Hulk Hogan Will Never Retire from Wrestling ... Says Son Nick
Hulk Hogan's 65 years old and has wrestled for 4 decades ... but his son, Nick, tells TMZ Sports the WWE Hall of Famer will NEVER RETIRE from the sport he loves.
"He always says he loves it. He loves training. He loves the wrestling business. It runs too deep in his blood. I don't think he'll ever quit," Nick told us at LAX.
Of course, Hulk just made his return to WWE after being fired in 2015 ... appearing at the 'Crown Jewel' event in Saudi Arabia, and you could tell he was back in his element.
Well let me tell you something, BROTHER....@HulkHogan is in the house, and he's hosting #WWECrownJewel! pic.twitter.com/XRSEbW7eRc
@WWE
Nick agrees ... and says he's still impressed with his dad's athletic ability and physical appearance.
"Everybody thinks it's a joke, but he's still over 6'5 and over 300 pounds, he's just a monster, and he's strong. It's just insane."
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WWE's Big Show Slams Retirement Talk 'I Gotta Couple Years Left'
WWE superstar Big Show has been destroying people in the ring for 24 years -- but tells TMZ Sports he ain't slowin' down any time soon!!
At 46 years old, Big Show -- real name Paul Wight -- is still going hard ... but people are wondering how much longer he can handle the wear and tear of the job with his 7'0", 400-pound frame.
The good news for wrestling fans -- dude ain't ready to tap out just yet.
"I signed a new deal last year," Big Show told us at Avra in Beverly Hills ... "I gotta couple of years left. I'm having fun."
Show ain't impervious to injury -- he's still recovering from a tweaked hamstring -- but, overall, the guy is in great shape, feels good and wants to keep going.
We also spoke with Show about his long-rumored showdown with Shaquille O'Neal -- and if the two will EVER square off.
Plus, Show tells us why Charlotte Flair might be the biggest BEAST in all of pro wrestling.
Good stuff from a genuine living legend.
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Brock Lesnar UFC Paycheck Is Key to Cormier Fight ... Says Paul Heyman
Brock Lesnar's personal "advocate," Paul Heyman, tells TMZ Sports ... the only real thing standing in the way of a UFC fight with Daniel Cormier is the size of his paycheck.
Of course, Brock and DC have been unofficially promoting a fight for months -- but there's no deal in place and Dana White recently told us Cormier's team wants him to retire now.
So, when we saw Heyman -- Lesnar's right-hand man -- we asked what it's gonna take to make the fight happen.
"As long as Daniel Cormier has the balls to step into the Octagon and put his title up against Brock Lesnar, and UFC comes up with the money for Brock Lesnar, I don't see anything that would keep Brock Lesnar from taking the fight."
Cormier has said he will NOT take any fights after his 40th birthday -- March 20, 2019 -- so, if this fight's gonna come together ... they gotta move pretty fast.
And, since Heyman has been so damn successful as an "advocate" in the WWE, we asked what it would take for him to rep Conor McGregor ... if the Irishman chooses to go down that road later in his career.
Spoiler Alert: Heyman says his services don't come cheap.
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Charlotte Flair Celebratin' with Ric Flair ... After Smashin' Ronda
Think Charlotte Flair was excited after beating up Ronda Rousey at "Survivor Series"?!!
Check out this footage of the WWE superstar going crazy in the car with her dad, Ric Flair, in the moments after the match at Staples Center in L.A.
You can hear the "WOOOs" from excited fans as they took off to continue the celebration.
Yeah, Charlotte was technically disqualified and lost the match -- but she beat the dog snot out of Rousey, and even smashed her with a kendo stick in the center of the ring. At one point, she threw Ronda into a steel chair ... and even stomped her out. Good times!
Check out Ronda's face -- looks like she took some real damage ... but the former UFC champ ain't sitting around licking her wounds.
Ronda has vowed to be at "Raw" on Monday night -- saying, "No one can stop me." Should be fun.
Charlotte wasn't even originally scheduled to face Ronda at the event -- and only stepped in after "Smackdown" women's champ Becky Lynch suffered a broken face last week.
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Enzo Amore Booted from WWE's 'Survivor Series' After Firing, Rape Allegation
Fired WWE star Enzo Amore got tackled to the ground and kicked out of a wrestling event Sunday that he probably (definitely) shouldn't have been at.
The former two-time Crusierweight Champion crashed WWE's 'Survivor Series' and made a fool of himself in the crowd by standing on his chair, holding up his belt ... and screaming A LOT. He was clearly pissed ... but security was having NONE of it, and chased him out the building.
My video of the wrestler formerly known as Enzo Amore trying to interrupt #SurvivorSeries. @WWE security not having any of it. He is taken down quickly. pic.twitter.com/2jdRtOe36z
@TuftsGuy
You can see that Enzo briefly got away from guards, and seemed to exit on his accord -- with his hands up, no less. It's unclear if authorities dealt with him outside, but he definitely interrupted things enough to cause a scene. The crowd wasn't diggin' it either.
Here's Enzo Amore being booted from ringside from @carrie_palacios pic.twitter.com/TXZMDnpV0I
@SeanRossSapp
In footage obtained by Pro Wrestling Sheet, you see Enzo being escorted through the tunnel and right out the exit door. There didn't seem to be much discussion or chastising ... just a good ol' fashioned GTFOH.
As we reported ... Enzo was accused of rape at the beginning of 2018, and was fired by the WWE shortly after. The Phoenix Police Dept. eventually closed the case, and no charges were filed.
This probably ain't the best way to get back into the ring ... just sayin'.
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David Arquette I'm Done with Deathmatches ... Hints at UFC Fight
David Arquette vows his incredibly bloody deathmatch was his last, but he's never going to take his foot off the gas.
We got David Saturday in L.A. ... a day after his brutal Game Changer Wrestling fight against Nick FN Gage. David kinda looked worse for wear, after Nick smashed a light tube against his face. Check out the huge scab on the side of his neck.
So, David says -- we're not sure if he's serious -- the only rematch he'll have with Nick will be in a UFC Octagon.
As for David just sitting back and becoming a spectator in life ... well, he scoffed at the notion. He's always been a fighter and never a couch potato.
David's 47 ... just amazing.
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David Arquette Loses in Brutal, Bloody Wrestling Deathmatch
David Arquette was bloody, mangled and nearly tortured Friday night in a wrestling match ... and there was NOTHING FAKE about it.
David was in a 'deathmatch' -- that's the name and not really an understatement -- at a Game Changer Wrestling event that went down at The Hi Hat.
The actor-turned-wrestler was up against Nick FN Gage and it was just brutal. Gage broke a light tube over Arquette's head. You see David grab his neck as blood pours from the area. Shockingly, the fight continues.
Toward the end, it looks like David gives up, climbing out of the ring, but then the 47-year-old hops back in as he bleeds profusely. Gage stomps on him, but David fires back by smacking Gage with a chair. It didn't take long ... David gets pinned.
After the match, David told his fans he needed a few stitches and he was fine.
Thank you to all the fans for your love I’m a stitched up. Miss Elizabeth is crying pic.twitter.com/hOJbPgd1Fl
@DavidArquette
He ended by saying death matches weren't his thing ... and that's a good thing.
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Vine Star 'I'm Tyrone' Gunnin' For WWE Contract ... 'I'm The Next Mr. T!'
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EXCLUSIVE
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The dude who went viral for his "I'm Tyrone" Vine videos tells TMZ Sports he's ready to go from the phone screen to the squared circle ... saying he wants a crack at the WWE!!
In case you've never heard of Tyrone before ... the guy is a HUGE star on social media for his hilarious videos that featured him stealin' dudes' girls.
But ... Tyrone's done with all that now -- and says he's ready to move on to a career working for Vince McMahon.
"I'm like the next Mr. T," Tyrone tells TMZ Sports ... "The next Terry Crews. The next Deebo. All in one, man! That's how good I am, except, I'm more dangerous, because I f*ck wives!!!"
Tyrone says this ain't publicity stunt ... dude says he's got a legit MMA background and thinks he can be the company's next megastar.
In fact ... Tyrone's callin' out ALL the wrestlers in the biz -- tellin' them they're soft and swearing he's comin' for their wives next!!!
"I can't stand it no more," Tyrone says. "They cheerin' for these soft -- f*ck all that, man! The real champion is here!"
Soooo ... what do ya say, Vince?
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Enzo Amore Explains Airplane Incident ... I Wasn't Vaping!!
Enzo Amore is telling TMZ Sports what went down when he got kicked off his flight on Thursday ... saying he was NOT vaping -- he just ain't a snitch.
The ex-WWE superstar was booted off his Delta flight from JFK to LAX yesterday afternoon ... and sources told TMZ Sports he refused to stop using his vape, so he was kicked off the flight.
The wrestler was NOT arrested after the incident.
Enzo says it's all a big misunderstanding, 'cause he wasn't the one hittin' the vape -- it was the guy next to him -- but you know what happens to snitches ...
Amore says it all worked out in the end ... he was able to catch another flight and get to L.A. with no problem.
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Ex-WWE Star Enzo Amore Booted Off Delta Flight For Vaping On Board
3:45 PM PT -- TMZ Sports has obtained video of Enzo after he was forced to leave the plane.
Ex-WWE star Enzo Amore was kicked off a Delta airlines flight Thursday afternoon ... after taking a hit of a vape pen on the airplane.
Amore was on a Delta flight -- scheduled to fly from JFK to LAX -- but the plane never got off the ground with him.
Our law enforcement sources tell us Port Authority police were called to the aircraft ... but did not arrest the wrestling star.
We're told Delta refused to put Amore on another one of their planes ... so he had to find another way to travel to Los Angeles.
A rep for Delta tells us ... “A customer was removed from Delta flight 747 operating from New York to Los Angeles for not following crew instructions."
"The flight returned to the gate at John F. Kennedy International Airport where the customer deplaned without further incident."
FYI -- Amore was once one of the biggest stars in the WWE ... but was fired in January 2018 amid rape allegations. Enzo was never charged in connection to the alleged incident.
Pro Wrestling Sheet first reported Enzo getting the boot.
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WWE's Becky Lynch Blasts Rousey ... For Post-Holm Fight Depression
WWE Superstar Becky Lynch just ripped Ronda Rousey ... saying the depression she had after losing to Holly Holm in 2015 proves she's a weak-minded person.
ICYMI ... Rousey and Lynch have been feuding for weeks ... and were set to fight this weekend at WWE's "Survivor Series" to settle things.
But, Lynch had to pull out of the tilt after suffering a "broken face" on Monday's RAW ... which pissed Rousey off.
"I’m really sorry to hear The Millennial Man will not be showing up for her legally arranged ass whooping on November 18th at the Staples Center," Rousey wrote in a lengthy post on her Instagram.
Lynch responded shortly after ... and didn't hold back, saying, "When I got my face broke I got up, owned you THEN showed up the next day looking to fight some more."
"When you got your face broke you hid for a year under your blankie. Your mind is as weak as your jaw, & I’m going to move heaven & earth to come destroy them both."
Of course, she's referencing TMZ Sports' video from '15 ... where Ronda covered her face with a pillow after returning from the Holm fight.
We know ... storylines are scripted -- but this one feels personal.
Rousey has called the post-Holm fight period the lowest point of her life ... saying she had suicidal thoughts after the loss.
Unclear when the Lynch-Rousey match will be rescheduled for ... but one thing is clear -- there's some pretty bad blood between these two.
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David Arquette 'I Love WWE' But It's Not Goal of My Wrestling Comeback
For most pro wrestlers, getting to the WWE is the ultimate career goal -- but David Arquette says that's NOT what's motivating his comeback at 47-years-old.
"WWE's not the goal. I mean, I love WWE. I would love to do anything with them ever, but my main goal is getting some respect. That really was what it's about."
Remember, back in 2000, Arquette won the WCW World Heavyweight title as part of a stunt to promote a movie ... and it's widely regarded as one of the worst moments in pro wrestling.
So, Arquette -- a huge pro wrestling fan -- has been on a mission to earn back respect from the community ... and that's why he's been working his ass off at small wrestling shows around the country.
And, how would Arquette earn back that respect? He's got a plan ...
"I called out Cody Rhodes ... 'cause me and his dad wore the same [WCW championship] belt and if I can get him to respect me, then I think I can get other people to respect me."
Cody Rhodes is the son of pro wrestling legend Dusty Rhodes, aka "The American Dream."
"I mean [Cody] is one of the best in the world ... so, if I could go toe-to-toe with him, that would be a good show."
This ain't a game to Arquette, he's suffered a couple real injuries since his return to the ring -- including broken ribs and a jacked up elbow.
But, Dave says he's healing up and should be back in the squared circle again soon.
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Triple H Gnarly Injury Pic After Tearing Chest Muscle
Triple H went to Saudi Arabia ... and all he got was this lousy pectoral injury!!!
GOOD LORD!!!
The WWE superstar suffered a pectoral tear during the pay-per-view show in Riyadh last week during a tag team between D-Generation X and The Brothers of Destruction.
Despite the injury, the 49-year-old legend finished the match -- and even put Kane into his trademark Pedigree finishing move.
But, the damage to his chest was pretty bad -- you can see the discoloration in his right pec ... it's bad.
The good news, Triple H scheduled surgery for Tuesday morning and he'll hopefully make a full recovery.
Wrestling -- still think it's fake?
Triple H isn't exactly a full-time wrestler anymore -- but he's been known to getting in the ring and mixing it up every now and then.
Wrestlemania 35 in New Jersey is still 5 months away so there's hope he'll be healthy enough to slap someone around on April 7.
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UFC's Michelle Waterson WWE's Onto Something ... All-Female UFC PPV Card!
UFC badass Michelle Waterson tells TMZ Sports ... Dana White should take a page outta Vince McMahon's playbook and put together an all-female fight card!!!
"The girls can definitely hold it down," The Karate Hottie says.
Of course, the WWE just wrapped up its first-ever all-women pay-per-view event ... and it was a big-time success. Ronda Rousey said she hopes it's a game changer for all pro sports.
So, when we got Waterson out in NYC this week -- we had to ask ... could the UFC do the same??
"If they did an all-female card, that would be amazing and we could definitely hold it down. Something definitely to think of for the future."
Karate Hottie even tells us she's got the perfect headliner for the night -- HERSELF!!!
There's enough talent in the UFC's women's division for sure -- with superstars like Cris Cyborg, Amanda Nunes, Rose Namajunas, Holly Holm and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
As for Dana, he once said he'd never let women fight in the UFC -- but admits he was super wrong about that ... and now, the women are KILLING it.
As for Waterson, we asked who she's eyeing for her next fight and she tells us Karolina Kowalkiewicz -- 'cause she thinks it'll put her next in line for a title fight with the UFC strawweight champ, Rose Namajunas.
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Hulk Hogan Returns to WWE Ring ... In Saudi Arabia
Hulk Hogan is back -- the wrestling star has returned to the WWE ring for the first time since his n-word scandal ... and it all went down in Saudi Arabia.
Hogan stormed the ring at the 'Crown Jewel' pay-per-view event in Riyadh on Friday wearing his signature bandana and a Hulkamania shirt -- with his red and yellow boa.
Hulk -- who's hosting the event -- told the crowd, "It's good to be back!"
"It's awesome to be here back in the WWE," Hulk said ... noting how excited he was to get on a plane and fly across the world to make his return.
"So, whatcha gonna do when the power of Hulkamania and the 'Crown Jewel' run wild on you, brother?!"
Well let me tell you something, BROTHER....@HulkHogan is in the house, and he's hosting #WWECrownJewel! pic.twitter.com/XRSEbW7eRc
@WWE
The crowd went wild -- cheering Hogan on.
WWE had been looking to bring Hulk back into the fold since May -- but officials were just waiting for the right opportunity.
Unclear if the plan was to make Hulk a part of 'Crown Jewel' all along -- or if he was a last-minute Plan B after John Cena and Daniel Bryan refused to participate over the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Of course, Hulk got the axe from WWE in 2015 after a racist n-word rant went public. Hulk apologized and several African-American wrestlers publicly offered their support for Hogan.
Our sources have told us WWE was paying close attention to Hulk's philanthropic work -- such as his speech at the Boys & Girls Club back in May -- because they wanted to see how he was received.
Question now -- is this a one-time thing or will Hulk be a reoccurring character in future WWE storylines?
Story developing ...
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Randy Orton On John Cena 'Does He Still Wrestle?'
File Under: "Shade????"
Seems like Randy Orton threw some John Cena's way before boarding the plane to Saudi Arabia ... 'cause when we asked how he felt about JC pulling out of the trip, Orton replied, "Does he still wrestle?"
Orton continued, "I didn't know he pulled out."
WWE had promoted Cena as one of the major participants at the 'Crown Jewel' pay-per-view event in Riyadh on Friday, but recently announced he'll be replaced by Bobby Lashley.
Cena is reportedly boycotting the trip over Saudi Arabia's alleged role in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Orton had previously told us he feels the WWE should push forward with the event to help make a positive change in the region and "make things better everywhere."
But Wednesday, he admitted money is also a factor -- "I've got 5 kids. I gotta go make that dollar. If they want me in Saudi, I'm going to Saudi."
Orton was joined at Washington Dulles International Airport by stars like Sheamus, The Miz and Big Show.
Sheamus told us he's not worried about the political drama -- he's focused on putting smiles on people's faces.
Similar message from The Miz -- who told us traveling all over the world and entertaining people is his dream come true.