2016 WWE Warrior Award Recipient Announced

WWE released the following press release earlier this morning:

Joan Lunden to receive 2016 Warrior Award at 2016 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Joan Lunden, an award-winning journalist, best-selling author and breast cancer survivor, has been named the recipient of the second annual Warrior Award, which will be presented at the 2016 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, April 2 from American Airlines Center in Dallas, live on WWE Network at 8 ET/5 PT. The announcement was made by WWE Superstar John Cena on NBC’s “TODAY.”

The Warrior Award is given to someone who has exhibited unwavering strength and perseverance, and who lives life with the courage and compassion that embodies the indomitable spirit of WWE Hall of Famer The Ultimate Warrior. The award will be presented to Lunden by The Ultimate Warrior’s widow, Dana Warrior. In June 2014, Lunden was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, which required chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Lunden made the decision to take her battle public and has since shared her journey through cancer treatment, becoming a prominent voice in the breast cancer community.

“It is truly humbling to be honored by WWE and receive this year’s Warrior Award at the 2016 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony,” Lunden said. “After being diagnosed with cancer, my first thought was to survive, but soon after, I changed my focus from my cancer to the fight against cancer and my life took on a whole new purpose. WWE has welcomed me into their family, offering me warmth and support, as have so many of the WWE fans from around the world. It is a privilege to receive this honor.”

“On behalf of my family, we are proud to present this year’s Warrior Award to Joan Lunden,” said Dana Warrior. “Joan embodies all that this award was meant to capture. She is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the quintessential Warrior woman. It will be an honor to recognize her at this year’s WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.”

“Joan Lunden has been an incredible role model to so many people and it is an honor to recognize her as the second annual Warrior Award recipient,” said Stephanie McMahon, WWE Chief Brand Officer. “The will and perseverance she gracefully displayed in her fight against breast cancer is an inspiration to millions of women around the world.”

An eternal optimist, Lunden decided to turn her diagnosis into an opportunity to inspire others in the breast cancer community. Through her website, JoanLunden.com, and her social media channels, Lunden has created an online community dedicated to people living with and surviving from breast cancer. From her consistent journaling throughout her breast cancer treatment, Lunden wrote her most recent book, “Had I Known: A Memoir of Survival,” which documents her battle with cancer and provides a reflective look back at her life and career. Lunden continues to be an advocate for those diagnosed with the disease, making trips to Capitol Hill, and as a special correspondent for “TODAY’s” Pink Power series.

Last year, the Warrior Award was presented for the first time ever to Connor Michalek, a Pittsburgh native and passionate WWE fan who passed away from cancer. In his honor, Connor’s Cure was created as a fund within Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation to support pediatric brain and spinal cord cancer research. To date, Connor’s Cure has raised $1 million and assisted more than 100 families around the world.

The 2016 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony airs live on the eve of WrestleMania, Saturday, April 2, at 8 ET/5 PT, only on WWE Network.

ESPN Appearances Set For Brock Lesnar, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Shane McMahon, The Undertaker

As noted, several WWE Superstars will be appearing on ESPN as part of the special WrestleMania 32 Week programming. Below are the scheduled appearances:

* Monday: Brock Lesnar on SportsCenter at 8:45am and 10:30am EST

* Tuesday: Stephanie McMahon at 10:30am EST on SportsCenter

* Tuesday: Triple H at 9pm on SportsCenter

* Wednesday: Shane McMahon at 9pm on SportsCenter

* The Undertaker TBA

Video: How a woman's touch guides WrestleMania

Al Snow Wrestling Academy announces partnership with TNA

Impactwrestling.com issued the following this week:

AL SNOW’S WRESTLING ACADEMY PARTNERS WITH IMPACT WRESTLING

Veteran Trainer Al Snow has announced the official launch of his training center The Al Snow Wrestling Academy in London, England. IMPACT WRESTLING has entered into a partnership with Al Snow’s Wrestling Academy, as a place for the world’s best unsigned talent in the world to gain both experience and exposure. Al Snow’s Wrestling Academy has other agreements with European and Middle Eastern wrestling promotions to help their trainees get even more in-ring and travel experience. So if you want to chase your dreams of becoming a star in the world of professional wrestling, then training with the Al Snow Wrestling Academy is your best chance to make them come true. Al Snow and his staff of top level coaches have worked with nearly ever star in the wrestling business today, and know what it takes to build great performers from the beginning, to preparing seasoned performers for their TV debuts.

https://www.facebook.com/AlSnowWrestlingAcademy

https://twitter.com/alsnowacademy

Progress Wrestling to Host WWE Global Cruiserweight Series Qualifying Matches, Details

Progress Wrestling just announced they will be hosting two qualifying matches for WWE’s Global Cruiserweight Series.

Progress made the announcement live on Periscope moments ago, and said the two matches will take place at their next event on April 24th at the Electric Ballroom in Camden, London, England. Tickets for the event will go on sale April 4th.

NXT General Manager William Regal previous announced qualifying matches for the Global Cruiserweight Series would take place all over the world, including matches for EVOLVE Wrestling. Regal made the announcement during his appearance at EVOLVE 56.

The Making of Mojo: A Wrestler’s Quest for WWE Stardom

Dean Ambrose's wild ride from rejection to WrestleMania 32 star

Nothing enthralled Ambrose in his formative years more than pro wrestling. He devoured countless hours of wrestling footage on videotape. Soon, he concluded that the wild and colorful world inside his TV screen would be a great place to build his future.

"It was like a life on the other side of this," Ambrose said. "This green, sprawling Land of Oz that is pro wrestling. You just imagine, 'What would it be like to be a pro wrestler? What do they do every day? They just go out there and... wrestle.'"

In 2003, Ambrose found his entry point: An ad for a wrestling school run by old-school grappler Les Thatcher. Ambrose reached out to Thatcher right away.

"[Thatcher] was like, 'You gotta be 18 and get on the weights and get on a training program and get your degree' and everything," Ambrose said. "I didn't want to hear any of this. So I just showed up [at Thatcher's school]. I initially lied when I first got there. I was like 'Yeah, I'm 18.'"

Ambrose bluffed his way into the building long enough to watch some wrestlers in training. Before long, Ambrose confessed his fib.

"It was the coolest thing I had ever seen, just people doing drills," Ambrose said. "I was mesmerized. And he was going on his spiel, talking about what goes into it and so forth, whatever. Then, you know, [Thatcher said] 'Would you want to pay up front?' or whatever. I was like 'Oh, well uh, yeah, I don't have any money and I'm not 18.'"

But Ambrose refused to go away, hanging around the school until they put him to work doing odd jobs like selling popcorn and working on the ring crew. Inevitably, Ambrose became a trainee himself. When he wasn't at the school or working, he was often home, immersing himself in wrestling footage.

"I'd been studying wrestling from all over the world, going through stacks of tapes," he said. "I'd get off work at 7 in the morning, come home, and be like just watching wrestling for hours, then go to training later that day and try to implement what I learned that weekend."

By 2004, Ambrose -- then working under the name Jon Moxley -- was a real-life pro wrestler on the independent circuit. He became one of the most successful indy wrestlers in the U.S., but it was a far cry from the glorious life he had imagined when he was a teen. The paychecks were modest. The travel was brutal. Instead of performing in spacious arenas in big cities, he sometimes wrestled in high school gymnasiums in the middle of nowhere. Ambrose's tenacity and refusal to quit saw him through...More?

source: cbssports.com

Roman Reigns on fan backlash to his character on WWE TV

Jan Murphy of The Whig is featuring an interview with WWE star Roman Reigns discussing WrestleMania 32 next weekend the fan backlash to his character on WWE television.

"It's a tough one because there is no one answer. There is no one reason why someone would want to boo me. Maybe they don't like what I wear, how I sound, maybe I did something to offend them, but for me, it's hard because I'm under the microscope and I'm dealing with a lot of different things and there's a lot of things flying my way. For me, I can only continue to stay within myself and worry about the things I can control and the things I can control are, Am I healthy?; Am I showing up to where I need to be on time?; Am I here to perform and do my job? If I do that, then our fans, they can cheer me, they can boo me, as long as we all show up to the arena, everything will be fine. We'll be able to create that awesome experience, create that energy. I do know I have a lot of supporters. These people have my back. There's nothing that anybody can say negatively to me that will make me believe you are correct. It's just your opinions."

You can check out the full interview here.

Triple H at The Garden

Thank you, @TheGarden. Nothing like performing at #WWEMSG. pic.twitter.com/35pHwpD5Hm

— Triple H (@TripleH) March 26, 2016

Watch Triple H deal with a challenger to the throne by subscribing to WWE Network

Rumor Mill - Brie Bella retiring from WWE in April

WWE Diva Brie Bella will retire after the April 4 edition of RAW, Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet reports.

While Bella’s in-ring career will end after the first post-Wrestlemania edition of RAW, she will still be involved in other WWE programming, Satin adds.

Bella originally said that she planned to retire this summer but is stepping away earlier because her husband Daniel Bryan is experiencing some kind of medical issue, according to the report.

Tag team specialists The Mighty Don’t Kneel sign with WWE

Australians Michael Nicholls & Shane Veryzer — who’ve competed around the world as The Mighty Don’t Kneel — have signed with WWE and will report to Orlando next month.

One of the globe’s most decorated tag teams is on its way to the WWE Performance Center.

Michael Nicholls and Shane Veryzer have signed with WWE and will report to the WWE Performance Center in early April to begin training as part of a new class of recruits, WWE.com has confirmed.

Hailing from Perth, Australia, the duo — known to fans as Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste, aka The Mighty Don’t Kneel — has competed on their home continent and beyond, achieving their greatest notoriety in Japan under the banner of Pro Wrestling NOAH. While there, Nicholls & Veryzer trained in Japan’s rugged dojos, crossed paths with the likes of current NXT Superstar Hideo Itami and former ECW Champion Masato Tanaka, and won the league’s heavyweight tag team titles twice.

TMDK also developed a reputation for innovative double-team maneuvers, and were voted the top tandem of the year by members of the Japanese media in 2013. It was the first time that non-Japanese competitors had won the award since 1998, when Vader and soon-to-be WWE Hall of Famer Stan Hansen were honored. It is currently unknown whether Nicholls & Veryzer will continue as a team or pursue individual competition in NXT.

WWE Announces WrestleMania Week TV Appearances For John Cena, Stephanie McMahon, The Flairs, Others

WWE takes over the airwaves starting March 24 with Sheamus appearing on "Conan" on TBS at 11/10 p.m. C.

Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair and his daughter – WWE Divas Champion Charlotte – will appear on the March 25 episode of "Boomer & Carton" on WFAN and CBS Sports Network starting at 6/5 a.m. C.

The Celtic Warrior will also appear on the March 28 episode of "Men in Blazers" on NBC Sports Network and NBCSports.com at 11/10 p.m. C.

On March 27, WWE Chief Brand officer Stephanie McMahon will be featured in a special segment on "CBS Sunday Morning" at 9/8 a.m. C.

John Cena returns to NBC's "TODAY' as co-host during the 9 a.m. hour for three days beginning on March 28. Cena will also appear on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" on Tuesday, March 29, at 11:30/10:30 C on NBC.

Also, starting on March 28 with an appearance by Brock Lesnar, WWE will be featured on ESPN throughout WrestleMania Week, including appearances by Stephanie McMahon, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H, Shane McMahon and The Undertaker.

Eva Marie will appear on Hallmark Channel's "Home & Family" on March 28 at 10/9 a.m. C.

Check your local listings for exact times and channels.

IMPACT WRESTLING Welcomes Five New Athletes to Roster

IMPACT WRESTLING is proud to announce the signing of five fresh and new members to our active roster effective immediately. Jesse Guilmette, Laura Dennis, Marshe Rockett, Thomas LaRuffa and Mikael Vierge all signed their contracts with IMPACT WRESTLING earlier this month.

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Roman Reigns Q&A Highlights: Talks Facing Triple H at WrestleMania, Overused Slang Words, His Biggest Pet Peeve and More

#1 Contender to the WWE World Title Roman Reigns recently did a Q&A with USA Today High School Sports to promote WrestleMania 32 and below are some highlights:

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

“Ooh there’s so many, but I’d have to say close-talking. I hate it when people get in my face. Sometimes fans will get a little too close in my bubble and, at the end of the day, we’re all human. Give me 5 feet; not with your hand either.”

What’s the most overused slang word or phrase out today?

“Oh there’s a ton of them! It took me forever to figure out what ‘bae’ was. I thought they were misspelling ‘babe.’ I think ‘bae’ is ridiculous!”

OK, we’ve got WrestleMania on April 3, it’s you, it’s Triple H… How are you gonna pull this thing off?

“Well, this is a classic case of an older lion taking on a younger lion. Triple H describes this business as his religion; I was born in it. It’ll be two phenomenal, heavyweight athletes going at it. He’s the authority so I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s able to do whatever he wants. I’m pretty much fighting a juggernaut, but it’s gonna be fun!”

“Family Guy” Hosting New WrestleMania In-Game Event

The following press release has been issued:

FAMILY GUY: THE QUEST FOR STUFF HOSTS “WRESTLEMANIA IN QUAHOG” WITH BRAND NEW IN-GAME EVENT

WWE Superstars John Cena, Triple H, Undertaker, Roman Reigns, and WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin to be Featured in Hit Mobile Game!

San Francisco, CA – March 24, 2016 – FROM THE TOP ROPE! TinyCo is excited to announce the debut of the “WrestleMania in Quahog” update to FAMILY GUY: The Quest for Stuff mobile game, taking place in a special two week in-game event from March 24th through April 7th– FAMILY GUY: The Quest for Stuff is available to download for free on the App Store, Google Play, and the Amazon Appstore.

The “WrestleMania in Quahog” mobile game update introduces iconic WWE Superstars such as WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H, John Cena, Undertaker, Roman Reigns, and WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin to the world of FAMILY GUY: The Quest for Stuff. Reigniting a long-time, heated feud with the Giant Chicken, Peter challenges his nemesis to a match the city of Quahog won’t soon forget! Determined to save his town, Peter enlists his powerful friends John Cena, Roman Reigns and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin to aid him in his training.

Not to be out-done, the Giant Chicken has his own allies led by WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H. Throughout the in-game event, the citizens of Quahog are forced to choose sides, culminating with an epic Peter vs. The Giant Chicken showdown finale. Players have a ringside seat up to the final match and each WWE superstar will have their own personalized quests, tailored to show off their signature moves.

“WWE fanatics can jump in to the rich world of FAMILY GUY: The Quest For Stuff and tag-team the mobile game as both their favorite WWE Superstar and hilarious FAMILY GUY: The Quest For Stuff in-game character,” said Andrew N. Green, Head of Business Operations at TinyCo. “This is the one event fans from all around the world won’t want to miss!”

FAMILY GUY: The Quest for Stuff continues to engage with fans from around the world with new features and updates while maintaining its signature style and humor. The “WrestleMania in Quahog” in-game event is now live and runs through April 7, 2016. Download FAMILY GUY: The Quest for Stuff for free on the App Store, Google Play, and the Amazon Appstore

WWE About To Get Sued Over Royalties And The WWE Network?

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that there is a potential class action lawsuit in the works over royalties and the WWE Network. Apparently many former WWE talents are aware of the suit and have expressed interest in getting involved.

The argument has to do with the WWE Network taking the place of DVDs and Blu-rays, causing the revenue from those sources to drop, and the feeling that wrestlers should be entitled to revenue from the replacement.

Doug Somers and Eddie Gilbert's family have unsuccessfully tried to get royalties from having clips shown on regular WWE TV but The Observer noted that this situation is different.

WWE Network Unveils WrestleMania Week Programming

Eva Marie On Rebuilding Her Character, Why She Hasn't Clicked With Mandy Rose, Her Dedicated Fans

E! Online recently spoke with Eva Marie to promote the current season of WWE Total Divas. The full article can be found at this link. Below are highlights:

Her dedicated fanbase:

"We are in the entertainment business so the fans are everything and without them I pretty much don't exist. They mean the world to me, but at the same time I'm actually very happy that they've seen my progress from when I first came in to where I'm at now. It's just also one of those things like to put out there to any little girl or boy, anybody, that if you want something bad enough you have to just keep knocking down those doors and go for it, regardless of what anybody…whether it's a colleague, family member or whomever is telling you, 'No.' Just don't listen to that."

Why she hasn't clicked with Mandy Rose:

"I think it's because when I first came in it wasn't that welcoming. It's kind of a mean girl situation, which is pretty typical because you're a new girl and you're walking into new territory, so certain people feel a certain way because they've been in a place for so many years. So with Mandy, I've been there and I've been that girl, so I want to welcome anybody that's brand new and let their actions or whatnot let me determine how I feel about them. But I'm going to welcome anybody with open arms and embrace them because the last thing I want is somebody to feel not welcomed or out of place, because it is a scary world, especially when you're not born into wrestling."

Returning to the ring from injury on Total Divas:

"It's awesome. I'm really thankful for Triple H and our chairman Vince McMahon because when I came back from my surgery I basically was like, 'I want to be the face of this company and I want to bring something to the table.' And luckily we have NXT, a phenomenal developmental program, so I had asked to go back and train so that I could be the best I possibly could be."

"The last eight months have basically been me building the Eva Marie character into what it is now and I'm truly thankful for both Triple H and Vince McMahon to kind of give me the green light to go and experience that because it was a big gamble. I didn't know exactly what that was going to mean or what would happen, but I felt in my heart that I needed to go and do that."

Total Divas Recap 03/22/16

Kaitlyn Talks Leaving WWE, Triple H And Stephanie Clothes Shopping, UpUpDownDown Appearance

Former WWE Divas Champion Kaitlyn was interviewed by WWE.com about her new Iron Man Magazine cover, as well as her new business. You can check out highlights below, and the full interview at this link.

The WWE taking her shopping:

"Here's a cool story. When I was Divas Champion, Triple H and [another WWE executive] basically, in the nicest way possible, told me I wasn't dressing myself the way I should and that they were going to take me shopping, get me some new looks and get some custom gear made. They really believed in me. So, for a few weeks in a row, I got to go to New York, and I had meetings with Stephanie [McMahon] and Hunter in Stamford at WWE Headquarters. They wanted me to be ready for any opportunity that was thrown at me."

Leaving WWE:

"When I left, I was on really good terms with everybody. I have a few friends who I'm still really close with. When I go there, it's nothing but happiness. It feels good to come back and say I had an amazing career here. It's part of why I am who I am, but I took everything I learned in my life here, and I turned it into something else, doing it on my own."

Being on UpUpDownDown:

"It was so much fun being on UpUpDownDown, because every time I go back there, it's like nothing has changed. I still act like an idiot with my friends. It's no secret that Big E and I are close friends. We have a joke that I'm the female version of him and vice versa."

You can see Kaitlyn on the newest cover of Iron Man Magazine, on newsstands now.

Sasha Banks Praises Triple H, Talks First WrestleMania Match And WWE NXT Feuds On The Main Roster

Sasha Banks recently spoke with The Press of Atlantic City to promote WWE’s WrestleMania 32. The full interview can be found at this link. Below are highlights:

What are your emotions like because this is going to be your first WrestleMania match?

“Oh God, it’s so crazy because I remember two years ago I got asked by Triple H to be a part of his entrance (for WrestleMania 30) and I remember before going out I was shaking (and) hoping I would not mess up. When we went out, all I saw was a sea of fans and I just knew in my heart that I want to be walking out on this stage one day. This has been a dream of mine since I was 10 and my emotions are set so high that I try not to cry because I try to use that to motivate me, go to the gym, eat healthy and just get ready because I want to steal the show and I want to show the world that, you know, I’m the best. I’m the baddest Diva there is. God, I am so excited.”

How instrumental has Triple H been for he’s done with NXT and even women’s wrestling?

“Oh man, he is our papa. He is like ‘Dad’ down there. Knowing that he believed in us and gave us that platform to perform. It was up to us to show that we could do it and we had to show him we could get these fans behind us and we could do these matches better than the guys and gosh he’s been absolute amazing. He’s beyond, beyond incredible and I can only think highly of him. He’s been absolute amazing.”

How special is it that the old NXT feuds are showing back up on the main roster? I mean, obviously with what you, Becky and Charlotte are hoping to do at WrestleMania, and hopefully soon with Bayley. But how special is it that those get to come full circle on the main roster?

“Oh God, it’s so incredibly crazy. To start out in the Divas Revolution and (Becky and Charlotte) were against me and on a different team. Now they’re on a different team and now we’re coming back and we’re all re-facing each other in something from NXT and that was our homegrown rivalry and where we started together. It’s crazy how life, it legit comes full circle and it’s meant to be. Hopefully one day Bayley is going to come up here really soon because I need her and I love our matches. But it’s actually unbelievable just to know that I’ll be in a match with them at WrestleMania. I’m beyond excited. I’m so excited knowing what all three of us can do in the ring, it’s going to be something special.”

Sting Speaks Out On His Current WWE Status, Reveals Who He Wanted to Face at WrestleMania 32, Did He Undergo Neck Surgery?, More

WWE.com recently spoke with Sting about his upcoming WWE Hall of Fame induction, and below are some highlights.

Sting revealed during the interview that he did not undergo surgery following the neck injury he sustained during his match against Seth Rollins at WWE Night of Champions last year. Sting revealed he spoke with 2 neurologists, one in Houston and WWE’s Dr. Joseph Maroon, and both told him he was not having the side effects commonly associated with his type of injury. He said as of now he is feeling completely normal.

WWE.COM: It had been reported that you were diagnosed with spinal stenosis. Is that diagnosis now inaccurate?

STING: I am not saying that is inaccurate. I’m agreeing there probably is spinal stenosis or cervical spinal stenosis. I have had certain doctors tell me, “You know, so many athletes of all ages, they’ve got this. They deal with it to some degree or another.” I had one doctor here tell me, “You’re fine, you’re okay — you don’t have anything to worry about.” And then wrestlers say, “I’d see this doctor.” “No, I’d see this one over there.” I’m telling you, it’s just craziness. So I’m thinking, as long as I’m feeling good, why am I going to do anything? And the one thing everyone has said is don’t go under the knife unless you absolutely have to.

WWE.COM: Had you not had this injury setback last September, do you think we would have you seen performing at WrestleMania this year? Or, is that just too tough a question to answer because of all the variables?

STING: Oh no, it’s an easy one to answer: Yes. If I had my way, yes, of course. I would have loved to have done one more WrestleMania and I would have called it quits at that point. The Undertaker match — that’s what I wanted to do.

WWE.COM: Had there been any early discussions prior to the injury of what your role could be at WrestleMania 32? Or, was it just something that you had in your mind?

STING: Yes, it was in my mind, of course, but everyone knew that I definitely wanted to have that one match. And, of course, WrestleMania would have been the place to do it. But, I got hurt and the rest is history.

WWE Issues Statement on Why Daniel Bryan Has Been Pulled from Upcoming Live Events

WWE has pulled Daniel Bryan from the advertised “Daniel Bryan Night” at Madison Square Garden originally scheduled to take place at the WWE live event this Friday night. In an email sent to ticket holders from Madison Square Garden, scheduling conflicts was cited as the reason why Bryan has been pulled from the events.

WWE has also pulled Bryan from advertised dates this weekend and the upcoming post-WrestleMania tour of The UK.

WWE has issued the following statement to PWInsider.com in response to Bryan being pulled from the events:

“Daniel Bryan requested time off and it was granted.”

WWE And Connor's Cure Awarded

Winners for the 2016 Shorty Awards have been announced and Connor's Cure, produced by WWE, was one of the winners in the "Best Social Good" campaign. WWE also received a "Gold Honor" in the "Best of Entertainment" category after being nominated in more than 5 social media related categories. It's worth noting that WWE touted the award for Connor's Cure but did not acknowledge their own "Gold Honor" mention.

The Shorty Awards website said WWE's 11-man Social Media team, with members based in Stamford, CT, New York City, Mexico, Germany and Dubai, is an integral part of a 48-person team of editors, designers, producers, photographers, and one Hall of Famer (presumably Howard Finkel), that creates content for WWE's website, the WWE App and their various social media pages.

Video: Roman Reigns Halts The Authority's Escape

Hulk Hogan Scores $25 Million in Punitive Damages

Hulk Hogan just scored $25 million in punitive damages in his sex tape lawsuit, bringing his total haul to $140 million.

A jury just awarded the famed wrestler the punitive award, with this breakdown. Gawker Media must pay $15 mil, site owner Nick Denton is on the hook for $10 mil, and A.J. Daulerio, the Editor responsible for posting the tape, must pay $100,000.

As we reported, the jury awarded Hulk $115 million Friday for actual damages.

Gawker just issued a statement saying it is confident the verdict will be overturned on appeal. The site maintains it has a right to post the tape because it was newsworthy and therefore protected by the First Amendment.

Gawker also believes the judge erred by not allowing critical evidence and testimony in the trial ... notably the testimony of Bubba Clem, who claims Hulk knew he was making a sex tape.

source: tmz.com

Stan Hansen to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame's Class of 2016

Stan Hansen, Borger, Texas’ nastiest resident, will take his place in sports-entertainment history on the eve of WrestleMania 32, when he is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame’s Class of 2016. The news was first reported by Yahoo Japan's Sports Navi.They got exclusive comments from the man known as "The Lariat."

Hansen’s journey to the ring began in an unusual place: On the gridiron at West Texas State University, a factory for future wrestlers. When his football days came to an end, Hansen stepped into the squared circle and quickly earned a reputation as one of the most vicious competitors in the sport. Hansen’s style of wrestling wasn’t technically proficient or beautiful by any stretch of the imagination. It was dirty, gritty and ferocious. And it worked.

With an ever-present scowl on his face and his bull rope in hand, The Bad Man from Borger made his way to WWE in 1976. Hansen immediately set his sights on then-WWE Champion Bruno Sammartino. The double-tough Texan stunned fans when he broke The Living Legend’s neck with a devastating clothesline that would become known as the Lariat.

After a rematch with Sammartino at Shea Stadium, Hansen traversed across the Pacific Ocean to Japan, where he became a legend. One of the most feared foreigners in Japanese wrestling history, Hansen was the first gaijin to earn victories over the country’s most revered grapplers, Giant Baba and WWE Hall of Famer Antonio Inoki. While in Japan, Hansen also formed one of the most devastating tag teams in wrestling history with an old college friend, the unhinged Bruiser Brody. The cowboy and the fur-clad wildman had Japanese fans running from them as they entered the ring, and their opponents begging for mercy.

In between trips to Japan, Hansen returned to the U.S. to unleash his brand of brutality on American soil. The Bad Man from Borger won the AWA World Championship by defeating Rick Martel in 1985. He never lost the title, choosing to vacate it by running it over with his truck. In 1990, he ended Lex Luger’s record-setting reign as United States Champion. By 1991, he exclusively competed in Japan for the next 10 years, retiring in 2001 as a decorated champion and a legend in The Land of the Rising Sun.

Now, the surly outlaw will receive sports-entertainment’s highest honor, when he takes his place in the WWE Hall of Fame.

WWE Launches Online Auction to Benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of America

WWE today announced the launch of this year’s Superstars for Hope, a global online auction on Charitybuzz.com, featuring unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Fans can now visit www.Charitybuzz.com/WWE through Tuesday, April 5 to bid on exclusive experiences with WWE Superstar John Cena®, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H®, WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon and packages with the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, New York Yankees and many more.

“WWE is dedicated to using the power of our brand to give back to the community in as many ways as we can,” said Stephanie McMahon, WWE Chief Brand Officer. “I am proud that this year’s Superstars for Hope campaign will support Boys and Girls Clubs of America to further enhance their efforts to build future leaders and positively affect the lives of our youth.”

“Boys & Girls Clubs of America is honored to receive support from WWE’s Superstars for Hope campaign,” said Frank Sanchez, National Vice President, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “WWE and Boys & Girls Clubs of America will work together to provide Club kids all across the U.S. with the tools and skills to eradicate bullying in their communities. We are thankful to have a partner like WWE that cares so deeply about America’s youth.”

Online auction highlights include:
• Meet and greet backstage at Monday Night Raw with WWE Superstar John Cena.
• A tour of the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, a meet and greet with WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H and NXT Superstars, and a NXT Championship Title.
• Meet and greet backstage at Monday Night Raw with WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon.
• Two tickets to attend a live taping of America’s Got Talent in Hollywood, CA. Prize package includes a photo opportunity with judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Mel B and Howie Mandel.
• Four VIP tickets to a live taping of CONAN.
• Four Delta SKY360° Suite tickets to a New York Yankees game along with pregame field passes for batting practice.
• A suite at a Dallas Cowboys home game during the 2016-2017 season.
• A suite at a Dallas Mavericks home game during the 2016-2017 season.
• Two Rascal Flatts concert tickets and VIP Experience passes.
• Four tickets to the NASCAR Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis.
• Four Snoop Dogg concert tickets and backstage meet and greet.
• VIP all-inclusive club seat tickets to Beyonce’s sold-out Formation Tour on Monday, May 16, 2016 at Levi’s Stadium. This package includes parking and complimentary food and beverages throughout the evening in the BNY Mellon field level club.

Fans can click here now through Tuesday, April 5, to participate.

Eric Young & Bobby Roode Leaving TNA Wrestling

Eric Young and Bobby Roode are leaving the company. The tapings this weekend will be their last with TNA. TNA issued this statement:

Impact Wrestling has come to terms on the release of veteran wrestlers Bobby Roode and Eric Young (Jeremy Fritz). Bobby and Eric have been valuable members of the Impact Roster since 2004 and we wish them nothing but the best in their careers going forward.

Bobby had this to say earlier today, “To the guys and girls I got to work with for the past 12 years, Impact Wrestling, the office and everyone associated with me getting to live this dream, I say thank you. It is time for me to move on to the next chapter in my life. This has been amazing.”

Eric Young had this to say. “Thank you. Thank you to everyone who watched me for the past 12 years. Thank you to Impact Wrestling. I wish everyone here nothing but the best going forward.”

Executive Vice President of Creative and Television, John Gaburick added, “Bobby and Eric are true professionals. We salute them for the 12 years they gave TNA.

With a Superstar roster including EC3, James Storm, Drew Galloway, Jeff and Matt Hardy, “The Destroyer” Bobby Lashley, Gail Kim, The Wolves, Maria Kanellis-Bennett and “The Miracle” Mike Bennett we couldn’t be more excited about showcasing the finest wrestling in the world for the Impact fans.”

William Regal announces that qualifying matches for WWE Network's Global Cruiserweight Series will take place on Evolve shows

During his appearance at EVOLVE 56 internet pay-per-view (iPPV), one of Triple H's right-hand men said this:

"Ladies and gentlemen, the reason why I'm here - I'll get to it. In a few months time, the WWE will be holding the Global Cruiserweight Series. 32 of the finest crusierweights from around the world will compete, and I am here tonight because I'm obviously scouting for those competitors. Most importantly, qualifying matches for the Global Cruiserweight Series will be taking place all over the world, but the qualifying matches here in America will be taking place at Evolve. So please, keep an eye out on the website and find out exactly when they are."

Update on the 3rd Annual Andre The Giant Battle Royal

The third annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal will air on the USA Network. This year's match will feature just 20 Superstars, a change from the 31 Superstars at WrestleMania 30 and 30 Superstars at WrestleMania 31. As of this writing, the only confirmed names are Heath Slater, Adam Rose, Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel.