Welp… another geek week, another week of rumors, gossip, chatter, what have you. Rarely, however, do the world of Star Wars rumors involve professional wrestlers.
What do you get when you take a very well-muscled, supremely ginger, pasty-skinned, bare-knuckled brawler-turned-wrestler, and turn him to….
Not what you were expecting? Yeah, neither were most people.
This week’s “wait, what the fuck?” moment came when news was broken by the UK tabloid, The Mirror that professional wrestler Sheamus was “confirmed in Skellig Michael and playing Darth Vader.” Skellig Michael is in Ireland and is apparently the secret shooting location for JJ Abrams’ Star Wars Episode VII. Can we take The Mirror seriously? Can we take The Mirror seriously when it’s talking about professional wrestling? Or Star Wars?
Sheamus himself added fuel to the fire by being especially cryptic on Twitter about whether or not he was actually playing the part of the Star Wars saga’s most iconic villain…
It’s worth noting that Sheamus has indeed donned the helmet and garb of the fallen Jedi back in 1999 for promotional purposes during the run up to Episode I: The Phantom Menace before he was in tights Brogue Kicking the Miz’ face off. Now that he’s in the big time, a little extra buzz can’t hurt, and Star Wars buzz is never “little”.
IG @danielw_w
Is Sheamus doing just that? Generating buzz for himself and trolling the fans? Are we to completely jumping on something so coincidental as an Irishman visiting a place in Ireland that just so happens to be where they may or may not be filming Star Wars?
I guess time will tell, and if it’s true, good for him. It’s not like he’ll be anything more than a mute body in an uncomfortable suit.
It also seems a little strange to me that they’d pursue someone with that high of a price tag, when they could walk into AnyGym down in Hollywood and find a dozen guys that would do it for a Coke and a handshake. But, hey, it’s Disney’s money.
Fella.
WWE 2K15: Hurry up and wait!
What’s up everyone, Saint Superkick back again in this GHG bitch with some of the low down on WWE 2K15. It appears that 2K Games have really cooked up something that even the Great One, the Rock would want to take a sniff.
This week presented the first screenshot…
We see a very intense looking John Cena preparing to do war with Randy Orton. And NOW we see that Randy is looking intensely close to his real life counterpart…
…with Cena in full Caesar (from Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) mode. From just that one shot, 2K — widely celebrated for their NBA 2K series — is truly putting their stamp on the latest WWE game.
Good thing, because after the franchise was bestowed upon 2K following the fold of THQ, WWE 2K14 was great from a content and character stand point, but lacked graphically and in gameplay.
2K15’s new game modes include a MyCareer mode (similar to the NBA 2K), which could ultimately prove to be the selling point of the game. You take one created wrestler (and it won’t have to be Sting, if you pre-order!) and follow all of the storylines, stables and suplexes throughout their guided tenure. And, sorry broke dudes and dudettes: You’ve got to own a next-gen console for this one.
In addition, WWE 2K15 is also taking the most historic rivalries from their awesome 30 Years of Wrestlemania mode last year and downsize them into separate legendary packages now entitled 2K Showcase. In addition, the game will feature over 5 times the motion capture animations of last year, including several hours worth of voiceover from your favorite WWE superstars.
Can anyone say “Fannnnnnnnnnnnnndannnnnnnnnnngooooooooooooooooo”??????
The second selling point is the Hulkamania Special Collector’s Edition. Along with receiving two generations of Sting, you will get two generations of Hulk Hogan, BROTHER! Although, I can only assume that both variations of each superstar will be available sometime down the line via DLC.
@HueySkyywalker
This edition also includes a Funko toy of Hogan, a piece of the canvas ring from the Monday Night RAW the legend returned to earlier this year, an autographed picture of Zom.. er.. Hogan, and the game itself. Without any special edition blu ray included (like Hogan’s Best Legdrops, Brother! or maybe a Thunder in Paradise marathon collection), $99.99 may be a little steep.
GodHatesGeeks will have the roster reveal for you during SummerSlam weekend, held at Club Nokia in Los Angeles and hosted by none other than “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
WWE 2K15 will be released on Oct. 28.
THE RETURN OF BISHOP ZOM!!! #NoMoreTNA #NoMoreWyatts
ALL ABOARD THE HOOOOOOOOOOO TRAIN!
Ah yes. A phrase, that in a simpler time, used to send WWE fans, adults and kids alike, (even though only half of them actually knew what they were cheering for) into a frenzy of sheer bliss. Those were the good ol’ days of wrestling. I mean, let’s be real, who among us didn’t enjoy cheering on that “train”?
I’m going to pause a moment and allow those who feel so inclined to snicker at your jokes about hoes and trains the opportunity to do so…
OK. Now that we have that out of the way, back to the trains… WWE just threw away what had the potential to be one of their biggest gravy trains — NXT’s own Slate Randall. Better known to the masses as Shaun Ricker, one of the stand out competitors from The Rock’s television series The Hero.
Why WWE let Shaun go, I do not know. Was it a bad mistake? Many I have spoken to in the wrestling industry, some of which are affiliated with WWE in some capacity or another, feel the answer to that question is a resounding “YES! YES! YES!”
“Let me talk to ya for a minute” is something I was hoping that all of you would have had the pleasure of hearing kick off RAW in the not so distant future. Unfortunately, it is not to be. The sad thing is, Shaun Ricker was probably one of the most talented members of the NXT roster that the WWE had.
You see, the last person that the late great WWE Hall of Famer Paul Bearer managed was none other than Shaun Ricker. Word on the street is that Bearer was a HUGE fan of Shaun’s. Don’t take that lightly either. Paul Bearer, to steal a phrase that we are oh so familiar with lately due to another famous manager, was the one behind many a ones. That’s right, Ricker is on a very short list with some of the biggest names in wrestling. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Vader, Mick Foley, Kane, and of course Undertaker.
To further prove my point, Dusty Rhodes is a fan of Mr. Ricker as well. Back on June 26th he had this to share with the WWE Universe via Twitter: “Last night in my acting-come b somebody, find yourself class brawl, Slate Randell was F—– spectacular! #NXT”
@CRICE17
That wasn’t the first time Shaun had drawn the praises of those above him, and if there is any justice in this world it won’t be the last. Business just picked up on the independent wrestling scene because Ricker is one talented mothafucka who has the look, mic skills, and wrestling ability to be a main eventer in WWE. If there is one thing that wrestling history has taught us, it’s that in wrestling there are no absolutes.
Either or, wherever Ricker lands next will be riding that gravy train all the way to the bank.
And that, my fellow parishioners, is not an opinion but a FACT of life.
You in LA? Can’t Get (or Afford) Tix to Summer Slam? Moses has the Cure
Whether Los Angeles is aware. We are entering the most important and most exciting time of year for LA wrestling fans. WWE’s 2nd most important show, SummerSlam, will be at Staples Center for the 6th straight year on August 17. The card looks tremendous but good luck with tickets if you don’t already have them and you happen to be poor.
But Moses is here with another option for the true wrestling fan: Check out one the best independent promotions in the country, Pro Wrestling Guerilla’s Battle of Los Angeles (BOLA) on August 29-31 instead.
The 10th annual event will take place at the amazingly intimate American Legion in Reseda, and consist of a 3-day tournament to crown the True King of LA. It’s like Bonnaroo, except not at all– cause there are no awful hippies and shitty electronica music. Not interested because it doesn’t have the star power of $ummer$lam?
Well, past participants and current and former “big leaguers” include AJ Styles, Sami Zayn, Frankie Kazarian, Christopher Daniels, Daniel Bryant, Chris Saban, Ausin Aries, Adrian Neville, Seth Rollins, Jamie Noble, the Brian Kendrick, Fit Finley, and many I missed.
Styles, Saban, Kazarian, Daniels, and Curtis Hawkins will be at this years show. You will get a look at the future of professional wrestling if you view WWE as the end all/be all of wrestling. Still not sold? Here are the most important reasons to consider BOLA over SummerSlam, if you can’t do both like me– because of my relationship with God (also known as my editor):
1.) Ticket Prices: Battle of LA: $40 per night. $120 total for all 3 nights. You can still get tickets YO!
SummerSlam: $100 (shitty seats)-$475 for one night.
2.) Environment: Battle of LA: American Legion. 400 seat capacity. 5000 square feet. Small intimate venue. You get actual interaction with the wrestlers. The fans are on top of the action; or literally the action is on top of you, as seats are pressed up against the ring, which leaves spectators ripe for high impact dives from their favorite dudes. The guys are super approachable after the match.
“Parts Unknown”
SummerSlam: Staples Center: 20,000 capacity. 950,000 square feet. Good luck with your view, being anywhere near the ring, or having any interaction with wrestlers.
And Most Importantly…
3) Celebrity Appearances: At Battle of LA, you could be sitting next to the star from Hot Tub Time Machine (1 and 2) and all around good guy Clark Duke.
While at SummerSlam, you are stuck trying to steal a glimpse of the Cee Lo Green’s performance (shoot me) and avoiding being molested by David Arquette.
Your call!