Sunday, May 1, 2011

NEWS ON ROCK'S UPCOMING MOVIE

Variety reports that The Rock will be producing and starring in a movie based on the life of African-American country music star Charley Pride. Rock’s ex-wife Dany Garcia is listed as a producer along with Randy Jackson from American Idol and Pride’s manager John Daines.

VINCE TALKS ABOUT ROCK'S CURRENT STATUS WITH WWE

Vince McMahon said at the shareholders meeting on Friday that he is working with The Rock on a handshake agreement. Vince said he and Rock have operated that way for a long time. Regarding WrestleMania, Vince also noted that The Rock will get a part of growth above what they are projecting.

WWE CREATING ANTI BULLYING ALLIANCE

 WWE and The Creative Coalition has launched a nationwide anti-bullying alliance called “be a STAR” in conjunction with the National Education Association Health Information Network, GLAAD, True Educator, Ad Council, Island Def Jam and others.


From WWE’s release: “The mission of “be a STAR” – which stands for “Show Tolerance And Respect” – is to ensure a positive and equitable social environment for everyone regardless of age, race, religion or sexual orientation through grassroots efforts beginning with education and awareness. “be a STAR” will promote positive methods of social interaction and encourage people to treat others as equals and with respect because everyone is a star in their own right. “


Stephanie McMahon commented: “WWE is honored and thrilled to partner with The Creative Coalition, the National Education Association Health Information Network and our other partners, in an effort to change the way people interact and treat others. Through the joint efforts of the ‘be a STAR Alliance’ organizations, we hope to reach millions encouraging them to stop bullying and ‘be a STAR.’”

AWESOME KONG'S NEW NAME "KHARMA"

The former Awesome Kong has changed her Twitter name to @kharma. Her former account, @awesomekong, has all of the tweets deleted from it, only follows @kharma and features a shot of The Bella Twins as the profile picture.

FAST FIVE CREATES RECORD

Fast Five, with The Rock and Vin Diesel, pulled in $3.8 million at 1,132 theaters from just the midnight opening this week, the highest ever for a Universal movie opening at midnight. Estimates are between $50 and $70 million for the total weekend.

KEVIN NASH TWEETS ABOUT WWE AND TNA

 Kevin Nash is asking fans on Twitter if he should go back to TNA or not, after it appears WWE has nothing for him. Nash wrote: “WWE going young.your my fan base,sit on my ass or watch my buddys Sting ass?”

FINAL CARD FOR EXTREME RULES 2011

Triple Threat Cage Match for the WWE Title
John Cena vs. John Morrison vs. The Miz


Ladder Match for the World Heavyweight Title
Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio


Last Man Standing Match
Randy Orton vs. CM Punk


Falls Count Anywhere Match
Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes


No DQ, No Count-out, Loser Leaves WWE Match
Layla vs. Michelle McCool


Country Whipping Match
Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole & Jack Swagger

NEW INDIAN WRESTLER DEBUTS AT WWE SMACKDOWN!

As seen on last night’s SmackDown, FCW star Jinder Mahal made his WWE TV debut in a backstage segment with Ranjin Singh and The Great Khali. They ran into Mahal in and spoke with him in their native language. Khali and Singh treated Mahal as if he were someone they knew from India and someone who was a big deal.


Mahal was signed by WWE about a year ago. He did an interview at Thursday’s FCW TV tapings and said that he will make himself get noticed in FCW and will become champion soon.

CURT HAWKINS TOOK A SHOT AT WWE SUPERSTARS

 Curt Hawkins took a shot at WWE Superstars with the following message on his Twitter: “Does it bother anyone else that the WWE Superstars intro includes NONE of the actual talent that perform on the show? Bush league.”

BACKSTAGE NEWS ON ALBERTO DEL RIO

 Alberto Del Rio has been described by sources as someone who has become a master politician backstage, and has picked up how to navigate the company quicker than almost anyone.

RAW RATINGS 4/25

Below is a segment breakdown of the April 18th RAW that was taped from London, England. That show did a 3.12 rating with 4.73 million viewers.


The R-Truth vs. John Morrison opener and Truth’s heel turn gained 203,000 viewers. Dolph Ziggler vs. Evan Bourne and the Edge farewell video gained 183,000 more viewers and brought the quarter-hour rating to a 3.30, which was the high point of the show.


The segment and beginning of John Cena & Sin Cara vs. Alex Riley & The Miz lost 67,000 viewers while the ending of the match and Eve Torres vs. Nikki Bella gained 11,000 viewers back. Michael Cole being knighted and the segment with Jim Ross kissing his foot lost 214,000 viewers.


Sheamus vs. Santino Marella lost 381,000 more viewers while the main event of CM Punk vs. Randy Orton and the post-match angle gained 608,000 viewers back, bringing the overrun rating to a 3.28.

VINCE MCMAHON TALKS ABOUT PG ERA, PPV COMPETITION

 Vince also said that WWE is broadening their product a bit when a shareholder said WWE feels like it’s 1970′s or 1980′s comic book campy, and suggested they could be PG but more adult oriented. Vince noted that it’s important to go backwards in order to go forward, and they went so far in the other direction at one point that there was nowhere to go, but said they have no plans to go back in that direction. Vince said WWE can have a more aggressive and sophisticated product that appeals to various ages.


When talking about WWE’s PG product, Vince noted that a TV-MA rating turns sponsors away. Vince mentioned again that they can have a sophisticated product but be PG. He said WWE will be aggressive and entertaining but sponsors must know that the company won’t do anything outlandish.