In an interview with Fox News, Brooke Hogan revealed that she's been on a date with another woman. "The girl was really awesome and we had a blast," Brooke said. "Then it got to the point where she was wanting to kiss me. Everyone knows I do not go there." Brooke went on to say that she understands how people can "fall in love with anyone," yet she maintains that she "naturally migrates toward men first."
Brooke also spoke about her mother Linda and her relationship with 19-year-old Charlie Hill. Brooke says she doesn't approve of Charlie, who she calls a "bad influence" on Linda. "We are totally different women. I'm straight laced, don't do drugs, stick to my regimen. It's different there."
Brooke said she's more comfortable with her father's new girlfriend and looks up to Hulk for the lessons he's taught her in life, including love and physical fitness. "I feel great at this weight, but I've started sticking to a diet again. People should know, I'm only doing the diet for the entertainment business. It's not really what you're supposed to look like in real life."
Jeremy Borash noted on his Twitter account (twitter.com/jeremyborash) that TNA will be launching an all-new television program called TNA Epix. The show will be hosted by both Borash & Foley and debut in the UK first. The premise of the show is to feature matches from the past.
OK! Magazine has an article up with Sherri Shepherd of The View, where she states that she had such a good time working the Smackdown taping in Madison Square Garden last week, that she wants to train to become a wrestler. You can check out the article at http://www.okmagazine.com/
Bloomberg.com currently has an article up on THQ, which works with WWE's video games, and their hopes that the UFC game will help them recoup recent financial losses.
former TNA star Lance Hoyt has signed with WWE and it is a developmental deal. WWE has been looking for big guys to put in the Florida Championship Wrestling developmental territory and Hoyt fits that bill.
» One WWE source recently stated that the biggest issue with WWE right now is the company not addressing the developmental system. This source noted seeing virtually all of the developmental talent training when they last did TV in Florida and nobody stood out at all. One big factor according to this source was the fact that Shelton Benjamin was leading the training instead of guys like Dean Malenko, Ricky Steamboat and Arn Anderson. The problem the source saw with this was that while Benjamin was a great and gifted athlete, the younger developmental talent really needed to learn from guys like Malenko, Steamboat and Anderson and not from Benjamin whose style is based mainly on athletic ability that a majority of development talent don't even begin to possess.
Regarding Eric Bischoff's decision not to take part in WWE's new Rise & Fall of WCW DVD, there is talk that he may just be holding out for a better price for his participation, given how important he'd be in a credible documentary about WCW and how much money WWE stands to make from it. Although another scenario is that he's learned from past DVDs that they like to selectively include and edit his comments, and doesn't want to subject himself to that again.
Jake Roberts will be holding a seminar on wrestling psychology on Saturday in Kingsport, TN at 5:30 PM, with an entrance fee of $50. To reserve a spot, email pwftenn[at]gmail.com
Former WCW and WWE star Chuck Palumbo will be riding one of his custom bikes to sell raffle tickets for a chopper he built by hand to donate money to provide scholarships for families who have lost someone in war or had a family member come home wounded. He will be appearing Friday and Saturday in Cottonwood, AZ, on Sunday in Santa Rosa, MN, on Monday in Oklahoma City, Tuesday in Clarksville, AR, Wednesday in Nashville, Thursday in Asheville and Friday in Rockingham, NC. For info visit www.fueledbythefallen.com
The WWE's tour of Mexico in late May, which was originally cancelled and replaced with events in Alabama due to the swine flu problems, is now back on. The events that were set for Alabama have been rescheduled for the fall.
There is already talk within WWE of replacing Tiffany as the General Manager of ECW in the near future. A lot will hinge on what Tommy Dreamer decides to do.
His contract is legitimately expiring soon and there is talk of making him the General Manager of ECW should he decide to re-sign with the company.
Internally, the feeling is that she isn't projecting well enough in her role and believe she has poor delivery on the mic.
GoErie.com has an interview up with Mickie James, discussing getting into the wrestling business, earning respect from the guys, hanging out with John Cena and more
After the announcement of the WWE's First Quarter Earnings Report, the WWE Stock dropped $0.72 to $11.00.
WWE Hall of Famer Bret "The Hitman" Hart was recently interviewed by the UK Sun's WrestleCast radio show. Some highlights (thanks to Ben Fletcher):
HBK vs. Undertaker: "I’ll be the first to say that I thought Taker v Shawn was the best match at WrestleMania, maybe one of the best matches I’ve seen in years. To a certain degree, I was proud of both of them. I never take away the fact that Shawn was a great wrestler and he did a lot of great stuff. I’ve always been really proud of the match we had in Anaheim, when I dropped the title to him.”
Passing the Torch: "If you look back when I first won the title, too many guys – Warrior, Hogan, Jake Roberts – didn’t pass the torch back. When I left the business I had a lousy ending, but I would have loved to have wrestled Steve Austin one more time at the end of my career and really put him over – or Shawn. I would have loved to have given back. I didn’t end up being able to pass the torch back, that was an honour I would have liked to have done."
John Cena being a company guy: “When Chris Benoit died he was on Larry King and somebody asked him if wrestlers need a union – and he shot that down and said 'no'. The truth is only an idiot would say wrestlers don’t need a union, because we do! But it is hard not to take that company position and be a company guy when you’re on the team later. I was in his shoes and you try and do the best you can. As far as his career and how they’re using him – he’s better off working with them and doing everything the way he’s doing it."
Wrestlers dying young: "I don’t understand why so many of them are dying from the prescription pill problems and downers and things like that. There’s an addiction I don’t understand, as I was never addicted to anything like that and never had any desire to tranquilize myself after the matches. I couldn’t understand why these guys would take pills all the time. Back then it was stupid, but now they’re all dying. There have been so many who died that shouldn’t have. Curt Hennig, Miss Elizabeth, Davey Boy, Test and Crush should all be alive. But I think it’s unfair to pin this epidemic of wrestlers dying on Vince McMahon. It’s the wrestlers who need to clean up their act."
According to Variety, Dwayne Johnson will star in what is described as an edgy action drama titles Faster. Johnson will play an ex-cop that is obsessed on avenging the death of his brother, who was murdered 10 years before when they were double crossed in a heist.
WWE First Quarter 2009 Investors Conference Call
- Participants: Chairman Vince McMahon, Chief Executive Officer Linda McMahon, Chief Financial Officer George Barrios and Chief Operating Officer Donna Goldsmith
- Linda McMahon nor George Barrios made their traditional opening statement.
- For the first time ever, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon was on have during the investors conference call in order to discuss the WWE First Quarter 2009 numbers. Vince stated that he was on the call to lend a vision to the WWE future
- Vince discusses the first quarter as fair to poor overall, but also noted that he felt the company was set up for success in the future. He positively spun the cut backs by the company as efficient, that they have the right people to do more with less and can also grow the company.
- In ratings talk, Vince stressed that he wants his shows to be number 1 on the networks that they run, but also stated that all of the shows could do better. He feels that the new PG version of the WWE will allow for the networks to sell more expensive advertising, and that will allow then to charge more in rights fees.
- Next Vince put over their recent cross over with the view as a way that the company wants to reach out to media outlets and also get their brand out to a new audience and demographic. They are going to do this sort of thing to help grow all parts of the business, publications, music, films and so on and so forth.
- They ran down the first quarter numbers, and made sure to stress that last year, WrestleMania XXIV was in the first quarter.
- Vince stated that WrestleMania XXV is "on track" to reach 1 million buys. (Note: The PPV industry has predicted that the show will fall short.)
- On the change from JAKKS to Mattell, Vince said that it was night and day. Also, he says Mattell will fit them better as they cater much better to the younger demographics.
- WWE PPV will be offered in Mexico going forward. Vince wants to keep expending PPV, but also noted that it just doesn't exist (as we know it) in some countries that they would like to add.
- Linda talked for the only time, regarding the DVD distributor, Genius. While there had been issued reported with the company, she stated that WWE was always compensated on time, and that as far as she was concerned, there was no issue.
- The planned upgraded TV facility has been put on hold.
- Vince claimed that the split dividend was the McMahon family being generous in order to pay dividend to their shareholders. (Note: And I appreciate my dividend.)
hief Financial Officer George Barrios joined the call for discussion of 12 Rounds, stating that DVS sales and overseas business will push it over the break-even point.
- Vince stated that the company would likely not do another $20 Million budget film for a theatrical release, and said they will emphasize direct-to-video/DVD releases. They will also utilize their own employees, rather than pay "big stars" to be in their productions.
- Vince discussed that while they have relied on name performers (HHH and Undertaker named) that they also have several younger stars prepared to break out. he also stressed that they are a different company than they were on the 90s.
- The call ended as Vince joked with the operator about holding calls back. Vince said to not be shy, but they were set on ending the call, as they didn't take questions from this stockholder.
At least a few of the top WWE names who switched brands in the WWE Draft were told at the TV taping the week prior that they would be drafted. While it isn't known if every top name was told, at least three top names were spoken to. This is a change from last year when the belief was Triple H was the only person who was told ahead of time. Giving some top names a heads up reportedly made for better morale and people feeling like they were treated with respect. The Triple H and Rey Mysterio decisions were said to have been made far in advance.
The MSG SmackDown/ECW taping drew just over 12,000 paid for a gate of $500,000. The morale at the show was strong, especially among the younger wrestlers as the SmackDown brand typically doesn't sell out big arenas.
The ongoing legal battle between TNA Wrestling and former wrestler/agent Konnan has some to an end. TNA released the following press release yesterday:
As has been reported in the press, TNA Entertainment, LLC filed a lawsuit against Charles "Konnan" Ashenoff regarding various disputes, and Ashenoff filed a counterclaim asserting various claims against TNA.
This release serves to notify the public that TNA and Ashenoff have agreed to dismiss their respective claims against each other. Richard Krumholz, TNA's attorney in the case and a Partner at Fulbright & Jaworski, indicated that "after depositions of Mr. Ashenoff and Dixie Carter, both sides determined it was best to put this case behind them."
Cary Ichter, Ashenoff's counsel, confirmed that "the parties have agreed to drop their suits."
Ms. Carter, the President of TNA, added that "TNA is happy to resolve these long standing disputes with Ashenoff. We all wish him the very best."
Former WCW star Buff Bagwell is reportedly working on an autobiography called "Gladiators Don't Cry". There is no word on a release date yet.
Ending the news, we look at a funeral Cobb County Style
