Ring Of Honor has announced the following matches for their “Best in the World” iPPV, scheduled for June 22nd in Baltimore, Maryland:

-ROH Title: Jay Briscoe vs. Mark Briscoe

-ROH Tag-Team Titles: Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly vs. Caprice Coleman & Cedric Alexander vs. Rhett Titus & Cliff Compton

-ROH TV Title: Matt Taven vs. Jay Lethal vs. Jimmy Jacobs

-Kevin Steen vs. Matt Hardy

-Roderick Strong vs. Adam Cole

-Michael Elgin vs. Tommaso Ciampa

-The American Wolves vs. ACH & Tadarius Thomas

-B.J. Whitmer vs. Mike Bennett

24WRESTLING.COM: #1 Source For WWE, TNA & ROH News & *SPOILERS*

-The following are two new videos from the official YouTube channel of WWE. The videos are called “Daniel Bryan’s Strange Beardfellows.”

-Jim Ross posted a new tweet following last night’s WWE NXT Tapings. JR wrote, “One of our best @WWENXT tapings ever! Great work by all. Super, team effort. Proud of a bunch of hungry athletes, men & women! @WWE”

Daniel Bryan’s Future, New Diva Pics, + RVD vs. ??? @ MITB!

-Hulk Hogan mentioned on Twitter that his hand has officially “healed perfect” after the disgusting photos he posted earlier this year following a radiator explosion.

-Jeff Jarrett, Brooke Hogan and James Storm will be hosting the “20 Greatest Redneck Videos” on CMT this Saturday night at 10:00PM EST.

-“TNA One Night Only: Hardcore Justice 2” will premiere on pay-per-view as a special on July 5th.

MAJOR TNA Star JUMPING-SHIP To WWE *NEXT MONTH*

[Credit: PWInsider.com]

After getting bombarded with negative feedback on Twitter from her #AskDixie campaign, TNA President Dixie Carter issued the following statement on the TNA website on Thursday, addressing the state of the company:

“Hi everyone,

In the 11+ years that I have been with TNA, I am still amazed by the passion of pro wrestling fans. That passion – both positive and negative – is remarkable and something that all of us at TNA values.

With that said, I asked for questions from you like I have done many times in the past, but I didn’t provide a timeframe by which I would answer you. I know I have frustrated you all, and I apologize. Beginning next week, each Thursday, I will answer legitimate questions from you on a weekly basis. I will not, however, address outrageous or hurtful questions/posts.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to provide perspective from inside TNA – where we stand and where, with support from our current and future fans around the globe, we are going. What is being shared with you now is what was shared with the IMPACT roster before our phenomenal Destination X show from Louisville, KY last week.

This has been a big year for TNA. We took IMPACT LIVE on the road, exactly where it needs to be – where you’ve asked us to be – in your backyard. We also changed our Pay-Per-View schedule, shifting from 12 to four live Pay-Per-View events each year, in order to increase the value of these events for you. To grow TNA, these are moves that needed to be made. And, part of changes like this, includes structural changes within TNA to align with this new business model.

Many of your comments and questions reference our recent roster changes. The relationship that fans have with wrestlers is unique and one of the many great aspects of the wrestling business. And, for this reason, releasing talent is never easy – not for you and not for us. But, bringing in fresh faces and the best wrestling talent in the world is what you expect, and what TNA will always strive to deliver. Recently, we have brought back some talent favorites (Sonjay Dutt, Petey Williams and Homicide), and you will continue to see this and new talent that we are excited to introduce you to in the coming months.

TNA has always been, and will continue to be, a place where you can interact with the superstars, whether in person at a live show or via social channels, like Twitter and Facebook. We are constantly exploring new and interesting ways to take this interaction to another level, and you will see this unfold in the coming months. I appreciate each of you taking the time to share your thoughts, opinions and ideas. Your input and feedback helps us create a better product. I hope you will join us when IMPACT LIVE comes to your area.

Yours,

Dixie”

* The REAL Story On TNA’s Future: MAJOR Releases Coming, Fear Of Shutting Down?

The following are highlights from a recent interview with WWE Superstar Ryback. The interview was conducted by Brian Soscia of The Mix in Philadelphia.

On when he decided to become a pro wrestler: “All my life growing up [he was a fan]. When I was around 13. [he wanted to become a wrestler] My first real memory of attending a live event, I went to one when I was about five or six. It was headlined by Hogan and Andre. All I really remember was the yellow tights and the black singlet. I was a little too young to take it all in and remember it. But when I was 13 I won front row tickets and I got to go backstage and I was the guest bell ringer. I won a bunch of free WWE merchandise. I still have it, it’s sitting at home, my official WWF bell hammer, or whatever, to ring the bell. I bet they don’t even have anymore. That was the moment I knew I wanted to be a WWE Superstar. I didn’t know how. I didn’t know what path I was going to take to get there but thankfully it all worked out and here I am.”

On how he envisioned his wrestling character as a child: “As a kid at 12, before I ever touched a weight, I had kink in my bicep and a divet, a hole in my forearm, this forearm muscle that was just abnormal. I always pictured myself, not with a shaved head necessarily, but being the jacked up, muscle bound freak. It’s weird as a kid to kind of see yourself like that, but that’s kind of how I envisioned myself. Interestingly enough it turned out pretty similar.”

On if he thought the Skip Sheffield gimmick could have worked as good as Ryback: “I think it could have been very successful if handled properly, not in the same capacity. It would have been a much more of a comedy based, more of a Santino based character. But at the same time I feel with my look, I could have taken it a lot further than people would have ever expected. It was one of those things, I was Ryback before, in developmental. It was a little more Terminator based at the time. Now it’s much more me and not as much of a character.”

“It [Skip Sheffield] was something Dusty Rhodes approached me about, wanting me to do something a little funnier. He knew I was capable of pulling some tricks under my sleeve. I came up with this whole, it was more of a rib on Dusty at the time to me. He hated Texas A&M he was a Texas guy, so I came up with this character for him, in all seriousness I was completely against it, called Skip Sheffield and it was a huge joke to me. It turned out this damn thing got so over down at Florida Championship Wrestling, because for the first time in my career I didn’t have to worry about being serious and I was allowed to just go out there and have fun. It soon turned into the greatest positive of my life, from a wrestling standpoint. It allowed me to go out there and like I said, have more fun than I’ve ever had. It got me called up to the WWE roster.”

“When Vince McMahon saw me, I had already debuted as Skip Sheffield, we’re like two or three weeks into NXT, Mr. McMahon pulled me aside and he said you’re not doing this. This is not who you are. I don’t want you playing this guy. You’re going to make me millions and millions of dollars being yourself. At the time I’m thinking dammit, I just put everything into getting a lot of fun with this guy. But it was the greatest thing he ever could have said to me and we slowly got away from that and luckily Nexus gave me a great opportunity to be myself with one problem: I was stuck with that dopey ass name Skip Sheffield. Luckily my injury and being away for as long as I was, a year and a half, and the way things all turned out was another big blessing and I was allowed to come back under my own terms and be Ryback. Thankfully I am who I am now.”

On what he thinks of the Goldberg chants: “It doesn’t bother me at all. I obviously wish fans would say my name. I’m not doing the feed me more right now, finally got sick of that whole deal and felt like I needed a change of pace. It’s one of those things, I think it’s a positive. It motivates me even more because it’s setting me up for success down the road because it’s allowing them, each and every night I go out there and prove myself to them, I will change them one by one. I will convert them into a Ryback fan.”

“It’s very easy for them to want to chant Goldberg or whoever else they want to chant at me, but once they see me and what I’m doing and the passion I have and how I go out there and give this everything I got and the displays of strength that I’m able to pull off night in and night out, five nights a week, and not to discredit anything anyone’s done in the past, in a day and age where you don’t see a lot of guys doing the power stuff anymore, I take great pride in that. I really firmly believe it’s just me going out there and keep proving myself and having quality matches.”

“People love to doubt and be negative and I don’t mean to use the word hate, but it’s just something that’s very easy for people to do because they have no idea. The first thing I remember hearing was Ryback can’t wrestle a five minute match, he’ll blow up and I just laughed. These people have no clue. And then it was he can’t even do ten minutes. And then it’s he can’t do fifteen. And then it’s he can’t do a twenty minute match. He can’t do a twenty five minute match. He can’t do a thirty minute match. I believe me and Cena have done 35, 40 now a couple pay per views in a row. The live events, easily do a half hour, no problem. It boggle my mind how people just thrive on negativity.”

Ryback’s WWE Future, RVD vs. ??? At SSlam, Lesnar/Punk Storyline Update

The following is the latest official lineup for Sunday’s WWE “Money In The Bank” pay-per-view. The card was finalized last week, but due to Kane’s removal from the All-Star ladder match, one slot remains open. WWE is teasing that if anyone replaces Kane on Sunday, it will be revealed during the pay-per-view itself.

Here is the Money In The Bank lineup for Sunday:

-John Cena vs. Mark Henry (WWE Championship)

-Rob Van Dam vs. CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton vs. Sheamus vs. Christian vs. ??? (WWE Title MITB “All-Stars” Ladder Match)

-Alberto Del Rio vs. Dolph Ziggler (World Heavyweight Championship)

-Wade Barrett vs. Jack Swagger vs. Antonio Cesaro vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Fandango vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Damien Sandow (World Title MITB Ladder Match)

-Chris Jericho vs. Ryback

-Curtis Axel vs. The Miz (WWE Intercontinental Championship)

-AJ Lee vs. Kaitlyn (WWE Divas Championship)

-Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns vs. The Usos (WWE Tag-Team Title “MITB Kickoff” Match)

Kane’s MITB Replacement Revealed, WWE Adding Fourth Wyatt Family Member? [..]

The following is a preview for tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown:

– A power struggle over who should be the General Manager of SmackDown, with an appearance from Vince McMahon. OK.

– Dolph Ziggler vs. Jack Swagger

– Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns vs. The Usos

– Daniel Bryan vs. Wade Barrett

– The Miz hosts Miz TV with special guest Paul Heyman

– IC Champion Curtis Axel vs. Chris Jericho

– Damien Sandow addresses Cody Rhodes attacking him.

– Rob Van Dam vs. Darren Young.

– Randy Orton vs. Alberto Del Rio in a non-title match

* SPOILERS For Tonight’s WWE SMACKDOWN – Who Is The New SmackDown General Manager?

The New York Times reports that the current building housing the world famous Madison Square Garden arena will cease to exist in 10 years.

New York City Council voted on Wednesday (47-1) to extend the Garden’s special operating permit for only 10 more years before the venue shuts down to make way for the extensive renovations to Penn Station (and the surrounding neighborhood), which is housed below the arena.

James L. Dolan, who controls the Garden, was pushing for the permit to be extended in perpetuity, while Mayor Bloomberg’s administration had been pushing for a 15 year extension.

Madison Square Garden has been located at it’s current location for 45 years. This is the 5th location for the “World’s Most Famous Arena” since it opened in 1879.

“This is the first step in finding a new home for Madison Square Garden and building a new Penn Station that is as great as New York and suitable for the 21st century,” said Christine C. Quinn, the City Council speaker. “This is an opportunity to reimagine and redevelop Penn Station as a world-class transportation destination.”

The Garden is still in the process of a $968 million renovation, which will be finalized this fall.

“Madison Square Garden has operated at its current site for generations, and has been proud to bring New Yorkers some of the greatest and most iconic moments in sports and entertainment,” Mr. Dolan’s company said in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon. “We now look forward to the reopening of the arena in the fall of 2013.”

* Several TNA Releases Coming Soon, More Rumored SUMMERSLAM Matches

Thanks to rajah.com reader Rick Elliott for sending in these results!

Was at the WWE Raw Live Event in Adelaide, South Australia tonight..

Quick Results:

Zack Ryder defeated Heath Slater

Natalya defeated Aksana

The Great Khali defeated Jinder Mahal

United States Champion, Dean Ambrose defeated The Miz in an Adelaide Street Fight Match.

Intercontinental Champion, Curtis Axel defeated Antonio Cesaro

Team Hell No (Kane & Daniel Bryan) defetaed Tag Team Champions, The Shield by DQ

WWE Champion, John Cena defetaed Ryback in a Tables Match.

Crowd was hot all night, Biggest pop of the went to John Cena with Daniel Bryan a close second. Even Khali and Zack Ryder got huge pops…

Cheers
Rick Elliott