Mick Foley loses 2/3 of his right ear after getting tangled in the ring ropes during a match with Vader overseas.
March 16, 1994
Triple H defeated Owen Hart for the WWF(E) European Heavyweight title
March 16, 1998
March 16, 2012
This Day in Wrestling History
March 15, 2012
Lionsgate Pacts with WWE on Film Deal
Lionsgate is pacting with WWE Studios on a two-film deal.
Studio will team with the Connecticut-based entertainment company on a reboot of "Leprechaun," the 1993 horror pic that was one of the first starring roles for Jennifer Aniston and an indie hit. Pic was produced by now defunct studio Trimark, which was eventually absorbed by Lionsgate in 2000.
Both Lionsgate and WWE Studios will share producing costs as well as team on marketing strategies. Lionsgate will handle distribution.
Pic is set for a 2013 release, though there is currently no writer, director or cast attached. The other film in the deal has yet to be determined...More?
source: variety.com
Big Show, David Otunga and Stephanie McMahon to lead be a STAR rally in Bridgeport, Conn.
WWE Superstars Big Show and David Otunga, along with Executive Vice President of Creative Stephanie McMahon, will be appearing this afternoon at the Luis Munoz Marin School in Bridgeport, Conn., as part of the be a STAR Alliance. Check WWE.com and follow the be a STAR Alliance on Twitter (@beastaralliance) for live coverage of the event today at 4:30 p.m ET.
They will speak to a group of approximately 850 students in the fifth to eighth grades about the dangers of bullying, encouraging them to show tolerance and respect for each other. The students are participants in Bridgeport’s “Lighthouses in the Community” program, which provides children a safe and supportive environment after school and over the summer.
The be a STAR Alliance is a partnership between WWE and more than 50 organizations, including The Creative Coalition, GLAAD and the Girl Scouts of America. For more information, go to http://beastaralliance.org/.
WWE CFO Barrios biz updates - current "intense negotiations" over WWE Network, admits WWE Studios "disaster" in 2011, More
During a mainstream presentation Tuesday, WWE CFO George Barrios shot down UFC as competition for WWE, noted the WWE Studios performance was a "disaster" in 2011, and said WWE is currently in the middle of "heated" negotiations concerning the WWE TV Network launch.
Barrios, who presented WWE's business model at the annual ROTH OC Growth Stock Conference in Laguna Niguel, Calif. on Tuesday, provided the update on WWE Network negotiations after noting he still cannot disclose the revenue model for the Network.
"We're in the middle of some fairly intense negotiations and I don't want to do anything that would cause us to lose leverage in those negotiations," Barrios said. He said once they formulate a plan for distributing the content, WWE will "just have to execute."
Update on Scott Hall
Scott Hall was released from WWE-sponsored rehab on March 6th according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. It is reported Hall is doing well so far.
Hall visited the Team Vision Dojo in Orlando with his son Cody on March 7th. Cody Hall has been training to do be a wrestler.
March 14, 2012
Stone Cold Steve Austin Comments on The Rock's Heat, CM Punk, More
Talent Having Problems with The Rock returning: "My thoughts on that are, you earn what you get in this business. Rock has earned the ability to come and go as he wants, because the business still needs him, it can still use him, and it can elevate the profile with having such a mainstream guy there. I don't know about the promos between John (Cena) and Rock. I think some of them have gotten kind of personal, you wonder how much of it's a work and how much of it's a shoot. At the end of the day, it's a worked business. Again, I think it's a good thing for Rock to be involved with this. He's earned his right to come and go and do whatever he wants."
Current talent being vocal to creative: "(CM) Punk was a guy, and is a guy who, man, that guy flew by the seat of his pants. He was pissed off, he vented, he cuts great promos. He worked himself out of a bad situation into a great situation. He knew when it was time to pick his spot, when he contract was gonna be up. That guy's been around the horn a few times, and he's been kicked around a little bit. He saw how the other guys were being treated, and he needed, and deserved, and earned the right to be treated in that same fashion. Guys, you gotta pick your spot, but you gotta be vocal. It is a very interesting machine these days. They need voices to question them. They need voices to inspire them, or fuel them, to rethink some of the things that they're doing and make it a better product."
Returning under the right circumstances: "There's nothing up in the air for me. If there's something that presents itself as a business opportunity, then I have an open ear to listen to it. It would have to be right for myself, my opponent, and obviously the company. I'm not lobbying for another match. There's always talk. People ask, 'am I capable of having another match?' Yeah. If I was in a bad situation, I would get back in the ring full time if I had to, but I don't have to. I'm happy doing what I'm doing."
source: live audio wrestling
Oklahoma Suspends Combat Sports & Pro Wrestling as of March 31st
MMAValor.com is reporting that The Oklahoma State Athletic Commission has suspended all "combat sports," including MMA, boxing and professional wrestling effective as of 3/31/12. The report notes:
Effective right now the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission has halted approving event permits for all combative sports (MMA, Boxing, etc.) the Commission regulates for events after March 31st, this according to the Director of Oklahoma State Athletic Commission, Joe Miller who talked with MMAValor regarding the matter.
The report goes on to note that although the OSAC is claiming that the reason for the suspension is due to lack of funding, the more specific reason is that a pending UFC lawsuit is threatening the funds the commission currently has. You can read more, including the letter of suspension by the OSAC, by clicking on the above link.
It should be noted that WWE has an event scheduled to take place in Oklahoma on October 1st, however there has been no word as of this writing as to whether or not it has been canceled.
WWE takes no issue with Oklahoma's PPV tax
WWE Hall of Fame Inductee “Iron” Mike Tyson to be at WrestleMania Axxess
Not only can WWE Universe members meet their favorite Superstars at WrestleMania Axxess, they can meet boxing legend and 2012 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee Mike Tyson!
"Iron" Mike will be at WrestleMania Axxess at the Miami Beach Convention Center on Friday, March 30 from 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
TICKETS
A limited amount of tickets will be sold for an exclusive photo opportunity at the WWEShop stand on Thursday from 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. and Friday from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m
source: wwe.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Evan "Strangler" Lewis defeats Joe Acton in Chicago, Illinois to win the World Catch-as-Catch-Can Heavyweight Title.
March 14, 1887
Ric Flair becomes a 14-time World Heavyweight Champion defeating Hollywood Hogan
March 14, 1999
The infamous Bob Costas interview of Vince McMahon airs on HBO's "On the Record with Bob Costas". McMahon looked very intense and visably upset when Costas asked him questions about the fledgling XFL and the sex and violence in the WWF(E).
March 14, 2001
WWE sets a record for the highest grossing wrestling event ever held in Madison Square Garden in New York City, pulling in over $2.4 million in ticket sales for WrestleMania XX, which was headlined by Chris Benoit defeating Triple H and Shawn Michaels in a three way match for the World Heavyweight Title. The event also sees the final WWE appearances (to date) for Brock Lesnar and Bill Goldberg.
1987 - The WWF aired the 10th edition of Saturday Night's Main Event on NBC, which got an 11.6 rating. The show was taped on February 21 in Detroit, Michigan at Joe Louis Arena.
March 14, 2004
Vince McMahon receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
March 14, 2008
March 13, 2012
Rumor Mill - Legitimate Tension Between The Rock and John Cena
Multiple sources have confirmed to the Pro Wrestling Torch that there is legitimate tension between Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and John Cena, which reflects in their war of words. Furthermore, Vince McMahon is doing nothing to stop it as he and those in upper management love the conflict.
As in the past, McMahon enjoys seeing top stars challenge other. He feels the audience will sense real friction between two wrestlers, thus furthering interest in the match he's trying to sell. In the case of Johnson and Cena, the top circle likes that fans are sensing their friction and believing that they may legitimately come to blows at WrestleMania XXVIII.
Top WWE Executive Released from the Company
PWInsider reports that WWE executive Ty Bailey was released from the company yesterday. Bailey had worked directly under John Laurinaitis and more recently worked with Triple H once he took over the developmental end of talent relations. He was in charge of booking talents as extras for TV tapings, among other things and had been with WWE since December of 2005. A source noted that while Bailey had his strengths, evaluating talent was not considered his strong point by people within the company.
Bailey worked for the NFL before coming to WWE. His father, Joe, is the former CEO of the Miami Dolphins. and was in charge of booking talents as extras for TV tapings, among other things. He had been with WWE since December of 2005.
It remains to be seen if this is the latest step in an overhaul of the Talent Relations department with Triple H overseeing that department in his executive role. Bailey did not have a good reputation among wrestlers in the industry. One wrestler described Bailey to PWTorch as a "complete tool."
partial sources: prowrestling.net & pwtorch.com
Booker T Offers Advice to Younger Talents
"Of course, we’re friends, but this is a business, and you’ve got to go out there and treat it like a business. You’ve got to think about being better than the next guy. These young guys really got to focus, if they want to work at the top of the card, if they want to be in that main event, if they want to carry the World title, if they want to be the WWE champion. They’ve got to really put their thinking cap on and really focus on what it’s going to take for them to get in that position. It’s a test each and every day."
Rumor Mill - Triple H Considered "DeFacto Vince"
WrestleZone.com is reporting that the transition phase in WWE, with power being shifted to HHH and his wife Stephanie McMahon Levesque from WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, continues at a decent pace, with many of the creative decisions Vince used to rule on now being handled by HHH. One writing team source called HHH "The DeFacto Vince," but added "Vince is hands-on in control of WrestleMania, and he's not letting anyone else have a say in the matter."
This is one of the reasons why so much of the WrestleMania lineup has not been finalized yet, because, according to another key WWE insider, "Vince keeps changing his mind. He's just not sold on anything but the top matches."
This Day in Wrestling History
WWE held their Hall of Fame induction ceremony at The Hilton in New York City. This event marked the revival of the Hall of Fame, as there had been no inductees since 1996. The inductees were Jesse Ventura, Don Muraco, Tito Santana, Superstar Billy Graham, Big John Studd (posthumously), Sgt. Slaughter, Greg Valentine, Bobby Heenan, Harley Race and The Junkyard Dog (posthumously). Baseball great Pete Rose was inducted into the "celebrity wing" of the Hall Of Fame. The event was released on DVD and was a success, prompting WWE to make the event a regular part of Wrestlemania weekend.
March 13, 2004
Former WWE star Andrew "Test" Martin was found dead in his apartment in Tampa, Florida at the age of 33, just four days shy of his 34th birthday.
March 13, 2009
March 12, 2012
Return of "The Peep Show"
It has been announced that Christian will make his return to SmackDown this week with a special edition of "The Peep Show". His guests will be SmackDown General Manager Teddy Long and Interim RAW General Manager John Laurinaitis.
Booker T Relaunches his Houston Wrestling Promotion
PWInsider.com reports that Booker T's PWA promotion in Houston, Texas has relaunched under the new name "Reality of Wrestling" with plans for an online TV taping on 4/14 in Clearlake, Texas. A YouTube series is slated to be launched next month.
March 11, 2012
WWE Pay-Per-View Coming to iPad and iPhone
WWE announced today that their pay-per-view events will broadcast on iPhone and iPad in time for WrestleMania 28. Below is the press release:
Attention, iPad and iPhone users! Coming soon, WWE pay-per-view streaming will be available for purchase online – just in time for WrestleMania XXVIII. You can reserve your spot now by visiting http://www.wwe.com/ppv or http://www.wwe.com/shows/howtowatch using your Mac or PC. Check back soon for updates on streaming to your iOS device for The Biggest Spectacle of Them All, WrestleMania, on April 1.
Linda McMahon Comments on her Daughter Working in the WWE
"In an industry that I first entered, there were hardly any women at all," McMahon said. "I sort of [pushed] that door open a little and my daughter's blown it off the hinges."
Origin of the Stone Cold Stunner
WWE Hall of Famer "Stone Cold" Steve Austin detailed the origins of his Stone Cold Stunner finisher in a new blog on BrokenSkullRanch.com . Austin noted Michael P.S. Hayes came up with the concept in 1996, with inspiration from current executive/on-air authority figure John Laurinaitis, who was using the Ace Crusher in Japan. Austin also endorsed Hayes and the Fabulous Freebirds for eventual WWE HOF induction.
Austin concluded his story, "I don’t know how many Stunners I’ve dealt out in my career. There were some nights when my back was so torched the last thing I wanted to do was jump up in the air and land on my ass…BUT…After getting beat like a drum for a good portion of my career, no matter how bad I was feeling…I NEVER B!TCHED ABOUT HAVING TO GIVE A STUNNER. The setup kick…The Stunner…The explosion from the fans in attendance…Damn what a way to make a living!"
source: pwtorch.com & brokenskullranch.com
March 10, 2012
WWE Changing Up Presentation at House Show Events
According to a report filed to PWInsider.com, WWE is continuing to change up the live event experience at house show events. As last night's 3/9 Raw event in Toronto, the show opened with the usual Monday Night Raw intro and featured backstage footage of John Cena and Chris Jericho hyping matches later in the night. They also did a deal where if fans purchased Dolph Ziggler's new t-shirt, they would get the opportunity to get an autograph and pose for photos with Ziggler.
This Day in Wrestling History
The Assassins (Jody Hamilton and Tom Renesto) defeat Skandor Akbar and Swede Karlson to win the Tri-State NWA United States Tag Team Title in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
March 10, 1967
Yukiko Tomoe defeats The Fabulous Moolah for the NWA World Women's Title in Osaka, Japan, ending Moolah's second reign.
March 10, 1968
Ernie Ladd, one of the first black wrestlers to rise to prominence in the United States, died in Franklin, Louisiana at age 68 after a three-year battle with cancer. Nicknamed as "The Big Cat", Ladd was one of many athletes to venture off the football field and into the squared circle. Ladd, a defensive tackle at Grambling State University, was drafted by the American Football League's San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 1961 draft, and he played in the AFL for eight seasons with the Chargers, Houston Oilers and Kansas City Chiefs, including a 1963 championship with the Chargers. At 6 feet, 9 inches tall, and 315 pounds, Ladd was arguably the biggest and strongest man in not just the AFL, but all of professional football during his career. He was inducted to the Chargers Hall of Fame in 1981. Ladd made his wrestling debut in 1961, wrestling during the football off-season, and became one of wrestling's most hated heels during the 1970s, and had feuds throughout the years with André the Giant, Paul Orndorff and The Junkyard Dog. He won titles all over the country: in Florida, Georgia, Texas, New York, Los Angeles, and in Mid-South, where the majority of his title wins took place. Ladd was inducted to the WCW and WWF Halls of Fame in 1994 and 1995, respectively.
March 10, 2007
March 9, 2012
Conn. lawyer gets probation for bomb threat at GOP fundraiser attended by Linda McMahon
A Connecticut lawyer has avoided prison time for calling in a bomb threat to a 2010 Republican fundraiser attended by U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon.
The New Haven Register reports (http://bit.ly/xH0MJA) that a Superior Court judge granted accelerated rehabilitation Thursday to 70-year-old James Byrne of Madison. The program for first-time offenders charged with less-serious crimes results in charges being dismissed after the successful completion of probation.
Authorities say Byrne called police in September 2010 to report a bomb at the Madison home of Tom and Eileen Banisch, who were hosting a political gala featuring McMahon. The threat forced the evacuation of the house,
Prosecutors say Byrne and Tom Banisch were involved in a dispute while both were on the Republican Town Committee.
Byrne apologized for the incident in court Thursday.
source: therepublic.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Happy Birthday to Nikita Koloff
March 9, 1959
The Road Warriors, Animal and Hawk, make their Japan debut in Tokyo. They are an instant sensation.
March 9, 1985
Immediately after the SmackDown taping, Brock Lesnar abruptly quit the WWE but agreed to work his scheduled match at WrestleMania.
March 9, 2004
March 8, 2012
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
