December 3, 2009
NFL Changes Return-to-Play Rules for Concussions
NFL teams now have new, stricter instructions for when players should be allowed to return to games or practices after head injuries, guidelines that go into effect this week...More?
source: espn
Click here to read about WWE's ImPACT™ Concussion Management Program
This Day in Wrestling History
Hulk Hogan defeated the Undertaker for the WWF(E) Heavyweight title.
December 3, 1991
"Macho Man" Randy Savage makes his debut on a live broadcast of WCW Saturday Night. Savage had been with WWF for well over a decade.
December 3, 1994
December 2, 2009
TNA Holds Surprise Drug Testing
According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, TNA held a surprise drug test at the last set of TV tapings in Orlando, FL. Reportedly they had around a 25% failure rate the last time they did drug testing in the company and since no one was told ahead of time this round of testing was taking place then the results could be quite high. No one was punished when testing positive the last time.
Austin Aries: Wrestlers Leaving ROH is a "Natural Process of this Business"
With former ROH mainstay Nigel McGuinness recently debuting as Desmond Wolfe on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and Bryan Danielson, another longtime ROH favorite, reportedly getting ready to debut in World Wrestling Entertainment, fans are wondering what it means for the fate of ROH. But Aries, just as Claudio Castagnoli said the last time ROH was coming to the Southland, said fans need not worry.
"It's just a natural process of this business and especially for this promotion," Aries, of Minneapolis, said. "You can go back and look historically. We've had a lot of people, including myself, who have left for other places and the company has continued to thrive. ROH is built around the best young, hungry talent in wrestling, and there's always going to be guys who are willing to step up when opportunities open up. We're trying to get in the position where we can be financially feasible for guys to stay and make a good career in ROH. The name of the game is making money. This is a business, and guys who are going to get an opportunity would be foolish not to take it."
source: southtownstar.com
WWE Responds to Jesse Ventura's Negative Comments
Former wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura criticized professional wrestling the other day, stating that there needs to be more protection for the wrestlers:
"There's still no unions. They still call them independent contractors. That's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard,'' Ventura said. "They're told when they'll wrestle. .... How is that an independent contractor? An independent contractor is like a plumber. ... These wrestlers aren't working for themselves. It's a scam.''
In remarks reported by our colleague, Daniela Altimari, WWE spokesman Robert Zimmerman said Ventura was speaking as a way to bring attention to "Conspiracy Theory,'' which is his new television show.
"We find it highly hypocritical that Jesse had no problem coming on Monday Night RAW last week to promote his new project or was happy to be paid all those years by the WWE as a performer,'' Zimmerman said by email. "He is just looking to garner additional press for his fledging show, appropriately entitled "Conspiracy Theory."
source: courant.com
Tiger Woods: I've Let My Family Down
In response to multiple women coming forward and claiming to have had affairs with him, Tiger Woods has released a statement on his Web site in which he expresses regrets for his "transgressions."
"I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart," Woods said. "I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone."...More?
source: fox sports
This Day in Wrestling History
Bret Hart wins the "Middle East Cup Tournament," which was held in Dubai. He defeated Steve Austin in the finals of the tournament.
December 2, 1996
December 1, 2009
ECW Results: Opponents Unite, Partnerships Crumble
ECW Champion Christian teamed with No. 1 contender Shelton Benjamin to take on Ezekiel Jackson & Vladimir Kozlov in tag action this week. The WWE TLC opponents put their differences aside for a night to get the colossal victory. Plus, The Gold Standard said he’d undoubtedly have Christian’s back against their Ruthless Roundtable opponents on ECW, because Benjamin wants Christian at 100 percent in two weeks at WWE TLC when they steal the show with their Ladder Match. Full results.
source: wwe.com
Rumor Mill - Why The DX/Hornswoggle Court Skit Didn't Air On Raw
WWE postponed the airing of the Hornswoggle vs. DeGeneration X court skit on last night's edition of Raw because it leaked on the Internet. There are plans to air the footage at one point, possibly as soon as next Monday.
source: wrestlingnewsworld.com
First Cover for New WWE Comic Book
wwecomics.com
Rumor Mill - ECW Re-Branding
WWE and the SyFy network have had several meetings regarding the ECW Brand it is being reported that SyFy and WWE are not happy with the ratings that ECW is doing. Internally management knows the ECW letters really do not represent the brand in 2009. The re-branding that has been proposed is dropping the 'ECW' letters being pushed by Executive Vice President Kevin Dunn who has never been a fan of the ECW letters.
A new brand would include a greater focus on the younger talent coming up from WWE developmental which has become a great focus of the current ECW brand in recent months.
source: wrestling-radio.com
I am so hoping this is true. I was never a fan of the "original ECW" and the "new ECW" is a completely different show. If it is going to feature up-and-coming superstars, it should have a different name.
WWE Bloggers: Calm Down
Whether you like it or not, John Cena draws money and crowds. Hulk Hogan drew money and crowds. Triple H draws money and crowds. They are in those spots because they are the people the audience wants to see.
If there are no people paying no money, there will be no show, which then means no Kofi Kingston, or CM Punk, or Randy Orton, or any one of a number of other superstars who I consider to be great enough to make me willing to tolerate John Cena, thus proving that "backstage politicians" serve a purpose as well.
At the end of the day, it's McMahon's call, and it's McMahon's business. He's not going to put a jobber into a permanent main-event slot simply because he knows a friend. But, McMahon might be willing to give that jobber a shot at proving that he is more than just a jobber. The jobber simply has to be willing to go out on a limb and take a chance, and be willing to possibly fail in order to prove he can succeed.
Wrestling bloggers need to calm down. McMahon isn't always right, but he is right way more often than he is wrong.
Step back, calm thyself, and take a rational look at the situation. Then, if that fails, realize that you're sitting in your boxers writing words for an audience that is, at best, 1/1000th the size of Raw's viewership, and that McMahon will be swimming tonight in a pool of self-earned $100 bills, a la Scrooge McDuck.
I think Vince has everything under control.
source: bleacherreport.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Fred Beell defeated Frank Gotch for the American Heavyweight title.
December 1, 1906
Stan the Man Stasiak defeated Pedro Morales for the WWWF(WWE) Heavyweight title.
December 1, 1973
D-Generation X spray painted "WCW" on Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart's back after a beat down.
December 1, 1997
November 30, 2009
Bret Hart Shoots on Vince Russo & Eric Bischoff
"I think they should take Vince Russo and hang him by the neck somewhere in the back of the parking lot," said Hart, who worked with Russo in WWE and WCW. "Vince Russo knows about as much about wrestling as Eric Bischoff does. Neither one of them knows s--- about anything. I find it really bizarre that Vince McMahon or the lady in TNA [Dixie Carter] would hire such imbeciles to call all the shots.
"I don't have any personal grudge against Vince Russo, but I just know watching the shows that all his shows look the same. TNA has turned into sort of another version of WCW when I was with Russo there. I think the best wrestling always needs to pretend to be real, and Vince Russo's wrestling is so pathetically far-fetched and phony that I think he does a disservice to his wrestlers and the business."
source: baltimore sun
EVOLVE Reveals Its 1st Main Event
EvolveWrestling.com has announced that Davey Richards vs Kota Ibushi will be the main event of the company's first show, which takes place on Janurary 16th, 2010, at The Rahway Recreation Center in Rahway, NJ.
Additionally, the following talent names are now confirmed members of The EVOLVE roster: Brad Allen, Arik Cannon, Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly, T.J. Perkins, Ricochet, Aeroform, and Dark City Fight Club.
Serena Williams Hit with Record Fine for U.S. Open Tirade
Serena Williams was fined at least a record $82,500 for her U.S. Open tirade and could be suspended from that tournament if she has another "major offense" at any Grand Slam in the next two years, Grand Slam administrator Bill Babcock told The Associated Press on Monday...More?
November 29, 2009
Robert Roode Fan Q&A
Recently SLAM! Wrestling teamed with Viewers Choice Canada to offer our readers a chance to interview TNA superstar Robert Roode. Here is the result of that fan question answer session.
WWE Magazine Feature of the Week: Tomorrow's Champions
"WWE Magazine’s" all-new Holiday Issue heralds the arrival of today’s most talented young guns in WWE. But who, aside from themselves, do they think will be the first among them to reach mega-Superstardom? Click here.
Rumor Mill - Details Behind Why WWE is Pushing New Talent
The Wrestling Observer is reporting that the reason why Kofi Kingston is getting such a big push right now is because WWE officials feel that the company needs an African-American baby face towards the top of the card. After several other talents that were selected for the spot didn't work out the way the company had hoped, the decision was made to give Kingston the big push.
It's also being reported that Jack Swagger's push has been slowed down, and possibly even halted, as WWE officials feel that he is not panning out the way the company had hoped.
As far as Sheamus and Drew McIntyre are concerned, they are getting their respective pushes right now because Sheamus is the work out partner of Triple H, and McIntyre is well liked by both Triple H and Shawn Michaels.
This Day in Wrestling History
Happy Birthday to Jerry "The King" Lawler
November 29, 1949
Happy Birthday to John Bradshaw Layfield
November 29, 1967
Indy wrestler "The All American Jeff Peterson" lost his battle to lymphoma
November 29, 2002
Larry Lathman aka Moondog Spot died of a heart attack in the ring during Jerry Lawler's Birthday Bash show.
November 29, 2003
November 28, 2009
Rumor Mill - Plans for DX's "Court Hearing" on Raw
WWE has booked a local courtroom in Baltimore to film segments that will air on this coming week's edition of WWE Raw. Last week it was announced that Hornswoggle would be bringing DX to court and it appears that the segments will take place in an actual courtroom. Furthermore, it's being reported that the courtroom participants, like the jury, judge, etc, will be comprised entirely of little people.
source: pwinsider.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Magnum T.A. defeated Tully Blanchard for the NWA U.S. Heavyweight title, Rick Morton & Robert Gibson defeated Ivan & Nikita Koloff for the NWA World Tag Team title and Buddy Landel defeated Terry Taylor for the Georgia National Heavyweight title
November 28, 1985
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
