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The Phibes Philes: Save Our Station – 35 Years of “Weird Al” Yankovic’s “UHF”
“Those who laugh at ‘UHF’ should inspire our admiration; in these dreary times, we must treasure the easily amused.” That is a line from Roger Ebert’s review of “UHF,” “Weird Al” Yankovic’s 1989 movie that attempted to translate his brand of parodic humor to the silver screen. As you probably know, Yankovic is the musical jester who takes popular songs and makes them (for lack of a better word) weird. He achieved an unprecedented level of fame when he took Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” and gave us “Eat It.” The song itself was pretty funny on its own, but it...
Mercedes Moné Comments On Fans Calling Her Unsafe
Back in 2017, Saraya, then wrestling as Paige in WWE, was injured after taking a kick to the back from Mercedes Moné on a house show. This would cause the British wrestler to miss almost five years of her career, which saw fans blame Moné despite Saraya publicly saying she wasn’t at fault, acknowledging her own neck was weak. And now, during an interview with Hot 97, Moné has opened up about how she felt at the time, revealing that fans labeling her unsafe saw her sent into a spiral of depression. At one time, it appeared that Saraya would never wrestle again, although following her WWE departure and subsequent signing with AEW, she would announce she had been medically cleared to compete. This saw her wrestler, Dr. Britt Baker, at Full Gear 2022 in a featured match, which Saraya later called “the sh*ts” because of her ring rust. However, most fans overlooked this as they were just happy she was able to compete again.
Billy Gunn Reveals Former Tag Partner Turned Down Opportunities To Appear In AEW
Billy Gunn, a WWE tag team champion 11 times, is best known for his partnerships with Bart Gunn and Road Dogg. However, he also teamed with Chuck Palumbo, and one of his most memorable career moments was a segment on SmackDown where he and Palumbo teased getting married. And now in a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, the current AEW talent revealed he unsuccessfully attempted to bring Palumbo in for cameo appearances in Tony Khan’s promotion, although Palumbo’s lack of desire and busy schedule has always prevented this. 53-year-old Palumbo broke into the business in 1998 and joined WCW the following year. From there, he would win tag team gold with Shawn Stasiak and Sean O’Haire, going on to join WWE in 2001 as part of The Alliance angle after Vince McMahon had purchased WCW. And while his WWE career was unforgettable due to his partnership with Billy Gunn, he never moved above the mid-card and quality retired in 2012 after several years on the indies, having decided to focus on building custom motorcycles.
Heartbreaking Details Revealed About Final Days Of Crazy Town Singer
Last month, Crazy Town singer Shifty Shellshock, real name Seth Binzer, passed away following an apparent overdose. Crazy Town came to prominence in 2000 on the back of No. 1 single “Butterfly.” The band’s debut album, “The Gift of Game,” sold more than a million copies, and the group toured with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and made an appearance on Ozzfest. Sadly, Binzer’s friend and sober coach, Tim Ryan, has revealed that the singer was living on the streets in the months preceding his passing. “The last I heard about Seth, he had been bouncing from house to house,...
Chris Jericho Shares Who He Thinks Was KISS’ Best Guitarist
Kuarantine, the non-makeup era KISS cover band featuring Chris Jericho, are gearing up for a short run of dates in the Midwest. The band will play shows in Chesterfield, Michigan (July 5), Franklin, Ohio (July 6) and Warrendale, Pa. (July 7). In a recent interview with Youngstown Studio, Jericho talked all-things Kuarantine and non-makeup KISS, and he also shared who he thinks was the band’s best guitarist. KISS guitarists include Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley, Vinnie Vincent, Mark St. John, Bruce Kulick and Tommy Thayer. “I appreciate KISS with makeup, but this non-makeup stuff is a million times better,” Jericho said of...
Heart Singer Ann Wilson Shares Sad Health News
Classic rock fans were delighted earlier this year when it was announced that sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson would be reuniting for an extended Heart tour. The band was scheduled to tour both Europe and North America, but they sadly canceled the Euro leg for what was described as a “time sensitive but routine medical procedure.” Now, unfortunately, Heart has canceled their remaining North American dates, and singer Ann Wilson issued a statement regarding her health. “Dear friends,” she wrote, “I underwent an operation to remove something that, as it turns out, was cancerous. The operation was successful and I’m feeling...
Shane McMahon Spotted Talking To AEW Star
During an episode of Jim Ross’ podcast, Conrad Thompson recently revealed that Shane McMahon has been in touch with some of AEW’s roster to discuss the possibility of joining the promotion. Obviously, this sent social media into a frenzy, with the possibility of McMahon becoming All Elite seeming plausible, although once Tony Khan stated he’d never spoken to him, things would cool off. However, in what is sure to spark additional speculation, it has been reported by PWInsider.com that McMahon was spotted on Monday morning talking to Mercedes Moné at Laguardia Airport, with it noted in the update that it’s known they spoke about AEW. 54-year-old McMahon has been out of the wrestling spotlight since WrestleMania 39, where he suffered a torn quad during the start of an impromptu match with The Miz. Prior to that, he had been away from WWE for 14 months after he was effectively fired due to the 2022 men’s Royal Rumble match, which he put together, being heavily criticized. And while he will always be synonymous with WWE due to his surname, given his father’s resignation earlier this year, it does seem that his time with the company may also be over, making a jump to AEW seem believable.
Former WWE Tag Team Believed To Have Signed With AEW
It’s recently been reported that Mansoor and Mason Madden, who was previously known as Mace in WWE, have been backstage at AEW television tapings. And while that has led to speculation that the duo collectively known as the Maximum Male Models could be about to sign with the company, no official confirmation has been forthcoming. However, during a recent podcast for Fightful Select, Sean Ross Sapp has shared that he believes the pair has signed with the promotion. The Maximum Male Models, now known as MxM, began teaming up in 2022 when WWE took the two underutilized singles performers and put them together alongside LA Knight, then called Max Dupri. Yet despite showing potential as a comedy tag team, they were often used to put over other teams like The New Day, Hiot Row, and Alpha Academy, firmly establishing themselves near the bottom of the tag division. Therefore, their release last September wasn’t a massive surprise, even though both men are undoubtedly talented.
Unfortunate News Reported On Asuka’s Return To The Ring
Last month, WWE’s Asuka underwent surgery, having suffered a knee injury before WrestleMania XL. Therefore, it was hoped by fans that her absence from the ring wouldn’t be for too much longer. However, in regrettable news, Sean Ross Sapp has now reported during a Q&A session for Fightful Select that she isn’t expected to return this year. 42-year-old Asuka injured her knee during the March 15 episode of SmackDown as part of an angle that saw her and the rest of Damage CTR attack Bayley to close the show. At the time, it was obvious she was impaired due to her notable limp. Still, despite this, she continued to fulfill her commitments to the company, wrestling at both WrestleMania XL and Backlash France, demonstrating her toughness and determination.
Lio Rush Shares Injury Update Following Forbidden Door Ladder Match
Following Sunday night’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view, independent wrestling promotion Beyond Wrestling announced that Lio Rush was off their show later this week due to injury. This obviously concerned fans, especially given the bumps he took during the ladder match to crown a new TNT Champion. However, the former X Division Champion has now confirmed on X that he’ll be fine after a couple of ice baths, which is excellent news, considering he only returned to AEW a few months ago. Most pro wrestling fans are familiar with the 29-year-old for his time in WWE between 2017 and 2020, where he held the NXT Cruiserweight Championship and even managed Bobby Lashley on the main roster. Still, his career stalled after he developed a reputation as having attitude problems. This, along with injuries and mental health struggles, has seen him announce his retirement from the business on more than one occasion. Yet, he appears to be in a good place currently, and while it’s understood he isn’t contracted to AEW, that’s likely his aim.
Significant Update On Ricochet’s WWE Contract Status
Last month, news broke that Ricochet had decided not to re-sign with WWE, and shortly afterward, he was written off the television at the hands of Bron Breakker. Still, at the time, it wasn’t known precisely when his WWE contract was expiring, with various dates throughout the summer being speculated. However, Fightful Select has now reported that he officially became a free agent at midnight and is, therefore, free to talk to other promotions. 35-year-old Ricochet, real name Trevor Mann, broke into the business back in 2003 and, after a decade on the indies, received his big break via New Japan. There, he would become a worldwide star thanks to his matches with Will Ospreay becoming the talk of the industry, seemingly making his WWE signing inevitable. Yet despite winning both the Intercontinental Championship and United States Championship, many fans still considered him underutilized, with Ricochet’s decision to leave the company seemingly indicating that he agrees.
Former WWE Presenter Was Backstage At Forbidden Door
WWE unexpectedly released Matt Camp, who is best known for hosting The Bump, to the shock of many fans back in February. The official reason for this was that the company was making budget cuts, which is typically what WWE tells talents in this situation. However, having been off television for several months, it now appears there is a possibility of him joining AEW, as according to PWInsider.com, he was backstage at Forbidden Door along with former NXT wrestler Donovan Dijak. Camp broke into the business in 2017 via Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore promotion and, within a couple of years, was hired by WWE to be a presenter. From there, he would quickly become a familiar face to wrestling fans, appearing on The Bump, Raw Talk, SmackDown LowDown, Best of WWE, NXT Level Up, WWE’sWWE’s The Ultimate Show, and multiple premium live event kickoff shows. Additionally, it’s known that he worked as a historical advisor on several WWE documentaries, seemingly indicating that he has a vast knowledge of the industry.
Wrestler Injured During Forbidden Door Ladder Match
One of the highlights of Sunday night’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view was a frantic ladder match won by Jack Perry to become the new TNT Champion. However, while bumps and bruisers are always expected in matches of this type, it’s always hoped nobody will suffer any serious injuries. And while the extent of his injury remains unknown as of writing, it has been announced by independent promotion Beyond Wrestling that Lio Rush, who was one of the participants, will miss his upcoming booking for them due to being hurt. The timing for 29-year-old Rush couldn’t be worse as he only returned to AEW after a three-year absence at the end of May, with it reported that while he wasn’t signed, he would be a regular for the promotion from now on. Yet, it now appears the former WWE talent could be set for a spell on the sidelines, which is the last thing anybody who has followed his career of highs and lows would want to see.
Former WWE Talent Reveals He Was Backstage At Forbidden Door
Almost as soon as Dijak announced on social media that he was set to depart WWE due to the company not offering him a new contract, speculation commenced that he could be AEW-bound. And while he wouldn’t appear on camera, the former NXT wrestler has revealed on X that he was at AEW’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view via a photograph taken backstage before later saying, “Great show man, thanks for having me” in Tony Khan’s replies. Of course, this doesn’t mean Dijak is joining AEW or their sister promotion, ROH, but given his talent, it seems likely Khan would at least consider bringing him in. 37-year-old Dijak first made his name in ROH, although that was many years before Khan purchased the promotion. However, most fans know him best for his WWE run, which saw him excel as part of NXT but flop on the main roster. Still, how much he is to blame for not getting the terrible T-Bar gimmick over is debatable, with the Retribution faction seemingly doomed from the start due to their ridiculous names and masks.
SmackDown Talent Has “Made It Official” By Marrying His Long-Term Partner
In some heartwarming news, Gary Gordon, best known as Angelo Dawkins of The Pride stable, has announced on X that he married his long-term partner Grace over the weekend. The loved-up couple are currently expecting their second child together, which explains Dawkins’ caption of “Made it official fam,” and seemingly based on the photos, his tag partner Montez Ford officiated, adding a unique twist to the event. 33-year-old Dawkins signed with WWE in 2012, although his career didn’t really take off until he formed the Street Profits tag team with Ford in 2016. From there, the duo quickly established themselves as a top partnership and won the NXT Tag Team Championship in 2019. Subsequently, they joined the main roster and became WWE Tag Team Triple Crown Champions due to holding gold on Raw and SmackDown.
What FOX Censored During This Week’s SmackDown
SmackDown is moving from FOX to the USA Network in October, and for anyone who watched this week’s episode from MSG, that can’t come soon enough. This is because the network heavily censored the show by muting audio and even blanking out the picture, leaving some fans venting their displeasure on social media. And now, according to Fightful Select, the reason behind this was because a fan flipped off Nia Jax in addition to there being a “f*ck the Pacers” chant. In June 2018, it was announced that FOX had signed a five-year deal to air SmackDown, and the show would debut in October 2019. This was a huge deal for WWE at the time, and with them earning over $200 million a year, they were determined to make it work. However, the ratings never met expectations, and it became known that FOX wouldn’t be in the running to renew due to not achieving the required return on investment. Yet, this wouldn’t put off the USA Network, who snapped up the series as an alternative to Raw, which has since been confirmed to be headed to Netflix.
WWE Hall Of Famers Criticize The Wyatt Sicks For Not Maintaining Kayfabe In Public Following Debut
The Wyatt Sicks, consisting of Uncle Howdy, Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Erick Rowan, and Dexter Lumis, had one of the most memorable WWE debuts of all time when they took out multiple backstage employees and Chad Gable on Raw. However, their decision to pose unmasked with a fan at a fast food restaurant just a few hours later has caused WWE Hall of Famers Mark Henry and Bully Ray to criticize them during a recent episode of Busted Open. Mark Henry and Bully Ray are both well-known for their old-school mentality, which some fans feel is very dated, considering kayfabe has been regularly broken for decades. Yet, there is something to be said about maintaining a gimmick in public, and while expecting the group to be masked at all times is unreasonable, perhaps posing with a fan so shortly after their big reveal was too soon, especially considering the photo was always destined to go viral.
Former WCW Wrestler Now Working For AEW
Recently, Ray Lloyd, who is best known for his time in WCW as Glacier, was spotted on AEW television breaking up a fight, which left fans wondering whether he was working as an extra on the night or was employed by the company. And now, having investigated this, Fightful Select has confirmed that the accomplished martial artist has been hired as both a coach and producer. 60-year-old Lloyd broke into the business in the late 80s via Southern Championship Wrestling before going on to work enhancement for the NWA prior to them becoming WCW. From there, he would sporadically wrestle on and off before a conversation with DDP in 1996 saw him introduced to Eric Bischoff, who signed him to a full-time contract. Subsequently, Lloyd would be given the Glacier gimmick, a character inspired by the video game Mortal Kombat, and went on a notable winning streak. However, despite his push at the time, fans still considered him a mid carder at best, and by 1999, he would be released. This marked the end of his career in the major leagues. Still, he remained connected to the entertainment industry with occasional acting roles and performances as a stuntman.
Speculated Reason Dijak Was Drafted To Raw Despite WWE Not Intending To Re-Sign Him
Earlier this week, Dijak took to social media to announce that he was departing WWE with his contract set to end, revealing the company had not offered him a new deal. This would surprise many fans, as he had only been drafted to Raw a few months ago, having rebuilt his career as part of NXT. And now Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp has speculated during a recent Q&A session that he was called back up to the main roster but subsequently not used because the company didn’t want him to be featured on NXT with it already known internally that they weren’t keeping him. 37-year-old Dijak broke into the wrestling business in 2013, and due to his size and athleticism, he was promptly signed by ROH the following year. From there, he established himself as a talented performer, which led to WWE hiring him in 2017 and featuring him on their NXT roster. His main roster opportunity would then come as part of the Retribution stable, which saw him renamed T-Bar. However, with the gimmick flopping, he would return to NXT, where he was repackaged simply to being Dijak.
MJF Acknowledges Tama Tonga’s New T-Shirt Design Resembling His Logo
During Friday night’s episode of SmackDown, Tama Tonga debuted a new t-shirt that simply said “MFT,” which is believed to stand for “Mother Fuckin Tonga.” However, rather than admiring the design, fans on social media would be quick to point out its resemblance to AEW star MJF’s logo. And now, clearly having had enough of fans tagging him in on photos, he has taken to the platform to request they stop doing so because “We get it,” seemingly indicating AEW is also aware. 41-year-old Tonga made his WWE debut two months ago, and since then, he has been prominently featured as part of The Bloodline. Therefore, it was about time that he began having merchandise. Yet, given the outcry on social media, it will be interesting to see whether WWE will still put this design up for sale or if they at least change the font to something that doesn’t draw comparisons to a wrestler from their competition.
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WebIsJericho.com is a rock and wrestling news website founded by Chris Jericho, a renowned wrestler and singer; the website offers breaking news, interviews, and exclusive content for rock and wrestling enthusiasts.
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