Battleground Championship Wrestling on 12/15 in Feasterville, PA at The Sportsplex has Billy Gunn, Sean Studd, Bull James, Matt Tremont, Joey Ryan and Dan Maff appearing. There is a meet and greet at 6 p.m and a live show at 8 p.m.
ECCW tomorrow night in Pitt Meadows, BC at Kazie First Nation Health Building.
Overcome Wrestling on 12/16 in Hamilton, ONT at the Lincoln Alexander Centre.
Kayfabe Dojo on 12/9 in Rochester NY at Pineapple Jack's at 4 p.m.
Adam Rose has a seminar tomorrow at 4 p.m. at the Team Vision Dojo in Orlando and he'll headline a show that night at 8 p.m. at the Dojo.
AAW on Saturday in LaSalle, IL at the Knights of Columbus has Ivelisse vs. Rachael Ellering vs. the winner of the Jessicka Havoc vs. Candice LeRae match for the women's title, Mat Fitchett & Davey Vega defend the tag titles against Shane Strickland & Keith Lee, Hurricane Helms vs. Trevor Lee, Jimmy Jacobs vs. David Starr, Matt Riddle vs. ACH, AR Fox vs. Sammy Guevara vs. Myron Reed, Zema Ion vs. Ethan Page, Dave & Jake Crist vs. Devin & Mason Cutter vs. Trey Miguel & Stephen Wolf and more.
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Added with Ron Simmons at the CWE legends convention is.......
Barry Windham, Ron Simmons and Jim Brunzell were announced for the CWE Legends of Wrestling Convention 2 on 2/24 in Winnipeg at the CanAd Inns in Garden City.
Rise IPPV cancelled.
The Rise iPPV scheduled for tomorrow night was canceled. They said their test of the broadcast on the Internet failed and didn't want to risk doing a show, so they scrapped the iPPV plans and have refunded money to everyone who ordered.
A show with Sandman, Terry Funk, Kevin Sullivan and Stan Hansen? Whoa.....
Terry Funk & Sandman vs. Warbeast managed by Kevin Sullivan is headlining a show in Wilmington, CA tomorrow night that also has Penta 0M vs. John Hennigan, Douglas James vs. Zack Sabre Jr., Willie Mack vs. Ethan Page, Brian Cage vs. Hammerstone, ACH vs. Mecha Wolf 450 and Brody King vs. Joe Graves. Stan Hansen will also be there...
One of the Indy feds I look forward to watching every week. S01E08 SEASON FINALE - Absolute Wrestling: Uprising
Published on Nov 29, 2017
Tonight's episode features a huge match when Mark Coffey takes on Rampage Brown. Commissioner Brian Flynn also confronts the Forgotten!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62s8wup0CqM
What did I tell you, the catching up to me has begun. ProWrestling.Net is the first. :)
Boom. Always love watching the so called 'bigger news sites' play catch up to me. Really awesome.
https://prowrestling.net/site/2017/11/30/nwa-video-billy-corgan-confronted-jocephus/
https://prowrestling.net/site/2017/11/30/nwa-video-billy-corgan-confronted-jocephus/
Jerry Lawler On Most Difficult WrestleMania Celebrity, Vince McMahon Instructing Commentators
Recently on The Ross Report, 'Good Ol' J.R.' Jim Ross interviewed his former WWE announce partner, Jerry 'The King' Lawler. Among many other things, Lawler talked about the most difficult celebrity guest at WrestleMania. Additionally, Lawler shared a story about confronting WWE Commentator Michael Cole for a less than flattering call.
In Lawler's estimation, Aretha Franklin was the most difficult celebrity to deal with at WrestleMania. 'The King' went on to describe 'The Queen Of Soul' as a royal pain.
"Aretha Franklin is still alive. Remember what a pain in the butt she was at WrestleMania that year? Oh my gosh! Way passed her glory days, but still the biggest diva that we'd ever seen. Very high maintenance, Aretha Franklin."
Also during the podcast, Lawler shared a story about how he chewed out Michael Cole for saying that 'The King' had suffered "anal bleeding" from a slam delivered by Mark Henry. Apparently, Cole told the legend of Memphis pro wrestling that the call was WWE Chairman Vince McMahon's idea.
"We could do a whole show about the things we know that Vince either told [Ross] to say or told Michael Cole to say. The most embarrassing one that I can remember, and later on I went to him and I went, 'what the hell, man?' and he said, 'I swear, Vince told me to say it. I swear. You know I never would have thought about it.' And it was the time Mark Henry picked me up, and I don't know if I was wrestling Mark or what happened, but anyway, he picked me up and slammed me through the announce table and they carried me out or whatever. And then, after the break, he said, 'we want to give you an update on 'The King'. He's not doing too well' and then he says, 'he's suffering from anal bleeding.' So that's when I went to Cole afterwards and said, 'what the hell are you doing.' He said, 'I swear, Vince told me to say it.'"
"Aretha Franklin is still alive. Remember what a pain in the butt she was at WrestleMania that year? Oh my gosh! Way passed her glory days, but still the biggest diva that we'd ever seen. Very high maintenance, Aretha Franklin."
Also during the podcast, Lawler shared a story about how he chewed out Michael Cole for saying that 'The King' had suffered "anal bleeding" from a slam delivered by Mark Henry. Apparently, Cole told the legend of Memphis pro wrestling that the call was WWE Chairman Vince McMahon's idea.
"We could do a whole show about the things we know that Vince either told [Ross] to say or told Michael Cole to say. The most embarrassing one that I can remember, and later on I went to him and I went, 'what the hell, man?' and he said, 'I swear, Vince told me to say it. I swear. You know I never would have thought about it.' And it was the time Mark Henry picked me up, and I don't know if I was wrestling Mark or what happened, but anyway, he picked me up and slammed me through the announce table and they carried me out or whatever. And then, after the break, he said, 'we want to give you an update on 'The King'. He's not doing too well' and then he says, 'he's suffering from anal bleeding.' So that's when I went to Cole afterwards and said, 'what the hell are you doing.' He said, 'I swear, Vince told me to say it.'"
TWO PROMOTIONS ADDED TO IMPACT'S GLOBAL WRESTLING NETWORK
Future Stars Of Wrestling has reached an agreement to join the Global
Wrestling Network. FSW will provide GWN with thousands of hours from its
extensive library, featuring Impact Champion Eli Drake, Matt Hardy, John
Morrison, Kenny King, Reno Scum, Willie Mack, Lance Hoyt, Kevin Kross, Sami
Callihan, Brian Cage along with the many superstars FSW has had come thru its
doors including Ricochet, Rich Swann, AR Fox, Tony Nese, Chris Sabin, Austin
Aries, Keith Lee, Kevin Nash, Chris Masters, Paul London, Brian Kendrick, Davey
Boy Smith Jr, Roderick Strong, ACH, Young Bucks, Trevor Lee, Shane Strickland,
Jeff Cobb, and more. To see more FSW footage go to www.youtube.com/futurestarswrestling.
Defy Wrestling announced that not only will a match between Randy Myers and Sami Callihan from DEFY9 be shown on this week's Impact Wrestling but the Washington state-based promotion will be a part of the Global Wrestling Network.
Defy Wrestling announced that not only will a match between Randy Myers and Sami Callihan from DEFY9 be shown on this week's Impact Wrestling but the Washington state-based promotion will be a part of the Global Wrestling Network.
May have to make Dave Meltzer (Wrestling Observer) look like an idiot again.
The man just can't help himself I guess. Just can't keep from making dumb comments that make him look like a total fool.
The fact he keeps replying to a reader of this blog but has yet to contact me about how stupid I keep making him look? is amazing, LOL.
More on this later tonight.
The fact he keeps replying to a reader of this blog but has yet to contact me about how stupid I keep making him look? is amazing, LOL.
More on this later tonight.
FLOSLAM DEAD
Flosports made the decision today to shutter their Floslam streaming service,
laying off their staff and closing the door on its attempt to become a
destination for professional wrestling fans.
Officially launched in October 2016 and based out of Austin, Texas, Floslam had been designed to become a major streaming subscription content hub with the idea of signing deals with a number of top independent professional wrestling companies and placing them under one umbrella.
Despite announcing in August of 2016 that its parent company Flosports had "received $21.2 million in new funding to accelerate the online sports network’s growth into new sports and expand its existing verticals" from a number of investors, including World Wrestling Entertainment, the attempt to build a Floslam just never clicked.
On paper and from a financial standpoint, the concept should had everything going for it to the point that some expected Floslam would have the backing to change the landscape of pro wrestling. The theory went like this: Floslam would pay a top premium price for indy promotion content and possibly even professional wrestlers (by putting specific wrestler under contract and farming him/her out to Floslam partner promotions.) By doing so, they would drive up the worth of independent wrestling content. In execution, it never really got out of the starting gate.
Despite its best efforts, Flosports were unable to secure deals with Ring of Honor or New Japan Pro Wrestling, both of which would have been major attractions for the service. An attempt to reach a deal with Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (which was never even an option given the way PWG's business model works, as the promotion is set up as a nexus that exists just outside of contractual obligations for various promotions) was equally fruitless. No deals with any of the major lucha groups were signed.
Instead, the service ended up hanging its hat on a seven figure deal with WWNLive, Inc. That deal led to WWN producing five live events per month for the service, becoming its cornerstone. As well documented, that relationship ended just a year into the signed five year agreement with Flosports alleging in a lawsuit that WWN had misled them on how many iPPV buys the company was doing on its own streaming service, leading to WWN being overpaid for their content. Whether Floslam was tricked into wrongly overpaying or not is a matter for the courts to decide, but at the end of the day, they put all their eggs in the WWNLive basket and it didn't pan out. In fact, all the WWNLive deal really accomplished out of the gate was sparking WWE signing deals with PROGRESS and ICW for a potential WWE Network tiered-system that still has yet to launch.
Other promotions, including House of Hardcore, had agreements that saw multiple events streamed live via Floslam before moving on, while others streamed their events as unique, one time specials. While there was great excitement early for the concept of the service among independent promoters, especially when word made the rounds about WWN's seven figure deal, that was greatly tempered when it was obvious the major money went to WWNLive as they were first in line to sign and everyone that followed were getting lesser and lesser deals. In fact, there were a few independent companies that turned their offers down, feeling that locking themselves in to deals that could potentially see them lose access to ROH and other companies' talent wasn't worth the risk, even short-term.
The pricing was an error from day one in my opinion. Priced at $20 a month ot $150 for a year (more than most major streaming services, including Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime AND the WWE Network), Floslam was going to be a hard sell unless it had top, premium talent. Without the major groups signing on, that price point was out of wack with what fans were realistically willing to spend. When the company raised the monthly price to $30 without notice, they likely went past the point of no return when it came to servicing their potential audience. WWE had changed the price point for what fans were willing to pay for top notch, slicky produced pro wrestling content with the WWE Network - how could Floslam realistically expect fans to pay $20-$30 for independent wrestling shows that had no real production value or lighting, despite costing double or triple of the industry leader?
The rollout for the service was, in many ways, completely haphazard one as well, absent of any sort of promotion or marketing plan for the service (for example, PWInsider.com never received ONE press release from Flosports about the service and never once received any email inquiries returned) and featured a confusing rollout that saw Flosports' Roku platform crash depending on what Roku device you would be using, a failure to expand to other streaming device platforms, a basic interface hat made it impossible to easily seek out specific content. Staffing changes in management only helped to fuel a vortex that never allowed the service a chance to even course-correct. They had put a plane in the air without any landing gear and proceeded to then shove the pilots out the door.
None of these made the paid subscription service something that was going to earn positive word of mouth and as noted, there was no major marketing or advertising campaign to create awareness of the service. Whatever buzz and following Floslam had, it was based specifically on whatever buzz there was for that week's WWN and House of Hardcore event, not the other way around. Once out of the gate, other than providing a home for the live streaming events, there was really nothing done to increase the reach of Floslam by Flosports. Not only was the plane in the air doomed, everyone shrugged once they realized it was.
After the lawsuit against WWNLive was filed, Floslam made all of the WWN content free for all (possibly in an attempt to hurt the value of the content elsewhere), all of the streaming content's live events schedule was canceled and in recent weeks, it acted as a site that featured news, columns and podcasts. In what is a completely maddening and unfair turn of events, the staff that was hired to populate Floslam with content was laid off today, despite the fact that none of the deals and none of the fallout of those deals had anything to do with them. To me, that's a completely disgusting situation. I don't know any of the staff that were hired on any level, but these were people who were trying to feed their family with their work and believed they were getting into bed with a legitimate streaming provider that was going to be in business for a long term. They were sought out by Floslam and made the decision to take the plunge. All they did was go to work and in the end, they got screwed over - weeks before Christmas. I feel horrible for them on a personal level, despite having never spoken to any of them. They deserved better than Floslam gave them and everyone involved in the treatment of the staff should be Goddamned ashamed of themselves.
Back in 2016, a few people wrote, "There has been some great excitement within certain circles as to a new money player putting some money into independent wrestling promotion. Over the next week or so, we should have a greater understanding of exactly what this all means and how much, if at all, this will be change the landscape of the independent realm, but it is certainly an interesting development."
At the end of the day, Flosports changed the landscape, but for the worse There were hopes Floslam was going to change the business for the better on the independent scale. Some decreed that was going to happen before the service signed one deal.
Instead, the story of Floslam will just be another story we recount about "what could have been" if the right people had been involved, if the right deals had been made and had they actually tried to make it work instead of spending some money and waiting for everyone to rush to subscribe. Instead, what's left? A lot of money spent, a lawsuit against WWN, a situation with Joey Styles that left him so disgusted he fled pro wrestling for good, missed opportunities that for some promotions may never come back around, goodwill on all sides that has been destroyed and most importantly, a group of wrestling fans who got their hopes up only to have those hopes ruined, disappointing all who cared to invest their time and money on the service.
What's left is yet another big crater of regret in the minefield that is professional wrestling. What's left is a huge trail of doubt and destruction that will no doubt give the next potential big backer reason to give pause before wanting to better professional wrestling on an independent level. That will be the legacy of Floslam, whether anyone involved wants to personally admit it or place the blame on the next person.
Floslam: 2016 - 2017.
Officially launched in October 2016 and based out of Austin, Texas, Floslam had been designed to become a major streaming subscription content hub with the idea of signing deals with a number of top independent professional wrestling companies and placing them under one umbrella.
Despite announcing in August of 2016 that its parent company Flosports had "received $21.2 million in new funding to accelerate the online sports network’s growth into new sports and expand its existing verticals" from a number of investors, including World Wrestling Entertainment, the attempt to build a Floslam just never clicked.
On paper and from a financial standpoint, the concept should had everything going for it to the point that some expected Floslam would have the backing to change the landscape of pro wrestling. The theory went like this: Floslam would pay a top premium price for indy promotion content and possibly even professional wrestlers (by putting specific wrestler under contract and farming him/her out to Floslam partner promotions.) By doing so, they would drive up the worth of independent wrestling content. In execution, it never really got out of the starting gate.
Despite its best efforts, Flosports were unable to secure deals with Ring of Honor or New Japan Pro Wrestling, both of which would have been major attractions for the service. An attempt to reach a deal with Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (which was never even an option given the way PWG's business model works, as the promotion is set up as a nexus that exists just outside of contractual obligations for various promotions) was equally fruitless. No deals with any of the major lucha groups were signed.
Instead, the service ended up hanging its hat on a seven figure deal with WWNLive, Inc. That deal led to WWN producing five live events per month for the service, becoming its cornerstone. As well documented, that relationship ended just a year into the signed five year agreement with Flosports alleging in a lawsuit that WWN had misled them on how many iPPV buys the company was doing on its own streaming service, leading to WWN being overpaid for their content. Whether Floslam was tricked into wrongly overpaying or not is a matter for the courts to decide, but at the end of the day, they put all their eggs in the WWNLive basket and it didn't pan out. In fact, all the WWNLive deal really accomplished out of the gate was sparking WWE signing deals with PROGRESS and ICW for a potential WWE Network tiered-system that still has yet to launch.
Other promotions, including House of Hardcore, had agreements that saw multiple events streamed live via Floslam before moving on, while others streamed their events as unique, one time specials. While there was great excitement early for the concept of the service among independent promoters, especially when word made the rounds about WWN's seven figure deal, that was greatly tempered when it was obvious the major money went to WWNLive as they were first in line to sign and everyone that followed were getting lesser and lesser deals. In fact, there were a few independent companies that turned their offers down, feeling that locking themselves in to deals that could potentially see them lose access to ROH and other companies' talent wasn't worth the risk, even short-term.
The pricing was an error from day one in my opinion. Priced at $20 a month ot $150 for a year (more than most major streaming services, including Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime AND the WWE Network), Floslam was going to be a hard sell unless it had top, premium talent. Without the major groups signing on, that price point was out of wack with what fans were realistically willing to spend. When the company raised the monthly price to $30 without notice, they likely went past the point of no return when it came to servicing their potential audience. WWE had changed the price point for what fans were willing to pay for top notch, slicky produced pro wrestling content with the WWE Network - how could Floslam realistically expect fans to pay $20-$30 for independent wrestling shows that had no real production value or lighting, despite costing double or triple of the industry leader?
The rollout for the service was, in many ways, completely haphazard one as well, absent of any sort of promotion or marketing plan for the service (for example, PWInsider.com never received ONE press release from Flosports about the service and never once received any email inquiries returned) and featured a confusing rollout that saw Flosports' Roku platform crash depending on what Roku device you would be using, a failure to expand to other streaming device platforms, a basic interface hat made it impossible to easily seek out specific content. Staffing changes in management only helped to fuel a vortex that never allowed the service a chance to even course-correct. They had put a plane in the air without any landing gear and proceeded to then shove the pilots out the door.
None of these made the paid subscription service something that was going to earn positive word of mouth and as noted, there was no major marketing or advertising campaign to create awareness of the service. Whatever buzz and following Floslam had, it was based specifically on whatever buzz there was for that week's WWN and House of Hardcore event, not the other way around. Once out of the gate, other than providing a home for the live streaming events, there was really nothing done to increase the reach of Floslam by Flosports. Not only was the plane in the air doomed, everyone shrugged once they realized it was.
After the lawsuit against WWNLive was filed, Floslam made all of the WWN content free for all (possibly in an attempt to hurt the value of the content elsewhere), all of the streaming content's live events schedule was canceled and in recent weeks, it acted as a site that featured news, columns and podcasts. In what is a completely maddening and unfair turn of events, the staff that was hired to populate Floslam with content was laid off today, despite the fact that none of the deals and none of the fallout of those deals had anything to do with them. To me, that's a completely disgusting situation. I don't know any of the staff that were hired on any level, but these were people who were trying to feed their family with their work and believed they were getting into bed with a legitimate streaming provider that was going to be in business for a long term. They were sought out by Floslam and made the decision to take the plunge. All they did was go to work and in the end, they got screwed over - weeks before Christmas. I feel horrible for them on a personal level, despite having never spoken to any of them. They deserved better than Floslam gave them and everyone involved in the treatment of the staff should be Goddamned ashamed of themselves.
Back in 2016, a few people wrote, "There has been some great excitement within certain circles as to a new money player putting some money into independent wrestling promotion. Over the next week or so, we should have a greater understanding of exactly what this all means and how much, if at all, this will be change the landscape of the independent realm, but it is certainly an interesting development."
At the end of the day, Flosports changed the landscape, but for the worse There were hopes Floslam was going to change the business for the better on the independent scale. Some decreed that was going to happen before the service signed one deal.
Instead, the story of Floslam will just be another story we recount about "what could have been" if the right people had been involved, if the right deals had been made and had they actually tried to make it work instead of spending some money and waiting for everyone to rush to subscribe. Instead, what's left? A lot of money spent, a lawsuit against WWN, a situation with Joey Styles that left him so disgusted he fled pro wrestling for good, missed opportunities that for some promotions may never come back around, goodwill on all sides that has been destroyed and most importantly, a group of wrestling fans who got their hopes up only to have those hopes ruined, disappointing all who cared to invest their time and money on the service.
What's left is yet another big crater of regret in the minefield that is professional wrestling. What's left is a huge trail of doubt and destruction that will no doubt give the next potential big backer reason to give pause before wanting to better professional wrestling on an independent level. That will be the legacy of Floslam, whether anyone involved wants to personally admit it or place the blame on the next person.
Floslam: 2016 - 2017.
Watch PWInsider, Torch and the rest play catch up. Jocephus Confronts NWA President William Patrick Corgan (Aka Billy Corgan)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iziyfnvmXBw
Published on Nov 29, 2017
This confrontation just occurred between Jocephus and William Patrick Corgan (AKA Billy Corgan - President of the NWA - National Wrestling Alliance) at a music recording session. Tim Storm’s Journey as the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion has been documented via Ten Pounds of Gold including the most recent episode that covered the five day span that Tim defended the title against Nick Aldis and Jocephus.
After the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Title match against Jocephus at Tried N True Pro Wrestling, Jocephus claimed that Tim Storm used some sort foreign substance to rub in his eye.
Earlier today, the NWA announced that Tim Storm would be returning to Championship Wrestling From Hollywood this Sunday for their Milestone event. Upon this news,Jocephus demanded a meeting with the NWA President William Patrick Corgan. Our team was there at Mr. Corgan’s recording session when Jocephus arrived. We present this video to report what happened in this meeting.
Follow the story this Sunday via all of the NWA’s social media channels including http://www.Facebook.com/NWA, http://www.Twitter.com/NWA, http:/www.Instagram.com/NWA and http://www.Youtube.com/NWA.
After the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Title match against Jocephus at Tried N True Pro Wrestling, Jocephus claimed that Tim Storm used some sort foreign substance to rub in his eye.
Earlier today, the NWA announced that Tim Storm would be returning to Championship Wrestling From Hollywood this Sunday for their Milestone event. Upon this news,Jocephus demanded a meeting with the NWA President William Patrick Corgan. Our team was there at Mr. Corgan’s recording session when Jocephus arrived. We present this video to report what happened in this meeting.
Follow the story this Sunday via all of the NWA’s social media channels including http://www.Facebook.com/NWA, http://www.Twitter.com/NWA, http:/www.Instagram.com/NWA and http://www.Youtube.com/NWA.
MAJOR CHANGE WITHIN IMPACT WRESTLING GOING FORWARD
Told you they pretty much had no choice, lol. They angered too many people and in the end looked pathetic, and they know it.
It's not exactly Christmas yet, but all Impact Wrestling talents will soon be receiving a gift from management - the rights to their characters and all everything that goes with them, lock, stock and barrel.
After digging in their heels on the ownership of the Hardys' "Broken Universe" for the last year, Impact Wrestling, under Anthem Media, has made a complete about-face on their position when it comes to ownership of characters. So going forward, all contracted Impact Wrestling talents will be given and retain complete ownership of their intellectual property.
What this means, using EC3 as an example, is that should EC3's deal expire and he decide not to sign a new contract with the company, he would be able take the rights to his name and all the IP associated with it (mannerisms, moves, catchphrases, etc.) to his next destination, whether that be WWE, Ring of Honor or elsewhere.
We are told this week's decision was one made by Ed Nordholm. There is no word yet what sparked the decision, but it opens the door for the company to try and mend fences with fans angered by the company's former stance against the Hardys. Impact management had claimed they owned the "Broken Universe" trademarks and attempted o trademark the associated IP, despite the fact that the IP was essentially worthless without Matt and Jeff Hardy's involvement.
The ongoing back and forth, online and behind the scenes, certainly hurt what momentum came with Anthem taking the company over from Dixie Carter's Impact Ventures LLC and certainly painted Impact in a negative light vs. The Hardys, who have a sizable fan base online.
The move also appears to be made as a way to open things up between the company and its wrestlers in a way that has never been done before by a major, national promotion. It would allow the company to partner with its contracted talents to build characters and intellectual property together, as opposed to Impact claiming ownership of those characters if and when the talents move on at the end of their Impact run.
This would allow Impact to be positioned as a company that is trying to foster talents, not control them. It certainly softens the company's outlook from a moral standpoint and opens a bridge for talents, new and established alike, to use Impact as a blank space where they can work and maintain ownership in what they develop.
In a statement to Sports Illustrated earlier today, Impact Wrestling made it clear they intend to make this IP ownership provision to former talents as well, allowing them to own and utilize their former TNA/Impact Wrestling hallmarks if they choose to do so. Hopefully, that doesn't mean the return of the Johnsons!
It's not exactly Christmas yet, but all Impact Wrestling talents will soon be receiving a gift from management - the rights to their characters and all everything that goes with them, lock, stock and barrel.
After digging in their heels on the ownership of the Hardys' "Broken Universe" for the last year, Impact Wrestling, under Anthem Media, has made a complete about-face on their position when it comes to ownership of characters. So going forward, all contracted Impact Wrestling talents will be given and retain complete ownership of their intellectual property.
What this means, using EC3 as an example, is that should EC3's deal expire and he decide not to sign a new contract with the company, he would be able take the rights to his name and all the IP associated with it (mannerisms, moves, catchphrases, etc.) to his next destination, whether that be WWE, Ring of Honor or elsewhere.
We are told this week's decision was one made by Ed Nordholm. There is no word yet what sparked the decision, but it opens the door for the company to try and mend fences with fans angered by the company's former stance against the Hardys. Impact management had claimed they owned the "Broken Universe" trademarks and attempted o trademark the associated IP, despite the fact that the IP was essentially worthless without Matt and Jeff Hardy's involvement.
The ongoing back and forth, online and behind the scenes, certainly hurt what momentum came with Anthem taking the company over from Dixie Carter's Impact Ventures LLC and certainly painted Impact in a negative light vs. The Hardys, who have a sizable fan base online.
The move also appears to be made as a way to open things up between the company and its wrestlers in a way that has never been done before by a major, national promotion. It would allow the company to partner with its contracted talents to build characters and intellectual property together, as opposed to Impact claiming ownership of those characters if and when the talents move on at the end of their Impact run.
This would allow Impact to be positioned as a company that is trying to foster talents, not control them. It certainly softens the company's outlook from a moral standpoint and opens a bridge for talents, new and established alike, to use Impact as a blank space where they can work and maintain ownership in what they develop.
In a statement to Sports Illustrated earlier today, Impact Wrestling made it clear they intend to make this IP ownership provision to former talents as well, allowing them to own and utilize their former TNA/Impact Wrestling hallmarks if they choose to do so. Hopefully, that doesn't mean the return of the Johnsons!
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
FLOSPORTS FILES AMENDED LAWSUIT AGAINST WWNLIVE, FULL DETAILS
Flosports, the parent company of Floslam, filed an amended lawsuit against
WWNLive Inc, the parent company of EVOLVE and its related sister promotions on
11/27. The lawsuit, seeking $1 million in damages, revolves around allegations
that WWN, run by Sal Hamaoui and Gabe Sapolsky, had "robbed Flosports" by
provided false information that led to the streaming provider paying inflated
prices for WWN content.
The contract between Flosports and WWNLive was revealed in the 11/27 filings, noting that it called for WWN to be paid $75,000 in 2016, $500,000 in 2017, $550,000 in 2018, $605,000 in 2019, $670,000 in 2020 and $740,000 in 2021.
The contract also called for incentives to be paid to WWN under the following conditions: "In addition to the Rights Fee described in Section 3a, FloSports will pay an incentive to Events Rights Holder if financial performance exceeds specified levels. Events Rights Holder will receive the greater of the Rights Fee listed in Section 3a or 30% of total Net Cash attributed to WWN over the course of the year. Example: Net cash in 2017 equals $1,000,000. Events Right Holder receives a total of $500,000. Net cash in 2018 equals $3,000,000. Events Right Holder receives a total of $900,000."
The contract required Flosports to promote the WWNLive events promising they would "provide $250,000 of advertising value per year on FloSports (i.e. custom digital display, email newsletters, social media, editorial previews/coverage/recaps, etc.)." How that amount of advertising value may have been tallied is not directly explained in any of the court documents, but Flosports' amended lawsuit claimed, "FloSports performed on the Agreement and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars pursuant to its terms, including on its advertising spend for WWN and in the fees paid directly to WWN—all in reliance on WWN’s breached warranty and misrepresentations."
In the Amended lawsuit, Flosports claimed that "During the first year of the Agreement’s term, FloSports became suspicious that WWN’s data was inaccurate. Over the course of several months, FloSports repeatedly asked WWN to send FloSports more detailed data to support the original spreadsheet. WWN failed to comply, alleging that the information was lost or deleted. On August 18, 2017, WWN finally emailed the detailed viewership records, which contained additional misrepresentations: the records listed customers more than once and added purchasers of DVDs to the records, rather than limiting its numbers to the broadcast subscribers as it had promised were reflected in the original spreadsheet. Even with this fraudulent inflation of its data, the records showed viewership numbers far less than those reflected in the October 2016 spreadsheet, proving that WWN’s original representations were false."
WWNLive had previously responded to that, claiming, "That data was pulled from and compiled by a now-defunct third-party company named Fineline Hosting that was based in Florida."
What is interesting is that while Flosports alleges that, "Among the promises WWN made in the Agreement was that “all data provided by [WWN] regarding past financial performance of events put on by [WWN] was accurate, reliable and truthful.” - yet there is no language regarding that data (truthful or not) in the agreement filed with the court.
The lawsuit also alleges that "WWN breached the Agreement by failing to adequately perform under its terms, including its provision of inaccurate, unreliable, and false viewership data to FloSports" yet the Agreement filed with the court lists no description of what "adequately performing" would be.
Instead, based on the two page agreement, WWN was to produce events, handling the management of the video production (at no cost to Flosports) including Planning, Logistics and Production Teams, required video equipment including a two camera shoot, an Encoder to deliver the live stream to Flosports, personnel to "manage and run the video production for all events", Internet with a minimum upload speed of 5 mbps for all events, delivery of a fully produced live stream via RTMP feed to Flosports and that WWNLive would produce and deliver five live events per month (with the exception of December, where they were only required to produce three events). The agreement noted, "The quality of the events should be reasonably similar or better than the same events in 2015 and 2016 through the Term of the Contract."
The 11/27 amended lawsuiit by Flosports was accompanied by a number of other documents, including the original spreadsheet sent by Sal Hamaoui to then-Flosports Vice President Tobey Mergler, who handled the WWNLive deal and left Flosports in August 2017.
The spreadsheet lists buys for WWNLive events held in 2015 and 2016. For EVOLVE events, buys ranged from 539-2,479 purchases with the events on the higher end being shows specifically promoted by WWE online. SHINE iPPVs ranged from 525-729 buys. Full Impact Pro events ranged from 24 buys to 288 buys.
Back in September, after news of the lawsuit broke, some news sites reported we had been "told that in actuality, in 2016, WWN (on average) was doing in the area of 1,300 iPPV buys for EVOLVE, 600-700 for SHINE and less than 200 buys for FIP events while selling those events. The year before, which they also provided to FloSports, those numbers were lower and the EVOLVE numbers were said to have been way up from the year before because WWE was promoting that brand."
It should be noted that the numbers in the lawsuit filings do match up with what WWNLive sources claimed to various sources shortly after the suit was filed.
In their 11/27 filing, Flosports alleged, "FloSports paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to WWN in reliance on this promise. But WWN’s data was false. When pressed for the data that backed up WWN’s representations, WWN originally claimed the data was lost or deleted. Ultimately, WWN sent records listing subscribers more than once and including customers who had not purchased broadcast services. Even accounting for that artificial inflation of its viewership, WWN’s numbers proved far less than originally represented."
It is also interesting to note the following language in the contract: "FloSports has the right to terminate this Agreement by providing notice during the month of January each year, starting in 2018. If FloSports exercises this option, the agreement will continue for 12 months after the date of notification before terminating."
It should be pointed out that Flosports terminated their deal with WWN in September of 2017 (well before January 2018) shortly after filing their lawsuit. So, by the letter of the contract, a judge could potentially consider an argument from WWNLive that Flosports actually breached their own deal.
While Flosports' Amended lawsuit alleges that "In fact, WWN contractually promised that “all data [it] provided . . . regarding financial performance of events [it] put on . . . was accurate, reliable and truthful.” - the legalese in the two page agreement between the two sides that was filed with the court on 11/27 does not appear to cover any other sort of termination of the deal, including whether the deal could be halted or terminated if the records provided by WWNLive Inc. actually turned out to be incorrect.
WWN had filed a motion on 11/13, requesting the lawsuit being dismissed, citing that the suit was filed in a venue (Texas) that lacks jurisdiction over WWNLive. In a response filed on 11/27, Flosports responded that WWN had induced them into paying hundreds of thousands of dollars with falsified records and that WWN had elected that their agreement, when signed in Texas, would be governed by Texas State rules.
In their 22-page filing requesting a change of venue, WWN had argued that their business was based in Florida, as are its business records and bank accounts, therefore they were not under Texas jurisdiction. They noted that their only dealings in Texas were WWN President Sal Hamaoui traveling to Texas in October 2016 and January 2017, the first trip to meet with Flosports during the courtship period and the latter to sign the deal. A copy of the deal that was filed with the court is actually dated October 21, 2016.
WWN's response noted multiple times in the filing that Flosports had initiated their business relationship, that WWN was not contractually obligated to focus their business in Texas and out of the 53 events they promoted under their deal with Flosports, only two were held in the Lone Star State. The majority of the events were held in Florida. WWN also argued that the case being heard in Texas would be a personal hardship for the company as those with working knowledge of the company live in Florida (Sal Hamaoui) and Massachusetts (Gabe Sapolsky) and would force them to travel regularly to Texas, a venue where they have no holdings, business dealings or connections to the community there.
Phil Wendler, who identified himself as FloSports' Senior Vice President of Global Rights Acquisition and Subscription filed a statement with the court arguing that the case should be heard in Texas, noting, "Discovery conducted so far has revealed at least 368 emails sent from WWN representatives to Flosports representatives based in Austin, Texas during the course of the parties' dealings, in addition to numerous text messages, several
conference calls between the parties and the in-person meetings in Texas."
Wendler also stated that WWN would have run additional events in Texas in November (Survivor Series weekend in Houston) had Flosports not revoked their deal with WWN and filed the lawsuit.
The FloSlam streaming service officially launched in October 2016, conversations with WWN began as early as January 2016. At that point, FloSlam was hoping to make deals with WWN, Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling. In the end, WWN signed with FloSports first and the other two companies passed. The majority of the content on the streaming service came from WWNLive until their relationship was severed in September 2017. Since then, despite having active subscribers, Flosports has dropped the live streaming aspect of their Floslam offerings, yet still charges $30 a month or $150 per year for the service.
The Flosports situation has obviously put a financial hardship on WWNLive as they bumped up the number of events they were running as part of the agreement to five a month and made a greater investment into talents, including signing Keith Lee and others.
Flosports had not paid WWN during the final two months of their relationship, informed WWNLive of their plans to file a lawsuit while WWNLive was streaming a SHINE Women's wrestling event and canceled plans to stream several EVOLVE events the very weekend they were to take place.
In total, WWNLive lost out on three months of expected revenue from Flosports and has greatly cut back their event schedule. Earlier this month, the company claimed in an email to fans they were negotiating with four streaming platforms, but did not specify what they may be.
WWNLive promotion EVOLVE is scheduled to run in New York and Massachusetts in December with those events being streamed on the Fite TV App, which WWN had been working with prior to their Flosports agreement.
Obviously, this is going to be a long and winding legal road for both sides
The contract between Flosports and WWNLive was revealed in the 11/27 filings, noting that it called for WWN to be paid $75,000 in 2016, $500,000 in 2017, $550,000 in 2018, $605,000 in 2019, $670,000 in 2020 and $740,000 in 2021.
The contract also called for incentives to be paid to WWN under the following conditions: "In addition to the Rights Fee described in Section 3a, FloSports will pay an incentive to Events Rights Holder if financial performance exceeds specified levels. Events Rights Holder will receive the greater of the Rights Fee listed in Section 3a or 30% of total Net Cash attributed to WWN over the course of the year. Example: Net cash in 2017 equals $1,000,000. Events Right Holder receives a total of $500,000. Net cash in 2018 equals $3,000,000. Events Right Holder receives a total of $900,000."
The contract required Flosports to promote the WWNLive events promising they would "provide $250,000 of advertising value per year on FloSports (i.e. custom digital display, email newsletters, social media, editorial previews/coverage/recaps, etc.)." How that amount of advertising value may have been tallied is not directly explained in any of the court documents, but Flosports' amended lawsuit claimed, "FloSports performed on the Agreement and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars pursuant to its terms, including on its advertising spend for WWN and in the fees paid directly to WWN—all in reliance on WWN’s breached warranty and misrepresentations."
In the Amended lawsuit, Flosports claimed that "During the first year of the Agreement’s term, FloSports became suspicious that WWN’s data was inaccurate. Over the course of several months, FloSports repeatedly asked WWN to send FloSports more detailed data to support the original spreadsheet. WWN failed to comply, alleging that the information was lost or deleted. On August 18, 2017, WWN finally emailed the detailed viewership records, which contained additional misrepresentations: the records listed customers more than once and added purchasers of DVDs to the records, rather than limiting its numbers to the broadcast subscribers as it had promised were reflected in the original spreadsheet. Even with this fraudulent inflation of its data, the records showed viewership numbers far less than those reflected in the October 2016 spreadsheet, proving that WWN’s original representations were false."
WWNLive had previously responded to that, claiming, "That data was pulled from and compiled by a now-defunct third-party company named Fineline Hosting that was based in Florida."
What is interesting is that while Flosports alleges that, "Among the promises WWN made in the Agreement was that “all data provided by [WWN] regarding past financial performance of events put on by [WWN] was accurate, reliable and truthful.” - yet there is no language regarding that data (truthful or not) in the agreement filed with the court.
The lawsuit also alleges that "WWN breached the Agreement by failing to adequately perform under its terms, including its provision of inaccurate, unreliable, and false viewership data to FloSports" yet the Agreement filed with the court lists no description of what "adequately performing" would be.
Instead, based on the two page agreement, WWN was to produce events, handling the management of the video production (at no cost to Flosports) including Planning, Logistics and Production Teams, required video equipment including a two camera shoot, an Encoder to deliver the live stream to Flosports, personnel to "manage and run the video production for all events", Internet with a minimum upload speed of 5 mbps for all events, delivery of a fully produced live stream via RTMP feed to Flosports and that WWNLive would produce and deliver five live events per month (with the exception of December, where they were only required to produce three events). The agreement noted, "The quality of the events should be reasonably similar or better than the same events in 2015 and 2016 through the Term of the Contract."
The 11/27 amended lawsuiit by Flosports was accompanied by a number of other documents, including the original spreadsheet sent by Sal Hamaoui to then-Flosports Vice President Tobey Mergler, who handled the WWNLive deal and left Flosports in August 2017.
The spreadsheet lists buys for WWNLive events held in 2015 and 2016. For EVOLVE events, buys ranged from 539-2,479 purchases with the events on the higher end being shows specifically promoted by WWE online. SHINE iPPVs ranged from 525-729 buys. Full Impact Pro events ranged from 24 buys to 288 buys.
Back in September, after news of the lawsuit broke, some news sites reported we had been "told that in actuality, in 2016, WWN (on average) was doing in the area of 1,300 iPPV buys for EVOLVE, 600-700 for SHINE and less than 200 buys for FIP events while selling those events. The year before, which they also provided to FloSports, those numbers were lower and the EVOLVE numbers were said to have been way up from the year before because WWE was promoting that brand."
It should be noted that the numbers in the lawsuit filings do match up with what WWNLive sources claimed to various sources shortly after the suit was filed.
In their 11/27 filing, Flosports alleged, "FloSports paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to WWN in reliance on this promise. But WWN’s data was false. When pressed for the data that backed up WWN’s representations, WWN originally claimed the data was lost or deleted. Ultimately, WWN sent records listing subscribers more than once and including customers who had not purchased broadcast services. Even accounting for that artificial inflation of its viewership, WWN’s numbers proved far less than originally represented."
It is also interesting to note the following language in the contract: "FloSports has the right to terminate this Agreement by providing notice during the month of January each year, starting in 2018. If FloSports exercises this option, the agreement will continue for 12 months after the date of notification before terminating."
It should be pointed out that Flosports terminated their deal with WWN in September of 2017 (well before January 2018) shortly after filing their lawsuit. So, by the letter of the contract, a judge could potentially consider an argument from WWNLive that Flosports actually breached their own deal.
While Flosports' Amended lawsuit alleges that "In fact, WWN contractually promised that “all data [it] provided . . . regarding financial performance of events [it] put on . . . was accurate, reliable and truthful.” - the legalese in the two page agreement between the two sides that was filed with the court on 11/27 does not appear to cover any other sort of termination of the deal, including whether the deal could be halted or terminated if the records provided by WWNLive Inc. actually turned out to be incorrect.
WWN had filed a motion on 11/13, requesting the lawsuit being dismissed, citing that the suit was filed in a venue (Texas) that lacks jurisdiction over WWNLive. In a response filed on 11/27, Flosports responded that WWN had induced them into paying hundreds of thousands of dollars with falsified records and that WWN had elected that their agreement, when signed in Texas, would be governed by Texas State rules.
In their 22-page filing requesting a change of venue, WWN had argued that their business was based in Florida, as are its business records and bank accounts, therefore they were not under Texas jurisdiction. They noted that their only dealings in Texas were WWN President Sal Hamaoui traveling to Texas in October 2016 and January 2017, the first trip to meet with Flosports during the courtship period and the latter to sign the deal. A copy of the deal that was filed with the court is actually dated October 21, 2016.
WWN's response noted multiple times in the filing that Flosports had initiated their business relationship, that WWN was not contractually obligated to focus their business in Texas and out of the 53 events they promoted under their deal with Flosports, only two were held in the Lone Star State. The majority of the events were held in Florida. WWN also argued that the case being heard in Texas would be a personal hardship for the company as those with working knowledge of the company live in Florida (Sal Hamaoui) and Massachusetts (Gabe Sapolsky) and would force them to travel regularly to Texas, a venue where they have no holdings, business dealings or connections to the community there.
Phil Wendler, who identified himself as FloSports' Senior Vice President of Global Rights Acquisition and Subscription filed a statement with the court arguing that the case should be heard in Texas, noting, "Discovery conducted so far has revealed at least 368 emails sent from WWN representatives to Flosports representatives based in Austin, Texas during the course of the parties' dealings, in addition to numerous text messages, several
conference calls between the parties and the in-person meetings in Texas."
Wendler also stated that WWN would have run additional events in Texas in November (Survivor Series weekend in Houston) had Flosports not revoked their deal with WWN and filed the lawsuit.
The FloSlam streaming service officially launched in October 2016, conversations with WWN began as early as January 2016. At that point, FloSlam was hoping to make deals with WWN, Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling. In the end, WWN signed with FloSports first and the other two companies passed. The majority of the content on the streaming service came from WWNLive until their relationship was severed in September 2017. Since then, despite having active subscribers, Flosports has dropped the live streaming aspect of their Floslam offerings, yet still charges $30 a month or $150 per year for the service.
The Flosports situation has obviously put a financial hardship on WWNLive as they bumped up the number of events they were running as part of the agreement to five a month and made a greater investment into talents, including signing Keith Lee and others.
Flosports had not paid WWN during the final two months of their relationship, informed WWNLive of their plans to file a lawsuit while WWNLive was streaming a SHINE Women's wrestling event and canceled plans to stream several EVOLVE events the very weekend they were to take place.
In total, WWNLive lost out on three months of expected revenue from Flosports and has greatly cut back their event schedule. Earlier this month, the company claimed in an email to fans they were negotiating with four streaming platforms, but did not specify what they may be.
WWNLive promotion EVOLVE is scheduled to run in New York and Massachusetts in December with those events being streamed on the Fite TV App, which WWN had been working with prior to their Flosports agreement.
Obviously, this is going to be a long and winding legal road for both sides
Some People leave themselves open to wisecracks...
Guess I'm the only one with enough guts to say it, since nobody else will. :) ...
As Promised, Dave Meltzer makes himself look like an idiot, again.
As you know I posted this, yesterday.
So NOW, we have this from an avid reader who had the guts to actually email Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez about this (Alvarez chose wisely to accept it and not reply).
These came from the reader's email box and are used with Jeremy Neal's permission. He wanted people to see how he's made Meltzer look like an idiot as well. Apparently it doesn't take much now to make Meltzer look fucking stupid.
ANTHEM SPORTS COMMENTS ON MATT HARDY BEING WOKEN...
Anthem Sports released the following statement to Sports Illustrated regarding WWE
using a "Broken" Matt Hardy style gimmick:
“We have seen the character development and will be interested to see where they take the concept. Our new talent agreements all incorporate language that allow talent to continue to use their IMPACT persona after they leave the company. We are working with our legal team to amend our existing agreements to extend this to all of our current and former talent".
Impact has internally decided they will not pursue ownership of the "Broken Universe", paving the way for Matt Hardy to officially trademark and own the characters.
Pretty much they said that because they had no chance in court and they don't need any more embarrassment than they already have. Like this for instance.
“We have seen the character development and will be interested to see where they take the concept. Our new talent agreements all incorporate language that allow talent to continue to use their IMPACT persona after they leave the company. We are working with our legal team to amend our existing agreements to extend this to all of our current and former talent".
Impact has internally decided they will not pursue ownership of the "Broken Universe", paving the way for Matt Hardy to officially trademark and own the characters.
Pretty much they said that because they had no chance in court and they don't need any more embarrassment than they already have. Like this for instance.
That is really, fucking embarrassing. Major federation allegedly with a cheap ass patch over on a title of a company that really isn't existing anymore? Yeah, embarrassing as all hell.
Apparently Dave Meltzer is still making himself look stupid.
I'll have more on this later today but it seems that Meltzer can't keep his mouth shut, and is currently putting his foot in his mouth with someone who is an avid reader of this blog.
So, more to come as I'm getting some 'interesting' emails on this. :) Someone really should tell Meltzer to just keep his mouth shut. He's not doing himself any favors at the moment, LOL.
So, more to come as I'm getting some 'interesting' emails on this. :) Someone really should tell Meltzer to just keep his mouth shut. He's not doing himself any favors at the moment, LOL.
Let's call this Way Back Wednesday with.. Dusty Rhodes vs Hacksaw Duggan (with Col. Buck Robley)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLJM07e5qms
A heel Hacksaw Duggan managed by Buck Robley faces "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes in a bloody contest from Houston that ends in a schmoz, with Bruiser Brody, Dick Slater, & Bob Sweetan. Followed with promo's by all.
A heel Hacksaw Duggan managed by Buck Robley faces "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes in a bloody contest from Houston that ends in a schmoz, with Bruiser Brody, Dick Slater, & Bob Sweetan. Followed with promo's by all.
Kevin Sullivan on The Ultimate Warrior in WCW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnZZ6wmNCsc
Former WCW head writer and legendary wrestler "The Taskmaster" Kevin Sullivan talks about what it was like dealing with The Ultimate Warrior in World Championship Wrestling. Why Hulk Hogan brought him into the company, what Warrior was like to deal with behind the scenes, the blunder of a match Warrior and Hogan had at Halloween Havoc and much more!
Former WCW head writer and legendary wrestler "The Taskmaster" Kevin Sullivan talks about what it was like dealing with The Ultimate Warrior in World Championship Wrestling. Why Hulk Hogan brought him into the company, what Warrior was like to deal with behind the scenes, the blunder of a match Warrior and Hogan had at Halloween Havoc and much more!
Kenny Omega On Which WWE Star He Used To Bounce Ideas Off, Wrestlers Having Heat, The Elite
Current IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega was recently a guest on The Art Of Wrestling along with ROH's Young Bucks, Nick and Matt Jackson. The self-described special interest wrestler talked about getting heat within the professional wrestling industry, took a shot at his detractors, and divulged which WWE Superstar he used to bounce ideas off before the Young Bucks came around.
According to Omega, heat comes with the territory to an extent.
"I never purposely try to get heat with anyone. I try to just be a good human being, but with the way that we carry ourselves, just the way we run our show, our matches or whatever, heat's just going to come with it."
Moreover, Omega suggested that he is fine having heat with WWE because 'The Cleaner' has not said anything he does not stand by.
"If someone says to me, 'hey, you probably have heat with this guy, or this guy, or this guy, in The Fed or The E,' or whatever you want to call it, I don't really pay too much attention to it because I know I haven't done anything directly."
Omega continued, "I'm never actually directly trying to offend anyone from any other [pro wrestling] promotion. If someone says I have the greatest match of all time, that's great. I'm going to use that to make my next match mean something or make the rematch mean something more."
Omega went on to say that the pro wrestlers who criticize The Elite cannot perform on the level of The Elite.
"Maybe I'm going to catch a lot of heat for saying this right now, but I think what all these people need to understand is whether they like it or not, and whether they'd like to admit it or not, is all three of us, we could go where they are and do what they do and do it better, but they could never do what we do."
Notably, Omega shared that before confiding in the Bucks, he would bounce ideas off of Sami Zayn, also known as Rami Sebei.
"The live house opinion is going to mean a lot, of course, because you can feel it, you can hear it. But yeah, but, like, if I ask The Young Bucks' opinion that is pretty much the opinion that counts the most to me. Back in the day, like, before I was with The Young Bucks all the time and I was in DDT, it was always Rami, 'Rami, what did you think?' and if Rami gave it a stamp of approval."
Thanksssssss. If you use any of the quotes from this article, please credit The Art Of Wrestling with an H/T to WrestlingINC for the transcription.
Source: The Art Of Wrestling
"I never purposely try to get heat with anyone. I try to just be a good human being, but with the way that we carry ourselves, just the way we run our show, our matches or whatever, heat's just going to come with it."
Moreover, Omega suggested that he is fine having heat with WWE because 'The Cleaner' has not said anything he does not stand by.
"If someone says to me, 'hey, you probably have heat with this guy, or this guy, or this guy, in The Fed or The E,' or whatever you want to call it, I don't really pay too much attention to it because I know I haven't done anything directly."
Omega continued, "I'm never actually directly trying to offend anyone from any other [pro wrestling] promotion. If someone says I have the greatest match of all time, that's great. I'm going to use that to make my next match mean something or make the rematch mean something more."
Omega went on to say that the pro wrestlers who criticize The Elite cannot perform on the level of The Elite.
"Maybe I'm going to catch a lot of heat for saying this right now, but I think what all these people need to understand is whether they like it or not, and whether they'd like to admit it or not, is all three of us, we could go where they are and do what they do and do it better, but they could never do what we do."
Notably, Omega shared that before confiding in the Bucks, he would bounce ideas off of Sami Zayn, also known as Rami Sebei.
"The live house opinion is going to mean a lot, of course, because you can feel it, you can hear it. But yeah, but, like, if I ask The Young Bucks' opinion that is pretty much the opinion that counts the most to me. Back in the day, like, before I was with The Young Bucks all the time and I was in DDT, it was always Rami, 'Rami, what did you think?' and if Rami gave it a stamp of approval."
Thanksssssss. If you use any of the quotes from this article, please credit The Art Of Wrestling with an H/T to WrestlingINC for the transcription.
Source: The Art Of Wrestling
New Jericho shirt.
Before his upcoming Wrestle Kingdom 12 match against IWGP United States Champion, Kenny Omega, Jericho has created an "Alpha Club - Jericho" t-shirt so fans can choose a side. Earlier this month, at Power Struggle, Jericho challenged Omega - via video - after Omega cut a promo asking for a wrestler to come out and face him. The tagline for their match is "Alpha vs. Omega" and the shirt can be picked up here with proceeds going towards supporting The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
RON SIMMONS HEADLINES CWE LEGENDS CON
1st Ever African American World Champion Headlines CWE's Legends Con.
DAMN!
You have patiently waited and now you can know that CWE's Legends Of Wrestling & Professional Sports Convention on February 24th in Winnipeg, Manitoba will be headlined by pro wrestling AND pro football icon Ron Simmons!
It is with great honor and pride CWE hosts one of the biggest and most inspirational names in the history of the business and hands down one of the biggest stars to ever appear for Canadian Wrestling's Elite.
Regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of Florida State University and recognized as an All American while in college Ron Simmons would go on to play in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns, in the CFL for the Ottawa Rough Riders, and in the United States Football League for the Tampa Bay Bandits before entering the wrestling business under the training of legendary trainer Hiro Matsuda
Ron Simmons would be begin his national career in Jim Crockett Promotions in 1987 and quickly became a can't miss prospect for the organization. In 1989 the world would see the dark side of Ron Simmons as he formed the infamous tag team DOOM with Butch Reed. The duo would go on to capture the NWA World Tag Team Titles and held them for 9 months defeating teams like the Rock N' Roll Express, The Steiner Brothers, and The Horseman.
The team of Ron Simmons and Butch Reed solidified their names in history officially being recognized as the first ever holders of the WCW World Tag Team Titles in 1991.
1992 would be the year that would set the stage for Ron Simmons being a headline competitor the remainder of his career as he made unprecedented history by becoming the first ever African American World Champion when he defeated Vader to become the WCW World Champion which he held for 5 months.
In something a lot of people aren't overly familiar with Ron Simmons would spend time competing in Extreme Champion Wrestling in 1994 & 1995 between his long tenures in WCW and the WWF.
In July of 1996 Ron Simmons would debut for the World Wrestling Federation under the name Faarooq Asaad with Sunny as his manager. Faarooq would instantly enter himself into a very memorable feud with Ahmed Johnson that caused Johnson to forfeit the Intercontinental Championship.
It wasn't long after Faarooq would head up the now iconic Nation Of Domination super group that would become of the most hated and memorable groups of the 90s. The Nation Of Domination originally managed by Clarence Mason would begin with Crush and Savio Vega and eventually transition to members such Mark Henry, D-Lo Brown, The Godfather, Owen Hart, and of course The Rock whose role in The Nation arguably saved his career and led him to become the mega star he was destined to be.
After his time The Nation was through he would form The Acolytes with Bradshaw and become of the most dominant and feared teams in the history of professional wrestling. The Acolytes would be a featured act in The Undertaker's Ministry Of Darkness.
Once The Ministry Of Darkness disbanded The Acolytes would morph into what would could be considered their most successful, memorable, and popular run when they became The APA, The Acolytes Protection Agency. Faarooq & Bradshaw would hold the WWE World Tag Team Titles on 3 occasions.
Ron Simmons was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2012.
Be there live in Winnipeg on February 24th to shake the hand of a man who single handily changed professional wrestling history!
Autograph Photo/Signed Personalized Item- $45
Photo Op- $45
Autograph/Photo Combo- $80
Event information is as followed,
Saturday February 24th- Winnipeg, MB
Location: CanAd Inns Garden City (2100 McPhillips St.)
Time: Convention 10am-6pm, Live Event Doors Open 6pm, Bell Time 7pm
Convention Tickets: $13 in advance, $15 at the door.
Live Event Tickets: $17 in advance, $20 at the door.
*Please note that the convention legends will NOT be available for autographs & photos at the live event & only at the convention portion.
Advance Tickets Available at: Punjab Grocery & Convenience (668 Sheppard St.), Blade Hair Design (3-1341 Henderson Hwy), Video 1001 (576 Mountain Ave), Papa Murphy's (335 Dakota St.)
Purchase tickets online at cwetickets.com
This event will offer a very special "Super Ticket" opportunity that will allow a maximum 150 ticket buyers the opportunity to purchase a "Super Ticket" for $150 for special VIP Access that includes,
*FREE Convention Entry
*FREE Live Event Entry
*First Priority VIP Entry & Seating When Doors Open To The Live Event
*FREE Photo Opportunity/Signed Item From ALL 9 Official Convention Guests
*Skip The Line VIP Access For ALL 9 Official Convention Guests
*FREE Entry To ALL 6 Official Convention Guest Q & A sessions.
Vendor Space Is Available But Extremely Limited. Vendor Pricing,
$150 for 1 Table
$250 for 2 Tables
$325 for 3 Tables
$50 for every additional table
For more information on becoming an official sponsor and/or vendor for the event contact info@cwecanada.ca
For upcoming announcements on guests appearing and general convention news stay posted to www.cwecanada.ca
DAMN!
You have patiently waited and now you can know that CWE's Legends Of Wrestling & Professional Sports Convention on February 24th in Winnipeg, Manitoba will be headlined by pro wrestling AND pro football icon Ron Simmons!
It is with great honor and pride CWE hosts one of the biggest and most inspirational names in the history of the business and hands down one of the biggest stars to ever appear for Canadian Wrestling's Elite.
Regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of Florida State University and recognized as an All American while in college Ron Simmons would go on to play in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns, in the CFL for the Ottawa Rough Riders, and in the United States Football League for the Tampa Bay Bandits before entering the wrestling business under the training of legendary trainer Hiro Matsuda
Ron Simmons would be begin his national career in Jim Crockett Promotions in 1987 and quickly became a can't miss prospect for the organization. In 1989 the world would see the dark side of Ron Simmons as he formed the infamous tag team DOOM with Butch Reed. The duo would go on to capture the NWA World Tag Team Titles and held them for 9 months defeating teams like the Rock N' Roll Express, The Steiner Brothers, and The Horseman.
The team of Ron Simmons and Butch Reed solidified their names in history officially being recognized as the first ever holders of the WCW World Tag Team Titles in 1991.
1992 would be the year that would set the stage for Ron Simmons being a headline competitor the remainder of his career as he made unprecedented history by becoming the first ever African American World Champion when he defeated Vader to become the WCW World Champion which he held for 5 months.
In something a lot of people aren't overly familiar with Ron Simmons would spend time competing in Extreme Champion Wrestling in 1994 & 1995 between his long tenures in WCW and the WWF.
In July of 1996 Ron Simmons would debut for the World Wrestling Federation under the name Faarooq Asaad with Sunny as his manager. Faarooq would instantly enter himself into a very memorable feud with Ahmed Johnson that caused Johnson to forfeit the Intercontinental Championship.
It wasn't long after Faarooq would head up the now iconic Nation Of Domination super group that would become of the most hated and memorable groups of the 90s. The Nation Of Domination originally managed by Clarence Mason would begin with Crush and Savio Vega and eventually transition to members such Mark Henry, D-Lo Brown, The Godfather, Owen Hart, and of course The Rock whose role in The Nation arguably saved his career and led him to become the mega star he was destined to be.
After his time The Nation was through he would form The Acolytes with Bradshaw and become of the most dominant and feared teams in the history of professional wrestling. The Acolytes would be a featured act in The Undertaker's Ministry Of Darkness.
Once The Ministry Of Darkness disbanded The Acolytes would morph into what would could be considered their most successful, memorable, and popular run when they became The APA, The Acolytes Protection Agency. Faarooq & Bradshaw would hold the WWE World Tag Team Titles on 3 occasions.
Ron Simmons was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2012.
Be there live in Winnipeg on February 24th to shake the hand of a man who single handily changed professional wrestling history!
Autograph Photo/Signed Personalized Item- $45
Photo Op- $45
Autograph/Photo Combo- $80
Event information is as followed,
Saturday February 24th- Winnipeg, MB
Location: CanAd Inns Garden City (2100 McPhillips St.)
Time: Convention 10am-6pm, Live Event Doors Open 6pm, Bell Time 7pm
Convention Tickets: $13 in advance, $15 at the door.
Live Event Tickets: $17 in advance, $20 at the door.
*Please note that the convention legends will NOT be available for autographs & photos at the live event & only at the convention portion.
Advance Tickets Available at: Punjab Grocery & Convenience (668 Sheppard St.), Blade Hair Design (3-1341 Henderson Hwy), Video 1001 (576 Mountain Ave), Papa Murphy's (335 Dakota St.)
Purchase tickets online at cwetickets.com
This event will offer a very special "Super Ticket" opportunity that will allow a maximum 150 ticket buyers the opportunity to purchase a "Super Ticket" for $150 for special VIP Access that includes,
*FREE Convention Entry
*FREE Live Event Entry
*First Priority VIP Entry & Seating When Doors Open To The Live Event
*FREE Photo Opportunity/Signed Item From ALL 9 Official Convention Guests
*Skip The Line VIP Access For ALL 9 Official Convention Guests
*FREE Entry To ALL 6 Official Convention Guest Q & A sessions.
Vendor Space Is Available But Extremely Limited. Vendor Pricing,
$150 for 1 Table
$250 for 2 Tables
$325 for 3 Tables
$50 for every additional table
For more information on becoming an official sponsor and/or vendor for the event contact info@cwecanada.ca
For upcoming announcements on guests appearing and general convention news stay posted to www.cwecanada.ca
HHMM, here's something interesting.
Yesterday, the official Facebook page
of the Florence Civic Center in Florence, SC posted the following
promotional photo to help push WWE's return to the arena on 1/20/18 for a
Smackdown live event:
UPDATE 12:41 AM: Several PWInsider.com readers who are belt
aficionados, including Eric Walker, sent word that the title belt design seen in
the artwork actually popped up online last year. Eric noted that the belt
design has been traced to a bootleg version of the U.S. title created in
Pakistan. If that is indeed the case, the question that now arises is how that
version of the belt ended up on official WWE artwork posted by a WWE venue's
Facebook page?
The following comes from PWInsider.
As you can see, that would be a new, different WWE United States championship
belt design for Baron Corbin. As of last night's Smackdown Live broadcast, that
design had not been introduced by WWE. It should be interesting to see if and
when it will be.Tuesday, November 28, 2017
JJ Dillon on Vince Russo's Unprofessional Management Tactics...
Published on Nov 27, 2017
JJ Dillon on Vince Russo's Unprofessional Management Tactics
In this clip legendary Professional wrestling manager, leader of the 4 horsemen and former WWE office Executive and WCW office worker James J. Dillon talks about Vince Russo using objectionable and inappropriate management tactics when they worked together in World Championship Wrestling which Russo ultimately apologized for years later when he was out of power.
In this clip legendary Professional wrestling manager, leader of the 4 horsemen and former WWE office Executive and WCW office worker James J. Dillon talks about Vince Russo using objectionable and inappropriate management tactics when they worked together in World Championship Wrestling which Russo ultimately apologized for years later when he was out of power.
Jim Cornette on Al Snow in Smokey Mountain Wrestling..
Published on Nov 28, 2017
Jimmy discusses Al Snow's Smoky Mountain Wrestling run before he had a several career-killing gimmicks in the WWF...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hSpgu4WdfA
•ESPN ran a profile on Joey Janela and his career in pro wrestling....
In the piece, he says he originally wanted Matt Riddle vs. Ken Shamrock for his Spring Break show over WrestleMania weekend, but Shamrock was asking for $10,000 and they got Dan Severn for 10 percent of that. Here's the link.
http://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/21505638/joey-janela-independent-wrestler-era-making-work-sheer-willpower
http://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/21505638/joey-janela-independent-wrestler-era-making-work-sheer-willpower
A reminder to Impact Wrestling fans on why I think that company is a joke.
One of my fave all time heels.
Happy Birthday to the late great Big Cat Ernie Ladd. today would've been his 79th birthday.
Dave Meltzer proves he's an idiot once again.
Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez discussed the planned event on last night's edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, with Meltzer saying it's not a done deal because Cody and Matt & Nick Jackson would need ROH's approval.
Um, looks like they have it, dumb ass. Now it's time for Meltzer to start back stepping and admit he's been put in his place and corrected, AGAIN by me on his stupid statements. But of course we all know he'll never have the balls to do that so I'll stay amused at how easy it is to make him look stupid with not much effort. :)
Um, looks like they have it, dumb ass. Now it's time for Meltzer to start back stepping and admit he's been put in his place and corrected, AGAIN by me on his stupid statements. But of course we all know he'll never have the balls to do that so I'll stay amused at how easy it is to make him look stupid with not much effort. :)
I don't think Shamrock is in any postion to making 'conditions'. Ken Shamrock Reveals His One Condition For A WWE Return
From the looks of things anyway, if WWE wanted him back, he'd already be back. DUH!
former WWE and UFC Superstar Ken Shamrock was interviewed at WrestleCade this past weekend by The Delz Show. During the interview, Shamrock discussed a potential WWE return, noting that he would be interested... on one condition.
"In the WWF, or the WWE as they call it now, the one thing that I was not able to capture was that Heavyweight belt," Shamrock said. "I'm telling you, I want a chance to be able to go after that belt but only if Brock Lesnar has it, or The Rock has it or Kurt Angle has it."
Shamrock hasn't appeared for WWE since leaving the company in late 1999 to return to his MMA career. While Shamrock has feuded The Rock before, he has never wrestled Angle or Lesnar.
"I want the ankle match with Kurt Angle... or I want Brock to see who is the best from MMA and pro wrestling," Shamrock said. "Of course, it would be me. And The Rock, because he ran away from me after I grabbed the Intercontinental Championship from him [Shamrock won his only Intercontinental title in a tournament after the title was vacated]. Then he went up to get the [WWE Championship] belt and I was supposed to go after that, and he ran away!"
former WWE and UFC Superstar Ken Shamrock was interviewed at WrestleCade this past weekend by The Delz Show. During the interview, Shamrock discussed a potential WWE return, noting that he would be interested... on one condition.
Shamrock hasn't appeared for WWE since leaving the company in late 1999 to return to his MMA career. While Shamrock has feuded The Rock before, he has never wrestled Angle or Lesnar.
"I want the ankle match with Kurt Angle... or I want Brock to see who is the best from MMA and pro wrestling," Shamrock said. "Of course, it would be me. And The Rock, because he ran away from me after I grabbed the Intercontinental Championship from him [Shamrock won his only Intercontinental title in a tournament after the title was vacated]. Then he went up to get the [WWE Championship] belt and I was supposed to go after that, and he ran away!"
THE FORMER EMMA IS GETTING A LOT OF POST WWE BOOKINGS
Several wrestling companies have announced Emma/Tenille Dashwood will be
making appearances for their respective companies once her 90-day non-compete
ends.
We haven’t even had our first event yet, but we have such BIG news we couldn’t wait to tell you!!!— What! Wrestling (@WHATomorrow) November 28, 2017
Tenille Dashwood, fka Emma from the WWE, will be joining us when we return to @fetemusic on 2/11/18! pic.twitter.com/wK4sgO5gjk
Saturday, April 21st, 2018 @TenilleDashwood FKA EMMA debuts in @RemixPro to take on @RealBrittBaker in Marietta, OH! Throwdown for the Pound: 17 Elevation! Tickets go on sale this Thursday at 7PM! https://t.co/RlsCQHfqyd #WomensWrestling #WWE #WWERaw #remixpro pic.twitter.com/9Zf5LVFoSv— Remix Pro (@RemixPro) November 28, 2017
Confirmed for wXw Superstars of Wrestling #wXwSoW is former WWE Superstar @TenilleDashwood - May 5th, Oberhausen Germany. Get tickets and meet and greet passes at https://t.co/lrPtTYv9Dx pic.twitter.com/6p3QASaZOu— wXw Germany (@wXwGermany) November 27, 2017
Buy Tickets:https://t.co/HAvkHKBzZf pic.twitter.com/mnGJTsWX8d— aiwrestling .com (@aiwrestling) November 27, 2017
Excited to announce @TenilleDashwood vs @brittanyblake_ in 1 on 1 Woman's Action at our Debut Show LIFTOFF!!— Standalonewrestling (@sawprowrestling) November 28, 2017
Tickets Available at https://t.co/7Q1x43iUeC pic.twitter.com/Mzu5Q6vON0
For the first time in WrestlePro history. A female MAIN EVENT!! Featuring @TenilleDashwood making her debut to take on @ActualALove ! Be there to witness this! Tickets now on sale https://t.co/JyEFhx9RS3 pic.twitter.com/uxInqmLLhl— WrestlePro (@WrestlePro) November 27, 2017
Monday, November 27, 2017
Some actual letters from some actual people. :) ..
This is what's come in my email box in the last day or two. Wanted to see if more than one would come so I can put them all together so here they are. If you have a question, comment, insult, good bad or ugley you can go ahead and email them to ChicagoBillW1@Gmail.com I'll have no qualms about posting anything you send, right here. :)
Bill,
Awesome website you have. It's always interesting to come here and see what videos you post there. Alittle old, alittle new alittle obscure especially the 'big name' match ups on indy shows. Just nice to see a site that's different like this and not full of WWE memes and Gifs. Your snarly comments make me laugh as well. They're so true on many things so please keep this going.
That's the plan. :) It's people like YOU that have made it a success so if it wasn't form people like you coming to it nobody would know about it. So thanks goes to you as well.
Bill,
You post alot of Jim Cornette rants on your site, have you actually ever met him?
YES! He was working as part of the WWF Training Dojo that headlined WWA New England shows back in 1998. I was working for that group setting up rings, locally promoting shows in New Hampshire, etc etc. but I actually met him before that. It was at a Moolah's LIWA convention show in Randolph, Mass. where he did commentary for the show(which was released on video tape and I have a disc of thanks to Brittany Brown who was on the show and sent me a copy) I and my friend Dave walked past him as he was talking to I think was a bartender or hotel staff (where the event was taking place) and he came around and shook my hand, said "How are you doing Bill". I had no idea he knew who I was and I remember hearing him on a SMW fan week deal saying he only knows the names of people he hates. So I suddenly said "Ok, what have I ever done to piss you off? Since you know my name". Came to find out he was a subscriber to the Wrestling Then and Now Newsletter which I contributed articles to and someone within that circle told him I was going to be at the show. he complemented me on my writing about the AWA and what it was like to be a fan growing up in Chicago. So I was able to let out a sigh of relief cause I don't want to be on his rant list, LOL! A funny side note to this is on the LIWA show itself there was a thing after Brittany Brown's match where she and acouple others kicked the back of my chair because I was yelling all sorts of stuff during the match at them. Cornette was having a field day making wisecracks about me during that segment. I really need to find the disc and upload at least segment onto Youtube because what you can see of it is quite hysterical. Had some really cool conversations with him when I saw him at the WWA New England shows so yes I met him and always appreciated his vast knowledge which while I'm 'ok' knowledge wise on old school territories, he blows me wwaayy out of the water, and I don't mind admitting that. LOL.
Like you I grew up on the AWA, who in your opinion do you think was the best, and worst AWA World Champion?
Oh man, there's acouple I really liked and remember, I grew up watching Bockwinkel (managed by Bobby Heenan) as world champion, so Bockwinkel will always be the top favorite for me hands down. Second favorite would be Stan Hansen. YES, I know how he left the AWA and was stripped and all that, BUT! I'm a big Hansen fan so seeing him going after Rick Martel to me was cool as hell (I actually watched an older clip of him and Duncum as a tag team and Hansen grabbed Wally Karbo so now I have to go look for more of that stuff). The third favorite is Larry Zybysko. I've always been a fan of his, on the mic, in the ring, etc. So those are the three faves/best in my opuinion. Worst? Jerry Lawler hands down. While I did enjoy and love the fact he brought the AWA title to World Class for his feud with Kerry Von Erich (which I saw at a place in Chicago that was once a movie theatre not far from where I lived before their Superclash 3 match) The fact he tried to create this 'Unified' world title (which I came to read later was without the blessing of the AWA) and a deal about the payoff for Superclash 3(him and Jarrett claiming Verne was paying certain guys when in fact Jeff Jarrett was supposed to, etc. Which is covered in a Greg Gagne shoot interview I have) really left a bad taste in my mouth so to speak. You screw over the company I grew up on like that and yeah I'm going to have a resentment, lol. Plus Lawler as AWA World Champion he wasn't as over as say Rick Martel or Bockwinkel or Zybysko and it showed, especially on shows in Chicago. Outside of Memphis he really wasn't that over and in the AWA even when he and Dundee were tag champs, weren't as over. Kin d of like Tommy Rich wasn't all that over either other than when he ripped ther dress off of Sherri Matrtel, what did he do? Know what I mean? So Lawler to me sucked ass AWA World champion and the fact he used a version of the AWA World title on Memphis tv as the 'Unified' World title adds another reason. Seeing Vince McMahon wearing that around his waist in a USWA promo really was sickening for many reasons.
Hey Bill,
You showed yesterday on your site that you once worked in wrestling in New England. Besides the tapes and writing and what I read did you ever have the chance to be a 'plant' on some of these shows?
Glad you asked that because I wrote something several years ago and posted it on a long dead webpage that I don't remember the password to. But you can see it here. http://prowrestlingmemories.angelfire.com/beingaplant.html I should do another article on this because there's some funny stuff I did on a show I locally promoted in Farmington, New Hampshire. It had a WWF Training Dojo and Steve (William) Regal was on it. There was some interaction between he and I as he was managing Tom Pritchard(Regal at the time was nursing himself back from an injury so doing a manager thing was really, a natural for him if you ask me). That night and the following night in Milford, Mass. where we kind of duplicated the same routine but another fan got involved and it was really funny as hell. Scott Taylor as well since he was on the Dojo shows as well as local guy Anthony Roye'.
Has Dave Scherer, Dave Meltzer or anyone of the other 'wrestling news guys' contacted you after you've taken pot shots at them on your site?
Nope, and I really doubt they will. Proof is a mother fucker and when I take the shots at them I provide proof. So they really have no argument to give me and Scherer, I've put him in his place acouple of times and have the emails to prove it. So really I think the reason they don't? Is because they know better. It'll just make them look worse if they try to. You can go ahead and tell them I said that if you want.
Bill,
I know you've been really critical of Impact Wrestling, my question is have you ever liked it or are you just pissy at everything that isn't an indy group?
LOL! Never heard the "pissy at everything' one before but to answer you question. I WAS a fan. Give me Sting vs Kurt Angle, if that wasn't an ultimate dream match. Angle vs Samoa Joe, from the headbutt in the ring on I loved that. Kurt Angle vs Jay Lethal when Lethal was doing the 'Black Machismo' deal. When they ran several tv tapings at the Manhattan Center acouple years back and Bubba put Dixie Carter thru the table. I said then what I still feel now. The Manhattan Center would've been the perfect place for them to keep doing their tapings at. Team 3-D vs the Hardys vs the Wolves. The stuff that Billy Corgan was doing with them for me, and I speak for me only, was some really great stuff. it locked me in every week. BUT... What I said would happen (and I said it back when I had a Facebook Group under the same name as this Blog) happened. I said back THEN that bringing Jeff Jarrett back into TNA in any kind of position would be bad for business. Nobody believed me and now look at where Jarrett is and more importantly, look at where Impact Wrestling is. Instead of selling to Corgan, Anthem Sports bought it and they've proven that they don't have what it takes to run a professional wrestling company. Too many decent talents have left, Jarrett tried the ol shuck and jive routine trying to get Anthem to buy a bogus wrestling company and now look at them The current booking team seems to be incapable of getting out of the 'Jarrett is Russo' kind of booking that has plagued them. Along with just slapping an 'Impact wrestling' plate over the center part of a GFW title belt? Really? How is one supposed to take Impact seriously when you do stupid shit like that? So Once I was a fan but they dug their own hole and for some reason just insist on continuing to dig that hole. So I'll stick with the indy groups because at least there every week, they book consistently and logically unlike Impact (and WWE too). When indy groups can do a better booking job than the major feds? You know something's wrong here.
Bill,
Awesome website you have. It's always interesting to come here and see what videos you post there. Alittle old, alittle new alittle obscure especially the 'big name' match ups on indy shows. Just nice to see a site that's different like this and not full of WWE memes and Gifs. Your snarly comments make me laugh as well. They're so true on many things so please keep this going.
That's the plan. :) It's people like YOU that have made it a success so if it wasn't form people like you coming to it nobody would know about it. So thanks goes to you as well.
Bill,
You post alot of Jim Cornette rants on your site, have you actually ever met him?
YES! He was working as part of the WWF Training Dojo that headlined WWA New England shows back in 1998. I was working for that group setting up rings, locally promoting shows in New Hampshire, etc etc. but I actually met him before that. It was at a Moolah's LIWA convention show in Randolph, Mass. where he did commentary for the show(which was released on video tape and I have a disc of thanks to Brittany Brown who was on the show and sent me a copy) I and my friend Dave walked past him as he was talking to I think was a bartender or hotel staff (where the event was taking place) and he came around and shook my hand, said "How are you doing Bill". I had no idea he knew who I was and I remember hearing him on a SMW fan week deal saying he only knows the names of people he hates. So I suddenly said "Ok, what have I ever done to piss you off? Since you know my name". Came to find out he was a subscriber to the Wrestling Then and Now Newsletter which I contributed articles to and someone within that circle told him I was going to be at the show. he complemented me on my writing about the AWA and what it was like to be a fan growing up in Chicago. So I was able to let out a sigh of relief cause I don't want to be on his rant list, LOL! A funny side note to this is on the LIWA show itself there was a thing after Brittany Brown's match where she and acouple others kicked the back of my chair because I was yelling all sorts of stuff during the match at them. Cornette was having a field day making wisecracks about me during that segment. I really need to find the disc and upload at least segment onto Youtube because what you can see of it is quite hysterical. Had some really cool conversations with him when I saw him at the WWA New England shows so yes I met him and always appreciated his vast knowledge which while I'm 'ok' knowledge wise on old school territories, he blows me wwaayy out of the water, and I don't mind admitting that. LOL.
Like you I grew up on the AWA, who in your opinion do you think was the best, and worst AWA World Champion?
Oh man, there's acouple I really liked and remember, I grew up watching Bockwinkel (managed by Bobby Heenan) as world champion, so Bockwinkel will always be the top favorite for me hands down. Second favorite would be Stan Hansen. YES, I know how he left the AWA and was stripped and all that, BUT! I'm a big Hansen fan so seeing him going after Rick Martel to me was cool as hell (I actually watched an older clip of him and Duncum as a tag team and Hansen grabbed Wally Karbo so now I have to go look for more of that stuff). The third favorite is Larry Zybysko. I've always been a fan of his, on the mic, in the ring, etc. So those are the three faves/best in my opuinion. Worst? Jerry Lawler hands down. While I did enjoy and love the fact he brought the AWA title to World Class for his feud with Kerry Von Erich (which I saw at a place in Chicago that was once a movie theatre not far from where I lived before their Superclash 3 match) The fact he tried to create this 'Unified' world title (which I came to read later was without the blessing of the AWA) and a deal about the payoff for Superclash 3(him and Jarrett claiming Verne was paying certain guys when in fact Jeff Jarrett was supposed to, etc. Which is covered in a Greg Gagne shoot interview I have) really left a bad taste in my mouth so to speak. You screw over the company I grew up on like that and yeah I'm going to have a resentment, lol. Plus Lawler as AWA World Champion he wasn't as over as say Rick Martel or Bockwinkel or Zybysko and it showed, especially on shows in Chicago. Outside of Memphis he really wasn't that over and in the AWA even when he and Dundee were tag champs, weren't as over. Kin d of like Tommy Rich wasn't all that over either other than when he ripped ther dress off of Sherri Matrtel, what did he do? Know what I mean? So Lawler to me sucked ass AWA World champion and the fact he used a version of the AWA World title on Memphis tv as the 'Unified' World title adds another reason. Seeing Vince McMahon wearing that around his waist in a USWA promo really was sickening for many reasons.
Hey Bill,
You showed yesterday on your site that you once worked in wrestling in New England. Besides the tapes and writing and what I read did you ever have the chance to be a 'plant' on some of these shows?
Glad you asked that because I wrote something several years ago and posted it on a long dead webpage that I don't remember the password to. But you can see it here. http://prowrestlingmemories.angelfire.com/beingaplant.html I should do another article on this because there's some funny stuff I did on a show I locally promoted in Farmington, New Hampshire. It had a WWF Training Dojo and Steve (William) Regal was on it. There was some interaction between he and I as he was managing Tom Pritchard(Regal at the time was nursing himself back from an injury so doing a manager thing was really, a natural for him if you ask me). That night and the following night in Milford, Mass. where we kind of duplicated the same routine but another fan got involved and it was really funny as hell. Scott Taylor as well since he was on the Dojo shows as well as local guy Anthony Roye'.
Has Dave Scherer, Dave Meltzer or anyone of the other 'wrestling news guys' contacted you after you've taken pot shots at them on your site?
Nope, and I really doubt they will. Proof is a mother fucker and when I take the shots at them I provide proof. So they really have no argument to give me and Scherer, I've put him in his place acouple of times and have the emails to prove it. So really I think the reason they don't? Is because they know better. It'll just make them look worse if they try to. You can go ahead and tell them I said that if you want.
Bill,
I know you've been really critical of Impact Wrestling, my question is have you ever liked it or are you just pissy at everything that isn't an indy group?
LOL! Never heard the "pissy at everything' one before but to answer you question. I WAS a fan. Give me Sting vs Kurt Angle, if that wasn't an ultimate dream match. Angle vs Samoa Joe, from the headbutt in the ring on I loved that. Kurt Angle vs Jay Lethal when Lethal was doing the 'Black Machismo' deal. When they ran several tv tapings at the Manhattan Center acouple years back and Bubba put Dixie Carter thru the table. I said then what I still feel now. The Manhattan Center would've been the perfect place for them to keep doing their tapings at. Team 3-D vs the Hardys vs the Wolves. The stuff that Billy Corgan was doing with them for me, and I speak for me only, was some really great stuff. it locked me in every week. BUT... What I said would happen (and I said it back when I had a Facebook Group under the same name as this Blog) happened. I said back THEN that bringing Jeff Jarrett back into TNA in any kind of position would be bad for business. Nobody believed me and now look at where Jarrett is and more importantly, look at where Impact Wrestling is. Instead of selling to Corgan, Anthem Sports bought it and they've proven that they don't have what it takes to run a professional wrestling company. Too many decent talents have left, Jarrett tried the ol shuck and jive routine trying to get Anthem to buy a bogus wrestling company and now look at them The current booking team seems to be incapable of getting out of the 'Jarrett is Russo' kind of booking that has plagued them. Along with just slapping an 'Impact wrestling' plate over the center part of a GFW title belt? Really? How is one supposed to take Impact seriously when you do stupid shit like that? So Once I was a fan but they dug their own hole and for some reason just insist on continuing to dig that hole. So I'll stick with the indy groups because at least there every week, they book consistently and logically unlike Impact (and WWE too). When indy groups can do a better booking job than the major feds? You know something's wrong here.
Jim Cornette on Jerry Lawler's Bonkers Match Stipulations
Published on Nov 27, 2017
Jimmy and Scott Bowden of the Kentucky Fried Wrestling Podcast discuss Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee's bizarre Luchas de Apuestas stipulations involving Cadillacs, titles and hair.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=202Hs5kxL1U
Jim Cornette on Attempting to Murder SMW Arch-Rival Terry Landel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPiWrw1WTDE
Published on Mar 31, 2017
Jim Cornette talks about one of his other arch-rivals (aside from Vince Russo, Wade Keller, Mark Madden, probably many more) in Terry Landel - a big, fat marshmellowy Tennessee shitbag who has made the people's of Knoxville's lives worse for some 25 years and counting.
Someone I know thanks me for posting videos from their YouTube Channel.
I can attest from my own personal experience that getting stuff from him has always been a pleasure. Awesome service. In the past I got some Five Star Wrestling From Louisiana, some old St. Louis stuff that I still love rewatching, as well as some Knoxville stuff from 1988 that has Buddy Landell, Nelson Royal (doing a great heel role) Bill Dundee, Doug Furnas and some spot stuff with Terry Gordy (Injuring Furnas in a match).
Hell look at my profile picture. The NWA shirt I'm wearing? Came from Wrestletopia so there's another example. So if you're interested in older stuff, some indy stuff, etc. Contact him. I'm sure he'll give you some really great service. :)
"Someone' likes the fact I beat Meltzer, etc with posting NWA's Videos. WHO is it? (updated)
And here is where The Torch is playing catch up to me(again). They posted this about three hours after I posted it here. Meltzer hasn't even mentioned it, LOL! Imagine that (he'll probably play catch up tomorrow as he's usually 'a day late and a dollar short' on many things anyway. ...
And here.. https://prowrestling.net/site/2017/11/27/nwa-10-pounds-gold-tim-storm-vs-jocephus-impact-wrestling-tag-team-appears/ ProWrestling.Net is also playing catch up with me. :) Why I'm the one who seems to always beat all the others to the punch I don't know but. it IS quite amusing watching them all play catch-up after I post it.
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