Dark Matches & Heat Spoilers; ECW Preview; John Cena Joins NASCAR Reality Series
Here are your Dark Matches & Heat Spoilers from Monday's Raw:
DARK MATCH
- Freakin Deacon def Val Venis
HEAT SPOILERS
- Hacksaw Jim Duggan def Judas Young
- Cryme Tyme def ???
- Kenny Dykstra def Eugene
POST RAW DARK MATCH
- John Cena def Umaga via DQ
Here is your official preview for tonight's edition of ECW on Sci-Fi:
Following Edge's consultation with Mr. McMahon, the WWE Chairman has ordered Randy Orton to battle ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley on ECW on Sci Fi. Thanks to the Rated-R Superstar's persuasion, if Orton does not show up in the Land of the Extreme to compete, he will be removed from the Money in the Bank Ladder Match - just 24 hours after qualifying on Raw.
One thing's for sure: things are not OK for Rated-RKO. Has Edge written a check that Orton's body cannot cash? Will Lashley make an example out of his opponent, sending a message to another Raw Superstar, Intercontinental Champion Umaga?
Speaking of Lashley and Umaga, on the last ECW on Sci Fi, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin announced he would be present for the Battle of the Billionaires contract signing on Raw. With the Rattlesnake, both billionaires and their representatives in the same ring, the sparks flew on Monday night. What will transpire this week on Sci Fi as we draw one week closer to April 1 and WrestleMania 23?
Also, for the first time since last August, the legendary Mick Foley will return to his roots when he visits the next ECW on Sci Fi. Foley is regarded as one of the most hardcore Superstars in ECW and sports-entertainment history. What will happen during his appearance? Don’t miss his hardcore homecoming to the Land of the Extreme.
Lastly, the Originals and the New Breed will wage war in an Extreme Battle Royal. Following Tommy Dreamer's WrestleMania challenge to the New Breed, what will the young upstarts have in store for their counterparts? Which side will be left standing on Tuesday night?
Find out the answers to all of these questions and more Tuesday on ECW on Sci Fi at 10/9 CT.
The following article was published in Monday's Sporting News regarding the new NASCAR reality series that will include John Cena:
NASCAR reality series set for ABC
Gillette is turning its NASCAR "Young Guns" advertising theme into branded content and the basis for a reality television show on ABC that begins filming this week at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., and is slated to run during the NBA Finals.
"Fast Cars and Super Stars: Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race" will see the Nextel Cup drivers that have appeared in ads for the men's personal care brand -- Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, Carl Edwards, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman and 2006 Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson --- instructing a bevy of sports and entertainment stars on the finer points of stock car driving.
Participating celebrities include John Elway; Tony Hawk; William Shatner; Laird Hamilton and his wife, Gabby Reese; WWE champion John Cena; John Salley; Serena Williams; Bill Cowher; and Jewel and her boyfriend, rodeo king Ty Murray.
Winners are established via time trials, head-to-head heats and skills competitions that will include fastest speed, quickest driving from zero to 100 mph, braking and pit crew skills.
The final heat will feature three celebrity cars competing in time trials. The show will be hosted by Kenny Mayne with Brad Daugherty. Radical Media is the production company.
The finished shows are envisioned as six 30-minute episodes plus a one-hour finale. They are scheduled to run as a lead-in to the NBA Finals, which start June 7 on ABC. (On the West Coast, the show will immediately follow the games.) They would run from 8-8:30 p.m. ET as a lead in and be matched with each of the games of the Finals, which could run as late as June 23. The event will be part of a time buy with the network.
Although the concept originated from longtime Gillette creative agency BBDO, the same shop that dreamed up the original "Young Guns" ad platform, the show is being sold by Leverage Agency, New York. Advertisers in or close to committing to the show include Gillette, Lowe's, Alltel, Cars.com, Walgreens, Kroger, Scotts Lawn Care and Sam's Club.
Made-for-TV contests involving top sports stars are nothing new. However, a sports reality show based on an advertising concept is intriguing, since it comes at a time when every marketer is looking for new branded-content plays.
Given NASCAR's overtly commercial nature, some sponsor conflicts have already surfaced. Sources said Nike has qualms about Williams appearing in a Gillette-branded fire suit, since the company considers it "athletic apparel."
Sources also reported conflicts between the sponsors of drivers, the show and Lowe's Motor Speedway, which is owned by Speedway Motorsports Inc. As of last week, track signage will be shown, and drivers have agreed to use cars emblazoned with their regular Nextel Cup number and with primary sponsor logos, but not drive in their regular Nextel Cup vehicles. Celebrity cars will carry logos from show sponsors.
Since Gillette's core products are its shaving lines, contestants were told they "must be well-groomed" and that "stubble or scruff of any kind" is unacceptable.
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