WWE has been inviting some fans who purchased Axxess tickets to participate in focus groups to discuss what they do and don't like about the current WWE product. Fans who participate are being offered free tickets to the final Axxess session and a private meeting with a WWE Superstar.
source: pwinsider.com
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March 22, 2011
WWE Focus Groups
Triple H Comments on Being a Family Man & his Talent for Art
From an interview with USA Weekend:
Do you enjoy being a family man?
Oh yeah. I waited a long time to have kids, and they say, “When you’re younger, it’s great to have the kids because you have more energy,” but for me, it’s awesome right now. I’ve done the things in my life that I wanted to do for me, and I was able to focus on that. Now, I’m still doing those other things, but it doesn’t take all my focus and my kids and my family come first. And all the other stuff, if it goes away, it’s not a big deal to me. It takes a lot of the pressure off the rest of your life when you put the pressure on yourself of raising your kids right. I want to be there for them. To me, it’s the greatest thing I’ve ever done.
You went to art school earlier in your life. Do you still draw a lot?
You know what, I wish I had the time. I really don’t have the time to do it on any kind of level. I doodle a lot. [Laughs] When I’m supposed to be paying attention in a meeting or something at the office, I’m doodling feverishly. What’s great about it to me, and to go back to the kids, now I kind of have that art background so when my kids want to make something or do something creative, I can do it with them. A month ago, I made my kids a spaceship out of a cardboard box that they were playing with. They play with it all the time and it’s sitting in their room. It’s cool, we did it together — we made it and then they drew it on with me and made the design and stuff. I know this is not the Triple H that you’re thinking of, but that’s my life now.
This Day in Wrestling History
WCW Executive Vice President, Bill Busch, resigned from his duties. Eric Bischoff was rehired as the Executive Vice President of WCW
March 22, 2000
March 21, 2011
Trish Status Says Chyna Should Be Inducted Into The WWE Hall of Fame
IGN.com recently interviewed Tough Enough trainer and multi-time WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus and she had the following to say in light of Sunny's induction into this years WWE Hall of Fame:
"I think Chyna should be next in because she did a lot of stuff to bring attention to the women's division itself and just presented women as a different thing," Stratus said. "I think fans were conditioned to see women as eye candy for a long, long time and she really broke the mold with that."
Don't hold your breath Trish...
Raw House Show Results Newark, NJ 3/20/11
The match went about 20 minutes and the crowd went bananas for Cena's entrance, but they went even crazier when Triple H came out. I think that was due to most kids not believing Triple H would be there. The match was a very good with Triple H and cena both taking beatdowns and getting the hot tag.
The building was shaking when Triple H tagged in Cena. The finish was Cena and Triple H hitting both The Pedigree and the Attitude Adjustment on both Punk and Sheamus for the win to send the crowd home happy...More?
source: prowrestling.net
Another WWE HOF Inductee Announced
WWE has officially announced Abdullah The Butcher as the newest inductee into the WWE Hall Of Fame class of 2011.
You can read the official announcement online at WWE.com.
This Day in Wrestling History
Wladek Zbyszko defeats Ed "Strangler" Lewis in New York City with a turn away crowd of 5,000. Zbyszko pins Lewis after an hour an a half. The "World Championship" which had been claimed by Lewis dating back to John Olin is now lost. Though Earl Caddock has never officially lost the "World Championship" to anyone, Wladek Zbyszko's claim is now as strong as any others.
March 21, 1919
John Pesek defeats Marin Plestina to win the first Midwest Wrestling Association title. Al Haft and Heywood Allen are promoters.
March 21, 1931
X-Pac makes his return & knocks out Hollywood Hulk Hogan, joining the nWo four days after WrestleMania 18 on SmackDown.
March 21, 2002
March 20, 2011
Publicist For The WWE Says They Aren't "Wrestling"
Chuck Ross of TVweek.com is featuring an article about being contacted by Kellie Baldyga, a publicist for WWE, over his coverage of the announcement last week that Drew Carey was being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Baldyga took issue with the headline reading "Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame" when referring to the news about Carey and that WWE wasn't "wrestling."
Baldyga was beginning to bother me. First, our headline was perfectly fine and accurate. Second, what was this "demand" about changing OUR headline?
I called her and introduced myself. The conversation then basically went as follows:
Me: Your release says that Carey is being recognized as being an entrant in the 2001 Royal Rumble. I believe that was a wrestling event.
Kellie: No, we don't do wrestling events. They're entertainments. And we don't call them wrestlers. They're superstars and divas.
I'm thinking to myself, is she kidding me? Is this woman mad? The company's official name is World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Its crown jewel is an event called WrestleMania. In the best tradition of wrestling on TV since its earliest days, they put on terrific shows (and events), with athletes who are performers and they've got storylines that are far more elaborate than any Gorgeous George and Freddie Blassie would have ever imagined. Why would they want to run away from who they are, from what's made them wildly successful beyond most people's dreams?
Me: Kellie, I really don't have time for this. WWE presents wrestling events. I'm not going to change the headline or anything in the item. If you'd like, I'll just remove it.
Kellie: Huh? What?
Me: Kellie, I don't have time for this. What do you want me to do?
Kellie: Remove it.
So I did.
Kellie sent me a follow-up email saying "I hope nothing was contentious in our conversation..." She added, "I know the perception is that we are a wrestling company but we are actually much more than that--we are a global media company which is how our Chairman and CEO, Vince McMahon, positions us."
Whatever. Take away wrestling from WWE and what do you basically have? I don't think WWE is quite as diverse as global media companies such as News Corp. or Time Warner or Viacom, but what do I know.
Full article:
Psst--Vince McMahon and the WWE Are No Longer In the Wrestling Business
This really isn't anything new. The WWE has been presenting themselves as an entertainment company for years. I'm surprised that Baldyga didn't point out to Ross that there is an entity called the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame that is completely separate from the WWE. For Ross to write that Drew Carey was being inducted into the "pro wrestling hall of fame" is inaccurate. I guess she didn't know that. That would have been a better argument. After doing a google search on Kellie Baldyga I found out that she became a publicist at WWE in February of this year. She might want to brush up on her new specialty.
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
