Update: WWE To Air A New Show Before RAW?, More

May 14, 2012

— WWE is advertising that RAW events will begin forty-five minutes earlier than normal in July, meaning that the events will start at 7:30 EST instead of 8:15 EST, which is when they’ve been starting at the arena to get dark matches, NXT tapings, Superstars matches and video packages done before the show goes live on TV. As noted earlier, the reason reportedly might have something to do with WWE looking to air a “pre-game” like countdown show before RAW goes live. The company was developing plans to do so on USA last year but it got delayed as the WWE Network launch got pushed back.

— The official YouTube account of WWE uploaded several clips from 1995 episodes of RAW last week and subsequently took them down.

— TNA sent out the following press release prior to TNA Sacrifice:

IMPACT WRESTLING returns to the UK and Ireland in January 2013 for ‘The Road To Lockdown’ Tour – promising fans a steel cage match on every show. The action-packed live events will take place in Dublin (January 21), Glasgow (23), Nottingham (24), Manchester (25) and at London’s Wembley Arena (26). The show at Wembley will see two episodes of TNA IMPACT WRESTLING taped for broadcast in more than 120 countries around the globe, including on Challenge TV in the UK and Ireland.

* Lockdown steel cage comes to the UK and Ireland for first time ever
* Wembley show to be broadcast on Challenge TV and around the world
* Live events also set for Dublin, Glasgow, Nottingham and Manchester

Worldwide wrestling stars announced for the five events include Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle, Bobby Roode, James Storm, AJ Styles, Mr. Anderson, Rob Van Dam, Velvet Sky and Gail Kim. Many more top names will be added in the coming months.

TNA President Dixie Carter said: “Our wonderful fans in the UK and Ireland have made us their number one rated wrestling show once again – and this tour is our way of saying thank you. This is the first time that the Lockdown steel cage has ever left US soil. Those matches will really be something special. Taping TNA IMPACT WRESTLING at Wembley this January was a high point in the 10 year history of this company, so coming back in 2013 is something everyone is looking forward to.”

Tickets for the four UK shows go on sale at 9am on Friday May 25, with Irish tickets on sale from Tuesday May 22. Tickets can be bought from http://www.gigsandtours.com / 0844 811 0051 or http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk / 0844 826 2826. Full details of the UK and Ireland events are:

Monday January 21
Dublin National Stadium
818 719 300

Wednesday January 23
Glasgow Braehead Arena
0844 499 9990

Thursday January 24
Nottingham Capital FM Arena
0844 412 4624

Friday January 25
Manchester Arena
0844 847 8000

Saturday January 26
London Wembley Arena
0844 815 0815

100% DIRECT LINK (PHOTOS): Gail Kim With Her Real-Life Husband – WTF IS SHE DOING WITH THIS DUDE?!?!