JR Gives Talent Evaluations From WWE NXT TV Tapings

Jim Ross, who knows a thing or two about talent, posted a new blog on his official website with thoughts on this week’s WWE NXT television tapings. Below is an excerpt:

Bray Wyatt Family had a stellar night. Good presentation.

Sasha Banks beginning to impress.

Jake Cater back from injury.

Good taping for Cory Graves.

Adrian Neville formerly know as PAC had a superb nite. An amazing, flying Dynamite Kid.

Mason Ryan returned to the ring & looked massive & imposing.

England’s Paige is improving & is a keeper in my view. The anti Diva.

Alex Riley looked good as did Bo Dallas & Michael McGillicutty.

Really enjoyed Kassius Ohno & Leo Kruger together.

Xavier Woods has ‘something.’

Willam Regal & Tony “Don’t call me Richard” Dawson handled all the commentary. Michael Cole & yours truly helped the announcers that were there. Enjoyed it. Shawn Michaels held court for hours w/ the young talents. Awesome. Great seeing Kevin Nash & Sean Waltman. Dusty Rhodes and I talked Johnny Football. An overall great experience at Full Sail & one I’d encourage fans to try at least once.

Update on New WWE Training Facility

WWE has a new training facility in Orlando, Florida that is almost completed. It's reportedly a rather large building, as it is said to be able to fit over five rings inside of it.

Former Developmental Talent Files New WWE Lawsuit

Brian Jack, the wrestler who filed a short-lived lawsuit against WWE last year in Wisconsin before it was quickly dismissed, filed another lawsuit against the company on 1/3 in Hillsborough County, FL, as well as Steve Keirn, Steve Keirn Inc. aka Florida Championship Wrestling, WWE NXT, and additional John and Jane Does to be named.

In the lawsuit, Jack alleges that on 1/7/09 he as an "experienced, professional wrestler who was an invitee" at FCW's training center in Tampa, Florida. He claims he was "specifically required" to train in one of the rings in the center, despite "the fact there were two other fully functional training wrestling rings" in the facility.

Jack claims that at 7:30 PM that evening, the ring he was working in collapsed in a "sudden and horrible measure" while he was training a "rookie wrestler" with 6-8 others in the ring, causing the "horrendously painful breaking" of Jack's knee. He claimed he suffered "without remedy" for four months following the injury.

In the lawsuit, Jack alleged, "Defendants failed and refused to render any kind of meaningful aid. Defendants failed and refused to contact emergency personnel for the Plaintiff regarding his injuries. Defendant Keirn, at the time of the injury, confidentially advised the Plaintiff that unless he wanted to work as a wrestler with Defendant WWE, Plaintiff was not to call an ambulance or report the occurrence of the injury."

The lawsuit also alleges that the Defendants showed "gross negligence", allowed a "dangerous structure" in the facility, failed to appropriately supervise the wrestling ring, manage the number of people inside the ring given their awareness of issues with the ring in question, failure to have an adequate response plan to the collapse and failure to inform the Plaintiff of the dangers of the ring.

In the lawsuit, Jack is asking for damages for "past and future medical and hospital expenses, mental anguish, emotional distress, past and future lost wages, loss of earning capacity as a professional wrestler, temporary and permanent injuries, pain and suffering, lose of ability to earn money, permanent disfigurement and scarring, loss of enjoyment of life and all other damages as provided by Florida law." He is also asking for pre and post judgment interest in those damages and for his legal fees to be covered by the Defendants.

Jack has requested a jury trial in the matter.

Jack's previous Wisconsin lawsuit, which featured a number of outrageous claims and also featured Beth Phoenix and Santino Marella as defendants, was quickly dismissed. Marella and Phoenix are not named in this filing.

The timeframe of the alleged incident with the collapsed ring would have been two years after WWE developmental was moved to Tampa under Keirn's FCW.

source: pwinsider.com

Rumor Mill - WWE Developmental Moving?

The WWE is planning to set up a permanent developmental facility in the Orlando area so the company can make better use of their relationship with Full Sail University. One source claimed a week ago that the company has purchased property for the facility. It's believed FCW/NXT would eventually migrate there.

source: pwinsider.com

Former WWE Superstar & DX Member Hired as Developmental Trainer

Wrestlezone is reporting that former WWE Superstar Kip Sopp, better known as Billy Gunn in WWE and Kip James in TNA Wrestling, has signed a new contract with the company, and is now working full-time as a trainer for their developmental territory, NXT.

Kip began talking with WWE officials after WrestleMania 28, and was signed on part-time with NXT shortly after Raw 1,000 this past July. His real-life best friend Brian "Road Dogg" James is currently working as an agent with WWE.

I guess Triple H got that apology...

Former WWE Developmental Wrestler Files Lawsuit Against WWE and Others, Citing Fraud, Injuries, Non-Payment of Medical Bills, Hazing and More

Note: Despite his claims in the lawsuit, PWInsider.com has confirmed that Brian Jack was never signed to a WWE developmental contract. He was working in FCW trying to earn himself a deal, but was not "sent there by WWE."

Brian Jack, a professional wrestler from Wisconsin who worked in WWE developmental FCW several years ago under the name Buck Wild, is suing WWE, a number of executives, wrestlers Santino Marella and Beth Phoenix, Dr. James Andrews and Shed Media, the production company for the most recent version of WWE Tough Enough, bringing a myriad of accusations against the assembled defendants.

In a lawsuit filed in The United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin on 11/30, Jack alleges:

*He "told WWE Corporate about hazing, threats, sexual harassment and more" but was told to "work it out with [FCW head] Steve Keirn."

*Keirn broke his "neck, pelvis, backbone, thumb" and left him with a badly injured right leg that Jack has had to deal with for several years.

*That Anthony Carelli (Santino Marella) attempted to get Jack to commit homeowner's fraud to make an insurance claim and that "WWE" wanted him to get into a "staged car wreck so their developmental insurance wouldn't take a hit."

*That he reached out to the Hilsborough Police Department in Florida but they "pulled out of a sting" and he later needed to borrow money to get home to Wisconsin.

*That after two years of trying to get WWE to fix his leg to no avail, he was contacted and flown down to Dr. James Andrews. Jack claimed that Andrews "checked me for a wire, asked me bizare questions, gave me a MRI, tried to run me through POMCO (workman's comp), then I was told by knee was still damaged by 1 of the 3 people in the room with Dr. Andrews."

*That he is still being billed and in collections years after he was instructed by WWE to send them the bills after returning from Dr. Andrews.

*That WWE "used Shed Media USA to fraud" him into believing he would be on the cast of Tough Enough in order to get him to sign a contract that would release WWE of any and all liabilities "before, during and after" production of the series. Jack claimed that when he brought it to their attention, they promised to send another contract removing that clause and never did. He claimed he never signed the contract because it would release WWE from paying the bills and he would be stuck with the expenses.

*Jack is also alleging that he has been slandered via employees of a company titled "Kwik Trip" who were contacted by WWE and that the slander has spread to his friends and landlord.

Jack notes in his filing that he sued WWE in 2011 and is awaiting an appeal on that lawsuit. Information on that suit was not immediately available.

Named in the suit are WWE, current and former WWE executives Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis (former head of WWE Talent Relations), Ty Bailey (former VP of Talent Relations), Kristin Actman (who would book extras for WWE TV), wrestlers Santino Marella and Beth Phoenix (her reason for being listed is never explained), Shed Media USA and Kwik Trip Inc.

Jack was down in WWE developmental several years ago and YouTube Video he posted on his account shows him performing as "Buck Wild" in front of an empty FCW Arena as well a test promo for his persona.

Interestingly, the channel also features a video where he describes his injuries in FCW as an "unfortunate, terrible accident".

In the suit, Jack asked the court to bring the defendants together to settle the issue so he can finally get the surgery he needs to move on with his life. He also requests that the case be heard in Wisconsin, where he resides, as WWE took him from there when they "placed him" in Tampa.

As of this writing, there has been no response to the lawsuit.

source: pwinsider.com

Major Title Change At Tonight’s NXT Wrestling Tapings

Big E Langston beat Seth Rollins to win the NXT Championship after hitting the Big End at the WWE NXT tapings Thursday night from Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. The Shield interfered but the majority of the NXT roster chased them away and Big E kicked out of Seth Rollins’ Shiranui attempt.

Langston countered a second one into the Big End. The roster celebrated with Langston as Triple H and Dusty Rhodes came out and raised his hands up. We have photos below:

Rumor Mill - Important Name Parting Ways with WWE In 2013?

There are a lot of rumblings around WWE developmental that WWE will be parting ways with Steve Keirn and his Florida Championship Wrestling next year. FCW is essentially NXT and has been WWE developmental for several years now.

The biggest part of developmental expected to be impacted with the change are the live events that are held in Florida.

Developmental will likely not be headquartered in Tampa anymore either as officials have been talking about relocating their NXT operations in Orlando.

Profile Of Talent Removed From NXT Roster Page; Now Listed As Creative Assistant

The profile of Byron Saxton has been removed from the NXT roster page. Saxton was working as an announcer but had been used less and less in the past year. Saxton is now listed on the NXT staff page as a creative assistant.

J.R. Comments on WWE's Talent Development Program

"Don't kid yourself, the future of WWE depends on the productivity in WWE's Developmental Program. WWE has no more important department in the entire company then Talent Development."

NXT Wrestling Running Shows Outside Of Florida

NXT will be holding it's first house shows outside of Florida in March of 2013. The shows take place on March 8th at the Rainwater Center in Valdosta, Georgia and March 9th at the Fairgrounds in Perry, Georgia. Get info about future events at: http://tinyurl.com/wrestlingshows.

Rumor Mill - Backstage News On NXT Wrestlers

With Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns being brought up to the main roster, the next group of guys on the rise in NXT look to be Big E Langston, Bray Wyatt (Taylor Rotunda), his brother Bo Dallas (Windham Rotunda) and the tag team of The Ascension – Conor O’Brian and Kenneth Cameron.

The Ascension have a great ring entranced and packaging as a team plus have developed a lot of double team moves from the old 1980′s heel tag teams. Now that there is more emphasis on tag teams in WWE, they may be brought up together soon.

source: wrestling observer newsletter

Fifth Wrestler Removed From WWE NXT Roster

A fifth WWE developmental wrestler has been removed from the roster page of the official NXT website; Lincoln Broderick. This is a possible indication of his release.

Broderick, whose real name is Marcus Anthony, is a heavily muscled wrestler the company signed out of Ohio Valley Wrestling in February. Despite possessing a great look, Broderick had limited experience and sparingly competed as a result. In his only match on the NXT television show, which was taped in September, he was squashed by Bronson in under two minutes.

The other profiles removed were that of Chad Baxter, Chase Donovan, Louis Fontaine and Nick Rogers. F4WOnline.com confirmed that Baxter, Donovan and Rogers were let go from their respective developmental contracts, while Fontaine claimed Wednesday in a Facebook post that he asked to be released.

Jim Ross - "Developmental Going to Get Much Bigger in the Near Future"

"Speaking of Big Show, the Workd Champ wrestled Bo Dallas on NXT Ina made I called with William Regal. Show being there in Orlando was a testament to his commitment to WWe and the Developmental System which is going to get MUCH bigger and better in the near future. I'm legit excited about where Talent Development is headed."

Chase Donovan & Nick Rogers Released From WWE Developmental

The WWE developmental releases continue as the profiles of Chase Donovan and Nick Rogers have been removed from the official NXT Wrestling website.

J.R. Comments on New FCW Trainer Sara Del Rey

"Sarah Del Ray doing an excellent job working/coaching the Divas. IMO I was the best in ring Divas bouts Thursday night as I've seen in WWe in a while. Layla, Alicia Fox, Paige and newcomer Sasha did well."

WWE NXT Fan Appreciation Night on 12/14 in Florida

NXT Wrestling presents "Fan Appreciation Night" on Friday, December 14th, 2012 at the Armory in Brooksville, Florida. The autograph session begins at 6:30 PM and the show begins at 7:30 PM. Free pictures with Santa Claus and the NXT divas will be available. Go to http://nxtwrestling.com/events/121412.html to purchase tickets. Get info about upcoming shows at: http://tinyurl.com/pwevents

Women Wrestlers Attend WWE Tryouts

As noted before, WWE NXT held their open tryouts last week in Tampa. Diva-Dirt reports that independent women's wrestlers Luscious Latasha, Brittney Savage and Gabby Gilbert were among those in attendance. They add that two other untrained women were at the tryouts - a friend of Gerald Brisco and a fitness model.

Sara Del Rey in New Tout Video with NXT Trainers

The rumors of top independent women's wrestler Sara Del Rey being brought in as a trainer to the WWE developmental Divas are apparently true. Del Rey recently reported to the NXT facilities after finalizing her deal and appears in a new Tout video from Bill DeMott with other trainers Norman Smiley and Joey Mercury.

Rumor Mill - WWE Developmental Diva Reportedly Enters Rehab

RingbellesOnline.com reports Thursday that Natalie Osman (a/k/a Buggy Nova), who signed a WWE developmental contract a few months ago, checked into a rehabilitation center to resolve a substance-related dependency matter. This would explain her profile being removed from the official NXT website last month and her absence from social media and NXT events in recent weeks. Her status with rehabilitation and WWE remains unclear.

Osman performed as Skyler Moon at NXT events in July and August.