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[Submit News] Readers are encouraged to submit news for the “OWW Daily News & Notes” page to [email protected]. Compile the important aspects of your news item or upcoming event into one small paragraph, and the chances that I will use it are almost 100%. Thank you for your support and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

[ClickWrestle Download of the Day] Sara Del Rey vs. Amazing Kong.

[Birthdays & Anniversaries] Bill White (1945) and Lance Hoyt (1977) celebrated birthdays today. Today In Memoriam: Dean Detton (49, 1958)… [reported by Rich Tate of www.GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com]

[WWE News] Rey Mysterio is off house shows this weekend to deal with a personal situation. He missed the South America tour last weekend, and Raw on Monday for the same reason.. [reported by Mike Aldren]

[WWE News] There was a story in the Houston Chronicle yesterday that noted Vince McMahon would induct Steve Austin into the Hall of Fame. No official announcement has been as yet but it’s expected. All we know on Austin is that he was originally scheduled for Raw on Monday.. [reported by Mike Aldren]

[WWE PPV] WWE’s pay-per-view on June 7th, 2009 in New Orleans will be called “Extreme Rules” after all. The live events section at WWE.com had the show listed as “Night Of Extreme” beginning Wednesday afternoon. It has since been changed back to “Extreme Rules”.. [reported by Devin Cutting]

[TNA News] The international tag team they teased coming in during the Against All Odds PPV is Yujiro and Tetsuya Naito from New Japan.. [reported by Mike Aldren]

[ROH News] In case you missed it, KENTA is coming back to Ring of Honor! As explained in the main page article http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/article.aspx?id=2641, ROH, in conjunction with Pro Wrestling NOAH, is bringing back the multi-time GHC Champion for four dates: Elizabeth, PA on March 20th, NYC on March 21st, and Houston, TX on April 3rd & 4th.

[ROH News] Ring of Honor officials have been told to expect a visit from Prince Nana at some point this weekend, and he’s apparently coming to “talk business”.

[Radio] The 2/22 episodes of Evan Ginzburg’s Legends Radio w Dr. Mike Lano features promoter Caesar Black of Fog City Wrestling, plus Helen Taylor CA. Academy of Sciences, Plus Papa Graz’ Detroit Rap Music & much more — Listen to the show at http://www.garageband.com/mp3cat/.UZCMbC_F4Kmu/01_02_22_09_Legends_Radio.mp3

[Radio] Monday Night Mayhem’s Seven-Year Anniversary Special (Featuring: Elijah Burke’s First Post-WWE Interview, WWE No Way Out PPV Preview w/Scott Hudson, Jim Molineaux, & The History Of WWE.com’s Graham Cawthon, TNA Against All Odds PPV Fallout Coverage w/”Wild” Bill Brown, WrestleView’s Adam Martin, & Matt Morgan, Eric Bischoff, Jason Hervey, Konnan, Chavo “Classic” Guerrero, Sr., & Ed Atlas) – To listen to this milestone show, go to www.mondaynightmayhemarchives.com/waxfiles/020909.wax

[Radio] Listen to the Necro Butcher on CarnageCrew.net at http://www.garageband.com/mp3cat/.UZCMYySN56yv/01_02_10_09_The_Necro_Butcher.mp3

[Radio] George South Sr. and Erik Watts were recent guests on False Count Radio at www.falsecountradio.com

[Radio] Balls Mahoney and save money on your taxes on the 3/3 Trash Talking Radio at www.trashtalkingradio.com

[Article] The ROCK to host Saturday Night Live [reported by Mike Informer]

[Article] Bringing The Pain [reported by Mike Informer]

[Article] Judge dismisses suit against WWE [reported by Mike Informer]

[Article] Kelly Kelly & Melina Perez at Islanders hockey game [reported by Mike Informer]

[DVD News] “YouShoot: Kevin Sullivan” is now available at www.kayfabecommentaries.com

[Indy Event] The Team 3D Wrestling Academy have a free show this Saturday in Sanford, FL, with LAX and Cute Kip. More info at http://www.myspace.com/team3dacademy

[Misc News] Dory Funk Jr. has spoken out on !BANG! TV about His selection to be inducted in to the WWE Hall of Fame. Dory’s comments include his take on the controversial selection of The American Dream, Dusty Rhodes to give His Induction Speech. Dory Funk Jr.’s Special WrestleMania / Hall of Fame interview can be seen at http://www.dory-funk.com

[Misc News] Don’t miss Darren Aronofsky’s critically acclaimed The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood- The movie features some real wrestlers, such as: Ernest “The Cat” Miller, Necro Butcher, Ron “The Truth” Killings, Romeo Roselli, Luscious Johnny Valiant, Nigel McGuinness, and Tommy Suede – Coming soon to a theater near you! Here is the trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/thewrestler/ and here is the official website http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thewrestler/ .. [reported by Evan Ginzburg]

[Fan Convention] Kid Kash has been added to the Legends of the Ring VIII fanfest in Monroe, NJ, on 5/30. More info at www.ecwlegends.com

[OWW Support] If anybody out there has been wondering how they can help keep Online World of Wrestling alive through some kind of donation, we have a pay pal account set up under the email address [email protected]. For more information click our Donations page. Another easy way to support OWW is to simply click the Ad banners once in a while. Every banner destination is safe, as it is monitored by the Google Adsense system so you don’t have to worry about being taken to malicious websites. Please do your part and click the banners! Thank you!!

WWE News – reported by Mike Aldren of the Wrestling Globe Newsletter:

The Stamford Advocate on it’s website last night reported that the class-action lawsuit brought against the WWE by Scott “Raven” Levy, Christopher “Kanyon” Klucsarits and “Above Average” Mike Sanders, was dismissed earlier this week. They filed the suit last July over their independent contract status whilst working for WWE in relation to not receiving health care and other benefits. Their attorney, David Golub, said they would pursue the case and were considering their options.

The WWE’s legal team at K&L Gates and Day Pitney group defended the suit by arguing that the former wrestlers’ contract explicitly defines they are independent contractors who are not entitled to health coverage and other benefits. They said in their motion to dismiss that the plaintiffs “cannot escape the clear language of the Booking Contracts.”

Golub argued that the standard WWE contract is unfair, since the company demands full-time services akin to what employees provide, including extensive travel and a commitment to a huge number of shows and non-televised appearances. Golub said in response to the WWE motion that, in the past, courts have looked beyond a contract’s literal language to determine someone’s proper classification. WWE said that claim was barred by a statute of limitations, since the wrestlers’
signed their initial deals more than six years ago.

There is not much more to add to this story other than any lawsuit of this nature is unlikely to ever go any where. The WWE has been audited many times by the IRS over the years without any repercussions. If the IRS felt that the WWE was misclassifying its wrestlers they would owe millions and millions of dollars in back taxes. Even with the best attorney in the world the amount of money it would cost to see this suit through would be huge.

According to one source close to the situation, Levy (Raven) who spear-headed the lawsuit, told our source that he was hoping that the WWE would just pay them off a settlement. If that were the case it certainly didn’t work. Levy hasn’t worked for the WWE since 2004, Klucsartis since 2003, and Sanders was picked up for a few months in
2002 after WCW folded but was never really used.