Chris Jericho's live WWE Network interview with Stephanie McMahon kicks off from WWE TV studios in Stamford, CT. Jericho welcomes us to the second edition of "Live! with Chris Jericho." He welcomes his old rival Stephanie and says people want the hard-hitting questions so he's going right to that. Stephanie just came from the annual WWE staff party and Jericho says he never knew that party existed. Stephanie says it's just a way of saying thanks to their employees. Jericho imagines Vince McMahon walking around with a tray of h'orderves and Stephanie says he doesn't do that. Jericho says he's been at the studios all day and it's "insane." Stephanie says WWE currently has 800 employees.
Stephanie talks about being in Singapore, Beijing and Shanghai recently on behalf of WWE and as an Eisenhower Fellow. Stephanie talks about what the program is. She notes that she will be going on another trip for the program later this year. Stephanie mentioned having to defend WWE while on tour and Jericho can't believe that they still have to defend WWE but they do. Stephanie says that's part of her job. She touts some WWE talking points and says they're a pioneer. Jericho asks about working for dad and she says it's very challenging. She says Vince is exceptionally driven and passionate. Jericho says Vince is off to the side right now giving them the middle finger. Stephanie says there's a lot of pressure on Vince's kids to do better. She says Vince didn't grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth and while he's given her all of her opportunities, he still wants her to fight for it every day and that's what she does. She talks about messing up before and says disappointing Vince is the worst. As a performer, Vince has made her re-shoot certain angles. Jericho says he has had to do that before and it makes you feel like a loser. Jericho says Stephanie is just like Vince on TV. Stephanie says her brother Shane McMahon calls her the "Vincess." Stephanie says she's unaware that she emulates him but she's watched him all her life and there's no one better.
Jericho says Vince has left the set and jokes that he scared him off. Jericho asks if people get the Chief Brand Officer mixed up with the on-screen Stephanie when she's out working. She talks about how she tells kids at the "be a STAR" anti-bullying rallies that she plays a bully on TV but that's not who she is in real life. They talk about her childhood and she says she did understand what her dad did. One of her earliest memories was between 3-6 years old, walking backstage and running into George "The Animal" Steele in full character. She says she was scared to death and ran back to Vince but George just started laughing. She says George was laughing as if he didn't take her fear seriously and that confused her at the time. She says Vince also thought it was hilarious and that's when she started putting it together. She would watch Vince announce on WWF and she had her favorites - The Killer Bees and Tito Santana. She says she gravitated more towards the heels as a kid and did not root for Hulk Hogan.
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April 30, 2015
Chris Jericho - Stephanie McMahon Podcast Recap: Ronda Rousey, Shane McMahon, Her Parents, AJ, More
Former WWE Writer On If WWE Voting Is Legit
Former WWE creative writer Kevin Eck has a blog here about WWE App voting. He noted that while he can't vouch for the voting since he left the company, during his time with WWE from 2011 - 2014, the voting was completely legitimate. He said that creative would suggest to Vince McMahon that they rig the voting to get a desired outcome, but Vince would always refuse because it would "compromise the integrity of the voting."
WWE Q1 Earnings Call Recap: WrestleMania Success, Network Price Increase?, Total Divas, More
* George Barrios mentions they released their quarterly financial results on their website earlier.
* WrestleMania happened in quarter 1 of 2015, as opposed to quarter 2 2014. This has an effect on the huge profits.
* WrestleMania was the highest grossing live event in WWE history.
* Total Divas was E! network's number one show. Vince McMahon says this is because the Kardashians were on hiatus.
* McMahon mentions Smackdown will move to USA, and thinks that will improve viewership alone.
* McMahon jokingly invites listeners to join Tough Enough.
* 196,000 WWE Network subscribers were international. 94 percent of subscribers access the Network at least once a month.
* "From inception to 3/31/15, WWE Network had attracted nearly 1.8M unique subscribers w/ 74% of subscribers active as of that date"- George Barrios. They aren't going to update subscriber numbers on this call.
* Barrios repeatedly mentioned that WrestleMania was in Q1 this year instead of Q2.
* WWE video game profits improved over 30 percent. WWE Supercard is mentioned as a contributor. PPV revenue was also ahead of expectations.
* The Q&A portion starts. WWE says they're always looking at expanding the advertising model for the Network, but doesn't think it'll be in 2015.
* McMahon says it's possible they could change the price of the Network for WrestleMania or Summerslam, but have to look at the info. He says as of now they're not, but it's possible in the future.
* Most of the WrestleMania PPV buys were international, according to Barrios.
* "Advertisers aren't interested in simple rating. Our programming is engaging. Not just an experience, but immersive."- McMahon
* Laura Martin calls Vince McMahon the best business man of anyone she covers.
* Someone's phone goes off, and their alert tone was Michael Cole yelling "Oh my!"
* Barrios is asked what they've learned incrementally about the sources of churn. Barrios says he doesn't think they've learned anything.
* CableVision in Canada is targeting for cutters. This could open up the possibilities for more deals with Rogers, but they say the Canadian model is different.
WWE Reports Record Quarterly Revenue
WWE today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2015. For the quarter, the Company reported Net income of $9.8 million, or $0.13 per share, compared to a Net loss of $8.0 million, or $0.11 per share, in the first quarter last year.
“During the quarter, we generated record quarterly revenue and strong earnings growth, reflecting our strategy to realize greater value from our content across multiple platforms,” said WWE Chairman & CEO Vince McMahon. “We believe that we are on a path to significant growth as we continue to expand WWE Network and innovate faster than ever.”
“Our strong earnings growth was driven primarily by the escalation of our television rights fees and the expansion of WWE Network subscribers. For the quarter, our OIBDA surpassed our public guidance,” added George Barrios, Chief Strategy & Financial Officer. “WWE Network subscribers watched an estimated average of 53 hours of content per household over the quarter putting it among Netflix and the top cable and broadcast networks in terms of viewer hours per household. Additionally, WrestleMania 31 was viewed in more homes globally than ever before. Our ability to engage our global fan base reinforces our view that successful execution of our WWE Network strategy can generate meaningful economic returns.”
April 28, 2015
Verne Gagne Passes Away
Verne Gagne, one of sports-entertainment’s most celebrated performers and promoters, has passed away at the age of 89.
Growing up in Robbinsdale, Minn., Gagne was a three sport athlete in high school. While he also played baseball and football, his true skill was in wrestling, where he won multiple state championships. He then went on to the University of Minnesota, where he continued to play football and wrestle. He left after one year to join the Marines at the end of World War II, but returned to finish his college career a few years later. When his amateur wrestling career was over, Gagne had four Big Ten Wrestling Championships, two NCAA Wrestling Championships, the 1949 AAU Wrestling Championship and a slot on the 1948 United States Olympic team on his resume.
Gagne debuted as a pro in 1950 and won several regional championships throughout the 1950s before heading to the newly formed American Wrestling Association in 1960. In August 1960, he was awarded his first AWA World Heavyweight Championship when the first recognized champion, then-NWA World Heavyweight Champion Pat O'Connor, failed to defend the championship against Gagne.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Verne became both a wrestler and a promoter, eventually becoming the sole owner of the AWA. He remained an active competitor until the early 1980s, holding the AWA World Heavyweight Championship 10 times between 1960 and 1981. Although Gagne officially retired in 1981, he would later wrestle in several special matches while still maintaining ownership of the AWA.
During the AWA's existence, it was the breeding ground for several other future WWE Superstars, including Hulk Hogan, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Pat Patterson, The Legion of Doom Hawk and Animal, Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty, “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig, Scott Hall, "Mean" Gene Okerlund ,"Sensational" Sherri Martel. Jerry "The King" Lawler, Larry Zbyszko, Sgt. Slaughter and numerous other legends also wrestled in Gagne's AWA, and Verne's son Greg also had a lengthy and successful career there as well. In addition, Gagne had a hand in training several future Superstars, including Ric Flair, Ken Patera, Bob Backlund, The Iron Sheik and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat. On April 1, 2006, Verne Gagne was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
April 27, 2015
Did "TKO: A Night of Knockouts" Help Friday's TNA Impact Wrestling Viewership?
Friday's episode of TNA Impact Wrestling, a special Total Knockouts edition, drew 381,000 viewers, down from the previous week's 401,000 viewers.
Friday's Impact ranked #51 out of the top 100 cable originals for the day. We will have viewership numbers for the replay later.
WWE To Hold Pat Patterson Appreciation Night
WWE will hold Pat Patterson Appreciation Night on May 4th at the WWE RAW in Montreal. WWE had Pat Patterson Appreciation Night scheduled a few years back for the same venue but it was the same night Jerry Lawler had a heart attack on RAW so it was nixed. The ceremony will take place after RAW ends. John Cena, Randy Orton and Roman Reigns vs. Rusev, Big Show and Seth Rollins is the advertised dark main event.
King of the Ring Returns and WWE Network Schedule Announced
Monday, April 27
Jerry Springer Presents WWE Too Hot For TV – Available on demand after Raw
Too extreme for live TV, WWE Too Hot for TV goes straight to on demand after Raw. Hosted by legendary talk show host Jerry Springer, this new series brings you the most outrageous stunts and cringe-inducing moments in WWE history.
Tuesday, April 28
King of the Ring – 8 ET/ 5 PT
Continuing the action from Monday's Raw, the King of the Ring Tournament finals will take place live on the award-winning WWE Network.
Wednesday, April 29 – Mick Foley Night
Have a Nice Night! – 9/8 C
Renee Young and Byron Saxton host this entertaining assemblage of Mick Foley’s most memorable and entertaining moments. Relive the timeless 'This is Your Life' segment with The Rock, laugh as Mr. McMahon meets the lovable Mr. Socko, experience the Three Faces of Foley and much more.
Cheap Pops – 10/9 C
Join Mick Foley as he shares humorous tales full of wit and wisdom from the WWE Hall of Famer's storied career. It’s an eclectic trip into the surreal mind and life of the Hardcore Legend like you've never seen before.
Thursday, April 30
LIVE! with Chris Jericho with Stephanie McMahon – Following SmackDown
Chris Jericho brings his uncensored show live to the award-winning WWE Network with special guest, WWE’s Chief Brand Officer, Stephanie McMahon.
Friday, May 1
Floyd Mayweather vs. The Big Show: The Money vs. The Giant – 9/8 C
Just in time for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, which is expected to be one of the biggest boxing matches in history, go behind-the-scenes of the most anticipated fight on The Grandest Stage of Them All, as undefeated professional boxing sensation Floyd “Money” Mayweather took on the 7-foot “Giant”, Big Show at WrestleMania 24.
Monday, May 4
WWE 24: Roman Reigns – Following Raw
The acclaimed 30-minute docu-series takes you on a lightning-fast journey through a day in the life of one of WWE’s most intriguing Superstars and groundbreaking events.
April 26, 2015
The WWE's First-Ever Female Trainer Is Ushering in a New Golden Era for Women Wrestlers
Sara Del Rey joined WWE after a decade's worth of experience wrestling all over the world in independent promotions including Chikara, Ring of Honor, and Shimmer. Since being hired in 2012, WWE has produced some of their most promising female talent in a generation. NXT, essentially WWE's internal minor league, has morphed into the home of some of the networks' most riveting wrestling. Banks and Charlotte round out a once-in-a-lifetime crop alongside Bayley, Becky Lynch, Alexa Bliss, Paige, and Emma.
"Daniel Bryan, [currently one of WWE's biggest stars,] trained me a long time ago. That's how I got my foot in the door," Del Rey told VICE. "Training has always been my one true passion; it's what I really love about pro wrestling. I thought I had unique experiences and perspectives to share with the women in NXT. WWE agreed, and here I am."
"You can have all the knowledge in the world, but it's useless if you can't explain it," said Paul "Triple H" Levesque, WWE Executive Vice President and the man behind NXT, in an interview with VICE. "That's what makes Sara special: She can feel it, but she's also able to articulate that feeling."
It does help that Del Rey is a woman training other women. While plenty of female wrestlers, including Del Rey, have trained with men and succeeded, those I spoke with emphasized the impact that a like-minded trainer can have in the wrestling ring.
"I trained with guys' guys for years, but it was when I went to Japan and worked with a group of all females that my technique was really fine-tuned. There wasn't a safety net," said Del Rey. "I don't think [having a female trainer] is a necessity, but it's helpful."
"Working with a female trainer here is a big plus, because we are in a male-dominated business," explained Banks. "Having a female point of view when it comes to body movement has been so constructive. Sara is very understanding. Anything we need we're able to tell her. It's like having another mother here."
Levesque is happy to admit that there's always going to be a slight disconnect when a man is training a woman, but he also views Del Rey as an all-around talent.
"Whenever people say 'Oh, it's so great you brought in a woman to train the women,' I say 'I didn't hire a woman to train women, I hired a woman to train,'" Levesque emphasized. "She's great with the women, she can relate to the women wonderfully, but she's more than that. It's the same when I bring her up to the main roster; I'm not doing that so she can just work with the women, I'm doing that so she can be a road agent. It's irrelevant to me that's she's a woman. What matters is that she can do her job extremely well."...More?
source: vice.com
Steve Austin Speaks On His WWE Status After Recent Trademark Issue With T-Shirts
On a recent podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin addressed rumors about he and WWE after the company had some of his t-shirts pulled from his official ProWrestlingTees.com store recently. Austin said despite the shirts being pulled, the two sides are still on good terms and are still working together.
Austin said WWE had a few trademark concerns that they felt they needed to protect and they did. Austin said he spoke with a WWE lawyer about the concerns and there are no hard feelings.
Austin also said there are many "great things" to come from he and WWE but didn't go into detail, telling fans to "stay tuned."
April 25, 2015
WWE Releases Five Developmental Wrestlers
WWE released 5 developmental talents this week - Brian Reid (Tony Briggs), Coutney Denzel Freeman, Dustin Mueller, Laszlo Vandracsek and Leyvonna Zakari.
Freeman, an amateur wrestler from the University of the Cumberlands, began training at the WWE Performance Center late last year. He never competed in a match before a live crowd.
Briggs, a 6-foot-2, 275-pound wrestler from California, signed with WWE in late 2013. He infrequently wrestled at NXT live events, and was squashed in his lone matches on television.
Mueller is a bodybuilder from Chicago, Illinois who WWE signed last year. He had no wrestling experience prior to joining WWE. He made a few live event appearances as a security guard.
Zakari, a model and actress from California, joined WWE last April. Though she never wrestled, she handled ring announcing duties at a few non-televised NXT events.
Hungarian-born Vandracsek was a member of U.S. National Bobsled Team who WWE recruited late last year.
April 24, 2015
'Rap is the new wrestling': how hip-hop heavyweights compare with WWE stars
New York rap and fashion maven A$AP Rocky thinks hip-hop has become like the theatrical, body-slam heavy world of WWE. Speaking to Elliott Wilson at a live recording of the CRWN hip-hop podcast at the Tribeca film festival, the 26-year-old rapper said: “Rap is the new wrestling,” before adding that in the world of contemporary hip-hop, rappers pick a strange name, say some ridiculous things and then wait until people pay attention (isn’t that just a guide to becoming famous in 2015?). He has a point though, even if there is more than a hint of irony in that theory coming from a rapper whose name is A$AP Rocky and whose biggest hit was called Fuckin’ Problems complaining about outlandish and gauche hip-hop acts with daft names. We’ve taken his assertion as a starting point and tried to figure out which WWE superstars (past and present) line up with contemporary rap stars...More?
source: theguardian.com
Big Name Backstage At WWE NXT Tapings
Samoa Joe was indeed backstage at last night's WWE NXT tapings at Full Sail University in Orlando, FL. PWInsider notes that Joe was there to meet with Triple H about potentially signing with the company.
ESPN Beats Pro Wrestler in Dispute Over Rebroadcast of Old Matches
An appellate ruling could be a good sign for broadcasters as they fight in court with college athletes.
On Wednesday, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed ESPN's victory in a legal dispute with Steve "Wild Thing" Ray, who wrestled professionally in the Universal Wrestling Federation in the early 1990s.
ESPN obtained the footage of Ray's old matches and rebroadcast them on ESPN Classic. That brought a lawsuit by Ray alleging ESPN violated his publicity and privacy rights under Missouri law.
A three judge panel at the 8th Circuit echoes the conclusion from the district judge that Ray's state-based claims are preempted by federal copyright law. In doing so, the judges imply a test where plaintiffs can only avoid preemption by going beyond an attempt to stop the rebroadcast of copyrighted content to allege something more about the use of their name or image. Here, for instance, the opinion notes that "ESPN did not use Ray's likeness or name in an advertisement without his permission to promote its commercial products, and, as the district court correctly noted, Ray's ‘likenesses could not be detached from the copyrighted performances that were contained in the films.'"
The opinion comes just days after the WWE and ESPN were sued by the father of deceased wrestler Eddie Gilbert for publicity rights for using old footage on television and the Internet.
Maybe more importantly, the ruling comes as ESPN, CBS, Fox, ABC and NBC are involved in a legal battle over the publicity rights of college athletes. A judge's decision last year that shrugged off the release forms that athletes sign as a condition of their participation in college athletics paved the way for athletes to go after the broadcasters directly, but the defendants have various arguments on why the lawsuit should fail. Among them, that copyright preempts the publicity right claims.
An opinion at the 8th Circuit holds no precedential weight in Tennessee, where the legal battle over college athlete publicity rights is taking place, and there could be other factors that distinguish the alleged exploitation of college basketball and football players with the alleged exploitation of professional wrestlers, but nevertheless, it'll be a welcomed ruling for the broadcasters.
source: hollywoodreporter.com
April 23, 2015
Main Event Announced for the Next WWE NXT Live Takeover Special, Date of the Special Revealed
WWE is currently holding a set of NXT TV tapings at Full Sail University, and it was announced during the tapings that the next live NXT Takeover special will happen on May 20th at Full Sail University.
It was also announced at tonight’s NXT tapings that the main event of the special will be Kevin Owens (c) vs Sami Zayn for the NXT Title.
April 22, 2015
WWE Announces NXT “On the Road” Tour Dates; Complete City Listing and Ticket On-Sale Details
Earlier today, WWE NXT announced its official “on the road” tour dates, and below is a complete list of cities being visited:
Friday 4/30 in Lakeland, FL at The Armory. Tickets currently on sale.
Friday 5/1 in Tampa, FL at the UACDC Gymnasium. Tickets currently on sale.
Saturday 5/2 in Cocoa Beach, FL at the Cocoa Armory. Tickets on sale.
Saturday 5/8 in Largo, FL at Minnreg Hall. Tickets on sale now.
Thursday 5/14 in Philadelphia, PA at The Tower Theatre. Tickets TBA.
Saturday 5/16 in Albany, NY at the Washington Armory. Pre-Sale on 4/30 using pre-sale code CAPITAL.
Saturday 5/23 in Starke, FL at the Starke Armory. Tickets on sale now.
Friday 5/29 in Citrus Springs, FL. Tickets now on sale.
Saturday 5/30 in Venice, FL at the Community Center. Tickets now on sale.
Thursday 6/11 in Pittsburgh, PA at the AE Theatre. Tickets TBA.
Friday 6/12 in Cleveland, Ohio at the Agora Theatre. Tickets TBA.
Saturday 6/13 in Columbus, Ohio at the LC Pavilion in Columbus. Tickets TBA.
April 20, 2015
WWE Diva Eva Marie Discusses Improving Her In-Ring Work, HHH Helping Her, Going After the Divas Championship and More
The Miami Herald recently conducted an interview with WWE Diva Eva Marie and below are some highlights:
Going for the WWE Divas Title heading into SummerSlam:
“I got my developmental deal first, and I got ‘Total Divas.’ Everything from there it just went, boom! I was living my life on reality TV. I had to perform for WWE, as well as show that to the whole world. For season four of ‘Total Divas,’ you are going to see my in-ring work. I’m going for that title heading into SummerSlam. Go big or go home.”
Working to improve her in-ring training:
“If you follow me on social media you are going to see the clips of me training and progressing. Then you will see me back in the ring, hopefully in a few weeks. Triple H has definitely been helping me out, and I appreciate that. I bounce ideas off of him. Brian Kendrick is amazing. I’m asking him a bunch of different questions. Then when I get in the ring with him, I’ll improve my skills right there.”
Are You “Tough Enough?”
Beginning today, WWE® invites anyone from around the world who believes they have what it takes to be the next WWE Superstar or Diva, to submit a video at WWEToughEnough.com to be considered for the upcoming reality competition series, WWE Tough Enough. The series premieres on Tuesday, June 23 at 8/7c on USA Network in a reimagined format with live elements.
“WWE Tough Enough is an opportunity for anyone who has ever dreamed of becoming a WWE Superstar or Diva,” said Paul “Triple H®” Levesque, WWE Executive Vice President, Talent, Live Events & Creative. “WWE Superstars and Divas are dynamic entertainers who possess a unique combination of athleticism and charisma. We can’t wait to see who will emerge from this competition to earn a place alongside our elite performers.”
This season of WWE Tough Enough will combine the can’t-miss excitement of live television with reality-show drama as 10 men and five women vie for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a WWE Superstar or Diva. By the end of the season, one man and one woman will be crowned “Tough Enough” and will each earn a WWE contract.
April 19, 2015
Taz addresses his departure from TNA and confirms late pay
During his "Human Podcast Machine" podcast on Saturday, Taz addressed his departure from TNA and reports about receiving late pay from the company. It should noted that Taz did confirm he eventually received full payment from TNA after the initial issue.
On his departure from TNA this week:
"I asked for my release. I was granted my release. We parted ways mutually, professionally, the right way."
On reports that TNA was late in paying him:
"My check, for works that I had done previous, was late. I had to do what I had to do and the company was very understanding. They understood my position. They were very professional. They were very kind. They were very understanding. It was a bad situation. Business is business. I'm in this business. This is how I make my living. This is how I pay my bills and I feed my family for over 25 years. It's business."
On rumors that he left TNA because of a falling out with Josh Mathews:
"Me leaving TNA had absolutely nothing at all to do with my relationship with Josh Mathews. Absolutely nothing. I worked with Josh for a long time. Did we have a fall out? Yes we had a fall out. Why can't two guys have an argument or disagree or end a friendship and people have to speculate that is why they left?"
On reports about not going to Nashville for production work:
"The company was quite frankly apologetic. They had their reasons. And I'm not going to get into their reasons. I'm not looking to do that. And by the way...if you're looking for me to sit out here and bash take the low road TNA, that's not happening. I'm not doing that. That's not my style. That's not what I'm about. I'm not a hypocrite. I'm not going to work somewhere as long as I did - and I've waived their flag publicly in the past - while I worked for them and then I leave and bash and bury them. That's to me low brow hypocritical two-faced fake crap. That's not my style."
WWE And ESPN Sued Over Unpaid Likeness Usage, WWE Responds
TMZ broke the news today that Tommy Gilbert, acting on behalf of his son Eddie's estate, and his younger son Doug Gilbert filed a lawsuit against both WWE and ESPN recently. Both brothers appear on the Global Wrestling Federation shows that air on ESPN Classic in the United States as well as in numerous matches throughout the libraries WWE owns, as well as in the WWE Encyclopedia coffee table book. WWE Network's video on demand library includes various matches of both brothers, with some of Doug's being in the Dark Patriot gimmick in ECW.
Essentially, the Gilberts are arguing they never gave permission for WWE or ESPN to use their likenesses and have not been compensated for it. To quote the complaint, which WrestlingInc obtained:
"While they performed live, neither of the Gilberts signed contracts or gave permission to WWE or ESPN to use recordings of the Gilberts' names or likenesses. The defendants have impermissibly and in violation of the Gilberts' rights of privacy shown recordings of past wrestling matches that use and display the Gilberts' names and likenesses. Additionally, Defendants have violated the Gilberts' rights of privacy by using the Gilberts' names and likenesses through other media. Neither Doug Gilbert nor Eddie Gilbert has received compensation for the Defendants' use of the Gilberts' names and likenesses. Accordingly, the Gilberts seek compensation and all other damages to which they are entitled based on Defendants violation of the Gilberts' rights of privacy."
The Gilberts are not seeking to block use of the footage; instead, they just want to be paid the compensation they feel they're due. Meanwhile, WWE made a statement to TMZ:
“Through the years, WWE has acquired the legal rights to library footage of various former wrestling organizations including Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Mid-Southern Wrestling among many others. WWE has made these substantial investments to acquire these copyrighted works and has the legal right to use them. Similar cases in the past have been unsuccessful and we expect this case to be dismissed.”
While the suit was filed just over a month ago, it looks like it didn't break until now because it was filed in a local court not tracked by much media. This past week, WWE and ESPN filed a joint notice of removal to federal court, so it became much easier to find the records online if you were searching for WWE-related cases. In the notice of removal, WWE cites their success in similar lawsuits filed in the past by Ricky Steamboat and Doug Somers, while ESPN notes they prevailed in a 2013 lawsuit from Steve "Wild Thing" Ray (who appeared in Herb Abrams' UWF shows that were rebroadcast on ESPN Classic).
April 18, 2015
World Academy Hosts 5th Annual Gordon B. Ouellette Memorial Scholarship Gala on May 8th
World Academy is hosting its 5th annual Gordon B. Ouellette (GBO) Scholarship Fund Gala on Friday, May 8th 2015 from 7-11pm in the World Academy Gymnasium/Theater Complex. The GBO Scholarship Fund directly supports community and World Academy students by providing tuition assistance and scholarships to support those that add quality to the student body but might not otherwise be able to attend the school.
Paul's sister, Lynn is a Director at the school. Gordon Ouellette was Paul's brother-in-law. He passed away on February 4, 2008 of a heart attack.
Head of School, Kathy Nelson, looks forward to this night of fun and fellowship all year. “Especially as we celebrate our 35th Anniversary, this is a milestone opportunity for World Academy families, teachers, and the community at large to celebrate with us and gather in support of this worthy cause. Over the last 6 years we have funded over a million dollars worth of scholarships and tuition assistance in support of our mission. Having this fund allows us to maintain a diverse and vibrant student body. Every year I am amazed by what the Gala Committee is able to do in support of this endeavor. It promises to be a spirited evening!”
Starting at 7pm, the Gala features a live and silent auction, buffet dinner, student and alumni performances, and celebrity auctioneers. This year’s live auction will be co-hosted by Paul Levesque, WWE’s Triple H and Stephanie McMahon Levesque of the McMahon Dynasty.
A sample of this year’s Auction items include:
1. A WWE VIP Experience Package for 4 to WWE Live, May 22nd at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, NH.
2. A Private Dinner for 10 Prepared by Personal Chef, Janet Barsorian.
3. A Day of Fishing with Professional Bass Fisherman, Ryan Cooper.
Tickets for the event are $50/per-person or $450 for a table of 10. They are available by calling 603.888.1982 or by stopping by the Front Desk at the World Academy campus at 138 Spit Brook Road in Nashua.
April 17, 2015
Scott Hall Shouts Out Wale For Redskins Draft Day Party Appearance
Two of Wale’s passions collided Wednesday afternoon, as the Washington, D.C., native was first announced as a performer for the team’s Draft Day Party.
Then, the diehard wrestling fan got some congrats thrown his way from “The Bad Guy” himself, as former WWE and WCW star Scott Hall tweeted at him.
For those of you who might not know Hall, or understand Wale’s passion for pro wrestling, here’s a quick recap.
Hall started in WWE as Razor Ramon, or as “The Bad Guy,” before being a founding member of the infamous New World Order (NWO) group with Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014.
Wale, meanwhile, tweets about pro wrestling all the time and was even at Wrestlemania last month in Santa Clara, Calif., where he met Hall himself.
source: redskins.com
WWE Sends Cease & Desist Letter to Steve Austin’s Online Store
According to a report from PWInsider.com, WWE officials sent a cease and desist letter to ProWrestlingTees.com shortly after WrestleMania, ordering them to remove certain items from the official store of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.
While the former WWE Champion maintains that there’s little-to-no heat between him and the company, it’s being said there is still frustration from the WWE side over Austin turning down “Tough Enough” and not appearing at this year’s WrestleMania.
Rumor Mill - WWE NXT Touring Internationally Soon?
WWE NXT General Manager William Regal reportedly told fans in the UK at his one-man shows this week that plans are being worked on for NXT to tour internationally with shows in smaller arenas. Regal apparently said the business plan for the touring was in place and it will begin within 18 months.
The Kliq To Reunite For WWE Network
WWE is planning a "The Kliq Rules" DVD and Blu-ray set for a July 28th release. The "reunion" special has been planned for months, according to WrestlingDVDNews.com, and a condensed version will be airing on the WWE Network in the near future. The DVD is expected to contain the reunion show, a new documentary and matches. The reunion was originally planned for September but it's been moved up to July. No word yet on when The Kliq reunion will air on the WWE Network.
TNA Reportedly Experiencing More Issues With Pay
According to a report by Brian Fritz of the Sporting News, it seems as if TNA Wrestling is experiencing more pay issues, fueling the fire to rumors of talent getting late checks over the past several weeks.
The story says that several freelance workers have stated that TNA is behind on paying several members of the production staff. It was also said that those workers were shorted on past checks.
The back pay stems from the One Night Only tapings, which took place over two months ago. The accounting department told an employee that checks were made out almost two weeks ago, but nobody has received them.
We also heard similar complaints from one member of the production crew.
We spoke to Matt Hardy earlier in the week, who said the following regarding the TNA pay rumors:
"If someone has an issue with pay, I feel like it needs to be directed to the office and handled there. It sucks and it's unfortunate that a story like that spreads and puts a stain on Impact Wrestling, who are doing a lot of positive things right now. TNA has been extraordinary to me, nothing but professional. They even gave me time off at the last TV tapings to fulfill a commitment I had for 8 months, when they needed me at TV. That shows how professional they were to the boys. It's nowhere near as bad as what people are saying."
April 15, 2015
Mick Foley Taping For The WWE Network
Mick Foley's official website announced that he will tape one of his comedy shows on April 24th from Full Sail University for a future WWE Network airing. Tickets go on sale Friday morning. More details are at this link.
