This Day in Wrestling History

Superstar Billy Graham defeated Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF(WWE) Heavyweight title.
April 30, 1977

Greg Valentine defeated Roddy Piper for the NWA U.S. Heavyweight title
April 30, 1983

Chris Benoit defeated Booker T for the WCW Television title.
April 30, 1998

The Rock defeated Triple H for the WWF(E) Heavyweight title at Backlash at the MCI Center, Washington, DC.
April 30, 2000

Vince McMahon Asked By A Shareholder About Buying TNA

Vince was asked when he was going to "buy that company based in Nashville, TN because they have the wrong people running it. Please save the business from Dixie Carter." McMahon laughed. The stockholder said, "Stephanie has more brains than Dixie Carter has." They showed Triple H and Stephanie laughing at this development. The stockholder said that if WWE bought TNA now, there "was a shot at fixing that company." Vince said, "I don't know they are for sale." The stockholder said, "It's a 50/50 shot, they know you are loaded with money." McMahon said, "Maybe."

Rumor Mill - Michelle McCool Leaving WWE

PWInsider.com is reorting that Michelle McCool is finishing up with WWE, as she will participate in a Loser Leaves Smackdown Match against former Lay-Cool partner Layla El. Based on conversations with several wrestlers and a key WWE insider, this move has a lot to do with the fact The Undertaker is not scheduled for TV anytime soon.

McCool's tenure on Smackdown has been somewhat controversial, as she has not appeared on house shows, and only works TV tapings and pay per views. This preferential treatment rubbed a lot of the full time wrestlers the wrong way, especially since so many "part-timers" were in featured roles for WrestleMania (Michael Cole, Jerry Lawler, Trish Stratus, Vickie Guerrero, Snooki). To make matters worse, the Cole vs Lawler match went very long at WrestleMania, taking up valuable time that others could have used to put more of a spotlight on their own match. Agent - Producer Dean Malenko was the one who laid out the Lawler vs Cole match, and that touched off a whole locker room discussion about the part timers who get so much air time, when the house shows are hurting and pay checks are down because of it.

McCool is said to leave in WWE Chairman Vince McMahon's good graces, and is expected to return to television about the same time Undertaker appears again.

Vince, Stephanie & Triple H at the WWE Shareholders Meeting

Vince McMahon stressed that Triple H, who was labeled "Senior Advisor in the Chairman's office," heading up the new talent initiative will aim to draw in more international stars. The regular question about global expansion was brought up, but McMahon said they don't plan to have regional/global territories around the world because it would be difficult to set up.

WWE also stressed talent being the "lifeline" of the product and noted Hunter has been put in charge of "re-focusing on talent development," which WWE hopes will position the company for long-term growth.

source: pwtorch.com

Click here for more highlights. Click here to view the video of the meeting.

The Creative Coalition and WWE Launch Anti-Bullying Alliance

The Creative Coalition and WWE, announced today the launch of “be a STAR,” a multi-platform, nationwide anti-bullying alliance, in conjunction with the National Education Association Health Information Network (NEA HIN), GLAAD, True Educator Inc., Ad Council, Island Def Jam Music Group, Close Up Foundation and others...More?

Interview with Titus O'Neil

WWE Pins 1 Million WrestleMania PPV Buys

Helped by some heavy hype from Dwayne ''The Rock'' Johnson and ''Jersey Shore's'' Snooki, WWE has reached its goal of 1 million pay-per-view buys again for WrestleMania.

Although final numbers are still being tallied, this year's live four-hour event, hosted April 3, in Atlanta, is already up 30% in North America and up to 15% overseas, according to the company...More?

source: variety.com

Karen Jarrett Allegedly a Victim of Sexual Harassment in TNA

Former WWE Intercontinental Champion The Honky Tonk Man posted the following Tweet on Monday: "Anyone who missed HTM's announcement on TNA tonight. Karen Angle vs Dixie Carter's husband is the sexual harassment lawsuit going down! That's why Dixie is off TV and Karen is now back with the company as part of the settlement."

His Tweet was in reference to statements he made during his weekly podcast this past Monday night where he claimed that Karen Jarrett is the victim of a sexual harassment lawsuit which she filed against TNA Wrestling.

According to Honky Tonk Man, Jarrett was sexually harassed by TNA President Dixie Carter's husband Serge Salinas, and part of the lawsuit settlement was that Jarrett be given her TNA job back, which is why she rejoined the company and returned to TV. Furthermore, HTM claimed that Dixie Carter was taken off TNA TV earlier this year due to the lawsuit. You can check out HTM's podcast if you click here.

source: wrestlezone.com

This Day in Wrestling History

Steve Austin & Triple H defeated Undertaker & Kane to win the WWF(E) Tag Team Titles.
April 29, 2001

Former AWA, Portland Wrestling, and WWF(E) star Playboy Buddy Rose (Paul Perschmann) died.
April 29, 2009

Triple H to Make an Appearance at World Academy in Nashua, NH

World Academy, the school that Paul Levesque's sister Lynn Ouellette is a director at, issued the following press release:

STREETER AND LEVESQUE PARTNER to BENEFIT GBO AND WORLD ACADEMY

World Academy, formerly known as The World Schools, in conjunction with The Gordon B. Ouellette Memorial Fund, will host the first annual GBO Memorial Fund Spring Gala on Friday, May 6th 2011 from 7pm to 11pm at the Nashua Radisson’s Ashwood Court off Spit Brook Road in South Nashua. The GBO Fund exists, in loving memory of the late Gordon Ouellette of Nashua, to ensure that access to the exceptional educational experience offered at World Academy is available to all students and families who improve the quality of the community at World Academy, regardless of financial circumstances.

The evening is planned as a fun and festive celebration, with light appetizers, music and dancing, and will mark the first-ever live culmination to the school’s annual Silent Auction. Nashua’s own Bernie Streeter and NH native Paul Levesque of the WWE will be in attendance as Auctioneers, providing what World Academy’s Marketing Manager Jenny Smith envisions as a fun and entertaining finale to the fundraising effort...More?

WWE Announces Revised Dividend Policy

WWE today announced a revised dividend policy to enhance the Company’s financial flexibility and support the “New WWE” initiative. Beginning in June of 2011, the Company’s quarterly dividend will be adjusted to $0.12 per share of common stock held by the Company’s Class A public shareholders. Members of the McMahon family will also receive dividends in the revised per share amount and, as a result, all Class A and Class B shares will receive dividends in the amount of $0.12 per share.

“Our Board of Directors has determined that an adjustment to the current dividend is both prudent and appropriate,” stated Vince McMahon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We believe this change strikes the right balance between returning capital to shareholders and investing in our future. We are confident that WWE is ideally positioned to create long term value for our shareholders.”

“The Company’s revised quarterly dividend was set based on targeted ranges for payout ratios and liquidity levels,” stated George Barrios, Chief Financial Officer. “Aligning payouts with our current level of earnings and cash flow will significantly enhance our financial flexibility, support our current growth initiatives, and enable us to take advantage of important strategic opportunities in a quickly changing media landscape, including executing on our ‘New WWE’ initiative.”

WWE’s management and Board remain committed to delivering value for the Company’s shareholders, and the revised dividend will continue to return significant cash to its investors. The revised quarterly payout of $0.12 per share provides a yield of 4.2% based on the April 28 stock price, representing an approximate 130% premium to the S&P 500. Further, the Board will continue to review the Company’s dividend policy on an ongoing basis, including the appropriateness of one-time returns of capital.

Details on WWE Cable Network

The planned WWE cable network is going to be a big part of the company re-branding that is going on. The idea is that they are doing their own network and don't want it seen as a pro wrestling TV channel.

WWE is looking to air scripted programming and other programming that they can use their marketing concepts with. This would include marketing the characters and even touring with the new shows. The Harlem Globetrotters would be a perfect fit for this new concept but they aren't doing sports right now. The concept was described as something like High School Musical or Dora the Explorer where you have a program, you merchandise the characters and go on tour.

WWE is also looking at using people like Drew Carey to come up with programming ideas.

The WWE network will feature a lot of wrestling still, with a lot of old footage airing. WWE is currently digitizing some of their footage and trying to upgrade it to HD for the network. The network will also show programs like NXT, Superstars and some of the recap shows that air internationally.

source: wrestling observer newsletter