0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on March 28, 2013 at 6:45 pm
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. : Maria Menounos to Induct Bob Backlund into WWE® Hall of Fame
WWE (NYSE:WWE) announced today that Extra Host Maria Menounos will induct Bob Backlund into the WWE Hall of Fame. The ceremony will be held at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, April 6, 2013 as part of WrestleMania® Week.
Maria Menounos competed at WrestleMania 28 in Miami, FL on April 1, 2012. She will induct Bob Backlund into the WWE Hall Of Fame Class of 2013 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, April 6, 2013. (Photo: Business Wire)
Menounos has made multiple appearances on WWE programming dating back to 2009 when she made her in-ring debut and co-hosted Monday Night Raw with Nancy O’Dell. In 2011, Menounos appeared at WWE Tribute to the Troops where she teamed with Eve Torres, Kelly Kelly and Alicia Fox to defeat the team of The Bella Twins and WWE Divas Natalya and Beth Phoenix. Menounos continued her feud after Phoenix and Eve Torres interrupted an interview segment with Kelly Kelly on Extra. This led to a tag team match at WrestleMania 28 where she teamed with Kelly Kelly to defeat Torres and Phoenix.
Menounos, a lifelong WWE fan, idolized Backlund while growing up and met him through partner Keven Undergaro, who as Head Writer of MTV’s Singled Out, cast Backlund to guest star alongside Jenny McCarthy and Chris Hardwick. Menounos then worked with Backlund on the comedy feature, In the Land of Merry Misfits, and the two have been close ever since. Backlund was present at Menounos Miss Massachusetts USA competition and ran alongside her at the Nike Celebrity Road Race.
“It is an honor to induct my good friend Bob Backlund into the WWE Hall of Fame,” said Maria Menounos. “Watching him carry the title for a since unmatched five years and then stage such an incredible comeback with a reinvented persona puts him in a class all his own. Add in his incredible work ethic and high moral caliber, and you have everything that defines the word champion. And astonishingly, he can still wrestle with guys a third his age! He’s my hero and my friend. I can’t wait for the ceremony on April 6.”
“I am truly humbled to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame,” said Bob Backlund. “Maria has been a friend for years and I can’t think of someone I would rather have induct me at Madison Square Garden.”
A one-hour Hall of Fame special will air on Tuesday, April 9 at 10:00 p.m. ET on USA Network. WrestleMania 29 airs live on pay-per-view Sunday, April 7 at 7:00 p.m. ET from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on March 18, 2013 at 10:03 am
Credit – F4WOnline
It was noted by a WWE source how odd it feels having no WWE Champion at live events for the past month and a half now.
At the same time, WWE officials are surprised and pleased with the recent success they have seen with live event attendance on the Road to WrestleMania 29.
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on February 27, 2013 at 12:49 pm
Ivelisse Velez (f.k.a. Sofia Cortez on WWE Tough Enough) will be facing independent wrestler Lei D Tapa this Thursday on Impact Wrestling’s Gut Check according to TNA Insider.
Lei D Tapa is the niece of former WWF and WCW star The Barbarian.
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on February 6, 2013 at 1:33 pm
Credit – PWInsider
With TNA Impact Wrestling taking their show on the road, WWE has began contacting a number of major arenas to put holds on them for future dates. At least one person within WWE thinks that if TNA begins going on the road every Thursday, WWE may need to change their touring schedule to Thursday, Friday and Saturday for at least one of the brands.
There is internal talk that WWE will put some arena dates on hold to make sure TNA doesn’t get into them. WWE also may be enforcing some of their non-compete clauses so TNA can’t run in the same buildings they do.
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on December 7, 2012 at 5:23 pm
The following press release was issued for Jimmy Snuka’s autobiography, Superfly: The Jimmy Snuka Story, which was released this month. Snuka addresses the mysterious death of his girlfriend, which he is labeling as a “mistress” in the book.
On May 10, 1983, a few hours after Snuka had performed at a WWF television taping in Allentown, Pennsylvania, he placed a call for an ambulance. When emergency personnel arrived on the scene at his hotel, they found Snuka’s girlfriend, Nancy Argentino, injured. She was transported to Allentown’s Sacred Heart Medical Center, where she died shortly after of “undetermined craniocerebral injuries.” Deputy Lehigh County coroner Wayne Snyder said, “Upon viewing the body and speaking to the pathologist, I immediately suspected foul play and so notified the district attorney.” Snuka was the only suspect involved in the subsequent investigation. Charges were not pressed against him, although the case was left officially open—no official judgment on whether the incident was accidental or homicide was ever made. In 1985, Argentino’s parents won a $500,000 default judgment against Snuka in United States District Court, although he appears not to have ever paid, claiming financial inability to do so.
Superfly: The Jimmy Snuka Story
By Jimmy Snuka with Jon Chattman
Known for his leopard print uniforms, hard partying lifestyle and signature “Superfly Splash,” Jimmy Snuka is a true WWE legend. At a time when the professional wrestling world was as untamed as the Wild West, Snuka re-wrote the rules and created a technique and persona that still lives on today.
An incredibly entertaining autobiography, complete with a “Snuk-tionary” at the back, Superfly: The Jimmy Snuka Story (December 2012) by Jimmy Snuka with Jon Chattman relates the legacy of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) icon and his incredible journey from the Fiji Islands to the pro-wrestling world in the wrestler’s own candid words. From the Snuka’s legendary top-rope maneuvers and innovative high-flying style that made him the most popular competitor in the ‘70s and ‘80s to his influence on the development of sports entertainment, this fascinating account delves into some of Snuka’s most talked about moments, including:
· The night Snuka leapt from the top of the 15-foot cage in Madison Square Garden—only to miss his opponent and consequently lose the match
· The Piper’s Pit segment in which Rowdy Roddy Piper smashed a coconut over Snuka’s head at his own urging
· Snuka’s involvement in the untimely death of one of his mistresses and the dissolution of his marriage
Exposing the amazing life of this WWE Hall of Famer with all the exuberance he’s famous for, Superfly presents the ups and downs of a key figure in the expansion and success of professional wrestling—making it a must read for all diehard WWE fans.
About the Authors:
Jimmy Snuka is a semiretired Fijian professional wrestler and actor who competed for several promotions in the 1970s and 1980s. He is a two-time world heavyweight champion, having been a two-time—and becoming the very first—ECW Heavyweight Champion. He lives in Atco, New Jersey.
Jon Chattman is the author of I Love the Red Sox/I Hate the Yankees, a regular contributor to HuffingtonPost.com and the founder of the celebrity interview and music site www.thecheappop.com. He has written for the New York Post, TV Guide, Ultimate Marvel Magazine and Wizard. He lives in Mamaroneck, New York.
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on October 2, 2012 at 7:28 pm
PWInsider reports that staff member Ann Russo-Gordon left WWE this week. This is significant news because she was in charge of the entire Wellness Policy on WWE’s side.
No word yet on why she left but the belief is that she quit. Russo-Gordon handles everything to do with the Wellness Policy including working with former talents who were going into WWE sponsored rehab.
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on August 8, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Earlier this week, we reported that French wrestler Tom La Ruffa has signed a developmental deal with WWE. Samuel Balmeur of France’s Planete Catch monthly wrestling magazine, sent in word that WWE has also signed fellow French wrestler Lucas Di Leo.
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on July 16, 2012 at 1:17 pm
WWE is getting very aggressive in recruiting and signing new talents. They continue to reach out to stars on the independent wrestling scene and many of the talents that were contacted earlier this year are now being signed. The feeling is that they are gearing up for WWE Network projects and loading up developmental under Triple H’s lead.
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on July 9, 2012 at 8:04 am
World Wrestling Entertainment has signed British star PAC, who had been working for Dragon Gate in Japan and DGUSA here in the States, PWInsider confirmed. PAC is billed as the “Man that Gravity Forgot” and is a hell of a flier.
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on July 2, 2012 at 10:41 pm
Former WWE star Armando Estrada had apparently been under WWE contract for the past year but was never used. He issued the following statement tonight:
“Espérate … Espérate … Espérate …
Everybody, listen to me!
I would like to take this opportunity to let everyone in the wrestling world know that on 6/27/12, I was released from my contract with WWE.
What’s that you say??? OH, you didn’t know (Road Dogg) I was under contract to WWE? Apparently, a lot of people (including members of creative) were not privy to that information. I have been “working” with World Wrestling Entertainment for almost 18 months. I was only used once during that time period, making a brief cameo as Tyson Kidd’s manager in May of last year. I was told I did a great job and to be patient. I have been patient for quite some time now while sitting at home “waiting for the call”.
It’s not fun, trust me. Numerous creative ideas/scenarios were submitted during my tenure and unfortunately nothing materialized for me. And although my talents were not utilized this time around, should I decide to return to WWE in the future, I firmly believe that door will be open. Timing is everything, not just in showbiz, but in life. Thank you to everyone in WWE!
For those promoters that would like to utilize my talents, believe me when I say, I am the MOST ENTERTAINING individual to step foot into the wrestling industry in the last decade (toot-toot)! If you would like to book me for wrestling shows, autograph signings/appearances, please do so at bookarmando@yahoo.com (serious inquiries only). I will show up on time, in shape, and ready to perform for your audience.
You can also follow me on Twitter @RealArmandoHaHa. Thanks for your time….Oh yeah, 1 last thing. My name es ARMANDO ALEJANDRO ESTRRRADA and I will be making an #Impact soon………HA-HA! ”
