Comments which don't warrant a thread

[Boxer 0]

From rajah.com via Meltzer

 

One of WWE's biggest stars has decided to leave the company in the near future. Also, an important behind-the-scenes person is also planning on leaving the company. The names should be revealed within the next few days.

 

RVD? I can't think of anyone else who's contract is expiring soon.

[cd213 0]

From rajah.com via Meltzer

 

One of WWE's biggest stars has decided to leave the company in the near future. Also, an important behind-the-scenes person is also planning on leaving the company. The names should be revealed within the next few days.

 

RVD? I can't think of anyone else who's contract is expiring soon.

 

Doesn't have to be RVD, all it says is a big star, nothing about expiring contract. He is the only guy that I can think of as well, but I do remember a while back it was reported that a big star was upset that he had resigned and thought that TNA would be better. There was speculation back then that it was Edge or Benoit, mainly Benoit since he had just reupped.

[Hawk 34 0]

I'm going to say Torrie Wilson is the big name. Just because. Since the product has been good, I expect the other guy to be Lagana.

[Human Fly 0]

Has there ever been a losing streak angle that worked? Not counting someone like Horowitz who always lost, I'm talking about someone who was successfully and then went on a losing streak.

DDP always use to lose to the big guys before he hit it big and the Diamond Cutter became THE move of the Moment....They always mention Goldberg as WCW's only homegrown star....But I always say what about DDP..I was marking hard for this guy..no way I was the only one..

 

I think at his peak DDP was arguably the top active babyface in WCW. (While Sting was sitting in the rafters he was more over than DDP but not active in the ring.) I look at DDP as the top overacheiver in the Monday Night Wars era.

[Vern Gagne 0]

I can't see Meltzer teasing a big star leaving, and having it be Torrie Wilson.

[Thanks for the Fish 0]

Does leaving the company mean quitting and headling elsewhere? RVD wanted the summer off even if he re-upped. Then again ECW has been about Punk/Burke and Lashley, with RVD a secondary player. RVD would make the most sense. However leaving the company could be retiring, as opposed to ones contract running out. HBK needs time off but is gutting it out because the company needed him . Chavo Guerrero was said to have been given the CW title in order to try and keep him. However Chavo isn't one of wwe's "biggest stars". Tazz contract was coming up wasn't it? Benoit is an afterthought these days and was happy when he was off. Kane was another that was heading for time off, and was looking to put over Fake Kane to pass the torch as his career was winding down.

 

Biggest to me would be one of the big Big 9 (Undertaker, Batista, Edge, HHH, HBK, Lashley, Orton, Cena, Kennedy) or one of the long time workers like Benoit or Kane. Could Biggest be literal and Khali has had enough?

 

I bet that grueling European Schedule convinced this person that they'd had enough.

 

I could see Dusty leaving, as wwe got what they wanted out of him(HOF and probably a DVD).

[cd213 0]

Does leaving the company mean quitting and headling elsewhere? RVD wanted the summer off even if he re-upped. Then again ECW has been about Punk/Burke and Lashley, with RVD a secondary player. RVD would make the most sense. However leaving the company could be retiring, as opposed to ones contract running out. HBK needs time off but is gutting it out because the company needed him . Chavo Guerrero was said to have been given the CW title in order to try and keep him. However Chavo isn't one of wwe's "biggest stars". Tazz contract was coming up wasn't it? Benoit is an afterthought these days and was happy when he was off. Kane was another that was heading for time off, and was looking to put over Fake Kane to pass the torch as his career was winding down.

 

Biggest to me would be one of the big Big 9 (Undertaker, Batista, Edge, HHH, HBK, Lashley, Orton, Cena, Kennedy) or one of the long time workers like Benoit or Kane. Could Biggest be literal and Khali has had enough?

 

I bet that grueling European Schedule convinced this person that they'd had enough.

 

I could see Dusty leaving, as wwe got what they wanted out of him(HOF and probably a DVD).

 

Could it be Orton due to the fact that he was sent home and doesn't like the fact that his push has been stopped and he doesn't have the title?

 

Whoever it is, it's causing a huge stir.

[Boxer 0]

The more I think about it....... could the star be Ric Flair?

 

What's his contract like?

[RonL21 0]

Has there ever been a losing streak angle that worked? Not counting someone like Horowitz who always lost, I'm talking about someone who was successfully and then went on a losing streak.

DDP always use to lose to the big guys before he hit it big and the Diamond Cutter became THE move of the Moment....They always mention Goldberg as WCW's only homegrown star....But I always say what about DDP..I was marking hard for this guy..no way I was the only one..

 

I think at his peak DDP was arguably the top active babyface in WCW. (While Sting was sitting in the rafters he was more over than DDP but not active in the ring.) I look at DDP as the top overacheiver in the Monday Night Wars era.

I agree...shame what the WWF did to him though being Taker's bitch and all...i know he was older but he coulda gave the WWE a good 2-3 years

[RedJed 0]

A few things to address here......

 

First, where the fuck was it ever even reported the Hardy tag title win was an accident in the first place? Thats news to me.....someone needs to get their facts straight.

 

Secondly, I'm as much of a non-Orton fan as the next guy, but to say he's never gotten over with the crowds before is blinded mark hate.

 

To say he's actually been over enough to main event is blinded mark ignorance.

 

He definately has - watch the SummerSlam match w/ Benoit as an example. The guy was getting over that whole spring into the summer, part in thanks to Foley's rub. I'll restate I'm far from an Orton fan, but there wasn't question that the guy was making waves around that time as an over heel. And then came the out of the blue face turn the next night (which clearly was premature at best, anyone should be able to see that), and subsequent HHH feud, which certainly put him down a peg or two in the fans' eyes. Again, some of you guys' opinions here are very closeminded. I'm not saying the guy is great or anything, but it can't be denied that he COULD get over under the right circumstances and HAS before.

 

Also, regarding that rumor of someone leaving, I havent seen any indication of that from Meltz anywhere, and he himself even debunked a rumor going around apparently that he reported Orton is leaving, which I'm not sure is the same post in question here.

[cd213 0]

i think if under the right situation almost anyone can get over, see Steve Blackman when he teamed with Al Snow. Orton has charisma and he can wrestle, it's just that he doesn't seem to give a shit since he's been handed the world and hasn't done anything with it. I still say the only reason he went over Benoit at the time was becasue Lesnar was the youngest World Champion and with the fallout he had they needed someone else to take that honor. He couldn't handle the load and folded. CAn he get over again, I think so, will he get over again is another story. People seem to be tired of the whole "next generation" story. He's certainly no Rock, and I don't think he has what it takes to take to ball and run at this moment.

 

On a funny side note, not that I can prove it much, about 2 weeks before Steve Blackman teamed with Al Snow I told my friends "the best way to get Blackman over is to put him with someone the fans love, like Al Snow." I turn on Raw a few weeks later and low and behold, they went with my idea. It seemed that at that time there were a few things on both WWF and WCW tv that I told my friends over the phone that happened. I swore my phone was bugged.

[RedJed 0]

Anyone can definately get over under the right circumstances, there isnt question there, and I most certainly agree Orton can't really run with any ball at this point. But the point prior was people say he's never gotten over or done shit, which I wholeheartedly disagree with, as he was over and working hard in 04.

[cd213 0]

I think the the fact that Orton hasn't been over since Evolution and Batista hasn't had good matches since his time with HHH (with a couple of exceptions) actually shows that HHH is better at getting people over then he has been given credit for.

[Hawk 34 0]

The more I think about it....... could the star be Ric Flair?

 

What's his contract like?

 

Work til he dies or pays off his debts, whichever comes first.

[cabbageboy 0]

Orton is at least 2 years past his push date. He was so totally ruined and fucked after the HHH feud ended that quite honestly he needed to just get released right then and there. In fact if it had been 10 years earlier he'd have been in WCW a month later. Orton is frankly stuck since he has nowhere all that viable to go (yes I'm counting TNA here) and they won't just release him, but they also can't push him either.

 

I'll admit to halfway enjoying some of his work (RNN updates, the guilty pleasure homoerotic teaming with Edge) but when Orton sucks he REALLY sucks. I'm talking so bad I want to pull my hair out. He's the epitome of what someone like Michael Hayes would consider "a young kid trying to play a heel on TV." The nadir of his run is of course the nightmare that was his 2005-06 Smackdown stint, where he was ultra horrible and annoying in those UT and Rey feuds some were waxing poetic about. Add in some 30 minute long clunkers with Benoit where poor Benoit did literally 90% of the semi decent work and Orton was exposed so bad during that period as someone who can't really work, can't interview for shit, and has no charisma. He's the Lina Lamont of wrestling, a triple threat.

 

Orton's teaming with Edge was entertaining because they at least realized Orton is crap and let Edge carry things, keeping Orton's in ring involvement down a bit. Note that once the team split and Orton was back to a singles act he went right back to sucking hard and his matches once again consisted of him doing 5 minute headlock spots.

 

Honestly, what can they do with Orton at this point? They can't really push him not only due to his incredibly boorish behavior, not only due to his singular lack of talent and overness, but most importantly due to the 2 years of character assassination they have done on TV. Why not just release him then? Let TNA have him and I would assure WWE he won't make a damn bit of difference.

[Scroby 0]

I'm thorwing Carlito's name out there.

[RonL21 0]

i think if under the right situation almost anyone can get over, see Steve Blackman when he teamed with Al Snow. Orton has charisma and he can wrestle, it's just that he doesn't seem to give a shit since he's been handed the world and hasn't done anything with it. I still say the only reason he went over Benoit at the time was becasue Lesnar was the youngest World Champion and with the fallout he had they needed someone else to take that honor. He couldn't handle the load and folded. CAn he get over again, I think so, will he get over again is another story. People seem to be tired of the whole "next generation" story. He's certainly no Rock, and I don't think he has what it takes to take to ball and run at this moment.

 

On a funny side note, not that I can prove it much, about 2 weeks before Steve Blackman teamed with Al Snow I told my friends "the best way to get Blackman over is to put him with someone the fans love, like Al Snow." I turn on Raw a few weeks later and low and behold, they went with my idea. It seemed that at that time there were a few things on both WWF and WCW tv that I told my friends over the phone that happened. I swore my phone was bugged.

Blasphemy...Steve Blackman was over regardless.....Seriously though...He was over during his Hardcore Championship reign...really the only person to bring creditbility to that title and that kick to the chest was awesome...

 

STEVE BLACKMAN MARK UNTIL DEATH

[Mecca 0]

WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST DALE GAGNER'S AWA FOR TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT AND CLAIMING TO BE THE ORIGINAL AWA PROMOTION

by Mike Johnson @ 2:53:00 PM on 4/26/2007

 

World Wrestling Entertainment filed a trademark infringement lawsuit on 4/25 in the United States District Court of Minnesota against Dale R. Gagner for using thetrademarks and copyrights of the American Wrestling Association (AWA), which WWE acquired from Verne Gagne in 2003 along with Gagne's AWA video library.

The 17 page complaint by WWE alleges, among other charges, that Gagner's "AWA Wrestling Entertainment" misrepresents itself as the successor to Verne Gagne's promotion, which shut down operations in 1990.

 

The complaint singles out Gagner, listed as the owner of "AWA Wrestling Entertainment" as a "serial offender", noting that in April 1990, The Minneapolis Boxing & Wrestling Club (which then owned the AWA trademarks) filed a similar claim against Gagner. The courts ruled against Gagner in June 1990, enjoining he and his company from creating any claims that represented him as part of the original AWA promotion. WWE also alleges that Gagner has gone as far as to change the spelling of his name professionally to "Gagne" in an attempt to play off Verne Gagne's name when there is no relation between the two.

 

WWE's complaint delves into the history of both WWE and the original American Wrestling Association, noting that Verne Gagne promoted the AWA until 1990, when he shut down the company. WWE noted that they acquired the library, copyright, and trademarks in January 2003 when they purchased them from Gagne, who was later inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. WWE's subsidiary "WWE Libraries, Inc" is now the exclusive owner of the AWA and has the exclusive rights to use its letters, name, and properties.

 

WWE noted that they have spent time and effort into reviving the AWA brand, most notably with their recent AWA DVD, while Gagner's company is "cybersquatting" with their websites www.AWAStars.com and www.myspace.com/AWAStars.

 

Gagner's website features images of Verne Gagne, The Vachons, Nick Bockwinkel, The Crusher, and The Bruiser, and the tag line "Since 1959, the Major League of Professional Wrestling." The company's title lineage dates back to Pat O'Connor and Verne Gagne in the 1950s as well. The website features a number of upcoming dates from independent promotions around the country, which are using the AWA letters and logo, having paid an "entrance fee" to join the promotion.

 

WWE also alleges that despite not having rights to the AWA name and trademark, Gagner is, "selling merchandise, including hats and t-shirts, featuring the AWA marks; promoting wrestling activities, performances, and events using the AWA marks; presenting information relating to the historical AWA wrestling promotion; and displaying images on its website of wrestlers formerly associated with the AWA promotion." WWE alleges that Gagner's "clear intent" is to "misrepresent that the Defendants are the successors to and/or affiliated with the AWA wrestling promotion. At no time have Defendants, individually or collectively, been affiliated with WWE or the AWA wrestling promotion."

 

WWE claims that by Gagner's use of the AWA trademark and letters, the company has been "irreparably harmed." noting the company "has lost its exclusive right and ability to control and/or determine the manner, appearance, timing, location, content and image of the AWA Marks, in which WWE has invested considerable resources to acquire, develop, and promote" while noting that Gagner's company has "unlawfully and unjustly" been able to benefit from properties that World Wrestling Entertainment legally owns.

 

WWE is seeking a permanent injunction against Gagner to prevent him and his company from using the AWA trademarks and initials in the future, an injunction preventing him from doing so in a similar manner in the future, an injunction shutting down Gagner's websites followed by the domains being transferred to WWE's ownership, financial damages and World Wrestling Entertainment's legal costs.

 

There is expected to be some local media coverage of the lawsuit in the State of Minnesota in the next 24 hours

[Broward83 0]

Fuck WWE and their lawsuits.

 

Fucker's tried to go after my girlfriend and her Beulah site and the accompaning, citing some of that same bullshit... but would allow its other divas to have myspace pages and personal sites.

 

...and yes, Beulah knew about the site and was actually helping my girlfriend with it. Wound up sending her a box of old ring gear to sell on eBay along with the old ECW trading cards and a few of the old ECW video game strategy guides that were all autographed.

[Vern Gagne 0]

The more I think about it....... could the star be Ric Flair?

 

What's his contract like?

 

Work til he dies or pays off his debts, whichever comes first.

 

 

One story I saw here, said Flair was considering retirting after next years wrestlemania.

 

Kane is my guess.

[Guest NateW]

Kevin Dunn?

[RedJed 0]

Man, Gagne (or Gagner, what have you) is pretty fucked here. Bottom line is he IS using the AWA logo and all things relating to it to continue the "tradition" of the organization around here and, hell, around the world. The guy has a legitimate business around here that is tied into other organizations as well. While lots of the reasoning behind the lawsuit is frivalous (sp?) nitpicking to just try to eliminate any sort of dollar being made off intellectual property that WWE does own (so they have a VERY valid case) I dont think Gagner is doing any harm against WWE in particularly, and/or making it any harder for any potential for WWE to make the most out of what they have related to AWA.

 

I actually have met Dale and done business with him helping promote AWA shows around here via my magazine I run at various times in the past, and it would be a shame on a personal level for that to come to a close for my own financial reasons of course, but more particularly because those three letters are the only thing that really mean anything around here in the midwest in terms of people coming out and checking out pro wrestling other than WWE, ROH, etc, and remembering what things once were around here. But again, I dont consider this AWA any sort of competition to WWE at all, moreless just a nice nostalgic way to pretend the AWA is still active in some shape, preserving the tradition that company brought to this area way back when. The three letters are essentially a manufactured draw of sorts, a way for people to at least check out the indy scene around here instead of acting like it's "just another show" (which is normally is, but the illusion is at least nice).

 

A local outfit here in Mankato (www.prowrestlingrush.com) just recently got taken under the AWA wing of small independant promotions around the midwest literally just last month, and from that, Gagne helps promote and essentially "sponsor" them as an AWA affiliate. They are just starting to get some decent crowds around here (they do a show once a month around here) and I just this week got talking to them about what I could do to really help them promote the shows around here via the magazine. I was getting pumped to be a part of the company in even a small form and then this occurs. It really is a shame as its a win-win situation for the local promotion, Gagne's AWA, and the wrestling scene around here, which was all but non-existant until just recently when Pro Wrestling Rush came around, and they now got it taken to the next level with becoming an AWA affiliate. God damn. Fuck you Vince.

 

I hope the best for him, but the reality is that he's going to probably have to close up shop. I wonder what led to this all of a sudden? He's been doing this stuff for years, and even as recently as last year, he was even invited to alot of the Wrestlemania related events BY WWE since they were tight with Verne and Greg about a year ago and, yes, he actually is related to them in some way, shape, or form.

 

I will certainly try to find out more about this whole deal here soon and report anything I find out. I'm definately giving Dale a jingle tomorrow to wish him the best with this and provide any support I can offer (which isnt saying much but HEY!). I dont want to see Dale's pretty smart way to help these indy leagues get a nice jumpstart end up being washed away.

[Rob Anybody 0]

You may be thinking of frivolous.

[Mecca 0]

If the WWE has bought your shit, you can't go and call your shit that, they do have legal right to sue you.

 

If you open a promotion called WCW they can sue you for making money off something they own.

[Enigma 0]

It doesn't matter what this has done for the mid-west indy scene. The bottom line is all this "great work" done used WWE-owned intellectual property to make it happen. WWE & Vince have every right to sue and win for some delusional fuckhead making a buck off of what they rightfully own.

 

Dale Gagne/r doesn't have any right to use any of that stuff, but thinks that trademark and copyright law doesn't apply to him because he's related to the people that once owned it?

 

Me & my mother own a pet store business that we spent years getting a great rep around here for, and I would call bullshit on someone related to the previous owner making a buck off something I now own.

[RedJed 0]

Oh believe me, I know he's fucked - I just don't see why WWE waited until now to do it, moreless. That is the part I really dont get. It's also interesting to note that a court ruled against Gagner way back when here in the state, and yet he kept going with it regardless. Whats the deal there? As I said before, something tells me there is more to this story than just at face value here, or else this AWA should have been defunct years ago. For example, what is the explanation that Gagner actually has physical claim to the original AWA world title? Why didnt WWE claim property ownership of such upon the purchase of the intellectual properties? Maybe the old AWA itself, in terms of its properties, was very loosely organized as a whole and whoever sold WWE the AWA stuff was playing both sides a bit. Or maybe Gagner had rights to such properties still until a specific time period, and now that time period has expired. Who knows. I dont think he feels he has a right to use that imaging and whatnot because he's related to the Gagne's, really, but he must feel he has some legitimate ownership in it all for reasons beyond that as, in theory, this was just waiting to happen with this lawsuit and a simple thing such as "well they are part of my family, I can do what I want" is clealy, a ridiculous claim to ownership. I just wish they would cut him a break since WWE's claim of trying to "revive" the brand is as much bullshit as Gagne doing what he's doing. But I do understand this is a case he's more than likely going to lose for obvious reasons.

[Dips 0]

Yeah, my money's on Kane too. There was talk of it last year wasn't there? Can't remember if he ever signed a new contract though.

[Guest phoenixdown2112]

PWinsider.com just announced a major exec in the WWE is leaving....

 

 

TOP WWE EXECUTIVE GIVES NOTICE THAT HE'S LEAVING THE COMPANY

by Mike Johnson @ 12:35:00 PM on 4/27/2007

 

Kurt Schneider, World Wrestling Entertainment's Executive Vice President of Marketing has given notice that he will be leaving the company to take a position working with the Harlem Globetrotters organization.

 

The word going around as to Schneider's departure is that he wasn't happy in his current position and was tired of micro management issues forced upon him by higher-ups (which in that company, means the McMahon family), so he decided to move on. I am told Schneider informed WWE about two weeks ago.

 

Schneider had been with the company since February 2003 and was responsible for overseeing the marketing for all of WWE's PPV events, live events, global marketing and strategic business operations. Scheider also oversaw all of the company's advertising, promotions, Public Relations, Corporate Communications and other associated responsibilities.

 

Many of the marketing techniques and themes you've seen from WWE in recent years have had Schneider's fingerprints all over them and he was very valuable asset to WWE. Schneider was very hands on with many of the upgrades in WWE's different revenue streams including WWE.com, the revamping of WWE Magazine, and the majority of PPV and Television events, including special themed shows like the Raw Family Reunion, the WWE Homecoming, Saturday Night's Main Event, WWE vs. ECW, etc.

 

In 2004, Schneider's Wrestlemania XX advertising theme (building the entire year around marketing the company's flagship event) helped lead WWE to its first major PPV revenue increase overall in several years.

 

I haven't heard when Schneider will officially finish with the company. There were a lot of employees unhappy about his decision to leave. Schneider was considered one of the best department heads to work under and his division was said to have had the best morale of any part of WWE's office end. Obviously, his departure is going to be a major loss to the company.

[garfieldsnose 0]

Well, that's one. Now, who's the star?

[Guest NateW]

The star is most likely RVD. The new Torch reports that he officially declined WWE's renewal offer. Something about how WWE wasn't willing to give him as much time off as he wanted for an extended vacation and the overall schedule.