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

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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

Jerry “The King” Lawler Announced Memphis Wrestling Returning To Local TV

WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler recently announced the return of Memphis Wrestling to television. During the latest edition of the “Cerrito Live” podcast, Lawler said the promotion would be returning to local TV in Memphis, TN this April.

According to Lawler, Memphis Wrestling will air on Saturday mornings at 11AM EST on Channel 30.

WWE Hall Of Famer, Jerry “The King” Lawler may have a new TV show entitled; “Jerry Lawler’s Classic Memphis Wrestling”. According to PWInsider, Lawler has already filmed the pilot for the first episode and if the show is picked up locally, it would air classic matches and live events from Mid-South Championship Wrestling.

Cerrito Live, which is a radio sports show based in Memphis, had Lawler on for an interview and discussed the show coming to fruition. The WWE Hall Of Famer suggested that WWE could air the show after it debuts on local Memphis TV. He also stated that he technically owns a lot of the Memphis Wrestling library, so he could pull content off of YouTube if needed be.

Source: EWRESTLINGNEWS

Jeff Jarrett Rumored To Be A 2018 WWE Hall Of Fame Induction

There are rumors going around WWE that say Jeff Jarrett could be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame during WrestleMania 34 Week in New Orleans this year, according to PWInsider Elite.

No word yet on if there is any truth to the rumors but the potential induction would come after Jarrett recently wrapped a stint in WWE-sponsored rehab. The TNA co-founder is no longer affiliated with the company that he tried to go up against WWE with but he does have a controversial past with WWE.

Jarrett is a six-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, a one-time WWE Tag Team Champion and a one-time WWE European Champion. He is also a three-time WCW United States Champion and a four-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion.

WWE has confirmed headliner Bill Goldberg, The Dudley Boyz and Ivory for the 2018 Class as of this writing. Other names rumored but unconfirmed for this year include Mark Henry, the late Bam Bam Bigelow and Kid Rock for the Celebrity Wing.

The 2018 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place on Friday, April 6th at 7:30pm EST from the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans during WrestleMania 34 Week. It will air on the WWE Network in its entirety.

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE Mixed Match Challenge and 205 Live Preview 2/13/18

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Tonight’s WWE Mixed Match Challenge and WWE 205 Live will take place from the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, California.

WWE Mixed Match Challenge:

* Rusev & Lana vs. Elias & Bayley

 

WWE 205 Live:

* Who else will enter the Cruiserweight Championship Tournament?

* WWE Cruiserweight Title tournament continues with Drew Gulak vs. Tony Nese and Mark Andrews vs. Akira Tozawa.

SmackDown Live Preview 2/13/18

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, California.

* Dolph Ziggler to face Baron Corbin tonight on SmackDown LIVE in a battle with WWE Fastlaneimplications

* Charlotte Flair continues her quest for payback against The Riott Squad

* Bobby Roode issues a United States Open Challenge

* The New Day take on Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin

Men’s Elimination Chamber Match to Feature Seven Competitors Following Raw

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WWE has announced that the men’s Elimination Chamber match will feature seven competitors for the first time following the events on Raw. Kurt Angle announced in a Facebook video posted to WWE’s FB page that both Seth Rollins and Finn Balor will be added to the match after they jointly pinned Bray Wyatt in the Raw main event. You can see the video below, in which Angle listens to both men’s arguments and makes the ruling, deciding they both belong in the match:

WWE Reportedly Holding a Talent Draft at Backlash

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It was reported that WWE is reportedly set to make all PPV events dual-branded starting with Backlash in May. WWE is internally discussing bringing back the WWE Draft at the upcoming Backlash PPV. The idea for the WWE Draft returning at Backlash would be to use it as a way for WWE to jumpstart the all duel brand PPV format going forward.

Source: 411Mania

WWE Reportedly Making All PPVs Dual-Branded Starting With Backlash

WWE is reportedly set to make all PPV events dual-branded starting with Backlash in May. Wrestling Inc reports that Ticketmaster has sent an email to ticketholders for Backlash announcing that it is now a dual-brand event, with both Smackdown and Raw stars.

In addition, the WrestleVotes Twitter account reports that all PPVs will be dual-branded starting with Backlash and moving forward, citing “repetitive matches” and “so-so ticket sales” as the reason. WrestleVotes has broken stories in the past, such as Neville’s WWE departure. The account notes that weekly TV will remain separated.

WWE has yet to comment on this story.

Source: 411Mania

Ronda Rousey Announced For WWE Elimination Chamber PPV

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RAW General Manager Kurt Angle announced last night on RAW that Ronda Rousey will sign her WWE contract in the ring at the upcoming Elimination Chamber pay-per-view.

RAW Preview 2/12/18

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the SAP Center in San Jose, California as the road to Elimination Chamber continues.

* Final Superstar in the Men’s Elimination Chamber Match to be determined

* Braun Strowman stands tall, even in defeat

* Have Alexa Bliss and Mickie James forged an alliance?

* What’s next for Seth Rollins?

* Is Nia Jax primed to end Asuka’s undefeated streak?

RAW General Manager Kurt Angle has announced Sasha Banks vs. Bayley for tonight’s RAW from San Jose, Bayley’s hometown. Angle tweeted: