Category: NXT

WWE Reportedly Not Publicizing Drug Testing Policy Violations From NXT And Developmental Talent

On August 30, 2007, WWE announced the suspensions of 10 of its performers for violations of the company’s Wellness Policy (now officially known as the Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy) based on independent information received from investigators from the Albany County District Attorney’s Office in Albany, New York. At the time, it was WWE’s practice not to release the names of those suspended, but the company pledged that beginning on November 1, 2007, it would publicly disclose ‘the names of anyone who is suspended under the Wellness Policy.’ Now in 2018, this rule apparently no longer applies to all people under contract to WWE for ‘in-ring services.’

 According to Dave Meltzer in the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, while it remains company policy to publicly disclose a WWE performer’s name and duration of the suspension for a violation, this only applies to those on the main roster. Meltzer says NXT performers and other developmental talent are not subject to having their name publicly disclosed for a drug testing violation.

This contradicts what is written in WWE’s Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy, which states that it ‘is applicable to and binding upon all WWE Talent under contract to WWE who regularly perform in-ring services as a professional sports entertainer.’

17. APPLICABILITY OF THIS POLICY
This Policy, as it may be amended from time to time, is applicable to and binding upon all WWE Talent under contract to WWE who regularly perform in-ring services as a professional sports entertainer (“WWE Talent”).

Two months after the policy change went into effect, WWE suspended two developmental performers on January 15, 2008 — Neil Bzibziak (aka Chet Jablonski and Chet the Jet) and Derrick Neikirk — for violations of the company’s Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy. Since then, WWE has only publicized one suspension of a developmental talent and it was 10 years ago (Afa Anoa’i Jr. on March 20, 2008, who joined the main roster later that year under the name of Manu).

In April 2016, WWE announced the suspension of both Adam Rose and Konnor for 60 days each for a second violation of the company’s policy. However, WWE never announced when either talent had served their first respective suspensions.

Meltzer said then that both Rose and Konnor were in developmental at the time of their first respective suspensions. WWE suspended Rose in 2013 and Konnor in 2006 (both for 30 days). Rose is the last known suspension of a developmental talent.

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Return Details

Image result for NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic

WWE NXT General Manager William Regal has announced that the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will return this year. The matches begin on the March 7th NXT episode and the winners will face NXT Tag Team Champions Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish at “Takeover: New Orleans” during WrestleMania 34 weekend.

 Below is the official announcement:

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic returnsNXT General Manager William Regal announced that the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will be returning.

The tournament honoring the memory of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes will begin in two weeks on the March 7 episode of NXT, and the winning tandem will challenge Undisputed ERA’s Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly for the NXT Tag Team Championship at TakeOver: New Orleans.

With NXT’s Tag Team division as crowded as it’s ever been, the competition to be a part of this epic tournament is sure to heat up. Who will join teams such as The Authors of Pain, Heavy Machinery, Street Profits and TM61 in this epic tag team tournament?

Source: WrestlingINC

Johnny Gargano Leaves WWE NXT Per Stipulation Of Losing Match

Image result for A somber Johnny Gargano leaves NXT: NXY Exclusive, Feb 21, 2018

On last night’s WWE NXT main event we saw Johnny Gargano lose a Career vs. Title match to NXT Champion Andrade “Cien” Almas. Per the stipulation, Gargano must now leave NXT. The match saw interference by Tommaso Ciampa, Zelina Vega and Candice LeRae.

What’s next for Johnny Wrestling?

Below is post-match video of a somber Gargano leaving the arena with his wife as the roster and others look on, including NXT General Manager William Regal.

Gargano tweeted the following after the loss:

Jim Cornette On How Much Money WWE Loses With NXT

Image result for Jim Cornette On How Much Money NXT Spends

Jim Cornette was the former lead booker for Ohio Valley Wrestling, WWE’s former developmental promotion, so he has a keen interest in the company’s current developmental territory NXT. On recent episode of The Jim Cornette Experience, Cornette made some revelations about how much money NXT is losing.

Cornette said he was sent the yearly and quarterly reports that are available because the WWE is a publicly-traded company. He revealed that NXT lost way more many than it made in the last two years, a luxury he wishes he had when he was at the helm of OVW.

“NXT in 2016 sold $7 million in tickets and had $20 million in expenses. In 2017, NXT had let’s say $6 million in ticket sales and $25 million in expenses… In all honesty, 2016 they lost $13 million, 2017 they lost $19 million and that’s not a ton of money for that whole company and organization up there. But can you imagine what me and Danny Davis could’ve done with Ohio Valley Wrestling if they said, ‘OK guys, you can bring in anybody that you want that’s not on the main roster or signed to New Japan and you can lose $32 million over the next two years.’ Holy f**k!”

Cornette said OVW never was in that position even though it didn’t generate a lot of money on its own. Still, he believes OVW was successful in its own right and says it was never in a bad monetary situation.

“We already had the highest rated show on the station’s Saturday schedule we were on… We had numerous events that drew large houses at the Gardens and we drew at Six Flags and we produced a ton of talent. I don’t know what the percentages would be but I guarantee we didn’t lose $32 million,” he said. “That’s the thing, Ohio Valley Wrestling never lost money since it’s been in operation. There have been a few years it may not have made much, but at that point in time it was the only full-time company with television running regular events in the United States besides the WWE that was profitable.”

Cornette said he understands the WWE’s need to develop their future superstars, so it’s necessary for them to put a lot of money towards NXT. Still, he thinks the losses are very monumental, so he was surprised by the numbers.

“I understand they’re making the investment in training the future superstars and they have to, they’ve figured out that they have to because they’re not getting them from anywhere else,” he said. “So they have to train their own, but my God!”

Source: The Jim Cornette Experience via WrestlingINC

NXT Preview 2/21/18

* Johnny Gargano risks his NXT career in NXT Title Match against Andrade “Cien” Almas

* The fiesta meets the experience: No Way Jose vs. The Velveteen Dream

* Vanessa Borne readies for a punishing playdate with Nikki Cross

NXT Preview 2/14/18

* Ember Moon grants Shayna Baszler an NXT Women’s Championship rematch

* Roderick Strong takes aim at Pete Dunne’s WWE U.K. Championship

* Aleister Black returns on WWE Network

EC3 Says Impact Wrestling Departure Wasn’t Over Company Financial Issues

Image result for EC3 NXT

Ethan Carter III in a recent interview with Newsweek talked about what led to his decision to leave Impact Wrestling and join WWE. While Impact has a track record of financial problems, that wasn’t a factor in his move, he told Newsweek.

“My decision to leave Impact had nothing to with their business or finances and everything with me wanting to challenge myself to something new,” he said on January 23. “Leaving Impact was a very difficult decision as I had six months left on a very lucrative and talent-friendly contract. Anthem lived up to that contract and always treated me with the utmost respect as a businessman and a person.”

EC3 was shown on camera at NXT Takeover: Philadelphia on January 27.

Don Callis and Scott D’Amore are new executive vice presidents working with Impact. Callis said the recent changes to Impact’s talent roster are good for the company.

“Change is good,” Callis said. “Yes, EC3 left, but Brian Cage came in, Johnny Impact was signed, Austin Aries came in.”

Talents like EC3, the Hardys, James Storm, Laurel Van Ness, Drew Galloway, Rockstar Spud, Mike Bennett, Maria Kanellis and announcer and producer Jeremy Borash have all left the company as of late. D’Amore, who’s had previous roles in the company, said new talent coming in are eager to fill the void left by others.

“This company has been a launching pad for people to come in and prove they’re stars and deserve the notoriety,” D’Amore said. “The Brian Cages, the Su Yungs, all these people coming in are going to be the next Bobby Roodes and Angelina Loves of the next generation.”

D’Amore acknowledged Impact needs to rebuild a buzz and following with its audience to get the company where it wants to be.

“In 2018, we’re re-establishing trust with the talent, with business partners, with fans,” he said. “You can’t fix it overnight. We’ve seen, historically, I call it the dangling carrot: ‘When we have this, everything’s going to be great.’ We’re going to roll up our sleeves and work hard. Slowly but surely we’re going to make progress. When we look back at the end of 2018, I think we’re going to be happy with the progress we’ve made.”

You can read the full story here.

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE On Drew McIntyre’s ICW Hall Of Fame Induction

Image result for Drew McIntyre's ICW Hall Of Fame

WWE announced the following to congratulate NXT Superstar Drew McIntyre on being inducted into the Insane Championship Wrestling Hall of Fame on February 12th in Glasgow. McIntyre will return to ICW for a one-night appearance to receive the honor at the Fight Club event from the O2 ABC.

Drew McIntyre to be inducted into ICW Hall of FameAs Drew McIntyre continues recuperating from the devastating bicep injury he suffered last November at TakeOver: WarGames, the former NXT Champion will have cause for celebration later this month when he returns home to Scotland to be honored by an organization near and dear to his heart.

Glasgow-based Insane Championship Wrestling announced today that it will induct McIntyre into its Hall of Fame on Monday, Feb. 12. The Scottish Superstar will receive the honor in person, making a one-night-only appearance at ICW’s Fight Club event at the O2 ABC in Glasgow.

McIntyre was a mainstay in ICW, both before his original debut in WWE as well as during his three-year hiatus away from WWE. He was the organization’s inaugural ICW Heavyweight Champion, first winning the title in 2006. McIntyre recaptured the title again in 2014, holding it for 378 days. In response to the news, McIntyre described his upcoming induction as a “truly special” honor.

Tickets for ICW’s Feb. 12 Fight Club are available now here.

NXT Preview 1/31/18

* Will Roderick Strong or Tyler Bate earn a showdown with WWE U.K. Champion Pete Dunne?

* TM61 return to action for the first time in more than a year

* Does payback await The Lady of NXT? Lacey Evans vs. Nikki Cross

Wrestling News Blog Podcast: XFL Announcement & 2018 Royal Rumble & NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia Previews

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Ed Boston Podcast Network presents The Wrestling News Blog Podcast!

Ed Boston and Vanessa Vasquez discuss Vince McMahon’s huge XFL announcement and give a preview of NXT Takeover Philidelphia and the WWE Royal Rumble.. Which will feature a Women’s Rumble match for the first time ever!!!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/edboston/2018/01/27/wrestling-news-blog-podcast-xfl-announcement-royal-rumble-2018-preview