• Wrestling News & Wrestling Rumors – WWE & TNA

- TNA star Matt Morgan has joined former WWE star Chris Nowinski’s Sports Legacy Institute which undertakes research in to the affect of concussions on brain damage.

“I’m now an official member of Chris Nowinski’s Sports Legacy Institute! I have signed on to donate my brain to this very earnest, admirable cause. Concussions is a very serious topic that desperately needs more addressing so I’m proud to be part of something that will def help future wrestlers and other athletes for yrs to come. Ive noticed more&more, that wrestlers are starting to see the ramifications that concussions can cause. Its leading to more guys to take more self-preventative measures when in the ring. I know it has for me! I encourage any and all athletes to please look into the Sports Legacy Institute to see how u may be able to help, and most importantly, learn more!”

Nowinski did the research on Benoit’s brain following the tragedy and showed shocking results of its deterioration.

- In a recent interview with Slam Wrestling Petey Williams discusses his release from TNA.

“My contract was up for renewal in January 2009 and everything
seemed to be going well… Out of the blue, I received a call from head of talent relations for TNA, Terry Taylor, saying my contract was not going to be renewed. I still don’t understand why the contract was not renewed. It may have been a money issue since I was the highest paid guy in the X Division. They also mentioned freshening up the roster but I am one of the youngest guys so that doesn’t make sense. I guess more than anything, I would like an explanation why I was released.”

- Thanks to Ian Hamilton of Ringside Live – Remembering Adam Firestorm (episode to be posted November 25, 2009:

TNA Impact from October 29 did not make Bravo’s top 10, therefore drawing 30,000 viewers or less. This was also the first week Impact aired on Virgin 1 in the UK (a channel available on Sky satellite, cable TV, and on Freeview digital TV)… unfortunately, the #10 rated show on Virgin 1 was 189,000, so we won’t be getting Impact ratings from that channel, barring a huge spike in popularity!

The WWE Hell in a Cell PPV drew 84,000 viewers airing on a replay on October 26…

Raw from October 26
drew 38,000 viewers in its Thursday late night replay (+1,000 viewers on last week)
drew 55,000 on Friday afternoon’s replay (+11,000 viewers)

SmackDown from October 30
drew 50,000 in its first airing (-12,000 viewers)
drew 16,000 in a replay on Saturday afternoon

- The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that the recently WWE departed Shane McMahon cashed in approximately $50 million from the company. He currently owns another $30 million in WWE stock, but that only puts him at 2.8% company ownership. The real stock is with Vince, Steph and the big directors.