Lelani Kai defeated Wendi Richter for the WWF(E) Women's title
February 18, 1985
Mildred Burke dies of a stroke
February 18, 1973
Mildred Burke vs Millie Stafford
Kerry Von Erich dies of a suicide shooting at 33
February 18, 1993
Shawn Michaels vs. Kerry Von Erich
February 18, 2012
This Day in Wrestling History
February 17, 2012
Triple H Is The Best In The Business
Opinion from CamelClutchBlog.com:
While Monday’s February 13 WWE RAW was certainly a polarizing episode, one thing most critics could agree on was the excellent segment between Triple H and Shawn Michaels. Love him or hate him, Triple H showed once again why he is the best all-around in the pro wrestling business.
Now the term “best” can constitute different things for different professional wrestling fans. The most common being his ability to get inside of the ring and have a blow away match. That is not the kind of “best” I am referring to here. I am referring to his ability to “work” the audience past the point of disbelief and turn those skeptical eyes into paying customers, while playing them like a fiddle in the palm of his hands.
I can already see the hate mail and negative comments coming from the blog. I get it, you don’t like Triple H. A large number of passionate fans who follow pro wrestling on the Internet have an outright hatred for the man. They despise everything he represents and see him as the anti-CM Punk. I understand your frustrations, but I am here to tell you that you are missing the big picture.
I look at Triple H as the all around best in the business right now. It is almost impossible for a babyface to invoke pure babyface heat in 2011. It just doesn’t happen. Sure, there are guys like CM Punk who are cheered but even he doesn’t get the kind of reaction a superstar gets. Triple H gets it the second he walks onto the ramp. The WWE fans love him! Strangely enough, he has been one of a few guys left who tapped into what the fans want out of their babyface. I don’t think there is anyone in the entire business that can grab those same reactions on a regular basis. Even The Rock appeared to wear out his welcome at times last year, yet Triple H still whips the crowd into a frenzy whenever he appears.
WWE Expecting Increase in Revenue Generated from WM29
WWE is expecting more than $62 million in direct economic impact to the New York/New Jersey area for WrestleMania 29 in 2013, which would be an increase over recent Manias. "WrestleMania has very quickly grown into a week-long celebration that generates in excess of $60 million of new direct spending for the host community," said WWE Senior Vice President of Special Events John Saboor at Thursday's WM29 press conference. "We expect by virtue of the enormity of this market and the popularity of this market that we can see an even greater result tied to WrestleMania week." The AP picked up the story, noting Saboor said last year's Mania in Atlanta generated $62 million in revenue and he believes this year's Mania in Miami will top that figure.
source: pwtorch.com
Brodus Clay Addresses Planet Funk status
In-character as the Funkasauras, Brodus Clay offered a one-sentence response to reports this week that WWE has pulled his character from TV to clean up his in-ring work. "Don't believe the hater hype plant funk still in orbit ya dig!" Clay tweeted Thursday night.
Several Notable WWE Office Departures and Office Changes
WWE made several office cuts on February 10th that are desrcibed as a "purge of senior licensing executives". Jim Connelly, one of WWE’s top executives, was released along with Florence DiGiorgio and Dean Miller.
Connelly, hired in 2009 and considered to be a major pick-up, worked as Senior Vice President of Consumer Products. Dean Miller worked under Connelly as the Senior Manager of Home Entertainment and Florence DiGiorgio, hired back in the 90′s, worked as WWE’s Senior Director of Global Licensing.
WWE’s official word on the departures is that they are re-organizing that department but the feeling was that Vince McMahon made the moves at the worst time – right before the big New York Toy Fair last week. At the Toy Fair, people from WWE’s Consumer Products division were awkwardly dancing around questions on who to contact within WWE for potential licensing deals. Within WWE, people have been surprised at the timing of gutting that department.
WWE headquarters is still in the process of undergoing major changes, with the office space being reorganized to reflect designated space for each department.
Joey Styles, who runs the WWE’s website, recently confirmed those reports when a fan asked him on Twitter if he works from home. Styles replied:
“I work in the newly renovated office space for TV Creative, Magazine and .com at WWE HQ.”
sources: wrestling observer newsletter & sports business daily
Interesting note...
A year ago, WWE held a Global Business Partners Summit and Vince McMahon announced that the compnay had formally rebranded itself - WWE. Of all the Executives that presented at the Summit, only Stephanie McMahon, Paul Levesque & Michelle Wilson are still with the company. The following was the line-up of speakers at last years Summit. Their current status is in bold:
The New WWE Initiative, Partnerships and TV Strategy (Michelle Wilson, Chief Marketing Officer) - Still CMO with the company
New Talent Development Program (Paul "Triple H" Levesque, Senior Advisor) - Currently EVP, Talent
WWE Studios (Mike Pavone, EVP, WWE Studios) - Left the company in August 2011 and was replaced by Michael Luisi
International Update (Andrew Whitaker, EVP, International) - Left the company in September 2011. The International division is now run by SVP & Managing Director, Dominic Hayes
Digital and Social Media Update (Brian Kalinowski, EVP, Digital) - Left the company in August 2011. This division has been absorbed under the Creative division and is run by Stephanie McMahon
Kids Initiative and New Product Launches (Jim Connelly, SVP, Consumer Products) - Left the company in February 2012.
Stephanie McMahon emceed the event and was listed as EVP, Creative Development & Operations. Her title has since been changed to EVP, Creative; however looking at her executive bio and reading her interview with Entertainment Weekly describing her work day, she sounds more like the Chief Operating Officer.
This Day in Wrestling History
Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash & Scott Hall return to the WWF(E) & re-form the nWo at No Way Out.
February 17, 2002
February 16, 2012
WrestleMania Press Conference Electrifies at MetLife Stadium
The King of Kings, Triple H, was also on hand for the press conference. After praising present WWE Superstars for their involvement with the community – Sheamus for WWE's "be a STAR" anti-bullying campaign, Mark Henry for the WrestleMania Reading Challenge program and The Bella Twins for their tireless support of our Armed Forces – The Game presented honorary WWE Championship Titles to New York Jets owner & CEO Woody Johnson and John Mara, President and CEO of the Super Bowl Champion New York Football Giants...More?
Bill Simmons Takes Aim At Triple H
"The Sports Guy" Bill Simmons, who had CM Punk on his popular podcast last summer, takes aim at Triple H in his latest mailbag column for ESPN affiliated website Grantland.com.
When asked if the recent surge of New York Knicks player Jeremy Lin is the NBA's equivalent of CM Punk last summer, he instead sounds off on the self-proclaimed "King of Kings."
"Does this mean (Knicks star Carmelo Anthony) is going to be Triple H — the egotistical, overrated star who couldn't handle that something good was happening without him, so he interjected himself into the storyline and ended up throwing a wet blanket on all the momentum?" Simmons writes.
"I sure hope not."
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
