Let’s take a look at the top WWE News & Professional Wrestling stories of the day:
• Former World Champion Disqualified From Working For WWE
Former WWE Champion Rob Van Dam filed for a divorce with his ex-wife Sonya. RVD wants to pay less money to Sonya than she is demanding because he can no longer make good money in the Wrestling Business.
The reason behind RVD not being able to make good money is that he was disqualified from working for the WWE after he suffered a concussion, which resulted in visual impairment.
WWE isn’t renewing RVD’s merchandising contract either and this has resulted in RVD making way less money than he used to. RVD noted that he has aged out of the business, while his ex-wife is still capable of doing a job and earning herself.
• John Cena Gets Emotional On Good Morning Britain
During a recent appearance on Good Morning Britain, 16 time WWE World Heavyweight Champion John Cena got a little emotional while talking about proposing Nikki Bella at WrestleMania 33.
Below is what Cena said:
“She said yes. I was extremely nervous, because the audience controls our program, and this was in a match with 75,000 people. You just get to the point where you think ‘man this is a good idea’, but then you’re like, ‘what if they start chanting ‘no! no! no!’.
It’s the best moment of my life, and I couldn’t think of a better place to do it. The WWE has been my family for the past 15 years… we have such a strong connection to our audience. The crazy thing about that moment was that I was in a match, before that, and if you watch the match back, the audience hated me.
But it’s such a show of respect that once the performance was over, they realize that this is a moment we are both going to remember for all of our lives.”
You can watch Cena proposing to Nikki at WrestleMania 33 below:
• Raw Women To Make History This Thursday At A WWE Live Event
At Thursday’s WWE Live Event in Abu Dhabi, Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss & Sasha Banks will make history when they wrestle in the first ever WWE women’s match in that country.
• Roman Reigns Thanks John Cena For Taking Him To His Level
During the recent “Straight To The Source” episode with special guest Roman Reigns, Reigns thanked John Cena for taking him to his level. You can watch it below:
"He brought me up and then when we get in the ring… That's my playground!" –@WWERomanReigns @WWEGraves #StraightToTheSource pic.twitter.com/rjLS7IC8xT
— WWE (@WWE) December 5, 2017
• Two More Top Impact Wrestling Stars Leaving Soon?
Former TNA World Heavyweight Champion James Storm recently left Impact Wrestling. According to the Wrestling Observer, two more top Impact Wrestling stars might be leaving the company soon when their contract expires – Bobby Lashley & Ethan Carter III.
• NXT Wrestlers Suffer Injuries This Past Weekend
Aleister Black and No Way Jose suffered injuries this past weekend at NXT Live Events. However, these were just minor injuries and nothing serious. Officials still prevented them from competing at Saturday’s Live Event as a precaution.
• Sting Reveals If He Has Any Complaints Regarding His WrestleMania Match With Triple H, Still Wants To Face The Undertaker
Old School WCW Legend & WWE Hall of Famer Sting did a Q&A session at Wales Comic Con. Below are the highlights:
It has been reported that you held off getting neck surgery in order to have one more match. What is the story?
“I have never said ‘one more match’ ever. I’d like to have one more match, I’d like to have that Undertaker match. The only reason I held off on the surgery is because I had guys like Stone Cold saying don’t do it. I don’t have any side effects? I can still work out and it doesn’t bother me, I don’t get a sore neck from sleeping or anything so why would I get surgery? If you don’t need it, don’t do it.”
If you were going to return to WWE, which persona would you be?
“I can’t pull off Surfer Sting anymore as I don’t have enough hair on my head. Probably Crow Sting or Joker Sting.”
What is your favorite incarnation of Sting?
“Crow Sting.”
If WWE asked you to work a program with a young up and coming talent who would you pick?
“Bray Wyatt, I like him. I know he’s not young but he has character, it’s kinda old school and I like that.”
What is your personal take on the way your WrestleMania match with HHH was booked? Many believe you were screwed, were you?
“No. I have no complaints. It was WrestleMania. You had DX, you had the NWO. It was surreal. A great moment and great memories. No complaints from me.”
Why didn’t you get a return match with HHH?
“I think we got everything out in that match. I don’t think there was a need for it. We both got everything out in that one match.”
What were the plans for you after your WWE Title match with Seth Rollins?
“I don’t know, I don’t think they really had any plans to be honest. I had my plans, I wanted that match with Taker and would have done my best to make it happen.”
How much creative control did you have? Is there anything that you have had to do that you didn’t want to do and / or anything you wanted to do but never got chance to?
“I’m sure that there is plenty that I wanted to do like the Taker match for example. As for things that I didn’t want to do – I just didn’t do them. If I didn’t wanna do something I would find an alternative, better thing to do.”
• Goldberg’s Possible WWE Return Date
WWE officials are in talks with WCW Legend and former WWE Universal Champion Bill Goldberg for a return to WWE programming and a possible Hall of Fame induction during the WrestleMania 34 weekend.
Current talks are for him to return on Raw’s 25th anniversary episode, which airs on January 22nd and will also feature The Undertaker’s first appearance on WWE programming since his WrestleMania 33 loss to Roman Reigns.
• Top UFC Heavyweight Fighter Wants To Fight Brock Lesnar – Says He’s Stronger Than Lesnar & Will Deal With Him Easily
Top UFC Heavyweight Fighter Francis Ngannou, who recently knocked out MMA Legend Alistair Overeem this past Saturday at UFC 218 PPV (you can watch it below in the article), wants to fight former UFC Heavyweight Champion and the current WWE Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar.
Below is what Ngannou said about facing Lesnar during his appearance on the Top Turtle MMA podcast:
“I’d always like to see the match between me and Brock Lesnar. Two big dudes. I like that matchup. I’m excited for that kind of match as a fan. … I want to see that match. He’s big. Huge, as you say. But he’s not stronger than me.
I’m stronger than him. I’m the best striker in the heavyweight division and the more powerful guy. I’m also a talented guy and I will deal with that very easy.”
Ngannou will likely face the current UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic next for the Title and below is what he said about this potential fight:
“I always predict KO.
If he tries to stand up with me, he will not stand up too long. And I think he will probably try something. He’s a good striker, but he doesn’t know how dangerous I am.”
You can watch Ngannou’s brutal KO of Overeem from UFC 218 below:
• Shield Powerbombs Raw Star Through A Table After Raw (Video)
Below is a video of The Shield powerbombing Raw Tag Team Champion Sheamus through a table after Raw went off the air:
The Shield powerbombs Sheamus through a table after Raw goes off the air. pic.twitter.com/07fMFNqKW6
— World Wrestling News (@WWENewsMafia) December 6, 2017
• Cody Rhodes To Announce 10,000+ Seat Venue For Self-Financed Wrestling Show In 2 Weeks
Below is what former WWE Superstar and current ROH World Champion Cody Rhodes said about his self-financed wrestling show:
“We’ll have a date and a place within two weeks. That’s why I went ahead and commented on the original story, because it’s far enough along in the process that people need to know it’s happening.
I was confident enough to say let’s do it. Matt and Nick were confident enough to say let’s do it, but this is something that hasn’t been done. A lot of things have to happen. I think I’m most excited about the creation process. Putting this together with those two guys myself.
Some of the stuff that we’ve already got on board – not talent-based, but as far as people who are involved with this and people who have put some confidence in us, it’s just crazy.”
• Raw Loses 700,000+ Viewers Between The First & Third Hour Of Raw
This week’s episode of Raw, which featured two title matches, drew 2.81 million viewers. This is up from previous week’s 2.76 million viewers.
It should be noted that the first hour of Raw, which featured Roman Reigns defending his Intercontinental Championship against Jason Jordan, drew 3.15 million viewers. On the other hand, the third hour of Raw, which featured Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins challenging The Bar (Cesaro & Sheamus) for the Raw Tag Team Titles, drew 2.43 million viewers.
This means that Raw lost over 700,000 viewers between the first & third hour. Below are the results from the show:
– Intercontinental Champion Roman Reigns def. Jason Jordan to retain the Title.
– Paige def. Sasha Banks
– Drew Gulak def. Cedric Alexander, Mustafa Ali and Tony Nese
– Braun Strowman attacked Elias
– Asuka def. Alicia Fox
– Finn Bálor def. Bo Dallas
– Matt Hardy sentenced Bray Wyatt to “deletion”
– Raw Tag Team Champions Cesaro & Sheamus def. Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins to retain the Titles.
Below are the top 10 moments from this week’s Raw:
• Promo For Clash of Champions 2017 Main Event
Below is the promo for Clash of Champions 2017 main event for the WWE Championship between “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles & “The Modern Day Maharaja” Jinder Mahal:
The #Phenomenal @AJStylesOrg will defend his #WWETitle against The #ModernDayMaharaja @JinderMahal at #WWEClash of Champions! #RAW pic.twitter.com/H6x1va0g0G
— WWE (@WWE) December 5, 2017
• Old School Wrestling Veteran Would Have Celebrated His Birthday
Today would have been the 71st birthday of Old School Territory Wrestler Dennis Stamp.
Most people remember this former NWA / AWA Wrestler from his appearance in the 1999 cinema movie ‘Beyond The Mat’ where he said the famous words “I’m not booked”.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY & R.I.P. DENNIS STAMP
• On This Day In Pro Wrestling History (December 6, 2003) – WCW Veteran Passed Away
On this day in 2003 we lost Old School WCW Wrestler The Wall (Real name: Michael Jerome “Jerry” Tuite) after suffering a heart attack at the young age of 36.
He debuted in 1999 as the bodyguard of Berlyn (Alex Wright) and later became a member of the infamous ‘M.I.A. Misfits In Action’ faction.
Some might even remember him as Malice in the early days of TNA Total Nonstop Action, where he feuded with NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ken Shamrock.
† REST IN PEACE
December 27, 1966 – December 6, 2003
• Old School Wrestling Legend Would Have Celebrated His Birthday
Today would have been the 83rd birthday of Old School Wrestling Legend Nick Bockwinkel (Real name: Nicholas Warren Francis Bockwinkel).
He was a 4 time AWA World Heavyweight Champion and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 by his former AWA manager Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY & R.I.P.
December 6, 1934 – November 14, 2015
• On This Day In Pro Wrestling History (December 6, 2014) – WWF Veteran Passed Away
On this day in 2014 we lost Old School WWF Tag Team Wrestler “The Gigolo” Jimmy Del Ray (Real name: David Ferrier) after suffering a heart attack at the age of 52.
The highlight of his Professional Wrestling career was certainly teaming with “The Doctor of Desire” Tom Prichard in SMW Smoky Mountain Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation as ‘The Heavenly Bodies’.
† REST IN PEACE JIMMY DEL RAY
November 30, 1962 – December 6, 2014
• On This Day In Pro Wrestling History (December 6, 1998) – WWF Capital Carnage
On this day in Pro Wrestling history on December 6, 1998, the World Wrestling Federation aired ‘Capital Carnage’ LIVE on PPV from the London Arena in London, England (UK / Europe).
This UK-only pay-per-view event would be renamed ‘WWF Rebellion’ the next year and became an annual event in 2002.
Here are the results:
– Gangrel defeated Al Snow
– The Headbangers defeated The Legion of Doom
– Val Venis defeated Goldust
– Tiger Ali Singh defeated Edge
– Mixed tag match
Christian and Sable defeated Jacqueline and Marc Mero
– WWF Intercontinental Championship
Ken Shamrock (c) defeated Steve Blackman
– Triple H defeated Jeff Jarrett
– WWF Tag Team Championship
The New Age Outlaws (c) defeated D’Lo Brown and Mark Henry
– WWF Championship
The Rock (c) defeated X-Pac via DQ
– Fatal 4-Way Match
Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Kane, Mankind and The Undertaker