The official website for Triple H's new movie, The Chaperone, has been updated with photos (check out the tattoo!) and a list of theaters the movie will be in. Arizona, Texas and California will be happy.
January 27, 2011
Goldust Speculates on the Winner of the Royal Rumble
Regarding the Royal Rumble and his pick to win, Goldust said:
"You know, I kind of like - if Triple H is coming back, which I think he might be, but I'm not sure. If he does, I would have to pick him. If not him, I would have to say probably Alberto Del Rio."
WWE's New Standard for PPV's
WWE's Senior Vice President of Partner Sales Joe DelGrosso said at the webinar that WWE would not be cutting back from 13 pay-per-view events a year and that is the "new standard." He noted that this will be the "minimum" going forward, implying that more pay-per-view events may be added in the future.
source: pwtorch.com
This Day in Wrestling History - Andre the Giant Passes Away
Andre Rene Roussimoff May 19, 1946 - January 27, 1993
Due to his immense stature it seemed inevitable that Andre would excel in the wrestling world. He had just started to make a name for himself in the ring as "Monster Eiffel Tower" or "Monster Roussimoff" when French-Canadian wrestler Edouard Carpentier first laid eyes on him. Carpentier was impressed with Andre's raw talent and decided to bring him to North America. Andre began wrestling under the name Jean Ferre in Canada for Grand Prix Promotions. In a short time Andre went from the undercard to being a headlining name. Inspired by the movie King Kong he acquired the nickname, "The 8th Wonder of the World," which stayed with him for the rest of his career.
By the time Andre had performed in front of 20,000 wrestling fans in Montreal, his legend had reached Vince McMahon, Sr. at the World Wide Wrestling Federation's (WWWF) headquarters. McMahon would forever alter Andre's life. In 1972, McMahon signed Andre to wrestle for the WWWF and changed his name to capitalize on his colossal size. "Andre the Giant" became one of the most recognizable names in wrestling. Andre performed under his new name at Madison Square Garden, where he easily defeated his opponent Buddy Wolfe without breaking a sweat. Before long, Andre's venues were sold out and wrestlers lined up to perform in his shadow. As Andre's fame grew to stardom, he was featured in Sports Illustrated in the largest feature they had ever published...More?
source: andrethegiant.com
Andre the Giant vs Big John Studd
January 26, 2011
WWE Bringing Back the Diva Search
World Wrestling Entertainment announced during a web conference today that they will be bringing back the annual Diva Search competition. Julie Stenz, the company's Director of Partner Marketing, discolsed that an approximate ten-week competition would take place during "regularly scheduled" WWE programming and that sponsorship opportunities would also be available.
No date for the Diva Search's return has been announced as of yet.
More On The Ric Flair/TNA Tour Situation: Money Problems & Some Talent Doesn't Want Him Back
Ric Flair will be returning to the tour starting with tomorrow's event in Glasgow, Scotland. Some wrestlers rolled their eyes when they heard that he would be returning, but the decision to bring him back to the tour was a financial one. The European shows are sold out events, and with numerous changes having been made, (AJ Styles and Alex Shelley being injured, Kurt Angle returning home for a family emergency) TNA felt it best to get Flair back onto the shows to maintain good relations with the local promoters and the European fans, who kept supporting the company. This is also why Matt Hardy was added to the tour.
Among some of the wrestlers, the decision to bring Flair back will not be popular. Several performers spoke with management over the last 24 hours in an effort to have Flair sent home or even possibly let go from the company. Many performers were harsh in regards to Flair, stating that he had ruined the mood of the tour, which until this happened, was said to be calm and happy. Some are even comparing Flair to Booker T, as Booker fell out of favor with several in the company during the Germany tour last year. This was a factor in his dismissal from the company. Some talents feel sorry for Flair, including the following source…
"The whole thing was stupid but most of us feel more sorry for him than upset. If someone told you everyone is mad, that's a lie. But, there are some pissed because it makes the entire crew look like a**holes and we are certainly tired of his sh**. Flair's asked several of us for money when he's had his credit cards declined. When that happens, the bar tab comes and others get stuck paying for the very drinks he said were on the house in the first place. Everyone loves the "Nature Boy", but when the limousines and party lifestyle is based on bad credit and lies, it suddenly becomes more pathetic than anything else. There is nothing glamorous about a guy who has no concept of money management and then lies to try and get out of it. The fact he has no money should be a lesson every wrestler today should take note on. Don't let this happen to you. If you read the Gorgeous George book that came out and then take an honest look at Ric, you realize, wow, that book is pretty much predicting his future - and that's not a happy ending."
Another source believes that this may have been a good thing, since it may force management to deal with it first-hand and might make TNA a little more leery of continuing to bring in expensive veteran talent when the last year has shown no upside to it based on the current ratings. The source also says that the younger guys in the locker room have united against the veterans, feeling that they do all the work, while the veterans treat the company like a country club. The source had the following to say…
"I respect what the older guys have done, but they aren't making us any money. Nothing reflects that. We would draw the exact same if 99% of them were gone. Sometimes you have to take a step backwards to take a leap forward and I really think more and more that's where TNA is. Obviously, you need some veteran talents but there's a crew here that wants to build a company and we want to focus on that, not paying someone's bar tab and having to wait for him to fight it out with Craig Jenkins [TNA Management] when he doesn't get his way."
source: pwinsider.com
This Day in Wrestling History
WCW president J.J. Dillon bans the use of the powerbomb after Kevin Nash injures The Giant when attempting the move.
January 26, 1988
January 25, 2011
WWE NXT Results: Trading Up
Week eight results:
NXT Rookie Challenge: Howard Finkel won "Out-think The Fink" (no NXT Rookies earned immunity points)
Ted DiBiase def. Daniel Bryan
Brodus Clay def. Derrick Bateman, Johnny Curtis & Byron Saxton
NXT Rookie Records
Brodus Clay: Challenge points: 0, Win/loss record: 3-2
Byron Saxton: Challenge points: 0, Win/loss record: 3-4
Derrick Bateman: Challenge points: 0, Win/loss record: 1-4
Johnny Curtis: Challenge points: 0, Win/loss record: 2-4
Photo: Shane McMahon Candid
source: wrestleview.com
Update on the Ric Flair/TNA Tour Situation
To update on the Ric Flair incident in Dublin, Ireland, it is said that Flair allegedly played hardball, not getting on the bus after his request for a financial advance was refused. As this kind of thing has occured before and with Flair refusing to get on the plane, a decision was made to leave him behind. One source revealed that because of Flair's outburst, members of the roster were in favor of leaving Flair, some even mocking him, using his "signature promo lines" after the bus left without him. There was also talk that Flair's legendary "partying" habits on the tour may have also had something to do with his decision not to get on the bus. Finally, just to clarify, TNA management did not send Flair home. He was simply left behind after "blowing up" and subsequently refusing to travel, and is likely still in Europe.
source: pwinsider.com
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
