WWE Reportedly Doing Away With The Divas Title 

We’ve waited for years to post this story. It’s always been a hope for everyone here on the site and sometimes it just seemed like a far fetched dream. However now according to PWinsider and WrestlingInc our dream and the dream of many others is becoming a reality.

The word going around is that WWE officials have had a new women’s belt commemorated. The coming of this new title also means that the words diva division is a thing of the past and will now be called what it should’ve always been: The Women’s division.

The change will begin to take place at the post mania Raw live from Dallas Tx. It is being said that the new title is similar to World Heavyweight Title only smaller.

So now perhaps the bigger question is who will be at the forefront of the newly formed women’s division? Will it be genetically superior Chatlottle? The Irish lass kicker Becky Lynch? Or will it be our personal favorite The Boss Sasha Banks? Find out this Sunday at Wrestlemania 32 live on the WWE Network 4PT/7ET 

Shayna Baszler to appear on shimmer 

 Shayna Baszler’s journey to conquer the world of professional wrestling continues as she heads to the all women wrestling promotion known as Shimmer.

In a tweet sent out earlier today which you can see here:

Baszler Said:

 And the entire @SHIMMERwomen roster just got put on notice.

Baszler made her professional wrestling in ring debut in September and since then has took on the likes of Nicole Matthews, cheerleader Mellisa and has wrestled for promotions such as Stardom USA, ECCW, quintessential pro, Midwest all Pro and even made an appearance in ROH


It’ll be interesting to see what the Queen of Spades has in store for Shimmer. We’re sure whatever it is though it’s going to be good.

MMA finally becomes legal in New York 

  As of Tuesday evening the state of New York has become the 50th state to make mixed martial arts events legal. 

The final vote between New York lawmakers was 113 to 25. Now the bill heads to the desk of Governor Andrew Cuomo, who included MMA revenue in an executive budget proposal earlier this year and is widely expected it sign it into the law 

Bill NoA02604 “establishes protocols for combative sports; authorizes mixed martial arts events in this state; establishes procedures for applications for licenses; establishes penalties for violations; imposes taxes on gross receipts of such events.”

This is great news for fighters and fans alike. The possibilities are now endless and we’re sure to be getting some history making moments in the future 

Bill Dundee Talks Meeting With Vince McMahon After WrestleMania I & Much More

Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling recently interviewed Bill Dundee. You can download and listen to the full interview by clicking here, they sent WrestlingINC these highlights:

Working the Bill Watts Mid South Territory & bringing Memphis talent with him:

“I was there two years and it’s a hard ass territory. Bill worked seven days a week and in the Spring time and the Fall you worked two shows on a Saturday. You did a Saturday afternoon show and then again that night. You were working a lot of wrestling matches and doing a lot of miles in a car and a lot of miles in an airplane and it was a hard territory. The two years that I was there The Midnight Express left and first went to Dallas and then over to Charlotte, Ricky (Morton) and Robert (Gibson) followed them and Magnum TA went over there as well so all of the guys that I brought down to Mid South to begin with just wanted to go over to the Crockets. So I thought, well they are leaving, so I’m leaving and I went to Charlotte and did not like it and just went back to Tennessee.”

Pairing the legendary personality of Jim Cornette with the Midnight Express and Cornette’s present day perception:

“Well I don’t know about the legend part but he has been around a long time and I got along good with Jimmy and I do like Cornette. He wrote all my finishes down that he learned in Louisiana and when he went and did his own thing and I don’t blame him because that is how you learn and that is what you did. To say did he ever have an original thought of his own? I really don’t know. There used to be a formula with this business that if you stick to it, it still works. We can all cuss and we can all swear and we can all call people names and that don’t make you tough that makes you look more ignorant then tough and anyone can do that. I think Jimmy gets mixed up with what tough is and what cussing is, because that don’t make you tough.”

In comparison the reception his son Jamie Dundee gets for his very controversial comments and persona:

“There is definitely some Cornette in him. He wanted to be a white/black guy and when him and Wolfie D started and called themselves PG-13 they had the same gimmick as Cena and wore the sneakers and wore the shorts and they thought they were from the hood. Now he signs everything “white trash” and he’s got tattoos all over him and he’s back to being a redneck. He’ll say silly stuff and he’ll call people names and say stuff on the internet and write sh*t and it’s just more stupid then it is anything else. The only bad thing is people know you didn’t come into this world by yourself so when you say stupid stuff like that they think your mother and your father are like that and we ain’t nothing like that. He says well you know I’m nothing like that and it’s just a gimmick. But they don’t, the marks that listen to you on the radio shows and the podcasts hear all the things you say and they get you drunk and hear you saying silly words you and the (Iron) Sheik, they think that is you. When you do it on the internet it goes to Australia so your Aunts, Uncles and all the people that still live in Australia say look at Jamie. I think he has calmed down a little bit on that and he had a hell of a talent for this business but he got it all screwed up. I told him the drugs and alcohol are gonna kill you if you don’t get away from it and most of the ones that didn’t are not here.”

Thoughts on Jeff Jarrett and seeing him come up through the business:

“You kind of have to feel sorry for the promoters son. Greg Gagne got it with his Dad, Mike Graham got it with his Dad in Florida and when you are the promoters son people either like you or they don’t like you because well he only got to do that because his Dad is the boss and you have that cross to bear. It’s hard not to be Dad and not put your son in that position. Jerry said well I’m not going to push Jeff, well bull-sh*t you are going to push Jeff because that is your boy and that is what you are doing and that is how it is. Did he push him too fast? Maybe, who knows it took awhile for him to get his act together and I never thought he was one of the better talkers in this business because babyface wise his father was a very good talker. I got a long good with Jeff and drove up and down the road with him but were we big buddies? No, but when we were on the road we like to drink a beer and go to the bar so we had somethings in common on that part but we weren’t like the best of friends but we weren’t enemies either. I got a long good with the kid and tried to get along with helping him.”

Continuing with sons in the wrestling business, thoughts on Brian Christopher:

“I got a long good with Brian. Brian has a few demons that he has to get rid of. Jamie, Brian and Wolfie were all kind of painted with the same brush it was like what they did away from the ring was just goofy. Like I said, I’d have a few beers after the match but it ended there, I never wanted to stay up all night and party but the three of them were like that. They all ended up on the mountain and all ended up with Vince McMahon and all ended up with a job and all ended up getting fired for the same reason. Stupidity.:

Meeting with Vince McMahon after WrestleMania 1:

“I went up to Vince’s house after his first WrestleMania. He’s got that big friggin house up there in Connecticut, it’s like a damn castle. I asked him why did he have Liberace and the Rockets on his show and he said ‘Bill my father was in this wrestling business all his life and like you he thought just wrestling. When he went to the big arena in the sky he left a few dollars but I made more in the first WrestleMania then he left being in the business all his life and show business works’. He just got worse on the show business. How much can you do with the smoke and mirrors and his show now is all smoke and mirrors. I watched Raw (last night) and some of the stuff he’s doing on Raw is absolutely terrible in my opinion. Vince is a brilliant man for Vince and he’s made a lot of money and he turned his father’s business around, so obviously he’s not a dumb guy. There are more millionaires in the wrestling business today then there ever was back in the good old days.

“The day I went up there Shane was about 14 maybe and Stephanie was just a little girl and they were just young kids then. We talked and we just never quite saw eye to eye on anything and he fed me lunch and I got on the plane and had to wrestle in Jackson, Tennessee that Sunday night. It was fun and I can always say that I’ve been to God’s house and that was it.”

Japanese Wrestling Legend Hayabusa Dies At Age 47

Source: WrestlingINC

The pro wrestling world has suffered a great loss, as Eiji Ezaki, known to wrestling fans as Hayabusa has died at 47 years old.

Reports emerged early Friday of the Japanese legend’s passing due to a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Tokyo Sports said that Ezaki was found dead on Thursday afternoon.

Ezaki had been confined to a wheelchair for the last 14 years after suffering a career-ending injury inside the ring. During a match against Mammoth Sasaki, Ezaki lost his footing on a springboard moonsault attempt which caused him to land awkwardly, cracking two of his vertebrae, and leading to him being paralyzed.

Ezaki had a fantastic moment in 2014 where he rose from his wheelchair and took steps. He was later able to stand and walk on his own with the aid of a cane.

American pro wrestling fans perhaps best remember Ezaki from the classic ECW match where he teamed with Jensei Shinzaki (Hakushi) to take on Rob Van Dam and Sabu. The match was one of several in a talent exchange and co-promotion between ECW and Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling, known as FMW.

Hayabusa was one of the key cogs in FMW, and after his injury, the company withered away. In 2015, it was announced that the company would be revived, with Hayabusa/Ezaki serving as the Executive Producer.

Hayabusa also helped popularize several moves such as the Falcon Arrow and 450 Splash, while also inventing the Phoenix Splash. American fans may also know him as the motivation for the character “Han Zo Mon” in WCW/NWO Revenge video game and “Habanero” in WCW vs. The World.

WWE issued this statement on his passing:

WWE is saddened to learn of the passing of Eiji Ezaki, better known to fans around the world as Hayabusa, at the age of 47.

An innovative high-flyer who helped inspire a generation of Superstars, the mysterious, masked Hayabusa was known for throwing caution to the wind. Ezaki created daring moves like the Phoenix Splash, which to this day can be seen in the repertoire of daredevil competitors, including former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. A major star in Japan in the mid to late ’90s, Hayabusa competed in one major American match, teaming with Jinsei Shinzaki (known as Hakushi in WWE) in a losing effort against Sabu & Rob Van Dam at ECW’s Heat Wave 1998 event. Although his career was cut short by injury in 2001, Ezaki never strayed far from the industry, where he continued to impart his knowledge.

WWE extends its condolences to Ezaki’s family, friends and fans.

Jim Ross Lands New Gig Calling Boxing

Source: Bleacher Report

Former WWE announcer Jim Ross has signed with CBS to broadcast boxing matches, according to a Tuesday report by Cliff Brunt of the Associated Press (via the Republic).

His debut broadcast will be on March 12 at the Downtown Las Vegas Event Center in the first of eight “Knockout Night at the D” events to be held monthly.

Ross, 64, was both excited for the opportunity and aware he would require something of an adjustment period, as he told Brunt:

“I can’t overnight become a boxing expert. There will be learned boxing fans, longtime fans, that are going know infinitely more about boxing than I do, and I have no problem with that. My strengths are storytelling and getting you to know the fighter, and then bringing that spontaneity, that voice that cuts through the clutter.”

Ross served as a WWE announcer for 20 years, from 1993-2013. He also served as a WWE senior vice president for talent relations and notably signed “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Rock, John Cena, Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle, among other professional wrestlers, per Brunt.

While Ross will have to bring a different approach to announcing boxing matches as opposed to the WWE matches of his past, he doesn’t plan on totally changing his style.

“I’m excited because I’ll know about the fighters, I’ll know why you should like this guy, why he’s here, what it means to them—the story behind the fight,” Ross told Brunt. “And when the bell rings, I’ll call what I see, describe what I feel, and defer to my expert color analyst for the intricacies.”

That color commentator will be Al Bernstein, a veteran announcer who noted that Ross “brings to boxing the same wit and larger-than-life personality that has endeared him to wrestling viewers.”

In addition to his new gig in boxing, Ross is also working with FITE TV as an adviser and a spokesman and will be doing voice-overs for Mark Cuban’s New Japan Pro Wrestling show on AXS TV.

CM Punk’s UFC debut delayed once again 

The former professional wrestler turned mixed martial artist can’t seem to catch a break.

CM Punk made the announcement in late 2014 that he would be debuting in the Octogan in 2015 but due to legal issues and a shoulder injury that wasn’t the case.

Last week Mickey Gall defeated Mike Jackson to earn his right to face Punk. The bout was slated to take place at UFC199 but now Punk is telling MMAfighting.com that is not the case.

Apparently the straight edge Chicago native with an (0-0) MMA record has been dealing with some nagging back pains and as per usual found himself working through them. Upon further investigation it appears that Punk has a herniated disk that will require back surgery, pushing his UFC debut back even further.

Injuries are never fun so we here at WNB would like to wish Punk a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.

WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross’ New Project Revealed

Source: WrestlingINC

Flipps Media announced today that WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross is working as a celebrity spokesperson, executive advisor and investor for their new FITE TV. They issued the following:

Flipps Media Launches FITE TV with Jim Ross as Spokesperson

Free mobile app delivers live and on demand fighting sports video on TV

San Mateo, CA (February 9, 2016) – Flipps Media, a popular mobile app for entertainment enthusiasts to easily discover and project digital content onto a TV using only a smartphone, launches a new product, FITE TV. FITE is a one-stop shop for viewing all sports within the fighting discipline globally including MMA, professional wrestling, boxing and traditional martial arts.

“The global popularity of fighting sports was a catalyst to our decision to developing this new product, “said Kosta Jordanov, co-founder and CEO of Flipps Media. “Flipps has been downloaded by more than 15 million people and many of them gravitate towards our sports content. With over 300 million fighting sports fans and 150 million practitioners worldwide, FITE plans to leverage the global popularity of the sports by providing seamless TV access to all fighting related content.”

FITE is launching free and pay-per-view programming including live events, shows, movies and documentaries in collaboration with over 20 organizations such as: TNA Wrestling, Tuff-N-Uff MMA, Ring of Honor Wrestling, Legacy Fighting Championships, WWN Live, World Armwrestling Championships, USA Sumo and Xtreme Power TV.

“By leveraging the global popularity of combat sports, Flipps existing audience and their unique TV streaming technology, FITE is set to disrupt this space,” said Tim Draper, investor in Flipps Media. “As an early investor in Justin.TV to become Twitch, I’ve seen the power of niche video focus in establishing an exceptionally strong brand, attracting key partners and delivering an amazing value to viewers,” added the legendary investor Draper, inventor of viral marketing and an investor in numerous great companies including Skype, Hotmail, Tesla, Twitch, and Baidu.

FITE partnered with Jim Ross as the brand’s celebrity spokesperson, executive advisor and investor. Ross is widely known as the “Voice of WWE.” With over 40 years of experience in the professional wrestling, boxing and mixed martial arts world, the 2007 WWE Hall of Famer is one of the most prolific wrestling announcers and renowned wrestling executives at Mid-South Wrestling, Turner Broadcasting’s World Championship Wrestling and more recently for over 20 years at WWE. The two-time New York Times Bestselling Author also hosts a wildly popular weekly podcast, The Ross Report, with over 750,000 weekly listeners on Podcast One and is a main stay in the Twitter Universe with 1.4 million followers. As WWE’s EVP of Talent, Ross was instrumental in attracting and developing such world-renowned personalities as The Rock, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, John Cena, Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar.

“Getting involved with FITE is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. It is the future of televised fighting sports,” said Jim Ross, executive advisor at FITE TV. “There is no easier way to stream wrestling, MMA and other fighting sports content including special commentaries on those sports by me.”

To learn more about FITE, go to fite.tv or to download the app, log on to Google Play:bit.ly/1QnPolu or iTunes: apple.co/1PxQGKT.

About FITE TV:

FITE TV is a product of Flipps Media and is a free mobile app that is a one-stop shop for viewing all sports within the fighting discipline globally including MMA, professional wrestling, boxing, and traditional martial arts. With only access to a smart TV and a smartphone, with the FITE app, viewers can watch live events, on-demand programming, interviews and fighting sports related movies and documentaries on the big TV screen.

More information can be found at fite.tv.

About Flipps Media:

Flipps delivers on-demand entertainment to any nearby connected TV from your mobile device without any additional hardware. The company has offices in San Mateo, New York and Sofia, Bulgaria and is backed by Tim Draper, Earlybird Venture Capital, Aslanoba Capital and LAUNCHub. Flipps’ patented technology immediately works with over 350+ million connected TVs and is compatible with over 7,000 manufacturer models requiring no set up, no pairing devices, no cables, no dongles and no set top box. The Flipps mobile application is free and available on iTunes and Google Play. More information can be found at flipps.com.

CM Punk’s first UFC opponent has been named 

In late 2014 former WWE superstar CM Punk announced that he would be transitioning from pro wrestling to MMA. The straight edge Chicago native hoped to debut in 2015 but due to legal issues and even an injury his debut kept getting pushed back.

Punk who has an (0-0) record in MMA received tons of mixed reactions when he made the announcement. Some fans were excited while others felt he didn’t deserve a spot on the UFC roster.

Whether you love or hate Punk it’s no secret that the fans have been waiting to find out who his first opponent would be and tonight at UFC Vegas we got our answer. His name is Mickey Gall.

Gall won the fight over Mike Jackson in quick fashion, dropping Jackson with a punch before following him to the ground and locking on a rear naked choke submission. CM Punk was at cageside watching the fight.

Gall was discovered on UFC President Dana White’s Looking For A Fight reality program, where he scouts talent from throughout the country. Highly touted prospect Sage Northcutt was also recruited on the show. After winning a regional bout, Gall told Dana White that he wanted to challenge CM Punk. An impressed White gave Gall the shot.

As for Gall he is now (2-0) in his MMA career and looks to square off against punk later this year.

Sorce: Wrestlinginc.com 

ECW Original Axl Rotten Passed Away At Age 44

ECW Original Axl Rotten (Brian Knighton )passed away at the age of 44 yesterday.  PWInsider reports that Rotten was found by authorities in a local motel, which was in a bad part of Baltimore.

Knighton burst onto the pro-wrestling scene in 1993, performing in the ECW with his fictional brother Ian Rotten. The duo’s acrimonious split became one of the network’s the most famous rivalries.

As Axl Rotten, Knighton was known for dramatic matches that incorporated barbed wire, flaming tables and broken glass.

He went on to form a tag team partnership with Jonathan Rechner — known as Balls Mahoney in ECW — where he competed until 1999.

In 2005, Knighton made a brief appearance in WWE, when his and others’ old ECW characters were resurrected for a “one night only” event.

Here is Rotten’s last tweet:

 

WWE issued this statement on Axl Rotten:

WWE is saddened to learn of reports that Brian Knighton, best known for competing in ECW as Axl Rotten from 1993 to 1999, has passed away. WWE extends its condolences to Knighton’s family, friends and fans.