Impact Wrestling Acquires Global Force Wrestling

Impact Wrestling issued the following:

IMPACT Wrestling Acquires Global Force WrestlingNASHVILLE | TORONTO – Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions LLC, a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp. and parent company of IMPACT Wrestling, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Global Force Entertainment, LLC d/b/a Global Force Wrestling.

Jeff Jarrett, the founder of both IMPACT Wrestling and Global Force Entertainment, will join Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions as a member of its board of managers, equity owner and Chief Creative Officer.

“We are thrilled to be joining forces with Anthem as a partner to build the business,” said Karen Jarrett. “This partnership will be complementary of our strengths and bolster our capabilities to grow the IMPACT Wrestling brand. Ed Nordholm as President and Jeff Jarrett as Chief Creative Officer make a great tag team”

“We are excited by the progress we have made with IMPACT Wrestling since acquiring the business in January,” said Ed Nordholm, president of Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions. “Jeff and his team have been instrumental in this success and we are pleased that we have reached an agreement on the basis of which we can combine our businesses to continue to grow. Slammiversary XV will be a fitting occasion to bring the promotions together and merge the titles under the new IMPACT combined belts. By combining our resources and talent, we can produce the best product for our global audience.”

For more information, visit http://www.impactwrestling.com.

About IMPACT Wrestling

IMPACT Wrestling is one of the world’s largest wrestling entertainment properties, creating more than 200 hours of original content annually across television and other digital platforms. IMPACT Wrestling specializes in events, products, merchandise and music, as well as the management and promotion of professional wrestlers. The roster features such greats as Bobby Lashley, Alberto El Patron, EC3, Eddie Edwards, Davey Richards, James Storm, Low-Ki and the high-flying X-Division, plus the lovely and lethal Knockouts, including Gail Kim. Its highly successful flagship, IMPACT WRESTLING, broadcasts in more than 120 countries around the world, including Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Pop (a joint venture of CBS Corporation and Lionsgate) in the United States, Fight Network and GameTV in Canada, Sony Six in India, Spike UK in the United Kingdom and SuperSport in Africa.

About Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp.

Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp. is a global sports media company with offices and studios in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles. Anthem’s portfolio includes Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel now broadcasting in the U.S., Canada and over 30 other countries, GameTV, featuring game shows, reality series, movies and sports available in over 9 million homes, IMPACT Wrestling, a professional wrestling promotion seen in 120 countries specializing in television programs, events, products, merchandise, music, as well as the management and promotion of professional wrestlers, and Edge Sport, an extreme and action sports network recently launched in Canada in partnership with IMG. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S. available in 45 million homes.

Anthem also owns the Fantasy Sports Entertainment Group (FSEG), which includes Fantasy Sports Network(FNTSY), the world’s first and only channel dedicated to fantasy sports, FNTSY Sports Radio Network, a 24/7 audio channel, RotoExperts.com, a leader in season-long fantasy sports news and analysis,DailyRoto.com, the most comprehensive and far-reaching daily fantasy sports website, and SportsGrid.com, a leader in general sports entertainment commentary.

Tyson Kidd Being Transitioned Into Non-Wrestling Role

Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that Tyson Kidd, aka TJ Wilson, is making his return to wrestling, however, it won’t be in the ring, he’ll be working in a non-wrestling capacity.

According to sources, Kidd is currently being transitioned into a non-wrestling role. Since it’s still fresh, one source says it’s too early to define whether it’ll be behind the scenes, like a producer/agent, or if he’ll be used in some sort of on-air role that doesn’t require wrestling.

For those who don’t recall, Tyson was injured during a match with Samoa Joe in 2015 that ended his in-ring career. Kidd was kept from filming Total Divas last season because the company feared he’d open up about the night of his injury.

The 36-year-old recently revealed, however, that he’ll once again appear on the show next season.

 

BREAKING NEWS: With Anderson Out Cyborg Will Now Face Invicta Champion Tonya Evinger At UFC 214

The UFC made the announcement today that Megan Anderson is out of UFC 214 and replacing her will be Invicta’s bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger.

In an official statement Anderson had this to say:

“I have been wanting this fight for a long time and finally got the opportunity to showcase my skills on the big stage but unfortunately due to some pressing personal reasons that are out of my control, it is not to be right now. I am no stranger to struggle and this is the biggest struggle I have faced yet, but like I always do, I will come back stronger and better than before and I will be coming straight for Cris, the Title and becoming the face of the UFC 145lb division. I am determined and resolved to make history and shock the world. I’m coming for whoever has that belt.”

Cyborg vs. Evinger will still be for the featherweight title and It’ll serve as the co the main event for Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones. UFC 214 will take place in Anaheim California on Saturday July 29th 2017

Randy Orton And Jinder Mahal To Battle For WWE Title In A Punjabi Prison Match At Battleground

punjabi prison randy orton jinder mahal smackdown live battleground shane mcmahon smackdown live

The last Punjabi Prison match was about 10 years ago, but that’s about to change, because the brutal structure is coming back at the SmackDown Live exclusive pay-per-view WWE Battleground.

The announcement happened on SmackDown Live last night when Orton refused to leave the ring until he was granted a title match, causing Shane McMahon to come out from the back.

The SD Live Commissioner granted the rematch, but said Jinder was allowed to pick the stipulation.

The WWE Champion then made his entrance and announced that he and Randy would face each other in a Punjabi Prison match next month.

 

Carmella Officially Ms. Money In The Bank (Video)

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Last night on SmackDown live, Carmella won the Money In The Bank Ladder Rematch. So, Carmella is now officially Ms. Money in the Bank.

The MITB rematch was made after the first-ever women’s MITB Ladder match at the June 18th pay-per-view ended in controversy due to James Ellsworth helping Carmella win.

Carmella now has one year to cash in her contract for a shot at the SmackDown Women’s Title, currently held by Naomi.

Jeff Jarrett Reveals Special Guest For Slammiversary XV, Orlando Honors Impact Wrestling

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We reported this past weekend that Jeff Jarrett was teasing a very special guest for this Sunday’s Impact Wrestling Slammiversary pay-per-view. Jarrett revealed today that the special guest will be Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

Jarrett tweeted the following:

Impact Wrestling issued the following announcement:

City of Orlando, Florida Honors IMPACT Wrestling as the Company Celebrates 15 Years

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer Bringing Proclamation to The Impact Zone – And He’s Also Going to Work During Taping forIMPACT on Pop TV

Nashville / Orlando (June 27, 2017) – To honor the 15-year anniversary of IMPACT Wrestling, a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp., the City of Orlando has declared Wednesday, July 5, 2017, as “IMPACT WRESTLING DAY IN ORLANDO.”

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will present a proclamation honoring IMPACT Wrestling before taping begins July 5 for a future episode of IMPACT on Pop TV.  IMPACT has filmed most of its weekly, two-hour TV show over the past 15 years on the backlot at Universal Studios Florida, dubbed The Impact Zone.

This is the first time Mayor Dyer has attended an IMPACT Wrestling show – and he’s not just attending in a mayoral role.  Mayor Dyer also will serve as the “Special Ring Announcer” for two matches.

“Orlando is already known worldwide as an epicenter for entertainment, and as we have worked to diversify our economy, growing our sports-based industries has been a strong focus,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.  “Blending both entertainment and sports, IMPACT Wrestling is the exact type of event we’d like to continue hosting in Orlando. We are grateful to IMPACT Wresting for its commitment to, and investment in, the City of Orlando and look forward to IMPACT’s next 15 years of growth in our community.”

Jeff Jarrett is the founder of IMPACT Wrestling and now serves as the company’s Chief Creative Officer.  He said IMPACT has been a “labor of love” since day one, and now to be honored by Mayor Dyer and the City of Orlando, “is one of the biggest accomplishments in IMPACT Wrestling history.”

IMPACT Wrestling presents Slammiversary 15 on July 2 at The Impact Zone, a pay-per-view extravaganza that will bring a standing room-only crowd to Orlando. IMPACT on Pop TV will then be filmed July 3-6 for episodes to air over the next month or so.

Bobby Lashley, the reigning IMPACT Wrestling World Champion, is one of the biggest stars in pro wrestling and also has ventured into mixed martial-arts.  His opponent at Slammiversary is second-generation wrestling favorite Alberto El Patron, who has achieved crossover popularity in the U.S. and his native Mexico.

IMPACT Wrestling will return to Orlando through the end of the year as its primary production home.  IMPACT’s budget in Orlando, which includes lodging, local vendors, and all other aspects of production, exceeds $7.5 million annually.

“We are so honored to be recognized by Mayor Dyer and the City of Orlando,” said Ed Nordholm, President of IMPACT Wrestling.  “The City of Orlando is like a second home to many of our team.  We’ve spent so many nights in Orlando over the years, most of us have our favorite restaurants – and the staff at those venues know our orders once we arrive.”

Photo-52-150x200_c City of Orlando, Florida Honors IMPACT Wrestling as the Company Celebrates 15 Years Orlando Photo-52-150x200_c City of Orlando, Florida Honors IMPACT Wrestling as the Company Celebrates 15 Years Orlando DSC_8053-150x200_c City of Orlando, Florida Honors IMPACT Wrestling as the Company Celebrates 15 Years Orlando

SmackDown Live Preview 6/27/17

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California.

* Second-ever Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match to take place tonight on SmackDown LIVE

* Naomi and Lana face off in SmackDown Women’s Championship rematch

* Sami Zayn battles Baron Corbin on SmackDown LIVE

* The Hype Bros battle The Usos for a chance to earn a SmackDown Tag Team Title Match

 

Jim Cornette On Vince Russo’s Protective Order, Taking Things Too Far, Russo Calling Him A Pill Head

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Today The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling welcomes back to the show our favorite guest of all time, Jim Cornette. Fresh off of being served with a protective order by his longtime nemesis Vince Russo, the leader of the “Cult of Cornette” discusses what this rivalry means to him personally as well as how it has lasted as long as it has. John and Chad also bring up the topics of booking ideas, taking credit for angles and story lines and the inclusion of Eric Bischoff and Bruce Prichard into what seems to be this endless feud. The full episode can be downloaded at this link.

How WWE Network‘s Table For 3 may have been the catalyst for the recent developments between Cornette and Russo:

“When you just say it like that it just sounds so crass. We had a great time doing Table for 3 and it got such great feedback on Twitter, people raved and everybody wanted to see more and petitioned the WWE to see more. The only person that actually didn’t like it was Vince Russo. He kind of got offended (I guess) that as part of the discussion that we had and that Eric Bischoff and I who have never been friendly and it was the first time we had talked face to face in over twenty years bonded over a mutual dislike of Mr. Russo. As that came up and we mentioned that, the WWE was quick to flash that picture up there because I guess they wanted to make that point and he got offended. We exchanged some harsh words in both directions on our podcasts.

“I had said some harsh things that I have expressed remorse about and in fact on my YouTube channel, the statement is up there now and finally when I had said such harsh things about Vince Russo that I was served with a protective order and that he accused me of stalking him for eighteen years, I didn’t realize that I had taken it that far and I had no idea of that. It ordered me to stay away from him, his family, his residence (that I’ve never been to) and his wife (that I haven’t seen in over twenty years) and to never call his phone (that I never called and didn’t have the number to until last week) but I shouldn’t do that and I am not going to do that because after all it is court ordered. I really feel bad and express remorse that I scared the little fella so bad that he would have to go through something like this and it has gone too far. So we will be lighting up on the poor thing and I don’t want to be accused of putting somebody in fear of their life.”

Was there any way to patch things up prior to the protective order:

“He went on his show again and demanded that I come on his show or let him come on my show or go on somebody’s show and say these things to his face on Skype. I took it too far (of course) and said I’d be happy to say these things to your face and whatever happens will happen and lets settle this and that didn’t work out well because I got a protective order. So we aren’t going to be talking face to face or contacting each other at all because that is strictly forbidden so that debate will never happen. But I thought we were starting to work through our issues until that Table for 3.

Bruce Prichard and Eric Bischoff’s feud with Vince Russo heating up:

“Poor Bruce Prichard. I didn’t hear the whole show but I guess Vince got upset because they read significant portions of a book that he wrote on the air and it made him look bad because I guess it was completely different things than what he is saying now but I don’t know. I never read it so I can’t comment. I hope that Bruce certainly doesn’t certainly doesn’t take anything too far like I did. Of course Eric Bischoff. He had mentioned that he doesn’t hate Vince Russo, he just takes him for what he is and I believe that is a ‘pathological liar’ was the quote. But I can’t remember because I saw that second hand.”

Prichard addressing Russo’s claims that he was a “pill head and alcoholic”:

“That basically is saying that Vince was lying about it. When you say that I am afraid now that Vince is going to have to go to court again and get some kind of order against Bruce. You can’t go around calling Vince Russo a liar because he does not take that well. I don’t think we should be smearing his reputation anymore because after all he is a fine, upstanding human being.”

“Apparently, every major wrestling personality in probably the history of the world that he has ever worked with and he’s like the scientists on global warming. 97% of them are so jealous of Vince and so upset about what he’s accomplished that they lie and talk about how crooked and how much of a cheat and a con man and a scoundrel he is. He is going to have to spend a lot of time in court serving all these papers. I wish we would just stop impugning his integrity.”

For this and every other episode of The Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling please subscribe to us on iTunes, Podomatic, Player FM, Tune In Radio and The IRW Network, The exclusive home of The Triple Threat Podcast featuring Shane Douglas

& TMPToW. As well as follow us on Twitter @TwoManPowerTrip

Source: WrestlingINC

Lucha Underground – AAA Stars Appearing At Slammiversary This Sunday

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Lucha Underground / AAA stars El Hijo del Fantasma and Drago will team up at Slammiversary this Sunday in a 4-way match for the IMPACT Wrestling Tag-Team Championship, now held by the Latin American Xchange (LAX). The match will also feature talent from two other international promotions.

Impact Wrestling issued the following:

Mexican Wrestling Stars Set to Debut at Slammiversary 15

El Hijo del Fantasma, Drago Team Up for Shot at World Tag-Team Championship

NASHVILLE | MEXICO CITY – IMPACT Wrestling, a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp., announced today that it will bring two superstars from Mexico-based Lucha Libre AAA (AAA for short) to participate in Slammiversary 15 on July 2, a live pay-per-view filmed on the backlot at Universal Studios Florida.

AAA stars El Hijo del Fantasma and Drago will team up at Slammiversary in a 4-way match for the IMPACT Wrestling Tag-Team Championship, now held by the Latin American Xchange (LAX). The match will also feature talent from two other international promotions.

El Hijo del Fantasma (Spanish for Son of the Ghost) is a second-generation wrestler who has been wrestling since 2000, following the wrestling boots of his father, El Fantasma.

Drago, who has been wrestling professionally since 1998, has won multiple tag-team championships and is regarded as one of the most colorful, charismatic and creative wrestlers ever.

In March 2017, IMPACT Wrestling announced a landmark alliance with AAA, including a talent exchange between the organizations and other opportunities to collaborate in their respective markets. The high-flying lucha libre style synonymous with AAA events was an early influencer of IMPACT Wrestling’s X-Division, which has produced some of the most memorable matches in professional wrestling history.

“I have worked with the founder of AAA, Antonio Pena, and his family for 15 years,” said Jeff Jarrett, who is the founder of IMPACT Wrestling and now serves as the company’s Chief Creative Officer. “Slammiversary is 15 years in the making, and we are thrilled to have these two AAA stars be part of the show. I am sure the fans who have never seen them before will be so impressed. AAA has been a revolutionary wrestling promotion at the forefront of lucha libre wrestling in Mexico. We are looking forward to taking the working relationship between IMPACT Wrestling and AAA to the next level later this year, and fans can look forward to more collaborations between the two promotions through the rest of 2017, including Bound For Glory in November.”

Dorian Roldán, the owner of AAA, said he is thrilled to be expanding the relationship between the two promotions during a milestone year, as AAA celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2017, while IMPACT celebrates its 15th anniversary at Slammiversary.

“I feel really proud to send Drago and Hijo del Fantasma to participate in this important show, that is IMPACT Wrestling’s 15th anniversary, not only for the importance of this promotion worldwide, but also because of the high quality entertainment they offer to thousands of people in each of their presentations, live and on TV. I’m completely sure that AAA and IMPACT Wrestling have a long and bright future together, where great battles, and extremely intense matches will be achieved,” Roldán said.

TripleMania is the biggest annual event promoted by AAA, commemorating the anniversary of the company’s founding. The show has been promoted for 20 years with 27 shows in total under the TripleMania banner.

TripleMania XXV is scheduled for August 26 in Mexico City, highlighted by Psycho Clown against Dr. Wagner Jr., in a mask vs. mask match. Several IMPACT Wrestling stars will also appear on TripleMania XXV, Jarrett confirmed.

For more information, please visit http://www.impactwrestling.com.

Source: WrestlingINC

RAW Preview 6/26/17

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

* Is Samoa Joe prepared for Brock Lesnar’s return?

* Will Goldust be smacked by “the hand of Truth” during his movie premiere?

* What’s next for Enzo Amore?

* Will Bray Wyatt retaliate against Seth Rollins?

* Is an ambulance ride in Roman Reigns’ near future?