SmackDown Superstar William Regal, who has been announcing and wrestling on NXT as of late, says he wants a World Heavyweight Title shot when WWE returns to Liverpool, England later this year. He wrote on Thursday:

“Trying to think if Teddy Long owes me a favour.I need to get a World Championship match on Smackdown on Liverpool. Maybe the last chance I have of becoming the first English World Champion in front of WWE’s loyalist fans.

Some people are saying I’m passed it.Maybe so but @WWE,look at it as charity.Give an old rogue a chance.”

Regal later re-tweeted a ton of feedback from fans supporting him getting a title shot and wrote:

“I normally never retweet about wrestling,WWE or me(I don’t need to because I’m so over anyway)so sorry to everyone who it’s driving mental. I just want @WWE to take notice.Give back to your loyalest fans(and purely selfish reasons as I want to be the first British World champ).”

At a live last November in the UK, Regal announced to the crowd that would be his last tour because he is retiring soon. Regal will apparently be sticking around long enough for this year’s tour, probably longer. Regal is under contract to WWE until 2014 and in addition to his recent work on NXT, he has worked as an announcer in FCW.

Labels: william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 10:42 PM | Permalink | Comments

William Regal - "Just heard of the passing of Randy Savage.A one of a kind great performer. RIP."

Jim Ross - "Just heard Macho Man died this morning of a heart attack while driving his vehicle in Tampa. Condolences to all Randy Savage fans/family."

. John Cena - "CeNation. The untimely passing of randy savage is indeed tragic. All true fans of wrestling will mourn this loss. One of the all time greats"

Zack Ryder - "RIP MACHO MAN. One of my favorites and one of the best of all time. DIG IT! http://t.co/PSYmsrJ"

Shawn Michaels - "@IAmJericho jus txt me the news. We've lost one of the greats!! Our prayers go out to the family & friends of Randy Savage."

Trish Stratus - "Rest in peace Randy-my first inspiration in the ring. My prayers & condolences to the Savage family #RIPMachoMan"

Howard Finkel - "I am profoundly saddened by the passing of one of the all-time greats, Macho Man Randy Savage. My condolences go out to the Poffo family."

Mark Henry - "Wow family, one of my favorites is gone! Rest well (Randy savage) you will be missed. Savage vs steamboat look it up do yourself a favor family one of my favorite."

Kharma - "In utter shock about Macho Man. So much charisma in one soul. #ripmachoman"

Yoshi Tatsu - "The Macho Man Randy Savage was one of my heros when I was childhood and one of the best of all time. Rest in peace."

Rey Mysterio - "RIP Macho Man Randy Savage! Doing promotion in Seattle for Over the Limit ppv, was asked earlier today at a radio station, Who would I of loved to wrestle from back in da day? I said would of loved to hit it off in a 3ple threat, Macho Man, Ricky the Dragon, and myself!RIP RMS!"

CM Punk - " “@BretHart: I have no words to say. This one hits me hard. We lost one of the best.” This sums it up."

Lucky Cannon - "My respect and condolence goes out to a true iconic figure the Macho Man Randy Savage and his family!"

Goldust - "Prayers go out to randy savage family.....god be with them in this tough time"

Vickie Guerrero - "RIP Randy Macho Man Savage. My prayers are to your family"

Darren Young - "JUST like that! Life can end. Tell those close to ya that you love them cause ya never know! RIP Macho Man"

Wade Barrett - "Bow to the kingdom of the madness. RIP Macho Man, amazing performer."

Titus O'Neil - "My Prayers go out to the family,friends&former colleagues of WWE Superstar Randy "Macho Man"Savage who passed away this morning.God Bless"

Natalya - "My prayers are with Randy Savage and his family right now."

Curt Hawkins - "I carry this picture in my gear bag ...7yr old Hawkins & my 1st tag team partner. RIP Macho Man. http://yfrog.com/h097hykj"

JTG - "To one of my favorite Hall of Famers, inducted or not. Macho Man Randy Savage. R.I.P OOOOOOOOOH YEEEEEEEAH !"

Ezekiel Jackson - "Whoa....just heard about macho man Randy savage...God bless the family, the wrestling world just lost one of the greatest ever...R.I.P"

Justin Roberts - "Macho Man...simply awesome. Incredible and entertaining in everything he did. One of the best ever. RIP"

Christian - "Sad 2 hear about "Macho Man"Randy Savage..Only met him once briefly.No doubt 1 of the best & influenced so many performers you see today RIP"

Scott Stanford - "Sorry to hear about the Macho Man! He was one of the best!"

Jeff Jarrett - "Just got a call w the news. RIP Randy. I met him when I was 11yrs old. He would always teach, correct, encourage, and compliment as my career progressed. I have NEVER forgotten the intricacies and attention to detail he taught me over the years. Randy always had a method to his madness. Randy is gone, but will never be forgotten. Thoughts and prayers are w the entire Poffo family. And, he may be the greatest card player the business has ever seen... When he lost, he was only setting you up to take more money from you!

Tommy Dreamer - "Randy Savage was the 1st person I saw piledrive someone thru a table. Thanks 4 all the memories. Hope u walk the aisle w/ Liz & Sherri again"

Doug Williams - "RIP #randysavage I was fortunate to see him live at his peak..."

Karen Jarrett - "My thoughts and prayers go out to Randy Savage's wife and family!"

Mickie James - "Ooh No! My childhood favorite! RIP Macho Man... *finger in the air*

Jay Lethal - "R.I.P. Macho Man Randy Savage. You were amazing... Oohh yea!!!"

Shane Helms - "Totally heartbreaking news about Randy Savage. One of my all-time favs!! So sad!! RIP Macho"

Shelly Martinez - "Sad news about Macho Man My prayers r with his soul and all grieving his passing :( "

Labels: Christian, mickie james, randy savage, william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 4:12 PM | Permalink | Comments

WWE has re-signed William Regal to a 42 month contract renewal. Considering that Regal is 42 years old, this may indicate that WWE has plans for him past his in-ring career.

Labels: william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 4:16 PM | Permalink | Comments

As reported last night, ECW General Manager Tiffany wrote on her Twitter account that she suffered a "broken humerus" which was "snapped in half." The humerus is the bone that connects from the shoulder to the elbow.

The injury occurred in the ring at last Thursday's Florida Championship Wrestling television tapings.

WWE created a storyline saying she was in a car accident to explain her absence from last night's edition of ECW. William Regal was appointed the interim General Manager of the brand.

The message on her Twitter account detailing her broken arm has since been removed.

Labels: tiffany, william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 5:13 PM | Permalink | Comments

In the new issue of WWE Magazine, the cover article is an interview with John Cena. Highlights from the article:

His Secret Return at the Royal Rumble: “I was hidden away in the back of a car and then 45 minutes after the show started, I was briskly brought to a secret room in Madison Square Garden. Nobody knew I was there and nobody knew what was going to happen…I came out a minute before no. 30 was called. Everyone backstage had 60 seconds to react.”

The Spinner Belt: “Believe it or not, that belt has had minute changes over the the years, and I’m actually flattered that it’s now considered the WWE Championship. I thought for sure that once it went to Smackdown, it would see a redesign. I like the fact that the ECW Championship has changed; I think it adds flavor to it. It’s weird, the one trophy that tradition says you can’t touch is the World Heavyweight Championship, but it is what it is.”

CM Punk’s World title run: “I didn’t know much about him and he’s not the first number on my friends list but I was thoroughly impressed by how he handled it. I think the great thing about Punk is that he listens to everybody, whether it’s a vet or a rookie, some weird guy posting on the Internet, a paying customer or a six-year old who’s hero is John Cena.”

Most Underrated Talent in WWE: “William Regal. Not only is he smooth as silk in the ring, he’s one of the most entertaining characters I’ve ever seen on TV.”

Cena also noted he recently recorded a hop hop track with Snoop Dogg titled “Hustle, Loyalty, Respect” and would like to do a 10 song online album with Snoop and Tha Dogg Pound.

Labels: c.m. punk, john cena, william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 10:33 PM | Permalink | Comments

WWE has just announced a "Pick the Tag Team Match" for the Cyber Sunday pay-per-view. The match options for fans to vote on are:

* Ted DiBiase & Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk & Kofi Kingston

* John Morrison & The Miz vs. Cryme Tyme

* Jamie Noble & Mickie James vs. William Regal & Layla

Labels: cody rhodes, jamie noble, william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 3:41 PM | Permalink | Comments

From: PWPIX.net

William Regal's sixty-day drug suspension for a second violation of the company's Wellness Policy concludes on Friday, July 18. He will be eligible to return to the ring at the "RAW, Smackdown & ECW Live" house show in Springfield, Mass. on Saturday, July 19.

Labels: william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 3:50 PM | Permalink | Comments

source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Regarding Jimmy Wang Yang's suspension, he recently failed a drug test and was suspended for 30 days as a result on Monday, June 9. It is believed that he did not fail for steroids, although the company doesn't release information on what the wrestlers fail for. Internally, Yang's suspension was not a major topic of conversation, at least compared to the suspensions of William Regal and Jeff Hardy. Also, when word got out that day, talent feared a possible drug test on the horizon. As it turns out, the Raw wrestlers were drug tested later that day in Oakland. Yang was the sixth drug suspension of the year following Derrick Neikirk, Neil "Chet the Jet" Bzibziak, Jeff Hardy, Afa, Jr., and William Regal.

Labels: Afa, Jimmy Wang Yang, Jr., william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 4:02 PM | Permalink | Comments

Some highlights of the latest Jim Ross Blog:

William Regal's Suspension: "I do not know the details of his recent 60 day suspension but I do not think that Regal has 'fallen off the wagon' and retreated to his misdirected ways of years gone by. Nonetheless, something went awry and the WWE Wellness Program, which is more thorough and organized than ever before, dropped the hammer on the talented Brit. With no pay for 60 days, two strikes against him and a family to care for, Regal finds himself in a challenging position. Some weak minded individuals could 'poor me' it and say to hell with it and revert back to those aforementioned issues, but, I do not think Regal fits into that category."

A Lesson to be Learned: "This should be a great lesson for every one on the roster.. be careful of every thing one ingests, including over the counter supplements that might contain even traces of banned substances. Education again becomes a key term in this issue as it is incumbent on each individual with which this program applies to know what is banned and what is not."

"No, I did not forget that it was almost nine years ago at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, the same arena Monday Night Raw emanated from this week, where Owen Hart fell to his death. We did not speak of it on air nor did I think that we would, but it was definitely a point of discussion for many of us during the day especially for the King and me on our drive down from Omaha on Monday. Jerry and I sat in the same exact spot this past Monday night that we sat 9 years ago on the saddest night of our careers. After Monday’s show went off the air, some fans in attendance started an 'Owen' chant which was emotional for many of us that were Owen’s friends and especially for those of us that were actually in attendance that night."

Labels: jim ross, owen hart, william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 7:52 PM | Permalink | Comments

From: PWPIX.net

There is a lot of concern backstage within WWE stemming from William Regal’s recent 60-day suspension. Regal has been battling a drug addiction for years, and ProWrestling.net reports that many are worried about him relapsing during his suspension. The other concern is that the big push he’s been getting will not resume after he returns from suspension.

A former WWE creative team member revealed that Vince was never a fan of Regal’s in-ring style and rejected pitches to push him in the past. Vince is said to like Regal’s personality, which is how he landed the RAW GM gig.

There are no reports of Regal struggling to maintain his sobriety, and there are a number of people who are skeptical of the theory that he took an illegal supplement. "I don't think he was a street drug or a steroid guy," said one WWE source. "I'm just happy we have a strong program and that it's being taken seriously."

Overall, there is a much different mood in the WWE locker room in regards to Regal’s suspension than there was when Jeff Hardy was suspended. People were using words like “idiotic” and “stupid” to describe Hardy’s actions, whereas most within the company are concerned and disappointed for Regal.

Labels: william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 7:51 PM | Permalink | Comments

Following up on our breaking news from earlier today; PWInsider has confirmed along with a post on WWE.com that William Regal has been suspended for 60 Days for his violation of the WWE's Wellness Policy. Below is the post on WWE.com:

STAMFORD, Conn., May 20, 2008 - In accordance with its Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy, WWE has suspended Darren Matthews (William Regal) for 60 days for his second violation of the company’s policy.

This has to be about the biggest blow to a star since Jeff Hardy's two month suspension back before WrestleMania XXIV. Regal was getting a major push as the "King" and RAW GM, and his momentum is now dead as he'll be off TV for two months after his storyline loss to Ken Kennedy last night. This is his second violation as stated above, so if he has another issue after his return, he's gone from the company.

Labels: ken kennedy, william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments

Preview:When Judgment comes
May 12, 2008


Judgment Day will be only six days away when Raw returns from north of the border this Monday night, and the Raw Superstars will have one last chance to gain momentum inside Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena.

One individual making his way to the Motor City for Raw is John Cena. Following last week's announcement that the Chain Gang Soldier will clash with JBL at Judgment Day, Cena may be on hand to mix some pre-match words (or fists) with the self-proclaimed "wrestling god."

Since tapping to Cena in the WWE Championship Fatal Four Way Match at Backlash, JBL has taken out his aggression on the likes of Highlander Robbie and DH Smith. Will Cena's return to Raw this week be enough to keep the Longhorn Loudmouth from seeking another victim? Or might JBL want to make Cena that victim, mere days before Judgment Day?

Detroit may be Hockeytown, U.S.A., but this Monday, it could become Blackoutville. For two consecutive weeks, General Manager William Regal has pulled the plug; first, he took Raw off the air two weeks ago in the middle of a Triple H vs. Randy Orton WWE Title Match, and last week, he turned the lights out as Orton battled CM Punk in Toronto.

Regal has shown that he has no qualms about taking Raw off the air if he is disrespected, and WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon (statement). Will our fans in Detroit make it through the full two hours uninterrupted? If they don’t, will those in attendance at “The Joe” shower Regal with the signature squid usually reserved for celebrating a Red Wings hat trick?

Orton and Regal’s number one enemies, WWE Champion Triple H and Mr. Kennedy respectively, did make it through their match last week. Unfortunately, they lost, as Kennedy & The Game had to do battle against the entire ECW roster. To make matters worse for Triple H, he survived a wild post-match melee only to be flattened by an RKO from his Judgment Day opponent. On the way to their Steel Cage showdown, who will get the last laugh? And will Regal throw anything more at Kennedy in response to his besmirching several weeks ago?

Also last week in a WWE Mobile on AT&T exclusive video, a massive match was made for Judgment Day: Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels. The battle between Y2J and HBK has been heating up ever since Michaels’ win over Batista at Backlash. Jericho has accused the Showstopper of faking an injury to win that match; whether he is or he isn’t, HBK’s injury didn’t stop him from teaming with Y2J to defeat WWE Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison last Monday night. With less than a week left before their pay-per-view battle, how will Jericho and Michaels finish their preparations?

Find out all this in more as the final Raw before Judgment Day comes to you live from Detroit, Monday at 9/8 CT on USA Network.

Labels: chris jericho, judgement day, RAW, shawn michaels, william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 4:06 AM | Permalink | Comments

If you've taken in the past few weeks of RAW, you have noticed the that company has gone from a mold of wrestlers that are good one week, bad the next, to the old fashioned formula of good guys and bad guys. They toyed with the idea of "tweener" characters right before and right after WrestleMania XXIV, with two wrestlers standing out in that regard - The Big Show and JBL. Show was cheered mostly in his hyped feud vs Floyd Mayweather, while JBL challenged fellow bad guy Randy Orton for the WWE Title the night after Mania. Now, a month later, we see that Show is back to full-time face, while JBL is back to his heel-like ways on RAW.

That brings us to our newest evil superstar - William Regal. Hard to believe just about a month ago that Regal was nothing more than a pawn on RAW week in and week out. Sure he was the "General Manager," but some weeks you'd forget he was even on the show. That clearly is not the case now. The company, for whatever reason, has decided to give Regal a role of full-time heel with a mean streak we have not seen in quite sometime. He is also a heel in power, as he's still the GM on RAW, as as well as recently crowned "King of the Ring," making his place on the bad guy chart right near the top.

Regal (the real life Darren Matthews) is one of the most interesting stories you'll ever read about. Born in England, he started wrestling in carnivals on the North Pier of Blackpool at the age of 15. He did that till 1992, when he came to the US as "Roy Regal," and then eventually "Steve Regal." He became "Lord Steven Regal" in 1993 in WCW, and showed good success there, winning the TV Title four times. He was eventually fired for going into a shoot during a TV match with then rising star Bill Goldberg in 1998.

His first move to the WWE lasted about a year, then he was back in WCW for a second run. Once released in 2000, he came back to the WWE, where he's been ever since. He was in an out of rehab for awhile, had meaningless feuds with guys like Scotty 2 Hotty, Paul Burchill, and others. Then his break came, as he started hanging with then "King" Booker T, and eventually worked his way back into the role of Interim GM of RAW. He then won a battle royale on August 6th to become the official GM or RAW, and has been ever since.

Regal has had plenty of in-ring matches, but many felt that his better wrestling days were behind the now 43-year-old (his 44th birthday is Saturday). Which is why the decision to allow him to win the KOTR and now have more power than ever was a first a bit strange. Consider it a "lifetime achievement award" for Regal, who has done all that could be asked of him, both good and bad, in his time with the company.

The plan for the new and improved evil Regal is for him to keep screwing the babyfaces, with antics like turning the lights out (we've seen it twice now in a week), stopping matches when he feels like it, and stacking odds against good guys like what he did on RAW Monday night. He'll face new good guy Mr. Kennedy at Judgement Day, and I would be shocked if he does not win that match. There is even talk of a program with Triple H for the WWE Title strap.

It's a fresh program for a guy that has worked hard in the ring and out to have a character fans can enjoy. It will be interesting to see how long the fans buy it, or if it gets the plug pulled as fan interest in Regal dwindles as time goes by.

Labels: jbl, the big show, triple h, wcw, william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 7:40 AM | Permalink | Comments

Preview:Toronto Torrent
May 5, 2008

When Raw broadcasts from Toronto, Canada, next Monday night, the cold temperatures will be nothing compared to the chilly reception Randy Orton will likely receive the next time he faces Triple H.

The newly-crowned WWE Champion battled the Legend Killer in a title match last week, with the broadcast ending in a blackout after a disgruntled William Regal pulled the plug on the audio and video. Before ruining the main event for viewers, however, the Raw General Manager did manage to arrange for the two combatants to meet one another next month at Judgment Day in a WWE Championship Steel Cage Match. How will the two Superstars prepare for one another in the prelude to pain?

The discontented King of the Ring saw his coronation ceremony turned upside down thanks to Mr. Kennedy. Not one to follow sovereign protocol, the loudmouth from Green Bay, Wis. came to blows with Regal, who then promised retribution. What punishment awaits Mr. Kennedy compliments of His Royal Pain in the Arse?

It also appears that title-hungry JBL isn’t about to hang up his 10-gallon hat anytime soon. After handily defeating Robbie McAllister last week, the media maven made it perfectly clear that he continues to gun for the title, too. Not one to sit idly by, what does JBL have in store for those who stand between him and the gold? And what exactly will JBL have in mind for John Cena after he embarrassed the “wrestling god” at Backlash?

In other Raw action, Carlito & Santino Marella continue to provoke the anger of World Tag Team Champions Hardcore Holly & Cody Rhodes. Last week, Rhodes defeated Santino, but the Caribbean Bad Apple snuck up on Rhodes and dropped him with a Backstabber. What sly stunts can we expect from “Cantino” this week? Or will the reigning tag team champions have their say?

Labels: randy orton, RAW, triple h, william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 3:49 AM | Permalink | Comments

source: www.f4wonline.com

The blackout at the end of Raw on Monday was done to set up two things. It was done to plant the seeds of a forthcoming William Regal vs. Triple H feud, as well as a cage match for the title at Judgment Day by not giving away the conclusion of the match right then and there.

Labels: triple h, william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 6:25 PM | Permalink | Comments

If there is one thing you can't say about the last two nights of WWE TV - it's that it's been predictable. Who would have thought after two shows this week the top stories would be about William Regal pulling the plug on the main event, and an announcer who should have never had the position he had walking out? Like it or not, it's soap opera TV at its best, and it's something the WWE felt it had to do to make you want to turn in next week.

For the "true" wrestling fan that turns in to watch moves and action, these two shows have probably not been to your liking this week. The Randy Orton vs Triple H match that was pulled at the end of RAW was going along like no other main event on the show that I've seen since last years Shawn Michaels vs John Cena one-hour plus match in London, that easily was the match of the year in my opinion. I will say this though, pulling the plug on it like Regal did left me wanting more, so I can't blame the WWE too much for that.

We'll get more of Orton vs HHH at the next PPV in now less than three weeks - Judgement Day. The two will go at it again, this time in a steel cage, the first of many rematches between the two, and I am sure not the last that we'll see on a PPV scale. While Orton vs HHH is not a totally fresh program, it's a good enough one to get us through till we see HHH vs John Cena after he gets done shooting the movie "12 Rounds" and what is expected to be a stinker feud with the bland JBL.

On to last night. The "walkout" of ECW announcer Mike Adamle is currently being played as a shoot, but I think in the end it'll come out as a work. I am not exactly for sure what led to the walkout, but again, the WWE has been known in the past to be on the pulse of the fan base, and if they know that Adamle is that bad (and he is), I would not be shocked to see him get thrown into some other role, and have an emotional return next week of Joey Styles.

The bottom line with Adamle is that it's like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Right now within the framework of the company he belongs nowhere near an announcer table. Could he pull off play-by-play right now on HEAT? Probably. But to force feed him each week on ECW has been painful, and hopefully the company listens to the fan base that wants him removed from that position. If this was not a work, then I am sure they would have found a way to edit the final match with some sort of commentary. To have it go on with no announcing, only left you scratching your head, which is the effect the WWE wanted with it.

Labels: joey styles, mike adamle, randy orton, triple h, william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 7:03 AM | Permalink | Comments

Jim Ross is back once again with another blog entry. You can read the full blog at his official website. Some highlights:

Warrior vs. McMahon at WM25: I read on the vaunted Internet that the Warrior has challenged Mr. McMahon for a bout at WM25 in Houston next year. Certainly a provocative idea, that I seriously doubt would ever come to fruition, but it may be an idea that Dana White might want to explore for aUFC attraction. But as we all saw Monday night, as Monday Night Raw so abruptly went off the air on the USA Network, anything can happen in the WWE. Much like a grotesque car accident, one would have to at least peak at a Mr. McMahon-Warrior encounter.

Regal Staying RAW GM: So, Raw General Manager William Regal is not going to give up his G.M. Title which makes the current King of the Ring have a fair amount of stroke in the ‘rasslin world it would seem. If Regal is ever going to take his wrestling game to the next level, he may well never have a better opportunity than now. I suggest strike while the iron is hot because this sort of timing might not be replicated again any time soon.

Bret Hart at FCW: Natalya Neidhart, who we barely saw Monday night but is going to be special, told me her Uncle Bret Hart was in Florida and I just hope that someone will invite Bret to the Florida Championship Wrestling training facility to talk to the prospects. Few men I have ever known in this business have the vision and complete understanding of what is needed bell to bell as does Bret.

Joey Styles & WWE.com: Joey Styles is already making a huge difference at www.wwe.com and you don’t have to take my work for it just check out the site. It’s amazing what a bright guy with actual product knowledge can do in a role such as Joey has now. He too seems really happy with the way things are

Labels: jim ross, joey styles, ultimate warrior, william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 6:34 AM | Permalink | Comments

Preview:
Two kings crowned
April 28, 2008

After months of chasing Randy Orton and the WWE Championship, The Game is finally back on top. Triple H won the hard-fought Fatal Four Way Elimination Match at Backlash to reclaim his throne as The King of Kings and become the new WWE Champion.

As Triple H knows from experience with this being his 12th reign as World Champion, when you’re at the top, the target is on your back. Who will set their sights on The Game and his newly won gold? Will Randy Orton be looking to regain the WWE Championship and reinstate the “Age of Orton”?

Also, after defeating three Superstars in one night last week on Raw, General Manager William Regal will be officially coronated Monday night as the 2008 King of the Ring, in a ceremony full of pomp and prestige. Will the newest English monarch be a benevolent ruler or a cruel dictator? Will The King of Kings and new WWE Champion steal his glory? We'll find out as the crown and scepter are bestowed to Regal Monday night.

Last night, Shawn Michaels put his body on the line and gave everything to finally silence Batista once and for all. Will HBK be well enough to make it to the ring after the heated battle? Will Batista have gotten the point and leave The Showstopper alone?

Fully recovered from the Money in the Bank Match at WrestleMania XXIV, Mr. Kennedy will make his triumphant return to Raw. Will he be looking to throw his hat into the ring with the new WWE Champion? Or will he decide to avenge his loss at WrestleMania? What’s up next for the Green Bay loudmouth as Raw hits the Garden State?

Backlash also saw The Glamazon get the win in the 12-Diva Tag-Team Match by pinning Ashley. Was this just a message to Michelle McCool and Women’s Champion Mickie James? Will Beth Phoenix be aiming to get revenge on McCool for her slap last Monday, or will she focus on regaining the WWE Women’s Championship?

We’ll see the answer to all these questions and more when Monday Night Raw airs live at 9/8 CT on USA Network.

Labels: 2008 backlash, randy orton, triple h, william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 6:18 AM | Permalink | Comments

Jim Ross posted his latest blog entry on www.JrsBarBQ.com today. Highlights from the entry included:

William Regal as King of the Ring: "KOR winner William Regal is arguably one of the more underutilized talents in the biz and even though Regal can definitely talk, which all General Managers must obviously be able to do, he adds a valuable element of experience and expertise to any bout in which he is involved. In the immediate future one has to wonder if Regal is likely to continue to be the Raw G.M. or will Regal focus more on his wrestling career now that the U.K. native from Blackpool, England is the reigning King of the Ring?"

Joey Styles' move to WWE.com: "Joey Styles told me Monday in catering, no jokes please, that he was really enjoying his new gig at www.wwe.com. Joey seemed to be the most relaxed and comfortable that I have seen him since coming to work at the WWE. Joey has already instituted several changes to the WWE website with plenty more on their way. Joe said he was now a "retired announcer" and budding corporate executive."

Howard Stern saying he would not vote for a President that watched professional wrestling: "Seems like a strange thing for Stern to say. Apparently, Stern has a very low opinion of the wrestling business. Now that’s irony coming from Stern, who is one of the last guys I thought would have an antiquated, wrestling bias."

Yesterday's Obama vs. Clinton parody: "Some wrestling pundits really slammed the "match" between the impersonators posing as Hillary and Barack. I am not sure what folks expectations were for this "contest," but it was, plain and simple, nothing more than a publicity stunt that did garner a great deal of pub the week of a WWE pay per view. The WWE made air on media outlets that would never mention the WWE unless there was a tragedy or a scandal. While the "match" was not my personal cup of tea, it did not last long enough to offend me and I sort of got a kick out of the ovation Umaga received when he came to the ring to put an end to the frivolity."

The Best Wrestler: "Just for the record….Danny Hodge is the greatest, living wrestler in the world….especially on this website."

Jr's Restaurant: "J.R.’s Family Bar-B-Q got a really nice write up in this month’s "Oklahoma Monthly" magazine that featured Oklahoma’s best Bar-B-Q joints and we made the list. I write this for two reasons….1. Because I am proud of our Bar-B-Q team and am excited about the direction of our fledgling business and 2. To give those "wrestling fans" who like to bash us for talking about our Bar-B-Q business more cannon fodder."

Labels: jim ross, joey styles, william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 9:28 PM | Permalink | Comments

Well, one thing you can't say about last night's RAW was that it was predictable. The King of the Ring tourney in my opinion turned out better than expected, and the main event had a real main event feel with the biggest stars on each brand all involved in the event. We've gotten a lot of response on what went down, and instead of answering the "Shout Box" and private emails (letswrestlewwe@gmail.com), I will spend a few minutes doing it in this post instead.

The Impaler: Why give regal a push...Sure they don't need one for Punk with him having the MITB...but what about...Maybe Finlat, maybe MVP...Why Regal?

Me: The decision to give Regal the win last night was quite a head scratcher. The biggest question will have to be about Regal's continued in-ring decision to wrestle full-time, and from all accounts, last night was a push for him to be in-ring a lot more than we've seen him in sometime. All I can say is that Regal is going to be 43 in May, but at the same time, he can still bring it, as we've seen the last two weeks.

beans: People may hate Orton but what would we do without him? Have Regal as champion?? I think not.

Me: I recently wrote a piece about who has the best odds of beating Orton next for the WWE belt, and right now as things stand, I truly think we are in for a long run with Orton. Bottom line is while it hasn't been the best heel title reign in the past few years, Orton has really settled in, and now that he's survived the curse of WrestleMania keeping the belt, I see no reason to rush it on Triple H or John Cena right now.

Anonymous: Regal will resign as GM, and will be replaced by Shane McMahon

Me: This is an interesting rumor that has gained some steam throughout the day, but right now, I just don't see it. Shane was on TV a bit in the Mayweather-Big Show angle, but that was more as the WWE official for the angle, and he didn't really have much of a presence as we've seen in the past. Shane enjoys his duties behind the scenes, and while he does like being on TV once in awhile, I don't see him taking over as GM. No decision to the best of my knowledge has been made as of yet as to what they will do with the GM spot on RAW, if anything at all.

The Impaler: Matt do you really think Regal has the in ring ability to carry the KOR?

Me: No doubt. While Regal is not Jeff Hardy or Rey Mysterio, he is a great shoot wrestler that has proven time and time again to have very good matches. He is very good in a mid-card role, and if the company keeps him in those angles, this can and I think will - work.

Labels: randy orton, william regal

Posted by Matt Loede at 6:52 PM | Permalink | Comments