June 13, 2012
WWE Releases Four FCW Developmental Talents
According to PWInsider.com, WWE has released the following FCW developmental names:
Former WWE NXT contestant Eli Cottonwood asked for his release and it was granted. Cottonwood reportedly took a job that was offered to him outside of the pro wrestling business.
Benicio Salazar has been released. Salazar formerly worked as El Hijo Del Medico Asesino in Mexico.
Jiro has been released. Jiro previously trained at former WWE star Taka Michinoku's dojo in Japan.
Sonny Elliot, who was from Australia, has also been released.
News on WWE Developmental
The big FCW Summer Slamarama tour with 39 events booked is another part of Triple H's changes to WWE developmental.
WWE has began to greatly increase their scouting efforts, a process that has fallen off in recent years for many reasons.
Bill DeMott recently replaced Tom Prichard as head trainer in WWE developmental. People in the business have been critical of DeMott's work as trainer in the past but he's said to have matured into a solid coach as of late.
This Day in Wrestling History
Happy Birthday to:
Jacques "The Mounty" Rougeau - June 13, 1960
Mike "Virgil aka Vincent" Jones - June 13, 1962
Fanene Leifi Pita Maivia, better known as High Chief Peter Maivia dies of cancer at age 47.
June 13, 1982
Yokozuna defeated Hulk Hogan for the WWF(E) Heavyweight title.
June 13, 1993
Mitsuharu Misawa passes away.
June 13, 2009
June 12, 2012
Triple H Makes Appearance at SmackDown Taping
Similar to last week's appearance, Triple H came out to the live crowd after a match and pedigreed Jack Swagger in what is most probably a house segment.
It takes a (small) army, and a Nashua native, to make a WWE SmackDown
There's an aspect of professional wrestling that still astonishes Nashua native Paul Levesque — best known as WWE superstar “Triple H” — nearly two decades into his wildly successful career.
Unlike the bruising body slams, countless collisions into turnbuckles and fellow talent, and many other athletic stunts witnessed by millions, this physical act is seen by far fewer eyeballs.
It's the behind-the-scenes effort required to set up for an event — like “WWE Presents SmackDown,” which tapes live tonight (7 p.m.) at Verizon Wireless Arena and airs Friday at 8 on cable television's Syfy channel.
“Coming from (World Championship Wrestling to WWE in 1995) was like going from the local circus to Barnum & Bailey,” Levesque, 42, said Monday while traveling to Hartford, Conn. “It's an amazing process.”
Update on Martha Hart vs. The McMahons & WWE
WWE and The McMahons each filed separate motions to dismiss the lawsuit brought against them by Martha Hart and the Owen Hart Estate yesterday.
The latest version of Hart's lawsuit, trimmed down with of the allegations thrown out already, alleges:
*Owen Hart's name would have reverted back to his usage and his usage alone in his passing, so WWE does not have the right to use his legal name to use, market and promote that name in their materials and DVD releases.
*That WWE released eight DVDs and other materials, including the WWE Encylopedia without proper payments to Owen Hart's estate per his Booking Contract with Titan Sports, which required that royalty payments continue after his death, per the written contract Owen signed.
*WWE used original intellectual property, including family photos, without permission of Owen Hart's estate.
*That the Owen Hart Foundation has been hurt its unwanted association with WWE through their usage of Owen Hart video and material.
Attempts to settle the lawsuit, thus far, have been unsuccessful.
source: pwinsider.com
Restraining Order Against WWE Dissolved
Lawyers for World Wrestling Entertainment have told a Nashville judge the company has not and will not use confidential information from rival Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
The pledge came during a hearing over a lawsuit TNA filed last month against WWE, claiming WWE had obtained secret contract information in an attempt to poach TNA's wrestlers.
Attorneys for WWE told Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle that the company has not contacted any of TNA's contracted personnel. The attorneys also said WWE has returned the only copies of the confidential information to TNA.
Lyle dissolved a May 24th temporary restraining order against WWE that had prohibited it from using the information to solicit TNA wrestlers, but she made no ruling on the merits of the case.
WWE's Jerry McDevitt filed a letter with the court on June 8th to TNA legal counsel Erika Blonquist writing the following.
"First, and as I advised you orally on the phone during our recent conference call, WWE has not solicited Ric Flair to leave TNA and enter into a contract with WWE. WWE has made no offer to Flair and has no intention of doing so. Second, as I also advised you, WWE has not solicited any other current TNA talent to repudiate their contracts and enter into a contract with WWE. WWE has no interest in current TNA talent."
source: associated press
Television Ratings for the 3-Hour Monday Night Raw 06/11/12
Monday's WWE Raw drew a 3.24 rating for the three-hour show. Raw drew a 3.46 rating in the traditional two-hour time slot, which was up compared to the 2.92 rating the show produced last week. The first hour of Raw drew 3.904 million viewers, hour two drew 4.882 million viewers and the third hour shot up to 5.080 million viewers.
source: prowrestling.net
Backstory Behind Vince McMahon’s “One Legged Wrestler” Joke On Raw Supershow
For those that missed Vince McMahon’s “go hire the one legged wrestler” joke to John Laurinaitis during the opening segment of tonight’s Raw Supershow, here’s the backstory. Several years ago, Vince told Laurinaitis to sign the popular one-legged wrestler Zach Gowen who was 19, working out of Livonia, Michigan. Somehow the signals were crossed and Laurinaitis offered a contract to a 37-year-old working out of Florida. When Gowen arrived in Stamford, Connecticut to meet with company officials, Laurinaitis asked him who he was. Tom Prichard had already sent Gowen his contract and airplane tickets so Zach introduced himself. John asked him why he was there when Vince interrupted and said that’s the 19-year-old one legged wrestler I asked you to sign. Just as John was trying to explain his mistake, Vince let him know he was aware and called him an idiot for trying to ink a wrestler in their late 30s.
source: wrestlingnewsworld.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Happy Birthday to Terry "Magnum T.A." Allen
June 12, 1959
Happy Birthday to Mark Henry
June 12, 1971
Stan Stasiak passes away due to heart failure at the age of 60.
June 12, 1977
Vince McMahon "dies" in a limo explosion on Monday Night Raw.
June 12, 2007
