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Vengeance Press Conference announced
June 20, 2005
On Tuesday, June 21 at 10 a.m., WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, WWE RAW Superstars Triple H, World Heavyweight Champion Batista, WWE Champion John Cena, Kurt Angle, Edge, Christy Hemme, Lita and RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff will be on-hand announcing WWE’s VENGEANCE Pay-Per-View event, which comes to Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center on Sunday, June 26.
This year’s Vengeance will be the first WWE pay-per-view in Las Vegas in nearly 5 years, and the main event match will be Triple H vs. Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship in a Hell in a Cell Match. These two powerhouse athletes have been battling over the World Heavyweight Championship since WrestleMania, and this will be the third encounter between the two. Vengeance has a history of title changes as well, as there have been six championship matches, and the championship has changed hands on four separate occasions.
The first Vengeance Pay-Per-View was held Dec. 9, 2001 at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, Cal. At this event, Chris Jericho became the first WWE Undisputed Heavyweight Champion as he defeated The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin in the same night. The second Vengeance Pay-Per-View was held July 21, 2002 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit where The Rock defeated WWE Champion, Undertaker and Kurt Angle in a Triple Threat Match to win the WWE Championship. The third Vengeance Pay-Per-View was held July 27, 2003 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Col. and was presented by SmackDown! where Kurt Angle defeated WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and Big Show in a Triple Threat Match to win the WWE Championship. The most recent Vengeance Pay-Per-View was held July 11, 2004 at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Conn., and was presented by RAW where World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit pinned Triple H to retain his championship.
Tickets for this year’s Vengeance event are available at the Thomas & Mack box office, all UNLV tickets locations, UNLVtickets.com and charge by phone: 702-739-FANS. Ticket prices are as follows: $200, $75, $ 50, $35, $20.
2005 WWE Draft Lottery
June 14, 2005
The 2005 Draft Lottery continues to shake WWE to its foundation. First, WWE Champion John Cena gets drafted from SmackDown! to RAW. Then SmackDown! fires back and receives Chris Benoit from RAW in the Draft Lottery. Since that time, Kurt Angle has been drafted to RAW. Be sure to watch SmackDown! to see which RAW Superstar is the next to move. Use the scorecard below to follow the month-long Draft Lottery:
June 6: RAW selects John Cena
June 9: SmackDown! selects Chris Benoit
June 13: RAW selects Kurt Angle
June 16: SmackDown! selects TBD
June 20: RAW selects TBD
June 23: SmackDown! selects TBD
June 27: RAW selects TBD (two picks)
June 30: SmackDown! selects TBD (two picks)
Keep in mind that all picks in the 2005 WWE Draft Lottery will be drawn at random. RAW will draw from the SmackDown! roster of Superstars. SmackDown! will draw from the RAW roster of Superstars.
All RAW and SmackDown! Superstars are eligible to be drafted, including champions, Divas, announcers and even General Managers. Everyone is eligible to switch rosters in the 2005 Draft Lottery
Additionally, General Managers will be allowed to trade Superstars up until Midnight on June 30th.
Vengeance Meet and Greet
June 8, 2005
Fans from Texas, Maine, Illinois, Florida, California, Missouri and Arizona met CHRIS JERICHO, RANDY ORTON and CHRIS BENOIT at the Royal Rumble Meet & Greet Session in Fresno.
Fans from the United Kingdom met KANE, CHRIS BENOIT, WILLIAM REGAL, TAJIRI and VICTORIA at the RAW Meet & Greet Session in Birmingham and JOHN CENA, BOOKER T, MISS JACKIE, MARK JINDRAK and TORRIE WILSON at the SmackDown! Meet & Greet Session in Birmingham.
Don't miss your opportunity to meet Raw Superstars at the Vengeance Meet & Greet Session in Las Vegas. Tickets are still available, for more information send an email to travel.packages@wwe.com.
Torrie repsonds to Bikini Contest popularity
May 25, 2005
With more than 165 matches in its library, WWE Match Jukebox is the ultimate place to watch classic sports-entertainment action. Whether it's a WWE, WCW, ECW or even AWA match you’re looking to see, Match Jukebox is your answer.
With so many classic matches to choose from, many were surprised when the Torrie Wilson/Sable Judgment Day 2003 Bikini Contest took over as the most-watched match in Jukebox. Nobody, however, was more surprised than Torrie herself. "I was just so shocked to hear that. I had to have it repeated to me when I first heard it," the SmackDown! Diva admitted in a recent backstage interview.
When asked to provide an answer as to why her Bikini Contest is being watched so often, Torrie had trouble pinpointing the exact reason. “It’s hard to say,” said Wilson. “I’m definitely not more popular than Hulk Hogan or Shawn Michaels. I’m not even in their league. I guess two bikini-clad Divas might have something to do with it. Or maybe it was ‘The Kiss’ at the end.”
Regardless of whether it’s the skimpy bikinis or the sexy kiss Torrie and Sable shared, the match’s popularity is undeniable. In fact, most Bikini Contests are a big hit with WWE fans. A veteran of Bikini Contests, Torrie is always excited to see the crowd reaction, but admits that it’s not always easy. "With as many Bikini Contests as I do, you would think that I would be comfortable going out there by now. But it's still hard sometimes to be wearing so little in front of so many people. Then the crowd reacts and I usually relax."
Torrie admits that the Judgment Day Bikini Contest was even more difficult. "To go out there with Sable, one of the sexiest sex kittens to ever grace WWE, was a huge eye opener for me," said the former Playboy cover girl. "She just blew me away. I remember standing there watching her dance and hoping that I didn't make a fool out of myself."
Needless to say, Torrie managed not to make a fool of herself. In fact, she went the extra mile to ensure the fans of WWE enjoyed the show. What did she do? Watch the match now to find out.
Click here to watch Torrie vs. Sable from Judgment Day 2003*
Also, find out about savings on monthly and annual subscriptions.
*Watch this match as often as you like over a seven-day period for just $1.49.
Heidenreich is looking for friends
May 24, 2005
SmackDown! Superstar Heidenreich is on a crusade to make new friends. So far, he's made good progress, befriending some fans at recent SmackDown! shows. If you're interested in being Heidenreich's friend, feel free to send in your photo.
CLICK HERE if you would like to be friends with Heidenreich and submit your photo along with your name and hometown. WWE.COM will post a gallery of Heidenreich's new friends in the near future.
The Babe of the Year is back in front of the camera
By Ed Williams III
May 15, 2005
Ever since the Babe of the Year award was first introduced back in 2002, RAW Diva Stacy Keibler had been coming up just short behind Trish Stratus in her bids to capture the prestigious honor (awarded by the fans of World Wrestling Entertainment, via voting on WWE.com). It’s usually three strikes and you’re out, but Stacy defied the odds and finally won over the WWE fans as she bested the three-time reigning Babe of the Year in this year's competition, and she’s doing everything she can to insure that she stays atop the competitive Babe of the Year mountain.
This year, the entire Babe of the Year section of WWE.com was reconstructed. Instead of just one Babe of the Year shoot commemorating the award, Stacy demanded that she give back to the fans and give them a new photo shoot, or in some cases two new shoots, each month. The fans were responsible for making her Babe of the Year, and she wanted to show her appreciation.
So far this year Stacy has had several steamy shoots, including the sexy Valentine’s Day, an April Showers shoot where she wore a transparent raincoat and the revealing Presidential Inauguration shoot that saw Stacy dust off her Miss Hancock business suit.
Just this week, Stacy was in front of the camera once again, shooting a couple more sets that will appear on WWE.com in the future. WWE.com caught up with the reigning Babe of the Year just hours after her latest shoot, and she said she’s really excited for her fans to see the new photos.
“Today’s shoot went great,” she said. “I was picked up at 5:30 a.m., though, so it was a long day, but it went really well. We had a lot of fun today, and we shot some really cute stuff.”
Although her fans won’t be able to see the new photos for a little while, Stacy was more than happy to give the fans a little tease about her Spring Flowers and Fourth of July shoots.
“We did some stuff with me wearing Daisy Dukes and pig tails – like a country girl kind of thing,” she said excitedly. “We also did some Fourth of July stuff, too. It was a lot of Spring and Summer stuff with a lot of cute, bright colors to get ready for the different seasons.”
While those photo galleries will surely prove to be some of the most popular places to visit on WWE.com in the future, a recent WWE.com poll revealed that the fans’ favorite gallery thus far this year has been Stacy’s Valentine’s Day shoot.
“I really enjoyed that shoot,” she said. “It was definitely one of my favorites. I picked that outfit out myself. When I saw it, I instantly knew I had to have it because it was so cute. So I’m really glad the fans liked that one too.”
When asked what her favorite shoot has been, Stacy had a hard time picking just one. She did say, however, that the Spring and Fourth of July shoots rank right at the top.
“Today was a lot of fun,” she said. “It was really fun and easy going. I really liked the Daisy Duke outfit. It had a red and white checkered top and it was just very Stacy.”
Another popular shoot among her fans was the Presidential Inauguration shoot in which she posed in the same sexy business suit she wore during her WCW days as Miss Hancock.
“It’s always fun to bring that suit out of the closet for sure,” she said. “It’s always fun to put that on because I feel like it’s a whole different persona and just being in it for even 15 minutes, it brings back a lot of memories.”
No matter what galleries keep popping up on WWE.com, the fans flock to the photos to see what outfits and situations Stacy is in next. But who comes up with the innovative ideas each month?
“The editors of the magazines and the web and I talk through phone calls and e-mails,” she said. “We send pictures of the outfits we find online and in stores. It’s really a collective thing with everyone involved. I pick a few outfits, they pick a few outfits, and it all comes together.”
Stacy also said that the fun she has on the photo shoots is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to being Babe of the Year.
“It’s been really great meeting all of my new fans,” she said. “The pictures are always updated, so it gives me a different look all the time. All kinds of people that I meet talk to me about it, too. I just shot the cover for Stuff Magazine and they said they heard I was Babe of the Year and congratulated me. So others who don’t even know a lot about wrestling know I’m Babe of the Year and are excited for me. It’s been a real honor.”
Stacy’s been having so much fun that she said she hopes it doesn’t stop and she can become a two-time Babe of the Year winner next year.
“I hope I can stay on top and my fans stick behind me,” she said. This year we revamped the whole site, and I put a lof of time and effort into it. It takes a lot of work to get all the outfits and do all the shoots, so I hope they’ve enjoyed it and will vote for me next year so we can do it all over again.”
With the recent influx of gorgeous Divas, though, even Stacy realizes that next year the competition could be tougher than ever.
“It could be a lot tougher next year with all of the pretty girls that have come in recently,” she said.
Although the Divas will be her competition when it comes to Babe of the Year, Stacy was recently down in Mexico with the Divas shooting for the Divas Magazine and Viva Las Divas DVD that’s available now on WWE.com.
“The Divas Magazine is always great and this year we have a lot more girls, so everyone should enjoy it,” she said. “I love Mexico. It was probably my sixth or seventh time being down there. I love the culture and everything about it. It was a great being there with my friends, and we got some great pictures, too!”
Chris Candido passes away at age 33
April 29, 2005
World Wrestling Entertainment is saddened by the passing of Chris Candido.
Chris appeared in WWE as Skip of the Bodydonnas in the mid 1990s. He also competed for ECW and WCW, and held both the WWE and ECW World Tag Team Championships and the WCW Cruiserweight Championship. He was an amazing athlete and a gifted performer, and we offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
MNM enjoying first week as WWE Tag Team Champions
By Anthony Cali
April 28, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – Last week on SmackDown!, MNM shocked the wrestling world and made WWE history, when they became the first tag team to win the WWE Tag Team Championship in their debut match.
Since that monumental night, MNM – Melina, Nitro, & Mercury – have been enjoying themselves immensely, celebrating their win in true Hollywood fashion. Thursday night, WWE.com caught up with the “it” tag team to find out all of the scoop regarding their Championship victory, and what fans can expect to see from them next. Here’s what they had to say…
WWE.com: What’s the first week of being WWE Tag Team Champions been like?
Melina: It’s been great. We just upped the value of the WWE Tag Team Championship. Not only do we make the WWE Tag Titles look good, but the WWE Tag Titles look so good around Johnny & Joey’s gorgeous waists.
Nitro: It’s all just been one big party. We knew we could do it, we said we’d do it, and then we did it. And since then, everyone has been calling us – all of our friends, all of the Hollywood producers and agents. I mean we’re getting phone calls out of L.A. like crazy, asking to sign us for commercials, magazine shoots, and product endorsements. Hold on a second, it’s my agent right now. Hello?
Mercury: Our first week has been unbelievable! It’s everything you would expect out of MNM. Like Johnny said, we’re the Hollywood jet set, we’re the A-list, we’re the beautiful people, and our first week has been nothing short of spectacular.
WWE.com: Well can you tell me a little bit about how you guys celebrated after your win at Madison Square Garden last week?
Melina: We went and partied at every exclusive New York City club imaginable. First thing we had, was have our limo driver take us directly to the Rainbow Room. We hit that place up, partied like rock stars, drank some crystal, and invited all of our friends who could come to hang out and party with us.
Nitro: That’s right, and then the next day, we went clothes shopping! We bought clothes from Louis Vuitton, Prada, Christian Dior, and all the top designers. Then, we hit up the fashion district, got some new fur coats, and designer shades.
Mercury: I mainly pent the entire night laughing at Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio.
WWE.com: Who were some of these friends you three hung out with?
Melina: Of course Paris was there, because she was in town, Nicole swung by for a drink, and then later, Ashton, Demi, Kirsten, and JTT dropped by just to congratulate us. There were so many people there that I really couldn’t even keep track.
Nitro: We partied with New York City’s elite, and it’s crazy how everyone wants a piece of us. It’s really great to be on top.
Mercury: It really is, and for the majority of the night, I kept getting hit on by nameless, faceless women, and having to beat them off with a stick.
WWE.com: What did these friends think of MNM becoming the new WWE Tag Team Champions?
Melina: Just like us, they always knew we could do it. We’ve taken those WWE Tag Team Titles, and done more for them in one week than Eddie and Rey did during their entire time as champions. Those titles have become famous, kind of like us, and everybody in Hollywood wants to see them.
Nitro: Of course everyone was really happy for us. We got a lot of phone calls, gift baskets, flowers, and expensive chocolates, but I think in the back of their heads, they’re all kind of jealous, because they wish that they could be WWE Tag Team Champions too. Right now, we’re the best.
Mercury: Our friends weren’t really that surprised that we won. It’s just like brother Nitro and Melina said, we told everyone we were going to win the titles, and then we did just that.
WWE.com: Why has MNM been so successful in such a short amount of time?
Melina: We’re talented. People respect us, they know us, and we’re really the hottest people that have ever stepped foot in a WWE ring.
Nitro: Look at our bodies. We’ve been tanning, training, getting our hair styled, and getting ready for this for the past ten years. Everybody we know looks at us and says, “MNM are beautiful people.” We’re in peak physical condition, we have strong core muscles, we’ve been doing Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, and studying all kinds of eastern and western philosophies, so everything comes together, and forms MNM.
Mercury: In my mind, it’s one thing – insane charisma.
WWE.com: What can WWE fans expect to see from MNM in the future?
Mercury: There will be a lot more of what the fans have seen already. We are the only undefeated WWE Tag Team Champions in history, and we’re going to keep taking every other WWE Superstar out, because we’re hot, and their not.
Nitro: Fans can expect to see a whole lot of gold around the waists of MNM for a long time to come. They can also expect to see a whole lot of sexy.
Melina: You can expect more viewers to turn in to SmackDown! each week, more fans buying tickets to our shows, more camera flashes in the audience, and more pictures of us being traded and downloaded all over the internet. At WrestleMania 21, WWE went Hollywood, but now that MNM has arrived, Hollywood has come to WWE, and we’re going to change this company forever.
The 2004 WWE Draft Lottery
April 25, 2005
According to Mr. McMahon, WWE is just weeks away from a huge shake up. Recently on RAW, the WWE Chairman announced that there will be a Draft Lottery held where RAW Superstars could be selected to compete for SmackDown!, and vice versa. Watch the announcement: 56k | 300k
If this year's Draft Lottery is anything like last year's, it's sure to shake things up tremendously. Here is how many WWE Superstars were effected by last year's Draft Lottery:
SHELTON BENJAMIN
Commonly referred to as the most gifted athlete on the RAW roster by Jim Ross, Shelton Benjamin went through a complete career change when he moved from SmackDown! to RAW. Benjamin had already enjoyed much success on SmackDown! with partner Charlie Haas, but he hadn’t tested the waters as a singles competitor yet. The Draft Lottery forced him to leave the side of Haas and fend for himself on RAW. Watch Shelton get drafted: 56k | 300k
Benjamin quickly silenced any possible critics that thought he may not be able to compete as a singles star when he defeated Triple H on March 29. Enraged at the loss, Triple H ordered a rematch the following week, but Benjamin somehow came out on top yet again, further infuriating The Game. This led to a series of successful matches against the members of Evolution.
As a member of the RAW roster, Benjamin also proved his popularity with the fans, when he was voted in to vie for the Intercontinental Championship against Chris Jericho at Taboo Tuesday. Benjamin didn’t let down his fans as he surprised Y2J with his T-Bone for the pin. Benjamin has been on a roll ever since and has been fighting off all challengers to his championship. All other Superstars can only hope that the Draft Lottery will impact their careers the way it has Shelton’s.
THEODORE LONG
Little did anybody know it at the time, but March 22, 2004 may have been the most pivotal night of Theodore Long's career. Prior to the '04 Draft Lottery, Long enjoyed much success as a manager, as well as a referee. But when he was drafted to SmackDown!, his career truly turned the corner. Just four months after being drafted to the Thursday night brand, Mr. McMahon hand picked Theodore Long to replace Kurt Angle as SmackDown! General Manager - one of the most powerful positions in all of WWE. Since being named General Manager, Long has gone to great lengths to entertain the fans. He has even garnered a well deserved vote of confidence by Linda McMahon.
TAJIRI
Tajiri was one of the top threats to the Cruiserweight Championship while competing for SmackDown! The Japanese Buzzsaw, however, was forced to pack his bags and head over to RAW when he was drafted by Eric Bischoff. Tajiri gained instant credibility with the fans when he was tricked by La Resistance into spitting his trademark green mist into the unsuspecting eyes of Jonathan Coachman. Several months later, Tajiri hooked up with William Regal, which resulted in great success. On Feb. 7, the unlikely pair defeated La Resistance in Tajiri's home country of Japan to become World Tag Team Champions, and they haven’t looked back ever since (WATCH: 56K | 300K). They’ve beaten every tag team that’s challenged them, and even issued an open challenge to any tag team to step up to the plate and try to dethrone them. There’s no denying that the Draft Lottery has had a profound impact on Tajiri’s career and the gold around his waist is just further proof.
EDGE
At the time of the 2004 Draft Lottery, few people had Edge on their radar, as he had been out of action for more than one year due to undergoing serious neck surgery. So when Eric Bischoff announced that he had drafted Edge, not only was SmackDown! General Manager Paul Heyman shocked, but so were WWE fans everywhere. Watch Edge get drafted: 56k | 300k
In his first match back from the neck injury, Edge made an instant impact and defeated the monster Kane. Soon after, Edge teamed up with Chris Benoit and won the World Tag Team Championship and enjoyed about a month-long reign. Edge then re-focused his energy on the singles division and targeted Evolution member Randy Orton. In an eye-opening match at Vengeance, Edge defeated Orton for the Intercontinental Championship. Edge was certainly a fighting champion, and this couldn’t have been more evident than at SummerSlam when he took on both Chris Jericho and Batista in a Triple Threat Match and successfully defended the Intercontinental Championship.
After injuring his groin in August, Edge was forced to vacate the Intercontinental Championship. When he returned, he set his sights on a bigger prize – the World Heavyweight Championship. Along with Chris Benoit and Shawn Michaels, he was one of the Superstars that the fans could vote on to face Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship at Taboo Tuesday. Shawn Michaels narrowly defeated Edge in the voting and blamed it on Chris Benoit. From then on, Edge claimed that everyone was out to get him and he as continuously being screwed out of what was rightfully his – the World Heavyweight Championship. So he took matters into his own hands at WrestleMania 21 and earned a championship opportunity by winning the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Edge can now receive an opportunity at the World Heavyweight Championship shot any time he wants within the next year – unless he’s drafted to SmackDown! that is.
ROB VAN DAM
The night of the 2004 WWE Draft Lottery was a busy one for Rob Van Dam. Not only did he and partner Booker T lose the World Tag Team Championship to Ric Flair and Batista, but RVD was also drafted by SmackDown!
Luckily for RVD, his SmackDown! debut was more successful than his RAW finale, as he defeated Charlie Haas in his first match as a member of the SmackDown! roster. Later in the year, Van Dam once again sat atop the tag team division. This time with partner Rey Mysterio. He and Mysterio defeated Rene Dupree and Kenzo Suzuki for the WWE Tag Team Championship on the Dec. 9 edition of SmackDown! WATCH: 56k | 300k
TRIPLE H
Triple H was the biggest the name to move during the 2004 Draft Lottery. Despite his notoriety, however, The Game did very little for SmackDown! after being drafted by General Manager Paul Heyman. Just three days after officially becoming a member of the SmackDown! roster, Triple H was traded back to RAW. Watch Triple H get drafted: 56k | 300k
TRADES
Even if a Superstar’s name wasn’t drawn during the 2004 Draft Lottery, it became clear that they weren’t necessarily safe from switching brands. After realizing one of his top Superstars, Triple H, was heading to SmackDown!, RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff worked around the clock to pull off a blockbuster deal to get The Game back on RAW. Keeping a Superstar the caliber of Triple H doesn’t come without a steep price, however, as Bischoff had to let go of The Dudleys and Booker T in order to get The Game back on the RAW roster.
THE DUDLEYS
The Dudleys may very well go down as the most successful tag team in WWE history. Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley have been a dominating force in the tag team division ever since they debuted in WWE in late 2001. They went on to capture the World Tag Team Championship a record eight times, and carried their success over to SmackDown! after the trade was made.
Kurt Angle, who was SmackDown! General Manager at the time, was looking to bolster his tag team division and the Dudleys were the answer. Bubba Ray and D-Von toppled The Bashams in their first SmackDown! match and aligned themselves with Paul Heyman soon after in an effort to take down Undertaker. The Dudleys then headlined The Great American Bash, facing Undertaker in a Handicap Match. Before the match could come to an end, though, Undertaker was distracted by Heyman and in a bizarre act, attempted to bury Paul Bearer alive in a case of cement. After the confrontation with Undertaker, the Dudleys went right back to being tag team specialists, defeating Rico and Charlie Haas for their first WWE Tag Team Championship. They also reunited with their half-brother Spike soon after. Clearly, the move from RAW to SmackDown! did not impact their winning ways, as the victories kept coming.
BOOKER T
On a personal level, Booker T had a rough time adjusting to SmackDown! when he was first traded. After losing the World Tag Team Championship the night of the draft, Booker took his frustrations out on the fans after being traded. He turned on his former tag team partner Rob Van Dam, as well as on the fans. Claiming to be the biggest star on SmackDown!, the former five-time WCW Champion began a pursuit for more gold, targeting John Cena and the United States Championship.
The rivalry between Booker T and Cena became one of the hottest of 2004, and the two even engaged in an exciting Best-of-Five Series that saw Cena narrowly edge Booker T in a fifth and deciding match. Booker T rebounded and went on to challenge for the WWE Championship against JBL at Survivor Series. Booker T looked to have things in hand, but Orlando Jordan saved JBL and his WWE Championship.
Booker T was also part of the Fatal Fourway at Armageddon, but Heidenreich came down to take out Undertaker, leading to another JBL win. Now, Booker T is back hot on the trail of the WWE Championship, and will be a part of another Fatal Fourway, this time on SmackDown! The winner will go on to face John Cena for the WWE Championship. Although Booker T wasn’t happy that he was traded to SmackDown! initially, he must be thrilled that he is within striking distance of another WWE Championship opportunity.
Regal returns home to cheers and a celebration for the release of his new book
By Anthony Cali
April 24, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – William Regal has a lot to be happy about. After touring Germany and Scotland, where he initially became in international wrestling sensation in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, the World Tag Team Champion returned home to his native England, just in time to celebrate the May 3rd release of his new autobiography, Walking a Golden Mile.
Monday night, after he and Tajiri’s match against Muhammad Hassan & Daivari, Regal sat down with WWE.com to discuss all of his latest happenings. Here’s what he had to say…
WWE.com: Can you tell me a little bit about what it’s been like visiting Germany, Scotland, and England in the last few days?
Regal: It’s been a great tour. Berlin was incredible, and it’s the first time I’ve wrestled there in many years, and Scotland was exciting too. When I was wrestling over here, and even with WCW, I’d never seen a sold-out arena like tonight. So this is a great sign, and there seems to be a great deal of interest in these European countries. They seem to truly appreciate each tour. Each show had been sold-out, and every crowd has been tremendous, so what more can you ask for?
WWE.com: Where did you receive the biggest ovation?
Regal: Tonight in Birmingham was great, but I really can’t say any one, because they’ve all been about the same. That’s why I find it a bit strange to hear people actually cheering for me. It’s very humbling.
WWE.com: What is it like coming back here to England, where everything started, and wrestling in front of your countrymen?
Regal: It’s always quite humbling to come back here.
WWE.com: How is it different now, from when you used to wrestle here?
Regal: About 12,700 people more than when I used to wrestle here. It’s just a different job altogether – like a different business completely. It’s still the same premise, but it’s night and day altogether. This is such a massive audience, and I’ll always look back to the old days with rose-tinted glasses, because it was all so new to me, but this is really incredible.
WWE.com: Will you be sticking around throughout the week, or will you be heading right back t the states?
Regal: No, I’ve got a lot to do. On Wednesday, I start the promotion for my book in London – I’ll be there Wednesday and Thursday (May 3rd and 4th) for book signings. Then Friday, I fly out to Liverpool, and I’m busy all day there, and then Saturday morning, I fly back to the states to get ready for Backlash on Sunday.
WWE.com: Next week is another big week for you, as your new autobiography, Walking a Golden Mile, gets released in the U.K. What’s the reaction been like so far?
Regal: Everybody that I’ve spoke to liked it a lot, so I’m going to wait until it gets released, and not pass any judgment on it yet. I’m going to wait until a lot of people have read it, because everybody has a different way of looking at things, and everybody’s got their own opinion. So we’ll see how it is received.
WWE.com: What makes your book different from the other WWE Superstars’ books?
Regal: My book’s different, because it’s a different kind of story. It’s my life, and it’s everything that’s gone on, good and bad. From my humble beginnings of working at an amusement park to coming to here today, it covers it all – all of the drug problems I’ve had, and the health issues as well. I don’t knock anybody in my book, whereas a lot of other books have gone that way. I’ve got far too much of a tale to tell without knocking people. I also think it’s a lot funnier than most of the other books, just because of the things I’ve gotten into. I have a knack for telling stories, and I think that Neil Chandler, who helped me put the book down onto paper, helps my stories come across as I’d tell them.
WWE.com: Is this a book that both wrestling and non-wrestling fans can enjoy?
Regal: I definitely think it’s something that any type of person could enjoy. Personally, I love reading people’s life stories, and I’ve had one hell of a life. It probably reads far more exciting than it was living it, but when you condense it into a few hundred pages, I’ve done a lot in my lifetime, and I hope it comes across the right way. For someone who isn’t interested in sports-entertainment, they can enjoy it on a level of this is a person’s life, and wrestling just happens to be a big part of it. I don’t go into details about everything I’ve done in the industry, I just tell stories about the different things that I’ve had happen to me in my life.
WWE.com: When can people in the U.S. expect to see the book?
Regal: The book will be available in the United States in mid-July.
Cena talks about his new belt, new album, and his first week as WWE Champion
By Anthony Cali
April 13, 2005
CHICAGO – The AllState Arena roared upon hearing John Cena’s new theme music, “My Time is Now,” fill the air. As the new WWE Champion made his way to ringside for his championship coronation – now a week-and-a-half into his championship reign – it was quite obvious that Cena is on cloud nine.
Complete with a new rendition of the WWE Title – a “spinner belt” – wrapped around his waist, the young athlete from West Newbury, Mass. appears ready to usher in a new era of World Wrestling Entertainment. Thursday night, WWE.com caught up with the champ to get the inside scoop on his first week as WWE Champion, his customized championship, and his upcoming hip-hop album.
WWE.com: What has your first week-and-a-half as WWE Champion been like?
John Cena: It’s been great. WrestleMania 21 was a dream come true. At SmackDown! in San Diego, it felt like I was still dreaming. And right from there, we got to go overseas [to Australia] and tear it up, so it’s been unbelievable.
WWE.com: Where did the inspiration for the new WWE Championship belt come from?
Cena: Just like the United States Championship, the WWE Championship needed a makeover. When I won the U.S. Championship, that was everything to me, and I remade it accordingly. And if the U.S. Championship was everything, this is ten-fold. I had to come out real big on this, because everybody already saw what I did to the U.S. Championship, and it had people thinking, “what else can he do?” But this is what I’d want a title to be – anything and everything – and there’s some crazy stuff on here.
WWE.com: Can we expect more modifications to be made?
Cena: Like I said, I’m definitely adding more shine to it. Rest assured, I’m still gonna kick this thing up a few notches. It’s gonna be even nicer.
WWE.com: Why create a new belt, and not keep with tradition by retaining the old WWE Championship belt – the one worn by JBL?
Cena: I ain’t about doing things the traditional way, I’m about doing things my way. And just the fact that JBL had that belt all that time makes me want to change it up, ‘cause I’m sure it pissed him off. But of course, some people may not agree with my modifications, but this is my vision of what a World Championship should look like, and I think it’s class.
WWE.com: Can you tell me a little bit about the new WWE Championship? How long it took to make? How much does it weigh? What kind of jewels are on it? How much did it cost?
Cena: First and foremost is the glaze. This things got all kinds of diamonds on it. You got round clear and pale yellow diamonds, round rubies. There are over 2,800 mini square Princess Cut diamonds, plus there are clear triangular and marquise cut diamonds, Marquise cut emeralds, clear Baquette [rectangular] cut diamonds, and one big 16mm clear diamond on the side plate. Altogether, there’s a 3,484 diamonds and gems.
Then of course, you have the gold – 14K. My belt’s got more carrots than Bugs Bunny. And you know, it’s got to have the platinum. I mean this thing’s got so much shine on it, it weighs like 12 pound. And it’s worth so much loot, that I’m actually considering hiring two armed bodyguards to escort me and the championship around.
WWE.com: Do you have any preference as to whom you’d like to see win the SmackDown! Championship Series and become the number-one contender for your WWE Title?
Cena: It’s like I always say, you want some, come get some. Of course I’d like to have a rematch with JBL and show him that my win over him at WrestleMania 21 wasn’t just a fluke, and that I’m not the Buster Douglas of WWE. But I also wouldn’t mind having some different competition, like Kurt Angle, Big Show, or Booker T. Honestly, it really doesn’t matter who wins the Triple Threat in the U.K., ‘cause your boy will be ready.
WWE.com: Can we expect your title reign to be like JBL’s, or will this one be different?
Cena: I’ll take my hat off to JBL, he did have one of the longest championship reigns in WWE history, but I don’t agree with how he kept it. JBL was all about finding shortcuts, and having people help him win matches, whereas I’m all about doing things myself – I don’t need nobody’s help. So while I’d like to hold the WWE Championship as long, if not longer, than JBL, you can definitely expect a very different type of reign, and this masterpiece sitting right here in front of you is just the beginning.
WWE.com: Your new album, “You Can’t See Me,” will be coming out on May 10th. Can you tell me a little bit about this? How long it took to make? Who produced it?
Cena: Well the album was produced by Sony, and it’s something I’ve been working on for quite a while now, but I think that the timing for this release is perfect for me, and if you noticed, the cover of the album looks very similar to my new WWE Championship.
WWE.com: How do you think the final copy turned out?
Cena: I think that a lot of fans are going to be pleasantly surprised when they pop in the album and listen to it. It’s got a lot of great tracks, and a lot of different beats. I think that even people who like this type of music, but aren’t necessarily wrestling fans will enjoy the album, and hopefully when they listen to it, and they’ll want to tune in to SmackDown! to see what their boy’s doing.
WWE.com: Can we find your new theme music, “My Time is Now” featured on this upcoming release?
Cena: Absolutely, it’s the first track – the album also has my original theme music, “Basic Thuganomics,” which was also really popular. And it’s funny, because when I cut “My Time is Now,” I hadn’t even won the WWE Championship yet, but now that song couldn’t be any truer. And it’s not even like WWE had to promote it, or acknowledge it I any way. The song speaks for itself, so they just popped it in a few weeks ago, and it’s gotten nothing but a great response.
WWE.com: What do you feel your future in the hip-hop industry?
Cena: Making music is something I love doing, Don’t get me wrong, I love this business like nobody else, and this is my thing – I live, eat, sleep, and breathe this –
but whenever I have some time away from the ring, you’ll find me in the studio. So will I continue making music? Of course. Do I have a future in the hip-hop industry? Who knows, we’ll see how things go.
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