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May 20, 2012
Brodus Clay Reveals That His WrestleMania Dance Segment Was Almost Cut At The Last Minute, But John Cena Made The Save
Brodus Clay was recently interviewed by Chad Dukes and discussed a number of topics, including the origins of the Funkasaurus, having his debut repeatedly delayed, and more.
In the following excerpt, Brodus discusses how his dance segment before The Rock vs. John Cena at WrestleMania XXVIII was almost cut from the show at the last minute:
“We were in what we call the gorilla — it’s right before you get ready to go out. I think it was the band or prep — something went way wrong. So, they were going to cut the dance. It was cut and we got told in gorilla. And now I’m committed to it and excited and ready to go. I look at the Funkadactyls and I’m like, ‘Guys, I think we just got cut.’
“Cena, he was getting his mind ready and he’s in the corner getting ready to come out because he comes out shortly after. He’s stretching and he said — it was one of the coolest things ever — he said, ‘If Brodus doesn’t go out, I’m not going out.’ And just walked away. They were just like, ‘Well, send him out.’ It was a really cool moment. Everyone talks about Cena, but they don’t know that that’s the type of person that he is. So, it was real cool. So, honestly, the reason that I actually went down was because of Cena. He had a lot to do with it.”
This Day in Wrestling History
Promoter Frank Tunny died of a heart attack
May 20, 1983
Kane defeated Triple H for the WWF(E) Intercontinental title
May 20, 2001
Macho Man Randy Savage died in a car accident after suffering a heart attack while behind the wheel.
May 20, 2011
May 19, 2012
Stephanie McMahon Interview at USA Network Upfront Event
WWE RAW has had three-hour episodes from time to time, but soon, that will be the show’s permanent new running time. At USA’s Upfront event yesterday, WWE’s Stephanie McMahon and John Cena announced that RAW will go from two hours to three hours beginning on July 23rd, the night RAW airs their special 1000th episode.
At the event, I spoke to McMahon, asking her about the challenges in filling an entire extra hour of content on the show each week - something she told me they were excited about.
Said McMahon, “It’s going to be the first-ever regularly scheduled three-hour program on television and I think we’ve got a pretty good handle on it thus far! You know, we do a three hour show called a Pay-Per-View almost every month and Monday Night RAW, we’ve done three hours before, so we feel great about it. “
As far as changes to the show, McMahon remarked, “This is going to be the most interactive show in television history. Our audience is going to have the chance to effect something in the show every week.” As far as what the audience would be determining, she said it would be, “Matches, stipulations, anything and everything. Different things every week.”
Stephanie, who is the Executive Vice President, Creative, for WWE, used to have a notable on-camera presence on RAW, but is rarely seen on the show these days. When I asked if she might show up on RAW again anytime soon she smiled and replied, “Who knows? Maybe you’ve got to tune into the 1000th RAW on July 23rd!”
Regarding the 1000th episode, she told me, “It’s so much fun when we have an event episode, because you really get to plan around it and the creative flows and its just a lot of fresh faces and old faces. It’s great.”
As we were finishing our conversation, I couldn’t resist asking her about The Rock, who has already said he’ll be at WrestleMania next year, but not in what capacity. When I tried to find out if he might actually have a match, she replied, “Hmm, I think I’m gonna have to let that one unfold!”
WWE NXT Updates: Season 5 Finally Over?, Video From First Full Sail Taping
In a report from the filed reports on the first WWE TV taping at Full Sail University Thursday night, the Orlando Sentinel noted the re-branded NXT series will begin Season 6, which unofficially ends the never-ending Season 5, "NXT: Redemption." Also, WWE is scheduled to return to Full Sail seven times over the next six months to tape NXT6 episodes.
WWE announcer Jim Ross noted on Twitter Thursday night that he does not believe the show will continue airing online. The Sentinel reported WWE's plans for airing Season 6 in the U.S. "are not yet known." Prior to the start of the taping, Paul "Triple H" Levesque announced to the live audience that NXT will be seen internationally. Levesque is WWE's executive vice president of talent and live events, and he played a key role in bringing "NXT" to Full Sail. Last year, after WWE executives toured the "crazy little university in Orlando," Levesque said, they approached school officials with the idea of taping the show on campus.
The video can be viewed here.
Linda McMahon calls for GOP to "unite" behind her; opponent says race not over
Accepting the Connecticut Republican party's nomination Friday night, former WWE CEO Linda McMahon called for the GOP party to "unite" behind her and "push forward" to the general election for U.S. Senate in November. However, McMahon's chief opponent, Chris Shays, says he is still aiming for the Republican primary vote in August.
Asked if he has enough money to compete with McMahon, Shays said, "Absolutely. We know where the voters are and we are going to make sure they hear from us." McMahon has spent $6.0 million of her own money thus far, compared to $1.2 million raised by Shays, according to reports. "Everyone had the siren call that money could buy an election. It can't. It cannot buy an election," Shays said. "We're going to have a good race."
sources: NHRegister.com & RealClearPolitics.com
This Day in Wrestling History
Happy Birthday to Andre the Giant
May 19, 1946
Nick Bockwinkel named AWA Heavyweight Champion as he was #1 contender when Verne Gagne retired.
May 19, 1981
The Undertaker defeated Hulk Hogan for the WWE Unified Heavyweight title
May 19, 2002
May 18, 2012
GOP Endorses Linda McMahon Over Shays by 2-1 Margin
Linda McMahon won the Republican endorsement for U.S. Senate tonight for the second time in two years, setting the stage for another August primary with another former congressman, Chris Shays.
McMahon, a World Wrestling Entertainment co-founder who spent $50 million on a losing Senate race in 2010, is vying with Shays for the rarest of political opportunities: a second shot at an open Senate seat.
Delegates gave 57 percent of the vote to McMahon and 31 percent to Shays on the first ballot. The rest of the field - Brian K. Hill, Peter Lumaj and Kie Westby - fell well short of the 15-percent threshold to automatically qualify for a primary.
At 10:23 p.m., ballot finished, but under the convention rules, delegates have a chance to switch votes before the count is finalized and McMahon is declared the endorsed candidate.
The winner of the primary will try to become the first Republican to win a U.S. Senate race in Connecticut since Lowell P. Weicker Jr. of Greenwich was elected in 1982 to his third and final term.
The seat is now held by Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, who defeated Weicker in 1988 and is retiring after 24 years in the Senate.
In McMahon and Shays, GOP voters have to choose between two candidates with obvious strengths and weaknesses, each of whom were rejected by Connecticut voters in the past four years.
Shays, 66, who represented Stamford in the General Assembly and the 4th District in Congress, has built a campaign around one issue: electability. He points to a record of winning elections and polling that shows him best matching up with the endorsed Democrat, U.S. Rep. Christopher Murphy.
"This time, we're going to be working as hard as we can to convince Republican voters that if you want someone who can win, and you don't want Chris Murphy, I think I'm your guy," Shays said.
McMahon, 63, of Greenwich, the former chief executive officer of the Stamford-based WWE, touts her record as a "jobs creator," echoing the pitch made at the top of the Republican ticket by Mitt Romney.
Her challenge is to convince voters that her 43 percent share of the vote in 2010 was base on which to build, not a ceiling. She lost by 12 percentage points to Democrat Richard Blumenthal, the state's most popular Democrat.
McMahon was nominated by four women, a target audience in her second run. Exit polling showed her suffering from a gender gap in 2010, and McMahon has made an effort to win over female voters.
Her nominators included Kathy McShane, the head of "Women for Linda" and Maureen Gagnon, who leads "Job Creators for McMahon." Another was Jayme Stevenson, the first selectwoman of Darien, where Shays grew up.
The winner will face the victor of a Democratic primary: either Murphy or former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz.
source: ctmirror.org
WWE Says New 3 Hour Raw Format Will Be Interactive; Details
According to a new article posted over at WWE.com, the new three hour format of Raw will see the show add an interactive element to it which will allow the viewers to "create" the matches as well as watch them. The following is an article excerpt, featuring a quote from Vince McMahon:
"WWE is proud to celebrate this historic milestone with our partners at USA Network. Our new three-hour Raw represents the next generation in interactive television where our fans won't just watch the show, they will help create it."
You can read more by clicking on the above link.
This Day in Wrestling History
Happy Birthday to Superfly Jimmy Snuka
May 18, 1943
Christian eliminated Booker T in a Battle Royal at Judgment Day to capture the newly reinstated WWE Intercontinental Title.
May 18, 2003
May 17, 2012
Brooke Hogan Joins TNA Wrestling
Television personality and recording artist Brooke Hogan is joining the cast of the highly-rated weekly wrestling program, TNA’s “IMPACT WRESLTING” starting Thursday, May 31 on Spike TV. Brooke’s role will be as the Executive in Charge of the female wrestling division, The Knockouts. Brooke will join a star-studded cast of the biggest names in professional wrestling, including her father, wrestling legend Hulk Hogan. TNA’s flagship series, “IMPACT WRESLTING,” telecasts on Spike TV and is one of the network’s top-rated series on Thursday nights with young men and currently ranks among the top shows on cable in its timeslot with Men 18-34.
In addition to overseeing the traditional duties of the Knockouts Division, Brooke will bring a new energy and direction to the role working with the girls in a variety of capacities.
"I have really gotten to know Brooke by working with her on her music career this past year and a half," said Dixie Carter, President of TNA Wrestling. "When we did talk wrestling, I not only loved her passion and knowledge of it, but the fresh, creative ideas she would come up with. She is very savvy. I asked if she would consider teaming up with me in this capacity while she also worked on her music, and I was thrilled when she said ‘yes.’ A big personality runs in her genes, obviously, and I know she is going to take an already exciting division of Impact Wrestling to another level."
All I can say is wow...
TNA IMPACT Wrestling Going Live This Summer
After teasing that a major announcement was about to be made on Twitter, TNA President Dixie Carter has announced that Impact Wrsetling will be going live starting on 5/31 and continue "through the summer."
WWE Monday Night Raw Expands to Three Electrifying Hours Launching with the 1,000th Episode, July 23 on USA Network
WWE Superstar John Cena® announced via Twitter today that WWE Monday Night Raw will expand to a three-hour event 52 weeks a year. The extended telecast will kick-off July 23 at 8/7C on USA Network and marks the 1000th episode of the WWE Raw franchise and a television record – no other series has ever reached this milestone. The announcement was tweeted today by Cena (the No. 1 most influential male athlete on Twitter last month) during USA’s upfront presentation in New York City. The move firmly put WWE’s stake in the ground as one of the most powerful social brands in the world and an integral part of USA Network’s social media initiative.
“The WWE Universe is one of the most socially active and passionate fan bases in all of television,” said Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel, co-presidents USA Network. “The powerful three-hour block of live TV truly makes USA the year-round destination for young male viewers on Monday nights.”
“WWE is proud to celebrate this historic milestone with our partners at USA Network,” said WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon. “Our new three-hour Raw represents the next generation in interactive television where our fans won’t just watch the show, they will help create it.”
The expanded WWE Monday Night Raw will transform television to an unprecedented level of viewer interaction. Fans will have new ways to get involved in the show through WWE.com and social media by deciding matches, stipulations and new character development. WWE will brand this unprecedented fan interaction as “#RAWactive.”
The #1 network in all of basic cable, USA Network is seen in 115 million U.S. homes. USA is a leader in scripted programming with a powerful stable of originals including POLITICAL ANIMALS, SUITS, NECESSARY ROUGHNESS, WHITE COLLAR, ROYAL PAINS, BURN NOTICE, PSYCH, COVERT AFFAIRS, COMMON LAW, FAIRLY LEGAL and IN PLAIN SIGHT. The network offers 52 weeks of spectacular live television with WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW and is home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, a broad portfolio of acquired series and entertainment events. A trailblazer in digital innovation and storytelling, USA is defining, driving and setting the industry standard for Social TV. USA is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. The award-winning website is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.
Rumor Mill - Another Flair to WWE?
WWE has signed Ashley Fliehr Johnson to a developmental contract. She is the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair.
Reports surfaced earlier this month that Ashley intended to follow in the footsteps of her legendary father as she was training to become a professional wrestler. She is expected to join WWE’s Tampa, Florida based developmental training facility in the summer.
Ashley is the third Flair child to enter the professional wrestling industry. David notably competed for World Championship Wrestling from 1999 to 2001 while Reid currently wrestles on the independent circuit.
Ashley was a star volleyball player in high school, leading her team to two state titles in North Carolina. She graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Arts and is an ACE® Certified Personal Trainer. She also attended Appalachian State University where she was a Division-1 Full Scholarship Athlete in volleyball.
source: wrestling observer newsletter
This Day in Wrestling History
Bruno Sammartino defeats Buddy Rogers for the (WWWF)WWE Championship at Madison Square Garden.
May 17, 1963
Vince McMahon Sr. died of cancer at 69.
May 17, 1984
Marty Jannetty defeated Shawn Michaels for the WWF(E) Intercontinental title.
May 17, 1993
"British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith died of a heart attack at 39.
May 17, 2002
May 16, 2012
News on WWE Raw’s 1000th Episode
WWE has recently launched a website campaign to promote the forthcoming 1,000th episode of WWE Raw. Based on WWE promoting the 900th episode on August 23, 2010, the actual 1,000th episode will be July 30, but WWE is promoting July 23rd as the date to acknowledge the milestone. WWE unveiled a logo for the 1,000th episode and said they will be featuring interviews with stars over the next two months leading to the end of July.
Shawn Michaels Comments on Triple H, The Undertaker and WMXXVIII
"For me, it was about three of us who have been there -- for the most part -- the longest of anybody and probably the last of the Mohicans, so to speak.It was three guys who had been sharing that locker-room for a long time, doing this in some form or another, whether it was me and Hunter, me and Taker, Taker and Hunter. The three of us have run the gamut of being in and out of the ring with each other and going through ups and downs, personally and professionally, and this is the last time the three of us will be in the ring together. That's what the End of an Era was to me."
Linda McMahon Accused Of Exchanging WrestleMania Ticket For Political Endorsement
There’s an interesting story making rounds today in the Linda McMahon for Senate campaign. Campaign rival Christopher Shays is making bribing accusations against Linda McMahon as Republican Town Committee chairman John Slater was ringside at WrestleMania XXVIII in Miami and publicly endorsed McMahon a month later.
“I find it interesting that John Slater went to WrestleMania in Miami, and soon after he returned came out and endorsed Linda McMahon,” said Amanda Bergen of the Shays campaign.
Slater has denied the accusations, claiming he attended the show on his own dime and sent a photo of his bank statement and ticket stub for the event to the Greenwich Time. According to the materials sent to the publication, Slater paid $355 for a central rise seat at Wrestlemania. Slater officially endorsed McMahon on May 8th.
“If they’re insinuating a bribe, which I can prove never happened, that’s totally wrong,” Slater told Greenwich Time. “If that’s the road that his campaign is now taking, it shows another reason why not to vote for him, because it’s a lie.”...More?
sources: wrestlingnewsworld.com and greenwich times
Jim Ross Ross Says He Will Be At First Full Sail Taping; Role TBD
WWE announcer Jim Ross says he will be part of the first WWE TV taping at Full Sail University in Florida Thursday, but his role has not yet been determined. "The future of the WWE lies within the Talent Development program and I am blessed to be able to help in that area in any way that the company sees fit," Ross wrote in his latest blog on jrsbarbq.com before traveling to Florida. "My role has yet to be outlined but I think I can assist in many areas and I'm excited to devote my time and energies to helping develop the young stars of tomorrow."
This Day in Wrestling History
Andy Kaufman dies of kidney failure due to large cell carcinoma in Los Angeles, California. Kaufman is best known in the wrestling world for his 1982 match with Jerry Lawler at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee, and subsequent expletive-laden appearance with Lawler on the Late Show with David Letterman.
May 16, 1984
May 15, 2012
Financial Status of Shane McMahon's Company - YOU on Demand
The financial status of Shane McMahon's company, YOU on Demand (YOD) is best described as "shaky". Although YOD has signed several deals with content distributers recently, the 10Q quarterly report filed May 15, 2012 tells the real story.
Shane initially invested $4 million dollars in YOD 2009. He loaned YOD $3 million dollars on May 10, 2012. The report also states the following:
We anticipate that we may need to raise additional funds to fully implement our business model and related strategies. The fact that we have incurred significant continuing losses and have relied on debt and equity financings to fund our operations to date, could raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
The 'going concern' concept directs accountants to prepare financial statements on the assumption that the business is not about to go broke or be liquidated (i.e. where the business closes and sells all the assets for whatever price they can get. In other words the company is not financially stable.
YOD has also had problems with proper financial controls:
As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2012. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of March 31, 2012, and as of the date that the evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures was completed, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective to satisfy the objectives for which they are intended. However, during 2011, the Company hired two US
GAAP and SEC qualified internal personnel, one in the US and one in China, to oversee its financial reporting operations. Subsequent to March 31, 2012, our US based employee resigned from the company to pursue another opportunity. During the interim period, another internal employee with US GAAP and SEC experience temporarily filled the position on a full time basis. The company anticipates hiring a permanent replacement during the second quarter. The interim employee will remain in a supporting role to provide additional control support. With these individuals in place and with the additional personnel to be added, we expect that
within the next quarter our internal controls will be effective.
YOD reported gross profit loss of 45%. The full report can be viewed here.
Vince McMahon Appears on DWTS
Several readers have sent in word that Vince McMahon appeared on last night's edition of "Dancing with the Stars" in a video package, during which he put over Maria Menounos and described her as "daring," saying she has a "great work ethic."
source: wrestlezone.com
Paul Levesque's Corporate Title Changed
Corporate bio hasn't changed, just the title. He is now listed as EVP, Talent & Live Events. You can view his bio here.
Suing WWE for Brock Lesnar: Payday or Payback for Paul Heyman?
One of Hollywood’s most famous lines is from 1972’s Academy Award winning film "The Godfather" when Michael Corleone, about to enter the world of organized crime, tells his brother, “It’s not personal Sonny. It’s just business.”
Paul Heyman’s two lawsuits against WWE Chief Operating Officer Triple H and WWE for breach of Brock Lesnar’s contract and assault and battery clearly have business ramifications for all parties involved, but could Heyman’s involvement be part of his own personal vendetta?
Lesnar debuted in WWE 10 years ago with one of wrestling’s greatest Managers, Paul Heyman, as his agent. Heyman had already been with WWE for a year following the bankruptcy of ECW, boasting a five-year tenure with WWE that was marred with animosity both on and off television.
Following the abysmal ECW December to Dismember pay-per-view in 2006, a very public disagreement about who was to blame for the subpar show saw Heyman part ways with WWE either by resignation or termination, depending on whether you ask Heyman or WWE. Heyman remained publicly silent about his acrimonious split from WWE. Did Heyman sign a non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreement or was the Extreme mastermind simply biding his time until an opportunity for vengeance materialized or both?
Lesnar and Heyman remained friends while Lesnar did the unimaginable, leaving WWE in his prime to UFC at age 30 and battering his way to the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship. In fact, the former ECW Owner co-wrote Lesnar’s autobiography.
Fast forward to Raw on April 30, 2012. One night after beating John Cena bloody at Extreme Rules, Lesnar was confronted on Raw SuperShow by Triple H, who dismissed Brock's outlandish demands, including private jets. The WWE COO explained that the ludicrous details Executive Vice President of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis had verbally agreed to the previous Monday on Raw were not authorized by him or the Board of Directors and were, thus, invalid.
Enraged, Lesnar savagely attacked Triple H and snapped his left arm with a punishing MMA hold called the Kimura Lock. A week later, Brock sent a legal representative to state his position. His representative? None other than Paul Heyman! Heyman read Brock’s statement to the WWE Universe that Lesnar quit, then, moments later, Heyman told WWE.com that his client was “owed millions” by WWE.
From a business standpoint, as a representative of Lesnar’s, recouping even a small percentage of Lesnar’s seven-figure contract is a nice commission for Heyman. The question is: Does Heyman (who turned down multiple offers to return to wrestling during his five-year absence from WWE, indicating income is not an issue for him) relish suing WWE as personal payback rather than a pecuniary payday?
source: wwe.com
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
