Tag: donald trump

Daily Update: WWE notes, Undertaker-Trump, Kojima MLW title defense

Posted on by Joseph Currier

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Observer is out today.  There are a ton of major stories covered including:

  • Bad Blood coverage
  • Dwayne Johnson’s wrestling update which is a big surprise
  • Crown Jewel and Survivor Series
  • Bill Goldberg notes
  • Business notes on the show
  • What finish was changed
  • What match was also nearly changed and why and notes on head shots with objects
  • AEW goes from the highest of highs to record lows
  • What to learn from this week’s numbers
  • How successful AEW will be financially compared to major  companies like WCW and WWE over the past 30 years
  • Next NXT vs. Dynamite head-to-head is a few weeks away
  • Notes on WrestleDream and positive business notes
  • UFC 307 full coverage
  • Janel Grant’s side asks for WWE to release women from NDAs
  • Unique quote from Ari Emanuel from last year and how it plays into this story
  • The full letter from Ann Callis
  • The most detailed look at the  TV ratings from all the national shows, including placings, competition, demos and segments.
  • CMLL focusing on women’s wrestling this month
  • AAA Heroes Inmortales notes and Guerra de Titanes card
  • Stardom PPV coverage
  • NOAH and New Japan both have major shows this week
  • Vikingo vs. Ricochet
  • International Wrestling Hall of Fame notes
  • More background on Ernie Roth, the Grand Wizard of Wrestling/Abdullah Farouk
  • Bound for Glory news
  • 70s and 80s legend looking to become the oldest male wrestler of all-time
  • Does WBD own a percentage of AEW?
  • Legendary ROH Matches added to the ROH television show
  • What’s notable about AEW’s Mexico TV dal
  • Luchasaururs update
  • Taz update
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE and AEW shows
  • Largest streaming numbers
  • Injury updates
  • Fighters talk about health and money issues
  • How much will Anderson Silva get if the Cung Le case gets settled this week.
  • What fighters will make millions of dollars in the settlement.
  • Conor McGregor to stand trial over a 2018 case.
  • Former UFC champion coming  out of retirement
  • How Hurricanes affecting WWE
  • Update on the viewership of Mr. McMahoin and Queen of Villains on Netflix
  • How much  WWE is getting from the government for next year’s SummerSlam and why
  • Newcomers ready to debut
  • International TV ratings
  • Unique wrestling TV special aired

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Thursday Update

WWE

  • UFC star Tom Aspinall made an appearance at WWE’s house show in Manchester, England yesterday. Aspinall, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther took a picture together in the ring with their three title belts.
  • Jey Uso delivered a People’s Elbow/Yeet Elbow to Bron Breakker during a match on the UK house show tour.
  • While speaking with The Wrestling Classic, Bret Hart named Rey Mysterio as the opponent he would want to work with if he could face anyone right now:
    • If I could pick one guy, it would be Rey Mysterio. I always forget Rey Mysterio, but I think Rey Mysterio is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Like, he’s right up there as the best there is, best there was, best there ever will be. He’s really good. He’s really special. Nobody can do what Rey Mysterio does.
  • TNA wrestler Sami Callihan told Tru Heel Heat Wrestling that he’s been impressed by how good NXT’s Sol Ruca is:
    • One of the people I’m most impressed with that came from NXT to TNA is Sol Ruca. Like, for someone that is rather inexperienced – she’s out of this world. Some of the things she can do in this ring and her presence are wild.
  • Politico’s Alex Isenstadt reports that presidential candidate Donald Trump is expected to appear on The Undertaker’s Six Feet Under podcast: “Trump is expected to do an interview this week on the Undertaker podcast, which is hosted by retired wrestling great Mark Calaway, per person familiar.”
  • Karrion Kross was a guest on Insight with Chris Van Vliet.
  • In a social media video, NXT talent were asked which actor should play them in a hypothetical movie:
    • Thea Hail: Madelyn Cline
    • Shawn Michaels: Brad Pitt
    • Kelani Jordan: Mya or Halle Berry
    • Mark Coffey: John Goodman
    • Je’Von Evans: Jaden Smith
    • Roxanne Perez: Jenna Ortega
    • Ethan Page: Robert Downey Jr.
    • Ashante Adonis: Michael B. Jordan
    • Karmen Petrovic: Gal Gadot
    • Oba Femi: Winston Duke
    • Jakara Jackson: Meagan Good
    • Charlie Dempsey: Steve Coogan
    • Lash Legend: Porsha Williams from Real Housewives of Atlanta
    • Trick Williams: Himself
  • Here’s the lineup for this Friday’s episode of NXT Level Up:
    • Tavion Heights vs. Malik Blade
    • Tyson Dupont & Tyriek Igwe vs. Niko Vance & Harlem Lewis
    • Layla Diggs vs. Lainey Reid
  • WWE uploaded a Playlist video of Kevin Owens’ most villainous moments.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • Toni Storm was interviewed on CMLL Informa ahead of making her CMLL debut against La Catalina at Arena Mexico this Friday night.
  • No-Contest Wrestling uploaded part one of their interview with Swerve Strickland.
  • Excalibur was the guest on AEW Unrestricted this week.
  • A tribute to Joe Koff aired on Sinclair Broadcast Group’s Fox 45 station in Baltimore.
  • TNA Wrestling mourned the death of singer Liam Payne, who once got into the ring with Kurt Angle in a promotional match for his band One Direction: “We join the world in mourning Liam Payne – a wonderful man and artist. Liam was a huge wrestling fan and we were honoured to be able to work with him on 1D Day when he wrestled, and beat, @RealKurtAngle.”
  • Angle tweeted that it was an honor to have shared the ring with Payne.
  • MLW World Heavyweight Champion Satoshi Kojima will defend his title against Bobby Fish on the TV taping portion of MLW’s Lucha Apocalypto event in Cicero, Illinois on Saturday, November 9.
  • Raj Dhesi (the former Jinder Mahal) spoke with The Takedown in advance of Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s debut weekend:
    • Yeah, this is [a] huge opportunity for wrestling, and especially Canadian wrestling. This would be incredible, if somehow we can maybe make this a monthly, weekly, semi-monthly type of event. And, you know, all across Canada? I think that’s the goal. That would be an amazing thing for the wrestling business, especially in Canada.
    • I’ve always wanted to work with Scott [D’Amore]. I’ve never got a chance to work with him ever in the past, but I’m very familiar with everything that he’s done in the business, the wrestlers that he’s trained, and Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, kind of resurrecting it, is a huge achievement.
  • The Chicago Bears wished Steve “Mongo” McMichael a happy 67th birthday.
  • Ric Flair tweeted: “Happy Birthday To The Toughest Person I Know Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael! Mongo, I Have So Many Fond Memories With You Over The Years! Your Friendship Means The World To Me! Your Bravery & Strength Is Unmatched! Love You My Friend!”
  • Bill Apter spoke with Jerry Lawler for Sportskeeda WrestleBinge.
  • Freddie Prinze Jr. joined Nic & Ryan Nemeth on this week’s edition of their Nemeth Bros podcast.

Daily Update: Logan Paul & Donald Trump, Tony Khan, Sabu

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered in this issue:

  • Update on what Mexican talent can work on the same shows as other Mexican talent, the recent changes and how they’ve gone down and the current political situation leading into Forbidden Door
  • Looking at WWE Clash at the Castle and NXT Battleground
  • Update on Forbidden Door, ticket demand and AEW’s top programs
  • Conor McGregor and UFC 303
  • Full report on UFC 302, business and match-by-match coverage
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi’s 10-point plan to strengthen New Japan Pro Wrestling. We look at where the company stands and its obstacles as Tanahashi hits the six-month mark as President
  • Death of El Signo and the heyday of Los Misionero de la Muerte
  • A look at episode one of Who Killed WCW?
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all pro wrestling and MMA television shows over the past week including competition, key demos, segment-by-segment, analysis, standing and how it compares with one year ago.
  • New promotion gets weekly television on a top 20 station starting in one week, as well as being on the verge of a second deal
  • Celebration of 20 years of Mistico shows
  • Arena Mexico continues big crowds
  • Dream Gate title change
  • A look at the Dominion show this week
  • Update on next week’s show featuring talent from a number of major promotions including a rematch of one of this year’s best matches
  • More on the B Block finals and semifinals of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament
  • Gable Steveson tries the NFL and how this very much differs from other former top level wrestlers who have had NFL success
  • Missy Hyatt talks Vince McMahon and details her own experience with him
  • Wrestling book writers Hall of Fame
  • AEW star challenges for British title
  • Notes on MLW Battle Riot
  • GCW has a major weekend
  • Update on TNA office cuts and changes
  • Mike Santana talks about battling drinking issue
  • Notes on people whose contracts are expiring and updates
  • Chuck Taylor and his hopes of returning to the ring
  • More details on AEW doing a residency in Arlington, TX and the economics behind it
  • Kevin Kelly talks his AEW departure and issues with Ian Riccaboni
  • Story behind the Collision rating report
  • International TV ratings
  • Why certain wrestlers haven’t been on AEW TV of late
  • Another AEW star comes out publicly
  • More on the Cung Le antitrust lawsuit settlement
  • Just how much Saudi Arabia is paying for these big events
  • How UFC & WWE are doing record grosses
  • Mark Shapiro talks about how Dana White reacted to the merger and talks about White’s previous problems with Vince McMahon
  • How McMahon first saved UFC and then became a powerful enemy
  • Former WWE stars talk about how talent is paid now, why not getting booked is better for your paycheck and how easily it is to get around WWE drug testing
  • Updated King of the Ring and Double or Nothing PPV notes
  • Reports on WWE weekend house shows

This week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter back issue

Wednesday Update

WWE

  • Former President Donald Trump will be the guest on tomorrow’s episode of Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast. Paul posted a picture of himself and Trump posing with Paul’s WWE United States title belt.
  • Jordynne Grace told Sports Illustrated about how her NXT Battleground match against Roxanne Perez came together:
    • The new President of TNA spoke with me about a month ago and told me WWE wanted to have me back. I was like, ‘What is happening?’ We spoke specifically about Battleground, and honestly, I thought I was going to be in the [North American title] ladder match. When I found out it was a singles match, and for the title, I was mind-blown.
    • Going back, it’s been a great experience. It’s impressive how much of a well-oiled machine they are in WWE. There is someone with an answer to everything. And they have a barber on-site. That surprised me.
  • In an interview with Comicbook.com, Ash By Elegance (Dana Brooke) said her appearing at Battleground was a last-minute thing:
    • My gosh, it was seriously last minute. I was going about my week and I had an appearance on Saturday in Jacksonville. I get a call, I think it was late Thursday, even maybe early Friday morning, and they’re like, ‘Hey, are you available this weekend? We’d love to have you come back and do something with TNA and NXT. I was like, ‘What?! Oh yeah, count me in!’ They booked my flight from Jacksonville over to Vegas.
    • I kept everything on the DL. I was hiding. I had my hat, I had my hoodie, I had my sunglasses. Nobody knew who I was. I made that sneak appearance, sneak attack, and here I am. I took a redeye back to Miami this morning and am enjoying about a day and a half vacation with my family and then I’m back on the road for some TNA action in Chicago. I’m booked and busy, baby.
  • TKO Group posted a time-lapse video of the UFC Apex being transformed so it could host Battleground.
  • Drew McIntyre explained to the Metro what was going through his mind when CM Punk indirectly mentioned Vince McMahon during their promo battle on Raw this March. In a segment with McIntyre and Seth Rollins, Punk asked McIntyre which “paragon of good virtue” picked him to be the Chosen One.
  • McIntyre said:
    • What was going through my mind was I could respond right now, and would it be a good look for our company? And I have to make a decision because we’re going O.K. Corral-style, unloading rounds on each other.
    • I did what I thought was right for not just the company, but for our roster, and held my tongue on that night. I had a couple of things in mind that would have melted the internet, but potentially hurt us in different ways.
  • McIntyre noted that he probably could have gotten away with what he wanted to say, but he’s intelligent enough to make it work without going there:
    • If you see Drew McIntyre going off those lines, swearing and saying things like ‘wow, this is gonna potentially hurt himself or the company or the roster,’ then it’s because I have lost it.
  • The Indian Express also interviewed McIntyre.
  • On his Kliq This podcast, Kevin Nash praised Damian Priest:
    • I think that Damian has really f**king risen to the occasion. Damian’s star power gave him the appearance of being bigger than he actually is. Like he just looks like a star. He looks like he should have that belt.
  • Hulk Hogan is launching a “Real American Beer” brand.

AEW/Other Wrestling

  • While speaking with TV Insider, Tony Khan said he’d love to have actor Paul Walter Hauser back in AEW:
    • Yes. I want Paul to come back. He is a really good friend of mine. I met Paul in LA many years ago. He is a great person. Paul and his agent Ryan are two of my really close friends. I like Paul a lot. He is always welcome in AEW to do anything. I have so much respect for Paul Walter.
  • Khan was asked to give his thoughts on WWE and TNA working together:
    • Since we launched AEW we’ve been looking to work with great wrestling companies across the planet. The relationship with New Japan Pro Wrestling developed in 2021 and built to the point where we teamed to do a co-branded event like Forbidden Door. We’re approaching the third one. It’s a whole new level of great cooperation between wrestling promotions to see the stars of CMLL and Stardom in addition to the great wrestlers from New Japan Pro Wrestling competing with AEW stars.
    • I’m always open to working with great wrestling promotions all over the world. It feels like the spirit of cooperation in worldwide pro wrestling is greater than it has ever been, which is a big positive. Seeing the top stars of AEW go to Tokyo and compete at Wrestle Kingdom, I think that the fans can always count on AEW and New Japan to put on great collaborations. I think this year’s Forbidden Door will be one of the strongest shows any promotion will put anywhere in the world.
  • NBA broadcaster Mike Breen spoke to Sports Illustrated about the respect he has for Jim Ross:
    • Everyone in this profession should know Jim Ross. He’s an icon. I’m always listening to different broadcasters, whether it’s in baseball, football, hockey, tennis, or wrestling. Right away you can feel how much passion he brings to his calls. When you hear Jim Ross, you can instantly tell how much he loves what he does.
  • Tony Khan and Orange Cassidy appeared on Local 5 News in Iowa.
  • Renee Paquette conducted an interview with Christopher Daniels.
  • Deonna Purrazzo spoke with SHAK Wrestling.
  • On Casual Conversations with The Wrestling Classic, Sabu said GCW wants to host his last match in January. Sabu would prefer to have it take place in Las Vegas this July. He’s also open to having his last match in AEW:
    • My goal is to work out until the last match and I know the last match isn’t tomorrow. GCW wants me to do my last match with them in January. I said, ‘I don’t know if I’ll be ready.’ I don’t want my last match in January. I want it in July and I want it in Las Vegas.
    • I’m gonna have a final match eventually, I’m not in shape for it yet. I’m hurting too much, but I’m hoping my pain eases up. I’m sure it will. I’d like to maybe do my final match with [AEW] because they have a big platform and a big paycheck.
  • Sabu named Matt Cardona as a potential opponent for the match:
    • If all else fails, [I’ll face Rob] Van Dam, but to me, that’s too predictable. It’s too easy. Of course, we’re going to have a great match. I want something else. Maybe Matt Cardona in an explosion match when the time is right. Maybe not January, but down the line more.
  • The book “Say Hello to the Bad Guys: How Pro-Wrestling’s New World Order Changed America” is now available for pre-order. It’s written by ESPN’s Marc Raimondi and is scheduled to be released on March 25, 2025.

January 15, 2007 Observer Newsletter: Triple H, WWE Raw

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

The injury to HHH, who suffered a torn tendon in his right quadriceps while performing a spinebuster to Randy Orton on the 1/7 New Year’s Revolution PPV, has changed all future plans.

With John Cena vs. HHH the front-runner as the Mania main event, the entire card was thrown out the window and during this week they are going to be brainstorming to put together a new show. The tentative (never finalized) plan of Bobby Lashley vs. Great Khali for the ECW title at Mania was thrown out and Khali was moved to Raw as one of the first moves made.

No matches are official for Wrestlemania. The only match left from the original plans still on the books is the Batista vs. Undertaker title vs. streak match. And that could be off the books by the end of the week as well. Hulk Hogan vs. Khali was talked about, and Khali’s move to Raw was based partly on the idea of making a monster opponent for Hogan if Big Show doesn’t heal up in time or come to terms.

Subscribers can read this issue here.

January 8, 2007 Observer Newsletter: Vince McMahon & Donald Trump, UFC 66

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

WWE officials have either finalized or are in the process of putting the finishing touches on a deal that will get them back, at least temporarily, into mainstream America.

The Vince McMahon interview on the 1/1 Raw show, which mentioned Donald Trump’s feud with Rosie O’Donnell (who McMahon called Yokozuna), and his telling Rob Conway, “You’re fired” with the gargling with razor blades voice was scripted to be the start of an angle.

I don’t have any other details other than there will be something along the lines of a McMahon vs. Trump “Battle of the Billionaires” angle building to something, most likely the Royal Rumble on 1/28 in San Antonio. The vague word is Vince in one corner managing a wrestler against a wrestler Trump would manage. This is the perfect opportunity to get two wrestlers into the mainstream, since whomever Trump is aligned with will get a major rub. It’s not only great for mainstream publicity since Trump is such a major name in our culture, but it’s also great for Vince from an ego standpoint because he’ll be mentioned in the same breath and perhaps even on equal footing as Trump in all the stories.

Subscribers can click here to read this post.

WSJ: Vince McMahon donated $5 million in unrecorded company expenses to Trump Foundation

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A new report says Vince McMahon paid $5 million in unrecorded company expenses to former president Donald Trump’s charity.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that among the $19.6 million in unrecorded company expenses were two donations to Trump’s now-defunct Donald J. Trump Foundation in 2007 and 2009 that totaled to $5 million. McMahon resigned from WWE in July following the revelation of the unrecorded company expenses, along with allegations of sexual misconduct.

The report says an attorney for WWE told the Wall Street Journal that the payments to Trump should have been booked as business expenses, as McMahon was a principal shareholder and the payments benefited the company. WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt didn’t dispute the report regarding the contributions but denied Trump’s claim that an additional $1 million was a bonus for the success of WrestleMania 23.

“Mr. Trump and WWE entered into a contract whereby WWE agreed to and did pay him personally an appearance fee of $1 million,” McDevitt told the Wall Street Journal. “At the same time, the McMahons made a personal contribution to the Trump Foundation of $4 million. There was no additional fee paid to Mr. Trump, or any additional contribution to the Trump Foundation, due to the success of the event.”

In 2007, Trump played part in a storyline where he feuded with Vince McMahon, leading to a hair vs. hair match at WrestleMania 23, with Umaga (McMahon) and Bobby Lashley (Trump) representing the two men. Lashley won the match, and McMahon’s hair was shaved off as a result. Trump appeared on WWE television again in 2009 in a quickly dropped storyline that involved Trump purchasing Raw from McMahon, then selling it back to him for “double the price”.

The McMahon family has had ties to Trump during and after his presidency, with Linda McMahon previously serving as the administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019. She is now the chairwoman of a pro-Trump Super PAC, America First Action. 

WWE in their securities filing Monday said that their internal investigation into McMahon’s payments were “substantially complete”.

Ric Flair to make appearance at Herschel Walker political fundraiser

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: Twitter

In his first announced public event since the controversy from the “plane ride from hell” episode of Dark Side of the Ring, Ric Flair will make an appearance for Herschel Walker at a December political fundraising event.

Walker, a Republican, is running for the Georgia senate and is aiming to take on incumbent Raphael Warnock next November. He was a college football star in the state, winning the Heisman Trophy before embarking on a career in the USFL and NFL. 

The fifth degree taekwondo black belt later got into MMA, competing for Strikeforce in 2010 and 2011 with two TKO wins. He and Flair are friends.

Also appearing at the December 1st event is former U.S. president and longtime Walker supporter Donald Trump as the event will be held at his Mar-A-Lago resort. Former star athletes Doug Flutie and Tom Glavine will also be in attendance. 

Flair came under fire after the Dark Side episode that saw a flight attendant accuse him of sexually inappropriate behavior on a WWE overseas flight known as “the plane ride from hell.”

The free agent released two statements denying the claims and condemning sexual assault, but lost a national ad campaign and other appearances due to the fallout. He did appear at a Jackson State college football game this month, reuniting with NFL Hall-of-Famer and Jackson State coach Deion Sanders.

Tito Ortiz wins city council seat, Dan Rodimer Nevada race undecided

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: LA Times

The combat sports world was represented Tuesday in two separate U.S. elections with one race still to be decided.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz won one of three available city council seats in Huntington Beach, California, leading the pack with 14% of the vote (34,901 votes) as of the time of this story. A vocal Donald Trump supporter from their days on The Apprentice, the UFC Hall-of-Famer was running on a platform of “Make Huntington Beach Safe Again”.

The 45-year-old has retired several times from MMA and was last seen in a dominant win over Alberto Del Rio for Combate Americas in 2019.

In a race for Nevada’s Third Congressional District, former WWE developmental talent Dan Rodimer (R) is still waiting to see if he was successful in unseating incumbent Susie Lee (D). As of the writing, he was trailing Lee by roughly 5000 votes with 85% of the districts reporting according to the Associated Press. This is the 42-year-old’s second attempt at running for public office, losing in a bid for a Nevada senate spot in 2018.

He was under contract from 2006-07, working in Deep South Wrestling, Ohio Valley Wrestling, and Florida Championship Wrestling with one appearance on WWE Heat before being released. 

On a related note, the aforementioned WWE Hall-of-Famer Trump is still awaiting to hear whether he or Joe Biden won the U.S. presidency following Tuesday’s elections.

Vince McMahon, Dana White part of Trump economic revival group

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE’s Vince McMahon and the UFC’s Dana White will be among the industry leaders speaking with Donald Trump as the United States attempts to begin reopening its economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

At a press briefing today, Trump announced that McMahon and White are included in his sports “Great American Economic Revival Industry Group.” Here’s the list of sports leaders who were announced as part of the group:

  • MLB – Rob Manfred
  • NFL – Roger Goodell
  • UFC – Dana White
  • PGA – Jay Monahan
  • LPGA – Mike Whan
  • USTA – Patrick Galbraith
  • MLS – Don Garber
  • WWE – Vince McMahon
  • NASCAR – Lesa Kennedy
  • NHL – Gary Bettman
  • New England Patriots – Bob Kraft
  • Dallas Cowboys – Jerry Jones
  • Dallas Mavericks – Mark Cuban
  • WNBA – Cathy Engelbert
  • NWSL – Lisa Baird

Other Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups feature leaders from the agriculture, banking, construction/labor/workforce, defense, energy, financial services, food and beverage, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, real estate, retail, tech, telecommunications, and transportation sectors. There’s also a group for thought leaders.

“Today, President Donald J. Trump announced many of the esteemed executives, economists, scholars, and industry leaders who together will form various Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups,” the White House announced in a press release. “These bipartisan groups of American leaders will work together with the White House to chart the path forward toward a future of unparalleled American prosperity. The health and wealth of America is the primary goal, and these groups will produce a more independent, self-sufficient, and resilient Nation.”

McMahon and White were also among the sports executives who were part of a conference call with Trump earlier this month.

After taping shows in advance, WWE has resumed live television episodes from Orlando, Florida. Florida added “Employees at a professional sports and media production with a national audience — including any athletes, entertainers, production team, executive team, media team and any others necessary to facilitate including services supporting such production — only if the location is closed to the general public” to their list of essential services last Thursday.

The UFC is eyeing a return to running shows on May 9.

White issued a statement to Variety saying the UFC plans on producing fights out of its APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada: “We built the APEX facility next door just in time to save the day from this pandemic. Live fights will be produced out of there starting next month and for the foreseeable future.”

Florida deeming WWE ‘essential’ draws criticism, political ties examined

Posted on by Josh Nason

This post was updated at 11:15 PM Eastern.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis’ decision to deem “professional sports and media production with a national audience” as essential businesses, clearing the path for WWE, AEW, and UFC to run events, drew criticism Tuesday with Linda McMahon coming into focus.

WWE resumed their regular weekly TV schedule at the Orlando, FL, Performance Center Monday, just three days after Vince McMahon changed his mind on the doorstep of a multi-day taping that would have covered the company for weeks.

Questions were raised at how they were able to make that decision given the state’s previous order that only essential businesses remain open. On Monday, that was answered as it was revealed during a Monday press conference with Orange Country Mayor Jerry Demings that WWE was now considered essential per the governor’s office.

“With some conversation with the governor’s office regarding the governor’s order, they were deemed an essential business. And so, therefore, they were allowed to remain open,” he said.

The state government issued an executive order on April 9th that all professional sports could return to business if the location was closed to the public. Coverage of the decision was featured in a variety of news outlets that don’t normally cover wrestling like CNBC, The Guardian, USA Today, and more. 

Stephanie Coueignoux and Jon Alba of Central Florida’s Spectrum News 13 performed a further investigation into the situation Tuesday, noting that the Orange County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to the PC in both March and April, advising WWE they were not in compliance with the previously existing order and would have to close down.

However, Spectrum News 13, providing a timeline, found that the change of heart came on the same day as a pro-President Donald Trump super PAC (political action committee) announced that they were going to spend $18.5 million in both the Tampa and Orlando markets. That super PAC is headed up by Linda McMahon, Vince McMahon’s wife, and the former head of Trump’s Small Business Administration. DeSantis has been known as an ally of Trump, a WWE Hall-of-Famer and friends with Vince.

Vince’s decision to resume live WWE programming at the PC happened the next day.

A spokesperson for the super PAC told ABC News that the connection was an example of “looking to connect some sort of dots that simply don’t exist” and that the $18.5 million ad buy was planned more than a week before the updated executive order was issues.

In a statement to Spectrum 13, DeSantis’ office said WWE was critical to Florida’s economy and the employees at those locations benefit. WWE was set to hold WrestleMania in Tampa this year, generating millions for the local economy, before having to move it to the PC. No return date was announced as next year’s event is scheduled for Los Angeles, CA.

On Tuesday afternoon, Trump said at a press conference that Vince and UFC president Dana White would join a group of sports commissioners and dozens of other business leaders in a variety of industries in helping figure out how to get things “re-opened” in the country.

Donald Trump holds call with Vince McMahon, Dana White, others

Posted on by Josh Nason

This post was updated at 2:40 PM Eastern.

The White House announced Saturday that they were holding a conference call with major United States sports commissioners as well as WWE’s Vince McMahon and UFC’s Dana White.

It’s unknown how long the call lasted, but a brief statement was released afterward giving the vaguest of details:

President Trump’s call with sports league commissioners has wrapped up.
White House spokesman Judd Deere says the commissioners “thanked President Trump for his national leadership and for his interest in the sports industry.”

Full statement attached: pic.twitter.com/SNbEmRlOoo

— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) April 4, 2020

McMahon, White, Adam Silver (NBA), Roger Goodell (NFL), Rob Manfred (MLB), Gary Bettman (NHL), Cathy Engelbert (WNBA), Jay Monahan (PGA), John Middlebrook (NASCAR) and Don Garber (MLS) were all invited to the call. No one from the NCAA was included.

The UFC has desperately wanted to continue to get back to putting on events but states and countries locking down on non-essential businesses being allowed to operate, something that has recently affected both WWE and AEW in Florida.

The NBA, NHL, golf, and NASCAR all suspended their seasons in March while MLB postponed the start of their season. There has been some talk this week about the NBA possibly holding playoffs in a single location with no fans, but nothing was formally announced.

WWE is airing WrestleMania over two nights this weekend, but it was taped more than a week ago. AEW also taped a slew of matches this past week to air over the next several weeks as Georgia also is shut down to non-essential businesses operating.

JNPO: Colby, Trump shoutouts, and Vinny Mac in Afghanistan

Posted on by Josh Nason

After a summer sojourn, Josh Nason’s Punch-Out returns for an hour-long conversation with MMA writer/podcaster and veteran David McGrath of Rokfin.

On the docket for conversation:

– Colby Covington’s big win over Robbie Lawler and the ramifications of Donald Trump and sons aligning themselves further with him

– The overreaction to Covington’s political views

– David’s chance meeting with Vince McMahon while deployed in Afghanistan

– How David got into MMA media and more about the growing Rokfin network

– Thoughts on Frankie Edgar moving to bantamweight, the growing UFC Boston card, and more.

Enjoy the return edition of JNPO by clicking below.

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Senate confirms Linda McMahon to lead Small Business Administration

Posted on by Joseph Currier

In what was a formality given how the process had gone up until this point, Linda McMahon was confirmed as administrator of President Donald Trump’s Small Business Administration on Tuesday morning.

The United States Senate voted on McMahon’s nomination and confirmed her by a vote of 81-19. She was previously approved out of the Senate’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee by an 18-1 vote.

McMahon received a healthy amount of bipartisan support, though all 19 of the votes cast against her came from the left. Independent Vermont Senator and former Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders joined 18 Democrats in opposing her nomination.

In the committee hearing that took place last month, McMahon largely faced cordial questions about her view of the role of the SBA and how she would work with members of the Senate in her position. WWE’s business practices were only brought up briefly, with recently elected Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth noting that she discussed her concerns with McMahon when meeting with her.

McMahon was chosen to lead the SBA by then President-elect Trump last December. The McMahon family have been longtime friends and occasional business associates of Trump, including donating $7 million to political action committees supporting his presidential campaign.

Donald Trump picks Linda McMahon for a cabinet-level position

Posted on by Joseph Currier

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Linda McMahon for a role in his administration.

Trump’s transition team confirmed on Wednesday that they have tapped McMahon to head the country’s Small Business Administration.

“Our small businesses are the largest source of job creation in our country,” McMahon said in a statement. “I am honored to join the incredibly impressive economic team that President-elect Trump has assembled to ensure that we promote our country’s small businesses and help them grow and thrive.”

“Linda has a tremendous background and is widely recognized as one of the country’s top female executives advising businesses around the globe,” Trump said. “She helped grow WWE from a modest 13-person operation to a publicly traded global enterprise with more than 800 employees in offices worldwide.”

Shortly after Trump was elected, reports surfaced that McMahon was under consideration for a job in his administration. Initial reports suggested that she could be appointed as Secretary of Commerce, but that appointment went to billionaire Wilbur Ross.

Trump and the McMahon family have long had a relationship, with the McMahons contributing significantly to his Presidential campaign. Trump has also been involved with WWE and is a member of the company’s Hall of Fame. Trump and Vince McMahon were involved in an angle against each other that led to WrestleMania 23 drawing a record buy rate.

Linda McMahon was previously unsuccessful in two US Senate bids in Connecticut earlier this decade.

Linda McMahon reportedly under consideration for Secretary of Commerce

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Linda McMahon, the wife of Vince McMahon and a former President of WWE, is under strong consideration for the role of Secretary of Commerce it was reported today by NBC Connecticut.

The story listed sources both close to McMahon and the transition team of President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump on Friday had announced a transition team that would include future Vice President Mike Pence, Newt Gingrich, and Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama. Trump has already announced Reince Priebus as Chief of Staff and Breitbart’s Stephen Bannon as Chief Strategist and senior counselor.

The McMahons were major contributors to Trump’s campaign, although Linda McMahon heavily campaigned at first for Chris Christie to win the nomination, but later switched her allegiances to Trump when Christie bowed out and supported Trump.

The McMahons have a long history of working with Trump, dating back to the fourth and fifth WrestleMania, and later Trump did appearances on Raw and was the key figure in drawing a pro wrestling record PPV number in 2007 with his hair up against Vince McMahon’s hair in the Battle of the Billionaires at WrestleMania with Bobby Lashley representing Trump and Umaga representing McMahon.

JNPO: Josh Gross on top UFC 205 storylines, Jon Jones & the U.S. election

Posted on by Josh Nason

UFC 205 is nearly here and with so much to discuss, Josh Nason recruited veteran journalist and author Josh Gross of The Guardian, Bleacher Report, and ‘Ali vs. Inoki’ fame for a full hour of audio power.

On the show:

– We talk about the experience of Josh’s book and some news about its release in Japan.

– We touched on the U.S. presidential election and the unique MMA ties that our president-elect has.

– We discussed the Jon Jones one-year suspension, what it means for him and the sport, and whether the time off could actually help him long-term for his career.

– Then, we look at our top storylines for UFC 205 which include whether Conor McGregor can do what he says he’s going to do, the whole aura around welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, the buzz factor that NYC can provide, Chris Weidman’s big opportunity, and lots more.

Click below to download or stream: 

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