Independent wrestler G.Q. Money (a/k/a Ryan Katz) announced that he is going to work for WWE NXT as an associate producer. "Just updated my job status and new employer," Katz wrote on Facebook. "Moving to Orlando next week. For those wondering, no, I wasn't 'signed' and you won't see me on NXT, but I am working behind the scenes. Couldn't be more excited."
source: prowrestling.net
May 24, 2013
New NXT Developmental Hire
CT Nutcase That Has Filed Multiple Lawsuits Against the WWE Back in the News
Connecticut lawmakers are considering a law revision in response to a local woman who regularly files lawsuits against companies free of charge, including WWE. A local news report notes that she received an $8,000 settlement from WWE...More?
Stephanie Levesque and the WWE being sued by CT Nutcase...Again
Rumor Mill - WWE Expected to Release More Talents
After last week’s round of WWE developmental releases, it’s expected that more releases will be announced before the new WWE Performance Center opens on July 1st. There also may be some other developmental employees shifted around – some sent to WWE headquarters and some just released.
Word also is that WWE will be getting rid of a lot of talents who have been in their developmental system for a while without really doing anything in NXT or getting called to the main roster. Derrick Bateman’s release was a perfect example of that.
Out of the recent releases, the Audrey Marie and Briley Pierce cuts were the biggest shockers within WWE.
source: pwinsider.com
WWE & TNA to Help Out the Hearing Impaired
Jason Powell is reporting that WWE & TNA have contacted Max Zaleski, who works with the website Wrestling with Subtitles, that they would be adding subtitles to all future DVD releases in the upcoming months. Zaleski had posted an online petition a couple months ago that had asked WWE & TNA to include subtitles in their DVD releases for the hearing impaired.
For more on Wrestling with Subtitles, click here.
source: prowrestling.net
May 23, 2013
Rumor Mill - Morale Down in WWE Developmental
It was originally reported a number of months ago that the overall morale in WWE developmental was pretty good after Triple H took a more personal investment in it, but it's now being reported that the morale has gone down considerably.
It's being reported that a big reason for this is because of head trainer Bill DeMott who is said to be not as well-liked as former head trainer Tom Prichard who as released a while back. Tom Prichard also Tweeted the following:
"Guys trust me; Karma gets everybody. From the 'Lil Napolean to the Volleyball expert. Time will tell... Those who KNOW 'know' who Napolean and Mr. Volleyball are. 'Nuff said. And I have no dog in this fight. But facts are FACTS!"
(Volleyball refers to Canyon Ceman and Napoleon refers to Matt Martlaro, who earned that nickname because he reportedly developed a bad attitude after doing some work with Triple H, feeling like that made him better than his peers.)
May 22, 2013
WWE Main Event Results 5/22/13
Alberto del Rio def. Big E Langston. This was a rematch from this week's Monday Night Raw, and del Rio won the match with a roll-up.
The Usos def. 3MB. Jinder Mahal and Drew McIntyre were working the match for 3MB. Ryback came out in his ambulance and beat down Heath Slater. He threw Slater into the ambulance and drove away.
Jim Ross Meeting with NFLPA Officials About WWE Relationship
Representing WWE, Jim Ross will be meeting with officials from the NFL Players Association in Washington, DC. Ross is looking to develop a working relationship that could see the NFLPA send players whose football aspirations have ended to WWE for tryouts. Ross told Alex Marvez and Jim Miller on their SiriusXM NFL Radio show Tuesday night:
"Everybody doesn’t make the 53-man roster. Some guys are going to be looking for work, and we’ve got some job openings. Maybe we can put the synergies of those two entities together and create something wonderful some day."
WWE may come calling for players who get cut from the NFL
Superstars and Divas' Bodybuilding Pasts
Being in prime physical condition is a requirement for any Superstar or Diva mixing it up in the squared circle. But several competitors have also showcased their amazing physiques on the bodybuilding stage...More?
source: wwe.com
Triple H "Injury" Update
After a savage Steel Cage battle with Brock Lesnar at Extreme Rules on Sunday, a physically battered Triple H was unable to continue in his match against impressive new Paul Heyman client Curtis Axel on Monday night's Raw.
On Tuesday, WWE.com spoke with WWE physician Dr. Michael Sampson, who gave an update on the status of The Cerebral Assassin.
"After the pay-per-view match on Sunday, we advised (Triple H) on Monday that he shouldn't wrestle because of head and jaw trauma he suffered from the sledgehammer attack by Brock Lesnar," Dr. Sampson explained to WWE.com. "Obviously, we saw what happened Monday night: He went against medical advice and tried to wrestle. Luckily, he pulled himself out."
After further evaluation, Sampson said The Game is still exhibiting some post-concussion symptoms and he'll be held out of action until WWE's medical staff can conduct further neurological tests.
"At this point, the neurological exams are all normal," Sampson added. "But we will continue to employ neuropsychological testing to get a better idea how he’s doing mentally, as far as reaction time, thought process and so on."
Sampson noted the additional neurological tests will likely be conducted near the end of this week, once The Game's headache has subsided.
source: wwe.com
May 21, 2013
Where is the Triple H Concussion Angle Headed?
According to F4WOnline.com, last night's angle with Triple H to end Raw was reportedly the beginning of a concussion angle for HHH.
According to the report, Triple H will be kept off TV for awhile, and when he returns, it is likely that the McMahon family, Stephanie and Vince, will return to TV to urge Triple H never to wrestle again due to the concussion.
More WWE Employment Shifts; New Creative Head Fired
PWTorch has confirmed that brand new WWE creative writer Adam Rudman has been released by the company, after only working six weeks following WrestleMania.
Rudman was let go last Friday, along with all the NXT Superstars that were fired on WWE's "black Friday". He recently replaced former head writer Eric Pankowski, who only lasted one year in his job as Senior Vice President of Creative and Development.
According to the report, Rudman was let go because of his inexperience with professional wrestling, and many backstage did not believe he would last long.
Wrestlezone.com reported that WWE Vice President of Television Production, "Big" John Gaburick finished his last week with the company. Initially, no details other than a farwell party with his co-workers were known about his departure. WZ is now reporting that sources inside the company say Gaburick leaving was not in fact his own choice.
"You don't leave that kind of spot and money unless the right people have problems with you," is what one source told us.
Gaburick always had a good relationship with Kevin Dunn, WWE's Executive Vice President of Television Production. However, Vince McMahon was never said to be the biggest fan of Gaburick. A source said, "Kevin protected 'Big' from Vince." When Gaburick was promoted to his VP position several years ago, his relationship with Dunn began to sour. One source believed the departure was the result of the company's "changing landscape" as Stephanie McMahon and Triple H continue to overhaul the internal structure.
It seems things finally got to a point where the company decided it was time for a change and Gaburick quietly left his position.
May 20, 2013
Paul Heyman's New Client Revealed on Raw
It was revealed on Raw tonight that Michael McGillicutty is Paul Heyman's newest client. McGillicutty's new ring name will be Curtis Axel, which is an homage to Larry "The Ax" Henning and McGillicutty's real life father Curt Hennig.
May 18, 2013
Rumor Mill - A Day In The Life Of Triple H, WWE Special Coming To ESPN?
Triple H is looking to “cozy up” to ESPN in hopes that over time, WWE will be treated with more respect by some of the mainstream media.
We’re not talking highlights on SportsCenter but Hunter does feel like a good relationship with ESPN would mean more exposure. He gave ESPN the exclusive in breaking the news that Bruno Sammartino had accepted WWE’s offer to be inducted into their Hall of Fame as the beginning of what he is hoping will be a friendly relationship with them.
ESPN cameras have actually been filming Hunter recently in hopes of doing a “day in the life” type piece on him. The idea would be to provide a “behind the scenes” documentary type feature to show viewers what it’s like running a major franchise like WWE, especially for a guy that is new on the job.
This is all part of WWE’s plan to position Hunter as a more respectable leader in the eyes of the mainstream media, as Vince McMahon’s aggressive demeanor over the course of decades has resulted in quite a few enemies.
source: wnw premium news
Video: Legendary sportscaster Bob Costas remembers his epic interview with wrestling personality Vince McMahon
May 17, 2013
WWE Saturday Morning Slam To Resume Airing On The CW
According to SaturdayMorningSlam.com, last Saturday's episode of WWE's children-aimed program on The CW, Saturday Morning Slam, marked as the show's season finale. While the show is off the air beginning this week (The CW released its schedule for this Saturday's slate of "Vortexx" programming and Saturday Morning Slam is not listed, with Dragon Ball Z Kai instead airing in the 10:30 a.m. time slot), it will resume airing in the future.
There is a graphic on MyVortexx.com teasing a new season of Saturday Morning Slam "coming soon."
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported last week that executives of the network treated Saturday Morning Slam as its other children series, with only a specific number of episodes ordered.
WWE Superstars Results 5/17/13
Sin Cara defeated Michael McGillicutty and Cody Rhodes defeated Alex Riley.
TNA vs. WWE show?, Dixie Carter wants to promote it, but does she think WWE would be interested?
During a U.K. Media Tour, TNA president Dixie Carter said she would like to promote a TNA vs. WWE inter-promotional wrestling show, but she acknowledged that it likely will not happen.
"I absolutely would do that. I'm not sure if they would do that, but I absolutely would," Carter told Digital Spy.
Carter said her perspective is that WWE would not be open to advancing competition between the top U.S. promotions.
"I don't think WWE shares my belief in this, but I believe that competition is 100 percent positively essential," Carter said. "I think it's important for fans and for us. To have one company dominate, (a) it's boring, and (b) you are not being challenged enough. It's always better to have other options out there and I truly believe it makes both companies better."...More?
This just smacks of desperation...
Pwtorch's Analysis: It would not make sense on WWE's end since the majority of WWE's audience is not aware of TNA's existence, so it would essentially be free advertising for the default #2 company. Also, TNA needs to be more focused on showing some real progress. Going on the road and going live every other week gives the appearance of progress, but the product they've put out and the ratings they've drawn since Lockdown shows the company is not progressing.
WWE Releases Seven Developmental Wrestlers
With WWE on the verge of signing new developmental talent to coincide with the launch of its Performance Center in Winter Park, Florida, multiple talents situated in the developmental system were released today.
It has been confirmed that Derrick Bateman, Briley Pierce, Sakamoto, Percy Watson, Brandon Traven, Audrey Marie and Anya were let go by the sports-entertainment organization.
Bateman announced on his Twitter account that he is now available for independent bookings and then adding, "Welp see ya later @wwe @WWEUniverse #itsfine."
Pierce, who is the brother of WWE World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler, stated on his account, "I guarantee that was the funniest and most entertaining "You're released" phone call in WWE history. Bye, everybody!"
Sakamoto thanked WWE on his account for doing business with him, writing, "#WWE #NXT my friend thank you for everything SAYONARA."
Traven remarked on the social networking website, "Staying positive on a bad day..not the end only the beginning...things in life happen for a reason..just had a good lunch with good people. Not the end of the book just the end of the chapter..my journey is far from over
Though Watson, Marie and Anya have yet to publicly address their standing with WWE, PWInsider.com states that all three individuals have been let go. Lending credibility to the report, their respective profiles have been removed from the official websites of WWE (WWE.com) and NXT Wrestling (FCWWrestling.info).
Bateman, who had been under contract to WWE since 2008, appeared on the final season of NXT before the program was transferred to Florida. He last appeared on WWE programming late last year, and had been making infrequent appearances for NXT.
Briley had been in WWE's developmental system since 2011, the highlight of which was a Florida Tag Team Championship reign with Brad Maddox. He was shifted to the role of backstage interviewer for NXT last June, though would still continue to compete. However, he lost the majority of his matches from that point on.
Sakamoto was paired with Tensai last year before being demoted to developmental in November. Having been trained by Taka Michinoku at his Kaientai Dojo wrestling school in Japan, he joined WWE's developmental system in 2011.
Traven competed for various Midwestern independent organizations as Brian Beaker before being signed to a developmental contract last year. He was originally trained by WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race in Missouri.
Watson, a former professional football player, joined WWE in 2009 and would frequently appear on NXT. At times, he appeared on the brink of joining the main roster, but ultimately did not.
Marie had been under contract to WWE since 2011 and was a fixture in the developmental system's women's division.
Anya is a 6'1" Russian kickboxer and martial artist WWE signed last summer. She was recently sidelined due to a broken arm.
WWE Developmental Update, New Signing
PWInsider.com has confirmed that WWE has signed California-based independent wrestler Shaun Ricker to a developmental contract. He had been appearing as a featured heel for Championship Wrestling from Hollywood, where he was at one point managed by the late Percy Pringle (a/k/a Paul Bearer).
Ricker is thirty-years-old, 6' 1", 225 pounds and originally hails from Hagerstown, Maryland. It was announced last month that he would be appearing as a contestant on Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's action reality series on TNT, The Hero, which brings "ten ordinary people together in an unexpected and dramatic setting, then assign them various missions that will test their brains, their brawn and even their morality." On the show, Ricker is billed as a "a struggling pro wrestler who has all the makings of a hero… honesty, strength, charisma. But does he have the compassion?"
The acquisition had been expected as the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported last week that Ricker as well as fellow independent wrestlers Sami Callihan, Samuray del Sol and Mike Bennett had undergone medical testing required to be signed to WWE.
PWInsider.com also reports that when WWE shifts its developmental station to Winter Park, Florida in the beginning of July—officially billed as the "WWE Performance Center"—there may be as many as twenty to twenty-two more developmental acquisitions as well as changes to the developmental staff.
Update on WWE Network
WWE is still holding to an 18-month window for the potential launch of a WWE Network. However, WWE CFO George Barrios provided several updates on the Network during a presentation Thursday at J.P. Morgan's 41st Annual Global Technology, Media, and Telecom Conference.
- The current plan for a typical 24-hour programming day is 10-15 hours of "premiering" original content. This does not include re-airing the latest episodes of Raw and Smackdown once the shows premiere on USA Network and Syfy, respectively.
The amount of "original content" per day would expand on days when WWE airs a monthly PPV event. Barrios noted that WWE is still sticking to the plan of airing 11 of their 12 PPVs on the planned Network, with WrestleMania remaining on pay-per-view distribution.
- Barrios lowered the potential monthly price for the HBO-like subscription channel to $9.99-14.99. WWE originally proposed $12.99-14.99.
"We’ve done a lot of research. It says that’s doable. Again, we will see when it comes," Barrios said.
- Barrios noted three original series are already in the can: Monday Night Wars chronicling WWE vs. Ted Turner during the '90s, WWE Countdown, a half-hour show counting down top moments in WWE history (WWE has already released some footage on YouTube), and WrestleMania Rewind documenting "great moments from WrestleMania past."
Barrios noted they already tested these three pilot shows with fans. "One of the nice things is not only do the current passionate fans like it or casual, lapsed fans like a lot of that stuff, because they get to relive some of the past," Barrios said. "And it's nicely curated, not just putting Raw footage on it, kind of contemporize and contextualize today, either with new stars, and different people in pop-culture are part of the production."
- Barrios identified negotiations being the biggest obstacle to finding a partner to launch the Network with and cable/satellite companies to carry the Network.
"If it's not NBCU, we believe someone will and we’ll see where that goes," Barrios said. Earlier, though, Barrios candidly said WWE could work on their negotiating skills.
"We’re not particularly good negotiators," Barrios said about working out new TV deals for Raw and other programming. "We say we’re great partners and average negotiators."
- In summary, Barrios said the company believes their best sales pitch to potential TV partners is putting 11 of 12 PPVs on the Network, which they believe will entice WWE fans to subscribe to the Network in order to watch the PPVs at a favorable price.
"We’ve got three shows in the can already. So, we’ll create new original content, create a subscription service, price it somewhere between $9.99 and $14.99 a month. And we think that just opens up not only our Pay-Per-Views but the rest of the content to an audience who today can't afford to buy the Pay-Per-Views because it’s a $50 hit on your cable bill every month when average people bills in the U.S. are about $100," Barrios said.
May 16, 2013
WWE Funds Research into Treatment of Chronic Brain Trauma
WWE is tag-teaming with medical researchers to take on CTE.
World Wrestling Entertainment, known for past stars such as Hulk Hogan and current champ John Cena, says it is making a gift of $1.2 million over three years to further research aimed at developing a treatment for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. The brain disease, associated with repeated concussions, has come under scrutiny amid concussion-related lawsuits by more than 4,000 former NFL players against the league. CTE has been linked to depression and dementia.
"Obviously, I think it's such a huge concern for everybody right now in sports and in the military. As we learn more and more about concussions and what can become of it, I think it's a problem for everybody," Paul Levesque, WWE executive vice president of Talent and Live Events, told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday.
The WWE says the gift is a continuation of the Talent Wellness Program it started in 2006, which now includes the same neurological baseline testing used in the NFL and such pro wrestling-specific mandates as a ban against bashing an opponent over the head with a metal chair.
"We still hit people with metal chairs, just not in the head anymore," said Levesque, who as a ring star and occasional wrestler is known as Triple H. "We took out the things that ... caused the most concussions and the most head impacts."
The gift is being made to the Sports Legacy Institute, a Boston non-profit with a mission to advance treatment and prevention of the effects of concussions in athletes and others, such as soldiers concussed by blasts. The Sports Legacy Institute has a pro wrestling connection: Co-founder Chris Nowinski played football at Harvard but also wrestled in the WWE under names that included Chris Harvard. His character had a move called the "Honor Roll."
Nowinski, in approaching WWE with an appeal for funding, knew from his own wrestling career that it was involved with the military. "I used to go visit Walter Reed (hospital), when I was talent there, on regular basis. So I thought they might be interested in funding CTE research, and they were," he said.
Nowinski sustained a concussion in a 2003 wrestling match. The problems he had in the aftermath, from a kick in the head by Bubba Ray Dudley, fueled his interest in prevention and treatment.
"It wasn't his fault. I was too close," Nowinski said of wrestling Dudley. "And unfortunately I lied about my symptoms for five weeks and kept going. ... I had a headache and was nauseous every time I got my heart rate up, but I fought through it as best I could."
Times have changed since in wrestling. Levesque said the WWE performer known as Dolph Ziggler recently sustained a concussion -- "He got hit with an errant kick that was supposed to be in the chest, and somebody zigged when they should have zagged, and he got hit on the chin" -- and is out for Sunday's scheduled Extreme Rules pay-per-view.
The WWE gift will be used by researchers at Boston University's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy in a new investigation aimed at studying the effectiveness of potential treatments for CTE. The research will be led by neurologist/neuropathologist Ann McKee, co-director of the center, and Lee Goldstein, one of the investigators.
"We've come a long way in five years," McKee said. "This funding will further accelerate the pace of our research and hasten the development of methods to detect CTE during life as well as identify treatments to slow or stop its progression."
In addition to eliminating chairs to the head, the WWE says it also has modified its training and maneuvers to curtail blows to the head. Levesque said the effort is showing results.
"In 2011, we had 25 concussions of the 150 talent (wrestlers) on the road all year long. ... In 2012, we only had 11," he said.
Levesque said pro wrestling is fundamentally different from football when it comes to hard impacts.
"If you're in the NFL, your goal is to try to hit the other guy as hard as possible. ... The goal in what we do is the exact opposite," said Levesque.
"The goal in what we do is first and foremost ... protect your opponent. Without him you have nothing. ... Our whole goal is to make something look as devastating as possible and as impactful as possible with as little impact as possible. It's really the art of what we do. We really work on that with talent.
"If John Cena and I are in a story line together and I hit John Cena hard and he gets injured, and he's out, it hurts me as much as it hurts him. He's out; now my opponent that I'm in a story line with is gone and my storyline just ended.''
The research figures to benefit other sports, but Levesque noted that WWE often gets its wrestlers from other sports: "We recruit a lot of our talent from other contact sports, NFL, NHL, rugby and the Olympics. ... It's important for us as to where they're coming from and what has happened to them prior to them getting to us because it's ... in essence what we're getting as a talent.''
He said the wrestlers are the show in the WWE.
"With us, we're making brands and we're making stars, and those stars are the most important thing we have," said Levesque. "We can't just go buy a second-string John Cena and have them be on the show."
source: usatoday.com
WWE Saturday Morning Slam Officially Off The Air
Saturday Morning Slam, WWE’s children-aimed program on The CW, is officially off the air.
The CW released its schedule for this Saturday’s slate of “Vortexx” programming and Saturday Morning Slam is not listed. Instead, Dragon Ball Z Kai will air in the 10:30 a.m. time slot.
The changed had been expected as WWE ceased taping matches for the program last month. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported last week that executives of the network ordered a specific number of episodes, therefore explaining its abrupt hiatus. It is not publicly known whether the show will resume airing.
Rumor Mill - WWE Drops Gorgeous George Projects
It appears WWE has dropped any plans to do a DVD or feature film on Hall of Famer Gorgeous George. Originally, WWE Studios was going to do the movie and then they changed their minds and wanted to do a documentary DVD but the people involved in that project haven’t heard anything from WWE in a long time.
source: wrestling observer newsletter
May 15, 2013
WWE Main Event Results 5/15/13
Kane defeated Seth Rollins via disqualification when The Shield interfered. The Usos saved Kane.
Sin Cara defeated WWE Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett in a non-title match.
Cody Rhodes defeated Justin Gabriel. The Miz and Rhodes had a staredown to close the show.
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