Monday's episode of WWE RAW, featuring the fallout from Money In the Bank, drew 4.114 million viewers. This is up from last week's 3.645 million viewers.
For this week's show, the first hour drew 4.095 million viewers, the second hour drew 4.249 million viewers and the final hour drew 3.997 million viewers.
RAW was #1 for the night on cable.
June 16, 2015
WWE RAW Viewership Back Over Four Million
WWE Creates New YouTube Gaming Channel
WWE today launched UpUpDownDown, a new YouTube channel focusing on the world of video gaming, hosted by WWE Superstar and avid gamer, Xavier Woods®. Woods, also known to online players by his handle “Austin Creed,” will be joined by YouTube celebrities, WWE Superstars and video game editors who will star in daily programming about everything in the world of gaming – from current hits like “WWE 2K15” and “The Witcher” to classic series like “FIFA” and “Grand Theft Auto.”
“By leveraging WWE’s massive influence on YouTube and tapping into a content vertical that scores highly among our fans, we’re poised to make an immediate impact with this new channel,” said Lisa Fox, WWE Executive Vice President, Content. “We’re confident that UpUpDownDown will entertain not only WWE fans, but gamers everywhere.”
WWE has a powerful presence on YouTube, having served more than 5 billion video views in the last 12 months and boasting more than 6.4 million subscribers, making it the No. 1 Sports channel on the platform ahead of the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, ESPN and NASCAR.
Programming for UpUpDownDown will include:
• UpUpDownDown Plays (Mondays) – A “Let’s Play” style show featuring Woods and other personalities playing through today’s hottest titles.
• For the Lolz (Wednesdays) – Woods and others explore the vast worlds of popular sandbox games like Grand Theft Auto V, where just about anything and everything can happen.
• Jump Scares (Fridays) – Delving deep into the horror genre, players push their intestinal fortitude to the limit by creeping through the industry’s most bloodcurdling games.
• Superstar Savepoint (Saturdays) – Guests are tasked with jumping into a random game totally “cold,” and must help lead Woods to gaming glory in this unpredictable co-op experiment.
• Gamer Gauntlet (Sundays) – Woods and friends challenge each other for more than gaming bragging rights, with losers suffering pre-determined penalties.
Details on The Bill DeMott Tryout Training Camp with Mickie James, Magnus and Earl Hebner
The following was sent in:
Superstar Seminars
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
June 15th, 2015
Press Release
Superstar Seminars presents The Bill DeMott Tryout Training Camp. Aug 8th & 9th at the GXW Wrestling Academy in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, VA – Superstar Seminars, in conjunction with GXW Wrestling and The Bill DeMott Experience are pleased to present the Bill DeMott Tryout Training camp on August 8th and 9th at the GXW Wrestling School in Richmond, VA. This camp will give aspiring pro wrestlers a chance to be trained by one of the world’s most renowned pro wrestling trainers and experience first-hand the challenges that they will go through during a tryout for a major pro wrestling company.
Bill DeMott has over 25 years’ experience in the wrestling business, wrestling for ECW, WCW and WWE. Bill is well known as the former head trainer on the WWE series Tough Enough, and was the head trainer for the WWE Developmental programs Deep South Wrestling, Florida Championship Wrestling and most recently, NXT. Bill has been extremely influential in the rise to stardom of many of the current WWE Superstars as well as many WWE Superstars of the past decade.
As a member of the team who devised the testing and tryout process by which a current WWE hopeful is evaluated, Bill’s knowledge and expertise are incredibly valuable to anyone serious about making it in the world of Sports Entertainment. This camp will give students an authentic, first-hand experience of the tryout process, and Bill will teach all enrollees every aspect of how to be a better performer and provide the qualities that the big companies are looking for. The camp will cover many aspects including:
- - In-Ring technique and execution
- - Verbal skills
- - Conditioning
- - Character development and presentation
Assisting at the camp will be former WWE Women's, WWE Divas and TNA Knockouts Champion Mickie James, one of the most popular female performers of all time, Nick ‘Magnus’ Aldis, the first British Wrestler to hold the TNA World Heavyweight Title and former IWGP and GHC Tag Team Champion, and legendary senior referee Earl Hebner, who has decades of experience working with the biggest stars in the business.
The camp will take place at the GXW Wrestling Training Academy, a fully insured, air-conditioned, multi-purpose facility featuring a full-size ring, classrooms, green screen video room for promos/interviews and changing/restroom facilities. With easy access from major highways I-64, I-95 and I-295 and just 5 minutes from Richmond International Airport, the Academy is easily accessible for students from all over the US or Worldwide. Given the nature of the camp, we require that anyone wishing to attend must be at least 18 years of age with a minimum of 1 year experience in wrestling. Exceptions may be considered for applicants with a significant athletic background. Proper wrestling training attire is required. All enrollees will receive detailed instructions and information via email as well as video footage of their training for future reference upon completion of the camp.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be trained by the man who knows what the big leagues are looking for! Enrollment is $250. To apply, please visit www.superstarseminars.com and fill out the application form. If accepted, enrollment fee is required in full to secure your place. Enrollments are limited to a maximum of 30. Apply now to get your spot!
June 15, 2015
Lawsuit Against WWE And ESPN Dropped
A few months ago, we reported that the Gilbert family (specificially Tommy Gilbert as the executor of his son Eddie's estate and younger son Doug Gilbert on his own behalf) had sued both WWE and ESPN for using their likenesses without permission and not paying royalties. This is not the first time either company had been sued by a wrestler, with ESPN's victory over Kansas City wrestler Steve Ray being upheld on appeal about a week or so after news of the Gilbert lawsuit broke.
Today, a look at the case docket revealed that 11 days ago on June 4th, the Gilberts filed a Notice of Voluntary dismissal without prejudice. This means that they reserve the right to refile in the future. No word yet as to exactly why they dropped the case, though ESPN's continued success against Steve Ray was not a good sign.
It's worth noting that in the current issue of Fighting Spirit Magazine, Jim Cornette talks a bit about the idea of filing these types of lawsuits. Commonly, the wrestlers' arguments have been they worked without contracts. In the article, Cornette argues that this isn't quite as true as a lot of people think.
At TV tapings for Jim Crockett Promotions' television shows, there was a "sign-in sheet" where everyone had to sign in to get paid. That's how most wrestlers saw the sheet. In actuality, if anyone bothered to read it, they saw that it was a legal release against future claims. Many promoters also put a similar legal release against future claims above the signature line on wrestlers' paychecks.
WWE NXT takes over Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Ky. this October!
In addition to four stages of music, Louder Than Life attendees can sample food and drink from more than 70 vendors helping to celebrate the region’s culture and cuisine.
NXT has become a must-see event whenever it comes to town, and the hard-hitting action is can’t-miss television every Wednesday on the award-winning WWE Network. The Superstars of Tomorrow have packed in fans throughout Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Albany, N.Y. and Ohio, along with a sold-out show in San Jose during WrestleMania 31 Week.
Louisville can expect the same high octane action when WWE NXT takes over Louder Than Life, Oct. 3 and 4 at Champions Park, near downtown Louisville. Ticket pre-sales begin now, with discounted tickets, VIP, hotel and camping packages available now at LouderThanLifeFestival.com. Regularly priced tickets will be available Friday, June 26 at 12 p.m. ET, also at LouderThanLifeFestival.com.
More Details on the New Season of Tough Enough
WWE Tough Enough is hosted by WWE Superstar Chris Jericho®, who will be joined by a panel of judges including WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan®, WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan® and WWE Diva Paige™. This season will combine the can’t-miss excitement of live television with reality-show drama, as WWE hopefuls vie for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the next WWE Superstar or Diva. Unlike anything on television today, the lightning-fast hour of entertainment and competition will include live results every week, giving fans worldwide the power to decide who stays and who goes the very same night.
Every week, the three judges will each nominate one competitor they believe should be cut, and it will be up to the WWE Universe to vote and determine who they feel is “Tough Enough,” to remain in the competition. The competitor with the least number of votes will be eliminated. Throughout the season, each judge will have the ability to save one competitor from being sent home. Ultimately, one man and one woman will be considered “Tough Enough,” with each earning a one-year, $250,000 WWE contract.
Each week, the competitors will be coached by WWE Legends Booker T™, Billy Gunn™ and Lita™, and competitors will come face-to-face with WWE icons including WWE Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Vince McMahon; Executive Vice President, Talent, Live Events & Creative, Paul “Triple H®” Levesque; and WWE Superstars John Cena®, Big Show® and Randy Orton®, among others.
The revolutionary WWE Tough Enough App is now available for download. This app will provide an unprecedented fan experience before, during and after the show by enabling fans to vote for who stays and who goes with results calculated in real-time during the final minutes of each episode. The app will also include competitor bios and video and social updates as the competition unfolds throughout the week.
June 13, 2015
Finn Balor Talks Undertaker And Triple H Helping With His Entrance
"It wasn't until later in my career that I really focused on the importance on making an entrance. I got to give credit to everyone that helped me with the entrance because it wasn't just my ideas. We had a huge team in coming up with the entrance.
"I had a lot of help from Road Dogg and a lot of help from Triple H. I spoke with the legendary Undertaker as well. If you're going to learn about entrances from anyone, you might learn from the Undertaker.
"It's a whole team effort, and not just me coming up with it by myself."
"I had a lot of help from Road Dogg and a lot of help from Triple H. I spoke with the legendary Undertaker as well. If you're going to learn about entrances from anyone, you might learn from the Undertaker.
"It's a whole team effort, and not just me coming up with it by myself."
Triple H Requests Song From Motorhead
Lemmy from Motorhead revealed in a recent interview with Metal Hammer magazine that Triple H called him and asked if they would record a cover of the Rolling Stones classic Sympathy For The Devil for him. Motorhead created Triple H's current theme as well as his previous one. Lemmy agreed and it will be released on their new album, Bad Magic, on August 28th. Lemmy didn't specify if Triple H requested the song as a fan, or so that it can be used by WWE in some fashion, like for a pay-per-view theme.
Video: Triple H reveals the WWE Performance Center Tough Enough Barracks
In the video above, Triple H gives a tour of the WWE Performance Center Tough Enough barracks, where the 13 finalists will be staying at while the show goes on. He notes they will be there for the next 10-12 weeks.
Triple H commented:
"We could put you in a nice mansion, make it luxurious and all that but it's supposed to be about being Tough Enough so we don't want to pamper people too much. So what we've come up with is the WWE Performance Center Tough Enough barracks."
"This is about kind of making due and I think that in some way through a contest like Tough Enough they're bypassing the kind of paying your dues and to me this is kind of fast-tracking that a little bit. Sleeping in a not so comfortable place, not so comfortable surroundings, seeing if you're Tough Enough and if you really want to do this."
Triple H commented:
"We could put you in a nice mansion, make it luxurious and all that but it's supposed to be about being Tough Enough so we don't want to pamper people too much. So what we've come up with is the WWE Performance Center Tough Enough barracks."
"This is about kind of making due and I think that in some way through a contest like Tough Enough they're bypassing the kind of paying your dues and to me this is kind of fast-tracking that a little bit. Sleeping in a not so comfortable place, not so comfortable surroundings, seeing if you're Tough Enough and if you really want to do this."
June 12, 2015
WWE Tough Enough Final 13 Competitors Revelaed
After a grueling, three-day tryout, 13 competitors will now advance to the new season of WWE Tough Enough. These seven men and six women will fight to live out their dream and become the next WWE Superstar or Diva, starting with the show's premiere on Tuesday, June 23, on USA Network:
Alexander Frekey, Dallas, Texas
He once caused an earthquake in a “Planet Fitness” commercial, but does Alexander Frekey have what it takes to be Tough Enough? His day-job title of Regional Sales Director doesn’t exactly inspire fear in the masses, but the towering Frekey isn’t just an unusually big office drone. Having played college basketball before appearing in “John Wick” and NBC’s “The Blacklist,” the tough-guy bonafides of this 6-foot-5 Russian are enviable. Now, in the toughest athletic environment there is, he faces a test that will truly shake him to the core.
Amanda Saccomanno, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
When you’re 5-foot-4 and can lift 225 pounds, you’re bound to turn some heads. Now it’s time to see if this fitness entrepreneur from Yorktown Heights can thrive on WWE’s bright stage. An athletic powerhouse who stays in shape with dance, yoga, Pilates and CrossFit, Saccomanno’s physical prowess could make her a welcome addition to the Divas division. Ironically enough, her childhood nickname was “Hamburgers,” but even that fact may turn out to be appropriate: Underestimate her and she’ll eat you for lunch.
Daria Berenato, Los Angeles
Ever hear of The Jersey Devil? Well that’s Daria Berenato, a 5-foot-7 mixed martial arts fighter nicknamed after the famed beast and looking to make her mark in WWE. Currently a co-host of the YouTube show “UFC AfterBuzz,” Berenato has been training in one form of fighting or another since age 16. Rest assured, if she fights her way to a WWE contract, everyone from the Pine Barrens to Full Sail University will be put on notice.
Dianna Dahlgren, Spokane, Wash.
If you’ve seen the cover of “Oxygen,” “Muscular Development” or “Muscle & Fitness,” at some point you’ve probably seen Dianna Dahlgren. A Monster Energy spokesperson and model, Dahlgren boasts a “shredded” physique that can give most potential Divas a run for their money, not to mention a social media following (290,000-plus followers on Facebook and Instagram) that would make most Superstars jealous. Her love of the extreme led her to WWE. Will we see her on Monday Night Raw next?
Gabi Castrovinci, Southington, Conn.
What’s there to know about Gabi Castrovinci? Born in Brazil, she grew up practicing Jiu-Jitsu and is a professional athlete for World Beauty Fitness & Fashion. An avid surfer and snowboarder, Castrovinci is a self-employed entrepreneur who sells Brazilian leggings online. If she wins Tough Enough, she’ll be trading in Brazilian leggings for Indian Deathlocks in no time.
Giorgia Piscina, Brisbane, Australia
The farthest-flung of WWE Tough Enough’s contestants, Giorgia Piscina comes to the Performance Center on a wing and a dream. An eight-year gymnastics veteran and Bikini Dive competitor for the WBFF, Piscina’s “toughest” moment came when she crossed the finish line on a 400-meter race with a broken ankle. Now facing down her biggest opportunity yet, she’s got plenty to carry her over the finish line, but can she capitalize on the opportunity?
Hank Avery Jr., Macon, Ga.
Looking for a new “Face of WWE”? Well, Hank Avery Jr. was literally a poster boy for Mercer University football from 2012 to 2013. Standing at 6-foot-4 and topping 270 pounds, with a lingering fear of frogs, this gridiron veteran, husband and father makes his living as a pool maintenance manager. But it’s only a matter of time before he’s making a splash on a far bigger stage. Just no frogs, please.
Joshua Bredl, Thornton, Colo.
What do Thor and the Yeti have in common? They’re both nicknames of Josh Bredl, a physical specimen and NFL free agent most recently signed by the Green Bay Packers. One of the top 15 Colorado high school prospects upon his graduation, Bredl recorded 34 tackles and six sacks as a defensive lineman at Colorado State University – Pueblo. Having rampaged his way down to the Performance Center, he now looks to make the big jump into WWE and show the Cheeseheads what they’re missing.
Mada Abdel Hamid, Los Angeles
Ever wonder how Khal Drogo from “Game of Thrones” got so big? That’s because Mada Abdel Hamid trained him. A personal trainer for actor Jason Momoa, Abdel Hamid’s story is almost as fantastical as “Thrones” is: Born in Egypt and fluent in Arabic, he played professional basketball until he fled the country in the midst of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. WWE Tough Enough is merely the latest chapter in a life well lived. If he makes it through, does a chapter at WrestleMania await?
Patrick Clark, Jr., Washington, D.C.
To some, WWE is more than a dream, it is an escape. That’s what it was for Patrick Clark, a 19-year-old wrestling coach from Washington, D.C., who found refuge in sports-entertainment after the death of his father. Clark’s drive led him from 10 years of JROTC to the mats of amateur competition, where he wrestled for Forestville Military Academy from 2011 to 2013. He’s currently a competitor in the Mid Atlantic Wrestling Association, and a coach. Does a jump from the mat to the ring await?
Sara Lee, Hope, Mich.
A pure athlete looking to take her skills to the ring, Sara Lee boasts one of the most unique backgrounds of WWE Tough Enough’s hopefuls. While studying to become an ultrasound technician, Lee is also a power lift competitor who trains six times a week and can squat 230 pounds and bench press 140 pounds. Introduced to WWE by her older brother, she is “in love” with The Bella Twins. Should she prove tough enough, Nikki and Brie might have themselves a new ally … or enemy.
Tanner Saraceno, Boiling Springs, S.C.
Looking for a fighter? Look no further than Tanner Saraceno, a tattooed mixed-martial arts fighter with the beard of a wildman and a resume that would make most opponents shrivel in fear. An 11-year wrestler with high school and college experience, Saraceno was named the team captain and MVP of his college team after walking on as a freshman. His hobbies are oddly tame — cooking and brushing his hair — as is his profession: tree trimmer. Rest assured, however, in WWE Tough Enough, he has one goal with relation to his fellow contestants: chop them down and take the contract for himself.
Zamariah “ZZ” Loupe, Bayou Bluff, La.
Zamariah Loupe wrestles alligators. He’s even got one for a pet, “Mr. Gator,” who he calls his blood brother despite the fact that big bro once bit through Loupe’s hand. The youngest of WWE Tough Enough’s contestants at age 18, Loupe currently plays linebacker for Nicholls University when he’s not wrestling alligators. Loupe’s as charitable as he is unique, passing out Beanie Babies to the children and the elderly in his town while dressed as Santa Claus. WWE Tough Enough would seem like a big step for such a young man, but, again: He wrestles alligators. His fellow humans have their work cut out for them.
Bill DeMott Defends His Training Methods, Says He Wasn't Trying To Break His Students
Former NXT head trainer Bill DeMott was at the center of controversy three months ago, amid accusations of bullying among several former talents. DeMott appeared on this week's Talk Is Jericho to defend his methods of training and said it was to mentally and physically prepare the stars of the future.
"If you can make it in NXT, then you're prepared for what the WWE is. From two hours of sleep and being at media calls at 4AM to driving 500 miles. Some of them drive to Lakeland and want the next day off. You think to yourself, 'we can't let that happen,'" explained DeMott.
DeMott elaborated and stated that the way that he handled training at NXT was all a part of his job. He said that he wasn't trying to break his students, he was trying to give them a taste of what they would later see in WWE.
"You're gonna go from Buffalo to Wilkes-Barre, make the drive, you're going to have a meeting at 6AM, still make your RAW call time, and then sit in front of Stephanie (McMahon), Triple H, Vince, Paul Heyman; the guys that are up there on top that have that work ethic. You're either gonna hang, or you're not. It's not to break you down, it's to prepare you," DeMott said.
DeMott goes on to talk about more aspects of the job and the rest of his career. You can check out the full episode of Talk is Jericho at this link.
June 11, 2015
Dusty Rhodes Passes Away
WWE is reporting that Virgil Runnels, aka “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes — WWE Hall of Famer, three-time NWA Champion and one of the most captivating and charismatic figures in sports entertainment history — passed away today at the age of 69.
Emergency personnel responded to Dusty's home in Orlando, FL at 5:56 AM Wednesday morning after getting a call reporting a 69-year-old male had taken a fall. He was transported to a nearby hospital, but suffered "numerous complications" throughout the night which ultimately proved fatal
Runnels became a hero to fans around the world thanks to his work ethic, his impassioned interviews and his indomitable spirit. Moreover, Runnels was a dedicated father to WWE Superstars Goldust (Dustin Runnels) and Stardust (Cody Runnels), a caring husband and a creative visionary who helped shape the landscape of WWE long after his in-ring career had ended.
source: wwe.com & tmz.com
More Exclusive Details On WWE Possibly Working With WNW / EVOLVE
As noted earlier, WWE is close to an agreement to work with WWN, the parent company of EVOLVE, Full Impact Pro and the now-defunct Dragon Gate USA. According to a source, the deal is that WWE will pay WWN a certain fee like they did for ECW in the 1990s. They will pay WWN to develop talent and keep them away from ROH and TNA so that NXT can get a look.
We noted earlier that The Wrestling Observer newsletter reported that top WWE officials not happy with ROH recently releasing a Kevin Steen action figure. This deal with WWN is said to be partially due to ROH releasing that item.
WWE Issues Statement On Behalf Of Triple H Regarding Comments Made By Chyna During Radio Appearance
Paul "Triple H" Levesque issued a statement Wednesday night responding to former WWE performer Chyna's claim on the Opie with Jim Norton talk radio show on Sirius Radio and XM Radio that he struck her when the two dated.
Through Joe Villa, WWE Publicity Manager, Levesque said, "The false statements and reckless allegations Joan Laurer (aka Chyna) continues to make about a physical dispute are a complete fabrication. As I've said in the past, while Joan has had significant struggles in life, this does not justify making such claims."
During an interview in February with former WWE creative writer Vince Russo, Chyna claimed that Levesque assaulted her during an argument where she confronted him with her suspicions that he was having an affair with Stephanie McMahon.
"So I think Hunter's plan was to get me to leave the relationship first and then that way he can start dating Stephanie and like everything would be cool. So I would ask Hunter time and time again, I figured it was better just to address the problem and ask him honestly and I would have to believe his answer, so we got into a heated argument, we were not getting along, I told him 'I know something's going on. Don't tell me something's not going on.' He swiped my hand, I swiped his hand, he hit me. I went back like Jerry Springer and then I was like OK that's the deal breaker for me, the relationship is now over, so now I have to leave. After that, I know that he was crying and I know that he felt bad that he hit me, and my first initial reaction was to get up, and like I don't know, I was just in shock and it felt like a Jerry Springer moment, it was very surreal, and I just couldn't believe that he hit me. But he knows that like I don't stand for physical violence, albeit we'll get to that after with Sean [Waltman], so I knew at that point I had to leave, but I needed some sort of closure so when he was gone I started looking all over the house, and I looked into his, long story short, I looked into his briefcase and I found a love letter from Stephanie that had [been] dated a year back, so the whole time they were doing the storyline basically they were together."
Levesque immediately responded to the allegations, releasing the following statement:
"The false statements and reckless allegations made by Joan Laurer (aka Chyna) on a recent podcast about a physical dispute are a complete fabrication. While Joan has had significant struggles in life, this does not justify making such claims."
Addressing her November 2001 departure from WWE on Opie with Jim Norton, Chyna said she received a fax message from WWE one day informing her that her services were no longer needed. She said the last thing Vince McMahon said to her was that "blood is thicker than water" and that he would stay in touch with her. Chyna said she was never given a reason why WWE did not renew her contract.
Discussing Triple H's relationship with Stephanie at the time, Chyna said she learned that 'Hunter' was cheating on her when she discovered a love note from Stephanie in his briefcase that was dated a year earlier. The former WWE Diva said she loved 'Hunter' and didn't know that he was having an affair with Stephanie for a year. She said she was forced to leave the relationship "due to the incident that happened." Chyna said she knew that something "wasn't right" and searched the residence they shared for proof of her suspicions. She said she could have dealt with 'Hunter' and Stephanie being together "because you can't stop love," but didn't like being made to feel as if she was crazy. She said 'Hunter' didn't beat her and abuse her, but there was an incident. She felt if 'Hunter' and Stephanie had been honest with her, the end result would have been different, but it instead led to "so much chaos."
Chyna Trying to Reclaim Her Identity, Director Raising Money for Documentary
Director Erik Angra has launched a Kickstarter campaign for a documentary on former WWE star Chyna. They are seeking $10,000 to produce "The Reconstruction of Chyna" and have raised $315 with 9 backers as of this writing. The page notes that Chyna will be reconnecting with friends, family and fans this summer.
The description reads like this:
At the height of the WWE's "Attitude" era CHYNA was a top-tier figure in a male dominated sport. Winning the world title, the Intercontinental Title twice, and being the number one contender for the heavyweight crown.
Eventually she was crushed by her fiance Triple H's infidelities with the boss's daughter, Stephanie McMahon. He would go on to marry her and become the heir to the WWE Throne.
Chyna would be ostracized from the WWE, cut off from all royalty checks and spiral into pornography and reality shows to survive.
After hitting rock bottom as an alcoholic, she ended up on her feet in Japan. Teaching foreign language for three and a half years while meditating, doing yoga, and getting her life together. Now she comes back to the country that made her a goddess amongst men to redeem herself and reclaim her identity.
Our documentary will follow Chyna across the country as she rediscovers herself with old friends, celebrities and fans before arriving in LA to start her life again.
This film will be an inspiration to women everywhere. Chyna is a living example of a strong feminist who rose to stardom in a male dominated sport despite all odds.
June 10, 2015
Paul Heyman Says There Are Zero Chances of Steve Austin vs. Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 32
Paul Heyman appeared on the latest episode of Chael Sonnen's podcast and admitted that he legitimately caught Steve Austin off-guard when he asked Austin about facing Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 32 during the recent WWE Network podcast.
Heyman said he couldn't sit through an hour-long podcast with Austin, without that question coming up. Heyman said the chances of the match happening are zero and that Austin has a plethora of reasons why it won't happen.
WWE NXT Working with Parent Company of EVOLVE and Full Impact Pro?
There are rumors going around that WWE NXT may be working with WWN, the parent company of EVOLVE, Full Impact Pro and the now-defunct Dragon Gate USA. PWInsider reports that WWE sources indicate there have been talks between the two sides and that WWE started the conversation a week or so ago.
Vince McMahon Reportedly Not Happy With End Of Steve Austin And Paul Heyman's WWE Podcast
We noted before that on Steve Austin's latest podcast he downplayed the speculation on a possible WrestleMania 32 match with Brock Lesnar and said he was not trying to set up a match with the Paul Heyman exchange on their recent WWE Network podcast.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes this week that the match will not be happening. Apparently reasons the match is not happening have to do with issues between Austin and Vince McMahon but The Observer wouldn't speculate on what those issues are. Vince was reportedly not happy with how the podcast ended because Austin vs. Lesnar is not in their current WrestleMania 32 plans.
Vince did not know Heyman and Austin were going to do the bit they did and immediately felt they were creating major interest in a match that was not happening. There was reportedly some sort of discussion between Austin and Vince after the podcast where Vince wanted the story to go away quickly and quietly with Austin addressing it once and then moving on.
WWE Officials Unhappy with ROH's Kevin Steen Figure, Plans to Prevent Future Similar Incidents
There were some top WWE officials very unhappy about Ring of Honor and Figure Toy Company releasing a Kevin Steen action figure because it's a non-WWE company being the first to enter the marketplace with an action figure of WWE's hottest new star. They were also upset because the look and character of ROH's Kevin Steen and WWE's Kevin Owens are essentially the same.
Officials are now trying to prevent this from happening again so there is pressure on Triple H and that department to get non-WWE talents with potential signed to NXT with merchandising deals before they make it a company like ROH or TNA that has their own merchandise and cable TV deals. They are also looking to create a pipeline to find the talents with potential before ROH and TNA finds them. The idea is to not sign talent from ROH or TNA now for the main roster and get the word out to younger talents that if they have WWE aspirations, they shouldn't sign with TNA or ROH. There will always be exceptions to the rule.
Many indie talents have signed 5 year deals with Figure Toy Company, meaning they have the right to market Kevin Steen merchandise for almost 5 more years while WWE pushes him as one of their top new stars.
June 9, 2015
June 8, 2015
Scott Hall Entering Detox Facility, Tweets About Incident Last Month
Scott Hall has had his share of ups and downs, both personally and professionally. One of those downs occurred last month when Hall was escorted out of an event in New Jersey after the promoters claimed that he was too drunk to perform. He missed his scheduled meet & greet for hours later.
Today, Hall announced on Twitter that he'd be entering a detox facility stemming from the incident. Hall had appeared to be improving significantly over the past several years with the help of Diamond Dallas Page and Jake "The Snake" Roberts.
Hall said "Happy to report I'm checking in to a detox facility to address my recent difficulty. Thanks to all the supporters out there," in his tweet to fans. Hall went through WWE-sponsored rehab several times, to the tune of over $100,000 according to Stephanie McMahon. Nothing was able to help Hall conquer his demons until moving in with the aforementioned DDP.
WWE Tough Enough Final 40 Revealed
The return of WWE Tough Enough is just two weeks away, and after more than 11,100 members of the WWE Universe uploaded their video submissions, 40 individuals have been invited to a tryout at the WWE Performance Center this week.
The WWE Tough Enough mini-camp takes place Wednesday, June 10, through Friday, June 12, culminating with the announcement of the final 13 contestants, who will compete for one-year, $250,000 WWE Superstar and Diva contracts. The journey of the final 40 will be chronicled on a WWE Network exclusive, WWE Tough Enough Competition Special, which airs Tuesday, June 16, at 8/7 C.
The final 40 contenders are:
Adam Ohriner, Long Island, N.Y.
Alexander Frekey, Dallas
Alexander Galizia, Springfield, Mass.
Amanda Saccomanno, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
Ashley Urbanski, Oakland, Calif.
Ava Knight-Salicka, Las Vegas
Carly Marshall, Los Angeles
Chelsea Green, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Danielle Kamela, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Daria Berenato, Los Angeles
David Michael Barnes, Mandan, N.J.
Dianna Dahlgren, Spokane, Wash.
Don Arner, Pittsburgh
Gabi Castrovinci, Southington, Conn.
Giorgia Piscina, Brisbane, Australia
Hank Avery Jr., Macon, Ga.
Jason Vazquez, Oak Lawn, Ill.
Jeremiah Kingdom, Los Angeles
Joshua Bredl, Thornton, Colo.
Kahlil Bell, San Jose, Calif.
Kevin Penczek, Belle, W.V.
Krishany San Jorge, Puerto Rico
LaRayia Gaston, Los Angeles
Lorenzo Davis II, Los Angeles
Mada Abdel Hamid, Los Angeles
Michael Mio, Staten Island, N.Y.
Mike Hayes, Louisville, Ken.
Nehemiah Kingdom, Los Angeles
Nicholas Cuffari, Lakewood, Okla.
Patrick Clark, Washington, D.C.
Philip Guilford, Atlantic City, N.J.
Samantha Sage, Los Angeles
Sara Bettencourt, San Jose, Calif.
Sara Lee, Hope, Mich.
Stephen Tezanos-Pinto, Sacramento, Calif.
Tanner Saraceno, Boiling Springs, S.C.
Tommaso Giannuzzi, Germany
Vinny Tortorella, Staten Island, N.Y.
Zach Boss, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Zamariah “ZZ” Loupe, Bayou Bluff, La.
Watch Raw tonight to learn more about the final 40, and stick with WWEToughEnough.com throughout the week for exclusive videos and breaking news from the tryout.
WWE Surpasses Half a Billion Social Media Followers
WWE today announced it has eclipsed half a billion fans through its global social media platforms, further cementing its position as one of the most-followed brands in the world.
WWE’s flagship Facebook page has more fans than the NFL, ESPN, Marvel, Google and UFC, and WWE Superstar John Cena is the No.1 most followed active American athlete on Facebook with more than 36 million likes. On Twitter, @WWE has more followers than MLB, Disney, Sony and Pepsi and according to Klout, is the No. 1 most influential brand on Twitter. On Instagram, WWE’s fastest-growing platform, @WWE has more followers than ESPN, HBO, NHL and Gatorade. With nearly 5 billion video views on YouTube in the past year alone, WWE is the No. 1 Sports channel ahead of the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, ESPN and NASCAR.
WWE’s Social Media Snapshot:
• Facebook: 354 million total likes, including 98 million new likes, an increase of 38 percent year-over year.
• Twitter: 108 million total followers, including 18 million new followers, an increase of 20 percent year-over-year.
• Instagram: 26 million total followers, including 25 million new followers, an increase of 2,955 percent year-over-year.
• YouTube: 6.2 million total subscribers, including 2.8 million new subscribers, an increase of 82 percent year-over-year.
Earlier this year, WWE won awards for Overall Social Media Excellence and Social Media Dream Team at the 2015 Cynopsis Sports Media Awards and 2015 Cablefax Digital Awards, respectively. WWE’s 12 social media platforms include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Periscope, Google+, Vine, Foursquare, Tumblr, Pheed and Pinterest.
New Rumors on a Physical WWE Hall of Fame
There have been many rumors about a physical WWE Hall of Fame over the past few years and we reported back in January 2014 via The New York Post that NBCUniversal was considering a physical WWE hall for Universal Studios in Orlando as part of their pitch to keep WWE on their networks. It's been reported that Triple H has been very interested in a WWE museum for the Hall and now there are new rumors of the project being hosted in the Orlando area.
Universal Studios announced this week that they are closing NBA City at Universal CityWalk in Orlando as they chose not to renew the lease several months back. They are planning on announcing a new concept soon as NBA City shuts down in August.
Theme park website BehindTheThrills.com reports that rumors of the new concept include a Cheesecake Factory restaurant, a Universal movie set themed restaurant and a WWE Hall of Fame restaurant. These are just rumors for now but it would be interesting to see WWE get back into the restaurant business.
June 7, 2015
Backstage Update on WWE Officials Discovering Havok’s Controversial Tweets, Did Her Remarks Affect Her Current WWE Tryout?
Former TNA Knockout Havok had been at the center of controversy surrounding tweets from years ago that featured racist and homophobic remarks.
Havoc apologized for the comments, but later deleted the apology. She's been at the Performance Center in Orlando for a WWE tryout this week. She also deleted the offensive tweets in question.
According to Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Radio, Havoc had been impressing those who were conducting the tryouts in Orlando. Many were comparing her to the likes of Awesome Kong/Kharma, and were very optimistic about her future.
Apparently the company and everyone at the tryouts found out about the offensive tweets while she was in the ring. Dave Meltzer noted that the situation did her no favors, and Alvarez described it as the "roof caving in." After WWE officials learned of the Tweets, the situation prompted tryout hosts to speak to the attendees about saying stupid things on social media.
The 28-year old Havok spent a few months with TNA before finishing up with the company in February. You can view some of the tweets here.
June 6, 2015
Station Fined For Airing WWE
Authorities in Ecuador are launched an investigation into television network Teleamazonas for airing WWE programming. The station said that the Superintendency of Communication and Information (Supercom) feels that the network airing the show violates federal laws against the promotion of violence. Supercom noted that WWE "runs the risk of becoming a television product incompatible with the cognitive development, criteria, and discernment of the audience."
Supercom released a statement stating that Teleamazonas was fined $1,770 for airing WWE programming on March 28th during a slot that should only be for family-friendly programming.
Rumor Mill - WWE Reportedly Cancels Kliq Reunion Special
We noted before that WWE will be releasing "The Kliq Rules" DVD and Blu-ray on Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Sean Waltman on July 28th. The set was originally planned to include a reunion show that would first air on the WWE Network. That special has been canceled, according to WrestlingDVDNews.com, but the DVD is still going forward. It will include a documentary feature with a compilation of matches & segments but no reunion show.
Mani Mohtadi, who was the person that filmed the infamous Curtain Call incident at Madison Square Garden in 1996, revealed on Twitter that WWE interviewed him for the documentary portion of the set.
ROH COO Talks About Ring Of Honor Deal With Destination America Being Kept Secret, Advertisers
Ring of Honor COO Joe Koff spoke with Against The Mat, talking about Ring of Honor's new television deal with Destination America. You can read the highlights below.
On ROH's deal with Destination America:
"It actually began sometime late last year, I can't remember if it was November or December… it was right around the time that Spike decided not to carry Impact Wrestling anymore, and they ended up moving over to Destination America, and around that time, once that was announced, because we're [Sinclair Broadcasting] a broadcasting company, and we're in the television business, we have a lot of contacts at other broadcasting companies, and one of my colleagues high in the organization made a contact over at Discovery, which owns Destination America, which turned into a lunch with the Destination America people, from there we conversed about the possibility of making Destination America the destination for wrestling in America. That's really how it all started."
On how the deal was kept under wraps:
"Well, good question, good point. I think I have a little bit of experience in this, in that, when we [Sinclair] bought Ring of Honor that also was not leaked until it was announced when we bought it. I'm from a business background and we are a big company that does lots of deals and transactions and we just know how to keep things to a minimum, and keep people to a minimum as far as their involvement and I think we're pretty good at it and I think this bears that out."
On wrestling's reputation with advertisers:
"I think the answer is really apparent. So I'm just going to put it into terms for our community, the wrestling world, which we're a part of. It's a really small world. It's big to us because we're living in it, and we're thriving in it, and we're enjoying in it, and we can have this conversation and talk about the business so openly and get excited about it, and talk about the excitement of what we do in the ring, but if you were at a party, and you tried to engage somebody in this conversation, they would probably, maybe walk away and go get a drink and probably talk to somebody else. We have a niche audience. We have a very loyal audience. I love our Ring of Honor fans. They come to the events, they buy the t-shirts, they buy the DVD's, they come up to me and thank me, they say hello, they take a picture with me, etcetera, etcetera. But they're comfortable, it's our environment, they're safe in there. There's going to be an advertiser, and there's some advertisers that seek out that male 18-24, 18-34 audience… but it's professional wrestling. We're not going to change some of that stigma that exists with being in professional wrestling or what the sport might represent. So, I just don't think it's high on the list of advertisers' wants or needs. But the advertisers' who do, and have the foresight to go after this demographic nail 18-24, and I don't want to be too technical, but this is a gold mine for an advertiser. So if there's any advertiser's listening, or of a national scope, who I know that there are because there fans everywhere… this is a chance to reach these audiences…"
Former WWE announcer Justin Roberts buries Triple H in SI interview
Former WWE ring announcer Justin Roberts is making media rounds promoting both his appearance at Legends of the Ring tomorrow night in New Jersey, and the release of his upcoming autobiography detailing his life and career in professional wrestling. That includes a lengthy interview with SI.com.
In it, it's revealed Roberts talks about Triple H extensively in his book. Well, he buries him in the interview.
Here's an excerpt:
"Hunter is portrayed as the savior of wrestling, and people think he'll save the business once he's in charge. We all thought that, too, until he started running things. Paul started overseeing a bunch of divisions and one of them was live events. When he took over, our live events schedule was brutal. We'd start in one place and flew all over. Since he used to be one of the boys on the road, we thought he'd stand up and stop that, and he didn't. The schedule got worse.
"Hunter started squashing stuff that really started getting over. If you notice, it's all about the future, and the future is NXT. But focusing on the future shouldn't mean ignoring the present. Zack Ryder got over huge to the point to the point where the crowd was cheering for him at Madison Square Garden while The Rock was standing in the ring. Dolph Ziggler got over. Primo and Epico [now known as Los Matadores] are fantastic wrestlers, but they get lost in the shuffle. There is a glass ceiling, and anybody they don't want to get over is squashed despite the fans strongly getting behind them. Daniel Bryan is a rare exception, despite the company fighting it over and over."
Oderint Dum Metuant: Let Them Hate As Long As They Fear
