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December 18, 2013
Vince McMahon & WWE Stars Headed Overseas
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, along with Big Show, R-Truth, Eva Marie and Alicia Fox, are all headed overseas to visit some of the U.S. Troops. It has not been disclosed which country the WWE crew will be visiting.
December 17, 2013
WWE Aims to Pin Down Rich New TV Rights Deals
If USA Network wants to retain its biggest hit, “Monday Night Raw,” it’s gonna have to pay.
Next month, for the first time, WWE will shop the rights to “Raw” and all of its shows at the same time — a list of weekly series that includes Syfy’s “Friday Night SmackDown,” “Main Event” on ION Television, the CW’s “Saturday Morning Slam” and reality show “Total Divas” on E!
The goal is to significantly increase the $139.5 million in TV licensing fees WWE earns each year for its shows, and attempt to get closer to the rich network deals that sports organizations like the NBA, NHL NASCAR, as well as soccer command.
In the past, deals for WWE’s series were brokered individually on a staggered timeline, usually every three to four years or so. But WWE has spent nearly two years quietly lining up rights to expire simultaneously in an effort to secure higher fees and appease shareholders who have grown increasingly frustrated that the company’s TV deals are not worth more at a time when live “event” programming is more valuable than ever.
Jim Ross On His Experiences Working For Vince McMahon
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross recently spoke to Total Wrestling Magazine about what it's like working for Vince McMahon:
"I had good days and bad days being produced by Vince. No one likes to be yelled at but after working for Bill Watts there was nothing that could be yelled at me by McMahon that I hadn't heard before."
"Vince is aggressive and a perfectionist and is set in his ways, by and large. Working as a broadcaster isn't easy and being overproduced can detract from a broadcast in my view. I survived aggressive producing better than some because I tried to not take it personally."
"Good producers should motivate and lead... not rant and rave."
WWE Diva Natalya Comments on Stephanie McMahon, Total Divas and Women “Taking Over” the Professional Wrestling World
WWE Divas Natalya was interviewed by the Miami Herald in a continuation on their series about women's wrestling, and the former Divas champ had some kind words to say about WWE executive Stephanie McMahon.
“In WWE, Stephanie McMahon, I would vote for her to be President of the United States. She is beautiful, intimidating and endearing, all at the same time. Women are taking over in WWE. People look at WWE and think it’s very male dominated, but really it’s not. There’s a nice blend and balance of women who are involved in WWE. You look at Stephanie McMahon and Vickie Guerrero and AJ Lee and this cast on ‘Total Divas.’ People are going, ‘Wow, I love watching Natalya on Total Divas. Oh my gosh. Did you see what the Bellas did?’ People are getting hooked on watching us.”
Natalya also answered questions on whether or not she would join the ranks of Sara del Rey, training WWE's future Divas in NXT and at the Performance Center in Orlando, FL.
“Although, I do really enjoy working with new talent, women and men, and I love training people. I think training people makes you better at your craft, but I don’t know. It will just depend on the situation, and if the right opportunity presents itself, but I can’t say what my future holds.”
Total Divas had its last episode of season one this Sunday, and a second season has been announced for March 2014.
December 16, 2013
AJ Styles Issues Statement on TNA Departure
Today for the first time in 11 years, AJ Styles awakes to find himself without a professional wrestling contract. I can't help but think how did I get here, what must I have done wrong, did I not deliver in the ring, etc. All of those are pertinent questions that any man or woman who finds himself or herself unemployed would ask.
I have always prided myself in being the wrestler that stays away from the things in this business that could easily destroy myself, my family, my marriage, and even my career. A wrestler who goes above and beyond to give the fans what they paid to see.
I move forward not bitter, but better for the blessings and memories that I have been a part of since TNA's inception.
When this contract renegotiation journey started several months ago, my wife and I began praying for God to close doors that needed to be closed and to open the doors that He wanted us to walk through. We asked him to prepare us for this journey and to help us to have the faith to be obedient to what He would have us to do. I am assured by the name Immanuel in Matthews 1:23 that I will never be alone. Hebrews 13.5, says He will never leave us or forsake us. There is a lot in this world that I am unsure of, especially in this moment, but there is one thing that I am certain. Contracts may expire, but the promise of Immanuel will never expire.
As my family and I move forward with my wrestling career, we will turn to Jabez's prayer found in 1 Chronicles 4:10.
Oh, that You would bless me indeed,
and enlarge my territory,
that Your hand would be with me,
and that You would keep me from evil.
My family and I are both grateful for the platform that TNA has allowed me to experience. TNA has been a blessing to our family for many years. We have made many friendships and many more memories. While you may not be seeing AJ Styles in TNA, you can be sure that he will be traveling the world and delivering many more Phenomenal matches. Visit AJStyles.org for a complete list of bookings.
Sincerely,
AJ Styles
December 15, 2013
Update on the AJ Lee - Michelle Beadle Story
The entire story from pwinsider.com:
Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer reported earlier today that there were a number of people within WWE upset with current WWE Divas champion AJ Lee for behavior backstage at this past Wednesday's Tribute to the Troops taping. Meltzer's report noted that Lee became unruly with NBC sports personality and WWE fan Michelle Beadle when she encountered Beadle and CM Punk (who Lee has been dating) talking backstage. Meltzer's report is that Lee allegedly became very irate and loud about the fact Beadle was speaking with Punk to the point that others backstage became distracted by the incident.
Beadle was at the event as the "official host" of the Tribute special, which will air in a few weeks on NBC and The USA Network.
PWInsider confirmed this afternoon that Meltzer's report was accurate in that the company was upset with Lee for several reasons, including "unprofessional conduct" with an invited guest of the company who works for WWE's NBC-Universal partner and because the incident took place at the Troops taping, which internally is considered one of the most important events of the year by Vince McMahon.
However, the word making the way among wrestlers backstage at TLC today was that Lee approached Beadle not out of jealousy but because Beadle had spoken to Punk in a disrespectful manner. The version wrestlers have been passing around is that Lee approached Beadle after Beadle had a conversation with CM Punk, not during a conversation between the two.
Beadle allegedly said something in a disrespectful manner that allegedly upset Punk, which led to Lee looking for her. That comment (we have heard several versions and can't confirm what it actually was) led to Lee telling Beadle that she was not to speak to Punk in such a manner again and if she did, there would be issues between the two. Beadle then reported the incident to WWE.
One wrestler who witnessed the incident "from ten feet away" denied that Lee ever raised her voice or cursed. "Anyone who said that is a liar," the wrestler, who spoke under condition of anonymity, commented.
However, since Beadle is a celebrity, there was (and may still be) heat on Lee over the situation since as the same wrestler commented, "Celebs are untouchable in the backstage scene. WWE wants them more than they need any wrestler, so automatically, the wrestler is going to be wrong here, even when [Lee] isn't really."
Beadle acknowledged the incident this afternoon on Twitter, writing in response to a pro-Lee fan, "Hon...it was done in front of company people. I didn't say a word. I thought it was a joke." She also made a reference to losing a "friend" due to "crazy girlfriend" syndrome.
CM Punk, while not acknowledging the situation directly, was apparently unhappy Lee ended up in hot water as well. He wrote on Twitter the day after the Troops taping, "It's difficult to always try to do business the proper way with a company that refuses to practice the same standards."
Michelle Beadle Confirms Report Of Backstage Incident With AJ Lee - 'I Thought It Was A Joke'
NBC entertainment and sports personality Michelle Beadle is lending credence to today's report concerning an incident between herself and WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee at last Wednesday's annual Tribute to the Troops event at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Pierce County, Washington.
Wrestling Observer editor Dave Meltzer revealed this morning in a podcast on F4WOnline.com that Lee went on an obscenity-laced tirade towards the Access Hollywood co-host upon seeing her chat with CM Punk, her boyfriend, backstage at the event. Beadle didn't believe Lee was serious with her unhinged WWE character-like outburst.
In response to a fan remarking to her this morning on Twitter, "You should have slapped AJ Lee when she got in your face," Beadle wrote, "Meh. I thought it was a joke."
Responding to an upset AJ Lee fan on Twitter, Beadle remarked, "Hon...it was done in front of company people. I didn't say a word. I thought it was a joke."
Beadle's tweet gels with Meltzer's claim, as he noted on the podcast that Lee's Tribute to the Troops incident took place in front of many important people. He added that a number of WWE officials were very embarrassed and angry at Lee over the incident, mainly for "coming off like her character in real life, and not in a good way." She is expected to be disciplined for her behavior.
Lee is scheduled to defend her WWE Divas Championship tonight at WWE TLC against Natalya.
source: f4wonline.com
