WrestleMania Makes Record $62 Million for Atlanta
WWE announced that WrestleMania XXVII generated $62.1 million in economic impact for the city of Atlanta, according to a study conducted by the Enigma Research Corporation.
This is a new record for WrestleMania’s economic impact, and a $17 million increase over WrestleMania XXVI. WrestleMania XXVII also generated approximately $7.8 million in local, state and county taxes.
“We are proud to have partnered with an organization that not only helped significantly contribute to the economy of Atlanta, but also gave back to the community in a multitude of ways,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “WrestleMania Week brought tens of thousands of fans from across the world to our great city and furthered Atlanta’s reputation as one of the sports and entertainment capitals of the world. We look forward to the possibility of hosting a future WrestleMania.”
“WWE is thrilled that the city of Atlanta and the great state of Georgia were the recipients of the largest economic windfall to date for WrestleMania,” said John P. Saboor, Senior Vice President of Special Events for WWE. “We would like to thank Mayor Reed and all of the public and private sector partners in Atlanta for embracing WWE and our worldwide fans, and for helping create an exceptional outcome for WrestleMania XXVII.”
A capacity crowd of 71,617 fans from all 50 states and 30 countries attended WWE’s pop culture extravaganza this past April. Key highlights from the study included: Read more
WWE Hall of Famer Steve Austin Hosts USA’s ‘WWE Tough Enough’
USA Network and WWE announced today that WWE Hall of Famer “Stone Cold” Steve Austin will host USA Network’s upcoming reality series WWE TOUGH ENOUGH.
The non-scripted series will premiere Monday, April 4 at 11/10c, immediately following USA’s ratings juggernaut WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW, and move to its regularly scheduled slot in primetime, Mondays at 8/7c, starting on April 11.
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin has captivated audiences around the world with his magnetic presence and bold, yet charming nature. Austin has done it all in sports entertainment winning 17 championships, including the WWE Championship six times. He has an immense and incredibly devoted fan base and is considered one of the most popular WWE Superstars of all time. Austin was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to work with my old friends at WWE on WWE TOUGH ENOUGH. Sports entertainment has always been an important part of my life and I look forward to finding the next generation of WWE superstar,” said Austin.
Steve Austin will share his intimate knowledge, experience and flair for the stage as one of the most popular figures in WWE history to a group of individuals looking for an once-in-a-lifetime shot to become the next WWE Superstar or Diva. Austin will mentor the diverse group of men and women who will live, train, eat and sleep under one roof in a house in Simi Valley, California. Each week the contestants will battle it out in a series of unique challenges designed to test for such characteristics as showmanship, creativity, athleticism and desire, just to name a few. Viewers will witness the trials and tribulations of what it takes to be one of the best in the world’s greatest sports entertainment organization. The grand prizewinner will be awarded a contract with WWE.
Since leaving the world of sports entertainment Steve Austin has made a name for himself in Hollywood with roles in such blockbuster hits as “The Expendables,” staring Sylvester Stallone and “The Longest Yard,” starring Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. Other film credits include “Damage,” “The Condemned” and “Hunt to Kill.” In addition to film, Austin is a household name from his work on the hit television shows NBC’s “Chuck” and CBS’ “Nash Bridges.”
Shed Media US, noted for its strong characters and memorable casting in the non-scripted arena, will produce WWE TOUGH ENOUGH. The company’s previous reality credits include “The Real Housewives of New York City,” ”Who Do You Think You Are,” “World’s Strictest Parents.” Producing for Shed Media US are Alex Demyanenko and Eric Van Wagenen.
Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling’s TNA ReACTION to Premiere on Spike
Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling President Dixie Carter and TNA Managing Partner Hulk Hogan today announced the series premiere of “TNA ReACTION,” that will air on Thursday nights beginning August 12 at 11:00 pm (ET/PT) on Spike TV.
“TNA ReACTION” will immediately follow TNA’s flagship program “TNA iMPACT!,” which airs from 9-11PM (ET/PT) every Thursday to create a three-hour bloc, “TNA Thursdays,” on Spike TV.
“TNA ReACTION” is a one hour docu-style series that will bring the characters, story, and drama of TNA Wrestling’s long running action format “iMPACT!” to life in an entirely new and unique way.
Created and executive produced by Bischoff Hervey Entertainment Television (BHE TV) as part of their partnership with TNA Entertainment announced last fall, TNA ReACTION combines production values and format elements that are truly groundbreaking to the professional wrestling/sports entertainment genre, which has been a leader in cable television for decades.
“My partner Jason Hervey and I have been working with some cutting-edge cameras including the new Canon 7D D-SLR that shoots amazing video in a couple of our reality projects,” said Eric Bischoff of BHE TV.”
“We experimented with integrating some of these elements into both ‘iMPACT’ and ‘ReACTION.’ TNA’s director of video production Kevin Sullivan worked closely with us to make this work, and the results are very cool,” said Bischoff.
“We are extremely excited that Eric and Jason have been able to bring their experience in reality and docu-drama formats to TNA in a way that would give our shows a different feel. We are very happy with the results,” TNA President, Dixie Carter.
TNA’s in-house production team partnered with BHE TV to integrate the new production technique into “iMPACT!” and “ReACTION.”
“We have definitely hit the refresh button with some of these changes and I think fans will appreciate the pacing, look, and depth they are going to see on ‘iMPACT!’ and on ‘ReACTION,’” said TNA director of video production Kevin Sullivan.
Hulk Hogan steps back into the ring on TNA iMPACT!
Monday, March 8 Live on Spike TV
WRESTLING LEGEND AND POP CULTURE ICON WILL FACE RIC FLAIR ON LIVE NETWORK TELEVISION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST A DECADE
Legendary pop culture icon Hulk Hogan will face his longtime nemesis Ric Flair for the first time in almost a decade on network television. The match will air live on “TNA iMPACT!” on Spike TV Monday, March 8 (9:00-11:00pm ET/PT).
The highly-anticipated bout will feature Hogan teaming with TNA Superstar Abyss to battle Flair and his protege,TNA World Heavyweight Champion “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles, in a special tag-team match.
“Since I partnered with Dixie Carter and debuted on January 4, we have taken TNA to amazing new levels,” said Hogan. “I’ve got a score to settle with Ric Flair, and there’s no better time to do it than Monday night, March 8, when we change the wrestling world forever.”
Hogan’s return to the ring will headline the official move of “TNA iMPACT!” to Monday nights, after being televised for nearly four years on Thursday nights. Spike TV’s highly-rated, two-hour weekly series will be live every other week and emanate from the “TNA iMPACT! Zone” at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.
“This is a new beginning for TNA,” Carter said. “We’ve worked hard to get here, and I’m confident that if people tune in to TNA for the first time on March 8, they won’t be disappointed.”
The first-ever Monday live “TNA iMPACT!” three-hour special broadcast ran on Spike TV head-to-head against WWE RAW on Monday, January 4, 2010, and drew a franchise-record 2.2 million viewers and set ratings records in every demographic. Two wrestling companies have not broadcast head-to-head weekly since the “Monday Night Wars” in the late 1990s between WWE and WCW.
“TNA iMPACT!” features many of the biggest names in wrestling including Hogan, Flair, Mick Foley, Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle, Kevin Nash and Team 3D, as well as the hottest young talent in the industry: Styles, “The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero and “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan.
Since its founding in 2002, Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling has become the world’s fastest-growing professional wrestling company, currently airing in over 120 countries worldwide.
Source: Spike TV
Former Wrestling World Champion Bobby Lashley Joins Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling
HISTORIC SIGNING MAKES LASHLEY THE FIRST EVER ACTIVE MMA FIGHTER TO CONCURRENTLY COMPETE IN PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING
Bobby Lashley has signed a contract with Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling, making him the first-ever active pro wrestler in the western world to simultaneously compete as an active MMA fighter. He made the announcement on various ESPN interviews in New York.
“I want to do both because I can. TNA is giving me the opportunity to compete in both sports which I have a passion for,” said Lashley. “I will bring MMA fans to wrestling and wrestling fans to MMA.”
“This is a great opportunity for Bobby to do something that has never been done before. He is the perfect ambassador for both sports. We are excited to have him join TNA, he is a true star that brings so much to the table as a member of our roster,” stated TNA President Dixie Carter.
Prior to signing with TNA and fighting in MMA, Lashley was a two time ECW World Champion while in the WWE. During this time, he headlined many world wide pay-per-views and quickly became one of the most exciting stars in professional wrestling. As a collegiate wrestler, Lashley made a name for himself winning three national amateur wrestling championships. Since his MMA debut last December, Lashley has dominated each of his four fights and is currently undefeated with a record of 4-0. His most recent victory over Bob Sapp on June 27, 2009 ended via submission in round one.
Lashley first appeared for TNA in Philadelphia at the “Lockdown” pay-per-view event in April 2009 to the surprise of many TNA fans, followed only by a brief appearance on TNA iMPACT! Since then, fans have been left wondering when and if he would return to TNA as a full time member of the roster. “It’s our intention to make history and we’re looking forward to having Bobby make an immediate impact in TNA,” stated Carter.
“TNA iMPACT!” airs every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Spike. Cross The Line to TNA Wrestling, the most innovative experience in professional wrestling today. Join the TNA Superstars, the lovely and lethal TNA Knockouts and the no-limits X-Division inside the six-sided ring.
Source: TNA Entertaiment LLC