It's emerged that a brand new women's wrestling promotion will be starting up in July that will be a sister promotion to SHIMMER Women Athletes.
The yet unnamed promotion will be based in Florida - the debut show to be held in Ybor City, Florida on July 20th - will host monthly shows, to be viewed through internet Pay Per View. Former SHIMMER wrestlers are involved in running the shows, in the form of former TNA Knockout and WCW star Daffney, as well as Slammin' Ladies' Lexie Fyfe. Also involved is Sal Hamaoui - the longtime SHIMMER DVD editior and former booker for the Full Impact Pro promotion in Florida - and of course SHIMMER founder and promoter Dave Prazak.
Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com reports that the idea for these shows is to bridge the gaps between SHIMMER DVD tapings, giving the large amount of talent in Florida (and presumably around) a chance to work and impress, working their way into SHIMMER main show appearances or just get their names out there with their ability.
This is obviously major and exciting news, and we'll bring plenty of updates (especially the name for this promotion) when they happen.
Last Night it was announced via WWE.com that WWE Diva Rosa Mendes had been involved in an accident whilst waiting at a red light in Las Vegas. It was reported that a car collided with the vehicle which led to Rosa suffering a "Serious Whiplash".
"We were talking when all of a sudden, I saw in my rear view mirror a truck coming really fast. It jackknifed" Says Rosa to WWE.com "We were the last car hit, so we had the most impact," she said. "We slid two car lengths. I didn’t know when it was going to stop. If we weren’t in the Hummer, we would’ve been seriously injured."
Thankfully Rosa walked away with her life suffering a Whiplash in the process.
“My neck and back were really hurting. My body is my job. I was so scared that I was not going to be able to wrestle. I was in a lot of pain. Nothing’s broken. I feel like I can wrestle but the whole right side of my neck and back have a burning sensation.”
Former WWE Diva Chyna whom fainted earlier this week while at a pornographic fan expo held in Miami, has addressed the incident while speaking to E!
Speaking on the incident the former WWE Women's Champion said:
“It’s weird because I’ve been feeling so good lately, almost like She-Hulk, my character in Vivid’s Avengers XXX. But then I started to get a cold and feel weary. I think I overdid it with the cold medicine and a glass of wine at lunch today. I feel much better now and intend to go out to the pool.”
A rep from the event went on to say:
“She has been feeling flu-like symptoms and took some over the counter medication to combat this, and possibly mixed it with a beverage during lunch. She was helped to a vehicle at the show and brought back to her hotel to rest—not a hospital as reported by some outlets.”
Women Superstars Uncensored is currently going through negotiations with two parties for new ownership, after one independent buyer backed out from a deal. The all-female wrestling promotion's current owner, Sean McCaffrey, is selling WSU due to "heatlh issues" amongst others.
Commenting via Twitter, Caffrey stated:
Sale update: Original buyer backed out today, we are negotiating with two other parties, one being a prominent indy promotion to buy… But to answer all the DM’s, reason I personally leaving is I have other issues in life to address right now that are time consuming. I do not want to put out a half ass effort, and if I can’t run the company at the level i want and used to, because of other matters. It is time to hand the keys to someone who can dedicate the time, energy and passion that I was able to as owner… But end of the day, health issues, job opportunities and newborn babies come before wrestling, & I don’t want to 1/2 ass anything…
Thoughts: The news is sudden, and this certainly marks a major turning point in WSU's career with Jessicka Havok as the top WSU Champion and former company figurehead Mercedes Martinez looking to be leaving the company, it's going to be a testing time for fans and wrestlers alike in WSU.
We can bring you spoilers from the recent tapings of the brand new version of NXT, which featured the WWE TV debuts of two FCW Divas - one a former SHIMMER star, the other a contestant for WWE Tough Enough.
Taping 2: Antonio Cesaro accompanied by Aksana defeated Dante Dash. Post-Match: Aksana declared, "Antonio is my lover!"
Taping 3: Sofia Cortez (Ivelisse Vélez from Tough Enough) defeated Paige (Britani Knight from SHIMMER & Pro Wrestling: EVE).
Source: PWTorch
Thoughts: It seems that Kaitlyn and Maxine, the two leading ladies of NXT up until this new version of NXT, aren't a part of it anymore, perhaps meaning they will be more regular on Raw or Smackdown now. On the flip-side, it's great opportunities for Cortez who missed out on winning Tough Enough but has still made it to WWE TV, and Paige has gotten a spot over the likes of Raquel Diaz and Audrey Marie who have been in FCW for a much longer time than her, and only adds to Paige's meteoric rise through wrestling.
The daughter of Hulk Hogan, reality TV and singer Brooke Hogan has been announced as becoming a part of the TNA roster in a position of power role as "Executive in Charge" of the TNA Knockouts.
On the same night TNA will start to air Impact Wrestling live, May 31, the "star" of Hogan Knows Best and Brooke Knows Best will become the latest addition to the roster. The news of Brooke Hogan joining TNA had been mentioned during one of disgruntled former TNA star Scott Steiner's rants over Twitter, but here is real confirmation.
Thoughts: I guess they didn't want to go back to using Traci Brooks or Karen Jarrett for the role? Being a personality on a reality TV show and being a personality on a sports entertainment show are two very different things, but I'll hold my doubts at the moment until we see Brooke Hogan in TNA and what role she plays on the shows. She'll certainly bring name value and will be good for PR, and of course having a very famous father with a lot of stroke in TNA will have played a major part in her becoming a part of TNA.
Anarchy Championship Wrestling often spoil us with women's matches, and here's another from them with a former SHIMMER star in action.
It's multi-time ACW title holder Rachel Summerlyn accompanied by Machiko, taking in Barbi Hayden one on one. Enjoy! There's also another ACW starlet in Angel Blue on commentary, with some rather unflattering comments towards her fellow American Joshi division stars.
It's being reported that the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair has been signed to a WWE Developmental contract, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Ashley Fliehr Johnson, who recently began wrestling training in North Carolina, is said to be reporting to FCW this summer.
She is a noted star volleyball player from high school, university and beyong, and is a certified personal trainer.
This coming Sunday GM of Both Raw and Smackdown takes on John Cena in his first ever PPV match, in an all new article on WWE.com the question is posed what will happen to those around Laurinaitis if he loses match and is terminated as a WWE Employee. Among those featured in the article is Former WWE Divas Champion, Eve Torres who has been John's latest force taking over the WWE even been the main component for the firing of The Big Show and The Bella Twins.
Don't let her stunning looks fool you. Eve has been a conniving businesswoman that Laurinaitis has fully embraced as his Executive Administrator. Just ask The Bella Twins or Big Show what they think of Eve, who was directly involved in their recent firings from WWE. Despite her ruthless attitude, though, Eve has proven she gets the job done exactly the way the Raw and SmackDown GM wants.
Without Laurinaitis as the boss, can Eve maintain her position of power? Or will the next General Manager clean house, moving the Executive Administrator back to competing in the Divas division, or worse, dismissing her from WWE completely? Both are potential scenarios for Laurinaitis' leading lady.
When Beth Phoenix lost the WWE Divas Championship to Nikki Bella on the April 23 edition of Raw SuperShow, The Glamazon severely sprained her left ankle.
But that wasn’t enough to keep Phoenix down. Less than a week later, she was set to face Nikki for the butterfly-emblazoned title at Extreme Rules … or so she thought. Before her match at Extreme Rules, Phoenix learned she was not medically cleared to compete.
With The Glamazon out of the picture, Layla stunned the WWE Universe by returning from injury to capture the WWE Divas Championship from Nikki at Extreme Rules.
Layla’s shocking return was the culmination of a long road to recovery after suffering an injury in 2011. Immediately after her victory, an exuberant and glowing champion did not mince words about her plans. “I'm going to dominate,” she said in a WWE.com Exclusive Video.
But Layla’s return is not sitting well with The Glamazon.
"I’m going to bust her other knee, and make sure that she goes away and never comes back," Phoenix said in a recent emotional interview with WWE.com. "She has no idea what she has gotten herself into.”
With tensions continuing to mount between the two, their clash was officially announced on May 7 on WWE.com.
At WWE Over the Limit, will The Glamazon find a way to reclaim the title she held for just over six months? Or, will Layla fight to keep what she has earned just as hard as she fought to rehab from from her injury? Tune in Sunday, May 20, live on pay-per-view at 8 ET / 5 PT.
WWE Divas Champion Layla had some short and sweet words about Beth Phoenix, commenting moments after attacking her after her match on Raw. Read up all about that match and the rest of the action from Raw in the Raw Super Show Reloaded!
Surprising and disappointing news coming from Japan is that the all-female wrestling promotion REINA has apparently been "dissolved" and will run no more events, despite having just hosted its one-year anniversary event.
Universal Women’s Pro Wrestling REINA, the joshi company with close ties to the CMLL lucha libre promotion in Mexico, hosted its first anniversary show at Tokyo's infamous Korakuen Hall over the weekend, but the main news from the show wasn't the result of any of the matches - instead that the company had actually put on its final event. Top star Ray who recently made her debut in SHIMMER let the news out over her Twitter account:
“I was surprised at the dissolution of REINA, but it gave me the opportunity to fight lots of overseas stars and go to Mexico. I will be forever grateful. Happiness to everyone”
REINA used many international stars not just from CMLL (the CMLL-REINA International Junior Title was co-promoted by the companies), but SHIMMER and beyond including the likes of Sara Del Rey, Portia Perez, Nicole Matthews, Mia Yim, and Kimber Lee who actually made her REINA debut on this show. No official reason has been stated for the company's dissolving.
Results from the final REINA show, courtesy of RingBellesOnline:
1. Hikaru Shida & Tsukasa Fujimoto defeated Basara & Saya.
2. Aki Kanbayashi defeated Kimber Lee.
3. 6-Woman Tag Team Match: Mima Shimoda, Ray & Tomoka Nakagawa defeated Goya Kong, Zeuxis & Dalys La Caribeña.
4. Mexican National Women’s Title; Best 2-out-of-3 Falls Match: Princesa Blanca (c) retained over Lady Apache, 2 falls to 1.
5. Kyoko Inoue & Sareee bt Aoi Ishibashi & Mia Yim.
6. Hair vs. Hair, Falls Count Anywhere Street Fight: Yumiko Hotta defeated La Commandante.
Last week the stage was set for a match at the Over The Limit Pay Per View, as the Divas Champion Layla is set to defend against former champ “The Glamazon” Beth Phoenix, and Layla showed she's more than ready, staring down Beth as she sat on commentary. Eve also continued to stamp her position of authority as the Executive Administrator, putting the giant The Big Show in his place after he foolishly made fun of the G.M. John Laurinaitis' voice. Will this week bring more of the same? Will Eve continue to let the power go to her head? Will Phoenix make a statement of her own towards the reigning Divas Champion? Let's find out in this, the Raw Super Show Reloaded!
The Match
Divas Singles Match Beth Phoenix defeated Alicia Fox after hitting The Glam Slam.
That's right, the first taste of the Divas on Raw (unless you're counting Eve appearing in a recap of the story with Big Show from last week) was a match! Coming back from commercial, Alicia Fox is in the ring in black with orange trim attire, doing some odd swaying/dance thing but seeing that she's on TV she made it more over the top, before climbing up a corner to pose, much to Perv King's approval.
Out next is the number one contender for the Divas Championship, Beth Phoenix and she's got her serious, game face on, clad in her now usual black ring outfit. Phoenix is shaking her head as she stares across at her opponent, and we cut to match graphics for the upcoming Over The Limit PPV match between Beth and Layla for the butterfly belt. Actual hype for a Divas PPV match?? Can someone check the temperature for hell??
Back to the ring and Phoenix is performing her usual pose on the corner with quite the smirk on her face, and Fox is grinning away herself because... I guess that's her gimmick now? The match starts as Cole comments on a WWE-dot-com interview with Phoenix where Beth took shots at Layla for her injury and claimed that Layla “doesn't know what she's getting herself into”. The Divas lock up and Beth easily muscles Alicia into the corner, looking like she's going to give a clean break but stepping back, Phoenix way to clearly reels back the arm so Fox easily ducks the incoming strike attempt. There was so much distance for Fox there you could have safely driven a tank through it! Phoenix charges forward and Fox leaps up for a sky-high leapfrog, then rolls herself backwards luchador style but Beth is there to catch her, haul her up to her feet and send her across to where they started with a whip to the corner.
Cole comments that Fox may get herself in hot water over a WWE.com interview where she commented on Eve's position of power (I guess the Divas have to talk online since they don't get TV time anymore?). Meanwhile Alicia jumps up in the corner for a very Mickie James-esk Headscissors counter, capturing the head of Beth and then striking on the top of it with a head with a leg to send her staggering away. It's not enough though as Fox runs forward and gets leveled by a wicked Clothesline from The Glamazon.
Look who's walking out onto the stage! It's the Divas Champion herself, Layla in some insanely sparkly shorts and a black top, checking out the action as Beth takes control, forcing Alicia into the corner and hammering away first with a couple of shots to the head, then stomps to force Fox down and a cut to the shocked/concerned look on Layla's face shows that she was feeling the pain even from all the way up there. Rather messily with a sort of choke around the throat, Phoenix forces Fox up to sit on the top rope, using the position to allow Beth to lift her opponent right above her head with the Gorilla Press, walking slowly to the middle of the ring as Layla looks stunned by the sight, while Phoenix smirks proudly as she drops Fox down in the center of the squared circle.
Layla is trying to focus and keep her own game face on, as Phoenix hauls Fox up and hooks the arms, glancing over at her future opponent before lifting Alicia up, nailing the Glam Slam, and rolling her over it's all she wrote as Beth picks up the victory. The Divas champ reacts with a nod, giving Phoenix a round of applause but Beth doesn't look fazed. Perv King tries to tell a cover story about Layla having to be concerned despite being seen smiling a couple of times, but is cut off as Phoenix is pulling Fox back up, looking to send a message!
Layla races down to the ring, leaving her title behind as Beth pushes Fox under the ropes and out of the ring, turning back and meeting a charging Layla as she jumps up, spins around with her newfound rival and slams her face-first into the canvas. There was a clear snarl and anger on Layla's face as she points down at Beth, but as The Glamazon retreated Layla was all smiles and posing as Cole commented that Phoenix couldn't have been expecting to see that kind of aggression. Both Divas pointed at one another, but as Beth could be heard yelling “You never beat me!” once again the look of anger came across Layla's face as she went right up to the ropes, but here the post-match shenanigans ended as the WWE felt it necessary to give us pointless info about how many likes John Cena has on Facebook.
Thoughts: A quick and painless match with a cool, unexpected rolling spot by Alicia, and bar the messy way Beth put Fox up in the corner for the Gorilla Press (which is too awesome to ever tire of seeing) it was a solid outing. The best points were Layla's expressions of fear, seeing the power of Beth, and then the post-match brief action where Layla took the fight to her future challenger and showed she won't be a push-over. There's no doubt that Layla is deserving of her spot as champion and has quickly cemented that spot. Truth be told, Layla versus Beth is the first Divas title match I've been looking forward to seeing in a long, long time and the fact that it's getting on PPV AND is getting hype for it shows the WWE has seen what these two Divas can do and is giving them that chance to shine. The Divas division is heading onwards and upwards, and it's about damn time!
Eve was shown as part of the recap of the “Big Show mocks John Laurinaitis” storyline that began last week on Raw, her parts of discovering Show's mocking and then her moment of putting him in his place, demanding an apology from him.
This week, Cameron and Naomi were decked out and looking fine in green as they accompanied and danced their way down to the ring with Brodus Clay, and could even be seen grooving to Kofi Kingston's music as he and Tag Team Championship partner R-Truth came out as Clay's partners. Their opponents? The Miz, and introduced by a looking ravishing in red Vickie Guerrero, Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler. Once again, the stable led by Abraham Washington was seen, including Rosa Mendes, as they watched on from a private box as the match went on. The match saw a win for Clay, Kingston, and Truth when Clay pinned Miz with a big splash, leading to Cameron and Naomi having a joyful freak-out at ringside before they slid in and there were hugs all around for the winning side, and more dancing after a recap of the match finish with some younger members of the WWE Universe.
A surprise appearance from AJ came as she rushed up backstage to interrupt Alex Riley and CM Punk, looking excited to speak with Punk, but Riley remarked “Good luck with that one” in regards to AJ before he left, not exactly to Punk's approval. AJ slightly stumbled over herself, showing her “not all there upstairs” mindset at the moment, finally getting out that she simply wanted to wish Punk good luck for this Sunday (his match against the reason for mental mess – former boyfriend Daniel Bryan). Cautious, Punk glanced in both directions before saying “Now don't take this the wrong way” (never a good start) but he said that he wanted to part of the “drama” involving her and Bryan, but AJ seemed OK with this as she smiled away and listened. Punk stated that he's known Bryan for a long time, still glancing as he mentioned that he didn't want her to think that he thought this was a set-up, getting to a point that in contrast he's known her for a short time but has figured that she's “pretty unstable” before taking his leave with a very unmeaning “see you later.” This left poor AJ with a very sad expression, hints of a freakout clear to see.
Before the big in-ring confrontation between John Cena and John Laurinaitis, Cole and Perv King went over an announcement made over Twitter by the Executive Administrator Eve – a match signed for Smackdown between Randy Orton and World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus. Oh the abuse of power!
Speaking of Eve, she finally made a real appearance on the show, looking stunning in a red skirt and black blouse with jacket, and of course those glasses, interrupting her boss Laurinaitis to hand him a message and she didn't look happy about it. The news was bad indeed – stacking the deck against Laurinaitis with stipulations banning interference, special referees, etc in the Over The Limit match against John Cena, and the fact that if Laurinaitis loses the match, he will be fired! If that happens, then Eve's run with power will surely be over! Oh no!
Another good week of Raw from the Divas and great build up for the PPV Divas title match as well. It seems that the Divas division is steadily on the up and up, and here's hoping it continues on past Over The Limit. Join me here next week for all the all out from the title match, and we'll either see Layla continue to shine at the top of the pile, or a new Divas Champion if Beth can rise like her namesake. Until then, this has been AdamHaze and I'll see you in seven!
* A.J. defeated Kaitlyn. A.J. destroyed her. Daniel Bryan came out and saw A.J. in a new light. He said that after he wins the WWE Championship, he’s moving on to Kaitlyn.
* Antonio Cesaro (w/Aksana) defeated Alex Riley. Teddy Long handled the introductions. Aksana told Long that they are just friends, but she is lovers with Cesaro. Aksana and Cesaro made out in front of Long after the match.
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