The Rock Not Returning for Fast and The Furious 7?

According to Deadline.com, shooting for Fast and The Furious 7 will kick off in August, which may present a problem for The Rock, who will be filming Hercules this summer. The Rock told Collider.com that it would be impossible to shoot for the film that soon.

“It’s not possible for me because I’m shooting Hercules this summer starting in 6 weeks in Budapest, so, possible for them I’m not too sure. I haven’t heard anything about that and I’m pretty sure I would have gotten a phone call pretty early in the morning if that was the real plan. Not quite too sure though.”

Fast and The Furious 7 is currently scheduled for a release date of July 11th, 2014.

Ryback Posts Tweet Since Deleting Messages, Austin Checks In, Steiner Note

- “Stone Cold” Steve Austin has published a new blog entry checking in from Mexico, where he is filming the third season of Redneck Island.

- WWE published an article looking at former WWF Tag Team Champion Rick Steiner, who today runs the “Rick Steiner and Associates” real estate firm. In the story, Steiner discussed signing with WWE in 1993 and the differences between WWE and WCW.

“In WCW, you had to come up with your own stuff,” Steiner noted. “WWE had their vision, told you what was going on and you geared everything toward that.”

- Ryback has posted a new Tweet since deleting all his earlier posting from his Twitter account.

“If you have something worth fighting for you have to fight for it. Being bred to b scared is the problem. Rules will be broken. #RybackRules”

Bruno Sammartino Talks About Meeting with Vince McMahon

- 2013 WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino recently appeared on The NB Show and talked about meeting with Vince McMahon during WrestleMania 29 weekend:

“The private meeting that took place was at MSG that evening [of the Hall of Fame],” Bruno said. “His son-in-law Triple H and Stephanie [McMahon] came to my dressing room, I had my own dressing room, and they asked me, you know, Vince is waiting in his dressing room down the hall and if I minded going over there. I went. Stephanie opened the door and I went in and she shut the door so Vince and I were alone.

“He was standing toward the back of the room. And as I came in I was waiting for him to make the first move to see what he was going to say before I responded. And actually as I walked in he looked at me and he smiled and said ‘Bruno, welcome home’ just like that. And I said ‘Well Vince I’m glad to be home, but we both know the situation and what brought me back home. I have been very critical of you.’ I told him right to his face, ‘You know I have been very critical of you, but I also will recognize the fact that you have made drastic changes and for that I applaud you. But for all these years, I did not like what happened to the business that I spent 25 years in and the turns it took; drugs, nudity, etc.’ Vince said, ‘Well Bruno, I know you were always very outspoken about what you believed, I hope now you are satisfied of the changes. They are in the past, we want to go forward and we want to do a better and better product. And we are very happy that you are back.’

“He did say this to me which I appreciate, ‘When it was the World Wide Wrestling Federation you were the main reason for this organization to become as big as it did. So we want this (HOF Induction) to happen and we’re thrilled that it has happened.’ And that was it. So I said, ‘Thank you. As long as things stay that way and keep moving forward with improving the product. At this stage of my life there is not much I can do to contribute, but if there is something, especially with young talent, I’d be willing to do that. As long as the product gets better and better.’ And that was it basically.”

Ryback’s Tweets Removed from Twitter

- Following Ryback’s tweet about John Cena’s ex-wife, every single one of Ryback’s tweets at @Ryback22 have been deleted. Ryback’s account now reads, “@Ryback22 hasn’t tweeted yet.”

SoCal Val Talks About Being a Producer for TNA Wrestling

TNA Announcer and producer SoCal Val was interviewed by Stephen Sonneveld of the Bleacher Report. Here are some highlights.

On how long she has been producing segments for Impact Wrestling: Oh, a couple years, maybe. But it sounds funny, “Oh, I’m a producer.”

On what her producing duties entail: I started producing backstage about a year or two ago, and it pretty much just entails me helping talent go through different lines that we need for television shows and commercials. A lot of it is international, like we just did some liners today for Germany, and it’s basically just a wrestler coming in and saying, “I’m such-and-such,” saying hello to all of our fans in Germany. So, it’s basically just me running a prompter and knowing the scripts, and just kind of directing the talent, which is really, really cool. If I’m not on camera, I’m usually behind the camera helping them.

On whether she planned to be on camera during her producing time: Oh, definitely, that was always my goal, which is to do what I’m doing now, which is the hosting and announcing, because to me—well, also to be a manager. But the thing with being a manager is that there’s not always longevity in a certain amount of time in a storyline. So, to me, all I wanted to do was to be involved with wrestling, and to creatively contribute, and to host on the camera and talk on the mic, so I’m really lucky that that’s what I’ve got to do for so long.

On whether she is happy with her current position in TNA: Honestly, I’m really, really happy with what I’m doing. A lot of times at the live events, I’m the emcee and ring announcer for the entire event, and really the only one on the mic. Our merchandise guy does help with intermission and things like that, but as far as being the emcee for the whole show, I get to do that. So, in addition to live events, and now doing this hosting backstage and being the anchor for a lot of the commercials, especially with a lot of them being international, that’s exciting. I’m really happy with where I am, I have to say.

Knockout Taking Time Off, Don West Tweets on TNA Royalty Check

- Former TNA Announcer Don West took a shot at TNA Wrestling on his twitter account over his recent bi-annual royalty check. Don wrote:

“Just got my biannual royalty check from TNA and if it wasn’t so hilarious it would be sad”

Shortly after, West acknowledge that the check was actually less than a TNA Brown Bag Special, a product he helped get off the ground to move older merchandise stock. Brown Bag Specials are sold at $20 each.

- Tara revealed on Twitter that she won’t be attending any Impact Wrestling TV tapings for a few months, and noted that she is sorry.

James Storm Talks About Impact on the Road, Only Four PPV’s a Year & More

James Storm was recently interviewed by Power-Wrestling Radio Germany. Here are some highlights from the interview.

On Impact Wrestling going on the road full time: I think its a great move by tna because I think that’s what they need, exposure. I know its great being in the impact zone and on the road everyone has to start stepping up; Everybody from the office to the marketing department to the guys in the ring putting on a show and i think so far everyone has stepped up.

Backstage reaction to going on the road and rumors that some guys were unhappy: I haven’t seen any of those guys running around the locker room. As far as everyone that I hang out with in the locker room, we are all thrilled to do it. We are happy to get out of the impact zone. Especially being there since day one. I’ve been at the impact zone since we started there. You have to kill yourself to get a reaction out of those guys coming in there for 7, 8 years.

TNA cutting down to four pay per view events: I think its great. When I was growing up we just had the four pay per views, the Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania, Summerslam and Survivor Series. Nowadays, we have the WWE running a pay per view every month, we have TNA running a pay per view every month, we have MMA. Scooby Doo is on pay per view now. I think it became too saturated.

On TNA fans having mixed reactions about Hulk Hogan coming to TNA: Ah you know anyone can sit back and pick any body apart they want. You always see the un-named source or something like that. As far as I’m concerned every chance I have had to work with him he has helped me out a lot. He tries to pull me aside after I have a match or promo and he don’t ever talk down to me or anything. He will just tell me, try this next time. Next time i try it and it will work or not work. He is the first one there when I come back.

He is also recognizable. I think he is more recognizable than our President. I mean, if you were in an airport and the President and Hulk Hogan were there, you would probably recognize Hogan first. Am I right?

On his short title reign: To me it is what it is. I can now say I was world heavyweight champion. I don’t care if it was for just 30 seconds. I can put that on my resume that I was TNA world heavyweight champion. I think I could have done a lot more with it. It’s one of those things that my time will come again and when it does, I’ll be ready.

This time when it comes I’m going to make the best of it and show the world what I got. Show TNA management that I am deserving of being champion. The highest rated show was when I became champion, Just wanted to throw that out there!

On the departure of Vince Russo: I remember I used to go up to BG James, the Road dogg also Kipp Billy Gunn, they helped me out a lot. When Vince Russo was writing the show. I would take my stuff over to Road Dogg and ask him ‘hey do you mind if I go out and just say whatever’. He would tell me, go ahead. You see Vince [Russo] he’s from the New York. New York people don’t truly know how southern people talk. He isn’t going to write something for a guy from the south.

I would go up to Vince and ask him ‘hey can I say whatever’ and say go ahead. He let me go out and ever since then I would just go out and do my own thing.

I miss Vince Russo. I had a close relationship with Vince. I really like Vince a lot and I think he did good for the company. I think whatever happened, happened. It’s none of my business or whatever but as far as me and Vince’s relationship. I always felt like I could talk to him and find out what was going on and where this is headed and add my input.