SyFy's TV listings reveal that the next live episode of WWE SmackDown will take place on Tuesday, February 21st. The show will air from the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, Illinois and will be the first SmackDown after the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view.
The arena has announced a new start time of 6:15pm local time. Advertised locally is Daniel Bryan vs. Big Show and Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett in a Street Fight.
February 5, 2012
Live SmackDown Set for Later This Month
Possible Releases From FCW
It was reported Friday that the official website of WWE developmental league Florida Championship Wrestling removed Calvin Raines, Leroy Parks, Marcus Owens and Peter Orlov from their roster page, which indicates they have been released.
source: wrestlinginc.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Andre The Giant defeated Hulk Hogan for the WWF(E) title on NBC's Friday Night's Main Event.
February 5, 1998
February 4, 2012
UFC Going 3D - WWE May Follow Suit
The 3D version of UFC 143 will be a $10 premium over the HD version, which is a $10 premium over the SD version.
This weekend will be the debut of UFC's first 3D pay-per-view event. UFC 143 will let you enjoy matches like Kosheck vs. Pierce, Nelson vs. Werdum and Diaz vs. Condit in full 3D. The event will cost $64.99, a $10 step up from the HD version.
Just after the UFC announced a 3D event, World Wrestling Entertainment started looking into 3D event plans of its own. The WWE won't have 3D ready for April's Wrestlemania, but is instead looking forward to a possible 3D broadcast of Summerslam.
source: highdefdigest.com
This Day in Wrestling History
In Sioux City, IA, a near riot breaks out following a two hour match between Wladek Zbyszko and Joe Stecher. The fans begin yelling "fake, fake" and policemen are needed to escort the men into the dressing room. Zbyszko is named the winner the next day, but all bets are called off.
February 4, 1919
February 3, 2012
WWE Takes A More Aggressive Approach to Protecting Its Brand
WWE appears to be taking a much more aggressive stance against critics this campaign cycle than it did in 2010.
First, the entertainment company hit back against Chris Shays for his suggestion, as reported by the Associated Press' Susan Haigh, that WWE's content is akin to "soft porn." Shays is seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, as is former WWE CEO Linda McMahon.
Now it is responding to Journal Inquirer Managing Editor Chris Powell, in response to an opinion piece published last week. "Maybe in time Connecticut will consider the pornography and mock violence of the wrestling business from which McMahon draws her fortune to be as legitimate as any other business,'' Powell wrote.
WWE spokesman Robert Zimmerman dashed off a letter to Powell -- and cc-ed it to most of the state's political reporters. "Although this was an opinion piece, your position as managing edior of the Journal Inquirer would ethically require you to report the fact accurately and not distort the truth,'' Zimmerman wrote.
"For future editorials and news stories that may pertain to WWE, we want to reiterate the facts to you so you clearly understand our programming content and the type of entertainment we provide to our more than 300,000 fans in the State of Connecticut," Zimmerman wrote.
The letter, as well as the similar response to Shays, seems to indicate that the company will be reacting more quickly to attacks this time around. Asked if this signifies an effort by WWE to correct what it seems as falsehoods about its brand, Zimmerman said "yes."
source: courant.com
GQ Magazine Puts Focus On WWE Championship
GQ Magazine has officially named the WWE Championship as one of the "best sports trophies of all time." Below is what the magazine had to say regarding the title:
"When it comes to gaudy title belts, boxing has nothing on professional wrestling. Boxing's look like something stolen from the uniform closet of a Third World dictator. WWE's is modeled after the old-school solid-fake-gold title belt that Ric Flair used to rock. Wooo!!!"
Rumor Mill - Triple H Has Twitter Downplayed
In a stark contrast to recent weeks, Twitter was severely downplayed on Monday's Raw SuperShow. F4WOnline.com reports Triple H advised the move.
Rumor Mill - Triple H Reportedly Called For Sheamus To Win The Royal Rumble
Chris Jericho was pegged to win this year's 30-Man Royal Rumble Match, but Triple H, who has gained even more influence behind the scenes, called for Sheamus to be the decided winner. The final decision was made last week.
The two have been friends since the Irish grappler's promotion to the main roster in the summer of 2009 as the two workout together on the road. In a subsequent interview with Power Slam, he singled out the Celtic Warrior as a wrestler with potential.
Randy Orton was initially pegged as the Rumble victor since he cleanly put over Mark Henry during The World's Strongest Man's rise as World Heavyweight Champion and the event was taking place in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. Later, the idea was changed to Jericho, setting up a WWE Championship showdown against CM Punk at WrestleMania XXVIII.
WWE officials contemplated last week having John Cena win the match due to the stipulation that "everyone was eligible" for the Rumble. Cena would win the match and subsequently make a tough decision: take the title shot and not face The Rock at WrestleMania.
WWE Parody By Cartoon Network: 'WWE Bought A Zoo'
Mad, a satirical kids’ show on Cartoon Network, recently lampooned the WWE in a sketch titled WWE Bought A Zoo, and features the likenesses of John Cena, Triple H, and Rey Mysterio. The clip from the episode is embedded below, courtesy of the official Cartoon Network YouTube channel:
Federal Agent Poses As WWE Rep To Seize Websites That Linked To Pirated Telecasts
A U.S. Department of Homeland Security enforcement agent posed as a WWE representative last week and offered to buy various domain names from a Michigan man named Yonjo Quiroa. In reality, the agent was part of an operation to take down 16 websites owned by Quiroa, who is also known as Ronaldo Solano, that linked to other websites that hosted pirated telecasts.
Reuters reported today that Quiroa, 28, was making at least $13,000 from online merchants who advertised with him. His websites linked to other sites that hosted pirated telecasts from the NFL, NBA, NHL, WWE and TNA Impact Wrestling.
The seized websites are firstrow.tv, firstrowsports.com, firstrowsports.net, firstrowsports.tv, hq-streams.tv, robplay.tv, soccertvlive.net, sports95.com, sports95.net, sports95.org, sportswwe.net, sportswwe.tv, sportswwe.com, xonesports.tv, youwwe.com and youwwe.net.
source: wrestlingnewsworld.com
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
