– As reported earlier this week, WWE Hall of Famer Mike Tyson will be a playable character in the upcoming WWE ’13 video game. Tyson recently filmed several promos for WWE at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. The footage will likely be used to promote WWE ’13.
– Bill DeMott confirmed on Twitter that he will be replacing Tom Prichard as the head trainer at Florida Championship Wrestling. The former Tough Enough coach wrote:
“I have been given the opportunity to lead developmental training system. Nothing is better then being surrounded by productive positive people! We r blessed for how it started and where it’s going!”
– The WWE website has an article up looking at the “15 shocking outcomes you didn’t see coming.” Some of the events include John Cena defeating Brock Lesnar at Extreme Rules, WWE buying WCW, Steve Austin turning heel and aligning himself with Mr. McMahon, Barry Horrowitz winning a match on RAW back in 1995 and more. You can view the list here.
– Ratings are in for Monday’s RAW – and they’re not pretty. RAW drew a 2.7 rating with 3,915,000 viewers. The show did hours of 2.73 and 2.71.
– Dr. Tom Prichard was let go from WWE developmental today after working as a top trainer at Florida Championship Wrestling since it launched it 2007.
Back in ’07, Prichard took over the job of Bill DeMott, who was in charge of WWE’s previous developmental territory, Deep South Wrestling. Demott will be taking over Prichard’s duties at FCW.
The news of Prichard’s departure comes while WWE is in the process of revamping its developmental system, streamling it with NXT and relocating to Full Sail University.
Last week’s WWE NXT tapings at Full Sail University were said to have ran very smoothly, much more so than most RAW and SmackDown television tapings. WWE COO Triple H is very hands on with WWE’s new talent development initiative and the new NXT, so the first set of tapings have made people optimistic.
With NXT being re-branded and moving to Full Sail University, it appears that WWE’s developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling may have held its last television tapings. FCW Champion Seth Rollins tweeted the following on Wednesday:
“With NXT moving in, tomorrow could very well be the last FCW TV Tapings ever. Rumor has it my greatest rivalry is getting renewed…
With FCW TV winding down, the territory will remain open and will continue to serve as a developmental system for the next generation of WWE talent. WWE has stated that one of the objectives of NXT moving to Florida near the home of the FCW is to streamline the process of calling up talent from developmental to NXT.
Pictures of the new NXT Arena at Full Sail University:
WWE will have their debut taping for NXT and Florida Championship Wrestling tonight at Full Sail Live in Winter Park, Florida on the campus of Full Sail University.
Here is what has been announced for the show…
– WWE COO Triple H will be in the house
– World Heavyweight champion Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio
– WWE Tag Team champions Kofi Kingston & R Truth vs. Epico & Primo
– Jim Ross and William Regal will also appear
We can confirm that the event is sold out and tickets were hard to come by on campus. Fans who wear WWE clothing and bring signs to the show will have a chance to get their seats upgraded.
Check out these pictures of the facility WWE will be using for NXT & FCW:
– The WWE website has begun hyping the 1,000th episode of Monday Night RAW – which will take place on July 23rd. Leading up to the milestone show, the WWE website will be looking back at RAW’s most memorable moments and interviewing past and present WWE superstars about the big show.
It’s worth noting that based on WWE promoting August 23rd, 2010 episode of RAW as the 900th episode – the July 23rd show will actually be episode #999, not 1,000. It’s unknown how WWE arrived at July 23rd as the 1,000th episode – but keep in mind, this is the same company that hyped WrestleMania 25 as the “25th Anniversary of WrestleMania” (WrestleMania 25 was actually the 24th anniversary).
– Florida Championship Wrestling sent out a press release day announcing that Christian will be appearing at Friday night’s FCW show from Orlando. Christian, who is currently off WWE television, is being advertised for a “once-in-a-lifetime meet and greet autograph/photo session.”
Recent FCW graduates and SmackDown roster members Antonio Cesaro and Damien Sandow will be in action. For more information, visit FCWWrestling.com.
– WWE video game publisher THQ has released its quarterly earnings report for for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 – including sales data for the WWE ’12 video game. From THQ’s press release:
WWE ’12 has shipped more than 2.2 million units since its launch in November 2011. The successful rebranding of this annual franchise has led to higher sell-through to date, which is up approximately 20 percent on like-for-like platforms in North America versus the year-ago title.
The stock market is not reacting well to THQ’s year-end report – down almost 12% today.
With WWE’s weekly RAW tapings starting earlier beginning in July and NXT/Florida Championship Wrestling tapings moving to Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida (near Orlando), there are big changes are in store for WWE’s upcoming television tapings schedule.
As reported over the weekend, WWE is currently discussing taping a new show on Monday nights prior to RAW – a show that will be overseen by Triple H without the “finger prints” of Vince McMahon on it.
WWE will tape SmackDown on Tuesday night from Hershey, PA. Daniel Bryan will be appearing on local Hershey, PA radio station “105.7 The X” tomorrow morning around 7AM to promote the show.
This Thursday (5/17) will be the first NXT/FCW tapings from Full Sail University. Full Sail announced on Facebook over the weekend that this week’s first set of NXT/FCW tapings are already sold out.
Aside from taping NXT and FCW television this Thursday night, the tapings will also feature a special appearance from Triple H as well as two matches featuring WWE superstars: Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio and WWE Tag Team champions R Truth & Kofi Kingston vs. Epico & Primo. Jim Ross is also scheduled to be at Full Sail University this Thrusday and might return to the commentary table alongside with William Regal.
Beginning next Thursday, WWE’s WWE NXT and FCW Wrestling tapings will emanate from Full Sail University’s multi purpose performance venue in Winter Park, Florida. Tickets for the events are free to university staff and students with ID as long as they are reserved in advance.
The events, which are being branded as WWE Superstar Showdown, are taking place near the company’s developmental facility in Tampa, Florida as means to integrate Florida Championship Wrestling talent on NXT more smoothly. Company officials hope the “university feel” will give the show better crowd reactions as well as to upgrade the look of Florida Championship Wrestling programming.
Triple H, WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent, is heavily involved with the project. He was said to be a high on the facility after scouting it with other WWE executives last year.
Triple H is advertised for Thursday’s event, which will also feature World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus vs. Alberto Del Rio and WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and R-Truth vs. Epico and Primo. Events are also scheduled for June 14, July 5, July 19, August 9, August 23, September 6 and September 20.
WWE’s developmental promotion Florida Championship Wrestling, which has taped most of its television shows from Tampa, Florida, will begin taping some shows from Orlando, Florida starting next month.
FCW will still tape shows from its current home of Tampa, Florida – but starting May 17th, will also tape shows from Full Sail University near Orlando, FL. The FCW Arena in Tampa will still be used by WWE developmental.
Here is a look at the upcoming FCW television tapings schedule through October:
May 17 (Orlando)
May 24 (Tampa)
June 7 (Tampa)
June 14 (Orlando)
June 28 (Tampa)
July 5 (Orlando)
July 19 (Orlando)
July 26 (Tampa)
August 9 (Orlando)
August 16 (Tampa)
August 23 (Orlando)
August 30 (Tampa)
September 6 (Orlando)
September 20 (Orlando)
September 27 (Tampa)
October 18 (Tampa)
(Source: pwinsider.com)
Posted April 27th, 2012 in News, WWE. Tagged: FCW.
– New WWE Divas Champion Nikki Bella wrote on Twitter last night that “The Bella Era” has begun and that “Naughty Nikki” has arrived. She also thanked fans for their support:
“Thank you #BellaArmy for your support! Hope I made you proud tonight! I’m DIVAS CHAMPION! Finally! Can’t tell you how I feel right now! #RAW”
Naughty Nikki, huh? It’s got a nice ring to it.
– WWE is now one of the top earners for YouTube. The new partnership between the two companies has been very rewarding for both sides. In an unprecedented move, WWE is now publishing RAW videos on their channel as the show airs on the East Coast – before it airs on the West Coast.
– Jim Ross arrived in Tampa, Florida on Monday night to work with the WWE developmental talents this week. Ross will likely be announcing again at this Thursday’s FCW TV tapings.
– Terry Taylor is rumored to be joining WWE’s developmental system as one of the top trainers at the new “finishing school” near WWE headquarters in Stamford, CT. The finishing school, which is expected to launch in the next few months, will be the final stop for FCW talent before joining the main roster.
– Bobby Lashley will not be MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko’s next opponent. Fedor has signed on to fight former UFC heavyweight Pedro Rizzo in Russia on June 21st. Lashley is reportedly in talks to join the Bellator MMA promotion.
– Former WWE Diva Torrie Wilson is living in New York City with her New York Yankee boyfriend Alex Rodriguez. Wilson has been seen at several recent games at Yankee Stadium sitting near the dugout.
— The official Twitter feed of WWE recognized Florida Championship Wrestling talent on Twitter Thursday night as they posted a list of those on the microblogging site. WWE typically doesn’t acknowledge wrestlers situated in developmental.
FCW talent on the site are Antonio Cesaro, Audrey Marie, Big E Langston, Bo Rotundo, Brian Nguyen, Caylee Turner, Damien Sandow, Dean Ambrose, Husky Harris, Kenneth Cameron, Leo Kruger, Marc Harris, Raquel Diaz, Seth Rollins, Sofia Cortez, Summer Rae and Xavier Woods.
— WWE.com has posted this week’s episode of WWE Superstars featuring Beth Phoenix and Eve against Natalya and Tamina in tag team action, Epico and Primo vs. Alex Riley and Mason Ryan in a non-title tag team match, Titus O’Neil vs. Yoshi Tatsu, and Drew McIntyre vs. Ezekiel Jackson. Jackson comes up short to McIntyre, which extends his losing streak to seven consecutive losses in televised matches. The former Intercontinental Champion has yet to win a televised match in 2012.
— The Score in Canada will air WWE SmackDown live on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. The episode will also air live in the United States on SyFy.
Posted March 23rd, 2012 in News, WWE. Tagged: FCW.
Following all the confusion this week regarding the future of WWE’s developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling, we have an update on FCW and a new developmental program in the works.
WWE plans to open up a new branch of its developmental system in Stanford, Connecticut in the next few months. The project has been described to us as something in between Florida Championship Wrestling and the main roster, where talent that is “almost ready” will work closely with WWE officials to get them ready for their debuts.
Triple H issued a statement to WWE.com on Tuesday saying that WWE is not shutting down its developmental program. In fact, they are getting ready to “ramp up” their process of cultivating new talent – with a major announcement coming shortly after WrestleMania. Triple H told WWE.com:
“WWE’s developmental system is being revamped, not shut down. If anything, it’s going to get bigger and better than ever. By no means is it going to get smaller or shut down.”
WWE already has someone in mind to run the new Stamford-based developmental program, but it has not been made public yet.
As for Florida Championship Wrestling, there are no plans to shut down the school/promotion. WWE is looking for new locations in Florida to film the FCW TV show (including Orlando) and will also look for a new television partner to air the shows.
WWE officials are said to be extremely upset about the reports of FCW shutting down this week.
(Partial Source: PWInsider.com)
Posted March 21st, 2012 in News, WWE. Tagged: FCW.
WWE.com has addressed the online rumors that Florida Championship Wrestling is shutting down, vehemently denying the “erroneous” report by an “unreliable online news source.”
The WWE website reached out to WWE’s Executive Vice President of Talent, Paul Levesque (Triple H) to address this issue:
“It is absolutely not true. FCW is not closing. I don’t know how the rumor started but I believe it’s a situation where the ‘dirt sheets’ want to believe they have the scoop on everything. If anything, we are in the process of ramping up our entire developmental system. It’s the lifeblood of our company. It’s what feeds our future and in no way are we going to close it down.”
Triple H acknowledged that there are plans to overhaul the developmental system and revealed that there is a “major announcement” coming shortly after WrestleMania regarding the future of WWE developmental:
“WWE’s developmental system is being revamped, not shut down. If anything, it’s going to get bigger and better than ever. WWE Developmental cultivates the future talent of WWE. By no means is it going to get smaller or shut down.”
– According to sources at Florida Championship Wrestling, things are said to be “business as usual” today. That said, there is still a feeling that a major shakeup is in store for WWE’s developmental territory.
– We spoke with Jesse Kage, a Tampa-based radio DJ that hosts the Kage Kult Show on 98Rock in Tampa. Kage, who has worked directly with FCW head trainer Steve Keirn, says he texted Keirn regarding the rumor and was told:
“Rasslin’ rumor, not true.”
– WWE creative team member Kevin Eck has responded to the “FCW shutting down” rumors on Twitter. He wrote:
“WWE is severing ties with FCW?”
“Good lord. Dirt sheets are wrong…AGAIN.”
Posted March 20th, 2012 in News, WWE. Tagged: FCW.
It was reported by f4wonline.com on Monday night that WWE is shutting down it’s developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling. The news came after the Brighthouse Network, which airs FCW television, confirmed that the show would be ending its run very soon. Now, there are conflicting reports regarding the future of the promotion.
All talents and staff are at FCW’s training school today and as of Tuesday morning and it’s been “business as usual.”
All FCW events currently scheduled for this coming weekend will go on as planned and FCW President Steve Keirn is vehemently denying the rumors of FCW shutting down.
Sources within WWE are saying there are no plans to shutdown FCW, despite the promotion’s television show ending its run on the Brighthouse Network. There have been recent discussions about moving the FCW TV show to another market, possibly in the Orlando area. It has also been speculated that WWE could be moving its developmental talent to Stanford, Connecticut, near company headquarters.
Vince McMahon has reportedly been upset recently over the lack of depth on the WWE roster and the lack of superstars who are over.
WWE executive Ty Bailey, who was released earlier this month, had a major role in WWE’s developmental system.
(Partial Source: pwinsider.com)
Posted March 20th, 2012 in News, WWE. Tagged: FCW.
WWE officials notified Bright House Network Monday that they have opted to cease their affiliation with the Florida based sports network as they are shutting down Florida Championship Wrestling effective immediately. Florida Championship Wrestling programming, which was taped last Thursday in Tampa, Florida, will cease to air on the network in three weeks.
Everyone involved with Florida Championship Wrestling will relocate to WWE’s homebase in Stamford, Connecticut until a further decision regarding the developmental program is made.
WWE employees were given the impression that a developmental promotion will ultimately open in Connecticut with the possibility of a second at an undetermined location.
The promotion was started by former wrestler Steve Keirn in 2007 to be WWE’s second developmental promotion when they ended their relationship with the Georgia-based Deep South Wrestling in early 2007. It became their sole developmental promotion in early 2008 when they ceased affiliation with Ohio Valley Wrestling.
source: F4WOnline.com
Posted March 20th, 2012 in News, WWE. Tagged: FCW.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. In this entry, JR talks about Monday’s RAW, the build to WrestleMania 28, NFL star Peyton Manning’s future, women’s MMA & more. Here are some highlights of what JR wrote about:
Why do indy wrestlers signed by WWE go to FCW even though they are not officially ‘rookies?’ “To essentially go through orientation on a variety of matters plus, as a rule, everyone’s work needs to be tweaked to some degree. Being successful in the independent scene certainly helps one’s career, w/o fail, but that alone doesn’t make one a ready to go fit for WWE.”
What will it take to get Warrior in the WWE HOF? “I don’t know but I know that attempting to barter additional video projects such as a DVD, etc likely won’t get it done. I’m not in that loop, luckily, but basic, logical communication usually works best. No one I know has ever argued that Warrior isn’t deserving. Personally, I have no issue with his outspoken personality as it is Warrior being Warrior and exercising his First Amendment rights.”
Would I like to see @steveaustinBSR have one last match at a future Wrestlemania? “As a fan, “Oh Hell, Yeah!” But that’s a decision that’s completely Steve’s. Just an assumption but if it is going to happen, one wold think it would be at WM29 OR would he wait until the historic WM30? Personally, I can’t see the Texas Rattlesnake doing multiple matches but who knows?”
As always, you can check out JR’s amazing line of BBQ products at WWEShop.com.
— It was reported Friday that the official website of WWE developmental promotion Florida Championship Wrestling had removed Calvin Raines, Leroy Parks, Marcus Owens and Peter Orlov from their roster page. Owens, whose real name is Jay Nobles, confirmed on Facebook that he was released by WWE on Friday. He vows to show that WWE made a mistake in letting him go.
“I will now travel the world and show them that they totally dropped the ball!” he wrote Monday on his Facebook fan page.
He continued, “I just wanna say to everyone following me that this journey is not over. Sometimes you have to take a step back and analyze what is really important in order to be happy. Happiness is not determined by how much money you make but, what you truly enjoy!”
— Aksana, Derrick Bateman, Kaitlyn, Percy Watson and Titus O’Neil have been removed from the roster page of the official website of Florida Championship Wrestling. All five talents continued to appear for the developmental league after their promotion the main roster.
FCWWrestling.info, the official website of WWE developmental league Florida Championship Wrestling, has removed four talents from their roster page:
Calvin Raines
Leroy Parks
Marcus Owens
Peter Orlov
Removal from the FCW roster page is generally a sign that said talent has been released from his or her developmental contract with WWE.
Calvin Raines, who formerly competed as Pat Brink for Maryland Championship Wrestling, signed on with WWE again in 2010 after being released the previous year in a disciplinary measure. He competed in his one and only WWE match last month in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, tag teaming with Drew McIntyre against Ezekiel Jackson and Trent Barreta.
Little is publicly known of Leroy Parks, a 6’3″, 310 pound wrestler who donned blue overalls and was billed from Lester, Alabama. He sparingly competed for Florida Championship Wrestling after signing a developmental contract last year.
Marcus Owens got a second shot with WWE in 2010 after being released the previous year but was infrequently used.
Peter Orlov earned international acclaim while competing as Alex Koslov in Mexico, ultimately leading to a developmental contract with WWE in 2010 in spite of his relatively small stature—billed at 5’9″ and 190 pounds. Though Orlov regularly competed for Florida Championship Wrestling, he usually lost.
Posted February 3rd, 2012 in News, WWE. Tagged: FCW.
– Thursday night’s Florida Championship Wrestling live event from the FCW Arena in Tampa, Florida featured two big title changes, according to the official FCW Twitter account.
Mike Dalton is the new Florida Heavyweight Champion, defeating Leo Kruger, who has been rumored for the main WWE roster. Dalton has previously competed as Mattias Wild and Mike McGrath. He was trained by Lance Storm and signed by WWE in 2010.
Bo Rotundo and Husky Harris , the sons of Mike “IRS” Rotunda, defeated Brad Maddox & Briley Pierce for the belts. Bo recently returned to action after being out for months with a lacerated kidney.
– Episode 51 of Zack Ryder’s Z! True Long Island Story is now online – check it out here:
Earlier this month, WWE held a television taping at Full Sail University in Florida featuring FCW and WWE Superstars. The one-hour show is reportedly a pilot show for the WWE network that would profile WWE’s developmental territory and WWE’s up and coming superstars. The footage that was taped this month is not expected to air.
Triple H and John Laurinaitis were there, with Triple H coming to the ring during one of the tapings and cutting a promo in front of the live crowd. WWE set up the venue to look like the FCW arena in Tampa- and the production values were said to be very good.
Jim Ross, Byron Saxton and Chris Russo did commentary – with Saxton & Russo doing the first hour and Ross & Russo calling the scond. Here are results from the taping:
Hour One:
* Xavier Woods defeated Big E. Langston
* Richie Steamboat beat Brad Maddox
* Kaitlyn & Alicia Fox defeated Tamina & Aksana
* Antonio Cesaro defeated Seth Rollins
Hour Two:
* Kenneth Cameron defeated Mike Dalton
* Leakee beat Ricardo Rodriguez
* Briley Pierce defeated Derrick Bateman
* Husky Harris beat Damien Sandow
* Leo Kruger beat Dean Ambrose
* Triple H cut a promo for the crowd
– WWE developmental wrestler Seth Rollins will be traveling with the main WWE roster during the post-holiday live events beginning December 26 so producers and management can evaluate him firsthand.
Company officials have also given thought in recent weeks to calling Rollins up to the main roster permanently.
– Raquel Diaz (Shaul Marie Guerrero, daughter of Vickie and the late Eddie Guerrero), defeated Audrey Marie via Gory Bomb at last night’s Florida Championship Wrestling taping to become the new Florida Divas Champion. Vickie Guerrero commented on her daughter’s accomplishment on Twitter:
“Shaul won her first FCW championship last night and retains Queen of FCW! I’m so proud of her.”
— Randy Orton has been announced to appear at the Washington Auto Show at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center 801 Mount Vernon Place NW, Washington, D.C. on February 1, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
WWE’s developmental system is on the verge of undergoing some major changes in the coming months – and it all has to do with how WWE calls up their talent to the main roster.
Recruiting talent is not an issue at this point – as Florida Championship Wrestling currently features on of its best rosters ever. Wrestlers such as Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Husky Harris and Percy Watson all have potential to be breakout stars – but WWE has learned the hard way how absolutely crucial first impressions are and what happens when you introduce talent before they’re ready.
Triple H’s latest inititive is not to bring developmental talent to the main roster until the WWE creative team has a character in mind for them and a long-term idea of how to use them.
On many occasions, WWE has called up wrestlers without properly introducing them or having an angle for them. The wrestlers are seen as “filler” and their careers are badly damaged.
It’s been acknowledged that several FCW stars have more potential than guys on the main roster, but WWE does not want to bring the FCW guys up until their characters are more polished.
Because many of FCW’s most promising stars spent years working the independent scene (Rollins, Ambrose), that path is no longer looked down upon the way it was just a few years ago. Maybe that Punk guy had something to do with that.
The official website of Florida Championship Wrestling has removed developmental wrestler Rodney Thomas from their roster section, which would indicate that he has been released from his contract with WWE.
Thomas, previously known as “Shotgun” Brock Barker on the Canadian independent wrestling scene, is a graduate of Lance Storm’s professional wrestling academy in Calgary, Alberta. He signed a developmental contract with WWE earlier this year following a tryout.
Meanwhile, Tough Enough winner Andy Leavine has been added to their roster under the name Kevin Hackman. Photos of Leavine holding the Tough Enough Championship are enclosed but no mention is made of the Florida native winning the reality television series.
Leavine has been training at their Tampa facility since June, during which he was reportedly suspended for a violation of WWE’s Talent Wellness Program. He has since returned to action.
Posted October 25th, 2011 in News, WWE. Tagged: FCW.
— Claudio Castagnoli, who recently signed a developmental contract with WWE, has been added to the Florida Championship Wrestling website’s roster page. As reported earlier, the former Ring of Honor talent is now known as Antonio Cesaro.
The website has also added Jason Jordan, Australian women’s wrestler Leah West (a/k/a Irena Janjic) and Corey Graves, who formerly competed in Ring of Honor and other independent leagues as Sterling James Keenan.
— WWEShop.com has released a new Randy Orton T-Shirt; Randy Orton Coiled Viper Authentic T-Shirt.
— WWE Hall of Famer Howard Finkel is advertised for an autograph signing at this Thursday’s Florida Championship Wrestling live event at the FCW Arena 4535 S. Dale Mabry Hwy. Tampa, Florida.