spman

http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=7953&p=1 The UPN Network plans to drop WWE Smackdown from its roster of shows when their contract with World Wrestling Entertainment expires next year, according to statements made by Viacom's co-President in an article published by California newspaper The Oakland Tribune earlier this week discussing UPN's future plans. The statement, made by Leslie Moonves, co-President and co-Chief Operating Officer for Viacom, the parent company of UPN and CBS. Moonves and Tom Freston took over the positions in June 2004, when former President Mel Karmazin resigned the post. According to the article, which looks at plans to change UPN's image into a more serious network, moving away from sillier fare like "Amish in the City." According to Moonves, Smackdown no longer fits the network's vision. "It still makes us a decent amount of money," said Moonves, "When you think about the powerhouses of CBS and NBC on Thursday night, it's great counter-programming. (But) it doesn't fit into the overall (programming) strategy." WWE and Viacom came to terms on a "multiyear deal" to continue broadcasting Smackdown via The UPN Network in March 2003. It is believed the deal expires in the fall of 2006. The arrangement provided for UPN to pay WWE a licensing fee and also allow the company to produce several primetime specials. Smackdown debuted as a UPN special in April 1999, paving the way for the weekly series, which has been running since August of that year. I blame Bradshaw

I've noticed lately that there have been a ton of Horror movies as of late. The Darkness and White Noise are still in theaters, Hide and Seek and Alone in the Dark open tomorrow, Boogeyman opens next week, smells like oversaturation to me.

Plus, the WWE knows they don't really have to put much effort into pushing the Royal RUmble because it always pulls in a strong buyrate based on name value alone.

World's shortest Royal Rumble. Fresno riots. That's 1 hour 7 minutes

1. Batista 2. Paul London 3. Jonathan Coachman 4. Gene Snitsky 5. Edge 6. Eddie Guerrero 7. Shawn Michaels 8. Jericho 9. Puder 10. Benoit 11. Holly 12. Coach 13. Jordan 14. Snitsky 15. Cena 16. Paul London, Ric Flair, Hurricane, Simon Dean 17. Batista, Cena, Benoit, Eddie 18. Benoit 19. Cena 20. Batista, Cena, Snitsky, Eddie 21. - 25. All False 26. 1:07

I think RAWs contract ends in October. I haven't heard anything regarding the status lately though.

I would guess this is probobly the result of WWEs plans to move back to USA in the fall, and Viacom just giving them a big middle finger.

I thought it was Renee Dupree whom Patterson met at some queer fashion show in Canada.

A guy who only has one match a year against a guy who hasn't had a serious match in 4 years, sounds like a winning formula to me

Any chance we'll ever get a 2 Disc Special Edition DVD of No Holds Barred with Commentary from Vince, Hogan, and Zeus?

I dunno, if you have an account, and view his other pictures, he has a few non-WWE Personal photos with his dog and a couple from a photo shoot.

I wonder if it's a new commentary, or the same one thats on the current DVD. The commentary on the current DVD is about 10 years old and pretty dry. Brooks carries on about a lot of unrelated stuff making a lot of in jokes that only 5 people would understand in the process.

Yeah, I didn't see a mention of this anywhere, but today is the anniversary of the birth of Hulkamania. On this date in 1984, Hulk Hogan beat The Iron Shiek to win his first WWF title. It seems like it was just yesterday.

I believe the way it works is that your pay depends on how buisness is doing. At the very least you will make your downside guarantee, 15,000-25,000 or someone like Paul London, 50,000-75,000 for someone like RVD and 100,000+ for someone like Undertaker. Depending on how buisness is, you could get paid considerably more then your downside, but the downside is the absolute least you will get paid. You also get a certain percentage of your merchandise sales, and if you wrestle on a PPV dpending on who you are and your position on the card, you get a bonus which is a percentage of the gate. Downside guarantees now are much lower then in years past, this is why we saw the mass layoffs of guys last year who were relics from contracts given out when buisness peaked to guys like Test who have long since outlived their usefullness with the company.

Have I not been watching Smackdown lately, or is this Scottys first appearence in a while?

I remember how it seemed every week for about 3 straight months the main event of Heat would be some combination of The Headbangers vs. The Oddities

Ok, now it appears that the DVD has been delayed untill Febuary 1st

Except for the minor setback that no one gets WWE 24/7 yet, and no cable companioes are particularly hurried in the effort to add it.

Im sure the reason why much of this stuff hasn't been released in the licensing issues. Once Vince comes to a settlement with Marvel and the Panda group, then we'll likely see all this stuff come out.

Great Ameircan Bash gets a bad rap for 2 reasons 1. Bradshaw wins the title 2. The rediculously overbooked , really awful, Undertaker vs Dudley Boys match with the dumbest gimmick that was part of the worst storyline ever.

Whats his gimiock even supposed to be? From the viginette on RAW< he looked like some kind of homosexual body builder.

He'll probobly join Simon Dean on Heat. Maybe they'll form a stable of the gimmicks that got pushed hard at first but were quikcly forgotten about. At least Hassan had a Pay Per View match. Simon Dean had what 2 or 3 appearences on RAW, 1 match, and then nothing but Heat?

The first big budget Hollywood production about September 11th probobly won't come untill a good 20 years after the fact. It's too recent a memory for anyone to try and dabble with anything too realistic.

Don't forget that Racing Stripes movie. Talking Animals usually do good.