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HONKY TONK MAN DECLINES WWE 2010 HALL OF FAME – 28th January 2010

WWE legend “The Honky Tonk Man” has officially declined WWE’s offer for the 2010 Hall of Fame & Wrestlemania XXVI. Below is the full story and a blog from the HTM.

“HTM declined the WWE offer to be inducted into the HOF class of 2010. There were multiple reasons why HTM decided against this induction. Negotiations started Friday Jan. 22 and carried over till Wed. Jan. 27 at which time HTM informed WWE that he would not be interested in this years induction into their HOF.

One of the main reasons was a conflict in the schedule. HTM is booked for the Wizard World Comic Con in Toronto for the same date WWE wanted. HTM felt he should stand by his Wizard booking since they had put out publicity on his appearance to be there. Also the Wizard booking has been on his books since early December. WWE had more than enough time to get their date locked in with HTM.

Wizard has HTM booked for 7 events this year and WWE had only 1 event  for HTM. HTM would have suffered a serious negative cash flow by taking the WWE booking since they want a “no compete” clause over several months after the HOF. HTM would have been handcuffed with no way to provide income for his family during the “no compete’ months. The dollar figure from WWE for the one event was less than HTM could make in one weekend at Wizard World. Therefore HTM decided 7 dates with Wizard would mean 10 times the money WWE was offering and Wizard does not have a “no compete” clause.

This is just one of several reasons HTM decided to waive the WWE offer and commit to Wizard. There will be more reasons revealed why HTM made this decision in the coming weeks. There are several, but the TNA deal was not one of them.”

After the TNA announcement the Executive Vice President (EVP) of Talent Relations for WWE {NYSE:WWE} John Laurinaitis contacted HTM yesterday afternoon to discuss the HOF which HTM then discussed on www.Sportsradio620.com .

It would be an understatement to say WWE’s EVP made the situation worse.

During the initial discussions HTM also sent several emails to John Laurinaitis which were the following:

“I never got my rental car paid for Mania 25. Pass this on to John. Another reason to blow off HOF 2010. HTM”

(About Wrestlemania 25) “I asked for a parking pass and never got one. Security would not let me park at the hotel secure lot. I was treated as a piece of s***. I was able to get into the Mania lot only because the guys remembered me from days gone by. Another reason to blow them off for HOF 2010. HTM”

“Air Fare, Hotel, Transportation???? I live in Phoenix, so I suppose everyone else who does not live here and they are part of HOF will get First Class tickets, Limo service, nice hotel and food per diem.  According to you, I could make my own way to the event. You can blow me. You wanted to F’ my family out of a first class vacation that you give to others who do not live in the town where HOF is held. When I mentioned to you that I would do PR work in Phoenix to promote this event, you never called me, instead you paid 3 guys air fare, and hotel to do what I was willing to do for free. Hope your stock holders read this. HTM”

“I asked you for a cap or t-shirt from Mania 25. You never responded. Little things turn to big things. One more reason to blow off 2010 HOF. Pass this on to John. HTM”

HTM has officially declined WWE’s offer and wanted to set the record straight for all his fans who have emailed the website and his facebook page wishing he was part of the event and upset he declined.

Webmasters note: Whilst there is more to this story to come, as HTM’s webmaster I know more than anyone how much HTM was thrilled to be part of the HOF last year. HTM equally would of been thrilled to be part of the show this year but when treated with disrespect, asked to sit at home for 5 month (no compete cause) meaning he couldn’t do independant shows and being treated badly by WWE last year, he has to put his family first.

It’s quite upsetting as a life long WWE fan how WWE treat their legends and this was certainly an eye opener for me. Some legends are even being offered a mere $5’000 to be part of the HOF and then told they can’t work for 5 months. When Pete Rose was offered a rumoured $300’000 to be inducted into the HOF you can’t justify this treatment of WWE legends.

In a nutshell all HTM has told WWE is he can’t not work for 5 months with nothing else from WWE on the table. He’s offered to do the PR work in his home state (where Wrestlemania is being held),  public relations, whatever they wanted. Now HTM has had enough.

More on this story to come…

HTM TO TNA? – BREAKING NEWS! – 27th January 2010

Honky Tonk Man is very close to signing a deal with TNA! HTM has been in contact with TNA since early December. More on this breaking news coming in the next few days.

Steve Wilton
Webmaster