Alex Marvez has a story on Mickie James at http://tinyurl.com/3a3ycj4. She says she had hoped to sign on with WWE for several more years before her release in April. "When you get that call (from WWE) that you're hired, it's the greatest call in the world. It's even better when you get the call that you're coming to TV (tapings) and debuting. But when you get the call saying you're gone ... What bothers me is, I could see if I didn't get a good reaction, but I would get the largest reaction of any female on the roster no matter who I was on the bill with. I still don't understand why, but that's life." On her future in wrestling: "For a while, I was going to say I didn't want to wrestle at all because I'm still heartbroken (about WWE) ... but I do love it so much. I intend to wrestle here and there and do the shows I really want to do, especially if it's with someone who's a friend of mine or someone I never got a chance to work with."
Linda McMahon released a new campaign ad produced by WWE's TV Studio at http://tinyurl.com/34dfds8. The message is interesting as she describes WWE as a soap opera that isn't real to downplay controversial content. National Democrats have already slammed the ad as misleading given the criticisms surrounding WWE over the years. The latest TPM poll gives Democratic state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal a lead over Linda of 52.5%-37.0%.
Linda commented on the Martha Hart lawsuit yesterday during a TV taping for Channel 3 in Connecticut. She said very little other than WWE is handling the suit. News footage at http://tinyurl.com/2vwqv8z.
We're told the reason Vince missed the MSG show last weekend was because he spent fathers day with son Shane and his family.
An interesting note from the new Maria Kanellis interview by www.highspots.tv. After her release she wrote thank you letters to Vince, Linda and Stephanie McMahon to thank them for the opportunity of working for WWE. She said Vince wrote her back saying that he was appreciative of her time with the company and hopes they would be able to work with each other again in the future... Kanellis' first music video was posted yesterday on iTunes. You can watch the vid at http://tinyurl.com/395ccet.
A couple of notes on Ashley Valence--the new female announcer hired for NXT. Her real name is Ashley Ann Vickers, 23, a communications grad from the University of Central Florida. She paid her own way through college from modeling gigs and is currently representing Nashville in the semi-finals of Maxim's Hometown Hottie contest. Her video submission is online at http://tinyurl.com/25e8rza.
NXT on Tuesday night did a 0.9 rating and 1.2 million viewers.
Angela Fong last night via Twitter commented on her release. She wrote: "It has been quite a day....my head hurts...need some sleep...I appreciate all the support and I will write tomorrow...I love my fans...gnite."
The Youngstown Vindicator at http://tinyurl.com/3xhsvkh has a Q&A with Evan Bourne to promote the house show this weekend. On transitioning from indy wrestling
to WWE: "There was a huge learning curve understanding the scale of the company. It’s so massive and such a well-oiled machine. From a managerial standpoint, it’s run with an efficiency. I’ve been around a lot of wrestling, and it used to be not as corporate as it is now, but the WWE is just jaw-dropping. I went to business school, and for me finding out how they operate from the business standpoint has almost been as intriguing as all of the wrestling skills I’ve acquired."
Jack Swagger at http://tinyurl.com/35zezrv talks the demands of Division I football vs. pro wrestling: "College football is kind of spoiled; it’s one of the top sports in the country, so after games or whatnot you’ve got the planes going back home, the big buses, which is not to take away from the training — it’s a lot to prepare yourself to compete at that level, but I’d say the training is almost fairly similar to what I do now as far as lifting and cardio-wise, except we have the four- and five-hour car rides after we get done with the show." When asked which pays better, he joked: "It depends if you’re friends with Reggie Bush or not."
The WWE website posted it's opinion on the Top 25 IC champs of all-time at http://tinyurl.com/25c26h8. In reverse order, Top 10 is Randy Orton, Pedro Morales, Bret Hart, Razor Ramon, Honky Tonk Man, Pat Patterson, Mr Perfect, Ultimate Warrior, Chris Jericho, and Randy Savage.
Tatsu and Maryse are heading to Japan next week to promote events over there in August.
TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION WRESTLING
Impact tonight includes Velvet Sky vs. Angelina Love; Jay Lethal vs. Kazarian; Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe; Jeff Jarrett vs. Sting; Abyss vs. Ken Anderson in a falls count anywhere match; and Beer Money vs. Ink, Inc. in the tag title tournament.
***
The company has just added two dates in France early next year. The Halle Tony Garnier (a beautiful concert hall that can hold 16,000 people) in Lyon on 2/21 and Le Zénith de Paris in Paris on 1/22. They ran the later facility earlier this year drawing about 2,500 paid.
Velvet Sky is supposed to be throwing out the first pitch at tonight's Brooklyn Cyclones baseball game at MCU Park in Coney Island. TNA is coming for a house show there on 7/2 followed by Ashbury Park in New Jersey on 7/3 which is a huge deal for them as they've already sold nearly 4,000 tickets in advance.
Hulk Hogan will be a guest tonight on The Hour on CBC in Canada.
The company just got TV clearance in Malta to air Impact on Saturday nights. PPV will also air on tape delay.
OTHER WRESTLING NEWS
The CBS news affiliate in Chicago has a story on raising brain injury awreness among young athletes. Former WWE wrestler and college football player Chris Nowinski who founded the Sports Legacy Institute is quoted: "You're brain can only take so many hits to the head -- there is no such thing as a tough brain, I know first-hand, kicked in the head too many times caused my five years of headaches, memory loss. Now long term, I have to worry about dementia at 50 years old, because of things I did as a kid when I didn't understand." Story is at http://tinyurl.com/3ajpv3p.
Dutch Mantell is currently working on a second wrestling book due out in September.
Steve Austin is working on launching his own website.
Mickie James and Booker T are scheduled for the 2nd Annual Cap Tech Drive to benefit the Hermie and Elliott Sadler Foundation. The event takes place this coming Monday, June 28 at Salisbury Country Club in Richmond, VA. Fans can bid to join their Golf team at wwwmcaptechdrive.com.
Former WCW wrestler Scott Norton is doing some bodyguard work next month for Kendra Wilkinson, a former girlfriend of Hugh Hefner, and star of her own self-titled reality show on E!.
Trish Stratus talks about her movie role in Bail Enforcers at http://tinyurl.com/38l3g6r.
ROH wrestler Delirious has submitted some art in the Custom Qee show this Saturday at the Jinxed store in Philadelphia.
Mr Wrestling II (Johhny Walker), the favorite wrestler of former President Jimmy Carter, is interviewed at http://tinyurl.com/2vc3uy5.
NWA Florida runs Friday night at the Rec Center in Fort Myers Beachm, FL with Brian Knobs, Bam Bam Nealy, Jesse Neal, Kizarny, Daffney, and Stacy Carter. For more info call (239) 765-4222.
WSU runs on Saturday night at the ACE Arena in Union City, NJ with Mercedes Martinez, Angel Orsini, Jazz, Amber O'Neal, Nikki Roxx, Awesome Kong, Becky Bayless, Mickie Knuckles, Daizee Haze, Cherry Bomb and many more. More info at www.wsuwrestling.com.
There is a big show at the Icebox in Scranton, PA on 7/24 with advertised names including Tommy Dreamer, Shane Douglas, Raven, The Steiner's, The Rock-n-Roll Express, The Midnight Express, Larry Zybysko, Val Venis, Ernest Miller, Babydoll, Melissa Coates, and more.
Stacy Keibler is hosting a Bellator XXIII after party tonight at the Sports and Social Club in Louisville, KY.
Today's Babe of the Day is ODB at http://www.thewrestlingpress.com/DailyDiva.
