Wrestling News: Including, Jericho/KurtAngle/Sandman/Ric Flair

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According to the most recent issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels may not be returning to WWE in the coming months as planned.

HBK has been out of action for several months rehabbing a knee injury. He was expected to return to the ring this fall, but the Observer reports that Shawn told Hunter that he may not return at all.

Shawn said his family is his top priority, his knees are in bad shape and he wants to devote more time to his true passion, Christianity.

Triple H has been pushing Shawn to return to RAW even before he was ready to wrestle, due to the VERY thin roster. So far, HBK isn't into it. The key issue for Shawn is that he wants a reduced travel schedule, much like The Undertaker has.

With WWE losing its top star John Cena for at least 6 months, you can bet WWE will do everything they can to bring back Michaels in whatever capacity they can get him.

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Ric Flair Meets With Vince McMahon: It Didn't Go Well

We've got a major update on Flair's WWE status and it's not looking good. We reported here that Flair quit WWE several weeks back out of frustration that his character was being burried on television.

Flair meet with Vince McMahon at WWE headquarters on September 20th to work things out. Sources say that meeting didn't go too well. McMahon was not pleased when Ric Flair showed up to the meeting with his lawyers.

When Ric Flair began making demands about how he expects to be portrayed on television, McMahon reminded the Flair he still owes Vince a lot of money. Vince reportedly gave Flair a loan to repay money he owed the IRS.

The meeting actually resulted in the two parties being farther apart. RAW writer Brian Gewirtz is very against pushing Flair and feels it is a bad idea to put a retiring superstar over at the expense of WWE's top young stars.

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Rob Van Dam Speaks Out Over Controversial Issue

Rob Van Dam posted a new blog entry on his MySpace.com page today. In it, he addresses the largely debated issue of health insurance and wrestlers. While I do not normally offer opinions in my news posts, he makes an excellent point, below is what he wrote:

"If you haven't heard any of my interviews on the subject of wrestlers being taken advantage of, I offer an honest but probably different opinion than most. Forget the wrestler's union. It'll never happen. Wrestlers are all replaceable and have nowhere else to go anyway. Are you surprised when you hear that wrestler's don't get insurance benefits? Big deal. We are independent contractors, just like the guy you paid to paint your house. If the painter signs a contract that says he will work for you for 3 years, and work for no one else and give ownership of any plans or ideas created or used on the job to you, and he gives you the right to amend the contract on your side to implement dress codes and fines and wellness programs and whatever else you decide along the way, that's the deal he made. If you are paying him enough money so he can get his own insurance, set up his own retirement funds, and you take care of getting him to the job and back home, what's the problem? He's not an employee. He's self-employed. Would he rather have less pay, but get insurance through you? Probably not, especially since he's covered if he gets hurt on the job anyway. Make sense? I hope I cleared some questions up for you and gave you a different angle to see the situation from. I admit as quickly as anyone that the job is way challenging, but it's a challenge we agree to. That's why I finished the agreement that I made and now I'm done. For the moment, anyway."

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Details Regarding The Sandman's Departure From WWE; Asked For Release

Here are some details regarding The Sandman's release from WWE on September 11.

When they were on tour in South Africa in early September, he got drunk with some of the wrestlers before a flight. Road agent Ricky Steamboat was sitting in front of a wasted Sandman. Sandman put an unlit cigarette in his mouth and Steamboat turned around to tell him that you can't smoke on an airplane. Sandman scoffed back at Steamboat by saying that the cigarette wasn't lit and that he didn't have a lighter on him.

On one of the shows on the tour, due to time constraints, some wrestlers were pulled from the show, including Sandman. Sandman thought it was Steamboat's way of getting back at him. He then called Johnny Ace asking for his release from World Wrestling Entertainment. A few days later on September 11, Ace gave him his release from the company.

Prior to his release from the company, McMahon wanted to turn him heel and give him a significant run on Raw because the brand is desperately lacking heels. McMahon was a big fan of The Sandman's unique character, hence his promotion from ECW to Raw back in June.

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Steve Austin Says He's Finished With Wrestling; Acting Is His Future

Stone Cold Steve Austin recently did a short interview with iF Magazine regarding his future as an actor. Austin told the magazine the following:

"[Acting] is what I'm pursuing full time. I'm through with wrestling. Wrestling was one of the best jobs, the most fun I've ever had in my life, and I had a good time doing it. Fifteen years on the road, it's time to do something else. I'm trying to find the number two movie right now so we can start shooting ASAP. I'm working on certain projects here in Los Angeles. That's what I want to do with the rest of my life. I had a ton of fun on The Condemned and I learned so much. I also realized that I have a ton more to learn and improve. I remember my first wrestling match. I was pretty terrible, but I turned into a very good professional wrestler. My goal is to turn into a very good actor."

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The Latest On King Booker's WWE Status

For what it is worth, commercials in the local Houston, Texas market for King Booker’s PWA promotion feature Booker in the ads referring to himself as Booker T, not his WWE name of King Booker. There is also no mention of him being a World Wrestling Entertainment superstar. We still know nothing regarding Booker’s WWE status other than he is not eligible to return to WWE until November given his most recent 60 day suspension.

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Hulk Hogan Signs Deal To Host Revival Of 'American Gladiators' On NBC

NBC Universal issued the following press release this afternoon:

WRESTLING LEGEND HULK HOGAN TO HOST THE RETURN OF POPULAR COMPETITION SERIES “AMERICAN GLADIATORS” COMING TO NBC MIDSEASON

BURBANK – October 3, 2007 – Wrestling legend and television icon Hulk Hogan ("Hogan Knows Best") will flex his hosting muscle for NBC's latest midseason primetime offering, the return of the competition series "American Gladiators."

The announcement was made today by Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment.

"Hulk Hogan is an American icon," said Plestis. "For over twenty years he has been a symbol of strength and toughness in all facets of entertainment. His electrifying personality will no doubt inspire Herculean efforts from our everyday challengers. There is no one more qualified to host this program."

"Hulk Hogan is going to rock the American viewing public as the host of 'American
Gladiators,'" said "American Gladiators" executive producer and Reveille Managing Director Howard T. Owens. "This is the ultimate television vehicle for the ultimate action television star, The Hulk!"

"Gladiator-mania is gonna be running wild, brother," said Hogan.

A former WWE Champion many times over, Hogan is one of the most well known wrestlers of all-time. Throughout the course of his extraordinary career, Hogan has accomplished things no other wrestler has. He is the only wrestler ever to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, he has headlined 10 WrestleManias and he's starred in numerous major motion pictures. Most recently Hogan, along with his family, opened their home to the American public starring in the reality show "Hogan Knows Best" which documents their every day life. In 2005, Hogan's illustrious career earned him an induction into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of fame by long time friend Sylvester Stallone.

This show marks the first time Hogan has hosted a competition series.

"American Gladiators," the iconic event/competition show, returns with a fresh modern reinvention for the 21st century. Using splashy twists including special effects, water skills and the latest technology, the classic games will be upgraded with even higher thrills, impact, energy and spectacle.

Celebrating the everyday, true American heroes -- weekend warriors who excel and take pride in their physical fitness -- contestants will go up against the show's gladiators -- charismatic and eclectic warriors -- in the ultimate David & Goliath battle. As in MGM's traditional "American Gladiators" franchise, everyday amateur athletes compete against action stars and stunt professionals in contests of physical strength and endurance. The series will include such classic events as The Joust, The Wall, Hang Tough and the Eliminator.

The eight new gladiators (four men and four women) are action-adventure stars ready to take down the everyday challengers with hard knocks and explosive attitudes. Each challenger will also have a unique story to tell -- and a compelling reason why they need to win. These unsung heroes combine brawn and heart in their effort to be worthy competitors, which the audience can cheer for against the villainous gladiators.

The new series will be produced by MGM Television (the original producers of the show) and Reveille (NBC's "The Office" and "The Biggest Loser," "Nashville Star," "Ugly Betty"). Reveille's Mark Koops, Howard T. Owens and David Hurwitz ("Fear Factor") are the executive producers.

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Kurt Angle Arrested For DUI

Television station WPXI of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania is reporting that Kurt Angle was arrested on DUI charges last Friday. Here is the official report from WPXI:

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Wrestler and former Olympian Kurt Angle was arrested on a charge of drunk driving last Friday afternoon.

Moon Township police got a report of an erratic driver. The description of the car and the driver matched that of Angle. Police went to Angle's home and they said he admitted to driving the car home from a local bar.

Officials said Angle failed a field sobriety test but refused a blood test. Angle is charged with driving under the influence and careless driving.

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Source: Chris Jericho Has Signed A New Contract With WWE

It is now believed that Chris Jericho has signed a new contract with World Wrestling Entertainment. The news leaked through TNA sources who said that they were negotiating with the former Undisputed Champion before they learned that Jericho decided to return to WWE.

With the recent injury to who is now the former WWE Champion John Cena, Chris Jericho’s return could not come at a better time. Despite his absence from the wrestling business, Jericho will return as a top-tier main event caliber talent that can immediately help the RAW brand.

The “Save_US.222” viral marketing campaign videos began airing about two weeks ago, the same time at which Jericho backed away from negotiations with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

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