December 2020 – Page 18

Lucha Underground Executive Producer Eric Van Wagenen has responded to a report by Dave Meltzer of f4wonline.com regarding the company’s future.

This week, Meltzer reported that Lucha Underground currently has enough money to get them through the Season 3 tapings, which begin in May and will air in the summer of 2017. After that, the company will reportedly have to raise more funds in order to secure a 4th season.

It’s no secret that Lucha Underground is an expensive show to produce. It’s concerning that they do not have much revenue coming in to speak of, with a source telling Meltzer that Lucha Underground has lost as much money in 2 years as TNA lost after their first 10 years.

Eric Van Wagenen responded to reports about the company’s future:

“The rumors of @LuchaElRey’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Perhaps check with a real source instead of the same old disgruntled one? The network gives us a seasonal production budget and we produce the show for exactly that, not a penny more.Thats how TV works @LuchaElRey”/b>

There are still hopes of producing a Lucha Underground movie next year, but that will depend on the show continuing to grow in popularity and generating some level of revenue.

Details of WWE’s Recent Meeting with Lucha Underground Officials

Production is underway for Baywatch, the big screen adaptation of the wildly popular 1990’s lifeguard adventure series. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars as Mitch Buchannon (the role originally played by David Hasselhoff) and checked in from the set to provide a first-look at his next big budget film.

The plot focuses on a straight-laced lifeguard (The Rock) who is forced to team up with a young hothead (Zac Efron) in order to save their beach from environmental destruction at the hands of an oil tycoon.

Baywatch is begin produced by Paramount Pictures and hits theaters theaters May 19, 2017.

Great day on the beach for "Lieutenant Mitch Buchannon". Beat up bad guys, saved a puppy from drowning and gave a woman mouth to mouth, who I think totoally pretended to drown so I'd save her. #OnSet #BAYWATCH #TheBuchannonWay #RowdyAndRatedR We're havin' a blast..

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on Feb 24, 2016 at 4:40pm PST

MORE Photos Of The Rock Filming Baywatch – You’ve Gotta See His GORGEOUS Co-Star

Edge & Christian were recently guests on the latest “Talk Is Jericho” podcast and spoke about the subject of retirement. Below are some of the highlights.

Edge on likely being more prepared for early retirement compared to others, such as Daniel Bryan, who felt they had more to accomplish:

“I was already mentally and emotionally preparing myself for [retirement], so it didn’t hit me as hard as I think maybe it does some. And, at that point, I had close to a 20-year career and there was nothing left to do except put younger guys over, which is what I was going to do, which would have been great and fun [to] teach and all of those things. But that was really the final thing to do, whereas, I think, it’s harder for Bryan that he had a lot more [to accomplish]. Yeah, he still wanted it and so that makes it more difficult. And I’m sure he’ll go through a mourning process because, even though I was ready, I still went through that, ‘okay, now what? Is it just sit around? Is it? I don’t know.’ So that’s the interesting, kind of, path you walk after.”

Christian on still having yet to speak with WWE officials about retirement:

“Honestly, we haven’t even sat down and had that conversation yet. So in my mind, it’s probably the last time. But when I look back on it, it’s one of those things. I think if it had been taken away kind of abruptly when I was like 29 or 30, and I still had so much left to accomplish, like, honestly, I probably accomplished more than I ever dreamed that I would. And, so, to look back, I’m like, ‘man, that’s a pretty good career. Not many people can say that they’ve had the career that I did,’ so in that respect, I can’t really be too mad about that or think in those terms. But, you have to put your health and your family first and I think that helps.”

MMANews.com:

WWE kicked off Monday’s episode of RAW with a memoriam for Mary Katharine Stewart, who died at age 22 on Saturday.

Stewart, the daughter of a longtime WWE cameraman, died when she fell from a cliff at the Raven Run Nature Sanctuary in Lexington, Kentucky. WLWT.com is reporting that she died from blunt force injuries.

It’s also mentioned in the story that it took firefighters an hour to get down the cliff and when they attempted to move the body by boat, the boat capsized, so they had to swim to shore to recover the body.

Could UFC Be Sold By The End Of 2016?

John Cena continues to post WrestleMania 32 teasers on his official Twitter page. Here’s the latest from the frmer WWE World Heavyweight Champion:

Very excited about @WWE #HallOfFame tonight. And a HUGE day tomorrow for @WWEUniverse at #WrestleMania on @WWENetwork (never say never)

— John Cena (@JohnCena) April 2, 2016

As noted, Cena recently claimed in an interview with Complex that he’s ready to return to the ring. “If you ask me today, I should’ve been back two weeks ago,” Cena said. “I’ve logged almost 400 hours of physical therapy. […] I was given a nine-month quota to come back and after three months I can tell you that I am ready to do anything asked of me possible. It’s a matter of when they call me.”

It’s expected that Cena will appear at WrestleMania 32, but it’s unknown what his actual role will be on the show.

John Cena Gives His Take On Why Reigns Isn’t Connecting With Fans

Impact Wrestling’s Knockouts Tag Team title tournament is down to its final four teams.

Havok & Nevaeh vs. Jordynne Grace & Jazz and Kiera Hogan & Tasha Steelz vs. Taya Valkyrie & Rosemary are the semifinal matches for the tournament. It will continue on next Tuesday’s episode of Impact.

The opening round concluded with Valkyrie & Rosemary defeating Deonna Purrazzo & Kimber Lee on this week’s Impact. Rosemary is challenging for Purrazzo’s Knockouts Championship at Impact Wrestling’s Final Resolution special on Impact Plus this Saturday.

Havok & Nevaeh defeated Tenille Dashwood & Alisha Edwards in the first round of the tournament, Grace & Jazz defeated Killer Kelly & Renee Michelle, and Hogan & Steelz defeated Sea Stars (Ashley Vox & Delmi Exo).

Jazz had recently announced her retirement but returned to the ring for the tournament. Grace & Jazz’s first round match was Jazz’s Impact Wrestling in-ring debut.

The new Knockouts Champions will be crowned as the tournament finals take place at Impact’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view on Saturday, January 16. The winners will be the first team to hold the Knockouts Tag Team titles since they were deactivated in 2013.

TNA is taking the stance that the cease and desist letter from Justin “Krimson” Carnes last week wouldn’t hold up in court. PWInsider.com reports that the company’s response including citing wrestling wearing facepaint dating back to the 1980’s with the Road Warriors, and various wrestling with clown-esque paint. The company also made a point to mention that wrestlers with painted faces are often placed together in stables.

PWInsider says that more than one independent wrestling promoter told them they feel it’s silly for Carnes to claim a copyright on his character, since he’s allegedly written them looking for bookings describing his character as being based off “The Joker” from DC Comics.

The cease & desist alleged that Crazzy Steve and TNA ripped off his likeness, including mannerisms, costumes, face paint and the red mist. TNA reportedly has no plans to pull Crazzy Steve, who currently holds the tag team titles with Abyss, from TV.

* 5 Incredible Facts You Need To Know About Kurt Angle

Teddy Hart recently appeared as a guest on The Kevin Gill Show and spoke about a wide variety of topics. Below are some of the highlights from the interview.

On his reputation:

“A lot of the stories and a lot of the hype is just stories and hype. I really want to show the fans substance I love the business, and my reputation is something I really want to work on changing, so people feel more comfortable, the fans that spend so much money keeping this great sport alive, and all the fans listening out there, feel more comfortable putting the Teddy Hart name out there as a name they want to see in Wrestlemania, a guy they want to see wrestle Triple H or Brock Lesnar, or go to Lucha Underground..stuff like that”

On his relationship with Konnan:

“If I’ve done all this stuff, and I’m supposed to be Konnan’s enemy, than why am I at his house with his wife and him, having dinner. And why does he come to my house during Christmas, with his wife? When he rarely travels! You can ask anyone who knows Konnan, going home to enjoy his family is more important than staying on the road for a prolonged period of time, plus he goes to triple A every single week!! Ask Vince McMahon to come spend Christmas with you! Konnan is as busy as Vince McMahon!”

On Colt Cabana in WWE:

“One of the best workers ever. Colt Cabana’s so good, he did a gimmick in Wrestling Society X called “Matt Classic” (allegedly)…Colt Cabana is one of the baddest wrestlers I’ve ever seen. I was in the dojo with him. I was in the WWE with him. He’s a mic guy, a charisma guy, a move guy, a character guy.. He can do anything, and you guys couldn’t find a spot for him????”

On the top five wrestlers in the world:

“Will Ospreay is the future of wrestling. The best independent wrestler crossed with WWE wrestler is John Morrison, he’s done an awesome job. The best wrestler overall I’ve ever seen right now is Ricochet. Because Ricochet does every move in the world, and he’s wearing a mask now. which he never had a mask on before. He’s the best wrestler in the world. That’s in the whole world, in the history of wrestling. Put Ricochet #1, Neville #2 and put Tyson Kidd with a Broken neck at #3, cuz of his memory and his ability to make guys look good. El Generico #4, Samurai Del Sol #5 you can switch that order anytime. I’ll still keep AJ Styles in the top 10 of best wrestlers in the world. AJ Styles to me, just about to maybe get those matches… Like Neville vs. AJ Styles should be awesome, Kevin Owens vs. Aj Styles should be good, Generico vs. AJ Styles should be good…Cena vs. AJ Styles will be good”

On John Cena:

“You cannot say that John Cena is not a better wrestler than he was three years ago.”

On the WWE Global Cruiserweight Series:

“I would love to see Stephanie McMahon and Triple H man up, one time, and say we give you another chance… not to be under WWE contract, but to do some matches on NXT so people can watch me, and I can make their guys look great!”

“Does Triple H have the balls to put Teddy Hart on NXT? That’s the question I ask Triple H. I’ve never said a bad word about you. I think you’re one of the best wrestlers for the last 15 years, if you put Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Teddy Hart in a triple threat match, it would be better than the Chris Benoit match and it would happen right now. Even right now, Triple H is in better shape than he was before, and he’s watching NXT all the time so his mind is getting better for what wrestling really is.”

Conor McGregor Quitting UFC & Retiring After Blow-Up w/ Dana White?! …

Former TNA Knockout Velvet Sky recently spoke with Sports Illustrated’s “Extra Mustard” blog about her thoughts on the current women’s divisions in WWE and NXT and how she feels she would fit into both brands. Below are some of the highlights from the interview.

On the women’s divisions in WWE and NXT and how she would be a good fit for either brand:

“The women there are killing it, and empowering and building up the women would be a great role for me. Bayley is so much fun to watch wrestle. She has so much energy and passion, and the people feel her energy and feed off that. She’s so great at expressing herself, and she’s so genuine. Nattie Neidhart is also someone I’d love to work with. I’ve known her for a long time, and she is someone that I look up to and respect. She’s someone I’d love to learn even more from.”

On some of the guys she’s traveled with succeeding in WWE and how she would love the same opportunity:

“I traveled all over the globe with them in TNA, so to see them excel on the level they’re at now, I’m so happy for them,” she said. “You’re never fully satisfied or fulfilled in wrestling until you get to the big leagues. Nobody gets in this business just to bump. I’ve never stopped learning, so I’m glad I have not worked there yet. All I ever wanted in the business was a chance, an opportunity. If I get that with WWE, I’ll give so much.”

Check out the complete Velvet Sky with SI’s “Extra Mustard” blog by going to SI.com.

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Lucha Underground Exec Responds To Reports About Their Future

First Look At The Rock On The Set Of Baywatch