June 3, 2014
Indy Talent Wins Major Lawsuit Against WWE Hall of Famer
Larry "Abdullah The Butcher" Shreve was found guilty today in the negligence, assault and battery care related to the transmission of the Hepatitis C virus to Devon Nicholson who wrestles as "Hannibal." Nicholson was cured of the disease in late 2013 after undergoing 2 intensive and expensive chemotherapy like treatments and lost a WWE contract due to testing positive for the virus in 2009.
According to a CBC report, Nicholson has been awarded $2.3 million in damages which must be paid by Shreve. Shreve has 30 days to appeal the judge's decision, and you can read more at this link.
Seth Rollins Turns On The Shield And Joins Evolution
During Monday's WWE Raw broadcast Seth Rollins turned his back on fellow members of The Shield, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns by turning heel in a shocking twist.
The scheduled Randy Orton vs. Roman Reigns main event didn't go ahead after Triple H revealed that he had a “plan B.”
Seth Rollins attacked both Reigns and Dean Ambrose with a steel chair, following this Triple H and Randy Orton took to the ring to join Rollins in the beatdown.
June 2, 2014
Full Sail President talks about partnership with WWE NXT
Brian Fritz of The Orlando Sentinel is featuring an article with quotes from Full Sail University President Garry Jones talking about the two year anniversary of Full Sail's partnership with WWE to produce NXT programming.
"The relationship between Full Sail and the WWE is one of those rare situations when you first meet someone and are impressed and as time goes on you’re even more impressed with the people. The WWE has people of their word: they do what they say and when they say it. It’s extraordinary."
Orlando Sentinel: NXT Wrestling has found a home at Full Sail
Batista "Quits" WWE During Tonight's Raw Broadcast
During tonight's WWE Raw broadcast, Batista "quit" the company after Triple H wouldn't give him WWE World Heavyweight Title shot. Batista is finishing up with WWE to begin promotional work for his new film Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy and is expected to return in time for SummerSlam.
Brie Bella "Quits" WWE
At Sunday night's WWE Payback event, Brie Bella announced that she was "quitting" WWE during the segment involving her, Daniel Bryan, and Stephanie McMahon.
Brie told Stephanie that she refused to be a powerless victim and stated that Stephanie couldn't fire her before announcing that she "quit." Brie then slapped Stephanie across the face, causing a humiliated Stephanie to walk away from the ring.
Stephanie had threatened to fire Brie if Daniel Bryan refused to surrender the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Payback. Interestingly during the promo, Stephanie responding to fan chants told Bryan and Bella "There people want you to quit...just like CM Punk did."
June 1, 2014
The 100 Most Obsessed-Over People on the Web
George W. Bush is more popular than Obama, Beyonce beats the Pope--and the mysterious clout of professional wrestlers. The ultimate online power list. Plus see how 20,000 of the world's best known people stack up. Click here.
1. George W. Bush
17. Hulk Hogan
24. Big Show
34. John Cena
35. The Undertaker
38. Kane
47. Kurt Angle
50. The Rock
56. CM Punk
57. Bret Hart
71. Chris Jericho
73. Edge
81. Rey Mysterio
83. Rob Van Dam
86. Triple H
94. Ric Flair
100. Lance Armstrong
source: time.com
Triple H Talks Rivalry With The Rock, Working Behind The Scenes, Favorite WrestleMania Moments
As noted earlier, Triple H is on the cover of the latest edition of Muscle & Fitness magazine, which is on newsstands now. Here are a few highlights from the interview:
How he transitioned to into a creative position:
"In some ways, I've been doing it behind the scenes for years. Vince McMahon used to say to me, 'When are you going to stop playing around and come do some real work?' Once I had kids and was looking to be home more and getting a little older, I saw it was time to make that transition. Vince sort of baited me in, saying, 'Why don't you come in to the office once or twice a week on your off days?' And the next thing I know it's, 'I need you to take over this department and come off the road full time.' Vince likes to call me [to wrestle] in case of emergency. I'm a character they can pull in here and there. But honestly, the less I do it at this point, the better. Even wrestling once or twice a year is hard, and I have to prepare for it as if I'm Floyd Mayweather preparing for a boxing match. It's a commitment, and trying to do that with a full-time job and a wife and kids is very time-consuming."
How the Performance came come to be:
"WWE has had a development system for a long time, but I felt we needed to do more. So, from concept to development, the Performance Center was mine. And it was something that Vince, when I pitched him on it, said was phenomenal. I helped design it, and worked with the architects. I went to NFL and NHL training centers and saw what the best teams in the world had. I thought, 'If I were a 20-year-old today, what would I need to succeed?' And I put it all in that building. That includes everything from strength and conditioning, rings for [future Superstars] to work in, to promo rooms where they can work on their verbal skills. We train everyone from referees to announce teams there. That's the platform for the next generation of Superstars."
Advice for other business people to stay in shape despite hectic schedules and travel:
"I make sure I always have a body-weight routine on hand, or bands, so I can do something in my hotel room. Even if you do only 15-20 minutes of intense exercise every day, your life changes dramatically. The Rock and I have always had a rivalry. And even though he's one of the biggest movie stars in the world now, to this day, I'll still look at his Twitter account, and it says something like '4:30 a.m. in Bolivia filming a movie, about to hit cardio.' So when I have to motivate myself, I'll think about that and say, 'f--kin' Rock. If he can do it, I can do it.' He motivates me. He's not afraid of a hard day's work. If being successful means I have to miss sleep, that's what I'll do. And that's most people's problem. Most don't want it more than they want to hang out or go and see the new Iron Man movie. When I was in high school, I didn't hang out with my friends, I hung out with the guys from my gym. My friends wanted to go to parties and I didn't, because I was going to get up at seven the next morning and do a heavy leg day. That's just how I've always been. I hope that drive never goes away."
His favorite WrestleMania moment:
"Of all time, I guess it's that iconic moment at WrestleMania III, with Hogan slamming Andre. It represents that time and the explosion of the business. For me, personally, it would be WrestleMania 28, with me and Undertaker and Shawn Michaels as the referee. There was a moment I'll never forget, with the three of us standing at the top of the ramp - we were like the three guys of the Attitude Era left standing, after the Monday Night Wars and everything. Three guys who couldn't be closer or have more respect for one another. I have a photo of that moment framed at my house."
Rumor Mill - Triple H calls meeting at RAW for better direction for story lines
There was a meeting called by Triple H before this past Monday’s RAW in Knoxville, TN. Triple H reportedly expressed his desire for RAW and SmackDown to have “more of a flow from top to bottom.”
There are concerns within WWE that people aren’t subscribing to the WWE Network because the product on TV isn’t good enough, which can be largely attributed to lack of flow, storylines being forgotten or outright dropped.
One source pointed to Triple H and Vince McMahon having “different visions” and the ideas of the two clashing.
It’s said that going into the summer, Triple H really wants more focus placed on under-card programs as a way to help build up the mid-card.
Rumor Mill - Three Big Names Expected To Begin Training With WWE Soon
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that independent stars KENTA, Kevin Steen and Prince Devitt will begin training at the WWE Performance Center from August.
WWE has to clear all their visas, medical tests and many other factors before allowing them to join the developmental roster.
May 30, 2014
Brie Bella Talks About Her Thoughts on Stephanie McMahon, Bryan & Total Divas, Rosa, More
Scott Fishman of The Miami Herald recently spoke with Brie Bella to promote the season finale of WWE Total Divas. Below are some highlights:
Being on Total Divas:
"I look at all of us girls, and we all bring something different to the table. I think women can relate to us because I think it’s very common women have to balance career and relationship. At the same time, you never know what the world is interested in at that moment. There was the thinking of, ‘I think it will do well because we have something great here.’ At the same time, are people interested in women fighting in the ring and fighting for relationships outside?"
Daniel Bryan and the show:
"When I brought it up to Bryan [about doing the show], he was just like, ‘Brie, I don’t think we’re entertaining to watch. I don’t think this is a good idea for you and I.’ I was kind of like, ‘I think you’re right. We are kind of boring.’ It’s because we are very private, so it was hard for us to open up with all the cameras. He is such a good sport. He is just so good to me. With anything I want to do, he is 100 percent for it, even if he thinks I’m crazy. It was very hard for he and I at first, but now we have fun with it. We are so comfortable that sometimes we forget that the cameras are there. Bryan and I came to look at this as people can see he and I are very into the environment. That’s our passion outside of work."
Rosa Mendes being added to the third season:
"She has kind of been in this business for a really long time but has never really gone to the top. It will be neat to see her story and her struggles."
Having baby fever:
"I’m 30, and I’ll be 31 in November. You do get that baby fever where everyone around me is having children. I think in two years Bryan and I would love to have kids. Now it could be sooner, or it could be later. I’m not ready just yet, so for me it’s later. You never know. I just can’t wait to be a mother and to see Bryan as a father because I know he will be amazing at that. It will be crazy."
Her girl crush on Stephanie McMahon:
"I have to say I have like a girl crush on her. She is just an amazing woman. She is so talented and with the way she is with all the charities to represent WWE. Then she can put that all aside, when she gets to that ring. It’s just insane to me. I just really admire her, and it has been a lot of fun to work with her and learn from her. I’ve really enjoyed it. The storyline is insane, and you never know what it holds. I’m excited for Payback because I think it will have a really great twist."
Ric Flair Wrestling for Japanese Promotion, Flair Talks About Dolph Ziggler, Charlotte, His Health
Ric Flair recently spoke with Mike Mooneyham of The Charleston Post & Courier. Flair noted that he's down to 228 pounds and is in the best shape he's been in since his TNA run.
The article confirms a recent report that Flair is scheduled to wrestle for a Japanese promotion in September. Flair also talked about wanting to manage Dolph Ziggler when he returns to WWE soon. Flair commented on Ziggler:
"I think he's awesome. He'd be a great guy to manage. He looks like a million bucks. He just can't find his gimmick. He needs to work on his entrance. I could help him with that."
Flair also talked about his daughter, NXT Women's Champion Charlotte:
"She will be the greatest Flair of all time. Her credentials speak for themselves," says Flair. "I'd put her resume up against anybody. She's Rey Mysterio but bigger. She is going to be the greatest female wrestler and the most famous diva in the history of the WWE."
May 29, 2014
CM Punk Says He Is Retired, Talks Life After Wrestling
Red Eye Chicago is featuring an interview with former WWE star CM Punk for his role painting for charity sponsored by the Chicago Cubs. The interview refers to Punk as being a retired pro wrestler and asks about his life after wrestling.
"It feels good. It's a lot easier when you hook up with organizations like the Cubs and being friends with some of the team members. It isn't hard to support their charities. Plus I get to do fun stuff like bowl and paint chairs and play whiffle ball with Bill Murray. It was super fun and for a great cause. You've got athletes and actresses and musicians and all kinds of people painting chairs. I'm super happy to be a part of it."
WWE working on new Randy Savage documentary DVD
WWE has started work on a new documentary about the career of "The Macho Man" Randy Savage according to a new report. No word on when the DVD will be released. The company released "Macho Madness- The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection DVD" in 2009.
Triple H's Twitter Q&A Highlights: NXT Takeover, Who To Watch, Proof That NXT Works, Sami Zayn, More
Which match is he most excited for tonight? "has to be split between Kidd/Neville and Charlotte/Natalya. Zayn/Breeze isn't far behind."
Who is the mega-star to look out for in NXT? "NXT Champion Adrian Neville, Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin and Alexa Bliss"
Who has been the best example that the NXT system works? "look no further than Bray Wyatt"
Which Takeover star will be a future WWE Champion? "they will all be prepared for it. Right now? Adrian Neville."
When will we see Sami Zayn and Adrian Neville on the main roster? They are two of the best young talents right now. "they absolutely are. When the time is right. The goal is to make sure everyone is prepared on EVERY level."
Which NXT star do you hope to face one day? "I hope none of them! But if I had to pick one to work with today? @iLikeSamiZayn"
Do you see NXT as a developmental system or more of a brand? "it's both. It's clearly it's own brand but is definitely a launching pad to Raw, Smackdown, and WWE main roster."
Are you a lemon or a Rosebud? "that depends on the day!"
Are you concerned that people might work on NXT but fail to transition onto the main roster? "always a concern, we give them the tools but Success or failure depends on the talent. If it was easy, anyone could do it."
Is Full Sail University going to be the main location for NXT or are there any plans to take it elsewhere? "Full Sail is an amazing partnership, we're thrilled with it. We hope that Full Sail remains NXT's home for years to come."
What do you think is the biggest key to success these athletes need to learn in the business? "Confidence in the ability to let go and not just pretend to be something - but to actually be something."
If NXT was around when you came to WWE would you have wanted to gone through that or straight to the big time? "the journey that my generation had is different than this one has. NXT and the PC were designed to give them everything they need."
Is there anyone on the NXT roster that you would compare to yourself? "Lot of talent based on hunger to succeed and their passion."
May 28, 2014
Triple H Praises Natalya and Charlotte, Talks About Tyson Kidd, WWE Payback, NXT, More
Triple H is back for another sitdown interview with Michael Cole this week, which you can see on WWE's website at this link. Below are highlights:
* He says Payback is where it all comes to an end, the final battle. He's been telling The Shield to adapt or perish and the time is at Payback.
* Triple H talks about NXT Takeover on Thursday night. He says he got the name Takeover from looking at social media and seeing that fans were talking about how NXT is taking over WWE. He says NXT is going to make an impact on the world.
* He praises Natalya as one of the best in-ring performers int he Divas division and says Charlotte is becoming one of the best. He says Charlotte is one of the most genetically gifted athletes he's ever seen.
* He talks about how Tyson Kidd made a little bit of an impact on the main roster, got hurt and is now using NXT as his pathway back. He brings up a possible scenario of Tyson losing and Natalya winning. He refers to Kidd as a sidekick husband and says that's hard for some guys to handle. Cole talks about a NXT Takeover preview show interview he conducted with Kidd where Kidd got emotional.
* Triple H says NXT is an infectious environment and everyone there should be congratulated. He says we will see the NXT talents put their heart and soul on the line like never before at Takeover.
Triple H Talks About Future Plans for NXT, Tough Enough, Vince's Opinion on NXT, Merriman, More
Today, Triple H has been very busy promoting tomorrow's NXT Takeover live special on the WWE Network, not just to Michael Cole on WWE.com, but also to the wrestling media in an official conference call, which has been made publicly available on f4wonline.com. Below is all the news and interesting comments Hunter made during the 50 minutes Q&A session:
Triple H said they're considering eventually doing monthly NXT live specials for the WWE Network, but at the moment the plan is to stick with the quarterly format. He put the specials over as a great learning experience for all the NXT talent, down to the trainee cameramen, audio and lighting technicians, directors and producers, to work side by side with the WWE crew on a live television shoot, which is perfect preparation to get them ready for a position on the main WWE roster and build anticipation amongst fans for that moment.
Hunter admitted that just because an act works in the small, intimate setting of the NXT tapings at Full Sail University, it doesn't mean they will translate well in major arenas on a national scale, partly due to the extra pressure of finally getting to work in the big time.
He cites Cesaro as an example of someone who he had to pull aside after watching his NXT matches and tell him "Do that when you get to Raw, do that when you get to Smackdown, you work differently [here].", as he adapted to the transition.
The NXT Takeover name was inspired by the real-life takeover of WWE television by former NXT talent like The Shield, The Wyatt Family, etc.
It sounds unlikely that they will move to more regular NXT TV tapings and more live specials at the moment due to the increased costs involved, but it remains a work in progress.
Triple H claimed that the next step in the development of the WWE Performance Center is finding the right people and talent to make it as productive as possible and they are doing a series of global tryouts to find performers that not only can get over as stars in their local market, but also succeed internationally.
"I can look at Bray Wyatt and say Bray right now is just becoming comfortable. That's really how I feel and people can say, now listen, has he been knocking it out of the park since he walked in the door? Absolutely, but he is just now to me, from what I see and what I know of him, is just starting to get comfortable. That kid is nicking the surface of where he's gonna go, because he's just now starting to feel it and just now starting to get in the groove."
"Daniel Bryan's a prime example of that, he's not the same guy he was five years ago working [in Japan and on the independent scene], he had to transition too of becoming a character and a personality and a persona and you know that's where he is now. It didn't change what he does in the ring, it didn't change his skill level, it didn't change anything, but I've always believed that the business is a puzzle and there's a million pieces of it and one is skill in the ring, another is talking. There is all these different pieces, the more pieces of that puzzle you have, the better of a success you're going to be, and there were some pieces of the puzzle he had in spades and there are others he didn't have, and now he does and that's why you see his success. No different than anybody else, it's putting all those pieces together."
Triple H plans to continue mixing in some WWE talent on NXT broadcasts, as it helps their trainees develop, allows them to deliver more compelling storylines on NXT and also potentially reinvigorate the career of someone like Tyson Kidd who have suffered injury setbacks and been underutilized on Raw and Smackdown since their return. However, someone like Cesaro now seems to be deemed to be too big a star to be used regularly on NXT.
There's consideration being made to running NXT house shows and other NXT activities during the weekend of WrestleMania 31. The promotion will definitely be a big part of WrestleMania week.
Hunter claimed that Vince McMahon was surprised at the amount of interest in NXT on the WWE Network. Indeed, he was blown away by the audience figures and the social media buzz for NXT in general and NXT ArRIVAL in particular. He was expecting just a cool looking show, but felt they had launched a brand instead. Thus, NXT is expected to play a bigger and more prominent role on the WWE Network as the brand grows and evolves.
Regarding a new series of Tough Enough for the Network, it's being proposed to be shot at the WWE Performance Center, but it's not a 100% confirmed.
Regarding the WWE status of Christian and Rey Mysterio, they're both still recovering from injuries and Triple H hopes they're back as soon as they can.
Regarding physical training at NXT, the mindset is now different and they concentrate on training for active functional strength and for the performers to be as bulletproof and durable as possible, rather than pure bodybuilding to look as muscular and impressive as possible.
Triple H admitted that they do cut talent who are too engrained in a certain alternative style that they can't do something else or are unwilling to adapt to work in their environment and philosophy.
Regarding KENTA and Prince Devitt, Triple H had no comments on those rumors.
Hunter put over Charlotte as progressing very well and an amazing natural athlete. Regarding putting her in a match with Natalya as a continuation of the feud between her father Ric Flair and Nattie's uncle Bret Hart, he said: "Part of me when I do these things I just put my fan hat on for a minute and go, here's the people I've got to work with, what do I want to see? What would I like to watch? What would I tune into the Network to see from an NXT standpoint and that's kind of how we book it."
Regarding Shawne Merriman, Triple H said they're still in discussions with him. Hunter thinks he's a great guy, an amazing athlete and a very smart individual and he'd love to have him in NXT.
May 27, 2014
Jim Ross Talks About Triple H and Stephanie Running WWE
Ryan Glasspiegel of TheBigLead.com recently spoke with Jim Ross:
How do you feel about Stephanie and Triple H as prospective leaders when the baton eventually — and who knows when that will be — gets passed?
I think they’re going to be great leaders because they have an inherent love and understanding of the genre. I don’t think anyone can lead WWE without understanding the two key components of talent and television. This is a different field than being the president of the New England Patriots, for example. Bob Kraft is smart enough to leave the football operations to Bill Belichick and company, and he’s also smart enough as a businessman to hire really good people to manage the other aspects of the business.
I think that Triple H and Stephanie will have good instincts on which people to surround themselves with. More importantly, I think they’ll have thorough understanding of the core business as far as to assemble a team of wrestlers, prepare them, manage them, and produce compelling television.
This is not like a job for them — it’s not like going to a headhunter and hiring an executive. This is their life, and I’ll take my chances any day with somebody who has that kind of passion in managing a company.
WWE wrestler Kane helps hold a free workshop about concussions for the community
Kane and WWE's Dr. Chris Amann held a concussion workshop at Halls Middle School in Knoxville, Tennessee on Monday. This is the first of many workshops planned across the country to keep student athletes safe. Click here for the local news video.
Two WWE Hall of Famers Appearing at NXT Takeover
On Monday night's edition of WWE RAW, it was announced that WWE Hall of Famers Ric Flair and Bret Hart will both be appearing at this Thursday night's NXT Takeover event on the WWE Network.
They will both play roles in the NXT Women's Championship Match, as Flair will be in Charlotte's corner and Hart will be in Natalya's corner.
Brad Maddox Fired As WWE RAW General Manager
On Monday night's edition of WWE RAW, Brad Maddox was fired as the on-screen General Manager of the show. There is no word on who Maddox's potential replacement could be.
May 26, 2014
WWE Announces NXT Takeover Pre-Show Panel
WWE has announced that the panel for the NXT Takeover pre-show will consist of Renee Young, Christian, Paul Heyman, and Cesaro.
The pre-show will air on Thursday at 7:30PM EST on the WWE Network, half an hour before the two-hour NXT Takeover event airs live also on the WWE Network.
May 25, 2014
May 24, 2014
Vince and Linda McMahon Named As Republican Mega-Donors
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and his wife Linda McMahon have been named as Republican mega-donors according public finance records acquired by The Washington Times.
The McMahons have given around $1 million to Republican candidates, party committees and super PACs this year, including Karl Rove’s American Crossroads and TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts’ group Ending Spending.
The donations for the most part have been made in Linda’s name. Before Linda’s run for Senate, the McMahons donated only around $30,000 in 2006 and 2008.
May 23, 2014
WWE Network News and Notes: Monday Night War, Advertisements, Subscribers, Apple, More
* WWE CFO George Barrios participated in a presentation at the Global Technology, Media & Telecom conference in Boston this week. Here are some highlights:
* The Monday Night War will debut "in the fall" on the WWE Network.
* Assuming WWE loses all of their pay-per-view business, they need 1.3-1.4 million WWE Network subscribers to break even. They believe they can reach 2-4 million subscribers globally within 2-3 years
* They monitor the quality of the WWE Network "by the second" after going through some rough patches during launch week.
* On March 30th, they had "about" 500,000 subscribers for the Network. By WrestleMania XXX Sunday on April 7th, they had 667,000 subscribers. They will announce numbers quarterly going forward.
* Apple gets 30% of any subscribers made through them. There are similar deals for other platforms, such as a Roku.
* They have discussed running advertisements on the Network but haven't made a decision on that.
* WWE doesn't maintain credit cards on file from Network subscriptions as they use partners to process that material.
Miami Herald Offers In Depth Look at Why WWE is NOT in Bad Shape Financially, Takes Aim At Those Who “Gleefully Knock WWE” & More
The Miami Herald has posted a new article covering the misconceptions which came out of the report of WWE recently losing $350 million in one day. The article speaks to those "who gleefully knock WWE by claiming the company doesn’t know what it’s doing, is losing money and will soon be going out of business."
Below are some excerpts, and you can read the entire piece at this link.
WWE’s stock took a downward spiral late last week, falling hard from the $20 price per share to the $11 range, after investors did not like the TV deal WWE signed with NBCUniversal. Investors expected a bigger deal financially.
Let’s look at two areas.
1) The television deal
WWE did not get the dollar amount investors wanted, but WWE did increase the amount of money it will receive from NBCUniversal annually for its television rights.
It’s been reported WWE’s new contract with NBC Universal will net $150 million annually, which is nearly a 70-percent increase from the previous deal worth $90 million per year.
What? The stock dropped. I thought WWE was losing money.
This is a fact and a big one. The company received a 70-percent raise from NBCUniversal.
Rumor Mill - Details On The Return Of Tough Enough, Change Of Philosophy In WWE
It looks like the WWE is going in the direction of using actual trained wrestlers for the return of Tough Enough as opposed to starting from scratch and offering a developmental deal. Preliminary information suggests the cast will feature talent already under developmental contract.
Speaking of WWE developmental, there may be a change in philosophy in the company’s system. There have been internal talks about signing talent solely for use on NXT. The thinking is that NXT is its own brand and the company has to decide if it could be a permanent home for some talent where there isn’t a spot for them on the main roster.
While WWE has heavily considered producing a cruiserweight-only show as original WWE Network programming, the thinking is they may already have that with NXT.
The use of Tyson Kidd and Natalya on NXT are good examples of the company slightly pivoting when it comes to developmental. While the core purpose of NXT will always be to develop new talent, it’s not the only purpose with the evolution of WWE Network.
