Author: John Bass

Matt Hardy Would Like To Finish Up WWE Run With “Broken” Gimmick

Matt Hardy seemingly announced his retirement from wrestling last year when he said “It’s time” and had transitioned into a producer role. But Hardy ended up returning to the ring and used that time off as a way to heal up from various injuries from a lifetime in the ring.

At nearly 45 years old, Hardy says he isn’t done wrestling as he explained on the Cheap Heat podcast.

“I feel good. I am excited about getting to work and kicking some ass,” said Hardy. “I am over here just waiting. I’m not someone that wants to sit on the bench; I don’t want to be on the bench. I have a few years left to do this and I want to be a contributor and I want to do something important where I am entertaining people and making money.”

WWE held their first Raw in years from Madison Square Garden last night and that venue is one that is near and dear to Hardy’s heart. He talked about his favorite memories of MSG.

“I have a lot of cool memories at the Garden; one was when tag-team wrestling was really hot with the work that myself, my brother, the Dudley Boys, Edge & Christian put in,” stated Hardy. “One time we main evented at MSG which was a very cool memory for me. We had a four-way tag and if I am not mistaken, I think the four teams were The Hardy Boyz, Edge & Christian, Dudley Boyz, and The Acolytes. Probably my biggest memory that stands out at Madison Square Garden was at the Royal Rumble in 2000 during the Tables Match just because that was a big match for us and a match that after what happened on top of the Ladder Match, it was the beginning and the catalyst for the TLC matches.”

Hardy has won 14 tag team titles in WWE as one half of perhaps the greatest tag team in company history. He also won six individual WWE titles and was asked if there’s anything left for Hardy in WWE.

“I don’t think there’s really one more thing, maybe. I would like to finish my run with WWE as ‘Broken’ Matt Hardy. I think there’s still a lot of money to be made with ‘Broken’ Matt Hardy. I think it’s different; it’s very 2019. I think a great example is The Firefly Funhouse with Bray Wyatt which I am really enjoying. I think he is really extremely intelligent, creative, think-outside-the-box guy and that is why we were such great friends when we teamed. I think he is very creative. What he is doing right now is very masterful. He has dialed in to the hardcore audience and there’s such a good separation between The Firefly Funhouse Bray and The Fiend Bray Wyatt. He knows how to do the duality of the two. I am very intrigued and also super entertained between the two personas,” said Hardy.

Source: Cheap Heat podcast via Wrestling Inc.

Drew McIntyre Out Of Action With Injury

Drew McIntyre is currently dealing with an injury and is out of action, according to PWInsider.

McIntyre was not backstage at Madison Square Garden in New York City for last night’s RAW and was not backstage for last week’s show.

The report noted that word going around the locker room is that McIntyre underwent a minor surgery to help fix a lingering injury that came up after the recent tour of Mexico. WWE has not held live events in Mexico since December, but McIntyre was there in late August for a promotional tour to promote the WWE Supershow scheduled for late November.

The idea was to get the surgery out of the way, that way McIntyre will be ready and healthy going into WWE TV in October and the build towards WrestleMania 36 season in 2020. McIntyre will return to action as soon as WWE doctors clear him, which could be as soon as next week’s set of TV shows. McIntyre is said to be ready to return, but he’s just waiting on the call from WWE and the approval from the doctors.

McIntyre had been rumored for a match against Cedric Alexander at WWE Clash of Champions at one point.

McIntyre wrestled on the August 26 RAW episode for a King of the Ring first round loss to Ricochet.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Impact Parent Company Anthem Purchases Majority Interest In AXS TV, Steve Harvey On Anthem’s Board

Anthem Sports & Entertainment announced today that they have acquired a majority interest in Mark Cuban’s AXS TV and HDNet Movies.

There have been rumors on Anthem purchasing AXS for a few months now, and now those talks have been confirmed.

Longtime comedian and actor Steve Harvey has joined Anthem as an investor and strategic partner through his Steve Harvey Global production company. Harvey now has a seat on the Anthem board.

Anthem, the parent company of Impact Wrestling, will assume daily operations of the two channels. Wrestling promotions New Japan Pro Wrestling and WOW (Women of Wrestling) currently air on AXS.

Stay tuned for updates on Impact Wrestling and their programming moving to AXS.

Below is the full press release from Anthem, which includes comments from Cuban and Harvey:

ANTHEM SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT TO PARTNER WITH AXS TV FOUNDER MARK CUBAN; ACQUIRES MAJORITY INTEREST IN AXS TV AND HDNET MOVIES NETWORKS

AEG REMAINS ACTIVE PARTNERSTEVE HARVEY GLOBAL JOINS ANTHEM AS INVESTOR AND STRATEGIC PARTNER

Deal Expands Anthem’s Reach to Nearly 150 Million Households, Creating a Major New Force in Entertainment, Music and Sports Programming

TORONTO | DALLAS | LOS ANGELES – September 9, 2019 – Anthem Sports & Entertainment, a global multiplatform media company, today announced it has acquired a majority interest in HDNet LLC, parent of the widely distributed U.S. television networks AXS TV and HDNet Movies, and will assume operating management of the two popular channels that cater to music, sports, entertainment and lifestyle audiences. The deal also includes AXS TV’s extensive library of owned programming, including wrestling, MMA and entertainment content.

The two networks add significantly to Anthem’s rapidly growing portfolio of content, which is currently available in 120 countries and includes diverse and popular sports and entertainment programming targeted to passionate communities with a focus on millennial viewers.

“We are very excited to add these two successful channels to our portfolio,” said Leonard Asper, CEO, Anthem Sports & Entertainment. “Anthem was founded with a mission to deliver compelling, targeted content and experiences to passionate fans globally on the platform of their choice. The music, sports and entertainment communities served by these channels are a natural extension and perfect complement to our existing properties. The addition of AXS TV and HDNet Movies will allow for increased content ownership, digital expansion and even more compelling programming for consumers and our distribution partners.”

Mark Cuban and AEG will continue to participate as equity partners, and AEG Global Partnerships, AEG’s advertising and sponsorship sales unit, will continue to support the channels in conjunction with Anthem’s sales team.

Joining as an investor is entertainer, producer and businessman Steve Harvey, who will also enter into a strategic agreement for content development and promotion of Anthem’s portfolio of channels. Steve Harvey Global will have a seat on the board of directors of Anthem.

Anthem’s board of directors will also include Ted Goldthorpe, head of BC Partners Credit, a lead financier on the acquisition; Rick Ehrman, a former senior executive at Univision and NBC Universal; Robert Foster, founder and CEO of Capital Canada; Scott Honour, founding principal of Northern Pacific Group; and Loudon Owen, chairman and CEO of DLT Labs.

“Anthem’s combination of targeted brands, enthusiastic audiences, operational expertise, international footprint and vision makes them an ideal partner to take AXS TV and HDNet Movies to their next levels,” Mark Cuban said. “Given Anthem’s portfolio of premium content and complementary programming networks, we could not ask for a better home, and we are looking forward to the results we will collectively generate for this new partnership.”

“My team and I see great opportunity in Anthem,” Steve Harvey said. “They have incredible shows, experiential entertainment, and a huge reach. We look forward to collaborating with Anthem on content development that will surprise and delight this newly expanded audience.”

AXS TV and HDNet Movies will continue operating from their existing facilities in Denver and Los Angeles, and the combined company will include Anthem’s playout and production center in Toronto and production facilities in Nashville and Europe.

“Anthem Sports & Entertainment brings a legacy of delivering boundary-breaking programming that perfectly aligns with our programming strategy and global concert venue and music festival assets,” said Charles Hirschhorn, President, AEG TV. “The combination of these television networks with Anthem creates global video destinations for ‘must see’ event programming.”

With this transaction, Anthem channels are now estimated to reach nearly 150 million global TV homes, including more than 110 million MVPD-served TV households in the U.S. and Canada. In addition, Anthem’s proprietary content is distributed to more than 160 million global TV homes through licensing agreements with some of the world’s premier networks. Anthem’s networks and content also are available on nearly every major streaming service and digital platforms.

Anthem has offices and studios in New York, Toronto, Los Angeles and Nashville, and in Europe. Its portfolio includes:

* IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s largest wrestling entertainment properties, creating more than 300 hours of original content annually across television and other digital platforms. IMPACT Wrestling specializes in premium content, pay-per-view events, products and merchandise, as well as the management, promotion and training of professional wrestlers;

* IMPACT Plus, a multi-platform mobile app and digital subscription video-on-demand platform and one of the newest additions to the Anthem family of services, featuring live monthly premium network specials, instant access to the 3,000-plus hour IMPACT Wrestling library, groundbreaking original series, reality shows, documentaries, and exclusive events from international partners;

* Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel, dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports including fights, fight news and the fight lifestyle as well as mixed martial arts, boxing, kickboxing, professional wrestling, traditional martial arts and more. Fight Network produces and owns its own library of fight themed documentaries and interview programs and is delivered to more than 43 million TV homes in the U.S., Canada and more than 15 other countries;

* GameTV, featuring game show formats and programming, both current and past; reality, drama and documentary series; feature films; sports-based games including esports, poker, and card-based games; and live sporting events – all delivered to more than 8 million television homes throughout Canada. GameTV also features online cash and social gaming through igamestv.com;

* Game+, a cutting edge, millennial-targeted sports and entertainment channel, featuring sports-wagering programs, esports events, news and information, fantasy sports programming, high stakes poker, and other action-driven shows and lifestyle programming. Game+ is distributed in more than 1 million MVPD TV homes in Canada and the US; and

* Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S, offering outdoor enthusiasts diverse programming from calm freshwater fishing to fast-paced deer and waterfowl hunting. Pursuit Channel is available to more than 35 million TV homes in the US served by cable, satellite and IPTV. Through its app PursuitUP the channel is also available on OTT streaming services.

AXS TV is a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle channel, including live concerts and sports events, originally founded as HDNET by Mark Cuban in 2001. The channel was rebranded in 2012 after partnering with AEG, leading to additional music content development. The network’s current programming lineup features live concerts and events, music-themed information and reality programming, live wrestling and MMA, and off-network runs of popular music-themed programming. The network is distributed to more than 50 million homes.

AEG includes AXS TV as part of its own sponsorship portfolio, bringing many AEG partners to the network.

HDNet Movies, available in approximately 12 million U.S. homes, features theatrically released films and documentaries presented in high definition, including a variety of iconic classics and award winners spanning the 1950s to 2000s.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Worlds Collide Replacing NXT TakeOver During Royal Rumble Weekend

WWE Worlds Collide will be replacing NXT TakeOver during Royal Rumble weekend in January 2020 according to Pro Wrestling Sheet.

WWE released travel package information on Monday for Royal Rumble weekend in Houston and the events listed show a World’s Collide event happening instead of NXT TakeOver.

Sources in WWE confirm this was not a mistake and that the schedule of NXT TakeOver events in 2020 with more details will be announced in the near future.

Worlds Collide is a WWE event in which competitors from Raw, SmackDown, NXT, 205 Live and NXT UK compete in inter-brand matches. The first Worlds Collide show took place in January 2019 at Royal Rumble Axxess and aired on WWE Network.  The second took place in April.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Steve Austin Stuns AJ Styles, Ends RAW With Beer Bash Celebration

Last night on RAW “Stone Cold” Steve Austin moderated the Universal Title match contract signing between Champion Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman.

After the contract was signed AJ Styles and the OC came out.

AJ mocks everyone in the ring and talks trash to the fans, telling them to shut up after he gets the “What!?” treatment. The OC gets closer to the ring. AJ tells Austin to stay out of this because it has nothing to do with him. The fans boo AJ more and he says this is why no one likes coming to NYC. The back & forth goes on as The OC stands at ringside now. Everyone chants “asshole!” at AJ. AJ says Austin has turned into a real asshole in his old age. The OC is in the ring now. AJ calls Austin an “old fart” and fans boo him some more. The two sides face off a AJ keeps running his mouth. Austin moves the table out of the way, which was separating the two ides. Austin says he doesn’t know where AJ is coming from, but he knows where AJ’s going. Strowman and Rollins attack The OC as Austin watches. Strowman goes out of the ring and runs over Gallows on the outside, and then Anderson on the ramp. AJ ducks a Stomp in the ring, then sends Rollins out of the ring to the floor. AJ runs his mouth as Austin sneaks up from behind. Fans cheer as Austin waits. AJ turns around to a big Stunner from Austin as fans go wild.

Austin drops down and gets in AJ’s face as the trash talking flies. Austin calls for some of his Broken Skull IPA beers to be tossed in the ring, then hits the corners to pose as the music hits. AJ is laid out on his back in the middle of the ring as Austin makes his exit to the back.

Later at the end of the 10-Man Tag main event, Austin came down and had a beer bash celebration with Rollins, Strowman, Cedric Alexander and the War Raiders.

After RAW went off the air Austin offered a beer and a hand shake with Styles. Austin hit Styles with another Stunner.

WWE RAW Preview 9/9/19

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from Madison Square Garden in New York City with the final red brand build for Sunday’s WWE Clash of Champions pay-per-view.

* “Stone Cold” Steve Austin to moderate Universal Championship contract signing between Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman

* Raw King of the Ring Semifinal Match becomes a Triple Threat

* The battle of WWE’s Four Horsewomen

* Rey Mysterio returns to action against Gran Metalik

* Cedric Alexander looks for payback against AJ Styles

NJPW Announces Their Coming To Los Angeles In November

New Japan Pro Wrestling announced that they will be coming to Los Angeles on November 11 at the Globe Theatre.

This will be their second event for New Japan Showdown. The first was announced in August during the Super J-Cup and will be in San Jose on November 9.

NJPW hasn’t announced when tickets will be available or any matches yet.

Matt Hardy Comments On His Future In Pro Wrestling

Matt Hardy’s WWE contract ends around March of next year and the 44 year old WWE Superstar has previously noted he has some “hard decisions” to make in the coming months.

Last year, Hardy took a break to heal up back/hip/pelvis injuries and recharge his batteries. During that time, he got into incredible shape and made a return in February, alongside his brother, Jeff Hardy.

Yesterday on Twitter, Matt replied to an individual who believed the internet had ruined pro wrestling.

“I disagree,” Hardy wrote. “The internet hasn’t ruined wrestling, but it’s def changing it. In my opinion, the industry has to be more creative & shrewd in the way stories are told, while blurring the lines of reality & fantasy between athletic matches & entertaining content. The ‘net forces evolution.”

A fan responded to Matt by saying he always felt like Hardy could be on the creative side of wrestling, “I’ve always felt that your true calling was as a promoter or in creative—and that’s saying something because you’re a very talented wrestler.”

Matt appreciated the compliment, but felt the years he still has left to wrestle are exactly how he plans to spend them, rather than behind the curtain, or on the bench. Since Jeff Hardy went down with a knee injury in late April, Matt has been pretty much left off WWE TV, although he’s kept busy on social media with his new “You don’t understand how hard it is to be Matt Hardy” gimmick, and doing a parody of the AEW World Title getting stolen.

“Thanks, Sam. Appreciate that,” Hardy wrote back. “I can’t say I disagree with you. For the few years I have left as an in-ring performer, I wanna kick ass & contribute to the industry-not sit on the bench.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Matt Hardy Parodies Chris Jericho Losing His AEW Title, Jericho Responds

Matt Hardy took some time out of his date night with wife Reby Hardy to parody what happened to AEW Champion Chris Jericho. As it was noted earlier this week, the AEW Championship was stolen on Sunday while Chris Jericho was eating at a LongHorn Steakhouse in Tallahassee, Florida. The title was later found along the side of the road.

Matt Hardy posted the above video on his YouTube channel. In the video, Hardy walks out of a LongHorn Steakhouse restaurant with a missing belt.

“Just had a wonderful date night with my beautiful wife here at a very classy restaurant as you can… Hold up (runs back inside the restaurant and grabs his belt) that son of a b—- tried to steal my belt. Reby, where’s our limousine?”

He also posted that he wasn’t teasing Chris Jericho, just the situation. Hardy wrote on Twitter, “For the record, I am not making fun of Chris Jericho. I just saw an opportunity to make a cute parody of last week’s wacky events & remind people of how entertaining I can be. Chris is a great friend & is an industry master of evolution & reaction. ENJOY!”

 

Chris Jericho responded to the video, “I loved it! It was OUTSTEEEEEENDING!!!!”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Renee Young To Become Exclusive To WWE SmackDown?

Fox officials are said to be very high on Renee Young, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Renee is set to host the weekly WWE studio show on FS1, which will air each Tuesday night. The Observer described the studio show as the weekly WWE version of UFC Tonight.

We noted before that even the announce teams will be exclusive to RAW and SmackDown after the big fall changes are made. It was reported that Fox being high up on Renee could lead to her being exclusive to SmackDown, but that is still up in the air. Renee currently calls RAW action with Michael Cole and Corey Graves.

There’s no word yet on what brand Graves will end up on, but it’s believed that he won’t be calling both shows.

Source: Wrestling Inc.