New series on E! pulls back curtain on WWE as the company looks to grow fan base around its female wrestlers.
WWE’s roster of female wrestlers, known as the Divas, haven’t been much in the spotlight lately — their match at this year’s “WrestleMania” was even canceled at the last minute. But the company is looking to change that with “Total Divas,” a new reality show that premieres Sunday on E!.
Series explores life beyond the ring for seven Divas as they compete for ring time, attend events and deal with a grueling travel schedule while juggling their personal lives. Show is the first time WWE has allowed cameras backstage to show its athletes out of character and not playing their on-screen personas.
Produced by WWE and Bunim-Murray Prods (MTV’s “The Real World”), “Total Divas” will revolve around the Bella Twins, Brie (Brianna Garcia-Colace) and Nikki (Nicole Garcia-Colace); Naomi (Trinity McCray) and Cameron (Ariane Nicole Andrew), better known as the Funkadactyls; Natalya (Natalie Katherine Neidhart), a third-generation wrestler with the WWE; and newcomers Eva Marie (Natalie Eva Marie Nelson) and Jo-Jo Offerman...More?
source: variety.com
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July 26, 2013
WWE’s Divas Ready to Face Reality
WWE Hall of Fame Beckons for Warrior
WRESTLING experts predict the Ultimate Warrior will finally enter the WWE Hall of Fame next year.
The beloved former WWE world champion has long been at odds with company owner Vince McMahon.
But the man with the colourful face paint and personality to match completed an unlikely virtual comeback last week by signing as a character in the new WWE 2K14 console game.
Since then, Warrior has featured heavily on the WWE’s website and even recorded a new interview in which he PRAISED McMahon.
He is yet, however, to appear back inside a WWE ring.
It is now thought the Warrior will follow other former out-of-favour grapplers Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund — who entered the Hall of Fame this year — by headlining the 2014 induction event.
The 54-year-old is fondly remembered by WWE fans for his WrestleMania VI defeat of Hulk Hogan, as well as classic feuds with Rick Rude and Randy Savage.
Multiple fallings-outs with McMahon led to a stop-start WWE career, which finally ended in 1996.
After a failed run in WCW in 1998, Warrior became a writer and motivational speaker — returning to the ring just once a decade later for an independent event in Spain.
Having been welcomed back into the WWE fold by McMahon on Twitter, Warrior replied: “Vince, thank you for your personal welcome back to the WWE Universe. It is noted and appreciated.
“All the Warriors of Parts Unknown take pride in being one of the original galaxies of the universe you created.
“Not one of my days has passed without a flashback to my time in the business and my relationship with you.
“After 17 years of battling one another, perhaps the stars have finally aligned and destiny is prepared to tell one of sports entertainment’s greatest stories.
“I am proud Ultimate Warrior is an iconic, immortal spirit in the universe you created. I know, Vince McMahon, you are proud, too.”
source: the sun
Jake the Snake: WWE star seeks comeback with Kickstarter movie
Troubled former WWE star Jake "the Snake" Roberts wants a new role, one that doesn't involve him flinging a cobra at opponents.
Starting in the 1980s, Roberts, 58, was a star of the WWE (then known as the World Wrestling Federation), known for his dark persona and large store of live snakes. But he has in more recent years struggled with a substance-abuse problem.
Now he's aiming for a comeback in "Heavy Water," a low-budget sci-fi movie by Andrew Donoho that is trying to raise money through a Kickstarter campaign.
Roberts plays Jed, the leader of a band of misfits who gather around a mysterious psychiatric facility.
"With a bit of molding, Jake's experience as a professional wrestler translated into strong performances and brought a powerful presence to his character," the Kickstarter pitch says. "His ability to improvise, take direction, and become the character shines through in his depiction of Jed."
Not sure what that "bit of molding" might entail, but "Heavy Water," which the filmmakers say has already completed shooting and is being edited, has a long way to go financially. As of Friday afternoon, the film had raised less than one-fifth of its $25,000 goal.
Meanwhile, Roberts is telling fans he's beating his addictions. “254 days coke free. 33 with out a drink!” he recently tweeted.
source: latimes.com
July 25, 2013
New York Orders Madison Square Garden To Move
Madison Square Garden, the most famous Arena in the world and for much of the WWF/WWE's history, their most important venue, was officially informed today that their lease to operate on their current location has been officially limited to the next decade.
The New York Council voted 47-1 yesterday to limit the lease as they want the venue to move to another location in order to expand and modernize Penn Station, the train station that sits underneath the property.
MSG, owned by Cablevision, is in the midst of a self-financed renovation that has cost nearly one billion dollars.
The venue has hosted more WWF/WWE title changes than any other venue as well as three Wrestlemanias, the first Summerslam, the first Elimination Chamber bout and many, many other important moments in WWE history.
The story has turned into a major story in the NYC area.
The current version of MSG opened in 1968. It is the fifth location for the Arena since the original opened in 1879.
source: pwinsider.com
Former Wrestler Fatally Stabs Woman in Tampa
A former professional wrestler will be charged with murder after he allegedly stabbed a woman Wednesday night at a Tampa apartment complex, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.
Brian McGee, 29, fled the apartment complex after the stabbing, which occurred at around 8:30 p.m., the sheriff's office said. The apartment complex is located at 8451 Del Lago Circle, Tampa.
When deputies arrived they discovered the female victim had been stabbed multiple times. She died at the scene as a result of her injuries. Her identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, deputies said.
McGhee's vehicle was spotted in Tampa and a pursuit involving Hillsborough deputies, the Florida Highway Patrol and Tampa Police Department ended at Interstate 75 and County Line Road in Pasco County where the suspect's vehicle crashed.
McGee was transported to St.Joseph's Hospital in Tampa for treatment. When he is released, he will be charged with first-degree murder, deputies said.
About 30 minutes after the stabbing was reported, McGee updated the profile picture on his Facebook page of a cut arm with a bloody wound. Friends and family left messages for him to contact them and to do the right thing.
McGee wrestled under the names Donovan Ruddick and D.T. Porter. He also used the nickname "The Future." He started his wrestling career in 2006, according to a pro wrestling web site.
In 2009, Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked McGee 476 out of 500 best single wrestlers. At one time, he was signed by the World Wrestling Entertainment, but in 2012 his contract with WWE ended, according to his Facebook page.
According to his Facebook page, McGhee was in the U.S. Navy from 2002 to 2004.
source: tampa tribune
In May of 2012, wrestlinginc.com reported on a strange Facebook post on McGhee's account:
WWE developmental talent Brian McGhee, who appears as DT Porter for Florida Championship Wrestling, denied posting a message on Facebook crying for help due to alleged mistreatment from camp officials. He claimed on the account that it was hacked.
The hacker's statement reads: "Guys, I don't know how much longer I can handle this. Every day is a constant struggle to keep my sanity. I love wrestling and it's all I ever wanted to do. Already going crazy since I've been for like ten months now, but it gets worse. Every day a trainer goes out of his way to rib or disrespect me in front of the boys because I've been out so long. I can't clear myself. I wanna wrestle more than anything, but I don't even know who I am anymore. It's so f--king hard. I just feel it just building inside of me and I don't know how much longer I can contain it. I have daydreams of just f--king everyone up on some real s--t. I'm not a kid. I'm a f--king man. But what do you do when the people in charge of helping you get to the main roster are the ones making your life the hardest. I've been drinking almost every day. It's to the point to where I keep Vodka and Gin in my trunk. Help me!"
July 24, 2013
Update on Kassius Ohno
There has been a lot of speculation regarding the status of Kassius Ohno and whether or not he’s on his way out of WWE before getting called up from developmental. The rampant rumors and doubts about his status have “only added to his frustration” about not getting called up. We are able to confirm that due to frustration, his attitude has been pessimistic and weight training sessions have not been a priority to him.
Ohno’s physique has never been his strong suit but there have been times he’s been pulled aside and asked to focus more on weight training. These type of suggestions usually end up offending him.
Kassius has been on the short list to get called up to the main roster several times but every time he’s been “tested with his attitude and commitment,” he’s failed the test. The stability of TNA Wrestling, the word going around in NXT is that it may not be the option it once was for workers that do not make it in developmental.
source: wnw premium news
July 23, 2013
Things Get Heated Backstage At Raw With Triple H & Top WWE Stars Over Blown Spot Involving Ryback, More
Brad Maddox’s lines in the opening segment of this week’s show were once again a worked shoot play on Vince McMahon’s former mindset on Daniel Bryan.
Triple H called the CM Punk/Paul Heyman segment some of the best promo work in many years. The program is being built with the “big fight feel,” something both Vince McMahon and Heyman love. Hunter is really high up on the realism and feels it shows a side of Punk’s character that hasn’t been seen WWE television. One observer pointed you would have to go back to Punk’s program with Raven in Ring of Honor to know that he really had it in him. While both Vince and Hunter feel Punk plays a better heel in the ring, they are “very happy” with this current direction and feel it’s a completely different kind of babyface.
Daniel Bryan’s match against Antonio Cesaro was being called a second “Match of the Year” candidate in just as many weeks. Triple H greeted Antonio Cesaro as soon as he got backstage and CM Punk and others gave him an ovation. Many workers were spotted watching the bout on the monitor backstage.
Their was criticism from Daniel Bryan beating Ryback by count out. As “poor as poor booking can get,” is how one key observer described it. After the show Vince McMahon went to Bryan and told him that sometimes it’s “good to be wrong.”
WWE officials were furious over the Brie Bella nipple slip on last night's RAW. The apology that she tweeted out was ordered by management. While not shown on television, Nikki Bella came out to the ring on crutches for the Miz TV segment on this week’s Monday Night Raw.
Triple H “blew a gasket” on Ryback for his botched spot at the end of the match with Daniel Bryan where he was supposed to protect Bryan and catch him then put him through a table. It was seen as “careless and reckless” that Ryback just let Bryan bump to the outside and didn’t know how to improvise after completely botching it. According to a source backstage, Hunter got in Ryback’s face and was screaming “carelessness” at him. Bryan is expected to get x-rays on his collar bone on Tuesday but isn’t believed to be hurt as he worked the dark match main event following the taping. However, it’s worth noting this continues to hurt the stock of Ryback. Not only was Hunter upset with the spot but CM Punk and John Cena were vocal about it as well. Cena is someone that rarely calls out others, so when he does, people listen.
source: wnw premium news
