Stephanie McMahon Named by CableFAX Magazine as One of the Most Powerful Women in Cable for the 6th Time

Stephanie McMahon has been named by CableFAX Magazine as one of the most powerful women in cable for the sixth time. She has been given this honor in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, & 2014. A breakfast for the honorees was held on November 20th at the Edison Ballroom in New York City.

Total Divas Season 5 Preview

WWE Hall of Famer Nick Bockwinkel Passes Away

From WWE.com:

WWE is saddened to learn that Nick Bockwinkel, a WWE Hall of Famer and four time AWA World Heavyweight Champion, has passed away at age 80.

Bockwinkel, known for his great in-ring skill and intelligent interviews, began his sports-entertainment career in the mid-1950s after concluding his time on the University of Oklahoma football team. Bockwinkel was trained by his famous father, Warren Bockwinkel, and wrestling legend Lou Thesz. Nick teamed with his father on many occasions, competing in Georgia, Texas and the Pacific Northwest before moving onto where he would find the most success: the American Wrestling Association.

Bockwinkel was famously managed by WWE Hall of Famer Bobby "The Brain" Heenan during his AWA tenure, with the two drawing the ire of crowds everywhere. The self-proclaimed "Smartest Wrestler Alive" was the promotion’s greatest villain, a positioned he cemented when he defeated fellow WWE Hall of Famer and AWA hero Verne Gagne to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, ending Gagne's historic seven-year run with the title.

Bockwinkel would go on to accumulate many more accolades as his career went on. From his nationally televised rivalry with Larry Zbyszko on ESPN to guest starring on "Hawaii Five-O," the legend truly did it all. It was only fitting that his great career be capped off by his 2007 induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, where he will forever be enshrined as one of sports entertainments' all-time greats.

Ronda Rousey Knocked Out By Holly Holm At UFC 193

Ronda Rousey has been defeated, and the fight wasn't even close.

Each of Holly Holm's professional fights have been working towards a blue print to beat Ronda Rousey. Saturday night (technically Sunday) in Australia, Holm implemented that gameplan perfectly, and dominated Ronda Rousey on her way to become the new UFC Bantamweight Champion.

Early on, Holm was landing big strikes, exposing Rousey's defensive holes. Rousey had her hands down and chin up, exhausted by the ends of the first round. Early in the second, Rousey got rocked and knocked out by a head kick. Referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the action.

The whole situation was very Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas-esque. Rousey's personal issues have been highly publicized: Her domestic abuse allegations, her mother trashing her coach, her controversial boyfriend outing their relationship, her coach filing for bankruptcy, her absurd media schedule. Many speculated that the mental and physical exhaustion of being Ronda Rousey would catch up to her, but it was truly Holly Holm's skill that took the fight.

Holm avoided a first round armbar and continued to a dominant round 1, by the time she claimed victory, she had the massive crowd at Etihad Stadium on her side. After the fight, she emotionally took to the microphone.

"I'm trying to take it in, but it's crazy!," Holm said. " I had so much love and support. I just felt like, how could I not do this with all that love? I have not spent any more time in the gym than any other fight I've ever had in my life."

Rousey's striking was worrisome. She threatened with clinch work a few times, but looked far too willing to stand and trade a with a championship boxer, despite being outclassed in every manner on the feet. Holm, who's been training with Jackson-Winklejohn for 16 years, made Rousey pay.

It's likely the two will be booked in a re-match, and you should probably expect a much different fight out of Rousey. Either way, the fight was one of the all-time greatest gameplans to help execute one of the all-time greatest upsets.

WWE Announces Second Performance Center All Access Experience, Video From The First Event

The first WWE Performance Center All Access experience a few months back must have been a hit because WWE has announced another for Saturday, January 23rd. The $1,499 passes go on sale Monday, November 23rd. Below are details and a video from Triple H with footage from the first event:

Take a look behind-the-scenes like never before. @WWEPerformCtr All-Access, tix avail 11/23. https://t.co/fOihtVDIXS

— Triple H (@TripleH) November 13, 2015

Do you want to know what it takes to become a WWE Superstar? Have you ever wondered what goes into putting a WWE Live Event together? Now you can have the incredible opportunity to experience all that and more, when you go behind the scenes at WWE Performance Center: All Access!

WWE is opening the doors to the state-of-the-art Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, Jan. 23, giving a limited number of fans from the WWE Universe the chance to experience NXT like never before! The unique event will present the opportunity to gain knowledge from the best in the business, be part of a private NXT Live Event and rub elbows with some of your favorite NXT Superstars!

More?

WWE Network Debuting In Another Country Soon

WWE announced today that WWE Network will begin streaming in Germany on Tuesday, January 5th, 2016. New subscribers get their first month free. WWE's Chief Strategy & Financial Officer George Barrios commented:

"Germany is a strategically important market for WWE with a passionate and engaged fan base. We are committed to growing our brand internationally, and global expansion of WWE Network is critical to achieving that goal.

WWE NXT Trainer Billy Gunn Fired for PED Test Failure

According to F4WOnline.com, WWE NXT trainer Billy Gunn, real name Monty Sopp, has been fired by WWE for testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone in a powerlifting meet on July 25.

According to the report, Sopp’s drug test at the meet came up with a 37-1 testosterone/epitestosterone ratio, well over the 4-1 limit, and he was suspended from powerlifting for four years.

It’s also being said WWE officials did not become aware of Sopp competing as a powerlifter, or the fact that he had been banned from the sport four years ago, until a few weeks ago.

WWE Contract Details Revealed Due To Lawsuits: Downside Guarantees, Royalties, PPV, More

The several pending lawsuits against the WWE have provided some interesting information regarding contracts with the company from 1993-2007. Contract details for Ryan Sakoda, Viscera, Luther Reigns, and Russ McCullough were uncovered by Chris Harrington and posted today.

Several renditions of Viscera's contracts were revealed, dating all the way back to 1993, when he portrayed the "Mabel" character in the Men on a Mission tag team. In addition to this, other court documents show espite the fact that Viscera's widow is suing WWE, WWE says they advanced her $10,000 against future royalties to help prevent her from being evicted from her home.

Viscera was paid weekly with a downside guarantee of $100,000 in his 2007 deal, and WWE held rights if Viscera chose to write a book about his career in wrestling. The company also held the rights if Viscera chose to auction off items in relation to his WWE character, which they owned the intellectual property to.

There's also a large section about royalties for merchandise and DVDs. The contract reads "f WRESTLER is considered a "Featured Performer" in respect, of the sale of the first one hundred and fifty thousand units of a DVD and/or home video,shall pay five percent (5%) of the Net Receipts paid to (WWE) with respect to the Licensed Product Sale of the DVD and/or home videos to. If (Viscera) is the only Featured Performer or if there are multiple Featured Performers then to (Viscera)all other Featured Performers in such DVD and/or home videos on an equal/pro-rata basis. lf the aggregate DVD and home video sales (exceeds) 150,000 units, (WWE) shall instead pay ten percent (10%) of (WWE's) Net Receipts paid to(WWE) if.(Viscera) is the only Featured Performer or if there are multipleFeatured Performers then in the equal/pro-rata basis as set forth in the preceding sentence retroactive to the first 150,000 units."

More interestingly, it's at the WWE's discretion if a performer is considered "featured performer." In addition to this, 25 percent of the WWE's PPV revenue was reseved to give to the talent pool.

WWE released annual payouts to Viscera in the response to the lawsuit, which were as follows:

1994 - $127,659.15
1995 – $100,648.28
1999 – $159,081.44
2000 – $136,951.85
2005 – $124,252.74
2006 – $152,659.51
2007 – $178,359.64
2008 – $251,023.65

In addition to these, some other downside guarantees were revealed. Luther Reigns was guaranteed $75,000 during his first year, Ryan Sakoda $52,000, and Russ McCulluogh at $60,000. It appears the percentages as it pertains to royalties, DVD sales, PPV sales and other things were uniform across the board in these contracts.

Breaches of the contracts include failing drug tests and physical exams, and not maintaining satisfactory physical condition, at the WWE's discretion. Being habitually late, or not obtaining necessary athletic commission licenses are also included among breaches.

Video: The Undertaker Tombstones A Turkey

Official Trailer for First Ever WWE NXT DVD

A trailer for “WWE NXT’s Greatest Matches Vol. 1″ DVD and Blu-ray has been released and is now confirmed for the UK and Europe.

The UK and European release date will be March 7th, 2016, which is one day before the North American release date.

Below are matches confirmed so far:

* NXT Title Match: Big E vs. Seth Rollins, 1/9/2013
* NXT Title Match: Sami Zayn vs. Neville, Takeover: R Evolution
* NXT Title Match: Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens, Beast In The East
* NXT Women's Title Match: Bayley vs. Sasha Banks, Takeover: Brooklyn
* NXT Women's Title Match: Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte, 7/15/2015 (Blu-ray exclusive)
* Tyler Breeze vs. Apollo Crews, Takeover: Respect (Blu-ray exclusive)

ESPN's Relationship with WWE

ESPN was credited by WWE for breaking the news of Seth Rollins tearing his ACL and MCL, and it appears as if the relationship between WWE and ESPN will see WWE crediting the sports with network more breaking news, according to Bryan Alvarez. On the most recent edition of Wrestling Observer Live, Alvarez noted we should expect to see more WWE breaking news being reported from ESPN in the future, which will in turn be cited by WWE.

Full Details On WWE Network's 'The Undertaker Week'

WWE Network announced the following details for The Undertaker Week, which begins next Monday:

WWE Superstars, Legends and Hall of Famers pay tribute to the legacy of The Phenom during Undertaker Week on the award-winning WWE Network.

Monday, Nov. 16 - following Raw
Legends with JBL: Undertaker's Greatest Rivals Part 1
On this special edition of Legends with JBL, John Bradshaw Layfield goes in-depth with Triple H, Shawn Michaels and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin as they celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the legendary Undertaker. The panel discusses the evolution of Undertaker in WWE, including his decades of loyalty and his respected locker room presence. JBL's panel of guests also set the record straight about Internet rumors, and provide behind-the-scenes accounts of The Undertaker's greatest matches.

Tuesday, Nov. 17 - 10/9 C
Undertaker: 25 Phenomenal Years
Journey back through 25 years of the most memorable and unforgettable moments in the career of WWE's one and only Phenom, The Undertaker.

Wednesday, Nov. 18 - 9/8 C
The Undertaker's Gravest Matches
Relive 25 years of The Undertaker's most dangerous matches. Descend into the darkness as The Dead Man battles among caskets, flames and cells.

Thursday, Nov. 19 - 10/9 C
Legends with JBL: Undertaker's Greatest Rivals Part 2
JBL continues his trip down memory lane on this special edition of Legends with JBL. John Bradshaw Layfield, along with his illustrious panel consisting of Triple H, Shawn Michaels and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, unearth never-before-heard topics from The Undertaker's remarkable career. From the "BSK" to The Streak, no topic is off limits.