Dutch Mantell Announces Hospitalization

Former wrestler, manager, and booker Dutch Mantell, best known to WWE fans as Zeb Colter, is apparently dealing with significant health issues. On Monday, Mantell announced via Facebook that he’s going to be hospitalized “for a while” and that his daughter, Amanda, is taking care of him in his time of need. Mantell did not elaborate on his specific health issues, only noting that he’s “been very sick” lately. 

“OK guys, here’s for those who’ve been looking for me,” Mantell wrote. “Let me catch everybody up. In a nutshell, I’ve been very sick. There are packages missing and parcels that I’ve misplaced…but guys, I’ll make it good. Just give me time. I’m praying every day for everybody’s safety. For me personally, I’ve been admitted to a hospital here in Lutz where I’ll be for a while. I request everybody honor my family’s respect to have our own private thoughts. I will respond to all of you privately…and thank you for for patience. My daughter Amanda has been with me helping me.”

During his wrestling career, Mantell enjoyed success in NWA territories such as Continental Wrestling Association and Mid-South Wrestling, capturing the CWA Heavyweight Championship on three occasions and the Mid-South Television Championship once. 

Mantell also captured various tag titles with partners such as Koko B. Ware, David Schultz, and Austin Idol. Mantell first moved to a non-wrestling role as a color commentator for “WCW Worldwide” and later for Jim Cornette’s Smoky Mountain Wrestling. In subsequent years, Mantell managed various stables and wrestlers across promotions, with his most famous stint coming as the manager for former WWE Champion Jack Swagger.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Reby Hardy Contacts Lawyer Regarding Impact Drama, Matt Hardy On TNA Never Paying Senor Benjamin

Image result for Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Reby Hardy & Senor Benjamin

Matt and Reby Hardy continue to battle publicly with Impact Wrestling regarding the ownership of the “Broken” gimmick. In an interview with the LAW earlier this week, which is owned by Anthem, the parent company of Impact Wrestling, Impact Wrestling president Ed Nordholm said that it was “unquestionable” that they owned the gimmick.

“I think it’s unquestionable that the ownership of the characters in the storyline resides in Impact Wrestling,” Nordholm said. “I don’t think even the Hardys would dispute that. They’ve all signed contracts. Their contracts are standard contracts. Not only in the wrestling industry, but in the entertainment industry, generally, the producer of the show owns the content and it doesn’t really matter who in the creative team came up with the idea of what the character should be. The person that owns the storyline and the character is the person who invested to take that idea and put it on TV. That’s what we did. Impact put those characters on TV, and the contracts with those people are indisputably contracts that provide their IP to Impact.”

Impact Wrestling Creative Consultant to Head of Creative Dutch Mantel, who has been bickering with the Hardys on Twitter lately, responded to Nordholm’s comments and thanked him for “clearing it up.”

Matt Hardy’s wife, Reby, responded to the former Zeb Colter (Dutch Mantel) and shared a text message that she sent to her attorney, as seen below:

Matt chimed in, noting that Senor Benjamin was never paid by the company despite being promised, and he never signed a release to allow the company to air footage with his likeness:

Source: WrestlingINC

Jeff Jarrett Returning To TNA As Executive Consultant, Dutch Mantel Returns As Creative Consultant

Image result for Jeff Jarrett and Dutch Mantel TNA Impact Wrestling

Pro Wrestling Sheet has confirmed that Jeff Jarrett will be returning to the company at tonight’s television taping … and we’re told his new role is Executive Consultant.

Jarret’s return was first reported by PWInsider and we’re told he’s already at the Impact Zone working on the show. Same for Dutch Mantel, aka former WWE manager Zeb Colter, who is also returning to TNA as a creative consultant.

Jeff was an original TNA founder, but left the company in 2013. He returned a year later to get inducted in their Hall of Fame and behind the scenes Dixie Carter bought his shares in the company.

Jarrett launched Global Force Wrestling during his time away, and we’re told GFW wasn’t included in his deal to return due to previous contractual obligations for the wrestling fed.

Pro Wrestling Sheet reached out to Jeff for comment and he told them, “This is a great opportunity for myself and GFW. And, I feel it’s great for the wrestling business.”

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Jerry Wilson Gives a Wrestlemania Shout Out From HPW

Minutes ago Hoosier Pro Wrestling promoter Jerry Wilson gave the following Wrestlemania shout out.

Want to give a big shout out to two original members of the HPW Wrestling family performing tonight at Wrestlemania 30! Dirty Dutch Mantell was with us at the beginning already being a famous wrestling star. Jason Ayres a young man from here is living a dream tonight that he has given a 110% effort to get there was reffing at the HPW shows for a few years. Jason very proud of you my friend! Congrats for making the dream come true!