Report: Vince McMahon Launching Entertainment Company, Enlisting Former WWE Personnel

“We make movies,” was Vince McMahon’s description of WWE’s main product in the 1999 film “Beyond The Mat,” and now it looks like the disgraced former WWE Chairman is set to enter the entertainment field, following his exit from TKO Group Holdings.

According to PWInsider, McMahon is setting up a new entertainment company, alongside former WWE executives Brad Blum and Kristen Prouty will be involved in the company. Blum was McMahon’s chief of staff before McMahon’s first retirement in 2022, when both men exited the company. Blum returned with McMahon, when the former WWE Chairman returned in 2023 to facilitate the merger of UFC and WWE under Endeavor, then resigned his position in May. The new entertainment company will not compete with TKO Group Holdings. It is said to be focused on fiction and nonfiction products, likely meaning movies and television, keeping it far from the sports-entertainment world of pro wrestling and mixed martial arts. The company will reportedly be based in Los Angeles, CA. 

McMahon resigned from his WWE and TKO duties in January, following the revelation of a civil suit against him, John Laurinaitis, WWE, and unnamed corporate officers for their role in the sexual abuse, harassment, and trafficking of former employee Janel Grant. McMahon, Laurinaitis, and WWE are currently awaiting the results of a federal investigation into any possible criminal charges that could stem from Grant’s allegations. On top of Grant’s allegations, McMahon, his wife Linda, WWE, and TKO Group Holdings are currently the subject of a civil suit, claiming negligence in the infamous “Ring Boys scandal” of the early 90s, which alleges Vince and Linda knew of and did nothing about ring announcer Mel Phillips’s sexual abuse of minors.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 10/29/2024

WWE will present a new episode of NXT tonight on The CW.

  • The fallout from NXT Halloween Havoc 2024
  • NXT Tag Team Championship Match: Fraxiom (c) vs. Je’Von Evans & Cedric Alexander
  • NXT Heritage Cup Match: Charlie Dempsey (c) vs. Lexis King (William Regal as his corner man)
  • Casket Match: Tatum Paxley vs. Wendy Choo
  • Zaria vs. TBA

AJ Styles – ‘It Was My Decision To Turn Down TNA Hall Of Famer Offer’

AJ Styles has clarified some recent reports that WWE passed on the opportunity to have him be inducted into the 2024 TNA Hall of Fame.

Rhino and Bob Ryder were inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame prior to Saturday night’s Bound for Glory pay-per-view event. There were other names that were being discussed, including Styles and Monty Brown.

Taking to Twitter on Monday, the Phenomenal One revealed that it was his decision to not accept the offer. He wrote,

“I’m still an active wrestler…I hope. I made the decision not to go into the TNA HOF, not WWE. I appreciate TNA, but I don’t want to go into any HOF as long as I’m still active. My choice”

Styles is currently sidelined due to a mid-foot ligament sprain.

Source: eWn

The Miz Gets Kidnapped Following WWE RAW By The Wyatt Sicks

The Miz has been kidnapped by The Wyatt Sicks, as revealed by Karrion Kross and Scarlett in a tweet following this week’s episode of WWE RAW.

In recent weeks, the group has taken aim at The Miz and The Final Testament, which has resulted in Kross demanding that The Miz figure out what’s going on.

In the post-RAW video, Kross responded to Scarlett by saying that The Miz was “dead for sure.” The two then went looking for him – and the rest remains to be seen!

Source: eWn

WWE Announces WWE ID, New Indie Wrestling Development Program

It’s no secret that one of the visions of WWE’s Chief Content Officer, Triple H, has been to expand the company into different areas, including establishing performance centers in the UK, which WWE did briefly with NXT UK, Japan, Mexico, and other territories, and creating the WWE NIL program for college athletes. Now, WWE is looking to get involved with independent wrestling, with a new program that will have them very attached to certain areas of the scene going forward.

In a press release, WWE announced “WWE ID,” short for “WWE Independent Development.” The new program has been launched to “identify, support, and develop independent wrestling schools and wrestling talent.” Five independent wrestling schools have already earned the “official designation” of being WWE ID schools, including Reality of Wrestling in Houston, the Nightmare Factory in Atlanta, the Black and Brave Academy in Davenport, Iowa, Elite Pro Wrestling Training Center in Concord, New Hampshire, and Knokx Pro Academy in Los Angeles.

“WWE ID is the latest in our efforts to identify and support the journey of up-and-coming wrestlers, in turn raising the profile of and strengthening the independent wrestling ecosystem,” Triple H said in a statement.

Wrestling Schools With WWE Ties First To Achieve WWE ID Status, Canadian Promotion Expresses Skepticism

Four of the five WWE ID schools already had strong ties to WWE, with ROW, Nightmare Factory, Black and Brave, and Knokx Pro being run/co-owned by Booker T, Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, and Rikishi respectively. Meanwhile, one of Elite Pro’s head trainers, Mike Hollow, previously worked as a WWE jobber during the 90s.

Independent talent associated with the program will also receive a “WWE ID” designation, with WWE providing “financial opportunity” for the talent, as well as “assisting with training, mentorship and development, including access to world-class facilities, best-in-class ring training, athletic trainers and more.” The program will also allow fans to monitor these talent’s progress via matches, highlights, and behind the scenes content to be aired on “WWE social platforms.”

So far, at least one independent promotion has expressed hesitancy towards this new program. Taking to X this morning shortly after WWE’s official announcement, Ottawa based promotion Capital City Championship Combat, better known as C4, posted several tweets, the first of which stated the point of independent wrestling was “to grow. To learn,” and that those claiming to be independent while backed by a billion dollar promotion weren’t independent. In later tweets, the C4 poster admitted this was their immediate reaction, and hoped more info would arise that would prove them wrong.

https://twitter.com/C4Wrestling/status/1851259904088056039
https://twitter.com/C4Wrestling/status/1851264366240239714

Source: Wrestling Inc.

GoFundMe Launched For TNA’s Chris Bey

Chris Bey is currently recovering in hospital, having suffered a serious neck injury during TNA’s Sunday television taping, which required neck surgery. And now, with his medical bills increasing by the hour, a GoFundMe has been launched to help cover these costs, which Bey’s girlfriend Brittnie Brooks has confirmed is genuine.

As of writing, $37,698 has been raised toward the $45,000 goal with sizeable donations being made by names including Karrion Kross, Cody Rhodes, Nick Nemeth, Q. T. Marshall, Jinder Mahal, and Will Ospreay.

https://twitter.com/BrittnieBrooks/status/1851074315166367878

28-year-old Bey broke into the business back in 2016 and, within two years, was working already for Impact Wrestling. Subsequently, he would win the X Division Championship and has held the TNA World Tag Team Championship three times alongside Ace Austin. Additionally, he has wrestled for New Japan, where he joined the legendary Bullet Club faction, although he mainly represents them in the United States.

Source: Web Is Jericho

WWE Raw Preview 10/28/2024

WWE Raw will air live tonight on the USA Network from the GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

  • Sheamus vs. Ludwig Kaiser
  • Dominik Mysterio vs. A Former World Champion
  • WWE World Tag Team Title Contenders Tournament Final: New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. War Raiders (Erik and Ivar) vs. Latino World Order’s Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee
  • Zelina Vega vs. Ivy Nile

Ric Flair’s Stepson Commits Suicide At The Age Of 24

WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair’s stepson has tragically taken his own life.

TMZ is reporting that Sebastian Kidder, an up-and-coming musician, killed himself at the age of 24 this weekend. Wendy Barlow says the family is heartbroken.

The report states that Kidder shot himself on Saturday afternoon at the family home in Georgia. Police are currently investigating.

Barlow said, “I am devastated and shocked. This is an epidemic with your young men. And mental health…”

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call 9-1-1 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Source: eWn

2 Stars Injured At TNA Impact TV Tapings

A legitimate injury occurred at Sunday’s TNA Impact TV tapings in Detroit, MI.

El Hijo Del Vikingo suffered a leg injury after attempting a dive to the outside in a match against Trent Seven.

Timothée Chalamet crashes his own lookalike event

The match was immediately stopped, and Vikingo was taken out on a stretcher. No other details are known at this time.

Another injury took place at Sunday night’s TNA Impact TV tapings in Detroit, MI.

According to multiple reports, Chris Bey was injured during the ABC vs. The Hardys match. Bey was reportedly “out cold” after a mistimed finish involving Matt Hardy’s Cutter attempt.

The injury came after Jeff Hardy kicked Bey and it appeared Bey would have gone backwards into a Cutter from Matt. This resulted in Bey and Matt Hardy accidentally bumping heads.

Bey was placed in a neck collar and EMTs stretchered him out of the arena.

Fightful Select has offered additional details on what occurred, with the report stating that Bey went to the hospital with a neck injury and underwent successful surgery. Beyond confirming that the injury involved his neck and he is in recovery

Source: eWn

WWE Reportedly Turned Down Opportunity To Have AJ Styles Inducted Into TNA Hall Of Fame

AJ Styles was reportedly being considered for TNA’s Hall of Fame inductions at Bound For Glory on Saturday. The pay-per-view saw the inductions of late TNA co-founder Bob Ryder and Tag Team Champion Rhino, the latter who still wrestles with the company and appeared in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet match during the Countdown to Bound For Glory. 

“Fightful Select” has since reported that both AJ Styles and Monty Brown — known in WWE as Marcus Cor Von — were considered, with the former even prompting inquiry from TNA about an induction. “Fightful” has reported that the possibility was broached with WWE, who passed on the opportunity, though the reasoning is yet unclear. The reported belief within TNA is that it was due to Styles’ recent injury or active storyline. 

There was also said to be a hope that he would be open to wrestling in TNA, but again it’s unclear if discussions were held. Styles made a non-WWE appearance recently when he returned to Japan to wrestle Naomichi Marufuji for NOAH in July, but sustained an ankle injury during “WWE SmackDown” on October 4. Reports have since emerged that there were plans to work a retirement and farewell tour storyline ahead of the injury and plans were still in place when they were waiting for the results of an MRI scan to assess the injury. 

With WWE and TNA working together extensively throughout the year, sending stars either way, it’s still possible that a return to TNA — one-off or otherwise — could factor into such a storyline. The “Fightful” report doesn’t note anything further on the consideration of Brown, who wrestled with TNA throughout the 2000s before joining WWE. He has not wrestled a match since retiring in 2007.

Source: Wrestling Inc.