• Wrestling News & Wrestling Rumors – WWE & TNA

- Some slightly better news for Gerald Brisco as it has been revealed that he did not suffer a stroke as first thought, but has an artery blockage and a hole in the heart. We obviously still wish him all the best.

- Press Release:

STAMFORD, CT, June 17, 2009 – In support of President Obama’s new “United We Serve” initiative (http://serve.gov/), World Wrestling Entertainment and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) are teaming up for the SummerSlam Reading Jam, which kicks off Wednesday, June 24, in libraries nationwide. 500 libraries across 47 states and the District of Columbia are participating in the program to encourage teens and tweens to visit their local libraries and read throughout the summer (to see the list of libraries, go to: http://WWEKids.com or http://ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/ssrj_librarylist.pdf). Mattel is also a partnering with WWE and YALSA for the SummerSlam Reading Jam.

Participating libraries will award a poster featuring WWE® Superstars Rey Mysterio®, Evan Bourne™, Beth Phoenix™ and Eve™ to the first 25 teens and tweens between ages 10 and 18, who check out two books. Posters, each of which are numbered, are available until July 16 or as long as supplies last.

On Friday, July 17, two poster numbers will be drawn determining the grand prize winners along with alternate poster numbers, all of which will be posted on http://WWEKids.com/. The two grand prize winners will win airfare to Los Angeles for two, two nights’ hotel, two tickets and $200 spending money for WWE’s SummerSlam pay-per-view event on Sunday, August 23, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Ten first prize winners will win copies of the WWE Encyclopedia.

“The SummerSlam Reading Jam allows WWE the opportunity to again join forces with YALSA to promote youth literacy and support this new initiative from President Obama,” said Michelle Wilson, WWE’s Executive Vice President, Marketing. “Building upon our success in working with school and public libraries on our annual nationwide WrestleMania Reading Challenge during the school year, this new initiative gives us the opportunity to use our most popular summer pay-per-view, SummerSlam, to extend our efforts to get young people to read into the summer.”

“Reading for fun during the summer months is crucial for young people as it helps them retain reading skills they acquire during the school year,” said Sarah Cornish Debraski, YALSA president. “Summer reading initiatives, such as this new SummerSlam Reading Jam, are great ways to encourage teens and tweens to keep reading over the summer. Libraries also offer many volunteer opportunities for teens looking to enrich themselves, making libraries a perfect match for President Obama’s ‘United We Serve” initiative. We are excited to launch this project with WWE and Mattel.”

- Ric Flair is not already done with WWE; he’s just being kept off TV to sell his injuries from Randy Orton. No word one is role when he returns, but maybe he could join Donald Trump?

- Dragon Gate (yes the monkey abusers) sent out the following:

INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING PHENOMENON DRAGON GATE USA INKS NORTH AMERICAN TELEVISION DEALS WITH iN DEMAND, TVN, BELL AND VIEWER’S CHOICE
PPV/VOD Distribution Deals Bring DGUSA into 60 Million Households

New York, June 17, 2009 – Dragon Gate USA (DGUSA), in association with G-Funk Sports & Entertainment, has concluded programming and distribution deals for PPV and VOD wrestling programs with iN DEMAND Networks and TVN in the United States, and Bell and Viewer’s Choice in Canada making the critically-acclaimed DGUSA brand available for the first time ever to approximately 60 million North American households. Similar deals with additional pay-per-view providers are pending.

The agreement calls for a card from North America’s newest, most cutting-edge wrestling company approximately every 60 days from shows filmed in the United States, and will premier in September. A total of six cards are planned throughout ‘09/’10. DGUSA President Satoshi Oji and Vice President Gabe Sapolsky made the announcement today with G-Funk’s President Ken Gelman.

The debut event, entitled “Enter The Dragon,” will be taped July 25 in Philadelphia from The Arena (former New Alhambra Arena/ECW Arena), and will feature a spectacular array of talent from Japan, the U.S. and more.

Long revered by a loyal underground fan base, Dragon Gate has been one of the hottest wrestling promotions in Japan over the past few years. The company started out as a local promotion in 2004 and has quickly risen up the ranks, regularly packing houses in excess of 10,000 fans and producing more than 250 shows a year nationwide in Japan. Dragon Gate has been a staple on Gaora TV and produced pay-per-view events in its home country.

“Wrestling fans around the world know the Dragon Gate stars, “ Oji stated. “The next logical step was to launch Dragon Gate USA and showcase these athletes in North America. We are excited to partner with G-Funk Sports & Entertainment and look forward to bringing the next evolution of wrestling to pay-per-view throughout the United States and Canada.”

DGUSA’s Sapolsky has enjoyed a celebrated 15-year†behind the scenes career in wrestling. Sapolsky started in the business with the original ECW, working directly for ECW executive producer Paul Heyman. Sapolsky studied his craft carefully under Heyman for seven years. A year after ECW ended its run, Sapolsky started cult-sensation Ring Of Honor and served as the creative head and producer of the critically acclaimed company for almost seven years. Sapolsky’s service earned him four consecutive “Booker Of The Year” awards.

“I’m truly excited to be involved with such a progressive wrestling organization,“ said Sapolsky. “The North American wrestling scene has grown stale in recent years and many fans have jumped ship completely for MMA. Dragon Gate USA will swing the pendulum back and sound a resounding wake-up call for fans that crave athleticism, action and excitement. This powerful product will bring a cutting-edge wrestling style never before seen on these shores and present wrestling fans with an authentic reason to tune in and order DGUSA on pay-per-view.”

G-Funk Sports and Entertainment represented DGUSA in its negotiations with the PPV companies and the company will also handle all affiliate relations for the wrestling programs moving forward. DGUSA PPV affiliates will have access to a newly created affiliate website, www.dgusa.tv/affiliates which will contain easy-to-implement marketing materials and all event information. Each show will also be supported by a range of targeted national consumer advertising and promotion.

According to Mr. Gelman, “Dragon Gate USA will offer wrestling fans throughout North America a reason to celebrate. These distinctive programs will present a showcase for the most talented and athletic wrestlers on the planet and provide a popular new option for cable operators and satellite providers as they expand their transactional offerings.”