Hack-Man Pro-Wrestling Miami News, notes Page

Last updated 26 November 2004


News, notes

By Jim Varsallone

Defensive tackles run in the family

Former Miami Herald sports writer Rana L. Cash of the Atlanta-Journal Constitutional sent a note concerning Georgia Tech football player Joe Anoai.

His uncle and father, Afa and Sica, were former WWE tag team champs The Wild Samoans. His brother is WWE Super Hero In Training Rosey (Matt Anoai), and his cousin is former WWE star Rikishi (Solofa Fatu). He is also related to the late, great Yokozuna.

Residing in in Pensacola, FL, Anoai isn't interested in pursuing pro wrestling. His cousin Afa Anoai, a reserve defensive tackle at the University of Connecticut, is into pro wrestling.

Joe Anoai won family bragging rights as Georgia Tech defeated UConn 30-10 Nov. 13 in Atlanta. Joe, a starter at defensive tackle, had six tackles (four solo, two assists) and combined with a teammate on a sack. Afa Anoai did not start but played. The Yellow Jackets are 6-3, and UConn is 5-4.

Afa Anoai attended Freedom High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the same high school where his cousin The Rock starred on the gridiron. The Rock, a former member of the University of Miami Hurricanes, also was a defensive tackle.

  • WWE rumbles royally

    According to wrestling writers Simon Rothstein and Vikran Sanger of The Sun online, WWE's public relations company said WWE will return to the United Kingdom in April to film RAW and SmackDown again and will continue doing so every six months.

    The WWE apparently feels the domestic market in the United States is getting stale, causing a possible increase in the number of shows in the UK after April's tour. Holding a PPV -- like SummerSlam 1992 -- may also be on the horizon depending on the WWE's success in the UK the next year.

    The two nights in Manchester for Raw and SmackDown! were sold out with attendances of 20,000 per show. As a comparison, the No Mercy PPV was held in a similar sized venue in New Jersey, but only 9,500 people paid attend, according to Sanger.

    On the other hand, WWE estimates 140,000 fans seen it on their UK tour, which included non-televised shows in London, Nottingham and Belfast. And with premium priced merchandise -- from Eugene T-shirts to RVD foam hands -- on display everywhere, it was a very profitable week.

    ''Our fans in the UK and all across Europe are incredible and are the reason this new dedicated UK initiative is off to a roaring start,'' said Shane McMahon, WWE's Executive Vice President, Global Media. ``Our UK brand initiative is groundbreaking for us, our business partners, and our fans. It is developing the model we plan to use in other countries as we further implement our global expansion strategy.''

    For the first time ever in WWE history, RAW and SmackDown! Superstars were on simultaneous overseas tours to perform in Europe.

    More than 115,000 ecstatic fans saw WWE live, bought WWE merchandise and met WWE Superstars at local retail markets for a rousing start to the WWE's major European brand initiative in the UK.

    Separate RAW and SmackDown! live event tours covered seven days and saw the larger-than-life WWE Superstars performing before packed houses in Germany, Finland, Italy and the UK.

    Each tour culminated with the flagship television programs Monday Night RAW and WWE SmackDown! being performed from Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, the first time those television programs have emanated from outside North America.

  • Enough already

    The World Wide Fund for Nature (the Fund) filed a claim for damages in the English High Court with respect to its suit initiated in April 2000 against WWE.

    The original suit alleged WWE breached its 1994 agreement with the Fund regarding the use of the initials WWF. In that suit the Fund sought injunctive relief and unspecified damages for those alleged breaches.

    In its recent filing, the Fund seeks actual damages for legal and other costs of approximately $575,000 and further asserts substantial monetary claims in an amount calculated as a royalty based on percentages of certain of our revenue streams.

    A hearing is scheduled on the Fund's claims for Jan. 11.

    WWE strongly disputes the Fund has suffered any damages, believes that it has strong defenses to the Funds unwarranted monetary claims and will vigorously defend against them. Since November 2002, WWE complied with an injunction entered in that suit barring WWE from using its former WWF website addresses and its former scratch logo.

  • Child's play

    In response to media reports about a misunderstanding that occurred at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL on Wednesday, Nov. 10, TNA Entertainment issued an apology to Vince McMahon and WWE for what was apparently a mistakenly perceived hostile act.

    In recent months, Universal Studios and TNA have become the epicenter of the wrestling world. During the Victory Road pay-per-view, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Macho Man Randy Savage made their dramatic returns to professional wrestling.

    Even the immortal Hulk Hogan was backstage and also witnessed the electricity of that historic night. Two days later, during a TV taping for iMPACT!, Diamond Dallas Page made a surprise return to the ring.

    Recently, Vince McMahon and all the top stars of WWE were at Universal Studios, just feet from TNA's Sound Stage 21, to film a commercial.

    TNA staff was elated WWE was coming to its home. While filming vignettes that day for TNA's upcoming pay-per-view Turning Point, TNA superstars 3 Live Kru, Traci, Abyss and The Franchise Shane Douglas decided to offer some hospitality and welcome WWE to their home.

    Carrying cookies and balloons, they approached the WWE talent during a break in its shooting. However, the congenial welcome was met with ungracious resistance. The WWE talent immediately withdrew to its studio, where they remained sequestered behind closed doors.

    WWE filed a formal letter of complaint with Universal Studios. One senior WWE official even sent a production assistant to TNA Soundstage 21 and delivered a verbal warning that if any WWE talent was filmed by TNA, `we will sue your [explicitives].'

    ''I was disheartened,'' said The Franchise Shane Douglas. ``If our kind gesture was mistakenly perceived as threatening and hostile, we sincerely apologize.''

    Even the monster Abyss, in a rare melancholy moment, was seen with a tear in his eye, still clutching the very same balloons that no one from WWE wanted.

    ''Personally, I just wanted some mahi mahi,'' confessed 3 Live Kru's BG James, upon seeing the elaborate WWE catering spread. ``The only thing I had to eat all day was a stinking cold sandwich from my cheap free-lance producer. Now I know how the other half eats.''

  • The saga continues

    WWE issued a letter to TNA Entertainment, LLC on Nov. 11 demanding the surrender of video footage shot at Universal Studios Orlando on Nov. 10.

    In the document sent by Bella Karakis, Vice President Intellectual Property, WWE informed TNA that in order to avoid any further legal action by WWE, TNA would need to agree not to use the video footage, surrender the video footage to WWE within seven business days and sign and return an acknowledgment form.

    On Nov. 10, while filming vignettes for TNA's upcoming pay-per-view Turning Point, TNA Superstars 3 Live Kru, Traci, Abyss and The Franchise Shane Douglas attempted to welcome Vince McMahon and WWE talent who were also at Universal Studios taping a commercial.

    Universal Studios is TNA's home studio where iMPACT! and Xplosion are taped each week. The TNA Superstars brought cookies and balloons to greet WWE talent and staff who were taking a catering break outside in the common area of the studios.

    TNA and the TNA Superstars involved are very disappointed with threats of legal action.

    ''Competition is great and makes the wrestling category stronger as a whole, but obviously we are the only ones who feel that way,'' The Franchise Shane Douglas said. ``We attempted to extend a hand and were disappointed by the treatment we received in our own backyard.''

  • Action-packed

    The alternative for the true wrestling fan, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling prides itself on delivering quality, family programming that is clean, innovative, cutting edge and with the high-risk, high-flying athleticism that symbolizes TNA Wrestling.

    Total Nonstop Action Wrestling iMPACT! airs 3 p.m. Fridays on FSN (check local listings).

    TNA Xplosion is a syndicated program (check local listings).

    TNA Wrestling pay-per-views are available on iN DEMAND, DISH Network, DIRECTV, TVN, Viewers Choice Canada, Bell ExpressVu and Shaw Communications.

  • Music to my ears

    Columbia Records released ThemeAddict: WWE The Music V6, the sixth volume of never before released superstar theme music from the RAW and SmackDown! brands of World Wrestling Entertainment.

    With sales for previous volumes of WWE theme music reaching into the millions, ThemeAddict: WWE The Music V6 is one of most hotly-anticipated releases of the year.

    ThemeAddict: WWE The Music V6 is the first album of WWE superstar theme music to be released by Columbia Records and includes 15 of the WWE's most dynamic musical never before released themes, one bonus audio track and an exclusive bonus DVD featuring expanded versions of the Superstar entrance videos which can be seen on WWE weekly.

    Aside from these tracks, WWE added a bonus audio track by SmackDown! Superstar John Cena titled ''Untouchables'' which is a preview to his full length forthcoming album titled You Can't See Me.

    ThemeAddict: WWE The Music V6 is composed, produced and performed by Jim Johnston, whose work with WWE helped the franchise form its musical identity and whose musical artistry gave the previous five volumes of the WWE musical series (released between 1998-2001 on Koch) combined sales of more than 3.5 million units in the United States.

    Volume 5 of the series, released in February 2001, debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 best-selling albums chart. Volumes 2 and 5 achieved RIAA gold status, and Volume 4 earned gold and platinum status.

    ThemeAddict: WWE The Music V6 is executive produced by Vince McMahon and Kevin Dunn. With the exception of ''Untouchables'' which was written and performed by WWE SmackDown! superstar John Cena, every track on ThemeAddict: WWE The Music V6 was written or co-written by Jim Johnston.

    According to Johnston, the music is the actual themes heard on TV.

    ''These themes are so important to the development of these characters and the identification and overall branding of our product,'' Johnston said. ``They are the emotional backdrop of our characters. It's not a novelty record. The quality has to match everything else the kids are listening to out there.''

    Participating artists on the album include Motorhead (performing ''Line In The Sand,'' the theme song for Evolution) and Drowning Pool (performing ''Rise Up,'' the WWE SmackDown! theme).

    Monday Night RAW can be seen 9 p.m. Mondays on Spike TV, and SmackDown! is 8 p.m. Thursdays on UPN.

  • A stellar story

    The legendary Dory Funk Jr. will release his autobiography in January. The book is for adults, and advanced orders will be available.

    Lou Thesz, Mick Foley, Missy Hyatt, Harley Race, Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Jack Brisco and many more professional wrestlers wrote books on their respective life in the wrestling business.

    A book on Gordon Solie is completed with a release date in late January. Terry Funk will do the same. TBA.

    ''I am excited about the opportunity to speak out honestly about the wrestling business and this wild and crazy life I have lived,'' Dory Funk Jr. said. ``The story you will read is true. Everything here actually happened. The greatest care has been taken to tell the entire story.

    ``Parents with young children and people operating heavy machinery may wish to consider whether or not they should read some portions of this book without consulting the proper medical and/or psychological authorities. This book is rated R.''

  • Author, Author

    New York Times bestselling author Mick Foley returned to WWE publishing with Tales From Wrescal Lane (WWE/Pocket Books; $19.95), an exciting illustrated book for children and adults.

    Spend time with your favorite WWE stars as they grow up on the imaginary street of Wrescal Lane.

    Foley transports readers to a fantasyland where they will join the young Rock, Stephanie and Shane McMahon, Kurt Angle, Triple H, the Dudley Boys and others as they learn important lessons, including the importance of sharing and humility.

    This is a wonderful tool for parents to use as they read Tales From Wrescal Lane to their children -- which some of life's lessons can be taught. Children will be educated through the pages of this book in a fun and educational way, and they will enjoy the stories Foley wrote and hopefully utilize them on a daily basis in and out of the schoolroom.

    Award-winning artist Jill Thompson crafted adorable illustrations that bring the world of Tales From Wrescal Lane to life.

    Foley already become a successful author. His 1999 autobiography Have A Nice Day, written in longhand on 760 pages of notebook paper during a European tour, became No. 1 on the New York Times Bestseller List.

    His second book Mick Foley's Christmas Chaos, a whimsical children's story devoted to a four-year-old burn victim Foley befriended, made the chart in 2000.

    Foley wrote other titles including the follow up to the 1999 New York Times Best Seller Have a Nice Day entitled Foley is Good. He is also the author of the acclaimed novel Tietam Brown. Foley lives in New York with his wife and four children.

    Foley, alternately known by his ring personas Mankind, Cactus Jack and Dude Love, was a three-time World Wrestling Entertainment champ, the first WWE star to become a bestselling author and the performer most willing to sacrifice his body for the business he's loved since childhood.

    Growing up as a child, Foley loved the world of wrestling, and through time he got natured in the business and eventually joined World Wrestling Entertainment. In the early years, Foley appeared at WWE television tapings and lost to whichever star the organization was promoting.

    As Cactus Jack, an unruly character from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, he began making a name for himself at small shows in high school gymnasiums and arenas as far away as Japan and Africa. It was in the Land of the Rising Sun where Foley became a cult figure by battling in a ring surrounded by flames, suffering second degree burns on his shoulder in a 1995 King of the Death Match.

    By then, word spread throughout the wrestling community that Foley was relatively indifferent to pain. Over the years, he received more than 300 stitches, six concussions and one broken jaw. In 1994, part of his ear was ripped off when he got his head caught between the top and middle ropes in a match in Germany.

    In 1996, he entered WWE as Mankind, a tortured figure in a leather mask who rocked back and forth. Mankind's finisher was the Mandible Claw. Later, he'd win with Mr. Socko.

    Unfortunately, the torture he weathered in the ring eventually caught up with him, and Foley retired in 2000, becoming the WWE commissioner. He would relinquish the post in December 2000 to pursue his aspirations as a novelist.

  • Out of business

    WWE assigned to Hard Rock Cafe International the lease for the company's former entertainment complex, The World, at 1501 Broadway, New York, NY.

    WWE accrued all estimated shut-down costs in previous fiscal years, including the rent anticipated under the lease, net of any sub-let income. Total costs, including final cash payments of approximately $5 million made in connection with this transaction, are less than the costs accrued.

    WWE has no further obligations with respect to the lease or location.

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