Source: WrestlingINC.com
Former WWE announcer Jonathan Coachman, who works for ESPN, told a fan on Twitter that he wants to bring WWE and ESPN together. Coachman then sent out a tweet, proposing that they take SportsCenter on the road when SummerSlam comes to New York City this year.
ESPN’s E:60 will premiere their “WWE: Behind The Curtain” documentary on Tuesday, Mat 5th at 8pm EST.
It’s a one-hour documentary film featuring unprecedented behind-the-scenes access. The show will follow three wrestlers on their grueling, high stakes climb with dreams of making it to the big show, complemented by candid interviews with Vince McMahon, Triple H, Steve Austin, “The Rock” Dwayne Johnson and Hulk Hogan.
Michael Bradley has an editorial at the National Sports Journalism Center titled Let’s hope media outlets remember what “E” in WWE means. The editorial is about ESPN’s seemingly sudden adoption of WrestleMania as a legitimate sports event deserving of their coverage. It’s also, to an extent, a reaction to Richard Deitsch’s Sports Illustrated article about how this all came about.
Bradley overall argument is that while it’s not out of line for ESPN to give WWE coverage, covering it like it’s a legitimate sporting event creates ethical issues if it was done solely to eye more eyeballs on the network and it’s related properties. In a key passage, he writes:
“Forging alliances with legitimate leagues is one thing. Trying to build an audience by making something that isn’t real sport seem more legitimate is far more cynical and potentially explosive. First comes the WWE. Then comes full highlights of the Globetrotters’ next game. After all, that team has fans all around the world.”
Bradley also adds that “It’s fun to talk about Lesnar and his fellow rasslers, but it’s not journalism.” It’s not clear if he means that it’s not clear if he means that it’s not sports journalism or that he feels pro wrestling coverage inherently can’t be journalism.
Source: WrestlingINC.com
Roman Reigns appeared on ESPN’s SportsNation for an interview with host Michelle Beadle and was interrupted by Paul Heyman. They were on the show to promote the Roman Reigns VS Brock Lesnar WrestleMania 31 main event match for the WWE World Heavyweight Title.Heyman also appeared later in another segment on the show called Shut It or Shout It.
Here is the full segment with Roman Reigns:
CM Punk appeared on the ESPN show Highly Questionable & talked about his most embarrassing moment in the wrestling ring and meeting & partying with Charles Barkley.
Former WWE Superstar CM Punk appeared on ESPN’s SportsCenter & talked about his move to UFC, Vince McMahon comparison to Dana White, the haters and his goals in the UFC.
Ronda Rousey took home the ESPY for Best Female Athlete at last nights ESPY Awards on Rousey beat out Maya Moore of WNBA champion Lynx, Olympic skier Mikeala Shiffrin & Breanna Stewart of Connecticut’s NCAA champon basketball team.
Rousey was also up for Beat Fighter but lost out to Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The Rock appeared on ESPN Sports Center this morning to promote his new film Hercules. The Rock said it’s possible that he would return to a WWE ring. Rock also discussed Lebron James returning to Cleveland. You can see a portion of the interview at this link.
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey is nominated for 2 ESPY Awards – Best Female Athlete & Best Fighter. The ESPY’s are a ESPN fan voted award show.
You can vote at this link.
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