WO News and Notes

[goodhelmet]

TNA No Surrender Star Ratings:

 

1. Chris Harris and James Storm vs. Alex Shelley and Michael Shane **3/4

2. Sonjay Dutt vs. Shark Boy vs. Elix Skipper vs. Mikey Batts ***

3. Apolo & Sonny Siaki vs. Simon Diamond & David Young **1/4

4. Samoa Joe vs. Chris Sabin ****1/4

5. Eric Young, Bobby Roode & A-1 vs. Andy Douglas, Chase Stevens & Lance Hoyt ***1/2

6. Kip James & Monty Brown vs. Konnan & Ron Killings **

7. AJ Styles vs. Sean Waltman ****

8. Christopher Daniels vs. Petey Williams ***3/4

9. Raven vs. Abyss ***1/2

 

 

 

Mexico Notes:

 

-Zumbido was fired by Anthony Pena this past week since he was arrested at one of the shows after spousal abuse charges were filed by an ex-wife.

 

- CMlll will let kids in for one peso with a paying adult at all Arena Mexico and Arena Coliseo events.

 

- The ONAC promotion in Tijuana advertised that AJ Styles would appear at the next event but no date was given.

 

 

 

Puerto Rico Notes:

 

- Gladiator Championship Wrestling was supposed to have a show on 7/23 but it was cancelled due to weak ticket sales. Four days before the show, only 1000 tickets had been sold. The only problem is that the promotion had spent over $120,000 promoting the show. The promoters for the show were Jake the Snake and Road Warrior Animal.

 

- The WWC Bruiser Brody Memorial show on 7/16 drew an estimated 750 fans at a 12,000 seat arena.

[goodhelmet]

It took 16 pages but finally some WWE news:

 

Earl Hebner:

 

--- Hebner was fired on 7/18 after 17 years with the company. At press time, Dave only says that Dave Hebner was suspended.

 

--- He was fired for selling shirts wih the WWE logo at their "Pro Shirt Shop" in St. Louis that they own with Nick Ridenour, without authorization.

 

--- Dave Hebner was in charge of merchandise sales at house shows on the tours in which he handles agent duties and has been in that role for years.

 

--- Internally, the feeing is this was a case of minor league greed on the brothers' part when they had made a great living as referees.

 

Brief Hebner history:

--- The Hebner Brothers were referees for Jim Crockett promotions dating back to the 70s. Dave Hebner came to WWF in 1984. Earl arrived in 1988.

 

--- Hebner's debut was as "evil Dave Hebner" on February 5, 1988 when Hogan lost to Andre the Giant in the most watched pro wrestling amtch ever in the United States with 33 million viewers.

 

--- His most famous moment was the Montreal screwjob. Hebner claimed that the year after Montreal, he received a new contract worth a reported $500,000 a year.

 

--- For the past ten years, Dave Hebner has worked as a road agent.

 

 

 

Hardy Information:

--- Hardy had signed his new WWE contract roughly three weeks ago at press time.

 

--- When Hardy's music played on 6/20, he had not signed a contract but along with Edge and Lita had agreed to work the program.

 

--- The official reason for giving him a contract was because of the pop his music received when it played during 6/20 even though there had been discussion before that.

 

--- The end feeling was that Hardy did nothing that deserved being fired for and that he was a good employee. This is another example of Johnny ace being overruled.

 

--- From several sources, it is sadi that the segments where Kane and Snitsky watch the Hardy music playing at the wedding angle and the backstage beatdown were opposed by nearly everybody. However, Vince felt the story needed a beginning, middle and end insisted on both segments even though everyone else felt the in-ring action should have stood on its own.

 

--- Meltz thinks that if the end of the angle sees Hardy and Lita getting back together in storyline form, then he would consider it being a work from the start.

However, he said there are too many things don't add up for it to be considered a work from the beginning but it wouldn't surprise him.

[Loss]

So I've heard Sean Waltman has been resurgent this year. Anyone here see him that can confirm that? That's the first time I've seen anyone give one of his matches **** in years.

[Guest Flyboy]

Yeah, that's what I noticed as well, Loss. I wouldn't mind seeing that match just to see how Waltman performed.

[goodhelmet]

I wouldn't get too excited but Dave did say it was the best Waltman performance in years. Dave also tends to overrate AJ Styles amtches from what I have read.

 

Here is his description of the Styles-Waltman match...

 

 

AJ Styles pinned Sean Waltman in 14:34

This was Wlatman's bst performance in years. Jerry Lynn was ref, and at the end of the day, the tease was who he would side with, and he called it down the middle. Fans were doing the dueling chants during all the matches they decided were going to be good before they ever started. And on this night, they all were good. Waltman was called, "Lets Go, X-Pac". Styles did the best running flip dive so far on the show. Outside the ring, Waltman crotchedStyles on the post Lucha Libre style (no doubt a spot he learned working Lucha Libre shows in Japan). Waltman gota split lip. They did a spot where Waltman was going for the Bronco Buster but Styles got away. went for a powerbomb, Waltman went for the huracanrana, Styles went for a Styles Clash, all blocked by the other and ending with Waltman doing the Bronco Buster. Waltamn did a spin kick followed by flip dive off the top rope to the floor, which Styles appeared to hit his head on the guard rail as the momentum took him. He did smash his nose, which was bleeding a good bit, although was not broken. On the floor, Styles flipped Wlatman to where he crotched himself on the post. In the ring, Styles used a springboard elbow smash for a nearfall. Waltman used a low blow and a NOrthern Lights Suplex for a nearfall. Waltman went for a crossbody off the top but Styles got up and hit him with a perfectly timed dropkick. Styles used the Styles Clash but Waltman kicked out. Styles missed the spiral tap and Wlatman delivered his X-Factor but Styles kicked out. Waltman then put Styles ankle in the chair, and then went to the top to do the Pillman-Austin spot, but Lynn got in the way and pulled the chair away. Waltman and Lynn argued. Styles then went over for a sunset flip, Waltman countered by holding the ropes to keep from going over, but Lynn kicked his hands off, and Wlatman fell backwards into a Styles Clash for the pin. ****

[Mad Dog]

So I've heard Sean Waltman has been resurgent this year. Anyone here see him that can confirm that? That's the first time I've seen anyone give one of his matches **** in years.

He's worked hard during about every appearance he's had in TNA. He's got a great track record as far as matches there go.

[goodhelmet]

Jose Miguel Perez dies at the age of 68 on 6/18/05

 

---Known as Miguel Perez, he was the tag tema partner of Antonio "Argentina" Rocca in the 50s and 60s. His son, Miguel Perez Jr. was one of the WWF's Los Boriquas.

 

--- He main evented 30 shows at Madison Square Grden, 27 before his 23rd birthday. No other young wrestler ever came close to success in the building. Only 5 wrestlers have ever main evented more shows in Madison Square Garden (Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, Bob Backlund, Pedro Morales, and Rocca). he never headlined in a singles match and never headlined any major arena fafter his 24th birthday.

 

--- His death came from nowhere, as he had a heart attack while having his morning shower.

 

---From a drawing standpoint, you could argue that Perez and Rocca were the greatest tag team ever in the U.S. Certainly, no other team in WWWF history was ever close.

 

--- No tag team in the world from any time in history, in any city can match thier long-term drawing power in MSG from 1957-60. A team like the Road Warriors were draws in more cities due to national exposure but the WWWF (as it would later be called) only ran in the Northeast.

 

--- Meltz says that it is a lock that no tag team in history of their prominence would ever approach their win/loss record (rumored to be undefeated w/ one possible lossin Puerto Rico). However, he calls them more of the right gimmick at the right time than one of history's greatest tag teams.

 

--- Perez was paired up with Rocca asit was believed that Rocca was losing his edge at drawing as a singles wrestler. This wasn't true since he had sold out his last two MSG main events before teaming with Perez but they wanted to capitalize on New York's growing Puerto Rican population.

 

---The tag team was made up of the much younger Perez getting bullied by the top heels. He would never give up and would eventually make the hot tag to Rocca who would clean house.

 

--- The tag matches had a pattern. If they were going to win a 2/3 falls amtch in 2 falls, Perez would win the 1st and Rocca would win the 2nd. If it was going 3 falls. Rocca and the top heel from the other team would trade pins (with Perez always fdoing the job) and Rocca would win the 3rd and deciding fall.

 

--- Their first sellout of MSG was on March 30, 1957 before 20,125 fans.

 

---After a full two years, they decided the tag formula had run its course and went back with Rocca in main event singles.

 

--- They are most remembered for a match that Perez wasn't even in. On November 19, 1957, in the main event Rocca teamed with Edouard Carpentier against Dick the Bruiser and Jerry Graham. A riot started after Rocca had juiced and then smashed Graham's head in to a ringpost after a DQ finish. Rocca and Graham started throwing chairs at each other and a riot started all over the building. It was raining that night and fans were using umbrellas to attack Graham and Bruiser. Bruiser was beating up fans all over the place. It took Rocca getting on the mic and speaking in Spanish to tell the crowd to calm down. In the end, over 300 chairs were broken, Graham's robe was stolen, 2 officers were injured, 3 arrests were made. Rocca was carried out of the Garden on the shoulders of the fans.

 

--- Rocca and Perez reunited as a team on February 22, 1960 but they never went back to peak form and didn't draw as well.

 

--- Later Perez would begin teaming wih Pedro Morales. At this time, Perez was strictly a mid-carder never working top programs.

 

---As the first legitimate Puerto Rican star to work in the U.S., he was always called upon to headline shows in Puerto Rico when promotions would always try and do major shows.

 

--- Before the formation of the WWC in 1974, Perez was the top babyface on the island until Carlos Colon would became even more popular years later.

 

--- Perez was one of the first tag champs in Puerto Rico with Carlos Colon, holding the North American tag belts.

[Guest Sass]

In Puerto Rico, Perez is the US equivalent to Bruno Sammartino. Carlos Colon would be the Bob Backlund/Hulk Hogan/Antonio Inoki/Big Daddy Crabtree of wrestling in PR. Abdullah the Butcher would fall more along the lines of George Steele, Randy Savage or the Iron Sheik. Perez will definitely be missed in Puerto Rico.

[goodhelmet]

Hashimoto's Funeral

 

---His funeral on 7/16 was attended by what Meltz calls a who's who of Japanese wrestling.

 

--- The media reported 15,000 were in attendance while Meltz's live report said it was closer to 3000.

 

--- Inoki, who was scheduled to fly to America for induction into the Lou Thesz Hall of Fame cancelled his appearance and tried to make it back but was 2 hours latea fter a flight delay.

 

--- The pallbearers were Seiji Sakaguchi, Don Arakawa, Tatsunami Fujinami, Keiji Mutoh, Masahiro Chono, Jushin Liger (wearing his mask), Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Manabu Nakanishi

 

--- Those in attendance included stars from every promotion inc. Pride, Hero's and K-1. They included:

- Akira Maeda

- Nobuhiko Takada

- Everyone from Zero-Max, New Japan and LLPW

- retired wrestlers Kuniaki Kobayashi, Kantaro Hoshino, and Kotetsu Yamamoto

- Yoshiaki Fujiwara

- Misawa

- Kawada

- Kobashi

- Kiyoshi Tamura

- Onita

- Riki Choshu

- Takuma Sano

[goodhelmet]

WWE Number Crunching

 

--- Total advertising for the year was 43.7 million but this will be gone when the USA deal comes in. They expect to lose 18 million next year (w/ 5 months being under the old deal) and 34 million in the 2006-07 fiscal year. Moving to USA is costing the company 3 million dollars a month and will eliminate *7.3% of the current profit margin. The hope is that the move will increase ratings which will in turn increase buy rates, attendance, etc.

 

--- Where the dollars come from:

 

- 78.7 million in ticket sales and 18.1 million in merch. 26.5% of company revenue comes from live events.

 

- PPV revenue was 85.5 million for the year. and is 23.4% of the company's revenue.

 

-Advertising and television rights fees amounted to 121.7 million and 33.3% of total revenue.. However, 43.7 million of this will be gone with the new TV contract.

 

- Liscensing made up 20.9 million dollars. Magazine Sales were 12.2 million. Home video sales were 20.1 million. Internet revenue was 7.8 million.

 

-Another loss in revenue is no longer having Rock under contract since they earned 2.2 million in 2003-04 from executive producer fees.

 

 

--- The video game Smackdown vs. RAW sold 2 million units, almost identical to the sales of every VHS and DVD the company put out combined.

 

--- Magazine income was up due to putting out a 2-part Mania issue and Divas issue but sales of regular monthly magazines declined 11%

 

--- Live show and merchandising costs 72.9 million to produce so the company made a $23.9 million profit.

 

--- PPV profit was 49.2 million but is down from 59 million the year before, and the year before had two less PPVs and far les overseas business.

 

--- Each television taping cost about $539,000 which is up 7% from the year before. this cost will come down because they are doing alot of dual tapings this year.

 

--- The 15 million in profit from licensing, 4 million from magazines, 10.9 millio nfrom home video, and 4.3 million from the website has to make up for 86.9 million dollars in expenses such as the 41.2 million in office salaries and 16.1 million in legal bills.

 

 

--- The Company has 130 performers and 25 legends under contract. There are 433 non-performing employess: 197 in marketing and administration, 168 in organization and production of TV events, and 68 in licensing and merchandising.

 

--- The average downside guarantee is $139,000 per performer for the upcoming year. However, this is misleading since developmental guys average about $30,000 and the main eventers average about $1 million. However, this is not the total payoff which is substantially more.

 

--- Virtually all stars current deals end by 2008 with a few under contract past 2010.

 

--- The company spent $1,710,000 on videotape libraries with the key aqcuisitions being the AWA and SMW libraries.

 

--- To compare, the $365 million in total revenues would be larger than any professional sports franchise in the world.

[Loss]

I'm really wondering what WWE is going to do when they've cut costs as much as they possibly can. They're already creeping up on the point when they're going to start hurting pretty badly if they can't boost house show business.

[Guest Some Guy]

--- The Company has 130 performers and 25 legends under contract. There are 433 non-performing employess: 197 in marketing and administration, 168 in organization and production of TV events, and 68 in licensing and merchandising.

130 performers? This must count OVW guys.

 

25 legends? Other than Hogan, Piper, and Slaughter I can't think of anoyone else. Unless guys like Snuka, Orton Sr., Sheik, etc... are under some sort of contract.

 

--- Each television taping cost about $539,000 which is up 7% from the year before. this cost will come down because they are doing alot of dual tapings this year.

I never realized that it was that expensive.

[sek69]

When they moved from USA to TNN, wasn't there a fuss made about how TNN was seen in fewer homes? If this is still the case, then WWE in theory should get higher ratings if more people can see them.

 

I would think we'll probably see more DVD releases using the footage they own, since it usually makes money and it justifies the money spent on obtaining the footage in the first place.

[Loss]

Jake Roberts

Road Warrior Animal

Pat Patterson

Paul Orndorff

Bobby Heenan

Gene Okerlund

Jimmy Hart

Fabulous Moolah

Mae Young

 

My guess is that all of those have Legends Contracts. Not sure who the others would be though. Bruce Hart is such a whore that I'm sure he wishes he could have one.

[Loss]

I also wonder if they've issued contracts to the wives of people like Curt Hennig, Rick Rude and Davey Boy Smith to market their images. Legally though, are they even required to get permission to market those guys after they've passed, and are they required to pay royalties to the families if they do?

[Guest Some Guy]

Jake Roberts

Road Warrior Animal

Pat Patterson

Paul Orndorff

 

My guess is that all four of those guys have Legends Contracts. Not sure who the others would be though. Bruce Hart is such a whore that I'm sure he wishes he could have one.

OK, so taking those four and adding Hogan, Piper, and Slaughter and I guess Mean Gene and Hillbilly Jim, we're up to nine.

 

Murracco probably has one and Orton Sr. as well.

 

Who else?

[Guest brian]

Jake Roberts

Road Warrior Animal

Pat Patterson

Paul Orndorff

Bobby Heenan

Gene Okerlund

Jimmy Hart

Fabulous Moolah

Mae Young

 

My guess is that all of those have Legends Contracts. Not sure who the others would be though. Bruce Hart is such a whore that I'm sure he wishes he could have one.

Is Rock still under contract? Austin? I'd imagine that guys that only work part-time like them get that status. Maybe Flair as well.

[Guest Some Guy]

Rock is not under contract. Austin is under the movie contract, so he probably counts.

 

I doubt Jimmy Hart is under contract because of his ties to TNA.

[Guest brian]

Mick Foley? Did they ink a deal with Bret over his likeness for the DVD? Does Michaels fall in or does he perform too much?

[Loss]

You're either considered a "performer" or "legend" according to these deals, so guys like Flair and Michaels would definitely fall on the "performer" side.