WWE News on MMA, Mysterio, Dibiase

News

WWE has taken an active stance against MMA, even though Vince McMahon at least outwardly maintains that they are not in competition. When running shows in any given arena WWE has, ever since the territorial wars of the ’80s, made the arenas sign an agreement saying they will not book a competing event 30 days before or after the show. Originally, this was aimed at running the likes of Jim Crockett out of certain key cities. Nowadays it doesn’t really apply to TNA since they tend to run far smaller venues than WWE does. However, this year WWE has begun telling the arenas that MMA events also constitute competition and that they are not allowed to run them 30 days before or after a WWE show. The Extreme Fight Night group in Alabama has already had to change dates three times this year due to conflicting schedules with WWE, although so far as TV is concerned the only promotions WWE keeps tabs on are TNA and UFC.

Rey Mysterio visited Mistico and Perro Aguayo Jr when he was in Mexico recently and discussed the idea of them signing with WWE. Apparently both men told him that they were not interested because they see how, with the exception of Mysterio, WWE portrays their Hispanic wrestlers in an unflattering manner.

You wait ages for another DiBiase to come along and then they all start turning up at once. With Ted DiBiase Jr already on the Raw roster, his 20 year-old brother Brett is now training with Florida Championship Wrestling. He is getting rave reviews for his work thus far. Older brother Mike, 30, was also due to be given a trial at recent WWE tapings.

Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 03 July 2008 (subscribe here)