June 13, 2015
Video: Triple H reveals the WWE Performance Center Tough Enough Barracks
Triple H commented:
"We could put you in a nice mansion, make it luxurious and all that but it's supposed to be about being Tough Enough so we don't want to pamper people too much. So what we've come up with is the WWE Performance Center Tough Enough barracks."
"This is about kind of making due and I think that in some way through a contest like Tough Enough they're bypassing the kind of paying your dues and to me this is kind of fast-tracking that a little bit. Sleeping in a not so comfortable place, not so comfortable surroundings, seeing if you're Tough Enough and if you really want to do this."
June 12, 2015
WWE Tough Enough Final 13 Competitors Revelaed
After a grueling, three-day tryout, 13 competitors will now advance to the new season of WWE Tough Enough. These seven men and six women will fight to live out their dream and become the next WWE Superstar or Diva, starting with the show's premiere on Tuesday, June 23, on USA Network:
Alexander Frekey, Dallas, Texas
He once caused an earthquake in a “Planet Fitness” commercial, but does Alexander Frekey have what it takes to be Tough Enough? His day-job title of Regional Sales Director doesn’t exactly inspire fear in the masses, but the towering Frekey isn’t just an unusually big office drone. Having played college basketball before appearing in “John Wick” and NBC’s “The Blacklist,” the tough-guy bonafides of this 6-foot-5 Russian are enviable. Now, in the toughest athletic environment there is, he faces a test that will truly shake him to the core.
Amanda Saccomanno, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
When you’re 5-foot-4 and can lift 225 pounds, you’re bound to turn some heads. Now it’s time to see if this fitness entrepreneur from Yorktown Heights can thrive on WWE’s bright stage. An athletic powerhouse who stays in shape with dance, yoga, Pilates and CrossFit, Saccomanno’s physical prowess could make her a welcome addition to the Divas division. Ironically enough, her childhood nickname was “Hamburgers,” but even that fact may turn out to be appropriate: Underestimate her and she’ll eat you for lunch.
Daria Berenato, Los Angeles
Ever hear of The Jersey Devil? Well that’s Daria Berenato, a 5-foot-7 mixed martial arts fighter nicknamed after the famed beast and looking to make her mark in WWE. Currently a co-host of the YouTube show “UFC AfterBuzz,” Berenato has been training in one form of fighting or another since age 16. Rest assured, if she fights her way to a WWE contract, everyone from the Pine Barrens to Full Sail University will be put on notice.
Dianna Dahlgren, Spokane, Wash.
If you’ve seen the cover of “Oxygen,” “Muscular Development” or “Muscle & Fitness,” at some point you’ve probably seen Dianna Dahlgren. A Monster Energy spokesperson and model, Dahlgren boasts a “shredded” physique that can give most potential Divas a run for their money, not to mention a social media following (290,000-plus followers on Facebook and Instagram) that would make most Superstars jealous. Her love of the extreme led her to WWE. Will we see her on Monday Night Raw next?
Gabi Castrovinci, Southington, Conn.
What’s there to know about Gabi Castrovinci? Born in Brazil, she grew up practicing Jiu-Jitsu and is a professional athlete for World Beauty Fitness & Fashion. An avid surfer and snowboarder, Castrovinci is a self-employed entrepreneur who sells Brazilian leggings online. If she wins Tough Enough, she’ll be trading in Brazilian leggings for Indian Deathlocks in no time.
Giorgia Piscina, Brisbane, Australia
The farthest-flung of WWE Tough Enough’s contestants, Giorgia Piscina comes to the Performance Center on a wing and a dream. An eight-year gymnastics veteran and Bikini Dive competitor for the WBFF, Piscina’s “toughest” moment came when she crossed the finish line on a 400-meter race with a broken ankle. Now facing down her biggest opportunity yet, she’s got plenty to carry her over the finish line, but can she capitalize on the opportunity?
Hank Avery Jr., Macon, Ga.
Looking for a new “Face of WWE”? Well, Hank Avery Jr. was literally a poster boy for Mercer University football from 2012 to 2013. Standing at 6-foot-4 and topping 270 pounds, with a lingering fear of frogs, this gridiron veteran, husband and father makes his living as a pool maintenance manager. But it’s only a matter of time before he’s making a splash on a far bigger stage. Just no frogs, please.
Joshua Bredl, Thornton, Colo.
What do Thor and the Yeti have in common? They’re both nicknames of Josh Bredl, a physical specimen and NFL free agent most recently signed by the Green Bay Packers. One of the top 15 Colorado high school prospects upon his graduation, Bredl recorded 34 tackles and six sacks as a defensive lineman at Colorado State University – Pueblo. Having rampaged his way down to the Performance Center, he now looks to make the big jump into WWE and show the Cheeseheads what they’re missing.
Mada Abdel Hamid, Los Angeles
Ever wonder how Khal Drogo from “Game of Thrones” got so big? That’s because Mada Abdel Hamid trained him. A personal trainer for actor Jason Momoa, Abdel Hamid’s story is almost as fantastical as “Thrones” is: Born in Egypt and fluent in Arabic, he played professional basketball until he fled the country in the midst of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. WWE Tough Enough is merely the latest chapter in a life well lived. If he makes it through, does a chapter at WrestleMania await?
Patrick Clark, Jr., Washington, D.C.
To some, WWE is more than a dream, it is an escape. That’s what it was for Patrick Clark, a 19-year-old wrestling coach from Washington, D.C., who found refuge in sports-entertainment after the death of his father. Clark’s drive led him from 10 years of JROTC to the mats of amateur competition, where he wrestled for Forestville Military Academy from 2011 to 2013. He’s currently a competitor in the Mid Atlantic Wrestling Association, and a coach. Does a jump from the mat to the ring await?
Sara Lee, Hope, Mich.
A pure athlete looking to take her skills to the ring, Sara Lee boasts one of the most unique backgrounds of WWE Tough Enough’s hopefuls. While studying to become an ultrasound technician, Lee is also a power lift competitor who trains six times a week and can squat 230 pounds and bench press 140 pounds. Introduced to WWE by her older brother, she is “in love” with The Bella Twins. Should she prove tough enough, Nikki and Brie might have themselves a new ally … or enemy.
Tanner Saraceno, Boiling Springs, S.C.
Looking for a fighter? Look no further than Tanner Saraceno, a tattooed mixed-martial arts fighter with the beard of a wildman and a resume that would make most opponents shrivel in fear. An 11-year wrestler with high school and college experience, Saraceno was named the team captain and MVP of his college team after walking on as a freshman. His hobbies are oddly tame — cooking and brushing his hair — as is his profession: tree trimmer. Rest assured, however, in WWE Tough Enough, he has one goal with relation to his fellow contestants: chop them down and take the contract for himself.
Zamariah “ZZ” Loupe, Bayou Bluff, La.
Zamariah Loupe wrestles alligators. He’s even got one for a pet, “Mr. Gator,” who he calls his blood brother despite the fact that big bro once bit through Loupe’s hand. The youngest of WWE Tough Enough’s contestants at age 18, Loupe currently plays linebacker for Nicholls University when he’s not wrestling alligators. Loupe’s as charitable as he is unique, passing out Beanie Babies to the children and the elderly in his town while dressed as Santa Claus. WWE Tough Enough would seem like a big step for such a young man, but, again: He wrestles alligators. His fellow humans have their work cut out for them.
Bill DeMott Defends His Training Methods, Says He Wasn't Trying To Break His Students
Former NXT head trainer Bill DeMott was at the center of controversy three months ago, amid accusations of bullying among several former talents. DeMott appeared on this week's Talk Is Jericho to defend his methods of training and said it was to mentally and physically prepare the stars of the future.
"If you can make it in NXT, then you're prepared for what the WWE is. From two hours of sleep and being at media calls at 4AM to driving 500 miles. Some of them drive to Lakeland and want the next day off. You think to yourself, 'we can't let that happen,'" explained DeMott.
DeMott elaborated and stated that the way that he handled training at NXT was all a part of his job. He said that he wasn't trying to break his students, he was trying to give them a taste of what they would later see in WWE.
"You're gonna go from Buffalo to Wilkes-Barre, make the drive, you're going to have a meeting at 6AM, still make your RAW call time, and then sit in front of Stephanie (McMahon), Triple H, Vince, Paul Heyman; the guys that are up there on top that have that work ethic. You're either gonna hang, or you're not. It's not to break you down, it's to prepare you," DeMott said.
DeMott goes on to talk about more aspects of the job and the rest of his career. You can check out the full episode of Talk is Jericho at this link.
June 11, 2015
Dusty Rhodes Passes Away
WWE is reporting that Virgil Runnels, aka “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes — WWE Hall of Famer, three-time NWA Champion and one of the most captivating and charismatic figures in sports entertainment history — passed away today at the age of 69.
Emergency personnel responded to Dusty's home in Orlando, FL at 5:56 AM Wednesday morning after getting a call reporting a 69-year-old male had taken a fall. He was transported to a nearby hospital, but suffered "numerous complications" throughout the night which ultimately proved fatal
Runnels became a hero to fans around the world thanks to his work ethic, his impassioned interviews and his indomitable spirit. Moreover, Runnels was a dedicated father to WWE Superstars Goldust (Dustin Runnels) and Stardust (Cody Runnels), a caring husband and a creative visionary who helped shape the landscape of WWE long after his in-ring career had ended.
source: wwe.com & tmz.com
More Exclusive Details On WWE Possibly Working With WNW / EVOLVE
As noted earlier, WWE is close to an agreement to work with WWN, the parent company of EVOLVE, Full Impact Pro and the now-defunct Dragon Gate USA. According to a source, the deal is that WWE will pay WWN a certain fee like they did for ECW in the 1990s. They will pay WWN to develop talent and keep them away from ROH and TNA so that NXT can get a look.
We noted earlier that The Wrestling Observer newsletter reported that top WWE officials not happy with ROH recently releasing a Kevin Steen action figure. This deal with WWN is said to be partially due to ROH releasing that item.
WWE Issues Statement On Behalf Of Triple H Regarding Comments Made By Chyna During Radio Appearance
Paul "Triple H" Levesque issued a statement Wednesday night responding to former WWE performer Chyna's claim on the Opie with Jim Norton talk radio show on Sirius Radio and XM Radio that he struck her when the two dated.
Through Joe Villa, WWE Publicity Manager, Levesque said, "The false statements and reckless allegations Joan Laurer (aka Chyna) continues to make about a physical dispute are a complete fabrication. As I've said in the past, while Joan has had significant struggles in life, this does not justify making such claims."
During an interview in February with former WWE creative writer Vince Russo, Chyna claimed that Levesque assaulted her during an argument where she confronted him with her suspicions that he was having an affair with Stephanie McMahon.
"So I think Hunter's plan was to get me to leave the relationship first and then that way he can start dating Stephanie and like everything would be cool. So I would ask Hunter time and time again, I figured it was better just to address the problem and ask him honestly and I would have to believe his answer, so we got into a heated argument, we were not getting along, I told him 'I know something's going on. Don't tell me something's not going on.' He swiped my hand, I swiped his hand, he hit me. I went back like Jerry Springer and then I was like OK that's the deal breaker for me, the relationship is now over, so now I have to leave. After that, I know that he was crying and I know that he felt bad that he hit me, and my first initial reaction was to get up, and like I don't know, I was just in shock and it felt like a Jerry Springer moment, it was very surreal, and I just couldn't believe that he hit me. But he knows that like I don't stand for physical violence, albeit we'll get to that after with Sean [Waltman], so I knew at that point I had to leave, but I needed some sort of closure so when he was gone I started looking all over the house, and I looked into his, long story short, I looked into his briefcase and I found a love letter from Stephanie that had [been] dated a year back, so the whole time they were doing the storyline basically they were together."
Levesque immediately responded to the allegations, releasing the following statement:
"The false statements and reckless allegations made by Joan Laurer (aka Chyna) on a recent podcast about a physical dispute are a complete fabrication. While Joan has had significant struggles in life, this does not justify making such claims."
Addressing her November 2001 departure from WWE on Opie with Jim Norton, Chyna said she received a fax message from WWE one day informing her that her services were no longer needed. She said the last thing Vince McMahon said to her was that "blood is thicker than water" and that he would stay in touch with her. Chyna said she was never given a reason why WWE did not renew her contract.
Discussing Triple H's relationship with Stephanie at the time, Chyna said she learned that 'Hunter' was cheating on her when she discovered a love note from Stephanie in his briefcase that was dated a year earlier. The former WWE Diva said she loved 'Hunter' and didn't know that he was having an affair with Stephanie for a year. She said she was forced to leave the relationship "due to the incident that happened." Chyna said she knew that something "wasn't right" and searched the residence they shared for proof of her suspicions. She said she could have dealt with 'Hunter' and Stephanie being together "because you can't stop love," but didn't like being made to feel as if she was crazy. She said 'Hunter' didn't beat her and abuse her, but there was an incident. She felt if 'Hunter' and Stephanie had been honest with her, the end result would have been different, but it instead led to "so much chaos."
Chyna Trying to Reclaim Her Identity, Director Raising Money for Documentary
Director Erik Angra has launched a Kickstarter campaign for a documentary on former WWE star Chyna. They are seeking $10,000 to produce "The Reconstruction of Chyna" and have raised $315 with 9 backers as of this writing. The page notes that Chyna will be reconnecting with friends, family and fans this summer.
The description reads like this:
At the height of the WWE's "Attitude" era CHYNA was a top-tier figure in a male dominated sport. Winning the world title, the Intercontinental Title twice, and being the number one contender for the heavyweight crown.
Eventually she was crushed by her fiance Triple H's infidelities with the boss's daughter, Stephanie McMahon. He would go on to marry her and become the heir to the WWE Throne.
Chyna would be ostracized from the WWE, cut off from all royalty checks and spiral into pornography and reality shows to survive.
After hitting rock bottom as an alcoholic, she ended up on her feet in Japan. Teaching foreign language for three and a half years while meditating, doing yoga, and getting her life together. Now she comes back to the country that made her a goddess amongst men to redeem herself and reclaim her identity.
Our documentary will follow Chyna across the country as she rediscovers herself with old friends, celebrities and fans before arriving in LA to start her life again.
This film will be an inspiration to women everywhere. Chyna is a living example of a strong feminist who rose to stardom in a male dominated sport despite all odds.
June 10, 2015
Paul Heyman Says There Are Zero Chances of Steve Austin vs. Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 32
Paul Heyman appeared on the latest episode of Chael Sonnen's podcast and admitted that he legitimately caught Steve Austin off-guard when he asked Austin about facing Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 32 during the recent WWE Network podcast.
Heyman said he couldn't sit through an hour-long podcast with Austin, without that question coming up. Heyman said the chances of the match happening are zero and that Austin has a plethora of reasons why it won't happen.
WWE NXT Working with Parent Company of EVOLVE and Full Impact Pro?
There are rumors going around that WWE NXT may be working with WWN, the parent company of EVOLVE, Full Impact Pro and the now-defunct Dragon Gate USA. PWInsider reports that WWE sources indicate there have been talks between the two sides and that WWE started the conversation a week or so ago.
Vince McMahon Reportedly Not Happy With End Of Steve Austin And Paul Heyman's WWE Podcast
We noted before that on Steve Austin's latest podcast he downplayed the speculation on a possible WrestleMania 32 match with Brock Lesnar and said he was not trying to set up a match with the Paul Heyman exchange on their recent WWE Network podcast.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes this week that the match will not be happening. Apparently reasons the match is not happening have to do with issues between Austin and Vince McMahon but The Observer wouldn't speculate on what those issues are. Vince was reportedly not happy with how the podcast ended because Austin vs. Lesnar is not in their current WrestleMania 32 plans.
Vince did not know Heyman and Austin were going to do the bit they did and immediately felt they were creating major interest in a match that was not happening. There was reportedly some sort of discussion between Austin and Vince after the podcast where Vince wanted the story to go away quickly and quietly with Austin addressing it once and then moving on.
WWE Officials Unhappy with ROH's Kevin Steen Figure, Plans to Prevent Future Similar Incidents
There were some top WWE officials very unhappy about Ring of Honor and Figure Toy Company releasing a Kevin Steen action figure because it's a non-WWE company being the first to enter the marketplace with an action figure of WWE's hottest new star. They were also upset because the look and character of ROH's Kevin Steen and WWE's Kevin Owens are essentially the same.
Officials are now trying to prevent this from happening again so there is pressure on Triple H and that department to get non-WWE talents with potential signed to NXT with merchandising deals before they make it a company like ROH or TNA that has their own merchandise and cable TV deals. They are also looking to create a pipeline to find the talents with potential before ROH and TNA finds them. The idea is to not sign talent from ROH or TNA now for the main roster and get the word out to younger talents that if they have WWE aspirations, they shouldn't sign with TNA or ROH. There will always be exceptions to the rule.
Many indie talents have signed 5 year deals with Figure Toy Company, meaning they have the right to market Kevin Steen merchandise for almost 5 more years while WWE pushes him as one of their top new stars.
June 9, 2015
June 8, 2015
Scott Hall Entering Detox Facility, Tweets About Incident Last Month
Scott Hall has had his share of ups and downs, both personally and professionally. One of those downs occurred last month when Hall was escorted out of an event in New Jersey after the promoters claimed that he was too drunk to perform. He missed his scheduled meet & greet for hours later.
Today, Hall announced on Twitter that he'd be entering a detox facility stemming from the incident. Hall had appeared to be improving significantly over the past several years with the help of Diamond Dallas Page and Jake "The Snake" Roberts.
Hall said "Happy to report I'm checking in to a detox facility to address my recent difficulty. Thanks to all the supporters out there," in his tweet to fans. Hall went through WWE-sponsored rehab several times, to the tune of over $100,000 according to Stephanie McMahon. Nothing was able to help Hall conquer his demons until moving in with the aforementioned DDP.
WWE Tough Enough Final 40 Revealed
The return of WWE Tough Enough is just two weeks away, and after more than 11,100 members of the WWE Universe uploaded their video submissions, 40 individuals have been invited to a tryout at the WWE Performance Center this week.
The WWE Tough Enough mini-camp takes place Wednesday, June 10, through Friday, June 12, culminating with the announcement of the final 13 contestants, who will compete for one-year, $250,000 WWE Superstar and Diva contracts. The journey of the final 40 will be chronicled on a WWE Network exclusive, WWE Tough Enough Competition Special, which airs Tuesday, June 16, at 8/7 C.
The final 40 contenders are:
Adam Ohriner, Long Island, N.Y.
Alexander Frekey, Dallas
Alexander Galizia, Springfield, Mass.
Amanda Saccomanno, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
Ashley Urbanski, Oakland, Calif.
Ava Knight-Salicka, Las Vegas
Carly Marshall, Los Angeles
Chelsea Green, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Danielle Kamela, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Daria Berenato, Los Angeles
David Michael Barnes, Mandan, N.J.
Dianna Dahlgren, Spokane, Wash.
Don Arner, Pittsburgh
Gabi Castrovinci, Southington, Conn.
Giorgia Piscina, Brisbane, Australia
Hank Avery Jr., Macon, Ga.
Jason Vazquez, Oak Lawn, Ill.
Jeremiah Kingdom, Los Angeles
Joshua Bredl, Thornton, Colo.
Kahlil Bell, San Jose, Calif.
Kevin Penczek, Belle, W.V.
Krishany San Jorge, Puerto Rico
LaRayia Gaston, Los Angeles
Lorenzo Davis II, Los Angeles
Mada Abdel Hamid, Los Angeles
Michael Mio, Staten Island, N.Y.
Mike Hayes, Louisville, Ken.
Nehemiah Kingdom, Los Angeles
Nicholas Cuffari, Lakewood, Okla.
Patrick Clark, Washington, D.C.
Philip Guilford, Atlantic City, N.J.
Samantha Sage, Los Angeles
Sara Bettencourt, San Jose, Calif.
Sara Lee, Hope, Mich.
Stephen Tezanos-Pinto, Sacramento, Calif.
Tanner Saraceno, Boiling Springs, S.C.
Tommaso Giannuzzi, Germany
Vinny Tortorella, Staten Island, N.Y.
Zach Boss, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Zamariah “ZZ” Loupe, Bayou Bluff, La.
Watch Raw tonight to learn more about the final 40, and stick with WWEToughEnough.com throughout the week for exclusive videos and breaking news from the tryout.
WWE Surpasses Half a Billion Social Media Followers
WWE today announced it has eclipsed half a billion fans through its global social media platforms, further cementing its position as one of the most-followed brands in the world.
WWE’s flagship Facebook page has more fans than the NFL, ESPN, Marvel, Google and UFC, and WWE Superstar John Cena is the No.1 most followed active American athlete on Facebook with more than 36 million likes. On Twitter, @WWE has more followers than MLB, Disney, Sony and Pepsi and according to Klout, is the No. 1 most influential brand on Twitter. On Instagram, WWE’s fastest-growing platform, @WWE has more followers than ESPN, HBO, NHL and Gatorade. With nearly 5 billion video views on YouTube in the past year alone, WWE is the No. 1 Sports channel ahead of the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, ESPN and NASCAR.
WWE’s Social Media Snapshot:
• Facebook: 354 million total likes, including 98 million new likes, an increase of 38 percent year-over year.
• Twitter: 108 million total followers, including 18 million new followers, an increase of 20 percent year-over-year.
• Instagram: 26 million total followers, including 25 million new followers, an increase of 2,955 percent year-over-year.
• YouTube: 6.2 million total subscribers, including 2.8 million new subscribers, an increase of 82 percent year-over-year.
Earlier this year, WWE won awards for Overall Social Media Excellence and Social Media Dream Team at the 2015 Cynopsis Sports Media Awards and 2015 Cablefax Digital Awards, respectively. WWE’s 12 social media platforms include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Periscope, Google+, Vine, Foursquare, Tumblr, Pheed and Pinterest.
New Rumors on a Physical WWE Hall of Fame
There have been many rumors about a physical WWE Hall of Fame over the past few years and we reported back in January 2014 via The New York Post that NBCUniversal was considering a physical WWE hall for Universal Studios in Orlando as part of their pitch to keep WWE on their networks. It's been reported that Triple H has been very interested in a WWE museum for the Hall and now there are new rumors of the project being hosted in the Orlando area.
Universal Studios announced this week that they are closing NBA City at Universal CityWalk in Orlando as they chose not to renew the lease several months back. They are planning on announcing a new concept soon as NBA City shuts down in August.
Theme park website BehindTheThrills.com reports that rumors of the new concept include a Cheesecake Factory restaurant, a Universal movie set themed restaurant and a WWE Hall of Fame restaurant. These are just rumors for now but it would be interesting to see WWE get back into the restaurant business.
June 7, 2015
Backstage Update on WWE Officials Discovering Havok’s Controversial Tweets, Did Her Remarks Affect Her Current WWE Tryout?
Former TNA Knockout Havok had been at the center of controversy surrounding tweets from years ago that featured racist and homophobic remarks.
Havoc apologized for the comments, but later deleted the apology. She's been at the Performance Center in Orlando for a WWE tryout this week. She also deleted the offensive tweets in question.
According to Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Radio, Havoc had been impressing those who were conducting the tryouts in Orlando. Many were comparing her to the likes of Awesome Kong/Kharma, and were very optimistic about her future.
Apparently the company and everyone at the tryouts found out about the offensive tweets while she was in the ring. Dave Meltzer noted that the situation did her no favors, and Alvarez described it as the "roof caving in." After WWE officials learned of the Tweets, the situation prompted tryout hosts to speak to the attendees about saying stupid things on social media.
The 28-year old Havok spent a few months with TNA before finishing up with the company in February. You can view some of the tweets here.
June 6, 2015
Station Fined For Airing WWE
Authorities in Ecuador are launched an investigation into television network Teleamazonas for airing WWE programming. The station said that the Superintendency of Communication and Information (Supercom) feels that the network airing the show violates federal laws against the promotion of violence. Supercom noted that WWE "runs the risk of becoming a television product incompatible with the cognitive development, criteria, and discernment of the audience."
Supercom released a statement stating that Teleamazonas was fined $1,770 for airing WWE programming on March 28th during a slot that should only be for family-friendly programming.
Rumor Mill - WWE Reportedly Cancels Kliq Reunion Special
We noted before that WWE will be releasing "The Kliq Rules" DVD and Blu-ray on Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Sean Waltman on July 28th. The set was originally planned to include a reunion show that would first air on the WWE Network. That special has been canceled, according to WrestlingDVDNews.com, but the DVD is still going forward. It will include a documentary feature with a compilation of matches & segments but no reunion show.
Mani Mohtadi, who was the person that filmed the infamous Curtain Call incident at Madison Square Garden in 1996, revealed on Twitter that WWE interviewed him for the documentary portion of the set.
ROH COO Talks About Ring Of Honor Deal With Destination America Being Kept Secret, Advertisers
Ring of Honor COO Joe Koff spoke with Against The Mat, talking about Ring of Honor's new television deal with Destination America. You can read the highlights below.
On ROH's deal with Destination America:
"It actually began sometime late last year, I can't remember if it was November or December… it was right around the time that Spike decided not to carry Impact Wrestling anymore, and they ended up moving over to Destination America, and around that time, once that was announced, because we're [Sinclair Broadcasting] a broadcasting company, and we're in the television business, we have a lot of contacts at other broadcasting companies, and one of my colleagues high in the organization made a contact over at Discovery, which owns Destination America, which turned into a lunch with the Destination America people, from there we conversed about the possibility of making Destination America the destination for wrestling in America. That's really how it all started."
On how the deal was kept under wraps:
"Well, good question, good point. I think I have a little bit of experience in this, in that, when we [Sinclair] bought Ring of Honor that also was not leaked until it was announced when we bought it. I'm from a business background and we are a big company that does lots of deals and transactions and we just know how to keep things to a minimum, and keep people to a minimum as far as their involvement and I think we're pretty good at it and I think this bears that out."
On wrestling's reputation with advertisers:
"I think the answer is really apparent. So I'm just going to put it into terms for our community, the wrestling world, which we're a part of. It's a really small world. It's big to us because we're living in it, and we're thriving in it, and we're enjoying in it, and we can have this conversation and talk about the business so openly and get excited about it, and talk about the excitement of what we do in the ring, but if you were at a party, and you tried to engage somebody in this conversation, they would probably, maybe walk away and go get a drink and probably talk to somebody else. We have a niche audience. We have a very loyal audience. I love our Ring of Honor fans. They come to the events, they buy the t-shirts, they buy the DVD's, they come up to me and thank me, they say hello, they take a picture with me, etcetera, etcetera. But they're comfortable, it's our environment, they're safe in there. There's going to be an advertiser, and there's some advertisers that seek out that male 18-24, 18-34 audience… but it's professional wrestling. We're not going to change some of that stigma that exists with being in professional wrestling or what the sport might represent. So, I just don't think it's high on the list of advertisers' wants or needs. But the advertisers' who do, and have the foresight to go after this demographic nail 18-24, and I don't want to be too technical, but this is a gold mine for an advertiser. So if there's any advertiser's listening, or of a national scope, who I know that there are because there fans everywhere… this is a chance to reach these audiences…"
Former WWE announcer Justin Roberts buries Triple H in SI interview
Former WWE ring announcer Justin Roberts is making media rounds promoting both his appearance at Legends of the Ring tomorrow night in New Jersey, and the release of his upcoming autobiography detailing his life and career in professional wrestling. That includes a lengthy interview with SI.com.
In it, it's revealed Roberts talks about Triple H extensively in his book. Well, he buries him in the interview.
Here's an excerpt:
"Hunter is portrayed as the savior of wrestling, and people think he'll save the business once he's in charge. We all thought that, too, until he started running things. Paul started overseeing a bunch of divisions and one of them was live events. When he took over, our live events schedule was brutal. We'd start in one place and flew all over. Since he used to be one of the boys on the road, we thought he'd stand up and stop that, and he didn't. The schedule got worse.
"Hunter started squashing stuff that really started getting over. If you notice, it's all about the future, and the future is NXT. But focusing on the future shouldn't mean ignoring the present. Zack Ryder got over huge to the point to the point where the crowd was cheering for him at Madison Square Garden while The Rock was standing in the ring. Dolph Ziggler got over. Primo and Epico [now known as Los Matadores] are fantastic wrestlers, but they get lost in the shuffle. There is a glass ceiling, and anybody they don't want to get over is squashed despite the fans strongly getting behind them. Daniel Bryan is a rare exception, despite the company fighting it over and over."
June 4, 2015
Rumor Mill - TNA Force Talent To Cancel Bookings With Jeff Jarrett's Global Force Wrestling
TNA management have barred any talent working for them from working for any promotion on broadcast television, which includes the traditional ones such as WWE and Ring of Honor, as well as Lucha Underground. However, they are also no longer allowing talent from working for Jeff Jarrett's Global Force Wrestling promotion even though it has no TV deal. The premise of this comes from Tyrus (formerly Brodus Clay in WWE) taking bookings with GFW this summer, who had to cancel the bookings and posted the following on Twitter:
Due to contractual obligations I will not be working for GFWs up coming shows #CardSubjectToChange sorry for any inconvenience #NuffSaid
This comes not because of GFW taping for television, but in Dave Meltzer's words, "because he'd be working for Jeff Jarrett". TNA officials reportedly threatened to fire him if he didn't cancel the bookings. Karen Jarrett, Jeff Jarrett's wife, tweeted out the following in response:
Sounds like someone is throwing a temper tantrum in Nashville. Oh you can't control the world darlin!
— Karen Jarrett (@karenjarrett) June 2, 2015
TNA Receives Lowest Viewership Since Changing Cable Networks
Last night's (6/3) episode of Impact Wrestling garnered 297,000 viewers in the first hour, down from the 413,000 from the 5/29 episode, which was a Friday. It is speculated that the night change from Friday to Wednesday caused this viewer-drop.
This is the lowest amount of viewers TNA has had since switching Cable Networks.
Samoa Joe Talks His Unique WWE Contract And Being In WWE
We've noted how Samoa Joe had reportedly signed a full-time WWE contract after impressing officials with his work at the recent NXT tapings and due to the success of his t-shirt sales.
The new deal will not see Joe go straight to the main roster as he will be a focal point of NXT for a few months. Obviously Joe is expected to end up on the main roster, possibly fast-tracked as they've done with Kevin Owens.
Regarding Joe and Ring of Honor, he is still teaming with AJ Styles to face Kazarian and Daniels at the July 20th ROH TV tapings and this will likely be Joe's farewell but the company was looking at using Joe for more dates until the news came out about the full-time deal with WWE. We've noted that Joe will still be fulfilling all indie dates that are scheduled but WWE will likely come first if they needed him on a date that was already booked for an indie.
Samoa Joe on now being 'WWE Super Star Samoa Joe' and his unique contract:
"Careers and fate have a funny way of working, and I guess a lot of people, myself included at some point, didn't think that those were words that would be said together - but here we are now and I'm very happy with it."
"It's a real new concept and I was definitely the test case for the new deal that I have. And it was definitely something that they felt would be beneficial for wrestlers who have an established career and aren't really new to the game, in a sense of speaking. […] I was really mattered that I was a part of that first initial run of test cases to try that concept out, and I hope it leads to over very talented individuals getting a chance to join the ranks of WWE."
WWE Responds To Lawsuit From Widow Of Big Daddy V, How Much Money Did He Make While With WWE?
WWE lawyers recently tried to move Cassandra Frazier's wrongful death lawsuit to Connecticut. Frazier is the widow of Nelson Frazier Jr., who worked as Viscera and Big Daddy V. Lawyers noted that Frazier died from a heart attack with contributing causes being morbid obesity and diabetes on his death certificate and he had alcohol and drugs in his system.
WWE also noted that Cassandra contacted them and said she was destitute so they sent her a check for $10,000 as an advance on future royalties. In the suit, it was revealed how much Frazier earned in the years that he was regularly employed with WWE:
1994 - $127,659.15
1995 - $100,648.78
1999 - $159,001.44
2000 - $136,951.85
2005 - $124,252.74
2006 - $152,659.55
2007 - $178,359.64
2008 - $251,223.65
June 3, 2015
UFC announces anti-doping plan
UFC announced today the unveiling of its new, ground-breaking Athlete Marketing and Development program, introduced to provide athletes with programs and tools to help them maximize their careers and succeed long-term, both inside and outside the Octagon®. In coordination with key organizations such as the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Fusionetics, and EXOS, UFC continues to be at the forefront of athlete development, making a significant investment into the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) and, most importantly, the athletes who step into the Octagon.
"Earlier this year, we vowed to take a leadership position on key areas impacting our sport, fighter health and fighter safety," UFC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Lorenzo Fertitta said. "After months of hard work, and the addition of Jeff Novitzky, we have taken the opportunity to not only launch an elite anti-doping policy, but to invest, develop and deploy a year-round Athlete Marketing and Development program focused on the preparation, performance and education of our athletes."
As UFC continues to evolve as one of the world's leading sports organizations, it has engaged USADA to run the first all-encompassing, independently administered, anti-doping policy for a professional sports organization. The policy is a central part of UFC's expanded efforts to protect the health and safety of its athletes, and to protect their right to compete with natural ability on an even playing field.
USADA, universally recognized as a premier anti-doping agency, will act as the independent administrator of the anti-doping policy, beginning July 1, 2015. As the policy ramps up, UFC and USADA will provide athletes with multiple levels of education including: written copies of the policy and accompanying materials, in-person presentations, hands-on demonstration of online and mobile applications, and on-line education courses. Jeff Novitzky, UFC Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance, will spearhead the roll out of the anti-doping policy.
UFC and USADA will release the finalized policy to the athletes, the media and the public by mid-June.
Fusionetics, developed under the leadership of Dr. Micheal A. Clark and a group of scientists, sports medicine professionals, coaches, athletes and business leaders, is a system that was designed and is utilized in the world of professional sports to help athletes improve their performance, speed up their recovery and avoid future injury. The newly announced partnership will allow UFC athletes to access Fusionetics facilities and interact with their staff, providing individualized digital plans that can be utilized on the athletes' tablets and phones.
EXOS, the leaders in training, nutrition and physical therapy for elite athletes, have worked with some of the best professional athletes in sport and will now begin working closely with UFC athletes. The goal is to help UFC athletes maximize performance and minimize injury risk. During the last week of May, middleweight Luke Rockhold, former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and newly signed middleweight CM Punk became the first UFC athletes to take part in a full week of training at the EXOS facilities in Phoenix learning innovative ways to train, plan and prepare for competition. Phase two of the program will include sending additional athletes to the EXOS facilities, as well as deploying a mobile EXOS team to some of the top gyms in the sport.
June 2, 2015
Goldberg: ‘I Recently Spoke With Triple H About A Return’, More
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Goldberg revealed he spoke to Triple H about a possible WWE return but doesn’t think it worked out well. Here are highlights:
On never being one to back down from a fight, even with Vince McMahon: “[Hulk] Hogan once said to me, ‘Hey brother, you’re going to have to play the game. If Vince calls you in the middle of the night to get on a plane, you’re going to have to do it.’ I said to him, ‘You obviously don’t know me.’”
On Sting getting him into the business: “Sting was the guy who changed my mind. He and Lex Luger used to own a gym called Main Event Fitness in Atlanta. When I was with the Falcons, I used to work out there. I would have never imagined in a trillion years that I would have followed this path, but what made the decision realistic for me was the way Sting carried himself. When I met Sting, and observed him leading his family, business, and social life, it was completely different than what I’d ever seen in the past. I thought, ‘You know what? I can do this.’ So I bought thousands of dollars of old tapes trying to perfect moves that nobody had ever done before. I saw something that I liked, then I’d change it and make it my own.”
On WWE trying to dismiss his impact on wrestling: “That’s the way I feel. I’m surely not going to be somebody who pounds his chest and professes I was somebody who couldn’t be replaced, but I think I made a difference. For that character, nobody could do it better. So to not get the credit for the impact that I helped make is frustrating.”
On a recent talk with Triple H: “I had a conversation with Paul [Levesque] recently and I said, ‘Listen, I’m willing to put everything aside. If you guys want to sit down and make some money and have some fun, then let’s do it. My son wants to see me wrestle, and I’m willing to put all the bad feelings aside. If you guys want to move forward and do this thing the right way, then let’s talk.’ And that’s the way it ended. There’s nothing there. Truthfully, I don’t even think they want me to come, period. I’m just not one of them. The fact that I’m not far outweighs the financial gain, which they truly may not even believe is there. And I’m good with that. I’m absolutely fine with that.”
On WWE possibly inducting him into the WWE Hall Of Fame: “I don’t have a time limit and age is just a number for me. If the Hall of Fame presents itself, then I’ll do it in a heartbeat. But it’s not something where I sit here and go, ‘Man, I wish the WWE would induct me in the Hall of Fame.’ I don’t think about what I would say in my speech or who would induct me. I don’t think about that, by no stretch of the imagination.”
Kentucky Arenas Fighting Regulation Of Pro Wrestling In The State, WWE Declines To Comment
Insider Louisville posted a story today which revealed that major Kentucky arenas such as Lexington's Rupp Arena and Louisville's KFC Yum! Center are hoping that the state's athletic commission abandons professional wrestling regulation or severely reduces the amount of restrictions.
Kentucky is among the roughly half of states in which pro wrestling is regulated, and the state is widely considered the most strict. If a competitor bleeds in a match, the contest has to be stopped until the bleeding subsides. Also, blading is considered illegal. The same rules don't apply for MMA and boxing bouts in the state. Also, oddly enough, one license allows you to promote MMA, boxing or pro wrestling despite the vast differences in the three. The issue is costing the state millions in missed revenue due to the fact that companies like WWE and TNA pass up the state in favor of nearby Cincinnati and Indianapolis. MMA fights aren't stopped due to blood, as all amateurs and pros must have blood screenings submitted prior to the fight and are required to update them annually.
The Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority sent a letter following a 2010 WWE event containing blood, saying they would only be permitted to return if KBWA officials were there to stop any match with bleeding. Yum! Center GM Dennis Petrullo says this is the reason that televised events don't often happen in the state anymore.
"The live TV events with WWE are very large and they draw a lot of people and viewers, so there's too much money involved to allow someone to stop one of the bouts," Petrullo told Insider Louisville. "It's insane. I mean, look at Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, or mixed martial arts, there's blood all over the place. And for some reason they have stopped them from coming into Kentucky because of blood in the ring."
The situation also affects independent wrestlers and promotions, who are required to pay fees to run events in the state. There have been instances where the KBWA also doesn't have enough staff to handle all of the events in the state.
I reached out to the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority, who refused to comment on the matter further, but board administrator Angela Robinson. did tell the Insider "wrestling is a real sport, Even though the outcome might be choreographed, it's still a real sport. People still do get injured." By that same notion the KBWA should also seek regulating film fight scenes in the area. Ultimately, it comes down to the commission wanting their cut of profits.
WWE's spokeswoman declined to comment to Insider on the story, but it was also revealed that WWE's Damien Sandow has also worked in the past on trying to get the situation sorted out.
June 1, 2015
Steve Austin On What He Likes About NXT, Says Monday Night RAW Is 'Dumbed Down'
WWE Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin has had an up and down relationship with WWE since debuting with the company in late 1995. While he'll be hosting another edition of his acclaimed podcast on the WWE Network tonight, he was still quick to offer his candid thoughts about the current WWE product. He spoke about some of his issues with Raw on his own podcast last week.
In particular, Austin pointed out that he thinks Raw insults the intelligence of the viewer because they don't leave anything to the imagination. He feels like the main roster show has been dumbed down and portrayed as if nobody has ever watched wrestling before.
"It's [NXT] simple, it's to the point. It's not dumbed down like Monday Night Raw," Austin said. "On Monday Night Raw it's like they want to fill in every blank for you. It's like wrestling for morons. They've overthought it."
Austin noted that comparing the show isn't necessarily fair, since Raw is a three hour program and NXT is one hour. Still, Austin said that he enjoyed the way that NXT is laid out because there isn't much wasted motion during the broadcast.
"It's a one hour show, I get it. I like the format of the NXT show," Austin said.
