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Thank You, Axl Rotten (And R.I.P.)

Thursday, December 31, 2015

2016 Is Almost Here! A Time To Reflect ... And To Look Ahead

Sure, I don't post as much as I used to, and I don't even follow pro wrestling and mixed-martial-arts the way that I once did, but they, and this website, will always be a big part of me.

No matter how few of you read this, it's my interest in those sports, and your interest in my interest, that have allowed me to live the extraordinary life that I've been privileged to lead, and I can't thank any of you enough.

Now, we all know that tonight's a party night, and no matter where you are or what you do, please, be safe and have fun.

It's a bit of a cliche, I know, but what I'm really trying to say is, Happy New Year! See you in 2016!

Monday, December 14, 2015

Review Of Owen: Heart Of Gold

May 23, 1999 was the worst day in the history of professional wrestling/sports entertainment. In what many media people called a “Monday Night Wars” tragedy, Owen James Hart fell 75 feet into a wrestling ring in a stunt gone horribly wrong and died soon after. The Hart family literally fell apart (read the books written by his widow Martha and his brother Bret for details) in the aftermath. One thing can be said, modern wrestling superstars were influenced by Owen’s in-ring style & many more will love this history trip called OWEN: HEART OF GOLD.

This DVD release nearly didn’t happen due to Martha Hart suing World Wrestling Entertainment over the use of Owen’s likeness & feeling it was only to make a profit. I am one person who will write here I am happy that WWE did this release as it’s a celebration of Owen Hart’s life and career with amazing stories from the people who knew him including:

Brothers Bret, Bruce, Keith, Ross & Smith, sisters Ellie, Diana, Georgia & Alison plus his niece Nattie, nephew Harry (archive footage) brother-in-law Davey Boy Smith (archived footage) & Jim Neidhart, current & former superstars Lex Luger, Mark Henry, Triple H, Mick Foley, Road Dogg, Ron Simmons, Big Van Vader, Chris Jericho, Jerry Lawler, Edge & Christian, Billy Gunn, Rob Van Dam, Paul Bearer (archive footage), Sami Zayn, Terry Taylor, Beth Phoenix, Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens, Scott Hall, Tyson Kidd, referee Mike Chioda, Steve Lombardi, Michael Cole, Tony Chimel, Ted DiBiase, Koko B Ware, Jim Ross & Vince McMahon.

The feature covers his growth in Stampede Wrestling to becoming the masked Blue Blazer and returning to partner with Neidhart & Ware. The legendary feud with Bret is outlined in amazing detail (every wrestling training class must watch their WrestleMania 10 battle) along with the Hart Foundation reformation in 1997. The hard part is to watch after the Montreal Screwjob how the “Attitude Era” evolved into what led to his tragic demise. “Owen Tales” are mixed in that will make you laugh yourself out of your chair plus the awe inspiring 2-time Slammy Awards. Martha and the children Athena and Oje are not mentioned by name in the presentation and it’s all for the best. My major problem is the length of the feature, one hour and seven minutes. The CM Punk DVD clocked in over 2 hours yet Owen barely gets one hour? Included in this multi-disc set are 26 additional “Owen Tales”, the individual testimonies from the May 24, 1999 Raw plus 21 wrestling matches.

SOURCE: Alan Wojcik

For information on Alan Wojcik’s wrestling coverage, check out www.Facebook.com/KayfabeWrestlingRadio & www.Twitter.com/MyNameIsWojcik

Mauro Ranallo Joins WWE® As The New Voice Of Smackdown®

STAMFORD, Conn., Dec 14, 2015 -- WWE (NYSE:WWE) today announced that veteran announcer Mauro Ranallo will be the new voice of SmackDown beginning Thursday, January 7 when the show moves to its new home on USA Network at 8 pm ET. Ranallo brings nearly 30 years of broadcasting experience, and is currently the play-by-play announcer for Championship Boxing on Showtime and former lead announcer for the Strikeforce MMA promotion.

Earlier this year, Ranallo called the international feed for the historic Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight. Ranallo is the only sports broadcaster to call every major combat sport on national television, including boxing, kickboxing and MMA, as well as helping to launch New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV.

“Joining WWE has always been a lifelong dream of mine,” said Ranallo. “I am thrilled to add my voice to the SmackDown broadcasts as the show moves to its new home on USA Network.”

With more than 800 original episodes, SmackDown is the second longest-running weekly episodic program in U.S. television history, only behind Monday Night Raw®. Over the past 15 years, SmackDown has been broadcast from 170 different venues, in 148 cities, in seven different countries including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Iraq, Japan, Italy and Mexico. Now the exclusive cable home to WWE’s flagship programs, USA Network will air SmackDown every Thursday night beginning January 7. USA also airs Monday Night Raw live 52 weeks a year.

Prior to joining Showtime, Ranallo was the voice of the Pride Fighting Championships, and spent six years in Toronto where he hosted Canada’s first TV show dedicated to MMA while also hosting a daily combat sports radio show.

Ranallo lives in Los Angeles where he is a social advocate for mental health, an avid hiker and voice artist for commercials, books and film.

About WWE

WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming reaches more than 650 million homes worldwide in 25 languages. WWE Network, the first-ever 24/7 over-the-top premium network that includes all live pay-per-views, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library, is currently available in more than 175 countries. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, Munich and Tokyo.

Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/

Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to: WWE Network; major distribution agreements; our need to continue to develop creative and entertaining programs and events; the possibility of a decline in the popularity of our brand of sports entertainment; the continued importance of key performers and the services of Vincent K. McMahon; possible adverse changes in the regulatory atmosphere and related private sector initiatives; the highly competitive, rapidly changing and increasingly fragmented nature of the markets in which we operate and greater financial resources or marketplace presence of many of our competitors; uncertainties associated with international markets; our difficulty or inability to promote and conduct our live events and/or other businesses if we do not comply with applicable regulations; our dependence on our intellectual property rights, our need to protect those rights, and the risks of our infringement of others’ intellectual property rights; the complexity of our rights agreements across distribution mechanisms and geographical areas; potential substantial liability in the event of accidents or injuries occurring during our physically demanding events including, without limitation, claims relating to CTE; large public events as well as travel to and from such events; our feature film business; our expansion into new or complementary businesses and/or strategic investments; our computer systems and online operations; a possible decline in general economic conditions and disruption in financial markets; our accounts receivable; our revolving credit facility; litigation; our potential failure to meet market expectations for our financial performance, which could adversely affect our stock; Vincent K. McMahon exercises control over our affairs, and his interests may conflict with the holders of our Class A common stock; a substantial number of shares are eligible for sale by the McMahons and the sale, or the perception of possible sales, of those shares could lower our stock price; and the relatively small public “float” of our Class A common stock. In addition, our dividend is dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends (including under our revolving credit facility), general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant. Forward-looking statements made by the Company speak only as of the date made and are subject to change without any obligation on the part of the Company to update or revise them. Undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. For more information about risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business, please refer to the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” sections of the Company’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, our annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

SOURCE: WWE

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

REY MYSTERIO NAMED COMBATE AMERICAS AMBASSADOR; WILL DEBUT LIVE ON NBC UNIVERSO ON WEDNESDAY, DEC. 16

Former WWE star Konnan to serve as color commentator for live telecast of Combate Americas “Road To The Championship Hollywood”

Live, four-fight NBC UNIVERSO telecast begins at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT
on Wednesday, Dec. 16

Official fighter weigh-in takes place on Tuesday, Dec. 15 in Burbank, Calif.

NEW YORK – December 9, 2015 – Decorated, former three-time WWE world champion Rey Mysterio has been named ambassador of Combate Americas, the first U.S. Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise in history founded by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) co-creator Campbell McLaren, and will debut in his new role at the much-anticipated “Road To The Championship Hollywood,” nine-bout professional fight card live on NBC UNIVERSO, the modern entertainment and sports cable channel for Latinos, on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

In addition, former WWF and WCW superstar Konnan, often referred to as the “Mexican Hulk Hogan,” will serve as color commentator alongside play-by-play announcer Ricardo Celis and Andrea Calle, the hostess of the Imagen Award-winning Combate Americas reality television series.

“I am excited to join Combate Americas on NBC UNIVERSO, and look forward to building this incredible MMA sports brand and supporting the extremely talented athletes on its growing roster,” said Mysterio, whose exciting, high-flying style of wrestling helped him earn a total of 21 championships between his stints in the WWE and WCW.

“Combate Americas embraces the great Mexican tradition of Lucha Libre, so we are honored to bring Rey Mysterio, a global icon and one of the premier Hispanic figures in sports entertainment, on board as our ambassador and are confident that he can inspire our fans and fighters,” said McLaren.

Among the collection of rival superstars that Mysterio has defeated during his career are C.M. Punk, Shawn Michaels, and Kurt Angle. During an epic 2006 Royal Rumble Match, he battled for more than one hour, a WWE record for longest time spent in the ring, and dumped the likes of Randy Orton, Rob Van Dam and Triple H on his way to victory of the 30-man elimination contest.

Priced from $40, tickets for “Premier Insurance Services and Aspira Mas Present Combate Americas: Road To The Championship Hollywood,” are on sale at www.HollywoodFightNight.com.

All fighters will weigh-in for the event on Tuesday, Dec. 15, beginning at 5 p.m. PT at The Marriott, located at 2500 N. Hollywood Way in Burbank, Calif. All 18 fighters competing on the nine-bout card will weigh in for their respective bouts.

In the bantamweight (135 pounds) main event of the live, four-fight telecast on NBC Universo, 23-year-old sensation John “Sexy Mexy” Castaneda (8-2) of Mankato, Minn., fresh off his victory at the inaugural “Combate Americas: Road To The Championship” event in Las Vegas, Nev. on September 17, will square off with fellow striking sensation Federico “Kiko” Lopez (10-5) of Murrieta, Calif.

Castaneda is looking for his fourth consecutive win while Lopez is seeking his sixth straight win.

In the bantamweight co-main event, Combate Americas reality television series star and power puncher Ricky “El Gallero” Palacios (5-1), of Mission, Texas will square off with dangerous scrapper Anthony Paredes (3-2) of Murrieta, Calif.

In a featured women’s atomweight (105 pounds) attraction on the live telecast, 21-year-old Kyra “Mogwai” Batara (3-3) will collide with fellow Las Vegas resident “Lightning Liz McCarthy (2-3).

The live NBC UNIVERSO telecast will kick off with a featherweight (145 pounds) matchup between Urijah Faber protégé and prolific finisher Erick Sanchez (5-2) of Sacramento, Calif. and fellow rising star “Ruthless” Rudy Morales (3-3) of Las Vegas.

Doors at Florentine Gardens open at 5 p.m. PT for the event, and the first of five preliminary bouts will begin at 6 p.m.

ABOUT COMBATE AMERICAS

Combate Americas, LLC. is the first U.S. Hispanic Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sports franchise in history, designed to build Latino fighting champions and serve Hispanic fans, one of the world's most avid groups of prize fighting enthusiasts. The Combate Americas franchise includes reality TV programming, live events and mobile programming. The company's CEO, Campbell McLaren, is universally recognized as the co-founder/co-creator of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). New York Magazine described McLaren as "the marketing genius behind the UFC" and Yahoo! Sports proclaimed that he "knows more about the sport than just about anyone in it today." With an unprecedented product and a blue-chip ownership and management team, Combate Americas is poised to break new ground and bring about a new era in world championship level MMA competition.

About NBC UNIVERSO

NBC UNIVERSO (www.nbcuniverso.com) is a modern entertainment and sports cable channel for Latinos, bringing the world’s top sports franchises and edgy programming to more than 40 million households in the U.S. As one of the most widely available modern cable channels for U.S. Latinos, NBC UNIVERSO delivers a thrilling mix of exclusive sports action – including FIFA World Cup™, Liga MX, Premier League, NASCAR Mexico Series, NFL and The 2016 Rio Olympics – along with signature series, blockbuster movies, music, must-see live events and strategic acquisitions, on TV, online and mobile devices. NBC UNIVERSO is part of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, a division of NBCUniversal (www.nbcuniversal.com), one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation (www.comcastcorporation.com). To find the NBC UNIVERSO channel number in your area, please visit www.nbcuniverso.com/encuentralo.

SOURCE: Witz End Communications