Tag: WWE

CM Punk And Colt Cabana Win Defamation Lawsuit Filed By A WWE Doctor

Image result for CM Punk and Colt Cabana

Jurors sided with CM Punk and Colt Cabana on Tuesday — clearing the pair in a defamation lawsuit filed by a WWE doctor upset with comments Punk made during a controversial 2014 podcast.

The decision came down around 4pm Chicago-time in Cook County Circuit Court, according to Wrestlezone, capping off a libel trial that lasted one week.

Over five days of testimony, Punk and Cabana’s lawyers tried to prove Punk believed what he said during the interview about Dr. Christopher Amann. Ultimately, Amann’s side had trouble proving any real monetary damage occurred. The doctor was seeking $4 million dollars (one dollar per each podcast stream) and additional punitive damages.

In the November 2014 podcast interview conducted by Cabana, Punk recalled his medical issues and treatments in the months leading up to him walking out of WWE following the Royal Rumble. Though he was rarely mentioned by name in the podcast, Amann felt Punk’s claims directly damaged his reputation and caused distress.

Amann told jurors he was harassed and humiliated by fans and that the podcast hurt his standing with patients. However, the WWE ringside physician couldn’t point to any monetary damages and he remains employed by the company.

Much of the testimony centered around a lump on Punk’s backside which Punk felt made him ill over an extended period. Punk contended Amann didn’t properly treat it. Amann claims he never saw it. His attorneys showed numerous texts and emails regarding Punk’s health and at no point did Punk put anything in writing with WWE doctors about the lump.

In the podcast, Punk said the lump ended up being a staph infection that ultimately could’ve cost him his life. It was shown it court that the lump was diagnosed by a physician’s assistant as a lump. Even so, the P.A. who treated Punk labeled it a possible staph infection — but never tested it.

Punk said the podcast was his way to “set the record straight for my fans” and tell his story. He told jurors he wouldn’t change anything about the interview.

At the end of the day, jurors didn’t see enough to prove Punk and Cabana legally defamed Amann.

With this trial now behind him, Punk has four days to get mentally prepared to step into the octagon. His second UFC fight is set for Saturday in Chicago against Mike Jackson.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

SmackDown Live Preview 6/5/18

Tonight’s WWE Smackdown Live will take place from the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas as the road to Money In the Bank continues.

* Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch to square off

* Naomi & Jimmy Uso to face Lana & Aiden English in Mixed Tag Team action

* Paige to host contract signing for AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

* Carmella promises to “unmask” Asuka on SmackDown LIVE

WWE 205 Live Preview 6/5/18

Tonight’s WWE 205 Live will take place from the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.

* Brian Kendrick vs. Lince Dorado

*  Buddy Murphy vs. Mustafa Ali

AJ Lee Claims She Pushed Punk To Get Lump Checked Out, Surprised WWE Doc Wasn’t Concerned Sooner

aj lee cm punk trial interview testimony

AJ Mendez Brooks, who performed as AJ Lee, took the stand Monday and confirmed she pushed CM Punk to seek additional treatment over a discolored lump on his backside.

According to Wrestlezone — who had a reporter in attendance — both AJ and Punk were on the stand Monday morning beginning the fifth day of testimony in the libel trial pitting Punk and Colt Cabana against WWE doctor Chris Amann.

AJ noted the lump grew from a zit-sized spot to its largest at the 2014 Royal Rumble. She confirmed text communication about the lump and testified she sent Punk to a physician’s assistant that she believed to be a doctor.

On the stand, AJ told jurors she was surprised Amann didn’t see the lump as a problem sooner.

Before AJ was questioned … Punk was crossed examined by Amann’s lawyers about Friday’s testimony which included the lump, other health issues,and the 2014 Royal Rumble.

Punk said the physician’s assistant he saw definitely referred to the lump as staph but confirmed it was never diagnosed as such.

It’s interesting to note a text was also shown in court in which Punk told Mark Carrano, who is WWE’s Senior Director of Talent Relations, “take me off all shows, I’m sick and have bruised ribs and concussion symptoms.” Notes from Wrestlezone didn’t say when the text was sent.

At one point, Amman’s lawyers brought up the 2014 Rumble and asked if he stayed in the match in an effort to “blow WWE away” — despite being concussed — in an attempt to headline WrestleMania.  Punk simply responded, “I don’t know.”

On Friday, Punk took the stand and cried while recalling the events surrounding that same Rumble match. After composing himself, the UFC fighter told jurors he stands by the comments he made during the infamous podcast interview.

Dr. Amann is asking for $1 million in damages.

Both sides have rested and closing arguments begin today.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

WWE Is Now Selling Official B-Team Shirts

b-team shirts wwe shop bo dallas curtis axel

Put away your sharpie pens, because Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel now have officially licensed B-Teamshirts on WWE Shop.

The shirts went live Monday and feature a big “B” on the front — just like the ones on TV — but in typical WWE fashion there’s also text on the back which says, “The ‘B’ Stands 4 Best.”

Get one for yourself by CLICKING HERE.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

RAW Preview 6/4/18

Tonight’s WWE RAW will take place from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas as the road to Money In the Bank continues.

Ronda Rousey and Roman Reigns are advertised to appear.

* The Monster Among Men faces The Glorious One

* Former Universal Champions lock up – Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens

* Natalya stands up to Nia Jax

* Who will be next to challenge The Deleters of Worlds?

SAnitY Makes Main Roster Debut, Appears At WWE SmackDown Live Event In Waco, Texas

Sanity during their tenure in NXT

SAnitY made their WWE main roster debut on Saturday at a WWE SmackDown Live event in Waco, Texas. Eric Young and Alexander Wolfe, joined by Killain Dain,  took on Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows in a tag team match.

During the 2018 Superstar Shake-Up, it was announced SAnitY would be coming up to the SmackDown Live brand soon, although without Nikki Cross who will be remaining in NXT. WWE had been airing vignettes for them on TV, but they’ve yet officially debut.

Below are a couple of Tweets from fans:

https://twitter.com/AnnetteReid24/status/1003179618755645440

Source: WrestleView

The Undertaker Announced For 7/7/18 WWE Live Event At MSG

The Undertaker

The official Twitter account for Madison Square Garden in New York City posted the following on Monday, announcing that The Undertaker will be appearing at the WWE live event held at MSG on July 7.

https://twitter.com/TheGarden/status/1003647778923442178

Also announced for the event is Ronda Rousey, who is advertised to face Nia Jax for the RAW Women’s Championship on the show.

This will be Undertaker’s first appearance since the Greatest Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia in April.

Source: WrestleView

CM Punk Moved To Tears During ’14 Rumble Testimony

Image result for CM Punk

CM Punk took the stand in his own defense Friday morning and was brought to tears while discussing the 2014 Royal Rumble.

During the fourth day of testimony, Punk acknowledged being bitter about wrestling becoming his entire life when he taped the Art of Wrestling interview with longtime friend Colt Cabana, according to Chicago Tribune reporter Gregory Pratt.

Punk told jurors he did the podcast to set the record straight for his fans about the separation with WWE and that the interview was meant to be truthful, just “two friends talking.” Additionally, Punk said his health wasn’t good in 2013 and 2014 citing headaches, sleeplessness, dizziness and nausea. “I’m sure I wasn’t fun to be around,” he told jurors.

While discussing the ’14 Rumble, the UFC fighter began to cry as he described his judgement as “poor” at the time. A break was then called to allow Punk time to compose himself.

According to Wrestlezone, — who published a full blow-by-blow of the proceedings — Colt Cabana was questioned by attorneys prior to Punk taking the stand and told them he never felt the podcast was a lie … saying, “I thought it was a wild story and people deserved to hear it.”

Colt also confirmed seeing the lump on Punk’s back labeling it disgusting, discolored, and raised.

Friday marked the fourth day of testimony. On Wednesday and Thursday, we heard from numerous people involved with the production of the 2014 Royal Rumble event.

The former WWE star ended the day by going over text messages between he and AJ Lee discussing the lump on his back. He also said the podcast interview allowed him to finally move on with his life … adding, “Everything was the truth, and I think the truth can hurt.”

FUN FACT: Punk confirmed under oath that his initials stand for “chick magnet.”

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

WWE Executive Gone After Wife’s Anti-Muslim Tweets Exposed, Al-Qaeda Threatens Saudis Over WWE GRR

The Independent reports that the Yemen-based branch of Al-Qaeda has threatened Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman for “opening the door wide for corruption and moral degradation” by allowing cinemas and WWE into the country. The terrorist group has sent a warning to the crown prince, calling his efforts to liberalize the Kingdom as “sinful projects.”

It appears Al-Qaeda is especially upset with WWE’s Greatest Royal Rumble event that took place in April.

“[Foreign] disbelieving wrestlers exposed their privates and on most of them was the sign of the cross, in front of a mixed gathering of young Muslim men and women,” the warning from Al-Qaeda said.

 

The Huffington Post has an article on anti-Muslim Twitter user Amy Mek, who has been exposed as Amy Mekelburg of New York. The story notes that Amy’s husband, Salvatore “Sal” Siino, started working for WWE in February 2017 as the Senior Vice President of Global Content Distribution and Business Development. Siino was recently fired when Amy’s anti-Islam twitter activity was exposed. Mekelburg allegedly told a former friend that WWE knew about her @AmyMek Twitter account and asked Siino to keep his connection to his wife quiet.

The Huffington Post approached WWE with their findings last Thursday and were told, “This is the first time we’re hearing about Amy Mekelburg.” The Post asked WWE again last Friday if they knew of @AmyMek before hiring Siino and WWE responded with a statement on Siino’s departure.

“No,” said the WWE spokesperson. “Now that it has come to our attention, Sal Siino is no longer an employee.”

Melekburg was still active on Twitter this week, despite being exposed by The Huffington Post, and was blaming the reporter for WWE’s decision to fire Siino. The Post noted that Siino was negotiating WWE deals in the Middle East while his wife was leading an anti-Muslim movement on social media.

Source: WrestlingINC