Stand Up Live

WWE Hall of Famer (and best-selling author) Mick Foley

To most people -- well, pro wrestling fans at least -- the name Mick Foley is synonymous with brutal, blood-soaked matches involving the renowned grappler giving and receiving plenty of pain. This is, indeed, true of Foley, who spent close to two decades in the ring with World Wrestling Entertainment and other feds before hanging up his boots, but he's much more than just another 'rassler.

Besides his claim to fame as a three-time WWE Champion, the 55-year-old also is a gifted wordsmith and natural storyteller (hence his many legendary wrestling promos) who's penned several New York Times best-sellers and has been a frequent appearances on The Daily Show as the program's "Senior Asskicker."

See Also:
- WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes on His Killer Mustache and Ribbing Damien Sandow
- Seven Animated GIFs of Rowdy WWE Fans at Royal Rumble

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Photos and clips by Benjamin Leatherman

WWE fans at last night's Royal Rumble pay-per-view at US Airways Center. See more photos from the event via our slideshow.

Aficionados of the WWE can be a rather boisterous and passionate bunch. Especially the 16,000-plus screaming and cheering wrestling fans who sold out the US Airways Center and packed the place to its rafters when the WWE held its annual Royal Rumble last night. Besides becoming unhinged when John Cena won the 30-man Rumble itself, they went absolutely batty when superstar-turned-movie star The Rock defeated CM Punk to win his eighth WWE championship.

Fans also got plenty rowdy before and after the event, and we happened to capture some of the madness on camera for our Royal Rumble slideshow, as well as for several humorous animated GIFs for your enjoyment.

See Also:
- WWE Royal Rumble at US Airways Center, 1/27/13 (Slideshow)
- WWE's Money in the Bank: A Visual Study of Phoenix's Die-Hard Wrestling Fans
- WWE Superstar Antonio Cesaro on Ugly Americans, Being the United States Champion, and Why He's Tired of Being Called Eurotrash
- WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes on His Killer Mustache, Ribbing Damien Sandow, and Which Legendary Tag Team He'd Love to Battle

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Images courtesy of WWE

Cody Rhodes (sans mustache) executes a dropkick against Kofi Kingston in a WWE ring.

When second-generation WWE superstar Cody Rhodes came back from injury late last year, he shocked the world upon his return. He didn't sport a new attitude or unleash a heinous attack on an unsuspecting foe, mind you, but offered a new addition to his look: A killer mustache.

The 27-year-old son of the legendary Dusty Rhodes has gotten plenty of grief over his new cookie duster (from both his fellow superstars and the WWE Universe), but he's taking it all in stride. Especially since it's getting him a whole lot of attention, period, which is what any wrestler craves. Rhodes' 'stache isn't the only thing that WWE's fans are focusing on these days, as he and his tag partner Damien Sandow have been racking up victories lately and will challenge for the WWE's tag team titles this Sunday during the Royal Rumble at US Airways Center.

See also:
- WWE Superstar Antonio Cesaro on Ugly Americans, Being the United States Champion, and Why He's Tired of Being Called Eurotrash
- WWE Superstar Ryback on Comparisons to Goldberg, Avoiding Injury, and How He'll Steal the Show at Royal Rumble
- WWE to Bring Fan Fest to US Airways Center a Day Before Its Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View

More »

Images courtesy of WWE

WWE Superstar Antonio Cesaro

There's nothing that get red-blooded, all-American WWE fans hotter under the collar than an arrogant foreigner dissing them and the good ol' US of A. Especially when it's a haughty and highfalutin European like Antonio Cesaro, who has plenty of ammunition when he brags about his superiority, considering he boasts model-quality looks and a chiseled physique.

Like many legendary "evil foreigner" wrestlers that came before him (ranging from Britain's William Regal to Iran's Iron Sheik), Cesaro loves earning boos and jeers from the WWE fanbase when he opines on the awful state of our country. Best of all, the 32-year-old knows he's got y'all in the palm of his hand, particularly when he gets to rub the fact he's the WWE's current United States Champion in your collective faces.

See also:
- WWE Superstar Ryback on Comparisons to Goldberg, Avoiding Injury, and How He'll Steal the Show at Royal Rumble
- Rob Van Dam on Why Total Nonstop Action is Different from WWE, His Unusual-Looking Tights, and Why He Supports Marijuana Use
- Jeff Hardy on TNA's Bound for Glory, Overcoming Personal Demons, and Whether He'll Ever Return to WWE

More »

Images courtesy of WWE

Ryback lays the smack down on Lord Tensai with a killer clothesline.

When the WWE Superstar known as Ryback faces off against opponents in the ring on TV shows like Raw every week, the 6-foot-3 musclebound titan doesn't just wrestle them. In fact, he tends to destroy his foes with hard-hitting and painful-looking moves like clotheslines, slams, and his devastating finishing move, "The Shell Shocked."

It turns out that Ryback is just as forceful with his words, as we experienced firsthand via a recent phone interview with the 31-year-old spandex-clad performer. He blasted those fans who either boo him or call him a rip-off of Goldberg, as well as bluntly informing us that he plans on winning the WWE title sometime this year.

Ryback's also confident he'll do well during the upcoming Royal Rumble pay-per-view, which takes place at US Airways Center in downtown Phoenix on Sunday, January 27.

See also:
- WWE to Bring Fan Fest to US Airways Center a Day Before Its Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View

More »

Barry Gossage/US Airways Center

The US Airways Center last July during the WWE's Money in the Bank pay-per-view.

The last weekend of January is shaping up to be a big one for local fans of the WWE. As we previously reported, the multimillion-dollar professional wrestling company will be putting on its action-packed Royal Rumble pay-per-view (one of its biggest events of the entire year) at US Airways Center on Sunday, January 27, which is certain to pack the place with close to 19,000 fanatics.

Turns out that it won't be the only blockbuster wrestling event taking place in downtown Phoenix that particular weekend, as the WWE has announced it will be presenting a special Fan Fest outside of the arena one day prior on Saturday, January 26.

See also:
- WWE's Money in the Bank: A Visual Study of Phoenix's Die-Hard Wrestling Fans
- WWE's Money in the Bank at US Airways Center (Slideshow)
- WWE's WrestleMania Axxess in Downtown Phoenix

More »

Courtesy of TNA

Wrestling legend Sting

When it comes to the professional wrestling world, there are few bigger icons than Sting. Both a living legend and general of the ring, he's been a part of the business for more than 25 years and has held more than 12 world championships in that time.

Currently one of the venerated members of Total Nonstop Action (a.k.a. WWE's chief rival in the wrestling world), Sting is gearing up for a match-up with the dastardly team of Aces and Eights at TNA's Bound for Glory pay-per-view, which takes place at Grand Canyon University Arena. Jackalope Ranch spoke with Sting via telephone yesterday and got his thoughts on his big match, as well as his feelings about Aces and Eights, the possibility of retiring from wrestling, and his reaction to the recent controversy involving fellow TNA star Hulk Hogan and his sex tape.

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See also: TNA's Bully Ray on Reinventing Himself, Pissing People Off, and Brother Devon's Departure
See also: Jeff Hardy on TNA's Bound for Glory, Overcoming Personal Demons, and Whether He'll Ever Return to WWE

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Courtesy of TNA

TNA villain Bully Ray

Bully Ray is a major asshole. And wrestling fans love to hate him. Every week on Total Nonstop Action's weekly TV show Impact Wrestling on Spike, the 41-year-old ring veteran portrays a bad-ass, loudmouthed thug who roughs up TNA's heroes and gets under the skin of the audience and gets plenty of boos in response.

He's been doing that sort of thing for years, whether it was during his stint in Extreme Championship Wrestling or World Wrestling Entertainment as one-half of the legendary tag team The Dudley Boys. Jackalope Ranch recently spoke with Bully Ray about the transformation of his character, his feelings about his former partner Devon, and TNA's big pay-per-view event Bound for Glory, which takes place this Sunday at Grand Canyon University Arena.

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Courtesy of TNA

Jeff Hardy poses in a TNA wrestling ring.

Jeff Hardy is currently on a road to redemption.

Three years ago, the ultra-quirky daredevil professional wrestler (who's legendary for his high-flying and risk-taking exploits inside the ring for both World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action) was mired in a maelstrom of legal and personal issues, including charges of drug possession and allegations of hardcore substance abuse. Hardy's future was none too bright after he left behind a multimillion-dollar gig working for WWE and was possibly looking at spending years in prison.

Thankfully, Hardy settled his legal drama, recovered from his issues, and once again became one of the biggest stars in the wrestling biz. Later this month, he's scheduled to battle Austin Aries for the TNA's world heavyweight title here in the Valley at the promotion's biggest pay-per-view event of the year, Bound For Glory, which takes place on Sunday, October 14, at the Grand Canyon University Arena.

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Courtesy of TNA

Rob Van Dam (center) lays into an opponent during a match for Total Nonstop Action.

Rob Van Dam loves catching some air. The 6-foot, 238-pound professional wrestler (who performs for Total Nonstop Action) has a tendency to bust out with high-flying acrobatic moves during matches, causing much excitement in the crowds of wrestling fans that watch him.

Some of his most spectacular maneuvers include the "Five-Star Frog Splash," where he soars from the top turnbuckle of a wrestling ring and lands on his supine opponent, and the "Van Daminator," which involves a leaping kick that propels a metal folding chair into another dude's face.

On October 14, you can expect to see him flying all over the ring when TNA, the chief competitor to World Wrestling Entertainment in the world of suplexes and body slams, stages Bound for Glory (its biggest event of the year) at the Grand Canyon University Arena. Tickets for the event, which will be broadcast on pay-per-view, went on sale this morning and Jackalope Ranch had an opportunity to speak with Van Dam about his sky-high moves, how TNA is different from the WWE, and why he supports marijuana usage.

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