WWE News Bytes
October 26, 2007
by Sassy
Recent Injuries
Chris Masters suffered a dislocated elbow in a recent match
against The Undertaker in Scotland. Masters
will be out of action for a few weeks.
Candice Michelle suffered a cracked clavicle and possible
concussion in her match last week against Beth Phoenix.
Initial reports indicate Candice will be out of the ring for six to eight
weeks. Candice’s name has been removed from the Cyber Sunday line up. Source: www.prowrestlingfans.com.
The Boogeyman has been out of action with a calf injury since
we last saw him on WWE TV. He is expected to return to ECW sometime in November.
Source: www.sescoops.com.
Dave Meltzer is reporting that Matt Hardy suffered a 7 inch
gash that required 35 stitches to close at the Kansas City Smackdown TV tapings.
Source: The Wrestling Observer. Matt was giving Rey Mysterio a splash mountain
and Mysterio's knee brace caught him in the head. He was bleeding buckets and
they had to stop the show to change the mat because of all the blood. At this
point, his status for Cyber Sunday is uncertain.
Latest On The Diva Search:
Lena Yada has been voted out of the competition. Source:
Gerweck.
What Is WWE Hiding?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution By JOHN HOLLIS
Published on: 10/22/07
WWE refuses to produce documents in Benoit case
World Wrestling Entertainment has no plans to make things
easy for parties possibly looking to sue it over the deaths of professional
wrestler Chris Benoit and his family.
In court papers filed Monday afternoon with the Fayetteville
Superior Court, the Connecticut-based pro wrestling organization called
discovery motions filed by the respective estates of Benoit and his wife and son
"a wholesale fishing expedition" intended to lay the groundwork for
possible future litigation.
Benoit killed his wife, Nancy, and their 7-year-old son,
Daniel, in the family's Fayetteville home before taking his own life in late
June. The wrestler had roughly 10 times the normal amount of testosterone in his
system at the time of his death, authorities have said.
WWE, which has long maintained it had nothing to do with the
double murder-suicide, on Monday cited the possibility of lawsuits as its reason
to not hand over documents regarding drug testing and related matters requested
by the estates of the deceased family members.
The organization said in its court filing that the request
for documents was "abusive and improper and not remotely relevant to the
determination of order of death."
The information ostensibly is being sought for an upcoming
court hearing that will determine who stands to inherit millions of dollars from
the Chris Benoit estate. Neither Chris nor Nancy Benoit left a will.
WWE's refusal to cooperate means attorneys representing the
Benoit estates will have to convince a judge the documents are pertinent to the
upcoming hearing.
Fayette County authorities have maintained that Chris Benoit
killed his wife first before murdering his son. However, Nancy's parents, Paul
and Maureen Toffoloni, have suggested that Daniel may have died first, and not
his mother.
The order of death will be key to determining who inherits
Chris Benoit's millions.
Cary Ichter, the Atlanta-based attorney who represents
Michael Benoit, Chris' father, responded to World Wrestling's position Monday by
saying, "Nothing the WWE does that reflects bad faith surprises me."
Efforts to reach Rick Decker, the Toffolonis' Atlanta-based
attorney, were unsuccessful.
The Toffolonis and Michael Benoit have sought documents from
the WWE pertaining to the company's drug testing, as well as any previous
deaths, drugs and illnesses other wrestlers may have suffered as a result of
steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs.
WWE has taken a major public relations hit in the months
since the tragedy. Even Congress appears poised to enter the fray, with an
announcement likely to come soon of hearings into possible steroid abuse in
professional wrestling.
World Wrestling attorney Jerry McDevitt insisted there was no
way his client could be held responsible for the Benoit tragedy.
"We're going to resist," McDevitt said. "If
somebody wants to take a shot at us, then go ahead, and we'll see you in
court."
THE STORY SO FAR
Weekend of June 22-24: Chris Benoit kills his wife and
7-year-old son before killing himself at the family home in Fayetteville. The
bodies are discovered on June 25.
July 2: Dr. Phil Astin is indicted by the federal government
on seven charges overprescribing two patients. Authorities say Benoit was not
one of those patients. Astin tells the Associated Press heĂd supplied
testosterone to Benoit.
July 17: Medical tests show Benoit had roughly 10 times the
normal amount of testosterone in his body at the time of his death. They also
reveal that Daniel Benoit, the couple's 7-year-old son, had been sedated before
he died.
July 28: AJC reports exclusively that Congress has begun
requesting information from the WWE about its drug policies in what is likely a
precursor to formal hearings.
Aug. 15: In another exclusive, AJC details how inheritances
will be tied to details of the Benoit deaths. Whether wife or son died first
will play a key role in who gets the wrestler's estate, estimated to be worth
millions.
Sept. 5: Michael Benoit, Chris' father, holds a press
conference in New York in which he suggests the excessive number of concussions
his son suffered while competing in the WWE may have played a role in the
tragedy.
Oct. 12: AJC reports exclusively that Astin, still under
house arrest and unable to work, has filed for bankruptcy.
Oct. 17: Exclusive AJC story tells how the state boxing
commission may go after the WWE, which had been previously exempt from state
regulations.
Oct. 22: WWE files court papers saying it will not comply
with discovery requests from the Benoit and Toffoloni families.
The Least of Stephanie’s Worries Should Be Storyline
Leaks
But she had a tantrum when the Chris Jericho line popped up.
Word is that she blamed the creative team for the leak and wanted to run
all of the company’s cell phone records and have all of the computers and
emails checked to find out who the big mouth was.
Stephanie is now talking about revising contracts that would
disallow creative team members to speak out publicly and to specifically state
that they don't have any ownership to their ideas. She also wants their
contracts to ban them from being able to talk publicly after they are no longer
with the company, about their experience with the company, or talk about the
impressions of talent or anyone they met in the company. This would keep someone
from going to TNA and sharing their WWE ideas. Source: Sescoops.
What We Didn’t See On Monday Night Raw
Darren Rain from Omaha, NE was defeated by OVW's Jacob
Duncan.
Val Venis defeated Charlie Haas
Gene Snitsky defeated an unknown wrestler.
The Highlanders defeated Hacksaw Jim Duggan & Super
Crazy.
WWE Ratings
The Monday Night Raw rating for this week is in.
It was a 3.3, the same as last week.
The ECW rating was a 1.4, better than the 1.2 last week.
The Friday Night Smackdown rating for last week is 2.7.
ECW Still On The Map
Here’s the official press release:
SCI FI CHANNEL REUPS WWES ECW THROUGH 2008
New York, N.Y., October 23, 2007 - SCI FI Channel and World
Wrestling Entertainment today announced that the hit program, ECW (Extreme
Championship Wrestling, will continue on the network through 2008.
WWE is also the producer of the No. 1 weekly basic cable TV
series, Monday Night RAW on USA Network.
This year (Jan-Sept), SCI FI has been the #1 cable network
for men ages 18-34 in ECW's Tuesday 10pm time period.
For more information go to ECW.com http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/
and www.SCIFI.com.
JR Blogs on Third Party Reporters
Hey, is that me? And about reporting “facts” when such
“facts” are rumors. We try our
hardest, JR, to make sure we report rumors as rumors and facts as facts. You can
read the blog for yourself here: http://www.jrsbarbq.com/blog/2007/10/22/it%e2%80%99s-a-bar-b-qed-feedback-buffet-jr%e2%80%99s-cookbook-offer-still-available/
JR is still selling his cookbook in case you didn’t notice. He also hits on
subjects such as Lita and the Funk
Brothers, Dory and Terry.
And If JR Is Wondering
Why third party reporters may be necessary, take a look at
the following interview with John Morrison – and a WWE Rep who made sure
Morrison didn’t say anything WWE didn’t want said: http://www.pwbts.com/messages/13083.htm.
You can’t expect us to get all the “truthful news” from the WWE website,
JR.
WWE Takes Home The Gold For Annual Fan Axxess Tour
STAMFORD, Conn., October 19, 2007 – World Wrestling
Entertainment® has won a Gold Award in the Mobile Marketing category from
Corporate EVENT magazine for last year’s 2006 WrestleMania 22 Fan Axxess tour.
Source: ProWrestlingBetweenTheSheets.
The Real Reason Kristal Marshall Was Fired?
It isn’t a pretty picture that is being pained of Kristal.
Word is that she would go to creative and tell them Teddy or Vicky were unhappy
with things and then Teddy and Vicky would find out about it later. Source:
ProWrestlingFans.
Scheduled WWE Talent Events
CANCELLATION: The CM Punk/Hornswoggle autograph signing in
Long Island, New York on Friday, October 26th has been cancelled. Apparently the
cancellation is due to a scheduling conflict. Source:ProWrestlingFans.
WWE World Champion Batista and ECW World Champion CM Punk are
both confirmed for autograph signings Friday October, 26, 2007.
Batista will be signing at Borders Books & Music in Sterling, VA at 8:30PM.
CM Punk will be signing at SunRise Mall in Massapequa, NY from 6PM to 8PM.
Jerry The King Lawler and Jim Neidhart will both make
appearances at the Northeast Wrestling show this Saturday in Milford, PA.
Edge is scheduled to be appearing the FYE in the Brandon Mall
in Brandon FL on November 1st. He will be promoting the WrestleMania pre-sale
and signing autographs the following day at all Florida FYEs.
WWE has released a signed WrestleMania 23 commemorative
plaque featuring the Undertaker.
Lillian Garcia’s New Album
My Favorite Pollster
Not Necessarily TNA News
The Salt Lake Tribune has an article about former WCW
Champion Diamond Dallas Page losing his "Halloween" cat. The article
says his cat slipped out of ex-wife Kimberly's Salt Lake City home on October
15. Page and Kimberly remain friends despite their divorce and share the custody
of Spooki, the cat. Kimberly is going around her area posting up flyers and
searching animal shelters in hope Spooki turns up. Diamond Dallas Page is
offering a $500 award for her safe return and even promises to fly to Utah to
personally thank whoever finds Spooki.
If anyone has seen the cat nearby 2100 S. Parley's Way you
may call Kimberly at 801-815-5236. Source: ProWrestlingFans.
Billboard's Top 10 Recreational Sports DVD sales for this
week:
1 WWE:
SummerSlam 2007
2 2001
FedEx Orange Bowl National Championship
3 TNA:
Hard Justice 2007
4 UFC 70:
Nations Collide
5 Ultimate
Fighter: Season 1
6 UFC
Presents: The Ultimate Fighter 2
7 Pride
Fighting Championships: Pride Fighting Legacy: Volume 5
8 UFC 69:
Shootout
9 WWE:
Wrestlemania 23
10 WWE: The Ladder Match
Nate Orton, son of Cowboy Bob Orton and brother of Randy
Orton, made his MMA debut last week. Nate
won when the referee stopped the match. His brother was there to see the debut.
Source: Lords of Pain.
Chris Benoit action figures are still available at the Kmart
in Philadelphia, PA 19136.
Friday afternoon at the WrestleFanFest, a fan dropped to the
floor in an epileptic seizure. Tammy Sytch
jumped out from behind the table to attend to him, keeping his head from
hitting the floor repeatedly. She immediately ordered the closest person to call
911. She asked if anything could be done, and several people mentioned that
seizures need to run their course and to just keep the head cushioned and make
sure the tongue is clear from the teeth. She deserves the Humanitarian Award for
the weekend. Source: ProWrestlingFans.
And for those keeping track, Nick Hogan has announced that
Polaroid is his new racing sponser. Nick
does mention John Graziano at the end of his little press release. Source: www.pwbts.com.
I don’t know about the rest of the wrestling fans out there, but Polaroid has
just become one of those companies I don’t wish to purchase from again.
From “In Funk’s Corner”, comes the following: Rocky
Johnson will receive the Funking Conservatory Fighting Heart Award this Sunday
October 28th at Support the Troops 20, "The Great Big Show." The card
is set for our first !BANG! TV Taping in our new 8000 square foot air
conditioned Sound Stage. You can read more about this and other Funking News at
the Funking Conservatory here: http://www.dory-funk.com/.
Where Are They Now
Black Machismo Jay Lethal defeated Chris Adams at last
night's Booker T's PWA Halloween Havoc show in Texas. Shad Gaspard of Cryme Tyme
also worked the show, in a manager type role with VIP. Shad now lives in the
Houston area and went under the name "THE BEAST."
Booker T and Sharmell hosted a Halloween Costume contest.
Beforehand, Booker and Sharmell announced to the crowd that they did indeed
leave WWE.
Former WWE Diva Search finalist Jessica Hatch also made her
PWA debut and told the fans of PWA she was here to stay and would be training
and wrestling in PWA for good. She sent a message out to the other PWA Divas and
told them to watch out.
PWA will run another show on 11/28 that is set to feature TNA
superstar Abyss at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, TX. They also
will be running a show on 11/17 in Beaumont. Source: Sescoops.
Bret Hart, who recently completed his new book, has divorced
his second wife, Cinzia. According to reports, she lives in Italy and Bret does
not want to live there. I’m not sure I buy that, but okay. Bret is currently
promoting his book with book signings and media appearances.
Paul Bearer appeared on In Your Head Wrestling Radio. http://www.inyourheadonline.com.
Sabu made a ring appearance in Arlington, TX for Professional
Championship Wrestling’s Full Throttle. He defeated Brett Idol in a Hardcore
Match.
Brock Lesnar formerly Here Comes The Pain Brock Lesnar in
WWE, has signed a contract with MMA’s Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Rob Van Dam will be adding a new video feature to his website
RobVanDam.com. The feature will be called RVDTV and Harry Slash and the
Slashstones will be making its official theme song. Source: www.rajah.com.
D’Lo Brown has signed on with TNA. Word is that he will be acting as an agent backstage and not
as a wrestler in the ring. Source: Sescoops.
The last word we have on Lex Luger is that he remains
hospitalized in stable condition in California.
The Rock has backed out of his latest project, the movie
“Spy Hunter”. No word yet on why Rock changed his mind but Spy Hunter’s
camp has admitted Rock will no longer be involved.
Shawn Daivari Does The Pain Clinic
Daivari was a guest on The Pain Clinic.
He talks about requesting his release from WWE and the reasons behind the
request. He also talks about working with Hassam and with Khali. Daivari is now
a free agent and able to take bookings. For
his October 20, 2007 interview, go to www.thepainclinic.com.
Stone Cold Steve Austin Interviews David Arquette
Unfortunately, Austin manages to trash talk TNA during the
interview. In fact, Austin stated there were no major stars in TNA. Source: www.gerweck.net.
The TNA name has been edited out of the interview. I’m positive Austin
couldn’t take on Samoa Joe, Sting, Christian Cage, Chris Harris, James Storm,
Lance Hoyt, Jimmy Rave, Homicide, or Hernandez just to name a few, and beat any
one of them. He must have had one
too many beers before he opened his mouth.
Congratulations to Killer Kowalski, 81, on his pending
marriage to Theresa, 79. The happy couple plan to wed on 6/19. Believe it or
not, this will be his first marriage. The WWE hall of famer trained such stars
as Triple H, Chyna, and Perry Saturn. This will be Kowalski's first marriage. I
believe today's is Saturn's birthday as well. Source: www.gerweck.net.
WWE NEWS BYTES / OCTOBER 19
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