WWE

HUGE retirement plans for mega-rich UFC fighter Chael Sonnen -- he tells TMZ, he wants to buy the WWE when he quits fighting ... a company valued at more than half a BILLION dollars.

And Chael's rep insists he's not joking, telling us, "It is 100% Chael's intent to buy the WWE." In fact, the rep says Chael is already meeting with bigwig friends in the investment world to enact his takeover.

Bad news though -- a rep for the WWE tells us the company ain't for sale ... at least not yet ... so Chael better be prepared to put a sweet offer on the table.

The rep adds, "We are a publicly traded company, so [Chael is] more than welcome to purchase shares of WWE stock and become one of our valued shareholders.”

WWE Vice President Stephanie McMahon is 36 years old ... a mother of three ... and she's more beefed up than Outback Steakhouse.

Stephanie usually keeps her physique hidden beneath a trademark business suit -- but TMZ has obtained these pics from an upcoming photo shoot for RxMuscle.com, finally revealing the Billion Dollar Princess in all her muscular glory.

As for what keeps her in shape -- Steph is a scary good boxer ... and obviously eats really well (under the tutelage of bodybuilding legend and diet guru Dave Palumbo).

Angelina Pivarnick got Staten Island dumped by the WWE -- TMZ has learned the former "Jersey Shore" star tried several times to score free tickets to WrestleMania 29 ... but got no reply at all.

According to our sources, Pivarnick has been contacting every WWE employee she can find in hopes of scoring tickets to this weekend's main event -- which happens to be in NJ.

We're told Angelina was so desperate, she even played the TNA card -- as no one remembers she briefly wrestled in that league -- but again ... no luck.

Sources close to the WWE tell us they were "unable to accommodate her request due to overwhelming demand for tickets."

Ric Flair shocked the wrestling world last night when he made a surprise appearance at a pre-event for WrestleMania ... this just seven days after his son died.

The WWE legend had previously cancelled all his scheduled gigs relating to WM following the death 25-year-old, Reid Flair.

But Flair surprised everyone last night when he showed up to the Westin Hotel in Hoboken -- where the WWE wrestlers and employees are staying -- to hangout with his comrades before the event began.

We're told Ric was visibly shaken when he arrived, but as the night went on, the love for Flair and his son was obvious. Our spies say each wrestler came over to pay their respects and offer support and Flair's spirits were lifted tremendously.

As TMZ previously reported, Reid was found dead on March 29 in his hotel room. Ric had found him passed out cold and made the frantic call to 911.

We got WWE superstar John Cena to reveal his pre-Wrestlemania ritual -- which involves a lot of shaving. So, win or lose ... he'll definitely be the smoothest guy in the ring!

Ewww.

John Cena and The Rock are 2 days from squaring off for the WWE championship belt in Wrestlemania 29, but TMZ found another competition going down today -- WING-OFF 1 ... there will be bones!

We got pics of 3 WWE stars ... Yoshi Tatsu, JTG, and the Great Khali doing battle over 3 massive platters of hot wings at the Chili's in Hoboken, NJ.

We're told Khali choked down the most wings before the other 2 guys had to tap out.

Even more amazing -- we're told the enormous meals only set 'em back $40 ... and all 3 hit the gym afterward.

TMZ has obtained the 911 call placed by Ric Flair ... moments after the wrestling legend discovered his son Reid Flair unresponsive in a Charlotte, NC hotel room.

Ric frantically tells the operator, "He's out cold! He's out cold and he's purple!"

As we reported, Ric's 25-year-old son Reid -- who had just returned to the U.S. after wrestling in Japan -- passed away on March 29th.

Reid Flair never got to wrestle Friday night after he passed away unexpectedly ... so the folks at Big Time Wrestling paid tribute to the 25-year-old with a 10 bell salute in his honor.

Reid -- who recently returned to the states after wrestling in Japan -- was scheduled to appear at an event for Big Time Wrestling in Hagerstown, MD along with his dad, WWE legend Ric Flair.

But Reid never made it -- he was found dead in his hotel room early Friday morning.

Following the tragic events, Big Time Wrestling took time out before the show began to honor the wrestler's life ... by giving him a traditional wrestler's memoriam.

Thanks to our friends at rfvideo.com for the clip.

We're told authorities received a call at 10:35 AM from someone who said he found an unresponsive person in a hotel room. Homicide detectives responded and found Reid, who was already dead. We're told there does not appear to be foul play.

The 25-year-old son of legendary wrestler Ric Flair is dead.

Flair's agent tells TMZ, "We are heartbroken to confirm that Ric's son, Reid Fliehr, has passed away today March 29, 2013 in Charlotte, NC."

The agent goes on, "The investigation into the cause of death is ongoing."

Reid was an independent wrestler who was wrestling in Japan over the last few months. He even wrestled a few times in WCW as a kid (see video below).

Reid had issues with heroin in the past, and was arrested in 2009 for possession.

Ric's agent says, "No words can describe the grief that Ric and his family are experiencing and they do request privacy during this devastating time."

Former WWE star X-Pac tells TMZ ... he lost so much blood after tearing his anus apart during a wrestling match in Minneapolis last weekend ... he nearly died.

Pac -- real name Sean Waltman -- says he didn't notice the blood at first ... and even finished the match ... but during the after-party he felt something was really wrong. Pac says he went to the bathroom and discovered an enormous pool of blood in his singlet.

That's when Pac called himself an ambulance.

As we reported, Pac underwent butthole surgery that night ... and was released Monday morning. FYI, the procedure is called a sphincteroplasty (WARNING: Do not Google).

We've obtained video of the accident ... you see Pac flying anus-first into the steel turnbuckle ... the footage of the accident from RFvideo.com is pretty brutal.

As for going #2 ... Pac says it's business as usual, but he was given special instructions by his doctor on how to clean his wound after pooping.

Former WWE star X-Pac tore himself a new one last weekend ... literally ... after one of his signature wrestling moves took a BLOODY turn.

According to his ex-GF's Instagram, Pac -- real name Sean Waltman -- was wrestling at an indie event in Minneapolis Saturday night when he performed his Bronco Buster ... a move where he leaps into a straddle position on some guy's face (below).

Problem is ... the other guy moved -- putting X's nuts and anus on a collision course with the ring's turnbuckle. It didn't end well for X-Pac.

X managed to finish the match after the injury, but when he got back to his hotel room he noticed a lot of blood coming from his nether regions ... and wisely went to the hospital.

X-Pac underwent surgery for a torn anus and was released today.

WWE legend Paul Bearer died from a heart attack ... Paul's son tells TMZ ... and the sad part, it could easily have been prevented.

Michael Moody tells us, Paul's death certificate lists the cause of the heart attack as supraventricular tachycardia or SVT -- a dangerously high heart rate.

But here's the thing ... we spoke to a cardiologist who tells us, SVT is quite common and if treated, usually isn't deadly. SVT's symptoms are similar to anxiety and heartburn ... so people tend to ignore it, which is what likely happened to Paul.

Michael says doctors believe his dad -- real name Bill Moody -- had been struggling with SVT in the last few weeks of his life.

CM Punk's seemingly cold-hearted tirade last week during the WWE tribute to Paul Bearer wasn't at all what it seemed ... because we've learned Paul's family gave its stamp of approval before the shenanigans.

In case you missed last week's RAW, the WWE aired an emotional tribute to the late Paul Bearer ... and smack in the middle, CM Punk attacked another wrestler (Kane) with Paul's urn.

Paul's son Michael Moody tells TMZ, the act of desecration was pre-planned ... WWE's creative team approached Paul's family for permission before the stunt unfolded on live TV.

The team wanted to use the diss to promote next month's Wrestlemania battle between Punk and Undertaker ... and Paul's family was down with it.

You better watch your step around WWE Vice-Prez Stephanie McMahon ... because she will literally pulverize your ass if you cross her.

Our proof: McMahon just posted this video of her doing some ridiculous boxing drills ... and holy crap, she is fast.

Coincidentally, we spoke to McMahon just this week in NYC ... and she told us all about her training secrets. Watch the clip.

Suddenly, "fights like a girl" sounds a whole lot scarier.

Former WWE superstar Chris "The Masterpiece" Masters saved his mother from burning to death by uprooting a tree with his bare hands and using it as a battering ram to enter her house.

Masters -- real name Chris Mordetzky -- tells us, he rushed to his mother's L.A. home yesterday after his uncle called and said a neighbor had gone crazy and barricaded himself inside her house.

When Chris showed up, the neighbor was shouting through the front door that he would burn the place down if anyone tried to gain entry.

Chris says he tried talking sense into the guy, but he wasn't having it -- so Chris called the cops ... but when they showed up, the neighbor set the house on fire.

Chris jumped into hero mode -- tearing a tree out of the ground and tossing it through a window.

Chris reached through the window and removed his mom from the inferno ... at which point police rushed in and arrested the neighbor on arson charges.

The man is currently still in custody. It's unclear why he snapped.

They were as close as a man and his speedo-wearing bodyguard could be ... but now, The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase tells TMZ his relationship with Virgil is completely nonexistent.

DiBiase was leaving JFK with his wife yesterday when we asked the WWE legend if he had read recent reports that Virgil was now broke and selling t-shirts on a subway platform in NYC to survive.

"That's what I've heard," Ted told us ... "I haven't talked to him in a long time."

Still, Ted says he still considers Virgil a friend and sounded concerned for his former wrestling partner.

As for Virgil, a TMZ staffer saw him in the subway recently and tried to speak with the guy ... but Virgil made it clear he didn't want to talk.