WWE Daily

WWE generates global buzz once again

On a recent trip to Tokyo to celebrate the opening of WWE’s newest international office in Japan, Executive Vice President of Global Media Shane McMahon created a large buzz among the national media.

McMahon met with national celebrity and highly respected Japanese TV personality and announcer, Mr. Kusano. The meeting between the two entertainment icons generated press throughout the nation, including the picture above from the Tokyo Sports newspaper on June 17.

Mr. Kusano, a long-time WWE fan and supporter, met with Shane McMahon to welcome him back to Japan and to wish WWE the best for their future with their newest international office in Japan.

Chris Nowinski talks about being a survivor of concussions, related to his retirement from the WWE on audio post on the Alzheimer Research Forum.

At one part of the discussion Nowinski says:

“I fought very hard to get his brain studied because he told me in a locker room in Manchester, New Hampshire about a year prior that he had more concussions than he could count… He had been exhibiting a lot of strange behavior at the end of his life.” …To listen to the full audio clip….

-WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt sent a lengthy email to author Irvin Muchnick on Monday regarding a list of the author’s top nine “unanswered questions” regarding the Benoit family tragedy. Go here to view the whole document in its entirerty or upload it here: wwe-lawyer-jerry-mcdevitt-letter-to-author-muchnick.doc

STAMFORD, Conn., June 9, 2008 - In accordance with its Wellness Program, WWE has suspended, James Yun (Jimmy Wang Yang) for 30 days for his first violation of the company’s policy. This is Yang’s first suspension on the Wellness Policy. Check out the Wellness Policy rules and regulations…

-WWE will be holding a special news conference at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City on Thursday, June 12 at 12 Noon, and all WWE Fans are invited to attend this free event. Join WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and WWE Superstars as they take part in this special event.

What:
Special WWE News Conference with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and WWE Superstars

When:
Thursday, June 12 at 12 Noon

Where:
Hard Rock Cafe
1501 Broadway, New York, NY

This Tuesday, June 3, WWE invites all our fans to a very special press conference at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles at 12 noon PT. Fans can join WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon and their favorite WWE Superstars as they make a special announcement.

Along with this blockbuster announcement, the Chairman will further explain his reasons behind Mr. McMahon’s million dollar announcement and why he plans on giving away more cash on live television than ever has been done before.

Doors at the STAPLES Center open at 11:15 a.m. PT on Tuesday and admission is free to those fans who want to witness this monumental occasion live. If you’re in the Los Angeles area, don’t miss out. Be a part of sports-entertainment history!

But, if you can’t be live at the STAPLES Center this week, log on to WWE.com live at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT to catch the press conference streamed live. Be a part of sports-entertainment history!

Picture of Taylor being runner -up in the finish on ‘Dancing with the Stars’

The Rock can smell what Jason Taylor is cooking.

And the scent is coming from Hollywood.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson understands Taylor’s struggle as the Miami Dolphins defensive end decides between staying in the NFL or pursuing an acting career. Taylor’s career may be following The Rock’s path

-Memphis wrestling promoter Corey Maclin’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE was dismissed today by United States District Judge Bernice B. Donald as the two sides came to an out of court settlement that was not publicly disclosed. WWE Settles with Corey Maclin!!

Kiss my A## club….uuummm,,,eeeerrrrr star club
Vincent Kennedy McMahon got himself a star. Vince’s star - the 2,357th on the Walk of Fame - is located at 6801 Hollywood Blvd., next to Hollywood and Highland, near the famed Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. On the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Vince joins celebrities such as “Kermit the Frog”, and the likes of “Lassie”.

If you didn’t make the Ceremony , watch it below:

Vince McMahon Walk of Fame - 1 of 3

Vince McMahon Walk of Fame - 2 of 3

Vince McMahon Walk of Fame - 3 of 3

WWE CEO Linda McMahon was featured on CNBC’s Mad Money with Jim Cramer program. Mrs. McMahon joined Jim to discuss WWE’s international growth, WWE raising its dividend for public shareholders and the upcoming WrestleMania 24. To view the CNBC interview, please click here.

Recent Press release:

Media and entertainment giant, WWE®, targets reduced fraud losses and increased revenue through Ethoca’s collaborative fraud management platform.

Dublin, Ireland and Stamford, CT (PRWEB) March 5, 2008 — Ethoca, the leader in collaborative fraud management, announced today that World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc — a multi-media sports entertainment powerhouse — has joined Ethoca’s global network of fraud fighters aiming to grow their business opportunities and increase profits by deploying more effective risk management.

& quot;WWE’s online merchandising business has been growing at over 40% annually, and is becoming a major source of profitability for us,” according to Nick Rozdilsky, Vice President, E-Commerce. “We see real value in sharing our experiences as part of Ethoca’s collaborative fraud management network to reduce fraud losses, increasing our revenues by safely accepting many orders now rejected, and reducing our costs with fewer manual reviews. Ethoca gives us a great opportunity to wrestle fraudsters into submission.”

Online business leaders in industries ranging from gaming, retail, reverse logistics, consumer electronics and others see Ethoca’s collaborative fraud management service as a way to inform their decisions and enhance their profitability on thousands of transactions every day. Ethoca is the only service that allows companies to benefit from the payment experiences of other companies. Accepting more of the “right” types of transactions increases revenue, and declining the “wrong” ones reduces losses and non-payment. According to recent research, better fraud management can result in e-businesses recovering more than $30 billion in previously foregone annual revenue.

“We’re excited to have a high-profile business leader like World Wrestling Entertainment join Ethoca’s network because it helps raise awareness that almost all companies have growing online components today,” said Andre Edelbrock, Ethoca’s President and CEO. “It doesn’t matter what your core business is, collaboration offers unique benefits in fighting fraud through faster detection and increased revenue opportunities. WWE is another significant addition to making our platform a truly global cross-industry effort to halt and reverse the growth in online fraud through our collaboration technology,” said Edelbrock.

About Ethoca Limited (www.ethoca.com):
Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with offices in Toronto, Canada, Ethoca is the leader in collaborative fraud management. Ethoca enables businesses operating in any customer-not-present environment (i.e., business by internet, phone, fax or mail) to make more informed decisions about their customer transactions by sharing transaction experience data in a way that is secure, automated, effective and ethical. Businesses submit transaction data to Ethoca and can use summary history and analysis based on the collaborative data of Ethoca’s clients to gauge the fraud-risk associated with any given transaction.

Ethoca’s community includes a number of leading and recognized companies and payment and fraud solution provider partners from around the world.

Ethoca’s clients increase profits by finding the optimal balance between allowed transactions and fraud-risk levels, and fraud management costs. Ethoca’s use of independent third-party business process and data integrity audits ensures that the privacy and security of data is maintained. For more information about Ethoca visit www.ethoca.com.

-WWE has jobs that are in need of filling. To check out what is up for offer, go to here.

U.S. Olympic qualifying powerlifter Ingrid Marcus, Lisa Marie Varon aka “Victoria,” Fitness Universe Champion Kelly G, and Torrie Wilson.

This was taken in 1988, when Torrie and Victoria were both WTF Champions in the Fitness world. Torrie won the Grace and Physique round in 1998 and turned in outstanding performances in the Fitness Routine and Obstacle Course. “Victoria” (as she is now known) joined Torrie as a top ten finalist in the Overall Tri-Fitness.

Source

Vince McMahon has given his approval for a storyline involving incest. The angle would involve Ohio Valley Wrestling wrestlers Katie Lea and Paul Burchill. The angle would likely take place on either ECW or Raw, because there is some concern that it would get the wrong kind of heat if it were to take place on SmackDown — which is on network television.

McMahon has wanted to do an incest angle for years. He once suggested that he be the father of his daughter Stephanie’s baby. As revealed on the McMahon DVD, Stephanie turned down the angle. According to her, Vince was to reveal himself as the father of her baby; when she said no, he pushed for Shane to be the father, but he turned that idea down as well.

The incest idea was first batted around in 1999 where Ken Shamrock and Ryan Shamrock (his storyline sister) would end up as lovers. Ken nixed the idea and that was the beginning of the end of his push at the time. There is some irony in the angle as Ken and Ryan ended up as a real-life couple at around the same time frame. Later that year in May 1999, Headbanger Mosh was renamed “Beaver Cleavage,” a reference to the TV series Leave It to Beaver. He appeared in black-and-white vignettes with his “mother,” fitness model Marianna Komlos portraying “Mrs. Cleavage.” The two would exchange sexual innuendos (e.g. Mrs. Cleavage would offer Beaver some of “Mother’s milk” when he complained that his cereal was dry). After one in-ring appearance, the gimmick was scrapped. A few weeks later, they did a backstage segment where Mosh said that his real name was Chaz. He ridiculed the Beaver Cleavage gimmick and identified “Mrs. Cleavage” as his girlfriend, Marianna Komlos, in a “shoot-style” interview.

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Columbia Records Enters Into New Agreement with World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

“RAW - GREATEST HITS - THE MUSIC,” Inaugural Release Under New Columbia Records/WWE Music Group Deal, Commemorates The 15th Anniversary of “WWE RAW!”"RAW - Greatest Hits - The Music” Available Tuesday, December 18

December 04, 2007: 03:29 PM EST

NEW YORK, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ — Columbia Records has entered into a new agreement with World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. “RAW - Greatest Hits - The Music,” the first musical release under the new Columbia Records/WWE Music Group arrangement, will be available in stores and online on Tuesday, December 18.

A monumental collection of the sounds that define the untamed excitement of the WWE, “RAW - Greatest Hits - The Music” will be released in celebration of the 15th anniversary of “WWE RAW,” the longest running original entertainment show in television history.

“I’ve been a life long fan of WWE,” said Rick Rubin. “It’s great to get the opportunity to work with them.”

“It was an honor to work with Rick who brought his expertise in the worlds of music and wrestling to this project,” said Neil Lawi. “‘RAW - Greatest Hits’ brings together heart-pounding original music with the world’s premiere sports entertainment company. It’s fantastic to be working with Columbia Records to further integrate the WWE brand into pop culture and celebrate 15 rockin’ years of ‘WWE RAW.’”

Bringing together the electrifying Official Entrance Themes of WWE Superstars — including John Cena, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, Undertaker, Mr. McMahon, Batista, Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, Mick Foley, Trish Stratus, Evolution, Kane, and D-Generation X — “RAW - Greatest Hits - The Music” is produced by Jim Johnston, composer of all the album’s music, and the WWE Music Group’s General Manager Neil Lawi. RIAA gold and platinum record holder Johnston, creator of the unforgettable body-slamming themes of the WWE Superstars, is the recipient of six BMI Cable Awards for his work on “WWE RAW.”

Other “WWE RAW” anniversary events include a special 3-hour 15th Anniversary “RAW” television special airing live from Bridgeport, Connecticut, on Monday, December 10 from 8pm-11pm (Eastern) on the USA Network and the release of a commemorative 15th Anniversary “RAW” DVD to be released by the WWE in December as a companion piece to the “RAW - Greatest Hits - The Music” CD. In addition, the WWE will broadcast a Christmas Eve “Tribute to the Troops” on Monday, December 24 on the USA Network. (Check your local listings.)

WWE Music has sold more than six million CDs worldwide with five WWE Music Group album titles debuting in the US Top 10.

Each week, the WWE broadcasts six hours of original programming, seen by nearly 16 million people in the US alone, with WWE programming going out to 130 countries in 20 different languages worldwide. “WWE Monday Night RAW” is the most watched regularly scheduled program on ad-supported cable television. “WWE Friday Night Smackdown!” is the top rated Friday night program among total teens, male teens and males 18-34 and is the most watched program on CW among all male demographics.

“RAW - Greatest Hits - The Music - tracklisting
John Cena ‘The Time Is Now’
Stone Cold Steve Austin ‘I Won’t Do What You Tell Me’
The Rock ‘If You Smell’
Triple H ‘The Game’
Shawn Michaels ‘Sexy Boy’
Undertaker ‘Rest In Peace’
Mr. McMahon ‘No Chance In Hell’
Batista ‘I Walk Alone’+
Rey Mysterio ‘(619)’
Chris Jericho ‘Break The Walls Down’
Mick Foley ‘Wreck’
Trish Stratus ‘Time To Rock & Roll’
Evolution ‘Line In The Sand’
Kane ‘Slow Chemical’
D-Generation X ‘Are You Ready’

Bonus tracks:

Melina ‘Paparazzi’
Mr. Kennedy ‘Turn Up The Trouble’

Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. , can be found at http://wwe.com and http://corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

http://columbiarecords.com/wwe

http://wwe.com

Source

RAW – Live from Charlotte, North Caroline

The show starts with a recap of Raw Is Jericho.

Match #1: Triple H and Jeff hardy VS Umaga and Snitsky.

Jeff does a twist of fate so noted: Whisper in the Wind on Umaga, followed by a pedigree by Triple H. A Hardy Swan-ton off the top rope onto Umaga for the 1-2-3.

WINNER: HHH and Jeff Hardy

Great match and Regal comes down and says that the two of them will be facing each other at Armegeddon.

Flair comes down to the ring for his “big announcement”. He had tears talking about how good the fans have been to him and says that, one day, he’s going to have to retire. But then he looks up and screams, “I will never retire! I love this business, and I’m not going anywhere. I won’t quit until I die in this ring.”

Vince comes out and says that he can stay in the business as long as he keeps winning. The first match that Flair loses will be his last wrestling match ever. Orton comes out and says that he’s going to kill another legend tonight.

Match #2: Cody Rhodes, Hardcore Holly, Jim Duggan and Super crazy VS Lance Cade, Trevor Murdoch, and The Highlanders

Hardcore Holly gets the Alabama Slammer on Robbie.

WINNER: Rhodes, Holly, Duggan and SuperCrazy

Mr. Kennedy plugs the new HBK DVD and Flair talks to Barry Windham about a four horseman reunion.

Jericho comes out and tells Orton, in pictures as well as words, that he wants a title match. Marella comes down to talk to “KYJ” and says that he doesn’t deserve a title match. Marella attacks Jerry Lawler during his “warm up” session for a match against Jericho.

Match #3: Chris Jericho VS Santino Marella

Pretty good match – Jericho looked a bit slow, but he manages to win using his new finisher, the Code Breaker - a bit difficult to explain…I’ll try to find a video at some point so you can see it.

WINNER: Chris Jericho

After the match Jericho lets Jerry get into the ring and beat up on Marella a bit.

Match #4: Mr. Kennedy VS. Brian Kendrick

Kendrick is quicker than a hiccup, but not much on pounds. Kennedy wins by choking Kendrick against the ropes for the 1-2-3

WINNER: Mr. Kennedy

Vince talks to Hornswaggle about making a match against Khali and Finlay at Armageddon. He then asks Hornswaggle to get him an ice cream sandwich. On the way, Hornswaggle sees a sign that says “free ice cream sandwiches” on a door. He runs into the door to find Carlito inside. Carlito tries to trap him, but Hornswaggle uses a can of spray paint to make a door in the wall and runs through it. Carlito chews his apple and tries to repeat the task, but winds up on the floor with Ron Simmons responding…”DAMN”.

Match #5: Mickie James VS Melina

James gives Melina a DDT for the 1-2-3.

WINNER: Mickie James

James will now face Beth Phoenix at Armageddon for a shot at the title.

Flair is coming down to the ring for his match, and in the hallway are a bunch of wrestlers and staff lined up to show their respect. HHH gives him a hug and says “show ‘em who you are”.

Match #6: Ric Flair VS Randy Orton

If Flair loses this match, his career is over (according to Vince McMahon).

Fairly decent match - Flair gets Orton into a figure four at one point but Orton gets out. Just when it looks like everything’s done for, Jericho comes down to the ring and distracts Randy Orton - at which point Flair gives him a low blow for the roll up and the pin.

WINNER: Ric Flair

I guess Jericho really does want to save the WWE from Randy Orton!

This is what we were all waiting for. The return of Y2J. Here is what Jericho did for the newest cover of the WWE magazine. Available this Tuesday, Nov. 27 Check it out.

Looks like TNA has snagged ANOTHER WWE Wrestler - “King” Booker (Booker T) and Queen Sharmel have gone over to TNA. The king and queen have left the building, however, because their name and gimmick now belongs to the WWE (much like Chyna’s name did until just recently)

Booker was Sting’s partner at the latest TNA PPV - Genesis. I wonder if TNA got a bogo deal, or if they’re paying Sharmel as they do their other female wrestlers!

WWE has a story up for the Fans to see. Bret “The Hitman” Hart talks with the man who “screwed” him over some 10 years ago.

Could this saga haunt Mr. McMahon for this long, or is this a way for him to say, “Bret - I’m sorry”?

I hope Vincent Kennedy McMahon feels this way cause I beileve Bret was and still is the “Icon of Wrestling” and Vince jsut screw himself and Bret out of a long heartful relationship Bret could of have witht he WWE.

On the 10 years anniversary of the Montreal Screwjob WWE gets a rare chance for an interview witht he “Hitman”.

“I wish things had never changed and that I was still [in WWE],” stated a very frank Hit Man. “I look back on that incident as a bad decision by Vince McMahon and WWE. I think we all can look back and know that there was a better way to do things.”

He continued, “It’s a shame that things happened the way they did, but in the end, I think people have always respected me for being someone who always stood behind his beliefs, and stood up for himself.”

In the closing moments of Hart’s title defense against Shawn Michaels back at Survivor Series, the leader of then-blossoming D-Generation X locked Bret in the champion’s own signature submission move, the Sharpshooter. Though Hart never surrendered within in the hold he’d, by then, perfected in his 21-year career, the referee signaled for the bell to end the match. The Hit Man never officially gave up, but the WWE Title was instantly awarded to a scowling HBK. Confusion, anger, betrayal, embarrassment, disgrace, disgust – all compounding and forming a squall within the belly of the Hit Man.

“There were a lot of elements that worked during that period; a lot of political jealousies and rivalries,” the five-time WWE Champion claimed. “I don’t forgive anybody involved in that – from Gerald Brisco to Michaels to Triple H to Vince. But at the same time, I realize that life’s too short to carry around hard feelings on an everyday basis.”

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