A1WRESTLING NEWS EDITION#1715 Saturday, June 21, 2008 OPENING COMMENTS: Hello wrestling fans and here we are back with another edition of the A1Wrestling News newsletter! Just a note, if you only want to receive the newsletter, you can join the group A1WrestlingNews. You can visit it at http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/A1WrestlingNews and subscribe from there. The newsletter will still appear on the groups that are receiving it, but this is for the people who inquired about only receiving the newsletter. As always, some news and notes from around the world of pro wrestling! =============================================================== WWE NEWS & NOTES. PRESS CONFERENCE- There will be a WrestleMania press conference this Tuesday in Houston at the Toyota Center. It starts at noon and is open to the public. Sources: wrestlingobserver.com, f4wonline.com INTERESTING- It's interesting to note that since the creation of the second WWE _title_ in September 2002, every Raw _title_ pay-per-view match besides two has featured either Triple H, John Cena or Randy Orton. And in the two shows in which none of the three wrestlers were featured, Triple H was in the main event of both pay-per-views, which of course were pushed bigger than the _title_ matches on those shows. Those two shows are Bad Blood 2004 (featuring Chris Benoit vs. Kane in a long forgotten match with Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels in a 47-minute Hell in the Cell bout as the main event) and Vengeance 2006 (featuring Rob Van Dam vs. Edge in an undercard match and the in-ring reunion of D-Generation X in the main event, who took on the entire Spirit Squad in a 5-on-2 Handicap Match). source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter SHAKE UP? Jim Ross says he expects a major shake-up at the top of the WWE roster during the Draft on Monday. I expect major movement among the top stars on the three WWE brands. I can't see how the WWE could make the desired impact to what is hoped to be a huge TV audience and not really shake things up, Ross said in his latest blog on jrsbarbq.com. USA Network is expecting big things Monday night and that seems to mean that some of the WWE's biggest names will get new addresses. The mystery is the format of the Draft, with that unknown until Monday. Ross also discusses best moments in wrestling history, Dwayne Johnson in Get Smart, Ashley's new tattoo work, and Hulk Hogan's family issues. To read the full blog, go to http://www.jrsbarbq.com/2008/06/19/wrestlings-greatest-groups-most-si... Source: pwtorch.com CONTROLLED? Regarding the Million Dollar giveaway on Raw, during the first week of the contest, WWE officials made a decision to have it controlled for television. The winners expected to be called during the show were first contacted by 9 p.m. to make sure they were watching Raw and to tell them they would likely be called later in the evening. This pretty much explains why the winners' reactions during week one didn't come off too big or spontaneous. Also, they didn't want to call people who weren't watching Raw, make sure there weren't any busy signals, and that the people called would be at home. As it turned out, they still got a busy signal later in the evening. The process was tweaked for week two, hence the winners' considerably more excited reactions during the program. WWE made another change regarding the phone cards given to Vince McMahon during the show. For week two, they printed the phone numbers in gigantic numerals on the cards so Vince wouldn't have to break out his reading glasses, and thus come off as an old man all the while having trouble dialing the phone, which doesn't exactly make for riveting television. In another interesting change, the week before Vince went on this huge spiel, doing an us vs. them speech, with them being elitist snobs who look down on professional wrestling. In week two, Vince himself came off like he didn't want anything to do with his fan _base_ and mocked a few of the winners in the process, a sharp contrast from the week before. source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter BEST SELLING- The best selling DVDs so far this year are the Steve Austin DVD, which has shipped 177,000 copies, and the new Triple H: King of Kings, which has shipped 202,000 units. source: gerweck.net SEVEN DAY- The seven-day WWE tour of Australia and New Zealand drew over 68,000 fans total. Sources: wrestlingobserver.com, f4wonline.com CLOSED DOOR MEETING- There was a closed-door meeting before Raw a few weeks ago involving officials and the road agents. The meeting had to do with the declining ratings for Raw. As you would expect, the older wrestlers-turned-agents believed that the low ratings could be attributed to too many pre-taped _script_ed promos and less in-ring action on Raw. The producers were said to be down coming out of the meeting. source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter TO AIR WHERE? Next week's Smackdown in New York on WPIX will air on Saturday night 8PM on 6/28?. source: gerweck.net ONE DOLLAR?! Raw this coming Monday night will be giving 12 prizes: $300,000, $150,000, $125,000, $105,000, $100,000, $75,000, $70,000, $35,000, $25,000, $9,999, $5,000 and one dollar. Sources: wrestlingobserver.com, f4wonline.com MEET- On Sunday, you can meet Paul London and Brian Kendrick from 6 to 8PM at the Fiesta Mart, San Antonio, TX. source: gerweck.net THIRTY- WWE will be giving VIP treatment to 30 wounded soldiers and veterans at the June 30th Raw in Oklahoma City at the Ford Center. Jim Ross was instrumental in putting this together. Sources: wrestlingobserver.com, f4wonline.com PRESS RELEASE- The Associated Press issued the following release today: Dwayne The Rock Johnson receives Horizon Award. PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (AP) - Professional wrestler turned Hollywood actor, Dwayne The Rock Johnson, has been honored at a Congressional Award Dinner in Washington. Johnson received the Horizon Award yesterday. The award recognizes people who help expand opportunities and set a good example for young Americans. Johnson is of Samoan descent and runs an organization called The Rock Foundation that helps to educate children worldwide about nutrition and physical fitness. The program emphasizes the importance of goal-setting and overcoming obstacles. Sources: the Associated Press, rajah.com ===================================================== TNA NEWS AND NOTES. WHERE? TNA Hard Justice takes place August 10th at the Sovereign Bank Arena. Besides all the wrestlers, the PPV will also features appearance by F.I.L.T.H.E.E, Grandmaster Caz (hopefully accompany Kaz) and Ice-T. Sources: wrestlingobserver.com, f4wonline.com WANT TO PARTICIPATE? Fans who want to participate in the LAX vs. Roode & Storm Fan's Revenge match at Victory Road have to submit a video to TNA on why they hate Roode and Storm. Winners will be flown to Houston and handed a strap for the match. For full details, go to http://www.tnawrestling.com/content/view/859/84/ Sources: tnawrestling.com, pwtorch.com REPLAY AIRED- Due to the UFC Ultimate Finale special, Spike TV will not be airing a replay of TNA Impact on Saturday, June 21st. Instead, the replay aired on Friday, June 20th at 9 AM. Source: wrestleview.com RUNS- TNA runs the Asbury Park Convention Hall on Friday, August 8th at 8:00 PM. Sources: wrestlingobserver.com, f4wonline.com FOOTAGE- IGN.com has released new footage of the TNA Impact video game featuring a match between Samoa Joe and AJ _style_s at http://www.tnawrestling.com/content/view/861/84/ Source: wrestleview.com =============================================================== OTHER WRESTLING NEWS & NOTES. LUCHA LIBRA LONDON In just two weeks time some of the best Mexican Luchadores will be appearing at the Roundhouse in London from July 4th to 6th.  There's a preview including part one of an interview with former WWE star Mascarita Sagrada at  http://www.piledriver-online. co.uk/issues/ piledriver10. pdf Sources: Stephen Ashfield, piledriver-online.co.uk CONFRONTATION- Now on !BANG! TV, Cowboy James Storm calls Dory Funk Jr. an Old Geezer. After the altercation on !BANG! TV, Dory Funk said, James Storm shouldn't be calling me an Old Geezer because it makes him look bad when this Old Geezer Kicks his ass. July is a big month at the Funking Conservatory as there will be two !BANG! TV Tapings back to back. On Sunday July 6th, TNA's Cowboy James Storm will appear on !BANG! TV and on Sunday July 13th, All Japan Pro Wrestling's talent scout, Osamu Nishimura will be wrestling and scouting talent for Japan. Call now to see how you can tryout for All Japan Pro Wrestling in July - 352-895-4658. Two matches have been released for the July 6th TV Taping, Johnny Magnum will wrestle Blain Rage for the !BANG! TV _title_ and Shane Chung will face Elvis Sharp for the Funking Conservatory World Championship. For ticket information for !BANG! TV and for training information at the Funking Conservatory Wrestling School, Call 352-895-4658. The confrontation between Cowboy James Storm and Dory Funk Jr. is now on !BANG! TV at http://www.dory-funk.com. Sources: Julian Radbourne, dory-funk.com KINISKI! Gene Kiniski, ring announcer Gary Michael Cappetta, Latin jazz artist Damian Perez and singer Ramana Viera are scheduled for Evan Ginzburg's Legends Radio on Sunday, June 22nd, from 7-9 pm EST. www.wrestling-radio.com Source: slam wrestling MOVED- The WSU show on Saturday has been moved to the Darress Theatre in Boonton, NJ, and the new start time is 7:30 PM. Sources: wrestlingobserver.com, f4wonline.com BACK HOME- Released WWE Diva Brooke Adams has moved back to her hometown of Houston where she is modeling and working area bikini contests. A recent video of her competing in a bikini contest this past weekend is being shown on Youtube. Source: slam wrestling RUNS WHERE? NYWC runs June 28th at the Deer Park Community Center in New York with Greek God Papadon vs. Maverick headlining. Mikey Whipwreck is also on this show. Sources: wrestlingobserver.com, f4wonline.com IHW! On June 29th, Innovative Hybrid Wrestling has at show at the Coverdale Rec Center in Riverview, NB. Announced matches include Titus vs Dan Paysan; Pee Wee vs Kenneth Banks. ... Also IHW is hitting the road this summer with their first tour of New Brunswick in 2008. The IHW will be in Hillsborough on July 12; St. Martin's on July 19; Dalhousie on July 31; Miramichi for the Extreme Drag Racing Weekend both August 1 & 2. www.ihwrestling.ca Source: slam wrestling TO BE HELD WHERE? ROH Death Before Dishonor IV will be held August 2nd at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York with Motor City Machine Guns vs. Kevin Steen & El Generico, which has the potential to be one of the best tag matches of 2008. Naomichi Marufuji vs. Go Shiozaki in their first ever singles match is also on the card. Sources: wrestlingobserver.com, f4wonline.com TRCW! Top Rope Championship Wrestling returns to Buhler Recreation Park in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada this Saturday, June 21st at 5:30 PM featuring JAPW Champion Kenny Omega, who will be debuting in Ring of Honor soon, as well as Jon Cutler, who appeared on Monday Night Raw on May 5th. Also scheduled are Canadian Indy Legends Chi Chi Cruz & Beautiful Bobby Jay, as well as Rob Stardom, Zack Mercury and much more. The main event is a Battle Royal for the vacant TRCW Heavyweight _title_. Admission is free. Sources: wrestlingobserver.com, f4wonline.com ISW! Inter-Species Wrestling has a show Sunday, June 29th, at Foufounes Electriques, 87 Ste-Catherine Est, (near the corner of Ste-Catherine and St-Laurent, near the St-Laurent metro) in Montreal, with an 8:00 pm start. www.beyondthebarn.org Source: slam wrestling ROH MONTREAL SHOW- Tickets for the ROH show in Montreal at the Centre Jean-Claude Malepart on November 7th go on sale June 24th at 11:00 AM on ROHwrestling.com. Sources: wrestlingobserver.com, f4wonline.com DWF! The Devastation Wrestling Federation, in conjunction with Loco Wrestling and TV By Demand, runs Saturday night, June 28 at 2309 Old Haddonfield Road in Pennsauken, New Jersey. Tickets are $12, and are available NOW via www.tvbydemand.com. Tickets will also be available at Dev U the day of the event. Sources: wrestlingobserver.com, f4wonline.com RETURNS TO- CHIKARA returns to South Philly on Sunday, July 13th at the ECW Arena. Show starts at 4:00 PM. Sources: wrestlingobserver.com, f4wonline.com REDIFINED! AAW: Professional Wrestling Redefined presents Point of No Return '08 Saturday, June 21st, 7:30pm, Berwyn Eagles Club, 6309 W. 26th St., Berwyn, IL. Tickets are $15 and $12. Matches include Tyler Black vs. Marek Brave, Jerry Lynn vs. Eric Priest, Danny Daniels & Trik Davis vs. Phoenix Twins, and more. Further info at www.aawrestling.com Sources: wrestlingobserver.com, f4wonline.com OUT! Both Forrest Griffin and Quinton Jackson were tested out-of-competition by the NSAC and passed for both steroids and drugs of abuse. It's pretty clear now who is going to be tested (main eventers) and when (about a month before the fight), which makes this whole thing a whole lot less newsworthy than when it was first announced. Sources: wrestlingobserver.com, f4wonline.com =============================================================== A1WRESTLINGNEWS is in no way associated with the WWE, TNA or any other federation or wrestling organization. Š A1WrestlingNews 2008