----Mike Aldren with WGN.
WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT
1/20 superstars TV results: JTG over Chavo Guerrero; Chris Masters over Curt Hawkins; Zack Ryder & Primo over Darren Young &David Hart Smith, and Yoshi Tatsu over Tyson Kidd.
Smackdown TV tonight has Edge vs. Justin Gabriel in a non-title match; Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes; R-Truth vs. Alberto Del Rio; Beth Phoenix vs. Layla; Drew McIntyre vs. Trent Baretta; and Kofi Kingston vs. Jack Swagger in an arm wrestling match.
The Raw crew runs tonight in Trenton, NJ (Sun National Bank Center) followed by shows Saturday at Penn State University (Bryce Jordan Center), Sunday in Youngstown, OH (Covelli Centre), and TV is live Monday from Detroit (Joe Louis Arena). Top matches on the house show loop are Cena vs. Punk and Miz vs. Orton. The Smackdown crew runs Saturday in Kalamazoo, Mi (Wings Stadium) with Kane vs. Edge vs. Ziggler, Sunday in Hammond, IN (Civic Center), and television is Tuesday in Cincinnati (US Bank Arena). We're looking for reader reports from all these shows to you2us@wrestlingglobe.com.
***
Chris Jericho said this past week that he has no plans to return to WWE. If fact, he said his contract expired and he's moved on with his life. He told Pro Wrestling Illustrated: "I loved the work I was doing. I think it was some of the best of my career. But I never intended to re-sign again after coming back for that three-year period (in 2007). And that three-year period ran out and there’s other things going on. That’s basically it. There’s no hidden agenda. No hidden secret. People are waiting for the other shoe to drop, and there really isn’t another shoe to drop. I did the job I was signed up to do, and that’s it." Jericho also reiterated that he will never work for TNA. "They’ve had the same ratings for the last three years. It’s just unacceptable with the amount of talent they have there, just as a business. I run my own business as well. I run the business of “Fozzy.” And if somebody’s not performing and we’re not getting bigger, than something has to change. So I just wish they would look at it that way, instead of relying on the same old things and the same old people." Full interview at http://prowrestlingillustrated.blogspot.com/.
WWE announced today that it expects fourth-quarter earnings to be lower than projected, in a range of $0.08 per share to $0.10 per share. Analysts were expecting $0.16 per share. As a result, the WWE stock closed Friday's regular trade at $13.50, down $0.33 or 2.39 percent, on a volume of 0.42 million on the NYSE. In after hours trading, the stock price had dropped further to $12.42, an 8 percent drop off. Q4 will be posted on 2/10 with Vince McMahon hosting a conference call that morning to discuss the results.
Alex Riley has another court hearing on 2/22 in Tampa relating to his DUI bust in November. In addition to the DUI, he has also been charged with driving with or without a suspended license.
Starting with the Royal Rumble in February all the future PPV home video releases on Blu-ray will include the DVD as well. They are bumping up the price by $5 so this would be appear to be a business decision.
A new Randy Orton DVD is in the works titled, "The Randy Orton Experience" which will be a three-disc set with documentary and matches. Also in the works is a two-disc set on DX titled "Final Conflict" due for the release the week after Wrestlemania 27.
Jim Ross at www.jrsbarbq.com blogged about his trip to Tuesday's television taping in Tulsa. He joked that he was happy to have a role as opposed to hanging around in catering. "Refereeing a bout in Tulsa this past Tuesday brought back some great memories as my first ever officiating experience in a pro wrestling ring was a 10 minute draw contested between Mike George and Treach Phillips at the Tulsa Civic Center in 1974. Nonetheless I enjoyed seeing many of the WWE folks Tuesday in Tulsa and was happy to have the opportunity to attend the event with something tangible to do."
Regarding Wade Barrett's new group on Smackdown, the spelling is actually "The Corre".
BBC News in the UK, who almost never cover pro wrestling, talked to Malcolm Griffiths, the father of Mason Ryan, who just debuted on Raw at http://tinyurl.com/4n4l8zz.
Shaul Guerrero, the daughter of Eddie and Vickie Guerrero, has been ring announcing of late in FCW.
The Detroit News has a story on Miz at http://tinyurl.com/4a72utu. He talks about joining the company a few years ago--nobody wanting him there, feeling people tried to get him fired, but says he persevered and now he's a world champion.
Jamie Dundee, son of Memphis legend Bill Dundee, who's been off the radar for years, calls out Joey Styles at http://tinyurl.com/67zd3an.
Superstars last night on WGN America did a 0.49 rating and 565,000 viewers.
Triple H has a cameo on ESPN's NFL Countdown show on Sunday.
TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION WRESTLING
1/20 Impact TV results from Orlando, FL: Mickie James over Madison Rayne in a on-title match; Matt Morgan over Rob Terry; Kazarian over Jay Lethal to retain the X Division title; Jeff Hardy over Tommy Dreamer in a non-title match; and Beer Money over Ken Anderson & Rob Van Dam.
TNA's biggest ever European tour kicks off tonight in Lyon (Tony Garnier Hall) headlined by Jeff Hardy vs. RVD vs. Mr. Anderson, followed by shows Saturday in Paris (Le Zenith de Paris), Monday in Dublin, Ireland (National Stadium), Tuesday in Berlin, Germany (O2 Arena), Thursday in Glasgow, Scotland (Braehead Arena), Friday in Manchester, England (MEN Arena), and concluding Saturday in London, England (O2 Arena). We're looking for live reports from any readers attending these shows.
***
There was yet another continuance in the Jeff Hardy case on Thursday. The District Attorney was granted extra time to come to terms on a plea deal--a swerve for Hardy's camp who believed a deal was already in place. The next hearing in Monroe, NC Superior Court is on 2/16. Hardy is charged with trafficking in opium, two counts of possession with intent to sell or deliver a controlled substance, maintaining a dwelling to keep a controlled substance, possession of cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The Manchester Confidential has a Q&A with Madison Rayne at http://tinyurl.com/6578je5. On her future: "I am going to wrestle for as long as TNA wants me, or my body will allow. Wrestling is not a life long career, especially for women. I will go back to college, and I do have a plan B. But for now I am going all guns and living the dream, and until I can’t give everything anymore, nothing will change."
A story out of Ireland on The Pope at http://tinyurl.com/66lgqab. When asked about TNA's drug policy, he said it's not as well advertised as the WWE wellness program but noted talent undergo regular testing and health checks.
Taz officially opened his new dojo yesterday on Long Island. He said he's already in discussions with major companies regarding development of talent. "The Team Taz Dojo basically encompasses everything I've done in my career, because I've been fortunate enough to feel that I've learned so much about this industry about what a performer needs to do and not do in front of the curtain and behind the curtain," Taz told Monday Night Myhem radio. "I've done a lot of the right things business wise, and I've done some bad things business wise, so that helps me become a better instructor to help the new generation of wrestler. The deal with my dojo is you're dealing directly with me. This is not 'the blind leading the blind,' or 'this is one of Taz's guys...he worked out with him.' I'm the guy that's going to sit there with you and break down your matches with you."
Impact did a 1.15 rating last night, down from the previous week's high of 1.25. The show did 1.65 million viewers.
The television tapings in Orlando on 2/28 and 3/1 were canceled due to the taping taking place in Fayetteville a week earlier.
The Sun in the UK at www.the-sun.co.uk/wrestling has an interview with Ken Anderson. A pretty tame piece compared to his interviews of the past while working for WWE. He talked about the lighter schedule in TNA, and said Dixie Carter has been supportive through his recent injury problems. "Here in TNA we are not on the road 52 weeks a year or working four or more days a week. In my case I not only had two months off to get better, but then after we'd finished our TV tapings, we got two full weeks to spend Christmas with my family. That kind of thing doesn't happen anywhere else, Dixie and the company are very good at looking out for us and make it a great place to work. We are given the time and space to heal and rest up, you can see that in us all when we return from a layoff."
OTHER WRESTLING NEWS
Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC, has filed a lawsuit against the Justin.tv website for copyright and trademark infringement. The website is somewhat similar to YouTube, but allows users to produce and watch live streaming video. For years users have illegally streamed UFC, WWE and TNA pay-per-view events. Zuffa noted that over 50,000 people watched live streams of its 10/23 show that featured Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez in the main event. “Zuffa has attempted to work on numerous occasions with Justin.tv over nearly a two-year period to encourage it to prevent or limit its infringing activities,” Zuffa’s Las Vegas attorney, Donald J. Campbell said. “Regrettably, Justin.tv has not only turned a blind eye to the massive online piracy occurring on its website, we believe it has actually induced its users to commit copyright infringement thus leaving Zuffa no alternative but to take this fight to the courts.”
Former WCW wrestler Chris "Crowbar" Ford starts with ROH tonight at the final round of HDNet television tapings in Philly.
The Miami Herald has a catch up with Torrie Wilson at http://tinyurl.com/463nxvd. She says she feels women's wrestling has evolved somewhat from her era in both major companies. "The women now are so athletic. It’s almost as if you have to be athletic and be able to work in the ring versus a few years ago when you just had to be pretty. I’m amazed that some of things that those girls do. It’s good to see that they have an awesome crop of girls on both sides.” She also talks about appearing at Wrestle Reunion in Los Angeles next weekend saying she hopes that none of her fans bring any Playboy pictures for her to sign. "It’s crazy to believe since I did so much in wrestling and having posed for Playboy twice that I would be kind of prudish," she said. "A fan came in one time with a bunch of photos from Playboy from the inside. He just kind of threw them on the table to get signed. I was so embarrassed and kind of hid under the table. I wanted to cover myself up. I don’t sign nude photos ever. All day long I felt bad for the fan, but I just don’t do it. It was not a fun experience. I just hope that doesn’t happen again.”
Former announcer Mark Madden criticized Jim Cornette in his latest blog saying that Cornette didn't prepare potential talent for WWE while working in developmental, that he prepared them more for 80s style Mid South Wrestling. Madden wrote: "Cornette was schooling them in his vision, not WWE’s. When those visions coincided, good. If not, that was WWE’s problem. Cornette never understood the business passing him by was HIS FAULT. He refused to adjust." In response, Cornette said, "I guess that's why none of the wrestlers who trained under me in OVW have had any success in the business anywhere, while FCW's graduates are all the next coming of Buddy Rogers and Ric Flair. I wasn't aware Madden was even still writing about wrestling anymore--guess he has plenty of time for that since working in the wrestling business passed HIM by..." Cornette at www.jimcornette.com is planning to return with a new Podcast in February.
Superstar Billy Graham was hospitalized again this past week due to an allergic reaction to pollen. He's said to be fine now and is still planning to attend the WrestleReunion event next week in Los Angeles.
There is Memorial Mass for Georgiann Makropoulos on Sunday morning at the St Demetrios Church 30-11 30th Drive in Astoria, New York. It's almost a year to the day that Georgie passed away.
Brian Tramel remembers Memphis Wrestling figure Guy Coffee who recently passed at http://tinyurl.com/68nfxxc.
Dutch Mantell posted a new blog at www.dutchmantell.com with a road story on the late Junkyard Dog.
Joyce Grable, Judy Martin, and Leilani Kai were just added to the line up for the upcoming NWA Legends fanfest in Atlanta. More info at www.nwalegends.com.
Lucha Libre USA will be holding an event at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah on 2/20. Tickets are available now through Ticketmaster or at http://luchalibreusa.com.
Today's Babe of the Day is Maryse at http://thewrestlingpress.com/?page_id=298.
