Rumor Mill - Triple H High on FCW Champion

As we reported over the weekend, FCW 15 Champion Damien Sandow (aka Idol Stevens) worked several house show matches this past weekend against Tyson Kidd, making his re-debut on the brand. It's being reported that Triple H is said to be high on Sandow, who worked under an OVW developmental deal several years ago before being released and then eventually re-signed by WWE.

source: wrestlezone.com

This Day in Wrestling History

Brad Armstrong defeated Ernie Ladd for the Mid-South North American Heavyweight title.
December 5, 1984

Dixie Carter Talks TNA Changing with the Times, WWE and More

TNA President Dixie Carter spoke with Tennessean.com about how TNA has transformed as a company and how they keep up with WWE. Here are the highlights:

How has TNA changed with the times?

We’re not just a wrestling company anymore. We do our own booking. We do our own promotion and public relations. We’re a licensing company. We have toys, Halloween costumes, trading cards. We make our own music. All of those things are sold and promoted around the world. But we still do more than 500 hours of television a year.

How has TNA been able to keep up with WWE?

I don’t care who you are, competition makes you better. There’s a reason there’s a Lowe’s across the street from every Home Depot and a CVS across the street from every Walgreens. I think we’ve made WWE better, just as they’ve improved us.

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Abdullah the Butcher Tests Positive for Hepatitis C

According to an article by PRwrestling.com, attorneys for Devon "Hannibal" Nicholson are stating that WWE Hall of Famer Abdullah the Butcher has indeed tested positive for Hepatitis C after taking recent tests. Nicholson sued Abdullah in Canada claiming he contracted the disease from him preventing him from a deal with WWE when he tested positive while taking tests for the company.

Photo: WWE in Kyrgyzstan for Tribute to the Troops

Former Miss USA and WWE Tough Enough Star Arrested

Former Miss USA Rima Fakih was arrested in Michigan early Saturday for suspicion of drunken driving ... this according to an attorney for the beauty queen.

Police would not confirm the arrest -- and Fakih even tweeted yesterday she wasn't even in Michigan -- but her attorney, Donald Elder, told the Detroit Free Press, "Unfortunately she was."

Elder told the paper Fakih was "very saddened and very apologetic for the situation that she is in right now."

As for the tweet, Fakih posted around 5:00 PM on Saturday: "Let’s clear things up now.... I’m NOT in Michigan and I’m NOT in jail! Wrong Fakih." The tweet has since been deleted.

source: tmz.com

Last month, Fakih claimed she was in talks with Triple H to return to WWE.

Superfly, JYD, Samoans, Cornette Among 2012 PWHF Inductees

The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2012, and it includes an Angel, a German meanie, Samoan wildmen, a Superfly, a Junkyard Dog, and more.

Headlining the induction ceremony will be living inductees Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Dominic Denucci, the Wild Samoans, Jim Cornette, and women's star Wendi Richter.

The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, based in Amsterdam, NY, is a non-profit organization that maintains a physical hall of fame building and runs an induction ceremony each year. This is the 11th induction class...More?

source: slam wrestling

This Day in Wrestling History

Alex Aberg draws with Ed "Strangler" Lewis at the Manhattan Opera House.
December 4, 1915

In a rather controversial segment, Rowdy Roddy Piper blamed Vince Russo for the death of Owen Hart live on NWA TNA's weekly PPV event.
December 4, 2002

Paul Heyman made his exit from World Wrestling Entertainment. Heyman was sent home from a Raw/ECW taping in North Carolina following a meeting with Vince McMahon, one day after the disastrous ECW December to Dismember Pay-per-view. Heyman was removed from the ECW Creative team, while a storyline reason for his departure was posted on WWE.com, stating Vince sent him home because: "The WWE Chairman cited slumping television ratings and a disgruntled talent roster as causes for Mr. Heyman's dismissal." Heyman had been portraying the heel "ECW Representative" on television.

The backstage story was that Vince McMahon was irate about how awful the PPV was and wanted to pin the blame on Heyman for it, despite many feeling that the poor PPV (which ended a half hour early) was the result of what the McMahons (Vince and Stephanie) booked for the show. Heyman was said to be unhappy with the way that the PPV was booked and backstage sources claim he voiced that concern both before the show began and after it. It was obvious that there were issues between Vince McMahon and Heyman because of the how the show played out on PPV, with everyone knowing it was a disaster.

A number of sources stated that a meeting was held around two o'clock with Heyman, Vince McMahon and Stephanie McMahon-Levesque. Heyman came out of the meeting and seemed like his normal self, with no one realizing what had just taken place. Shortly thereafter, Heyman gathered his things and left the building to go home.
December 4, 2006

Eddie Fatu, better known to WWE fans as Umaga, passes away.
December 4, 2009

partial source: pwinsider.com

Tyler Reks Debuts New Animated Series

Tyler Reks has debuted the first episode to his new YouTube animated series, MidCard Mafia, featuring characters voiced by himself, Curt Hawkins and Tyson Kidd. They all voice characters that are similar to their WWE personas.

Daniel Bryan Nominated for PETA Award

WWE is drawing attention to Daniel Bryan's vegan lifestyle in a positive light. The company announced Bryan has been nominated by PETA for the Most Animal-Friendly Athlete of 2011. Bryan is competing with MLB player Chase Utley, MMA fighter Jake Shields, and NFL RB Willis McGahee. WWE writes: "Bryan's animal-friendly vegan lifestyle caught the eye of the organization; apart from his strict diet, Bryan also spends time working with shelters to find homeless animals a place to live."

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source: pwtorch.com

Stephanie McMahon's Entry in CableFAX Magazine's "Most Powerful Women in Cable" Issue

Stephanie McMahon EVP, Creative, WWE
Industry veteran McMahon is the creative mind behind all WWE television and PPV programming, talent management and branding, as well as booking and marketing live events. She oversees the creation of scripted storylines, and character development for all WWE content, including the ever-popular “Monday Night Raw” and “Friday Night Smackdown.” Though she cites her three daughters as her greatest accomplishment, McMahon says her top professional accomplishment is yet to come—with the launch of the WWE Network in 2012. “It won’t feel like a true accomplishment until the network is live successful,” she says.

What WWE Does Behind The Scenes Cannot Be Overlooked

Former WWE wrestler Tommy Dreamer wrote a column for TheWhig.com on the good that WWE does. Dreamer wrote about the company's rehab program for current and former talent, the medical screening process, royalty checks, and Make-A-Wish work.

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