Week in Wrestling #32
Wrestling News From the week of
March 12th- March 25th, 2016
March 12th- March 25th, 2016
Daniel Bryan Pulled
For reasons not explained, the scheduled Daniel Bryan Appreciation Night shows that were scheduled to start on 3/25 in Madison Square Garden will no longer have any involvement of Bryan Danielson, and all of his scheduled dates going forward have been canceled.
Danielson will not be appearing in Madison Square Garden, as well as at similar shows on 3/26 in Trenton, 3/27 in Washington, DC. Nor will he be on the April European tour where he was pushed as a major part of the advertising on one tour as Daniel Bryan Appreciation shows while Undertaker in tag matches was pushed as the special attraction on the other tour. He was also removed from appearing at Fan Axxess and all scheduled appearances over WrestleMania week.
According to WWE officials, Danielson requested time off and the company granted it.
It is said that the relationship between Danielson and the company remains unchanged. Brie Bella wasn’t at TV this week although it’s not clear as to the reason why or if it’s even related, past the point that an angle to set up the WrestleMania match that she was involved with was scheduled at least at one point during the week for the 3/21 Raw. That ended up not happening. Instead an angle took place the next night during the Main Event show that she wasn’t at. Both were in Pittsburgh on 3/14 for WWE, with Brie appearing at TV and Danielson doing an appearance at the local Children’s Hospital given his connection with Connor Michalek.
For reasons not explained, the scheduled Daniel Bryan Appreciation Night shows that were scheduled to start on 3/25 in Madison Square Garden will no longer have any involvement of Bryan Danielson, and all of his scheduled dates going forward have been canceled.
Danielson will not be appearing in Madison Square Garden, as well as at similar shows on 3/26 in Trenton, 3/27 in Washington, DC. Nor will he be on the April European tour where he was pushed as a major part of the advertising on one tour as Daniel Bryan Appreciation shows while Undertaker in tag matches was pushed as the special attraction on the other tour. He was also removed from appearing at Fan Axxess and all scheduled appearances over WrestleMania week.
According to WWE officials, Danielson requested time off and the company granted it.
It is said that the relationship between Danielson and the company remains unchanged. Brie Bella wasn’t at TV this week although it’s not clear as to the reason why or if it’s even related, past the point that an angle to set up the WrestleMania match that she was involved with was scheduled at least at one point during the week for the 3/21 Raw. That ended up not happening. Instead an angle took place the next night during the Main Event show that she wasn’t at. Both were in Pittsburgh on 3/14 for WWE, with Brie appearing at TV and Danielson doing an appearance at the local Children’s Hospital given his connection with Connor Michalek.
WrestleMania lineup
The WrestleMania lineup is largely set:
1) HHH vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE title - At this point no special referee has been announced and if one isn’t announced next week, then the idea may have been dropped.
2) Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon in a Hell in a Cell match and if Shane wins, he gets control of Raw. If Undertaker loses to Shane McMahon, it would be his last WrestleMania.
3) Brock Lesnar vs. Dean Ambrose in a street fight
4) Kevin Owens defends the IC title in a multiple person match. At this point, the only person locked in is Sami Zayn. Neville was in but he’s injured. Dolph Ziggler lost a match where he could pick his match for Mania so it makes no sense for him to get a title match after losing, although he and Miz were at one point scheduled for this match. But so were others who haven’t been getting any push.
5) New Day vs. League of Nations. This is now official. It has not ben explained if it’ll be a tag team title match or a six man tag.
6) A.J. Styles vs. Chris Jericho
7) Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch for the Divas title
8) Kalisto vs. Ryback for the U.S. title
9) Usos vs. Dudleys. It’s possible this could turn into a three-way with R-Truth & Goldust debuting as Golden Truth, since they were beaten down in an angle involving the other two teams
10) Brie Bella & Alicia Fox & Paige vs. Lana & Tamina & Naomi. This could be a six-man tag. It’s possible Natalya and Summer Rae could be added, although they have not been involved in any angles.
11) Andre the Giant Battle Royal
PPV providers overseas have been told the show will go past 11 p.m., with the WWE telling them the show will end between 11:05 p.m. and 11:20 p.m. Eastern time. The WWE network coverage is scheduled for seven hours, which is a one hour pre-game from 5 to 6 p.m., a one hour show that features the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal from 6 to 7 p.m., that will simulcast on the USA Network, which is a hell of a coup (and interestingly was not publicized at all on television yet), the main show for four plus hours starting at 7 p.m. and a post-game show until midnight.
The USA Network will be featuring Dwayne Johnson movies all day, with showings of The Rundown, Faster, Fast Five and GI Joe Retaliation leading into the live hour from WrestleMania and following it as well. The one hour edited version of the Hall of Fame show will air after Smackdown on 10 p.m. on 4/7, the Thursday after the show.
Fifth Harmony will perform “America the Beautiful” at the start of the show. Fifth Harmony in 2016 was voted Favorite Group at the People’s Choice Awards and Favorite Musical Group at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards. They won a number of MTV awards, as well at Kids Choice Awards, Teen Choice Awards and Radio Disney Music Awards in 2015.
The WrestleMania lineup is largely set:
1) HHH vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE title - At this point no special referee has been announced and if one isn’t announced next week, then the idea may have been dropped.
2) Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon in a Hell in a Cell match and if Shane wins, he gets control of Raw. If Undertaker loses to Shane McMahon, it would be his last WrestleMania.
3) Brock Lesnar vs. Dean Ambrose in a street fight
4) Kevin Owens defends the IC title in a multiple person match. At this point, the only person locked in is Sami Zayn. Neville was in but he’s injured. Dolph Ziggler lost a match where he could pick his match for Mania so it makes no sense for him to get a title match after losing, although he and Miz were at one point scheduled for this match. But so were others who haven’t been getting any push.
5) New Day vs. League of Nations. This is now official. It has not ben explained if it’ll be a tag team title match or a six man tag.
6) A.J. Styles vs. Chris Jericho
7) Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch for the Divas title
8) Kalisto vs. Ryback for the U.S. title
9) Usos vs. Dudleys. It’s possible this could turn into a three-way with R-Truth & Goldust debuting as Golden Truth, since they were beaten down in an angle involving the other two teams
10) Brie Bella & Alicia Fox & Paige vs. Lana & Tamina & Naomi. This could be a six-man tag. It’s possible Natalya and Summer Rae could be added, although they have not been involved in any angles.
11) Andre the Giant Battle Royal
PPV providers overseas have been told the show will go past 11 p.m., with the WWE telling them the show will end between 11:05 p.m. and 11:20 p.m. Eastern time. The WWE network coverage is scheduled for seven hours, which is a one hour pre-game from 5 to 6 p.m., a one hour show that features the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal from 6 to 7 p.m., that will simulcast on the USA Network, which is a hell of a coup (and interestingly was not publicized at all on television yet), the main show for four plus hours starting at 7 p.m. and a post-game show until midnight.
The USA Network will be featuring Dwayne Johnson movies all day, with showings of The Rundown, Faster, Fast Five and GI Joe Retaliation leading into the live hour from WrestleMania and following it as well. The one hour edited version of the Hall of Fame show will air after Smackdown on 10 p.m. on 4/7, the Thursday after the show.
Fifth Harmony will perform “America the Beautiful” at the start of the show. Fifth Harmony in 2016 was voted Favorite Group at the People’s Choice Awards and Favorite Musical Group at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards. They won a number of MTV awards, as well at Kids Choice Awards, Teen Choice Awards and Radio Disney Music Awards in 2015.
Wrestlemania looks to be Huge
WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium in Dallas had just over 85,000 tickets out for almost $13.5 million, both breaking all-time pro wrestling paid attendance (1992 SummerSlam at Wembley Stadium) and gate (2015 WrestleMania in Santa Clara’s Levi Stadium) records. That is very close to what the final numbers will end up being. WWE has claimed in press material that the show is sold out, although there are a few, but very few very expensive seats still not sold. There will be some new tickets released, but not many, after they figure out what is needed for production.
As much as people have knocked the lineup, the battle for the control of the company has gotten intrigue. There was big movement on Stubhub over the past week as people are selling, or buying, well, both, as there were 15,000 tickets on Stubhub a week ago and at press time it was 6,000 (these are tickets that have already been purchased so are part of the 85,000 figure). Right now the belief is that all of the secondary market tickets will end up being sold, which a week ago wasn’t as certain, and that it’ll be legitimately packed.
The announced attendance will likely be greater than 103,219, because that was the figure announced for the 2011 Super Bowl, and WWE always announces a WrestleMania number in Super Bowl stadiums greater than the Super Bowl number, even though the WWE staging set up blocks more seats than can be put on the field and they legitimately can’t top the Super Bowl attendance. But the announced number will replace the 93,173 figure of WrestleMania III in WWE mythology.
WrestleMania at AT&T Stadium in Dallas had just over 85,000 tickets out for almost $13.5 million, both breaking all-time pro wrestling paid attendance (1992 SummerSlam at Wembley Stadium) and gate (2015 WrestleMania in Santa Clara’s Levi Stadium) records. That is very close to what the final numbers will end up being. WWE has claimed in press material that the show is sold out, although there are a few, but very few very expensive seats still not sold. There will be some new tickets released, but not many, after they figure out what is needed for production.
As much as people have knocked the lineup, the battle for the control of the company has gotten intrigue. There was big movement on Stubhub over the past week as people are selling, or buying, well, both, as there were 15,000 tickets on Stubhub a week ago and at press time it was 6,000 (these are tickets that have already been purchased so are part of the 85,000 figure). Right now the belief is that all of the secondary market tickets will end up being sold, which a week ago wasn’t as certain, and that it’ll be legitimately packed.
The announced attendance will likely be greater than 103,219, because that was the figure announced for the 2011 Super Bowl, and WWE always announces a WrestleMania number in Super Bowl stadiums greater than the Super Bowl number, even though the WWE staging set up blocks more seats than can be put on the field and they legitimately can’t top the Super Bowl attendance. But the announced number will replace the 93,173 figure of WrestleMania III in WWE mythology.
Mania Special Appearances
What’s notable is that with less than two weeks to go, the role of Dwayne Johnson, Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and other names from the past has not even been announced publicly. All have roles on the show, and in the case of Austin, Michaels and Mick Foley, they’ve apparently been locked in for some time. It’s expected John Cena will have a role. Johnson pushed months ago having a big role in the show, but past the point that he’s featured in the musical video to promote the show, he’s barely been mentioned on television. Austin hasn’t been mentioned at all as it relates to appearing.
Originally the feeling was that they’d need both for any chance to draw “100,000" people. Instead, they are actually just about sold out, with most secondary market seats sold as well, with two weeks to go, and Austin hasn’t even been announced and Johnson doesn’t have an announced role.
What’s notable is that with less than two weeks to go, the role of Dwayne Johnson, Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and other names from the past has not even been announced publicly. All have roles on the show, and in the case of Austin, Michaels and Mick Foley, they’ve apparently been locked in for some time. It’s expected John Cena will have a role. Johnson pushed months ago having a big role in the show, but past the point that he’s featured in the musical video to promote the show, he’s barely been mentioned on television. Austin hasn’t been mentioned at all as it relates to appearing.
Originally the feeling was that they’d need both for any chance to draw “100,000" people. Instead, they are actually just about sold out, with most secondary market seats sold as well, with two weeks to go, and Austin hasn’t even been announced and Johnson doesn’t have an announced role.
NXT Dallas
WWE will be doing NXT matches at every session of Fan Axxess. The 4/1 NXT show at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas (sold out with close to 9,000 tickets) has Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe for the NXT title, Sami Zayn vs. the debuting Shinsuke Nakamura (which may be the hottest match of the weekend for crowd reactions), Bayley vs. Asuka for the NXT women’s title, Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder vs. Jason Jordan & Chad Gable for the NXT tag team titles, Baron Corbin vs. Austin Aries and Apollo Crews vs. Elias Samson.
In addition, the NXT television shows for 4/6 through 4/27 will be taped on 4/2 at Fan Axxess from 1-5 p.m. For whatever reason, this has not been pushed much at all.
WWE will be doing NXT matches at every session of Fan Axxess. The 4/1 NXT show at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas (sold out with close to 9,000 tickets) has Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe for the NXT title, Sami Zayn vs. the debuting Shinsuke Nakamura (which may be the hottest match of the weekend for crowd reactions), Bayley vs. Asuka for the NXT women’s title, Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder vs. Jason Jordan & Chad Gable for the NXT tag team titles, Baron Corbin vs. Austin Aries and Apollo Crews vs. Elias Samson.
In addition, the NXT television shows for 4/6 through 4/27 will be taped on 4/2 at Fan Axxess from 1-5 p.m. For whatever reason, this has not been pushed much at all.
Hogan defeats Gawker
The Florida jury awarded Hulk Hogan $140 million in his case with Gawker Media, even more than the $100 million he was asking for, with one juror making it clear the figure was because they wanted to send a message to the company. The case will obviously be appealed and there is very little chance he will be getting anything close to that figure. But the verdict sends a strong message to the media regarding publishing sex tapes of people without their consent.
The $140.1 million was broken down as $60 million for emotional distress, $55 million in loss of income and $25.1 million in punitive damages directed at Gawker, Denton and Daulerio. The punitive damages were broken down to $15 million to be paid by Gawker, $10 million by Denton and $100,000 to Daulerio.
Whatever actual loss of income Hogan suffered would be minor. While the existence of the sex tape may have cost Hogan some endorsements, it did not harm him significantly professionally. He did not lose his job with TNA, and in fact, did a promotional tour for the company right after the story came out. If anything, he got more publicity because of it, even though the TNA publicist working with him suggested he not discuss the sex tape, and in fact, he did the opposite. WWE hired him after the footage was released and used him in a public relations capacity and marketed him significantly.
Others said the loss of income was what the jury believed Hogan could have made had he marketed the tape, although Hogan made it clear when approached by major porn distributors that he had no interest in doing so even with huge money offers being discussed. The $55 million figure was said to be based on the idea that by showing the tape that the Gawker brand was worth $15 million more than before, combined with putting a price tag of $4.95 per view for every time the video was viewed on the Gawker site as well as every other site they could find evidence of used the clip Gawker first published.
Gawker would have to post $50 million to take it to the appeals court, which makes that aspect tricky as well, as the verdict could force the company into either bankruptcy or sale. There was a great deal of potential evidence Gawker was hoping to introduce that didn't make the trial due to the rulings of judge Pamela Campbell and Gawker is going to use that in its appeal.
It's generally believed Bubba was lying when he said Hogan knew he was being taped. Gawker, in particular, wanted to get Bubba the Love Sponge Clem on the stand. Bubba, who Hogan believed was his best friend, not only taped at least three of Hogan’s sex acts with his then-wife, Heather Clem, now Heather Cole, but at the end of one of the tapes, was on the tape talking with Heather about how this tape could set up their retirement. The implication was they could get millions from Hogan to keep the tape from going public.
As it was, the tapes were stolen from Bubba, by a disgruntled ex-employee, and leaked, but only after attempts were made to blackmail Hogan with the content.
Hogan’s attorneys had claimed Gawker media to be worth $120 million and that the jury needed to send them a message. The jury, which deliberated only three hours, clearly had less than zero sympathy for them, and sent that message.
The size of the award changed the game greatly. Gawker was expecting to have to post a few million for an appeal they believed they would win, on the grounds Hogan was a public figure and his sex life was newsworthy. They pointed out he made it newsworthy by talking about it on various radio shows such as with Howard Stern.
Hogan is likely not collecting anywhere near that amount. If the verdict is overturned, he could be out millions in court costs when this is all over with nothing to show for it, and even the slam dunk grand slam win here is no guarantee of the result of the return match.
The Florida jury awarded Hulk Hogan $140 million in his case with Gawker Media, even more than the $100 million he was asking for, with one juror making it clear the figure was because they wanted to send a message to the company. The case will obviously be appealed and there is very little chance he will be getting anything close to that figure. But the verdict sends a strong message to the media regarding publishing sex tapes of people without their consent.
The $140.1 million was broken down as $60 million for emotional distress, $55 million in loss of income and $25.1 million in punitive damages directed at Gawker, Denton and Daulerio. The punitive damages were broken down to $15 million to be paid by Gawker, $10 million by Denton and $100,000 to Daulerio.
Whatever actual loss of income Hogan suffered would be minor. While the existence of the sex tape may have cost Hogan some endorsements, it did not harm him significantly professionally. He did not lose his job with TNA, and in fact, did a promotional tour for the company right after the story came out. If anything, he got more publicity because of it, even though the TNA publicist working with him suggested he not discuss the sex tape, and in fact, he did the opposite. WWE hired him after the footage was released and used him in a public relations capacity and marketed him significantly.
Others said the loss of income was what the jury believed Hogan could have made had he marketed the tape, although Hogan made it clear when approached by major porn distributors that he had no interest in doing so even with huge money offers being discussed. The $55 million figure was said to be based on the idea that by showing the tape that the Gawker brand was worth $15 million more than before, combined with putting a price tag of $4.95 per view for every time the video was viewed on the Gawker site as well as every other site they could find evidence of used the clip Gawker first published.
Gawker would have to post $50 million to take it to the appeals court, which makes that aspect tricky as well, as the verdict could force the company into either bankruptcy or sale. There was a great deal of potential evidence Gawker was hoping to introduce that didn't make the trial due to the rulings of judge Pamela Campbell and Gawker is going to use that in its appeal.
It's generally believed Bubba was lying when he said Hogan knew he was being taped. Gawker, in particular, wanted to get Bubba the Love Sponge Clem on the stand. Bubba, who Hogan believed was his best friend, not only taped at least three of Hogan’s sex acts with his then-wife, Heather Clem, now Heather Cole, but at the end of one of the tapes, was on the tape talking with Heather about how this tape could set up their retirement. The implication was they could get millions from Hogan to keep the tape from going public.
As it was, the tapes were stolen from Bubba, by a disgruntled ex-employee, and leaked, but only after attempts were made to blackmail Hogan with the content.
Hogan’s attorneys had claimed Gawker media to be worth $120 million and that the jury needed to send them a message. The jury, which deliberated only three hours, clearly had less than zero sympathy for them, and sent that message.
The size of the award changed the game greatly. Gawker was expecting to have to post a few million for an appeal they believed they would win, on the grounds Hogan was a public figure and his sex life was newsworthy. They pointed out he made it newsworthy by talking about it on various radio shows such as with Howard Stern.
Hogan is likely not collecting anywhere near that amount. If the verdict is overturned, he could be out millions in court costs when this is all over with nothing to show for it, and even the slam dunk grand slam win here is no guarantee of the result of the return match.
Concussion Lawsuits thrown Out
U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant of Connecticut threw out the lawsuits filed by William Haynes (Billy Jack Haynes), Russ McCullough, Ryan Sakoda (Keiji Sakoda) and Matt Wiese (Luther Reigns), but kept alive parts of similar lawsuits filed by Evan Singleton and Vito LoGrasso (Big Vito) regarding WWE’s treatment of concussions.
In Bryant’s ruling on the case, she ruled that all of the negligence counts in all three of the lawsuits failed to state a valid claim of negligence, as well as threw out complaints that WWE was negligent and fraudulent because they failed to identify any false representation by WWE. Claims of fraudulent concealment and medical monitoring claim were also dismissed and they don’t state separate any independent causes of action under Connecticut law.
However, Bryant did uphold Singleton and LoGrasso’s claim that WWE may have been aware by 2005 a link between repeated head trauma and permanent degenerative neurological conditions as specialized knowledge concerning the possibility the wrestlers are exposed to a greater risk for such conditions. Unlike the other wrestlers, Singleton and LoGrasso were employed by WWE after 2005. Both of these charges will be difficult to prove because the argument is that WWE had knowledge and then kept the information from the two wrestlers.
Bryant also, without comment, threw out WWE’s lawsuits against Robert Windham (Blackjack Mulligan), Thomas Billington (Dynamite Kid), Oreal Perras (Ivan Koloff) and James Ware (Koko B. Ware), which were WWE suing them essentially trying to scare them into not filing similar suits. With the judge’s ruling, the precedent has been set that those wrestlers wouldn’t be able to file a suit that would go anywhere.
It’s also a major ruling in the sense that a class action suit by former wrestlers who were not in WWE post-2005 on the concussion issue would be very difficult. It was the fact that the NFL had knowledge of the dangers of concussions and kept that information from the players that led to the high dollar settlement of a huge class-action lawsuit.
U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant of Connecticut threw out the lawsuits filed by William Haynes (Billy Jack Haynes), Russ McCullough, Ryan Sakoda (Keiji Sakoda) and Matt Wiese (Luther Reigns), but kept alive parts of similar lawsuits filed by Evan Singleton and Vito LoGrasso (Big Vito) regarding WWE’s treatment of concussions.
In Bryant’s ruling on the case, she ruled that all of the negligence counts in all three of the lawsuits failed to state a valid claim of negligence, as well as threw out complaints that WWE was negligent and fraudulent because they failed to identify any false representation by WWE. Claims of fraudulent concealment and medical monitoring claim were also dismissed and they don’t state separate any independent causes of action under Connecticut law.
However, Bryant did uphold Singleton and LoGrasso’s claim that WWE may have been aware by 2005 a link between repeated head trauma and permanent degenerative neurological conditions as specialized knowledge concerning the possibility the wrestlers are exposed to a greater risk for such conditions. Unlike the other wrestlers, Singleton and LoGrasso were employed by WWE after 2005. Both of these charges will be difficult to prove because the argument is that WWE had knowledge and then kept the information from the two wrestlers.
Bryant also, without comment, threw out WWE’s lawsuits against Robert Windham (Blackjack Mulligan), Thomas Billington (Dynamite Kid), Oreal Perras (Ivan Koloff) and James Ware (Koko B. Ware), which were WWE suing them essentially trying to scare them into not filing similar suits. With the judge’s ruling, the precedent has been set that those wrestlers wouldn’t be able to file a suit that would go anywhere.
It’s also a major ruling in the sense that a class action suit by former wrestlers who were not in WWE post-2005 on the concussion issue would be very difficult. It was the fact that the NFL had knowledge of the dangers of concussions and kept that information from the players that led to the high dollar settlement of a huge class-action lawsuit.
Neville Injury takes him out of Mania
Neville, who was scheduled in the IC title match, suffered a broken ankle doing a baseball slide when his boot got caught in the mat and his ankle turned and looked really bad in a match with Jericho on Raw. After being looked at it was determined that he wouldn’t need surgery but was expected out of action two to three months.
It’s just shows about injuries often just being flukes in that Neville does all those high flying moves and so smoothly that he never appears to land badly and rarely gets hurt, but a very simple spot, sliding under Jericho’s legs, led to his ankle being caught in the mat and twisting badly.
Neville, who was scheduled in the IC title match, suffered a broken ankle doing a baseball slide when his boot got caught in the mat and his ankle turned and looked really bad in a match with Jericho on Raw. After being looked at it was determined that he wouldn’t need surgery but was expected out of action two to three months.
It’s just shows about injuries often just being flukes in that Neville does all those high flying moves and so smoothly that he never appears to land badly and rarely gets hurt, but a very simple spot, sliding under Jericho’s legs, led to his ankle being caught in the mat and twisting badly.
Jericho Blows up on Charles Robinson
Jericho was scheduled to win the match in about 10:00 with the Walls of Jericho via submission. They were roughly halfway into the match when Neville started limping, ended up down and couldn’t get back up.
Jericho told ref Charles Robinson that Neville was hurt and went to pin him. Robinson held up the count even though Neville didn’t get his shoulder up. The irony is that a few weeks ago Jericho had a match where the ref called the it as a shoot and wouldn’t count the planned pin finish because Jericho had his leg under the plane of the bottom rope. It led to an immediately improvised finish of his second match, the Smackdown bout, with Styles. The funny part is that spot created the idea for what ended up being used a false finish in the HHH vs. Ambrose match at Roadblock.
Then, this time, Robinson didn’t call it as a shoot as Neville stayed down and Jericho was pinning him. Robinson, knowing that wasn’t the planned finish, held up the count. This led to Robinson and Jericho having words in the ring. Apparently Robinson didn’t realize Neville was hurt and it would have been awkward to go right back to pinning him since Jericho really couldn’t do any moves to Neville in that condition. Jericho grabbed Robinson and told him that Neville was hurt and to DQ him, so Robinson disqualified Jericho. Jericho quickly yelled to get the mic to do some mic work to set up the planned Styles run-in.
Jericho was scheduled to win the match in about 10:00 with the Walls of Jericho via submission. They were roughly halfway into the match when Neville started limping, ended up down and couldn’t get back up.
Jericho told ref Charles Robinson that Neville was hurt and went to pin him. Robinson held up the count even though Neville didn’t get his shoulder up. The irony is that a few weeks ago Jericho had a match where the ref called the it as a shoot and wouldn’t count the planned pin finish because Jericho had his leg under the plane of the bottom rope. It led to an immediately improvised finish of his second match, the Smackdown bout, with Styles. The funny part is that spot created the idea for what ended up being used a false finish in the HHH vs. Ambrose match at Roadblock.
Then, this time, Robinson didn’t call it as a shoot as Neville stayed down and Jericho was pinning him. Robinson, knowing that wasn’t the planned finish, held up the count. This led to Robinson and Jericho having words in the ring. Apparently Robinson didn’t realize Neville was hurt and it would have been awkward to go right back to pinning him since Jericho really couldn’t do any moves to Neville in that condition. Jericho grabbed Robinson and told him that Neville was hurt and to DQ him, so Robinson disqualified Jericho. Jericho quickly yelled to get the mic to do some mic work to set up the planned Styles run-in.
WWE Hall of Fame Update
WWE was looking at putting together deals to get Snoop Dogg into the WWE Hall of Fame (in the spot this year originally set for Regis Philbin) and to give Joan Lunden the Warrior Award.
Last year was the argument that it isn’t what Warrior suggested, and it very clearly wasn’t, as he suggested an award for people who work backstage as good employees for little notice (mentioning Jimmy Miranda, and he actually the award named after Miranda, not himself). But you could argue last year’s induction of Connor Michalek did serve a greater good.
This year it does in a sense that honoring celebrities who have powerful TV names is good for business in a number of ways. In this case, Lunden was the longtime host of Good Morning America who has battled breast cancer very publicly.
WWE was looking at putting together deals to get Snoop Dogg into the WWE Hall of Fame (in the spot this year originally set for Regis Philbin) and to give Joan Lunden the Warrior Award.
Last year was the argument that it isn’t what Warrior suggested, and it very clearly wasn’t, as he suggested an award for people who work backstage as good employees for little notice (mentioning Jimmy Miranda, and he actually the award named after Miranda, not himself). But you could argue last year’s induction of Connor Michalek did serve a greater good.
This year it does in a sense that honoring celebrities who have powerful TV names is good for business in a number of ways. In this case, Lunden was the longtime host of Good Morning America who has battled breast cancer very publicly.
Physical Hall of Fame in Jeopardy
It was announced on 3/14 that a Willie Wonka inspired Chocolate Factory and restaurant would be taking the spot formerly held by NBA City at Universal Citywalk in Orlando. That was the spot reported last week in Orlando that WWE would take over for its Hall of Fame and restaurant, so apparently after years of talks, that isn’t happening. That would seem to kill the idea of the Hall of Fame opening in Orlando in time for next year’s WrestleMania.
It was announced on 3/14 that a Willie Wonka inspired Chocolate Factory and restaurant would be taking the spot formerly held by NBA City at Universal Citywalk in Orlando. That was the spot reported last week in Orlando that WWE would take over for its Hall of Fame and restaurant, so apparently after years of talks, that isn’t happening. That would seem to kill the idea of the Hall of Fame opening in Orlando in time for next year’s WrestleMania.
Potential WWE Lawsuit
There is an interesting potential lawsuit that has been brewing behind the scenes. It’s going to be regarding royalties for appearing on the WWE Network. The argument is that the WWE Network has taken the place of the DVDs and Blu Rays (and the revenue from those streams has declined greatly since the network started) and that as the replacement that wrestlers should be entitled to revenue from it. One could make the claim even more that the network has replaced PPV as a revenue stream as well.
Attempts in the past to try and get royalties from clips being shown on regular television have gotten nowhere in a few lawsuits filed (Gilbert family and Doug Somers). But this is something different. A lot of former WWE wrestlers are aware of this and have expressed interest in being involved in a class action suit
There is an interesting potential lawsuit that has been brewing behind the scenes. It’s going to be regarding royalties for appearing on the WWE Network. The argument is that the WWE Network has taken the place of the DVDs and Blu Rays (and the revenue from those streams has declined greatly since the network started) and that as the replacement that wrestlers should be entitled to revenue from it. One could make the claim even more that the network has replaced PPV as a revenue stream as well.
Attempts in the past to try and get royalties from clips being shown on regular television have gotten nowhere in a few lawsuits filed (Gilbert family and Doug Somers). But this is something different. A lot of former WWE wrestlers are aware of this and have expressed interest in being involved in a class action suit
New WWE Advertising
I don’t know what this means. It may mean split crews. It may mean absolutely nothing. But the marketing department has produced new graphics for Raw and Smackdown for the USA Network. The Raw graphic features Cena, Owens, Nikki Bella, Wyatt, Del Rio and Charlotte as the top stars. The Smackdown graphic features Reigns, Ambrose, Ziggler, Paige and New Day.
I don’t know what this means. It may mean split crews. It may mean absolutely nothing. But the marketing department has produced new graphics for Raw and Smackdown for the USA Network. The Raw graphic features Cena, Owens, Nikki Bella, Wyatt, Del Rio and Charlotte as the top stars. The Smackdown graphic features Reigns, Ambrose, Ziggler, Paige and New Day.
New TNA Champion
Drew Galloway won the TNA title from Matt Hardy on the almost live 3/15 TV show. The main event was a three-way no DQ match with Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Ethan Carter III. Somehow that ended up as a no contest and Matt Hardy celebrated retaining his title. Galloway then came out and cashed in his Feast or Fired briefcase and hit the Clayborg kick (running kick) and the Future Shock (double arm DDT) and pinned Hardy in :24.
Drew Galloway won the TNA title from Matt Hardy on the almost live 3/15 TV show. The main event was a three-way no DQ match with Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Ethan Carter III. Somehow that ended up as a no contest and Matt Hardy celebrated retaining his title. Galloway then came out and cashed in his Feast or Fired briefcase and hit the Clayborg kick (running kick) and the Future Shock (double arm DDT) and pinned Hardy in :24.
Young and Roode Leave TNA
The departure of Eric Young and Bobby Roode from TNA after this past week’s tapings raises more questions about the company going forward.
At press time, nothing is definite about where Young or Roode are headed next.
Roode’s contract actually just ran out on 3/8. According to one company source, TNA had an option in that contract to renew his contract at a higher rate, but due to business reasons, had informed him they couldn’t give him the raise in the contract. According to the source they offered him a new deal at less than what he had been making. Another source said he was offered six months at the same rate he had earned in 2015, but less than a contract escalator would have been, and that they could then negotiate again at that point.
Roode had been one of the company’s higher paid wrestlers (reports are he was earning far more than any other performer with the probable exception of Jeff Hardy this past year based on signing a long-term contract with annual escalators several years back) and had a guaranteed deal. When A.J. Styles left two years ago, he was said to be earning similar money to what Roode was believed to have been earning. When Styles got a new offer for 2014, it was barely half of what he had been making on his prior deal, so he left and worked for New Japan and independents.
TNA is running only television tapings at this point and evidently the concept of signing guarantees and making the money back by booking talent on the independent scene wouldn’t work out as well given the size of Roode’s contract like it could for other recent signees who were believed to be in the $100,000 to $200,000 per year range. According to those in TNA, Roode verbally agreed to the new deal and worked the tapings under it, but never signed it, and then informed them he wanted to test himself out on the open market. Young was working with a fairly recently signed new contract, but was said to be unhappy with the deal and decided he should ask for a raise based on other recent deals that have been signed by TNA.
The two had arrived in TNA together, signed on the same day, and left together (although Young had briefly departed at one point over a contract issue). Given the issues in both cases revolved around money, and given the ages of both men, the only places they would really could go would be New Japan or WWE, more likely the latter.
The industry talk was Roode was WWE bound but Young’s future in wrestling was not as certain. But another source said when an intermediary approached WWE with both names, they were more interested in Young and that Roode was told he should take what TNA had offered him.
But a big part of the deal across the board in the company have been the constant issues with late pay and the stories being told as excuses that get old and seem to lack credibility.
With Young, the situation was similar in the sense he felt with 12 years in the company and being a solidly pushed heel, that he deserved more than he had agreed to based on those offers and new deals.
Part of the problem was TNA’s cash flow issues and being behind on money frequently to a lot of people. There have been TNA talents who have described irregular and late pay, although in the end, they do end up getting paid, but obviously it is frustrating, and that played a significant part in this. It’s been an issue for a long time.
TNA has been looking for new money but as of yet, the situation doesn’t appear to have changed.
The success of Styles, and NXT being used more and more as a touring brand for hardcore fans as opposed to developmental and thus loading up on good experienced wrestlers in their late 30s like Austin Aries and Samoa Joe, has changed what WWE is looking for. Roode fits perfectly into that philosophy, and also would be a good addition to the main roster although he’d likely fall into the utility player status. He also could fit into the player/coach role in NXT that Rocky Romero recently turned down.
Both will be on television for the next several weeks as TNA taped Impact through 4/19. Matches may have not been taped in order. Young was rushed into a break-up of his team with Bram, which led to a falls count anywhere match that may be on 4/12, where Bram beat Young to win the King of the Mountain title after putting him through a table.
Beer Money dropped the tag team titles, which appeared to be taped for 4/19, to Decay, which is Abyss & Crazzy Steve, in what was billed as a Valley of Shadows match. That was an all weapons legal type of match, like a Monster’s Ball match. The finish saw Abyss choke slam Roode into thumbtacks and score the pin. When it was over, Storm and Roode hugged in the ring in what appeared to be the end of their team.
The departure of Roode breaks up Beer Money, who were just put back together when Storm turned down a WWE offer for a much higher offer from TNA less than three months ago.
The one thing is that the NXT fan base is clearly aware of TNA stars and will accept than as big names based on the reaction to Aries, Storm (who got a ridiculously huge reaction when he was in NXT between TNA stints) and Joe, and the reaction to Styles on the main roster, even at house shows with the different audience, shocked a lot of people in WWE.
The departure of Eric Young and Bobby Roode from TNA after this past week’s tapings raises more questions about the company going forward.
At press time, nothing is definite about where Young or Roode are headed next.
Roode’s contract actually just ran out on 3/8. According to one company source, TNA had an option in that contract to renew his contract at a higher rate, but due to business reasons, had informed him they couldn’t give him the raise in the contract. According to the source they offered him a new deal at less than what he had been making. Another source said he was offered six months at the same rate he had earned in 2015, but less than a contract escalator would have been, and that they could then negotiate again at that point.
Roode had been one of the company’s higher paid wrestlers (reports are he was earning far more than any other performer with the probable exception of Jeff Hardy this past year based on signing a long-term contract with annual escalators several years back) and had a guaranteed deal. When A.J. Styles left two years ago, he was said to be earning similar money to what Roode was believed to have been earning. When Styles got a new offer for 2014, it was barely half of what he had been making on his prior deal, so he left and worked for New Japan and independents.
TNA is running only television tapings at this point and evidently the concept of signing guarantees and making the money back by booking talent on the independent scene wouldn’t work out as well given the size of Roode’s contract like it could for other recent signees who were believed to be in the $100,000 to $200,000 per year range. According to those in TNA, Roode verbally agreed to the new deal and worked the tapings under it, but never signed it, and then informed them he wanted to test himself out on the open market. Young was working with a fairly recently signed new contract, but was said to be unhappy with the deal and decided he should ask for a raise based on other recent deals that have been signed by TNA.
The two had arrived in TNA together, signed on the same day, and left together (although Young had briefly departed at one point over a contract issue). Given the issues in both cases revolved around money, and given the ages of both men, the only places they would really could go would be New Japan or WWE, more likely the latter.
The industry talk was Roode was WWE bound but Young’s future in wrestling was not as certain. But another source said when an intermediary approached WWE with both names, they were more interested in Young and that Roode was told he should take what TNA had offered him.
But a big part of the deal across the board in the company have been the constant issues with late pay and the stories being told as excuses that get old and seem to lack credibility.
With Young, the situation was similar in the sense he felt with 12 years in the company and being a solidly pushed heel, that he deserved more than he had agreed to based on those offers and new deals.
Part of the problem was TNA’s cash flow issues and being behind on money frequently to a lot of people. There have been TNA talents who have described irregular and late pay, although in the end, they do end up getting paid, but obviously it is frustrating, and that played a significant part in this. It’s been an issue for a long time.
TNA has been looking for new money but as of yet, the situation doesn’t appear to have changed.
The success of Styles, and NXT being used more and more as a touring brand for hardcore fans as opposed to developmental and thus loading up on good experienced wrestlers in their late 30s like Austin Aries and Samoa Joe, has changed what WWE is looking for. Roode fits perfectly into that philosophy, and also would be a good addition to the main roster although he’d likely fall into the utility player status. He also could fit into the player/coach role in NXT that Rocky Romero recently turned down.
Both will be on television for the next several weeks as TNA taped Impact through 4/19. Matches may have not been taped in order. Young was rushed into a break-up of his team with Bram, which led to a falls count anywhere match that may be on 4/12, where Bram beat Young to win the King of the Mountain title after putting him through a table.
Beer Money dropped the tag team titles, which appeared to be taped for 4/19, to Decay, which is Abyss & Crazzy Steve, in what was billed as a Valley of Shadows match. That was an all weapons legal type of match, like a Monster’s Ball match. The finish saw Abyss choke slam Roode into thumbtacks and score the pin. When it was over, Storm and Roode hugged in the ring in what appeared to be the end of their team.
The departure of Roode breaks up Beer Money, who were just put back together when Storm turned down a WWE offer for a much higher offer from TNA less than three months ago.
The one thing is that the NXT fan base is clearly aware of TNA stars and will accept than as big names based on the reaction to Aries, Storm (who got a ridiculously huge reaction when he was in NXT between TNA stints) and Joe, and the reaction to Styles on the main roster, even at house shows with the different audience, shocked a lot of people in WWE.
TNA Fired Mr. Anderson
Ken Anderson is no longer with the company. At the last TV tapings in Bethlehem, PA, he was believed to be messed up and had an awful match with Eric Young, so bad that the company decided to pull it from airing (and think about that given some of the bad matches they’ve put on TV). Then he and Young almost got into it after the match. Pro Wrestling Sheet reported that the company then gave him a drug test and that he failed it and was fired. TNA does drug test people although I’ve never heard of them suspending or firing people for failures, and people do fail. Anderson was on an ICW show last week in Europe and as fans were chanting “F*** TNA” at him, he grabbed the mic, said he doesn’t work for TNA anymore, and he agreed with the fans and said, “F*** TNA” and got a big pop. He hadn’t been with the company since those tapings and, well, nobody noticed
Ken Anderson is no longer with the company. At the last TV tapings in Bethlehem, PA, he was believed to be messed up and had an awful match with Eric Young, so bad that the company decided to pull it from airing (and think about that given some of the bad matches they’ve put on TV). Then he and Young almost got into it after the match. Pro Wrestling Sheet reported that the company then gave him a drug test and that he failed it and was fired. TNA does drug test people although I’ve never heard of them suspending or firing people for failures, and people do fail. Anderson was on an ICW show last week in Europe and as fans were chanting “F*** TNA” at him, he grabbed the mic, said he doesn’t work for TNA anymore, and he agreed with the fans and said, “F*** TNA” and got a big pop. He hadn’t been with the company since those tapings and, well, nobody noticed