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WRESTLING GLOBE NEWSLETTER
Friday April 3, 2009
by Mike Aldren
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Wrestling Globe delivers all the latest pro wrestling news and analysis direct to your mailbox. It’s read by industry power players, many top wrestlers and thousands of fans from all around the world.
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Please send any news tips or show reports to: [email protected] Wrestling Globe by Mike Aldren: [email protected]
WWE NEWS
Obviously the biggest weekend of the year for WWE. The Hall of Fame ceremony is tomorrow night webcast live on WWE.com from the Toyota Center in Houston. There is also a one hour TV version of the show on USA Network. Inducted this year: Steve Austin by Vince McMahon; Terry and Dory Funk by Dusty Rhodes; Ricky Steamboat by Ric Flair; The Von Erich’s as a family unit by Michael Hayes; Bill Watts by Jim Ross; Howard Finkel by Gene Okerlund; and Koko B. Ware by The Honky Tonk Man.
Wrestlemania 25 from Reliant Stadium on Sunday is a four hour PPV with Triple H vs. Randy Orton for the WWE title; Edge vs. John Cena vs. Big Show for the World title and Vickie Gurrero; John Morrison & The Miz vs.
Carlito & Primo Colon in a tag title unification lumberjack match; JBL vs. Rey Mysterio for the IC title; CM Punk vs. Kane vs. Kofi Kingston vs. MVP vs. Shelton Benjamin vs. Christian vs. Fit Finlay vs. Mark Henry in a Money in the Bank ladder match for a shot at any title at any time; Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy in an extreme rules match; Chris Jericho vs.
Roddy Piper, Jimmy Snuka & Ricky Steamboat, managed by Ric Flair in an elimination match; The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels; and a 25 Diva Battle Royal to crown Miss Wrestlemania.
Raw is live on Monday night from the Toyota Center, and the Smackdown tapings and ECW on tape delay is Tuesday from the Frank C. Erwin Jr.
Special Events Center in Austin, with the advertised dark match of John Cena, Triple H & Jeff Hardy vs. Edge, Randy Orton & Matt Hardy.
We’re looking for reader reports from all these shows to [email protected]
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Smackdown preview: Gail Kim & Maria vs. Maryse & Michelle McCool; Jeff Hardy vs. Ezekiel Jackson; and MVP vs. Shelton Benjamin for the U.S.
title. The show features matches taped in Dallas on Monday and clips from Fan Axxess yesterday in Houston. Due to the short turn around with editing some viewers overseas will get a best of Wrestlemania show instead.
Unless they did some last minute voice overs tonight is Tazz’ last appearance in the Smackdown announce booth.
A funny story on the Honky Tonk Man from one of our readers in Houston:
“Never one to miss an opportunity to make a quick buck Honky decided to have his own unofficial autograph signing last night after the Fan Axxess event. He had somebody handing out flyers pushing autographs and photos for $20 in a hotel room at the Hyatt Regency.”
Nidia Guenard was spotted at a WWE function in Houston. She is native to the city and has a lot of family in the area. I would suspect she is just visiting friends rather than coming in for the Diva Battle Royal.
She hasn’t been active in wrestling for years and had a baby in 2007.
The Houston Chronicle has a story on Mickie James at http://tinyurl.com/cdcq6s talking about life on the road as a WWE Diva.
The Chronicle also has a story on athletes from Texas who have transitioned to pro wrestling over the years at http://tinyurl.com/dgvm3s
Story on Natalya Neidhart at http://tinyurl.com/c8h7hk talking about being the first ever third generation female wrestler in the WWE, and the first female out of the Hart family to wrestle at Wrestlemania.
Alex Marvez at http://tinyurl.com/d7y47h has a story on Jimmy Snuka noting at 64 he is the oldest wrestler ever to have a match at
Wrestlemania: “I’m going to keep wrestling as long as my body is in good health… It never really came to mind that I am retired. I love it so much that I’m ready to go at any time.”
WWE are bringing in several celebrities for Wrestlemania to sit in the crowd and look happy to be there. The list includes: Carl Edwards, Evander Holyfield, Michael Clarke Duncan, Chester Pitts, Chris Myers, Eric Winston, Mario Williams and Travis Johnson.
The ABC affiliate in Houston has a feature on Wrestlemania at http://tinyurl.com/cz49cq claiming less than 1000 tickets remain for the show which would only be true if they sold 8000 tickets in the last 48 hours.
WWE.com has a poll up asking who will win Money in the Bank. Shelton Benjamin is currently way ahead (70%) followed by Christian (11%), CM Punk (6%) and the rest split.
You can watch the entire Wrestlemania press conference from New York City at http://tinyurl.com/ddsbfy
Great interview with Triple H talking Owen Hart, Shawn Michaels, and more at http://tinyurl.com/dxl8u9
Tulsa World at http://tinyurl.com/cyfjbn has a story on Bill Watts going into the Hall of Fame.
The Baltimore Sun at http://tinyurl.com/dzueeo has a Q&A with Edge talking about Wrestlemania.
The 4/11 Billboard Magazine Top 10 Recreational Sports DVD’s in terms of sales is: 1. NFL: Super Bowl XLIII Champions: Pittsburgh Steelers; 2.
WWE: No Way Out 2009; 3. UFC 91: Couture Vs. Lesnar; 4. WWE: The Best Of Saturday Night’s Main Event; 5. UFC 90: Silva Vs. Cote; 6. WWE: Royal Rumble 2009; 7. WWE: Hell In A Cell; 8. UFC: 88: Breakthrough; 9. WWE:
The Best Of Raw: 15th Anniversary 1993-2008; and 10. WWE: Summerslam:
The Complete Anthology: Volume 1 – 1988-1992. All of these DVD’s can be ordered at http://tinyurl.com/ddtca4
Slam Wrestling at http://tinyurl.com/dnlp87 has a story written by former WWE writer Ranjan Chhibber on anti-semitism in wrestling. Paul Heyman is quoted talking very negatively about Bill Watts; and recently released Colt Cabana claims when in OVW one of the WWE trainers called him Kike Cabana in front of the locker room.
As of 4/2 the worldwide take for 12 Rounds with John Cena is $7,709,973.
Due to a tour of Australia in July WWE are taping two episodes on Raw on
6/29 in San Jose, CA. There are also Smackdown/ECW tapings on 6/29 and 6/30 in Freshno and Bakersfield.
TNA NEWS
4/2 Impact TV results from Orlando, FL: Sheik Abdul Bashir, Kiyoshi & No Limit over Lethal Consequences & LAX; Team 3-D over Main Event Mafia security; Taylor Wilde over Madison Rayne; Scott Steiner over AJ Styles; and Sting over Samoa Joe in a non title match.
TNA run tonight at the Civic Center in Thibodaux, LA with Jeff Jarrett & AJ Styles vs. Scott Steiner & Sheik Abdul Bashir; Beer Money, Inc. vs.
LAX; Abyss vs. Matt Morganp; and Awesome Kong vs. Roxxi. Plus; Lethal Consequences, Roxxi, Eric Young, Kiyoshi, No Limit, and more. They also run Saturday at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans with Mick Foley & Jeff Jarrett vs. Beer Money, Inc.; AJ Styles vs. Scott Steiner; and Awesome Kong vs. Roxxi; plus Abyss, LAX, Matt Morgan, Lethal Consequences, Eric Young, Sheik Abdul Bashir, Kiyoshi, No Limit, and more. We’re looking for reader reports from these shows to [email protected]
Booker T posted another letter on his website saying he reached a settlement with WWE after they agreed to let Jimmy Hart appear at his fanfest today after previously pulling him: “This action restores my faith in the WWE and I’m grateful that they reconsidered. I want to thank everyone that has supported me and remember, if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”
Story and photos on Christy Hemme Terri Runnels, Nora Greenwald, and Shelly Martinez visiting troops in Afghanistan at http://tinyurl.com/cg245a
TristarProductions.com is coming out with a TNA Knockouts trading card collection on 4/28 featuring The Beautiful People, Roxxi, Lauren, Traci Brooks, SoCal Val, Christy Hemme, Taylor Wilde and more.
MyPhl17.com is running a contest for ringside tickets to Lockdown in Philly at http://tinyurl.com/cqky4z
OTHER NEWS
EZ Money (Jason Broyles) was the victim of an arson attack on 3/30. His
trailer was destroyed causing several thousand dollars worth of damage.
Ring of Honor debuts tonight in Texas at the George R. Brown Convention
Center in Houston with Nigel McGuinness vs. Jerry Lynn; KENTA vs. Davey
Richards; Roderick Strong vs. Katsuhiko Nakajima; Bryan Danielson vs.
Alex Koslov; Tyler Black & The Necro Butcher vs. Jimmy Jacobs & Austin
Aries; El Generico, vs. Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brent Albright vs. Blue
Demon, Jr; Kevin Steen, Jay Briscoe & Magno vs. Chris Hero, Eddie
Edwards & Incognito; Colt Cabana vs. D-Lo Brown; and Rhett Titus vs.
Erick Stevens.
They also run Saturday (Take No Prisoners PPV taping) with a special 2pm
belltime at the same building with Nigel McGuinness & Claudio Castagnoli
vs. Blue Demon Jr. & Brent Albright; Jimmy Jacobs vs. The Necro Butcher;
Alex Koslov vs. Roderick Strong; Kevin Steen, El Generico, Jay Briscoe &
Magno vs. The American Wolves, Chris Hero & Incognito; Bryan Danielson
vs. Jerry Lynn vs. Erick Stevens vs. D-Lo Brown; and Colt Cabana vs. Ace
Steel. More info at www.rohwrestling.com
Eric Bischoff is a guest tonight on TSN’s Off the Record… Bischoff and
Jason Hervey, who own a production company together, have just had a
reality show picked up by CMT called Runnin’ Wild From Ted Nugent.
According to the press release: “In each one-hour episode Nugent
instructs three competitors on one of what he calls the ‘Big Five of
Survival,’ which include psychology of Survival, Shelter, Water, Fire,
and Food, and will then design an obstacle centered on that skill. The
lessons learned in each episode will be put to the test in the ‘big
hunt,’ as the competitors try to survive on their own, all while Nugent
and Rocco (his 18-year-old son), attempt to hunt them down. In this
twist on the competition/elimination format, Nugent will determine the
outcome himself at the end of each episode.” The show will premiere in
August.
Bobby Lashley said he is considering trying out for Season 10 of UFC’s
Ultimate Fighter. “I think that would be great because what I’m trying
to do right now is prove myself and on The Ultimate Fighter you have to
prove yourself,” Lashley said on MMA Live on ESPN. “I talked it over
with my management and trainers and everything and they had mixed
opinions on it. If I should go there or go out and do different fights.
I’m open to anything. I’m open to suggestions. If that’s the route they
want to send me, then I’m going to go.” The Ultimate Fighter 10 tryouts
are on 4/6 at The Marriott Seattle Airport Hotel in Seattle, WA.
There is a seminar with Bret Hart on 4/23 in Staten Island, NY. More
info at www.IntegrityBookings.com
Really good interview with Bret talking about his book at
http://tinyurl.com/cb2nzf
The National Post in Canada at http://tinyurl.com/d86a84 has a story on
the death of Andrew Martin with comments from Bret.
Joanie “Chyna” Laurer has a role in a new B-movie called Heavy Metal
Maniacs in a Haunted House. The movie airs on VH-1 on 10/30.
Brooke Hogan is selling tickets to her 21st birthday party at Harrah’s
in Atlantic City at http://tinyurl.com/c5kqtl
There is a fund raiser with Ric Flair appearing on 5/2 at the Shelby, NC
City Park.
Lanny Poffo is hosting a Wrestlemania party on Sunday night at Boston
Pizza, 5 Carlson Court in Toronto.
The American Rampage tour in Europe, headlined by Rob Van Dam, finished
up last night. They drew 2000 on 3/24 in Bordeaux, France; 1400 on 3/27
in Basel, Switzerland; 4000 on 3/28 in Grenoble, France; 1200 on 3/29 in
Nancy, France; and 1200 on 4/1 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
On this day in wrestling history:
* 1903 – Tom Jenkins defeated Dan McLeod for the American Heavyweight
title
* 1908 – Frank Gotch defeated George Hammerschmid for the World
Heavyweight title
* 1965 – Gorilla Monsoon & Bill Watts defeated Gene Kiniski & Waldo Von
Erich for the WWWF tag titles
* 1969 – Lance Storm was born
* 1993 – Don Muraco defeated the Sandman for the ECW title
* 1995 – Razor Ramon defeated Bill Dundee for the USWA Heavyweight title
* 1995 – Alundra Blaze defeated Bull Nakano for the WWF Women’s title
* 2000 – Eddie Guerrero defeated Chris Jericho for the WWF European
title
* 2000 – Crash Holly defeated Hardcore Holly for the WWF Hardcore title
* 2001 – Triple H defeated Chris Jericho for the WWF Intercontinental
title
WG Diva of the Day — Torrie Wilson — http://tinyurl.com/cyqfz9
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WRESTLING GLOBE READERS PAGES
Subject: Booker T fanfest in Houston
Mike, just a quick note for your readers. As most things dealing with
promoters and wrestlers this situation has three sides promoters,
wrestlers and the truth, Booker T is making certain assumptions of the
WWE’s actions, some of which I’m not aware of that are most likely true
however I was talking to Nick Bockwinkel last week, a gentleman I’ve
been blessed to have developed a relationship starting back when I
worked with Verne Gagne until today and he said that as is typical with
most wrestlers, someone called him identifying themselves as someone
working with Booker T. All they asked him was if he was possibly open
this upcoming weekend and if he would be willing to do a autograph
session. Nick gave him his typical terms and that was the end of it. He
had no phone number, contact information or even the guys name of who
called him, so naturally when Johnny Ace personally called him, gave him
an offer which I don’t know what it was but considerably higher than he
normally requests, he took the date since he had nothing confirmed, an
airline ticket or even contact information. I’m sure you’ll see that
this is the situation with a majority of the older talent who still have
a level of integrity not to say that some of the younger guys don’t. I
feel it’s important for those of us who know certain facts on things
that we let the “wrestling media” know so that they can be as accurate
as possible and not be considered the National Enquirer of wrestling
which I consider most to be.
Name withheld by request
***
John Cena was on my flight this morning heading from Tampa to Houston.
It was an early morning flight so he was pretty quiet. Before boarding
he did sign an autograph for a school teacher, she was thrilled. On the
plane he was just sitting quietly playing with his phone.
JC York, Wesley Chapel, FL
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