Live News & Notes From This Week’s SmackDown Taping

Some notes from the Smackdown tapings in Hershey, PA:

The Wedding Planner is shown backstage a couple times, once she is seen by Chavo/Bam/Vickie and another time with just Edge, because he bought her a ticket to watch the Cutting Edge.

After the Khali - Hardy match, they ran a promo for Ron Killings. They showed shots of a jail cell and talked about his past problems. Seems as if Ron is going to be known as “R-Truth” this time around, as it was in graffiti at the end of the promo. A lot of Ron chants.

In all actuality, the Khali - Hardy match was probably the best of the night, right past the Kennedy - Benjamin match. Hardy got a lot of success in the match and actually hit both the Whisper in the Wind and Swanton Bomb. Khali did a great job of drawing a lot of heat on himself.

The crowd shortly started cheering for Edge as Mick was building him up. This of course ended when Edge attacked Mick. Nice reaction when Edge jumped off the ladder with a chair and landed on Mick. Afterwards, Mick was taken to the back on a stretcher. I’m sure they will cut the show after this.

Edge came back out and said that we just watched history because he was the first person to make Mick leave on a stretcher. He said he would do the same to the Undertaker. Vickie came out pushed by Chavo and Bam. Said that Edge needed some practice to get ready for Hell in a Cell, so she made a No DQ match with the Big Show and Edge. Edge ran away, was caught and brought back, beat up a little and then went to the back again. Big Show won by count out. Obviously a little less exciting then the advertised dark final match of Triple H and Edge.

A lot of disappointed fans that Triple H wasn’t there. They showed a highlight of the “King of Kings” and everyone thought he was coming out and started cheering.

Crowd was definately into it tonight. Almost a sell out. Hopefully they let it on TV, but when Kennedy came out, he let the crowd say the Kennedy part of his chant twice, and then faked us out the third time. It was hilarious.

Biggest Pop:
1. Jeff Hardy
2. Mr. Kennedy
3. Mick Foley

Most Heat:
1. Edge
2. Khali
3. MVP

Official WWE Monday Night RAW Preview (07/07)

Preview:
Punk vs. the World
July 7, 2008

After seeing the WWE Championship move to SmackDown, and failing to win a World Championship back to Raw at Night of Champions, Monday nights once again have a World Title. CM Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to challenge and defeat Edge, bringing the World Heavyweight Championship to Raw and even going on to defend it in the same night against JBL. Though Raw suffered a dearth of World Titles for a period, there is no lack of former World Champions, eager to end the Straightedge Superstar’s title reign, including John Cena, Batista and JBL. Which of these men will step forward in search of gold, and will Punk be able to hold them off?

Though Raw is no longer lacking a World Title, there is a conspicuous absence on the program in the form of Mr. McMahon. The WWE Chairman was injured at the end of the June 23 Raw when the set collapsed and he was buried underneath a ton of lighting equipment. His son, Shane McMahon addressed the WWE Universe on Monday, but opted to keep his father’s condition a private matter. Are Mr. McMahon’s injuries worse than originally thought? And how will Raw function in the vacuum left by the incapacitated Chairman?

Proving that his Night of Champions win over Chris Jericho was no fluke, new Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston successfully defended his title in a rematch against Y2J. With the Jamaican Superstar being such a new member of the Raw roster, will he be able to maintain the gold around his waist?

A bitter Jericho blamed his Night of Champions loss on Shawn Michaels for interfering in the match, and even challenged HBK to a match at The Great American Bash in just three weeks, asking the injured Superstar to have an answer on Raw next week. We’ve seen explosive interactions between HBK and Y2J in recent weeks — what will their confrontation on next week’s Raw have in store?

One of Raw’s most exciting draftees was Rey Mysterio, who had been on SmackDown for his entire WWE career. On Monday, the Master of the 619 was interrupted by Santino Marella as he was greeting the Raw audience. The Italian Superstar belittled the Ultimate Underdog, prompting Mysterio to attack Marella and break out the 619. Santino Marella has shown that he isn’t one to let an insult go, and Rey Mysterio has never been known to back down from a fight — how will the Italian Superstar retaliate against the former World Champion?

For the answers to these questions and more, make sure to watch Raw on Monday nights at 9/8 CT only on USA Network.

This Week’s RAW/ECW & SD, Lashley, Victoria & More

This week’s edition of WWE Monday Night Raw will be broadcasted live from the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans. The SmackDown and ECW on Sci Fi taping will be taped from the River Center in Baton Rouge. This will be the first television taping in Baton Rouge in five years.

Thanks to PWMania.com reader Ricky Santana for sending this in… Bobby Lashley is scheduled to be taking part in the Carlos Colon 35 year aniversay. He will be doing a meet and greet on July 20th at Coliseo de Puerto Rico.

Thanks to PWMania.com reader Justin Lore for sending this in… WWE.com has a flash game up that has pictures of various celebrities, and one word quotes from JBL that you have to match correctly. When you do, you get a code to recieve 15% off from WWEShop. The code is JBL08.

This Thursday, July 10th, Victoria will be judging at the “Ugliest Car Contest” at Black Widow Customs, located at 5751 Preston Hwy in Louisville. She is scheduled to be there from 5pm to 7pm.

Randy Orton Speaks On Mr. McMahon, Becoming A Father

The latest issue of WWE magazine has an interview with Randy Orton on it.

When asked what it’s like to be “reamed out” by Mr. McMahon, he says is like being called into the principal’s office, you just have to sit there with your head down and take what’s coming. He quotes Mr. McMahon saying, “Dammit Randy, why’d you have to cuss out the rental car place because they gave you an SUV, and not a luxury car?”, or “Why’d you have to throw your spaghetti on the floor because your meatballs weren’t done? What’s wrong with you?” He says Mr. McMahon takes the bad things he does personally, like a slap in the face. And when they ask Randy why he’s still there, he simply says he’s good at what he does, and he knows that.

When they ask him what changed since their interview back in 2006, he says his perception of the world has changed now that he’s married, and about to be a father. He says his job is to take care of his family, and to make sure the world is a better place for them.

He goes on to say that his father was on the road when he was born, and he told Randy to make sure that doesn’t happen with his daughter. He says that success in WWE is based on exposure, but no matter how much you love what you do, it’s one of those situations where you have to stand up, be a man, and say, “I’m going to watch my daughter being born.

Finally, he was asked whether he will be remembered as a legend, or just the legend killer. He says there are very few people who does what he does. He wrestles for 30-40 minutes every time he’s in the ring, and if he’s not the champ he’s fighting the champ. He says that everyone wants a piece of Randy Orton.

Chyna Discuses In Ring Return, WWE GAB Title Match

- During an autograph session, former WWE Diva Chyna was interviewed. She talks about her training and getting back in shape to get back in the ring. She will be working in Japan in a new Federation. She also discusses TMZ and other internet rumor site. To view the full interview, click here.

- It is expected for there to be a three-way match for the World Heavyweight Championship at WWE Great American Bash PPV between CM Punk, John Cena and JBL.

Updated SummerSlam Poster, CM Punk’s Next Title Defense

- WWE released an updated SummerSlam poster featuring Maria. She’s on a jet ski and there’s an explosion in the background. SummerSlam will air on August 17, 2008 from Indianapolis, Indiana.

- The main event for a RAW house show coming this Friday in Lexington’s will feature the new World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk vs. Batista. The previous main events announced for this event were John Cena vs. JBL (or Umaga).

Candice Michelle Injury Update

Candice Michelle updated her fans about his condition on WWE Fan Nation.

She wrote the following blog.

“It’s been about 14 weeks since my surgery and many wonder when I will be back. Well, the first time around I would inform everyone what the doctors told me and I personally got my hopes up for those dates! It kept getting pushed back and my heart kept getting crushed. I will let you know that I had a cat scan two weeks ago and things are looking great and I’m feeling even better!

All the bones are connected and healing and are in perfect alignment. Bones have a time frame of there own, different for everyone in healing. I am in physical therapy and will be back very soon! Although it seems like an eternity, I promise you, it will be worth the wait!”

Gregory Helms Teasing Return, Adamle Backstage Joke

- Gregory Helms updated his Myspace page with a clock teasing his return. Helms have been out of action for over a year after undergoing neck surgery.

- Since his WWE debut, Mike Adamle has been the butt-end of the joke for a while now. His on-air screw-ups and his lack of knowledge for the company get a lot of laughs. But the talk of the locker room this week was that Adamle recently asked broadcast partner Tazz, “Is ECW a half-hour or one-hour show?”

Two WWE Divas Have Legitimate Heat

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Natalya and Michelle McCool have legitimate backstage heat.

Though details are limited, the heat apparently stems from an incident in which McCool attempted to re-teach Natalya some basic wrestling philosophy.

The former Diva Search contestant went over locking up and working the WWE style, supposedly to an extent that created a rift between the two.

Natalya, from an extensive wrestling family, has been in the wrestling business since 2000.

DX Featured On WWE SD vs. RAW 2009 Box Art & More

THQ issued the following press release regarding WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009:

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. - July 3, 2008 - THQ Inc. and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. today announced that World Wrestling Entertainment® Superstars Triple H and Shawn Michaels will be featured on the cover of WWE® SmackDown® vs. Raw® 2009. The accolade marks an unprecedented fifth time that fan-favorite Triple H has appeared on a cover for the leading fighting videogame franchise, while storied veteran Michaels will make his cover debut.

“Triple H and Shawn Michaels have made headlines over the years when they unite as the infamous ‘D-Generation X’ tag team in WWE programming,” said Cory Ledesma, senior creative manager, THQ. “We selected them for the cover as a means to celebrate the unprecedented level of tag team functionality we will deliver in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009. Our tag team matches will allow players to experience the true task of working together, and our new Road to WrestleMania® Mode will feature the franchise’s first co-op tag team storyline.”