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WRESTLING GLOBE NEWSLETTER
Thursday May 7, 2009
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Wrestling Globe Newsletter by Mike Aldren – All the latest professional wrestling news and analysis direct to your mailbox. WGN is read by industry power players, many top wrestlers and thousands of fans from all around the world.
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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Superstars tonight on WGN has Kelly Kelly & Santina vs. Beth Phoenix & Rosa Mendes, Finlay vs. Zack Ryder (with a new look), and Chris Jericho vs. John Morrison. The main event is a cutting Edge segment with Jeff Hardy. Not sure how long they got but Jericho-Morrison was said to be a very good match.
WWE announced today financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2009. As expected earnings fell way short of the dividend. Net income was $10.3 million, or $0.14 per share, as compared to $19.5 million, or $0.27 per share, in the prior year quarter. Revenues totaled
$107.8 million as compared to $162.6 million in the comparable prior year quarter. Operating income was $16.7 million as compared to $27.1 million in the prior year quarter. Linda McMahon said in a statement to the market: “During the quarter, our core businesses performed relatively well, delivering operating income essentially flat with the prior year on an adjusted basis. Our first quarter results reflected our successful efforts to improve operating efficiency. Our work to transform the Company in this way resulted in a significant reduction in operating expenses and a marked increase in profit margins. We believe the changes we have made position us to leverage the power of our global brands and to deliver even stronger financial performance in a challenging economic environment. Subsequent to the quarter, our 25th anniversary production of WrestleMania set a record as the highest grossing live event in WWE history, attracting more than 70,000 fans and recording approximately 1 million pay-per-view buys for WWE.” More on the WWE numbers in the next issue. Some interesting items to note.
As noted exclusively to our Twitter followers yesterday afternoon at http://twitter.com/wrestlingglobe, Shane Douglas was backstage at the Smackdown TV tapings in Pittsburgh. Douglas lives in the area and said he was visiting friends. Colin Delaney was also visiting at the tapings.
Tommy Dreamer was offered a new contract with his current deal set to expire in a few weeks. There has been talk of him replacing Tiffany as the ECW GM.
The Stamford Advocate at http://tinyurl.com/dx4fwv has a nice story on Howard Finkel noting he has worked for the company more than 30 years and was just inducted in the Hall of Fame.
THQ, who produces the WWE video games, appears to be in trouble after the company reported a net loss of $431.1 million for the fiscal year.
It was noted in their filing that sales of WWE games were down 25 percent… On a brighter note, THQ announced plans (apparently top
secret) for a new game called WWE Online on Wednesday when discussing earnings with investors in a conference call. The game is being developed in Asia.
Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho for the IC title is expected to be added to Judgment Day.
Besides Batista and Rob Van Dam, rapper Ja Rule, is also part of the movie Wrong Side Of Town shooting this week in Louisiana.
The mystery blonde in FCW, as it turns out, isn’t much of a mystery at all. She is a night time student paying for training separately from WWE prospects.
Eric Bischoff claimed on his Twitter that besides himself, both Ted Turner and Bill Shaw turned down interviews for the new Rise and Fall of WCW DVD. Was anyone surprised?
Nielsen has a data issue which is delaying ratings info this week.
TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION WRESTLING NEWS
Impact tonight on Spike going for a new ratings record has what the company is describing as the biggest main event in histtory — Kurt Angle, Sting, Kevin Nash, Booker T & Scotty Steiner vs. Mick Foley, Jeff Jarrett, A.J. Styles, Samoa Joe & Daniels. Also, Suicide vs.
Consequences Creed in a non-title match; Beer Money, Inc. vs. Eric Young & Jethro Holliday in the tag tournament; and Awesome Kong vs. Velvet Sky in a stretcher match.
The lawsuit and counter suit in regards to TNA vs. Konnan has been settled out of court. Steven Godfrey, TNA’s Public Relations Director Steven Godfrey, sent out what he described as an unofficial press release. PWInsider.com posted the statement verbatim including a quote from TNA President Dixie Carter saying she was happy to resolve the matter and wished Konnan all the best. Other than the statement, neither side is talking. The suits were filed last year with TNA claiming breech of contract, and Konnan filing a counter suit claiming, among other things, racial discrimination. In the suit Konnan pointed to Vince Russo’s statement in 2000 that Americans didn’t want to see Japanese or Mexican wrestlers in main events, that TNA discriminated against him and others, and even that top executives in the company were heavy drug users. He was also upset that TNA refused to pay for his hip surgery (they did offer a loan) but did pay for Scott Steiner’s throat surgery.
Many of Konnan’s claims mirror that of Sonny Ono and a group of African-American wrestlers years ago in WCW who wiped the floor to the sum of seven figures against AOL/Time Warner.
Former WWE wrestler Elijah Burke was backstage at the TNA tapings this week in Orlando. When ask for comment regarding his involvement with TNA, Elijah Burke told WGN: “The only thing for sure when it comes to Elijah is that there is nothing for sure!”
Raisha Saeed as Cheerleader Melissa working for Shimmer this past weekend suffered a nasty facial injury during a 45-minute broadway with Wenser. She posted a picture of her injury at http://tinyurl.com/cb5paw
OTHER WRESTLING NEWS
There is a neat new publication from Steve Ashe in the UK called Fighting Females at www.fightingfemales.co.uk covering women’s wrestling. The latest issue features interviews with Tammy “Sunny”
Sytch, Lizzie Valentine, Melissa Coates, plus a special tribute to Miss Elizabeth.
Doug Basham said he isn’t retired. He later changed his mind following a recent interview announcing his retirement.
Bret Hart, Rob Vam Dam, Vader, Marty Jannetty, Val Venis, ODB, Pat Paterson, Lacey Von Erich, Bill Apter, and many others will be appearing at Wrestlefest 2009 this Saturday at the Newark Pavilion, 6430 Thornton Avenue, in Newark, CA. There is also an evening wrestling card. Further details at http://www.btwrestling.com/wf09.html
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has signed to star in Phil Joanou’s new action drama Faster, according to Variety. The movie begins shooting in August.
Johnson is tag teaming with his Gridiron Gang director Phil Joanou to play an ex-con bent on avenging the death of his brother, murdered 10 years earlier when the two were double-crossed during a heist… On a related note, Earlier this week the actor was erroneously pegged as the star of Disney’s new 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Director McG has come out and has denied Johnson’s involvement with the latest Disney project, adding that they are in talks with Will Smith for the role of Captain Nemo.
A cover up from The Iron Sheik? He is claiming he didn’t really soil his pants after drinking too many beers during an appearance last week on the Opie & Anthony radio show. Sheiky said it was a terrible misunderstanding. A beer accidentally fell between his legs forming a perfect wet patch in his crotch area. Hmm…
NBC at http://tinyurl.com/da8rlg interviewed Torrie Wilson about appearing on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here. The show premieres on 6/1.
Stacey Keibler was listed as No. 77 on Maxim’s 2009 Hot 100.
The Schenectady, NY Daily Gazette at http://tinyurl.com/cxnxbh has a story on the Amsterdam, NY-based Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame as it celebrates its 10th anniversary and 8th induction weekend.
Regulator, an Ohio-based indie wrestler, was discharged from hospital in Indianapolis following an accident during a ladder match spot last weekend. He underwent oral surgery and suffered a broken jaw. The incident became scary on Saturday after he started suffering seizures and at one point stopped breathing en route to the hospital.
There is a new Ring of Honor video wire at http://tinyurl.com/d2x7qf
J.J. Dillon, 66, had a farewell match on 5/3 in Pittsburgh at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. Dillon teamed with Shane Douglas to defeat Domenic DeNucci, 74, and Dr. Cody Michaels. Brutus Beefcake and Missy Hyatt also worked the show.
Street Warrior, a movie written by former WWE writer Alex Greenfield, airs on Sunday on Spike at 9pm.
Story on Chuck Palumbo riding his bike across country to raise awareness of the Fueled by the Fallen military charity at http://tinyurl.com/dyk27k
Game Day Magazine has a great story on Magnum T.A. at http://tinyurl.com/d2cjop
Story on Brooke Hogan‘s 21st birthday party in Las Vegas pictured with dad Hulk and his new girlfriend, who looks like her, at http://tinyurl.com/czcrdd
Story on Ultimate Championship Wrestling out of Kentville, Nova Scotia with Honky Tonk Man vs. Bushwhacker Luke on Monday at http://tinyurl.com/d2x9hm
The Ric Flair signing we noted yesterday this coming Saturday at Schewels Furniture in Harrisonburg, VA is actually 2pm to 5pm.
WG Diva of the Day — Stacey Keibler — http://tinyurl.com/2e92hw
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