This Day In Wrestling History

Verne Gagne defeats Miguel Guzman in Houston, Texas for the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title, ending Guzman's fifth title reign, and beginning his second run with the belt.
September 8, 1950

El Mongol defeats Mr. Wrestling for the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, starting his fourth run with the belt.
September 8, 1967

Intercontinental Champion Pat Patterson defeats WWF(E) World Champion Bob Backlund via countout in a rare champion vs. champion match in Springfield, Massachusetts.
September 8, 1979

Ric Flair is stripped of recognition as the official NWA World Champion after being fired from WCW in 1991.
September 8, 1991

This Day In Wrestling History

Buddy Rogers defeats Ted Cox in Houston, Texas to win the NWA Texas Heavyweight Title for the second time.
September 7, 1945

Two years before winning the first official WWF(E) King of the Ring tournament, Bret "Hitman" Hart eliminates I.R.S. to win the 1991 KOTR tournament.
September 7, 1991

This Day In Wrestling History

The Sheik defeats Seiji Sakaguchi in Tokyo, Japan to win the NWA United National Heavyweight Title. That belt is now part of the All Japan Triple Crown.
September 6, 1972

WWWF(WWE) World Champion Bruno Sammartino defeats Bugsy McGraw & Lou Albano in a handicap match at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
September 6, 1975

At a non-televised event in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, WWE Champion Brock Lesnar defeats World Champion Triple H in a rare bout between the SmackDown and Raw champions. Before the match, it was announced that only Lesnar's title was on the line.
September 6, 2002

WWE Says SmackDown Is Staying on Fridays

The mystery surrounding SmackDown moving back to Thursdays continues. After Syfy updated their schedule today to show that SmackDown would be staying on Friday nights after October 2nd, it was changed back a short time later and as of this writing, they still have SmackDown moving to Thursday nights at 8pm EST beginning October 2nd. However, F4Wonline.com now reports that WWE officials have confirmed to them that SmackDown is staying on Friday nights.

Part Two of Triple H's Interview on Chris Jericho's Podcast

This Day In Wrestling History

Greg Valentine defeated Tito Santana for the WWWF(WWE) Intercontinental title.
September 24, 1984

Shawn Michaels & Diesel defeated Owen Hart & Yokozuna for the WWF(E) Tag Team title.
September 24, 1995

At the conclusion of TNA's No Surrender Pay-per-view, a video package announces that former WWF World Champion and Olympic Gold Medallist Kurt Angle would be coming to the company. TNA issued a press release, announcing the signing of Angle and the fact that SpikeTV had decided to give the company a prime time slot on Thursday nights.
September 24, 2006

This Day In Wrestling History

On SmackDown from Green Bay, WI, Chuck Palumbo asks Billy Gunn to be his "partner for life" in a very controversial storyline that got national attention.
September 5, 2002

WWE Performance Center anniversary, other marks set under Paul Triple H Levesque

It’s been a little over a year since the state-of-the-art WWE Performance Center officially opened its doors in Orlando.

Celebrating its one-year anniversary this summer, just how are things going?

Well, Bray Wyatt & the Wyatt Family (Luke Harper and Erick Rowan), Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Lana, Bo Dallas, Summer Rae, Adam Rose, Emma, Xavier Woods, Rusev and Paige transitioned from developmental to developed, reaching WWE status via sports entertainment training at the center. The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor), Bayley, Tyler Breeze, Charlotte, Adrian Neville, Mojo Rawley and Sami Zayn are currently standing out in NXT while training WWE style at the center, and recently, WWE signed Fergal Devitt, Kenta Kobayashi and Kevin Steen, three talented wrestlers who will train the WWE way at the center.

The vision of Paul Triple H Levesque came to fruition on July 11, 2013 with a special ceremony to showcase the new WWE Performance Center, where WWE’s future began.

Levesque’s idea was inspired by the Timex Performance Center, the main headquarters and practice facility of the New York Giants at Meadowlands Sports Complex, where WWE held WrestleMania 29 in 2013.

Levesque visited the facility prior to WrestleMania 29 Week, and that’s how WWE’s center evolved.

The WWE Performance Center is above and beyond most -- if not all -- pro sports teams’ centers. Since its opening, personnel from the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as other pro organizations visited WWE’s crown jewel for facility and training tips. All were impressed.

With 26,000 square-feet, seven training rings, a world-class strength and conditioning program and cutting-edge edit and production facilities, the Performance Center allows WWE the ability to train more potential performers than ever before through a comprehensive program including in-ring training, physical preparedness and character development.

“The WWE Performance Center represents the guaranteed future success of our company, providing the next generation of WWE superstars and divas with a world-class facility to call their home,” Levesque said during the opening in 2013. “The venue offers our developmental talent a full training experience with real time feedback from WWE coaches, trainers and directors, giving them the resources they need to develop their talent both athletically and creatively.”

Florida Gov. Rick Scott even attended the grand opening in a non-election year.

Talent can also perform, wrestle in a quality facility at Full Sail Live at Full Sail University in Winter Park, near the WWE Performance Center in Orlando. Full Sail Live provides hi-tech production capabilities for NXT shows on WWE Network. That gives NXT superstars and divas a Raw or SmackDown feel, preparing them better for working a TV broadcast (live or taped) for WWE.

In an interview in May, Levesque said: “I look at the opportunity for NXT from a learning perspective for everybody who touches our business, top to bottom. We [also] train camera guys. We train audio techs. We train lighting crew. We train directors and producers, all of it. For them to have the opportunity to work side-by-side with our key players and also have the opportunity to do it live on a quarterly basis, there’s a whole different buzz level.”

The WWE Performance Center features a Dream Team of coaches, trainers, producers and staff, including Dusty Rhodes, Terry Taylor, Sara Amato and Bill DeMott.

source: miamiherald.com

CM Punk's Lawyers Send Letter to WWE Officials Over Royalties and Use of Punk's Likeness

CM Punk's lawyers recently sent a 22-page letter to WWE over royalties and their use of his likeness, mainly him being featured in the WWE 2K15 video game.

This isn't confirmed but WWE may have stopped sending Punk royalty checks over their claim that he breached his contract. Regarding the video game, the roster was put together before Punk quit the company.

Fired WWE wrestler Alberto Del Rio reportedly gets non-compete clause thrown out to join Mexico’s AAA promotion

Alberto Del Rio fans can breath a sigh of relief. The ex-WWE superstar who was fired last month for reportedly slapping an employee over a racist joke, is set to wrestle again after getting a non-compete clause thrown out in court, WrestlingInc.com reports. The news first broke on the Spanish-language Web site SuperLuchas.net, which has been following Del Rio’s post-WWE career as he signed with the Mexican promotion AAA.

Speaking about the non-compete clause, Del Rio, now known as Alberto “El Patron,” told reporters (via SuperLuchas.net) at a press conference for an upcoming AAA event:

“It is unconstitutional that you cannot work… Thanks to lawyers and support of AAA, I can fight without any problems.”

The event, which will be El Patron’s debut with AAA, is set to take place on Sept. 14 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Cancun, Mexico. El Patron will team up with La Parka and Myzteziz to face Hijo del Perro Aguayo, Texano Jr. and Averno in the main event.

Part One of Triple H's Interview on Chris Jericho's Podcast

TNA Live Events Reportedly On Hold, More Departures Rumored, TNA Focusing on TV Now

PWInsider and the Talk Is TNA podcast both report that there's talk of more TNA office departures in the last week.

Talk Is TNA reports that TNA live events are on hiatus for the foreseeable future as the company is focusing on TV for now. Some of the releases in the last week were reportedly from the live event department.

After this weekend's tapings in North Carolina & Virginia, TNA has tapings next week in Bethlehem, PA and then the Bound For Glory pay-per-view from Tokyo in October. After Bound For Glory, there are no TNA events scheduled until the UK tour in January 2015.