Author: John Bass

CM Punk And Colt Cabana Win Defamation Lawsuit Filed By A WWE Doctor

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Jurors sided with CM Punk and Colt Cabana on Tuesday — clearing the pair in a defamation lawsuit filed by a WWE doctor upset with comments Punk made during a controversial 2014 podcast.

The decision came down around 4pm Chicago-time in Cook County Circuit Court, according to Wrestlezone, capping off a libel trial that lasted one week.

Over five days of testimony, Punk and Cabana’s lawyers tried to prove Punk believed what he said during the interview about Dr. Christopher Amann. Ultimately, Amann’s side had trouble proving any real monetary damage occurred. The doctor was seeking $4 million dollars (one dollar per each podcast stream) and additional punitive damages.

In the November 2014 podcast interview conducted by Cabana, Punk recalled his medical issues and treatments in the months leading up to him walking out of WWE following the Royal Rumble. Though he was rarely mentioned by name in the podcast, Amann felt Punk’s claims directly damaged his reputation and caused distress.

Amann told jurors he was harassed and humiliated by fans and that the podcast hurt his standing with patients. However, the WWE ringside physician couldn’t point to any monetary damages and he remains employed by the company.

Much of the testimony centered around a lump on Punk’s backside which Punk felt made him ill over an extended period. Punk contended Amann didn’t properly treat it. Amann claims he never saw it. His attorneys showed numerous texts and emails regarding Punk’s health and at no point did Punk put anything in writing with WWE doctors about the lump.

In the podcast, Punk said the lump ended up being a staph infection that ultimately could’ve cost him his life. It was shown it court that the lump was diagnosed by a physician’s assistant as a lump. Even so, the P.A. who treated Punk labeled it a possible staph infection — but never tested it.

Punk said the podcast was his way to “set the record straight for my fans” and tell his story. He told jurors he wouldn’t change anything about the interview.

At the end of the day, jurors didn’t see enough to prove Punk and Cabana legally defamed Amann.

With this trial now behind him, Punk has four days to get mentally prepared to step into the octagon. His second UFC fight is set for Saturday in Chicago against Mike Jackson.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

SmackDown Live Preview 6/5/18

Tonight’s WWE Smackdown Live will take place from the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas as the road to Money In the Bank continues.

* Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch to square off

* Naomi & Jimmy Uso to face Lana & Aiden English in Mixed Tag Team action

* Paige to host contract signing for AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

* Carmella promises to “unmask” Asuka on SmackDown LIVE

WWE 205 Live Preview 6/5/18

Tonight’s WWE 205 Live will take place from the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.

* Brian Kendrick vs. Lince Dorado

*  Buddy Murphy vs. Mustafa Ali

Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Andrew Luck’s Father Oliver Luck Named XFL Commissioner

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The XFL announced on Tuesday that former NFL quarterback and NCAA executive Oliver Luck will be the commissioner and CEO of the football league when it relaunches in 2020.

https://twitter.com/xfl2020/status/1003994263388975105

Luck is the father of current Indianapolis Colts NFL quarterback Andrew Luck and had previously been the president of the NFL Europe developmental league, as well as part of a group that kickstarted the Houston Texans NFL team when it launched in 2002.

ESPN has coverage of the announcement, with the following comments by Luck and XFL founder Vince McMahon about the move.

Luck: “The XFL will be a labor of love as I get to combine my experiences as a player and executive. I’m thrilled to have this unique opportunity to reimagine the game that has been a constant in my life for 40 years.”

McMahon: “Oliver and I share the same vision and passion for reimagining the game of football, his experience as both an athlete and executive will ensure the long-term success of the XFL.”

First Trailer For “Transformers: Bumblebee” Starring John Cena

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The first trailer for the upcoming movie “Transformers: Bumblebee” starring John Cena as Agent Burns was released on Tuesday.

The movie will be released in theaters on December 21.

AJ Lee Claims She Pushed Punk To Get Lump Checked Out, Surprised WWE Doc Wasn’t Concerned Sooner

aj lee cm punk trial interview testimony

AJ Mendez Brooks, who performed as AJ Lee, took the stand Monday and confirmed she pushed CM Punk to seek additional treatment over a discolored lump on his backside.

According to Wrestlezone — who had a reporter in attendance — both AJ and Punk were on the stand Monday morning beginning the fifth day of testimony in the libel trial pitting Punk and Colt Cabana against WWE doctor Chris Amann.

AJ noted the lump grew from a zit-sized spot to its largest at the 2014 Royal Rumble. She confirmed text communication about the lump and testified she sent Punk to a physician’s assistant that she believed to be a doctor.

On the stand, AJ told jurors she was surprised Amann didn’t see the lump as a problem sooner.

Before AJ was questioned … Punk was crossed examined by Amann’s lawyers about Friday’s testimony which included the lump, other health issues,and the 2014 Royal Rumble.

Punk said the physician’s assistant he saw definitely referred to the lump as staph but confirmed it was never diagnosed as such.

It’s interesting to note a text was also shown in court in which Punk told Mark Carrano, who is WWE’s Senior Director of Talent Relations, “take me off all shows, I’m sick and have bruised ribs and concussion symptoms.” Notes from Wrestlezone didn’t say when the text was sent.

At one point, Amman’s lawyers brought up the 2014 Rumble and asked if he stayed in the match in an effort to “blow WWE away” — despite being concussed — in an attempt to headline WrestleMania.  Punk simply responded, “I don’t know.”

On Friday, Punk took the stand and cried while recalling the events surrounding that same Rumble match. After composing himself, the UFC fighter told jurors he stands by the comments he made during the infamous podcast interview.

Dr. Amann is asking for $1 million in damages.

Both sides have rested and closing arguments begin today.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

WWE Is Now Selling Official B-Team Shirts

b-team shirts wwe shop bo dallas curtis axel

Put away your sharpie pens, because Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel now have officially licensed B-Teamshirts on WWE Shop.

The shirts went live Monday and feature a big “B” on the front — just like the ones on TV — but in typical WWE fashion there’s also text on the back which says, “The ‘B’ Stands 4 Best.”

Get one for yourself by CLICKING HERE.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Kane Hasn’t Ruled Out Wrestling As Mayor If Elected

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During an exclusive interview with Pro Wrestling Sheet, Kane — real name Glenn Jacobs — indicated he’s not done in a WWE ring … even if he’s an active mayor!

“I never rule anything out,” Jacobs said after chuckling over the idea of “Mayor Kane” competing. “I think it would be great to have a PPV here in Knoxville. We haven’t had one in forever. If there’s a PPV, it would be an honor for me to take part in that.”

We haven’t seen Jacobs in a WWE ring since Wrestlemania. He was originally scheduled to compete at the Greatest Royal Rumble — just four days before the GOP mayoral primary. Despite rumors to the contrary, Jacobs says the reason he was pulled from the card wasn’t political but rather a slight injury.

Just days later, he’d win his primary race by a mere 23 votes. Knox County leans red, which means he’s the clear front runner in August’s general election.

Yes, folks — that means The Big Red Machine will most likely be a mayor.

Jacobs says he’s developed his leadership style learning from those around his during his 21-year run as Kane. He specifically points to his storyline brother.

“The most important thing about leadership is to set an example. Undertaker — talk about learning how to be a professional,” Jacobs said. ” This guy is always there, always worked hard, took a lot of pride in what he does.”

Naturally, Jacobs also noted learning from Vince and Linda McMahon. He praised the couple for their vision, turning ideas and concepts into reality. Jacobs says transforming a family-run, regional business into a socially-accepted global empire gave him a platform to lead the county he loves.

At one point, society looked down on wrestling. His election proves that’s changing.

“I don’t think that the wrestling thing is what it once was,” Jacobs said. “We’ve had some people that have been so successful like Dwayne [Johnson] and John Cena doing all the stuff that he’s doing that perception is changing and rightfully so.”

Jacobs says many see his hall of fame career for what it is — two decades as an accomplished business man and ambassador for the WWE. Even so, he met some people along the campaign trail who looked at him as “just a wrestler.”  The 3-time world champ took great pride in the election results proving doubters wrong.

“That gives me a lot of satisfaction,” Jacobs said. “Hopefully, I’ve done my little bit to destroy that unfortunate stereotype.”

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

RAW Preview 6/4/18

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas as the road to Money In the Bank continues.

Ronda Rousey and Roman Reigns are advertised to appear.

* The Monster Among Men faces The Glorious One

* Former Universal Champions lock up – Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens

* Natalya stands up to Nia Jax

* Who will be next to challenge The Deleters of Worlds?

NJPW Star Tomoaki Honma Announces Return To Ring After Career-Threatening Injury

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In March of 2017, former IWGP Tag Team Champion Tomoaki Honma suffered a career-threatening injury after being the recipient of a draping DDT by Jado during a six-man tag team match. Following the move, the match was immediately stopped due to Honma being unable to move anything from the neck down. It was later reported that he had injured his cervical vertebrae, and had to stay in the hospital for nearly four months.

Following the injury, Honma was forced to forfeit his opportunity at the IWGP Tag Team Championship, and New Japan stated that his in-ring return is “tentative.” Thankfully, days after the injury, Nikkan Sports reported that he was able to regain movement of lower limbs, and “grasp objects on the upper extremities.” Still, it was reported that Honma was “recovering a lot,” and a return to the ring was undetermined. In November, Honma was training and taking bumps again in hopes for an in-ring return soon.

Fifteen months later, Honma has fully recovered, as he appeared at the block finals of the NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament and issued an open challenge for any tag team to compete against him and Togi Makabe at the Kizuna Road show on June 23rd in Yamagata.

With over 20 years in the pro wrestling business, the 41-year-old Honma has competed for various promotions in Japan, most notably Big Japan, All Japan, New Japan, and Pro Wrestling NOAH. In February of 2007, Honma joined NJPW’s G.B.H. (Great Bash Heel) faction, and stayed loyal to the group until it dissolved. G.B.H. reformed in 2013 with Honma and former leader Makabe, feuding with CHAOS and Bullet Club.

At Wrestle Kingdom 10, Honma won his first title in New Japan, as he and Makabe defeated Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. They retained the titles for three months before losing them to Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa at Invasion Attack.

Source: WrestlingINC