WWE has pulled Daniel Bryan from the advertised “Daniel Bryan Night” at Madison Square Garden originally scheduled to take place at the WWE live event this Friday night. In an email sent to ticket holders from Madison Square Garden, scheduling conflicts was cited as the reason why Bryan has been pulled from the events.
WWE has also pulled Bryan from advertised dates this weekend and the upcoming post-WrestleMania tour of The UK.
WWE has issued the following statement to PWInsider.com in response to Bryan being pulled from the events:
“Daniel Bryan requested time off and it was granted.”
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March 22, 2016
WWE Issues Statement on Why Daniel Bryan Has Been Pulled from Upcoming Live Events
WWE And Connor's Cure Awarded
Winners for the 2016 Shorty Awards have been announced and Connor's Cure, produced by WWE, was one of the winners in the "Best Social Good" campaign. WWE also received a "Gold Honor" in the "Best of Entertainment" category after being nominated in more than 5 social media related categories. It's worth noting that WWE touted the award for Connor's Cure but did not acknowledge their own "Gold Honor" mention.
The Shorty Awards website said WWE's 11-man Social Media team, with members based in Stamford, CT, New York City, Mexico, Germany and Dubai, is an integral part of a 48-person team of editors, designers, producers, photographers, and one Hall of Famer (presumably Howard Finkel), that creates content for WWE's website, the WWE App and their various social media pages.
March 21, 2016
Hulk Hogan Scores $25 Million in Punitive Damages
Hulk Hogan just scored $25 million in punitive damages in his sex tape lawsuit, bringing his total haul to $140 million.
A jury just awarded the famed wrestler the punitive award, with this breakdown. Gawker Media must pay $15 mil, site owner Nick Denton is on the hook for $10 mil, and A.J. Daulerio, the Editor responsible for posting the tape, must pay $100,000.
As we reported, the jury awarded Hulk $115 million Friday for actual damages.
Gawker just issued a statement saying it is confident the verdict will be overturned on appeal. The site maintains it has a right to post the tape because it was newsworthy and therefore protected by the First Amendment.
Gawker also believes the judge erred by not allowing critical evidence and testimony in the trial ... notably the testimony of Bubba Clem, who claims Hulk knew he was making a sex tape.
source: tmz.com
Stan Hansen to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame's Class of 2016
Stan Hansen, Borger, Texas’ nastiest resident, will take his place in sports-entertainment history on the eve of WrestleMania 32, when he is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2016. The news was first reported by Yahoo Japan's Sports Navi.They got exclusive comments from the man known as "The Lariat."
Hansen’s journey to the ring began in an unusual place: On the gridiron at West Texas State University, a factory for future wrestlers. When his football days came to an end, Hansen stepped into the squared circle and quickly earned a reputation as one of the most vicious competitors in the sport. Hansen’s style of wrestling wasn’t technically proficient or beautiful by any stretch of the imagination. It was dirty, gritty and ferocious. And it worked.
With an ever-present scowl on his face and his bull rope in hand, The Bad Man from Borger made his way to WWE in 1976. Hansen immediately set his sights on then-WWE Champion Bruno Sammartino. The double-tough Texan stunned fans when he broke The Living Legend’s neck with a devastating clothesline that would become known as the Lariat.
After a rematch with Sammartino at Shea Stadium, Hansen traversed across the Pacific Ocean to Japan, where he became a legend. One of the most feared foreigners in Japanese wrestling history, Hansen was the first gaijin to earn victories over the country’s most revered grapplers, Giant Baba and WWE Hall of Famer Antonio Inoki. While in Japan, Hansen also formed one of the most devastating tag teams in wrestling history with an old college friend, the unhinged Bruiser Brody. The cowboy and the fur-clad wildman had Japanese fans running from them as they entered the ring, and their opponents begging for mercy.
In between trips to Japan, Hansen returned to the U.S. to unleash his brand of brutality on American soil. The Bad Man from Borger won the AWA World Championship by defeating Rick Martel in 1985. He never lost the title, choosing to vacate it by running it over with his truck. In 1990, he ended Lex Luger’s record-setting reign as United States Champion. By 1991, he exclusively competed in Japan for the next 10 years, retiring in 2001 as a decorated champion and a legend in The Land of the Rising Sun.
Now, the surly outlaw will receive sports-entertainment’s highest honor, when he takes his place in the WWE Hall of Fame.
WWE Launches Online Auction to Benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of America
WWE today announced the launch of this year’s Superstars for Hope, a global online auction on Charitybuzz.com, featuring unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Fans can now visit www.Charitybuzz.com/WWE through Tuesday, April 5 to bid on exclusive experiences with WWE Superstar John Cena®, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H®, WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon and packages with the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, New York Yankees and many more.
“WWE is dedicated to using the power of our brand to give back to the community in as many ways as we can,” said Stephanie McMahon, WWE Chief Brand Officer. “I am proud that this year’s Superstars for Hope campaign will support Boys and Girls Clubs of America to further enhance their efforts to build future leaders and positively affect the lives of our youth.”
“Boys & Girls Clubs of America is honored to receive support from WWE’s Superstars for Hope campaign,” said Frank Sanchez, National Vice President, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “WWE and Boys & Girls Clubs of America will work together to provide Club kids all across the U.S. with the tools and skills to eradicate bullying in their communities. We are thankful to have a partner like WWE that cares so deeply about America’s youth.”
Online auction highlights include:
• Meet and greet backstage at Monday Night Raw with WWE Superstar John Cena.
• A tour of the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, a meet and greet with WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H and NXT Superstars, and a NXT Championship Title.
• Meet and greet backstage at Monday Night Raw with WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon.
• Two tickets to attend a live taping of America’s Got Talent in Hollywood, CA. Prize package includes a photo opportunity with judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Mel B and Howie Mandel.
• Four VIP tickets to a live taping of CONAN.
• Four Delta SKY360° Suite tickets to a New York Yankees game along with pregame field passes for batting practice.
• A suite at a Dallas Cowboys home game during the 2016-2017 season.
• A suite at a Dallas Mavericks home game during the 2016-2017 season.
• Two Rascal Flatts concert tickets and VIP Experience passes.
• Four tickets to the NASCAR Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis.
• Four Snoop Dogg concert tickets and backstage meet and greet.
• VIP all-inclusive club seat tickets to Beyonce’s sold-out Formation Tour on Monday, May 16, 2016 at Levi’s Stadium. This package includes parking and complimentary food and beverages throughout the evening in the BNY Mellon field level club.
Fans can click here now through Tuesday, April 5, to participate.
March 20, 2016
Eric Young & Bobby Roode Leaving TNA Wrestling
Eric Young and Bobby Roode are leaving the company. The tapings this weekend will be their last with TNA. TNA issued this statement:
Impact Wrestling has come to terms on the release of veteran wrestlers Bobby Roode and Eric Young (Jeremy Fritz). Bobby and Eric have been valuable members of the Impact Roster since 2004 and we wish them nothing but the best in their careers going forward.
Bobby had this to say earlier today, “To the guys and girls I got to work with for the past 12 years, Impact Wrestling, the office and everyone associated with me getting to live this dream, I say thank you. It is time for me to move on to the next chapter in my life. This has been amazing.”
Eric Young had this to say. “Thank you. Thank you to everyone who watched me for the past 12 years. Thank you to Impact Wrestling. I wish everyone here nothing but the best going forward.”
Executive Vice President of Creative and Television, John Gaburick added, “Bobby and Eric are true professionals. We salute them for the 12 years they gave TNA.
With a Superstar roster including EC3, James Storm, Drew Galloway, Jeff and Matt Hardy, “The Destroyer” Bobby Lashley, Gail Kim, The Wolves, Maria Kanellis-Bennett and “The Miracle” Mike Bennett we couldn’t be more excited about showcasing the finest wrestling in the world for the Impact fans.”
March 19, 2016
William Regal announces that qualifying matches for WWE Network's Global Cruiserweight Series will take place on Evolve shows
During his appearance at EVOLVE 56 internet pay-per-view (iPPV), one of Triple H's right-hand men said this:
"Ladies and gentlemen, the reason why I'm here - I'll get to it. In a few months time, the WWE will be holding the Global Cruiserweight Series. 32 of the finest crusierweights from around the world will compete, and I am here tonight because I'm obviously scouting for those competitors. Most importantly, qualifying matches for the Global Cruiserweight Series will be taking place all over the world, but the qualifying matches here in America will be taking place at Evolve. So please, keep an eye out on the website and find out exactly when they are."
Update on the 3rd Annual Andre The Giant Battle Royal
The third annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal will air on the USA Network. This year's match will feature just 20 Superstars, a change from the 31 Superstars at WrestleMania 30 and 30 Superstars at WrestleMania 31. As of this writing, the only confirmed names are Heath Slater, Adam Rose, Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel.
March 18, 2016
Hulk Hogan vs Gawker Verdict
TMZ.com is reporting that Hulk Hogan won his case against Gawker, and won an astounding $115 million.
Hogan had only sued for $100 million, but the jury decided it wasn’t enough and bumped it up to $115 million.
The breakdown of the payout is as follows – $55 million for economic injuries and $60 million for emotional distress. He could get even more with punitive damages.
Hogan had argued that he had no idea he was being recorded when he had sex with his friend’s wife at their home in Florida back in 2007.
Gawker published 1 minute and 50 seconds of the video without Hulk’s permission. Hogan claimed it was the ultimate invasion of his privacy.
March 17, 2016
Another WWE Hall Of Famer And WWE Champion Donating Their Brains For CTE Research
We mentioned a couple of weeks ago that WWE Hall of Famer and former WWE and WCW Champion Kevin Nash was going to donate his brain to help CTE research after his death. Now, Mick Foley and Jeff Hardy have also joined in on the cause.
In an interview that we published earlier, former WWE and TNA world champion Jeff Hardy said that he's only aware of about two or three concussions that he's had, but still wants to donate his brain to the research cause.
In addition, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley mentioned on Twitter that he's also donating his brain, and that former WWE Superstar Chris Nowinski talked him into doing it. Nowinski had his career ended due to concussions over ten years ago.
The WWE has seen major issues with concussions in recent years, as both Daniel Bryan and Corey Graves have had to retire due to them. Although he hasn't officially retired, Christian has also been shelved due to concussion-related issues.
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
