John Cena still top money maker for WWE
South Florida in the running for WrestleMania
CM Punk rising to the top, John Morrison, Jack Swagger on fire
WWE to tour Australia early 2010
Linda McMahon strong in political race
Triple H - Mayweather WWE - professional boxing links a huge win - win
WWE may potentially do a deal with Jeff Jarrett's TNA - Australian tour
Bret Hart - WWE talks in progress, indicated Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Pro Wrestling Torch, others
Randy "Macho Man" Savage and Jake "The Snake" Roberts decent chance for upcoming WWE Hall of Fame, insiders agree
WWE videogame sales going well, more releases to follow
WWE could show industry leadership with wrestling health plan, insurance et al following Wellness program
Chris Jericho already a living legend of wrestling, insiders and fans agree
WWE to release more films, aiming for stronger box office success
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Saturday, September 26, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Dreamseekers Foundation bestowing Humanitarian Award on Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan to Receive Humanitarian Award at the Global Gaming Expo 2008
September 2008
LAS VEGAS, NV. On Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 12 noon, Hulk Hogan will be honored by National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr. in conjunction with the Global Gaming Expo 2008 in Las Vegas, NV. He will receive the “Humanitarian Award” for his work on behalf of the “Dreamseekers” Foundation.
Working with the Spirit of Sovereignty Foundation at the National Indian Gaming Association, Hulk and Dreamseekers have committed to building the non-profit organization in partnership with Indian Country to provide needed assistance to Native America youth and their families.
Hulk Hogan, one of the most successful entertainment personalities and Executive Producer/host of the “Celebrity Championship Wrestling” series on CMT, will participate in the foundation’s activities by providing a familiar public face and forwarding the organization’s goal: providing greater opportunities for youth in Indian Country. Hulk Hogan has made it a priority to start this program in areas of Indian Country with the most need.
Once the project is implemented, the Dreamseekers Foundation hopes to provide a significant amount per annum to tribal nations that face adversities such as poverty, violence and lack of various resources. “We’re specifically focusing on efforts to improve healthcare and education for Native youth and their families around the country, as well as give them access to as many other critical opportunities as possible,” said Ernie Stevens Jr., co-founder of the foundation.
The Hulkamania Experience TM, a multilevel progressive video-slot series based on the adventures of the iconic superstar, is expected to debut at the 2008 Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas and roll out nationally during the next several months. As a part of the foundation’s fundraising initiative, a portion of the proceeds from The Hulkamania Experience TM will go towards the various health and education initiatives yet to be determined by the foundation.
The game, developed in conjunction with Rainmaker Gaming Technology and ID Interactive, LLC, represents a fundamentally new approach towards community involvement in Indian Country. Hulk’s efforts alongside that of the National Indian Gaming Association are a first of their kind, and it all spawned from an initial conversation between Ernie Stevens, Jr. and Hogan. “Hulk simply asked what he could do to help Indian Country, and we both agreed that it all starts with our children,” Stevens said.
“American Indian children are more likely to live in poverty than any other racial or ethnic group in this country“, Hogan noted, citing recent U.S. Census Bureau data. “It’s time to change that, and I’m proud to be associated with that effort,” said Hulk Hogan.
"This is an exciting opportunity to use the Hulk Hogan brand in a fulfilling way that makes a difference in people’s lives at the local level,” says Eric Bischoff of Bischoff Hervey Entertainment, Hogan’s partners in the project.
Last year Hogan was a recipient of a very high honor on behalf of the tribal leaders and the traditional community of South Dakota for his help in Indian Country while attending the Lakota Nation Invitational in Rapid City, SD. It was one of very few times in history that someone from outside the community has received such a prestigious honor. Hulk continues to feel the energy of that ceremony that took place ten months ago and looks forward to doing so much more.
* * *
KEY DATA / NEWS HOOKS:
Nearly a third of all American Indian and Alaska Native children live in poverty
32.8 percent of Native American children in single-parent homes live below the poverty level. This is the highest rate among minorities, and more than twice the rate for White children in similar homes.
SOURCE: "Children and the Households They Live In," a special report released by the Census Bureau.
About HULK HOGAN
Known most recently as the host of NBC’s top-rated “American Gladiator”, and host and Executive Producer of CMT’s series, “Celebrity Wrestling”, Hulk Hogan is one of the best-recognized celebrities in the United States.
A twelve- time world wrestling champion, including six WCW World Heavyweight belts, six WWE Championships, and a World Tag Team championship belt, Hulk Hogan is arguably the greatest wrestler in sports entertainment history. Rarely has an athlete held so many professional titles to his name in such a vast career.
Hulk Hogan is also well known among young fans for his four "demandments": which include training, saying prayers, eating vitamins, and believing in one self. As a result, he is one of the most-requested celebrities for the Make-a-Wish Foundation children’s charity.
About ERIC BISCHOFF
Eric Bischoff began his TV career in syndication and sales for an organization in Minneapolis known as the AWA in August of 1987. His transition from an obscure “office” position to an on-camera host for the company’s daily program on ESPN and in syndication was an event that truly defined the phrase “right time…right place”.
Being in the right place at the right time isn’t always simply coincidence. Indeed, in many respects it’s really all about passion, instinct, commitment, and risk.
Bischoff’s move from the AWA to Turner Broadcasting in 1991 and his subsequent path that began as on camera talent at Turner Broadcasting culminated in 1999 when he was named President of Turner/Time Warner’s WCW division.
During this period he had the opportunity to take a fledgling division of Turner Broadcasting that happened to be a personal favorite of Ted Turner, from a money losing-content producing lost leader (from a corporate point of view) to a $300+ million dollar leader in the industry that had ABC Television up at night wondering how to shore up the male audience that was making “Monday Nitro on TNT” their preferred destination during the NFL season.
Today, Bischoff and Jason Hervey own their own production company (BISCHOFF-HERVEY ENTERTAINMENT), developing television content for NBC, VH1, CMT, E! and many other outlets as well as developing licensing opportunities for entertainment brands..
About ERNIE STEVENS, JR.
Stevens is the Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association, representing 184 tribes in gaming, based in Washington, D.C. Stevens is a former councilman for the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, as well as former 1st Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians. He is currently serving his fourth consecutive term as chairman for the association.
About the NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING ASSOCIATION (NIGA)
NIGA is a non-profit trade association comprised of 184 American Indian Nations and other non-voting associate members. The mission of NIGA is to advance the lives of Indian people; economically, socially, and politically. NIGA operates as a clearinghouse and educational, legislative and public policy resource for tribes, policy makers, and the public on Indian gaming issues and tribal community development. For more information, visit www.indiangaming.org.
About ID Interactive
ID Interactive LLC, producer of the Hulkamania multilevel progressive, is an independent game developer, designer and distributor with a domestic US focus on Indian Country and a history of commitment to charitable community programs. ID distributes games in the US, Western and Eastern Europe, Mexico, Central and South America and Asia. CEO Jon Goldstein is a founding partner of the Dreamseekers Foundation.
About Dreamseekers and the Spirit of Sovereignty Foundation
Dreamseekers and the Spirit of Sovereignty Foundation recognize students that are exceptionally talented and demonstrate skills that positively represent the Native American community. Recipients are qualified based on criteria such as, but not limited to: Course study, GPA, and Enrollment. The selection process for scholarship is competitive, and the award is distinct and prestigious.
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September 2008
LAS VEGAS, NV. On Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 12 noon, Hulk Hogan will be honored by National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr. in conjunction with the Global Gaming Expo 2008 in Las Vegas, NV. He will receive the “Humanitarian Award” for his work on behalf of the “Dreamseekers” Foundation.
Working with the Spirit of Sovereignty Foundation at the National Indian Gaming Association, Hulk and Dreamseekers have committed to building the non-profit organization in partnership with Indian Country to provide needed assistance to Native America youth and their families.
Hulk Hogan, one of the most successful entertainment personalities and Executive Producer/host of the “Celebrity Championship Wrestling” series on CMT, will participate in the foundation’s activities by providing a familiar public face and forwarding the organization’s goal: providing greater opportunities for youth in Indian Country. Hulk Hogan has made it a priority to start this program in areas of Indian Country with the most need.
Once the project is implemented, the Dreamseekers Foundation hopes to provide a significant amount per annum to tribal nations that face adversities such as poverty, violence and lack of various resources. “We’re specifically focusing on efforts to improve healthcare and education for Native youth and their families around the country, as well as give them access to as many other critical opportunities as possible,” said Ernie Stevens Jr., co-founder of the foundation.
The Hulkamania Experience TM, a multilevel progressive video-slot series based on the adventures of the iconic superstar, is expected to debut at the 2008 Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas and roll out nationally during the next several months. As a part of the foundation’s fundraising initiative, a portion of the proceeds from The Hulkamania Experience TM will go towards the various health and education initiatives yet to be determined by the foundation.
The game, developed in conjunction with Rainmaker Gaming Technology and ID Interactive, LLC, represents a fundamentally new approach towards community involvement in Indian Country. Hulk’s efforts alongside that of the National Indian Gaming Association are a first of their kind, and it all spawned from an initial conversation between Ernie Stevens, Jr. and Hogan. “Hulk simply asked what he could do to help Indian Country, and we both agreed that it all starts with our children,” Stevens said.
“American Indian children are more likely to live in poverty than any other racial or ethnic group in this country“, Hogan noted, citing recent U.S. Census Bureau data. “It’s time to change that, and I’m proud to be associated with that effort,” said Hulk Hogan.
"This is an exciting opportunity to use the Hulk Hogan brand in a fulfilling way that makes a difference in people’s lives at the local level,” says Eric Bischoff of Bischoff Hervey Entertainment, Hogan’s partners in the project.
Last year Hogan was a recipient of a very high honor on behalf of the tribal leaders and the traditional community of South Dakota for his help in Indian Country while attending the Lakota Nation Invitational in Rapid City, SD. It was one of very few times in history that someone from outside the community has received such a prestigious honor. Hulk continues to feel the energy of that ceremony that took place ten months ago and looks forward to doing so much more.
* * *
KEY DATA / NEWS HOOKS:
Nearly a third of all American Indian and Alaska Native children live in poverty
32.8 percent of Native American children in single-parent homes live below the poverty level. This is the highest rate among minorities, and more than twice the rate for White children in similar homes.
SOURCE: "Children and the Households They Live In," a special report released by the Census Bureau.
About HULK HOGAN
Known most recently as the host of NBC’s top-rated “American Gladiator”, and host and Executive Producer of CMT’s series, “Celebrity Wrestling”, Hulk Hogan is one of the best-recognized celebrities in the United States.
A twelve- time world wrestling champion, including six WCW World Heavyweight belts, six WWE Championships, and a World Tag Team championship belt, Hulk Hogan is arguably the greatest wrestler in sports entertainment history. Rarely has an athlete held so many professional titles to his name in such a vast career.
Hulk Hogan is also well known among young fans for his four "demandments": which include training, saying prayers, eating vitamins, and believing in one self. As a result, he is one of the most-requested celebrities for the Make-a-Wish Foundation children’s charity.
About ERIC BISCHOFF
Eric Bischoff began his TV career in syndication and sales for an organization in Minneapolis known as the AWA in August of 1987. His transition from an obscure “office” position to an on-camera host for the company’s daily program on ESPN and in syndication was an event that truly defined the phrase “right time…right place”.
Being in the right place at the right time isn’t always simply coincidence. Indeed, in many respects it’s really all about passion, instinct, commitment, and risk.
Bischoff’s move from the AWA to Turner Broadcasting in 1991 and his subsequent path that began as on camera talent at Turner Broadcasting culminated in 1999 when he was named President of Turner/Time Warner’s WCW division.
During this period he had the opportunity to take a fledgling division of Turner Broadcasting that happened to be a personal favorite of Ted Turner, from a money losing-content producing lost leader (from a corporate point of view) to a $300+ million dollar leader in the industry that had ABC Television up at night wondering how to shore up the male audience that was making “Monday Nitro on TNT” their preferred destination during the NFL season.
Today, Bischoff and Jason Hervey own their own production company (BISCHOFF-HERVEY ENTERTAINMENT), developing television content for NBC, VH1, CMT, E! and many other outlets as well as developing licensing opportunities for entertainment brands..
About ERNIE STEVENS, JR.
Stevens is the Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association, representing 184 tribes in gaming, based in Washington, D.C. Stevens is a former councilman for the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, as well as former 1st Vice President of the National Congress of American Indians. He is currently serving his fourth consecutive term as chairman for the association.
About the NATIONAL INDIAN GAMING ASSOCIATION (NIGA)
NIGA is a non-profit trade association comprised of 184 American Indian Nations and other non-voting associate members. The mission of NIGA is to advance the lives of Indian people; economically, socially, and politically. NIGA operates as a clearinghouse and educational, legislative and public policy resource for tribes, policy makers, and the public on Indian gaming issues and tribal community development. For more information, visit www.indiangaming.org.
About ID Interactive
ID Interactive LLC, producer of the Hulkamania multilevel progressive, is an independent game developer, designer and distributor with a domestic US focus on Indian Country and a history of commitment to charitable community programs. ID distributes games in the US, Western and Eastern Europe, Mexico, Central and South America and Asia. CEO Jon Goldstein is a founding partner of the Dreamseekers Foundation.
About Dreamseekers and the Spirit of Sovereignty Foundation
Dreamseekers and the Spirit of Sovereignty Foundation recognize students that are exceptionally talented and demonstrate skills that positively represent the Native American community. Recipients are qualified based on criteria such as, but not limited to: Course study, GPA, and Enrollment. The selection process for scholarship is competitive, and the award is distinct and prestigious.
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Hulkamania: Let the Battle Begin
Ric Flair has been coaxed out of retirement to battle Hulk Hogan himself in what may well be the ultimate grudge match. HULKAMANIA will also feature some of the top stars that compete all over the world including Brutus Beefcake, Aumaga, Kishi, Black Pearl, Mr Ken Anderson, Shanon Moore, Heidenreich, King V, Godfather, Brian Knobs, Nasty Boys, Orlando Jordan, Vampire Warrior, Val Venise, Stephanie Pietz, Koa Marie Gabric, Jimmy Hart and more in THE ULTIMATE WRESTLING SPECTACULAR!". (Credit: Hulkamania.com.au)
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Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Hulk Hogan still the showman at the age of 56, by Nick Walshaw - The Daily Telegraph - 22nd September 2009
HULKAMANIA is why his back concaves on the right. A souvenir from muscle ripping straight off the bone.
It's those scars on a knee torn by Diamond Dallas Page. On a leg broken by first coach Matsuda. On those matching hollows revealed when flexing both biceps.
"Yeah, tore them lifting Andre the Giant," Hulk Hogan shrugs. "It was Wrestlemania III and, while we hadn't planned it, Andre said 'if you reckon you can lift me brother, go for it'.
"Now you have to remember he'd weighed in earlier that day at Detroit airport. Exactly 308 kilos. But when I got in position man, I just went f... it and lifted."
Sitting in a tiny room on the second floor of Sydney's InterContinental Hotel, it's easy to see why Terry Gene Bollea - all bright pink shirt and matching bandanna - is universally loved.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
Why some 20 years after first telling us train hard, say your prayers and take your vitamins, this mustachioed marauder is still barred from doing his interviews in hotel foyers.
"No, we've tried that," says his female publicist, weighed down with a pile of schedules and flight plans. "Mr Hogan was mobbed."
It's why, at age 56, Hollywood Hulk Hogan is once again donning those famed yellow tights to bring us his Let The Battle Begin Tour in November.
Letting us Hulkamaniacs finally see live this image that's adorned energy bars, mixmasters and A-Team episodes. Who in the 1990s outrated Disneyland as the No. 1 Make a Wish Foundation pick.
Who even today needs submission moves learned in Japan to ward off lunatic fans.
"On Sunday we were in Melbourne, going into a restaurant when this guy - you know what a Hells Angel looks like, right? - well, he came screaming across the room at me," Hogan shrugs.
"So I blocked him, hooked him and took him down. It was all over fairly quickly."
But this, Hogan stresses quickly, is all part of Hulkamania, brother.
"And I can accept that, yes, these days I'm getting older, slowing down," the 131kg millionaire grins. "That there will come a point in time when I have to retire gracefully.
"But there's a big difference between retirement and being tired. And brother, I'm not tired yet." (Credit: The Daily Telegraph)
Reader Comment
Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Piper, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, and too many more to list, thank you for the memories. Hulk Hogan's legend lives on and is alive and well down under in Australia. Australian's appreciate Hulk's hard work over the years and his own comeback of the decade. The way Hulk Hogan communicates his real life story is ultra impressive, and its great to see him putting in the hard yards, pounding the pavement and jetting around Australia to let the Australian public know that this upcoming tour is the real deal. The entertainment industry has been fuelled considerably by pro wrestling over the years, and guys like Hogan, Flair and Piper carried it on their backs, with switched on promoters at the likes of WWE, WCW and
NWA kicking it along. It appears that Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Jimmy Hart and Eric Bishcoff and co are putting together a great event here. For my money, having Hogan here means the show has already began. The coverage in the newspapers and Australian TV sure beats the hell out of some of the other stuff passed off as "entertainment news". Hulkamania forever. Wooooo! Just when they think they have the answers, Hogan and Flair change the questions.
Greg Tingle, Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia
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It's those scars on a knee torn by Diamond Dallas Page. On a leg broken by first coach Matsuda. On those matching hollows revealed when flexing both biceps.
"Yeah, tore them lifting Andre the Giant," Hulk Hogan shrugs. "It was Wrestlemania III and, while we hadn't planned it, Andre said 'if you reckon you can lift me brother, go for it'.
"Now you have to remember he'd weighed in earlier that day at Detroit airport. Exactly 308 kilos. But when I got in position man, I just went f... it and lifted."
Sitting in a tiny room on the second floor of Sydney's InterContinental Hotel, it's easy to see why Terry Gene Bollea - all bright pink shirt and matching bandanna - is universally loved.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
Why some 20 years after first telling us train hard, say your prayers and take your vitamins, this mustachioed marauder is still barred from doing his interviews in hotel foyers.
"No, we've tried that," says his female publicist, weighed down with a pile of schedules and flight plans. "Mr Hogan was mobbed."
It's why, at age 56, Hollywood Hulk Hogan is once again donning those famed yellow tights to bring us his Let The Battle Begin Tour in November.
Letting us Hulkamaniacs finally see live this image that's adorned energy bars, mixmasters and A-Team episodes. Who in the 1990s outrated Disneyland as the No. 1 Make a Wish Foundation pick.
Who even today needs submission moves learned in Japan to ward off lunatic fans.
"On Sunday we were in Melbourne, going into a restaurant when this guy - you know what a Hells Angel looks like, right? - well, he came screaming across the room at me," Hogan shrugs.
"So I blocked him, hooked him and took him down. It was all over fairly quickly."
But this, Hogan stresses quickly, is all part of Hulkamania, brother.
"And I can accept that, yes, these days I'm getting older, slowing down," the 131kg millionaire grins. "That there will come a point in time when I have to retire gracefully.
"But there's a big difference between retirement and being tired. And brother, I'm not tired yet." (Credit: The Daily Telegraph)
Reader Comment
Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Piper, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, and too many more to list, thank you for the memories. Hulk Hogan's legend lives on and is alive and well down under in Australia. Australian's appreciate Hulk's hard work over the years and his own comeback of the decade. The way Hulk Hogan communicates his real life story is ultra impressive, and its great to see him putting in the hard yards, pounding the pavement and jetting around Australia to let the Australian public know that this upcoming tour is the real deal. The entertainment industry has been fuelled considerably by pro wrestling over the years, and guys like Hogan, Flair and Piper carried it on their backs, with switched on promoters at the likes of WWE, WCW and
NWA kicking it along. It appears that Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Jimmy Hart and Eric Bishcoff and co are putting together a great event here. For my money, having Hogan here means the show has already began. The coverage in the newspapers and Australian TV sure beats the hell out of some of the other stuff passed off as "entertainment news". Hulkamania forever. Wooooo! Just when they think they have the answers, Hogan and Flair change the questions.
Greg Tingle, Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia
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Wrestling gaming connection
Celebrate the iconic wrestlers, Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair, with their gaming and igaming offerings.
The campaign is on the way that will see wrestling living legends Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair wrestle in Australia this November.
Wrestling fans and gaming fans may be interested in this bit of history:
Hulk Hogan was once a bank teller and played guitar in a rock band. One discovered he was trained in Japan by Hiro Matsuda, who broke his leg just to test his will. Hulk recovered from the injury, returned to training, and later found fame and fortune in the WWE (then World Wrestling Federation)
Starred opposite Sylvester Stallone in Rocky III as Thunderlips
Hulk Hogan's first WWE match was against Ted DiBiase where Hogan was billed "The Incredible Hulk Hogan". WWE and later Terry "The Hulk" Bollea came to terms with Marvel Comics (Marvel Entertainment) and purchased the rights to use the name "Hulk".
Hogan defeated the late Andre The Giant in front of 93,173 people at WrestleMania III
Ric Flair was born Richard Morgan Fliehr on February 25, 1949
Flair is a recognized 16-time World Heavyweight Champion
*other pro wrestlers with a gaming connection include Kevin "Big Sexy" Nash, once going under the stage name of Vinnie Vegas" and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who legend has it has frequented a well known land based casino in New Zealand. NextGen Gaming is rumoured to have developed an Andre The Giant themed online slot game.
Gaming connections include:
The Hulk online slot game
The Incredible Hulk online slot game
Wooooooo! North Carolina Education Lottery scratch ticket featuring Ric Flair
WWE Legends of Wrestling
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The Incredible Hulk
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Hulk Hogan official website
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Media Man Australia
The campaign is on the way that will see wrestling living legends Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair wrestle in Australia this November.
Wrestling fans and gaming fans may be interested in this bit of history:
Hulk Hogan was once a bank teller and played guitar in a rock band. One discovered he was trained in Japan by Hiro Matsuda, who broke his leg just to test his will. Hulk recovered from the injury, returned to training, and later found fame and fortune in the WWE (then World Wrestling Federation)
Starred opposite Sylvester Stallone in Rocky III as Thunderlips
Hulk Hogan's first WWE match was against Ted DiBiase where Hogan was billed "The Incredible Hulk Hogan". WWE and later Terry "The Hulk" Bollea came to terms with Marvel Comics (Marvel Entertainment) and purchased the rights to use the name "Hulk".
Hogan defeated the late Andre The Giant in front of 93,173 people at WrestleMania III
Ric Flair was born Richard Morgan Fliehr on February 25, 1949
Flair is a recognized 16-time World Heavyweight Champion
*other pro wrestlers with a gaming connection include Kevin "Big Sexy" Nash, once going under the stage name of Vinnie Vegas" and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who legend has it has frequented a well known land based casino in New Zealand. NextGen Gaming is rumoured to have developed an Andre The Giant themed online slot game.
Gaming connections include:
The Hulk online slot game
The Incredible Hulk online slot game
Wooooooo! North Carolina Education Lottery scratch ticket featuring Ric Flair
WWE Legends of Wrestling
Global Gaming Directory Profiles
Hulk Hogan
The Incredible Hulk
Ric Flair
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin
Andre The Giant
Sylvester Stallone
WWE Shop
Marvel Entertainment
Websites
Hulkamania Let The Battle Begin official website
Hulk Hogan official website
North Carolina Education Lottery
PartyCasino.com
News
Wrestling News
Global Gaming News
Casino News
Australian Casino News
Website Network
Global Gaming Directory
Marvel Slots Online
Casino News Media
Australian Sports Entertainment
Media Man Australia
Education Lottery Introducing New Game with a Lot of Flair
-Two Additional Instant Games Also Headed to Stores-
RALEIGH- Wooooooo! That’s the name and hopefully what many players will be exclaiming after winning prizes on this new instant scratch-off game. Wooooooo!along with Blue Tripler Crossword and Lucky Gold will all be in stores starting Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Wooooooo! is a $5 scratch-off ticket featuring world-renowned retired wrestler Ric Flair. The game has eight top prizes of $100,000 and over 500,000 prizes between $10 and $200. Players have 16 chances to win on each ticket, which represent Flair’s 16 championship belts.
The NCEL is pleased to be teaming up with Flair in its effort to maximize revenue for the education programs it supports. We believe the Wooooooo! game has the potential to attract new players.
Blue Line Tripler Crossword is a $3 ticket that features over $6.6 million in total prizes in the game. Those prizes include six top prizes of $30,000 and 60 second tier prizes of $1,000 plus much more!
Lucky Gold is a $2 ticket with eight top prizes of $25,000. It also features over $7 million in total cash prizes in the game. Players who scratch and reveal a “moneybag” symbol win double the prize shown.
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RALEIGH- Wooooooo! That’s the name and hopefully what many players will be exclaiming after winning prizes on this new instant scratch-off game. Wooooooo!along with Blue Tripler Crossword and Lucky Gold will all be in stores starting Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Wooooooo! is a $5 scratch-off ticket featuring world-renowned retired wrestler Ric Flair. The game has eight top prizes of $100,000 and over 500,000 prizes between $10 and $200. Players have 16 chances to win on each ticket, which represent Flair’s 16 championship belts.
The NCEL is pleased to be teaming up with Flair in its effort to maximize revenue for the education programs it supports. We believe the Wooooooo! game has the potential to attract new players.
Blue Line Tripler Crossword is a $3 ticket that features over $6.6 million in total prizes in the game. Those prizes include six top prizes of $30,000 and 60 second tier prizes of $1,000 plus much more!
Lucky Gold is a $2 ticket with eight top prizes of $25,000. It also features over $7 million in total cash prizes in the game. Players who scratch and reveal a “moneybag” symbol win double the prize shown.
Global Gaming Directory Profiles
Ric Flair
American Gaming
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Bingo
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Sunday, September 20, 2009
Media Man Australia public support of Hulk Hogan Hulkamania tour of Australia
Media Man Australia public support of Hulk Hogan Hulkamania tour of Australia via The Baltimore Sun online
As long as both Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair do some of their signature moves have the in ring charisma, I think the match up is still worth paying for. There will only every be one Hulk Hogan and one Ric Flair, and both are apparently prepared to put in all on the line to entertain the fans while they still can, and make a pay day in the process, which will help go towards the massive expenses they have both endured in the past few years. I think wrestling fans owe it to the guys and themselves to pay to see the match. You also can't blame them for wanting to have a working holiday down under here in Australia, and make a pay day and party with us Australians. Enjoy the match up and take the opportunity to see both legends go at while they can. Let's also see some technical wrestlers and other entertaining talent get locked into the card. Hulk and Flair, thanks for the memories over the decades, and we look forward to seeing you do your thing in Australia. Greg Tingle, founder and director, Media Man Australia
The Sunday Telegraph - reader feedback - 20th September 2009
There will only ever be one Hulk Hogan, and one Ric Flair. I think fans owe it to see and support living legends such as The Hulk and "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, while they can still do their thing. Hogan, Flair, Roddy Piper and the crew... thank you for the memories. New talent also have their chance to shine in the indy's, WWE feeder promotions and the WWE. Hulkamania for ever. Hulkamania has indeed run wild down under in Australia.
Bondi Beach #1 Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair and Roddy Piper fan. Woooo!
Greg Tingle
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As long as both Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair do some of their signature moves have the in ring charisma, I think the match up is still worth paying for. There will only every be one Hulk Hogan and one Ric Flair, and both are apparently prepared to put in all on the line to entertain the fans while they still can, and make a pay day in the process, which will help go towards the massive expenses they have both endured in the past few years. I think wrestling fans owe it to the guys and themselves to pay to see the match. You also can't blame them for wanting to have a working holiday down under here in Australia, and make a pay day and party with us Australians. Enjoy the match up and take the opportunity to see both legends go at while they can. Let's also see some technical wrestlers and other entertaining talent get locked into the card. Hulk and Flair, thanks for the memories over the decades, and we look forward to seeing you do your thing in Australia. Greg Tingle, founder and director, Media Man Australia
The Sunday Telegraph - reader feedback - 20th September 2009
There will only ever be one Hulk Hogan, and one Ric Flair. I think fans owe it to see and support living legends such as The Hulk and "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, while they can still do their thing. Hogan, Flair, Roddy Piper and the crew... thank you for the memories. New talent also have their chance to shine in the indy's, WWE feeder promotions and the WWE. Hulkamania for ever. Hulkamania has indeed run wild down under in Australia.
Bondi Beach #1 Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair and Roddy Piper fan. Woooo!
Greg Tingle
Media Man Australia Profiles
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Saturday, September 19, 2009
Triple H to accompany Money in Vegas - 17th September 2009
Floyd Mayweather Jr will be escorted to the ring by WWE superstar Triple H when he takes on Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The Pretty Boy is no stranger to the world of wrestling entertainment, having faced off against The Big Show at WrestleMania XXIV as well as hosting Monday night RAW earlier this summer.
And he will not be the first to be accompanied to the ring by a wrestler either, as Manny Pacquiao was joined by Batista on his way out to fight Ricky Hatton in May.
There could be divided loyalties for wrestling and boxing fans to contend with if Mayweather and Pacquiao do finally meet in a showdown next year, but for now the WWE is wholeheartedly backing the undefeated American.
Collaboration
Mayweather said: "Triple H is one of the greatest guys in the world and represents a whole universe of WWE fans that appreciate what he does.
"He and his stature are huge and I can't think of a better person to escort me to the ring for my return to boxing."
There is no doubt who D-Generation X star Triple H expects to prove victorious in Las Vegas on Saturday either.
"It is an honour to walk the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world back into the ring," said the WWE superstar.
"Floyd 'Money' Mayweather has shown WWE tremendous support and it is my pleasure to return the favour this Saturday by standing at his side as he defeats Marquez in what I am sure will be boxing's fight of the year."
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The Pretty Boy is no stranger to the world of wrestling entertainment, having faced off against The Big Show at WrestleMania XXIV as well as hosting Monday night RAW earlier this summer.
And he will not be the first to be accompanied to the ring by a wrestler either, as Manny Pacquiao was joined by Batista on his way out to fight Ricky Hatton in May.
There could be divided loyalties for wrestling and boxing fans to contend with if Mayweather and Pacquiao do finally meet in a showdown next year, but for now the WWE is wholeheartedly backing the undefeated American.
Collaboration
Mayweather said: "Triple H is one of the greatest guys in the world and represents a whole universe of WWE fans that appreciate what he does.
"He and his stature are huge and I can't think of a better person to escort me to the ring for my return to boxing."
There is no doubt who D-Generation X star Triple H expects to prove victorious in Las Vegas on Saturday either.
"It is an honour to walk the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world back into the ring," said the WWE superstar.
"Floyd 'Money' Mayweather has shown WWE tremendous support and it is my pleasure to return the favour this Saturday by standing at his side as he defeats Marquez in what I am sure will be boxing's fight of the year."
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New Ticket with a Lot of “Flair”, by Greg Tingle
If anyone wondered about how hot pro wrestling is right now, wonder no more. Wrestling is more Hollywood than Hollywood, and many of the professions top stars have massive crossover and mainstream appeal.
Look at "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair for example. The North Carolina Lottery has a Flair themed lottery ticket. Flair, the man known for taking ladies to "Space Mountain" and trademark "Whoooooo!" is also scheduled to wrestling Hulk Hogan down under in Australia starting on 21st November.
Casino and gaming buffs may also be aware that Hulk's "The Hulkamania Experience" land based slot machine is scheduled to soon hit some American casinos. The casino deal was done in conjunction with the National Indian Gaming Association, Dreamseekers Foundation, ID Interactive and Rainmaker Gaming Technology.
Hulk Hogan is arguably the biggest moneymaking and brand licensing machine pro wrestling has ever seen, with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin also said to be on his level.
Hogan and the the WWE (formally known as WWF) previously did business deal with Marvel Entertainment, thus securing the rights to use the name "Hulk". Marvel Entertainment, who were recently purchased by Disney, actually have "The Hulk" and "The Incredible Hulk" online slot machines.
Both Terry "The Hulk" Bollea (Hogan) and Ric Flair could both do with some strong pay days, be it from gaming or stepping back in the right, as both have endured some expense legal battles over the past few years. Hulk is playing up his single status to the ladies of Australia, and "Slick Ric" certainly has a reputation for Wooooing the ladies.
Hogan VS Flair, and Hogan and Flair, be it wrestling or gaming enterprises - Jackpot! Australian production companies are also talking reality television business with Hogan and Flair. "The Goanna" would be proud.
Media Man Australia is the agent for a number of Australia wrestling stars including John "Vulcan" Seru (from James Bond fame) and Steve "Crusher" Rackman (Crocodile Dundee).
*Greg Tingle is the founder and director of Media Man Australia, Casino News Media and Global Gaming Directory, and a long time pro wrestling fan!
Press Release below
NC Education Lottery Unveils a New Ticket with a Lot of “Flair”
RALEIGH- The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) today unveiled a new sports-themed instant scratch-off ticket featuring world-renowned pro wrestler Ric Flair. The NCEL and “The Nature Boy” teamed up on the new game that will be available at lottery retail locations statewide starting Tuesday, Sept. 22.
“All of us at the NCEL are thrilled about this partnership and the potential it has for bringing in a different group of players, which could result in increased sales,” said Tom Shaheen, NCEL executive director. He added, “We are always looking for ways to appeal to new players so we can maximize sales and generate as much money as
possible for education.”
During the event that took place at the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway, Flair expressed that education is important to him as well. To help get the word out about the ticket and to help the NCEL raise money for education, Flair said that he will make appearances at upcoming fairs around the state.
“Wooooooo!” is a $5 scratch-off ticket. The game features eight top prizes of $100,000 and over 500,000 prizes between $10 and $200. Players have 16 chances to win on each ticket, which corresponds with Flair’s 16 championship belts.
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Look at "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair for example. The North Carolina Lottery has a Flair themed lottery ticket. Flair, the man known for taking ladies to "Space Mountain" and trademark "Whoooooo!" is also scheduled to wrestling Hulk Hogan down under in Australia starting on 21st November.
Casino and gaming buffs may also be aware that Hulk's "The Hulkamania Experience" land based slot machine is scheduled to soon hit some American casinos. The casino deal was done in conjunction with the National Indian Gaming Association, Dreamseekers Foundation, ID Interactive and Rainmaker Gaming Technology.
Hulk Hogan is arguably the biggest moneymaking and brand licensing machine pro wrestling has ever seen, with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin also said to be on his level.
Hogan and the the WWE (formally known as WWF) previously did business deal with Marvel Entertainment, thus securing the rights to use the name "Hulk". Marvel Entertainment, who were recently purchased by Disney, actually have "The Hulk" and "The Incredible Hulk" online slot machines.
Both Terry "The Hulk" Bollea (Hogan) and Ric Flair could both do with some strong pay days, be it from gaming or stepping back in the right, as both have endured some expense legal battles over the past few years. Hulk is playing up his single status to the ladies of Australia, and "Slick Ric" certainly has a reputation for Wooooing the ladies.
Hogan VS Flair, and Hogan and Flair, be it wrestling or gaming enterprises - Jackpot! Australian production companies are also talking reality television business with Hogan and Flair. "The Goanna" would be proud.
Media Man Australia is the agent for a number of Australia wrestling stars including John "Vulcan" Seru (from James Bond fame) and Steve "Crusher" Rackman (Crocodile Dundee).
*Greg Tingle is the founder and director of Media Man Australia, Casino News Media and Global Gaming Directory, and a long time pro wrestling fan!
Press Release below
NC Education Lottery Unveils a New Ticket with a Lot of “Flair”
RALEIGH- The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) today unveiled a new sports-themed instant scratch-off ticket featuring world-renowned pro wrestler Ric Flair. The NCEL and “The Nature Boy” teamed up on the new game that will be available at lottery retail locations statewide starting Tuesday, Sept. 22.
“All of us at the NCEL are thrilled about this partnership and the potential it has for bringing in a different group of players, which could result in increased sales,” said Tom Shaheen, NCEL executive director. He added, “We are always looking for ways to appeal to new players so we can maximize sales and generate as much money as
possible for education.”
During the event that took place at the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway, Flair expressed that education is important to him as well. To help get the word out about the ticket and to help the NCEL raise money for education, Flair said that he will make appearances at upcoming fairs around the state.
“Wooooooo!” is a $5 scratch-off ticket. The game features eight top prizes of $100,000 and over 500,000 prizes between $10 and $200. Players have 16 chances to win on each ticket, which corresponds with Flair’s 16 championship belts.
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Hulkamania - Let the Battle Begin Hulk Hogan @ Rod Laver Arena
Press Release
For the first time ever, Wrestling Legend Hulk Hogan will tour Australia. His new event HULKAMANIA - Let the Battle Begin, will be playing arenas in Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney, November 2009.
For over two decades the name Hulk Hogan has been synonymous with sports entertainment and professional wrestling. Having set live attendance records all over the world including a live gate of more that 96,000 fans at the Pontiac Silverdome, Hulk Hogan has set his sites on Australia as his next frontier.
“I have been blessed with the opportunity to perform in front of fans around the world,” said Hogan. “I have always wanted to perform in Australia as I have heard Aussies are some of the greatest wrestling fans ever. I am grateful for this opportunity, and hope that this is just the beginning of a great thing!”
“In 2002 there were rumours of Hulk Hogan coming to Australia which sent wrestling fans into meltdown,” said promoter Michael Condon. “This time it’s real and confirmed and the Hulk is bringing some of the greats of wrestling with him.”
HULKAMANIA will also i some of the top stars that compete all over the world, and will include state of the art production. The arenas will be plastered with large screens to show the audience what is happening back stage in between wrestling matches. The night will also contain audience participation, a huge pyro techniques display and more.
From his early beginnings as a young wrestler training under the Tutoledge of the famed Hiro Matsuda who intentionally broke Hulk Hogan’s leg on his first day of training just to test his desire. Hulk Hogan’s larger that life persona and matching arms have turned the industry into the phenomenon it is today.
“We are thrilled to be working with Condon Sports and Entertainment group and KnokX Pro Entertainment” said Eric Bischoff of Bischoff Hervey Entertainment Television who is helping to bring Hulk Hogan to Australia for this tour.
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For the first time ever, Wrestling Legend Hulk Hogan will tour Australia. His new event HULKAMANIA - Let the Battle Begin, will be playing arenas in Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney, November 2009.
For over two decades the name Hulk Hogan has been synonymous with sports entertainment and professional wrestling. Having set live attendance records all over the world including a live gate of more that 96,000 fans at the Pontiac Silverdome, Hulk Hogan has set his sites on Australia as his next frontier.
“I have been blessed with the opportunity to perform in front of fans around the world,” said Hogan. “I have always wanted to perform in Australia as I have heard Aussies are some of the greatest wrestling fans ever. I am grateful for this opportunity, and hope that this is just the beginning of a great thing!”
“In 2002 there were rumours of Hulk Hogan coming to Australia which sent wrestling fans into meltdown,” said promoter Michael Condon. “This time it’s real and confirmed and the Hulk is bringing some of the greats of wrestling with him.”
HULKAMANIA will also i some of the top stars that compete all over the world, and will include state of the art production. The arenas will be plastered with large screens to show the audience what is happening back stage in between wrestling matches. The night will also contain audience participation, a huge pyro techniques display and more.
From his early beginnings as a young wrestler training under the Tutoledge of the famed Hiro Matsuda who intentionally broke Hulk Hogan’s leg on his first day of training just to test his desire. Hulk Hogan’s larger that life persona and matching arms have turned the industry into the phenomenon it is today.
“We are thrilled to be working with Condon Sports and Entertainment group and KnokX Pro Entertainment” said Eric Bischoff of Bischoff Hervey Entertainment Television who is helping to bring Hulk Hogan to Australia for this tour.
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Hulk Hogan's Hulkamania tour of Australia
Said to be on board for Hulk Hogan's Hulkamania tour of Australia: Ric Flair, Val Venis, The Godfather, Diamond Dallas Page, Umaga, Gangrel, Shannon Moore, Ken Anderson, The Nasty Boys, Jimmy Hart, Brutus Beefcake, and Lacey Von Erich. Rob Van Dam is in negotiations in addition to a number of former WWE Divas. Jeff Hardy talks advised numerous wrestling news media outlets. Headliner to be based on Hogan v Flair and talk of filming a reality TV show.
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Saturday, September 05, 2009
Wrestling News Updated - Media Man Australia Network
WWE.com has removed the "Industry News" section from the front page of its website
Vince McMahon more open to ideas from lock room, insiders say product improving
John Cena doing fantastic community support work, Make-A-Wish Foundation et al
Jeff Hardy says goodbye to WWE family
Rey Mysterio Jr. suspended for 30 days
WWE ramps up Europe, dedicated websites for European regions and more tours upcoming
Bob Barker to host Monday Night Raw
Linda McMahon, CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, is considering running for the United States Senate
WWE Offers Free Tickets to US Military
More details on the WWE.com website and WWE Corporate website
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Vince McMahon more open to ideas from lock room, insiders say product improving
John Cena doing fantastic community support work, Make-A-Wish Foundation et al
Jeff Hardy says goodbye to WWE family
Rey Mysterio Jr. suspended for 30 days
WWE ramps up Europe, dedicated websites for European regions and more tours upcoming
Bob Barker to host Monday Night Raw
Linda McMahon, CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, is considering running for the United States Senate
WWE Offers Free Tickets to US Military
More details on the WWE.com website and WWE Corporate website
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Wednesday, August 12, 2009
WWE Living Legend News Update
Hulk Hogan turns 56 years old today.
Vince McMahon turns 64 years old on the 24th August. McMahon will be spending his birthday in Las Vegas, where WWE Raw will emanate from that night.
Ric Flair has been doing the news media rounds with Harley Race.
Roddy Piper continues to add excitement and ratings to wrestling shows.
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat will one of the best on WWE current roster.
Andre The Giant online slot game strongly rumored via NextGen Gaming.
Shawn Michaels to work feud and angles with Triple H.
Credits:
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Pro Wrestling Torch
CAP Magazine
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Vince McMahon turns 64 years old on the 24th August. McMahon will be spending his birthday in Las Vegas, where WWE Raw will emanate from that night.
Ric Flair has been doing the news media rounds with Harley Race.
Roddy Piper continues to add excitement and ratings to wrestling shows.
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat will one of the best on WWE current roster.
Andre The Giant online slot game strongly rumored via NextGen Gaming.
Shawn Michaels to work feud and angles with Triple H.
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Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Flair News: Ric Flair on the radio - Flair scratch-off Lottery card, Horsemen road stories, NWA Fanfest - 1st August 2009
Ric Flair had a 20-minute segment on the "Primetime with Packman" radio show on Friday afternoon in Charlotte, N.C. talking the Ric Flair lottery, the NWA Fanfest, and old Four Horsemen road stories.
Flair didn't "break any news" or talk update his WWE status, but he said will become the "official face" of the North Carolina Lottery on September 22. To coincide with the announcement, the lottery will be releasing a "Woo!" scratch-off card.
Flair also promoted the NWA Legends Fanfest in Charlotte next weekend that will feature the first Original Four Horsemen reunion in nearly 20 years, plus a Q&A session with Flair and Harley Race.
Most of the interview was Flair talking Charlotte sports and sharing some road stories, including a few recent stories involving Chicago White Sox GM Kenny Williams. (Credit: Pro Wrestling Torch)
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Flair didn't "break any news" or talk update his WWE status, but he said will become the "official face" of the North Carolina Lottery on September 22. To coincide with the announcement, the lottery will be releasing a "Woo!" scratch-off card.
Flair also promoted the NWA Legends Fanfest in Charlotte next weekend that will feature the first Original Four Horsemen reunion in nearly 20 years, plus a Q&A session with Flair and Harley Race.
Most of the interview was Flair talking Charlotte sports and sharing some road stories, including a few recent stories involving Chicago White Sox GM Kenny Williams. (Credit: Pro Wrestling Torch)
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Sunday, July 19, 2009
Jim Rose returns wrestling to its roots, By Marc Graser - Variety - 17th July 2009
Former WWE stars hope to pin hardcore fans
Just as more people are tuning in to watch men fight it out in a ring -- especially bouts produced by the WWE, TNA or UFC -- Jim Rose wants to return wrestling to its roots.
The colorful showman behind the Jim Rose Circus, an outrageous hour of comedy and stunts not for the faint of heart, has been selling out clubs across the country with a new show incorporating former headliners of Vince McMahon's WWE.
Woven into a loose narrative, Rose's new act has Jake "The Snake" Roberts, whose career inspired Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler," and Sinn Bodhi, formerly known as the tattooed circus freak Kizarney, break into fistfights, smash through tables, get hooked through the tongue, sprayed in the face with bear repellent, and encounter live scorpions and a 22-foot albino python. At one point, Bodhi is sealed in a "plastic bag of death," as air is vacuumed out of it.
"It's a soap opera like you'd see in wrestling (during a WWE show), but every night is different," Rose says. "There's a running theme but they're ad libbing. They're doing 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?' but one night you might get hurt a little more than the night before."
The over-the-top and very adult nature of the show reflects a time when fights were staged outside circus tents in order to sell tickets to crowds that would gather, Rose says. "The format is where wrestling came from," he says.
Word-of-mouth has drummed up most of the interest for Rose's show, which doesn't involve a traditional ring, just a stage. His show launched from Seattle in the 1990s, and opened for the likes of Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson and headlined Lollapalooza. The Troubadour in L.A. hosts the show on July 22.
Rose also hopes to grow his audience beyond its cult following, producing videos for his site on MySpace and YouTube. A TV show is also being mulled.
"This is a very crazy reality show that's happening," Rose says. "If a television show is going to be fun, then let's go do it." (Credit: Variety)
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Just as more people are tuning in to watch men fight it out in a ring -- especially bouts produced by the WWE, TNA or UFC -- Jim Rose wants to return wrestling to its roots.
The colorful showman behind the Jim Rose Circus, an outrageous hour of comedy and stunts not for the faint of heart, has been selling out clubs across the country with a new show incorporating former headliners of Vince McMahon's WWE.
Woven into a loose narrative, Rose's new act has Jake "The Snake" Roberts, whose career inspired Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler," and Sinn Bodhi, formerly known as the tattooed circus freak Kizarney, break into fistfights, smash through tables, get hooked through the tongue, sprayed in the face with bear repellent, and encounter live scorpions and a 22-foot albino python. At one point, Bodhi is sealed in a "plastic bag of death," as air is vacuumed out of it.
"It's a soap opera like you'd see in wrestling (during a WWE show), but every night is different," Rose says. "There's a running theme but they're ad libbing. They're doing 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?' but one night you might get hurt a little more than the night before."
The over-the-top and very adult nature of the show reflects a time when fights were staged outside circus tents in order to sell tickets to crowds that would gather, Rose says. "The format is where wrestling came from," he says.
Word-of-mouth has drummed up most of the interest for Rose's show, which doesn't involve a traditional ring, just a stage. His show launched from Seattle in the 1990s, and opened for the likes of Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson and headlined Lollapalooza. The Troubadour in L.A. hosts the show on July 22.
Rose also hopes to grow his audience beyond its cult following, producing videos for his site on MySpace and YouTube. A TV show is also being mulled.
"This is a very crazy reality show that's happening," Rose says. "If a television show is going to be fun, then let's go do it." (Credit: Variety)
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Donald Trump’s commercial-free Raw does big rating, by Kevin Eck - Baltimore Sun - 23rd June 2009
Whether it can be attributed to the publicity WWE received from the Donald Trump story line, the commercial-free format, the advertised main event of a Last Man Standing Match for the WWE title between Randy Orton and Triple H, or some combination of the three, one thing is for sure: Monday’s episode of Raw was a huge ratings success.
Raw drew a 4.5 rating (4.3 first hour; 4.8 second hour), a significant increase from last week’s 3.7. The show’s 6,813,000 viewers made it the most-watched episode of Raw since March 25, 2002, according to wwe.com.
You have to hand it to Trump. WrestleMania 23, which was built around his hair versus hair match against Vince McMahon, did a company-record 1.2 million pay-per-view buys in 2007, and now he is the central figure on the highest-rated Raw in more than seven years.
Based on the rating, I wonder if the Trump story line, which appeared to end on Monday after just one week, might continue at some point. A story on wwe.com about Trump’s appearance on Raw said “this may not be the end of the feud between these two world class promoters.” (Credit: Baltimore Sun)
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Raw drew a 4.5 rating (4.3 first hour; 4.8 second hour), a significant increase from last week’s 3.7. The show’s 6,813,000 viewers made it the most-watched episode of Raw since March 25, 2002, according to wwe.com.
You have to hand it to Trump. WrestleMania 23, which was built around his hair versus hair match against Vince McMahon, did a company-record 1.2 million pay-per-view buys in 2007, and now he is the central figure on the highest-rated Raw in more than seven years.
Based on the rating, I wonder if the Trump story line, which appeared to end on Monday after just one week, might continue at some point. A story on wwe.com about Trump’s appearance on Raw said “this may not be the end of the feud between these two world class promoters.” (Credit: Baltimore Sun)
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Monday, June 22, 2009
Wrestling News Media
Donald Trump appears on WWE RAW
Jake "The Snake" Roberts to go on tour
WWE releases Sim Snuka, Umaga
Tommy Dreamer wins ECW Championship
Filsinger Games releases Legends of Wresting game featuring Rob Van Dam
WWE Randy Savage Macho Madness DVD enjoys strong sales
WWE acknowledges passing away of Japanese pro wrestling legend Mitsuharu Misawa
Foxtel WWE buy rates hold firm
USA Network has best ever May results, assisted by WWE RAW
John Cena featured in Make-A-Wish latest 'Wish Stores'
Andre The Giant rumoured to feature in NextGen Gaming online slot game this year
Australian pro wrestling scene still moving forward, however unlikely to return to glory days success
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Jake "The Snake" Roberts to go on tour
WWE releases Sim Snuka, Umaga
Tommy Dreamer wins ECW Championship
Filsinger Games releases Legends of Wresting game featuring Rob Van Dam
WWE Randy Savage Macho Madness DVD enjoys strong sales
WWE acknowledges passing away of Japanese pro wrestling legend Mitsuharu Misawa
Foxtel WWE buy rates hold firm
USA Network has best ever May results, assisted by WWE RAW
John Cena featured in Make-A-Wish latest 'Wish Stores'
Andre The Giant rumoured to feature in NextGen Gaming online slot game this year
Australian pro wrestling scene still moving forward, however unlikely to return to glory days success
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Filsinger Games teams up with Rob Van Dam for "Legends Originals"
Filsinger Games has announced that former WWE and ECW champion Rob Van Dam will be part of an expansion pack of their Legends of Wrestling card game along with 11 other wrestlers. You can find out more at www.filsingergames.com
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Vinnie Brings The Donald Back Into The Act, by Mike Mooneyham - 21st June 2009
Last year Vince McMahon gave away a million dollars in an attempt to lure viewers to Monday Night Raw.
Now he’s pretending to have sold Raw, WWE’s flagship show, to the even richer and perhaps more megalomaniacal Donald Trump.
Last week’s “shocking” announcement on Raw didn’t produce the effect McMahon had hoped for. That’s because fans rarely believe anything the WWE owner says these days.
But even if the WWE Universe faithful didn’t buy the prank, Vince was betting on selling the angle to the mainstream media. It’s happened before, although the non-wrestling press has become smarter over the years.
Some media outlets, such as TV Guide and Bloomberg, initially reported it as fact. FoxBusiness.com posted the release itself. But they were the exceptions.
The hope now is that Trump, who once was brought in for a storyline feud with McMahon that culminated with The Donald shaving Vince’s head at Wrestlemania 23, will again produce some magic with McMahon.
McMahon, however, is in no danger of losing his company or Raw, which remains one of the top-rated shows on cable television.
WWE and USA Network even issued a bogus joint press release last week to announce the change in ownership. It was, McMahon stated, an undisclosed offer he “couldn’t refuse.”
USA was forced to release an apology Thursday.
“We intended the release to be promotional for that ongoing story arc on the series,” USA said in the statement. “There is no such actual ‘sale.’ We apologize for any confusion.”
The takeover plot continues Monday when the real estate mogul appears on a commercial-free episode of the show as its new owner.
It will mark the first time in more than 838 episodes that Raw will be commercial-free.
“I’m going to do things on the show that have never been done or seen before,” Trump boasted last week.
Whether or not that’s a good thing remains to be seen. Trump looks out of his element on a wrestling show. He’s certainly no Vince. And, like most non-wrestling personalities attempting to do pro wrestling, his delivery is forced and contrived.
- Hall of Famer and WWE fixture Jerry Brisco recently suffered what was believed to be as many as three strokes in a period of several days. Doctors also discovered a small hole in his heart and a heart valve irregularity, and have scheduled surgery for next week.
“Jerry is confident, as am I, that he will make a full recovery as he has been an athlete all his life and has never been a smoker, isn’t overweight, is in excellent physical shape for a man a little north of 60 who was still working out on the mat with his amateur wrestling team at a high school in Tampa where he volunteers,” Jim Ross posted on his blog.
Jerry is one of pro wrestling’s “good guys,” and our thoughts and prayers go out to him, brother Jack and the Brisco family.
- Mitsuharu Misawa, one of Japan’s greatest wrestlers over the past three decades, died last weekend during a tag-team bout in Hiroshima.
Misawa, just days shy of his 47th birthday, was competing in a tag-team match when he took a belly to back suplex from Akitoshi Saito and lost consciousness. The match was stopped and Misawa was administered to before being taken from the arena. He was declared dead at the hospital.
Misawa initially rose to fame in the pro ranks as Japan’s high-flying Tiger Mask, the second wrestler to use that name, during the mid-’80s. His popularity peaked in the early ‘90s when he and top rival Kenta Kobashi engaged in a classic series of matches that were considered among the greatest for that time period. Both were headliners for All Japan Pro Wrestling, a promotion that was considered the most physically demanding in the world, and both operated at extremely high levels.
A national amateur wrestling champion in high school, Misawa was discovered by All Japan owner Shohei “Giant” Baba and trained by Baba, The Destroyer (Dick Beyer) and Dory Funk Jr.
Misawa inherited the position of AJPW president following the death of Baba, but disagreements with widow Motoko Baba led to his departure from the company in 2000 and the formation of Pro Wrestling NOAH.
Misawa was owner of Pro Wrestling NOAH at the time of his death.
- WWE released both Candice Michelle and Sim Snuka on Friday.
Michelle, a former WWE women’s champ, has been recovering from an injury.
Snuka, the son of WWE Hall of Famer Superfly Jimmy Snuka, hasn’t been on WWE TV since January when he and Manu were kicked out of Randy Orton’s Legacy stable. Snuka made his WWE debut in 2006 as part of the Deuce and Domino tag team.
- Lucha star Dos Caras Jr. from Mexico’s EMLL promotion reportedly has signed a three-year contract with WWE.
- TNA’s Kurt Angle told a Detroit radio station Friday that he’d be open to one final run with WWE before he retires from the business.
“I can’t tell you where I’m going to be in three years. I’d like to be in TNA, but I can’t guarantee it,” Angle said on Sports Radio WDFN. “If I could have one last run, heck, I’d do it. Why not? Rumors are going to be flying now that Kurt Angle wants to go to WWE ... That’s completely untrue. I’m very happy where I am.”
“I’m no longer bitter about WWE. Vince McMahon and I had a falling out, but everything is cool now,” added Angle. “Him and I have kind of made peace with each other.”
- WWE will return to the North Charleston Coliseum on July 18 with a Smackdown show.
Tentative top bouts include Jeff Hardy vs. Edge, and a Fatal Four-Way with Christian, Finlay, Jack Swagger and Tommy Dreamer for the ECW crown. Others on the bill include C.M. Punk, Great Khali, John Morrison, Shelton Benjamin, Vladimir Kozlov, Evan Bourne and WWE divas Gail Kim, Melina, Natalya and Maria. (Credit: The Post and Courier)
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Now he’s pretending to have sold Raw, WWE’s flagship show, to the even richer and perhaps more megalomaniacal Donald Trump.
Last week’s “shocking” announcement on Raw didn’t produce the effect McMahon had hoped for. That’s because fans rarely believe anything the WWE owner says these days.
But even if the WWE Universe faithful didn’t buy the prank, Vince was betting on selling the angle to the mainstream media. It’s happened before, although the non-wrestling press has become smarter over the years.
Some media outlets, such as TV Guide and Bloomberg, initially reported it as fact. FoxBusiness.com posted the release itself. But they were the exceptions.
The hope now is that Trump, who once was brought in for a storyline feud with McMahon that culminated with The Donald shaving Vince’s head at Wrestlemania 23, will again produce some magic with McMahon.
McMahon, however, is in no danger of losing his company or Raw, which remains one of the top-rated shows on cable television.
WWE and USA Network even issued a bogus joint press release last week to announce the change in ownership. It was, McMahon stated, an undisclosed offer he “couldn’t refuse.”
USA was forced to release an apology Thursday.
“We intended the release to be promotional for that ongoing story arc on the series,” USA said in the statement. “There is no such actual ‘sale.’ We apologize for any confusion.”
The takeover plot continues Monday when the real estate mogul appears on a commercial-free episode of the show as its new owner.
It will mark the first time in more than 838 episodes that Raw will be commercial-free.
“I’m going to do things on the show that have never been done or seen before,” Trump boasted last week.
Whether or not that’s a good thing remains to be seen. Trump looks out of his element on a wrestling show. He’s certainly no Vince. And, like most non-wrestling personalities attempting to do pro wrestling, his delivery is forced and contrived.
- Hall of Famer and WWE fixture Jerry Brisco recently suffered what was believed to be as many as three strokes in a period of several days. Doctors also discovered a small hole in his heart and a heart valve irregularity, and have scheduled surgery for next week.
“Jerry is confident, as am I, that he will make a full recovery as he has been an athlete all his life and has never been a smoker, isn’t overweight, is in excellent physical shape for a man a little north of 60 who was still working out on the mat with his amateur wrestling team at a high school in Tampa where he volunteers,” Jim Ross posted on his blog.
Jerry is one of pro wrestling’s “good guys,” and our thoughts and prayers go out to him, brother Jack and the Brisco family.
- Mitsuharu Misawa, one of Japan’s greatest wrestlers over the past three decades, died last weekend during a tag-team bout in Hiroshima.
Misawa, just days shy of his 47th birthday, was competing in a tag-team match when he took a belly to back suplex from Akitoshi Saito and lost consciousness. The match was stopped and Misawa was administered to before being taken from the arena. He was declared dead at the hospital.
Misawa initially rose to fame in the pro ranks as Japan’s high-flying Tiger Mask, the second wrestler to use that name, during the mid-’80s. His popularity peaked in the early ‘90s when he and top rival Kenta Kobashi engaged in a classic series of matches that were considered among the greatest for that time period. Both were headliners for All Japan Pro Wrestling, a promotion that was considered the most physically demanding in the world, and both operated at extremely high levels.
A national amateur wrestling champion in high school, Misawa was discovered by All Japan owner Shohei “Giant” Baba and trained by Baba, The Destroyer (Dick Beyer) and Dory Funk Jr.
Misawa inherited the position of AJPW president following the death of Baba, but disagreements with widow Motoko Baba led to his departure from the company in 2000 and the formation of Pro Wrestling NOAH.
Misawa was owner of Pro Wrestling NOAH at the time of his death.
- WWE released both Candice Michelle and Sim Snuka on Friday.
Michelle, a former WWE women’s champ, has been recovering from an injury.
Snuka, the son of WWE Hall of Famer Superfly Jimmy Snuka, hasn’t been on WWE TV since January when he and Manu were kicked out of Randy Orton’s Legacy stable. Snuka made his WWE debut in 2006 as part of the Deuce and Domino tag team.
- Lucha star Dos Caras Jr. from Mexico’s EMLL promotion reportedly has signed a three-year contract with WWE.
- TNA’s Kurt Angle told a Detroit radio station Friday that he’d be open to one final run with WWE before he retires from the business.
“I can’t tell you where I’m going to be in three years. I’d like to be in TNA, but I can’t guarantee it,” Angle said on Sports Radio WDFN. “If I could have one last run, heck, I’d do it. Why not? Rumors are going to be flying now that Kurt Angle wants to go to WWE ... That’s completely untrue. I’m very happy where I am.”
“I’m no longer bitter about WWE. Vince McMahon and I had a falling out, but everything is cool now,” added Angle. “Him and I have kind of made peace with each other.”
- WWE will return to the North Charleston Coliseum on July 18 with a Smackdown show.
Tentative top bouts include Jeff Hardy vs. Edge, and a Fatal Four-Way with Christian, Finlay, Jack Swagger and Tommy Dreamer for the ECW crown. Others on the bill include C.M. Punk, Great Khali, John Morrison, Shelton Benjamin, Vladimir Kozlov, Evan Bourne and WWE divas Gail Kim, Melina, Natalya and Maria. (Credit: The Post and Courier)
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Monday, June 15, 2009
Pro wrestling legend dies in the ring - NineMSN - 15th June 2009
Mitsuharu Misawa, one of the most popular professional wrestlers in Japan, has died after being given a back suplex in a tag team match.
Misawa, 46, and Go Shiozaki were taking on Akitoshi Saito and Bison Smith in a GHC World Tag Team title match in Hiroshima on Saturday when the move was carried out on him.
PHOTOS: Deaths that shook the wrestling world
He suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to hospital but doctors confirmed his death shortly afterwards, a local police official told AFP by telephone.
Japanese sports newspapers said thousands of shocked spectators watched efforts to resuscitate him in the ring.
The back suplex involves a wrestler picking up his opponent and dropping him onto the mat.
Making his professional debut in 1981, Misawa became popular partly for wearing his trademark mask designed to look like a tiger's head.
He set up wrestling organisation Pro-Wrestling Noah in 2000 and became its president. (Credit: NineMSN)
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Misawa, 46, and Go Shiozaki were taking on Akitoshi Saito and Bison Smith in a GHC World Tag Team title match in Hiroshima on Saturday when the move was carried out on him.
PHOTOS: Deaths that shook the wrestling world
He suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to hospital but doctors confirmed his death shortly afterwards, a local police official told AFP by telephone.
Japanese sports newspapers said thousands of shocked spectators watched efforts to resuscitate him in the ring.
The back suplex involves a wrestler picking up his opponent and dropping him onto the mat.
Making his professional debut in 1981, Misawa became popular partly for wearing his trademark mask designed to look like a tiger's head.
He set up wrestling organisation Pro-Wrestling Noah in 2000 and became its president. (Credit: NineMSN)
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Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Wrestlers and Arnold Schwarzenegger Gambling, Poker Connection - Gambling911 - 4th May 2009
Ric Flair recently signed a deal to be a spokesperson for the lottery in the Carolinas... The Shelby, NC Star ran a story noting that Ric, David, and Reid Flair are scheduled to appear on Saturday at the Rec Center for a charity show to raise for the Shelby City Parks and Police Department. If he attends this would be Reid's first public appearance since his arrest last weekend.
"This is of course totally the opposite direction to Jesse Ventura's stance on gambling, at least publicly," notes Media Man, Greg Tingle.
Tingle made reference to Ventura's support of an online gambling enterprise, BetUS.com, where he was a paid spokesperson for more than two years. Interestingly enough, the state of Minnesota for which Ventura served as Governor, announced last week it will try to block access to online gambling websites from citizens of that state.
Then there is California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, a one time friend of both men, who reportedly would support an initiative in his state to legalize online poker.
In November 2004, an advertisement began airing in California featuring Ventura. In it, Ventura voices his opposition to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's policies regarding Native American casinos, the very casinos that stand in the way of the proposed poker legislation. Schwarzenegger and Ventura have not spoken in years, according to reports.
In September 2005, Ventura announced on The Mike Malloy Show that he was leaving the U.S. and planned to "have an adventure". In late October 2005, he went on the The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch and reiterated that he was leaving the U.S. due to, among other things, censorship. He has since moved to Baja California, Mexico. (Credit: Gambling911).
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"This is of course totally the opposite direction to Jesse Ventura's stance on gambling, at least publicly," notes Media Man, Greg Tingle.
Tingle made reference to Ventura's support of an online gambling enterprise, BetUS.com, where he was a paid spokesperson for more than two years. Interestingly enough, the state of Minnesota for which Ventura served as Governor, announced last week it will try to block access to online gambling websites from citizens of that state.
Then there is California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, a one time friend of both men, who reportedly would support an initiative in his state to legalize online poker.
In November 2004, an advertisement began airing in California featuring Ventura. In it, Ventura voices his opposition to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's policies regarding Native American casinos, the very casinos that stand in the way of the proposed poker legislation. Schwarzenegger and Ventura have not spoken in years, according to reports.
In September 2005, Ventura announced on The Mike Malloy Show that he was leaving the U.S. and planned to "have an adventure". In late October 2005, he went on the The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch and reiterated that he was leaving the U.S. due to, among other things, censorship. He has since moved to Baja California, Mexico. (Credit: Gambling911).
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Sunday, April 05, 2009
WWE Hall Of Fame 2009
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The Wrestler 'really got to me': Piper, by Brian Elliott - SLAM! Wrestling -
If there is one feeling that you get when you read through SLAM! Wrestling's archives, it's that the wrestling business is full of incredible highs, but also torturous lows. For all the adulation, there's a hefty price pay, a price which was recently explored in the movie The Wrestler, which earned Mickey Rourke a Golden Globe award for Best Actor, though controversially, not the Oscar.
One man oft-mentioned by Rourke in interviews about the film, was "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. Piper, of course, embodies the highs and lows of professional wrestling, and is a veteran in Hollywood too, with roles both big (They Live) and small. When he spoke to SLAM! Wrestling about the film, and about how it really was true to life for some wrestlers, it was clearly a highly emotional experience for him.
"As someone who has been in the business for a long time, I don't mind saying that the movie really got to me," Piper said. "I had the chance to speak to Mickey, and I told him, 'I don't know what kinda research you did, but you hit the nail right on the head.' What stood out to me as a wrestler was that at no time did that character ever get physical outside the ring. And that's very typical; most of us are pretty soft outside of the ring.
"But even moreso than that, the thing that probably grabbed me the hardest was the way it ended. All my brothers (wrestling peers) are dead, man. So, at the end, it caught me because it just went to black, and that's how it happens in our world. Look at Curt Hennig (who died in 2003 due to cocaine intoxication) -- he was the picture of health. And boom! Black. Not fade to black, just black. I've been to so many funerals."
A strong theme in the film is that wrestling's mortality rate amongst its high-profile performers is staggering in comparison to that of any other athletic endeavour. A study in the wake of the Benoit tragedy showed that 104 professional wrestlers under the age of 40 had died in the period 1997-2007. Forty of those were full-time professionals, who would were well-known to anyone who had followed the sport for even a short time.
"Thinking about the friends, the brothers I've lost, makes me feel lonesome. I lived with these guys, literally. I wonder why no-one on the outside catches on to what's happening? I guess it's because they don't care.
"Can you imagine what would happen if four Manchester United players died, all in separate instances?" Piper continued, using a European analogy as he prepared to visit the continent with his daughter. "Or if a soccer player killed himself, how much attention it would get? People would wonder what on earth is going on, and there'd be an investigation. But there's no investigation for these guys. When a professional wrestler dies, sure, they do an autopsy, but then they shuffle them on.
"In professional wrestling, we're always making contacts, finding a chemistry. Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier had a chemistry. Roddy Piper and Hulk Hogan had a chemistry. Roddy Piper and Ric Flair had a chemistry. That's the reason these people drew money together. But you can't put all those chemistries in one room, and then start killing every second one. When someone you were that close with dies, it's part of you that goes, too."
The high death rate among professional wrestlers is made all the more poignant by the fact that a large percentage of them are due to heart attacks, believed to be caused largely by the use of steroids, which not only enhance muscularity, but the body's internal organs, too. This practise is also alluded to in the film, as Rourke's character suffers a heart attack, but even though he has an emergency bypass operation, continues to wrestle and even uses recreational drugs. Piper has seen the damage that all kinds of drugs -- performance-enhancing, painkilling, and recreational -- have done to wrestling's performers, and notes that when he wrestled, such activities were close to a necessary evil.
"It's a little different for the wrestlers today, but the schedule I had to keep left you not knowing who you were," said the 54-year-old. "In 1991, I did an afternoon show in Manchester, England, and an evening show in the same building. Then, I got on a plane from Manchester to Heathrow, and Heathrow to Connecticut. I went in and did five hours of voiceovers for television. Then I got on a plane to Alaska, wrestled there, flew back as far as Seattle, and then I rented a car and drove 160 miles home. And that was all in one loop, without a break.
"It's tough to make that route without a shot of whiskey," he continued, using the drink as a nom de plume for other substances. "I can recall being in Pittsburgh and being dragged out of my bed at 11 a.m. to go and kick off 60 interviews for television, and only then could I go back to my bed. So imagine the time-zones; the stop-start, quick, let's go kinda life. It's very difficult do these things, and be on at the same time."
Perhaps of all the overall themes of the movie, the most poignant is that of the lead character, 20 years past his prime but still having had success while at the peak of his powers, cannot afford to pay his rent, even while working at a deli during the day, and wrestling on weekends. For in the real wrestling world of WWE, there is no pension plan for its performers, who are labelled as independent contractors; Piper's recent appearances on Monday Night Raw and expected Wrestlemania 25 gig are paid on a per night basis. For those full-time WWE employees, it is understood that bookings for other companies are out of the question despite their "independent" status. A recently-dismissed lawsuit by three former WWE wrestlers brought this matter into the spotlight, and has noted that while the office staff at the company are entitled to the benefits in later life, the wrestlers are not. In turn, this has led to oft-heard calls for a wrestler's union to finally become a reality.
"You know, wrestling today really just means the WWE, and they're the only ones that could afford to do something like this," Piper said with an air of sadness. "The WWE have done some wonderful things for wrestlers. But we can't keep on dying. The wrestlers give their hearts -- they give the best part of their lives. So as the success goes on, why aren't they being taken care of?
"My generation and the generation before me -- these guys today shouldn't have to go through what we went through. They've got masseurs and therapists now, whereas to save money on the road, we would've ordered old pizza if we could. So we've taken the pain. I just think, 'C'mon guys, if it's a billion-dollar business, which it is, give it (a union) to them.' But wrestlers are afraid for their jobs, so it's probably only going to be pressure from the public that makes it happen."
Be that all as it may -- the drugs, the schedule, and the losses -- Piper's energetic tones, which only change with these more sombre recollections related to the film -- show that if it could be true of anyone, Piper was born to be a professional wrestler. In fact, he believes the wrestling lifestyle may have had the opposite effect on him, than it did for others; whereas some crumbled in the face of wrestling's harsh realities, the business gave him something to cling to.
"Before I got into wrestling, I wasn't going anywhere with my life. I was 15 years old and living in a youth hostel. I was an amateur wrestling champion, a Golden Gloves boxing champion, and I [later] earned my black belt in judo from Gene LeBell, but I didn't know what I was gonna do with my life," Piper said, continuing the story that has become folklore. "Then, I was at a wrestling show at the Winnipeg Arena in Canada, and one guy didn't show up. So my amateur wrestling coach, who was a professional wrestling referee, said 'I can get you $25.' I didn't know anything about professional wrestling, but I went in there and had probably the shortest match in the history of that arena.
"After that, I kept wrestling for the money. I went from doing nothing, to working as much as I could. It was the only kind of economic entity that I could cling to at the time. There were no questions asked; all that the other wrestlers asked was that you gave 100%.
"They were last of the Gorgeous George-era guys, who were finishing as I started, and they were really bitter about the business. But to me, they were great Dads; if you ever needed to learn how to take care of a family, or any advice, you had 300 miles driving in a car to listen to them. Wrestling gave me a shot -- I had to get on the field at some time in my life. For that, I'm eternally grateful."
The end of The Wrestler leaves open for interpretation the fate of Randy "The Ram" Robinson, and if life imitates art, in a similar way the destiny of professional wrestling current combatants is as of yet unknown.
Fans can only hope that more of them find the rewarding life in wrestling that Roddy Piper did, and not the pitfalls that befell Davey Boy Smith, Hercules Hernandez, Curt Hennig et al.
Author's note: Following this interview, Roddy Piper asked that we send a shout-out to Freya Miller. (Credit: SLAM Wrestling).
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One man oft-mentioned by Rourke in interviews about the film, was "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. Piper, of course, embodies the highs and lows of professional wrestling, and is a veteran in Hollywood too, with roles both big (They Live) and small. When he spoke to SLAM! Wrestling about the film, and about how it really was true to life for some wrestlers, it was clearly a highly emotional experience for him.
"As someone who has been in the business for a long time, I don't mind saying that the movie really got to me," Piper said. "I had the chance to speak to Mickey, and I told him, 'I don't know what kinda research you did, but you hit the nail right on the head.' What stood out to me as a wrestler was that at no time did that character ever get physical outside the ring. And that's very typical; most of us are pretty soft outside of the ring.
"But even moreso than that, the thing that probably grabbed me the hardest was the way it ended. All my brothers (wrestling peers) are dead, man. So, at the end, it caught me because it just went to black, and that's how it happens in our world. Look at Curt Hennig (who died in 2003 due to cocaine intoxication) -- he was the picture of health. And boom! Black. Not fade to black, just black. I've been to so many funerals."
A strong theme in the film is that wrestling's mortality rate amongst its high-profile performers is staggering in comparison to that of any other athletic endeavour. A study in the wake of the Benoit tragedy showed that 104 professional wrestlers under the age of 40 had died in the period 1997-2007. Forty of those were full-time professionals, who would were well-known to anyone who had followed the sport for even a short time.
"Thinking about the friends, the brothers I've lost, makes me feel lonesome. I lived with these guys, literally. I wonder why no-one on the outside catches on to what's happening? I guess it's because they don't care.
"Can you imagine what would happen if four Manchester United players died, all in separate instances?" Piper continued, using a European analogy as he prepared to visit the continent with his daughter. "Or if a soccer player killed himself, how much attention it would get? People would wonder what on earth is going on, and there'd be an investigation. But there's no investigation for these guys. When a professional wrestler dies, sure, they do an autopsy, but then they shuffle them on.
"In professional wrestling, we're always making contacts, finding a chemistry. Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier had a chemistry. Roddy Piper and Hulk Hogan had a chemistry. Roddy Piper and Ric Flair had a chemistry. That's the reason these people drew money together. But you can't put all those chemistries in one room, and then start killing every second one. When someone you were that close with dies, it's part of you that goes, too."
The high death rate among professional wrestlers is made all the more poignant by the fact that a large percentage of them are due to heart attacks, believed to be caused largely by the use of steroids, which not only enhance muscularity, but the body's internal organs, too. This practise is also alluded to in the film, as Rourke's character suffers a heart attack, but even though he has an emergency bypass operation, continues to wrestle and even uses recreational drugs. Piper has seen the damage that all kinds of drugs -- performance-enhancing, painkilling, and recreational -- have done to wrestling's performers, and notes that when he wrestled, such activities were close to a necessary evil.
"It's a little different for the wrestlers today, but the schedule I had to keep left you not knowing who you were," said the 54-year-old. "In 1991, I did an afternoon show in Manchester, England, and an evening show in the same building. Then, I got on a plane from Manchester to Heathrow, and Heathrow to Connecticut. I went in and did five hours of voiceovers for television. Then I got on a plane to Alaska, wrestled there, flew back as far as Seattle, and then I rented a car and drove 160 miles home. And that was all in one loop, without a break.
"It's tough to make that route without a shot of whiskey," he continued, using the drink as a nom de plume for other substances. "I can recall being in Pittsburgh and being dragged out of my bed at 11 a.m. to go and kick off 60 interviews for television, and only then could I go back to my bed. So imagine the time-zones; the stop-start, quick, let's go kinda life. It's very difficult do these things, and be on at the same time."
Perhaps of all the overall themes of the movie, the most poignant is that of the lead character, 20 years past his prime but still having had success while at the peak of his powers, cannot afford to pay his rent, even while working at a deli during the day, and wrestling on weekends. For in the real wrestling world of WWE, there is no pension plan for its performers, who are labelled as independent contractors; Piper's recent appearances on Monday Night Raw and expected Wrestlemania 25 gig are paid on a per night basis. For those full-time WWE employees, it is understood that bookings for other companies are out of the question despite their "independent" status. A recently-dismissed lawsuit by three former WWE wrestlers brought this matter into the spotlight, and has noted that while the office staff at the company are entitled to the benefits in later life, the wrestlers are not. In turn, this has led to oft-heard calls for a wrestler's union to finally become a reality.
"You know, wrestling today really just means the WWE, and they're the only ones that could afford to do something like this," Piper said with an air of sadness. "The WWE have done some wonderful things for wrestlers. But we can't keep on dying. The wrestlers give their hearts -- they give the best part of their lives. So as the success goes on, why aren't they being taken care of?
"My generation and the generation before me -- these guys today shouldn't have to go through what we went through. They've got masseurs and therapists now, whereas to save money on the road, we would've ordered old pizza if we could. So we've taken the pain. I just think, 'C'mon guys, if it's a billion-dollar business, which it is, give it (a union) to them.' But wrestlers are afraid for their jobs, so it's probably only going to be pressure from the public that makes it happen."
Be that all as it may -- the drugs, the schedule, and the losses -- Piper's energetic tones, which only change with these more sombre recollections related to the film -- show that if it could be true of anyone, Piper was born to be a professional wrestler. In fact, he believes the wrestling lifestyle may have had the opposite effect on him, than it did for others; whereas some crumbled in the face of wrestling's harsh realities, the business gave him something to cling to.
"Before I got into wrestling, I wasn't going anywhere with my life. I was 15 years old and living in a youth hostel. I was an amateur wrestling champion, a Golden Gloves boxing champion, and I [later] earned my black belt in judo from Gene LeBell, but I didn't know what I was gonna do with my life," Piper said, continuing the story that has become folklore. "Then, I was at a wrestling show at the Winnipeg Arena in Canada, and one guy didn't show up. So my amateur wrestling coach, who was a professional wrestling referee, said 'I can get you $25.' I didn't know anything about professional wrestling, but I went in there and had probably the shortest match in the history of that arena.
"After that, I kept wrestling for the money. I went from doing nothing, to working as much as I could. It was the only kind of economic entity that I could cling to at the time. There were no questions asked; all that the other wrestlers asked was that you gave 100%.
"They were last of the Gorgeous George-era guys, who were finishing as I started, and they were really bitter about the business. But to me, they were great Dads; if you ever needed to learn how to take care of a family, or any advice, you had 300 miles driving in a car to listen to them. Wrestling gave me a shot -- I had to get on the field at some time in my life. For that, I'm eternally grateful."
The end of The Wrestler leaves open for interpretation the fate of Randy "The Ram" Robinson, and if life imitates art, in a similar way the destiny of professional wrestling current combatants is as of yet unknown.
Fans can only hope that more of them find the rewarding life in wrestling that Roddy Piper did, and not the pitfalls that befell Davey Boy Smith, Hercules Hernandez, Curt Hennig et al.
Author's note: Following this interview, Roddy Piper asked that we send a shout-out to Freya Miller. (Credit: SLAM Wrestling).
Media Man Australia Profiles
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
The Wrestler
WWE
Wrestling
Wrestling News
Friday, March 06, 2009
"Legends of WrestleMania" video game demo to be released this week, Details on legal process involved - Pro Wrestling Torch - 4th March 2009
THQ will release a playable demo of WWE's "Legends of WrestleMania" video game tomorrow ahead of the video game's official release later this month.
The video game's marketing has focused on the Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant match at WrestleMania III. That match and characters involved, including Bobby Heenan, will be playable in the preview demo.
The process of adding the "legend" characters to the video game started with THQ's creative department, then went through the legal department to obtain licenses for each wrestler.
"First off the process starts here with the Creative team (we basically ask for everybody) and then it gets passed of to our awesome legal team," THQ's Paul Edwards said in a recent WWE chat. "They actually take on most of the work."
Edwards says if an obvious legend is not included on the game, it's most-likely because they could not obtain legal rights to the character.
"Once legal has it they have to go out and secure all of the deals for the talent," Edwards said. "Sadly, they can't always get the talent we want, due to various reasons that our out of our control."
The special edition video game took about a year and half to develop. That included creating new entrance music for wrestlers who never had theme music when they were with WWE.
THQ simplified the gameplay to make it easy for anyone to pick up and play. They eliminated referees, used arenas from WrestleManias 1-15, and limited the game's availability on video game system.
"We didn't make a PS2 version of the game because we really wanted to focus all our effort on the next-gen systems to make the game as high quality as we possibly could," Edwards said. "Basically we didn't want to get too distracted trying to over do it." (Credit: Pro Wrestling Torch)
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The video game's marketing has focused on the Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant match at WrestleMania III. That match and characters involved, including Bobby Heenan, will be playable in the preview demo.
The process of adding the "legend" characters to the video game started with THQ's creative department, then went through the legal department to obtain licenses for each wrestler.
"First off the process starts here with the Creative team (we basically ask for everybody) and then it gets passed of to our awesome legal team," THQ's Paul Edwards said in a recent WWE chat. "They actually take on most of the work."
Edwards says if an obvious legend is not included on the game, it's most-likely because they could not obtain legal rights to the character.
"Once legal has it they have to go out and secure all of the deals for the talent," Edwards said. "Sadly, they can't always get the talent we want, due to various reasons that our out of our control."
The special edition video game took about a year and half to develop. That included creating new entrance music for wrestlers who never had theme music when they were with WWE.
THQ simplified the gameplay to make it easy for anyone to pick up and play. They eliminated referees, used arenas from WrestleManias 1-15, and limited the game's availability on video game system.
"We didn't make a PS2 version of the game because we really wanted to focus all our effort on the next-gen systems to make the game as high quality as we possibly could," Edwards said. "Basically we didn't want to get too distracted trying to over do it." (Credit: Pro Wrestling Torch)
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The Wrestler - The New York Times
Review Summary
Everyone knows professional wrestling is fake. Everyone knows the same about movies. In both cases the eager spectators simultaneously admire the artifice and pretend it isn’t there, allowing themselves to believe that those people down in the ring or up on the screen are truly inflicting pain on one another. “The Wrestler,” Darren Aronofsky’s fourth feature (and winner of the top prize at the Venice Film Festival this year), cannily exploits this parallel and at the same time shows that, in both movies and wrestling, the line between reality and play-acting may be less clear than we assume. Shooting his battered hero mainly in trudging, hand-held tracking shots, Mr. Aronofsky, whose earlier movies include the brain-teasing “Pi” and the swooning, fantastical, unwatchable “Fountain,” here makes a convincing show of brute realism. The supermarkets, trailer parks, V.F.W. halls and run-down amphitheaters of New Jersey are convincingly drab, and the grain of the celluloid carries a sour and salty aura of weariness and defeat. But the story that emerges is disarmingly sweet, indeed at times downright saccharine — a familiar parable of squandered hopes and second chances. It’s a bit phony, perhaps, but to refuse to embrace the movie’s deep hokiness would be to cheat yourself of some of the profound pleasure it offers. — A. O. Scott, The New York Times (Credit: The New York Times)
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The Wrestler
Wrestling
Everyone knows professional wrestling is fake. Everyone knows the same about movies. In both cases the eager spectators simultaneously admire the artifice and pretend it isn’t there, allowing themselves to believe that those people down in the ring or up on the screen are truly inflicting pain on one another. “The Wrestler,” Darren Aronofsky’s fourth feature (and winner of the top prize at the Venice Film Festival this year), cannily exploits this parallel and at the same time shows that, in both movies and wrestling, the line between reality and play-acting may be less clear than we assume. Shooting his battered hero mainly in trudging, hand-held tracking shots, Mr. Aronofsky, whose earlier movies include the brain-teasing “Pi” and the swooning, fantastical, unwatchable “Fountain,” here makes a convincing show of brute realism. The supermarkets, trailer parks, V.F.W. halls and run-down amphitheaters of New Jersey are convincingly drab, and the grain of the celluloid carries a sour and salty aura of weariness and defeat. But the story that emerges is disarmingly sweet, indeed at times downright saccharine — a familiar parable of squandered hopes and second chances. It’s a bit phony, perhaps, but to refuse to embrace the movie’s deep hokiness would be to cheat yourself of some of the profound pleasure it offers. — A. O. Scott, The New York Times (Credit: The New York Times)
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The Wrestler
Wrestling
Former pro wrestler accused in nursing home death, by Steve Karnowski
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — During his glory days as a pro wrestler, Verne Gagne shared the spotlight with other burly men in trunks, guys with names like Killer Kowalski, Mad Dog Vachon, The Crusher and Baron Von Raschke.
But all of that seemed well in the past until just weeks ago, when authorities say Gagne, 82 and suffering from Alzheimer's disease, apparently body-slammed a 97-year-old fellow patient at the suburban nursing home where they both lived, causing the man's death.
Bloomington police are investigating, but not even the victim's widow wants to see the dementia-stricken Gagne prosecuted.
"It's been so hard on both families," said Greg Gagne, Gagne's son and a former wrestler himself.
Helmut Gutmann, a former cancer researcher who suffered from dementia himself, died Feb. 14, about three weeks after breaking his hip in the confrontation. Authorities ruled his death a homicide.
Police said there was no clear indication of what set Gagne off, and neither man could remember the incident afterward. Behavior and personality changes are common as Alzheimer's progresses, and victims of the mind-robbing disease can become agitated.
Like others with the disease, Gagne had all but lost his short-term memory, while his recollections of long-ago events were vivid. But whether he was suffering a flashback to his days in the ring, as some have speculated, is anybody's guess.
Police said they plan to forward the case to prosecutors by the end of the week for possible charges. Gagne, who has since turned 83, has been moved to another institution.
Joseph Daly, a former prosecutor who is now a professor at Hamline University Law School in St. Paul, said he doubts Gagne will be charged. State law prohibits prosecuting anyone who is too mentally deficient to understand the proceedings or offer a defense. Daly said that would appear to apply to Gagne.
"It's a tragedy for the man who was killed, it's a tragedy for the man's family, but it's equally a tragedy for the family of Verne Gagne," said Daly, who has warm memories of Gagne from his youth.
In the ring, Gagne (pronounced GAHN-yuh) drew on his background as a college wrestling champion in the 1940s, and typically finished off opponents with his trademark "sleeper hold" — a headlock that appeared to make the beaten man pass out.
Gutmann's widow, Betty Gutmann, said she was told by residents and staff members at the nursing home that Gagne picked her husband up and threw him to the ground. She said that they had had one scuffle before, when her husband had been shouting at other residents and Gagne put a chokehold on him. Gutmann wasn't hurt in that incident.
But Betty Gutmann is not blaming Gagne, saying he didn't know what he was doing.
She said most Alzheimer's victims are old and frail, and when they lash out, they don't usually cause much harm. The difference with Gagne is that "he was a professional athlete and was trained to do certain moves. This is what makes him much more dangerous than the ordinary person" with dementia.
Helmut Gutmann fled Nazi Germany in 1936, became a U.S. citizen and joined the Army, where he worked to try to develop an antidote for mustard gas, among other projects, according to his family. He spent 40 years as a cancer researcher at a veterans hospital in Minneapolis.
The company that runs the nursing home refused to comment, citing federal privacy laws.
Gagne was the founder and owner of the American Wrestling Association and wore its championship belt. In the 1960s and '70s, his "All-Star Wrestling" was a TV sensation. The show was a modest affair, taped before small audiences at various Minneapolis TV stations. But it was syndicated on up to 120 channels across the Midwest and as far away as San Francisco, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Winnipeg, Canada.
He mostly stopped wrestling in 1981 but remained active in the business. He trained more than 140 wrestlers from the late 1950s up until 1990, including Blackjack Lanza, Larry "The Axe" Hennig, The Iron Sheik, Sgt. Slaughter and Jesse "The Body" Ventura, who later became governor of Minnesota.
Times turned tough for Gagne in the early 1980s with the rise of the glitzier World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment), which went national on cable TV. Vince McMahon's WWF lured away the AWA's flashiest star at the time, Hulk Hogan, and other fan favorites, Greg Gagne recalled. The AWA, founded in 1960, folded in 1991.
In the 1990s, Hennepin County took Verne Gagne's 58 acres and home on Lake Minnetonka for a park, paying him only a fraction of what the family thought it was worth, Greg Gagne said. By the time that fight was over and the bills were paid, he said, his parents had little money left.
Another blow came three years ago when Gagne was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at the Mayo Clinic, his son said.
"His short-term memory is not there," Greg Gagne said. "But we were up there the other day, and if you talk about his first-grade teacher he can discuss that." He said his father also reminisces about his days as a wrestler and football player at the University of Minnesota.
Daly, the law professor, counts himself among the many saddened by what happened at the nursing home. He fondly recalled a day when he was a teenager working at a local drug store and Gagne came in and struck up a conversation.
"Here he was, talking to a teenager about wrestling, about sports, about life," Daly said. "I remember thinking, `Wow, what a nice person.'"
On the Net:
Gagne Wrestling Association: http://www.gagnewrestlingacademy.com
Media Man Australia Profiles
Wrestling
But all of that seemed well in the past until just weeks ago, when authorities say Gagne, 82 and suffering from Alzheimer's disease, apparently body-slammed a 97-year-old fellow patient at the suburban nursing home where they both lived, causing the man's death.
Bloomington police are investigating, but not even the victim's widow wants to see the dementia-stricken Gagne prosecuted.
"It's been so hard on both families," said Greg Gagne, Gagne's son and a former wrestler himself.
Helmut Gutmann, a former cancer researcher who suffered from dementia himself, died Feb. 14, about three weeks after breaking his hip in the confrontation. Authorities ruled his death a homicide.
Police said there was no clear indication of what set Gagne off, and neither man could remember the incident afterward. Behavior and personality changes are common as Alzheimer's progresses, and victims of the mind-robbing disease can become agitated.
Like others with the disease, Gagne had all but lost his short-term memory, while his recollections of long-ago events were vivid. But whether he was suffering a flashback to his days in the ring, as some have speculated, is anybody's guess.
Police said they plan to forward the case to prosecutors by the end of the week for possible charges. Gagne, who has since turned 83, has been moved to another institution.
Joseph Daly, a former prosecutor who is now a professor at Hamline University Law School in St. Paul, said he doubts Gagne will be charged. State law prohibits prosecuting anyone who is too mentally deficient to understand the proceedings or offer a defense. Daly said that would appear to apply to Gagne.
"It's a tragedy for the man who was killed, it's a tragedy for the man's family, but it's equally a tragedy for the family of Verne Gagne," said Daly, who has warm memories of Gagne from his youth.
In the ring, Gagne (pronounced GAHN-yuh) drew on his background as a college wrestling champion in the 1940s, and typically finished off opponents with his trademark "sleeper hold" — a headlock that appeared to make the beaten man pass out.
Gutmann's widow, Betty Gutmann, said she was told by residents and staff members at the nursing home that Gagne picked her husband up and threw him to the ground. She said that they had had one scuffle before, when her husband had been shouting at other residents and Gagne put a chokehold on him. Gutmann wasn't hurt in that incident.
But Betty Gutmann is not blaming Gagne, saying he didn't know what he was doing.
She said most Alzheimer's victims are old and frail, and when they lash out, they don't usually cause much harm. The difference with Gagne is that "he was a professional athlete and was trained to do certain moves. This is what makes him much more dangerous than the ordinary person" with dementia.
Helmut Gutmann fled Nazi Germany in 1936, became a U.S. citizen and joined the Army, where he worked to try to develop an antidote for mustard gas, among other projects, according to his family. He spent 40 years as a cancer researcher at a veterans hospital in Minneapolis.
The company that runs the nursing home refused to comment, citing federal privacy laws.
Gagne was the founder and owner of the American Wrestling Association and wore its championship belt. In the 1960s and '70s, his "All-Star Wrestling" was a TV sensation. The show was a modest affair, taped before small audiences at various Minneapolis TV stations. But it was syndicated on up to 120 channels across the Midwest and as far away as San Francisco, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Winnipeg, Canada.
He mostly stopped wrestling in 1981 but remained active in the business. He trained more than 140 wrestlers from the late 1950s up until 1990, including Blackjack Lanza, Larry "The Axe" Hennig, The Iron Sheik, Sgt. Slaughter and Jesse "The Body" Ventura, who later became governor of Minnesota.
Times turned tough for Gagne in the early 1980s with the rise of the glitzier World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment), which went national on cable TV. Vince McMahon's WWF lured away the AWA's flashiest star at the time, Hulk Hogan, and other fan favorites, Greg Gagne recalled. The AWA, founded in 1960, folded in 1991.
In the 1990s, Hennepin County took Verne Gagne's 58 acres and home on Lake Minnetonka for a park, paying him only a fraction of what the family thought it was worth, Greg Gagne said. By the time that fight was over and the bills were paid, he said, his parents had little money left.
Another blow came three years ago when Gagne was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at the Mayo Clinic, his son said.
"His short-term memory is not there," Greg Gagne said. "But we were up there the other day, and if you talk about his first-grade teacher he can discuss that." He said his father also reminisces about his days as a wrestler and football player at the University of Minnesota.
Daly, the law professor, counts himself among the many saddened by what happened at the nursing home. He fondly recalled a day when he was a teenager working at a local drug store and Gagne came in and struck up a conversation.
"Here he was, talking to a teenager about wrestling, about sports, about life," Daly said. "I remember thinking, `Wow, what a nice person.'"
On the Net:
Gagne Wrestling Association: http://www.gagnewrestlingacademy.com
Media Man Australia Profiles
Wrestling
Rowdy Roddy's Promo 'Pure Piper', by Mike Mooneyham - 22nd February 2009
There used to be a saying in the wrestling business that a true star could always "talk people into the building."
You didn't necessarily have to have the skill set of a Lou Thesz or the showmanship of a Gorgeous George (although those qualities certainly didn't hurt). But you did have to possess the ability to connect emotionally with your audience and give them a reason to part with their hard-earned cash.
That's exactly what Roddy Piper did last week on Raw when the battled-scarred veteran delivered one of the most impassioned promos to hit the wrestling airwaves in a long time. This wasn't one of Rowdy Roddy's rambling, sometimes incoherent interviews of recent years. This was vintage Piper, long regarded as one of the best stick men in the business, making Chris Jericho a bigger heel with every word that came out of his mouth.
At age 54, Piper didn't need to put himself over or try to steal any thunder from Jericho, who has become one of the most effective heels in the wrestling business over the past year. His interview put the spotlight squarely on Jericho and his Wrestlemania-bound program with actor Mickey Rourke.
It's the kind of stuff that draws fans into the storyline and, more importantly, gives them a reason to care about what happens in the ring. It's also what made Piper such a valuable commodity in the business for more than a quarter of a century.
"It was one of Piper's very best promos in his newer, kinder persona the past decade," said wrestling historian and photographer Mike Lano. "Very passionate, and more shoot than work in terms of everything he said about needing to respect both the business itself and the legends like himself who paved the way for a Chris Jericho to portray his current, cocky, know-it-all self. Piper gave a very heartfelt, unique promo on Raw that we've not heard from him before."
Lano, who has known Piper since his early ring days in Los Angeles during the mid-'70s, says the promo was pure Piper.
"That was as pure Rodney Toombs as it gets ... the truth that some actually need to hear (certainly not the real Chris Irvine) in the biz - delivered with magic and eloquence by the great orator himself."
Piper, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in late 2006, now only infrequently appears on shows in the well-deserved role of "legend." But he proved last week that he can still work the magic and make people believe just like he did during the glory days of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling, Georgia Championship Wrestling and countless other territories throughout the country, as well as the World Wrestling Federation's national expansion in the mid-'80s.
- Give credit to WWE for a marked improvement in character and storyline development in recent months. One puzzling aspect, however, is how they have struggled with an otherwise can't-miss angle with Randy Orton. He's the hottest heel in the business in spite of having Shane McMahon, a 39-year-old non-wrestler, pounding him from pillar to post on recent shows, including No Way Out and the following night on Raw. Orton didn't lose either match, but he needed help from Legacy cohorts Ted DiBiase Jr. and Cody Rhodes. That's no way to portray your top moneymaking heel.
And I'm still trying to figure out why the company recently explained Orton's rash of violent behavior by declaring the self-proclaimed "Legend Killer" had the behavioral disorder IED (intermittent explosive disorder). It's also interesting to note that a number of medical sources link the disorder to steroids as IED can be exacerbated by steroid use based on chemical changes in the individual's brain. Orton, not surprisingly, has ties to past steroid use.
Orton, nevertheless, has earned his way to the top of the WWE food chain. He very well could be the most compelling character in the company, and his in-ring ability improves each week. Hopefully the creative team won't make the same mistake twice by turning him babyface. At least not anytime soon.
- WWE officials are ecstatic over Raw's 4.1 rating for Monday night's show where nearly six million viewers tuned in. The number was the highest since December 2007.
- Steve Austin, who will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in April, was being considered for a main-event match at Wrestlemania, most likely against Orton, but that possibility now seems remote in light of last weekend's title changes at No Way Out.
Now officially on "the road to Wrestlemania," the top bouts appear to be Orton vs. Triple H, with the current WWE world champ defending the title and the honor of the McMahon family (wife Stephanie, brother-in-law Shane and father-in-law Vince); John Cena vs. Edge for the WWE heavyweight title; and "Mr. Wrestlemania" Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker with Taker's Mania streak on the line.
Mickey Rourke, who appears to be the sentimental favorite going into tonight's Academy Awards show, is scheduled to be this year's guest celebrity in an angle with Chris Jericho.
Hulk Hogan said Friday on the Bubba The Love Sponge show that it was unlikely he would appear at Wrestlemania 25. The Hulkster said a recent conversation with Vince McMahon failed to produce a mutually acceptable scenario.
Rumors of a possible Hogan vs. Chris Jericho or Hogan vs. John Cena match had been floated in recent weeks. The 55-year-old Hogan has tried to drum up support for a Wrestlemania appearance the past three years without results. Hogan could conceivably be brought in for this year's 25th anniversary show if Rourke decides not to step into the ring.
- Comments continue to come in from the wrestling community regarding "The Wrestler."
Charlie Thesz, widow of legendary six-time NWA world champion Lou Thesz, was among those disappointed with the movie.
"I respect the independent film industry and working within a budget, but more research would have been a good investment," she said last week. "I didn't consider it a statement on the lower end of professional wrestling, as much as on the lower end of humanity. However, if wrestling was the chosen venue, why not have the professionalism in the film industry to honestly represent the wrestling industry? I am not denying the seediness of pro wrestling at its lowest level. I guess it is how my doctor friends feel about medical shows ... we are a little too smart for our own enjoyment."
Thomas Simpson, a professor at the University of South Carolina-Union and a College of Charleston alumnus who helped found the North Carolina-based OMEGA wrestling promotion, credits Rourke with a wonderful performance and thought "The Wrestler" was "an extremely well-made film."
"However, it is as realistic as Aranofski's 'Pi,'" added Simpson, referring to a 1998 psychological thriller directed by "The Wrestler" filmmaker Darren Aronofsky. "Early in the film, when the caricature promoter stiffs Randy 'The Ram' and he just sits there and takes it, that's a fantasy. If you want to see a 'legend' or a 'name' get angry, short their pay. I've been witness to some ugly incidents over the years (none due to my own actions). I found it hard to believe Randy was sleeping in his van. Someone like him would have a mark around who would put him up. Showing him on the gas was also a joke; indy guys his age don't have the means to do it. That movie is just pure melodramatic hooey."
- The proposed sitcom starring TNA star Mick Foley has been derailed, and producer Richard O'Sullivan is none too happy.
The South Carolina-born writer, producer and director is fuming over the fact that Foley backed out of the "Have A Nice Day" project. The comedy was built around Foley's true-life personality. He was to have played himself - a former pro wrestler and best-selling author who was pursuing an acting career. Producers had hoped to roll by this spring.
O'Sullivan says Foley had helped initiate the Lost Colony Entertainment project in 2008 with longtime friend Gail Bleckman of New York-based Amdram Productions. O'Sullivan came aboard as a writer and producer shortly thereafter and scripted the show's pilot episode.
"Mick has said over and over that he was disappointed with the whole show-pitching process because he had shows rejected so many times. And I related to that, and empathized with him. But what I can't relate to is his passive-aggressive BS attitude.
"If Jim Belushi wants a show, his agent or his production company set up meetings, they go in to talk to packagers, get other name talent attached, talk to financiers, then they go sit down with networks and they push to get a show. Mick didn't want to do that. He wanted something hand-delivered to him like (agent) Barry Bloom hand-delivers him his wrestling contracts."
O'Sullivan says that's not how the non-wrestling show-biz world works.
"Nobody hand-delivers anything to anybody in TV or film. Marshall Herskovitz is the president of the Producers Guild of America, and he had to launch a show on the Internet because he couldn't get network distribution. Martin Scorsese has had trouble getting projects launched. Robert Rodriquez has had major projects yanked out from under him at big studios. (Steven) Spielberg has even had to battle tooth-and-nail to wrestle Dreamworks back and get it positioned with the right deal.
"But guys like that keep going. They keep busting their (behinds). They never sit back and say 'Barry, bring me this.' Mick, though, has grown accustomed to having deals brought to him by Barry Bloom on a silver platter. And for the past 15 years, he's had two companies waiting in the wings to vie for his services. He bounced from WCW to WWE then to TNA. He always had that deal waiting for him like the morning paper and yeah, good for him, he broke his body for two decades in wrestling and he deserves to have those deals ... in wrestling. But what he doesn't deserve is the right to (take advantage of) other people on a whim."
O'Sullivan says Foley cited time constraints, specifically his TNA wrestling schedule and family commitments, as reasons for backing out of the project. He also questions whether Foley was really committed.
Foley himself expressed some reservation about the project during an interview several months ago. "You have to sell these concepts to the networks," Foley said in October. "Best I can tell that hasn't happened. I might be so tied up with TNA that I might not have time to make a decent attempt at network television."
O'Sullivan says the sitcom would have given both Foley and TNA major exposure.
"I'm terribly sorry that Hollywood isn't just sitting there waiting for Mick Foley to climb out of the ring and hobble over for a big guaranteed check and a start date. His name means very little outside of wrestling. It did 10 years ago but those days are long gone. His name meant a little when he was WWE and it means a little at Spike, but that network isn't throwing money into production."
O'Sullivan says one thing the show had going for it was "the Mickey Rourke buzz" as a result of the commercial success of "The Wrestler."
"It had a shot of being sold because studios and networks are taking a look at wrestling-related content now. But even that has a shelf life. The window isn't going to stay open for long. Hollywood-at-large isn't 'the Barry Bloom vacuum.' It's a whole other animal. And if he wanted it, he would've worked for it. And if he didn't want it, he had no right to string along a bunch of other people, then yank the carpet out from under them."
O'Sullivan says it wasn't the first time Foley had backed out of a similar project. The wrestler, he notes, last year returned to WWE without informing his partners in the sitcom and didn't call anyone until four days after he appeared on WWE television. O'Sullivan says he blew it off at the time as just being "wrestling."
"They don't play by the same rules as the rest of society."
Several months later, says O'Sullivan, Foley approached another one of the show's producers and indicated that he was unhappy with the WWE work environment and was interested in coming back to the sitcom. O'Sullivan says at the time they were talking to several "name actors" about replacing Foley on the show.
"After scribes and producers had worked for close to a year on the show - writing and rewriting scripts, crisscrossing the country to attach talent (including, at Foley's personal request, former porn star Christy Canyon), and setting up pitches at various television outlets - Foley suddenly backed out of the project again, citing time constraints."
Although O'Sullivan now says his team "has other fish to fry," he's having a hard time accepting what happened.
"What he did to the team working on his show was far worse than what Vince McMahon did to him. Vince McMahon gave him a platform to perform on and paid him handsomely to do it. The folks working on Mick's project were working on spec, based solely on his involvement and participation and he couldn't be bothered to either honor his word or break it off before they got in too deep."
"I was a Mick Foley fan going back to his 'Cactus Jack Manson' days in the late 80's," says O'Sullivan. "I'll never disparage him for his hard work and dedication in wrestling. And deep down, he's probably not a horrible person. But he handled this situation very badly, was utterly selfish and disrespectful to people who were busting their (behinds) for him, and I don't have much respect for him at this point."
- The always-controversial Jesse "The Body" Ventura has taken on Major League Baseball and commissioner Bud Selig.
Noting that there's little difference between WWE owner Vince McMahon, who was accused and later found not guilty of distributing steroids to wrestlers during the early '90s, and Selig, who has overseen the increasing use of steroids in baseball, Ventura called for equally harsh criticism of Selig.
"In the early '90s, the federal government came into pro wrestling and tried to put Vince McMahon in prison for steroid use of wrestlers," the former pro wrestler and Minnesota governor recently told NBC's affiliate in Denver. "My question is: They've now determined 104 baseball players failed their steroid test in 2003 - 104. They indicted Vince McMahon; why aren't they indicting Bud Selig? He's the head of baseball ... it happened on his watch."
The baseball controversy recently hit fever pitch when Alex Rodriguez admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs for three years between 2001-03. Rodriguez was one of 104 players that tested positive in a 2003 test that was supposed to be anonymous and merely for informational purposes.
"What you have here is two sets of law enforcement," Ventura told the TV station. "One set: 'Oh, pro wrestling, let's go after the head of that and put him in prison for steroid use.' And pro wrestling is not even an athletic competition. We went to court and said we're sports entertainment. Here, you have a legitimate athletic competition with 104 guys using illegal drugs - cheating - and where's the indictment of Bud Selig on this?"
"They indicted Vince McMahon. He had to beat it with his own lawyers or go to prison," Ventura said. "How come Selig isn't being treated the same way?"
Ventura, who admitted in the '90s that he used steroids while he was a pro wrestler in the '80s, said he doubts that Selig and the other MLB owners were ignorant of the apparently rampant steroid use.
"You can't tell me for one minute that Bud Selig and the owners didn't know," said Ventura. "They were profiting from it. Baseball was dead in the water until the big home run race between (Mark) McGwire and Sosa - Sammy - and that rejuvenated baseball, made all the profits so Bud Selig could make $17 million a year."
- Condolences to Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk on the loss of their mother, Dorothy Funk Culver, 89, who recently passed away in Amarillo, Texas.
- D.H. Smith (Harry Smith), son of Diana Hart and the late British Bulldog (Davey Boy Smith), and T.J. Wilson, who the elder Smith trained, are expected to join Randy Orton's Legacy group. Wilson, going by the name of Tyson Kidd, made his WWE television debut on a recent edition of ECW on Sci-Fi and was managed by real-life girlfriend and fellow Calgary native Natalya (Nattie Neidhart).
Wilson was adopted into the Hart family at the age of 10 after befriending Teddy Hart. He also lived with Harry Smith for several years. He has dated Neidhart since 2001, and the two have lived together for more than five years.
WWE released the talented Scotty Goldman (former Ring of Honor star Colt Cabana) last week in somewhat of a surprise move.
- Robert Roode has signed a five-year contract extension with TNA.
"If TNA didn't step up to the plate, I would have tried a little bit harder (with WWE)," Roode told the Petersborough Examiner in his hometown in Ontario, Canada. "I have an agent working for me as well. It was one of those things where my heart wanted to stay here. And TNA wanted me to stay there too. So they stepped up to the plate and gave me a really nice offer."
- Last week's TNA Impact show set a company record with a 1.3 rating and nearly 1.9 million viewers. The show featured an "empty arena" match between Sting and Kurt Angle. The previous record was 1.8 million viewers on Jan. 15.
- Jim Cornette's much-anticipated book on The Midnight Express is expected to be out in April.
- From the "my how time flies" department: 16-time world champion "Nature Boy" Ric Flair celebrates his 60th birthday on Wednesday.
- Chris "The Masterpiece" Masters and Lodi will appear at an Old School Championship Wrestling show at 6 p.m. March 1 at Weekend's Pub, 428 Red Bank Road, Goose Creek. Former WCW performer Lodi also will defend his Universal title against Johnny Blaze.
Adult admission is $8; kids 12 and under $5. For more information, visit www.oscwonline.com or call 743-4800. (Credit: Mike Mooneyham)
Media Man Australia Profiles
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
Wrestling
WWE
You didn't necessarily have to have the skill set of a Lou Thesz or the showmanship of a Gorgeous George (although those qualities certainly didn't hurt). But you did have to possess the ability to connect emotionally with your audience and give them a reason to part with their hard-earned cash.
That's exactly what Roddy Piper did last week on Raw when the battled-scarred veteran delivered one of the most impassioned promos to hit the wrestling airwaves in a long time. This wasn't one of Rowdy Roddy's rambling, sometimes incoherent interviews of recent years. This was vintage Piper, long regarded as one of the best stick men in the business, making Chris Jericho a bigger heel with every word that came out of his mouth.
At age 54, Piper didn't need to put himself over or try to steal any thunder from Jericho, who has become one of the most effective heels in the wrestling business over the past year. His interview put the spotlight squarely on Jericho and his Wrestlemania-bound program with actor Mickey Rourke.
It's the kind of stuff that draws fans into the storyline and, more importantly, gives them a reason to care about what happens in the ring. It's also what made Piper such a valuable commodity in the business for more than a quarter of a century.
"It was one of Piper's very best promos in his newer, kinder persona the past decade," said wrestling historian and photographer Mike Lano. "Very passionate, and more shoot than work in terms of everything he said about needing to respect both the business itself and the legends like himself who paved the way for a Chris Jericho to portray his current, cocky, know-it-all self. Piper gave a very heartfelt, unique promo on Raw that we've not heard from him before."
Lano, who has known Piper since his early ring days in Los Angeles during the mid-'70s, says the promo was pure Piper.
"That was as pure Rodney Toombs as it gets ... the truth that some actually need to hear (certainly not the real Chris Irvine) in the biz - delivered with magic and eloquence by the great orator himself."
Piper, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in late 2006, now only infrequently appears on shows in the well-deserved role of "legend." But he proved last week that he can still work the magic and make people believe just like he did during the glory days of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling, Georgia Championship Wrestling and countless other territories throughout the country, as well as the World Wrestling Federation's national expansion in the mid-'80s.
- Give credit to WWE for a marked improvement in character and storyline development in recent months. One puzzling aspect, however, is how they have struggled with an otherwise can't-miss angle with Randy Orton. He's the hottest heel in the business in spite of having Shane McMahon, a 39-year-old non-wrestler, pounding him from pillar to post on recent shows, including No Way Out and the following night on Raw. Orton didn't lose either match, but he needed help from Legacy cohorts Ted DiBiase Jr. and Cody Rhodes. That's no way to portray your top moneymaking heel.
And I'm still trying to figure out why the company recently explained Orton's rash of violent behavior by declaring the self-proclaimed "Legend Killer" had the behavioral disorder IED (intermittent explosive disorder). It's also interesting to note that a number of medical sources link the disorder to steroids as IED can be exacerbated by steroid use based on chemical changes in the individual's brain. Orton, not surprisingly, has ties to past steroid use.
Orton, nevertheless, has earned his way to the top of the WWE food chain. He very well could be the most compelling character in the company, and his in-ring ability improves each week. Hopefully the creative team won't make the same mistake twice by turning him babyface. At least not anytime soon.
- WWE officials are ecstatic over Raw's 4.1 rating for Monday night's show where nearly six million viewers tuned in. The number was the highest since December 2007.
- Steve Austin, who will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in April, was being considered for a main-event match at Wrestlemania, most likely against Orton, but that possibility now seems remote in light of last weekend's title changes at No Way Out.
Now officially on "the road to Wrestlemania," the top bouts appear to be Orton vs. Triple H, with the current WWE world champ defending the title and the honor of the McMahon family (wife Stephanie, brother-in-law Shane and father-in-law Vince); John Cena vs. Edge for the WWE heavyweight title; and "Mr. Wrestlemania" Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker with Taker's Mania streak on the line.
Mickey Rourke, who appears to be the sentimental favorite going into tonight's Academy Awards show, is scheduled to be this year's guest celebrity in an angle with Chris Jericho.
Hulk Hogan said Friday on the Bubba The Love Sponge show that it was unlikely he would appear at Wrestlemania 25. The Hulkster said a recent conversation with Vince McMahon failed to produce a mutually acceptable scenario.
Rumors of a possible Hogan vs. Chris Jericho or Hogan vs. John Cena match had been floated in recent weeks. The 55-year-old Hogan has tried to drum up support for a Wrestlemania appearance the past three years without results. Hogan could conceivably be brought in for this year's 25th anniversary show if Rourke decides not to step into the ring.
- Comments continue to come in from the wrestling community regarding "The Wrestler."
Charlie Thesz, widow of legendary six-time NWA world champion Lou Thesz, was among those disappointed with the movie.
"I respect the independent film industry and working within a budget, but more research would have been a good investment," she said last week. "I didn't consider it a statement on the lower end of professional wrestling, as much as on the lower end of humanity. However, if wrestling was the chosen venue, why not have the professionalism in the film industry to honestly represent the wrestling industry? I am not denying the seediness of pro wrestling at its lowest level. I guess it is how my doctor friends feel about medical shows ... we are a little too smart for our own enjoyment."
Thomas Simpson, a professor at the University of South Carolina-Union and a College of Charleston alumnus who helped found the North Carolina-based OMEGA wrestling promotion, credits Rourke with a wonderful performance and thought "The Wrestler" was "an extremely well-made film."
"However, it is as realistic as Aranofski's 'Pi,'" added Simpson, referring to a 1998 psychological thriller directed by "The Wrestler" filmmaker Darren Aronofsky. "Early in the film, when the caricature promoter stiffs Randy 'The Ram' and he just sits there and takes it, that's a fantasy. If you want to see a 'legend' or a 'name' get angry, short their pay. I've been witness to some ugly incidents over the years (none due to my own actions). I found it hard to believe Randy was sleeping in his van. Someone like him would have a mark around who would put him up. Showing him on the gas was also a joke; indy guys his age don't have the means to do it. That movie is just pure melodramatic hooey."
- The proposed sitcom starring TNA star Mick Foley has been derailed, and producer Richard O'Sullivan is none too happy.
The South Carolina-born writer, producer and director is fuming over the fact that Foley backed out of the "Have A Nice Day" project. The comedy was built around Foley's true-life personality. He was to have played himself - a former pro wrestler and best-selling author who was pursuing an acting career. Producers had hoped to roll by this spring.
O'Sullivan says Foley had helped initiate the Lost Colony Entertainment project in 2008 with longtime friend Gail Bleckman of New York-based Amdram Productions. O'Sullivan came aboard as a writer and producer shortly thereafter and scripted the show's pilot episode.
"Mick has said over and over that he was disappointed with the whole show-pitching process because he had shows rejected so many times. And I related to that, and empathized with him. But what I can't relate to is his passive-aggressive BS attitude.
"If Jim Belushi wants a show, his agent or his production company set up meetings, they go in to talk to packagers, get other name talent attached, talk to financiers, then they go sit down with networks and they push to get a show. Mick didn't want to do that. He wanted something hand-delivered to him like (agent) Barry Bloom hand-delivers him his wrestling contracts."
O'Sullivan says that's not how the non-wrestling show-biz world works.
"Nobody hand-delivers anything to anybody in TV or film. Marshall Herskovitz is the president of the Producers Guild of America, and he had to launch a show on the Internet because he couldn't get network distribution. Martin Scorsese has had trouble getting projects launched. Robert Rodriquez has had major projects yanked out from under him at big studios. (Steven) Spielberg has even had to battle tooth-and-nail to wrestle Dreamworks back and get it positioned with the right deal.
"But guys like that keep going. They keep busting their (behinds). They never sit back and say 'Barry, bring me this.' Mick, though, has grown accustomed to having deals brought to him by Barry Bloom on a silver platter. And for the past 15 years, he's had two companies waiting in the wings to vie for his services. He bounced from WCW to WWE then to TNA. He always had that deal waiting for him like the morning paper and yeah, good for him, he broke his body for two decades in wrestling and he deserves to have those deals ... in wrestling. But what he doesn't deserve is the right to (take advantage of) other people on a whim."
O'Sullivan says Foley cited time constraints, specifically his TNA wrestling schedule and family commitments, as reasons for backing out of the project. He also questions whether Foley was really committed.
Foley himself expressed some reservation about the project during an interview several months ago. "You have to sell these concepts to the networks," Foley said in October. "Best I can tell that hasn't happened. I might be so tied up with TNA that I might not have time to make a decent attempt at network television."
O'Sullivan says the sitcom would have given both Foley and TNA major exposure.
"I'm terribly sorry that Hollywood isn't just sitting there waiting for Mick Foley to climb out of the ring and hobble over for a big guaranteed check and a start date. His name means very little outside of wrestling. It did 10 years ago but those days are long gone. His name meant a little when he was WWE and it means a little at Spike, but that network isn't throwing money into production."
O'Sullivan says one thing the show had going for it was "the Mickey Rourke buzz" as a result of the commercial success of "The Wrestler."
"It had a shot of being sold because studios and networks are taking a look at wrestling-related content now. But even that has a shelf life. The window isn't going to stay open for long. Hollywood-at-large isn't 'the Barry Bloom vacuum.' It's a whole other animal. And if he wanted it, he would've worked for it. And if he didn't want it, he had no right to string along a bunch of other people, then yank the carpet out from under them."
O'Sullivan says it wasn't the first time Foley had backed out of a similar project. The wrestler, he notes, last year returned to WWE without informing his partners in the sitcom and didn't call anyone until four days after he appeared on WWE television. O'Sullivan says he blew it off at the time as just being "wrestling."
"They don't play by the same rules as the rest of society."
Several months later, says O'Sullivan, Foley approached another one of the show's producers and indicated that he was unhappy with the WWE work environment and was interested in coming back to the sitcom. O'Sullivan says at the time they were talking to several "name actors" about replacing Foley on the show.
"After scribes and producers had worked for close to a year on the show - writing and rewriting scripts, crisscrossing the country to attach talent (including, at Foley's personal request, former porn star Christy Canyon), and setting up pitches at various television outlets - Foley suddenly backed out of the project again, citing time constraints."
Although O'Sullivan now says his team "has other fish to fry," he's having a hard time accepting what happened.
"What he did to the team working on his show was far worse than what Vince McMahon did to him. Vince McMahon gave him a platform to perform on and paid him handsomely to do it. The folks working on Mick's project were working on spec, based solely on his involvement and participation and he couldn't be bothered to either honor his word or break it off before they got in too deep."
"I was a Mick Foley fan going back to his 'Cactus Jack Manson' days in the late 80's," says O'Sullivan. "I'll never disparage him for his hard work and dedication in wrestling. And deep down, he's probably not a horrible person. But he handled this situation very badly, was utterly selfish and disrespectful to people who were busting their (behinds) for him, and I don't have much respect for him at this point."
- The always-controversial Jesse "The Body" Ventura has taken on Major League Baseball and commissioner Bud Selig.
Noting that there's little difference between WWE owner Vince McMahon, who was accused and later found not guilty of distributing steroids to wrestlers during the early '90s, and Selig, who has overseen the increasing use of steroids in baseball, Ventura called for equally harsh criticism of Selig.
"In the early '90s, the federal government came into pro wrestling and tried to put Vince McMahon in prison for steroid use of wrestlers," the former pro wrestler and Minnesota governor recently told NBC's affiliate in Denver. "My question is: They've now determined 104 baseball players failed their steroid test in 2003 - 104. They indicted Vince McMahon; why aren't they indicting Bud Selig? He's the head of baseball ... it happened on his watch."
The baseball controversy recently hit fever pitch when Alex Rodriguez admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs for three years between 2001-03. Rodriguez was one of 104 players that tested positive in a 2003 test that was supposed to be anonymous and merely for informational purposes.
"What you have here is two sets of law enforcement," Ventura told the TV station. "One set: 'Oh, pro wrestling, let's go after the head of that and put him in prison for steroid use.' And pro wrestling is not even an athletic competition. We went to court and said we're sports entertainment. Here, you have a legitimate athletic competition with 104 guys using illegal drugs - cheating - and where's the indictment of Bud Selig on this?"
"They indicted Vince McMahon. He had to beat it with his own lawyers or go to prison," Ventura said. "How come Selig isn't being treated the same way?"
Ventura, who admitted in the '90s that he used steroids while he was a pro wrestler in the '80s, said he doubts that Selig and the other MLB owners were ignorant of the apparently rampant steroid use.
"You can't tell me for one minute that Bud Selig and the owners didn't know," said Ventura. "They were profiting from it. Baseball was dead in the water until the big home run race between (Mark) McGwire and Sosa - Sammy - and that rejuvenated baseball, made all the profits so Bud Selig could make $17 million a year."
- Condolences to Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk on the loss of their mother, Dorothy Funk Culver, 89, who recently passed away in Amarillo, Texas.
- D.H. Smith (Harry Smith), son of Diana Hart and the late British Bulldog (Davey Boy Smith), and T.J. Wilson, who the elder Smith trained, are expected to join Randy Orton's Legacy group. Wilson, going by the name of Tyson Kidd, made his WWE television debut on a recent edition of ECW on Sci-Fi and was managed by real-life girlfriend and fellow Calgary native Natalya (Nattie Neidhart).
Wilson was adopted into the Hart family at the age of 10 after befriending Teddy Hart. He also lived with Harry Smith for several years. He has dated Neidhart since 2001, and the two have lived together for more than five years.
WWE released the talented Scotty Goldman (former Ring of Honor star Colt Cabana) last week in somewhat of a surprise move.
- Robert Roode has signed a five-year contract extension with TNA.
"If TNA didn't step up to the plate, I would have tried a little bit harder (with WWE)," Roode told the Petersborough Examiner in his hometown in Ontario, Canada. "I have an agent working for me as well. It was one of those things where my heart wanted to stay here. And TNA wanted me to stay there too. So they stepped up to the plate and gave me a really nice offer."
- Last week's TNA Impact show set a company record with a 1.3 rating and nearly 1.9 million viewers. The show featured an "empty arena" match between Sting and Kurt Angle. The previous record was 1.8 million viewers on Jan. 15.
- Jim Cornette's much-anticipated book on The Midnight Express is expected to be out in April.
- From the "my how time flies" department: 16-time world champion "Nature Boy" Ric Flair celebrates his 60th birthday on Wednesday.
- Chris "The Masterpiece" Masters and Lodi will appear at an Old School Championship Wrestling show at 6 p.m. March 1 at Weekend's Pub, 428 Red Bank Road, Goose Creek. Former WCW performer Lodi also will defend his Universal title against Johnny Blaze.
Adult admission is $8; kids 12 and under $5. For more information, visit www.oscwonline.com or call 743-4800. (Credit: Mike Mooneyham)
Media Man Australia Profiles
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper
Wrestling
WWE
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