Wrestling Observer editor Dave Meltzer was asked by a reader during his radio show (available here) why WWE has not utilized Mick Foley on television more frequently since his return to the organization last November. He said this is due to wrestler/executive Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque’s lobbying, who is resentful of “The Hardcore Legend.”
Meltzer reports Levesque deprecates Foley whenever his name is broached in creative meetings. While Brian Gewirtz, WWE’s Senior Vice President of Creative Writing, feels Foley is creative and a good performer, Levesque thinks otherwise. He says Foley ‘doesn’t look tough’ and can’t be taken seriously as an in-ring performer.
A former WWE creative writer told Power Slam in 2008 under the condition of anonymity that Levesque would disparage Foley whenever he appeared for the company, and in the process, diminished his value in the eyes of Vince and Stephanie McMahon.
“Foley is an out-of-shape nobody,” Levesque was reported as saying by the writer. “No one cares about him at all. Funaki puts more asses in the seats than Foley does. He should pay us for coming on our shows.”
Meltzer believes the real reason Levesque still holds Foley in contempt is because he gets irritated over the consensus of his closest co-workers that his memorable matches with Foley in 2000 ‘made him a star.’
Foley has criticized Levesque in the past; he took several veiled shots at ‘H in his 2007 autobiography The Hardcore Diaries. He also took issue online with Levesque belittling ring announcer Lilian Garcia with a remark he felt was hurtful during an April 2010 episode of Raw. Foley acknowledged then that he may have cost himself professionally, but felt he had to stand by his principles.
June 15, 2012
Rumor Mill - Triple H Against WWE Utilizing Mick Foley On Television
D-Backs to Host Lucha Libre Mask Night
The Arizona Diamondbacks MLB team will be giving away lucha libre masks to the first 15,000 fans at the July 7 game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The D-Backs are trying to reach the Latino population with give-aways this season. Last year, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim set a Guinness World Record for most wrestling masks assembled at one event as part of a give-away...More?
source: bizjournals.com
Maven Huffman: WWE Saved My Life!
Former "Surreal Life" star Maven Huffman has finished his stint in rehab following a major prescription drug arrest ... and says if it weren't for the WWE helping him out, he'd be dead.
TMZ broke the story ... Maven accepted rehab assistance from the WWE after he was arrested back in April for scamming more than 1,000 prescription pills from various doctors in the Florida area.
Now, after completing 50 days in a rehab facility, Maven tells us he has moved into a sober living facility and "has never felt better."
"I owe the WWE my life for helping me through this situation."
35-year-old Maven -- who won a WWE contract on the reality show Tough Enough in '01 -- says he hopes to get another shot with the organization ... inside or outside of the ring.
"Chapter 2 of my life begins now" Maven tells us, "I have the clarity and focus that comes with sobriety and will never let my family, friends and fans down again."
This Day in Wrestling History
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 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
