Joel Simon Out - Michael Lake in at WWE Films

World Wrestling Entertainment® has hired Michael Lake as President of its WWE Films division. A 36-year veteran of the movie and television industries, Lake recently served as Executive Producer for WWE Film’s The Condemned, starring Stone Cold Steve Austin™.

As President of WWE Films replacing Joel Simon, Lake will report directly to WWE® Chairman, Vince McMahon. He will be tasked with developing theatrical and direct-to-video opportunities for WWE Films that provide unmatched on-screen action as vehicles for WWE Superstars. In addition to feature films, Lake will also work to develop new television projects that will benefit from an affiliation with WWE or its Superstars...More?

Top UFC Fighter Fired for Steroid Usage

Mmanews .com is reporting that Another mixed martial artist has tested positive for an anabolic steroid. Anthony Torres, who was stopped in the first round of his fight with Jess Liaudin at UFC 75 in London on Sept. 8, tested positive for Boldenone, UFC vice president Marc Ratner said. Because there is no entity which regulates MMA in the United Kingdom, the UFC administered drug tests at random before and after the fights that night. Torres was found to have Boldenone in his system. He will not be able to be punished by a commission since none has jurisdiction, but Ratner said the UFC plans to advise athletic commissions of the positive test. The UFC released Torres from his contract for poor performance after the loss to Liaudin, Ratner said.

Kurt Angle's Attorney Says Angle's Arrest Was Improper

Attorneys for Kurt Angle issued a statement this morning to TMZ.com saying that their client is innocent, was wrongly arrested and is a target due to his celebrity status. Here is that statement:

"Kurt Angle maintains his innocence relative to the charges brought by the police in this matter. The improper arrest occurred in the middle of the afternoon after Mr. Angle showed no signs of intoxication. The police have no blood alcohol content and not firsthand knowledge of his operation of his vehicle. We believe the motivation for this arrest is based upon Kurt Angle's celebrity status and we are confident that we will prevail when the truth becomes evident."

UFC WiRED

UFC® WiRED™, a hard-hitting journey back in time featuring some of the greatest bouts ever held in the famous UFC Octagon™, premieres this weekend in over 130 markets throughout the United States starting Saturday, October 6...More?

Stone Cold Done with Wrestling

Stone Cold Steve Austin recently did a short interview with iF Magazine regarding his future as an actor. Austin told the magazine the following:

"[Acting] is what I'm pursuing full time. I'm through with wrestling. Wrestling was one of the best jobs, the most fun I've ever had in my life, and I had a good time doing it. Fifteen years on the road, it's time to do something else...More?

Ric Flair's WWE Status

Ric Flair met with Vince McMahon on 9/20 at Titan Towers, and according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the meeting didn't go well. McMahon was upset that Flair brought lawyers with him. There are unsolved issues which nobody appears to be aware of. The meeting resulted in the two sides being farther apart.

Flair owes the company a significant amount of money. McMahon extended Flair a sizeable personal loan to help the "Nature Boy" resolve his tax problems with the IRS.

In terms of creative, Raw head writer Brian Gewirtz is against the push of Flair beating top guys on his way out at his age since he would be leaving the squared circle.

RVD Addresses Health Insurance for Wrestlers

I still don't like RVD, but he makes an excellent point concerning health insurance for professional wrestlers. This post is from his myspace page:

"If you haven't heard any of my interviews on the subject of wrestlers being taken advantage of, I offer an honest but probably different opinion than most. Forget the wrestler's union. It'll never happen. Wrestlers are all replaceable and have nowhere else to go anyway. Are you surprised when you hear that wrestler's don't get insurance benefits? Big deal. We are independent contractors, just like the guy you paid to paint your house. If the painter signs a contract that says he will work for you for 3 years, and work for no one else and give ownership of any plans or ideas created or used on the job to you, and he gives you the right to amend the contract on your side to implement dress codes and fines and wellness programs and whatever else you decide along the way, that's the deal he made. If you are paying him enough money so he can get his own insurance, set up his own retirement funds, and you take care of getting him to the job and back home, what's the problem? He's not an employee. He's self-employed. Would he rather have less pay, but get insurance through you? Probably not, especially since he's covered if he gets hurt on the job anyway. Make sense? I hope I cleared some questions up for you and gave you a different angle to see the situation from. I admit as quickly as anyone that the job is way challenging, but it's a challenge we agree to. That's why I finished the agreement that I made and now I'm done. For the moment, anyway."

Kurt Angle Arrested for DUI

Last Friday afternoon in Moon Township, PA, TNA's Kurt Angle was arrested for drunk driving.

After Moon Township police got a report of an erratic driver matching the description of Angle and his car, they went to his home.

He admitted to driving home from the bar. He agreed to and failed a sobriety test, but refused a blood test.

Angle was charged with driving under the influence and careless driving.

source: wpxi.com

Everything Ken Kennedy Touches Turns to Crap

Found this on a forum:

...Ken Anderson was a very talented professional wrestler. He was known as Kamikaze Ken. He got signed by WWE and sent to OVW, where Jim Cornette saw nothing in him. Cornette told Ken that he'll never make it. But the Louisville Lip got fired. That was the greatest thing that ever happened to Ken Anderson. But it brought him closer to the Kennedy Curse.

Ken Anderson was a pet project of the new OVW Booker. The new booker put Ken with Daniel Puder and built the heel side of OVW around them. The new booker wrote memos to Vince, Stephanie, Laurinaitis, and the creative team beaming about this great main event talent. The new booker said this guy could main event Wrestlemania.

So they brought Ken Anderson up to the television tapings, and fell in love with him right away when he did the gimmick of introducing himself. Vince wanted him on television right away. But Vince hated the old school name Anderson and told Ken to change his name.

So Ken called the OVW booker and asked for help.

The OVW booker, knowing Vince McMahon for many years, suggested Ken take Vince's middle name, because then Vince would have a personal emotional attachement to the character.

Paul Heyman gave Ken Anderson the name "Ken Kennedy." And the curse began right away....More?

Shawn Michaels may not return to the WWE

According to the most recent issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels may not be returning to WWE in the coming months as planned.

HBK has been out of action for several months rehabbing a knee injury. He was expected to return to the ring this fall, but the Observer reports that Shawn told Hunter that he may not return at all.

Shawn said his family is his top priority, his knees are in bad shape and he wants to devote more time to his true passion, Christianity.

Triple H has been pushing Shawn to return to RAW even before he was ready to wrestle, due to the VERY thin roster. So far, HBK isn't into it. The key issue for Shawn is that he wants a reduced travel schedule, much like The Undertaker has.

Hulk Hogan to Host American Gladiators on NBC

Television industry news site TVWeek.com is reporting that professional wrestler and VH1 reality show star Hulk Hogan has signed on to host NBC’s upcoming remake of “American Gladiators".

Hogan made the rounds at NBC’s Burbank offices last week and has accepted the job. The deal is still being finalized, but sources say both parties are committed.

Like the early-1990s original, the new “Gladiators” will have everyday weekend warriors competing against the show’s cast of athletes. The remake will add special effects, water skills and high-tech stunts.

Hunter & Batista at the Olympia Expo