this level, it can be okay. It can be ho-hum. So I was glad they treated AJ like, no he works anybody and it is gonna be what it is…which is great.

So here is one thing I want to talk about with AJ and Brock that I loved and it might have been by accident and it might have been by what AJ did to make it look more difficult. To the finish, AJ went for the Springboard Forearm. He didn’t just jump into it looking like he was going to land on Brock’s shoulders.

He actually twisted and torqued like he was going to throw the forearm. And I think then in turn made it more difficult for Brock to catch him or may be it didn’t and Brock just worked it all.

But here is the deal, Brock made it look more difficult and that means so much more than just a guy easily catching a guy and there being no struggle. That really doesn’t….Okay you’re strong, but to me the struggle of it makes it mean more and makes it feel just more gritty and the little intangible things that make a difference between being a guy like Brock and just being somebody else.

Brock could catch somebody easily, but he didn’t and may be it was by accident, but I see him do enough of that stuff.”

• DDP Reveals Who’s The First WWE Star To Use DDP Yoga

During a recent interview with Atlanta Business Chronicle, former WCW World Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page talked about his salary in WCW, DDP Yoga & more. Below are the highlights:

On making peanuts working in WCW and sustaining an injury right after hitting jackpot:

“I started wrestling when I was 35, but my career didn’t take off until I was 40. When you look at me in the beginning of ’96 and at the end of ’96, I’m two different people. When my career took off like a rocket in ’97 – me against the nWo and Randy Savage – I wasn’t just a top guy, I was the top guy and then in ’98, I blew my back out.

$250,000 is a lot of money in the real world, but for being on-top of the wrestling world, that sucks. I had just gotten that 3-year, multi-million dollar deal and that’s when I blew my back out.”

On the future of DDP Yoga:

“I did what WWE did with the Network, but I did it with fitness. Now, my goal is to be a $100 million company before I’m 65.”

On who the first ever WWE Superstar to use the DDP Yoga program is:

“I had just done the WWE: The Very Best of WCW Monday Nitro and while I was there I was shooting behind the scenes with Shawn Michaels, who was the first guy ever to do my program, which, along with his surgery, helped him get back in the ring. Michaels told me, ‘Jericho is hurting and I told him to call you.'”

• Raw Star Posts About Being Body-shammed

Below is what Raw Superstar Nia Jax posted about being body-shammed on Instagram:

“In this line of work and with the world of social media, I am subjected to body shaming & it’s something I have accepted. It sucks when you get it in your own backyard around people you’re changing in front of and trust with your body.

I am a HEALTHY bigger woman, I LOVE MY BODY. Body shaming is WRONG! I hope every person struggling with their body WHATEVER shape or size you are, do not allow someone to shame their perfectly beautiful body! #SpreadLove”

• Carmella Comments On The Controversy Surrounding Her First Money In The Bank Victory

During a recent interview with Uproxx, Ms. Money In The Bank Carmella commented on the controversy surrounding her first Money in the Bank victory. Below is what she said:

“Gosh, the fans always have something to say. They’re never happy with anything. I could’ve won it the way I won it the second time the first time, and I feel like they still would’ve been upset with it. So, I personally loved it. I loved the controversy.

I never like to do anything little. Everything I do, I need it to be big and above and beyond. And it caused such a controversy and such a stir. And it had people talking, and at the end of the day, that’s all we can ask for; people are talking about the pay-per-view, they’re talking about the match. I loved every minute of it.”

 

• WCW Veteran Talks About Ultimate Warrior’s Run-In During Hollywood Hogan vs. Bret Hart Match Being Botched Due To Lack Of Communication In WCW

During a recent edition of “Neal Pruitt’s Secrets of WCW Nitro” podcast, WCW Veteran Tony Schiavone talked about lack of communication in WCW, David Arquette winning the World Title, Hogan vs. Bret & more. Below are the highlights:

On the lack of communication in WCW:

“I thought that the booking committee should have had more communication with production. I always thought here was a lot of miscommunication there. Conrad Thompson and I just watched an event – a Nitro from 1998 – where apparently the Ultimate Warrior was supposed to do a run-in for a Hogan match against Bret Hart.

He never did the run-in, and the reports were that ‘well, it was a miscommunication in the backstage area’. I remember thinking ‘boy is that the tip of the iceberg!’.

“I just don’t think that we had the communication skills that we needed to have. Then again…once people were put in place to communicate, they kept things from us, like we were in a missile silo and we couldn’t get the codes!”

On David Arquette winning the World Title:

“David Arquette was originally not gonna win the championship. The [booking] meeting adjourned, and I was sitting to the right of Vince Russo. Vince looked at me and said, ‘what are you thinking?’

I said, ‘nothing…what are you thinking?’ I remember him turning to me and he said, ‘so you want David Arquette to win the world title’? I said, ‘well that’s a thought! Did anybody think of that?’ He said, ‘well let me give that a thought’.”

On which match he wanted to see:

“I really would have wanted to see a real match between Hogan and Bret Hart. I say that now because the Hogan-Bret Hart match that we promised to them…we never did deliver because they did an angle out of it with Sting. I certainly would have loved to have seen that.

They wrestled for like 3 minutes, and then Hogan dropped him on his knee, Hart pretended his knee got hurt, Sting came in and took over the match…and then Bret and Hulk Hogan attacked Sting.”


        
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