| Live WWE RAW Spoiler Coverage From London, England
*Todd Grisham is doing his best to warm up a noisy and full arena. We have heard eleven and a half thousand fans (a sellout) in attendance.
Ric Flair does a promo, thanking us for our presence and says the WWE loves London.
Jeff Hardy defeats Kenny in a decent ten minute match with the Swanton bomb.
Mickie James defeats Victoria to not much reaction.
Next up is Chris Masters vs. Val Venis, who comes out to almost no reaction despite my best efforts. Masters wins in an OK bout. Venis asks for a rematch right there and gets it, winning. Not sure how it will air on Heat.
Crime Tyme defeat Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin - much to my dismay. Crowd a little quiet after heat. Surely its time for Raw now!
In what seems like a dark match after a test start for Raw start, Johnny Nitro took on Eugene, who got a big reaction.
5/12 WWE Raw in St. John's, NL: Cena vs. Orton, Hardys vs. Cade ...
No pre-show autographs, as it was raining. Khali had to come in an SUV. Orton, Masters, and Dykstra arrived together in a Hummer. Chuck Palumbo and Val Venis also arrived together. Maria, Val Venis, Cade, Murdoch, and Shelton Benjamin acknowledged the crowd mostly. Cena gave a quick wave. Others must have come early or from another entrance. 80-85 percent capacity, which is weird considering I lined up overnight and still only got 5th row, and that they haven't been here in 2 or 3 years. Ring looks smaller than I remember, but I haven't been to a live event in 9 years. (1) Cryme Tyme (JTG & Shad Gaspar w/guest local brat as manager) d. World's Greatest Tag Team (Shelton Benjamin & Charlie Haas) with the Samoan drop/neck breaker combo. Crowd was HOT for Cryme Tyme. Myself and a few of the smarks in the audience TRIED a Shelton chant, but we were drowned out.
Adrift's deBenedet Cast in Backstage Opera Comedy The Second Tosca
Rachel deBenedet, seen Off-Broadway earlier this season in Adrift in Macao, will be part of the world-premiere cast of The Second Tosca, which begins previews June 8 at the 45th Street Theater. Directed by Kevin Newbury, Tom Rowan's new comedy will officially open June 13 and will play a limited engagement through July 1. The cast will also feature two-time Tony nominee Vivian Reed as well as Jeremy Beck, Tug Coker, Eve Gigliotti, Mark Light-Orr, Melissa Picarello and Carrington Vilmont. The design team comprises Charlie Corcoran (scenic design), Joanne Haas (costume design), D.M. Wood (lighting design) and Jill BC DuBoff (sound design). The Second Tosca, according to press notes, "takes place backstage at Opera California during rehearsals for Tosca. Meet a rising operatic star, her rivalrous brother, the controlling maestro who wants to marry her, a diva with a dog, an assistant with a dream, and a meddling singing ghost." Performances are Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM.
Shelton Benjamin hard to faze
Whether it's landing in Toronto for an autograph session only to find out that his luggage didn't make it, or whether it's being asked point-blank about the size of his genitalia by a female fan at the session, there doesn't seem to be much that can faze WWE star Shelton Benjamin. Except, that is, for the suggestion that he's not the best video gamer in the WWE locker room. "Those are fighting words," he warned, when it was suggested by this SLAM! Wrestling interviewer that he lost this year's WWE's THQ Superstar Challenge (a video game tournament that takes place every Wrestlemania weekend -- Benjamin won four times in a row before retiring from the competition in 2007). "No, no, no. I didn't lose my title. I voluntarily stepped aside to let somebody else get the chance to know what it's like to be the champ.
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