Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Aug 30, 2013 12:13:38 GMT -6
PRO WRESTLING NEWS:
---Here are some recent WWE attendance figures:
* August 23rd in Fresno, California drew 6,500 fans for $160,000
* August 24th in San Diego drew 4,000 fans for $155,000
* August 24th in Las Cruces, New Mexico drew 5,700 fans for $190,000
* August 25th in Ontario, CA drew 4,800 fans for $160,000
* August 25th in Rio Rancho, NM drew 4,000 fans for $110,000
--- Ed "Brutus Beefcake" Leslie was recently married.
--- Eva Marie did the ring announcing for the WWE Superstars tapings held before Monday's RAW in Phoenix.
---Retired UFC star Stephan Bonnar, age 36, is interested in getting into pro wrestling, mainly WWE.
--- A joint bid between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario, Canada, has come in for WrestleMania 32 in 2016. This bid is in the running with Orlando, Florida and the Dallas, Texas area. Detroit would mean a WrestleMania return to Ford Field, the site of WrestleMania 23. The city of Windsor, as a sister city, has agreed to put up $60,000 in taxpayer money to help Detroit get WrestleMania.
--- WWE has turned down the idea of doing the Bruno Sammartino movie by Scott Rosenfeldt. There are said to be some parties still interested but Rosenfeldt was hoping to reach a deal with WWE.
---The Undertaker will be making a rare WWE DVD appearance for the upcoming release on Triple H.
--- Another WWE NXT wrestler to have his name changed is Australian wrestler Matt Silva. He is now known as Buddy Murphy.
--- Kassius Ohno was not used at the most recent set of WWE NXT tapings. At last word, Ohno was taken off TV and told to get his body looking better, and concentrate more on weight training.
---Sami Callihan is no more as the independent wrestling standout will be known as Solomon Crowe going forward as part of WWE's NXT division.
---All Japan: Shiraishi resigns as President .Nobuo Shiraishi, who bought all Japan Pro Wrestling at the end of last year, will lay down end of August his post as President of the promotion, but will remain owner. Why was this step, not said Shiraishi. The 40-year-old had taken over until early June the post, after Keiji Muto left the promotion. Previously speculated about whether one of the confidants of Shiraishis named Hiroshi Inoue would take over the post, this eventually but only became a Managing Director. Who will become the successor of Shiraishis, not yet been determined, however.Shiraishi, who played his first and probably last wrestling match last Sunday, ordered Triple Crown Champion Suwama and Masanobu Fuchi, since the reorganization of all Japan's in the Supervisory Board, as other business leaders on the side of Inoue. After the disappointing attendance of Sunday came despite the long built matches Suwama vs. go Shiozaki only 1,304 spectators in the OTA around 4,000 seat Ward high school, writes the promotion so further negative headlines and is once again without a President.
---In a recent interview with Arda Ocal during SummerSlam weekend in Los Angeles, Rey Mysterio revealed that he was planning to return to WWE television in September. However, according to several sources in WWE, Mysterio’s days as a full-time performer may very well be over.Although members of the creative team have told they should start coming up with ideas to reintroduce the former World Heavyweight champion on television, a high-placed company official tells us there’s currently “no deal” in place for him to be back on the road with main roster week after week.“I’d say Rey’s full time days are over,” a source said. “He’s semi-retired.”
---WWE.com has added late 1980s star Hillbilly Jim to its Alumni section. Now 61-years-old, Jim hosts a show on Sirius Satellite Radio, Hillbilly Jim's Moonshine Matinee, which plays a wide variety of classic country music and Southern rock. Between records, he tells stories of his time with the World Wrestling Federation.
--- Former WCW wrestler Bobby Blaze has released an autobiography, Pin Me, Pay Me!: Have Boots, Will Travel, chronicling his journey throughout the world of professional wrestling. The synopsis reads, "Bobby Blaze Smedley's forthright autobiography, Pin Me, Pay Me, Have Boots Will Travel, is a powerful and insightful look at the inner workings of the world of professional wrestling, written in an introspective story-telling style that puts you in the ring with him. Overcoming illness and adversity to rise to the heights of his chosen profession, Bobby takes you on the road and around the world as he realizes his lifelong dream, to be one of the rare individuals who earns his living as a professional wrestler." Prior to joining World Championship Wrestling in the late 1990's, Blaze competed for Smokey Mountain Wrestling. On February 26 1995, he defeated Jerry "The King" Lawler to capture the Smokey Mountain Heavyweight Championship.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/1491248440/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?
---Craig Jenkins.former Live Events Coordinator for TNA, took a shot at the company on twitter:
twitter.com/Jenxman/status/373053322766213121/photo/1
---Kayfabe Commentaries will be shooting a Youshoot DVD with Balls Mahoney.
---New England Championship Wrestling will hold their 13th anniversary show on 9/7 in Beverly, MA at the Cove Community Center, headlined by NECW Heavyweight Champion, Antonio Thomas teaming with Slyck Wagner Brown vs. former NECW champ Sean Burke and Jeremy Prophet. For more, visit www.necw.tv.
---Highspots are looking for suggestions on new documentaries to do. If you have ideas, email highspots@aol.com.
---The wrestling comic book Headlocked announced that 30 Rock's Judah Friedlander will be penning the introduction to Headlocked: The Last Territory, which is being funded on Kickstarter. Friedlander joins Jerry Lawler, Rob Van Dam, Shane Helms, Ken Anderson, Christopher Daniels, Sinn Bodhi, Beth Phoenix, and Jill Thompson as guest contributors to the series. The wrestler stories and art are only available for people that order the book through Kickstarter at this link. They have hit their target number, so the new edition of the book will be going into production.
--- Les Thatcher will be heading up a seminar on 9/15 for Antonio Thomas' Ringsport Pro Wrestling Gym in Palmer, MA. Spots can be reserved by emailing Ringsportprowrestling@gmail.com.
---On August 17th, Charlie Haas returned to in ring action for the first time since he left Ring of Honor and won the Branded Outlaw wrestling heavyweight championship from Jax Dane. Charlie will defend the title for the first time on September 21st in San Antonio. Also booked for this show is Rhino vs Rob Conway for the NWA Title.
---Sunny will be signing this Sunday at the Wrestling Universe store in Queens, NY. For more, visit www.ICWZONE.com.
--- Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff took part in a Q&A in Toronto over the weekend as part of the Fan Expo event. A fan asked Hogan what could finally be done to make TNA successful.
Hogan said that Eric Bischoff "needed to be given the keys to the car" and that, "somebody somewhere" needed to "drop all the resources we need like we had in the WWE and the WWF, whether it be cameras or money or vehicles or advertising" in order for TNA to work "in a perfect world."
In asking around about what TNA's response to the comments were, I was told that a number of people within the company were upset about the statement for several reasons and that there's absolutely heat on the duo for even insinuating that the Carter family wasn't giving TNA proper resources.
As one source noted, no matter how you feel about her, the comments can't be seen as anything but a direct slap in the face to TNA President Dixie Carter, coming from her top paid talent, no less.
"Even if you agreed with Hulk, " said one TNA wrestler that spoke under condition of anomynity, "the way it was said and the way it comes across in that video just completely disrespected Dixie, even if that's not what he meant."
Two, the reality is that to many in the company, Bischoff has been given the keys to the car. From the day he and Hogan came into the company, TNA management has acquiesced to their creative direction and ideas - whether it be talent that was brought in, the removal of the six-sided ring, the failure that came with moving Impact Wrestling to Mondays opposite Raw, leaving the Impact Zone and taking TNA on the road, etc. These were all ideas that came from the Bischoff/Hogan era that TNA agreed to under the auspice of growing the company.
The problem with all that is, as one source noted, there has been no growth in any facet of TNA's business since The Bischoff/Hogan regime began - not in live events, not in ratings, not in licensing - not in any one department or aspect of the promotion.
Instead, the company went on the road and didn't see the estimated revenue that they believed would come with it, forcing them to restructure from the ground up and putting them into a position where they have to be the "evil company" letting Jesse Soresen go and have to be in a position where money is an issue re-signing their original poster boy, AJ Styles.
At the same time, TNA has paid Hogan a good salary and put Bischoff into a position where he became the conduit and liason between Spike and TNA, even before Dixie Carter, who created and cultivated the relationship between the two sides.
So, the pair continue to reap the rewards of being part of the company while others have lost their jobs, have had their deals restructured for less money and watch as the company continues to, at best, run on a treadmill and at worse, slide backwards. To put it in layman's terms, TNA is putting out more money to be exactly where they were, or worse, in comparison to before Bischoff/Hogan's regime began.
So, for Hogan to say that TNA should just hand Bischoff a blank check and full power, well, you can imagine how much all that has endeared the duo inside the TNA offices this week, especially when everyone's work and deals have been scrutinized closely in recent months.
A number of people noted that they would be waiting to see what the interaction between the duo and Dixie Carter would be at tonight's taping in Cleveland, the first time Hogan has been at a TNA taping in a month.
"Hulk came across like he pretty much said that the company didn't have anyone strong in charge and Eric was the savior," said the TNA wrestler. "Well, they've been here years and Eric hasn't saved anyone yet."
---www.IntegrityBookings.com is very pleased to announce that Former WWE Superstar TED DIBIASE JR has chosen us as his official representative for any future bookings you may have!! The demand for Ted Jr. has been tremendous and we are very excited to be able to bring him to you. Ted DiBiase Jr. is available for Autograph signings, Conventions, Question & Answer sessions, Seminars, DiBiase Posse tailgate parties and the like. A third generation wrestling superstar and two-time WWE World Tag-Team Champion, Ted starred in the 20thCentury Fox movie “The Marine 2” (co-starring Michael Rooker of TV's “The Walking Dead”).
For ALL of your appearance requests please fill out our "Book A Client" form located here: integritybookings.com/book-a-client/.We can also be reached by sending an e-mail to: TalentRelations@IntegrityBookings.com or a private message on Facebook to Facebook.com/IntegrityBookings
Ted DiBiase Jr flies out of Jackson Airport (JAN) in Mississippi. Hotel, airfare, ground transportation and deposits are required to secure the booking. Serious Requests Only!
NOTE: Ted Jr. will NOT be doing shoot interviews of any kind. Due to his schedule, Ted will also be doing a very limited amount of media interviews at this time. For interview requests, please e-mail your credentials toMediaRequests@SponPR.com.
Ted DiBiase Jr.'s official social media profiles are:
Facebook.com/TedDiBiaseJrOfficial
Twitter.com/TedDiBiase
---WWE Hall of Famer Adam "Edge" Copeland is going to be hosting SyFy's Ghost Mine on 9/4.
---Samuray del Sol's new official WWE NXT name is Kalisto.
---Former WWE Diva Karlee Perez, f.k.a. Maxine, is offering a fan the chance to watch her on the set of her new web series and go on a date with her afterwards. Details are in press release below: Richmond, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/29/2013 -- WWE Diva-Turned-Action-Star, "MAXINE" (aka Karlee Perez) is teaming up with an important charity to make sure every child has the greatest gift of all…a loving family. Karlee is conducting an exciting fundraiser in conjunction with Sylvia Thomas Center, a widely-known Florida Non-profit Organization which provides a variety of support services to adoptive families. For the rest of the month of August, fans can log on to imanifilms.com and enter the "Karlee Perez Fight for Families Sweepstakes!" For a donation of $3 or more, fans will be entered into a drawing to win an all-expense-paid trip to El Paso, Texas, and witness Karlee on the set of her new web series "The Cell" and then go on a date with the action star! Synopsis: Genetically altered at birth in an illegal experiment, 5 beautiful, wayward women are marked for death as part of a government cover-up. But, when their executioner has a change of heart, the women are brought to the ultimate island training center and taught to harness their super-natural abilities to fight global injustice...including the corrupt system that created them. In the series, Karlee plays "Garcia", a government-contracted operative who leaves her corrupt employer to help a fellow mercenary (the executioner) by accompanying him to the island training facility and (in the process) helping to fight off an array of characters trying constantly to kill the entire group. "The Cell" is a highly clandestine entity that fights global injustice, including human trafficking, genocide, and terrorism.
---A disturbed woman was arraigned Monday and held without bail on one count of criminal homicide after allegedly giving birth and killing her infant son. Amanda Catherine Hein was watching SummerSlam with two male friends at a sports bar in Bethlehem, PA. She left to go to the bathroom after complaining about back pain, where she gave birth to a son. She then allegedly wrapped the baby in a plastic bag and placed him in the toilet tank. She then returned to the bar, smoked a cigarette and resumed watching the pay-per-view. One of the men with her said that he didn't know that she was pregnant, and noted that she was gone a long time. Hein told authorities that nobody knew that she was pregnant. An autopsy revealed that the baby was born alive, and authorities said that while the baby was a few weeks premature, he could have survived.
---The site of the 2016 WrestleMania was decided today. The site of the 2015 WrestleMania has not been decided yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if it's decided in the next two days. I don't know who got 2016 but do know that the winning city was told to keep quiet. The winning city for 2015 will also be told the same thing, and there was heat on Santa Clara for the mayor's office going public with the fact they were in line for 2015 in the local media.
---The WWE is doing a tryout camp which started yesterday at their Performance Center in Orlando. There were two sessions yesterday and a long session today. Bill DeMott runs the camp and judging will include Joey Mercury, Norman Smiley, Terry Taylor, Gerald Brisco and William Regal. There are about 30 guys in the camp. Eddie Edwards, according to the reports we got, was standing out of everyone, followed by Davey Richards.
---The debut of the new Wrestle-1 promotion on 9/8 from the Tokyo Dome City Hall will be available as a live iPPV at 3 a.m. Eastern and midnight late Saturday Pacific at ww.ustream.tv/w-1 The price will be $20
---New Japan has announced three iPPV shows in September
9/5 from Korakuen Hall will be an introductory priced experimental show for $10
9/14 from Korakuen Hall will be $15
9/29 is a regular PPV show headlined by Kazuchika Okada vs. Satoshi Kojima, Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Shelton Benjamin and more for $25
--- New Japan will be offering all of its PPVs going forward in English, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese.
---Ryan Drago from Kansas City has been renamed Simon Gotch. That's a spoof on Dean Malenko (real name Dean Simon) and Karl Gotch.
--UFC has purchased 24 acres of land for $7.8 million in Las Vegas. It will construct new headquarters, near Lucky's Lounge on I-215 and Jones Blvd.
---Al Snow Movie Project-
www.indiegogo.com/projects/with-you-around
---Michael Hutter, the former Derek Bateman from WWE NXT, worked a dark match at Thursday's Impact Wrestling taping in Cleveland, Ohio, losing to Jay Bradley.
---Due to a visa or passport issue, Magnus arrived late to Cleveland and missed the show that aired Thursday, but I believe he did arrive in Cleveland later. This won't affected him going forward.
PRO WRESTLING EVENTS FOR Saturday August 31,2013:
WWE @ TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts
TNA @ Shenandoah County Fairgrounds in Woodstock, Virginia
AWA Supreme @ AWA Supreme Arena in Madison, Indiana
BPW @ Collings Teen Center in West Sacramento, California
BW @ Van Wert County Fairgrounds in Van Wert, Ohio
CCW @ Knights Of Columbus Hall in Cahokia, Illinois
Clash @ Taylor Town Trade Center in Taylor, Michigan
CTPW @ Murphy Park (Pavilion) in Taylor, Texas
CWA @ Center City Mall in Paterson, New Jersey
CWFA @ CWFA Arena in Scottsdale, Arizona
DCW @ Farmington Fire Department in Farmington, Delaware
DPW @ Stubbs Park in Dublin, Georgia
DSCW @ City Park in Blue Ridge, Georgia
ECPW @ Eurana Park (Pavilion) in Weatherly, Pennsylvania
EWA @ Family Life Center in Macclesfield, North Carolina
FUW @ Tampa Bay Sports Center in Tampa, Florida
GCW @ Pell City Civic Center in Pell City, Alabama
HoPWF @ Superior Pro Wrestling Training Center in Hagerstown, Maryland
ICWA @ Trinity Assembly Of God Church in Johnson City, Tennessee
IPW @ IPW Vault in Algona, Iowa
IRWX @ Clyde's Place in Carp Lake, Michigan
IWA Unlimited @ Lively Stone Church in Mount Vernon, Illinois
IZW @ Impact Arena in Lawton, Oklahoma
LSC @ LSC Arena in Middletown, Ohio
MPW @ Eagles Club in Council Bluffs, Iowa
NAWO @ Montwood High School in El Paso, Texas
NWF @ Masonic Lodge in Hamilton, Ohio
OVW @ Vaughn Reno Starks Community Center in Elizabethtown, Kentucky
OWA @ Family Gym in San Diego, California
PWG @ American Legion #308 in Reseda, California
RCW @ Madison Palmer High School (Gymnasium) in Marks, Mississippi
SCW @ Salvation Army Gymnasium in Sanford, Florida
SCW @ Mount Pleasant Madhouse in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee
SCW @ Suquamish Tribal Gym in Poulsbo, Washington
SOW @ National Guard Armory in Morristown, Tennessee
SPWA @ Old Action Apparel Building in Ramer, Tennessee
SRPW @ Oakhurst Firehouse in Oakhurst, Oklahoma
SWA @ National Guard Armory in Lafayette, Tennessee
SWE @ EW Arena in Hillview, Kentucky
TAP @ Old Cheese Factory in McMinnville, Tennessee
TIWF @ Showplex Arena in Trenton, Tennessee
TSW @ Cumberland Football Field in Cumberland, Kentucky
TWF @ Veterans Of Foreign Wars Hall #8621 in Alice, Texas
TWF @ Futures High School (Gymnasium) in North Highlands, California
UCW @ Fayette County Fairgrounds (Indoor Arena) in Dunbar, Pennsylvania
UCW @ Utah County Historic Courthouse in Provo, Utah
USAPW @ National Guard Armory in Orlando, Florida
Vex @ National Guard Armory in Vincennes, Indiana
VPW @ Leo Fire Company in Red Lion, Pennsylvania
WCCW @ WCCW Arena in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
WF @ Spires Recreation Center in Cayce, South Carolina
WLW @ Linn Middle School (Fieldhouse) in Linn, Missouri
WODW @ El Mesias Grand Plaza in Elgin, Illinois
WOWF @ WOWF Arena in Newbern, Tennessee
WXW @ Recreation Center in Minneola, Florida
CCW @ Foley Agricultural Hall in Seguin, Ontario
NSPW @ Horizon Centre in Quebec City, Quebec
XWA @ Fundy Arena in Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick
AAA @ Municipal Auditorium in Perote, Mexico
AAA @ Santos Reyes Sports Complex in Serdan, Mexico
LLB @ Arena Coliseo in Reynosa, Mexico
LLR @ Arena Juba in Reynosa, Mexico
MHP @ Santa Lucia Arena in Monterrey, Mexico
MP @ Arena Cuautepec in Gustavo A. Madero, Mexico
WWC @ Cosme Beitia Salamo Coliseum in Catano, Puerto Rico
DR @ Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan
IRW @ Warabi Dojo in Saitama, Japan
MPW @ Shinkiba 1st Ring in Tokyo, Japan
Osaka Pro @ Umeda Nasci Hall in Osaka, Japan
Oz Academy @ Azalea Taisho Hall in Osaka, Japan
ASW @ Butlins Resort in Bognor Regis, England
ASW @ Butlins Resort in Skegness, England
Dropkixx @ Balmoral Community Centre in Westcliff-On-Sea, England
NBWA @ Spiceball Leisure Centre in Banbury, England
NGW @ Town Hall in Hessle, England
TAW @ Dunstable Leisure Centre in Dunstable, England
SWE @ Ardler Complex in Dundee, Scotland
BW @ Civic Hall in Conwy, Wales
DPW @ Leuningjes Center in Poeldijk, The Netherlands
EPW @ Cyril Jackson Recreation Centre in Bassendean, Australia
HRPW @ Young Men's Christian Association Building in Craigmore, Australia
IPW @ William Duncan State School in Nerang, Australia
PWA @ Powerhouse Arts Centre in Casula, Australia
QCW @ Upper Ross Police & Citizens Youth Club in Rasmussen, Australia
SPW @ St. Jays Recreation Centre in Salisbury, Australia
UPW @ Birkdale State School in Birkdale, Australia
IPW @ Recreation Centre in Lynfield, New Zealand
---Here are some recent WWE attendance figures:
* August 23rd in Fresno, California drew 6,500 fans for $160,000
* August 24th in San Diego drew 4,000 fans for $155,000
* August 24th in Las Cruces, New Mexico drew 5,700 fans for $190,000
* August 25th in Ontario, CA drew 4,800 fans for $160,000
* August 25th in Rio Rancho, NM drew 4,000 fans for $110,000
--- Ed "Brutus Beefcake" Leslie was recently married.
--- Eva Marie did the ring announcing for the WWE Superstars tapings held before Monday's RAW in Phoenix.
---Retired UFC star Stephan Bonnar, age 36, is interested in getting into pro wrestling, mainly WWE.
--- A joint bid between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario, Canada, has come in for WrestleMania 32 in 2016. This bid is in the running with Orlando, Florida and the Dallas, Texas area. Detroit would mean a WrestleMania return to Ford Field, the site of WrestleMania 23. The city of Windsor, as a sister city, has agreed to put up $60,000 in taxpayer money to help Detroit get WrestleMania.
--- WWE has turned down the idea of doing the Bruno Sammartino movie by Scott Rosenfeldt. There are said to be some parties still interested but Rosenfeldt was hoping to reach a deal with WWE.
---The Undertaker will be making a rare WWE DVD appearance for the upcoming release on Triple H.
--- Another WWE NXT wrestler to have his name changed is Australian wrestler Matt Silva. He is now known as Buddy Murphy.
--- Kassius Ohno was not used at the most recent set of WWE NXT tapings. At last word, Ohno was taken off TV and told to get his body looking better, and concentrate more on weight training.
---Sami Callihan is no more as the independent wrestling standout will be known as Solomon Crowe going forward as part of WWE's NXT division.
---All Japan: Shiraishi resigns as President .Nobuo Shiraishi, who bought all Japan Pro Wrestling at the end of last year, will lay down end of August his post as President of the promotion, but will remain owner. Why was this step, not said Shiraishi. The 40-year-old had taken over until early June the post, after Keiji Muto left the promotion. Previously speculated about whether one of the confidants of Shiraishis named Hiroshi Inoue would take over the post, this eventually but only became a Managing Director. Who will become the successor of Shiraishis, not yet been determined, however.Shiraishi, who played his first and probably last wrestling match last Sunday, ordered Triple Crown Champion Suwama and Masanobu Fuchi, since the reorganization of all Japan's in the Supervisory Board, as other business leaders on the side of Inoue. After the disappointing attendance of Sunday came despite the long built matches Suwama vs. go Shiozaki only 1,304 spectators in the OTA around 4,000 seat Ward high school, writes the promotion so further negative headlines and is once again without a President.
---In a recent interview with Arda Ocal during SummerSlam weekend in Los Angeles, Rey Mysterio revealed that he was planning to return to WWE television in September. However, according to several sources in WWE, Mysterio’s days as a full-time performer may very well be over.Although members of the creative team have told they should start coming up with ideas to reintroduce the former World Heavyweight champion on television, a high-placed company official tells us there’s currently “no deal” in place for him to be back on the road with main roster week after week.“I’d say Rey’s full time days are over,” a source said. “He’s semi-retired.”
---WWE.com has added late 1980s star Hillbilly Jim to its Alumni section. Now 61-years-old, Jim hosts a show on Sirius Satellite Radio, Hillbilly Jim's Moonshine Matinee, which plays a wide variety of classic country music and Southern rock. Between records, he tells stories of his time with the World Wrestling Federation.
--- Former WCW wrestler Bobby Blaze has released an autobiography, Pin Me, Pay Me!: Have Boots, Will Travel, chronicling his journey throughout the world of professional wrestling. The synopsis reads, "Bobby Blaze Smedley's forthright autobiography, Pin Me, Pay Me, Have Boots Will Travel, is a powerful and insightful look at the inner workings of the world of professional wrestling, written in an introspective story-telling style that puts you in the ring with him. Overcoming illness and adversity to rise to the heights of his chosen profession, Bobby takes you on the road and around the world as he realizes his lifelong dream, to be one of the rare individuals who earns his living as a professional wrestler." Prior to joining World Championship Wrestling in the late 1990's, Blaze competed for Smokey Mountain Wrestling. On February 26 1995, he defeated Jerry "The King" Lawler to capture the Smokey Mountain Heavyweight Championship.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/1491248440/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?
---Craig Jenkins.former Live Events Coordinator for TNA, took a shot at the company on twitter:
twitter.com/Jenxman/status/373053322766213121/photo/1
---Kayfabe Commentaries will be shooting a Youshoot DVD with Balls Mahoney.
---New England Championship Wrestling will hold their 13th anniversary show on 9/7 in Beverly, MA at the Cove Community Center, headlined by NECW Heavyweight Champion, Antonio Thomas teaming with Slyck Wagner Brown vs. former NECW champ Sean Burke and Jeremy Prophet. For more, visit www.necw.tv.
---Highspots are looking for suggestions on new documentaries to do. If you have ideas, email highspots@aol.com.
---The wrestling comic book Headlocked announced that 30 Rock's Judah Friedlander will be penning the introduction to Headlocked: The Last Territory, which is being funded on Kickstarter. Friedlander joins Jerry Lawler, Rob Van Dam, Shane Helms, Ken Anderson, Christopher Daniels, Sinn Bodhi, Beth Phoenix, and Jill Thompson as guest contributors to the series. The wrestler stories and art are only available for people that order the book through Kickstarter at this link. They have hit their target number, so the new edition of the book will be going into production.
--- Les Thatcher will be heading up a seminar on 9/15 for Antonio Thomas' Ringsport Pro Wrestling Gym in Palmer, MA. Spots can be reserved by emailing Ringsportprowrestling@gmail.com.
---On August 17th, Charlie Haas returned to in ring action for the first time since he left Ring of Honor and won the Branded Outlaw wrestling heavyweight championship from Jax Dane. Charlie will defend the title for the first time on September 21st in San Antonio. Also booked for this show is Rhino vs Rob Conway for the NWA Title.
---Sunny will be signing this Sunday at the Wrestling Universe store in Queens, NY. For more, visit www.ICWZONE.com.
--- Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff took part in a Q&A in Toronto over the weekend as part of the Fan Expo event. A fan asked Hogan what could finally be done to make TNA successful.
Hogan said that Eric Bischoff "needed to be given the keys to the car" and that, "somebody somewhere" needed to "drop all the resources we need like we had in the WWE and the WWF, whether it be cameras or money or vehicles or advertising" in order for TNA to work "in a perfect world."
In asking around about what TNA's response to the comments were, I was told that a number of people within the company were upset about the statement for several reasons and that there's absolutely heat on the duo for even insinuating that the Carter family wasn't giving TNA proper resources.
As one source noted, no matter how you feel about her, the comments can't be seen as anything but a direct slap in the face to TNA President Dixie Carter, coming from her top paid talent, no less.
"Even if you agreed with Hulk, " said one TNA wrestler that spoke under condition of anomynity, "the way it was said and the way it comes across in that video just completely disrespected Dixie, even if that's not what he meant."
Two, the reality is that to many in the company, Bischoff has been given the keys to the car. From the day he and Hogan came into the company, TNA management has acquiesced to their creative direction and ideas - whether it be talent that was brought in, the removal of the six-sided ring, the failure that came with moving Impact Wrestling to Mondays opposite Raw, leaving the Impact Zone and taking TNA on the road, etc. These were all ideas that came from the Bischoff/Hogan era that TNA agreed to under the auspice of growing the company.
The problem with all that is, as one source noted, there has been no growth in any facet of TNA's business since The Bischoff/Hogan regime began - not in live events, not in ratings, not in licensing - not in any one department or aspect of the promotion.
Instead, the company went on the road and didn't see the estimated revenue that they believed would come with it, forcing them to restructure from the ground up and putting them into a position where they have to be the "evil company" letting Jesse Soresen go and have to be in a position where money is an issue re-signing their original poster boy, AJ Styles.
At the same time, TNA has paid Hogan a good salary and put Bischoff into a position where he became the conduit and liason between Spike and TNA, even before Dixie Carter, who created and cultivated the relationship between the two sides.
So, the pair continue to reap the rewards of being part of the company while others have lost their jobs, have had their deals restructured for less money and watch as the company continues to, at best, run on a treadmill and at worse, slide backwards. To put it in layman's terms, TNA is putting out more money to be exactly where they were, or worse, in comparison to before Bischoff/Hogan's regime began.
So, for Hogan to say that TNA should just hand Bischoff a blank check and full power, well, you can imagine how much all that has endeared the duo inside the TNA offices this week, especially when everyone's work and deals have been scrutinized closely in recent months.
A number of people noted that they would be waiting to see what the interaction between the duo and Dixie Carter would be at tonight's taping in Cleveland, the first time Hogan has been at a TNA taping in a month.
"Hulk came across like he pretty much said that the company didn't have anyone strong in charge and Eric was the savior," said the TNA wrestler. "Well, they've been here years and Eric hasn't saved anyone yet."
---www.IntegrityBookings.com is very pleased to announce that Former WWE Superstar TED DIBIASE JR has chosen us as his official representative for any future bookings you may have!! The demand for Ted Jr. has been tremendous and we are very excited to be able to bring him to you. Ted DiBiase Jr. is available for Autograph signings, Conventions, Question & Answer sessions, Seminars, DiBiase Posse tailgate parties and the like. A third generation wrestling superstar and two-time WWE World Tag-Team Champion, Ted starred in the 20thCentury Fox movie “The Marine 2” (co-starring Michael Rooker of TV's “The Walking Dead”).
For ALL of your appearance requests please fill out our "Book A Client" form located here: integritybookings.com/book-a-client/.We can also be reached by sending an e-mail to: TalentRelations@IntegrityBookings.com or a private message on Facebook to Facebook.com/IntegrityBookings
Ted DiBiase Jr flies out of Jackson Airport (JAN) in Mississippi. Hotel, airfare, ground transportation and deposits are required to secure the booking. Serious Requests Only!
NOTE: Ted Jr. will NOT be doing shoot interviews of any kind. Due to his schedule, Ted will also be doing a very limited amount of media interviews at this time. For interview requests, please e-mail your credentials toMediaRequests@SponPR.com.
Ted DiBiase Jr.'s official social media profiles are:
Facebook.com/TedDiBiaseJrOfficial
Twitter.com/TedDiBiase
---WWE Hall of Famer Adam "Edge" Copeland is going to be hosting SyFy's Ghost Mine on 9/4.
---Samuray del Sol's new official WWE NXT name is Kalisto.
---Former WWE Diva Karlee Perez, f.k.a. Maxine, is offering a fan the chance to watch her on the set of her new web series and go on a date with her afterwards. Details are in press release below: Richmond, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/29/2013 -- WWE Diva-Turned-Action-Star, "MAXINE" (aka Karlee Perez) is teaming up with an important charity to make sure every child has the greatest gift of all…a loving family. Karlee is conducting an exciting fundraiser in conjunction with Sylvia Thomas Center, a widely-known Florida Non-profit Organization which provides a variety of support services to adoptive families. For the rest of the month of August, fans can log on to imanifilms.com and enter the "Karlee Perez Fight for Families Sweepstakes!" For a donation of $3 or more, fans will be entered into a drawing to win an all-expense-paid trip to El Paso, Texas, and witness Karlee on the set of her new web series "The Cell" and then go on a date with the action star! Synopsis: Genetically altered at birth in an illegal experiment, 5 beautiful, wayward women are marked for death as part of a government cover-up. But, when their executioner has a change of heart, the women are brought to the ultimate island training center and taught to harness their super-natural abilities to fight global injustice...including the corrupt system that created them. In the series, Karlee plays "Garcia", a government-contracted operative who leaves her corrupt employer to help a fellow mercenary (the executioner) by accompanying him to the island training facility and (in the process) helping to fight off an array of characters trying constantly to kill the entire group. "The Cell" is a highly clandestine entity that fights global injustice, including human trafficking, genocide, and terrorism.
---A disturbed woman was arraigned Monday and held without bail on one count of criminal homicide after allegedly giving birth and killing her infant son. Amanda Catherine Hein was watching SummerSlam with two male friends at a sports bar in Bethlehem, PA. She left to go to the bathroom after complaining about back pain, where she gave birth to a son. She then allegedly wrapped the baby in a plastic bag and placed him in the toilet tank. She then returned to the bar, smoked a cigarette and resumed watching the pay-per-view. One of the men with her said that he didn't know that she was pregnant, and noted that she was gone a long time. Hein told authorities that nobody knew that she was pregnant. An autopsy revealed that the baby was born alive, and authorities said that while the baby was a few weeks premature, he could have survived.
---The site of the 2016 WrestleMania was decided today. The site of the 2015 WrestleMania has not been decided yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if it's decided in the next two days. I don't know who got 2016 but do know that the winning city was told to keep quiet. The winning city for 2015 will also be told the same thing, and there was heat on Santa Clara for the mayor's office going public with the fact they were in line for 2015 in the local media.
---The WWE is doing a tryout camp which started yesterday at their Performance Center in Orlando. There were two sessions yesterday and a long session today. Bill DeMott runs the camp and judging will include Joey Mercury, Norman Smiley, Terry Taylor, Gerald Brisco and William Regal. There are about 30 guys in the camp. Eddie Edwards, according to the reports we got, was standing out of everyone, followed by Davey Richards.
---The debut of the new Wrestle-1 promotion on 9/8 from the Tokyo Dome City Hall will be available as a live iPPV at 3 a.m. Eastern and midnight late Saturday Pacific at ww.ustream.tv/w-1 The price will be $20
---New Japan has announced three iPPV shows in September
9/5 from Korakuen Hall will be an introductory priced experimental show for $10
9/14 from Korakuen Hall will be $15
9/29 is a regular PPV show headlined by Kazuchika Okada vs. Satoshi Kojima, Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Shelton Benjamin and more for $25
--- New Japan will be offering all of its PPVs going forward in English, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese.
---Ryan Drago from Kansas City has been renamed Simon Gotch. That's a spoof on Dean Malenko (real name Dean Simon) and Karl Gotch.
--UFC has purchased 24 acres of land for $7.8 million in Las Vegas. It will construct new headquarters, near Lucky's Lounge on I-215 and Jones Blvd.
---Al Snow Movie Project-
www.indiegogo.com/projects/with-you-around
---Michael Hutter, the former Derek Bateman from WWE NXT, worked a dark match at Thursday's Impact Wrestling taping in Cleveland, Ohio, losing to Jay Bradley.
---Due to a visa or passport issue, Magnus arrived late to Cleveland and missed the show that aired Thursday, but I believe he did arrive in Cleveland later. This won't affected him going forward.
PRO WRESTLING EVENTS FOR Saturday August 31,2013:
WWE @ TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts
TNA @ Shenandoah County Fairgrounds in Woodstock, Virginia
AWA Supreme @ AWA Supreme Arena in Madison, Indiana
BPW @ Collings Teen Center in West Sacramento, California
BW @ Van Wert County Fairgrounds in Van Wert, Ohio
CCW @ Knights Of Columbus Hall in Cahokia, Illinois
Clash @ Taylor Town Trade Center in Taylor, Michigan
CTPW @ Murphy Park (Pavilion) in Taylor, Texas
CWA @ Center City Mall in Paterson, New Jersey
CWFA @ CWFA Arena in Scottsdale, Arizona
DCW @ Farmington Fire Department in Farmington, Delaware
DPW @ Stubbs Park in Dublin, Georgia
DSCW @ City Park in Blue Ridge, Georgia
ECPW @ Eurana Park (Pavilion) in Weatherly, Pennsylvania
EWA @ Family Life Center in Macclesfield, North Carolina
FUW @ Tampa Bay Sports Center in Tampa, Florida
GCW @ Pell City Civic Center in Pell City, Alabama
HoPWF @ Superior Pro Wrestling Training Center in Hagerstown, Maryland
ICWA @ Trinity Assembly Of God Church in Johnson City, Tennessee
IPW @ IPW Vault in Algona, Iowa
IRWX @ Clyde's Place in Carp Lake, Michigan
IWA Unlimited @ Lively Stone Church in Mount Vernon, Illinois
IZW @ Impact Arena in Lawton, Oklahoma
LSC @ LSC Arena in Middletown, Ohio
MPW @ Eagles Club in Council Bluffs, Iowa
NAWO @ Montwood High School in El Paso, Texas
NWF @ Masonic Lodge in Hamilton, Ohio
OVW @ Vaughn Reno Starks Community Center in Elizabethtown, Kentucky
OWA @ Family Gym in San Diego, California
PWG @ American Legion #308 in Reseda, California
RCW @ Madison Palmer High School (Gymnasium) in Marks, Mississippi
SCW @ Salvation Army Gymnasium in Sanford, Florida
SCW @ Mount Pleasant Madhouse in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee
SCW @ Suquamish Tribal Gym in Poulsbo, Washington
SOW @ National Guard Armory in Morristown, Tennessee
SPWA @ Old Action Apparel Building in Ramer, Tennessee
SRPW @ Oakhurst Firehouse in Oakhurst, Oklahoma
SWA @ National Guard Armory in Lafayette, Tennessee
SWE @ EW Arena in Hillview, Kentucky
TAP @ Old Cheese Factory in McMinnville, Tennessee
TIWF @ Showplex Arena in Trenton, Tennessee
TSW @ Cumberland Football Field in Cumberland, Kentucky
TWF @ Veterans Of Foreign Wars Hall #8621 in Alice, Texas
TWF @ Futures High School (Gymnasium) in North Highlands, California
UCW @ Fayette County Fairgrounds (Indoor Arena) in Dunbar, Pennsylvania
UCW @ Utah County Historic Courthouse in Provo, Utah
USAPW @ National Guard Armory in Orlando, Florida
Vex @ National Guard Armory in Vincennes, Indiana
VPW @ Leo Fire Company in Red Lion, Pennsylvania
WCCW @ WCCW Arena in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
WF @ Spires Recreation Center in Cayce, South Carolina
WLW @ Linn Middle School (Fieldhouse) in Linn, Missouri
WODW @ El Mesias Grand Plaza in Elgin, Illinois
WOWF @ WOWF Arena in Newbern, Tennessee
WXW @ Recreation Center in Minneola, Florida
CCW @ Foley Agricultural Hall in Seguin, Ontario
NSPW @ Horizon Centre in Quebec City, Quebec
XWA @ Fundy Arena in Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick
AAA @ Municipal Auditorium in Perote, Mexico
AAA @ Santos Reyes Sports Complex in Serdan, Mexico
LLB @ Arena Coliseo in Reynosa, Mexico
LLR @ Arena Juba in Reynosa, Mexico
MHP @ Santa Lucia Arena in Monterrey, Mexico
MP @ Arena Cuautepec in Gustavo A. Madero, Mexico
WWC @ Cosme Beitia Salamo Coliseum in Catano, Puerto Rico
DR @ Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan
IRW @ Warabi Dojo in Saitama, Japan
MPW @ Shinkiba 1st Ring in Tokyo, Japan
Osaka Pro @ Umeda Nasci Hall in Osaka, Japan
Oz Academy @ Azalea Taisho Hall in Osaka, Japan
ASW @ Butlins Resort in Bognor Regis, England
ASW @ Butlins Resort in Skegness, England
Dropkixx @ Balmoral Community Centre in Westcliff-On-Sea, England
NBWA @ Spiceball Leisure Centre in Banbury, England
NGW @ Town Hall in Hessle, England
TAW @ Dunstable Leisure Centre in Dunstable, England
SWE @ Ardler Complex in Dundee, Scotland
BW @ Civic Hall in Conwy, Wales
DPW @ Leuningjes Center in Poeldijk, The Netherlands
EPW @ Cyril Jackson Recreation Centre in Bassendean, Australia
HRPW @ Young Men's Christian Association Building in Craigmore, Australia
IPW @ William Duncan State School in Nerang, Australia
PWA @ Powerhouse Arts Centre in Casula, Australia
QCW @ Upper Ross Police & Citizens Youth Club in Rasmussen, Australia
SPW @ St. Jays Recreation Centre in Salisbury, Australia
UPW @ Birkdale State School in Birkdale, Australia
IPW @ Recreation Centre in Lynfield, New Zealand