– WWE held their second quarter financial conference call this morning, and here are some highlights:
Management is not happy with domestic live attendance and pay-per-view buyrates for the quarter (blaming baseball for Taboo Tuesday doing a disappointing number), but is happy with international business, WWE 24/7, video and DVD sales, and WWE Films (both of which are scheduled for Fall 2005).
WWE continues to work with JAKKS and THQ under the terms of their current contract, despite the lawsuit.
WWE has taken some of their lighting rigs and trucks off the road for house shows, saving money. They are looking to have around 50 international live events next year.
New PPVs will be evaluated at the end of the year.
WWE 24/7 will be here “soon” with negotiations ongoing.
Kane’s movie “Eye Scream Man” may end up with a different title.
There were only two callers during the Q&A which usually lasts longer than this one.
– SouthFlorida.com is reporting today that The Rock is being sued by his former personal manager, Marty Adelstein, due to money regarding Rock’s new film Spyhunter. Click here for the full story.
– Dusty Rhodes has replaced Jeff Jarrett as the official booker for NWA TNA, with Dutch Mantel and Jeremy Borash staying in their current roles. PWInsider.com’s Mike Johnson is reporting that the final decision regarding the change was made Sunday. Rhodes is said to have creative plans for the next several months set.
– Additionally, it was apparently Dixie Carter’s call to change the Impact! taping schedule, which is being done as a costcutting move. TNA Impact! will begin taping every other week as of tonight, with two weeks taped at a time, but workers being paid for each show they appear on as if it was done in two weeks’ time. This should all be discussed with the workers tonight.
– Jeff Jarrett remains minority owner of the company.
– This week’s Impact! will not air on the Fox Sports Network until next Tuesday 11/30.
– Time Warner Cable of NYC came to a deal with Cablevision to keep airing MSG, FSNY and Metro Channel until at least 1/20/05, so TNA fans (as well as Knicks fans) still have their favorite sports on TV in NY.
– The America’s Most Wanted DVD has been released.
– Bill Banks was back with his latest column on NWATNA.com. He talks about the Sabu benefit show and new production values of TNA PPV commercials. It can be found here.
– Sabu is recovering from a ton of medical expenses after being in the hospitals for around two months with several health problems. “A Night of Appreciation for Sabu” will be on Sunday 12/12 at the Diamondback Saloon in Belleville, Michigan. Jeff Hardy, Raven, Team Canada, America’s Most Wanted, Petey Williams, Monty Brown, Kid Kash, and more will appear, and a benefit fund has been set up. You can make a donation via Paypal.com to Gmakpoulos@aol.com or send a check or money order (make sure to note SABU FUND) to:
Georgiann Makropoulos
23-44 30th Drive
Astoria, NY 11102-3252
More info on the show can be found by emailing SabuShow@hotmail.com. According to PWInsider.com: “The organizers of the show wish to make it clear that while they deeply appreciate the outpouring of independent performers willing to donate their time to perform on the show, the card has been booked, but they hope everyone will donate their efforts to help Sabu in other ways.”
– The two women shown backstage at RAW last night were WWE developmental talent Melina Perez, who manages Johnny Nitro and Joey Matthews in Ohio Valley Wrestling as MNM, and RAW Diva loser Candice Michelle, who also was in a segment last week with Maven. They – along with Christie and Maria – did an in-ring segment for the fans during a commercial break.
– The person who played the doctor role in the HHH skit last night was new creative team member and Stephanie’s reported “right hand man,” Tom Chehak.
– The Monday Night Football spoof was written by Vince McMahon.
– According to SKY TV, RAW will air live in Great Britain in January every Monday night/Tue morning at 2 AM. The show will then repeat on Wednesdays at 8.30 PM and Thursday at 11 PM.
– WWE Intercontinental champion Shelton Benjamin, Maven and Molly Holly were at the Walden Galleria in Buffalo, New York as part of local channel 4’s Coats for Kids campaign. The full story can be found here.
– Morristown, New Jersey’s Daily Record featured an article today on Tough Enough contestant Dan Rodimer. It can be found here.
– Former WWF star Mike “Bastion Booger” Shaw and other celebrities donated artwork for an auction to benefit the Marquette Children’s Museum. To read the full Marquette Mining Journal article, click here.
[Credit: PWInsider.com]
