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January 6, 2014
Jerry Lawler Reportedly Hospitalized This Afternoon In Baltimore
Jerry Lawler was sent to the hospital by WWE officials in Baltimore today after experiencing chest pains and some vomiting. He reportedly did blood work at the hospital and was "fine" at last word.
Prowrestling.net reports that Lawler's son, Brian Christopher, became concerned and alerted WWE officials that something was wrong with his father. WWE then encouraged Lawler to visit the hospital as a precautionary measure.
At last word, Lawler was still in Baltimore but it's unknown if he will be working RAW tonight. A backstage source reported that Lawler was trying to hide it but his son notified officials anyway.
WWE to make groundbreaking announcement this Wednesday night on WWE.com
WWE Universe, come to WWE.com this Wednesday (Jan. 8) at 9:30 p.m. ET for a groundbreaking announcement.
Join WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon — along with WWE COO Triple H, 11-time WWE Champion John Cena, and WWE Hall of Famers "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels — for the announcement, which will be streamed LIVE from Las Vegas.
Watch LIVE this Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. ET on WWE.com, the WWE App, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo!, Google+, Pinterest and Pheed. Mark your calendar and get ready for the biggest revolution in sports-entertainment history.
Stay with WWE.com for more regarding this blockbuster announcement that will change WWE forever.
January 4, 2014
TNA Fails to Secure Impact Zone in Orlando; Future of TV Tapings Unknown
In December 2013, TNA taped six episodes of Impact Wrestling from Universal Studios in Orlando, FL. At the time, the company sent out a press release about the Impact Zone homecoming, claiming that there were plans to launch a training facility and use the tools available at the Universal sound stage as a hub for #IMPACT365.
Next week, the final pre-recorded episode of Impact Wrestling will air on Spike TV followed by a live Genesis special on January 16th. Following the Genesis special, TNA will tape several more episodes in Huntsville, AL before leaving for the annual UK Tour, where at least two, but likely four episodes of Impact are scheduled.
At this point, once TNA returns from the UK Tour they will have Impact recorded through February with a string of live events ending on February 23rd. This is the last date currently booked for any TNA events, and so far a destination has not been determined for future episodes. According to reports, they could not secure the Impact Zone past their December booking, so it remains to be seen where television will be taped starting in March. Expect a press release on the issue from TNA soon.
source: pwinsider.com
January 3, 2014
Antonio Cesaro Comments on his former ROH tag team partner Chris Hero (Kassius Ohno) being released by WWE
"It certainly was disappointing. When we signed with this company, we both knew what we were getting into. We both made each other a promise that we would work as hard as possible, whether it's as a team or singles competitors. I know he'll wind up on his feet, and he probably already is, and he'll continue wrestling all over the world."
How Much WWE Is Worth Now, Why WWE Stocks Have Been Rising
According to the Wrestling Observer, WWE is now worth $1.25 billion as their company stock has doubled since the start of 2013. Between Vince, Stephanie and Linda McMahon, the McMahon family is reportedly very close to billionaire status.
Two things are contributing to an increasingly public view of the WWE: the impending WWE Network, and their upcoming television rights negotiations. The company stands to make a lot more money when their deals are up in 2014, and will be able to negotiate new deals for each of their shows, including the flagship Monday Night Raw and Friday Night Smackdown. There has been some talk that Spike TV would like to acquire Smackdown for their Friday night block as a lead-in to Bellator MMA. Spike TV is also the US home of Impact Wrestling, and while they would not be competing for time slots on the same night, it's not likely that WWE would agree to a deal where they would be on the same channel as a TNA product. It's possible that if Spike could get a WWE product they would have no further need for Impact, which has been a big draw for the network for many years, but at this point all rumor and speculation is just that.
WWE to Air Chris Benoit Footage on the WWE Network with Advisory Note
F4Wonline.com reports that WWE has sent out a memo stating that Chris Benoit footage will be allowed on its new Network broadcasts. There will be an advisory played before every show he appears on. WWE is expected to announce the Network in Las Vegas next week.
Details on How WWE Is Helping Talents Manage Their Money, Prepare for the Future and More
WWE has their developmental talents doing classes and seminars, treating it like it's almost similar going to college. The idea is that they are trying to teach talents to not screw up like most people from the past had done and have skills for a post-wrestling.
They are going to have talent classes in marketing themselves, programs in teaching how to manage finances, college tuition reimbursement programs, media training and language courses.
WWE has formed a partnership with Money Management International to help the talents with their financial planning for the future. They will have classes that teach budgeting, debt control, help with choosing a tax professional, as well as helping them choose people to be financial planners and to help them with taxes.
They are also working with Kevin Sullivan Communications (not the WCW Kevin Sullivan) to teach talent media training, like how to avoid bad press on Twitter. Sullivan is the former White House Communications Director under George W. Bush
Developmental talents will also be given seminars in injury prevention and how to live a healthy lifestyle. Read more at their corporate site.
January 2, 2014
AJ Styles Talks About WWE Not Having Interest In Signing Him
AJ Styles recently spoke with F4Wonline.com about TNA, ROH and more. Regarding WWE, AJ said he understands WWE is putting a lot into their developmental system and just may not be interested in him.
It was pointed out that a wrestler in AJ’s position not being signed right away by WWE would have been unthinkable 10 years ago and that this is an indication of how much the business has changed. AJ responded, “Yeah. Lucky me, huh?”
Flair, Rhodes have lessons for wrestling offspring
Famed pro wrestler Ric Flair has been visiting Tampa Bay a lot lately, to see a woman.
WWE fans familiar with Flair’s roguish reputation might figure he’s dating an exotic dancer here.
Truth is, he’s stepping out of character with this relationship by playing the role of father to a daughter who happens to be following in his footsteps.
The Charlotte, N.C., resident known as “The Nature Boy” resides in Indian Rocks Beach when visiting his 27-year-old daughter Ashley who is training to be the next star of World Wrestling Entertainment at WWE’s Performance Center in Orlando.
Flair comes to Tampa Bay to be near her. She is his daughter, he explained, and he misses her.
“I tell everyone in the world that I have always been the best father I could be and that I was the worst husband,” Flair said with a laugh rooted in his many divorces.
“Wooo!” he exclaims, his trademark shout.
Is the 64-year-old Flair concerned that Ashley has chosen such a potentially hazardous career path?
Well, he worries she carries baggage.
“There will be added pressure on her,” he said, “because she is my daughter.”
There’s no telling whether Ashley sees the relationship as a plus or minus. WWE prohibits trainees from doing interviews.
But Cody Rhodes has some opinions on the subject.
The legend of his father, the good guy Dusty Rhodes, was born in the wrestling halls of Tampa in the 1970s, and by the time he retired, had spread across the world.
When he broke into the WWE, the fans didn’t want to see “Cody Rhodes,” they wanted to see “Dusty Rhodes Junior.”
Nostalgic, they were looking to satisfy their longing for the days when his father was king.
“A lot of people preferred me to pander to those fans,” Cody Rhodes said. “They wanted me to dye my hair blonde like my dad, do his moves like the jab and the elbow, and talk like him.”
But Rhodes said he was warned by wrestling veterans that copying his father would make him an instant star at the cost of career success.
Nostalgia has a shelf life, they told him, and “Dusty Junior” would grow stale.
So he kept his hair black. He stayed away from his father’s signature moves. He played the villain.
It made for a longer journey, Rhodes acknowledges. In the beginning, many fans were upset he didn’t channel his famous father. He had to work to win them over. And he succeeded, wrestling today as one of the WWE’s top stars.
Still, for every Cody Rhodes there are a handful of second-generation wrestlers who failed because they couldn’t escape their fathers’ shadows, he said...More?
source: tbo.com
