Happy Birthday to:
Scott Flash Norton - June 15, 1958
Brad Armstrong - June 15, 1961
Chuck Palumbo - June 15, 1971
Dick Murdoch died of a heart attack at age 49.
June 15, 1996
Medusa lost a retirement match to Akira Hokuto, WCW Women's Champion.
June 15, 1997
June 15, 2012
This Day in Wrestling History
June 14, 2012
Note on Triple H at NXT TV Taping
Triple H appeared in the live crowd prior to the start of the WWE NXT TV tapings Thursday at Full Sail University in Florida. Hunter came out into the arena to no music and walked around in the crowd shaking hands with fans ringside. Hunter was not advertised for the TV taping, but is essentially in-charge of the tapings as part of the new partnership with Full Sail.
Talents Encouraged To Finish College
FCW brought in 23 to 35 athletes this past week - some experienced independent wrestlers but mostly successful college wrestlers that were recruited by Gerald Brisco. The wrestlers were told if they are signed by WWE, they would value them more if they continued and finished their studies in college as opposed to quitting school and starting in developmental right away. WWE is talking about doing similar tryouts in foreign countries such as the UK and Australia.
Cody Rhodes Avoids Suspension
Cody Rhodes failed a WWE Wellness Test but was able to provide valid documentation from a physician that nullified the suspension and strike. The reason he wasn’t on WWE TV this week is because he’s been in Turkey doing promo work for the company.
John Laurinaitis Has His Duties with WWE Cut Back, Speculation On His Future & Update On FCW
As noted in a previous post, Paul Levesque (Triple H) is now listed as the Executive Vice President of Talent & Live Events on WWE's corporate website, and John Laurinaitis is no longer listed as an executive. This is a change making official what has been the case for a while. Laurinaitis has worked under Triple H and Triple H has hired new people like Canyon Cemen and Jane Geddes. Geddes is Vice President of Talent Relations and is doing a lot of the work Laurinaitis was doing. Cemen is running Talent Development and is reporting to Triple H.
Laurinaitis has had many of his duties reduced as of late and the expectation is that his job will be changed in some form down the line as Triple H puts his own hires in key positions. Laurinaitis is still booking WWE live events but the writers are more involved in that as there is a movement within the company to make the live events more like the TV shows. Laurinaitis is also doing the talent payroll but has been spending more time on the road as a talent.
That belief along with Triple H building his management team with people experienced in other sports gives you an idea of his direction with developmental. They are going with the idea that signing top level athletes and teaching them to be wrestlers will develop the kind of marquee guys that can be Superstars.
People in FCW have been told that developmental is changing for the better, with a different structure, and a different schedule. There is some concern in FCW about what is happening since Tom Prichard was released as head trainer with no explanation on his departure given to those there.
Under Triple H, the idea is to structure the entire developmental process and talent relations like WWE is a major sports company.
Shane McMahon Update
As noted in a previous post, Shane McMahon's company "YOU on Demand" is now listed on the NASDAQ exchange and company heads rang the bell at the start of trading this past week. McMahon has reached deals with several Hollywood studios to bring movies to China.
The company lost $4.8 million over the last quarter and McMahon had to loan the company $3 million of his own money back on May 10th.
This Day in Wrestling History
John Pesek defeats Wladek Zbyszko and bills himself as World champion.
June 14, 1919
Jim Brunzell & Greg Gagne defeats Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura for the AWA World Tag Team Title in Green Bay, Wisconsin, starting their second run with the gold.
June 14, 1981
Antonio Inoki, having won the second annual IWGP tournament, wrestles and defeats Hulk Hogan (who won the inaugural tournament by beating Inoki) for the IWGP Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan.
June 14, 1984
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.
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
