WrestleMania XXIII has already become the all-time record holder of the largest gate in North American pro-wrestling and WWE history. The first allotment of 50,000 tickets instantly sold out after a two-week pre-sale, even with no matches announced, hinted or planned. The current advance is $4,350,000 and the final number is expected to be much higher. The previous record was $3,846,033 for WrestleMania XVIII (although that figure comes from the Canadian exchange of the time, in modern rates it would be $5,429,910). However, the all-time global record remains the $7,000,000 for the April 4th 1998 NJPW Tokyo Dome event, where Antonio Inoki beat Don Frye in his retirement match.
Steve Austin is expected to return as a TV regular in February to build up to the release of his WWE Films production, The Condemned, on April 27th. He will have a prominent role of some sort at WrestleMania but he recently again turned down the chance to wrestle a match at the event.
John Laurinaitis’ son James is one of three finalists for the Butkus Award, which is presented to the best linebacker in college football. Vince McMahon has given him an open offer to join WWE after his NFL career but James is said to have no interest in it for now.
Laurinaitis Senior has also been sent on a recruiting mission to hire 10-15 bikini models for WWE, regardless of whether they have ever watched any wrestling before. The feeling is that while they might not mean anything in the ratings they will at least keep the talent happy backstage.
Jakks Pacific has signed individual contracts with the following people for action figures – Diamond Dallas Page, Honky Tonk Man, Abdullah The Butcher, Rick Martel, Demolition, Ultimate Warrior, Bob Backlund, Sherri Martel, Scott Hall, Lex Luger, Tank Abbott, Zeus, Lanny Poffo, Tully Blanchard, Johnny Rodz and Ron Bass.
Kurt Angle revealed in a recent interview that the original plan for Smackdown back in January, after Batista vacated the World Heavyweight Title due to injury, was for Shawn Michaels to jump from Raw and win the belt. Michaels turned it down because he has regular religious meetings on Wednesdays and therefore can’t be on the road on Tuesdays. Angle was the second choice.
Stephanie McMahon, back at work now, has said she wants Deep South developmental worker Daniel Rodimer brought onto Raw by January. She is eager to make Rodimer the next big thing but many feel that he needs at least another year to develop first. He is 6’6″ and 300lbs, with a Superstar Billy Graham style look and personality to match. He was a Tough Enough contestant and one the company actually wanted to win, yet he didn’t really do much other than act cocky and was eliminated quickly. Many have made comparisons to Chris Masters and it has even been said that Masters was a better worker at the same stage in his career.
Rey Mysterio’s contract expires around May or June, which is roughly the same time he is expected back from his knee surgery. Needless to say, we can expect TNA to show an interest.
The annual Tribute to the Troops show will be taped in Baghdad sometime after 12/19 and broadcast on Christmas day.
All DVDs released in the UK receive a rating certificate with a reason listed, usually violence, nudity, language, etc. The Hulk Hogan Anthology DVD got a 15 rating, i.e. nobody under the age of 15 can buy it, and underneath it just says “This video contains moderate wrestling action”.
Credit: Wrestling Observer newsletter (click here for subscription information)
