Tag: Francine

Daily Update: WWE notes, Briscoe documentary, Francine

Posted on by Joseph Currier

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Thursday Update

WWE

  • WrestleVotes reports that “OTC1” and “Tribal Chief One” are being considered as new monikers for Roman Reigns when he returns to WWE TV:
    • With his return drawing closer, we’re told the moniker ‘OTC1’ — or ‘Tribal Chief One’ — is the leading idea for how Roman Reigns will be presented upon his return to TV. Sources continue to indicate Reigns is slated for SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium.
  • Rhea Ripley sent out the following message today: “Fan mail sent directly to my house will not be opened. It will be thrown out.”
  • Fox News Digital interviewed Drew McIntyre in advance of his match against Randy Orton at Saturday Night’s Main Event this weekend. McIntyre, who recently took a break to heal up, said he’s now feeling better than he’s felt in a long time:
    • I honestly feel better than I felt in about, minimum, six or seven years. During this time off, I’ve had a chance to step back and look at everything from an outside perspective – the product itself and more specifically me because I’m only competing against myself as far as I’m concerned.
  • NXT wrestler Lola Vice expressed her excitement for her Lucha Libre AAA debut at Verano de Escandalo tomorrow, where she’ll be teaming with Santino Marella against La Hiedra & Mr. Iguana:
    • Tomorrow starts a new chapter in my wrestling career. Grateful for the opportunity to grow as a performer, gain experience, and debut Lola internationally. Love you Vice City see you soon Mexico
  • Jazz, who has been guest coaching at the WWE Performance Center, posted a picture of herself at the PC: “Another fun night! Observing, Assisting & Learning from the best! I’m built for this!”
  • John Cena is the executive producer of a new series that’s been picked up by HGTV and will premiere later this year. Hosted by Bobby Berk, the series has the working title “Junk or Jackpot?” Here is the synopsis for the show:
    • From an overwhelming stash of superhero figurines to cramped spaces stuffed with rare puppets and dolls and miniature sets that leave no room for actual, life-size furniture – these homes are begging for professional help, and the collectors must decide whether they are willing to sell some of their items to pay for the much-needed renovation. With a combination of humor, compassion and a celebration of the passionate collector in all of us, Bobby will support the homeowners through the process of sorting through, appraising and letting go of their stockpile, discovering the ‘found money’ along the way to achieving their dream makeover.
  • Charlotte Flair was the guest on today’s episode of Six Feet Under with The Undertaker & Michelle McCool.
  • WWE Vault uploaded the full inaugural Evolution PPV from 2018.
  • WWE continued its countdown of the top 25 matches in SummerSlam history, ranking Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch from 2022 in the 21st spot. Here is the list so far:
    • 25. Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar (SummerSlam 2023)
    • 24. Seth Rollins vs. John Cena title vs. title match for the WWE Championship and United States Championship (SummerSlam 2015)
    • 23. The Undertaker vs. Bret Hart for the WWF Championship (SummerSlam 1997)
    • 22. Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship (SummerSlam 2019)
    • 21. Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch for the Raw Women’s Championship (SummerSlam 2022)

Other Wrestling

Francine on WWE NXT appearance: ‘Just being included was enough’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Francine commented on her appearance on WWE NXT last week during the latest episode of Eyes Up Here.

She was one of several ECW legends who participated in the show at the 2300 Arena, along with The Dudley Boyz, Nunzio, Rhino, Dawn Marie, and Rob Van Dam. However, Francine’s role was limited to appearing in the crowd.

She revealed on her podcast that she was first offered the guest referee role in the Lola Vice vs. Jaida Parker match, which eventually went to Dawn Marie. However, she turned it down because she felt she wouldn’t be quick enough to keep up due to having had multiple abdominal surgeries in recent years.

“Because my core is so weak, just lifting myself up getting into the ring is slow,” she said on the show. “So, I was just like, well, I guess I’m not going to be able to do it.”

Francine had abdominal reconstruction surgery along with a hernia repair in 2019.

She was then offered a spot on the show as a backstage interviewer, but Francine had to turn that down as well because she lost her voice while attending a ComicCon.

“I went to Rhode Island ComicCon for four days, and I talked, and I talked, and I talked, and I lost my voice. So on Tuesday, they sent me a script to be a backstage interviewer, and I go, ‘Ugh, I can’t do this either; My voice is shot.'”

She continued to say that she offered to be pulled from the show since she was limited in what she could do, but WWE decided to have her come in and appear in the crowd.

Francine said:

“Would I have liked to have done more? Of course. I would have loved to have had an entrance and walked to the ring and did something. It just wasn’t in the cards for me, but just being included was enough. Like, I didn’t need any more than that. It was fun. I got to meet so many great people. The girls were so nice; some of them had on ECW attire, which I thought was adorable.”

Francine also mentioned she thought it was “cute” that WWE sent her directions to the ECW Arena. The full episode of her podcast is available below:

Rob Van Dam, Francine to attend next week’s WWE NXT 2300

Posted on by Bryan Rose

More stars from ECW’s past will appear next week at the ECW Arena.

Rob Van Dam appeared on Tuesday’s NXT and said he wanted to be part of the show next Wednesday. Ava asked RVD to leave it up to her in regards to what he could do next week. Later, the final moments of the show saw Wes Lee and Je’Von Evans brawling backstage when they were stopped by referees and Ava. RVD then came in and said he had a great idea for next week, without saying what it was. Lee and Evans continued their brawl as the show ended.

Earlier on Tuesday, Francine announced that she would be heading to the ECW Arena next week for NXT 2300. The Queen of Extreme was a longtime manager in the company from 1994 to its closure in 2001.

An unidentified voice was heard on Tuesday’s show via a phone message addressed to Tony D’Angelo. He asked D’Angelo why he had to hear secondhand that he would be heading to Philadelphia next week, saying it was blatant disrespect. He told D’Angelo to bring the North American title next week as he’ll see him there. Commentary later speculated if that was Nunzio on the line.

Wrestling Observer Live: Sting’s last match, Dynamite report, plus ECW’s Francine joins the show!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including Sting’s last match, the AEW Dynamite TV report, all the news and more, then THE QUEEN OF EXTREME FRANCINE joins us to talk all manner of subjects! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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