John Cena Suffering From Back Injury?
The word going around WWE is that John Cena is suffering from a back injury.Reports indicate that Cena is suffering from a few bulging discs, which has created some discomfort. As nothing more about the reported injury, such as which discs are affected, has been released, the severity of the injury is hard to assess.
Nonetheless, it does appear that the back issue was responsible for WWE dropping plans to hold a John Cena vs. Sheamus match at the Royal Rumble.
More shortly.
The Rock Puts Over Wrestling, Katie To RAW?
-- As noted earlier, former WWE performer Dwayne Johnson spent this past weekend in Mexico promoting his latest movie, Tooth Fairy. He discussed wrestling during his media appearance, praising Lucha libre and saying he was a big fan of Mil Mascaras and El Santo as a child. He also put over the legendary Guerrero family, saying: “I will always be grateful for the support they gave me. In my development as a wrestler I learned a lot from them, they always offered me their support during the most difficult times of my life.”-- As seen this past Monday night on Raw, Katie Lea Burchill, who, along with her brother Paul, had been banished from ECW, made her return to the brand. While her profile has yet to be added to the Raw Superstars page on WWE.com, the results section identifies her as a “new Raw recruit.”
-- As reported yesterday, it was noted that Christian was advertised to face Zack Ryder on this week’s episode of WWE Superstars. This is incorrect as a match where he goes up against William Regal will air on tonight’s show instead. The WWE website briefly advertised a bout between the ECW Champion and Ryder before issuing a correction.
Other matches scheduled to take place on tonight’s show include: Gail Kim and Primo vs. Jillian and Chavo Guerrero, Jimmy Wang Yang and Slam Master J vs. Mike Knox and Chavo Guerrero, and Carlito vs. Chris Masters (with Eve).
-- The 2010 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony pre-sale kicked off today at noon Eastern on LiveNation.com.
Shane McMahon's Departure/Backstage Morale, Konnan, More
» In WWE's latest attempt to find a Mexican star, the company recently inked a deal with Incognito, who previously worked under the guise of Mistico de Juarez. He briefly worked with TNA Wrestling a few years ago, but when he missed a television taping, they stopped using him.» Michael Solomon, a member of WWE's Board of Directors, cashed in all of his stock several weeks ago, taking in more than $20 million. Apparently he was unhappy with the way certain things were being run and got out. John Laurinaitis also cashed in $155,000 of his stock several weeks ago.
» Despite Shane McMahon's resignation from WWE officially going into effect January 1, 2010, he wasn't working at WWE Headquarters in Stamford, CT. Morale among staff at WWE's offices was said to be way down with the departures of Shane and Linda McMahon.
» Two past wrestling stars in Konnan and Ed Leslie (a/k/a Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake) are working on respective autobiographies. Leslie's book will be called Reborn on the Fourth of July, the date in 1990 when he experienced a near-fatal parasailing accident. His face had to be surgically repaired with over one hundred metal plates, putting his wrestling career on hiatus for nearly two years. In the case of Konnan, his book will explore his lengthy career in the wrestling industry.
WWE Star Escorted Off Plane After Strange Incident
It would appear that Tyler Reks is in danger of being let go by World Wrestling Entertainment after a strange incident that took place during his flight home from Green Bay this morning — the site of last night’s SmackDown & ECW television tapings. Marc Lanciaux, a sound strange engineer who works for WWE, wrote “Nice knowing ya” to Reks on his Twitter account on Wednesday evening and wrote a lengthy blog on his website detailing the bizarre incident he witnessed.
Sarcastically referencing Reks as ‘Einstein,’ he noted that ‘Einstein’ became terrified when he saw the airplane flap move just before takeoff. A worried Reks informed a flight attendant that he was a pilot himself and said that wasn’t supposed to happen. Feeling that the plane was unsafe, he raised his voice and became belligerent. Apparently feeling that he could be a disruption during the flight, flight staff had the plane return to the terminal in order to escort him off. But just before he got off the plane, Lanciaux claims Reks mumbled “that if anyone else on the plane didn’t want to die, they should get off the plane too.” The pilot then announced to the remaining passengers that the plane was indeed safe to fly.
Here is what Lanciaux wrote regarding the incident in question “This time, instead of a frightened teen running off the plane, one of ‘our guys,’ one of the new wrestlers that recently started traveling with the show walked out. Though I recognized him, he’s so new that I’m not sure what his name is. After today there’s probably no good reason to try and find out either. I will just call this unknown wrestler ‘Einstein.’ Turns out that Einstein was sitting near the wing, and out the window, witnessed a terrifying (to him) event. To his horror, one of the flaps that make the plane fly or land or whatever it is that those moving parts on the wing do… moved! GASP! After witnessing this, Einstein freaked out, telling the flight attendant that he was a pilot himself and he knew that wasn’t supposed to happen. He was sure the plane was unsafe. He started getting louder and louder, and more and more obnoxious. The decision was made. Time for Mr. Einstein to go bye-bye. Our flight turned around and my double date with both Ginger and Mary-Ann was ruined. On his way out the door, Einstein mumbled that if anyone else on the plane didn’t want to die, they should get off the plane too. I’m sure that the waiting TSA knuckle-draggers had a field day with this guy.”
You can read his blog post in its entirety at this link.
Lanciaux then identified him by name on his Twitter account, cryptically writing: “Thank you Tyler Reks for not only delaying our flight, but also for providing me with blog material. Nice knowing ya.”
While Reks has not appeared on WWE programming since early November, he is still being flown to shows on a weekly basis. As of late, he has been trying out a new found heelish persona at live events and dark matches.
Sarcastically referencing Reks as ‘Einstein,’ he noted that ‘Einstein’ became terrified when he saw the airplane flap move just before takeoff. A worried Reks informed a flight attendant that he was a pilot himself and said that wasn’t supposed to happen. Feeling that the plane was unsafe, he raised his voice and became belligerent. Apparently feeling that he could be a disruption during the flight, flight staff had the plane return to the terminal in order to escort him off. But just before he got off the plane, Lanciaux claims Reks mumbled “that if anyone else on the plane didn’t want to die, they should get off the plane too.” The pilot then announced to the remaining passengers that the plane was indeed safe to fly.
Here is what Lanciaux wrote regarding the incident in question “This time, instead of a frightened teen running off the plane, one of ‘our guys,’ one of the new wrestlers that recently started traveling with the show walked out. Though I recognized him, he’s so new that I’m not sure what his name is. After today there’s probably no good reason to try and find out either. I will just call this unknown wrestler ‘Einstein.’ Turns out that Einstein was sitting near the wing, and out the window, witnessed a terrifying (to him) event. To his horror, one of the flaps that make the plane fly or land or whatever it is that those moving parts on the wing do… moved! GASP! After witnessing this, Einstein freaked out, telling the flight attendant that he was a pilot himself and he knew that wasn’t supposed to happen. He was sure the plane was unsafe. He started getting louder and louder, and more and more obnoxious. The decision was made. Time for Mr. Einstein to go bye-bye. Our flight turned around and my double date with both Ginger and Mary-Ann was ruined. On his way out the door, Einstein mumbled that if anyone else on the plane didn’t want to die, they should get off the plane too. I’m sure that the waiting TSA knuckle-draggers had a field day with this guy.”
You can read his blog post in its entirety at this link.
Lanciaux then identified him by name on his Twitter account, cryptically writing: “Thank you Tyler Reks for not only delaying our flight, but also for providing me with blog material. Nice knowing ya.”
While Reks has not appeared on WWE programming since early November, he is still being flown to shows on a weekly basis. As of late, he has been trying out a new found heelish persona at live events and dark matches.