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January 23, 2012
WWE Accuses Shays of Inflating Wrestler Deaths
Protective of the reputation of its professional wrestling brand, one that has made Senate hopeful Linda McMahon a fortune, the company formerly known as World Wrestling Entertainment on Monday accused McMahon's GOP adversary Christopher Shays of inflating the number of deaths in the industry for political gain.
In a two-page letter from the Stamford-based professional wrestling empire to Shays obtained by Greenwich Time, WWE spokesman Robert Zimmerman took the former congressman to task for recent comments he made to the media about the number of deaths of performers under contract with the company.
The letter also begs to differ with Shays' characterization that the WWE peddles "soft-core porn" and promotes bullying.
"We're just going to try to correct the factual inaccuracies that Mr. Shays is displaying about WWE," Zimmerman, a senior vice president in charge of corporate communications, told Greenwich Time in a brief interview.
WWE planned to send a copy of the letter to Shays' Stratford campaign headquarters by FedEx late Monday, according to Zimmerman, who copied Greenwich Time and the Associated Press on the original correspondence.
Both media outlets recently published extended interviews with Shays, in which he railed on McMahon's record of job creation and corporate success, which she has made pillars of her campaign.
"On behalf of WWE, its 650 employees and approximately 300,000 fans in Connecticut, we would greatly appreciate it if you would stick to factual statements about our organization and brand," Zimmerman wrote...More?
source: greenwichtime.com
Breakdown on WWE and UFC Salary Estimates
The top story of the Jan 23 Wrestling Observer Newsletter takes an in-depth look at special investigations undergone by ESPN and other news outlets about reported salaries vs. actual income for UFC fighters.
As part of the story, the Observer includes some fascinating notes comparing both salaries and the way UFC and WWE performers earn their money:
Report on average salaries of WWE, UFC, and major sports:
As far as average salary, a terribly misleading stat because the top end players skew it badly, and the median salary (where half make more and half make less would be better) and the NBA averages $5.15 million per player, Major League Baseball around $3.5 million, the NHL $2.4 million and NFL around $1.9 million. The WWE would be between $500,000 and $550,000. UFC is absolutely impossible to ascertain. But if they really paid 50%, it would be in the range of $650,000. At 30%, it would be in the range of $390,000 and at 15% it would be in the range of $195,000. My experience is that UFC fighters making $390,000 per year are usually really big names, but the average and the median number (a better figure but one that is virtually impossible to ascertain for UFC fighters and pro wrestlers) are very different.
Fertitta claimed in the interview that the company since it became profitable has created 39 millionaires, but exactly what that means wasn’t explained. If it means the company has paid more than $1 million to 39 different fighters in total over the last six or seven years, that isn’t nearly as impressive as it sounds. If they know their fighters finances well enough to know that 39 fighters are worth more than $1 million today, that’s very different and it was never explained. It’s nowhere close to that figure of any of the major sports, but it shouldn’t be, because total UFC revenue still pales in comparison with a major sport.
Update on Evan Bourne
A number of WWE sources believe that we've seen the last of Evan Bourne in the company following his second WWE Wellness suspension but no final decision has been made yet. His second suspension was for something completely unrelated to the first.
source: pwinsider.com
ROH & CHIKARA Announce "Unity" Card
Ring of Honor and CHIKARA announced Monday official details on a "synergy" between the two companies to promote a "Unity" card on April 28 in Chicago. ROH, which is officially incorporated as "Ring of Honor Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.," noted the first match signed is ROH tag champions The Briscoes vs. Hallowicked & Jigsaw for ROH's Tag Titles. Tickets for the "Unity" event go on-sale this Wednesday for ROH Ringside Members and this Friday to the general public on ROH's website.
source: pwtorch.com
News Regarding Two FCW Talents Being Called Up To WWE's Roster
It's being reported that both Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins have earned praise from WWE officials and are both on the verge of being called up to WWE's main television talent roster. However, WWE executive Paul Levesque (Triple H) has implemented a new strict policy that FCW talent shall not be brought onto WWE's main roster unless WWE officials have a solid storyline mapped out for them when they debut. (Thus, no low-card wrestlers with no apparent storyline, i.e. Curt Hawkins, Tyler Reks, etc.)
source: f4wonline.com
Lex Luger Says He Would Be Honored To Be Inducted Into The WWE Hall of Fame
During a recent public appearance, Lex Luger was asked what being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame would mean to him.
“It would just be a tremendous honor if someday I was inducted in the Hall of Fame, but really, we’re here to get down to glory to God now with our lives and serve others and use open vessels for him to bring people to Christ,” says Luger, who in 2006 declared himself a born again Christian.
Lex continues, “But, would that be an honor? It’s something that would also help to use as a platform to continue ministry as well. It would be wonderful, definitely.”
Wrestlezone.com reported last week that Luger not being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year as part of the Horsemen clan stems from the events surrounding Miss Elizabeth’s death, which occurred on May 1, 2003 in the home they shared. Her cause of death, according to the coroner’s report, was “acute toxicity” brought on by a buffet of prescription painkillers and vodka. Many people in WWE blame Luger for her tragic death as he’s seen as her enabler. Luger himself has admitted to being a negative influence on her life.
“I take a lot of responsibility for that—my influence in her life,” he told ESPN.com in 2007 regarding his heavy drug abuse, which rubbed off on her during their relationship. “Her little heart and body couldn’t take what I was doing.”
This Day in Wrestling History
A double World Heavyweight title match in Nagasaki, Japan between NWA Champion Jack Brisco and PWF (AJPW) Champion Giant Baba ends in a draw.
January 23, 1974
Hulk Hogan wins his first WWF(E) World Title defeating The Iron Sheik at Madison Square Garden.
January 23, 1984
Road Warriors reunited.
January 23, 1996
Eric Bischoff promoted to President of WCW.
January 23, 1998
Chris Jericho defeated Chyna and Hardcore Holly for the WWF(E) Intercontinental title.
January 23, 2000
January 22, 2012
WWE Divas Campaigning For Ladder Match
The February 2012 issue of WWE Magazine features an interview with Natalya and Beth Phoenix and they are both asked which male-dominated stipulation match they would like to see introduced to the Divas Division. Both say Ladder Match.
“I want to compete in the first-ever Diva Ladder Match. Beth and I think it would be amazing, and I believe we could really pull it off,” Natalya says.
Beth adds, “I actually like to consider myself a pioneer for the ladies’ Ladder Match because if you check out Ladder Matches 2: Crash and Burn, it actually features my Ladder Match from Louisville, Kentucky, in OVW. I have been campaigning for WWE to let me compete in one and have even volunteered to put my Divas Championship on the line in it against absolutely anybody. I have the experience and truly believe the bar could be raised with that bout. There is no doubt in my mind that it would be the most spectacular Divas match of all-time.
MVP Comments On What He Would Like To Do If He Returned To WWE
MVP said he hasn't ruled out a return to WWE. "I’ve never had the opportunity to work with Daniel Bryan, who is one of my favorites," he said. On the indies I loved the American Dragon. I thought he was an incredible talent. Randy Orton and I almost had a feud when I came over to Raw, and for whatever reason, they put the brakes on it. I’d like to work a program with Randy. The one match Randy and I had was awesome. We just went out there and worked. He praised me afterward.
“Some people say Randy can be a hard guy to get along with. I get along great with Randy. The one time we actually got to work on Monday Night Raw, we had a great match, and I had an awesome time. I can’t forget CM Punk, my boy from FIP [Full Impact Pro Wrestling]. He is at the top of his game now. We had the opportunity to work once on the indies, and we had one match in [WWE’s] ECW.
"I would love to work a program with him. That would be great. If I did come back, I think I would want to be exclusive to SmackDown. I think I would want to go back there and help that brand and some of the younger guys...More?
source: miamihreald.com
