John Cena Reaches Out Of Court Settlement In Lawsuit With Ford

John Cena and Ford have reached an out of court settlement, after the motor company sued the former WWE Champion.

In the lawsuit, Ford accused Cena of selling a Ford GT a month after purchasing the $475,000 car, despite the contract stating he had to keep it for two months. 

Cena's defense was that he was unaware of such a clause in the contract. 

The court reports state that Cena paid an undisclosed amount to the company, which will be donated to charity.

In a statement, the Cenation leader stated: 

"I love the Ford GT and apologize to Ford, and encourage others who own the car to respect the contract. I am pleased we could resolve this matter outside of court, and that a worthy charity will benefit from one of the most iconic cars in the world."

WWE Releases Big Cass

WWE has announced the release of Big Cass, just two days after his loss to Daniel Bryan at WWE Money In the Bank.

Below is WWE's announcement:

Big Cass released

WWE has come to terms on the release of William Morrissey (Big Cass).

Several WWE Programs Included In Emmy Prelim Ballots

It is a rather long journey to actually get nominated for an Emmy Award. You must pass a couple different stages in the selection process first but it looks like a few WWE programs could be on their way to making the final nomination list.

The Emmy Prelim Ballot was recently released and it includes WWE programming in several categories. As we previously reported, WWE attended the For Your Consideration event and brought a lot of star power to the show. Not only did they have skits designed to entertain but they also brought a couple heavy-hitting programs to put up for a nomination.

The WWE Network's 24 Special "Empowered" is listed on the Prelim Ballot for Best Documentary or Non-Fiction Special. HBO and WWE Studio's joint project Andre The Giant is also in the same category.

WrestleMania 34 is getting some attention in the Outstanding Variety Special (Live) category. Both Raw and Mixed Match Challenge are also listed in the Emmy Prelim Ballot for Outstanding Structured Reality Program. The Unstructured Reality Program category includes some WWE representation in the form of both Total Divas and Total Bellas.

Only time will tell if those WWE programs actually make it into the small list of nominees for an Emmy Award, but it's certainly a good start to see them on the list at this point.

Source: Emmys

WWE Announces New NXT UK Series

WWE has just announced they will be launching a new NXT UK series featuring talent from the United Kingdom and Ireland. 

They have also announced the introduction of two new titles - the UK Women’s Championship title and UK Tag Team Championship titles.

NXT UK will be taping television later this year across the country. A channel for the weekly show has yet to be announced, it could end up on the WWE Network. 

At each event the UK Championship, UK Women’s Championship, and UK Tag Team Championships  will be on the line at the following events:

- Saturday, July 28, and Sunday, July 29, at the Corn Exchange, Cambridge
- Saturday, Aug. 25, and Sunday, Aug. 26, as part of Insomnia, the U.K.’s biggest gaming festival, at NEC Birmingham
- Saturday, Oct. 13, and Sunday, Oct. 14, at Plymouth Pavilions
- Saturday, Nov. 24, and Sunday, Nov. 25, at Liverpool Olympia

Triple H issues the following statement:

“The U.K. has an amazing talent base and incredibly passionate fans that are deserving of their own showcase,” said Paul “Triple H” Levesque, WWE Executive Vice President, Talent, Live Events & Creative. “This is the next step in our ongoing strategy to create localized content and further develop our brand."

WWE Announces Australian Super Show-Down Featuring The Undertaker Vs. Triple H

In partnership with TEG Dainty, WWE will return to Australia with WWE Super Show-Down, a historic event taking placeat the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Saturday, October 6, 2018, featuring the largest roster of WWE Superstars and Legends ever to appear in the country.

Tickets for WWE Super Show-Down will go on sale Thursday, June 28 at 10 am AEST via ticketek.com.au. An exclusive Telstra Thanks pre-sale for customers starts this Friday, June 22 at 12noon AEST and is open until Tuesday, June 26 at 10pm AEST. Further ticket information is available at tegdainty.com. The eventwill stream live on WWE Network and be available on pay-per-view around the world.

Fans attending WWE Super Show-Down will be able to see The Undertaker™ take on Triple H™ for the first time since WrestleMania 28, plus all their favorite Superstars including John Cena™, Ronda Rousey™, Shane McMahon™, Seth Rollins™, Roman Reigns™, Shawn Michaels™, Randy Orton™, Nia Jax™, AJ Styles™, Charlotte Flair™, Daniel Bryan™, The Miz™, Sasha Banks™, Alexa Bliss™, Big Show™, Bray Wyatt™, Australian tag team Billie Kay™ and Peyton Royce of The IIconics™ and many more*.

"WWE Super Show-Down will be one of the biggest sports and entertainment events of the decade," said Paul Dainty, President & CEO of TEG Dainty. "After the historic Global Warning event in 2002, TEG Dainty is excited to be making history once again with WWE. Australia has always been a special place for WWE and our fans are among the most enthusiastic on the globe. This once-in-a-lifetime spectacular will showcase Australia to a global audience of millions in one of the world's most iconic sports stadiums."

"WWE Super Show-Down will be an epic event," said Vince McMahon, WWE Chairman & CEO. "Our partnership with Paul Dainty reflects our ongoing commitment to the market and provides an opportunity to deliver an event of this magnitude."

"The eyes of the world will be on the Melbourne Cricket Ground in October when thousands of visitors from across Australia and the world descend on our great city for WWE Super Show-Down," said Victorian Minister for Tourism & Major Events, John Eren. "The Victorian Government will keep bringing the biggest events to our state because these events are good for our economy, good for our tourism industry and good for local jobs."

The largest WWE event previously held in Australia was the Global Warning event in 2002 at Melbourne's Etihad Stadium, setting an entertainment attendance record of 56,743.

Rumor Mill - Triple H Open To The Idea Of WWE Cross-Promoting With New Japan Pro Wrestling

New Japan Pro Wrestling is carving out a huge place for themselves in the pro wrestling landscape and hearts of fans all over the world. Many people watched Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada's epic Dominion confrontation in awe and although there will always be detractors, the general consensus is the match was a masterpiece.

It seems WWE is being a bit more friendly toward the Bullet Club recently as both The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega were featured in a huge way in WWE's promotion of The New Day's E3 escapades. The Cleaner is also featured on the WWE Network as a "Hidden Gem" where WWE utilized one of the only pieces of footage they had of Omega in Deep South Wrestling to capitalize on his incredible name value.

With New Japan Pro Wrestling and their high match quality making headlines all over the world causing Dave Meltzer to create new spaces for more stars to hand out ratings, a partnership with WWE would be ideal. After all, if the two companies converged or even shared talent it could be a huge advantage all around. But we are still dealing with baby steps at this point and while The New Day and Golden Elite's E3 Street Fighter war was a good start, there is plenty more room to go before the companies actually start sharing talent.

But Triple H seemed open to the idea of joining forces with New Japan eventually when he spoke with Sunsport and compared it to a partnership WWE currently has with a few other companies.

"We have an alliance with PROGRESS in the UK, a situation with ICW in Scotland, two very well run and respected promotions that do good business – but more importantly they are cultivating talent. They are not just exploiting talent and grabbing guys to do a show with them, they are teaching talent and trying to make them better, which is what it is all about for me."

"Is there opportunity for cross-promotional events?" Triple H continued, "Absolutely, with the right things. It's a blank slate and I'm open to just about anything if the right situation shows itself."

It looks like there could be a chance down the line for some incredible cross-promotional opportunities between WWE and New Japan. Because since Triple H could very well eventually find himself in the position where he's the one making the call to join forces with NJPW, it sounds like he's already very open to the idea provided the right situation comes along.

Source: SunSport

WWE Physician Chris Amann Had A Sexual And Romantic Relationship With Jillian Hall

The biggest story in pro wrestling was the civil trial victory of CM Punk  and Colt Cabana over WWE ringside physician Dr. Chris Amann, who was suing them for defamation. When Punk left WWE in 2014, he aired all of his grievances, especially the medical ones, on Cabana’s podcast.

The defense could not reference his romantic and sexual relationships with former WWE superstar Jillian Hall and an indie wrestler who he met at a WWE try-out event. It should be noted that dating your patients is against doctors’ codes of ethics as it could cloud one’s medical judgment.

When Amann had been questioned by the defense, Amann answered yes to every question asking if he had “any relationship with Jillian Hall while she was a performer.". The defense asked questions such as  “more than friends,” if they had “a romantic relationship,” and if they had “a sexual relationship.”.

Jillian Hall confirmed that she had a romantic relationship with Amann while he was the traveling doctor overseeing WWE’s Monday Night Raw brand, which she was part of. One wrestler who was on the Raw roster at the time stated that Amann and Hall were dating. They said that neither party tried to hide the relationship.

WWE sent out a statement regarding this new information

"We were not aware of this. We are investigating the matter and will determine if any action is warranted."

Source: Deadspin

"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey Entering UFC Hall of Fame Next Month

It's been announced that former Ultimate Fighting Championship Women's Bantamweight Champion, Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion, and current WWE Monday Night Raw Superstar "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame next month.

Ronda will be the very first female fighter to enter the prestigious UFC Hall of Fame.

Triple H Talks Sending The Rock A Photo Of Himself From WrestleMania This Year, Rock's Response

Triple H was among a panel of WWE stars interviewed by Stephanie McMahon during the WWE FYC (For Your Consideration) event in North Hollywood, California. The event was held for the purposes of campaigning for a 2018 Emmy Award nomination under the industry of entertainment.

Stephanie asked Triple H about how it is transitioning from WWE superstar to heading the talent relations and creative department in WWE.

"I think that when you're a WWE superstar, obviously the greatest part of what we get to do, putting smiles on people's faces," Triple H said. "We're doing all this stuff, but there's this, it's hard to even put it into words. There's a picture of me out front from WrestleMania this year. I noticed when I walked in today. And, what I noticed about the picture, with HD television and camera work now, I noticed that it's a shot of Steph and I from WrestleMania, and my legs are covered with goosebumps. I immediately took a snapshot of it and sent it to The Rock to say, 'dude, look at my legs.' We used to talk about this all the time, the passion for what we do when you have that moment in front of 80,000 people where your whole body, it's electric. There's no other way to describe it, but it just goes into automatic and you're covered with goosebumps and it's just this insane adrenaline thing.

"Rock sent me a note back like two seconds later and was like, 'oh my God. If it wouldn't be totally weird, I would blow this up right now and put this on my trailer wall as an inspiration.' I said, I know, that's why I trimmed it a certain way just to show my leg, 'cuz it was cold at WrestleMania (smiles), but [Rock] said that nobody can understand that like we can, it's something of the WWE. So at that point in my life, nothing greater than that. I can honestly say that step into where I am now, that pales in comparison to seeing a person with a dream."

Triple H used Charlotte – who was also on the panel – as an example as someone who came to him "lost" and looking for an opportunity to having Ric Flair calling her for inspiration and inspiring a generation of young women to achieve their dreams.

As far as NXT, Triple H calls them his "kids," and said that leading the NXT brand has been the greatest part of his WWE career so far.

Boom Studios And WWE Announce New Weekly Series

Boom Studios And WWE Announce New Weekly Series
Boom Studios announced the following:

Discover The Secrets Behind The Brand In A New Weekly Series

BOOM! Studios and WWE today announced WWE: NXT TAKEOVER, a weekly event series on-sale in September 2018.

NXT has become WWE’s third global brand, and the launching pad for some of today’s biggest Superstars including Seth Rollins, Charlotte Flair, Braun Strowman, Alexa Bliss and many more.. Now, learn the untold stories behind NXT in this special weekly event from writer Dennis Hopeless (WWE) and artist Jake Elphick (WWE: WrestleMania 2018 Special).

Fans can watch a special video message from WWE Superstars Andrade Cien Almas & Zelina Vega about WWE: NXT TAKEOVER!

Additionally, fans can watch a special video message from WWE Superstars The Undisputed Era about WWE: NXT TAKEOVER!

Each issue of WWE: NXT TAKEOVER will focus on different Superstars from different eras of NXT:

Week One – WWE: NXT TAKEOVER – THE BLUEPRINT #1: In 2012, Triple H and Dusty Rhodes head to Florida to begin the newest era of WWE.

Week Two – WWE: NXT TAKEOVER – PROVING GROUND #1: The Demon King, Finn Bálor, enters the NXT Universe and is confronted by Samoa Joe.

Week Three – WWE: NXT TAKEOVER – INTO THE FIRE #1: The Empress ofTomorrow, Asuka, begins her rise to the NXT Women’s Championship, and Bobby Roode becomes “Glorious.”

Week Four – WWE: NXT TAKEOVER – REDEMPTION #1: Johnny Gargano and Shayna Baszler make the move to NXT and immediately leave their mark.

WWE: NXT TAKEOVER features connecting variant covers by Marco D’Alfonso, along with main covers by Lucas Werneck (The Blueprint), Aaron Dana (Proving Ground), David Nakayama (Into The Fire) and Audrey Mok (Redemption).

“The Superstars of NXT are responsible for some of the greatest moments in sports entertainment history and we’re thrilled to show readers the secrets behind the rise of WWE’s third global brand,” said Chris Rosa, Editor, BOOM! Studios. “From Seth Rollins to Shayna Baszler, each of your favorite NXT Superstars will get their moment to shine in this weekly event.”

WWE: NXT TAKEOVER is the latest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to a world-class group of licensed comic book series and ambitious original series, including Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Planet of the Apes, Big Trouble in Little China, Victor LaValle’s Destroyer, Mech Cadet Yu, Grass Kings, andKlaus.

Print copies of WWE: NXT TAKEOVER will be available for sale in September, 2018 at local comic book shops (use comicshoplocator.com to find the nearest one) or at the BOOM! Studios webstore. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and the BOOM! Studios app.

Verdict Reached In The CM Punk/Colt Cabana vs Dr Chris Amann Trial

WWE Senior Ringside Physician Chris Amaan's libel and slander trial against CM Punk and Colt Cabana wrapped in Cook County, Illinois today with the jury ruling in favor of Punk & Cabana on all counts filed by Amann. The former WWE Superstars will not have to pay anything to Amann.

It was noted that Punk & wife AJ Lee were hugging and crying after the verdict was read.

The trial kicked off last Wednesday over comments Punk made about Amann on Cabana's "Art of Wrestling" podcast in 2014, a few months after his WWE release. The jury deliberated for just a few hours today.

No word yet on what is next for the parties involved but we will keep you updated. Amann remains employed by WWE while Cabana continues to work indies. Punk has not wrestled since leaving WWE but he will return to the Octagon this Saturday at UFC 225 in Chicago, facing Mike Jackson, who also has a record of 0-1-0.

Andrew Luck’s Father Named Commissioner of the XFL

Vince McMahon is committed to proving that his professional football league will be a serious venture the second time around, and he has hired an executive to oversee the league that should help accomplish that goal.

Oliver Luck, the father of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, revealed on Tuesday that he has been named the commissioner of the XFL.

“The XFL will be a labor of love as I get to combine my experiences as a player and executive,” Luck told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “I’m thrilled to have this unique opportunity to reimagine the game that has been a constant in my life for 40 years.”

Luck currently holds a position with the NCAA where he oversees the Eligibility Center. His responsibilities include keeping tabs on eligibility requirements and academic affairs, but he will leave that job immediately and relocate to the XFL’s headquarters in Connecticut.

Luck, a former quarterback who played for the Houston Oilers and was inducted into the West Virginia University Hall of Fame, is a big hire for McMahon. He previously served as the president of NFL Europe and was the athletic director for four years at WVU, so he has plenty of experience in the field.

Triple H Announces Launch of Performance Center Website to Find WWE’s Next Global Star

Beginning today, the WWE is taking another giant step in its international expansion.

The new WWE Performance Center website officially launched this morning, and creates a direct route for anyone seriously contemplating a career with the global leader in sports entertainment. The site, which includes information about the application and tryout process, is the result of a conversation between WWE CEO Vince McMahon and Paul “Triple H” Levesque, who is the Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events, and Creative.

“The hardest part about this business is there is no pathway,” said Levesque. “We’re creating a pathway. Vince and I spoke about it, and he said, ‘Let’s go do it.’ We are going around the world to look for international stars.”

WWE’s new recruiting website provides nearly every detail for those interested in the company, providing information on how to apply, outlining the steps after a successful tryout, offers a look at the most up-to-date roster, and even shares first-hand insight from WWE talent, like Finn Balor and Charlotte Flair, who thrived at the Performance Center.

“If you want a career in the WWE, here is how to go about it,” said Levesque. “There is advice on what to expect at tryouts and testimonials from people who have careers in WWE. It’s all about creating the pathway, and this will really open the faucet and allow talent to flood in from a global level.”...More?

source: si.com

Stephanie McMahon to appear on "Celebrity Undercover Boss"

WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon is taking on a new role during CBS’s “Undercover Boss: Celebrity Edition.”

Don’t miss her don a disguise for her undercover journey when the episode airs Friday, June 15, at 8/7 C on CBS.

Stay tuned to WWE.com for more details. Follow @undercover_CBS on Twitter and use #CelebrityBoss.

Terror Group Al-Qaeda Calls WWE Events In Saudi Arabia 'Sinful

Terror group Al-Qaeda have condemned WWE for their 'sinful' activities, as well as the Saudi Crown Prince for allowing the western company to perform in the middle east. 

A Friday bulletin from the militant group was verified by British newspaper The Independent, and has strong criticism for the Greatest Royal Rumble, which took place last month in Jeddah. 

“[Foreign] disbelieving wrestlers exposed their privates and on most of them was the sign of the cross, in front of a mixed gathering of young Muslim men and women,” the bulletin read.

The bulletin was critical of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, who has instigated massive social reforms since receiving his role last year. 

"The new era of [Mohammad bin Salman] replaced mosques with movie theatres," the extremist group claimed. 

Since his appointment, bin Salman has introduced several western ideas to the nation, and was a prominent figure during the campaign that lifted the ban on women driving. 

WWE Executive Fired Following Wife's Islamophobic Tweets

A WWE Executive who helped secure the company's recent deal with the United Arab Emirates has been fired, following a series of Islamophobic tweets and content from his wife. 

Sal Siino was fired after a Huffington Post article highlighted his wife Amy Mekelberg, with the content of her tweets being brought to the attention of WWE. 

"Now that it has come to our attention, Sal Siino is no longer an employee," a company spokesman said.

On her Twitter account, which has followers including President Donald Trump, Roseanne Barr, Sean Hannity and Sara Huckabee-Sanders, Mekelberg targets Islam in her over 45,000 tweets. 

One tweet included an image of a Pig (which is considered unclean in Islam) cooking a presumably Muslim male, whilst using the Muslim holy book the Quran as fuel for the fire. 

In another tweet, which has over 9,000 retweets, Mekelberg claims that opposing Islam is no different to opposing Nazism or Communism. 

Since her husband was fired, Mekelberg has tweeted about Huffington Post author Luke O'Brien, claiming the journalist has endangered her. 

Stephanie McMahon and Triple H to appear on Carpool Karaoke this summer

You’ve seen Stephanie McMahon and Triple H take part in an epic Lip Sync Battle, but what would happen if they actually got to sing?

That question will be answered this summer on Apple’s Carpool Karaoke. McMahon revealed on Twitter this afternoon that she and The Game will take a ride for a singalong during a WWE-themed episode of the popular show, and the duo also gave the WWE Universe a quick pair of behind-the-scenes pictures from the taping.

Will we get to see how they sound on “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana? Could Triple H dig into Motorhead’s hard-rocking catalog? Find out on Carpool Karaoke this summer!

Rupert Murdoch Highly Influential In WWE SmackDown Live Moving To FOX

Rupert Murdoch Highly Influential In WWE SmackDown Live Moving To FOX
Rupert Murdoch, the Executive Co-Chairman of 21st-Century Fox is believed to be influential in the recent broadcasting deal which saw FOX poach WWE SmackDown Live from NBCUniversal's USA Network for a whopping $1 billion over a five year period.

The deal was reportedly negotiated between Stephanie McMahon, Triple H, and FOX executives although the deal has yet to be officially signed but agreed on a handshake.

The Hollywood Reporter notes that Murdoch told WWE that NBC are embarrassed to have the sports entertainment brand on their network, even though it brings in a strong and consistent viewership.

Murdoch is also believed to have told Vince McMahon in a phone call that this will usher in a new era between himself and the McMahon as they both see themselves as rebels who built big media brands.

In addition, FOX plans to air promos airing across sports programming every night of the week, along with a new weekly studio show on FS1.

It is believed shortly FOX will sell the majority of their assets to Disney or Comcast with sports becoming the centerpiece for the networks' programming on "New Fox".

WWE Reaches Agreement With FOX To Air 'SmackDown Live'

WWE has reached an agreement to air their SmackDown Live brand on the FOX network, ESPN reports.

Specific terms of the agreement are unknown at this time, although the offer was described as "massive." According to ESPN, WWE has declined to go into specifics about the offer, and a FOX representative could not be immediately reached. The FOX on-screen partnership with the WWE goes in effect following the expiration of SmackDown Live on the USA Network, which will be September 30, 2019.

For fans, this could be a step in the right direction regarding Raw and SmackDown Live feeling like two distinct brands, which is something that many fans have criticized. As we previously reported, WWE CFO George Barrios was asked about Raw and SmackDown Live separating to two different companies, and he had this to say.

"Market determines that opportunity. From our end, [we don't think] it's an issue to split it," said Barrios. "We have done it before. We think we're pretty good at promoting and moving our viewers from one platform to another. Seven or eight years ago, it was only from one network to another network, which changed dramatically. We can't over-emphasize it, is the nature of social and digital and helping do that.

"So, we've been able to do it before, we would feel even more comfortable doing it today just because we have a direct connection with all our fans which we did not have seven or eight years ago. So, our ability to do that, if it made sense economically, there were partners interested, if we felt comfortable with the partners in question, operationally we would not see an issue with doing that."

Previously, Raw and SmackDown were on different channels, but under the same parent company. Recently, NBC Universal reached an agreement with WWE to continue to air Raw, but SmackDown Live was left without a home. WWE and FOX has been in talks since last year regarding moving their product from USA. While FOX will not be acquiring Raw, it does give SmackDown Live an opportunity to showcase its brand with a different company.

Due to the television deals, WWE's stock has reached record highs in 2018, topping over $50 for the first time in history. While the total number of viewers have substantially decreased over the years, the general feeling is that WWE remains a viable product due to the fact that Raw and SmackDown Live has stayed in the same area of viewers for quite some time and has not witnessed a decrease compared to other shows from numerous networks this year.

In addition, WWE's acquisition of Ronda Rousey plays signficant assistance to the product as well. It could be argued that a reason why Rousey has been pushed to the Raw Women's Championship level so quickly, and why it was announced during an NBC Universal event, was for WWE to have a bigger mainstream presence, which helps the company in regards to television negotiations.

Source: ESPN

No Charges To Be Filed Against Enzo Amore

Former WWE Superstar Enzo Amore (Eric Arndt) revealed on Twitter today that the investigation into sexual assault allegations has been closed and no charges were filed.

Enzo, while WWE Cruiserweight Champion, was accused back in January by a woman named Philomena Sheahan in Phoenix, Arizona, who claimed the assault took place several months before. This led to a police investigation and WWE releasing Enzo on January 23rd. There's no word yet on how WWE will react to the latest developments or if they might bring Enzo back in the future. The letter noted that Enzo was not aware of the accusations beforehand until Sheahan's tirade on Twitter.

It was also noted in the letter Enzo tweeted that he has plans for a new venture in the entertainment industry but there's no word yet on if he plans on returning to the ring for any wrestling promotion.

Below is the full letter from Enzo's attorney, Tom Cargill, which was tweeted out this afternoon by Enzo:

On January 22, 2018, Eric Arndt (also known as Enzo Amore for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)) was accused, via the internet and social media, of misconduct during an alleged incident in Phoenix, Arizona several months earlier. Prior to that date, no law enforcement or any other officials had contacted Mr. Arndt regarding such claims. However, after the careless, unfounded tirade on social media, Mr. Arndt learned of these accusations when his counsel reached out to Phoenix Police. Subsequently, and as evidenced by the vast amount of online admissions and other publicly available information, it was soon clear that the accuser exhibited a complete lack of truth or credibility. At all times, Mr. Arndt fully and unequivocally denied such accusations and remained confident in clearing his name.

The Phoenix Police Department recently informed Mr. Arndt and his counsel that there is insufficient evidence in this matter to warrant any criminal charges, that the matter will not be transferred to the County Attorney for prosecution, and that their investigation and case is closed. No charges were ever filed. The matter is closed.

Mr. Arndt expresses his gratitude for the enormous amount of support from his fans and followers during this time period. The support has carried him through these events and opened his eyes to the faith and loyalty of those who have cheered and followed his career. This experience has further taught Mr. Arndt to be cautious with his personal associations, because false, defamatory, and unfounded accusations can alter and impact the lives and careers of the falsely accused and their families. Mr. Arndt is working diligently toward his next venture in the entertainment industry and looks forward to reconnecting with his fans in a big way in the very near future.

*** Tom Cargill, P.A., is Mr. Arndt's personal general counsel. Osborn Maledon, P.A., served as Mr. Arndt's defense counsel in Phoenix, AZ, regarding the alleged incident and accusations.

CM Punk To Go To Trial With WWE Doctor Next Week

Former WWE superstar Phil 'CM Punk' Brooks will be on trial on May 21, in a defamation case brought on by WWE doctor, Chris Amann.

Amann is suing Punk as well as fellow wrestler Colt Cabana, for comments made by the two on Cabana's 'Art of Wrestling' podcast in November 2014. 

During the episode, Punk alleged that Amann encouraged the former WWE champion to work a European tour with a concussion, and allegedly misdiagnosed an MRSA infection. 

Punk also claims that Amann has repeatedly placed the interests of the WWE over the medical interests of superstars. 

Amann is suing for defamation, which is defined as lowering someone in the eyes of right-thinking members of society and/or disparage that person in their trade. 

Punk and Cabana initially attempted to have the lawsuit dismissed, but this motion was turned down by the presiding judge. 

WWE have issued the following statement:

"Phil Brooks' latest claim that WWE directed Dr. Amann to file a lawsuit against Brooks is categorically false. Dr. Amann made the decision to file suit in order to protect his professional reputation. WWE conducted its own investigation into this matter and found no evidence of wrongdoing by Dr. Amann, and thus continues to support Dr. Amann and the staff that runs our world-class medical program."

Punk is scheduled to have his second UFC match against Mike Jackson at UFC 225 on June 9.

Final Two Members Of MMA's Four Horsewomen Report To The WWE Performance Center In Orlando

WWE now has all four of MMA's Four Horsewomen working for the company as Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke have reported to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando. Ronda Rousey is currently on the RAW brand while Shayna Baszler is the WWE NXT Women's Champion. Shafir is engaged to NXT Tag Team Champion Roderick Strong.

Below is WWE's full announcement on Duke and Shafir arriving:

Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke, Four Horsewomen teammates of Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler, report to WWE PC

MMA's Four Horsewomen have arrived in WWE in full force.

Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir have joined their Four Horsewomen teammates Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler in making the move from mixed martial arts to sports-entertainment, reporting for training today at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla.

The 5-foot-11 Duke fought professionally from 2012 to 2016, competing in the bantamweight class for organizations including the UFC. She was also a member of the UFC's "Ultimate Fighter" reality competition series in 2013, as part of "Team Rousey."

Shafir, known by the nickname "The Supernova from Maldova," stands 5-foot-7 and has fought under the banners of Invicta and Lights Out Promotions. She is also engaged to NXT Superstar Roderick Strong and has been seen at ringside for many of The Messiah of the Backbreaker's matches.

The WWE Universe no doubt remembers the Four Horsewomen's standoff with Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch and Bayley — three-quarters of WWE's Four Horsewomen, alongside Sasha Banks — at last year's Mae Young Classic. Duke, Shafir and Rousey were there to support Baszler, who advanced to the final round of the inaugural tournament before losing to Kairi Sane. Though the Four Horsewomen factions did not come to blows at the Mae Young Classic, the exchange of words made for a stirring scene.

Since then, Baszler and Rousey's impact in the squared circle been nothing less than immense: The Queen of Spades forcefully claimed the NXT Women's Title from Ember Moon at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans, while "Rowdy" Ronda has emerged as one of Raw's top Superstars following a spectacular in-ring debut at WrestleMania, where she teamed with Kurt Angle to defeat Triple H & Stephanie McMahon.

With Duke and Shafir now preparing to conquer a new world of combat sports, will it be long before they add to Baszler and Rousey's already incredible list of accomplishments in the ring?

WWE Listed As A Minority Owner In The XFL

MLive.com is reporting WWE is listed as a minority owner for the XFL in the latest SEC filings that came out earlier this week. WWE and McMahon's Alpha Entertainment LLC (parent owner of the XFL) had an agreement where the following was stated:

"Alpha has announced that it expects that this launch will occur in early 2020. Under these agreements, WWE received, among other things, a minority equity interest in Alpha without payment by, or other financial obligation on the part of, WWE."

As noted, the Orlando Sentinel reported that officials from Vince McMahon's XFL have reached out to to the city of Orlando about possibly bringing one of the XFL football teams to Camping World Stadium. It was believed that XFL and WWE would run separate for the most part but Allen Johnson, Executive Director of Orlando's venues, confirmed to the Sentinel that John Saboor, WWE's Senior Vice President of Special Events, was the one that recently reached out about an XFL team in Orlando.

Back in December, McMahon sold $100 million worth of WWE stock to help kick start his Alpha Entertainment LLC venture. In an interview with The New York Times, McMahon responded to the sale:

"I am very committed to this, and it's going to take more than $100 million to do this league."

WWE Paying Female Superstars For GRR

WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler recently indicated on his "Dinner with The King" podcast that WWE might be paying their female Superstars for last Friday's Greatest Royal Rumble event, even though they were unable to appear due to the culture in Saudi Arabia. PWInsider has confirmed that the female Superstars are being paid as if they would have been on the show. WWE reportedly received major money from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for what was the first event under a 10-year deal between the two sides.

WWE Planning NXT Expansion Through ‘Global Localization’ of Performance Centers & Regional Territories

WWE wants to take over the world. As the largest and most profitable professional wrestling organization, WWE has already expanded their brand on a global level with live events and talent being recruited from all corners of the map.

Now WWE is expanding even further by using their model for NXT in new locations around the globe.

Paul “Triple H” Levesque, who championed and helped built NXT into a feeder system for the main WWE roster, revealed plans for even more expansion to help cultivate and foster talent from countries all over the world.

“With ‘RAW’ and ‘Smackdown Live’ calling up all of my NXT superstars, I quickly realized NXT needed a feeder system of its own,” Levesque explained when speaking at the WWE 2018 Business Partner Summit. “We had to re-imagine once again how and where we were recruiting. Not only in the United States but outside as well.”

The plan to expand falls under what Triple H calls ‘global localization’ — a term he’s actually trademarking — where WWE will establish performance centers and NXT style brands in local markets around the world.

The first example of this kind of expansion was with WWE launching the United Kingdom tournament that crowned a champion last year with another version of that same event taking place again in June.

“WE’VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO TRANSFORM THE CURRENT PATHWAY INTO A SUPER HIGHWAY” ~ TRIPLE H

Now WWE plans to expand that same kind of footprint in new markets around the globe including the possibility of setting up a performance center and an NXT type brand with their new partners in Saudi Arabia after inking a 10 year deal there just recently.

“We’ve got to find a way to transform the current pathway into a super highway,” Levesque explained. “We’re going to do it through what I call ‘global localization’. Where we’re going into individual markets around the world, we will create scaled versions of the template we’ve created.

“Organizing tryouts, recruiting talent, establishing performance centers and building on the ground NXT style brands.”

The global expansion will look to build home grown talent from markets in Europe, Asia, and numerous other places around the world.

As Triple H revealed during his chat with those in attendance, 80-percent of the current WWE roster came from NXT, which serves as all the proof he needs to show that this expansion is not only good for the organization, it’s absolutely necessary to continue building the brand on a global scale.

There’s no word yet when WWE plans to launch these new performances centers and NXT type brands, but obviously plans are already underway with the return of the U.K. tournament in June.

2018 WWE Business Partner Summit

During WrestleMania Week, WWE’s executive team discussed the company’s record-breaking year and its 2018 strategic plans at the annual Business Partner Summit. This year’s Business Partner Summit was hosted by Renee Young and Byron Saxton and included appearances by WWE Superstars John Cena, Ronda Rousey, Charlotte Flair, Elias, The New Day, Bayley and Bobby Roode.

Highlights from the Summit, found in the video on corporate.wwe.com, include:

WWE’s Business Strategy: Record-Breaking 2017 Results and Road Map for 2018 (Michelle Wilson and George Barrios)
WWE Brand: 2017 Successes (Stephanie McMahon)
Sales and International (John Brody)
Digital and Social Media (Jayar Donlan)
Talent Recruitment and Global Localization (Paul “Triple H” Levesque)
WWE’s Business Partner of the Year Award presented to Cricket Wireless (John Cena and Charlotte Flair)

WWE Gets Restraining Order Against Fan Following Several Incidents; More Details

In a report today by TMZ Sports, it was revealed that WWE has gained a restraining order against Armando Alejandro Montalvo who is believed to have been harassing the company since 2015.

Montalvo has reportedly been a part of the following incidents in Florida:

Smearing his own feces on the walls of the WWE Performance Center in July 2015Wearing a makeshift costume and banging on the doors of the PCHarassing employees at WWE Event where he screamed his wrestling name and made references to his genitalsWWE claims Montalvo has threatened to use his semen in a biological attackIn early April, Montalvo made cryptic threats in a post on Instagram which prompted the company to seek the restraining order.

WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino passes away

From WWE.com:

WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino passed away at age 82.

The story of Bruno Sammartino is the story of the American dream.

During his childhood in the small Italian mountain town of Pizzoferrato in the Abruzzi region of Italy, Bruno Sammartino heard stories about how the streets in the United States were paved with gold. Though he believed it literally at the time, Sammartino would experience fortune and fame first-hand as the longest-reigning WWE Champion and the most beloved competitor in the history of the squared circle.

Life wasn’t always so glorious for The Italian Superman. Bruno’s brother and sister both passed away at young ages, and Adolf Hitler’s Nazi forces seized their town, but Bruno persevered. He and his mother hid in a mountain called Valla Rocca during the German occupation and eventually joined his immigrant father in Pittsburgh in 1950.

Sammartino began lifting weights as a young man and grew to become one of the strongest men on the planet. After setting a world record in 1959 by bench-pressing 565 pounds, Sammartino caught the eye of Vincent J. McMahon, and became a sports-entertainer.

Bruno became an overnight sensation, connecting with not only fellow Italians, but also the Latino, Greek and Jewish communities, successfully bridging the gap in America’s melting pot of wrestling fans. His legend continued to grow on May 17, 1963, when Sammartino defeated Buddy Rogers in just 48 seconds to become the second-ever WWE Champion in front of nearly 20,000 fans at the old Madison Square Garden.

Bruno held the WWE Championship for nearly eight years — by far the longest reign of all time, and a record for all professional wrestling champions, no matter the organization. A household name all over the country, the beloved hero defended his title in legendary rivalries against WWE Hall of Famers Killer Kowalski, Gorilla Monsoon and George “The Animal” Steele.

In early 1968, Sammartino headlined the first wrestling event at the brand-new Madison Square Garden, just eight days after it opened. The Garden truly was the house that Bruno built, as he sold it out an astounding 187 times. When he lost the title to Ivan Koloff in 1971, grown men in the crowd were seen weeping, but on Dec. 10, 1973, Sammartino became the first two-time WWE Champion and held the title for an additional three-and-a-half years.

On Aug. 9, 1980, Sammartino defeated his former protégé, Larry Zbyszko, inside a steel cage at New York City’s Shea Stadium in front of more than 35,000 people. The heated grudge match broke box-office records for wrestling events, and Bruno retired from the ring the following year.

Bruno returned to WWE in the mid-80s as a broadcaster alongside Mr. McMahon and as a mentor for his son David, who was just beginning his grappling career. Now known as The Living Legend, Bruno also engaged in several rivalries with a generation of WWE’s greatest villains, including “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, “Macho Man” Randy Savage and The Honky Tonk Man.

The star power and influence of Sammartino was exemplified by the fact that he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013 by none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger. It was the 188th and final time that Sammartino headlined and sold out Madison Square Garden.

Al Snow Purchases Ohio Valley Wrestling, Talks Future Plans For The Company

Last weekend, it was announced via WDRB 41 that former WWE European and Hardcore Champion Al Snow is buying Ohio Valley Wrestling. OVW was founded by former wrestler "Nightmare" Danny Davis in 1997, and has been one of the longest-running televised wrestling shows ever since.

Over the years, OVW is also known for being the developmental territory for both WWE and Impact Wrestling creating WWE stars such as Brock Lesnar, John Cena, and WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix, among many others. For many years, Snow was a trainer in OVW, and helped build several successful WWE names.

After 21 years as the founder of OVW, Davis is now retiring to Florida, and Snow will take over as the lead executive. Currently, OVW features mostly indie talent. However, former WWE and Impact Wrestling star Elijah Burke is active in the company.

"What I have in mind is to create a great developmental center for wrestling talent to come find themselves, learn their craft, and learn it from truly experienced professional wrestlers," said Snow in an interview with FITE TV. "I've always said that when you attend a wrestling school, or a wrestling training academy of any sort, that you take it much like if you were going to a university. If you want to go for accounting, you go in, you pay your tuition, you ask the Dean, 'Ok, what's my professor?' and he goes, 'this guy's really good, he's very talented.' Well great! Who's he work for? What's he done? What kind of experience he has?

"Well, he's never really went anywhere, he's never really done anything, but he's really good, he's at the top of his class. That's great, but if he doesn't have experience, that means he has no real knowledge. If he has no real knowledge, there's no way that he can communicate to you what you need to know. So you better take advance of any opportunities that may come up for you."

The announcement of Snow taking over was well-received by both the current roster, as well as former Impact Wrestling stars, with names such as Hornswoggle and Madison Rayne sending their congratulations. As far as when the first show of Snow taking over will be, he stated, "it will be soon and I will let everyone know."

Paige Announced As New WWE SmackDown LIVE General Manager

On tonight's edition of WWE SmackDown LIVE, Commissioner Shane McMahon announced that Daniel Bryan has formally resigned as the brand's General Manager in order to return to in-ring competition after recently being medically cleared.

McMahon then announced that Bryan's replacement as General Manager will be Paige, who on Monday night's edition of Raw officially announced her retirement from in-ring competition.

Bobby Lashley Returns To WWE On RAW

Former World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Lashley made his WWE return on tonight's post-WrestleMania 34 edition of RAW in New Orleans. He took out Elias in a quick segment.

Lashley last wrestled for WWE in 2007 and was released in February 2008. He's worked with TNA or Impact Wrestling off & on since then, and has focused on his MMA career.

Paige Officially Announces Her Retirement On Tonight's WWE RAW

Paige officially announced her retirement from in-ring WWE competition on tonight's post-WrestleMania 34 edition of RAW in New Orleans.

Paige has been out of action neck and back issues since suffering an injury at a December WWE live event while taking a kick from Sasha Banks. She had recently returned from neck surgery when the injury happened.

Paige made her WWE developmental debut in early 2012 and held two titles. She is a one-time NXT Women's Champion and a two-time WWE Divas Champion.