RAW Ratings for 5/16 Show Del Rio vs Mysterio Gain Viewers

The May 16th WWE RAW did a 3.09 rating with 4.69 million viewers. Here’s a segment breakdown:

Kofi Kingston vs. CM Punk lost 97,000 viewers from the opener while Kelly Kelly vs. Brie Bella and Kharma’s appearance gained 333,000 viewers. There seems to be a trend of Diva segments doing well in the ratings since Kharma’s arrival.

Alberto Del Rio vs. Rey Mysterio gained 1,500 viewers, which isn’t good for the 10pm timeslot. Jerry Lawler and Michael Cole’s contract signing lost 70,000 viewers while Kane & Big Show vs. Nexus lost 165,000 more viewers.

The main event of John Cena vs. Jack Swagger and The Miz’s post-match attack gained 560,000 viewers, bringing the overrun to a 3.40. This less than usual for RAW’s overruns.

Corre Member Teaming with Randy Orton

WWE will be going to South Africa in early July and will run two shows on the 9th and 10th in Johannesburg where The Corre member Justin Gabriel will be wrestling as a top babyface. Gabriel is from South Africa and his father was a wrestling promoter in the country. Gabriel will be teaming with Randy Orton to take on Christian and Sheamus.

New Talent on the Way in WWE; Releases Coming

Several WWE developmental talents besides Maxine and AJ Lee are scheduled to be called up to WWE’s main roster soon. Those post-WrestleMania roster cuts are also still expected to happen soon.

Angle Expected for Austin on RAW On June 6th

Steve Austin is scheduled for the June 6th and the June 13th RAW shows. Word is that they are planning an angle for the 6/6 show that will lead into the 6/13 show. Nobody expects Austin to wrestle, but he’s been keeping up the war of words with CM Punk on Twitter so those two may end up doing something next month.

Triple H Being Advertisited for Money in the Bank

Arguably the biggest WWE superstar will be returning at Money in the Bank 2011. An email blast sent out by the WWE advertises the return of Triple H. It is unknown whether The Game will lace up the boots or just making a non-ring appearance on July 17.

It is no secret that Triple H is in the midst of winding down his in-ring professional wrestling career. The WWE recently announced that the former world champion is the new head of WWE talent development. The Game has spent his time recently helping craft the debut and signings of Sin Cara and Kharma and is currently working with upcoming talent on the WWE roster.

It will be interesting to see if Triple H makes some kind of a return to active action whether it is part time or full time. It has been well over a year since Triple H has been a regular performer on the WWE roster. Triple H disappeared last year after a feud with Sheamus and didn’t reappear until nine months later, when he returned to WWE RAW as part of the infamous 2-21-11 RAW surprise.

If less is more, Triple H is certainly making the most of his twilight years as a professional wrestler. Triple H wrestled his first match in over eleven months at WrestleMania 27. Triple H vs. The Undertaker has been regarded in some circles as one of the greatest matches in WrestleMania history, and was arguably the show stealer at this year’s WrestleMania. Triple H made one more appearance the night after WrestleMania 27 but has disappeared into the dungeons of Titan Towers ever since.

The WWE has a tough dilemma with Triple H. The talent pool has never been thinner and the only two superstars on the WWE rosters are Randy Orton and John Cena. Triple H would certainly be a welcome boost to the company roster. On the other hand, the company really needs to utilize this down period to build new stars. Bringing back Triple H is certainly a step in the wrong direction if the WWE hopes to prepare for the future.

This could also be the start of a big SummerSlam 2011 angle. There were rumors of a planned Triple H vs. The Undertaker SummerSlam match. I have heard from a few different sources that the WWE would move faster with a rematch rather than sit on it and commit this early to another WrestleMania 28 match. Of course the other side to this is that it gives Triple H the chance to get his win back without compromising the streak. While a WrestleMania 28 rematch could still be on the table, it also gives the WWE freedom to jump on an opportunity if it presents itself like an Undertaker vs. Sting, Brock Lensar, Batista, etc match.

Of course I have no idea what Triple H could do at this point back in the WWE. After all, he did say nothing else matters other than ending The Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak didn’t he?

WWE Money in the Bank 2011 takes place July 17 in Chicago, Ill. at Allstate Arena.

Latest "Over the Limit" PPV Card

It was announced tonight on Raw that Big Show and Kane would be defending the WWE Tag Team Championship against CM Punk and Mason Ryan this Sunday at WWE Over the Limit.

Meanwhile, Michael Cole signed a match contract with Jerry Lawler for WWE Over the Limit. After they had each signed, though, Cole revealed that he’d inserted a stipulation making the contest a Kiss My Foot Match.

The announced card is as follows:

“I Quit” Match for the WWE Championship
John Cena (c) vs. The Miz

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match
Randy Orton (c) vs. Christian

Kiss My Foot Match
Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole
(Jerry Lawler will give up his WWE Hall of Fame ring to Michael Cole in the event of a loss.)

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
Wade Barrett (c) vs. Ezekiel Jackson

WWE Tag Team Championship Match
Big Show and Kane (c) vs. CM Punk and Mason Ryan

Rey Mysterio vs. R-Truth

Former NXT Diva Scheduled to Debut on SmackDown

WWE officials have plans to promote numerous developmental wrestlers to the main roster in the ensuing weeks. However, the only talent confirmed to be called up to the main roster at this time is NXT Season 3 contestant Maxine. She is scheduled to debut on the SmackDown brand at tomorrow night’s television tapings in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Maxine, who’s real name is Karlee Leilani Perez, has been in WWE’s developmental system since June 2009. She’s generally utilized in a speaking/managing capacity in Florida Championship Wrestling, as opposed to wrestling. She currently reigns as the General Manager of FCW, and manages Lucky Cannon.

Months ago, WWE planned to cut ties with a number of main roster performers after Wrestlemania, then calling up developmental talents to fill the undercard of the main rosters, with the idea that they could cut costs by using lower priced talent. There were rumblings late last week that the process would be starting shortly.

JR On McIntyre, Sin Cara vs Daniel Bryan, More

Jim Ross has posted a new blog entry on his official website, www.jrsbarbq.com. Highlights are as follows:

Drew McIntyre: “What do I think of Drew McIntyre? Lots of potential, nice look, seems to be athletic but it needs to be established as to who the Scot is and what his immediate objectives are.”

Sin Cara vs. Daniel Bryan: “I did enjoy Sin Cara vs. Daniel Bryan’s match on Smackdown a great deal and the involvement of Chavo Guerrero into the Cara mix as well. Cara is developing nicely, was a predictable, HUGE hit in Mexico last weekend for WWE, but Cara needs to accelerate his learning to speak English so he can communicate with a large portion of the WWE audience.”

WWE utilizing Hall of Famers at live events: “Yes…I like the way WWE is using WWE HOF’ers to add to the live event experience ala The American Dream this weekend in Lake Charles, La and Dream’s hometown of Austin, Texas. These specific bookings provide many potential resources including meet and greet opportunities, advance PR/media work, a reconnection to previous generations of fans, and adds much needed star power to the live events. I’d pay good money just to hear Dusty cut an impassioned promo about any subject that he chose. Perhaps WWE should draw suggestions for a Dusty promo from a hat and watch him go to town…..if you will.”

TNA placing billboards near WWE HQ: “I heard about TNA putting up billboards in Stamford, Ct, which is the world HQ of WWE. Thoughts? A complete waste of money unless obscure mentions such as this one is what TNA is looking for. Silly expenditure of money IMO. One would think that organization would have bigger and more important fish to fry. However, what TNA does isn’t any of my business or concern but the question was asked and has now been addressed. I would guess that many WWE, Stamford based employees learned of TNA for the first time via the local billboards.”

Get A Free Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor

Last year, we partnered with Gillette to give away a number of Fusion ProGlide razors before they even hit store shelves. And now, we’re doing it once again – Only this time, it’s so you can take the ProGlide Challenge.

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Let Gillette know what you think about the Challenge – Share your thoughts on Twitter using #ProGlideChallenge or @Gillette, or leave a comment on their Facebook page.

Offer good while supplies last, so don’t delay!

Austin Comments On The Possibility Of Returning To The Ring

Several weeks ago, WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin made headlines when he said that he is healthy enough that he could wrestle a full-time schedule for 2 more years if he really wanted to.

During a recent interview with the UK Sun, Austin clarified that he has no intention getting back into the ring as an active competitor:

“I’m happy being gone and out of the business to the degree I am, that’s why the Tough Enough thing was such a great opportunity between my other projects. I can be as hands-on and as close as I want to be. I’m not attempting to come back and I have a load of memories from a business I love.”

“I got up there and took some bumps with one of the contestants and worked around with one of the guys and I had fun getting in the ring and bouncing around again.”

“But it doesn’t mean I want to go and do it again on a night in, night out basis.”

Austin said that he plans to continue focusing on his acting career.

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