THQ And WWE Agree To Eight-Year Deal - 23rd December 2009

THQ and WWE have been tangled in legal disputes for half a decade over alleged racketeering and licensing shenanigans, but the litigation is officially over, and according to an announcement yesterday THQ will continue publishing WWE games for another eight years. The messy affair that involved the two companies and toymaker Jakks Pacific will end with a series of payouts, but both THQ and WWE voiced satisfaction with their new agreement.

THQ will pay $13.2 million to the WWE and $20 million to Jakks Pacific to resolve things, according to MCV. The settlement was followed by a new licensing agreement that should make court arguments a distant memory.

“This agreement ensures that WWE games will continue to be an important cornerstone of THQ’s annual release schedule for the long term,” THQ President and CEO Brian Farrell said in a press release. “We look forward to working directly with WWE to expand their brand in the video game space through continued game play innovation and increased online delivery of WWE content.”

WWE echoed those sentiments.

“This year’s highly rated 'WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010' video game demonstrates the innovation and creativity that THQ brings to WWE,” WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon stated. “This new licensing agreement will ensure that we continue our tremendous success in the video game industry in the years to come.”

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Wrestling News Media - 20th December 2009

Bret Hart returns to WWE

Bruno Sammartino hasn't committed to WWE Hall Of Fame

Chris Jericho appears in Bloodstained Memories wrestling film and ramps up Fozzy appearances

Roddy Piper remains vocal about better conditions for pro wrestlers re health etc

Edge and Eve look forward to WWE tour in 2010, having recently campaigned down under

WWE.com ranked in Yahoo! and Google top ten in numerous markets and categories

WWE sticking to Wellness policy

WWE new champion Sheamus performing solidly

Jim Ross renews contract with WWE; may appear at WrestleMania

WWE - newspaper teases VS Hulk Hogan for WrestleMania

WWE - Dennis Miller as Raw host draws mixed reactions from fans and insiders

WWE's Seventh Annual "Tribute to the Troops" aired on NBC 19th December 2009

WWE Studios - Ted DiBiase stars in The Marine 2; available in U.S stores 29th December 2009

The Rock to do numerous WWE appearances

Jeff Hardy remains missed by fans

Kurt Angle on TNA Final Resolution PPV

Mick Foley writing balanced blogs covering Hulk Hogan's TNA entry and role

Hulkamania Let The Battle Begin still not aired on One HD in Australia

Ric Flair likely to sign with TNA; financial terms getting close

Mario Milano wrestled in Australia recently at 73 years of age

Shane McMahon poised to ramp up profile, following UFC meeting with Dana White

Steve Austin to continue film roles

Wrestling Legends: Bobby "The Brain" Heenan recovering well

Wrestling Legends: Paul "Mr Wonderful" Orndorff and many others high on real Hall Of Fame

Wrestling Legends: Wrestlers Rescue campaign garners interest and supporters

Jake "The Snake" Roberts still interested in being in WWE Hall Of Fame

Brooke Hogan open to opportunities

New World Order may reform in TNA

TNA will go head to head with WWE

UFC, TNA and Spike TV "teaming up" to take on WWE Raw

UFC Sydney, Australia tour sells out of tickets 2 months prior to show at Acer Arena

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The Celtic Warrior Sheamus O'Shaunessy Wins WWE Championship on RAW - 13th December 2009

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Titan Publishing to launch WWE Comics - 3rd December 2009

Titan Publishing has announced its partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment in the launch of WWE Comics. Over the course of the agreement, 20 issues will be produced and distributed to comic retailers and specialty stores in the U.S. and Canada. The comic’s flagship title will be WWE Heroes featuring WWE Superstars and Divas, with the first issue debuting on March 23, 2010.

The series will take the biggest WWE Superstars and Divas beyond the spotlight of the squared circle and into a brand new fictional universe.

“Each week more than 1.6 million teens watch WWE programming on television in the U.S. This is an important demographic for the comic book industry and vital for a successful launch in the industry,” stated Ned Hartley, editor, WWE Heroes. “We've got some truly amazing stories to tell - our first issue is going to blow you away! The 'in-your-face, no-holds-barred' attitude of WWE works so well as a comic, we just can't wait for people to see the great surprises that we've got in store."

WWE Heroes series features Superstars Triple H, Undertaker, Randy Orton, Batista, Shawn Michaels, Big Show, John Cena, CM Punk, Kane, Edge, Chris Jericho, Matt Hardy, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Carlito, Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler and Kelly Kelly. The WWE Heroes cycle is written by Keith Champagne, who has penned acclaimed comics such as Justice Society of America, Green Lantern Corps, World War III and Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters.

Issue No.1 reveals an eternal rivalry set against the backdrop of the history of WWE. Why is the ruthless Shadow King so obsessed with WWE? What is the reason for his eternal and supernatural war with the Firstborn? And could his ancient opponent really be a member of the WWE roster?

Artwork is provided by comics’ artist, Andy Smith, who has worked as a penciller for major comic publishers such as Marvel, DC, Image, Acclaim, and CrossGen Entertainment.

An alternate cover exclusive to comic stores of issue No.1 features a specially-commissioned cover by comics’ artist Liam Sharp, who has worked on titles including Hulk, X-Men, Spider-Man, Venom, Gears of War, Superman, Batman, and Spawn: The Dark Ages.

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Ventura to host 'Monday Night Raw' wrestling event - 17th November 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former Gov. Jesse Ventura will return to his old World Wrestling Entertainment stomping grounds next week, stepping inside the ropes once again to host "Monday Night Raw," the company's flagship television show, WWE officials announced late Monday.

Nicknamed "The Body," Ventura was known in the ring for outlandish statements, take-no-prisoners attitude and flamboyant costumes featuring bright, bushy feather boas. Ventura largely distanced himself from his former wrestling persona while serving as governor, though he agreed to serve as a special guest referee for WWE's SummerSlam pay-per-view in 1999, which was held in Minneapolis.

Ventura was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.

"Raw" will be broadcast live on USA Network from the Giant Center in Hershey, Pa., starting at 7 p.m. Central time.

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Survivor Series Food Drive & Autograph Signing THIS Sunday - 20th November 2009

Donate To The WWE Survivor Series Food Drive

World Wrestling Entertainment, Verizon Center and the Capitol Food Bank are providing the opportunity for you, your family and friends to donate non-perishable food items for distribution to those less fortunate in the Washington, D.C. area during the Thanksgiving holiday

Bring your non-perishable food item(s) to Survivor Series on Sunday, November 22nd, drop them off at the Verizon Center lobby as you enter and get a free WWE bookmark while supplies last.

For those who come early, WWE Superstar Kofi Kingston and WWE Diva Eve will be at the Verizon Center between 12 noon and 2PM to sign autographs for those fans who make food donations.*

Go to wwe.com for more information.

*Limited to the first 300 attendees in line who donate a non-perishable food item.
One autograph per person. Talent subject to change. (Credit: WWE)

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Fightin' Fanboys: WWE vs Hulk Survivor Series - Marvel.com - 20th November 2009

Marvel pits the heroes and villains of Fall of the Hulks against the Superstars of WWE

When you hear the phrase "Strongest There Is," you probably think of the Hulk; however, if you're a fan of World Wrestling Entertainment and their dynamic Superstars, that title belongs to Mark Henry, awarded the title "World's Strongest Man" after his feats of strength at the 1992 Olympics and the Arnold Schwarzenegger Strongest Man Contest...(full article here)

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Wrestling News Media - 12th November 2009

WWE Raw to be hosted by Rowdy Roddy Piper at Madison Square Garden next Monday

WWE's Edge collaborates with Irwin family at Australia Zoo

Shane McMahon's business plans remain unknown, following his WWE departure

WWE Hulk Hogan DVD set "Unreleased Collectors Series" set to release

Media Man leak and tip offs to Wrestling Observer Newsletter re Australia, stay tuned for developments

Stone Cold Steve Austin rapt to be in Stallone's "The Expendables", Austin's "Damage" flick gets very mixed reports

CM Punt rise to the top continues

Linda McMahon political campaign looses some steam, but critics can't halt despite dirty tactics

WWE programing remains mega popular on Australian pay TV

WWE exploring own TV network, JR's blog comments

WWE Hall of Fame names being tossed around: Ted DiBiase, Randy Savage, Honky Tonk Man, Jake "The Snake" Roberts

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Shane McMahon leaves WWE, by Kevin Elk - 16th October 2009

The first thing I did this morning after reading on wwe.com that Shane McMahon had resigned from WWE was check my calendar to make sure it wasn’t April 1.

As surreal as it sounds, McMahon really is leaving the company that has been in his family for more than five decades. McMahon’s resignation from his position as executive vice president of global media takes effect January 1, 2010.

“I have never even considered a future outside the walls of the WWE,” McMahon, 39, said in a statement on wwe.com. “However, sometimes life takes an unexpected turn, and while it is the most difficult decision I have ever made, it is time for me to move on. … This is the opportune time in my career to pursue outside ventures.”

His father, WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon also issued a statement on the Web site: “Even though I am personally saddened by Shane’s decision to leave the company, I am proud of the enormous contributions he has made. He will unquestionably bring passion, commitment and extensive business experience to any endeavor he pursues.”

Obviously, there is a lot more to this story, and I’m sure it won’t be long before information starts leaking out in regard to the specific reasons for McMahon’s departure.

In the ’90s and early part of this decade, it was assumed by most that it was Shane’s birthright to one day be Vince’s successor. However, after Shane’s sister, Stephanie, became the head of creative, the perception was that she wielded more power than her brother and he no longer was a sure thing as the heir apparent. The popular opinion over the past few years has been that either Stephanie or her husband, Triple H, would eventually replace Vince. Shane was no longer even in the discussion.

Perhaps Shane is looking for a new challenge, something he can build and call his own. If he has learned anything from his father it’s the philosophy of nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Shane is the second McMahon to leave WWE in the past month. On Sept. 16, his mother, Linda, resigned as CEO to run for Senate in Connecticut. (Credit: Baltimore Sun)

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'Captain' Lou Albano Dead: Wrestling Legend Dies At 76

Beloved pro-wrestling figure "Captain" Lou Albano died at his home Wednesday morning, reports the Los Angeles Times. He was 76.

Best known to the '80s mainstream as the man who played Cyndi Lauper's dad in the video for "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," Albano was instantly recognizable for his unkempt beard, rubber-band accessories, garish outfits and boisterous personality in and out of the ring.

Louis Vincent Albano (July 29, 1933 – October 14, 2009) was an American professional wrestler, manager and actor. With an over-the-top personality and a penchant for boisterous declarations, "Captain" Lou Albano was the epitome of the antagonistic manager that raised the ire of wrestlers and incited the anger of spectators. Throughout his 42-year career, Albano guided 15 different tag teams and four singles competitors to championship gold. A unique showman, with an elongated beard, rubber band facial piercings, and loud outfits, he was the forefather of the 1980s Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection. Collaborating with Cyndi Lauper, Albano helped usher in wrestling's crossover success with a mainstream audience. Capitalizing on his success, he later ventured into Hollywood with various television, film, and music projects. (Credit: Wikipedia)

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Wham! WWE now stressing family friendly wrestling - AP - 9th October 2009

NEW YORK — Bob Barker, Shaquille O'Neal, Ozzy Osbourne, Al Sharpton and Cedric the Entertainer aren't who you'd expect to see when turning on World Wrestling Entertainment programming. OK, maybe Ozzy.

All are featured guests this fall with the WWE as Vince McMahon's machine undergoes some image polishing and stresses a family friendly approach.

They've toned down the language, gotten rid of the fake blood. The lingerie matches are gone, with the Divas now wearing the type of workout clothes common at the gym.

Characters who are popular with youngsters, such as John Cena and Rey Mysterio, get more screen time, and the WWE Kids magazine debuted last year.

The WWE has worked with networks that air their programming to change parental guidance ratings from TV-14 to PG.

"We just followed our audience and tried to listen to them," McMahon, WWE chairman, said. "It's a more sophisticated product. It's just the right move business-wise, but more specifically the right move in terms of reaching our audience."

McMahon said it's been a gradual process, with the company now trying to spread the word to potential viewers and advertisers who might not have given the soap opera in tights a second look.

The WWE's programming is spread across several networks: "Monday Night Raw" airs for two hours on USA; the SyFy network shows "Extreme Championship Wrestling" on Tuesdays; WGN America shows "WWE Superstars" on Thursdays; and "Friday Night Smackdown," which just celebrated its 10th anniversary, is on My Network TV.

During the peak of what the company refers to as its "attitude era" a decade ago, the WWE's audience was dominated by young men. While its popularity has waned, the fan base has simultaneously grown older and younger with new constituencies, according to audience research. A little more than a third of its audience is female. The audience is ethnically more diverse that most shows: 62 percent of audience is white; 20 percent of the viewership is black and 23 percent is Hispanic — Hispanics were counted as both white and Hispanic. It's the most-watched English-language show on cable among Hispanics, the company said.

With the Ultimate Fighting Championship and mixed martial arts becoming more popular as competitors, it made little sense for the WWE to ramp up the attitude with violence and sexuality, McMahon said.

"You really can't compete with that," he said. "Why not deliver a more sophisticated product and not go to those extremes? If the audience wants those extremes, they know where to go and how to get it."

Going PG has helped the company draw advertisers who might have looked away before. Pepsi, 7-Eleven stores, Mattel toys and the Army National Guard are among the sponsors that have signed up since the shift, the company said.

The association with steroids also hurt. Anabolic steroids were found in the home of wrestler Chris Benoit after he killed his wife, 7-year-old son and himself in their suburban Atlanta home two years ago. McMahon toughened the WWE's drug testing rules.

"Their public image was pretty bad," said Dave Meltzer, publisher of the trade publication Wrestling Observer Newsletter. "They took a major hit, and said 'we've got to become a kinder, nicer company.'"

Both Meltzer and Jim Varsallone, who covers professional wrestling for the Miami Herald, said they can tell the difference in the programming. The changes are subtle, though and they're not sure the casual fans will notice.

"I do not get complaints from fans," Varsallone said.

The work courting kids has paid off, said Varsallone, who sees many more young faces at WWE shows. The promotion of Cena, who has a hip-hop attitude popular with young fans, and Mysterio, who has lots of high-flying moves, has helped. They have an underdog mentality that many of their fans find very appealing.

It may not be a coincidence that Vince's wife, Linda McMahon, has just stepped down as WWE CEO to become a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. Her husband said the changes at the WWE were in motion long before he knew she was interested in a political career.

The guest stars are a way to give the WWE more of a variety show atmosphere and some juice in a traditionally slow season, when football siphons off many of its fans.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was a recent guest. Shaq was particularly popular.

Osbourne, in fact, could be a role model. The heavy metal singer thrived in a career considered threatening by many parents, before becoming an unexpected star cutting across all age groups with the reality series about his family life.

The non-wrestling celebrities also get publicity for the WWE on entertainment shows such as "Access Hollywood" that have otherwise ignored the company.

"They want to attract as many people as they can," Varsallone said. "That's why they don't label themselves as wrestling anymore. They label themselves entertainment." (Credit: San Jose Mercury News)

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Stone Cold Steve Austin in new movie Damage - 10th October 2009

WWE Hall Of Famer "Stone Cold" Steve Austin plays an ex-convict forced into the illegal and brutal world of underground fighting. It will be available on DVD and Blu-ray within a week.

Austin is also in Sly Stallone's "The Expendables" (in post production) and Robert Lieberman's "The Stranger" (filming)

Credit: Google News, Pro Wrestling.com, Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Pro Wrestling Torch, The Sun, IMDB, Wires

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WWE's Jim Ross on WWE Hall of Fame

"Two more WWE HOF suggestions would include Antonio Inoki and Ted 'The Million Dollar Man' DiBiase. I hope that I just didn't jinx either man. Both men have made significant and diverse contributions to the business."


"The 2010 WWE Hall of Fame class has yet to be finalized and made public but one name that I am hoping to see be inducted is Ron Simmons. Ron is in the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana and recently was inducted to the State of Georgia Hall of Fame. I could theoretically hear JBL inducting Ron and that being an entertaining piece of business." (Credit: JR's Place blog)

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John Cena still top money maker for WWE

South Florida in the running for WrestleMania

CM Punk rising to the top, John Morrison, Jack Swagger on fire

WWE to tour Australia early 2010

Linda McMahon strong in political race

Triple H - Mayweather WWE - professional boxing links a huge win - win

WWE may potentially do a deal with Jeff Jarrett's TNA - Australian tour

Bret Hart - WWE talks in progress, indicated Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Pro Wrestling Torch, others

Randy "Macho Man" Savage and Jake "The Snake" Roberts decent chance for upcoming WWE Hall of Fame, insiders agree

WWE videogame sales going well, more releases to follow

WWE could show industry leadership with wrestling health plan, insurance et al following Wellness program

Chris Jericho already a living legend of wrestling, insiders and fans agree

WWE to release more films, aiming for stronger box office success

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Triple H to accompany Money in Vegas - 17th September 2009

Floyd Mayweather Jr will be escorted to the ring by WWE superstar Triple H when he takes on Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The Pretty Boy is no stranger to the world of wrestling entertainment, having faced off against The Big Show at WrestleMania XXIV as well as hosting Monday night RAW earlier this summer.

And he will not be the first to be accompanied to the ring by a wrestler either, as Manny Pacquiao was joined by Batista on his way out to fight Ricky Hatton in May.

There could be divided loyalties for wrestling and boxing fans to contend with if Mayweather and Pacquiao do finally meet in a showdown next year, but for now the WWE is wholeheartedly backing the undefeated American.

Collaboration

Mayweather said: "Triple H is one of the greatest guys in the world and represents a whole universe of WWE fans that appreciate what he does.

"He and his stature are huge and I can't think of a better person to escort me to the ring for my return to boxing."

There is no doubt who D-Generation X star Triple H expects to prove victorious in Las Vegas on Saturday either.

"It is an honour to walk the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world back into the ring," said the WWE superstar.

"Floyd 'Money' Mayweather has shown WWE tremendous support and it is my pleasure to return the favour this Saturday by standing at his side as he defeats Marquez in what I am sure will be boxing's fight of the year."

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WWE.com has removed the "Industry News" section from the front page of its website

Vince McMahon more open to ideas from lock room, insiders say product improving

John Cena doing fantastic community support work, Make-A-Wish Foundation et al

Jeff Hardy says goodbye to WWE family

Rey Mysterio Jr. suspended for 30 days

WWE ramps up Europe, dedicated websites for European regions and more tours upcoming

Bob Barker to host Monday Night Raw

Linda McMahon, CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, is considering running for the United States Senate

WWE Offers Free Tickets to US Military

More details on the WWE.com website and WWE Corporate website

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WWE Living Legend News Update

Hulk Hogan turns 56 years old today.

Vince McMahon turns 64 years old on the 24th August. McMahon will be spending his birthday in Las Vegas, where WWE Raw will emanate from that night.

Ric Flair has been doing the news media rounds with Harley Race.

Roddy Piper continues to add excitement and ratings to wrestling shows.

Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat will one of the best on WWE current roster.

Andre The Giant online slot game strongly rumored via NextGen Gaming.

Shawn Michaels to work feud and angles with Triple H.

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Donald Trump’s commercial-free Raw does big rating, by Kevin Eck - Baltimore Sun - 23rd June 2009

Whether it can be attributed to the publicity WWE received from the Donald Trump story line, the commercial-free format, the advertised main event of a Last Man Standing Match for the WWE title between Randy Orton and Triple H, or some combination of the three, one thing is for sure: Monday’s episode of Raw was a huge ratings success.

Raw drew a 4.5 rating (4.3 first hour; 4.8 second hour), a significant increase from last week’s 3.7. The show’s 6,813,000 viewers made it the most-watched episode of Raw since March 25, 2002, according to wwe.com.

You have to hand it to Trump. WrestleMania 23, which was built around his hair versus hair match against Vince McMahon, did a company-record 1.2 million pay-per-view buys in 2007, and now he is the central figure on the highest-rated Raw in more than seven years.

Based on the rating, I wonder if the Trump story line, which appeared to end on Monday after just one week, might continue at some point. A story on wwe.com about Trump’s appearance on Raw said “this may not be the end of the feud between these two world class promoters.” (Credit: Baltimore Sun)

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Vinnie Brings The Donald Back Into The Act, by Mike Mooneyham - 21st June 2009

Last year Vince McMahon gave away a million dollars in an attempt to lure viewers to Monday Night Raw.

Now he’s pretending to have sold Raw, WWE’s flagship show, to the even richer and perhaps more megalomaniacal Donald Trump.

Last week’s “shocking” announcement on Raw didn’t produce the effect McMahon had hoped for. That’s because fans rarely believe anything the WWE owner says these days.

But even if the WWE Universe faithful didn’t buy the prank, Vince was betting on selling the angle to the mainstream media. It’s happened before, although the non-wrestling press has become smarter over the years.

Some media outlets, such as TV Guide and Bloomberg, initially reported it as fact. FoxBusiness.com posted the release itself. But they were the exceptions.

The hope now is that Trump, who once was brought in for a storyline feud with McMahon that culminated with The Donald shaving Vince’s head at Wrestlemania 23, will again produce some magic with McMahon.

McMahon, however, is in no danger of losing his company or Raw, which remains one of the top-rated shows on cable television.

WWE and USA Network even issued a bogus joint press release last week to announce the change in ownership. It was, McMahon stated, an undisclosed offer he “couldn’t refuse.”

USA was forced to release an apology Thursday.

“We intended the release to be promotional for that ongoing story arc on the series,” USA said in the statement. “There is no such actual ‘sale.’ We apologize for any confusion.”

The takeover plot continues Monday when the real estate mogul appears on a commercial-free episode of the show as its new owner.

It will mark the first time in more than 838 episodes that Raw will be commercial-free.

“I’m going to do things on the show that have never been done or seen before,” Trump boasted last week.

Whether or not that’s a good thing remains to be seen. Trump looks out of his element on a wrestling show. He’s certainly no Vince. And, like most non-wrestling personalities attempting to do pro wrestling, his delivery is forced and contrived.

- Hall of Famer and WWE fixture Jerry Brisco recently suffered what was believed to be as many as three strokes in a period of several days. Doctors also discovered a small hole in his heart and a heart valve irregularity, and have scheduled surgery for next week.

“Jerry is confident, as am I, that he will make a full recovery as he has been an athlete all his life and has never been a smoker, isn’t overweight, is in excellent physical shape for a man a little north of 60 who was still working out on the mat with his amateur wrestling team at a high school in Tampa where he volunteers,” Jim Ross posted on his blog.

Jerry is one of pro wrestling’s “good guys,” and our thoughts and prayers go out to him, brother Jack and the Brisco family.

- Mitsuharu Misawa, one of Japan’s greatest wrestlers over the past three decades, died last weekend during a tag-team bout in Hiroshima.

Misawa, just days shy of his 47th birthday, was competing in a tag-team match when he took a belly to back suplex from Akitoshi Saito and lost consciousness. The match was stopped and Misawa was administered to before being taken from the arena. He was declared dead at the hospital.

Misawa initially rose to fame in the pro ranks as Japan’s high-flying Tiger Mask, the second wrestler to use that name, during the mid-’80s. His popularity peaked in the early ‘90s when he and top rival Kenta Kobashi engaged in a classic series of matches that were considered among the greatest for that time period. Both were headliners for All Japan Pro Wrestling, a promotion that was considered the most physically demanding in the world, and both operated at extremely high levels.

A national amateur wrestling champion in high school, Misawa was discovered by All Japan owner Shohei “Giant” Baba and trained by Baba, The Destroyer (Dick Beyer) and Dory Funk Jr.

Misawa inherited the position of AJPW president following the death of Baba, but disagreements with widow Motoko Baba led to his departure from the company in 2000 and the formation of Pro Wrestling NOAH.

Misawa was owner of Pro Wrestling NOAH at the time of his death.


- WWE released both Candice Michelle and Sim Snuka on Friday.

Michelle, a former WWE women’s champ, has been recovering from an injury.

Snuka, the son of WWE Hall of Famer Superfly Jimmy Snuka, hasn’t been on WWE TV since January when he and Manu were kicked out of Randy Orton’s Legacy stable. Snuka made his WWE debut in 2006 as part of the Deuce and Domino tag team.

- Lucha star Dos Caras Jr. from Mexico’s EMLL promotion reportedly has signed a three-year contract with WWE.

- TNA’s Kurt Angle told a Detroit radio station Friday that he’d be open to one final run with WWE before he retires from the business.

“I can’t tell you where I’m going to be in three years. I’d like to be in TNA, but I can’t guarantee it,” Angle said on Sports Radio WDFN. “If I could have one last run, heck, I’d do it. Why not? Rumors are going to be flying now that Kurt Angle wants to go to WWE ... That’s completely untrue. I’m very happy where I am.”

“I’m no longer bitter about WWE. Vince McMahon and I had a falling out, but everything is cool now,” added Angle. “Him and I have kind of made peace with each other.”

- WWE will return to the North Charleston Coliseum on July 18 with a Smackdown show.

Tentative top bouts include Jeff Hardy vs. Edge, and a Fatal Four-Way with Christian, Finlay, Jack Swagger and Tommy Dreamer for the ECW crown. Others on the bill include C.M. Punk, Great Khali, John Morrison, Shelton Benjamin, Vladimir Kozlov, Evan Bourne and WWE divas Gail Kim, Melina, Natalya and Maria. (Credit: The Post and Courier)

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Wrestlers and Arnold Schwarzenegger Gambling, Poker Connection - Gambling911 - 4th May 2009

Ric Flair recently signed a deal to be a spokesperson for the lottery in the Carolinas... The Shelby, NC Star ran a story noting that Ric, David, and Reid Flair are scheduled to appear on Saturday at the Rec Center for a charity show to raise for the Shelby City Parks and Police Department. If he attends this would be Reid's first public appearance since his arrest last weekend.

"This is of course totally the opposite direction to Jesse Ventura's stance on gambling, at least publicly," notes Media Man, Greg Tingle.

Tingle made reference to Ventura's support of an online gambling enterprise, BetUS.com, where he was a paid spokesperson for more than two years. Interestingly enough, the state of Minnesota for which Ventura served as Governor, announced last week it will try to block access to online gambling websites from citizens of that state.

Then there is California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, a one time friend of both men, who reportedly would support an initiative in his state to legalize online poker.

In November 2004, an advertisement began airing in California featuring Ventura. In it, Ventura voices his opposition to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's policies regarding Native American casinos, the very casinos that stand in the way of the proposed poker legislation. Schwarzenegger and Ventura have not spoken in years, according to reports.

In September 2005, Ventura announced on The Mike Malloy Show that he was leaving the U.S. and planned to "have an adventure". In late October 2005, he went on the The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch and reiterated that he was leaving the U.S. due to, among other things, censorship. He has since moved to Baja California, Mexico. (Credit: Gambling911).

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Thoughts on WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, by Kevin Elk - Baltimore Sun

Saturday night’s WWE Hall of Fame ceremony at Reliant Center in Houston is best summed up by two words: nice and efficient.

WWE addressed the biggest complaints about last year’s event in Orlando – that the show dragged on too long and the crowd was unruly – by imposing time limits on the speeches and putting up signs that said that catcalling the wrestlers on stage was prohibited and would result in ejection.

Except for the inductions of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Ricky Steamboat, speeches by the inductees were limited to five minutes, and speeches by the person inducting them were held to three minutes. The time was counted down on a large screen at the back of the arena.

The whole event lasted just under 2 hours and 25 minutes. Last year, Ric Flair’s induction speech and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s monologue alone lasted nearly two hours. Personally, I love hearing these great story tellers tell their stories, so I would have been fine with the speakers getting some more time (within reason).

I do applaud WWE for recognizing that the disrespectful behavior of the crowd last year took away from the event. The Hall of Fame ceremony is supposed to be a classy affair and the wrestlers are mostly out of character, but many fans last year acted as if they were at a house show.

For the most part, the audience in Houston was well-behaved. Predictably, John Cena was lustily booed whenever his face appeared on the screen, and there were several “What?” chants, but overall it was a huge improvement over Orlando.

The main event of the evening, obviously, was the induction of “Stone Cold.” What has always impressed me about Austin is that there is no pretense with him. At the hotel bar after the ceremony, Austin – who had changed from his suit into a t-shirt, shorts, flip-flops and baseball cap – mingled with fans and WWE talent while double-fisting some beer. When fans had chanted “One more match!” during his speech, Austin didn’t even bother teasing that he would come back. “Ah, I don’t know about that,” he said.

Steamboat gave a very heartfelt speech, and he also provided the first WrestleMania moment of the weekend for me when he and archrival Ric Flair did a collar-and-elbow lockup on stage.

Other observations from Saturday’s event:

I said earlier that the wrestlers were mostly out of character at the Hall of Fame. The major exception was Chris Jericho, who remained seated for standing ovations for Flair and Steamboat. During Steamboat’s speech, “The Dragon” went into kayfabe mode and called out Jericho, who stood up and smirked. …

One wrestler who rarely breaks character in any setting is The Undertaker. As has become the norm, he did not attend the ceremony, as WWE likes to keep a certain aura surrounding the character. …

Terry Funk had some humorous lines. The best was:” They say you’re only as old as you feel. Well I feel 105 and I’m ready to go.” He then talked about participating in a battle royal in heaven someday. “In heaven, every seat is a ringside seat. … And it’s BYOB.” …

Koko B. Ware came across as a really likable guy and very appreciative of the honor. As usual, though, he may have been upstaged by Frankie, who kept trying to snatch Koko’s notes. …

Former Freebirds leader Michael Hayes works behind the scenes these days, but he still knows how to entertain. Despite being older and heavier, the dapper Hayes still strutted onto the stage and moonwalked to “Badstreet, USA” before inducting Kevin Von Erich. …

Von Erich, the lone survivor of the five Von Erich boys who wrestled, delivered a moving speech that hit the right note. When talking about the deaths of his brothers, he said that he was still part of a brotherhood with his fellow wrestlers, who supported him in tough times. …

Howard Finkel was well aware of the time constraints on his speech, as he zipped through it. This honor obviously means a lot to Finkel, so I felt a little bad for him that he couldn’t just take a deep breath and truly savor every second he had on the podium. …

Bill Watts went over the allotted time on his speech, but he was on a roll and, thankfully, no one gave him the hook. He did create an awkward moment when talking about how much he and Bruno Sammartino used to bench-press back in the day. “And we didn’t even know what a steroid was,” he said. I doubt that will make it onto the DVD.

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UFC May Juggle Online Poker Sponsors, by Dan Cypra - Poker News Daily - 25th March 2009

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) may be ousting Full Tilt Poker as a sponsor, according to multiple sources. In its place, according to MMAFix.com, could be Absolute Poker, which is owned by Tokwiro, also the parent company of Ultimate Bet. Full Tilt continues to have affiliate banners in place on the UFC's website.

MMAFix.com revealed in a post dated on March 23rd, "We received word from multiple inside sources that Full Tilt Poker is 'banned' from the UFC as a sponsor in the octagon or on its fighters. Whether or not this ban is permanent or temporary is not yet known." Gus Hansen, a Full Tilt Pro, recently battled Theo Jorgensen in Copenhagen inside a boxing ring, displaying the edge of the online poker site and some of its pros. In the end, however, he was bested by Jorgsensen.

The advertisement on UFC's website for Full Tilt Poker shows Phil Ivey saying, "I work on my game at Full Tilt Poker." In the place of Full Tilt, MMAFix.com speculated that one of the two Tokwiro-owned rooms would become its newest sponsor. It explained, "It appears as if UltimateBet’s sister site, Absolute Poker, will be part of this deal, although we’re awaiting confirmation. The real shame here is the UFC is screwing over its fighters yet again. Full Tilt was spending good money on sponsorships, and limiting the competition does them no favors."

When approached by Poker News Daily, officials from Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker could not confirm a potential partnership with UFC. Ultimate Bet is the official sponsor of World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) WrestleMania XXV in Houston, sending one lucky customer to the annual spectacle. A total of 317 players entered the final online qualifier, with Alex Cummings emerging victorious from the pack. He took home two tickets to the event in Houston, round trip airfare, three nights' hotel accommodation, CDN $500 in spending money, two replica WWE championship belts, a framed poster, and a pair of commemorative chairs. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Ultimate Bet member.

On sponsoring WrestleMania, Ultimate Bet's own Annie Duke told Poker News Daily, "“As two organizations concerned with providing the ultimate entertainment experience, our Canadian partnership with WWE WrestleMania XXV is a natural fit. Our players are among the millions of loyal and avid watchers of WWE and it’s a privilege for us to give them the chance to play poker to win their way to be part of this marquee event on April 5, while also adding to UltimateBet.net’s reputation for delivering much sought-after prizes.”

On April 18th, UFC will present UFC 97: Redemption, with a headliner of Anderson “The Spider” Silva against Thales Leites. In addition, Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell will battle toe to toe with Brazilian superstar Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. The festivities will take place inside the Bell Centre in Montreal. On May 23rd, UFC 98 will feature a fight between Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida. Poker players in Las Vegas will be able to stroll over to the MGM Grand Garden Arena to watch the action unfold in person when the event kicks off at 7:00pm local time.

Full Tilt Poker is gearing up for the release of the schedule for its 12th Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS). The slate of events is anticipated to be unveiled today, although at the time of writing, no announcement has been made. Last week, the online poker site ran the first installment of its Friday Night Fights, which pitted Andy Bloch against Gus Hansen. Both are card-carrying members of Team Full Tilt, with Bloch coming out the victor after connectivity issues slowed the action early on. The match-up for this Friday has not been announced. The site regularly holds a Friday Night Fight $500 Knockout tournament that boasts a guaranteed prize pool of $75,000. The $535 buy-in means that each player has a $100 bounty on their head, making it a unique tournament.

On Sundays, Full Tilt runs the Sunday Brawl, another high-stakes bounty tournament with a healthy $350,000 up for grabs. The $256 buy-in sends $200 to the prize pool, $16 to Full Tilt, and $40 as a bounty on each player's head. The Sunday Brawl regularly attracts around 2,000 players, making it one of the largest recurring online poker tournaments in the world.

We'll have more news from the world of UFC as it develops right here on PokerNewsDaily.com. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Will '12 Rounds' bodyslam box office?, by Marc Graser - Variety - 23rd March 2009

WWE film unit tries capitalizing on top-tier talents

Once Dwayne (formerly the Rock) Johnson made the successful leap from the wrestling mat to the bigscreen, it was only a matter of time before Vince McMahon threw his hat into the filmmaking ring.

"Movies are a logical extension for our company," says the World Wrestling Entertainment topper. "We know how to tell stories."

Yet while telling those stories on television three nights a week consistently generates strong ratings, doing so at the megaplex has proved to be tougher.

After releasing three underwhelming performers at the box office since 2006 -- "See No Evil," "The Marine" and "The Condemned," which earned a collective $49 million worldwide -- WWE is trying to land its first big hit with "12 Rounds," a Renny Harlin-helmed actioner that stars John Cena, easily the company's most popular wrestler.

"Before we were foundering a bit, but we're starting to crank some good things out," McMahon says.

This year, that includes not only "12 Rounds" but an action comedy that would put Cena in front of the cameras this summer as well. WWE also co-produced the third installment of "Behind Enemy Lines" that was released direct-to-DVD earlier this year, as well as a sequel to "The Marine." "Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia" came out in January, with domestic sales in the vicinity of 150,000 units, according to WWE.

Essentially, "12 Rounds" is a second attempt at putting a spotlight on WWE's athletes in more creative ways while also developing a major revenue stream to boost the company's bottom line and promote its brand worldwide.

"There's a real depth of talent we can use," says WWE Studios prexy Michael Lake of the company's roster of wrestlers. "These guys are already entertainers. They're used to taking direction. We want to fashion movies to fit their personalities."

Lake, a former Village Roadshow exec, has headed up the turnaround of WWE's movie efforts since 2007, when he began developing a fresh slate of features and DVD titles together with Dimension Films alum Steve Barnett.

Upcoming theatrical projects include not only the Cena pics but also laffer "Suckerpunch." There's also a sequel to "12 Rounds" (a Western), a reboot of the Chuck Norris franchise "Missing in Action" with MGM and a "Scorpion King" sequel at Universal. All are planned for straight-to-DVD.

Budgets have gone up, with WWE spending around $20 million for theatrical releases and roughly $3 million-$5 million for DVD projects. Just as its TV shows have gone PG, its movies are also shying away from the expected R rating for genre fare.

Landing a distributor was fairly easy. WWE has a relationship with 20th Century Fox, which released "The Marine" in 2006, and will distribute pics via the Fox Atomic label. (WWE also is on Fox's MyNetworkTV.)

"They want to deliver movies that we're going to get behind," says Debbie Liebling, Fox Atomic's prexy of production. "They're very selective in what they put forward and decide internally who's a wrestler and who's a movie star. ... John was great, and we wanted to see him morph into an action star and build him up outside the wrestling world. There's nothing in the movie that speaks to his day job."

WWE's promotional platforms also should be a major asset in marketing the film projects.

The company produces five hours of TV each week watched by tens of millions and has live events, pay-per-view broadcasts, websites, magazines and DVDs it can use to push pics.

"They're great partners because they speak to their audience through so many forms of media on a very consistent basis," says Jeffrey Godsick, exec VP of marketing and digital content at Fox. "They bring the fanbase."

Yet convincing Hollywood the WWE can deliver wasn't easy, mainly because of the mixed results of previous projects.

"We had to educate people on what it is we were going to do," Barnett says.

That effort's worked, in part, because of the types of projects WWE wants to make, which have attracted producers such as Mark Gordon, but also because the company is one of the few that's financing its own films.

"Once Vince says go, we go," Lake says. "There aren't another 20 people to go through."

Going forward, however, WWE knows it needs to make movies that appeal to the masses, not just its core fans, to perform at the box office. The once-lucrative DVD market just isn't as strong as it used to be.

"For our films to be successful, they need to cross over," Barnett says.

To expand its aud, WWE Studios is also branching into television, developing several scripted projects that would feature wrestlers or promote the brand it hopes to start shopping around to not only U.S. networks but overseas channels as well.

But for now, the attention is on "12 Rounds."

Lake says that while WWE's had a lot of meetings around town, laying the foundation of its film division, "you have to back it up with something. With Vince we have a champion who wants to succeed in the movie business."

If "12 Rounds" strikes a chord with audiences, Lake says, "it would say to Vince that he was right."

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Arizona Hosts WrestleMania® XXVI

February 24, 2009

Stamford, CT, February 24, 2009 -- The City of Glendale, Ariz., Global Spectrum and World Wrestling Entertainment® announced that the University of Phoenix Stadium will host WrestleMania XXVI on Sunday, March 28, 2010.

Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs, Arizona Cardinals’ Coach Ken Whisenhunt and University of Phoenix Stadium General Manager Peter Sullivan joined WWE® Chairman Vince McMahon and several WWE Superstars and Divas in making the announcement today at a press conference at the University of Phoenix Stadium.

WWE’s annual pop-culture extravaganza is a coveted event for any major city. The pay-per-view event will be televised to more than 100 countries. WrestleMania XXIV pumped $50 million into the local Orlando economy in 2008 and set the Citrus Bowl attendance record with 74,635 fans from all 50 states, five Canadian provinces and 21 countries.

This year’s 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania will take place in Houston’s Reliant Stadium on April 5th where it is expected to set the stadium attendance record.

Visitors from around the world are expected to travel to Arizona and participate in a week’s worth of activities that will culminate with WrestleMania XXVI. Among the activities will be WrestleMania Axxess, WWE Hall of Fame, WrestleManiArt™ exhibition, Monday Night Raw®, and WrestleMania “Rocks the Block” street party. The University of Phoenix stadium was chosen after a year long bid process. This marks the first time the Glendale/Phoenix area has hosted WrestleMania.

Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide.

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Ultimate Bet Sponsors WWE WrestleMania, by Tom Jenkins - Poker News Daily - 15th February 2009

On April 5th, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) presents WrestleMania XXV, which will kick off from Reliant Stadium in Houston, home of the Texans franchise of the National Football League. The annual spectacle is one of the storied events in the wrestling industry and includes an entire week’s worth of activities culminating in the Sunday night event. Online poker room Ultimate Bet recently announced that it is the official Canadian sponsor of WWE WrestleMania.

Annie Duke, who designed the tournament schedule for the Tokwiro-owned online poker site, commented in a press release distributed by Ultimate Bet this week, “We’re proud to partner with WWE on the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania and to offer one lucky player the ultimate entertainment experience to be part of all the drama and action of this pop culture extravaganza.”

As part of its sponsorship, Ultimate Bet will be hosting online qualifiers for a WrestleMania prize package. It includes roundtrip airfare for two to Houston, Texas, hotel accommodations, $500 in spending cash, and two tickets to the show itself. In addition, the package will also feature meet and greets with WWE stars, two replica WWE Championship belts, and a framed WrestleMania commemorative poster. Qualifiers are only open to Canadian members of Ultimate Bet over the age of 18 years-old. Residents of Quebec are not eligible. This year’s WrestleMania festivities will also feature inductions into the WWE Hall of Fame. The 2009 class is headlined by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

The very first WrestleMania was held on March 31st, 1985 at historic Madison Square Garden in New York. The inaugural Main Event featured the tag team of Hulk Hogan and Mr. T defeat “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff. Nikolai Volkoff and the Iron Sheik defeated Mike Rotundo and Barry Windham to become the new Tag Team Champions. Andre the Giant, then in his heyday, defeated Big John Studd. Others on the card included Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, King Kong Bundy, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake.

The most recent running of WrestleMania occurred on March 30th, 2008. In a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship, Randy Orton defeated John Cena and Triple H to retain his title. The Undertaker bested Edge to become the new World Heavyweight Champion, while a highly-publicized encounter between boxer Floyd Mayweather and The Big Show ended with Mayweather winning by donning brass knuckles. Shawn Michaels defeated “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair and Kane outlasted a 24 man field to become the number one contender for the ECW title.

WWE, which was forced to change its name from WWF following a challenge by the World Wildlife Foundation in 2002, purchased rival World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 2001. The acquisition ended a battle between the two wrestling federations for control of Monday night programming, which pitted WWE’s "Raw" against WCW’s "Nitro." WWE also purchased the rights to ECW.

World Wrestling Entertainment is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WWE.” It closed trading on Friday down $0.05 to $9.24. It is near the bottom of its 52 week range, $8.76 to $19.86. An article released on Friday by the company noted that it outperformed the S&P 500 Index by 31% in 2008 and handed out a $1.44 dividend to shareholders. Its CEO is Linda McMahon, who has occasionally appeared as an on-screen personality during WWE programming.

Ultimate Bet recently merged player bases with sister site Absolute Poker to form the CEREUS Poker Network. According to PokerScout.com, which tracks online poker room traffic, the CEREUS network is the sixth largest overall, with an average of 2,750 cash game players online. It sits just behind the Ongame Network (2,900) and ahead of Everest Poker (2,600). Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker accept players from the United States. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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WWE drops subtle hint about Mickey Rourke’s role at WrestleMania - The Baltimore Sun

In a news release, WWE once again confirmed that Mickey Rourke will be appearing at WrestleMania, reiterating a statement that was issued by WWE chairman Vince McMahon back in January.

McMahon, however, only said that “Rourke will be in attendance at WrestleMania.” In yesterday’s release about Rourke’s appearance at the show, WWE wrote that “you never know what is going to happen at the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania. Will Mickey stand fast with his friends?”

I think it’s a lock that Rourke will leave his ringside seat and get in at least one punch on Jericho. And there’s your WrestleMania moment. That clip would be all over television and the Internet.

As for the people who have suggested that Steve Austin will make a surprise appearance at WrestleMania to confront Jericho, I don’t see that happening unless Austin decides to do it at the last minute. If WWE is planning on having Austin get involved in the Jericho match in some capacity, it would be incredibly stupid not to promote it ahead of time, because it would surely mean additional pay-per-view buys. (Credit: The Baltimore Sun)

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Mickey Rourke WILL be at WrestleMania on April 5! - Los Angeles Times

Despite recent reports of award-winning "The Wrestler" actor Mickey Rourke focusing on his film career, he will definitely be in Houston at WrestleMania 25 on April 5.

At least that's what I was just told by a publicist for Wrestlemania.

But will Mickey jump in the ring? Or will he be dragged in?

One never knows.

Monday night on "RAW," Chris Jericho challenged WWE Hall of Famers (Jimmy Snuka, Roddy Piper and Ricky Steamboat) to a match at the 25th anniversary of WrestleMania on April 5 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.

All of these dudes are FOMs. This grudge match was started when Mickey Rourke challenged Chris Jericho on the SAG Awards red carpet.

On camera!

But then Mickey backed down when confronted by Chris on "Larry King Live." Naturally, Mickey’s friends have now decided to confront Chris on Mickey’s behalf.

At the end of last night’s challenge on "Monday Night RAW," Chris offered to buy Mickey Rourke a front row seat to WrestleMania.

He also promised that if Rourke shows up, he won't be responsible for what happens to the Academy Award nominee and his pals.

Let's just hope there are no staple guns around that night.

Will you watch the show to see what happens? How could you not?

And is there gonna be a plastic surgeon on call?

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John Cena criticizes "The Marine," says lead role originally written for former WWE star - Pro Wrestling Torch - 6th March 2009

WWE star John Cena says filming the upcoming "12 Rounds" movie was a much better experience than filming "The Marine." Cena is not a fan of his first movie, which he says was written for Steve Austin.

Cena says he was suddenly thrust into the lead role without acting experience. He didn't feel he made a connection with the script.

"The part was originally written for Steve Austin and he was on the outs with WWE at the time," Cena told the local ABC affiliate in Philadelphia. "They were in pre-production ready to shoot the movie. I was literally thrown into the role three weeks prior."

Cena said the experience of learning how to act in front of a camera without a live audience set him up for a better experience with "12 Rounds."

"This one was planned for me and written with me in mind," Cena said. "The story was everything 'The Marine' wasn't. It was a normal everyday guy just going through one hell of a day."

Cena could pass for actor Matt Damon, and the promotional poster for Cena's new movie has the characteristics of Damon's "Bourne" trilogy. Cena says they drew from "Bourne," "Diehard," and "Speed."

Cena laughs about his role in "The Marine" where he was a superhero who was impervious to bullets. The story is different in "12 Rounds" where he feels more comfortable in the lead role.

"This one - I'm just a normal guy," he said. "More of who I am."

Cena said Hollywood is looking for the next action star and he would like to focus his acting career in that area.

He said it's not a smart move to branch outside of action right now. "I'd like to stick with good ass-kicking action movies, then maybe dive into something else," Cena said. (Credit: Pro Wrestling Torch)

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'Missing in Action' back in action, by Steven Zeitchik - The Hollywood Reporter - 5th March 2009

"Missing in Action" is being discovered again.

The Chuck Norris Vietnam pic is being developed as a co-production by MGM and the WWE primarily for home video. Jeremy Passmore, who also penned the story for MGM's "Red Dawn" theatrical remake, is on board to write the script with partner Andre Fabrizio.

The original "Missing in Action" centered on Col. James Braddock (Norris), a POW of the Viet Cong who escapes Southeast Asia and heads back to liberate other U.S. captives. Two other pics were released after MGM's 1984 hit, including a prequel and a sequel, during the next four years.

The new film will be updated to reflect modern military realities and will be set during the current Iraq War. World Wrestling Entertainment, which has beefed up film development under its WWE Studios banner, will produce the new "Missing" pic along with Andrew Stevens ("Heist"). WWE is behind the upcoming Fox Atomic release "12 Rounds," starring pro wrestler John Cena.

The "Missing" project is one of three deals for the suddenly hot Passmore and Fabrizio, who are repped by Paradigm, Adam Goldworm's new banner Aperture Entertainment and lawyer Rob Szymanski.

In addition to "Missing," the writers are penning an adaptation of the video game "Stranglehold" for John Woo banner Lion Rock Entertainment. "Stranglehold" is based on the Woo action pic "Hard Boiled," which revolves around mobsters in Hong Kong and Chicago. The game was released in 2007, while the movie, starring Chow Yun-Fat, was released 15 years earlier and became a hit on several continents.

Passmore also penned the biological thriller "Summer's End," which Platinum Dunes is developing at Rogue, as well as "Dawn." Like the revived "Missing," that movie will take a military threat from another era and give it a modern twist.

The duo also have sold a Las Vegas-set action pic titled "The Prince" to genre banner Echo Lake Entertainment. That company is producing the supernatural thriller "The Ward" for John Carpenter to direct, with the iconic helmer also eyeing "Prince" as a directing vehicle. Rick Jacobs will produce "The Prince."

MGM has been developing a host of remakes based on its vast library, with "The Three Stooges" and "RoboCop" among its more high-profile projects. (Credit: The Hollwood Reporter)

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"Legends of WrestleMania" video game demo to be released this week, Details on legal process involved - Pro Wrestling Torch - 4th March 2009

THQ will release a playable demo of WWE's "Legends of WrestleMania" video game tomorrow ahead of the video game's official release later this month.

The video game's marketing has focused on the Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant match at WrestleMania III. That match and characters involved, including Bobby Heenan, will be playable in the preview demo.

The process of adding the "legend" characters to the video game started with THQ's creative department, then went through the legal department to obtain licenses for each wrestler.

"First off the process starts here with the Creative team (we basically ask for everybody) and then it gets passed of to our awesome legal team," THQ's Paul Edwards said in a recent WWE chat. "They actually take on most of the work."

Edwards says if an obvious legend is not included on the game, it's most-likely because they could not obtain legal rights to the character.

"Once legal has it they have to go out and secure all of the deals for the talent," Edwards said. "Sadly, they can't always get the talent we want, due to various reasons that our out of our control."

The special edition video game took about a year and half to develop. That included creating new entrance music for wrestlers who never had theme music when they were with WWE.

THQ simplified the gameplay to make it easy for anyone to pick up and play. They eliminated referees, used arenas from WrestleManias 1-15, and limited the game's availability on video game system.

"We didn't make a PS2 version of the game because we really wanted to focus all our effort on the next-gen systems to make the game as high quality as we possibly could," Edwards said. "Basically we didn't want to get too distracted trying to over do it." (Credit: Pro Wrestling Torch)

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WWE Hall of Fame inducts "Cowboy" Bill Watts

Inside the squared circle, he was as tough as they came. Outside the ring, his no-nonsense approach to doing business made him one of the industry’s top promoters. With that, Cowboy Bill Watts now receives due recognition for his contributions by being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

In the 1960s, this native Oklahoman competed in countless sectors of the United States, and had more of his fair share of battles in Japan. So when Watts arrived in the then-World Wide Wrestling Federation in the middle of that decade, it was quickly understood by his peers that he meant business. Along with fellow WWE Hall of Famer Gorilla Monsoon, they were United States Tag Team Champions. Watts also had many an epic struggle with then-WWWF Champion Bruno Sammartino, giving as good as he got in confrontations that took them up and down the eastern seaboard, into sold-out arenas throughout the mid to latter part of the 1960s.

Eventually, Watts decided to wind down his in-ring career and focus on the promotional end of the industry. His take-no-prisoners approach to doing business was regaled in the Mid South area of the United States, and it was there that Mid South Wrestling was born. The loyal and passionate fans in that area would be treated to many individuals who would later go on to join the ranks of WWE – among them, popular WWE fixtures such as “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, and WWE Hall of Famers The Junkyard Dog and Jim Ross. Another WWE Hall of Famer - “The Big Cat” Ernie Ladd, was also a mainstay in Mid South Wrestling, which in its latter years would become known as the Universal Wrestling Federation.

By the early 1990s, Watts would become involved in a managerial capacity with WCW, but it was already clear to wrestling enthusiasts everywhere that The Cowboy had conquered the industry as both a ring performer and as a promoter. For his countless contributions through the years on both fronts, WWE welcomes Cowboy Bill Watts as a member of its Hall of Fame, Class of 2009. (Credit: WWE)

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WWE News: JBL on Shawn Michaels angle, Gagne tragedy, Working for his wife on Wall Street - Pro Wrestling Torch - 27th February 2009

-- JBL said in his latest blog on WWE Universe that he won't be facing The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25 after losing to Shawn Michaels on Raw, but he has other plans.

"I still believe I am destined to do something great at Mania so tune in Monday Night and you will see my plan start to unfold," JBL said.

-- On the tragic Verne Gagne story that is being investigated as a homicide, JBL said: Really sad to hear about the events regarding Mr. Gagne. I really wish him, the other family, and his family the best in the tragedy."

-- One of the big stories on Wall Street last week was his wife, renown investment analyst Meredith Whitney, starting her own firm specializing in Investment Banking. JBL is licensed to work in that area, so he will be helping Meredith advance her career in the financial industry.

Whitney made the decision following the government's recent intervention in the financial market and JBL believes they can compete against other Wall Street firms for business.

"I am now working for my wife-didn't think that would happen, but I am happy," he said.

Link:

JBL blog on WWE Universe

Greg Tingle comment...

JBL might just be the world's greatest active pro wrestler blogger! The way Layfield has diversified and has created numerous revenue streams and news worthy elements in the process is ultra impressive. If being a total package in the pro wresting industry is part of the key, like Hogan and The Rock were able to do so successfully, JBL is a champion all the way. I witnessed Layfield wrestling in Germany approximately 15 years ago and he worked his ass off. It goes not surprise me to see him going so well. His going on record regarding 'The Wrestler' were gutsy and showed insight that the wrestling business seldom sees. It appears that Layfield's goal to not end up broke like 'The Wrestler' and helping fuel his goals. I believe that Layfield is showing strong leadership in the professional wrestling business for taking on what he has, and it may inspire other wrestlers to diversify and think outside the square. Layfield's darn hard work and staying power, combined with his improved mic work has made him stand out from the pack which is part of the secret in the wrestling business. There may be a spot very close to the likes of Roddy Piper, Chris Jericho and The Funks. Layfield in a clique or tag team situation with Triple H might work, with them both being power players that WWE would be much worse off without, and I think the fans and WWE top brass know this. It appears he also has a great career ahead of him as a writer should Layfield do down that path, and in the current times I think one might do well to listen to his firms financial advise as apposed to some of the others on Wall Street. JBL used to be average, but these days he's a champion. The real deal and one major player for 2009, both in the WWE and in his other endeavours. (Credit: Pro Wrestling Torch)

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Freddie Prinze Jr leaves WWE - 1st March 2009

Scooby-Doo star Freddie Prinze Jr has quit his job working for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

The actor, an avid wrestling fan, joined the company's creative team in July 2008 contributing to weekly television shows for the SmackDown brand.

However, the star had not been seen at a taping of the programme for several months, leading to rumours of a rift between Prinze Jr and wrestling bosses.

Prinze Jr left the company last Friday after swapping to a part-time role within the creative team, according to PWInsider.com.

A representative for WWE could not be reached for comment as WENN went to press.

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Wrestling with a crisis - Fairfax - 27th February 2009

The wrestling sector revealed this week that it has taken a body blow from the economic crisis. World Wrestling Entertainment reported a sharp slide in profits and then announced plans to sack 10 per cent of its workforce.

Apparently the number of people wanting to watch large lycra-clad men and women grappling one another fell in the December quarter, and net profit slid 37 per cent to $US13.6 million ($21 million). Pay-per-view and live attendances were down, ratings for the WWE television show SmackDown fell 25 per cent and DVD shipments fell 36 per cent.

The chief executive, Linda McMahon, said: "Over the past year we've seen a difficult economic environment, which deteriorated in the latter half of the year and became especially harsh in the fourth quarter."

With fears that the US stimulus package would not improve the situation enough, WWE said it would proceed with a $US20 million-a-year cost-cutting program.

"WWE may face more challenging trends in the near-term, and circumstances require us to operate in a smarter, more efficient way," McMahon said.

More disappointing was the group's full-year result, which contained $US17.6 million in impairments on two films, See No Evil and The Condemned. It is unclear why the latter, which stars the wrestler Steve "Stone Cold" Austin, was a commercial failure.

The Condemned received rave reviews in the US and narrowly missed out on a nomination for this week's Oscars. Rated R, it tells the story of a prisoner on death row, Jack Conrad, who is "purchased" by a wealthy producer to take part in an "illegal" reality TV game show. Conrad is pitted against nine other death-row inmates from other parts of the world in a fight to the death on a desert island.

A review in The New York Times said: "As one character lectures on the ethics of broadcasting heavily manipulated violence, it is clear the producers, World Wrestling Entertainment, are as ignorant of irony as they are of filmmaking."

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Judge dismisses suit against WWE, by Monica Potts - The Advocate - 26th February 2009

STAMFORD -- A federal judge this week dismissed a lawsuit against World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. by former independent contract wrestlers who claimed the organization cheated them out of health care and other benefits.

The wrestlers -- Scott "Raven" Levy, Christopher "Kanyon" Klucsarits and "Above Average" Michael Sanders -- said the level of control exerted over them by the WWE qualified them as full-time employees.

They said they signed contracts that dictated their compensation, physical training regimens, dates and sites of matches, costumes and storylines for their wrestling personae. WWE also reserved the right to use their images and submitted them to drug screenings, the wrestlers said.

The WWE avoided withholding federal taxes from their paychecks by not classifying them as full-time employees, the suit said. The company did not pay Social Security and Medicare taxes, nor did it pay for performers' benefits such as health care and vacation time, the suit said.

The suit was filed in July in state Superior Court and then was moved to U.S. District Court for Connecticut. The plaintiffs also sought class-action status.

On Monday in New Haven, Senior U.S. District Judge Peter Dorsey granted a WWE motion asking for dismissal. The suit was dismissed Tuesday.

The wrestlers' attorney, David Golub, said they would pursue the case and were considering their options. They could ask the judge to reconsider the decision or file.

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WWE Monday Night RAW Ratings Soar Over the Top Rope

Last Two Weeks on USA Nets Highest Ratings in Almost Seven Years

NEW YORK, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire -- The last two weeks on WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW have broken ground to ratings highs not seen in almost seven years for the year-round ratings titan. The 2/16 and 2/23 episodes have delivered an average of 6.015 million total viewers, 3.028 million in P18-49, 2.9 million in P25-54, 4.055 million households and a household coverage rating of 4.1.

"Charismatic characters, high production value, intricate storylines, action-adventure, soap opera, rock concert, comedy, athleticism, and drama are all a recipe for success. When combined with the partnership of USA Network, Monday Night RAW is the undisputed champion of cable television" said Kevin Dunn, Executive Vice President, Television Production.

The two week delivery of 6 million total viewers for RAW was the first time that has happened in almost seven years -- since April 2002

RAW delivered over 3 million in P18-49 two weeks in a row, the first time that has happened in 6 /12 years -- since August 2002

This past week the 10pm hour USA was the #1 TV network among M18-34 (1.153 million) almost doubling the nearest competitor ABC. The 10pm RAW segment also drew in more M18-34 viewers for the night than Fox's 24 (9pm). USA was also #1 in the 10pm hour, above all TV channels, among M25-54 (2.262 million) and M18-49 (2.219 million) and beat CSI Miami among P18-49 (3.258 million). In the 9pm hour USA topped both ABC's The Bachelor and CBS among M18-34 (880,000) and beat The Bachelor among both M18-49 (1.1814 million) and M25-54 (1.951).

*Note: all weekly daypart and program data is Live+SD.

USA Network is the #1 network in all of basic cable and is seen in 94 million U.S. homes. A division of NBC Universal, USA is the cable television leader in original series and is home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, acquired television series and entertainment events. The award-winning USA website is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.

Website: http://www.usanetwork.com

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Ultimate Bet Sponsors WWE WrestleMania, by Tom Jenkins - Poker News Daily - 15th February 2009

On April 5th, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) presents WrestleMania XXV, which will kick off from Reliant Stadium in Houston, home of the Texans franchise of the National Football League. The annual spectacle is one of the storied events in the wrestling industry and includes an entire week’s worth of activities culminating in the Sunday night event. Online poker room Ultimate Bet recently announced that it is the official Canadian sponsor of WWE WrestleMania.

Annie Duke, who designed the tournament schedule for the Tokwiro-owned online poker site, commented in a press release distributed by Ultimate Bet this week, “We’re proud to partner with WWE on the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania and to offer one lucky player the ultimate entertainment experience to be part of all the drama and action of this pop culture extravaganza.”

As part of its sponsorship, Ultimate Bet will be hosting online qualifiers for a WrestleMania prize package. It includes roundtrip airfare for two to Houston, Texas, hotel accommodations, $500 in spending cash, and two tickets to the show itself. In addition, the package will also feature meet and greets with WWE stars, two replica WWE Championship belts, and a framed WrestleMania commemorative poster. Qualifiers are only open to Canadian members of Ultimate Bet over the age of 18 years-old. Residents of Quebec are not eligible. This year’s WrestleMania festivities will also feature inductions into the WWE Hall of Fame. The 2009 class is headlined by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

The very first WrestleMania was held on March 31st, 1985 at historic Madison Square Garden in New York. The inaugural Main Event featured the tag team of Hulk Hogan and Mr. T defeat “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff. Nikolai Volkoff and the Iron Sheik defeated Mike Rotundo and Barry Windham to become the new Tag Team Champions. Andre the Giant, then in his heyday, defeated Big John Studd. Others on the card included Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, King Kong Bundy, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake.

The most recent running of WrestleMania occurred on March 30th, 2008. In a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Championship, Randy Orton defeated John Cena and Triple H to retain his title. The Undertaker bested Edge to become the new World Heavyweight Champion, while a highly-publicized encounter between boxer Floyd Mayweather and The Big Show ended with Mayweather winning by donning brass knuckles. Shawn Michaels defeated “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair and Kane outlasted a 24 man field to become the number one contender for the ECW title.

WWE, which was forced to change its name from WWF following a challenge by the World Wildlife Foundation in 2002, purchased rival World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 2001. The acquisition ended a battle between the two wrestling federations for control of Monday night programming, which pitted WWE’s “Raw” against WCW’s “Nitro.” WWE also purchased the rights to ECW.

World Wrestling Entertainment is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WWE.” It closed trading on Friday down $0.05 to $9.24. It is near the bottom of its 52 week range, $8.76 to $19.86. An article released on Friday by the company noted that it outperformed the S&P 500 Index by 31% in 2008 and handed out a $1.44 dividend to shareholders. Its CEO is Linda McMahon, who has occasionally appeared as an on-screen personality during WWE programming.

Ultimate Bet recently merged player bases with sister site Absolute Poker to form the CEREUS Poker Network. According to PokerScout.com, which tracks online poker room traffic, the CEREUS network is the sixth largest overall, with an average of 2,750 cash game players online. It sits just behind the Ongame Network (2,900) and ahead of Everest Poker (2,600). Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker accept players from the United States. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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