Wrestling News Digest 3/23/09: Angry Vince McMahon, Gail Kim’s Return, and Two More Deaths
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After the jump (the read more button) you’ll find today’s top stories, immediately followed by all of your news divided up by organization, for your viewing pleasure.
So, for the latest on Vince McMahon’s treatment of the creative team, yet another Gail Kim return announcement, and the tale of two more tragic wrestling deaths…
Today’s Top Stories: Two More Wrestling Deaths
Mexican Star Abismo Negro Found Dead
Mexican star Abismo Negro (Black Hole or Black Abyss) aka Winners in AAA, whose real name is Andrés Alejandro Palomeque González, was found dead, floating in a river in El Rosario, Mexico earlier today.
González was on a bus with other passengers heading to Mexico City when he became agitated, and panicked and demanded to be let off the bus at 1:30AM. He then sent a text message to his wife that he was lost outside. She contacted local wrestling promoter Vicente Martinez who organized a search party. In the morning of March 22, González was found floating face down in a river.
González wrestled for AAA & CMLL/EMLL, WWE and as part of Team Mexico in TNA. He also appeared in Japan on several occasions.
He was 37 years old.
Credit: Wrestlezone.com
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Former WWE Star Steven Dunn Dead at 44
Steven Dunn (Doll) was taken off life support by his family and died earlier today. He had a seizure related to an intestinal blockage in 2007, and underwent surgery, and had been placed on life support.
Doll gained his early wrestling experience in the Pacific NW from 1987 to 1992, winning a total of four Pacific Northwest Heavyweight titles and eighteen Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles, most natably as oner half of the Southern Rockers with Jeff Peterson and later Rex King (Mark Smith)
He teamed with Rex King/Timothy Well as Well Dunn in WWE in 1993 managed by Harvey Whippleman /Downtown Bruno.
He as the last Southern Champion in USWA when it folded in 1997 having defeated Doomsdayt (Kane/Glen Jacobs).
He joined Music City Wrestling/NWA Worldwide Wrestling thereafter teaming with Reno Riggins as the Tennessee Volz, and I served as their “manager” along with Princess Dee (Debbie Combs). He also helped book the promotion at various times.
Steve had a good mind for the business and was a good wrestler and nice guy.
Credit: Wrestlezone.com
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WWE News
Maria (Much Like Everyone Else) Wants to Be on RAW
Smackdown Diva Maria recently sat down for an interview with The Greek Reporter. The following are some highlights:
“I’m living my dream right now by just being in the WWE. I still want to be Divas Champion and then move back to RAW to become Women’s Champion. I also recently recorded a song and I would like to do more of that, and finally I would like to launch my own clothing line.”
“I am half Greek which comes from my father’s side. Both of my grandparents are originally from Sparta, so I have a good fighting background.”
On a recent trip to Greece: “We were able to see most of the country, including Athens, and I cannot wait to go back.”
To read the whole interview, click here.
Credit: Wrestlezone.com
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Gail Kim’s Return Advertised for This Week
MyNetwork TV has sent out an online newsletter hyping this week’s TV line-up, which features the following ad for this week’s edition of Smackdown:
“Diva Duel!
This week on Smackdown, Maryse takes on Michelle McCool for the Divas’ Championship. But when a jealous Gail interrupts, only one will be left standing. Plus, WrestleMania hopefuls team up against each other in a special four-on-four match. Find out who is destined for greatness.”
There is a photo attached to the advertisement of this match at this link.
Credit: Wrestlezone.com
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Cena Wants to Be The Rock, But Still Like Wrestling
John Cena recently sat down for an interview with The Miami Herald and had the following to say concerning his movie and wrestling careers. “I’m going to be the first guy to work two full-time jobs. I’m certainly not going to leave wrestling anytime soon, but I’m not going to do movies as a hobby. I really want to devote 100-percent effort into any project I get involved with.”
Cena spoke about receiving career advice from The Rock, Hulk Hogan and Jesse Ventura by saying “They all kind of gave me the same advice, and it was very vague but very positive. Don’t do anything too fast and always work hard. That was pretty much the cliff-notes from what they said to me.” To read the full interview, go to MiamiHerald.com.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s latest film Race to Witch Mountain has made an estimated $44.7 million since opening last weekend. This past weekend it dropped to the number 4 spot bringing in $13 million, which is considered to be a good number considering all three films that grossed more were amidst their opening weekends.
Credit: Wrestlezone.com
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Cena Continues to Take Shots at The Rock
The following is an excerpt from an interview with John Cena from MoviesOnline.com, where he again takes a shot at Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for leaving WWE to go to make movies full time.
“It’s tough for me to say this and then have people believe it just because of the people who’ve come before me, but I’m not going to leave the ring anytime soon. I’ve done two features now. I haven’t sacrificed one bit of commitment to the WWE. I can do two things at once and it’s two jobs that I enjoy. I love making movies and I love my time in the ring. I wouldn’t want to give either one of them up.”
Credit: Wrestlezone.com
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Vince’s Behavior Confuses and Angers WWE Creative
The Wrestling Observer is reporting that during this hectic time in WWE, Vince McMahon has been particularly hard on the creative team, and it seems to be affecting people like Stephanie and Shane as well. When WWE broadcast Raw on March 9th in Jacksonville, FL, the creative team was given instructions to attend a meeting at Vince McMahon’s Boca Raton condo following the show. It was during this meeting that Vince was going to go over the final plans for Wrestlemania 25, and the subsequent draft taking place after the PPV. However, Vince did not show up at the meeting and the creative team was instructed to then fly back to Stamford where the team would be briefed by Stephanie McMahon instead of Vince. It was said at this meeting that even Stephanie was upset over how Vince handled the situation and has become increasingly erratic during the Wrestlemania booking process.
Credit: Wrestlezone.com
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TNA News
TNA Bans Talent From Appearing at ROH Shows
Due to Ring Of Honor obtaining a television deal with HDNet to air a weekly series focused on the company, TNA Wrestling has officially decided to ban their talent from working or appearing at ROH events.
The decision was apparently made earlier today and comes as a surprise as most figures when ROH made the move to air a weekly program on HDNet, that TNA would make such a move.
Credit: PWInsider.com
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Other News
Name-Changes to FCW Talent
The following list of name changes reflects the current ring names that several FCW talents are working under. It should be noted that these names may change again in the future, and often times do if and when the talents are called up to the main WWE roster.
-Brian Jossie is now Abraham Saddam Washington.
-Ian Richardson is now Troy Jackman.
-Jason Garrison is now Fletcher Chase.
-Jason Riggs is now Aiden Frost.
-Matt Walsh is now Joseph Canterbury.
-Michael Hutter is now Derrick Bateman.
-Paul Lloyd, Jr. is now Justin Angel.
-Taylor Rotunda is now Tank Rotundo.
-Tyson Tarver is now Mr. Tarver.
-Wesley Holiday is now Beverly.
-Windham Rotunda is now Alex Rotunda.
Credit: Wrestlezone.com
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That’s all for today’s Wrestling News Digest. Be sure to come back tomorrow for another easy to digest batch! Or, subscribe to our blog feed to get the latest Wrestling News, as well as our columns and podcasts, delivered right to your favorite feedreader. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact the Pinfall Recall team on the forums or by emailing them directly through the links below.
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