This was reported last night on www.wrestlingobserver.com
Update on Memphis situation regarding WWE and MemphisWrestlingby Dave MeltzerDave@wrestlingobserver.comWWE today pulled Shelton Benjamin, Charlie Haas andBoogeyman from tomorrow night's Memphis Wrestling showat Sam's Town Casino in Tunica, MS in the fallout offorcing Jerry Lawler out of his match with Hulk Hoganon 4/27.
From this point forward, no WWE contracted talent willbe allowed to work for the promotion. It is unclearwhether Lawler, who has an announcers contract but nota talent contract, would be allowed to work ontelevision or on other shows.The promotion has used WWE talent since the beginningof time, as well as outside talent.
The issue was the problems with Vince McMahon and HulkHogan were such that McMahon didn't want the show tocome off. Ironically, the Fed Ex Forum had contactedWWE last week when the site of the show was forced tomove and WWE said they had no problem with themhousing a show. But Lawler was then told Monday nightat television that he wouldn't be allowed to work onthe show. Lawler told Maclin that the WWE wouldreimburse him his deposit money spent to book thebuilding, but Maclin decided against it and wanted tocontinue with the show.
The program, tickets, billboards, radio and print adsall built around Lawler vs. Hogan will have to bechanged, as well as having to redo major aspects ofthe television show that wuoild air the next twoSaturdays.
Despite how it was phrased by Lawler at today's pressconference, VH-1 filming was not an issue. Thecomplete issue is that McMahon didn't want such ahigh-profile match taking place involving Hogan.Lawler asked if he could make an appearance on theshow that wouldn't involve Hogan and he was told hecould not appear on the show if Hogan appeared. He didappear at the press conference today saying hewouldn't wrestle on the show before it was announcedthat Paul Wight, the former Big show, would faceHogan.
It has become a major story in the Memphis media sinceMayor Willie Herenton was a participant on the showand did interviews regarding the cancellation.CW-30 in Memphis has a one-hour special scheduled fortonight that would promote the match as well astomorrow night's show. WWE earlier in the week sent ininterviews with Haas & Benjamin for the show, whichwas unable to be changed by the local station at thelast minute. They are expected to run a crawl notingthe new main event for 4/27 during the promotion forLawler vs. Hogan.
