Kane To Run For Mayor Of Knox County, Tennessee

Glenn Jacobs, better known as WWE’s Kane, has reportedly filed paperwork that indicates he plans to run for mayor of Knox County, Tennessee.

According to WCYB, Jacobs submitted formal campaign documents March 1 that disclosed he had hired a treasurer to assist with his pursuit of the mayoral post.

In May 2016, Jacobs said he was mulling a bid for mayor because incumbent Tim Burchett’s term limit was set to expire in 2018 and he wanted to find ways to positively impact Knox County.

“I think the most important thing is I care very deeply about this community, like a lot of people do,” he said, per WBIR.com’s Mike Donila. “And that’s the only reason I would consider getting into any sort of government because I do care very deeply.”

Jacobs, who reportedly identifies as a Republican, is expected to have stiff competition in the Knox County mayoral race.

WCYB noted Knox County Commissioner Bob Thomas and Democrat Tracy Clough both took the same procedural steps as Jacobs and filed paperwork confirming they had also hired campaign treasurers.

Source: Bleacher Report

ROH Source Reportedly Denying WWE Sale Reports

Chuck Carroll has a story at CBS regarding rumors of a WWE purchase of Ring of Honor. Accoring to Carroll, multiple sources told him that WWE is not purchasing Ring of Honor with one high-ranking ROH source outright saying “there is no story here.”

ROH COO Joe Koff has previously stated that the idea of WWE purchasing the ROH tape library is unlikely, but they do have a good working relationship.

“I’m always open to any conversation,” said Koff. “We do business with them if they want to do a DVD or VOD if they need footage from early matches they do come to us. We are open to work with them on that basis because it doesn’t hurt us. It actually helps us.”

Carroll had asked Koff earlier this month about whether ROH will begin streaming on WWE Network.

“No, no, no, no,” Koff told Carroll. “It’s very flattering and humbling to us. It validates what we’ve done. A lot of their current performers and stars are ROH guys and we have their history. So maybe the content of the backstories of Kevin Steen before he became Kevin Owens or AJ Styles’ run in Ring of Honor, Tyler Black (aka Seth Rollins), Claudio (Castagnoli aka Cesaro) … all of the guys who have wrestled for us. We have their backstory and where it began… That’s our content.”

The full article with details on the relationship between WWE and ROH is at this link.

Source: WrestlingINC

Anthem Announces Impact Wrestling Partnership With ‘WOS’ British Wrestling

Image result for Impact Wrestling partnership with WOS British Wrestling

Impact Wrestling announced the following:

Iconic ‘WOS’ British Wrestling to Return to ITV

MANCHESTER | NASHVILLE – ITV Studios Entertainment Manchester announced today that it has teamed up with IMPACT Wrestling, a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp., to bring WOS Wrestling back to ITV, with an initial commission for a 10-part series.

The commission from ITV’s Helen Warner follows a successful one-off-special, which aired on New Year’s Eve 2016. The Executive Producers for ITV Studios are Tom McLennan and Simon Marsh. Jeff Jarrett, the Chief Creative Officer for IMPACT Wrestling, will be the Executive Producer for IMPACT Wrestling.

Thirty years after the original WOS ended – and legendary stars such as Big Daddy, Mick McManus and Rollerball Rocco left British screens – this new series will feature the very best of today’s wrestlers from the current red-hot U.K. wrestling scene.

They will compete in front of a live audience at the intimate Preston Guild Hall on Thursday 25th May and Friday 26th May (doors 7pm / bell time 7.30pm).

Tickets for these historic shows will go on sale at 9am on Friday 7th April from Gigsandtours.com / Ticketmaster.co.uk / prestonguildhall.co.uk

There will also be a launch event this Monday (27th March) at 2pm in Manchester, where the full details of the WOS live shows will be announced, including the roster. Press and fans are invited to attend to the launch, which will include a Q&A and meet & greet. Places are extremely limited, to reserve one please email wswaudience@itv.com

This initial commission is part of a comprehensive co-production agreement between ITV Studios and IMPACT Wrestling to relaunch the WOS Wrestling brand, bringing British stars to ITV while leveraging the roster and creative team of Impact Wrestling along with its expertise in live event production and international distribution.

“This opportunity to work with ITV Studios to revive this iconic brand in the United Kingdom is a perfect example of the ways in which we intend to leverage our strengths to build our presence in international markets in collaboration with local organizations,” said Ed Nordholm, President of Impact Wrestling.

Director of Entertainment, ITV Studios Manchester, Tom Mclennan said: “Britain’s wrestling scene is thriving and there has never been a better time to bring it back to ITV after a gap of 30 years.”

Jeff Jarrett, Chief Creative Officer for IMPACT Wrestling, added: “The WOS brand is etched in professional wrestling tradition. My family’s lineage in the industry dates back 70-plus years, so I am honoured for the opportunity to work on reviving the legacy of this historic British series.”

Mauro Ranallo Thanks Fans For Support During His Absence

Mauro Ranallo took to Twitter for the first time since last Tuesday to comment on his absence from Smackdown. Ranallo noted that his doctor has told him to “stay off social media” but that he wanted to thank fans for his support.

WWE said that Ranallo missed this week due to illness, while last week’s miss was attributed to travel issues due to weather conditions in the Northeast.

Ranallo has suffered from depression for much of his life, an issue he’s spoken of in depth in interviews, and there was some concern because he has been out of contact with longtime friends since March 14th, the day before he last posted on his usually-active Twitter account (and the day before last week’s Smackdown). However, the site reports that according to his closest friends, Ranallo is doing alright and is resting up.

Source: 411Mania

FITE To Air ROH Supercard of Honor XI On Saturday, April 1

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FITE announced they will broadcast Ring of Honor’s Supercard of Honor XI on Saturday, April 1st.

ROH SUPERCARD OF HONOR XI TO BROADCAST EXCLUSIVELY ON ROHWRESTLING.COM AND THE FITE TV DIGITAL PPV PLATFORM APRIL 1ST

New York, NY (March 23rd, 2017) – FITE TV and Ring of Honor Wrestling announced today that in conjunction with ROHWrestling.com and FITE TV, that FITE will be the exclusive digital/online PPV broadcast platform for Ring of Honor’s Supercard of Honor XI which takes place Saturday April 1st at 6:30PM EDT live from Lakeland, FL.

Fresh off of the biggest PPV event in ROH history, the Ring of Honor 15th Anniversary from Las Vegas, ROH and FITE TV will team up to bring fans an even bigger event that has fans buzzing with three championship matches headlining the card. The newly crowned ROH World Champion Christopher Daniels defends his title against rising star and fan favorite Dalton Castle. In tag team action, the ROH Tag Team Champions The Hardys (Jeff and Matt Hardy) defend their titles against The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) in a tag team championship ladder match and the ROH Television Champion “The Villain” Marty Scurll defends his title against the former three time ROH World Champion Adam Cole.

In other action, the 6-Man Tag Champions – The Briscoes (Jay and Mark) & Bully Ray take on Hangman Page & The Guerrillas of Destiny, which for the first time ever, puts Bully Ray up against two of his students in Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa. Many more matches are being announced daily. The action happens live on PPV exclusively on the FITE app, FITE.tv andROHwrestling.com at 6:30PM EDT, April 1st for only $29.99.

Fans can also watch the Facebook Live Pre-Show on the Ring of Honor Facebook page with special guest and FITE TV personality SoCal Val as she brings you analysis and previews of all the matchups.

The partnership between Ring of Honor, a subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcasting, and FITE TV as the exclusive online PPV broadcast platform represents a milestone for both brands and strengthens one of the most successful partnerships in combat sports and entertainment, positioning each brand for even greater heights. This is the next step in FITE TV’s evolution, for both the FITE app and the FITE.tv web site. To be the exclusive online PPV distributor for such an accomplished promotion like Ring of Honor is a huge step forward for our brand!” said Michael Weber, COO of FITE TV.

In what is shaping up to be the biggest weekend in wrestling history, FITE TV will also be broadcasting live from Wrestlecon in Orlando, FL on Fri 3/31 and Sat 4/1 with FITE Live at Wrestlecon presented by FITE TV and Pro Wrestling Report. Hosts Dameon Nelson and SoCal Val will be bringing you exclusive interviews with the biggest names in Professional Wrestling.

Shawn Michaels Reveals That He Was Offered Match With AJ Styles At WrestleMania

WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels appeared on the latest episode of The Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast. During the interview with Roberts, Michaels revealed that he was actually offered a match against AJ Styles at WrestleMania 33.

“I guess I’m breaking something with you and I don’t even know if I should, but I could have had that match,” Michaels said (h/t to Sports Illustrated for the transcription). “They didn’t have an opponent for AJ at WrestleMania. I said that I hadn’t been asked because I hadn’t—but then I was.

“I said, I wish that young man was here 10 years ago, man. I honestly do. I think he’s very talented.”

Michaels has not wrestled since losing a “Career vs. Streak” match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI in 2010. He told ESPN earlier this year that Triple H and Vince McMahon had never approached him about a return match, but he thinks that a match with Samoa Joe would be something that he would have enjoyed.

“I look at Samoa Joe and I’ve told him a number of times that I see his stuff at NXT and think to myself, ‘Man, I could have a great deal of fun with you.’ He’s a guy I have sort of enjoyed, and one of those sleeper guys that no one talks about,” Michaels told ESPN in January. “We have contrasting styles. I get that everybody wants to see me and AJ or Seth or Dolph [Ziggler]. From my standpoint, I think really telling a great story out there [is most important]. I could do it with a guy like Samoa Joe. His stuff looks really good, and sometimes he just looks like he’s beating the tar out of somebody.”

Source: WrestlingINC

IMPACT vs. CRASH PPV Being Planned

 

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the there are plans in place for a Crash vs. Impact taped PPV show (likely a One Night Only type show) that is tentatively scheduled to be taped on April 15th. The WON adds that this is not a done deal, as all the final plans and logistics aren’t yet done. However, Impact talent is scheduled for all of the upcoming major Crash events.

Source: 411Mania

Impact Wrestling Preview 3/23/17

The following is scheduled for tonight’s 3/23 episode of Impact Wrestling on Pop TV:

* Moose will defend the Impact Grand Championship

* Who is She?

* Davey Richards w/Angelina Love vs Suicide

* Reno Scum in action

* LAX in action

Backstage Notes On WWE Trying To Buy Ring Of Honor

We noted on Wednesday via Pro Wrestling Sheet that WWE officials have been engaged in secret talks with Ring of Honor parent company Sinclair Broadcasting about a buyout of the brand. The takeover would reportedly see the weekly ROH TV show air on the WWE Network, among other changes, but there’s been no word yet on talents being kept.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that WWE first contacted Sinclair back in August with the idea of buying the company for the tape library and to remove another competitor. A deal has been discussed within WWE and other promotions for a few weeks now but as noted, there is no concrete deal on the table. This could explain why John Cena recently posted a photo of ROH star Jay Lethal to his Instagram account.

The major part of the deal is the ROH tape library, which features early matches from the careers of WWE Superstars like AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, Seth Rollins, Samoa Joe, Kevin Owens, Cesaro, Austin Aries and others.

The Observer adds that WWE has also sent at least minor inquiries and feelers to other indie companies, in the US and the UK, about buying them out.

Source: WrestlingINC

Impact Wrestling And Lucha Libre AAA Announce Partnership

partnership impact aaa tna jeff jarrett

A new alliance in the wrestling world has arrived … because Impact Wrestling and Lucha Libre AAA announced on Wednesday that they’ve reached a partnership deal.

The Anthem press release states that the agreement includes a talent exchange and “other opportunities to collaborate with each other in their respective markets.”

Jeff Jarrett sounded thrilled by the new deal and was quoted saying, “This is an exciting time to collaborate, coinciding with AAA’s 25th anniversary and IMPACT Wrestling’s 15th anniversary. By building bridges with various partners globally, we can give fans a premier product featuring the best possible talent, which has always been a top priority.”

Jarrett also promised more partnerships “in the coming weeks and months.”

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet