WWE history was made this morning in Orlando, when a special press conference was held to announce that the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium has been selected as the site for the 2008 edition of sports-entertainments biggest showcase, WrestleMania.
The city of Orlando rolled out the red carpet, welcoming some of WWEs brightest stars, as well as some of WWEs biggest fans, who lined up as early as 7 a.m. to catch a glimpse of the action. Also converging on city hall were members of the Central Florida Sports Commission, as well as a multitude of local reporters and news cameras, there to document the announcement of what Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer referred to as an iconic and unprecedented event for Central Floridas thriving sports community.
The press conference started with a bang, as emcee for the days events and Hall of Famer Mean Gene Okerlund welcomed the first guest, WWE Chairman and participant in WrestleMania 23s Battle of the Billionaires, Mr. McMahon.
Thank you for welcoming us into your city, said the proud Chairman. WrestleMania is different than anything else. Next March, we will bring that special atmosphere, as well as 60,000 fans here to the Citrus Bowl, and we promise you the time of your life.
WWE Superstars in attendance included WWE Champion John Cena, World Heavyweight Champion Batista, ECW Champion Bobby Lashley, and both participants in the highly intense fight over the Womens Championship, Melina and Playboy cover girl Ashley.
Unwilling to wait for her turn, the WWE Womens Champion interrupted Mean Gene and took to the podium. It didnt take long for the agitated Diva to state her intentions, and make a promise to her fans, and the paparazzi.
Next March, we are going to heat up one of the hottest cities in the world, yelled Melina. But first, I am going to dismantle Ashley at WrestleMania 23, and hold on to my title for the next 12 months so I can bring it right back here to Orlando for WrestleMania 24.
ECW Champion Bobby Lashley was next to take the podium. The hard-hitting Extreme champion had a confident and relaxed look on his face as he spoke to the crowd, taking a moment to glance over at one of his WrestleMania 23 adversaries, Mr. McMahon. While the Champion was quiet and soft spoken on this day, he will be anything but in just a matter of days when he takes the stage at Ford Field.
Its an honor to be here in Orlando, said Lashley. Every Superstar dreams of the day he can be a part of something like WrestleMania, and it will be honor to be able to live my dream again next year here in Orlando.
While the reception for all the Superstars was overwhelming, John Cena may have elicited the loudest response of the day. The Champ backed up the words of his fellow Superstars, telling the audience that Orlando was a perfect fit for sports-entertainments grandest spectacle.
We are here to make history, said Cena. Orlando has a reputation for making dreams come true, and that is why there is no better fit for WrestleMania than the Citrus Bowl. I plan to work my ass off every day to make sure I can be a part of it, and to make sure that the next time I walk into Orlando, I am still the WWE Champion. Well see you back here in 374 days.
On March 30, 2008, WWE fans from all 50 states and more than 23 countries will arrive in droves to the Sunshine State. You can be a part of the excitement as well. Stay tuned to WWE.com in the coming months as information regarding tickets is made available.
March 29th, 2007 22:02 PREVIEW FOR THURSDAY iMPACT! AT 11PM ON SPIKE TV More matches to be announced for the Lockdown Pay-Per-View
IMPORTANT: Dont forget that iMPACT! will be held at a special airtime on Thursday night at 11pm on SpikeTV!
MAIN EVENT: 8 MILE STREET FIGHT RHINO VS. TOMKO Rhino (representing Team Angle) and Tomko (representing Team Cage) will collide this Thursday night in the return of the 8 Mile Street Fight to TNA Wrestling! It will be anything-goes and falls count anywhere as these two TNA juggernauts attempt to annihilate each other prior to the Lockdown Pay-Per-View on Sunday, April 15! With the other members of Team Cage and Team Angle in attendance, what hell will break loose? Tune in and find out!
THE LATIN AMERICAN XCHANGE VS. VOODOO KIN MAFIA Also on Thursday night, two of TNA Wrestlings top tag teams will face off as World Tag Team Champions The Latin American Xchange will battle The Voodoo Kin Mafia! Theres certainly a lot of history between these two teams and plenty of hatred! Can VKM pull off the win to get an eventual shot at the World Tag Team Title? Will Team 3D be watching the bout closely? Will we find out more about the Electric Steel Cage Match?
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE ICON STING Also this Thursday night at 11pm on SpikeTV, well hear from former World Champion the icon known as Sting about the current situation involving Abyss! Sting was so close to helping Abyss until maniacal manager James Mitchell returned to TNA Wrestling and forced Abyss back under his control. What will Sting have to say this Thursday night? Tune in and find out!
TNA MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR JIM CORNETTE ORDERS A COMPANY WIDE MEETING Also, TNAwrestling.com has learned that TNA management director Jim Cornette has ordered everyone on the roster to be in attendance at ringside this Thursday night for a company-wide meeting! According to Cornette, he plans to address several TNA stars personally, as well as announce more matches for the April 15 Lockdown Pay-per-View event!
All this and much more this Thursday night on iMPACT! on SpikeTV at the special 11pm airtime!
March 29th, 2007 22:01 NEWS AND VIDEO FROM THURSDAYS iMPACT! ON SPIKE TV Is Team Angle In Trouble For Lockdown?
There are several major news items to report from Thursdays iMPACT! broadcast on SpikeTV as TNA Wrestling prepares for the Sunday, April 15 Lockdown Pay-Per-View event from St. Louis, Missouri!
IMPORTANT: Dont forget that iMPACT! will be held at a special airtime on Thursday night at 11pm on SpikeTV!
ABYSS BACK UNDER THE CONTROL OF JAMES MITCHELL? This weeks iMPACT! broadcast began with the dinner with the devil with James Mitchell and the icon known as Sting! In the sitdown face-to-face between the two, Mitchell revealed much more about the past of Abyss, including a story of abuse by his father. According to Mitchell, it was actually Abyss mother that shot her husband for his torment, but Abyss took the fall. It was a story of a son protecting his mother, and Mitchell knows all the details. According to the maniacal manager, Abyss is now back under his control and if Sting tries to do anything about it, Mitchell will go to the authorities and tell them what really happened! As a result, Abyss has no choice but to listen to Mitchell to protect his mother!
IS TEAM ANGLE IN TROUBLE HEADING INTO LOCKDOWN? Also on Thursdays iMPACT!, the broadcast ended with Team Cage five members strong with the addition of Tomko and Abyss (thanks to a deal with James Mitchell) annihilated the three members of Team Angle. It seems the momentum is strongly in favor of Cages crew heading into the Pay-Per-View event, with Team Angle in disarray. Will Kurt Angle find a way to fill the remaining spots on his team? Can Team Angle overcome these overwhelming odds? Tune in Thursday night at 11pm to find out!
JERRY LYNN WINS IMPACT XSCAPE MATCH BUT DANIELS ATTACKS In addition, Jerry Lynn won the iMPACT! Xscape match on Thursday night in a preview of the X Division Championship bout that will take place on Sunday, April 15 at Lockdown. It came down to Lynn and Petey Williams, with Lynn finally falling from the top of the cage to escape first and earn the win. However, following the match The Fallen Angel Christopher Daniels once again attacked Lynn with a baseball bat. Why is Daniels doing this? He has yet to speak to anyone! Stay tuned
Also on Thursdays iMPACT! on SpikeTV:
- A special video package aired highlighting the current feud between World Tag Team Champions The Latin American Xchange and Team 3D, along with exclusive footage of the Electric Steel Cage! Will Team 3D accept the challenge to battle inside the dangerous arena of warfare against LAX at Lockdown? Tune in Thursday night to find out!
- Is Christy Hemme bringing another team to Lockdown to face The Voodoo Kin Mafia? Hemme and VKM had a war of words on Thursdays iMPACT!, with Hemme promising she wouldnt stop until she proved her point to Kip James and the rest of VKM!
Rob Van Dam def. Elijah Burke Snitsky def. Balls Mahoney Mr. Kennedy, King Booker, Finlay & Randy Orton def. CM Punk, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy & Edge _________________
Readers who pop open the April 2007 issue of WWE Magazine will be pleased to find whats Under Marias Hood on page 48 (check out the .PDF file). The Divas knowledge of cars is nothing short of amazing, and her popular mechanic column seems to run on all cylinders with WWE fans. In the latest issue, WWEs car goddess shifts gears with her personal list of auto accessory hots and nots. WWE.com decided to tailgate on the subject and ask several WWE road warriorsRaws Shelton Benjamin, Kenny Dykstra, Chris Masters, Trevor Murdoch and Shad of Cryme Tyme; SmackDowns Montel Vontavious Porter and Jimmy Wang Yang; and ECW's Elijah Burkehow they like to varnish their vehicles.
Burke enjoys a personal Elijah Experience whenever he heads out in his tricked-out maroon 1990 Camaro. Its very stylish, very hooked up, with nice American racing wheels and 15-inch rims on it, he boasts. Real low-profile, but an awesome-looking car. Meanwhile, a life of Cryme Tyme seems to have paid off nicely for ShadIm fixin up a 1969 Chevy Chevelle Convertible SS, fully loaded. I put a chrome engine in, with 20-inch chrome rims that dont spin, but they look ballin as hell. Its gonna be tight.
Chrome is the operative word when it comes to Benjamins white H2. A Hummers a great car once youve accessorized it, he says. Ive got the chrome 22-inch rims, chrome light bezels, chrome door handles and Im working on a chrome gear shifter. I even took out the original factory dashyou know, the casing for the radio and everythingand had carbon fiber put on it. Now its a carbon fiber dash, and its clean. It really sets off the car.
I used to have a van, recalls the 20-year-old Dykstra about his pre-WWE days on the road. I put rims on it and little shades in the windows, and I added a little disco ball in the middle. Then I took out most of the seats out and threw a bed in it. These days, he prefers keeping his cars a bit more on the plain side, including his Z28 Camaro. I have this Hawaiian lei on the rearview mirror that I got during spring break, and I never took it off. Shad once tried to convince me to get the car lowered, put rims and ground effects on itlike, hes telling me stuff I already know.
To the surprise of no one at WWE.com, the unsportsmanlike MVP wont play nice and talk about his car collectionI roll on only the finest German engineering; 22-inch chromed-out rims, low-profile tires, is all hell saybut he wont even entertain anyones ideas on how to pimp em up. I am by far and away the flyest thing ever to happen to this company, he declares, the most ballin-est player ever; theres nobody here that could tuh-teach me how to deck out a ride. Im from Miami, know what Im sayin? Will Smith even made a song about itHundred thousand-dollar cars, everybody got em? Well, everybody aint got em. Only few of us that have em, and those that do have em know what to do with em. Those who dont, wish and dream.
On the flip side, guys like Masters dont need to dream over auto-body touchups; other than adding a limo window tint and eventually some rims (crediting the latter suggestion to Randy Orton), hes quite content with keeping his 2006 Cadillac Escalade the way he found ita Masterpiece.
Its actually a Special Edition from the Grammy Awards, he explains. They only used it to drive a celebrity to the show, and I bought it with about 300 miles on it. It also has this big Grammys sticker, so people are always pulling up next to me, trying to look in through the tinted windows and see whos inside.
Think thats ludicrous? WWE Superstars like Murdoch and Wang Yang may have Masters beat with their own ornamental oddities. Any truck that drives on dirt road needs a Yosemite Sam tailgate cover, notes Raws surly Superstar (who also happens to own what he calls his pride and joy, a cream-colored 1964 Plymouth Fury). Everybody sees Yosemite Sam on a pickup driven by a redneck, they just get the hell outta the way. As for Wang Yang, one might not notice his Toyota T100s 17-inch, five-star Fatboy rims (I went through a phase, he says)especially since WWE.com cant verify if SmackDowns resident redneck is joking about the accessories hes kept in every vehicle hes ever steered: My 12-gauge shotgun and a rearview mirror.
Needless to say, you wont find firearm frills and the like Under Marias Hood in the April issue of WWE Magazine. She delves into more important, cooler and safer auto makeover ideas, so be sure to pick up a copy. Then come back to WWE.com for Part 2 of this story and discover what kinds of fan gifts hang in some Superstars cars, who likes having a dancing diva on their dash, and how vanity factors into some of their rides.
NEWS FROM THURSDAYS iMPACT! BROADCAST ON SPIKE TV Several updates on the upcoming Lockdown PPV event
There are several news items to report from Thursdays iMPACT! as TNA Wrestling prepares for the April 15 Lockdown Pay-Per-View event!
JAMES MITCHELL RETURNS BUT WHO IS THE WOMAN? It was a shocking ending to Thursdays iMPACT! on SpikeTV, as manager James Mitchell made his return with a mysterious woman by his side! At the same time, Abyss was teaming with Sting in the ring against AJ Styles and Christian Cage, but as soon as Abyss saw his former manager and the mysterious woman he was torn about what to do save Sting or go with Mitchell! As iMPACT! ended, Abyss left with Mitchell and the woman leaving Sting to fend for himself against Cage, AJ Styles and the returning Scott Steiner!
ANGLE ADDS TO HIS TEAM BUT SO DOES CHRISTIAN CAGE! It was announced on Thursdays iMPACT! that The Samoan Submission Machine Samoa Joe and The War Machine Rhino are the latest members to be added to Team Angle for the Lethal Lockdown main event at the Pay-Per-View! However, we also learned later on in the broadcast that World Champion Christian Cage has added Big Poppa Pump Scott Steiner to his team as well! The teams thus far are as follows:
Team Angle: Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe and Rhino two more spots remain Team Cage: Christian Cage, AJ Styles and Scott Steiner two more spots remain
WILL TEAM 3D ACCEPT THE ELECTRIC STEEL CAGE CHALLENGE? Also on Thursdays iMPACT!, Team 3D called out The LAX for a face-to-face in the ring. Brother Ray and Devon also brought their legacy as a tag team all the major titles they have won throughout their career. Team 3D stated that they will do anything to get another shot at the World Tag team Title, and offered to put up their legacy of championships against the LAXs gold! However, this brought out LAX leader Konnan, who had a challenge of his own if Team 3D wants a shot at the gold, they will only get it in an Electrified Cage Match at Lockdown! Will Team 3D accept the challenge for this first-ever TNA bout a truly dangerous arena of warfare created in Mexico? Tune in Thursday night to find out!
MR. BACKLUND TO SERVE AS SPECIAL REFEREE AT LOCKDOWN Also announced on iMPACT!, TNA management director Jim Cornette granted Mr. Backlund the opportunity to serve as special referee for the Senshi vs. Austin Starr match at Lockdown! Backlund wanted to face Starr inside the steel cage, but Cornette vetoed that idea from the former World Champion. Now, Backlund will be wearing the pinstripes on April 15 as he officiates the bout between the two X Division stars!
Also on Thursdays iMPACT!
- During a backstage interview, X Division pioneer Jerry Lynn was attacked by The Fallen Angel Christopher Daniels, who brutalized Lynn until TNA security chased him off! Why did Daniels attack Lynn? Daniels isnt talking to anyone right now, so his motives remain to be seen. Due to the attack, Lynn was unable to compete later on in his scheduled match against James Storm!
- As a result of the Daniels attack, James Storm didnt have an opponent so he issued an open challenge! Out came his former partner Wildcat Chris Harris, who chased Storm out of the arena while Gail Kim and Jackie Moore brawled in the ring! Earlier in the night, Harris went to TNA management director Jim Cornette demanding a bout against Storm at Lockdown, but due to the Wildcats eye injury, Cornette told him he would have to wait until doctors cleared him to wrestle
OFFICIAL TNA IMPACT RESULTS - MARCH 15, 2007 By Mike Kerrigan
Jim Cornette is inside the Six Sides of Steel as iMPACT! opens to announce the main event for Lockdown. He says that it will be Team Cage and Team Angle, each with four partners of their choosing, in a Lethal Lockdown match. Christian Cage tries to get out of the match, but Cornette says no and starts the opening music as Cage is still trying to weasel his way out of the match.
After the opening package, AJ Styles' theme music hits and AJ shows up with a neck brace and crutch as he walks to the ring. He asks Rhino if this is what he wanted. He then demands Rhino come to the ring to tell his wife that its HIS fault that AJ can't bring a paycheck home. Rhino comes to the ring and asks what it was really about. AJ states that he just wants the feud to be over. Rhino shakes AJ's hand and says that its over. Yet, as Rhino walked away, AJ tried to hit him with the crutch. Rhino was able to grab it in time, only to get a kick to the groin for his efforts. Rhino is eventually able to turn the tide until Christian Cage comes to the ring and hits Rhino with a crutch. Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe then run to the ring to chase AJ and Cage off.
As Kevin Nash is in the ring trying to get Jay Lethal to come out to his new theme music, cameras go to the back where Jeremy Borash is with Chris Sabin. JB interrupts Sabin from his video game and Sabin doesn't like it. He says "Sorry that I'm trying to pwn noobs in God of War II, but I am the God of Wrestling." Just then Bob Backlund stops his stair walking to tell JB and Sabin that they should be using their time to train and not play silly video games and tells JB that he is making him a little angry. As Backlund walks off, Sabin mockingly tells Borash the same thing and quickly goes back to his video game.
Kevin Nash introduces Jay Lethal's new music (an upbeat version of Macho Man's "Pomp and Circumstance"). Jay comes reluctantly comes out to face his opponents Jerry Lynn and Kaz. Kaz was most impressive catching his opponents off guard with a nice Yakuza kick and a combination of a roll-up on Jerry Lynn with a Northern Lights Suplex on Jay Lethal. Although it was Jay Lethal coming out victorious, as he got Kaz with what Mike Tenay called a Lethal Combination; a backbreaker followed by a faceplant. After the match the Fallen Angel Christopher Daniels came to the ring and attacked all three competitors with a baseball bat.
Christian Cage is in the back and says that AJ Styles is the 1st recruit for Team Cage. Aj says that Cage is going to give him a title shot, but Cage quickly changes the topic. He says "It doesn't matter who Angle picks for his team, I WE already beat them."
Our next match is the team of LAX and Alex Shelley facing off against Team 3D and Brother Runt. Most of the match saw LAX working on Brother Ray's arm, but Brother Runt gets tagged in and starts cleaning house. Hernandez then gorilla pressed Runt and threw him to the floor. Team 3D then threw LAX out of the ring, and was able to hit Alex Shelley with a headbutt to the groin followed by a 3D through a table. Yet, as Devon went for a pin, he got rolled up by Hernandez who got the victory. Konnan grabbed the mic and told Team 3D "We took what little dignity you had left; next we take what you have left and tarnish it -- your legacy!"
Cameras turn to the back where Raven tells Serotonin that he doesn't care about wins or losses; just about inflicting psychological pain on others like parents to their children. He then wants Martyr and Havoc to punish Kaz, but they stand up to him and say no. They are met with some punishment of their own as Raven says to the camera" We will help you, whether you like it or not!"
Jeremy Borash is seen going into a bathroom where Eric Young is cleaning toilets. Eric wants JB to help him get out of the Roode Inc contract, but JB says he can't do anything. He then recommends that Eric should call his "friend". As Showtime starts dialing, Roode enters and tells Borash to get out and for Eric to get back to work.
Cameras then shift to the ring again where Christian Cage and AJ Styles ready to announce the next member of Team Cage. Abyss' music hits and Abyss comes to the ringside area, but is hesitant about getting in the ring. Cage says that Abyss is welcome to stand behind the champ in the ring. Just then Sting comes out and tells Cage "Abyss is not on your team; he's not on anyone's team. On Sunday, he saw the light and he's a new man now." Cage then told Abyss that Sting doesn't really care about him. Before any other words could be said, Jim Cornette comes out and announces that next week on iMPACT! we will find out which side Abyss is on, as Christian Cage and AJ Styles team up against Sting and Abyss.
Ik ben Boon Kenneth, en gebruik soms ook wel de schuilnaam Sting.
Ik ben een man en woon in Dworp (Belgie) en mijn beroep is .
Ik ben geboren op 05/06/1989 en ben nu dus 36 jaar jong.
Mijn hobby's zijn: Worstelen en films.
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