Brett Favre's return to Lambeau Field aired to 91 percent of the country, topping last week's Vikings-Steelers game (also on Fox) that went to 85 percent. The network drew an 18.3 overnight rating, Fox's best national game rating since Week 13 of the 2006 season. The Fox doubleheader averaged a 15.0 rating -- the network's highest doubleheader in 13 years -- and its Fox NFL Sunday pregame show drew a season-high 4.1 rating, the show's best performance in six years.
source: sportsillustrated.cnn.com
November 2, 2009
Brett Favre Draws Big
TNA Wrestlers Frustrated with Creative
Frankie Kazarian (a/k/a Suicide) asked for his release at the last round of TNA television because he's been frustrated with his creative direction. TNA management initially agreed to grant him the release, but A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels worked to soothe over the situation, so the release was never finalized.
A short time later, an upset Vince Russo approached A.J. Styles. Russo was upset because he had heard that Styles told Dixie Carter that he thought it would be a good idea if there were a wrestler on the creative team. Russo blew up and then Styles returned fire about being booked as a weak champion.
Although it appeared that Styles and Russo had cooled off following their backstage blowup, the word is that there were still some hard feelings over the weekend. Styles, Daniels, and Kazarian have expressed frustration to friends, and the bulk of their issues seem to be with Russo.
source: prowrestling.net
Linda McMahon's Campaign Issues Response to FEC Violation Complaint
Ed Patru, spokesman for the McMahon campaign, had this to say in response:
"It's a baseless accusation and the campaign has complied with all FEC rules and regulations. This latest attack from Chris Dodd speaks volumes about just how worried he is about Linda's campaign. Chris Dodd has an enormous credibility problem, and one of the reasons people don't trust him is because of his apparent coordination with AIG executives in which he gave carte blanche to his political supporters instead of regulating them, and then arranged behind closed doors to have them receive millions in taxpayer-funded bonuses. It's troubling that Chris Dodd's political apparatus seems more concerned with watching wrestling videos on the Internet than restoring trust in government."
Dems file McMahon-WWE Complaint
Connecticut Democrats have filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission charging GOP Senate candidate Linda McMahon's campaign illegally colluded with the WWE, founded by husband Vince, to remove offensive wrestling videos from YouTube.
The complaint alleges that the WWE pulled the videos after Democrats allied with Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) complained that the company's hugely popular events feature "simulated rape" and other deeply non-PC shenanigans...More?
source: politico.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Mankind is awarded the brand new WWF(E) Hardcore Championship by Vince McMahon.
November 2, 1998
November 1, 2009
Will Hulk Make an Impact?
Just what does Hulk Hogan's jump to TNA mean for the company and its loyal fans — and should his former boss Vince McMahon panic just yet?
There's no denying the signing of wrestling legend Hogan and Eric Bischoff is a major coup for TNA president Dixie Carter. But it does seem to be a backward step for the company as current storylines and booking concepts seemed to be pushing the younger roster members to the fore.
With Jeff Jarrett gone and TNA now seemingly cashing in on the huge amount of free publicity Hogan will bring, it's only a matter of time before old wounds open and we see a new version of WCW unfold before us. If played right by all, this high-profile deal could benefit both parties hugely.
However, Carter and Co need to remember that while we all love a nostalgia trip, it's the homegrown stars and established TNA acts we tune in for each week...More?
source: the sun
Classic Movie "Night and the City" Captured Wrestling's Murky Fascination
More than half a century before Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler, there was Jules Dassin's 1950 film noir classic Night and the City, about a two-bit American hustler trying to take over the wrestling scene in London. The images of that movie, flawed but compelling, still have relevance for wrestling fans today -- especially via the memorable performances of the legendary Stanislaus Zbyszko and Mike Mazurki (the wrestler-character actor who would go on to found the old-timers association, the Cauliflower Alley Club).
Night and the City has been restored in a newly remastered Criterion DVD, and is highly recommended for wrestling fans and film connoisseurs alike...More?
source: slam wrestling
This Day in Wrestling History
Happy Birthday to Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
November 1, 1946
Ted Turner purchases Jim Crockett promotions, the NWA cornerstone. The company is renamed to World Championship Wrestling.
November 1, 1988
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
