Search Results: "policy"

NEWS

VIDEO: WWE Star Possibly Injured At Live Event, Helped From Ring

December 27, 2022

It can happen at any time. Wrestlers can get injured in any match on any night and there is no way to guarantee someone’s safety. That is the kind of thing that you never want to see unfortunately there are some matches that make getting injured even more possible than others. Unfortunately that seems to be the case again, as a wrestler had to be helped to the back after some issues. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Not So Much: WWE Reportedly Makes Change To Wellness Policy, Partially Due To AEW WWE presented a live event at Madison Square Garden this week, featuring a five way ladder match for the Intercontinental Title. During the match, Kofi Kingston tried a double stomp off of a ladder onto Santos Escobar, landing on his knee upon impact. Escobar was forced to be helped to the back after the match. There is no word on how long, if at all, Escobar will be out of action. Gunther won the match to retain his title. This was nasty. Check out the stomp and Escobar being helped out: [This post..

NEWS

Not So Much: WWE Reportedly Makes Change To Wellness Policy, Partially Due To AEW

December 27, 2022

The new rules. There are all kinds of rules to a wrestling match and all of them come together to make sure everything stays fair. Those rules are pretty easy to figure out and understand and it is notable when one of them is changed. Other parts of wrestling have rules of their own and now one of the more important seems to have been changed as well in a big way. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Back Later: More On Postponed WWE Live Event In India According to Dave Meltzer on The Board at F4WOnline.com, WWE has changed its Wellness Policy by dropping the rule that a wrestler is automatically fired for a third violation. This comes as multiple key stars have two strikes and the company has AEW to deal with these days. In addition, there was a chance that a star with two strikes could intentionally get a third to get out of their contract. There have been some big stars fired in WWE. Check out some of the more prominent ones: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains vi..

NEWS

Bro? Conflicting Reports On Matt Riddle’s Absence And Possible Suspensions From WWE TV

December 18, 2022

Hold on a second. WWE is a huge wrestling company and does what it can to take care of its wrestlers. This includes a full medical staff to take care of various issues, but there are other instances where additional help is needed. Occasionally WWE will send wrestlers to get help outside of the company and that seemed to be the case with one of its stars. That just might not be what happened though. IN CASE YOU MIsSED IT: Clean Bill: NXT Star Announces He Is Medically Cleared After Two Month Absence Earlier this month, a report surfaced saying that Matt Riddle had been sent to rehab following a second failed drug test. The Wrestling Observer reports that this is not the case though, as Riddle’s situation violates the WWE Wellness Policy. Riddle’s first positive test resulted would have likely resulted in a thirty day suspension (as per WWE’s policy), but he did not wrestle from July 25 until August 20, which is less than thirty days. A second failed drug test usually results in a si..

NEWS

WRESTLING RUMORS: WWE Considers Special Legend Shows For WrestleMania 39

December 2, 2022

Bring them on in. We are rapidly approaching the start of the Road To WrestleMania 39 and that means it is time to get ready for the biggest events of the year. WWE puts on some of the most important shows of the year over WrestleMania weekend, but not all of them take place in the ring. Now it seems that the company is planning some more events in addition to their regular wrestling cards. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The Other Way: WWE Makes Another Policy Change (And This One Might Not Be So Popular) According to WrestleVotes, WWE wants additional interactive shows throughout WrestleMania weekend. These shows would be similar to Undertaker’s 1DeadMan show, with fans participating and the featured star telling stories. Shows featuring Steve Austin and Trish Stratus have been discussed but there is nothing to suggest that anything has been finalized. WrestleMania 39 is scheduled for April 1 and 2, 2023. I’m told WWE is looking into having additional shows throughout WrestleMania weekend ..

NEWS

The Other Way: WWE Makes Another Policy Change (And This One Might Not Be So Popular)

December 2, 2022

No more. There have been a lot of changes in WWE over this year and some of them are changes that will be felt for years to come. This starts at the top of the company, where a new power structure is in place. WWE has new leadership and that group is going to introduce policies of their own. One of the new changes might not be the most popular among the locker room. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: WRESTLING RUMORS: Upcoming Plans For Ronda Rousey (Contains Possible SPOILERS) According to Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE is no longer giving out financial bonuses to its wrestlers. This includes bonuses for going to the Saudi Arabian shows or wrestling on a premium live event or anything else. While there may be some exceptions for top merchandise sellers like Roman Reigns, the majority of the roster is going to be making what their contract stipulates and nothing more. WWE has had some money situations before. Check out some of the more interesting ones: [This post contains video, click to play]..

NEWS

Longtime WWE Name Gone From Company After 14 Year Tenure

October 5, 2022

He was a big deal. There are all kinds of people who work together to make WWE programming a success. While the wrestlers are the ones who get the most attention, several other people are there to make the show come together as well. Some of these people will almost never get any recognition and now one of them is departing the company after a long time. According to PWInsider.com, Dr. Chris Amann has left WWE after fourteen years with the company. Amann reportedly gave notice earlier this year and wrapped up his time with WWE earlier this month. Amann is most well known as the doctor who sued CM Punk and Colt Cabana over their comments about his work on Cabana’s podcast. In addition, he also helped establish the WWE Wellness Policy. Opinion: This is the kind of thing that might not seem like a big deal but Amann has been around the company for a very long time now. It is going to mean something to see him gone, even if there will be another fully qualified doctor in his place soon. ..

NEWS

WWE Executive Explains “Up Or Out” Rule Regarding NXT Releases

September 23, 2022

That’s their policy. There are some incredibly talented stars in NXT, which is an important destination for several wrestlers. It is the official developmental territory for WWE and being there means that a wrestler is on their way to the main roster. That is in theory at least as some wrestlers never quite make it. Now a WWE executive is explaining the process behind making it or not. During a new interview with Wrestlerant, WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Operations and Strategy James Kimball explained the WWE’s “Up Or Out” rule. The idea is that if a wrestler is signed to a developmental deal but does not appear as a regular on NXT TV in two years, they will likely be let go. WWE’s position is that there are so many wrestlers that need to be rotated in that they do not have the space to spend on someone moving so slowly. There is no word on who has been released from WWE under this policy. Opinion: This might sound a bit harsh but it does make some sense. At the end of the day..

NEWS

Interesting Note On Clauses Included In AEW Contracts

July 30, 2022

Just like the other guys. There are a lot of wrestling promotions in the world today but WWE and AEW get far more attention than anyone else. That is due to a variety of reasons, but their star power is very high up there. Both companies have stars that fans are going to want to see and it turns out that both of them have the same policy in order to keep those wrestlers around under certain circumstances. WWE has a policy that the contracts of injured wrestlers are allowed to be extended in the case of injuries. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, AEW wrestlers undergo the same situations if they are injured, as their contracts have the clause included. There is no word on if any of the currently or previously injured AEW stars have had their deals extended in this way. Opinion: This is the kind of thing that might not be the nicest sounding thing in the world but it makes sense from the business side. It isn’t fair to AEW or WWE to sign a wrestler to a multi year deal an..

NEWS

WATCH: Character Literally Killed Off On This Week’s NXT TV

June 29, 2022

Say hi to the fish. With so many wrestlers on so many wrestling shows these days, it can be easy to forget about someone. It might be a wrestler who does not get that much TV time or someone who has not had the chance to really showcase themselves, but at some point they are going to have to change something. Now though, another one might not be getting the chance to do so. This week on NXT, Troy “Two Dimes” Donovan was written off of WWE TV, seemingly being murdered by Tony D’Angelo and Stacks. Without going into detail, D’Angelo suggested that Donovan had come for the throne and was being dealt with as a result, by being thrown off a bridge and into a river. This comes after Donovan was released from his WWE contract over what was described as a policy violation. Donovan was not named in the segment. That’s rather aggressive. Check out how Donovan was written off TV: [This post contains video, click to play] Opinion: I would much rather have Donovan dealt with like this rather t..

NEWS

Backstage Reaction To WWE’s Very Odd Television Policy

June 20, 2022

They have a reason for that. Monday Night Raw and SmackDown are the biggest wrestling shows in modern times, with both being on the air for well over twenty years. They are institutions of WWE, but that does not mean things are always perfect. Both shows have some weird quirks at times and now we know both why one of them takes place, plus what some wrestlers think of it. Over the last few weeks, WWE has had wrestlers make their entrances on television but not have their matches start for sometimes over twenty minutes. Fightful Select has spoken to several WWE stars about the situation, with the wrestlers saying they found it annoying. They have complained to WWE officials, who told them that the delays improve the flow of the show. One wrestler said that they would spend the delay talking to the crowd and getting annoyed at having to wait around for so long. Opinion: I would love an explanation of how this helps the show flow, because all it does is make me forget that a wrestler is..

NEWS

There’s Another One: WWE Releases Another NXT Star

June 13, 2022

He’s gone too. There have been so many releases from WWE in recent years that it can be difficult to keep track of all of them. With one wrestler after another being let go from the company, you might forget that some of them are even still around. Now another name is gone as well, though this is for a different reason than the mass releases that have become the norm. According to F4WOnline.com, Troy “Two Dimes” Donovan has been released from his WWE contract. The release is said to have been released due to an unspecified policy issue but he may be brought back in a year or so. Donovan was signed to the company in March and had been working as one of Tony D’Angelo’s enforcers in NXT. There is nothing to suggest that this will be the first of multiple releases. Opinion: That doesn’t sound good and I’m curious about what caused WWE to let him go. Donovan wasn’t exactly a star but he was in a regular tag team and getting television time. It seems like something that came out of nowhere..

NEWS

WWE May Be Releasing More Wrestlers Soon

June 9, 2022

It continues to loom. The WWE roster of three years ago looks very little like the WWE roster of today, as the company has released all kinds of wrestlers from their contracts. Well over one hundred names have been let go from the main roster down through NXT and those releases continue to take place. Now we might be getting ready for the next batch of releases. According to Bryan Alvarez on the Bryan And Vinny Show, WWE may be announcing more releases soon. WWE has a policy of reevaluating wrestlers every ninety days and releasing those who are not improving. More evaluations have recently taken place, though it is not clear when the releases could happen. WWE’s most recent batch of releases took place in late April. Opinion: You know these things are coming, but that doesn’t make them any better. At the end of the day, WWE has released so many wrestlers that it is hard to fathom at times. That being said, it still strikes me as a questionable idea to release wrestlers if they aren’..

NEWS

WWE Reportedly No Longer Testing For Marijuana

April 21, 2022

That’s something specific. The WWE has come a long way when it comes to its drug testing policies. The company does not have the best history in regards to taking care of its wrestlers but the last several years have seen a much strong emphasis on the situation. However, one change has taken place recently as the company seems to be lightening up on a specific area. According to Fightful Select, WWE has not suspended or fined wrestlers for positive marijuana tests in years. WWE’s official drug policy on its website states that wrestlers will be fined $2,500 for a positive test, though WWE is apparently not enforcing this part of the policy. A WWE higher up said that he hasn’t heard as much as gossip about marijuana in years, let alone a fine being levied. There is nothing to suggest that any other parts of the policy have been relaxed. Opinion: This shouldn’t be a surprise and it is kind of hard to argue against the policy being lightened up. At the end of the day, there are states i..

NEWS

Several More Details On WWE’s New Coronavirus Policies

January 1, 2022

They have a plan for that. As has been the case for about two years now, the Coronavirus pandemic is one of the biggest stories in the world. The wrestling industry has taken a beating of its own, as promotions are trying to figure out the best way going forward. This is certainly the case in WWE as well, and now we know more about what the company is doing about the situation. Earlier this week, news broke that WWE was changing its Coronavirus policy by ending mandatory regular testing. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the new policy is said to be similar to the NFL’s. WWE is requiring that any wrestler who tests positive take an antigen test on the fifth day. Should they pass two such tests twenty four hours apart, they will be allowed to return to work. This falls under the new CDC guidelines, which recommends five days of quarantining after a positive test. In addition, WWE is requiring that anyone working backstage at an event wear a mask at all times, with fined ..

NEWS

Switch It Up: WWE Has Reversed One Of Its Biggest Policies

December 29, 2021

Change it back. There are so many wrestlers on the WWE roster that they have been split into three groups, with Monday Night Raw, SmackDown and NXT. Every now and then you will see the rosters interact, but these matches and moments do not take place very often. NXT is the odd one out of the trio though, as it rarely interacts with the main rosters. That policy might be changing though. According to Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE has changed its policy on having NXT not interact with Monday Night Raw and SmackDown. This comes as Monday Night Raw’s AJ Styles and Riddle have both appeared on NXT television, while NXT’s Grayson Waller has appeared on Monday Night Raw. Last year, WWE made it a policy to keep the brands separate due to worries about the Coronavirus spreading. There is no word onw hat led to the new rules. This could go in a few different ways. Check out how the stars have done with their crossovers: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, cl..

NEWS

WWE Dramatically Changes Coronavirus Testing Policy

December 27, 2021

That’s one way to fix things. The Coronavirus pandemic has hit the wrestling world all over again and things are already starting to look bad. This weekend’s WWE live events were overhauled due to several names being pulled from the shows. There is a good chance that will continue going forward, and now WWE has changed one of their policies to make things a lot easier on themselves. According to Fightful Select, WWE has informed the Performance Center talent that they are no longer required to be tested twice weekly for the Coronavirus. Main roster talent has also been informed that regular testing will not be required either. There is no word on if a vaccination made a difference in the company’s decision. The roster is said to not be happy with the decision, as their numbers are already depleted as it is. There are going to be more stars on WWE TV again. Check out some of WWE’s bigger stars in action over the years: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains v..

NEWS

Here Is How WWE And AEW Handle Positive Coronavirus Tests

December 21, 2021

You need a plan. The Coronavirus has changed the way the world works and wrestling has certainly felt its impact as well. Things are finally getting back to normal for the most part, but there is always the chance that something could flare up all over again. There is always the chance that another breakout could take place, so good testing is a requirement. Now we know a bit more about how WWE and AEW are handling things. According to Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE and AEW both require ten days away for any wrestler who tests positive for the Coronavirus. In addition, both companies will require a negative Coronavirus test before they are allowed to return. This is the policy that both promotions have announced publicly, though they would not mention making any changed to their rules. Both companies are doing what they can. Check out how things have been going as of late: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains vide..

NEWS

Possible Issues For AEW Bringing In Jeff Hardy

December 10, 2021

That would be a big one. When a wrestler becomes a legend, it takes them up to another level. If nothing else, it allows them to get away with more than a few things that would torpedo other careers. Some of these things are a lot more serious than others, and one active legend might have enough issues to keep him from being signed to one of the biggest companies around. Earlier this week, Jeff Hardy was released from WWE, following an incident at a live event last weekend. Hardy had reportedly refused to go to rehab for his issues and was released as a result. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, this could create a problem with Hardy potentially signing with AEW. While AEW would be interested in Hardy having one final reunion with his brother Matt, it would likely be on a zero tolerance policy for Jeff. It would be a reunion worth seeing. Check out what AEW might be able to put together again: [This post contains video, click to play] [This post contains video, click ..

NEWS

Data Breach Reveals Crazy Income For Wrestlers Streaming On Twitch

October 8, 2021

They’re doing ok. There have been a lot of changes in WWE as of late and some of them have gone a bit forgotten. Last year, WWE issued a new policy saying that their wrestlers would no longer be allowed to operate third party platforms, including Twitch streams. Instead, WWE would take the accounts over and the wrestlers would receive a portion of the revenue. Several wrestlers were unhappy with this and now we might know why. According to the BBC, Twitch suffered a data breech this week, revealing tons of information about the platform. This includes a list of the income made by several wrestlers, as well as Impact Wrestling’s Twitch channel. The revenue listed covers a period from September 2019 – September 2021 and does not include any sponsorships or donations the streamers might gain as well. Here are some of the amounts, courtesy of Wrestlinginc.com: Paige: $478,224 Zelina Vega: $341,748 Adam Cole: $318,080 Impact Wrestling: $69,140 Tyler Breeze: $43,755 Evil Uno: $35,742 Colt ..

NEWS

Welcome Return: Popular International Star Returning To AEW

June 24, 2021

Welcome back. AEW has not been around all that long at the moment, but they already have a rather deep history of their own. This includes some things that have been better than others, including the not so great early days of the women’s division. The division has come a long way, and now one of their previous starts is ready to make a return to the promotion. Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling has announced that Yuka Sakazaki will be returning to AEW television at some point in July. This is described as her excursion, meaning that it will not be a permanent move. According to 411mania.com, assuming there are no changes in Japanese policy over the Coronavirus pandemic restrictions, Sakazaki will be back in Japan on August 14. Sakazaki’s most recent match for AEW took place in February 2020. ??????AEW??? ?????7???????????????? 7?1?(?)?????????????????????1??? @AEW ??????????? [BREAKING] Yuka Sakazaki @YukaSakazaki will be on US excursion! She will be in the US from July to appear in #AE..