WWE has started early preparation work for their own weekend long convention styled after the massive San Diego Comic-Con, PWInsider.com has learned. The plan would be for the convention to be held over four days in the same market as a major PPV event.
There is no timetable for the first event to be held yet, as the company is still formulating plans and just began reaching out to fans via surveys to gauge interest on different elements in order to help the company begin to build a better gathering.
The early indications are that the four day event, running from Thursday to Sunday would be far more like a major comic book convention than the current AXXESS events, with specific programming, including panels with WWE writers, executives, legends and current talents.
The gathering would also conceivably feature autograph and photo sessions, interactive contests and activities with other fans, PPV and other event watching parties in theaters, live bouts from WWE NXT, a vendor's area with different exhibitors displaying and selling items, a WWE memorabilia display, a fan collector zone to display your own collection, a WWE videogame lounge and more.
The early plans are to have a VIP ticket in the $100-$150 area as well as a general admission ticket. The convention ticket would be separate from the the PPV ticket.
Early markets under consideration for the event are NYC, Orlando, New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Miami, Philadelphia and Las Vegas.
One would have to think that part of the idea behind this project is to keep fans attending major WWE weeks such as Wrestlemania going to WWE-centric events, as opposed to independent gatherings such as Wrestlecon, which was a big success last year.
source: pwinsider.com
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July 20, 2013
WWE Is Considering 'WWE The Convention'
Baseball's Newest Mascot Is A Mexican Wrestler
The Arizona Diamondbacks have a new mascot, a professional wrestler dressed in the style of a Luchador.
Professional wrestling in Mexico, also called Lucha Libre, is very popular in the southwest United States and now the Diamondbacks are trying to capitalize on that popularity. The wrestlers are called Luchadors and they wear highly stylized masks when they are competing.
This move comes after the Diamondbacks gave away Lucha Libre masks to fans last season, something that proved to be very popular. They will have another mask giveaway later this month.
source: businessinsider.com
D-backs introduce new Luchador
July 19, 2013
Justin Credible Comments on the WWE Performance Center, More
Justin Credible wrote the following in a blog posted on pwmania.com:
"Another example of the changing wrestling business is the new WWE Performance Center. Great idea in theory, but in my opinion it’s only going to limit how many young Indy wrestlers will ever get a chance at WWE glory unless they are former NFL or college ballers. Only time will tell, but WWE is smart enough to keep all options open."
I find it interesting that the only negative comments I've read about the WPC were from this guy and pwtorch.com. Pwtorch.com never has anything nice to say about Triple H, so their comments didn't surprise me. But there is something strange going on with Justin Credible.
Justin Credible stated in one of his videos that he wanted to get a job with one of the "major wrestling companies". He initially said he wanted to give back and train the new wrestlers. I guess he has given up on that because recently he started a video series on YouTube giving training advice and tips. Now he is saying he is too good to just train and should be on the main roster.
In May of this year. Credible said he turned himself in for a two-year old warrant that resulted from a check he cashed back when he was using drugs. The check belonged to his father and there was a question as to weather he had permission to cash it. He posted a video on YouTube explaining his side. He also stated that he reimbursed the check cashing place and the charges were dropped. According to public court records in Connecticut, he has a court date on June 23rd for a plea deal. The video has since been removed from YouTube.
I think his comments aren't really his opinion about the WPC. If he had been given a job there as a trainer like he originally wanted, he would be singing it's praises.
Chikara Returning Tomorrow? Potential Reboot Of The Company And More
After supposedly closing down last month, it appears that Chikara may be relaunching tomorrow. After Director of Fun Wink Vavasseur announced that the company was closing during the main event of the ippv , "Aniversario: Never Compromise" back in June, very little has been said about Chikara. Recently, a thread on the Chikara101forums was started by wrestler Dasher Hatfield, with the topic discussing his favorite Chikara moments. Other wrestlers from the company chimed in, including company stalwart Icarus, who had this to say:
"And now here we are 11 years later, shut down by a group of bureaucrats. And I look at this forum and where are my brothers in arms crying 'fight!' like we did back in 2002? I see whimpering posts that seem to be saying 'I accept this fate.' It makes me sick, and heart-broken. It makes me angry.
"CHIKARA isn't some shadowy corporate suits pulling the strings behind the scenes. I am CHIKARA. You are CHIKARA. Are you forgetting that?
"I was given a family that quite honestly, I can't stand. So I spent my adult life creating and molding a new one. A family that I respect and love. You can shut the doors, liquidate the assets, and slap a 'for sale' sign on a company, but not a family. Not my family.
"On my calendar July 20th is marked 'Easton, PA.' That's where my family was supposed to be that day. And I do not accept this fate. If Easton is where CHIKARA was supposed to be, then that's where I'll be. The Palmer Center. 7:00 pm.
"I am CHIKARA. Are You?"
A Chikara event called "All You See Is Mine" was previously scheduled to take place, but was canceled when the company apparently closed down. No other details have been mentioned besides the post by Icarus.
When Chikara closed after Aniversario, The Wrestling Observer stated that anything could be possible, from a storyline to the legit closing of the company. Due to Chikara's affinity for comic books, it could be an excuse for a comic-like reboot of the company. Bryan Alvarez of Figure Four Weekly reported that those close to Chikara founder and booker Mike Quackenbush "don't have any idea where the storyline is going, but feel that Quackenbush is trying to do something big, something never done before in wrestling"
PWI also reported that Chikara talents were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements before the pay-per-view to help keep future developments a secret.
July 18, 2013
Power couple, Paul Levesque and Stephanie McMahon, usher in ‘a new beginning’ with WWE Performance Center
It was a huge moment for Paul (Triple H) Levesque, whose plan for an all-inclusive training facility for up-and-coming superstars became a reality. The WWE grappler has traded in his DX chop for a business suit these days as the WWE Executive Vice President Talent and Live Events. He has transitioned smoothly in the role, with this project being a prime example.
The Game remembered doing the walkthrough for WrestleMania 29 at MetLife Stadium and wanting to take a tour of the New York Giants’ Timex Performance Center at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. The wheels in Levesque’s creative mind began to turn. An idea was born.
“When I saw it, I went, ‘This is it,’” Levesque said. “This is the field, and this is the rest of it. I just took what they had created and thought about how I could take all the components they had and turn that into what we do. That’s how we got here. The Timex Center is nicest center in the NFL. When I saw it, I didn’t need to see any other ones because this is what I wanted to do.”
Levesque’s vision continued to meld, including where this potential state-of-the-art WWE Performance Center would be housed. Full Sail University helped make the decision an easy one.
“As we started thinking about this whole process, where is what I thought about first,” Levesque said. “All the pieces in my head, but the first piece that came to me was Full Sail. [WWE senior vice president of live events and Orlando resident] John Saboor was like, ‘There are these guys that run this media school in Orlando. I don’t know if there is anything there that you guys could do, but it just seemed like a behind the scenes of everything you guys do.’
“They gave me the information, and I went there not thinking anything else about Performance Center or developmental. Then to see it with my own eyes walking into Full Sail Live thinking, ‘We can definitely run a show in here. I can make an arena for television.’”
WWE NXT, featuring future WWE superstars and divas, is broadcast on Hulu Plus and seen in 100 countries from Full Sail Live at Full Sail University in Winter Park, near Downtown Orlando.
Levesque continued: “We started with the pilot there [Full Sail Live], and then we had gone three months to see how it worked for them. Then when we signed on for a few years, it was locked and sold in Orlando. Next step is this [Performance Center] and scouring for buildings.”
The groundbreaking for the facility was April, making a quick turnaround time. Levesque’s wife, Stephanie McMahon, Executive Vice President Creative, couldn’t help getting emotional at the grand opening of the WWE Performance Center after seeing what her husband and everyone involved accomplished there.
“I just think the word that sums it up is pride,” McMahon said. “I’m just so incredibly proud of him, and I’m really proud of the team. I’m really proud of all the superstars and divas, but it takes a leader and a visionary. My husband is that man, and this is his vision. I couldn’t be more proud… They executed it all amazingly fast and on budget. Its high quality, and they delivered on everything. We have an incredible team. There were lots of great people behind this.”...More?
source: miamiherald.com
Miami Marlins Bringing in WWE Legends to Boost Attendance
Bizofbaseball.com is featuring an article about the MLB's Miami Marlins hosting a slew of appearances by WWE Legends like Bret Hart, Jimmy Hart, Jim Neidhart and other noteable names like Bill Goldberg, Mr. Anderson, Chavo Guerrero and more to boost attendance. The Marlins boast the worst attendance among all MLB teams despite a brand new ballpark...More?
WWE Ventures into the World of Graphic Novels, Mick Foley Set to Author Them
Comic Book Resources is reporting that Papercutz will be publishing two WWE comic series.
According to the article, the first title is a monthly comic series starting in December titled "WWE", which will be an extension of WWE programming. Mick Foley will write stories and they are set to coincide with what we see on TV. As an FYI, he will also be back as the GM for season two of Saturday Morning Slam on The CW.
There will also be a second title that is focused purely on kids and is set to launch in June of 2014 and will be released three times a year.
source: pwinsider.com
Rumor Mill - Taping Impact on the Road Becoming a Financial Burden for TNA?
According to The Wrestling Observer, it is currently costing TNA approximately $600,000 per taping to film Impact Wrestling on the road, and that large expense is the primary reason why TNA is facing financial problems right now, and as a result has had to cut numerous contracts recently.
TNA President Dixie Carter recently said in an interview that if TNA had taken Impact on the road in earlier years it could have risked the future of the company, however the decision to do it now hasn't really paid off as there has been no significant increase in ratings or revenue.
Currently, TNA has made a long term commitment to taping Impact on the road, and even if the company were to decide to return to taping the show in Orlando, FL, the Impact Zone is unavailable as Universal Studios has a new tenant occupying the soundstage.
Chris Nowinski Participating in VA Concussion Forum
CBSLocal.com out of Washington is reporting that former WWE star Chris Nowinski will be participating in a forum in Richmond focusing on the risks of sports concussions among young athletes.
The conference Friday at the Westin Hotel will review how the state is helping Virginians with such injuries.
