Tag: WWE

WWE Reportedly Not Publicizing Drug Testing Policy Violations From NXT And Developmental Talent

On August 30, 2007, WWE announced the suspensions of 10 of its performers for violations of the company’s Wellness Policy (now officially known as the Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy) based on independent information received from investigators from the Albany County District Attorney’s Office in Albany, New York. At the time, it was WWE’s practice not to release the names of those suspended, but the company pledged that beginning on November 1, 2007, it would publicly disclose ‘the names of anyone who is suspended under the Wellness Policy.’ Now in 2018, this rule apparently no longer applies to all people under contract to WWE for ‘in-ring services.’

 According to Dave Meltzer in the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, while it remains company policy to publicly disclose a WWE performer’s name and duration of the suspension for a violation, this only applies to those on the main roster. Meltzer says NXT performers and other developmental talent are not subject to having their name publicly disclosed for a drug testing violation.

This contradicts what is written in WWE’s Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy, which states that it ‘is applicable to and binding upon all WWE Talent under contract to WWE who regularly perform in-ring services as a professional sports entertainer.’

17. APPLICABILITY OF THIS POLICY
This Policy, as it may be amended from time to time, is applicable to and binding upon all WWE Talent under contract to WWE who regularly perform in-ring services as a professional sports entertainer (“WWE Talent”).

Two months after the policy change went into effect, WWE suspended two developmental performers on January 15, 2008 — Neil Bzibziak (aka Chet Jablonski and Chet the Jet) and Derrick Neikirk — for violations of the company’s Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy. Since then, WWE has only publicized one suspension of a developmental talent and it was 10 years ago (Afa Anoa’i Jr. on March 20, 2008, who joined the main roster later that year under the name of Manu).

In April 2016, WWE announced the suspension of both Adam Rose and Konnor for 60 days each for a second violation of the company’s policy. However, WWE never announced when either talent had served their first respective suspensions.

Meltzer said then that both Rose and Konnor were in developmental at the time of their first respective suspensions. WWE suspended Rose in 2013 and Konnor in 2006 (both for 30 days). Rose is the last known suspension of a developmental talent.

Source: WrestlingINC

State Of Louisiana Bans Blood & Piledrivers, What Could This Mean For WrestleMania 34 Weekend

Image result for WrestleMania 34 weekend

It is being reported that the boxing and wrestling commission of the State of Louisiana is going to put restrictions on pro wrestling matches including blood and piledrivers.

John Pollock of Post Wrestling tweeted the following:

John Pollock of Post Wrestling interviewed Russell Naquin of the Louisiana Boxing & Wrestling Commission to discuss certain statewide guidelines that professional wrestlers and promoters must follow. WrestleMania 34 will be taking place at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, and there are a host of other wrestling events scheduled in the state ahead of the big event. Naquin noted that both blood and piledrivers are prohibited on pro wrestling events statewide, due to an incident which injured a competitor several years ago.

In addition, Louisiana requires any promoter who is holding an event to have a license. The state does allow existing promoters with licenses to loan them out to others.

Performers are also required to have blood work completed that cannot be more than six months old, to prove that they are HIV negative, and Hepatitis B and C negative. Pro wrestlers are not allowed to compete unless this information is submitted prior to them competing. In addition, wrestlers are subject to completing a ringside physical at the day of the show.

These restrictions bring up an interesting dilemma. The Undertaker is rumored to compete against John Cena at WrestleMania, and has been training to prepare for the match. With these restrictions, Undertaker might not be able to perform his Tombstone at the event since it’s considered a piledriver. Taker did hit a Tombstone on Brock Lesnar during their match at WrestleMania 30, which also took place at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, however that may have been before the move was outlawed.

Since blood and piledrivers have been banned for years, this should not be a major issue for WWE. However, although Vince McMahon has promoted WWE as a sports entertainment company to prevent having licenses for every state, Pollock did note that a license for a wrestler within the state costs $25.

This ban on blood and piledrivers will have more of an impact on the other wrestling promotions running shows in the New Orleans area during WrestleMania weekend such as Impact Wrestling and ROH.

Check out the video below from Pro Wrestling Unlimited

Sources: WrestlingINC, Post Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Unlimited

Paul Heyman Says Brock Lesnar ‘Always Ready’ For UFC Return, Talks Being An Advocate For Ronda Rousey

Paul Heyman Paul Heyman's

Paul Heyman recently spoke with TMZ (transcript via WrestleZone), here are the highlights…

On a potential return to UFC for Brock Lesnar: I think Brock Lesnar does whatever Brock Lesnar wants to do. If Brock Lesnar wants to fight in UFC then Brock Lesnar will fight in UFC. If Brock Lesnar wants to fight in WWE then he will fight in WWE. Ask Braun Strowman. Ask Randy Orton. Ask THE UNDERTAKER. Brock Lesnar does what Brock Lesnar wants to do.

On if the time away from UFC makes it harder for Brock Lesnar to return there: The time away actually makes him better because his body get a chance to heal. The problem with all these UFC fighters is, and they are all fantastic athletes, top of the world, they all wear their bodies down in these training camps. All these guys that are cutting weight are destroying their bodies. Brock Lesnar is probably the healthiest fighter to enter UFC if he decides to do that. He’s always ready. Always.

On the rumors that Paul Heyman may have interest in advocating for Ronda Rousey: Why limit the people I have my eye on to just Ronda Rousey? I have my eye on anyone who is a top box office attraction. I have my eye on Ens Kanter of the New York Knicks. I have my eye on Aaron Judge and Luis Severino of the New York Yankees.

On if he would venture into other sports other than just combat sports: How do you know other sports aren’t coming to me? When you are the best advocate on the face of the entire planet, you’re in demand. My plate is full. When you advocate for the reigning, defending, undisputed heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar that’s a 24/7 job. If I happen to find an extra moment or two in my schedule for someone else… that’s just a whole bunch of side cash for me.

Source: 411Mania

 

Johnny Gargano Leaves WWE NXT Per Stipulation Of Losing Match

Image result for A somber Johnny Gargano leaves NXT: NXY Exclusive, Feb 21, 2018

On last night’s WWE NXT main event we saw Johnny Gargano lose a Career vs. Title match to NXT Champion Andrade “Cien” Almas. Per the stipulation, Gargano must now leave NXT. The match saw interference by Tommaso Ciampa, Zelina Vega and Candice LeRae.

What’s next for Johnny Wrestling?

Below is post-match video of a somber Gargano leaving the arena with his wife as the roster and others look on, including NXT General Manager William Regal.

Gargano tweeted the following after the loss:

Jim Cornette On How Much Money WWE Loses With NXT

Image result for Jim Cornette On How Much Money NXT Spends

Jim Cornette was the former lead booker for Ohio Valley Wrestling, WWE’s former developmental promotion, so he has a keen interest in the company’s current developmental territory NXT. On recent episode of The Jim Cornette Experience, Cornette made some revelations about how much money NXT is losing.

Cornette said he was sent the yearly and quarterly reports that are available because the WWE is a publicly-traded company. He revealed that NXT lost way more many than it made in the last two years, a luxury he wishes he had when he was at the helm of OVW.

“NXT in 2016 sold $7 million in tickets and had $20 million in expenses. In 2017, NXT had let’s say $6 million in ticket sales and $25 million in expenses… In all honesty, 2016 they lost $13 million, 2017 they lost $19 million and that’s not a ton of money for that whole company and organization up there. But can you imagine what me and Danny Davis could’ve done with Ohio Valley Wrestling if they said, ‘OK guys, you can bring in anybody that you want that’s not on the main roster or signed to New Japan and you can lose $32 million over the next two years.’ Holy f**k!”

Cornette said OVW never was in that position even though it didn’t generate a lot of money on its own. Still, he believes OVW was successful in its own right and says it was never in a bad monetary situation.

“We already had the highest rated show on the station’s Saturday schedule we were on… We had numerous events that drew large houses at the Gardens and we drew at Six Flags and we produced a ton of talent. I don’t know what the percentages would be but I guarantee we didn’t lose $32 million,” he said. “That’s the thing, Ohio Valley Wrestling never lost money since it’s been in operation. There have been a few years it may not have made much, but at that point in time it was the only full-time company with television running regular events in the United States besides the WWE that was profitable.”

Cornette said he understands the WWE’s need to develop their future superstars, so it’s necessary for them to put a lot of money towards NXT. Still, he thinks the losses are very monumental, so he was surprised by the numbers.

“I understand they’re making the investment in training the future superstars and they have to, they’ve figured out that they have to because they’re not getting them from anywhere else,” he said. “So they have to train their own, but my God!”

Source: The Jim Cornette Experience via WrestlingINC

Backstage Talk On Triple H Taking Over Vince McMahon’s WWE Duties

There continues to be talk within WWE about Triple H taking over the main duties of the company from Vince McMahon, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The talk is that Triple H has been assembling his team in WWE NXT to have them ready when the time comes. We’ve noted how Triple H recently took over the WWE 205 Live duties. It was also noted how Triple H and Stephanie McMahon negotiated Ronda Rousey’s WWE contract, not Vince. While Triple H made the announcement, The Observer reports that Vince is the one who negotiated the deal for WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar but there’s no word yet on if Vince will re-negotiate Lesnar’s deal when it comes up or if Triple H and Stephanie will handle the talks.

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE Cruiserweight Title Tournament Brackets Revealed

WWE NXT Superstar Buddy Murphy made his WWE 205 Live debut on last night’s show and defeated Ariya Daivari in a first round match in the WWE Cruiserweight Title tournament. The first round then wrapped with Mustafa Ali defeating Jack Gallagher in the main event.

The tournament brackets were revealed and they look like this:

First Round
* Cedric Alexander defeated Gran Metalik
* TJP defeated Tyler Bate
* Roderick Strong defeated Hideo Itami
* Kalisto defeated Lince Dorado
* Mustafa Ali defeated Jack Gallagher
* Buddy Murphy defeated Ariya Daivari
* Drew Gulak defeated Tony Nese
* Mark Andrews defeated Akira Tozawa

Quarter-Finals
* Cedric Alexander vs. TJP
* Roderick Strong vs. Kalisto
* Mustafa Ali vs. Buddy Murphy
* Drew Gulak vs. Mark Andrews

Semi-Finals
* Cedric Alexander or TJP vs. Roderick Strong or Kalisto
* Mustafa Ali or Buddy Murphy vs. Drew Gulak or Mark Andrews

Finals at WrestleMania 34
* Cedric Alexander or TJP or Roderick Strong or Kalisto
vs.
* Mustafa Ali or Buddy Murphy or Drew Gulak or Mark Andrews

Source: WrestlingINC

WWE Mixed Match Challenge and 205 Live Preview 2/20/18

Tonight’s WWE Mixed Match Challenge and WWE 205 Live shows will take place from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.

WWE Mixed Match Challenge:

* Nia Jax & Apollo vs. Charlotte Flair & Bobby Roode

 

WWE 205 Live:

* Will Gentleman Jack Gallagher heed Drake Maverick’s advice?

* Who will advance to the second round? Buddy Murphy vs. Ariya Daivari and Jack Gallagher vs. Mustafa Ali.

SmackDown Live Preview 2/20/18

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown Live will take place from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.

* Charlotte Flair, Naomi & Becky Lynch to battle The Riott Squad

* How will WWE Champion AJ Styles deal with his upcoming Fatal 5-Way Match?

* The New Day to battle Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable

* Is Bobby Roode’s U.S. Title reign in danger?

* Are The Bludgeon Brothers on the hunt for The Usos?

Jeff Jarrett Reveals When WWE Contacted Him Regarding WWE Hall Of Fame Induction

Image result for Jeff and Karen Jarrett WWE Hall of Fame

WWE confirmed this week that former Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett will be the latest inductee into the Hall of Fame. During the video package, WWE aired his achievements while competing for the company, from popularizing himself by pompously spelling his name, to eventually becoming a crew-cut, hard-nosed competitor and smashing guitars over the heads of his foes.

 They also showed some of his pinnacle moments in WCW, as he was the World Heavyweight Champion four times, United States three times, and the leader of nWo 2000 in just under a year and a half with the company from 1999-2001.

Jarrett was interviewed by TMZ about WWE’s announcement, as seen in the video above. Jarrett stated that it is surreal to him, and WWE asked him back in January if he would like to go in the Hall of Fame and he did not think twice about it.

“Out of all the guys who’ve laced up their boots, there’s less that 200 of us in the Hall of Fame,” said Jarrett. “So, I’m very grateful, I’m very, very humbled, and… this is for my family. My family goes back three generations, so I’m the lucky one that got picked for my family being in the Hall of Fame.”

On the March 26, 2001 simulcast of Raw and Nitro, where Vince McMahon revealed that he bought his rival, he also publicly fired Jarrett as he was appearing on WCW Nitro. A year later, Jarrett and his father Jerry would launch TNA Wrestling.

TMZ asked Jarrett about that infamous moment. Jarrett stated, “that night in Panama city, who would’ve thunk (laughs), who would’ve thought these many years later, 17 years later or whatever it may be, that I’m standing here Monday, February the 19th and the announcement is made.”

Jarrett would then say “thank you” to WWE for their decision to induct him in the Hall of Fame, despite his ups and downs.

Source: WrestlingINC and H/T to TMZ