After teasing that a major announcement was about to be made on Twitter, TNA President Dixie Carter has announced that Impact Wrsetling will be going live starting on 5/31 and continue "through the summer."
May 17, 2012
TNA IMPACT Wrestling Going Live This Summer
WWE Monday Night Raw Expands to Three Electrifying Hours Launching with the 1,000th Episode, July 23 on USA Network
WWE Superstar John Cena® announced via Twitter today that WWE Monday Night Raw will expand to a three-hour event 52 weeks a year. The extended telecast will kick-off July 23 at 8/7C on USA Network and marks the 1000th episode of the WWE Raw franchise and a television record – no other series has ever reached this milestone. The announcement was tweeted today by Cena (the No. 1 most influential male athlete on Twitter last month) during USA’s upfront presentation in New York City. The move firmly put WWE’s stake in the ground as one of the most powerful social brands in the world and an integral part of USA Network’s social media initiative.
“The WWE Universe is one of the most socially active and passionate fan bases in all of television,” said Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel, co-presidents USA Network. “The powerful three-hour block of live TV truly makes USA the year-round destination for young male viewers on Monday nights.”
“WWE is proud to celebrate this historic milestone with our partners at USA Network,” said WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. “Our new three-hour Raw represents the next generation in interactive television where our fans won’t just watch the show, they will help create it.”
The expanded WWE Monday Night Raw will transform television to an unprecedented level of viewer interaction. Fans will have new ways to get involved in the show through WWE.com and social media by deciding matches, stipulations and new character development. WWE will brand this unprecedented fan interaction as “#RAWactive.”
The #1 network in all of basic cable, USA Network is seen in 115 million U.S. homes. USA is a leader in scripted programming with a powerful stable of originals including POLITICAL ANIMALS, SUITS, NECESSARY ROUGHNESS, WHITE COLLAR, ROYAL PAINS, BURN NOTICE, PSYCH, COVERT AFFAIRS, COMMON LAW, FAIRLY LEGAL and IN PLAIN SIGHT. The network offers 52 weeks of spectacular live television with WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW and is home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, a broad portfolio of acquired series and entertainment events. A trailblazer in digital innovation and storytelling, USA is defining, driving and setting the industry standard for Social TV. USA is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. The award-winning website is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.
Rumor Mill - Another Flair to WWE?
WWE has signed Ashley Fliehr Johnson to a developmental contract. She is the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair.
Reports surfaced earlier this month that Ashley intended to follow in the footsteps of her legendary father as she was training to become a professional wrestler. She is expected to join WWE’s Tampa, Florida based developmental training facility in the summer.
Ashley is the third Flair child to enter the professional wrestling industry. David notably competed for World Championship Wrestling from 1999 to 2001 while Reid currently wrestles on the independent circuit.
Ashley was a star volleyball player in high school, leading her team to two state titles in North Carolina. She graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Arts and is an ACE® Certified Personal Trainer. She also attended Appalachian State University where she was a Division-1 Full Scholarship Athlete in volleyball.
source: wrestling observer newsletter
This Day in Wrestling History
Bruno Sammartino defeats Buddy Rogers for the (WWWF)WWE Championship at Madison Square Garden.
May 17, 1963
Vince McMahon Sr. died of cancer at 69.
May 17, 1984
Marty Jannetty defeated Shawn Michaels for the WWF(E) Intercontinental title.
May 17, 1993
"British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith died of a heart attack at 39.
May 17, 2002
May 16, 2012
News on WWE Raw’s 1000th Episode
WWE has recently launched a website campaign to promote the forthcoming 1,000th episode of WWE Raw. Based on WWE promoting the 900th episode on August 23, 2010, the actual 1,000th episode will be July 30, but WWE is promoting July 23rd as the date to acknowledge the milestone. WWE unveiled a logo for the 1,000th episode and said they will be featuring interviews with stars over the next two months leading to the end of July.
Shawn Michaels Comments on Triple H, The Undertaker and WMXXVIII
"For me, it was about three of us who have been there -- for the most part -- the longest of anybody and probably the last of the Mohicans, so to speak.It was three guys who had been sharing that locker-room for a long time, doing this in some form or another, whether it was me and Hunter, me and Taker, Taker and Hunter. The three of us have run the gamut of being in and out of the ring with each other and going through ups and downs, personally and professionally, and this is the last time the three of us will be in the ring together. That's what the End of an Era was to me."
Linda McMahon Accused Of Exchanging WrestleMania Ticket For Political Endorsement
There’s an interesting story making rounds today in the Linda McMahon for Senate campaign. Campaign rival Christopher Shays is making bribing accusations against Linda McMahon as Republican Town Committee chairman John Slater was ringside at WrestleMania XXVIII in Miami and publicly endorsed McMahon a month later.
“I find it interesting that John Slater went to WrestleMania in Miami, and soon after he returned came out and endorsed Linda McMahon,” said Amanda Bergen of the Shays campaign.
Slater has denied the accusations, claiming he attended the show on his own dime and sent a photo of his bank statement and ticket stub for the event to the Greenwich Time. According to the materials sent to the publication, Slater paid $355 for a central rise seat at Wrestlemania. Slater officially endorsed McMahon on May 8th.
“If they’re insinuating a bribe, which I can prove never happened, that’s totally wrong,” Slater told Greenwich Time. “If that’s the road that his campaign is now taking, it shows another reason why not to vote for him, because it’s a lie.”...More?
sources: wrestlingnewsworld.com and greenwich times
Jim Ross Ross Says He Will Be At First Full Sail Taping; Role TBD
WWE announcer Jim Ross says he will be part of the first WWE TV taping at Full Sail University in Florida Thursday, but his role has not yet been determined. "The future of the WWE lies within the Talent Development program and I am blessed to be able to help in that area in any way that the company sees fit," Ross wrote in his latest blog on jrsbarbq.com before traveling to Florida. "My role has yet to be outlined but I think I can assist in many areas and I'm excited to devote my time and energies to helping develop the young stars of tomorrow."
This Day in Wrestling History
Andy Kaufman dies of kidney failure due to large cell carcinoma in Los Angeles, California. Kaufman is best known in the wrestling world for his 1982 match with Jerry Lawler at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee, and subsequent expletive-laden appearance with Lawler on the Late Show with David Letterman.
May 16, 1984
May 15, 2012
Financial Status of Shane McMahon's Company - YOU on Demand
The financial status of Shane McMahon's company, YOU on Demand (YOD) is best described as "shaky". Although YOD has signed several deals with content distributers recently, the 10Q quarterly report filed May 15, 2012 tells the real story.
Shane initially invested $4 million dollars in YOD 2009. He loaned YOD $3 million dollars on May 10, 2012. The report also states the following:
We anticipate that we may need to raise additional funds to fully implement our business model and related strategies. The fact that we have incurred significant continuing losses and have relied on debt and equity financings to fund our operations to date, could raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
The 'going concern' concept directs accountants to prepare financial statements on the assumption that the business is not about to go broke or be liquidated (i.e. where the business closes and sells all the assets for whatever price they can get. In other words the company is not financially stable.
YOD has also had problems with proper financial controls:
As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2012. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of March 31, 2012, and as of the date that the evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures was completed, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective to satisfy the objectives for which they are intended. However, during 2011, the Company hired two US
GAAP and SEC qualified internal personnel, one in the US and one in China, to oversee its financial reporting operations. Subsequent to March 31, 2012, our US based employee resigned from the company to pursue another opportunity. During the interim period, another internal employee with US GAAP and SEC experience temporarily filled the position on a full time basis. The company anticipates hiring a permanent replacement during the second quarter. The interim employee will remain in a supporting role to provide additional control support. With these individuals in place and with the additional personnel to be added, we expect that
within the next quarter our internal controls will be effective.
YOD reported gross profit loss of 45%. The full report can be viewed here.
Vince McMahon Appears on DWTS
Several readers have sent in word that Vince McMahon appeared on last night's edition of "Dancing with the Stars" in a video package, during which he put over Maria Menounos and described her as "daring," saying she has a "great work ethic."
source: wrestlezone.com
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
