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WRESTLING GLOBE NEWSLETTER
Tuesday November 10, 2009
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WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
11/9 Smackdown/ECW house show results from Cardiff, Wales: The Undertaker over CM Punk in a casket match; Mickie James won a Diva battle royal ;Finlay & Yoshi Tatsu over Zack Ryder & Ezikiel Jackson; Drew McIntyre over Matt Hardy; Cryme Tyme over The Hart Dynasty; John Morrison over Dolph Ziggler; Michelle McCool over Mickie James; Christian over Goldust; and Rey Mysterio over Batista.
11/9 Raw TV results from Sheffield, England: Alicia Fox over Kelly Kelly; Sheamus over David DeVille; Evan Bourne over Jack Swagger; Randy Orton over Mark Henry; Ricky Hatton over Chavo Guerrero; and DX over JeriShow.
Smackdown and ECW was taped earlier today in Sheffield, England with Christian vs. William Regal (told this is a great match going 15 minutes before a hot crowd) for the title headlining ECW; and John Morrison vs. Dolph Ziggler for the IC title; and The Undertaker vs. Chris Jericho headlining Smackdown. There was also a Raw house show today in Cardiff, Wales. We're looking for reader reports to you2us@wrestlingglobe.com as well as reports from the shows this coming week in London and Birmingham, England; plus France, Germany and Ireland.
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A SEC filing today reveals that Linda McMahon resigned as a Director of WWE on November 6 citing, "continuing demands on her time resulting from her campaign for the United States Senate, representing the State of Connecticut."
The Ricky Hatton-Chavo Guerrero match on Raw received media play all over the UK including television and national newspapers. Chavo on his Twitter earlier today said: "Just to let you know... The punch Was REAL!" That comment would have gotton him fired 25 years ago.
Sheamus' opponent on Raw was David DeVille, the current British Wrestling Heavyweight Champion at night, and a legit footman to Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace during the day.
Undertaker-Punk was opening match last night at the Smackdown show in Cardiff so Taker could make the finish of Raw.
Raw did a 3.1 rating and 4.25 million viewers, down on last Monday, and it's lowest rating of 2009. This can't be good news for the creative team who have to sit on a plane with Vince for the next 10 hours.
The Hurricane vs. Paul Burchill in a mask vs. loser leaves town was bumped to TV next week in Philadelphia.
The WWE stock closed today at $15.30 on the NYSE surpassing it's 52-week high. Likely a few celebrations in Titan Towers as certain people just scored bonuses.
The new Hulk Hogan DVD was advertised today before the live crowd at the TV tapings.
Maryse is working off ring rust this week in Tampa.
Jim Ross posted a new blog at www.jrsbarbq.com. I assume this matter of fact was aimed at the talent relations department: "Anyone who puts exact physical requirements on any prospective new wrestler is never going to be class Valedictorian from where I sit. Stars come and have for decades come in all shapes and sizes. Stars have many intangibles that cannot be measured in an 8X10. Stars have to be athletic, in shape, have a wrestling aptitude, and an overwhelming work ethic. They must be students of the game. No one should be disqualified from consideration just because they are less than 6 feet tall and don't weight north of 230 or so. If I started listing all the HUGE stars that were under 6 feet tall, we would assemble one of the greatest rosters of all time."
The WWE.com story on Jamie Noble was updated to where he has now decided to "retire." Noble has been working behind the scenes as a producer for some time now.
New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor, who one headlined a Wrestlemania against the late Bam Bam Bigelow, was arrested this past week on charges of leaving the scene of a traffic accident. He claimed he thought he had hit a guard rail, not another vehicle, according to the Associated Press.
A reminder that Dinner Impossible with Jim Ross, The Miz, Santino Marella, Stephanie McMahon and Gail Kim airs tonight at 10pm ET on The Food Network.
One of our readers spotted Kozlov at the Strikeforce event in Chicago on Saturday night headlined by Fedor vs. Brett Rogers. Apparently he was with the M-1 entourage. Kozlov, under his real name of Oleg Prudius, was a 2005 USA Open Heavyweight Sambo Champion and former USKBA International Heavyweight Grappling Champion.
One of our readers in the UK is selling his WWE DVD collection on eBay; 27 DVDs, mostly documentaries and matches. Quite the collection at http://tinyurl.com/yfvfe53.
TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION WRESTLING NEWS
11/9 house show results from Nashville, TN: Suicide over Homicide & D'Angelo Dinero in a three-way; Hernandez over Kip James; Tara over Velvet Sky; Abyss over Rhino in a Monster's Ball match; Bobby Lashley over Scott Steiner; Beer Money & Frank Wycheck over World Elite; and AJ Styles over Samoa Joe with Tennessee Titan players as lumberjacks. This was a charity show raising $130,000 for The Boys and Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee.
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Kurt Angle was cleared of all the charges, including an assault charge, brought against him by Trenesha Biggers (Rhaka Khan). Prior to a hearing this afternoon in Coraopolis, PA Biggers told the local ABC news affiliate that she was terrified by the alleged assault she suffered and feared that Kurt was going to kill her. However, the major point of contention in the case was that Biggers was still living with Kurt at his house nine days after the alleged assault took place. Biggers claimed that was because she feared for her job with TNA. An emotional Kurt said after the hearing he would never hit a women because his mother brought him up the right way.
Kurt's attorney, Michael F. Santicola, released the following statement: "Kurt Angle was completely and utterly exonerated of all charges of assault which was alleged to have occurred in August of 2009. A Preliminary Hearing was held today before District Magistrate Mary Murray in which Mr. Angle’s accuser, Trenesha Biggers, was given a chance to tell her tale of assault. At the conclusion of her testimony, the Judge summarily dismissed all charges as baseless. Ms. Bigger’s story did not make sense, was not believable, and was shown to be untrue. Her actions immediately after this alleged incident was completely inconsistent with someone who experienced what she has claimed. Mr. Angle did not even have to testify, the story of Ms. Biggers herself was enough to have these charges dismissed. During this long ordeal, Mr. Angle has maintained that Ms. Biggers is a disturbed and confused individual who falsified a story about him due to his celebrity status. When this story actually found the light of day, it was shown to be inaccurate. It is unfortunate that the legal system allowed the case to exist for 3 months when we have known all along that Ms. Biggers was not a credible person in this instance. Mr. Angle wants to move forward with his life and thanks the individuals who believed in him and supported his position of innocence."
WTAE TV in Pittsburgh has an interview airing tonight with Biggers giving her account of her relationship with Kurt Angle.
Daffney returned to the ring with Shimmer this past weekend in Berwyn, IL. She worked a tag and short singles match which was more storyline advancement than anything physical. This was her first time back in the ring after suffering a concussion with that insane bump last month at Bound For Glory.
Hulk Hogan called into the Bubba the Love Sponge radio show on Monday claiming he is working on bringing Randy Savage and Steve Austin to TNA. Well, Austin is still on the WWE payroll, and from someone close to Savage: "Macho is retired, nothing is going to change... Hogan’s just doing what he does best and hyping his move to TNA. Macho looks after his Dad, and has no interest in wrestling." Hogan also talked about Bubba joining him on the TNA writing team and claimed Vince McMahon wanted him to guest host Raw at MSG on November 16 but he turned him down because he was still mad at Vince about his $700,000 payoff for Wrestlemania 18, or some bulls--t along those lines.
Samoa Joe was scouting talent with Terry Taylor at the TNA offices in Nashville on Monday. Joe wrote on his Twitter: "Dear wrestlers, f--k you're intro video include actual wrestling on you're DVD's... No lights and fuzzy camera = thrown out DVD. Please send it in watchable, common sense." Also at the TNA offices on Monday was Abyss wrapping gifts and Homicide answering phone calls. I guess this is what Dixie means about being a team player.
The Slam Wrestling website at http://tinyurl.com/ylk9c9c has a story on Petey Williams who is still dumbfounded as to why TNA released him. He said: "My contract was up for renewal in January 2009 and everything seemed to be going well... Out of the blue, I received a call from head of talent relations for TNA, Terry Taylor, saying my contract was not going to be renewed. I still don’t understand why the contract was not renewed. It may have been a money issue since I was the highest paid guy in the X Division. They also mentioned freshening up the roster but I am one of the youngest guys so that doesn’t make sense. I guess more than anything, I would like an explanation why I was released." He said he had offers from WWE, but didn't want to go to developmental in Tampa as he has mouths to feed and bills to pay. "If I had the same offer five years ago I would have agreed," he said. "Now that I am married with a mortgage, it changes things."
In an effort to push ticket sales a number of gimmick matches were announced for the January UK tour dates including Ultimate X in London at the same venue they broke their attendance record last year. More info at www.tnawrestling.com.
OTHER WRESTLING NEWS
Stacy Keibler won the Baltimore Sun Celebrity Smackdown contest over a bunch of other Baltimore celebrities including Mayor Sheila Dixon, former MBL star Cal Ripken Jr., swimmer Michael Phelps, and violinist Marin Alsop. I assume they had permission from WWE to use the word Smackdown, which WWE claims they own, or well, you know how that goes...
Keibler has a cameo tonight on Dancing with the Stars.
Nick Hogan was told by his doctor that he needs shoulder surgery. He has suffered multiple dislocations during the past year which has completely destroyed his left shoulder.
Former WWE Diva Ashley Massaro said she is suffering with kidney stones.
Former WCW promoter Gary Juster was in attendance at the Ring of Honor show in Edison, NJ this past weekend apparently for both business and pleasure. Story is developing.
ROH are bring in AAA's Alex Koslov and Rocky Romer0 for it's December events in Manassas, VA and New York City. More info at www.rohwrestling.com.
Ken Anderson wrote on his Twitter that he has an upcoming audition for a major budget film.
Brian Kendrick will be wrestling in Burlington, NC on Saturday at the Mid-Atlantic Sportatorium. Bell Time is at 7:30pm.
CZW runs on Saturday at The Arena in South Philly, PA. More info at www.czwrestling.com.
One Pro Wrestling run the Doncaster Dome in Doncaster, England this coming Sunday with Rob Van Dam, Davey Richards, Steve Corino, Jimmy Jacobs, Ulf Herman, Kevin Thorn, and many more. Details at www.oneprowrestling.com
The listing for Dick the Bruiser's former home is online at http://tinyurl.com/yc8t7k7. Offers over $150,000.
Torrie Wilson is on the cover of the next Ms. Fitness magazine.
----Wrestling Globe Newsletter by Mike Aldren - All the latest professional wrestling news, gossip and occasional opinion. WGN is read by industry power players, many top wrestlers and thousands of fans from all around the world.
