TNA IMPACT WRESTLING announced today that the highly-rated weekly series will be making changes to its programming to include a hybrid of reality and explosive action each Thursday, live on SPIKE TV at 8:00pm/ ET. The reality elements and production technique represent the most significant evolution in this genre in more than 15 years.
“We took a step back to look at our product with fresh eyes,” says TNA IMPACT WRESTLING President Dixie Carter. “People watch TV differently today than before, and the wrestling format itself has become stale. What happens backstage, in the office and on the road is so entertaining that we decided it was time to pull the curtain way back and give viewers a peek at that world as well. Over the next few weeks and months, viewers will continue to see our show evolve as we expose more real aspects of our business that have always been sacred,” she continued.
This announcement is a key component in the continued growth of the TNA IMPACT WRESTLING brand that is bringing game-changing programming to the world of professional wrestling. Cameras will be everywhere. Meetings will be shot in real time and unscripted as we capture moments; not produced segments. Access to conversations and vantage points that have never been seen before, such as production meetings, talent evaluations and post match critiques, will be revealed. Combined with an emphasis on story structure, long term character and story development, these changes will help IMPACT WRESTLING pioneer the next generation of wrestling entertainment programming.
Going live allows IMPACT WRESTLING a deeper connection with our audience via social media. Starting with the May 31st broadcast, IMPACT WRESTLING will be the most socially interactive television program in the history of professional wrestling. Viewers will have a variety of unique opportunities to participate and influence certain elements of the program through various social media platforms. Also, backstage will take center stage, as fans will have access to live interviews being conducted featured on www.impactwrestling.com.
May 30, 2012
TNA Impact Wrestling Announces "Next Evolution of Pro Wrestling"
More Details on TNA vs. WWE
A look at the lawsuit TNA filed last week against World Wrestling Entertainment and Brian Wittenstein provides deeper insight into exactly what confidential materials TNA alleges that Wittenstein provided to WWE, why they are suing WWE as well as Wittenstein and why the company feels WWE tampered with Ric Flair's TNA deal.
In the 37 page lawsuit filing obtained by PWInsider.com, TNA stated that Wittenstein signed a Severance Agreement with the company in August 2011 (which means that unlike what he claimed to PWInsider, Wittenstein was let go by TNA) where he agreed to a severance package in exchange for returning any company materials and not disclosing confidential TNA information. TNA included a copy of Wittenstein's Severance Agreement in the filing, blacking out only the amount he was paid by the company as severance.
In violation of the Severance Agreement, Wittenstein then allegedly "downloaded and took TNA's confidential, trade secret and proprietary information after leaving his employment with TNA." The lawsuit noted that Wittenstein, in his position as Talent Relations Coordinator, had access to TNA's computer network and proprietary information.
TNA's lawsuit admitted that the company TNA is "uncertain of the full breadth of Wittenstein's "theft and at minimum, the company believes he took documents including "copies of TNA's policies and procedures, a spreadsheet contained personal and confidential information regarding TNA's wrestling talent and staff, a spreadsheet containing the terms of TNA's contracts "with its prospective, present and past wrestling talent", a spreadsheet containing "confidential information regarding activity, payment and royalty reports" for TNA talents, a draft contract between TNA and one of its wrestlers, an executed contract between TNA and one of its wrestlers and a draft promotional agreement between TNA and a licensee.
TNA noted that their Severance Agreement with Wittenstein allowed him to go work for WWE or any other competitor as long as he "complied with his obligations" not to use TNA's material or information.
Instead, Wittenstein sent a memorandum to WWE "summarizing TNA's contracts with its wrestling talent." TNA's filing included an excerpt of Wittenstein's email, where he wrote, "Attached, please find a contract status and terms chart for the TNA Wrestling roster. I combined a bunch of different documents I had from there to put it all in one concise spreadsheet that should capture all the relevant information you would be interested in. Here are a few notes for you regarding the TNA deals."
So, TNA is alleging that every piece of important material relating to their roster's contracts were handed over to their primary competitor, which explains the Unfair Competition aspect of their lawsuit. They believe WWE knows all of their contractual details when it comes to talent and can make moves to out-maneuver TNA when necessary with that information.
WWE Now Focusing on their TV Product
WWE’s new primary goal is TV ratings and their various TV products. The change in direction has been in the making for some time now and comes straight from Vince McMahon.
In the past, pay-per-view has been WWE’s #1 goal but that’s no longer the case. One of the main ideas now is to use pay-per-view events to bring in viewers to WWE’s weekly TV shows.
source: pwinsider.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Joe Stecher defeats Stanislaus Zbyszko for the World's Heavyweight Wrestling Title in St. Louis, Missouri. It marks Stetcher's third World Title reign, but is not without controversy as Wayne Munn, who Zbyszko had won the title from, was still recognized as World Champion in Illinois and Michigan. Ed "Strangler" Lewis would later beat Stecher and Munn to unify the World Title.
May 30, 1925
Joe Silva defeats Adolfo Bonales to win the Mexico National Lightweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico.
May 30, 1943
Marshall Estep defeats Ken Fenelon for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title in Toronto, Iowa.
May 30, 1945
Jake "The Snake" Roberts (birth name Aurelian Jake Smith, Jr.) is born in Gainesville, Texas.
May 30, 1955
Killer Kowalski defeats Yvon Robert in Montreal, Quebec for the Montreal World Heavyweight Title, beginning his seventh reign and ending Yvon Robert's 16th.
May 30, 1956
Antonio Inoki defeats Andre the Giant by countout in Osaka, Japan to win the first-annual New Japan Pro Wrestling MSG League.
May 30, 1978
May 29, 2012
WWE 13 News: Roster Size & New Game Features Revealed
Video game publisher THQ's official website has launched a new sub-section for the upcoming WWE '13 video game.
THQ is touting the "biggest roster" ever in a WWE game. So far, confirmed players include: Steve Austin, The Undertaker, CM Punk, Sheamus, Mankind, Big Show, Mark Henry and Chris Jericho. The THQ website says the game will feature 77 playable characters - 38 Superstars, 7 Divas and 32 Attitude Era Legends.
Shane McMahon's Company Uplisted to NASDAQ
YOU On Demand Holdings, Inc. , China's leading national Pay-Per-View (PPV) and Video On Demand (VOD) platform, today announced that it has been approved to list its common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market. Trading on NASDAQ will commence at 9:30 a.m. EDT on May 30, 2012. YOU On Demand's common stock will trade under the new ticker symbol "YOD" (formally otcbb:CBBD).
"We are excited to list our shares on NASDAQ, one of the world's premier stock exchanges," said Shane McMahon, Chairman and CEO of YOU On Demand. "This is a significant milestone in YOU On Demand's development and validation of our corporate governance practices. We believe that our listing on a national exchange as prestigious as NASDAQ will give our company the potential to broaden our shareholder base, improve liquidity and increase visibility of our achievements moving forward."
Rumor Mill - More on Brock Lesnar’s Meeting winth Dana White and What He Told WWE About It
Brock Lesnar met with UFC President Dana White in Las Vegas last weekend following the UFC pay-per-view. There was some speculation that WWE and UFC were in on the whole thing as part of the Lesnar storyline.
Word now is that WWE had no part in the meeting and it was all Lesnar’s doing. Speculation now is that Lesnar was trying to fuel his WWE storyline and at the same time make a “power play” with the two companies.
Lesnar actually told WWE officials that he met with White but nothing happened out of it. Lesnar reportedly brought up the idea of doing something with UFC but White wasn’t interested. White does not want a pro wrestling connection with UFC and isn’t interested in working with Lesnar while he’s with WWE, despite teasing it at the post-fight press conference.
source: pwinsider.com
CM Punk Responds To “Selling Out”, Asked About Retirement & TNA
A fan asked WWE Champion CM Punk if his run with TNA back in the early 2000′s will be covered on his upcoming DVD from WWE. Punk said he thinks it’s mentioned.
Punk was also asked when he will retire from professional wrestling. He replied, “Way sooner than you think.”
Finally, Punk wrote the following in response to fans saying he sold out:
“I enjoy people’s opinions on my”selling out”for various reason.As if I’m supposed to feel guilt for being successful.Hard work.No shortcuts. If you’re good at something, never do it for free. I remember people in Chicago being pissed at the fact I worked two shows in the same day. People who couldn’t do what i do. When you want something, you go after it. When you work harder than everybody else, you get it.”
source: pwmania.com
Update on Brock Lesnar meeting with Dana White
According to a report by The Wrestling Observer, Brock Lesnar and UFC President Dana White met on Saturday and while details of the conversation aren't known at this time, the report claims the meeting "did not go well." As reported over the weekend, Lesnar showed up at UFC 146 and informed White he would be doing so around a week in advance. White addressed Lesnar being at the event at the post-fight press conference on Saturday night, but wouldn't provide any other details.
WWE Applies to Register ‘Raw Active’ Trademarks for Fan Chat
World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE) (WWE), the Stamford, Connecticut-based sports-entertainment company, has filed three applications to register “Raw Active,” and “#Raw Active” as trademarks.
According to the database of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, WWE plans to use the marks in connection with fan- oriented online chat rooms and social networking. The applications were filed May 17.
source: businessweek.com
This Day in Wrestling History
The WCW World Heavyweight Title, which was still recovering from the David Arquette title reign a month earlier, followed by Vince Russo's stripping Ric Flair of the belt for no reason, took another blow in Salt Lake City, Utah. Kevin Nash, who defeated Jeff Jarrett for the belt six days earlier, announced he was just going to give the belt to Ric Flair, saying that Flair should never have been stripped of the belt to begin with. Flair accepted the title, then lost it to Jeff Jarrett that same night. So Flair's eighth reign with the WCW Title was started with Nash handing him the title, and ended less than two hours later with his loss to Jarrett. This would be Ric Flair's shortest title reign of record.
May 29, 2000
source: pwinsider.com
May 28, 2012
