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WRESTLING GLOBE NEWSLETTER
Monday, March15, 2010
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Wrestling Globe Newsletter by Mike Aldren – All the latest professional wrestling news, gossip and occasional opinion 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
3/12 Raw house show results from Denver, CO: Evan Bourne over William Regal; Christian over Carlito; Santino Marella over Chris Masters; Yoshi Tatsu over Chavo Guerrero; Randy Orton over Legacy in a handicap match; Kelly Kelly & Gail Kim over Maryse & Alicia Fox; The Miz over MVP & Kofi Kingston in a three-way; and John Cena, Triple H & Shawn Michaels over Batista, Sheamus & Jack Swagger.
The 3/13 show in Fresno had the same results as Denver drawing over 10,000 people.
3/13 Smackdown house show results from Stockton, CA: R-Truth & John Morrison over The Hart Dynasty; Goldust over Dolph Ziggler; Ezekial Jackson over Matt Hardy; Jimmy Yang over Tyler Reks; Drew McIntyre vs.
Kane was a DCO; Shad Gaspard over Mike Knox; Michelle McCool over Beth Phoenix; and The Undertaker, Rey Mysterio & Edge over CM Punk, Luke Gallows & Chris Jericho. Tiffany worked the show as a guest bell ringer.
The show drew around 10,000.
3/14 Raw house show results from Bakersfield, CA: Evan Bourne over William Regal; Christian & Yoshi Tatsu over Carlito & Chavo Guerrero; Randy Orton over Legacy in a handicap match; Gail Kim & Kelly Kelly overMaryse & Alicia Fox with Santino as referee; The Miz over MVP & Kofi Kingston in a three-way; and John Cena, Triple H & Shawn Michaels over Batista, Sheamus & Jack Swagger. The show drew 7,000.
The 3/14 Smackdown show in San Francisco at the Cow Palace had the same results as Stockton. Main event was very heated with fans pelting objects into the ring; soda, ice, water bottles, beer, popcorn, quarters, assorted garbage and a D-size battery, according to Chris Jericho via his Twitter. The show drew 5,000.
Raw TV is live tonight live from San Diego with Steve Austin as the guest host; Triple H vs. Randy Orton; Chris Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels; John Cena vs. Big Show; and a contract signing between Vince McMahon and Bret Hart for Wrestlemania 26. Rey Mysterio is scheduled for the show in a dark match and there are other Smackdown wrestlers backstage.
The Smackdown/NXT tapings are Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
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First today, I just want to mention one of our readers, Michael Spears out of Tampa, who occasionally provided notes on FCW shows. He recently recieved deployment orders to Afghanistan. Our best wishes to Michael for a successful tour of duty and a safe return home.
Steve Austin was on Hardcore Sports radio earlier today promoting the U.S. DVD release of Damage. He said he didn’t know whether he would be involved at Wrestlemania but hopes to attend the Hall of Fame. He said regarding tonight’s Raw, “It’s not like I can go out and stun the whole crew. Those guys… (laughs) they’re building matches and everything is coming to a head. I’m just looking forward to being in front of the crowd and saying hello.” When asked about Monday night competition, he said he’s glad there is another place for wrestlers to work.
“Competition is great for the business. I don’t know if we’ll ever re-create that Nitro-Raw War. (WCW) kicked our ass for two years, then we smoked their ass and never looked back and put them out of business.
I wish the TNA people all the luck in the world because it means more of the boys have jobs and it gives fans an alternative. I don’t think anyone will ever come close to really giving true competition to WWE because they’re so far ahead of the game, they’re rooted in their system, and they’re a winner. I wish TNA all the luck in the world, but it’s a totally different product.”
Shawne Merriman of the San Diego Chargers is rumoured to be backstage at Raw.
WWE announced today that the late Gorgeous George (George Raymond
Wagner) will be inducted into the 2010 Hall of Fame. Wagner’s 96 year-old first wife Betty will be present for the induction. I first heard about this induction three week’s ago but was asked not to reveal the name. The significance is that WWE Studios has purchased the rights to produce a film based on Wagner’s life. Production is slated to begin in early 2011. “Gorgeous George’s was a pop-culture innovator who took risks pushing the social envelope and did things that no other performer had ever dared to do,” said Vince McMahon in a press release. “He was a cultural tour-de-force who set the standard that many in the world of sports and entertainment still emulate today.”
Bob Uecker confirmed his Hall of Fame induction to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. It’s believed that Dick Ebersol will be inducting him.
Uecker, 75, a former MBL player and broadcaster is a name we originally reported back in January. He was ringside announcer at WrestleMania III, followed by a return at WrestleMania IV as both a ringside announcer and backstage interviewer with the famous segment that saw André the Giant choking him.
WWE has just renewed Sgt. Slaughter as an Ambassador as well as tabled a contract extension for Jim Ross. “I will be signing another contract extension this week with WWE to allow us to get past Wrestlemania and to give us more time to finalize our newest agreement which will hopefully see me remaining with WWE for the long term future,” Ross wrote on his website www.jrsbarbq.com. “At least, that’s the goal for all involved.
I’m going into this negotiation with a positive frame of mind and hopeful that all will work out to everyone’s mutual happiness at the end of the day.”
Tandy O’Donoghue was hired as VP, Business Development, making her the third former U.S. Tennis Association executive to join the company. She follows EVP, General Counsel Jared Bartie and EVP, Marketing Michelle Wilson. O’Donoghue was with the USTA for five years. Before that, she was chief legal counsel for the World Tennis Association.
Bret Hart suggested during media interviews over the weekend in Canada that he would be staying on with the company beyond Wrestlemania. He is already advertised as making special appearances at house shows in Germany in April.
Vince McMahon has purchased a 47-foot sports yacht in Boca Raton which he has named “The Sexy Bitch.” You can’t make this stuff up and you can imagine how this is going down with Linda’s opponents in the Connecticut Senate race.
Some confirmed future Raw guest hosts include the cast of Hot Tub Time Machine, an upcoming Sci-fi comedy, on March 29 in Phoenix which is the night after Wrestlemania. Will Forte, Kristen Wiig and Ryan Phillippe will co-host on April 19 in East Rutherford, NJ.
While not confirmed there is talk of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson hosting Raw on June 7 in Miami at American Airlines Arena.
Kentucky Fried Chicken was announced as the official sponsor for the Extreme Rules pay-per-view from Baltimore.
Shane McMahon attended a media summit over the weekend in Abu Dhabi. He was quoted by a newspaper as saying, “You have to go where the money is.” He added he was looking at possible business ventures.
Two more DVD projects are in the works. One is a bio on Ted DiBiase and the second is Undertaker’s Deadliest Matches due out in June. It’s a 3-disc set including Casket matches, Buried Alive matches, Hell in a Cell matches, Body Bag matches, Boiler Room brawls, Concrete Crypt matches… you get the idea.
Ted DiBiase Sr. and Jr. were interviewed about Wrestlemania and the Hall of Fame at http://tinyurl.com/y8pwt8c. DiBiase flubs his catchphraze at the end saying, “Everybody’s got a man, for the million dollar price!”
The Smackdown show this weekend in Visalia, CA, has been postponed.
TNA WRESTLING NEWS
3/12 house show results from Erie, PA: Doug Williams over Kazarian & Amazing Red in a three-way; The Beautiful People over Taylor Wilde & Sarita; Rhino (remember him?) over Dr. Stevie; The Pope over Desmond Wolfe; Abyss over AJ Styles via DQ; Rob Terry over Brutus Magnus; and Kurt Angle & Jeff Jarrett over Beer Money.
3/13 house show results from Pittsburgh, PA: Kazarian over Amazing Red; Rhino over Dr. Stevie; The Beautiful People over Taylor Wilde & Sarita; Abyss over Doug Williams; The Pope & Jeff Jarrett over Beer Money; and Kurt Angle over AJ Styles. Desmond Wolfe injured his neck in Erie and was given the night off.
The 3/14 show results in Wheeling, WV, had the same results as Erie.
Impact tonight has Jeff Hardy vs. AJ Styles; The Pope & Kurt Angle vs.
Ken Anderson & Desmond Wolfe; Hernandez vs. Beer Money with Jeff Jarrett as special refere; Daffney vs. Angelina Love; Kevin Nash vs. Scott Hall in a 5-minute challenge; and Hulk Hogan calling out Sting. This show was taped last Tuesday–main event is said to be very good, somebody gets their head shaved, a runt returns, and Ric Flair does something many people wish he wouldn’t at this stage in his career.
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There were many Tweets from TNA people today encouraging fans to DVR tonight’s Impact as there is no replay on Thursday night.
Mick Foley has a cameo tonight on The Daily Show on Comedy Central at 11pm.
TNA Epics that was originally scheduled for tonight after Impact was moved to 11pm on Tuesday.
Former TNA wrestler Andy Douglas, 31, announced his retirement this past weekend during a Showtime All-Star Wrestling event at the Nashville Fairgrounds. Douglas worked for TNA from 2004-2007 as part of the tag team The Naturals with Chase Stevens. Today he wrote a blog praising a number of people for helping him further his wrestling career including Jerry and Jeff Jarrett, Terry Taylor, Chris Candido, Bert Prentice and Reno Riggens. He said he loves wrestling but felt it was time to move on, so he could “prepare for a financially stable future.”
TNA has launched a website for the April 18 Lockdown pay-per-view at www.lockdown2010.com. The main event is listed as AJ Styles vs. The Pope for the TNA heavyweight title, so it would appear that Styles won’t be losing his title to Abyss at Destination X–which is this coming Sunday for those who didn’t know.
One of the legends contacted to appear during Fan Xperience the day before Lockdown has told the company he would only work the event if Vince McMahon gave him permission, out of loyalty to McMahon. TNA has already confirmed one of the Funks. The event takes place at the Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, MO. More info at http://shoptna.com/xperience.aspx.
Brian Kendrick no showed an indy show over the weekend in England. He said he didn’t get his flight details in time.
Tara on not making the WWE website list of the 25 most impactful women in wrestling. “(It) doesn’t surprise me. That’s an example of my experience at WWE. Unappreciated.”
Bob Carter, father of Dixie, a major financial backer of TNA and CEO of Panda Energy, was presented the 2010 T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award in Dallas. The award recognizes, “sportsmen who have distinguished themselves by living a life of adventure, love of the outdoors, respect for natural resources and most of all demonstrate a spirit of giving back and making it possible for others to enjoy the sporting life.”
OTHER WRESTLING NEWS
John Hill passed away last week in Indiana following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 68. Hill, a native of Hamilton, Ontario, was best known in the 1960s and 1970s working under the names of Guy Mitchell, The Stomper, and Gentleman Jerry Valiant in the WWWF where in 1979 he won the tag titles with his storyline brother Johnny. During his career, he also held singles titles in Vancouver and Australia– winning the IWA heavyweight title in 1966 when Australia was among the top wrestling territories in the world. He was also one of the first wrestlers to be managed by Bobby Heenan. After retiring from the ring during the mid-80s, Hill worked in landscaping and construction and operated Hill’s Landscaping for 14 years. He is survived by his wife Carolyn and son Jonathan. The services are being handled by Swarz Mortuary in Franklin, IN, at www.swartzmortuary.com.
NWA Hall of Famer Francois “Corsica Joe” Miquet passed away on Sunday in Nashville, TN. He was 90. Miquet followed his brother, Felix Miquet, into wrestling in the late-1940s, and went on to hold many regional titles with his storyline brother, Corsica Jean. He was married to lady wrestler Sara Lee for 45 years until she passed away in 2008 at the age of 76. The couple appeared together on some of the early weekly TNA PPV events at the Nashville Fairgrounds.
A memorial service for Sandy Scott took place this afternoon at Westhampton Christian Church in Roanoke with the Rev. Jim Crockett officiating–no relation to the famous JCP family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to We Care of Franklin County, P.O. Box 396, Rocky Mount, VA. 24151 or to The Dave Lamanca Golf Scholarship Inc., P.O. Box 1246, Salem, VA. 24153.
ROH tonight on HDNet has Davey Richards vs. Delirious and Colt Cabana vs. Eddie Edwards in the TV title tournament; The Dark City Fight Club vs. The Set; Kyle O’ Reilly vs. Tony Kozina; Jim Cornette interviews Shawn Daivari; and there are sit down interviews with ROH champ Tyler Black, Austin Aries and Roderick Strong concerning the main event of the The Big Bang. Video preview at www.rohwrestling.com.
Adam Pearce regained the NWA title over Blue Demon Jr. and Phil Shatter on Greg Price’s show on Sunday in Charlotte, NC.
Maria Kanellis has taken a one date per month job with HDNet as an MMA announcer. She will debut at the King of the Cage show from Reno, NV, on March 26 along with Michael Schiavello and Jason Miller.
Maria and Bill Goldberg survived week one of Celebrity Apprentice.
Goldberg was apparently unhappy with the editing of the show. He was complaining last night via Twitter that NBC didn’t mention that he raised $22,000 for charity, nor gave camera time to those who donated the money. Mark Henry has a cameo on the next show.
Ken Doane was eliminated from the latest episode of FOX’ Seducing Cindy.
Cindy Margolis, 44, thought Kenny was a nice guy, but she didn’t feel any chemistry with him.
Toronto-based Triple Investment Group, who recently purchased the Pontiac Silverdome for $583,000, announced that they are bringing back live events to the stadium starting with a motorsports show on April 17.
The Silverdome was home to Wrestlemania III in 1987 which WWE likes to claim drew 93,173 people, while the real figure was around 78,000.
Some TV stations have banned a new Morphoplex ad with Larry Zbyszko which you can watch at http://tinyurl.com/ye6l2zl. Zbyszko claims here that Morphoplex offers no side effects and no liver or kidney damage.
“You don’t need steroids anymore,” says Zbyszko.
Mickey Rourke broke his arm during an arm-wrestling match, according to the UK Daily Mail at http://tinyurl.com/ybdsozk.
Today’s Diva of the Day is Mickie James at http://www.thewrestlingpress.com/DailyDiva.
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