WWE Hall of Famer Dory Funk, Jr. is currently being sued. He and his wife, Marti Funk, are involved in three cases involving their pro wrestling school, the Funking Conservatory. Two of the cases are from former students involving a breach of their contracts. The other is from a former sponsor over breach of contract as well.
The school, located in Ocala, FL, has also been involved with Marion County Sheriff's Department. The complaints were over not notifying audience members, who brought children, that a registered sex offender works shows at the Funking Conservatory. The convicted sex offender, Wesley Dockemeyer, also trains wrestlers at the school working under the names Damien Steele and Fushicho Masuku.
The police warned the Funks about not informing the public that a registered sex offender is working in an entertainment venue, but the Funks had Dockemeyer wear a different costume and mask instead, temporarily changing his name to El Diablo Negro. The Funking Conservatory's next show is on January 21st. WWE Hall of Famer Jerry "The King" Lawler will be at the show working with Wesley Dockemeyer as Fushicho Masuku.
The link to Wesley Dockemeyer's mug shot and information regarding his status as a sex offender is here.
source: wrestleview.com
January 16, 2012
Former Students & Sponsor Sue The Funking Conservatory
Rumor Mill - TNA Claims They Have Nothing For Mr. Anderson
Mr. Anderson has been out of the TNA storylines because creative reportedly has nothing for him. Anderson hasn't appeared on Impact Wrestling since late November.
WWE Signs Wrestler Son of Actor & Musician
WWE has signed independent wrestler Jody Kristofferson to a developmental deal. Jody is the son of actor and musician Kris Kristofferson. Kristofferson impressed Triple H months ago at a tryout, even more when he found out who his father was, and word is that the deal has been in place for some time but WWE didn’t want it getting out. Jody finished up with the APW promotion in California this weekend and will likely start with FCW in Tampa next month.
partial source: f4wonline.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Happy Birthday to Abdullah the Butcher
January 16, 1941
Ted DiBiase defeated Brad Armstrong for the Mid-South North American Heavyweight title.
January 16, 1985
Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton defeated Dustin Rhodes & Rick Steamboat for the WCW World Tag Team title.
January 16, 1992
Chris Benoit defeats Sid Vicious for the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Title at the Souled Out PPV.
January 16, 2000
January 15, 2012
Rumor Mill - WWE's Video Game Partner Being Sold?
According to various reports in the video game industry, THQ has cancelled a slate of projects scheduled for 2014 and is rumored to be setting up the company for sale. In November, THQ released the new "WWE '12" franchise video game after signing a new seven-year licensing deal with WWE. With video game sales a key source of revenue for WWE, this is a story to keep an eye on in 2012 if the video game company is sold.
source: pwtorch.com
WWE Tag Team Title Change at House Show
New WWE tag team champions were crowned at Sunday night’s live event from Oakland, California. Primo and Epico defeated Evan Bourne & Kofi Kingston at the show to win the titles.
Ole Anderson has Harsh Words for Vince McMahon
Original Four Horsemen member Ole Anderson strongly criticized WWE CEO Vince McMahon in an interview with Mike Mooneyham of the Post & Courier newspaper. Anderson was asked about his exclusion from the Horsemen line-up in WWE's Hall of Fame announcement this week. "Vince McMahon hates my guts, and I don’t like him. So that’s all there is to it,” Anderson said, while also noting he couldn't make the ceremony because of his poor health. “Vince McMahon is never going to call me." Anderson also said he feels WWE's Hall of Fame is a joke and he repeated a "conversation" he had with McMahon the last time he saw him at a previous ceremony. "I told Vince McMahon to go (expletive deleted), and I wouldn’t change my mind now," he said.
source: pwtorch.com
Ric Flair Confirms HOF Appearance, Discusses Watching the Announcement at the Impact Taping
Ric Flair says he will only be allowed to talk for seven minutes at WWE's Hall of Fame ceremony honoring the Four Horsemen. Flair confirmed his in-person appearance at the ceremony in an interview with Mike Mooneyham of the Post & Courier newspaper. He added that he watched the announcement backstage at TNA's Impact TV taping Monday night. “It’s amazing. It’s very cool. The whole TNA crew was watching the vignette. I started crying when they aired it,” Flair said.
source: pwtorch.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Happy Birthday to Shane McMahon
January 15, 1970
WWF(E) holds the first Royal Rumble on pay-per-view (the first Royal Rumble match didn't air on PPV, it aired on USA Network as competition to the NWA Bunkhouse Stampede PPV) at The Summit in Houston, Texas.
January 15, 1989
Sting makes his return to wrestling at TNA's Final Resolution PPV teaming with Christian Cage against Jeff Jarrett & Monty Brown.
January 15, 2006
January 14, 2012
What Stephanie McMahon & Triple H Want to Accomplish Personally and Professionally in 2012
Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal Daily ran a feature at the beginning of the year with industry executives revealing what they want to accomplish personally and professionally in 2012. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon were featured in the piece. Below are their New Year’s resolutions:
Paul Levesque - EVP, Talent:
My resolution is to continue sharpening my business and corporate skills in my new role as EVP, talent. Although whenever the day-to-day grind of being a company executive gets to me, I still have the opportunity to jump into the ring and take my aggression out on a few unsuspecting opponents.
Stephanie McMahon - EVP, Creative:
In 2012, my personal goal is to help stop the bullying epidemic that is affecting our children. As a mother of three girls, I am proud to represent the WWE as part of our Be a STAR initiative to help encourage students, teachers and parents to “be a star” by showing tolerance and respect. My professional goal is to help support the launch of the WWE network by providing a 24/7, interactive, creative experience that is worthy of the passion of our fans.
